DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 23, 2011 – CBS and Ford have teamed up again to run “The Amazing Race” this fall as 11 new teams set off on a global adventure starting Sunday, Sept. 25 (8 to 9 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Ford’s sponsorship includes… read more
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DEARBORN, Mich., March 4, 2011 – Ford Motor Company kicks off its popular Drive One 4 UR School program today and enters 2011 with more than $5 million in funds donated to high schools nationwide since the program’s inception in 2007. The program is Ford’s most successful test-drive initiative ever executed.
Since the start of the program, more than 255,000 test-drives at more than 1,500 events in 49 states have been hosted by Ford and its dealers around the country.
The program gives participants the chance to experience Ford’s new fuel-efficient lineup of vehicles, as well as leading safety and technology features.
Ford offers 12 vehicles that lead their sales segments in fuel economy, including four vehicles with EPA certified 40 mpg or higher fuel economy ratings – a claim no other full-line automaker can match.
“With oil nearing $100 per barrel and gasoline prices continuing to rise, consumers’ consideration for fuel economy once again is taking top billing,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “We have a great opportunity to showcase our fuel-efficient lineup at this year’s Drive One 4 UR School events, while at the same time helping schools raise money for valuable programs and activities that might otherwise be eliminated.”
Ford developed the Drive One 4 UR School program to connect dealers with local community efforts in raising up to $6,000 for high schools in a single day test-drive event. As schools continue to cut back on funding for facility improvements and extra-curricular activities, the program remains a strong fund-raising source to help schools fund valuable programs.
“This has got to be the best program on the planet,” said Frank Bonuchi, general manager, Auffenberg Ford in O’Fallon, Illinois. “I have been in dealership management for over 30 years and I have never seen a program that successfully promotes all the great things going on at Ford and the dealership, while also giving our communities around the country a much needed helping hand.”
Some of the products on this year’s Drive One 4 UR School circuit include:
•2011 Ford Fiesta – The all-new Ford Fiesta offers an expressive, vibrant design, sharp reflexes and 15 key features and technologies like SYNC®, giving it the safety, convenience and connectivity previously unseen in the small car segment. With a responsive 1.6-liter I-4 engine, advanced PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), Fiesta delivers a best-in-class 40 mpg on the highway.
•2012 Ford Focus – The all-new Focus is the most significant global nameplate and delivers smart features, spirited performance and 40 mpg fuel economy packaged in modern, European-inspired design finishes. The all-new Focus Titanium model promises to appeal to drivers shifting from larger, premium vehicles looking for sporty handling; while the high-performance Focus ST with turbocharged, direct-injected EcoBoost™ power will get enthusiasts’ hearts racing.
•2011 Ford Explorer – The 2010 North American Truck of the Year is completely reinvented and combines exceptional handling and towing capability with sleek lines and class-leading fuel economy. The all-new Ford Explorer also offers a suite of connectivity and safety features, including MyFord Touch™, terrain management system, and the world’s first rear inflatable seatbelt.
•2011 Ford Edge – With newly-redesigned exteriors, improved interior craftsmanship, and class-exclusive MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology, the dramatically refreshed 2011 Ford Edge and Edge Sport offer a unique crossover experience. Ford’s advanced engine valvetrain technology – Ti-VCT (twin independent variable camshaft timing) – helps Edge V6 achieve best-in-class power and torque with unbeatable fuel economy of 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
•2011 Ford F-150 – With four powertrains—the most extensive powertrain makeover in its 62-year history, and the first EcoBoost™ truck engine, the 2011 Ford F-150 delivers best-in-class power and up to 20 percent better fuel economy. Available with SYNC® and Ford Work Solutions™ connective technology and class-exclusive features like electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), the 2011 Ford F-150 offers more choice and capability than ever.
“With all the cutbacks in school programs, Ford is to be congratulated for this,” said Ed Avansino, a test drive participant at a 2010 event conducted at Carson High School in Carson, City, Nevada.
The 2011 Drive One 4 UR School program kicks off its spring tour in March and runs through June. The program starts up again in the fall, with events taking place from August through November.
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For years the most dominant SUV in North America, the Ford Explorer long rode on its rugged reputation. Yet by the early 21st century, as buyers began to shy away from the body-on-frame SUVs for crossovers, Ford is optimistic that its 2011 Explorer is the right answer at the right time that will help to recreate the brand.
Pricing for the V6 starts at $28,190, plus an $805 delivery fee. The XLT model comes in at $31,190, while the Limited variant starts at $37,190. With every possible option, a fully-loaded Limited will list for around $48,00.
