upscale, tech-savvy NEW TAUrus flagship delivers style, substance for full-size sedan buyers in 2010
· Athletic, upscale new 2010 Ford Taurus confidently leads a growing wave of new-car introductions from Ford Motor Company. Available this summer, this distinctive new vehicle combines class-leading technologies with confident, engaging driving dynamics
· Taurus features an impressive set of standard and available technologies that add convenience, connectivity, safety and value for customers. They include Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKey™ parental programmability, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rain-Sensing Wipers, EasyFuel™ capless refueling, Ford SYNC® and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel Link™
· The new Taurus is powered by the award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine, mated to one of two available fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmissions including SelectShift® with shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel and available all-wheel drive
DETROIT, Jan.11, 2009 – The Ford Taurus – the car that changed America’s view of full-size sedans – is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world’s best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag.
“The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford’s growing new car launch momentum,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for – and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering – quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design.”
The new Taurus benefits from Ford’s Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner – with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible.
“Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. “Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule.”
Even better news? The new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 – the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals premium luxury sedans.
“The new Taurus showcases the what the Ford brand promise is – expressive design, class-leading technologies and an engaging driving experience,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Marketing and Communications. “To truly appreciate the new Taurus, you have to drive it. All of the experiences come together once you’re behind the wheel.”
New times, new design
“Lightning can strike twice,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design for The Americas. “Like the 1986 original, the new 2010 Taurus differentiates by combining style with substance.”
The shift starts with the vision for Taurus itself. It debuted as a family sedan, but with the advent of crossovers, the new Taurus is aimed more at drivers who might move friends and family but place more of a premium on the driving experience and technologies aimed at making time on the road more meaningful and fun.
“Taurus is more of a ‘me’ sedan now, and we’ve delivered with this buyer in mind,” said Moray Callum, director of Ford’s Car and Crossover Design.
Exterior design details are more sculpted and powerful – from the powerdome that speaks to the strength behind its confident grille to the pronounced fenders and fascia.
Bold new headlights combined with recessed parking lamps frame a new expression of the signature Ford three-bar grille – and the lowered roofline helps make the new Taurus more aspirational.
New wheels, from 17- to 20-inches in diameter, fill the sculpted wheel wells and lend Taurus a muscular and athletic stance. The raised shoulder lines of the new Taurus provide a confident profile and enable generous truck capacity.
The exterior color palette for the 2010 Taurus includes new hues, selected to harmonize with interior appointments and offer customers a broader range of color combinations. New colors include Candy Red Metallic Tint, White Platinum Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Gold Leaf Metallic and Ingot Silver Metallic.
Inside, a forward-leaning center stack – home to the climate controls, audio components and available navigation screen – flows in a continuous unbroken form through the instrument panel and down into the center console. The smart design allows for the interior to be formed with unbroken lines to impart seamless quality and craftsmanship.
The door panels employ an innovative urethane tooling process providing unique texture and identity to surfaces, with visible stitching and a hand crafted appeal. This same process allows for door panel two-toning, enabling model series differentiation.
The new Taurus’ precision craftsmanship is reflected in the quality of materials used in the interior as well as the exterior panel margins, which are comparable to costly German luxury sedans.
Better on-road performance, too
To match its more athletic looks, the new Taurus features sportier driving dynamics.
The 2010 Taurus comes standard with Ford’s proven Duratec 3.5-liter V-6, generating an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. This award-winning engine earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions.
The smooth and refined Duratec V-6 helps the front-wheel-drive Taurus deliver unsurpassed highway fuel economy. Taurus reflects Ford’s commitment to deliver the best, or be among the leaders, in fuel economy across the vehicle segments where it competes.
Taurus fuel economy is aided by employment of a two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off technology.
The Taurus engine plan also calls for optional availability of Ford’s advanced EcoBoost™ 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability coming soon.
The Taurus SE offers a six-speed automatic transmission with a Grade-Assist hill-holding rollback prevention feature, paired with an economical 2.77 final drive ratio.
SEL and Limited series Taurus models are offered with SelectShift®, featuring racing-inspired shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel. SelectShift offers the convenience of conventional automatic operation, or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection. The SelectShift transmission enables “match-rev” downshifts and will hold manually selected gears, unlike some competitive transmissions that second-guess the driver.
The SEL is offered with a 2.77 final drive ratio, while the Limited series uses a 3.16 gear in front-wheel-drive models, and a 3.39 ratio in all-wheel-drive models to provide enhanced acceleration.
