Archive for the ‘Ford Vehicles’ Category

« Older Entries

Buying A V6 or V8 Pickup Truck For Work

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Whether you’re a painting contractor, landscaping company or residential electrician – Buying a pickup truck that will be suitable for your needs should meet a few basic requirements. These needs might include carrying sheets of plywood to the jobsite, so what does a truck need to have to allow you to do your work?

V6 or V8

It’s obvious that a V6 is going to be more wallet friendly when it comes time to fill the tank, but will it do? If you’ve been in a situation where you’re driving to the job and carrying a lot of materials you may have felt disappointed when you hit the gas to merge onto the freeway driving a V6. If that causes you grief then just go with a V8 and don’t think twice. Any savings in gas will not be worth the aggravation one can have with a lack of power.

Stop and Go Traffic

Let’s consider the previously mentioned situation wasn’t an experience you’ve encountered. In that case, consider how often you spend your time traveling – percent of time driving on city streets versus highway. If you’re on the highway often then a V8 would be the better choice to solve the merging problem, but if you do more inner city street driving, a V6 would likely be the winner. Stop and go traffic can be a killer of gas consumption and efficiency, so think about where you are driving the most and decide accordingly.

A V6 doesn’t have the power that one needs in a work truck usually, work trucks are often loaded down with tools and other materials making them quite difficult to get up to speed when needed. Even if you’re not on the highway, areas that have a lot of hills may also vindicate buying a V8.

Conclusion

Ask yourself how you need to travel for work, what types of roads do you spend the majority of your time on? City streets and stop and go traffic – get a V6, anything else get the V8.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Ford Vehicles | Comments Off

Fusion Interior – Glowing With New Technology Features

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Take a look inside the 2011 Ford Fusion and you’ll see clever backlit lighting on the gauges, circular lighting around the cup holders, and even the ability to change the color to your liking.

The new technology combined with a luxury leather interior makes the Ford Fusion really glow. But besides the lighting, the leather seats, entertainment system, it’s the ability to mold all of these components together into a very satisfying experience that has my attention.  It really does have a solid integration with SYNC, and pairing a Bluetooth mobile phone takes only minutes to do.

The lighting and the seats quickly comfort you and give a sense of excitement and personality. For instance, my daughter loves the purple color, her second choice to pink. This subtle customization component albeit a simple one quickly gives the driver a close bond with the vehicle.

It’s wonderful to drive a vehicle made by a company that is embracing change, promoting technology, a truly satisfying the needs of its owners. If Ford were a computer company, Apple might see some interesting competition.

Ford answers this call to action and is developing an open source platform that will seek true innovation in a direction that will benefit the world as electric vehicles begin to emerge.

The support of Ford with the SYNC platform makes it a complete system designed for the tech geeks to the average joe who wants it all integrated and accessible.  Staying connected with the applications one needs can be the difference between making an important business meeting or coordinating a group of people through the various networking tools that people use these days.

Tags:
Posted in Ford Vehicles | Comments Off

2012 Ford Focus Is Eco + Logical

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

I’ve been to Europe, and I’ve often thought to say the following – “what small cars you people drive”, now it seems that concept is becoming more regular here in the States – as they call us.

Its possible that the reaction could be taken a bit on the offensive side, so I’d probably refrain from saying that and simply try to find out for myself what leads to these vehicles being so popular. I often thought it was the size of the inner city streets, with Paris in particular being no place for an SUV to navigate.

Beginning in early 2010, Ford has gone to a global design concept making their vehicles more and more familiar looking no matter where you are. This helps from a cost perspective but even more significant it helps from the brand perspective as you can always expect the same quality in a Ford Focus wherever it’s sold. The European version seemed to have been getting regular enhancements while the US version didn’t evolve much.

The 2012 Focus certainly looks remarkable, particularly in 5-door form. The designers and engineers felt they were capable of making the Focus sportier by lowering the seats and the overall height of the vehicle to give it a more slick appeal. In contrast to today’s version of the Ford Focus in the US, the new version is 0.5 inch lower and a 1.3-inch extended wheelbase. The 2012 Ford Focus’s proportions are close to the present Euro car apart from a wider stance and lower height.

