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Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
VIRTUAL REALITY CAVE IMPROVES FORD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
VIRTUAL REALITY CAVE IMPROVES FORD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Ford's Virtual Reality Cave is helping the company's North American product engineers evaluate design before production
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 25, 2007 – Ford's Virtual Reality Cave, or VRC, is helping the company's North American product engineers evaluate design before production. The lab reduces the need to build physical prototypes and trims thousands of dollars and several months from the product development process.
Located in the Product Visualization Center at the company's Product Development Center in Dearborn, the digital lab, a darkened room about the size of an office, is modeled after a nearly identical Ford of Europe German facility. With two such facilities, cross-Atlantic collaboration is possible for the development of global vehicle platforms.
"Having VRCs on both sides of the Atlantic supports the Global Product Development System and Way Forward by allowing management teams in North America and Europe to make consistent decisions based on shared data and to make them more quickly," said James Forbes, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture technical leader.
The VRC is outfitted with a computer, discreet cameras and a "driver's seat." Three walls and the ceiling are covered by rear projection screens that display computer-aided design (CAD) drawings of vehicle interiors and exteriors at actual scale.
During a design evaluation, a program engineer sits in a car seat on a low platform and wears 3-D glasses to view a highly detailed CAD illustration. An engineer who wears the glasses while viewing the design feels immersed in it. Tiny balls attached to the frame of the glasses communicate the tester's head orientation to cameras around the room, which translates the tester's movements to the computer running the CAD program and adjusts the image to the tester's orientation
"The VRC enables design engineers to evaluate the ergonomics of the interior and clarity of views -- any visual aspect of a vehicle's interior architecture," said Bob Coury, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture supervisor.
For example, the tester can look over his own shoulder to evaluate the rear view and judge whether the headrest obscures the view or if the package tray under the rear window is too high. The same conclusion can be drawn from sitting in a physical prototype, but a VRC test can be done within a few days of completing the CAD drawings, while building a prototype can take up to 12 weeks.
"We're moving faster and getting the right product out the first time," said Kevin Shores, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture static test engineer.
The Product Visualization Center's digital "cave" complements Ford's pre-existing Programmable Vehicle Model (PVM), a physical device with basic vehicle attributes that can be modified to match the dimensions of the vehicle design being tested.
"In the VRC, virtually anything you can see on a vehicle can be duplicated, from the A pillar to the underbody," said Coury.
www.directfordparts.com
Ford's Virtual Reality Cave is helping the company's North American product engineers evaluate design before production
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 25, 2007 – Ford's Virtual Reality Cave, or VRC, is helping the company's North American product engineers evaluate design before production. The lab reduces the need to build physical prototypes and trims thousands of dollars and several months from the product development process.
Located in the Product Visualization Center at the company's Product Development Center in Dearborn, the digital lab, a darkened room about the size of an office, is modeled after a nearly identical Ford of Europe German facility. With two such facilities, cross-Atlantic collaboration is possible for the development of global vehicle platforms.
"Having VRCs on both sides of the Atlantic supports the Global Product Development System and Way Forward by allowing management teams in North America and Europe to make consistent decisions based on shared data and to make them more quickly," said James Forbes, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture technical leader.
The VRC is outfitted with a computer, discreet cameras and a "driver's seat." Three walls and the ceiling are covered by rear projection screens that display computer-aided design (CAD) drawings of vehicle interiors and exteriors at actual scale.
During a design evaluation, a program engineer sits in a car seat on a low platform and wears 3-D glasses to view a highly detailed CAD illustration. An engineer who wears the glasses while viewing the design feels immersed in it. Tiny balls attached to the frame of the glasses communicate the tester's head orientation to cameras around the room, which translates the tester's movements to the computer running the CAD program and adjusts the image to the tester's orientation
"The VRC enables design engineers to evaluate the ergonomics of the interior and clarity of views -- any visual aspect of a vehicle's interior architecture," said Bob Coury, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture supervisor.
For example, the tester can look over his own shoulder to evaluate the rear view and judge whether the headrest obscures the view or if the package tray under the rear window is too high. The same conclusion can be drawn from sitting in a physical prototype, but a VRC test can be done within a few days of completing the CAD drawings, while building a prototype can take up to 12 weeks.
"We're moving faster and getting the right product out the first time," said Kevin Shores, Ford Core Vehicle Architecture static test engineer.
The Product Visualization Center's digital "cave" complements Ford's pre-existing Programmable Vehicle Model (PVM), a physical device with basic vehicle attributes that can be modified to match the dimensions of the vehicle design being tested.
"In the VRC, virtually anything you can see on a vehicle can be duplicated, from the A pillar to the underbody," said Coury.
www.directfordparts.com
FORD HAS PROMINENT ROLE IN DEVELOPING MORE LIFELIKE PEDIATRIC CRASH DUMMY
FORD HAS PROMINENT ROLE IN DEVELOPING MORE LIFELIKE PEDIATRIC CRASH DUMMY
Prototype abdominal insert representative of a 6-year-old's abdomen
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 26, 2007 - Ford Motor Company is helping lead the development of an abdominal insert for pediatric crash dummies.
Ford's prototype pediatric abdominal insert is a collaborative effort with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Wayne State University in Detroit; the University of Virginia; Dearborn-based STR Systems, a safety technology and research firm; and Takata Corporation, a global manufacturer of automotive safety systems.
The collaboration between Ford and the other organizations began in late 2003 in an effort to make pediatric crash dummies and crash tests more real world, and in turn, lead to the development of vehicle restraints that will improve the safety of children.
"The major focus has always been on head and chest injuries," says Steve Rouhana, a senior technical leader with Ford's Passive Safety Research and Advanced Engineering Department, of crash dummy testing. "But the lack of an abdomen is not just a matter of priority. We really didn't have the technology before to accurately measure abdominal response."
The prototype pediatric abdomen insert is similar in size and shape to a 6-year-old human's and is constructed of a silicone shell made up of multiple lays of liquid silicone. Inside is an LED and optical sensor surrounded by a high-viscosity, red or blue silicone fluid. The complex sensors measure penetration based on the amount of light absorbed by the silicone fluid.
Late last year, the University of Virginia developed a custom belt-loading test apparatus to better assess how the prototype pediatric abdomen responds to belt loading. To ensure accurate test results, data gathered from studies of actual car crashes where 6-year-old children sustained abdominal injuries is being used.
The child abdomen insert is one of the many advanced safety technologies Ford is working on to improve the overall safety of its vehicles and occupants, both big and small.
Since 1992, Ford has been a member of the United States Council for Automotive Research's consortium called the Occupant Safety Research Partnership (OSRP). OSRP developed the world's first small female side impact dummy. Nearly two years ago, Ford opened up the Safety Innovation Laboratory, which houses a custom-built Servo sled capable of simulating five complex crash scenarios – the first crash simulator in the world to offer such a full combination of simulation capabilities. Ford is also hard at work developing a virtual human, the Human Body Model, that will help engineers better understand what happens to the human body during a crash, without the need for actual physical testing.
www.directfordparts.com
Prototype abdominal insert representative of a 6-year-old's abdomen
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 26, 2007 - Ford Motor Company is helping lead the development of an abdominal insert for pediatric crash dummies.
Ford's prototype pediatric abdominal insert is a collaborative effort with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Wayne State University in Detroit; the University of Virginia; Dearborn-based STR Systems, a safety technology and research firm; and Takata Corporation, a global manufacturer of automotive safety systems.
