We Own Work: Behind the Scenes of the All-New 2017 Ford Super Duty

Five customers were given never-before access to the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever. Hear in their own words why We Own Work.

Meet our team of Insiders recruited directly from industries owned by Super Duty. Hear their questions around the first-ever aluminum heavy duty truck and get ready for a raw, uncensored view of the all-new 2017 Super Duty.

Cleveland Engine Plant Gets $145 Million Upgrade, Creates 150 Jobs for New EcoBoost Engine Production

• Ford investing $145 million to upgrade Cleveland Engine Plant, creating or retaining 150 jobs as part of the company’s commitment to 8,500 jobs and invest $9 billion in its facilities across the United States over the next four years
• Jobs and investment to support production of all-new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine family for 2017 Ford F-150 lineup
• All-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor to feature high-output version of second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, producing more power with greater fuel efficiency

CLEVELAND, Feb. 26, 2016 – Ford is investing $145 million to upgrade its Cleveland Engine Plant – creating or retaining 150 jobs to support strong demand for an all-new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine family for the 2017 Ford F-150 lineup.

The investment in second-generation EcoBoost engine technology is part of the $9 billion commitment the company made in the 2015 Ford-UAW collective bargaining agreement to invest in its U.S. plants. Ford, which has 80,000 U.S. employees, is committed to creating or securing 8,500 hourly jobs in communities across Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York and Ohio over the next four years. Since 2011, Ford has invested more than $10.2 billion in its plants across the United States.

Cleveland Engine Plant produces the current version of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, which powers 2016 Ford F-150, Explorer, Expedition, Transit, Flex and Taurus.

“Ford customers have embraced EcoBoost’s unbeatable combination of power and efficiency, with more than 60 percent of F-150 customers choosing trucks powered by EcoBoost,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “This second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine is another great example of Ford continuously improving and innovating to give these hardworking customers the best engines and trucks we can.”

In addition to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine that has been a success throughout the F-150 lineup, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will be powered by Ford’s all-new second-generation, high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost that produces more power with greater efficiency than the previous 6.2-liter V8. The high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost is a Raptor-exclusive in the F-150 lineup, paired with an all-new 10-speed transmission for improved efficiency.

As the cornerstone of Ford’s global engine strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, EcoBoost engines, introduced in 2009, deliver the same capability as larger-displacement engines, with significantly better fuel economy. EcoBoost uses smaller overall engine size combined with turbocharging, gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing to provide customers the power they want and the fuel economy they need.

“This is very exciting news for the hardworking men and women of Cleveland Engine Plant and the Ohio community as a whole,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. “The team at Cleveland Engine is thrilled to begin building one of the most technologically advanced engines ever designed for the all-new F-150 Raptor.”

Cleveland Engine Plant opened in 1951 and employs more than 1,500 people. It has produced more than 1 million EcoBoost engines since 2009.

Along with the current 3.5-liter EcoBoost for F-150, the plant builds the 2.0-liter EcoBoost for Edge, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost for Explorer, Mustang and Lincoln MKC, as well as the 3.7-liter V6 rear-wheel-drive application for Mustang.

All-new Ford F-150 Raptor
 
The all-new 2017 F-150 Raptor is the toughest, smartest, most capable Raptor ever. It features an all-new purpose-built, high-strength steel frame unique to Raptor, plus a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body that helps save more than 500 pounds versus the previous version for improved off-road performance and capability.

Larger FOX Racing Shox have more suspension travel, plus all-new terrain management technology and the availability of redesigned industry-exclusive beadlock-capable wheels that increase grip in low-traction conditions help F-150 Raptor tackle North America’s toughest trails.

F-150 Raptor will be built at Dearborn Truck Plant. The new truck goes on sale in the United States and Canada this fall.

Ford Culture Collabs: Meet Mike Brown

Mike Brown shares his story of how music moved him to get into designing streetwear – and how this collaboration with Ford allows him an opportunity to share the best of San Francisco with the world.

Unique Mobile Climate and Road Simulators Help Knock Out Squeaks and Rattles in All-New Ford F-Series Super Duty

• Unique mobile climate and road simulators test all-new F-Series Super Duty and other vehicles for squeaks and rattles so Ford can minimize these noises ahead of production
• The company’s eight mobile climate and road simulators are completely portable, allowing Ford to efficiently test prototype vehicles; one unit was moved to Kentucky Truck Plant to conduct noise testing of the all-new Super Duty
• In these mobile labs, vehicles in development are subjected to simulated rough terrain and road surfaces, as well as to extreme differences in humidity and temperature – from 20 degrees below zero to 120 degrees Fahrenheit – to help detect and minimize squeaks and rattles

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 25, 2016 – Ford is using mobile climate and road simulators to minimize squeaks and rattles in the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever.

