The 2013 Ford Fusion is Taking on NASCAR

Posted on January 25, 2012 by MattFordSales

Yesterday Ford unveiled its next-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup racing car for the 2013 season. The car is based of the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion midsize sedan, which was a huge hit at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month.

2013 Ford Fusion NASCARFord is the first of 4 automakers involved in Sprint Cup racing to debut its 2013 racecar. Rivals Chevrolet, Toyota and Dodge are expected to follow suit shortly.

The new Ford Fusion will go through several steps of testing and development before reaching the track in 2013. This is the 3rd time Ford has launched a production and NASCAR version of a new model.

“We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR,” stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing.  “I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to reengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.”

Ford’s 2013 NASCAR racecar will make its racing debut at Daytona 500 in February 2013.

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Preview of MyFord Touch Upgrades

Posted on January 17, 2012 by MattFordSales

Jennifer Brace, Ford User Interface Engineer, demonstrates the new look and function of the MyFord Touch system at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show:

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High Hopes for 2013 Ford Fusion

Posted on January 11, 2012 by MattFordSales

Ford Motor Company unveiled the new 2013 Ford Fusion at the North American International Motor Show in Detroit on Monday, January 9th.  The new Fusion is wowing spectators with its resemblance to the Ford Mondeo and slight resemblance to the Aston Martin around the nose.

2012 Ford Fusion HybridFord is going to be launching the 2013 Fusion in three variations including a plug-in hybrid that gets 100 mpg, topping every other liquid-powered vehicle for sale to the American public.  Worldwide only one version of the 2013 Fusion will be available, as Ford will use the same worldwide strategy it used on their other cars the Focus and Fiesta.

The 2013 Fusion will be enhanced by the newest technologies that many Fiesta and Focus customers already rave about.  The Fusion will have an automated-lane keeping system, voice-controlled entertainment, radar assisted parking, and the all-singing, all-dancing Sync connectivity suite just to name a few.

The Hybrid version of the 2013 Fusion will get about 47 mpg city / 44 mpg highway, which will be much better than its competition.  However, the real bragging rights go to the Fusion Energi the plug-in version of the Fusion.  The Energi is said to get the equivalent of 100 mpg, helping it to tower over other plug-in competitors.

The 2013 Fusion is based on Ford’s new global C/D platform that will provide the underpinnings for ten models around the globe by the end of 2014 and is expected to account for 1 million units per annum of Ford’s output.

Ford has managed to combine style with efficiency in all three versions of the 2013 Fusion.  In the past the Fusion has been one of Ford’s best-selling cars, and that trend should continue with stylish and efficient 2013 Fusion.

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Ford Fusion Receives Lane-Drifting Warning Technology

Posted on January 5, 2012 by MattFordSales

Ford Lane Drifting WarningMainstream midsize sedans will soon offer a safety system that only appeared on luxury cars.  The lane departure system is a technology that helps prevent drowsy drivers from veering off the road.  The upcoming Ford Fusion will be the first midsize sedan to offer this optional safety technology.

The lane departure system will actually try to wake drivers if they start dozing off and begin veering off the road.  A digital camera on the windshield keeps a close eye on the road to determine if lane drifting occurs.  If it does, the system vibrates the steering wheel to try and wake the driver.  The system also automatically steers the car back into its correct lane.

To prevent crashes due to drowsiness in the future, Ford development engineer, Michael Kane states that the, “Fusion’s Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our state-of-the-art control software to process images and determine what level of warning or assistance to provide to the driver.”

The new Ford Fusion, with the optional lane departure system, will premiere at the North American International Auto Show in a couple weeks.  The Ford Explorer will also be offering this safety technology in 2012.

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Best Resale Value Belongs to the 2012 Ford F-Series

Posted on December 28, 2011 by MattFordSales

2012 Ford Super DutyThe Kelly Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in producing vehicles that best retain their value over the first five years of new-vehicle ownership.  For the third year in a row the Ford F-Series Super Duty has won this prestigious award in the full-size pickup truck category.

Depreciation and keeping year-to-year cost of transportation low are two of the biggest expenses car owner’s face in the first five years of ownership.  The Best Resale Value Award received by the Ford F-Series is an indication that this truck helps owners minimize these costs.

The Ford Super Duty is an incredible workhorse; it boasts a 6.2-liter V8 engine capable of producing 385-horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque.  The engine is paired with a TorqShift 6-speed automatic with manual shift controls and can be combined with either 2WD or 4WD.

The interior of the Super Duty is both tough and luxurious offering ample durable features to drivers.  Some modern touches that have been added to the interior of the 2012 Super Duty are a lap-top sized center console and USB inputs throughout the cab.

Kelly Blue Book has been publishing an Official Residual Value Guide since 1981, and is comprised of industry-acknowledged experts in the art and science of resale value projections.  Financial institutions, governmental agencies and the automotive leasing industry rely on the comprehensive residual values they provide.

Combining functionality and livability with a work driven ability the Ford Super Duty has outstanding appeal to any truck driver.  It’s no wonder that the Super Duty has won the best full-size pickup resale value award three years in a row.

