The Beach Blog

Virtually Race the Focus ST for a Chance to Attend the ESPN Summer X Games.

Ford Motor Company is giving fans of the new Focus ST a chance to put the upcoming high-performance hatchback to the test before it goes on sale, by letting them enter a virtual competition that will send the winning driver to the ESPN summer X Games.

The competition puts drivers into the seat of a Focus ST driving simulator at auto shows across the country. The participant with the fastest lap time will win a host of awards, including an invite to the ESPN summer X Games for a meet-and-greet with drivers of Ford’s Octane Academy. Additional prizes also will be awarded to top times on a regional basis.

“This is the perfect way to generate awareness for our ST brand since we know our enthusiast customers love gaming,” said Lisa Schoder, ST Marketing manager. “The Focus ST simulator is tuned with the specs from the actual car, so people can get a true feel for the dynamics of ST performance.”

The challenge will live on the Focus Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/fordfocus, where a leaderboard will be posted from each show the challenge visits. When the challenge wraps in May, the best times from each show will be entered into an overall sweepstakes to determine the grand prize winner.

Source: Ford

New 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Car

The 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup car, unveiled yesterday as part of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, was worked on by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car.

Featuring a completely redesigned sleek new silhouette and fresh face, the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup car was designed to be the face of a new era of stock car racing.

”We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR.” stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to reengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.”

This marks the third time Ford simultaneously launched production and NASCAR versions of a new model. The first dual launch came in 1968, with the sleek fastback Ford Torino. Legendary NASCAR driver David Pearson drove the Torino to back-to-back NASCAR championships in 1968 and 1969. The second time came in 2006, when the then newly introduced Ford Fusion appeared in showrooms and on the track.

The new NASCAR Fusion entries will be tested throughout the 2012 campaign in preparation for their racing debut at the 2013 Daytona 500 in February.

Source: Ford

Ford Celebrates 100 Years in Britain with Fashion

At Ford, designers consider each new vehicle a work of art. Now the world of fashion can get a taste of that enthusiasm. Two young British designers have created haute couture – an elegant Edwardian dress and a showstopping necklace – comprised of parts from a 2012 Ford Focus.

Judy Clark, a nominee for Scottish designer of the year who worked under the late Alexander McQueen, was commissioned to create the dress in one week as part of the 100th anniversary of Ford in Britain. English jewelry designer Katherine Hawkins was issued a similar challenge – only use the parts to create a necklace.

Source: Ford

Ford Powers “The World’s Longest and Heaviest Parade Float.”

How do you power “The World’s Longest and Heaviest Parade Float,” according to the Guinness Book of World Records?

With a mighty Ford Motor Company 6.8-liter 10-cylinder gas engine.

Natural Balance Pet Foods turned to Ford to propel its massive 116-foot, 50-ton Surf’s Up! float that will debut on national television on Jan. 2 in a famous parade in Pasadena, Calif. Starring Tillman the surfing bulldog and his athletic canine friends, this will be the fourth straight year Tillman has shown off his skills in the parade.

The heavy float is driven by the same Built Ford Tough 6.8-liter V10 gasoline engine that powers Ford’s best-selling F-Series Super Duty chassis cab work trucks, E-Series vans and the new 2012 Ford F-650 medium duty truck. The engine is paired with a fuel-efficient Ford six-speed automatic transmission.

Source: Ford

Ford and Newman’s Own, Inc. Partner with Feed America

For the 11th consecutive year, Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own®, Inc. are partnering with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to donate truck loads of food to communities in need. Over the past decade, the two organizations have contributed 103 refrigerated trucks to Feeding America food banks.

With the recent donation of five more vehicles, the fleet of Ford trucks and vans reaches every state in the country, many states with multiple vehicles.

“Ford Motor Company has remained committed to playing a role in addressing hunger relief year after year,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Through this unique partnership, our donated trucks have delivered more than 176 million meals to families across the country.”

This unique “Partnership for Hunger Relief” began when Paul Newman reached out to Bill Ford, then chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company, in an effort to improve distribution of produce and other perishable food the hungry. The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of fresh and nutritious food to hard to reach communities.

“More than 12 years ago Paul Newman realized there was a great need to get nutritious food more broadly distributed. With 49 million people facing hunger, we are glad this program continues to help make a difference, especially in the current economic environment,” said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman’s Own, Inc.

Source: Ford

Ford Race Cars Commemorate 110 Years of Ford Racing at SEMA

Ford Racing history comes full circle as iconic race cars from the past share the stage with Ford’s newest motorsports vehicles in a special salute to 110 Years of Ford Racing at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Ford’s racing legacy began in 1901 when Henry Ford entered and won his first and only race behind the wheel of a car he built named Sweepstakes. That historic vehicle – on loan from The Henry Ford Museum – is on display at SEMA along with a host of other cars that celebrate milestone moments in Ford Racing history.

“Racing is in our blood. It is part of our DNA,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “Henry Ford used racing to help prove out his product and to attract attention, and we race today for the same reasons – to prove out our products on the track, to draw attention to our products and to communicate the Ford story.”

The car that started it all 110 years ago also shares the stage with Ford’s latest entry into the motorsports arena, Focus ST-R, making its North American debut at SEMA. The turnkey race car is Ford Racing’s first truly global race car. It will be available to professionals, amateurs and track-day enthusiasts to race in a variety of series starting in North America in 2012.

“People who buy a Focus ST-R will get a fully prepared race car that will only need communications equipment and the customer’s decal to go racing,” said Allison. “We’ve already had significant interest in this vehicle from numerous established race teams.”

Visitors to the 2011 SEMA show will be treated to a broad spectrum of Ford Racing vehicles including:

1932 Edelbrock Special: This “2B” RTA/SCTA/BONNEVILLE record-setting roadster set 13 world land speed records in its day. The car features a 1932 Ford chassis, 259-cubic-inch 1949 Ford flathead V8 engine, with Edelbrock heads and three-carburetor intake. It could be considered the quintessential racing highboy of its era.

1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Replica: Carroll Shelby built six of these coupes to compete against Ferrari in the World Manufacturers’ Championship GT race class.

John Force Mustang Funny Car: John Force Racing has been a fixture in NHRA drag racing for 36 years. The team has earned 17 Funny Car team championships, including a record 15 titles from Force himself.

So-Cal Streamliner: In 1949 Alex Xydias set the fastest timed run of 210 mph with this vehicle in the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) land speed racing event on the Bonneville Salt Flats. This replica, just like the original, is composed entirely of Ford components, a Model A front end, Model T frame, ’49 Mercury flathead and a ’32 rear end.

Brian Deegan X Games Fiesta: Nicknamed “The General,” Brian Deegan has tackled the X Games Rally competition in a Ford Fiesta the last two years. In 2011 he captured X Games gold for Ford, leading a 1-2-3 Fiesta sweep in Rallycross competition.

Brent Hajek Bonneville Super Duty: On Aug. 19, this 2011 F-250 set two land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Iconic Ford Racing vehicles featured at this year’s SEMA show:

1901 Sweepstakes
In 1901 Henry Ford – a virtual unknown at the time – drove in his first and only race behind the wheel of this vehicle, which he nicknamed Sweepstakes. In a stunning, come-from-behind victory, Ford defeated famous car builder and racer Alexander Winton in a 10-lap race on a one-mile oval track at the Detroit Driving Club in Grosse Pointe, Mich. That race on Oct. 10, 1901, changed the course of history because it helped Ford attract the investors he needed to start the Henry Ford Company – and then the Ford Motor Company – in 1903.

Jim Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis 500 winner, Lotus-Ford 38/1
Jim Clark scored Ford’s first victory in the Indianapolis 500 behind the wheel of this Lotus-Ford 38/1. It also was the first win for a rear-engine car. In fact, Ford-powered rear-engine vehicles swept the top four positions in that race with Parnelli Jones coming in second, rookie Mario Andretti third and Al Miller fourth. Ford brought one of its NASCAR teams – Wood Brothers Racing – to pit the car that day, and Firestone created special tires for it. A front-engine car has not won Indianapolis since that day.

Winner at 1967 Le Mans, Ford GT40 Mark IV
Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt drove this Ford GT40 Mark IV to the second of four consecutive Ford wins at Le Mans in 1967. It was the first victory at Le Mans for an all-American driver lineup in an American-built race car. On the podium, Gurney popped the champagne cork and sprayed the bubbly over the surrounding people. That started a race winner’s tradition that continues to this day.

Source: Ford

Ford at 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems

Ford Motor Company will publicly demonstrate how cloud-based technology can make vehicles smarter during the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems next week.

Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford will discuss the future of transportation, emphasizing how intelligent vehicles and innovations such as smart electrification can help solve emerging transportation issues on roads around the world.

Meanwhile, Ford researchers and engineers will showcase technology designed to personalize the driving experience that is centered on three areas of cloud-based innovation: intelligent routing, intelligent driving and intelligent operation.

“With this technology we are talking about pure customer benefit – creating the right individualized and optimized experience for each person, vehicle and situation,” said Paul Mascarenas, Chief Technical Officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. “As our transportation system evolves – say, with lower emissions zones – the research we are doing now will help us meet the future needs of our customers. For example, cars could one day adapt their powertrain performance to these types of varying driving conditions.”

At the Google I/O conference in May, Ford introduced its research and innovation into using the cloud to predict driver behavior to optimize vehicle control systems and improve vehicle performance attributes such as fuel or hybrid-electric efficiency.

Ford’s commitment to the technology was further showcased when the Ford Evos Concept was introduced at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Evos Concept explores the potential for connecting a vehicle to the cloud in order to tailor the driving experience based on variables such as personal tastes and moods of the driver.

