FORD MAVERICK

The redesigned Ford Maverick expands its capability and style with the Intelligent 4WD System, a fresh look inside and out, standard anti-lock brakes and the advanced Hi-Fi sound entertainment system with rollover protection.

Maverick offers the advantages of a powerful 3.0L V6 engine, independent rear suspension, a rear liftgate with flip-up glass, outstanding roominess, cargo features and spaciousness. It is also the only small SUV designed to pass the rigorous Tough Truck testing given to all Ford trucks and SUVs.

As a leader in the small sport-utility segment, Ford Maverick attracts younger buyers to the Ford SUV lineup. The target customers are active singles and couples in their 20s and 30s, as well as those who are "young at heart." Maverick is fun-to-drive, agile, sporty, durable yet affordable and fuel-efficient transportation ideal for first-time SUV buyers or those seeking the attributes of an SUV in a more compact package.

The Duratec 30 V-6 engine is improved for the Ford Maverick with a smoother idle and more responsive part-throttle response thanks to new engine mounts and the sophisticated Black Oak powertrain management computer. With 200 peak horsepower, it is one of the most powerful engines in the segment.

The Ford Maverick has the new fully-automatic Intelligent 4WD System for even better traction and stability with smoother, more fuel-efficient operation. The computer-controlled system operates so transparently that most drivers will never notice it has engaged – except by being impressed with Maverick’s capability in slippery conditions.

For the Ford Maverick has a substantially re-fitted interior with a standard flow-through console and floor-mounted shifter, modern gauges, upgraded seat cushions and fabrics and more storage spaces. Maverick’s aggressive exterior is updated with new headlamps, fog lamps, an egg-crate grille, new front and rear fascias and new 16-inch aluminum wheels. The lower bumpers, front and rear, have stylized ribs.

With revisions to the body structure to improve performance in offset frontal crashes, a standard passenger-seat weight-sensing technology and the Personal Safety System™, the Ford Maverick is expected to be the first vehicle in its class to meet the newly amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 for occupant crash protection. The Ford-exclusive Safety Canopy™ rollover protection system is also available in the Ford Maverick. Head restraints and three-point safety belts are standard at all seating positions.

The Ford Maverick benefits from major engineering efforts to quiet the interior. Added sound-absorbing panels and tighter sealing measures reduce cabin noise, while the balance shaft on the new engine mounts on the Duratec 3.0 make the powertrains smoother than ever. Larger-diameter front shocks and a new front stabilizer system better absorb road impacts while maintaining Maverick’s hallmark driving dynamics.

Anti-lock brakes are newly standard on all models for 2005. The system features Quick Brake Assist, a power-assistance technology that can recognize hard braking and help the driver apply maximum braking force – for shorter stops. Discs are standard on at all four wheels.

SAFETY

FORD MAVERICK SETS A NEW STANDARD

• Expected to be first in class to meet revised Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208

• New standard Personal Safety System™

• Structural reinforcements for offset frontal crashes

The redesigned Ford Maverick has standard anti-lock brakes, and the Personal Safety System™ with passenger weight-sensing technology.

Topping the list of new safety and security features are:

• The standard Personal Safety System, a comprehensive restraint suite for frontal impacts that is designed to adjust to provide the best protection in a variety of crashes

• Occupant classification sensing for the front passenger air bag

• Structural reinforcements for offset frontal impacts

• Three-point safety belts and head restraints at all seating positions

The Ford Maverick becomes the next in a line of Ford Motor Company vehicles to come standard with the Personal Safety System, one of the industry’s most comprehensive suite of safety technologies. The system is designed to provide increased protection in many types of frontal crashes by analyzing crash factors and determining the proper response in milliseconds.

The system uses dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags capable of deploying at full or partial power. In less severe frontal crashes, air bags inflate with reduced force – or not at all – helping reduce the risk of injury due to the inflation of the air bag.

The system’s pretensioners tighten the front safety belts in the first moments of a crash, and energy management retractors gradually slacken the safety belt, if necessary, to help reduce the force of the belt on the occupant’s chest. A vehicle occupant’s best line of defense in crashes remains the safety belt.

The Maverick’s front structure is upgraded to provide increased protection in offset frontal crashes. In these types of accidents, only a portion of the front structure must bear the full brunt of the impact, and deformation of the passenger compartment can result. To help manage these crash forces, the front structural rails have structural composite reinforcements to tailor the rate at which they absorb energy and help prevent deformation of the passenger compartment.

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