Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 10:00 AM

Byline: Megan Whalen

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​DEARBORN - Day to day, Ford executives, and employees are hard at work developing cutting-edge innovations that build on the company’s past and affect the future standing.

Each month, current executives and thought leaders in the company speak to a former group of these employees who helped make technology leadership part of Ford’s DNA - the Ford Retired Engineering Executives (FREE) club.

Ford Director of Global Connectivity and Electrified Planning and Strategy, Nancy Gioia, was this month’s speaker, where she updated the FREE members on the connective car and Ford’s progress moving forward with connectivity.

Focusing on innovation and technique she said the company is working on “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.”

“People want to be connected all the time,” said Gioia. “And they’re expecting to be able to get the communication when they need it, with the communication they want and when they want.”

According to Gioia, Ford is working on improving a seamless, intuitive and consistent transition from technologies like smartphone apps and computer software to functionalities available in your vehicle. This includes advancing award-winning features like MyFord® Mobile that give the customer control and opportunities to interface with their vehicle.

“We’re going to continue to exploit this phase but we’re doing so a little different than our competition,” said Gioia.

Following her address, Gioia also took the time to address any questions or concerns that members had. One retiree expressed his frustration with the touch-screen capability in his car.

“We’re going to be addressing that and we’re doing an update to human interfacing so there will continue to be improvements,” said Gioia. “There’s a whole series of technologies that we’re going to see very rapidly come in that give customers the feedback they want tactically and make it easy to do.”

Gioia assured the group that connectivity is not just about technology or bringing apps into the car, it’s about shifting the business to the next level.

“The great news is that we have some real insights in where were headed.  The great thing about being innovators is that we’re the first to learn.  We see the competition following in our footsteps but we’re ahead in learning. You’re really going to see some wonderful things moving forward,” she said.

Each month a new guest speaker attends this event. Next meeting Ford’s Group VP, Global Quality and New Model Launch, Bennie Fowler will be speaking to the group. Click here for more information on FREE and their initiatives.

More than 450 Ford alumni are members of FREE – making it one of the largest and most prestigious retiree organizations in the company. With more than 40 years as an active retiree group, FREE membership is limited to those with supervisory experience at an LL5 (SG11) or above.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 10:00 AM

Body.: ​The full version of this article and others like it are featured on the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online - click here to go there now!

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 6:25 AM

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COLOGNE, Germany – The Ford Fiesta ST – Ford’s fastest ever production small car – is off to a fast start with hot-hatch connoisseurs placing 3,000 orders since March.

Customers in the U.K. have bought more than half of all models sold to date, with Germany placing the next largest number of orders, followed by Switzerland.

The new 182 PS Fiesta ST can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h – supported by an advanced chassis developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford Motor Company’s Global Performance Vehicle group.

It also offers both a 20 per cent increase in power against the previous, first-generation, model and a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions to 138 g/km*.

“The word of mouth on Fiesta ST has been phenomenal and it’s clear we have something special on our hands,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We are really proud of our product development team for delivering a car that the top auto critics across Europe say not only is astonishingly good but also very affordable.”

The Ford vehicle dynamics department that developed the new Fiesta ST last month was named the Dynamics Team of the Year at the 2013 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards, and Ford Team RS vehicle dynamics specialist David Put won the title of Dynamicist of the Year.

Powered by Ford’s 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, the new Fiesta ST offers performance-tuned steering, suspension, brakes and enhanced Torque Vectoring Control; as well as Ford MyKey and SYNC with Emergency Assistance. (A video of David Put driving the Fiesta ST at Ford’s Lommel test track can be viewed here)

The dynamically styled new Fiesta ST exterior with a large trapezoidal honeycomb grille, dramatic rear diffuser element and a full ST body kit is proving most popular in new colour Spirit Blue, requested in 27 per cent of orders, followed by Frozen White and Race Red.

More than 60 per cent of customers have opted for a Smoke Storm Torino leather interior in Charcoal Black, to complement the carbon fibre dashboard inserts, alloy-metal pedals and gearshifter, ST steering wheel and Recaro seats. 90 per cent of customers have specified Rado Grey 17-inch alloy wheels with red brake callipers; and a further 19 per cent have selected the Sony DAB radio and navigation option with 5-inch colour screen.

“Our showroom cars are getting a huge amount of attention, with people wanting to sit in and experience the Fiesta ST and talk about its performance,” said John Leeman, operations director, Ford Retail, the UK's largest Ford Dealer Group. “We are receiving a large number of inquiries every day.”

