The 2017 Ford Super Duty van is expected to be the first heavy-duty vehicle in the United States to offer adaptive steering. This feature will help drivers maneuver the truck into and out of tight spaces.
Among other things, adaptive steering enhances efficiency by continually adjusting the ratio between the front wheel rotation and the driver steering wheel input. Contained in the van’s steering wheel, the system uses a small computer, an electric motor, and a gearing unit to amplify the rotation of the wheels about their angle.
This technology does a lot for the driver. These vehicles do virtually everything -- from backing up to a trailer hitch, to cruising down highways whilst hauling large loads. The adaptive steering system, now delivering up to 30 percent more steering input, is bound to make the process of ticking the boxes on your to-do list a breeze.