Ford F-150: The Ultimate Truck

Ford F-150 Chosen as Best Light-Duty Pickup Truck by PickupTrucks.com and Popular Mechanics Magazine

The Ford F-150 has been named winner of the 2013 Light-Duty Challenge by the editors of PickupTrucks.com and Popular Mechanics Magazine.

“In our performance-oriented competitive events, the Ford half-ton was dominating,” says Mark Williams, editor of PickupTrucks.com. “It finished in either first or second place in 11 of 13 events. If this were the Olympics, there would be a new Ford F-150 on a cereal box.”

F-150 beat out five competitors, including two of the newest entries from General Motors and the latest Ram.

Judges tested the 2013 Ford F-150 against the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, 2013 Nissan Titan, 2013 Ram 1500 and 2013 Toyota Tundra. Trucks were put through rigorous performance tests including 0-60 mph acceleration (loaded and unloaded), braking, overall handling, towing and fuel economy.

“The results of this test show why F-Series has been the best-selling pickup truck in America for more than 30 years,” says Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “We know our light-duty customers are looking for a pickup truck that delivers the leading combination of towing, payload, horsepower, torque and fuel economy, and this shootout proves F-150 continues to lead the pack.”

F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series lineup. Now in its 65th year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 36 consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America for 31 consecutive years, and the brand with the most trucks on the road with more than 250,000 miles, as certified by Polk.

The 2013 Ford F-150 features up to 11,300 pounds of towing capability and best-in-class 3,120 pounds of payload. F-150 is available with four powertrains including a 6.2-liter V8, a 5.0-liter V8, a 3.7-liter V6 and the segment-exclusive 3.5-liter EcoBoost^®.

F-150 is built at Dearborn Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Via Ford Media

Ford Going More Green…Ford Cuts CO2 Emissions 37 Percent Per Vehicle; New Report Highlights Another 30 Percent Reduction by 2025

Ford Motor Company cut CO₂ emissions at its global facilities by 37 percent per vehicle between 2000 and 2012 and plans for a 30 percent reduction from 2010 to 2025 by addressing everything from new products and technologies to manufacturing processes.

Ford’s work to reduce CO₂ emissions is outlined in Ford’s 14^th annual Sustainability Report issued today and more importantly, part of the company’s overall mission to facilitate continued reduction of CO₂ emissions.

Already, total CO₂ emissions at Ford’s global facilities have dropped by 4.65 million metric tons, or 47 percent since 2000. Ford also delivered on its commitment to reduce U.S. facility emissions by 10 percent per vehicle produced between 2002 and 2012, as part of an Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers program. And vehicle tailpipe emissions on a per vehicle basis have dropped 16 percent since 2007 as new vehicles such as Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid have become available.

And Ford has even bigger plans to reduce CO₂ – one of several priorities outlined in its “Blueprint for Sustainability: Our Journey Continues.” Other subjects in the voluntary report range from reduced water use and energy consumption to cutting the amount of waste-to-landfill at Ford facilities around the world.

“In the more than 30 years I have been with the company, I have seen genuine transformation as Ford has integrated sustainability into its business plan, products, operations and relationships with stakeholders,” says Robert Brown, vice president, sustainability, environment and safety engineering. “Water and energy use, waste-to-landfill, Ford’s role in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases like CO₂ in our atmosphere – these are just a few of the top sustainability-related priorities considered in every decision.”

Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said sustainability issues are embedded in the company’s business plan, and are consistent with its aim to deliver great products, a strong business and a better world.

“We are much more proactive in understanding the importance of sustainability in the broadest sense – not only in relation to our products, but also in the quality of the financial results that we derive from them,” said Shanks, whose perspective is featured in this year’s report.

Ford issued its first voluntary sustainability report in 1999 as a way to summarize and report on the company’s initiatives regarding social, economic and environmental issues.

CO₂…

In the early 2000s, Ford’s Climate Change Task Force identified a need to address shifting market trends and government regulations – among many other factors – with regard to reducing CO₂ emissions.

Investors also are increasingly showing greater concern about climate change as a material risk for companies, creating a much stronger link between climate-change-relevant information and initiatives – such as the CO₂ Model – and access to capital.

“Beyond those imperatives, we had taken to heart our responsibility to contribute to meeting the challenge of climate change,” says John Viera, global director, sustainability and vehicle environmental matters.

