Sci-Fi Movie Extras Know Extras – Like the Green Tech in the 2016 Ford Fusion Energi

The 2016 Ford Fusion Energi is packed with the extra features you’re looking for. Who better to talk about those amazing extras like smart technology than a professional movie extra?

Visit Our Parts Department

  

Visit our parts department for all your Ford and Kia parts needs, including maintenance parts and chemicals. We also have factory accessories, such as Keyless Entry Keypad. 

See Scott For Commercial Service

 

Scott Babler has been with Larry Geweke's Service Department for over 11 years and is excellent at taking care of our customers. Scott is also our Commercial Truck/Fleet Service Writer and he knows what it means to get those folks who use their trucks everyday for work, to get them back in operation as soon as possible with the least amount of downtime.

So, where is Scott? He's in the back of the building on the eastern side of the service department where the heavy duty truck stalls are located. His office is right there.

Give Scott a call at his direct line: 530-821-4735 and let him know how he can help you get your vehicle in top working order.

Scott wanted to let all our customers know that Larry Geweke can work on all makes and models of trucks, including those with CAT, Cummins, International, and other engine makes.* So, if your fleet has a mix of trucks, bring them all here! Save time and money.

* Give Scott a call and he will give you all the details.

2015 Pink October Results Are In!

It's December, so I guess it's time to share the really exciting news to all our supporters, donors, volunteers and those we are fortunate to assist - We had a REALLY good fundraising year for Pink October. The Yuba-Sutter Community (and beyond) is amazing. Every year, we do it again and it only gets better which means we get to financially help more women in our community. Yuba-Sutter Pink October raised over $140,500! Over $15k more than last year and our biggest year yet... ALL STAYING LOCAL!

Read On....

Featured Recipe - Filo Wrapped Brie with Fig Jam

It's so incredible it may not even reach the party because you would have eaten it all! It's also a great option for those who are lactose intolerant as you can use goat brie as well.

 

Here is the full recipe. This gal used a balsamic fig jam but we just use a simple fig spread found in the Raley's deli section by the gourmet cheeses.

 

Find the recipe HERE

Great News!

 

 

Commercial truck season please call Paul Brown at 530-682-7693 for incentives and availability

Congress has passed the Section 179 Bonus Depreciation Law for up to $500,000 permanently.

Please check with your accountant for details 

Happy Holidays!

Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday!

Record Number of Ford Inventions Drives Innovation in Autonomous, Connected Vehicles, Electrification, Wearables

• 2015 Ford patent applications include a record number of inventions related to mobility for the company, including autonomous and connected vehicles, wearable devices, eBikes, navigation and ride-sharing platforms
  

• Ford has increased filings for electrification patents by nearly 200 percent in the last five years and has 275 U.S. patents on EcoBoost^®, with another 200 pending; Ford has more U.S. patents on gasoline turbocharged direct-injection – EcoBoost – technology than any other automaker today
  

• Ford employees submitted nearly 6,000 inventions for patent consideration this year – up 36 percent from 2014
  

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 22, 2015 – Ford employees delivered so many new inventions this year that the company has achieved a record number of new patents as Ford Smart Mobility and other initiatives continue to accelerate the pace of innovation.

Innovators at Ford submitted nearly 6,000 new inventions in 2015, with many related to autonomous and connected vehicles, wearable devices, eBikes, navigation, ride-sharing platforms and other technologies – an increase of 36 percent from 2014. These include technologies to help autonomous vehicles detect other vehicles at obstructed intersections, technologies to alleviate range anxiety in electrified vehicles and to extend range in real-world driving. Another new invention is designed for cyclists – allowing riders to report road obstacles to help other riders.

“Our engineers and scientists are inventing ways to address mobility challenges more than ever – with more patent applications filed this year on car-sharing, wearables, bikes, cloud computing and in other areas to improve consumers’ lives inside and outside the car,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and chief technical officer. “By hosting – and participating in – more internal hackathons and innovation labs, our employees are stepping up to show that inventing is a priority for leadership in the industry.”

As part of Ford Smart Mobility – the company’s plan to use innovation to ascend to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics – 2015’s record-breaking output of inventions features thousands of technologies that enable key advancements in connectivity, analytics, wearables, electrification and safety.

For example, a new bike system can detect bike lanes and alert cyclists of path deviations. Another one would suggest a safe vehicle speed based on nearby infrastructure, average vehicle speed and GPS data, and a new front brake light technology would improve vehicle-to-vehicle and autonomous driving-to-pedestrian communication.

“The commitment Ford has made to innovation is commendable,” said James Malackowski, chairman and CEO, Ocean Tomo, an intellectual property firm. “The strength of Ford's patent portfolio has resulted in the company being named a constituent to the Ocean Tomo 300^® Patent Index for five years.” Ocean Tomo annually releases its 300 Patent Index, which is based on the value of a company’s intellectual property.

Hundreds of Ford employees all over the world are responsible for this achievement. In the past three years, Ford employees in Asia Pacific increased invention disclosure submissions more than 140 percent, North America is up almost 100 percent and Europe saw an increase of more than 50 percent.

Recently, Ford showcased the breadth of its patent portfolio by licensing robotic test driving technology, which saves time and spares human test drivers from such physically demanding tasks as driving over curbs and through potholes to prove vehicle durability.

Patent leadership continues on efficient powertrain technologies

Ford has increased filing of electrification patents nearly 200 percent in the past five years.

In 2014, Ford filed for more than 400 patents dedicated to electrified vehicle technologies. Earlier this year, the company opened up its portfolio of electrified vehicle technology patents for licensing to competitive automakers to accelerate industry-wide research and development. Ford is a leading automaker for its inventions related to electrification.

Prior patents on technology that benefits consumers include Ford’s EcoBoost^® engine lineup, which offers a combination of fuel efficiency and power to meet a wide range of driver needs. Ford has 275 U.S. patents on EcoBoost, with another 200 pending. Ford has more U.S. patents on gasoline turbocharged direct-injection – EcoBoost – technology than any other automaker today.

Inventing is an important part of Ford DNA. Henry Ford earned more than 150 patents for his inventions.

6 Amazing Artists. 3 Beautiful Cities, 3 Inspiring Murals and 1 giant collaboration

Watch the first video in our series entitled “Culture Collabs” documenting how Ford joined forces with singer/songwriter Jhené Aiko, DJ Vashtie Kola, music producer The Alchemist, entrepreneur Mike Brown, artist collective The Seventh Letter, and digital artist Naturel. Over the last few months, they came together to connect our iconic Ford script logo with their respective crafts in Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The videos in this series will explore how music, art and culture drove the creative process behind this collaboration.

A 1965 Mustang Returns Home 50 Years Later

It was love at first sight when Terry Maxfield spotted a Caspian Blue Mustang at Loudon Motors in Minerva, Ohio, back in 1965. Their affair lasted through five decades, countless memorable moments and a cross-country move to Arizona.

Recently, worried that the Mustang would deteriorate in her exposed carport, Terry had a great idea: She would return the vintage car to the dealership where she purchased it. Greg Loudon, who was only 5 when Terry bought the car from his father, was now in charge. Stunned at its incredible condition, Loudon purchased the Mustang back—but insists he’s just storing it for Terry. She’s allowed to visit the beloved showroom centerpiece whenever she likes.

Get the Crew To the Job and Get the Work Done Too!

