DEARBORN, Mich., June 8, 2010 – Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.

'Send to SYNC' is a new capability added to the Ford Service Delivery Network, the company's cloud-based architecture, which provides a suite of voice-activated services accessible through a customer's mobile phone.

"Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization. "With Send to SYNC, you can map a destination at home, at work – wherever you have connectivity – and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go. It's convenient and it eliminates the waste and distraction of paper maps, conserving resources while helping drivers keep their eyes on the road."

The SYNC TDI application leverages a customer's mobile phone voice plan and the vehicle's integrated GPS receiver to deliver location-based services, such as driving directions or business searches, and on-demand information such as horoscopes, news, movie listings and stock quotes. Since these services, including the new Send to SYNC functionality, are cloud-based, no vehicle updates are required and they will be available to all owners who have registered for TDI services through www.syncmyride.com.

When users visit Google Maps on the web to find locations, they will have the option to send a selected destination to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle via a "send" menu on the site. Once in the vehicle, the driver connects to SYNC TDI using the "Services" voice command, and when prompted, confirms the request to download the Google Maps destination into the vehicle.

The optimal route is calculated in the cloud using the latest traffic information, downloaded to the vehicle and navigation guidance begins. If the vehicle is equipped with a map-based navigation system, the destination point is downloaded directly to that system, which then calculates the route based on the in-vehicle navigation preferences set by the driver.

"Our cloud-based service network is helping deliver constant improvement for our customers, and has become a key reason why Ford leads the industry with SYNC," said VanDagens. "We're proud to be working with Google to bring this new capability to SYNC."

The Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' capability launches later this month. Ford is currently the only automaker offering this capability without requiring a paid subscription to a telematics service.

Ford previously announced the same feature for MapQuest (owned by AOL), which will launch later this year.

By Stephen Markley,

Cars.com Tribune Media Services

The 2011 Ford Mustang is the first car with more than 300 horsepower to get over 30 mpg on the highway, and a Ford team recently proved it can do even better: It stretched one 16-gallon tank of gas to 776.5 miles.

If you're not a mathematician, that's 48.5 mpg, which rivals numbers put up by today's most efficient hybrids like the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.

There's an important caveat to that number, though. The drivers were cruising around the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee at a limp 43.9 mph average speed. The Ford team originally wanted to see if the Mustang could get 1,000 laps (a total of 533 miles) but blew past that mark with the tank still a quarter full.

The driving team included Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl, Carl Ek, David Ragan and Seong Park, who took one-hour turns behind the wheel over the course of the 17 hours it took for the Mustang's tank to run dry.

However, there's another even stronger indicator that points to improved quality: warranty claims, those costs paid out to address repair issues that arise during (or sometimes after) the factory warranty. According to the Detroit News, warranty claims have fallen by more than 45 percent at GM and more than 40 percent on Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) vehicles from 2007 levels through last year. And over the past two years, Chrysler's warranty claims have dropped by 48 percent, to a record low, when looking at issues in the first 90 days of ownership.

Those are from raw numbers, of course. But even after adjusting for sales, which have dropped tremendously during this time, it's a sign that domestic-brand vehicles have fewer repair issues than before.

Beyond customers getting more trouble-free vehicles, there's a silver lining to this: It might help the domestic automakers become profitable once again. In GM's case, warranty payments have fallen by 10.5 percent.

GM has implemented a global database through which warranty claims can be seen in real time by engineers, so that issues can be spotted rapidly. For its upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, for instance, the automaker is using claims data from other countries and markets—where the sedan has already been launched—to help assure quality for the U.S. version that goes on sale this fall.

Nevertheless, customer perceptions lag reality and, as an annual survey conducted by residual-value experts ALG showed, Buick and Chevrolet still lag several other import brands that have been shown to have lower customer-service satisfaction or lower reliability, typically.

[Detroit News, via Autoblog]–>

This story originally appeared at The Car Connection]]>

Senoirs are statistically safer drivers than teens. Click on the image to see the expanded infographic.

Picture this: You're out on the road, driving in mixed traffic with your choice of drivers to follow. One is a gray-haired senior puttering along in the right lane and the other is a fresh-faced teenager moving briskly in the left lane.

Statistically speaking, which driver is safer to follow? The older driver with the slower reflexes, poorer vision, and cautious driving style, or the younger driver with faster reactions, better eyesight, and driving with the flow of traffic?