Rigorous testing with this equipment includes some of the most extreme conditions imaginable. The simulators are known as Transportable Environmental Four Posters, in reference to their 18-wheeler portability and four-point road simulators that sit under each wheel when a vehicle is in the chamber. Ford is the only automaker to use these mobile simulators.

“Mobile climate and road simulators are absolutely key to finding unwanted noises in the early stages of vehicle development,” said Craig Schmatz, Ford F-Series Super Duty chief engineer. “Extreme climates and terrains are especially known for bringing out squeaks and rattles. Identifying and mitigating these noises long before a vehicle goes into production is one more way Ford is working to deliver great vehicle quality.”

In these mobile labs, Ford puts prototype vehicles through their paces on all manner of simulated terrain and road surfaces, as well as in extreme humidity and temperatures ranging from a bone-chilling 20 degrees below zero to a blistering 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thanks to the portability of these simulators, Ford can move them all over the world to test prototypes wherever and whenever a vehicle is undergoing development. To test the all-new Super Duty, Ford moved one of the simulators to Kentucky Truck Plant, which has produced more than 5 million Super Duty trucks since the vehicle was introduced in 1999.

Before the first all-new Super Duty charges off the line, it will have logged more than 12 million cumulative miles of testing – more than any of its predecessors – to ensure the promise of Built Ford Tough.

Controlled environment allows for comprehensive testing

These initially patented mobile climate and road simulators help Ford ensure quality in a way that’s as unique as it is innovative. The ability to perform tests on-site at Ford facilities is immensely more efficient than sending a vehicle to another location and waiting for results. Prototypes undergo testing all the way to production, with the controlled environment allowing trained experts and advanced audio-sensing equipment to identify the causes of noise.

For each vehicle launch, climate and road simulation testing is overseen by a Ford launch engineer and a plant vehicle team engineer who work diligently to prevent squeaks and rattles; for Super Duty, this was Abdul Mohammed and Dave Massengill, respectively. This testing is part of the company’s focus on quiet quality – a motto boldly emblazoned on each of the eight simulators as a reminder.

“Ford takes its commitment to delivering quiet quality seriously – devoting a lot of resources to deploying the best people and tools,” said Vy Tran, Ford North American launch supervisor for squeak and rattle testing. “Ford’s approach to testing for squeaks and rattles, both for Super Duty and other vehicle launches, helps the company put customers behind the wheel of vehicles they can enjoy with their ears as much as their eyes and hands.”

Ford worked with suppliers and other companies to develop the Transportable Environmental Four Posters, which have now been used for more than 100 global vehicle launches.

Aside from full-vehicle testing, Ford also performs component-level testing to help limit squeaks and rattles. For instance, the company subjects instrument panels to shake testing on custom stands called Transportable Instrument Panel Sound Testing Evaluation Rigs.

“Simulator technology has come a long way in helping to reduce noises in vehicles,” said Timothy Wittrock, Ford North American current model supervisor for squeak and rattle testing. “Transportable Environmental Four Poster technology has been instrumental in reducing squeaks and rattles under various operating conditions to deliver a whisper-quiet driving experience for customers.”

Mobile climate and road simulators are but one part of a large suite of tools Ford uses to create high-quality vehicles.

Ford Lights up the Night with Psychology Guiding the Way

• Ford Motor Company lighting innovations are guided by human psychology, as lighting inconsistencies and contrast irregularities can cause irritability and even depression
• First debuting on the Ford F-150, and now available on the new Ford Fusion, the automaker’s Crystal Diamond Light is designed to disperse broad, even lighting that can help reduce irritability while improving efficiency by up to 62 percent – lowering cost and enhancing aesthetics
• Interior lighting is designed with the human eye in mind to offer optimal light perception and good contrast for night vision; because men and women see colors differently, the shade must be universally accepted by the color cones of both sexes

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 24, 2016 – In the niche world of automotive lighting design, decisions are judiciously made with the knowledge that each can impact human psychology.

Consider this familiar scenario:

At the end of a long workday, there is still a traffic-clogged roadway to contend with on the drive home. Fellow commuters are stuck too, growing impatient, irritable, and often distracted. As the minutes tick away, the sky grows darker. By the time the car pulls into the garage, the driver is grumpy, even a bit depressed.

