Ford Autonomous Cars Will Use Subscription Service

Ford recently unveiled their new FordPass® platform that allows users to customize they way they get around. Using a Smartphone app, drivers can streamline parking, vehicle sharing, mobility inquiries, and other aspects of driving using FordPass® as the central hub.

Ford has huge plans for the future of mobility that extend beyond an app and into the realm of autonomous vehicles. In just four years, Ford envisions a future where they manufacture high-performance vehicles and provide mobility services and autonomous shuttles to drivers via a subscription service.

Picture this: in addition to or instead of single-vehicle ownership, subscribers would be able to book vehicles for their specific needs for a monthly fee. Taking a weekend trip in the summer? Book a sporty Mustang to suit your mood. Need something that can seat the whole family and your pets? Simply reserve a Ford SUV to fit all your passengers and gear. This will allow subscribers who don’t own these vehicles to tailor their travels in a way that hasn’t been previously possible.

Kansas City, MO area commuters will be excited to hear about the most futuristic portion of Ford’s vision: autonomous shuttles. With more privacy and convenience than public transportation but more efficiency and cost-effectiveness than single-driver travel, these shuttles could revolutionize the daily commute. Once they have perfected autonomous technology, Ford also plans to sell fully-autonomous vehicles that lend drivers pedal and steering wheel control when they desire.

Fans of Ford models don’t need to worry; the American manufacturer will continue their longstanding tradition of making human-controlled cars, trucks, and SUVs. FordPass® and future subscription-based mobility sharing are just a few ways Ford continues to revolutionize how we travel.

We have a full inventory of new Ford vehicles that demonstrate the same commitment to innovation. Call us at (888) 698-2027 or fill out our online contact form to speak with a Blue Springs Ford product specialist or set up a test drive today!

Ford Bronco Enthusiasts Dream Up a Sixth-Generation Prototype

As the first off-roading option for Ford fans, the Bronco was first put into production in 1966 and built on its very own platform for optimized off-road driving. The Ford Bronco won the hearts of many drivers, and even though it has been out of production for nearly twenty years, it still remains a classic vehicle for Ford enthusiasts in and around the Kansas City, MO area.

The administrators at the Bronco6G forum took it upon themselves to reimagine a sixth-generation model of the Ford Bronco, combining the design of the classic first-generation Bronco and the ultra-modern 2004 Bronco concept vehicle, the latter of which was never put into production.

Bronco6G’s ideation of the Ford Bronco took the best of both models and invented a concept that looks contemporary enough to compete with other 2016 off-road vehicles while still adding a nod to the Bronco that started it all. To directly quote Bronco6G, their concept is a “no-frills design with a strong focus on utility and off-road capabilities.”

Some of the most notable physical features on the Bronco6G’s Bronco model are the grille options, one with the Ford nameplate and one that boldly exclaims “BRONCO.” Other features include varying ride heights and cargo racks for unique customizations.

If Ford decides to bring the Bronco back into production, its direct competitor would be the Jeep Wrangler. We don’t know about you, but from the looks of Bronco6G’s model, we’d love to get behind the wheel of an all-new Bronco.

Sadly, we cannot offer a new Ford Bronco SUV to Kansas City, MO area drivers, but we believe our current lineup of Ford SUV models can offer just as much adventure. Check out our new vehicle inventory here, then get in touch with a Blue Springs Ford product specialist by phone at (888) 698-2027 or through our online contact form for more information.

The Ford EcoSport May Be Coming to the U.S

The Ford EcoSport is a small crossover in the style of an SUV or hatchback, based off the popular subcompact Ford Fiesta. Produced as part of the ‘One Ford’ strategy of creating vehicles with global appeal, the economical and hardy EcoSport is currently sold in multiple markets worldwide, including India, Brazil, Asia, and Europe. It not available in the U.S. right now, but that may be changing.

The popularity of small crossover vehicles has exploded recently, both in the Kansas City area and in the broader United States. This may have convinced executives at Ford that the time is right to introduce the EcoSport to North America. Numerous EcoSport models have been spotted taking test drives near the Ford Motor Company headquarters. This may mean Ford fans could see an American-marketed EcoSport model as early as fall of 2017.

Engines currently offered in the Ford EcoSport include:

• 5L I4 gasoline
• 5L I4 diesel
• 0L EcoBoost I3

The Ford EcoSport will likely compete in the same segment as models like the Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, and Jeep Renegade.

Until we know for sure, Kansas City area drivers can find both the latest subcompact Fiesta sedan and hatchback models, and compact Escape SUVs at our Ford dealership. Browse our inventory or call in at (888) 698-2027 to learn which small utility options Blue Springs Ford has available to the Kansas City, MO area.

