February 3, 2012
In this Blue Oval Connect Weekly Briefing…
- Sue Cischke Retires After 11 Exemplary Years with Ford
- Ford Continues to Recover with a Positive Outlook for 2012
- Acquiring the Lincoln Brand
- Video Corner: Ford Featured on National Geographic
- Outside Voices: (Jalopnik) Barack Obama Thinks the Shelby GT500 Is 'Sick'
Lincoln Star, the Inaugural Issue
The Winter issue of Lincoln Star, available online now, features the reveal of the MKZ Concept at NAIAS, executive interviews with Jim Farley and C.J. O’Donnell, five questions with Lincoln team member Megan Gillam, a piece of Lincoln’s design legacy and more.
Click here to view the interactive Lincoln Star magazine.
Lincoln Exchange Sales Event
Performance. Luxury. Technology
Act fast to get the best holiday offers because the Ford Year-End Celebration is coming to a close!
Now, during the Lincoln Exchange Sales Event, you can get a great offer on a new 2012 Lincoln. Plus, every new Lincoln now comes with a four-year, $0-deductible, complimentary maintenance program.1
Get into the powerfully smart Lincoln MKS with the available 3.5L EcoBoost® twin-turbocharged direct-injection V6 engine. Or discover the luxury of MKZ with heated and cooled front seats and standard SYNC® technology. Lincoln MKT seats up to seven in three rows of total comfort. And Lincoln MKX, with standard SYNC with MyLincoln Touch™, connects you to your vehicle like never before with phone, entertainment, information and climate control all available at the touch of a button or the sound of your voice.2
See your local Lincoln Dealer now to take advantage of these limited-time offers.
Click here for more information.
Disclaimer:
1Coverage includes a maximum of eight regularly scheduled maintenance services. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.
2Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones/MyLincoln Touch /other devices, even with voice commands, when it is safe to do so. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear.
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Sue Cischke Retires After 11 Exemplary Years with Ford
Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, retires this week after 11 years of dedicated service to Ford Motor Company and an extensive 35-year career in the automotive industry.
And though she is looking forward to spending time in the Florida sun playing golf and tennis, enjoying the company of family and friends and catching up on some much-needed sleep, Cischke says she is leaving Ford with fond memories.
To read the full article, click here.
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New Year Begins with Solid Sales Month
January was a solid sales month for Ford’s U.S. small cars, utilities and trucks, with exceptional growth in two segments that are particularly hot right now – small cars and utilities.
In the small car segment, sales of the Ford Focus were up 60 percent in January versus last year and Focus contributed to 30 percent of Ford’s overall sales growth for the month – more than any other vehicle in the Ford lineup.
To read the full article, click here.
Ford Continues to Recover with a Positive Outlook for 2012
“What a year,” said President and CEO Alan Mulally as he opened up the Global Town Hall to discuss fourth-quarter financials at Ford World Headquarters.
Closing out 2011, Ford improved the total company pre-tax operating profit, automotive operating-related cash flow and had a significant profit contribution from Ford Credit.
To read the full article, click here.
Sterling Axle Plant Celebrates New Product, Future
The launch of the Dry Clutch RDU (Rear Drive Unit) at Sterling Axle Plant solidifies the plant’s presence in Ford’s future vehicle portfolio. In late January, Sterling Axle Plant held a Job #1 ceremony where employees celebrated the launch with Jim Tetreault, vice president, North America Manufacturing.
To read the full article, click here.
Acquiring the Lincoln Brand
In 1921, auto pioneer Henry Leland was forced to sell the automotive company he had formed with his son Wilfred.
Named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, the Lelands had set up the Lincoln Motor Company in 1917 to build aircraft engines for the Allies.
To read the full article, click here.
Personal Touch Will Make the Lincoln Difference
When it comes to customer service and personal connection, sometimes bigger is just, well, bigger. Jim Farley, group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, has the goal of making interaction with Lincoln customers better.
To read the full article, click here.
Boss 302R Claims Victory in Grand-Am Season-Opener at Daytona
Each of the past two seasons, Billy Johnson and Jack Roush Jr. have brought their Ford Mustang Boss 302R home from Daytona International Speedway with disappointment, their days ended early with incidents beyond their control.
To read the full article, click here.
Ford Uses Kenaf Plant Inside Doors in the All-New Escape, Saving Weight and Energy
Drivers of the all-new Ford Escape may be surprised to find out there is a plant inside the door.
