This Hedge Fund Manager is getting deals done. Can Focus help him win the pitch? | 2015 Ford Focus

Renowned Anthropologist, Genevieve St. Jermaine, Ph.D., goes deep undercover as a tough-as-nails hedge fund manager to see if the smart tech in the 2015 Ford Focus can keep his business running while he's on the road.

When you’re in the business of managing hedge funds, the go-go never stops. Big business is happening even when you’re in your car! Does the available SYNC with voice-activated technology in the new 2015 Ford Focus mean more for hedge fund managers? Watch Dr. Genevieve St. Jermaine’s latest experiment to find out.

Ford Smart Mobility | MoDe:Flex eBike

Ford Senior Creative Designer Bruce Williams discusses the MoDe:Flex eBike.

Ford Smart Mobility Shifts from Research to Implementation; Company Announces New Programs, Next Areas of Focus

• Ford enters the implementation phase of its Ford Smart Mobility plan – applying learnings from initial research experiments
• Company will now focus on two key areas of mobility – flexible use and ownership, and multimodal urban travel solutions 
• Ford Motor Credit Company teams with Getaround in the U.S. and easyCar Club in London on peer-to-peer car-sharing pilot; customers can rent Ford Credit-financed vehicles to prescreened clients
• GoDrive – an on-demand car‑sharing pilot – starts in London; pay-as-you-go approach offers one-way trips with guaranteed parking
• Ford also expanding multimodal mobility experimentation – introducing new electric bike concept, MoDe:Flex, and extension of the MoDe:Link smartphone app

SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2015 – Ford Motor Company today announces the next phase of its Ford Smart Mobility plan – moving from research to the start of implementation, including new strategic areas of focus, new pilot programs and new mobility product experiments.

Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to deliver the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. Ford introduced the plan in January, along with 25 experiments aimed at better understanding consumers’ mobility needs around the globe.

“My great-grandfather helped put the world on wheels so everyone could enjoy the benefits of mobility,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “Our vision today is to expand that same thinking using advanced technology and new business models, and addressing the mobility challenges people face around the world.”

Following six months of gathering data and consumer insights, Ford is honing in on two strategic areas – flexible use and ownership of vehicles, and multimodal urban travel solutions.

“We now are moving from experimentation to implementation,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO, speaking today at the annual Further with Ford trends conference in Palo Alto. “We have learned a lot in the past six months, and now are ready to put insights into action. Our goal is to make people’s lives better by helping them more easily navigate through their day, address societal issues and, over time, change the way the world moves – just as Henry Ford did more than 100 years ago.”

Flexible use and ownership
 
Ford Motor Credit Company announced today Peer-2-Peer Car Sharing – a pilot program for select customers in six U.S. cities and in London.

Ford Credit is inviting 14,000 and 12,000 customers in six U.S. cities and London, respectively, to sign up to rent their Ford Credit-financed vehicles to prescreened drivers for short-term use, offsetting monthly vehicle ownership costs. U.S. customers participate through the Web-based, mobile-friendly software of ride-share company Getaround, while London drivers connect through a similar rental system of easyCar Club.

“Consumers tell us they are interested in sharing the costs of vehicle ownership, and this program will help us understand how much that extends to customers who are financing a Ford vehicle,” said David McClelland, Ford Credit vice president of marketing. “As most vehicles are parked and out of use much of the time, this can help us gauge our customers’ desires to pick up extra cash and keep their vehicles in use.”

New findings from Penn Schoen Berland, an independent research company, show:

• One third of Millennials in the United States are interested in renting out their own belongings as a way to supplement their income
• Young Americans rank car rides second only to book lending as things they are most open to sharing
• More than half of Millennials report being open to sharing rides with others
• Half of Millennial and Generation Z consumers point to money savings as the top advantage to sharing goods and services. For 40 percent, it’s the opportunity to try new products, while for 33 percent, it’s having access to more options

The pilot is being offered to select Ford Credit customers in California – including Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco; as well as in Portland, Oregon; Chicago and Washington, D.C. It runs through November.

Ford also recently announced GoDrive, an on-demand, public car-sharing pilot. The service offers customers flexible, practical and affordable access to a fleet of cars for one-way journeys with easy parking throughout London.

The new pilot – which grew from one of the more than 25 mobility experiments Ford announced in January – offers Londoners an easy way to access transportation through:

• 50 cars positioned in 20 locations
• One-way trips with guaranteed parking
• Pay-as-you-go, per-minute pricing covers all fees
• Availability of zero-emission Focus Electric vehicles

Multimodal mobility solutions
 
In many cities, driving your vehicle from home to work is not feasible. Ford is looking for solutions here, too, and today is revealing a new electric bike and a prototype smartphone app that makes using the eBike even easier for urban commutes.

MoDe:Flex is Ford’s third, most versatile eBike yet – easily reconfigurable for different customer needs. The bike’s center frame assembly includes the motor and battery, while the front and rear assemblies and wheels can be configured for road, mountain or city riding. The bike folds and stores inside any Ford vehicle – where it can be charged while stowed.