The answer: Stay in the right lane, behind the oldster, and let the teenager go on his way. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the safest drivers are in the age group between 64 and 69 years old. And studies of the data reveal that teenage drivers — especially male teenage drivers — are the most dangerous drivers on the road.

"In every motorized country around the world, teenage drivers are disproportionately involved in crashes," said Dr. Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Institute. "The seriousness of this problem has been recognized for decades. Only in the last few years have public policies such as graduated driving licenses been enacted to address the situation. And those laws seem to be working, but fatalities are still high."

Statistics Say Seniors are Safer

In 2008, 5,864 15- to 20-year-old drivers were involved in fatal crashes. That's the bad news. The good news is that number is down by 27 percent since 1998. Driver fatalities for this age group also decreased by 20 percent in the same time period.

However, motor vehicle crashes still remain the major cause of death for teenagers. In 2008, 2,739 15- to 20-year-old drivers were killed and an additional 228,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Sixty percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta (Ford).

For over a year, Europeans have been driving Ford's new Fiesta and falling in love with it. The car became the best-selling vehicle across the continent in the first quarter of 2010 and all signs point to it continuing that streak for the remainder of the year. This makes the Fiesta something like Europe's version of the Ford F-150, the best-selling vehicle in America.

With proven success in Europe and increasing interest in small, efficient cars in the U.S., it made sense for Ford to offer it up to American consumers, although in a slightly different body style than the 3-door hatchback sold in bulk in Europe. More appealing to buyers in the U.S. (and China, says Ford) is a newly styled four-door sedan, which will be sold here alongside a slightly pricier five-door hatchback beginning in July. The starting price for the four-door base-level sedan is $13,995, while the five-door hatchback will go for $15,795.

We’ve seen European cars transplated to America before, however, we've typically been disappointed. Diluted, plucked and labotomized, American versions of European cars have disappointed us, especially those sold by American car companies. Will the Fiesta be any different?

2011 Ford Fiesta (Ford).

Smaller Than Ford's F-150 (And Everything Else)

Wisely, Ford kept the handling attributes of the European Fiesta intact, and did not compromise its crisp road manners for fear of offending U.S. customers. Detroit has historically (and mistakenly) assumed the mushy ride and isolated steering of big cars should be transplanted into their small cars as well. But the American Fiesta is almost identical to the European version. Suspension tuning for the American market actually incorporates firmer anti-roll bars than the Euro model, because Americans prefer more compliant all-season tires instead of rougher-riding and stickier summer tires. (In addition to wearing black socks with white shoes and sandals, many Europeans use separate snow tires in the winter, too.) A fun-to-drive European-bred car that's actually going to drive better for the American version? This we like.                            

The U.S. Fiesta comes only with the largest engine available in any Fiesta: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque, yet returns spectacular fuel efficiency when matched to a sophisticated new automatic transmission that makes its debut here. The engine features the most optimal variable valve timing setup, with independent control of both intake and exhaust. A refined five-speed manual transmission is standard, but for about $1,200 the so-called "Powershift" automatic six-speed raises the car's expected EPA test cycle performance from 38 to 40 mpg on the highway. In the city, the standard manual is expected to get 29 mpg, while the automatic gets 30 mpg.

The reason the automatic is more efficient is because it is a "twin-clutch" design. In short, that means there are the equivalent of two separate three-speed manual gearboxes that take turns routing the power while electromagnetic servo motors automatically actuate the two concentric clutches (hence the twin-clutch name), as well as the shifting mechanism. This design does away with the power-robbing hydraulic torque converter that you'll find on a conventional automatic. The electric servo controls on Ford’s twin-clutch transmission, a first for a subcompact in the U.S., are also lighter than the hydraulic systems used for twin-clutch transmissions in larger and more powerful cars like those from Audi, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.

The slick automatic transmission would feel right at home on a luxury sedan or a sports car, and more refined than what you’d expect in an economy car. First, there is no slipping feeling or windup delay of a hydrualic torque converter like you get with a conventional automatic "slushbox.” The automatic Fiesta accelerates in direct proportion to throttle inputs, one of the reasons that purist car nuts prefer manual transmissions in the first place. The electronic tranmission controls do an excellent job of figuring out when to shift, sensing steering inputs and throttle movements, "using even more senses than the driver has," says John Rich, Ford's powertrain manager for the Fiesta.

