New 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition

Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor, the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck, has a new Special Edition package customers can order that adds more unique touches to the hot-selling pickup.

Ford today reveals the 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition, which adds unique new touches to Raptor’s existing Luxury Package, including a Ruby Red Metallic exterior color and box-side graphics. Interior upgrades include Brick Red seat bolsters with black inserts and cloth honeycomb highlights, console top finish panel, and center stack and door panel appliqué accents. Raptor Special Edition is also available in Tuxedo Black Metallic.

The 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition goes on sale this fall.

“Raptor owners are looking for a high-performing, uncompromising off-road pickup truck with the features and luxuries found in today’s premium trucks,” said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Since its launch in 2009, we’ve continually moved Raptor forward in capability and design, and the 2014 Special Edition is the best Raptor yet.”

Raptor has found an enviable niche in full-size pickups. SVT Raptor sales are up 14 percent in 2013, with five out of the past six months seeing record sales. More than 13,000 Raptors were sold in 2012.

SVT Raptor prowess and power

Since launching as a 2010 model, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has set the benchmark for low- and high-speed off-road performance through aggressive all-terrain tires, industry-exclusive internal triple-bypass FOX Racing Shox^™ dampers, skid plates and standard Hill Descent Control^™.

A Raptor development imperative has been continuous improvement, so Ford expanded Raptor’s footprint for 2011 with a four-door SuperCrew model joining the two-door SuperCab original.

For 2012 Ford began offering a grille-mounted camera to improve driver visibility when climbing over rocks or other obstacles. The 2012 addition of a Torsen^® limited-slip differential to Raptor’s 4WD system enables the truck to balance traction between both front wheels.

For 2013 industry-exclusive beadlock-capable wheels were added to help increase grip in low-traction conditions, along with high-intensity discharge headlamps for improved visibility. SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® was also made available for added connectivity.

SVT Raptor is available exclusively with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing best-in-class 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and SelectShift Automatic^® functionality. The 4WD system features electronic shift-on-the-fly capability for the transfer case.

The front axle features a Torsen^® differential with 4.10 to 1 gearing. The rear axle is also 4.10 to 1, with an electronic-locking differential.

Via Ford Media

Ford Focus Is Best-Selling Vehicle Nameplate Worldwide

With final 2012 Polk global market registration data just reporting, Ford Focus is officially the world’s best-selling passenger car, with the Ford F-Series pickup coming in third and Ford Fiesta coming in as the best-selling subcompact.

Sales of the compact Focus totaled 1,020,410 cars worldwide according to the automotive data and trends forecasting leader. Market gains for Focus were driven by consumer demand in China and the United States. China registrations were up 51 percent last year, with the market responsible for just more than one out of four Focus vehicles sold globally according to Polk vehicle registration data. U.S. Focus sales were up 40 percent in 2012, also contributing to the car’s global growth.

In addition to holding the title of world’s best-selling vehicle overall, Polk data also confirm the Ford Fiesta earned the top spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 723,130 registrations last year. Together, registrations of Ford’s small cars – Fiesta and Focus – totaled 1,743,540 vehicles in 2012, according to Polk.

“Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “Our global products are resonating with consumers – especially in the best-selling, most competitive segments – with their unique combination of fuel efficiency, high quality, rich content and fun-to-drive personalities. Through One Ford, we’re able to bring economies of scale and fantastic value to customers all around the world.”

Global new vehicle registrations for F-Series totaled 785,630 trucks last year, putting it in the No. 3 spot among all vehicles sold worldwide. F-Series has been America’s best-selling pickup for 36 straight years.

“Since its launch in China in late March of last year, Focus sales continue to strengthen, with the car now ranking as the best-selling passenger car in China in 2012 for the first time ever,” Farley said. “With additional manufacturing capacity added last year, we now have a tremendous opportunity to further strengthen our global small car sales in 2013, with sales off to a very strong start already.”

Via Ford Media

 

The Ford Atlas Truck Concept..In A Word…. EPIC

The Ford Atlas Concept was one of the quiet success stories of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and now Ford has given us a quick glimpse as to how that creation came to be. Designers actually combined two early sketches to build the Atlas. One, called the Bullet Train, is a futuristic, aerodynamic creation, while the other, aptly named the Locomotive, features the squared off proportions we’re familiar with.

Once designers settled on the truck’s proportions, they began nailing down exactly which attributes they wanted the final design to have. The Concept’s notched windshield originated as a forked glass roof that seamlessly transitioned into the windscreen.

