Classic Ford Lincoln Mercury - Mentor, OH

FORD SWEEPS N.A. CAR AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

* Ford swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards today at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), winning both prestigious awards for the
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively
* It is the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both awards
* The Ford Fusion Hybrid is America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan with an EPA-estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway
* The Transit Connect is an industry-exclusive vehicle developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners; it offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans, generous and accessible cargo space, and the agility and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2010 – 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.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Dec. 17, 2009

A quick overview of Ford’s Noise Vision System. 

Impressive but when the 2011 Ford Fiesta hits the streets; it will be the quietist B-Class sized vehicle on the road. It will be quieter than the Civic, Insight, Corolla and Prius!

Third-party research shows Ford customer satisfaction with interior quietness now far surpasses Asian rivals, and that Ford vehicles have fewer wind noise, squeak and rattle issues than any other volume automaker.

The new global Fiesta, headed for the U.S. in 2010, is not only quieter than the leading B-cars, but also quieter than the leading C-cars in both wind noise and rough road surface comparison tests conducted by Ford engineers.

Key to Ford’s success in crafting quiet cabins is the use of everything from traditional wind tunnels to sophisticated virtual reality tools to identify and eliminate unwanted sounds.

The competition among automakers to engineer the quietest vehicles on the road is increasing as interior noise becomes an ever more important factor for customers. More than 80 percent of new vehicle buyers rated quietness as very important in New Vehicle Consumer Survey’s. Ford has higher interior quietness customer satisfaction scores than their Asian competitors, including Toyota and Honda, according to the RDA Global Quality Research System (GQRS) surveys.

“Customers connect a quiet cabin with a quality vehicle, and we know that,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Step by step, we’re gaining in quality; we’re now on par with Toyota and Honda. And the strides we’re making in interior quietness are all part of the game plan.”

It’s the materials

The process for designing a quiet vehicle starts from the outside in. Ford engineers stiffen parts of the vehicle, strategically mount engines, and tune the rear suspension to reduce vibration. This can contribute to a quieter and more refined sound for a sedan like Fusion or Taurus, or a sportier and more powerful ride for vehicles like the Mustang or F-150.

Advancements in materials, such as expandable foam pellets strategically placed in the doors, headliner and pillars, can improve sound-deadening efficiency by up to 20 percent. Interiors are further quieted with hood insulators, inner and outer dash absorbers, sound-absorbing carpet, improved ceiling baffles, additional sound absorption in the trunk, and new interior and headliner materials.

Other ways Ford engineers have built interior quietness into the 2010 lineup include:

Acoustic laminated windshields that feature a layer of sound-absorbent vinyl sandwiched between two sheets of glass.
Improved body/door sealing to reduce wind noise.
Expandable stuffers in the fenders and pillars.
Constrained layer damping material on the entire floor to reduce road noise, especially generated by the tires.
A retuned air induction system for a more refined powertrain sound.
All-new acoustic headliners to further deaden interior noise.

Tools of the trade

But structural changes and advanced materials are only part of the interior quietness story. The other involves Ford’s innovative use of advanced, proprietary technology that allows its engineers to identify and eliminate unwanted interior sounds.

By the sounds of it, Ford is doing everything so right ;-)

Ford is the first automaker in North America to use the new tool dubbed “Noise Vision,” which allows engineers to actually see unwanted sounds and eliminate them during vehicle development. The company began using Noise Vision – formally known as the Noise Source Identification Tool – to develop new vehicles for the 2010 model year.

Noise Vision consists of a small sphere that is placed inside the vehicle cabin, equipped with more than 30 highly sensitive microphones and special cameras. Powerful software reads data from Noise Vision and creates a computerized image showing interior noise “hot spots,” including wind noise, squeaks, rattles or unwanted feedback from the engine or road.

“The key to world-class quietness is to pinpoint the source and location of every unwanted sound, no matter how subtle it is,” said Bill Gulker, Ford’s leader of Wind Noise Engineering. “Noise Vision already is paying off for Ford, with the new 2010 Taurus, Fusion, Flex and F-150 achieving the quietest interiors in their class.”

The high-tech tool is similar to thermal imaging used for military work and medical research, and it streamlines what used to be a long, tedious process – helping Ford save both time and money. In the past year alone, the technology has allowed Ford’s NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) engineers to eliminate 200 hours of wind tunnel testing time.

Another Ford-exclusive technology saving time and money is the Virtual Vehicle Sound Simulator, which calibrates cabin sound in a virtual world and reduces the need for real-world testing.

The Virtual Vehicle Sound Simulator is an audio technology that allows engineers to predict sounds based on digital drawings of the vehicle and then combine those sounds into a realistic simulation. For the first time, engineers can hear what a vehicle would sound like under different road conditions, at various speeds, and in a range of gear and throttle conditions as the simulated vehicle shifts, accelerates and decelerates. Engineers also can gather consumer feedback – ultimately providing sounds that are more appealing to customers.

“We strive to continuously stay on the cutting edge of technology to find the most innovative ways to bring the highest-quality vehicles to our customers,” said Kuzak. “We look at every angle, every method, to find ways to improve.”

