Adrian Steel Loads Rite Ladder Rack

Loading ladders just down right easy with the Adrian Steel Loads Rite drop down ladder rack. Loads Rite ladder racks easily raise and lower to eliminate the need to climb, stretch or reach for your ladder on top of your van.

Ashley Force Makes NHRA History as First Female Funny Car Winner

Ashley Force grew up watching her dad become the greatest NHRA Funny Car driver in history, but little did she know that one day he would be standing in her way of making motorsports history. Yet that was the case on April 27, 2008 when father and daughter found themselves against each other in the finals of the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. John was competing in his 500th series event and a win would be his 1,000-round victory. Ashley was trying to become the first female in NHRA history to win a Funny Car event.

Webisode: Go Do Adventure in Hawaii

The Ford Explorer takes the Asdel family on their dream adventure on the North Shore of Oahu.

Ford's Eco Efforts Showcased at the San Francisco Green Festival

John Viera, Director of Sustainable Business Strategies at Ford Motor Company, attended the San Francisco Green Festival on April 9th to talk to attendees about Ford's sustainability strategy. Beyond electric vehicles, John discusses Ford's overall corporate sustainability practices, to alternative material development, to Ford's electrification strategy. Learn more about Ford's efforts to boost fuel economy in its electric vehicles at http://www.ford.com/technology/electric/

Jack Roush's Private Car Collection

A chat with Jack Roush and a behind the scenes look at his incredible collection of over 200 cars

Roush Clean Tech

It's a green machine. . . give us a call, we can help get one for you!

► 2013 Ford Taurus

The new Ford Taurus delivers more of what large sedan customers really want for the 2013 model year -- with even better fuel economy, more technology, design refinement, improved craftsmanship and enhanced driving dynamics.

Ford Fiesta Conquers Global Rallycross Round 2

Tanner Foust proves victorious at Round 2 of the Global Rallycross Championship, dubbed Twin Peaks. This event took place on the Dirtfish Rally School's Old Mill Park, a former lumber mill turned automotive playground, just outside of Seattle in Snoqualmie, Washington. Plus: See Foust jump a production Fiesta... with his Fiesta.

2012 Shelby GTS Mustang at the 2011 New York Auto Show

Shelby American rolled out its new line of tuned Ford Mustangs in the form of the 2012 Shelby GTS at the 2011 New York Auto Show, including a packge for the V-6 model Mustang.

Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, VW Jetta - Comparison...

Hooray!

Full Story: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/11q1/2011_chevrolet_cruze_lt_...
Startup Sedans - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT vs. 2012 Ford Focus SEL vs. 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited vs. 2011 Mazda 3 s Sport vs. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SEL

Foust on Ford

Over the last few years at X Games, two things have been a constant at the top of the podium -- Ford Fiesta and Tanner Foust. And neither plans on that changing anytime soon.

The winningest rally driver in X Games history has chosen to ensure he'll be in a Ford for many years to come. Tanner Foust announced a multi-year partnership with Ford Racing today to represent the 'Blue Oval' in the Global RallyCross Championship (GRC), European RallyCross Championship (ERC) and at X Games 17 in Los Angeles.

From under Your Feet to Covering Your Engine – Ford Finds New Use for 4.1 Million Pounds of Recycled Carpet

The EcoLon material from Wellman Engineering Resins offers an eco-friendly, high-quality alternative to typical cylinder head covers and is one more example of Ford's continued dedication to finding renewable material solutions for use in its vehicles. The cylinder head cover can be found on the 5.0-liter engine, which powers Mustang and F-150.