Ford has developed products and technologies along with processes at its facilities and plans to meet its own targets while also doing its part to help keep CO₂ levels in the Earth’s atmosphere at or below 450 parts per million – a goal many scientists, businesses and governmental agencies say must be met to avoid the most serious effects on climate change.

Take Ford’s EcoBoost^® engines – now on more than 600,000 Ford Motor Company vehicles – that improve fuel economy and cut CO₂. And since sales began of Ford C-MAX Hybrid and Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, more than 20 billion grams of CO₂ have been saved. Emissions from C-MAX Energi are less than half the average CO₂ that comes from a regular car.

The C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi are part of six electrified vehicle choices from Ford. Other vehicles are: Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrids and Focus Electric

At its facilities, Ford is expanding its industry-leading 3-Wet paint capacity by 50 percent this year – adding the environmentally friendly process to four more plants on three continents. Increased use of this process, which streamlines the painting process, is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 25 percent where used.

And in the last eight years, company scientists have developed the Ford CO₂ Model – a business planning tool that takes into consideration data and regulations from, among others, the International Energy Agency, National Center for Atmospheric Research, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ford also worked with researchers at Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden, and from companies such as BP in the process of developing the CO₂ Model.

…And beyond CO₂

Ford’s sustainability report is a comprehensive showcase of the company’s efforts to tackle a myriad of sustainability challenges in a rapidly changing world. Specifically, the report addresses Ford’s overall financial health, the fuel economy of Ford Motor Company vehicles, safety achievements and other sustainability-related issues, such as:

• Trained 325 suppliers in sustainability management in 2012 as part of Ford’s Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility; nearly 2,100 suppliers have been trained through the program
• Reduced waste-to-landfill by 19 percent per vehicle between 2011 and 2012, part of a plan to cut the amount of waste-to-landfill 40 percent per vehicle by 2016 (baseline is 2011)
• Reduced global water use by 1.95 million cubic meters from 2011 to 2012. Based on regional water cost estimates, this yielded more than $3 million in cost savings
• Cut global use of water per vehicle produced to 4.3 cubic meters (one cubic meter equals 264 gallons) in 2012 – down from 4.7 cubic meters in 2011 and 5.1 cubic meters in 2010. The company targets a 2 percent reduction in 2013 and continues working toward cutting water use 30 percent per vehicle by 2015 (2009 baseline)
• Reduced global water use by 62 percent between 2000 and 2012 – equal to about 10 billion gallons
• Established a five-year objective to improve operational energy use per vehicle globally by 25 percent by the end of 2016 (2011 baseline)
• Improved global energy efficiency by 6.4 percent against a 2011 year baseline normalized for weather and production levels

Via Ford Media

Ford Mustang Will Take Leading Car Role In Upcoming ‘Need For Speed’ Movie

From appearances in James Bond’s “Goldfinger” to Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” and now “Need for Speed,” the Ford Mustang has had one of the most prolific entertainment careers, with appearances in nearly 3,000 feature films and TV shows and a global fan following.

With a résumé like that, Mustang may someday get its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mustang has been so popular that one avid fan used crowd-sourcing to create a database on the Web dedicated to cataloging the pony car’s appearances.

“My Mustang interest started in 1966, when I was 14 years old,” said Stefan Thorarensen, founder and board member of The Icelandic Mustang Club. “My aunt bought a Poppy Red 1965 Mustang Fastback, and I have never gotten over it.” Thorarensen began collecting VHS tapes and DVDs as his passion for Mustang grew. In 2009, he used a list of 300 movie and television show titles as the starting point for creation of a comprehensive, crowd-sourced site called MustangImdb.com. About 100 contributors have grown the list of Mustang on-screen appearances to nearly 3,000 titles.

This crowd-sourced effort is just one demonstration of the power of Mustang, with such a broad worldwide fan base that it even includes clubs in such far-flung locales as Iceland, Poland and New Zealand, where it has never officially even been offered for sale.

Leading roles

Mustang got off to a quick start in the movies and has never looked back. Just eight months after its debut at the 1964 New York World Fair, a Wimbeldon White convertible was the mount of choice for a beautiful assassin hunting down James Bond in “Goldfinger.” Several years later, Bond himself took the wheel of the pony car as he raced through the streets of Las Vegas in “Diamonds are Forever.”