If any of you have not ridden in a Fusion Hybrid, do so and you can see where Ford’s “Quiet technology” meets the road.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Dec. 17, 2009

A quick overview of Ford’s Noise Vision System. 

Impressive but when the 2011 Ford Fiesta hits the streets; it will be the quietist B-Class sized vehicle on the road. It will be quieter than the Civic, Insight, Corolla and Prius!

Third-party research shows Ford customer satisfaction with interior quietness now far surpasses Asian rivals, and that Ford vehicles have fewer wind noise, squeak and rattle issues than any other volume automaker.

The new global Fiesta, headed for the U.S. in 2010, is not only quieter than the leading B-cars, but also quieter than the leading C-cars in both wind noise and rough road surface comparison tests conducted by Ford engineers.

Key to Ford’s success in crafting quiet cabins is the use of everything from traditional wind tunnels to sophisticated virtual reality tools to identify and eliminate unwanted sounds.

The competition among automakers to engineer the quietest vehicles on the road is increasing as interior noise becomes an ever more important factor for customers. More than 80 percent of new vehicle buyers rated quietness as very important in New Vehicle Consumer Survey’s. Ford has higher interior quietness customer satisfaction scores than their Asian competitors, including Toyota and Honda, according to the RDA Global Quality Research System (GQRS) surveys.

“Customers connect a quiet cabin with a quality vehicle, and we know that,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Step by step, we’re gaining in quality; we’re now on par with Toyota and Honda. And the strides we’re making in interior quietness are all part of the game plan.”

It’s the materials

The process for designing a quiet vehicle starts from the outside in. Ford engineers stiffen parts of the vehicle, strategically mount engines, and tune the rear suspension to reduce vibration. This can contribute to a quieter and more refined sound for a sedan like Fusion or Taurus, or a sportier and more powerful ride for vehicles like the Mustang or F-150.

Advancements in materials, such as expandable foam pellets strategically placed in the doors, headliner and pillars, can improve sound-deadening efficiency by up to 20 percent. Interiors are further quieted with hood insulators, inner and outer dash absorbers, sound-absorbing carpet, improved ceiling baffles, additional sound absorption in the trunk, and new interior and headliner materials.

Other ways Ford engineers have built interior quietness into the 2010 lineup include:

Acoustic laminated windshields that feature a layer of sound-absorbent vinyl sandwiched between two sheets of glass.
Improved body/door sealing to reduce wind noise.
Expandable stuffers in the fenders and pillars.
Constrained layer damping material on the entire floor to reduce road noise, especially generated by the tires.
A retuned air induction system for a more refined powertrain sound.
All-new acoustic headliners to further deaden interior noise.

Tools of the trade

But structural changes and advanced materials are only part of the interior quietness story. The other involves Ford’s innovative use of advanced, proprietary technology that allows its engineers to identify and eliminate unwanted interior sounds.

By the sounds of it, Ford is doing everything so right ;-)

Ford is the first automaker in North America to use the new tool dubbed “Noise Vision,” which allows engineers to actually see unwanted sounds and eliminate them during vehicle development. The company began using Noise Vision – formally known as the Noise Source Identification Tool – to develop new vehicles for the 2010 model year.

Noise Vision consists of a small sphere that is placed inside the vehicle cabin, equipped with more than 30 highly sensitive microphones and special cameras. Powerful software reads data from Noise Vision and creates a computerized image showing interior noise “hot spots,” including wind noise, squeaks, rattles or unwanted feedback from the engine or road.

“The key to world-class quietness is to pinpoint the source and location of every unwanted sound, no matter how subtle it is,” said Bill Gulker, Ford’s leader of Wind Noise Engineering. “Noise Vision already is paying off for Ford, with the new 2010 Taurus, Fusion, Flex and F-150 achieving the quietest interiors in their class.”

The high-tech tool is similar to thermal imaging used for military work and medical research, and it streamlines what used to be a long, tedious process – helping Ford save both time and money. In the past year alone, the technology has allowed Ford’s NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) engineers to eliminate 200 hours of wind tunnel testing time.

Another Ford-exclusive technology saving time and money is the Virtual Vehicle Sound Simulator, which calibrates cabin sound in a virtual world and reduces the need for real-world testing.

The Virtual Vehicle Sound Simulator is an audio technology that allows engineers to predict sounds based on digital drawings of the vehicle and then combine those sounds into a realistic simulation. For the first time, engineers can hear what a vehicle would sound like under different road conditions, at various speeds, and in a range of gear and throttle conditions as the simulated vehicle shifts, accelerates and decelerates. Engineers also can gather consumer feedback – ultimately providing sounds that are more appealing to customers.

“We strive to continuously stay on the cutting edge of technology to find the most innovative ways to bring the highest-quality vehicles to our customers,” said Kuzak. “We look at every angle, every method, to find ways to improve.”

If any of you have not ridden in a Fusion Hybrid, do so and you can see where Ford’s “Quiet technology” meets the road.

