Steadfast Love or Latest Sexy Head-Turner?

Ford Motor Company used its head-turning 2010 Ford Taurus SHO in an attempt to break up Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien’s “marriage” on national television.

The TV star’s long-running relationship with his 1992 Ford Taurus SHO was challenged when the all-new 2010 Taurus SHO made an appearance on the late-night comedy show on Oct. 29. A national audience saw firsthand whether O’Brien’s steadfast love for his Jewel green SHO could be tempted with this latest sexy head-turner from Ford.

O’Brien’s second-generation ‘Super High Output’ Taurus has been the focus of the late night comedian’s skits many times including during O’Brien’s premier as host of “The Tonight Show” earlier this year.

During the skit O’Brien, who is confident there could never be a better performance sedan than his ’92 Taurus SHO, is tempted by the 2010 model’s 365-horespower V-6 and its high tech features. Amy Marentic, Ford’s Group marketing manager for Taurus, teaches O’Brien a thing or two when it comes to the Taurus SHO.

Find out if the new 2010 Taurus SHO can win over O’Brien at www.thefordstory.com.

Quote
“We were very excited to get the chance to expose Conan to a much more modern and innovative Taurus SHO. There’s no comparison when it comes to comparing his nearly 20 year-old SHO to our new flagship but it was a lot of fun challenging him to find something about the new SHO to joke about.”
— Amy Marentic, Ford’s Group marketing manager for Taurus

Funkmaster Flex Hosts a Chat Live From the SEMA Show

Even if you don’t know why, you probably have heard the name Funkmaster Flex. For more than a more than a decade Flex has been one of America’s top radio personalities, reaching more than 2 million listeners per week.

He’s also an avid car enthusiast, customizing new vehicles and building vintage cars with special attention to style and performance. Most recently, Flex customized the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, which he will debut at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. He has also developed his own car-customizing television programming.

He’ll be hosting a live chat from the show. This trade show attracts 100,000 automotive enthusiasts who are part of the industry. And you have to be in the industry to attend, as it is closed to the public.

Tune in on this Web page Wednesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m. EDT to see what the Funkmaster has to say about the SEMA show and his latest Ford rides, and see where the conversation goes.

Because the show is not open to the public, we’ll give you a peek into the show with an article from the event, in addition to this chat. Check back during the week of November 2.

Not only does Flex represent his own line of hi-octane automotive accessories, but he also developed and promotes an annual eight-city Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour, bringing the most exclusive and expensive candy-colored rides to fans in cities from Canada to Miami.

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Three Times the Charm

Editors at Popular Mechanics today announced the winners of the magazine’s 2010 Automotive Excellence Awards, and Ford Motor Company set a precedent, winning more categories in a single year than any other automaker in the history of the awards.

The Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards recognize the best in automotive design, execution and technology for 2010 model year vehicles in 10 categories. Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT500 won the award in the Performance category, Transit Connect took top honors in the Workhorse category and F-150 SVT Raptor earned the award in the Off-Road Ability category.

Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company, accepted the awards on behalf of the Ford team.

To determine award winners, Stewart says editors of Popular Mechanics travel the globe and spend thousands of miles behind the wheel of every new car and truck introduced by the world’s automakers. After months of hands-on testing and research, the team nominates a list of vehicles in each category, then votes on the winners.

2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – Performance Category Winner
The editors of Popular Mechanics describe the Mustang Shelby GT500 as a new superpower to contend with in the 21st-century muscle car wars.

“The Mustang Shelby GT500 – with its incredibly potent 5.4-liter V-8 engine – certainly impressed us,” said Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics. “But it was Ford Special Vehicle Team’s (SVT) refinement of the chassis that made our staff declare the GT500 the best Mustang in the model’s long 45-year history.”

2010 Ford Transit Connect – Workhorse Category Winner
Popular Mechanics editors praise the Ford Transit Connect as a fresh alternative to a full-size van that is packaged to address the pressures of the economy, urban congestion and fluctuating gas prices.

“It was the brilliant combination of the Transit Connect’s efficient use of space – and fuel – that won over our team,” said Stewart. “This vehicle proves that small vehicles can handle big jobs, and it comes at an ideal time when contractors and other business owners are looking to downsize and save on fuel.”