The success of the new Fiesta ST follows on the heels of the Focus ST, which went on sale in summer 2012. Equipped with a 250 PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Focus ST was the best-selling hot hatch in Europe during the first three months of 2013, with 2,100 sales.

 

Please click here to visit the official Fiesta ST Product Kit

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 6:15 AM

Body.: ​DEARBORN – Lincoln, the luxury automotive brand, announced today the $1.2 million Lincoln Reimagine ProjectTM that will help fund fresh and relevant projects and ideas in the areas of arts and design and thought leadership.
 
This year, the brand invited the world to say “Hello, Again” to The Lincoln Motor Company and introduced its new premium midsize sedan, the 2013 MKZ. As the Lincoln brand was built from one man’s vision, the Project’s mission is to collaborate with, sponsor and support culturally progressive individuals and their vision for making old new again through a celebration of all things reinvented.
 
“Lincoln’s commitment over the years to individuality and design has attracted some of the greatest innovators of our time. Lincoln is reclaiming that original spirit by celebrating other visionaries and creating a like-minded community,” said Andrew Frick, Lincoln Group Marketing Manager. “Through the passion points of art, design and thought leadership, the Reimagine Project is looking for ideas where visionaries and innovators are enabling change in terms of creation and distribution.”
 
The Reimagine Project will honor individuals, including innovators, visionary leaders and fellow brilliant artists. Those with projects at the tipping point of that change will receive support to help get their endeavors off the ground.
 
Lincoln began cultivating this community earlier this year. The first funded project began in February at TEDActive, an annual gathering of curious and energetic leaders hosted by TED, the non-profit dedicated to “Ideas Worth Spreading.”
 
A panel of TED Fellows nominated three individuals to create a special reimagined project with Lincoln’s support in the areas of sustainability, technological eco-systems and music. This month these works will be finalized and their journey shared with the public through short documentaries.
 
“Lincoln’s Reimagine project resonated deeply with TEDActive's community of innovative thinkers and doers,” said Ronda Carnegie, TED’s Head of Global Partnerships. “We’re happy to partner with Lincoln on such a thrilling initiative — one that champions fresh perspectives on everything from technology and design to art and music.”
 
Below are the collaborators and their projects:
 
•Aurora Robson (Project Vortex). This collective is reimagining the world of art and design by using plastic debris that would otherwise go to waste.
•Andy Cavatorta (The Dervishes) transforms music with one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted musical instruments that reflect the intimacy between the Earth’s mass and the music created.
•Gilberto Esparza (Auto-photosynthetic plants). This project uses electronic media and robotics to research the impact of technology embedded in everyday life reimagining recycling consumption intertwined with technology.
The Lincoln Reimagine Project will continue to fund collaborations within the brand’s passions of art, design and thought leadership and will explore unique and distinct concepts in film, theater and architecture.
 
Inspired by the Reimagine Project, Lincoln also has launched Driven to Give, a regional test-drive dealer program that donates money to educational programs and charitable organizations to inspire future makers, builders and visionaries.
 
To learn more about The Lincoln Reimagine Project, please visit www.Lincoln.com/ReimagineProject.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 6:10 AM

Body.: ​DEARBORN – Driven by strong sales of two of Ford’s newest vehicles, the Ford Fusion and Escape, Ford’s share of the “super segment,” comprised of subcompacts, compacts, midsize sedans and small utilities, stands at 13 percent through the first four months of 2013 – representing a gain of 2 share points compared to the same period last year.
 
The future success of automakers in the United States will in large part be based on market gains in four key vehicle segments – subcompacts, compacts, midsize sedans and small utilities. Combined, these four segments represent more than half of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. In 2004 the super segment was only 35 percent of the total market.
 
“Ford’s share has grown this year faster than all other automakers. The driving force behind this is our phenomenal rate of growth in the super segment and our continued success with these key vehicles in the long-dominated Japanese regions of the country,” said Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst. “Once our additional manufacturing capacity on Fusion comes on line, the battle for sales leadership in the midsize segment will tighten considerably.”
 
Over the last five years, Ford’s market share gains in the super segment have been among the fastest in the industry. In 2008, Ford had 8 percent share of this segment. A good portion of these gains have come at the expense of Honda and Toyota.
 