Ford Tests Autonomous Cars in the Snow

An increasing number of automotive companies are investing in and engineering autonomous cars to meet the demands of consumers and the changing world. Ford is at the forefront of autonomous car development and is using Michigan’s snowy climate to test self-driving cars in less-than-ideal weather, something that many other auto companies are not currently participating in.

These autonomous cars have gained the ability to detect and navigate through poor road conditions. Weather is unpredictable, and Ford engineers are hoping that with the use of 3-D maps, a Ford autonomous vehicle will be able to identify inclement weather, as well as precise road signs, markings, and various types of geography.

So, how do the 3-D maps in autonomous Ford cars work? When the weather is ideal, the vehicle will create a highly detailed map and store that information in its memory. When bad weather hits, the vehicle will know what to expect and adjust its traction and safety features accordingly for a safe journey.

Ford engineers are hard at work at their testing facility in Ann Arbor, MI to get autonomous cars on the road as soon as possible. Although we’re excited for what’s to come, the technology is still in the developmental stage. Luckily, Kansas City, MO area residents can still drive one of many incredible Ford models, like the 2016 Fusion or the 2016 Escape, which do feature driver assistance technology like the rear view camera. View the Blue Springs Ford new Ford vehicle inventory here.

For more information on any of the models we offer, get in touch with a product specialist by phone at 888-698-2027 or through our online contact form.

Pothole Damage Repair at Blue Springs Ford

Kansas City is in the throes of winter, and because this season is extremely hard on vehicles, residents have certainly felt the pain. Extreme winter weather, frozen roadways, and salt all produce car-damaging potholes. Unfortunately, Kansas City is one of the worst cities for potholes, ranking at number four on the list according to a study done by potholes.info.

Pothole damage accounts for a large amount of vehicle damage affecting the tires, wheels, shocks, suspension, steering, and exhaust system. Neglecting unrepaired parts can leave you stranded on the side of the road and will lead to premature vehicle wear. Although we can’t repair pothole-filled roads and streets, we can repair the damage your Ford suffers as a result.

Schedule a Ford service appointment at Blue Springs Ford for a complete inspection of your Ford car, truck, or SUV for any pothole damage. We can also check and service your alignment, as well as repair, replace, rotate, and balance your tires. Be sure to check out our Ford service coupons to get the most for your money at our service department!

Get in touch with the Blue Springs Ford auto service center by phone at (888) 698-2027 or through our online contact form for more information.

Ford's smartwatch apps let drivers unlock its EVs

In recent months, both Hyundai and Volvo have launched smartwatch apps, allowing car owners to control some of their vehicle's functions from the comfort of their wrist. Now Ford wants in on the action. In the latest update to its MyFord app, available on both iOS and Android Wear, the carmaker is letting drivers of select electric and plug-in hybrid models access information on their vehicle battery status (including the estimated range), enable the air-conditioning, lock and unlock the car and follow directions to where their car is parked.

One particularly interesting feature is the addition of a personal driving score, which indicates how well you are driving by factoring in your average miles to the gallon, distance traveled and how efficiently you accelerate and slow down. The more green leaves you see on the display, the better you're driving. If you own a Ford C-Max Energi, Ford Focus Electric, or Ford Fusion Energi and either an Apple Watch or Android Wear smartwatch (or both), then download the app right away.

Source: autoblog.com

AMERICA'S WORK TRUCK REINVENTED: ALL-NEW FORD SUPER DUTY IS TOUGHEST, SMARTEST, MOST CAPABLE SUPER DUTY EVER

Toughest: All-new, high-strength steel frame; segment-first, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body; stronger axles, springs and suspension create the only Built Ford Tough heavy-duty truck lineup that works as hard as Super Duty customers

Smartest: 16 class-exclusive new features and up to seven cameras make Super Duty the ultimate tow vehicle; adaptive steering technology makes maneuvering easier

Most capable: Ford-engineered, Ford-built gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions power all-new Super Duty lineup that tows and hauls more than ever


DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2015 – Ford, America’s truck leader, today introduces the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever.

“Ford Super Duty is the truck America’s hardest-working men and women trust and depend on,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “We are helping these customers build a better world by delivering a new generation of pickups that set new benchmarks in capability, performance and efficiency.”

Using advanced materials to reduce weight, 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck and chassis cab feature all-new, segment-exclusive smart technology to help increase customer productivity, comfort and convenience.

“While Super Duty is America’s best-selling heavy-duty truck, we never take our leadership for granted,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. “Our team is using relentless innovation in materials, technology and Built Ford Tough engineering to deliver customers our best Super Duty yet.”

