Yesterday, I mentioned in my blog post that my wife and I rented a Ford Focus a couple years ago when going to a wedding. After that, I found this article about the automaker increasing the production of this popular model.

In April of this year, the Ford Motor Company announced that it was increasing production of its Focus brand by 30 percent this year. Ford is doing this to respond to the increasing demand for this popular and hot-selling vehicle. Its recent redesign and the SYNC system assuredly have something to do with its popularity, too.

The latest incarnation of the current Ford Focus began coming off the assembly line in 2007. During the first three months of 2008, the automaker already sold more than 49,000 units. That’s nearly a 25 percent increase over the same period from last year! That’s why the automaker decided to make more of these Ford cars.

With the boost in production, this means there will be 245,000 units of this model rolling off the assembly line this year. It currently claims about 7.5 percent of the small car market in the United States. In 2007, however, Ford was only producing about 191,000 units and the Focus only claimed a little more than one percent of the same market.

This news is also great for the workers at the Wayne County plant that produces the Focus. The 2,800 workers will likely get an opportunity to work some overtime and even weekend shifts throughout the year. With the recent downturn of the economy, everybody can get all the help they can get!

I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried to merge into another lane and been honked at because I didn’t check my blind spot. I’m lucky I haven’t caused any accidents!

But the Ford Motor Company is looking out for people like me. That’s why the safety engineers at the company have developed the Blind Spot Monitoring System. Sounds fairly self-explanatory, eh?

The new safety features are going to start appearing on Ford cars in 2009. With this new device, the cars have radars that detect when something is around it. When driving on the road, the system alerts the driver with a visual indicator on the side rearview mirrors. The system also emits an audible alert in case the driver doesn’t notice the visual warning. And since the system is only activated when the driver uses the turn signal, you won’t have to put up with the alerts at other times when you’re driving.

In addition to the Blind Spot Monitoring System, Ford is also introducing a Cross Traffic Alert System. This comes in handy when a driver is backing out of their driveway or a parking space. If something is behind your car or if there is traffic coming toward the vehicle, the system alerts the driver so they can make the necessary corrections.

Look for these and other safety features that Ford is working on for you!

Today, it seems like everybody’s jumping on the hybrid bandwagon. More and more people are turning to this eco-friendly form of transportation to save gas and the environment. But there are still some who refuse to change their mind. If this describes you, read the following myths about current hybrids and you might just change your mind.

1. Hybrids don’t have much power.
This was once true when hybrid vehicles came out. Today, however, hybrids have just as much power as most other vehicles. In fact, some hybrid models can even accelerate as fast as most gasoline-powered vehicles. Besides, power usually equals decreased efficiency. And who wants that nowadays?

2. Hybrids are too expensive.
Again, this was true when hybrids first came out. But when you factor in tax credits and fuel prices, hybrids can actually save you money within a few short years. Also, hybrids retain a greater amount of their resale value. And that figure just increases as gas prices continue to go up.

3. Hybrids need to be plugged in to charge
Although some of the newer electric cars run solely on electricity, nearly all hybrids have a mechanism that charges the batteries during braking. As a result, plugging the car in is simply not necessary with today’s hybrid.

4. Hybrids have expensive batteries
Even though hybrid batteries might be expensive, most car manufacturers give their hybrids warranties that last up to 10 years. Since most people don’t keep their cars that long anyways, you may never need to pay for replacing the battery. The batteries seem to be durable, too. One taxi driver drove his hybrid taxi for nearly 200,000 miles and his battery is still going strong!

With all of these myths dispelled, it’s never been a better time to find a hybrid model of your favorite Ford cars. Check one out today and stop “breaking the bank” at the gas station!

I grew up watching Michael Knight and KITT fight the bad guys. But it was a much simpler time in those days when the heroes and good guys were obvious and the bad guys were even more obvious. It seems like that’s changed over the years as the line between “good and evil” has blurred.
That’s why I was so excited to hear that this iconic TV show Knight Rider (along with its car) is making its way back to the airwaves on NBC!
And this time, the show is using one of the most recognized Ford cars ever made–with several modifications, of course. This time around, Mr. Knight’s son will be driving around in a Ford Shelby Mustang while fighting the bad guys. Maybe a whole new generation can grow up watching a man and his Ford Mustang fight crime, just as I did so many years ago (it was a different brand of vehicle back then, though).
According to Variety, a trade magazine for the television industry, Knight Rider will likely have a Friday night time slot when it debuts as a new series later this year. NBC checked to see if it was still as popular as it was in the 80s by showing a made-for-TV movie earlier this year. Apparently, the verdict is in, and enough people tuned in to give producers the “green light” to make a new series.
Although this isn’t unprecedented, networks don’t usually revive an old series nearly 30 years after it went off the air the first time. But I, for one, am very happy that it’s coming back and I’m waiting on the edge of my couch. Are you excited, too?

As Ford has been coming out of a sales and quality slump for the past several years, the automaker has been gaining more customers and restoring its reputation. As a boost for the auto company, mogul Kirk Kerkorian is investing millions of dollars into the Ford Motor Company to boost its efforts.

Earlier this week, the investor disclosed that he acquired nearly five percent of the automaker’s stake to help Ford once again show a profit.  To do this, his Tracinda Corporation investment company made an offer of $170 million for nearly 20 million shares of stock. The shares had a price of approximately $8.50 at the time of the deal.

You might be wondering why a 90-year-old billionaire would want to invest so much money into the Dearborn-based automaker. In the last few years, he’s involved himself in the auto industry by trying to buy Chrysler and invest in other automakers, too. But analysts think he wants people to remember him as one of the main investors who helped the Ford Motor Company, an icon of the United States and the auto industry as a whole, come through its troubled times.

Others say Kerkorian respects the impressive way Ford managed a comeback in such a short time, overcoming its dismal standing to regain a top industry spot.  A spokesperson also stated that the investment reinforces the recognition that Alan Mulally earned by doing such a great job in turning the automaker’s situation around.

You might not be able to afford a multi-million-dollar investment in the company, but you can still purchase a vehicle from your local Ford dealer. It’s not only a great investment in Ford but also an ideal investment in your family and your future.

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.