Ford Leads All Automakers With Most Top Safety Picks, Besting Honda in IIHS Crash Tests

• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2009 Ford Flex and Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKS and Mercury Milan as “Top Safety Picks.”
• No other automaker has as many “Top Safety Pick” awards as Ford Motor Company, which tops the industry with 16.
• The body structure on the automaker’s newest models features ultra high-strength boron steel in the B-pillar for added protection in side impacts.

DEARBORN, Sept. 25, 2008 – Ford Motor Company has earned more “Top Safety Pick” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) than any other automaker with a total of 16 to date.

Ford surpassed its closest rival Honda this week when four of its 2009 models – Ford Flex, Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKS and Mercury Milan – achieved “Top Safety Pick” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Flex, Ford’s all-new head-turning crossover, the new Lincoln MKS full-size flagship sedan and the Fusion and Milan midsize sedans build on the company’s safety leadership. Ford also has more 5-star government crash test ratings than any other automaker.

“Leading the industry in ‘Top Safety Picks’ is great news, because IIHS tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers are increasingly relying on them when choosing a new vehicle,” said Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

To earn IIHS’s “Top Safety Pick,” vehicles must earn the top “good” ratings in the institute’s high-speed front and side crash tests, and a rear crash test simulation that evaluates seat and head restraints. An added requirement since 2007 is that vehicles also must offer electronic stability control.

Flex, MKS, Fusion and Milan excelled in each of the institute’s crash tests, and AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control is available for each vehicle. The safety system uses sensors to detect and measure yaw, or side-to-side skidding conditions, by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When AdvanceTrac® senses wheel slip, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied where needed to help the driver keep the car tracking on its intended path. IIHS has stated that “AdvanceTrac significantly reduces crash risk by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.”

IIHS said “Top Safety Pick” vehicles are “at the head of the class for safety,” and recognizing them as such “helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results.”

Structural Strength Is a Safety Fundamental

Flex, MKS, Fusion and Milan get some of their core strength from the use of lightweight aluminum-coated boron steel – one of the strongest weld-able materials – in the body structure. The use of high-strength steel in the B-pillars is only part of their robust safety profile. Ford engineers also located the side door intrusion beams to help manage and absorb energy during side impact crashes.

“Flex and MKS are built on a platform that has a tremendous safety heritage – one that it shares with the 2009 Ford Taurus, rated America’s safest full-size car,” said Steve Kozak, Ford’s chief engineer for safety systems. “And Fusion and Milan prove that a high level of safety can come in a midsize package.”

In addition to electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes, standard safety features on Flex, MKS, Fusion and Milan include:

• Six Standard Air Bags and Ford's Personal Safety System®: Safety features include six air bags (dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, thorax side air bags for front-seat occupants and side-impact air curtains), safety belt pretensioners, seat weight-sensing system for the front passenger seat and crash-severity sensing.
• Ford’s BeltMinder®, a safety belt reminder technology for the driver and front passenger that takes over after the initial safety belt reminder stops chiming.
• LATCH: The Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren system provides convenient mounting points for compatible child seats.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System: This system warns a driver if one or more tires are underinflated. An active pressure sensor with a radio transmitter is mounted inside each tire. A receiver in the vehicle monitors each transmitter, and if tire pressure is not within specific limits, it will activate a visual warning light.

Other key safety features on select models include:

• Adaptive Collapsible Steering Column – In an impact, the column will collapse, dependent on the weight and belted status of the driver.
• Safety Canopy® – Ford's exclusive side impact protection system features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollovers and side impact crashes.

“Safety is a top purchase consideration, second only to fuel efficiency, so the top safety ratings and competitive fuel economy of Flex, MKS, Fusion and Milan are a winning combination,” said Michael Crowley, North America car and crossover marketing manager, Ford Motor Company. Even More Technology Works in Customers’ Favor

MKS also can help drivers avoid problems on the road.

The new SIRIUS® Travel Link™ feature, praised for helping motorists find the cheapest gas, also can help route them around congested, potentially dangerous conditions using the vehicle’s navigation system with real-time traffic information, available in select markets.

SYNC®, Ford’s hands-free connectivity system for Bluetooth-enabled phones and digital music players, helps drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to reduce distractions.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Ford Model T Plant Gets Makeover

DETROIT, Sept 27, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Henry Ford would be proud! For the first time in decades his original plant on Piquette Avenue in Detroit looks just like it did when he opened its doors over 100 years ago. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was the assembly site for the first 12,000 Model Ts.

The front facade of the plant has undergone a painstaking and complete summer-long restoration to bring it back to its original look when it opened in 1904. Restoration work was handled by Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor, a firm that specializes in historic preservation. The front facade will be unveiled in a ceremony today as one of the stops in the motorcade celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Model T. The motorcade was organized by Ford Motor Company and MotorCities National Heritage Area.

