Virtual technology helps Ford fit vehicles to large Americans

摘要

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. engineers Mark Anderson and Peter Kalergis like large vehicles. Anderson, 48, is 6 feet tall and weighs 350 pounds. Kalergis, 42, is 6 feet 3 inches tall and 348 pounds. "I look for head clearance," Kalergis says. If the roofline is too low, "it feels too claustrophobic." With U.S. drivers taller and wider than ever, Ford's challenge is to ensure comfort, safety and mobility for large drivers while still accommodating smaller drivers. Obesity in the United States has increased dramatically in the past two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Nine states report obesity rates of over 30 percent.