Paul Brown of Geweke Ford in Yuba City CA shows off an F350 Dually chassis with the Crew Cab configuration and the benefits of this setup. This unit also has a 10' Scelzi Contractor Body mounted on it. This combination makes an excellent work truck for any crew.

See more at http://geweketrucks.com

Ford to Begin Autonomous Vehicle Testing on California Roads; Silicon Valley Lab Accelerates Smart Mobility Plan

• Ford secures California autonomous vehicle driving permit to begin testing fully autonomous Ford Fusion Hybrid on public roads next year
• With more than 100 researchers, engineers and scientists on staff at its Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto, Ford now has one of the largest automotive research centers in Silicon Valley
• Ford research lab in Palo Alto supports Ford Smart Mobility, the plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics

Palo Alto, Calif., Dec. 15, 2015 – Fully autonomous Ford Fusion Hybrid sedans are taking to California streets next year, as Ford Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto continues growing.

Ford is officially enrolled in the California Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program to test autonomous vehicles on public roads. The testing is further advancement of Ford’s 10-year autonomous vehicle development program and a key element of Ford Smart Mobility, the plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.

Ford Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto is one of the largest automotive manufacturer research centers in the region, with a team of more than 100 researchers, engineers and scientists. The new research lab opened in January, expanding Ford’s presence in Silicon Valley, which dates back to 2012.

Eighty percent of the Palo Alto team joined Ford from the technology sector. The remaining 20 percent are Ford employees from the United States, China, Germany and Australia who bring automotive engineering and design expertise.

“Our Palo Alto team has grown significantly this year, using research and innovation to explore and develop future mobility solutions,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “We’re attracting top talent from around the world to join our team in Silicon Valley, including employees from local technology companies and universities who want to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves.”

Advanced experimentation
 
Ford has expanded its Silicon Valley facility from a 15-person office to a 100-plus-person research and development center. Research the lab has conducted this past year includes:

• Autonomous vehicle virtual test drive: This study allows virtual interaction between an autonomous car and pedestrians, replicating real-world situations to better understand and develop responses to some of the unexpected things that can happen on the road
• Sensor fusion: Sensors on autonomous vehicles detect and track objects in the vehicle’s view, fusing information together to provide a 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings – including street signs, other vehicles, even pedestrians
• Camera-based pedestrian detection: Camera sensors serve as the eyes of a vehicle, allowing the car to “see” and sense pedestrians
• Data-driven health care: Through data collection from Ranger pickups and motorcycles outfitted with OpenXC technology, Ford is working with Riders for Health to collect GPS data and mapping coordinates to make health care, vaccines and medication delivery to people throughout rural Africa more efficient and accessible

Ford has cultivated relationships with top universities this year, including University of California-Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Santa Clara and San Jose State. The company is further expanding its strategic research collaboration with Stanford in 2016, planning 13 projects covering all five areas of Ford Smart Mobility – more than double the number of collaborations this year.

“Having a strong presence in Silicon Valley allows us to further accelerate our research on a wide range of technologies, and apply our insights to create real-world mobility solutions,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering.

Ford Joins with Girls Who Code in Silicon Valley to Educate the Next Generation of Women, Close STEM Gender Gap

• Ford is expanding its commitment to grow high school girls’ tech talent by providing them the skills and resources necessary to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields
• Ford’s collaboration with Girls Who Code includes mentorship and work at Ford Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto for up to 180 young women in the Bay Area 
• The initiative is part of Ford’s expanding community commitment in Northern California, which includes an investment of more than $1 million with Ford Fund and Northern California Ford dealers

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 15, 2015 – Ford Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto is joining with Girls Who Code to help close the gender gap in technology and engineering fields.

As part of the collaboration, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, will support the education and professional growth of Girls Who Code club members in Northern California, serving more than 180 young women in grades six to 12 in the Bay Area.

The Ford Palo Alto team will provide mentorship and instruction to club members, and help them engage in hands-on experience at the company’s Silicon Valley research lab.

“The use of technology is growing exponentially among young people, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract them to technology-related educational programs,” said Marcy Klevorn, Ford chief information officer. “Ford is working with Girls Who Code to educate them on the many exciting career opportunities available in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. This kind of outreach grows more important each year.”

Women are especially underrepresented in the tech industry, making up just 18 percent of computer science graduates in the United States. That is down from 27 percent in 2001 and from 37 percent in 1984.

Ford’s work with Girls Who Code is part of its expanding community commitment in Northern California. Earlier this year, Ford and Ford Fund announced an investment of more than $1 million in education, safety and disaster relief in a new initiative with Northern California Ford dealers.

Ford’s STEM commitment
 
Ford’s national commitment to science, engineering, technology and math education began more than 30 years ago. Its ultimate goal is to inspire interest in technology and innovation, which is not only critical to Ford, but to the world’s future development. By supporting education in these areas, Ford can create opportunities connecting the company and its employees directly with youth and the community.

Ford’s national STEM efforts include working with colleges, high schools, founding academies for high school-age students, a high school science and technology program, sponsorship of FIRST^® Robotics teams and scholarship funding.

Challenges ahead
 
The number of technology-related degrees awarded in the United States is rising, but men alone cannot meet the demand. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts jobs in tech fields will grow to more than 9 million by 2022 – an increase of about 1 million jobs since 2012. Women must close the gap.

Yet with only 0.4 percent of high school girls selecting computer science as a college major, it is essential to inspire young women to pursue higher education and careers in technology.

“We are especially excited at this expanded collaboration because Ford is an institution with longevity in STEM careers for women,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO, Girls Who Code. “The support will enable us to further our mission of providing young women with the resources necessary to one day work for Ford or any number of other technology companies.”

Through its summer immersion program and club programs throughout the country, Girls Who Code is leading the movement to inspire, educate and equip young women with the skills and resources to pursue academic and career opportunities in computing. By pairing instruction in robotics, Web design and mobile development with mentorship and access to top engineers, Girls Who Code aims to close the gender gap in technology and expose students to real-life role models.

“We are pleased to support an organization that mirrors our commitment to developing young minds and inspiring them to work in STEM-related careers,” said Dragos Maciuca, Ford technical director, Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto.  

Sourcing Sustainable Seafood in a Ford C-MAX

The Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL is all about sustainability, and so is Michele Ragussis. Watch as the executive chef drives from Provincetown, Mass., to Portland, Maine, in search of local, low-impact seafood for her restaurant, the Central House at the Crown & Anchor.

Ragussis, a New England native with a passion for food, updates her menu each season with new dishes sourced locally. Today, thanks to a recommendation from fishmonger Matt Henderson, she gets the best lobster available in Portland-straight from lobsterman Eric Tomazin's boat. With its state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery and Regenerative Braking, the Ford C-MAX Hybrid is the perfect match for Ragussis' search for sustainability.

Post-Apocalyptic Movie Extras Know Extras – Like the Fuel Efficiency of the 2016 Ford Focus

Whether it’s on a movie set or out on the town, the 2016 Ford Focus makes a great companion. Who better to talk about its amazing extra features like great fuel economy and a spacious interior than a professional movie extra?

EPA-estimated rating of 26 city/38 highway/30 combined mpg 2.0L Ti-VCT I4 with PowerShift six-speed automatic with selectshift transmission. Actual mileage will vary.