Chassis and suspension components are tuned to deliver on the sporty and aggressive design with optimized roll stiffness for cornering control, responsive steering with sharp turn-in and precision accuracy. This chassis tuning of the MacPherson front struts and multi-link rear suspension reflects Ford Global DNA, defined by responsive steering and handling, while maintaining a comfortable ride quality.
The 2010 Taurus features a new SR1 suspension configuration.
Named for its “one-to-one” rear shock absorber ratio, it provides a superior balance between cornering and handling while providing a stable baseline for fine tuning. The new SR1 enables the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels – and reduces vehicle weight, saving fuel.
“While driver engagement was a key objective for the new Taurus, we also put huge emphasis on creating a quiet environment,” said Chief Engineer Pete Reyes. “Wind tunnel development time was important to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, but it also helped with fuel economy.
Customer-focused technologies
Tech-savvy customers will find plenty to like about the new 2010 Taurus. Its technologies enable customer connectivity, while fulfilling desires for personalization, customization and control. This comprehensive list of features isn’t just technology for the sake of technology. These offerings have been selected and developed to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience for the driver and all passengers. Extensive work has also been done to ensure that these technologies are easy to understand and intuitive to operate.
Adaptive Cruise Control allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Adaptive Cruise Control also integrates Collision Warning with Brake Support, a new active safety feature.
The collision warning system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead. The system also pre-charges the brakes and engages an electronic brake assist to help the driver stop more quickly.
Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, a new Taurus feature, allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by simply carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.
SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver’s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver’s side B-pillar.
MyKey™ allows parents or fleet administrators to activate a restricted driving mode.
When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning. Additional programmability includes restrictions on audio volume, limiting top speed to 80 mph and speed chime warnings at 45, 55, or 65mph.
Auto High Beams/Rain-Sensing Wipers harness sensor technologies to switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected, in a range of up to 500 feet for taillight detection, and up to 2,000 feet for oncoming headlight detection. Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed.
Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System is an industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror.
Cross Traffic Alert uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.
Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist™ will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.
Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™ uses an 8-inch screen to present a birds-eye-view map with 3D landmarks. The system responds to voice commands for destination programming and route selection.
In addition, it provides enhanced route guidance features such as street name announcements and detailed freeway exit, turn and ramp position lane guidance. The screen can be personalized with up to 32 pictures, sized up to 1.5MB. The system also incorporates the SIRIUS Travel Link, offering availability of current weather and ski conditions, a five-day forecast, local fuel pricing by cost per gallon as well as brand, sports scores and movie listings.
Sony® branded audio components deliver sound from a variety of sources, with an AM-FM tuner, SIRIUS Satellite radio, CD, DVD audio and an integrated 10 GB hard drive for storage of up to 2,400 songs. This package also includes an available 10-speaker premium audio system.
Multi-Contour Seats are available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, integrating a six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion.
This provides minute but continuous movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain.
“Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble,” said Steve Michell, product design engineer. “The key is their subtlety. Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.”
Safety leadership grows
The new 2010 Taurus builds on its legacy of safety leadership, incorporating a comprehensive array of passive and active features engineered to protect and preserve its passengers.
“A stiffer body structure and new crash avoidance technologies make the Taurus – already named the safest full-size sedan – even safer,” said Reyes, chief engineer.
Taurus safety begins with a body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing front structure features octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and “shotgun” front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.
The Taurus body structure features ultra high-strength boron steel in the B-pillar for added side impact protection.
The new Taurus is equipped with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy®, a Ford exclusive protection system that features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.
Other key safety features include:
Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE™) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle. In the event of a side impact, the beam helps divert crash forces away from the occupants. A strong roof cross member and side impact door beams work with the floor-mounted tube to further improve side impact protection.
Personal Safety System® is designed to reduce the risk of injury to the driver and front seat passenger in the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision. Sensors note right front occupant weight, safety belt usage, outboard seat belt tension and seating position to optimize air bag deployment force for occupant safety.
AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control predicts the vehicle’s intended path, using sensors to detect and measure oversteer and yaw, while continuously monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses a loss of wheel traction, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied in conjunction with the standard Anti-lock Braking (ABS) system. The system also incorporates traction control to aid drivers when operating the vehicle on loose or slippery surfaces.
SOS Post-Crash Alert is an integrated system that automatically unlocks the doors, sounds the horn and activates the emergency flashers in the event of an air bag deployment.
“Customers will find a lot to love about the new Taurus,” Fields said.