“Ford already offers cloud-based services through Ford SYNC®, but those services thus far have been used for infotainment, navigation and real-time traffic purposes to empower the driver,” said Ryan McGee, technical expert, Vehicle Controls Architecture and Algorithm Design, Ford Research and Innovation, who will be presenting during the conference. “This technology has the potential to empower our vehicles to anticipate a driver’s needs for various reasons, such as optimizing a vehicle’s powertrain efficiency.”

In the example that will be featured at the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, researchers will show how a prototype Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) could use a combination of cloud-based and proprietary technology to learn when to switch from being gasoline-powered to all-electric upon entering a lower emissions zone. Cities such as London, Berlin and Stockholm already have such zones.

McGee said if a vehicle was able to predict exactly when it might be entering such a zone, it could optimize itself to comply with regulations and at the same time optimize energy usage over the total distance of the route by switching the engine to all-electric mode at specific times.

Source: Ford

Ford Warriors in Pink Partner with Lifetime

Lifetime, in collaboration with Ford Warriors in Pink, will premiere “Five,” a movie based on the stories of people with breast cancer on Oct. 10.

“Warriors in Pink has always been about the courage and the strength it takes to fight this disease,” said Tracy Magee, Ford’s primary brand experiential manager. “This year we’ve really been focusing on people’s stories – the stories behind the disease. This Lifetime project ties in extremely well with our Warriors in Pink campaign.”

“Five” is five short films that explore the impact of breast cancer on five very different women. Through an interconnected story, the films focus on these women and their lives at different stages of their diagnoses. The stories look at the effect the disease has on relationships and the way the women perceive themselves while searching for strength, comfort and medical breakthroughs.

Directors of the movie are Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins and Penelope Spheeris.

An exclusive T-shirt designed by Aniston, with an illustration relating to the movie on the front and Warriors in Pink symbols on the back, will be available at www.fordcares.com. As with all Warriors in Pink wear and gear sold on www.fordcares.com, 100 percent of the proceeds from the shirt’s purchase go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“The Aniston-designed T-shirt shows a child’s drawing of a man on the moon,” said Magee. “It ties in with the first story, where a little girl’s mother loses her battle with breast cancer on the same day man first lands on the moon. The little girl grows up determined to find a cure – she opens an oncology clinic where she’s treating the other women we meet in the stories of ‘Five.’

The Warriors in Pink campaign, of course, goes on all year long. Ford Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories are created for women, men and children and feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the fight against breast cancer.

The Ford commitment runs well beyond raising funds. The company is dedicated to making a difference 365 days a year by encouraging women to become informed and visit their doctors, educating them that early detection saves lives. 2011 marks Ford Motor Company’s 17th year of support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ford has dedicated more than $110 million to the cause to date.

Source: Ford

Ford Runs “The Amazing Race” with CBS

CBS and Ford have teamed up again to run “The Amazing Race” this fall as 11 new teams set off on a global adventure starting Sunday, Sept. 25 (8 to 9 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Ford’s sponsorship includes on-air components featuring four of its top models – Explorer, Fiesta, Focus and Mustang. During the season premiere, teams start their race in the foothills of Southern California. After receiving their first destination from host Phil Keoghan, all 11 teams will jump into a new Ford Explorer and drive to Los Angeles International Airport before departing on their first leg to Taipei, Taiwan.

Ford Fiesta, Focus and Mustang vehicles will make their way across the globe in additional episodes throughout the season. One lucky team will also win two new Ford Mustangs for finishing in first place in an upcoming leg. The winners will be given the opportunity to customize their Mustangs using Ford’s new Mustang Customizer website. Learn more at www.ford.com/cars/mustang.

“As the exclusive automotive partner, we are proud to be providing vehicles that play a vital role in helping the contestants navigate and accomplish their near-impossible tasks,” said Crystal Worthem, Ford Brand Content and Alliance manager.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to take a Ford Fiesta, Explorer, Focus or Mustang for a test drive.

Source: Ford

Ford SYNC App Developer Challenge

ROXIMITY, a location-aware alert service won the Ford SYNC App Developer Challenge held this past weekend during the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon in San Francisco.

“We chose ROXIMITY’s location-based service because it represents an important consumer trend, and it’s an area we’d like to investigate for potential in-car integration through SYNC,” said Julius Marchwicki, SYNC AppLink™ program manager. “The concept has huge potential as it moves the trend of ‘daily-deal’ finders a level deeper by combining it with more refined location data and context-aware services.”

The ROXIMITY development team now has the opportunity to develop a SYNC-enabled version of their app and travel to the International CES in Las Vegas in January 2012 with Ford, where they will be able to demonstrate their app as part of Ford’s presence at the show.

Developed by Denver-based co-founders Danny Newman, Joe Mease and Austin Gayer, ROXIMITY provides real-time deals and specials that are relevant to where a user is walking or driving, based on their personal preferences and interests. For example, a user walking by a shopping mall could receive a customized message with a special deal on food or half-off shoes.

Integrating ROXIMITY with Ford SYNC would provide drivers with voice-controlled, hands-free access to the service. Users could choose to hear nearby specials as they drive through the city, or ROXIMITY could alert them automatically to special offers and deals based on their location provided by SYNC’s GPS receiver.

SYNC is a voice-activated technology available in Ford vehicles. It helps keep drivers’ eyes on the road while giving them the information they want, like weather, radio stations, traffic reports, directions, etc. If you haven’t done so already, stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to check out the Ford SYNC system.

Source: Ford

Ford’s Global Week of Caring

More than 12,000 members of the Ford Volunteer Corps are tackling over 200 community projects on six continents as part of the 2011 Ford Global Week of Caring.

For the sixth straight year, Ford employees and retirees are joining together with employees of Ford dealerships to make a world of difference during this annual event which runs through September 18. The number of volunteers has grown from 1,200 to more than 12,000 during the past six years.

Projects in dozens of countries from Europe and Asia to Africa and the Americas include:

• Renovating schools, planting trees and cleaning up parks by 750 employees in South Africa
• Cleaning public areas, collecting food and school supplies by 100 employees in Philippines
• Setting up a computer lab, sponsoring a school outing and cleaning parks by 200 employees in China
• Planting 1,500 tropical trees along roadway by 230 employees in Cambodia
• Renovating a school and donating equipment by 200 employees in Thailand
• Collecting clothes and sanitary supplies for impoverished girls by 100 employees in Kenya
• Mentoring teens, repairing playgrounds and helping elderly by 100 employees in Germany
• Cleaning beaches and forests, and repairing social institutions by 120 employees in Spain
• Restoring trails for wheelchair access in Belgium
• Providing meals, clothing and organizing medical check ups for orphans in India
• Building houses in El Salvador and Honduras
• Painting a school and providing school supplies in Trinidad and Tobago
• Collecting food and toiletries, and repairing nursery and social service offices in Brazil
• Installing playground equipment, distributing food, repairing schools and restoring environmentally-sensitive areas by more than a thousand Ford employees in the U.S.

“As America and the world reflect on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Ford and its employees are working together to realize our vision of a better world,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford volunteers are helping local communities provide the necessary services to bring comfort and relief to people in need.”

As part of Ford Global Week of Caring 2011, select non-profit agencies in the U.S. will share $70,000 in grants as part of a focused effort to address shelter and housing needs.

Source: Ford

Ford’s “Focus on Schools” Challenge

In a program called Focus on Schools, Ford challenged high school students to make videos starring the 2012 Ford Focus and its leading technologies. Beyond that, it was an opportunity to support local schools, with almost 200 Great Lakes area Ford dealerships joining 203 local schools to produce 160 videos all about the new Focus. The videos were posted online and votes were cast for a winner.

Voting was held online. The most votes cast were for the video “You Need to Focus,” submitted by Park Christian High in Fargo, N.D., featured below!

As for the top 10, those schools are listed below, and you can watch all 10 videos at www.fordfocusonschools.com.

Source: The Ford Story

Ford F-150 EcoBoost Challenge Winner Holds Donation Drive for Irene Victims

The Ford F-150 EcoBoost® is known for delivering impressive results, but F-150 EcoBoost Challenge winner Carlee Mallard stepped up to the plate by achieving an average of 28.3 mpg throughout her week with an F-150.

The Raleigh-Durham, N.C., resident also held a community service event that attracted 56 volunteers to help gather water and nonperishables for the Raleigh YWCA that will be distributed to people impacted by Hurricane Irene.

“This challenge proved that F-150 EcoBoost can deliver when it comes to fuel economy and capability,” said Raj Sarkar, F-150 marketing manager. “Each driver really flexed the F-150 muscle by showing what these trucks could do. It was truly a challenge in every sense of the word and the drivers excelled.”

The F-150 EcoBoost Challenge saw eight truck fans put the truck to the test in their own communities to try and average the highest miles per gallon for at least 25 miles per day. They also were asked to create, manage and execute their own community service event.

“I was definitely impressed with how far I could stretch the gas. I didn’t have to fuel up once during the whole contest,” said Mallard. “To help boost the fuel economy, I never used air conditioning. I drove mostly on the highway at speeds between 50 and 55 mph because I wanted to avoid stoplights and stop signs.”

The winning driver was determined through a blended score measuring the highest average miles per gallon achieved throughout the week, the most votes on the Ford Facebook page and how many volunteers participated in the community improvement project.

For winning the challenge, Carlee Mallard from Raleigh will receive a year’s supply of Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline, courtesy of Shell.

