Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Philadelphia Auto Show
It’s that time of the year again. It’s time for the Annual Philadelphia Auto Show!
This year Ford and Lincoln are featuring the 2012 Focus, 2012 MustangBoss 302, MKX, MKZ Hybrid, 2012 C-MAX, 2011 Edge, 2011 Explorer, 2011 F-150 with Ecoboost engine, and the 1966 Mustang GTO MKII.
Check out the Ford and Lincoln booth to sign up to take a test drive and receive a $50 Mastercard giftcard.
The event is being held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on 1101 Arch Street in Philadelphia, PA. The event will last for 9 days beginning January 29th until February 6th. We will be going to the Auto Show and covering the event. Check back for pictures and news.
Because of the event, Ford has come out with special offers for the Focus, Fusion and Escape:
2011 Focus SE: No Money Down, No Interest for Five Years PLUS $500 Auto Show Bonus Cash. Offer ends 2.15.11.
2011 Fusion SE FWD: No Money Down, No Interest for Five Years PLUS $500 Auto Show Bonus Cash OR Lease for $159 a month for 24 months with $2,914 Due at Signing, with $1,000 Competitive Conquest offer: $1,914 DAS. Offer ends 2.15.11.
2011 Escape XLT FWD: No Money Down, No Interest for Five Years PLUS $500 Auto Show Bonus Cash: ($500 FMCC Retail Bonus Cash). OR Lease for $229 a month for 24 months with $2,954 Due at Signing, with $1,000 Competitive Conquest offer: $1,954 DAS. Offer ends 2.15.11.
For more information about the event please visit PhillyAutoShow.com.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Ford Focus Rally
Join now for your chance to win an all new 2012 Ford Focus
Program Overview
One of our highest priorities at Ford in the coming months is building consumer awareness and excitement for the launch of the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, and to ensure consumers realize what an amazing car the new Focus is!
Ford has teamed-up with the Emmy Award-winning co-creators of The Amazing Race to stage the world's first interactive real-time road rally, which will feature the new 2012 Ford Focus.
The five-week road rally – which starts February 1 – is called Focus Rally: America. The Rally will feature six teams of two people competing against one another to complete tasks in a challenging cross-country adventure to win a $100,000 grand prize plus a new Ford Focus for each team-member. The 2012 Focus will be prominent throughout the program. Not only will the new Focus's sporty exterior and stylish interior be featured, players will also be seen using the Focus's class-leading new technology – such as MyFord Touch, the navigation system and Ford SYNC – to complete tasks and challenges during the Rally.
This Focus-centered reality show will air as "webisodes" on Hulu.com – the leader in streaming TV shows on the internet – daily starting February 1.
But what makes the Focus Rally really special is that fans can join-up as supporters of one of the teams, communicate with their team live during the Rally, help the team to complete challenges during the Rally, and some fans will even win trips to be part of the Focus Rally experience.
Best of all, 8 fans playing-along from home will win a new 2012 Focus!
Information on the Focus Rally, the Teams, the prizes, and registration to play-along can all be found at FocusRally.com.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
2011 Ford Explorer is Named Truck of the Year
The 2011 Ford Explorer has been named the North American Truck of the Year. This is the third year in a row that Ford has won in this category, last year the winner being the Transit Connect and the F-150 in 2009. In the history of this award, Ford has won the title seven times.
The North American Truck of the Year winner is chosen by a panel of 49 judges from the United States and Canada. These judges are automotive journalists who work with media platforms ranging from print to television to radio. One judge, Mark Phelan representing The Detroit Free Press, commented on the Explorer stating that the vehicle provides “class-leading fuel economy and technology and features you can’t get in luxury crossovers that cost twice as much”. *
Mark Fields, Executive Vice President of Ford Motor Company as well as President of the Americas, accepted the award on behalf of the company. In his acceptance speech, Fields was quoted saying “Winning this honor for the third consecutive year confirms our One Ford plan is working to deliver vehicles people truly want and value, with industry-leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety and smart technology.” **
* North American Car of the Year
** All-New Ford Explorer Wins is 2011 North American Truck of the Year
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Electric Future of Ford
“Electrification is now a core competency for Ford”- Bill Ford
Yesterday, Ford Motor Company’s CEO Alan Mulally revealed Ford’s 2012 Focus Electric at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Simultaneously, there was a press event in New York City featuring Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company who spoke about the future of Ford’s electric vehicles.
