Ford declared that combined, SYNC and MyFord Touch are sold on 79 percent of new 2013 Ford vehicles, double the rate of Toyota and Honda vehicle infotainment systems and up from 68 percent in 2012.

This includes a MyFord Touch mix of 55 percent, up from 12 percent in 2012.

SYNC and MyFord Touch connectivity technologies – launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively – remain a competitive advantage for Ford as customers cite voice control and touch screens as top purchase drivers much more often than competitors.

For example, 53 percent of 2013 Ford Escape owners say the touch screen is a top purchase reason compared to a 22 percent segment average.

“Ford has launched 60 new technologies the past few years and they are helping attract many new customers in important markets such as the coasts,” says Raj Nair, group vice president, global product development. “SYNC and MyFord Touch are key parts of our innovation strategy, and not only bring more new customers to our brand, but help deliver higher satisfaction with overall vehicle quality.”

Ford said that vehicles with MyFord Touch are helping improve perceptions as customers who own vehicles with the system are more satisfied with overall vehicle quality compared to those who don’t have the technology.

The Ford F-150 with MyFord Touch has the highest rate of quality satisfaction across the Ford lineup, at 86 percent.

F-150 blends touch screen capability with traditional buttons and knobs, a similar balance planned for future Ford vehicles.

For Ford, the innovations also are attracting younger buyers. For example, the new 2014 Ford Fiesta will now offer MyFord Touch, adding to other features such as a navigation system, rear camera, leather seats and a sunroof not available in the segment.

According to Ford, the Fiesta already is drawing a younger audience of 46 percent Gen Y and Gen X buyers, compared to Toyota and Scion’s 36 percent subcompact average. Fiesta innovations are differentiating the car as SYNC is cited as an important purchase reason by 54 percent of buyers compared to a 37 percent average for Toyota’s connectivity technology.

Ford said it continues to refine SYNC and MyFord Touch, including another downloadable upgrade planned for this summer. Previous upgrades already have helped improve quality responses by more than 50 percent.

“We are committed to listening to our customers and improving MyFord Touch to keep drawing in new customers and increasing satisfaction with even higher quality,” says Nair.

Ford’s dealership personnel and dedicated connectivity customer service line also have become competitive advantages in an era of new automotive technologies. Customers who seek dealership assistance with SYNC or MyFord Touch report a 91 percent satisfaction rate.

The post SYNC And MyFord Touch Sold On 79 Percent Of 2013 Ford Vehicles appeared first on HybridCars.com.

This report was published June 12 by international brand consultancy Interbrand.

Interestingly, automotive brands make up 50 percent of this year’s top ten.

The report gauges the gap between public perception of a brand’s environmental performance – its “green image” – and its actual environmental practices, using publicly available data and information.

According to the report, more than 10,000 consumers around the world have recognized Toyota not only for its commitment to sustainable environmental leadership, but also for its investment in ground-breaking products, such as the Prius, and its programs for reducing greenhouse emissions, energy consumption and water usage throughout its operations.

The Interbrand assessment comes as Toyota is in the early stages of a product launch cycle that will see 21 new or updated hybrid models brought to markets worldwide by the end of 2015.

Other automotive manufacturers to make it in the ranking are Ford (second), Honda (third), Nissan (fifth), Volkswagen (seventh), BMW (13^th), Mercedes-Benz (17^th), Hyundai (34^th) and Kia (37^th).

“What makes the annual Best Global Green Brands report unique and valuable is that it examines performance and perception in action,” said Jez Frampton, Global Chief Executive Officer of Interbrand. “The report provides leading brands with the insights they need to develop robust strategies—strategies that will not only drive their businesses forward, but also have a positive impact on the environment and communities in which those businesses operate.”

Toyota, the top Best Global Green Brand for the third consecutive year, continues to dominate the hybrid vehicle market. The company sold more than 2.9 million Prius models worldwide in 2012. Toyota is also exploring the future of mobility by building a low carbon society called Toyota Ecoful Town in Toyota City, Japan. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to using reusable metal containers for shipping and distribution, Toyota is a leading example of what can result—both in terms of performance and perception—when a company makes sustainability an integral part of its overarching business strategy.

Nissan (fifth) emerged as the top riser on this year’s report. The brand moved up 16 places (from 21^st) and broke into the top 10.

The report said that as with other brands in the auto sector, Nissan is becoming increasingly committed to developing and promoting its green credentials. In February, the company announced that 50,000 Leafs had been produced worldwide, making the Leaf the most widely sold electric passenger car of all time. Nissan plans to cut 15 percent of vehicle weight starting in 2017, and it has joined forces with Daimler and Ford to develop a line of affordable fuel-cell cars that will roll out in 2017. Reducing vehicle weight through smarter design and material selection, utilizing renewable and sustainable materials, and turning to alternative fuels are just a few of the ways Nissan is making significant strides in the green arena—and proving that sustainability can, in fact, lead to profitability.

