2016 FORD TRENDS - Waste Not, Want Not

Looking beyond the auto industry to comprehend what’s happening in social, technological, economic, environmental and political arenas, Looking Further with Ford is a compilation of global research offering a blueprint for understanding how trends are expected to influence products and brands for 2016 and beyond.

#Ford #Mustang Is Best-Selling Sports Coupe Globally; Customer Demand for Iconic Pony Car Continues to Rise

• Ford Mustang was the top-selling sports coupe worldwide in 2015, according to IHS Automotive registration data
• Ford sold around 110,000 Mustang Coupes and around 30,000 Mustang Convertibles in 2015; Mustang was the only sports coupe globally to sell more than 100,000 units last year
• Once a North American phenomenon, Mustang is now on sale in 140 markets, including Australia, where it was sold out through 2017 before receiving an extra allotment of cars

DEARBORN, Mich., April 20, 2016 – In its first year of global availability, Ford Mustang became the world’s best-selling sports coupe. Demand for the iconic pony car remains insatiable.

According to company analysis of the most recent registration data from IHS Automotive, Ford sold around 110,000 Mustang Coupes globally in 2015 – topping all other sports coupe competitors.

That record was achieved despite limited availability for most of the year in such key markets like China and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Ford sold around 30,000 Mustang Convertibles, for total nameplate sales of 141,868 vehicles – making Mustang far and away the best-selling two-door sports car in the world.

“U.S. consumers have enjoyed interesting foreign sports cars for decades, so it was time for the Americans to return the favor with the worldwide launch of the new Mustang,” says Erich Merkle, Ford sales analyst. “Global markets have responded in a huge way. Ford Mustang was the only sports coupe in the world with more than 100,000 units registered last year.”

Global data for 2015 suggests Mustang has room to grow overseas this year as many markets begin to take delivery of their full allotment. So far, Merkle notes, global customers are most interested in V8-equipped Mustangs.

“While much of the growth in Mustang demand in the United States has come from coastal markets – especially Southern California – and millennials opting for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost^® engine, buyers in other countries prefer the V8,” he says. “That unmistakable V8 warble is a hot commodity outside the U.S.”

Mustang in Europe, Middle East and Africa
 
To date, more than 16,600 customers in Europe have ordered a Ford Mustang, which went on sale there last summer. Shipments from Flat Rock Assembly Plant, exclusive production home to Mustang, began in the latter half of 2015. Of the 13,000 sold last year, 4,700 are now in customer hands.

Several significant markets, including United Kingdom, began selling Mustang in the fourth quarter. Total sales there top 3,500 cars, with the first 1,000 pony cars delivered to customers in March.

In Germany, Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe in March, according to data published by German Federal Motor Transport Authority, KBA. Despite relatively high gas prices, the 5.0-liter V8 is the No. 1 engine choice in Germany. The country also has the highest international take-rate for the convertible model, with one in three sales.

Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe last month in France, according to data from the Association Auxilliaire de l’Automobile. Ford sold 339 Mustangs in France in first-quarter 2016.
Incremental sales in South Africa, Cyprus and Malta are helping boost Mustang volume.

EcoBoost, V8 pony cars are big in Asia
 
In fourth-quarter 2015, Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe in China as exports made their way to dealerships in volume, according to IHS registration data. Buyers in China favor EcoBoost versions.

In its first three months on sale in Australia, Mustang ranks as the best-selling sports coupe. Demand is so strong, the pony car was initially sold out through 2017, but an additional 2,000 Mustangs are slated to ship Down Under by the end of this year.

More than 90 percent of buyers in Australia and New Zealand are opting for the V8 version.

Mustang maintains leadership in North America
 
In March, Mustang sales of 12,563 cars in the United States outperformed sales of 12,248 for the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger combined, according to published figures. Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe in the U.S. for all of 2015 and through the first quarter of 2016, according to industry-reported numbers.

In Canada, Mustang sales leadership is nothing new; it has outsold Camaro every year since 1985, according to data from the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association. Ford has the best-selling sports coupe in Canada.

And in Mexico, Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe last year, according to IHS registration data. Mustang sales were up 176 percent in Mexico in 2015 versus 2014.

Ford Recycles Enough Aluminum to Build 30,000 F-150 Bodies Every Month

DEARBORN, Mich., April 22, 2016 -- The toughest, smartest, most capable and safest F-150 ever is also the greenest F-150 – thanks to advanced materials like high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy and EcoBoost^® engine technology.

Ford recycles as much as 20 million pounds of aluminum stamping scrap per month using the closed-loop system at Dearborn Truck Plant, which builds F-150. That is the equivalent of more than 30,000 F-150 bodies in the largest configuration – a SuperCrew body including doors, plus hood, tailgate and 6.5-foot cargo box.

