Ford's Twin-Turbo Truck

July 21, 2011

It has two turbochargers, an intercooler, direct injection and a bed.

For the past couple of months, the Ford F-150 EcoBoost has been the best-selling version of the best-selling vehicle in America. In June alone, 41 percent of the full-size pickups were delivered to customers so equipped.

Did I mention that it is a V6?

This marks a huge shift in perception among a consumer group that typically considers the number of cylinders in its engines second only in importance to the circumference of its belt-buckles, and that’s not a knock. Even in today’s world of increasing fuel economy standards and a stagnant regular economy, the pickup remains the quintessential form of all-American transportation and an enduring symbol of the bigger is better ethos that built this nation and created the monster truck.

So, why the switch?

As it turns out, the one word we like more than “bigger” is “more,” and the EcoBoost offers plenty of that. Compared to also-new-for-2011 Coyote 5.0-liter V8 that the F-150 shares with the Mustang, the 365 horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost has 5 more hp and an additional 40 pound-feet of torque, for a total of 420 lb-ft. This allows it to tow up to 11,300 pounds, 1,300 pounds more than the eight-cylinder can handle.

But the trick that has everyone excited about the EcoBoost is that it lives up to its non-ravenous animal name and gets about 6 percent better fuel economy than the 5.0-liter. That’s 21 mpg hwy and 17 mpg combined for 4X4 versions. To put that into an even sharper perspective, a compact Ford Ranger V6 is rated at 16 mpg combined. No surprise Ford is giving that one the axe this year.

Nevertheless, what’s really driving sales is that you get all of this turbocharged goodness for a mere $750 premium over the 5.0-liter. For most people, that’d be worth it for the power alone, but the increased efficiency means that you’ll get it back from the pump in about three and a half years – sooner if you do the majority of your truckin’ on the highway. The lowest-priced EcoBoost F-150 model starts at $28,185.

In fact, the only discernable on-paper advantage that the 5.0-liter holds over the EcoBoost is that it can run on E85, a very important point for people who live near one of the 2,777 stations that sell the subsidized corn juice. EcoBoost owners will just have to deal with filling up at one of the other 165,000 or so outlets that don’t.

Paper is not pavement, of course, but the EcoBoost delivers there too. Packed into an F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, the V6 feels very much at home. All 2011 F-150s get a new 6-speed automatic transmission with full manual control – it’ll even bump up against the rev limiter without shifting up – and the glut of gears takes full advantage of the power on hand.

The throttle may be missing that late 1960’s muscle car responsiveness you get in a Dodge Ram with a HEMI V8 – perhaps by design – but quickly delivers a rush that could have Norfolk-Southern written on the side of it. I didn’t try my hand at any towing, but I did turn the tires into smoke on a drag strip, so I can sort of confirm that it hauls.

On the highway the motor chugs along without a care in the world, spinning at just about 2,000 rpm at 75 mph. Sorry, “chugs” is the wrong word. “Whirrs” is more accurate. It is almost embarrassingly quiet in such a big, brawny vehicle. Spend some time in an EcoBoost F-150 and the whole pickup-truck-as-family-car thing starts to make a lot of sense – it’s like driving around in a small library.

Now, I’m a firm believer that it really doesn’t matter what kind of engine you have, as long as it does the job. The only caveat to that is how good it sounds. I mean, come on! Around here we blow things up to celebrate joyous occasions, let alone when we get angry.

To date, every vehicle with an EcoBoost engine has been plagued with this same affliction. While it may be acceptable, and even attractive in a luxury car like the Lincoln MKS - which uses its own version of the 3.5-liter V6 - it is simply inexcusable in an awesome extension of manhood like the F-150. Ford really needs to get its pal Jack Roush to work on this one.

Until then, the F-150 EcoBoost may be the largest stealth vehicle you can by, short of a B2 bomber, and just the thing for sneaking around on the ranch.

Source: foxnews.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Ford Fusion Hybrid Logs Impressive Quality Record to Help Achieve Highest Hybrid Customer Satisfaction

July 21, 2011

The Ford Fusion Hybrid is America’s most fuel-efficient sedan and may be the highest-quality hybrid based on hundreds of millions of worry-free miles its owners have traveled.