The 2010 Ford Taurus will be built at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be available in dealer showrooms in the summer.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.ford.com.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Fusion Hybrid Tax Credits
News
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2010 ford fusion hybrid qualifies buyers for highest available federal tax credit -- $3,400
DEARBORN, MICH., Jan. 28, 2009 – Customers eager to purchase America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, can take advantage of a $3,400 tax credit from the federal government.
Buyers of a new 2010 Fusion Hybrid or Mercury Milan Hybrid this year will qualify for the $3,400 tax credit, the highest credit amount ever offered for hybrids purchased or placed in service after December 31, 2005. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient SUVs in America, continue to qualify for a $3,000 tax credit, the highest available tax credit of all hybrids on the road today.
Fusion Hybrid’s class-leading 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which tops the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway, helped Fusion garner the significant credit amount, which is based on a vehicle’s potential fuel efficiency. Stacked together, Fusion’s fuel savings and tax incentive can help significantly offset the premium to the customer for hybrid-electric technology over a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.
“Hybrids are an important part of our strategy to deliver the best or among the best fuel economy with all of our new products, and the Fusion and Milan Hybrids have set the pace for the company, as well as our competitors,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “We’re glad to see our government help promote these advanced, clean fuel-efficient vehicles to the consumer.”
Technological innovation, like the development of Ford’s hybrid systems, is a core value as the company drives for leadership in quality, safety, fuel efficiency and in-car connectivity. A new study this week by The Patent Board™ – the world’s leading patent analyst – found that Ford outperformed all other automakers in the quality and significance of its technology patents. The 2010 Fusion, Milan and their respective hybrid models set new standards for technology innovation with 119 U.S. patents.
Hybrid Hot Sheet
To deliver 700-plus miles on a single tank of gas, Fusion Hybrid travels up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, faster than the Camry and all other hybrids currently on the road. In addition, the system’s Intake Variable Cam Timing (i-VCT) allows the hybrid to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa, delivering a near imperceptible hybrid driving experience to the customer.
Other advanced hybrid systems that contribute to Fusion’s fuel-economy leadership include:
• A smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford’s previous hybrid system.
• An enhanced electronic throttle control, which reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.
• A regenerative brake system that recovers and stores nearly 94 percent of energy normally lost through friction in braking.
The 2010 Fusion Hybrid also debuts Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize the fuel efficiency of their vehicle.
Ford’s Growing Hybrid Fleet
The 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids join the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, doubling the company’s hybrid product offerings and volume.
The 2009 Escape and Mariner Hybrid FWD models qualify for a $3,000 tax credit; 4WD models $1,950. Owners of previous model-year Escape and Mariner hybrid models may also qualify for varying credit amounts from $1,950 to $3,000. The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle.
The tax credit amounts available for 2009 and 2010 model year hybrid vehicles are as follows:
Tax Credit Amount
1/1 - 3/31/09
4/1 - 9/30/09
10/1/09 – 3/31/10
4/1/10 and later
2010 Fusion Hybrid
$3,400
$1,700
$850
$0
2010 Milan Hybrid
$3,400
$1,700
$850
$0
2009 Escape Hybrid FWD
$3,000
$1,500
$750
$0
2009 Escape Hybrid 4WD
$1,950
$975
$487.50
$0
2009 Mariner Hybrid FWD
$3,000
$1,500
$750
$0
2009 Mariner Hybrid 4WD
$1,950
$975
$487.50
$0
Tax Credit Update
Customers who purchase a Ford or Mercury brand hybrid by 3/31/09 will remain eligible for the full tax credit amounts. Beginning 4/1/09 customers who purchase a hybrid will only be able to claim a partial tax credit as described in the table above.
Since Ford Motor Company reached the 60,000 vehicle threshold in the 4th quarter of 2008, the tax credit amounts are reduced by 50% beginning in the 2nd quarter of 2009 and by an additional 25% beginning in the 4th quarter 2009. No tax credit amount is available for hybrids after 3/31/10.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2010 ford fusion hybrid qualifies buyers for highest available federal tax credit -- $3,400
DEARBORN, MICH., Jan. 28, 2009 – Customers eager to purchase America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, can take advantage of a $3,400 tax credit from the federal government.
Buyers of a new 2010 Fusion Hybrid or Mercury Milan Hybrid this year will qualify for the $3,400 tax credit, the highest credit amount ever offered for hybrids purchased or placed in service after December 31, 2005. The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient SUVs in America, continue to qualify for a $3,000 tax credit, the highest available tax credit of all hybrids on the road today.