Like the MoDe:Me and MoDe:Pro eBikes introduced in March, MoDe:Flex connects seamlessly with a rider’s smartphone thanks to the MoDe:Link app. The app harnesses real-time information regarding weather, congestion, parking costs, time, traffic and public transportation. It includes eyes-free navigation, route planning, and health and fitness information.

It also helps to identify the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport for a journey.
A new extension of MoDe:Link for the smartwatch brings all of the real-time data and functionality to the eBike rider’s wrist. This includes the “no sweat” mode, which increases electric pedal assist based on heart rate – ensuring riders gets to their destinations without breaking a sweat. The wearable device also provides safety notifications. Hazards, such as potholes ahead, are signaled through vibrating handlebars, plus the smartwatch alerts the rider and beeps.

Learnings from experiments
 
Ford today also shares insights from some of its more than 25 mobility experiments:

• Dynamic Shuttle: The on-demand ride-sharing service in New York and London studied how Ford vehicles – in this case, a Transit van – should be modified to make it most accommodating to consumers. People told Ford they want:
  
  • Transparent fares and travel times
  • Enough personal space to feel comfortable
  • Amenities such as Wi-Fi
  • Space for small bags
  • A less-than-five-minute walk to or from their pick-up and drop-off points
     

• InfoCycle: Research as to how bicycles can be best used in urban environments. Learnings include:
  
  • Both consumers and cities can use data from bike sensors
  • Bike sensor data can provide information about traffic patterns, pedestrians and road conditions that is difficult to obtain from vehicle sensors
  • In the future, this data may be combined with vehicle data to analyze road quality, characterize micro-climates, or identify traffic patterns throughout the day
  • For example, city planners could use this information to create bike lanes. Bike riders could get insights on best routes or real-time information on areas to avoid
     

• Data-Driven Insurance: Creating driver profiles based on behavior behind the wheel, then sharing with insurance providers and rental car companies for more personalized, potentially discounted rates. Insights include:
  
  • People like receiving a score, as it allows them to track their progress and improve
  • People don’t want to be told how to drive
  • System works better if drivers see benefits of improving driving habits and are rewarded for changing behavior
  • The realization that driver scores and associated driving data have a broader range of application to mobility services

Ford, Hewlett-Packard Using Coffee Stops, Big Data to Better Manage Fleets and Personalize Employee Drives

• Ford and HP Fleet Insights experiment analyzes information from daily driving to lead to more efficiently managed fleets, car sharing and personalized driving experiences
• Experiment gathered information from national HP fleet vehicles and HP employee volunteer drivers around the U.S., learning HP drivers share similar coffee, airport parking and refueling habits, which could be leveraged to reduce operating costs while improving convenience and services
• The Fleet Insights experiment is one part of the Ford Smart Mobility plan aimed at better understanding consumers’ mobility needs around the globe

Ford Motor Company engineers have completed a real-world driving experiment with HP, one of the world’s largest technology companies, discovering which commuting commonalities could provide future breakthroughs for better managing fleets, personalized services and recommendations for individual drivers.

Using HP’s Big Data Discovery Experience Services and the HP Haven big data platform, the engineering team gathered data and analyzed it to determine possibilities for lowering operating costs and optimizing underutilized vehicles for fleets as well as personal driving.

Among the observations of the experiment: Regardless of location, most HP drivers grabbed coffee at the same national coffeehouse and refueled with the same brand of gasoline, while traveling employees often left vehicles unused at the airport for days.

While it’s no surprise road-tripping employees stop for coffee, data analysis about commutes and driving routines could lead to greater economies of scale for company fleets and new solutions for optimizing underutilized vehicles.

“The Fleet Insights experiment is one of the first steps to better understand and learn about how driving behavior is changing,” said Marcy Klevorn, Ford vice president and chief information officer. “Fleets could see operating costs lowered through national buying contracts and improved utilization and maintenance, while individual drivers could receive coupons or create cooperative pools to share unused vehicles.”

The Ford Fleet Insights experiment included HP fleet vehicles that were equipped with wireless sensors plugged into each vehicle. Ford data scientists and IT leaders used the HP Vertica analytics engine, part of the HP Haven platform, to explore patterns and multiple dimensions of fleet driver activity. Also, each driver could access their data using a custom smartphone app to recall trip details, if needed.

“HP and Ford share a common vision around bringing together data, mobility, and analytics to explore new ways to deliver better customer experiences, new revenue streams, and lower fuel and maintenance costs in the automotive industry,” said Martin Risau, senior vice president, Analytics & Data Management Practice, HP Enterprise Services. “The results of this experiment can help unleash improvements for business operations for fleet management and personal driving experiences.”
Observations during the experiment included:

• Regardless of location, most drivers visited the same national coffee house and refueled with the same brand of gasoline
• Traveling employees often left their vehicles unused at the airport for days. These vehicles could be utilized more effectively by nearby drivers
• 70 percent of trips took place during weekdays and typical trip distances were 13 miles or less

Trips fell into four groups:

• City block driving (34 percent): Involved frequent direction changes, driving near the speed limit, idling at stoplights with short distances.
• Freeway driving (21 percent): Involved few driving direction changes with large deviations from the speed-limit depending on traffic, and long trip durations and driving distances with less stop and go than City Block Commute.
•  Non rush-hour Driving (29 percent): Short trip duration and short-distance with less stops and idling
•  Rush-hour driving (16 percent): Short trip duration and short-distance with frequent stops and idling during peak drive hours

The Fleet Insight experiment data collection phase was completed in June after gathering information from nearly 100 vehicles. Data analysis continues through the end of 2015.

