We Own Work: Inside the Manufacturing of the All-New 2017 Ford Super Duty (Extended Version)

Five truck customers head inside the Kentucky Truck Plant for exclusive behind-the-scenes access to witness the unique manufacturing innovations involved in creating the smartest, toughest and most capable Super Duty ever.

In this episode, our teams of Insiders see the innovative joining techniques used to build the Super Duty’s high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body. From self-piercing rivets to flow-drill screws and powerful structural adhesives, this is truly manufacturing at its best.

Ford Introduces Kansas City-Built F-150 MVP Edition

• Limited run of 300 Ford F-150 MVP edition trucks built at Kansas City Assembly Plant
• Suggested by a Ford customer, 2016 Ford F-150 MVP edition follows the 1986 Ford Ranger MVP edition – first time Kansas City celebrated a professional baseball world championship
• Midwest Ford Dealers renewed its sponsorship for the 2016 season with Kansas City Royals

CLAYCOMO, Mo., March 29, 2016 – Ford, America’s truck leader, salutes Kansas City’s world championship by announcing a limited run of 300 Ford F-150 MVP edition trucks built at Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Based on the F-150 XLT with chrome package and available in either Oxford White or Blue Flame, F-150 MVP edition includes special MVP badging, unique polished stainless rocker panels and a spray-in bedliner.  

The 2016 Ford F-150 MVP edition started as an idea from Marc Lassalle, a Kansas City Royals fan, to celebrate his team’s second world championship. It follows the 1986 Ford Ranger MVP edition, created and sold in 1985 to celebrate Kansas City’s first time as world champions.  

“Like our manufacturing team members at Kansas City Assembly Plant, the Kansas City Royals are a great example of what terrific teamwork can accomplish,” said Gary Johnson, Ford vice president for North America manufacturing.

F-150 MVP edition customizations are added at Kansas City’s unique SubTropolis underground business complex, where Ford applies custom accessories to its vehicles in the energy-efficient cave system.

Ford worked with former Kansas City Royals star Bret Saberhagen, from the 1985 team roster, and Salvador Pérez, from the 2015 Kansas City lineup, to promote the F-150 MVP edition.

Saberhagen will be on hand today to greet Kansas City Assembly Plant employees. Midwest Ford Dealers has also renewed its sponsorship agreement with the Kansas City Royals for 2016.

The F-150 MVP edition is on sale now at Kansas City area Ford dealers.

Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang Named Sports Car of the Year by Popular Mechanics

DEARBORN, Mich., March 23, 2016 – Ford Shelby^® GT350R Mustang, one of the most iconic performance nameplates of all time, has been named Popular Mechanics Sports Car of the Year. Popular Mechanics says Shelby GT350R was selected from among a host of contenders because it pushes the boundaries of what an American sports car can be. Shelby GT350R’s unique, high-revving flat-plane crankshaft 5.2-liter V8 produces 526 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque – the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever for the most track-capable, street-legal Mustang ever built.

Ease of service? Ford Medium Duty hits the mark.

Jon Taffer shows these real fleet buyers how easy it is doing business with Ford Trucks. Maximize your uptime thanks to your local Ford dealership, where every vehicle your business needs is sold and serviced under one roof.

Ford, Spotify Team Up to Enhance Entertainment Experience for FordPass Members

• Spotify joins McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and BP as partners participating in the FordPass^® experience; new collaboration aims to create a great music experience for members
  
• FordPass membership available to Ford vehicle owners and non-owners alike
• FordPass, a new mobility experience platform, reimagines the relationship between automaker and consumer by offering benefits that include a marketplace of mobility services and rewards for membership

DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2016 – With Americans spending more than 900 hours a year mobile – and 25 hours or more per week listening to music – Ford and music streaming leader Spotify are teaming up to create a new entertainment experience for FordPass members.

As part of its transformation into an auto and mobility company, Ford is introducing FordPass – a platform that reimagines the relationship between automaker and consumer.  The mobility experience platform aims to do for car owners what iTunes did for music fans.

“The FordPass platform is about understanding people’s needs and developing great experiences and ways to help them move better,” said Elena Ford, Ford vice president, global dealer and consumer experience. “The combination of FordPass and Spotify will create a great music experience both inside and outside of the vehicle.”

FordPass reimagines the relationship between automaker and consumer by offering benefits that will include a marketplace of mobility services and rewards for membership loyalty. Spotify is the newest FordPass Appreciation partner, joining McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and BP as retailers that will provide members with merchandise and unique experiences.

One focus of FordPass is to tap into the more than 900 hours annually that people spend on the move and provide for them the entertainment options they desire. In addition to music offerings from Spotify, FordPass also plans to partner with providers of news, sports, children’s programming, audiobooks and more.

“Our goal is to light up the FordPass experience with music,” said Jorge Espinel, Spotify vice president for business development. “We want to be everywhere fans listen to music, and this partnership deepens our relationship with Ford and FordPass members.”

The FordPass-Spotify partnership marks the latest link between the two companies. Spotify already is one of many apps that interacts with Ford SYNC^® AppLink^™. AppLink enables drivers to connect their vehicle and smartphone, and projects apps to the center console-mounted touch screen. Commands can be given via voice or touch.

FordPass is part of Ford Smart Mobility, the plan to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.

A FordPass membership is complimentary for Ford vehicle owners and non-owners alike. The platform officially launches in April in the United States and Canada. Members of FordPass will benefit from four elements: Appreciation, which includes offerings from Spotify, as well as Marketplace, FordGuides and FordHubs.

Marketplace

All FordPass members will have access to the Marketplace of mobility services. Ford is working with ParkWhiz and Parkopedia to help people find and pay for parking more easily, and with FlightCar to help members borrow and share vehicles when they travel. In the future, services will include ride sharing and car sharing, multimodal transportation and more.

Members can pay for services through FordPay – a virtual wallet that is part of FordPass.

Ford owners can easily connect with their preferred dealer to schedule maintenance and service appointments or to review their Ford Credit vehicle finance account details. Members who own a Ford vehicle equipped with SYNC Connect, debuting on the 2017 Ford Escape this spring, can use FordPass to lock, unlock or locate their vehicle and schedule remote starts.

FordGuides

No one wants to be just a number. That’s why FordPass members can speak directly to trusted and knowledgeable FordGuides – all at the touch of a button.

For example, if a member decides he would like to book advanced parking for an upcoming show but is unsure how to reserve it, one push of a button on his smartphone lands him in a live chat with a FordGuide who will lead him through the options and help to reserve parking.

The guides will be available free of charge. Their only job is to guide, serve and help solve mobility challenges – not to sell.

Appreciation

FordPass Appreciation is about making mobility more rewarding – no matter the journey.
In the future, members will be rewarded for doing little things, such as simply registering to become a member, booking parking or interacting with FordGuides.

And by collaborating with affinity partners McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, BP, Spotify and others, FordPass can recognize members with access to merchandise and unique experiences.

FordHubs

FordPass also includes the opening of FordHubs, where consumers will be able to explore the company’s latest innovations, learn about its mobility services and experience exclusive events.
The first of these urban storefronts opens later this year at Westfield World Trade Center in New York. It will be joined by FordHubs in San Francisco, London and Shanghai.