Fusion Hybrid’s class-leading 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which tops the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway, helped Fusion garner the significant credit amount, which is based on a vehicle’s potential fuel efficiency. Stacked together, Fusion’s fuel savings and tax incentive can help significantly offset the premium to the customer for hybrid-electric technology over a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.
“Hybrids are an important part of our strategy to deliver the best or among the best fuel economy with all of our new products, and the Fusion and Milan Hybrids have set the pace for the company, as well as our competitors,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “We’re glad to see our government help promote these advanced, clean fuel-efficient vehicles to the consumer.”
Technological innovation, like the development of Ford’s hybrid systems, is a core value as the company drives for leadership in quality, safety, fuel efficiency and in-car connectivity. A new study this week by The Patent Board™ – the world’s leading patent analyst – found that Ford outperformed all other automakers in the quality and significance of its technology patents. The 2010 Fusion, Milan and their respective hybrid models set new standards for technology innovation with 119 U.S. patents.
Hybrid Hot Sheet
To deliver 700-plus miles on a single tank of gas, Fusion Hybrid travels up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, faster than the Camry and all other hybrids currently on the road. In addition, the system’s Intake Variable Cam Timing (i-VCT) allows the hybrid to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa, delivering a near imperceptible hybrid driving experience to the customer.
Other advanced hybrid systems that contribute to Fusion’s fuel-economy leadership include:
• A smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford’s previous hybrid system.
• An enhanced electronic throttle control, which reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.
• A regenerative brake system that recovers and stores nearly 94 percent of energy normally lost through friction in braking.
The 2010 Fusion Hybrid also debuts Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize the fuel efficiency of their vehicle.
Ford’s Growing Hybrid Fleet
The 2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids join the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, doubling the company’s hybrid product offerings and volume.
The 2009 Escape and Mariner Hybrid FWD models qualify for a $3,000 tax credit; 4WD models $1,950. Owners of previous model-year Escape and Mariner hybrid models may also qualify for varying credit amounts from $1,950 to $3,000. The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle.
The tax credit amounts available for 2009 and 2010 model year hybrid vehicles are as follows:
Tax Credit Amount
1/1 - 3/31/09
4/1 - 9/30/09
10/1/09 – 3/31/10
4/1/10 and later
2010 Fusion Hybrid
$3,400
$1,700
$850
$0
2010 Milan Hybrid
$3,400
$1,700
$850
$0
2009 Escape Hybrid FWD
$3,000
$1,500
$750
$0
2009 Escape Hybrid 4WD
$1,950
$975
$487.50
$0
2009 Mariner Hybrid FWD
$3,000
$1,500
$750
$0
2009 Mariner Hybrid 4WD
$1,950
$975
$487.50
$0
Tax Credit Update
Customers who purchase a Ford or Mercury brand hybrid by 3/31/09 will remain eligible for the full tax credit amounts. Beginning 4/1/09 customers who purchase a hybrid will only be able to claim a partial tax credit as described in the table above.
Since Ford Motor Company reached the 60,000 vehicle threshold in the 4th quarter of 2008, the tax credit amounts are reduced by 50% beginning in the 2nd quarter of 2009 and by an additional 25% beginning in the 4th quarter 2009. No tax credit amount is available for hybrids after 3/31/10.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
Friday, January 9, 2009
FORD FUSION TOPS TOYOTA CAMRY, HONDA ACCORD AGAIN WITH BEST-IN-CLASS 34 MPG 4-CYLINDER MODEL
The Ford Fusion is now America’s most fuel efficient mid-size sedan for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models
The four-cylinder Ford Fusion S is now certified at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg in the city, topping the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord
This entry-level 2010 Ford Fusion S is powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec mated to a fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission
The Fusion I-4 joins the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid, already at the top of the mpg tables
DETROIT, Jan. 9, 2009 – The Ford Fusion is now America’s most fuel efficient mid-size sedan for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models.
Ford announced today that new four-cylinder Ford Fusion S has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 34 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city – beating both the gasoline-powered Camry and Honda Accord models. The news follows certification of the Ford Fusion Hybrid at 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.
“Take your pick: Whether you want a gas-powered or hybrid mid-sized sedan, the new Fusion offers the best fuel economy in America,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “We promised to offer best-in-class or among the very best fuel economy with every new vehicle we introduce, and we are making good on that pledge with hybrids, new high-tech gasoline engines, new six-speed transmissions and other fuel efficient technologies.”
