Ford debuts Blind Spot Mirror on '09 Edge
Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Ford Edge
The blind spot has been a consistent safety issue for automobiles since before the invention of the C-pillar. Some automakers have recently tackled the problem with complicated warning systems that beep when your blind spot is about to cause an accident. Ford is taking a different but no less effective low-tech route with the introduction of its Blind Spot Mirror on the 2009 Edge. The technology behind the Blind Spot Mirror is simple; it's little more than a secondary convex mirror in the top right corner of the traditional side mirror that gives a clear view of what before was only visible by craning your neck left and right. We've seen this type of tech used before on aftermarket mirrors for towing applications, but it makes just as much sense on an unencumbered passenger vehicle.
Ford came up with the mirror in response to its own customer research that showed drivers were 76% more confident behind the wheel when using the mirror. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has led the Blue Oval to introduce the Blind Spot Mirror across its lineup as quickly as possible, starting with the 2009 Edge. Check out Ford's official presser after the jump and view the '09 Edge in our gallery below.
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 6, 2008 - Ford is moving quickly to address driver demands for increased visibility with an industry-first innovation, the Blind Spot Mirror, pulling ahead the feature's introduction by one year to launch this fall as standard equipment on the 2009 Ford Edge.
"Ford is committed to delivering innovative features that provide a better driving experience for the customer," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "The Blind Spot Mirror is the latest example of our strategy to move fast and to be industry leaders in enhancing the ownership experience."
Ford's Blind Sport Mirror answers customers' demands for better visibility as they change lanes or parallel park. This affordable technology will debut on the 2009 Edge later this year and eventually will be offered on several future Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles as standard equipment.
Blind Spot Mirror
The Blind Spot Mirror is a traditional side view mirror designed with a secondary convex spotter in the top outer corner, which provides a view of the driver's blind spot. When traffic enters the driver's blind spot on either side of the vehicle, it is visible in the secondary convex mirror, alerting the driver of potential danger.
Ford's push to develop the Blind Spot Mirror and migrate it across its lineup comes as a result of careful customer research, said Kelly Kohlstrand with Ford's Advanced Product Marketing and Technology Planning team.
"We're committed to offering new features that address unmet customer needs," Kohlstrand said. "Customers told us that visibility is important to them and that they specifically desired a more effective outside rearview mirror."
Early drive clinics conducted by Ford show that the Blind Spot Mirror is a feature that customers want and value. Nearly 76 percent of focus group clinic participants said the mirror improved their confidence while driving. In addition, the participants said the learning curve or adjustment to the using the Blind Spot Mirror was minimal.
Ford's Blind Spot Mirror provides a more seamless solution than present aftermarket offerings, as it uses one continuous glass surface and is robust to the elements. The factory-installed spotter mirror is specifically designed for the vehicle - car or truck - it provides an optimized field of view.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Matt 2:34PM (8/06/2008)
I wonder how much this will cost? If a extremely small refrigerator costs as much as the one in my house (I'm looking at you Flex...), then this should be extremely overpriced as well.
But, maybe people will pay hundreds of dollars to NOT have to look over their shoulder...
Reply
3cubed 2:43PM (8/06/2008)
"This affordable technology will debut on the 2009 Edge later this year and eventually will be offered on several future Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles as standard equipment."
I'm guessing not much if anything since they plan on making it standard equipment.
Mark Ryan 2:45PM (8/06/2008)
Don't even need to turn your head, just properly adjust your mirrors! I still glance before I merge because it's wise to not put 100% faith in mirrors, but with your mirrors adjusted more outward than most people position them (you should not see the sides of your car in your mirrors) you can eliminate blind spots, at least as they relate to the lanes directly adjacent to yours.
Osedoht 4:27PM (8/06/2008)
Interestingly, this is really only useful as most drivers do not use
their mirrors to fullest of their ability. The guys over at Car Talk
explain it very well:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/mirrors/step1.html
You too can have this amazing "feature" on your car ... now!
iomatic 5:26PM (8/06/2008)
Mark is exactly right. Just position your mirror correctly, and there's no need for fancy stickums.
Benfolio 5:10PM (8/06/2008)
I've been using that system for years now.
I love it.
Wife hates it, so every time I driver her car I make sure to screw up the mirrors for her.
Only failed me once because a motorcycle had taken up residence in my right blind spot, but I still do a visual check before I change lanes, so I saw him.
Randy 10:26PM (8/06/2008)
Matt... (first poster). I think you just showed how no matter what is said about Ford, you'll bash them! Nice way to show your colors!
Thank God Ford is addressing a challenge with a "standard equipment" solution that makes it possible for everyone to afford the luxury of seeing in their blind spot without spending big bucks on alert systems, fancy flashers and other techno gadgets and respectively saving lives and saving accidents from happening, even though it could be corrected on most-any car with proper positioning of the mirror!
Good Job Ford
John 9:42AM (8/07/2008)
Matt, You are getting so tedious. Why don't you just admit that you have nothing useful to say and all you want to do is put down Ford in as many ways as your little mind can think of.
Give it up you idiot.
Here are some samples from your recent posts.
Ford debuts Blind Spot Mirror on '09 Edge {Autoblog}
Aug 6th 2008 2:33PM I wonder how much this will cost? If a extremely small refrigerator costs as much as the one in my house (I'm looking at you Flex...), then this should be extremely overpriced as well.
But, maybe people will pay hundreds of dollars to NOT have to look over their shoulder...
2009 Ford F-150 officially tows 11,300 pounds {Autoblog}
Aug 5th 2008 3:13PM This has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Does Ford realize that they make a F-250, F-350, and F-450?
