http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php Healy Ford Sales Limited, Sherwood Ford, Edmonton, Alberta Ford dealer with Internet Specials on new Ford to include the popular F,Series, Escape, Edge, Mustang Shelby, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Explorer, Taurus, and Ranger. Visit the best Edmonton and area new car dealer in Alberta.">

OAK PARK, Mich. – Azure Dynamics Corporation, a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for commercial vehicles, announced an agreement with Ford whereby Azure will integrate its proprietary plug-in hybrid (“PHEV”) technology into the market leading Ford F-Series Super Duty product line.

In collaboration with Ford, Azure’s plug-in hybrid technology will be initially integrated on Ford’s market leading F-Series Super Duty cab and chassis, the F-550, which is expected to be available in early 2013. The agreement also allows Azure to perform hybrid powertrain conversions on other Super Duty platforms including F-350 and F-450 models and spans all engine, frame length and regular production options and configurations. The Super Duty program will allow Azure to further expand its product line-up in its targeted medium duty commercial truck segment.

The Azure/Ford agreement includes a ‘ship-thru’ provision that permits Azure to place vehicles in the Ford transportation system and allows qualified Ford Commercial Truck dealerships to sell and service the product in key markets in North America.

“We are extremely pleased to expand our relationship with Ford and launch our PHEV technology on the F-Series Super Duty platform, which is the largest and most successful cab and chassis brand in North America,” said Scott Harrison, Azure’s CEO. “This is an ideal outcome for Azure and our customers.”

With more than a 50% market share, the Ford F-Series Super Duty is the most established cab and chassis brand in the North American market. The commercial cab and chassis industry supports approximately 100,000 vehicles per year and is the preferred active work-truck for thousands of commercial fleets managing a broad range of logistical needs. The Super Duty offers several diesel and gasoline engine options and a variety of cab, bed and accessories options.

Collaboration builds on existing business relationship
Azure and Ford teamed up in 2009 to bring the innovative Transit Connect Electric to market in just 13 months after the program was first announced. The new PHEV F-Series program further expands the Azure/Ford business relationship which, in addition to the Transit Connect Electric, also markets the E-450 BalanceTM Hybrid Electric Step Van and Shuttle Bus.

“As interest in alternative energy products continues to grow, consumers are looking for more powertrain options that are both environmentally friendly and fit their driving needs,” said Rob Stevens, Commercial Vehicle Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Company. “The flexibility of our vehicle platforms and chassis allows Ford to develop our own alternative fuel products or work with partners, like Azure Dynamics, to deliver consumers with the power of choice when purchasing a greener, more fuel efficient vehicle.”

Prior to the Transit Connect Electric development, Azure and Ford collaborated on the E-450 cutaway and strip chassis to create the BalanceTM Hybrid Electric, a truck or shuttle that achieves up to 40% fuel improvement while reducing emissions and maintenance costs by up to 30% each. BalanceTM Hybrid Electric has 60% share in the medium duty (class 2c – V) hybrid commercial truck market in North America and is deployed in notable fleets like AT&T, CINTAS, DHL, FedEx Express, and Purolator to name a few.

Market Outlook
It is expected that the cab and chassis market could grow by as much as 50% over the next five years as fleet operators, who have delayed purchase decisions, return to market to replace aging inventory. Interest in fuel efficient cab and chassis alternatives has never been greater due to rising and unpredictable fuel costs.

Moreover, enthusiasm for eco-friendly technologies that began with the largest national commercial fleets, is spreading to smaller, regional fleets that increasingly understand that alternative energy technologies do not require a sacrifice in performance or durability. The Ford F-Series Super Duty has already attracted legions of loyal customers, many of whom are enthusiastic about the performance benefits associated with the new PHEV option.

“The F-Series program aligns perfectly with our product development strategy,” said Harrison. “We’re able to focus on development and integration of our powertrain solutions and at the same time benefit from Ford’s expertise in building ground-up vehicle platforms keeping Azure’s capital costs in check.”

“Our engineering team has proven the flexibility of our technology through more than 40 different vehicle integrations and 35,000,000 miles of real world driving experience. We’ve been searching for the right opportunity and knew we could move quickly and intelligently when we found it. We feel strongly that the Ford F-Series program is exactly the right opportunity.”
www.sherwoodford.ca]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110805-102744 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:27:44 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153956
DEARBORN - Ford and Recycled Polymeric Materials (RPM) have found a way to put discarded tires to good use. By combining recycled tires with bio-renewable content, they are delivering environmentally friendly seals and gaskets for Ford Motor Company vehicles.



The gaskets and seals are derived from 25 percent post-consumer, recycled tire particulate and 17 percent bio-renewable content from soy.

In total, more than 2.2 million pounds of rubber from recycled tires has been made into RPM seals and gaskets and more than 210,000 used tires have been recycled. Additionally, 150,000 pounds of soy has been used to create the materials.

The seals also offer a weight savings, with more than 1,675 tons of weight removed from Ford vehicles on the road.

“When it comes to finding a way to use more renewable and recyclable content, Ford and our suppliers are looking at every part of a vehicle,” said Dr. Cynthia Flanigan, technical leader, Research and Innovation. “As long as an application meets our strict quality and performance standards, we’ll strive to get these sustainable materials on our vehicles."

The sustainable gaskets were first introduced to Ford in 2008, and have now expanded to include 11 vehicles.

Ford Motor Company vehicles that feature the sustainable seals and gaskets include:
•Ford Escape
•Ford F-150
•Ford F-250
•Ford F-350
•Ford Fiesta
•Ford Flex
•Ford Focus
•Ford Mustang
•Ford Taurus
•Ford Transit Connect
•Lincoln MKS


Eco-friendly solutions
Ford’s “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.

Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of recycled plastics and bio-based materials whenever possible, provided these materials are environmentally favorable and meet all durability and performance requirements. Examples include soy foam seat cushions, wheat straw-filled plastic, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

“Our team continues to develop new technologies that reduce our environmental footprint,” said Dr. Debbie Mielewski, technical leader, Plastics. “We have already been successful in incorporating soy foam seats on all North American vehicles and are actively expanding the research front into a variety of new plastics and rubber areas.”

]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153956 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:39:56 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153442

By Chris Kassab

DEARBORN - Ford is the first automaker in North America to use a state-of-the-art tool called an exterior microphone array system for aeroacoustic vehicle wind testing.

The tool – an apparatus equipped with a camera and dozens of highly sensitive microphones – will be used in Ford’s Wind Tunnel 8, which recently marked its 10th anniversary.

The system will enable engineers to measure exterior noise sources on a vehicle much earlier in the production process when the car or truck is still in the clay model phase. Ford engineers typically utilize Aachen Heads – mannequins with microphones in the ears that record and measure the sounds of the vehicle at various speeds – in vehicle testing but Aachen Heads cannot be put inside vehicles that are made of clay.

“Our approach before was to mock up the exterior shape of a current product to make it look like the future vehicle,” explained Bill Gulker, supervisor, Ford Interior Quietness Engineering. “But our ability to do that accurately had many limitations, and the testing process involved a lot of trial and error to isolate the sources of unwanted noise.”

Using the new system, engineers will be able to measure and actually “see” noise coming off the clay model exterior in a very precise way.

“An image that most people are familiar with is a satellite weather map. It will look just like that but instead of a map as a background you will see a computerized image of the car with red or green spots indicating noise or quiet areas,” explained Gulker. “We will be able to pinpoint exactly where the noise is coming from and resolve the problem much earlier on in the product development process.”

Gulker says the new technology will save Ford hundreds of hours of wind tunnel testing as well as thousands of dollars in testing costs each year.

“There will be no time wasted with trial and error,” he said. “The system will tell us in a very efficient way what exterior areas of the vehicle we need to work on to optimize a vehicle for wind noise.”

The detailed flow information from the system also will enable engineers to bring computer simulations online faster, which ultimately reduce reliance on costly wind tunnel testing.




]]> http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153442 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:34:42 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153117


(Stategic Vision Press Release) Product Innovation And “Love,” Increases Quality Perception and Sales
.

DETROIT - Below is the Reuters story on Strategic Vision's quality survey that was released on Tuesday, July 12, 2011.


(Reuters) Less than a month after Ford Motor Co. was impacted in one quality survey, a second survey has ranked it the No. 2 highest-quality U.S. automaker.


The second survey, released by Strategic Vision Inc on Tuesday, said that customers' overall feeling about their vehicles is more important than particular problems.


Ford owners reported more problems with their vehicles than the industry average, but rated the overall quality of the vehicles highly, according to the survey. They were particularly happy with the Ford Mustang coupe and convertible, the Flex, and the F-150 and 250/350 pickup trucks.


"People think of quality in a very different sense than just counting problems," said Christopher Chaney, a Strategic Vision vice president in charge of automotive research.



A company's use of new technology or styling can also play important roles, he said.



On a statistical basis, Ford tied with American Honda Corp and Nissan Motor Corp in for the No. 2 ranking. Still, Ford fared better in the Strategic Vision study than it did in a survey by J.D. Power and Associates last month, where it fell to 23rd place, its lowest ranking in a decade. The J.D. Power survey records difficulties faced by new car owners in the first 90 days of ownership.


Ford, the only U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy and a government bailout during the financial crisis, has recently been criticized for a clunky control system for its radios and difficult-to-use technology.


The Strategic Vision survey asks car owners to rate all aspects of ownership, from the process of buying a vehicle to its performance. The 2011 survey included 37,069 buyers of 2011 vehicles from September to December 2010. This is the sixteenth year of the survey, which is paid for by manufacturers.



Surveys like the Strategic Vision survey and the J.D. Power survey that attempt to gauge consumer sentiment are key pieces of industry marketing materials and help shape consumer opinion. They also help set resale values and warranty costs.



