The Most Capable Super Duty Ever

The all-new 2017 Super Duty is built Ford tough and ready to go to work with you every day. Bigger axles and a re-designed fully boxed frame, made of over 95% high strength steel help make the 2017 Super Duty is the most capable Super Duty ever.

Latest Space Communications Learnings from St. Petersburg University Help Ford Advance Connected Cars of the Future

• Ford Motor Company and St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University developed a data communications system prototype of high reliability for the advancement of connected cars of the future
• Research leverages university telematics expertise in space robot communications
• A team of scientists applied the same multichannel connectivity principles used to operate a robot moving on Earth via a joystick aboard the International Space Station to its work with Ford on connected cars

MOSCOW, Sept. 29, 2015 – Ford Motor Company and St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University have reached the final phase of a large-scale research project aimed at enhancing vehicle communication technology. As a result of the work that leverages university telematics expertise in space robot communications, Ford has filed several patents on technologies that can serve to advance connected cars of the future.

“The challenge of creating a robust wireless communications network is shared between the space and automotive industries,” said Oleg Gusikhin, technical leader, Advanced Connected Services, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering. “These first results are very promising in terms of offering more reliable communications technology for the future of connected vehicles.”

The primary goal of the three-year joint project was the development of robust communication technology to connect drivers and service providers with information and services on the cloud. The key problem Ford set out to address was maintaining reliable communication between vehicles and the cloud in conditions where there was wireless network overload or poor connectivity.

How the prototype works

Data was collected and transmitted from moving vehicles, which featured a variety of capabilities for a connection to the cloud – cellular, Wi-Fi, and communication with other vehicles and the infrastructure. The team created an intelligent connectivity manager that uses software and algorithms to select from available connections the option best suited to transmit data to the cloud, with each vehicle given the opportunity to assess the quality of communication channels and to transmit data.

The researchers developed a small-scale connectivity coverage map that keeps the features of the landscape, while incorporating data on fixed and mobile wireless access points, the quality of service of the available communication channels as well as traffic conditions.

Specifically, the team looked at sharing critical information regarding a road emergency with drivers in an area that has poor connectivity. In this scenario, a car entering a tunnel encounters black ice and needs to send a signal noting the slippery conditions for other vehicles. There’s no cellular reception, and Wi-Fi is not an option because there’s no hot spot, but another car leaving the tunnel in the opposite direction has both vehicle-to-vehicle and a cellular connection.

The intelligent connectivity manager selects the second car’s vehicle-to-vehicle channel to deliver information gathered from the first car to the cloud so that it can then transmit a warning to other drivers of the dangerous conditions at the tunnel entrance. If no other cars are around, the connectivity manager would postpone sending the message until the first car leaves the tunnel and a cellular network becomes available.

In nonemergency situations, the connectivity manager can check the coverage map to determine the best point for service delivery. So if a vehicle is traveling in a remote area and a software update is sent out, the update would be delivered over the air when the connection is stronger.

What’s next

In the future, as information will be collected at the same time from hundreds of vehicles, a universal connectivity map will reflect the current data at all times – acting as a database for implementing smart roads and smart city projects. This means that in any given situation, whether moving or parked, the vehicle with the most stable connection – cellular, embedded modem, Wi-Fi, vehicle-to-everything – can be a resource to facilitate a reliable connection to information services, enhancing the connected experience for the entire motoring community.

Vladimir Zaborovsky, who heads up telematics for St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, is pleased with the findings of the project. “The developed solutions are of high reliability, scaleability and adaptability, and they open broad prospects for application – both in transportation logistics and in space robotics,” he said. “We’re looking forward to further collaborating with our colleagues from Ford.”

The project will be finalized by year-end, and the results could be integrated into Ford production programs – including vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the delivery of emergency messages and over-the-air software updates.

Applications in space

St. Petersburg State telematics researchers successfully carried out a series of experiments in space using the same multichannel connectivity fundamentals that served as the basis for the research project with Ford. Cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station used a joystick to control a robot based on Earth amidst noisy conditions, operating signal time delays and equipment failures.
Now, the team plans to advance the technology to remotely control a group of robots assembling scientific equipment and satellites.

Helping the Disabled Learn to Waterski | Good Works

Meet Travis Lukens, a waterski enthusiast dedicating his time to helping people with disabilities feel accepted in a surprising location—on the water.

In this week’s episode we head to Madison, Wisconsin, home of Colsac Skiers—an adaptive waterski school founded by Travis Lukens. Using his passion for water sports, his boat and his Ford F-150, Travis has found a way to help disabled folks enjoy the sport he loves so much.

America's Work Truck Reinvented: All-New Ford Super Duty Is Toughest, Smartest, Most Capable Super Duty Ever

• Toughest: All-new, high-strength steel frame; segment-first, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body; stronger axles, springs and suspension create the only Built Ford Tough heavy-duty truck lineup that works as hard as Super Duty customers
  

• Smartest: 16 class-exclusive new features and up to seven cameras make Super Duty the ultimate tow vehicle; adaptive steering technology makes maneuvering easier
  

• Most capable: Ford-engineered, Ford-built gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions power all-new Super Duty lineup that tows and hauls more than ever
  
  

DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2015 – Ford, America’s truck leader, today introduces the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever.

