Ford Fleet and Commercial Sales-Salem, VA

2010 Ford Taurus

2010-01-19T11:49:00.001-08:00

Key Highlights

All-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world's best, with an upscaled new design, impeccable driving dynamics and class-leading technologies which include Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, BLIS (Blind spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert, MyKey, Ford SYNC®,SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry, Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filler system and automatic high-beam headlamps. No line overlooked. No curve a mistake, inside and out, the Taurus once again revolutionizes the way cars look, feel and drive – projected up to 28 mpg hwy.* The new Taurus SHO is tuned for All-Wheel-Drive performance, showcasing the breakthrough twin-turbo, direct-injection EcoBoost™ V6 engine delivering horsepower with improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

Available Trim Levels

*SE
*SEL
*Limited
*SHO

Features

Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support**

AdvanceTrac® with ESC®(Electronic Stability Control) with Traction Control –
Brake and engine actuated

Air conditioning

Audio:
*AM/FM stereo/single-CD/MP3 Capable (6 speakers)
*SIRIUS Satellite Radio**

Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Easy Fuel™ capless fuel-filler system

Engine:
*3.5L 24-valve Duratec® V6, 6-speed automatic transmission
*3.5L 24-valve Duratec® V6, 6-speed SelectShift Automatic™ with paddle activation**
*NEW 3.5L 24-valve Duratec V6 EcoBoost™ 6-speed SelectShift Automatic™ with paddle activation**

Ford SYNC®**

FWD / AWD**

Headlamps – Auto, wiper activated, projector halogen

Intelligent access with push button start**

MyKey™

Power points (3)

Power door locks, mirrors and windows

Reverse Sensing**

Seats:
*6-way power driver with manual lumbar
*Fold-flat, power front-passenger
*Rear 60/40 split-folding

SecuriCode™ – Keyless Entry (Keypad)

Steering – Tilt, telescoping with cruise and audio controls

Voice-activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link™**

Wheels:
*17" painted-aluminum (SE)
*18" painted sparkle silver aluminum (SEL)
*19" chrome-clad aluminum (Limited)
*19" premium painted luster-nickel aluminum (SHO)

Safety and Security

Airbags:
*Side impact
*Safety Canopy® System with rollover sensor

Anti-theft perimeter alarm**

Child-safety rear door locks

Illuminated entry

LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for Child-safety seats

SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system

Personal Safety System™

Remote keyless entry

SOS Post-Crash Alert System™

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional Features**

Power Moonroof

Leather-trimmed seats, heated front and 6-way passenger seat

Multi-Contour seats with Active Motion™

Wheels – 20" premium painted luster-nickel aluminum (SHO)

SHO Performance Package (12S)

Rapid Spec Content**

Ambient Lighting

Audio – Sony® AM/FM/CDx6/MP3 with 12 speakers premium sound system

Auto high beam/rain sensing wipers

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert

Electrochromic driver exterior mirror

Ford SYNC®

Heated and cooled front seats

Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start

Power-adjustable pedals

Power rear-window sunshade

Rear View Camera

Reverse Sensing System

Second row heated seats

Wheels – 19" painted sparkle silver aluminum

Fleet Only Options

Daytime running lamps

Engine block heater

*Fuel economy based on preliminary Ford data: 18 mpg city/28 hwy. (FWD).
**Available on select series. Restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details.

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Focus Named ’Most Significant’ Vehicle

2010-01-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ford Focus Named ’Most Significant’ Vehicle
at 2010 Detroit Auto Show by AutoWeek Magazine

The AutoWeek editorial staff has named Ford’s next-generation Focus the “Most Significant” vehicle of the 2010 North American International Auto Show. High praise indeed, considering the number of excellent cars and trucks at this month’s annual gathering in Detroit. The popular auto show hosted nearly 40 new vehicle premieres.

“This was a unanimous vote, one of the few in the history of the AutoWeek award,” said Wes Raynal, editor of AutoWeek and autoweek.com. “This car gives Ford and Focus fans their car back. By that we mean enthusiasts have been crying for the European Focus for years and we’re finally getting our wish. We also think it’s a perfect platform for an SVT version. The car goes on sale in 2011 powered by a sporty four-cylinder engine mated to a DSG transmission, and we can’t wait to drive it.”

The Next-Generation Ford Focus
The next-generation Ford Focus made its worldwide debut Monday, Jan. 11 at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. Scheduled to go on sale in both North America and Europe early in 2011, the new Focus will offer customers more affordable technologies and features than ever in this segment, noteworthy levels of craftsmanship, outstanding fuel economy and a new standard for driving quality.

The prestigious AutoWeek award is being presented just three days after Ford received both the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively.

“We are delighted and humbled with the initial response to the next-generation Ford Focus,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president for Global Product Development. “The new Focus is a direct result of our new global product development system and perhaps the best example yet of what we believe a global Ford product should be – great to look at, great to sit in and great to drive. This is truly ONE Ford in action.”

Sleek, stylish and sporty, the new Focus will eventually be sold in 122 markets, with up to 80 percent parts commonality. The Focus will be built on Ford’s new C-car platform, which will underpin up to 10 unique models and generate sales of 2 million units annually.

The next-generation Ford Focus will be on public display at NAIAS – along with other award-winning Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles – in Detroit’s Cobo Hall through Jan. 24.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Sweeps N.A. Car and Truck of the Year Awards

2010-01-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Ford Sweeps N.A. Car and Truck of the Year Awards
Ford Motor Company scored a historic doubleheader today, capturing both the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). It is only the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both titles.

“Winning both of these prestigious awards is confirmation that the ONE Ford plan is working, delivering industry-leading products for our customers,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards recognize vehicles based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. A jury of 49 automotive journalists in the United States and Canada vote for the vehicles, which must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the previous model to qualify for the award.

The Fusion Hybrid edged out finalists including the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf/GTI to win the North American Car of the Year award. It is the fourth hybrid vehicle in 17 years to win recognition as North American Car (or Truck) of the Year. It also is the second hybrid win for Ford – the most hybrid wins for any automaker. The Ford Escape Hybrid was named North American Truck of the Year in 2005.

The Transit Connect bested finalists including the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback to win the North American Truck of the Year award. It is the sixth Ford truck to win the award – the most wins of any automaker in the 17-year history of the awards program. It also is the second year in a row that Ford has captured the title. Last year, top honors went to the 2009 Ford F-150.

Fusion Hybrid a winner out of the gate
The North American Car of the Year award is the latest in an impressive string of awards and accolades for the Fusion Hybrid. Most recently, the vehicle was honored as CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010, one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars, and the entire Fusion lineup captured the acclaimed MOTOR TREND Car of the Year® award.

The all-new Fusion Hybrid arrived in dealers in March, complete with a powertrain system that combines the best attributes of the gasoline engine and electric battery-driven motors to deliver the optimal experience for the customer in terms of driving performance and fuel economy.

The Fusion Hybrid also offers drivers a way to be more connected to the hybrid driving experience thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster execution that helps coach them on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid.

Other class-exclusive technologies and features that set the Fusion Hybrid apart from the competition include Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), Ford SYNC®, SIRIUS Travel Link™ and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.

Despite the slump in overall industry sales, 2009 was a record-breaking year for the Ford Fusion. Sales are at an all-time high, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. Perhaps even more significant, more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:

MOTOR TREND Car of the Year Award

One of CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010

One of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars

2009 “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster

Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

One of America’s Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine

Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine

2009 and 2010 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER Magazine

Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com

One of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Value”

2010 Consumers Digest Best Buy

Detroit Free Press 2010 Car of the Year

2010 Most Environmentally Progressive Car of the Year by Earth, Wind & Power

10 Best Engine by Ward’s Auto World

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid is built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant.

Transit Connect fills unmet needs of small businesses and fleets
The Transit Connect was brought to the U.S. to fulfill the unmet needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs, offering them a new vehicle choice with significantly improved fuel economy, generous and accessible cargo space, and the agility and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas.

Powered by a 2.0-liter I-4 engine with a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission, the Transit Connect offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans, delivering an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The Transit Connect also has more than double the cargo-carrying capacity of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, making it suitable for a broader range of commercial-use applications. And it offers commercial users a cargo payload of up to 1,600 pounds – a larger payload than the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

The Transit Connect also is available with the industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions™, a suite of affordable technologies that provides customers with connectivity, flexibility, visibility and security to better run key aspects of their business.

On Transit Connect, Ford Work Solutions delivers three innovative features:

A wireless in-dash computer that provides full high-speed Internet access, Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling and navigation. The system also allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks right on the job site.

Tool Link™, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system that enables customers to maintain detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment.

Crew Chief™, a fleet tracking, telematics and diagnostics system that provides dynamic location and performance data fleet owners need to more efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance for safety and economy, and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect include:

2010 Editors Choice for Vans by CAR and DRIVER Magazine

Detroit Free Press 2010 Truck of the Year

The Detroit News 2010 Truck of the Year

2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award for Best Workhorse Vehicle

A Great Car for the Small Business Delivery/Utility Worker by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect is built at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Plant in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2010 Ford Fusion

2010-01-11T12:39:00.001-08:00

Key Highlights
The 2010 Fusion provides impressive performance, fuel economy and technology
along with new exterior and interior styling.

The new 175-hp* 2.5L I-4 with automatic transmission delivers up to 34 mpg
highway,** giving Fusion the best mileage in the mid-size class.†

The 240-hp* 3.0L FFV V6 capability allows operation on E85 fuel, regular unleaded gasoline or any combination of the two.

Plus, the two new members to the 2010 Fusion lineup: The 263-hp Fusion SEL
and the Fusion Hybrid.

Available Trim Levels

S
SE
SEL
Sport
Hybrid

Features

Ambient Lighting (SEL)

Audio
-AM/FM stereo/single-CD player/MP3 capability (S, SE)
-Auxiliary input jack

Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Cabin air filter

Easy Fuel™ capless fuel-filler system

Engine – NEW 2.5L Duratec I-4 with 6-speed manual transmission, optional 6-speed automatic transmission (S, SE)

Mirrors – Power sideview

Power points (2)

Power windows and door locks

Seats
-Fold-down front-passenger (SE, SEL, Sport)
-60/40 split-folding rear with center armrest and 2 cupholders
-1st row – 6 way power driver seat with manual recline (SE)
-Leather trimmed and heated seating surfaces (SEL)

Steering wheel-mounted cruise control

Tilt/telescoping steering column

Wheels – 16" aluminum

Safety & Security

AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control

Airbags – Front-seat side, and front and rear side-curtain

Battery Saver

Illuminated Entry

LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for Child-safety seats

Perimeter anti-theft alarm

Personal Safety System® for driver and front passenger – Includes dual-stage front airbags, safety belt pretensioners, safety belt energy-management retractors, safety belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module and Front-Passenger Sensing System

Remote keyless-entry system with Trunk Release (FOB integrated into key)

SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)

SOS Post-Crash Alert System

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional Features††

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (SEL optional, Sport standard)

Climate Control – Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC)

Electrochromic (Auto-Dimming) Rearview Mirror with Microphone and Compass

Engines

-3.0L Duratec V6 FFV 6-speed transmission or optional 6-speed SelectShift
Automatic™ transmission

-All new 3.5L Duratec V6 with 6-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission

Fog Lamps

Ford SYNC® with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Reports (SE, SEL, Sport)

Heated Mirrors

Rear spoiler

Reverse Sensing System

SIRUS® Satellite Radio (SE standard)

Voice-activated, navigation system with SIRIUS® Travel Link

Wheels

-17" 5-spoke design steel with silver painted wheelcover (SE standard)
-17" 5-spoke machined aluminum ( SEL standard)
-18" 5-spoke painted aluminum (Sport standard)
-18" machined-aluminum with painted pockets

RAPID SPEC CONTENT††

Driver’s Vision Package:
-Includes BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert, and
Rear View Camera (camera displayed in rearview mirror unless ordered with Navigation System)
-Ford SYNC®

Moon & Tune Value Package:

-Moonroof
-Sony® Sound System/CDx6/MP3 Capable with 12 speakers

Electronics Package:
-Includes BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rear View Camera (via auto-dimming rearview mirror), 6-way power front-passenger seat,
heated driver and front-passenger seats, Dual-zone Electronic Automatic
Temperature Control, Ambient Lighting, automatic headlamps, heated sideview mirrors with security approach lamps, and SecuriCode™ keyless-entry keypad

Sun and SYNC Package:
-Electrochromic (Auto-Dimming) Rearview Mirror with Microphone and Compass
-Moonroof
-Ford SYNC® with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Reports

Fleet Only Options

Daytime Running Lamps
Engine Block Heater

* Horsepower ratings based on preliminary results.
** 2010 EPA-estimated fuel economy: Fusion S FWD 23 mpg city/34 hwy. with 2.5L I-4
and 6-speed automatic transmission.

† Midsize Sedan class.
†† Available on select series. Restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details.

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford F-Series Does it Again

2010-01-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Best-Selling Truck for 33 Straight Years; Best Selling Vehicle for 28 Years

For the 33rd year in a row, Ford’s award-winning F-Series is America’s best-selling truck with 2009 sales of 413,625. F-series outsold its nearest truck rival by more than 97,000 units, the largest margin in three years.

In addition, for the 28th consecutive year, F-Series is once again America’s best-selling vehicle of any type – car, crossover, SUV, truck or van.

F-Series sales for 2009 totaled 413,625, which increased its segment share by 4 percentage-points. December sales for F-Series were 48,209, a 16 percent increase over December 2009 and the best sales month since March 2008.

“When it comes to trucks, only one stat matters – how customers vote with their wallets,” said Doug Scott, truck group marketing manager. “And the results are clear – the capability, productivity, technology and value of Ford F-Series is unmatched.”

The F-150 was redesigned inside and out for 2009 and set a new benchmark for full size pickups with new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis that delivers more class-leading towing and hauling capability and unsurpassed fuel economy.

During the past six years, the “core trucker” – those who use their truck’s towing and hauling capability for work and play – has jumped to 40 percent from 30 percent of the light-duty full-size pickup market. In the commercial/fleet portion of this core trucker sub-segment, Ford F-Series continues to dominate. The F-150 has 44 percent of the light duty commercial/fleet market; and Super Duty is stronger still with over 56 percent of heavy duty commercial/fleet market.

New to F-Series for 2010 is the F-150 Harley-Davidson and the off-road F-150 SVT Raptor, winner of the 2009 Truck of Texas.

F-Series also offers the industry-first Ford Work Solutions, an innovative suite of options including an in-dash computer with Internet access, Tool Link to track tools, Crew Chief technology to dispatch workers and reduce vehicle operating costs and Cable Lock to improve security of tools and equipment.

When the 2011 F-Series Super Duty hits dealership showrooms this spring, it will feature an all-new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbocharged V-8 diesel engine.

The top-selling Ford truck dealerships in the country are located in Texas, Nebraska and Missouri. Among them: Woodhouse Ford, Blair, Nebraska; Philpott Ford, Port Neches, Texas; Planet Ford, Spring, Texas; Midway Ford Truck Center, Kansas City, Missouri.; Five Star Ford, North Richland Hills, Texas; Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford, Carrollton, Texas.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2010 Ford Focus

2010-01-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

Key Highlights

*Maximize your daily deliveries and minimize your greenhouse footprint. Whether you chose the 4-door sedan or the 2-door coupe, Focus has it all. The Focus comes with an efficient 140-hp, 4-cylinder engine that helps deliver impressive real world fuel economy of up to 35 mpg.* The Duratec® 2.0L I-4 engine is qualified for California ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV II) emission standards.

*The 60/40 split-folding rear seat enhances versatility, while the AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability ControlTM with Anti-Lock Brakes, 6 airbags and a power group which includes power locks, power windows and remote keyless entry system which achieves comfort and convenience with a touch of a button. Ford Focus continues to offer tremendous value for the 2010 model year, packing even more premium content into its practical sedan and sporty coupe versions.

Available Trim Levels

Coupe:
-SE
-SES
Sedan:
-S
-SE
-SES
-SEL

Features

AdvanceTrac® with ESC® (Electronic Stability Control™)
Air conditioning
Audio – AM/FM stereo/single-CD/MP3 capable/4 speakers
Brakes – Power-assisted front disc and rear drum (ABS)
Door Locks - Power
Engine:
-2.0L Duratec® I-4, 5-speed manual transmission
-2.0L Duratec 20E PZEV I-4 available in California Emissions States**
Floor Mats – 1st and 2nd Row
Ford SYNC® **
Illuminated entry
Message Center – Tachometer and trip odometer
Mirrors – Power**
MyKey™
Power points (2)
Remote keyless entry
Seats:
-1st Row - Cloth buckets, 4-way manual driver
-2nd Row - 60/40 split-folding rear seatback with cushion
SIRIUS® Satellite Radio**
Steering Wheel – Vinyl / Tilt
Wheels:
-15" steel with 6-spoke appearance covers (S)
-15" alloy (SE Sedan)
-16" aluminum (SE Coupe)
-16" Euroflange (SEL)
-17" premium painted (SES)
Power windows with one-touch-up/-down driver-window feature**

Safety & Security

Air Bags:
-Dual Stage Front
-Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS)
-Side Impact
-Side-Curtains
Belt-Minder® front safety belt reminder
Child-safety rear door locks
LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for Child-safety seats
Perimeter alarm**
Rear 3-point shoulder and lap safety belt system for all seating positions, including rear center
SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system
Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional Features**

Ambient Lighting
Cruise control
Moonroof
Seats – Leather-trimmed, heated front
Sedan SE Appearance Package
Transmission – 4-speed automatic

Rapid Spec Content**

Driver’s Group:
-Includes: Leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, cruise control, secondary audio controls and auto-dimming rearview mirror (Note: requires SYNC)
Ford SYNC®
Moon & Tune Package:
-Includes: Premium AM/FM single-CD/MP3 player with 190 watts and 9 speakers and monroof
SYNC® & Sound Package:
-Includes: Ford SYNC®, Driver’s Group, Premium AM/FM single-CD/MP3 player with 190 watts and 9 speakers

Fleet Only Options

Ashcup with Lighter Package
Daytime running lamps
Engine block heater
*2009 EPA-estimated fuel economy: 24 mpg city/35 hwy. with 5-speed manual transmission.
**Available on select series. Restrictions may apply. See your dealer (Nick Breese) for details.

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

The American Cancer Society - 2010 Relay For Life of Botetourt County, VA:

2010-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

The American Cancer Society - 2010 Relay For Life of Botetourt County, VA:

Ford Transit Connect-2009 Truck of the Year

2010-01-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

Audi A3 TDI, Ford Transit Connect are best of 2009

Years don’t come much tougher than 2009.

Unemployment, bailouts, bridge loans and Wall Street. And now, this whole Tiger Woods thing seems to put an exclamation point on the year. So many things that meant one thing in January mean something completely different in December.

Companies and consumers around the world have learned to lower their expectations and live within their means. That’s been one of the most important criteria in measuring the value of many of the new cars and trucks introduced in 2009. Some new vehicles stretched the imagination of consumers. Others found new needs to fill and better ways to perform on the road.

The Detroit News Car and Truck of the Year: The 2010 Audi A3 TDI and the 2010 Ford Transit Connect.

Both vehicles carve out a new space in the automotive world, a difficult task when there are more than 300 nameplates parked around the country. But both of these vehicles offer versatility, efficient engines and affordable prices.

Car of the Year

In a world of growing hybrids and the soon-to-arrive electrics, one of the oldest types of engines still continues to push the globe forward: the diesel.

But Audi AG’s little 2-liter direct injection turbo diesel is not much like anything Rudolf’s namesake might remember. This little four-banger cranks out 230 pound-feet of driver-friendly torque. If the world really wants to get over itself and start to select cars with significantly better fuel efficiency and drivable power, it’s going to have to realize the technology is already here.

Maybe the world didn’t see it because the A3 TDI is just so much fun to drive. The six-speed automatic transmission is butter from first to sixth, and the car’s road-handling skills are an absolute joy. The car bites into corners and shoots out of them.

Better yet, it’s an Audi and the interior reflects the luxury carmaker’s growing reputation for excellent execution and style. But there’s another kind of luxury the A3 TDI offers: practicality. The A3 TDI has the length of a wagon and nearly 20 cubic feet of space behind the second row. Drop those 60/40 folding seats and load up the flat-screen TV or anything else you want.

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI may not usher in a new age of dieseloveability, but it should.