The 2010 Ford Fusion fuel economy certification was conducted at Ford’s testing laboratories in Allen Park, Mich. The Ford Fusion S and the base-level Mercury Milan, both powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec 4-cylinder engine mated to a fuel efficient six-speed automatic transmission, will carry an EPA label of 34 mpg for highway driving and 23 mpg in the city when they go on sale this spring.
The latest news on Fusion joins other Ford fuel economy leaders, including:
The Ford Focus with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission delivers 35 mpg on the highway, 5 mpg better than the Toyota Corolla’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 2 mpg better than the Honda Fit’s 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, both also with manual transmissions.
The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 – which just recently was named Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year – achieves 3 mpg more than the Toyota Tundra pickup on the highway and 1 mpg better in the city with its 4.6-liter V-8 engine, compared to Toyota’s 4.7-liter V-8. The F-150’s larger 5.4-liter V-8 achieves 2 mpg better on the highway than the Tundra’s larger engine.
The 2009 Ford Escape with new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine achieves 28 mpg on the highway, the same as Toyota’s RAV4 and 1 mpg better than the Honda CR-V, both with 4-cylinder engines, too.
The Ford Expedition achieves 20 mpg on the highway, beating Toyota Sequoia’s 4.7-liter V-8 engine by 3 mpg and its 5.7-liter V-8 by 1 mpg.
“We’ve done it in the heart of the truck segment with the new 2010 Ford F-150, and now we’ve done it in the heart of the car segment with Fusion,” Samardzich said. “We understand how important fuel economy is to customers, and Ford is committed to delivering leadership. The great news is that our significant investment in fuel efficiency leadership is going to continue to pay off with every new vehicle launch.”
Fuel Economy Leadership Priced Right
Ford has announced pricing for the new 2010 Fusion. The fuel-economy leading Fusion S with the six-speed automatic transmission features a base price of $20,870, plus destination and delivery charges.
Fusion also offers more engine choice than Camry and Accord, with two V-6 engine options – the 240-horsepower 3.0-liter flex-fuel V-6 and the 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine. The 3.0-liter V-6 models start at $23,760. The base price of the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is $27,270.
The new Fusion builds on the strong quality reputation of the current model, which has gained important third-party accolades, and will offer class-exclusive features, including Ford SYNC®, SIRIUS TravelLink™, BLIS™ (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert and Sony®-branded audio.
The four-cylinder Ford Fusion S is now certified at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg in the city, topping the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord
This entry-level 2010 Ford Fusion S is powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec mated to a fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission
The Fusion I-4 joins the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid, already at the top of the mpg tables
DETROIT, Jan. 9, 2009 – The Ford Fusion is now America’s most fuel efficient mid-size sedan for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models.
Ford announced today that new four-cylinder Ford Fusion S has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 34 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city – beating both the gasoline-powered Camry and Honda Accord models. The news follows certification of the Ford Fusion Hybrid at 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.
“Take your pick: Whether you want a gas-powered or hybrid mid-sized sedan, the new Fusion offers the best fuel economy in America,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “We promised to offer best-in-class or among the very best fuel economy with every new vehicle we introduce, and we are making good on that pledge with hybrids, new high-tech gasoline engines, new six-speed transmissions and other fuel efficient technologies.”
The 2010 Ford Fusion fuel economy certification was conducted at Ford’s testing laboratories in Allen Park, Mich. The Ford Fusion S and the base-level Mercury Milan, both powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec 4-cylinder engine mated to a fuel efficient six-speed automatic transmission, will carry an EPA label of 34 mpg for highway driving and 23 mpg in the city when they go on sale this spring.
The latest news on Fusion joins other Ford fuel economy leaders, including:
The Ford Focus with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission delivers 35 mpg on the highway, 5 mpg better than the Toyota Corolla’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 2 mpg better than the Honda Fit’s 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, both also with manual transmissions.
The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 – which just recently was named Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year – achieves 3 mpg more than the Toyota Tundra pickup on the highway and 1 mpg better in the city with its 4.6-liter V-8 engine, compared to Toyota’s 4.7-liter V-8. The F-150’s larger 5.4-liter V-8 achieves 2 mpg better on the highway than the Tundra’s larger engine.
The 2009 Ford Escape with new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine achieves 28 mpg on the highway, the same as Toyota’s RAV4 and 1 mpg better than the Honda CR-V, both with 4-cylinder engines, too.
The Ford Expedition achieves 20 mpg on the highway, beating Toyota Sequoia’s 4.7-liter V-8 engine by 3 mpg and its 5.7-liter V-8 by 1 mpg.
