2013 Ford Focus -- #FordAnd

A young woman gets ready to hit the road in her new Focus. Her Focus is fun to drive, which means she can take her nieces out to a movie and hang with her girls and take the scenic route and wash the Focus with her friends and redefine "speed dating." Only Ford gives her EcoBoost fuel economy AND a whole lot more. That's why Ford is an AND company.

Thermal Imaging Technology Used to Hunt Criminals Helps Ford Detect Air Leaks, Design Quieter Vehicles

• For the first time in the auto industry, technology used by military and law enforcement to catch hard-to-find bad guys is now being used by Ford engineers to better identify air leaks and help improve interior quietness in vehicles

• Interior quietness is key in consumers’ overall perception of vehicle quality; internal Ford data indicate customers are more satisfied with the interior quietness of the new Ford Fusion compared to the Toyota Camry

• Leaks from vulnerable areas in a vehicle, including moonroofs, window glass and door trim, create points for the entrance of air, water and noise; Ford data show new Fusion has fewer leaks and road noise issues than Toyota Camry

DEARBORN, Mich., June 28, 2013 – Ford engineers are pioneering thermal imaging technology – similar to what law enforcement agents use to track down criminals – to find and eliminate air leaks in vehicle cabins. The result is less wind noise and a quieter ride, which is key to customer satisfaction with vehicle quality.

 

Thermal imaging is the use of cameras to photograph heat in the environment. Thermal imaging cameras capture the radiation present that appears as an infrared image. In Ford tests, air leaks show up as hot spots when heated air escapes a vehicle.

 

Data from Ford’s U.S. Global Quality Research System show the 2013 Ford Fusion earned a 67 percent approval rating for interior quietness compared to 58 percent for the 2012 Toyota Camry.

 

Fusion data were for the first quarter of 2013, compared to full-year 2012 data for the Toyota Camry, which did not receive major updates for 2013. The 2013 first-quarter study, conducted for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., asked owners of all major makes and models to comment on troubles and rate their overall satisfaction with their three-month-old vehicles.

 

“Ford is redefining our vehicles through many innovations – both features to improve the driving experience and fuel economy, and advanced new tools to help engineer better vehicles,” said William Dedecker, noise, vibration and harshness engineering supervisor. “We are using thermal imaging to further improve quietness so customers can enjoy the other features our vehicles offer, such as audio systems… and even the sounds of silence.”

 

Thermal imaging technology allows police to see through bushes and into dark alleys. While a bad guy hiding at night might not be visible to the eye, a thermal image of the area will show his body heat and allow law enforcement to move in.

 

Ford engineers, inspired by energy companies that use thermal imaging to find air leaks in houses, employ the technology to see air leaking out of a vehicle. Engineers heat the air inside a vehicle’s cabin, then take thermal images to actually see the location from which warm air is escaping. This allows them to test different ways to contain air, through changes in design and insulating materials.

 

“We are the first automaker to use this technology to track air leaks,” said John Crisi, Ford NVH engineer. “It’s an example of the innovative methods we use so our customers have a more pleasant driving experience. Our cameras can detect tiny holes and openings we could not otherwise identify.”

 

Closing escape routes

In addition to reducing noise, sealing air leaks increases heating and cooling efficiency by reducing energy loss, similar to how sealing a home prevents leaks of heated air in the winter and cooled air in the summer.

 

Before this technology, Ford engineers relied on sensory findings to prevent air leaks. They would fill the car with smoke, then watch for the smoke to exit from small holes. They would walk around the vehicle and feel for air leakage. And they would use nonmedical stethoscopes to try to hear air leaking from the cabin, a method they still rely on to some extent.

 

While successful, these approaches were not as consistent. With the use of thermal imaging, engineers can speed up development time by finding results at a faster rate.

 

Engineers have identified several key areas that are vulnerable to air leaks and letting noise into a vehicle, including moonroofs, window glass, door trim, the trunk lid and liftgate, doors and the base of the windshield.

 

“Wind noise is something a driver can really sense in a negative way while driving,” Crisi explained. “By using thermal imaging technology, Ford can provide a smoother and quieter ride for our customers.”