The leading auto brands in this year’s report have made significant progress in regards to how their sustainability efforts are perceived by consumers worldwide. From managing to improve their stature on top sustainability reports and indexes, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), to investing in advertising spend, these brands are not hesitant to communicate their innovative and sustainable practices to consumers worldwide.

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According to Ford, the Fiesta is the only subcompact car to surpass 40 mpg.

The fuel economy claim is for the Fiesta SE with the Super Fuel Economy package; that package includes Ford’s 1.6-liter engine and the PowerShift automatic transmission.

Along with the EPA-certified 41 mpg highway rating, the Fiesta achieves 30 mpg in the city and 34 mpg combined.

“The 2014 model is shaping up to be a game changer for Fiesta,” said Liz Elser, Ford Fiesta marketing manager. “With the addition of Fiesta ST and the award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost, we have fantastic performance andfuel efficiency. But with today’s news, buyers will have a fuel-efficient Fiesta no matter which they choose.”

Ford said two key technologies help Fiesta achieve fuel economy leadership – its advanced aerodynamics and dry, dual-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission.

In terms of aerodynamics, the SFE package adds rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields, lower grille blockers, low-rolling-resistance tires and cruise control. Together, these features decrease the amount of fuel needed to push the car through the air at speed.

The second enabler is the PowerShift transmission. Unlike regular, hydraulically operated automatic transmissions that use power-sapping torque converters, wet clutches and pumps, Ford’s new dual-clutch PowerShift automatic consists of two manual transmissions – combined in the same case – working in parallel. Each has its own independent clutch unit controlled by computers, and fast-acting electromechanical actuators that shift the gears.

Equipment-wise, a new MyFord Touch system with 6.5-inch touch screen featuring enhanced voice control is now available. The Fiesta still features SYNC AppLink capabilities, which allow drivers to access and control Ford-approved smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls while on the go.

Turn-by-turn navigation remains part of SYNC Services.

Ford MyKey is a new feature on the Fiesta, which enables parents to encourage safer driving and limit their teenagers’ exposure to risk at the wheel. The system allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. It also mutes audio until seat belts are fastened and ensures driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated when used.

The post Ford Fiesta SE SFE Rated At 41 MPG Highway appeared first on HybridCars.com.

That distinction was made official today as Ford started production of the European Focus Electric in Saarlouis, Germany.

The Focus Electric is the first full-electric vehicle to be built by Ford in Europe.

According to Ford, the zero-emission Focus Electric is spearheading Ford’s line-up of electrified and highly fuel-efficient vehicles, and will be joined in Europe by the C MAX Energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) next year, followed by the all-new Mondeo Hybrid soon after.

Developed as a “One Ford” global vehicle, the Focus Electric features an electric motor and lithium-ion battery powertrain.

The Focus Electric has been manufactured in North America since December 2011 and the Saarlouis-built Focus Electric will reach European customers starting in August this year.

“Focus Electric marks the dawn of an exciting new age of full-electric Ford passenger vehicles in Europe, and demonstrates the success of the One Ford strategy in making this sophisticated vehicle available to our European customers,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “It’s a car that addresses the mobility demands and environmental concerns of today’s car buyers in the most direct way possible – combining performance and advanced technology with a zero-emission powertrain.”

Ford has invested €16 million to integrate the Focus Electric production directly into the established Focus production line at Saarlouis, delivering the flexibility to react to market demand with increased production volumes.

“The start of Focus Electric production in Saarlouis is hugely significant for Ford in Germany, and underlines Ford’s position as a leader in automotive innovation,” said Mattes. “We are giving customers the Power of Choice so they can decide whether a fuel efficient conventional powertrain or an electrified vehicle is right for their needs.”

The Focus Electric is the first full-electric vehicle to be manufactured in Germany directly from a volume production line.

Each European Focus Electric is equipped with a 6.6 kilowatt fully integrated onboard charger that can deliver around 100 km (62 miles) driving range with 2-3 hours charging, and around 150 km (93 miles) driving range with 3-4 hours charging from a 32 amps European power supply.

The Focus Electric features a new user interface called SmartGauge which calculates and displays range based on remaining energy; the driver’s unique vehicle use, across braking and acceleration inputs; and the use of accessories such as climate control and audio systems.

