Final 2012 Polk Data Just In: Ford Focus Is Best-Selling Vehicle Nameplate Worldwide – Ford Takes Three of Top 10

• Ford Focus ranks as the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world, based on Polk global new vehicle registration data for full-year 2012 (global reporting lags three to four months)
• Ford takes three of the top-10 best-sellers, with Ford F-Series – the world’s No. 1-selling pickup – ranked third and Fiesta the best-selling subcompact at sixth overall
• 2013 global sales off to equally strong start as worldwide momentum continues

 

 

DEARBORN, Mich., April 9, 2013 – With final 2012 Polk global market registration data just reporting, Ford Focus is officially the world’s best-selling passenger car, with the Ford F-Series pickup coming in third and Ford Fiesta coming in as the best-selling subcompact.

 

Sales of the compact Focus totaled 1,020,410 cars worldwide according to the automotive data and trends forecasting leader. Market gains for Focus were driven by consumer demand in China and the United States. China registrations were up 51 percent last year, with the market responsible for just more than one out of four Focus vehicles sold globally according to Polk vehicle registration data. U.S. Focus sales were up 40 percent in 2012, also contributing to the car’s global growth.

 

In addition to holding the title of world’s best-selling vehicle overall, Polk data also confirm the Ford Fiesta earned the top spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 723,130 registrations last year. Together, registrations of Ford’s small cars – Fiesta and Focus – totaled 1,743,540 vehicles in 2012, according to Polk.

 

“Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “Our global products are resonating with consumers – especially in the best-selling, most competitive segments – with their unique combination of fuel efficiency, high quality, rich content and fun-to-drive personalities. Through One Ford, we’re able to bring economies of scale and fantastic value to customers all around the world.”

 

Global new vehicle registrations for F-Series totaled 785,630 trucks last year, putting it in the No. 3 spot among all vehicles sold worldwide. F-Series has been America’s best-selling pickup for 36 straight years.

 

“Since its launch in China in late March of last year, Focus sales continue to strengthen, with the car now ranking as the best-selling passenger car in China in 2012 for the first time ever,” Farley said. “With additional manufacturing capacity added last year, we now have a tremendous opportunity to further strengthen our global small car sales in 2013, with sales off to a very strong start already.”

Virtual Walk Around- 2013 Ford Fusion

Think you know everything about the Ford Fusion?

Fuel-efficiency, performance, and technology is only the beginning. Check out our exclusive walk around video highlighting key features about the Ford Fusion!

Ford Announces New 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition

• New Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition answers customer calls for more exclusivity in addition to Raptor’s unmatched off-road capability
• Raptor Special Edition features a unique exterior color, exterior graphics and interior styling
• Raptor Special Edition helps continue Raptor’s sales success 

 

 

DEARBORN, Mich., April 9, 2013 – Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor, the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck, has a new Special Edition package customers can order that adds more unique touches to the hot-selling pickup.

 

Ford today reveals the 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition, which adds unique new touches to Raptor’s existing Luxury Package, including a Ruby Red Metallic exterior color and box-side graphics. Interior upgrades include Brick Red seat bolsters with black inserts and cloth honeycomb highlights, console top finish panel, and center stack and door panel appliqué accents. Raptor Special Edition is also available in Tuxedo Black Metallic.

 

The 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition goes on sale this fall.

 

“Raptor owners are looking for a high-performing, uncompromising off-road pickup truck with the features and luxuries found in today’s premium trucks,” said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Since its launch in 2009, we’ve continually moved Raptor forward in capability and design, and the 2014 Special Edition is the best Raptor yet.”

 

Raptor has found an enviable niche in full-size pickups. SVT Raptor sales are up 14 percent in 2013, with five out of the past six months seeing record sales. More than 13,000 Raptors were sold in 2012.

 

SVT Raptor prowess and power

Since launching as a 2010 model, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has set the benchmark for low- and high-speed off-road performance through aggressive all-terrain tires, industry-exclusive internal triple-bypass FOX Racing Shox^™ dampers, skid plates and standard Hill Descent Control^™.

 

A Raptor development imperative has been continuous improvement, so Ford expanded Raptor’s footprint for 2011 with a four-door SuperCrew model joining the two-door SuperCab original.