The collaboration between Ford and the other organizations began in late 2003 in an effort to make pediatric crash dummies and crash tests more real world, and in turn, lead to the development of vehicle restraints that will improve the safety of children.
"The major focus has always been on head and chest injuries," says Steve Rouhana, a senior technical leader with Ford's Passive Safety Research and Advanced Engineering Department, of crash dummy testing. "But the lack of an abdomen is not just a matter of priority. We really didn't have the technology before to accurately measure abdominal response."
The prototype pediatric abdomen insert is similar in size and shape to a 6-year-old human's and is constructed of a silicone shell made up of multiple lays of liquid silicone. Inside is an LED and optical sensor surrounded by a high-viscosity, red or blue silicone fluid. The complex sensors measure penetration based on the amount of light absorbed by the silicone fluid.
Late last year, the University of Virginia developed a custom belt-loading test apparatus to better assess how the prototype pediatric abdomen responds to belt loading. To ensure accurate test results, data gathered from studies of actual car crashes where 6-year-old children sustained abdominal injuries is being used.
The child abdomen insert is one of the many advanced safety technologies Ford is working on to improve the overall safety of its vehicles and occupants, both big and small.
Since 1992, Ford has been a member of the United States Council for Automotive Research's consortium called the Occupant Safety Research Partnership (OSRP). OSRP developed the world's first small female side impact dummy. Nearly two years ago, Ford opened up the Safety Innovation Laboratory, which houses a custom-built Servo sled capable of simulating five complex crash scenarios – the first crash simulator in the world to offer such a full combination of simulation capabilities. Ford is also hard at work developing a virtual human, the Human Body Model, that will help engineers better understand what happens to the human body during a crash, without the need for actual physical testing.
www.directfordparts.com
FORD'S NEW POWERWALL CAPABILITY ACCELERATES PRODUCT DESIGN AND QUALITY
FORD'S NEW POWERWALL CAPABILITY ACCELERATES PRODUCT DESIGN AND QUALITY
Powerwall is helping accelerate the globalization of product development
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 28, 2007 -- You haven't seen vehicle design until you’ve seen it on a “powerwall.”
What sounds like an extreme sport maneuver or a video game challenge actually is helping accelerate the globalization of product development and market research at Ford Motor Company.
Ford is completing installation of several state-of-the-art digital powerwall studios at its Product Development Center (PDC) in Dearborn that will help get products to market faster. Powerwalls use high definition (HD) rear-screen projection to enable review and refinement of full-scale computer-rendered vehicle designs prior to fabricating physical properties in foam, clay and fiberglass.
In addition, Ford Market Research uses mobile powerwall technology to “test” vehicle designs, including potential global products, with consumers around the world. More than ever before, consumer insights drive vehicle design.
“This technology is an integral daily working tool that enables us to bring more of our vehicle design processes into the digital environment,” said Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of Design for North America. “It expands our capability and has the potential to save a significant amount of time and money as we continue to globalize product development."
The centerpiece of Ford’s new powerwall facilities is the Electronic Design Presentation Room (EDPR) at the Product Development Center, which features a 60-foot-wide wall that accommodates three 20-foot-wide projections simultaneously. It enables the review of Ford and competitor model exteriors and interiors through the use of highly detailed graphic rendering technology that is four times sharper than standard Blu-ray HD. Full-scale, static and animated imagery “come to life” in much greater detail than normally seen on a computer screen.
“The facility provides an effective forum for group discussions and executive reviews that are difficult to do over a 20-inch computer monitor,” said Jeff Nowak, Ford Studio 2000X chief designer. “It facilitates the social component of the design process.”
Powerwalls have been used in the industry for about 15 years, but recent advances in CGI and HD have revolutionized its usefulness in the design process. Early implementation of the current technology was used in the development of Ford’s 2009 model year vehicles.
The technology also has made the review process more compelling and detail-oriented, Nowak said. The photo-realistic computer-rendered images show driving dynamics in realistic lighting, from any angle and in lifelike detail. Colors and reflective surface textures in vehicle interiors can be changed with a click. The animated leather on heated seats appears realistically perforated. And exterior views are equally eye-popping with close-ups of metal-flecked paint reflecting a surrounding cityscape.
“The EDPR is the pinnacle of powerwall technology,” said Nowak, adding that Ford’s facility is believed to be the most advanced powerwall facility in the industry.
In addition to the EDPR, by year's end Ford will complete PDC’s Advanced Visualization Center (AVC), a group of powerwall labs that will enable multiple design teams to use the technology simultaneously. While the EDPR can serve as both a working level digital studio as well as a management presentation space, the AVC will enable teams and individuals to undertake what Nowak calls “nitty-gritty feasibility studies” and component design reviews throughout the product development process.
Ford of Europe also has powerwall facilities at its product development facilities in Dunton, England, and Cologne, Germany, but it doesn’t stop there. The same basic technology can be used around the world for market research clinics.
“We want to move away from using physical models for design validation in clinics,” said Nowak. “The objective is to be able to walk into a clinic with a laptop to do a full-scale immersive presentation.”
Ford Market Research has used powerwall animations at pickup truck clinics in Texas and a sedan clinic in Chicago.
“You can take powerwall presentations around the world, knowing that everyone will see the same thing,” said Randall Janisch, Ford Marketing & Sales research manager. “We’re better able to control what clinic respondents see and we get more data because more people are able to participate in the allotted time.”
Janisch added that powerwall animations are much easier and less expensive to transport than physical properties. Moreover, the clinic participants have responded positively to the presentations.
“When they see these images they can’t tell what’s real and what’s animated,” said Janisch.
The digital presentations are not a replacement for physical prototypes, however. Physical models are still more useful for gauging the volume and proportions of a vehicle.
“Thanks to advances in digital design we don’t need to build a physical model until later in the PD process, which accelerates product development. And the potential cost savings is enormous,” said Horbury.
www.directfordparts.com
Powerwall is helping accelerate the globalization of product development
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 28, 2007 -- You haven't seen vehicle design until you’ve seen it on a “powerwall.”
What sounds like an extreme sport maneuver or a video game challenge actually is helping accelerate the globalization of product development and market research at Ford Motor Company.
Ford is completing installation of several state-of-the-art digital powerwall studios at its Product Development Center (PDC) in Dearborn that will help get products to market faster. Powerwalls use high definition (HD) rear-screen projection to enable review and refinement of full-scale computer-rendered vehicle designs prior to fabricating physical properties in foam, clay and fiberglass.
In addition, Ford Market Research uses mobile powerwall technology to “test” vehicle designs, including potential global products, with consumers around the world. More than ever before, consumer insights drive vehicle design.
“This technology is an integral daily working tool that enables us to bring more of our vehicle design processes into the digital environment,” said Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of Design for North America. “It expands our capability and has the potential to save a significant amount of time and money as we continue to globalize product development."
The centerpiece of Ford’s new powerwall facilities is the Electronic Design Presentation Room (EDPR) at the Product Development Center, which features a 60-foot-wide wall that accommodates three 20-foot-wide projections simultaneously. It enables the review of Ford and competitor model exteriors and interiors through the use of highly detailed graphic rendering technology that is four times sharper than standard Blu-ray HD. Full-scale, static and animated imagery “come to life” in much greater detail than normally seen on a computer screen.
