2016 Ford F-650/F-750: 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel

Ford Engineering Manager, Joel Beltramo discusses the 2nd generation Ford designed and built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Diesel Engine. These engines have been developed and tested to tackle medium-duty jobs, with three horsepower and torque levels.

The Camera That Sees Where You Can’t | 2015 Ford F-150

Your cellphone may give you the best way to document your awesome catch, but the 360° camera on the 2015 F-150 gives you an even bigger picture.

Legendary fisherman Conway Bowman talks about the latest camera technology on and around the water. Like the 360° camera on the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body Ford F-150. Amazingly, it gives you a complete picture of the lay of the land around your truck.

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.

Introducing Pro Trailer Backup Assist | 2016 F-150

Be a #TrailerHero with the available Pro Trailer Backup Assist on the 2016 F-150!

When we talked to F-150 customers who seldom tow, we heard a common concern – they don’t like backing a trailer because it’s hard to do. We heard the problem and created an innovative solution: Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist for the 2016 Ford F-150 makes it easy for novice and experienced drivers to back a trailer down a boat launch or into a parking spot. It works by letting the customer steer the trailer instinctively while the truck takes care of the rest.

Watch and learn how Pro Trailer Backup Assist is the latest example of Ford changing the way the world moves-- delivering smart solutions that save time and improve the productivity of our customers, so they can spend more time on the job or enjoying the lake.

15 people. 8 canoes. One Ford Transit.

It’s a harsh environment, but the Transit helps this business move its customers in comfort with plenty of room and power for their stuff. Even when their stuff includes boats.

The Ford Transit and Transit Connect offer the flexibility to fit any business like a work glove. To demonstrate, we loaned one to four very different businesses and got only one result: success. Take a look and see how the right work van can make any business move faster. Whatever your job, the Transit works.

1960 Ford Thunderbird Commercial

1960 Ford Thunderbird Commercial

All-new Ford Shelby® #GT350R Mustang Roars Off the Line at Flat Rock Assembly Plant

One of the most iconic performance Mustang nameplates of all time the all-new Shelby^® GT350R roared off the line today at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. The new GT350R Mustang is the most athletic Mustang ever, designed to tackle the world’s most challenging roads and race tracks while creating an exhilarating experience for the driver.

“This is a special day for all Mustang enthusiasts,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.  “We have taken the GT350 formula to the next level of innovation, style and performance.  Today the legend continues.”

Improving Lives by Improving Access | Built Ford Tough Good Works

In this week’s episode we head to Seattle, Washington, home of Rob Carlisle, the owner of Carlisle Classic Homes. With a little help from his Ford F-150, Rob is using the resources of his company to build wheelchair ramps for homeowners who are disabled and their families.

To learn more about Rob Carlisle and Rampathon, go to www.rampathon.org

All-New 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Prototype Testing

Ford Performance engineers are busying trail testing prototypes of the all-new F-150 Raptor, the toughest, smartest and most capable Raptor ever.

The all-new Raptor is able to tackle even tougher hills, ruts and bumps along trails than the previous model. Here an early engineering prototype that combines parts from the 2017 Raptor with the 2015 F-150 climbs tight two track trails in Northern Michigan, where the team is testing the new truck’s components over challenging terrain.

The 2017 F-150 Raptor has better ground clearance than the first-generation Raptor and comes standard with new 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The shock absorption technology works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain. An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case further improves Raptor’s trail performance. The new transfer case, which manages power distribution between the front and rear wheels, combines the best attributes of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with durable, mechanical-locking four-wheel drive.

You’ll be able to test the all-new Raptor for yourself in Fall 2016.

Ford Transit is a Carnival’s Best Ride

This high-end, private carnival business is essentially a constantly moving construction company. With thousands of moving parts, keeping them organized is crucial to the bottom line. See how Transit helps make the rides run.

The Ford Transit and Transit Connect offer the flexibility to fit any business like a work glove. To demonstrate, we loaned one to four very different businesses and got only one result: success. Take a look and see how the right work van can make any business move faster. Whatever your job, the Transit works.

