Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year - Nov. 17, 2009

Redesigned mid-sized car takes prominent magazine award.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Motor Trend magazine named the Ford Fusion mid-sized sedan as its 2010 Car of the Year on Tuesday. The award includes both the gas-only and hybrid versions of the Fusion.

This year's Car of the Year was selected from among a field of 22 different cars all of which were newly introduced or, like the Fusion, substantially redesigned for the 2010 model year. The Fusion was first introduced in 2006 but has been substantially upgraded and redesigned for the 2010 model year.

"It's a credit to the [Ford] team to deliver a car in the hottest selling segment in the market and to make it absolutely competitive with the benchmarks," said Motor Trend editor-in-chief Angus McKenzie at an award presentation ceremony.
The benchmark cars in the mid-sized segment are generally considered to be the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, which have been the two top-selling cars in America for years.

McKenzie praised the Fusion for the excellence of all versions of the car including the 4-cylinder, V6 and hybrid models. "Another thing that impressed us was the attention to detail," McKenzie said. While the 2010 Fusion shares much of its engineering with the previous version, the car looked and felt like a completely new car, McKenzie said.

Ford, Subaru, VW win top safety picks - Autos- msnbc.com

WASHINGTON - Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen sit atop the U.S. insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its "top safety pick" on Wednesday to 19 passenger cars and eight SUV's for the 2010 model year. The institute substantially reduced the number of awards compared with 2009, because of tougher requirements for roof strength.

Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo unit received the most awards with six, followed by five awards apiece for Japanese automaker Subaru and German automaker Volkswagen AG and its Audi unit. Chrysler Group LLC received four awards followed by two each for Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Co. Toyota Motor Corp., BMW AG, Mazda Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. were shut out in the annual IIHS review.

Ford's recipients include the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS passenger cars and the Volvo S80 and C30 passenger cars and the XC60 and XC90. Ford said in a statement it is "committed to providing customers with safe vehicles for a broad range of real-world crash conditions."

Ford Active Park Assist Technology Wins Popular Science 2009 'Best Of What's New' Award

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) has won a 2009 "Best of What’s New" award for Active Park Assist, which uses ultrasonic-based sensors to help drivers parallel park with the touch of a button

Active Park Assist is another example of Ford’s continuing commitment to deliver industry-leading solutions that enhance the driver experience and provide value to the consumer
This is the third straight year that Ford Motor Company has been recognized with a Best of What’s New award: Active Park Assist (2009); EcoBoost(TM) engine technology (2008); Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler System (2008); Ford SYNC® (2007)

Ford Motor Company won a 2009 "Best of What’s New" award today from Popular Science, making this the third straight year Ford has been honored by the world’s leading science and technology magazine. Ford’s Active Park Assist technology won in the automotive category and will be featured in the publication’s December issue.

"We are honored to be recognized by Popular Science with a Best of What’s New award," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. "Active Park Assist is just one example of the smart technology features Ford is bringing to market not just for the sake of technology, but to meet the needs and wants of customers."

Active Park Assist uses sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide the vehicle into a parking space. The technology is a major leap forward in speed and ease of use compared with camera-reliant systems. The Ford system requires less driver interface and reduces the risk of selecting a parking spot that is too tight. Unlike competing systems, Active Park Assist also works in downhill parking situations, and is available as an optional feature on several 2010 models including Ford Escape and the Ford Flex.

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Ford Says Fusion Moves Into Top 10 Best-Selling U.S. Vehicles

Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. said the Fusion sedan has become one of the 10 best-selling U.S. vehicles for the first time on record demand.

Fusion sales this year reached 151,137 through early November, topping the full-year sales record for the midsized model of 149,552 in 2007, the company said in a statement. The 15 percent gain in the first 10 months of 2009 made it the most popular car for a U.S.-based automaker, Ford said. U.S. industry auto sales have fallen 25 percent this year.

Ford, the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy, said its avoidance of a government bailout this year has helped attract shoppers. Ford had 15.8 percent of the U.S. auto market through October, up from 14.8 percent a year earlier, according to research Autodata Corp. of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

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Ford 2010 Flex Active Park Assist

Jay Ward talks about how to use Active Park Assist on the 2010 Ford Flex.

