Ken Block's newest racecar: The Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle

Ken Block unveils his new racecar, the H.F.H.V., or "Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle", a unique vehicle made to compete in three disciplines of racing: Stage rally, rallycross, and Gymkhana.

Tanner Foust X Games 17 Ford Fiesta Walkaround

2010 X Games champion Tanner Foust takes Ford Racing TV for a walk around of the ROCKSTAR Fiesta on the eve of X Games 17.

Ford Fiesta's at X Games in Los Angeles

Ford takes on the world at X Games 17 in Los Angeles. Catch the action on July 30-31 at LA Live! or on ESPN.

Ken Block HFHV Fiesta X Games Test

Ken Block puts the HFHV Fiesta through the paces at California Speedway and Ford Racing TV is on site.

F450 Cab Chassis At Larry Geweke Ford

Here's an example of a Ford cab and chassis ready for the body of your choice. This particular example is a 2011 Ford F450 108" Cab-To-Axle HD chassis to handle up to a 14' body, and it is also equipped with Ford's new 6.7 Turbo Diesel.

Paul Brown, Commercial/Fleet Manager at Larry Geweke Ford in Yuba City, CA will take great care of you ordering the perfect chassis for your business and the perfect body to go on it. Give Paul a call at 530-682-7693 and visit their website at http://www.geweketrucks.com/.

Alan Mulally on the Second Quarter 2011

Alan discusses the Ford 2nd quarter announcements released today.

2011 Ford F350 8' Monroe Service Body

Here's a 2011 Ford F350 gas chassis with an 8' Monroe Service Body at Larry Geweke Ford in Yuba City CA.

Call Paul Brown, Commercial/Fleet Manager at 530-682-7693 and visit their website at www.geweketrucks.com.

(this unit is stock #32428, vin# BEB82535, subject to prior sale.)

Ken Block Defends Last Year's Hooning Title At 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ken Block returns to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2011, this time with two cars: The Gymkhana THREE Ford Fiesta, and the current Ford Fiesta RS WRC car. Defending the "hooning title" he won in 2010, Block spent the entire weekend sideways or in circles on Goodwood's hillclimb and rally stages.

New Arrival: 2011 Ford F350 Super Cab 4x4 w/Harbor Service Body

We're showing off a fresh arrival to Larry Geweke Ford's commercial truck inventory. This is a rare 2011 Ford F350 Super Cab Gas 4x4 Chassis with a 9' Harbor Service Body with standard stainless steel lids, HD forklift loadable rack, and power locking system.

Call Paul Brown, Commercial/Fleet Manager at Larry Geweke Ford at 530-682-7693. Also see their website at www.geweketrucks.com.

(This unit is stock #32717, vin# BEC82529 and is subject to prior sale.)

Webisode: Go Do Adventure in Montana

The new Ford Explorer takes Allison Edwards and Andria Lessler to the Mossbar Quarter Horse Ranch. They meet seasoned cowboy Trever Moss, who guides them deep into the wilderness to find the elusive wild herd in their natural habitat.

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 big time adventure ideas.

Submit your own entry here on Facebook! http://www.exlporergodo.com/

Scelzi 12' Contractor Body On 2011 Ford Gas F350

Paul Brown, Commercial/Fleet Manager at Larry Geweke Ford in Yuba City, CA shows us a new 2011 Ford F350 Gas chassis with a 12' Scelzi Contractor Body mounted on it. This unit just arrived and has a list of great features including an aluminum floor and gates, forklift loadable HD rack, upper and lower tool boxes, class IV receiver and much more.

Call Paul Brown at 530-682-7693 and visit their website at http://www.geweketrucks.com/.

(This unit is stock #32706 and vin #BEC26698 and is subject to prior sale.)

In Their Own Words -- Jack Roush

From the time Jack Roush graduated from college he has been associated with Ford Motor Co. and Ford Racing. Watch Jack talk about his first job at Ford and what his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers think about the man they affectionately call "The Cat in the Hat."