All-New 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor Is World's First EcoBoost-Powered Sport Truck

014 Ford F-150 Tremor comes standard with the company’s powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine, offering V8 performance, V6 fuel economy and a launch-optimized 4.10 rear axle with electronic locking differential

• Short-wheelbase, regular-cab Tremor offers stylish FX Appearance Package and functional features that include a floor shifter, class-exclusive HID headlamps and standard SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® connectivity system

• All-new truck’s distinctive looks are complemented by unique boxside Tremor graphics and custom-inspired interior

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 27, 2013 – The 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor is the first-ever EcoBoost^®-powered sport truck that addresses the needs of street truck enthusiasts looking for high-performance V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

 

The short-wheelbase, regular-cab Tremor goes on sale this fall delivering distinctive looks and performance. The all-new truck couples the style of the FX Appearance Package with an EcoBoost engine and a launch-optimized 4.10 rear axle – the shortest final drive ratio offered in an EcoBoost F-150 – helping provide customers with fast acceleration.

 

Tremor signals its sport truck capabilities with a custom-inspired FX Appearance Package featuring stealthy, flat-black accents that include unique 20-inch flat-black wheels, stylized bodyside graphics and black badges with red lettering.

 

Tremor is the only regular-cab F-150 offering a flow-through center console and bucket seats. Interior touches include black leather seating surfaces with red piping, brushed-metal accents and a red-stitched steering wheel. Alcantara seat inserts add texture and style as well.

 

“The new Tremor gives F-150 customers yet another option to drive a highly capable, distinctive performance truck with features typically found only in the aftermarket,” said Brian Bell, F-150 product marketing manager. “Plus, the Built Ford Tough EcoBoost engine is available for the first time in a short-wheelbase F-150.”

 

F-150 Tremor is powered exclusively by Ford’s groundbreaking 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, which features:

 

• 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel
• 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm
• Twin independent variable camshaft timing for improved performance and fuel economy
• Up to 90 percent peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm

An electronic locking rear differential that’s standard for both two- and four-wheel-drive versions helps deliver the power to the pavement by improving traction during takeoff.

 

Connectivity comes standard on F-150 Tremor with MyFord Touch^® powered by SYNC^®. Designers have optimized the physical interface for MyFord Touch to accommodate truck users who may be wearing work gloves by providing easy access to climate controls and audio presets on the center stack.

Explorer - Terrain Management System™

 

The Terrain Management System™ is included with the available Intelligent 4WD System and lets you easily shift on the fly into one of four settings to match the terrain:

• Normal - biases torque to the front wheels and sends it to the rear only as needed
• Mud/Ruts - switches the throttle to a more aggressive mode, limits upshifting and desensitizes stability control, allowing the tires to spin as needed
• Sand - delivers maximum torque to the wheels, keeping the transmission in the lower gears for as long as possible, which allows the wheels to spin aggressively
• Grass/Gravel/Snow - sets the transmission for faster upshifts and adjusts the engine torque slightly to improve traction and control on a hard surface covered with loose material like grass, gravel or snow

'Opening the Highways' Artwork Restored as Ford Builds on Century-Plus Legacy of Mobility Leadership

• “Opening the Highways” Ford advertisement first printed in 1925 still used to summarize company’s vision for automotive leadership

• Ford and The Henry Ford work together to restore historic painting used in the ad

• Restored painting and ad unveiled in Henry Ford Museum’s “Driving America” exhibit

 

For more information, please visit the Opening the Highways mini-site.

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 24, 2013 – A nearly 90-year-old advertisement that propelled Ford Motor Company’s vision for putting the world on wheels and recently helped transform the company from survival to profitable growth has a fresh face.

 

The “Opening the Highways to All Mankind” advertisement originally was placed in the Saturday Evening Post on Jan. 24, 1925. It detailed Henry Ford’s original vision of providing affordable, safe transportation to everyone.

 

In 2007, the ad came to the attention of Ford CEO and President Alan Mulally and other senior leaders. After years of declining sales and profits and in the face of a looming financial crisis, the company once again used the ad as a vision for its transformation from survival to profitable growth.

 

The ad came to signify a compelling vision for the company and its employees as they implemented the One Ford plan, which involves aggressively restructuring, accelerating the development of new products, strengthening the balance sheet and leveraging global assets.