On-site FordGuides will help guests understand mobility options available in their cities, explore solutions for their mobility needs, view a real-time mobility map of their city, and experience special events, including new vehicle reveals.

Ford Celebrates Women's Contributions to the Workforce with Special Honor Flight for Original Rosie the Riveters

• Ford is celebrating dozens of original Rosie the Riveters with a special Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial and luncheon on Capitol Hill
• Thousands of Rosies joined the workforce at Ford’s Willow Run Bomber Plant and elsewhere during World War II, helping open the door for women in the workforce
• Today’s Honor Flight is part of Ford’s continuing commitment to supporting opportunities for women and military veterans

DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2016 – They were traditional American housewives, mothers and daughters in the 1940s, when suddenly everything changed. Millions of men left home to fight in World War II, and the country needed help to produce the machines of war. An army of women answered the call.

They became known as Rosie the Riveters, thanks to a popular film and promotional campaign. In addition to their work on assembly lines, they had a lasting impact on the country, changing perceptions and expanding opportunities for future women in the workforce.

Ford Motor Company Fund, Talons Out Honor Flight and Yankee Air Museum today flew 30 original Rosie the Riveters to Washington, D.C., to celebrate their critical contributions to the war effort. The Rosies, ages 88-98, are being treated to a visit to the World War II Memorial and a special luncheon in their honor at the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill with members of Congress from Michigan.

Ford and its Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, was a major force in the Arsenal of Democracy, the term given to the industrial powers that came together to support the Allied war effort and victory. The plant’s mile-long assembly line churned out nearly 9,000 B-24 Liberators – one every hour, or half of all the B-24s built during the war. At peak production, Willow Run employed 42,000 workers, up to one-third of them pioneering women industrial workers.

“These women not only helped win a war, they paved the way for future generations to achieve economic and personal independence,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, the philanthropic arm of Ford. “It is an honor to celebrate their vital contributions to our country and the cause of freedom.”

Today’s Honor Flight is part of Ford’s ongoing support for women and military veterans. Ford has sponsored 11 Honor Flights of World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. Last year, Ford Fund supported the Freedom Sisters REBOOT Workshop, which helped integrate women military veterans back into civilian life.

Ford’s support for veterans and their families dates back more than 90 years through its relationship with DAV, formerly Disabled American Veterans, and the DAV Transportation Network. Ford also supports Focus on Freedom, a program honoring veterans at the annual Ford Fireworks in Detroit.
Meantime, a key section of the historic Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant will become the new home for Yankee Air Museum following a successful fund-raising campaign to preserve and renovate the facility. In tribute to her lasting legacy, more than 2,000 women last year gathered at Willow Run Airport to set the record for the most representatives of Rosie to assemble in one place.

Ford F-150, Edge, Transit Connect Honored with TrueCar Awards Recognizing Highest Retained Value

DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2016 – The 2014 Ford F-150, Edge and Transit Connect will retain the highest percentage of their value as they enter the market for resale in 2016, according to TrueCar, which has recognized the three vehicles with its inaugural Pre-Owned Value Awards, making Ford the leader in truck segments.

The new awards, powered by ALG, TrueCar’s analytics division, evaluate pre-owned model-year 2014 vehicles available for resale in 2016 that are expected to retain the highest percentage of their value during the next three years.

The 2014 F-150 won the full-size pickup category in the 2016 Pre-Owned Value Awards. The 2016 F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – has helped make Ford F-Series the best-selling truck in America for 39 years running, and America’s top-selling vehicle for 34 consecutive years. Ford has the most F-Series trucks on the road with more than 250,000 miles compared with any other competitor.¹

The 2014 Edge won among midsize utility vehicles with second-row seating. With an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost^® V6 engine, available enhanced active park assist and an available front 180-degree camera, the 2016 Edge is a showcase of Ford innovation that helps drivers be unstoppable.

The 2014 Transit Connect won the midsize commercial vehicle category. Strong demand for the current Transit Connect – along with Transit and E-Series – made Ford the best-selling brand of commercial vans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in 2015, based on the company’s analysis of IHS Automotive total vehicle registration data and Ford custom segmentation for commercial vans.

TrueCar Pre-Owned Value Award winners are determined through careful analysis of used vehicle performance, brand outlook and product competitiveness. Eligibility for a brand award requires a manufacturer to have vehicle entries in at least four different segments. To account for differences across trim levels, model averages are weighted based on percentage share relative to the entire model line.

¹ Based on vehicle registration data and latest odometer readings available to Polk for 1992 and newer model year full-size pickups still on the road in the U.S. as of 4/1/15.

Ford Shelby GT350, GT350R Mustang Named Automobile Magazine All-Star

DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2016 – With scoring criteria including style, class, importance and desirability, it's no wonder editors chose the 526-horsepower Shelby GT350^® and Shelby^® GT350R Mustang as an Automobile Magazine All-Star winner for 2016.

"The GT350R has a very 'mean American' feel but balances that with a very good chassis," said Automobile's Marc Noordeloos. He called Shelby Mustang a classic pony car, but one with "excellent dynamics." Of 25 vehicles evaluated, only seven took home awards.

Automobile chooses its All-Star contenders from the entire range of all-new, heavily revised or newly significant vehicles on sale or otherwise available in the United States in the 12 months preceding the test. The magazine's editors spend multiple days driving the vehicles on both road and track, then cast their votes for the winners by private ballot.

Ford Named Best Overall Truck Brand for Third Consecutive Year by Kelley Blue Book

DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2016 – Ford, America’s truck leader, has been named Best Overall Truck Brand for the third year in a row by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

Ford has earned the honor seven out of eight times Kelley Blue Book has presented the award. F-150 helped Ford win the award for 2016, as truck shoppers ranked Ford highest among all truck brands.

The 2016 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – introduces segment-first Pro Trailer Backup Assist^™. The technology makes it easier for drivers of all skill levels to back a trailer up instinctively by turning a knob left or right to indicate direction – the truck controls its steering and limits vehicle speed.

Ford F-Series Super Duty, America’s best-selling heavy-duty pickup truck, continues its leadership with best-in-class 440 diesel horsepower and 860 lb.-ft. of torque.

Along with the Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 turbo diesel, Super Duty is available with a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces best-in-class standard horsepower of 385 along with 405 lb.-ft. of torque.

The all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty ever – goes on sale this fall.

2016 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards are based on the Brand Watch^™ study from Kelley Blue Book Strategic Insights. For more information, visit www.kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book is a registered trademark of Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc.

Ford to Share Environmental Stewardship Program for Its Suppliers at G7 Alliance Forum on Resource Efficiency

• Ford Partnership for A Cleaner Environment, or PACE program, guides the company’s suppliers on its best practices for water, energy and carbon emissions reductions; with potential for broad global outcomes, PACE aims to help Ford suppliers minimize their impact on the environment

• Ford will introduce PACE Tuesday to the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency at its workshop in Washington, D.C., highlighting details of its best practices and addressing key environmental issues

• Ethisphere Institute recently named Ford to its 2016 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies^® for the seventh consecutive year, the only automaker to earn the distinction; award recognizes world’s top companies for mandating ethical practices and promoting corporate citizenship, as well as governance and leadership

DEARBORN, Mich., March 21, 2016 – Ford Motor Company will provide a briefing at a forum of the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, highlighting its Partnership for A Cleaner Environment. PACE is a program that aims to help the company’s suppliers minimize their impact on the environment by sharing details of Ford’s best practices for water, energy and carbon dioxide reduction.

