February 12, 2010 Thank you for registering to be a part of Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval Connect retiree outreach initiative. If you know of other Ford retirees who would like to register for Blue Oval Connect, please send them to http://www.blueovalconnect.com. Has your e-mail address changed? Click here to update your e-mail address. If you have difficulty reading or opening links in this document, Blue Oval Connect Weekly Briefings are archived in the http://www.at.ford.com/news/Publications/Pages/BlueOvalConnect.aspx. In this Blue Oval Connect Weekly Briefing…
The February 2010 edition is now available, with stories covering Ford's quarterly financial results, the new 2011 Ford Edge and Edge Sport, 2011 Transit Connect Electric, Shelby GT500, and more. Click here to view an electronic version of the publication. GO PAPERLESS! Transforming the world into a paperless environment is eco-friendly, budget friendly, and can increase productivity. To opt out of receiving the hard copy of the magazine that arrives in your mailbox each month and receive an e-mail that provides early access to an electronic version of the @Ford magazine, click here.
Now’s the time to consider Lincoln with attractive short-term lease rates now available on select new Lincolns. Act now, offer ends March 31. Click here for more information.
The Ford Volunteer Corps needs your help to bring the warmth of an early spring to children and families on March 4 – the first Ford Accelerated Action Day of the year. MODEL Teams of Ford volunteers are preparing to paint and rebuild, make urgent repairs and clean at shelters and family centers in their local communities. Teams are forming now, and we invite all Ford retirees to join us. To view projects and register online please click here, or go to the Ford Volunteer Corps Web site at www.volunteer.ford.com.
Savings Plan Administration Change – FAQs Available
If you are a Salaried Retiree, click here to view the recent FAQs. If you are a Hourly Retiree click here to view the recent FAQs. To visit the savings plan Web site, go to: www.myfordbenefits.com and follow the instructions to log in.
Please join in the Ford Motor Company Giving Campaign to support the American Red Cross and their efforts to help those in crisis following the earthquake in Haiti. Ford Motor Company will be matching employee and retiree donations up to a total of $50,000. Click here to donate.
Ford’s groundbreaking EcoBoost engine technology, which customers have embraced since its introduction a year ago, will soon be available on the Ford Edge. Powered by a 2.0-Liter I-4 engine with direct fuel injection and a single turbocharger, the Ford Edge with EcoBoost will deliver the same performance feel as a current V-6 while delivering best-in-class fuel economy. With Edge's 2.0-Liter EcoBoost, the fuel economy benefits will be at least 10 percent better than a comparable V-6 but with class-leading power and torque for an I-4. This advanced new engine will also be offered in the next-generation Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, to be revealed later this year. Since being introduced in 2009 on four vehicles – the Ford Taurus SHO (standard) and Lincoln MKS full-size sedans and the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT crossovers – EcoBoost engines have been embraced by customers. The Ford Taurus SHO has a conquest rate of 45 percent, and since launch, in terms of volume, 48 percent of Lincoln MKT sales are with the EcoBoost option. Altogether, nearly 6,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles have been sold since introduction. To read the full article, click here. Related Material:
Ford unveiled the all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect – the 2010 North American Truck of the Year – at the Chicago Auto Show and confirmed the zero-emissions small van will be in fleet operators' hands later this year. The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics. In addition to the Transit Connect Electric, Ford plans to bring three more electrified vehicles to market by 2012 – the Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012 and a next-generation hybrid in 2012. To read the full article, click here. Related Material:
The Ford Transit Connect Taxi will go into production and arrive in dealerships later this year as a 2011 model, adding to Ford Motor Company’s leadership in the North American taxi market. Making the announcement at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford also said it will introduce engine prep packages on all Transit Connect models – base and taxi – allowing conversion to efficient, clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas). Both CNG and LPG are popular among taxi operators because of their low cost of ownership. The roomy, flexible interior of the Transit Connect – the 2010 North American Truck of the Year – is perfectly suited for taxi service and conversion to CNG and LPG. The vehicle’s 135 cubic feet of cargo space accommodates a compressed gas tank while leaving ample passenger legroom and cargo capacity. To read the full article, click here. Related Material:
Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever. "The SVT team continues to push the performance standards of the Shelby to even higher levels and better refinement," said Jost Capito, director, Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Business Development. "All the changes we made reflect a desire for even better handling and outstanding driving dynamics – from weight savings to improved balance." The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-Liter supercharged V-8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase versus the 2010 model. The engine also is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision. To read the full article, click here. Related Material:
MyFord Touch driver connect technology, launching on the 2011 Ford Edge, is designed to be powerful yet intuitive for drivers, blending strengths of the most proven interfaces in consumer electronics – including MP3 players and mobile phones – with a new generation of Ford’s award-winning SYNC system. MyFord redesigns the in-car interface, mirroring how consumers interact with most devices in their lives using touch-sensitive buttons, touch screens, thumb-wheel controls and voice recognition. In that respect, MyFord is instantly familiar. Using reconfigurable displays and simplified voice commands, though, MyFord also can present multiple layers of information, just as the driver wants it. To read the full article, click here. Related Material:
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid earned the inaugural Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award Wednesday at the Chicago Auto Show. The award is named for the late Dave Hermance, the legendary engineer and vocal proponent of hybrid-electric vehicles who died in 2006 at the age of 59 when his experimental plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean. The Hermance award, which is given by BermanWorks, the media company behind HybridCars.com, honors new North American vehicles that best represent the vision of practical efficiency and risk-taking – two qualities the engineering wizard and avid pilot cherished. The voting committee recognized Fusion Hybrid for "setting a whole new benchmark" for mainstream hybrid-electric vehicles. To read the full article, click here.
