• Ford is making its vehicles, which are 85 percent recyclable by weight, more eco-friendly through increased use of renewable and recyclable materials; the 2010 Ford Taurus is the latest model to use eco-friendly bio-based seat cushions
• In 2009, Ford reduced the amount of automotive-related plastics to landfills by nearly 30 million pounds and saved approximately $4.5 million by reusing recycled materials
• Ford’s “reduce, reuse and recycle” commitments are part of its broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint
• Automobiles are among the most recycled consumer products. More than 95 percent of all end-of-life vehicles in the U.S. are processed for recycling – compared to 52 percent of all paper and 31 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles

DEARBORN, Mich., April 20, 2010 – Ford is making its vehicles more eco-friendly through increased use of renewable and recyclable materials such as the soy and bio-based seat cushions and seatbacks on the 2010 Ford Taurus.

Ford vehicles are now 85 percent recyclable by weight. In 2009, Ford saved approximately $4.5 million by using recycled materials, and diverted between 25 and 30 million pounds of plastic from landfills in North America alone.

“By increasing the use of recycled or renewable content and reducing the use of undesirable materials whenever possible, we’re helping to reduce waste to landfills by millions of pounds – and we’re doing it around the world,” said John Viera, Ford’s director of Sustainability and Environmental Policy. “More than ever before, the spirit of ONE Ford that drives our global product strategy also drives our commitment to sustainability.”

The 2010 Ford Taurus is the eleventh Ford vehicle to feature earth-friendly bio-based seat cushions and seatbacks. Ford has more vehicle models with seats that use soy and other bio-based foams than any other automaker. Ford Mustang, F-150, Focus, Flex, Escape, Expedition and Econoline as well as Mercury Mariner, Lincoln MKS and Navigator also use the sustainable material.

via FORD IS MAKING GREENER VEHICLES THROUGH INCREASED USE OF RENEWABLE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIALS | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

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• New trade-in data show Ford is increasingly winning new customers from competing brands, a key reason the company has gained retail U.S. market share for 16 of the past 17 months
• For the Ford brand, the rate of customers who traded in competitive brand vehicles rose 18 percent from  2005 to 2009. The conquest rate for Lincoln rose 61 percent, while Mercury saw a 12 percent increase
• The Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids, as well as Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKX, attracted the highest number of buyers from competing brands.
• The redesigned Ford Taurus showed the largest increase in attracting new buyers to the Ford brand from 2005 to 2009

DEARBORN, Mich., March 25, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is increasingly attracting customers who are trading in vehicles from competing brands, one of the keys to Ford’s recent market share gains in U.S.

For the Ford brand, the rate of customers who traded in competitive brand vehicles rose 18 percent from 2005 to 2009. The conquest rate for Lincoln rose 61 percent, while Mercury saw a 12 percent increase from the 2005 to 2009 model year.

“We’re finding that when customers of competing brands check out our new lineup and understand the quality, fuel efficiency and value we offer, they are increasingly becoming Ford owners,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “The strength of our new products is making the difference in a very competitive marketplace.”

via FORD IS WINNING MORE NEW CUSTOMERS FROM COMPETING BRANDS, FUELING MARKET SHARE GAINS | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

Related articles

• Looking Way Up: Ford posts 33% sales gain in 2009, 15% market share (autoblog.com)
• Ford sales continue upward climb (windsorstar.com)
• Ford Sales Surge in December (dailyfinance.com)

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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Many of us who sit around the Autoblog campfire every day are fans of station wagons. We love cars and love the idea of having some extra utility without giving up the generally superior driving dynamics of cars versus SUVs or crossovers. We also like the idea – if not necessarily the execution – of the Ford Taurus SHO.

Being aware of that fact, one of our readers put his Photoshop skills to work and created the rendering you see here of a SHO wagon. Ford, of course, has never officially built an official SHO wagon – either with the current model or with its predecessors. Naturally, there have been some aftermarket and homebuilt conversions over the years, and even at least one that we know of that was built inside Dearborn.

via Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye — Autoblog.