Ford’s hybrid taxi fleet has logged more than 80 million miles in California alone during the past decade – more than quadruple the number of miles logged by Toyota’s Prius lineup. Yet, among the nearly 43 million battery cells Ford has tested or seen put to work in customer vehicles, only five issues have been documented.

This impressive quality record has surprised taxi operators who expected to experience more issues as they led the adoption of Ford’s patented hybrid technology. The Fusion Hybrid, which a leading consumer magazine rated America’s most reliable sedan of any hybrid or conventional model, also has taken hold with customers who give it a 91 percent “overall vehicle quality” score compared to 80 and 71 percent for the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima hybrids, respectively.

The Fusion Hybrid’s success is affirmed by the 2010 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) report that tracks initial quality and was conducted for Ford Motor Company by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

“Ford’s battery technology is so strong, the odds of experiencing an issue with one of our hybrid battery cells is around 8.5 million to 1 – about the same odds as a person being struck by lightning twice,” said Chuck Gray, chief engineer, Global Core Engineering, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. “Ford understands that for new technology, reliability can be a concern for customers, so we work extra hard to deliver a trouble-free product.”

Customers are noticing the strong performance, too. The Fusion Hybrid is delivering a 75 percent conquest rate, bringing more new buyers to the brand than any other Ford vehicle.

The durability and longevity of batteries – which Ford has been developing and testing since the 1980s – is essential as the company expands its electrification plan, building on its leadership with five new electrified vehicles arriving in North America by 2012 and Europe by 2013.

“Our customers have put hundreds of millions of miles on our hybrids with virtually no powertrain issues, which is a testament to the quality of our batteries,” Gray said. “We have checked the battery life simulations with test data and with real-world customer vehicle data, and now we’re applying that knowledge to make the customer experience in our future products even better.”

Fusion Hybrid amps up customers

The Fusion Hybrid hit the streets in 2009 with a leading 41 mpg city rating, 10 mpg more than the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Since then, the car has wowed customers from coast to coast – leading to a hybrid-best customer satisfaction rate of 88 percent compared to 80 percent for Prius from 2009 to 2011, according to GQRS.

According to Ford internal customer data, Fusion Hybrid has changed the game in other ways. It has:

• Helped increase Ford’s favorable opinion among hybrid intenders by 20 percent between 2009 and 2011

• Achieved nearly double the percentage of sales in California compared to the gas-powered Fusion (15 versus 8 percent) and attracted more than double the number of customers with postgraduate college degrees than the conventional Fusion (39 versus 17 percent)

The role of the hybrid battery

Ford currently designs its hybrid electric vehicles with a high-voltage nickel-metal-hydride battery. The current product represents a second-generation battery design that is 23 percent lighter than the first generation.

To achieve higher fuel efficiency, Ford’s Powersplit technology system uses two motors and a simple planetary gearset to create an electrically controlled, continuously variable transmission that allows the use of the most efficient operating points of the engine and motors. To date, Ford’s Powersplit technology has received more than 200 patents.

“The electric motors are another great story,” Gray said. “With nearly 190,000 produced, we have zero motor failures.”

At Yellow Cab in San Francisco, General Manager Jim Gillespie can’t say enough good things about the Ford Escape Hybrids as well as the Fusion Hybrids that make up more than half of his fleet. In a year, he said, his drivers will put about 80,000 to 90,000 miles on a vehicle.

“They’re incredibly durable,” he says. “We have these taxis on the street for about 21 hours; we take them off from about 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.

“We have them in stop-and-go traffic, heavy traffic, going up and down these hills. There was a fear at first that they wouldn’t be able to take it. But they’ve been great. The guys drive about 10- to 12-hour shifts – at about one third of their previous gas consumption.”

A highly efficient future

Ford’s decades of battery research has laid the groundwork for taking the next step in battery durability – moving from the larger, heavier nickel-metal-hydride batteries to even lighter, more powerful lithium-ion batteries.

“The lithium-ion battery not only saves us weight and precious space, it’s more efficient,” said Gray. “We need that increased capability so it can drive the vehicle much longer.”

Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy. Ford’s aggressive strategy includes five new electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013.

Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and in addition to Focus Electric later this year, will introduce C-MAX Hybrid, a second-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid in 2012.

