Ford Adapta Simulator Helping Patients Relearn How To Drive

March 3, 2023 10:51 am

Ford’s e-racing outfit – Team Fordzilla – recently won a prestigious award for providing an adaptive simulator for virtual racing events dubbed the Ford Adapta Simulator in Spain that accurately replicate the feel of a real race car – albeit for people with reduced mobility. However, FoMoCo’s mission to help everyone not only enjoy the thrill of sim racing – but also develop their regular driving skills for the road – isn’t finished just yet, as the Ford Adapta Simulator is now helping folks re-learn how to drive after they’ve suffered from traumatic medical events.

The Ford Adapta Simulator is now on loan to the National Paraplegic Hospital of Toledo in Spain, where it will help patients learn the skills they need to return to driving. The simulator – which was designed in a collaboration between Team Fordzilla Spain, Ford Adapta, Fundación ONCE, and Hi-Speed – incorporates elements like a steering wheel with paddles that allow the accelerator and brakes to be operated manually, making it easier for those with reduced mobility to operate it.

This news was announced at a special ceremony at the hospital, where Ford Spain and long-time partner Fundación ONCE also brought along a special Ford Mustang Mach-E that has been adapted for use by people with reduced mobility. Just like the Fiord Adapta Simulator, this first of a kind Mach-E has a special hand-held throttle and braking system. However, these efforts are nothing new, as Ford Adapta has been helping to improve mobility for people with disabilities in more than 90 Spanish cities since its launch in 2014.

“We have been working for the disability and universal accessibility community for more than 20 years,” said Ford of Spain president, Jesús Alonso. “We will continue to promote initiatives such as this one that allow us to enjoy driving and bring innovation, sustainability, and electrification closer to the disability community.”

We’ll have more on the Ford Adapta simulator soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.