In 2008 Honda and Toyota captured approximately 36 percent of super segment sales in the U.S. For the first four months of 2013 that number declined to 28 percent, while Ford gained share in the super segment over the same period. During the first four months of this year Ford’s share stands at 13 percent, up 2 points from the same period a year ago and moving ever closer to Toyota’s position of 15 percent.
 
Ford expects more growth in the super segment as baby boomers continue to downsize their vehicle purchases and first-time millennial buyers enter the market. Combined, baby boomers and millennials account for more than 160 million people in the U.S.
 
“Each of our vehicles in the segment is doing great things for Ford in different ways,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager, Ford global small and medium cars. “Two-thirds of all buyers shop both the Escape and Fusion when they come to our dealerships, and sales of both are way up.”
 
Fusion
Fusion is closing the sales gap with Camry, and in the first four months of 2013 Fusion sales were up 25 percent. While Fusion’s share of the midsize sedan segment increased more than 2 percentage points to just more than 12 percent this year, Camry has fallen approximately one point, to almost 15 percent.
 
Fusion retail sales gains are occurring in every market area of the country. The strongest growth is coming from the nation’s largest passenger car market – California; retail sales there were up 117 percent during the first four months of 2013 and accelerated to 146 percent in April.
 
Based on retail sales registrations for the first quarter of this year, Fusion’s share of California’s midsize sedan market is now operating at its highest levels ever at more than 8 percent, which is about double Fusion’s share last year. Fusion sales in the coastal markets are up 60 percent this year, with April posting a 72 percent increase. Nationally, Fusion’s conquest rate is running at 53 percent, while in places such as Los Angeles it is much higher, at 59 percent. Miami and San Francisco are running at 60 percent and 56 percent, respectively. Fusion is also turning at its strongest rates in these markets, with the car spending just 17 days on dealer lots in Los Angeles and Miami, 18 days in San Francisco.
 
Escape
Escape, through the first four months of this year, is America’s best-selling utility, with 98,809 vehicles sold. Like Fusion, the all-new Escape is pushing sales of the super segment in the coastal markets. Retail sales of Escape were up 46 percent in coastal markets the first four months of 2013 and in April sales in the coastal markets expanded by 57 percent. This represents Ford’s best-ever coastal retail share and sales results for Escape.
 
Escape retail sales are up in every region and market area of the country, but it is the coastal markets that are growing at a faster rate than the overall national average. Nationally, the competitive conquest rate for Escape is 52 percent, with the highest conquest rate coming from San Francisco at 60 percent, followed by New York at 58 percent, Boston at 56 percent and Miami at 54 percent.
 
This aligns with regional sales increases and high turn rates for Escape. Escape retail sales in Miami are up 85 percent this year, with sales in Florida up 65 percent and San Francisco up 54 percent.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 6:00 AM

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​The full version of this article and others like it are featured on the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online - click here to go there now!

MUSCAT, Oman – With more than 900 plant species, including more than 50 endemic ones not available anywhere else on Earth, the mountains of the Dhofar region in Southern Oman are a biodiversity hotspot of unique value.

Every summer, while the rest of the Arabian Peninsula is scorched by the heat, the slopes around Salalah turn green due to moisture from the Indian Ocean monsoon, locally known as Khareef.

Click here to continue reading this story and others like it in the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online. In addition to reading the rest of the story you will also be able to post and read comments or 'like' this article. Note: The comment and like features are available only inside the Ford firewall.

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Related Materials1: *Export & Growth

Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 3:00 AM

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​BRNO, Czech Republic - Ford Czech Republic recently participated in the Brno Motor Show 2013 with a 1000 sq.m. display area  packed with new models and technologies,  from voice-activated SYNC to the EcoBoost engine family.

 Jan Laube, CEO of Ford Czech Republic, used the occasion to unveil the new Fiesta ST.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 2:25 AM

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​COLOGNE, Germany – Germany’s Select AG has ordered 100 Ford B-MAX “Trend” models to be used as courtesy cars at auto repair shops across the nation.

The cars, finished in Polar silver metallic with the award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine, will go into service at Auto Service Partner (ASP) workshops.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 1:05 AM

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The full version of this article and others like it are featured on the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online - click here to go there now!

Click here to continue reading this story and others like it in the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online. In addition to reading the rest of the story you will also be able to post and read comments or 'like' this article. Note: The comment and like features are available only inside the Ford firewall.

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Release Start Date: 5/17/2013 1:00 AM

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​BRENTWOOD, England - Ford is to transform its aftersales experience for retail customers with the introduction of a range of new services launched under the “Ford BlueService” name.