Ford Investing $4.5 Billion in Electrified Vehicle Solutions, Reimagining How to Create Future Vehicle User Experiences

• Ford is investing an additional $4.5 billion in electrified vehicle solutions by 2020, including the new Focus Electric with all-new DC fast-charge capability, which delivers 80 percent charge in an estimated 30 minutes and projected 100-mile range
• The company is adding 13 new electrified vehicles to its product portfolio by 2020; more than 40 percent of Ford’s nameplates globally will be electrified by the decade’s end
• Ford also redefining how future vehicles are created, moving from a features-based product development to a customer-experience-led process, applying insights from social scientists    

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 10, 2015 – Ford is investing an additional $4.5 billion in electrified vehicle solutions by 2020 as well as changing how the company develops vehicle experiences for customers – all to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves.

Ford is adding 13 new electrified vehicles to its portfolio by 2020, when more than 40 percent of the company’s global nameplates will come in electrified versions. This represents Ford’s largest-ever electrified vehicle investment in a five-year period.

On the way next year is a new Focus Electric, which features all-new DC fast-charge capability delivering an 80 percent charge in an estimated 30 minutes and projected 100-mile range – an estimated two hours faster than today’s Focus Electric.

The new Focus Electric, which starts production late next year, also will provide North American and European customers:

• SmartGauge with EcoGuide LCD Instrument Cluster, which offers a multitude of customizable displays that can help the driver see real-time EV power usage to help maximize vehicle efficiency
• Brake Coach, another smart feature that coaches the driver on how to use smooth braking to maximize the energy captured through the Regenerative Braking System. The more energy a driver captures through braking, the more energy is returned to the vehicle’s battery
• Fun-to-drive character, with agile steering and handling engineered into the vehicle to give drivers a more connected feel to the road

Ford’s shift to add electrified vehicle solutions answers increasing global trends calling for cleaner, more efficient vehicles.


Experience-Led Design
 
Ford also is reimagining how to set itself apart in the marketplace by focusing on the customer experience and not just the vehicle itself. The company is changing its product development process to support the shift.

“The challenge going forward isn’t who provides the most technology in a vehicle but who best organizes that technology in a way that most excites and delights people,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development. “By observing consumers, we can better understand which features and strengths users truly use and value and create even better experiences for them going forward.”

In addition to traditional market research, Ford is investing in social science-based research globally, observing how consumers interact with vehicles and gaining new insights into the cognitive, social, cultural, technological and economic nuances that affect product design.

“This new way of working brings together marketing, research, engineering and design in a new way to create meaningful user experiences, rather than individually developing technologies and features that need to be integrated into a final product,” Nair said. “We are using new insights from anthropologists, sociologists, economists, journalists and designers, along with traditional business techniques, to reimagine our product development process, create new experiences and make life better for millions of people.”

Next year, Ford is doubling the number of projects that use ethnographic research versus this year.

The team of social scientists already has spent months exploring topics such as the future of luxury transport, how people form relationships with their cars and the role of trucks in the American heartland.

ReD, a social science-based strategy consultancy, has been innovating with consumer goods and pharmaceutical companies for a decade. ReD started working with Ford – its sole automotive client – in 2012.

During the past three years, the team has invested more than 4,000 hours with thousands of vehicle users in more than 25 cities worldwide, taking 80,000 photos, nearly 3,000 hours of video and more than 8,000 pages of field notes, feeding countless insights to improve the product creation process.
“For 70 years, market research has been done by asking people for their opinion. But

Ford has always been fundamentally skeptical about that. Henry Ford used to say, ‘If I asked people what they wanted, they would have asked for a faster horse,’” said Christian Madsbjerg, founder of ReD Associates and author of The Moment of Clarity. “I chose to work with Ford because this approach is in their DNA and is setting the company at the forefront of this advanced and bold process, which is redefining market research and silo-busting the way the company operates.”

Another new twist to the product development process is that designers no longer just sketch products but also full customer experience illustrations that visualize the experience each product is meant to deliver. The series of vignettes define a unique user journey that seamlessly integrates both hardware and software experiences.

This user experience design technique also plays an important role in developing the Ford Smart Mobility plan, which is designed to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics.

“As both an auto and a mobility company, we at Ford are going further than just designing the product to move people from point A to point B,” Nair said. “We are considering the way customers interact with our vehicles as a unified experience, looking for ways to excite and delight customers and make their lives better.”

Elle King & Betty Who Take a Drive in a Ford Focus

In the second episode of In Focus, musicians Elle King and Betty Who talk music, body image, and what it means to trust in yourself. Watch as they cruise around in the sporty Ford Focus. Produced by Pitchfork.

Ford Offers Apple Siri® Eyes-Free to Millions of Vehicles Globally

Ford Offers Apple Siri® Eyes-Free to Millions of Vehicles Globally Through SYNC® Software Update

Siri Eyes-Free allows drivers to activate Siri with a long press of the voice recognition button on the steering wheel, similar to how to activate Siri on an iPhone. Drivers can use just their voice to ask Siri for requests including:

• Making phone calls to contacts in their address book
• Looking up phone numbers for restaurants or other points of interest
• Setting a reminder or alarm
• Asking about the weather
• Select and play music
• Audibly send and receive text messages
• Getting directions through Apple Maps

The new software update is available for vehicles equipped with the second generation of SYNC, known as MyFord Touch in North America, ranging from model years 2011 to 2016.

First Compressed Natural Gas and Propane-Capable 2016 Ford F-150 Rolls Off the Line at Kansas City

• 2016 Ford F-150 with 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine offering gaseous-fuel prep option is rolling off the line at Kansas City Assembly Plant, making it the only light-duty pickup capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane
• Ford has sold more than 60,000 vehicles prepped to run on clean, low-cost compressed natural gas and propane – six times more than all other major U.S. automakers combined – since 2009
• Ford has the broadest portfolio of natural gas and propane offerings, including 2016 F-150 and F-Series Super Duty, Transit and Transit Connect vans and wagons

KANSAS CITY, Dec. 9, 2015 – The first 2016 Ford F-150 with the ability to run on clean-burning compressed natural gas has rolled off the assembly line, making Ford – America’s truck leader – the only manufacturer to offer a CNG/propane-capable half-ton pickup.

The 2016 Ford F-150 with 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine is available with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and piston rings so it can operate on natural gas, propane or gasoline through separate fuel systems.

“It’s exciting to see the first F-150s with the CNG/propane-prepped 5.0-liter V8 headed to customers,” said Jon Coleman, Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager. “Whether running on gasoline, gaseous fuel or both, the 5.0-liter V8 F-150 offers hardworking customers terrific towing and payload and now, the ability to operate on alternative fuel.”

When equipped with a bi-fuel CNG/propane engine package, the 5.0-liter V8 F-150 is capable of achieving more than 750 miles on combined tanks of gasoline and CNG, depending on tank size. The Ford F-150 with 5.0-liter V8 has an EPA-estimated rating of 22 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined.

Green Car Journal recently named the 2016 F-150 its 2016 Green Truck of the Year^™, in part due to the availability of the gaseous-fuel prep option.

CNG/LPG engine prep from the factory costs $315 before the customer chooses a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Upfits run approximately $6,000 to $9,500, depending on fuel tank capacity.