Likewise, designers wanted to fit the truck’s tailgate with a storage compartment for tools and a first aid kit, but settled on the dual-purpose step/cargo cradle. Interestingly enough, the concept’s active aero shutter wheels actually originated in some of the earliest sketches.

Via AutoBlog

Consumer Fuel Economy Focus, Mobile Growth Reshaping Post-Recession U.S. Auto Industry

While the great recession has fundamentally reshaped the automotive industry over the past few years, the real game changer may come from a new post-recession consumer mindset, demographic shifts and how automakers respond.

“Just as everyone is breathing a huge sigh of relief about getting back to something resembling normal sales levels, the real news is that the great recession has dealt a fundamental change to the consumer’s mindset,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln. “The question of whether consumers are returning to the market is settled. Now the question is, ‘What do they want and expect from us, and are we really ready to respond to what has just taken place?’”

Delivering the keynote address at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Farley said the recession has profoundly influenced how consumers weigh purchase decisions and what they value in automobiles. He highlighted several key post-recession trends that will drive industry change – shifting expectations around luxury, the rise of women and Hispanics, a renewed focus on fuel economy, and the rapid proliferation of mobile platforms.

New luxury expectations

Luxury is no longer defined by price, size and exclusivity. “Now, people are breaking the association of luxury with a high price tag,” Farley said. “They are looking for luxury-level quality, performance and features in smaller sizes and at more reasonable price levels.”

He noted that a recent Luxury Institute survey found 60 percent of respondents expect a fully equipped luxury vehicle to cost less than $60,000 – significantly less than the former $100,000 price tag standard on many luxury models.

Another luxury trend: Small utilities are outpacing all other luxury vehicle segments for growth, with nearly a 60 percent jump in 2012 and a more than 200 percent increase in the past four years.

Women, Hispanics transforming the market

While baby boomers will continue to wield the greatest influence on the market for years to come, Farley pointed to shifts among women, Hispanics and millennials that are reshaping the entire consumer market.

Perhaps the most powerful trend is the rising consumer power of women globally. “More than 1 billion women will enter the middle class globally by 2020, and many will be buying vehicles for the first time,” Farley said.

Rapid urbanization is drawing women to cities all over the world, where they are trading agricultural work for careers in business and other professions. Women buyers are outpacing men for the first time ever in the United States.

Meanwhile, Hispanic households are becoming increasingly affluent with a 126 percent increase in U.S. Hispanic households making more than $100,000 a year. Hispanic households have a total net worth of more than $500 billion.

“As Hispanics buy luxury vehicles at a faster rate than the overall market, our brands must become more compelling, interesting and relevant than ever,” Farley said. “Millennials are also a significant opportunity, as they will start entering the family stage in record numbers during the next several years.”

The power of mobile platforms: Facebook and Google

Mobile devices are significantly reshaping every part of the automotive landscape – from marketing and shopping to the in-vehicle experience. “We need to learn to think the way our customers already do – they come first, they are in control,” Farley said. “Most of us recognize that mobile is a power enabler for customers, putting them in control of the shopping process and changing their expectations around connectivity.”

As nearly one in seven people worldwide now uses a smartphone, this has significant influence on the auto industry.

Doug Frisbie, Facebook head of Automotive Vertical Marketing, joined the keynote, explaining that successful businesses in every industry – from automakers to software companies – put people at the center.

“Cars were a step change in giving society the ability to stay connected and engaged with the people they cared about,” he said. “The opportunity at hand today is not about phones or social software in cars – but about remembering that no matter the device, it’s the ability to connect that matters.”

Brendon Kraham, Google director of Global Mobile Sales and Product Strategy, joined the discussion as well, adding that the in-car mobile experience will soon be integrated into all the devices that connect a consumer’s life.

“Automobiles will soon become a seamless part of the consumer mobile experience,” he said. “Actually it will enhancethe experience. When your dash becomes a seamlessly connected screen, it truly becomes a more important, integrated part of your life.”

Fuel economy reigns

Perhaps the greatest cross-demographic shift since the recession is the growing consumer focus on fuel economy. Now the top consideration for vehicle purchases, fuel economy interest has resulted in a flood of claims and data that are starting to overwhelm the market.

