* 2011 Ford Fiesta wins ‘Best New Small Car under $21,000′ category from AJAC
* The all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine small car customers’ expectations
* Fiesta delivers best-in-class highway fuel economy of 4.9 L/ 100km, with a responsive 1.6-litre DOHC I-4 engine, advanced PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission and Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS)
OAKVILLE, Ontario, October 29, 2010 – The 2011 Ford Fiesta has won in the ‘Best New Small Car under $21,000′ category at the annual Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) Car of the Year TestFest.
The Ford Fiesta was put through its paces, undergoing strenuous road and track testing by teams of skilled drivers who performed uninterrupted comparisons of each vehicle under the same conditions.
Through the ratings of a panel of judges from AJAC’s TestFest, the 2011 Ford Fiesta came out as the winner.
The all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine small car customers’ expectations. With up to 4.9L/100 km, Fiesta delivers best-in-class fuel economy, safety, convenience and connectivity.
Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 1, 2010 – Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for the Mustang lover in your life or just want to show your pride for the Ford vehicle you drive, a new online store launched by Ford Motor Company on eBay Motors will provide enthusiasts around the world with access to the items they want in one convenient place.
The redesigned website, www.store.ford.com, now provides access to an eBay Motors online store that offers products at a stated price for customers shopping on the U.S. version of the eBay site. In the coming months, links to more and more global eBay Motors stores will be added, and each online store will reflect the vehicles and brands that are most popular in its corresponding region.
“eBay Motors involvement gives us the power to reach customers around the world,” said Regina Watson, Ford licensing manager. “We’re taking a global approach to our online store, and truly integrating various parts of the world. So no matter where you live, as long as you can access the eBay site, you can see what products are available for sale.”
Besides the convenience factor, the store offers plenty of merchandise to satisfy Ford enthusiasts worldwide.
“Ford is a 100-year-old iconic brand that resonates with our most die-hard automotive enthusiast,” said Famous Rhodes, director, parts and accessories, eBay Motors. “This opportunity opens up everything Ford, from pool tables to clothing for our enthusiasts to express their love for the Ford brand.”
To power the store, Ford partnered with ChannelAdvisor, a software and services provider that helps retailers sell through multiple online channels. Through ChannelAdvisor’s eBay management platform, Ford’s official licensees’ products will be aggregated in one store on eBay, unifying a typically fragmented market to improve the shopping experience and product selection for buyers of Ford merchandise.
In the future, Ford hopes to keep adding more products to the site to make it one-stop shopping for Ford fans.
“Our goal is to become a hub for all items that Ford enthusiasts would want to buy – including restoration parts and vintage shop manuals,” said Watson.
Action at SEMA
To help celebrate the launch of the website, a pool table shaped like a Mustang will be on display on the Ford stand and available for auction Nov. 2-5 at the SEMA show. All proceeds from the auction will benefit JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
The Mustang pool table is molded from a 1965 Mustang and comes complete with working lights, alloy rims and wheels and chrome decals, bumpers and hardware. A professional billiard player will even be on hand all week to show off just how much fun the table can be.
Ford is teaming up with eBay Motors and ChannelAdvisor for the auction, and visitors can bid on the table at computers surrounding it. eBay Motors also will have screens in its booth monitoring the auction throughout the show, which will end when the SEMA show comes to a close.
OAKVILLE, Ontario, August 4, 2010 – Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited sees the best July since 1979 and is the best-selling automaker this month. Overall car sales increased 46 per cent compared to last July with overall sales up 2 per cent versus strong results last year. The increase in car sales was driven by strong products like the Ford Fusion, Focus and Taurus, resulting in almost half of all vehicle sales in Canada.
“Ford was the only major manufacturer to post a gain last July,” said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “Last year Ford sales were up 47 per cent in July versus an industry decline of 7 per cent. Posting a gain after last year’s increase is good, but given the comparisons, a 31 year July sales record is impressive.”