“The facility provides an effective forum for group discussions and executive reviews that are difficult to do over a 20-inch computer monitor,” said Jeff Nowak, Ford Studio 2000X chief designer. “It facilitates the social component of the design process.”
Powerwalls have been used in the industry for about 15 years, but recent advances in CGI and HD have revolutionized its usefulness in the design process. Early implementation of the current technology was used in the development of Ford’s 2009 model year vehicles.
The technology also has made the review process more compelling and detail-oriented, Nowak said. The photo-realistic computer-rendered images show driving dynamics in realistic lighting, from any angle and in lifelike detail. Colors and reflective surface textures in vehicle interiors can be changed with a click. The animated leather on heated seats appears realistically perforated. And exterior views are equally eye-popping with close-ups of metal-flecked paint reflecting a surrounding cityscape.
“The EDPR is the pinnacle of powerwall technology,” said Nowak, adding that Ford’s facility is believed to be the most advanced powerwall facility in the industry.
In addition to the EDPR, by year's end Ford will complete PDC’s Advanced Visualization Center (AVC), a group of powerwall labs that will enable multiple design teams to use the technology simultaneously. While the EDPR can serve as both a working level digital studio as well as a management presentation space, the AVC will enable teams and individuals to undertake what Nowak calls “nitty-gritty feasibility studies” and component design reviews throughout the product development process.
Ford of Europe also has powerwall facilities at its product development facilities in Dunton, England, and Cologne, Germany, but it doesn’t stop there. The same basic technology can be used around the world for market research clinics.
“We want to move away from using physical models for design validation in clinics,” said Nowak. “The objective is to be able to walk into a clinic with a laptop to do a full-scale immersive presentation.”
Ford Market Research has used powerwall animations at pickup truck clinics in Texas and a sedan clinic in Chicago.
“You can take powerwall presentations around the world, knowing that everyone will see the same thing,” said Randall Janisch, Ford Marketing & Sales research manager. “We’re better able to control what clinic respondents see and we get more data because more people are able to participate in the allotted time.”
Janisch added that powerwall animations are much easier and less expensive to transport than physical properties. Moreover, the clinic participants have responded positively to the presentations.
“When they see these images they can’t tell what’s real and what’s animated,” said Janisch.
The digital presentations are not a replacement for physical prototypes, however. Physical models are still more useful for gauging the volume and proportions of a vehicle.
“Thanks to advances in digital design we don’t need to build a physical model until later in the PD process, which accelerates product development. And the potential cost savings is enormous,” said Horbury.
www.directfordparts.com
FORD RESEARCHES POSSIBLE NEXT-GENERATION SAFETY BELT TECHNOLOGY
FORD RESEARCHES POSSIBLE NEXT-GENERATION SAFETY BELT TECHNOLOGY
Four-point safety belt
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2007 – Responding to the changing demographics of today's driving population, Ford Motor Company is researching two advanced next-generation safety belt technologies that could help further reduce injury risk in vehicle crashes.
One of Ford’s possible next-generation safety belts incorporates a four-point “belt and suspenders” design in lieu of the familiar three-point safety belt, while a second possible future safety belt incorporates an air bag directly into the belt itself. A number of technical challenges still need to be overcome before such restraint systems could ever be used, but these technologies might one day further enhance safety belt effectiveness.
Inflatable Safety Belts
As its name suggests, the inflatable rear safety belt fills with air during a crash, enhancing protection for the rear seat passenger.
A strap of air bag material is hidden in the seat belt webbing. The strap inflates into a cylindrical shape when frontal air bags deploy. The concept of inflatable belts is to spread forces from a vehicle crash over a broader section of the body than traditional safety belts, further helping to reduce the pressure on the chest and helping to control the motion of the head and neck.
Early research has shown that the inflatable belt may be effective for enhancing protection of the occupants in the rear seat. Preliminary consumer research indicated that the thicker safety belt (when not inflated) seemed more comfortable to some people, as compared with a standard safety belt, because customers said it felt like it was padded.
Four-Point Safety Belts
Recent customer research showed Ford scientists and engineers that some consumers perceive four-point belts to be safer, as well as more comfortable and, depending on their design, easier to use than traditional three-point belts.
Ford scientists are using this feedback – and the correlating data – as research continues on this potential safety belt of the future.
While the four-point safety belt currently is not allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, Ford Motor Company so far holds two patents for the new technology. In addition, Ford is working with lawmakers to demonstrate the benefits of this new four-point safety belt technology.
Said Dr. Priya Prasad, Ford Technical Fellow for Safety, "Even with the variety of advanced features and technologies offered on today's vehicles, the single most important piece of safety technology in a car or truck remains the safety belt. That's why we're working hard to further improve safety belt and restraint technologies in the future.
www.directfordparts.com
Four-point safety belt
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2007 – Responding to the changing demographics of today's driving population, Ford Motor Company is researching two advanced next-generation safety belt technologies that could help further reduce injury risk in vehicle crashes.
One of Ford’s possible next-generation safety belts incorporates a four-point “belt and suspenders” design in lieu of the familiar three-point safety belt, while a second possible future safety belt incorporates an air bag directly into the belt itself. A number of technical challenges still need to be overcome before such restraint systems could ever be used, but these technologies might one day further enhance safety belt effectiveness.
Inflatable Safety Belts
As its name suggests, the inflatable rear safety belt fills with air during a crash, enhancing protection for the rear seat passenger.
A strap of air bag material is hidden in the seat belt webbing. The strap inflates into a cylindrical shape when frontal air bags deploy. The concept of inflatable belts is to spread forces from a vehicle crash over a broader section of the body than traditional safety belts, further helping to reduce the pressure on the chest and helping to control the motion of the head and neck.
Early research has shown that the inflatable belt may be effective for enhancing protection of the occupants in the rear seat. Preliminary consumer research indicated that the thicker safety belt (when not inflated) seemed more comfortable to some people, as compared with a standard safety belt, because customers said it felt like it was padded.
Four-Point Safety Belts
Recent customer research showed Ford scientists and engineers that some consumers perceive four-point belts to be safer, as well as more comfortable and, depending on their design, easier to use than traditional three-point belts.
Ford scientists are using this feedback – and the correlating data – as research continues on this potential safety belt of the future.
While the four-point safety belt currently is not allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, Ford Motor Company so far holds two patents for the new technology. In addition, Ford is working with lawmakers to demonstrate the benefits of this new four-point safety belt technology.
Said Dr. Priya Prasad, Ford Technical Fellow for Safety, "Even with the variety of advanced features and technologies offered on today's vehicles, the single most important piece of safety technology in a car or truck remains the safety belt. That's why we're working hard to further improve safety belt and restraint technologies in the future.
www.directfordparts.com
FORD MAXIMIZES MARKET RESEARCH TO IMPROVE VEHICLE QUALITY
FORD MAXIMIZES MARKET RESEARCH TO IMPROVE VEHICLE QUALITY
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2007 -- Ford Motor Company’s Global Market Research team is deeply engaged in the development of new products for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.
“We’re working with product teams from conception to vehicle launch,” said Randall Janisch, Ford research manager – Advanced Product Development. “Global Market Research doesn’t make the product decisions – we make the decisions better.”
Initial market research at Ford takes place 40 to 45 months before the start of production of a vehicle. To maintain anonymity, Ford uses agencies to gather subjects based on vehicle ownership, age, income and other demographics. These people meet with a moderator to discuss life aspirations, personal values, and other affinities.