“We now have a torrent of ‘best-in-class’ claims hitting consumers from all sides, and it’s starting to become noise,” Farley said. “We are seeing more and more confusion as consumers try to make informed decisions. Given the connectivity in our cars and the proliferation of mobile devices, we have the opportunity to give consumers better and more relevant data to understand what they can expect in on-the-road fuel economy performance.”

Harnessing the power of mobile platforms, Farley announced developers will have access to Ford’sOpenXC connectivity research platform as a sandbox to create and test innovative ideas in the newly announced $50,000 Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge.

Many elements factor into personalized fuel efficiency including temperature, terrain, traffic conditions and individual driving styles. The goal of the challenge is to enable drivers to optimize their efficiency on the road and then share that information with others.

“We need to help customers understand the concept of personal fuel economy – based on their own individualized experiences – and give them tools to see, learn and act upon all the information available to know what to expect, how to improve, and even offer guidance in their shopping process,” Farley added.

Via Ford Media

Only 2 Days Left to Pamper Your Ford!!!

Heller Ford Spring Specials…Pamper Your Ford!

For All Those Who Suffer From Allergies…Ford Has An Answer

• Ford has begun requiring that more than 100 materials and components meet stringent standards to minimize potential allergy issues on the new Fusion and other Ford vehicles
• Engineers avoid materials such as latex, chrome and nickel – a metal 10 percent of Americans are allergic to – that can cause allergic reactions
• Similar to a furnace filter in a house, cabin air filters in the 2013 Fusion and other new Ford vehicles prevent airborne particles such as dust, spores, fungus and pollen from entering the vehicle
• More than half of all Americans test positive to one or more allergens

As spring arrives and more Americans prepare to face allergies, the new 2013 Ford Fusion can help combat common airborne and touch-based allergens, while monitoring possible irritants in areas where customers are driving or planning to visit.

Ford engineers tested more than 100 materials and components on the new Fusion and other Ford vehicles for allergy issues. Engineers avoid – or minimize – materials such as natural latex, hexavalent chromium and nickel, which can produce an allergic reaction in some people.

Components requiring allergen testing include common high-touch areas such as the seats, steering wheel, armrests, door handles and shifters.

“Allergies affect large numbers of people, so anything we can do to reduce potential allergens inside Ford vehicles we do through rigorous, controlled testing,” said Linda Schmalz, supervisor of Core Material Engineering for Ford.

WebMD says more than half of all Americans test positive to one or more allergens. Allergies have been increasing for the past three decades across all age, gender and racial groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ford seeks to reduce the irritation of allergens – associated with seasonal weather and possibly rash-inducing materials – by rigorously testing its vehicles and installing cabin air filters that prevent airborne particles such as dust, spores, fungus and pollen from entering the vehicle.

From dust to hexavalent chromium (a chemical sometimes found in dyes, paints and plastics), natural latex to pollen, almost any material or substance can be a potential allergen. Ford testers make sure dyes and formaldehyde are strictly limited to levels that are acceptable even for clothing.

Cleanest possible cabin air
Cabin air filters improve driving comfort by reducing particle concentration, improve cleanliness and protect climate control components from particle deposits. These filters also capture soot, smog and tobacco smoke.

Because of the seamless way it works, many customers may not realize they have a cabin air filter. In most cases, the filter is accessed through the glove box. Ford dealers change the filters as part of the recommended maintenance for all vehicles.

Health and wellness research
In 2011 Ford kicked off a series of research projects for in-car health and wellness-connected services such as medical device connectivity, cloud-based health management services and mobile app integration.

In just more than a year, Ford delivered on the initial research with launch of the SYNC AppLink-compatible Allergy Alert app – available on the 2013 Fusion and other new Ford vehicles – and as one of the first steps toward helping drivers take care of themselves and their passengers.

With SYNC^® AppLink^™, drivers can quickly access allergy information through the Allergy Alert app. Through the app’s pollen index rating, drivers can request to hear the types of allergen conditions they are likely to encounter that may cause a flare-up in personal allergy symptoms. The app also provides a risk index for asthma, flu/cough/cold and ultraviolet rays.

Drivers can access Allergy Alert app information simply by connecting smartphones or tablets to their cars using simple voice commands, while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

The SYNC AppLink-enabled version of Allergy Alert is available for iOS devices and is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store.

Via Ford Media

Ford tops in family value, quality, again, says U.S. News & World Report

Three Ford and Lincoln vehicles have won U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 Best Cars for Families awards. For three straight years, Ford Fusion has won best midsize car, while Fusion Hybrid is top hybrid car two years in a row and Lincoln MKT takes home best luxury three-row midsize SUV honors. U.S. News & World Report determines winning vehicles based on the best combination of quality, features and space for today’s families.