“We are committed to expanding our stewardship with our global suppliers to help minimize our environmental impact more broadly,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford group vice president, global purchasing. “By sharing our practices and our processes at the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency workshop, we hope to foster innovation and collaboration to address sustainability-related issues and advance environmental responsibility.”

The G7 Alliance brings together the nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and United States to improve health, empower women and promote climate protection. The G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency workshop serves as a forum for participants to share best practices and innovations with businesses and other relevant agencies.

Ford has long been committed to reducing its impact on the environment, and its efforts have yielded proven results. Far more than an environmental concern, Ford views commodities such as water as a basic right for people everywhere – a resource that should be clean, affordable and accessible.

In 2000, for example, Ford began setting year-over-year reduction targets with a global manufacturing goal of reducing water use per vehicle by 30 percent by 2015 using a 2009 baseline. Ford met its goal two years ahead of schedule and is now setting new long-term targets. The company’s water strategy aligns with the United Nations CEO Water Mandate – a private-public initiative launched by the secretary general of the organization in 2007 committing to a water management strategy and to publicly reporting on its progress annually.

Ford began testing PACE in 2014, and has expanded the program to include a total of 25 strategic suppliers representing 800 manufacturing sites in 41 countries. The automaker is transparent in sharing its best practices, and works to make tracking success easy by offering statistical analysis to help participants monitor progress toward goals. In return, suppliers share their environmental data and their best practices with Ford.

Lear Corporation, a leading global supplier of seating and electrical systems, participated in PACE last year. Based in Southeast Michigan, Lear operates in 240 locations in 36 countries, and employs 136,000 people.

“By implementing select best practices from Ford, Lear expects to realize cost savings at its facilities worldwide,” said Doug Andrews, Lear environmental sustainability manager. “But the true impact will be Lear’s contribution to helping protect the environment, because at the end of the day Ford’s PACE program is not just about sustaining its business, but about doing the right thing.”

Ford was recently named to the 2016 Ethisphere Institute list of World’s Most Ethical Companies^® for the seventh consecutive year. The award recognizes the world’s top companies for mandating ethical practices and promoting corporate citizenship, as well as governance and leadership. Ford is the only automaker to earn the distinction.

Ford SUV Sales Deliver Best Start in Company History; Millennial, Women Buyers of Explorer Fueling Growth

• Ford recorded 115,228 SUV sales at retail through the first two months of 2016, making for the best calendar year start for Ford SUVs in history – highlighted by a best-ever February
• Explorer sales rose 18 percent last month over February 2015; Explorer is Ford’s best-selling SUV with millennial buyers ages 25 to 34, and the best-selling midsize SUV with women – according to Ford analysis of the most recent personal new vehicle registrations* in the U.S. from IHS Automotive
• Escape, coming off a record sales year in 2015, was up 14 percent through the first two months of 2016, while Edge sales jumped 56 percent

DEARBORN, Mich., March 17, 2016 – Smartphones and skinny jeans, organic foods and reality TV. The wants of millennials have been well documented, and now there’s a new one to add to the list – the space a Ford Explorer offers.

Explorer is the most popular Ford SUV with millennial buyers ages 25 to 34, according to Ford analysis of the most recent personal new vehicle registrations in the U.S. from IHS Automotive – helping Explorer maintain its status as the best-selling midsize SUV in the country.

“It’s an example of need-based growth,” said Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst. “Millennials have begun forming families and those families are growing – in terms of the number of children as well as the size of those children. Explorer provides the space those families need today and tomorrow, while maintaining the image they want to project.”

The trend mirrors that of millennials moving from urban areas and purchasing homes in the suburbs. According to National Association of Realtors^®, the median age of first-time homebuyers is 30 – the age when many people settle down and begin having children.

At the same time, Explorer has become a hot seller with women. Explorer is the most preferred midsize SUV among women buyers, according to IHS personal registration data.

Sales of Explorer, Escape lead Ford SUVs to best start ever
 
Spurred in part by Explorer’s appeal to millennials and women, sales of Ford SUVs are off to their best calendar year start in history, posting increases in January and February that are double the increases of the domestic SUV market.

Year-to-date, Ford SUVs posted a record 115,228 sales at retail – up 16 percent over last year. Last month – the company’s best-ever February for SUVs – sales were up 28 percent over 2015, fueled by double-digit percentage increases for all six Ford SUV nameplates.

Explorer sales in the United States were up 18 percent in February and 7 percent year-to-date.
Similarly, Escape sales in the United States rose 14 percent in February and 5 percent year-to-date. The new 2017 Escape – with a host of available features including SYNC^® 3, enhanced active park assist and two EcoBoost^® engines – is due in showrooms this spring.

Edge sales in the United States increased 91 percent in February and 56 percent year-to-date.
Sales are up across Ford’s entire SUV lineup in the United States. Expedition sales rose 22 percent in February and 19 percent year-to-date; Flex sales rose 77 percent last month, 56 percent year-to-date; Police Interceptor Utility was up 50 percent for February, 30 percent year-to-date.

Regional highlights tell coast-to-coast success stories
 
Across the country, Ford SUVs resonated with various buyer groups to create the best-ever two-month start. Over the same period a year ago:

• Explorer sales in New York City were up 23 percent in February and 18 percent year-to-date; in Washington, D.C., Explorer was up 47 percent in February and 21 percent year-to-date
• Edge sales in New York City were up 56 percent in February and 27 percent year-to-date; in San Francisco, Edge was up 57 percent in February and 22 percent year-to-date
• Escape sales in Washington, D.C. were up 33 percent in February and 21 percent year-to-date; in Dallas, Escape was up 38 percent in February and 17 percent year-to-date

^*IHS registration figures are based on all new personal registrations in the 2015 calendar year. Age detail based on head of household, which may not necessarily be the primary driver.

2017 Escape Debuts New SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto; New Quality Checks Improve Ford's Best-Selling SUV

Production of the new 2017 Ford Escape – available with driver-assist technology that can help keep drivers in their lane, maintain a set speed and distance on the highway, and even aid drivers in getting out of a tight parking spot – is now underway; sales begin in May

• New Escape – first Ford vehicle to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – aims to maintain sales momentum and attributes that led it to a tie* as Highest-Ranked Compact SUV by J.D. Power in Initial Quality; Escape is the No. 2-selling Ford vehicle in the United States, second only to F-Series
• To deliver top quality, the build process at Louisville Assembly Plant has implemented multiple new attention-to-detail stations that use high-tech methods and human touch to scrutinize every Escape that comes down the line

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 18, 2016 – Production of the new 2017 Ford Escape – available with driver-assist technology that can help keep drivers in their lane, maintain a set speed and distance on the highway, and even aid drivers in getting out of a tight parking spot – is now underway.

The new Escape, which goes on sale in May, will be the first Ford vehicle available with all-new SYNC^® Connect technology, making the ownership experience easier through vehicle features such as remote start and door locking via the new FordPass^® platform. Escape will also be first to offer SYNC 3 featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

And thanks to multiple new attention-to-detail stations at Louisville Assembly Plant, Ford is putting more emphasis than ever on delivering the highest-quality Escape to its customers.