Ford Racing Action Motorsports

As a way to reach younger consumers and ignite their passion for its vehicles, Ford Motor Company is expanding its motorsports programs to encompass action sports, one of the most viewed sporting events today.

Nontraditional forms of motorsport -- drifting and rallycross, and stage rally and off-road truck racing among younger demographics -- have captured the fascination of many around the globe and are becoming the motorsports of choice for Millennials.

Ford Racing's involvement in action motorsports with drivers like Ken Block, Brian Deegan, Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr. and through the Octane Academy gives Ford Motor Company a high-profile place in the culture of action sports

2010 Invasion of the Bulls Sweepstakes Winners

Watch the 2010 Invasion of the Bulls finalists talk about their adventures in Las Vegas during the 2010 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough World Finals and see who walks away with a new F-Series Truck! Visit http://www.Invasionofthebulls.com and enter for your chance to become one of three lucky finalists this year at the 2011 World Finals!

*No purchase necessary. Contest ends 10/16/11

Ford “Blue Angels” Mustang Salutes 100 Years of U.S. Navy Aviation, Supports Education Program for Young Aviators

The engineering and design teams at Ford Motor Company have produced a truly unique “Blue Angels” edition 2012 Ford Mustang GT. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction Thursday, July 28, during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s greatest aviation celebration.

•Sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization

•Since 2006, Ford auction vehicles have collectively raised more than $1.3 million to support Young Eagles

•Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15, 2011 – The engineering and design teams at Ford Motor Company have produced a truly unique “Blue Angels” edition 2012 Ford Mustang GT. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction July 28, during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s greatest aviation celebration.

All proceeds from the car donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992 while also teaching the value of hard work, personal responsibility and enhanced math and science skills.

Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis.

“The precision, discipline and excitement that define the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight team are qualities we celebrate at Ford,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors. “With this year’s beautiful ‘Blue Angels’ edition Mustang GT, we’ve captured those qualities and paired them with the innovation Ford design and engineering team members build into all of our vehicles. Through this project, we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA and the Young Eagles organization.”

The Ford “Blue Angels” Mustang pays tribute to 100 years of naval aviation, which will be celebrated all week at AirVenture 2011 as part of the show’s Tier 1 event status from the U.S. Navy tied to its yearlong Centennial of Naval Aviation festivities. The car will be on display inside the Ford Hangar throughout EAA AirVenture.

The exterior of Ford’s “Blue Angels” Mustang GT was inspired by the acclaimed naval aviation performance demonstration team and the F-18 Hornet aircraft it flies. The car’s custom rear spoiler’s vertical tailfins, the “screaming yellow” gloss accents, inclusion of the Blue Angels script and crest all are drawn from the Navy aircraft. The unique chrome blue paint, courtesy of Creations n’ Chrome, is unlike anything available on a production vehicle anywhere in the world.

With the Blue Angels crest stitched into its leather Recaro racing seats, the car’s interior also features offset stripes inspired by pilot flight suits.

Additional unique details of the “Blue Angels” Mustang include cluster graphics, performance gauges, navigation screen images, safety belt fabric, instrument panel appliqués, rear seat-delete and cross-brace, Blue Angels script in the illuminated sill plates and puddle lamps that project jet images when the doors open.

Under the hood, the “Blue Angels” Mustang is all performance with a Ford Racing supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 624 horsepower. The Ford Racing components also include a handling pack, performance exhaust and racetrack brakes.

Mustang Chief Designer Darrell Behmer, Design Manager Melvin Betancourt and Chief Nameplate Engineer Dave Pericak lead the design and engineering teams that developed the “Blue Angels” Mustang.

The Young Eagles Auction is part of the EAA Gathering of Eagles at the EAA AirVenture Museum. The Gathering of Eagles annually draws more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts in support of Young Eagles and other EAA programs that inspire young people to become engineers, aviators, astronauts, scientists and innovators – the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.

“Ford is a longtime supporter of EAA and our mission to showcase the finest innovation and technology in flight,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA chairman/president and AirVenture chairman. “The high interest among aviators in the U.S. Navy and the ‘Blue Angels’ Mustang team will make this a very sought-after item and ensure EAA’s ability to do some amazing things for our future aviation enthusiasts.”