By 1968, Mustang was already an icon on the road, but the late Steve McQueen transformed the pony car into a movie star in its own right with what is widely acclaimed as the best car chase ever filmed, the nine-minute climax of “Bullitt.” Forty-four years later, that same sequence would be reprised on the small screen for the series finale of “Alcatraz.”

The 2000 remake of “Gone in Sixty Seconds” produced another iconic pony in the form of Eleanor, the silver and black 1967 Mustang driven by Nicolas Cage. That car was recently sold at auction for more than $1 million and has spawned numerous replicas.

Back to the silver screen in 2014

As Mustang celebrates its 50th birthday next year, it will hit the silver screen once again in DreamWorks Studios, “Need for Speed.” The new film, inspired by the long-running series of driving video games from Electronic Arts, features the Mustang throughout the adaptation of the gaming franchise. The film’s star, Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”), will be joined by a one-of-a-kind, customized Mustang playing the role of the hero car.

“We’re thrilled to have Ford play such an important part in a film adapted from one of the most popular video games of all time,” said Keith Koeppen, Ford marketing communications manager. “Mustang has an incredible history appearing in movies and ‘Need for Speed’ will be a great way to continue its hero car legacy.”

Created with the help of designers at Ford, the one-off Mustang is perfectly cast for the high-stakes racing and stunts included in the film that fans will love. The Mustang features a more aggressive look due to custom bodywork including wider fenders and features like a lowered suspension and custom 22-inch wheels and tires. Even the fog lamps are new, with high-tech LED halo lamps around the air intakes.

A hero car needs a hero engine, so this Mustang has been fit with a 900-horsepower all-aluminum supercharged 5.8-liter V8 modified by Ford Racing. To top it all off, the car gets a custom paint job with specially formulated silver topped by blue stripes that glow when struck by light in the dark.

A preview of the movie can be viewed here. The film is scheduled for release in March 2014.

Via Ford Media

Reasons Why Ford is #1: Ford Wins International Engine of the Year for Second Year

Ford Motor Company’s ultra-fuel efficient and spirited 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine today was named 2013 International Engine of the Year, marking the second straight year Ford’s acclaimed three-cylinder engine has captured the award.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost – which combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to lower fuel consumption without sacrificing power – received the highest score in the history of the awards. The engine also won the “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” category at the annual awards presented by Engine Technology International magazine.

Ford also confirmed plans to double production of the engine at its Cologne (Germany) Engine Plant to more than 1,000 engines a day from mid-August to meet demand.

“With a technology as mature as the internal combustion engine, it’s very rare to achieve a true breakthrough, but that is exactly what the team accomplished with this engine,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president, Global Powertrain. “You have to drive it to believe a small three-cylinder engine can deliver such performance and fuel economy.”

A panel of 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world judged the awards on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. Ford is one of three car makers to record back-to-back victories in the 15-year history of the awards. The Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost also has won the International Paul Pietsch Award 2013 for technological innovation at German magazine Auto Motor und Sport Best Cars Awards and the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in Great Britain, a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine in the U.S.

“Who’d have believed it? A 1.0-litre engine that has it all, powerful, fuel efficient, clean and lightweight,” said Peter Lyon, U.K. juror and freelance journalist. “This is a masterpiece.”

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost was designed at Ford’s research and development centres in Aachen and Merkenich, Germany, and Dunton, U.K., and is built in Cologne and Craiova, Romania.

Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 15th International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International Magazine, said: “Baby EcoBoost – Ford’s first-ever three-cylinder design – is still the engine to beat across the board. It’s economical in real-world conditions while the compact turbo helps ensure that the entire package can power larger vehicles like the Grand C-MAX with ease.”

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is currently offered in small cars such as Fiesta and B-MAX and compact offerings including Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX.  In the near future it will power larger cars including the new Ford Mondeo. It also will be offered in Transit Connect and Transit Courier commercial vehicles and Tourneo Connect and Tourneo Courier people movers.

The engine is being rolled out throughout the world. It is now available for customers buying the new EcoSport in India and China and later this year will be offered with Fiesta in North America.

Small enough to fit in the overhead luggage compartment of an airplane, the engine delivers best in class petrol fuel economy for Europe in such vehicles as Fiesta, Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX.