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – Off-Road Ability Category Winner
“The most extreme high-speed 4×4 pickup ever produced,” is the way editors of Popular Mechanics describe Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor.

“We spent time riding along with Ford SVT engineers at near race speeds and had a chance to climb behind the wheel of the truck ourselves,” said Stewart. “For the avid off-roader, the Raptor is the truck we’ve all been waiting for.”

Stewart says he was particularly impressed with the tuning of Raptor’s long-travel suspension.

“It soaks up high-speed desert terrain better than any production pickup truck we’ve driven,” he said.

Quotes
“Ford’s sweep of three categories in this year’s awards speaks to the onslaught of great products coming from Dearborn.”
– Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics

“This important recognition reflects the strength and diversity of the Ford product lineup. From a performance car to a workhorse vehicle to an off-road pickup, Ford is building quality products that people really want.”
– Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company

Ford Quality and Productivity Leader Mike Hardie Hosts a Live Chat

Mike Hardie has responsibility for what may be one of the most challenging aspects building vehicles: Quality. Specifically, he develops the quality plan to drive quality processes and discipline throughout the design and production of Ford vehicles.

Join the live chat here on Friday, October 30, at 11:30 a.m. EST to see what Hardie has to say about quality, and what the team is doing to protect and improve quality at Ford.

During his career at Ford, Mike has held many positions in problem solving, reliability engineering and statistical applications. Prior to working at Ford, Mike was in the aerospace business, developing aircraft simulation systems for military programs.

Hardie, a native of Salem, Oregon, holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, and a masters degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan.

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For These Social Media Mavens the Action Isn’t All Online

Fiesta Movement agents have traveled more than 1 million miles, and they surpassed that mark as they were completing their adventure-themed missions for September. These missions weren’t easy, but they were definitely fun and unusual. Agents tried their hand at racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, went sailing in Chicago with Outside Magazine and even experienced what zero gravity feels like.

As part of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a European-spec Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then go on to relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites. Throughout the Fiesta Movement, agents have generated more than 4.8 million YouTube views, more than 600,000 Flickr views and nearly 3.2 million Twitter impressions

Missions accomplished
September missions had agents doing new things that got their blood pumping and their adrenaline running. Fiesta Movement agents are known for trying out the unusual, but these missions took that to a new level.

Videos that pushed the limits of creativity include:

• “Outside Magazine: Chicago,” by Derek D., who teamed up with a staffer from Outside Magazine to have an urban adventure in Chicago, complete with a sail on Lake Michigan.



Derek D. started off his adventure by meeting up with a graphic designer from Outside Magazine at a marina. After getting situated on the boat and helping get the sailboat out of the marina, Derek D. began to take in the scenery and enjoy the sail, and he’s quick to point out the viewer should be jealous of this awesome experience. Check out “Outside Magazine: Chicago” at http://fiestamovement.com/missions/view/638.

• “Who Needs Gravity,” by agent Natasha T., who took on an adventure that’s (almost) out of this world, by showing viewers the closest thing to zero gravity at Zero-G.



Following a 32-hour road trip to Houston, Natasha was ready to experience what zero gravity felt like with the company Zero-G. Natasha had her symptoms of hypoxia (loss of oxygen supply) tested, then headed to the airplane that would simulate the loss of gravity. After achieving zero gravity, Natasha flashes a bright smile and thumbs-up to show her delight. Check out “Who Needs Gravity” at http://www.fiestamovement.com/missions/view/646.

• “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas…Unless…,” by agents Brad and Emma, who set out on an adventure to Sin City, where they headed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to see how the Fiesta would look zooming around the track.



With two friends along for the ride, Brad and Emma put their Fiesta to the track test. They drove around the superspeedway and bullring to see what their Fiesta could handle, and had a blast in the process. Check out “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas…Unless…” at http://www.fiestamovement.com/missions/view/637.