2015 Ford Transit Connect and F-350 Super Duty Win Edmunds.com Best Retained Value® Awards

The 2015 Ford Transit Connect van and F-350 Super Duty pickup are honored with Edmunds.com 2015 Best Retained Value^® Awards. These awards recognize the vehicles that have the highest projected residual values after five years based on their average True Market Value^® price when sold new.

The 2015 Ford Transit Connect is the Edmunds.com 2015 Best Retained Value Small Commercial Van, and the 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty is the Edmunds.com 2015 Best Retained Value Heavy Duty Truck.

Because residual value is the biggest driver of a vehicle’s total cost of ownership, high retained values like those of the 2015 Transit Connect and F-350 Super Duty are important purchasing considerations for commercial customers, as well as retail customers interested in leasing their vehicles or trading them in after a few years. Edmunds.com calculated the average retained value after five years of Transit Connect at 47 percent and of F-350 Super Duty at 58.5 percent.

The Edmunds.com award is the latest in a string of accolades for the Transit Connect, which was also named ALG’s Best Resale Value among midsize commercial vans. The Transit Connect XLT short-wheelbase midsize van earned the Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America award in the Mini Passenger Commercial Van Category in April.

More details about Edmunds.com’s Best Retained Value Awards can be found at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/best-retained-value-cars.html.

To determine the model winners of the Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Awards, Edmunds evaluated model year 2015 vehicles that were launched by the end of 2014 and had unit sales in February 2015 that were at least 25 percent of the average unit sales for the vehicle’s market segment. 

Happy Father's Day!

From Folsom Lake Ford Fleet Dept

U.S. Military Personnel Take Ford Mustang, F-150 for a Ride at Hockenheimring Racetrack

• Ford and the Overseas Military Sales Corporation host first-ever Ford Driving Freedom ride-and-drive event for U.S. military personnel stationed on bases across Europe
• U.S. military personnel got the unique opportunity to drive the Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang on Hockenheimring racetrack in Germany
• Ford has worked with Overseas Military Sales Corporation since 1995 to offer Ford and Lincoln vehicles for sale throughout the Americas, as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as on select Navy ships

Members of the U.S. military got the unique opportunity to take a test drive of the Ford F-150 and Mustang today at Germany’s famed Hockenheimring racetrack.

“The Ford Driving Freedom ride-and-drive event is designed to introduce the new 2015 Ford Mustang and F-150 to military personnel who are stationed on U.S. bases across Europe,” says Doug Walczak, fleet sales manager, Ford Motor Company. “It’s the first time such an event has been held overseas.”

Walczak says the exercise reinforces Ford’s commitment to U.S. military personnel around the world. “We’re excited to provide this unique opportunity to men and women serving in the military,” he says. “They make many sacrifices on our behalf, and we wanted to give them a chance to leave base and experience something fun while serving their country.”

The Hockenheimring track is home to the German Grand Prix. The venue was selected both because of its history and its central location. Military personnel from U.S. bases across Europe were invited to participate, along with 125 winners of a contest sponsored by Overseas Military Sales Corporation. 

The group is the only on-base, factory-authorized Ford Motor Company distributor to military personnel. Walczak says the contest, which drew 300 entries, is an example of the community events the group holds to boost the morale of troops and showcase Ford products.

“Ford has worked with the Overseas Military Sales Corporation since 1995 to offer Ford and Lincoln vehicles for sale in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as on select Navy ships,” said Walczak. “Service personnel can order vehicles for use where they are stationed, or place an order overseas and pick it up at a dealership when they return home.”

The ride-and-drive program is a pilot, and could serve as a template for integration in Ford’s future product launches.

The trucks being used for the ride-and-drive, along with others on display, are among the first F-150 vehicles on the ground in Europe.

Ford is top of mind for members of the U.S. military. Overseas Military Sales Corporation was the leading retailer of Ford Mustang in the world in 2014, while Ford F-150 is the most popular vehicle for members of the military – according to a survey by USAA, a financial services company serving military personnel and their families.

She Can Vogue. But Can She Park? | 2015 Ford Focus

Renowned Anthropologist, Genevieve St. Jermaine, Ph.D., hits the catwalk to investigate the 2015 Ford Focus and its driving tech.

High-fashion models are great at walking, but aren’t known for their parallel-parking prowess. Does the 2015 Ford Focus’s technology mean more for models? Watch Dr. Genevieve St. Jermaine’s latest experiment to find out.

