Holiday Safety Tips From Ford

Vacation Safety Tips

Dearborn, Mich., June 30, 2011 – Screaming kids, congestion, road work, scorching weather: While we all like to get away for the summer, issues such as these can make for a lot of stress for people who are driving long distances, especially during the busy Fourth of July weekend.

But Ford has some helpful safety tips for travelers heading out on the roads for the holiday season, to ensure that the trip is memorable for all the right reasons – even if the kids keep asking “Are we there yet?” from the minute you take off.

Top safety tips from Ford:

•  Buckle up and do it right: The seat belt remains the most important piece of safety equipment. Ensure that it tightly encircles your hips, not your waist. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm
• Keep small children belted in safety or booster seats: Children under four-feet-four-inches tall who weigh less than 79 pounds should by regulation be fitted in child safety seats or booster seats and properly belted. The safety seats need to be securely fitted to the rear seat – and the latest Ford cars are now designed with ISOFIX fittings, which provide a rigid and robust connection between the vehicle and the seats
• Ensure that the tilt and height of all head rests are correctly adjusted
• Avoid placing objects over the airbag cover: Do not place any object between an occupant and an airbag or near any other airbag covering. The airbag may not inflate properly and might force an object into that person, causing severe injury or death. The instrument panel grab handle should never be used for storage. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear at all times
• Do your homework. Know your car’s condition and its safety features: Check for basic maintenance and items in your car before heading off for a trip. Items to check include tire tread depth, tire pressures, and ensuring oil and water levels are correct
• Be responsible and know the speed limits: If you’re traveling across the country, be aware of the speed limits and road laws of the states you will travel through. Always carry your driver’s license with you
• Give yourself enough time to complete the journey: Plan for stops along the way. Drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions and leave sufficient space between the vehicles around you
• Pack heavier items in lower areas of the vehicle: When filling up the cargo areas of the vehicle, always place the heaviest items close to the vehicle floor or truck bed so that in the event of a quick stop, those items remain in place and do not move forward in the vehicle where they can collide with passengers or other materials
• Use a voice-activated, hands-free connectivity system like Ford SYNC^® to control your mobile phone or navigation system: Ensure the system is ready to go before you set off 
•  Don’t drink and drive  
• Don’t drive when you’re tired: It is recommended that you take regular breaks on a long journey

Technology that can help
Ford offers a variety of technologies in its vehicles that can support the driver on long journeys – and hopefully make such trips more enjoyable and less stressful:

• SYNC:SYNC is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system for Bluetooth^®-enabled mobile phones that allows hands-free calling among its many available features
• MyFord Touch^™: MyFord Touch driver connect technology provides an intuitive way for drivers to connect in-car technologies and their digital lives
• Active park assist: An advanced new system that automatically guides the vehicle into parallel parking spaces. The system uses two ultrasonic sensors to scan for a suitable space between parked cars. Once a space has been identified, which can be as little as 1.2 times the length of the vehicle, the driver is informed and clear instructions are shown in the center display. The driver controls the accelerator and brake pedal, and selects a forward or reverse gear, while the steering system is automatically controlled by the vehicle
• Auto high beams: This feature is designed to detect light sources ahead and automatically switch the headlamps between main and low beam to avoid glare and help maximize visibility when driving at night
• Adaptive cruise control: A radar-based cruise control system that helps to maintain a preset cruising speed as well as a preset distance from vehicles ahead. If the system detects the vehicle in front is slowing down or is too close, it decelerates automatically. Once the road is clear again, it will accelerate back to the chosen cruising speed

And a few things you might not know…

• Bothered by bugs? Going on a long trip and don’t want to face a windshield and/or bumper full of dead insects by the time you arrive? Wipe down your windshield with a tumble dryer sheet; bugs won’t stick to the glass as easily. Also, give your bumpers the once-over with cooking spray
• Sheets: If your trunk looks like a linen closet before you leave, then you’re prepared. Pack bed sheets – you can drape them over car seats that have become baking hot in the sun
• Tennis, anyone? Slice open a tennis ball and use it to cover your tow bar when you’re not using it. It will protect it from scratches, and will keep the moisture out
• Don’t forget your shades: Troubled by sun glare? Add a few pairs of sunglasses (in case you lose one) to your travel bag before you leave
• Don’t scratch it; smear it: Can’t get that sticker from the amusement park or beach parking lot off your window? Saturate it with cooking oil before you start scrubbing

Webisode: Go Do Adventure in South Dakota

The new Ford Explorer takes nine-year old dinosaur lover Ethan True and his family to hunt for dinosaur bones at a top-secret location with the expert guidance of a world-class paleontologist.

