Ford Fusion Hybrid win Car and Transit Connect wins Truck of the Year
January 11, 2010
DETROIT — The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named the North American Car of the Year today while Ford’s Transit Connect picked up Truck of the Year accolades in a poll of journalists.
The Fusion Hybrid topped car finalists Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf. The Transit Connect came out on top over the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback.
In the 17 years for the awards, U.S.-based automakers have taken home the car trophy nine times. European companies have won four times, Japanese three and South Korea’s Hyundai once.
In the truck category, domestics have claimed the crown 11 times, followed by four for Japanese makes and two for Europeans.
Last year, the Hyundai Genesis won car of the year, and the Ford F-150 pickup was honored as the top truck.
Hybrids, which have been becoming increasingly more popular, now have won five honors. More than 50 vehicles were considered this year.
Automotive News is represented on the 49-member voting panel by Executive Editor Edward Lapham.
[Shawn Wright, Automotive News]
Ford EcoBoost Vehicles at Virginia Dealer
November 12, 2009
Everyone is searching for the right technology that makes vehicles fuel efficient and decreases emissions while still meeting the performance, quality and price car-buyers expect. Ford is calling their EcoBoost engine a real project leader.
In car-talk, it’s known as direct-injection with turbo charging. Drivers get the thrust of a V8 with the thirst of a V6, while EcoBoost I-4 engines will perform like the larger V6s, but with the fuel economy of the smaller engine. In more straightforward terms, it’s getting more power with less gas.
Today, EcoBoost offers up to 20 percent better fuel-economy and up to 15 percent reduced greenhouse emissions versus larger displacement engines. But even with the numbers to back it up, people still question about the true performance of EcoBoost: Can a more fuel-efficient V6 engine really perform as well as a traditionally more-expensive and less fuel-efficient V8 engine?
That question was put to the test earlier this year when Automobile Magazine and Motor Trend pitted the Lincoln MKS with a V6 EcoBoost engine against a handful of popular European V8s in a head to head challenge nearly 12,000 feet above sea level at Colorado’s Loveland Pass. The Lincoln MKS completed the course with the highest top-speed among the group, but ultimately placed second behind the BMW 550i in the race up the hill. Although we hoped to end up at the very top of the pack, finishing so high in the group made it very clear that EcoBoost, our smaller, more fuel-efficient engine, has earned its place in the luxury, high-performance vehicle market.
Today, EcoBoost is offered in the Ford Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex. Next year it will be offered in a 2.0L I-4 version. In 2010, an EcoBoost V6 will be available in the crown-jewel of Ford’s truck lineup, the F-150. And by 2013, it will be offered in more than 90 percent of Ford’s entire North American lineup.
The 2010 Ford Flex is amongst those new vehicle that will have the EcoBoost engine. The 2010 model will differ from its forebearer with a 3.5 liter displacement and duo of turbochargers to produce V8 power with V6 fuel economy. The Flex stands up handsomely in the three-row crossover fight – well enough that if you’re considering such a beast, you’d be ill-advised to skip out on sampling this Blue Oval box – if only because of the vehicle’s rich features and options lists. Ford didn’t lie: the Flex EcoBoost is more than just an engine upgrade, and the suite of features it manifests makes it more than just another big box.
Visit Hall Ford for more information.
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is now at your Ford Dealer on Virginia Beach
October 28, 2009
This F-150 model is tough and functional inside and out. True to nature, the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) has successfully created a class-exclusive utility truck perfect for any adventure or work load. Available options such as a tailgate step, box side steps and cargo management options make accessing, loading and organizing cargo easy no matter how big or small you are.
Feel ruggedly tough and good looking in your new Raptor. Raptor’s exterior say, “Let’s play in the dirt,” while the interior sets a new standard of ruggedly crafted materials and innovative off-road technologies. Mechanically, Raptor is equipped straight from the factory to handle serious off-roading.
Experience a true off-road challenge that uses its 5.4L V8 engine and 4×4 power to make it uphill, over rocks or through dirt with ease. Try the Hill Descent Control and Off-Road Mode to make safer descents and maneuvers. Rest assured, even while it seems you are abusing your F-150; it can handle it. The engine is protected by a massive front skid plate, specially tuned shocks by FOX Racing Shox and an electronic Locking Rear Differential which ensures the wheels turn at the same time via a 4.10 axle ratio.
Inside you will sit comfortably atop a host of excellent standard features, such as upgraded dual-zone climate controls, easy to read gauges, a message center, cruise, a steering wheel tilt and much more.
Most important are all the standard safety features on the Raptor. With its state-of-the-art accident-avoidance technology and passenger protection features, F-150 reigns as America’s safest full-size pickup. The truck’s standard AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control,™ Safety Canopy® System with roll-fold side curtain airbags and high-strength safety cage structure all work together for solid performance.