Ford’s Cologne and Craiova Engine Plants were upgraded to facilitate 1.0-litre EcoBoost production and introduced advanced manufacturing techniques that reduce the volume of coolant required when machining aluminium engine parts to just five millilitres per component from two litres previously, contributing to a reduced environmental footprint from manufacturing.

New “cold testing” technology was also introduced, allowing engines to be tested without being started – reducing fuel usage and CO2 emissions from the process by 66 per cent. All remaining energy required to run the Cologne plant comes from renewable sources, including three hydro-power plants in Norway and Sweden.

Ford of Europe plans to triple annual production of vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient EcoBoost petrol engines to approximately 480,000 by 2015, from 141,000 in 2011. The company projects that more than 300,000 of those vehicles will be equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost. In the first quarter of 2013 in Europe, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine accounted for 42 per cent of orders in B-MAX, 30 per cent in Focus and 24 per cent in Fiesta across Ford’s 19 traditional European markets.

Via Ford Media

Ford Brings Competition to the Customer; Hosts 13-City EcoBoost Challenge

Ford is taking the competition head on, inviting customers across the country to put the automaker’s popular fuel efficient EcoBoost powered vehicles to the test against its competitors while also getting the opportunity to drive the highly anticipated Fiesta ST.

The Ford EcoBoost Challenge will allow customers to drive the Ford Fusion and Escape head-to-head against the competition while experiencing how EcoBoost technology delivers unparalleled fuel economy and power. Participants will also have a chance to drive the all-new Fiesta ST, before it is available in dealerships. The tour, beginning in June, will head to 13 markets nationally.

“Ford is delivering on its promise to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers the power of choice, by offering a lineup that includes five electrified vehicles, two plug-in hybrids and eight vehicles available with EcoBoost Technology,” said David Mondragon, general marketing manager for Ford and Lincoln. “Throughout this tour, we will let consumers experience the technology that helps deliver better fuel economy and engaging driving than the competition.”

The EcoBoost Challenge events will take place on Saturdays in June, July, August and September in each market. Events will include an ST Performance Academy, a hyper-mile challenge for Ford hybrid vehicles and head-to-head competitive drives on an EcoBoost challenge course.

Pre-registration is live at fordecoboostchallengedrive.com. Space is limited and available on first-come, first-served basis.

Events will open at 9 a.m. and run all day through 6 p.m. in most markets. Locations and dates are:

• Boston, Gillette Stadium, June 22
• Washington, D.C., FedEx Field, June 29
• Chicago, Arlington Park, June 29
• San Francisco, Golden Gate Fields, July 13
• Los Angeles, Rose Bowl, July 20
• New York City, Citi Field, August 17
• Charlotte, Charlotte Motor Speedway, August 24
• Atlanta, Turner Field, September 7
• Dallas, Cowboys Stadium, September 7
• Orlando, Orange County Convention Center, September 14
• Houston, Sam Houston Race Park, September 14
• Miami, Gulfstream Park, September 21
• Minneapolis/St. Paul, Canterbury Park, September 21

With advanced engine technology such as gasoline-turbo direct-injected engines, Ford’s EcoBoost engines help customers conserve fuel without sacrificing power. In North America, EcoBoost sales make Ford the leader in gasoline turbo direct-injected engines in its core high-volume passenger vehicles, such as Fusion, F-150 and Escape.

By the end of 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford’s North American lineup will be available with an EcoBoost engine.

Via Ford Media

Ford Fights Against Breast Cancer!

Ford Warriors in Pink Launches 2013 Collection, Continues Celebrating Breast Cancer Survivors With Its ‘Models of Courage’ Campaign

Ford Motor Company and its Warriors in Pink^® campaign kicks off its 19^th year of support in the fight against breast cancer with the arrival of its 2013 collection of Ford Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories. Created for women, men and children, the collection features important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the fight against breast cancer. The new collection is now available at www.fordcares.com, with 100 percent of net proceeds going directly to the fight against breast cancer.

“Models of Courage,” a program launched in 2012 to highlight the stories of breast cancer survivors, is continuing this year with inspirational stories of 11 women and men who were selected for the Models of Courage program to serve as Ford Warriors in Pink role models and inspire everyone involved in the fight against breast cancer.

