What's all this about?
Ford is bringing in yet another bit of autonomous driving technology, which we're not all that happy about.
Why not?
Because this one could stop you getting a speeding ticket.
Eh? And you're not happy about this? Why?
As noble as it is to try to help prevent the camera vans from trapping drivers, knowing what the speed limit is and regulating your speed accordingly are surely key parts of the driver's remit. For us, it removes another layer of responsibility from the humans inside the car.
OK, enough carping. How does it work?
Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL) utilises a windscreen-mounted camera, Adjustable Speed Limiter (ASL) and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) to 'read' road signs. The driver sets a maximum speed using steering wheel controls (of anything between 20- and 120mph, although on the latter score you'd need to be in Germany for it to be legal) and the car then monitors road signage. If the active limit on the road drops below the pre-set speed, ISL automatically slows the vehicle.
Does it brake the car?
No, it cuts fuel to the engine to ensure smoother deceleration, so if you're going downhill and the car is coasting faster than the limit, ISL sounds an alarm telling you to intervene. It also works with onboard satnav to ensure the limit is known when you're out on a country road where the signs are a long distance apart.
This doesn't sound too bad to me.
Fair enough, maybe it's just us. Anyway, you can order it now on the S-Max (from £24,545) but as both ASL and TSR are fitted to Focus, Mondeo and Kuga models, expect to see it spreading throughout the Ford range soon.
Matt Robinson - 24 Mar 2015