• Ford’s use of EcoLon® material, a nylon resin made from 100 percent recycled carpet, has resulted in saving more than 4.1 million pounds of carpet from landfills, the equivalent of nearly 154 football fields. EcoLon is used for cylinder head covers
• Additionally, the use of EcoLon results in a reduction of more than 430,000 gallons of oil consumed
• The cover is the first automotive product of its kind manufactured from post-consumer recycled nylon and is used in Ford Escape, Fusion, Mustang and F-150
• The cylinder head covers are another example of Ford’s use of sustainable materials in its vehicles. Other materials include soy foam seat cushions, recycled yarns on seat covers and recycled blue jeans for sound-dampening material

Dearborn, Mich., April 8, 2011 – The carpet underfoot in homes sometimes ends up in strange places, and now Ford’s efforts to use sustainable materials in its vehicles have landed carpet in another unique spot – the cylinder head covers on some Ford engines. Even more impressive are the benefits it has for the environment.

During 2010, the use of EcoLon® material, a nylon resin made from 100 percent recycled carpet, saved more than 4.1 million pounds of carpet from landfills, the equivalent of nearly 154 football fields. It also amounted to recycling more than 985,000 yards of carpet and reducing the consumption of more than 430,000 gallons of oil.

The EcoLon material from Wellman Engineering Resins offers an eco-friendly, high-quality alternative to typical cylinder head covers and is one more example of Ford’s continued dedication to finding renewable material solutions for use in its vehicles. The cylinder head covers are manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation.

“By working with Wellman and Dana, Ford has found a way to bring green applications to a new, unique location in our vehicles,” said Brett Hinds, Ford manager, engine design. “This single use has made an incredible impact, and we’re continuing to look for ways to expand the use.”

The cylinder head covers are used on the 3.0-liter Duratec engine in Ford Fusion and Escape. They can also be found on the 5.0-liter engine, which powers Mustang and F-150.

“We didn’t have to make compromises for this application,” said Roy Ford, Ford engine sealing supervisor. “With a fixed raw material cost that delivers cost savings compared to oil, along with the green benefit, this application adds to the ways Ford is minimizing our impact on the environment.”

The cover is the first automotive product of its kind manufactured from post-consumer recycled nylon. To repurpose nylon, Wellman grinds used nylon carpeting into fiber and recaptures the material through a patented, proprietary process. The resulting product is a high-quality nylon resin, which Dana then uses to mold into cylinder head covers through its injection-molding process.

Eco-friendly solutions
Ford’s “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.

Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of nonmetal recycled and bio-based materials, including soy foam seat cushions, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

Additional material on Ford’s commitment to “Reduce, reuse and recycle”: Fact Sheet | Graphic

2011 Chevrolet Cruze vs 2012 Ford Focus - Comparison

Associate editors Rory Jurnecka and Michael Febbo pit the newest American compact sedans against each other and pick the winner.

Boss 302 Special Prints Available For Limited Time

Ford Images creates a special, limited-time promotion for 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 owners – specialized prints that match their vehicle’s color, framed and mounted with a customized VIN plate

• In celebration of the launch of the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302, all enthusiasts can order images, prints and posters via http://www.fordimages.com/ with a 30.2 percent discount through April 22
• Ford Images creates a special, limited-time promotion for 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 owners – specialized prints that match their vehicle’s color, framed and mounted with a customized VIN plate
• The Boss 302 is a completely re-engineered Mustang that redefines world-class performance

DEARBORN, Mich., April 13, 2011 – In celebration of the first Ford Mustang Boss 302s reaching dealerships, Ford Images is running two special promotions at http://www.fordimages.com/.

First, owners of the new 2012 Mustang Boss 302 can revel in the classic lines of their new vehicle not only in their garage but now on their walls as well. Ford Images is offering unique prints of the Boss 302 – available to owners only – in the customer’s vehicle color, framed and mounted with a metal chassis plate customized with the car VIN or name. The prints will be hand-signed by racing icon Parnelli Jones, who won the 1970 SCCA Trans-Am Series championship driving a Mustang Boss 302.

Secondly, everyone will benefit for a limited time only by being able to get their hands on a wide variety of historic and new Boss 302 photographs, posters and framed artwork from Ford Images at a discount of 30.2 percent. The special discount—which is good for all merchandise through the Ford Images website—is available until Friday, April 22, 2011. Buyers simply use promo code “302” to get 30.2 percent off their purchases at checkout.