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• Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor, engineered to exceed durability, safety and performance of today’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
• New Ford Police Interceptor sedan will offer two fuel-efficient powertrain options – including EcoBoost with all wheel-drive – along with an array of safety technologies; interior has been designed to meet unique law enforcement needs
• Ford’s new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011
• Ford confirms production of an additional Police Interceptor, a utility vehicle that will be pursuit-rated to complement the sedan; vehicle to be revealed later this year

Las Vegas, March 12, 2010 – Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor sedan today, showcasing a car for law enforcement officials that will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria – while also confirming production of a Police Interceptor utility vehicle.

Ford, the police vehicle market leader for 15 years, specifically designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety and technology innovations.

via ALL-NEW FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR PURPOSE-BUILT TO LEAD MARKET, SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE, PROTECT | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

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• Ford Announces New Police Interceptor to be Built in Chicago (chicagoist.com)
• New Ford Police Interceptor 25% More Fuel Efficient Than Crown Vic, No V8 Option (treehugger.com)
• Drivers, Meet Your New Nemesis: The 2012 Ford Police Interceptor (ridelust.com)
• Ford Will Offer EcoBoost Option on its New Police Interceptor (greencarcongress.com)

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Hold on to your sap gloves and night sticks – it’s that time of the decade! An Autoblog source reveals that Ford is about to release a brand spankin’ new Police Interceptor. Not only is this humongous news for our pals in the law enforcement community, but this is 120-point headline font for taxi companies around the country, as they typically buy old Police Interceptors with 90,000 miles on ‘em and repurpose them as the cabs we all know and love passing out in. Why? Because Police Interceptors are the toughest passenger cars money can buy.

Few of us have the need to drive over curbs at 50+ mph, but if that need arises, you’re going to want to do so in an Interceptor. Aside from the “severe duty” shocks, you get a beefed up frame and body mounts. Yes, that is correct. The Crown Victoria-based Police Interceptor is body-on-frame. Listen, when you’re PIT maneuvering a perp during a high speed chase, the last thing you want to worry about is bending the chassis. Plus you got them heavy duty brakes, suspension components and oil coolers. A sweet package, no doubt.

Related articles

• DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based (autoblog.com)

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• The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Ford Taurus and 2010 Ford Flex are among the “Top 10 Family Cars for 2010,” according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com
• Vehicles are chosen based on factors such as resale value, fuel efficiency, capability and kid-friendliness
• For more information about the “Top 10 Family Cars for 2010,” please visit www.kbb.com/Top10FamilyCars

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 16, 2010 – Three Ford vehicles – the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Ford Taurus and 2010 Ford Flex – are among the “Top 10 Family Cars for 2010,” according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

via THREE FORD VEHICLES SELECTED AS ‘TOP 10 FAMILY CARS FOR 2010’ BY KBB.COM | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Partnering with top-ranked national and international universities, the Ford “Atoms to Engines” team challenged skeptics to develop the world’s first virtual materials modeling prediction tool that allows the team to simulate the microstructures of a material before the first prototype is built.
• The Atoms to Engines team blends engineering and science to develop physics-based computer models that predict how properties and materials will behave and change during the manufacturing process.
• Building these computer models integrates the study of product performance, manufacturing and materials; in some cases it requires analyzing metals down to their atomistic level.
• The result? Components that are more durable and efficiently constructed, which saves the company considerable development time and money. In fact, the process is estimated to save Ford between $2 and $5 million a year in reducing test requirements and product development time.

via FORD SCIENTISTS WORK TO PERFECT QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLE PARTS ATOM BY ATOM | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

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• Ford, Lincoln and Mercury January sales up 24 percent versus year ago
• Cars up 43 percent, crossovers up 20 percent, SUVs up 8 percent, trucks and vans up 14 percent
• Ford brand sales up 26 percent, Lincoln up 16 percent and Mercury up 6 percent
• Ford’s U.S. market share estimated at 16 percent, up 2 points versus year ago
• Fleet customers are back in the market – and buying Ford; fleet sales more than doubled versus last January’s depressed levels
• Retail sales were 5 percent lower following December’s 18 percent increase
• New products drive Ford’s brand favorability and purchase consideration to record levels

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 2, 2010 – Higher sales for every brand and in every product category propelled Ford to a 24 percent sales increase in January versus a year ago.

via FORD KICKS OFF 2010 WITH 24 PERCENT SALES INCREASE, MARKET SHARE GAIN, THANKS TO PRODUCT LINEUP | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

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2010 Taurus Wins edmunds.com technology breakthough