What happens when you ask the question "What adventure would you Go Do if you had the new Ford Explorer for a week?" You get a lot of bigtime adventure ideas.

Submit your own entry here on Facebook! http://on.fb.me/joGYzb

Sax Man and Doug: the Ford Spokespuppet Tries to Find the Focus Sound

Doug and John run into a guy with a sax. Riffs ensue and the Focus jazz sound is discovered. Kind of.

Like Doug? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/focusdoug/ or @focusdoug
Like John? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/focusjohn/ or @focusjohn
For more info on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, go to ford.com/focus.

More videos with Doug:

Watch Doug challenge drivers to a race: http://youtu.be/97ok7IO4_Ag
See Doug try to give away the Focus for cans of tuna: http://youtu.be/_gamltwkUcc
Watch Doug and John move to the phat beatz: http://youtu.be/b2tGm_1RPx8

Expedition Impossible Preview with Mark Burnett

Producer/Creator Mark Burnett gives us an introduction to his new ABC reality television series Expedition Impossible, and explains why the 2011 Ford Explorer was the perfect vehicle to handle the harsh Moroccan desert.

Michael Gelsthorpe Shows Off Features of Auto Crane Body

Michael Gelsthorpe, Regional Manager with Ramsey Industries gives Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success and impromptu presentation of some of the features of the heavy duty Auto Crane Service Body.

See more about Auto Crane products at http://www.autocrane.com/

Brian Heffron Shows New Off-Road Grille Guard From Ramsey

Brian Heffron, Regional Manager for Ramsey Industries shows Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success their new Off-Road Grille Guard package housing for their winch products. Brian was kind enough to give a quick impromptu video of this product at the NTEA Workd Truck Show in Indianapois, Indian in March, 2011

The Forklift Loadable Truck Rack by Rack-it

Gary Kank, Sales Manager for Rack-it Truck Racks shows us the differences in a forklift loadable truck. Many contractors prefer the forklift loadable rack so they can have forklifts load material directly on the rack rather than hand loading. Sure saves the back!

A Great Truck Bargain To Carry Your Heavy Loads

Here is a 2008 Ford F550 with 19,000 GVWR that has the 6.4 liter Diesel Engine, HD Auto Trans, AC, Spare Tire and Wheel, High Capacity Trailer Tow Package, Tow Command System, and Limited Slip Rear Axle. The Body is a Royal Truck Body 12'x84" Aluminum Van Body with a 2,000 lb capacity Tommy Gate Aluminum Railgate Liftgate which has a huge platform and is yet lightweight. This unit has been registered to the dealer to capture ending rebates, but only has 862 miles and was never sold retail. VIN #8EA79816, Stock #T43470. This truck had an original MSRP of over $45,000.

Please call Paul Brown at Larry Geweke Ford in Yuba City, CA at 530-682-7693 or email him at pbrown@geweke.com.

UPDATE:
SOLD!!!
Thank You!

This vehicle is was offered for sale by Larry Geweke Ford in Yuba City, CA and is subject to prior sale.

Bill Ford: A future beyond traffic gridlock

Bill Ford is a car guy -- his great-grandfather was Henry Ford, and he grew up inside the massive Ford Motor Co. So when he worries about cars' impact on the environment, and about our growing global gridlock problem, it's worth a listen. His vision for the future of mobility includes "smart roads," even smarter public transport and going green like never before.

David Magnuson Talks About Sortimo Van Pkg in CNG Transit Connect Van

David Magnuson of Sortimo of North America, Inc, shows Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success how to make a Ford Transit Connect with CNG package into an efficient work van with great storage solutions. This video was shot at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March 2011.

See more about Sortimo at www.sortimo.com.

Introducing the All-New 2012 Ford Focus Electric

Manager of EV Electronics, Amy Garby, presents a thorough breakdown of the state-of-the-art technology that is at the heart of the all-new 2012 Ford Focus Electric.

