Focus Marks Milestones as World’s Top-Selling Car and Ford’s 350 Millionth Vehicle Produced in 109-Year History

• Ford Focus is best-selling car model in the world for the first half of 2012
• New Focus built today in Thailand marks milestone as 350 millionth vehicle produced in Ford Motor Company’s 109-year history
• Customers around the world are benefiting from One Ford plan, which is creating the industry’s freshest lineup with a full family of vehicles offering leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value

 

RAYONG, Thailand, Aug. 31, 2012 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today celebrates the company’s 350 millionth vehicle – a Ford Focus, which is the world’s best-selling car for the first half of 2012.

 

Ford is celebrating the production milestone at its newest global manufacturing facility located in Rayong, Thailand, approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of Bangkok. Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant is a $450 million facility, opened in May to produce the new Focus, which also is built in four other countries. FTM represents the latest in Ford’s global manufacturing capabilities, with new stamping presses, flexible body shops and robotic capabilities that enable it to produce up to six different vehicles simultaneously.

 

“Producing 350 million vehicles is equivalent to producing one vehicle every 10 seconds for our 109-year history. If placed end to end, the vehicles would stretch to the moon and back – twice,” said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president of global manufacturing. “Producing this vehicle in Thailand also is significant. It underscores the power of our One Ford plan to deliver profitable growth with great products built in ultra-flexible and efficient facilities everywhere around the world.”

 

In addition to the manufacturing milestone, for the first six months of this year, Focus became the best-selling single car nameplate in the world, based on global data from IHS Automotive.

 

According to IHS Automotive, the Ford Focus sold 489,616 units in the first half of this year. The nearest competitor, Toyota Corolla, sold 462,187.   

 

“Embracing its performance, value, versatility and fuel economy, the Focus is attracting many new customers to the Ford brand for the very first time, particularly in Asia where we are growing every day,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for global marketing, sales and service. “The Focus is a winner on so many levels because it successfully provides customers with what they want most – a safe, smart, fuel-efficient, good-looking, fun-to-drive, affordable car.”

 

From Henry Ford to One Ford

Since the company was founded in 1903, Ford has led the industry with innovations such as the Model T, which helped foster the world’s love for affordable mobility. In its first half century as a company, Ford grew alongside the driving public, producing its 50 millionth vehicle – a 1959 Ford Galaxie – in slightly more than 50 years and generating legions of loyal Ford owners along the way.

 

In the five decades since, Ford has produced more than 300 million additional vehicles.

 

“Today, in the spirit of Henry Ford’s innovative drive, the One Ford plan is transforming modern-day Ford to compete everywhere in the world with a full family of global vehicles that offer leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value,” said Fleming.

As part of the One Ford plan, the company also is executing a One Manufacturing plan for lean, flexible production. It includes standardizing best practices, increasing production in growing markets and accelerating new vehicle introductions on fewer global platforms, which delivers the vehicles consumers want with quality, efficiency and profitability afforded by global scale.

 

By next year, Ford will build more than 85 percent of vehicle volume off nine core platforms. Also, in the next four years, Ford plans to have the freshest global vehicle lineup – with the entire product portfolio expected to be upgraded at least one time.

 

Asia Pacific leads the way

Asia Pacific is leading the way for growth as part of Ford’s One Ford plan to serve customers in all markets.

 

With $6.7 billion invested in the region since 2006, Ford is investing heavily and expanding aggressively to meet the needs of consumers here, who are expected to generate 60 percent of the industry’s future growth through 2020. Ford’s key investments and growth initiatives in Asia Pacific Africa include:

• Launching nine new plants – six in China, two in India and one in Thailand – with the capacity to produce 2.9 million vehicles by mid-decade
• Bringing more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to market by mid-decade, including 15 vehicles to China by 2015, eight vehicles to India by 2015, eight vehicles to ASEAN and four vehicles to Taiwan
• Having 95 percent of the region’s volume on global platforms by mid-decade

Doubling the number of dealerships in the region by mid-decade

2013 Ford Flex EcoBoost Car Video & Crossover Review

The 2013 Ford Flex is a crossover vehicle that has won the hearts of many owners out there. Part car, part van, and part station wagon; the Flex is full of surprises. Can any other station wagon haul seven people and all their gear with over 365 horsepower? There are 3 different trim levels starting with the SE which costs $30,885, the SEL which costs $33,225, up to the Limited EcoBoost AWD which costs $43,850.