In addition to the 46 per cent increase in car sales, total Lincoln sales also increased by 23 per cent compared to last July. Lincoln MKZ, MKS and MKX all saw sales rise 43 per cent, 6 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively.
“Consumers are seeing the strength of our new products, especially in our car portfolio,” said Mondragon. “Ford Fusion continues to lead its segment and with the arrival of the all-new Fiesta, Ford is delivering vehicles that customers want and value. In fact, half of the Fiesta’s sold were in Quebec — the most competitive small car market in Canada.”
Just announced, Ford will begin production this week of the most powerful diesel engine ever installed in a heavy-duty pickup. The 6.7-litre Power Stroke® V8 turbocharged diesel is now rated at best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower, an increase of 65 lb.-ft. of torque and 10 horsepower. Current 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty diesel owners can get the increased performance through a free dealer-installed software upgrade to the truck’s powertrain control module.
“We are earning consumer confidence by offering vehicles with leading fuel economy, quality and resale value,” said Mondragon. “In fact, the average resale values of Ford vehicles in Canada have increased 28 per cent during the past 18 months, according to the RVI Used Car Price Index which translates into an average increase of $2,196 per Ford vehicle, resulting in higher value and affordability for our customers.”
July 4, 2010. Steve Mathews driving the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford made quite an impression this past Saturday night at round number three of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series as the Autodrome St. Eustache. Mathews showed speed, poise and a determined effort throughout the race.
During the afternoon practice Mathews climbed to the top of the time sheets and was third fastest at the end of the session. Mathews drew the unfortunate honour of qualifying first and put in an excellent effort to claim the eighth starting position. “It’s tough qualifying first, the track has a lot of different rubber and oil from other cars and it hurts your lap, but we did pretty well considering” summarized the driver.
As the green flag waved on the 250 lap main event Mathews though only in his fourth series event immediately began to show his talents as he moved the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford up toward the front of the field. “The car was fast, no doubt about it” said the driver. “I really felt comfortable at the track after only a few laps” he added.
As the race progressed Mathews would run predominantly among the top five battling with the best drivers in the field for position. Before the race was halfway however Mathews believed there was an issue with the left front tire. “We thought we had a tire going down so when we had the opportunity during a caution we made a stop for tires” said the driver.
Rejoining the battle Mathews looked to put the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford back up front. The team also worked to plan out their pit strategy for the duration of the race. “When our left front went flat we took left side tires, and then decided to take right sides under the same caution. This decision changed our strategy and it turns out we took right sides about 75 laps too early.” said Mathews.
The laps ticked away and Mathews continued his exciting run but in the late stages the car became an even bigger handful to control and the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford went off between corner one and two. “I got a little impatient with two lapped cars racing me hard and went to go outside and had no grip” said Mathews.
Steve Mathews returned to the fight after his incident and battled to the end in the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford and would finish the event in twelfth. “In a way it was a successful day, and I would like to thank the whole Mathews Motorsports crew for their great effort and hard work. The more of these NCATS races we do the better we get.”
You can find out more about “Speedy Steve” Mathews and keep up with the latest news on the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford and follow their progress all season long in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series by logging onto the website www.stevemathews.net
OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 30, 2010 – July 1 marks the launch of the Ford Employee Pricing event Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited announced today. Until August 31, 2010, customers across Canada can take advantage of Ford employee prices on most 2010 and 2011 Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
Ford is also inviting consumers across Canada to visit their local dealership for the expanded Drive One Challenge. Test drive any new Ford or Lincoln vehicle – from our award winning Ford Fusion, Ford Taurus and Ford F-Series, to the luxurious Lincoln MKS – and if you decide to purchase any new vehicle from another manufacturer within 100 hours of the test drive, you will receive $100 from Ford.
“The Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands and we are inspiring even more Canadians to get behind the wheel and experience that quality,” said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “We are so confident in both our Ford and Lincoln line-up that we are willing to pay $100 within 100 hours if a customer experiences our vehicles and still purchases a vehicle from a competitor.”