The idea that a car owner's overall experience could trump minor problems with a vehicle rests on the premise that there are few serious problems, those problems are typically fixed immediately at the dealership, and styling details can have significant impact, according to the survey.


Besides Ford, Volkswagen of America and Hyundai Motor America have also benefited from this, according to the survey.


On average, 30 percent of owners reported problems with Volkswagen's Jetta and Hyundai's Sonata, compared with 22 percent of owners reporting problems for all mid-size cars. Even so, the 2011 models of both vehicles had record sales, according to the survey. The higher incidence of problems didn't matter because Jetta and Sonata owners were happy with their overall purchase, according to the survey.


Volkswagen was the top-ranked car company in the survey, helped by its Golf, Jetta and Tiguan models. Hyundai ranked 8th -- last place -- because some of its non-Sonata models were poorly received and the period of the survey excluded some new models, Chaney said. (Reporting by Clare Baldwin, editing by Bernard Orr)]]> General http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-153117 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:31:17 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-121203 He explains how he rebranded and created ONE FORD

http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/7217

A very interesting video worth watching

]]> http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-121203 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:12:03 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-104907
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
Updated 9h 7m ago

Ford CEO Alan Mulally joins host David Letterman on the set of the Late Show with David Letterman last night in this photo provided by CBS
CAPTIONBy John Paul Filo, APFord CEO Alan Mulally sounded more like he was in a job interview than on a TV talker when he showed up on the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS last night.

Letterman pretty much went through Mulally's whole resume, from growing up mowing lawns and bagging groceries (like Letterman) before going to Boeing where Letterman had him list every plane that he helped develop (707, 727, 737...) Heck, we didn't know the 777 had 4 million parts.

When he finally got back to talking about cars, Mulally didn't say a whole lot. Letterman credited him with "rescuing Ford from the brink of bankruptcy." Mulally got his biggest hand when Dave noted that Ford pulled through without taking a government handout.

Then, for the big climax, Letterman and Mulally drove a few feet across the stage in the new electric Focus coming from Ford. Mulally demurred on the price, but noted it will go 80 miles between recharges. Letterman said he has already bought two electric cars, and lamented that "neither one are American brands."

Mulally didn't let a good opportunity for plug go by when it came to that new plug-in Focus, which isn't on sale yet. "Drive one, Dave," Mulally said. "Feel the difference."
]]> General http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-104907 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:49:07 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-102621 by Zach Bowman, Autoblog (RSS feed) on Aug 1st 2011 at 4:01PM



The 2012 Ford Edge is set to be available with a four-cylinder EcoBoost power with the addition of a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, and reports are emerging that the vehicle will be able to return some fairly impressive fuel economy numbers. According to Ford Inside News, the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded testing, and the Edge 2.0 EcoBoost has managed to eek out 7.8 litres for every 100 highway kilometres traveled. That's a 0.9L/100km improvement over the comparable 3.5-litre V6-equipped 2011 model and 0.6L/100km better than the Explorer 2.0-litre EcoBoost, whose 8.4L/100km highway figure was just made official last week.

Ford Inside News also reports that the engine will continue to turn out 240 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque when tucked into the Edge. While we're betting that our right foot will likely miss the extra 45 horsepower produced by the 3.5-litre V6, the extra 22 pound-feet of torque mustered up by the forced-induction four-cylinder should help make up the gap. Our wallets probably won't mind skipping the gas station a little more often, too.
]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-102621 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:26:21 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-101845 Sam Haymart
Published: August 3, 2011Tags: 2012, 50-state, California, CARB, EPA, Mustang, roush, roushcharger, rs3, stage 3



Roush has been selling a lot of their new 540hp 2012 Stage 3 Mustangs this year, based on the 5.0 liter Coyote V8. The combination of the intercooled ROUSHcharger not only puts down a healthy and warranty covered 540hp but also a stump pulling 465 lbs of torque.

The only bummer has been that the Roush Stage 3 (RS3) has not been available in all 50 states, until now. Roush has announced that they have finally gotten through all the greenie government red tape with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and gained approval to sell the RS3 in all of America.

That means that the 2012 RS3 is now rolling toward California dealerships among other places that also abide by the state’s nut-job requirements.

“This is certainly exciting news for ROUSH Performance, our Dealers and Mustang enthusiasts,” says Gary Jurick, VP/General Manager of ROUSH Performance. “Our engineering teams worked closely with various government agencies throughout the entire emissions testing process to receive final approvals. The 2012 RS3 offers ROUSHcharged performance, handling and styling while also complying with all of the federal emissions requirements. We’re now in the process of working with our Dealers in all 50 states on their RS3 vehicle ordering needs.”
]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110804-101845 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:18:45 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-101332

By Alan Harman
WardsAuto.com, Jul 21, 2011 9:37 AM



University of Toronto researchers say they’ve developed a new solar cell that auto makers could use in coatings designed to efficiently and economically convert sunlight into electricity for electric vehicles.

Ted Sargent, professor of electrical and computer engineering, says his team has developed the first efficient tandem solar cell based on colloidal-quantum dots.



CQD are nanoscale materials that can be tuned to respond to specific wavelengths of the visible- and invisible-light spectrum.

“We have known for a while that colloidal-quantum dots offer the capability to make a solar cell that makes the very best use of both the visible and the infrared light contained in the sun’s broad spectrum,” Sargent says in a statement.

“We knew the way to do that is to make a visible (light) semiconductor and stack it with an infrared (light) semiconductor.

“What we haven’t known until now is how to do that stacking – how to make a layer that connects together the bottom visible cell and the top infrared cell in a way that is efficient and doesn’t produce any damage to any of those layers.”

Sargent says his research team devised an interface between the visible and infrared junction they call a graded recombination layer. It allows the production of tandem and, ultimately, multijunction solar cells based on CQD.

“The team engineered a cascade – really, a waterfall – of nanometers-thick materials to shuttle electrons between the visible and infrared layers,” Sargent says.



Ted Sargent leads University of Toronto researchers in developing sunlight-harvesting solar cells for use in electric vehicles.

The result is a stack of two light-absorbing layers: one tuned to capture the sun's visible rays; the other engineered to collect the half of the sun's energy that lies in the infrared.

Sargent hopes that within five years solar cells using the graded recombination layer will be integrated into products including automobile parts.

“The rapid emergence of electric vehicles further raises the value of harvesting electrical power from the sun in automobiles,” he tells Ward’s in an email. “Even a modest amount of collected solar power can extend range an attractive 10% to 20%.

“Our work towards efficient, flexible tandem solar cells offers the potential to integrate solar-energy-harvesting materials with automobile parts. It enables integration of the solar cells into the form factor of the automobile parts by virtue of the physical flexibility – the conformability – of our materials.”

By capturing a range of light waves broader than those collected by normal solar cells, tandem-CQD solar cells can in principle reach up to 42% efficiency. The best single-junction solar cells reach no more than 31% efficiency, he explains. Solar cells on the roofs of houses and in consumer products have 14% to 18% efficiency.

“This advance lights up a practical path to engineering high-efficiency solar cells that make the best use of the diverse photons making up the sun's broad palette,” Sargent says.

“People sometimes informally call this a paint-on solar cell, because the materials out of which all our solar cells are made are synthesized in solution. So we make essentially a paint that consists of semiconductor particles dispersed in a solvent the way paint is.”

“We apply them simply by coating them on a solid substrate, letting the solvent dry and evaporate, and we are left with a thin solid film

This approach of making solar cells at room temperature under ambient conditions, just using basically coating technologies, enables a much lower cost structure for solar cells, he says.

Making the solar cells with these solutions means they can be put on a flexible substrate.

“One of the advantages of the method of manufacturing on a flexible substrate is it’s kind of like printing newspaper, so you have the potential to make large-area solar cells,” Sargent says.

“In addition, once you have made it on a flexible material now you have a conformable substrate. You have a solar-harvesting material that you can integrate into the form factor of parts of your car.”
]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-101332 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:13:32 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-100216
By Jim Mateja
WardsAuto.com, Jul 20, 2011 9:07 AM




CHICAGO – Vehicles soon will use Wi-Fi and GPS to talk to one another to warn of potential problems, from a pending collision that endangers their safety to congestion ahead that hampers fuel economy, a top engineer says.

“It's about five to 10 years away,” says Ford Chief Technology Officer Paul Mascarenas, “and is a natural progression from the systems we have today that warn when a vehicle enters your blind spot, crosses the path behind when backing up, or slows down in the road ahead of you.”



Mascarenas says the intelligent car of the future will make highways safer by warning the driver when another car five vehicles ahead is braking and in danger of setting off a potential chain reaction collision.

It also will be on the alert for a vehicle that is about to run a red light as your car approaches an intersection and look out for oncoming vehicles when you pull out to pass an 18-wheeler on the highway.

“Cars will be so intelligent they'll even be able to locate a parking space for you before you even leave and reserve the space for you when you get there,” he says.

What won't intelligent cars be able to do?

“They won't be able to fly,” he says smiling, but after a brief pause as if to reconsider, adds, “yet the possibilities are endless. The goal is to make whatever technology we add to cars not be complex, but rather be meaningful, relevant and affordable.”

Mascarenas gives a demonstration of the current state of intelligent autos to the Midwest Automotive Media Assn. here.




Ford Explorer equipped with Wi-Fi, GPs emits loud beeps to warn driver of pending collision.

Ford Explorer SUVs equipped with Wi-Fi and GPS roam a parking lot course where Ford Fiestas attempt to stop ahead of them, cross their path at speed or suddenly appear from behind a parked semi without warning. In all cases, the Explorer emits a series of loud beeps to give the driver ample warning and time to brake.

