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Tag: Ford

  • 2015 Ford Mustang to Debut on December 5th

    2015 Ford Mustang to Debut on December 5th

    Ford Motor Company has announced that its all-new 2015 Mustang will debut on December 5th. This will be the Mustang’s first redesign since 2005. The car will celebrate its 50th anniversary on April 17, 2014.

    “With a new design and greater refinement, world-class power and performance plus innovative new technologies, Mustang is ready for the next 50 years,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president of Ford global marketing, sales and service.

    Ford hasn’t released many details about the new Mustang, but speculation abounds about what the 6th generation of this iconic car will look like. Mustang enthusiasts have been talking about the redesign for a while now, and hope to see a choice of engines that includes a 3.7-liter V6 and a 5.0-liter V8 with possibly 450 hp.

    The debut will be global, with rollouts in Dearborn, Mich.; New York; Los Angeles; Barcelona; Shanghai and Sydney. Some speculate that the new Mustang will feature a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for global markets.

    Ford is marketing the new Mustang heavily on social media, building excitement in the days leading up to December 5th. In a 15-day campaign that kicked off on November 19, the company is inviting fans to share “photographic stories of inspiration” using the hashtag #MustangInspires. The company has promised to publish the tagged photos and videos on MustangInspires.com.

    The campaign is focusing heavily on Facebook – where Ford claims the Mustang is the most “Liked” car of all time – and Instagram, where it has chosen to reveal the first teaser images of the new car.

    Post by Ford Mustang.

    Post by Ford Mustang.

    Image via Twitter

  • Elon Musk Calls Media Coverage of Tesla Unreasonable

    Elon Musk Calls Media Coverage of Tesla Unreasonable

    In the past couple of months, several fires have broken out as a result of accidents involving Tesla Model S cars and multiple purchasers. As the company fought to repair the damage, their stock price zig-zagged as if it were riding a rollercoaster; this week, USNews.com reports CEO Elon Musk condemning the media coverage of the car fires as “extremely unreasonable.”

    When Tesla went public in June 2010, a share sold for $17. Prices were booming as high as $176 earlier this month, but the numbers plummeted as the media circulated news of the fires, the first of which happened on Oct. 1. Acknowledging his awareness of his investors’ expectations, Musk said “I don’t believe in talking up the stock… I think the stock is a good deal where it is right now.”

    When questioned about whether a regulator has examined the car fires and if the Model S will be changed to prevent them, Musk reiterated that he considered himself a “perfectionist” when it comes to safety, and that nobody has yet been seriously injured while driving a Tesla.

    Musk asserts the car is just as safe as every other car on the road, and that the fire reports are exaggerated. “The headlines are extremely misleading,” he said. Confronting reports from the National Fire Protection Organization that 2010 saw 184,500 vehicle fires in the United States, Musk quipped “How many times have you read about that?”

    An unnamed spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a statement that read “The NHTSA is in close communication with Tesla and local authorities gathering information about the incident to determine if additional action is necessary.”

    Tesla has sold roughly 18,000 cars since launching its first model in 2008; by the end of 2013, Tesla expects to have constructed an additional 20,000 Model S cars.

    The fires may have been caused by the car failing to protect its battery pack, but analyst Thilo Koslowski with the Garter automotive technology research firm explained that it’s too early to conclude the fires will be a frequent problem with the Model S.

    Max Wolff, chief economist with the ZT Wealth investment firm, said that while the car fires are less of a problem than the media says, they are a huge problem for company perception.

    “Tesla is a good company with a good product,” he said. “But Tesla stock is priced as though it is going to take over the automotive industry, and it’s not going to… Tesla is showing there is a demand for these vehicles. They are going to be in pole position on that for the near future. Other boutique makers are going to enter the market. Not so boutique car makers are also going to expand into the electric market, like Ford.”

    [Image via TeslaMotors.com]

  • Microsoft Wants To Replace Ballmer Before The End Of 2013 [Report]

    Microsoft Wants To Replace Ballmer Before The End Of 2013 [Report]

    In late August, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that he would retire within the next 12 months. That gives him until August 2014 to hand the reigns over to somebody else. While that could certainly happen, it seems that Microsoft’s board wants to get him out the door much sooner.

    Bloomberg reports that Microsoft’s board is working tirelessly to replace Ballmer before the end of the year. It’s been almost two months since the announcement of Ballmer’s retirement, however, and the board hasn’t named a single nominee yet.