Modern interpretation of the SUV
The all-new Explorer rides on a unibody platform derived from the automaker’s D3 platform rather than the separate frame of the outgoing model. Substantially updated since the platform first debuted, it now underpins the Taurus, Flex, Lincoln MKS and Volvo XC90 in addition to the all-new Ford Explorer.
With a road-oriented fully independent suspension and Ford’s optional “intelligent” four-wheel-drive system, the Explorer isn’t likely to challenge the body-on-frame Toyota 4Runner or similarly unibody-based Jeep Grand Cherokee for off road prowess. Instead, V6 Explorers can be equipped with a terrain management control knob based on former Ford subsidiary Land Rover’s similar system. Offering snow, sand, mud and normal modes, the system simply requires a twist of a knob to properly set up the Explorer’s all-wheel-drive and stability control systems for various types of terrain. The system will also include a hill descent mode for low-speed off road maneuvers.
Powerplants rethought for the modern SUV
The Explorer also debuts a new EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine and it will offer a more powerful (and thirstier) V6. This 2.0-liter inline-four combines a turbocharger, direct injection and four valves per cylinder to deliver an estimated 237 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 250 lb-ft. of torque from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm. Ford says that fuel economy is up 30 percent over the outgoing Explorer V6. The EcoBoost four-cylinder will only be offered with front-wheel-drive.
For those who place a priority on power – and those who want to tow – the Explorer also features an optional 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft. of torque. The naturally aspirated V6 also features direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing, which Ford says helps boost fuel economy by about 20 percent compared to the outgoing Explorer. With the V6, Explorer owners can tow up to 5,000 lbs. and the V6 is available on both front and all-wheel-drive Explorers.
Both engines will be mated to six-speed automatic transmissions; XLT and Limited trim levels will feature a shifter-mounted +/- toggle switch for manual-style gearshifts. All models also feature electric power steering to reduce fuel consumption and assembly complexity. The electric steering combines with a new Curve Control feature, which works with the Explorer’s stability control and brakes to stabilize a vehicle that has entered a turn too quickly. Ford will also offer the Explorer with its automatic parallel parking system that first debuted on the Ford Flex.
Inside and out
With a length of 197.1 inches and a width of 90.2 inches including the exterior mirrors, the latest Explorer is a fair amount larger than the outgoing model – and it’s one of the largest in its class, measuring in just three inches shorter than a GMC Acadia.
It gains a much more swoopy look than before, although the canted C-pillar seen in the original two-door Explorer returns. Part of the new Explorer’s signature look, it also adds rigidity to the SUV’s body structure.
Inside, the new SUV features more room and three rows of seats, as well as a decidedly unique dashboard. Ford says that the Explorer features its highest quality interior.
The lineup
Ford offers the 2011 Explorer in three configurations, starting with the base model, equipped with 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, a 4.2-inch LCD screen to display vehicle information, cruise control, power windows and locks and a tilt and telescope steering column.
Buyers can step up to the XLT to gain standard automatic headlamps, heated mirrors with LED turn signals, a kelyess entry keypad, reverse sensing and an alarm system and 18-inch alloy wheels. Additional features can be added to the XLT via option check boxes.
The range-topping Limited adds power folding side mirrors, ambient lighting, power adjustable pedals, automatic climate control, a 10-way power driver’s seat, an auto-dimming interior mirror, a rear-view camera, remote start and keyless access with push-button start, among other items.
The Explorer will be exclusively produced at the automaker’s Chicago assembly plant.
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DETROIT (CNNMoney) — The plug-in Chevrolet Volt was named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday.
The Ford Explorer was voted Truck of the Year in the awards handed out during the media preview days at the auto show.
The North American car and truck of the year awards are voted on by a jury of up to 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.
While General Motors acknowledges the Volt won’t add to the automakers profits for years, GM has utilized the car as a marketing tool. The Volt appeared in Chevrolet advertising for years before its November introduction.
Many industry analysts were worried that if the Volt turned out to be bad car — or even a mediocre car — GM’s image would be badly tarnished. Fortunately for GM, journalists and analysts have largely given the car a favorable greeting.
“Conceived as the General was failing, developed when the company was fighting for its very survival, the Volt is a remarkable achievement,” said Ken Gross, a writer for Playboy and a juror for the award, in a statement.
13 hot new cars
Prior to this announcement, the Volt had previously won several other awards in the United States, including Motor Trend Car of the Year.