“We’ve done it in the heart of the truck segment with the new 2010 Ford F-150, and now we’ve done it in the heart of the car segment with Fusion,” Samardzich said. “We understand how important fuel economy is to customers, and Ford is committed to delivering leadership. The great news is that our significant investment in fuel efficiency leadership is going to continue to pay off with every new vehicle launch.”
Fuel Economy Leadership Priced Right
Ford has announced pricing for the new 2010 Fusion. The fuel-economy leading Fusion S with the six-speed automatic transmission features a base price of $20,870, plus destination and delivery charges.
Fusion also offers more engine choice than Camry and Accord, with two V-6 engine options – the 240-horsepower 3.0-liter flex-fuel V-6 and the 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine. The 3.0-liter V-6 models start at $23,760. The base price of the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is $27,270.
The new Fusion builds on the strong quality reputation of the current model, which has gained important third-party accolades, and will offer class-exclusive features, including Ford SYNC®, SIRIUS TravelLink™, BLIS™ (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert and Sony®-branded audio.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Ford Dominates Special List of Consumer Reports Recommendations
With GM and Chrysler seeking federal assistance-and bankruptcy still a fathomable outcome for both automakers-Consumer Reports has issued a special list of Detroit Three vehicle recommendations in its February issue to assuage consumer concerns. The specially prepared list, which includes only vehicles made by the Detroit Three, is heavily dominated by Ford.
Eight vehicles in total were named, with six of those coming from Ford. They include the Ford Fusion SEL and Mercury Milan Premier, the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, the Lincoln MKZ and the Ford Taurus X. Almost all Ford vehicles rank average or better in reliability. "Ford has been doing a lot right on reliability for the past five years," David Champion, the magazine's chief car tester said. "It's not immediately apparent that the Ford Fusion would be more reliable than the Toyota Camry, but it is, and the Fusion is one of the more reliable family sedans on the market."
Consumer Reports' top-rated Detroit Three vehicle was the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ. GM was praised for making strides in the right direction, with several vehicles that score well, but half of GM's lineup still ranks below industry averages for reliability. Chrysler had no vehicles on the list.
The full list of Consumer Reports' recommended vehicles will be released in the April issue of the magazine, as usual. "We're only about halfway through our testing, so it's not a complete list," Champion said, referring to the Detroit Three list. "But because of the public interest, we thought it would be useful."
Source: Automotive News
Eight vehicles in total were named, with six of those coming from Ford. They include the Ford Fusion SEL and Mercury Milan Premier, the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, the Lincoln MKZ and the Ford Taurus X. Almost all Ford vehicles rank average or better in reliability. "Ford has been doing a lot right on reliability for the past five years," David Champion, the magazine's chief car tester said. "It's not immediately apparent that the Ford Fusion would be more reliable than the Toyota Camry, but it is, and the Fusion is one of the more reliable family sedans on the market."
Consumer Reports' top-rated Detroit Three vehicle was the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ. GM was praised for making strides in the right direction, with several vehicles that score well, but half of GM's lineup still ranks below industry averages for reliability. Chrysler had no vehicles on the list.
The full list of Consumer Reports' recommended vehicles will be released in the April issue of the magazine, as usual. "We're only about halfway through our testing, so it's not a complete list," Champion said, referring to the Detroit Three list. "But because of the public interest, we thought it would be useful."
Source: Automotive News
Monday, January 5, 2009
F-Series Trucks
Ford's F-Series Reigns as America's Best-Selling Truck and Best-Selling Vehicle in...
Ford's F-Series Reigns as America's Best-Selling Truck and Best-Selling
Vehicle in 2008
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The beat goes on. For
the 32nd year in a row, Ford's award-winning F-Series is America's
best-selling truck with 2008 sales of 515,513. F-series outsold its nearest
truck rival by more than 50,000 units.
In addition, for the 27th year in a row, F-Series is once again America's
best-selling vehicle of any type -- car, crossover, SUV, truck or van.
"Our thanks go out to our customers, our dealers and, of course, the Ford
employees and supplier partners who design, engineer and manufacture quality,
fuel-efficient trucks delivering unmatched capability," said Jim Farley,
Ford's group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "The all-new F-150
affirms what Ford has known for years -- that listening to customers provides
the best rewards."
The all-new F-150 recently was named 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the
Year(TM), Texas Auto Writers Association Truck of Texas, and is a finalist for
the 2009 North American Truck of the Year.
The 2009 F-150, new inside and out, is the new benchmark for full size
pickups, appealing to a growing number of core truck customers. During the
past five years, the "core trucker" - those who use their truck's towing and
hauling capability for work and play - has grown to 40 percent from 30 percent
of the light-duty full-size pickup market.
