Ford Debuts New Dealer Sustainability Program

Ford Motor Company is launching a voluntary sustainability initiative for Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the energy-efficiency of their dealerships


Ford has partnered with Rocky Mountain Institute, a leading energy-efficiency organization to pilot new technologies and architectural design principles, at three dealerships in diverse climates

The ‘Go Green’ dealer sustainability initiative is fully integrated into the company’s existing architecture to provide dealers with the ability to improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs

ORLANDO, Feb. 14, 2010 – Ford Motor Company’s commitment to contributing to a better world further expands today with the announcement of the ‘Go Green’ Dealership Sustainability Program. The program is being shared with the company’s U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers today at the 2010 National Automobile Dealers Association Convention.

The goal of the program is simple: Collaborate with dealers to implement cost-effective ways to improve the energy-efficiency of their facilities, resulting in a long-term reduction in individual dealership’s carbon footprint as well as overall operating costs. Participation in the ‘Go Green’ Dealership Sustainability Program is voluntary for dealers.

“In keeping with Ford’s commitment to the environment, this program is a great fit for our dealers because it provides a variety of energy-efficient improvement options regardless of the current age and design of the facility,” says Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “This allows all dealers the opportunity to participate in improving the energy efficiency of their facility and gives them flexibility in making choices that are right for them and their dealership.”

Ford has partnered with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), an organization recognized as a leader in providing energy-efficiency solutions to businesses, communities and organizations around the world.

“We applaud Ford for their ongoing energy efficiency efforts around the world,” said Amory B. Lovins, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute. “This initiative will have a positive impact as participating dealers decrease their consumption of energy. Implementing these cost-effective solutions will also improve dealer’s bottom line over the long-term.”

Read the whole article here.

Ford Next Generation Hybrid System Wins Award

The Ford Next Generation Hybrid System and SmartGauge were recently awarded the 2010 Best New Technology Award by Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. 

"AJAC's Best New Green Technology award, presented by Shell Canada, was established to recognize innovative new developments in the auto industry that will be of benefit to the Canadian consumer," said Canadian Car of the Year and technology award chairman Richard Russell. "Virtually every manufacturer is working to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. We want to look at these efforts and award those we feel are worthy of recognition." Russell further commented, "Continual development has made the modern passenger vehicle a very clean device. But we cannot let up on efforts to reduce the effect it has on the environment we will hand off to future generations." The winner was chosen from a list of five entries, judged by a panel of AJAC members with specific technical qualifications who regularly report on industry engineering and technical trends."   Read full article here.

For more information on Ford's Hybrid vehicles, contact Lakewood Fordland.

Details of the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Revealed

Ford has released details of the amazing 2011 Ford Shelby GT500.    The many exciting features include:

• With 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) delivers the new Shelby GT500® with a 10 horsepower increase; an all-new 5.4-liter all-aluminum engine is 102 pounds lighter than the previous cast-iron engine and uses Ford-patented plasma-coating technology

• For 2011, Shelby GT500 offers EPA-projected improved fuel economy in city and highway from 2010, eliminating the gas guzzler tax

• The addition of Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), a new optional SVT Performance Package, enhanced convertible rigidity and a lowered ride height contribute to improved driving dynamics and handling

Read the entire article about the 2011 Shelby GT500 here. 

For more information on the Ford Shelby or any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle, visit Lakewood Fordland!

2010 Ford Taurus Featured in 'White Collar' Game

According to an article from Car Connection:

Ford's latest adventure in product placement centers on the USA Network series White Collar and makes use of the 2010 Ford Taurus. The show is a crime comedy-drama about two FBI agents (well, one FBI agent and one ex-con) who spend a fair amount of time motoring around New York in their Ford Taurus and making use of its Sync telematics system. That alone would be a great example of product placement in action, but Ford and USA haven't stopped there: they've also created a fairly sophisticated online game called "Chasing the Shadow", which plays like an episode of the TV show.


As you'd expect, the game gives a lot of screen time to the Taurus and its Sync system. In fact, the Sync interface may be the most important element of the game, since players spend a good deal of time using it to make and receive phone calls, text messages, and so on. (Newbies can opt to run through a "basic training" course and familiarize themselves with gameplay.)

For more information on the 2010 Ford Taurus, contact Lakewood Fordland.

New Winner in Hybrid Survey

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — In what could be considered an upset, the Toyota Prius did not lead the way when Edmunds.com released the results of its Consumers' Favorites Hybrid Vehicle Survey.



Instead the honor went to the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the vehicle that received 26 percent of the votes according to Edmunds.com. The Toyota Prius earned 23 percent of votes.


Edmunds.com revealed the other eight vehicles that made this survey's Top 10, but much of the attention from site analysts was drawn to the leading Ford unit.


"Ford's mid-sized hybrid sedan, which helped boost Ford's overall sales performance in an otherwise dismal 2009, has been praised for its smooth operation, fuel economy, looks and interactive information system that helps drivers modify their behind-the-wheel behavior to increase fuel economy," explained John O'Dell, senior editor of Edmunds' GreenCarAdvisor.com.


This Edmunds.com honor arrived soon after industry journalists picked the Fusion Hybrid as the 2010 North American Car of the Year. Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com, was one of the 49 individuals who also decided that winner.

Read the whole article here.

See the 2010 Ford Fusion at Lakewood Fordland!