2016 Ford Fusion Owner’s Review | Fusion | Ford

A 2016 Ford Fusion owner takes us on a drive and reviews everything he loves about his car — from the technology to the distinctive features.

Memorial Day Tribute

A tribute to the men and women who gave their lives fearlessly defending the freedoms we all enjoy. God bless them.

A Cure for Range Anxiety? New Ford Fusion Energi, With EPA-Estimated 610-Mile Range, Can Go Further Than Any Plug-In Hybrid

• Online Harris Poll finds 40 percent of U.S. adult drivers frustrated with their vehicle’s range
• Ford now has a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can go further than any other. The new 2017 Fusion Energi can travel an EPA-estimated 610 miles on a full tank of gas and full battery charge, the highest combined range of any plug-in hybrid on the market in America
• Harris Poll finds Americans significantly underestimate typical plug-in hybrid vehicle range, with most respondents believing the longest-range plug-in hybrid can travel just 261 miles
• Ford – which now offers six electrified vehicles and is the No. 1 seller of plug-in hybrids – is investing $4.5 billion to add 13 new ones to its product portfolio by 2020; more than 40 percent of Ford’s nameplates globally will be electrified by the end of this decade

DEARBORN, Mich., May 26, 2016 – Forty percent of Americans are concerned about how far their vehicle can go on a full tank of gas or battery charge, according to a new survey, and Ford has a new car that can help alleviate that worry.

Ford, America’s best-selling plug-in hybrid brand, now offers a plug-in hybrid that can go further than any other. The new 2017 Fusion Energi can travel 610 miles on a full tank of gas and battery charge – according to EPA estimates posted to fueleconomy.gov – the highest combined range of any plug-in hybrid sold in America.

The March 2016 Harris Poll of more than 1,000 U.S. adults also finds Americans believe the longest-range plug-in hybrid can go 261 miles – less than half the Fusion Energi’s range. This significant underestimation shows the disconnect between reality and what consumers believe.

“Plug-in hybrids are electric vehicles until you run down the battery,” said Wade Jackson, marketing manager for Ford Fusion, “then they work exactly like a conventional hybrid. Fusion Energi – with a full battery and a full tank of gas – can go from San Diego, through Los Angeles and all the way up to San Francisco, and still have up to 110 miles of range remaining.”

Changes to the car’s hybrid powertrain software and regenerative braking, which recycles energy to the battery otherwise lost when drivers hit the brakes, means the 2017 Fusion Energi can travel up to 610 miles on a full tank of gas and battery charge – up from 550 miles for the 2016 model.

Plug-in hybrids use both electric batteries and gas-powered engines. Normally, a vehicle owner will run on all-electric mode until the electricity is depleted, at which point the engine turns on automatically. The Fusion Energi’s all-electric range is an estimated 21 miles. If there is gas in the tank, the car will then operate for about a mile using both battery and gas. After that, the gas engine kicks in for another 588 miles of range – according to EPA estimates.

Top-selling electrified vehicle lineup

Ford – the No. 1 seller of plug-in hybrids for 2015 and year-to-date 2016 – is leading the way in raising awareness of the advantages these vehicles offer. Through April, Fusion Energi sales are up 58 percent.

Kevin Layden, Ford director of electrified powertrain engineering, says Fusion Energi is a great option for people who might not live, work or play near electric-vehicle charging stations, or who take trips to places where the electric-vehicle infrastructure is not yet established.

“Fusion Energi gives them both the freedom to go gas-free for shorter trips and the fuel efficiency of a gas engine for longer trips,” he says. “And it’s very affordable.”

Fusion Energi is on sale now. Its 610 mile range is nearly triple that of the upcoming Tesla Model 3, which Tesla says has a projected total range of 215 miles. The Model 3 doesn’t run on gas, so it also must be recharged immediately when its battery is depleted.

Since introducing the plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2013, Ford has sold nearly 30,000 Fusion Energi cars in the United States. Fusion Energi is one of six Ford Motor Company electrified vehicles, including Ford Fusion Hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi, Focus Electric and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. By 2020, Ford will invest $4.5 billion in electrified vehicles, adding 13 new ones to its product portfolio. More than 40 percent of the company’s nameplates globally will be electrified by the end of this decade.

Ford insights on plug-in hybrid drivers

Data Ford collected from more than 610 million miles logged by its electrified vehicle owners show these drivers put an average of 13,500 miles annually on their vehicles – similar to what owners of gasoline-only cars log – with about half those miles in electric mode. That breaks down to an average daily commute of 42 miles for Ford plug-in hybrid drivers.

So with the enhanced electric range, this means the average Fusion Energi commuter could go the entire day using no gasoline – if the car is fully charged before leaving for work and fully charged before leaving for home.

Ford concludes from the data that most customers are likely charging their vehicles only at home – leaving a wealth of opportunity for growth in workplace charging stations.

The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi has an EPA-estimated rating of 43 city/41 hwy/42 combined MPG, a 14 gallon tank and 21 miles all-electric range. Range calculation based on www.fueleconomy.gov.  Actual mileage and range will vary.

2017 Escape: Auto Start-Stop Technology* & Enhanced Active Park Assist | Escape | Ford

Rachel Frey is the founder InYo and OKIINO, a high-performance yoga apparel company intended to inspire others to get up and move. With the 2017 Ford Escape, she is able to reduce her carbon footprint with Auto Start-Stop, play music hands-free using voice activated SYNC technology and parallel park with ease using the Enhanced Active Park Assist.