Like driving green? Follow Ford Electric Vehicles on Facebook and Twitter: http://facebook.com/fordelectricvehicles or @forddrivegreen

For more info on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus Electric, go to http://ford.com/focuselectric

Brian Heffron Shows Us Ramsey's Industrial Winches

Brian Heffron talks with Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March 2011. Brian shows us the selection of Ramsey Industrial Winches they had at the NTEA event.

See more about Ramsey products at http://www.ramsey.com/.

Turtle Top-Where Can We Take You

Turtle Top Odyssey, Odyssey XL, Odyssey XLT, Walk Around

Industry

Why Turtle Top

Turtle Top started manufacturing automotive products in 1962. It began with recreational vehicles and over the years has grown into a reputed provider of transportation solutions with sales and services location across the USA and Canada. We make buses or specialty vehicles designed according to the specifications or requirements of our customers. Our clientele include some of the most prestigious names in the motor coach industry.

Turtle Top specializes in manufacturing small to mid-sized buses and specialty vehicles that are built on Chevrolet, Ford and Freightliner chassis. We serve a wide variety of customers who are looking for a bus for sale. They include organizations (both governmental and non-governmental), as well as individuals. Our product range includes buses for church, college and school. We also make shuttle bus, transit bus, charter bus, 15 passenger van, tour bus and limousine bus. Our concern for environmental deterioration caused from fossil fuels has led us to invest considerable effort into researching alternative power and fuel. We aim to set the standards of innovation in this area by which others will measure success.

At Turtle Top we believe that the key to success lies in the satisfaction of our customers and we aim to satisfy our customers beyond their expectations. Hence developing high quality customer service is our top priority. We continue to work hard to provide the best services to our customers and are proud of our reputation in the automotive industry as a company that assures quality, service, longevity and integrity.

Turtle Top Ford Terra Maxx at NTEA

Matt Sausman Talks With Ford Truck Pros At NTEA about New Terra Maxx Built By Turtle Top

Michael Gelsthorpe Talks About The Auto Crane Articulating Cranes

Michael Gelsthorpe, Regional Manager of Ramsey Industries talks briefly with Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success about Auto Crane's Articulating Cranes and some of the benefits of this type of crane. This video was made at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN in March of 2011.

Brian Smith Gives A Tour Of Buyer's SaltDogg Spreaders at the NTEA Work ...

Brian Smith, Marketing Manager for Buyers Products Company of Mentor, Ohio gives Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success a quick impromtu tour of the SaltDogg spreader selection that Buyer's had at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN in March of 2011. Buyers had one of the largest display areas at the huge NTEA Work Truck Show and had quite a volume of product on display. As you can see on the video, the tour includes quite a selection of spreaders from the largest to the smallest.

See more about SaltDogg at www.SaltDogg.com, and see more about Buyers products at http://www.buyersproducts.com/.

Taylor Steinberg Talks About Knapheide Gooseneck Body

Taylor Steinberg of Knapheide Manufacturing gives Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success a few pointers about the new Knapheide Gooseneck Body at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March of 2011.

Alan Mulally Shares Mid-Decade Outlook on Investor Day

Alan Mulally speaks to our fans regarding our mid-decade outlook on Investor Day.

A Black Contractor Body Is A Show Stopper!

Ordering up and well-equipped black truck chassis like this F450 Ford with the Alcoa Wheels is an excellent choice to match with the Harbor Contractor Body painted black instead of the more common white. Set your own standard! Try blue, green, purple, yellow, brown, or any other color. Get noticed!

Give Paul Brown a call at 530-682-7693 and let him spec a truck that is a show stopper for you!

2012 Boss 302S Mustang Build

Since its introducation in SCCA Trans-Am racing in 1969, Ford's Boss 302 Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph that has carried through the decades.

The 2012 Boss 302S Mustang, like the Mustang FR500S and Cobra Jet Mustang, is built on the prototype production line at the Auto Alliance International (AAI) in Flat Rock, Michigan. The Mustang Boss 302S is ready for track days and road racing in a number of SCCA and NASA classes

Crew Chief Software

Mike Rowe discusses the crew chief software.

