Engineering the 2012 Ford Focus for Minimal Unwanted Noise

Ford Squeak and Rattle Prevention Engineer Jeff Fessenden is based at the recently renovated Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Jeff has been with Ford for 10 years, and he is aiming for high quality and customer satisfaction with the all-new Focus. Jeff spends much of his time in the assembly plant with a 4-post tester as well as on the plant floor helping address issues. He also helps evaluate vehicles on the test track located at the plant.

Jeff is partnered with Gurjeet Bains, who is also a Squeak and Rattle Prevention Engineer, from the Ford product development launch team. Gurjeet had been with Ford for 9 years, and he is responsible for full vehicle squeak and rattle testing. He identifies issues and proposes engineering solutions to produce squeak and rattle free vehicles.

Together, these engineers take pre-production Focus models over varied road surfaces, replicated on a four-post platform – housed in a semi trailer rig – that simulates actual vehicle driving behavior in hot and cold temperature extremes, making sure that squeak and rattle error states are eliminated.

MyFord Touch - Faster, Friendlier Voice Recognition Control

Ford is showing off the latest update to its Sync multimedia system that will debut in the upcoming 2011 Edge SUV.

The 10,000 commands Sync now understands — versus 100 in the first generation — is the showstopper, but after watching the somewhat lengthy video above, we’ve found a few things that we really think will improve the daily interaction with Sync after our years of firsthand testing of the current system. 

• You no longer need to specify “Phone” or “USB” before a command. This is the most annoying part of the current system. Sync now understands what you want when you say “Call Joe.” You don’t have to say “Phone” first.
• You can use multiple words for the same action, like “Play song” or “Play track.”
• You can control the climate controls via Sync with the MyFord Touch system.

2012 Ford Focus Electric Will Launch in 19 U.S. Cities

Just the Facts:

• 2012 Ford Focus Electric will be launched in late 2011 in 19 U.S. cities.
• Cities include: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and New York.
• Locations were partially chosen based on commuting patterns and existing hybrid purchase trends.

The initial wave of cities that will get the new Focus Electric includes Atlanta; Austin and Houston, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York; Orlando, Florida; San Francisco; San Diego; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The battery-powered Focus Electric will be built on the same line as the gasoline version, at Ford's Wayne assembly plant outside Detroit. It will have a lithium-ion battery pack and a projected range of 100 miles.

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2011 FORD F-150

The signature class-leading capability and durability of the Ford F-150 are enhanced for 2011 with projected class-leading fuel economy and performance. Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 33 years running, now comes equipped with an all-new powertrain lineup that will deliver best-in-class horsepower, torque and projected fuel-economy leadership.

“For the past 33 years, the Ford F-150 has stood alone as the truck people really rely on,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “The class-leading capability of the F-150, combined with the durability that defines ‘Built Ford Tough,’ has made it the No. 1 choice of full-size pickup buyers. Now for 2011, that class-leading towing and payload capability is enhanced even further with engines that deliver projected class-leading fuel economy, allowing our customers to be more productive by maximizing their workload and their fuel economy.”

The 2011 Ford F-150 has all the best-in-class towing and payload capability and durability our tough truck customers demand and now takes a giant leap forward in fuel economy, performance and technology,

2011 FORD F-150 ALL-NEW POWERTRAIN LINEUP DELIVERS BEST-IN-CLASS CAPABILITY, PROJECTED TOP FUEL ECONOMY

• The most extensive powertrain overhaul in the 62-year history of Ford F-Series highlights the 2011 Ford F-150. The engine lineup includes four new truck engines: a 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost^™
• Each engine is mated to a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission. Ford is the first and only automaker to equip its entire full-size pickup lineup with fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmissions as standard equipment
• Each engine delivers best-in-class towing and horsepower. The 2011 F-150 is projected to be up to 20 percent more fuel efficient than the 2010 F-150
• Class-exclusive electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), which improves steering feel and fuel economy, is now included on F-150
• 2011 Ford F-150 boasts new feature vehicles, including the Lariat Limited and the XLT Custom

 The 2011 Ford F-150 will be available in late 2010.

For more information

For additional information, please click here for the 2011 Ford F-150 mini-site.

Want Stress-Free Driving? Use In-Vehicle Technology

Ugh, parallel parking. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks it’s fun to do. And how about backing out of a parking space? Not much joy spread there either. But a nine-month advanced research project conducted by Ford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) New England University Transportation Center revealed drivers are less stressed when doing both those high-stress tasks when using selected new technological advancements. This study is an extension of an ongoing alliance between Ford and MIT to improve driver focus, wellness and safety through the integration of vehicle technology.


In the study of the Active Park Assist system, data were collected from 42 subjects equally distributed between males and females across three age groups – drivers in their 20s, 40s and 60s. Prior to testing, each of the subjects was given an in-depth briefing and demonstration of both the technology at the focus of the study as well as related systems. They then gained experience with the systems prior to the defined assessment period. For example, in the parallel parking study, subjects were given three practice opportunities to both manually parallel park and use the Active Park Assist feature to grow accustomed to the technology and experience parking the Lincoln MKS.


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Fuel Sipper Sale on Now!

WOULD YOU GO ELECTRIC? NEW

FORD WEB SITE GIVES CONSUMERS THE ABC’S OF ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES:

As electrification options are increasing for consumers, many are looking for information to understand how the new technologies work. To help provide jargon-free answers to electric vehicle questions, Ford has launched a new web site, http://www.fordvehicles.com/technology/electric/. The site offers the basic information consumers need to understand electrified vehicle and technology choices.

The site is part of Ford’s efforts to educate consumers about the range of electrified vehicles and help potential buyers determine which electrified option might best suit their specific driving habits and needs. Consumers who visit the site will be able to review videos, text and cutaway diagrams that illustrate the differences between hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric vehicles like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Focus Electric and planned Ford plug-in vehicles.
The site does not offer opinions on which vehicle technology is better. Rather, it provides clear explanations about how gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles work to help consumers decide which vehicle could be the best option for them.