Ford Motor Company recorded another strong improvement in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2009 Initial Quality Study, putting the Ford and Mercury brands among the best in the industry, placing the Ford and Mercury brands among the study’s top ten brands scoring highest in initial quality.
The Ford brand, which continues to outpace the overall industry’s quality improvement, now has posted eight consecutive years of gains in the closely watched quality study based on consumer evaluations after the first three months of new-vehicle ownership. Overall, the Ford brand improved by 10 points over last year’s study.
“It is gratifying to see our commitment to quality paying off,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. “Ford has demonstrated consistent and continuous quality improvement and we won’t be satisfied until Ford is the industry’s global quality leader.”
Some of Ford’s most popular nameplates received top honors for their respective segment, including Ford F-150, Mustang, Edge and Mercury Sable.
J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 80,930 new 2009 model-year vehicle owners after they have driven their new vehicles for three months. It measures problems per 100 vehicles and was based on November through February registrations.
“The Blue Oval is becoming synonymous with high quality with customers,” Fowler said. “We’re not only dramatically reducing defects, we are delivering the long-term durability and the superior craftsmanship that today’s customers demand.”
If Ford = Quality, shouldn’t you be driving one.  Stop in to see your Ford Dealer today.

The U.S. government is offering vouchers of up to $4,500 toward the purchase of a new automobile, with several vehicles in the Ford  lineup that qualify for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act, better known as Cash for Clunkers.

This is a temporary U.S. government sponsored program to assist customers in trading-in a qualifying vehicle for a new, more fuel-efficient and less-polluting one. Customers will receive a $3,500 or $4,500 voucher from the government on top of all other incentives in exchange for their vehicle.

Ford greatly appreciates lawmakers’ efforts to quickly move this proposal across the legislative finish line. It should help consumers, support jobs and improve the environment.

Here’s what you need to know:

* Even though the bill has passed the House and the Senate, President Barack Obama will need to sign it into law. Within 30 days after that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will put in place a plan to implement the program.  Consumers will use the program to receive a voucher at the point of sale to trade-in a qualifying older vehicle for a new, more fuel-efficient, eco-friendly one.

* The trade in vehicle must be in drivable condition, have been continuously insured and registered to the same owner for at least one year and be a 1984 or newer model year. Additionally, the car must have a combined fuel economy of 18 mpg or less.

* The U.S. government has approved $1 billion for this program. The program will end when the budget has been exhausted or by November 1, 2009, whichever comes first. We estimate that this covers about 250,000 vouchers which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The following vehicles in the Ford lineup qualify for this program:

Focus, Fusion, Taurus, Ranger, Edge, Escape, Flex, Taurus X, Transit Connect, Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid

In addition, there is a provision to assist truck customers who want to purchase a more fuel-efficient truck, and the Ford F-150, Super Duty and Econoline will qualify.

Hurry into your Ford Dealer to take advantage of this exciting offer.

For the 2010 model year, Ford builds on the safety success of the 2008 Mustang, which became the first sports car and the first convertible to earn five-stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash, side impact and rollover tests.
The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to its driving performance and has an added benefit in accident protection. While the coupe’s body structure is 31 percent stiffer in torsional rigidity than its predecessor, the convertible’s is more than twice as stiff – creating a “safety cage” that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact.
The front structure is designed to absorb and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. The Mustang’s front rails have an octagonal shape designed to spread forces evenly at the firewall and progressively deform for increased protection in offset frontal crashes.
The 2010 Ford Glass Roof Mustang offers consumers convertible-like driving without the need for sunscreen, because its factory-installed panoramic glass roof filters 90 percent of the sun’s heat-generating infrared (IR) rays and 96 percent of burn-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The UV-filtering capability of the new Mustang’s fixed glass roof is comparable to sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of approximately 50, which exceeds the dermatologist-recommended sunscreen strength of at least SPF-15.
The glass roof’s ability to filter IR rays reduces heat load in the cabin so that occupants remain comfortable while enjoying the sun. The reflective glass also reduces energy used by the vehicle’s air conditioner system while protecting the interior fabric from fading and deteriorating.
Sun-soaked cruising is the convertible and Glass Roof Mustang’s top appeal factor. Scientific studies show that increased exposure to sunshine or bright light is therapeutic because it regulates the body’s synthesis of melatonin, a mood-regulating hormone that modulates the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sunshine also triggers the body’s conversion to active vitamin D, considered to be an effective natural remedy for “the blues.”
Be healthy.  Drive a Ford Mustang.