Taylor Steinberg Talks About The Knapheide CNG Option For Their Service Body Lineup

Taylor Steinberg of Knapheide Manufacturing talks to Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success about the Knapheide CNG option for their service body line.

Recorded on March 9, 2011 at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis using a Flip Video camera.

Some information from the Knapheide website at http://www.knapheide.com/:

Compressed Natural Gas

Knapheide has invested in relationships with the two top CNG fuel system providers in the industry, BAF Technologies (Ford Chassis) and Baytech Corporation (GM Chassis). Because of these relationships, Knapheide has been able to develop work ready CNG fuel vehicles on both Ford and GM chassis. CNG has become a popular choice for large fleets due to the significantly lower operating costs compared to gas or diesel vehicles. CNG fueled vehicles emit 30% less greenhouse gas compared to gas or diesel vehicles. Over 98% of natural gas is produced in North America allowing the United States to rely less on foreign oil as a fuel source.

Direct benefits to fleets/end users that convert to compressed natural gas include:

• CNG is eligible for the Federal Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle credit
• On-site CNG fueling stations offer additiional benefits to large fleets with dedicated work routes
• CNG engines emit 80% less noise compared to diesel engines
• CNG offers a lower fuel cost and longer vehicle life expectancy for fleet vehicles
• CNG packages are available for many popular commercial vehicles and retrofits for existing vehicles

Ford Adds New Fuel-Saving 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine and Eight-Speed Transmission to Powertrain Lineup

• Newest EcoBoost™ engine, Ford’s first three-cylinder, to be launched globally in Ford small cars
• New engine will deliver performance of a larger four-cylinder with even higher fuel economy
• Ford announces first eight-speed automatic transmission for future vehicles
• The first Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built hybrid transmission begins production late this year; Ford expects to be largest domestic producer of hybrid transmissions by next spring

DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2011 – Ford is expanding its industry-leading range of fuel-efficient powertrains in North America with the addition of a new 1.0-liter EcoBoost™ three-cylinder – the smallest engine Ford has ever built – and an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

In addition, Ford’s next generation of hybrid vehicles, including a new plug-in hybrid that will launch next year, will have a Ford-engineered transmission that will be built in Michigan.

The arrival of the latest member of the EcoBoost family, Ford’s first eight-speed automatic and its new hybrid transmission will further strengthen the company’s lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles. Today, Ford Motor Company has 12 vehicles that lead their sales segments in fuel economy and four vehicles that deliver at least 40 mpg, a lineup no other automaker can match.

“In the last five years, we have made a record investment in new powertrains and fuel-saving technologies,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “Today, we have the freshest powertrain lineup in the industry. And there is plenty more coming.”

1.0-liter EcoBoost: Ford’s smallest engine yet
Engineers at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K. began designing the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine long before the current spike in fuel prices pushed the cost of a gallon of gas over $4. Their goal: To design a technically advanced, super-efficient three-cylinder engine that delivers the same performance as a four-cylinder, but with much higher fuel economy and lower emissions.

To do that, engineers at Dunton, Ford’s global center of excellence for small-capacity engines, focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up. That’s when an engine emits higher levels of CO2 and other pollutants. The new engine introduces many new technologies that could someday be part of the DNA of future Ford engines, said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of Global Powertrain Engineering.

The new three-cylinder engine will be available globally in the company’s small cars. It will also play an important role in North America.

“Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more miles per gallon,” said Kuzak. “Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”

Final calibrations of the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter are under way. Kuzak said the new engine will deliver horsepower and torque outputs equivalent to or better than most normally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engines.

“The 1.0-liter engine is a little dynamo,” Kuzak said.

Technology powerhouse
Bakaj said the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost might be small in size, but it’s big on advanced technology.

The 1.0-liter engine features:

•An offset crankshaft that helps improve fuel economy
•An advanced, Ford-designed split cooling system that allows the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head. Faster cylinder block warm-ups save fuel, especially in cold weather
•An exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head. The one-piece assembly lowers the temperature of the exhaust gases. This enables the engine to run in a wider rpm band with the optimum fuel-to-air ratio. The new design also saves weight and allows the engine to operate more smoothly
•EcoBoost technologies, such as turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT)
“No one’s ever built a three-cylinder engine quite like this. Not only is it one of the most technically advanced and efficient engines we’ve ever designed, but it will introduce a number of new technologies to the Ford engine lineup,” said Bakaj.

