Ford Making Cars From Soy?

We know you know about bio-fuels and alternative energy, you probably even know that a lot of Ford's factories run on alternate energies such as solar power to produce cars, but did you know that Ford is making more and more of their interior out of alternative goods such as soy?

Here's what SouthEast Farm Press says:


Back in my youth I lusted after the new Ford Mustang. The Pony frenzy paralleled my driving career and every teenage boy could see himself cruising around in a Mustang convertible.

One of my buddies had one, and it was the ultimate in cool. Perhaps as part of my mid-life crisis, I now drive a 2008 replica model of the 1966 Mustang. It’s not quite the same, but with the top down and the stereo cranked up loud to oldies tunes, it’s still pretty cool.

At this year's meeting of the Virginia Grain Growers Association, a lunchtime speaker drew my special attention.

Angela Harris is a biomaterials research engineer with Ford Motor Company. I’m sure she has more responsibilities, but one of them is working with farm groups and Ford engineers to develop car parts from crops and crop residue.

“Anytime we can use naturally grown products that perform as well and cost no more than products made from fossil fuel, we’re going to do that,” she says.

In fact, more than 3 million Fords have soy foam seats and 75 percent of the Fords produced in the U.S. have head rests made from soy foam. Compressed corn and wheat residues are also used extensively in Ford vehicles.

Read More: http://southeastfarmpress.com/blog/ford-developing-car-parts-crops-crop-residues

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Why The Boss... Is The Boss

After a track day at Miller Motorsports, Complex lays out 10 reasons why the 2013 BOSS 302 is "the boss."

From Complex.com:

Paint:

Why It's Awesome: No matter which color's your favorite, you win. There's simply no bad color for 2013. Add in the new hockey stick graphic, and all colors look racey and badass. At night, those stripes are reflective -- which looks cool and is also a valuable safety feature. You know, in case you didn't think you'd be visible enough driving one of these in the first place. 

Power

Why It's Awesome: How do you feel about a 444hp engine with 380 lb-ft. of torque? We thought so. Its low-end torque is quite impressive, and the shifting with the 6-speed gearbox outfitted with a close-ratio short-throw shifter is incredibly smooth. You'd have to actually try to stall this thing -- well, unless you're a n00b to driving stick (in which case, we'll look the other way while you practice the basics). You can also have an optional Torsen limited slip differential installed from the factory.

See more reasons why the Boss... really is the boss:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbddy.me%2FMb0XgI&h=bAQHmcn4RAQHEguj-QaM_4HpUsCuJ53M0z4YbHqW1q7ot9A

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Ford Honors Tuskegee Airmen

They were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to the Jim Crow laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction. All black military pilots who trained in the United States trained at Tuskegee... This car is dedicated to them.

In the spirit of honoring veterans for the month of July Ford has chosen to honor the United States' very own Tuskegee Airmen. For Oshkosh, Ford has created a one-of-a-kind "Red Tails Edition" Mustang, paying homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps. This car will be auctioned to benefit the Experimental Aircraft Association (an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin) on July 26th.

For more info about the Redtail via USA Today visit: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/07/ford-red-tail-mustang-pays-homage-to-tuskegee-airmen/1

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Taking Care Of Your Car's Paint

Summer can be a great time! Fun in the sun can include camping, visits to your favorite water parks, relaxation and much more, but there's a downside to all the sun... It can be damaging to your car paint!

Sunlight can cause oxidation which causes fading, and that's bad news, but you're not at a total loss! There are steps the average person can take to PREVENT sun damage to their car.

1) Park in a shaded area: Obviously the easiest way to avoid sun damage is to avoid the sun altogether. Paint is tough, but if you're the typical 9-5 worker, that's 8 hours a day your car can be exposed to sun rays. We suggest seeking out shaded areas for parking, even if it means walking an extra block.

2) Clean off bugs: Insects not only make your car look gross, but the small amount of acid contained in some insects can be enough to penetrate your paint, so be sure to wash your car often... which brings us to our next step...

3) Dry thoroughly: Cleaning your car is great, but you don't want to let water settle. Water can leave behind minerals including salt, which is harmful to the outer coatings protecting your paint, which in the end, can lead to fading.

4) Finally... wax: Wax is the ultimate protector. Waxing fills in small scuffs, and rejuvenates the outer layers of your paint keeping them like new so be sure to wax after washing your car. It's a great way to insure it's dry, and keeps it looking as glossy as the day you bought it.

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