Ford researchers watch from behind a two-way mirror in order to select individuals who best represent the ideal consumer for a particular vehicle. Researchers then visit the customers’ homes to understand their likes and dislikes, noting favorite brands and the use of automotive aftermarket products along the way.
Ford then conducts concept clinics and Internet surveys. The clinics use photos, animations and show properties to gauge consumers’ emotional response. The online surveys help identify the features consumers want in different types of vehicles.
“We’re working with the product teams to develop target customer hypotheses up front,” Janisch said. “And we’re making continuous improvements along the way.”
Ford conducts theme, package and appearance clinics where advanced vehicle properties are presented alongside competitive vehicles in static “blind” testing to evaluate interior roominess, visibility, color and material use and exterior appearance.
The company then gauges market acceptance for each vehicle in clinics and conducts final drives. Different consumers and locations are used at every stage of the game.
“We’re judicious about not testing the same people too much,” Janisch said. “However, we’ll occasionally re-meet with the same consumers at later stages in the program to confirm certain product improvements.”
Ford continues to conduct research after vehicles reach market through several processes, including the Global Quality Reporting System (GQRS), which helps the company better understand customer satisfaction with overall quality. Influencers gauged include price, sales and service experience as well as things gone wrong.
In the latest third-quarter GQRS study, Ford continued to see a steady upward march in vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Mercury Milan, Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Mark LT ranked best in their respective segments.
Ten Ford models outperformed their competition, traditionally the best in class.
www.directfordparts.com
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2007 -- Ford Motor Company’s Global Market Research team is deeply engaged in the development of new products for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.
“We’re working with product teams from conception to vehicle launch,” said Randall Janisch, Ford research manager – Advanced Product Development. “Global Market Research doesn’t make the product decisions – we make the decisions better.”
Initial market research at Ford takes place 40 to 45 months before the start of production of a vehicle. To maintain anonymity, Ford uses agencies to gather subjects based on vehicle ownership, age, income and other demographics. These people meet with a moderator to discuss life aspirations, personal values, and other affinities.
Ford researchers watch from behind a two-way mirror in order to select individuals who best represent the ideal consumer for a particular vehicle. Researchers then visit the customers’ homes to understand their likes and dislikes, noting favorite brands and the use of automotive aftermarket products along the way.
Ford then conducts concept clinics and Internet surveys. The clinics use photos, animations and show properties to gauge consumers’ emotional response. The online surveys help identify the features consumers want in different types of vehicles.
“We’re working with the product teams to develop target customer hypotheses up front,” Janisch said. “And we’re making continuous improvements along the way.”
Ford conducts theme, package and appearance clinics where advanced vehicle properties are presented alongside competitive vehicles in static “blind” testing to evaluate interior roominess, visibility, color and material use and exterior appearance.
The company then gauges market acceptance for each vehicle in clinics and conducts final drives. Different consumers and locations are used at every stage of the game.
“We’re judicious about not testing the same people too much,” Janisch said. “However, we’ll occasionally re-meet with the same consumers at later stages in the program to confirm certain product improvements.”
Ford continues to conduct research after vehicles reach market through several processes, including the Global Quality Reporting System (GQRS), which helps the company better understand customer satisfaction with overall quality. Influencers gauged include price, sales and service experience as well as things gone wrong.
In the latest third-quarter GQRS study, Ford continued to see a steady upward march in vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Mercury Milan, Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Mark LT ranked best in their respective segments.
Ten Ford models outperformed their competition, traditionally the best in class.
www.directfordparts.com
FORD CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION IN MONACO
FORD CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION IN MONACO
12/8/2007
Monaco — Ford was crowned World Rally Champion for the second consecutive year during the annual Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile award ceremony. The Blue Oval was presented with the FIA World Rally Championship manufacturers' trophy.
The trophy, which Ford secured in Ireland last month on the penultimate round, was collected by Ford TeamRS director Jost Capito and BP-Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson. This was the second consecutive season that Ford has won the World Title.
The team ended the 16-round championship in Great Britain last weekend with a 29-point lead after amassing the largest points tally in WRC history with the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. The Focus RS won eight rounds of the series, motorsport's toughest competition for production-based cars, which spans five continents on surfaces as diverse as snow, dry asphalt and rocky gravel roads.
Drivers Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and BP-Ford team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen were also honoured after finishing second and third respectively in the drivers' championship.
John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe, emphasised what the title meant to Ford.
"To win the FIA World Rally Championship, the toughest competition for production-based cars, for a second consecutive season is an achievement of which we are rightly proud. I have attended several WRC events this year and seen for myself the blood, sweat and tears that go into being successful. Winning a title in the WRC demands so many attributes—skill, discipline, communication to name but a few. They all come together under one word—teamwork—and I'm proud of how effectively so many people have united to deliver a second world title and in doing so we have added another memorable chapter to Ford's great motorsport history," he said.
www.directfordparts.com
12/8/2007
Monaco — Ford was crowned World Rally Champion for the second consecutive year during the annual Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile award ceremony. The Blue Oval was presented with the FIA World Rally Championship manufacturers' trophy.
The trophy, which Ford secured in Ireland last month on the penultimate round, was collected by Ford TeamRS director Jost Capito and BP-Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson. This was the second consecutive season that Ford has won the World Title.
The team ended the 16-round championship in Great Britain last weekend with a 29-point lead after amassing the largest points tally in WRC history with the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. The Focus RS won eight rounds of the series, motorsport's toughest competition for production-based cars, which spans five continents on surfaces as diverse as snow, dry asphalt and rocky gravel roads.
Drivers Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and BP-Ford team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen were also honoured after finishing second and third respectively in the drivers' championship.
John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe, emphasised what the title meant to Ford.
"To win the FIA World Rally Championship, the toughest competition for production-based cars, for a second consecutive season is an achievement of which we are rightly proud. I have attended several WRC events this year and seen for myself the blood, sweat and tears that go into being successful. Winning a title in the WRC demands so many attributes—skill, discipline, communication to name but a few. They all come together under one word—teamwork—and I'm proud of how effectively so many people have united to deliver a second world title and in doing so we have added another memorable chapter to Ford's great motorsport history," he said.
www.directfordparts.com
KIMMEL TAKES TOP HONORS AT ARCA BANQUET
KIMMEL TAKES TOP HONORS AT ARCA BANQUET
12/9/2007
Covington, Ky. — ARCA Re/Max Series veteran Frank Kimmel joined his crew chief/brother Bill Kimmel, car owner Larry Clement and the Tri-State Motorsports team on stage at the ARCA Re/Max Series Championship Awards Banquet this weekend to celebrate a record ninth championship.
Rookie of the Year Michael McDowell, Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Champion Erin Crocker and a video tribute to two-time ARCA champ-turned NASCAR legend Benny Parsons were also among the headlines at this year’s banquet, which was held in the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky.
Kimmel, who remains the series’ all-time active race winner, all-time active lap leader and all-time money winner, is the only driver in series history to acquire nine championships. En route to the 2007 title, Kimmel posted three wins, 11 top-5 and 17 top-10 finishes. On Saturday night, Kimmel received checks and products from Re/Max, Sunoco Race Fuels, Ford Motor Company, Hoosier Racing Tires, Casite and Lincoln Electric. ARCA President Ron Drager presented Kimmel with a traditional championship ring, while RE/MAX, International Vice President Randy Morse presented the Kimmel brothers and Clement with championship jackets.