For comparison, the newest member of Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family has about the same displacement as a cruiser motorcycle. Ford has never built a regular production car engine with fewer than four cylinders.

“Drivers are going to like the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine for many of the same reasons the EcoBoost F-150 is such a big hit,” said Bakaj. “It will deliver great low-speed responsiveness, power, torque and smoothness.”

First seen in the Ford Start concept car that debuted at Beijing in 2010, the engine more recently made its European debut in the Ford B-MAX at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. More technical and application details for the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be released in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

Ford’s EcoBoost commitment
Ford is on track to deliver on its promise in 2006 of offering EcoBoost on 90 percent of its North American lineup by 2013 and to be producing 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally. The next vehicles to get EcoBoost engines, Edge and Explorer, arrive late this summer.

“With our global family of EcoBoost engines, we’ve replaced V8s with V6s and V6s with four-cylinders – with no loss of performance and with impressive fuel economy improvements,” Kuzak said. “The new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will come in at the lower end of the global range and will take the place of a four-cylinder engine, again with no loss of performance or refinement. Above all, drivers win because this new engine is specifically designed and engineered for terrific fuel economy.”

Two new Ford transmissions
This year, Ford offers more automatic, manual or dual-clutch automatic six-speed transmissions across its lineup than any other full-line automaker. From the subcompact Fiesta to the industrial-strength F-Series Super Duty pickup, 100 percent of Ford’s lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs and CUVs feature fuel-saving six-speed transmissions.

Like the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, advanced technology will be a key feature of the new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built eight-speed automatic currently under development, Bakaj said. “The new gearbox will be the first with a number of advanced new technologies that will provide faster, smoother and more positive shifts,” he said.

The eight-speed transmission will feature:

•Ford’s next-generation clutch controls
•An input torque sensor, which measures torque coming into the transmission. The sensor enables faster selection of the proper gear, reduces hunting and helps smooth out shifts
•Actuators built into the case for tighter, more precise control of hydraulic pressure
•Closed-loop control
More details on production and applications will be released at a later date.

In-house hybrid transmission
Another new Ford transmission, to be installed in hybrid vehicles, starts production late this year at Van Dyke Transmission Plant in suburban Detroit. Full volume production is slated for the first quarter of 2012.

By next spring, Ford expects to be manufacturing more hybrid transmissions in North America than any other automaker or supplier. The new transmission replaces a unit currently made in Japan that is used today in Ford and Lincoln hybrids.

As with the new eight-speed, the new hybrid transmission is Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built. It’s an e-CVT or electronic continuously variable transmission. The new hybrid transmission will offer improved performance over the current unit. The current Ford Fusion Hybrid can reach a top speed of 47 mph on electricity and go as far as one mile.

Within the last year, Ford has invested $135 million to design, engineer and manufacture key components for its expanding lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The investment not only brings in-house battery and hybrid transmission production, it also has created at least 220 jobs in Michigan.

Ford is on track to launch five electrified vehicles in the U.S. by 2012 and in Europe by 2013.

“It’s absolutely essential for Ford to further develop its core competencies in engineering electrified powertrains,” Kuzak said. “With this new Ford-built hybrid transmission, and assembly of battery packs at our Rawsonville plant, Ford will be positioned well to meet the quality and performance requirements of future electric and hybrid vehicles.”

Ford Drives Quality Through $100 Million Investment in Robots with Special Vision

• Ford plans to invest $100 million globally in robotic plant laser inspection technology to help make parts fit more accurately and reduce wind noise – a top industry quality issue – beginning with the highly acclaimed 2012 Ford Focus and Ford Explorer
• Chicago Assembly Plant, Michigan Assembly Plant and the Saarlouis, Germany Ford plant, all high-volume facilities, will use the technology to deliver more accurate door panel fit
• Laser vision technology is one part of Ford’s overall drive to achieve industry leadership in customer satisfaction

Ford plans to invest $100 million globally

in robotic plant laser inspection technology

DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2011 – Ford Motor Company is investing $100 million globally to install robotic plant laser inspection technology to improve quality through reduced wind noise and more refined fit and finish.

