Ford Wins Popular Science 'Best of What's New'

For Inflatable Rear Belts, Fiesta Small Car

Ford honored for inflatable rear seat belts and its 2011 Fiesta in latest edition of Popular Science “Best of What’s New” awards
Inflatable belts combine safety features of seat belts and airbags to help protect vulnerable rear seat passengers from head, neck and chest injuries in an accident
Ford Fiesta delivers best-in-class connectivity with its segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system and available AppLink smartphone control software
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 17, 2010 – Ford Motor Company won two 2010 “Best of What’s New” awards today from Popular Science, marking the fourth straight year Ford has been honored by the world’s top science and technology magazine. The company’s inflatable rear seat belts and 2011 Fiesta won in the automotive category and will be featured in the publication’s December issue.
“Appearing for a fourth year in the Popular Science Best of What’s New awards is an important accomplishment for Ford, proving that we’re delivering innovative technology consumers really want and can use,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “Inflatable belts show how technology can benefit safety, while Fiesta proves that customers don’t have to sacrifice high-tech features when they choose to drive a small car.”
Inflatable rear seat beltsFord recently introduced the world’s first production automotive inflatable seat belts, combining attributes of traditional seat belts and airbags to provide added crash safety protection for rear seat occupants. The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers – often children and older adults who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.
The new belts will launch on the all-new Ford Explorer, which goes into production next year for the North American market. Over time, Ford plans to offer the technology in vehicles around the world.
2011 Ford FiestaThe new 2010 Ford Fiesta is proving that cutting-edge technologies and connectivity can help redefine consumers’ small car experiences.
Fiesta features – including Push Button Start, a PowerShift transmission and Ford SYNC® hands-free communications and entertainment system – are not found on competitive products such as Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa.
Fiesta is also the first vehicle to allow hands-free control of popular smartphone apps. Using the downloadable SYNC AppLink software upgrade, 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with SYNC can control apps on their Android or BlackBerry® smartphones with voice commands and vehicle controls without having to interact with the mobile device itself.
Seeing the future through the presentInflatable belts and the Ford Fiesta both use technologies grounded in the present but packaged in innovative ways, pointing toward key applications in the future. That quality was crucial to winning the Popular Science award.
“For 23 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future,” said Mark Jannot, editor-in-chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What’s New award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − represent the highest level of achievement in their fields.”
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About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com/.

Ford #1 in Safety Again!

Ford Raises the Bar!

Ford Raises the Bar and Sets the Standards!

This is a reprint of an article in Advertising Age!

Ford Leaving Chrysler, GM in Its Rearview

Strategy to Build Brands, Discount Less Pays off As Automaker Steals Share

By Jean Halliday

Published: March 09, 2009

DETROIT (AdAge.com) -- Suddenly, the wind is at Ford's back.

Maybe it's the rising quality of its cars. Maybe it's the halo surrounding Ford for passing up federal funds being devoured by its Detroit rivals. Or it could simply be Ford's focus on building image in its marketing while others flog incentives. But for whatever reason, America seems to have decided that Ford is a better idea after all.

Ken Czubay, VP-sales and marketing at Ford

Through January, Ford Motor Co.'s retail-market share had risen for four consecutive months for the first time in 14 years, and that share was coming from General Motors and Chrysler. New data from CNW Market Research show that 19% of consumers who planned to buy a GM passenger car in January or February instead bought a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury. Some 15% of people who set out to buy a Chrysler or Dodge car in January instead switched to one of Ford's brands.

"Times like these can provide opportunities for us to distance ourselves for the long term," said Ford's Ken Czubay, VP-sales and marketing. "We are doing fine from a conquest standpoint."

Indeed, in the first two months of the year, the number of qualified buyers who planned to buy a Ford jumped 16% from 2008, CNW said. Qualified buyers who intended to buy GM fell 12% and Chrysler 33%.

Huge leap
That's a remarkable feat for Ford, considering that until three years ago, it was running ads tagged with the rather pathetic plea, "If you haven't looked at a Ford lately, look again."

"To be able to grow even a little bit of share in such a tough market is an accomplishment," said Cameron McNaughton, president of auto consultant TreeFarm Partners. Ford "is doing a terrific job."

