Ford E-News - Aug. 12, 2009
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 12, 2009 -- Ford Fiesta's boron steel: "Will It Blend?"
Don't try this at home! Ford Fiesta Movement agent Ryan Dembroski of Milwaukee recently traveled to the "Will It Blend?" studio in Orem, Utah, to put a piece of the Fiesta's ultra-high-strength boron steel to the Blendtec Total Blender test. Having decimated objects including an Apple iPhone, marbles and magnets, Tom Dickson, founder of Blendtec and host of the popular YouTube videos, tried but failed to crack, cut or crush the steel. While boron steel won't blend, it will help protect occupants of the Fiesta and other Ford vehicles. more...
Angie Kozleski | akozlesk@ford.com | 313.323.1984 Ford outlines accelerated global product plans
At the recent 2009 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., Ford outlined a number of plans that detailed how the company is dealing with the current economic reality, protecting its product pipeline and building a foundation for long-term profitable growth. Areas that were addressed included:
-- Ford plans to further accelerate its product rollout across global
markets, which includes replacing or refreshing 70 to 90 percent of
its vehicle lineups by volume in North America, Europe, and Asia
Pacific and Africa by 2012. more...
-- The company's perspective on energy policy, including Ford's position
on fuel economy regulations, its sustainability blueprint and changing
consumer behaviors. more...
-- Ford's call to encourage its long-term suppliers to take advantage of
the auto industry's restructuring to create a more financially viable
business model. more...
Mark Truby | mtruby@ford.com | 313.323.0539
Don't let your teen driver drive you crazy, steer them to Ford's driving camp
Teen drivers: The mere mention of these new motorists has been known to strike panic in their parents and in others. And it's no surprise since vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America, with teens accounting for three times as many fatal accidents as other drivers. In an effort to reinforce safe driving techniques and reduce teen crashes and fatalities in Michigan, the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Governors Highway Safety Association are hosting a Ford Driving Skills for Life driving camp. This free, safe driving event that goes well beyond typical driver education courses will be held at the Ford Michigan Proving Ground in Romeo, Mich., Aug. 13-14. more...
Wes Sherwood | wsherwoo@ford.com | 313.390.5660 Get your classics out - it's time to celebrate Woodward Dream Cruise
It's the rumble of an engine, the scent of burning rubber and the sights of cars lined up along Woodward Avenue. Car fanatics wait all year long for annual Woodward Dream Cruise, a celebration of cars of the past. Taking up a mile-long stretch in Ferndale, Mich., this year's Ford display will feature Mustang Alley, with more than 500 examples of the legendary pony car. Ford also will feature current and future products, including the 2010 Fusion Hybrid and all-new Taurus, along with displays by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and Ford Racing. For visitors looking to add their own flavor to a car, Mustang Garage will give enthusiasts the chance to bring their car in for personalization right before their eyes, using Ford Racing parts. more...
Angie Kozleski | akozlesk@ford.com | 313.323.1984 F-150 SVT Raptor soars past expectations
They've seen it racing in the Baja 1000 and checked it out on the Internet. But now the all-new F-150 SVT Raptor is available, and customers are ordering it in droves. More than 1,500 customer orders already have been received for the truck, which now is arriving in dealer showrooms, exceeding expectations. While they're waiting for Raptor to be delivered, people want to know as much as they can about SVT's performance truck and there have been more than 300,000 visits to the Raptor Web page, the go-to place for everything Raptor. Webisodes featuring NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, off-road racing legend Rob MacCachren and SVT Chief Nameplate Engineer Jamal Hameedi also will be added to the site, joining the existing array of pictures, videos and information that give visitors a closer look at the one-of-a-kind truck. more...
Patrick Hespen | phespen1@ford.com | 313.206.3902
Giving back and lending a hand - Fiesta Movement agents volunteer for August missions
Fiesta Movement agents are four months into their adventure, and it seems as though they've done it all. But August missions take them in a new direction - volunteering. With actor Mario Lopez kicking off the mission theme of social activism by delivering a Ford Fiesta filled with sports equipment to a Los Angeles-area Boys and Girls Club, the missions are getting off to a great start. Whether spending time at the Smithsonian Institute, delivering food for Meals on Wheels or helping build playgrounds for KaBOOM, agents will be showcasing a more altruistic side of themselves. With 100 missions to choose from, all agents are sure to find a cause that fits their style. more...
Angie Kozleski | akozlesk@ford.com | 313.323.1984 Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company , a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
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