“The system is intuitive. There are no dials to turn or buttons to push. And for now, there is no vehicle intervention, either braking or slowing down on its own without the driver having to do it,” Mascarenas says, though such intervention could be added later.

While the intelligent car primarily is designed to make roads safer, he says that by warning of congestion ahead in time to reroute travel, motorists would save hours of needless time idling on highways and countless gallons of gas.

One potential problem, Mascarenas says, is consumer fear the government or law enforcement might use the system to monitor driving or keep tabs on where motorists are.


“There should be no fear of ‘Big Brotherism. There will be less information available in the cars than in the cell phones people carry with them. Information won't be stored or exchanged. The car won't tattle on you.”

All major auto makers are involved in a consortium to create intelligent cars, he says, because “it would do no good if Fords only talked to Fords and not to Toyotas as well.”

Chrysler was involved with the consortium when controlled by Daimler-Benz and is expected to rejoin now that it is part of Fiat.

Mascarenas says no price has been put on the intelligent-car system.
]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-100216 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:02:16 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-095318 WardsAuto.com, Jul 5, 2011 8:57 AM v


www.sherwoodford.ca

There is a good chance Fords quest for technological leadership will lead it to make adaptive cruise control available across its global vehicle lineup.
Electronically scanning radar, a key enabler of adaptive cruise control, recently debuted as an option on the Ford Focus in Europe, and supplier Delphi says the move positions the auto maker as the first to extend the benefits of (its) ESR to a broader market.

v i While the technology is not new, it mostly has been relegated to higher-cost vehicles. Introducing the system to a C-segment vehicle such as the Focus is a sign of things to come, says Mike Thoeny, global engineering director-electronic controls for Delphi Electronics & Safety.
I think youre really going to see the market take off as the technology becomes less expensive as volumes increase,� he tells Wards.
Since Delphi launched its first ESR system in 1999, the cost of the technology has come down some tenfold, he says.
The system utilized on the European Focus automatically keeps the car at a predetermined distance from the vehicle ahead and will notify the driver and pre-charge the brakes, if a collision is considered imminent.
It is slightly less expensive than similar systems Delphi sells to high-end customers such as Jaguar Land Rover, he says, noting the Ford setup uses only one long-beam radar compared with the twin-beam configuration employed on pricier vehicles.

Ford now offers adaptive cruise control on European Focus.
The system costs &$1,204) in the U.K. and E945 ($1,363) in Germany.
;It&s a lower-cost version, but has same level of accuracy,; Thoeny says, noting the more expensive device enables the vehicle to stop automatically, unlike the Focus system.
However, a similar system already is offered on the Taurus fullsize sedan in North America, and the auto makers ;One Ford; strategy emphasizes component sharing across its global lineup.
The adaptive cruise control isnt available on the U.S.-market Focus, at least for now. Hall says while the North American Focus is nearly identical to its European counterpart, its considered an upscale family sedan in Europe and a compact, affordable; car on this side of the Atlantic.
So there will be some equipment differences to accommodate what the target customer is looking for and will value,he tells Wards. But were still working on migrating some technologies globally, and there will probably be instances of technology, such as this, migrating the opposite way due to the fact that those technologies were first introduced in those markets.
Thoeny says he foresees a day when such radar-based safety systems are as commonplace as airbags, which he says have plateaued in their ability to drive down fatality rates.
According to Delphi research, 6,000 of the 33,000 traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. last year could have been avoided had radar-based systems been installed on the vehicles involved.
Related Stories
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Active Safety Technology No Excuse for Poor Driving

Ford spokesman Alan Hall declines to reveal specific plans for a rollout beyond the European Focus.
Insurance companies are taking notice of the benefits provided by such systems, Thoeny says.
In Europe, the insurance industry is offering incentives for consumers to buy these technologies,he says. And here in the U.S., theres a lot of data being collected and studies to prove accidents can be prevented.
Other steps toward the widespread implementation of such systems have already begun, Thoeny adds, pointing out the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. is factoring in availability of ESR in determining its New Car Assessment Program safety ratings for 11 models.

bpope@wardsauto.com

]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110728-095318 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:53:18 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-135347

DEARBORN - When he founded Ford Motor Company in June 1903, Henry Ford had big dreams and ambitions for what he thought the company would accomplish.

One hundred and eight years later, Ford reflects upon just a few ways the company has impacted the lives of not only its investors, employees and customers, but the rest of the world as well.

A living wage
Prior to the implementation of the U.S. $5 daily wage, autoworkers made an average of $2.34 per day with them standard nine-hour shift.

Henry Ford changed all of that on Jan. 12, 1914, when his new profit-sharing program went into effect and he altered the plant shifts from two nine-hour shifts to three eighthour shifts.

Autoworkers called Ford Motor Company, “The greatest and most successful automobile manufacturing company in the world.” They now worked shorter shifts for double the income. Employee morale rose dramatically, turnover rates dropped and production increased.

This revolutionary program is credited with raising the standard of living of autoworkers to the point where they could afford to purchase the automobiles they were producing, thereby expanding the middle class to an unprecedented size.

Putting the world on wheels
When Henry Ford stated, “I will build a motor car for the great multitude,” his intent was to have this car be affordable to all and easy to operate.

He succeeded beyond expectations with the development of the Model T, which first shipped on Oct. 1, 1908 and was known as the “World Car.” In its almost 19 years of production, the Model T would sell more than 15 million models in nine bodystyles.

It was introduced with a price tag of $850, but the efficiencies of the moving assembly line would create production savings that Henry Ford passed on to customers. The Model T was sold for as low as $260 in 1924.

By the end of 1913, the Model T accounted for nearly half of the automobiles sold in the United States, and by the early 1920s, more than half of the registered automobiles in the world were Fords. The Model T truly put the world on wheels.

The pony car
Launched at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, the Mustang forever changed the landscape of the American highway.

As one of the most recognizable vehicles in the world, the Mustang sold 417,000 vehicles in its first year, and has gone on to sell more than 8 million vehicles in the past 47 years.

This pony car was designed in the early 1960s to appeal to the post-World War II baby boomer generation, and has become a cultural icon having appeared in numerous movies. Additionally, the pony car has inspired many songs and books through the decades.

Available as a two-door hardtop or convertible, the Mustang’s long sweeping hood and short rear deck, along with its silver galloping emblem, can be seen in private collections and museums around the world, including The Henry Ford and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Mass production for all
Although Henry Ford did not invent the moving assembly line, he certainly perfected this method of mass production.

Prior to the installation of a moving assembly line at Ford’s Highland Park Plant, runners would bring necessary parts to autoworkers all over the facility, which was 50,000 square feet spread over 6 acres. This was a slow and tedious process that caused downtime and frequent production delays.

In early 1913, experiments began with small assembly lines, and by October of that year the first vehicle assembly line was operating, which allowed Ford to dramatically cut production times. By January 1914, a more permanent moving assembly line was in place at Highland Park, also known as the Crystal Palace, and Model Ts were rolling off the line at unprecedented rates.

The modern assembly line is utilized in all types of manufacturing today, allowing the efficient production of goods.

Supporting the community
The Ford family’s history of philanthropy dates back to 1936, when they established the Ford Foundation, a charitable institution separate from the company. In 1949, Henry Ford II established the Ford Motor Company Fund.

The Ford Fund is a nonprofit corporation supported primarily by contributions from the company and, in the past six decades, has contributed more than $1.3 billion to worthy organizations and projects dedicated to education and innovation.

This spirit of giving back to the communities in which we live continues today with MODEL Teams events and Accelerated Action Days, where employees are permitted paid time off to volunteer and to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

A legacy continues
These are just a few of the ways Ford, during its first century of operation, has impacted the world. Arguments can be made for the influence of other innovations, products and changes that Ford has developed. However, as the company moves forward in its second century, it continues a historic legacy through a focus on safety, quality, technology and the environment.
]]> General http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-135347 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:53:47 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-134946
DEARBORN – When the mercury starts to rise, people have all sorts of ways for cooling themselves down: sprinklers, lemonade and ice cream all come to mind. But the engineers at Ford have developed a system that cools the lithium-ion battery in the all-new Focus Electric and keeps it working at its prime, even in the hottest of conditions.

Extreme temperatures can affect an electric vehicle’s battery performance and reduce its range. That’s why Ford will use an advanced active liquid-cooling and heating system to regulate the temperature of its lithium-ion battery packs, which are designed to operate under a range of ambient conditions.

“If the battery became too hot, we would have to limit the use of energy to protect it. The liquid cooled system allows us to reduce those constraints and get the most out of the battery,” said Dave Fabricatore, Thermal Program Management team engineer. “We’re helping owners by making sure their battery is always ready to go regardless of the weather.”

How it works
The vehicle uses an integrated cooling system to keep the different systems in the vehicle at their optimal operating temperatures. The air conditioning system is actually used to refrigerate the coolant going to the battery using a “chiller,” so as the coolant passes through the chiller, it’s brought down to the temperature that the battery requires. Temperature sensors placed all over the vehicle let the cooling system know when it needs to kick into action.

The cooling system can even work when the car is charging, so it can help reduce the charge time in hot climates because the battery will be kept at a desirable temperature.

“Batteries can heat up when they’re charging or being used, and it’s made worse by ambient temperatures,” said Fabricatore. “Controlling the temperature lets us deliver the best range and power for the customer, while improving the longevity of the battery.”

Focus Electric will launch in late 2011 in 19 pilot markets. The liquid cooled battery system will serve as another distinct advantage the Focus Electric will have over other air-cooled all-electric vehicles, especially in the warmer initial launch markets. These warmer weather pilot markets include: Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orlando, Fla., Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Raleigh-Durham, N.C. and Richmond, Va.