The rest of the best cars

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2010 Toyota Prius: The third-generation Toyota Prius is the best of the bunch. Not only did its combined gas mileage jump to 50 mpg, its vastly improved interior, more taut suspension and slightly larger size make this car practical. While many carmakers continue to push out new hybrids, only one remains truly popular: the Toyota Prius.
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2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon: It’s the Cadillac I most want to have in my driveway. Lushly smooth, it has all the versatility of an SUV but offers great gas mileage. Its road manners are impeccable, and you forget it’s a wagon until you look in the rearview mirror.
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2010 Kia Soul: Funky, stylish and not a bad ride. Add to that a price tag starting under $14,000, and Kia hits a home run with this urban cruiser that’s affordable and fun. It highlights all of the features a young buyer might want or at least an owner who wants to feel young. The ride is solid. Its small size but big space makes it an ideal vehicle for a young adult who needs to pack up his apartment in a hurry.
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2010 Mazda3: The Mazda3 used to fall under the cheap and cheerful compacts. But when the redesigned 2010 model arrived this year, it showcased a new engine, a family resemblance to the Mazda6 and a serious interior. There’s nothing cheap about this sedan or hatchback. It’s fast, fun to drive, and can hit 33 miles per gallon on the highway. The revamped interior makes it feel much more luxurious than its $16,000 starting price tag suggests.

Truck of the Year

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect has no competition, at least not yet.

Ford Motor Co. brought the popular European little truck to the United States to the great appreciation of small-business owners around the country.

With its sliding second-row doors and easily configurable shell, it has nearly limitless flexibility. Ford has worked with a few outfitters to provide businesses with the ability to customize each van to suit individual needs.

Unlike bigger vans or pickups, the Transit Connect still manages to get 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

It has a starting price of $21,475; a fully outfitted vehicle costs less than $30,000.

Ford also provides the Transit Connect with its Work Solutions package, an array of helpful high-tech tools that can make a small business that much more efficient. And nowadays, every penny counts. Not every business needs to tow 15,000 pounds or load two tons in the bed of a truck. But any construction worker will tell you that the most important thing to have is the right tool for the right job. And for many businesses, the Transit Connect will do the job better than anything else.

The rest of the best trucks

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2010 Dodge Ram 2500: When Chrysler Group LLC added all of the good looks and functionality to the Dodge Ram 1500, it only made sense to do the same thing to its heavy-duty trucks. The new Ram 2500 loses its cramped Quad Cab and adds a true Crew Cab as well as all of those great features found in the 1500. The Ram 2500 has a beautiful look and the power to match. It’s world-class.
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2010 Audi Q5: Luxurious, powerful and an absolute blast to drive, the Audi Q5 enters the luxury sport small crossover segment like a bull in a parking lot full of sheep. It has a distinctive wide stance and looks that stand out in a sea of five-passenger crossovers.
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2010 Chevrolet Equinox: This may be the small crossover to beat in 2010. Its 32 mpg highway mileage, comfortable interior and well-thought-out features make it an instant contender with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. Its low starting price will also put it on many people’s shopping list.
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2010 Cadillac SRX: It’s world-class through and through. Following the splendid interiors of the CTS, the second-generation SRX replaces its boxy look with a more family friendly face that is pure Cadillac. It’s also one of the few Cadillacs to ever find its high performance engine arriving in a smaller displacement, a 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.

See, 2009 really did turn the world upside down.

Here’s looking to 2010 and the end of 2009. While the cars and trucks have been fantastic this year, you can have the rest of 2009. Good riddance.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Fusion Hybrid Earns Spot on Car and Driver’s List of 10 Best Cars for 2010

2009-12-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ford Fusion Hybrid Earns Spot on Car and Driver’s List of 10 Best Cars for 2010
The hits keep coming for America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan, the Ford Fusion. The Fusion Hybrid has been honored as one of CAR and DRIVER magazine’s “10Best” cars for 2010, just weeks after winning the prestigious MOTOR TREND Car of the Year® award.

“CAR and DRIVER is always looking for those cars that are most engaging to drive, and in our experience the Ford Fusion Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle that really delivers a fun driving experience,” said Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief, CAR and DRIVER, noting that the Fusion Hybrid is only the second hybrid ever to make the magazine’s “10Best” list.

“We were very impressed with how seamlessly the hybrid powertrain functioned,” Alterman said. “We were also impressed with Ford SYNC® and how seamlessly it worked.”

But Alterman says what really sealed the deal for Fusion Hybrid is the simple fact that it’s fun. “The vehicle is entertaining,” he explained. “It’s really fun to drive, and we had fun trying to improve our mileage using the SmartGauge™ technology.”

A total of 58 vehicles were in the running for the CAR and DRIVER “10Best” list. All of the contenders were put through a week of rigorous testing and judged based on three criteria: how well they perform their intended mission, i.e. luxury, sport; how engaging and fun they are to drive; and how much value they deliver.

“Being ranked one of CAR and DRIVER’s ‘10Best’ cars for 2010 is high praise indeed,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development. “In addition to being fun to drive, the Fusion Hybrid offers unsurpassed fuel economy that our customers truly appreciate with an EPA estimated rating of 41 mpg in the city and the ability to travel more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas.”

Despite the slump in overall industry sales, 2009 has been a record-breaking year for the Ford Fusion. Sales are at an all-time high, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. Perhaps even more significant, more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.

Fusion Hybrid Awards and Accolades
Additional awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:

“Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster

Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

Named one of America’s Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine

Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine

Named 2009 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER

Named Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com

Named one of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

Earned The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Value”

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Berglund's Thanksgiving Sale

2009-11-25T06:57:00.001-08:00

I'll be working at the sale Friday and Saturday. Come and see me for a great deal!
Nick Breese
540-986-5679

2010 Ford Mustang

2009-11-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Key Highlights
*The new power dome hood, bumpers, fenders, rear end, grilles and wheels make the all-new 2010 Mustang design look fast.

*America’s original Pony car is fortified with a 315-hp V8 or 210-hp V6 – getting up to 26 mpg.*
*
*Carefully crafted details behind the redesigned interior include new, soft-touch instrument panel trim, flow thru center floor console and Ford SYNC®.

Available Trim Levels

*V6

*V6 Premium

*GT

*GT Premium

Features

*Air conditioning

*Ambient Lighting (Premium)

*Audio

-Audio – Premium AM/FM stereo/single-CD player and clock
-Auxiliary input jack
-SHAKER 500 (Premium)
-SIRIUS® Satellite Radio (Premium)

*Easy Fuel™ capless fuel-filler system

*Engine – 4.0L SOHC V6

*Engine – 4.6L 3-valve V8 (GT)

*Ford SYNC® with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Reports (Premium)

*LED Sequential Tail Lamps

*Mirrors – Power sideview

*Power points (2)

*Power windows and door locks

*Seats:

-Cloth Bucket, 2-way Manual Passenger

-4-way manual driver

-Split-fold rear seats (Coupe)

*Stainless steel exhaust

*Steering wheel –Tilt with speed control

*Transmission – 5-speed manual

*Wheels – 17" painted-aluminum

Safety & Security

*AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

*Airbags – Dual front and front-seat side impact

*Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Antilock Brake System (ABS)

*Illuminated entry

*LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for Child-safety seats in rear outboard seating positions

*Personal Safety System® for driver and front passenger – Includes dual-stage front airbags, safety belt pretensioners, safety belt energy-management retractors, safety belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module and Front-Passenger Sensing System

*Remote Keyless Entry

*SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system

*Side-intrusion door beams

*SOS Post-Crash Alert System

*Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional Features**

*Active Anti-Theft System

*Audio - Shaker 1000

*Comfort Package (53B)

*Convertible Boot

*Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC)

*Electronics Package (58X)

*Glass roof (coupe only)

*HID headlamps

*Reverse Camera System

*Seats

-6-way power-adjustable driver with power lumbar

-Heated front seats

*Security Package (43S)

*Transmission – 5-speed automatic

*Voice-activated Navigation System with SIRIUS® Travel Link

*18" Painted Aluminum Wheels

*18" Polished Aluminum Wheels

*19" Bright Machined Aluminum Wheels

*19" Premium Painted Luster Nickel Aluminum Wheels

*3.55 Rear Axle (GT Premium Coupe with Manual Trans)

*3.73 Rear Axle Package (GT Coupe with Manual Trans)

Select Rapid Spec Content**

*Exterior Sport Appearance Package:

-Lower Tape Stripe
-Decklid Spoiler

*Premier Trim with Color Accent:

-Charcoal Black interior environment with color-accented seats, unique door trim with bright Pony badge, and dark aluminum instrument panel

*V6 Pony Package:

-18" polished cast-aluminum wheels, body color extended mirrors, unique Grille, fog lamps, Pony fender badge, unique chrome exhaust tip, automatic headlamps, unique floor mats, decklid spoiler, and unique lower tape stripe.

Fleet Only Options

*Daytime running lamps

*Driver Ornamentation Package (18R)

*Engine block heater

*Floor mat delete

*Smoker’s Package (63B)

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

* 2009 EPA-estimated fuel economy: 17 mpg city/26 hwy. with 4.0L V6 and 5-speed manual transmission.
** Available on select series. Restrictions may apply. See your dealer for details.
Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Why Ford has become a winner

2009-11-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

By James Hinchcliffe
Globe and Mail Update
Racecar driver James Hinchcliffe praises the car maker for the huge improvement in its product

It may have been one small step for Motor Trend magazine, but the selection of the 2010 car of the year certainly was one giant leap for Ford Motor Co. This week it was announced that the 2010 Ford Fusion won the Motor Trend car of the year award. It was the first time since 2003 that a Ford had manage to claim the coveted prize.

I, personally, am very happy that the Fusion took home top honours this year. It gives some well-deserved credit to the only one of the struggling "Big 3" car manufacturers that has actually made real progress in the last few years. The reason I am so happy that Ford has been recognized for its efforts to turn the company around is because of the way it went about it; unlike their Detroit-based brethren, they tried to solve their issue from the showroom instead of the boardroom.

For years we were hearing about the declining popularity of North American cars and the take over of the market share by the leaders out of Europe and Japan. There were explanations and theories about labour costs and people's sudden aversion to buying big gas guzzling cars and SUVs. These were true enough and did contribute to the problem. But at the core of it all, irrespective of what was being created overseas, was the undeniable fact that the cars they made were junk.

Now that might seem a bit harsh. I am sure there are lots of people who own, or owned, a mid-90's to mid-2000's Ford, Chevy or Chrysler product and thought it was great. I'm sure it was. But the fact is there were less people on your side than there were against you. "Junk" is a relative term, of course. Were the cars absolutely unbearable, unreliable and unsafe? No. But compared to what else was out there, buying one would have been a bit like turning down a week vacation in Maui to see the touristy bits of Nebraska.

While the news kept breaking of company restructuring and managerial rearranging, the sad news was the product was left for what it was: simply undesirable. It had been out- styled, out-engineered and outclassed by the competition. For years the U.S. auto makers kept pumping out cars that looked like bars of soap on wheels and left a lot to be desired when driven. They were uninspiring to look at, bland to drive and not all that reliable.

Take the Chevrolet Impala, for example. I look at that thing and can't think of one single attribute that would make it a desirable car to own, other than the fact that Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives one and people move out of your way on the highway because they think you're a cop. For too long now I have looked at the North American cars and can't help but think "rental car." Again, there are a few exceptions; the Corvette is timeless, the new Camaro and Challenger are funky, but you can't carry umpteen sub-par models on the back of a few good ones.

That is why Ford deserves some credit. A few years ago the light bulb went on and they started updating the only part of the company that the consumer sees every day: the cars. What was so puzzling was that Ford and Chevy were both doing well in the European markets, albeit with cars that they didn't sell over here. Was it that big a stretch to believe that maybe they would be popular here too? Did someone not clue into the fact that every time there was a commercial on TV for the Focus it said in small print, "European model shown"? It was better looking!

It took these companies too long to realize that North Americans were ready to embrace change and move away from the big, boxy cars of yesteryear and toward smaller, funkier, more efficient cars like our European neighbours. Ford made the move first and it has been paying dividends ever since.

Ford was the only US auto maker to turn down bailout money from the government, and they actually posted a profit in the second quarter of this year. This has to be largely because their product on the road improved so dramatically.

They started coming out with cooler looking cars, like the Edge. Place it next to the SUVs that came before it like the Explorer and Escape and it looks like the "before" and "after" shots of the lucky guest on Oprah's makeover show. Even things that are a little overboard for me, like the Ford Flex, are selling well. And of course the Fusion is now an industry leader. All this came because they focused their efforts in the right place.

This new fleet of Fords boasts better quality, more focus on things like fuel efficiency, improved driving experience and, certainly not least, vastly improved looks. Not only are they keeping up with the competition, they are leading the pack.

It has been a long time coming, but I am glad that when someone asks me what new cars to look at, I can say, without hesitation, "Have you checked out a Ford lately?"

James Hinchcliffe is a Toronto-based racing driver with the IndyCar Lights circuit.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Taurus – America’s Most Innovative Sedan

2009-11-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

Named "Official Car" of the 2010 International CES

The smartest full-size sedan in America, the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus, will be the official vehicle of the 2010 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show®), to be held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

“The all-new Taurus is Ford’s technology flagship, offering more user-friendly technology to help keep you safe and connected than cars twice its price,” said Frank Davis, executive director Product Development. “And there’s no better venue to show it off than CES.”

Ford President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally will deliver the opening keynote address at CES, where Ford also will announce enhancements to its award-winning Ford SYNC® communications and entertainment system as well as new technology that builds on the company’s connected-car leadership position.

As the official car of CES, the Ford Taurus will be featured prominently with technology demonstrations and in signage, brochures and other written materials at the show.

“Consumers demand the latest on-the-go innovation in their cars. Ford automobiles are built with cutting-edge technology that makes driving safer and more enjoyable,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association® (CEA), producer of the International CES. “We are thrilled to welcome Ford to the 2010 International CES and to name the new Ford Taurus as the ‘Official Car of CES.’ We also look forward to hearing Ford’s Alan Mulally kick off the 2010 CES with his opening keynote address on Thursday, Jan. 7.”

As Davis notes, the all-new Ford Taurus is a perfect fit for CES – the world’s largest consumer technology trade show for the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. In addition to its expressive styling, the vehicle is loaded with advanced features, making it a virtual dream come true for avid techies.

“The Ford Taurus has 10 class-exclusive features not available from any other manufacturer,” said Davis. “This vehicle offers it all – from Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ that are designed to reduce fatigue on long-distance drives to a voice-activated navigation system that can tell you real-time traffic and weather information, and even where to find the cheapest gas.”

The Taurus also offers the latest application of SYNC – Traffic, Directions & Information – along with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report. SYNC’s USB port and Bluetooth capability connects to MP3 players, memory sticks and smartphones, making them accessible by voice control – a more convenient and safe way to use these devices in the car.

For techies with teenaged drivers, Taurus offers MyKey™, a feature that allows parents to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume to encourage teens to drive safer and improve fuel efficiency.

In addition to Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion, voice-activated navigation, SYNC and MyKey, other class-exclusive technologies available on the Ford Taurus include:

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EasyFuel® Capless Fuel-Filler – a self-seal system without a traditional fuel cap. No lost, dangling, or spinning caps. It seals automatically, every time.
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SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad – a feature that allows you to unlock the driver’s door by entering a five-digit code via a flush-mounted keypad
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Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support – a feature that allows you to set a cruising speed and uses radar technology to automatically adjust your speed and warn you if you’re getting too close to the vehicle in front of you
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Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert – a feature that uses radar technology to warn you of vehicles in your blind spot and alert you to oncoming traffic when you’re backing out of a parking spot
#
Sony Audio® System – a surround sound system that delivers Dolby® Digital 5.1 sound through 12 high-quality Sony speakers
#
Available EcoBoost™ V-6 – a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that delivers the output of a V-8, 365 horsepower, without compromising its V-6 fuel economy

According to Davis, all of the technology offered on the Ford Taurus is sweetened by the vehicle’s price.

“Even the most zealous techies are careful with their money,” he said. “Taurus offers an unprecedented array of technologies typically reserved for luxury cars at a price that is affordable.”

In addition to being named official vehicle of the 2010 International CES, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year.”

ALL-NEW 2011 FORD SUPER DUTY PRIMED TO MEET

2009-11-18T05:53:00.000-08:00

• The all-new 2011 Ford Super Duty delivers even more productivity for commercial and fleet customers with significantly improved horsepower, torque and fuel economy with both the all-new diesel and gasoline engines along with Super Duty’s best-in-class towing and payload capability

• A full suite of technologies, including Ford Work Solutions™ and SYNC® voice-activated communications, make it easier for fleet owners to manage their vehicles and businesses

• New diesel engine is compatible with biodiesel up to B20 while the new gasoline engine can run on regular-grade gasoline, E85 ethanol or any blend in between, providing a wide array of fueling options for operators of either engine

• All-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed transmission manages the improved power and torque with its SelectShift Automatic™ feature and includes upgrades to reduce cost of ownership; available Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) extends diesel capability

DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2009 – When choosing a work truck, commercial and fleet operators demand the best. The all-new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty delivers, with significantly improved torque, horsepower and fuel economy from both the new 6.7-liter diesel and 6.2-liter gasoline engines that build on the line’s heritage of best-in-class towing and payload.

“Having the most capability means a customer doesn’t have to marginalize any segment while he tries to maintain and build his business,” said Jim Michon, truck fleet marketing manager. “Our customers expect the leadership capability that our trucks deliver and, with the 2011 Super Duty, they’ll also gain a significant improvement in fuel economy. It’s a win-win situation for commercial and fleet owners.”

The next-generation Super Duty builds on its legacy of capability, reliability, durability and dependability.

“Our customers can’t have their truck ‘call in sick,’” Michon said. “The Super Duty truck is their lifeblood. They need it out there every day.”

The 2011 Ford Super Duty line, which includes pickup trucks (F-250 through F-450) and chassis cabs (F-350 through F-550), is well positioned to address the needs of commercial and fleet customers in several ways.

Lowering the cost of ownership

Both the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel and new 6.2-liter gasoline
powertrains will deliver significantly improved fuel economy while also maintaining Super Duty’s best-in-class towing and payload. The architecture of both engines has been optimized for efficiency, as has the new TorqShift™ heavy-duty six-speed transmission.

The transmission’s fluid change interval also has been extended, in part due to a dual filter that provides fine filtration and large capacity in a single package. The dual filter also eliminates the need for a spin-on external filter.

The new 6.7-liter diesel’s architecture reduces down time during service work, which helps get vehicles back on the road faster and improves the bottom line. During service on the turbocharger, for example, the body/cab does not require removal, reducing labor time. Service time on the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) cooler and high-pressure fuel pump also is expected to be markedly reduced because of the new layout. The new spin-on oil filter makes that servicing easier as well.

The new Power Stroke, featuring Tow Haul Mode with the integrated engine exhaust brake, helps improve driver confidence with large loads and prolong brake pad life.

Bottom line: Super Duty is the “and” solution, providing both capability and low cost of ownership that customers truly appreciate in a challenging economic environment.

New-to-segment Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) adds capability

Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution photographs.

One of the functional improvements with the new transmission is the addition of segment-first Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) capability. On 2011 Super Duty diesels with the PTO prep option, the PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft. This allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers or dump trucks. The power is available any time the engine is running.

Pioneered on agricultural applications, the Live Drive feature is particularly useful when mobile PTO function is required during start-stop operations, such as salt spreading, cement pouring or snow plowing. “A fully functional Live Drive mobile PTO will allow Super Duty customers to take full advantage of the equipment on their trucks,” said Al Bruck, powertrain operations manager.

Flexible fueling options

The new diesel engine is compatible with biodiesel up to B20. Likewise, the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline FFV-capable engine can run on E85 ethanol.

“For some of our fleet customers, having the option and flexibility of using biofuels is extremely important,” said Todd Kaufman, F-Series chassis cab marketing manager, noting the lower emissions biofuels offer.

Carryover gasoline engine

The proven 6.8-liter V-10 gasoline engine remains in the lineup for F-450 and F-550 chassis cab customers interested in upfitting bodies and boxes to the chassis. The five-speed TorqShift automatic transmission remains as well.

“A lot of F-450 and F-550 commercial customers have built their businesses around our truck with that configuration, so it’s important we retain that,” said Kaufman.

Variety of trim levels

The F-Series Super Duty offers a variety of trim levels – XL, XL Décor, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch® – to suit each customer. Some owner/operators, for example, opt for the King Ranch trim level, which includes Chaparral Leather seats, to help complete their “office.” In each level, customers will find more comfortable seats based off those in the current F-150.

Technology to help your business

Available Ford Work Solutions™ is one of many technologies that can help owners manage their business from the work site. Ford Work Solutions delivers four innovative features:

• An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and
navigation by Garmin. It’s the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production.
This system allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents
stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site.

• Tool Link™, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed
in association with DEWALT, the industry leader in professional power tools, and
ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This enables customers
to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of tools or equipment stored in the pickup box.

• Crew Chief™, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

• Cable Lock security system, developed in association with Master Lock®, the industryleading lock manufacturer, discourages theft of expensive tools too large to fit in the cab.

