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

First 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R rolls off the line in Flat Rock

Thursday was a big day for the hottest version of the current Ford Mustang as the first Shelby GT350R rolled off the line at the Blue Oval's Flat Rock, MI, factory.

"This is a special day for all Mustang enthusiasts," said executive chairman Bill Ford. "We have taken the GT350 formula to the next level of innovation, style, and performance. Today the legend continues."

Ford has been making headlines with the both versions of the GT350, highlighting its carbon-fiber wheels, HUD shift lights, and then announcing its reasonable starting price. At just $62,195, the GT350R significantly undercuts other track-focused offerings, including its arch-nemesis, the $75,000-Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.

Source: autoblog.com

ALL-NEW FORD F-150 RAPTOR PROTOTYPE TRAIL TESTING

Ford Performance engineers are busying trail testing prototypes of the all-new F-150 Raptor, the toughest, smartest and most capable Raptor ever. The all-new Raptor is able to tackle even tougher hills, ruts and bumps along trails than the previous model. Here an early engineering prototype that combines parts from the 2017 Raptor with the 2015 F-150 climbs tight two track trails in Northern Michigan, where the team is testing the new truck’s components over challenging terrain. The 2017 F-150 Raptor has better ground clearance than the first-generation Raptor and comes standard with new 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The shock absorption technology works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain. An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case further improves Raptor’s trail performance. The new transfer case, which manages power distribution between the front and rear wheels, combines the best attributes of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with durable, mechanical-locking four-wheel drive. You’ll be able to test the all-new Raptor for yourself in Fall 2016.

Source: media.ford.com

Take a ride in a 2015 Mustang GT in Ford’s epic interactive track video

A 2015 Ford Mustang GT will set you back a cool $32,300, but you can take a digital ride in one today for free.

Ford has released a new video of the car to celebrate its European debut, but it’s no standard promo clip. Filmed in crystal clear 4K, the interactive, multiperspective film allows you to pan around the cabin as the pony car speeds around the Silverstone racetrack, giving you a unique 360-degree view of the action.

It goes further than that though, because thanks to a drone, you can switch to a top-down helicopter view of the lap, showcasing pro driver Paul Swift’s skills as he uses every inch of the Mustang’s 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8. There’s a front-facing perspective as well, and Ford says six GoPros, the aforementioned drone, and bumper-mounted cameras were necessary to compile the footage. We’ve embedded the basic YouTube video above, but the more immersive version can be found here.

“This video is a lot of fun, it makes you feel like you’re behind the wheel of a Mustang,” said Tom Barnes, Mustang vehicle engineering manager. “You have complete control of your view as if you’re actually driving on the track.”

The 2015 model year marks the first time the Mustang has been available for purchase in Europe outside of private company imports. Available as a fastback or convertible, buyers can choose between the 2.3-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V8, which produce 310 horsepower/320 pound-feet of torque and 412 hp/386 lb-ft respectively. If you have your heart on a V6, we have bad news — the 300-hp powerplant isn’t making the trip across the pond.

When the car first became available to order abroad last year, the first batch of 500 units sold out in about 30 seconds.

Source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/

FORD ANNOUNCES APOLLO EDITION MUSTANG TO CELEBRATE INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION OF APOLLO MISSIONS

•  U.S. Apollo spaceflight program inspires one-of-a-kind 2015 Ford Mustang to be donated and sold at charity auction July 23 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Donation and sale will benefit EAA youth aviation education programs, including Young Eagles
• Unique Ford vehicles have raised nearly $3 million for EAA youth aviation programs, including Young Eagles

As far as special edition Mustangs go, this one is out of this world.

For the eighth straight year, Ford Motor Company has created a unique, aviation-inspired Ford Mustang to benefit Experimental Aircraft Association youth education programs, including the Young Eagles. The Apollo Edition Mustang will be donated and sold via auction at the Gathering of Eagles charity event, July 23, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 – the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

All proceeds from the sale of the car will benefit EAA youth education programs, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.9 million young people since 1992, helping grow the next generation of aviators.