Look Out! Here Come the Spidermen: Ford Engineers Use Arachnid Learnings to Develop Innovative Screen to Keep Creepy Crawlers Out

• Ford engineers developed an innovative spider screen to keep the creepy crawlers from nesting inside vehicles
• Screen prevents spiders from building cocoon-like webs dense enough to potentially block fuel vapor lines, which can damage engines and diminish vehicle performance   
• Now, an updated version of the spider screen is being implemented in Ford vehicles in North America; it will go global with launch of the all-new 2016 Ford Focus RS

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 5, 2015 – Arachnophobes may not know this, but there is a team of Ford engineers who developed an innovative spider screen to keep the creepy crawlers from nesting in Ford vehicles.

You’re welcome.

Cheiracanthium mildei and Cheiracanthium inclusum – more commonly referred to as yellow sac spiders – have been known to nest inside vehicles in North America, causing problems for car owners and automakers alike over the years. Instead of using webs to catch prey, these spiders build cocoon-like webs for shelter and to lay eggs. Their home is dense enough to potentially block fuel vapor lines, which can lead to engine damage and diminished vehicle performance.

David Gimby, Ford fuel systems engineer, began looking into how to keep spiders out of Ford vehicles back in 1999. Having no background in arachnology, he researched the life and science of spiders and in 2004 Ford produced its first spider screen, which has kept spiders from nesting inside Ford vehicles for years.

“These particular Arachnids are not sedentary – they are hunters and constantly roaming,” Gimby explained. “When it’s time to build a birthing cocoon or an over-winter cocoon, they seek a cavity or a depression, like a fuel vapor line opening, which allows them to maximize the use of their silk.”

“Spiders can be a nuisance for our vehicle owners,” said Gimby. “We studied these species to discern how they nest, then designed an effective device for excluding the larger, problematic spiders from nesting in our cars.”

The technology continues to evolve.  Ford engineers worked on an improved spider screen that is being implemented across the Ford lineup in North America. It will go global with the launch of the all-new 2016 Ford Focus RS.

Keeping fuel vapor lines clear is key to air and vapor circulation for a vehicle’s carbon canister, where fuel vapors are captured so they don’t enter the environment. The Ford-developed spider screen keeps spiders out of the line, but allows air and vapor flow for optimal vehicle operation.

“We are constantly improving and adapting, even when it comes to technologies that are already working,” said William Euliss, Ford fuel systems engineer. “There is a significant amount of engineering that goes into every detail of our vehicles, like the spider screen.”

The Road to Cooperstown: Part 2 | SYNC 3: What Happens Next?™

When J.B. is left out of a day of golf with MLB Hall of Famers John Smoltz and Frank Thomas, he decides to take the Ford Escape for an adventure.

J.B. gets a first-hand look at the convenience of the hands-free calling and the SYNC 3 navigation system in the 2015 Ford Escape, while John and Frank relive their memories of the big leagues.

Ford Smart Mobility introduces impressive range of innovative experimentation to address practical mobility challenges in urban and rural Africa

• Ford Smart Mobility is Ford Motor Company’s plan to help change the way the world moves through innovation in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data
• Ford X-Car Social Innovation Action Partnership (SIAP) enables building of partnerships to address range of mobility and community challenges
• Working with Riders for Health, Ford’s Data Driven Healthcare experiment launches in Gambia using data collection technology to create maps of undefined areas and produce a mobility snapshot of vehicle usage helping service efficiency

South Africa - Johannesburg August 11^th, 2015 – Ford Smart Mobility is Ford’s plan to use innovation to go to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. Since the beginning of the year, Ford has been conducting a range of experiments and developer challenges around the globe, including in Africa, to gain a better understanding of consumers’ mobility needs.

The multi-faceted Ford Smart Mobility plan includes Data Driven Healthcare – a way in which healthcare for rural areas can be improved, the Ford X-Car initiative allowing multiple organizations to develop support programs based on data gathered to assist rural communities and remote areas, and Multimodal Urban Mobility solutions for urban commuters and small businesses to combine multiple methods of transport including eBike technology to make commutes faster and more efficient.

“Our goal is to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves,” said Erica Klampfl, Global Mobility Solutions Manager, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “The Ford Smart Mobility plan supports our commitment to innovation and is aimed specifically at developing smarter transportation systems. This initiative extends far beyond vehicles and includes investing in a range of mobility pilots and experiments. Such ongoing research projects help us to find out what works and to develop smarter, more connected mobility solutions.”