There is quite a big gap there but the 3 different trims come in either FWD or AWD configurations. The SE and SEL are powered by a 3.5 Liter V-6 that pushes 285 horsepower while getting 18 MPG in the city and 25MPG on the highway. Step up to the twin-turbocharged V-6 EcoBoost engine with AWD will cost you a few miles per gallon (16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway), but you get 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. of torque in return.

The 3rd row seating features a 50/50 split folding bench. The 2013 Ford Flex is quite versatile and there is a ton of cargo room with over 80 cubic feet of storage space. The doors are large enough to make entering and exiting the vehicle a breeze. There is a lot of legroom for adults. Also the Flex can be purchased with all the Ford technology available like Voice Activated Navigation to the SYNC in-car connectivity system.

On the outside there is no mistaking the 2013 Ford Flex with any old crossover or station wagon. The styling is bold and Ford took some risks with the interesting grille up front, chrome accents, and the grooved door panels that run down the side of the Flex. The two-tone paint gives the Flex a modern throw-back feel. The large 20-inch aluminum wheels make a visual statement. The 2013 Ford Flex is definitely one of the coolest crossover cruisers out there.

Ford Commercial Truck Montage

Highlights of Commercial Trucks best in class features and capabilities.

Survey Says: American Drivers Want Features That Help Make Them More Aware; New Ford Fusion up to the Challenge

• Nearly nine in 10 drivers are interested in alert and assist technologies like those offered on the all-new Ford Fusion launching this fall, according to a new Ford survey

• Drivers acknowledge their limitations: Nearly 50 percent have fallen asleep while driving or know someone who has; nearly six in 10 blame blind spots for accidents or near collisions and nearly four in 10 of those surveyed fear parallel parking

• The all-new 2013 Ford Fusion offers the most complete suite of advanced driver assist technologies in the family sedan segment – capabilities previously only available in luxury cars that cost at least $100,000

• Early orders for the 2013 Fusion include higher-than-expected demand for new technology features

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 28, 2012 – According to a new survey commissioned by Ford, most Americans say they consider themselves to be careful drivers but admit they would welcome some extra electronic help when they’re behind the wheel. Even the most attentive of drivers can’t see everything around them at all times or anticipate every hazard on the road.

 

Customer attitudes evolving

Recently, leading market research firm Penn Schoen Berland conducted the survey of American drivers over the age of 18 to learn more about their attitudes toward driver assist technology.

 

The survey found that the vast majority of drivers are interested in getting some extra assist features in their next vehicle to help them avoid potential accidents.

 

“We found the drivers we talked to were definitely inclined toward features that provided real practical benefits by alerting them to potentially hazardous situations they may have missed,” said Billy Mann, managing director of Penn Schoen Berland. “For them, assistance features that increase awareness ranked high among their priorities.”

 

Even under ideal daytime conditions on a dry road, traffic can suddenly slow or someone can slip into the gap between you and the car ahead. When the sun goes down or the clouds open up, it gets harder to judge what a suitable following distance might be. Nearly nine out of 10 of the survey respondents expressed interest in technology that could assist in slowing their car if it determines there is a potential collision ahead.

 

Whether on the highway during rush hour, in urban traffic or a parking lot, driving in close quarters with other vehicles can be stressful for any driver. Two-thirds of the drivers who participated in the survey indicated they would be interested in systems that can help them see around other vehicles while backing out of a parking space and detect other vehicles that might be in a blind spot over their shoulders.

 

Meeting customer demands

“Basic transportation has long been the dominant style in the midsize family sedan segment,” says Amy Marentic, Ford Group Marketing manager. “This survey shows that as consumers have become accustomed to using electronic assistants in other aspects of life, they are increasingly recognizing how technology can help them cope with the stresses of driving.”

 

Fatigue or inattentiveness can lead to a car drifting out of its lane and eight in 10 of the surveyed drivers expressed interest in a system that could provide an alert or even help to keep the vehicle in the lane. Ford’s Lane-Keeping System uses a forward-facing camera to watch for visible road markings, alerting the driver by vibrating the steering wheel if the system senses the car drifting out of its lane. Fusion is the only car in the segment that also applies a torque to the steering wheel to help nudge the car back into the lane.

 

“With the emergence of sensor-packed smartphones over the past several years, consumers have become accustomed to using their electronic gadgets to realize real-world benefits such as finding their way in unfamiliar places, figuring out the best place to grab a meal and track their exercise,” says Sheryl Connelly, Ford manager of Global Trends and Futuring. “Advanced driver assistance features bring those benefits to the driving experience by extending the driver’s senses beyond the car.”