Ford Paves the Way for the Future; 2014-15 Sustainability Report Highlights Environmental Goals, Mobility Initiatives

• Ford releases its 16th annual Sustainability Report highlighting its achievement of several environmental goals, including Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant attaining zero waste-to-landfill status – giving Ford the distinction of becoming landfill-free in all of its Mexico manufacturing facilities
  

• Use of industry-exclusive REPREVE fiber in the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 will divert more than 5 million plastic bottles from landfills
  

• Guided by its Ford Smart Mobility plan, the company’s global mobility experiments are testing new ideas to address future mega trends and transportation challenges
  
  

Ford is making strides, once again, toward changing the way the world moves – highlighting key mobility mega trends and the company’s environmental achievements in the release of its 16th annual Sustainability Report.

The report highlights Ford’s achievement in reducing global waste-to-landfill by announcing Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant attained zero waste-to-landfill status early this year, giving the company the distinction of now being landfill-free in all of its Mexico manufacturing facilities. As a result, Ford Mexico’s manufacturing plants are diverting 1.5 million pounds of landfill waste this year and each year going forward, based on 2014 rates for waste generation.

The success of the Hermosillo facility, as well as Ford’s Cuautitlan and Chihuahua plants in Mexico, will help the company achieve its target of reducing global waste-to-landfill by 40 percent per vehicle produced from 2011 to 2016; Ford reduced global per vehicle waste-to-landfill by 40 percent from 2007 to 2011.

“Ford is proud that all of its manufacturing facilities in Mexico are sending zero waste to landfills,” said Andy Hobbs, director, Ford Environmental Quality Office. “We are decreasing our global environmental footprint while maintaining world-class manufacturing systems.”

Work began nearly five years ago to make Ford Mexico’s manufacturing plants landfill-free. Nearly 45 tons of cafeteria waste now are composted and reused by farmers to improve agricultural growth and community green areas surrounding the plants. Solvents are recycled and scrap aluminum is collected for reuse – creating closed-loop systems.

Hermosillo joins 27 other Ford facilities worldwide in achieving zero waste-to-landfill status. Thirteen of those facilities are in North America; seven are in Europe, five in Asia Pacific and three in South America.

“We are proud of our employees and plant leaders for working to make Ford landfill-free in Mexico,” said Luis Lara, manager, Ford Mexico Office of Environmental Quality. “We have gone beyond mandated regulations to become a true example of environmental excellence.”

Reducing the company’s environmental impact

Ford’s Sustainability Report also highlights the company’s work to meet its aggressive goal to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30 percent per vehicle produced by 2025 globally. From 2013 to 2014, CO₂ emissions per vehicle produced decreased by more than 2.4 percent, and the company remains on track to meet its longer-term goal.

Ford also significantly has reduced its global water use over the last several years. In 2014, the automaker announced it reduced per vehicle water use by 30 percent globally from a 2009 baseline – reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule.

From 2011 to 2016, Ford’s average energy consumption is on track to decrease per vehicle produced globally by 25 percent. Plus, since 2000, Ford has invested more than $300 million on energy efficiency upgrades to its global facilities.

Furthering the company’s commitment to sustainable materials, Ford’s industry-exclusive use of REPREVE fiber will help divert more than 5 million plastic bottles from landfills by incorporating the fully sustainable material made of recycled plastic into the all-new 2015 F-150 pickup. F-150 is the fifth vehicle worldwide to be outfitted with REPREVE. Ford began using REPREVE in 2012, and remains the only automaker to do so.

Ford’s focus on mega trends

Mindful of the present but with an eye on what’s to come, Ford is working to visualize the future of the company – guided by these mega trends:

• Urbanization, congestion: There are 28 megacities today – metropolitan areas with more than 10 million people. That’s expected to grow to 41 megacities worldwide by 2030. Today’s infrastructure can’t accommodate the number of vehicles projected to be on the road
  
• Growing middle class: According to The Brookings Institution, the global middle class will double in size – from 2 billion to 4 billion – by 2030. Many will aspire to own vehicles – bringing a new set of challenges
  
• Health concerns, air quality: According to the World Health Organization, severe challenges relating to health and air quality will exist in developing nations – despite strides being made to improve the situation
  
• Changing consumer attitudes, priorities of Millennials: Those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s will influence how companies make product decisions
  
• Limited natural resources: Companies will be challenged to find innovative ways to address the impacts of energy use, water use and increasing demand for raw materials
  

In response to these challenges, the automaker announced this year Ford Smart Mobility. The plan – including a series of global experiments – is designed to take Ford to the next level in the areas of connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data.

“Our vision at Ford is to change the way the world moves – again,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering. “It’s what Henry Ford did a century ago to create a better world, and we’re carrying on his legacy today.”

Ford SYNC 3 Easy Navigation: You Drive, SYNC Finds the Way

See William and Ken, a Human Machine Interface (HMI) Engineer with Ford, use SYNC 3 navigation to find Ford World Headquarters and their favorite coffee shop. In real time, see how SYNC 3’s tablet-like map interface and One Box Search easily help find what’s out there. SYNC 3 available soon on the 2016 Escape, Fiesta, F-150 and Transit.

