Friday, February 18, 2011

Ford's Rear Inflatable Seat Belt Wins '2011 Best New Technology' Award

•Ford's rear inflatable seat belt is named 'Best New Technology' by AJAC
•Ford’s unique inflatable rear belts spread impact forces across more than five times the area than conventional seat belts, reducing pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion
•Ford’s rear inflatable seat belt functions like a standard seat belt in normal everyday use. The vehicle’s crash sensing system determines when the inflatable belt should deploy

TORONTO, Ontario, February 17, 2011 – Ford's rear inflatable seat belt is named the '2011 Best New Technology' by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at the Canadian International Auto Show.

"Safety is a key priority at Ford and we are honoured to win this year's 'Best New Technology' award for our industry-first rear inflatable seat belts," said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. "Available initially on our all-new 2011 Ford Explorer, the rear inflatable seat belts work by spreading impact forces over five times more area than conventional seat belts."

Ford's unique inflatable rear belts reducing pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion.

Ford’s rear inflatable seat belt functions like a standard seat belt in normal everyday use. The vehicle’s crash sensing system determines when the inflatable belt should deploy.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

What's The Bright Idea?

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 17, 2011 – The lights around Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., campus are going to get more efficient, as a new lighting project kicks off that will bring an estimated energy reduction of more than 18.2 million kilowatt-hours – enough to power 1,648 U.S. residential homes for a year.

The project eliminates more than 11,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions and offers an annual cost reduction of more than $1.3 million. Ford Land Energy Efficiency and Supply Office is handling the project, by switching out and retrofitting more than 50,000 light fixtures in buildings across southeast Michigan. In fact, more than 6,000 fixtures in Ford World Headquarters alone will be replaced.

“We are continuously taking steps to make sure we’re current with the technologies that offer us reduced energy consumption, along with a cost savings for the type of space,” said Gary Jensen, manager of energy efficiency. “This project helps the environment, reduces demand on the grid and brings bottom line savings for Ford, too.”

Details of the project include:
•Retrofitting existing fixtures
•Optimizing the use of day lighting
•Replacing incandescent exit signs with LED exit signs
•Controlling unoccupied areas with occupancy sensors
•Replacing incandescent and halogen lamps with compact fluorescent and LED lamps

“Lighting technology changes rapidly, with each generation producing greater efficiencies,” said Jensen. “This is only the most recent large-scale lighting upgrade that Ford has done.”

Office buildings, test facilities, a test warehouse and a vehicle proving ground facility are all areas that will be upgraded, with the project being wrapped up in 2011. Within those buildings, lighting is being replaced in offices, conference rooms, hallways, design studios, laboratories and restrooms.

Additional benefits
The project offers several benefits including reduced lumen power density, which will support future Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) considerations. Employees and visitors also will enjoy better visual clarity and enhanced perceived brightness thanks to an improved color rendering index.

Additionally, the project will lower ongoing maintenance costs due to the reduction in total lamps and longer lamp life.

Homeowners note: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners could save $30 or more in electricity costs over the lifetime of a compact fluorescent bulb if they choose to switch to that type of bulb.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ford NASCAR Drivers Comment On Upcoming 600th Sprint Cup Win

CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion -- “That would be huge. Every win is important, but the 600th win is no more important than the last one or the next one after that. They’re all important and I just love being in victory lane with a Ford.”


GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 3M Ford Fusion -- “It would be pretty awesome. On top of that it would be the Daytona 500 and that would be a great place to have your 600th win. As you saw last weekend, I think it’s anybody’s game. We’ll just have to wait and see. I think we’ve got as good a chance as anybody – any manufacturer, any car. All of the Ford cars stand a good chance.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER – No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion -- “It would be a big deal just to win anything right now. I’d like to just contribute to any win total for Ford, but to be the 600th, especially here at Daytona, that would obviously be a huge deal. We’ll take it as it comes. I think we’re gonna have a lot of good shots this year to get some wins and add to that total and, hopefully, it starts here at Daytona.”

DAVID RAGAN – No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion -- “That would be awesome. Winning the Daytona 500 and number 600 would be very, very special. If you could win the worst race of the year and be number 600, that would be great. That would make up for a lot of the other races that we missed out on, so 600 for Ford is gonna be something to remember because it goes all the way back to Henry Ford, who won his first race. A lot of great race car drivers have won under the Ford banner and it would be awesome to throw our name in the hat.”