"We were thrilled to take on this assignment," said Lis Knibbe, AIA, at Quinn Evans. "The Piquette plant is a national and even an international landmark in industrial history. It was the birthplace of the Model T and the incubator for the moving assembly line. It had enormous impact not only on the auto industry but on every industry that followed and on the whole of society."

The restored front facade had been the most deteriorated and altered part of the structure over the years and required extensive masonry and window repair and replacement work. Building contractor Grunwell-Cashero of Detroit individually repaired most of the bricks and completely replaced others that had been destroyed by paint and weather. The biggest challenge of the restoration, the arched office entry, had been replaced by a garage door. Fortunately there were good archival photographs of the original entry that provided a model for its reconstruction. Today, the entry will greet visitors to the building just as it originally greeted Henry Ford and his workers.

"Restoring this plant inside and out has been a labor of love for me and for our entire team of volunteers," said Jerald A. Mitchell, Founder and CEO of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. "The restored faAade is a huge and exciting step that brings the place back to life. It shows that we truly respect what Mr. Ford did here and ensures that the memories will live on."

The facade restoration was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation under their Transportation Enhancement Program. The restored Piquette plant houses a Model T museum and other Ford memorabilia.

About MotorCities National Heritage Area

The programs and activities of the MotorCities National Heritage Area are designed to increase tourism throughout the State of Michigan; develop and deploy educational and informational programs that tell the story of the automobile industry and labor in our region; and encourage revitalization through conservation. MotorCities was designated by Congress in 1998 and is currently one of 40 National Heritage Areas in the United States. For more information, please visit www.motorcities.org.

For more information on the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, please visit www.tplex.org

SOURCE MotorCities National Heritage Area

 http://www.motorcities.org

Custom Ford Mustang AV8R sells for $500,000

The special one-off Mustang AV8R has sold for $500,000 at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction, with the funds going to support the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh youth education and inspirational experience program. The Mustang AV8R is Build number 1 of 1 and is based on the 2009 Mustang GT. It also features autographs from aviation legends and celebrities who attended this year’s EAA AirVenture, including Harrison Ford, Edsel B. Ford II, Jack Roush, Carroll Shelby and others.

First Ride: 2009 Saleen Dark Horse Mustang

Click above for high-res gallery of the Saleen Dark Horse

"A dark horse, which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed on the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph." Beautiful words from the quotable Benjamin Disraeli, and inspiration for the name of the latest Mustang to come from Saleen's stable. Due to the car's name it may sound like our title is a clever play on words, but the truth is our seat time was limited to the passenger seat. We can't blame Saleen for being careful with the car - the 2009 Dark Horse Mustang you see here is the first one off the assembly line and is the only one built so far. To their credit, Saleen did take us out to Willow Springs Raceway outside of Los Angeles for some flying laps, so we were able to experience the full capabilities of the car's performance. Follow the jump to hear about our day at the track with perhaps the most fearsome production Mustang ever built.

Gallery: 2009 Saleen Dark Horse Mustang

All photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

We arrived at the track to find the Dark Horse yet to be uncovered, but that gave us a chance to take a look at some of the other Saleen offerings that they'd brought along. We naturally headed straight for the S302E Sterling Edition, built to celebrate Saleen's 25th anniversary. Not only does it come complete with a 620 hp / 600 lb-ft supercharged 5.0-liter V8, it also gets unique touches like handpainted "Gun Sight" racing stripes, Black Diamond alcantara seats, special 5-spoke alloys, navigation, and a serialized plaque. Those who purchase the car are also get a first-class trip to Detroit for a tour of the Saleen factory and dinner with company executives. Sounds like fun, but the cost of admission is $99,995 and only 25 will be built.

Gallery: 2008 Saleen Sterling Edition Mustang

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum is the Racecraft 420S Mustang, which targets more value-oriented customers. With a focus on pure performance, the 420S offers Saleen's supercharger system and suspension with a few visual enhancements for under $40,000. If customers want just a little more, they have the option to add on several upgrades from Saleen's Speedlab parts division.

Gallery: 2009 Racecraft 420S Mustang

Following our quick review of Sterling Edition and the 420S, we headed over to the Dark Horse for its official unveiling by Saleen's recently appointed CEO Chris Theodore, followed by a track session. During our ride-along with Derek Hartland, Saleen's chassis engineer, we were reacquainted with how brutally fast Saleen can make its Mustangs. The supercharged 302-cubic-inch V8 forcefully pins you to your seat, while massive 15-inch cross-drilled rotors with 6-piston calipers pitch you forward just as hard. The Dark Horse is one of the better-handling Mustangs we've been in, complete with Saleen shocks, springs, and their second generation watts-link system. The combination of supercharger whine and deep V8 rumble sounds great, backing up the Dark Horse's menacing appearance.