Operation: Entertainment
Fiesta Movement agents are entering their final month of missions, and October has them having a blast with missions planned around the theme of entertainment. Missions include hanging out in the recording studio with Jukebox the Ghost, creating a music video for the band Parachute and watching them perform live and visiting Turn10 Studio, Microsoft’s racing studio. Throughout the month and after its completion, followers can keep up with agent activity on the Fiesta Movement Web site’s live feed – www.fiestamovement.com

Chance to drive a Fiesta
With a kickoff in May and running through December, five regional test drive teams representing the Fiesta Movement are traveling across the country to engage consumers with the opportunity to test drive a European-spec Ford Fiesta.

The Fiesta Movement test drive is drawing huge numbers by engaging more than 137,000 consumers, with more than 28,000 taking a Fiesta for a test drive.

The teams are visiting at least 200 cities over eight months, stopping in small towns and big cities, as well as making appearances at major and regional events and festivals. Information about drive stops, including monthly calendars, is available on www.fiestamovement.com under the “Test Drive” section. Site visitors also can sign up to receive test drive updates as they become available.

Quotes
“These adventure mission videos are fantastic, in every sense of the word. They put the agents in their element and let them share the Fiesta story in an exciting way.”
– Connie Fontaine, Ford Brand Content and Alliances Manager

“Our test drive tour is achieving exactly what we set out to do – build awareness for the Fiesta and let people experience it. They can see it, touch it and most importantly, experience it.”
– Jeff Eggen, Ford Car Experiential Marketing Manager

Follow the Fiesta Movement:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/fiestamovement
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/fiestamovement
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fiestamovement
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fordfiesta

Yes, But Will It Come with Auto Pilot?

While Ford’s rumored development of a flying car is greatly exaggerated, it’s fair to say that the future of hybrid vehicles is in good shape. In fact, Ford and the University of Michigan are working together on a new project to accelerate the development of future hybrid vehicles.

Researchers are analyzing data from 2,500 road trips to determine how internal electronic vehicle controls could be tweaked to further improve fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive attributes.

Working with U of M, Ford has tested nearly 1 million design simulations of hybrid vehicle control systems to date and continues to conduct about 50,000 a week – a development speed that otherwise would not be possible.

Other academic work in hybrid vehicle technology primarily has been focused on fuel economy – often at the expense of drivability. Ford and U of M are looking at the marriage of both.

The new hybrid controller design method has the potential to offer consumers more choice in efficiency and drivability. They may have multiple operational modes or offer customers the ability to customize their driving experience.

The research is still in its early stages, but initial results are promising.

Read more about Ford Motor Company’s hybrid vehicles.

Quotes
“The Ford Fusion Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan available, and its performance is second to none. Our work with U of M is helping us develop the next generation of Ford hybrids and bring them to market even faster.”
– Ryan McGee, Supervisor of Vehicle Controls Architecture and Algorithm Design in Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering.

Working together with the University of Michigan research team, we are testing the boundaries of hybrid vehicle technology, exploring innovative ways to raise the bar on fuel economy and drivability. This joint work on hybrid software development shows great promise in helping us lead the development of more efficient hybrid systems for the future.”
– Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, chief technical officer, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering

Do You Have What It Takes?

Are you a social media mover and shaker? Do your friends hang on your every word or at least enjoy your online photo galleries and YouTube videos? Most importantly, are you a Fusion fanatic? Then, your moment in the spotlight may have just arrived?

Ford is conducting a nationwide search for passionate 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid owners to participate in Fusion 41, a consumer program designed to build awareness and excitement around the all-new 201 Ford Fusion.

The Fusion 41 program – named for the unsurpassed 41 mpg fuel economy that makes Fusion America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan, and the 41 participants – builds on the success of the Ford Drive One advertising campaign, which focuses on actual customers experiencing new Ford vehicles and sharing their stories with others. The Fusion 41 consumer story will come to life on the Internet, through social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

How Fusion 41 works
Eight 2010 Fusion owners from throughout the country will be selected to participate in the Fusion 41. They will be chosen based on their passion for Fusion and their ability to share compelling information about the vehicle on the Internet. Applicants must have a current Facebook profile with a minimum of 100 friends and an active photo collection.