In addition to the championship accolades, Kimmel was formally honored on Saturday night for winning the ‘07 edition of the Bill France Triple Crown, which is designed to measure a driver’s performance on a diverse array of tracks. This year’s Bill France Triple Crown included a mile-dirt track (The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Sept. 3), a short track (Salem Speedway, Sept. 15) and a speedway (Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 5).
Crew chief Bill Kimmel was awarded the Cometic Engine Mechanic of the Year Award.
The evening included video tributes to the Late Benny Parsons and Bill France, Jr. Parsons, during the course of his racing career, earned back-to-back ARCA Re/Max Series Championships in 1968 and 1969 and went on to become a champion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Parson’s career-first win in a racecar came in the Figure-8 division at ARCA-owned Flat Rock Speedway. Drager also introduced a video tribute to Bill France, Jr. France was recognized by most for his roll at the helm of NASCAR and ISC, but remained a close friend and supporter of ARCA throughout his 74 years.
Others honored on-stage included sixth place points finisher Phillip McGilton and Brewco Motorsports’ David Morse and seventh place driver Patrick Sheltra and car owner Grace Sheltra. Sheltra also earned Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Honors. Others honored on-stage included Justin South with car owner Mark Gibson (eighth), Bryan Silas with car owner Andy Hillenburg (ninth) and Josh Krug with car owner Wayne Hixson (tenth). Bill Gerhart was honored for finishing sixth in owner points.
In recognizing ARCA’s commitment to higher education, Bob Loga Scholarship recipients included Aaron Strunk and Justin Bischoff. The University of Northwestern Ohio, which serves as an ARCA Re/Max Series sponsor, presented scholarships to five students.
The next scheduled event for the ARCA Series is a three-day Daytona International Speedway test session, scheduled for Saturday through Sunday, in preparation for the Feb. 9 ARCA 200 at Daytona.
Contributed by ARCA News Bureau
www.directfordparts.com
12/9/2007
Covington, Ky. — ARCA Re/Max Series veteran Frank Kimmel joined his crew chief/brother Bill Kimmel, car owner Larry Clement and the Tri-State Motorsports team on stage at the ARCA Re/Max Series Championship Awards Banquet this weekend to celebrate a record ninth championship.
Rookie of the Year Michael McDowell, Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Champion Erin Crocker and a video tribute to two-time ARCA champ-turned NASCAR legend Benny Parsons were also among the headlines at this year’s banquet, which was held in the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky.
Kimmel, who remains the series’ all-time active race winner, all-time active lap leader and all-time money winner, is the only driver in series history to acquire nine championships. En route to the 2007 title, Kimmel posted three wins, 11 top-5 and 17 top-10 finishes. On Saturday night, Kimmel received checks and products from Re/Max, Sunoco Race Fuels, Ford Motor Company, Hoosier Racing Tires, Casite and Lincoln Electric. ARCA President Ron Drager presented Kimmel with a traditional championship ring, while RE/MAX, International Vice President Randy Morse presented the Kimmel brothers and Clement with championship jackets.
In addition to the championship accolades, Kimmel was formally honored on Saturday night for winning the ‘07 edition of the Bill France Triple Crown, which is designed to measure a driver’s performance on a diverse array of tracks. This year’s Bill France Triple Crown included a mile-dirt track (The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Sept. 3), a short track (Salem Speedway, Sept. 15) and a speedway (Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 5).
Crew chief Bill Kimmel was awarded the Cometic Engine Mechanic of the Year Award.
The evening included video tributes to the Late Benny Parsons and Bill France, Jr. Parsons, during the course of his racing career, earned back-to-back ARCA Re/Max Series Championships in 1968 and 1969 and went on to become a champion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Parson’s career-first win in a racecar came in the Figure-8 division at ARCA-owned Flat Rock Speedway. Drager also introduced a video tribute to Bill France, Jr. France was recognized by most for his roll at the helm of NASCAR and ISC, but remained a close friend and supporter of ARCA throughout his 74 years.
Others honored on-stage included sixth place points finisher Phillip McGilton and Brewco Motorsports’ David Morse and seventh place driver Patrick Sheltra and car owner Grace Sheltra. Sheltra also earned Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Honors. Others honored on-stage included Justin South with car owner Mark Gibson (eighth), Bryan Silas with car owner Andy Hillenburg (ninth) and Josh Krug with car owner Wayne Hixson (tenth). Bill Gerhart was honored for finishing sixth in owner points.
In recognizing ARCA’s commitment to higher education, Bob Loga Scholarship recipients included Aaron Strunk and Justin Bischoff. The University of Northwestern Ohio, which serves as an ARCA Re/Max Series sponsor, presented scholarships to five students.
The next scheduled event for the ARCA Series is a three-day Daytona International Speedway test session, scheduled for Saturday through Sunday, in preparation for the Feb. 9 ARCA 200 at Daytona.
Contributed by ARCA News Bureau
www.directfordparts.com
FORD, NHRA TEAM UP FOR SAFETY
FORD, NHRA TEAM UP FOR SAFETY
12/11/2007
ALL NITRO CARS DEBUT BLUE BOXES IN ‘08
Dearborn, Mich. — Accelerating safety development in the sport of drag racing, the NHRA and Ford Racing jointly announced today that all cars in the Funny Car and Top Fuel classes will be outfitted with the Ford Racing Blue Box crash sensors for the 2008 season.
“Ford, like the NHRA, is committed to continuously improving safety. It’s important to further improving our passenger cars and trucks and also to what we’re doing in racing,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.
“We’re supplying Blue Boxes—at no cost—for all nitro cars for next year. It’s the right thing to do for the sport and the millions of customers who will benefit from whatever we learn on the track.”
The announcement comes after seven months of initial testing and data analysis of the Blue Boxes on the Mustang Funny Cars of John Force Racing.
Ford Racing offered the crash sensors and engineering support for their use after the death of JFR driver Eric Medlen in a testing accident in March, which led JFR, in cooperation with Ford Racing, NHRA and the sport’s suppliers, in August to launch The Eric Medlen Project, a wide-ranging program designed to further improve safety in the sport.
Ford Racing and NHRA will work together during the next several weeks and prior to the start of the 2008 Powerade Drag Racing season on specific program elements.
“NHRA has, since its inception, always been committed to improve safety in the sport,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations. “And, during that time, NHRA has worked on an ongoing basis with manufacturers and the racing community to enhance the safety of these vehicles. We are very proud of our safety record, given the inherent risks in the sport, and look forward to analyzing the data we anticipate to receive from the Blue Box initiative to further our commitment to safety.”
In addition to initial testing on the Force Mustangs, the Blue Boxes were tested for the final two races of the 2007 season on the Top Fuel dragster of Larry Dixon, to start a prove-out process on that class of vehicle.
This marks the second time in recent years Ford Racing has stepped to the forefront in safety development in racing. From 1996-2006, Ford Blue Boxes were mandatory on all cars in the Champ Car World Series.
In the Champ Car program, Ford’s Safety Research & Development group analyzed the raw crash data, along with the supporting medical reports, photographs, and video.
Ford then developed a Computer Aided Engineering model of the driver inside a race car cockpit to recreate the accident through computer simulation. The purpose of the research was to predict responses and injury potentials to the drivers in high g-force impacts.