• The 2010 Ford Taurus is the winner of the first-ever Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award; the award was presented today at the 2010 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show®) in Las Vegas
• The Taurus offers more user-friendly technology than other cars twice its price, including 10 class-exclusive technologies not available from any other manufacturer
• In addition to receiving the Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award, the Taurus is serving as the official vehicle of CES, and the 2010 Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year”

via 2010 FORD TAURUS WINS FIRST-EVER EDMUNDS.COM TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH AWARD | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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Jason Johnson, Product Development Engineer

• Jason Johnson is a key member of the team bringing SYNC® and MyFord together, making Ford’s all new vehicle environment a reality
• One of Johnson’s key responsibilities is refining the interaction between people and their Ford vehicles with usability a top priority
• Johnson, a Texas native, now lives with his wife and young son in Dearborn, Mich., where he enjoys travel, interior design and photography

As Ford rolls out MyFord, its next-generation vehicle environment, engineers who have been working on the project for years are beginning to see the fruits of their efforts. Jason Johnson, user interface design engineer, SYNC Product Development, is a key member of that team, working to ensure the next generation of SYNC, the “brains” behind MyFord, lives up to its promise

via JASON JOHNSON: MAKING THE MAGIC OF FORD SYNC A REALITY FOR CONSUMERS | Ford Motor Company Newsroom.

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Ford is the first auto manufacturer to offer HD Radio™ technology with iTunes® Tagging capability; this new functionality will be available on 2011 model year Ford vehicles equipped with MyFord Touch™ or MyLincoln Touch™ driver connect technology with the latest generation of SYNC®
• HD Radio technology captures free digital radio broadcasts, which eliminate static, fadeout and other problems associated with conventional analog radio signals; the result is FM audio comparable to near-CD quality and AM audio that sounds like today’s FM broadcasts
• HD Radio digital technology provides a number of advanced services not available with an analog radio. Extra FM channels, called HD2/HD3 channels, are delivered, as well as useful on-screen Program Service Data such as artist name and song title

via FORD VEHICLES FIRST TO ENABLE iTUNES TAGGING WITH LAUNCH OF NEW HD RADIO CAPABILITY IN ITS LINEUP | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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Gary Braddock, interior chief designer

• Gary Braddock, Ford interior chief designer, leads the design studio team in creating interiors that capture the emotions of Ford customers and helps ensure the designs become a reality in vehicles people want to buy
• Braddock has been essential in the look and feel of Ford’s new MyFord Touch driver connect technology and its practical integration
• Although Braddock recognizes cars as central to his life, he’d really rather his garage be a pub with a pool table than a place to store cars

via GARY BRADDOCK: ENSURING EXCEPTIONAL INTERIORS ARE HALLMARKS OF EVERY FORD VEHICLE | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• The new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned the U.S. government’s top five-star ratings for driver and passenger in front and side crash tests
  

  2010 Taurus

• The new Taurus has an advanced crash safety structure, a standard suite of advanced restraint and air bag technologies, and previously earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” – adding to Ford’s industry-leading number of top crash safety-rated vehicles
• Taurus advanced collision avoidance technologies, including radar-enabled advanced collision warning system and Cross Traffic Alert that warns drivers of hard-to-see parking lot traffic, are well received by consumers

via 2010 TAURUS EARNS FIVE-STAR CRASH RATINGS, PIONEERS FAST-SELLING CRASH-AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Ford, Lincoln and Mercury December sales up 33 percent versus a year ago; highest sales month since May 2008
• Ford posts first full-year market share gain since 1995; December marks the 14th time in 15 months that Ford increased retail market share
• Record December sales delivered for Fusion up 83 percent and Escape up 75 percent ; Fusion sets new full-year sales record 180,671; Escape full-year sales 173,044 second best ever
• Ford’s F-Series tops best-seller lists again with December sales of 48,209 up 16 percent and full-year sales of 413,625;  F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 33 years in a row and the best-selling vehicle, car or truck, for 28 years in a row
• New products drive Ford’s brand favorability and purchase consideration to record highs