Each of the eight Fusion owners will then choose four friends or family members to join their team, and each team will be given a 2010 Ford Fusion or Fusion Hybrid to drive in an automotive relay race. To complete the relay, each team member must fulfill an assigned task within 41 hours, tracking competitive variables such as miles driven, stops made or the number of passengers picked up.

The winning team will be chosen based on their ability to complete the activities and provide proof by uploading photos and videos to various social media sites, including Facebook. The Fusion owner of the winning team will have their vehicle paid off, and team members will win free gas for one year.

2010 Fusion owners interested in competing in Fusion 41 may apply at www.fusion41.com between now and November 6.

Ford fuels social media
Research shows that social media sites are increasingly one of the best ways to reach out to consumers. Prior to the development of the Fusion 41 program, Ford expanded its presence on Facebook with a new application for its “Fusion + Hybrid” profile called “You Speak Green” that enables visitors to share their sustainable lifestyle suggestions. Since its launch in mid-July, more than 104,000 Facebook users have downloaded the application to their profile pages and 15,000 have posted tips.

Another example of Ford’s groundbreaking social media outreach is its support of the Fiesta Movement campaign to promote the company’s sporty, savvy new small car through social media agents. Agent postings have garnered significant numbers on social media sites, including more than 4.8 million YouTube views (www.fiestamovement.com), more than 600,000 Flickr views and more than 3.2 million Twitter impressions.

Quote
“Fusion 41 is a fun way to engage customers and get them talking about the all-new 2010 Fusion. There’s no better way to spread the word about our new products than by putting them into the hands of prospective customers and enabling them to experience our vehicles firsthand.”
– Jeff Eggen, Ford Car Experiential Marketing Manager

Like Brilliant Shafts of Light through the Gloom

While the economic forecast is still a bit overcast, there are some bright spots shining through. Ford’s hybrid vehicle sales have risen 73 percent this year in sharp contrast to a 14-percent decline in hybrid sales across the industry.

The fuel economy and durability of hybrid versions of Ford Fusion and Escape, Mercury Milan and Mariner also are winning over large numbers of conquest customers, many of whom are previous import owners. Through September, Ford has sold 26,016 hybrid vehicles, up 73 percent versus the same period in 2008, according to figures from Autodata Inc.

Hybrid customers increasingly are considering Ford. More than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been from non-Ford owners, and more than half of those are customers coming from import brands, mostly from Toyota and Honda.

Ford’s strong 2009 hybrid sales have been fueled by the introduction of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans on the road. Both vehicles deliver a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

Durable and fuel efficient
While the introduction of the Fusion Hybrid has spurred sales from non-Ford owners, Ford’s longest-running hybrid nameplate, the Escape Hybrid, has proven particularly popular with Ford customers operating taxi, lifeguard and government fleets due to the combination of fuel efficiency and durability. The front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid delivers 34 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market.

In 2005, San Francisco became one of the first cities to adopt hybrids into taxi service, with hybrids accounting for 14 percent of its current fleet. Each of the original fleet of 15 Escape Hybrids exceeded 300,000 miles per vehicle before being retired and replaced with more Escape Hybrids. There are almost 200 Escape Hybrid taxis on San Francisco’s streets today.

New York has more hybrid taxis in service than any other city in North America with 13,237, of which more than 2,000 are Escape Hybrids. The Big Apple recently has begun retiring its original fleet of Escape Hybrids put into service in the 2005 model year after accumulating 300,000 to 350,000 miles per vehicle.

“Greening” the federal government fleet
Government fleets also are seeking cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrids are filling that need. In 2009, federal agencies have purchased more than 3,000 hybrids from Ford, more than any other automotive brand. Included in the sales were 1,900 vehicles acquired through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the purpose of improving the fuel economy of the federal fleet. The U.S. Army was the single largest purchaser among the government fleets, acquiring 400 Fusion hybrids.

Saving lives and conserving fuel
In 2008, Ford began delivery of a fleet of 45 Escape Hybrids to the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, for use on rescue patrol along 72 miles of Southern California coastline. After the first 11 months of service, lifeguards reported that Escape Hybrids had played a crucial part in thousands of rescues and more than a million rescue preventions at L.A. County beaches.