*Available with 1.5L EcoBoost and 2.0L EcoBoost engines

2016 Ford F-150: The Safest F-150 Ever

The high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy 2016 Ford F-150 is the safest F-150 ever.

It’s the only pickup to earn a NHTSA 5-Star safety rating on all sides for every cab configuration as well as an IIHS Top Safety Pick on SuperCab and SuperCrew when equipped with optional Forward Collision Warning. Just one of the reasons why the Ford F-150 is making every other truck history.

Ford Transit, Transit Connect, Flex Win Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America Awards

DEARBORN, Mich., May 19, 2016 – Ford Motor Company, led by the strength of its Transit van lineup, won seven Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America awards for 2016.

The awards recognize vehicles that provide fleet customers with lowest total cost of ownership.
Ford vans were named best value for fleets in the following categories for the second consecutive year:

• Full-size half-ton passenger van: Ford Transit 150 XL low-roof wagon
• Full-size three-quarter-ton cargo van: Ford Transit 250 low-roof van
• Full-size one-ton cargo van: Ford Transit 350 low-roof van
• Small commercial passenger van: Ford Transit Connect XLT short-wheelbase van

Ford Flex SE equipped with front-wheel drive was named a best fleet value in Vincentric’s large SUV/crossover category for the third time. Two Lincoln models also received awards.
Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America awards are based on fleet lifecycle costs in eight key areas – depreciation, fuel, insurance, financing, repairs, fees and taxes, opportunity costs and maintenance. Winning vehicles have the lowest lifecycle costs across 20 different ownership and mileage scenarios – ranging from 24 months of ownership/10,000 miles annually to 60 months of ownership/30,000 miles annually. Learn more, including the specific trim levels of the award-winning vehicles, at www.vincentric.com.

2016 Ford Fiesta Named Among ‘Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000’ by Kelley Blue Book

DEARBORN, Mich., May 19, 2016 – Ford Fiesta is one of the Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 of 2016, according to Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

This is the sixth time in seven years that KBB has named Fiesta to the list. The uniquely designed Ford Fiesta – starting from $14,090 (excludes destination and delivery) – shows that cool and affordable really can coexist. As one of America’s most popular small cars, Fiesta offers customers a fun, dynamic car with nimble handling and a comfortable ride, all at an appealing value.

Cars that earn a spot on the KBB coolest new cars list must be fun to drive and fun to own.  Each vehicle also must be available for purchase starting at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Market Range as the yardstick.

“Cool sure has come a long way,” says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Our annual Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 is one of Kelley Blue Book’s longest-running lists, and it’s incredible to see all of the amazing tech features and amenities you can get on an affordable car these days compared to a decade ago.”

Available in hatch or sedan bodystyles, Ford’s popular small car offers a wide range of choice; from the powerful and efficient available 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine to the sporty 1.6-liter EcoBoost in the Fiesta ST. SYNC 3 – the latest Ford communications and entertainment system – is also standard, offering customers enhanced voice recognition, ultimate music streaming control and SYNC AppLink™ enabling customers to control some mobile apps while driving.

Watch Ken Block's 2016 Gymkhana Eight: Ultimate Exotic Playground; Dubai for the ultimate expression of Fiesta’s “cool factor.”

Celebrating its 40^th birthday in Europe this year, the Fiesta has been on sale in North America since 2010, notching up more than 285,000 sales in that time.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week.  The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies.  Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year for four consecutive years.  Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

2017 Ford Escape: Driver Assist | Escape | Ford

The 2017 Ford Escape is here with several new available features including driver-assist technologies. This includes BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross- traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, Lane-Keeping System, and enhanced active park assist. Escape can alert you to other vehicles so you can carry on with whatever is ahead.

Ford Motor Company Fund Expands Global Reach with Innovative Job Training Investment in South Africa

• Ford Motor Company Fund to open Ford Resource and Engagement Center in South Africa – the first global expansion of innovative concept
  

• New center will invest more than 2 million rand (R2 million) annually in training to help approximately 200 people a year find a job or start their own small business
  

• New Ford Resource and Engagement Center is part of a five-year, $4 million investment across the African continent to support company’s growth and its commitment to making people’s lives better
  

PRETORIA, South Africa, May 17, 2016 – Ford Motor Company Fund today announced the creation of a new job training and entrepreneurial development center that will assist approximately 200 people a year, part of a five-year, $4 million investment in community building across the African continent.

The new Ford Resource and Engagement Center, slated to open in October, will be located near Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant outside of Pretoria, South Africa. It is the second resource center of its kind created by Ford Fund, the philanthropic branch of Ford Motor Company, and is modeled after the original Ford Resource and Engagement Center in Southwest Detroit.

The new center marks the first international expansion of the highly successful project Ford Fund launched to bring nonprofit community services together in a collaborative environment. Ford will invest more than 2 million rand (R 2 million) annually in job training there.

“Ford Fund has a proud tradition of strengthening the communities that are home to our employees, dealers, suppliers and customers,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “As our company expands throughout the African continent, we are bringing our innovative community investment programs to new regions to create a better world.”

Ford is joining with Future Families, a South Africa-based nonprofit that provides services to families and orphans affected by HIV and AIDS, in operating the new center. The organization will create a range of training packages designed to prepare clients for finding jobs after graduating from Ford Resource and Engagement Center. Courses will include career guidance and presentation skills, financial literacy, business and entrepreneurial skills, as well as training for vocational and technical jobs such as plumbing, caregiving, computer and office work.

