Fiesta debuts as technology platform
A car that tweets its thoughts while driving? Yeah, Ford has one of those: @AJtheFiesta will tweet updates as part of a team of Ford engineers and University of Michigan students embarking on the first social media-connected road trip from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif. The trip marks the conclusion of the American Journey 2.0 research project engaging students and Ford's Research & Advanced Engineering group to create auto-centric cloud-based apps. Stops at three major universities will help build buzz about Ford vehicles while showing the company is a leader in bringing together the automobile and the Internet. more...
Alan Hall | ahall32@ford.com | 313.594.3744
Ford leads industry in collision insurance cost ratings
Ford is working to reduce insurance costs for consumers to both lower repair costs when needed and help drive down premiums. The result: NHTSA reports the company had 10 vehicles that led their segments in lowest costs during the 2007 to 2009 model years. They include the Ford Focus, Taurus and F-150. To boot, nearly one third of Ford vehicles finished in the top three in their segment - better than any other automaker. more...
Wes Sherwood | wsherwoo@ford.com | 313.390.5660
Ford drives green with sustainable printing
In the past year alone Ford has reduced its use of paper made exclusively from virgin sources by 6,000 tons - the equivalent of a loaded freight train with two locomotives and 100 cars. Ford has done this by increasingly using paper from recycled content for all high-volume, consumer and employee printing projects including the annual report and proxy statements. Starting this year, approximately 2.2 million owner's manuals are being printed on paper containing at least 10 percent post-consumer recycled fiber and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. more...
Dan Pierce | dpierc41@ford.com | 313.390.0949
Ford families know their vehicles - by name
Ford owners know their cars and trucks are more than transportation - they're family, and they deserve names that honor them as such. Good, solid names, like Marilyn, Myrtle and Big Bertha. Even memorable ones, like Oscar, Grover and Mr. T. A recent Ford Facebook fan page poll garnered 700 responses from Ford owners showing just what names they've bestowed on their vehicles over the years. The complete list can be found at http://bit.ly/FordNames. more...
Scott Monty | smonty@ford.com | 313.337.5466
Ford Freedom Awards honor John H. Johnson, Usher
Carrying on a tradition of 12 years, the Ford Freedom Awards are honoring two of the nation's most influential African American entrepreneurs - John H. Johnson and Usher. Johnson, founder and publisher of Johnson Publishing, which publishes "Jet" and "Ebony" magazines, is receiving the Ford Freedom Award posthumously; Usher, chairman and founder of Usher's New Look Foundation, has been named Ford Freedom Award Scholar. more...
Della Dipietro | ddipietr@ford.com | 313.755.2432
Ford Spain plant to build hybrid electric models for Europe
When the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions of the all-new Ford C-MAX launch in Europe in 2013, they'll be coming from the Valencia plant in Spain. As the first hybrid vehicles for European customers, the HEV and PHEV are key to Ford's commitment to delivering alternative powertrain vehicles globally. Valencia is also building the all-new gasoline version of the five-seat C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX, which launch later this year. A version of the Grand C-MAX will be exported to North America beginning in 2011. more...
Mark Schirmer | mschirme@ford.com | 313.390.8647
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Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Fox News LIVE at Fox Valley Ford on Februaury 2, 2010
The Fox Business Network reports live from Fox Valley Ford in North Aurora, IL as the January 2010 sales numbers are released.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Saturday, January 23, 2010
New Sale Specials with Oil Change and Tire Rotation Discount Coupon
Our newest Sale specials with a coupon for an oil change and tire rotation only $29.95. Click here for the ad.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ford's Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect win car, truck of the year
Ford
Motor swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, which were announced early today at the Detroit auto show.
The Dearborn automaker's Transit Connect won North American Truck of the Year and the Ford Fusion Hybrid won Car of the Year, giving Ford a boost at the start of the media preview days for the 2010 North American International Auto Show.
The Transit Connect beat the Subaru Outback and the Chevy Equinox for the award. The Fusion beat out the Volkswagen Golf and theBuick
The Transit Connect, aimed at small businesses, couldn’t have come at a better time. The vehicle starts at $20,780 and gets 22 m.p.g. in the city and 25 m.p.g. on the highway. It has a smooth ride, even while lugging cargo in its 135 cubic feet of space.
