The Blueprint for Sustainability from the Ford Motor Company includes the introduction of a range of global environmental technologies to provide more fuel-efficient vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases without compromising customer expectations for safety, interior room or performance. Since its original introduction in 2007, Ford accelerated key aspects of its sustainability strategy including a more detailed plan for vehicle electrification and other advances.

Ford recognizes climate change is a significant global challenge that must be addressed by a range of stakeholders. For the automotive industry, this includes the vehicle manufacturers, the fuel industry, governments and consumers.

To do its part, Ford is pursuing multiple technological paths and collaborating with others to find new, meaningful fuel economy and emissions solutions that will be affordable for customers.

Some of the improvements to boost fuel economy outlined in the sustainability strategy are already on the road, while Ford continues to innovate for the future. For example: Ford is eliminating energy waste in its vehicle systems, such as power steering, cooling and electrical systems, as well as minimizing wind drag through design and optimizing its new six-speed transmissions. All of these innovations are benefiting customers today, particularly in fuel economy. Among the advances made since 2007 are:

* Doubled hybrid offerings and production with the introduction of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, which deliver 41 mpg in city driving.
* Equipped with a new 2.5-liter I-4 engine, the 2010 Ford Fusion S delivers fuel economy up to 3 mpg better than the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
* Ford Escape delivers unsurpassed 28 mpg on the highway – ahead of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. And the hybrid version – the Ford Escape Hybrid – is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet, delivering 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
* Ford F-150’s fuel economy has improved an average of 8 percent across the fleet and delivers an unsurpassed 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.
* The new Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKT include electronic power-assist steering (EPAS), which can improve fuel economy up to
5 percent, while reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing steering performance. By 2012, Ford plans to fit nearly 90 percent of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with EPAS.
Ford says the push will continue. The company quickly will introduce technologies to further eliminate energy waste in vehicle systems by improving power train warm-up time, using vehicle control technologies like aggressive fuel shutoff during vehicle deceleration, and reducing engine workload through better battery recharging systems.

If you are a first time do-it-yourselfers, you should know that your battery is one of the integral components of your car; it is rechargeable and is the power source of the ignition system and other electrical devices in your car.

Today there are maintenance free and low-maintenance types to choose from. A maintenance free battery is sealed and will not require replenishing the battery fluids over a long period of time while the low-maintenance type requires constant check up and replenishing once a drop in battery fluid levels can be seen.

Recent trends and technological advancements have made maintenance free batteries a standard on every Ford car. Don’t get the impression that since you’ve read on the label that it’s maintenance free, you will just simply put it in its place and forget about it. Just like any other sensitive equipment of your car, it also requires you care and attention for it to function well.

Here are the basic maintenance tips that will certainly save you a lot of trouble and will not leave you clueless by the roadside. As a rule before doing maintenance checks, always see to it to disconnect the clamps off the terminals to avoid untoward injuries from shock. Check your Ford Vehicle owner’s manual for details.

1. Check the cell casing and cover

Make a visual inspection on the battery cell casing, box and cover for signs of moisture and pungent acidic smell. These are indicators that your battery is leaking and it needs to be fixed or replaced right away.

2. Clean terminals, clamps and cables

When you see white powdery specks or see colorful substances around the terminals, they are signs of corrosion and needs to be cleaned right away. Make a baking soda solution (1 tablespoon baking soda immersed in 1 cup of water) and with an old toothbrush, clean the terminals, clamps and cables.

3. Make sure everything is dry

Make it a point to have everything dry before going further with your check up. With a dry rag, wipe off the remaining dew and moisture from the battery and terminals.

4. Check the wiring and connection

Run a check on the wires and clamps for strips or corrosion. If you have stripped cables, patch the affected part with a good electrical tape or have them replaced by a mechanic.

5. Lubricate the terminals

With a lubricant (Petroleum jelly) place a small dab on the terminals. This will keep your cables clean and free of corrosion longer, while making it easier for you to put the cables back on the battery terminal.

6. Change your battery

It is recommended that you change your battery around every three years, but at least by the end of the warranty.

Car battery maintenance on your Ford Vehicle is that easy! Do it frequently and you can extend the life of your battery.

The 2008 Ford Edge is a truly exciting sight to behold. One of the most attractive designs in its class of crossover utility vehicles, the Edge truly looks like a sport utility vehicle.

The large, bright grille on the front of the 2008 Ford Edge is probably the most prominent feature of its exterior design. In addition to the grille, however, the 2008 Ford Edge features a smoothly arched roofline, and engineers paid particular attention to the details of this vehicle.