Source: Ford

New Ford Focus Selected for “LG Brand Ambassador” Program

LG Electronics USA has selected the 2012 Ford Focus as the vehicle of choice for its “LG Brand Ambassador” team of in-store merchandising experts. Two hundred Ford Focus hatchbacks will take to the roads, wrapped in LG’s logo and “Life’s Good” slogan.

According to James Fishler, senior vice president, Go-to-Market Operations, LG Electronics USA, the Ford Focus was selected for its fuel-efficient and innovative attributes.

“We selected the Focus based on its striking design, fuel economy and functional flexibility,” Fishler said. “Its SYNC® hands-free technology also enables us to communicate with our team in a safe way. In all, the Ford Focus attributes resonate with our brand attributes of stylish design and smart technology, making it an easy choice.”

Putting LG Brand Ambassadors on the road in the Ford Focus is a new initiative by LG to help establish a consistent image as they traverse the country delivering LG’s brand message to retailers and consumers.

“Focus has been a game changer for the segment,” said Paul Russell, Focus brand manager. “Traditionally, small cars meant econoboxes. Ford Focus, with its sporty design and content-rich options, gives customers more choice since they no longer have to sacrifice creature comforts for fuel economy.”

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk to check out this game changer for yourself.

Source: Ford

Attention 2012 Mustang Boss 302 Owners: The TRACK ATTACK Awaits!

For new 2012 Mustang Boss 302 owners, the unique chance to take part in a “track attack” is now a reality.

As part of a complimentary program offered by Team Mustang and Ford Racing, instructors at the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park are offering all new 2012 Mustang Boss 302 owners a chance to learn what their car is capable of on the race track.

The Boss Track Attack provides owners with a full immersion into the Boss experience, with driving instruction and extensive track time with professional instructors. The intent is to enable Boss 302 owners to learn just how capable the new car is.

“This is the first program of its kind from Ford. We’re so proud of the new Boss 302 that we wanted to offer owners the opportunity to stretch their legs – and carve corners – on one of the coolest tracks in America,” said Mickey Matus, marketing manager, Ford Racing. “The Boss 302 is such a legendary nameplate, and our latest version is such a tremendous, fun-to-drive car that we wanted to ensure this exclusive group of owners learn all they could about it, and experience its capabilities in the fun, controlled environment that Miller Motorsports Park can provide.”

Boss owners need not bring their own cars. Miller Motorsports Park has a fleet of track-ready Boss 302s on hand for this driving experience.

The one-day experience begins with a private reception and dinner the evening before at the Larry H. Miller Total Performance Museum at the track, where participants and guests will learn about the history of the Boss nameplate. They will be given behind-the-scenes access to some of the stories behind the development of the Boss 302 and will get a private tour of Larry Miller’s amazing personal collection of high-performance Ford and Shelby vehicles.

The next day, owners will start with a dynamic classroom session with school instructors, then spend the rest of the morning learning car control, cornering, braking and vehicle dynamic techniques, before breaking for lunch in the track’s clubhouse.

The afternoon session features more on-track driving including lead and follow exercises, instructor ride-alongs and hot laps with professional drivers. The day finishes with participating owners receiving a special graduation pack from the team.

2012 Mustang Boss 302 owners can now register for their complimentary Boss Track Attack sessions slot at www.bosstrackattack.com or by calling 435-27-SPEED.

There are 15 individual sessions available between now and the end of the year. Every owner has a year from receiving his or her car to take advantage of this program. Dates for sessions in 2012 will be determined in due course and communicated via the website. Participants can, at their own cost, attend a second day of the driving school or bring a guest to attend with them. Complete information about the program is available at the website.

Source: Ford

The “Blue Angels” Edition of the 2012 Ford Mustang GT

Ford Motor Company has produced a truly unique “Blue Angels” edition 2012 Ford Mustang GT. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction July 28, during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s greatest aviation celebration.

All proceeds from the car donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992 while also teaching the value of hard work, personal responsibility and enhanced math and science skills.

Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“The precision, discipline and excitement that define the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight team are qualities we celebrate at Ford,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors. “With this year’s beautiful ‘Blue Angels’ edition Mustang GT, we’ve captured those qualities and paired them with the innovation Ford design and engineering team members build into all of our vehicles. Through this project, we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA and the Young Eagles organization.”

The Ford “Blue Angels” Mustang pays tribute to 100 years of naval aviation, which will be celebrated all week at AirVenture 2011.

The exterior of Ford’s “Blue Angels” Mustang GT was inspired by the acclaimed naval aviation performance demonstration team and the F-18 Hornet aircraft it flies. The car’s custom rear spoiler’s vertical tailfins, the “screaming yellow” gloss accents, inclusion of the Blue Angels script and crest all are drawn from the Navy aircraft. The unique chrome blue paint, courtesy of Creations n’ Chrome, is unlike anything available on a production vehicle anywhere in the world.

Under the hood, the “Blue Angels” Mustang is all performance with a Ford Racing supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 624 horsepower. The Ford Racing components also include a handling pack, performance exhaust and racetrack brakes.

The “Blue Angels” edition joins three other one-of-a-kind Mustangs created by the Ford design and engineering teams for the EAA Young Eagles Auction in recent years, each generating excitement among aviation and automotive enthusiasts alike. Ford vehicles sold at auction during past EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised more than $1.3 million to support Young Eagles.

For more information on EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, visit http://www.AirVenture.org.

Source: Ford

The Ford Technology Tour Event: July 14th at Beach Ford

Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Time: 5:30 pm-8 pm
Location: Beach Ford Virginia Beach, 2717 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23542

SYNC with MyFord Touch is a revolutionary technology that helps you stay connected to your world. And on Thursday, July 14th, product experts will be at Beach Ford to demonstrate the new technology and answer any of your questions—whether you currently own a Ford or not.

Whether you already own a vehicle with SYNC® or SYNC® with MyFord Touch™ or are simply interested in learning about the newest in-vehicle technologies offered by Ford, this event is for you.

Enjoy hands-on demonstrations designed to let you personally experience everything our award-winning in-vehicle connectivity system has to offer. We’ll show you how easy it is to control your music, phone, travel route and much more.

RSVP at the Event Page.

Ford Explorer Uses Teeter-Totter to Demonstrate Terrain Management

The Ford Explorer ride experience at the Chicago Auto Show takes the simple concept of a playground teeter-totter and transforms it into an exciting and compelling demonstration of Explorer’s exclusive Terrain Management System™.

The footprint of the teeter-totter ride experience at the Chicago Auto Show is approximately 5,000 square feet. Operated by a professional driver, with show-goers as passengers, the Explorer starts out driving through sand to demonstrate how it easily handles loose surfaces before beginning to ascend the teeter-totter ramp.

The teeter-totter itself, taking two full weeks to construct within the Ford exhibit, is a steel structure 30 feet long and standing four feet tall. This dramatic demonstration provides a memorable experience for riders and onlookers alike, as the vehicle drives up the ramp at an angle approaching 22 degrees. Onboard passengers will be gazing at the ceiling as Explorer continues its steep ascent.

Once at the teeter-totter’s apex, Explorer will begin to descend the ramp. This is where the Terrain Management System’s Hill Descent Control™ activates to control speed and slippage, simulating the capability, control and driver confidence the all-new Explorer enables when drivers encounter steep downhill grades.

Explorer’s Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management eliminates guesswork by employing simple icons to help determine the appropriate setting. All a driver needs to do is turn the dial to match the system to actual driving conditions, choosing between snow, sand, mud, hill descent and normal settings. The system then adjusts engine and transmission behavior, shift schedules and braking force to increase driver confidence and control.

Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management allows the vehicle to deliver the “any road, anytime” capabilities SUV buyers expect, while eliminating weight. Less mass helps the all-new Explorer to deliver up to 30 percent better fuel economy than the previous model.

To take the Ford Explorer for a test drive of your own, stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk. We don’t have the giant teeter-totter in our showroom, but we’ll still have fun telling you about all the new features on the 2011 Ford Explorer.

Source: Ford

Ford’s All-New Fiesta RS World Rally Car

Ford’s all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car is set to receive final clearance for its FIA World Rally Championship debut this week when motorsport’s governing body gives it the seal of approval to compete in Rally Sweden next month.

This means that Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will put the Fiesta RS WRC through its paces for the first time in the WRC when the 13-round season begins in Sweden (10 February).

“We worked closely with the FIA throughout the development of the car to ensure our understanding of the regulations was aligned with that of the governing body,” said Ford of Europe’s motorsport chief, Gerard Quinn. “We expect the paperwork to be finalized this week, and everyone involved with the program is looking forward to an exciting season ahead, with the action beginning over Sweden’s frozen roads in 10 days.”

1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost technology
The 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection engine that powers the rally car draws on the knowledge of Ford’s advanced EcoBoost technology, used in its latest production cars.

Quinn said: “Ford’s EcoBoost road engine represents a new generation of downsized, high-efficiency engines. Developed by Ford engineers in Europe, the four-cylinder EcoBoost production unit combines high-pressure direct injection, advanced turbocharging and twin variable valve timing to maximize combustion efficiency. Different displacements are already available in Ford road vehicles around the globe.

“The knowledge accumulated during the design of the EcoBoost road engine proved invaluable during development of the rally car unit. Technology transfer usually switches from rally cars to road vehicles, but in this situation we’re delighted it has taken the opposite route,” he added.

Source: Ford

Your Personal Tour of the Ford C-Max

From its sliding rear doors to clever 5+2 seating and kinetic design, there’s a lot to the new Ford C-MAX for North America. Wendy King is the brand manager for the vehicle, and she provides a quick introduction to the car in the video above.

