Ford Showcases Its Technical Prowess
Ford is using virtual reality to design their cars.
I took a break from my normal writing schedule this week to leave my home office for a quick trip to Dearborn, Michigan, global headquarters for the Ford Motor Company. When I say quick what I mean to say is that I left midday on Wednesday and was back home Thursday evening, the quickest turn around I’ve ever done for a road trip.
Auto Trends
Though my time away was short, I learned a lot. That information I’ll be sharing here over the next few weeks, drawing attention to some of the “auto trends” Ford is establishing, including its leadership in virtual car building, small car safety and technical enhancements shaping the way that you drive your car.
But first let me thank Meg, my contact with Ford who arranged my trip (thanks, Meg!) Along with some three dozen or so other people, we were treated to a behind the scenes look at some things Ford does to help bring its products to life. Meg contacted me earlier this month to ask me if I’d be interested in visiting Ford and I immediately said yes. I’ve been writing extensively about Ford all along and believed that this trip would help me gain a better understanding of what the Blue Oval is up to.
Alan Mulally
Happily, the company I visited is a far cry from the one that existed just a few years ago, a global automaker whose purpose, vision and, if I might add, profit is strong. Alan Mulally, who did wonders for Boeing, has been doing more of the same for Ford and it shows. Each of my Ford contacts was enthusiastic and seemed to love what they were doing. Yes, I’m jealous: not too many people get to do what they love and are compensated for it.
What I will share with you today is an overview of what I’ll be discussing here in the weeks ahead. Essentially, our Thursday schedule was split into two parts: the secretive design labs were visited in the morning and the track testing was done in the afternoon. My part of the visit was low tech: I left the PC and recording device at home so that I might listen to what Ford had to say, asking questions and having certain points clarified.
Sneak Preview
I also caught a glimpse of an upcoming product Ford mistakenly showed us—but suffice to say I don’t have the evidence to present here. All I can say is that I know what a certain upcoming release looks like, a picture I’ll keep in my head! When Ford realized their mistake they asked those of us with cameras to erase that image. We’ll see over the next few days if something doesn’t surface on Jalopnik or Autoblog…if it does, I may either confirm or deny same.
Anyway, one of the most interesting things Ford is doing is they are beginning to make the transition from using clay mock ups for designing their cars to utilizing 3D virtual reality. Yes, the same technology used by Hollywood in movies such as Polar Express has invaded the automotive design studio. This change helps to lower costs, allows Ford to design products faster and make vehicles with improved fit and finish. Ford wins by building you a better product.
Shout Outs
Among the team of people who joined me in Dearborn were Holly Day of AutoTrader.com; Nelson Abalos and Jordan Cary of PixelatedGeek.com who, by the way, have some terrific photos of the Ford Start concept and an interview with the designer, Jeff Nield on their website; and Jeff Powers of Geekazine.com.
I also met Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and RawVoice; Corvida Raven of SheGeeks.net; as well as Tom Torbjornsen and Mike Sommer of America’s Car Show. These were just a few of the many folks I crossed paths during my visit.
Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company
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