Ford Warriors in Pink created the Models of Courage program to celebrate breast cancer survivors who have demonstrated strength and courage in their battle. In 2013, the Models of Courage will build upon their roles, traveling around the country as ambassadors for Ford and the breast cancer fight, sharing their stories of hope and survival, and connecting with women and men who need support and encouragement.

“The Ford Warriors in Pink campaign, with $120 million dedicated to the cause, is nowhere near done. As long as breast cancer affects our moms, sisters, daughters, fathers and sons we will continue to fight,” said Tracy Magee, Ford’s primary brand experiential manager. “The personal stories and experiences of the Models of Courage will help raise awareness, as well as inspire those battling breast cancer to continue the fight. Their stories inspire me every day.”

Supporters can learn more about the campaign and each of these individuals on the Ford Warriors in Pink Facebook page, under Models of Courage.

The Models of Courage will also appear nationally as models for the 2013 line of Warriors in Pink wear and gear. Also available for viewing at fordcares.com is “Bang the Drum: Living Out Loud in the Face of Breast Cancer,” the first Ford Warriors in Pink film. The documentary provides personal stories on what a breast cancer diagnosis meant for these Models of Courage, and how their diagnosis served as a channel that inspired each of them to do more and live with greater purpose.

Along with the 2013 apparel, Ford Warriors in Pink ® will once again team up with Remo, Inc. an iconic leader in the music products industry, and produce a “Warriors in Pink” line of percussion instruments. A $5-20 donation of each sale will be made to Ford-sponsored charities that support research and education and offer financial aid for people in treatment. In addition, autographed drumheads will be auctioned on E-Bay for ten days starting June 3^rd, 2013. 100% of the pledged amount from the auction will be donated to breast cancer charities. Participating bands include No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Montgomery Gentry, Jerrod Neimann and Band, Dierks Bentley, Steve Smith, and Franklin Vanderbilt.

Warriors in Pink shoppers have the opportunity to choose which breast cancer charity to support with their apparel purchase at checkout. The four organizations highlighted include:

• Susan G. Komen ® — Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, the organization has invested almost $2 billion to fulfill its promise, working to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through groundbreaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 50 countries.
• Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF) — With more than 365,000 grassroots volunteers from around the country, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundationconducts, funds and fast tracks research with the unique mission of creating a future without breast cancer by understanding the causes and ways to prevent it.
• The Pink Fund — Provides financial aid in the form of direct bill payment on behalf of breast cancer patients in active treatment. Many patients are unable to work during treatment. Others lose their jobs. With mounting bills and either no income or severely limited income, they quickly find themselves in dire financial distress. The Pink Fund provides Real Help Now.
• Young Survival Coalition (YSC) — The Young Survival Coalition directly improves the lives of thousands of young women with breast cancer. One in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 45 years old. YSC provides free resources and programs to support, educate and empower these women.

Ford Warriors in Pink is giving breast cancer supporters the chance to win a new 2013 Warriors in Pink Fusion Hybrid. The all-new Fusion Hybrid has a best-in-class EPA-estimated rating of 47 highway miles per gallon. The Fusion Hybrid is an entirely new idea of what a car can be. Supporters can enter the contest here: fordvehicles.emipowered.net/2013wipsweeps/.

The Ford commitment runs well beyond raising funds. The company is dedicated to making a difference 365 days a year by encouraging women to become informed and visit their doctors, educating them that early detection saves lives. 2013 marks Ford Motor Company’s 19th year of support, dedicating more than $120 million to the cause to date.

Via Ford Media

Ford Fusion Energi Earns Top Vehicle Safety Rating from NHTSA

The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi has earned the highest possible “five-star” Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The five-star rating is the U.S. Government’s highest-possible safety rating and is determined only after severe testing procedures as part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid joins the Ford Fusion and the Ford Fusion Hybrid which already received five-star safety ratings. NHTSA has elected to test plug-in vehicles separately from vehicles powered by gasoline internal combustion engines as the market share of electrified vehicles is increasing. April marked Ford’s best hybrid sales month ever with Ford’s EV market share hitting an all-time high of 18 percent, up from 3 percent last April.

“The Fusion Energi combines the highest possible safety ratings from NHTSA and great fuel economy, two things we know customers are looking for in their vehicles,” said Steve Kenner, Global Director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office. “Our strategy is to provide our customers with a range of powertrain options in our vehicles, while still leading in fuel economy in every segment that we compete.”

The Fusion Energi gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 108 MPGe, which is five MPGe better than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.