The long-awaited Boss 302 is a completely re-engineered Mustang that redefines world-class performance. The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 engine delivers 444 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque without the aid of forced induction.

As any enthusiast can tell you, the Boss has its own distinctive look. Each car has either a black or white roof panel, coordinated to the color of the side C-stripe. Available exterior colors are Competition Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red.

Ford Images is offering special, customer-only prints in two editions: Boss 302 Laguna Seca and Boss 302 Owners. Both are limited to the number of cars produced and only available to the owners of the car. Customers will be able to order prints in their car’s color for both editions.

“We know the Mustang Boss 302 is something special,” said Rick Weedn of Ford Images. “We’re excited to be part of the 302 owner experience.”

http://www.fordimages.com/, launched in January 2011, features more than 5,000 images from the Ford archives for sale, including commemorative and limited-edition prints, vintage signs and advertisements. Hundreds of more images are being added weekly with a target of offering 10,000 images by the end of the year.

Ford Calls for More Open Collaboration with Automotive Outsiders as Research ‘Sci Lab’ Celebrates 60 Years

• Ford continues to expand its collaborative innovation efforts, announcing new research projects with universities as well as searching out more industry “outsider” matchups such as Silicon Valley-based startups and cloud-computing experts

• This ramped-up and reinvented vision for collaboration comes on the heels of the 60th anniversary of the Ford Research and Innovation Center, or “Sci Lab,” in Dearborn, which opened in April 1951

DEARBORN, Mich., April 11, 2011 – With the 60th anniversary of its U.S. research hub in the backdrop, Ford is ushering in a new era of collaboration, opening up its doors even wider to the possibility of more nontraditional automotive partnerships that can help create a better vehicle experience for customers.
“It is time to rethink collaboration,” said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. “Traditional collaboration with automotive partners and suppliers may be what we are used to and comfortable with – and we want those ties to get even stronger – but it is also time to accelerate and embrace new forms of collaboration outside the automotive realm that will help us create not only better transportation, but a better world.”

Mascarenas recently announced another new set of multiple-year research projects with top universities around the globe, including Northwestern University, Purdue, Carnegie Mellon, RWTH Aachen University in Germany and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. Projects range from the study of vehicle electrification and driver behavior to innovative forming methods for high-strength aluminum and protective coatings for Li-ion battery electrodes. Ford also has ongoing research alliances with well-respected schools such as MIT and University of Michigan.

Ford will also continue to push the envelope when it comes to investigating and developing more nontraditional industry matchups that will give the company a leadership role in whitespace areas not currently associated with the vehicle experience.

“We are reaching outside of our comfort zone as an automaker to collaborate and create technologies that can change customers’ lives,” said Mascarenas. “Potential projects and players on the discussion board aren’t what you would expect from an automotive company and encompass everything from Silicon Valley startups to health care providers.”

The flexible Ford SYNC® connectivity platform, which started within the walls of “Sci Lab,” has already acted as the impetus for much collaboration unexpected in the automotive space even five years ago. The Ford SYNC collaborative portfolio, for example, includes Microsoft, Nuance, IDEO, Airbiquity, Inrix, Telenav, Pandora, Stitcher and many others. And that list continues to quickly grow.

SYNC AppLink, the software application that allows you to access and control smartphone apps via voice commands, has even helped open the Ford discovery door to the general app developer community. Last year, Ford activated a developer network on its website (www.syncmyride.com/developer), where more than 1,000 interested developers linked to submit innovative ideas and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK).

Some of the collaborative efforts and advanced research being focused on in the labs include:

• Fuel cell
• Electrification
• Conventional engine technologies (gas and diesel)
• Transmission and driveline
• Powertrain controls and integration
• Environmental sciences, emissions and atmospheric research
• Manufacturing and materials technologies
• Active and passive safety
• Electronics and electrical systems
• User interface
• Infotronics and telematics
• Vehicle dynamics
• Vehicle chassis and controls
• Analytics and e-modeling

In addition to Sci Lab in Dearborn, research and advanced engineering support is conducted at the Ford Research Center in Aachen, Germany, which opened in 1994, and the Ford Research and Engineering Center in China, which opened in 2005.