Toughest
The backbone is an all-new, fully boxed frame comprised of more than 95 percent high-strength steel that offers up to 24 times stiffer than the previous frame – enabling the most towing and hauling capability ever delivered by Super Duty. The new truck line features heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware.

For the first time, the Super Duty body uses high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy, which is more dent- and ding-resistant than the outgoing steel body and not subject to red rust corrosion.

Together, high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum alloy help reduce weight by up to 350 pounds while Ford is reinvesting additional weight savings everywhere it counts, to give customers more towing and hauling capability than ever before.

Super Duty chassis cab features an all-new, high-strength steel frame with an open-C-channel design behind the cab to enable easy aftermarket body upfit and modification.

Smartest
Towing is core to the Super Duty mission. All-new advanced coaching and camera technology makes conventional and gooseneck/fifth-wheel towing easier and more efficient than ever.

There are 16 segment-first new features – from LED lighting to adaptive cruise control – that assist Super Duty drivers to make driving and work situations easier and more comfortable.

As many as seven cameras help customers see more angles and monitor conditions surrounding the truck, and provide better trailering than ever before.

A center high-mounted stop lamp camera provides visibility into the cargo box, especially for easier hook-up of gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailers. A 360-degree camera system uses four digital, high-definition cameras to give the driver a bird’s-eye view surrounding Super Duty. Trailer reverse guidance provides visual cues and tips to help ease backing up a trailer. A first-ever, factory-available trailer camera can be attached to a trailer to improve visibility backing up.

Customers will benefit from a segment-first, in-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system from the comfort of the cab while stopped or on the highway.

Adaptive steering provides for increased confidence to help make towing the heaviest of loads easier and brings greater ease to navigating job sites and parking lots – with or without a trailer. The technology reduces the amount of steering input needed to change direction at low speed, while reducing sensitivity to steering input at higher speeds.

The all-new F-Series Super Duty is available with numerous driver-assist technologies:

SYNC® 3 – Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system features faster performance, conversational voice recognition and an easier-to-understand graphical interface, along with an intuitive smartphone-like 8-inch touch screen

Blind Spot Information System with trailer tow is optimized for Super Duty to include the length of the trailer; BLIS® uses radar sensors in the taillamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver

Lane departure warning provides a warning when a driver strays from a lane through a series of steering wheel vibrations that mimic rumble strips

Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support use sensors to detect slower vehicles moving in the same direction.  If another vehicle is too close, red lights flash on the windshield and a warning sound chimes. If the driver does not hit the brakes, the brake system is pre-charged to stop faster when the brake pedal is pressed
Advanced light-emitting diode technology sheds light all around the new Super Duty, including:

New LED sideview mirror spotlights enable illumination surrounding the truck to light up a work site or camp site

Class-exclusive quad-beam LED headlamps and taillamps

New LED cargo box lighting

Most capable
Light-weighting and improved capability work hand-in-hand in the all-new Ford F-Series Super Duty.

“As we remove weight, we’re making Super Duty more productive by giving our customers better towing and payload capability,” said Craig Schmatz, Super Duty chief engineer. “We’re backing up improved capability with a stronger gasoline and diesel Super Duty engine lineup.”

The second-generation Ford-designed, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 diesel engine is available for pickup trucks and chassis cabs providing the highest combination of horsepower and torque ever.

The 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine comes equipped with the new TorqShift-G transmission for the F-250 pickup – allowing for improved capability.

The Super Duty chassis cab lineup offers a choice of 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel, 6.8-liter V10 gasoline or 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engines.

“The bottom line is Super Duty customers will be able to tow and haul more than ever before,” said Schmatz.

Interior and cargo box
All three cabs – Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab – are longer and feature a new interior design, including dual compartment glove box, overhead console-mounted auxiliary switches to operate aftermarket equipment, and completely flat SuperCab and Crew Cab second-row floors that make loading large items in the cab easy. Vital controls are close at hand, with the integrated trailer brake controller switch located even closer to the driver.

Customer accessibility and ease of use extend outside the truck as well, with the cargo box offering customers these class-exclusive features:

BoxLink™: Ford-patented combination of metal brackets and custom cleats that can be used to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box

Remote tailgate lock and release: Tailgate can be locked/unlocked and opened with the key fob, eliminating manual locking and increasing convenience and security. The tailgate is damped – dropping gently down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened

There are five models in the Super Duty lineup – XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum.

The all-new Super Duty will be built at Kentucky Truck Plant, and goes on sale late next year.

Source:  https://media.ford.com