Archive for February, 2009
MILLENNIALS FIRST TO DRIVE NEW FIESTA
Posted by: | CommentsFord Targets 100 Socially-Networked Millennials for First Drive of Ford’s New Small Car, the Fiesta
Ford is rebranding the driving experience during their upcoming social media campaign called the “Fiesta Movement.” The movement is strategically designed to spread the word and generate buzz about the Fiesta’s upcoming 2010 North American launch.
Aside from being voted “Car of the Year 2009” by What Car? Magazine, in the European auto market the Fiesta has strong customer loyalty and brand recognition for its performance, design and value.
The Fiesta Movement focuses on the emerging market force and highly influential Millennial group; those born between 1979 and 1995. With over 11,000 Millennials reaching driving age every day, they have been identified as one of the most significant consumer groups since the Baby Boomers.
Selected from over 1,500 applications, 100 Millennials have been chosen by Ford to act as special “agents” tasked to complete their individual Ford Fiesta missions. Throughout the missions they’re to use technology to capture and share their experiences digitally by connecting with their social networks through Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
Overall, the agents’ final mission and main goal of the Fiesta Movement is to produce socially authentic and genuine driving experiences through the use of social media.
Quotes:
“For Millennials, social media is just a part of life. In fact, statistics show that for those born after 1980, 62 percent of the content they consume comes from someone they know personally. The missions will take them to new places, to meet new people and to experience new things in their Fiesta.”
“Social networks are becoming an increasingly important way to talk to consumers, especially for the Millennial generation. According to statistics from a Universal McCann Comparative Study on social media trends, 45 percent of online users have started a blog, 57 percent have joined a social network and 55 percent have uploaded photos.”
“Since it was introduced last August, sales of the new Fiesta have totaled more than 89,000 units across the main European markets. That success continued into 2009, with January sales of more than 28,000 vehicles.”
“The Fiestas engaged in the Movement campaign are European-specification vehicles, updated for use in the U.S. The language in the message center was changed from German to English and the speedometer was changed from kilometers to miles per hour, but the voice for the Bluetooth functionality has a British accent!”
Links:
News Release: FORD TARGETS 100 SOCIALLY-NETWORKED MILLENNIALS FOR FIRST DRIVE OF FORD’S NEW SMALL CAR, FIESTA
10 MILLIONTH ENGINE DESTINED FOR 2010 MUSTANG GT
Posted by: | CommentsFord’s Romeo Engine Plant Produces 10 Millionth Engine,
Continues to Power Icons Like Mustang
After years of delivering power to two of Ford Motor Company’s iconic products, the Mustang and Ford F-150, Romeo Engine Plant has reached a historic milestone – the production of its 10 millionth engine.
The 10 millionth engine, a 4.6 liter 3-valve V-8, will be shipped to AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Mich., to be installed in a new 2010 Mustang GT.
- Romeo Engine Plant, produces V-8 engines for Mustang, Shelby GT500, Ford F-150, Explorer, E-Series van, Crown Victoria, and the Mercury Grand Marquis.
- Plant produces 140 engines an hour on its high-volume line, with hourly and salaried teams focusing on continuous improvement and quality basics.
- In 2008, engines built at Romeo generated a combined 88.9 million horsepower, 2,750 times the combined horsepower of this year’s starting field at Daytona.
Quotes:
“Romeo Engine’s products are powering two of Ford’s iconic vehicles and we focus on quality every minute of every day. We deal with a great deal of complexity on our lines, and we’ve had very strong quality performance over a very long period of time.”
- Shaun Whitehead, Plant Manager, Romeo Engine Plant
“We have more than 600 purchase parts from more than 150 suppliers so we deal with a large amount of intricate processes and parts on our line. We have 11 different models on the line that we handle for seven different assembly plant customers – as well as the Ford Customer Service Division.”
- Shaun Whitehead, Plant Manager, Romeo Engine Plant
“Quality really is our number one priority. Our Quality Operating System focuses on continuous improvement and an adherence to quality basics.”