    Despite its reluctance to name any nominees, a recent report said the board had put Ford CEO Alan Mulally at the top of its shortlist. Mulally has seemingly denied being interested in the position at Microsoft, but his current contract with Ford allows him to consider other positions despite being expected to stay with Ford until 2014.

    Besides Mulally, Microsoft’s board is also looking at a number of other potential candidates. Bloomberg names eBay CEO John Donahoe and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop as candidates, but the former has reportedly told the board to not consider him. That leaves Elop as the only other candidate besides Mulally that we actually know about. He’s also one of the more likely candidates considering Microsoft’s recent purchase of Nokia’s devices and services business.

    So, when will we finally hear who the next CEO of Microsoft is? Well, the board will have to choose a replacement first, and then negotiate with said replacement on matters of compensation. If the replacement comes from outside the company, they will also have to negotiate departure terms with the company the replacement is leaving. After all of that is said and done, the board will then announce the replacement.

    Whether that announcement comes late this year or early next remains to be seen. All we know for sure is that the board and shareholders don’t want Ballmer sticking around for another year.

    [Image: Andy Caddy/YouTube]

  • Alan Mulally Could Run Microsoft

    Alan Mulally Could Run Microsoft

    After Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer announced his plan to retire within the next 12 months, the company has been trying to figure out the best candidate to replace him. According to a new report, it could be Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally.

    According to AllThingsD, Microsoft and Mulally are in serious talks, though no formal contract negotiations have begun.

    In early September Mulally denied leaving Ford, but Reuters reported the board at Ford gave Mulally the option to leave earlier than his contract states.

    For some, Mulally may not be the best choice because he has no high-tech connections. However, Mulally has experience saving companies, seen during his time as executive vice president of Boeing and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, as well as his current job as CEO of Ford.

    Mulally already has some connection to Microsoft. While Ballmer was trying to create a new management structure for Microsoft, Mulally was one of his close advisers. Microsoft shifted from working in silos to working together. Ballmer’s “One Microsoft” has many similarities to Mulally’s “One Ford.” Both have every arm of the company working together toward the same goal.

    Ballmer himself sang Mulally’s praises not too long ago. In an article Ballmer wrote for Time magazine in 2009, he said of Mulally, “Changing industries can upset even the most seasoned executive. Not Alan. He understands the fundamentals of business success as well as any business leader I know.”

    Mulally wasn’t the first name thrown around to take over as CEO of Microsoft. When Ballmer first announced his retirement, the front runner was Nokia CEO Stephon Elop, who also happened to be a former Microsoft executive. The rumor around Elop was heightened when Microsoft acquired Nokia, and in turn, Elop.

    Another top contender is Microsoft executive and former CEO of Skype, Tony Bates. Pivotal CEO and former Microsoft executive, Paul Maritz, is also in contention for the spot.

    Mulally may have personal reasons to take the Microsoft job. His wife, friends, and home are all in Washington.

    Neither Microsoft, Ford, nor Mulally have yet to make a comment.

    I guess only time will tell who will be the new CEO of Microsoft.

    [Image via YouTube.]

  • Ford recall: North American models hit, stock price intact

    Ford recall: North American models hit, stock price intact

    Ford motor company is recalling approximately 400,000 of its large sedans ranging from model year 2005 to 2011. The brands and models affected include Ford Crown Victoria which is ubiquitously used as either a taxi cab or a police car across America, the Mercury Grand Marquis, and the plush, upscale and roomy Lincoln Town Car.

    The problem appears to be related to corrosion of the lower intermediate steering shaft of vehicles in “high corrosion states and provinces” that may result in the loss of steering, according to Ford’s press release.

    Well, the next question is, who are these “high corrosion” states and provinces?

    The states so far include – Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Canada will face recall of about 15,000 sedans.

    In other words, the Western half of the US is unaffected while most of the recall problem is concentrated on the East Coast and the Great Lakes region.

    Large sedans are going out of fashion as customers are flocking towards Ford’s fuel-sipping small and mid-size sedans due to rising prices, high unemployment and stagnant economy. Ford Focus and Ford Fusion have done relatively well in the small and medium car segment respectively, thanks to Henry Ford’s great-grandson Bill Ford’s and Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s leadership. Ford family scions

    With the retirement of the Mercury brand and the scaling down of Lincoln, Ford Motor has poured its resources and devotion exclusively on the Ford brand as it battles powerful, well-oiled manufacturing machines of its Japanese, Korean and increasingly Chinese rivals.

