Ford Discovers Way to Make Potholes Less Jarring for Fusion V6 Sport

Ford truly understands that the best way to a driver’s heart is comfort. While it is true that it is impossible to miss all potholes, engineers of the American automaker have recently discovered a way to make them less jarring by developing a computer controlled shock absorber system for the 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport.

AAA reports that pothole damage cost U.S. drivers around $3 billion a year and drivers are said to pay $300 to repair pothole-related vehicle damage.

The Ford Fusion V6 Sport is the first-ever car equipped with a computer-controlled shock absorber system or continuously controlled damping as a standard feature. This state-of-the-art technology helps protect not just the car but also the driver’s money.

According to Jason Michener, Ford continuously controlled damping engineering expert, the all-new Fusion V6 Sport significantly reduces the tough impact potholes often deliver. He said that their new pothole mitigation technology works by actually spotting potholes and catching the car’s wheel before it drops into the pothole.

Fusion V6 Sport is the first-ever midsize sedan in its class to have this revolutionary technology—neither Toyota Camry nor Honda Accord offers such state-of-the-art suspension system. Along with a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine estimated to crank out 325 horsepower, the sedan’s smart new suspension system also offers better handling.

Onboard computers analyze a number of signals collected from 12 high-resolution sensors, fine-tuning the dampers every two milliseconds for optimal vehicle response in every situation. Upon detection of the edge of a pothole, the car’s computer fine-tunes the dampers faster than the blink of an eye to their stiffest settings so the wheel does not fall as far into the pothole. Since the tire and wheel don’t drop as far, they don’t strike the opposite side of the pothole as severely. Also, the rear suspension can respond faster, with a signal from the front wheel offering a pre-warning to the rear wheel before it reaches the pothole.

Michener revealed that they tested and tuned the system by driving over countless potholes, subjecting Fusion V6 Sport to the brutal, square-edged potholes of their Romeo Proving Grounds to finesse the software. “It was long hours of not very pleasant work, but the results are well worth it.”

For drivers of the V6 Sport, this suggests a sedan that is thrilling in the corners while still providing a smooth ride. The suspension tuning can be changed at the push of a button. Normal mode balances handling and comfort for everyday driving while the increased overall damping rates of the sport mode enable the car to respond quicker to driver input and corner flatter for more spirited driving.

The new Fusion V6 Sport featuring continuously controlled damping and pothole mitigation technology is set to hit Ford dealerships this summer.

Ford also boasts a test center in Belgium that simulates the effects of the worst potholes in the world and other extreme surfaces. Lommel Proving Ground integrates test tracks covering 50 miles and over 100 extreme surfaces simulated from 25 countries, including 1.2 miles of potholes.