Since opening in Detroit three years ago, the original Ford Resource and Engagement Center has assisted more than 80,000 local residents through a range of social and cultural services, including providing 1.2 million pounds of food and helping to complete 6,100 tax returns. In total, the Detroit Resource and Engagement Center has returned $3 in services to local community members for every $1 invested by Ford and nonprofits.

Ford Fund works globally by making strategic investments focused on building communities, improving education and promoting driving safety as part of its Operation Better World initiative.
In South Africa, Ford Fund programs add to economic investments the company is making in the region. Last month, Ford announced it is investing $170 million to expand operations at Silverton Assembly Plant by adding production of the all-new Ford Everest SUV – a move that will create 1,200 new jobs.

“Our Ford Better World philosophy is more than just a series of projects – it permeates everything we do as a company,” said Jeff Nemeth, Ford president and CEO, Sub Saharan Africa region. “Social, environmental and economic sustainability are all interlinked and cannot be taken in isolation from one another. We are proud of this investment in our community and, ultimately, our people. Education plays a significant role in our lives and these projects will allow the community to benefit from our contributions to the economy.”

Ford Fund’s investment in the new center will total more than 11 million rand (R 11 million), or $750,000, over five years. It is the latest development in Ford’s growing community presence across Africa as the company delivers on its broader goal of making people’s lives better. Over the next five years, Ford Fund will expand its signature education scholarships, grants and training programs across the continent, as well as bring additional Driving Skills for Life, Volunteer Corps and other community improvement projects to Africa.

Recent investments and activities across Africa include:

• A $100,000 investment to dramatically expand the Blue Village initiative in Port Elizabeth is under way. Each year employees from Silverton Assembly Plant convert containers to create new homes in the village of Vastrap. In line with supporting education and development, an early childhood development center was created for children there.
  
• A $100,000 investment to expand the global Ford College Community Challenge program. Student-led community projects were chosen in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa. Each addresses critical local needs and creates a more sustainable place to live and work.
  
• A $75,000 grant to enable Riders for Health to strengthen healthcare access for people across Nigeria. The donation will help Riders extend its vehicle management services by training mechanics to maintain the wide range of motorcycles, four-wheeled vehicles and trucks used to deliver medical professionals and supplies in rural areas.
  
• Investment of more than $200,000 to launch Henry Ford Entrepreneurship Academy in Morocco and expand it to Saudi Arabia.
  
• More than 30 Ford Ranger pickups and other vehicles have been donated by Ford South Africa in South Africa, Angola and Nigeria for wildlife conservation and environmental projects, as well as educational training centers.
  
• Ford South Africa employees have spent more than 6,700 hours on community service projects as part of Ford Volunteer Corps.
  
• Driving Skills for Life has provided hands-on sessions for more than 400 students in Saudi Arabia. The global training program for newly licensed drivers has also held pre-training events in Angola. More than 1,300 employees went through the program in South Africa, while an additional 500 people were trained at Ford dealerships there.
  

Turning Carbon Dioxide into Plastic | Innovation | Ford

Innovative teams at Ford are working on ways to make more sustainable materials for use in our vehicles. Recently, a team of nerd rockstars took inspiration from plants to find a use for excess carbon dioxide.

We’re sequestering CO2 to make things we need to use, just like plants. Except instead of producing complex sugars the way plants do, Ford is testing taking excess carbon dioxide and making durable plastics to use in vehicles. We think it’s pretty sweet.

2017 Ford Escape: Power and Traction | Escape | Ford

The 2017 Ford Escape offers top-quality power and traction features including Intelligent 4-Wheel Drive System and two new available EcoBoost® engines. Power and traction: the 2017 Escape offers both.

Preserving Mother Earth: Ford First Automaker to Use Captured CO2 to Develop Foam and Plastic for Vehicles

• Ford is the first automaker to develop foams and plastics using captured carbon dioxide for its vehicle lineup; anticipated use includes seating and underhood applications
•  Foams formulated with up to 50 percent CO₂-based polyols could reduce petroleum use by more than 600 million pounds annually
• Ford researchers foresee the new materials going into production vehicles within five years; future goals include developing other plastic materials using captured carbon to help reduce further the need for fossil fuel-based plastics

DEARBORN, Mich., May 17, 2016 – Ford Motor Company is the first automaker to formulate and test new foam and plastic components using carbon dioxide as feedstock. Researchers expect to see the new biomaterials in Ford production vehicles within five years.

Formulated with up to 50 percent CO₂-based polyols, the foam is showing promise as it meets rigorous automotive test standards. It could be employed in seating and underhood applications, potentially reducing petroleum use by more than 600 million pounds annually – enough to fill nearly 35,000 American homes. CO₂-derived foam will further reduce the use of fossil fuels in Ford vehicles and increase the presence of sustainable foam in the automaker’s global lineup.

“Ford is working aggressively to lower its environmental impact by reducing its use of petroleum-based plastic and foam,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader of sustainability. “This technology is exciting because it is contributing to solving a seemingly insurmountable problem – climate change. We are thrilled to be leading the charge toward reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change.”

Carbon emissions and climate change are of growing concern to world leaders as a staggering 2.4 million pounds of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere globally per second. Plastic manufacturing accounts for nearly 4 percent of the world’s oil use, according to British Plastic Federation. Ford researchers are hopeful the company’s early steps to use captured carbon in innovative ways will help achieve the long-term goals to reduce global warming recently set in the UN Paris Agreement.