    So should we expect Ford’s stock price to steer downward this week following the recall news?

    Not likely. Stock owners should take heart since the recall numbers are miniscule relative to the overall annual sales volume of Ford vehicles. Mercury is defunct. Besides, the recall does not affect Ford’s bread and butter truck and SUV models including the best selling F-150, Ford Escape and Ford Explorer.

    That said, if the recall engulfs some of the more popular models in the next few days, things could change dramatically. So stay tuned.

    [images via plus Google, Ford Motor official twitter account]

  • Ford F-150 Tremor Coming This Fall

    Ford F-150 Tremor Coming This Fall

    Ford Motors that its new Ford F-150 Tremor truck will be coming to market sometime this fall.

    Ford is calling the Tremor the “world’s first EcoBoost-powered sport truck.” The truck will come with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and an electronic locking differential for its rear axle. It will also come standard with HID headlamps and Ford’s Sync technology with MyFord Touch connectivity, though the interface is physical, rather than touch-based. Ford is marketing the truck as a solution for “street truck enthusiasts looking for high-performance V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

    The interior of the truck has a flow-through center console, bucket seats, and a floor shifter. The interior seats have a black leather surface with red piping.

    “The new Tremor gives F-150 customers yet another option to drive a highly capable, distinctive performance truck with features typically found only in the aftermarket,” said Brian Bell, product marketing manager for the F-150. “Plus, the Built Ford Tough EcoBoost engine is available for the first time in a short-wheelbase F-150.”

  • Ford Recall Affects 465,000 Vehicles, Fuel Leak To Blame

    Ford Recall Affects 465,000 Vehicles, Fuel Leak To Blame

    Vehicle recalls are nothing new, but a recent Ford recall is definitely one of the biggest of the year.

    Ford announced today that it was recalling 465,000 vehicles over concerns that a fuel leak could start a fire. There have been no reports of fires from the fuel leak, but Ford wants to stay on the safe side.

    The current Ford recall affects the following 2013 vehicle models: Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Interceptor Utility, Interceptor Sedan, Lincoln MKS, MKT and MKZ. If you bought any of the 2013 models of these vehicles, you are strongly urged to hit up this Web site to check if your vehicle is included.

    Besides the massive fuel leak recall, Ford also announced two smaller recalls that only affect a few hundred vehicles. The first is 500 2013 Lincoln MKZs – the insulation on the engine block heater may crack under cold temperatures. The second is 25 Ford 2013 Fusions – these did not have an internal retaining clip installed so drivers may be faced with impaired steering.

    Last summer, Ford was hit with two recalls in July over issues with its line of Escape SUVs. The first problem involved misplaced carpet while the second involved a gas pedal that could become stuck.

    [h/t: CNN Money]

  • Amazon Cloud Player Comes To Ford SYNC Smart Cars

    Amazon Cloud Player Comes To Ford SYNC Smart Cars

    The smart car is the next big revenue driver for app developers. These cars may not be everywhere just yet, but app developers would be smart to jump on in its early stages before it takes off. Amazon is doing just that by bringing Cloud Player to Ford’s line of smart cars.

    Amazon announced today that Android devices with Amazon MP3 can now wirelessly connect with Ford SYNC Applink-equipped vehicles. Beyond being able to play your MP3 collection through your car’s speakers, the Ford SYNC version of Amazon MP3 also supports voice commands to keep drivers safe.

    “We want customers to be able enjoy their entire music library wherever they want, from whatever device they choose. And we know that cars and music go hand-in-hand. That’s why we’re excited to bring Cloud Player to the car,” said Steve Boom, Vice President of Digital Music for Amazon.

    The following features of Amazon MP3 are making their way to smart cars:

  • Access their music playlists with the convenience of using voice recognition or dashboard controls
  • Play music stored in Cloud Player or play back music stored on their mobile phone
  • Enjoy eligible music in high-quality 256kbps audio
  • Get rid of CDs, wires, and other ways they used to connect and listen to their music in the car
  • Free up local storage space on their phones by storing and accessing music in the cloud

    • The Amazon Cloud Player app is available in the following Ford models: 2013 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Focus, E-Series, C-MAX Hybrid, Expedition, Fusion, F-150 and Super Duty.