Ford serves as exclusive automotive sponsor of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, held July 20-26 this year at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“The Apollo program delivered astonishing innovations in technology and achieved a national goal of landing the first human on the moon,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. “The entire program was extraordinary – one of our nation’s greatest technological achievements. With this year’s stunning Apollo Edition Mustang, we salute that spirit of American ingenuity with the quintessential American automobile – Ford Mustang.”

Based on a 2015 fastback Ford Mustang GT, Ford design and engineering teams transformed the 5.0-liter pony car into the Apollo Edition Mustang – a truly unique and highly valued vehicle that will excite enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Led by Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt, the exterior features a one-of-a-kind glossy pure white and pure black non-production paint scheme that delivers a creative connection with the NASA Apollo program. The Apollo Edition Mustang features a carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, rocker moldings and accent treatments, along with unique LED underbody lighting to symbolize atmospheric re-entry.

Performance enhancements include a performance package, Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, X-pipe with side and rear exhaust, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and custom Forgiato 21-inch performance wheels. This Mustang will deliver a heart-pounding 627 horsepower and 540 lb.-ft. of torque to provide an exhilarating, controlled launch for its new owner.

The theme carries into the cabin with exclusive interior details, including performance gauges, modified instrument cluster, unique sill plates and embroidered elements in seats, trim panels and floor mats.

The auction of the Apollo Edition Mustang will be the pinnacle of the EAA Gathering of Eagles gala. The event annually draws more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts in support of EAA youth education programs, which inspire young people to become engineers, aviators, astronauts, scientists and innovators – the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.

“Ford has been a committed sponsor of EAA and AirVenture for more than 15 years – bringing incredible value to those who make Oshkosh the highlight of their aviation year,” said Jack Pelton, EAA chairman of the board. “With its eighth Mustang donation, Ford continues to excite with its specialty vehicles, which reflect the depth of the company’s commitment and which allow EAA to provide support to its valuable programs and dedicated members in helping us grow the next generation of aviators.”

The Apollo Edition Mustang joins seven other one-of-a-kind Mustangs created by the Ford design and engineering teams for the auction in support of EAA youth education. Ford vehicles donated at EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised nearly $3 million.

The unique vehicles that support EAA youth education programs including Young Eagles, are:

• 2008 – Mustang AV8R, with cues from F-22 Raptor, which helped introduce the glass-roof canopy and delivered an auction contribution of $500,000
• 2009 – AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll” Mustang, crafted in honor of the World War II aircraft
• 2010 – Two automotive icons – the late Carroll Shelby, former U.S. Air Force flight instructor, and Jack Roush, longtime P-51 pilot – collaborated for the first time to create the SR-71 Blackbird Mustang inspired by legendary reconnaissance jet
• 2011 – Blue Angels Mustang, created to celebrate 100 years of U.S. naval aviation
• 2012 – Red Tails Mustang, to pay homage to Tuskegee Airmen – courageous squadron of P-51 Mustang pilots who were the United States’ first African American military airmen
•  2013 – U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team
• 2014 – F-35 Lightning Edition II Mustang, which featured design cues from the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jet – the F-35 Lightning

The Apollo Edition Mustang will proudly be on display all week in the Ford hangar at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. To participate in the auction, interested parties must prequalify by contacting the EAA development office, (800) 236-1025 or donor@eaa.org.

The Apollo Edition Mustang was modified by MAD Industries, led by Chris Mangum. Interior enhancements were designed by Ford’s Betancourt and Nicole Rush, and created in-house by Ford’s design fabrication team. Additional contributors to the project include Ford Performance, Eibach Springs, Carbon 2 Carbon, BASF automotive refinish, Gibson performance exhaust, Pirelli tires, Forgiato wheels, Rigid Industries LED lighting, SourceSE by sPod, 3M window film, PIAA Corporation, Brembo, APR performance, FOCAL/The Source AV and Odyssey battery.