A high steel strength has been used for 55% of the body. Rigidity has shot up to 25% more that the present Focus. The Ford Focus will get 2.0L, direct injection 4 cylinder with variable intake and exhaust valve timing. It has been said from Ford that the engine will have 155hp and 145 ft-lbs of torque. They will also have an Ecoboost engine in the new Focus along with 2 transmission options. Electric power steering with torque vectoring will be a new feature. The interior appearance is that of a champion with options like rear view camera, a keyless ignition, a GPS system, blind spot warning system and an upgraded SYNC Infotainment System.

Tags:
Posted in Ford Vehicles | Comments Off

SYNC Apps – 2011 Ford Fiesta First To Get Apps

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

The all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta will be available summer 2010 and Ford is outfitting the sporty sub-compact with AppLink. This great new technology is an upgrade for Sync, Ford’s interior communications and entertainment hub. AppLink is downloadable and will allow a driver’s voice commands to engage smartphone applications.

Ford Motor Company brands are linked to new technology and fun gadgets from the all new-Eco Friendly Nav to this new upgrade that keeps driver safety at the forefront of all technological features incorporated into their models. AppLink will offer hands free access to drivers which allow driver focus to remain on the road.

At this time the extension works with Backberry and Android phones; however, next year AppLink will be available for all Ford brand vehicles and will also add iPhone. The three Sync apps are: Pandora Internet Radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and OpenBeak. Look for more apps in the near future as Ford is already in the development mode and will offer “Mobile Application Developer Network” which will allow more apps for Ford vehicle drivers.

Smartphone apps enable owners to stay in touch with a variety of information. In the coming years Smartphone apps will enable the consumer almost instant access to their personal contacts, work files, and even the onboard computer of your car. While many of these apps already exist broadband connections will become faster and faster which will enable Smartphone customers to connect no matter the location and will allow consumers the ability to download and upload information very quickly.

Ford Motor Company sees the future and will initially put the AppLink in a car that also captures a futuristic vision of an energetic insanely intelligent demographic that can not have too many apps or enough time on the Smartphone. However, having information a voice command away is not only for the young but the young at heart; granting consumers information while allowing them to keep both eyes focused on the road. Ford Motor Company, a visionary when it comes to the needs of its customers, continues to engineer safety and convenience into their brands.

Tags:
Posted in Ford Fiesta, Ford Vehicles | Comments Off

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L 412HP and 26MPG

Friday, April 30th, 2010

We think this is one of the best headlines ever inked into print and such an explosive statement that the auto enthusiast is immediately tuned into the audio and visual of Ford’s iconic muscle car—with that ‘sitting on the edge of the seat barely-breathing-pulse-racing anticipation’ feeling once again.

Many remember the day and many more will remember the day. The 1965 Mustang, the best thing since the “Tin Lizzy” reached out to a market that was chronologically young and also to those who remain forever young. Ford’s marketing department acknowledged there are reasons people buy cars that have little to do with responsibility and everything to do with identity and the car/driver experience.

Features like a sleek physique, a big and proven powerplant, and smooth handling speak a kind of language that makes the marketing department’s job easy. Through the years Mustang evolved with the country’s mindset which was not always exciting for muscle car enthusiasts, but the missing link to that raw excitement is back: the 5.0 fender badge.

The 2011 Ford Mustang is dressed out to compete with Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger. The 2011 Stang drives in with an all-new 32 valve 5.0-L (Not 4.9) V-8 that races 412 horses and offers muscle madness at 390 lb.-ft of torque. Ford’s use of new technology (TiVCT), Cam Torque-actuated twin independent variable grants the GT owner power with fuel economy. The 2011 Mustang GT offers consumers 25 miles per gallon and is kinder to the environment; Ford Motor Company’s pledge to keep consumers happy and with the GT 5.0-L not only happy but ecstatic and the earth healthy–continues.

The GT comes with either a six-speed manual or a six speed automatic, Electronic power-assisted steering, and an upgrade on strut and shock tuning. Optional on the 2011 GT is Brembo braking (14-inch front rotors and 19-inch wheels). Also Ford has made improvements in steering response with a fine tune of spring and damper rates.

As the pony race heats up once again, muscle car fans can once again talk in present tense.

Tags: ,
Posted in Ford Mustang, Ford Vehicles | Comments Off

« Older Entries