There has been considerable industry buzz about the 2011 Ford Fiesta and the anticipation is on-going.  It appears the Fiesta will have the goods to match the hype including top fuel efficiency in its segment and a fun body style.  The 2011 model will be introduced with a choice of four and five door options and is poised to offer breakthrough technology for safety, connectivity and power train.
Hopefully you are good at making decisions because US buyers will be able to choose from fifteen class exclusive technologies and will enjoy a remarkable estimated fuel economy of 40MPG which tops previous leaders like Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.
Ford engineers didn’t just lock themselves in a room when concepting the Fiesta, rather Ford launched an extensive driver research program to build a list of sought after features.  The findings from across the globe indicated that what savvy consumers want is a uniquely designed compact car that delivers sophisticated quality, comfort and connectivity.
“Fiesta was developed with customers, not just for them,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. “Fuel economy, spirited performance and efficient use of space are universal desires, across global markets – and Fiesta delivers.”
The Fiesta Movement of 2009 introduced the new Ford brand to American consumers via a whirlwind of personal adventures.  There were one hundred drivers chosen to drive a Fiesta in return for sharing their experiences through a variety of social media outlets.  This program generated more than five million YouTube video views and over 675,000 Flickr views.
Not only will the Fiesta drive be fun, but it will also be safe.  The 2011 model offers a broad assortment of features such as multiple air bag locations positioned as dual stage first row bags, driver’s knee bags, side and side curtain bags.  Other standard features include AdvanceTrac with Electronic Stability Control, child safety locks and a safety canopy system.
The Fiesta will be yet another extraordinary Ford car.  If you want one, you had better visit your St. Louis Ford dealer soon and put your name on the waiting list.

It’s been a jam packed three years for Ken Block.  Don’t know him?  Give it time because at this pace he will soon become a household name.
At the moment, most people know him for his creative Gymkhana videos on YouTube.  Others who are more familiar with racing know him as the 2005 Rally American Rookie of the Year.  And then of course he was also a three time medalist at X Games.
But the news of the days is that now Ford is teaming up with this California based action sports figure recently turned rally driver for upcoming motor sports opportunities.  In 2010 you will see Ford behind the wheel of a Ford Focus at the World Rally Championship and driving a Ford Fiesta in Rally American and X Games.
“I am stoked to be rallying in a Ford. They are an impressive force in the sport.” said Ken Block. “From the days of the 1970s Escorts to the Group B RS200 to the modern-day Focus and now the Fiesta, Ford just does an excellent job at rally and I couldn’t be happier to now be part of this amazing heritage. Not to mention my dad would be proud. He was a dedicated Ford guy.”
As an active participant and sponsor of motor sports, rallying has become a vital component of Ford’s sports strategy and has given them many opportunities to promote the capabilities of their products.  Since their involvement began, Ford has claimed victory with three WRC titles and in seventy-three individual events.  Last year alone their participation in the Pikes Peaks Hill Climb and X Games were vital to the introduction of the Fiesta in the United States.
“Ken Block has established himself as an action sports competitor and a rising star in the world of American rally racing,” said Jamie Allison, director Ford North America Motorsports. “We are excited to have him on our team to help promote our new global products, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2012 Ford Focus.”
Block’s career has been going full throttle for a while, but his entrance to rallying came about in 2005.  A natural to the sport he was fittingly crowned Rookie of the Year in the Rally American Championship.  As his rally participation progressed so did his number of medals and honors.  He has used his abilities and interest in rallying to draw much attention to the sport.
Block’s professional life began as a founding partner of DC Shoes whose products are world renowned for skateboarding and action sports performance.  His sharp business sense and creative talent led him to be recognized by Ad Age who named his Gymkhana film the #4 viral video of ’09.
You will be able to enjoy watching Block during the 2010 rally season, almost as much as you will enjoy driving your own Ford car or truck.

The Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that is good news for all drivers, especially if you are driving a Ford car or truck.  This report states that the Ford Motor Company beats out all other major automakers by demonstrating the most improved fuel economy since 2004.  The report from the EPA puts the improvement, combined for both cars and trucks, at almost 20%, which is nearly double that of the nearest manufacturer.
Recent improvements can be attributed to the dynamo pair of Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids, both of which deliver superior fuel economy.  But there have also been significant improvements across the entire Ford brand, including aerodynamics, development of lighter weight designs, and energy management.  With the introduction this year of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, along with the EcoBoost engines, further fuel efficiency should be seen across the entire line-up.
Looking across the entire Ford fleet, including cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers, there have been major fuel economy improvements.  The 2010 Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Escape Hybrid, Taurus, Flex and Transit Connect, depending on specs within their power train, all deliver best in class or unsurpassed fuel efficiency.
The improvements should continue and possibly deliver even great fuel economy stats when the Ford Fiesta and redesigned 2011 Focus, both small vehicles delivering high mileage, are introduced.
“2009 has been a breakthrough year for Ford, leading with the launch of EcoBoost and the introduction of new products that will result in further improvement in 2010,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Our commitment to delivering affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles for millions has never been stronger or better demonstrated.”
While fuel economy has a direct impact on driver expenses, looking big picture you can also appreciate the broader impact of benefit to the environment.  Thanks to the Boost, Ford brought down tailpipe C02 emissions more effectively that any other manufacturer, and beat their own records significantly since 2007.
So while you can directly benefit from the savings, you can enjoy that lean and mean budget factor and the green factor at the same time.

When you go out to shop for a new car you think of many things.  Items like sticker price, color, make/model, automatic transmission, sound system are rather top of mind.  One thing that you probably are not thinking about is resale value.  At the moment, that is not something that makes it to your checklist.
Bottom line, though, it will eventually mean more to your bottom line.  Resale value, also known as residual value, should translate to more money back to you when it comes time to sell or trade in the vehicle.  In the big picture it will more than likely be one of the largest overall costs of ownership.
Hopefully the Ford brand has been on your shopping list.  The estimated resale value of this line of vehicles increased after three years in service by over $1,300 per vehicle from 2009 to 2010 models.  No other full line auto manufacturer can claim such gains.  This determination came from the Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) January/February 2010 Residual Value Forecast.
There’s even more good news.  The 2010 Ford F-150 received the best residual value award in the full size pick up category.  AND….the 2010 Taurus won the same honor in the full size car category from Kelley Blue Book, who also gave the best resale value recognition in the full size pick up category to the 2010 Ford Super Duty.
Among its US based rivals, Ford already was known to have the residual value advantage, but with the upswing in the ’10 models, they’ve closed the gap with forerunners from Asian auto manufacturers.  But the impressive facts don’t stop there.  Some vehicles from Ford have passed up competing vehicles from Toyota, with the 2010 Ford Fusion outshining the Toyota Camry after three years in service.
Much of the credit for the improvements goes to a consistent introduction of new products.  The Taurus which was completely revamped inside and out and now offering terrific technology is showing an extraordinary resale value gain of almost $5,000 more than the ’09 model.
So while you are going to be just thrilled with your 2010 Ford, whatever the model, realize that you are going to be even more thrilled when it becomes a used Ford and the resale value goes straight into your pocket.

The pre-owned vehicle market has exploded in the last few years.  With funds being tight in a sagging economy, buyers are opting for reliable used vehicles.  This trend is happening even more so in the late model pre-owned niche.
Used vehicles are popular for many reasons, but obviously the stand out factor is the more affordable price that translates to a smaller hit on the monthly budget, not just on the car payment, but also on other related expenses like insurance and taxes.  With the lower sales price, many buyers are also able to afford more features and upscale options than a current model purchase would allow.
Even with all the advantages, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your homework.  You need to find the appropriate mix of affordability and dependability.
The reliability factor has always been a concern when buying used, but with the advancements in production values today, performance issues have greatly declined.  The purchase of a later model pre owned vehicles does carry the risk it once did.  If a vehicle undergoes the manufacturer’s regularly scheduled maintenance it should go last easily more than 100,000 miles.
While used vehicles offer more dependability than ever before, it’s important to consider maintenance and possible repair costs.  You should always have a mechanic inspect the car before finalizing a purchase.  Or if you buy a used Ford that is part of their CPO program, the worry of future operating issues is greatly reduced.  There is even an extended warranty offered for a specific time frame or by additional mileage.
Issues like depreciation, interest rates and insurance costs are generally an advantage when buying pre owned.  The most rapid depreciation takes place in the first two years of a car’s life, so you’ve already bypassed that concern.  Financing interest rates tend to be lower when buying used which increasing savings on your monthly payment.  The same goes for insurance cost which is based on the estimated worth of your vehicle.  That translates to the lower the sticker price, the lower the insurance premium
A weighing of the pros and cons is a good exercise before making any major purchase.  In the case of buying a used vehicle, the advantages can stack in your favor.