Source: The Ford Story

Ford Creates New Generation of Fuel-Efficient Small Cars

Ford is producing 10 new-generation, fuel-efficient smaller cars, offering consumers its greatest variety of small vehicle choices, fuel or no fuel.

Delivering on its promise to create a new generation of global small cars, Ford showcased 10 new C-segment vehicles together on one stage at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. Led by the all-new Ford Focus, the vehicle lineup demonstrates how Ford is transforming its product range for a high-tech, fuel-efficient future.

The impressive new model array sees the world debut of Focus Electric, the first fuel-free, zero-emissions passenger car from Ford Motor Company; the debut of two all-new, high-mileage family-friendly C-MAX vehicles including Ford’s first production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV); and the global reveal of a vision for a future small sport utility vehicle – Ford Vertrek concept.

“It’s about giving consumers more options for fuel-efficient vehicles of this size and footprint and providing them the power of choice for electrified vehicles, as well,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “Today, a world-class, all-new Focus family joining the new Fiesta lineup is delivering more choice. Now, we’re bringing even more to customers with the versatility of the new C-MAX and three different alternatives for customers who want to save fuel by going electric, offering real choice and more products people really want.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Justin Bell Will Host the 2011 Focus Global Test Drive

Road racing veteran Justin Bell is scheduled to host and coach the February 2011 Focus Global Test Drive in Madrid. With a career lasting more than 20 years, Bell will bring a wealth of experience and skill to the Global Test Drive program.

Bell teamed with his father – veteran driver Derek Bell – in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1992 to 1996 and has participated in the Trans-Am series and in the American Le Mans Series. He was FIA GT champion in the GT2 class in 1997, a class winner in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2001 Trans-Am rookie of the year.

Since 2008, Bell has been an on-air personality on Speed Channel and served as celebrity driving instructor on the “Jay Leno Show” with Ford Focus Electric prototype vehicle demonstrations.

Bell will help host Focus Global Test Drive participants at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) near Madrid.

“Running an instructional program for race drivers for several years represents one of my most rewarding experiences,” said Bell. “Our test driver guests will be getting a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience behind the wheel of the all-new Focus, and I look forward to helping each of them have some fun and find their groove as we put the new Focus through its paces.”

At the three-day event, Feb. 18-20, 2011, consumers and bloggers will be able to experience the Ford Focus in a unique new manner. Each challenge and course will highlight the driving dynamics and technologies in the vehicle. And throughout the entire event, local charities will benefit.

To participate in the Focus Global Test Drive, friends and fans from around the world are invited to submit simple video applications explaining why they should be included in this unique behind-the-scenes event. The application process invites prospective test drivers to “start more than a car” by generating the market equivalent of $10,000 for a specific charity of their choice from the categories of hunger, education and environment/sustainability.

Details of the Focus Global Test Drive application are now available on the “Global Drive” tab at http://facebook.com/fordfocus. Participants will be selected based on a range of criteria including their individual creative content, social networking vibrancy and number of votes they receive.

With the Focus Global Test Drive, there is something for everyone. Ford engineers will get rapid feedback from interested customers and prospects; drivers get a first look at the new car before it goes on sale; friends get to come along for the ride of a lifetime; and deserving charities will benefit in a big way.

Source: Ford

Ford’s Accelerated Action Day of Giving and Sharing

The Ford Volunteer Corps is cooking, delivering and collecting food as it sends teams of volunteers into local communities to help feed the hungry. During today’s Ford Accelerated Action Day, hundreds of Ford employee and retiree volunteers are stocking shelves in food storage warehouses, packing holiday food boxes for families in need and serving meals in soup kitchens.

Ford volunteers are answering an urgent call to help. Each day hundreds of thousands of people in southeast Michigan struggle to find food. Ford employees – in partnership with local nonprofit hunger relief agencies – are helping to distribute food and feed people in shelters, missions and family centers.

“Hunger is a painful reality for many people in our local communities,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are thankful that we have the resources to share with our neighbors in need.”

Many of the organizations participating in today’s volunteer effort also receive Ford mini-grants of up to $5,000 to buy food and other items needed to complete their projects. More than $50,000 in mini-grants has been awarded to participating agencies, including:

• Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit – assemble 750 food boxes that feed a family of four
• Fish & Loaves Food Pantry, Taylor – sort 168,000 pounds of food purchased with Ford grant
• Focus Hope, Detroit – assemble 4,000 food boxes for area seniors
• Food Gatherers, Ann Arbor – pack 750 food boxes containing 25 meals each
• Gleaners Community Food Bank, Pontiac – fill 950 weekend meal backpacks for children
• Ruth Ellis Center, Highland Park – stock food pantry and pack meals for street outreach
• St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, Detroit – prepare and serve lunch for more than 200 people
• Salvation Army-Harbor Light, Detroit – serve meals to 3,000 homeless people
• Southwest Housing Solutions, Detroit – cook and serve holiday meals for residents
• Veteran’s Haven, Wayne – coat drive, and sort food for distribution to 225 veterans and their families

In addition to the Ford Accelerated Action Day, Ford is a sponsor of the holiday Meals on Wheels program for thousands of seniors in Michigan.

Nine specially equipped vehicles recently were added to a fleet of 98 refrigerated trucks that are being used to collect and distribute food in all 50 states. Part of a ten-year partnership with Newman’s Own and Feeding America, the trucks have traveled more than 5.7 million miles and delivered more than 130 million meals.

“Ford is continuing a long tradition of caring and community service by addressing one of the most basic of human needs,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “Collecting food and feeding people is an important step toward creating a better world.”

In 2010, more than 20,000 Ford employees and retirees have volunteered to help people in local communities around the world.

Source: Ford

The Ford Fiesta Takes the Ultimate Road Trip

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company — Fiesta World Tour

The hot-selling Ford Fiesta covered a total of 15,210 miles in two months during a trip around the world.

Fiesta World Tour 2010 was a road trip like no other, and was created to showcase the Fiesta’s global nature. The tour kicked off in Southern California, headed east across America, through a section of Canada, wandered about Europe before heading to the Middle East and Asia, and ended in Sydney, Australia after touring the outback. With a group of journalists behind the wheel, the two-car road trip became more of an experience than a drive. Along the way, the following fun facts were logged:

• Ferry rides: Three
• Total crew and participants: 15
• Top speed: 210 km/h, in Germany
• Hotel rooms booked: 262
• Average time of travel each day: 14 hours
• Number of languages and dialects encountered: 28
• Vehicle damage: Two incidents (one in valet park in Middle East, one in car park in Australia)
• Best food: Thailand
• Best hotel: Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi
• Flat tires: One, in China
• Average fuel economy: 35 mpg

Highlights of the adventure included:

• A car wash like no other, with an elephant in Malaysia using river water to give the Ford Fiestas a scrub down
• A heart-pounding ride around the Formula One track in Abu Dhabi that made its debut in 2009, where challenging turns and twists keep drivers on their toes
• A visit to the immense cliffs of the Grand Canyon, which show what a few Ice Ages can do to a little bit of land
• A little lesson in ancient Chinese medicine at Fulintang Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Store, which first opened its doors in 1857
• A spin around Bangkok in a solar tuk tuk, which is a green way of hauling people around the city
• A different look at art. Participants spent time in the Australian outback with aboriginal artists who use different mediums, such as cars, to share their talents
• An adrenaline rush courtesy of the Nurburgring in Germany, a historic racetrack considered one of the most challenging courses in the world

“We’ve traveled upward of 1,000 miles in one day. And at the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also spent time just cruising around cities like Singapore,” said Jeremy Hart, expedition leader. “We even visited the first international airport in Australia, which used to take 34 days to reach from London. We drove to it in the same time. That made us realize that even in 2010, you can still have an expedition, and you can feel like you’re exploring. We didn’t want to just fly somewhere – we wanted to experience everything along the way.”

Want to see for yourself? Check out the journey at:
http://www.facebook.com/fordfiesta
http://twitter.com/fordfiesta
http://www.flickr.com/fordmotorcompany

Ford Fiesta has reached its 1 millionth sale around the world, and Fiesta owners can get in on the fun by submitting photos of themselves with their car to the Ford Fiesta Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fordfiesta. Fans can vote on their favorite images, and the most popular will be chosen to be included in the “Fiesta: Road to 1 Million” collage on Facebook.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk to take the Ford Fiesta for a test drive of your own.

Source: The Ford Story

Ford F-Series Trucks at 2010 SEMA Show

Ford F-Series trucks have long been known for their definitive power and capability, but they’re also admired for the versatility of the platform, which can be adapted to everything from off-roading to low-riding. At the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas this week, the versatility of F-Series is shining in the industry spotlight.

“These trucks sell imagery across the board,” said Melvin Betancourt, Ford specialty design manager. “Customers in the truck world want to go off-roading, or at least have the image that they can, or have a truck they can cruise in. We have trucks that fit everything in those categories.”

F-Series trucks have not only been a major presence at SEMA, but they have also garnered three awards in the past five years, including the Accessory-Friendly Truck design award. They have also been awarded Motor Trend’s Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from SEMA for the 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept. Additionally, Ford F-Series is the best-selling line of trucks in the marketplace for 33 years running and the most customized trucks in the $31.85 billion aftermarket industry.

The 2011 Ford F-150 offers an all-new powertrain lineup, including a new 3.7-liter V6 engine that is projected to deliver best-in-class 23 mpg highway, pending final EPA certification. A new twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ engine with Ti-VCT also will be available, and has been torture-tested for tough truck use in the lab and on the road. The new 5.0-liter V8 engine is projected to deliver best-in-class 21 mpg highway pending EPA certification.