Ford has invested billions in researching and developing new, fuel-efficient engines, transmissions and electrified vehicles, even during the depths of the economic downturn, when competitors dialed back product spending. Today, Ford Motor Company has 12 vehicles with best-in-class fuel economy and four models returning at least 40 mpg – a claim no other automaker can match.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Ford Trials Complimentary Live Operator Assistance for SYNC Services

June 11, 2011

Getting directions or finding a business using SYNC® Services has become even easier thanks to a new feature called Operator Assist that allows users to instantly connect with a live person.

Operator Assist is only a voice command away, making it part of the growing list of cloud-based driver aids offered by Ford Motor Company. The new feature provides customers with the ability to safely connect with a live person who can quickly access information databases to help drivers get where they’re going.

Operator Assist is currently in a beta test trial phase and being offered as a complimentary feature for registered users of SYNC Services. No additional software or hardware is needed.

“Ford is committed to continuously improving the ownership experience and delivering the level of connectivity that customers want,” said Doug VanDagens, director, Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization. “By leveraging what’s available in the cloud, we continue to innovate and improve our customers’ experience without having to touch the vehicle or inconvenience the owner.”

How it works

Cloud-based, on-demand, voice-activated SYNC Services provides access to information about traffic, news, sports, weather, horoscopes, stock quotes, and movie listings along with business searches and turn-by-turn directions.

Operator Assist is available for the directions and business search functions of SYNC Services. Seventy percent of all SYNC Services calls are for business search and directions, said David Gersabeck, product manager, SYNC Services.

Using advanced vehicle sensors, integrated GPS technology and comprehensive map and traffic data, the SYNC Services automated system delivers turn-by-turn directions to the user. Further, with access to more than 14 million business listings, SYNC Services’ automated system directs users to the businesses they seek.

Now, with Operator Assist, at any time during a business search or directions interaction between the user and the SYNC Services automated system, the user can say, “Operator,” confirm his or her request to speak with an operator, and connect to a live operator. This system gives Ford customers the choice of interfacing with a live operator or utilizing the interactive voice recognition system.

“Our customers asked for additional assistance in situations where their voice request was not understood,” said Gersabeck. “If you want the most reliable user experience, enabling alternative methods for customers to access information will increase success, which is where Operator Assist factors into the equation.”

In the event a user says an address or business that the automated system can’t identify, the user will be prompted with the option to connect to a live operator. If the user confirms he or she would like to speak with an operator for further assistance, the system automatically connects the user to the live operator.

When a live operator assists with a business search, the user can choose to receive turn-by-turn directions to the business, receive a text message with name, address and phone number information about the business (applies to certain phone carrier networks), or be directly connected to the phone number of the business.

When a live operator assists with address entry, the user can have the directions sent directly to the vehicle.

“We want Ford SYNC Services customers to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can get where they’re going or want to go,” said Gersabeck. “Being able to connect with a live person at any time contributes to that peace of mind.”

The live operator services are provided by MyAssist, a leading live assistance and telematics service company for individuals and businesses based in Stevens Point, Wis.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Ford Hits Hatchback Sweet Spot

July 11, 2011

Customers seeking more versatile vehicles with better fuel economy are finding what they’re looking for in hatchbacks and U.S. sales of these popular five-door cars continues to skyrocket.

It’s a trend reflected in sales of two of Ford’s hottest-selling cars. Approximately 50 percent of retail sales of the 2011 Fiesta have been for hatchbacks. On the market for just a few months, 41 percent of retail sales for the all-new 2012 Focus have been for the hatchback – a number Ford expects to continue rising.

“The hatchback is hitting an unmet need for versatility as people continue to downsize their vehicles,” said Paul Russell, Focus brand manager. “No other competitor in the top-five of total market share offers a hatchback option in the small car segment.”

The total number of hatchbacks available in the U.S. market increased 63 percent between model years 2006 and 2010, going from 291,853 to 475,048, according to Ward’s Auto World data.

“American car buyers have become appreciative of the convenience and flexibility that hatchback bodystyles offer after years of owning SUVs and crossovers,” said George Pipas, Ford sales analyst. “Combined with the generation of younger drivers who have been exposed to popular high-performance hatchback offerings in Europe and Asia, we may be seeing the beginning of a shift in buyer acceptance of hatchbacks.”