Source: https://media.ford.com

Ford Lets Customers Download, 3-D Print Model Cars

(CBS SF) — Move over Matchbox and Hot Wheels. You can make your own model Ford car or truck at home with a 3-D printer.

The automaker has become the first car company allowing customers to purchase 3-D printable files. Currently, files are only available for a limited number of vehicles, including the Ford GT and Mustang Shelby GT350R sports cars and the F-150 raptor pickup. Additional vehicles will be available for download soon.

“At Ford, we’re using 3D printing every day to rapidly prototype parts, and now we want to share that fun with our fans.” Ford licensing manager Mark Bentley said in a statement.

The car company is hoping to capitalize in the growing number of 3-D printers. Ford cited figures from Juniper research, which estimates sales of 1 million 3-D printers by 2018.

3-D files, which currently go for $4.99 and pre-printed models for $39 can be found here.

FORD GT MAKES DRAMATIC ENTRANCE AT E3 2015; TO DEBUT EXCLUSIVELY FOR FORZA MOTORSPORT 6

The ultra-high-performance Ford GT descended from the rafters at E3 2015 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles today, making its world gameplay premiere as cover car for the next iteration of the leading race simulation franchise for Xbox – Forza Motorsport 6 – launching exclusively for Xbox One. Ford GT, which arrives in select markets globally late next year, serves as a technology showcase for the company, with ultra-efficient EcoBoost® engine performance, advanced aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fiber construction. While only a few of the world’s top professional race car drivers will get to pilot Ford GT in the GTE-Endurance Pro class at Le Mans next year, millions of fans around the globe will have the opportunity to drive the all-new supercar when it debuts exclusively for Forza Motorsport 6 on Sept. 15. The Forza Motorsport 6 vehicle lineup also includes Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang and F-150 Raptor. More news about Forza Motorsport activities at E3 2015 is available at forzamotorsport.net.

Ford Brings Repreve to the 2015 F-150 | Blue Springs Ford Blue Springs MO

Recycled Materials in 2015 F-150 Seats

What if we could redirect plastics from landfill and use them to create innovative materials, and then put them in the all-new Ford F-150, part of Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling truck?​ We could make a big difference.

Since 2012, Ford Motor Company has worked with Unifi to bring environmentally responsible, high-performance repreve fiber to many Ford vehicles. Now, this innovative fiber is available in the in the all-new F-150. By substituting with this recycled material, Ford will divert more than five million plastic bottles from landfills this year.

Ford is the only automaker to use repreve, made from 100 percent recycled materials including plastic bottles, in its vehicles. Ford is currently using repreve in five vehicles around the world, making it a truly global material, and it represents Ford's larger commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle as part of the company’s global sustainability strategy to lessen its environmental footprint.

“By using repreve in the all-new Ford F-150, we are reconfirming our commitment to using renewable and recyclable materials in our vehicles,” said Carol Kordich, lead designer, global sustainability materials strategy development. “We are always looking for ways to incorporate more innovative and sustainable materials into our vehicles.”

Whether you are in the market to purchase a new or pre-owned vehicle, if you need financing options, we'll help you find a car loan that works for you! Even if you have bad credit, or are a first time car buyer, you can trust that Blue Springs Ford will professionally fit you into the automobile of your choice.

Ford Shelby Mustangs engineered for street and track | Blue Springs Ford Blue Springs MO

2015 Ford Shelby GT350, GT350R go on sale this fall. Michigan plant running prototypes down the line now.

Developing the new Ford Mustang was tricky enough, but engineers knew it had to be capable of spawning extreme performance Shelby versions as well.

It wasn't easy, said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance director. It became clear there would still be some additional investment needed down the road to pull off performance versions that can tear up a track.

Ford unveiled the Shelby GT350 Mustang at the 2014 Los Angeles auto show last November. In January, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the automaker showed the Shelby GT350R which is a stripped down, lightweight, street legal, track version. They go on sale this fall.