The Research and Innovation team has achieved numerous major accomplishments within the automotive industry. Ford has more than 4,600 active patents in the United States with nearly 1,300 applications pending. In the last two years alone there have been 475 patents awarded to Ford that name at least one person from the labs as an inventor.

Just some of the advancements to come out of the lab include:

• Catalytic converters and electronic engine controls
• Advanced methods of curing paint using radiation
• Sodium sulfur battery
• Soy foam-based seating material
• Ford EcoBoost™ engine technology
• Inflatable rear seat belts
• Ford’s Plasma Transferred Wire Arc technology

Work in the labs is conducted using state-of-the-art technologies and equipment.

For example, work is done using a Vehicle Emissions Research Lab and Pulsator Lab – where leading work in vehicle emissions takes place – along with a number of anechoic chambers, machine shops, vibration simulators, materials laboratories, computational modeling tools and even electron microscopes. The Virtual Test Track Experiment (VIRTTEX), a large vehicle driving simulator, is also housed there.

Beyond automotive
The call for more open-source teamwork – with not only traditional automotive players but unlikely tech industry outsiders such as app developers – comes on the heels of the 60th anniversary of the Ford Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, which was founded in April 1951.

But even 60 years ago, Ford Sci Lab’s list of accomplishments was not limited to automotive. Ford researchers were instrumental in developing CAT scan-like technology that was used to study osteoporosis as well as the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID), which hospitals used to evaluate irregular heartbeats or irregular brain waves without the need for invasive surgery.

“The research labs have and always will be the innovation engine driving Ford to be a global leader in safe, sustainable and smart technologies,” said Mascarenas.

More information about innovations from the Sci Labs may be obtained at http://media.ford.com/mini_sites/10031/FromTheLabs/

Larry Geweke Ford Comes Out In Numbers For The Nor Cal Ford Truck Club Customer Appreciation Event

On Thursday, April 14th, the Nor Cal Ford Truck Club held a Customer Appreciation Golf Event where dealers brought customers out for a great day on the golf course, a gourmet meal and good time. Len Deluca, the head of Ford Commercial Sales was the guest speaker, all the way from Dearborn, Michigan.

Larry Geweke, CEO of Larry Geweke Ford and the Geweke Auto Group, who was in attendance that this event, has long supported Paul Brown in creating and being the club President since its inception. Paul has done a fine job of building up this club and making it current and relevant and an important part of Ford dealers throughout Northern California.

This was not a day of work, but it was a workday and what a great time was enjoyed by all the attendees including vendors. This was the best event ever for the Nor Cal Ford Truck Club as it continues to grow in influence. See more about the Nor Cal Ford Truck Club at http://www.norcalfordtruckclub.com/.

Ford Power Stroke V8’s Advanced Combustion System Delivers Best-in-Class Horsepower, Torque and Fuel Economy

• The secret to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke's class-leading output and fuel economy is the highly efficient combustion system
• Ford engineers used the company’s global diesel engine design expertise to develop the combustion system in the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8
• 6.7-liter V8 delivers an industry-best 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque and best-in-class fuel economy

DEARBORN, Mich., April 12, 2011 – More power and higher fuel economy? Traditionally, you don’t achieve both when you design a new engine.

But Ford powertrain engineers have been rewriting the book on engine design lately, increasing power and fuel economy with each new engine.

A case in point is the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8 offered in the F-Series Super Duty pickup.

When Ford Motor Company engineer Joshua Styron, Ph.D., began work on the combustion system of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine, he believed that careful attention to the design of the pistons plus precise placement of the fuel injectors and glow plugs could result in an engine that delivered more power, higher fuel economy and lower emissions than the engine it was replacing.