Flexible Use and Ownership

Ford today also announces Ford X-Car Social Innovation Action Partnership Program, a new mobility experiment. The program supports public–private partnerships by using Ford vehicles as the transportation backbone to deliver goods and services to under-served communities – providing mobility to the community without needing direct ownership or liability of mobility assets.

“With the X-Car program, we’re using innovative partnerships to bring critical services to communities in South Africa, including access to health care, purified water and education,” said Kim Pittel, Ford’s Vice President Sustainability, Environment & Safety Engineering. “X-Car is a good example of a sustainable mobility solution, where we develop a new transportation model to bring services and programs to those in need and contribute to a better world.”

The Ford X-Car will be equipped with an OpenXC plug-in device, a connectivity platform enabling analytic insights from the vehicle and its day-to-day activities. Ford Smart Mobility experiments could provide significant insight through data analytics that will help devise mobility solutions for millions by working with partners such as World Vision.

“The Ford X-Car program could potentially give our community members greater accessibility to improved vaccination coverage and critical healthcare, thereby decreasing the mortality rate. World Vision envisions directing or transporting, patients to emergency facilities. For example, maternal deaths are still a huge challenge in rural South Africa with 310 deaths for every 100,000 births in 2011,” said Cheryl Ennis Self, Executive Director, Global Social Partnerships, World Vision USA.

There will be further opportunities for groups to partner with Ford on this initiative, from NGOs, private corporations or other charity organizations in Africa, that can help provide access to purified water, improved energy supplies as well as educational e-learning. There will be the chance to join the model and share physical space and objectives for the Ford X-Car –A prime example of how Flexible Use and Ownership allows multiple groups to share existing vehicle resources as they navigate the service network.

Data Driven Healthcare

Many areas of rural Africa are affected by poor or non–existent communications and infrastructure capabilities. One of the immediate effects of these conditions is the difficulty of adequate healthcare in areas that often possess no reliable transport facilities.

Ford is working with Riders for Health, an organisation that manages and maintains fleets that deliver healthcare workers to patients who need help. Equipping Ford pickup trucks with OpenXC technology will allow vehicle data to be collected that could improve productivity. The data collected is also being used to create maps of remote regions where most mapping companies do not go. By creating an expanded business framework of collaborative partnerships, Ford will become a convener of organisations who are striving to make a better world by providing sustainable mobility solutions.

“The data we have derived from our ongoing experimentation combined with the implementation of our findings are key parts of our commitment to address a range of mobility challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Klampfl. “We want to apply these critical learnings to help improve the lives of those people living in remote, rural areas as well as urban dwellers faced with ever-increasing traffic congestion.”

Multimodal Urban Mobility solutions

As part of Ford Smart Mobility, Ford is now focusing on two key areas: Flexible Use and Ownership, and Multimodal Urban Mobility solutions. This includes exploring new ways for consumers to use and own vehicles in the future with the launch of GoDrive and Peer-2-Peer Car Sharing.

In urban areas, the ever increasing demand for road space or limited parking availability has become a major challenge for the road using commuter or commercial driver. In response to the critical traffic situation in South Africa – Johannesburg, will implement a car-free zone in the Sandton CBD during the EcoMobility World Festival and Exhibition in October 2015. The program aims to encourage behavioural change by showing the positive impact created by an alternative transport infrastructure; making Johannesburg a cycling-friendly city in the future while showcasing Johannesburg’s plans to promote sustainable transport and reduce carbon emissions.

These current and future challenges are key considerations in Ford’s ongoing research that have helped to shape the company’s Multimodal Urban Mobility solutions. Through Ford Smart Mobility, eBikes and mobile app technology are being studied to discover how they can work seamlessly with cars and public transport to improve daily commutes.

The concept MoDe:Pro eBike, unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, is designed and intended for commercial urban use, such as by couriers or delivery services. Drivers can use the eBike in conjunction with commercial vehicles such as the Ford Transit Connect which can act as a carrier, of up to three eBikes, and also as a support vehicle. Electric bikes offer a unique opportunity for integration with vehicles due to the ability to be easily recharged.

The MoDe:Pro eBike – built by a Ford team – connects seamlessly with a rider’s smartphone thanks to the innovative 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. The app also helps to identify the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport for a journey.


The MoDe:Pro eBikes is equipped with a 200-watt motor with nine-amp-hour battery that provides electric pedal assist for speeds of up to 25 km/h.