Other great features include:
- Distinctive “brick wall” grille with Ford name carved into it
- Integrated marker lamps that accent Raptor’s imposing stance
- Unique front bumper, vented power dome hood, front fascia and fenders, and functional heat extractors on the hood
- Front fenders include additional heat extractors and are flared to accommodate and additional 7 inches of track width
- Ford SVT-tuned 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires with 17-inch cast aluminum wheels and matching spare
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel – includes thumb pads and an orange leather strip. The Strip acts as a centering sight line – helpful in extreme driving maneuvers
- Leather-trimmed seats – are designed with unique bolsters that help keep driver and passengers planted in the seats when the going gets rough (available Interior Appearance Package includes orange interior accents and orange leather seat inserts)
- SYNC with traffic, directions and information
- AM/FM stereo/Single-disc CD/MP3 Capability
- SIRIUS Satellite Radio
- Available Voice-activated Navigation System with Sony Audio
- AND MUCH MORE!
So, what’s not to love about this heavy duty vehicle? Try it out for yourself and if you happen to live in the Virginia Beach area, visit our Virginia Beach Ford dealer – Hall Ford in Newport News.
The New 2010 Ford Fusion
October 23, 2009
In normal times, the Fusion, at only three model years old, would have been due for a minor refresh—some added features and a updated nose and tail. Instead, Ford spent $650 million on a major overhaul affecting engines, transmissions, interiors, and styling. The result is a dramatically improved and refined mid-size sedan that comprises a full range of models, including a base gasoline four-cylinder model, a mid-level V-6, an exceptional hybrid, and a gutsy Sport model with a big-bore V-6.
The 2010 Fusion’s new styling looks sharp, especially the aggressive front end that puts a new face on Ford’s three-bar grille. The design requires a new hood and front fenders, and the result is as sculptural as it is contemporary. The changes at the rear are more subtle and, along with updating the look, improve visibility because the third brake light is now mounted at the top of the trunk lid. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid model will appeal to those who don’t want to flaunt their sensibilities; only the Hybrid badges give you obvious visual confirmation that you’re looking at the most efficient mid-size sedan on the road.
For 2010, the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder and both V-6 engines are quiet, smooth, and significantly more fuel-efficient. All 2010 Ford Fusion models are significantly more refined inside than the outgoing model thanks to more (and more efficiently applied) insulation, thicker glass, and additional seals on the doors. Furthermore, the entire instrument panel is new and made from a seamless, soft-to-the-touch material that fits with tight tolerances for a high-quality appearance.
The instruments sport a 3-D look that is easy to read even in direct sunlight. The middle area of the instrument panel (called the center stack) is also reconfigured to accommodate an eight-inch LCD monitor included in vehicles ordered with the voice-activated navigation system. Hybrid models get their own interior upgrade, in the form of an Eco-Guide instrument cluster.
On top of the dense standard feature list, the 2010 Fusion also offers the following as options (depending on model): a reverse camera with a screen embedded in the rearview mirror or the NAV unit (if equipped), Sirius Travel Link, a moonroof, and a Sony audio system.
Regarding safety, the 2010 Ford Fusion offers what has become the standard quiver of features: ABS, traction control, electronic stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, remote keyless entry, and six airbags. Extra safety-directed arrows include the Blind Spot Information System, rearview-sensing system with camera, and 911 Assist for vehicles with SYNC—all options on most models.
The Ford Fusion earns mostly five-star ratings from the federal government, along with only the best scores from the insurance-affiliated IIHS (The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). The IIHS deems the 2010 Fusion a Top Safety Pick.
If you seek proof that Detroit in general, and Ford in particular, can build a comfortable, high-quality, fine-driving, and hyper-efficient sedan that is more than competitive, look to the 2010 Ford Fusion.
Hall Ford
12896 Jefferson Ave Newport News, Virginia 23608
1.866.252.3319
2011 Ford Focus Production Causes Plant Remodel
May 6, 2009
Ford Motor Co. reportedly is spending $550 Million on remodeling its former Michigan SUV plant to facilitate the production of the 2011 Ford Focus. The vehicle plans to enter the market globally next year with a battery-electric powered version, the company’s first.
This will be a major change for the Michigan Assembly Plant since its start in 1957. At the heart of this decision are the rising gasoline prices and growing green standards, but most importantly for our economy, the company expects the move will support approximately 3,335 jobs. About 155 jobs will be salaried and 3,180 jobs will be hourly positions.
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement, “This is about investing in modern, efficient and flexible American manufacturing. It is about fuel economy and the electrification of vehicles.”
The Michigan change is part of Ford’s plan to convert three of its North American plants so that it can introduce six small cars to the American market by the end of 2012.
Hall Ford Newport News
12896 Jefferson Ave Newport News, Virginia 23608
1.866.252.3319
Ford’s Future is Still Ford Tough
March 26, 2009
In a market where intense financial strain seems like an understatement, one U.S. auto company is showing growth. While, General Motors and Chrysler have both turned to the government for bailouts, one Wall street brokerage gave its stock a “buy” recommendation: Ford.
Featured on CBS’s Early Show, co-anchor Harry Smith met with Ford CEO Alan Mulally exclusively to discuss the company’s frankly, surprising and apparent success in an industry which seems to be suffering the most.
It was part one of a weeklong series, “Early across America,” looking at stories of hope and optimism amid all the economic gloom sweeping the nation.