Unfortunately, all of this comes at a price. Saleen didn't give us a specific number, but expect the Dark Horse to come in right around $90,000. Like the Sterling Edition, only 25 will be built, with production beginning in November. Obvious comparisons will be made with the Corvette Z06 and Dodge Viper SRT-10, but if we were going to spend the really big bucks on a Mustang, this would be the one.

Ford officially reveals F-450 Harley-Davidson and F-X4 Cabela pickups.

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-450 Harley-Davidson Edition

Today Ford added two new co-branded models to its F-Series Super Duty line-up, the F-450 Harley-Davidson and FX-4 Cabela edition. The 2009 HD model continues a long tradition of collaboration between the Blue Oval and builder of hogs, but is the first time this co-branding has been applied to the mightiest of F-Series pickups, the F-450. It comes with a blue-flame paint job that's carried through into the interior on the gauges. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Harley-Davidson edition F-Series if there weren't a plethora of commemorative badges on the truck to remind you.

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford FX-4 Cabela Edition

For those looking for a truck that is perhaps a bit more mild, Ford offers the Cabela edition FX-4. Cabela is an outdoor retailer that appeals to hunting and fishing types, so this co-branding deal puts Ford right in front of their faces. The Cabela edition FX-4 gets a two-tone paint scheme that can be ordered up in a number of colors, cloth seats, dark Paldeo wood trim and lockable storage units to hide your hunting rifle, fishing pole or whatever.

Ford has also announced the availability of new options for the Super Duty line like a spray-in bedliner called Tough Bed, SYNC, voice-activated nav system with SIRIUS Travel Link, and the Ford Work Solutions package.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-450 Harley-Davidson

Gallery: 2009 Ford FX-4 Cabela Edition

PRESS RELEASE

F-SERIES SUPER DUTY ADDS NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND CABELA'S EDITION PICKUPS

• Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road.
• Ford F-Series Super Duty, America's most capable work truck, adds new Harley-Davidson™ and Cabela's edition pickups and more standard capability for 2009 including an integrated trailer brake controller and trailer tow mirrors on select models.
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• Ford Work Solutions is a collection of industry-first, affordable technologies available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks that will provide customers connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business – from their Ford Truck, even on the job site.
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• New 'Built Ford Tough' factory-applied spray-in bedliner, available on 2009 F-Series Super Duty pickups, delivers exceptional weather resistance and protection against gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping.

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 25, 2008 – The 2009 F-Series Super Duty line of trucks, the industry's most capable full-size heavy-duty work trucks, come equipped with even more capability, thanks to new standard features and offers even more choice with two new packages – a Cabela's FX4 for the outdoor enthusiast and for the first time, a Harley-Davidson™ F-450 pickup.

All four Super Duty trim levels, XL, XLT, FX4, and Lariat, come with new standard features. The XL, the no frills workhorse version, now comes standard with air conditioning, Securilock, and manual trailer tow mirrors. The XLT, a step up from the XL, now has power heated trailer tow mirrors, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, remote keyless entry and Securilock as standard features.

For 2009 the FX4 adds standard PowerScope™ integrated power-fold, power-telescoping mirrors, power seats, privacy glass, integrated trailer brake controller, captain's chairs, and SIRIUS satellite radio. The most luxurious of the Super Duty line-up is the Lariat. The Lariat adds all of the new FX4 standard content as well as the reverse camera system, a power sliding rear window, heated seats, molded running boards, and SYNC, Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system.

New Smart Technolgies

Ford is further expanding its 'smart' features for truck customers by making new technologies that make getting staying connected and getting the job done easier.

SYNC is Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system that fully integrates mobile phones and most media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity.

Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ offers a host of convenient features including more than 150 hours of music storage. Users can browse the music juke box via touch-screen or by using voice recognition. The system also integrates the climate control and SIRIUS satellite radio into one easy-to-use, smudge-resistant, 8-inch touch-screen display.

Ford Work Solutions, a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans will help make business owners more productive and successful. Four industry-exclusive innovations include:

An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and navigation by Garmin. It's the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production and features available wireless accessories including a mouse and printer. This system allows customers to print invoices and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site.

Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed with DEWALT, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the vehicle.

Crew Chief, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, to secure large tools or equipment in the cargo area of E-Series vans and wagons.
All four Ford Work Solutions technologies also will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks and E-Series vans. Transit Connect vans join the lineup in mid-2009.

Cabela's FX4

Ford is expanding its relationship with Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor outfitter, by offering a new Cabela's FX4 package for 2009. According to customer data, seventy-six percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish and a key way for Ford to connect with those outdoor enthusiasts is as the official truck of Cabela's for the last six years with products prominently placed at stores nationwide and featured in Cabela's publications and TV programming. The Cabela's FX4 package features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheel lip moldings. Custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging finish off the exterior.