 

“Henry Ford was talking about one Ford, one plan, one team and working together – and that is exactly our One Ford plan,” said Mulally. “We are using this same vision to Go Further today in developing high-quality, fuel-efficient, safe and smart products that customers want and value – and that are affordable – so that we can continue opening up the highways to all mankind.”

 

 

The image in the ad shows a family overlooking a hilly landscape dotted with cars and Ford manufacturing facilities in the background. The text details Ford’s vision for extending safe and efficient transportation to everyone through an efficient organization committed to profitable growth, continuous improvement and service to customers.

 

Until mid-2012, the painting used to create the 1925 advertisement had been virtually unseen.

 

Titled “Visions of Tomorrow,” the painting was in storage at The Henry Ford, a history museum complex in Dearborn, Mich., that collaborates in a unique partnership with Ford Motor Company to preserve America’s and Ford’s rich heritage. The Henry Ford led restoration of the painting and a paper print of the ad, supported by a grant from Ford Motor Company Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm.

 

Mulally and The Henry Ford’s President Patricia Mooradian unveiled the restored painting today at the Henry Ford Museum. The painting is highlighted in a new addition to the museum’s “Driving America” exhibit.

 

“The painting itself is very representative of the story we tell in the ‘Driving America’ exhibit every day,” said Mooradian. “It’s the story of how the automobile has changed the American landscape, and made our lives easier along the way. We are very thankful of our partnership with Ford Motor Company and the Ford Motor Company Fund for helping us make sure that this painting continues to inspire visitors for years to come.”

 

The restoration of the painting also is tied to a series of events commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the company founder’s birth this year.

Ford Explorer - 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost® Engine

The EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine combines two different technologies -- turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT) -- to deliver the performance of a V6 engine.

Ford Skyrockets to Second Greenest Brand in the World

Ford shot up 13 spots in a new report ranking companies largely on public perception of a brand’s sustainable or green practices to become the second greenest brand in the world. Bolstered by the popularity of products such as its EcoBoost^® engines, Ford is No. 2 on the 2013 Best Global Brands Report released Wednesday by consulting firm Interbrand. “In 2012, Ford (#2) moved sustainability from the periphery to the center of its business strategy,” the annual report states. More details about Ford’s ranking, along with the entire report can be found here.

 

Business Preferred Network

With a range of efficient solutions to choose from, sometimes it can be difficult to decide which vehicle is best for you or your business. That's where the Business Preferred Network comes in -- to help commercial truck customers find the right fit for the right job.

Where It All Started: The Mustang 1 Concept - Ford Mustang Countdown

It¹s the early 1960s and America is changing; new music, new movies and new young drivers looking for a different kind of ride. Ford realizes it must change with the times. Two years before the launch of the car that would become a worldwide sensation, the first concept car bearing the Mustang name emerges from the Ford design studios.

The entire Mustang project was code-named ³Allegro² since many of the engineers and designers working on the concept are musicians. In order to keep the true nature of the project under wraps, they use musical terms as a code. While the diminutive, two-seat sports car doesn¹t make it to production in concept form, a number of design cues do along with the Mustang name.

Taking Green to Manufacturing

When it comes to reducing the impact of climate change, Ford has taken steps to improve our efficiency on the road by creating a lineup of alternative fuel vehicles. But we've also taken steps to improve our efficiency at home, by making our manufacturing facilities greener than ever.

Thinking Environment with EcoBoost® Technology

At Ford, we build for the future by seeing value in the past -- finding ways to reuse and recycle used materials. We take pop bottles, break them down and spin them into fabric we use in our seats. We also look for environmentally conscious solutions to make our vehicles lighter and more efficient and create groundbreaking engine technology, such as EcoBoost.® It gives you all the power you need for the job but with the efficiency of a smaller engine.