He was right.

The 6.7-liter Power Stroke, the first-ever Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built diesel heavy-duty pickup engine, is rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque, up from the previous Power Stroke’s 350 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft.

The new engine generates this class-leading power while delivering an impressive 20 percent fuel economy gain over its predecessor, making the Ford Super Duty best in class for fuel economy among heavy-duty pickups.

This week at the SAE World Congress, Styron presents a technical paper detailing how he and his team worked to develop and test the super-efficient combustion system – pistons, fuel injectors and glow plugs – for Ford’s award-winning new Power Stroke diesel V8.

At this year's Congress, Ford engineers are presenting no fewer than 38 papers during the three-day conference, covering a range of topics including engine design, fuel economy, safety, lighting and aerodynamics.

A special engine for a special truck

Because the Ford Super Duty is a work truck designed to haul heavy loads, horsepower and torque had to be the top priority for the new Power Stroke V8 diesel.

Styron said the engineering brief for the 6.7-liter stressed performance. “Four hundred horsepower was the target. Early in the development program, fuel economy was viewed as much less important to this customer than power and torque,” Styron said. “But we believed we could deliver a good combination of both -- 400 horsepower along with fuel economy that was not only significantly better than the old 6.4, but higher than our competitors’ engines, too.”

Making fuel economy a priority on the new Power Stroke was the right move. With oil selling for more than $100 per barrel and diesel fuel at more than $4 a gallon in most parts of the country, Ford Super Duty customers will save money every time they fill up.

The pressure on the Power Stroke engine design team was immense. The outgoing 6.4-liter Power Stroke was nearing the end of its run in the Super Duty and Ford engineers knew improvements were on the way from competitive diesels in General Motors and Dodge trucks. Added to that, emissions requirements were tightening for the 2010 model year. So, attention to detail around the combustion system would be the key to delivering a better engine by every standard of measurement.

Experimenting with pistons, injectors and glow plugs
“To deliver class-leading fuel economy and refinement as well as lower emissions, the combustion system had to make the best use of the limited supply of fresh air entering the engine,” said Styron. “Combustion systems with the best air utilization extract the most heat from the fuel, produce less soot and NOx, and minimize the energy required to pump fresh air into the engine.”

Styron and his team used computer simulations to evaluate piston bowl shapes, precise placement of the fuel spray within the combustion chamber, glow plug positioning and other factors. Following consultations with diesel engine experts at Ford's Dunton Technical Center in Great Britain and the Ford Research Lab in Aachen, Germany, Styron's team built two single-cylinder prototype engines. A comprehensive test plan was developed to optimize each layout and finally choose the one best performer.

The winning design features a chamfered re-entrant bowl, fine-tuned injector targeting and optimum air swirl that is matched to a super-efficient spray pattern.

“This design provides the best mixing of fuel and air in a heavy duty truck engine,” said Styron. When the first running prototypes of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke were built, the combustion chamber design was exactly the same as the one chosen from the single-cylinder test engine.

“The combustion system is really the heart of the engine. It determines the engine’s ability to use air,” added Styron. “Get it wrong, and you end up with poor fuel economy and higher emissions. The fact that we got the answer right saved us time and money. The end result is that Ford Super Duty customers now have the most powerful and fuel efficient diesel pickup engine money can buy.”

Ken Block - DIRT3 Gymkhana Uncovered

Ken Block and Mikko Hirvonen at "Gymkhana Uncovered"
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Electrification Buzz Heats up as Ford Chief Engineer Talks Top Five Technologies at SAE World Congress

• Ford Chief Engineer of Global Core Engineering Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Chuck Gray singles out five top technologies to enable electrification
• Auto Start-Stop, Human Machine Interface (HMI), regenerative braking system, new batteries and motors all seen as critical for electrification advancement
• Ford’s aggressive electrification strategy includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and Europe by 2013. The all-new Focus Electric – the company’s first-ever all-electric passenger car – is a zero-emissions, gasoline-free version of Ford’s popular global Focus model

DEARBORN, Mich., April 12, 2011 – With a full suite of new electrified vehicles coming to market over the next two years, Ford is pushing ahead with key technologies to advance its electrification strategy. At this week’s SAE 2011 World Congress, Chuck Gray, Ford chief engineer of Global Core Engineering Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, will share his insights on the emerging top five electrification technologies, ranging from batteries and motors to Human Machine Interface (HMI) features.