 

While respondents almost universally consider themselves to be safe behind the wheel, the majority also acknowledge that they engage in other activities when they are behind the wheel. Three-quarters admit to eating or drinking behind the wheel and more than half have exceeded the speed limit or used a hand-held mobile phone. Eighty-three percent admit that either they or someone they know has driven when very tired.

 

Adult American drivers are self-aware enough to recognize the flaws in their own driving habits and express interest in technological aids.

 

“We see the driver as always being at the center of control of the vehicle,” said Randy Visintainer, director of Ford Research and Innovation. “With improvements in sensing and control technologies, we can now provide unprecedented levels of assistance to drivers.”

 

While understanding it is critical that drivers always retain full control of their vehicle, Ford engineers recognize there will always be situations where they can use some help, says Visintainer, so they’ve developed a full suite of driver assistance technologies to help mitigate the risks. Until now, it’s only been possible to get many of these features in luxury cars costing $100,000 or more.

 

The 2013 Ford Fusion is the first and only entry to offer all of these features in the most popular segment in the American car market including:

 

• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) with cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support
• Lane-Keeping System with Driver Alert System
• Active park assist
• Rear-view camera system
• SYNC^®

 

“In the early weeks of taking orders for the new Fusion, customer interest in these driver assist features is translating into strong demand,” says Marentic. “More than 14 percent of the orders so far include the Driver Assist Package (BLIS, Lane-Keeping System, auto high-beams and rain-sensing wipers), exceeding our expectations.”

 

Fusion is the first mainstream midsize sedan to offer adaptive cruise control and more than 5 percent of customers so far are requesting this radar-based system that also incorporates forward collision warning.

 

For 2013, all new Fusions include the award-winning SYNC in-vehicle connectivity system as standard equipment. More than half of the respondents in the survey acknowledge they have used a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Fifty percent of customers so far are getting the enhanced voice control provided by MyFord Touch^®, which is optional on Fusion SE and standard on Titanium models.

 

For more on the new Ford Fusion, check out FordFusionStory.com, a special mobile site featuring unique content including articles, videos and graphics that are easily shareable directly from your smartphone, tablet or computer browser to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or blogs.

New High-Performance Ford Explorer Sport, a Fully Capable SUV Certified to Deliver Class-Leading Fuel Economy

• The Ford Explorer Sport high-performance SUV is certified at 365 horsepower, with class-leading EPA-rated fuel economy of 16 city and 22 highway mpg

• The Ford Explorer Sport’s standard Terrain Management System^™ has been specifically calibrated to optimize increased EcoBoost^® power

• Explorer Sport features an interior inspired by designer fashion accessories, sporty exterior cues, and 20-inch high-performance tires and wheels

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 24, 2012 – Ford’s new Explorer Sport will stand in a class of one when it goes on sale next month with an EPA-certified 22 mpg highway rating, the only seven-passenger, high-performance SUV on the market to do so.

 

New for the 2013 model year, Ford Explorer Sport arrives, packing a 365 horsepower EcoBoost^® engine, high-fashion interior design and class-leading fuel economy.

 

“Explorer Sport hits a sweet-spot combination of power, usable torque, 4WD capability, with class-leading fuel efficiency,” said Bill Gubing, chief engineer for Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor vehicles. “The Explorer Sport EcoBoost engine matches Taurus SHO for output and the Terrain Management System has been specifically calibrated to optimize increased power – regardless of the road or conditions.”

 

Explorer Sport mixes high-performance SUV power with fuel economy of up to 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. This is 3 mpg better in the city and 2 mpg better on the highway than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango R/T with 5.7-liter Hemi engines.

 

Explorer Sport scores 3 mpg higher in the city and 4 mpg higher on the highway than the supercharged Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

 

No compromises

“Explorer Sport is an uncompromised high-performance SUV,” said Gubing. “From making changes to the chassis and suspension, uniquely calibrating the Terrain Management System for added power, we’re delivering an SUV that delivers great dynamics and performance – while towing up to 5,000 pounds.”

 

The Explorer Sport features a paddle-shifted six-speed SelectShift Automatic^™ transmission with a unique 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio to provide the balance of responsive acceleration and economical low-rpm cruising for better highway fuel efficiency.