The interior features standard cloth seats with the Cabela's logo or available Aniline leather seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern. The center stack is finished with a dark Paldeo wood appliqué. All weather floor mats also wear the Cabela's logo. And for the avid outdoor enthusiast, additional lockable storage in the front console and underneath the rear seats is perfect for keeping equipment secure and out of sight.

Harley-Davidson™ F-450

Ford and Harley-Davidson team up again for a new Harley-Davidson™ F-450, the "Big Hog Daddy" of the road. As with the still available F-250/350 SRW models, each individually numbered Harley-Davidson™ F-450 features a unique blue-flame paint scheme that starts at the side vents and runs down to the box side of the truck. The flame design scheme is carried through to the interior gauges in the instrument panel. The custom perforated black leather wrapped seats, door panels and center console cover reveal blue leather underneath giving the same blue-flame effect as the exterior. Harley-Davidson™ badges are present on the fenders and tailgate, along with "Harley-Davidson" script located on the box side.

Tough Bed

Ford is offering Tough Bed, a unique, military-grade, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner for the first time on the 2009 F-Series Super Duty.
"Tough Bed is a smart solution for Ford Super Duty customers who want to better protect their most important asset – the pickup box," said Tom Aubrey, Ford F-Series Super Duty marketing manager. "Like the entire truck, Tough Bed stands up to the most stringent durability standards including those required by the U.S. Military – that definitely makes it 'Built Ford Tough.'."

According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), installation of spray-in bedliners grew from 27 percent in 2004 to nearly 34 percent of all pickup trucks in 2006, and will continue to grow at a steady rate to nearly 40 percent in 2008.

Developed in partnership with PPG Industries, Tough Bed exceeds the standards of today's typical aftermarket spray-in bedliner solutions. This military-grade coating has been through the government's toughest blast mitigation testing to determine whether the material can with stand the force of a bomb blast. It has performed equal to or better than other protective coating systems at one-third the thickness.

The polyol-based elastomeric film and isocyanate hardener are applied to the pickup box by a precision, high-pressure, automated sprayer to ensure one smooth, even coat at a very low film thickness unlike the traditional hand-spray application of aftermarket bed liners.

The finer application ensures that the bedliner materials won't run or sag on the inside walls of the box in addition minimizing unnecessary weight. Tough Bed does not compromise Super Duty's class-leading cargo capacity or the installation of aftermarket assets such as tool boxes, tonneau covers and truck caps. The uniformly textured surface also helps minimize load slippage while delivering an exceptionally clean appearance.

The special bedliner material formula is immune to the effects of ultraviolet radiation and will not fade or chalk. It also protects against physical damage to the pickup box such as gouging, scratching, cracking and chipping. It is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile factory limited warranty.
All F-Series Super Duty models are built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky.

Ford to bring six fuel-efficient European models stateside.

Are you an American that has been lusting for some European vehicle models lately? Because of the traditionally high fuel prices in Europe, cars there are traditionally more compact and sip less fuel than their American counterparts (the BMW M3 is another story, though). Some of these models belong to American automakers Ford and GM. We already know some European GM models are sold stateside, but what about Ford?

According to Automotive News, Ford is calling its young dealers to improve operations and prepare for a wave of new small vehicles coming to Ford's lineup within three years. Those cars most likely will be the new European Focus four-door, five-door and coupé-convertible (pictured); the new Fiesta (old new); and the C-Max minivan and Kuga crossover. Compact in size and, at least in my opinion, featuring really good design, these Euro models could provide Ford with a sales boost. In fact, Ford is expecting to sell 700,000 or 800,000 of them per year in the U.S., but probably not all of them at $25,000, though.

Win a 2010 Ford Mustang!

This is your big chance to be the very first person to win a new 2010 Ford Mustang! Dust off your memory banks about that most special Mustang Moment in your life and put it to words. Ford has a new contest at their 2010 Mustang Countdown Site where you can submit your story and be the lucky winner of a new 2010 Ford Mustang.,

The contest is open to all residents over 18 years of age who live in the 50 US States. You have until Ocober 15th to submit your entry. So time is not to waste! The stories will be narrowed down to 25 finalists by a judging panel based on their creativity and “fit to theme”. On October 18th, they will be placed on the 2010 Mustang Countdown Site for the public to vote on a winner!

When voting closes on October 28th, the winner will be determined and then notified on Halloween day, October 31st. Here is the good part. You will not only win a brand new 2010 Mustang GT Coupe, but an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, California to witness the unveiling of the new Mustang in November.

Yes you will be there at the LA Auto Show rubbing elbows with the automotive elite while the coveted 2010 Ford Mustang is seen by the world for the very first time. Better still, you will also be cut a check for about $16,000 and change to cover all the taxes associated with winning the prize. Of course you will have to wait until the car goes into production to take delivery and there are a lot of rules you need to read up on at the 2010 Mustang Countdown Site.