As part of its overall effort to make vehicles more sustainable, Ford is making the material inside the door – known as the bolster – in part from kenaf.
To read the full article, click here.
Ford to Slash Landfill Waste and Cut Water Consumption
Ford Motor Company has committed to making massive cuts in the waste it sends to landfill, as well as the water it uses, across its European production. The company said it will significantly increase the proportion of waste recycled and reused by cutting landfill waste by 70 percent. That means a reduction in the average landfill waste generated per vehicle to 1.5 kg by 2016 from 5 kg in 2011.
To read the full article, click here
Ford Launches Production of Focus with 1.0-liter EcoBoost
The Focus powered by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost® engine began rolling off the assembly line this week in Saarlouis, Germany.
The Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost 100PS offers class-leading economy of 4.8l/100km (58.9mpg) alongside CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The turbocharged, direct injection engine also is available on the Focus in a 125PS version that returns 5l/100 km (56.5 mpg) with CO2 of 114 g/km.
To read the full article, click here
New Fiesta, Focus and Edge are Elected the Best Cars of Brazil in Internet Voting
Four vehicles of Ford had been chosen as champion in the 14th Election of the Best Cars, promoted by the Best Cars website with about 32,000 votes by internet users of Brazil. The new Fiesta conquered two prizes: the Best Medium Size Sedan and also of Best Small Hatch.
The To read the full article, click here.
Ford Named 2011 Auto Company of the Year by Parabrisas Magazine
Parabrisas Magazines, one of the most reputed magazines in Argentina named Ford Argentina "2011 Auto Company of the Year." Ford was elected by several qualified journalist from Perfil-Parabrisas' publishing company – in recognition to its investment devoted to produce the all-new pick up Ranger as well as the additional investment of $21 millions to restart the engine production at Pacheco Plant.
To read the full article, click here.
New Ford B-MAX To Debut At Geneva Show
Ford will throw open the doors to its all-new, production-ready B-MAX compact multi-activity vehicle at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.
To read the full article, click here.
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Ford Featured on National Geographic
Feb. 4 @ 8pm, National Geographic will be highlighting Dearborn Truck Plant in their show "Ultimate Factories".
Click here to view a clip of the show.
Barack Obama Thinks the Shelby GT500 Is 'Sick'
(Jalopnik) President Barack Obama took time out from watching the Republican field eviscerate each other in Florida to visit the Washington D.C. Auto Show. To read the full article, click here.
South Korea to Get More Fords
(The Detroit News) Ford Motor Co. plans to boost its exports of new vehicles to South Korea by 50 percent in 2012 in the wake of a free trade deal. To read the full article, click here.
2012 Best Cars for Families Awards, Includes Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Edge, Taurus
(U.S. News & World Report) The 2012 U.S. News Best Cars for Families Awards help busy parents navigate the confusing new car market by highlighting cars, minivans and SUVs that provide the best combination of features, utility, safety and reliability. To read the full article, click here.
The Toughest Trucks of 2012
(Forbes) Forbes combed through the data on 2012's crop of pickup trucks, and determined the Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tundra are the year's toughest. To read the full article, click here.
Three Reasons Why GM May Have to Give Up on Opel
(Forbes) Opel is a heralded name in Europe and a vital part of GM's history. Opel helped GM grow in Europe and stay on its feet in the early 1990s. Its products fueled GM's evolution from a U.S. focused company into an international player. To read the full article, click here.
Buyers Reject Chevrolet Volt's Cost, Nissan Leaf's Looks
(USA Today) Despite their small share of total vehicle sales, the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius garner a lot of attention from new car shoppers, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Avoider Study, which looked at the reason that people didn't buy a particular model. To read the full article, click here.
Lexus Vows 'Change' and a 50 Percent Sales Spike
(China Daily) After a year of sluggish growth partly due to a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March, Toyota's luxury unit Lexus aims to boost sales in China by more than 50 percent to 88,000 units this year. To read the full article, click here.
Study: More Drivers Want In-Car Tech to Avoid Accidents
(USA Today) Instead of infotainment, overwhelming majorities of drivers support using new technology in the car for safety features, a new survey finds. To read the full article, click here.
China's Auto Sales Growth Trails U.S. for First Time in At Least 14 Years
(Bloomberg) China's auto sales slowed last year, trailing growth in the U.S. for the first time in at least 14 years, after the government ended stimulus measures and as the nation's economic expansion showed signs of easing. To read the full article, click here. |