- Phil Kloss, Quality Manager, Romeo Engine Plant
“We have hundreds of eyes throughout our machining and assembly processes. Employees on the line constantly bring attention to changes in feel, appearance or test performance – even when unrelated to the task at hand.”
- Phil Kloss, Quality Manager, Ford Romeo Engine Plant
“This is a huge accomplishment for our plant. We started this plant with a team concept that was really new for Ford when they converted from the tractor plant. Over the years, we’ve stayed consistent in our team approach, with both hourly and salaried employees working together. We strive to be the best engine builders in the world, and we’d like to build another 10 million.”
- Randy Newsom, UAW Local 400 Chairman at Romeo Engine
Links:
News Release: FORD’S ROMEO ENGINE PLANT PRODUCES 10 MILLIONTH ENGINE, CONTINUES TO POWER FORD ICONS
TAURUS NAMED “MOST SIGNIFICANT” BY AUTOWEEK
Posted by: | CommentsThe new 2010 Taurus earned the “Most Significant” at NAIAS.
With its impressive class-leading array of technologies to add convenience, connectivity and safety for our customers, the editorial team at AutoWeek named Ford Taurus “Most Significant” of all vehicles displayed at the January 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
In addition, the editors also awarded Ford Shelby GT500 as “Most Fun.” Coming just two days after the 2009 Ford F-150 was named “North American Truck of the Year,” the AutoWeek auto show awards recognize Ford’s product-driven momentum.
The new 2010 Ford Taurus leads a wave of new vehicle introductions, demonstrating Ford’s commitment to providing customers expressively designed, technically advanced and fun-to-drive vehicles at a good value.
Quotes
“This important recognition from the editors at AutoWeek affirms that our new product plans are taking hold, and that Ford is building more products people really want and discerning journalists value. We want to thank AutoWeek for these distinctions – and for recognizing how hard our product teams have been working to further strengthen Ford’s product lineup.”
- Mark Fields, Ford’s President of The Americas
“We’re delighted that the editors at AutoWeek see the new Ford Taurus, and its unique blend of style, substance, class-leading highway fuel economy and meaningful technologies as highly significant.”
- Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s Group Vice President for Global Product Development
“It looks new… and I think that is important to be Taurus. Each one of the famous Taurus’s had it’s own distinct identity all the way back from the very original through the early 90’s they had a distinct identity of their own and that is what I think this one has.”
- Peter Reyes, Ford Chief Engineer
2010 FORD TAURUS DELIVERS CLASS-LEADING TECHNOLOGIES
Posted by: | CommentsThe new 2010 Taurus keeps Ford’s brand promise to bring technology to market at an affordable price.
Available this summer, Ford’s new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 – the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals German luxury sedans. A wide selection of optional customer-focused technologies also will be available on the 2010 Taurus, including:
Adaptive Cruise Control – This technology allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Collision Warning – Using a radar sensor to sense moving vehicles ahead, the Collision Warning system provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead.
Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start – This new Taurus feature allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.
SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry – Enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver’s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver’s side B-pillar.
MyKey™ – When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning.
Auto High Beams/ Rain-Sensing Wipers – Sensor technologies switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected. Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed.
Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler – An industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) – When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror.
Cross Traffic Alert – This industry-exclusive system, which leverages the existing BLIS technology, functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.
Ford SYNC® – Fully integrated, SYNC is an in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist™ will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.
Multi-Contour Seats – Available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, the seats feature six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion, which provides minute but continuous pelvis movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain.
Quotes
“Taurus personifies the Ford brand promise – an engaging driving experience, expressive design, class-leading technologies, all offered at an unmatched value. Taurus raises the bar on the full-size sedan segment with an unprecedented offering of technologies typically reserved for luxury cars. The premium craftsmanship and attention to detail, combined with outstanding driving experience will redefine what customers should expect in a full-size sedan”
- Jim Farley, Ford’s Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications
“Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble. The key is their subtlety. Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.”
- Steve Michell, Ford Product Design Engineer