Ford also said the Focus Electric’s powertrain uses regenerative braking to capture up to 95 percent of kinetic energy normally lost during the braking process, while the innovative Brake Coach feature encourages gradual braking to help return more energy to the battery.

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This is the second straight year Ford’s three-cylinder engine has captured the award.

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost – which Ford said combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to lower fuel consumption without sacrificing power – received the highest score in the history of the awards.

The engine also won the “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” category at the annual awards presented by Engine Technology International magazine.

The success of this engine is also commercial as Ford confirmed plans to double production of the engine at its Cologne (Germany) Engine Plant to more than 1,000 engines a day starting mid-August to meet demand.

“With a technology as mature as the internal combustion engine, it’s very rare to achieve a true breakthrough, but that is exactly what the team accomplished with this engine,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president, Global Powertrain. “You have to drive it to believe a small three-cylinder engine can deliver such performance and fuel economy.”

A panel of 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world judged the awards on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology.

Ford said it is one of three car makers to record back-to-back victories in the 15-year history of the awards.

The Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost also has won the International Paul Pietsch Award 2013 for technological innovation at German magazine Auto Motor und Sport Best Cars Awards and the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in Great Britain, and a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine in the U.S.

“Who’d have believed it? A 1.0-litre engine that has it all, powerful, fuel efficient, clean and lightweight,” said Peter Lyon, U.K. juror and freelance journalist. “This is a masterpiece.”

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost was designed at Ford’s research and development centers in Aachen and Merkenich, Germany, and Dunton, U.K., and is built in Cologne and Craiova, Romania.

“Baby EcoBoost – Ford’s first-ever three-cylinder design – is still the engine to beat across the board,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the 15^th International Engine of the Year awards and editor of Engine Technology International Magazine. “It’s economical in real-world conditions while the compact turbo helps ensure that the entire package can power larger vehicles like the Grand C-MAX with ease.”

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is currently offered in small cars such as the Fiesta and B-MAX and compact offerings including the Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX.

In the near future it will power larger cars including the new Ford Mondeo (Fusion in North America). It also will be offered in the Transit Connect and Transit Courier commercial vehicles and Tourneo Connect and Tourneo Courier people movers.

The engine is being rolled out throughout the world. It is now available for customers buying the new EcoSport in India and China and later this year will be offered with Fiesta in North America.

Interestingly, Ford said the engine is small enough to fit in the overhead luggage compartment of an airplane.

Ford also said that its Cologne and Craiova Engine Plants were upgraded to facilitate 1.0-liter EcoBoost production and introduced advanced manufacturing techniques that reduce the volume of coolant required when machining aluminum engine parts to just five milliliters per component from two liters previously, contributing to a reduced environmental footprint from manufacturing.

New “cold testing” technology was also introduced, allowing engines to be tested without being started – reducing fuel usage and CO2 emissions from the process by 66 percent. All remaining energy required to run the Cologne plant comes from renewable sources, including three hydro-power plants in Norway and Sweden.

Ford of Europe plans to triple annual production of vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient EcoBoost petrol engines to approximately 480,000 by 2015, from 141,000 in 2011. The company projects that more than 300,000 of those vehicles will be equipped with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost.

In the first quarter of 2013 in Europe, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine accounted for 42 percent of orders in the B-MAX, 30 percent in the Focus and 24 percent in the Fiesta across Ford’s 19 traditional European markets.

The post Ford’s One Liter Ecoboost Engine Named International Engine Of The Year appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Ford is inviting potential customers across the country to put the automaker’s fuel efficient EcoBoost-powered vehicles to the test against its competitors while also getting the opportunity to drive the sporty Fiesta ST.

While we tend to focus on the companies hybrid models on this website, Ford is also making efforts to reduce fuel consumption on its regular ICE engines. One way for the company to do so is by turbocharging small engines in order to deliver the power previously provided by bigger engines.

The Ford EcoBoost Challenge will allow people to drive the Ford Fusion and Escape head-to-head against the competition while experiencing how EcoBoost technology delivers both fuel economy and power, according to Ford.

Participants will also have a chance to drive the all-new Fiesta ST, before being available in dealerships.

The tour, beginning in this month, will head to 13 markets nationally.

“Ford is delivering on its promise to give fuel-efficiency-minded customers the power of choice, by offering a lineup that includes five electrified vehicles, two plug-in hybrids and eight vehicles available with EcoBoost Technology,” said David Mondragon, general marketing manager for Ford and Lincoln. “Throughout this tour, we will let consumers experience the technology that helps deliver better fuel economy and engaging driving than the competition.”