Ford offers broadest portfolio of CNG/propane-capable vehicles
 
With production of the 2016 F-150 now under way, Ford Motor Company offers eight factory-available vehicles with a gaseous-fuel prep option – more than any other North American automaker. In addition to F-150 with 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8, these include:

• F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup with 6.2-liter V8
• F-350 to F-550 Super Duty chassis cab with 6.2-liter V8 or 6.8-liter V10
• F-650 and F-750 chassis cab with 6.8-liter V10
• F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis with 6.8-liter V10
• Transit Connect van and wagon with 2.5-liter I-4
• Transit van, wagon, cutaway and chassis cab with 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6
• E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis with 6.8-liter V10

Benefits of compressed natural gas and propane
 
Compressed natural gas is mainly comprised of methane. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of around 3,600 psi. Approximately 85 percent of the CNG used in the United States is produced domestically.

Another benefit of this alternative fuel is cleaner emissions. A vehicle operating on CNG can reduce tailpipe CO₂ emissions by approximately 20 percent compared with the same vehicle running on gasoline.

Propane autogas, also known as liquefied petroleum gas, is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, most commonly propane and butane. Approximately 90 percent of the United States’ propane supply is produced domestically. 

All-New Ford F-Series Super Duty Brings $1.3 Billion Investment, 2,000 New Jobs to Kentucky Truck Plant

• Kentucky Truck Plant creates jobs and makes investment to help support production of the all-new F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever
• $1.3 billion investment supports an all-new body shop, facility upgrades and retooling to build the new truck
• Ford has invested more than $1.5 billion in the commonwealth of Kentucky and the city of Louisville since 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 1, 2015 – Ford Motor Company, America’s truck leader, will create 2,000 new jobs and invest $1.3 billion in its Kentucky Truck Plant to support the launch of the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty truck – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever.

Ford is investing $1.3 billion for an all-new body shop, facility upgrades and retooling to build the new aluminum-bodied Super Duty truck at Kentucky Truck Plant. Add to that the $80 million invested in 2014 to meet growing customer demand for Super Duty trucks and $129 million to support Lincoln MKC production at Louisville Assembly Plant, and Ford has invested more than $1.5 billion in the commonwealth of Kentucky and the city of Louisville in the past two years.

“With the introduction of the all-new Ford Super Duty, America’s best-selling heavy-duty pickup, we expect to continue growing our truck leadership,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Through this investment, we are continuing to show our commitment to Kentucky and the city of Louisville, as well as bringing to customers industry-leading trucks to help them take care of business and earn a living.”

Kentucky Truck Plant
 
Kentucky Truck Plant produces F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty pickups and chassis cabs, as well as Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The plant has produced more than 5 million Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks since it was introduced in 1999.

“Adding new jobs and more investment at Kentucky Truck Plant not only secures a solid foundation for our UAW members, but also strengthens the communities in which they live, work and play,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. “Such success highlights our members’ hard work and dedication to building world-class, quality vehicles like the Super Duty.”

Ford began manufacturing vehicles in Kentucky in 1913 with 11 employees. Kentucky Truck Plant, which opened in 1969, covers 6 million square feet and employs close to 4,400 people.

“This tremendous investment and commitment to new job creation reconfirms the strength of a more than century-long relationship between Kentucky and Ford Motor Company,” said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. “We wholeheartedly appreciate Ford’s continued confidence in the commonwealth’s work force and pro-business environment, and we look forward to expanding our relationship in the future.”

Ford 2017 F-Series Super Duty
 
The all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup and chassis cab lineup is the toughest, smartest and most capable ever.

• Toughest: The all-new, high-strength steel frame; segment-first, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body; and stronger axles, springs and suspension create the only Built Ford Tough heavy-duty truck lineup that works as hard as Super Duty customers

• Smartest: Sixteen class-exclusive new features and up to seven cameras make Super Duty the ultimate tow vehicle; adaptive steering technology makes maneuvering easier

• Most capable: Ford-engineered, Ford-built gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions power the all-new Super Duty lineup that tows and hauls more than ever

Super Duty underpins Ford’s commitment to continuously provide advanced powertrains and innovative technologies that answer customer demands. Ford Trucks offer power, toughness and durability, making Ford the top-selling truck brand.

There are five models in the Super Duty lineup: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. The all-new Super Duty will be built at Kentucky Truck Plant and goes on sale late next year.

Backing Up a Trailer Can Be as Easy as Turning a Knob

Equipped with Class-Exclusive Pro Trailer Backup Assist,TM the Ford F-150 can help you put your trailer exactly where you want it.

In this demonstration, Master Rigger Sean Riley brings a Ford F-150 to a group of guys who specialize at felling trees in narrow spaces. The precision they gain from Pro Trailer Backup AssistTM allows them to back a heavily loaded trailer down a difficult path through a densely wooded area.

Zoë Kravitz & SZA Hit the Road in a Ford Focus | In Focus

Confidence comes standard in the Ford Focus. We brought together the lovely and talented Zoë Kravitz and SZA to cruise around in a 2016 Focus. Watch as they discuss how they stay authentic. Produced by Pitchfork.

Ford Introduces Licensed Line of Trailers, Toy Haulers and Campers to Help Customers Explore America

• Ford is the first original equipment manufacturer to offer an extended line of licensed travel trailers, toy haulers and truck campers
• Ford is working with Indiana-based RV manufacturer Livin Lite, a subsidiary of recreational vehicle industry leader Thor Industries
• Ford and Livin Lite design teams worked together to incorporate unique and inspired Ford design language in the products

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Dec. 3, 2015 – Ford Truck customers looking to explore America’s open roads, national parks and attractions can now take the comforts of home with them with an all-new lineup of Ford licensed and approved toy haulers, travel trailers and slide-in campers.

“Exploring America is in our customers’ DNA and recreational vehicles are part of Ford’s history, so these new camping options are great for our adventurous customers,” said Mark Bentley, Ford Licensing manager. “Ford is an industry leader in towing technology, so it was only natural for Ford to license its name and designs in this industry.”

The new Ford-branded truck campers and travel trailers are licensed and built by Indiana-based Livin Lite, a subsidiary of industry leader Thor Industries. Known for using strong, lightweight aluminum alloy in its products, Livin Lite’s Ford offerings will also be made out of the advanced material to save weight and offer resistance to rust and rot.

Ford slide-in truck campers will be offered for 6- and 8-foot truck beds, while the first travel trailers and toy haulers will be offered in 22- and 24-foot lengths. Additional products, including longer fifth-wheel trailers and shorter pop-up campers, are also planned. All products feature Livin Lite’s advanced materials and a two-year limited warranty.

“Licensing our name and design language to Livin Lite was an easy decision,” said Bentley. “Their use of advanced materials and innovation mindset makes them an excellent fit with the Ford brand. We are confident customers will be impressed with the unique, bold designs and comfortable features offered in the Ford RV line.”

The RVs were designed by Livin Lite in conjunction with Ford Truck Design. The two teams worked together over the past 15 months to create several attractive recreational vehicles that are unique to Ford. A striking front nose with an F-Series-inspired front window, F-Series-style wheels and unique Ford Blue Oval side graphics are among the key exterior features distinguishing the Ford offerings from competitors.

Interior styling cues from the F-Series Lariat, including unique leathers and stitched Ford Blue Ovals in seat cushions, ensure a stylish and tough impression.

Ford Truck campers will be available through certified Livin Lite dealers starting in early 2016, while the travel trailers and toy haulers will be available by the second quarter of 2016.