For nearly two decades, researchers have worked successfully to develop sustainable materials for Ford products. In North America, soy foam is in every Ford vehicle. Coconut fiber backs trunk liners; recycled tires and soy are in mirror gaskets; recycled T-shirts and denim go into carpeting; and recycled plastic bottles become REPREVE fabric used in the 2016 F-150.

Ford began working with several companies, suppliers and universities in 2013 to find applications for captured CO₂. Among them is Novomer – a New York-based company that utilizes carbon dioxide captured from manufacturing plants to produce innovative materials. Through a system of conversions, Novomer produces a polymer than can be formulated into a variety of materials including foam and plastic that are easily recyclable.

“Novomer is excited by the pioneering work Ford has completed with our Converge^® CO₂-based polyols,” said Peter Shepard, Novomer chief business officer. “It takes bold, innovative companies such as Ford to enable new technologies to become mainstream products.”

Ford is pleased to be in the vanguard – the first automaker – to embark on a course toward reducing carbon emissions.

“At Ford, we’re aggressively developing new, more sustainable ways to produce high-quality products, with an eye toward preserving and improving our world,” said Mielewski.

Ford GT Carbon-Fiber Wheels Showcase the Dynamic, Weight, NVH and Efficiency Advantages of Innovative Material

• All-new Ford GT will debut availability of next-gen carbon-fiber wheels, offering new clear-coated, bare-carbon finish and extensive benefits of lightweighting
•  Latest iteration of carbon-fiber wheels on Ford GT feature new advanced fiber and resin compounds that allow more intricately styled wheel options
• Ford GT is the second Ford vehicle to take advantage of carbon-fiber wheels; first standard OEM application debuted on 2015 Ford Shelby^® GT350R Mustang

DEARBORN, Mich., May 17, 2016 – The carbon-fiber-bodied Ford GT will also offer an all-new carbon-fiber wheel, further improving the drive and handling characteristics of Ford’s all-new supercar.

Ford GT is the second Ford Performance vehicle to offer carbon fiber wheels – following the world’s first mass-produced carbon fiber wheel application that debuted as standard equipment on the 2015 Shelby^® GT350R Mustang.

“Ford was the innovator as the first to offer a mass-produced carbon fiber wheels as a standard offering on Shelby GT350R Mustang,” said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director. “Now, Ford GT will offer the next generation in carbon fiber wheels, with an advanced resin and fiber technology that gives our designers more freedom, while also showcasing the structure of the material’s weave.”

Unlike the Shelby GT350R’s black-painted carbon fiber wheels, Ford GT wheels will be offered in two finishes – either a matte or a glossy clearcoat, permitting the stunning nature of the carbon fiber weave to show through. The finishes perfectly match the two exposed carbon finishes available on the sills, fascia and extractor of the all-new supercar.

Working with supplier partner Carbon Revolution, the new wheels are constructed with the latest generation of fiber and resin technology that permits greater design flexibility – resulting in flowing, more intricate spokes.

Light Is Right
 
Carbon fiber wheels bring a wealth of advantages over traditional aluminum wheels, including weight savings, improved vehicle dynamics and ride quality - making the innovative material the perfect complement for the all-new Ford GT.

Beyond simply reducing overall vehicle weight for improved acceleration, braking and dynamic performance, carbon fiber’s incredibly strong, light nature means a reduction in unsprung weight and rotational inertia, which benefits suspension action, ride quality and dynamic performance.

The Ford GT arrives standard with incredibly light, supercar-spec, 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels, sized 8.5 x 20 in./front, and 11.5 x 20 in./rear. The optional carbon fiber wheels on the Ford GT are the same size, but are structurally stiffer, and save more than two pounds of unsprung weight per wheel. Compared to the already featherweight standard wheels, this weight savings reduces inertia by a notable 25 percent.

A lighter wheel requires the suspension to do less work to control the hardware attached to it, and improves consistent contact with the road surface, improving traction and driver control. Each spinning wheel also acts like a gyroscope, so a lighter wheel can improve steering feel and dynamics as it requires less energy to accelerate or turn the wheels, improving vehicle response. Vehicle efficiency is improved as less energy is required to get the wheel spinning.

While metal wheels can act like a bell, the dense, inert nature of carbon fiber provides for overall improved performance in terms of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and a quieter ride – leading to greater comfort and refinement.

With optional carbon fiber wheels providing benefits in key areas – weight savings, vehicle dynamics, NVH and ride quality – they are the perfect, innovative complement for the all-new Ford GT.

We Are All Playcallers | Escape | Ford

We are all playcallers, and the new 2017 Ford Escape’s SYNC 3 voice activation feature is here to help us out. Be unstoppable.

2017 Ford Escape: Overview | Escape | Ford

The 2017 Ford Escape is here with several new features including driver-assist technologies, redesigned interior storage, SYNC® 3 connectivity and power with the new 2.0L EcoBoost® engine.

Ford SUVs: We Are All MVPs | Commercial | Ford

Be unstoppable with the latest SUVs from Ford, including the new 2017 Ford Escape. Life is a sport, and we are the utility.

We Are All Sprinters | Escape | Ford

We are all sprinters, and the new 2017 Ford Escape’s SYNC Connect feature is here to help us out. Be unstoppable.