The Fiesta will be Ford's smallest car in the U.S. at just 160.1 inches for the five-door, or about the same length as a Honda Fit. The Fiesta sedan is about a foot longer, which makes it just an inch-and-a-half shorter than the more powerful and heavier Focus compact sedan, a car that boasts an additional eight cubic feet of interior space.

2011 Ford Fiesta (Ford).

"Reads Your Mind"

The driveline is just one of three outstanding bright spots in the new Fiesta. Next is the ride and handling of the car. On a designer's notepad, the suspension looks straightforward, with an old-tech twist-beam rear axle and front struts. However, a wealth of experience and tribal knowledge went into tuning these pieces so they work well enough you'd think they were more complex. The ride is generally supple over bumps, but there are there are no stray movements on really bad roads.

Even though the Fiesta rides softly, it doesn't roll over onto the sides of its outside wheels in tight corners. Nor do the front wheels scrub much during a turn. The feeling is accurate and precise, the way Europeans have historically preferred their small cars. However, the more forgiving all-season tires allow stiffer anti-roll bars and therefore less body roll. In fact, the steering is so precise that it seems like it's trying to read your mind.

That's because of a "drift-pull" steering enhancement made possible by the electrical steering assist system. The Fiesta has the hint of racecar alignment, feeling like it's ready to go right or left at any impulse from the driver. However, unlike a racecar's setup, the Fiesta tracks straight as a freight train crossing Kansas.

Ford’s engineers made deft usage of boron steel, the strongest used in cars, as well as a high percentage of other high-strength steel in the Fiesta’s body, which makes it strong, light and safe. Anchored to this structure is safety equipment such as front, side and curtain airbags, and even a unique driver knee airbag, for a total of seven separate airbags, more than any subcompact yet available. Traction control, stability control, and grippy brakes are also standard on all Fiestas. To say that Ford put a ton of content in this Fiesta would be an understatement.

Ford has chosen to incorporate more convenience goodies as standard, too. The fuel filler is capless, and the steering wheel telescopes; optional is a steering wheel with audio and entertainment controls, and colored "usher" lighting on the floor and console keep the interior visible at night. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, Ford's Sync system connects smart phones to the car, so voice commands can control phone and entertainment functions. By entertainment functions, Ford means a new downloadable free software system called AppLink will be available by the end of the summer to operate applications such as Pandora internet radio, Stitcher internet voice programming, and OpenBeak tweeting. Updated versions of these applications will be available through the Android Market and Blackberry App World, while other application creators are being encouraged by Ford to develop their own applications to work with the Sync system. The AppLink Sync system pairs itself to a smart phone, and can be accessed by voice or dashboard controls, or those found in the optional steering wheel. The standard Sync system includes turn-by-turn voice guidance as an option, but there is no display screen for a conventional navigation system. With nav systems selling for $150 or less these days, Ford made the right choice to leave out the screen.

2011 Ford Fiesta (Ford).

Inside, the Fiesta rides quietly enough to make phone calls, as well as to allow occupants to thoroughly enjoy the extensive entertainment functions. The seats feel soft, but have Euro-inspired support bolsters. In the rear, where European adults regularly ride, the seats are extended far enough to keep big people comfortable, either on the plush cloth seating or the optional leather with exposed stitching. The instrument panel and door panels are covered in quality-feeling soft-touch material, similar to the larger Focus'.

Overall, the new Fiesta is comfortable inside with no shortage of safety equipment. The nimble, responsive chassis gives the driver confidence on crowded freeways and twisty backroads. The smoothness of the driveline makes the Fiesta feel more refined than its low price suggests, too. Ford successfully ported the Fiesta to America without losing any of its charm. While we don't expect it to outsell the F-150 any time soon, buyers who opt for the smallest Ford will figure out in quick order what the Europeans have been talking about for years.

The firm has found that new-vehicle purchase intention has weakened, not strengthened, in recent months; so, barring stimuli like sales-stoking special deals and incentives—of which there have been plenty—demand this spring might actually be lower than it was for part of last year. Last September, the firm found that 23 percent of those polled indicated that they "were definitely or probably likely to acquire a new vehicle in the next 24 months." But in data from this March, only 20 percent indicated that.

AutoPacific also noted the continuation of an unexpected trend that we reported back in February. The firm had found—again through its Fuel Price Impact Survey—that interest in small cars and hybrids was, surprisingly, waning as pump prices continued to rise (albeit gradually).