“As we see continuing escalation in the price of fuel, people are becoming more interested in electrified products,” Gray explained. “We’ve developed a clearer picture of how these technologies can be leveraged and brought to market, and we’re confident that each will further improve the efficiency of our expanded portfolio of products.”

Ford has more than 244 patents for its electrification technology. The company’s top five electrification technologies being discussed by Gray are:

Auto Start-Stop
Ford’s popular fuel-saving technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop – a feature found today on Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid and on some Ford cars in Europe – will soon be added to conventional cars, crossovers and SUVs in North America.

Ford’s patented new Auto Start-Stop system for gasoline engines will improve fuel economy for most drivers by at least 4 percent. The gain can be as high as 10 percent for some drivers, depending on vehicle size and usage. It also reduces tailpipe emissions to zero while the vehicle is stationary or waiting at a stoplight with the engine off.


Human Machine Interface
HMI – the way the vehicle interacts with the driver – is a significant component in Ford’s suite of electrified vehicles that helps to inform, enlighten, engage and empower drivers.

Just as the growing leafy vine of today’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide represents fuel efficiency in Fusion Hybrid, the cluster display in the all-new Focus Electric will use blue butterflies to represent the surplus range beyond one’s charge point destination – the more butterflies there are, the greater the range.

At the end of each trip a display screen provides distance driven, miles gained through regenerative braking, energy consumed and a comparative gasoline savings achieved by driving electric. Other range enablers will include a budget view, range view and Brake Coach, which gives drivers feedback on their braking performance to maximize recuperation back into the battery.

The new Focus Electric also will feature the MyFord Touch™ map-based Navigation System using the vehicle’s center stack 8-inch touch screen, which is another iteration of HMI. After adding their driving destinations, including their next charge point, into the vehicle’s Navigation System, the vehicle will coach drivers on how to achieve the desired range – or if travel plans need to be adjusted. The onboard Navigation System provides an EcoRoute option based on characteristics of efficient EV driving.

Motor
The new Ford C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid models, to be launched in 2012, build on the success of the critically acclaimed powersplit architecture Ford uses in its current hybrids, including Fusion Hybrid.

In a powersplit hybrid, the electric motor and gasoline-powered engine can work together or separately to maximize efficiency. The engine also can operate independently of vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed. The motor alone can provide sufficient power to the wheels in low-speed, low-load conditions, and work with the engine at higher speeds.

While this system enables the current Fusion Hybrid to operate in fuel-saving electric mode up to 47 mph, Ford is targeting higher electric operating speeds for C-MAX Hybrid and even more capability for C-MAX Energi, which will have the advantage of additional battery power.

Battery
Ford’s future hybrid and electric vehicles will use new lithium-ion battery systems that are designed to maximize use of common, high-quality components, such as control board hardware that has proven field performance in Ford’s current, critically acclaimed hybrid vehicles.

Li-ion battery packs offer a number of advantages over the nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries that power today’s hybrid vehicles. In general, they are 25 to 30 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter, which makes them easier to package in a vehicle, and they can be tuned to increase power to boost acceleration or to increase energy to extend driving distance.

Focus Electric, C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid models all will be powered by advanced lithium-ion battery systems that are being engineered by Ford. The Focus Electric battery system uses heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and fuel-free driving range.

Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of pure electric vehicles. The system also features cabin climate preconditioning while on charge from the wall plug to further maximize electric range during driving.

“Our battery and motor systems engineering are key enablers of our electrification strategy,” said Gray. “Our goals are to continue to improve energy efficiency while simultaneously reducing costs, providing a value benefit to the consumer.”

