Ford will offer its new adaptive steering technology on the all-new Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup and Ford Edge SUV to make it “easier to steer at all speeds.”

Ford says that despite the industry shift to electrically assisted steering, many vehicles, including its won, are relying on fixed steering gear ratios. The blue oval goes on to explain it has been awarded eight patents (though 11 more have been filed) for its fixed steering ratios, and it feels the Super Duty and Flex have found that proper balance between steering quickness and maneuverability at low speeds

Ford says its new class-exclusive adaptive steering on its new Super Duty finds that proper balance while also reducing driver fatigue, especially at low speeds. The system is contained in the steering wheel itself and features an electric motor, a small computer and a gear unit. Based on driver input and vehicle speed, adaptive steering can add or subtract rotations to driver input at the steering wheel. Ford says up to one full revolution can be saved at low speeds when steering lock-to-lock.

At low speeds, the adaptive steering system increases the angle of the front wheels as the steering wheel is turned, meaning the driver needs less input to steer. “At high speeds, the ratio is changed in such a way that vehicle response is more relaxed, more precise, and smoother than without the system,” Lodewijk Wijffels, Ford adaptive steering technical specialist.

Ford says this system provides “the best ride and steering of any Super Duty ever.” The Super Duty models will also include a specific setting for engaging tow/haul mode that further optimize how Super Duty and trailer react to steering input.