In the commercial/fleet portion of this core trucker sub-segment, Ford F-
Series continues to dominate. The F-150 has 46 percent of the light duty
commercial/fleet market; and Super Duty is stronger still with over 57 percent
of heavy duty commercial/fleet market.
2009 F-150 improvements include a new high-strength, lighter-weight
chassis that delivers even more horsepower, unsurpassed fuel economy and
class-leading towing and payload capacity.
From industry-first SYNC to Ford Work Solutions, 2009 F-150 sports an
array of smart technologies. SYNC provides hands-free, in-car communication.
Ford Work Solutions is an innovative suite of options including an in-dash
computer with Internet access, Tool Link to track tools, Crew Chief technology
to dispatch workers and reduce vehicle operating costs and Cable Lock to
improve security of tools and equipment.
F-150 also features conveniences such as the Box Side Step and Tailgate
Step that help customers easily gain access to the truck's pickup box.
The new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds
and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds - a combination no other competitor can
match.
For 2009, F-150 also has improved its fuel economy by an average of 8
percent across the entire lineup, thanks to a wide range of engineering
enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the
prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume three-valve,
5.4-liter V-8 engine. Plus, the F-150's SFE package - which is available on
highest-volume XL and XLT series - delivers unsurpassed fuel economy of 15 mpg
city and 21 mpg highway.
The new 2009 F-150 is built at Ford's Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and
Kansas City Assembly Plant.
The 2009 Ford F-150 has won the following awards and accolades:
- Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award(TM)
- Top honors as "Truck of Texas" as well as "Best Luxury Pickup" for the
2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
- Finalist 2009 North American Truck of the Year (with 2009 Ford Flex for
Car of the Year)
- 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com
- "Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup" from PickupTrucks.com
- "Automotive Excellence" award in the Workhorse Category from Popular
Mechanics
- Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
- Detroit News Truck of the Year
- "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for
its standard safety technology: Safety Canopy side curtain air bags and
AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
- "Residual Value" award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining
the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light
duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG
projections
- Motor Trend's Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from Specialty Equipment Market
Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor
Concept
- "Accessory-Friendly Truck" Design Award from SEMA
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the
company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford
Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please
visit http://www.ford.com.
Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution
photographs.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
George Pipas, +1-313-323-9216, gpipas@ford.com, or Anne Marie Gattari,
+1-313-587-9256, agattari@ford.com, both of Ford Motor Company
Ford's F-Series Reigns as America's Best-Selling Truck and Best-Selling
Vehicle in 2008
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The beat goes on. For
the 32nd year in a row, Ford's award-winning F-Series is America's
best-selling truck with 2008 sales of 515,513. F-series outsold its nearest
truck rival by more than 50,000 units.
In addition, for the 27th year in a row, F-Series is once again America's
best-selling vehicle of any type -- car, crossover, SUV, truck or van.
"Our thanks go out to our customers, our dealers and, of course, the Ford
employees and supplier partners who design, engineer and manufacture quality,
fuel-efficient trucks delivering unmatched capability," said Jim Farley,
Ford's group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "The all-new F-150
affirms what Ford has known for years -- that listening to customers provides
the best rewards."
The all-new F-150 recently was named 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the
Year(TM), Texas Auto Writers Association Truck of Texas, and is a finalist for
the 2009 North American Truck of the Year.
The 2009 F-150, new inside and out, is the new benchmark for full size
pickups, appealing to a growing number of core truck customers. During the
past five years, the "core trucker" - those who use their truck's towing and
hauling capability for work and play - has grown to 40 percent from 30 percent
of the light-duty full-size pickup market.
In the commercial/fleet portion of this core trucker sub-segment, Ford F-
Series continues to dominate. The F-150 has 46 percent of the light duty
commercial/fleet market; and Super Duty is stronger still with over 57 percent
of heavy duty commercial/fleet market.
2009 F-150 improvements include a new high-strength, lighter-weight
chassis that delivers even more horsepower, unsurpassed fuel economy and
class-leading towing and payload capacity.
From industry-first SYNC to Ford Work Solutions, 2009 F-150 sports an
array of smart technologies. SYNC provides hands-free, in-car communication.
Ford Work Solutions is an innovative suite of options including an in-dash
computer with Internet access, Tool Link to track tools, Crew Chief technology
to dispatch workers and reduce vehicle operating costs and Cable Lock to
improve security of tools and equipment.
