Have you ever heard of a self-driving car? I’ve heard of a self-parking car, but this takes the idea to a whole other level.

You probably won’t see a large number of self-driving vehicles on the road for at least another decade or so. But think of how much fun you can have with one of these on a closed course! The company that made it – Torc Technologies – has already worked on a similar model with Virginia Tech. They recently started selling a self-driving version of this model earlier this month. It sells for about $90,000 right now. That seems rather pricey for a car that you can only drive on a closed course.

The auto industry is moving closer and closer to adopting self-driving technologies. I’ve already mentioned the self-parking technology, but more and more cars have features like crash avoidance technology and pedestrian awareness. One company even has a feature called “lane departure control” which makes the car stay in the lane that it’s in. If it veers from its lane, it uses the brakes to “kick itself back on course,” according to Car and Driver magazine.

Torc Technologies is also working on a self-driving technology for the military. In addition, the company has also created a feature called SafeStop, an emergency system that stops unmanned vehicles so they can get out of trouble.

You probably won’t see these features at your local dealer any time soon. But since Torc Technologies created the vehicle on an Escape hybrid, you’ll probably see these features built into Ford trucks before any other brand. It’s just another way Ford is leading the industry in innovations.

Would you ever believe that an SUV can get 120 miles per gallon? If not, keep reading because that’s exactly what the Ford Motor Company is working on.

The actual company manufacturing the new and more efficient hybrid batteries – Johnson Controls-Saft – is now sharing $30 million from the federal government to develop these products. Last week, the United States Department of Energy announced funding the project for $10 million each year for the next three years. This announcement came one day after the automaker announced it has a plug-in version of the Escape that gets 120 miles to the gallon. The manufacturer is working in conjunction with Ford to create batteries for Ford trucks and cars so this can be a reality instead of a futuristic theory.

The goal of the two companies is to make plug-in hybrids more affordable by 2014. With the competitiveness in the hybrid market, Ford plans to have less expensive plug-in hybrids on their lots not later than 2016.

As for the environment, Ford estimates that these newer vehicles would emit 60 percent less CO2 than gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size. But there are still a few obstacles in the way, including cost-effective batteries that are durable enough to withstand the cold winters in places like Michigan and the extreme heat of places like California and Arizona. With time and patience, though, I’m sure they’ll get it figured out before long.

There aren’t too many people around that own one of the original Model T Ford cars that made the automaker famous. There are even fewer people that own FOUR Model T cars. But Jay Klehfoth is one of those rare people.

Although he was raised in a General Motors family, Klehfoth has enjoyed the Model T since his youth. “From the time I was very young,” he said, “I had an interest in cars. I was attracted to the Model T because to me, it was the epitome of what an old car was like.” In fact, he loved the car so much that he bought his first Model T when he was only 13 years old! How many 13-year-olds today could buy their first car? Heck, how many 20-year-olds could just buy one for that matter?

Over the years, Klehfoth and his wife have added three more of these iconic vehicles to their garage. And there’s probably nobody more excited about the upcoming Model T celebration in mid-July than Klehfoth, either. “We’re thrilled to be working with Ford to celebrate this historic Model T milestone, he said. “We have 864 Model Ts regsistered for the event from 45 states and eight countries.”

In addition to owning several of these models, Klehfoth and his wife are active members of the Model T Ford Club of America (MTFCA). He is also the CEO and editor of Vintage Ford magazine. The Klehfoths also founded the Ford Model T Museum in Richmond, Indiana.

Come back tomorrow for more information about Jay Klehfoth and the upcoming Model T celebration.

If you’re looking for hybrids with some of the latest safety features to help you stay safe on the roads, look to Ford trucks. The Dearborn-based automaker has a trio of hybrid trucks available for drivers to choose from – the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner. Each model uses a similar platform and they each have similar safety features too, including:

Anti-Lock Brakes
These help the vehicle stop quickly when the driver slams on the brakes or tries to stop on a slippery road. They prevent the need to pump the brakes in an emergency because they pump themselves. And since they don’t lock up (hence the name), you don’t have to worry about losing control of the wheels or the brakes when you need them the most.

Side Airbags
In addition to side-impact airbags, these three models have side-curtain airbags, too. Those are great for passengers in the back for more than one reason. They inflate in the event of an accident, helping prevent injuries. But they also help keep flying glass out of the passengers’ eyes if another car hits your car.

Ford is also working on safer seatbelts and other features to ensure your family’s safety. The only thing you have to do is buy one and then, as the new slogan says, “Drive One.”

World pollution is increasing, and so are the gas prices.  Many consumers are worrying about their wallets and their environment. But Ford has the perfect solution.

The 2009 Ford Escape hybrid is the ideal way to stop worrying about gas prices and air pollution. It’s one of the “greenest” Ford vehicles the automaker has to offer. As a bonus, it’s also one of the most efficient vehicles on the market today. Here are some facts about this popular product that will undoubtedly make you want to take another look at this option if you’re considering a new car.

• The new Ford Escape hybrid has eco-friendly seats made from recycled materials and post-industrial waste. That means the products used to make the seats would have ended up in a landfill had Ford not remanufactured them into usable materials.

• Have you ever experienced the frustration of trying to  scrape the ice off those small side mirrors on your vehicle? With the new Ford Escape, that’s a thing of the past. With heated side mirrors, simply flip a switch and watch the ice melt away–from the comfort of your heated seats.

• Parents definitely appreciate the Personal Safety System included with the Escape hybrid. With a network of sensors designed to protect the driver and passengers, you can concentrate more on the road. Impact control and alerts that detect when seat belts aren’t in use are just two of the main safety features that allow you to drive with greater security.

The 2009 Escape hybrid is just one of the many Ford cars available with new technologies and features. Try one out today and experience the future of the auto industry.