    You can learn more about Amazon Cloud Player in Ford here.

  • CES 2013: Ford Developer Program Invites You To Make The Next Great Smart Car App

    CES 2013: Ford Developer Program Invites You To Make The Next Great Smart Car App

    One of the more interesting categories of CES’ past was the smart car. The idea behind it was that everything you have on your smartphone could be accessed while you’re behind the wheel. It’s incredibly promising and Ford is kicking off CES 2013 with a new open source SDK and developer program.

    After a few years of trying to get the smart car right, Ford is finally opening smart car development to the masses with the Ford Developer Program. The program will offer an open source SDK that will help developers build the future of connected apps for cars that can be controlled via an iOS or Android device.

    The Next Web reports that Ford is currently looking for developers to work on apps in the following categories:

  • News & Information
  • Music & Entertainment
  • Navigation & Location

    • As expected, these are the kind of apps that would be most used by the average car owner. The apps must also be fully voice controlled using Ford’s Sync software for safety’s sake. There’s already a number of apps that fall into these categories like Google maps or Pandora, but developers will inevitably come up with some genius apps now that development has opened to all.

    As part of the announcement, Ford also announced nine new apps for current Sync-enabled Ford vehicles according to The New York Times. These apps include The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Aha Radio, Rhapsody Radio, Amazon Cloud Player, Glympse and more.

    Ford is also opening up development to drivers who have good ideas on how to improve the driving experience, but don’t have any formal education in development. The company will direct these people to jacAPPS, a developer contracted by Ford that will bring these ideas to the dashboard.

    Interested developers can hit up the Ford Developer Program at its official Web site.

  • Ford Recall: 485,000 Escape SUVs Could Have Throttle Issues

    Ford Recall: 485,000 Escape SUVs Could Have Throttle Issues

    Ford recall: Nearly 485,000 Escapes (2001-2004), which are referred to as Mavericks overseas, are being recalled by the car manufacturer over sticking gas pedals that could, in theory, lead to deadly crashes. The Associated Press reports that the recall is being issue just a week after investigators began looking into the issue. This comes hot on the heels of the recall issued just a few weeks ago to address some carpeting alignment issues in the same model.

    Here’s what’s wrong: When you depress the gas pedal all the way down, there’s a possibility that control cables can stick to the engine cover. If this happens, the throttle is essentially left wide open, which can ultimately cause the vehicle to speed out of control. According to the AP, Ford has received 68 complaints, including 13 crashes, nine injuries, and, sadly, one death. In other words, this could be a potentially serious problem.

    “This is not a situation where the engine would accelerate or go into a wide-open state on its own,” Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel explained. That’s good to know. Apparently this issue can be resolved by repositioning and refastening the cables in question. However, dealers may not receive the proper equipment for several weeks.

    Unfortunately, this is the third recall involving Ford’s Escape SUVs. In addition to the aforementioned carpeting problem, the company was forced to call 11,500 Escapes in order to repair some dodgy fuel lines, which could crack open and leak gasoline. Until these problems are hammered out, I’d say it’s a safe bet to stay away from these vehicles until all of the potentially dangerous kicks have been resolved.

  • Ford Escape Recall to Address Carpet Issues

    Ford Escape Recall to Address Carpet Issues

    The Ford Escape recall scheduled begin on July 23rd will address some serious issues with the vehicle’s carpeting, according to Orlando Sentinel. Nearly 10,000 2013 Ford Escapes manufactured at the company’s Louisville, Kentucky plant between March 8th and June 7th are thought to be affected by this recall.

    According to reports, carpet padding located near the center console trim panel has been mispositioned, which means that drivers could, in theory, hit the brake pedal when they’re attempting to remove their foot from the accelerator. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes the carpeting may result in increased stopping distances and potentially up the risk for crashes. That’s never a good thing.

    8,226 vehicles will be recalled in the United States alone. The Associated Press received word from a Ford spokeswoman that approximately 2,000 vehicles will be recalled in Canada, as well as a few hundred in Mexico. At the time of this writing, no injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of the issue.

    Consumers will not be charged for the correction.

  • Self-Driving Cars Will Be Waiting Next to You at Red Lights by 2017

    Self-Driving Cars Will Be Waiting Next to You at Red Lights by 2017

    If you think all the hubbub about Google’s fancy self-driving cars is just a fleeting novelty, Ford, it of the automobile industry, thinks you should check yourself before you wreck yourself.

