Germain Ford Blog

Ford’s Octane Academy Series Coming To FUEL TV

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Octane Academy on Friday, September 30th, 2011 at 3:40 PM

Ford’s Octane Academy Series Coming To FUEL TV

Ford’s new action sports campaign, Octane Academy, is fueling up to launch as Ford and FUEL TV announce the production of a new television series – Octane Academy – chronicling the adrenaline-pumping challenges of the camps for millions of fans at home.

The Main Points

Ford and FUEL TV announce the collaboration to launch the channel’s first-ever motorsports television series with Octane Academy – a 13-episode original television series bringing the adrenaline-pumping entertainment of the camps to the living rooms of millions of fans in 2012.
Ford’s Octane Academy has generated record-breaking interest from fans, becoming the most applied-to Ford program to date with more than 6,000 applications – surpassing the popular Fiesta Movement program.
Octane Academy, Ford’s first-ever action sports campaign aimed at Millennial enthusiasts, pairs fans with their favorite Ford action sports drivers – Ken Block, Brian Deegan, Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr. – for ultimate action motorsports camps.

The Octane Academy series, FUEL TV’s first-ever motorsports show, will follow driving contestants of Octane Academy as they tackle the grueling challenges of the four action sports camps. This 13-episode series will feature three episodes for each of the camps and will begin airing in early 2012 on FUEL TV.

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Ford Explorer Now 100 Percent Reinvented in LEGO® Bricks

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Explorer on Thursday, September 29th, 2011 at 1:49 PM

What’s Got 380,000 LEGOs, 22 Designers, 2,500 Man-Hours and is Heading to Florida?

A unique Ford Explorer rolled off the line at the Chicago Assembly Plant that will feature the model’s trademark eye-catching craftsmanship with one notable distinction. This Ford Explorer is created from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and LEGOLAND® Florida theme park.

In a Nutshell

Full-size LEGOLAND® Florida Explorer created from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks makes its debut at Chicago Assembly Plant; model took more than 2,500 hours to create.
New LEGOLAND Florida theme park is the second in the U.S. and the fifth and largest LEGOLAND park in the world; it’s comprised of more than 50 million LEGO bricks.
Ford Driving School at LEGOLAND Florida allows children to experience the fun and responsibility of driving in their own vehicles (at a maximum speed of 3 mph).

The bright red LEGOLAND Florida edition Explorer, created by 22 designers, weighs 2,654 pounds and is supported by a 768-pound interior aluminum base.

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Ford’s New Door Edge Protector Thwarts Dents, Dings and Scratches Even in Europe’s Tightest Parking Spots

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Technology on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Ford’s New Door Edge Protector Thwarts Dents, Dings and Scratches Even in Europe’s Tightest Parking Spots

Ford is introducing a new feature designed to prevent dents and scratches, which have become a costly fact of life in Europe, home to some of the world’s narrowest streets and tightest parking spaces.

Key Points

Ford’s new Door Edge Protector is the first active system to prevent costly dents and scratches and provide a buffer to protect neighbouring vehicles.
Door Edge Protector, which debuts in January 2012 on the Ford Focus, activates as the door is opened. A concealed protective flap slips into position when the door opens, providing a buffer that prevents damage to paint and body work.
Ford research shows 72% of car-owning families across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK have experienced dents or scratches to their car doors.

The feature called Door Edge Protector will debut in January 2012 on the Ford Focus. The system – designed by Ford engineers in Cologne, Germany – works automatically when the door is opened. A protective flap concealed in the door moves into position in a fraction of a second as the door opens providing a buffer that prevents damage to paint and body work.

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New Ford Police Interceptors Validated as Pursuit-Rated in Tests

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Police Interceptors on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 at 2:17 PM

New Ford Police Interceptors Validated as Pursuit-Rated in Tests

The Main Points

The all-new Ford Police Interceptors deliver more performance, handling and fuel economy.
The only all-wheel-drive vehicles specifically built for law enforcement, the Police Interceptors meet stringent law enforcement standards.
Now police departments and other law enforcement agencies can get an all-new, American-made vehicle with the expected durability and price of the popular Crown Victoria.
Ford Police Interceptor Utility expands ability for law enforcement to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

The 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility has passed stringent Michigan State Police tests and have proven they are ready for law enforcement use. Of special note was the performance of the Police Interceptor Utility, which not only outperformed the Chevrolet Tahoe but held its own amongst the sedans.

The Ford Police Interceptor Utility excelled in 0-60 acceleration, braking, and handling over the two day testing.

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FBI: Auto Theft Decreases 7.2%; Ford Offers Auto Theft Safety Tips

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Technology on Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at 12:38 PM

FBI: Auto Theft Decreases 7.2%; Ford Offers Auto Theft Safety Tips

Fewer Americans were victims of car thefts last year. The FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report shows a 7.2 percentage decrease in auto thefts compared to 2010. Improved anti-theft devices and safety tips can help continue this downward trend. Unfortunately, potential thieves will not give up on their efforts to steal your car. But with the same persistence, Ford is constantly improving technologies and methods to keep vehicles secure for its customers.

Ford provides several technologies to better protect your investment:

Remote Keyless Entry allows locking/unlocking at the push of a button.
Passive Entry-Passive Start allows for unlocking and engine starting remotely.
Intrusion sensing system deters against smash-and-grab thefts.
Immobilizer helps prevent drive-away thefts.
Panic alarm draws attention quickly in case of danger.
Perimeter Alarm System deters against unauthorized entry via doors, hood and trunk/liftgate.

Despite significant and ongoing improvements in security features, no system is foolproof. The goal of each preventative measure is to deter theft by making it more difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle.