The results were then compared with the actual response and physical condition of the driver from the medical reports. Based upon the research, Ford evaluated the effectiveness of contemporary safety devices used in the cars, and communicated the research with Champ Car and its chassis suppliers.
“This work has great potential because it provides information we simply can’t get anywhere else,” said Davis. “That’s why we’re so committed to doing the same type of program for NHRA. The experience we gained in Champ Car gave us an excellent baseline to work from. It helped us correlate the crash models our engineers and safety experts had been working with.”
During the first seven months of the latest initiative, Ford’s safety effort has focused on four main areas:
• Data collection through the Ford Blue Boxes and accelerometers in the drivers’ ears
• Helmet and driver restraint testing
• Computer modeling of the current chassis, as well as seven-post shaker testing
• Occupant modeling of the driver cockpit area
Initial changes already made by Ford Racing, based on the data collected, have included the addition of extra head padding in the driver’s cockpit, and several changes to the chassis that helped strengthen it during the 300 mph runs.
Those changes have been tested several times during on-track incidents this season, including a crash in Dallas by John Force that left him with serious injuries on his extremities, but no head or internal injuries.
“It’s important to note that these are just first steps in what we hope will be a long-term effort toward making drag racing an even safer sport,” said Davis.
“Having the Blue Boxes on all cars in Top Fuel and Funny Car will allow us to gather more data in a shorter period of time, so that everyone in the sport can use it to benefit all of the competitors.”
www.directfordparts.com
12/11/2007
ALL NITRO CARS DEBUT BLUE BOXES IN ‘08
Dearborn, Mich. — Accelerating safety development in the sport of drag racing, the NHRA and Ford Racing jointly announced today that all cars in the Funny Car and Top Fuel classes will be outfitted with the Ford Racing Blue Box crash sensors for the 2008 season.
“Ford, like the NHRA, is committed to continuously improving safety. It’s important to further improving our passenger cars and trucks and also to what we’re doing in racing,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.
“We’re supplying Blue Boxes—at no cost—for all nitro cars for next year. It’s the right thing to do for the sport and the millions of customers who will benefit from whatever we learn on the track.”
The announcement comes after seven months of initial testing and data analysis of the Blue Boxes on the Mustang Funny Cars of John Force Racing.
Ford Racing offered the crash sensors and engineering support for their use after the death of JFR driver Eric Medlen in a testing accident in March, which led JFR, in cooperation with Ford Racing, NHRA and the sport’s suppliers, in August to launch The Eric Medlen Project, a wide-ranging program designed to further improve safety in the sport.
Ford Racing and NHRA will work together during the next several weeks and prior to the start of the 2008 Powerade Drag Racing season on specific program elements.
“NHRA has, since its inception, always been committed to improve safety in the sport,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations. “And, during that time, NHRA has worked on an ongoing basis with manufacturers and the racing community to enhance the safety of these vehicles. We are very proud of our safety record, given the inherent risks in the sport, and look forward to analyzing the data we anticipate to receive from the Blue Box initiative to further our commitment to safety.”
In addition to initial testing on the Force Mustangs, the Blue Boxes were tested for the final two races of the 2007 season on the Top Fuel dragster of Larry Dixon, to start a prove-out process on that class of vehicle.
This marks the second time in recent years Ford Racing has stepped to the forefront in safety development in racing. From 1996-2006, Ford Blue Boxes were mandatory on all cars in the Champ Car World Series.
In the Champ Car program, Ford’s Safety Research & Development group analyzed the raw crash data, along with the supporting medical reports, photographs, and video.
Ford then developed a Computer Aided Engineering model of the driver inside a race car cockpit to recreate the accident through computer simulation. The purpose of the research was to predict responses and injury potentials to the drivers in high g-force impacts.
The results were then compared with the actual response and physical condition of the driver from the medical reports. Based upon the research, Ford evaluated the effectiveness of contemporary safety devices used in the cars, and communicated the research with Champ Car and its chassis suppliers.
“This work has great potential because it provides information we simply can’t get anywhere else,” said Davis. “That’s why we’re so committed to doing the same type of program for NHRA. The experience we gained in Champ Car gave us an excellent baseline to work from. It helped us correlate the crash models our engineers and safety experts had been working with.”
During the first seven months of the latest initiative, Ford’s safety effort has focused on four main areas:
• Data collection through the Ford Blue Boxes and accelerometers in the drivers’ ears
• Helmet and driver restraint testing
• Computer modeling of the current chassis, as well as seven-post shaker testing
• Occupant modeling of the driver cockpit area
Initial changes already made by Ford Racing, based on the data collected, have included the addition of extra head padding in the driver’s cockpit, and several changes to the chassis that helped strengthen it during the 300 mph runs.
Those changes have been tested several times during on-track incidents this season, including a crash in Dallas by John Force that left him with serious injuries on his extremities, but no head or internal injuries.
“It’s important to note that these are just first steps in what we hope will be a long-term effort toward making drag racing an even safer sport,” said Davis.
“Having the Blue Boxes on all cars in Top Fuel and Funny Car will allow us to gather more data in a shorter period of time, so that everyone in the sport can use it to benefit all of the competitors.”
www.directfordparts.com
Ford Showcases High Tech
Ford Showcases High Tech
SYNC is just one item on display at CES.
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec 14, 2007 - Ford Motor Company will have its largest presence ever at the 2008 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology.
Following the highly successful launch of Ford SYNC at the 2007 International CES-the new technology jointly developed with Microsoft earned the coveted “People's Voice” award-Ford will return to the annual gathering in Las Vegas on Jan. 6 to showcase key partnerships and further advancements in consumer-oriented, in-vehicle electronics.
“Our goal is to deliver the smart, connected in-car experience that customers today demand,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. “Ford is answering the call with the best technology solutions from companies like Microsoft and SIRIUS, connecting customers with mobile devices, important information they need on the road and bringing the experience to life with the latest in navigation technology and branded audio.”
International CES visitors will have the opportunity to see numerous Ford Motor Company vehicles and technologies developed jointly with key suppliers, including Dolby, Gracenote, Microsoft, SIRIUS, Sony Electronics and THX.
The technologies and advancements showcased on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products at the International CES will become available to customers going forward, and many are part of Ford's next-generation navigation system, which launches on select model year 2009 vehicles.
“In-car electronics, especially as it relates to information services and entertainment, continues to rapidly change,” added Kuzak. “To keep up with the pace of the consumer electronics industry, we need to work closely with the most capable companies in the business. These technology companies are helping change home entertainment and the movie theater experience, as well as leading innovations in portable electronics and desktop computing. Ford, working with these partners, is beginning to bring these great experiences to the automotive environment, delivering what customers say they want.”
Ford products and partnerships to see at INTERNATIONAL CES 2008
Dolby: A vehicle first featured at the 2007 SEMA show will be back in Las Vegas for CES-the Funkmaster Flex Ford Flex. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will showcase an audio system bundled with the latest Dolby Surround Sound technologies, including Dolby Pro Logic II, which delivers a captivating surround sound experience from any stereo (two-channel) movie, music, TV, or game audio source and the company's Advanced Surround Fader. Gracenote: The global leader in embedded technology, enriched content, and data services for digital entertainment solutions, Gracenote is the engine behind the “jukebox” capability of Ford's next-generation navigation, which features hard-disk storage space for up to 2,400 songs. Gracenote is delivering an industry-first interface to Ford, one that combines both Gracenote's cover art and voice control offerings as part of a groundbreaking graphical music library navigation experience.