    According to ExtremeTech, Ford predicts that driverless cars will be a way of life in 2017. That’s only five years from now. If you think that seems somewhat quick for a culture to adopt a new technology, the iPhone just turned five years old earlier this week, and I’m sure it would’ve been difficult to anticipate just how pervasive that device would become to our culture back in 2007. So if it happened once, it could happen again, and why not have it happen with something awesome like driver-less cars?

    Ford expects that smart car technology called Traffic Jam Assist will help reduce traffic by at least 37.5%. In other words, if you commute an hour on a freeway during rush hour, your commute would drop down to 38 minutes thanks to self-driving cars. Aside from giving you back some time on your life, Traffic Jam Assist can handle unforeseen events like a car cutting you off.

    Take a look at the demo of Ford’s Traffic Jam Assist technology in the video below.

    While the advent of self-driving cars isn’t exactly news – Google’s Sebastian Thrun was giving TED talks about driver-less technology all the way back in 2010 – this is a pretty exciting prediction from major automobile manufacturer.

    So what will you do with your free time when you don’t have to worry about the bucketheads cutting you off in traffic? Start solving crossword puzzles? Knit? Talk on your phone (even though you already do that right now)?

  • Ford’s Keyfree Password Manager Blows the Heads Off Competition

    Ford’s Keyfree Password Manager Blows the Heads Off Competition

    Ford has been desperately seeking a competitive advantage in creating an exceptional and undeniable driving experience, and their efforts have really paid off with this next innovation.

    Quite simple in its design, it is a Chrome extension that stores all your passwords for Google, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and many others. Combine this with a previously authorized smartphone, and you have a device that automatically logs you into all of your accounts upon approaching your computer.

    When combined with Ford’s NFC key fobs, you get instant access to your automobile with all your favorite sites unlocked and waiting for you inside. That’s truly a remarkable experience, in-car or otherwise. Getting access and staying connected is as simple as proximity; no need to remember, no need to type. It’s called Ford keyfree.

    Take a Look:

    Forget about asking why Chevy and Chrysler don’t offer this technology, why doesn’t Apple or Google? It’s password management technology that jumps leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, and it’s from an automobile company. That’s pretty damn impressive!

    While it isn’t available in the United States yet, it is on the way. In fact, we can expect to see a lot more innovation of this variety coming from Ford in the near future. The company has been funding a big open-source initiative and they are hungry for technology that puts the driver at the forefront of the in-car experience.

    Ford recently put resources and tools in place to make collaboration, innovation, integration, and development a mutually beneficial experience. They are seeking out engineers, inventors, app developers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to help them make the automobile more interactive. They have also partnered with companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and many others, in hopes of bringing concepts to reality.

    With their efforts so keenly focused on innovation and strategic partnership, there are bound to be a lot of developments rolling down the production line. We’ll keep you informed as Ford continue to seek out new avenues for refining automobiles and our driving experience.

  • Ford Looks to App Developers and Open-Source Innovation for Futuristic Driving Experience

    Ford Looks to App Developers and Open-Source Innovation for Futuristic Driving Experience

    Ford Motors has been doing everything they can think of to facilitate innovation and a creative spirit in the automotive community. The company has changed their outlook on design and engineering.

    Their latest effort to spur creative ideas comes in the form of a new laboratory in Silicon Valley, where collecting data on how people are using their vehicles and what can be done to better accommodate that use, is at the forefront of design.

    Ford is on a mission to shed the innovation in a bubble mentality of Detroit, and assume the collectivist spirit that embodies invention more closely tied to Silicon Valley. In other word, they want to go open-source with their creative efforts.

    Ford’s CTO Paul Mascarenas comments on the idea:

    “We really want the car to get to know you and what you’re doing at any given time and be able to adapt with a connected experience,”

    More specifically, Ford is looking for app developers to help them create an environment inside of vehicles that is anticipating and delivering at every turn. So if you are an app developer and you are interested in collaborating with Ford on this type of project, visit http://fordsvl.com/.

    Learn a little more about Ford’s collaborative form of innovation with this video:

    At the end of May, Ford got the ball rolling an a new Tech Shop in the Detroit area where tech savvy entrepreneurs can take advantage of cutting-edge design and testing equipment to develop and refine technology aimed at automobile innovation.