The Road to Cooperstown: Part 1 | SYNC 3: What Happens Next?™

Unwelcomed guest, J.B. crashes a relaxing day of golf for Frank Thomas and John Smoltz.

J.B. isn’t allowed to join in the Hall-of-Famers-only golf game, so he decides to have his own fun in Frank’s new Ford Escape on a one of a kind adventure.

Ford Donates Vehicles to DAV, Strengthens Efforts to Assist Disabled Veterans and Honor Their Service

• Ford Motor Company continues its long-standing relationship with DAV (Disabled American Veterans) by donating seven vehicles to the DAV Transportation Network
• Ford continues to invest in DAV scholarships and the Winter Sports Clinic, and adds support for DAV 5K events to honor veterans and raise funds for needed services
• Since 1974, Ford Fund has contributed nearly $9.3 million to veterans organizations

DENVER, Aug. 7, 2015 – Ford Motor Company is donating seven Ford Flex utility vehicles to the DAV, extending a strong relationship that has assisted disabled military veterans for 93 years.

The vehicles will become part of the DAV Transportation Network that enlists volunteer drivers to take sick and disabled veterans to VA medical centers across the country. They will be deployed to DAV locations in Little Rock, Arkansas, Iowa City, Iowa, Iron Mountain, Michigan, Omaha, Nebraska, Portland, Oregon, Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington.  Since 1996, Ford has donated 199 vehicles to the DAV fleet.

“Transportation and community service are two important areas where Ford excels,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud to be able to help these heroes of freedom get the critical services they need to make their lives better.”

In addition to the new Ford Flex vehicles, Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is sponsoring DAV 5K walks this fall in Atlanta, Cincinnati and San Diego. Ford Fund also is continuing support for the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to deserving young men and women who have generously volunteered their time to help disabled veterans in their community.

This past spring, Ford supported the DAV Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. The company will again partner with Project SNAP to engage veterans and the public to draw messages of thanks to active military members that will become part of this year’s Operation Grateful Nation mural. The artwork from last year’s event is currently on display at the Pentagon.

“We are extremely proud of our long partnership with Ford Motor Company,” said DAV National Commander Ron Hope. “Ford is an American institution and we’re grateful they continue to support the men and women who preserve the American way of life we hold sacred. Without this donation many of these veterans would go without the medical care they earned.”

Ford Motor Company and the DAV have been working together to help the nation's wounded military veterans since Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T vehicles to take disabled veterans to the 1922 DAV national convention in San Francisco.

Ford’s support for veterans continues to evolve to meet their changing needs. Earlier this year, Ford collaborated with National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. on the Freedom’s Sisters REBOOT Workshop that helped women veterans address the unique challenges they face transitioning out of the military.

Ford Fund also sponsors Honor Flights to transport World War II veterans to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and featured a special salute to the nation’s military called Focus on Freedom during this year’s Ford Fireworks in Detroit. The event included a special reception for veterans and their families, plus a thrilling flyover by vintage World War II-era planes.   

Since 1974, Ford and Ford Fund have provided nearly $9.3 million to veterans’ organizations.
 
Ford today employs more than 7,000 veterans plus hundreds of active military personnel, reservists and guardsmen.

Ford Fusion Sales Jump More Than 100 Percent Since 2005 Launch

• Annual Ford Fusion sales jump from 142,000 vehicles in 2006, the popular midsize sedan’s first full year on sale, to 306,000 in 2014
• Over the same period, Honda Accord went from 354,000 vehicles sold to 388,000, while Toyota Camry sales fell, from 448,000 vehicles sold to 428,000
• Radical 2013 Ford Fusion redesign forced other automakers to reconsider “vanilla” styling in midsize segment

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 12, 2015 – Since its 2013 model year redesign, the widely acclaimed Ford Fusion has not only brought sexy back to the midsize sedan segment, it’s also brought back sales.

2015 marks 10 years since launch of Ford’s then all-new midsize sedan, and three years since Fusion’s radical redesign that reset expectations for aggressive styling in a historically staid segment of family vehicles.

Long dominated by Japanese offerings, Ford Fusion has been chipping away at sales and market share in the midsize sedan segment – largely on the strength of its styling.