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Details on Ford Fusion Wheel Recall

Posted on December 19, 2011 by MattFordSales

Ford Fusion RecallFord recently recalled 2010-11 Ford Fusion vehicles that are equipped with 17-inch steel wheel because the wheel studs may fracture, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No other wheel sizes or styles are affected.

Ford Fusion with the affected wheels has had multiple stud fractures at the wheel location, causing the driver to experience vehicle vibrations, and if ignored, even “wheel separation.” Ford stats that they are not aware of any crashes or injure thus far due to the problem.

The recalled vehicles are those built from April 1st through April 30th, 2009 and December 1st 2009 to November 13th, 2010. Drivers can see when their car was built by checking alable affixed to the driver-side door jamb.

Owners for affected cars will be notified the week of January 24th. Matt Ford Sales will inspect the rear brake disc surface and replace the discs at no charge, if necessary. The lug nuts will be replaces on all four wheels as well.

For more information, owners can call Matt Ford Sales at (888) 229-5268 or Ford’s hotline at (866) 436-7332.

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2012 Ford F-150 Wins Motor Trend Truck of the Year

Posted on December 13, 2011 by MattFordSales

Every year, the Motor Trend staff assesses a field of contenders for their prestigious Truck of the Year award. This year the automotive magazine chose the 2012 Ford F-150 as Truck of the Year, beating out the Nissan NV, Ram HD, and Toyota Tacoma.

2012 F-150 Truck of the YearMotor Trend tested two versions of the F-150, one with a 5.0-liter V8 engine and one with a V6 EcoBoost engine. Ford’s fuel efficient and innovative EcoBoost engine helped capture the award.

Ford is changing the perception truck buyers have with engine choice. Ford executives expect the EcoBoost V6 engine will be selected by 45% of all F-150 buyers.

The EcoBoost V6 engine has a best in class fuel economy, averaging 18 mpg in combined city and highway driving. In addition, the turbocharged V6 gives the truck more towing power than the larger 5.0-liter V8.

“It mastered every task we subjected it to, acing our instrumented tests at the proving grounds and swaying opinions during our real-world road evaluations,” Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh said of the F-150.

The Ford F-150 also took the top honor from Motor Trend in 2009, 2044 and 1997. Congratulations Ford!

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Ford is First to Join the Smartphone App, Slacker Radio, to its SYNC System

Posted on December 9, 2011 by MattFordSales

Music enthusiasts will love the new Slacker Radio app, which is now available with SYNC® AppLink™.  SYNC® AppLink™ on Ford vehicles allows drivers to access the apps on their smartphone by using simple voice commands.

Slacker Radio and Ford SYNC

With the Slacker Radio app, Ford drivers can customize their own music stations or listen to over 150 stations that already exist on Slacker Radio.  Talk radio, comedy, ABC News, and ESPN Radio stations can all be accessed on this app as well.  With a music list that is over ten times bigger than any other leading radio competitor, Slacker Radio is the top app to use for the ultimate radio experience.

Director of Ford Connected Serviced, Doug VanDagens, commented on Slacker Radio’s appeal:  “Customers now have so many options for accessing music and information.  Ford SYNC® AppLink allows us to not only keep pace with what they are listening to, but how they are listening to it.  With its huge music library, Slacker Radio dramatically increases the content options for Ford drivers.”

With simple voice commands, drivers can change stations, skip songs, bookmark favorites, and ban songs or artists without ever taking their hands off the steering wheel.  Blackberry and Android are the two smartphones that are now available to use with Slacker Radio and AppLink™.

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Ford Offers Hands Free Holiday Contest

Posted on November 29, 2011 by MattFordSales

Holiday StressIn the midst of stressful holiday traffic, Ford is offering drivers a reason to relax and smile with the Hands Free Holiday Contest.  Ford is offering an amazing VIP experience for eight different cities around the U.S.

To participate in the contest, all fans must do is go to Ford’s company Facebook page and share their holiday stresses.  Winners receive a hassle free holiday experience, including a chauffeur to the mall.  Other prizes will be handed out as well.

To promote an enjoyable holiday experience for all fans, Ford paired up with stress-relief expert Susie Mantell of Relaxintuit.com to provide a checklist of stress-free tips for the holiday.  The tips include making a preseason plan, setting a spending speed limit, utilizing the Pandora streaming radio, discovering hands-free help, and parking your worries.

So, log on to Facebook now to eliminate your stress and win a VIP shopping experience!

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New Ford Escape Adds Hands-Free Tailgate

Posted on November 21, 2011 by MattFordSales

Ford is introducing a “gesture-based” tailgate control on the refreshed 2013 Ford Escape SUV. The new system lets anyone who has the car keys kick a foot under the back bumper to left open the tailgate, hands free.

The Hands-Free Lift Gate system is perfect when approaching the vehicle with your hands full of groceries, bags or any other items and you can’t around for the remote-control key button. Safeguards will lock the system when the vehicle is in motion.

View the system in action:

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