The power of choice
Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. In 2012, these models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This diverse range of electrified vehicles allows Ford to meet a variety of consumer driving needs.
]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-134946 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:49:46 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-134701







By Chris Kassab

DEARBORN - Ford Motor Company dethroned Toyota as the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Full Line Automotive Brand of the Year earlier this year, and the crystal trophy was presented to the company Monday at the Product Development Center in Dearborn.

“This award is a huge acknowledgement of the way we’ve gone to market in the last couple of years and of how our employees, suppliers, dealers and customers feel about the brand,” said Jim Farley, group vice president, Ford Global Marketing, Sales and Service, who accepted the award on Ford’s behalf. “It’s also a great acknowledgement of all the work that all the people at Ford have been doing in the toughest of times, and I think it gets us excited to do even more.”

The Harris Poll EquiTrend study evaluates measures including Equity, Consumer Connection, Commitment, Brand Behavior, Brand Advocacy and Trust. The 2011 study was conducted online among 25,099 U.S. consumers ages 15 and over between January 11 and 27, 2011.

]]> General http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110624-134701 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:47:01 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-222451

2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew has been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for models built after February 2011. Ford now has 11 vehicles on the road that have earned Top Safety Pick ratings
Ford F-150 features a number of standard safety and stability systems including Safety Canopy® side curtain airbags, AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™), SOS Post Crash Alert System™ and trailer sway control
The Ford 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V6 engine represented 37 percent of 2011 F-150 pickup truck sales in April; incoming F-150 EcoBoost orders tracking at more than 40 percent reflect strong consumer demand
Ford F-150 is America’s best-selling truck for 34 years

2011 Ford F-150

DEARBORN, Mich., May 12, 2011 – The 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew is building on Ford’s safety leadership by earning a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for models built after February 2011.

Ford now has 11 vehicles on the road in the U.S. that have earned Top Safety Picks, which adds to its leading number of top U.S. safety ratings. To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of “good” in offset frontal-, side- and rear-impact tests and the new roof strength evaluation, as well as offer electronic stability control.

“Safety ratings are important markers customers can use to evaluate vehicles, so we are proud Ford has the most top U.S. safety ratings of any automaker ever,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “The F-150’s innovative safety technologies and this new Top Safety Pick award further demonstrate Ford’s commitment to safety.”

Crash protection
New safety features for the 2011 Ford F-150 include a seat-integrated shoulder belt for the front middle seat and a head restraint for the second-row middle seat. The F-150’s standard safety features include an advanced safety structure with high-strength steel and six standard airbags.

Other standard Ford F-150 safety features include:

Dual-stage airbags for driver and front passenger
Safety Canopy® side curtain airbags
Front seat-mounted side airbags
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™)
Four-wheel ABS brakes
SOS Post Crash Alert System™
MyKey®
Trailer sway control
Other Ford Motor Company vehicles that have earned a Top Safety Pick rating include:

2011 Ford Edge (built after February 2011)
2011 Ford Explorer
2011 Ford Taurus
2011 Ford Fusion
2011 Ford Fiesta (built after July 2010)
2011 Ford Flex
2011 Lincoln MKS
2011 Lincoln MKT
2011 Lincoln MKX (built after February 2011)
2011 Lincoln MKZ
Sales momentum
The F-Series was the best-selling truck in America for the 34th year in a row and the best-selling vehicle – car or truck – for the 29th year in a row.

Demand for the fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine in the F-150 has increased each month since launch. One in four Ford F-150 pickups sold in March was powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V6. In April, EcoBoost F-150 sales ran at about 37 percent. In the F-150, the EcoBoost engine with its 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque provides best-in-class towing capability of 11,300 pounds combined with up to 20 percent fuel economy savings.

]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-222451 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:24:51 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-222027 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid to get up to 4.9 L/100 km highway?
by Autoblog (RSS feed)


2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

While Ford is busy busting its you-know-what to prep its next-gen CD4 vehicles – the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ here in North America and the Ford Mondeo in other markets – for launch, the team of Blue Oval engineers assigned to development of the updated Fusion Hybrid is reportedly hard at work reducing the gas-electric's fuel consumption.

A report from Ford Inside News suggests that the Fusion Hybrid's revised powertrain, which will most likely feature Ford's fuel-saving e-CVT trans, will bump the vehicle's fuel economy rating all the way up to 47 or 48 miles per gallon (5 L/100 km or 4.9 L/100km) highway. If true, that would be a healthy increase over the 2011 Fusion Hybrid's 41 mpg or 5.74 L/100 km highway rating, which is already class leading. Since the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will make use of the same hardware, this means that the gas-electric MKZ is almost sure to have an identical mpg rating.

The next-gen Ford Fusion Hybrid should be launched in early 2012, with the debut of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid likely pushed back a bit further.
www.sherwoodford.ca]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-222027 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:20:27 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-220951


Auto Express Car ReviewsText: Sam Hardy / Photos: Automedia22nd June 2011The new B-MAX isn't the only small Ford on the way – our spies have shot up close shots of another Fiesta-based prototype. And it drops the strongest hints yet that the B-MAX will be joined by an SUV brother rivalling Nissan's Juke.

Most obvious is the raised ride height and increased gap between the wheels and the wheelarches, hinting at greater ground clearance for rough roads. But look closely at the the tyres and you can just make out that this rugged-looking Fiesta rides on Pirelli Scorpion ATR rubber – the Italian manufacturer's on/off-road tyre.

They may only be 16-inches in size but with chunky tread, this prototype looks like it'll be very capable in a variety of terrains. In addition, the wheels also protrude past each side of the car, showing the wider front and rear tracks.

Although this model wears a five-door Fiesta body, expect the finished article to get a stylish look simlar to that of the Kuga. Turbocharged Ecoboost engines will include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.6-litre four-cylinder, both with start-stop.

Developed under the One Ford strategy, the Fiesta SUV will be sold throughout the world, including the US and Far East. Expect to see a concept at a major motor show next year.




Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoe ... z1QALbUQG6]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-220951 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:09:51 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-220621 Agent00R submitted on 9/20/2010 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 7:20:39 PM

3 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: www.autoexpress.co.uk
Tag Links: ford, fiesta, fiesta st, st, focus st, 2010 paris motor show, 00r, ford fiesta st, svt



The funny thing about siblings is that the little brother is always chasing around his big brother.

I know, since I was the youngest of five. That meant 00R was always nagging his elders.

Sometimes we see the same trend in automakers too.

For example, take a look at the Ford Fiesta ST. No, not the Focus ST that will be making its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. We're talking about the Fiesta.

This beefed up looking Fiesta is said to be producing around 200 horsepower from a turbocharged motor, if that was not obvious from the intercooler.

As its early in its testing phase, details remain sketchy.


Feast your eyes on the hottest Fiesta yet. This is the new Fiesta ST – which we've caught undergoing testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

As you can see it boasts a wild bodykit with a Focus RS-style nose, which helps feed air to the intercooler – because this Fiesta is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine...
]]> Future http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110623-220621 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:06:21 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110610-144705

Ford CEO Alan Mulally told investors on Tuesday, his company plans to increase sales by 50 percent over the next four years.


Gene J. Puskar / AP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://mms.tveyes.com/transcript.asp for video

Ford is targeting annual global sales of 8 million vehicles by 2015. Last year, Ford sold 5.3 million cars, trucks, and SUVs around the world.

Mulally's growth plan hinges on a rapid expansion in Asia and Africa as well as increased sales of small cars.

By 2014, more than 140 percent of Ford's global product portfolio will be either new or significantly refreshed from its 2009 lineup, a Ford spokesman said in an email to Reuters wire services. The figure is more than 100 percent because some of the models will have been turned over at least twice in that five-year period, the spokesman said.

Ford last week announced that it would introduce the smallest engine in its history, a three-cylinder, within the next two years.

By the end of the decade, Ford expects 55 percent of the vehicles it sells around the world to be small cars.



China, India and the developing markets in Asia and Africa have long been areas where Ford has trailed competitors. The company only gets 15 percent of its global sales in those regions, but it is planning to double that figure to 30 percent by 2020.

Under Mulally, Ford has aggressively expanded in China and India. In India, the red-hot Figo compact car has been driving Ford sales at a record pace.

"Ford can achieve these targets if it succeeds in growing sales in China and India where it has historically been a laggard," said Michael Robinet, a consultant with IHS Global Insight.

China is already the world's largest auto market and India is expected to be the world's third largest by 2020.

Mulally took over as Ford CEO in 2006 and has turned the company around so that it has shown a profit for each of its last seven quarters. From 2006 to 2008, Ford lost $30 billion.
]]> Future http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110610-144705 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:47:05 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110609-163220
Automaker will triple electrified vehicle production to 100,000 a year


Ford says the upcoming C-Max compact minivan will be a dedicated hybrid when U.S. sales begin next year.





DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co., in a move to compete with hybrid and electric vehicles produced by Toyota, GM, and Nissan, said today that its upcoming C-Max hatchback will be a dedicated hybrid when U.S. sales begin next year.

And Ford has cancelled plans to offer a version of the C-Max with a four-cylinder gasoline engine.

Ford said it has been able to reduce the cost of hybrid technology, which will make the vehicle more attractive to buyers. Ford announced this year that a plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi also is planned.

Today's move will put the C-Max in competition with Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid, General Motors' Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and Nissan Motor Co.'s all-electric Leaf.

Ford executives, during an event today in Sterling Heights, Mich., said they plan to triple North American production of electric vehicles and hybrids to more than 100,000 models by 2013 as they work to make a quarter of their vehicles run at least partly on electricity.