Ford Motor Company is helping to tell the untold story of African Americans in the military as part of a partnership with PBS on the airing of "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots." The partnership comes as Ford also hosts its Annual Black History Month Celebration in Detroit on Friday, Feb. 19. "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots" premiers on most Public Broadcasting System stations nationwide throughout the month. Presented by Maryland Public Television, this is a powerful documentary television series that salutes African-American service men and women and reveres their dedicated allegiance to the United States military. The four-hour high-definition (HD) film will air in two parts on PBS stations across the country. To read the full article, click here.
Jamie Allison Director Ford North America Motorsports The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season opens Feb. 14 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida. Jamie Allison, recently appointed director of Ford North America Motorsports, sat down with @Ford Online to discuss numerous topics, including his new role, goals for the year and plans to support the launch of the new Ford Fiesta. Q: What are your main objectives this year? I've always loved Mustangs and Fords. To me, this job is applying what I love and what I've learned to help the company move forward and reach out to our fan base and tell them 'you love our trucks, you love our Mustangs, now take a look at our new Fiesta and Focus because you'll love them, too.' Q: What are your thoughts on the upcoming Daytona 500? This year also is special because Richard Petty, the King of NASCAR, has joined Ford with his four-car team, which adds to our overall competitiveness. We're cautiously optimistic about the Daytona 500. Last year we won the race, but were unable to win the championship. We want a competitive team and a competitive season. Our main goal is to win the Sprint Cup. To read the full Q&A, click here.
From Feb. 1-4, around 110 Brazilian motoring journalists attended the 2011 Ford EcoSport launch and got a close look at the new model, which is the segment leader in the Brazilian market. The event, which officially presented the vehicle to the press, was held in Maceió, Alagoas and was divided into two sessions: the first one from Feb. 1-3, and the second one from Feb. 2-4. The groups participated in technical presentations conducted by Sales and Marketing as well as Engineering teams, and soon after they experienced the 2011 Ford EcoSport during a 100 kilometer test drive passing by the beautiful beaches of Maceió. To read the full article, click here.
Ford of Germany commemorated the production of forty million vehicles. To mark the event, a ceremony was staged next to the production line at the company’s vehicle plant in Cologne-Niehl. The 40 millionth vehicle to roll off the production line was a silver 5-door Fiesta equipped with a 1.25-Litre Duratec petrol engine. The car is destined for a customer in the German capital of Berlin. Significantly, it was in Berlin in 1925 that Ford Motor Company AG was founded. To read the full article, click here.
Safety comes first, not only in Ford cars but also in the workplaces for those who make the vehicles. Operations in Australia, Taiwan and India did such a good job in making the working environment healthy and safe that they were among the winners of the 2009 President’s Health and Safety Awards handed out in the global Ford world. @Ford Online chats with the three markets in the Asia Pacific and Africa region that won the Regional Replication Innovation Award which recognizes innovative solutions that improve existing processes or practices. To read the full article, click here.
(CNBC) President and CEO Alan Mulally has good reason to grin. Sales are up, the company is turning a profit and of course, that key competitor (Toyota) has driven off the road. Click here to view video.
(CNBC) Mark Fields, President of The Americas, is interviewed at the Chicago Auto Show. Fields says Ford's strategy is to get the message out on new products. Click here to view video.
 Toyota Recalls 437,000 Priuses, Hybrids Globally (AP) Toyota is recalling 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems – the latest embarrassing safety lapse at the world's largest automaker. To read the full article, click here. Can Ford Reclaim Toyota's Throne? Auto Suppliers Urged to Plan Now for Global Platforms GM Gets Tax Breaks, Will Keep RenCen Headquarters Bill Ford's Challenge: Stay Lean, Hungry and Innovative Ford Motor Co. Is Bouncing Back General Motors to Send Out Repair Parts for 2009-10 Pontiac Vibes this Week The Prius Problem Could Hurt The Entire Hybrid Industry
 Got an Idea, Share It! Ever had an idea for a new product or a suggestion for a current vehicle you'd like to share with the Ford team? If so, do we have some Web sites for you! If you have an idea for a new product or technology you'd like to see on a Ford vehicle, click to the Ford New Ideas site at www.FordNewIdeas.com. If you have a suggestion for a current Ford Motor Company product, click here to connect to the Customer Relationship Center. Through these two sites, your ideas and comments will be directed to the appropriate teams within the company … One team, one plan, one goal … ONE Ford.