Unsure of how the market would react to new hatchback offerings, Ford prepared itself by investing in flexible plant capacity. This flexibility ensures Ford is able to react quickly to changing tastes, providing a vehicle mix – hatchback or sedan, base model or fully loaded Titanium – to serve varied customer demands.

Hatchbacks for space and fuel efficiency

Today’s hatchbacks offer more cargo space than sedans. The five-door Focus hatchback provides an additional 10.6 cubic feet compared with the sedan model and features a wide cargo opening and fold-flat load floor.

The Focus delivers up to 40 mpg on the highway. Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com recommended the 2012 Focus hatchback as a ride that’s fit for students who long for the open road, due in part to the extra cargo room afforded by the hatchback design.

The five-door Fiesta hatchback also brings additional cargo room to the table, providing 15.4 cubic feet of space.

“Our fun, vibrant Fiesta customers like the versatility of the hatchback’s access to cargo both inside and outside the vehicle,” said Sherryl Brightwell, Fiesta brand manager. “The additional square footage allows the on-the-go customer the ability to maximize cargo space when needed.”

The hatchback Fiesta is styled to have a “sporty, Euro-racing” feel, along with impressive fuel economy that delivers up to 40 mpg.

Hatchbacks for style and technology

Ford Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks offer more than additional space.

The all-new 2012 Ford Focus redefines the small car category with impressive fuel economy, distinctive design and strong driving dynamics. Focus offers class-exclusive technologies and first-to-market features such as hands-free SYNC®, MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology, push-button start, six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, heated and leather-trimmed seats and active park assist.

The Fiesta offers a vibrant, expressive design and a global track record that redefines small car expectations for customers along with 15 class-exclusive technologies and features.

The Ford Fiesta and Focus recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 list.

Combined sales for the Fiesta and Focus in June were 26,920, up 66 percent from June 2010. Fiesta sales were 5,535 and Focus sales were 21,385, up 41 percent from the prior June – making it the best-selling Ford car of the month.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Here's how Ford Motor Company rolls

July 6, 2011

Even before gasoline prices topped $4 per gallon, Ford Motor Company's attention to delivering more fuel efficient solutions for drivers was turning to tires. Specifically the development of specially engineered, low-rolling-resistance tires designed to further improve the fuel economy of its cars and crossovers.

All four of Ford’s industry-leading 40-plus-mpg cars – Fiesta SFE, Focus SFE, Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – come fitted with these special, fuel-saving tires. In addition, the 2011 Ford Taurus, 2011 Ford Edge, 2011 Ford Fusion and 2011 Ford Explorer have tires with enhanced technology that helps improve fuel economy.

But more is to come. “Tire technology, pressures and wear can make a big difference to a vehicle's fuel economy, so Ford is working closely with leading tire companies to optimize performance with low-rolling-resistance tires,” said David Rohweder, global chief engineer for Tire and Wheel Engineering.

Rolling resistance, a measure of the force required for the tire to travel down the road, is a key attribute in improving fuel economy. A 10 percent improvement in rolling resistance leads to a fuel economy improvement of as much as 2 percent, according to Ford's tire experts.

Ford's tire team, a dedicated group of scientists studying the chemistry of tires, is also researching materials found in other products like athletic shoes to see if there is potential for automotive application. The team is working with tire suppliers and manufacturers to evaluate these materials and ultimately to bring improved tires to market faster.

“Ford is leading the drive for innovation in fuel economy, and one mechanism to do that is through our research program on advanced tire technologies,” said Dr. Cynthia Flanigan, group leader for materials research. “Our goal is to anticipate, innovate and incorporate technologies and materials to make Ford a leader in fuel economy and to help deliver superior low-rolling-resistance tires to customers faster than anyone else.”

Building vehicles that do not compromise performance for efficiency is important to Ford. The 2011 Ford Mustang coupe, for example, is the first car to achieve a combination of 305 horsepower and 31 mpg. To deliver on that no-compromise promise, each component – like tires – is optimized for performance and efficiency.

“Ford develops tires with its suppliers to meet our performance targets in terms of grip levels, ride, noise and other attributes that today's customers expect and demand,” Rohweder said. “We’re pushing the envelope of a well-balanced tire, one that has optimum grip in all conditions, is quiet, gets good wear and has low rolling resistance.”