More jobs, fewer passengers

Ford is investing $135 million and adding 220 jobs at three Michigan plants to produce five "electrified" models. Besides the C-Max and C-Max Energi, the automaker is building an electric version of its Transit Connect van and will start making a battery-powered Focus compact this year. Ford has not yet announced the fifth vehicle.

The C-Max is a five-passenger hatchback based on the Ford Focus platform.

Ford's original plan was to sell the seven-passenger C-Max model -- already available in Europe -- in North America in 2012. Until today’s announcements there were no plans to sell the five-passenger C-Max in North America.

“This is a big deal for us because we are seeing a huge growing appetite for fuel efficient green vehicles," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of marketing, sales and service. "The number of people indicating fuel economy is the main reason continues to rise."

In terms of fuel economy, Farley said "this is a better opportunity than introducing a gas engine, seven-passenger C-Max in North America. This decision shows how flexible the one Ford Strategy is, that we can change with market conditions."

Although Ford did not announce the miles per gallon target for the hybrid C-Max, Farley said it would be higher than the Ford Fusion's 41 mpg.

Automakers are developing models powered at least partly by electricity as U.S. fuel-economy standards rise. The company said it currently sells about 35,000 electrified vehicles a year, which includes the Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid.

"The market is moving and we are shifting with the market," Sherif Marakby, Ford's director of electrification programs and engineering, said in an interview today. "Our choice is to increase the capacity on the sales of the smaller version for this fuel economy conscious consumer, and we believe there is more market in this than the seven-passenger small van."

Farley said in a statement: "Whether people want a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles."



Cost down

Ford said this year that it expects the cost of hybrid systems it begins offering next year will be 30 percent less expensive than the system that was introduced on the 2010 Ford Fusion.

Ford said it will be able to keep C-Max prices down because much of the hybrid system has been designed and engineered by Ford. The company also will assemble the system.

For example, an upcoming hybrid transmission was designed and engineered by Ford and will be assembled beginning in the first quarter of 2012 in a suburban Detroit Ford plant.

The hybrid transmission in its 2011 Ford Fusion and 2011 Escape and the 2011 Lincoln MKZ are supplied by Japan's Aisin Seiki Co.

The new Ford transmission will be used globally and sourced from Michigan.

Hybrid loyalty rates 'very high'

In an April nterview, Marakby said, "When we first launched a hybrid six years ago, many customers were concerned" about the battery. Customers asked: "'How long would the battery last?' 'How much does it cost to replace it?'" he said.

But batteries have proven to be long-lasting, Marakby said. It's now imperative to lower the cost of its hybrid system, he said, so Ford can cut hybrid prices and boost sales.

"We're seeing that the loyalty rate on hybrids is very high," he said in April. "We just need people to get used to the technology, bring the cost down and the price down for consumers, and we believe it's only going to go up in terms of sales volume."

Ford has been cutting costs by bringing many technologies in-house, such as the hybrid transmission, Marakby said in April.

"By developing the hybrid system's design in-house and sourcing individual components to suppliers, Ford can use less people and less time to get the job done in an efficient manner," he said.

Additionally, Ford has developed in-house a battery system that will be manufactured at a suburban Detroit Ford plant next year.

Marakby's goal is to cut the cost of the next-generation Ford hybrid system another 30 percent.

Bloomberg and Jamie LaReau contributed to this report
You can reach Rick Kranz at rkranz@crain.com.

Read more:
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... z1Oox18Ok8

www.sherwoodford.ca]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110609-163220 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:32:20 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110608-162256
Jamie LaReau
and Rick Kranz
Automotive News -- June 6, 2011 - 12:01 am ET


DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is rolling out a multistep plan to boost fuel efficiency over the next 10 years.

Ford's improvements, mainly in its powertrains, include:

-- Adding a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-liter direct-injection EcoBoost engine for its subcompact and compact cars.

-- Adding an eight-speed automatic transmission in about 2013.

-- Offering stop-start technology next year on several models.

-- Assembling a hybrid transmission starting late this year developed by its engineers.

-- Cutting 300 or more pounds from vehicles.

The weight loss could improve fuel economy by as much as 7 percent, Ford says.

"Leadership in fuel economy starts with powertrain technology," says Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development.

At the 2010 Beijing auto show, Ford showed a small concept engine in the Ford Start concept vehicle. That engine becomes Ford's three-cylinder production engine with EcoBoost. It will be Ford's smallest engine.

"Some people would say that engine's more suitable to a motorcycle than a passenger vehicle," says Joe Bakaj, Ford's vice president of global powertrain engineering. "But people aren't counting their cylinders anymore. They just want to know it performs."

Ford did not release horsepower and torque ratings. Bakaj says the engine's power will be comparable to a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

The engine will achieve 15 to 20 percent better fuel economy than a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, he says, in part by integrating the exhaust manifold with the cylinder head. That shaves off two pounds and gives a more efficient fuel-to-air ratio.

Ford says the engine will be available in North America in the "near term."

Ford plans to add an eight-speed automatic transmission to much of its lineup by about 2013, Kuzak says. The transmission will help Ford achieve a 2 to 6 percent gain in fuel economy, depending on vehicle mass and driving habits.

Such a move helps Ford keep pace with premium carmakers, such as BMW AG, and Detroit rival Chrysler, which will offer eight speeds in some models. Ford is not saying which vehicles will get the transmission.

Ford also will offer a stop-start feature on some vehicles in 2012. The technology will provide a 2 to 10 percent increase in fuel economy, depending on model.

Ford also said it has developed a hybrid transmission that will go into production late this year. The new transmission replaces a unit made in Japan by Aisin Seiki Co. used in vehicles such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The transmission will be assembled at Ford's Van Dyke transmission plant in suburban Detroit.

Adds Kuzak: "By this time next year, Ford will be the largest producer of hybrid powertrains in North America."


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... z1Oj47yhs8]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110608-162256 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:22:56 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-143132
March 26, 2011 0 Comments


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siqUezuW ... r_embedded

Evolution Performance, Inc. – 2011 Mustang GT C/S 5.0L 4V Automatic makes 652 RWHP and 577RWTQ with a Ford Racing/Whipple Twin Screw Supercharger at 12.5lbs of Boost. This car is geared more towards the Street/Strip group using 100% Street Components!

This car is owned by Evolution Performance customer.

Modification List
-Factory Stock Coyote Engine
-Factory Stock 6R80 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
-Circle D Specialties Pro Series Billet Torque Converter
-Ford Racing/Whipple Twin Screw Supercharger @ 12.5lbs of Boost
-75lb Fuel Injectors
-Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump
-L&M Dual 66mm Throttle Body
-123mm Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake
-JLT Billet Oil Separators
-Evolution Performance, Inc. Custom Dyno Tune
-American Racing 1 7/8 Longtube Headers with 3″ Collector and Off-Road X-Pipe
-Borla Catback Exhaust System
-Ford Racing 3.73 Gears
-Ford Racing Lowering Springs
-Evolution Upper Control Arm and Mount
-Evolution Billet Lower Control Arms
-Evolution Adjustable Panhard Bar and Brace
-Black Weld RT-S Wheels with Mickey Thompson ET Street D.O.T. Tires
-109 Octane Unleaded Fuel



Share


5.0, Dyno/Track, Power Adder, Videos

]]> Power http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-143132 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 28 May 2011 20:31:32 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-142812 by Jeff Glucker, Autoblog (RSS feed) on May 27th 2011 at 3:47PM



Spy Shots: Ford Mustang Drag Racer

Our spy photographers have trained their expensive camera lenses on something very interesting. Caught running around one of Ford's private test tracks, this Mustang is clearly set to live life a quarter mile at a time. Out back sits a pair of massive Hoosier slicks, while up front, a set of skinny Hoosiers are tucked under the fenders. Oh right, we're not sure if you noticed, but there's a massive hood scoop planted on the front of this pony car.

What's going on under the hood? We don't know. The front-end (minus the scoop) is from a GT500, while the rear end is standard Mustang GT attire. That scoop, however, looks like it was pulled off a Donzi 22 Shelby GT speedboat. Actually, scratch that... it looks even bigger.
]]> Power http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-142812 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 28 May 2011 20:28:12 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-142310 by Dan Roth, AOL Autos (RSS feed) on May 25th 2011 at 6:21PM



A heart attack behind the wheel can render much of your car's safety equipment moot despite decades of advancement. Ford Motor Company has tasked its European Research Center in Aachen, Germany with finding a way to reduce accidents caused by drivers experiencing heart trouble. According to the automaker, their prototype seat with contactless electrocardiogram technology can warn drivers to seek medical attention immediately by scanning for potential cardiovascular trouble through clothing.

According to Ford, by 2025, nearly one quarter of Europeans will be at least 65 years old, a figure that increases to one third by 2050. As risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age, drivers suffering from conditions like angina can be more than fifty percent more likely to be involved in an accident, so there's a lot of motivation to push this technology.

The prototype seat presently delivers accurate readings for 95 percent of drivers 98 percent of the time. Ford researchers are now looking into how the seat can be integrated with the other safety systems to work together to protect drivers who experience issues behind the wheel.

The safety aspect may be the most obvious application of this technology, but who knows – maybe it could also give real metrics about just how excited a thrilling run in a Mustang Boss 302 actually is.


[Source: Ford Motor Company]



AACHEN, Germany, May 24, 2011 – Ford Motor Company's advanced research engineers have developed a prototype vehicle seat that can monitor a driver's heart activity and could one day reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that occur as a result of motorists having heart attacks behind the wheel.

Engineers from Ford's European Research Centre in Aachen, Germany, working closely with Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen University, embarked on the project to address an often overlooked traffic safety issue – accidents triggered by drivers who experience heart problems.