Ford's performance team is confident the two new cars are deserving of the Shelby name while still engineered so they could roll off the same assembly line in Flat Rock, Mich., as the conventional Mustang. A limited amount of special tooling was needed, even though the Shelby Mustangs have a different look, starting with the face, and changes to the chassis, suspension and brakes to handle the speeds and demands of a track car.

Ford has started building early prototypes in Flat Rock. The Shelby Mustangs "stick out like a sore thumb on the production line," said Adam Wirth, suspension, wheel and tire supervisor. And assembly is interesting, especially the GT350R that can be ordered so stripped down it does not even have air conditioning or a radio.

Everything is on track to start taking dealer orders in about a month for delivery this fall, Pericak said.

Pricing will be announced soon for a car that will compete against everything from a Chevrolet Camaro Z28 to Porsche 911 and Nissan GT-R.

All dealers are eligible to sell the Shelby Mustangs but there are not a lot to go around. Ford will only build 100 Shelby GT350s and 37 GT350Rs for the 2015 model year which is the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby GT350 that jump-started the pony car wars of the 1960s.

For the 2016 model year, volume is expected to be in the 4,000-6,000 range, said Jim Owens, Shelby marketing manager.

So why build such a niche vehicle?

"Ford Performance is a money-making business," said Eric Zinkosky, suspension and vehicle dynamics technical specialist. These exclusive vehicles are scooped up by discriminating buyers.

The 2015 Shelby GT350 has a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft which gives it a different firing order for more high-revving power and powerful exhaust sounds. It puts out more than 500 horsepower and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It has a six-speed manual transmission.

It even has unique tires of a special compound developed by Michelin.

"You don't have to be on a track to enjoy this car," said Wirth.

Some owners might never take their GT350 on the track — but they know they could, said Owens. Others might never take their GT350R on the road or even get a license plate, preferring to trailer the car to the track.

Key to making it a stiff performance car on the track but still comfortable on the street is Ford's first use of MagneRide suspension dampers that adapt to the road under it. It can even handle driving over a curb, said Brent Clark, vehicle dynamics supervisor.

General Motors has used the MagneRide damping system extensively for the Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac brand. Ford developed its own continuously variable damping system for its Lincoln brand but for the Mustang, Ford needed a system that reacted even faster to drive conditions.

The Shelby duo have the most powerful brakes on a Mustang to date. "It's the real secret to making this car fast," said Zinkosky, knowing they will control the speed heading into a corner.

Ford has said it will introduce 12 new performance vehicles by 2020. Among them are the Ford GT due in the second half of 2016 — Ford will make 250 a year — as well as the Mustangs, Focus ST, Focus RS, Fiesta ST and F-150 Raptor.

Watch a drone try to land in back of a moving 2015 Ford F-150 at night

Automotive stunts don't always have to make sense; they just have to look cool. Does it really prove anything about the bed lighting in the 2015 Ford F-150 to attempt to land a drone back there while driving at night? Probably not, but Ford Canada wants to find out anyway, because the trick looks good on film.

Chris Bacik is an expert at flying drones and even builds his own to use for his aerial cinematography company. As Ford Canada's very serious narrator intones, the question now is whether he can use those piloting skills to land on a moving F-150 in the dark. To make things even harder, the night of the stunt is quite windy. Even if the video demonstrates little about the truck's capabilities, it's fun to see if Bacik can do accomplish the feat.

2015 FORD F-150: FROM SEATS TO BUMPERS, NO PART OVERLOOKED TO REDUCE WEIGHT

DEARBORN, Mich., April 6, 2015 – Ford engineers responsible for the all-new F-150 were tasked with taking weight out of the truck while improving its capability to accomplish all of the work owners expect of the toughest, smartest, most capable and efficient F-150 ever. While many already know that the increased use of high-strength steel throughout the frame and the first-in-class military-grade, aluminum-alloy body led to approximately 450 pounds of weight savings, there’s more to the story, as engineers took approximately 250 pounds of additional weight from seats, bumpers and lots of other places. Every pound shaved from a variety of components returns capability back to the customer, so that the all-new F-150 can achieve its best-in-class payload of 3,300 pounds* and best-in-class towing of 12,200 pounds**. F-150 also offers a best-in-class EPA-estimated gasoline fuel economy rating†.