SYNC and MyFord Touch Sold on 79 Percent of New Ford Vehicles, New Technology Drives Quality Satisfaction

• SYNC^® and MyFord Touch^® sold on nearly 80 percent of 2013 Ford vehicles, double the sales mix of infotainment systems sold with Toyota and Honda vehicles, and up from 68 percent in 2012; MyFord Touch mix of 55 percent increased from 12 percent in 2012

• Customers with vehicles equipped with MyFord Touch have a higher rate of satisfaction with overall vehicle quality for most models compared to those that do not have the advanced infotainment system

• Ford customers cite voice command and touch screen features as top purchase drivers much more often than competitors; Ford Escape owners prioritize them twice as much as the segment average

• Ford improves MyFord Touch quality by more than 50 percent since launch, plans another upgrade in summer 2013

DEARBORN, Mich., June 17, 2013 – Ford SYNC^® voice-controlled connectivity and MyFord Touch^® touch screen technologies are attracting more customers and selling at a much higher rate than competitors, as MyFord Touch helps drive higher customer satisfaction with vehicle quality.

 

Combined, SYNC and MyFord Touch are sold on 79 percent of new 2013 Ford vehicles, double the rate of Toyota and Honda vehicle infotainment systems and up from 68 percent in 2012. This includes a MyFord Touch mix of 55 percent from 12 percent in 2012.

 

SYNC and MyFord Touch connectivity technologies – launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively – remain a competitive advantage as customers cite voice control and touch screens as top purchase drivers much more often than competitors. For example, 53 percent of 2013 Ford Escape owners say the touch screen is a top purchase reason compared to a 22 percent segment average.

 

“Ford has launched 60 new technologies the past few years and they are helping attract many new customers in important markets such as the coasts,” says Raj Nair, group vice president, global product development. “SYNC and MyFord Touch are key parts of our innovation strategy, and not only bring more new customers to our brand, but help deliver higher satisfaction with overall vehicle quality.”

 

Ford vehicles with MyFord Touch are helping improve perceptions as customers who own vehicles with the system are more satisfied with overall vehicle quality compared to those who don’t have the technology. The Ford F-150 with MyFord Touch has the highest rate of quality satisfaction across the Ford lineup, at 86 percent.

 

F-150 blends touch screen capability with traditional buttons and knobs, a similar balance planned for future Ford vehicles.

 

Young buyer connections

The innovations also are attracting younger buyers. For example, the new 2014 Ford Fiesta will now offer MyFord Touch, adding to other features such as a navigation system, rear camera, leather seats and a sunroof not available in the segment.

 

Fiesta already is drawing a younger audience of 46 percent Gen Y and Gen X buyers, compared to Toyota and Scion’s 36 percent subcompact average. Fiesta innovations are differentiating the car as SYNC is cited as an important purchase reason by 54 percent of buyers compared to a 37 percent average for Toyota’s connectivity technology.

 

Quality progress

Ford continues to refine SYNC and MyFord Touch, including another downloadable upgrade planned for this summer. Previous upgrades already have helped improve quality responses by more than 50 percent.

 

“We are committed to listening to our customers and improving MyFord Touch to keep drawing in new customers and increasing satisfaction with even higher quality,” says Nair.

 

Ford’s dealership personnel and dedicated connectivity customer service line also have become competitive advantages in an era of new automotive technologies. Customers who seek dealership assistance with SYNC or MyFord Touch report a 91 percent satisfaction rate.

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

• The 2013 Ford F-150 beat five competitors, including 2014 model trucks, in head-to-head tests conducted by PickupTrucks.com and Popular Mechanics

• F-150 recognized for its leading capability and performance

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 17, 2013 – The Ford F-150 has been named winner of the 2013 Light-Duty Challenge by the editors of PickupTrucks.com and Popular Mechanics Magazine.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Ford Using Robots to Improve “Built Ford Tough” Durability Testing of its Trucks

• Ford is first automaker to develop robotic technology that drives vehicles during new accelerated high-impact on-road and off-road durability testing

• Robotically driven vehicles ideally suited for durability test conditions that could prove too taxing for human drivers

• New technology used to ensure Ford trucks, including the all-new Transit van family, are Built Ford Tough

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 15, 2013 – Ford engineers have developed the industry’s first robotic test driving program – now in use at the company’s Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Mich. – to meet demands that Ford trucks undergo ever more strenuous Built Ford Tough testing with greater frequency.

 

The pilot program has been used most recently for durability testing of Ford’s all-new full-size Transit van, which launches in 2014.