Opting for aluminum over steel in new automobile construction is the best way to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, according to Oak Ridge National Lab.

Recycled aluminum avoids 95 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with primary aluminum production. It uses significantly less energy and water – another reason Ford F-150 leads the full-size truck pack in terms of lifetime carbon footprint, according to Automotive Science Group.        


Weight savings from aluminum alloy helps F-150 reduce its lifetime emissions compared to the previous steel-body version. Between 30 percent and 40 percent of a typical aluminum coil is turned into scrap in the stamping process. This is recycled into new metal for the truck using the closed-loop system.

When equipped with the available 2.7-liter EcoBoost with standard Auto Start-Stop technology, F-150 4x2 has best-in-class EPA-estimated gasoline fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined (actual mileage will vary).

F-150 SuperCrew and SuperCab with available collision warning are the only trucks in their class to earn a Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. F-150 also is the only full-size, light-duty truck to earn National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s highest rating, a five-star overall vehicle score and five-star rating for driver and passenger for all crash test modes and cab configurations – SuperCrew, SuperCab and Regular Cab.[1]

Check out Instagram.com/Ford on Friday – Earth Day – to see the closed-loop recycling process in action.

[1] Government five-star safety ratings are part of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Tests include driver and passenger front, side and side barrier and pole tests.

Ford F-150 Special Service Vehicle Reporting for Duty

• 2016 Ford F-150 Special Service Vehicle package – available for both SuperCrew and SuperCab configurations – tailors the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever to meet the unique needs of government and fleet customers
• Package adds high-output alternator to meet power needs, plus easy-clean rear vinyl bench seating and flooring; a removed center console allows for custom equipment placement
• Along with the Special Service Vehicle package for both F-150 as well as Expedition, Ford offers a Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle and a Special Service Police Sedan to help fulfill the unique needs of law enforcement agencies nationwide

DEARBORN, Mich., April 19, 2016 – Government and fleet customers – including law enforcement and roadside assistance providers – require the toughest, smartest, most capable vehicles for their work, so Ford offers a Special Service Vehicle package for the 2016 F-150 to meet their rigorous needs.

F-150 Special Service Vehicle gives fleets a selection of configurations so customers can pick what best suits their needs. Available in XL trim for either F-150 SuperCrew or SuperCab configuration, customers can opt for the package in a 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrain, along with the 5.0-liter V8 or high-torque 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine to ensure there is never a lack of power.

Law enforcement and fleet work can get messy, so trucks equipped with the package replace carpeting with easy-to-clean vinyl flooring. The rear seat is swapped out for a vinyl bench for quick cleanup.

A high-output 240-amp alternator replaces the stock unit to accommodate for extended idle times. Standard 40/20/40 seats are replaced with 40/blank/40 seats, with the center section deleted to create more space for customization.

“Many officers need the extra space F-150 Special Service Vehicle offers,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police marketing manager. “They can load the cargo box with equipment and still fit five people inside. Its utility is unmatched.”

Law enforcement makes up a large portion of Special Service Vehicle purchases, so Ford added F-150 to satisfy a complete range of police needs.

“We offer a whole family of police vehicles,” said Arie Groeneveld, Ford chief program engineer for police vehicles. “Our lineup aims to fulfill the unique needs of law enforcement officers, and our F-150 Special Service Vehicle is an extension of that offering. This vehicle definitely lives up to its Built Ford Tough reputation.”

The following Ford vehicles are available for law enforcement use:

• F-150 Special Service Vehicle
• Expedition Special Service Vehicle
• Special Service Police Sedan
• Transit Prisoner Transport Vehicle
• Police Interceptor Sedan
• Police Interceptor Utility

2016 Pink October

GUYS! It's practically almost OCTOBER! Ok, not quite yet, but you must admit that the year is flying by at lighting speed! So, in my best samaritan way possible I am giving you this public service announcement that October will be here before we know it! And, when the last week of September rolls around and everyone else is rushing to register for Pink October's Race for Awareness, you will be thanking me that I wrote this post to REGISTER NOW!

REGISTER HERE!

Race registration is OPEN and the cheapest it will get! At only $25 to register individually and $120 for a team of 8, why delay? At 19 years and going strong, this is one of the best days in our community (in my humble opinion). Community members of all shapes, sizes, ages and barks (dogs are OK!) come together to do a quick 5K and raise funds for women in our community who are battling female forms of cancer. YES - 100% of the funds stay local to help Yuba-Sutter WOMEN with breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine and other female forms of cancer.