F-150 also features conveniences such as the Box Side Step and Tailgate
Step that help customers easily gain access to the truck's pickup box.
The new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds
and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds - a combination no other competitor can
match.
For 2009, F-150 also has improved its fuel economy by an average of 8
percent across the entire lineup, thanks to a wide range of engineering
enhancements. The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the
prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume three-valve,
5.4-liter V-8 engine. Plus, the F-150's SFE package - which is available on
highest-volume XL and XLT series - delivers unsurpassed fuel economy of 15 mpg
city and 21 mpg highway.
The new 2009 F-150 is built at Ford's Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and
Kansas City Assembly Plant.
The 2009 Ford F-150 has won the following awards and accolades:
- Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award(TM)
- Top honors as "Truck of Texas" as well as "Best Luxury Pickup" for the
2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
- Finalist 2009 North American Truck of the Year (with 2009 Ford Flex for
Car of the Year)
- 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com
- "Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup" from PickupTrucks.com
- "Automotive Excellence" award in the Workhorse Category from Popular
Mechanics
- Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
- Detroit News Truck of the Year
- "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for
its standard safety technology: Safety Canopy side curtain air bags and
AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
- "Residual Value" award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining
the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light
duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG
projections
- Motor Trend's Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from Specialty Equipment Market
Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor
Concept
- "Accessory-Friendly Truck" Design Award from SEMA
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the
company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford
Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please
visit http://www.ford.com.
Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution
photographs.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
George Pipas, +1-313-323-9216, gpipas@ford.com, or Anne Marie Gattari,
+1-313-587-9256, agattari@ford.com, both of Ford Motor Company
Subaru Sales
Subaru reports increase in US sales in 2008, overcoming Dec. decline, brutal auto market
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) -- Subaru said Monday its U.S. sales crept higher in 2008, making the Japanese manufacturer poised to be the only major automaker to post a yearly sales increase.
Subaru was the first automaker to report sales on Monday. Its December sales fell 7.7 percent to 17,287 units from 18,739 in December 2007, as a big increase in Forester sales failed to overcome declines in its remaining models.
But Subaru sales for all of 2008 rose by 0.3 percent to 187,699 vehicles from 187,208 in 2007, as consumers snapped up its top-selling Forester and Impreza models. The company is set to be the only major automaker to report higher sales for 2008, as the troubled economy pummeled new car sales across the industry.
Subaru said Forester sales surged 36.4 percent in 2008. The company's updated 2008 model-year Forester was named sport/utility of the year in December by Motor Trend magazine. The automaker also said sales of its Legacy and Impreza models climbed in 2008, offsetting double-digit sales declines of Outback wagons and Tribeca SUVs.
"In a difficult market, we were able to establish new sales records for Forester, Impreza and Legacy sedan and also record our highest market share ever," said Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales for Subaru of America, said in a statement.
The broader industry is set to post steep 2008 sales declines on Monday. For the first 11 months of 2008, every major automaker reported lower sales with the Detroit Three posting the biggest drops.
A handful of smaller automakers -- including Mini and luxury names like Rolls Royce and Maserati -- posted higher sales as of November, though their volumes are significantly smaller
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) -- Subaru said Monday its U.S. sales crept higher in 2008, making the Japanese manufacturer poised to be the only major automaker to post a yearly sales increase.
Subaru was the first automaker to report sales on Monday. Its December sales fell 7.7 percent to 17,287 units from 18,739 in December 2007, as a big increase in Forester sales failed to overcome declines in its remaining models.
But Subaru sales for all of 2008 rose by 0.3 percent to 187,699 vehicles from 187,208 in 2007, as consumers snapped up its top-selling Forester and Impreza models. The company is set to be the only major automaker to report higher sales for 2008, as the troubled economy pummeled new car sales across the industry.
Subaru said Forester sales surged 36.4 percent in 2008. The company's updated 2008 model-year Forester was named sport/utility of the year in December by Motor Trend magazine. The automaker also said sales of its Legacy and Impreza models climbed in 2008, offsetting double-digit sales declines of Outback wagons and Tribeca SUVs.
"In a difficult market, we were able to establish new sales records for Forester, Impreza and Legacy sedan and also record our highest market share ever," said Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales for Subaru of America, said in a statement.
The broader industry is set to post steep 2008 sales declines on Monday. For the first 11 months of 2008, every major automaker reported lower sales with the Detroit Three posting the biggest drops.
A handful of smaller automakers -- including Mini and luxury names like Rolls Royce and Maserati -- posted higher sales as of November, though their volumes are significantly smaller
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