In 2012, the last model year for the first-generation model, Ford sold 241,263 Fusions compared with Honda’s 331,872 Accords. Through June 2015, that gap closed considerably – Ford selling 178,263 Fusions to Honda’s 190,242 Accords.

“Fusion is achieving growth in all the right places, especially in California, the largest midsize sedan market in the country, followed by Texas,” said Erich Merkle, Ford sales analyst. “Since its introduction, Fusion – in style-conscious California – has grown at almost six times the rate of the overall segment.”

Fusion sales almost tripled in California since launch, while the midsize sedan segment grew 29 percent.

Texas is the next largest contributor to Fusion sales growth. There, the car’s sales have increased at twice the rate of the overall segment – representing 14 percent of Fusion retail sales growth in the United States based on registration data.

In its short life, Fusion has accumulated multiple awards, including Motor Trend 2010 Car of the Year, J.D. Power and Associates Most Dependable Midsize Car and Best Car for the Money in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report, among many others.

Ford Secures 1,000-Plus U.S. Jobs, Starts Production of All-New Ford F-650/F-750 Medium-Duty Trucks in Ohio

• Ford kicks off production of 2016 F-650/F-750 for the first time in the United States; medium-duty truck lineup – previously assembled in Mexico – now built at Ohio Assembly Plant
• All-new F-650/F-750 medium-duty truck production shift to Ford’s facility in Avon Lake, Ohio, helps to secure more than 1,000 UAW hourly jobs and $168 million U.S. plant investment                 
• 2016 Ford F-650/F-750 trucks, available this summer, deliver commercial-grade quality, capability and convenience, and feature segment-exclusive Ford diesel and gasoline engines, delivering strong performance at an affordable price

AVON LAKE, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2015 – All-new Ford F-650/F-750 medium-duty trucks roll off the line today for the first time in the United States. Production of the trucks at Ohio Assembly Plant, previously built in Mexico, helps secure more than 1,000 hourly UAW jobs and a $168 million plant investment in the United States.

2016 F-650/F-750 trucks, the toughest, smartest, best-value medium-duty trucks ever, anchor Ford’s commercial vehicle lineup – America’s best-selling commercial trucks for 30 straight years. Ford is the only truck manufacturer that provides vocational customers an unmatched one-stop shop to meet their needs – from the Class 1 Transit Connect cargo van to the Class 7 F-750 tractor rig.

“Our investment in Ohio Assembly Plant reinforces our commitment to building vehicles in America and to delivering best-in-class commercial trucks,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Working with our partners in the UAW, we found a way to make the costs competitive enough to bring production of a whole new generation of work trucks to Ohio.”

Offered in Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab body styles and in straight-frame, dock-height and an all-new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing applications, the 2016 F-650/F-750 line features a bold new look inside and out.

Ford is the only medium-duty truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination – ensuring the powertrain will work seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations.

Along with its 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel engine option, Ford remains the only automaker to offer a gasoline-powered engine in the medium-duty truck segment. The 6.8-liter V10 with 320 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque now will be available for both F-650 and F-750 models with the heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. The 6.8-liter can be factory-prepped for converting to compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas as cost-effective alternatives to gasoline.

Ohio Assembly Plant investment
 
In 2014, Ford announced a $168 million investment to shift production of F-650 and F-750 from Mexico to Ohio Assembly Plant, in addition to adding new body shop equipment and other tooling needed to produce the medium-duty vehicles. The production shift from Mexico is part of the collective bargaining agreement Ford and the United Auto Workers negotiated in 2011.

"Through collective bargaining, we were able to secure production of the Ford F-650/F-750 to Ohio Assembly Plant,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director, National Ford Department. “Building these world-class vehicles in America helps secure jobs for more than 1,000 UAW members and provides economic growth for the Avon Lake community. Strengthening the economy through job creation continues our efforts to rebuild the American middle-class and communities all across this nation.”

Opened in 1974, Ohio Assembly Plant employs nearly 1,400 people and is one of the largest employers in Lorain County. In addition to now producing all Ford F-650 and F-750 models and configurations, the plant also produces Ford E-Series cutaway vans and stripped chassis.

