/articles/2006/07/ford_pays_atten

Jim Mateja wrote a terrific column in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune about how Ford decided to study the way Americans are getting larger and how that impacts car ergonomics. The last time the average American weight and size was studied was in 1965, so Ford did its own test in 2000 and discovered the average person has gained 27 pounds and a few inches in the hips.

What does that mean to the carmaker? Ford took the new numbers and crafted appropriately sized mannequins to make sure the upcoming Edge SUV would accommodate more sizes, despite being billed as a “compact” SUV.

[Ford Helping Heftier People Fasten Their (Longer) Seat Belts, Chicago Tribune – registration required]