Ford lighting designers and engineers say this irritable mental state is, in part, due to poor automobile lighting and the mechanisms humans rely on for coping. The lighting experts at Ford are working to make life a bit brighter.

“We know that gradients and homogeneity affect people’s moods,” said Arun Kumar, Ford optics expert and design engineer. “We also know the eye wants to focus on contrast changes and other inconsistencies in lighting – it’s an automatic function of the brain that can irritate mood.”

The latest solution is a LED lighting innovation Ford calls Crystal Diamond Light. The lighting improves efficiency up to 62 percent while lowering cost. It also miniaturizes the fixture, an aesthetic desired by designers. The diamond-like facets of the lens offer even, broad distribution of light.

Crystal Diamond Light first debuted on the Ford F-150, and is now migrating to other models, starting with the new Ford Fusion.

“The efficiency of this lighting not only helps to stabilize the psyche, but also has the potential to affect global environmental savings,” said Kumar. “As we democratize this lighting innovation to a broader audience, the impact could be significant, with millions of gallons of fuel potentially saved on a global scale.”

Consideration of human physiology is also a factor with interior lighting.

Around the time the world was preparing for Y2K and the predicted doom that would ensue, Ford began work to update its corporate green interior dash lighting. The mandates included choosing a color that is pleasing to the eye – one that provides a higher quality of lighting, with good contrast for twilight and night vision. And because men and women see some colors differently, the shade had to be universally accepted by the color cones of both sexes.

“Another obvious issue was to design for people who have color deficiencies,” said Shannon O’Day, Ford interactions and ergonomics core engineer. “You can’t use a deep saturated red or green for dash lighting because those are colors people most typically have problems with. Eight percent of the global population has this issue, and most are male.”

Red and green are typically reserved for emergency buttons, such as hazard lighting.

Designers and engineers opted to light the Ford vehicle dashboard in Ice Blue™ – a color more easily seen and perceived as brighter by the human eye, and one that cuts through the clutter, explained O’Day.

While Ice Blue is the color of choice for illuminating the Ford dashboard, an available feature for many Ford vehicles allows customers to change ambient lighting colors with in-car controls.

Still, it’s the physiology that matters most to designers.

“Color is one among many factors that make lighting functional and pleasing,” said O’Day. “In the end, it’s really about the eye, what it perceives, and how it affects the driver.”

Social Journey-Sharing App Wins Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge That Surfaces Fresh Ideas for Future Travel

• Ford names journey-sharing app Jaunt the winner of the Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge – an initiative to use gamification to solve real-life problems in urban mobility
• Winner claims €10,000 top prize for app that helps people save money, make friends, and alleviate congestion by connecting with others for trips by car, bicycle and public transport
• SelfieGo is second with an app that gets commuters on their bikes and on foot with a selfie challenge. Third place went to Flux, an app designed to alleviate congestion through bringing gamification to traffic jams
• Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 24, 2016 – A new app that could make journeys more efficient, more sociable and help to alleviate congestion has been announced the winner of the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge. The creators of journey-sharing app Jaunt were today presented with the €10,000 top prize at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona.

Runner-up SelfieGo, an app designed to make journeys by bicycle and on foot more appealing, and third-placed Flux, an app designed to alleviate congestion through the gamification of traffic jams, were awarded a further €7,500 prize money. Developed with Cologne Game Lab and launched last year at Gamescom, the largest interactive games trade fair in Europe, the Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge invited developers to create game concepts that could solve real-life problems in urban mobility.

Gamification has proven to be an effective way to solve real-life problems in many areas, including the search for a cure for AIDS, and the learnings from the challenge could lead to innovative solutions and new approaches to integrating urban transport, as well as encouraging positive commuter behaviour. Judges for the Ford Smart Mobility Challenge came from Ford, Cologne Game Lab, USC Games Program, Cologne International School of Design, and Turn 10 Studios.

“Game developers have an impressive track record in taking new ways of looking at real-world problems and coming up with fresh solutions, and that is exactly what we wanted to tap into for the Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge,” said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “Jaunt is the perfect example of just such a disruptive approach. Avoiding busy routes by connecting travellers to share trips could help to reduce congestion through ride‑sharing, and makes lives better by helping people to enjoy journeys more – whether travelling by car, bicycle, public transport, or on foot.”

Developed by Ilya Zarembsky and Betsy Medvedovsky, in New York, in the U.S., the Jaunt app enables users to both create journeys and join those created by others for fastest journeys or more scenic routes. An interactive map enables users to filter available “jaunts” by transport mode, location and time, and discover more about their fellow travellers. Sharing trips, the use of different traffic modes, and motivating travellers to use alternative routes will help to ease the pressure on main traffic routes and improve the flow of traffic in city areas.