The Ford Explorer SUV in also an important comeback vehicle for Ford, in its own respect. The Explorer was once the top-selling passenger vehicle in the United States but its sales had fallen drastically as gas prices rose and customers turned to more efficient, smoother-riding car-based crossovers SUVs.
The new Explorer is a car-based crossover but one with some off-road capability. It’s based on the same engineering as the Ford Taurus sedan and the Ford Flex crossover.
“The 2011 Ford Explorer is nothing less than a revelation in dynamics, refinement, and efficiency,” said Alex Taylor, a write for Fortune magazine and one of the jurors for the award.
The finalists for the Car of the Year Award were the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Sonata. The finalists for the Truck of the Year were the Ford Explorer, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango.
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•The new Ford Explorer offers customers an array of convenience technologies to tailor their SUV experience to their individual wants and needs
•Technologies such as MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology and Ford SYNC® communications and entertainment integration add convenience while helping keep customers engaged and focused on driving
•Explorer offers a Sony® Audio System with HD Radio™, media hub with two USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks accessible through an 8-inch LCD screen with intuitive five-way controls mounted on the steering wheel
•2011 Explorer will be available in base, XLT and Limited trim series with multiple package offerings, such as adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert and active park assist
DEARBORN, Mich., July 26, 2010 – The all-new Ford Explorer will offer SUV customers a broad range of trim levels and customer convenience and connectivity technologies that will raise the eyebrows among even luxury SUV owners.
“Today’s SUV customers really aren’t interested in compromising,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager. “They want luxury, convenience and technology with their all-road capability. Until now, they had to choose a luxury SUV to get the features they want – a feature level that this all-new, industry-leading Explorer now exceeds.”
The new Explorer challenges the SUV status quo by offering luxury levels of convenience, connectivity and technology. From the highly equipped base model that includes MyFord driver connect technology through the volume-series XLT to the luxurious Limited series, Explorer provides SUV buyers unexpected technologies and conveniences normally found in premium SUVs.
Blind spot monitoring, which looks out for the driver when backing from a parking spot with limited visibility, adaptive cruise control that safely monitors vehicles ahead, and active park assist that aids in finding and executing a parallel parking maneuver all represent technologies a buyer might expect to find when shopping premium SUVs. The all-new Explorer offers these and more.
Base is the new well-equipped
The base Explorer delivers a strong package of customer convenience and technology features, with the following items as standard equipment:
•Hill start assist
•Dual chrome exhaust tips
•Projector-style headlamps
•Power remote sideview mirror
•LED taillamps
•Air filtration system
•Media hub, including an auxiliary input jack
•Four 12-volt power points
•Second- and third-row dome/map lights
•Tilt/telescoping steering column
•Steering wheel-mounted five-way and secondary audio controls
•Cruise control
•Power windows with one-touch driver’s down
•Single CD/MP3-capable six-speaker audio system
•MyKey™ owner control feature
•Keyless entry remote
The base Explorer features cloth seats with first-row adjustable buckets, a 60/40 split fold-flat bench seat in the second row, and a 50/50 third-row split folding bench.
XLT volume series adds tasteful touches
The all-new 2011 Explorer XLT offers all the base model equipment with a higher level of harmonizing chrome and satin-finish accent trim, 18-inch aluminum wheels, unique cloth seating, leather covering for steering wheel and shift knob, SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, fog lamps, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio (including a prepaid six-month subscription in 48 contiguous states), perimeter alarm and reverse sensing system.
Customers specifying Explorer XLT models are offered broader option choices, including the following packages:
•Driver Connection Package includes MyFord Touch driver connect technology with two driver-configurable LCD cluster screens, an 8-inch color touch screen in the center stack, expanded media hub with USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks, Ford SYNC and electrochromic interior rearview mirror
•Comfort Package includes leather-trimmed, heated seats with 10-way power adjustment for driver and six-way power adjustment for first-row passenger. Also includes four-way first-row head restraints
A premium audio system with eight speakers, rear view camera and dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control is also available.
Explorer XLT also offers a dual-panel moonroof, power-operated liftgate, BLIS with cross-traffic alert, inflatable second-row seat belts for outboard seating positions, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, and premium paint colors – White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat and Red Candy Tinted Clearcoat – as stand-alone options.
Range-topping Limited adds more luxury
SUV buyers seeking luxury with their capability will be impressed with the generous levels of convenience and connectivity technologies offered in the all-new Explorer Limited. From remote start through a 10-way leather-trimmed driver’s seat to adjustable pedals with memory settings, Limited takes Explorer luxury to a higher level.
Visual distinction is assured with a unique body-color grille, body-color PowerFold® sideview mirrors with memory functionality, and 20-inch painted aluminum wheels.