The prototype Ford seat employs ECG (electrocardiograph) technology that monitors the heart's electrical impulses and detects signs of irregularity that can provide an early warning that a driver should seek medical advice, because he might be impacted by a heart attack or other cardiovascular issues. Whereas a normal ECG machine in a doctor's office requires metal electrodes to be attached to the skin at various points on the body, the Ford ECG seat has six built-in sensors that can detect heart activity through the driver's clothing.

"The system will be able to detect if someone is having a cardiovascular issue, for example a heart attack, and could also be used to detect the symptoms of other conditions such as high blood pressure or electrolyte imbalances," said Dr. Achim Lindner, Ford Research Centre medical officer. "This not only benefits the driver; but also could make the roads safer for all users."

Research by the Impaired Motorists, Methods of Roadside Testing and Assessment for Licensing project, a three-year European Union research programme, found that drivers suffering from cardiovascular disease were, on average, 23 per cent more likely to be involved in a road accident. For drivers who suffered from angina, this figure grew to 52 per cent.

With 23 per cent of Europe's population expected to be 65-years or older by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2050, the number of drivers at risk of heart attacks is likely to rise considerably in the coming decades.

Ford is also testing the prototype seat to understand how it could work with other advanced systems within Ford vehicles to warn a driver to pull over and seek medical attention, or possibly even send out an alert to emergency medical workers if necessary.

Lindner said the mobile phone could play a key role as the interface for any future application of the technology. Connected to a system such as Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch, due to arrive in Europe in 2012, the Ford heart rate monitoring seat potentially could use the driver's mobile phone to send a message to medical centres, alerting doctors to irregular heart activity. The seat also could be linked to SYNC's Emergency Assistance function to inform emergency response teams of the driver's heart condition before, during and after an accident.

Ford is exploring how advanced safety technologies such as Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keeping Aid, Active City Stop and Speed Limiter could work together with the heart rate monitoring seat to help protect drivers in cases where they experience heart problems.

Ford's engineers also are studying how the heart monitoring seat can be used to observe heart patients and allow doctors to maintain a record of heart activity that can be transmitted to medical professionals and reduce the need for visits to the hospital.

"Although currently still a research project, this technology could prove to be an important breakthrough," said Lindner. "As always in medicine, the earlier a condition is detected the easier it is to treat, and this technology even has the potential to be instrumental in diagnosing heart conditions early."

Ford researchers have been working since early 2009 to adapt the contactless ECG technology developed by Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen University.

"The Ford seat is a natural progression from our work on contactless ECG monitoring equipment and provides an exciting potential real-world benefit," said Professor Steffen Leonhardt of Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen University. "As the population in Europe and around the world ages, more older people will be behind the wheel and the safety risks increase. This technology holds the promise of saving lives and making the roads safer."

In early tests, the Ford heart monitoring seat has recorded accurate readings during 98 per cent of driving time for 95 per cent of drivers. Ford's research engineers are continuing to study how sensors can be made to record signals through a greater number of materials including those that interrupt readings with their own electrical activity.

Heart Health Facts

It is a misconception that heart attacks are always accompanied by severe chest pain; some victims suffer no pain at all and an American study found that a third of people who suffered a heart attack did not call an ambulance (UK National Health Service)
Across the EU in 2008, men were nearly twice as likely to die from a heart attack as women (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Commission)
More than one quarter of the world's adult population suffered from high blood pressure at the beginning of the 21st century. That figure is expected to have increased by 60 per cent by 2025 (European Union Public Health Information System)
Diseases of the heart accounted for 40 per cent of all deaths inside the European Union in 2008 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Commission)

www.sherwoodford.ca]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-142310 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 28 May 2011 20:23:10 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-141402 by Zach Bowman, Autoblog (RSS feed) on May 2011 at 11:57AM

Rollin' With The F-150's New 5.0



2011 Ford F-150 4x4 SuperCrew

As a race, we humans are obsessed with the notion of "best." Whether it's generations of on-point marketing or a strand of latent genetic code that pushes us to shack up with a better mate, we just can't shake the disposition. It's what drives our society forward – the quest for the latest product that promises a slightly improved experience or that one feature that eclipses the competition. It's why we can happily saunter up to the feeding trough at the local buffet instead of poking at wild boars with pointy sticks. It is, simply put, a good thing.

The domestic full-size truck segment provides perhaps the greatest study in "best" available. Each new model year gives the Big Three one more shot at outdoing each other in the areas of power, towing capacity, interior room and fuel economy. Neither Ford, General Motors nor Chrysler skips the chance to brag about its latest advancements over the other two. But as with everything, there can be only true king. In this feudal system, it's Ford F-150, which has attracted more buyers than the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 for years. Why? We took to the saddle of Ford's latest entry-level F-Series equipped with the company's new 5.0-litre V8 to find out.





Ford hasn't pulled any punches over the past 24 months. With General Motors and Chrysler both in the throes of significant corporate overhauls, the Blue Oval has unleashed a torrent of product updates that have included fresh styling, well-executed interiors and drivetrains that deliver both power and efficiency with little compromise. The F-150 hasn't missed out on any of that mid-cycle love thanks to four brand-new engine options, though the vehicle's exterior has remained largely untouched compared to the 2010 model. Ford shouldn't take that as a slight, however. The pickup received a slight fascia update just last year, and the grille, headlights and bumper still look fresh up front.

The F-150 may be much less in-your-face than the Ram 1500, but its nose seems more vertical and muscular than the squat lines of the Silverado. We aren't overly smitten with the squared-off grille and similarly angular headlights, but the treatment lends a dose of Super Duty presence to the half-ton pickup. Our tester came in SuperCrew configuration with a 145-inch wheelbase and an optional U.S. $1,600 chrome package, which threw in California cowboy treatments like flashy step bars, tow loops and 18-inch wheels.



As much as we'd like to scoff at those step-bars, the truth is that unless you're directly related to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, you'll to need them to get inside. With a floor-height of around 24 inches, ingress is an exercise in mountaineering. Around back, our tester came packing a short box with a total length of just over 66 inches – not nearly as large as the optional eight-foot bed, but more than adequate for light-duty tasks like hauling gravel or other landscaping goodies.

Like most full-size trucks, the 2011 F-150 uses extremely tall bed rails that make it impossible for an average-sized adult to reach objects in the bed. At around 57 inches from the ground, the rails land at arm-pit level on the typical adult, rendering limbs all but useless to leverage grocery bags from inside. If you want to transport small items in the bed, be prepared to drop the tail gate or climb the tire to rescue them from their fortifications.

Still, that height isn't simply designed to help give the F-150 an imposing stance, though that's certainly a byproduct of the design. Instead, the extra lift minimizes wheel well intrusion into the box. As a result, there's more cubic volume to be had for loads of loose materials than if the bed sat lower on the frame. Ford has also included four heavy-duty tie downs that are sturdy enough to take the abuse of a ratchet strap. That's a good thing since the bed rails are incredibly thin and trimmed in plastic.



Despite the gentrified exterior accouterments, the interior remained appropriately utilitarian. We were treated to cloth captain's buckets up front with a cavernous centre console. If you were struck with the notion, you could easily house two one-gallon milk jugs inside. The driver is met by an excellent multi-function steering wheel with a faux-leather wrapped appearance. The tiller feels suitably meaty and durable for a vehicle of this size.

Like other Ford products, the steering wheel also features a new five-way button for controlling a small, high-resolution LCD screen nestled between the tachometer and speedometer. Though somewhat distracting to navigate while in motion, the categories are logically assembled and provide information on fuel economy, vehicle systems and even pitch and yaw for your off-roading excursions. Needless to say, that last screen was our favorite.



Meanwhile, the dash is laid in well-grained, dual-tone plastic accented by chrome-bezel air vents. The center stack offers two cubbies sized for either a mobile phone or an MP3 player, which we found more accommodating than the usually lauded SYNC system. Despite our best efforts, the audio system refused to acknowledge our iPod and would only occasionally play music from a thumb drive. The good news is that when the technology decided to cooperate, the 2011 F-150 didn't disappoint in the sound quality department.

Thanks to our SuperCrew cab, rear passengers were afforded an impressive amount of space. There's easily enough leg, head and hip room for three corn-fed boys out back. Even better, the rear bench stows quickly with the lift of two under-seat paddles to provide a huge interior cargo space. With 31 inches between the front console and the bottom of the folded seats, and 57 inches from door to door, there's ample room for Ikea boxes or a large flat-screen television. It's simply impressive. What's more, the flat floor is perfect for safely transporting long guns under the rear bench while still ferrying passengers around.




Ford threw the engineering gauntlet down on the 2011 F-150 drivetrain, and as a result, buyers can have the truck with a range of new engine options. Ford offers a slew of powertrains for the F-150 depending on trim, including a new twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6, a naturally-aspirated 3.7-litre V6 and a more muscular 6.2-litre V8. Our tester came packing the line-up's middle child – a new 5.0-litre V8 engine with 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

A two-speed transfer case with electronic shift-on-the-fly control handles four-wheel-drive duties, too. Despite being only the second-most powerful engine choice on the option sheet, the twin-overhead cam V8 makes for an impressively quick truck. While perfectly content to burble around in the lower registers of the tachometer, quick right-foot thrusts will yield giggle-inducing propulsion.

At the same time, the engineers at Ford have managed to also squeeze respectable fuel economy out of the engine. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, our tester is good for 14 miles per gallon or 5.9 kilometres per litre in the city and 19 mpg/8.0 kpl on the highway. We managed 15.4 mpg/6.5 kpl during our time with the truck; just below the combined estimate of 16 mpg/6.8 kpl.