via FORD CAPS 2009 WITH 33 PERCENT SALES INCREASE, FIRST FULL-YEAR MARKET SHARE GAIN SINCE 1995 | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Ford is the first auto manufacturer to offer HD Radio™ technology with iTunes® Tagging capability; this new functionality will be available next year
• HD Radio technology captures free digital radio broadcasts, which eliminate static, fadeout and other problems associated with conventional analog radio signals; the result is FM audio that’s comparable to near-CD quality and AM audio that sounds like today’s FM broadcasts
• HD Radio digital technology provides a number of advanced services not available with an analog radio. Extra FM channels, called HD2/HD3 channels, are delivered, as well as useful on-screen Program Service Data such as artist name and song title

via FORD FIRST TO ENABLE iTUNES TAGGING WITH LAUNCH OF NEW HD RADIO CAPABILITY IN ITS LINEUP | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Ford Motor Company is the only automaker to use the same type of motion-capture software in its virtual engineering labs as Hollywood employs to create such motion pictures as “Avatar,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Polar Express”
• Ford uses motion-capture software for a variety of automotive applications including the study of human movement for better ergonomics, immersive virtual driving experiences, and virtual manufacturing
• The technology is the latest innovation at Ford to help engineers optimize vehicle design, comfort and ergonomics. The work from this technology is being applied to future products

via FORD USES HOLLYWOOD MOTION-CAPTURE SOFTWARE BEHIND ‘AVATAR’ TO IMPROVE VEHICLE DESIGNS | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• The projected resale value of 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles after 36 months in service increased by an average of $1,310 per vehicle compared to the 2009 model year – the industry’s largest increase among full-line manufacturers
• The improvement allowed Ford to narrow the residual value gap with leading Asian automakers and maintain its advantage over U.S.-based automakers
• The 2010 Ford Fusion is expected to bring customers $687 more than the 2010 Toyota Camry after 36 months in service; the residual value of the 2010 Ford Flex commands an $1,800 premium over the Toyota Highlander
• Improved quality, new features and popular redesigned products are helping to boost Ford’s residual values. Ford improved more than any other automaker in ALG’s Perceived Quality Survey released in the fall of 2009
• Compete Inc., a Massachusetts research firm that studies online car shopping, says Ford has surpassed Toyota in customer consideration for the first time since it began tracking such data in 2002. Compete data show Ford surpassed Toyota in customer consideration in September, October and November

via FORD VEHICLE RESIDUAL VALUES RISE $1,300 ON AVERAGE FROM 2009 TO 2010 MODEL YEAR; INDUSTRY’S LARGEST GAIN | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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2010 Taurus

2010 TAURUS EARNS FIVE-STAR CRASH RATINGS, PIONEERS FAST-SELLING CRASH-AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES

• The new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned the U.S. government’s top five-star ratings for driver and passenger in front and side crash tests
• The new Taurus has an advanced crash safety structure, a standard suite of advanced restraint and air bag technologies, and previously earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” – adding to Ford’s industry-leading number of top crash safety-rated vehicles
• Taurus advanced collision avoidance technologies, including radar-enabled advanced collision warning system and Cross Traffic Alert that warns drivers of hard-to-see parking lot traffic, are well received by consumers

via 2010 TAURUS EARNS FIVE-STAR CRASH RATINGS, PIONEERS FAST-SELLING CRASH-AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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• Next-generation SYNC® system to incorporate in-car WiFi system powered by customer’s USB mobile broadband modem, turning entire car into hot spot
• New capability will be standard on select SYNC-equipped vehicles with no additional hardware or subscriptions required beyond the user-supplied mobile broadband modem
• Standard WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security protocols will be in force, and only owner-permitted devices will be able to access the network, helping ensure secure, robust connectivity for in-car users

via FORD SYNC GOES WIFI TURNING CAR INTO MOBILE INTERNET HOT SPOT FOR PASSENGERS WHILE ON THE GO | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 16, 2009 – Human touch is highly subjective and complex, making it difficult to replicate in a lab. So designers of vehicle interiors have historically relied on direct feedback from customers to determine which visual and tactile interior environments pleased most people. However, the results were unscientific and sometimes resulted in customers feeling unsatisfied and uninspired by their driving experience.

via FORD ENGINEERS IMITATE HUMAN TOUCH THROUGH A ROBOT NAMED RUTH | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

McMahon Ford
3295 S Kingshighway at Fyler
314-664-4100

Dan Dinzebach
Internet Sales Manager

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