Via Ford Media

In Honor of International Women’s Day: Ford Empowers Women and Saves Lives in Rural India through New Technology, SUV Capabilities

Henry Ford believed vehicles like his Model T would improve lives through greater mobility. More than 100 years later on the other side of the world, a young Indian mother named Mageswari connects that vision with the birth of her healthy baby boy.

Mageswari, 19, lives in Kodamaathi, a tiny village in rural India where Ford Motor Company just concluded a nine-month pilot program that entailed helping pregnant women overcome geographical and technological barriers that prevented them from receiving adequate healthcare.

Called Sustainable Urban Mobility with Uncompromised Rural Reach (SUMURR), the program made use of a Ford Endeavour SUV that was designed to handle the most difficult of terrains and traverse areas previously unreachable by four-wheeled vehicles. After arriving in rural areas, health professionals used laptops and cell phones to connect with doctors and medical help in ways they never have before.

As a result, SUMURR made safe childbirth possible for 41 pregnant women; women like Mageswari, who – with the help of the Ford Endeavour – was able to make it to the hospital in just enough time to give birth.

“If not for Ford Endeavour, I might have tried to reach the hospital in a two-wheeler,” she says. “I do not know what might have happened.”

The intervention area of Kalvarayan Hills has a higher infant and maternity mortality rate compared with most other pockets of Tamil Nadu – a key indicator of the need for prenatal care in the region.

Mageswari’s situation illustrates the kind of need that was addressed by SUMURR, and that’s where Ford comes in, according to David Berdish, manager of Social Sustainability.

Berdish says Ford is acting as an agent of change for a better world by forging innovative public-private partnerships with government, academic institutions, nonprofit stakeholders and company resources to support positive social advancement.

SUMURR represents the overall direction of such efforts. In fact, Berdish says similar projects are already being considered for other regions around the globe, including other parts of rural India, one in the state of Gujarat, India – where Ford has a manufacturing plant – and also in China and Brazil.

“Ford Motor Company is not in the business of telemedicine, but between the vehicle and the technology we provide, we can make it better,” says Berdish.

Nine months of success

The pilot program began in June 2012 and concluded in February 2013. In addition to facilitating safe childbirth for the women with high-risk pregnancies, the program led to 27 temporary pediatric and gynecology camps being set up in remote villages. Such visits enabled about 1,600 women and children to receive much needed healthcare, including screenings for basic illnesses and immunization coverage.

SUMURR reached another 3,100 people with its partners as the program traveled to 54 villages to facilitate community awareness programs on maternal and child health issues.

“Leveraging our strengths in building vehicles and in democratizing technology, we have pioneered a unique effort to remove all hurdles to mobility for these women and have made safe childbirths possible for them,” said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford of India. “SUMURR truly embodies Ford’s DNA of utilizing smart technologies for a better world.”

Coordinating with Ford on SUMURR were:

• Department of Health (DPH) of the Government of Tamil Nadu: Provided guidance and detailed statistics on maternal health and infant mortality; posed a challenge to Ford to pilot the program in Kalvarayan Hills, a region that is remote and hard to access
• U.S. Department of State: Provided guidance on program design and emphasized the need and role of healthcare for women
• George Washington University: Helped manage and track SUMURR
• IIT Madras Rural Technology and Business Incubator (RTBI): A nonprofit organization fostering entrepreneurship and focusing on technologies for rural India; developed and customized the mobile health applications used in SUMURR
• Reliance IIT Center of Excellence (RITCOE): Focuses on providing excellence in the areas of telecom infrastructure and energy; RITCOE was involved in developing solutions for SUMURR around OpenXC platform
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras: A premier academic institute that provides world-class education and research facilities in engineering and technology. It is officially recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the government of India and provides guidance to RTBI and RITCOE
• Hand in Hand India: A nonprofit organization with an overall mission to reduce poverty in India; Hand in Hand was the implementation partner helping to take the initiative to the community including training the government health workers with funding from Ford Motor Company Fund
• University of Michigan: Helped determine the viability of SUMURR prior to program launch

“SUMURR is an initiative to harness the potential of affordable technologies with innovations that address local contexts for sustainable growth,” says Ashok Jhunjhunwala, founder and co-chairman, RTBI and a professor of electrical engineering, IITM. “From voice-based local language interfaces to a portable system architecture that covers significant aspects of women and child healthcare, it is heartening to note that this program has not only democratized technology but is also finding acceptance and adoption of the technology with the rural mothers and healthcare personnel.”