Plenty of Room for Ancient Artifacts | 2015 Ford Focus

Renowned Anthropologist, Genevieve St. Jermaine, Ph.D., braves poison darts while loading a 2015 Ford Focus ST full of artifacts.

Archaeologists tend to acquire a lot of stuff. Does the roomy cargo space of the 2015 Ford Focus ST have enough for cool archaeologists? Watch Dr. Genevieve St. Jermaine’s experiment to find out.

Those Power Chords Scream Great MPG | 2015 Ford Focus

Glam Rockers are on the road constantly, so naturally they’re looking for good gas mileage. Does the 2015 Ford Focus rock out more for rock ‘n’ rollers? Watch Dr. Genevieve St. Jermaine’s experiment to find out.

2013 Shelby GT500: The Stats

All the mind-blowing stats that you'll ever need on the 2013 Shelby GT500, from the folks at SVT.

Revolutionizing EcoBoost Engine Technology

Can you imagine an engine turbine that can spin faster than a jet liner’s at your beck and call? No need to imagine it. We’ve made it a reality.

With 248,000 RPM, a 1.0L EcoBoost engine compressor turbine can exceed turbine engine revolutions on jet liners without the bulk or the weight. We don’t call EcoBoosts small but mighty just because!

Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat Lands at E3 to Promote Halo 5: Guardians for Xbox One

Ford, Xbox, 343 Industries and Galpin Auto Sports are celebrating the release of Halo 5: Guardians for Xbox One with a special version of the 2015 Ford F-150 that is so awesome, it could have been designed by the Master Chief himself.

The Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat is a one-of-a-kind vehicle inspired by Halo’s United Nations Space Command vehicle design. It will be on display at E3 2015.

Based on the all-new Ford F-150, the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever, F-150 Halo Sandcat is special enough to have been officially designated the M552 codename by the United Nations Space Command – closely matching F-150’s official Ford codename, P552.

The F-150 Halo Sandcat started as a 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 with 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine and FX4 off-road package. To turn the truck into the Sandcat, Galpin Auto Sports added an arsenal of modifications to give it a United Nations Space Command militaristic style that Halo fans will instantly recognize. The F-150 Halo Sandcat starts with Addictive Desert Designs’ Baja XTR off-road conversion kit, which includes custom FOX Racing shocks, Deaver leaf springs, a Currie full floater rear axle, ADD fenders, side steps, a chase rack and 17-inch wheels with off-road tires to go along with a full custom Halo body wrap. Inside, there’s an Xbox One custom gaming system with displays mounted in the rear head restraints.

Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat will be on display in the South Hall entrance of the Los Angeles Convention Center. It will also be shown at several public events leading up to the launch of Halo 5: Guardians, Oct. 27.

Print Your Favorite Ford Vehicle at Home: Ford First Automaker to Open One-Stop 3D Shop Online

• Consumers can now download digital images and 3D-printable files of Ford vehicles at the first-ever automaker-licensed, one-stop 3D shop online
• The Ford 3D Store offers printable files of F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350R, Focus ST and Fiesta ST; more models will become available later
• Online store is powered by TurboSquid.com, the leader in providing automotive digital imaging and 3D-printable files   

Want to 3D-print a Shelby GT350R at home? Or would you prefer to simply purchase an F-150 Raptor 3D digital image for a presentation? How about both?

Ford fans can now download digital images for Ford vehicles at the first-ever, automaker-authorized one-stop online store for 3D-printable vehicle files. The Ford 3D Store, 3d.ford.com, allows customers to use advanced technology to make their own models of Ford vehicles of the size and material they desire, or simply opt to purchase a 3D digital file from a growing library of more than 1,000 Ford images.

“3D printing at home is a growing trend, and it makes sense for us to offer our customers a chance to make their own 3D Ford models,” said Mark Bentley, licensing manager, Ford Global Brand Licensing. “At Ford, we’re using 3D printing every day to rapidly prototype parts, and now we want to share that fun with our fans.”

According to Juniper research, sales of desktop 3D printers will exceed 1 million units by 2018, from an estimated 44,000 sold annually in 2014.                                                                                             

Available 3D-printed Ford models include the new Ford GT, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350R, Focus ST and Fiesta ST. Printed models and digital files for additional Ford vehicles will be available at a later date.

3D-printed models available to order are 1/32nd scale in plastic, but purchasing a digital image allows users to have a Ford model 3D-printed to the scale and of the material they choose, either from their own printer or from an outside source. Professional 3D printers can create a model in materials ranging from soft plastics to sandstone and even various metals.

TurboSquid, a leader in marketing 3D image files commonly used in video games, built the new site for Ford and will provide order fulfillment.

“TurboSquid already allows customers to purchase more than 1,000 unique, licensed digital images of Ford products ranging from the Model T to the all-new Ford GT,” said Bentley. “We’re at the forefront of licensing 3D automotive images, and it made sense that TurboSquid help us complete that connection to the consumer.”

When a buyer purchases a model or digital image, he or she must register with the site and agree that the item will not be used commercially.
 
Visit 3d.ford.com to see the available 3D digital images and 3D-printed models.

