Ford has decided not to make its North American debut of the Evos Concept at the North American International Auto Show press days but instead wait a few days and bring it to the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It's a demonstration that this concept is more about its technology than its automotive prowess.
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As Ford explains it, the Ford Evos Concept embodies the company's new global design language while providing a glimpse at Ford's technology future highlighted by the use of cloud computing to enhance the driving experience. It's the cloud computing that is making it an ideal match for CES 2012, which runs Jan. 10-13.
For manufacturers, the in-car technological experience has become almost as important as the powertrain experience. Sure, people want to go fast and get great fuel economy, but they also want to be dazzled by the latest technology in their vehicles. It's one reason Ford and Hyundai, just to name two companies, are so heavily invested in interactive technology that goes beyond anything seen even just a couple years ago.
"Today, drivers have to adapt to the features and capabilities of their car," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford chief technical officer and leader of the company's global Research and Innovation team. "The Evos Concept changes the paradigm of how you interact with your car. Our vision is that the car should seamlessly adapt to the driver taking the driving experience to a whole new level of personalization and convenience."
The Evos Concept integrates technology in a holistic way meant to enrich the driving experience. By exchanging data with the cloud, the Evos extends the connected lifestyle from home and office to the vehicle, providing new possibilities for personalization and adaptability of the car. Ford offers a demonstration of its future driving technology on YouTube.
Through integration of on-board data about driver preferences with cloud-based information such as work schedules, music and weather conditions, and local data delivered through vehicle-to-vehicle communications, Evos Concept aims to make life simpler. "The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute," said Mascarenas.
Through integration of on-board data about driver preferences with cloud-based information such as work schedules, music and weather conditions, and local data delivered through vehicle-to-vehicle communications, Evos Concept aims to make life simpler. "The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute," said Mascarenas. Ford also offers a video that demonstrates what it sees will be the personalized driving experience of the future.
By the way, Ford has posted a host of videos about the Evos concept on You Tube. Click on either of the above links and look in the right column to see professionally produced videos.
Ford researchers have also incorporated technologies to enhance driver health and wellness while at the wheel of the Evos concept. Features such as the heart-rate monitoring seat and certified allergy-free interiors connect to the cloud to monitor the physical state and workload of the driver, and adjust the driving experience accordingly. "Our wellness research and technologies are focused on relieving driver stress and enhancing a driver's situational awareness," said Mascarenas. "Drivers around the world are spending more time behind the wheel, and the car should not be another stress point in their lives."
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