MARCOS AMBROSE – No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion -- “I’d like to be 600. I’ll take one win however I can get it, but Ford has been great to me and it’s just great to be back in the Ford Racing family. This year is fairly iconic for the company in racing and 600 wins is a pretty cool stat if you can say you did it, so I’ll be trying hard. The trouble is you’ve got Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle and AJ and everyone else trying to do the same thing.”

TRAVIS KVAPIL – No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford Fusion -- “How special would that be – to get to be the driver who has such a monumental win for Ford. It would be huge for me. That’s a goal for me in the Cup Series is to be a winner. We’ve had some top 10s and some good runs and led laps, but I haven’t won, so that’s the number one goal on my list and to do that at the same time as getting Ford’s 600th win would be pretty cool. That would be really special. Daytona and Talladega, there are a handful of tracks where I really feel like Front Row Motorsports can get it done, so you never know. If you’re in the right place at the right time with a few laps to go, you’ve got a shot at it. That would be pretty special.”

DAVID GILLILAND – No. 34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion -- “We’ve been close here before and that would be awesome and something no one could ever take from you. That would be cool and we’re gonna try and do it for sure. I think we’ve got a car that’s capable of doing it, but you have to position yourself to be at the right place at the end and now I think it’s even more so because I think there are gonna be even more cars fighting for the lead at the end than the two that we always see.”

TREVOR BAYNE – No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion -- “First, that means we would be winning the race, which is great. And then to get Ford’s 600th win, I would kind of feel bad coming in after all these guys have been working on it for 599, and I come in and it’s like ‘Here’s 600.’ But that would be incredible and to do it with the Wood Brothers and how everything has happened, that would be insane. I don’t even know how to fathom that."

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

New Ford Focus News

Ford is inviting digital influencers to participate in the inaugural global test drive of the next-generation Ford Focus
•The Focus Global Test Drive event will take place near Madrid, Spain, Feb. 18-20, at a private proving ground facility
•100 participants will share the experience of a lifetime as they put the all-new Ford Focus through its paces, in support of their charities of choice
•Test drivers – among the first to experience the all-new global Ford Focus – will be hosted and coached by racing drivers Justin Bell and Tanner Foust

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 14, 2011 – Anticipation is building among Focus Global Test Drive participants – bloggers and consumers, hailing from 13 countries where the all-new Ford Focus will soon be available – as they prepare to convene in Madrid later this week.

These cause-minded consumers – many of whom will receive $10,000 (U.S.) to be donated to their favorite charity – will be the first members of the public to test drive the new Ford Focus, in exercises and dynamic driving challenges that highlight features and attributes of the newest car from Ford, which will eventually be sold in 122 counties.

Participants will gather at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) on the outskirts of Madrid, which offers multiple road surfaces and challenges for putting the all-new Focus through its paces. A world-class testing facility originally founded in 1942, INTA features high-speed tracks, road courses and proving ground roads replicating every conceivable obstacle a driver might face, anywhere in the world.

Test driver briefings and dynamic driving exercises will be co-hosted by veteran race driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Justin Bell, teaming up with Tanner Foust, U.S. Top Gear HISTORY television personality, stunt driver, rally competitor and Formula D drift champion.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Impress Your Valentine with a Ford!

Cramping My Style
Take interior space, for example. Cramped, tight spaces can really put a damper on a comfortable “car date.” But you don’t have to have a big car to get some elbow room.

The all-new Focus from Ford brings small car interior space to a new level, rivaling larger vehicles. It offers more shoulder room than an Audi A4 and more front headroom than a Toyota Camry. In the spacious second row, the new Focus provides more hip room than the Audi or Toyota.

Sweet sounds
There’s nothing like good tunes to spice things up. Music is essential on a date. Wouldn’t it be even better if you could simply ask your car to select the song your date wants to hear from your custom playlist on an iPod or MP3 player?

Ford’s next-generation voice control can interpret a single voice command, such “USB, play artist, Lifehouse” to change a song if the mood calls for something soft and slow. Connectivity for portable devices and media players, are available through two USB ports, three RCA jacks (video, right and left audio) and SD card reader.

The setting gets even better when the songs are played on a premium Sony® 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer found on most Ford models.

Careful component matching and tuning for the vehicle has ensured that the premium sound system delivers outstanding sound quality. System performance is enhanced by the center speaker, which provides highly authentic staging, while the subwoofer ensures that bass sounds have a full, rich quality.

Mood Lighting
Almost as important as mood music is mood lighting.