 

Ford engineers also added chassis tunnel reinforcements and a solid-mounted electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) rack with improved pedal feel and response for drivers, both on-road and off.

This model comes standard with larger brakes for improved pedal feel, stronger resistance to fade and better performance while towing.

 

Explorer Sport also has received special Terrain Management System settings for optimizing increased power and torque in on-road touring and under sandy, snowy, rutted mud and hill descent conditions. These changes enable a luxurious ride for driving enthusiasts, without the harshness or thirst for fuel of performance-intended competitors.

 

Development engineers validated snow settings in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and returned to Borrego Springs, Calif. to fine-tune sand settings.

 

Sport-specific calibration optimizes increased EcoBoost power and consistent torque to specific conditions such as deep sand or snow, at the setting of a console-mounted knob.

 

Design elements

The 2013 Sport builds on Explorer’s muscular, sculpted form with subtle cues to differentiate it from other models in the lineup.

 

Available in four exterior colors – Ruby Red Metallic Clearcoat, White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat, Tuxedo Black Metallic and Ingot Silver Metallic – Explorer Sport has unique 20-inch painted and machined wheels, features blacked-out headlamp and taillamp treatments, black roof rack rails, sideview mirror skull caps and a liftgate appliqué.

 

The Explorer Sport’s special grille is a low-gloss Sterling Gray mesh, with contrasting ebony high-gloss bars.

 

The black front lower fascia features a functional opening for additional cooling. Explorer logotype in billet-like black adds a bold identity statement.

 

Inside, the high-end feel continues. Charcoal Black leather-trimmed seating is available with and without contrasting Sienna inserts.

 

The interior design contrast was inspired by fashion, mirroring two-tones that are currently seen in leather accessories and apparel from design houses Balenciaga and Prada. Stitching is emphasized to lend a handcrafted appearance while highlighting Explorer Sport’s sculptured seats.

 

Explorer Sport also has unique steering wheel stitching, a technical look to instrument and door panel appliqués, unique Sport-logo floor mats and illuminated scuff plates.

 

Comfort, convenience, connectivity

As the top of the Explorer line, Sport offers a robust array of standard and optional customer-focused technologies that make driving more comfortable, convenient and connected. These include:
 

• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control (DEATC)
• 10-way power driver’s seat with power recline and lumbar
• Six-way power passenger seat with recline and lumbar
• First-row heated seats
• Compass and exterior temperature display
• Rearview camera system
• SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® driver connect technology
• Sony^® Premium Audio System with HD Radio^™ and 12 speakers

Explorer Sport can be tailored to individual preferences with the following options:
 

• BLIS^® (blind spot information system) with cross-traffic alert
• Cooled seats
• Inflatable rear seat belts
• 110-volt outlet
• PowerFold mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Intelligent access with Push-Button Start
• Remote Start
• Power tilt and telescoping steering column
• Adjustable pedals with memory
• Dual-panel moonroof
• Power liftgate
• Class III trailer-towing package

Explorer Sport is manufactured at Ford’s Chicago production facility and goes on sale this fall.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

Ford dealers are now taking orders for the C-MAX Hybrid, which will be more affordable than Toyota Prius v while achieving better fuel economy.

Further With Ford - Track Day

Further With Ford - Track Day

2013 Ford Taurus and Explorer, Lincoln MKS Earn NHTSA’s Highest NCAP Overall Vehicle Score

• 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer and Lincoln MKS have earned U.S. government’s top five-star Overall Vehicle Score rating for performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover
• These vehicles feature redesigned airbags and restraint system enhancements, which contributed to their performance in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing
• All three vehicles have several active and passive restraint technologies and driver assist features to help drivers avoid potential crashes

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 23, 2012 – Three Ford Motor Company vehicles – the 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer and Lincoln MKS – earned a top safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These vehicles earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing, which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.

 

“Ford offers industry-leading features and technology on our Ford and Lincoln vehicles because of our commitment to customers and their safety,” said Robert Brown, Ford vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “These most recent crash test ratings from NHTSA are a validation that Ford is continuously innovating in the availability of safety technologies that benefit drivers and occupants in real-world accident situations.”

 

The 2013 Ford Taurus, Explorer and Lincoln MKS all have redesigned passenger airbags as well as redesigned restraint systems that include safety belt anchor pretensioners and locking safety belt tongues. Explorer also boasts Ford’s first passenger-side knee airbag.