The “Blue Angels” edition joins three other one-of-a-kind Mustangs created by the Ford design and engineering teams for the EAA Young Eagles Auction in recent years, each generating excitement among aviation and automotive enthusiasts alike. Ford vehicles sold at auction during past EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised more than $1.3 million to support Young Eagles.

Other unique vehicles produced by Ford in support of EAA Young Eagles include the Mustang AV8R, with cues from the F-22 “Raptor,” which in 2008 helped introduce the glass-roof canopy and delivered a record auction contribution of $500,000. In 2009, Ford’s AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll” Mustang was crafted in honor of World War II aircraft. In 2010, two automotive icons – Carroll Shelby, formerly a U.S. Air Force flight instructor, and Jack Roush, a longtime P-51 pilot – collaborated for the first time to create the SR-71 “Blackbird” Mustang inspired by the legendary reconnaissance jet.

During EAA AirVenture, Ford also will offer attendees access to the latest advances in automobile technology at the Ford Hangar, as well as many of the industry’s most revered classics at the popular Cruisin’ Legends area on the grounds of Wittman Regional Airport. Ford activities include top-tier entertainment and interactive components that will add excitement for the hundreds of thousands of aviation fans in attendance.

To participate in the auction, candidates must prequalify by contacting Matt Miller in the EAA Development Office at (800) 236-1025 or by email, mmiller@eaa.org, by July 25. Visit www.AirVenture.org/gathering for more information.

To stay connected to all Ford EAA AirVenture news, connect with the Ford EAA AirVenture team on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/FordAirventure or visit http://www.fordairventure.com/.

For more information on EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, visit http://www.airventure.org/

Ford Octane Academy

Ford is taking action sports to the extreme with the launch of Octane Academy, a new consumer-focused program aimed at a younger, more diverse generation of action sports and race enthusiasts. The Ford Octane Academy will unite ultimate fans with their favorite Ford action sports driver -- Ken Block, Brian Deegan, Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr. -- for the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience the extreme excitement of performance driving.

All-New Ford Focus Starts Production In Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russian Federation, July, 18, 2011 – Production of the all-new Ford Focus began today at Ford's Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg, Russia.

The new Ford Focus will be assembled in Russia in all three body styles: four-door, five-door and wagon. The popular five-door door version began rolling off the assembly line today, while the four-door Focus and the wagon will go into production in September and January, respectively.

More than 5,000 Russian customers have already ordered a new Focus. Russian customers will be able to choose from four trim levels, 10 exterior colours and four engines (three petrol and one diesel).

Like Ford Focus customers around the world, Russian owners will enjoy the vehicle’s class-leading package of smart technologies, safety innovations, quality craftsmanship, excellent fuel economy, and world-class drive dynamics.

The Focus has been a popular vehicle in Russia since it first went on sale there in 1999. To date, more than 500,000 Ford Focus units have been sold in Russia.

More than 400,000 of these cars were built in the country at the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk, the first production facility owned by a global automotive company in Russia, and which started manufacturing the Ford Focus – the first car off its production lines – in August 2002.

Since then, during seven years the Ford Focus was the best selling foreign made car in Russia, including in 2010.

The start of all-new Ford Focus production in Russia commences on the same day as the first on-sale date for the Focus in South Africa

Ford Focus Milestones in Russia

2002 Russian production of the Focus begins at the Vsevolozhsk plant near St. Petersburg – the first car built by a global automotive company in Russia in the modern era

2003 Focus begins seven-year run as the best-selling foreign vehicle in Russia

2005 Second generation Ford Focus launched in Russia

2006 Ford Vsevolozhsk produces its 100,000th Russian-built Focus

2007 200 000th Focus built in Russia

2008 Major freshening of the Ford Focus in Europe

2009 Russian production of Focus reaches 300,000th units

2011 Vsevolozhsk Plant produces 400,000th Focus

2011 All-new Ford Focus goes into production on July 18

Ford Partners with Ken Block on Gymkhana World Tour

•In 2011 Ken Block is taking Gymkhana to the people with the inaugural Gymkhana World Tour featuring stops in Austria, Australia and the United States.
•Designed to bring the Gymkhana experience to a live audience, each GWT stop will be unique not only in its location but in the content and layout of the Gymkhana course.
•Out of each stop on the tour, Monster World Rally Team will create mini Gymkhana videos which will showcase the event.