With a joint investment of £7.5m by Ford and its dealers, Ford BlueService is being rolled out across Ford’s 650-strong service network – the UK’s largest.

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 1:00 PM

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​SAN MATEO, Calif. – As members of the Bay Area maker and hacker community gather this weekend for the eighth annual Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif., Ford Motor Company invites them to explore open-source hardware and software tools now available to anyone who wants to work with cars.

Ford is hosting a series of open workshops at membership-based do-it-yourself maker space TechShop locations around the United States to help makers get started with the company’s OpenXC platform. The locations are:
• San Francisco: June 21-22
• Austin, Texas: July 19-20
• San Jose, Calif.: Aug. 16-17
• Pittsburgh: Sept. 13-14
• Menlo Park, Calif.: Nov. 9-10
• Chandler, Ariz.: Dec. 13-14

The OpenXC platform enables developers to create apps and accessories that connect to vehicles using software source code and hardware design specifications that are freely accessible – reducing the barriers to innovation. OpenXC can be used to read a wide array of data from the vehicle's standard on-board diagnostics port and process these data in real-time or later, to create value-added accessories or applications.

Ford is encouraging developers and makers to use OpenXC by sponsoring the Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge. Announced at the New York International Auto Show in March, the challenge invites software developers and hardware hackers to create apps that will help drivers better understand how they use fuel. Developers can use the open-source software and hardware development kit to create Android or Web-based apps that take advantage of available data such as vehicle speed and location to empower drivers to make smarter mobility choices.

Developers of the winning apps share $50,000 in cash prizes with $25,000 going to the best overall app selected by the judging panel. The panel will include Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop; Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation; and Venkatesh Prasad, Ford senior technical leader for open innovation, plus four judges still to be named.

“Enabling personal mobility for everyone through technological innovation has always been at the heart of what Ford is all about,” said Mascarenas. “Today more than ever, maximizing fuel efficiency is important to drivers and we see open-source technology as a key enabler.”

Participation in the challenge is not limited to app developers; anyone can create a free account and vote. The top 25 ideas, based on the number of votes, will move on to be scored by judges, with the top 10 each winning a $100 cash prize. Voting is open to the public by signing up for a free account at http://ideas.ford.challengepost.com. Visitors can also vote for the Popular Choice Award in the Fuel Efficiency App Challenge. The winner gets $1,000.

The deadline for entries in the Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge and the Ideas Challenge is July 24, 2013.

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Related Materials1: *Ford Personalized Fuel-Efficiency App Challenge Official Rules

Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 8:00 AM

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 6:10 AM

Body.: ​DEARBORN - The all-new Ford Fusion was named to the KBB.com list of Best Family Cars of 2013. Kelley Blue Book editors noted that with its “eye-catching exterior, the Fusion stands out with a variety of powertrains that includes two hybrid options and a pair of turbocharged engines, plus available all-wheel-drive and enough tech features to make a geek swoon.” The redesigned Fusion is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, giving customers leading fuel economy and underscoring Ford’s commitment to provide power of choice. Additionally, Fusion offers an unprecedented portfolio of driver-assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable the car to see and respond. Customer demand is strong, with Fusion delivering best-ever April sales of 26,722 cars – a 24 percent increase over record year-ago levels. Click here to learn more about the accolade.

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 6:00 AM

Byline: Alice Arutoff

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​DEARBORN - For Lincoln, quality is more than just the sum of its working parts. Quality is a foundational element that can be seen throughout the entire ownership process – from parts on the car to dealership experiences.

“There is more to Lincoln than basic quality – making sure things don’t go wrong or need repairs,” said Scott Tobin, director, Product Development, Lincoln. “We’re about crafted quality. Everything has a feel, texture, smell and ambiance. We want Lincoln to feel right.”

Look inside the cabin of the all-new Lincoln MKZ. The character is warm and inviting. It’s quiet. The materials add even more to the feel of the car, giving it a more premium feel.

“We need to engage every skill team to help deliver a robust quality experience,” said Ann Green, manager, Quality, Lincoln. “We need to understand the voice of the customer, the target market and our own role in delivering quality. We can’t settle for anything less than premium brand perfection – a zero defect mindset.”

And this commitment is starting to come to fruition.

In the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, Lincoln ranked third out of 32 brands. The study looks at three-year-old models and at problems per 100 vehicles. Lincoln improved four spots year over year.