“Ford Super Duty is the truck America’s hardest-working men and women trust and depend on,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “We are helping these customers build a better world by delivering a new generation of pickups that set new benchmarks in capability, performance and efficiency.”

Using advanced materials to reduce weight, 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck and chassis cab feature all-new, segment-exclusive smart technology to help increase customer productivity, comfort and convenience.

“While Super Duty is America’s best-selling heavy-duty truck, we never take our leadership for granted,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. “Our team is using relentless innovation in materials, technology and Built Ford Tough engineering to deliver customers our best Super Duty yet.”

Toughest

The backbone is an all-new, fully boxed frame comprised of more than 95 percent high-strength steel that offers up to 24 times stiffer than the previous frame – enabling the most towing and hauling capability ever delivered by Super Duty. The new truck line features heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware.

For the first time, the Super Duty body uses high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy, which is more dent- and ding-resistant than the outgoing steel body and not subject to red rust corrosion.
Together, high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum alloy help reduce weight by up to 350 pounds while Ford is reinvesting additional weight savings everywhere it counts, to give customers more towing and hauling capability than ever before.

Super Duty chassis cab features an all-new, high-strength steel frame with an open-C-channel design behind the cab to enable easy aftermarket body upfit and modification.

Smartest

Towing is core to the Super Duty mission. All-new advanced coaching and camera technology makes conventional and gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing easier and more efficient than ever.

There are 16 segment-first new features – from LED lighting to adaptive cruise control – that assist Super Duty drivers to make driving and work situations easier and more comfortable.

As many as seven cameras help customers see more angles and monitor conditions surrounding the truck, and provide better trailering than ever before.

A center high-mounted stop lamp camera provides visibility into the cargo box, especially for easier hook-up of gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailers. A 360-degree camera system uses four digital, high-definition cameras to give the driver a bird’s-eye view surrounding Super Duty. Trailer reverse guidance provides visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer. A first-ever, factory-available trailer camera can be attached to a trailer to improve visibility backing up.

Customers will benefit from a segment-first, in-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system from the comfort of the cab while stopped or on the highway.

Adaptive steering provides for increased confidence to help make towing the heaviest of loads easier and brings greater ease to navigating job sites and parking lots – with or without a trailer. The technology reduces the amount of steering input needed to change direction at low speed, while reducing sensitivity to steering input at higher speeds.

The all-new F-Series Super Duty is available with numerous driver-assist technologies:

• SYNC^® 3 – Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system features faster performance, conversational voice recognition and an easier-to-understand graphical interface, along with an intuitive smartphone-like 8-inch touch screen
  
• Blind Spot Information System with trailer tow is optimized for Super Duty to include the length of the trailer; BLIS^® uses radar sensors in the taillamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver
  
• Lane departure warning provides a warning when a driver strays from a lane through a series of steering wheel vibrations that mimic rumble strips
  
• Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support use sensors to detect slower vehicles moving in the same direction.  If another vehicle is too close, red lights flash on the windshield and a warning sound chimes. If the driver does not hit the brakes, the brake system is pre-charged to stop faster when the brake pedal is pressed
  
   

Advanced light-emitting diode technology sheds light all around the new Super Duty, including:

• New LED sideview mirror spotlights enable illumination surrounding the truck to light up a work site or camp site
  
• Class-exclusive quad-beam LED headlamps and taillamps
  
• New LED cargo box lighting
  

Most capable

Light-weighting and improved capability work hand-in-hand in the all-new Ford F-Series Super Duty.

“As we remove weight, we’re making Super Duty more productive by giving our customers better towing and payload capability,” said Craig Schmatz, Super Duty chief engineer. “We’re backing up improved capability with a stronger gasoline and diesel Super Duty engine lineup.”

The second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel engine is available for pickup trucks and chassis cabs providing the highest combination of horsepower and torque ever.

The 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine comes equipped with the new TorqShift-G transmission for the F-250 pickup – allowing for improved capability.

The Super Duty chassis cab lineup offers a choice of 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel, 6.8-liter V10 gasoline or 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engines.

“The bottom line is Super Duty customers will be able to tow and haul more than ever before,” said Schmatz.

Interior and cargo box

All three cabs – Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab – are longer and feature a new interior design, including dual compartment glove box, overhead console-mounted auxiliary switches to operate aftermarket equipment, and completely flat SuperCab and Crew Cab second-row floors that make loading large items in the cab easy. Vital controls are close at hand, with the integrated trailer brake controller switch located even closer to the driver.