How cool is that? So all you have to do now is come up with your best Mustang Moment in 250 words or less. It is harder than you might think, as this story alone is over 350 words. So you will have to be creative, concise, and excited. We recommend you consider that Ford wants stories that make the Mustang look good, romantic, and of course the best.

Good Luck! Submit your story at www.the2010mustang.com

KITT returns as a Ford Mustang

Knight Rider. A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

The Knight Rider phenomenon began as a cornerstone of action/adventure show in the mid-eighties. Starring David Hasselhoff as crime-fighter Michael Knight, the centerpiece of the show was a specialized car, modified into a high-tech, snarky crime fighting computer on wheels. It was code-named KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), an ultra-sophisticated vehicle with enough features to make James Bond jealous, which enabled Knight to travel across the country as a one man (and one machine) crime-fighting army. KITT was bulletproof, capable of unbelievable speed and equipped with a "turbo boost" that frequently allowed the car to smash through or launch any obstacles in its path. Armed with the standard-issue Spy Hunter car features like oil slicks, reinflating tires, smokescreens and all sorts of other gadgets, KITT was the reason millions tuned in every week. Oh, did we mention the car talked too?

The series was fantastic, and made enough of an impact to stay in fans' hearts to warrant a feature film and a few made-for-TV movies. Knight Rider has undergone a complete overhaul, cleaned out the cobwebs and is returning as a weekly series beginning this fall.

The real star of the show, however, is once again Kitt. Harald Belker, the man behind the Batmobile design in Batman and Robin, was brought onboard to give the new KITT a complete makeover.

The original KITT is gone, replaced with a sleek, souped-up Ford Shelby GT 500 KR Mustang. The new Ford Shelby GT 500 KR Mustang was released this spring in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR. This car is the most powerful Mustang to date, which makes it a fitting choice for the Knight Industries Three Thousand (aka KITT).

Black with grey twin stripes, KITT is now loaded with a supercomputer that can hack almost any system, an updated and very capable weapons system and, thanks to nanotechnology, a body capable of shape-shifting and changing color at will. All of the actual ‘transforming' will be done through CGI animation, however, like in the Transformers movie.

There will actually be three models used in filming: Hero, which is essentially a stock GT500KR, Attack, the model with all the bells and whistles, and Remote Control which, you guessed it, is operated via RC.

The Mustang KITT also features air-ride suspension, which allows its driver to lower the car's ride height when the vehicle morphs from Hero to Attack mode.

Look out for Knight Rider on Sept. 24!!

Ford readies ad blitz, training for the F-150 launch.

Ford Motor Co. plans an advertising blitz for the new F-150 pickup in November as the automaker undertakes massive dealership sales training this fall.

Mark Grueber, F-150 marketing manager, said the new F-150's product mix will shift away from the premium lines to more basic work pickup.

Grueber said Ford will provide sales training at its 1,000 largest dealerships with a variety of displays and other props. Dealers asked for the on-site training, he said. Ford will provide training for the smaller dealerships at central locations.

This will be the most comprehensive dealership training for the F-150, Grueber said. Training will run through year end.

The urgency of Ford's sales and marketing efforts underscores the challenge of selling the new F-150 in a highly competitive and declining market for trucks. Dodge is launching its all-new 2009 Ram pickup, and F-series U.S. sales have plummeted 25.2 percent through August compared with the same period a year ago.

"It's absolutely critical for dealers and salespeople," Grueber said of the training. "They are the face fo the Ford. We've got a lot of truck experts within the dealerships. We brought them to the Dearborn for three days."

"You can't just do one thing on training. You have to have a comprehensive program."

Without giving details, Grueber said Ford has a healthy budget for the campaign.

The new pickup goes on sale next month. The line also includes an SFE edition, whose letters stand for "superior fuel economy."


The SFE pickup will achieve 15mpgcity/21 highway, Ford said. The SFE package will be available on the F-150 Supercrew XL and XLT 4X2 pickups with a 4.6-liter, three-valve V-8 engines and 5.5 foot beds.

Grueber said he expects the SFE edition to run 15 to 20 percent of the product mix in markets using rear-wheel-drive pickups. Those markets include Texas, Florida and Georgia.

Ford polishes F-150's marketing

When it comes to launching the new F-150, Ford Motor Co. knows it has its work cut out for it.

Over the past year, truck sales have tanked in the face of high fuel prices, tight credit, a collapsing housing market and a weak broader economy. Ford is launching its new pickup into one of the most difficult pickup markets ever.

But it is a market Ford has owned for more than 30 years and the Dearborn automaker is hoping to leverage that to make this critical launch a success.