 

For 2012 Ford began offering a grille-mounted camera to improve driver visibility when climbing over rocks or other obstacles. The 2012 addition of a Torsen^® limited-slip differential to Raptor’s 4WD system enables the truck to balance traction between both front wheels.

 

For 2013 industry-exclusive beadlock-capable wheels were added to help increase grip in low-traction conditions, along with high-intensity discharge headlamps for improved visibility. SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® was also made available for added connectivity.

 

SVT Raptor is available exclusively with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing best-in-class 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and SelectShift Automatic^® functionality. The 4WD system features electronic shift-on-the-fly capability for the transfer case.

 

The front axle features a Torsen^® differential with 4.10 to 1 gearing. The rear axle is also 4.10 to 1, with an electronic-locking differential.

Virtual Walk Around- 2013 Ford F-150

Think you know everything about the Ford F-150?

Fuel-efficiency, performance, and technology is only the beginning. Check out our exclusive walk around video highlighting key features about the Ford F-150! Give us a shout out below on what your favorite feature is!

Virtual Walk Around- 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Think you know everything about the Ford Fusion Hybrid?

Fuel-efficiency, performance, and technology is only the beginning. Check out our exclusive walk around video highlighting key features about the Ford Ford Fusion Hybrid! Give us a shout out below on what your favorite feature is!

Virtual Walk Around- 2013 Ford Focus

Think you know everything about the Ford Focus?

Fuel-efficiency, performance, and technology is only the beginning. Check out our exclusive walk around video highlighting key features about the Ford Focus! Give us a shout out below on what your favorite feature is!

Ford Expands Environmentally Friendly 3-Wet Paint Capacity by 50 Percent Globally in 2013

• Ford is adding four more plants to its network of manufacturing operations that use its industry-leading 3-Wet paint process; the process will be added to two facilities in the United States, as well as one in China and one in Spain

• Ford, which was the first automaker to implement the high-solids solvent-borne 3-Wet technology in 2007, currently has eight plants in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe that use the process

• The 3-Wet process has helped Ford reduce CO₂ emissions by 15-25 percent and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 10 percent at those facilities where the process is used; similar reductions are expected at new 3-Wet facilities

DEARBORN, Mich., April 3, 2013 – Ford Motor Company 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. The actions will reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 15-25 percent at those facilities.

 

Ford was the first automaker to implement the 3-Wet high-solids solvent-borne technology in 2007; it now has eight plants in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe equipped to use the process to paint vehicles. High-solids solvent-borne technology refers to a paint formulated to minimize solvents, resulting in a concentrated pigment and resin mixture with fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released. The technology will be in place in 12 plants in 2013 then expand to additional facilities worldwide over the next four years.

 

“The 3-Wet paint process is significantly more advanced than conventional technologies in applying durable paints in a high-quality, environmentally sound and cost-efficient manner,” said Bruce Hettle, director of manufacturing engineering.

 

The 3-Wet process derives its name from three layers of paint applied one after the other prior to earlier coats having cured. The process eliminates stand-alone primer application and a dedicated oven required in the conventional process that was used before. Advanced chemical composition of 3-Wet paint materials allows for the three layers of paint – primer, base coat and clear coat – to be applied while each layer is still wet.

 

The 3-Wet technology process means Ford can maintain the top quality characteristics its customers demand, including long-term durability and chip and scratch resistance.

 

How it works

Enabling the 3-Wet high-solids solvent-borne paint formulation technology is a combination of process and product developed by Ford and its suppliers. Together, they have created a superior system that saves 20-25 percent of process time. Due to the eliminated stand-alone primer application and dedicated oven – both reducing the paint booth size – Ford saves electricity from the blowers that circulate massive volumes of air through paint booths, and reduces its use of natural gas needed to heat the air and ovens. This results in significant reductions of CO₂ emissions, as well as reductions in VOC compared to current medium-solids and solvent-borne paints.

 

Since the pilot launch at Ohio Assembly Plant five years ago, Ford’s global 3-Wet paint process has reduced CO₂ emissions by 15-25 percent and VOC emissions by 10 percent compared to either conventional high-solids solvent-borne or waterborne systems.