Camping Confidence: How Ford Tests All-New Super Duty to Ensure Truck Can Handle Large Slide-In Campers

Ford knows its owners all have different uses for their F-Series Super Duty, which is why the company goes to extraordinary lengths to satisfy as many customer needs as possible. For the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, testing involves using a custom-built slide-in camper simulator to test the truck's roll stability when its center of gravity is raised. The test simulates carrying a camper weighing more than 7,500 pounds, loaded with fresh water, cooking gear, fuel and batteries. Watch Ford engineers put Super Duty through its paces at Arizona Proving Grounds, subjecting the truck to low- and high-speed lane changes as well as slalom runs to help ensure every Super Duty customer is a happy camper.

We Are All Rookies | Escape | Ford

We are all rookies, and the new 2017 Ford Escape’s rear view camera feature is here to help us out. Be unstoppable.

New 2017 Ford Fusion: Available All-Wheel Drive | Fusion | Ford

When it comes to providing confidence for adverse conditions and surfaces, not every all-wheel-drive system is created equal – and Ford has the video to show it.

In a recent demonstration, we put our new 2017 Ford Fusion midsize sedan up against a 2016 Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle – both equipped with all-wheel drive. Watch what happens!

Side-By-Side 1965, 2015 Mustang Display Showcases 50 Years of Innovation at National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum

• Ford and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum will debut a permanent Mustang display that uniquely fuses 50 years of history by combining a 1965 Mustang and a 2015 model – both split lengthwise – with two functional driver compartments
• Mustang was chosen as a symbol of automotive innovation over the last 50 years
• Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford will be highlighted at the National Inventors Hall of Fame

DEARBORN, Mich., May 03, 2016 – Ford and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum (NIHF) are set to unveil a one-of-a-kind Mustang that marries a 1965 model to a 2015 model in a unique side-by-side display for the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum.  

The split-personality Mustang is part of a new, permanent Intellectual Property Power™ Exhibit   at the National Inventors Hall of Fame museum on the United States Patent and Trademark Office Campus in Alexandria, Virginia. The Mustang, along with other exhibits, Museum exhibits, including the Mustang, celebrate the story of intellectual property and illuminates its significance to progress, innovation, and culture in America, as well as how trademarks, patents, and other forms of intellectual property make modern amenities possible. The interactive display is designed to highlight the importance of patents and the tremendous march of technology over the decades. It calls out various patents in the current vehicle, as well as those in the original pony car.

The NIHF sought out Ford as its partner for the project because the company has played such an important part in the long history of American innovation with the Mustang being such an icon for half a century. Ford and its employee volunteers have also been involved for the past 20 years with Camp Invention, a program of NIHF. Camp Invention is one of the nation’s premier summer enrichment programs and leverages hands-on activities to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and builds 21st century skills.

When Mustang was launched, no specific styling patents were granted. Only after the car proved such a huge success – selling more than 1 million cars in its first 18 months – were styling patents even considered and applied for over time.

“Everything moved so fast in the design and run-up to production of the original Mustang that there were no styling patents issued back then,” says Chris Danowski, Ford director of technology commercialization and intellectual property licensing. “Now look at the current car; 2015 Mustang Convertible alone was granted 36 styling patents, which ensure the unique look stays with the car. It also has many unique functional patents for things like the airbag structures, 911 Assist^® and so many other technologies baked right in.”

In 1965, Mustang utilized more than 100 of Ford’s existing functional patents. Those patents reflect some of the touches customers loved back then, including a rear-seat speaker and a power convertible top. Normal conveniences we now take for granted were also involved, like Patent 3,271,540 – the origin of Ford’s self-canceling turn signal.

Today, Mustang is a wellspring of creative design and engineering. The car introduced the first passenger knee airbag system packaged inside the glove box door, with 15 patents granted. It debuted electronic line-lock, along with standard launch control – designed to help bracket racers achieve more consistent performance at the drag strip. Mustang incorporates features specific to modern times, with patented relief in the seat cushion to allow a wallet or phone in an occupant’s back pocket to protrude further into the seat for more comfort.

Many of these patents and more will be illustrated in the display, crafted by Classic Design Concepts, which combines about 60 percent of the driver’s compartment of the original Mustang and about 60 percent that of a new pony car – both including the console area and technology of their times. The left side consists of a reproduction 1965 left-hand-drive Mustang licensed for modern production by Ford and built to the same specifications as the original car – in itself an example of the licensing benefits of intellectual property. The other side is a right-hand-drive 2015 Mustang that is sold in several of the 150 countries where the car is now available. 

Visitors to the museum will be able to sit in either side of the car and directly compare features and styling details; From the AM radio, roll-up window, vent air window, and optional retractable color-keyed and seat belts available in 1965, to the working touch screen display in the 2015 model. Some patents and other intellectual property will be displayed on accompanying monitors and over speakers. Visitors to the display will also be able to hear the sounds of the original 1965 Mustang V8 engine and a 2015 Mustang V8 engine at idle.

At the May 4 unveiling ceremony, Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford will also be highlighted at the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

New 2017 Ford Escape Lands in Primetime, Collaborates with 'The Blacklist' and 'Blindspot' to Create Custom Content

• New Ford Escape focus of unique integrations with producers of hit NBC shows “The Blacklist” and “Blindspot
• “The Blacklist” actress Mozhan Marnò interacts with new Ford Escape in TV spots, continuing three-year relationship between automaker and hit TV show  
• Spots during “Blindspot” feature actress Ashley Johnson in character as FBI agent Patterson analyzing a new Escape as if it were a crime scene

DEARBORN, Mich., May 5, 2016 – The new 2017 Ford Escape is teaming with a pair of primetime crime fighters to give viewers custom content that will air on NBC throughout May, in pieces jointly created by Ford Motor Co. and NBC.