    As part of the open-source spirit they also made some refinements to an existing Patent Incentive Program, which allows collaborators to get paid for their intellectual investments. They have also set aside physical spaces in an area of the city they call Fordland where they help small entrepreneurs get manufacturing efforts off the ground while providing affordable rent and professional consultation.

    So, if you want to deliver a vehicle which is adaptive and more attuned to a driver’s experience, you have to embody that mentality with your design efforts, and it sounds like Ford is going above and beyond to do just that. It gives new meaning to the phrase, “there’s an app for that”.

    (Lead Image: Ford’s B-MAX 2013 Concept Vehicle)

  • GM Gets Dissed by Facebook, But Ford is Buying

    GM Gets Dissed by Facebook, But Ford is Buying

    You might recall that General Motors recently pulled all their advertising from Facebook’s pages and claimed that the ads weren’t really working for them. Of course, GM’s actions took place just days before Facebook’s much anticipated initial public offering, so it really grabbed everybody’s attention.

    Today, The Street published an article claiming that Facebook had indeed dissed General Motors by not allowing them to take over whole pages with their marketing efforts. As Ad Age put, advertising on Facebook has always been subtle, which apparently wasn’t working for the Detroit auto giant who insisted it must positioned in a more prominent light.

    But it is no secret that Facebook isn’t all about just merely positioning products to please advertisers. Their number one responsibility seems to be to their users and they are very conscious about making display decision which might turn their users off. So it’s a moral stand which Facebook made against GM, at least in the opinion of Ad Age and the Street.

    Regardless of who did what or who refused to budge, Ford Motors, one of the first to take advantage of Facebook’s pricey logout ads, seems to be loving the advertising space on the site. In fact, Ford is offering a whole new line of Blue Oval-branded products which will be featured on Facebook.

    Users who visit Ford’s fan page or several other related automotive places will see Ford t-shirts, toy cars, and select other merchandise featured on the right lower side of their wall. So while this format does not agree with GM, Ford is taking a more progressive stance, and making the best possible use of the product positioning opportunities.

    The overarching theme from both, the Street and Ad Age is that GM is still entrenched in an old model of marketing (and perhaps way of conducting business overall) while Facebook is attempting to promote and advance a more user-centric way of advertising and brand promotion.

    Ford is also embracing this spirit. They too have abandoned outdated company-originated development practices in favor of more opensource-oriented innovation efforts. They are doing their best to get community and fans alike involved in propelling the company forward and maintaing a competitive advantage.

  • Ford Mustang’s New Design Turning Heads

    Ford Mustang’s New Design Turning Heads


    Courtesy of Edmonds Inside Line

    Is this the 2015 Ford Mustang? According to some Ford insiders it is pretty dang close. The near complete redesign is probably going to be released during the Ford Mustang’s 50 year anniversary party in 2014. Some commenters from blogs.insideline.com are angry with the “European redesign” saying things like:

    lt1boy said: “Looks like an Aston Martin front end. Good looking car, but I’m not a fan of it, to be honest. A Mustang should look like a Mustang. American cars should be bold and American – they shouldn’t try to appeal to Europeans. We already have enough German cars to do that.” and carpaul1 added: “This is NOT a Mustang. It can be a Honda Accord Coupe, or Hyundai Genesis coupe, even a Ford Proble. It doesn’t have the classic beauty of a Mustang, or the size. Sell this next to current Mustang, and it will have the same fate as the Probe. A Mustang needs to be a bit more upright with ease of entry and American style. Damn the Euro chic, this is NOT a Mustang

    Other commenters seem to be very happy with the redesign:

    “Looks pretty good. Finally let the retro thing die.” is what gtrguy2012 had to say. cygnus_x1 added: “Wow, that’s a nice looking car. I hope they build it exactly like that.”


    Courtesy of Edmonds Inside Line

    The biggest change that they are bringing to the new Mustang is that for the first time they will be ditching the solid rear axle for an independent rear suspension. This is also anther obvious play to make the Mustang more desirable to Europeans. The weight that they will lose from the deletion of the axle will result in better gas mileage and better performance.

    Ford has a huge presence in Europe right now but with the number of vehicles sold falling 7.3 percent from January through March, to 325,400. Ford needs to find a way to attract more customers to an otherwise ignored car. They must also figure that Ford has enough brand loyalty in the United States with the Mustang that they can get away with such a dramatic redesign.