Workers at Louisville Assembly have been manufacturing Escape since 2012. Since then, production has steadily increased to meet growing demand for the No. 1-selling Ford Motor Company SUV. In 2015, Louisville Assembly built 306,492 units – a record for the nameplate – all while maintaining a high standard of quality that put 2015 Escape in a tie* as Highest-Ranked Compact SUV by J.D. Power in Initial Quality.

“We’re constantly evolving and improving our processes, and the J.D. Power award is our reward,” said David Farley, Louisville Assembly Plant quality manager. “It’s a real tribute to the thousands of workers who help create every Escape vehicle.”

Louisville Assembly is a sprawling 3.7-million-square-foot plant that houses 4,722 hourly employees, 247 salaried workers and 20.1 miles of assembly conveyor. It is one of Ford’s highest-volume production facilities in the world, capable of manufacturing up to six different vehicles at any time. Yet with Ford’s compact SUV in such great demand, most vehicles built at Louisville wear an Escape badge.

Quality assurances are implemented throughout the plant to ensure craftsmanship is maintained at the pressing pace with which the line moves. A combination of state-of-the-art technology methods and thorough human scrutiny is evident from one station to the next.

At each of these stations – in just 45 seconds – vehicle quality is verified to ensure that every Escape meets the high standard for quality compact SUV drivers in North America expect.

• Automated instrument panel decking: The use of robots to install instrument panels has now migrated to the company’s plants globally, but Louisville was Ford’s first North American facility to use robots for the task. Here, from a nearby conveyor, a robot attaches to an Escape instrument panel, then rotates toward the shell of a vehicle. Angling the instrument panel through a door-less opening, the robot nestles it in place with unwavering accuracy and assured repeatability, says Escape chief engineer Milton Wong. The robot even secures a few bolts to hold the panel in place until humans can complete more detailed aspects of the process further down the line. Customer benefits include a tighter fit for the instrument panel, resulting in fewer squeaks and rattles.
• Robotic arms hang doors, liftgate: Highly efficient robotic arms lift door panels and liftgates from a nearby conveyor hanger and swing them into place with computer-guided consistency. These revolutionary robots were added when Escape production moved to Louisville for the 2013 model year. Customer benefits include tighter fit with body panels.
• Easy speed testing: To ensure that closing a door on Escape is consistently effortless, a worker applies suction cup-backed sensors to either side of a door opening, then closes the door by hand to get a velocity reading, which calculates the amount of effort required. Once it’s verified the amount of effort does not exceed the Ford standard, the tools are quickly moved to the next door for another test. Customer benefit is that minimum effort is required to close doors.
• Vehicle on wheels cell: As each Escape moves along the line, it passes through the vehicle on wheels cell, where robots wielding lasers scan every gap between door panels, hood and liftgate. Through laser measurement, they quickly determine all gaps are within the 2 millimeter to 4 millimeter range. Customer benefits include tighter fit and finish of body panels.
• Customer assurance line: A 14-person inspection team combs over the finest details on each new Escape. A technician tests electrical modules, while another checks the engine. Some rely on their hands; others, their eyes. It’s a meticulous process, as team members work with frenzied precision like a pit crew attending to a race car. Customer benefit is improved overall vehicle quality.

Three shifts of line workers are tasked with keeping pace at Louisville Assembly Plant – 20 hours per day on weekdays, 10 hours on the weekend. Through the first two months of 2016, Escape is on track to eclipse last year’s record sales, and available new features and Ford’s commitment to high quality should only broaden the vehicle’s appeal.

Other new features available include enhanced active park assist. Two EcoBoost^® engines are newly available – a 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter twin-scroll, both with Auto Start/Stop functionality.

All-New F-Series Super Duty offers innovative Trailer Reverse Guidance

All-new F-Series Super Duty offers innovative Trailer Reverse Guidance – an available technology that uses cameras to see more angles, monitor conditions surrounding the truck and provide real-time coaching guidance while maneuvering a trailer. Two patents on the first-of-its-kind trailering and camera system are pending.

All-New Ford F-150 Raptor Race Truck Finishes Grueling Best in the Desert Mint 400 Off-Road Race

DEARBORN, Mich., March 15, 2016 – The sound of hard rock from satellite radio filled the cabin as the production-based 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor race truck finished the demanding Best in the Desert Mint 400 off-road race this past weekend.

Piloted by drivers Greg Foutz and Tim Casey, Ford F-150 Raptor race truck is the only stock truck competing in the Best in the Desert factory stock class for full-sized trucks (Class 1200), making it the first such vehicle to finish a race in this class.

The Ford F-150 Raptor race truck is one of only 19 teams in the limited group – out of a total of 68 – to finish the 2016 Mint 400.

“We’re really pleased with the F-150 Raptor’s performance,” said Foutz. “The all-new F-150 Raptor race truck was strong throughout, and its new high-output EcoBoost^® engine and transmission are seriously impressive.”

The new factory stock class is the most production-specification class in the history of Best in the Desert. F-150 Raptor race truck leverages the built-in capability and features of the production F-150 Raptor, including:

• Fully boxed, high-strength steel frame
• High-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body
• All-new high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine paired with all-new 10-speed transmission and torque-on-demand transfer case
• Ford Performance 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with next-generation BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires for enhanced off-road performance
  
  

Other factory stock features include:

• Windshield, air conditioning, power windows and door locks
• Instrument panel and dashboard, including Sirius-XM satellite radio
• LED headlamps and taillamps

Modifications to the race truck include:

• Race-optimized three-inch-diameter external-bypass front and rear FOX Racing Shox similar to stock F-150 Raptor’s segment-exclusive, three-inch-diameter internal-bypass FOX Racing Shox
• Race-optimized front and rear springs raise ride height for additional ground clearance, and provide increased compression rate to handle extreme terrain and additional weight of competition-required roll cage
• Custom-fabricated roll cage
• MasterCraft seats with five-point harness safety belts and window nets
• Rigid LED light bars, racing fuel cell, Lowrance GPS, Racepak digital dash and data logger

A 1965 Mustang Returns Home 50 Years Later

It was love at first sight when Terry Maxfield spotted a Caspian Blue Mustang at Loudon Motors in Minerva, Ohio, back in 1965. Their affair lasted through five decades, countless memorable moments and a cross-country move to Arizona.

Recently, worried that the Mustang would deteriorate in her exposed carport, Terry had a great idea: She would return the vintage car to the dealership where she purchased it. Greg Loudon, who was only 5 when Terry bought the car from his father, was now in charge. Stunned at its incredible condition, Loudon purchased the Mustang back—but insists he’s just storing it for Terry. She’s allowed to visit the beloved showroom centerpiece whenever she likes.

Ford Only Automaker on Ethisphere Institute's List of 2016 World's Most Ethical Companies

• Ethisphere^® names Ford to 2016 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies^®; Ford is the only automaker to receive the distinction
• Ethisphere annually recognizes the world’s top companies for mandating ethical practices, promoting corporate citizenship as well as governance and leadership
• Consumers placing increasing importance on ethics in business; recent report shows majority of U.S. learned more about a company before doing business; more than one-third opted not to do business with companies with negative reputations
  

DEARBORN, Mich., March 7, 2016 – Ford Motor Company is the only automaker named a 2016 World’s Most Ethical Company^® by Ethisphere Institute today – a distinction that comes as ethics in business increasingly affects customers and their purchase decisions.