Ford SYNC 3 Voice Recognition Demo: You Drive, SYNC Listens

See William and Yvonne, a Voice-Recognition Engineer with Ford, talk to SYNC 3 as they search for some very unique party supplies. In real time, see how SYNC 3 gets the job done without Yvonne ever taking her hands off the wheel. SYNC 3 available soon on the 2016 Escape, Fiesta, F-150 and Transit.

Chicago Assembly Plant welcomes new 2016 Ford Explorer

Ford employees at Chicago Assembly Plant officially welcomed the new 2016 Ford Explorer today, with Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas, and Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director, National Ford Department, also on hand. Since launch in 1990, more than 7 million Explorers have been sold, making it the best-selling SUV in America over the last 25 years.

Now, building on decades of performance and innovation, the 2016 Explorer represents a significant update to the iconic SUV. It sports a new look, new 2.3-liter EcoBoost^® engine, a new Platinum series and the industry’s most cutting-edge technology. 2016 Explorer base, XLT, Limited and Sport models went on sale in May, with retail sales for the month increasing 24 percent versus the same period last year – the nameplate’s best May retail sales since 2004. The new Platinum series launches later this summer.

Explorer is one of Ford’s top U.S. exports. Approximately 54,000 Explorers were exported from Chicago Assembly Plant in 2014; the vehicle is now available in more than 100 markets outside Canada and Mexico.

Dogs’ Day Out

Who better to have by your side on the road than your favorite furry companion?

Pets are always there for us. Go further for your dog and plan a car ride. Nose-smudges on the windows and car-side drool are worth it just to see your dog’s ears flapping in the wind.

2015 FORD EDGE EARNS TOP GOVERNMENT SAFETY AWARD

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awards the all-new 2015 Ford Edge a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in its New Car Assessment Program

• 2015 Edge offers available driver-assist technologies like adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, 180-degree front camera with washer, inflatable rear safety belts and a standard rear camera

• A showcase of Ford innovation, the new Edge sets a benchmark for Ford utility vehicles

The 2015 Ford Edge achieved a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its New Car Assessment Program – the highest possible rating from the U.S. government.

Loaded with more technology, the 2015 Ford Edge was reengineered from the ground up. It offers three engine options – two of which are new – for enhanced performance, as well as a host of safety and driver-assist technologies that help with the driving task.

“The new Edge delivers on the quality and handling customers have come to expect from a Ford vehicle, while infusing more innovation and advanced technology to create a vehicle that we think will maintain its leadership position in its segment,” said JD Shanahan, chief program engineer for Edge.

A leader in Ford innovationWith state-of-the-art technologies, the all-new Edge was designed to inspire confidence on the road. From available features like the new 180-degree front camera with washer and standard rear camera, to Curve Control and side parking sensors, Ford Edge offers an improved driving experience and enhanced comfort level for vehicle occupants.

Standard and available technologies for the all-new Edge include:

• Standard active glove box knee airbag: An advanced design uses the glove box front to enhance knee protection for the front passenger in certain crashes
• Available adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support: Uses radar to detect moving vehicles directly ahead and change the cruising speed if necessary. Collision warning triggers visual and audio alerts if the system detects the following distance is diminishing too quickly and a collision may occur. The system can also pre-charge the brakes if the driver needs to stop suddenly
• Available inflatable rear safety belts: Advanced restraint system combines attributes of safety belt and airbag technologies to reduce head, neck and chest injuries in frontal crashes by distributing crash force energy across five times more of an occupant’s torso than a traditional safety belt

Now available at Ford dealers across the country, the 2015 Ford Edge offers a stylish and innovative solution for customers looking to keep their families safer on the road.

FORD USING COMPUTER PRINTED PARTS TO ACCELERATE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT -- BOTH ON THE TRACK AND OFF

• Ford uses several 3D-printing laboratories to rapidly create prototype parts for street cars – ranging from buttons and knobs to intakes and engine covers
• 3D-printing facilities allowed for the creation and testing of a wide range of intake manifolds on the Ford and Roush-Yates developed EcoBoost^® 3.5-liter racing engine
• Ford won the 2015 24 Hours of Daytona using a 3D-printed intake manifold with carbon-fiber plenums

When Ford’s EcoBoost-powered race car hits the track at the Belle Isle Grand Prix this weekend it will be using engine parts made by a computer printer.

Using an innovative new technology called 3D printing, parts such as the intake manifold on the Ford EcoBoost race engine used in the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Daytona Prototype car are now created on a printer.

“3D computer printers have totally changed the development process for our Daytona Prototype race cars,” said Victor Martinez, 3.5-liter EcoBoost race engine engineer. “3D printing has advanced at such lightning speed in recent years that in a matter of hours, we can create real, usable parts for race cars. That’s exactly what we did for the 24 Hours of Daytona earlier this year.”

From road to track, 3D printing accelerates Ford product developmentFord first started to 3D-print decades ago, purchasing the third 3D printer ever made, in 1988. The company first used 3D-printed parts for prototype buttons, switches and knobs. As the technology has improved, the quality of 3D-printed parts has become remarkably precise, and the parts themselves have become increasingly usable.