The NHTSA five-star rating for the Fusion Energi comes in addition to the 2013 Fusion being named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in December. The Top Safety Pick + designation is the highest rating the organization has for vehicle safety.

The Fusion Energi also features the Personal Safety System™ with safety belt technologies and front impact airbags. The Personal Safety System™ is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. Other driver assist technologies available on the Fusion Energi include:

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rearview Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Electronic Parking Brake

Via Dealer Magazine

Happy Memorial Day!

Heller Ford would like to thank all those who served and gave their lives defending our freedom! 

Ford Fusion Energi Earns Top Vehicle Safety Rating from NHTSA

The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi has earned the highest possible “five-star” Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The five-star rating is the U.S. Government’s highest-possible safety rating and is determined only after severe testing procedures as part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid joins the Ford Fusion and the Ford Fusion Hybrid which already received five-star safety ratings. NHTSA has elected to test plug-in vehicles separately from vehicles powered by gasoline internal combustion engines as the market share of electrified vehicles is increasing. April marked Ford’s best hybrid sales month ever with Ford’s EV market share hitting an all-time high of 18 percent, up from 3 percent last April.

“The Fusion Energi combines the highest possible safety ratings from NHTSA and great fuel economy, two things we know customers are looking for in their vehicles,” said Steve Kenner, Global Director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office. “Our strategy is to provide our customers with a range of powertrain options in our vehicles, while still leading in fuel economy in every segment that we compete.”

The Fusion Energi gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 108 MPGe, which is five MPGe better than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.

The NHTSA five-star rating for the Fusion Energi comes in addition to the 2013 Fusion being named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in December. The Top Safety Pick + designation is the highest rating the organization has for vehicle safety.

The Fusion Energi also features the Personal Safety System™ with safety belt technologies and front impact airbags. The Personal Safety System™ is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. Other driver assist technologies available on the Fusion Energi include:

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rearview Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Electronic Parking Brake

Via Ford Media

Ford Empowers Makers to Innovate on TechShop Tour with Open XC; Judges Named for Fuel Efficiency App Challenge

As members of the Bay Area maker and hacker community gather this weekend for the eighth annual Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif., Ford Motor Company invites them to explore open-source hardware and software tools now available to anyone who wants to work with cars.

Ford is hosting a series of open workshops at membership-based do-it-yourself maker space TechShoplocations around the United States to help makers get started with the company’s OpenXC platform. The locations are:

• San Francisco: June 21-22
• Austin, Texas: July 19-20
• San Jose, Calif.: Aug. 16-17
• Pittsburgh: Sept. 13-14
• Menlo Park, Calif.: Nov. 9-10
• Chandler, Ariz.: Dec. 13-14

The OpenXC platform enables developers to create apps and accessories that connect to vehicles using software source code and hardware design specifications that are freely accessible – reducing the barriers to innovation. OpenXC can be used to read a wide array of data from the vehicle’s standard on-board diagnostics port and process these data in real-time or later, to create value-added accessories or applications.

Ford is encouraging developers and makers to use OpenXC by sponsoring the Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge. Announced at the New York International Auto Show in March, the challenge invites software developers and hardware hackers to create apps that will help drivers better understand how they use fuel. Developers can use the open-source software and hardware development kit to create Android or Web-based apps that take advantage of available data such as vehicle speed and location to empower drivers to make smarter mobility choices.

Developers of the winning apps share $50,000 in cash prizes with $25,000 going to the best overall app selected by the judging panel. The panel will include Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop; Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation; and Venkatesh Prasad, Ford senior technical leader for open innovation, plus four judges still to be named.

“Enabling personal mobility for everyone through technological innovation has always been at the heart of what Ford is all about,” said Mascarenas. “Today more than ever, maximizing fuel efficiency is important to drivers and we see open-source technology as a key enabler.”

Participation in the challenge is not limited to app developers; anyone can create a free account and vote. The top 25 ideas, based on the number of votes, will move on to be scored by judges, with the top 10 each winning a $100 cash prize. Voting is open to the public by signing up for a free account athttp://ideas.ford.challengepost.com. Visitors can also vote for the Popular Choice Award in the Fuel Efficiency App Challenge. The winner gets $1,000.

The deadline for entries in the Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge and the Ideas Challenge is July 24, 2013.

Via Ford Media