“Long-term dependability is what keeps customers coming back,” said Tobin. “To come in third place is a respectable performance, but we want to be No. 1, and there is no reason that we can’t be. It’s part of our plan.”

This study is important to Lincoln because it uses customers as the source.

“To build a brand you don’t do it in one survey. You don’t build it in one year, said Tobin. “It’s decades of consistent performance that will really move the needle on reputation. We can do that.”

Listening to customers will be key for Lincoln moving forward.

One thing customers are expecting more and more of is technology.

“You don’t want to include technology in a car for technology’s sake, or even a single feature,” said Tobin. “There needs to be a set of technologies that are intuitive that help make the customer’s life easier.”

A great example of this is the Lincoln Drive Control.

Lincoln Drive Control orchestrates the performance of the Continuously Controlled Damping adjustable suspension, electric powerassisted steering, engine, transmission, Active Noise Control, traction control and stability control systems.

The result is an excellent combination of refined ride and engaging driving dynamics.

Quality also is important in how we provide service to our customers.

Lincoln has partnered with worldrenowned hotel concierge Les Clefs d’Or to create a better service experience in dealerships through the Lincoln Academy. The Lincoln Academy is a long-term commitment to culture change in dealerships.

It’s important for employees to understand our current position in the marketplace. In 2012, Lincoln finished in last place out of all the premium brand OEMs.

“It was an engaging wake-up call for all of us,” said Green. “In order to make a change, we need out of the box thinking and a shift in mindset from the way we used to behave. We need to go to extraordinary measures to maintain a zero defect mindset in order to remain competitive as well as deliver on our promise to become best in class.”

And in order to deliver on Lincoln quality, employees need to continue to make it a priority.

It is the prime reason Lincoln decided to place the all-new MKZ through a stringent quality/luxury verification process in Hermosillo, Mexico, as well as Flat Rock, Mich. While the vehicle experienced delays in deliveries to dealers and customers, the move was further proof of Lincoln’s commitment to producing the highest quality vehicles. The brand now is delivering on the plan of having normal dealer stock levels this month.

“We’re starting to gain momentum on our journey,” said Tobin. “We need employees to take that excitement and turn it into action every minute of every day so we can continue to deliver quality in everything we do.”

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 6:00 AM

Byline: Jamie Myler

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​Editor's Note: @Ford Online takes a look back at Ford heritage moments from the company's past. Click here for more heritage articles.

DEARBORN - When Ford Motor Company decided it was time to get the test vehicles off the local streets of Dearborn, the company turned to a large, mostly open tract of land near its Dearborn Engineering Lab.

The Dearborn Test Track opened July 30, 1937, on the property of the Ford Airport. Once the airport ceased operation in the late 1940s, the test facilities began to expand and many more testing operations were added by the early 1950s.

Since the test track bordered the Greenfield Village historic site on Village Road, it became clear that the company needed a barrier between the facilities and the public space.

In 1951, a wall was erected to ensure that Village attendees did not accidentally end up on one of the test track roads interfering with the professional drivers and their test procedures. Another reason for the wall was to prevent onlookers from previewing new vehicle designs, as that became an increasingly important part of post-war vehicle success.

As with many of the previous projects undertaken by Ford in the first half for the 20th century, this was not just any ordinary wall.

This was a serpentine wall that was patterned after the ones designed by Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia in the 1800s. However, unlike the serpentine walls in Virginia, this wall was 7,100 feet long.

At the time, it was believed to be the longest brick serpentine wall in the world.

It was constructed by Campbell Construction Company of Detroit and it contained more than 400,000 bricks. The curves of the wall had six-foot radiuses that remained constant throughout the entire 7,100 feet.

The strength of the serpentine structure was such that one row of four-inch bricks were used throughout the entire run. There also were no supports or expansion joints added to the wall, as the serpentine form was believed to be designed to compensate for expansion and contraction as well as any other type of stress that would typically need reinforcement.

The test track serpentine wall, which is still in use today, has brought safety, security and beauty to Village Road for more than 60 years.

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 6:00 AM

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​Click here to visit the Motorsports page for all the latest news and information.  ​ ​
FOZ DO IQUACU, Brazil - Ford swept the Global Rallycross Podium at the Inaugural Summer X Games 2013 in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil last month with GRC rookie Scott Speed earning gold in his Ford Fiesta. OlsbergsMSE drivers Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinen and Patrik Sandell captured silver and bronze, respectively.