Life today moves at a frantic pace.  If you feel pulled in many directions and more than a wee bit stressed, you belong to a growing multitude of Americans.  This feeling of unease can be amplified by driver stress and the Ford Motor Company has plans to help ease this factor.  They are partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to conduct a research venture that will study technology that can offer ways to reduce stress and enhance driver safety.
“Today’s driver is feeling a greater level of anxiety than in the past, both from situations inside and outside the vehicle,” said Joseph Coughlin, founder and director of MIT’s AgeLab and the leader of this initiative. “This arises in part from the chronic stress in individuals’ daily lives combined with longer commute times, increased driving demands due to traffic congestion and deteriorating infrastructure.”
While we are just coming off a busy season of holiday errands and shopping, recovering from packed schedules, and fighting winter driving conditions, Ford and MIT researchers are working diligently to find ways that time in your Ford truck or car can improve general wellness, be more of a haven from tense situations and promote more effective driver awareness.
Research being conducted in MIT’s distinguished AgeLab will categorize driving conditions that build stress levels, gauge response from drivers to these conditions through amazing biometric measures and assess schemes that will integrate stress reduction features into the Ford lineup.  Beginning in January of this year, a six month program will study how humans interact with a specially equipped Ford vehicle that includes sophisticated safety features.
“We strongly believe that driving can be made safer by reducing the stress load placed on a driver,” said Jeff Rupp, Ford manager, Active Safety Research. “Through the use of our existing technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning or SYNC, our voice-activated communications system, we are proactively guiding drivers away from difficult situations.”

It’s no secret that seatbelts save lives, but hearing statistics that reflect exactly how many is sobering — approximately 13,000 lives in the U.S. are saved each year because of seat belts.  That large number could include someone you know.  And according to NHTSA, nearly 7,000 auto crash fatalities would have been circumvented if the victims had been using their seat belts.
There are a few naysayers who believe belts can contribute to injury, but the odds favor buckling up as a lifesaver.  The NHTSA reports that seatbelts decreased the death rate for front seat occupants by around 50%
That’s pretty remarkable success when you consider that a seatbelt is merely a strip of fabric with a buckle.  What does it actually do?  Read on.
The concept of the seatbelt is quite simplistic.  It prevents you from sailing through the windshield or banging into the dashboard when the car stops quickly.  What causes those unexpected motions?  Inertia.
Inertia refers to the tendency of an object to continue in motion until another factor contradicts that motement.  Inertia means that objects show a resistance to adjust their speed and travel direction.  It’s normal to just keep moving.
When a car is moving down the highway, anything in the car (occupants, cargo, etc) has its own inertia separate from the vehicle.  If that vehicle were to ram into a brick wall, it becomes more apparent that your inertia and the car’s are totally separate.  The wall will bring the car to a stop, but your forward movement would remain the same.  Without a seatbelt, you would be flung into the steering wheel or out the window at the rate of speed the car had been traveling.  Ouch.
It’s an accepted fact that in this crash situation, something would have to wield force on you to slow you down.  It depends on the source and application of that force as to whether you become a fatality or if you walk away in good shape.
So that’s what a seatbelt actually does.  It’s the force that counteracts inertia.  It’s your friend.  Whether you’re driving a Ford truck or car, hybrid or SUV, the first thing you should do after climbing in is to buckle up.

Ford continues to develop its impressive array of safety technology and it was their remarkable suite of protection options that helped earn the 2010 Taurus a 5-star top safety rating from the NHTSA.

Included in this suite are dual stage front airbags and a front passenger weight classification which are designed to work in unison guarding occupants in the case of collisions that are considered moderate to severe.  This system is further enhanced by the safety canopy – available only on Ford vehicles – which is designed for side impact accidents as well as rollovers to offer extra protection for both front and rear passengers.

Another industry first found on the new Taurus are side placed air bags that register pressure signals from an impact to release almost 30% quicker than traditionally designed air bags that employ sensors for acceleration.  The pressure based system will more precisely determine crash severity.  The outcome is a more accurate reading of whether the crash appears serious enough for bag deployment or a minor incident that would not necessitate the safeguard offered by the bags.