The EcoBoost Challenge events will take place on Saturdays in June, July, August and September in each market. Events will include an ST Performance Academy, a hyper-mile challenge for Ford hybrid vehicles and head-to-head competitive drives on an EcoBoost challenge course.

Pre-registration is live at fordecoboostchallengedrive.com.

Space is limited and available on first-come, first-served basis.

Events will open at 9 a.m. and run all day through 6 p.m. in most markets. Locations and dates are:

• Boston, Gillette Stadium, June 22
• Washington, D.C., FedEx Field, June 29
• Chicago, Arlington Park, June 29
• San Francisco, Golden Gate Fields, July 13
• Los Angeles, Rose Bowl, July 20
• New York City, Citi Field, August 17
• Charlotte, Charlotte Motor Speedway, August 24
• Atlanta, Turner Field, September 7
• Dallas, Cowboys Stadium, September 7
• Orlando, Orange County Convention Center, September 14
• Houston, Sam Houston Race Park, September 14
• Miami, Gulfstream Park, September 21
• Minneapolis/St. Paul, Canterbury Park, September 21

The post Ford To Hosts 13-City Hybrid And Ecoboost Event appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Ford said that’s equivalent to between 800,000 and 900,000 yards in North America when the Fusion is in full production.

For Ford, the Fusion is the latest example of the Ford commitment to use recycled material whenever possible. In North America, for instance, Ford has increased use of recycled yarns from zero in 2007 to nearly 66 percent of vehicle programs for 2013.

Overall, Ford uses 41 fabrics across 15 vehicle lines globally – from Mustang and Fiesta to F-150 and Taurus.

“The fabric being used in the Fusion truly illustrates Ford’s commitment to sustainability, regardless of any geographical borders,” says Robert Brown, vice president, sustainability, environment and safety engineering. “Anytime we can connect our supply and suppliers with sustainability, we’re headed in the right direction on our commitment to help better the world.”

The global launch of the all-new Fusion (known as Mondeo in Europe and Asia Pacific) shows the goal is attainable and that Ford is all-in on an eco-conscious way of doing business.

“Ford’s use of sustainable fabrics is growing as the company continues adding global vehicle programs, implementing sustainable material standards on new vehicles, and identifying quality global recycled yarn suppliers,” said Carol Kordich, Ford lead designer of sustainable materials.

She says the idea is to one day have all Ford fabrics consist of recycled material.

Since the 2009 model year, any new seat fabric used in Ford vehicles must contain at least 25 percent recycled material.

“As new ideas and technologies emerge, processes evolve and volumes increase with other automakers following Ford’s lead, the costs of developing sustainable fabrics will likely drop,” said Kordich. “When that happens, Ford will likely consider requiring an even higher percentage of recycled material content in its fabric.”

Some of Ford’s most advanced vehicles – Focus Electric, Fusion Hybrid SE – already have fabrics with as much as 100 percent recycled content as Ford extends the eco-conscious aspects of such vehicles beyond their powertrains.

“Ford is definitely a leader and the only one in the automotive market to put a marker out there that we need to hit,” says Dan Russian, business manager at Sage Automotive Interiors, Ford’s largest fabric supplier in North America. “It was exciting to see Ford take a leadership position in the use of sustainable materials, which supported the efforts of our design and development teams.”

Russian says the Ford-driven changes had a hand in speeding up the supplier’s development plans to increase offerings containing recycled content – potentially making more fabrics derived from recycled material available to the entire automotive industry up to five years earlier than originally planned.

The 2008 Escape Hybrid was the first model to feature an entire seat made of fabric containing recycled yarn. High costs prevented aggressive development of recycled fabrics, according to Kordich, who joined Ford in 2000 and has a background in interior architectural design.

“Initially suppliers didn’t think we were serious when we told them in the late 2000s that our new corporate strategy required a minimum of 25 percent recycled content,” says Kordich. “But more and more suppliers started to increase their environmental R&D efforts.”

Kordich said that the first application of fabric in the Escape Hybrid showed that using recycled material in automotive fabrics was possible. At the same time, suppliers were challenged to develop new fabrics that used recycled content while still being able to meet Ford’s stringent quality tests and not passing along any increased cost to customers.

But with the Focus Electric and the global Fusion program in the design phase in the mid-2000s, Kordich wanted to expand Ford’s leadership in sustainable fabric development. She said she began working with suppliers to develop fabrics that went beyond using recycled yarns to encompass more sustainable manufacturing processes.

One of the companies is North Carolina-based Unifi, which had developed a yarn branded REPREVE made from post-industrial and post-consumer waste, such as clear, plastic water bottles.

Prior to working with Ford, REPREVE had been primarily used in the apparel and contract market segments.

