Car and Driver Magazine’s 10Best cars for 2012 includes the Ford Focus and Boss Mustang. Focus, editors say, has “one of the best front-wheel-drive chassis on the road right now, supple yet precise, and it allows the Focus to get around many more expensive, more powerful, more overtly sporty cars on a twisting stretch.” It’s “as much sports sedan as economy sedan.” Also giving pricier luxury marques a run for the money is the Boss Mustang, Car and Driver says. Built off the Mustang GT – already “near perfection” – the Boss Mustang creates a new standard for muscle-car makers. Click here for the full article.

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High Gear Media, the fastest-growing automotive publisher on the Web, has named the 2012 Ford Focus its Best Car to Buy 2012. Focus earned the highest ranking from The Car Connection, chosen from amongst 40 nominees that included luxury car makes using unique “meta reviews,” a gathering of reviews from around the Web. Editors said Focus goes “well beyond state of the art,” and that its win “comes down to personality.” Focus was praised for having “great looks, gas mileage and handling, plus some of the most advanced technology features in its class.” Click here for the full release.

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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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Enthusiasts of the Focus ST who are eager to learn more about the car will soon get their chance as Ford begins sharing exclusive video and photography on the Ford Focus Facebook page. Updates on the development of this new performance car include materials that explore technical highlights, the drive experience, and the high levels of refinement that make up the DNA of Focus ST, which is expected to deliver around 247 horsepower. The more than 300,000 fans of the Focus Facebook page will be able to access newly generated and previously unseen footage of development cars undergoing testing, plus insights into Focus ST’s features from key members of the Global Performance Vehicles team.

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Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 10, 2011 – Ford and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) have teamed up to offer customers a rooftop solar system that will allow Focus Electric owners to “Drive Green for Life” by providing customers with enough clean, renewable energy to offset the electricity used to charge the vehicle.

“Under the ‘Drive Green for Life’ program, Focus Electric owners can reduce their total cost of ownership by generating enough energy from their high efficiency SunPower rooftop solar system to offset the electricity required to charge the vehicle at night,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford director of Global Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure. “It’s an eco-friendly solution that perfectly complements our plug-in products and other green initiatives.”

“SunPower’s innovative partnership with Ford is a win-win for customers, providing a comprehensive sustainability program,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “By taking advantage of this program, Focus Electric customers can… read more

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DEARBORN, Mich., 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… 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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DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 25, 2011 – With oil nearing $100 per barrel and gasoline prices continuing to rise, Ford and Lincoln customers have reason to smile – 12 cars, trucks and utilities that lead their sales segments in fuel economy, including four with EPA-certified ratings of 40 mpg or more.

“Fuel economy and technology are consumers’ biggest priorities – and we have made them Ford’s as well,” said Mark Fields, Ford president, The Americas. “Our product portfolio reflects the investment Ford has made to transform our lineup in the past several years so our customers can be more green – and keep even more green in their wallets – than when fuel prices reached $4 per gallon in 2008.”

Now, from Ford Fiesta to Super Duty and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid to Lincoln MKT, the company’s lineup features improved aerodynamics and fuel-saving technologies including PowerShift, a Ford-designed dry dual-clutch automatic transmission available in the Ford Fiesta and all-new Focus, six-speed automatic transmissions, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and EcoBoost engines that save on fuel with no compromise to driving excitement.

The newest Ford vehicle in the fuel economy winner’s circle is … READ MORE
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DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. said Friday that an electric version of its Ford Focus sedan will go on sale in North America by the end of this year.

Ford introduced the electric Focus at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The car is expected to go up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) on an electric charge.

The automaker says the Focus can be fully charged in three to four hours using a 240-volt outlet. That’s half the time it takes to charge the Nissan Leaf, a competitor that went on sale last month.

Ford also said its fuel efficiency numbers will be competitive with the Leaf. Late last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated the Leaf would get the equivalent of 106 miles per gallon in city driving and 92 mpg on the highway. The EPA determined the figures by estimating it will cost $561 per year in electricity to charge the car.

Related: Ford steers out all-electric Focus at CES

Ford said the Focus will have a unique, Microsoft-designed powering feature that will charge the vehicle during off-peak hours, when utility rates are cheapest, to save on electric bills. It also has a touchscreen with information such as the amount of charge left, the distance to the next charging station and the amount of gasoline saved.

Pricing wasn’t announced. The Leaf starts at $32,780, but it is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit that drops the price to $25,780.

The electric Focus will be Ford’s first electric car on the market. It began selling an electric version of the Transit Connect van last year. The Chevrolet Volt, an electric car with a small gas engine that takes over if the charge runs out, is the only other electric car on sale in the U.S. right now, but other competitors are planning to introduce electrics soon. In 2012, Toyota plans to begin selling an electric RAV4 crossover, Chrysler plans an electric Fiat 500 minicar and Honda will sell an electric version of the Fit subcompact.

Ford said it plans to introduce four other electric vehicles in North America and Europe over the next two years. The electric Focus will go on sale in Europe next year.

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With its global launch near, the all-new Ford Focus takes on the role of official vehicle for the 2011 International CES, considered the largest technology trade show in the world.

The tech-packed Focus is a perfect match for CES, which runs from Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. As the official car, Focus will have a prominent presence during the show, including more product-specific signage, displays, demonstrations and materials. Focus follows in the footsteps of the 2010 Ford Taurus, which was the official car at the 2010 CES held earlier this year.

“The all-new Focus harnesses the best of what Ford Motor Company has to offer, delivering class-leading features and technologies as well as an expected 40 mpg,” said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Company. “We’re excited for Focus to reach dealers in North America and Europe in early 2011 and want to share that excitement and the unprecedented level of technology Focus has to offer with the global consumer electronics industry – an increasingly important influence on new vehicles.”

The new Focus will share the spotlight at CES with Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, who will deliver a keynote address at the trade show for the third consecutive year. Further upping the ante at CES, Ford is also increasing its display’s floor space fourfold for the 2011 show and expects to have more than twenty vehicles on display throughout the event.

“We welcome Ford, Alan Mulally and the new Focus to the 2011 International CES,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), producer of the International CES. “Vehicles such as the Focus are built with the latest technologies that address consumer demand for on-the-go innovations.”

Chockfull of tech
Studies by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) show that as many as 77 million adults make up the so-called technology enthusiast drivers population, more than half of whom express the desire for a connected communications and information system in their vehicles.

The all-new Focus features Ford SYNC, MyFord Touch driver connect technology, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, Sony Audio with HD Radio and Active Park Assist, among other advanced technologies more often associated with larger, premium vehicle segments.

For avid in-car tech lovers, Focus with MyFord Touch will feature a Wi-Fi radio that will provide Internet access when a compatible USB mobile broadband modem is inserted into SYNC’s USB port producing a secure wireless “hot spot” that will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. This secure connection will allow passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices to access the web while on the go.

Tech enthusiasts as well as music lovers also will appreciate that Focus will be the first car in its class available with an audio system supplied by global consumer electronics leader Sony®. Featuring a class D digital amplifier developed specifically for Focus, this system has 10 speakers, three-layer soft dome tweeters and a subwoofer offering up 355 watts of continuous power. Coupled with MyFord Touch, the Focus audio system also features HD Radio technology with iTunes Tagging – also a first in its class.

“Customers want smaller cars with outstanding fuel economy, but without sacrificing any of the style, technology, connectivity and driving quality they demand from larger vehicles,” said Czubay. “With the all-new Focus leading the pack, our next-generation of smaller cars and utilities will prove that Ford is ready to meet that challenge.”

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