This June, Ford is showcasing two technologies designed to help prevent theft of the things that are important to dads, at work and play.
A 2007 survey of independent contractors published by Builder magazine showed that 90 percent of respondents had been victims of some type of jobsite theft in the last year, with power tools as the most frequently stolen items. Additional data from the U.S. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) shows that tools, building supplies and sporting goods constitute almost a quarter of items stolen, overall.
Ford Work Solutions™ offers a pair of complementary technologies to help fathers safeguard and protect their tools, equipment, sporting goods and hobby gear when these items are carried in a Ford truck or van.
Tool Link™, a Ford Work Solutions technology, uses Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking devices to maintain an inventory of tools and equipment – or personal items like sporting goods, bicycles or hobby gear – carried in the vehicle’s cargo area. This system was developed in partnership with DeWALT™, a market leader in power tools, and ThingMagic, an industry expert on embedded RFID technology.
Tool Link will notify a driver that all inventoried items are in the vehicle, in preparation for work or recreation. When the vehicle is running, two securely mounted RFID antennas scan the pickup bed or van floor space for items on a pre-programmed inventory list.
This data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen. If an inventoried item is not on-board, the driver is notified accordingly.
Developed in partnership with Master Lock, Cable Lock is a strong, 10-foot, 10-millimeter braided steel cable wrapped in a protective plastic sheathing that can be easily wound through tackle box handles or power tool apertures to help keep items safe and secure, locked to the truck with a cuff-style clasp.
The Cable Lock clasp can be attached to any items in the cargo area – tools or personal items – and tie-down cleats or simply clamped back to the cable itself. The self-retracting cable is stored in a corrosion- and impact-resistant housing mounted in the cargo area of the truck or van.
Ford is always thinking of new ways to make your vehicle ownership a good experience.

After evaluating nearly a dozen significant new cars – using some unique subjective criteria – Esquire magazine editors named the 2010 Taurus SHO as its inaugural Car of the Year. The article appears in the magazine’s July issue, on newsstands today.
“We had three main criteria in selecting the Esquire Car of the Year,” explained David Granger, editor-in-chief. “The vehicle needed to be a pleasure to drive and be capable of shortening your breath when you slam down the pedal. It needed to be gorgeous and aggressive, capable of eliciting stares and gawks. And it needed to be attainable – a vehicle that most men actually can buy and drive. The new Taurus SHO nailed all of these parameters.”
Competing with some of the best luxury sedans in the industry, Taurus SHO was the editor’s unanimous choice.
“The reason we care about the new Taurus can be boiled down to four words: Looks good, goes fast. With a 3.5-liter turbo V-6, dubbed EcoBoost™, you get V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy,” said Esquire automotive correspondent, Ezra Dyer. “The SHO is a sleeper – a vehicle you can live with every day, that happens to have a secret under the hood.”
The response from the Taurus team?
“We’re thrilled and honored with this award,” said Frank Davis, executive director, Ford North American Product Programs. “Taurus – and the SHO model honored here – are Ford’s flagship sedans. We trust that customers will be equally impressed.”

Public safety on Los Angeles’ sandy beaches is the primary concern of County lifeguards, who use a fleet of 45 customized Escape Hybrids to patrol 72 miles of coastline.
Escape Hybrids have become critical tools for the lifeguards stationed in Malibu, for example. Last October, they used three Escape Hybrids and an F-350 in the rescue of two men involved in a single-engine plane crash near the Malibu Pier. In January 2009, lifeguards used an Escape Hybrid to tow a wave runner into position to launch a rescue of a capsized kayaker who was at risk of hypothermia. Two months later, lifeguards patrolling in an Escape Hybrid were in the right place at the right time to rescue a surfer who had been knocked unconscious in the water and was in danger of drowning.
The customized Escape Hybrids enable L.A.’s lifeguards to efficiently stow rescue gear and protect it from the elements, said Fernando Boiteux, the department’s northern section chief. Based on input from the lifeguards, Ford designers removed 60 percent of the rear seat on the driver’s side and replaced it with a rescue equipment storage unit – an aluminum box with specially designated spaces for important emergency equipment, such as defibrillators, trauma boxes and oxygen tanks. The remaining 40 percent of the seat was left intact in case the lifeguards had to transport someone, such as a lost child.
The lifeguards said their Escape Hybrids offer excellent visibility, a significant safety plus on the beach, and that the four-wheel drive feature enables them to navigate the sandy terrain without getting stuck and make more precise turns.
The 2010 Escape and Escape Hybrid, which arrive in showrooms this summer, add five new features that can help improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle.
The new Escapes will add MyKey™ teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC® with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. The new model also will be North America’s first SUV to offer Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot.
The new technologies build on Escape’s unsurpassed crash ratings – a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-star government ratings in all crash tests. The Escape, which Kelley Blue Book editors recently named one of the “2009 Best New Family Vehicles,” also is the only compact SUV to offer standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) and a standard Safety Canopy® side curtain air-bag system.