“This honor celebrates our employees who are committed to doing the right things and making the right choices,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “Ethics and corporate citizenship are the foundation of what drives us to make people’s lives better.”

This marks the seventh consecutive year Ethisphere Institute has named Ford a World’s Most Ethical Company.

Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, honors companies with top ratings in five categories – ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship and responsibilities, culture of ethics, governance and leadership and reputation.
For decades, Ford has recognized the importance of strong corporate citizenship and how that ties to success and building the company’s reputation. More than half of respondents to the 2016 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient said they learn more about a company before deciding to do business with them. More than one-third decided not to do business with a company if they perceive the business has a negative reputation.  

“Ford understands that trust is the cornerstone of everything it does, and their commitment to being an active part of a global community helps explain why they are the only automaker Ethisphere has recognized every year since 2010,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere’s Chief Executive Officer. “Being honored for the seventh time is no small achievement. Congratulations to everyone at Ford for being recognized.”

For more information about Ethisphere Institute’s methodology and to view the complete list of 2016 World’s Most Ethical Companies, visit http://ethisphere.com/worlds-most-ethical/wme-honorees/.
In addition to this honor from Ethisphere Institute, Ford has received additional honors, including:

• Forbes 2015 America’s Best Employers (133)
• Human Rights Campaign 2015 Corp. Equality Index – 100 percent
• Fast Company 50 Most Innovative Companies
• Universum 2015 U.S. Most Attractive Employer – Engineering (18)
• Universum 2015 World’s Most Attractive Company – Engineering (15)
• Fortune Change the World List
• Fortune World’s Most Admired
• LinkedIn 100 Most InDemand Employers
• Forbes Best Companies for Work-Life Balance

From Autonomy to Snowtonomy: How Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle Can Navigate in Winter

DEARBORN, Mich., March 10, 2016 – Driving in snow can be a slippery challenge, with the potential for one blizzardy gust to white-out your field of view – a situation faced by the majority of people in the United States. So if self-driving cars are to become a reality – and they almost certainly will – they must be able to navigate snow-covered roads. In its quest to bring self-driving vehicles to millions of people around the world, Ford reveals six facts about its technology that allows for a car to drive itself in snow.

1. Mapping the way: Ford first creates high-resolution 3D maps using LiDAR technology to scan the area its autonomous vehicle will later drive in the snow.
   To operate in snow, Ford Fusion Hybrid autonomous vehicles first need to scan the environment to create high-resolution 3D digital maps. By driving the test route in ideal weather, the Ford autonomous vehicle creates highly accurate digital models of the road and surrounding infrastructure using four LiDAR scanners that generate a total of 2.8 million laser points a second. The resulting map then serves as a baseline that’s used to identify the car’s position when driving in autonomous mode. Using the LiDAR sensors to scan the environment in real time, the car can locate itself within the mapped area later, when the road is covered in snow.
   
   
2. Better have an unlimited data plan: Ford’s autonomous vehicles collect and process significantly more mapping data in an hour than the average person uses in mobile-phone data in 10 years.
   While mapping their environment, Ford autonomous vehicles collect and process a diverse set of data about the road and surrounding landmarks – signs, buildings, trees and other features. All told, the car collects up to 600 gigabytes per hour, which it uses to create a high-resolution 3D map of the landscape. In the United States, the average subscriber of a cellular data plan uses about 21.6 gigabytes per year, for a 10-year total of 216 gigabytes.
   
   
3. Super smart sensors: Ford uses LiDAR sensors that are so powerful, they can even identify falling snowflakes and raindrops.
   Ford’s autonomous vehicles generate so many laser points from the LiDAR sensors that some can even bounce off falling snowflakes or raindrops, returning the false impression that there’s an object in the way. Of course, there’s no need to steer around precipitation, so Ford – working with University of Michigan researchers – created an algorithm that recognizes snow and rain, filtering them out of the car’s vision so it can continue along its path.
   
   
4. Not your average navigation: The way Ford’s autonomous vehicles identify their location is more accurate than GPS.
   When you think about vehicle navigation, GPS usually comes to mind. But where current GPS is accurate to just more than 10 yards, autonomous operation requires precise vehicle location. By scanning their environment for landmarks, then comparing that information to the 3D digital maps stored in their databanks, Ford’s autonomous vehicles can precisely locate themselves to within a centimeter.
   
   
5. No need for glasses: Sensor fusion – the combination of data from multiple sensors – plus smart monitoring of sensor health help keep Ford’s autonomous vehicles out of the blind.
   In addition to LiDAR sensors, Ford uses cameras and radar to monitor the environment around the vehicle, with the data generated from all of those sensors fused together in a process known as sensor fusion. This process results in robust 360-degree situational awareness. Sensor fusion means that one inactive sensor – perhaps caused by ice, snow, grime or debris buildup on a sensor lens – does not necessarily hinder autonomous driving. Still, Ford autonomous vehicles monitor all LiDAR, camera and radar systems to identify the deterioration of sensor performance, which helps keep sensors in ideal working order. Eventually, the cars might be able to handle ice and grime buildup themselves through self-cleaning or defogging measures.
   
   
6. Look Mom, no hands: The first person behind the wheel of a demonstrated autonomy test in snow is an astrophysics major who never dreamed he’d be in a self-driving car.
   Before Wayne Williams joined Ford’s autonomy team, he worked on remote sensing technology on behalf of the federal government. A self-described “geek,” Williams was intrigued by autonomous vehicles. But he never envisioned one day being part of a team working to bring them to reality – let alone being behind the wheel of the auto industry’s first publicly demonstrated autonomous snow test. The mood in the car that day was all business, he recalls, with a coworker monitoring the computing system from the back seat. “Because of the extensive development work, we were confident the car would do exactly what we asked of it,” says Williams. “But it wasn’t until after the test that the achievement began to sink in.”

Ford is the first automaker to publicly demonstrate autonomous vehicle operation in the snow. The company's winter weather road testing takes place in Michigan, including at Mcity – a 32-acre, real-world driving environment at the University of Michigan. Ford’s testing on this full-scale simulated urban campus is aimed at supporting the company’s mission to learn about and advance the emerging field of autonomous driving.

Ford Police Interceptors Become First Pursuit-Rated Police Vehicle to Offer Ballistic Protection Against Armor-Piercing Rifle Ammunition

• US Department of Justice standard Type IV specifies protection against armor-piercing .30 caliber rifle ammunition
• First pursuit rated police vehicle to offer Type IV ballistic panels in the United States
• Optional ballistic panels are in addition to the long list of existing safety features available on the Ford Police Interceptor sedan and utility

DEARBORN, Mich., March 10, 2016 – Ford announced today it will offer ballistic panels on their Police Interceptor sedan and utility with protection from armor-piercing rifle ammunition.

“Ford is well-known in the police community for going further to enhance officer safety.  It’s what our product is all about, first and foremost,” said Raj Sarkar, general marketing manager, Ford North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing operations.