From Salt Spreaders to ATV Platforms: Ford Tough Tests All-New Super Duty Cargo Boxes with Aftermarket Equipment

• Ford engineers tough tested the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy cargo box of the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty with popular aftermarket equipment, ranging from glass racks to salt spreaders to ATV carriers
• Testing was performed virtually using supercomputers to predict robustness and with maximum-loaded aftermarket equipment over some of the most extreme road surfaces available, from potholed durability courses to off-road terrain
• The all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty is the toughest, smartest and most capable Super Duty ever, leveraging advanced materials to reduce weight and featuring all-new, segment-exclusive smart technology to help increase customer productivity, comfort and convenience

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 24, 2015 – From virtual torture testing in supercomputers to purpose-built potholes, Ford has tough tested the all-new Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever – to make sure it’s ready for popular aftermarket cargo box equipment that ranges from glass racks to salt spreaders.

For the first time, the Super Duty body uses high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy, which is more dent- and ding-resistant than the outgoing steel cargo box and not subject to red rust corrosion.
The backbone of Super Duty is an all-new, fully boxed frame composed of more than 95 percent high-strength steel that is up to 24 times stiffer than the previous frame.

The new truck line also features heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware than the current Super Duty.

Together, high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum alloy help reduce weight by up to 350 pounds. Ford is reinvesting additional weight savings everywhere it counts to give customers more towing and hauling capability than ever before.

“Ford Super Duty customers depend on their trucks to work hard every day across a variety of jobs,” said Kirk Leonard, vehicle integration engineer for Ford. “We drove prototype vehicles over the durability roads of the Ford Proving Grounds fitted with common aftermarket accessories to test the fitment and capability of our toughest pickup box ever.“

Before the first truck hit the roads at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds, plenty of upfront work was accomplished virtually using supercomputers to predict and engineer cargo box robustness.

“Our team of vehicle integration engineers worked together to develop a unique design approach with the Ford Truck Body Engineering team to drive optimized panel shape, added reinforcements and up-gauged materials into the pickup box – all of which were proved beneficial in our evaluation,” explained Leonard.

During the design of the new truck, Ford body structure engineers ran countless hours of supercomputer simulations with various aftermarket equipment examples to predict box load performance. The focus was to ensure the all-new 2017 Super Duty cargo box was as tough or tougher than previous models.

“Our modeling analysis enabled us to improve the structure and strength of the box in the design phase of the truck,” said John Comiez, Ford body structure engineer.

Throughout the evaluations on extreme durability roads and off-road terrain, and even after overloading select equipment, the new box design stood up to the abuse, run after run. Upon completing the challenge, the vehicles were examined in the lab by the team. No concerns were found in either the supporting structure or the mounting surfaces.

The all-new Super Duty will be built at Kentucky Truck Plant, and goes on sale late next year.

Cargo Bed Enclosure or Roll Top Is Perfect Addition To Service Body

Paul Brown with Geweke Ford in Yuba City CA shows off a Service Body on a Ford Super Duty Chassis by Harbor Truck Bodies. This units has a 3-piece Cargo Bed Enclosure and Power Locking System, along with a Forklift Loadable Rack and Class IV Receiver. This is a great way to keep cargo out of sight and out of the weather too.

See more at http://www.geweketrucks.com

Unique Ford Suit Helps Teach Young People the Dangerous Effects of Driving Under the Influence of Illegal Drugs

• Ford’s new “Drugged Driving Suit” is designed to show drivers the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin
• According to NHTSA, approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine
• The Drugged Driving Suit will be incorporated into Ford Driving Skills for Life, the award-winning novice driver education program that has provided free training to more than half a million people globally

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 20, 2015 – Ford Motor Company has created a unique suit to dramatically teach young people about the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.

Ford developed the suit together with scientists from the respected Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany to simulate some of the effects of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy); including slower reaction time, distorted vision, hand tremors and poor coordination.

The new Drugged Driving Suit will be incorporated into Ford Driving Skills for Life, the award-winning young driver program that has provided training to more than 500,000 people around the world through hands-on and online tuition since its inception 11 years ago.

“Driving after taking illegal drugs can have potentially fatal consequences for the driver, their passengers, and other road users,” said James Graham, global program manager for Ford Driving Skills for Life. “We have already seen first-hand the eye-opening effect that our Drunk Driving Suit has had on those who wear it, and are confident that our new Drugged Driving Suit will have a similar impact.”

Recent national data shows drugged driving on the rise. According to the most recent findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine.* A NHTSA roadside survey also found that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription or over-the-counter drugs.**

Like the Drunk Driving Suit that Ford incorporated into the Driving Skills for Life program last year, the new Drugged Driving suit simulates the effects of reduced mobility, vision and coordination with padding and ankle weights, goggles and headphones.

 “We know that some drugs can cause trembling hands, so we incorporated a device into the suit that creates just such a tremor,” said Gundolf Meyer-Hentschel, CEO of the Meyer-Hentschel Institute. “Drug users sometimes see flashing lights in their peripheral field, an effect recreated by our goggles, while imaginary sounds are generated by the headphones. Additionally, the goggles distort perception, and produce colorful visual sensations – a side effect of LSD use.”

According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 9.9 million people 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. Similarly, a meta-analysis of multiple studies from the National Institute of Health has shown that the risk of being involved in an accident roughly doubles after marijuana use.***

Ford Driving Skills for Life was established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts to teach newly licensed teens and parents the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. The basic premise behind Ford Driving Skills for Life is to provide a step in the learning process, providing new skills and information not currently shared with newly licensed drivers in basic driver education courses. By the end of 2015, the international program will be offered in 30 countries and a hands-on driving clinic conducted in all 50 states in the United States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The program is expected to have provided behind-the-wheel training to more than 150,000 drivers globally by the end of this year.

Further details about the Ford DSFL program is available online at www.DrivingSkillsForLife.com, including training dates and venues, plus instructions about enrolling in the Ford DSFL Online training academy. 

Fuel Efficiency, Alternative Fuels and Sustainability Earn Ford F-150 2016 Green Truck of the Year Award

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 19, 2015 – Green Car Journal today named the Ford F-150 its 2016 Green Truck of the Year^™ at the San Antonio Auto & Truck Show.

The 2016 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – includes the highest EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating of any full-size gasoline pickup on the market, at 26 mpg. A segment-exclusive compressed natural gas/propane gaseous fuel prep package is available for 5.0-liter V8-equipped F-150 – helping reduce operating costs and tailpipe CO₂ emissions.

“The 2016 Ford F-150 is a great example of the environmental leadership that can, and should, be accomplished in the immensely popular pickup field,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher, Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. “Milestone lightweighting through the extensive use of aluminum and high-strength steel, the availability of a powerful and efficient 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, and a segment-exclusive gaseous fuel prep option that enables the F-150 to run on clean-burning compressed natural gas or propane are all important contributions that raise the bar in environmental performance.”

Ford F-150 uses sustainable materials to help reduce its environmental footprint. REPREVE fiber, made from recycled plastic bottles, is available for F-150’s cloth seats. By using this recycled material, Ford will divert more than 5 million plastic bottles from landfills this year.

Other eco-conscious materials employed include rice hulls to reinforce plastic used in an electrical harness, fuel lines made from castor bean oil, seats made of soybeans and post-industrial recycled cotton – one 2015 F-150 uses shoddy that includes blue jean material, bath towels and/or T-shirt material.

“We designed Ford F-150 to be a game changer,” said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Many have recognized F-150 as the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever, but this award is proof it’s also a fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible option.”