“From my previous background I knew companies like Unifi and Sage were innovating products to further push the envelope in sustainable developments,” says Kordich. “Collaborating with companies that have the same mindset as Ford helped take us to the next level much faster.”

Still, high costs remained an issue. Kordich worked with Unifi and Sage on a plan: Unifi would provide REPREVE to Sage, which would use the yarn to make seat fabric and sell any waste (trimmings, bad dye lots, etc.) back to Unifi for reprocessing. Ford would also help collect clear, plastic water bottles and send them back to the REPREVE Recycling Center.

Kordich’s solution closed the waste loop, kept costs neutral, and gave Ford a competitive advantage by offering a product that supported its commitment to quality – and the environment.

REPREVE debuted on the 2011 Focus Electric.

Currently, the amount of recycled material in each vehicle varies depending on region.

In North America, 100 percent of the seat fabric in Fusion Hybrid contains recycled material. Where available, the Mondeo in Ford’s Asia Pacific and European regions has 43 percent recycled content.

The post Ford’s Fusion Recycled Material Fabric Goes Global appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Ford said it will add an additional 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year.

In addition, Ford said it will produce an extra 40,000 units by idling select plants for only one week during what has been the traditional two-week summer shutdown.

“To meet surging customer demand for our top-selling cars, utilities and trucks, we are continuing to run our North American facilities at full manned capacity, and we will add 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year,” said Jim Tetreault, vice president of North America Manufacturing. “Approximately 75 percent of our plants are running at a three-crew, three-shift or four-crew pattern in order to ensure we’re getting more of our products into dealerships.”

The 200,000 annual straight-time capacity additions this year will come from Chicago Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant, including increased production of some of Ford’s best-selling vehicles like the Ford Explorer, Ford Fusion (hybrid and non-hybrid) and Ford F-Series.

The increased production at Kansas City Assembly Plant with the addition of a third crew, which Ford announced in early May, is included in the 200,000 increase.

Additionally, 20 plants, including six assembly plants, will take a reduced summer shutdown this year.

The assembly plants taking one week of shutdown are Chicago Assembly, Cuautitlán Assembly, Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly, Kentucky Truck, Michigan Assembly and Oakville Assembly.

The Michigan Assembly Plant is the plant where the Focus, Focus electric as well as the hybrid and non-hybrid versions of the C-Max are assembled.

The post Reduced Summer Shutdown To Answer Demand For Ford’s Products appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The five-star rating is the U.S. Government’s highest-possible safety rating and is determined only after severe testing procedures as part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid joins the Ford Fusion and the Ford Fusion Hybrid which already received five-star safety ratings.

NHTSA has elected to test plug-in vehicles separately from vehicles powered by gasoline internal combustion engines as the market share of electrified vehicles is increasing.

Ford said April marked its best hybrid sales month ever with Ford’s EV market share hitting an all-time high of 18 percent, up from 3 percent last April.

“The Fusion Energi combines the highest possible safety ratings from NHTSA and great fuel economy, two things we know customers are looking for in their vehicles,” said Steve Kenner, Global Director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office. “Our strategy is to provide our customers with a range of powertrain options in our vehicles, while still leading in fuel economy in every segment that we compete.”

The Fusion Energi gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 108 MPGe.

The NHTSA five-star rating for the Fusion Energi comes in addition to the 2013 Fusion being named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in December.

The Top Safety Pick + designation is the highest rating the organization has for vehicle safety.

The post Ford Fusion Energi Scores Five Stars appeared first on HybridCars.com.

European customers bought Fiestas at a rate of one every 100 seconds during the first quarter for 2013 – 41,600 in March, and 77,800 total in the first three months of 2013 – 14,000 units more than its nearest rival, according to JATO.

Parked bumper-to-bumper the Fiestas sold during the first quarter would cover the equivalent of 770 laps of a 400 metre Olympic running track.

“It’s clear from the rate that our new Fiesta is flying off forecourts that its striking a chord with Europe’s small car customers,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.  “The small car segment is probably more competitive than it has ever been and the new Fiesta is gaining retail market share and reaching new customers on the strength of its design, technology and drive dynamics.”

According to the same data, the Fiesta’s retail share – sales to private customers – in its segment rose by 1.2 percentage points in March. Incoming orders from customers also increased by 8 per cent in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year.

One quarter of Fiestas sold this year in Europe were equipped with the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost.

The most popular color to date is Frozen White, chosen by 23 per cent of customers – rising to 40 per cent in Greece – followed by Panther Black and Moondust Silver. Fifty-five per cent of Fiesta buyers have opted for the Charcoal Black interior, including 84 per cent of U.K. customers.

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