The 2010 Ford Flex will feature Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. This technology is superior to the camera-reliant systems offered by competitors.

Ford to put air bags into back seat belts

DETROIT (AP) -- Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they're in the seat belts.

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall. Ford says it's the first automaker to mass produce the technology.

The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt. If the air bag is needed, the car sends a signal that releases the bag. It inflates more gently than a front air bag, and with cooler air, so it's safer for children.

Srini Sundararajan, the Ford engineer who was chiefly responsible for developing the seat belts, says the wider belts and bags help distribute crash forces across the occupant's chest, so there's less chance of a serious injury. They also help support the occupant's head and neck.

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Ford posts profit of nearly $1 billion - washingtonpost.com

Ford posted a third-quarter profit on Monday of nearly $1 billion, its first quarterly profit in more than a year, beating Wall Street expectations. Its North American operation posted its first profits since 2005.

"Our third-quarter results clearly show that Ford is making tremendous progress despite the prolonged slump in the global economy," Ford's president and chief executive, Alan Mulally, said in a statement. "While we still face a challenging road ahead, our One Ford transformation plan is working and our underlying business continues to grow stronger." Essentially, the company, the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy this year, has pared its costs enough to offset the weak market.

The company said its third-quarter revenue was $30.9 billion, down $800 million from the same period a year ago, but it showed a profit by significantly reducing costs. Over the past three years, Ford has closed more than 10 plants and cut 45 percent of its workforce in its North American division. This quarter, Ford cut its automotive structural costs by $1 billion, largely by lowering manufacturing and engineering costs.

Ford said it now expects to be "solidly profitable" in 2011, with "positive operating-related cash flow."

Microsoft Sync Demo and Information

Ford Now Has World Class Reliability

Consumer Reports' 2009 Vehicle Reliability results were released yesterday. Consumer Reports' press release reads: Ford has secured its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability.... About 90 percent (46 of 51) of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products were found to have average or better reliability.

The Consumer Reports survey measures vehicle quality in the first three years of service. The results show Fusion and Milan having better reliability than Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, and MKZ beating Acura TL and Lexus EX.

Not only do we continue to deliver consistent, strong initial quality results, but we can now claim excellence in long-term reliability. Superior craftsmanship is helping Ford establish a track record for reliability, while beating our Asian peers in the process.

Ford already holds the top spot in initial quality for having the fewest number of defects of any full-line manufacturer and is on par statistically with Toyota and Honda. Ford also is equal to Toyota in the percentage of customers satisfied with the quality of its products. [RDA Group's quarterly GQRS results]

Ford is challenging long-held beliefs that only Asian or luxury manufacturers lead in long-term durability and reliability. This is no longer true, making this a very good time for consumers to consider Ford when considering their next purchase decision.

Two years ago, the Fusion was on the cover of the newsstand issue announcing the 2007 Consumer Reports' Reliability Survey results. At the press conference, David Champion, auto test director for Consumer Reports, talked up Fusion and Milan's superb reliability results, but cautioned that the "real test" is how well the cars would perform over a three-year period.

Now they have their answer.

Top Gear Fiesta Review (Very Funny!)

Ford tops latest brand loyalty ratings from Experian Automotive

Ford Motor Co. vehicles accounted for six of the top 10 vehicles for customer brand loyalty, according to the most recent industry analyses from Experian Automotive. Ford Fusion, Ford Edge and Ford Five-Hundred owners showed the industry's highest brand loyalty, returning to buy a Ford Motor Co. vehicle 62.4 percent, 57.9 percent and 56 percent of the time, respectively, according to Experian. The Ford Freestyle (51.9 percent) was fifth, the Ford Escape (49.4 percent) was seventh, and the Ford Focus (47.57 percent) came in ninth.

"Ford had an outstanding performance for brand loyalty in the second quarter of 2009," said Jeff Anderson, director of Consulting and Analytics for Experian Automotive. "With six of the top 10 vehicles for customer brand loyalty, Ford is showing that its products are passing the most important test: turning happy customers into repeat buyers."

These loyalty findings, along with analysis of other industry trends, were the result of Experian Automotive's latest quarterly industry study looking at results from the first half of 2009. For a recorded presentation of Experian's full analysis go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/309875578.