  • Ford & Yahoo! “Plugged In” For New Reality Series

    Ford & Yahoo! “Plugged In” For New Reality Series

    Today Yahoo! and Ford have announced a new reality series which will be featured on Yahoo’s Video Destination. “Plugged In” will showcase teams of contestants who compete to actually win a new Ford Focus Electric. Viewers will be urged to participate in the who via Flickr. The show will be produced by Magic Elves Production Company.

    Matt VanDyke, director of U.S. Marketing Communications for Ford commented on the partnership with Yahoo:

    “Ford is launching the Focus Electric on Yahoo!, once again recognizing the power and reach of the Web as we continue to rely more on digital media,”

    “The electric vehicle market will grow over time, so we electrified our popular small-car platform with a targeted online campaign instead of creating a one-off vehicle with huge ad budgets.”

    Apparently contestants on “Plugged In” will be receiving cues from Ford’s SYNC navigation and communication system inside the Focus Electric. It sounds pretty interesting so far, but we’ll have to wait to see how all these zany ideas manifest themselves in the show.

    Erin McPherson, vice president and head of Video at Yahoo! also comments on the partnership with Ford:

    “Innovative brands like Ford are playing a key role in the growth of online video, especially when the approach starts with the creative elements and storytelling. When the product integration is truly organic, as it is here, the overall consumer experience is enhanced,”

    “We drew from insights we have about our audience – namely, that they are passionate about celebrity-related content, and that they love travel – and together with Ford, we developed a high-energy reality competition in which the Focus Electric plays a key role. We will then program the series in the context of our other leading media properties, resulting in a highly immersive video experience.”

    Contestants for the new reality series will be selected in the coming weeks, but there’s no word on exactly when we’ll be able to view the show. Like I said, it sounds kind of abstract to me, but it should be fun to see people compete for a new car. The pairing of Ford and Yahoo seems like a powerful one to me. I’ll keep you posted when a definitive release date is announced.

  • Twitter Ads Move to Detroit: GM, Ford, & Chrysler Get New Neighbors

    Twitter Ads Move to Detroit: GM, Ford, & Chrysler Get New Neighbors

    The Contra Costa Times reports that Twitter is setting up a new advertising office in Detroit. There’s no doubt as to the reason for the addition; to get close to the advertising budgets of the big 3 auto makers. Promoted tweets are the next big thing and Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler can only benefit from the coverage.

    Social network marketing is vital to the success of the big 3, if you remember, Ford was one of the first to jump on Facebook’s high-dollar log-off ads. The city of Detroit has a less than booming economy, but there’s still gold there from the automakers.

    The addition of Twitter comes at a time when the city has just decided to raise corporate income taxes. In fact, the city council approved a measure to double the tax from 1% to 2 in order to generate more revenue.

    Still, it’s good news for a city who has been facing huge job loss, rising crime rates, and bankruptcy for decades. Profits for the big 3 have also been on the rise in recent years. Perhaps a presence from Twitter will also spur the local economy. You can read more about the addition of Twitter in Detroit by following the Contra Costa Times link.

  • Nationwide Gas Prices [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Nationwide Gas Prices [INFOGRAPHIC]

    According to a study by financial firm Mint, gas prices are affecting household economies nationwide, and Americans are experiencing the financial strain. The average household in the U.S. burns through 1,100 gallons of gasoline annually. And while residents in some states are paying over $4 per gallon at the pump, they might not be feeling it as much as those residents in states with low median incomes. The following chart sheds some light on the situation nationally:

    (image)

    Interestingly, gas prices proportionate to income are the best in Colorado, and the worst in Mississippi, where residents spend 10.7% of their annual incomes on fuel.

    In related news, Ford and Chevrolet continue to develop their entries into the electric car market. Though, it’s not clear that electric vehicles would even solve the economic and environmental problems caused by conventional cars.

  • Facebook: High Asking Price For Log-Out Ads

    Facebook: High Asking Price For Log-Out Ads

    Facebook has announced new log-out ads on their social platform that are sure to hit heavy with consumers as nearly 37 million users log-off the service daily in the US alone. No doubt these are highly sought-after advertising spaces, unfortunately the spaces sell for titanic amounts of cash. Apparently a day’s worth of ads will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $750,000.

    Wow! That hurts, who can afford this space? Well, so far Ford can, Titanic 3D can, and also Bing, who was the first to capitalize on the availability of the space. It sure seems like a great idea to me, but I don’t ever log-out of Facebook, so I guess I won’t get to see ’em.

