(Back to the BA Falcon Introduction.)
Introduced in BA, the availability of adjustable pedals promises not only to be a first for an Australian manufacturer but also a significant safety increase as well. Borrowing technology perfected and sold by Ford Australia's parent company in the US, Ford may finally have the answer in how to make the Falcon fit those outside the average build - who would normally be forced to sit too close to the steering wheel (and it's potentially dangerous air bag) or too far away from the dash controls to reach in a hurry.
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Standard in Fairmont Ghia and optional
right across the range (automatic equipped Falcons only - doh!) Ford should expect a rather
significant uptake of this highly interesting option, considering it's experiences
in the US.
And with the adjustment being made electronically, we expect Ford will incorporate it with a memory system allowing personalised settings for each driver - resetting itself automatically upon starting of the vehicle depending on which set of keys are used. Left: Image supplied by Ford showing typical 'attack' angle of driver's feet on pedals. |
Once the seating and steering positions are personalised to the gearshift and reach of instrument panel controls, the pedals can then be moved to a comfortable position via a rocker switch located on the steering column. Combined with the seat and steering wheel adjustments already available, there no longer is any excuse for not feeling comfortable in this environment! - Promising to be more accessible than many small fours... Not only will it allow drivers to sit at a safer distance from the life saving but potentially dangerous air bag, but will allow a much more balanced driving position to be achieved putting you in the best place to make any unexpected changes and driving adjustments.
| Expected
to use worm drives to adjust pedal positioning as per Ford's US versions, no
fear needs to be taken for the pedals mysteriously backing off at the wrong
moment - one of the unique features of this style of actuation.
Not only are worm drives a great way of reducing the torque required for the small electric motors to do their job - their incredibly small pitch means that 'backfeeding' is impossible shy of stripping the threads themselves. RIGHT: Computer gen image supplied by Ford of it's new adjustable pedal option including reinforced pedal box. |
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Still, for manual gearbox fans the news is not all good with Ford's new adjustable pedal option not available for use on it's better gearbox choice (not that Ford's auto is a bad thing - just that some of us prefer to use the positive shifting option). Why they could not simply mount the clutch cable from the movable component of the pedal box is a mystery - that is more likely explainable by Ford's typically poor attitude to this gearbox option than by any technical difficulty involved in doing such.
Still, you never know - with a few more developmental dollars made available after the BA's release the story may not be over yet. We can always hope...
(Back to the BA Falcon Introduction.)
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