“The Blacklist” actress Mazhan Marnò, who plays FBI agent Samar Navabi on the hit show, will appear in an Escape for a three-week series of commercials during the show’s broadcast. The series of original content will air May 5, 12 and 19, during “The Blacklist.” The narrative will highlight various features on the 2017 Escape, including the available SYNC^® 3 driver-connectivity system.

Meanwhile, the new Escape will also be featured in a collaboration with “Blindspot” producers to create a three-part custom integration starring actress Ashley Johnson, who plays FBI agent Patterson on the show. In the spots, Johnson is in character analyzing a new Escape as if it were a crime scene.

The spots, slated to air May 9, 16 and 23 during “Blindspot,” will also direct viewers to continue the experience at NBC.com, where they can enter for the chance to win a Ford Escape in the “Make Your Escape” Sweepstakes.

For 17 years, Ford Escape has been one of the best-selling vehicles in the popular small SUV segment by offering advanced technologies to customers.

The 2017 Escape is designed to continue that leadership when it arrives in showrooms in May, featuring available SYNC^® Connect technology that gives FordPass^® members remote access to their vehicle from their mobile device.

SYNC Connect enables drivers to use the new FordPass platform to lock, unlock and locate their Escape, as well as schedule remote starts and check fuel level. SYNC Connect is included in the Technology Package on Escape SE and is a standard offering on Escape Titanium.

“The Blacklist” airs 9-10 p.m. ET/PT on Thursdays; “Blindspot” airs 10-11 p.m. ET/PT on Mondays.

Shhhh! Ford Targets Quieter, Highly Refined Vehicles for Customers with Debut of World's First Mobile Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel

• Cabin quietness is a leading driver in consumer purchase consideration; Ford has developed a world-first mobile aeroacoustic wind tunnel to help ensure quietest cabins possible
• Patent-pending tunnel can produce wind speeds up to 80 mph, then be broken down and reassembled in just hours at any Ford assembly plant in North America; mobile wind tunnel supports vehicle launches to help improve quality
• New tunnel benefits Ford wind noise engineers both professionally and personally – improving productivity by reducing test cycles from weeks to hours, and shortening time spent on the road to enable a better work-life balance

DEARBORN, Mich., May 4, 2016 – Consumers want quieter vehicles – it’s a leading purchase consideration among those looking for a new car. So Ford has come up with a better way to make its vehicles even quieter.

The world’s first fully mobile aeroacoustic wind tunnel is an innovative, patent-pending test system that allows for sources of unwanted wind noise in early production vehicles to be identified faster and solutions developed sooner. In the end, customers drive away in cars designed with a quiet interior that’s so essential to delivering a refined vehicle experience. 

“This project was born from a desire to be the best when it comes to controlling and limiting the cabin noise customers are so sensitive to,” said Bill Gulker, Ford wind noise core supervisor. “And our new mobile wind tunnel saves our engineers time and increases productivity. It’s a fine example of the innovation mindset we’re trying to incorporate into everything we do.”

Ford’s new wind tunnel debuts at Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan – joining a growing fleet of mobile testing facilities including three environmental evaluation chambers.

Changing the business of quiet
 
Full-sized aerodynamics labs, such as Ford’s main wind tunnel in Allen Park, Michigan, are outfitted with the latest in sensitive measuring and analysis equipment. These office building-sized facilities are specialized for advanced aerodynamic and aeroacoustic development work on future models, with each facility costing about $50 million. Due to the specialized instruments and cost, running time for these machines is precious.

Ford’s new mobile wind tunnel costs a fraction of what a full-sized lab costs. Because testing requires only a steady stream of highway-speed wind, many of the large and sensitive instruments of a full aero lab aren’t required. But high-tech, in-cabin sensors like the Aachen head and Noise Vision can still be used.

With an on-site wind noise facility, Ford factories can pull more sample vehicles directly from the line and test them with no delay – eliminating the time and complexity of shipping vehicles back and forth across the country.

Issues requiring assembly process refinement can be detected and resolved earlier, since everybody involved is on hand.

“Now, we’re able to detect even the most subtle noises,” said Gulker. “We can identify an area in need of improvement, have key people gather, communicate quickly, and resolve the issue without delay.”

Rethinking the idea of a wind tunnel
 
Similar in concept to a full-scale wind tunnel laboratory, the heart of the mobile facility is built inside two 53-foot shipping containers. Each includes aeroacoustic vanes and internal ducting to provide smooth, controlled airflow at the nozzle end of the machine, while two 16-bladed, six-foot-diameter ducted fans – each powered by a 250-horsepower electric motor – deliver a maximum blast of 80-mph wind. A series of doors around the containers ensure the sections remain secure during transport or storage.

The machine consists of the two main containers fastened together side by side on flat, level tarmac. In between, two roll-up doors are lifted, while doors on the front and back ends are opened to create the air intake and outlet nozzle. A third, 40-foot container – housing a small office, power distribution and controls – is placed nearby, and data and power cabling are connected between the containers.

The entire operation can be broken down within a day, shipped to any Ford North American assembly facility via truck, then reassembled at the new site and ready for testing within hours.

Agility, and the drive for quality
 
Ford’s ability to perform wind noise testing at the plants means its main wind tunnel in Allen Park is now freed up to concentrate on product development work for future models. This can lead to more time spent on each new vehicle, shortened development times and, ultimately, not only quieter cabins, but better fuel economy.