The Escape Hybrid fleet enabled L.A. lifeguards to reduce their entire fleet’s fuel usage by 25 percent – more than 5,000 gallons of gas – during the first six months of service. That fuel cost savings has helped L.A. County to maintain its critical front line staffing despite the economic downturn.

Quote
“We’re extremely pleased with the performance of the Escape Hybrid in taxi service. Not only have they proven very reliable, they’ve also saved taxi drivers money on gas and contributed to lower tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions in the cities that use them in taxi fleets.”
– Gerry Koss, Ford’s Fleet Marketing Manager

What Color is Your City?

Common knowledge tells us that silver, black and white are the most popular vehicle color choices. Closer examination of sales data reveals that San Francisco, New York and Phoenix are the leading markets for those respective colors. But what city loves red cars the most? Hint: The one famous for another kind of “Big Red Machine.”

What the numbers say
Ford analyzes sales data for insight into consumer preferences by region, helping the company ensure ample supply of popular vehicles, colors and options for different parts of the country. Not only does correct vehicle mix result in better sales performance for dealers, it also has a positive effect on customer satisfaction when buyers can find what they want quickly.

Much of the Ford data followed logical patterns, but there were some results that weren’t easily explained. For example, white is most popular in Phoenix, where the color’s reflective properties are a boon to car seats and air conditioners – no surprise there. But the second most popular market for white Ford vehicles is Memphis, Tenn., for reasons yet to be determined. Is it the heat, or is it due to the fact that one of Memphis’ largest employers is FedEx – known for its stark-white vehicles and aircraft?

The color red is most popular with customers in Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. One possible explanation: Customers who live in regions with longer winters and drearier weather prefer brighter and more cheerful colors.

Red might also reflect Midwestern optimism however, since New York City, an area not known for its mild winters, is in the bottom three markets for percentage of red Ford vehicle sales. Instead, New York tops the lists for black and grey.

And the Top Five are…
The charts below represent the top five markets for various Ford, Lincoln and Mercury colors, features and options in 22 major U.S. metropolitan areas.

Colors

Quotes
“If you have to suffer through a long, cold winter, a little splash of color can brighten the mood.” – Susan Swek, Ford Group Chief Designer, Color and Materials Design

What Did We Do Before GPS?

Have you heard about that California parolee who tried to rob a bank while wearing a GPS-enabled electronic tether? No joke. File under: stupid criminal tricks. Isn’t GPS great? And you thought it was only good for confirming that you are indeed quite lost and being stalked by vultures and wolves.

It turns out that GPS may be good for something even more useful than tracking dumb criminals.

A groundbreaking research project by Ford Motor Company and Auburn University shows that global positioning system (GPS) satellites that can “talk” to cars could help prevent serious accidents in the future.

The researchers have found potential for a GPS satellite to act as an early warning system that detects when a vehicle is about to lose control and communicate with the vehicle’s stability control systems and other safety features to prevent a rollover or other serious accident.

The research findings will be presented next week at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 11-14.

The project is part of Ford Motor Company’s $4 million investment in university research programs in 2009, including 16 safety projects.

Auburn University’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory, directed by Dr. David Bevly, received a three-year, $120,000 grant from Ford in 2008 as part of company’s University Research Program. The research team is investigating the use of combining GPS and inertial measurement units data to provide precise information on a vehicle’s motion. The data could be used to improve performance of a vehicle’s electronic stability control system, a computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids.

The project’s breakthroughs include developing algorithms combining data from sensors in Ford vehicles with data from GPS receivers. This coordination of data has led to predictive models that can calculate a vehicle’s roll angle, sideslip and velocities under various driving conditions.

Quotes
“A satellite orbiting the earth could someday prevent an auto accident. We applaud the Auburn team for these advancements and look forward to working together on the next phase of this research, including developing prototype vehicles.”
– Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Ford’s Chief Technical Officer and Vice President, Research and Advanced Engineering

“Stability control is one of the most important safety technologies of this decade. Ford is committed to safety leadership, and research partnerships like our work with Auburn help us achieve success.”
– Jeff Rupp, Manager, Ford Active Safety Systems Engineering