Toughest, smartest, best-value Ford medium-duty truck ever
 
2016 Ford F-650/F-750 trucks are the toughest, smartest, best-value Ford medium-duty trucks ever – providing the ideal combination of value, capability and upfit readiness in the segment.
These attributes underscore the F-650/F-750’s position as the future of medium-duty trucks:

• Toughest: Fully designed and developed by Ford truck engineers in Dearborn, Mich.; robot-tested on taxing durability courses; 500,000-plus miles of harsh dynamometer engine testing at extreme power levels and temperatures; Ford-built in the U.S.
• Smartest: All-new upfit-friendly chassis developed in cooperation with leading industry body makers; clean chassis capable of accommodating vocational bodies with little to no modification; all-new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing
• Best value: Choice of segment-exclusive 6.8-liter V10 gas engine or 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel – both backed by Ford’s heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission enhanced for medium-duty use with great power, performance and fuel economy; includes unsurpassed five-year/250,000-mile warranty and national network of Ford service centers

F-150 Performance Enhanced by New Sport Mode

• 2015 Ford F-150’s 700-pound weight savings, its choice of four high-output, more fuel-efficient powertrains, and – for the first time ever – an on-demand sport mode combine to enable an improved driving experience for truck customers
  
• Six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode is standard across F-150 lineup; system operates in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings
• Automatic transmission technology used for both Mustang and F-150 was jointly created – allowing some performance advantages of the pony car to be applied to the pickup truck for a more responsive driving experience

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 5, 2015 – Crazy-smart Ford engineers have struck again – this time blending the sport mode feature borrowed from the all-new Mustang with the reduced weight of the all-new F-150 to deliver an engaged, dynamic driving experience with any of the four high-output, fuel-efficient powertrains available to truck customers.

Since the all-new 2015 Mustang and F-150 were developed on a similar time line and share certain automatic transmission technology, powertrain engineers often drove both vehicles on the same trips used for testing.

“Our team realized how well the new F-150 handled and responded to acceleration due to its reduced weight,” said Karl Jungbluth, Ford transmission calibration engineer. “So we decided we could adapt the sport mode capabilities of the six-speed automatic transmission from Mustang to F-150 to enhance the overall driving experience for truck customers.”

Sport mode on F-150 is activated by pushing the tow/haul mode button twice. An amber S appears in the lower-right portion of the tachometer indicating sport mode is active.

The feature works by changing the frequency of gearshifts, so the truck stays in the “sweet” spot of the powerband and holds lower gears longer to make driving more fun. That means less shifting on engaging drives, such as twisty roads with rolling hills. Instead of shifting gears up and down for peak efficiency, the transmission holds a specific gear longer to make driving more responsive and spirited.

Sport mode reduces the frequency of having to step on the gas pedal to reach peak torque – resulting in quicker acceleration with less pedal travel. The truck feels more responsive to the driver’s pedal inputs. When combined with the transmission changes, the result is an on-demand performance feel similar to what an aftermarket modification might add to the truck, but with the benefit of maintaining the Ford vehicle warranty.

An advanced feature of F-150’s six-speed automatic transmission is its ability to match engine rpm as it downshifts in slowing for a corner. Electronics calibration for this feature comes straight out of Mustang.

“Sport mode keeps the engine operating in the desired power and torque ranges, or what we like to call the ‘sweet’ spot,” explained Jungbluth. “It makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150.”

Sport mode is similar to F-150’s tow/haul mode, which also changes shift points under acceleration, keeping the truck at a higher rpm and further up in the power range while driving over rolling terrain for an improved towing experience. The technology limits the transmission from shifting up when the vehicle crests a hill, and provides downhill brake support that allows engine-compression braking to slow the vehicle and maintain a steady speed.

Sport mode is standard with every F-150 engine and can be activated in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings.

Could Gamers Hold Key to Future Mobility? Ford Challenges Developers to Revamp Journey Planning and Urban Travel

• Ford invites gaming community during Gamescom to create online games that could inspire real-life solutions to global mobility issues
• Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge, produced with Cologne Game Lab, challenges developers to gamify urban commutes and integrate transport modes for smoother, less-stressful journeys
• Panel of experts will choose five finalists; winning developer team will receive €10,000 and have their work presented at Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona
• All-new Forza Focus RS with an exterior designed by players of the Forza Motorsport racing game for the Xbox unveiled in Cologne

COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 6, 2015 – Ford Motor Company announced today during Gamescom a competition that challenges video game developers to create solutions for global mobility issues.
The Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge, developed with Cologne Game Lab, encourages developers to turn the challenge of integrating different transport modes within a city into fun and engaging online games. Gamescom 2015 – the largest interactive games trade fair in Europe – is taking place this week in Cologne.

