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Saginaw, Mich. — Excuse me. Did you say electric power steering? Why yes, yes we did.
One of the newest features of the 2011 Shelby GT500 unveiled Feb. 8 is what Ford calls EPAS, electric power-assisted steering. The company tapped to supply this cutting edge technology is Nexteer Automotive, and it’s no wonder. Nexteer has been offering similar parts since 1999.
The rack-assisted electric power steering system
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The rack-assisted electric power steering system offered on the 2011 Mustang is just one of the products created by Nexteer, which claims to be the only tier one automotive supplier committed exclusively to wheel-to-wheel advanced steering and driveline systems. Ford’s EPAS will, the company says, improve the car’s performance on the street and at the pumps.
"This steering technology will turn a lot of heads," said Ted Seeger, Nexteer’s global chief engineer for electric steering. "Although it seems counterintuitive that a high-performance sports car includes a green, responsive electric power steering system, muscle-car enthusiasts will appreciate the enhanced steering feel and handling. It won't be long before more sports cars use EPS for these benefits and the increased fuel efficiency it provides."
Nexteer-brand EPS systems achieve up to four per cent fuel saving over traditional hydraulic steering by eliminating the hydraulic pump, hoses and fluids and replacing them with a high-efficiency motor. The motor draws power only when the driver needs power-steering assistance, as opposed to the hydraulic steering which draws power continuously from the engine.
Less fuel burned means fewer emissions. It also means as much as three horsepower at the wheels. Since 1999, officials say Nexteer Automotive (the former steering division of Delphi) has put more than 12 million EPS units on the road globally, saving nearly 800 million gallons of fuel.
All 2011 Mustangs will carry the Nexteer EPAS, not just the Shelby GT500.
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On top of providing the Mustang’s steering muscle, Nexteer has column, pinion and rack-assisted EPS systems in mass production for a full range of vehicle sizes and classes from small cars to large trucks.
"We are planning $400 million in future investments for our operations, technology and equipment in the coming years, a majority of which is earmarked for green steering technologies like EPS," said Mike Richardson, the steering business unit vice-president. "We have a global footprint that will be optimized to support our diverse customer base around the world, including NAFTA-produced EPS for Ford's Mustang."
Nexteer Automotive is a global steering and driveline business dedicated to electric and hydraulic steering systems, steering columns and driveline products for original equipment manufacturers. The company has 6,200 employees, 22 manufacturing plants, six engineering centers and 14 customer service centers located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive's customers include GM, Fiat, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler and PSA Peugeot Citroen, as well as automakers in India, China and South America.
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