Only 1 Pickup Earns Top Safety Rating - IIHS News

Ford F-­150 is the only pickup to earn top safety rating for small overlap protection

RUCKERSVILLE, Va. — Three out of seven large pickup trucks evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in a new round of crash tests earn an acceptable or higher rating for occupant protection in a small overlap front crash.

IIHS evaluated two body styles of each 2016 model-­year pickup — crew cab and extended cab. Crew cabs have four full doors and two full rows of seating. Extended cabs have two full front doors, two smaller rear doors and compact second-­row seats.

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.

FordPass with SYNC Connect Debuts on New Ford Escape Arriving at Dealers in May

• New Ford Escape brings to market available FordPass^® with SYNC^® Connect – allowing drivers to lock, unlock and locate their vehicle, and to schedule remote starts and check fuel level via a smartphone app
• 2017 Escape is first Ford vehicle to offer SYNC 3 with support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – allowing drivers to seamlessly integrate their favorite devices
• SYNC Connect is enabled through FordPass platform, which is part of Ford Smart Mobility initiative to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics

LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2016 – For 16 years, Ford Escape has been a leader in the popular small SUV segment by bringing the latest in advanced technologies to customers.

The 2017 Escape will continue that leadership when it arrives in showrooms in May, featuring available SYNC^® Connect technology that gives FordPass^® members remote access to their vehicle from their mobile device.

SYNC Connect enables drivers to use the new FordPass platform to lock, unlock and locate their Escape, as well as schedule remote starts and check fuel level. SYNC Connect is included in the Technology Package on Escape SE and is a standard offering on Escape Titanium.

“SYNC Connect provides the convenience customers want,” said Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services. “It was designed with the customer as the focus – everything the technology does is intended to improve the vehicle-owning experience.”

Owners enable SYNC Connect through a two-step verification process to protect personal information, confirming setup on both the app and vehicle touch screen. The service is provided for five years at no cost to customers.

SYNC Connect makes its global debut on the 2017 Ford Escape, followed by the new Ford Fusion later this year. The platform will then migrate to the rest of the Ford lineup.

New Escape adds even more driver-assist technologies
 
The new Escape features available driver-assist technologies that enhance safety and convenience. These include:

• Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support: Sensors detect when Escape is approaching a slow-moving vehicle and automatically apply the brakes – slowing the vehicle as needed
• Enhanced active park assist: Provides steering assistance to park the vehicle in a parallel or perpendicular parking spot, and to pull out from tight parallel parking spots with the driver controlling brake, accelerator and shifter. The technology includes side park distance control
• Lane-keeping system: The system includes lane-keeping alert to alert drivers when they drift unintentionally from their lane, and lane-keeping aid to provide steering assistance to guide an unintentionally drifting vehicle back into its lane 
• Driver Alert System: Using data from the lane-keeping system, Driver Alert can detect signs of fatigued driving and provide a warning on the instrument cluster, as well as a steering wheel vibration

Three series, new Sport Appearance Package
 
Customers can continue to select from S, SE and Titanium models, as well as a new Sport Appearance Package available for Escape SE and Escape Titanium.

Across the lineup, the new Escape has been redesigned from the inside out. The new interior dramatically enhances ergonomics and storage, emphasizing comfort and convenience for driver and front passenger, while the redesigned exterior leans toward the nameplate’s capable SUV heritage.

Replacing the bulky, hand-actuated parking brake with a modern, push-button electronic system enabled Ford designers to rework the center console area. The gear shifter has been moved rearward for improved access to climate controls on the center stack, while an added storage bin offers easy access to a lighted USB port and a covered power outlet to charge and store electronic devices.

“Our interior redesign was driven by what our customers were telling us,” said Milton Wong, Ford Escape chief engineer. “We considered every detail, listened to our customers, and made a significantly better Escape.”

The center console introduces improved cupholders designed to accommodate cups of all sizes. Two new bins, in front of and behind the cupholders, add storage, and the center armrest has been extended for added comfort for driver and passenger.

An all-new steering wheel features easy-to-work buttons to control audio, adaptive cruise control and SYNC 3 voice command systems. A new “swing-bin” glove box offers easier access to stored items.
Escape Titanium features a Charcoal Black interior with subtle Deep Space black trim. Leather seats, featuring Salerno leather trim, show a unique horizontal pattern. Titanium customers can also opt for Medium Stone seats to contrast with the black interior.

The redesigned hood and raised trapezoidal upper grille set a wider stance – evoking a more prominent feel for the front of the new Escape. The grille is flanked by updated headlamps with low-beam projector lenses. Signature LED daytime running lamps are available for Escape SE and are included on Escape Titanium. The lamps can double as parking lamps at night. Bi-functional HID projector headlamps and speed-dependent cornering halogen lamps are available for Titanium as well.

