Testing Services

Case Study: Ford

The Ford Focus is a class leading car in the European C segment which set new standards for handling and steering when it was launched.  MIRA vehicle dynamics played a fundamental part in the steering and handling development of this vehicle for four years; covering the period from the first mules right through to ‘Job 1’.  Throughout this period a team of MIRA and Ford engineers, based at MIRA, refined the steering and handling of the Focus as well as providing all dynamics related benchmarking and component test services to the programme.

• 4 year programme in support of Ford Product Development Team (11 Full time Engineers at peak)
• Areas of Involvement:
  • Competitor benchmarking
  • Target setting -Steering, test & development
  • Handling, test & development
  • System and Component test
  • Production sign-off
                                                         

• Excellent Press reviews:
  • Car of Year 1999
  • “The Ford Focus is as good to drive as it is to look at.” Top Gear
              

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Track Record: Ford Courier

After the success of the Focus a Fiesta based van and pickup was developed.  The front suspension employed the same layout as the base Fiesta vehicle but the rear twist-beam was changed to a more robust leaf sprung live axle configuration.  The programme was run in a similar manner to that of the Focus but MIRA now had additional responsibility for the ride performance of the vehicle.  This was a two year programme based mainly at MIRA, but also involved MIRA support in South America.

• Fiesta based Van (Europe) & Pickup (Brazil)
• Programme in support of Ford Product Development Team
• Areas of Involvement :
  • Competitor benchmarking
  • Target setting
  • Steering, test & development
  • Ride & Handling, test & development
  • System test

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Track Record: Transit Connect

Utilising the experience gained in the Focus and Fiesta programmes, MIRA was chosen as the principal ‘dynamics’ partner for the development of the ‘Transit Connect’; a medium sized van with Focus based front suspension and a live rear axle.  Again, MIRA had responsibility for key ride, handling and steering attributes and supported development activities in Spain, Belgium and, of course, the UK.

• Programme in support of Ford Product Development Team
• Focus based front suspension
• Live axle rear suspension
• SWB and LWB variants
• Areas of Involvement :
  • Target setting
  • Ride, test & development
  • Handling, test & development
  • Steering , test & development
  • System & component test

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