 

Ford Taurus, Explorer and Lincoln MKS continue to offer a full range of standard and optional safety and driver assist technologies for the 2013 model year including:

 

• Dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags: Deploy at high or low output based on occupant size, seat position and safety belt status, and customize the inflation force to the severity of the impact
• Safety Canopy^® System: Combines a side air curtain and rollover sensor to help provide protection for outboard first- and second-row (and third-row in Explorer) occupants in certain side-impact and rollover situations
• Inflatable safety belts: Available in the second row of the 2013 Explorer, these provide additional protection to rear-seat occupants
• AdvanceTrac^® ESC (electronic stability control): Standard on Taurus and MKS; Explorer features AdvanceTrac with RSC^® (Roll Stability Control^™) as standard equipmentCurve Control: Senses when the vehicle enters a curve too fast. System responds to the driver’s steering input by rapidly reducing torque and increasing brake pressure to help the driver follow the intended path
• Forward collision warning with brake support: Enabled by adaptive cruise control, provides a “heads-up” visual warning combined with an audio signal to alert the driver to slower-moving traffic ahead. The system also pre-charges the brakes to aid stopping
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System^™: Activates in the event of airbag deployment or safety belt pretensioner activation to alert passersby and emergency services to vehicle location by unlocking the doors and activating the horn and emergency flashers
• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) with cross-traffic alert: Helps detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving and traffic approaching from the sides when reversing out of parking spots
• MyKey^®: Allows parents or owners to limit certain vehicle functions to help promote safe driving habits for young or inexperienced drivers. MyKey includes the Belt-Minder^® “No Belt, No Tunes” feature, which can limit top speeds and audio volume, provide earlier low-fuel warnings, and prevent deactivation of driver assist features (such as park aid and BLIS). New MyKey features include “Do Not Disturb,” which blocks incoming phone calls and text messages while driving, and the ability to block explicit satellite radio content

 

The Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer and Lincoln MKS are produced at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant and went on sale earlier this year.

Rocket Ship Superalloy Technology Aids Ford Fusion 2.0-Liter Turbo Durability

• Modified superalloy used in Space Shuttle main engine helps performance and durability of Ford Fusion 2.0-liter EcoBoost^® turbo

• Material supports upper limit of temperature extremes for commercial turbochargers; used on Fusion and Focus ST EcoBoost turbos

• Integrated exhaust manifold casting combines cylinder head with exhaust manifold to aid cooling, direct more energy to the turbo faster

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 21, 2012 – Enthusiasts will say the all-new Ford Fusion equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost^® turbo engine is a rocket ship. Fusion engineers will tell you parts of its engine depend on technology from one.

 

To prolong turbo life and combat thermal fatigue, powertrain engineers for the new Ford Fusion, in conjunction with a team at supplier BorgWarner, went to the upper limits of commercially available turbo materials when deciding on the turbine wheel for the turbocharger fitted to 2.0-liter EcoBoost variants.

 

The same material has been tried and tested in outer space, as a version of it was used on the Space Shuttle main engine’s high-pressure fuel turbo pump and the blades of its high-pressure oxidizer turbo pump.

 

The upper temperature limit for the turbine wheel used on the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in Edge and Explorer is 970 degrees Celsius (1,778 degrees Fahrenheit). But in the sporty 2.0-liter EcoBoost for Fusion and Focus ST, the addition of tungsten and cobalt gives the alloy an upper temperature limit of 1,050 degrees Celsius (1,922 degrees Fahrenheit).

 

The benefit of using such high-temperature alloy is that Fusion 2.0-liter drivers can enjoy enthusiastic and spirited driving for the life of the car without degrading turbo reliability or its mechanical integrity.

 

Fusion owners can highlight the fact that the BorgWarner K03 turbocharger features both water and oil cooling; when the engine is running, it is primarily oil-cooled, but after the engine is turned off, the water cooling system creates a thermal water siphon to help draw heat away from the turbocharger.

 

As a bonus, they might explain their Fusion 2.0-liter turbo’s performance is further strengthened by an integrated exhaust manifold design that combines the cylinder head and exhaust manifold into one casting; this allows the creation of smaller internal passageways (reduced plenum volumes) that direct more exhaust gas energy into the turbo more quickly than a separate head and manifold assembly.

 

The Fusion turbo, they also can claim, is designed to run safely at speeds up to 190,000 rpm, and is the same turbo used in the new, high-performance Ford Focus ST.

 

More information regarding the Fusion 2.0-liter can be found at http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/2013/.