Customer accessibility and ease of use extend outside the truck as well, with the cargo box offering customers these class-exclusive features:

• BoxLink^™: Ford-patented combination of metal brackets and custom cleats that can be used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box
  
• Remote tailgate lock and release: Tailgate can be locked/unlocked and opened with the key fob, eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate is damped – dropping gently down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened
  
  

There are five models in the Super Duty lineup – XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.

The all-new Super Duty will be built at Kentucky Truck Plant, and goes on sale late next year.

Working Late Doesn’t Mean Working in the Dark with the 2015 Ford F-150

Master rigger, Sean Riley meets up with Brush Country contractors to show how the LED spotlights on the new 2015 Ford F-150 help get the job done – even when working late into night.

The first-in-class LED Side-Mirror Spotlights provide adjustable work lights to illuminate any task at hand from just about any angle.

2017 Super Duty Frame Stunt

The all-new 2017 Ford Super Duty is tough enough to take on any job you can think of, including supporting the weight of eight Ford F-150 trucks and the mighty Ford F-750 TONKA dump truck.

With a re-designed fully boxed frame, made of over 95% high strength steel is up to 24 times stiffer than the 2016 model; the 2017 Super Duty is the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever.

Introducing the all-new 2017 Ford Super Duty

See what makes the all-new 2017 Ford Super Duty the toughest, smartest and most capable Super Duty ever built.

Engineered for extremes with 6 times more high-strength steel and military-grade aluminum alloy that help reduce weight by up to 350 pounds—allowing those weight savings to be reinvested in the places where they matters most, like the fully boxed steel frame; bigger, stronger axles and upgraded suspension.

Ford's All-New Focus RS Sprints to 62 MPH in 4.7 Seconds and Hits 165 MPH

• All-new 2016 Ford Focus RS sprints from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 165 mph
• Fastest-ever Ford RS model will start at $36,605 featuring Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive and a projected 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque from its 2.3-liter EcoBoost^® engine
• Innovative Focus RS offers drive modes – including industry-first drift mode – along with launch control; customer deliveries of high-performance hatchback start in North America in spring 2016

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2015 – Ford Motor Company’s all-new Focus RS will sprint from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds – making the high-performance hatchback the fastest-accelerating RS model yet.

Focus RS – powered by a specially engineered version of Ford’s new 2.3-liter EcoBoost^® engine producing projected 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque – will reach a top speed of 165 mph.
For the United States, Focus RS pricing will start at $36,605.

The all-new 2016 Focus RS optimizes acceleration by introducing launch control technology to a Ford RS model for the first time. Focus RS also debuts new Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring – for outstanding traction and grip with dynamic agility and cornering speed.

“The all-new Focus RS will bring the legendary nameplate to a new generation of global customers for the first time,” said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Performance. “Focus RS delivers stunning performance and innovative technology at a price that will make both enthusiast consumers and premium automakers look twice.”

Focus RS launch control configures the car’s chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration – in various track conditions. The driver selects launch control from the cluster menu, engages first gear, applies full throttle and releases the clutch. The system then delivers optimum drive – including distributing torque through the all-wheel-drive system, maintaining maximum torque using the turbo overboost function, managing traction control and setting the dampers.

To achieve maximum acceleration through the gears, a performance shift light in the instrument cluster alerts the driver when approaching the optimum upshift point of 5,900 rpm, and flashes if the engine hits the 6,800-rpm limit.

Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive uses twin electronically controlled clutch packs to manage the car’s front/rear torque split, and can control side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle – delivering the torque vectoring capability that produces a dramatic impact on handling and cornering stability.

The all-wheel-drive system monitors inputs from multiple vehicle sensors 100 times per second. To deliver optimum driving dynamics, the system was calibrated alongside the car’s advanced electronic stability control, in particular, its brake-based Torque Vectoring Control that works in parallel with torque vectoring all-wheel drive.

Focus RS drivers can select from four different drive modes that configure the all-wheel-drive system, damper controls, electronic stability control, steering and engine responses, and exhaust sound to deliver optimum performance in road or circuit driving conditions. Normal, sport or track settings are available, along with a special drift mode to help the driver achieve controlled oversteer drifts at the track.

The new 2.3-liter EcoBoost shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminum four-cylinder EcoBoost in the all-new Ford Mustang. The engine is significantly upgraded to improve power by more than 10 percent. It features a new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with larger compressor, enhanced air intake design, and a large-bore high-performance exhaust.

Developed by a team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and the United States, the all-new Focus RS is the third-generation Focus RS – following models launched in 2002 and 2009.

Ford Performance serves as an innovation laboratory and test bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers. The group’s work in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency can be applied more broadly across Ford’s product portfolio.

The 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, Focus RS will be built in Saarlouis, Germany, and is one of 12 new performance vehicles Ford will bring to customers globally through 2020 as part of a new era of Ford performance. Ford expects delivery to North American customers in spring 2016.

Black Vehicles Most Popular, with Ford F-150 in Black the Most Searched Vehicle, Says Autotrader

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 21, 2015 – Black is the most popular vehicle color and Ford F-150 is the overall most searched-for black-colored vehicle on Autotrader – according to the car shopping site.