Additional important safety options include:
* Trinity Front Crash Architecture – development of a new body composition designed for its solidity and might.  The structure offers front frame rails that are octagonal, an engine cradle and front subframe, along with a front structure engineered to avert forces from a crash away from the passenger compartment.
* Side Protection & Cabin Enhancement Architecture – extra strength is provided to the side of the vehicle because of a cross beam embedded in the floor between door frames.
* AdvanceTrac including Electronic Stability Control – this system scrutinizes a driver’s response to current road conditions.  It will utilize sensors to determine if there is an over steer which will optimize safety during hazardous conditions.
Also available on the new Taurus is McKey another class exclusive safety technology that is quite popular with parents.  McKey promotes teen safety with audio and speed limits, including a “no seat belt, no music” feature that turns off the audio if seat belts in the front have not been fastened.

You’d think that would be enough safety features for one vehicle, but Ford goes even further with the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).  This operates as two multiple beam radar modules which will determine when another vehicle is coming into the vehicle’s blind spot, giving the driver ample warning.  The Cross Traffic Alert will utilize these same radar sensors to detect oncoming traffic when the driver is pulling out of parking spot.

If a Taurus isn’t your vehicle of choice, don’t worry.  All of these safety features will soon be available on your favorite Ford truck or car.

By this time next year, you could be cruising down the byways as a mobile WiFi hot spot – that is if you’re driving a Ford truck or car.  The Ford Motor Company will introduce in 2011 the 2nd generation of the much in demand SYNC connectivity system.
All customers will need to do is insert an “air card” (USB mobile modem) into the assigned port on the SYNC system and presto – throughout the vehicle  passengers can take advantage of a secure wireless connection that will provide access to the Internet anywhere connectivity is recognized by the modem.
Just imagine the possibilities:  While you are driving teens to their activities, they can continue homework research or update their Facebook postings while in the car.  If you get to the mall and realize you don’t have your shopping list, you can access your email and pull up the requested gifts.  Maybe you’re on the way to the airport and forgot to update your office calendar, go online before leaving your car and download the necessary information.  All of this will be possible without paying for additional connection charges or buying more hardware.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, there are approximately seventy-seven million adult drivers who consider themselves technology enthusiasts.  More than half of these self proclaimed “techies” have indicated access to communications and information systems in their vehicles as a top desire.  Even the luddite population has indicated they have an interest in being able to access the Internet from their vehicles.
Ford owners will be able to access an assortment of devices, including a mobile broadband modem, through the port incorporated into the SYNC system.
“The speeds with which technology is evolving, particularly on the wireless front, makes obsolescence a real problem,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Solutions Organization. “We’ve solved that problem by making SYNC work with just about any technology you plug into it. By leveraging a user’s existing hardware, which can be upgraded independent of SYNC, we’ve helped ensure ‘forward compatibility’ with whatever connectivity technology comes next.”
This convenience and flexibility is the yet another way that Ford brings value to their customers.  If you haven’t driven a Ford lately then what are you waiting for?

It’s not a secret that when it comes to automotive trends that features coming out of mass production in the future can typically be found on the high-end cars of today.  With that in mind, a little window shopping at a luxury dealership should tell you what the average driver can expect coming down the pike.
Evolving technology is generally available on a limited basis and not in mass production.  So the law of supply and demand means that because the technology is restricted it will cost more.  Once it starts rolling off the assembly line in mass quantities, the price of high end technology will reduce dramatically.
And even before luxury is available in those small quantities, it is actualized on concept cars – a vehicle that is not in production.  These concept vehicles spring from the imagination of engineers and designers who gaze way into the future to visualize what luxury may mean 20 or 30 years from now.
What are car designers envisioning as luxury of the future?  Will it just be stylish appearance?  Will customers want to be pampered?  Will drivers want to fly at high speeds or sit back in tranquility?
In Spain, designers are looking toward the realms of tranquility taking cues from nature with interior features like wood and the perception of wind sweeping through the vehicle’s cabin.  The concepts evolved out of the setting of a Zen garden.
Japan is going to dramatic changes in engineering with a concept car that has eight wheels each with its own 100 HP electric motor.  That thinking makes the car capable of high speeds along with easy handling.
A German concept hardly reminds you of an automobile.  It offers an engine, steering, etc, but the exterior is composed of a rugged fabric that is stretched over an aluminum frame.  The fabric is water resistant and keeps out cold and heat so the drive feels like a traditional car without a heavy body.
Yes, concept cars can be quite wild and imaginative.  While they may never make it to production, it does give designers an outlet for thinking outside the box.  And while the large majority of us will never drive a new luxury car, the good news is that buying a used Ford gives you the opportunity to have more luxury features and sophisticated technology than you might think.  With drivers trading in high-end second vehicles, you can find dealerships all around St Louis with many luxury cars, SUVs, and hybrids available in your price range.