In a world increasingly awash with crossovers and neutered capability, the F-150 provides a refreshingly traditional driving experience. At no point are you under the impression that you're piloting anything other than a legitimate pickup. With its tall ride height, the vehicle affords plenty of visibility, and the dish-plate-sized sideview mirrors make for easy lane changes. Ford did an excellent job of properly weighting the electronic power-assisted steering as well. Low speed maneuvers are handled with just the right amount of assist, even in four-wheel drive. That's impressive given that our tester wore sizable 275/65/R18 Goodyear Wrangler rubber at all four corners. On the road, the steering avoids feeling overly light even at highway speeds.

Additionally, the column-mounted shifter is a well-thought out piece that allows for quick and easy gear changes from Drive to Reverse and back again, something that's essential for properly positioning a trailer or negotiating this big rig into tight spots off road. The shifter is built with additional resistance between Park and Reverse, which means the driver can simply lift the shifter to back up without having to lower his or her eyes from the task at hand. We approve.

The shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive is as simple to operate as flicking the dial on the dash from 4x2 to 4x4, though if you want to drop into low range you'll need to slide the transmission into Neutral.



When you aren't creeping around your front yard in low-range, the 2011 F-150 is fairly mild-mannered on the road. With an empty bed, the truck feels characteristically buckboard, though with comfortable seats and an effective cruising range of 684 miles, we could certainly survive a multi-tank road trip and still be able to walk afterwards. There's also surprisingly little road noise at highway speed, and while the stock exhaust sounds plenty throaty under hard acceleration, the back pipes are quiet under steady speed.

We did notice that the F-150 is graced with an incredibly lax traction control system. This is about as far from an electronic nanny as you can get. Familiarize yourself with the skinny pedal, crank the steering wheel and get ready for some tail-wagging glory with an empty bed. It's exactly what you want to see from a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive creation, though we have to imagine the system would be a little less entertaining under wet skies and emergency acceleration.



The good news is that should you get too frisky with the go pedal, the brakes will do a bang-up job of bringing things under control. Ford built the F-150 with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with 13.8-inch rotors, mashed by dual-piston calipers up front. The back axle is graced with 13.7-inch rotors held by single-piston calipers, and nose dive is kept to a minimum.

Thanks to the power on hand, a stout boxed frame and an optional 3.73 rear-axle ratio, this particular variation of the F-150 brings a 9,300-pound tow rating to the table. We were unable to strap a trailer to the pickup while it was in our care, though we settled for the next best thing to determine how the 5.0-liter V8 stood up under a load. After a quick visit to the local nursery, we loaded the bed with a cubic yard of mulch. The material weighs in at around 800 pounds per yard, which is a little more than half the pickup's 1,487 pound cargo capacity. You can check out how the truck handled the loading process in the Shortcut below.





The extra weight was barely perceptible on the road both in acceleration and braking, though the poundage did go a long way toward smoothing out the bumps brought about by the set of stiff rear springs. Still, the 5.0-litre V8 was happy to plug along in overdrive up a long grade without needing to drop a gear.

In fact, the 5.0-litre V8 would be the perfect engine for the 2011 F-150 if it weren't for one problem. In our configuration, the more powerful and efficient 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine is just U.S. $750 more than the middle-weight V8. For that stack of cash, you're rewarded with five additional horsepower and 40 more pound-feet of torque. More importantly, that twist comes on a full 1,750 rpm sooner, while turning out one mpg more in both city and highway driving. Our colleagues at AutoblogGreen even hypermiled an EcoBoost-equipped F-150 recently to over 30 mpg/12.7 kpl. It's hard to argue with more power and efficiency when combined with better delivery.

So why does Ford even bother offering the less efficient, less powerful V8? Our guess is that the move has something to do with some truck buyers proclivity to always prefer V8 power. Also, adding the 5.0-litre V8 to the F-150 lineup likely helps defray the cost of the engine for the Mustang GT, which helps keep the pony car affordable. Good by us.



Our 2011 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew wore an MSRP of Cdn $40,000, which included extras like the 3.73 axle ratio, tow package, keyless entry and various aesthetic and convenience packages, as well as a $975 charge for destination and delivery. That's no small chunk of money, but considering that the SuperCrew cab allows this pickup to serve both as a family hauler and a work machine, we can begin to forgive the price tag. Ford will let you get out the door with a four-wheel-drive work truck under $30,000, but you can forget niceties like power equipment, cruise control and media management.

While General Motors and Chrysler have both stepped up their full-size truck efforts in serious ways over the past few years, it's easy to see why Ford still holds the sales title. The F-150 is comfortable and tame enough to handle city traffic and mall parking lots with the family, and at the same time, it's also supremely capable of lugging a load of material back from the local co-op. It toes a fine line between civility and functionality and does it in an attractive, masculine package. All hail the king.

www.sherwoodford.ca
]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110528-141402 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 28 May 2011 20:14:02 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-163633

The Ford Mustang name is among the most iconic in the world, and performance variants like the Boss, Shelby and Bullitt are almost as memorable in the eyes of enthusiasts. While those names were no-doubt spawned by committee, the newest Mustang variant was given its name on Facebook.

Ford opened up a competition on the Mustang Facebook page to name the new V6 Performance Package, and "Mayhem Mustang Package" won out. The winning submission, which came from Jeremy Marler in North Carolina, was chosen from over 3,000 entries. Marler's entry wins him a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang with his Mayhem designation.

The Mayhem package features a 305-horsepower, 3.7-litre V6, front and rear stabilizer bars, suspension and brakes from the Mustang GT and a 3.31 performance rear axle. To help differentiate the Mayhem Mustang from its less capable siblings, the variant will be given unique 19-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli performance rubber and Mayhem badging throughout.

The Mayhem package sounds like a performance bargain to us, and the name isn't too shabby, either. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release.
Show full PR textFord Mustang Facebook Fans Choose 'Mayhem' as New Name for V6 Performance Package

The Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package has been given a new name – "Mayhem Mustang Package" – thanks to a Facebook contest that asked for the help of nearly 1.4 million Mustang fans
More than 3,000 submissions were made to the Facebook page and nearly 6,700 users installed the "You Name It" app. The winner, from North Carolina, receives a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang with the Mayhem Mustang Package
Mayhem Mustang Package combines lightweight 305-horsepower all-aluminum V6, a 3.31 performance rear axle and Mustang GT-based suspension and braking components. Unique 19-inch wheels and Pirelli performance tires provide superb grip and aggressive appearance

Dearborn, Mich., May 9, 2011 – The Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package delivers on "fun, fast and affordable," and now it has an all-new name to go along with that. After Ford reached out to the nearly 1.4 million fans on the Mustang Facebook page, "Mayhem Mustang Package" has been chosen as the new name.

"We saw great enthusiasm from fans, with tons of creative, unique names coming in," said Brian McClary, Ford social and emerging media specialist. "The contest was twofold – it let us engage with fans by letting them have a say, and it helped build awareness for the package."

More than 3,000 submissions were made to the Mustang Facebook page and nearly 6,700 users installed the "You Name It" app that let them participate in the contest. The winning submission came from a fan in Charlotte, N.C., who has won a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang equipped with the Mayhem Mustang Package.

Facebook fans were asked to suggest a name on the Facebook page and reach out to their friends in the social media world to help propel their choice into the top five names. A gallery on the page let visitors see all of the choices that could be voted on. After the five most-voted names were selected, Ford chose the name that best shows off the personality of the package.

Each finalist was run through trademark, copyright and brand approvals. The Mayhem Mustang Package will be used as the name on all Mustang sales, marketing and communications materials.

High-tech horsepower
The Mayhem Mustang Package takes advantage of Mustang's 305-horsepower all-aluminum Ti-VCT V6 engine's lightweight and high-revving nature to deliver a nimble performance car equally at home on a road course or road trip.

Borrowing from Mustang GT, the Mayhem Mustang Package includes numerous suspension, braking and body stiffening upgrades to deliver unparalleled handling performance. That road-holding is helped by a near-equal front/rear weight distribution, providing exceptional transient response along with the car's slimmed-down curb weight of less than 3,500 pounds.

The 2012 Ford Mayhem Mustang Package includes:

3.31 rear axle ratio for quicker off-the-line acceleration
Mustang GT coupe front and rear stabilizer bars
Mustang GT front struts and rear shocks/springs
Shelby GT500 rear lower control arm
Unique 19-inch wheels
Pirelli performance tires for improved grip
Mustang GT front and rear brake calipers with Performance Friction pads
Strut tower brace for increased body rigidity
Unique electronic stability control calibration with sport mode for performance driving
Unique badging]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-163633 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 14 May 2011 22:36:33 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-150509



We're looking forward to getting our hands on the ST variant of the Ford Focus, and why not? We Americans have had no choice but to sit back and watch while our overseas comrades got to have all the fun behind the wheel of high-performance Focii, which made the hot hatchbacks the forbidden fruit we tend to crave.

Ford promises that the U.S. will finally have a chance at the next-generation ST, which should supply at least 246 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque courtesy an EcoBoost 2.0-litre mill. The only problem is that the high-pot Focus ST is still a year away, but that doesn't mean we won't see test mules traveling the highways and test tracks around the world.

Ford tells us they have 60 ST models testing everywhere from California to Germany's Nürburgring. The testers may look like last-generation ST or more pedestrian current-gen Focus models, but the big wheels, low profile and double exhaust passes will show that the mules are anything but ordinary.

Matthias Tonn, who heads performance engineering at Ford of Europe, says that the testing is needed to make the next ST shine, adding that engineers are "fine-tuning, testing, and fine tuning again many of the small but critical details to make sure it is worthy of the ST badge."

And just because the ST will be a performance hatch doesn't mean Ford isn't keenly focused on fuel economy as well. Tonn says the goal is to produce class-leading fuel economy even with a performance variant. Mixing fuel efficiency and performance is no easy task, but Ford is banking on a thrifty EcoBoost engine and fuel-saving technology like a finely tuned Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system to do the trick.