The F-Series dynamic duo is rounded out with an all-new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty, with the first Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-manufactured heavy-duty diesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbocharged engine. This versatile Ford diesel is a key reason why the 2011 F-Series Super Duty has best-in-class payload of 7,070 pounds and best-in-class towing capability of 24,400 pounds.

F-Series project trucks showcased at this year’s SEMA show include:

2011 Ford F-150 by Godfather Customs
Godfather Customs is demonstrating that going green can still mean style with its Ford F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. Modifications include a 2.5-inch cowl induction hood, bumper cover and roll pan and handle relocator. A tonneau bed cover and liner and halo taillamps round out the customizations.

2011 Ford F-150 by A.R.E. Accessories
This Ford F-150 by A.R.E. Accessories promotes the mission of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to educate, honor and preserve the history of professional football. Featuring hall of fame styling, the truck is painted with a stadium silhouette and features pigskin leather and materials reminiscent of the gold hall of fame jackets inside. The bed will display notable hall of fame memorabilia, while a wrap on the interior of the bed will simulate the hall of fame enshrinement gallery.

2011 Ford F-150 by Mickey Thompson
The Mickey Thompson Project TTC F-150 is the perfect off-road vehicle, with the new 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC Radical tires, Fabtech 6-inch suspension, PIAA auxiliary lighting and Warn Industries winch recovery gear. The interior comes with Katzkin leather and aftermarket audio, video and navigation enhancements. For additional utility, the truck features a BedSlide cargo management system and AMP Research power steps.

2011 Ford F-150 by The Custom Shop
On this Ford F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine by The Custom Shop, shaved handles, lightweight tonneau cover, lightweight rims and low-rolling-resistance tires help enhance looks and mileage. The green theme carries into the styling, with a custom show paint job with a detailed pinstripe border using a low-VOC-emissions DuPont paint. The interior matches the exterior styling with custom Katzkin tan and black leather.

2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Rize Industries
This Ford F-350 is a motocross concept that uses top-quality products with the highest standards in craftsmanship. The truck features a Rize Industries 8-inch quad-link suspension that offers additional ground clearance. The bed comes complete with a built-in loading ramp, power washer, air compressor, built-in motorcycle stand and storage space for riding gear.

2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms
Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms delivers the Pit Boss, the ultimate tow and support vehicle built off a Ford F-350 Super Duty platform. Built to haul a race car to the track and serve as a mobile pit, the truck offers a bed-mounted tire cage and custom swing-case toolboxes. The interior features custom headliner and leather upholstery, along with sound-deadening material and an in-dash computer system.

2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Skyjacker Suspensions
Skyjacker Suspensions’ Ford F-350 Super Duty is made to appeal to the active lifestyle of the Super Duty owner. A Skyjacker-developed 8.5-inch suspension offers a bold lift for work and play, and will let the owner go deeper into the field. Heavy-duty front and rear Fab Fours bumpers are added along with a Warn Industries winch and lights to round out the tough look.

Source: Ford

37th Annual Neptune Festival

Beach Ford is pleased to provide vehicles to pull floats in the Neptune Festival Parade such as the Hometown Heroes float shown here. Beach Ford is also proud to sponsor the Hometown Heroes' Breakfast which honors local heroes from each branch of the Armed Forces, as well as Education, Fire, Police and EMS. We salute them all for a job well done.

Alan Mullaly Returns for the Third Straight Keynote Address at the 2011 International CES

Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer, will deliver a keynote address at the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas on Jan. 7. As part of his remarks, Mulally will discuss the latest Ford breakthroughs in infotainment technologies and new vehicle innovations.

“It’s an honor to be invited back to deliver a keynote address,” Mulally said. “As we work to serve our customers with the very best cars and trucks with best-in-class, smart technology, the consumer electronics industry plays a really important role, and there’s no better place to deliver technology news than the International CES.”

This marks Ford’s third keynote address at International CES, where Ford last year received a “Best of CES” award from CNET and Popular Mechanics’ Editor’s Choice award for its MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology.

Through SYNC and MyFord Touch, Ford has helped make vehicles a connected destination for mobile devices, all while helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Ford has applied best practices from the consumer electronics and wireless industries with its decision to move from using hardware to software-based platforms and fundamentally has changed the way consumers and businesses will interact with vehicles down the road.

“Alan Mulally has been instrumental in Ford’s leadership in the automotive industry and its success in a challenging economy,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association, the producer of International CES. “Ford constantly innovates and launches new technologies, like SYNC with speech recognition, that make the driving experience safer through technology. We are thrilled to welcome Alan back to the CES keynote stage and eagerly await the automotive innovations he will unveil.”

Ford also plans to quadruple its display space at International CES versus this year’s show. The new Ford display area will feature a full complement of interactive exhibits and demonstrations of technology, from safety to sustainability to connectivity.

CES is the world’s largest consumer technology trade show and takes place Jan. 6-9.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk to learn more about all the latest Ford technology.

Source: Ford

Introducing Focus Rally

Ford is teaming up with the Emmy Award-winning creators of The Amazing Race, Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, to create Focus Rally: America. This will be the first real-time interactive road rally starring the new Ford Focus.

Consumers will be able to engage with Focus Rally: America in three ways: watching the show on Hulu™, becoming fans and followers of the rally teams on Facebook and actively playing along in challenges to support their favorite team. Not only can you follow along in real time, but you will also have the ability to impact the outcome of the game.

The rally will feature six teams of two people competing against one another to complete tasks in a challenging cross-country road rally adventure to win a $100,000 grand prize plus 10 new Focuses for fans and supporters of the winning team.

Long- and short-form webisodes will stream on Hulu five times a week. Additional content will be generated by participants, giving fans and supporters a glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes in real time across various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Content also will be posted at focusrally.com.

“We learned a lot from Fiesta Movement, and by teaming up with the talented co-creators of The Amazing Race and Hulu, we saw a tremendous opportunity to generate excitement and awareness for the 2012 Ford Focus in a unique way,” said Matt VanDyke, Ford Director of U.S. Marketing. “Ford has been in the original content space for a while, and we continuously look for opportunities to work with creative partners in a collaborative way. For us, this is a natural progression from integrating product into existing programs to creating our own.”

As the vehicle that the competitors drive in the rally, the 2012 Ford Focus will be prominent throughout the program. Players will use the Focus class-leading new technology – such as Ford SYNC®, MyFord Touch™ and the Navigation System – to complete tasks and challenges.

Ford is putting out a nationwide casting call for people to participate in Focus Rally: America.

“We’re looking for people who want to have a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure,” said VanDyke. “Like Fiesta Movement, we want people who are highly connected through social media and have a built-in group of fans and supporters. They also need to have a big personality and be entertaining on camera.”

People interested in participating can apply in one of two ways. They can submit an application online at focusrally.com, where they will be asked to upload a video explaining why they would be the ideal candidate for the show. Or they can apply in person at auditions that will be held in 11 cities: Los Angeles, Tampa, Austin, Boston, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Houston, Orlando and Las Vegas.

The initial casting call schedule can be found at focusrally.com. Applications will be accepted through mid-November, and all finalists will meet with one of the show’s casting directors before the final cast is selected.

Focus Rally: America will start Feb. 1, 2011, and run for five weeks, leading up to the launch of the new 2012 Ford Focus in both North America and Europe. Fans who tune in to the show or visit their local Ford dealership will find the new Focus offers more affordable technologies and features than ever in the C-car segment.

For more information, click here to visit focusrally.com.

Source: The Ford Story

Ford Warriors in Pink Amps Up Fight Against Breast Cancer

Ford Motor Company is honoring the Warriors and survivors of Breast Cancer by symbolically lighting the World Headquarters in pink throughout the month of October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The company has also developed a unique social media program designed to increase awareness and support for the cause.

Ford is celebrating its 16th year as National Series Sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® – to date, dedicating more than $105 million to the cause. Following the ceremonial lighting of World Headquarters, the company launched a month-long initiative tied to its yearly Warriors in Pink program on Facebook to raise additional funds and encourage more people to join Ford in the fight to eradicate breast cancer, which claims more than 450,000 lives each year.

“This is a way for us demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the cause and encourage others to join us in the fight against this deadly disease,” said Connie Fontaine, Luxury and Non-Traditional Communications manager. “We know that increased awareness leads to early detection, and early detection saves lives. Our fans on Facebook are loyal and passionate and we are hopeful they will use this powerful tool to help amplify and spread the early detection message.”

Throughout the month of October, Ford will donate $1 to Komen for every new fan who joins the Warriors in Pink Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fordwarriorsinpink, up to $100,000. Each day, one fan will be selected at random to receive a piece of apparel from the 2010 Warriors in Pink collection, which includes hats, scarves, t-shirts, ties and accessories.

Ford also is launching a new application on the Warriors in Pink Facebook page that is designed to generate online conversation and support by enabling fans to send personalized messages featuring Warriors in Pink symbols to their family members and friends.

“This is our way of spreading the message throughout the virtual community,” explained Fontaine. “The 12 Warriors in Pink symbols represent different parts of the breast cancer journey – from the Dove that represents the wish for quiet peace during the battle to the Crowned Warriors that remind people that breast cancer touches the lives of both men and women.”

If you would like to learn more about Ford Warriors in Pink, please visit www.fordcares.com.

The Focus Global Test Drive – Start More Than a Car.

Ford has created a test drive like no other to kick-start the launch of the next-generation Ford Focus. Ford is inviting digital influencers to participate in a global test drive competition. Winners will be among the first in the world to drive the all-new Focus before its arrival in European and North American dealerships in early 2011 – and raise money for their favorite charities in the process.

