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Potholed roads not only make journeys uncomfortable but harsh impacts with severe potholes can also cause damage to a vehicle’s wheels, tyres and suspension systems resulting in hefty repair bills for car owners,  writes  Trish Whelan . Ford is helping limit the impact of damaged roads for drivers of its new Focus by introducing innovative pothole detection technology. The system senses when a wheel is falling into a pothole and adjusts the suspension so that the wheel doesn’t fall as far into it. Because the tyre and wheel don’t drop as far, they don’t strike the opposite side of the pothole as harshly. The rear suspension can respond even faster than the front with a signal from the front wheel providing a pre-warning to the rear wheel before it reaches the pothole. This all happens in a split second. The new Focus pothole detection system is a feature of the car’s optional Continuously Controlled Damping technology which every 2 milliseconds monito...

Technology first developed for fighter jets is helping to improve the driving experience for the new Focus that offers Ford’s first Head-up display for Europe, writes Trish Whelan . The display will make it easier for drivers to keep their eyes on the road as they monitor information including speed, navigation and road signs on a display that is projected to overlay the view ahead. For some existing systems there can be a drawback - for those drivers wearing polarised sunglasses which counteract glare, the display can be rendered almost invisible. Ford’s Head-up display also emts the kind of light that polarised sunglasses are designed to eliminate from view. But a carefully tuned filter ‘bounces back’ polarised light to the driver and effectively solves the problem. Wearing polarised glasses can make a massive difference to visibility for drivers affected by glare, such as when stretches of water, snow or even tarmac reflect sunlight. The Head-up display we ar...

New Ford Fiesta ST. Two variants of the latest Ford Fiesta arriving in Ireland in the next couple of months will expand the choice for the iconic small car nameplate, writes Trish Whelan . The first will be the Fiesta Active, the first of a range of crossover variants of Ford's small and compact family cars range aimed at the rapidly growing trend in SUV-design cars. New Ford Fiesta Active. With a high level of specification and details such as special grille, body protection cladding, a higher ride height, and a 'Slippery' drive setting for safer progress in poor driving conditions, it will come to Ireland in June at a starting price of €21,900. The new-generation Fiesta ST will bring the performance variant of the small car to a higher level, with a brand new 200hp 3-cylinder 1.5 petrol engine offering a 6.5s sprint to 100km/h. A more refined detailing for such hot hatches, plus a significantly more comfortable ride without any compromise in handling, is e...

The Care Trust and Ford have launched Ireland’s biggest car giveaway with a total of 36 new 2018 Ford Fiesta cars and generous cash prizes on offer for participants in The Care Trust’s fundraising draws, writes Trish Whelan . Senan Mullins, CEO of The Care Trust said: “Our valuable work is supported by thousands of people across the country who pay little more than the cost of a cup of coffee per week and this gives them access to our monthly draws where they can win up to three Ford Fiesta cars per month, or any of our many generous cash prizes.” Set up more than 50 years ago, The Care Trust fundraises to provide essential funds to the Central Remedial Clinic, Rehab and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. The money raised helps fund these organisations in their work with the many thousands of children and adults with physical, medical or intellectual disabilities, those who are socially disadvantaged and those requiring medical care. The Care Trust’s p...

From rolling hills to mountain ranges, views make any road trip memorable, but for blind passengers this is part of the experience that they miss. A prototype smart car window aims to change this — by enabling blind or partially-sighted people to visualise passing scenery through touch. Feel The View takes pictures that are turned into high-contrast monochrome images. These are then reproduced on the glass using special LEDs. By touching the image, different shades of grey vibrate with a range of 255 intensities, allowing passengers to touch the scene and rebuild in their mind the landscape in front of them. Feel The View was conceived and developed by Ford of Italy and GTB Roma, in collaboration with Aedo — an Italian start-up that specialises in devices for the visually impaired. For now, the technology is an early prototype, with no current plans for production.

This is the new Ford Focus sedan as envisaged for Asian markets, which demonstrates more clearly the 'coke bottle' shape which the car has, reflecting a style theme of the 1960s and 1970s in the US, writes Brian Byrne . 1973 Buick Riviera. Photo: Patrick Bommer. Introduced originally in Pontiac, Buick and Studebaker cars, the style quickly swept through all major carmakers on the other side of the Atlantic and into Asia and Australia in the 1970s, and to a lesser extent in Europe with the Ford Cortina Mk III, Opel Commodore A and Rekord C models. Ford Cortina Mk III. Opel Rekord C. The shape returned in a limited way in recent years with the 2008 Dodge Charger in the US. Meanwhile, the new Focus also debuts a brand new modular platform for Ford which will be adaptable for a range of models between Fiesta and Edge.