While the Focus ST is still a way away from production, Ford provided some "spy photos" of an ST mule during testing in Germany, which you can peruse in our high-res image gallery. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release.

]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-150509 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 14 May 2011 21:05:09 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-150257 www.sherwoodford.ca



2013 Ford Police Interceptor spy shots

It looks as if the recent update to the 2013 Ford Taurus will translate to the company's new Police Interceptor. Our elite squad of spy photographers have managed to capture a few images of a revamped Interceptor during transport, and while several mules have been spotted with heavy front-end camouflage, this particular car has dropped its gown for the whole world to see. Along with a more aggressive front fascia, the vehicle wears a larger grille than its civilian counterparts to accommodate additional lighting, and perhaps enable better breathing.

Speaking of lighting, Ford looks to have reworked the vehicle's taillights to accept emergency strobes as well. Take this as an official warning – if you see this guy stalking you through traffic, it's probably already too late. Just go ahead and pull on over.

It's unclear exactly what performance modifications will accompany the aesthetic alterations. Still, given that the 2013 Taurus is now available with 290 horsepower from the base 3.5-litre V6 as well as a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder and the mighty Ecoboost V6 with 365 ponies, law enforcement will likely have plenty of options to chose from.

]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110514-150257 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 14 May 2011 21:02:57 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110430-151030
DEARBORN – The EcoBoost™ engine family isn’t just giving some Ford vehicles a bump in fuel economy. The engines also are giving Ford sales a boost by attracting customers who had not previously considered a Ford brand product.

“EcoBoost is like having your cake and eating it, too,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. “The unmatched combination of responsive power with responsible fuel efficiency is attracting new customers to Ford showrooms.”

EcoBoost pickup sales
Demand for the EcoBoost engine in the F-150 has increased each month since launch. One in every four Ford F-150 pickups sold during March was powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. In April, EcoBoost F-150 sales are running at about 35 percent. In the F-150, the EcoBoost engine with its 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque provides best-in-class towing capability of 11,300 lbs combined with up to 20 percent fuel economy savings. The 2011 F-150 EcoBoost carries an EPA rating of 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, making it the best combination of capability and efficiency among light duty full-sized pickups.

In addition, incoming F-150 orders reflect strong customer demand – currently running at over 40 percent mix – for the EcoBoost engine option.

Later this year, the first North American four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, a 237-horsepower 2.0-liter, will make its debut in the Explorer SUV and Edge CUV. Next year, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be available in the high-performance Focus ST. Ford is currently rolling out EcoBoost engines globally. EcoBoost is available in Europe for Mondeo, Galaxy, S-MAX and C-MAX, for example, and has just launched in Australia in Mondeo.

EcoBoost engines are fundamental to the Ford strategy of providing technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance for millions of drivers around the world. By 2013, Ford plans to produce up to 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally in a wide variety of vehicles from small cars to trucks.

Flex expands reach with EcoBoost
The stylish Ford Flex three-row utility vehicle has generated a similar yet more pronounced effect. After just two years on the market, Flex with EcoBoost is bringing new customers to the Ford brand at a market-leading rate of 65 percent.

Flex with EcoBoost is a unique offering in the industry, combining seven-passenger capability, 355 horsepower, intelligent all-wheel drive, more than 83 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row and up to 21 mpg on the highway – all in a distinctive design.

In the instances of both Flex with EcoBoost and Taurus SHO, Ford is seeing many 35- to 55-year-old male customers with disproportionately higher incomes, a demographic profile that has not actively shopped the Ford showroom for some time.

Taurus adds second EcoBoost engine
The new 2013 Taurus – recently revealed at the New York International Auto Show – will offer the next level in EcoBoost fuel efficiency. This full-size sedan will be available with an advanced 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine expected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel efficiency of at least 31 mpg. Responsive performance is assured, as gasoline direct injection and a turbocharger enable this engine to deliver a projected 237 horsepower across a broad rpm range.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 powering Taurus SHO generates 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and produces peak torque of 350 lb.-ft. across a wide plateau, from 1,500 to 5,250 rpm. This results in a smooth stream of responsive power at any speed. Mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission and intelligent torque-sensing all-wheel drive, the high-performance SHO delivers an EPA-rated 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

The Taurus SHO now enjoys the highest conquest rate in its segment – currently running above 57 percent after two years on sale. This means Taurus SHO with EcoBoost power has drawn new and different customers to the Ford showroom.

Ford is also seeing Taurus SHO being cross-shopped against BMW 5- and 3-Series models, Acura RL, and Cadillac STS and CTS variants. A full 57 percent of SHO buyers traded in non-Ford Motor Company vehicles, with 28 percent trading in a luxury brand vehicle.

Gasoline direct injection
A key contributor to EcoBoost fuel efficiency is direct injection of gasoline. This system precisely delivers a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder for optimal performance, economy and emissions. Unlike port-fuel-injection (PFI) engines that spray fuel in the intake system, the direct-injection system puts the fuel exactly where it needs to be for combustion.

A high-pressure injector is positioned to the side of each cylinder, aiming the fuel directly into the cylinder adjacent to a high-intensity spark plug and alongside the intake and exhaust valves. Fuel is sprayed into the cylinders at pressures of up to 2,150 pounds per square inch (psi), which is about 35 times more intense than PFI injection.

A powerful choice
Ford EcoBoost engines made their North American debut with the completely reinvented 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. Turbocharged EcoBoost power was the linchpin in the reincarnation of this iconic sport sedan.

EcoBoost is fundamental to Ford’s objective to provide the horsepower and torque of larger, normally aspirated engines while delivering the uncompromised fuel efficiency of a smaller engine. Key elements to enable this balance of responsive power and fuel economy include gasoline direct injection and turbocharging. EcoBoost is a key pillar of Ford’s plan to deliver affordable fuel economy for millions of drivers, while providing an engaging and responsive dynamic driving experience
]]> Technology http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110430-151030 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:10:30 GMT Deprecated: Function split() is deprecated in /home/healyford.ca/websites/blog.healyford.ca/scripts/sb_feed.php on line 85 http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110429-224905

2012 Shelby GTS –

Designated as the spiritual successor of the Shelby GT that was built from 2007 to 2008, the new GTS represents the base model in the Shelby lineup. According to company president John Luft, Shelby's average buyer is in their late '50s, and the iconic tuner hopes to bring in a younger crowd with a more affordable offering.

Available as a post-title package on both the Mustang GT and the Mustang V6, the GTS includes a variety of upgrades including a Ford Racing handling pack, Borla exhaust system, Baer brakes, unique front fascia, Le Mans stripes and a deep-draw hood. Optional components include superchargers for both the V6 and the V8, a Watts-link rear suspension system, upgraded brakes and more.

Pricing for the Shelby GTS starts at $9,995, not including the base car, which means a customer can get their hands on one for as little as $32,000. You can read more details about the Shelby GTS in the official PR after the jump.



[Source: Shelby]
Show full PR textFulfilling the desire of Ford Shelby GT fans worldwide, executives with Shelby American Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) introduced today the new Shelby GTS post-title package for the 2011-2012 Ford Mustang at the New York International Auto Show. Available with a either a V6 or V8, normally aspirated or supercharged, the Shelby GTS is the spiritual rebirth of the popular 2007-2008 Ford Shelby GT.

"The Ford Shelby GT was introduced in 2007 as an agile, reliable and affordable muscle car," said John Luft, president of Shelby American Inc. "It dominated its SCCA racing class and was a popular canvas for enthusiasts to create their dream Shelby. Our Shelby GTS picks up that mantle and expands upon it with a choice of V6 or V8 power for a new generation of Shelby enthusiast who wants a car built just for them."

Ever since Ford introduced the 3.7L V6 and 5.0L V8 Mustang for the 2011 model year, the Shelby research and development team has been secretly developing the GTS package. Once the Shelby GT350 was finalized in both coupe and convertible versions, the skunkworks team accelerated the project. Working with partners at Ford Racing, Borla and Baer, Shelby American enhanced the car's suspension, strengthened the braking and coaxed more power out of the engine.

"The V6 Mustang is a particularly good platform for the Shelby GTS," noted Shelby American vice president of operations Gary Patterson. "It's even lighter and more nimble than the GT. And the V6 Shelby GTS makes about as much horsepower as the V8 in the Ford Shelby GT, but with better fuel economy at a lower price."

The post-title package starts at $9,995.00, not including the base car. Superchargers and other options are available that allow buyers to personalize their dream Shelby. A limited number of the Shelby GTS will be built with reservations starting April 21; production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The 2012 Ford Shelby GTS post-title package includes:
• Ford Racing handling pack including new springs, tuned stabilizer bars and front strut tower brace
• Fresh air package for the normally aspirated V6 tune or V8
• Borla exhaust system
• Shelby / Baer brakes
• Unique deep draw hood featuring classic Shelby design
• Black billet upper grill with Ford "Running Pony" emblem
• Unique Shelby front fascias
• Shelby LeMans stripes and side stripes
• "Shelby GTS" vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
• "Powered by Ford" side badges
• "Shelby" lettering across the rear deck lid

The many options available include:
• Shelby superchargers for both V8 and V6 models
• 6 piston Shelby/Baer Brakes
• Adjustable control arms
• 18" to 20" wheels and tire packages
• Watts link rear suspension
• Two tone leather interior

"Our Shelby GTS is a fantastic way to pump up the capabilities of a stock Mustang within a budget without sacrificing performance," added Mr. Luft. "It's a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times."]]> product http://blog.healyford.ca/index.php?entry=entry110429-224905 Sherwood Ford Management Team- Search our new store on facebook Sat, 30 Apr 2011 04:49:05 GMT