Why does a 1/2 ton truck need to tow that much? Why does a 1/2 ton truck need a staircase to access the bed?
Ford should be congratulated for making their trucks uglier and more of a pain to use with every refresh.
Scion sales are down, brand image in flux {Autoblog}
Aug 4th 2008 7:55PM Bad news for the Flex.
Ford, GM considering joint engine development {Autoblog}
Aug 4th 2008 1:03PM GM already has their own "EcoBoost" technology. Only difference, is that GM realizes that DI and turbos is nothing special...
The Pontiac Solstice, Cobalt SS, Sky Redline and others all have DI and turbos.
If Ford were smart, they would just stop making their boat anchors...I mean...engines, and just exclusively use GM engines and trans.
Spy Shots: Chevy Cruze shows off its interior {Autoblog}
Aug 2nd 2008 1:03PM Wow...just from the pictures alone you can tell that this interior is MUCH better than the upcoming Ford Party...err...Fiesta.
Makes the Fiesta look like a Festiva...
Honeywell tapped to provide turbos for Ford {Autoblog}
Jul 31st 2008 11:29AM I don't think the Flex will be around long enough to see egoboost engines...
Flex designer casualty of Ford bloodletting {Autoblog}
Jul 29th 2008 12:58PM Spike:
How is the Flush selling?
I can't imagine too well with it's cost and gas mileage but I might be wrong.
I assume you meant Flex...and it isn't selling. Ford has already announced that they are cutting production of their xB.
Flex designer casualty of Ford bloodletting {Autoblog}
Jul 29th 2008 12:52PM I wonder if Ford let him keep his T-Square?
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images {Autoblog}
Jul 21st 2008 11:19PM "Christian:
Oh and it has 500hp, which neither of these have."
Actually, the GT"500" has 447 HP...and is a slow, ugly pig of a car that is out-handled by a 24K Cobalt SS.
Not so much of a "Mustang" as it is a donkey.
Ford brings 2010 Mustang out to play at Road America {Autoblog}
Jul 20th 2008 9:04PM Why would Ford go to the trouble of bringing the car there, making a "pat-myself-on-the-back" press release...and show nothing? These are extremely hard core fans of the Mustang and all they do is show what we have been seeing for weeks in spy photos.
It would have been MUCH better PR of they revealed the car at this Mustang gathering. Give something back to their most loyal fans, and reveal the car at the same time.
Next Page »
Randy 3:55PM (8/07/2008)
And to top it off, Matt likely longs for a Mustang!
Someone's a closet Ford fan!
Matt..... It's okay! You can come out! We'll still be your virtual car buddies! :) Just say "I LOVE FORD" or "FORD COUNTRY IS MY COUNTRY TOO" or maybe "I WON'T QUIT YOU"....
wolfgang 4:18PM (9/13/2008)
Cost for the feature probably pretty low since it's being taken standard across all vehicle lines. Would it be worth $10-20 to you or pretty much nothing? Does seem like it would make more sense to just change the US laws and allow convex glass on the drivers side like most countries do. That would probably give similar performance cheaper
MJK 2:37PM (8/06/2008)
It's official, America is to fat/ lazy to turn their head.
Reply
Dustin 2:47PM (8/06/2008)
So then obviously too lazy to go to an auto parts store and pay $2 for one of these little mirrors, as well.
Alex 3:18PM (8/06/2008)
I'm sorry but your response is stupid and a clear attempt to just rip on americans (not saying their aren't a lot of fat & lazy ones though.) There are times when you need to make a quick lane change to avoid something that unexpectedly comes into your path. Having that mirror there allows the driver to be monitoring their blind spots as they drive just as a good driver would be doing with their rearview. There are going to be those couple of times where you won't have time to turn your head and check your blind spot and you will have to depend on the knowledge of the situation that you already have to make a decision. Don't really get what's fat and lazy about helping drivers be more aware of their surroundings.
Alex 3:19PM (8/06/2008)
I guess you consider Americans fat/lazy when we put on a seat belt too. I mean after all we could just lock our arms.
luiscor82 2:38PM (8/06/2008)
Wow very new technology! why are the simpilest solutions always so late. That goes for all automakers. anyone remember old dodges that had high and low beams controled by a foot press, or 80's cadillacs that used sensors to automatically go from high to low beams?
Reply
71cuda 3:17PM (8/06/2008)
Hey, I liked the floor mounted high/low selector!
DKB_SATX 3:19PM (8/06/2008)
Almost all American cars had a floor-mounted dimmer switch until 1980 or so. And GM had auto-dimming headlights in the '50s.
Icon149 2:37PM (8/06/2008)
i used to drive a little mercedes Benz A klasse in europe, it had a mirror that at the outside inch and a half to two inch mark curved out just a hair to give you a much wider angle and a view of the blind spot. but because it was a smooth transition and not a completely seperate mirror i found it to be much nicer and easier to use then the mirror in a mirror which ends up using regular mirror surface (making it less useful) for the to small blindspot mirror. i was amazed at how well the little mirror on that mercedes worked and have missed it ever since. i feel like the mirrors on my merican car don't allow me to see much of anything!
wonder why no one else has done this with a side view mirror, it was the only thing about that little car i really liked!
Reply
Greg 3:04PM (8/06/2008)
Those mirrors aren't legal in the US. They are pretty standard in Europe. US government has been stopping the use of them here because they basically don't know how to label them. We call them aspheric mirrors. They are convex on the inboard side and transition into an aspherical curve towards the outer edge.
Derek 10:35PM (8/06/2008)
Greg, that's interesting because my Dads (US market) SAAB has just that type of mirror. He hates it though. Of course, he knows how to properly align mirrors.