So smooth and precise has the finishing process become that 3D-printed parts are now used in real-world settings – on prototype vehicles built for durability testing, and on the Ford race car that won the 53rd running of the grueling 24 Hours of Daytona in January. 

Ford’s rapid prototype lab: Where product development never stopsIn the competitive world of endurance racing, the push for increased reliability and horsepower never stops and, in Ford’s rapid prototype lab, it doesn’t have to.

“We have the ability to design an entirely new part and, one week later, have that part in hand,” said Martinez. “This lets the engineers who develop our cars – both for road and track – spend more time testing, tuning and refining.”

Computer-aided design mockups are sent to Ford’s rapid prototype lab where they are analyzed and input into one of many 3D printers. Roughly one week later, a finished product is ready to be cleaned, painted and used.

“Toward the end of the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season, we began to design a number of revisions for our intake manifold,” explained Martinez. “In order to rapidly prototype and prove them out, we 3D-printed several intakes and tested them on our dyno and verified performance on the track. The iterations we created based on the 2014 intake manifold accelerated the development on our 2015 manifold – which is both lighter and brings improved airflow.”

Take it to the trackLeading up to the 2015 24 Hours of Daytona, Ford Performance engineers opted for a 3D-printed intake manifold for the Chip Ganassi Racing Daytona Prototype car. Employing the most advanced intake yet printed, in combination with carbon fiber intake plenums developed by Multimatic^®, a strong, reliable and lightweight intake manifold was created for the No. 02 Target Ford EcoBoost-Riley.

“The prototype manifold exceeded our expectations in testing, so in the essence of time we decided to use it for the race,” said Martinez. “We modified our intake with carbon fiber components, painted it, and then it was ready to go to the track.”

Bringing home the hardwareChip Ganassi Racing, led by drivers Scott Dixon, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Tony Kanaan, won the Daytona classic – holding off stiff competition in the last hour of the race.

“It was a great day for Ford and a great day for Ganassi,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “We had a great car and great drivers. And, of course, we had really great power, reliability and fuel economy out of the EcoBoost engine. This is a great testament to the entire team. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Now, Ford aims to repeat this performance at the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race at the Belle Isle Grand Prix on May 30. 

FORD OPENS PORTFOLIO OF PATENTED TECHNOLOGIES TO COMPETITORS TO ACCELERATE INDUSTRY-WIDE ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

• Ford is opening its portfolio of electrified vehicle technology patents to competitive automakers to accelerate industry-wide research and development of electrified vehicles
• In 2014, Ford filed for 400-plus electrified vehicle patents – more than 20 percent of the total patents the company applied for last year
• Ford is set to hire an additional 200 electrified vehicle engineers this year as the team moves into a newly dedicated facility – Ford Engineering Laboratories – home to Henry Ford’s first laboratories

DEARBORN, Mich., May 28, 2015 – Ford Motor Company is offering competitors access to its electrified vehicle technology patents – a move to help accelerate industry-wide research and development of electrified vehicles.

In 2014, Ford filed more than 400 patents dedicated to electrified vehicle technologies. This is more than 20 percent of the patents the company filed – totaling more than 2,000 applications.

“Innovation is our goal,” said Kevin Layden, director, Ford Electrification Programs. “The way to provide the best technology is through constant development and progress. By sharing our research with other companies, we will accelerate the growth of electrified vehicle technology and deliver even better products to customers.”

Ford Motor Company is a leader in this area – offering six hybrid or fully electrified vehicles including Ford Focus Electric, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Hybrid, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. In total, Ford has more than 650 electrified vehicle patents and approximately 1,000 pending patent applications on electrified vehicle technologies.

Ford’s innovations have resulted in acclaimed electrified vehicles on the road today, but the company believes sharing its patented technologies will promote faster development of future inventions as all automakers look toward greater opportunities.

“As an industry, we need to collaborate while we continue to challenge each other,” said Layden. “By sharing ideas, companies can solve bigger challenges and help improve the industry.”

To access Ford’s patents and published patent applications, interested parties can contact the company’s technology commercialization and licensing office, or work through AutoHarvest – an automaker collaborative innovation and licensing marketplace. AutoHarvest allows members to showcase capabilities and technologies, then privately connect with fellow inventors to explore technology and business development opportunities of mutual interest. The patents would be available for a fee.

“Ford helped launch AutoHarvest as a founding member to enable efficient and transparent technology licensing across the automotive industry and beyond,” said Bill Coughlin, president and CEO, Ford Global Technologies, which manages intellectual property for Ford.

As part of Ford’s increased focus on new and innovative technologies, the automaker is set to hire an additional 200 electrified vehicle engineers this year as the team moves into a newly dedicated facility – Ford Engineering Laboratories – home to Henry Ford’s first labs in Dearborn.

