With the new year fast approaching, Ford motor company has some big projects up their sleeve for 2020. There has been a clear shift in the overall market Ford is trying to cater to. Once focused around cars, Ford is putting crossovers are the forefront of their new business model. The Ford Fiesta, Focus, and Taurus full-size sedan are no longer being sold in North America.

Although Ford is simplifying its sedan lineup, it will continue to sell its Mustang and Fusion models. In addition, Ford will introduce an electric crossover inspired by the Mustang. Ford is also expected to roll out the new Ford Bronco in 2021 which is expected to be a massive success.

With the many upgrades happening to Ford vehicles in 2020, technology is at the forefront of these changes. Ford is expected to roll out their latest infotainment system featuring FordPass Connect, the connected-car app that features live troubleshooting, maintenance tracking, and remote start and looking. This new infotainment system will be a standard feature for all Ford vehicles with the exception of some F-150, Edge, and Expedition models.

So… what are some unique features of these new ford vehicles?

2020 Ford Escape:

• Powertrain options including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, 2.0 liter turbo-4 with 8-speed automatic transmission.
• Lower, longer, and wider than previous Escape models.
• All-wheel drive
• Ford Cp-Pilot360 (automatic emergency braking, active lane control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and high-beam assist.)

2020 Ford Explorer:

• Three-Row SUV
• Three engine choices with 10-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive: 300-hp 2.3-liter turbo-4, 365-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, 318-hp 3.3-liter hybrid engine.
• Ford Co-Pilot360 Standard on all but the base and XLT trims
• Sirius XM radio and FordPass Connect included

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

• 760-horsepower 5.2 liter supercharged V-8 with 7-speed dual clutch transmission
• Seven drive models with active exhaust system
• MangaRide dampers, six-piston Brembo front calipers, 16.5-inch rotors
• The most powerful street-legal Mustang yet.

2020 Ford Edge

• Standard dual-zone climate control
• 8-inch touchscreen
• 10-way power driver’s seat

These are just some of the many new vehicles in Ford’s 2020 lineup. Classics like the mustang are getting a fresh new face while best-sellers like the Ford Escape are going electric. The future of automobiles lies in the hands of big auto companies like Ford. With electric vehicles at the forefront of automaker’s minds, the future of the automotive industry is surely something to look forward to.

Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly popular among drivers in the United States and across the globe. Automakers are pouring millions of dollars into developing fully-autonomous vehicles for consumers.

While automakers are working rapidly to push out new vehicles with autonomous capabilities, whether consumers will be receptive to the changes is still widely unknown. We’ve all seen Tesla’s massive success over the past few years, becoming the top-selling plug-in car manufacturer with over 101,000 units sold is no small achievement for the relatively new company. Despite this success, however, many traditional drivers have proven to be reluctant to hop on the fully-autonomous bandwagon.

According to a SAE International survey on public perceptions and preferences for autonomous vehicles, 73 percent of respondents prefer to share control of their vehicle. Additionally, a whopping 92 percent of survey participants said it is a requirement to have an emergency stop function ready to be activated by the driver if needed.

While most consumers are excited about the new developments in automation, consumers are still conflicted on whether or not they prefer self-driving car brands. According to the SAE, autonomous vehicles are a safer experience than driving a human-driven car. This same survey found that only 6 percent of participants have driven a self-driving car in the past. This, most likely because of the notoriously high price-point put on these vehicles.

Surely autonomous vehicles will become cheaper as more hit the market in the coming years. According to another consumer study done by J.D Power, over two-thirds said they have “little to no knowledge” about autonomous vehicles. This unfamiliarity with autonomy is the driving factor for people’s doubts about the cars. Once consumers begin to realize just how safe these vehicles have proven to be as opposed to regular human-driven cars, their confidence and excitement for the future of autonomy is sure to increase dramatically.

All in all, the biggest roadblock for autonomous vehicles is consumer’s doubt surrounding them. While some drivers are skeptical, many others are eager to get behind the wheel and try it for themselves. With proven environmental benefits and safety improvements, our doubt for autonomous vehicles may soon be a thing of the past.

Even the most upstanding citizens break this law… You guessed it, Jaywalking. It’s hard to imagine a bustling city without the occasional group of jaywalkers running across the road unexpectedly.

While jaywalking is certainly a safety hazard, it’s extremely difficult to control in a city filled with millions of people. Combine jaywalking with autonomous (self-driving) vehicles and you get an entirely new (and dangerous) public safety issue.

It’s no secret that autonomous vehicles are equipped with automatic-stop and pedestrian detection. The issue is not the cars themselves, but the confidence pedestrians have in their braking capabilities. If pedestrians know that cars will stop for them no matter what, some may be tempted to run in front of these self-driving cars, knowing they won’t get struck.