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ken Block and the spectacle that is Gymkhana are synonymous. As summer rolls around, fans of Block’s over-the-top, on-the-edge driving style start to get their annual craving for a Gymkhana fix. Block’s Gymkhana THREE Part 2 has over 32.3 million views on YouTube since its release last September.

So what is Block doing for an encore to top the biggest Gymkhana ever?

He will take his Ford Fiesta and the Gymkhana party to the people with the inaugural Gymkhana World Tour featuring stops in Austria, Australia and the United States. Ford Motor Company is a partner of all the Gymkhana World Tour stops which will coincide with key competition dates for Block in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and at X Games 17.

"I'm really excited about my Gymkhana World Tour this summer. I'm delighted that Ford is continuing to support my love of Gymkhana in the way that they are,” said Block. “It's something that I really enjoy doing and the fans love it as well, so to have Ford on board as I go to do this sort of thing is amazing."

Designed to bring the Gymkhana experience to a live audience, each GWT stop will be unique, not only in its location but also in the content and layout of the Gymkhana course. Block will personally design the course and develop the Gymkhana routine.

Out of each stop on the tour, Monster World Rally Team will create mini Gymkhana videos which will showcase the event. The first GWT event will be on July 10 in Vienna, Austria. Ford of Europe is planning a two-day celebration (July 9-10) of Block’s auto antics with special displays and a Gymkhana festival. Thirty winners of a Ford of Europe Gymkhana promotion will get a chance to ride along with Block in the Gymkhana Fiesta. Ford of Europe is also offering up 43 limited edition Monster Fiestas to consumers as part of the event.

Gymkhana World Tour Stop 2 will be in the United States on July 23, the weekend prior to X Games 17. The event will be held at Dodger Stadium in an elevated area overlooking down town Los Angeles. A limited number of tickets will be available to the public. The event will kick off a big week of build up for Ford, Block and the Monster World Rally Team culminating in Fiesta’s quest for a three-peat at X Games and the unveil of a major national consumer promotion which will involve Ford Racing’s action motorsports programme.

The final stop in Australia will be held the week prior to the Rally Australia at Calder Park in Melbourne on September 2-3. While in Australia Block will be busy not only with his GWT event but he plans to visit both Ford plants in Victoria to meet Ford employees. He will also get an opportunity to drive a V8 Supercar as well as meet fellow Monster athlete, surfer Tyler Wright, who will get a chance to ride along with Block at the GWT event.

“What started out as an opportunity for Ken to go out and apply his skills in Gymkhana has now evolved into a worldwide phenomena that has garnered over 70 million views on YouTube and now has become a world tour,” said Jamie Allison, Director Ford North America Motorsports. “We are thrilled and excited because it is Ken showcasing to the world our global platform, Ford Fiesta, and just how fun Ford cars are to drive.”

“Ford Australia is delighted and proud to welcome Ken and his team 'Down Under' for what promises to be a very exciting display and never before seen in our part of the world,” said Chris Styring, Group Manager – Motorsport, Sponsorship, Events

Ford Motor Company of Australia. “Ken’s show will no doubt appeal to both our male and female customers and demonstrate some of the fantastic performance attributes of the Fiesta.”

For more details and updates on Gymkhana World Tour follow Ken Block and Ford Racing on Facebook or go to MonsterWorldRallyTeam.com.