The new mobile wind tunnel is an example of the kind of out-of-the-box thinking Ford employees are encouraged to embrace, and it directly benefits the company’s wind noise engineers both personally and professionally. They can now work more efficiently, as they no longer have to spend so much time away from their families, traveling to and from plants and the main facility.

Fast facts about Ford’s industry-first mobile wind tunnel

• Maximum sustained wind speed: 80 mph
• Maximum system power: 500 horsepower
• Diameter of each ducted fan: Six feet
• Facility capability: 24-hour-a-day operation by two workers
• Enormous power distribution cables weigh 10 pounds per foot, each plug weighs 40 pounds; in total, each 100-foot cable weighs approximately 1,080 pounds 
• In spite of the machine’s huge power, it registers just 75 decibels at a distance of six feet from the test area – roughly equivalent to a telephone dial tone

More Torque and Better Boost: 2017 Ford F-150 to Debut with All-New 3.5-Liter EcoBoost Engine and 10-Speed Transmission

• Continuously improving for customers, 2017 Ford F-150 doubles down on efficiency, capability and performance with debut of the second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine and all-new Ford-built 10-speed automatic transmission 
• New 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine provides 30 lb.-ft. more peak torque compared with the first-generation EcoBoost engine, up to a best-in-class 450 lb.-ft. for a V6, beating gasoline- and diesel-powered competitors
• The first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission available to consumers from any automaker will deliver improved acceleration and performance

DEARBORN, Mich., May 3, 2016 – Ford, America’s truck leader, continues its relentless pace of innovation, delivering more torque and better acceleration to 2017 F-150 customers with the all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine and 10-speed transmission.

The new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will provide 30 lb.-ft. more peak torque compared with the first-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, up to a best-in-class 450 lb.-ft. for a V6. F-150 remains the only truck in its segment to offer a twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine.

The all-new Ford-built transmission – the first volume-production 10-speed automatic transmission available to consumers from any automaker – will deliver improved acceleration and performance compared with previous six-speed automatic transmissions.

“The Ford truck team lives to serve our hardworking truck customers,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, Product Development, and chief technical officer. “The powertrain is the heart of every F-150, and together our all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 10-speed transmission will give our customers better power, efficiency and confidence.”

More than 20 patents are approved or pending for the innovative powertrain combination.

Second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine
 
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine builds on the success of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine and first-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine available for the 2016 F-150. Nearly 1 million F-150 EcoBoost engines have been sold to date, with the 2.7-liter and first-generation 3.5-liter accounting for approximately 60 percent of F-150 sales.

Ford engineers designed the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine to provide best-in-class torque for a V6 engine, beating gasoline- and diesel-powered competitors. The new engine provides better low-end and peak engine performance, ideal for hauling heavy payloads and towing heavy trailers.

The engine features an all-new, Ford-first dual-direct and port fuel-injection system. Two injectors per cylinder – one mounted in the intake port where air enters the cylinder and one positioned inside the cylinder – work together to improve power output, efficiency, and emissions.

All-new turbochargers deliver more boost thanks to improved twin turbos and a lighter turbine wheel. The new turbos work seamlessly with Ford-first electrically activated wastegates, enhancing operating efficiency. Light-weighting the turbine wheel – by making it out of high-temperature super alloy Mar-M-247 developed by the aerospace industry – improves responsiveness.

Ford’s commitment to continuous light-weighting to improve performance also is evident in the hollow camshafts in the all-new roller-finger follower valvetrain that help save up to 4 pounds of weight. The valvetrain also features more durable intake and exhaust valves, and hydraulic valve-lash adjusters that optimize engine durability over the life of the truck.

The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine provides Auto Start-Stop as a standard feature, helping customers save fuel, though actual fuel savings vary depending on driving patterns. The technology also contributes to a reduction in CO₂ emissions due to decreased idle times. Auto Start-Stop is specially tuned for truck customers, shutting off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop – except when towing or in four-wheel-drive mode.

All-new 10-speed transmission
 
The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine will be paired with an all-new 10-speed transmission for the 2017 F-150.

The transmission delivers improved acceleration and performance compared with previous six-speed automatic transmissions, thanks to optimized wide-span gear spacing, coupled with drag-reduction actions. Three overdrive gears and a wider ratio span enable lower-numerical rear-axle ratios to help improve fuel efficiency at highway speeds, while maintaining best-in-class towing.

Weight savings play a key role in improved shifting performance. The 10-speed transmission uses advanced materials and alloys to save weight, and it is the first Ford gearbox that does not use cast-iron components.

An integrated torque converter/turbine clutch also helps shave more than 2 pounds of weight, while also reducing the packaging footprint.

Smarter shift logic helps 2017 F-150 customers tow with improved confidence using tow/haul mode. All-new real-time-adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms monitor more than a dozen powertrain- and driver-control signals to ensure the right gear at the right time for an engaging driving experience, including in sport mode.

An integrated electric pump works with the standard Auto Start-Stop system for seamless restarts and improved driving efficiency.

Manufacturing investment
 
Ford announced earlier this year that it will invest $145 million to upgrade its Cleveland Engine Plant – creating or retaining 150 jobs to support production of the all-new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine for the 2017 Ford F-150 lineup.

An additional $1.4 billion is being invested at Ford’s Livonia Transmission Plant to create or retain 500 hourly jobs to build the 10-speed transmission.