The new Sport Appearance Package offers customers such unique features as:

• 19-inch Ebony Black painted wheels
• Ebony Black high-gloss painted upper grille
• Piano Black high-gloss fog lamp bezels
• Ebony Black high-gloss painted side vents
• Absolute Black painted mirror caps
• Darkened headlamp and taillamp trim

Standard Auto Start-Stop with two new EcoBoost engines
 
The availability of Auto Start-Stop on the 2017 Escape marks the technology’s first high-volume appearance, a standard offering with either of two EcoBoost^® engines new to Escape – a 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter twin-scroll. It’s already available on F-150 equipped with 2.7-liter EcoBoost, Focus with 1.0-liter EcoBoost, Fusion with 1.5-liter EcoBoost and Edge with 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost.

The new 1.5-liter EcoBoost with Auto Start-Stop is standard on Escape SE and Escape Titanium. The technology shuts off the engine during common stops, so the vehicle burns no gas and emits zero tailpipe emissions. The engine restarts automatically – in less than half a second – when the driver releases the brake pedal.

A six-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line, with new paddle-shift technology available for Escape SE and Escape Titanium.

Both the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost engines are available with Ford’s intelligent four-wheel-drive system that monitors traction and road conditions every 16 milliseconds. The system can transfer up to 100 percent of torque from front to rear wheels, constantly adjusting to road conditions to relieve driver stress and increase confidence by keeping the vehicle on its intended path.

When equipped with the 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost and Class II Tow Package, Escape can tow an impressive 3,500 pounds. Trailer sway control works to help keep both the vehicle and the trailer under control if sway is detected.

Horsepower and torque figures for the new EcoBoost engines are impressive. The 1.5-liter produces 179 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque; the 2.0-liter delivers 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, which tops all four-cylinder competitors in the compact utility segment.

The 1.5-liter EcoBoost is EPA-rated at 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined on front-wheel-drive-equipped Escape; and at 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with four-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost is rated at 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with front-wheel drive; and at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined with four-wheel drive.

“With the most powerful four-cylinder engine in its segment and available Auto Start-Stop, Escape now delivers the perfect balance of performance, efficiency and capability,” said Wong.

Ford Donates Customized Transit Van to Support The Salvation Army's Disaster Relief Efforts

DETROIT, April 15, 2016 – Ford Motor Company is helping The Salvation Army better respond to emergencies in Southeast Michigan with a customized Ford Transit van.

The Transit will serve as a disaster response unit as part of The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division Emergency Disaster Services’ canteen fleet. A similar Transit will be donated by Ford in Kansas City.

The disaster services volunteer team responds to calls for help from local authorities, and provides food, beverages, blankets, clothing, temporary shelter, communications support, emergency lighting, clean-up kits and comfort to victims and families of major disasters. The team also aids police, firefighters and other first responders at the emergency scene.

“Assisting with disaster relief is an important part of our mission to serve the communities where we live and work,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford. “The flexibility of the Ford Transit van makes it a great fit for The Salvation Army’s emergency response fleet.”

Ford has a long history of supporting disaster relief, as well as The Salvation Army.

The sleek design of the Ford Transit canteen will enable volunteer responders to more easily maneuver the tight spaces that emergency scenes – such as house fires or weather-related situations – can sometimes present.

The 2016 Ford Transit 350 cargo van has a high roof that enables someone 6 feet, 9 inches tall to stand upright inside. Custom elements include emergency LED strobe lighting in the grille and roof, plus sirens and external speakers. A generator and ham radio antenna will help keep The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team connected during a disaster.

The extended-wheelbase van offers more than 487 cubic feet of cargo space to house a custom-installed two-burner stovetop, microwave, coffeemaker, refrigerator, freezer, sink and electric hot water heater. Further food service upfits include two water tanks, a water pump and countertops. Food will be served through a custom window with a fold-out stainless steel shelf protected by a 10-foot awning.

Fully stocked, the Transit will be able to serve approximately 250 disaster victims and first responder personnel.

LED ceiling lights controlled by four switches will help improve interior visibility at disaster sites. The upfits were completed by Livonia, Michigan-based Technosports Creative.

The dual-rear-wheel van is powered by an available 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost^® engine.

We Own Work: Reinvestment of Weight Savings for the All-New 2017 Ford Super Duty

Follow our group of real-world truck customers as they go behind the scenes to meet with Ford Super Duty experts and engineers to learn how weight savings from the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body were reinvested into other areas of the truck for improved performance and capability.

Upgrades include a fully boxed steel frame, stronger axles, beefed-up suspension, bigger brakes and a higher capacity trailer hitch. These are just some of the reasons the all-new 2017 Super Duty is the toughest, smartest and most capable Super Duty ever.