2011 Ford Super Duty Powertrains coming Spring 2010

Taking NVH out of the 2010 Ford Taurus

Andrew Feder demonstrates to Mike Rowe how each 2010 Ford Taurus is tested for squeaks and rattles as it exits the assembly plant.

2009 Ford Driving Skills for Life

Ford Driving Skills for Life is a national award winning teen driver safety program and the most comprehensive teen driver program in the nation. Teens receive hands-on advanced training by some of the top driving instructors from across the nation. They will learn crucial skills in the four areas that experts have identified as most crucial in decreasing teen driving crashes and fatalities: speed management, space management, vehicle handling and hazard recognition. Best of all, the program is free for students.

http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/

Our Empty Lot After "Cash for Clunkers"

Here is an overhead photograph of Fox Valley Ford's lot right after the end of Cash for Clunkers program, our inventory was a third of what it normally has been.

Look on the left side of the picture and you can see all of the clunkers waiting to be picked up.

Don't worry, Fox Valley Ford has been working hard at rebuilding our inventory levels and we are quickly getting our great selection back!

Photo taken by Marc Damon

Owner of Fox Valley Ford interviewed by Fox Business - 09/01/2009

The video runs about 9 minutes and contains all of the sale figures released by Ford after the government's 'Cash for Clunkers' program ended.

Debt reduction pushes Ford to $2.3B 2Q profit - Yahoo! News

By KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON and TOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writers Kimberly S. Johnson And Tom Krisher, Ap Auto Writers – Thu Jul 23, 8:16 am ET

DEARBORN, Mich. – Helped by a lightened debt load, Ford Motor Co. posted a surprise second-quarter profit of $2.8 billion Thursday, following the worst loss in company history a year earlier. Shares rose 8 percent.

The net profit ends a string of four straight quarterly losses for the nation's second-largest automaker, which has gained U.S. market share at the expense of crosstown rivals Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Co., both of which spent time under bankruptcy court supervision. Ford last went into the black in the first quarter of 2008, with net profit of $70 million.
However, excluding its debt reduction and other items, Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford would have reported a quarterly loss, though smaller than Wall Street expected.

Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said the improved second-quarter results are a sign that the company's cost cuts and emphasis on new products are paying off. He stuck to Ford's earlier prediction that it would return to annual profitability in 2011.
"We're 18 months away, I guess," he told reporters on Thursday, adding that a full year of profitability hinges on improved auto sales in the U.S. and Europe.

Ford reported second-quarter net income of 69 cents a share, compared with a loss of $8.7 billion, or $3.89 a share, for the same quarter a year ago.

The profit came because of a $3.4 billion gain due to debt reduction. In March Ford swapped stock and cash to reduce its loan and bond debt by $7.7 billion. The company has cut its debt by $10.1 billion for 2009, and is likely to take further steps this year to lower debt and raise cash.

But excluding special items, including the debt reduction, Ford would have lost $424 million, or 21 cents a share. Still, that beat analysts' expectations of a per share loss of 50 cents on revenue of $24.7 billion. Excluding special items, the company lost just over $1 billion in the second quarter of last year.

Ford spent $1 billion more in cash than it earned in the quarter, compared to $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
Revenue totaled $27.2 billion, $11 billion less than a year earlier.
Ford is predicting a modest improvement in U.S. sales next year to about 12.2 million light vehicles. Sales so far this year have run below an annual rate of 10 million.

The company said it made $1.8 billion in structural cost cuts during the second quarter, with $1.2 billion coming in North America.
"We continue to make really good progress on cost reductions," Booth said.

Ford's shares rose 51 cents, or 8.2 percent, to $6.89 in pre-market trade on Thursday.

Twist Of Fate Or Justice Served? Ford Outsells Toyota For Third Month In A Row - AutoSpies Auto News

"For the third month in a row, Ford Motor Co. outsold the Japanese juggernaut in the United States, still a crucial and rich market amid this nagging recession. In June alone, the Dearborn automaker reported an 11 percent year-over-year decline in monthly sales to 148,153 cars and trucks, compared to Toyota's 34.6 percent slide to 131,654 vehicles.