Ford's marketing will be targeted at its 9 million existing truck customers. Advertising will tout improvements to the new F-150 over previous models for things such as towing capabilities and better fuel economy.

"We're really emphasizing those compelling improvements, the capability enhancements, the new technology, the safety enhancements," Doug Scott, Ford's truck marketing manager, told The Detroit News. "All of those things are, we believe, reasons why people who are driving our products will say, 'Hey. I've got to have that.' "

Ford delayed the launch of the F-150 by two months -- it will now begin shipping in October -- to give it more time to conduct consumer research and find the right marketing messages.

It also used the delay to give workers at its Dearborn Truck Plant more time for quality training and dealers more time to sell down existing stocks of the current model.

Dealer inventories have dropped from 130,000 units at the end of May to 90,000 at the end of August, and Ford hopes to get rid of another 40,000 F-150s by the end of November.

"Now, when we launch the new product, we can concentrate and we can focus our communications not on discounting the old models, but on the product capabilities and features of the new F-150," said Ford sales analyst George Pipas.

While Ford is not ruling out the use of incentives to help sell the new truck, it says it is pricing the F-150 to obviate the need for them. For example, the F-150 Lariat SuperCrew, will start at $35,820 -- more than $5,000 less than a comparably equipped 2009 Dodge Ram, another all-new pickup that is just hitting dealerships.

Analysts said Ford's strategy makes sense, adding that it had to refresh its existing model even with pickup sales declining.

"What Ford has on their side is that they're the No.1 player in this market," said Joe Langley of CSM Worldwide.

"It looks like they're taking a pretty cautious approach on the launch, so I don't think we're going to see this massive flood of them where they'd have to throw a lot of money at them."

Popular Ford SYNC System Updated, Expanded: “911 Assist” Connects Emergency Medical Help

POPULAR SYNC SYSTEM UPDATED, EXPANDED

Ford-Microsoft SYNC system to be available in nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles later this year.

New 911 Assist feature will help quickly connect vehicle occupants directly to a local 911 emergency operator following an air bag deployment in a SYNC-equipped vehicle – with no monthly fees.

Since SYNC is updatable, customers with 2008-model-year SYNC-equipped vehicles will be able to have their systems improved with the new applications.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2008 – Ford Motor Company and Microsoft announced that the award-winning Ford SYNC™ in-car connectivity system will be available to even more customers and with even more functionality later this year.

In his keynote address at the 2008 International CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced that Ford will expand SYNC to nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks by the end of 2008. Gates also confirmed a new 911 Assist feature that will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of an air bag deployment.

Introduced in the fall of 2007 and developed jointly by Ford and Microsoft, SYNC provides customers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players – Microsoft Zunes and other MP3 players – and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the buttons on the steering wheel or radio.

SYNC has been very popular. The new technology – which is exclusive to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles – topped 30,000 unit sales in its first three months on the market. In fact, Ford says SYNC is on track to reach 1 million sales in early 2009.

The technology is available today on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Later this year, it will be offered on nearly every new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle.

In addition to the new 911 Assist feature, SYNC is being updated this year to create, on demand, easy-to-understand reports that owners can use to monitor the health of their vehicles.

Because SYNC is a software solution, owners of 2008 models equipped with SYNC already on the road will be able to have their systems updated with the new functions, as well.

“From the start, we pursued an updatable software solution with SYNC, using the consumer electronics business as our model,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “The ability to add functionality and update the system to work with new devices is what makes SYNC unique in the industry right now. It is a strategy that will benefit our customers over time by ensuring their systems do not become outdated.”

911 Assist
Research shows that safety continues to be a leading driver of purchase consideration, and Ford is already a safety leader. In fact, Ford Motor Company has earned more National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five star crash ratings and more Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Picks than any other manufacturer.

But, in the event of a serious accident with an air bag deployment, the ability to directly contact the local 911 emergency operator could be a critical need – for both vehicle occupants and the first responders. Beginning later this year, SYNC can help.

When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an air bag-deploying accident occur.

Before initiating the emergency 911 call, SYNC will provide a 10-second window to allow the driver or passenger to decide whether to cancel the call. If not manually cancelled within the 10-second window, SYNC will place the emergency call. A pre-recorded message will play when the call is answered, and occupants in the vehicle will then be able to communicate directly with the 911 operator.

“Being connected means being able to get the help you need, when you need it,” Kuzak said. “With SYNC, and specifically with the 911 Assist feature, we will be providing our customers an extra layer of security and peace of mind.”

The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators. A SYNC-assisted call will reach 911 operators quickly, as there are no handoffs and no need to speak to a call-center operator. Further, there is no additional monthly fee for this feature, as SYNC utilizes a customer’s existing mobile phone.