 

“Some of the tests we do on our commercial trucks for North America are so strenuous that we limit the exposure time for human drivers,” says Dave Payne, manager, vehicle development operations. “The challenge is completing testing to meet vehicle development time lines while keeping our drivers comfortable.

 

“Robotic testing allows us to do both,” he says. “We accelerate durability testing while simultaneously increasing the productivity of our other programs by redeploying drivers to those areas, such as noise level and vehicle dynamics testing.”

 

The durability technology includes a robotic control module installed in the test vehicle that controls vehicle steering, acceleration and braking. The module is set to follow a preprogrammed course, and the vehicle’s position is tracked via cameras in a central control room and GPS accurate to plus/minus one inch. Should the vehicle stray from its programmed course, engineers have the ability to stop the vehicle, course correct as necessary, and restart the test. Onboard sensors can command a full stop if a pedestrian or another vehicle strays into the path.

 

The robotically driven vehicles are expected to repeatedly perform tests on torturous surfaces with names like Silver Creek, Power Hop Hill and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The tests can compress 10 years of daily driving abuse into courses just a few hundred yards long, with surfaces that include broken concrete, cobblestones, metal grates, rough gravel, mud pits and oversized speed bumps.

 

All North American Ford trucks must pass this battery of durability tests before they’re certified for customer use. Until now, testing speeds and repetitions for specific scenarios were limited due to restrictions placed on human drivers, who were allowed to drive certain rigorous courses only once a day.

 

The use of robots now accelerates this testing, allowing an unlimited number of repeats until Ford engineers are satisfied with the results. Robots also allow Ford to develop even more challenging durability tests to build tougher trucks.

 

Ford engineers worked with Utah-based Autonomous Solutions Inc. to design and manufacture the software and components that enable autonomous, robotic operation of the test vehicle.

 

“We’re very excited to work with Ford for autonomous vehicle testing,” said Mel Torrie, CEO of Autonomous Solutions Inc. “The reliability, durability and performance enhancements we’ve developed with Ford will not only help them reach their safety and accuracy goals, but will also improve vehicle automation in other areas such as mining, agriculture and the U.S. military.”

 

Ford engineers designed and deployed the robotic technology with two goals in mind: protecting human drivers and engineering Ford trucks to be tougher than ever.

 

“The goal here was not to develop a truly autonomous vehicle that can drive itself on city streets,” said Payne. “Our objective was to create a test track solution that allows for this type of intense testing that could take our vehicles to the most extreme limits of their engineering while ensuring the safety of all involved.”

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

• Ford releases 14^th annual Sustainability Report highlighting all things sustainable, including a 37 percent per vehicle drop in CO₂ emission levels at global facilities between 2000 and 2012; a 30 percent reduction is planned between 2010 and 2025

• Ford’s sustainability efforts strengthened by strong product line, including giving customers six electrified vehicle choices: Fusion Hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid; Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrids; and Focus Electric

• Other report highlights include continued progress in social issues such as training 325 suppliers in sustainability management in 2012 as part of Ford’s Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 14, 2013 – Ford Motor Company cut CO₂ emissions at its global facilities by 37 percent per vehicle between 2000 and 2012 and plans for a 30 percent reduction from 2010 to 2025 by addressing everything from new products and technologies to manufacturing processes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ford issued its first voluntary sustainability report in 1999 as a way to summarize and report on the company’s initiatives regarding social, economic and environmental issues. Like Ford’s sustainability-related processes and results, the report has evolved – from a printed booklet similar to an annual report, to being so detailed and comprehensive today that it requires an entire website, which can be found here.

 

CO₂…

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

…And beyond CO₂

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

 

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

Ford Alternative Fuel Solutions

When it comes to climate change, Ford is offering solutions that can help customers improve their carbon footprint and their bottom line. It starts with creating a no-compromise range of efficient, alternative fuel vehicles. From electric cars, to hybrids, to natural gas-powered commercial trucks, Ford is committed to delivering the right vehicle for the right job while, most importantly, doing right by our planet.

Ford Goes Electric

Ford has five vehicles that run on electric technology. It's part of our strategy to make cars that last when it comes to efficiency on the road and to create a lasting impact on our earth -- doing our share to reduce the impacts of climate change. It's also about building a range of electric vehicles, from all-electric to plug-in hybrids, that fit the needs of each customer.