“If you’re looking for that tiny glimmer of hope amid all the economic doom,” said Smith, “the place to find it might be at the gleaming, green, state-of-the-art Ford truck plant in Dearborn, Mich. It has three shifts are working 24 four hours a day, seven days a week, turning out Ford F 150 pickup trucks. “Every single truck has been spoken for,” Smith continued. “A buyer or dealer wants it, which basically means it has a ’sold’ sign on it”
Mulally became CEO for Ford just two and a half years ago. One of the first things he implemented with his new lead was a plan to restructure the company’s debt, which now make him a hero in and industry seeking bailout funds.
Second, Mulally refocused the brand. “We had ended up in the place where we had a lot of brands. So we had Aston Martin and Jaguar and Land Rover and Volvo (see editor’s note below) and Mazda so clearly, when you need to focus, you need to focus in the toughest of times. So one thing we came together on was let’s focus on the Ford brand and we divested all those other brands”.
“What we decided,” he said to Smith, “was that we’re going to be in every market, we’re going to go back to our roots and focus on Ford. … We’re going to have small, medium and large vehicles, cars, utilities and trucks. We also decided we’re going to be best-in-class in quality and fuel efficiency and safety, and also offer the best value.”
Finally, he went to work with the unions to make Ford more competitive. His current agreement with the United Auto Workers is expected to align Ford with the competitive Japanese automakers who build in the United States. “We have aligned the wages to the real value,” Mulally says, “all the work rule changes that we have made, that we now are competitive with our foreign competitors inside the U.S. and we can make cars inside the U.S. profitably, which is a tremendous development for the U.S. and also for Ford.”
Ford made money in the ’90s selling pickups and SUVs but, to survive in the future, Mulally is convinced there needs to be more: “We made a commitment that every vehicle, no matter what its size, whether it’s a car, a Fiesta, a Focus, a Fusion, a Mustang, an Escape or an Explorer, all the way up to a 150, no matter what the vehicle size, every year we’re going to improve the fuel efficiency and the quality and the safety, and then the American public can decide exactly what vehicle works for them.”
In the meantime, he committed to improving mileage and quality.
But his biggest challenge may be persuading a generation of Americans that American cars are just as good as those from the foreign competition — truly a case, Mulally says, of, “Have you driven a Ford lately?”
Visit us at Hall Ford, a MileOne Company, to learn more.
Ford Reveals More Future Product Plans
October 10, 2008
Let the restructuring begin. Ford has revealed more details about product and production changes it has in store for 2010 and beyond.
Ford’s aim to offer new product and revise its model mix isn’t news, but today’s announcement from the automaker shines much more light on what Fords lie in our future.
Photo Gallery: Ford Reveals More Future Product Plans – Latest News, Features, and Reviews – Automobile Magazine
2009 Ford Focus Coupe SES
October 10, 2008
Sure, the new Focus goes down the road with a decent level of refinement, but where did the fun go?
I followed a 2003 (or thereabouts) Focus hatchback into work today. As I pondered that unique-looking small car, I couldn’t help thinking that Ford has really killed all the funky fun of the Focus. Gone is the unique exterior and interior styling, and even the historically fabulous Focus chassis has now been softened up to suit old-school American tastes. Sure, the new Focus goes down the road with a decent level of refinement, but where did the fun go? It is going to take more than SYNC to bring the import-loving buyer into a small Ford. The forthcoming Fiesta and third-generation Focus can’t come soon enough.
Photo Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus Coupe SES – Ford Midsize Coupe Review – Automobile Magazine
1963-1966 Ford Lotus Cortina – Collectible Classic
October 10, 2008
When Henry met Colin, the results were winning.
In 1945, young Henry Ford II was handed the keys to the empire that his grandfather built (and nearly ran out of business, twice). With the help of a handful of Ivy Leaguers known as the “Whiz Kids,” Henry the Deuce spent the better part of the 1950s restoring the rickety Ford Motor Company to health. But as the 1960s began, he was seeking to expand its footprint by moving the once staid family business into the glamorous world of international motorsports. While muscle would largely define Ford’s efforts in America, among the unlikely confections that would spring from its “Total Performance” marketing directive was a landmark machine launched by Ford of England: the 1963 Cortina-Lotus.
Photo Gallery: 1963-1966 Ford Lotus Cortina – Ford Classic Cars – Automobile Magazine
2009 Ford Fiesta
October 10, 2008
The Fiesta could be a very big deal for American consumers when it arrives here in two years as a 2011 model, because it is likely to be the first truly world-class subcompact car to come out of Detroit.
This fall, Ford of Europe is launching an all-new version of its popular Fiesta, a model that Ford has sold for the past 32 years. Available in both 2-door hatchback and 4-door hatchback body styles, the new Fiesta competes in what is known in most global automotive markets as the “B” segment. In America, we call cars of this size “subcompacts.” Previously, Ford brought the Fiesta to America only once, in the very late 1970s, and only for a few years, but this time, the Fiesta was designed and engineered expressly to meet the needs of all of Ford’s global automotive markets, including North America.
Photo Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta Sport – Exclusive Ford 2-Door Hatchback First Drive Review – Automobile Magazine