Regenerative braking system
Regenerative braking is a function that captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Greater than 90 percent energy recovery is achieved by delivering full regenerative braking, which means less than 10 percent of braking is through traditional friction brakes.

The power of choice
Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. In 2012, these models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This diverse range of electrified vehicles allows Ford to meet a variety of consumer driving needs.

Two Ford Vehicles Are Top Green Cars Says kbb.com

With Earth Day approaching and soaring gas prices weighing heavily on the minds of consumers, it’s timely kbb.com has named two Ford vehicles to its 2011 Top 10 Green Car list – the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2012 Ford Focus.

Editors of kbb.com say Fusion Hybrid was an easy pick, because along with its outstanding fuel economy of 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, “it delivers the driving dynamics and comfort that make the conventional Fusion so endearing.” Likewise, Focus’ impressive fuel economy of 28 mpg city and up to 40 mpg highway is just one of the things they liked about the all-new vehicle: “Our favorite features are its excellent handling, impressively outfitted interior, sweet Euro styling and the availability of cool features,” kbb editors said.

Ford C-MAX "Innovation in your hands" - Making of

A look behind the scenes at the making of the Ford C-MAX "Innovation in your hands" Advert.
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2010 Mustang In Japan! Drifting with Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. brings the 2010 Ford Mustang to Japan to show off his drift skills.

Ford F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test On NBC TV Sunday, April 10th 4:30pm EDT

The F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test, one of the most daring projects ever undertaken here at Ford, gets the national spotlight this Sunday on NBC.

In full public view, we threw everything we could at the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost F-150 engine in a series of grueling tests designed to prove the toughness and durability of this innovative new truck engine.

And then, after it was all over, we tore down the EcoBoost engine in front of 1,000 spectators at the North American International Auto Show.

This Sunday at 4:30 p.m. EDT NBC will broadcast “Ford F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test," which details the incredible punishment inflicted on the 3.5 liter engine.. The program, narrated by Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame, uses footage from the six webisodes and the tear down event.

It's highly unusual for a network to broadcast a program about an engine. But the new EcoBoost F-150 engine is no ordinary engine. We thought your readers/viewers/listeners would like to know about the program, so here are the details:

What: Ford F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test, a ½ hour program detailing the incredible journey of EcoBoost engine 448AA.
When: 4:30 p.m. EDT, Sunday, 4/10
Where: NBC
Live Chat: 4:30-5:30 p.m. with Jim Mazuchowski, V6, Manager of V6 Engines, at http://www.thefordstory.com/

Vaughn Gittin Jr In His Own Words

Ford Structural Parts History

How It Works: The All-Electric Focus

The Focus Electric runs exclusively on electricity stored in powerful, state-of-the-art batteries, which means it never needs a drop of gas.
- Powered by a 23 kwh high-voltage, lightweight lithium-ion battery system.
- Regenerative Braking captures energy during braking and recycles it to recharge the battery.
- Charges with the available 240-volt charging station or standard 120-volt convenience cord

Ford Swap Your Ride Commercials

Ford identified 32 consumers of competitive make vehicles and swapped out their current vehicle to drive a Ford for a week. The experience was so positive they couldn't stop talking about it.

2012 Cobra Jet Build

Since its legendary introducation at the NHRA Winternationals in 1968, Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph that has carried through the decades.

The 2012 Cobra Jet, like the Mustang FR500S and 2010 Cobra Jet, was built on the Mustang production line at the Auto Alliance International (AAI) assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The entire 50-car run of 2012 Cobra Jets was built on the same production line that produces the 2012 Ford Mustang production car.

Crash Test Dummies-Then & Now

Here's a look back at Ford's crash test dummies in 1955 and 1986, as Ford begins one of the world's first research projects to build a digital human model of a child with near-lifelike re-creations of the skeletal structure, internal organs and brain -- for future computer-based crash testing with a goal of enhancing future safety technologies.