“Ford Work Solutions is a real game-changer,” said Kaufman. “It provides another way for the owner to improve the productivity of his Super Duty ‘tool’ by increasing access and onboard capability. Paperwork – including billing, quotes and work orders – can be accessed, modified and printed right there in the truck. He doesn’t have to wait until he gets back to the office or back home to do it.

SYNC®, Ford’s industry-first, voice-activated hands-free communications and entertainment system, leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS technology and a customer’s Bluetooth®-capable mobile phone. SYNC’s new application, Traffic, Directions & Information, provides simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise turn-by-turn driving directions and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports and weather.

As with all Ford products, customer feedback played a vital role in developing the all-new 2011 Super Duty, especially with commercial customers.

“We’ve had our key fleet customers involved every step of the way as we’ve developed the new 2011 Super Duty,” Michon said. “Their valuable input has been reflected in the new truck, from the major features such as B20 capability to more minor, but still important, items such as driver manual lumbar on the vinyl seat. Thanks to the input of our customers, and the strong capability and focus of our engineering, design and manufacturing teams, the new 2011 Super Duty achieves a whole new level of capability.”

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Fusion named Motor Trend 2010 car of year

2009-11-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co's (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Fusion mid-size sedan was named Motor Trend magazine's 2010 "car of the year" on Tuesday, adding to the perception that changes to the No. 2 U.S. automaker's vehicle lineup are gaining traction.

The Fusion was chosen best of 23 new or significantly upgraded vehicles and the full range of Fusion models impressed the judges, from the four-cylinder entry level vehicles to the all-wheel drive sport and hybrid versions, Motor Trend Editor Angus MacKenzie said.

"Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of customers," MacKenzie said.

The Fusion, which has become one of the top 10 selling vehicles in the United States, was redesigned for 2010. Ford launched the Fusion in 2006 and it set its previous annual sales peak in 2007.

"What a proof point, to be named car of the year by one of the most rigorous tests in the world," Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally told reporters at Ford headquarters after MacKenzie announced the award.

Motor Trend tested the vehicles on acceleration, braking, handling, noise and responsiveness under various road and traffic conditions. It also considered design, fuel efficiency, safety and value.

Ford posted a nearly $1 billion third-quarter profit this month that surprised Wall Street analysts and is the only large U.S. automaker not to reorganize in bankruptcy with U.S. government support in 2009.

The automaker has said it expects to return to a solid profit in 2011 with a gradual recovery in the auto industry in the United States and key regions internationally.

U.S. auto sales peaked at nearly 17 million vehicles in 2005 and have been falling since. Ford expects 2009 U.S. auto industry sales of about 10.6 million units including medium and heavy trucks, or around 10.3 to 10.4 million light vehicles.

"We are cautiously optimistic that we are near the bottom right now," Mulally said of the U.S. auto market.

Ford's shares reached a more than two-year high on Tuesday, a day after billionaire investor George Soros' hedge fund disclosed taking a 7.3 million share stake in Ford during the third quarter.

U.S. 2009 sales of the Fusion were up 15 percent through October at 148,045 but trail Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Camry and Honda Motor Co Ltd's (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Accord in the mid-size sedan segment, one of the key areas in the U.S. market.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford has looked to set itself apart from U.S. rivals General Motors Co GM.UL and Chrysler Group LLC, which reorganized under government-funded bankruptcies this year, and increasingly uses Toyota and Honda as benchmark competitors.

Sales of the Fusion have helped keep Ford's U.S. sales declines for 2009 slower than the overall drop in the industry. Through October, Ford's U.S. sales are down 20.4 percent for the year, while the industry is down 26 percent.

Ford shares were up 15 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $8.86 in Tuesday afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Earlier on Tuesday, the stock reached $9, a more than two-year high that is also a nearly 29 percent increase since Ford posted its third quarter profit in early November.

Reuters.com

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem/Roanoke, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

FORD ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF ALL-NEW POLICE INTERCEPTOR FOR LAW ENFORCMENT USE NATIONWIDE

2009-11-14T06:21:00.000-08:00

* Ford confirms development plans of an all-new Ford Police Interceptor and affirms continued commitment to the police and municipal vehicle businesses
* New Police Interceptor’s durability, safety and performance will exceed the existing Crown Victoria’s law enforcement vehicle lineup
* Ford is the market leader in the law enforcement vehicle segment, selling 45,000 of the 60,000 police vehicles sold in each year in the U.S.

Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 13, 2009 – Ford Motor Company announced today it will produce an all-new purpose-built Police Interceptor specially designed and engineered to replace the Ford Crown Victoria law enforcement vehicle lineup in 2011.

The new Ford Police Interceptor is being developed in conjunction with Ford’s Police Advisory Board, which provided input during the past 14 months on key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort. The new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011.

“We have heard the repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support of the law enforcement community,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Ford is answering the call with the new Police Interceptor – engineered and built in America.”
Ford – which currently controls approximately 75 percent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S. – has invested significantly in designing the purpose-built new police and municipal vehicles to meet the needs of these crucial customers.

The new Police Interceptor is designed to provide municipalities with reduced ownership costs through improved fuel efficiency, quality and the kind of durability police departments nationwide have come to expect from Ford.

“Ford’s commitment to the law enforcement community produced the Crown Victoria, the benchmark police vehicle,” said Lt. Brian Moran, fleet manager, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a member of Ford’s Police Advisory Board. “This commitment has continued, and Ford has been working closely with the Police Advisory Board on developing the new Police Interceptor. I am confident that the next-generation Ford police vehicle will meet the future needs of the law enforcement community and will set the new standard.”

Ford plans to reveal the new model and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010 – in time for law enforcement agencies, police equipment manufacturers and upfitters to develop a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product.

Each year, Ford sells approximately 45,000 police vehicles, making the Blue Oval the nation’s largest provider of police and municipal vehicles.

“Ford long has supported our public servants with vehicles that work as hard as they do,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. “We intend to build on this legacy with a new generation of municipal and police vehicles that set even higher standards.”

Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

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Electric-powered Ford Transit Connect will go 80 miles between charges, other Ford electric vehicle plans revealed

2009-11-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Ford Motor's begun to trickle out details of its electric-vehicle plans.

It says Azure Dynamics will supply its so-called Force Drive drivetrain to create an all-electric version of its Transit Connect small commercial van. The plug-in vehicle should go on sale to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada late next year.

The battery-powered Transit will go at least 80 miles on a full charge, Ford says, and possibly more. A final decision hasn't been made on battery size, which will determine the range. Johnson Controls-Saft will supply the lithium-ion battery. And it will be "dual badged":

The electric Transit Connect is to be marketed as both a Ford and an Azure, and possibly warrantied by Azure, not Ford.

In 2011, Ford says, it will offer a battery only, plug-in Focus, with at least some intended for regular showroom customers rather than strictly commercial and fleet buyers.

In 2012 will come an unidentified "next-generation" hybrid (meaning it'll have a lithium-ion battery) and an also-anonymous "plug-in hybrid vehicle." Ford won't say if these will be two versions of the same model -- such as two versions of a Fusion sedan -- or separate models, such as a next-gen Fusion hybrid, for instance, and a plug-in Escape.

Too bad all those weren't around during the cash-for-clunkers program. They'd have qualified, in spades.

Transit Connect on assembly line in Turkey by Murad Sezer/Reuters
USA Today

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Ford to put air bags into back seat belts of SUV

2009-11-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

DETROIT — Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they're in the seat belts.

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall. Ford says it's the first automaker to mass produce the technology.

The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt. The car sends a signal that releases the bag, which inflates more gently than a front air bag, so it's safer for children.

Srini Sundararajan, the Ford engineer who was chiefly responsible for developing the device, says the wider belts and bags help distribute crash forces across the occupant's chest, so there's less chance of serious injury. It also supports the head and neck.

"The top two lifesaving devices today are the seat belt and the air bag. This combines them into one great feature," Sundararajan said.

Clarence Ditlow, head of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, says the belts are particularly effective at protecting the elderly, who are more frail.

"You often end up with broken ribs" during a crash with a conventional seat belt, Ditlow said.

Ford has been working on the technology for a decade and had to overcome numerous challenges bringing it to market.

Front air bags are powered by a device that generates hot gas. They deploy very quickly because they need to cover a greater distance before they reach the driver or passenger. Seat belt air bags don't have that distance to cover, so they can deploy more gently, using cold gas technology, although Srini said they're still fully deployed in a tenth of a second.

Ford also did a significant amount of testing to make sure the bags would protect children, even if they're sleeping and their heads are drooping. The belt also works with booster seats.

Sue Cischke, Ford's group vice president for sustainability, environmental and safety engineering, wouldn't say how much the belts with air bags will cost, but she did say the technology is expensive. They will be available as an option at first, since some drivers — particularly those without children — may not feel they need them.

"With any new safety technology, you have to do a lot to educate the consumer," she said. "We're not sure what people will value with this."

Cischke said the Explorer was chosen for the new seat belts because it's popular with families and has also been a platform for other safety introductions, such as side-curtain air bags and stability control. Cischke said the price could come down substantially if Ford decides to put the seat belts on other vehicles.

Edward DeSmet, a technical seat belt specialist at Ford, said test subjects found the padded belts even more comfortable than regular ones. He hopes that leads more people to use them. U.S. seat belt usage in back seats is still at a dismal 60 percent, compared with 83 percent in the vehicle as a whole, DeSmet said.

Associated Press

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Ford Debuts 2010 Raptor Powertrain at SEMA

2009-11-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

Ford’s Raptor is much more than just a truck. As Ford’s top-level F-series offering with unparalleled capability and performance, it’s given the Blue Oval a unique halo vehicle that just can’t seem to stay out of the headlines. And it’s paid off too; over 3,000 orders have been taken with 700 trucks already delivered. And that was just the beginning.

When Ford first announced the Raptor, the news release came with a caveat: that the 2009 Raptor would only be available with the standard 5.4L Triton V8. Although a powerful enough engine in its own right, the 5.4L lump didn’t quite match the level of engineering prowess that was poured into the truck’s race ready suspension, and Ford officials were quick to cite the inclusion of an upcoming (and then) secretive 6.2L V8 that was to exceed 400 horsepower.

Well, now that 6.2L engine isn’t quite so secret, as Ford has used the 2009 SEMA show to display the 2010 Raptor with the optional powerplant under the hood. Exceeding initial estimates, the 6.2L produces 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, making the Raptor the most powerful half-ton pickup extant. Although the 5.4L will still be available, the price differential on US models is roughly $3,000 US, making the 6.2L a fantastic value.

Story found at Carguideweb.com

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Ford Unleashes 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang

2009-11-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

Ford's re-packaging of the Mustang into its 2010 model-year form factor has pleased the critics with a sleeker look, but now Ford Racing is getting ready to please the folks that live only to see quick ETs with the 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet, which was revealed today at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas.

Since its victorious introduction at the NHRA Winternationals in 1968, Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph. The latest version, on show today, was finished in a “SEMA Special” paint scheme and a contrasting graphics package.

The 2010 Cobra Jet, like its predecessor, 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. These include options for a full race-prepared automatic or manual transmission, drag race-specific shocks and springs, manual steering and brakes, and a fully certified roll cage.

Additionally, Ford engineers have developed for the 2010 Cobra Jet a factory-first launch control/rev limiter that will allow drivers to preset the rpm after they stage the car--when they are ready to leave, all they do is put the throttle pedal to the floor. Previously, the launch control/rev limiter was only available as an aftermarket option.

Production of the new race cars will commence in January, with delivery of all vehicles expected in the first quarter of 2010.

Story founda at MotorAuthority

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Ford surprises with $1B profit; sees profit in '11

2009-11-02T08:29:00.001-08:00

By TOM KRISHER and DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP
Mon Nov 2, 9:58 AM EST

Ford, the only Detroit automaker to dodge direct government aid and bankruptcy court, surprised investors with net income of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and forecast a "solidly profitable" 2011.

The automaker said Monday earnings were fueled by U.S. market share gains, cost cuts and the Cash for Clunkers program, which drew flocks of buyers to showrooms this summer. Ford's shares rose 68 cents, or 9.8 percent, to $7.68 in morning trading.

The latest results signal that Ford's turnaround is on more solid ground. The company lost more than $14.6 billion last year and hasn't posted a full-year profit since 2005. While it made a profit in the second quarter, that was mainly due to debt reductions that cut its interest payments.

Ford, based in Dearborn, Mich., reported third-quarter net income of $997 million, or 29 cents per share. Its profit forecast for 2011 was a step above previous guidance of break-even or better for the year.

Ford's key North American car and truck division posted a pretax profit of $357 million, the division's first quarter in the black since early 2005. Ford cited higher pricing, lower material costs and increased market share for the improvement.

Excluding one-time items, Ford earned 26 cents per share, blowing away analysts' expectations of a loss of 12 cents.

The earnings came despite an $800 million revenue drop. But Ford said it cut costs by $1 billion during the quarter, accomplished through layoffs in North America and Europe, reduced pension and retiree health care costs and improvements in productivity and product development.

Chief financial officer Lewis Booth said the company took in $1.3 billion more than it spent in the quarter, an improvement over its $1 billion cash burn in the second quarter.

"That's a huge deal," Booth said.

Ford's plan to create demand and get better prices for its products, coupled with cost cuts, gave the company confidence that it will make money in 2011, Booth said.

But Ford still faces obstacles in its turnaround. Last week, workers overwhelmingly rejected an agreement with the United Auto Workers that would have brought Ford's labor costs in line with rivals General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC. Workers objected to clauses limiting their right to strike and freezing entry-level wages, and felt the company was healthy enough and didn't need further concessions.

The rejected deal also would have changed rules so skilled tradesmen such as electricians and pipefitters work in teams and perform more than one task.

Rejection of the deal isn't likely to place Ford at an immediate cost disadvantage to its crosstown rivals because savings from the concessions are longer-term, said Gary Chaison, a professor of labor relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Neither the company nor the UAW has released any cost savings numbers.

The third-quarter profit makes it extremely unlikely that the company will push to head back to the bargaining table before the current UAW contract expires in the fall of 2011, and union leaders also are unlikely to take another deal to the membership, Chaison said.

"I think the company has no credibility asking for concessions now, and I think the leadership is quite embarrased for making a case for concessions," he said.

Chaison said Ford could make some noise about moving new vehicle production to Canada, where unionized workers on Sunday approved a package of concessions, but it's more likely that Ford will live with the current contract until 2011.

The other area where Ford has a cost disadvantage is debt. Ford reported $26.9 billion in debt, up $800 million from the second quarter.

The company avoided the same fate as rivals Chrysler and GM by mortgaging its factories and even the familiar blue oval logo to borrow $23.5 billion before credit markets froze last year.

Ford didn't quantify the impact of Cash for Clunkers, which offered buyers rebates to trade in their vehicles. The program helped Ford cut costly incentives and raise production.

It also won buyers; the fuel-efficient Ford Focus sedan and Ford Escape, a small SUV, were among the top five sellers under clunkers. Ford sales climbed 17 percent in August thanks to the program.

Ford's revenue fell $800 million for the quarter, to $30.9 billion, due mainly to its financial services arm, Ford Motor Credit, making fewer loans.

But the division still posted a pretax profit of $677 million, and revenue from auto operations rose slightly to $27.9 billion.

Ford also has benefited from consumer goodwill after it declined government bailout money and didn't go into bankruptcy over the summer as GM and Chrysler did. Ford grabbed sales from its rivals, posting the largest increase in market share of any automaker in September. Ford expects an overall gain in U.S. market share in 2009, a feat it hasn't accomplished since 1995.

(This version CORRECTS 5th graf that Ford's North American car and truck division posted the first pretax profit since the first quarter of 2005 sted company's first pretax profit since first quarter of 2005)

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Ford Puts Pedal To Metal To Drive Buzz For Fusion

2009-10-21T13:36:00.001-07:00

Ford is supporting its 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid with a social-media program centering on eight teams of people competing in a sort of relay race. The Fusion 41 program, named after the miles-per-gallon rating of the hybrid model and the number of participants, extends Ford's "Drive One" campaign. Like the Fiesta Movement program, where people were given the forthcoming Fiesta compact car and asked to blog about it, Fusion 41 is all about generating online buzz about the car.

Only the captains of each of the eight teams will be owners of the 2010 Fusion. Applicants also have to have a current Facebook account and a minimum of 100 "friends" and also an active photo collection online. Sign up is at www.fusion41.com between now and Nov. 6. Ford will choose captains based on their passion for the car and web savvy, per Jeff Eggen, Ford car experiential marketing manager.

"It's not so much a demographic as a mindset," he says. "What we are really looking for, particularly from the captain, is a person who fits the Fusion target mindset: ready for anything, loves a challenge, doesn't just have their own beliefs but wants to prove to others that their beliefs are right."

He tells Marketing Daily that Ford will drive interest and applications from among current 2010 Ford Fusion owner database comprising over 50,000 people, plus Fusion forum sites, and Ford's Fusion's Facebook site.

Each of the eight Fusion owners will choose four people to join their team, and each team will be given a 2010 Ford Fusion or Fusion Hybrid to drive in the relay, wherein each team member has to do an assigned task within 41 hours while logging miles driven, stops made or the number of passengers picked up, before handing the car to the next team member.

The winning team will be chosen based on its ability to complete the activities and provide proof by uploading photos and videos to various social media sites, including Facebook. The Fusion owner of the winning team will be given the vehicle, and team members will get free gas for one year.

Eggen says the program is meant to be a fairly aggressive gambit by Ford to get vehicles out to non-owners and their comments on the car into the blogosphere. "Like Fiesta Movement, it's another example of how confident Ford is in marketing now," he says. "We want real customers behind the wheel to experience [the cars] and tell the story."

He says that the team members who are not captains are not going to be Fusion owners and probably not even Ford owners. "But we are looking for teams where all the members have a level of tech savvy; we want all of them to be on Facebook and using social networking tools at least at a minimal level."

He says Ford will ask people following the teams on Facebook, etc., to submit ideas on which activities it should layer on top of all the others the teams are doing.

Karl Greenberg, Oct 21, 2009 02:54 PM
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=115851

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2010 Ford Transit Connect-Fanfare for the Working Van

2009-10-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem, N.H.

IN Europe, the Ford Transit Connect is common enough to blend into the landscape. But in a small town in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, this compact commercial van stops traffic.

Since 2003 Ford has sold more than 625,000 Transit Connects in 58 countries, but its proportions — it is a tall but relatively short and narrow utility vehicle — are startlingly new to Americans. It also heralds a big shift in Ford’s approach to business customers, who in the past have been steered toward large vans and pickup trucks.

Ford’s plans for the Transit Connect do not seem to be limited to hauling the tools and supplies of tradesmen, either. A design study for a Transit Connect taxi has been displayed on the auto show circuit, and a battery-electric version of the van is about a year away.

And the company has at least toyed with the idea of the Transit Connect for noncommercial uses. It showed a concept called the Transit Connect Family One at the New York auto show last spring, configured to help a family carry all of its recreational gear and outfitted to keep the gear organized. It had twin scooters mounted on the rear doors, a storage area beneath the rear floor big enough to hold a stroller and came with a radio frequency identification system to help track all of a family’s stuff.

Len Deluca, director for commercial trucks at Ford, hinted that the unfamiliar shape might be headed for the suburbs. “Down the road it could be in your driveway as a family vehicle,” he said.

Parked next to a Dodge Sprinter, another high-roof van marketed primarily to business customers, Ford’s little immigrant looks like a cute offspring. But the main shared characteristic is their trans-Atlantic heritage; in Europe, the Sprinter is sold as a Mercedes-Benz.

While the Transit Connects coming to the United States are built in Turkey, they could become naturalized citizens. Automotive News, a trade publication, has reported that the van will be built in the United States by summer 2012. A Ford spokeswoman, Anne Marie Gattari, dismissed the report as speculation.

Whatever its manufacturing source, Ford is optimistic about sales. In August, its first full month of sales in the United States, 2,200 Transit Connects were sold. They are selling within 10 days of arriving on dealer lots, which Ford said is significantly quicker than current industry norms.

Americans are more familiar with Ford’s larger van, the E-Series, built outside Cleveland. That full-size van, commonly known by its former name of Econoline, can be equipped to handle a payload so large that it could, in theory, carry the 3,470-pound Transit Connect, said Rob Stevens, Ford’s chief engineer for commercial vehicles. The E-Series is very capable, he said, but people are looking for something lighter.”

While the E-Series comes with V-8 and V-10 engines and rear-wheel drive, the Transit Connect relies on a 4-cylinder motor that puts its power to the road through the front wheels. The result is more space-efficient and more fuel-efficient.