Microsoft: Ford and Microsoft will begin talking about the future of Ford SYNC, the award-winning system currently available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. SYNC is changing the way consumers use their mobile devices in vehicles and meeting high customer expectations. In early research conducted by Ford, 90 percent of SYNC owners indicated they would recommend SYNC to a friend.
SIRIUS: Beginning next year, Ford and SIRIUS will begin to move beyond music and entertainment. What's next? SIRIUS Travel Link, a system that connects people to the data they need while in a vehicle. Ford will be the first auto maker to offer this suite of content services, giving customers up-to-the-minute information-exactly what they need, right when they need it. Subscribers get access to current gas prices, local, real-time traffic information, coast-to-coast weather conditions with five-day forecasts, as well as sports scores and movie listings. SIRIUS Travel Link will be standard on Ford's next-generation navigation system and will be offered with six-months of service on multiple Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in 2008.
Sony Electronics: In early 2007, building on a successful relationship in Europe, Ford signed a long-term agreement with this consumer electronics leader to become the exclusive supplier of Sony-branded audio systems in Ford and Mercury vehicles in North America. The second phase of the agreement will begin in 2008, with the launch of the 2009 Ford Flex. Ford has chosen Sony as the exclusive in-car audio supplier for future Ford and Mercury vehicles around the world. Eventually, Sony's signature technology will be in all Ford and Mercury vehicles.
THX: Since 2002, the Lincoln brand has successfully offered THX Certified audio systems in its vehicles. The award-winning THX audio systems bring home theater-quality sound to the open road. Building on this successful partnership, THX and Lincoln will showcase the 2009 Lincoln MKS at the International CES, the first automobile to offer a THX II Certified 5.1 surround sound system.
www.directfordparts.com
SYNC is just one item on display at CES.
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec 14, 2007 - Ford Motor Company will have its largest presence ever at the 2008 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology.
Following the highly successful launch of Ford SYNC at the 2007 International CES-the new technology jointly developed with Microsoft earned the coveted “People's Voice” award-Ford will return to the annual gathering in Las Vegas on Jan. 6 to showcase key partnerships and further advancements in consumer-oriented, in-vehicle electronics.
“Our goal is to deliver the smart, connected in-car experience that customers today demand,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. “Ford is answering the call with the best technology solutions from companies like Microsoft and SIRIUS, connecting customers with mobile devices, important information they need on the road and bringing the experience to life with the latest in navigation technology and branded audio.”
International CES visitors will have the opportunity to see numerous Ford Motor Company vehicles and technologies developed jointly with key suppliers, including Dolby, Gracenote, Microsoft, SIRIUS, Sony Electronics and THX.
The technologies and advancements showcased on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products at the International CES will become available to customers going forward, and many are part of Ford's next-generation navigation system, which launches on select model year 2009 vehicles.
“In-car electronics, especially as it relates to information services and entertainment, continues to rapidly change,” added Kuzak. “To keep up with the pace of the consumer electronics industry, we need to work closely with the most capable companies in the business. These technology companies are helping change home entertainment and the movie theater experience, as well as leading innovations in portable electronics and desktop computing. Ford, working with these partners, is beginning to bring these great experiences to the automotive environment, delivering what customers say they want.”
Ford products and partnerships to see at INTERNATIONAL CES 2008
Dolby: A vehicle first featured at the 2007 SEMA show will be back in Las Vegas for CES-the Funkmaster Flex Ford Flex. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will showcase an audio system bundled with the latest Dolby Surround Sound technologies, including Dolby Pro Logic II, which delivers a captivating surround sound experience from any stereo (two-channel) movie, music, TV, or game audio source and the company's Advanced Surround Fader. Gracenote: The global leader in embedded technology, enriched content, and data services for digital entertainment solutions, Gracenote is the engine behind the “jukebox” capability of Ford's next-generation navigation, which features hard-disk storage space for up to 2,400 songs. Gracenote is delivering an industry-first interface to Ford, one that combines both Gracenote's cover art and voice control offerings as part of a groundbreaking graphical music library navigation experience.
Microsoft: Ford and Microsoft will begin talking about the future of Ford SYNC, the award-winning system currently available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. SYNC is changing the way consumers use their mobile devices in vehicles and meeting high customer expectations. In early research conducted by Ford, 90 percent of SYNC owners indicated they would recommend SYNC to a friend.
SIRIUS: Beginning next year, Ford and SIRIUS will begin to move beyond music and entertainment. What's next? SIRIUS Travel Link, a system that connects people to the data they need while in a vehicle. Ford will be the first auto maker to offer this suite of content services, giving customers up-to-the-minute information-exactly what they need, right when they need it. Subscribers get access to current gas prices, local, real-time traffic information, coast-to-coast weather conditions with five-day forecasts, as well as sports scores and movie listings. SIRIUS Travel Link will be standard on Ford's next-generation navigation system and will be offered with six-months of service on multiple Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in 2008.
Sony Electronics: In early 2007, building on a successful relationship in Europe, Ford signed a long-term agreement with this consumer electronics leader to become the exclusive supplier of Sony-branded audio systems in Ford and Mercury vehicles in North America. The second phase of the agreement will begin in 2008, with the launch of the 2009 Ford Flex. Ford has chosen Sony as the exclusive in-car audio supplier for future Ford and Mercury vehicles around the world. Eventually, Sony's signature technology will be in all Ford and Mercury vehicles.
THX: Since 2002, the Lincoln brand has successfully offered THX Certified audio systems in its vehicles. The award-winning THX audio systems bring home theater-quality sound to the open road. Building on this successful partnership, THX and Lincoln will showcase the 2009 Lincoln MKS at the International CES, the first automobile to offer a THX II Certified 5.1 surround sound system.
www.directfordparts.com
Europe Gets Performance Focus
Europe Gets Performance Focus
Design rendering of the Focus RS.
Click here for more on Ford in Europe.
COLOGNE, Dec. 19, 2007 -- Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.
The new Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from Jan. 1, 2008.
"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."
The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the "green light," Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.
"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Capito. "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.
"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."
"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet -- Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."
www.directfordparts.com
Design rendering of the Focus RS.
Click here for more on Ford in Europe.
COLOGNE, Dec. 19, 2007 -- Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.
The new Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from Jan. 1, 2008.
"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."
The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the "green light," Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.
"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Capito. "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.
"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."
"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet -- Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."
www.directfordparts.com
Ford Goes Green
Ford Goes Green Inside
Soy foam seat in Ford and Lincoln products.
DEARBORN MI, Dec. 20, 2007 -- From hemp clothing and bamboo floors to chemical-free makeup, today's Earth-friendly choices are de rigueur for millions of consumers worldwide. A growing social consciousness has elevated sustainability from trend to lifestyle in less than a decade, driven by waning natural resources and global security concerns.
While this cultural shift may be relatively recent, Ford's history of pioneering renewable solutions dates back to the Model T. Here are just a few green technologies you may not know about - found inside Ford vehicles on the road today - and potential sustainable solutions for the future:
What Lies Beneath - The 2008 Ford Mustang, F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator are giving customers a greener ride, thanks to Ford's industry-first soy-based seat foam. Based on the Mustang application alone, Ford's soy-foam is on track to deliver a carbon dioxide reduction of 605,000 pounds annually. The technology now is being expanded to additional vehicles lines and further developed for use in John Deere tractors, riding mowers and other equipment.