The factory-equipped vehicles are the first pursuit-rated police vehicles in the United States to offer ballistic protection up to Department of Justice’s (DoJ) National Institute of Justice standard Type IV.
According to the Department of Justice standard, the description of a Type IV ballistic panel is:

“Type IV hard armor or plate inserts shall be tested in a conditioned state with .30 caliber armor piercing (AP) bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).”

While the number of shootouts between police and criminals using high-powered, armor-piercing rifle ammunition is low, they are unfortunately becoming more common.

“The fact that we design our Police Interceptors around officer feedback is what has made them number one. Officers globally told us they needed protection from armor piercing ammunition and we added increased ballistic protection to an already great product – that’s continuous innovation,” said Arie Groeneveld, chief engineer, Ford Police Interceptors.

The Type IV panels are an additional option above and beyond existing ballistic panel protection offered by Ford.

Optional Type III ballistic panels are already on duty in agencies around the United States and are rated to protect against all handgun and non-armor piercing bullets up to .30 caliber (specifically up to 7.62mm x 51mm NATO M80 ball ammunition) as well as special threat rounds identified by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The optional ballistic panels are in addition to a long list of existing features aimed at protecting officers, including Ford Police Interceptor safety cell construction to aid structural integrity.

In the event of a crash, advanced safety technology helps to absorb the energy of the collision and to direct the impact forces away from the occupants. Additionally, crumple zones are strategically placed in the frame or body of the vehicle, further absorbing and dissipating the energy of a crash to reduce intrusion into the occupant compartment.

Innovative materials – such as aluminum, advanced plastics and boron steel – also contribute to vehicle strength.

Other examples of Ford’s commitment to officer safety include a 75-mph rear crash test rating, police-tuned suspensions, police brakes, steel wheels, unique police interiors as well as a range of upfit options.

Escape Is First Ford SUV in U.S. to Feature Windshield Wiper De-Icer

• Available windshield wiper de-icer on Ford Escape melts snow and ice from windshield wipers; allows for the wipers to properly clean glass for improved driver visibility
• Escape is first Ford SUV in United States to get Cold Weather Package feature, designed to melt light snow and ice from wiper blades in under 10 minutes at minus 18 degrees Fahrenheit
• Drivers of the new Escape equipped with SYNC® Connect can activate the windshield wiper de-icer system from their smartphone as part of the FordPass experience. SYNC Connect allows owners to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle from virtually anywhere using a smartphone

DEARBORN, Mich., March 4, 2016 – Coming soon to a winter near you: clearer vision.

Ford Escape models can be equipped to help drivers eliminate the winter headache of maintaining a clear windshield. No more wiper blades covered in chunks of ice. No more wiper blades freezing to the glass. And the funny-looking parking lot ritual of pulling wipers off the windshield and pointing them to the sky will be a thing of the past.

Escape is the first Ford Motor Company SUV in the United States to offer a windshield wiper de-icer, part of a Cold Weather Package that is standard on Titanium models and an option on SE models. The 2017 Escape is due in showrooms this spring.

“The windshield wiper de-icer is a great solution to one of the more nagging problems of winter,” said Jennifer Gauthier, Ford fixed glass engineer. “Escape drivers in the U.S. are going to wonder how they ever got along without it.”

Much like traditional rear window defrost systems, the base of the windshield where the wiper blades rest is equipped with a local heating element. The system is designed to clear light snow and ice from the wiper blades in under 10 minutes at minus 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

Drivers of the new Escape equipped with SYNC® Connect can activate the windshield wiper de-icer system from their smartphone as part of the FordPass experience. SYNC Connect allows owners to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle from virtually anywhere using a smartphone. Drivers can even schedule a specific time to start remotely so the vehicle is ready to hit the road, de-iced and warmed up.

Other features of the Escape Cold Weather Package include:

• All-weather floor mats
• Heated side mirrors
• Heated seats
• Supplemental powertrain conditioning heater

Already a standard feature on Escape models sold in Canada, the windshield wiper de-icer will migrate to other vehicles in the Ford lineup in the United States. - See more at: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/03/04/escape-is-first-ford-suv-in-u-s--to-feature-wiper-de-icer.html#sthash.PZ3Q7PUE.dpuf

Autonomy to Snowtonomy: Navigating Winter

Driving in snow can be a slippery challenge, with the potential for one blizzardy gust to white-out your field of view – a situation faced by the majority of people in the United States. So if self-driving cars are to become a reality – and they almost certainly will – they must be able to navigate snow-covered roads. In its quest to bring self-driving vehicles to millions of people around the world, Ford reveals six facts about its technology that allows for a car to drive itself in snow.

Focus RS Confirmed by Ford Performance for Competition in 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship

• Ford Focus RS will make its competition debut as Ford’s factory entry in 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship
• Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division will field two Focus RS race cars to build on the performance marque’s championship legacy
• World Rallycross Championship race car based on all-new global 2016 Ford Focus RS featuring advanced Ford Performance torque vectoring all-wheel drive
• Ken Block will be joined by Andreas Bakkerud as his teammate for 2016

DEARBORN, Mich., March 2, 2016 – Ford’s RS competition legacy continues this season for a new generation of motorsports fans.

Teased at the conclusion of Ken Block’s Gymkhana EIGHT released earlier this week, Ford Performance confirms Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division team will field two factory-supported 2016 Ford Focus RS race cars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

For more than 50 years, Ford Performance’s Rallye Sport badge has been reserved for racing and production vehicles that push the limits of performance and innovation. Known for aggressive design and pioneering technology, Ford vehicles wearing the RS badge have seen success for decades in stage rally series including winning participation in FIA World Rally Championship with drivers like Björn Waldegård, Marcus Grönholm, Mikko Hirvonen and Colin McRae.

“RS is a worldwide brand with a rich heritage that motorsports enthusiasts know and love,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “Our RS badge has a natural connection to racing, and we have a passionate, dedicated team on the project. We’re excited to honor the history of Rallye Sport by pushing every aspect of performance and design to the limit.”

The Focus RS build is a global collaboration between Ford Performance, Block’s Hoonigan Racing and U.K.-based M-Sport. Featuring all-wheel drive, a new EcoBoost^® engine producing 600 horsepower, and a 0-60-mph launch time of less than two seconds, Ford Focus RS Rallycross cars are optimized for competition.

Mark Rushbrook, motorsports engineering manager, Ford Performance, says the intention has been to develop a Rallycross car that lives up to the RS badge.

“We’ve dedicated the same level of cutting-edge tools, technical resources and engineering know-how from our Le Mans GT and NASCAR programs, and working with M-Sport brings renowned expertise in rallycross and stage rally vehicle development,” said Rushbrook. “Ken, Andreas Bakkerud and Hoonigan Racing give us insight from the competition and driver perspectives. Our three organizations have a great working relationship, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the Focus RS in action.”

"I'm really happy to be expanding my relationship with Ford Performance," said Hoonigan Racing Division’s Ken Block. "To have official factory support for my race season in 2016 and beyond as I enter the FIA World Rallycross Championship full-time is absolutely incredible. It opens up a ton of powerful resources that myself and my team will be able to benefit from in terms of engineering prowess, research, development and racing experience from different fields. Plus, have you seen the car that they've created for me to go race in? My mind was blown when they showed it to me in Dearborn a few months ago. I absolutely cannot wait to get behind the wheel and start testing."