    I’ll bet these things are going to be a big hit, but I wish we could ask what kind of traffic the ads generated on the advertisers sites after the spots showed. I don’t know if the advertisers would even have that data on hand yet, but lets see what people think of ’em so far:

    @LouisGudema
    Louis Gudema    $700,000/day for Facebook log-out ads??? Who ever logs out of Facebook? http://t.co/eXcjsTRe 10 minutes ago via LinkedIn ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @dcorms
    Danielle Cormier    Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/7H6PEqku Ha, you’re funny Facebook. 10 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @LukeCompete
    Luke Simon    Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day. http://t.co/LfuGF4Gg. Who logs out of Facebook…ever? #competeretail @cwr12 5 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @jkirsten
    Jonathan Kirsten    Pricey, but it’s a nice format to work with: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day
    http://t.co/j1tAFGKP via @adage 22 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @Brie
    Brie Manakul    Wonder how impressions that bad boy gets. ~ Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day
    http://t.co/ylPssGLM via @adage 43 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @ItsKentWong
    Kent Wong    Pop ups when you close a window, how annoying.
    “@adage: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/yPT9nuXI” 43 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @shaunhomsapaya
    Shaun Homsapaya    Big jump from the 300×250,and how many people log out often – Facebook sets asking price for log-out ads:$700K/day @AdAge… 54 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    https://twitter.com/#!/lorenagomez/status/183246467186696192

    @erinbury
    Erin Bury    Just pocket change. RT @Techmeme: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day (@cottondelo / AdAge) http://t.co/iyt9CwWU 1 hour ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @gordonbowman
    Gordon Bowman    Sounds about right. $YHOO still gets ~$1M on takeovers? “Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day” http://t.co/FiIKli32 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @davaishsingh
    Dave S    Facebook reaches new level of greed #digitalmedia #SocialMedia Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/M7uz69Fo #Facebook 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @inConcertWeb
    inConcert    Facebook users are learning to tune out ads, so advertising is getting more in-your-face… What do you think? http://t.co/yjskx8OF 6 days ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @revamc
    Reva McEachern    What are these silly ads that I see when I log out of Facebook now? Myspace much? 6 days ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @BrandSquare
    BrandSquare    Have u been seeing a sweet Ford Mustang when u log out of #Facebook? New #brand ads; Ford had 7K shares in 13 hrs http://t.co/TlfNt2OD 1 day ago via Argyle Social ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @CockyMF
    The Cocky One    Can get a week of cable TV for that. RT @adage: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/sYLce5Mw 1 hour ago via Seesmic ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Ford 2013 Models: More SYNC, More Technology

    Ford 2013 Models: More SYNC, More Technology

    Consumers are demanding that more technology be integrated into their automobile’s, that is a well documented consumer desire, and Ford was listening when they set-out to revamp their model line-up for 2013. In fact, this isn’t new for Ford, they were the first to deliver integrated technology systems with their SYNC system many years ago.

    What consumers can expect out of a new Ford automobile is integration. Ford’s number one focus is to keep driver’s eyes on the road without sacrificing their lifestyles. By streamlining conventional social media, navigation, and cell phone connectivity into the cockpits, they deliver safer, more user-friendly driving experiences.

    Integration is made possible by collaborations with technology giants like Microsoft and Telenav.When drivers enter the vehicle, one of the first things they’ll notice is a full color touchscreen 8″ display that can be used to interface personally relevant infotainment.

    You’ll be able to access app information stored on your smartphone, you’ll be able to access news, sports, weather forecasts, and the best thing is, most of it will be controlled via voice activation!

    If you subscribe to Ford’s SYNC services, you will also be treated to a wide-array of business listing and a turn-by-turn map navigation system.

    So if improved safety, more technology, and easier accessibility is what you crave, you owe it to yourself to check out what Ford has in store for new model buyers. I think it’s going to be impossible to fight the growing trend of communication technology and the distractions of having those devices present in the vehicle. The best thing manufacturers can do is create interfaces that keep our eyes on the road and attention on the streets.

    I don’t think Ford is the only one capitalizing on current social media and communication trends, but they are the first to make it an explicit direction for the company. It’s a great idea and it looks like they did an outstanding job. Safety should always be one of manufacturer’s top priorities and it looks like Ford is delivering on that sentiment in a big way.