In addition, momentum has continued for the Ford Exclusive Recycle Your Ride Program, with more than 8,500 customers participating in the program to date. Due to its success, Ford is extending the program through September 30, 2010. With this program consumers turning in 2003 model year (or older) vehicles (of any make) for retirement will get up to $3,000 towards the purchase of a new 2010 or 2011 Ford or Lincoln vehicle. Through an exclusive agreement with Summerhill Impact, Ford is the only manufacturer that is retiring 1996 to 2003 model year vehicles. Ford’s Exclusive Recycle Your Ride program is in addition to the $300 available from Retire Your Ride, a program funded by the Government of Canada (1995 model year or older vehicles).
The Ford Exclusive Recycle Your Ride Program is combinable with the Ford Employee Pricing event.
June 28, 2010. New Liskeard, Ontario’s Steve Mathews driving the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford made a significant impact in race number one of the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Delaware Speedway. Mathews is also now set to continue his season and hone his skills during the next event at the Autodrome St. Eustache Quebec on Saturday July 3rd.
The day at Delaware Speedway began very well for Steve and the #15 Mathews Motorsports team when they posted the quickest practice time during the early session. “Our new McColl car was terrific” said the driver. “I ran a lot of practice laps and we were very strong through the entire session” he added.
Due to a NASCAR penalty the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford was only granted one qualifying lap and Mathews did tremendously well to come up with the tenth quickest qualifying run. “We were a couple of minutes late for Technical Inspection and the penalty is you only get one lap. Just a season opener mistake we have to live with” summarized the driver.
Showing patience and maturity Steve Mathews began moving his #15 Ford up to the front of the field with precision. “Some of the guys were a little aggressive but I just tried to take it easy” said Mathews. “I knew that we had a strong car and hoped to get out front and stay out of trouble” he added.
On lap 76 the #15 Ford would reach its destination and take over the lead of the race. Staying out of trouble in what turned out to be a caution filled event however was impossible. “After a few great restarts on the outside, I made contact with the #7 and was spun” said the disappointed driver.
Once relegated back in the field it became even more difficult to avoid trouble on the racetrack and the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford once again became involved in an incident. “I feel we definitely passed the most cars and showed strength all night, but once at the back of the pack it is a gong show,” stated Mathews.
For their next race at the Autodrome St Eustache on July 3rd Mathews and the team are hoping for a better result. “Everyone has been working hard and hard work and persistence will hopefully pay off.”
You can find out more about “Speedy Steve” Mathews and keep up with the latest news on the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford and follow their progress all season long in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series by logging onto the website www.stevemathews.net
Photo Attached: Steve Mathews in the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford lined up for qualifying at Delaware Speedway.
Photo Credit: Todd Lewis
For Sponsorship Inquiries please contact:
Ron Baker, AVP Inc. (905) 206-1304 rbaker@avpinc.ca
OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 24, 2010 – Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited expands upon its Millennium Facility Program (facility design program) to include more ‘green’ choices for dealers when renovating or building a new dealership. The goal is simple: collaborate with dealers to implement cost-effective ways to improve the energy-efficiency of their facilities, resulting in a long-term reduction in individual dealership’s carbon footprint as well as overall operating costs.
“We are focused on our plan here at Ford and part of that plan is a commitment to the environment,” said Scott Cauvel, vice president of Sales, Ford of Canada. “As part of our Millennium Facility Program we are providing our dealers with access to expertise and recommendations that will help them further their sustainable efforts.”
Ford of Canada continues to work with Robert Arnone, vice president of R.H. Carter Architects Inc., a licensed architect and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) accredited professional who has been working with Ford of Canada for approximately 16 years.
“By introducing more sustainable choices into the design and renovation process, we are increasing the positive impact being made by dealers across the country,” said Arnone. “These sustainable options are realistic and cost-effective – and we’ll continue to build on these solutions as new products come to market.”
Sustainable choices include:
· Landscaping: Smart choices in plants, trees and flowers that are indigenous to the area and require very little, if any, additional watering.