Ford F-150, its groundbreaking technology and the engineering team behind it have won the following awards and accolades:

• 2015 North American Truck/Utility of the Year
• 2015 Motor Trend Truck Trend Pickup Truck of the Year
• Automobile Journalists Association of Canada Pickup Truck of the Year
• Automobile Journalists Association of Canada Utility Vehicle of the Year
• Detroit News 2015 Vehicle of the Year
• 2015 and 2016 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Truck
• 2015 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Overall
• Kelley Blue Book 10 Best Road Trip Cars of 2015
• 2015 Popular Science Automotive Grand Award Winner Best of What’s New
• 2015 MotorWeek Best Pickup Truck
• 2015 Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
• 2015 New England Motor Press Association Yankee Cup
• AutoGuide 2015 Reader’s Choice Truck of the Year
• New Car Test Drive 2015 Truck of the Year
• 2015 Detroit News Reader’s Choice NAIAS Awards Most Innovative
• Automotive Science Group 2015 Best All-Around Performance Award Winner, Best Full-Size Truck of 2015, Smallest Carbon Footprint
• Urban Wheel Award for Urban Truck of the Year
• Green Car Technology Award^™
• Edmunds.com 2015 Most Popular Awards – large truck category
• Detroit Free Press Automotive Leadership Award – engineering and technology category
• Greater Atlanta Automobile Media Association Best Pickup/SUV
• 2015 New England Motor Press Association Official Winter Vehicle of New England
• AAA Green Car Guide Award – pickup truck category (F-150 SuperCab Lariat)
• TFLtruck 2015 TFL Gold Hitch Award – half-ton/light-duty category (2.7-liter V6)
• AutoPacific 2015 Vehicle Satisfaction Award – light-duty pickup category (second highest owner score ever and highest truck rating ever)
• AutoPacific 2015 Best in Class Ideal Vehicle – overall winner
• Altair and Center for Automotive Research Altair Enlighten Award
•  J.D. Power and Associates J.D. Power APEAL – large light-duty pickup category
• Consumer Electronics Show 2016 Innovation Award – Best of Innovation honoree in vehicle intelligence category for Pro Trailer Backup Assist^™
• Vicentric 2015 Best Certified Pre-Owned Value in America^™ – full-size half-ton pickup category

Happy Thanksgiving!

"It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy." 

Have a Very Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Revolutionizing EcoBoost Engine Technology

Can you imagine an engine turbine that can spin faster than a jet liner’s at your beck and call? No need to imagine it. We’ve made it a reality.

With 248,000 RPM, a 1.0L EcoBoost engine compressor turbine can exceed turbine engine revolutions on jet liners without the bulk or the weight. We don’t call EcoBoosts small but mighty just because!

How Sevyn Streeter Goes Further | Ford Explorer

Take a trip with recording star Sevyn Streeter, as she drives through Malibu taking about her passion, her story and what inspires her to “Go Further” in the Ford Explorer.

Reaching the home stretch in the new 2016 Ford Explorer

The adventure continues as the Collins family nears their final destination of Portland, Maine. Along the way they meet up with world famous rock climber, Jimmy Chin. They also take time to reflect upon the journey and its influence on their future.

Many Benefits of the Ford Transit Cutaway with 14' Van Body

Please turn sound up!

Paul Brown of Geweke Ford in Yuba City CA shows off the new Ford Transit Cutaway chassis with a 14' Dry Van installed. Compared to the old Econoline Cutaway, this modern chassis has a more efficient and smaller engine with more horsepower and better economy. It sits lower to the ground so it is easier to get in and out of and for more effective loading and unloading in the Van Body too. That's just a few of the benefits of this new design.

See more at http://www.geweketrucks.com

Ford Launching Technology-Packed New Escape; More Connectivity, Innovative Features Make Driving Safer, Easier

• New Ford Escape gives SUV customers even more of what they want – additional innovative features to make their daily drive safer and easier, greater connectivity, two new EcoBoost^® engines and technology that saves fuel in heavy traffic
• Escape is first Ford vehicle in the world with SYNC^® Connect – customers can unlock and lock their doors, start engine, even locate vehicle through smartphone app
• Driver-assist technologies including enhanced active park assist, lane-keeping system, and adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support make driving easier and safer
• Environmentally friendly Auto Start-Stop standard with Escape’s two new EcoBoost engines – a 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter twin-scroll; technology shuts off engine in common stops so the vehicle uses no gas, improving fuel economy by 4 percent to 6 percent in stop-and-go traffic

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2015 – The popular Ford Escape SUV is newly engineered to make customers feel unstoppable – with even more driver-assist technologies to help enable safer and easier driving, new mobile connectivity that allows owners to interact with their vehicle from anywhere through a smartphone app, and two new efficient EcoBoost^® engines.

The new Escape is the first Ford vehicle in the world with available SYNC^® Connect, allowing users to unlock doors, check fuel level and even locate where a vehicle is parked.

To help drivers feel more confident behind the wheel, driver-assist technologies available for the new Escape include adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support, a lane-keeping system and enhanced active park assist. That’s all packed in a vehicle that has been redesigned from the inside out, including a driver and front passenger area upgraded with more storage space and mobile device charge ports.

“The compact SUV segment is the largest and most competitive in the United States, and the new Escape delivers even more of what our customers want – more technology they can really use to make their daily drive safer and easier,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas.

SYNC Connect keeps drivers in touch with remote vehicle access

Need to lock your new Escape from across town? There is an app for that.
With SYNC Connect, owners can remotely start their vehicle and schedule future starts, as well as lock and unlock their Escape using their smartphones. The technology provides vehicle location, as well as key vehicle information such as tire pressures, battery and fuel levels.

SYNC Connect, available with SYNC^® 3 for the new Escape, comes with complimentary activation for five years. A user enables the system through a two-step authentication process designed to protect personal information. SYNC 3 features faster performance, conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface.

Driver-assist technologies SUV drivers want

Other driver-assist features available help make the daily commute safer and easier for drivers of the new Ford Escape:

• ·Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support: Sensors detect when Escape is approaching a slow-moving vehicle, and adjust cruise control accordingly
• Enhanced active park assist: Provides steering assistance to park the vehicle in a parallel or reverse perpendicular parking spot, and pull out from tight parallel parking spots; driver controls brake, accelerator and shifter. Technology includes side park distance control
• Lane-keeping system: The system includes lane-keeping alert, which alerts drivers when they drift unintentionally from their lane, and lane-keeping aid, which provides steering assistance to guide an unintentionally drifting vehicle back into its lane 
• Driver Alert System: Using data from the lane-keeping system, the Driver Alert System can detect signs of fatigued driving and provide a warning on the instrument cluster

Already available driver-assist features for the new Escape include:

• Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert: BLIS^® can alert drivers when a vehicle enters the defined blind spot in a neighboring lane. An indicator light provides a warning in the side mirror corresponding to the side on which the vehicle is approaching
• Hill-start assist: The feature holds the vehicle stationary on a hill long enough for the driver to transition from brake to gas pedal
• Auto high-beam control: System automatically switches from high to low beams, and vice versa, depending on ambient lighting
• Hands-free, foot-activated liftgate: Opens liftgate with the simple kick of a key fob-carrying customer’s foot beneath rear bumper – perfect for those whose hands are loaded with gear

Two new EcoBoost engines with Auto Start-Stop

Escape is the first Ford vehicle to make Auto Start-Stop standard with either of two EcoBoost engines new to the model – a 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter twin-scroll. The technology senses when the vehicle is sitting idle and shuts off the engine to conserve fuel, resulting in a 4 percent to 6 percent improvement in fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic. The engine restarts automatically – in less than half a second – when the driver releases the brake pedal.