The Ford Fusion, already a strong Camry competitor, won drivers over with its 41 m.p.g. in city driving. This is the third time in the award's 17 years that a company has swept both awards.
A jury of 49 journalists from the U.S. and Canada votes on the awards.
Last year, the Hyundai Genesis took the award for North American Car of the
Ford Unveiling Nine New Engines And Six Transmissions In Detroit
Ford will be introducing nine new or upgraded engines and six new transmissions in North America over the course of the year, the latest phase of a five-year effort to overhaul its entire global powertrain portfolio. The new powertrain pieces will be on show at this week’s 2010 Detroit Auto Show and will be making their way across model lines such as theFiesta, Mustang, Super Duty and F-150, as well as the all-new global Focus.
The powertrain push began in 2008 and continues through 2013 and includes the launch of 60 new or significantly upgraded engines, transmissions and transaxles globally over the five year period.
One of the most exciting is the 2012 Ford Focus’ all-new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter direct fuel injection four-cylinder engine, the first of its kind in a Ford vehicle in North America.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Ford Seeks iPhone-Like Apps for Its Cars
Ford Motor Co. is working to offer drivers a way to upgrade the electronics in their vehicles, much the same way they can add applications to their iPhones and BlackBerrys.
The car maker hopes to persuade software developers to tap the Internet service, GPS location-finding capability and digital-music setup already found in its Sync entertainment-and-communications system, which it developed with Microsoft Corp.
Such applications, or "apps," might do such things as give directions to every espresso shop along a highway open after 9 p.m., or allow friends to follow one another to a location through a GPS process called "breadcrumbing."
The move is part of a broader revolution in automotive technology toward making cars as customizable and upgradeable as smart phones and laptop computers through applications.
Auto makers aim to persuade customers to continue to spend money on their cars after they buy them by upgrading the vehicles' technology, especially for small cars that often are unprofitable. Car makers also could gain revenue from application developers, much as AppleInc. collects fees from developers of apps for its iPhones and iPods.
Ford is in the process of allowing other companies and software developers to adapt smart-phone applications for use in its vehicles, as well as letting developers create car-specific apps. The car maker hopes the move will lure tech-savvy customers who will be more likely to pay for pricey features.
In one of the first steps, Ford is expected to announce Thursday that it will make available the basic computer coding needed to write software compatible with its Sync system.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Long after 'Clunckers,' dealers see sales uptick :: Beacon News :: Local News
December 4, 2009 - By DAVID SHAROS AND ROWENA VERGARA Sun-Times Media
Reports about home sales recently showed that the market was up, giving analysts the first glimpse of positive economic news in months.
Is the auto industry following suit?
The Associated Press reported this week that Ford sales were steady throughout November. According to the AP, buyers snapped up fuel-efficient cars and crossovers, a sign that the market for new vehicles remains on a path to recovery. Some local dealers have noticed just that. They say there is indeed an upswing in car sales.
Fox Valley Ford experienced a slight dip in sales after the Cash for Clunkers program ended, but by October sales were back up again, according to Fox Valley Ford Vice President Tom Collins. On Black Friday, a day dedicated to bargain hunters, Fox Valley Ford's showroom was buzzing with such deal-seekers. "We had a lot of traffic and sold a lot of cars," Collins said.
Customers seem to be raving over the Fusion, Taurus and Escape vehicles the most, Collins said. Turnover for the Taurus is about one week. On Thursday, the dealership had one Taurus in stock when it typically receives about seven to eight of the model weekly, Collins said.
However, July and December tend to be high-selling months for dealerships anyway. Collins says shoppers right now are purchasing cars as Christmas presents for children and grandchildren.
In other cases, it may just be time for a replacement car.
The average vehicle on the road is about 11 years old, Dan Schwebke of Ron Westphal Chevrolet said. And because of that, some customers are in the market for a new car, he said. But used-car sales aren't slowing either. Collins says half of his dealership's sales are in used vehicles.