· Paint: All paints used are low VOC paints.
· Interior Images: High quality images are printed on recycled fabric and employ a re-useable framing system.
· Lighting Controls (for both internal and external lights): Timers can turn lights on and off at specific times, and sensors can monitor movement in order to turn lights down when people are not in the room.
· Glass: Obscure glass, shades or glazed glass systems help to control the temperature inside the dealership.
· Carpet: Options for carpet include those that are manufactured in a sustainable way and that can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.
· Tile: Choices range from tile that contains 30 – 50 per cent recycled content, to others that minimize or eliminate waste during the manufacturing process. In addition, these choices have been selected because of their low permeability characteristics – which almost eliminates staining – and that require less maintenance. They’re also denser than granite, which means they also exhibit superb durability.
Interested dealers simply enroll in the program. A visit to the facility follows enrollment – the focus of the visit is to listen to the needs of the dealer and to tailor a draft design direction for them. The result of this collaboration is a plan for the dealer to move forward with a cost-effective and efficient design solution, including suggestions for sustainable options that make sense for the dealership. The comprehensive support of R.H. Carter Architects Inc. is available to the dealers from the start right through to implementation or renovation
Neil Reeve:
This is starting to seem the nuclear arms race among the auto manufactures "The Green Race". Although these infinitives do…
DEARBORN, Mich., June 9, 2010 – Five more 2010 Ford Motor Company vehicles – Ford Flex, Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKT and Mercury Milan – have earned Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating also applies to the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid.
Ford has 11 IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings for 2010 model vehicles – the most of any automaker – as well as the leading number of five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Flex, Fusion, MKZ, MKT and Milan previously earned top possible scores for occupant protection in IIHS’s front, side and rear tests, but had to pass IIHS’s new roof strength test to maintain the rating. Vehicles also must offer electronic stability control to be eligible for a Top Safety Pick.
“Leading the industry in both Top Safety Pick ratings and government five-star crash test ratings is very significant because customers increasingly consider IIHS and NHTSA ratings when choosing a new vehicle,” said Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “These latest test results further demonstrate Ford’s commitment to continuous improvement on the safety front.”
Strong by design
Ford’s use of high-strength steels, including low-alloy, dual-phase and boron steel in the A- and B-pillars, roof headers and bows, rocker panels and rocker baffles of its newest vehicles helped the company perform well in IIHS testing. In addition, composite reinforcements were used to augment and stabilize the key pillar sections against collision forces.
Many new Ford vehicles are built with the company’s Trinity Front Crash Body Architecture. The energy-absorbing body structure is optimized for strength and stiffness, and designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.
In addition, Ford’s Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE®) Architecture is used to optimize side-impact occupant protection. The SPACE system integrates a high-strength steel structure in the floor that runs the width of the vehicle, and reinforcements along the rocker panels to help protect passengers in side-impact incidents.
“Ford’s use of high- and ultra-high-strength steels in our vehicles complements our development of advanced crash protection and crash avoidance technologies,” Cischke said. “With each new model year, we’re raising the bar on vehicle safety.”
Editor’s note: It is worth mentioning that the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT are built in Canada!
June 8, 2010 Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team are set to begin his 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Road Course campaign this coming weekend, June 12th & 13th at Mosport International Raceway. Following a strong final outing last season the entire team is expecting it to be a busy a productive summer on the track and for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
During the off season the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team has been working diligently to prepare for this years race activity. “We finished top-ten at our last event of 2009 in Montreal and while it left everybody wishing we had another race on the schedule, it’s had my Crew Chief Brent Hougestol and the rest of the team excited about preparing for this season” said Whissell. “We stripped the car completely down, sand blasted it and rebuilt everything” he added.
After completing the rebuild the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team have been testing at Mosport with some positive results. “It was a good session” said the driver. “We were faster than last year which is positive and I think we’re capable of even more and that’s what we’re striving for. Our goal this year after achieving the top-ten finish in Montreal is to finish in the top-seven. The closer you get to the front of the field the tougher it gets, but we’re excited about the challenge”.
Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team are also racing for an important cause this season. Whissell is “Racing for MS” and is seeking to raise $10.044.00 to help fund important research to this far reaching disease. Whissell is also donating half of his race winning to the MS Society. Race fans will be able to support the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team in their efforts and donate through the soon to be launched website, www.jarradwhissell.com “It’s our way of giving back and supporting a worthwhile charity and encouraging others to help out as well” said Whissell.
Last season the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team participated in four road course events and are pleased that another race during the Toronto Indy has been added to the 2010 schedule. “It’s a positive for everyone to be part of that weekend” said the Calgary driver. “There is such a great opportunity for teams, for sponsors and most importantly race fans to enjoy this weekend. I’ve never raced on the Toronto street course but I’m really looking forward to it” he added.
Jarrad Whissell will pilot the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team and contest the five road course events of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series beginning this weekend at Mosport International Raceway near Bowmanville, ON. “The whole team is really focused for this weekend at Mosport” said Whissell. “We’ve had some trouble with pit stops there the last two years and we know if we can fix that, our chances for a great finish should be very good” he said confidently.
The five NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road course events are a part of some of the largest race weekends in Canada and also include the Toronto & Edmonton Indy’s and Montreal Nationwide race weekend. Follow the progress of the team and help support Multiple Sclerosis research through the soon to be launched website www.jarradwhissell.com You can watch all of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races again this year on TSN. Check Local listings for times in your area.
Photo: #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford on track last season at Trois Rivieres.
Ford adds Google Maps to its ‘Send to SYNC’ feature, allowing drivers to send destinations from Google Maps to their Ford vehicle through the cloud-based SYNC® Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) app
Drivers download destination information into the vehicle via their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones; the information will be processed into audible turn-by-turn directions, eliminating the need to bring printed maps into the car and helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road
‘Send to SYNC’ launches later this month and will be available for existing 2010-11 models equipped with SYNC TDI; no extra hardware, software updates or costs are required
DEARBORN, Mich., June 8, 2010 – Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.
‘Send to SYNC’ is a new capability added to the Ford Service Delivery Network, the company’s cloud-based architecture, which provides a suite of voice-activated services accessible through a customer’s mobile phone.
“Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization. “With Send to SYNC, you can map a destination at home, at work – wherever you have connectivity – and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go. It’s convenient and it eliminates the waste and distraction of paper maps, conserving resources while helping drivers keep their eyes on the road.”
The SYNC TDI application leverages a customer’s mobile phone voice plan and the vehicle’s integrated GPS receiver to deliver location-based services, such as driving directions or business searches, and on-demand information such as horoscopes, news, movie listings and stock quotes. Since these services, including the new Send to SYNC functionality, are cloud-based, no vehicle updates are required and they will be available to all owners who have registered for TDI services through www.syncmyride.com.
When users visit Google Maps on the web to find locations, they will have the option to send a selected destination to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle via a “send” menu on the site. Once in the vehicle, the driver connects to SYNC TDI using the “Services” voice command, and when prompted, confirms the request to download the Google Maps destination into the vehicle.
The optimal route is calculated in the cloud using the latest traffic information, downloaded to the vehicle and navigation guidance begins. If the vehicle is equipped with a map-based navigation system, the destination point is downloaded directly to that system, which then calculates the route based on the in-vehicle navigation preferences set by the driver.
“Our cloud-based service network is helping deliver constant improvement for our customers, and has become a key reason why Ford leads the industry with SYNC,” said VanDagens. “We’re proud to be working with Google to bring this new capability to SYNC.”
The Google Maps ‘Send to SYNC’ capability launches later this month. Ford is currently the only automaker offering this capability without requiring a paid subscription to a telematics service.
Ford previously announced the same feature for MapQuest (owned by AOL), which will launch later this year.
Neil Reeve: Drive One Challenge offers a great incentive for people to come into a Ford dealership .... maybe an auto group…