“Auto Start-Stop is the equivalent of turning off the lights when you leave a room, or turning off a water faucet when you’re done washing dishes,” said Milton Wong, Escape chief engineer. “It’s a high-tech approach to more efficient driving.”

Escape SE and Titanium trim levels come standard with the new 1.5-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost, while the powerful new twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost is optional. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line, with new paddle-shift technology available for Escape SE and Titanium.

The twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost delivers 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, along with greater efficiency and improved noise, vibration and harshness performance. New pistons provide a higher, more efficient compression ratio, and a newly designed, integrated exhaust manifold is optimized for the twin-scroll turbo system.

The aluminum-block, twin-cam 1.5-liter EcoBoost with integrated exhaust manifold is projected to deliver horsepower and torque output comparable to the 1.6-liter – an expected 180 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque.

Along with the new EcoBoost offerings, the 2.5-liter i-VCT four-cylinder engine carries over as standard equipment for the Escape S series.

Three trim levels, with new Sport Appearance Package

Escape customers can continue to select from S, SE and Titanium trim levels, as well as a new Sport Appearance Package available for SE and Titanium.

Charcoal Black with subtle Deep Space black trim is available for Escape Titanium. Salerno leather seats feature a unique horizontal pattern. Titanium customers can also opt for Medium Stone seats to contrast with the black interior.

Escape will be offered in three new colors – Canyon Ridge, White Gold and Lightning Blue. Six new wheel designs are also available.

Built to lead in a growing segment

Overall SUV sales continue to trend higher – both in North America and around the world. SUVs now account for about one third of the U.S. auto industry, a number Ford projects will grow to 40 percent by 2020. In the United States, SUV sales are expected to exceed 5 million units in 2015 for the first time ever.

Small SUVs play an increasingly larger role, and Escape remains one of the most popular. Since its launch in 2000, more than 3 million units have been sold in the United States, including a record 306,212 Escape vehicles in North America in 2014. Ford expects Escape sales this year will exceed that figure.

Ford Launching Technology-Packed New Escape; More Connectivity, Innovative Features Make Driving Safer, Easier

• New Ford Escape gives SUV customers even more of what they want – additional innovative features to make their daily drive safer and easier, greater connectivity, two new EcoBoost^® engines and technology that saves fuel in heavy traffic
• Escape is first Ford vehicle in the world with SYNC^® Connect – customers can unlock and lock their doors, start engine, even locate vehicle through smartphone app
• Driver-assist technologies including enhanced active park assist, lane-keeping system, and adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support make driving easier and safer
• Environmentally friendly Auto Start-Stop standard with Escape’s two new EcoBoost engines – a 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter twin-scroll; technology shuts off engine in common stops so the vehicle uses no gas, improving fuel economy by 4 percent to 6 percent in stop-and-go traffic

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2015 – The popular Ford Escape SUV is newly engineered to make customers feel unstoppable – with even more driver-assist technologies to help enable safer and easier driving, new mobile connectivity that allows owners to interact with their vehicle from anywhere through a smartphone app, and two new efficient EcoBoost^® engines.

The new Escape is the first Ford vehicle in the world with available SYNC^® Connect, allowing users to unlock doors, check fuel level and even locate where a vehicle is parked.

To help drivers feel more confident behind the wheel, driver-assist technologies available for the new Escape include adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support, a lane-keeping system and enhanced active park assist. That’s all packed in a vehicle that has been redesigned from the inside out, including a driver and front passenger area upgraded with more storage space and mobile device charge ports.

“The compact SUV segment is the largest and most competitive in the United States, and the new Escape delivers even more of what our customers want – more technology they can really use to make their daily drive safer and easier,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas.

SYNC Connect keeps drivers in touch with remote vehicle access

Need to lock your new Escape from across town? There is an app for that.

With SYNC Connect, owners can remotely start their vehicle and schedule future starts, as well as lock and unlock their Escape using their smartphones. The technology provides vehicle location, as well as key vehicle information such as tire pressures, battery and fuel levels.

SYNC Connect, available with SYNC^® 3 for the new Escape, comes with complimentary activation for five years. A user enables the system through a two-step authentication process designed to protect personal information. SYNC 3 features faster performance, conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface.

Driver-assist technologies SUV drivers want

Other driver-assist features available help make the daily commute safer and easier for drivers of the new Ford Escape:

• ·Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support: Sensors detect when Escape is approaching a slow-moving vehicle, and adjust cruise control accordingly
• Enhanced active park assist: Provides steering assistance to park the vehicle in a parallel or reverse perpendicular parking spot, and pull out from tight parallel parking spots; driver controls brake, accelerator and shifter. Technology includes side park distance control
• Lane-keeping system: The system includes lane-keeping alert, which alerts drivers when they drift unintentionally from their lane, and lane-keeping aid, which provides steering assistance to guide an unintentionally drifting vehicle back into its lane 
• Driver Alert System: Using data from the lane-keeping system, the Driver Alert System can detect signs of fatigued driving and provide a warning on the instrument cluster

Already available driver-assist features for the new Escape include:

• Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert: BLIS^® can alert drivers when a vehicle enters the defined blind spot in a neighboring lane. An indicator light provides a warning in the side mirror corresponding to the side on which the vehicle is approaching
• Hill-start assist: The feature holds the vehicle stationary on a hill long enough for the driver to transition from brake to gas pedal
• Auto high-beam control: System automatically switches from high to low beams, and vice versa, depending on ambient lighting
• Hands-free, foot-activated liftgate: Opens liftgate with the simple kick of a key fob-carrying customer’s foot beneath rear bumper – perfect for those whose hands are loaded with gear

Two new EcoBoost engines with Auto Start-Stop

Escape is the first Ford vehicle to make Auto Start-Stop standard with either of two EcoBoost engines new to the model – a 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter twin-scroll. The technology senses when the vehicle is sitting idle and shuts off the engine to conserve fuel, resulting in a 4 percent to 6 percent improvement in fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic. The engine restarts automatically – in less than half a second – when the driver releases the brake pedal.

“Auto Start-Stop is the equivalent of turning off the lights when you leave a room, or turning off a water faucet when you’re done washing dishes,” said Milton Wong, Escape chief engineer. “It’s a high-tech approach to more efficient driving.”

Escape SE and Titanium trim levels come standard with the new 1.5-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost, while the powerful new twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost is optional. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line, with new paddle-shift technology available for Escape SE and Titanium.

The twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost delivers 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, along with greater efficiency and improved noise, vibration and harshness performance. New pistons provide a higher, more efficient compression ratio, and a newly designed, integrated exhaust manifold is optimized for the twin-scroll turbo system.

The aluminum-block, twin-cam 1.5-liter EcoBoost with integrated exhaust manifold is projected to deliver horsepower and torque output comparable to the 1.6-liter – an expected 180 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque.

Along with the new EcoBoost offerings, the 2.5-liter i-VCT four-cylinder engine carries over as standard equipment for the Escape S series.