This new technology is being used during assembly of the popular new 2012 Ford Focus at Michigan Assembly Plant and the Saarlouis, Germany, plant, and the hot-selling Ford Explorer at Chicago Assembly Plant. The technology then will be rolled out globally as part of Ford’s next phase of its quality initiative to lead the industry in customer satisfaction.

“Ford’s robotic laser technology gives us a degree of precision like never before,” said Ron Ketelhut, chief engineer, Body Construction Engineering. “The vision technologies verify the dimensions of interfaces on the vehicle’s body in a highly accurate way, to a tenth of a millimeter.”

The technology helps ensure car door panels fit more accurately and reduce wind noise, a key quality factor for consumers and a major industry challenge. The laser and camera systems that are major upgrades to plant robots were developed in collaboration with minority business partner Gonzalez Production Systems, and significantly improve the robustness of the overall manufacturing process.

The technology builds on laser-guided, end-of-line robotic technology pioneered by Ford’s European team to measure points on each vehicle as it moves past the line to verify build quality. The robots are programmed to recognize any minute deviations from the correct specification and, if any errors are found, instruct the operator on the correct course of action. Ford first used the system in Germany and, after seeing quality gains, quickly rolled it out to plants around the world.

Against the wind
The precision technology helps advanced robots more accurately install the doors to reduce the potential for wind noise.

The laser vision technology also is being upgraded on the robots to help confirm the door quality margins once installed. The robots are even empowered to shut down the assembly line if the cameras detect a door does not fit Ford’s exacting quality measurements. Human error is also reduced, as the machines are tuned to measure point specifications on the vehicle, whereas previously it was determined by an operator making a subjective judgment on whether it was accurate.

Air-tight quality
Wind noise is a primary consumer consideration when judging the quality of a vehicle. Ford has gone to great lengths to minimize noise by pinpointing its source through a number of other plant technologies – using machines to detect air leakage from cabin, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) chambers and Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). The new strategy uses the entire range of tools in addition to the vision-guided robot cells and laser inspection to ensure leading vehicle quietness.

A continuing string of upbeat third-party quality reports has Ford pushing its way to the front of the pack. According to the Consumer Reports 2010 Annual Car Reliability Survey, 90 percent of Ford vehicles, including Lincoln models, are Recommended Buys. Ford also has the highest initial quality among all non-premium brands and is ranked No. 5 in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. Ford’s customer satisfaction score is 82 percent, among the highest, and tied only with Volkswagen and Audi according to the RDA Global Quality Research Study

Start More Live : Golf Zone

Golf trick shot champion Jeremy Dale in the Golf Zone at Start More Live.

To celebrate the launch of the all new Ford Focus, Tim Lovejoy (Soccer AM / BBC's Something For The Weekend) and his mate Robbie Knox helped put together an evening of Sport, Food, Gadgets, Music and Motoring -- the ULTIMATE Night Out, called "Start More Live" that took place on the 25th May 2011.


If you missed out on tickets to Start More Live, you can still be in with a chance to win a golf masterclass at St. Andrews. This amazing prize will take you and a guest to St. Andrews, the home of golf. Enjoy stunning accommodation in Ardgowen Hotel, with travel included plus a day's golf. You'll also get three hours' tuition, green fees for The Balgove Course and £100 cash.

To enter this and 3 more fantastic competitions, visit the Facebook page here and scroll down:

http://on.fb.me/dXdnEg

Start more than a car with the Ford Focus on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fordfocus

Ford Motor Company Receives Prestigious Freedom Award from U.S. Department of Defense

June 2, 2011 – Ford Motor Company is being honored with the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Freedom Award is the highest honor bestowed upon America's employers who provide exceptional support to their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Ford is one of 15 companies nationwide to be selected for this prestigious award. More than 4,000 nominations were submitted this year.

“We are proud of our employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve and it is our privilege to support them,” said Mike Bannister, Ford executive vice president, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit Company, and executive champion of the Ford Veterans Network Group. “We thank ESGR and the Department of Defense for this recognition. We appreciate the honor, and we deeply appreciate all the men and women involved in military service.”