Available Ford electrified vehicle patents

Here are some of Ford’s electrified vehicle patents available for competitors to purchase:

• Method and Apparatus for Battery Charge Balancing, patent No. US5764027: The patent covers passive cell balancing: discharging a cell through a resistor to lower the state of charge to match other cells. This innovation extends battery run time and overall life. This is the first invention to enable battery balancing at any time, instead of only while charging, and it enables the use of lithium-ion batteries in electrified vehicles. It was invented long before lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles became commonplace – truly ahead of its time.
• Temperature Dependent Regenerative Brake System for Electric Vehicle, patent No. US6275763: The technology works to maximize the amount of energy recaptured in a hybrid vehicle through regenerative braking. By improving the interplay between normal friction brakes and regenerative braking during stopping at certain air temperatures, a driver is able to recapture more energy than previously possible, helping the motorist drive farther on a charge. 
• Driving Behavior Feedback Interface, patent No. US8880290: The patent provides a system and method for monitoring driver inputs such as braking and accelerating, and vehicle parameters including energy consumption to assess driving behavior. The feedback can be used to coach future driving behavior that may translate into better long-term driving habits and improve fuel economy. This technology also has enabled drivers of non-electrified vehicles, such as a Ford Focus, to develop better driving habits.

PACED BY RACHEL PLATTEN HIT 'FIGHT SONG,' NEW FORD EDGE AD CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO CONNECT WITH UNSTOPPABLE PEOPLE

• 
  
• Ford launches television spots promoting the 2015 Ford Edge today on national networks and cable stations; print ads come next, with digital executions to follow later this summer
• “Be Unstoppable” ad campaign created to connect with people who are constantly on the go, to showcase how the all-new Ford Edge is designed to empower these “unstoppables” – every day, everywhere
• 2015 Edge went on sale in the United States in March, then April sales set an all-time record for the month; demand remains strong

Ford today announced the launch of its first advertising campaign promoting the 2015 Ford Edge. The campaign centers on the empowering sense driving the all-new Edge creates for its customers – that feeling of being “unstoppable.” Ford believes this emotion to be a key driver of vehicle consideration in the utility segment.

“Edge buyers want to conquer life, not just geography,” said Travis Calhoun, Ford marketing communications manager for trucks and utility vehicles. “They want to be unstoppable, and they want the right SUV that helps them feel empowered – every day, everywhere.”

Calhoun notes the ads are designed to create an emotional connection with the target customer – people who are successful, business-minded, sports-oriented, eager to try new technology and committed to staying in the know. Historically, Edge does well with women buyers, and that audience was top of mind in development of the new campaign. 

The television work, carried by the popular track “Fight Song” by Columbia Records artist Rachel Platten, features a Bronze Fire Edge Titanium being driven through city streets. A woman’s voiceover asserts – “2,434,311 people and only one me. I’ll take those odds.” The spots debut the new tagline, “Be Unstoppable.” 

“The all-new Edge defines utility in an urban environment for Ford,” Calhoun explained. “It provides us with an opportunity to showcase the Edge customer having the confidence to handle whatever the day brings – whether that’s an experience in the city or a weekend adventure.”

The campaign launches today with a national television component. It will be followed by print ads, then an aggressive digital execution later this summer. The TV spots will run on national networks and popular cable channels – Discovery, ESPN, Food Network, HISTORY, MSNBC, TBS and TNT.

Target publications for the print ads include Bloomberg Businessweek, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Elle Décor, Food & Wine, Golf Digest, GQ, Real Simple, Shape and Women’s Health. 

Sales off to a great startLast month, Edge sales in the United States were up 78 percent compared to year-ago levels, helping the Ford brand set a new record for April utility vehicle sales. May 2015 performance is expected to be strong as well – with year-over-year gains – as the new Edge enjoys brisk sales and strong interest from buyers.

With the all-new Edge, Ford is also building on its global utility vehicle leadership, having delivered four consecutive years of record sales. In 2014, the company sold an all-time-high 1.4 million utility vehicles in markets worldwide – up 11 percent from 2013. Through the early months of 2015, Ford’s global utility vehicle sales remain strong.

In North America, Ford reigns as the top-selling SUV brand – a title it has held for four straight years. The company expects the all-new Edge will maintain its position as a segment leader. The 2015 Ford Edge is loaded with more technology, higher levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved vehicle dynamics. It also sports an exciting new design.  

Make Way for Gen Z | 2015 Looking Further with Ford Trends

Worldwide, there are roughly 2 billion youth who make up Generation Z. Raised in an on-demand, impatient culture, Gen Z’s mantra is ‘good things come to those who act,’ and they aren’t going to let age, education, employment or lack or resources stop them from making their mark on the world. 

Watch as Ford Futurist Sheryl Connelly, explores this up-and-coming generation and how they are helping to define the trends of both today and tomorrow.

Serving those who serve | Good Works: Episode 7

Welcome to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where a community has come together to give back to families who have given all for their country.

In this week’s episode, we hop in our F-150 and meet up with Ken and Pamela Barnard, the founders of Patriot Hunts, which provides outdoor adventures and experiences to the families of injured and fallen soldiers. By sharing their love of the outdoors with others, Ken and Pamela have helped heal and unite families who share a common bond.

Ford Supplier Diversity

Learn more about Ford's Supplier Diversity Development Program.