The Focus Global Test Drive – Start More Than a Car program is another concrete example of the ongoing commitment by Ford to involve customers in the product development process and encourages them to tell the Ford story.

Beginning shortly after the 2010 Paris Motor, test-drive applications will be accepted to attend this first-of-its-kind event via Facebook on the Global Drive tab.

“The Global Test Drive gives us an opportunity to reach out to consumers around the world and involve them in the launch of our new Focus while giving to their local charity,” said Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “We’ve learned through our previous social media initiatives that turning the brand over to consumers early on helps build awareness and interest in the product.”

Applicants will be asked to submit a video clip to the Focus Facebook page explaining why they should be selected to participate in the event and how they might “Start Something More” with a charitable cause in their community with a donation from Ford.

Each driver will be awarded the local-market equivalent of $10,000 (USD) for a charitable cause, with up to $500,000 (USD) in total contributions around the world.

Participants will be chosen based on a combination of their reach in social networks, content creation skills and volume of “likes” generated, among other factors. Ford also will invite established bloggers and online influencers.

The Focus Global Test Drive event will be held in early 2011 in southern Europe. Behind-the-wheel activities will be designed to give the participants an early yet comprehensive look at the next new car from Ford in fun and unusual ways. Participants will be asked to capture and document their experiences for sharing within their individual social network spheres.

Are you a social networking pro? Beach Ford encourages members of the Beach Ford Family to participate in The Focus Global Test Drive. You could be one of the first people in the world to test drive a next-generation Ford Focus while earning money for a charitable cause.

Source: TheFordStory

This Month’s Note from Tom Barton. September 2010.

Dear Beach Ford Family,

If you need something to remind you of how lucky we are to live in Hampton Roads, consider the weather in September and October. Temperatures in the low 80’s and much lower humidity are a much needed respite from our summers of energy-draining heat and suffocating humidity. Back to school, football, oyster roasts, and cool evenings are themes of the day. There is something good about putting on a pair of jeans at night, again. Yes, most days, this time of year weather-wise, give up nothing to even the fairest climates in the world.

Fall, also, means exciting things like “model year-end sales events.” A great time to purchase a new Beach Ford since the Ford factory incentives tend to be at their highest in order to move out the 2010 models, making way for the 2011’s. Beach Ford and Beach Ford Lincoln still have a good supply of new 2010 that can be purchased at great savings! It’s an exciting time of year!

Equally exciting, are some of the community events Beach Ford has been involved with for many years. It is always gratifying to help with community projects, fundraisers, and charities, but when you have been involved with one for 28 years, it’s very special. This October 9th marks the 28th anniversary of the Beach Ford All-American Run to benefit the Kingston Elementary PTA. As a member of the Beach Ford Family, we invite you to participate in the event by going to this link http://www.tidewaterstriders.com/docs/races/allamerican5k10.pdf and sign up to run! We would love to have you!

Since 1982, Beach Ford, the parents, teachers, and students of Kingston have participated in a 5K and 1 mile run each Fall. The event has raised tens-of-thousands of dollars for education at Kingston Elementary and has been one of our very favorite community events. In fact, many parents whose children graduated from Kingston Elementary 20 or 30 years ago, still come each year to cheer on the younger generation and catch-up with old friends. It’s really an anachronism or rather a “throw-back” event involving families, the people who teach their children, and a local business. All feeling a connection and a purpose. Old and young alike, cheering each other on and having fun as a community. Yes, for a few hours in early October each year, in the King’s Grant and Little Neck neighborhoods, no one can deny the feeling that they are indeed among the strongest of communities. Indeed, they are.

Beach Ford is very proud to have been a part of this for 28 wonderful years!

Thank you for being a part of the Beach Ford Family!
Tom Barton



Ford and the City of Seattle Partner to Prepare City for Electric Vehicles

Ford Motor Company and the City of Seattle announced a partnership to help prepare the city for the operation of electric vehicles. Ford and the City of Seattle will work together to develop consumer outreach and education programs on electric vehicles as well as share information to ensure the electrical grid can support the necessary demand.

“Ford has an aggressive plan to bring five new electrified vehicles to market over the next two years including the Transit Connect Electric later this year and the Focus battery electric in 2011,” said Mike Tinskey, Manager of Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure, Ford Motor Company. “There is an incredible excitement for electric vehicles in Seattle. To support the roll out and acceptance of these vehicles in Seattle and across the country, it is important to work with local utilities to make sure the necessary infrastructure and demand on the grid are ready.”

The partnership between Ford and the City of Seattle also involves working with the state and local governments around permitting, electric vehicle tax incentives, and future legislations or regulations. Continued tax incentives as well as an easy process for obtaining charging station permits are both considered keys to electric vehicle acceptance in Seattle and across the country.

“I am pleased Seattle is working to support the environmental benefits of electric vehicles,” Mayor Mike McGinn said. “We are working with Ford to better understand the needs these vehicles will have so we can provide local owners with excellent service to support electric cars.”

The collaboration between Ford and the City of Seattle was announced during Ford’s “Charging Into the Future Tour.” The 14-city tour, which kicked off in Portland, Oregon earlier this week, promotes Ford’s electric vehicle strategy and educates consumers about what to expect from electrified automobiles and what is needed from the public and private sector to support this new technology.

Over the next two years, Ford will introduce the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Ford Focus Electric passenger car, two third-generation lithium-ion battery hybrids (2012) and a plug-in hybrid (2012).

These vehicles will achieve breakthrough efficiency; some, like the pure battery electric vehicles Ford Transit Connect Electric and Ford Focus Electric, will use no gasoline at all.

Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy that includes a range of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies including EcoBoost engines, six speed transmissions, power assisted steering, aerodynamic improvements and light weighting materials.

Ford’s electrification strategy also leverages the most fuel-efficient powertrains, the most technically competent hybrids and our global vehicle platforms in order to develop affordable choices for consumers.

To learn more about Ford’s electrification strategy, visit Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk, and talk to a member of our team.

Source: Ford

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Brings Road Racing Legend to the Streets

Ford gave the green light only once before: In 1968, management approved a special Mustang – a car that sacrificed nothing in its quest to be the best all-around road-going performance machine ever created by Ford Motor Company. That car became the 1969 Mustang Boss 302, and it remains one of the world’s most sought-after examples of American performance.

Forty-two years later, Ford has given the green light again.

The team of Ford engineers, designers and stylists – all Mustang enthusiasts to the core – that created the groundbreaking 2011 Mustang GT has distilled a new model to its purest form, strengthening, lightening and refining each system to create a race car with a license plate. Its name: the 2012 Mustang Boss 302.

“The decision to build a modern Boss was not entered into lightly,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “The entire team at Ford felt the time was right and with the right ingredients, the world-class 2011 Mustang could support a successful, race-bred, worthy successor to the original Boss 302. For us that meant a production Mustang that could top one of the world’s best – the 2010 BMW M3 – in lap times at Laguna Seca. We met our expectations.”

The 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is packed with raw, unbridled performance across the spectrum: Acceleration, handling, braking, and top speed are all equally matched for perfect balance on a car operating within the framework of legally defined safety, noise and emissions regulations.

“The team at Ford wanted to offer their fellow Mustang enthusiasts something really special – a beautifully balanced factory-built race car that they could drive on the street,” explains Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The Boss 302 isn’t something a Mustang GT owner can buy all the parts for out of a catalog or that a tuner can get by adding a chip. This is a front-to-back re-engineered Mustang with every system designed to make a good driver great and a great driver even better.”

The V8 engine team knew that a new intake was essential to achieve the high-rpm horsepower that would make the engine competitive on the track. More aggressive control calibration yields 440 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque, while still offering a smooth idle and low-end torque for comfortable around-town driving. And power is delivered to a 3.73 ratio rear axle using carbon fiber plates in the limited-slip differential to improve torque handling and longevity.

Meanwhile, another team made sure the car made the kind of sounds owners and enthusiasts would expect from a Mustang Boss.

Up front, a Boss-specific intake system is tuned to feed the engine with minimum restrictions. A retuned induction sound tube provides concrete aural evidence of what’s occurring under the hood.

Every Boss features a unique quad exhaust system: Two outlets exit in the rear similar to a standard Mustang GT. The other two outlets exit to either side of the exhaust crossover, sending exhaust through a set of metal discs that act as tuning elements before the pipes terminate just ahead of the rear wheel opening. Visually subtle, the side pipes flow very little exhaust but a lot of exhaust sound, providing a sonic experience unlike any other Mustang – and giving home tuners an additional avenue for modification.

“We added the attenuation discs to meet legal regulations, but we knew buyers might operate these cars in situations where noise regulations weren’t an issue,” explains Shawn Carney, Mustang NVH engineer. “The disc is removable and includes a spacer plate sized to match aftermarket exhaust dump valves. If an owner wants to add a set of electric valves, they just undo two bolts on either side; the disc and spacer slide out and the valve will slide right in. And the side pipes are tuned so that drivers can run wide-open and the sound levels are comfortable – very aggressive but livable for an all-day track outing.”

In keeping with the Boss mandate to provide the best-handling Mustang ever, the already strong Mustang GT suspension system has been further refined. Higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar all contribute to the road racing mission, and Boss models are lowered by 11 millimeters at the front and 1 millimeter at the rear versus the Mustang GT. The real key to handling, though, is in the adjustable shocks and struts, standard on all Boss Mustang models.