Cleaning Up with Natural Gas

The same type of gas you use to cook a pot of spaghetti in your home can also be a safe, clean and every bit as capable a solution for your vehicle. And, according to current national averages, a cheaper solution. Ford is already taking steps toward a future where we rely less on petroleum vehicles and more on vehicles that run on natural gas and other alternative fuels.

Ford Mustang Adds to Nearly 3,000 Credits with Leading Hero Car Role in Upcoming ‘Need for Speed’ Movie

• A one-of-a-kind, customized Ford Mustang plays a prominent role in the upcoming film from DreamWorks Studios, “Need for Speed,” based on the long-running video game series

• Mustang fans have crowd-sourced a list of about 3,000 Ford Mustang appearances on the large and small screen over nearly five decades

• Mustang made its silver screen debut in the 1964 James Bond film “Goldfinger” just months after its launch

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2013 – From appearances in James Bond’s “Goldfinger” to Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” and now “Need for Speed,” the Ford Mustang has had one of the most prolific entertainment careers, with appearances in nearly 3,000 feature films and TV shows and a global fan following.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Leading roles

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

 

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

 

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

 

Back to the silver screen in 2014

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

50 years of Mustang

The Ford Mustang is about to become the newest member of a very exclusive club – vehicles in continuous production for 50 years. In its first 49 years of production, Mustang has gained a worldwide base of avid fans, including more than 5 million on Facebook, the most of any vehicle nameplate. Mustang’s unique combination of style, performance and affordability established an entirely new class of sporty cars, and it has led the segment ever since.

 

Over the past 49 years each of the more than 9.2 million Mustangs produced has been built in America, most of them close to Ford’s home base in Dearborn, Mich. From the racetrack to the silver screen to the airwaves, Mustang has become an enduring part of pop culture.

 

The 2014 Ford Mustang is built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

Ford Motor Company Fund Opens New Center in Southwest Detroit, Creates Unique Community Hub in Key Neighborhood

• Ford Motor Company Fund opened a new community center to support the rebuilding of Detroit and a growing neighborhood in the city

• New Ford Resource and Engagement Center in southwest Detroit is providing a community gathering space for residents to develop new talents, learn new skills and obtain needed services

• The new center is the focal point of a unique partnership that builds on support from the city of Detroit and brings together divergent organizations in support of a vital community

DETROIT, June 7, 2013 – Ford Motor Company Fund today opened a new community center – the Ford Resource and Engagement Center – in southwest Detroit to strengthen a key city neighborhood and offer diverse cultural and community programs provided by nonprofits with the support of the Fund.

 

Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing were on hand to open the doors of the new center and participate in the community celebration.

 

In an unusual move by a corporate foundation, Ford Fund is overseeing management of the new center and funding physical upgrades, maintenance and all operating costs for the building, which is under long-term lease.

 

“Next month we mark the 150th birthday of Henry Ford, whose unique vision not only made personal transportation affordable, but left a lasting impact on communities where his employees and customers lived,” says Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford Motor Company has been making investments in Detroit for more than a century, and today’s opening of the Ford Resource and Engagement Center demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the city.”

 

The Mexicantown Mercado building has been unused in recent years. Starting this month, it is home to a Gleaners client choice food service hub, and a range of other services and programs, including:

 

• A variety of bilingual services from LA SED (Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development)
• Job assistance from SER Metro for Detroit Jobs for Progress
• Income tax preparation from Accounting Aid
• Anti-bullying training from Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
• Dance and art classes from Living Arts
• Performing arts training from Mosaic Youth Theatre
• University classes offered by University of Michigan and University of Detroit

The new center is the centerpiece of a $10 million, five-year initiative in the city of Detroit, which augments Ford Fund’s ongoing community partnerships and support for southeast Michigan nonprofits that totals $60 million over the past five years alone.

 

The initiative also includes funding for:

 

• Youth programs at Patton Recreation Center including a summer camp
• Two Ford F-Series chassis for use as ambulances in Detroit, and funding for police cars
• Detroit Summer Youth Employment program

“I am extremely grateful for Ford Motor Company Fund’s ongoing commitment to our neighborhoods,” said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. “Ford’s generous investments in summer youth jobs, recreation centers, hunger relief and educational opportunities are vital in our efforts to change the conversation about Detroit. We value Ford Motor Company Fund’s support and partnership.”