Class is full-size pickups under 8,500 pounds GVWR
*When properly equipped with 5.0-liter V8, 4x2
**When properly equipped with 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® V6, 4x2
†EPA-estimated rating of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, 4x2. Actual mileage will vary

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT: 2015 FORD FUSION HYBRID HONORED AS BEST HYBRID CAR FOR FAMILIES | Blue Springs Ford New & Used Car & Truck Dealer

For the fourth year straight, Ford Fusion Hybrid has been named U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hybrid Car for Families. Fusion Hybrid leverages advanced vehicle electrification technology to provide a stylish, roomy, fun-to-drive family sedan. The 2015 model offers an impressive portfolio of driver-assist and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable driver and passengers to enjoy a more relaxed and comfortable experience on the road. The award is based on professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume, and the availability of family-friendly features.

Global buyers prefer red, black Ford Mustangs

As sales of the new, 2015 Ford Mustang kick off across the globe, Ford is uncovering some interesting data about its long-lived muscle car, and some of the most interesting stats focus on the color palette.

Not surprisingly, buyers have a thing for a red Mustang. Race Red, a bright, glossy color, is the number one shade among Mustang owners in both Europe and China with 20 percent of Europeans and 35 percent of Chinese owners opting for the shade. Ford's Ruby Red paint was the third most popular color among American consumers.

That's because Mustang owners in the land of the free and home of the brave prefer a literal dark horse, opting for the glossy Black. Magnetic, a dark gray shade, was the second favorite among American Mustang owners. That's right, America's favorite color overall, white, didn't even crack the top three (although Oxford White hit number two in China).

Black remained popular in other markets, as well. Absolute Black, a metallic shade, tied Race Red in Europe, appearing on 20 percent of vehicles. Just under 20 percent of Chinese buyers, meanwhile, opted for the same gloss black Americans preferred.

The 17 Things You Need to Know About the 2017 Ford GT Supercar | Blue Springs Ford

2017 Ford GT: The facts

Ford's all-new GT supercar was the smash hit of the 2015 Detroit auto show, and although we were given its basic specs, we were hungry for more. So we cornered anyone we could find from Ford to give us the 600-plus-hp sports car's juicier details.