More impressive is that Ford has moved up in America's estimation even though it has not touted in marketing the fact that it hasn't accepted a government handout. Ford said it never really considered doing so, figuring its limited funding is better spent on brand building.

But another reason may be it simply doesn't need to. CNW President Art Spinella said 93% of Americans already know Ford is not now dependent on government funds, while 95% of consumers polled by his company know GM and Chrysler are on the dole.

Any ads by Ford along those lines "would absolutely be the wrong thing to do because it would look like they're dancing on GM's and Chrysler's graves," Mr. McNaughton said.

Keeping quiet
"For Ford right now, the right way to handle this is to stick to their knitting," said one top industry creative with knowledge of auto accounts. "They should say the positive things about the quality of Ford products, as they've made huge strides, and their products are much, much better than ever before." He added: "The PR that they are getting around the whole bailout is doing that job for them."

Of course, there's also the real chance that Ford may have to stretch out its hand after all if its reorganization plans don't work out.

Ford also felt the brunt of the industry's worst sales in 40 years. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury's U.S. sales plunged 48% to 96,044 units vs. February 2008. And though Ford's retail share had climbed for four months, in February its retail share fell one point to 11.5%, which it attributed to an industrywide drop in full-size pickup sales, a category it dominates.

But if consumers were going to buy a truck, they were likely to think Ford. CNW data show that 32.6% of Americans who intended to buy a GM truck in January or February instead chose a Ford Motor product. Ford had the highest conquest rates from GM among the six biggest car companies and was tops for winning over consumers who initially intended to buy a Chrysler truck.

Even so, the Ford brand still has a way to go when it comes to cars. Toyota and Nissan managed to grab more consumers who intended to buy Chryslers, according to CNW.

Newfound confidence
With its newfound strength, Ford has also regained its ad swagger. The company is displaying a strong tone of confidence in its launch ads for the second-generation Ford Fusion midsize gas-powered sedan and first Fusion Hybrid. Ford's Matt Van Dyke, director-marketing communications, said the multimedia blitz, which includes four months of TV advertising that broke last week, targets the so-called "upper purchase funnel" of people who aren't in the market for a vehicle.

That strategy is the opposite of the one GM, Chrysler and other automakers in the crumbling new-vehicle market have been using, which is to heavily aim at people lower in the funnel, or closer to purchase.

Ford's approach will allow it to build brand equity and demonstrate that when Americans are ready to buy, there will be a Ford in their future. Mr. McNaughton said he likes the straightforwardness of Fusion's launch TV spots from WPP Group's JWT Team Detroit, which highlight fuel efficiency and the vehicle's Sync technology. "People don't want dancing girls; they want facts and information."

The automaker is also taking a different road in trying to wean itself off incentives. "We are zigging while some are zagging in the incentive world, and this is the way Ford Motor Co. is going to build for the future," Mr. Czubay said.

Incentive spending in the industry overall was up $400 per vehicle from January to February but down $800 at Ford, said George Pipas, sales-analysis manager for the U.S. at Ford.

"Retail messages with $5,000 off aren't enough" to woo buyers these days, Mr. McNaughton said. "Ford is taking the higher ground. That's really smart."

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Contributing: Rupal Parekh

The Auto Show Comes to Town

The Greater Kansas City Auto Show

Starting yesterday and lasting through this Sunday, the greater Kansas City Auto Show will be at Bartle Hall. We will have several of our salesman there to assist you if you need anything. There are discount certificates at our receptionist desk if you are planning on going to the show.

We at Thoroughbred Ford recommend that you do go to the show and compare Ford's products to our competition. This will solidify why Ford is number one in quality and reliability.

Remember; "Why buy a Ford when you can own a Thoroughbred?"

2009's Safest Vehicles

Ford #1 in Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has come out with their annual list of the safest vehicles on the road. Who makes the safest cars.....FORD!

Ford and Volvo put 16 vehicles in the top 72, that is 22% of the top vehicles were Ford's. Honda came in second with 13.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27896106/

Ford #1 in Reliability

And, it isn't just the IIHS that ranks Ford #1. JD Power ranks Ford higher than Toyota and Honda across all of their brands, in reliability. While some of the Luxury vehicles take the highest rankings, the combined rankings of all their car lines puts Ford above GM, Honda, and Toyota.

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/sales-satisfaction

Come in and get one of the safest and most reliable vehicles at Thoroughbred Ford.