Ford Fiesta Model Certified at 40 mph Highway

The 2011 Ford Fiesta with 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission has been EPA certified at 40 mpg Highway.  That makes it the most fuel-efficient in its class.

• Ford Fiesta with the six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission has been EPA certified for 40 mpg highway and 29 mpg city delivering class-leading fuel economy
• Fiesta features several fuel-saving technologies including its PowerShift automatic transmission, Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, Electric Power Assist Steering, aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff and enhanced aerodynamics
• Fiesta joins Fusion Hybrid – America’s most fuel efficient midsize sedan – and other class leaders like Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, Ford Ranger, Mustang V-6 and Super Duty offering best-in-class fuel economy

Read entire article here.

For more information on the 2011 Ford Fiesta, stop by Lakewood Fordland.

Ford Utilizes Virtual Soldier to Improve Quality

• Santos was created for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the Virtual Soldier Research program at the University of Iowa; the military employs Santos to find ways to ease the physical strain on soldiers
• Santos, now in the testing phase at Ford, is a computerized avatar that performs actions in the virtual world that can allow Ford to improve quality, safety and ergonomics in factories before an assembly line is built
• Santos is designed with a complete biomechanical muscular system to provide feedback on fatigue, speed, strength and torque

Originally created for the U.S. Department of Defense at the University of Iowa as part of the Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) program to help reduce physical strain on soldiers, Santos has been heralded by ergonomists as a breakthrough in digital modeling.

Santos' move from the virtual battlefield to the virtual assembly line is the latest step in Ford's efforts to improve ergonomics at its manufacturing plants.

"Creating the safest and most ergonomic way to build a vehicle is a trial-and-error process – in recent years technology has allowed this process to happen in the virtual world," said Allison Stephens, ergonomics technical specialist with Vehicle Operations Manufacturing Engineering. "Santos takes this to a new level. He can perform a task and tell us whether over months and years it will cause back strain, for example, and we can make adjustments until we find the optimal way to get the job done."

Read entire article here.

Visit Lakewood Fordland for more information on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.

Many Ford Models Make List of Affordable to Repair

According to a recent report, many Ford models are more affordable to repair after a collision than similar vehicles in their segments:

Many Ford Motor Company vehicles are the most affordable vehicles repair after collisions in their respective segments, according to a report by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration based on insurance claims costs; Insurers use this model-specific data to help establish auto insurance premiums


Ford has 10 segments leaders, including Taurus, Focus and F-Series trucks, from the 2007-2009 model years, more than three times as many as Toyota and Honda combined. The NHTSA ratings based on claim costs data from the Highway Loss Data Institute

Ford in 2009 established a special engineering and technical center in Allen Park, Mich., to help lower the cost of collision repair for Ford vehicles
 
Read entire article here.
 
Visit Lakewood Fordland to see the full line of Ford vehicles!

Ford Edge Named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year

“Top Dog” Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice – Bark Buckle UP, a recognized expert in pet travel safety, selected the Ford Edge as its 2010 Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year. Ford received four of the top ten honors, including Ford Transit Connect, Edge, Flex and Lincoln MKT.  

• According to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 45.6 million households own a dog and 38.2 million households own a cat.
• In 2009, it’s estimated that U.S. pet owners spent $45.4 billion on their pets, including food, products and services. 
• Over 50% of dog owners in the U.S. consider the needs of their pet when buying a car.

Read entire article here.

Stop by Lakewood Fordland to see the pet-friendly 2010 Ford Edge.

Customers Satisfied With Ford EcoBoost Engine

• Lincoln buyers give the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 engine some of the highest customer satisfaction scores ever for Lincoln
• Sales of EcoBoost engine-equipped vehicles continue to meet or exceed company expectations
• EcoBoost is attracting younger, more affluent buyers to Ford and Lincoln Mercury showrooms

Drivers of EcoBoost vehicles say they are more than satisfied with the overall performance of their engines, according to the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study conducted by the RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In rating their EcoBoost engines, 100 percent of Lincoln MKT buyers surveyed said they were satisfied with their engine’s performance, including power and pickup.

Meanwhile, 99 percent said they were satisfied with their engine’s overall operation. Ninety-one percent of Lincoln MKS buyers were satisfied with their engine’s performance, while 94 percent were satisfied with their engine’s overall operation.

Read entire article here.

Visit Lakewood Fordland for more information on the EcoBoost Engine.

Ford Honors Pledge to Double Flex-Fuel Vehicle Production

In 2006, Ford made a pledge to double flexible-fuel vehicle production.  Now, they have honored that pledge:

Ford is delivering on its 2006 pledge to double the number of flexible-fuel vehicles produced in the U.S. by the end of 2010. Ford produced nearly 185,000 2006 model year flexible-fuel vehicles.


The development and use of renewable fuels helps reduce America’s dependence on imported oil. More ethanol is now produced and used in the U.S. than the amount of gasoline made from oil imported by the U.S. from Saudi Arabia and Iraq combined

Ford plans to expand its fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles to 50 percent of vehicle production by 2012 provided incentives continue to encourage the manufacturing, distribution and availability of renewable fuels, and the production of flexible-fuel vehicles
 
Read entire article at Ford.
 
Lakewood Fordland would like to tell you more about Ford's commitment to flexible-fuel vehicles.

New Breed of Ford Mustangs to Arrive in 2011

There are some changes coming for the 2011 Ford Mustang: 

• Ford showcases the new 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 through extensive digital advertising and social media, television commercials and print ads
• The new V-6 Mustang is the first car ever to deliver an unrivaled combination of 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway
• Three print ads for the new 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 emphasize the vehicle’s unprecedented 412 horsepower and 26 mpg with the tagline: All Legend. No Compromise
• The new specially customized 2011 DUB Edition Ford Mustang V-6 and 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 that DUB Magazine tricked out for Grammy-winning artist Nelly will be on display during a tour for the magazine, which travels throughout the country through November

A new breed of Mustang takes center stage in a Ford ad campaign designed to attract even more sports car fans to the iconic brand. As part of the campaign, the TV ad also includes an appearance by the new DUB Edition Ford Mustang V-6, which is available this fall.

“We’re introducing a whole new breed of Mustang with the V-6 – one that adds technology and fuel economy to the ‘fast, fun and affordable’ heritage that has made Mustang America’s favorite pony car for 46 years,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “We will be reaching out to a broad audience because this vehicle is going to appeal to a variety of different people.”Ford will use extensive digital advertising and social media to share the Mustang V-6’s strong technology story with mainstream consumers, and there is quite a story to tell – from the advanced powertrains that deliver unsurpassed horsepower and fuel economy to the 11 class-exclusive features, including SYNC®, Glass Roof, HD Radio® and MyKey™

Read entire article here.

Learn more about the 2011 Ford Mustang at Lakewood Fordland.