Automotive industry professionals have suggested a potential solution to the jaywalking epidemic, gates. Professionals suggest putting gates at each corner, which would open periodically allowing pedestrians to cross the road.

The former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Mark Rosekind says “With autonomous vehicles, the technical stuff will get worked out. It’s the societal part that’s the most challenging.” The pedestrian safety problem is not exclusive to major cities, suburban and small-town are also prone to these same jaywalking issues in the future.

Rosekind goes on to describe this shift in autonomous vehicles as “the single-most transformative societal change in decades. We have to be ready for it.” It’s no question autonomous vehicles are ready for us but are we ready for them? How society will adjust to these changes is still widely unknown.

As of right now, there are six levels of autonomous vehicles (0-5).

Level 5:  Aka “Hands off” The vehicle is fully autonomous (which is not expected to be released to the public for another 10 years).

Level 4: Aka “Mind off” The driver can safely go to sleep while behind the wheel.

Level 3: Aka “Eyes off” The driver can safely turn their attention away from the talk of driving.

Level 2: Aka “Hands off” The automated system takes full control of the vehicle (accelerating, braking, steering). The driver must monitor the vehicle and pay attention to the road at all times while behind the wheel.

Level 1: Aka “Hands-on” The driver and the automated vehicle share control of the vehicle.

Level 0: Automated system issues warnings and may momentarily intervene but has no sustained vehicle control.

While autonomous vehicles have received some negative media attention, self-driving cars are already proving to be much safer than traditional level zero vehicles. Today’s cars and trucks kill, on average, 300,000 people every year in the United States according to Rosekind. Autonomous vehicles are expected to greatly reduce that number in the future.

We all remember the iconic marketing campaign when Kia announced its new Kia Soul models. The ads featured hamsters playing the banjo, wearing sunglasses, and even wearing gold chains. This ad campaign allowed Kia to gain huge momentum in the automobile industry, something they have not lost since. Meet the brand new, innovative Kia Telluride.

Kia recently unveiled its 2020 Telluride with one goal in mind: to create a rugged, sport-utility vehicle. The Telluride is designed to handle anything life throws at it. From rocky terrain to your busy morning commute, the Telluride’s got you covered. So, what does the Telluride feature? Well, sit back and buckle your seatbelt because this should be quite the ride!

TECHNOLOGY

The 2020 Kia Telluride features an all-wheel-drive system with an advanced, electro-hydraulic coupling, sending the power of its big V6 to the front wheels, allowing for more weight at the front of the vehicle, therefore giving better traction to the driven wheels.

The system allows for great power shifting abilities, shifting between the front and rear axles seamlessly.

IN THE DRIVER’S HANDS 

While the Kia Telluride does most of the work for you, it still allows the driver to take matters into their own hands.

A tap of the center console drive mode control takes you into professional-grade ‘AWD Lock’. Here, the system’s central clutch can lock-in the power evenly between the front and rear axles. So 50 percent goes to the front, 50 percent to the rear.

Coupled with the center console drive mode feature, the Telluride also has an intuitive traction control system. Simply grab the brake rotor on a wheel that’s slipping, sending the torque to the side with traction.

The Kia Telluride also features a V6 engine with an impressive 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. With a strong mid-range response, rapid acceleration, and refined high-speed cruising, the Kia Telluride virtually does it all.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED…

The 2020 Kia Telluride is a powerhorse. Sporting a V6 engine, 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, the Telluride is some of Kia’s best work yet.

Ford Motor Co. has recalled over 300,000 vehicles in North America due to safety concerns with their Ford Transit vehicles. The recall affects certain 2015 to 2017 Ford Transit vehicle models in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The recalls are associated with three specific issues, the largest related to driveshaft flexible coupling problems. Ford said the vehicle’s driveshaft could crack with increasing mileage, causing separation of the driveshaft, a loss of motive power or unintended vehicle movement when the parking brake isn’t applied. In all three reported cases, Ford Motor Company reported no accidents or injuries related to the issues.

Independent from the recent recalls, Ford Motor Company announced on Tuesday that it would disclose the expected costs of the recall if the costs exceed $250 million. If the recall reaches that point, it would only add to the company’s cloudy future. In addition to the three different recalls applying to the Ford Transit vehicles, Ford also issued a recall on select 2019 Edge vehicles for an issue related to the seat-belt. This recall, however, is much smaller, affecting only 366 vehicles in the United States and 65 in Canada.

As if those recalls weren’t enough, the company also issues a recall for its 2019 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models for their improperly secured rear-toe link fasteners.

Overall, Ford has had their fair share of recalled vehicles. That being said, the recalls are expected to cost Ford more than $250 million. These recalls would explain Ford’s lower profit outlook for the year. This mostly due to the cost of warranty repairs, weakness in China and vigorous competition from other sport-utility vehicles and trucks.

The Ford Transit vehicle recall was voluntary and is effective as of October 29, 2019.