Holiday Safety Tips From Ford

Vacation Safety Tips

Dearborn, Mich., June 30, 2011 – Screaming kids, congestion, road work, scorching weather: While we all like to get away for the summer, issues such as these can make for a lot of stress for people who are driving long distances, especially during the busy Fourth of July weekend.

But Ford has some helpful safety tips for travelers heading out on the roads for the holiday season, to ensure that the trip is memorable for all the right reasons – even if the kids keep asking “Are we there yet?” from the minute you take off.

Top safety tips from Ford:

•  Buckle up and do it right: The seat belt remains the most important piece of safety equipment. Ensure that it tightly encircles your hips, not your waist. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm
• Keep small children belted in safety or booster seats: Children under four-feet-four-inches tall who weigh less than 79 pounds should by regulation be fitted in child safety seats or booster seats and properly belted. The safety seats need to be securely fitted to the rear seat – and the latest Ford cars are now designed with ISOFIX fittings, which provide a rigid and robust connection between the vehicle and the seats
• Ensure that the tilt and height of all head rests are correctly adjusted
• Avoid placing objects over the airbag cover: Do not place any object between an occupant and an airbag or near any other airbag covering. The airbag may not inflate properly and might force an object into that person, causing severe injury or death. The instrument panel grab handle should never be used for storage. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear at all times
• Do your homework. Know your car’s condition and its safety features: Check for basic maintenance and items in your car before heading off for a trip. Items to check include tire tread depth, tire pressures, and ensuring oil and water levels are correct
• Be responsible and know the speed limits: If you’re traveling across the country, be aware of the speed limits and road laws of the states you will travel through. Always carry your driver’s license with you
• Give yourself enough time to complete the journey: Plan for stops along the way. Drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions and leave sufficient space between the vehicles around you
• Pack heavier items in lower areas of the vehicle: When filling up the cargo areas of the vehicle, always place the heaviest items close to the vehicle floor or truck bed so that in the event of a quick stop, those items remain in place and do not move forward in the vehicle where they can collide with passengers or other materials
• Use a voice-activated, hands-free connectivity system like Ford SYNC^® to control your mobile phone or navigation system: Ensure the system is ready to go before you set off 
•  Don’t drink and drive  
• Don’t drive when you’re tired: It is recommended that you take regular breaks on a long journey

Technology that can help
Ford offers a variety of technologies in its vehicles that can support the driver on long journeys – and hopefully make such trips more enjoyable and less stressful:

• SYNC:SYNC is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system for Bluetooth^®-enabled mobile phones that allows hands-free calling among its many available features
• MyFord Touch^™: MyFord Touch driver connect technology provides an intuitive way for drivers to connect in-car technologies and their digital lives
• Active park assist: An advanced new system that automatically guides the vehicle into parallel parking spaces. The system uses two ultrasonic sensors to scan for a suitable space between parked cars. Once a space has been identified, which can be as little as 1.2 times the length of the vehicle, the driver is informed and clear instructions are shown in the center display. The driver controls the accelerator and brake pedal, and selects a forward or reverse gear, while the steering system is automatically controlled by the vehicle
• Auto high beams: This feature is designed to detect light sources ahead and automatically switch the headlamps between main and low beam to avoid glare and help maximize visibility when driving at night
• Adaptive cruise control: A radar-based cruise control system that helps to maintain a preset cruising speed as well as a preset distance from vehicles ahead. If the system detects the vehicle in front is slowing down or is too close, it decelerates automatically. Once the road is clear again, it will accelerate back to the chosen cruising speed

And a few things you might not know…

• Bothered by bugs? Going on a long trip and don’t want to face a windshield and/or bumper full of dead insects by the time you arrive? Wipe down your windshield with a tumble dryer sheet; bugs won’t stick to the glass as easily. Also, give your bumpers the once-over with cooking spray
• Sheets: If your trunk looks like a linen closet before you leave, then you’re prepared. Pack bed sheets – you can drape them over car seats that have become baking hot in the sun
• Tennis, anyone? Slice open a tennis ball and use it to cover your tow bar when you’re not using it. It will protect it from scratches, and will keep the moisture out
• Don’t forget your shades: Troubled by sun glare? Add a few pairs of sunglasses (in case you lose one) to your travel bag before you leave
• Don’t scratch it; smear it: Can’t get that sticker from the amusement park or beach parking lot off your window? Saturate it with cooking oil before you start scrubbing

Chris Johnson Shows Off Morgan Electric Van Body For Staples

Chris Johnson, Account Manager with Morgan Corporation gave an impromptu quick tour of some features of their electric roll-up doors on the display truck from Staples at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March 2011.