And this: General Motors Corp. -- beleaguered and bankrupt, its dealer body jittery and brand image suspect, its only willing lender the Treasury -- so far this year has outsold Toyota 947,518 to 770,449, according to Autodata Corp. Partly evidence of Toyota's strong presence in, and dependence on, the imploding California market?

Yes, but what else?

For the first three months of the year, Toyota lost more money than Ford and even GM. Since then, the Japanese automaker has replaced its president with a scion of the founding family, 53-year-old Akio Toyoda, who promises a 'back to basics' push for the industry's richest automaker even as more troubles emerged in the first weeks of his new assignment."

"Obama signs 'clunkers' bill; $3,500 or $4,500 for eligible trade-ins July 1-Nov. 1"

President Obama on June 24 signed into law legislation that includes the so-called “cash-for-clunkers” program, which provides up to $4,500 for consumers who trade-in older vehicles for a new fuel-efficient vehicle.

The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act of 2009 is for eligible trade-ins for new vehicles purchased or leased until Nov. 1 or until the $1 billion appropriated for the program is exhausted.

But the U.S. Transportation Department has until late July to iron out several details in the act, and the Illinois Revenue Department has not ruled whether sales tax would be due on the $3,500 or $4,500 vouchers. Dealers are cautioned that any “clunkers” transactions completed before the DOT publishes the program’s rules may not qualify for reimbursement.

The CATA will relay the evolving news as it develops over the next several weeks. When enough information is available, the National Automobile Dealers Association will conduct a series of Webinars to educate dealers on how the program works and how to comply with its rules.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created an official, government-run Web site, http://www.cars.gov/, with full details about the CARS program. Dealers should avoid other unauthorized sites that reportedly have surfaced, trying to obtain dealership information to register them for the program.

Under the program, cars rated at 18 miles per gallon or lower in combined city and highway driving could be turned in for cash vouchers good toward the purchase or lease of a new car. New cars rated at least 4 mpg higher would earn a $3,500 voucher, while a 10 mpg improvement would earn a $4,500 voucher.

Trucks, including vans and most SUVs, are eligible, but the new vehicle must average at least 18 mpg and get at least 2 mpg more than the old vehicle to qualify for a $3,500 voucher. A $4,500 voucher goes to a new truck getting 5 mpg more.

Trade-ins must be driveable, not more than 25 model-years older than the new car, and registered and insured by the owner for at least the past 12 months.

For the clunkers, the legislation is a death sentence. Participating dealers must certify that they transfer clunkers to an entity that will crush or shred the vehicles, to keep them off the streets.
Dealers must register to participate in the program. The procedure to register is not finalized.
“Because a customer’s decision to purchase usually comes down to the monthly payment,” said NADA Chairman John McEleney, “a $3,500 credit translates to $75 to $100 a month in savings, which is very significant.”

Ford Transit Connect brings european practicality to commercial vehicle market

Consider this more a preview than a review because only part of a day was spent with the Ford Transit Connect. But if my first impressions are correct (and they usually are with automobiles) this little commercial truck that has been on sale in Europe since 2002 could be quite a hit in the United States.

As Ford demonstrated during a program in Manhattan at the end of May, this is going to be a good vehicle for small businesses. Ford chose Manhattan (as well as five other cities across the U.S.) to show how well the Transit Connect handled itself in an urban setting but I see this van being a big hit in the suburbs and smaller cities, too.

The primary reason is going to be its cargo capacity. This little truck can swallow up a lot of items. The Transit Connect has 135.3 cubic feet of cargo space and can hold a payload capacity up to 1,600 pounds - a larger payload than the full size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck, according to Ford. Plus, and this part absolutely intrigues me, the Transit Connect is rated at 22 city, 25 highway EPA miles per gallon. That’s unheard of for a delivery vehicle. (As a matter of fact, the city mileage is better than a 4-cylinder Toyota Camry, which is quite an accomplishment.)

The Transit Connect is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial vehicle platform to meet and exceed the needs of small-business owners and entrepreneurs. To prepare Transit Connect for United States duty, the powertrain was upgraded to include a proven Duratec 2.0-liter dual-overhead cam (DOHC) I-4 engine and a four-speed automatic overdrive transaxle. Several design details, including the grille and interior touches, have been updated to lend the vehicle a fresh, new look for its American debut.

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