 

Locations where Ford is installing the 3-Wet process in 2013:

• Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Flat Rock, Mich.
• Kansas City Assembly Plant, Claycomo, Mo.
• Jiangling Motors Co. Ltd., Jiangxi/Nanchang, China
• Valencia Assembly Plant, Valencia, Spain

Locations with 3-Wet capability in North America:

• Ohio Assembly Plant, Avon Lake, Ohio
• Cuautitlán Assembly Plant, Cuautitlán, Mexico
• Michigan Assembly Plant, Wayne, Mich.
• Louisville Assembly Plant, Louisville, Ky.

Locations with 3-Wet capability in Asia Pacific:

• Chennai Assembly, Tamil Nadu, India
• CAF 2, Chongqing, China
• Ford Thailand Manufacturing, Rayong, Thailand

Location with 3-Wet capability in Europe:

• Craiova Assembly Plant, Craiova, Romania

Fusion, Escape Achieve All-Time Record Sales; Ford Motor Company U.S. Sales Up 6 Percent in March

• Fusion delivers its best-ever sales month and quarter ever, with March sales passing 30,000 and quarterly sales passing the 80,000 mark for the first time in its history 
• Escape posts its best-ever sales month and quarterly sales
• Explorer sales up 33 percent – best monthly sales since the current model debuted in 2010
• America’s best-selling pickup for 36 years, F-Series posts 16 percent increase as full-size pickup segmentation continues to improve versus year ago – best first quarter sales since 2007
• Ford Motor Company March U.S. sales up 6 percent – best sales results since May 2007, with cars even with year ago, utilities up 14 percent and trucks up 6 percent

DEARBORN, Mich., April 2, 2013 – Ford’s newest vehicles – Fusion and Escape – set all-time monthly sales records in March, driving Ford Motor Company’s best U.S. sales results since May 2007.

“Customers are buying our all-new Fusion and Escape in record numbers, and we are working harder than ever to keep pace with demand for these fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Full-size pickup demand continues gaining momentum, outperforming the industry for the third consecutive month.”

Ford Fusion posted an all-time record monthly and quarterly sales volume in March with 30,284 vehicles sold for the month and 80,558 during the first quarter – crossing the 30,000 monthly and 80,000 quarterly vehicle sale thresholds for the first time ever in Fusion sales history.  

Escape had its best sales month ever with 28,934 vehicles sold. This 28 percent increase versus year-ago results marks the best sales performance since Escape’s launch 13 years ago. Escape also posted record quarter sales of 72,983 vehicles, surpassing record third quarter 2012 sales of 72,908 vehicles.

Explorer’s March sales totaled 17,509, representing a 33 percent increase over last year and its best monthly sales performance since the current model was introduced in 2010. Explorer retail sales were up 42 percent over last year, providing it best March retail sales performance since 2005.

With the industry’s March full-size pickup segment estimated to be up 15 percent over last year, America’s best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series sales increased 16 percent to 67,513 pickups in March. This was F-Series 20th straight month of monthly sales increases and represented F-Series’ best March and first quarter sales performance since 2007.  

The company’s overall sales in March were up 6 percent with 236,160 vehicles sold. Cars were even with a year ago, utilities up 14 percent and trucks up 6 percent.

Ford Fusion Minimizes Allergens

New Ford Fusion Minimizes Pollen and 'Touch' Allergens While Monitoring Air Quality Near the Vehicle or Destination

Ford has begun requiring that more than 100 materials and components meet stringent standards to minimize potential allergy issues on the new 2013 Fusion and other new vehicles.

Engineers avoid materials such as latex, chrome and nickel -- a metal that 10 percent of Americans are allergic to -- which can cause allergic reactions

Similar to a furnace filter in a house, cabin air filters in the new Fusion and other Ford vehicles reduce airborne particles such as dust, spores, fungus and pollen from entering the vehicle

 More than half of all Americans test positive to one or more allergens
 

Ford Social - 2013 Fusion at the Chicago Auto Show

Ford Social Citizen Journalist Jim Heldt talks to Ford product specialist Nate Pace at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show about the 2013 Fusion's styling, engines and technology.