Working in concert with the suspension upgrades, Boss 302 receives unique, lightweight 19-inch black alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 9.5 inches in the rear. The Pirelli PZero summer tires are sized specifically for each end of the vehicle, with the front wheels receiving 255/40ZR-19 tires while the rear stays planted thanks to 285/35ZR-19 rubber.

The combined suspension and tire package allows Boss to achieve a top speed of 155 mph and become the first non-SVT Mustang ever to achieve more than 1.0 g of lateral acceleration.

“Boss is a hallowed word around here, and we couldn’t put that name on a new Mustang until we were sure everything was in place to make this car a worthy successor,” explains Pericak “We were either going to do it right or not do it at all – no one on the team was going to let Boss become a sticker and wheel package.

Sources: Ford.com, 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 mini site

The Ford “Future of Safety Tour” Comes to Virginia Beach

Ford Motor Company is partnering with AAA Tidewater Virginia and Drive Safe Hampton Roads to highlight and demonstrate the future of auto safety in Hampton Roads. Ford will showcase the innovations it is rapidly bringing to market, such as the world’s first rear inflatable seat belt, to help protect people in crashes and other technologies the company is implementing in its vehicles to help drivers avoid potential dangers.

Participants will have the opportunity to see firsthand how Ford is using smart sensors, including radar, camera and wireless technologies, to develop new crash avoidance and driver assist systems that detect and help drivers recognize and respond to collision risks more quickly.

Featured safety technologies include MyKey™; SYNC®: Traffic, Directions & Information; BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System); Active Park Assist; Integrated Blind Spot Mirrors; and Cross Traffic Alert.

The event also offers a sneak peek at the next-generation, yet-to-be-revealed Ford Explorer, which goes into production later in 2010, and includes the world’s first inflatable seat belts for rear passengers and a next-generation radar-enabled collision warning system.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 13th to experience Ford’s innovative crash avoidance and protection technologies. AAA Tidewater Virginia and Drive Safe Hampton Roads will also be making remarks during the event.

WHAT: Ford “Future of Safety Tour” Event

WHO: Ford Motor Company, AAA Tidewater Virginia, and Drive Safe Hampton Roads

WHERE: AAA Tidewater Virginia
5366 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462

WHEN: Tuesday, July 13th at 11:30 AM

Please call (804) 677-8270 or e-mail dbass22@ford.com to RSVP or if you have questions. Thank you.

Ford Fiesta Returns to ESPN’s X Games

The Ford Fiesta had a memorable debut at the 2009 X Games, when it won both gold and bronze. This year the Ford Fiesta will return to defend its title with an all-star four-man driver lineup in Los Angeles, July 29 to Aug. 1.

The team will include Ford rally superstar Ken Block, and last year’s trio of gold medal winner Kenny Brack, bronze medal winner Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan, who edged Block in a quarterfinal matchup in 2009.

“The Fiesta’s gold medal-winning debut in the rally competition at X Games last year captured the spirit of the Fiesta as it arrives in North America,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “The Fiesta made a statement in 2009, taking two spots on the podium. This year we are ready to make another statement with an all-star, four-Fiesta driver lineup whose accomplishments speak for themselves.”

Block proved that not only is the all-new Ford Fiesta fun to drive and easy to maneuver, but it is also reliably fast as he piloted the Monster World Rally Team Fiesta to victory earlier this year at the 2010 Rally America 100 Acre Wood Rally. It marked the first win for Fiesta in a North American stage rally and the first for Fiesta in Rally America competition.

“X Games is one of the most fun and unique events of the year for me,” said Block. “I really enjoy hanging out in L.A. with all my friends and racing in a very intense and crazy atmosphere. Plus this year I get to actually drive the Fiesta at X Games, the car that beat me in 2009.”

Also returning to X Games in a Fiesta is the man everyone will be trying to beat, 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack, who made his X Games debut and won the rally competition.

“I participated in X Games last year as a one-off favor to a friend, but I really enjoyed it and when Olsbergs, Ford and the X Games wanted me to return to defend my title, I was more than happy to commit,” said Brack. “It felt really good to be back in the hot seat in the U.S. last year and X Games is a phenomenal event. As I look to defend my title this year, I know I will be a target. Last year was great, but this year there will be a different track and I am looking forward to the new challenges.”

The all-new Fiesta features a lively design, fuel-efficient engine, high-quality materials, and a number of exclusive features and technologies. Fiesta delivers best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg.

The available PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission combines the fuel economy of a manual with the convenience of a traditional automatic in one advanced, dual dry-clutch package.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk to take one for a test drive.

Source: Ford.com

Students Develop Future In-Car Connectivity Apps

Ford, the University of Michigan, Microsoft and Intel gave students a rare opportunity to develop their ideas of future in-car connectivity. The research project resulted in experimental applications combining social networks, GPS location awareness, and real-time vehicle data.

The applications were developed by students enrolled in a 12-week course set up by Ford Research and Advanced Engineering—Cloud Computing in the Commute, at the University of Michigan. It prototyped social networking and transportation apps as part of a larger Ford initiative called American Journey 2.0, which is a joint open innovation research project involving Microsoft and Intel.

“We consider the collaboration between Ford and the University of Michigan a model for innovation and open collaboration, and it’s an exciting way to help shape tomorrow’s work force,” said Venkatesh Prasad, group and technical leader of the Infotronics team in Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “Our philosophy is to constantly seek new channels of innovation, and the opportunity to share Ford’s platform and expertise in a university environment has been invaluable.” Read the rest of this entry »

Fiesta Movement Agents Bring Local Personalities to Stardom

Fiesta Movement Chapter 2 has 20 teams of two agents bringing the 2011 Fiesta to life through missions inspired by the new small Ford car. A natural progression from the first phase of the Fiesta Movement, missions will be centered on each team’s neighborhood, with agents tapping into their local communities to help execute and promote the missions.

The Movement has garnered significant numbers on social media sites – nearly 110,000 YouTube views, more than 32,000 Flickr views and more than 2.8 million Twitter impressions. The journey now continues with the second mission, “We Are the Dreamers of Dreams,” which has the agents finding a local musician, band or comedian, and helping raise that entertainer’s profile in their communities.

Agent teams will have to plan special events in honor of the entertainers, and promote them to drive awareness and attendance. Additionally, teams are connecting with local radio stations to produce interviews with their entertainers, from the front seat of the Fiesta.

Throughout the mission, agents will document their adventure and post it on their team page, where fans and followers can be part of the experience online at www.fiestamovement2.com. The best content will be recognized based on community engagement and online consumer interactions and will then be amplified locally and nationally.

To learn more about the Ford Fiesta, visit Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk today.

Source: Ford.com

Ford Launches “Operation Drive One” to Salute Troops and Support Military Charity

Hampton Roads, mark your calendars for August 7, 2010. Ford just launched “Operation Drive One” to honor the men and women of the armed forces while raising money for one of the largest U.S. military charities.

Ford, a long time supporter of the military, will salute military personnel, veterans, family and friends with a 10-base national tour designed to provide a fun-filled day of entertainment including exciting driving challenges, interactive vehicle displays of Ford’s newest products and technologies and classic car shows, all while raising money for the National Military Family Association.

“Family has always been at the core of Ford Motor Company, and through Operation Drive One, we’re not only honoring our military family but also providing their families with fun, interactive events to enjoy together,” said John Felice, General Manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing. “Even better, each event will raise money for one of the largest military charities by making a donation for each attendee who takes a spin in one of our new vehicles.”

Every stop along the tour includes “Drive one 4 UR Troops,” a test drive program that allows individuals to test drive an new Ford vehicle and help raise money to support the troops. For each test drive taken at the event, $20 (up to $10,000) will be donated to the local chapter of the National Military Family Association (NMFA).

“Ford: Operation Drive one” will also include experiential displays that demonstrate Ford’s class-leading fuel economy, quality, safety and technology features. A precision driving course will allow consumers to get behind the wheel of a new 2011 Ford Mustang or 2011 Ford Fiesta to race against the clock. Interactive vehicle displays, children’s activities and a car show with local enthusiast clubs will round out the experience.

Additionally, Ford will salute eight randomly-selected active duty and veteran service members with a trip to the Ford Championship NASCAR race weekend in November. From those eight, two recipients will also win a new 2011 Ford Mustang and one grand prize winner will be awarded an exclusive Toby Keith concert for his or her home base. All current and former members of the military can enter to win at any of the tour stops or at www.fordoperationdriveone.com.

“Ford: Operation Drive one” 2010 tour stops are scheduled to include:
• Fort Sill (Lawton, OK) , April 24
• Nellis Air Force Base (Las Vegas, NV)
• Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, CA)
• Fort Lewis (Fort Lewis, WA)
• Fort Hood (Killeen, TX)
• Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Jacksonville, FL)
• Norfolk Naval Station (Norfolk, VA)
• Andrews Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.)
• Fort Benning (Columbus, GA)
• Fort Bragg (Fayetteville, NC)

Visit www.fordoperationdriveone.com for a complete schedule, please note events are subject to change.

Source: Ford.com

2011 Ford Mustang GT Named Daytona 500 Pace Car

For the first time in 40 years, a Ford will serve as the pace car for the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500. The 2011 Mustang GT will start the race on Feb. 14 at the Daytona International Speedway.

“Having the opportunity to pace America’s biggest auto race with a Ford icon like the 2011 Mustang GT is truly an honor,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “And to have the new 5.0-liter engine powering the car will be a great way to demonstrate its power and class-leading fuel economy.”

The 2011 Mustang GT circling the track will be a Race Red glass roof coupe with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine capable of producing 412 horsepower, while delivering an impressive 25 mpg on the highway.