Autotrader site search activity between January and June 2015 shows one in four new cars searched on Autotrader was black. These results track to Ford marketing data that shows Tuxedo Black, synonymous with Metallic Black, tops the list as the overall most popular paint option nationally for the 2015 Ford F-150.

“Color is a very important part of the vehicle purchase,” said Barb Whalen, Ford color and materials design manager. “After, ‘What vehicle did you get?’ it’s usually the second question asked – ‘What color is it?’ People relate their style to their color selection because it says something about their personality.”

The popularity of black can be attributed in part to its association with strength and with more luxurious vehicles – according to Paul Czornij, North American coatings designer with BASF, a paint supplier for F-150.

“Black is a color of mystery, strength and boldness, and it’s very common on high-end vehicles because there’s that projection of power and strength,” said Czornij.

While black is the overall most popular choice, white has grown in popularity and now tops the list for King Ranch and Platinum F-150 models, a trend Czornij attributes to the color’s association with high-end, state-of-the-art smartphones and computers – an elegant and less utilitarian choice.

Depending on region, certain colors are more popular than others – particularly on higher trim levels. Magnetic and Bronze Fire are more popular on King Ranch and Lariat trucks out west – a trend Czornij attributes to an increased connection with the environment and the idea of “appropriateness” when it comes to selecting a color.

“With F-150, you have this idea of what sort of colors are appropriate for it,” he said. “A connection to nature is important in the Southwest and on the West Coast. It works overtly and, to some degree, on the subliminal level as well with truck buyers.”

Read more: http://www.autotrader.com/car-news/autotrader-announces-car-color-of-the-year-243814

2015 Ford F-150 vs. Dodge Ram

Find out what the Ford F-150 offers that the Dodge Ram doesn't!

Aluminum Cleatus Makes His Debut on FOX Sports

Out with the old, in with the new. Comedian Rob Riggle helps bring the Built Ford Tough FOX Sports Locker Room to the front lines of the game with a new military grade aluminum Cleatus.

2015 Ford F-150 | Wake Up Call

The message is loud and clear and it’s blaring in your ear: This is the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy Ford F-150. And every other truck is history.

2015 Ford F-150 vs. GMC Sierra

Find out what the Ford F-150 offers that the GMC Sierra doesn't!

Ford Research & Engineering Center Goes Landfill-Free

Ford Motor Company’s Research & Engineering Center is now landfill free, helping the automaker achieve its goal to trim global waste-to-landfill by 40 percent per vehicle produced from 2011 to 2016.

The R&E Center sits on 720 acres in Dearborn, Michigan near Ford World Headquarters. With more than 12,000 employees working out of 34 buildings including research labs, design studios, and a major data center, the campus is much like a small city. Paring waste streams will allow Ford to be more efficient while helping to improve the environment.

“Our global waste strategy commits Ford to reducing waste-to-landfill, and we have made great progress at our manufacturing plants,” said Andy Hobbs, Ford Motor Company director, Environmental Quality Office. “We are now extending this effort to our office and research facilities, and are proud to recognize the Research & Engineering Center for sending zero waste-to-landfill.”

Highlights include:

• The nearly three-year effort to achieve landfill-free status started by identifying various waste streams and categorizing them from smallest to largest. Waste managers and environmental engineers then worked to find creative solutions to avoid using landfills while not incurring additional cost to manage the waste. The move also included recycling training for campus employees
• The Research & Engineering Center houses test operations – including a test track, wind tunnels, crash sleds and dynamometers
• The campus now diverts 230,000 pounds of waste from landfills annually
• Ford has reduced the amount of global waste sent to landfills by 50 percent per vehicle over the last five years
• Thirty Ford facilities no longer send any waste to landfills; this includes all Canadian and Mexican manufacturing plants
• Ford is committed to improving its environmental impact. The company is working to shrink greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing facilities by 30 percent per vehicle between 2010 and 2025. Ford eased global water use by 30 percent per vehicle from a 2009 baseline – reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule. Since 2011, Ford has been working to trim energy consumption by 25 percent by 2016
• Ford holds the No. 1 rank on Interbrand’s 2014 list of the 50 Best Global Green Brands. Ford claimed the top spot for its forward-thinking approach to environmentally responsible and sustainable manufacturing, and for greater transparency in its business operations and disclosure of information – particularly involving manufacturing

2015 Ford F-150 vs. Toyota Tundra

Find out what the Ford F-150 offers that the Toyota Tundra doesn't!

Ford Adaptive Steering System Launching on 2016 Ford Edge Will Change How the World Turns

• Adaptive steering is a new generation of steering technology from Ford that improves steering efficiency at any speed – making the vehicle easier to maneuver and more fun to drive
• Housed entirely within the steering wheel, latest technology from Ford is a smart solution that will benefit drivers in all driving conditions
• Ford adaptive steering to be standard on 2016 Edge Sport and available on Edge Titanium

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 15, 2015 – When the 2016 Ford Edge reaches showrooms later this year, Ford Motor Company will introduce an innovative new technology that will redefine the idea of “power steering.”