Gamification has proven to be an effective way to solve real-life problems in many areas. The learnings from the Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge could lead to innovative solutions and new approaches to integrating urban transport, with joined-up door-to-door journeys. For instance, the games developed could reward participating commuters for successful journeys, based on criteria such as time-taken, cost, comfort and convenience. They also could utilise personal data and technology including smart phones and watches.

Five finalists will be chosen by a panel of gaming and mobility experts, including:

• Bjoern Bartholdy, professor for media design and co-director, Cologne Game Lab
• Will Farrelly, User Experience Innovation, Ford Smart Mobility, Ford of Europe
• Tracy Fullerton, director of the USC Games Program and chair of the Interactive Media & Games Division, University of Southern California
• Dan Greenawalt, creative director at Turn 10 Studios in Redmond, Washington, U.S.
• Prof. Paolo Tumminelli, Design Concepts, Köln International School of Design
  
  

The winner will receive €10,000 and the opportunity to show their work at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

“The Smart Mobility Game Challenge is designed to harness the creativity of the gaming community and empower gamers to take a fresh approach to tackling today’s global mobility issues,” said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “Applying the fun, engaging and rewarding aspects of games to journey planning can allow people to improve their commutes, track their success and become aware of how their behaviour impacts the transport infrastructure as a whole.”

The Smart Mobility Game Challenge is part of Ford Smart Mobility – Ford’s effort to help change the way the world moves through innovation. The challenge follows a recent Ford-commissioned survey of 5,500 commuters in major European cities that showed a majority of people consider their journey to work more stressful than their actual jobs.* The finalists will be asked to incorporate the key insights from this survey into their game development plans.

Ford has embraced gamification to accelerate the development of autonomous technologies and to enhance the Ford ownership experience. Ford’s SmartGauge technology rewards drivers for fuel- and energy-efficient driving, and the MyFord Mobile app enables drivers to remotely manage the charging of their electric vehicles and shows CO₂ savings as exercise balls or hot-air balloons. Ford also is using gaming elements in developing MoDe:Link, the prototype journey-planning app that is part of the Handle on Mobility electric bike experiment.

“Gaming offers a degree of user engagement and empowerment that you don’t get from other mediums,” Washington said. “By utilising these qualities the Smart Mobility Game Challenge can help develop solutions that enable travellers to take control of their journeys.”

Games could reward commuters for walking or cycling in good weather, and connect them to services beyond public transport, such as Ford’s GoDrive car-sharing service. By encouraging commuters to take under-utilised routes, games also could help ease congestion.

Gamification has proven a powerful problem-solving tool in research fields including the search for a cure for AIDS, where a significant breakthrough was achieved through the creation of an online video game called Foldit.** Gamification also is helping researchers study cancer,¹ and is incentivising energy efficiency² and recycling initiatives.³

Ford has developed the Smart Mobility Game Challenge with leading academic institute and think tank Cologne Game Lab, part of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at the University of Cologne. Developers can submit their entries at www.ford-smart-mobility-game-challenge.com until Oct. 1, 2015.

“Games are designed to entertain, but for the developers it’s a serious business that requires astute problem-solving abilities as well as creativity – exactly the qualities needed to tackle the challenge of integrating existing transport systems,” Bartholdy said. “We’re excited to partner with Ford in putting the talents and know-how of the gaming community to great use with Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge.”

A unique all-new Ford Focus RS featuring an exterior designed by players of the Forza Motorsport racing game also was this week unveiled at a special Microsoft event ahead of Gamescom. Ford also has joined with Microsoft to feature the all-new Ford GT in the new Forza Motorsport 6 game for the Microsoft Xbox One console. Visitors to the event will be able to view the Ford GT ultra-high-performance supercar – the game’s cover star.

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* Survey conducted for Ford Motor Company by Opinion Matters during April 2015 https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/feu/en/news/2015/04/27/for-europeans--the-journey-to-work-causes-more-stress-than-their.html
** Foldit players competed to predict the structure of protein molecules and in less than three weeks cracked the code of a retrovirus enzyme that had stumped scientists for more than a decade

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