DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Some luxury Lincoln models will include an automatic parallel parking feature next year, U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. says.
Seeking to match offerings from other luxury brands such as Toyota's upscale Lexus, Ford says the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover will feature sensors mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide it into a parking space, The Detroit News reported Saturday.
In what they contend is an improvement over the Lexus system, Ford officials say that when drivers wish to park their Lincoln, they simply push a button to activate the system and cruise the street until their car finds a suitable parking space, the newspaper said.
When a spot is found, the car automatically stops, asks the driver to confirm, then kicks in the power steering system to guide it into the space as the driver controls the gas pedal and brakes.
The News said the Lexus system uses cameras a touch-screen display to select the parking space. Ford has not yet announced pricing for the feature, part of a push to bolster the Lincoln brand, which the company sees as critical to its success in the U.S. market.