Ford’s adaptive steering makes it easier for drivers to maneuver a vehicle at low speeds while making the vehicle more fun to drive and agile at high speeds. Adaptive steering will be standard on Edge Sport and available on Edge Titanium.

“First and foremost, all Ford Motor Company products have to offer a great driving experience,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “This new steering technology can help make vehicles easy to maneuver and fun to drive.”

Adaptive steering changes the ratio between the driver’s actions at the steering wheel – the number of turns – and how much the front wheels turn. In vehicles without the technology, this is a fixed steering ratio. With adaptive steering, the ratio continually changes with vehicle speed, optimizing the steering response in all conditions.                        

At lower speeds, such as when pulling into a parking space or maneuvering in tight areas, fewer turns of the steering wheel are required. Adaptive steering makes the vehicle more agile and easier to turn as it dials more steering into the road wheel.

At highway speeds, the system optimizes steering response, letting the vehicle react more smoothly to each steering input.

The system – created in collaboration with engineers from TKAG, a Germany-based automotive supplier – uses a precision-controlled actuator placed inside the steering wheel, and requires no change to a vehicle’s traditional steering system.

The actuator – an electric motor and gearing system – can essentially add to or subtract from a driver’s steering inputs. The result is a better driving experience at all speeds, regardless of vehicle size or class.

After rolling out on the 2016 Edge, adaptive steering will be available for other Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the future. It is also being introduced in Europe, initially on Ford S-MAX and Galaxy.

Behind the Sounds of the Ford GT in Forza Motorsport 6

Meet the man who helped replicate the sound of the all-new Ford GT for Forza Motorsport 6 before the vehicle even touched pavement.

Nick Wiswell of Turn10 Studios is a master of audio, not only developing the sound for the all-new Ford GT as brought to life by Forza but calculating the sound of rain drops on its carbon fiber body and the sound it would make when crashed as well. ¬

Evolution of the Mustang Steering Wheel

When Mustang first debuted in 1964, it singlehandedly defined the Pony Car segment and has been setting the standard for design ever since.

It has influenced trends in every aspect of vehicle styling, including the steering wheel.

The all-new Ford Mustang carries on that leadership trend. From bare aluminum and resin, to Alcantara-wrapped with drive-mode and steering-effort control, Ford is reinventing the wheel.

America's Businesses Turn to Ford Vans as Economy Grows; Ford Vans Are Top Sellers in 47 States

• More than half of commercial van customers in the United States in the first six months of 2015 bought a Ford van – Transit, Transit Connect or E-Series
• Ford is the fastest-growing brand in the commercial van market, driving 80 percent of the segment’s growth in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of new vehicle registrations from IHS Automotive
• Top-selling commercial van in 47 states is a Ford van

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 9, 2015 – Growing businesses are increasingly turning to Ford commercial vans, making Ford the largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of commercial vans in the United States in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of IHS new vehicle registrations through June.

Ford vans have been America’s best-selling commercial vans for 36 years, helping businesses transport equipment to job sites, shuttle passengers to their destinations and more. The new Transit, which went on sale just last summer, can be converted to serve as emergency response vehicles, food trucks and mobile dog grooming studios.

Businesses can choose from 58 vehicle configurations with the introduction of a dual sliding door option on the 2016 Transit van, meaning the vehicle with the most configurations in its class just got even more flexible.

“Transit customers appreciate the van’s flexibility because it can enable them to right-size their vehicle to the needs of their vocation.” says Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. “There are 12 ship-through upfitters located within 30 miles of Kansas City Assembly Plant, making it easy and fast for customers to design their Transit vans to serve their business requirements.”

Transit sales success has led Ford to capture 56 percent of the U.S. commercial van market as of June 2015 – up from 48 percent in June 2014, according to IHS new commercial vehicle registration data.
Commercial van sales are increasing as the U.S. economy is growing, and Ford vans drove 80 percent of growth in the segment in the first half of the year, according to Ford analysis of IHS data.
Ford commercial van sales increased 28 percent January through June, while the segment overall grew 11 percent.

Ford vans are top sellers in 47 states, according to Ford analysis of IHS data. Those 47 states represent 99.09% of the U.S. population.

Ford Transit became the best-selling full-size van in America just six months after it went on sale, replacing America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. For the 2015 model year, Ford produced more than 100,000 Transit vans, wagons, cutaways and chassis cabs at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Ford Transit Connect, America’s small commercial van pioneer, has been on sale since 2009 and has reigned as the country’s best-seller in the segment for the last five years. Transit Connect leads the small commercial van segment with 69 percent share and is on pace to have another record year, with commercial sales up 43 percent in the first half of 2015.

Ford Transit Connect Grows a Business

This jack-of-all-trades business needs to complete at least five jobs a day to be profitable. The Transit works like a pair of track shoes for a worker always on the run.