Once the call is connected, 911 operators can respond to the situation exactly as they would with any 911 call. Emergency services can even determine the medical priority and dispatch the appropriate assistance based on the situation. If necessary – if vehicle occupants are non-responsive, for example – the location of the vehicle can be determined through voice-signal triangulation or, on some phones, the GPS location feature.

The new SYNC 911 Assist feature is expected to be high on every “customer want” list. It will become available later this year, and earlier SYNC software and vehicles will be updatable to support this additional application.

Vehicle Health Reports
Properly maintaining vehicles can save time, money and improve customers’ ownership experiences. Later this year, with SYNC’s added functionality, staying up to speed with a vehicle’s maintenance needs will be easier than ever.

Using the SYNC website (www.syncmyride.com), customers will be able to set up personal preferences for Vehicle Health Report (VHR). Once established, a report can be requested at any time, at no cost, using simple voice commands.

In creating a health report, SYNC will gather relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and send that information to Ford via an 800-number using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone. The whole process, which in some vehicles will include a routine check of more than two dozen systems, takes a matter of minutes.

Once sent, the information is automatically analyzed by Ford and a complete report is created. Notification is then sent via text message or e-mail, based on customer preference. Reports will be accessible through www.syncmyride.com and will use simple, customer-friendly language, suggest next steps and, when appropriate, allow customers to schedule service online. Reports can also be printed or emailed as necessary.

Owners that need reminding about vehicle maintenance will be able to have SYNC prompt them to run a report at mileage intervals consistent with Ford’s maintenance schedule.

Startup Converting Ford F-150s Into 41 MPG Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

The 16 MPG F-150 is one of the most ubiquitous vehicles on the road today. What if you could convert them all to get 41 MPG?

The Illinois Institute of Technology’s masters program has spun-off a start-up with big plans for our aging fleet of big trucks. The company, called Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology (HEVT), has built a bolt-on module that will convert a standard F-150 into a 41 MPG plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

HEVT demo’d their first prototype at the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose earlier in the month. The suddenly attractive F-150 PHEV (which is not the 1994 model depicted above) gets 15 miles of emissions-free driving on electricity before it switches over to gas/electric hybrid mode, where it will continue to get an impressive 41 MPG for a typical day’s worth of driving.

Why Plug-in Hybrid Conversions Matter

Dr. Andrew S. Grove, former chairman of Intel Corporation, said in his keynote address: “Trucks, SUVs and vans are the least-efficient vehicles on the road, so retrofitting them should be a high priority if we want to make a meaningful, near-term difference in oil consumption. Rapid commercialization of prototypes like HEVT’s is the way to go.”

Adding a hybrid drivetrain to large vehicles was one of GM’s premier concepts at this year’s Detroit autoshow, until sales of new SUV models failed miserably. Retrofitting older vehicles into plug-in hybrids makes perfect sense since they’re already on the road:

“HEVT’s solutions apply to not just smaller passenger cars and hybrids, but almost any vehicle including larger gas guzzlers,” said HEVT founder Ali Emadi. “Our laboratory simulations show that the larger the vehicle, the greater the benefits – in gas costs, particulate and greenhouse emissions, and sound pollution. For this reason we are currently focused on PSVs and will later expand to school buses as well as transit buses.”

Ok, let me beat you to the punchline. “Typical days driving” means 30 miles in a day, which is the amount most of us drive, on average.

Unfortunately, if you drive more than 30 miles between charges, the straight hybrid mode drops to a paltry 21 MPG. That’s still a 31% fuel efficiency increase over the standard F-150, but HEVT is going to have to bring the price way, way down for this to be an even remote consideration for the vast majority of F-150’s out there. Prototype conversions currently cost $60,000.

HEVT’s Business Plan

Luckily, HEVT has plans to bring the cost down. I know $60K is a lot of money, but keep in mind that it’s impossible to estimate the conversion cost if/when these modules are massed produced or installed by automakers. It also wouldn’t hurt to throw out here that a brand new F-250 costs as much as $100K in the first 5 years of ownership.

HEVT will be starting a pilot demo project that should complete 20-50 conversions by end of year. Once they prove viability, there are two potential business models: a) develop modules that would be sold to partner who would do the retrofitting, or b), sell the modules directly to car manufacturers. It makes sense that they would do both.

HEVT is currently in discussion with unnamed OEM’s and hopes to have the first commercial prototypes out next year. They’re also working on modules for a range of other vehicles including SUVs and transit buses, and in the video (below) they specifically mention Hummer H1’s and Humvees (maybe they should talk to Jonathan Goodwin).

Ford Tests Improve Gas Mileage 24% with EcoDriving

Ford is really throwing down the guantlet by showing how dedicated it is to the new EcoDriving initiative we talked about the other day. I really liked it because it validates a lot of what we’re trying to do on the forums in terms of improving fuel economy on an individual level, but also showed that automakers were willing to commit (at least in name) to supporting fuel efficient driving. However, it seems Ford has really stepped up to the plate by offering ecodriving lessons over the course of several days to see how effective it really is.