Ford calls the Transit Connect a billboard on wheels that provides a more professional image for a small business than it would get with a minivan, which is stamped in the minds of some Americans as uncool family transportation. My bright red test model was a rolling advertisement for itself, emblazoned with self-congratulatory messages that boasted about its mileage (22 miles a gallon in city driving and 25 m.p.g. on the highway), payload capacity (1,600 pounds), cargo volume (135 cubic feet) and a low load floor.

The Transit Connect comes in several cargo van models that have just two seats, at base prices from $21,475 to $22,945. The Wagon XL, with a second row that seats two, starts at $21,830.

The model I tested was the top-of-the line Wagon XLT. It had a second row that seated three, more standard features than the XL and a base price of $23,045.

The window sticker of the test van totaled $26,170. Of that, $1,395 was for Ford Work Solutions, a navigation system with an in-dash computer that can be linked to a business owner’s office or home computer. Using it, a document from the office or home can be opened, modified and printed on a Bluetooth-linked printer.

Although the cargo area of the van I tested was bare, Ford has contracted with three suppliers who offer various cargo-management systems.

The second row seats, which are split 60/40, flip and fold forward against the front seats. Unfortunately, they don’t fold flat into the floor and cannot be removed without tools, limiting the utility of the cargo area.

In models without second-row seats, the cargo floor is just over 6 feet long. With the second row of seats in place, the floor is 3 feet 8 inches long. With the seats folded forward and out of the way, it is 4 feet 8 inches. Surprisingly, the Transit Connect cannot carry a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood inside, a task that has become a basic measure of a vehicle’s utility — and one that can be accomplished by most minivans.

The powertrain uses a 2-liter 4-cylinder Duratec engine with 136 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

It is the same powertrain used in the Ford Focus but is calibrated to handle the additional 1,000 pounds of the Transit Connect.

Some people who looked over my test vehicle had qualms about the engine’s ability to handle heavy loads, especially on the mountain roads of New Hampshire. Although I never loaded it down as a business owner would, there were times when I felt I could have used more power. Worse yet, at highway speeds the transmission can also be slow to downshift for quick lane changes.

But realistically, the Transit Connect is best adapted for getting around in cities and suburbs. For urban errands and deliveries, the power seemed adequate. Too, city dwellers are likely to appreciate how easily the van makes a U-turn.

On a highway drive from Bethlehem to New York City, a bit more than 300 miles, the lightly loaded Transit Connect got almost 28 m.p.g. Early on, in the mountains on Interstate 91 at speeds of 65 to 70 miles an hour, the engine was working its heart out at around 4,000 r.p.m. Farther south, on level terrain, the engine was less stressed, but hardly relaxed.

Although the Transit Connect looks like a tall tippy box, it handles pretty much like a car. It has a MacPherson strut front-suspension, while the rear suspension uses leaf springs in the time-honored truck tradition. The chassis feels solid and the ride is comfortable even on bumpy roads, which would be pretty much every street in New York City.

Oddly, for a utilitarian vehicle there is not a lot of storage space in front, not even a cargo bin. And to call the lever that adjusts the steering wheel balky would be a gross understatement.

Visibility can be limited. Unlike a typical minivan, the rear cargo area does not have windows, and there is a blind spot at the center of the back end where the cargo doors meet.

Another way in which the Transit Connect differs from minivans: I never parked it in our garage, which has standard-height doors. I stopped just short because there appeared to be insufficient clearance.

That is an outstanding question in my mind, because one of the draws of minivans when they first came out was their ability to fit into the garage, unlike some full-sized vans.

Still, the Transit Connect has a lot to offer a group of new customers. By being first in the American market with such a sensible vehicle, Ford has shown a degree of innovation and boldness that has often been missing in Detroit.

•

INSIDE TRACK: For businesses, this may be the minivan 2.0.

Story Found: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automobiles/autoreviews/27ford-transit.html?_r=1&hpw=&pagewanted=print

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FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR NAMED 2009 ‘TRUCK OF TEXAS;’ FORD WORK SOLUTIONS WINS ‘OUTSTANDING FEATURE’

2009-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

* 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor captures the “2009 Truck of Texas” title, named by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), the seventh consecutive award for Ford
* Ford Work Solutions productivity technology developed for commercial fleet customers named “Outstanding Feature”
* Ford trucks also wins “Truck Line of Texas,” recognizing the best-selling F-Series lineup for its capability, durability

DALLAS, Oct. 18, 2009 – The all-new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is much more than an off-road performance truck capable of taking on the toughest terrain a customer can throw its way. According to the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), it’s also the one and only 2009 “Truck of Texas,” the seventh consecutive time a Ford truck has won the award. Additionally, Raptor was named best “Full-size Pickup Truck.”

“Winning the Truck of Texas is a distinct honor,” said Mark Fields, president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “Texans know their trucks, and this award is further proof of why the F-150 remains America’s number-one selling pickup. We built F-150 SVT Raptor for truck enthusiasts. And we’re gratified it’s gaining recognition for both its unequaled off-road performance and confidence-inspiring on-road demeanor.”

Ford trucks also took the “Truck Line of Texas,” a distinguished honor recognizing the best-in-class capability and durability of Ford’s best-selling F-Series lineup.

Another top honor, “Outstanding Feature,” went to Ford Work Solutions, a suite of productivity technologies developed for the commercial truck owner. The system includes an in-dash computer that connects with the home office; Tool Link that keeps track of costly tools and equipment; Cable Lock, which locks up tools in the open truck box; and Crew Chief, a telematics system, giving the fleet manager more control of his/her fleet of vehicles.

Ford’s 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor is a purpose-built, high-speed off-road truck that is ready for adventure – while also being versatile enough to handle the daily commute. To test the capability and durability of Raptor, Ford took a modified pre-production Raptor to the grueling 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 this past November. The early-build Raptor not only survived Baja, it earned a podium finish in its class.

Key enablers to the Raptor’s impressive performance are functional design cues and impressive suspension technology. The Raptor is seven inches wider than a base F-150 to make room for the additional suspension components that give Raptor its off-road abilities. The wider stance also gives the truck an aggressive appearance.

Internal triple-bypass shocks by FOX Racing Shox – the first on a production truck – provide position-sensitive damping and extra suspension travel for extreme off-roading and a smooth ride on the road. In addition to the shocks, Raptor has unique cast-aluminum front control arms and SVT-tuned 35-inch BFGoodrich® All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. These components give Raptor 11.2 inches of front suspension travel and 12.1 inches of rear suspension travel.

The F-150 SVT Raptor comes standard with the proven 5.4-liter SOHC V-8 engine that produces up to 320 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque. In early 2010 customers will have the option of an even more powerful new 6.2-liter V-8 engine.

Customer anticipation has been extremely high, with 3,000 orders already received for the 5.4-liter F-150 SVT Raptor. In fact, initial dealer orders have the Dearborn Truck Plant building Raptors at maximum capacity, reflecting the strong demand for the first-ever factory high-speed off-road truck.

Starting price for the F-150 SVT Raptor is $38,995 including destination and delivery charges. It is currently on sale at Ford dealerships.

In total, Ford won eight of 18 awards, including Lincoln MKX as "Mid-size CUV," Ford Flex as "Full-size CUV," and Ford F-150 King Ranch as "Luxury Pick-up Truck," and Ford Expedition as "Full-size SUV."

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###

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

Ford's Transit Connect Fills a Need

2009-10-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

Ford's Transit Connect fills a need

By KEN WICKLIFFE
For The Star Press

MUNCIE -- A fuel-efficient, midsize van that can be outfitted to carry passengers, nearly any type of cargo, or both, Ford's Transit Connect fills a need in the marketplace, says a spokesman for Bill McCoy Ford Lincoln Mercury.

New to the United States for 2010, the Transit Connect arrived recently at the Muncie dealership. It appeals to cost-conscious business customers, as well as individuals who want a versatile utility vehicle that's inexpensive to operate, according to Mike Ramsey, who handles commercial truck and fleet sales at McCoy.

"Compared to a big truck or van that might only get 12 or 13 miles per gallon in stop-and-go city traffic, the Transit Connect is rated at 22 city and 25 highway," he said. "Yet, it has a 1,600 pound payload, so it will carry as much as many 'half-ton' cargo vans.

"No one else offers a vehicle like this," Ramsey added. "We've known this van was coming for the last several months, and many fleet customers have been waiting for it."

While its two-liter, four-cylinder engine is smaller than the V8s under the hoods of many competing models, the Transit Connect accelerates well because it weighs 1,500 pounds less than most full-size vans, Ford says. Also, the new van's transmission and axle are geared to take advantage of the smaller engine's horsepower and torque characteristics.

"This is a highly maneuverable vehicle -- it's easy to back up to doors and loading docks, and easy to load and unload," Ramsey said. "The Transit Connect is also agile in traffic."

In addition to serving as a delivery van, he added, the Transit Connect is ideal for tradespeople and anyone else who has to move products, tools or equipment. The cargo area, which is six feet long, four feet wide and nearly five feet tall, can be outfitted with a variety of racks, shelf units, storage cabinets and other cargo management systems that have been designed for the vehicle.

Two sliding doors allow items to be loaded from either side, and the Transit Connect is available with specially-hinged rear doors that swing open in a 255-degree arc, allowing the van can be backed up nearly flush to a door or loading dock.

An available in-dash, touch-screen computer runs Microsoft Windows and comes with a wireless keyboard and touch pad. It provides Internet access, order- and tool-tracking, navigation, communication and other services that allow the van to function as a mobile office.

The Transit Connect's base price is $20,780 for the two-passenger Cargo Van, which comes with only front seats, and $21,135 for the four- or five-passenger Wagon, which also has a folding rear seat. Standard features on both models include air conditioning, a four-speed automatic transmission, six-way adjustable driver's seat, four-way adjustable front passenger's seat and an overhead storage shelf with retaining net.

While the Transit Connect is new to the U.S. market, Ford has offered the van in other countries since 2003.

More than 600,000 have been sold, the company says.
Additional Facts
2010 Ford Transit Connect

Base price range: $20,780 -- $21,135

Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles (powertrain); 3 years/36,000 miles (bumper-to-bumper)

Fuel economy: 22 city/25 highway

Engine: 2-liter four-cylinder with 136 horsepower

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Safety features: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, collapsible steering column, tire pressure monitoring system (standard)

Source: Cars.com

Call me for more information on the Transit Connect or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2009 Ford F-350 Chassis Cab

2009-10-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights

“Big rig” grille makes a bold statement and covers a large cooling system for reliable operation, especially under extreme towing

F-Series continues to meet the needs of a multitude of commercial vocations

Exceptional interior design promotes great comfort and utility

Standard Safety & Security

Airbags – Driver and right-front Passenger front*

Airbag deactivation switch – Passenger side (Regular Cab and SuperCab)

Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder

Brakes – 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Child-safety-seat top tether anchors (Regular Cab front passenger and all rear seating positions)

Fail-safe engine cooling system (gas engines)

Front-outboard safety belts with height-adjustable shoulder belts

Safety Belts – Color coordinated front-outboard safety belts with height adjustable shoulder belts

SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system

Side-intrusion door beams

SOS Post-Crash Alert System

Major Standard Features

7-wire harness trailer tow (blunt-cut)

40-gallon aft-axle fuel tank capacity

Air conditioning

Engine – 5.4L 3-valve V8 (F-350 SRW)

Engine – 6.8L 3-valve V10 (F-350 DRW, F-450 and F-550)

Floor covering – Black full length vinyl

Front and rear stabilizer bars

Front step bumper

Front tow hooks (2)

Front twin-coil monobeam suspension (F-350 4x4, F-450 and F-550)

Front Twin-I-Beam with coil spring suspension (F-350 4x2)

Mirrors – Manually telescoping trailer tow (XL, XLT)

Power steering

Roof clearance lamps

Stationary Elevated Idle Control (SEIC)†

Transfer case – Manual transfer case with manual locking hubs (4x4 only)

Upfitter switches (4)

Major Optional Features††

Alternators – Dual (diesel only)

Audio-SIRIUS Satellite Radio

Cruise control

Electronic Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) 4-wheel-drive system

Engine – 5.4L 3-valve V8 (DRW)

Engine – 6.4L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel

Engine – 6.8L 3-valve V10

Ford SYNC™

Fuel Tank – 19-gallon midship

Fuel Tank – Dual diesel (40-gal. aft-of-axle; 19-gal. midship)

License Plate Bracket – Front

Mirrors – PowerScope™ trailer tow

Pedals – Power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals

Rapid-Heat Supplemental Cab Heater (diesel only)

Securilock® Anti-Theft Ignition

Trailer Brake Controller

Traction Control

Transmission – Power TakeOff (PTO) provision

Transmission – TorqShift® 5-speed automatic

Fleet Exclusive

Air Conditioning delete

Airbag Delete – Passenger

Battery upgrade – 750 CCA/78-AH

Carpet delete

Daytime running lamps

Dual-beam jewel-effect headlamps (XL)

Radio delete

Rear Seat delete

Tilt steering wheel

Ford Work Solution™

In-dash computer with touch screen and Garmin® Navigation (87N)

Crew Chief™ (87T)

Tool Link™ (87L)

Major Optional Packages††

10,000 GVWR Package (68D)

Ambulance Prep Package (47A)

Convenience Package (90G)

Extra-Heavy-Service Suspension Package (67X)

Heavy-Service Suspension Package (67H)

Low Deflection Package (86S)

Payload Upgrade Package (68U)

Payload Plus Upgrade Package (68M)

Power Equipment Group (90L)

Snow Plow Prep Package (473)

Trailer Tow Package (531)

Trailer Tow High-Capacity Package (535)

XL Décor Group (17F)

XLT Convenience Package (96C)

†Final-stage manufacturer or upfitter must supply control switches.
††Available on select series. See your dealer for details.
*Always wear your safety belt and deactivate the passenger airbag when using a rear-facing child-safety seat with Regular Cab and SuperCab models. Always wear your safety belt and secure children in the rear seat with Crew Cab models. Passenger airbag may be deleted.
Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on the F-350 or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty

2009-10-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights

F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks for 31 straight years

Best-in-class* 5th-wheel/conventional towing ratings on F-350 of 18,700/15,000 lbs.** rise to record heights on F-450, at 24,500/16,000 lbs.**

Best-in-class payload rating on F-350 of 5670 lbs.** climbs even higher on F-450, at 6100 lbs.**

Standard Safety & Security

Airbags – Driver and right-front passenger front***

Airbag deactivation switch – Passenger side (Regular Cab and SuperCab)

Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder

Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Child-safety-seat top tether anchors (Regular Cab front passenger and all rear seating positions)

Fail-safe engine cooling system (gas engines)

Safety Belts – Color coordinated front-outboard safety belts with height adjustable shoulder belts

SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system

SOS Post Crash Alert System

Major Standard Features

Air conditioning

Audio – AM/FM stereo / digital clock / 2 speakers

Engine – 5.4L 3-valve V8 (F-250/F-350)

Engine – 6.4L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel (F-450)

Floor covering – Black full length vinyl

Lights – Pickup box and cargo area

Moldings – Tailgate and box rail

Pickup box – Partitionable and stackable

Power steering

Powerpoint – Auxiliary

Stabilizer bar – Front

Stationary Elevated Idle Control (SEIC)†

Tailgate – Removable with key lock, and Tailgate Assist™

Tie Downs Hooks – Pickup box (4 with 6 3/4' box and 6 with 8' box)

Trailer Hitch Receiver – 12.5K Built Ford Tough® (includes 2" trailer hitch)

Trailer Tow Package – 7-wire harness with relays and 7/4 pin connector

Transfer case – Manual transfer case with manual locking hubs (4x4 only)

Transmission – 6-speed manual

Major Optional Features††

Alternators – Dual (diesel only)

Audio-SIRIUS Satellite Radio

Cab steps (molded black)

Cruise control

Engine – 6.4L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel

Engine – 6.8L 3-valve V10

Engine block heater

Ford SYNC™

License Plate Bracket – front

Mirrors – PowerScope™ trailer tow

Rapid-Heat Supplemental Cab Heater (diesel only)

Reverse Camera System

Reverse Sensing System

Roof clearance lamps

Stowable Bed Extender

Tailgate Step

Tough Bed spray-in bedliner

Trailer Brake Controller

Traction Control

Transmission – TorqShift® 5-speed automatic

Transmission Power Take-Off Provision (standard with diesel engine)

Upfitter switches (4)

Fleet Exclusive

Adjustable pedals

Air Conditioning delete

Brakes – Hydro-boost

Daytime running lamps

Dual-beam jewel-effect headlamps

Mirrors – Black, manual fold away side mirrors

Pickup box delete

Rear seat delete

Skid plates

Tilt steering wheel

Window – Manual sliding rear window

Ford Work Solutions™

In-dash computer with touch screen and Garmin® Navigation (87N)

Crew Chief™ (87T)

Tool Link™ (87L)

Cable Lock (87C)

Major Optional Packages††

4x4 Off-Road Package (17X)

10,000-lb. GVWR Package (68D) (F-350 SRW)

Camper Package (471)

Heavy-Service Suspension Package (67H)

Heavy-Service Package for pickup box delete (63R)

Power Equipment Group (90L)

Snow Plow Prep Package (473)

Stabilizer Package (63B)

XL Décor Group (17F)

XL Plus Package (96X)

XLT Convenience Package (96C)

*Class is Full-size Pickups over 8500 lbs. and up to 16,000 lbs. GVWR.
**When properly equipped.
***Always wear your safety belt and deactivate the passenger airbag when using a rear-facing child-safety seat with Regular Cab and SuperCab models. Always wear your safety belt and secure children in the rear seat in Crew Cab models.
†Final-stage manufacturer must supply control switches.
††Available on select series. See your dealer for details.

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on the F-350 or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Transit Connect Doubles Sweetest Day Flower Delivery Volume Per Tankful

2009-10-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sweetest Day is right
around the corner, and for forward-thinking florists Ford Motor Company's
versatile Transit Connect is ready to deliver.

"It costs us about $30 to fill the gas tank in the Transit Connect," said
Frank Mancuso, proprietor of Mancuso Florists in St. Clair Shores, Mich. "It
costs us about $70 to fill the tank in one of our full-size vans. A full tank
lasts around the same time in either vehicle, so delivery costs are
significantly reduced by using the Transit Connect."

Transit Connect is Ford's global compact van, built on a dedicated
front-wheel-drive commercial platform, developed to meet the unique needs of
small business owners. Powered by a proven 2.0-liter Duratec® I-4 engine,
mated to a four-speed automatic overdrive transaxle, Transit Connect delivers
22 city, 25 highway EPA-rated mpg.

"No other vehicle in the American market can match the unique Transit Connect
combination of capacity and fuel economy," said Rob Stevens, chief nameplate
engineer.

Transit Connect is ready for Sweetest Day deliveries, offering 135.3 cubic
feet of cargo space and a payload capacity of up to 1,600 pounds.

Available with or without side and rear windows, Transit Connect can be
configured and upfitted to meet the specialized needs of a flower shop. A low
load floor and split rear cargo doors - opening at a standard 180 degrees or
an optional 255 - ease loading and deliveries alike.

"Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Administrative Professionals Day and Sweetest
Day are notable for their high-intensity delivery schedules," said Bruce
Wright, editor of Flowers& magazine, a trade journal for the retail florist
industry. "While reduced delivery costs are critical, Transit Connect offers
other key advantages for floral retailers. Small overall dimensions make
Transit Connect much more maneuverable than traditional full-size vans, key in
urban markets. It's easier to handle and much simpler to park, reducing
driver stress."

Transit Connect also conveys the right image for a florist.

"A full-size van is almost invisible, because they're everywhere," observed
Mancuso. "But all kinds of people notice our Transit Connect. Our drivers
get so many inquiries about the vehicle, we hand out cards with information
about it. Transit Connect serves as a 'rolling billboard' for our business."