Ford Motor Company is aware that customers are shopping around and educating themselves when deciding which vehicle to purchase. In order to differentiate the brand from competitors, Ford realizes that they need to give their customers a variety of options and choices. Because of this, Ford has plans to manufacture 5 different electric vehicles by 2012 in North American markets as well as European. (The first Ford electric vehicle was the Transit Connect Electric.) *
The company wants to be “a leader in fuel economy in every segment”, not just targeting demographically those who can afford expensive high-end vehicles. In order to accomplish their goal of becoming a leader in the electric vehicle market, Ford plans to house the assembly of these vehicles in one Plant in Wayne, Michigan. About this move, Bill Ford remarked, “We are investing more dollars to design, develop, and build electrified vehicles…we are working to create a center of electrification, bringing much of the work in-house.”*
Here is a summary of what you can expect from the 2012 Ford Focus Electric:
• Entirely powered by a 23kWh lithium-ion battery pack
• Little if not any C02 emissions
• 100 miles on a full charge
• Will be able to be charged within 3 to 4 hours (1/2 the time of competitors)
• Will use a 240v at home charging station as well as have the option of charging stations on the road
• Top speed of about 84 mph
• Instant torque
• The interior of the car, more specifically the seats, are made from 100% sustainable materials. Actual recycled blue jean fabric will be used for insulation.
• Ford will be partnering with Best Buy and the Geek Squad to make an set up of the charging station easy
• Convenient and removable charging unit
Ford also unveiled My Ford Mobile. This is an application for smart-phones which will be free for users for the first 5 years of vehicle ownership. What you can expect from this application:
• The ability to access controls and settings of your vehicle with the touch of a button
• Be able to see how many gallons of gasoline and lbs of C02 you have saved
• The application will learn your driving style and apply the information to help the driver make more calculated decisions
• The owner will be able to start charging their vehicle at home just by using their phone
• MapQuest will work with SYNC to map out charging stations and you will be able to save your favorites on the app
• Reward features such as receiving Foursquare badges and Xbox live credit
This is the future of the automotive industry. The consumers are ready for a change and Ford is stepping up to the plate and giving them what they are asking for. Mulally predicts that in 10 years,1/4 of global auto sales will be from electric vehicles.** The Focus Electric will be in dealerships later this year. For now I will leave you with this last quote from Mulally:
“Drive a Ford, feel the difference”- Alan Mulally
* Press Coverage of Event
** Automotive News
Yesterday, Ford Motor Company’s CEO Alan Mulally revealed Ford’s 2012 Focus Electric at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Simultaneously, there was a press event in New York City featuring Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company who spoke about the future of Ford’s electric vehicles.
Ford Motor Company is aware that customers are shopping around and educating themselves when deciding which vehicle to purchase. In order to differentiate the brand from competitors, Ford realizes that they need to give their customers a variety of options and choices. Because of this, Ford has plans to manufacture 5 different electric vehicles by 2012 in North American markets as well as European. (The first Ford electric vehicle was the Transit Connect Electric.) *
The company wants to be “a leader in fuel economy in every segment”, not just targeting demographically those who can afford expensive high-end vehicles. In order to accomplish their goal of becoming a leader in the electric vehicle market, Ford plans to house the assembly of these vehicles in one Plant in Wayne, Michigan. About this move, Bill Ford remarked, “We are investing more dollars to design, develop, and build electrified vehicles…we are working to create a center of electrification, bringing much of the work in-house.”*
Here is a summary of what you can expect from the 2012 Ford Focus Electric:
• Entirely powered by a 23kWh lithium-ion battery pack
• Little if not any C02 emissions
• 100 miles on a full charge
• Will be able to be charged within 3 to 4 hours (1/2 the time of competitors)
• Will use a 240v at home charging station as well as have the option of charging stations on the road
• Top speed of about 84 mph
• Instant torque
• The interior of the car, more specifically the seats, are made from 100% sustainable materials. Actual recycled blue jean fabric will be used for insulation.
• Ford will be partnering with Best Buy and the Geek Squad to make an set up of the charging station easy
• Convenient and removable charging unit
Ford also unveiled My Ford Mobile. This is an application for smart-phones which will be free for users for the first 5 years of vehicle ownership. What you can expect from this application:
• The ability to access controls and settings of your vehicle with the touch of a button
• Be able to see how many gallons of gasoline and lbs of C02 you have saved
• The application will learn your driving style and apply the information to help the driver make more calculated decisions
• The owner will be able to start charging their vehicle at home just by using their phone
• MapQuest will work with SYNC to map out charging stations and you will be able to save your favorites on the app
• Reward features such as receiving Foursquare badges and Xbox live credit
This is the future of the automotive industry. The consumers are ready for a change and Ford is stepping up to the plate and giving them what they are asking for. Mulally predicts that in 10 years,1/4 of global auto sales will be from electric vehicles.** The Focus Electric will be in dealerships later this year. For now I will leave you with this last quote from Mulally:
“Drive a Ford, feel the difference”- Alan Mulally
* Press Coverage of Event
** Automotive News
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