Ford Mustang: World's Best-Selling Sports Car in Early 2015; Production Begins on Right-Hand-Drive Model

• Mustang is the world’s best-selling sports car in the first half of 2015, according to IHS Automotive global registration data
  
  
• Global Mustang momentum continues to build as production of the right-hand-drive model officially kicks off at Flat Rock Assembly Plant
  
  
• 2015 marks first year Mustang is available to customers around the world in more than 100 markets and the first time a right-hand-drive model will be widely available
  

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 8, 2015 – Customers around the world have made Ford Mustang the best-selling sports car on the globe during the first half of the year, according to global IHS Automotive registration data.

During the first six months of 2015, customers globally registered 76,124 vehicles – a 56 percent increase versus the same period last year.

“Initial global response to the Mustang has been strong, and we are only in second gear,” said Stephen Odell, executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “We continue accelerating production and global reach with right-hand-drive models now coming out of the plant.”
Production of the right-hand-drive Mustang model is officially underway at Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich., continuing the car’s first-ever global launch.

This is the first year Mustang is available to customers in more than 100 markets around the world – including those where motorists drive on the left side of the road.

The addition of a right-hand-drive Mustang to Ford’s global vehicle lineup allows export to more than 25 of those markets around the globe, including the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, as well as Cyprus, Malta and a smattering of Caribbean islands.

Global sales leader

Sales in the U.S. and Asia began last winter, and Mustangs made their way to European markets this summer.

In the U.S., Mustang sales were up 70 percent in August, overtaking the Chevy Camaro for best-selling sports car in the U.S., based on Ford reported sales data.

New buyers are driving U.S. sales growth, especially in regions such as Southern California – the largest sports car market in the country, according to IHS – where Mustang retail sales have more than doubled this year.

While Mustang is a new entry into the China market, it is already one of the nation’s top-selling sports cars, with hottest sales in Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai.

Models are just starting to hit dealerships in Europe, with customers eagerly awaiting delivery of the first right-hand-drive models in markets such as the UK. Almost 2,000 Ford Mustang orders have been taken in the UK since January. First customer deliveries are expected in November, with extra supply secured to meet the greater-than-expected demand.

Customer anticipation for Mustang in Europe was obvious last year when Ford opened pre-ordering for 500 Mustangs during the 2014 UEFA Champions League finals; customers filled the pre-order list in mere minutes.

Another right-hand-drive market eagerly awaiting units is Australia, where nearly 3,000 orders already have been received. Four hundred orders have been received in New Zealand, another right-hand-drive market where customer deliveries begin this fall.

And which colors are most popular among all-new Mustang customers? Initial sales show that in Europe, Magnetic Grey and Race Red are the most popular exterior paint color choices. Race Red is also the top choice for customers in China, followed by Black. Meanwhile, Black takes the top spot in both the U.S. and the Middle East.    

Ford Trucks Own Work: How the F-Series Has Helped Own Work throughout History and Today

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept., 7, 2015 – In recognition of the Labor Day holiday honoring the achievements of American workers, Ford Motor Company is highlighting how Ford Trucks have helped our customers build a better world for nearly a century.

There’s a reason why Ford trucks own work. Ford’s involvement in some of the most challenging work projects in U.S. history demonstrates why Ford F-Series trucks have earned the trust of America’s hardest workers as the toughest, smartest and most capable trucks on the road.

More than any other heavy-duty pickup in the market, Ford F-Series is trusted by tradesmen to get the job done. Some statistics include:

• 81.7% of workers in the waste management industry use Ford Super Duty;
  
• 78%  of government workers use Ford Super Duty;
  
• 53.7% of highway and street construction workers use Ford Super Duty;
  
• 72.7% of electric services workers use Ford F-150;
  
• 61.2% of water, sewer and pipeline construction workers use Ford F-150; and
  
• 56.3% of crude petroleum and natural gas workers use Ford F-150 to get the job done.
  

But it takes more than statistics to tell this story. Ford’s reputation is based in its Built Ford Tough promise to customers.

Mario Sinacola and Sons, a successful excavation contractor, is using a fleet of F-Series to build the new Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Frisco, Texas (commonly referred to as “The Star in Frisco”). The fleet ranges from the all-new Ford F-150 – Ford’s toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – to the Ford F-750.

“We’ve had good luck in regards to the reliability of Ford trucks and we have a lot of history with Ford. We also like that we can be consistent from F-150 up to F-750 throughout our fleet,” said Lynn Vanlandingham, VP of Equipment Operations, Mario Sinacola and Sons.

When complete in the fall of 2016, the new Dallas Cowboys development will feature a practice stadium and multi-use special event center, two outdoor practice fields and a full headquarters facility for the Cowboys. The Star in Frisco is part of a multi-billion dollar development.

“The Cowboys organization has a longstanding partnership with Ford Motor Company,” said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Dallas Cowboys. “It’s great to know that the workhorse of Ford, the F-150, is helping in the building of the future home of the Dallas Cowboys.”