Available at Ford dealers nationwide, Transit Connect starts at $21,475,
including destination.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the
company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Call me for more information on the Transit Connect or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty

2009-10-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights:

F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks for 31 straight years

Best-in-class* 5th-wheel/conventional towing ratings on F-350 of 18,700/15,000 lbs.** rise to record heights on F-450, at 24,500/16,000 lbs.**

Best-in-class payload rating on F-350 of 5670 lbs.** climbs even higher on F-450, at 6100 lbs.**

Standard Safety & Security

Airbags – Driver and right-front passenger front***

Airbag deactivation switch – Passenger side (Regular Cab and SuperCab)

Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder

Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Child-safety-seat top tether anchors (Regular Cab front passenger and all rear seating positions)

Fail-safe engine cooling system (gas engines)

Safety Belts – Color coordinated front-outboard safety belts with height adjustable shoulder belts

SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system

SOS Post Crash Alert System

Major Standard Features

Air conditioning

Audio – AM/FM stereo / digital clock / 2 speakers

Engine – 5.4L 3-valve V8 (F-250/F-350)

Engine – 6.4L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel (F-450)

Floor covering – Black full length vinyl

Lights – Pickup box and cargo area

Moldings – Tailgate and box rail

Pickup box – Partitionable and stackable

Power steering

Powerpoint – Auxiliary

Stabilizer bar – Front

Stationary Elevated Idle Control (SEIC)†

Tailgate – Removable with key lock, and Tailgate Assist™

Tie Downs Hooks – Pickup box (4 with 6 3/4' box and 6 with 8' box)

Trailer Hitch Receiver – 12.5K Built Ford Tough® (includes 2" trailer hitch)

Trailer Tow Package – 7-wire harness with relays and 7/4 pin connector

Transfer case – Manual transfer case with manual locking hubs (4x4 only)

Transmission – 6-speed manual

Major Optional Features††

Alternators – Dual (diesel only)

Audio-SIRIUS Satellite Radio

Cab steps (molded black)

Cruise control

Engine – 6.4L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel

Engine – 6.8L 3-valve V10

Engine block heater

Ford SYNC™

License Plate Bracket – front

Mirrors – PowerScope™ trailer tow

Rapid-Heat Supplemental Cab Heater (diesel only)

Reverse Camera System

Reverse Sensing System

Roof clearance lamps

Stowable Bed Extender

Tailgate Step

Tough Bed spray-in bedliner

Trailer Brake Controller

Traction Control

Transmission – TorqShift® 5-speed automatic

Transmission Power Take-Off Provision (standard with diesel engine)

Upfitter switches (4)

Fleet Exclusive

Adjustable pedals

Air Conditioning delete

Brakes – Hydro-boost

Daytime running lamps

Dual-beam jewel-effect headlamps

Mirrors – Black, manual fold away side mirrors

Pickup box delete

Skid plates

Tilt steering wheel

Window – Manual sliding rear window

Ford Work Solutions™

In-dash computer with touch screen and Garmin® Navigation (87N)

Crew Chief™ (87T)

Tool Link™ (87L)

Cable Lock (87C)

Major Optional Packages††

4x4 Off-Road Package (17X)

10,000-lb. GVWR Package (68D) (F-350 SRW)

Camper Package (471)

Heavy-Service Suspension Package (67H)

Heavy-Service Package for pickup box delete (63R)

Power Equipment Group (90L)

Snow Plow Prep Package (473)

Stabilizer Package (63B)

XL Décor Group (17F)

XL Plus Package (96X)

XLT Convenience Package (96C)

*Class is Full-size Pickups over 8500 lbs. and up to 16,000 lbs. GVWR.
**When properly equipped.
***Always wear your safety belt and deactivate the passenger airbag when using a rear-facing child-safety seat with Regular Cab and SuperCab models. Always wear your safety belt and secure children in the rear seat in Crew Cab models.
†Final-stage manufacturer must supply control switches.
††Available on select series. See your dealer for details.

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

2010 F-150

2009-10-11T06:33:00.001-07:00

Key Highlights:

2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year™. The F-150’s safety leadership is built on the solid structure that underpins the truck’s legendary “Built Ford Tough” durability and capability. The new truck has an all-new hydroformed steel front end – including use of tubular ultra-high-strength lighter weight steel that contributes to its unsurpassed fuel economy with up to 21 mpg when equipped with the SFE Package.* 11,300-lb. max. towing capability and 3030-lb. max. cargo:** no other under-8500-lb. GVWR pickup even comes close. The new F-150 has standard safety and towing aid technologies – including Advance Trac® with Roll Stability Control™ and SOS Post Crash Alert System have contributed to making it the safest full size truck on the road. The Ford-exclusive stability control system uses a gyroscopic sensor that uniquely helps detect and prevent both skidding and rollovers. The system offers as standard integrated Trailer Sway Control technology, which helps determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and takes measures to help bring it under control. An available Integrated Trailer Brake Controller technology allows direct operation of the trailer’s electronic brakes with more confidence than typical aftermarket systems.

Available Trim Levels:

XL
STX
XLT
FX4
Lariat
King Ranch
Platinum
Harley-Davidson™

Features:

AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™)
Air conditioning
Audio – AM/FM Stereo/clock
Brakes – Power 4-wheel vented disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Cargo box tie-downs hooks (4)
Cruise Control†
Easy Fuel™ capless fuel-filler system
Engine – 4.6L 2-valve EFI V8 with 4-speed automatic transmission
Ford SYNC® †
Headlamps - Autolamp†
Mirrors – Power sideview†
Power points, front (all cab styles) and rear (SuperCab and SuperCrew)
Power windows and door locks†
Quick-release tailgate with key lock and Tailgate Assist
Rear View Camera†
Remote keyless-entry system†
Reverse Sensing System†
SecuriCode™ – Keyless Entry (Keypad) †
Spare tire/wheel lock
SIRIUS Satellite Radio†
Steering – Tilt/cruise control†
Tailgate – Removable with key lock and lift assist
Tow Hooks – Front (two) (4x4 only)
Trailer Sway Control

Safety & Security:

Airbags††:

Dual stage front seat-mounted side airbags
Safety Canopy® System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor
Belt-Minder® front safety belt reminder
LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether anchors for Child-safety seats
MyKey™†
Personal Safety System™
SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system
SOS Post-Crash Alert System™
Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional Features:

Audio – AM/FM SONY 6-disc CD/MP3 capable
Box Side Steps
Cable Lock (47S)
Cargo Management System
Crew Chief™ (47C)
Electronic Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF) 4-wheel-drive system
Engine:

- 4.6L 3-valve EFI V8 with 6-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode
- 5.4L 3-valve EFI V8 FFV with 6-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode

Fog Lamps
Ford Work Solutions™
Full coverage rubber floor
Heavy-Duty Payload Package (627)
In-dash Windows CE computer with touch screen (58I)
Trailer Brake Controller
Max Trailer Tow Package (53M)
MidBox Prep Package (55M)
Mirrors – Manually telescoping trailer tow with manual glass
Navigation radio with in-dash screen
Power Equipment Group
Power Moonroof
Running Boards
Skid Plates
Snow Plow Prep Package (62S)
Stowable Bed Extender
Tailgate Step
Tool Link™ (47T)
Trailer Tow Package (535)
XL Décor Group (86D)
XL Plus Package (61X)
XLT Chrome Package (86X)
XLT Convenience Package (61C)

Call me for more information on the 2010 F-150 or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Behind the Wheel | 2010 Ford Transit Connect

2009-10-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem, N.H.

IN Europe, the Ford Transit Connect is common enough to blend into the landscape. But in a small town in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, this compact commercial van stops traffic.

Since 2003 Ford has sold more than 625,000 Transit Connects in 58 countries, but its proportions — it is a tall but relatively short and narrow utility vehicle — are startlingly new to Americans. It also heralds a big shift in Ford’s approach to business customers, who in the past have been steered toward large vans and pickup trucks.

Ford’s plans for the Transit Connect do not seem to be limited to hauling the tools and supplies of tradesmen, either. A design study for a Transit Connect taxi has been displayed on the auto show circuit, and a battery-electric version of the van is about a year away.

And the company has at least toyed with the idea of the Transit Connect for noncommercial uses. It showed a concept called the Transit Connect Family One at the New York auto show last spring, configured to help a family carry all of its recreational gear and outfitted to keep the gear organized. It had twin scooters mounted on the rear doors, a storage area beneath the rear floor big enough to hold a stroller and came with a radio frequency identification system to help track all of a family’s stuff.

Len Deluca, director for commercial trucks at Ford, hinted that the unfamiliar shape might be headed for the suburbs. “Down the road it could be in your driveway as a family vehicle,” he said.

Parked next to a Dodge Sprinter, another high-roof van marketed primarily to business customers, Ford’s little immigrant looks like a cute offspring. But the main shared characteristic is their trans-Atlantic heritage; in Europe, the Sprinter is sold as a Mercedes-Benz.

While the Transit Connects coming to the United States are built in Turkey, they could become naturalized citizens. Automotive News, a trade publication, has reported that the van will be built in the United States by summer 2012. A Ford spokeswoman, Anne Marie Gattari, dismissed the report as speculation.

Whatever its manufacturing source, Ford is optimistic about sales. In August, its first full month of sales in the United States, 2,200 Transit Connects were sold. They are selling within 10 days of arriving on dealer lots, which Ford said is significantly quicker than current industry norms.

Americans are more familiar with Ford’s larger van, the E-Series, built outside Cleveland. That full-size van, commonly known by its former name of Econoline, can be equipped to handle a payload so large that it could, in theory, carry the 3,470-pound Transit Connect, said Rob Stevens, Ford’s chief engineer for commercial vehicles. The E-Series is very capable, he said, but people are looking for something lighter.”

While the E-Series comes with V-8 and V-10 engines and rear-wheel drive, the Transit Connect relies on a 4-cylinder motor that puts its power to the road through the front wheels. The result is more space-efficient and more fuel-efficient.

Ford calls the Transit Connect a billboard on wheels that provides a more professional image for a small business than it would get with a minivan, which is stamped in the minds of some Americans as uncool family transportation. My bright red test model was a rolling advertisement for itself, emblazoned with self-congratulatory messages that boasted about its mileage (22 miles a gallon in city driving and 25 m.p.g. on the highway), payload capacity (1,600 pounds), cargo volume (135 cubic feet) and a low load floor.

The Transit Connect comes in several cargo van models that have just two seats, at base prices from $21,475 to $22,945. The Wagon XL, with a second row that seats two, starts at $21,830.

The model I tested was the top-of-the line Wagon XLT. It had a second row that seated three, more standard features than the XL and a base price of $23,045.

The window sticker of the test van totaled $26,170. Of that, $1,395 was for Ford Work Solutions, a navigation system with an in-dash computer that can be linked to a business owner’s office or home computer. Using it, a document from the office or home can be opened, modified and printed on a Bluetooth-linked printer.

Although the cargo area of the van I tested was bare, Ford has contracted with three suppliers who offer various cargo-management systems.

The second row seats, which are split 60/40, flip and fold forward against the front seats. Unfortunately, they don’t fold flat into the floor and cannot be removed without tools, limiting the utility of the cargo area.

In models without second-row seats, the cargo floor is just over 6 feet long. With the second row of seats in place, the floor is 3 feet 8 inches long. With the seats folded forward and out of the way, it is 4 feet 8 inches. Surprisingly, the Transit Connect cannot carry a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood inside, a task that has become a basic measure of a vehicle’s utility — and one that can be accomplished by most minivans.

The powertrain uses a 2-liter 4-cylinder Duratec engine with 136 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

It is the same powertrain used in the Ford Focus but is calibrated to handle the additional 1,000 pounds of the Transit Connect.

Some people who looked over my test vehicle had qualms about the engine’s ability to handle heavy loads, especially on the mountain roads of New Hampshire. Although I never loaded it down as a business owner would, there were times when I felt I could have used more power. Worse yet, at highway speeds the transmission can also be slow to downshift for quick lane changes.

But realistically, the Transit Connect is best adapted for getting around in cities and suburbs. For urban errands and deliveries, the power seemed adequate. Too, city dwellers are likely to appreciate how easily the van makes a U-turn.

On a highway drive from Bethlehem to New York City, a bit more than 300 miles, the lightly loaded Transit Connect got almost 28 m.p.g. Early on, in the mountains on Interstate 91 at speeds of 65 to 70 miles an hour, the engine was working its heart out at around 4,000 r.p.m. Farther south, on level terrain, the engine was less stressed, but hardly relaxed.

Although the Transit Connect looks like a tall tippy box, it handles pretty much like a car. It has a MacPherson strut front-suspension, while the rear suspension uses leaf springs in the time-honored truck tradition. The chassis feels solid and the ride is comfortable even on bumpy roads, which would be pretty much every street in New York City.

Oddly, for a utilitarian vehicle there is not a lot of storage space in front, not even a cargo bin. And to call the lever that adjusts the steering wheel balky would be a gross understatement.

Visibility can be limited. Unlike a typical minivan, the rear cargo area does not have windows, and there is a blind spot at the center of the back end where the cargo doors meet.

Another way in which the Transit Connect differs from minivans: I never parked it in our garage, which has standard-height doors. I stopped just short because there appeared to be insufficient clearance.

That is an outstanding question in my mind, because one of the draws of minivans when they first came out was their ability to fit into the garage, unlike some full-sized vans.

Still, the Transit Connect has a lot to offer a group of new customers. By being first in the American market with such a sensible vehicle, Ford has shown a degree of innovation and boldness that has often been missing in Detroit.

•

INSIDE TRACK: For businesses, this may be the minivan 2.0.

By CHERYL JENSEN
Published: September 24, 2009
Article found http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/automobiles/autoreviews/27ford-transit.html?hpw

****SEE THE TRANSIT CONNECT ON ACE OF CAKES!****

Call me for more information on the E Series Cargo Van or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2009 E Series Wagon

2009-09-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control),standard on all Wagons
E-Series Super Duty® Extended Length Wagon seats up to 15 passengers†
The only over–8500 lbs. GVWR passenger wagon to offer standard Flex Fuel–capable engines
Available Trim Levels
XL
XLT
Safety & Security
3–point safety belts in all seating positions with height-adjustable D-rings
AdvanceTrac® with RSC®(Roll Stability Control)
Airbags – Driver and front-passenger
Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder
Brake/shift interlock
Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Privacy Glass - B-pillar rearward
Remote keyless entry with panic alarm
Side-intrusion door beams
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Major Standard Features
Air Conditioning - Front
Alternator - 125-amp
Audio – AM/FM stereo/digital clock/4-speakers
Cruise control (XLT)
Engine - 4.6L EFI V8 FFV (E-150)
Engine - 5.4L EFI V8 FFV (E-350)
Front dome and rear cargo area lights
Fuel Tank - 35-gallon tank
Handling Package
Powerpoint – Double 12-volt in instrument panel
Powerpoint – 12-volt located rear of driver
Tilt steering column
Transmission - Electronic 4-speed automatic O/D
Wheels - 16" steel wheels with sport wheel covers
Major Optional Features
50–State Clean Fuel Fleet Certification
Alternator – 150-amp heavy-duty alternator (5.4L or 6.8L engines)
Alternator –215-amp heavy-duty alternator (6.8L engine)
Audio – Premium plus CD-6 AM/FM Stereo / Clock
Audio – Premium combination audio/navigation system with CDx6 and satellite radio capability
Audio-SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Battery – Heavy duty auxiliary
Bumper – Chrome or black-painted rear step bumper
Cruise control (XL)
Daytime running lamps
Door - Sliding side cargo door
Engine - 5.4L EFI V8 (E-150)
Engine - 6.8L EFI V10 (E-350)
Engine block heater
Instrument panel electronic message center
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
Mirrors - Telescoping trailer tow
Overhead with temperature, compass, storage and illuminated sunvisors
Power windows and door locks
Remote Keyless Entry/Panic Alarm
Reverse Camera System
Reverse Sensing System
Running Boards
SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system
Upfitter switches (4)
Wheels – 16" forged aluminum with hub cap
FORD WORK SOLUTIONS
In-dash computer with touch screen and Garmin® Navigation (87N)
Crew Chief™ (87T)
Tool Link™ (87L)
Optional Packages
11-Passenger Livery Wagon (18H)
14-Passenger Livery Wagon (18J)
Center Aisle Seating Prep Package XL 11-Passenger (66S)
Center Aisle Seating Prep Package XL 14-Passenger (66T)
Center Aisle Seating Prep Package XLT 11-Passenger (66W)
Center Aisle Seating Prep Package XLT 14-Passenger (66Z)
Exterior Upgrade Package (18A)
Interior Upgrade Package (18G)
Power Window and Locks Group (903)
Trailer Tow Package (Class I) (534)
Trailer Tow Package (Class II/III/IV) (536)
XLT Premium Package (86X)

† Passenger and load capacity limited by weight and weight distribution.
†† Available on select series. See your dealer for details

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on the E Series Cargo Van or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

2009 E Series Cargo Van

2009-08-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) now available on Commercial Vans with gas engines
Ford E-Series Van has been America’s best-selling full-size van for 29 years running
The only over-8500 lbs. GVWR full-size cargo van to offer a standard Flex Fuel capable V8 engines

standard Safety & Security
3-point safety belts with height-adjustable D-rings
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™)†††
Airbags – Driver and front-passenger front
Brakes – Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Double-wall construction
Fuel pump inertia shutoff switch (6.0L diesel)
Remote keyless entry†††
Side-intrusion door beams
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Major Standard Features†
12-volt power point in glove compartment
12-volt power point in instrument panel
Air Conditioning – front
Alternator – 110-amp (diesel engine)
Alternator – 120-amp (gas engines)
Audio – AM/FM stereo with clock††
Audio – AM/FM stereo/single-CD player with clock and 6 speakers†††
Door – 60/40 split side cargo door
Engine – 4.6L EFI V8 FFV (E-150 and E-250)
Engine – 5.4L EFI V8 FFV (E-350)
Fuel Tank – 35-gallon mid-ship tank
Handling Package
Intermittent windshield wipers
Mirrors – Telescoping trailer tow††
Mirrors – Aerotype LH/LR (LH convex) power adjust flat glass†††
Tilt steering column
Wheels – 16" steel wheels with full sport wheel cover

Major Optional Features†
50-State Clean Fuel Fleet Certification
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) (gas engines)††
Air conditioning delete
Alternator – 155-amp heavy-duty (5.4L/6.8L engines)
Alternator – 195-amp heavy-duty (6.8L engine)
Audio – Premium with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and DVD-based Navigation System
Audio-SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Cruise control
Dome cargo light kit
Door – Sliding side cargo door
E-Guard Cargo Protection System™
Engine – 5.4L EFI V8 FFV
Engine – 6.0L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel
Engine – 6.8L EFI V10
Engine block heater
Instrument panel message center (includes engine hour meter [diesel only], fuel economy and warning menu display)
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (gas engines only)
Power TakeOff (PTO) (6.0L diesel)
Reverse Camera System
Reverse Sensing System
SecuriLock® passive anti-theft ignition system
Sliding side cargo door
Traction Control
Upfitter switches (4)

Fleet Exclusive
Daytime running lamps

Ford Work Solution™
In-dash computer with touch screen and Garmin® Navigation
Crew Chief™
Tool Link™

Optional Packages†
Aerial Bucket Truck Suspension Package (86A)
Crew Van Package (47C)
Econo-Cargo® System (96B)
Econo-Cargo Upgrade Package (66C)
Exterior Upgrade Package (18A)
Insulation Package (551)
Interior Upgrade Package (18B)
No-Charge Racks and Bins (96G)
Power Group (90F)
Premium Van Group (18M)
QuietFlex™ III Composite Racks and Bins Package (96Q)
Vocational Upgrade Packages are also available; add one of these versatile options to your no-charge interior system
†Available on select series. See your dealer for details.
††Commercial Van only.
†††Recreational Van only
Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Call me for more information on the E Series Cargo Van or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford Transit Connect

2009-08-04T09:51:00.001-07:00

Professional Design

When you pull up to your customer’s location in a Transit Connect, they’ll know you mean business. That’s because Transit Connect’s professional styling and functional design say you’re serious and passionate about what you do.

And with features like two sliding side doors, two 50/50 split rear doors that swing 180° standard and 255° optional, easy side and rear loading heights, you’ll be in and out and on to your next appointment in minutes.

Engine

Transit Connect’s 2.0L Duratec I-4 engine puts out 136 hp and 128 lb.-ft. of torque while delivering EPA-estimated, best-in-class fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway.

Dimensions

Room for cargo? More than you might think. Transit Connect boasts up to 1,600 pounds of payload, over 135 cubic feet of cargo space, and can carry items up to six feet long, 4.9 feet wide and 4.7 feet tall.

AdvanceTrac®
with Roll Stability Control™

AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ is standard equipment on Transit Connect Wagon; optional on Transit Connect Van. AdvanceTrac® with RSC® is the only electronic stability control system with a vehicle-roll motion sensor that measures the roll rate 100 times a second. Working with the Anti-lock Brake System, traction control and yaw control, the system automatically determines how to apply individual brakes and modify engine power to help keep all 4 wheels firmly planted.*

* Remember that even advanced technology cannot overcome the laws of physics. It’s always possible to lose control of a vehicle due to inappropriate driver input for the conditions. For more information on AdvanceTrac® with RSC®, visit fordvehicles.com.

Call me for more information on the Transit Connect or any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford to report first sales increase in 20 months today

2009-08-03T06:59:00.001-07:00

Brace yourself for some remarkable July sales figures today.

Thanks to Cash for Clunkers, automakers are likely to report remarkably vibrant monthly sales figures, leading off with Ford. Ford officials said Sunday that it will today report its first monthly sales increase since November, 2007. None of the six biggest automakers -- GM, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan -- have reported an increase since last August, Ford officials say.

