Category Archives: Ford Fusion

Ford and Lincoln Gain Momentum as Consumer Choice

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Ford Fusion

Ford Fusion help boost August growth in sales.

Ford is on a roll!  According to WardsAuto, Ford is continuing its sales momentum with an 8.1% gain in August on a daily-rate basis, and the outlook for Ford, is looking even better.

With the average age of vehicles on U.S. roads pushing 11 years, the publication says consumers are looking to replace their old cars. In addition, since many have higher mileage vehicles, the option of a new car, truck or SUV can be even more appealing.

“When consumers come in (to dealerships), they have the choice of high-mileage used vehicles or new vehicles with low interest rates,” Ken Czubay, Ford sales chief said. He said that he believes that will help sustain and build momentum of new-vehicle sales.

So, how popular is the Ford lineup?  Ford sold 216,017 vehicles in August, with 79% of those deliveries representing retail sales. That is the highest percentage since 2006.

Small vehicles are big! Overall Ford small-car deliveries were up 30%, compared with year-ago with the Fiesta surging 55.7% and Focus rising 3.0%.

Other hot sellers include the Fusion and Explorer. These vehicles posted increases of 9.6% and 8.7%, respectively. The Fusion’s performance marked its best-ever August/

Ford says things could have been even better for the Focus, Fusion and Explorer but there were inventory  constraints. There is good news, Ford recently began production of the Fusion at its Flat Rock, MI, assembly plant to boost inventory.

As for the ever-popular Ford F-Series pickup, it was another great month. Sales climbed 18.6%, compared with like-2012, to 66,728 units.

Look at Lincoln

According to WardsAuto, things are looking good for Lincoln’s MKZ. Once again, it was the volume leader with 3,652 deliveries, a 5.8% year-over-year increase. The MKS and Navigator were up 7.3% and 9.3%, respectively.

As you can see, when you buy a Ford, you’re in good company.  Hundreds of thousands of savvy consumers agree that Ford and Lincoln have a great lineup that offers power, performance, technology and style. When you’re ready to shop a huge selection, check out www.ReedHasIt.com.

Source: http://wardsauto.com

Ford Motor Company Uses Thermal Imaging Technology to Detect Interior Leaks

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Thermal imaging cameras that help detect air leaks in vehicles, helping create quieter cabins.

Thermal imaging cameras that help detect air leaks in vehicles, helping create quieter cabins.

The engineers at Ford Motor Company are now utilizing technology that has traditionally been used by law enforcement and our military to catch high-level criminals. They  are using this technology to help them find leaks and help improve the overall interior quietness of the vehicle.

Thermal imaging cameras capture the radiation present then display it as an infrared image. The engineers then use this information to look at hot spots where the heated air escapes from the vehicle.

Ford Vs. Competition

According to data from Ford’s U.S. Global Quality Research System, the 2013 Ford Fusion earned a 67 percent approval rating for interior quietness compared to 58 percent for the 2012 Toyota Camry.*

“Ford is redefining our vehicles through many innovations – both features to improve the driving experience and fuel economy, and advanced new tools to help engineer better vehicles,” said William Dedecker, noise, vibration and harshness engineering supervisor. “We are using thermal imaging to further improve quietness so customers can enjoy the other features our vehicles offer, such as audio systems… and even the sounds of silence.”

Closing the Gap

Not only does this help Ford reduce noise and control air leaks; it helps increases heating and cooling efficiency by reducing energy loss, similar to how sealing a home prevents leaks of heated air in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

Before thermal imaging, Ford engineers relied on sensory findings to prevent air leaks. They would fill the car with smoke, then watch for the smoke to exit from small holes. They also walked around a vehicle and would feel for air leakage. In addition, they relied on non-medical stethoscopes to try to hear air leaking from the cabin, a method they still rely on to some extent.

While successful, these approaches were not as consistent. With the use of thermal imaging, engineers can speed up development time by finding results at a faster rate.

Engineers have identified several key areas that are vulnerable to air leaks and letting noise into a vehicle, including moonroofs, window glass, door trim, trunk lids and liftgates, doors and the base of the windshield.

Check out the full Ford lineup at www.ReedHasIt.com!

Read the whole store here: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=38210