Inflatable Rear Safety Belts

The world's first automotive production inflatable rear safety belts are available in the XLT, Limited and Sport models (2nd-row outboard seating positions). The inflated safety belt helps distribute crash-force energy across more of the occupant's torso than a traditional safety belt, which helps reduce the risk of injury, while providing support to the head and neck. In the event of a frontal or side crash, the inflatable safety belt holds the passenger in the appropriate seating position, helping to reduce risk of injury. These safety belts are compatible with child safety seats.

Active Park Assist - Explorer

Unlike other systems that use imaging devices, available active park assist* uses ultrasonic sensors to locate a parking space. Simply press a button and once a spot is selected, while you drive slowly, Explorer parks into place with a few simple steps on your part. Active park assist is an available feature on the Explorer Limited model.

*Driver assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver's judgment.

Adaptive Cruise Control - Explorer

Adaptive cruise control* represents a major step beyond conventional cruise control. When its sensors detect traffic slowing, your vehicle also slows down. After traffic has cleared, your vehicle resumes the preset speed. Forward collision warning with brake support will alert you if it senses a potential collision with the car in front of you. A heads-up display, which simulates brake lights, flashes on the windshield. If you don't react in time, the brakes will precharge and increase brake-assist sensitivity to provide full responsiveness when you brake.

*Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver's judgment.

3.5L EcoBoost® Engine - Explorer

Enjoy no-compromise power and efficiency.

• Instantaneous low-end torque responsiveness
• 365 horsepower* and 350 lb.-ft. of torque
• Direct fuel injection and turbocharger

 *Figures achieved with premium fuel.

BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert - Explorer

BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System)* uses radar in the rear quarter panels to identify a vehicle entering your blind spot and alerts you with an indicator light in the sideview mirror. Cross-traffic alert also uses radar to watch for traffic behind you when you're slowly backing out of a parking spot or your driveway. If it detects a vehicle approaching from up to 15 yards away, it sends an audible warning, an indicator light flashes in the sideview mirror and a message displays in the message center. BLIS® with cross-traffic alert is available on the XLT, Limited and Sport models.

 *Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver's judgment.

Ford Motor Company U.S. Sales Up 14 Percent; Ford Fusion, Escape and New Lincoln MKZ Continue Record-Setting Pace

• Ford Motor Company’s May U.S. sales up 14 percent compared with a year ago; best May sales since 2006 with retail sales up 17 percent

• Escape delivers best month ever – sales up 26 percent year over year; Fusion sales up 10 percent – Fusion’s best-ever May; both achieve monthly sales records for four straight months

• F-Series, America’s best-selling pickup for 36 years, posts a 31 percent increase – best May sales since 2005 and first time F-Series breaks the 70,000 mark since March 2007

• Lincoln MKZ delivers its best-ever May sales performance

• Ford announces 2013 third-quarter production of 740,000 vehicles, up 10 percent from the prior year

DEARBORN, Mich., June 3, 2013 – Ford Motor Company’s U.S. sales grew 14 percent in May, with cars up 9 percent, utilities up 15 percent and trucks up 18 percent. Retail sales increased 17 percent, marking the best May retail sales results since 2005.

“Our fuel-efficient Fusion and Escape have set monthly sales records for four straight months,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “F-Series sales – fueled by construction growth and pent-up demand – reached their highest level in more than six years.”

Fusion posted its best-ever May sales of 29,553 vehicles – with its strongest areas of sales growth in the western and southeastern areas of the U.S.

The fuel-efficient Escape small utility posted its best-ever sales month since being introduced 13 years ago – a 26 percent increase with 29,123 vehicles sold last month.

America’s best-selling pickup, the F-Series had its strongest May sales result since 2005. F-Series’ 71,604 sales in May represented a 31 percent increase versus last year and its 22nd straight monthly sales increase.

In May, Lincoln MKZ sales increased 42 percent versus last year. This represents MKZ’s best-ever May sales, building on MKZ’s best-ever sales month in April.