Explorer Limited includes all of the feature content offered in the XLT, plus:
•Ambient lighting
•Adjustable pedals with memory
•Cargo net
•Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control
•Leather-trimmed, heated seats
•10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and recline
•Six-way power first-row passenger seat with lumbar and recline
•Second-row 60/40 split bench seat with armrest and dual cupholders
•Electrochromic interior rearview mirror
•Sony® Audio System with high-definition radio and 12 speakers
•Rear view camera
•Remote start
•110-volt outlet
• SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system
•Intelligent Access with push-button start
•Universal garage door opener
The most luxurious Explorer model also comes standard with MyFord Touchdriver connect technology. This includes a pair of cluster-mounted driver-configurable displays, an 8-inch LCD color touch screen in the center stack with compass and temperature display, media hub with a pair of USB ports, and an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks. Explorer Limited offers five-way supplemental controls on the steering wheel.
The all-new Explorer Limited can be further enhanced with a pair of series-specific option packages that add even more luxury, convenience and safety:
•Limited Package 1adds the voice-activated Navigation System, a single CD/MP3 player, SD card for map and point-of-interest storage, and integrated SIRIUS Travel Link™. Also included are perforated leather-trimmed seats with heating and cooling functionality for driver and first-row passenger, PowerFoldthird-row seating, a 10-way power adjustable first-row passenger seat with power lumbar and a power-assisted liftgate
•Limited Package 2provides active park assist, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, rain-sensing wipers, BLIS with cross-traffic alert and HID headlamps
Explorer Limited also offers second-row captain’s chairs and a second-row console for SUV buyers placing a higher priority on rear seat luxury and seating comfort.
“All these features help the all-new Ford Explorer challenge the notion of what SUVs can offer customers,” Marentic said. “This level of luxury, capability, convenience and connectivity, combined with jaw-dropping fuel efficiency, is the kind of leadership today’s SUV customers need and appreciate, coming from a nameplate they know and trust – Ford Explorer.”
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• All-new Ford Explorer SUV offers best-in-class fuel economy with technologically advanced powertrains featuring multiple enhancements to improve mechanical efficiency
• Explorer offers an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine delivering V6 power with four-cylinder fuel efficiency
•E lectric power-assisted steering, battery management, fast engine warm-up and the first North American Ford application of a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor all combine to improve drivability, increase efficiency and save fuel.
DEARBORN, Mich., July 19, 2010 – The Ford Explorer has been reinvented to shatter long-held myths about SUV fuel efficiency and performance.
The 2011 model equipped with an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine will be the new class leader in the mid-size SUV segment, achieving at least a 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency compared with the current V-6-powered Explorer.
“The all-new Explorer will give a huge universe of existing and prospective customers the capability they expect and the luxury and convenience they want, all combined with the fuel economy they need,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.
The new Explorer, due in Ford showrooms later this year, has added comfort and convenience features, while overall vehicle weight is reduced compared to the previous model. Extensive use of lighter and stronger high-strength steels such as boron add durability while saving weight. An aluminum hood is used, while a one-piece composite front bolster – the radiator support between engine and grille – is 65 percent lighter. Lighter weight equates to fuel and money saved.
Sophisticated engine controls and advanced technologies are key contributors to the Explorer’s improved fuel economy. Electric power-assisted steering, battery management, fast engine warm-up and aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff all combine to improve drive dynamics and save fuel. Explorer also features the first North American Ford application of a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor that reduces parasitic engine drag.
Powertrain advancements like twin independent variable camshaft timing and six-speed automatic transmissions help Explorer deliver responsive performance when needed combined with low-rpm efficiency when cruising.
SUV buyers placing highest priority on fuel economy can choose the available EcoBoost I-4. Delivering the power of a normally aspirated V6, this advanced engine pairs a turbocharger with direct gasoline injection to provide SUV buyers with projected class-leading fuel economy – pending EPA certification – with no compromise in performance.
Finally, all of these fuel economy enhancements are wrapped in a smooth, distinctive Explorer design that was extensively refined in wind tunnel testing. Designers and aerodynamicists collaborated to reshape sideview mirrors and harmonize the front air dam with the rear liftgate spoiler to significantly increase fuel efficiency on the highway. Reduced wind noise at speed is an incremental benefit.
“Explorer owners told us they want capability with convenience, and improved fuel economy without compromised performance,” Fields said. “We believe we’ve hit the mark with the next-generation Explorer. It has the potential to change perceptions of what a modern SUV is all about.”
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