• The GT "concept" Ford put on display in Detroit looks mighty production ready, suggesting that the skunkworks project has been in motion for years. In fact, we're told the car has seen just one year of development work so far—yet the final car is due next year. That's hyperspeed in the car world.
• Ford expects the first production prototype to be in action this spring. Spy photographers, get ready.
• The in-house low-cost carbon-fiber development program Ford has fired up in collaboration with Dow Chemical has little to do with the GT project. In fact, the carbon fiber in the GT's chassis tub and bodywork will be hand-laid and production probably will be handled by an outside supplier.
•  When Ford's global performance vehicle chief engineer Jamal Hameedi started to tell us how his team was targeting "the best power-to-weight ratio," we figured the sentence would end with "in its class." Nope. Hameedi instead capped off the claim with "of any car on the market." Ford has yet to reveal the GT's weight, but we're expecting it to be crazy light. As for the engine, Ford promises more than 600 horsepower.
•  The GT on Ford's Detroit show stand rolled on normal aluminum wheels, in contrast to the Mustang Shelby GT350R sitting nearby; that car has ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber wheels. Given how fanatical Ford is being about the GT's weight, you'd think these high-tech and mass-reducing rims would be on the GT, too. Ford tells us it is looking at the possibility.
•  The GT's rear spoiler is full of tricks, including an air-brake function. The wing can both rise vertically and tilt, its horizontal surface angling upward to capture extra downforce and drag when needed.
•  Riding on a what Ford calls an "active" suspension, the GT can lower itself at speed for stability and better aerodynamics. In true supercar form, a button in the cabin can lift the front end when faced with inconsiderately designed driveway ramps and speed humps.
•  Front and rear, the GT features carbon-ceramic Brembo brake rotors and calipers. Just as the Nürburgring is practically a required stop on any vehicle development engineer's world tour, so apparently are Brembo's offices.
•  There's no question about it: The 2017 GT will be fast. But Ford didn't set out to grab top-speed records or acceleration honors. Instead, we're told Ford is chasing "lap times, lap times, lap times" and is seeking ultimate handling. Oh, and Ford is planning to take the GT to Le Mans in 2016—the street car partially exists for homologation reasons—and is putting Ferrari in its crosshairs. The 1960s are back, baby.
•  As you probably already ascertained, this is the front of the Ford GT. It doesn't have anything in it—well, besides a radiator, some cool heat-exhausting vents, and the pushrod-actuated front suspension. There is no electric motor powering the front axle, as there is in Porsche's 918 Spyder, and neither is there one in the back. Ford didn't want to sacrifice low weight for heavy hybrid components like motors and batteries. Oh, and the sports car is intended to showcase Ford's EcoBoost engine branding, a mission that'd be complicated by a hybrid system.
•  One of our favorite things about the GT is the way its passenger cell tapers to nearly a point at the car's tail, and the channels that create between the "fuselage" and the rear wheels. Far more than a flamboyant flourish, these pathways force the air to bend and submit to the GT's will. The flying buttresses linking the roof to each rear fender may appear flat, but they are in fact curved in section. This is because they're really wings—cut them in half, and they're airfoil-shaped. They create downforce, in addition to directing air flowing around the car to the rear spoiler.
•  Amazingly, Ford found a second use for the GT's flying buttresses: intake tubes. Each hollow panel (one per side) houses piping that flows from an air-to-air intercooler ahead of each rear wheel (visible through the large vents on the fenders). Intake air is scooped up from beneath the GT, compressed in each turbocharger, and then shot through the intercoolers before twisting its way up the winglets and down into the engine. Sweet.
•  After passing through the fender-mounted intercoolers, newly heated air then flows above each rear wheel to the GT's tail, where it exits through the centers of the taillights. Yep, the look of those lamps isn't by accident.
•  The GT's EcoBoost twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 engine shares far more with the EcoBoost six in Ford's Daytona Prototype LMP2 race car than it does with any roadgoing Ford engine. With more than 600 horsepower, the GT's V-6 earns the awesome "Powered by Ford" branding.
•  Oh yeah, baby, Ford plans on keeping the two colossal, jetfighter-like exhaust outlets right where they are, high up on the rear bumper. Those cannons are just finishers, however—the actual exhaust pipes terminate a few inches ahead of them. We don't care, the openings look the business.
•  With a near-horizontal rear window that's roughly one and a half feet wide, parking is probably going to be the least-fun thing you could do in a GT. So the hyperFord has a backup camera nestled in the nether regions of its diffuser. It makes sense, of course, as the things are federally mandated after 2016.
•  According to Ford VP of design Moray Callum, the styling is 95 percent complete. That last 5 percent? We're told the GT needs little things like the door mirrors larger than teaspoons and subtle lighting tweaks to be salable. Otherwise, what you see here is what is going to hit driveways. This is fantastic news because, well, just look at the thing.

But the question hangs in the minds of many—what does FoMoCo’s new supercar sound like? It’s a longstanding jab at the Viper that the V-10 snake sounds like a United Parcel Service vehicle at idle. Scratch that. The GT is the new king of the demonic delivery trucks. The 3.5-liter V-6 garble-gargles through its high-mounted tailpipes, while the twin turbos send their barbaric whirring hiss echoing through the taillight tubes. If Steven Spielberg’s Duel were remade by Michael Bay, it’s the noise the film’s menacing Peterbilt would make at rest. Watch the clip below to see what we mean.