Ford Puts Blind Drivers Behind the Wheel

Ford Helps Prevent Fuel Theft as Reports of Illegal Gas Siphoning Increase Along with Price at the Pump

•Ford-exclusive Easy Fuel® (capless fuel filler) system deters fuel thieves from siphoning gas with a unique mis-fueling inhibitor
•Inlet check valve reduces the chances of fuel theft by automatically closing after the fueling process
•Reports of gasoline theft have been rising across the United States; some cities warning residents about the thefts attributed to the increase in fuel prices

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2011 – The only thing worse than paying more for gasoline is paying more for gasoline and having it stolen out of your gas tank. As reports of fuel theft continue to rise, Ford owners can feel a little more secure knowing their vehicles have fuel system innovations such as the Easy Fuel® (capless fuel filler) feature.

The Ford Easy Fuel feature is designed to easily let fuel in and make it difficult to get fuel out.

That’s important as gas prices hover at the $4 per gallon mark, and demand remains high with drivers in the United States consuming about 400 million gallons of gas daily.

“Our first goal is to make the refueling process as easy and trouble-free for the customer as possible,” said Brian Aitken, supervisor, Fuel Systems. “But if it also slows down would-be thieves. Ford customers benefit that way as well.”

Reports of gasoline theft have been rising across the United States, from New Jersey to California. The West Sacramento, Calif., Police Department, for example, issued a warning to residents about a rise in fuel theft that it attributed to the increase in fuel prices.

One report from Atlanta centered on a man who was caught running a garden hose from his house to a nearby car he didn’t own.

“It’s not a shock that illegal siphoning is rising with the sharp increase in the price at the pump,” said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, an independent website that monitors the fuel industry. “Criminals will do anything for money, and that includes trying to take liquid gold out of your gas tank.”

Ford’s capless full filler deters gas theft two different ways. With Easy Fuel, a spring-loaded flapper door is held closed by latches that can only be released by a standard-size fuel nozzle. This eliminates the need for a fuel tank screw cap. When the proper nozzle is inserted into the filler neck of the system, the latches release, and the nozzle pushes the spring-loaded flapper door to the open position. When the nozzle is removed, the flapper door automatically is forced closed by the spring.

Easy Fuel has a unique mis-fueling inhibitor to reduce improper refueling and siphoning. The inhibitor consists of a fuel nozzle detector that guides the nozzle to the opening. If a nozzle or foreign tube of a different size – a diesel nozzle or plastic hose, for example – is placed in the filler neck of a gasoline-powered vehicle, the latches will not release.

“Unless they understand how the mis-fueling inhibitor works and come prepared, many would-be fuel thieves are unsuccessful in siphoning fuel from Ford vehicles,” said Aitken.

Another deterrent in Ford vehicles is associated with the on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system. The main purpose of the system is to prevent vapors from escaping during the fueling process. Another deterrent in Ford vehicles is an inlet check valve that is part of the on-board refueling vapor recovery system. While the valve is primarily designed to prevent vapors from escaping during the fueling process, it also can thwart siphoning efforts because it closes automatically after the fueling process. It does so by detecting the pressure of liquid fuel as it passes. On many Ford vehicles, this valve will thwart the siphoning effort by thieves.


Still, Aitken said that despite the fact that technologies built into Ford vehicles may prevent siphoning, not all fuel thieves will be deterred.

“For another level of deterrence, a customer can purchase a locking cover,” Aitken said. The locking covers are available for purchase from Ford and Lincoln dealers

Ford Hits Hatchback Sweet Spot

•Rise in hatchback popularity in the U.S. may signal lasting market acceptance shift
•Approximately 50 percent of 2011 Ford Fiesta vehicles now being sold in the U.S. are hatchback models; 41 percent of the all-new 2012 Ford Focus sales are hatchbacks
•Ford is the only full-line vehicle manufacturer to offer both sedan and hatchback versions of its small B- and C-car lineup in America
•In addition to more cargo space, both vehicles offer impressive fuel economy and deliver unto 40 mpg

DEARBORN, Mich., July 11, 2011 – Customers seeking more versatile vehicles with better fuel economy are finding what they’re looking for in hatchbacks and U.S. sales of these popular five-door cars continues to skyrocket.

It’s a trend reflected in sales of two of Ford’s hottest-selling cars. Approximately 50 percent of retail sales of the 2011 Fiesta have been for hatchbacks. On the market for just a few months, 41 percent of retail sales for the all-new 2012 Focus have been for the hatchback – a number Ford expects to continue rising.