Ford takes on ecodriving

Recently, Ford and a group called Pro Formance decided to take on ecodriving in the form of a 4-day long seminar with 48 different drivers taking part. Using the ecodriving tips taught by Pro Formance, the participants increased their fuel economy between 6-50%, with and average increase of 24%.

With the gas crunch hitting people hard, it’s good to see a company like Ford stepping up and showing consumers that there’s more than just air up your tires and cleaning out the trunk. Here’s their take on ecodriving:

“By working with Pro Formance to conduct validation testing, Ford is proving that eco-driving techniques are teachable and work across a broad spectrum of vehicles and drivers,” said Drew DeGrassi, president and CEO of Pro Formance Group. “It’s a great initiative for Ford to lead in this country. It’s not the end-all solution for America to obtain energy independence, but it is an important part of it.”

I would love to see what the training program is like, but for the rest of us Ford give us 10 ecodriving tips. Sure, they pale in comparison to EcoModder’s ecodriving tips list, but most drivers aren’t interested in getting really involved, and Ford’s hands-on approach is a good way to get results without asking too much of people.

Evidently they have been doing this since the 1990s in Germany, where gas mileage has been an issue for longer than it has in the US. Hopefully, this will encourage other manufacturers to bring their most efficient vehicles and programs to a ready-and-willing US market.

The Ford Nucleon: A Miniature Nuclear Reactor in the Trunk

Imagine a car that would emit no harmful vapors and would offer incredible fuel mileage far beyond that of the most efficient cars ever built. It’d be sleek and silent, with only the hum of a turbine. It’d basically be run on steam. That’s how nuclear power works.

Yeah, nuclear power. The Ford Nucleon concept car was designed to be powered by a miniature nuclear reactor. Simple, safe, and eco-friendly, right?

Ford’s engineers imagined full-service recharging stations in place of gas-stations, where depleted reactors cores could be swapped out for fresh ones. The car’s reactor setup was basically just like a nuclear submarine’s, only smaller. It was designed to use uranium fission to heat a steam generator, rapidly converting water into high-pressure steam which could then be used to drive a set of turbines. One steam turbine would provide the torque to propel the car while another would drive an electrical generator. The steam would then condense back into water in a cooling coil, and be sent back to the steam generator to be reused. It’s a closed system, so as long as there is some radioactive material in there, it’s good to go. No emissions, except for the eventual nuclear waste.

Designers anticipated that a typical Ford Nucleon would be able to travel about 5,000 miles per charge.

The idea never took off because reactors that small weren’t possible at the time and the shielding needed would have weighed down the car excessively. But it’s not really that bad of an idea. The US Navy has a 100% perfect record of nuclear safety with their subs. It’s greener than a lot of other technologies, who knows, maybe we’ll see some nuclear Ford’s out there come 2020.

The 65 MPG Ford the U.S. Can’t Have

If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system, and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor, known widely for lumbering gas hogs.

Ford’s 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here’s the catch: Despite the car’s potential to transform Ford’s image and help it compete with Toyota Motor and Honda Motor in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. “We know it’s an awesome vehicle,” says Ford America President Mark Fields. “But there are business reasons why we can’t sell it in the U.S.” The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.

2010 Ford Mustang Interior Revealed; Shows Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary Changes

After getting a clearer look at the 2010 Ford Mustang GT500 yesterday, we just got these perfect spy shots in from the folks at KGP laying out the interior changes for the 2010 Ford Mustang. If you're having a hard time identifying the differences, don't be shocked, as they're subtle and evolutionary over the outgoing 2009 model. Given the rubber steering wheel, we're assuming this interior belongs to the base V6 model, but changes like the revised center stack, cleaned up emergency brake lever, new air vents and a side window defrost vent will be shared across all cars. It's also worth noting the ergonomic updates to the center stack, as the digital readout is now at the top of the pile, followed by presets and menu controls; the volume and tuning knobs are both analog knobs now (thank you Ford) and the HVAC controls move to the bottom. Door panels remain largely unchanged except for the speaker panel. The impressions of the spies and the reverse angle on the interior are below.

We just got a new look inside the 2010 Mustang, and this prototype's dash was completely uncovered and uncamouflaged. This is the first time we've gotten a truly clean and unencumbered look at the new 'Stang's redesigned interior. The new dash design appears to utilize a number of the current Mustang's parts to save cost, but the main dash face, the center console, gauge-package, and steering wheel have all been restyled to give a more refined, upscale look while maintaining the simple, retro feel.

Article from:http://www.driive.com/blogs/2008/09/10/2010-ford-mustang-interior-revealed-shows-evolutionary-not-revolutionary-changes-2010-ford-mustang/blogs/