The Ford F-Series line of trucks has also owned work on a diverse mix of some of the most important infrastructure projects in U.S. History:

Building the Hoover Dam: In 1931, when work began on the greatest hydraulic construction project ever – the Hoover Dam – workers on the project relied heavily on Ford trucks for their toughness and strength. According to Ford archives, estimates of materials to be hauled for the project include 5.5 million barrels of cement, 5 million cubic yards concrete masonry, 15 million pounds of hydraulic equipment, 40 million pounds of electrical equipment, nearly 20 million pounds of gates and valves and 30 million pounds of reinforcing steel.

At the Edge of the Arctic: The Alaska Road Commission used Ford trucks to help build and maintain more than 2,000 miles of road and 70,000 miles of trails. Ford trucks often took on soft, thawing ground, hauled rock, gravel timber or dirt, pushed graders and worked on scores of other necessary jobs. In 1939, a loaded, two-ton Ford V-8 truck could easily make the 370-mile run from Valdez to Fairbanks – via gravel roads – with an average speed of over 20-mph.

Fort Peck Dam Construction: In 1933, Near Glasgow, Montana, construction began on Fort Peck Dam across the Missouri River. At the time, this was the world’s largest earthen dam (containing some 123 million cubic yards of earth). During construction, Ford V-8 trucks hauled 14 million yards of earth to clear a path.

Powering Los Angeles: Ford trucks were put to work in the late 1930s on the construction of the Hoover Dam Transmission Line that would power the city of Los Angeles for the next 100 years. Concrete mixing equipment mounted on Ford trucks made possible speedy pouring of concrete foundations for the towers. Trucks were driven from tower to tower, and winch gear units mounted on Ford V-8s hoisted the towers. Even a portable service station rode a V-8 and supplied fuel to other field equipment strung across the desert.

History repeats itself, and the hardest workers choose Ford trucks. This is why Ford owns work.

Bowhunting Gets A Boost | 2015 Ford F-150

Efficient power is the key to making a name for yourself in the great, big outdoors, whether you’re bowhunting or behind the wheel of the 2015 Ford F-150.

Renowned bow hunter Fred Eichler talks power and efficiency – and how you can have both. Out in the field, with modern compound bows and on the road, with the available EcoBoost-powered, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body Ford F-150.

Ford F-150 Surprises Construction Workers with Massaging Seats

We surprised some of the hardest working guys in Michigan with the massaging seats now available on the Ford F-150. The new F-150 is more than the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever. F-150 King Ranch, Platinum and Limited editions offer passenger convenience features rivaling high-end luxury vehicles, making F-150 versatile and exceptionally comfortable to drive. With a maximum tow rating of up to 12,200 pounds and the first-ever multi-contour massaging seats available for a full-size pickup, now you can work hard and reward yourself.

Ford Inspires Tomorrow's Leaders Today with New Global Grant, Innovative Employee Civic Leadership Program

• Bill Ford Better World Challenge, a new global grant program, will award up to $500,000 a year to employee-led Ford Volunteer Corps projects
• Ford is also launching an innovative new leadership course for younger employees to learn civic engagement skills while sharing their own insights with nonprofits
• New survey finds young adults value volunteering more than the rest of the population, and prefer to support charities with time instead of money

DETROIT, Sept. 2, 2015 – Ford Motor Company announces two new initiatives today that strengthen its leadership in community service and provide younger employees an innovative opportunity to explore their growing interest in civic engagement and volunteering.

Ford and Executive Chairman Bill Ford are launching the Bill Ford Better World Challenge, a global grant program that will award up to $500,000 to community service projects identified by company employees. The program, jointly funded by the company and Bill Ford, will work in tandem with Ford Volunteer Corps – Ford’s international network of 30,000 volunteers that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Ford is also starting Thirty Under 30, in which 30 U.S. employees under the age of 30 will be selected for a yearlong course to learn civic engagement and leadership skills with a focus on philanthropy and volunteerism. The program will also pair employees with nonprofits so both Ford and charitable organizations can learn from younger generations.

“Community service is one of the hallmarks of our company and the Ford family,” said Bill Ford. “As we celebrate the incredible achievements of the Ford Volunteer Corps, we are looking to the future with innovative programs that further harness the power of our volunteers and build the next generation of community leaders.”

The Ford Volunteer Corps was launched by Bill Ford in 2005 in response to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. Assisting in post-tsunami rebuilding efforts was among the Corps’ first work, as employees from Ford Thailand took a 14-hour bus ride to spend a week at a time in sweltering conditions mixing concrete, making roof tiles, digging foundations, building walls and helping villagers start to get their lives back. 

That outreach and sense of community has grown into a highly coordinated global network in which each year 30,000 volunteers work on 1,600 projects across six continents. Whether helping children read, fighting hunger or delivering clean water, thousands of Ford volunteers have worked on 9,000 projects in more than 40 countries, contributing more than 1 million hours of community service.