“The hatchback is hitting an unmet need for versatility as people continue to downsize their vehicles,” said Paul Russell, Focus brand manager. “No other competitor in the top-five of total market share offers a hatchback option in the small car segment.”

The total number of hatchbacks available in the U.S. market increased 63 percent between model years 2006 and 2010, going from 291,853 to 475,048, according to Ward’s Auto World data.

“American car buyers have become appreciative of the convenience and flexibility that hatchback bodystyles offer after years of owning SUVs and crossovers,” said George Pipas, Ford sales analyst. “Combined with the generation of younger drivers who have been exposed to popular high-performance hatchback offerings in Europe and Asia, we may be seeing the beginning of a shift in buyer acceptance of hatchbacks.”

Unsure of how the market would react to new hatchback offerings, Ford prepared itself by investing in flexible plant capacity. This flexibility ensures Ford is able to react quickly to changing tastes, providing a vehicle mix – hatchback or sedan, base model or fully loaded Titanium – to serve varied customer demands.

Hatchbacks for space and fuel efficiency
Today’s hatchbacks offer more cargo space than sedans. The five-door Focus hatchback provides an additional 10.6 cubic feet compared with the sedan model and features a wide cargo opening and fold-flat load floor.

The Focus delivers up to 40 mpg on the highway. Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com recommended the 2012 Focus hatchback as a ride that’s fit for students who long for the open road, due in part to the extra cargo room afforded by the hatchback design.

The five-door Fiesta hatchback also brings additional cargo room to the table, providing 15.4 cubic feet of space.

“Our fun, vibrant Fiesta customers like the versatility of the hatchback’s access to cargo both inside and outside the vehicle,” said Sherryl Brightwell, Fiesta brand manager. “The additional square footage allows the on-the-go customer the ability to maximize cargo space when needed.”

The hatchback Fiesta is styled to have a “sporty, Euro-racing” feel, along with impressive fuel economy that delivers up to 40 mpg.

Hatchbacks for style and technology
Ford Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks offer more than additional space.

The all-new 2012 Ford Focus redefines the small car category with impressive fuel economy, distinctive design and strong driving dynamics. Focus offers class-exclusive technologies and first-to-market features such as hands-free SYNC®, MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology, push-button start, six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, heated and leather-trimmed seats and active park assist.

The Fiesta offers a vibrant, expressive design and a global track record that redefines small car expectations for customers along with 15 class-exclusive technologies and features.

The Ford Fiesta and Focus recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 list.

Combined sales for the Fiesta and Focus in June were 26,920, up 66 percent from June 2010. Fiesta sales were 5,535 and Focus sales were 21,385, up 41 percent from the prior June – making it the best-selling Ford car of the month

Sustainability Seals the Deal: Ford Recycles Tires and Soybean Oil in the Engine Compartment

•Ford and Recycled Polymeric Materials (RPM) have teamed up to deliver environmentally friendly gaskets and seals made from recycled tires and bio-renewable content such as soy

•More than 2.2 million pounds of rubber from recycled tires has been made into seals and gaskets and more than 210,000 used tires have been recycled. 150,000 pounds of soy has been used to create the materials

•The gaskets and seals are featured on 11 2011-model-year Ford Motor Company vehicles, including F-150, Escape, Mustang, Focus and Fiesta

Ford's use of recycled tires and soy oil on engine gaskets have helped increase the company's use of sustainable materials on 11 vehicles.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 12, 2011 – Ford and Recycled Polymeric Materials (RPM) have found a way to put discarded tires to good use. By combining recycled tires with bio-renewable content, they are delivering environmentally friendly seals and gaskets for Ford Motor Company vehicles.

The gaskets and seals are derived from 25 percent post-consumer, recycled tire particulate and 17 percent bio-renewable content from soy.

In total, more than 2.2 million pounds of rubber from recycled tires has been made into RPM seals and gaskets and more than 210,000 used tires have been recycled. Additionally, 150,000 pounds of soy has been used to create the materials.