Ford's gas-thrifty Focus, above, was one of the big sellers. "It is a sense that regular guys and gals...went out in July and bought cars and trucks," For sales Vice President Ken Czubay said.

Hyundai says Cash for Clunkers boosted its sales tally by 20%.

Photo of Ford Focus by Ford

USAToday story

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Once-Mothballed Taurus Is Back on Stage at Ford

2009-07-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

Peter Wynn Thompson for The New York Times

The new Taurus sedan, equipped with technology advances, will start at $26,000.

By BILL VLASIC NY Times

DEARBORN, Mich. — After a 20-year run, the Ford Taurus was headed for the scrap heap in 2007. The automaker planned to retire the name, and call its new sedan the Ford Five Hundred instead.

But Ford’s new chief executive, Alan R. Mulally, reversed course, figuring the Taurus name still had value, even though its reputation had faltered as the car became best known as a staple of rental car fleets.

Those instincts will be tested when a new version of the Taurus begins arriving in dealer showrooms next week. How consumers respond will answer a big question for Ford: can it make money on a full-size sedan?

“This a real acid test for our product strategy,” said James Farley, Ford’s head of global marketing.

Ford says it will exercise a new sense of discipline with the Taurus. Rather than aiming for a home-run product that sells hundreds of thousands of units — and then be forced to offer incentives to persuade shoppers to buy them all — Ford plans to build lower numbers of the Taurus. That way, it might be able to avoid steep discounts so it can turn a profit on each one.

If the car languishes on dealer lots, though, Mr. Mulally’s fledgling turnaround could stall.

The car’s base price of $26,000 is higher than some competing models.

Mr. Farley and other Ford executives readily acknowledge that previous versions of the car were utilitarian and hardly up to the standard of comparable sedans from Toyota and Honda.

But they also are counting on the image of the old Taurus fading from the public’s consciousness.

“Its deterioration over time has allowed us the freedom to write a business plan to more realistic expectations,” Mr. Farley said.

At its peak in the late 1980s, Taurus was the top-selling car in the United States with more than 500,000 sales a year. The new model’s targets are somewhere from 50,000 to 75,000 annually.

Ford’s most difficult challenge may not be lingering feelings about the old Taurus, but the strength of the vehicle market.

Weak economic conditions have battered auto sales since last fall. In the first six months of this year, overall vehicle sales in the United States have fallen 35 percent from the period in 2008.

Some industry analysts say the market appears to have bottomed out and could come back slightly during the rest of the year.

“Ultimately customers are going to judge you on whether you’re offering something new,” Mr. Farley said. “This car can’t just be a little better. It has to be demonstrably better in every respect.”

The advertising campaign, which begins next week on national television, focuses on technology. One of the new features is the “blind spot information system,” sold as an add-on, that uses radar to detect vehicles that can’t be seen in the mirror. Another is the so-called “eco-boost” engine that provides additional power without using more fuel.

Ford’s marketing managers spent a month last year interviewing three dozen of the car’s engineers to determine which features might be most compelling to potential buyers.

“The design speaks for itself, but we’ve got the goods to show when it comes to features,” said Matt VanDyke, director of Ford brand marketing.

The company has also produced a series of Web videos that compare how, for example, the paint job on the Taurus holds up in comparison to a Lexus luxury sedan.

Art Spinella, president of CNW Market Research, said that his firm had conducted five consumer focus groups on Taurus, and the results had been promising.

“It has come across extremely well,” he said. “I think the car is going to build its following slowly, but people like it as a product.”

Ford will observe the introduction of the Taurus next week at its Chicago assembly plant, where the car is being built. It is one of the few American auto factories that actually has a new product coming out.

Ford’s rollout of a new vehicle sets it apart from Chrysler and General Motors, both of which canceled or delayed several models in the months leading up to their recent bankruptcy filings.

Ford will follow the Taurus with the new Focus and Fiesta, both of which are smaller cars.

Bringing the Taurus back is just a piece of the broader strategy, Mr. Farley said, as the company shifts from a product lineup that relies heavily on trucks to one with more fuel-efficient cars.

And while the company is getting lots of positive feedback from consumers for not taking federal aid like G.M. and Chrysler, the good will alone won’t sell more cars.

“The key is to translate that good will into consumer shopping,” Mr. Farley said. “They may want us to succeed, but that’s not enough. We need them to get excited about the cars.”

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle(s) to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Commercial Vehicles

2009-07-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

Some of our Commercial Vehicles...

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Mustang to make its NASCAR debut next year

2009-07-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Ford plans to use the 2010 Mustang in several NASCAR Nationwide Series races next year, perhaps as soon as February at Daytona.

BY MIKE BRUDENELL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Ford Mustang will muscle into the Nationwide Series in 2010 -- the first time the car has appeared in a NASCAR-sanctioned series.

The Detroit pony car could be seen in as many as five Nationwide races as NASCAR works on its new car rollout for the series next year with the Dodge Challenger, Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala SS also expected to participate.

The 2010 Mustang would join the Ford Fusion in Sprint Cup and the Ford F-Series pickup in the Camping World Truck Series as the Blue Oval's models in stock-car racing's elite series.

Mustang has enjoyed a rich history in motorsports since its introduction in 1964, winning in drag racing, IMSA and Trans-Am, Grand-Am Cup road racing and, more recently, in Formula D drifting. But it has never competed in NASCAR.

Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North American Motorsports, announced the Mustang racing venture Tuesday.

"It's the most successful nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America," said Wolfe in a release. "We're excited about being able to race Mustang in front of our loyal NASCAR fan base and know it's going to win races and championships just like it has in every other series it has competed (in)."

Wolfe, who owns several Mustangs, including an '86 version he drag raced, spoke later to the Free Press.

"I guess we scratched our heads why we didn't do this before," said Wolfe about Mustang's long absence from NASCAR. "We are definitely now bubbling over about the thought of 2010."

The Mustang might run early as February at Daytona.

"If NASCAR debuted the new Nationwide car at Daytona during Daytona 500 week, it would be fantastic, very cool," Wolfe said. "It's the most significant race weekend in the world."
Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Ford’s Global Product Plan Delivering Even More Fuel-Efficient

2009-07-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ford’s Global Product Plan Delivering Even More Fuel-Efficient,

High-Quality Vehicles to Customers

2010 model lineup is "freshest" in Ford history
Among the new and substantially upgraded 2010 model vehicles are:

All-new 2010 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO

2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost™

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

2010 Ford Transit Connect

2010 Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost

2010 Lincoln MKT and MKT with EcoBoost

Industry-leading levels of new convenience and safety technologies and features

Fuel efficiency improves yet again

Average fuel economy of Ford’s vehicle lineup will improve approximately 20 percent through the end of 2010 versus 2005, and the company is on track to improve fuel economy by more than 35 percent by 2015

Ford’s fuel economy improvements are driven by more than 30 new powertrain actions globally through the end of 2010; 22 slated for North American products

Ford announces a new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine to go on sale next year

Ford quality, customer satisfaction now top of the industry

For the first time, Ford’s customer satisfaction equals Toyota, according to a just-released study by the RDA Group

Also for the first time, Ford has the fewest number of "things gone wrong" in the industry – with initial quality statistically equal to Toyota and better than Honda

Strong new products are winning new customers

Ford attracting new buyers; conquest rates climbing – especially for cars

Ford vehicles post all-time highs in favorable opinion and purchase consideration

Ford outperforms industry in transaction prices while reducing incentive spending

Ford vehicle resale values increase, closing the gap with imports

Ford Motor Company is delivering its freshest lineup ever for the 2010 model year with a series of new, high-quality, fuel-efficient cars and crossovers and an unprecedented investment in advanced new powertrains.

Ford today is rolling out its entire 2010 model year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup for North America and announcing plans for 30 new powertrain actions globally – 22 in North America alone – by the end of 2010.

“We are creating a full lineup of Ford vehicles – small, medium and large cars, utilities and trucks – that are best-in-class in fuel efficiency, quality, technology and safety and available to consumers with exceptional value,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “We are making fuel economy a reason to buy a Ford, and we are distinguishing ourselves as leaders in connectivity and unique consumer-friendly technologies – many of which are appearing in our 2010-model lineup for the first time ever.”

The unprecedented number of new vehicle introductions for the 2010 model year includes:

2010 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO

2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid

2010 Ford Mustang and Shelby GT500

2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

2010 Ford Transit Connect

2010 Lincoln MKT and MKT with EcoBoost

2010 Lincoln MKZ

2010 Lincoln MKS with EcoBoost

2010 Mercury Milan and Milan Hybrid

Plus, Ford is delivering vehicles with even greater levels of interior comfort as well as more new convenience and safety technologies than competitors offer – even in premium sedans. These new technologies include:

New SYNC® applications with Traffic, Directions & Information delivered through customers’ Bluetooth-capable mobile phones

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), which alerts drivers when obstacles are in their blind spot

Automatic Park Assist, which guides vehicles into parallel parking spaces, hands-free

Fuel efficiency improves with more new powertrains
Ford also is making an unprecedented investment in new engine, transmission and driveline components, helping the company improve its average U.S. vehicle fuel economy by approximately 20 percent fleet-wide through the end of 2010 versus 2005 – with plans to increase car and truck fuel economy by more than 35 percent by 2015, thanks to powertrain advancements.

Additional improvements include:

A new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine will go on sale in the 2010 calendar year. It is the first EcoBoost engine to include Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) and will deliver a 10 to 20 percent fuel economy improvement versus larger-displacement V-6 engines, without compromising performance

A 6.2-liter V-8 – producing approximately 400 horsepower – first appears in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor on sale later this year

A 3.7-liter V-6 iVCT, producing 274-horsepower, and helping the Lincoln MKT achieve best-in-class fuel economy

A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 – Ford’s first EcoBoost engine, featuring better fuel economy than V-8 competitors – is offered in the Taurus SHO this model year with 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque; EcoBoost engines in Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT deliver 355 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque

A 3.0-liter V-6 iVCT – featuring an industry-first Cam Torque-Actuated Variable Intake Cam Timing system that improves low-end torque and delivers better fuel economy – is available on the Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner later this model year

“We are absolutely committed to delivering new products with the best fuel economy in every segment in which we compete – driven in large part by substantial advancements in powertrain technology,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Ford Global Powertrain Engineering.

In addition to an aggressive electrification strategy – which will result in at least four electrified vehicles on the road in the U.S. by 2012, including full battery electric vehicles, new hybrids and a plug-in hybrid – Ford is improving gasoline engines across all products in high volumes.

The foundation for Ford’s plan is its new EcoBoost engine. EcoBoost is a new high-volume, affordable engine technology slated for a range of global vehicles – from small cars to large trucks. It uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior performance versus larger-displacement engines.

EcoBoost is arriving for the 2010 model year on the Ford Flex, Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS and MKT. By 2012, the company plans to produce 750,000 EcoBoost units annually in the U.S. and 1.3 million globally. By 2013, Ford will offer EcoBoost engines in 90 percent of its product lineup.

For the 2010 model year, Ford also is offering two new hybrids. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids deliver 41 mpg in the city – 8 mpg better than Toyota Camry Hybrid – making them the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans in America.

Ford quality and customer satisfaction now #1
Customers and third-party experts alike are noticing Ford’s product, fuel economy and quality.

For the first time in the 28-year history of the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study, customer satisfaction with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles has reached its highest level in North America – and now equals Toyota.

In addition, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles had the lowest number of “things gone wrong” among all automakers – putting Ford in a statistical tie with Toyota for initial quality and ahead of Honda.

“Ford’s total focus on quality and customer satisfaction throughout the design and manufacturing process is paying off, and customers are noticing,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president, The Americas.

“This is a major milestone, but we are not satisfied,” he added. “For Ford, our plan is continuous improvement year after year.”

The GQRS study is conducted for Ford on a quarterly basis by Bloomfield Hills, Mich.,-based RDA Group. New vehicle owners are asked to report defects or issues as well as rate satisfaction with vehicle quality on a scale of 1 to 10 across an array of vehicle systems and features.

Strong new products attracting new customers
Internal and external studies show a positive trend in the percentage of consumers with favorable opinions about Ford and growing numbers of consumers who are willing to consider purchasing a Ford product, thanks to improved fuel economy, smart technology and higher residual values.

Among Ford’s recent accomplishments in the marketplace:

Ford’s retail market share has improved in the U.S. for eight of the past nine months. Meanwhile, Ford of Canada became the No. 1-selling brand in June, achieving its eighth straight month of market share gains.

The Ford brand just posted all-time highs in favorable opinion and purchase consideration, based on customer tracking. Favorable opinion of the Ford brand, for example, has risen 17 percent this year alone, with consideration up 13 percent – driven by customer response to new products.

In the second quarter, Ford average vehicle transaction prices increased at a rate more than double the industry average, reflecting greater customer investments in higher vehicle series and optional features.

Ford’s vehicle residual values are projected to be higher than domestic competitors’ and are closing the gap on the imports, according to Automotive Leasing Guide. The improvements mean Ford customers will see greater values at trade-in time.

Vehicles such as the 2010 Fusion Hybrid are bringing new customers to Ford at unprecedented rates. Approximately 54 percent of Fusion Hybrid buyers did not previously own Fords, and 66 percent of Fusion Hybrid owners are coming out of foreign vehicles. Similarly, Ford Flex is drawing nearly 50 percent new buyers to the Blue Oval, more than one-fifth of them from imports.

The Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands all showed significant improvement in the 2009 J.D. Power APEAL study, which measures customer satisfaction in design, content and vehicle performance. The Ford F-150 and Flex were singled out for awards in their segments.

Merrill Lynch’s closely watched “Car Wars” study concluded that Ford is expected to have the highest vehicle replacement rate among full-line manufacturers between the 2010 and 2013 model years. Ford’s average product freshness is expected to improve substantially – particularly compared to rivals – positioning the company to win even more new customers.

“Customers are recognizing that Ford is delivering exceptional quality, fuel efficiency, smart technology and better value,” said Fields. “We’re delighted to see more and more new customers putting their trust in Ford and encouraging others to do the same.”

https://www.fleet.ford.com/

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Cash-for-clunkers auto eligibility list changed

2009-07-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

As it prepared for its "cash-for-clunkers" program, the government rejiggered gas mileage figures on about 100 older vehicles last week in a way that changed whether they would be eligible for up to $4,500 in sales inducements.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the changes resulted from a double-check of its fuel-efficiency ratings on more than 30,000 1984 and newer vehicles in advance of the official start of the clunkers program Monday.

OFFICIAL WORD: Government website on 'cash-for-clunkers'

SEND US YOUR PHOTO: We're searching for America's worst clunker

About half the 100 suddenly did not qualify because their combined mileage rating was revised upward; others unexpectedly got in.

"As a result of the review, roughly an equal number of vehicles became eligible as those found to be not eligible," said the EPA in a statement. "Eligibility for about 100 vehicles was affected."

Car-shopping website Edmunds.com said Monday that it discovered the switcheroo because potential buyers were complaining on its discussion boards.

Some said it made them ineligible at the last minute for car deals they already had on deck.

"We had everything lined up. We had a couple car dealers that had verified our car qualified, and we were ready to purchase a new car this weekend," wrote one potential buyer, identified on the site as John1152. "But it will not happen now because at the last second the EPA updated the information at their web page for a 1993 Toyota Camry wagon ... from 18 mpg to 19 mpg."

Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com, said, "It's unfortunate that consumers who had been researching and planning to trade in their vehicle ... are now left in the dust."

To qualify for the $1 billion program aimed at spurring auto sales and driving gas guzzlers off the road, the clunker must have an EPA city-highway "combined" rating of 18 miles per gallon or lower.

Buyers then get a $3,500 incentive if the new car gets 4 to 9 mpg more or $4,500 for 10 mpg or more. The new car also must itself have a minimum 22 mpg combined rating. The program ends Nov. 1, or when the $1 billion runs out.

EPA gave no reason its ratings were inaccurate or why some went up. For the 2008 model year, EPA started revising mileage figures, typically downward, to better reflect real-world driving. For example, a Toyota Prius that had been rated 60 mpg in city driving fell 20% to 48 mpg.

Still confused? Call me for more details!
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

ONE-OF-A-KIND FORD MUSTANG AV-X10 “DEARBORN DOLL” TO BE AUCTIONED AT WORLD’S GREATEST AVIATION CELEBRATION

2009-07-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Mustang AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll,” will be sold at auction during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2009 AirVenture Oshkosh

Build #1 of 1 Ford Mustang AV-X10 to be sold at auction July 30, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, with proceeds supporting youth experiences and education

DEARBORN, Mich., July 23, 2009 – Ford Motor Company created a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle, the Mustang AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll,” to be sold at auction during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2009 AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s greatest aviation celebration. Ford is the exclusive automotive partner with EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and all of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Young Eagles organization. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will be held from July 27 to Aug. 2 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The name Mustang AV-X10 is trademarked by Ford Motor Company and symbolizes an AirVenture Xperimental project vehicle based on a 2010 Ford Mustang The “10” designation represents the model year of the Mustang, plus the 10-millionth engine from the Romeo Engine Plant. The one-of-a-kind, fully-customized vehicle was created by a dedicated Ford team, including Mustang Chief Designer Darrell Behmer, Design Manager George Saridakis and Mustang Chief Nameplate Engineer Dave Pericak, and Senior Designers Robert Gelardi and Garen Nicoghosian.. The sale of the AV-X10 will highlight an evening of festivities at the EAA Gathering of Eagles at AirVenture on July 30.

The group that will directly benefit from the auction proceeds is EAA’s Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to nearly 1.3 million young people since 1992 while also teaching the value of hard work, personal responsibility and enhanced math and science skills.

“Ford Motor Company has been a committed partner of EAA throughout the years and especially during AirVenture, where Ford’s support has brought value to those who make ‘Oshkosh’ the pinnacle of their aviation year,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA chairman and president. “The generous creation of such specialty vehicles allows EAA to provide support to its valuable programs and dedicated members inspiring young people and building the future of flight.”

In 2008, a specially built one-of-a-kind Mustang named AV8R raised a record $500,000 for Young Eagles. “Although it will be hard to top the AV8R, the Ford team is committed to delivering another extraordinary vehicle of interest for all enthusiasts and collectors for EAA’s Gathering of Eagles,” said Edsel B Ford II, a member of Ford’s Board of Directors.

The Mustang AV-X10 "Dearborn Doll" is Build #1 of 1 and will be a collector’s dream vehicle. The AV-X10 is based on a 2010 Mustang GT with the glass roof option. From there the car takes on its one-of-a-kind personality. Ford Racing performance modifications (Supercharger, Handling Pack, tuned exhaust, and exhaust tips) help generate 550-horsepower from the aluminum block 4.6L 24-valve engine. The special racing Handling Pack optimizes the performance experience and lowers the ride height by 1-inch.

AV-X10’s stunning design theme includes exclusive Satin Silver exterior paint with yellow nose cone and rear wing, 19" Shelby GT500 wheels in liquid silver with yellow propeller tips, and white gloss accents emphasizes the connection with the famous P-51 Mustang aircraft from WWII fame and other aircraft from this era. The “Dearborn Doll” nickname is displayed on the front quarter panels using pin-up graphics to enhance the authentic connection to the WWII era fighter planes. The all-glass roof includes a unique Air Force Star and Bar graphic treatment. The aviation inspired interior includes Bader “worn” leather, military khaki shaded, diamond tucked unique seat and door inserts. Ford Racing Pyrometer, Boost, and Fuel Pressure gauges, plus unique "Ground Speed" and AV-X10 cluster graphics complete the package.

Enhancing the value and allure of the vehicle, the Mustang AV-X10 "Dearborn Doll" will also feature autographs from aviation legends and celebrities attending EAA AirVenture, which could include Harrison Ford, Edsel B. Ford II, Jack Roush, Carroll Shelby, and others. The vehicle will be on display at the Ford Hangar at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh beginning July 27.

Additionally, Ford and EAA will give AirVenture attendees the chance to win a 2010 Mustang GT convertible and other cash prizes in a raffle, with proceeds benefiting the EAA Young Eagles program.

During EAA AirVenture, Ford will also be providing opportunities to ride in vehicles which span the past century and point to the future direction of Ford vehicles. AirVenture attendees can ride in one of several Model T's on site with members of the Model T Ford Club of America as well as participate in the 2011 Ford Fiesta Movement demo drive. Visitors to the Ford Hangar, in the heart of the EAA AirVenture campus, will be invited to experience the new 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor through an exciting simulator experience and test out Ford’s latest features and technologies. Numerous interactive exhibits will also be available to demonstrate the latest Ford “Smart,” “Quality,” “Green,” and “Safe” innovations. More than 50 vehicles will be on display combined with numerous activities to engage and educate visitors of all ages.