Location: Desk hours: The FERA desk handles discount tickets for Cedar Point, Kings Island, the North American International Auto Show, the Michigan Renaissance Festival and other events; the desk also has the Entertainment Book and Golf Michigan Play Books. The desk is filled with flyers of travel specials and club events and is really fun to examine, so stop by and say, "Hi" and thank the person at the desk because they are volunteering their time for you! For more FERA information, click to www.FERA.org. Ticket price information for Cedar Point and Kings
Island,
click here.
For benefit questions, please contact the NESC at 800-248-4444 or e-mail NESC@ford.com.
 Click here to check out the @Ford Online listing of known Retiree Clubs and Groups.
Atlanta Salaried Retirees
Automatic Transmission Product Design & Engineering Retiree Breakfast Club
Second Wednesday of Every Month (Northville, Mich.)
Building "H" Club – Michigan Information Technology Systems Retirees Canadian Ford Alumni
Chicago Stamping Plant Salaried Retiree Club
Dearborn Assembly Plant Retirees Dearborn Assembly Retiree Breakfast Club
Dearborn Frame Plant Retirees (Southfield, Mich.)
Ford 5R55 Automatic Transmission Systems Design Retirees Group Field Accounting Department (F.A.D.)
Ford Air Transportation Office Retirees
Ford of Canada Ladies' Retirees Group
Ford Chassis Retirees Breakfast (Livonia, Mich.) Ford Dearborn Engine & Fuel Tank Retirees
Ford Glass UAW Local 737 Retirees
Ford Human Resources Retiree Group
Ford Rouge Plant Railroad Operations Retiree Group Ford Rouge Transportation Retirees
Ford Technical Illustration and Graphics Retirees – EEE,
Bldg. 3, FMCC, WHQ (Northville, Mich.) Ford Tool and Die Skilled Trades Retirees Frame Plant Survivors Salaried Retirees
FRAW (Ford Rawsonville Area Women) Retirees
Indianapolis Ford Retirees Kansas City Ford Salaried Retiree Club
Lorain Local 425 Retirees
Maumee Ford Retirees
Nebraska – Iowa Ford Retirees (Omaha, Neb.) Norfolk Ford Assembly Plant Retirees PDC/Body Engineering Illustration Retirees Plant Engineering Office Retirees Product Development, Body Design and Engineering Retirees
Research Laboratory Retiree Brunch Club UAW Eastern Carolina Retirees
Van Dyke Plant Retiree Luncheon Club (Sterling Heights, Mich.) February 13:
February 15:
April 14: May 26:
August 27 - 28:
29th Annual Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival (Ann Arbor, Mich.) The Ford Seahorses Scuba Diving Club, in conjunction with the Detroit Historical Society's Dossin Maritime Group and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, presents the 29th Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E. Huron River Drive). This year's program features two historic Civil War wrecks – The Hunley, presented by Ralph Wilbanks, and the ironclad, U.S.S. Monitor, presented by Sue Smith. Daytime programs between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. feature a wide variety of sessions on Great Lakes shipwrecks, international dives and technical diving and equipment, as well as a variety of book signings and exhibits from local maritime artists, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and local dive shops. The evening concludes with a "Cayman Island Beach Break" party at 6 p.m. Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For ticket information or program details, visit www.shipwreckfestival.org , e-mail GLSFTICKETS@aol.com or call 734-485-0492.
March 7:
Mustang Owners Club of Southeastern Michigan 2010 Annual Spring "Swap & Shop" (Dearborn, Mich.) Mustang & Ford Swap Meet at Village Ford (23535 Michigan Avenue) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Village Ford is located on the south side of Michigan Avenue, between Telegraph and Outer Drive roads. For more information, go to www.mocsem.org.
SAAC-MCR 35th annual Show and Go (Dearborn, Mich. & Clarkson, Mich.) On May 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (show and swap meet) will take place at Ford World Headquarters SE lot (Southfield Freeway and Michigan Ave.) and on May 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ("Go" track event) will take place at Waterford Hills Road Race Course (4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston, Mich.). For more information, click to www.saac-mcr.net or contact Jim Binder at SASGROUP@comcast.net
Falcon Club of America 2010 National Convention (Dearborn, Mich.) The Metro Detroit Chapter of the Falcon Club of America is hosting the 2010 National Convention at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Ford Falcon. Because the 50th anniversary is a significant milestone, the club anticipates over 400 Falcons and their owners to attend from all over the United States and Canada. Please visit fca2010detroit.webs.com for additional information and to download a copy of the registration form or contact Alan Aniol at 734-282-8188 or e-mail at JOANAL@wideopenwest.com.
FCN News Team: Publisher: Sara Tatchio Associate Publisher: Susan Krusel Managing Editors: Jenn Corney, Terra Donnelly You received this e-mail because you opted in to receive e-mail communications from Blue Oval Connect. Please note that we have updated the Privacy Policy for BlueOvalConnect.com. We have also added to the site a statement relating to "Your California Privacy Rights." To review these documents, click to www.blueovalconnect.com/privacy_policy.cfm and www.blueovalconnect.com/california privacy.cfm To opt out of receiving e-mail communications from Blue Oval Connect click here. Blue Oval Connect, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126 |