In addition, Ford announces its 2013 third-quarter North American production. The company plans to build 740,000 vehicles in the third quarter, up 10 percent from the 673,000 vehicles produced in the third quarter of 2012.

The third quarter plan includes the company’s recent announcement to add 40,000 vehicles from a reduced July summer shutdown and the addition of 200,000 units of annualized straight-time capacity starting in the fall of this year.

Second quarter production of 800,000 vehicles is unchanged from previous guidance.

TechShop and Ford Celebrate One Year of Innovation in Metro Detroit; Benefits Emerge from Entrepreneurial Spirit

• TechShop Detroit – a do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio where prospective inventors, makers and hackers can rent space to have access to high-tech equipment – celebrates its first anniversary with an event June 1
• In the past year, Ford’s Employee Patent Incentive Program, in conjunction with TechShop, has in part led to 50 percent more patentable ideas by Ford employees
• TechShop offers members a chance to tinker and test out new, innovative ideas with equipment on site to better enable invention

 

DEARBORN, Mich., June 1, 2013 – When TechShop opened in Detroit a year ago it was intended to foster additional innovation, and now it has contributed to a 50 percent increase in patentable ideas by Ford employees.

 

Last spring Ford helped bring TechShop to Detroit with assistance from Bill Coughlin, CEO of Ford Global Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Leading the domestic auto industry’s only intellectual property team with a licensing arm, Coughlin articulates this vision to help drive innovation at Ford and beyond.

 

“There was a time not so long ago in this business where outside ideas were not readily considered,” he says. “Since TechShop memberships were added to help enhance Ford’s invention incentive program, invention disclosures have increased by more than 50 percent.”

 

The Employee Patent Incentive Program provides Ford employee inventors with a three-month free membership to TechShop Detroit. Approximately 2,000 Ford employees have incentive memberships.

 

Ford has a portfolio of more than 17,000 issued and pending patents around the world, and – as a technology company – needs to be at the very forefront of automotive innovation. With TechShop in close proximity, Ford’s employees in Dearborn are able to easily and quickly build prototypes for almost any inventive solution they can conceive.

 

TechShop Detroit is a center for innovation – a vibrant playground for inventors, hackers and tinkerers of all stripes.

 

“We’re thrilled TechShop is helping to inspire new inventions and ideas from the employees at Ford, at such a strong pace,” says Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop. “A full year of success in our partnership with Ford confirms our ability to deliver on our mission of helping makers and entrepreneurs of all ages build their dreams and explore new ideas.

 

“Over the last year, TechShop Detroit’s vibrant and talented community of makers have shown their innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive, and we can’t wait to see the creative and exciting things to come,” he adds.

 

From laser cutters to computer-aided-design workstations to 3D printers, TechShop is outfitted with tools that Henry Ford couldn’t even imagine when he built his first cars more than a century ago. While much of this equipment is still well beyond the means of most tinkerers, memberships starting at $99 per month enable everyone access to the tools of innovation.

 

TechShop Detroit is located in Fairlane Business Park, a Ford Land-owned property in Allen Park, Mich. There are five other TechShops around the United States, with an additional three planned in the future.

Ford EcoBoost Challenge Drive Event

Ford is taking the competition head on, inviting customers across the country to put the automaker's popular EcoBoost vehicles to the test against its competitors, while also getting the opportunity to drive the highly anticipated all-new Fiesta ST before it's available in Dealerships.

The Ford EcoBoost Challenge will allow customers to drive the Ford Fusion and Escape head-to-head against the competition while also experiencing how EcoBoost technology delivers exceptional fuel economy and power. The tour, beginning in June, will head to 12 markets nationally, and will also features the Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid.

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

• Consumer events to drive Ford’s fuel-efficient EcoBoost line-up, including the all-new Fiesta ST, Escape and Fusion against the competitors in closed track experiences

• Consumers interested in attending can sign up at fordecoboostchallengedrive.com

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

DEARBORN, Mich., May 31, 2013 – Ford is taking the competition head on, inviting customers across the country to put the automaker’s popular fuel efficient EcoBoost powered vehicles to the test against its competitors while also getting the opportunity to drive the highly anticipated Fiesta ST.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

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