To expand on that, the Bill Ford Better World Challenge aims to give employee volunteers the opportunity to work with local groups where Ford does business to apply for community service project funding under the new grant program. The projects will focus on three categories that create sustainable solutions to community needs – mobility; basic needs such as food and shelter; and water-related issues including access, sanitation and hygiene. Funding is expected to be awarded by the middle of 2016.

Meantime, the Ford Volunteer Corps’ signature Global Week of Caring is being expanded from one week in September to the entire month. Ford Global Caring Month will open more opportunities for Ford employees to volunteer and broaden the company’s global focus on community service.

Nearly 20,000 volunteers are expected to work on 360 projects around the world – from cleaning up beaches in Angola to renovating a daycare for children with disabilities in the United Kingdom. In the United States, more than 2,300 Ford employees will participate in more than 160 volunteer projects across nine states throughout the month, including a Ford Accelerated Action Day Sept. 11.

The new Thirty Under 30 program, which gets under way next year, taps into a growing interest among younger employees to become involved in their communities beyond sending money to charitable organizations. The program will start as a U.S. pilot project.

“I often say that the work I do is for my children and grandchildren,” said Bill Ford. “I believe we must help younger generations become careful stewards of the world they are inheriting.”

A new Nielsen survey among 1,000 U.S. respondents over the age of 18 found 63 percent of the Millennials in the group felt community volunteering was important, compared to 56 percent among the rest of the respondents. More than half of the Millennials said they would volunteer for charity instead of giving money, versus 17 percent who said they would prefer to only send money. Millennials are typically defined as people born from 1982 to 2004.  

“Younger generations have shown they see community building as part of their career goals,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “With Thirty Under 30, we are not only helping our younger employees work with nonprofits, we will learn from them how to design corporate philanthropy in the future.”

Ford Transit Helps a Plumber Take Water to New Levels.

K.C. Montgomery is helping his customers find innovative ways to get the most out of their water in drought-ravaged California. He isn’t your average plumber -- and his Ford Transit isn’t your average work van: Customized shelving and storage, lots of space to load and unload and incredible on-road efficiency. See how Transit has completely changed the face of K.C.’s business.

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.

Time Warner Cable Adds Ford F-150 to Its Fleet for Work Capability, Lower Operating Costs and Energy Efficiency

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 1, 2015 – Time Warner Cable is the latest company to add the 2015 Ford F-150 to its fleet – purchasing more than 540 trucks built by America’s truck leader.

Time Warner Cable (TWC) chose F-150 as the vehicle best suited to continue to build a work-ready, energy-saving fleet that achieves greater levels of sustainability, environmental efficiency and lower operating costs.

The 2015 F-150 is up to 700 pounds lighter than previous F-150 trucks – resulting in greater towing and payload capacities, an improved power-to-weight ratio, and better performance and fuel efficiency.

When equipped with an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost^® engine with standard Auto Start-Stop Technology, the F-150 4x2 has a best-in-class EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined (actual mileage will vary). The 2.7-liter EcoBoost enables an estimated 29 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with the 5.0L V8 engine.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost produces 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque with a maximum payload rating of 2,250 pounds and maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds – ideal for meeting mid-range capability requirements and the needs of more than 90 percent of light-duty truck customers.

“The 2015 Ford F-150 is the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever, and sets the standard for technology,” said Kevin Koswick, director, Ford North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations. “Time Warner Cable’s choice of Ford F-150 will further help reduce the fleet’s environmental footprint and lower operating costs.”

TWC’s fleet drivers will use the trucks to transport equipment for installing and servicing Internet, TV and phone services to its customers’ homes and businesses. The company, based in New York City, is the nation’s second largest cable broadband firm. TWC says it selected Ford F-150 for its work-ready capability and multiple energy-efficient technologies.

The F-150 trucks come with the available 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, and standard Auto Start-Stop. This technology, specially tuned for truck customers, shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop – except when towing or in four-wheel drive – to give drivers power on demand when they need it most. When the brake is released, the engine restarts quickly.

 “Time Warner Cable is committed to reducing our impact on the environment,” said George Survant, senior director, Fleet Management, Time Warner Cable. “The Ford F-150 is another way to help us achieve our sustainability goals. Energy and fuel efficiency are very important to us as we continue our efforts to ensure the TWC fleet is environmentally friendly.”

TWC has added more than 400 diesel Ford Transit vans and 200 Transit Connect vans to its fleet in recent years. The Transit vans achieved an estimated 47 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Time Warner Cable estimates saving 2,900 tons of greenhouse gas emissions as it continues to make upgrades to its fleet.

TWC received accreditation from the NAFA Fleet Management Association as a NAFA Sustainable Fleet for successfully demonstrating the progress made toward reducing total emissions and the negative environmental impact made by extraneous carbon fuel usage. TWC was also recently announced as a finalist in the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation 2015 Corporate Citizenship Awards for Best Environmental Stewardship Program.