Fiesta Movement agents met their May missions head on and generated a whopping 4,672,121 impressions (people who have seen content produced by agents) throughout the month.
The end result is 100 videos that show the goofy, adventurous and creative side of the agents, with a Fiesta by their side. And agents have been traveling far with their Fiestas, with agent Seth Beck accumulating 11,700 miles and all agents combined driving 245,558 miles.
A few videos that pushed the limits of creativity and humor include:
* A video by agent Joe P. for his mission “Running on Empty.” Tasked with filling up the gas tank of his Fiesta and driving until he runs out of gas, Joe made an adventure out of his mission. To make it even more of a challenge, Joe couldn’t drive the same road twice so he could see how far he could get – or how close he could stay.
Along the way, Joe realizes one thing is going to happen frequently on his 432.5-mile trip. There’s going to be a lot of questions about his Fiesta. At the gas station, fast-food restaurants, a Ford dealership – anywhere really. He calls friends along the way, sings out-loud to himself and uses the Bluetooth functionality to keep his comfort to the maximum in his Fiesta.
A video by agent Dartanion L. for his mission “Monumental – Washington Edition.” Taking his Fiesta to Mount St. Helens and documenting the trip was his mission, and he made it entertaining.
He ended his trip by visiting the volcano and leaving it ashes and a 3 Musketeers candy bar purchased at the gift shop, along with a gift receipt in case the volcano wanted to exchange them.
A video by agents Shakemango for their mission “Who the Hell Are You?” Visiting a friend they hadn’t seen in years, they put their own spin on the mission by setting out to answer the question whether Bigfoot exists or not.
Heading to “Bigfoot country” they stop along the way to interview locals who had run-ins with Bigfoot. Once in Willow Creek, Calif., the group heads into the woods for their search. Lucky for them, they spot the creature and rush to get close enough to get an autograph. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse and one of their friends is attacked by Bigfoot. Making a quick escape, the group heads home, mourning the loss of their friend, but happy to be able to confirm the mythical animal does exist.

As concerns about the environment increase and gas cost rises, many Ford owners are wondering what they can do to conserve fuel. To help vehicle owners address these concerns, we’ve assembled a list of the Top 10 Eco-Driving Tips. We call it Eco-Driving because these habits have both ECOnomical and ECOlogical benefits.
Eco-Driving Tips
Follow these tips to develop Eco-Driving habits:
* Drive at posted speed limits. This is a tip that may save a life as well as fuel. EPA estimates a 10 to 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by driving 55 instead of 65 mph. On the highway, use cruise control whenever possible
* Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually. Jackrabbit starts waste fuel
* Don’t be an aggressive driver. Time studies show that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and accelerating to and from a stop sign or traffic light don’t save much time but do waste fuel and wear out car components such as brakes and tires faster
* Check your tires. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure. Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure-this alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3 to 4 percent
* Don’t idle for more than 30 seconds. Today’s engines don’t need to be warmed up. Prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel. Start the car and immediately drive away
* Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. This reduces aerodynamics and can reduce fuel economy by up to 5 percent
* Don’t drive at higher speeds with windows wide open. It decreases vehicle aerodynamics on highways and lowers fuel economy
* Maintain your vehicle. A properly tuned-up engine will run more efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel
* Replace air filters as needed. Consult the owner’s guide for the recommended schedule
* Use good-quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils “Certified for Gasoline Engines” by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the starburst symbol should be used.
You can rely on your Ford Dealer service department to help keep your vehicle maintained and your fuel costs down.