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Ford Rides into E-Bike Market with Stunning Concept

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford E-Bike on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Ford Rides into E-Bike Market with Stunning Concept

FRANKFURT, Germany – Alongside the exciting line-up of new vehicle and technology introductions on its stand at Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford also unveiled a rather surprising addition to its range – an E-Bike.

Designed to show how the company’s design language can translate to a bicycle, the Ford E-Bike Concept also demonstrates the spectrum of Ford’s electric mobility competence. Ford has no plans to produce the E-Bike but will continue studying the concept along with other future mobility solutions.

“The E-Bike market is growing very, very rapidly, with some 30 million units sold globally last year,” said Axel Wilke, director, vehicle personalisation, Ford Customer Service Division Europe. “We see E-Bikes as an important element of urban electric mobility. More and more people are using E‑Bikes for short distance commuting and they are becoming comfortable with the concept of electric mobility.”

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Can You Customize a Mustang? Do It, then Let the People Vote

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Mustang on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 at 1:38 PM

Can You Customize a Mustang? Do It, then Let the People Vote

Ideas are free. The trouble generally comes with bringing them to life, and the main issue there usually involves things being not so free. That’s why the Ford Mustang is an exceptionally cool car. The engineers and designers knew exactly how to build something incredibly awesome and satisfying on so many levels – including its performance and looks – it’s like every great idea you could have had already exists. Yeah, yeah, if only the Mustang were free! But even with the car being downright perfection, that doesn’t always prevent more ideas from sprouting from your brain.

That’s why Ford has launched the new Ford Mustang Customizer website, allowing you to create a Mustang, right down to color, accessories, decals and even how big of a burnout it makes. Pick the Mustang V6, GT, Boss 302 or Shelby GT500 and get to work by creating a setting, such as the dragway, and adding body kits, wheels, grilles and parts from Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Vehicle Personalization. Several looks can be created and saved as desktop wallpaper.

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Ford at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

By Germain Ford | Posted in Auto Shows on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 at 3:21 PM

If you attend this year’s IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, September 15-25, you may notice that the Ford display is big. Huge in fact. It’s the largest-ever European stand for Ford, and it features the hottest new vehicles as well the latest Ford technology. But what’s inside the display is even bigger news. From the Ford Evos Concept vehicle to more Focus and Fiesta ST news to the announcement of a production version of a 3-cylinder EcoBoost™ engine, there’s something there for just about everyone.

Here’s an overview of what’s new for Ford at the show, and around the world.

Ford Evos Concept at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

The star of the show for Ford is definitely the Ford Evos Concept vehicle. Developed in a collaborative process by the Ford global design team, the new design DNA showcased on the concept is a key part of the One Ford global product strategy. It provides a framework to guide the creation of new products in the Ford design studios worldwide and key elements of the concept’s exterior and interior design language will be applied to forthcoming Ford vehicles.

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The Nose 4000 and Other Surprising Ways Ford Keeps Your Senses Satisfied

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Technology on Friday, September 16th, 2011 at 3:27 PM

The Nose 4000 and Other Surprising Ways Ford Keeps Your Senses Satisfied

A big deal is made about new-car smell. Realistically, that’s about the only sensory element that seemingly doesn’t factor in to a vehicle purchase. Or does it? Your senses play a crucial role in what you like and don’t like, be it anything from spinach to what you drive. As you might imagine, we’re more focused on the pleasure you get from the vehicle than on what’s for dinner.

Yet…you might love spinach, but your mate does not, and neither one of you understands how the other can feel that way about the leafy green. Regardless, the solution is always the same: one of you eats it, the other does not. But imagine if you’re a Ford designer or engineer; your job is to ensure every customer enjoys that vehicle, right down to the experience their eyes, ears, fingers and nose will have. While eating or not eating spinach may be a conscious decision, our senses are in charge of the subconscious mind, which has been said to control 95 percent of our decisions. Talk about a first impression being a lasting one.

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The Ford Crown Victoria: The Time Has Come To Say Goodbye To An Old Friend

By Germain Ford | Posted in Ford Crown Victoria on Thursday, September 15th, 2011 at 1:36 PM

Today, our blog is honored to have a guest post from a local Columbus consumer, all-around automotive enthuisiast, and resident nice-guy Ryan Lane. Thanks for your contribution Ryan!

Ford Crown Victoria: The Time Has Come To Say Goodbye To An Old Friend

The time has come to say goodbye to an old friend… a legend in the automotive world. Regular people have loved and hated them, while law enforcement officers and taxi cab companies love and adore them. I am talking about the Ford Crown Victoria.

The Ford Crown Victoria police-issue model is the Police Interceptor, more commonly known as “The P71” or the “CVPI” has been the most widely used car in law enforcement. Through reasons many folks will never understand, somebody in the Ford Motor Company has decided to pull the plug on Crown Victoria production. Production will end September 16th, 2011.

On that day.. I will dedicate 30 seconds of my day for a moment of silence.. to say goodbye to an old friend. I may even shed a few tears.

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Germain Ford Blog

Ford’s Octane Academy Series Coming To FUEL TV

The Main Points

Ford Explorer Now 100 Percent Reinvented in LEGO® Bricks

In a Nutshell

Ford’s New Door Edge Protector Thwarts Dents, Dings and Scratches Even in Europe’s Tightest Parking Spots

Key Points

New Ford Police Interceptors Validated as Pursuit-Rated in Tests

The Main Points

FBI: Auto Theft Decreases 7.2%; Ford Offers Auto Theft Safety Tips

Ford Rides into E-Bike Market with Stunning Concept

Can You Customize a Mustang? Do It, then Let the People Vote

Ford at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

The Nose 4000 and Other Surprising Ways Ford Keeps Your Senses Satisfied

The Ford Crown Victoria: The Time Has Come To Say Goodbye To An Old Friend

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