Three trim levels, with new Sport Appearance Package

Escape customers can continue to select from S, SE and Titanium trim levels, as well as a new Sport Appearance Package available for SE and Titanium.

Charcoal Black with subtle Deep Space black trim is available for Escape Titanium. Salerno leather seats feature a unique horizontal pattern. Titanium customers can also opt for Medium Stone seats to contrast with the black interior.

Escape will be offered in three new colors – Canyon Ridge, White Gold and Lightning Blue. Six new wheel designs are also available.

Built to lead in a growing segment

Overall SUV sales continue to trend higher – both in North America and around the world. SUVs now account for about one third of the U.S. auto industry, a number Ford projects will grow to 40 percent by 2020. In the United States, SUV sales are expected to exceed 5 million units in 2015 for the first time ever.

Small SUVs play an increasingly larger role, and Escape remains one of the most popular. Since its launch in 2000, more than 3 million units have been sold in the United States, including a record 306,212 Escape vehicles in North America in 2014. Ford expects Escape sales this year will exceed that figure.

New Ford SYNC Connect Technology: Owners Can Lock, Unlock, Start, Locate Vehicle Using Smartphone

• Building on SYNC^®, Ford adds connected vehicle capability with new SYNC Connect, enabling drivers to access their vehicles using a smartphone app
  

• New Escape is the first Ford vehicle in the world with available SYNC Connect, helping owners interact with their vehicle from anywhere; technology debuts in the spring, allowing users to unlock doors, check fuel level, even locate where a vehicle is parked
  

• SYNC Connect comes with complimentary five years of service
  

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2015 – With SYNC^® Connect, Ford is enhancing its connected car capability – now making it easier for customers to use by providing remote access to their vehicle features via a smartphone app.

“New SYNC Connect provides convenience to Ford owners through an easy-to-use app,” said Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services. “The technology helps you seamlessly integrate your vehicle into your lifestyle. Get locked out? Cold outside? Forget where you parked? No problem. Just use your smartphone.”

SYNC Connect makes its global debut in the spring in the new Ford Escape, with other vehicles to follow. The app is connected to a built-in modem in the vehicle – allowing owners to remotely access features via their smartphones.

Vehicle features SYNC Connect users can remotely access are:

• Lock and unlock
  
• Remote start, including scheduling a future start: You need to leave at 8 a.m., so you program a remote start for 7:50 a.m., then get in to a running, warm car and drive away comfortably and on time
  
• Vehicle status, including fuel, oil and battery levels, along with tire pressure readings
  
• Vehicle location – where your car is parked is displayed on a map
  

Owners enable SYNC Connect through a two-step authentication process to protect personal information, confirming setup on the vehicle touch screen and on the mobile application.
SYNC Connect plays a key role in Ford Smart Mobility – Ford’s plan to deliver the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. The technology provides the next step forward in enhanced vehicle connectivity, and the foundation for greater capabilities in the future.

SYNC Connect comes with complimentary service from Ford for five years.

Now in 12 million vehicles globally, Ford SYNC is the industry’s first system to widely and most affordably offer voice-activated technology to control smartphones. New-generation SYNC 3 features fast performance, conversational voice recognition, smartphone-like touch screen, and easy-to-understand graphical interface for a growing number of Ford vehicles in North America.

Best Seats in the House Might Actually Be in the Car, Thanks to Ford's Innovative Front Seat Architecture

• Ford’s innovative front seat architecture allows for easier implementation of features that provide maximum vehicle comfort – such as multi-adjusting, massage, and heating and cooling functionality
  

• Nearly 90 percent of Ford vehicles in North America use the common front seat architecture – from the compact Focus to the popular full-size F-150 pickup
  

• Designed in-house at Ford, common seat structure was introduced in North America with 2013 Escape and Fusion; most recent application can be seen in 2016 Explorer, with Platinum edition featuring 10-way adjustable seats
  

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 16, 2015 – There are many differences between driving a Ford Focus and an F-150 pickup, but both vehicles share one important feature – the comfort of their front seats.

Thanks to an innovative design, the seats are multi-adjustable, with features such as thigh extensions and lumbar support. Helping to reduce muscle fatigue and promoting blood flow on longer journeys, the seats can provide a subtle massage for thighs and lower back.

Further adding to comfort, the seats can warm or cool the driver and front seat passenger.

Those and many other comfort features are in large part attributable to Ford’s global front seat architecture – which debuted on the 2013 Escape and Fusion – and has since migrated to most of the company’s lineup in North America. The innovation serves as the basis for Ford’s best-in-class ranking for overall front seat comfort among full-line manufacturers in North America.

“There was skepticism as to whether building a seat structure to fit all vehicle sizes could be done,” said Johnathan Line, Ford global advanced seats innovation supervisor and technical expert. “The trick was to turn our focus away from the vehicles, and concentrate instead on our customers.”

The science behind front seat comfort

In the design and engineering phase, the seat team focused on items such as “H-points” and “hip-to-heel” dimensions.

These ratios represent the science that goes into creating in-vehicle comfort. Seats are designed to better cradle passengers at the hip and to prevent sliding while driving. Side bolsters and seat cushions allow more freedom of movement so drivers feel less confined.

The Ford seat team refers to the surfaces passengers touch and feel as ‘top hats’ – leather or cloth seat covers atop foam padding. But beneath each top hat is a seat skeleton that serves as the basis for Ford’s steadily climbing rankings for comfort.

Taking cues from the office furniture and first-class air travel industries, the Ford front seat architecture is ergonomically designed to ensure each seat cradles an occupant comfortably, snug in certain places with freedom to move in others. Dan Ferretti, Ford global seats senior technical leader, highlights the commonalities and differences between seats various environments.

“Our seats are designed to hold people where they want to be held, but without being restricting,” Ferretti said. “For example, the side bolsters are tapered, which allows a driver to have better movement of their arms and legs.”

Plug-and-play design sets Ford seats apart

At the heart of the structure is an innovative two-piece design that consists of cushion and back frame modules – both scalable parts. These Ford-engineered parts are joined with four purchased fasteners at the back-to-cushion interfaces. They come together in a plug-and-play fashion to support more than 30 seat configurations showcasing 20-plus comfort and convenience features, including:

• Inflatable lumbar, bolster and massage bladders
  
• Two-way adjustable lumbar support
  
• Heating and cooling
  
• Upper back tilt
  
• Cushion extensions
  
• Integrated cushion suspension
  
• Upper back bolsters
  
• Independent thigh supports
  

“The plug-and-play design is really what sets this system apart,” Ferretti said. “It enables the democratization of technology, so we’re able to make more features available to more people.”

The seat structure is mounted using rails of varying height, which makes it best suited to a vehicle’s interior environment. A variety of floor-mounting pieces allows for innovative under-seat storage solutions.

Along with the comfort benefit, the high-strength steel frame and laser welding brings weight savings too, meaning improved fuel efficiency for customers. It eliminates more than 50 components, and weighs about 30 percent less than previous seat structures.

Since the debut of the common seat architecture, the number of seat systems in Ford vehicles in North America has gone from 26 to four. The structure is now used on nearly 90 percent of the company’s vehicles in North America, where by 2016 Ford expects it to be on 4 million vehicles. It is gradually rolling out globally.

The most recent application can be seen on the new 2016 Ford Explorer – enabling 10-way seat adjustability, massage, and heating and cooling functionality for customers of the Platinum edition.