You should get in the habit of checking your tires about once a week for things like uneven wear and defects. Irregular tread wear can indicate suspension problems, poor tire maintenance or other impending hazards before they cause an accident or leave you stranded.
Here’s what you’re looking for:
Wear in the center. Excessive wear in the center of the tread is most often due to over inflation.  Look at the sticker inside the driver’s doorsill of your Ford for the recommended tire pressure. With over inflation, the edges aren’t contacting the road as much as they should, putting too much force on the middle section.
Wear at the edges. Under inflation is usually the cause of this type of wear, although wear at the outer edges can also be caused by aggressive driving. Under inflation causes too much force to be placed on the edges and not enough on the center.
Wear on one side. With this type of wear, the inside of the tread shows more wear than the outside, or vice versa. Poor alignment, worn ball joints, or other worn or bent suspension parts might be the cause. Bring your car in to your Ford Dealer for a proper alignment and an inspection of your suspension components.
Feathering. Feathering means that each tread rib looks worn in one direction, such that one side is rounded while the other side is pointed, looking almost smeared outward. Sustained high-speed driving can sometimes cause feathering, although consistent feathering most often reveals an improper toe-in alignment setting. Again, take your car in and have the alignment checked by a Ford specialist.
Cupping. Rounded, scalloped dips near one edge of the tread indicate severely worn suspension components. You should have your Ford mechanic check the suspension immediately.
Flat-spotting. Flat-spotting, severe wear of the whole tread contact patch in one place on the tire, results from panic-braking (skidding) with the wheels locked up, usually on older cars without ABS. The flat spot will often introduce an imbalance that can be felt in the steering wheel.
Bald spots. Smooth spots on the tread, or areas between the edge and the center of the tread that are more worn than others, might indicate a wheel that’s way out of balance. Front wheels out of balance are usually easy to feel, but sometimes rear wheels are overlooked. Have your wheels balanced by your Ford Dealer service department.
Swelling/bubbling. If you see any spots on the sidewall or tread that are visibly swelling outward or bubbling, have the tire replaced. The tire might have been damaged by an especially deep pothole or piece of road debris. Change immediately to the spare if there are any doubts about the tire’s safety.
Some cars are actually designed to have slightly uneven contact patches and wear patterns, for better performance or holding the road. Remember to monitor tread wear, and have your tires rotated when recommended by your Ford owner’s manual.

Parallel parking is an everyday maneuver that can add stress and elevate blood pressure in novice and veteran drivers alike.
Active Park Assist, an all-new driver aide technology available in the distinctive new 2010 Lincoln MKT from Ford Motor Company, a three-row luxury crossover vehicle, will address the “top 10″ anxieties in the parallel parking process. They are:
* Will I find a parking spot?
* Will my vehicle fit?
* Am I lined up correctly?
* Did I “cut it” properly?
* Am I in?
* Am I too far from the curb?
* Am I sticking out?
* Am I too close in front or back?
* Do I have to try again?
* Will I be embarrassed?
At the push of a single button on the Lincoln MKT center console, Active Park Assist initiates the parallel parking process.
Once the system is activated it begins scanning for an appropriate parking spot, eliminating anxiety number one. When a suitable space is detected an audible signal will sound and the cluster-mounted message center will display a space found notification.
Active Park Assist will coach the driver with a prompt when to stop, shift to reverse and let the system take over. Anxiety number two is eliminated as the system will not select an inappropriately sized space.
Anxieties numbers three and four are eliminated as Active Park Assist will calculate the appropriate trajectory, regardless of the distance between the Lincoln MKT and the vehicle parked in the space just ahead. Furthermore, the trajectory determined by the system will properly place the vehicle in the selected space.
Anxieties five through eight are addressed by Active Park Assist with the calculated trajectory, or the “cut it” element of the parallel parking maneuver. All steering is performed by the system, so the driver only needs to brake. Active Park Assist also properly positions the Lincoln MKT relative to the curb.
Anxiety number nine is addressed with coaching messages. If the vehicle is not positioned properly in the space, the system will continue to coach the driver for proper placement. The driver will shift and brake normally, but the system steers the vehicle throughout the maneuver.
Anxiety number ten is addressed by the system as Active Park Assist will park the vehicle swiftly and surely, every time. System accuracy will position the MKT properly, and embarrassment is thankfully avoided.
Active Park Assist is enabled by Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) which is standard on 2010 Ford Vehicles equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6.
Active Park Assist is optional on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 equipped Lincoln MKT late this summer.