All-New Ford Fusion’s Unique Design, Technology Inspires Revolutionary Collaboration with MILK Studios

• New Ford Fusion sparks collaboration with cutting-edge MILK Studios, revealing “Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective” – a new project including an immersive gallery experience featuring original multimedia artworks and performances, live music, and panel discussions inspired by the fusion concept – opening in New York and then traveling to Los Angeles

• Artists including Matthew Williams, former creative director to Lady Gaga and current collaborator with Kanye West and ShowStudio, have created artworks for the project and documented their creative processes on www.fusionists.co

• All-new Fusion was designed to strike an emotional chord with customers, balancing form and function while continuing to embrace the growing trend of making high-end products more attainable

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2012 – Today Ford and MILK Studios, known as the hub for nurturing creativity with some of the most visionary talent, debut a revolutionary collaboration inspired by the new Fusion. “Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective” is a digital and physical gallery experience that unites fashion, music, photography, film and technology.

The exhibition debuts a month before the new Ford Fusion launches nationally and exemplifies Ford’s evolving design strategy, which includes the use of virtual reality technology, leverages new sustainable materials, and brings together creative disciplines to advance exterior design and the in-car environment.

“In the Ford studios, we bring the best designers, artists and engineers to work together creating a new generation of vehicles, just as artists work tirelessly to bring their visions to life,” said J Mays, chief creative officer for Ford. “Our collaboration with MILK demonstrates how the powerful concept of fusion has inspired a wide range of artists to come together and fuse their diverse talents, while allowing access to the creative process of this new generation of designers.”

“Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective,” presented by Ford and MILK, opening in New York today then traveling to Los Angeles next week, brings together six multimedia artists including Pharrell Williams, entrepreneur and musician; Matthew Williams, previous creative director for Lady Gaga who now collaborates with Kanye West and ShowStudio; and Cyril Duval, renowned fashion and conceptual art designer. Other artists are Nathaniel Brown, WIFE and Brian DeGraw. All have created original artwork and opened up their studios to the public, documenting their creative processes through editorial and video content on www.fusionists.co.

“Working with Ford on ‘Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective’ demonstrates the many similarities between the art and automotive worlds and the evolving creative process that happens between the walls of these creative studios,” said Mazdack Rassi, co-founder and creative director of MILK. “This project let us tap into MILK’s thriving subculture of artists, photographers, filmmakers and musicians, and gave them the means and the platform to animate their personal vision.”

As part of the event, Ford will debut a short documentary featuring Pharrell Williams and Tyson Toussant from Bionic Yarn, the company that produces super-strong, fast-drying fabric made primarily from recycled plastic bottles. Similar to how Ford incorporates sustainable materials into its vehicles, such as the 38.9 recycled plastic water bottles that go into the seats of some Ford Fusion models, Bionic Yarn is a durable canvas substitute and is used by fashion brands such as Moncler and Timberland.

“The Big SHFT: Tyson Toussant & Pharrell Williams, Bionic Men” is part of the Big SHFT series Ford has produced with Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer of SHFT.com, which features 10 innovators who are transforming the world with groundbreaking sustainability solutions.

‘Wall to Wall: The Fusion Collective’

The virtual exhibition will be brought to life during gallery openings in New York today and in Los Angeles Aug. 29. Finished works of art will be showcased to the public on www.fusionists.co, with select pieces being donated to art and design schools in New York, Los Angeles and Detroit to inspire the next generation of designers.

“‘Wall to Wall’ is going to be a modern show of sculpture, sound, paint, projections, choreography, film, light, music and automobiles that mixes the highly conceptual with the highly entertaining,” said Geremy Gasper, co-founder and creative director of LEGS, MILK’s in-house creative and production company. “In curating the show, we found artists that fuse together different creative disciplines in bold and cutting-edge fashions – each constructing their own unique multimedia world. It’s a really diverse group of work, and we’re thrilled to get this caliber of talent and vision under one roof.”

Bringing great design global

The all-new Ford Fusion surpasses physical beauty, however; designed and engineered by a multitude of talents brought in from across the globe, the car will begin to change the way people view Ford, said Mays.

Offering customer-centered technology like active park assist and adaptive cruise control, it also provides the widest-ever portfolio of fuel-efficient powertrains and integrates sustainable materials into the interior.

“As they do with art, people recognize quality; they recognize beauty,” Mays said. “It speaks not only to their practical side, but to their emotions. And that’s what we want to see.”