Malcolm Wilson, OBE, managing director for M-Sport, believes that together, they’ve produced a very special race car. “Working closely with our colleagues at Ford Performance and Hoonigan Racing Division, a huge amount of work has gone into this project,” he said. “It’s been an extremely exciting, rewarding venture – one we hope yields considerable success. I’m confident we have a winning formula for the season ahead.”

A Ford driven by Ford-Autocraft employee Brian Melia was at the birth of rallycross in February 1967 – his Lotus Cortina finishing second in the Lydden Hill event created especially for ITV’s “World of Sport”. The BBC adopted rallycross later that year and the sport’s future was assured, with the first British Rallycross Championship won by Tony Chappell in a factory-prepared Ford Escort Twin Cam in 1968.

The Focus RS Rallycross cars will debut at the FIA World Rallycross event in Portugal, April 15-17, with Block and Bakkerud behind the wheel. The global 12-race series takes place in 11 countries on three continents.

Additional information on the race cars and their development will be coming ahead of the Portugal race.

2016 Ford Focus RS Rallycross Specs

• Power: 600 hp
• Torque: 900NM. Capable of 0-60 mph/2 secs.
• Body: 2016 Ford Focus RS, seam welded and reinforced.  Homologated FIA-spec roll cage.  Custom body design by Ford Performance and M-Sport.  Bespoke underbody protection.
• Engine: Ford Performance and M-Sport developed Ford EcoBoost 2L engine.  Garrett Turbocharger with 45mm restrictor.  Cosworth Electronics engine management.  Optimized rallycross intercooler and radiator package.
• Transmission: Sadev 6-Speed sequential gearbox with adjustable, mechanical front and rear differentials.  Triple plate AP carbon clutch. 
• Suspension: SLA-type suspension, both front and rear with 3-way adjustable Reiger dampers.
• Brakes: Brembo 4-pot calipers with 350mm rotors.  Sadev Hydraulic handbrake system.
• Interior: Recaro Pro-Racer Ultima, FIA-8862 spec driver’s seat (only).
• Wheels: 8” X 17” wheels to suit WRX tire regulations.
• Tires: WRX spec AVON race tire.

Ford Mustang, F-150 Raptor LEGO Speed Champions sets on sale now

For kids wanting to build their dream car, Ford Mustang and F-150 Raptor LEGO Speed Champions sets are now available. Kids ages seven and up, including those young at heart, can purchase either set directly from the LEGO store. The 185-piece Mustang kit includes a time board and race driver and retails for $14.99, while the 664-piece F-150 Raptor set sells for $49.99 and features a well-equipped garage, trailer, a drag racing Christmas tree and Model A hot rod, plus a crew of Ford workers to ensure top-quality work.

New Ergonomic and Tech Options Enhance 2017 Ford Transit Lineup; New Engine for E-Series Stripped Chassis, Cutaway

• Walk-through center console and power running board options added for Ford Transit for 2017 model year in response to fleet customer feedback
• SYNC^® 3 communications and entertainment system is newly available for 2017 Ford Transit Connect cargo van and Transit Connect Wagon
• 6.2-liter V8 engine proven in Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks will be available midyear for 2017 Ford E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway

INDIANAPOLIS, March 1, 2016 – Ford, America’s commercial van leader, is introducing enhancements across its van lineup for the 2017 model year that are designed to make the vehicles trusted by fleet and small business customers even more flexible.

Offering a choice of 64 configurations, up from 58 in the previous model year, Ford Transit’s best-in-class flexibility has helped it become America’s best-selling commercial van. Now, new optional features – from low-profile center consoles to power running boards – are available to help customers tailor Transit even closer to their business needs.

Some of the newly available configurations include Transit 350 regular-wheelbase van – and chassis cab and cutaway – with single rear wheel and 9,500-pound GVWR. The 3.7-liter engine will now be standard on dual-rear wheel van and wagon models, lowering the base price and providing the option of CNG or LPG capability.

Enhanced interior ergonomics and utility for new Transit
 
2017 Ford Transit is updated with a number of interior changes driven by fleet customer feedback. A low-profile center console option is available on all Transit variants for delivery drivers and others who want easier access to walk from the cab into the back of the vehicle. The feature also makes it easier for fleets to install computer equipment in the center console area.

“Walk-through center consoles are just one enhancement we are adding in response to real-world driver input,” says Yaro Hetman, brand manager, Ford Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. “Fleet customers tell us they love Transit, and we are making it even better for the 2017 model year.”

Heated driver and front passenger leather and cloth seats are available, and 10-way power-adjustable seats can be ordered in cloth on all Transit variants.

High-capacity upfitter switches are available across the Transit lineup. The switches are enhanced with two increased amperage outputs, two battery hot outputs and two un-switched outputs. The output connector has been moved to an easy-access location behind the glove box in response to upfitter requests.

The available high-capacity upfitter switch upgrade includes a heavy-duty alternator, auxiliary fuse box, modified vehicle wiring system, dual heavy-duty batteries and a new interface connector that provides read-only CAN access in addition to a variety of signals useful to upfitters – including power supply, engine start, engine run, stop lamp, door ajar, turn indicators, vehicle speed and handbrake engagement.

For 2017, Transit’s base audio system is enhanced to include four speakers with a tweeter and woofer.
A rearview mirror is available for Transit cutaway models.

LED lighting is enhanced and made standard in Transit vans for better cargo area visibility while loading and unloading. A 12-volt powerpoint in the D-pillar is standard on vans for powering equipment like cordless tool batteries.

Power running board among exterior changes for Transit
 
A passenger-side power running board is available for Transit wagons and vans without dual sliding side doors; the running board also has been widened.

Transit cutaway and chassis cab now can be ordered from the factory configured so upfitters can easily activate the rear stop lamp and rear turn signal to operate independently. This modification is common for certain vocational uses like ambulances and school buses, and separating the light functionality on Transit vehicles used to require a trip to a Ford dealer to reconfigure the Body Control Module.

Easy-to-clean styled aluminum-alloy wheels with locking lug nuts are now available for all Transit variants with GVWRs less than 9,500 pounds. Molded wheel well liners for the front wheels are available as well.

White Gold Metallic paint replaces Lunar Sky Metallic for the new model year.

Customers can begin ordering their 2017 Transit online starting April 4, with availability at Ford dealerships in September.

New smart technology for Transit Connect
 
Ford Transit Connect – America’s best-selling compact commercial van – also gets enhancements for 2017.

SYNC^® 3 with 6.5-inch touch screen and navigation is standard for 2017 Transit Connect Wagon Titanium. The system features faster performance, more conversational voice recognition, a more innovative smartphone-like touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface to help Ford customers connect on the road. SYNC 3 is optional on Transit Connect XLT cargo van and Transit Connect Wagon XLT.

Transit Connect Wagon will be available in two new premium packages for Titanium and XLT trim levels, while short-wheelbase vehicles can be ordered in Titanium trim for the first time. Reverse sensing, automatic headlamps, roof rails and six-way power driver’s seat are now standard equipment for Titanium and XLT trim levels.

Guard Metallic paint replaces Tectonic Silver Metallic for Transit Connect Wagon late in the model year.

Ordering for the 2017 Transit Connect cargo van and Transit Connect Wagon begins online March 14, with vehicles available at Ford dealerships in September.