David Magnuson Talks About Sortimo Van Pkg in CNG Transit Connect Van

David Magnuson of Sortimo of North America, Inc, shows Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success how to make a Ford Transit Connect with CNG package into an efficient work van with great storage solutions. This video was shot at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March 2011.

See more about Sortimo at http://www.sortimo.com/.

The Forklift Loadable Truck Rack by Rack-it

Gary Kank, Sales Manager for Rack-it Truck Racks shows us the differences in a forklift loadable truck. Many contractors prefer the forklift loadable rack so they can have forklifts load material directly on the rack rather than hand loading. Sure saves the back! See more about Rack-it products at http://www.rackittruckracks.com/

Doug (the Orange Puppet) Tours the Exterior of the All-New Focus - Dir. ...

Watch John, Ford Marketing Specialist, sweat as his boss attempts to introduce Doug (the Orange Puppet) to some of the features of the all-new Focus: heated side mirrors, keyless entry, capless fuel filler.

Like Doug? Follow him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/focusdoug/
For more info on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, go to http://www.ford.com/focus

See how Ford discovered Doug:
Watch his first Press Conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNhtvfEXrsQ
See him stop a robbery in progress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4fp195F_tw
See why he's a hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_pBuSWGFWE

Brian Smith Gives A Tour Of Buyer's SaltDogg Spreaders at the NTEA Work ...

Brian Smith, Marketing Manager for Buyers Products Company of Mentor, Ohio gives Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success a quick impromtu tour of the SaltDogg spreader selection that Buyer's had at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN in March of 2011. Buyers had one of the largest display areas at the huge NTEA Work Truck Show and had quite a volume of product on display. As you can see on the video, the tour includes quite a selection of spreaders from the largest to the smallest.

See more about SaltDogg at http://www.saltdogg.com/, and see more about Buyers products at http://www.buyersproducts.com/.

The local distributor for the SaltDogg products is West Coast Truck Equipment, West Sacramento. 916-376-0690. Talk to Jack or Bob.

Michael Gelsthorpe Talks About The Auto Crane Articulating Cranes

Michael Gelsthorpe, Regional Manager of Ramsey Industries talks briefly with Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success about Auto Crane's Articulating Cranes and some of the benefits of this type of crane. This video was made at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN in March of 2011.

Taylor Steinberg Talks About Knapheide Gooseneck Body

Taylor Steinberg of Knapheide Manufacturing gives Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success a few pointers about the new Knapheide Gooseneck Body at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March of 2011

Chris Johnson Shows Off Morgan Electric Van Body For Staples

Chris Johnson, Account Manager with Morgan Corporation gave an impromptu quick tour of some features of their electric roll-up doors on the display truck from Staples at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana in March 2011.

Turtle Top Ford Terra Maxx at NTEA

Matt Sausman Talks With Joe Hughes, president of the National Ford Truck Club and Ford Pros At NTEA about New Terra Maxx Built By Turtle Top

Doug (the Orange Puppet) Tours the Interior of the All-New Focus - Dir. ...

Doug (the Orange Puppet) quickly learns that Megan is all business when it comes to SYNC® with MyFord Touch,™, heated leather seats, double french stitching and the other interior features of the all-new 2012 Focus. See if John, Ford Marketing Specialist, can get a handle on his new spokesperson.

Like Doug? Follow him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/focusdoug/
For more info on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, go to http://www.ford.com/focus

See how Ford discovered Doug:
View Doug's Introduction to the Focus' Exterior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwhEriaRZPc
Watch his first Press Conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNhtvfEXrsQ
See him stop a robbery in progress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4fp195F_tw

Alan Mulally Shares Mid-Decade Outlook on Investor Day

GREAT NEWS!

Alan Mulally speaks to our fans regarding our mid-decade outlook on Investor Day.

Press Conference: Ford Taps Doug (the Orange Puppet) as 2012 Focus Spoke...