Consumers' intention to replace whatever they were driving with a sport-utility vehicle (including a car-based crossover) has gone from 16 percent a year ago to 27 percent in March, and small-car consideration has fallen from 22 percent to 12 percent from March 2009 to March 2010—in a period when the price of gas rose 44 percent.

The most dramatic was hybrid intention: down from 22 percent in March of 2009 to 11 percent in January 2009 and on to just nine percent this March. Actual sales trends contradict this; Toyota just reported a 41-percent increase in hybrid sales in April versus a year ago—although in all fairness last April the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius hadn't yet reached dealerships.

Of course, as before, gas-price volatility probably has a lot to do with the change in attitude. Over the past year or more, the market hasn't experienced the dramatic volatility that it did from 2005 until early 2009. Since then, prices have risen, gradually, from a national-average $1.71 to a current average of nearly $2.90 (as of May 3).

Are these trends occurring simply because we haven't had $4 gas in some time so shoppers are becoming complacent, or because the market is changing in other ways—replacing larger family vehicles but having fewer of them, for instance—that we won't recover from for a long time, if ever? To this, we'll just have to hold on and hope for more positive signs.

[AutoPacific]–>
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection]]>

In recent months and years, U.S. automakers have rallied that American cars are now on equal or better footing than Japanese (and Korean) cars in terms of quality, reliability, and durability.

The campaigns, along with sea-change improvements in some of the products coming from Detroit, as observed by TheCarConnection.com, seem to have worked. With critically acclaimed success stories like the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford (NYSE:F) has gained significantly with U.S. shoppers; the percentage singling out Ford as the automaker producing the best quality cars doubled since 2006, from nine percent to 18 percent.

It's not surprising, given the slew of recalls that have been announced in recent months—including some that have applied to the automaker's iconic 2010 Toyota Prius flagship—Toyota took the hardest hit when poll-takers asked who produces the best quality cars. It fell from 25 down to 15 percent.

The results come from an AP-GfK Poll, taken by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media, and based on 1,002 adults 18 and older—702 by landline and 300 by cellphone—then weighted to the Current Population Survey. It was conducted March 3 and March 8 of this year, but included in the poll results were those from December 2006, when many of the same questions were asked.

Compared to 2006, a slightly higher percentage said that they would consider buying an American car (68 percent now versus 64 percent then). But there's still progress to be made on behalf of the U.S. industry; the perception remains that foreign cars are better quality, better made, and/or longer lasting.

When asked which country produces the best quality cars, 38 percent of respondents thought U.S. vehicles were tops (up from 29 percent in 2006), while Europe was down slightly (from 17 to 15 percent) and Asia was down significantly (from 46 percent in 2006 to 33 percent in March). Japan took the hardest hit, down from 44 percent to 29 percent.

In a test of image, respondents were asked to name their dream car. There, 38 percent responded with a foreign brand, with models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus placing highest. Domestic models were chosen by 31 percent, with Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, and Chrysler ranked at the top (though Corvette was separated out as a separate brand).

Interestingly, vehicle ownership looks to have dropped slightly during this time according to this demographically adjusted poll, with 83 percent owning or leasing one or more vehicles in 2010, versus 89 percent in 2006. A surprising 17 percent said this year that they didn't own or lease a vehicle at all—that's way up from ten percent then.

One stereotype that hasn't changed is that those in the Western U.S.—along with those who have completed more education—are far more likely to hold their high regard for Asian-made vehicles. Older and rural residents remained more positive about American cars.

[Associated Press, via Yahoo]–>
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection]]>

Friday, April 23 2010

Ford Motor Company and Gary Yeomans Ford hosted the first ever "Drive One 4ur School" Fundraiser at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach. "It was a fundraiser where parents, faculty and students over 18 were given the opportunity to test drive the New Ford Products and earn money for each and every test drive" Said Cathy Calderoni, program coordinator for Gary Yeomans Ford.  Kenny Tuter, Paul Bellanca, Bill Bachmeister,Ramon Esteban,Kevin Dalton and Juan Salcedo all sales professionals at the dealership recorded an incredible 314 test drives in 7 hours.  That raised a total of $6000 for Seabreeze High School.  "The event was a total success for both the school and our dealership said Kenny Tuter, we had the opportunity to demonstrate our new and exciting line of  vehicles and at the same time help a school in our community."