New engine for E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway
 
Ford E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway models – frequently modified into ambulances, delivery vans and motorhomes – get a new engine for 2017.

The 6.2-liter V8 engine proven in Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks will be available midyear for 2017 E-Series cutaway. Customers can choose from the new 6.2-liter V8 or the standard 6.8-liter V10.
The 6.2-liter V8 engine’s single-overhead-cam design and dual-equal variable cam timing help optimize power through the entire power range. The engine is E85 flex fuel-capable – meaning it can run on unleaded gasoline or E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline).

A CNG/propane gaseous engine prep package is available for conversion to compressed natural gas or propane autogas. An E-Series cutaway with the CNG/propane package can be upgraded with aftermarket upfits to bi-fuel capability – enabling it to run on either unleaded gasoline or natural gas.

Get It Done: All-New Ford F-Series Super Duty Chassis Cab Supports Heavier Equipment, Trailers, Most Diesel Power Ever

• 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty chassis cab earns best-in-class front gross axle weight rating of 7,500 pounds – 250 pounds better than closest competitor – enabling the truck to carry even larger, heavier upfits
• F-Series Super Duty chassis cab increases gross combined weight rating to best-in-class 40,000 pounds – meaning a fully loaded Super Duty chassis cab and trailer can carry the equivalent of half the maximum combined weight rating of a semi-tractor-trailer on most U.S. highways
• Super Duty chassis cab with Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel engine increases ratings to 330 horsepower and 750 lb.-ft. of torque – best-ever for Class 4 and Class 5 segments

INDIANAPOLIS, March 1, 2016 – Ford, America’s truck leader, is delivering again for commercial truck customers who keep America moving with the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty chassis cab – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty chassis cab ever.

With best-in-class capability, the all-new F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis cab lineup is optimized to help commercial customers be more productive on the job – from clearing snow-filled streets to rescuing stranded motorists to restoring power in a storm.

“Commercial truck customers need tough, capable trucks that can haul heavy equipment to crush challenging jobs,” said Craig Schmatz, Ford Super Duty chief engineer. “The innovations our team has put into the next-generation Super Duty chassis cab are paying off by delivering capability that surpasses the competition.”

• The next-generation F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cab lineup features:
  
• Best-in-class front gross axle weight rating of up to 7,500 pounds – 250 pounds better than the closest competitor – that supports carrying bigger snowplows, taller utility buckets and cranes, larger ambulance bodies or other specialized vocational body upfits
• Best-in-class gross combined weight rating of up to 40,000 pounds – the combined weight of the truck and everything it can haul and tow – for both truck and trailer. That’s the equivalent of half the maximum gross combined weight rating of an 18-wheeler semi on most U.S. federal highways
• 330 horsepower and 750 lb.-ft. of torque from second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel – best-ever ratings for Class 4 and Class 5 Super Duty chassis cab

Capability starts with all-new frame
 
Thanks to an all-new backbone, F-350, F-450 and F-550 F-Series chassis cab delivers more work capability than ever.

The all-new frame is the toughest, strongest, most rigid frame ever used in a Super Duty chassis cab. It features 95 percent high-strength steel with eight times more torsional rigidity than the previous frame, through-welded crossmembers, and fully boxed rails under the cab and forward for strength and safety. Open C-channel frame rails behind the cab enable easy body and vocational equipment upfits. All these improvements help deliver the best-in-class 40,000-pound maximum gross combined weight rating and the 500-pound increase in front gross axle weight rating, along with increased towing capacity over the previous Super Duty chassis cab.

Weight savings reinvested for improved capability
 
Using advanced materials, Ford is saving up to 350 pounds of weight in the all-new F-Series Super Duty – reinvesting that savings into tougher, stronger components. 
For the first time, the Super Duty body uses high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy throughout the cab, which improves dent and ding resistance while saving weight for significant increases in towing and payload capability.

“We are reinvesting the weight saved by using advanced materials, giving that savings back to customers with more capability and performance than ever,” said Schmatz.
In addition to the heavier-duty fully boxed frame under the cab, many components are more robust in the new Super Duty, including axles, suspension, driveline and towing hardware.

Powered by Ford
 
The all-new 2017 Super Duty chassis cab with the proven Ford-built second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel paired with a commercial-grade six-speed 6R140 automatic transmission adds 30 horsepower and 90 lb.-ft. of torque for a maximum rating of 330 horsepower and 750 lb.-ft. of torque – the highest ever for Super Duty chassis cab. 

Ford is the only heavy-duty truck manufacturer to design and build its own diesel engine and transmission combination, ensuring the powertrain will work seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations – from concept to execution. The approach enables Ford engineers to optimize vehicle performance across the entire lineup.

Ford F-650, F-750 Power Stroke V8 Diesel Designed to Go Farther Than a Round Trip to the Moon

• All-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel engine for Ford F-650 and F-750 medium-duty truck line has a B10 design life of at least a half-million miles
• 90 percent of F-650 and F-750 6.7-liter Power Stroke engines expected to go farther than 500,000 miles without requiring a major service that involves removal of cylinder heads or dropping the oil pan to reach internal components
• Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine and Ford TorqShift^® HD six-speed automatic transmission are designed for medium-duty use with great power, performance and fuel economy – backed by unsurpassed warranty and national network of Ford service centers  

DEARBORN, Mich., March 1, 2016 – Ford engineers have designed the all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel engine for the Ford F-650 and F-750 lineup to travel an even greater distance than a round trip from the Earth to the moon.

This confidence in 6.7-liter Power Stroke quality comes from engine dynamometer testing that shows a statistically proven B10 engine design life of at least a half-million miles. This is the estimate of miles in operation before 10 percent of engines are expected to require major service involving removal of cylinder heads or dropping the oil pan to reach internal components.

“F-650 and F-750 customers help keep America moving,” said John Ruppert, general manager, Ford Commercial Vehicle Sales and Marketing. “We’re here to make sure they can with our all-new medium-duty trucks – whether that’s trucking freight from Los Angeles to New York, or helping keep the lights on in your neighborhood.”

The Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine and Ford TorqShift^® HD six-speed automatic transmission are designed for medium-duty use with great power, performance and fuel economy – backed by an unsurpassed five-year/250,000-mile limited warranty and a national network of Ford service centers.

In addition to great engine life, the all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke is 25 percent quieter at 60 mph and up to 45 percent quieter at idle inside the cabin. When standing in front of the grille outside the truck, the engine is 35 percent quieter at idle.

The three diesel power levels available are:

• 270 horsepower, 675 lb.-ft. torque (best-in-class standard)
• 300 horsepower, 700 lb.-ft. torque
• 330 horsepower, 725 lb.-ft. torque

The B10 rating is based on the 330-horsepower version of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke.

Multiple ratings provide customers with the flexibility to scale engine power to work applications and operations with no vocational restrictions.

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. This approach enables Ford engineers to optimize vehicle performance across the entire lineup and to further refine the powertrain to the specific needs of the customer.

Built at Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland with available straight frame and tractor configurations, the all-new 2017 Ford F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks are on sale now.

Ford Culture Collabs: Meet Naturel

The muralist Naturel shares how the city of Detroit drives him to express himself through art in this collaboration with Ford.

6 Amazing Artists. 3 Beautiful Cities, 3 Inspiring Murals…and 1 giant collaboration.