Selling a car in 120 countries has little point if people can't get comfortable in it so Ford went to incredible lengths to get the measurements of the all-new Focus just right.
That meant using data from the latest 3D body scans with anthroprometric information to support the claim that 97per cent of the world's adult population will find comfort in the new Ford Focus. ‘Phew’ - that's good news for Car Showroom as the scientific data supports our ‘bums-on-seats’ impression that the Ford Focus is a small car class leader for interior comfort!
Three years ago 12,000 Germans were scanned for a research project and this information was available to Ford, along with similar databases from China, Japan North America and South America. Other research has proven better health and diet in industrialised parts of the world during the last 150 years has led to an average 10cm increase in the height of humans.
“We use our global database that gives accurate size ranges of drivers in different parts of the world, explained Ralph Gesang, Ford’s German-based driving environment boss. “It shows not only heights, but also the different types of body statures. This information help us to ensure that more than 97 per-cent of the world's adult population can sit comfortably in the new Focus.
Using this information helped Ford develop the required seat travel and cushion shape as well as the adjustment range for the steering wheel and foot pedals of the new Focus. In addition, the 3D human models were visualised in developing the rear-seat head and legroom.
Regional differences also influence automotive interior design. For example motorists in Europe carry 1.5-litre water bottles, while the beverage on the road preferred in China is tea.