The seals also offer a weight savings, with more than 1,675 tons of weight removed from Ford vehicles on the road.

“When it comes to finding a way to use more renewable and recyclable content, Ford and our suppliers are looking at every part of a vehicle,” said Dr. Cynthia Flanigan, technical leader, Research and Innovation. “As long as an application meets our strict quality and performance standards, we’ll strive to get these sustainable materials on our vehicles."

The sustainable gaskets were first introduced to Ford in 2008, and have now expanded to include 11 vehicles.

Ford Motor Company vehicles that feature the sustainable seals and gaskets include:

•Ford Escape
•Ford F-150
•Ford F-250
•Ford F-350
•Ford Fiesta
•Ford Flex
•Ford Focus
•Ford Mustang
•Ford Taurus
•Ford Transit Connect
•Lincoln MKS

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 recycled plastics and bio-based materials whenever possible, provided these materials are environmentally favorable and meet all durability and performance requirements. Examples include soy foam seat cushions, wheat straw-filled plastic, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

“Our team continues to develop new technologies that reduce our environmental footprint,” said Dr. Debbie Mielewski, technical leader, Plastics. “We have already been successful in incorporating soy foam seats on all North American vehicles and are actively expanding the research front into a variety of new plastics and rubber areas.”

Road to X Games: Brian Deegan

The Metal Mulisha's own Brian Deegan talks about X Games, his Ford Fiesta and more in the latest installment of The Road to X Games.

Brian Deegan: Tearing it up with Raptor and Ranger

XGames star and Metal Mulisha General Brian Deegan on Truck Racing in the Lucas Offroad Racing Series (Ford Raptor and Ranger) and where his future is headed.

Ford Sweeps Lucas Pro Truck Racing Pro-2

Stronghold Motorsports' Rob "Fig" Naughton and Jeremy McGrath and Rodrigo Ampudia drive Ford power to a sweep fo the Pro 2 Unlimited class finish at Miller Motorsports Park, Utah. Brian Deegan was fifth as Ford dominated the main event.

Art of Elysium Boss 302 Workshop

The Art of Elysium is an organization that bridges the gap between the artistic community and hospitalized children, giving children the opportunity to express themselves through creative workshops. Watch as Ford partners with Art of Elysium to turn the Boss 302 into the centerpiece of their artwork.

SYNC Services and Fantasy Baseball

Dave Gersabeck demonstrates how to find the hottest players in Fantasy Baseball using SYNC Services.

Forward with Ford Media Event

Lifestyle journalists, photographers and bloggers were invited to Ford to experience Ford vehicles first hand. Here's some of the fun they had at Ford's test track

Testing in France

Follow the team on http://www.facebook.com/FordWRC

The Ford Abu Dhabi team is in France testing the Fiesta RS WRC in asphalt set-up, ahead of the big tarmac rallies later this year.

It's the début too of the Fiesta as Black Mean Machine - the stunning new black test livery for the car.

We go into the Vosges Mountains in Alsace to talk to the key people involved in the test, including Jari-Matti Latvala....

Declaration of Independence Reading at Sycamore Shoals July 4, 1776

LivingHisorySites.com brings you a reenactment of the news of the Declaration of Independence being read on the western frontier, during the Revolutionary War era. How did the fiercely independent frontiersmen deal with the drastic news of the day? Filmed by Living History Sites entirely on location on July 4, 2009, at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, TN.

Webisode: Go Do Adventure in Minnesota

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

Watch Go Do Adventure #2: a journey that can only be described as game-changing.

Ford Triumphs at Global Rallycross Round 3 - Highlights

Over two days of competition, Team Ford claimed back-to-back victories in SuperRally and RallyCross at Round 3 of the Global Rallycross Championship in Colorado. This is just the beginning of the Road to X Games. Featuring Top Gear host Tanner Foust, WRC Champion Marcus Grönholm and the Metal Mulisha's Brian Deegan

What Do Ford Motor Company and video games have in common?

Brian McClary from Ford talks about what the company is doing to work with the gaming community and how it impacts how Ford markets its vehicles.