It’s the comfortable ride, however, that is most appealing about this vehicle. The 2008 Edge has plenty of space for five passengers, with all sorts of leg room. In fact, the Edge is so roomy that you’ll forget for a moment that you’re not in a full-size or luxury SUV.

It’s not only passenger space, however, that sets the 2008 Ford Edge apart. The Edge has plenty of cargo space, as well. Even the fron passenger seat can fold flat in order to carry longer items. There is 32 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which increases to 70 cubic feet if you fold down the rear seat backs. Finally, the 2008 Edge has a center console storage bin with plenty of space, and even a large glove box.

If you’re looking for a stylish, comfortable, roomy crossover, look no further than the 2008 Ford Edge.

This vehicle seats seven people, and can fit several different sorts of lifestyles. It’s powerful, able to tow more than two and a half tons, yet it is versatile and stylish enough for a night out on the town.

One of the most interesting things about the 2009 Ford Flex is the fact that it has decent gas mileage. It will get around 17 miles per gallon in the city, and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. The all-wheel drive version of the 2009 Ford Flex gets only slightly worse mileage, getting 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway.

Amenities are many in the Flex, from the option for a built-in refrigerator to Ford’s Sync system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft. The Sync system adds utility and safety, offering hands free access to multimedia as well as Bluetooth-enabled phones.

If you’re in the market for a crossover vehicle, the 2009 Flex is definitely worth your consideration.

There are four different models of the 2008 Ford Ranger available. All four models come in four door or two door configurations, depending on what you want. You can also choose between the 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine, the 3.0 liter V6 and the 4.0 liter V6. You can get the Ford ranger in two wheel drive or four wheel drive, but the four wheel drive is only available on the V6 engines.

Depending on the particular model you choose, you can get the Ranger with rear springs and heavy duty gas shocks to increase payload capacity, a Class III hitch, a limited-slip Torsen differential and a Pioneer MP3 stereo. The top of the line model, the FX4, comes with Ranchero heavy-duty shocks, bucket seats and skidplates.

If you’re looking for a compact pickup, the Ford Ranger is definitely worth looking into.

The next major redesign of the F-Series came in 1980. Throughout the early eighties, major changes were taking place in the commercial truck market as more and more people were buying trucks because they wanted them, not because they needed them. The now famous blue oval logo replaced the long standing spaced out Ford lettering n 1982, and it’s been there ever since. The Ranger trim model was removed as the ranger was becoming a line of its own.

By 1982, Ford had removed the F-100 as the base model of the line and replaced it with the F-150. The V8 5.0 liter engine changed over to fuel injection as an option in 1985, followed by standard introduction in 1986. The line went back to including the F-800 in its line up in the eighties following a few years of disappearance.

The early eighties was a time of various cosmetic changes to the Ford F-Series. Numerous trim models were released during this period, from the tough and heavy duty Standard edition to the plush and luxury Lariat XLT. Power windows and door locks were also introduced to the F-Series line at this time. Customers could choose striped graphics packages, customizable interior dashboard trim, specialized colors for carpeting and interiors, and more. As the best selling truck in America, buyers wanted their trucks to look different from all the rest.

If you’re in the market for a new Ford truck of your own, stop by Sunset Ford to take a look at the new inventory of Ford trucks and SUVs, take a test drive, or ask about new specials.

In 1957, the Ford F-Series of pickup trucks was restyled once again to keep up with changing customer needs. Pickup trucks were starting to be bought because of their looks and not just their hauling capacities, and automakers across America were clamouring to keep up with consumer demands.

Ford designers changed the look to incorporate a new chrome grille that is associated by millions as the Ford pickup truck of yesteryear. The hood was now sitting flush with the fenders, and the back had two options — the traditional flareside and the new smooth sided styleside.

Ford’s four wheel drive drivetrain, which had previously been outsourced to Marmon-Herrington, started being produced in house in 1959, a tradition that continues today. The low GVWR — or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — was still offered for each model, although it wasn’t the most popular choice and the trucks are still rare.

By 1957, Ford discontinued producing the F-series in the Highland Ford Plant in Michigan and truck production was outsourced to 10 other plants across the United States, as well as in Brazil, Mexico, and Oakville, Ontario, Canada. By this time the F-series was being produced in 6 main model types ranging from the F-100 to the F-600 in weights that ranged from half tonne to one and a half tonnes.

If you’re looking for a Ford pickup truck that’s a little more modern, stop on by and visit Sunset Ford and take a look at the new truck inventory. The grille might be a little different and there might be a little less chrome, but the same Ford quality has remained throughout the years.