- Share This Post
- submit
- 0
-
Sparkle (0)
With all the worrisome press about the automotive industry in the news lately, I thought it would be important to share some uplifting news and interesting factoids about our domestic manufacturers.
Ford is perhaps best known for the Mustang, which has now sold more than 9 million units since it was introduced at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964. The Mustang will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2009, and is one of the most widely recognized vehicles in the world. Today, one of every two sports cars sold in America is a Mustang. The Mustang is also Ford Motor Company's longest-running nameplate.
But some may not know much more about this domestic brand, which in recent years has become extremely focused on improving quality, fuel economy, technology, safety, and eco-friendliness. Let's talk about Ford:
Let's Talk About Quality:
If you visit The Ford Story (www.fordvehicles.com/thefordstory) Ford boasts about their latest cars and crossovers, saying that cumulative data on 2008 models demonstrates they "match the quality of the imports, along with enhanced safety, better fuel mileage, and innovative technology," in fact, according to that data, "Ford Motor Company, Honda Motors and Toyota Motors quality ratings are in a dead heat." Ford has the most U.S. government 5-star safety ratings of any auto company, and more than a dozen of Ford's 2009 vehicles are rated Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) -- more than any other automaker.
Let's Talk About Fuel Economy:Ford Division has 15 car, truck and SUV choices that get 25 mpg or better and six models promising a maximum cruising range of over 500 miles, based on EPA-estimated mpg hwy and fuel tank capacity. At the top of the list, Ford's 2010 Fusion Hybrid has been certified at 41 city/36 highway, compared with 33/34 for the Toyota Camry. Meanwhile, the Ford Escape Hybrid promises best-in-class economy ratings of 34 city/31 highway. If you're not interested in a hybrid powertrain, consider Ford's new EcoBoost engine technology, which will begin powering the new Lincoln MKS flagship in 2009, followed by the Ford Flex and other vehicles. Revealed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Ford's EcoBoost engine features a combination of turbocharging and direct injection technology. Compared with more expensive hybrids and diesel engines, EcoBoost builds upon today's affordable gasoline engine and improves it, providing customers with a way to improve fuel economy and emissions without compromising driving performance. (Click here to view an enlargement of the EcoBoost illustration below.)
"Ford is bullish on fuel economy," said Ken Czubay, Ford's vice president of Sales and Marketing. "Each new and significantly freshened vehicle we've brought to market in the past year has the best or among the best fuel economy in its segment, and we want to provide customers an extra reason to drive one of these high-quality, fuel-efficient cars, crossovers and trucks."
Ford's nine most fuel-efficient (traditionally powered gasoline) vehicles are the Focus, delivering up to 35 mpg; Fusion, up to 29 mpg; Escape, up to 28 mpg; Flex, to up 24 mpg; Mercury Milan, up to 29 mpg; Mercury Mariner, up to 28 mpg; Lincoln MKZ, up to 28 mpg; Lincoln MKS, up to 24 mpg; and the new F-150, up to 21 mpg*.
Between now and January 5, 2009, Ford is offering a first-ever bonus incentive tied to these fuel-efficient vehicles, extending an extra benefit to customers beyond "Employee Pricing Plus" deals it's already offering across its 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle lineup. The special incentive not only offers customers employee pricing on most 2008 and 2009 Ford, Lincoln Mercury models but will additionally offer up to $6,000 cash back. Alternatively, if customers select one of Ford's most fuel-efficient vehicles, they will have the option for 0 percent financing for 36 months. (*2009 F-150 is not included in the "Employee Pricing Plus" program, but is still eligible for the special 0 percent