As a part of Ford Racing’s expansion in the sport, Fiesta ST debuted in Brazil with drivers Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan, Heikkinen and Sandell.   There were a number of challenges each competitor faced on the Brazilian red clay, but the massive and enthusiastic crowd roared with cheers as the 10-car field lined up on the start / finish line. Ford had seven drivers in the main event, but within the first dusty corner, Foust and Block were taken out in a massive crash. Due to a new rule established by GRC, teams are not able to fix their cars after a yellow flag is thrown so the two Fiesta ST teammates were forced to exit the competition early.

Heikkinen led the first six laps of the main event after taking the joker lap first, a short-cut that all drivers must take once. Speed, driving the GRC ‘Star Car,’ closely followed Heikkinen and applied pressure on the final lap when it became clear he still needed to take the short-cut. After executing the 70-foot jump, Speed took the lead on the final stretch to win in his debut debut competition.

The second Summer X Games will commence in Barcelona, Spain on May 16-19, 2013. Global Rallycross will air on Sunday, May 19, 2013 on ESPN (check your local listings).

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Related Materials1: *Video

Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 5:50 AM

Body.: ​BANDUNG, Indonesia — Ford Motor Indonesia (FMI) invited leading lifestyle media to travel back in time with the all-new Ford Focus by visiting historic places in Bandung, the capital of West Java.

Along the way to visit Bosscha Observatory, participants got their hands on the all-new Focus’ many smart features.		They finished their journey trying out automatic parallel parking with the Active Park Assist.

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 1:00 AM

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​BRENTWOOD, England – British Gas has ordered 520 Transit models for use by its central heating engineers. 

 Colin Marriott, fleet general manager, British Gas, said: “It was a no-brainer really, the vans used by our central heating installation engineers are a vital resource for them and they love the Transit. When we asked, they said: ‘Give us the same again, please.’ On top of that, by sticking with the same body shape, we have been able to take fantastic advantage of reusing all the racking systems, saving tons of steel, energy and a lot of money.”

The Transit was chosen for several reasons, principally its class-leading economy and low emissions, provided by its Dagenham-built 125PS 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine.  Another plus point was the security offered by the Transit’s large load capacity, which enables awkward loads to be accommodated inside the van, rather than on external racking.

The vans meet BG’s sophisticated vehicle whole life cost model, which also determines the replacement timing for its vehicles.

All the Transits being supplied are 330 medium wheelbase, medium roof models, equipped with air-conditioning, speed limiter and winter tyres, enabling the engineers to carry out their work in the toughest of environments. Some thirty-two of the vans will be four-wheel drive versions, which will be located strategically around the country for use in the most severe weather.

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Release Start Date: 5/16/2013 12:00 AM

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SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil - Ford Focus has extended its leadership in the medium hatchback segment and gained 25.2 percent of participation in April. Focus’ presence in the Brazilian market consolidated the model as the best-seller vehicle of the medium hatchback segment in the country, surpassing the sales of the last month.

"The Focus Hatch maintained its leadership achieved in 2012 and has a significant share in the medium hatchback segment, which is one of the most sought-after in the market, with more than 20 competitors and launches. It is a vehicle with high consumer loyalty, that recognize their standard of quality and technical atributes, with a more balanced set of style, comfort and driveability of the category", says Ricardo Bianchi, Marketing Supervisor, Ford Retail. 

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Ford Focus Cresce e Amplia a Liderança em 2013
SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brasil - O Ford Focus ampliou a sua liderança no segmento de hatches médios e conquistou em abril 25,2% de participação. Essa presença consolida o Focus como o modelo médio com carroceria hatchback mais vendido no quadrimestre no mercado brasileiro, superando o ritmo de vendas mensais no último mês.

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Release Start Date: 5/15/2013 6:25 AM

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The full version of this article and others like it are featured on the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online - click here to go there now!

MELBOURNE, Australia — Ford Australia continues to deliver on the Go Further brand promise by supporting the victims of the bush fires that devastated  Tasmanian some three months ago by donating the use of two Territory vehicles to the Red Cross.  These vehicles have helped on-the-ground teams  provide relief to those affected by the disaster.

Ford Australia’s support has helped The Red Cross assist thousands of Tasmanians since the February fires devastated homes and property in regions around Sorrell, Dunalley and Murdunna located on the South East Coast of Tasmania.

Click here to continue reading this story and others like it in the Go Further - Team Content section on @Ford Online. In addition to reading the rest of the story you will also be able to post and read comments or 'like' this article. Note: The comment and like features are available only inside the Ford firewall.

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