The new 2013 Ford Fusion was designed with allergy sufferers in mind. According to Ford engineers, over 100 materials and components were tested in the design process. The results avoid, or greatly eliminate, latex, hexavalent chromium and nickel. In addition, the cabin air filters on the new Fusion prevent airborne particles, including dust, spores, fungus and pollen, from entering the vehicle.
“Allergies affect large numbers of people, so anything we can do to reduce potential allergens inside Ford vehicles we do through rigorous, controlled testing,” said Linda Schmalz, supervisor of Core Material Engineering for Ford.
All components in high touch areas, such as seats, steering wheel, door handles, shifters and armrests passed allergen testing.
These new advancements are just part of an ongoing process by Ford to improve the lives of drivers. In 2011 Ford began a series of research projects that included medical device connectivity in vehicles, cloud-based health management services and mobile app integration. The SYNC Voice Control of Allergy Alert App allows drivers to check the allergy, pollen, asthma, flu and UV conditions of the area they are visiting.
Have you experienced any of Ford’s new health and wellness developments first hand? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Ramie A. Tritt, MD, President of Atlanta ENT