SelfieGo, from Scotland, uses a GPS-enabled map that shows the optimal route to take selfies at a city’s major attractions, and enables users to share them on social media. The idea is to make travel on foot and by bicycle more interesting. Flux, from Germany, turns traffic jams into a game by encouraging drivers to maintain a steady speed using graphics projected on to the windscreen, helping traffic move more smoothly and preventing accidents.

Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics. Looking for new and innovative ways to solve global transportation issues is integral to Ford’s transformation into an automotive and mobility company, with latest developments outlined by Ford President and CEO Mark Fields earlier this week.

Ford also has embraced gamification to accelerate the development of autonomous technologies and to enhance the Ford ownership experience. Ford’s SmartGauge technology rewards drivers for fuel- and energy-efficient driving, and the MyFord Mobile app enables drivers to remotely manage the charging of their electric vehicles and shows CO2 savings as exercise balls or hot-air balloons. Ford also is using gaming elements in developing MoDe:Link, the prototype journey-planning app that is part of the Handle on Mobility electric bike experiment, demonstrated at Mobile World Congress last year.

Ford Culture Collabs: Meet Va$htie

Get to know Va$htie Kola as she discusses her passion for music, what drives her to DJ and the role Ford plays in bringing artists together for Culture Collabs.

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

Bridj, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Launch Pilot Program to Extend Urban Mobility with Ford Transit Vans

• First U.S. public-private collaboration brings together a major U.S. transit system, an automaker and an urban technology company to enhance existing mass transit by providing greater mobility options to residents of Kansas City
• Ford is exclusive vehicle provider for Ride KC: Bridj because of its commitment to developing smarter transportation systems through its Ford Smart Mobility plan
• By improving access to jobs, one-year pilot program will be a catalyst for social and economic opportunity 

 KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 11, 2016 – Kansas City commuters will be first in the nation to test a unique solution for increased urban mobility.

Urban technology company Bridj is teaming up with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to launch Ride KC: Bridj – a pilot program using a network of locally built Ford Transit vans to provide a new way to access areas of Kansas City that are rich in jobs and housing.

This transformative program is the first U.S. public-private partnership that brings together a major U.S. transit agency, an automaker and an urban technology company with the aim of enhancing Kansas City’s existing mass transit system by providing greater access and mobility to residents.

“Today, we are bringing another transit option to the region with the introduction of microtransit,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “By combining the intelligence of Bridj technology with capable and flexible Ford Transit vehicles, we are creating a seamless and borderless transportation network for our residents that is easy to use, comfortable and affordable.”

Ride KC: Bridj is scheduled to launch in early March. Powered by billions of data points, Bridj’s platform determines where riders want to go and how to get them there most efficiently. Using the Bridj mobile app, riders can request on-demand shuttle service that they can access via pop-up shuttle stations.

“Bridj is thrilled to be the urban technology platform for Ride KC: Bridj,” said Matt George, CEO of Bridj. “Modernizing urban infrastructure will be the single greatest technology challenge of our time, and this pilot is part of the solution by significantly extending the current capabilities of Kansas City’s mass transit system.”

Ford is the exclusive vehicle provider for Ride KC: Bridj because of its commitment to enabling urban mobility through its Ford Smart Mobility plan.

“Our goal is to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves,” said Erica Klampfl, global mobility solutions manager, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “The Ford Smart Mobility plan supports our commitment to innovation, and is aimed specifically at developing smarter mobility services. We are excited that Ford Transit was selected for Ride KC: Bridj because this is one of many projects that will help us gain insights into what works and develop smarter, more connected mobility solutions and service-oriented products.”

Ten Ford Transit passenger vans built at Kansas City Assembly Plant will stay close to home, becoming the network of shuttles in the pilot program. The fleet of high-roof, long-wheelbase Transit vans with available 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost® engines will be modified with a custom 14-passenger seating layout and custom-installed large running board for passenger convenience. Bright logos on the sides will make for easy visibility.

Ford Transit is America’s best-selling commercial van, offering 58 configurations from the factory and even more customization potential through a network of upfitters – many of which are located near Kansas City Assembly Plant. Ford Motor Credit Company is supporting the one-year pilot with financing through its municipal lease finance program.

After an extensive review process, KCATA was chosen by Bridj as the first transit agency to participate in the pilot. KCATA is an attractive partner due to its commitment to innovation and to establishing collaborations that connect people to opportunities. Kansas City is frequently found on “best of” lists for technology, arts, entrepreneurship and places for young people to live.