Ford Ireland has partnered with the Cork Opera House to sponsor the summer production of the well-known classic - The Wizard of Oz, writes Trish Whelan . The musical theatre production will run from 19 July until 26 August, 2018, with a total of 45 performances scheduled. Directed by internationally acclaimed director Wayne Jordan, the Cork Opera House production of The Wizard of Oz is a reimagined version of the heart-warming story with many surprises and twists along the way. It promises audiences lots of singing, dancing, laughter and a few tears with Dorothy, her dog Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, the cowardly Lion, the Wicked Witch of the West and of course the Wizard, telling the magical story of friendship along the Yellow Brick Road. Eibhlin Gleeson, CEO, Cork Opera House said: “It is great to have a trusted Cork brand on board as our sponsorship partner for The Wizard of Oz. Following on from the sell-out success of Annie last year, we can promise audie...

Ford's first hybrid electric car is now on sale in Ireland, the Mondeo HEV, priced from €32,745, writes Trish Whelan . Based on the 4-door saloon, the car has a 187hp 2.0 petrol engine with automatic transmission, and is available in both Titanium and Vignale grades. Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, expects that 20pc of next year's Mondeo sales will be hybrids. "It is the the first step in a progressive Electric Vehicle (EV) development plan for Ford that will see 13 new full or partial EVs hit the streets of Europe and North America by 2020," he says. These will include a hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power with a 4-cylinder engine. Ford says the Mondeo Hybrid is capable of driving at up to 135 km/h in electric mode and the official fuel consumption rate of 4.2 L/100km compares to that of a 2.0 diesel 150PS Powershift automatic transmission that would deliver a fuel consumption rate of 4.8 L/100km...

Ford has revealed its next generation Focus 20 years after the original launch of the nameplate, writes Brian Byrne . When it goes on the market it will include a Focus Active crossover versions and upscale Focus Vignale. Technologies new to the model will include predictive curve light and sign-based light systems to help drivers see more clearly. It will also offer the first head-up display for a Ford model in Europe Other features will include the FordPass Connect embedded modem for connectivity on the move, Wireless charging pad, SYNC 3 with 8-inch touchscreen, and B&O PLAY audio. Powertrains will be 1.0 and 1.5 petrol and 1.5 and 2.0 diesel engines supported by new eight-speed automatic transmission, offering a 10 per cent fuel-efficiency improvement across the range. Like the recently-renewed Fiesta, the Focus is moving upscale to better meet challenges to compact models from premium brands encroaching into the mass market.

This is a teaser video of Ford's next generation Focus, which will be revealed simultaneously in London and Shanghai next week, writes Brian Byrne . Like the recently-renewed Fiesta, the Focus is moving upscale to better meet challenges to compact models from premium brands encroaching into the mass market. One intriguing detail is the daytime running lights positioning, mimicking Volvo as they cross through the main headlights glass. All versions of the new Focus were designed and engineered at Ford's technical centre in Cologne, Germany.

I recently had the undeniably fun experience of driving the 2019 Ford Mustang through the very drivable mountain areas of Provence, writes Brian Byrne . The reason for the latest ride was the mid-life upgrade of the current generation of the car. And if you think that's rather quickly after the model was introduced to Europe just three years ago, that's because it had then already been on sale in the US for a couple of years. There's a new grille and facia, sexier lights, and a lowered hood front. There's a new rear spoiler option too. All together give a measure of extra visual sophistication. But nothing has been done to take from the style of the version which is generally agreed to be the closest in concept and execution to the original of 1964. Inside, there's an upgrade in the quality of the trim material with more soft-touch surfaces. The main differences are in the instrumentation and central display, the former completely digital and providing di...

Ford Ireland has renewed its partnership with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, writes Trish Whelan . Ford has been a partner of the nationwide charity from soon after the charity was established in 1976.   At the announcement of the partnership renewal, Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland said “Ford are hugely proud of the long-standing partnership with Irish Guide Dogs - the charity’s work is literally life-changing for the hundreds of people throughout the country who have a Guide or Assistance Dog that has been trained by Irish Guide Dogs and we are delighted to support the staff and volunteers at Irish Guide Dogs in the valuable work they do.” At the launch of the Ford partnership renewal were two new puppies, Henry and Ford (aptly named in honour of Ford’s ongoing support of the charity). These puppies are two of the latest ‘intake’ of puppies who will be trained as Guide or Assistance Dogs by the charity. It takes a full two...

Ford Ireland has completed its ST-Line grade here which now includes the EcoSport, Mondeo, Kuga, S-MAX and Edge models, writes Brian Byrne . All include with sport suspension, unique body kits and alloy wheel designs; sport seats, steering wheel and interior details. Engines range from 1.0 EcoBoost with up to 125hp for EcoSport ST-Line to 2.0 TDCi with up to 210hp for Edge ST-Line. Only higher-powered engines from each model's range are available with ST-Line.