The Ford Mustang debuted the auto industry's first soy-based seat foam, replacing petroleum-based foam. The eco-friendly technology is now featured in the 2008 Ford F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator and will be in the 2009 Ford Escape.
Don't Throw That Out! - The 2008 Ford Escape features America's first seat fabric made from 100 percent post-industrial materials. The new fabric, supplied by Interface Fabrics, Inc., is produced from 100 percent post-industrial waste - defined as something originally intended for retail use that never makes it to the consumer. This can be anything from plastic intended for pop bottles to un-dyed polyester fibers.
This plastic and polyester is processed, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into seat fabric. Recycling waste that otherwise would be destined for landfills has obvious environmental benefits.
Interface Fabrics estimates that Ford's use of post-industrial recycled materials, rather than virgin fibers, could conserve an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents and more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
The Color of Luxury - The Lincoln MKR concept vehicle features several innovative interior solutions, beginning with the extensive use of wood on the instrument panel. This wood is a reengineered oak, which has been recycled and reassembled grain by grain, and stained black to give the wood a warm, rich appearance - without using additional trees.
Each soy-based seat in the Lincoln MKR concept is wrapped in a creamy cashmere leather made through a more environmentally responsible chromium-free process.In addition to recycled wood, the Lincoln MKR concept includes chromium-free leather, renewable soy foam seat bases and mohair carpet. This unique combination of materials gives the concept a rich-looking interior while demonstrating the more environmentally friendly amenities luxury buyers are expecting in premium goods, including vehicles.
Coming Soon - The 2009 Lincoln MKS flagship will introduce soft leather perfected with vegetable dyes and a chromium-free tanning process. Reclaimed wood and an Olive Ash wood trim, made when roots of two trees grow together, offer green luxury as well.
Green In Between - Not all green solutions are visible to customers. Ford is developing a sustainable replacement for the fiberglass now used between the headliner of a vehicle and the roof sheet metal. The replacement material is bio-based, improves acoustics in the vehicles and neutralizes odors. It's also lighter than fiberglass, which will help enhance fuel economy.
Pure Fabrication - Ford is studying ways to introduce hemp, corn, switch grass, flax and other natural fibers into the vehicles of tomorrow. Natural fibers are biodegradable, require comparatively less energy to produce and offer weight savings versus petroleum-based products. Ford's Plastics Research team is looking to natural fiber composites as a potential substitute to the glass fibers traditionally used in plastic automotive components to make them stronger. Among the possibilities under study are fender reinforcements, a tow impact shield and an engine valve cover.
Ford researchers have made considerable inroads with polylactic acid (PLA) - a biodegradable plastic derived completely from corn - to make plastic polymers similar to those made from petroleum-based resources.
“If a plastic is made from corn, it's compostable,” said Debbie Mielewski, technical leader, Ford Plastics Research. “When you throw a PLA component away, it will disappear within 90 to 120 days given the right humidity, temperature and microbes, as opposed to ending up in a landfill for 1,000 years.”
As they research ways to strike the right balance between durability and recyclability, the Plastics Research Team also is exploring shorter-term PLA applications, like using the material for labels on the vehicle fuel door.
www.directfordparts.com
Soy foam seat in Ford and Lincoln products.
DEARBORN MI, Dec. 20, 2007 -- From hemp clothing and bamboo floors to chemical-free makeup, today's Earth-friendly choices are de rigueur for millions of consumers worldwide. A growing social consciousness has elevated sustainability from trend to lifestyle in less than a decade, driven by waning natural resources and global security concerns.
While this cultural shift may be relatively recent, Ford's history of pioneering renewable solutions dates back to the Model T. Here are just a few green technologies you may not know about - found inside Ford vehicles on the road today - and potential sustainable solutions for the future:
What Lies Beneath - The 2008 Ford Mustang, F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator are giving customers a greener ride, thanks to Ford's industry-first soy-based seat foam. Based on the Mustang application alone, Ford's soy-foam is on track to deliver a carbon dioxide reduction of 605,000 pounds annually. The technology now is being expanded to additional vehicles lines and further developed for use in John Deere tractors, riding mowers and other equipment.
The Ford Mustang debuted the auto industry's first soy-based seat foam, replacing petroleum-based foam. The eco-friendly technology is now featured in the 2008 Ford F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator and will be in the 2009 Ford Escape.
Don't Throw That Out! - The 2008 Ford Escape features America's first seat fabric made from 100 percent post-industrial materials. The new fabric, supplied by Interface Fabrics, Inc., is produced from 100 percent post-industrial waste - defined as something originally intended for retail use that never makes it to the consumer. This can be anything from plastic intended for pop bottles to un-dyed polyester fibers.
This plastic and polyester is processed, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into seat fabric. Recycling waste that otherwise would be destined for landfills has obvious environmental benefits.
Interface Fabrics estimates that Ford's use of post-industrial recycled materials, rather than virgin fibers, could conserve an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents and more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
The Color of Luxury - The Lincoln MKR concept vehicle features several innovative interior solutions, beginning with the extensive use of wood on the instrument panel. This wood is a reengineered oak, which has been recycled and reassembled grain by grain, and stained black to give the wood a warm, rich appearance - without using additional trees.
Each soy-based seat in the Lincoln MKR concept is wrapped in a creamy cashmere leather made through a more environmentally responsible chromium-free process.In addition to recycled wood, the Lincoln MKR concept includes chromium-free leather, renewable soy foam seat bases and mohair carpet. This unique combination of materials gives the concept a rich-looking interior while demonstrating the more environmentally friendly amenities luxury buyers are expecting in premium goods, including vehicles.
Coming Soon - The 2009 Lincoln MKS flagship will introduce soft leather perfected with vegetable dyes and a chromium-free tanning process. Reclaimed wood and an Olive Ash wood trim, made when roots of two trees grow together, offer green luxury as well.
Green In Between - Not all green solutions are visible to customers. Ford is developing a sustainable replacement for the fiberglass now used between the headliner of a vehicle and the roof sheet metal. The replacement material is bio-based, improves acoustics in the vehicles and neutralizes odors. It's also lighter than fiberglass, which will help enhance fuel economy.
Pure Fabrication - Ford is studying ways to introduce hemp, corn, switch grass, flax and other natural fibers into the vehicles of tomorrow. Natural fibers are biodegradable, require comparatively less energy to produce and offer weight savings versus petroleum-based products. Ford's Plastics Research team is looking to natural fiber composites as a potential substitute to the glass fibers traditionally used in plastic automotive components to make them stronger. Among the possibilities under study are fender reinforcements, a tow impact shield and an engine valve cover.
Ford researchers have made considerable inroads with polylactic acid (PLA) - a biodegradable plastic derived completely from corn - to make plastic polymers similar to those made from petroleum-based resources.
“If a plastic is made from corn, it's compostable,” said Debbie Mielewski, technical leader, Ford Plastics Research. “When you throw a PLA component away, it will disappear within 90 to 120 days given the right humidity, temperature and microbes, as opposed to ending up in a landfill for 1,000 years.”
As they research ways to strike the right balance between durability and recyclability, the Plastics Research Team also is exploring shorter-term PLA applications, like using the material for labels on the vehicle fuel door.
www.directfordparts.com
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