New Lincolns will park themselves

Engineer says sensor system beats the competitors' cameras.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it will introduce a new automatic parallel parking system as an option on some Lincoln models next year, aiming to match rival offerings from Lexus and other luxury brands.
Ford's system, called Active Park Assist, would be the first such offering from a domestic manufacturer.
It is slated to debut on the Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover next year, and will be introduced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January.
Unlike the Lexus system, which uses cameras, the Lincoln system uses sensors mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide it into a parking space. Ford claims its technology leapfrogs its competitors' because it does not require the driver to select the parking space manually.
On the Lexus system, drivers must first line their car up with the vehicle in front of the place they want to park. They must then push a button to activate the system and use a touch-screen display to select the parking space. Once they have done that, the car steers itself into that space while they control the gas pedal and brakes.
Ford's system eliminates several of those steps. When drivers wish to park, they simply push a button to activate the system and cruise the street until their car finds a suitable parking space. When it does, the system tells them to stop, asks them to confirm that they wish to park in that space and then uses the vehicle's electronic power steering to guide it in as they control the gas pedal and brakes.

It works on hills

"It's fast and simple to use and more accurate," said Ali Jammoul, chief engineer of chassis and steering systems for Ford North America. "There is no driver interface. It does it automatically."
The Ford system prevents drivers from trying to park in spaces that are too tight for their vehicle. And, unlike rival offerings, it will work on hills.
Analyst Erich Merkle of Crowe Horwath LLP said parallel parking systems are fast becoming a requirement for luxury brands.
"You're going to see it become more prevalent on luxury vehicles," he said, adding that he expects Cadillac and others to introduce similar systems soon. "It's an incredibly competitive market, and consumers are asking for more and more -- and this is one of those features consumers are going to want to see. You can never have too much anymore."
The Lexus system debuted in 2006 on the Lexus LS460 L and is still available only on that model. The car carries a base price of $73,585, and the parking system is part of an $8,530 option package.
Ford has not yet announced pricing for its system.
The Dearborn automaker is devoting considerable resources to bolstering the Lincoln brand, which it sees as critical to its success in the U.S. market. Once Lincolns were just rebadged Ford cars and light trucks, but newer Lincolns now boast unique styling and features. Cutting-edge technology is a big part of the Lincoln equation, Ford said.

Debut set for next year

It began working on the parking assist system with supplier partner Valeo SA about 18 months ago.
"We think it is best in class," Jammoul said, noting that the system can fit into any space that is at least 20 percent larger than the vehicle itself, while Lexus' system requires a space that is more than 50 percent larger. "We find tighter spots, and we also park closer to the curb and at less of an angle. The system has to do it better than you can. That was our objective."