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
The annual meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), EAA AirVenture features more than 2,500 show aircraft, including homebuilts, antiques, classics, warbirds, ultralights and rotorcraft, and is expected to attract more than 500,000 aviation enthusiasts. During the week, more than 500 forums are conducted by aviation leaders and NASA researchers, along with FAA personnel, aircraft designers and a host of others. EAA AirVenture is a 24-hour event. For more information, please visit www.AirVenture.org.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Call me for more information on any Ford vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Our First Ford Transit Connect Is IN!

2009-07-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Just arrived today! If you would like to see it or take a test drive, call me for an appointment. This won't stay on the lot for long so hurry!

To read more about the Transit Connect, CLICK HERE

Call me for more information on any the Transit or any other Ford Vehicle:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

40 miles per gallon? 1923 Model-T Ford still humming along

2009-07-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

BY Matt Lysiak
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, July 27th 2009, 8:23 AM

Henry Kobasky owns a Model T Ford, circa 1923, that he says gets 40 miles to the gallon.

Kobasky says his mileage is a lot better than the $100,000 Corvette that belongs to his neighbor's son.

It's still 2009, but Bay Ridge residents would be forgiven for questioning that after watching Henry Kobasky motor by in his 1923 Model T.

Smoking a pipe and listening to a portable radio, the retired school principal may be the only Model T owner in the city running daily errands in the vintage vehicle.

"Henry Ford was a genius. He made a car that can last forever, and I hope I can last long enough to prove it," said Kobasky, 78, who bought the antique 40 years ago for $900.

It lacks modern must-haves like air conditioning, power steering and even seat belts - and its horsepower is only slightly better than some top-of-the-line riding mowers.

But Kobasky touts its fuel efficiency and simplicity, insisting he'd take his classic car over a fancy hybrid any day.

"Everyone is scratching their heads, looking for an environmentally friendly means of transportation when the answer has been sitting right under our noses for over a century," he said.

Kobasky says he gets about 40 miles per gallon in his beloved car, compared with 50 city miles per gallon for the hybrid Toyota Prius.

And since his vehicle is so simple, there's not much there to break down or need repairs. Since reconditioning the beaut 25 years ago, Kobasky said he's had no other expenses.

"They need to get this car back into production as soon as possible," he said. "If everyone drove the Model T, we would instantly decrease this country's oil demand by 50%."

Kobasky not only drives the Model T to the grocery store and bank - he also hops on the Belt Parkway or day-trips to Atlantic City and Lakewood, N.J., attracting onlookers wherever he goes.

"The meter maids are too busy taking pictures of my car to write me a ticket," the Korean War vet boasts.

The Model T would seem alien to today's drivers. Its gears are shifted with three foot pedals - one each for forward, reverse and brake - and plastic windows have to be applied in the rain. There's no power steering, but at only 1,500 pounds, the car is so light it doesn't need it.

Despite Kobasky's raves, Ford isn't rushing to start up the assembly line.

"Although we have no plans to bring back the Model T, the craftsmanship, quality and pride that brought this product to millions is alive and well at Ford today," said spokesman Robert Parker.

Ford's future gets a healthy EcoBoost

2009-07-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

2010 Ford Flex AWD with EcoBoost engine

Price (as tested): $39,940
Powertrain: 355-horsepower 3.5-liter six-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission
EPA mileage: 16 city, 22 highway

The Flex goes like a bat out of hell when you want it to

By Andy Stonehouse
Daily Auto Writer,

Dearborn, Mich. — After so many months of universally dismal automotive news, it was quite the experience to be in the very heart of the Detroit-area beast this week and see a car company … with broad smiles on the faces of every employee.

Ford Motor Company invited the regular media horde to its Michigan headquarters for a national preview event, designed to highlight the company's exceptionally aggressive strategy for revamping nearly every one of its now-miraculously profitable products.

And without a cent (at least as far as we can see) of federal bailout, FoMoCo has managed to induce a sense of vibrancy and, dare I say it, hope, to the otherwise awkward and floundering world of domestic auto production.

Many of the eggs in Ford's basket have been placed in what the company is dubbing EcoBoost technology, a fancy and perhaps just a little too green-sounding name for what is essentially going to be an expanded range of twin-turbocharged engines, beginning with a 3.5-liter V6 available as an option on 2010 model year automobiles including the Flex crossover and the really, truly all-new Taurus. Although, admittedly, when the EcoBoost setup is eventually used to replace the engine in a fuel-thirsty, V-8 mainstay such as the F-150, there may be a little more truth to the story.

Ford's spin, which is mostly true, is that by incorporating the not-especially new technology (but one more commonly found on import autos) of turbocharging, they'll be able to replicate or even exceed V-8 power with a much smaller, more fuel- and emissions-friendly V-6; ditto for a powerful inline-four EcoBoost setup, scheduled to debut next year.

While myself and about 150 auto writers enjoyed the chance to smoke the tires on Ford's various 2010 offerings (including a new Mustang GT) at the carmaker's test track, I got a slightly more intimate look at the reality of EcoBoost as I piloted a new Flex all the way from Denver to Phoenix, just a couple of days earlier.

And with 900 or so miles of winding New Mexico and Arizona byways under my belt, I can quite honestly say that Ford has done some impressive things, not only with its new, seemingly rocket-powered engine, but an improved overall commitment to quality and design.

Flex remains a suspiciously style-forward SUV/minivan/crossover deal, looking for all the world like a gigantic Mini Cooper/Scion xB/station wagon blend, but as I found before I hit the road, it really will, very comfortably, seat up to seven adults — and not just in the impossibly small (or impossibly hard-to-reach) fashion of most SUVs.

But with the new 355-horsepower V-6 under the hood, that 4,800-pound lead sled goes like a bat out of hell, when you want it to. Despite its largesse, including 20-inch wheels, I started having that Audi experience during much of my ride. That is, you have to peek down at the speedometer to realize you're rocking along at 85 miles an hour, as the quiet boost really sneaks up on you.

Flat-out cruising is impressive enough, but nail it to the floor when trying to blow off some passive-aggressive Texans in a Tahoe who've been tailgating you up La Veta Pass, and … blammo, that baby flies up to 120 mph, almost scarily so.

Despite the whomp, the new engine very readily returned a little more than 22 MPG on the highway. Which is, admittedly, the same mileage as the existing V-6, but with almost 100 extra horsepower, available at lower revs.

I can't state, categorically, that this necessarily makes it super-green, but the intention is good and the torquey kick in the pants is great, especially if you need to haul a trailer up to the tunnel or roll around the Southwest with a car full of family.

Back in Dearborn the next day, the most important finding was that America's lone, non-subsidized automaker seems to put a lot of pride into its work — which seems to be reflected in consumer confidence and some healthy recent sales. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how those things might be combined.

Story found at Summit Daily

Call me for more information on the Flex or any Ford product:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager, Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
Local: 540-389-7291x2251
Toll Free: 888-389-7921
Cell: 540-986-5679
nbreese@berglundcars.com

Live out of state? No problem, I can deliver your new vehicle to your front door, ANYWHERE!

Drive your new business with Ford Transit Connect

2009-07-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thinking of starting a small decorating and design business? Here's the good news, Ford is introducing a small, economically friendly vehicle known as "Transit Connect". This mid-size van which gets 19 city to 24 highway MPG's, has full load capacity and cargo accessibility just like the large vans offered as work vehicles in America today.

What took them so long to launch this nifty little truck in the USA? Award winning in Europe since 2004 and produced in Turkey by FORD Europe, small business owners can finally reap the same benefits that they have had in Europe for the past five years. This sign-of-the-times offering arrives just in time for Americans who are willing to downsize, compartmentalize and save... it's about time!

July 22, 10:56 AM · Patti Boker Elkon - NY Interior Spaces Examiner

For more information on the Transit or on any Ford product, call:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

Ford Dealers Start Cash for Clunkers Program As Final Rules Are Published

2009-07-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

Ford Dealers are ready to make deals under the Cash for Clunkers bill which will give qualifying consumers $3,500 or $4,500 in credits to purchase a new car. Final rules published on Friday morning will signal the green light for Ford Cash for Clunkers sales.

The NHTSA "cash for cars" program is officially called the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) but Google search traffic shows that the term "Cash for Clunkers" is the phrase most widely used by Americans. The top consumer blog on the Cash for Clunkers program, http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com , has seen a spike in traffic today with over 200,000 page views.

Brian Pasch, CEO of the Pasch Consulting Group, who created the popular consumer portal to track the Cash for Clunkers bill back in May, has seen consumer awareness consistently increase over the past 60 days.

According to Pasch "As dealers get ready for the start of the program tomorrow, consumer search traffic is up over 200% just today. We expect that car dealers will be flooded with calls and floor traffic as the most educated consumers have waited for the program to officially start. It will be a very hectic weekend for Ford dealers with previous Ford sales records most likely to fall"

Ford dealers across the USA will be logging into the NHTSA dealer website pages tomorrow to register for the CARS program. This is the first day that the system will be open for participating Ford car dealers. On Monday, July 27th Ford dealers who successfully complete the online registration will be able to submit their first car sales for reimbursement from the NHTSA.

Cash for Clunkers Final Rules

Friday morning will also be a busy time for Ford dealers as they will be reviewing the final NHTSA guidelines and rules for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). The rules are planned to be released at 7:00 am on Friday and Cash For Clunkers Facts will be commenting on what is contained in those rules on Twitter.

Consumers are invited to follow the real-time Twitter updates on http://twitter.com/cashclunkers.

Consumers are encouraged to contact their local Ford dealer to schedule a time to visit their dealership and purchase a new car under the Cash for Clunkers program while monies last.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel_print.asp?aId=99933

Call me for "Cash for Clunkers" money + "Fleet Pricing" + "Factory Incentives"

Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

Ford Pushes Into the Black, Snapping Losing Streak

2009-07-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

Ford Pushes Into the Black, Snapping Losing Streak
Bolstered by Cost Cuts, Automaker Moves In on Rivals

By Kendra Marr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 24, 2009

Ford Motor on Thursday posted a surprise profit of $2.26 billion for the second quarter, ending a streak of four straight quarterly losses.

In recent months, the carmaker has claimed market share from its American rivals, General Motors and Chrysler, while those companies struggled to restructure their operations in bankruptcy court.

Ford executives now say the automaker is on track to return to annual profitability in 2011.

"Despite the challenges, Ford's underlying business is getting progressively stronger as we launch great new products the customers want and value, while continuing to aggressively restructure our operations," Ford chief executive Alan R. Mulally said in a conference call with analysts.

Ford's gains were aided by rapid cost cutting in the second quarter. Ford reduced its debt obligations by $10.1 billion, which will save the company more than $500 million a year in interest expense. It raised $1.6 billion by issuing common stock. The company said it also cut "structural" costs by $1.8 billion, in part by eliminating 1,000 U.S. hourly jobs through buyouts.

"They're leaner and meaner than they have been in past," said George Peterson, president of research firm AutoPacific.

Ford said it is likely to make additional moves to raise cash and reduce debt. It is still looking for a buyer for its Swedish unit Volvo, which lost $231 million in the quarter.

Excluding special items, such as debt reduction, Ford would have lost $424 million in the second quarter. In comparison, the company lost $8.7 billion in the second quarter of 2008, the worst performance year in Ford's history.

Ford last pulled itself out of the red in the first quarter of 2008, earning $100 million.

Ford shares jumped 9.4 percent Thursday, to close at $6.98.

Under Mulally, Ford appears to be building better cars and trucks, analysts said. The Ford Fiesta, which launches in the United States next year, is now Europe's second-best-selling car.

"These are not cars built to the lowest common denominator anymore," Peterson said.

Ford is also shifting its lineup toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. But some analysts warn that the automaker could face a challenge selling those new models if gas prices do not climb this summer.

"Clearly the road ahead remains challenging," Mulally told analysts. "While we still expect the economy to begin to improve in the second half of the year, the recovery is likely to be more modest than many of us had hoped."

For more information on any Ford product, call:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

Ford Retools Fleet Emphasizing Fuel Economy

2009-07-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Ford Motor Co. says several vehicles in the 2010 lineup have been substantially upgraded to boost fuel efficiency, they are: The Ford Taurus and Taurus and Taurus SHO, the Ford Flex, The F-150 SVT Raptor, the Ford Transit Connect, the Lincoln MKS and the Lincoln MK

Auto Maker Seeks to Boost Sales with Upgraded Models

By TAHMAN BRADLEY

DEARBORN, Mich., July 22, 2009—

Hoping to meet tougher government fuel efficiency rules and build on its growing momentum in the slumping U.S. auto market, Ford Motor Co. unveiled a global plan to boost fuel efficiency across its entire fleet of vehicles.

The investment in new technologies to improve fuel economy comes as the company tries to distinguish itself from General Motors and Chrysler, and to capitalize on the problems of its two American competitors, which only recently emerged from bankruptcy thanks to taxpayer dollars and government involvement.

At the company's test drive facility on Tuesday, Ford showed reporters its 2010 lineup, describing it as the "freshest" in history.

Ford CEO Allan Mullaly called the auto maker's progress reshaping its business during the tough start of the year for the auto companies "phenomenal."

"We're so pleased to have a product line, every one of them best in class, and to have consumers responding to them the way they are," Mullaly told ABC News. "It's pretty fabulous."

Ford is building battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and plug-in hybrids that will soon hit showrooms. In doing so, the auto maker is playing catchup with U.S. rival GM, which has been dabbling with electric and hybrid developments since the EV1 was introduced in 1996.

One of the new technologies Ford is most excited about is its EcoBoost engine program.

The engine, which will be placed in vehicles across Ford's fleet, uses turbo and direct injection technology to deliver what Ford says is "V-8 performance with V-6 fuel efficiency" making it 20 percent more fuel efficient than a comparable engine while producing 15 percent fewer emissions.

Ford also says it will offer a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine next year.

Several vehicles in the company's 2010 lineup will offer the new EcoBoost. The auto maker wants to improve fleet fuel economy by 35 percent by 2015.

Industry analysts say the new technology could shake up the market because it is an inventive way to make larger cars more environmentally friendly.

Ford Uses EcoBoost to Improve Fuel Economy

Auto analyst John Casesa called the EcoBoost "a practical way to improve fuel economy at a reasonable cost." He said it could add about $700 per car to install these technologies as opposed to the $3,000 to $4,000 additional cost for hybrids.

Ford's improvement in the market comes in part because of the company's delicate effort to try to distinguish itself from its government-owned competitors, said Aaron Bragman of IHS Global Insight.

"Ford is really taking advantage of the fact that a lot of American buyers and a lot of American car intenders are shying away from Chrysler and GM," Bragman said.

"The stigma of bankruptcy has not been as damaging as it could have been, but it's still affecting people's perceptions of each auto maker," he said. "The fact that Ford hasn't taken any government money in terms of a bailout, hasn't gone through bankruptcy, they appear stronger than the others."

It's not just that Ford has had the good fortune of avoiding bankruptcy, the auto maker thinks its product line is much improved because they've been focused on quality for several years now.

"Ford is in a very different place than our competitors. Through the worst of times we kept investing," Mullaly said.

For example, a recent J.D. Power quality survey found that the quality of Ford vehicles has improved. But still, challenges remain for the 106-year old company.

Foremost, Americans are not buying cars at the rate they had only a few years ago. The seasonally adjusted sales pace in June was down nearly 28 percent compared to a year ago.

And while Ford -- the only U.S. auto maker to avoid a government bailout -- has shown signs of stability, its sales are still down.

After selling 154,873 light vehicles in June, Ford was down 10.7 percent over a year ago but it fared much better than rivals GM and Chrysler, which were down 33 percent and 42 percent respectively.

Ford's top sales analyst predicted U.S. auto sales could improve later this year.

"In the last half of the year, our expectation is that sales might be at a rate that's about a million units higher," analyst George Pipas told ABC News. That would boost the total number of sales in 2009 to around 10.3 million, Papas predicted.

Ford Expects Increased Sales of New Models

Even if his predictions hold true, however, total sales in 2008 would still be fall 2 million units short of 2008 levels and far below the 17 million vehicles sold on average during the past decade.

Despite the tough road ahead, Pipas said Ford is particularly excited about potential sales for its 2010 models later this year, especially if the U.S. economic downtown improves.

"Just based on what appears to be pretty good consumer responses to the new products, we're certainly optimistic that we'll be able to participate in the growth of the economy going forward," Pipas said.

Ford said its dealers are reporting numerous inquiries from customers about the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program that provides a voucher up to $4,500 to replace gas guzzling vehicles with more fuel efficient cars and trucks.

Several vehicles in Ford's 2010 lineup have been substantially upgraded, according to the company. They are: The Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO, the Ford Flex, The F-150 SVT Raptor, the Ford Transit Connect, the Lincoln MKS and the Lincoln MKT.

ABC News' Charlie Herman contributed to this report.

Story can be found:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=8140948&page=1

For more information on any Ford product, call:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

Ford Tops Toyota in Latest Quality Study

2009-07-22T05:04:00.000-07:00

Ford Tops Toyota in Latest Quality Study Ford has edged past industry leader Toyota in initial quality in the U.S. for the first time ever, according to the latest Ford quality study.

For the first time in the 28-year history of the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study, customer satisfaction with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles has reached its highest level in North America – and now equals Toyota.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles also had the lowest number of defects of any full-line manufacturer with a “things gone wrong” (TGW) score of 1,185.

That bested Toyota’s TGW score of 1,215 – though the two automakers would be considered in a statistical tie. In third place was Honda with 1,291.

The higher the number, the more problems registered per 1,000 vehicles during the first three months of ownership.

The results show that customers are noticing Ford’s focus on quality and customer satisfaction from design through manufacturing, said Mark Fields, president, The Americas.

“This is a major milestone, but we are not satisfied,” he said. “For Ford, our plan is continuous improvement year after year.”

The GQRS and owners’ satisfaction with their vehicle’s overall quality figures were compiled by the RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In the study, owners are asked to report defects or issues with the new vehicles as well as to rate their satisfaction with vehicle quality on a 1-10 scale across an array of vehicle systems and features.

Two Ford products, the F-150 and the Flex, also were judged the top vehicles in their market segments.

By comparison, Ford’s combined TGW average was 1,319 in the 2008 GQRS.

Bennie Fowler, group vice president, Quality, called the latest results “historic news.”

“We’ve been tied with Toyota before, but it sure feels better to be on the top,” said Fowler.

Such progress, he said, is a result of Ford’s union partners and the work of dedicated teams in product development, purchasing, manufacturing, marketing, sales and service and other areas.

“Quality is truly a team effort,” said Fowler.