In his first official appearance, Doug (the Orange Puppet Hero) responds to hard-hitting questions from the media, before managing to slip off to give an exclusive interview to one female reporter. See if John, Ford Marketing Specialist, can get his new spokesperson to start talking about the 2012 Focus and stop talking to "pretty pants."

For more info on the new 2012 Ford Focus, please visit ford.com/focus

See how Ford discovered Doug:
He owned a convenience store robber: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4fp195F_tw

Rescued a heart attack victim with a bus's internal wiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioxVioELtN4

Saved a choking woman at a restaurant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_pBuSWGFWE

Taylor Steinberg Talks About The Knapheide CNG Option For Their Service Body Lineup

Taylor Steinberg of Knapheide Manufacturing talks to Ryan Stone of Commercial Truck Success about the Knapheide CNG option for their service body line.

Recorded on March 9, 2011 at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis using a Flip Video camera.

Some information from the Knapheide website at http://www.knapheide.com/:

Compressed Natural Gas

Knapheide has invested in relationships with the two top CNG fuel system providers in the industry, BAF Technologies (Ford Chassis) and Baytech Corporation (GM Chassis). Because of these relationships, Knapheide has been able to develop work ready CNG fuel vehicles on both Ford and GM chassis. CNG has become a popular choice for large fleets due to the significantly lower operating costs compared to gas or diesel vehicles. CNG fueled vehicles emit 30% less greenhouse gas compared to gas or diesel vehicles. Over 98% of natural gas is produced in North America allowing the United States to rely less on foreign oil as a fuel source.

Direct benefits to fleets/end users that convert to compressed natural gas include:

• CNG is eligible for the Federal Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle credit
• On-site CNG fueling stations offer additiional benefits to large fleets with dedicated work routes
• CNG engines emit 80% less noise compared to diesel engines
• CNG offers a lower fuel cost and longer vehicle life expectancy for fleet vehicles
• CNG packages are available for many popular commercial vehicles and retrofits for existing vehicles

How chip resistant is the paint on the 2011 Ford Explorer?

Brian Deegan and the Metal Mulisha crew go out of their way to show how the chip resistant paint lives up to its name.

Ford Adds New Fuel-Saving 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine and Eight-Speed Transmission to Powertrain Lineup

• Newest EcoBoost™ engine, Ford’s first three-cylinder, to be launched globally in Ford small cars
• New engine will deliver performance of a larger four-cylinder with even higher fuel economy
• Ford announces first eight-speed automatic transmission for future vehicles
• The first Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built hybrid transmission begins production late this year; Ford expects to be largest domestic producer of hybrid transmissions by next spring

DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2011 – Ford is expanding its industry-leading range of fuel-efficient powertrains in North America with the addition of a new 1.0-liter EcoBoost™ three-cylinder – the smallest engine Ford has ever built – and an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

In addition, Ford’s next generation of hybrid vehicles, including a new plug-in hybrid that will launch next year, will have a Ford-engineered transmission that will be built in Michigan.

The arrival of the latest member of the EcoBoost family, Ford’s first eight-speed automatic and its new hybrid transmission will further strengthen the company’s lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles. Today, Ford Motor Company has 12 vehicles that lead their sales segments in fuel economy and four vehicles that deliver at least 40 mpg, a lineup no other automaker can match.

“In the last five years, we have made a record investment in new powertrains and fuel-saving technologies,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “Today, we have the freshest powertrain lineup in the industry. And there is plenty more coming.”

1.0-liter EcoBoost: Ford’s smallest engine yet
Engineers at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K. began designing the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine long before the current spike in fuel prices pushed the cost of a gallon of gas over $4. Their goal: To design a technically advanced, super-efficient three-cylinder engine that delivers the same performance as a four-cylinder, but with much higher fuel economy and lower emissions.

To do that, engineers at Dunton, Ford’s global center of excellence for small-capacity engines, focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up. That’s when an engine emits higher levels of CO2 and other pollutants. The new engine introduces many new technologies that could someday be part of the DNA of future Ford engines, said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of Global Powertrain Engineering.

The new three-cylinder engine will be available globally in the company’s small cars. It will also play an important role in North America.

“Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more miles per gallon,” said Kuzak. “Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”

Final calibrations of the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter are under way. Kuzak said the new engine will deliver horsepower and torque outputs equivalent to or better than most normally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engines.

“The 1.0-liter engine is a little dynamo,” Kuzak said.

Technology powerhouse
Bakaj said the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost might be small in size, but it’s big on advanced technology.

The 1.0-liter engine features:

•An offset crankshaft that helps improve fuel economy
•An advanced, Ford-designed split cooling system that allows the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head. Faster cylinder block warm-ups save fuel, especially in cold weather
•An exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head. The one-piece assembly lowers the temperature of the exhaust gases. This enables the engine to run in a wider rpm band with the optimum fuel-to-air ratio. The new design also saves weight and allows the engine to operate more smoothly
•EcoBoost technologies, such as turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT)
“No one’s ever built a three-cylinder engine quite like this. Not only is it one of the most technically advanced and efficient engines we’ve ever designed, but it will introduce a number of new technologies to the Ford engine lineup,” said Bakaj.

For comparison, the newest member of Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family has about the same displacement as a cruiser motorcycle. Ford has never built a regular production car engine with fewer than four cylinders.

“Drivers are going to like the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine for many of the same reasons the EcoBoost F-150 is such a big hit,” said Bakaj. “It will deliver great low-speed responsiveness, power, torque and smoothness.”

First seen in the Ford Start concept car that debuted at Beijing in 2010, the engine more recently made its European debut in the Ford B-MAX at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. More technical and application details for the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be released in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

Ford’s EcoBoost commitment
Ford is on track to deliver on its promise in 2006 of offering EcoBoost on 90 percent of its North American lineup by 2013 and to be producing 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally. The next vehicles to get EcoBoost engines, Edge and Explorer, arrive late this summer.

“With our global family of EcoBoost engines, we’ve replaced V8s with V6s and V6s with four-cylinders – with no loss of performance and with impressive fuel economy improvements,” Kuzak said. “The new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will come in at the lower end of the global range and will take the place of a four-cylinder engine, again with no loss of performance or refinement. Above all, drivers win because this new engine is specifically designed and engineered for terrific fuel economy.”

Two new Ford transmissions
This year, Ford offers more automatic, manual or dual-clutch automatic six-speed transmissions across its lineup than any other full-line automaker. From the subcompact Fiesta to the industrial-strength F-Series Super Duty pickup, 100 percent of Ford’s lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs and CUVs feature fuel-saving six-speed transmissions.

Like the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, advanced technology will be a key feature of the new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built eight-speed automatic currently under development, Bakaj said. “The new gearbox will be the first with a number of advanced new technologies that will provide faster, smoother and more positive shifts,” he said.

The eight-speed transmission will feature:

•Ford’s next-generation clutch controls
•An input torque sensor, which measures torque coming into the transmission. The sensor enables faster selection of the proper gear, reduces hunting and helps smooth out shifts
•Actuators built into the case for tighter, more precise control of hydraulic pressure
•Closed-loop control
More details on production and applications will be released at a later date.

In-house hybrid transmission
Another new Ford transmission, to be installed in hybrid vehicles, starts production late this year at Van Dyke Transmission Plant in suburban Detroit. Full volume production is slated for the first quarter of 2012.

By next spring, Ford expects to be manufacturing more hybrid transmissions in North America than any other automaker or supplier. The new transmission replaces a unit currently made in Japan that is used today in Ford and Lincoln hybrids.

As with the new eight-speed, the new hybrid transmission is Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built. It’s an e-CVT or electronic continuously variable transmission. The new hybrid transmission will offer improved performance over the current unit. The current Ford Fusion Hybrid can reach a top speed of 47 mph on electricity and go as far as one mile.

Within the last year, Ford has invested $135 million to design, engineer and manufacture key components for its expanding lineup of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The investment not only brings in-house battery and hybrid transmission production, it also has created at least 220 jobs in Michigan.

Ford is on track to launch five electrified vehicles in the U.S. by 2012 and in Europe by 2013.

“It’s absolutely essential for Ford to further develop its core competencies in engineering electrified powertrains,” Kuzak said. “With this new Ford-built hybrid transmission, and assembly of battery packs at our Rawsonville plant, Ford will be positioned well to meet the quality and performance requirements of future electric and hybrid vehicles.”