Ford Motor Company is committed to delivering vehicles with the best or among the best fuel economy with every new product brought to market – without sacrificing performance, capability or driving fun.

Optimal tire pressures can also have a beneficial effect on fuel economy, which is why all Ford and Lincoln vehicles are available with tire pressure monitoring systems that alert the driver when pressure falls below a set level. Under-inflated tires can be a safety hazard in addition to lowering fuel economy.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Ford’s capless fuel filler deters gas thieves

July 6, 2011

The only thing worse than paying more for gasoline is paying more for gasoline and having it stolen out of your gas tank. As reports of fuel theft continue to rise, Ford owners can feel a little more secure knowing their vehicles have fuel system innovations such as the Easy Fuel® (capless fuel filler) feature.

The Ford Easy Fuel feature is designed to easily let fuel in and make it difficult to get fuel out.

That’s important as gas prices hover at the $4 per gallon mark, and demand remains high with drivers in the United States consuming about 400 million gallons of gas daily.

“Our first goal is to make the refueling process as easy and trouble-free for the customer as possible,” said Brian Aitken, supervisor, Fuel Systems. “But if it also slows down would-be thieves. Ford customers benefit that way as well.”

Reports of gasoline theft have been rising across the United States, from New Jersey to California. The West Sacramento, Calif., Police Department, for example, issued a warning to residents about a rise in fuel theft that it attributed to the increase in fuel prices.

One report from Atlanta centered on a man who was caught running a garden hose from his house to a nearby car he didn’t own.

“It’s not a shock that illegal siphoning is rising with the sharp increase in the price at the pump,” said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, an independent website that monitors the fuel industry. “Criminals will do anything for money, and that includes trying to take liquid gold out of your gas tank.”

Ford’s capless full filler deters gas theft two different ways. With Easy Fuel, a spring-loaded flapper door is held closed by latches that can only be released by a standard-size fuel nozzle. This eliminates the need for a fuel tank screw cap. When the proper nozzle is inserted into the filler neck of the system, the latches release, and the nozzle pushes the spring-loaded flapper door to the open position. When the nozzle is removed, the flapper door automatically is forced closed by the spring.

Easy Fuel has a unique mis-fueling inhibitor to reduce improper refueling and siphoning. The inhibitor consists of a fuel nozzle detector that guides the nozzle to the opening. If a nozzle or foreign tube of a different size – a diesel nozzle or plastic hose, for example – is placed in the filler neck of a gasoline-powered vehicle, the latches will not release.

“Unless they understand how the mis-fueling inhibitor works and come prepared, many would-be fuel thieves are unsuccessful in siphoning fuel from Ford vehicles,” said Aitken.

Another deterrent in Ford vehicles is associated with the on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system. The main purpose of the system is to prevent vapors from escaping during the fueling process. Another deterrent in Ford vehicles is an inlet check valve that is part of the on-board refueling vapor recovery system. While the valve is primarily designed to prevent vapors from escaping during the fueling process, it also can thwart siphoning efforts because it closes automatically after the fueling process. It does so by detecting the pressure of liquid fuel as it passes. On many Ford vehicles, this valve will thwart the siphoning effort by thieves.

Still, Aitken said that despite the fact that technologies built into Ford vehicles may prevent siphoning, not all fuel thieves will be deterred.

“For another level of deterrence, a customer can purchase a locking cover,” Aitken said. The locking covers are available for purchase from Ford and Lincoln dealers.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Make Driving a Breeze with Safety Tips from Ford

June 30

Ford has some helpful safety tips for travelers heading out on the roads for the holiday season, to ensure that the trip is memorable for all the right reasons – even if the kids keep asking “Are we there yet?” from the minute you take off.

Top safety tips from Ford:

• Buckle up and do it right: The seat belt remains the most important piece of safety equipment. Ensure that it tightly encircles your hips, not your waist. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm

• Keep small children belted in safety or booster seats: Children under four-feet-four-inches tall who weigh less than 79 pounds should by regulation be fitted in child safety seats or booster seats and properly belted. The safety seats need to be securely fitted to the rear seat – and the latest Ford cars are now designed with ISOFIX fittings, which provide a rigid and robust connection between the vehicle and the seats

• Ensure that the tilt and height of all head rests are correctly adjusted

• Avoid placing objects over the airbag cover: Do not place any object between an occupant and an airbag or near any other airbag covering. The airbag may not inflate properly and might force an object into that person, causing severe injury or death. The instrument panel grab handle should never be used for storage. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear at all times.