For more information on any Ford product, call:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
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Ford to shift Transit Connect production to the U.S. by 2012

2009-07-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ford to shift Transit Connect production to the U.S. by 2012

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NEW TAURUS SCULPTED FOR OPTIMAL FUEL ECONOMY

2009-07-21T06:17:00.001-07:00

2010 Ford Taurus SHO: The new SHO adds a decklid-mounted spoiler, dual chrome-tipped exhausts and available 20-inch wheels and tires to the sculptured and athletic new Taurus shape.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15, 2009 – To the untrained eye, it’s just another facet in the chiseled, muscular shape of the expressive new Ford Taurus.
As the sunlight glints off the rear decklid of Ford’s poised new driver’s sedan standing ready to hit the road, the slight but precise lip of the decklid reflects the rays. It is just one of many interesting visual details created by talented designers from Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., design studio for the new Taurus.
Yet they weren’t in the design studio when they shaped the car’s rear decklid lip. They were in the wind tunnel, searching for just the right design statement… and some miles per gallon while they were at it. That’s because the design of the new Taurus has to do more than look good.
“Even with the artistic license that comes with my job, I still need lots of help to outwit the laws of physics,” says Earl Lucas, chief designer of the new Ford Taurus.
With Ford’s commitment for each of its new models to be the best or among the best in its segment for fuel economy, every aspect of the new car’s shape was scrutinized for its contribution to fuel economy.
Because it had to cheat the wind as much as please the eye, Lucas got help from a skilled team of Ford aerodynamicists whose commitment to achieving excellent fuel economy for the new-generation Taurus matched his team’s zeal to create a new design full of attitude and appeal.
Enter Ilze Liepa, aerodynamic supervisor for the new model. Today, designers work hand in hand with aero specialists. Aerodynamic efficiency is so critical to fuel efficiency that aero engineers are consulted on every facet of a vehicle design.
“Yes, every facet,” says Liepa, “especially that decklid.”
Liepa and her team have sophisticated computational fluid dynamics tools to predict aerodynamic performance of various design alternatives created by the design team. And they have dedicated Ford wind tunnel facilities to prove out their findings. Designers like Lucas depend on aerodynamics experts like Liepa because sometimes what looks aerodynamically efficient is actually the opposite.
“Aerodynamics isn’t always intuitive,” says Liepa, “and a really great aerodynamic shape might not be pleasing to the eye. That’s why we work together so closely.”
It would be the almost unnoticeable decklid lip that would test the two teams’ collaboration skills. The decklid shape was one of the final strokes of the new car’s design.
“Collaboration doesn’t mean compromise,” says Lucas. “We had a very specific vision for the design language of the new Taurus. And that’s why we went the extra mile in the wind tunnel.”
Liepa and her team also had clear objectives to minimize fuel consumption.
“We wanted a defined lip on the decklid to shape air currents at the rear of the vehicle. The objective is to minimize the wake created by the car in motion – and to shape the wake. This makes a significant difference in miles per gallon.”
The collaboration between designers and aerodynamicists paid dividends. Its 0.33 coefficient of drag helps the base Taurus deliver EPA-estimated values of 18 miles per gallon city and 28 highway, front-wheel drive.
The high-performance Taurus SHO, with a 365-horsepower (using premium fuel) twin-turbo EcoBoost™ V-6, delivers EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 25 highway, all-wheel drive. Aerodynamic fine-tuning and a 0.32 coefficient of drag help the Taurus SHO deliver the power of a normally aspirated V-8, without compromise to its V-6 fuel economy.
Outstanding fuel economy is often the sum of many small details like the Taurus decklid lip. Such details are sweated by experts behind the scenes whom Taurus customers are never likely to meet.
As Taurus neared its final shape, the creative tension between the two groups culminated in a team of designers invading the wind tunnel to make the final decisions on the decklid.
As various design iterations were tested in 70-mph blasts of air and telltale smoke traces at the hands of the aerodynamicists, Lucas and his team sculpted their final tweaks in clay right there.
“The fur didn’t fly, but I’m sure some bits of clay did that day,” Liepa remembers.
“I think both sides won that day,” says Lucas. “Looking at that lip, you’d be amazed at how much effort and attention to detail went into that decklid.”
The new Taurus can literally claim to have been sculpted in the wind tunnel to make it ready for the romance of the road, not the fuel station.
###
About Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

Article found at media.ford.com

For more information on the new Taurus or any other Ford product, call:
Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011 Ford Focus on schedule for North American launch in 2010

2009-07-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

In 2010 Ford Motor Company is not planning in dipping its toes into the small car waters, it is planning to cannonball right in!

In 2011 Ford Fiesta will the first to hit the water and as you may have previously read, it is a very competitive car that should give the Honda Fit actual fits.

Later in the second half of 2010 Ford will pump out a new Focus that will once again sync the United States' edition with the European model. Currently if you were to hop in a 2009 Ford Focus here in the States and then jump in a 2009 European Ford Focus, you would think that some sort of cruel joke had been played up us Americans

"Right now, both of those programs remain on target," Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development for Ford, said in an interview with Automotive News. "And on the Fiesta side, launching in the U.S., we will be building on some very good momentum because the vehicle has already launched in other regions of the world."

America will be getting four door sedans and five door hatchback configurations for both the Focus and Fiesta. In a previous interview with Fiesta’s brand manager, Sam De La Garza, it was mentioned that Ford doesn't believe there would be enough market demand for a three door hatch model in the States.

For more info: This story was based in part on previous interviews conducted by this author and information from Automotive News.

For more information on the Fiesta, Focus or any other Ford product,
Call Nick Breese
Fleet Manager
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
toll free 888-389-7921
cell 540-986-5679

I can deliver your new vehicle, or fleet of vehicles anywhere!

Ford Transit AWD Joins National Grid's Ford Fleet

2009-07-19T06:16:00.001-07:00

BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – July 9, 2009: Ford has reached a new agreement to add Ford Transit all-wheel-drive models to the National Grid's fleet of over 3,000 Ford vehicles.

The deal confirms the continued supply of Ford commercial vehicles to the gas and electricity business over the next three years.

One of the world's biggest utilities, National Grid has been running Ford vehicles for nine years. It has around 900 long- and short-wheelbase Transit Connect models and, evenly split, 2,000 Transit 280s and 350s.

“The new Transit is more refined and car-like,” said National Grid fleet operations manager Gary Foster. “It’s a very diverse range that offers well-proven reliability, with improved ergonomics and driveability.”

A number of Ford Transit LWB 460s have recently been added to the fleet – along with five of the new all-wheel-drive Transit models, in chassis-cab dropside configuration.

“The AWD Transits have recently entered service,” said Gary. “I have tried them off-road in fairly tough conditions, and they performed very well. The AWD option in the line-up is a great addition for semi-off-road users like National Grid.”

National Grid’s renewed agreement with Ford follows a tendering process that included all European manufacturers covering the utility’s area. National Grid operates the Gas Distribution networks in the central region of England and the Electricity and Gas Transmission systems for the whole of the UK.

Each year its engineers attend 600,000 emergencies and 80,000 gas escapes. Ford Connects and Transit 280s provide a first-response service for gas-leak calls, and are also used for meter-maintenance. The bigger Transits are used for follow-up work involving excavations, mains replacement and electricity maintenance.

The National Grid vehicles, which are purchased outright, are expected to cover up to 18,000 miles a year.

Story from theautochannel.com

For more info on the Transit or for a test drive,
call me, Nick Breese, Fleet Mgr
Berglund Ford, Salem, VA
toll free 888-389-7921
540-389-7291x2251
540-986-5679

FORD 2010 TRANSIT CONNECT

2009-07-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

—Royal Oak, Michigan

This wasn’t what we were expecting for a “first drive” experience. Instead of being let loose on Metro Detroit’s highways and byways, we were given a carefully planned route in and around the quaint town of Royal Oak and were told to make pit stops at three different businesses along the way. We talked with a catering company, kitchen and bath remodeling shop, and florist supply service about the ways in which the Transit Connect could be a useful tool for small companies who normally had to rely on large cargo vans (Dodge Sprinter, Ford E-Series) or light-duty trucks for their shipping and delivery services. The Transit Connect’s small size, low price point ($21,475 MSRP), and easy-to-maneuver qualities make it a great solution for businesses looking to affordably haul. And the icing on the cake? The little Ford van is pretty good to drive, too.

Aside from some minor U.S.-spec tweaks, the Transit Connect you see here is essentially the same vehicle that has been on sale in other markets since late 2002. In that time, the TC has garnered the praise of the Global automotive press, even winning the International Van of the Year award. And now the Transit Connect comes to North America, boasting 135.3 of usable cargo space, 1600 pounds of payload capacity, and not-too-shabby fuel economy numbers of 22 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg highway.

Powering the Transit Connect is Ford’s Duratec 2.0-liter inline-four from the Focus, mated solely to a four-speed automatic transmission. This engine only cranks out 136 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, but even when driven with the maximum payload, the Connect still felt peppy and eager to run about town. It’s no rocketship, and the engine does sound rather coarse, but it’s still a pretty spirited little vehicle to scoot around in. Besides, if this van is supposed to be an attractive sell to businesses, it doesn’t need to have sports car performance, just point-A-to-point-B usability. In other markets, the Transit Connect is available with a turbo-diesel engine and a manual transmission, and when we asked Ford about the potential of oil-burning examples making their way Stateside, the executives simply shook their heads and changed the topic. The big powertrain news, however, is that the Transit Connect will be sold as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) starting late next year—Ford’s first all-electric product—capable of going up to 100 miles on a single charge and able to hit speeds up to 70 miles per hour.

In all other aspects of driving, there’s nothing terribly exciting about the Transit Connect, but it still moves down the road with decent poise. The steering feel is nicely weighted and the little van is quite easy to maneuver. Ford boasts that the TC has a 39-foot curb-to-curb turning circle, and after piloting our test car through a series of figure-eight exercises, we don’t think anyone will have trouble making their way through tight city streets and alleys. The braking feel is a bit soft, though this is probably a good thing for those hauling precious cargo. All in, the Transit Connect doesn’t offer any sort of unique driving feel, but we still enjoyed it immensely.

Obviously, the big story here is work-oriented utility, and that’s where the Transit Connect really shines. The optional Ford Work Solutions interface houses everything from an on-board computer with e-mail, a remote desktop interface, and even a wireless printer to the Crew Chief system which allows business fleet managers to track the statistics of each vehicle (tire pressure, oil life, etc.) in their pool. There’s even a Tool Link feature in which a driver can tag all of their work necessities and scan the vehicle when they’re done at a job site to make sure everything is accounted for. Try doing that with your Sprinter.

Customers will have their choice of three body styles. The panel van and cargo van are essentially the same—a cage behind the front seats with no side windows and a flat load floor, though the cargo van comes with windows on the rear doors. In either case, rear parking sensors are available to aid with the lack of visibility. In wagon configuration, a second-row bench is added, as well as side windows, perfect for consumers who don’t need the Transit Connect to be strictly business. The seats themselves are rather comfortable and supportive, and only available in cloth upholstery. The rest of the interior is made up of hard, gray plastics, but given the TC’s work-oriented focus, this doesn’t bother us at all. Everything inside feels well-built and really solid.

What Ford has done here is give America a compact, useful van which can be outfitted to meet the needs of nearly anyone looking for utility on the cheap. It looks good, drives quite well, and offers a host of technological gadgets that will be very useful to all sorts of businesses. We hope Ford sells billions of these things.

Story found at Next Autos.com

For more information or to take a test drive, call me:
Nick Breese
Fleet/Commercial Manager
Berglund Ford
Salem, VA
540-389-7291x2251
540-986-5679
or toll free:
888-389-7921

FORD 2010 TAURUS

2009-07-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

By Scott Burgess / The Detroit News
The comfortable and roomy interior was designed with the driver in mind.
2010 Ford Taurus

Type: Five-passenger front-wheel or all-wheel drive large sedan.

Price: $25,995

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Power: 263 horsepower, 249 pound-feet torque

EPA gas mileage: 18 mpg city / 28 mpg highway

Report Card

Overall: ****

Exterior: Good.

The Taurus's design flows nicely around its chunky body. The lines are crisp and the look denotes power. Interior: Excellent. Comfortable, roomy and filled with useful high-tech devices. While it can carry a family, it feels like the driver was considered the most important passenger.

Performance: Good.

The powerful V-6 gives the Taurus plenty of power while the suspension and tires provide a sure-footed performance.

Safety: Excellent.

Front, side and side-curtain air bags protect passengers, and the adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems may help prevent accidents.

Pros: Well-priced and nicely appointed large sedan.

Cons: Why buy the Lincoln MKS when the Taurus costs less and offers more?

Grading scale **** Excellent *** Good ** Fair * Poor

The EPA estimates the Taurus, which tips the scales at slightly more than 4,000 pounds, gets 18 miles per gallon city and 28 mpg highway.

Nothing lasts forever.

Whether by bad luck, bad design or the stars just stop aligning; every good (and bad) thing passes. But that doesn't mean it can't come back: Cinderella may have cleaned a lot of fireplaces, but even she got hitched.
The Ford Taurus arrived three decades ago with a youthful vigor that would propel it to become the No. 1 sedan in America. It was a winner, a juggernaut, the San Francisco 49ers of the '80s with Joe Montana in the driver's seat.

But Montana split for the Kansas City Chiefs and the neglected Taurus became a regular rental. Neither ever really recovered. The malaise of this century hurt the Taurus so much it sputtered on life support. Ford Motor Co. finally pulled its plug, hoping to replace it with the Ford Five Hundred, which then needed more than 500 changes to it after the first model year. It was a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions.
Welcome to Act III: The 2010 Ford Taurus, a car worthy of the original Taurus name and deserving of the title "flagship."
There are a lot of boxes to check to truly become a brand's top-of-the-line vehicle. The Taurus doesn't miss any. It's the most technologically advanced, quietest, most comfortable, largest sedan in Ford's fleet.
It's the premium premiere vehicle Ford has -- and even SHOs off its capabilities with a performance 365-horsepower version.
But it's also attainable starting at $25,995, the same price as the outgoing model. While Ford may not care for this advice, I could not tell any consumer to buy the 2009 Taurus for the same price as a 2010 -- really, there is no comparison between the two.
The 2010 Taurus is so much better.
First, there are the features that come with this car. It has nearly everything but a refrigerator in the second row (which Ford will tell you the large crossover Ford Flex does).
Here's just a sampling:
• Adaptive cruise control: Radar mounted under the front bumper monitors the traffic in front of the car and maintains the speed of other vehicles. If they slow down, so does the Taurus.
• Blind spot detection: A little yellow light turns on in the outside mirror if a car is the blind spot. After using this feature twice, you will demand every car comes with it.
• Keyless entry: Finally a number pad on the door that doesn't look like an aftermarket remote control. Touch it with the car's key in your pocket and the door unlocks.
• Cross Traffic Alert: Very helpful when backing up because it looks both ways for oncoming traffic, so you don't have to.
There's more: Rain sensing wipers; navigation with Sirius Travel Link; third-generation Sync to control your phone, iPod, and Sony stereo; and a programmable key to limit a teen driver's overconfidence.
Then there's the class-exclusive derriere rubber. Ford calls its Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion -- designed to keep the circulation rolling in your legs on long trips. Whatever name you use, it works fabulously with an embarrassingly awkward introduction.
The great indoors
But the interior is more than a collection of gadgets. There's a cohesive quality to the layout. There's flow, high-grade materials and a sense of purpose. Sure you can switch between seven different interior lighting colors, but it's the ambient lighting scheme that makes the Taurus feel more luxurious. The high sitting center stack makes the front feel more like a cockpit of a race car than a Sunday driver.
Additionally, Ford uses a few tricks to make you think it's even nicer. Check out the door inserts, how the material looks and feels like leather. It's not, but your friends don't need to know that little piece of information. It's also why the Taurus comes in a much more affordable price.
There's loads of space inside the cabin with more than 41 inches of legroom up front and 38 inches of legroom in the back. Three adults can easily fit in the back. The trunk is also massive, with 20.1 cubic feet of space.
There's more luxury than you'd expect.
And significantly more performance than you'd think. Ford says it focused on making the Taurus more fun to drive. It's not Mustang, but for a big sedan, it can get up and play. Here's how it did it.
Give the Taurus an independent suspension, a powerful V-6 and power rack-and-pinion steering. Include some big wheels (up to 20-inches) and stiffen up the ride slightly so the body doesn't roll like a boat at high seas. The Taurus manages to remain stately on the road while providing more than a few smiles.
The all-wheel drive models I tested felt more agile on the road than their front-wheel-drive-only brothers. But this car drives smaller than it looks.
The power steering feels a little numb in city driving but excellent on open highways.
Impressive power
The 3.5-liter V-6 pushes out an impressive 263 horsepower. The six-speed automatic transmission is very smooth, even during aggressive driving. It tends to want to get to sixth gear a little too quickly for my liking, but that's because it wants to stretch every drop of gas. The EPA estimate for the Taurus is 18 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Ford includes paddle shifters on the Taurus for those who want to try and push the car a little. They seem natural on the performance Taurus SHO, but awkward on the regular sedan. Then again, you don't have to use them.
Another notable quality on the new Taurus is how quiet it rides. Consumers equate quiet rides to quality for a reason: Better built cars, using higher grade materials, tend to ride quieter. Sometimes perception and reality park in the same space.
Based on the Intercepter, a dark and powerful-looking concept car, the Taurus's exterior was drawn with a thick Sharpie. There's a heavy feel to it (perhaps because the Taurus weighs a touch over 4,000 pounds).
But the thick three bar grille looks right for this car. Its face squints as it moves toward you, and the lower front end makes the Taurus look like it's ready to jump. Instead of giving it very small windows and lower the car's profile, the greenhouse on the Taurus provides plenty of glass. The roof is flatter than curved, but that's why the car provides so much headroom (37.8 inches) in the back.
While the Taurus looks big and strong, there are no sharp edges. The corners are rounded, as if Ford tried to baby proof the parking lot. The looks help the design flow around the body. The exterior is not as dramatic as the original Taurus, but a vast improvement over the Five Hundred, which resembled a turtle.
The Taurus won't save the Blue Oval. But flagships rarely single handedly pull off a victory of those proportions. A flagship watches the fighting from a distance, moving its pieces around the board and summing up the competition. This Taurus provides the kind of ride any general would enjoy.
That's the difference between this generation Taurus and the original. This Taurus, with its stately manner, good performance and high-tech interior, finally shows what happens when a car grows up the right way.
It may have had a rough life, but things are finally looking up for the Taurus. Change is inevitable and the Taurus has changed for the better.

Give me a call for more information:

Nick Breese

Fleet Manager

Berglund Ford

540-389-7291 x2251

540-986-5679

FLEET DEMAND MAY BOOST US AUTO SALES

2009-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

By Mike Ramsey
July 16 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. auto sales probably will rise to an annual rate of more than 10 million in this year’s second half as fleet operators finally replace their aging vehicles, helping to revive production, analysts said.
“There will be a more normal replacement cycle that is going to allow commercial fleets, government and rental-car companies to swap out existing fleets,” said Maryann Keller, an auto-industry consultant and a director of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc., in a July 14 interview. “Purchases in the first half were abnormally low by historical standards.”
Fleet purchases, along with the federal government’s “cash for clunkers” program to encourage people to replace older, less fuel-efficient vehicles, may push the annual rate to more than 9.9 million, the highest in any month so far this year. Sales of cars and light trucks in 2008 totaled 13.2 million, and averaged more than 16 million a year during this decade.
General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LCC, which both exited bankruptcy in the past five weeks, need a 10 million annual pace to break even, according to the U.S. government.
Fleet sales can account for as many as 3 million vehicles annually, said Keller, who is based in Stamford, Connecticut. They probably won’t reach that level this year, as corporate buyers and rental-car companies keep vehicles longer, she said.
Automakers, shippers, metal producers and economists all anticipate vehicle production will rise in 2009’s second half, That would be the first time that more vehicles were built in the second half of a year than in the first six months since 1991, when the U.S. economy was in a recession, according to data from IHS Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Keeping Vehicles
Rental-car companies such as Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and Dollar Thrifty have been keeping vehicles longer. Most of them shifted from “program” vehicles that they buy, keep for six months and resell to manufacturers to “risk” vehicles that are purchased outright, used for at least 15 months and sold to auto dealers, Keller said.
That contributed to a drop in fleet sales and now those cars and trucks need to be replaced, she said.
Hertz bought 16,000 new vehicles during the six weeks before June 25 as demand for car rentals rose, Chief Executive Officer Mark Frissora told analysts on a conference call that day. The company will keep acquiring new vehicles and shifting out older ones, he said.
Rising prices for used cars also are giving fleet operators an incentive to give up older vehicles and buy new ones, Keller said. Manheim Consulting said last week that U.S. used-vehicle prices rose in June for a sixth straight month. Manheim’s index, based on wholesale prices at auctions, reached 114.1 last month after ending 2008 at 98.
Spurring Production
Demand from rental-car companies and low inventory at some automakers will spur production, said Mike Robinet, an analyst at CSM Worldwide in Northville, Michigan. U.S. auto dealers have 1 million fewer vehicles on their lots now than they did in January, he said.
The cash for clunkers program, which provides incentives of as much as $4,500 to trade in an old vehicle, may motivate some buyers, Robinet said.
GM and Chrysler are bringing back production after idling output at many plants for several weeks as they reorganized in bankruptcy. Chrysler emerged June 10 after 42 days and GM on July 10 after 39 days.
Other automakers such as Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. also cut production.
Ford Motor Co., the only U.S. automaker to forgo emergency government aid, plans to boost third-quarter output in North America by 16 percent.
Ford fell 7 cents to $5.98 at 10 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Hertz declined 1 cent to $8.85, while Dollar Thrifty was unchanged at $16.05.
Increase Expected
U.S. auto production may rise to 3.26 million vehicles in the year’s second half from 2.2 million in the first six months, Global Insight said. The industry built 8.5 million vehicles in all of 2008 and 10.5 million the previous year.
Ford’s low-end estimate for U.S. industry sales for the year is 10.2 million, which would mean an annual pace of almost 11 million during the rest of 2009, said George Pipas, an analyst for the Dearborn, Michigan-based company.
CSX Corp., the third-largest U.S. railroad, said this week that automotive shipments would contribute to a second-half increase in freight. Alcoa Inc., the nation’s biggest aluminum producer, last week predicted that U.S. vehicle production would rise by 1 million in the final six months from the first half.
Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital Inc. in New York, is among those projecting that automakers will crank up production to meet demand spurred by the cash for clunkers program. A rebound in the industry’s output will help pull the economy out of the recession, leading to economic growth of 3 percent in the second half, he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Ramsey in Southfield, Michigan, at mramsey6@bloomberg.net Last Updated: July 16, 2009 10:01 EDT
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LIMITED TIME ONLY-PUBLIC CAN BUY FLEET

2009-07-13T08:54:00.000-07:00