The Freedom Award, now in its 16th year, is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense. “To stand out among the many thousands of employers who firmly support our Citizen Warriors is a testament to the remarkable efforts of these 15 recipients,” said Dennis McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. "On behalf of the Department of Defense, I congratulate the 2011 honorees and thank them for serving as outstanding partners in our nation's defense.”

Ford received a total of six nominations. One nomination was submitted by Todd Brooks, an employee currently serving in the Navy Reserve. “Ford makes service to our country much easier. From senior leadership all they way down the ladder, they understand the necessity of the citizen soldier and the difficulties their loved ones face as a result of their commitment,” said Brooks, an engineering supervisor, Body, Chassis & Steering Test Labs. “Ford really gets it. Truly it is One Team and for that we are ever so grateful.”

The Freedom Award recognizes employers for the formal and informal initiatives they put in place for Guard and Reserve employees and their families. For example, Ford currently offers differential pay for its employees on active duty. In the U.S. there are approximately 700 Reservists and Guardsmen employed by the company along with more than 7,000 veterans. Ford currently has nearly 30 employees actively serving in the military.

Ford Motor Company has a longstanding commitment to its veterans and military personnel. Ford’s relationship with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T’s to take disabled veterans to their convention in San Francisco. Since 1974, Ford Motor Company and the Ford Motor Company Fund have provided over $6 million to veterans organizations.

Since 1996, Ford Motor Company has donated 156 vehicles to DAV for their Transportation Network, totaling approximately $4 million. Each year Ford sponsors the DAV’s winter sports clinic, and has supported the DAV’s youth scholarship volunteer program since 2000. In 2006 the Ford Fund made a $500,000 contribution toward the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. Ford Motor Company also helps all veterans through vehicle donations, scholarships and special vehicle purchase programs.

The Ford Veterans Network Group (VETNG), one of Ford’s corporately supported Employee Resource Groups, sponsors activities throughout the year in support of its veterans, military personnel and their families.

“The Veterans Network Group is committed to serving and supporting all members of the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Dan Duderstadt, lead security supervisor, and president of the Veterans Network Group. “And we could not do it without the ongoing support of our senior leadership here at Ford Motor Company.”

The Ford Veterans Network Group recently sponsored a Memorial Day Parade in Dearborn, Michigan. Other activities throughout the year include the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Ford World Headquarters and sending care packages overseas to activated employees, as well as company employees with sons and daughters serving abroad.

A national selection board composed of senior defense officials, business leaders and prior awardees selected the 15 recipients for the 2011 Freedom Award.

The 2011 recipients will be honored in Washington, D.C. at the 16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony in September.



About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.


About ESGR and the Freedom Award:
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. ESGR was established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

Win A 2012 Ford Focus with Ford 40 MPG!

ONE consumer will win an all-new 2012 Ford Focus with Sync and MyFord Touch, selected randomly from all eligible entries.

FORTY entrants every month (June-October of 2011) will win 'The Works Fuel Saver Package,' selected randomly from all eligible entries.

BONUS FORTY: If any Ford driver wins the championship in each of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series (Funny Car class), and World Rally Championship (World Rally Cars class), then 40 consumers will win a 2012 Ford Focus.

The Ford 40 MPG sweepstakes is open for entries from June 4th, 2011 to October 31st, 2011. For complete contest rules, please visit ford40mpg.com/Ford40MPG/rules.aspx

Ken Block WRC Argentina Fandemonium

Ken Block thanks the fans of Argentina for their dedication and love of rally.

How Ford is Using Hollywood Technology

Ford uses a Hollywood technology with a digital avatar created using size and shape population data gathered from vehicle assembly plants across the globe. Ford researchers have created a manikin used in ergonomic assessments that employ motion-capture technology, the same type of technology that mesmerizes filmgoers in movies such as "Mars Needs Moms" or in games such as "Mortal Kombat." Motion capture is a technology that digitally captures movement, making nonhuman characters appear more lifelike.

Doug, Ford's Spokespuppet, and John Present Maximum Bass 1 (Focus Remix)

Doug (the Orange Puppet) and John deliver their most rib-cage rattling, skull-shaking, heart-rate-elevating sounds EVER, with help from the new Focus with available Sony® Audio System.

Like Doug? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/focusdoug/ or @focusdoug

Like John? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/focusjohn/ or @focusjohn

For more info on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, go to ford.com/focus