• Do your homework. Know your car’s condition and its safety features: Check for basic maintenance and items in your car before heading off for a trip. Items to check include tire tread depth, tire pressures, and ensuring oil and water levels are correct.

• Be responsible and know the speed limits: If you’re traveling across the country, be aware of the speed limits and road laws of the states you will travel through. Always carry your driver’s license with you.

• Give yourself enough time to complete the journey: Plan for stops along the way. Drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions and leave sufficient space between the vehicles around you.

• Pack heavier items in lower areas of the vehicle: When filling up the cargo areas of the vehicle, always place the heaviest items close to the vehicle floor or truck bed so that in the event of a quick stop, those items remain in place and do not move forward in the vehicle where they can collide with passengers or other materials.

• Use a voice-activated, hands-free connectivity system like Ford SYNC® to control your mobile phone or navigation system: Ensure the system is ready to go before you set off.

• Don’t drink and drive 

• Don’t drive when you’re tired: It is recommended that you take regular breaks on a long journey

Technology that can help

Ford offers a variety of technologies in its vehicles that can support the driver on long journeys – and hopefully make such trips more enjoyable and less stressful:

• SYNC: SYNC is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system for Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones that allows hands-free calling among its many available features.

• MyFord Touch™: MyFord Touch driver connect technology provides an intuitive way for drivers to connect in-car technologies and their digital lives.

• Active park assist: An advanced new system that automatically guides the vehicle into parallel parking spaces. The system uses two ultrasonic sensors to scan for a suitable space between parked cars. Once a space has been identified, which can be as little as 1.2 times the length of the vehicle, the driver is informed and clear instructions are shown in the center display. The driver controls the accelerator and brake pedal, and selects a forward or reverse gear, while the steering system is automatically controlled by the vehicle.

• Auto high beams: This feature is designed to detect light sources ahead and automatically switch the headlamps between main and low beam to avoid glare and help maximize visibility when driving at night.

• Adaptive cruise control: A radar-based cruise control system that helps to maintain a preset cruising speed as well as a preset distance from vehicles ahead. If the system detects the vehicle in front is slowing down or is too close, it decelerates automatically. Once the road is clear again, it will accelerate back to the chosen cruising speed

And a few things you might not know…

• Bothered by bugs? Going on a long trip and don’t want to face a windshield and/or bumper full of dead insects by the time you arrive? Wipe down your windshield with a tumble dryer sheet; bugs won’t stick to the glass as easily. Also, give your bumpers the once-over with cooking spray.

• Sheets: If your trunk looks like a linen closet before you leave, then you’re prepared. Pack bed sheets – you can drape them over car seats that have become baking hot in the sun.

• Tennis, anyone? Slice open a tennis ball and use it to cover your tow bar when you’re not using it. It will protect it from scratches, and will keep the moisture out.

• Don’t forget your shades: Troubled by sun glare? Add a few pairs of sunglasses (in case you lose one) to your travel bag before you leave.

• Don’t scratch it; smear it: Can’t get that sticker from the amusement park or beach parking lot off your window? Saturate it with cooking oil before you start scrubbing.

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.

Fusion Hybrid and Focus 2011 Top 10 Green Cars

June 30

With its outstanding fuel economy, Fusion Hybrid was an obvious choice for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com 2011 Top 10 Green Cars. But the driving dynamics, comfort and available SYNC® technology features were truly what won them over. While “packing the latest and most potent gas/electric package in Ford history,” according to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors, it “balances impressive performance with excellent creature comforts and mileage marks that simply blow most other mid-size hybrid sedans into the weeds.”

The all-new Focus also wowed them with its handling, outfitted interior, available SYNC technology and available active park assist. Not to mention, a solid 40 mpg hwy with the SFE Package.“A conservative look with refined handling and plenty of cool features make the 2012 Ford Focus an appealing choice for drivers seeking a value-oriented American compact.”

Source: ford.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.