Read the rest of this entry »

Alan Mulally was a Star at the North American Interantional Auto Show

Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally was the toast of the North American International Auto Show last week.

At the opening press conference, Mulally spoke of Ford’s “growth in every region around the world.”

Ford won awards for both car and truck of the year and unveiled the Focus compact, which Mulally plans to sell worldwide.

The company began 2010 by posting its first annual gain in U.S. market share since 1995 and the best sales growth in December among its peers.
Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Mustang Performs Magic Tricks on the Las Vegas Stip

Vaughn Gittin Jr, a world champion drifter, kicked off Ford Mustang’s “10 Unleashed” campaign by taking the car to drift the streets of Japan.

Now, during the tenth and final installment of Unleashed, Gittin is teaming up with Steve Wyrick, a famous Las Vegas magician, to perform one of the biggest illusions to hit the Las Vegas strip.

“My grandfather’s prize possession in life was a 1970 Mustang Mach 1, one of the sickest cars you could imagine,” said Wyrick. “Knowing of my grandfather’s love for the Mustang, I wanted to incorporate the 2010 Mustang into one of my acts and unleash my Mustang side by performing one of my biggest illusions yet on the Las Vegas Strip.”

Imagine Wyrick shackled by police in the middle of the strip, while Gittin races down the strip in a silver 2010 Mustang.

“Our goal was to make the final ’10 unleashed experience something truly unforgettable,” said Steve Ling, N.A. car marketing manager, Ford Motor Company. “To have Vaughn race down the Las Wegas Stip in Spellbinder after kicking off the campaign by drifting the Mustang around Japan was a perfect ending to a great campaign.”

To watch Wyrick, Gittin and the 2010 Mustang perform the seemingly impossible on the Las Vegas Strip, check out the video that includes behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot:

Stop by one of the Beach Ford show rooms in Virginia Beach or Suffolk and Unleash your Mustang dream.

Source: Ford.com

Ford’s Year End Sales Event

Ford’s Year End Sales Event is going on right now at Beach Ford! This is great time for you to take home a new Ford from the 2009-2010 lineup, with Ford’s wonderful financing, cash back, and leasing options.

Beach Ford has a huge list of APR and Cash Back Specials on select 2010 Fords, Lincolns and Mercurys. These special offers on select 2009-2010 Ford cars, trucks and SUVs start at rates of 0% APR financing plus $1000 cash back.

For more information, Click Here.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk today to learn more about these amazing deals!

Ford Fiestas at the L.A. Auto Show

Ford and Best Buy Team Up

Ford and Best Buy just completed a one-month pilot program in the Dallas area. The program was aimed at building awareness of the SYNC in-vehicle connectivity system, while also promoting mobile technical support through Best Buy Mobile stores and Geek Squad nationwide.

“In combination with our terrific Ford dealership network, we’ve given consumers through our Best Buy relationship a way to fully experience the power and performance of SYNC,” said John Felice, general marketing manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury Divisions.

Local Ford dealerships teamed up with 30 Best Buy locations to offer consumers free SYNC demos in SYNC-equipped vehicles. Meanwhile Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners could sign up for personal SYNC tutorials and phone compatibility testing and upgrades. Nearly 3,500 demos and 400 owner clinics were completed.
Read the rest of this entry »

Ford Presents 2009 “WISE PRIZE”

Engineering student Zoe Burton is the seventh winner of the Ford WISE (Women Into Science and Engineering) prize, the annual award that recognizes exceptional women studying engineering.

Burton, who plans to graduate in the summer with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Durham, received her £1,000 prize from Her Royal Highness Princess Anne at the WISE awards ceremony in London.

Backed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Ford and the WISE campaign give the annual award to their chosen female engineering student. Burton, 22, and all of her competitors were put through a stringent selection process including an interview by a panel of engineering professors.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ford Fusion Named 2010 Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of the Year

The Ford Fusion was named the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year, beating 23 contenders including the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, BMW 7 series and Mercedes-Benz E Class.

The Fusion is now among America’s Top 10 selling vehicles, and is the number one selling domestic car.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with the sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top ten best selling cars in America.”

To win the prestigious award, the Fusion had to outperform the competition in six new categories: design achievement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

“The Fusion brought a vast assortment of choice that has the potential to appeal to every type of driver, from the eco-conscious to the sport-minded. The Fusion’s combination of comfort, fuel efficiency, assortment and technology made it a clear winner among our panel of judges,” said MacKenzie.

With its unsurpassed quality, best-in-class fuel economy, class exclusive technologies and significant residual value improvement, the 2010 Ford Fusion is clearly delivering the key attributes that midsize sedan buyers want.

“Even at a time when industry-wide sales are down 26 percent, Fusion sales continue to grow,” said Ford Sales Analyst George Pipas. “That is extraordinary.”

To check out the 2010 Ford Fusion or to learn more, stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk.

Source: The Ford Story

Automobile Magazine Names Ford’s CEO Their 2010 Man of the Year.

Automobile Magazine named Ford’s CEO their 2010 Man of the Year.

“A year ago, when the heads of Detroit's Big Three - GM's Rick Wagoner, Ford's Alan Mulally, and Chrysler's Bob Nardelli - appeared in the infamous Capitol Hill bailout hearings, many lawmakers, and many Americans, decided that this trio from the industrial heartland could all be tarred with the bad-CEO brush. There was a telling moment, during a discussion about executive compensation, when the three CEOs were asked if they were willing to work for a dollar a year.

Mulally's polite reply, "I think I'm OK where I am," was a juicy piece of red meat for the national media, who were as one in their downright contempt for these three men and the industry they represented. CNN's Anderson Cooper literally sneered in disgust.

The truth of the matter was hard to ascertain in that politically charged Senate hearing room, but it's now obvious: Alan Mulally was, and is, worth whatever Ford is paying him, because he has almost single-handedly saved the automaker. The Ford Motor Company, unlike its two Detroit rivals, has not declared bankruptcy and has not dipped its hand into the TARP trough. (In fact, Mulally took a 30 percent pay cut and declared that he would indeed reduce his salary to $1 per year if Ford took government funds. "I'll do well when Ford does well," he tells us.) Ford stands alone as the sole Big Three automaker that is still an independent entity. For this achievement, and for steering Ford onto a clearly defined road toward success, Alan Mulally is Automobile Magazine's 2010 Man of the Year.”

Click here to read Automobile Magazine’s full article.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association Show Includes Some Impressive Fords

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show consists of thousands of companies that make and sell components to enhance the performance or appearance of a car.

Unfortunately, the show is not open to the public. So Ford did us a favor and reported the show highlights.

The 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang

The Cobra Jet is part of the renewed emphasis on grassroots and sportsman outreach. It marks the continued evoution of the CJ as a factory produced turnkey race car.

Like the 2008 model, this car is a factory-built race car that is intended for NHRA Stock and Super Stock racing. The goal for the 2010 Cobra Jet was to enhance the race features to further make its own place in NHRA history.

Available enhancements for the 2010 Cobra Jet Mustangs include option for a full race-prepared automatic or manual transmission drag race specific automatic or manual transmission, drag race specific shocks and springs, manual steering and brakes, 8.50 certified rollcage, and an Aeromitive return-style fuel system with trunk-mounted fuel cell.
Read the rest of this entry »

If you own a 2010 Fusion, Ford wants to hear from you.

Ford is looking for passionate 2010 Fusion owners to participate in an automotive relay race. The Fusion owner of the winning team will have their vehicle paid off, and team members will win free gas for one year.

Applicants must be passionate about their Fusion and have a strong desire and ability to spread the word about it using social media sites.

If you’re interested in applying, go to www.fusion41.com.

The Details:

The Fusion 41 program was named for the 41 mpg fuel economy that makes the Fusion America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan.

Eight 2010 Fusion owners from around the country will be selected to participate in the program. Applicants must have a current Facebook profile with a minimum of 100 friends and an active photo collection.

Each participant will choose four friends or family members to join their team, and each team will be given a 2010 Ford Fusion or Fusion Hyrbid to drive in an automotive relay race. Each team member must fulfill an assigned task within 41 hours, tracking competitive variables such as miles driven, stops made or the number of passengers picked up. Additionally, they must provide proof by uploading photos and videos to various social media sites.

“Fusion 41 is a fun way to engage customers and get them talking about the all-new 2010 Fusion,” said Jeff Eggen, Ford Car Experiential Marketing manager. “There’s no better way to spread the word about our new products than by putting them into the hands of prospective customers and enabling them to experience our vehicles firsthand.”

To learn more about the 2010 Ford Fusion, stop by a Beach Ford dealership in Virginia Beach or Suffolk, VA.

Source: The Ford Story

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ford is proud of its 15-year National Sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure. Through its Warriors in Pink program, Ford has dedicated more than $100 million to the breast cancer cause.

More than 50,000 Ford employees have run or walked in races across the country to support the cause, and thousands of Ford dealers across the nation have gotten involved by participating in the Komen Race for the Cure at their local race sites.

Now, for the first time, Ford Warriors in Pink is offering a piece of apparel designed exclusively for men. Men can now demonstrate their support in the fight against breast cancer by wearing the new Warriors in Pink necktie.

The 100 percent silk king twill tie is patterned with multicolor stripes and has the Ford Warriors in Pink signature logo screened into the bottom right hand corner.

The tie and all other apparel are available online at www.fordcares.com for $26, with 100 percent of the net proceeds directly benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Also, when a consumer test drives a Ford vehicle from not until Dec. 31, 2009, Ford will donate $20 on his or her behalf to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate in the city of the consumer’s choice.

Stop by Beach Ford in Virginia Beach or Suffolk today.