Ford’s advanced ambient lighting system uses LED technology to provide precise pools of illumination in the foot wells, cup holders, door handle releases and map pockets. The driver can choose between seven different accent colors and set the brightness level to suit his or her mood.

A search mode can also be activated, switching the lighting to a bright white color, helping occupants to find misplaced objects within the car.

The right kind of lighting, such as Ford’s new LED Crystal Blue interior lighting, ensures consistent levels of color and brightness are delivered in the right places and at the right times to set the right mood.

Roof with a view
If gazing at the stars is your idea of a romantic car date, you can while staying warm, dry and bug free while viewing from the inside of your car. Several of Ford’s crossover and sports utility models can be equipped with the panoramic Vista Roof. The large glass moon roof provides a grand view of the sky.

The roof features a large glass panel. The oversized front panel provides open-air touring. Close the forward roof and the enormous skylights allow natural light to flood the cabin while protecting it, and you, from the elements. Or sky-gazing on a hot, sunny day? Twin power-operated cloth shades can be closed simultaneously to block nearly 100 percent of ultra-violet rays.

Chillin’
Need to keep beverages chilled? Ford’s Flex cross-over vehicle boasts a class-exclusive refrigerated console that is mounted between the second-row captain’s chairs. The available refrigerator can cool up to seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two 20-ounce bottles from room temperature to 41 degrees in a little more than two-and-a-half hours – 40 percent faster than a standard home refrigerator.

Intimate Interiors
Attention to detail, including the look, touch, feel and operation of all controls, features and surfaces also help define the setting. Materials that feel luxurious to the touch, comfortable seats and a welcoming interior contribute to the appeal and allure of any interior space, including a car.

For example, Ford uses authentic chrome plating on the interior trim parts, such as door handle release, rather than painted coatings to improve the look and feel of its car interiors. Optimizing the softness and feel of key customer touch points, such as the steering wheel, door armrests and center console, also provides an overall feeling of comfort and style.

Peace and Tranquillity
An ideal date night is one without distractions or disruptions from noise generated by the external environment, such as traffic noise, pedestrian chatter, and other business taking place outside of the car.

Soundproofing cars to shut out distracting outside noises offers both privacy and tranquillity inside.

Windshields with a special acoustic layer and thicker side and rear glass on Ford cars and trucks significantly reduce high-frequency noises. Sound-absorbing carpets and self-expanding foams also help absorb sound, as well as help maintain a more consistent sound level distribution inside the vehicle.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Describe Your Ulitmate Explorer Road Trip!

Ford is asking you to describe your ultimate adventure if you had the all new 2011 Ford Explorer for one week. You can submit you idea in the form of an essay, video, or photos at www.ford.com/explorer or on Facebook. Ford will pick 10 or more winners to live out their ultimate Explorer adventure as long as you don't mind having the experience documented on video. Doesn't sound like a bad deal?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Ford and the Grammy Awards

Ford to Showcase Ads for All-New Explorer During GRAMMY Awards, Including Unique Spot Featuring Nelly•Ford Explorer’s heavy presence during this Sunday’s 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® will showcase the SUV’s reinvention to millions; the GRAMMY awards air Sunday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS
•Ford will air three Explorer ads, including the premiere of a unique 60-second television commercial featuring hip hop recording artist Nelly and the Audio System from Sony in the new Ford Explorer
•All the ads lean heavily on music to tell the Explorer story; they are part of an integrated campaign designed to help people reconnect with Explorer and the shared adventures an SUV can deliver
•Since the July reveal of the reinvented Explorer, Ford has been engaging with consumers in one-on-one conversations on Facebook using text, videos and images; Nelly is one of a number of celebrities – including Bret Michaels, Snoop Dogg and professional pool player Jeanette Lee – who have appeared in Explorer Facebook videos

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Building A More Intelligent Vehicle

•Ford is rapidly expanding its commitment to intelligent vehicles that wirelessly talk to each other, warning of potential dangers to enhance safety and flag impending traffic congestion to help improve the environment
•Intelligent vehicles could potentially help in 81 percent of all police-reported light-vehicle crashes involving unimpaired drivers, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report
•Ford is building the first-ever prototype intelligent vehicles that will tour the U.S. beginning this spring and will provide additional prototypes for the Department of Transportation’s world-first research clinics expected to begin this summer
•Ford is doubling its intelligent vehicle investment in 2011 and plans a new 20-member task force of scientists and engineers to explore the technology’s broader possibilities