Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 7:08 AM
Ten years ago, the late actor/philanthropist Paul Newman approached Bill Ford, who was at the time chairman and CEO of the Ford Motor Company, to discuss ways to fight hunger in rural America. The result was a unique partnership that set a new benchmark earlier this year: When the automaker donated nine more refrigerated Ford trucks to the cause, all filled with perishables provided by Newman’s Own, it meant the program had extended its reach to have at least one truck in every one of the 50 states in the U.S.
“Through this unique partnership, Ford Motor Company has remained committed to playing a role in addressing hunger relief throughout...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 4:39 PM
European sales of the latest-generation Fiesta reached one million last month. The landmark was achieved just 28 months after the popular Ford small car – Ford's No.1 top-selling car – went on sale in Ford dealerships across Europe. When it first drove out of Ford dealer showrooms in October 2008, the award-winning Fiesta championed a new era in small car design, performance and functionality. Available in three- and five-door hatchback bodystyles and a range of fuel-efficient powertrains, it shot up the sales charts and became the No. 2 best-selling car in Europe in early 2009, a position it has retained ever since.
The Fiesta is produced...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 4:37 PM
There have been big wins and championships for the Motorcraft brand in its long and storied motorsports history, but never has a season kicked off quite like 2011. Trevor Bayne, a 20-year-old NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie making just his second Sprint Cup series start, piloted the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford Fusion to victory in the Daytona 500. The victory was the first for the Wood Brothers since 2001 when Elliott Sadler was driving for the team.
“We’re so tickled to be here,” said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Len Wood. “Ford Motor Company has stood behind us for 61 years now to be exact. We’ve...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 4:31 PM
The Ford Fiesta’s is now the first car in its segment to earn top crash test ratings in each of the world’s largest auto markets that perform safety testing, the U.S., China and Europe. The 2011 Ford Fiesta, the only car in its segment to earn a Top Safety Pick from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety under its new test standards, continues to earn recognition in major global markets for its safety performance and rating in independent third-party testing.
Beneath Fiesta’s stylish exterior is a structure crafted from high-strength steels engineered to preserve quality and enhance driver and passenger safety. More than...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 9:53 AM
Ford’s advanced start/stop technology is an engineering marvel. Currently used in the Ford Fusion hybrid and Ford Escape hybrid, as well as select European Ford models, the system can boost city fuel-efficiency numbers by 4 to 10 percent by automatically shutting off the engine when a vehicle stops, then seamlessly restarting it when the driver removes his/her foot from the brake pedal. The setup requires no change in driving patterns, and it’s so well-integrated into the Ford’s products that you might not even realize it was there—until you check your mileage. And now, it’s going to be “there” in even more Ford vehicles: The company recently...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 3:41 PM
Introducing another breakthrough in its efforts the help keep teen drivers safe—and provide their parents with increased peace of mind—the Ford Motor Company recently announced significant upgrades to its exclusive MyKey technology. The original MyKey system was first launched in 2009 and allowed owners to limit vehicle speeds to 80 mph via an easy-to-program key system. The new technology, set to premiere on the 2011 Ford Taurus and Ford, will allow parents to:
Block explicit satellite radio content—an industry first
Choose between four different top vehicle speeds—65 mph, 70 mph, 75 mph or 80 mph
Help encourage kids to stay buckled up...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 1:49 PM
Nobody in their right mind would want to void their car warranty. Yet, there are thousands (perhaps millions) who worry that one small thing will crumple their precious warranty up and throw it into the waste basket. A portion of those people have written to me lamenting the fact that they did something that voided it. So what are the most common actions that result in a voided car warranty? What Is A Car Warranty? First of all, in order to understand your part in the warranty relationship, it is vital that you understand what a warranty is and what it is not. A new car warranty is an agreement between the carmaker and the consumer....
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 3:14 PM
What happens when you pit the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew against the best of its “competition” in a grueling 1,000-mile battle through mountain trails, desert sand dunes, stream crossings and interstate highways? Pretty much the same thing that’s already happened numerous times before: The Raptor came out on top and took home another prestigious award, this time earning “Pickup Truck of the Year” honors from Four Wheeler magazine.
“Raptor is every four-wheel-drive enthusiast’s dream of what a factory pickup truck should be,” said Douglas McColloch, Four Wheeler editor. “Straight off the showroom floor, Raptor comes equipped with ...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 3:15 PM
While it's easy to find a good, sensibly-sized and relatively fuel-efficient small car, it's really hard to find much personality.
At the same time, you could argue, Americans haven't seemed to want much charm behind the wheel. The first-generation Focus, for instance, came in a wide range of body styles (including three- and five-door hatchbacks), and had a standard of ride and handling arguably better than anything in its class at the time, but it became a sore reality after a few years that Americans weren't willing to pay for small-car sophistication. A couple of refreshes cut body styles from the lineup and left the Focus feeling...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 2:15 PM
Looking for an ideal way to combine the efficiency and nimble dimensions of a car with the interior versatility of a minivan? Look no further than the all-new Ford C-Max, which made its U.S. debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The C-MAX will offer unique “5+2” seating, with the ability to comfortably fit five adults in its first two rows and two more small passengers in its third-row seating. And significantly, it offers that kind of room, along with a surprising amount of cargo space, in a package that’s just 178 inches long—roughly a foot shorter than today’s mid-size sedans. The long list of features available...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 2:11 PM
Ford is aggressively accelerating its commitment to wirelessly connected intelligent vehicles – known as vehicle-to-vehicle communications – becoming the first automaker to build prototype vehicles for demonstrations across the U.S., doubling its intelligent vehicle investment in 2011 and dedicating even more scientists to developing this technology.
“Ford believes intelligent vehicles that talk to each other through advanced Wi-Fi are the next frontier of collision avoidance innovations that could revolutionize the driving experience and hold the potential of helping reduce many crashes,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability,...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 2:10 PM
Ford Motor Co. is the top car manufacturer in owner loyalty, according to a study released Wednesday by the consulting firm Polk. This is the first time since 1999 that Ford has earned that distinction.
Toyota won the honor last year but fell to second place this year. General Motors was third.
The award is based on an analysis of 4.9 million new vehicle purchases during the 2010 model year. Owner loyalty means that a customer who owns a car, truck or SUV made by a particular manufacturer buys another from that same manufacturer.
Read the full article: http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/12/autos/ford_polk_loyalty/index....
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 1:57 PM
The 2011 Explorer is North American Truck of the Year! The win by Explorer marks the 3rd Consecutive Year Ford has won the North American Truck of the Year and the 7th time overall (in the Award's 18-year existence). &nb...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 2:10 PM
Compete in this interactive road rally to be entered to win a 2012 Ford Focus! Good luck! Please visit http://www.focusrally.com/ for more deta...
Posted by Sturman and Larkin Ford on 2:06 PM
Ford Motor Company is working to reduce teen crashes and fatalities through educational programs such as Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) and the introduction of such technologies as MyKey® and SYNC®.
“Ford has a long-standing commitment to safety, as we seek to improve crash protection, crash avoidance and safe driving behavior,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “When it comes to teens, Ford is using extensive research to develop educational and technological solutions to help reduce the loss of young lives on our roads.”
Ford’s efforts address real-world concerns....