Both investments are part of the company’s commitment to invest $9 billion and create or retain 8,500 hourly jobs in its U.S. facilities during the next four years. In the past five years, Ford has invested $12 billion in its U.S. plants and created nearly 28,000 total U.S. jobs.

The 2017 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall.

All-New Ford F-150 Raptor – The Ultimate High-Performance Off-Road Picku...

It’s one thing to describe the capabilities and features of the all-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 Raptor ever. But nothing compares to seeing F-150 Raptor do what it does best.

Shot on the same Mojave Desert terrain where F-150 Raptor was designed and tested to excel, this video is a six-part series that shows why F-150 Raptor is the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck.

Forged from high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy that helps the truck shed more than 500 pounds, F-150 Raptor is inspired by Ford’s performance heritage in off-road racing that includes Best in the Desert, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the famous Baja 1000.

Redesigned, larger FOX Racing Shox with more suspension travel and all-new terrain management technology help F-150 Raptor tackle the toughest of surfaces. An available Torsen front differential increases off-road capability further.

The all-new 2017 Raptor is powered by Ford’s new, second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine, with more horsepower and torque than previous Raptor’s 411-horsepower, 434-lb.-ft. 6.2-liter V8, plus an all-new 10-speed transmission.

The all-new Raptor will be built at Dearborn Truck Plant, and goes on sale fall 2016.

Hold on to Your Cup! These Customer Findings Drove the Refreshed Cupholder Design for the New Ford Fusion

• Cupholders – a seemingly small convenience with a big impact – have been moved forward, rotated and redesigned for the new 2017 Ford Fusion
• Ford research, including a new Nielsen survey, took the automaker around the globe in search of what customers want and need from their cupholders
• Insights about beverage containers, customers and cupholder design show people use cupholders not only for bottles and cups of varying shapes and sizes, but also mobile devices and loose change; insights helped Ford refine cupholders in the new Fusion

DEARBORN, Mich., Apr 29, 2016 – At Ford, every detail matters, and customer experiences matter most.

That’s why, in designing the new 2017 Ford Fusion, the automaker set out in search of what makes cupholders – a seemingly small convenience – so important to customers. In the end, customer feedback drove substantial changes to the refreshed Fusion console design, including a new take on the common cupholder that customers will surely appreciate.

The replacement of the traditional shifter with a rotary gear shift dial freed space for two newly designed cupholders – both with available ambient lighting. The new cupholders are now one in front of the other, with the front cupholder 6 inches forward from their location on the 2016 Fusion. It’s a small move with big effects, allowing Ford to extend the armrest by nearly 3 inches and to expand the armrest bin by an extra half-gallon, comparable to your average 2-liter soda bottle or four 16.9-ounce water bottles. For even more storage, a pocket added to the front console is a perfect spot for a wallet and various other items.

“Being dissatisfied with your cupholders may be a minor annoyance, but it’s a daily one, which over time detracts from the overall car experience,” said Jolanta Coffey, Ford instrument panel and console manager. “On the other hand, when you like your cupholders, they can make your vehicle feel like home. For Fusion, we set out to develop a beautiful interior, paying attention to the details that make people fall in love and stay in love with their car.”




Research reveals the following cupholder facts:

1.    Bottles win big

In the U.S., people say drinks in bottles reign supreme. According to a new Nielsen survey, 79 percent of Americans say they use cupholders for bottles. A majority of people – 52 percent – say they typically use cupholders to carry cups of coffee and tea. Ford research also found North American customers use large soft-drink cups more than other parts of the world, and they’re much likelier to drink on the go. In Asia, people tend to bring wide tea bottles into the vehicle.

2.    Putting satisfaction within reach – literally

People value cupholders that are within effortless reach. That’s easier said than done – given the range of possible arm lengths and seat positions. For the new Fusion, Ford studied driver ergonomics to balance the needs of as many drivers as possible. By moving the cupholders, designers ensured Fusion cupholders are an easy reach for at least 95 percent of the population.

3.    Holding more than cups*

Among non-beverage items placed in cupholders, phones by far are the most common. Roughly half say they use their cupholder to store their mobile device, followed by 28 percent who use it for loose change. Food is placed in cupholders by 19 percent of respondents, while 14 percent use it for gum or mints, and 12 percent for wallets. Millennials and teens are much more likely than their elders to use cupholders for non-beverage items. Gender plays a role as well. Men are more likely to use cupholders to store their wallet and change, while women tend to use cupholders consistently.

4.    Get a grip

A great cupholder is roomy enough for an extra-large container, yet capable of holding a skinny one without it tipping over. Ford again did its homework, for the first time using its tactical robot arm RUTH to verify the Fusion cupholders, as well as the spring-loaded resistance grips within them, meet customer preferences for resistance and feel. RUTH measured things like how much effort it takes to insert a bottle and how much tension the grips exert as a cup is being pushed down.

5.    The three cups

Cupholders must be deep enough to hold taller containers, but shallow enough that you can easily pluck out a small cup. Ford found most cups fall between three basic scenarios: your average half-liter recyclable water bottle, the 20-ounce plastic bottle typically used for juices and sports drinks, and the 30-ounce soft-drink cup found at many fast-food restaurants. If a cupholder can help hold all three, it can likely hold most any cup.

In total, the 2017 Ford Fusion has up to six cupholders in the console, front door pockets and rear center armrest. Regardless of region and what drivers may store in their vehicle’s cupholders, they are in constant use – and therefore an important aspect of interior design at Ford.