Bridj also operates in Boston and Washington, D.C. However, Ride KC: Bridj is the first program being implemented in direct collaboration with a transit agency and with Ford as exclusive vehicle provider.

“Bridj will be an empowering tool that will offer one more option to make it easier for people to get around,” said KCATA’s Makinen. “KCATA is a place where bus, bike, streetcar and rapid transit come together to create a seamless and borderless transportation network that’s easy and friendly to use. Bridj will be a valuable addition to Kansas City’s mix of transportation options.”

The one-year pilot program initially will include downtown Kansas City, the near east and west sides, Hospital Hill, Crown Center, portions of Midtown, University of Kansas Medical Center and the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz district. It will augment and serve as a gateway to other forms of transit as many pick-up locations will be at bus stops and areas served by existing Kansas City transit and bike-share systems. Additional routes will be added based on rider demand as identified through Bridj technology.

“Only 18 percent of jobs in the Kansas City region are accessible within 90 minutes when using existing mass transit options,” said Bridj’s George, citing figures from the Brookings Institute. “By improving access to jobs, Ride KC: Bridj is a catalyst for social and economic opportunity, and an example of what is possible when cities adopt technological innovation and work in collaboration with private entities to create a truly modern city.”

All-New Ford Fusion V6 Sport Helps Protect Against Potholes, Enhancing Comfort and Handling

• All-new Ford Fusion V6 Sport helps protect your car and your wallet from damaging potholes with new computer-controlled shock absorbers
• Pothole damage costs U.S. drivers approximately $3 billion a year
• At the touch of a button, Fusion V6 Sport drivers can change the car’s suspension setting from normal to sport mode – for the perfect combination of control and finesse

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 18, 2016 – Potholes may be unavoidable, but Ford has figured out a way to make them less jarring.

While it’s impossible to miss all potholes, Ford engineers have developed an advanced computer-controlled shock absorber system for the all-new Fusion V6 Sport, a 2017 model year vehicle, which significantly reduces that unpleasant feeling one gets when driving down a pothole-riddled road.

According to AAA, pothole damage cost U.S. drivers approximately $3 billion a year and drivers report paying $300 to repair pothole-related vehicle damage. The Fusion V6 Sport is the first Ford car equipped with a computer-controlled shock absorber system – or continuously controlled damping – as a standard feature. This advanced technology helps to protect your car and your wallet.

“The new Fusion V6 Sport substantially reduces the harsh impact potholes often deliver,” says Jason Michener, Ford continuously controlled damping engineering expert. “Our new pothole mitigation technology works by actually detecting potholes and ‘catching’ the car’s wheel before it has a chance to drop all the way into the pothole.”

Fusion V6 Sport is the first midsize sedan in its class to feature this technology – neither Honda Accord nor Toyota Camry offers such an advanced suspension system.

Along with a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost® engine projected to deliver 325 horsepower, Fusion V6 Sport’s smart new suspension system provides better handling while helping protect your car and your wallet from damaging potholes.

Onboard computers analyze multiple signals collected from 12 high-resolution sensors – adjusting the dampers every two milliseconds for the best vehicle response in every situation. When the edge of a pothole is detected, the car’s computer adjusts the dampers faster than the blink of an eye to their stiffest settings so the wheel doesn’t fall as far into the pothole. Because the tire and wheel don’t drop as far, they don’t strike the opposite side of the pothole as harshly. The rear suspension can respond even faster, with a signal from the front wheel providing a pre-warning to the rear wheel well before it reaches the pothole.

“We tested and tuned this system by driving over countless potholes – subjecting Fusion V6 Sport to the brutal, square-edged potholes of our Romeo Proving Grounds to finesse the software,” said Michener. “It was long hours of not very pleasant work, but the results are well worth it.”

What this means for drivers of the all-new Ford Fusion V6 Sport is a sedan that’s exciting in the corners while still offering a smooth ride. Suspension tuning can be changed at the push of a button – normal mode balances comfort and handling for daily driving, while sport mode’s increased overall damping rates allow the car to respond quicker to driver input and to corner flatter for more spirited driving.

The all-new Fusion V6 Sport with continuously controlled damping and pothole mitigation technology arrives at Ford dealerships this summer.

Ford also has a test center in Belgium that replicates the effects of the world’s worst potholes and other extreme surfaces. Lommel Proving Ground incorporates test tracks covering 50 miles, and more than 100 extreme surfaces replicated from 25 countries, including 1.2 miles of potholes.