Other than Ford, a GM dealership is seeing an uptick, too. Gjovik Auto Group, which includes Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and GMC vehicles, has seen popularity rise for the Equinox, Camaro, redesigned LaCrosse and the GMC Terrain, Nick Oeser, sales manager said.
At Ron Westphal Chevrolet, the Chevy Equinox is the hottest seller. "We've had well into the 100-plus number (of Equinox cars) so far, but the turnaround time is literally a day or two. They hit the lot and they're gone," Schwebke said.
Dealerships are optimistic about the new year as well. Ron Westphal Chevrolet expects a 10 percent increase in sales volume in 2010, Schwebke said, adding that the business may add one or two more service technicians and two to three sales associates.
Fox Valley Ford also expects success in the new year. It's looking at a 4 to 5 percent increase in sales, a trickle-down effect from the Detroit-based automaker. Ford Motor Company has grown its market share of the auto industry in 13 of the last 14 months, Collins said.
Naperville Jeep/Dodge General Manager Sam Guzzino says "credit markets are beginning to open up a bit" which he believes will continue to bring more customers into the showroom. "Our sales are about equal to what they were a year ago, which is good in that you never want to slide backwards," he said. "We had to replenish our inventory of '09 models after the 'clunkers' rush, and once we did, we've actually sold out of our '09 stock already for the year."
Reports about home sales recently showed that the market was up, giving analysts the first glimpse of positive economic news in months.
Is the auto industry following suit?
The Associated Press reported this week that Ford sales were steady throughout November. According to the AP, buyers snapped up fuel-efficient cars and crossovers, a sign that the market for new vehicles remains on a path to recovery. Some local dealers have noticed just that. They say there is indeed an upswing in car sales.
Fox Valley Ford experienced a slight dip in sales after the Cash for Clunkers program ended, but by October sales were back up again, according to Fox Valley Ford Vice President Tom Collins. On Black Friday, a day dedicated to bargain hunters, Fox Valley Ford's showroom was buzzing with such deal-seekers. "We had a lot of traffic and sold a lot of cars," Collins said.
Customers seem to be raving over the Fusion, Taurus and Escape vehicles the most, Collins said. Turnover for the Taurus is about one week. On Thursday, the dealership had one Taurus in stock when it typically receives about seven to eight of the model weekly, Collins said.
However, July and December tend to be high-selling months for dealerships anyway. Collins says shoppers right now are purchasing cars as Christmas presents for children and grandchildren.
In other cases, it may just be time for a replacement car.
The average vehicle on the road is about 11 years old, Dan Schwebke of Ron Westphal Chevrolet said. And because of that, some customers are in the market for a new car, he said. But used-car sales aren't slowing either. Collins says half of his dealership's sales are in used vehicles.
Other than Ford, a GM dealership is seeing an uptick, too. Gjovik Auto Group, which includes Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and GMC vehicles, has seen popularity rise for the Equinox, Camaro, redesigned LaCrosse and the GMC Terrain, Nick Oeser, sales manager said.
At Ron Westphal Chevrolet, the Chevy Equinox is the hottest seller. "We've had well into the 100-plus number (of Equinox cars) so far, but the turnaround time is literally a day or two. They hit the lot and they're gone," Schwebke said.
Dealerships are optimistic about the new year as well. Ron Westphal Chevrolet expects a 10 percent increase in sales volume in 2010, Schwebke said, adding that the business may add one or two more service technicians and two to three sales associates.
Fox Valley Ford also expects success in the new year. It's looking at a 4 to 5 percent increase in sales, a trickle-down effect from the Detroit-based automaker. Ford Motor Company has grown its market share of the auto industry in 13 of the last 14 months, Collins said.
Naperville Jeep/Dodge General Manager Sam Guzzino says "credit markets are beginning to open up a bit" which he believes will continue to bring more customers into the showroom. "Our sales are about equal to what they were a year ago, which is good in that you never want to slide backwards," he said. "We had to replenish our inventory of '09 models after the 'clunkers' rush, and once we did, we've actually sold out of our '09 stock already for the year."
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