Berdish says SUMURR represents how Ford continues to evolve and take on more responsibility when it comes to sustainable issues around the world.

Ford’s Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility, for example, emphasizes the importance of providing proper working conditions and overall human rights for Ford, its suppliers and the communities in which it does business.

Ford continues to increase its presence in India, where it operates a vehicle and engine manufacturing facility in Chennai, has invested $1 billion for its second integrated manufacturing facility at Sanand, and is committed to bringing the best of global products and services to the country. Ford also plans to expand its sales and service operations to 500 locations across India by mid-decade, with a focus and commitment to empower communities across its existing and proposed facilities.

“Ford views accessibility to a better life as a fundamental human right, so being able to successfully help women and children in parts of rural India obtain healthcare is a perfect fit for what we’re trying to do as a company from an overall sustainable approach,” says Berdish.

“SUMURR exemplifies the power of partnerships; through this effort, we are leveraging the best of public and private sector resources to support enhanced healthcare in areas that are hard to reach,” says Gloria Cabe, senior advisor, U.S. Department of State. “Collaborative efforts such as this are game changers, helping to promote innovative solutions to enduring challenges.”

Via Ford Media

Tens of Thousands More New Drivers to Learn Safe Driving Skills from Ford Driving Skills for Life in 2013

For the 10th year new drivers around the world will get an opportunity to improve their skills through the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. Traffic fatalities are the leading killer of American teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about 2,700 drivers ages 16-19 killed annually on American roads.

“Inexperience is the leading cause of crashes in young drivers, and Ford Driving Skills for Life includes a variety of engaging and targeted methods to deliver key skill sets that boost young drivers’ confidence and knowledge,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Our mission is to make the roads safer for everyone.”

In 2013 Ford DSFL will reach about 200 high schools with its safe driving materials, thanks to Ford Motor Company Fund and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). GHSA calls Ford Driving Skills for Life the nation’s most comprehensive teen safe driving program, with hands-on community driving events, Web-based learning, government grants, fun contests and free educational materials for parents and teachers.

This year’s plans include visits to at least 40 high schools to reach about 40,000 teen drivers, which is almost double the number of students reached during last year’s high school tour. Ford DSFL will visit high schools in California, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Arizona with an array of activities focused on distracted driving and other common driving challenges faced by teen drivers. Teens will be invited to community hands-on driving clinics utilizing specially equipped vehicles. The clinics offer professional drivers and multifaceted activities that build skills in four key areas: driver distraction, speed/space management, vehicle handling and hazard recognition.

“Ford’s commitment to partnering with states on teen driver education remains unprecedented,” said GHSA Chairman Kendell Poole. “With state and federal highway safety funding continuing to be limited, Ford’s support is increasingly critical.”

Ford DSFL is continuing its partnerships with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning to bring two innovative programs to schools. Now in its sixth year, Operation Teen Safe Driving has helped to reduce teen auto fatalities in Illinois by 48 percent through a competition for innovative teen-led safe driving campaigns at more than 105 high schools. The Strive 4 A Safer Drive program in Michigan is modeled after the Illinois program and will reach almost 40 high schools this year.

Global outreach

Outside of the U.S., Ford DSFL works to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries by teaching safe driving skills to licensed drivers of all ages.

Ford DSFL is now in its sixth year in Asia with programs in mainland China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa. About 13,500 drivers were trained last year and more than 63,000 people have been trained since the program began there.

Ford also is bringing DSFL to the Middle East in 2013. In partnership with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Road and Transport Authority, Ford DSFL will visit three universities with professional instructors who will demonstrate safe driving practices using specially equipped Ford vehicles.

The needs of drivers and the local driving environment are addressed during the training in each market. For example, in China DSFL added a segment on the use of child safety seats after a new regulation went into effect there, and sessions tailored for female drivers were conducted in several countries, including Thailand and Indonesia.

In Vietnam Ford DSFL launched a No Honking campaign to reduce the adverse effects on road safety of the prevalent and inappropriate use of vehicle horns. Ford DSFL in India and China launched a campaign inviting drivers to “pledge to drive safe,” and this campaign will expand into more countries in 2013.

Via Ford Media