Ever since we first got a ride in the Raptor last November, jumping has been the unseen pinnacle to the off-road super truck's performance. With 11.2 inches of suspension travel up front from incredibly heavy duty triple internal bypass Fox Racing shocks, an increased approach angle and beefy front bash plate we knew it was possible, but liability concerns kept Ford from showing anything beyond the limits of the suspension's extension. Then we drove the Raptor in Anza Borrego and, while we did achieve launch velocity, we were prevented from photographing it.
But, handed the keys to a bright orange super truck for the weekend and armed with a pass to drive on Montauk's beaches, we suffered no such restriction. The only problem now was finding a suitable jump location.

That location needed to meet a few critical criteria. The first and most obvious was the need for a ramp. A suitable one needed to sit at such an angle that it'd launch the Raptor into the air at a relatively sane speed. But some speed (probably somewhere between 30 and 50 MPH) was still needed, so a good couple hundred yards of run up was also required. Of course, all things that go up must come down, creating our biggest concern, the landing. Being relatively unfamiliar with the truck, we couldn't be sure how it'd behave while jumping, so we wanted a large, flat, soft landing area free of debris or anything that could either puncture a tire or possibly even the radiator or oil pan should either get a little too close to the ground.

Finding an ideal location proved harder than initially thought. In fact, it took two days of exploring the easterly tip of Long Island's beaches and surprising abundance of trails to find something approaching suitability. Of course, it turned out the ramp we needed was located at the entrance to the beach we first took, we just need to look at it right to see the possibility. You see, in addition to capability, the Raptor is also equipped with limitations.

As a stock, showroom-available vehicle, the Raptor has to make a few necessary concessions to things like reliability, user-friendliness and yes, the dreaded legal liability a company the size of Ford is desperate to avoid. Surprisingly, it's not the any of those that labor the Raptor with its only real restriction. The tires, bespoke Bridgestone K0's designed to work well on-road and off up to the limited 100 MPH top speed, are still able to find adequate grip even in feet-deep soft sand. The stability control is fully-defeatable, defying Ford's liability nazis. No, the problem with the Raptor isn't any of the restrictions conventional wisdom dictates would be included on a truck that comes with a warranty, it's the restriction SVT's engineers had to shoulder in the name of keeping costs low (the Raptor carries only a $2,900 premium over an F-150 FX4). The biggest problem with the Raptor is the damn gearbox.

Let's let one of SVT's own engineers explain this:

When in Drive (or "D"), the transmission will shift down under load, then the tires will start to spin rapidly causing the transmission to up shift as the engine RPM gets high, once the transmission up shifts the torque at the wheels goes down and the engine "bogs", then the transmission down shifts and the whole cycle starts over again.

Ford plans to correct this issue with the 6.2-liter Raptor coming out next year.

We'd originally dismissed this jump location because the Raptor couldn't carry adequate speed through the soft sand of the approach road. Even hitting the 50-yard long soft spot at speed simply resulted in bogging down. It's not like the Raptor would get stuck, it just shed all its speed. But, two days of driving back and forth over that sand had compressed it enough that hitting it at 50 MPH only resulted in slowing to about 30. Still enough to catch air. Thus the pictures you see here were captured. Anti-climatic? You bet. All this work and we're neither the first to bring you a shot of the Raptor in mid-air, nor can we bring you the highest jump. So it's lucky that spending two days searching for a ramp wasn't a total waste, driving the Raptor on a beach is hilarious good fun.

Despite the tendency of the transmission to occasionally do exactly what you don't want it to do, the Raptor will still run through soft sand at incredibly high speed. We saw 85 MPH before we had to slow for some boulders. They were about the only objects capable of stopping the Raptor, even the numerous foot-deep furrows we'd carved in the sand with 48 hours worth of donuts failed to translate into huge bumps in the cabin or stop the truck from tracking straight. In comparison, a dirt bike I had out here a couple of weeks ago couldn't hit more than about 20 MPH in the same conditions and I fell over, a lot.

It's easy to get flippant about the Raptor's capabilities in the absence of comparison. It just takes everything you throw at it in stride. Can it slide horizontally into and over a foot-high ledge without flipping? Yes, I can definitively state that it can. Thank the 7-inch wider track for that. Can it drive through the ocean up to its doors without losing traction, swallowing water or flooding the cabin? Test completed successfully. Can it walk itself out of deep sand after you bury it up to the axles? Easily. I never would have tried any of those things in another pickup or SUV.

The fact that the Raptor did all that, then carried me and a back seat full of friends back to the city in luxurious comfort is the reason we named it one of Jalopnik's Best 10 Cars Of The Decade. If Ford really is able to cure the only real flaw in the Raptor's recipe - the stupid, stupid, stupid gearbox - then we might just have to invent some new plaudits to hang around the super trucks bright red neck.

Photography credit: Kerry Pierno

Send an email to Wes Siler, the author of this post, at wes@jalopnik.com.

According to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency, Ford has scored the biggest improvement in combined fuel economy of any major carmaker over the last five years. Between 2005 and 2009, Ford improved its fleet average by nearly 20 percent – almost twice as much as any other company. While Ford certainly made a lot of incremental improvements in the efficiency of its vehicles over that period, that wasn't the only factor.

Ford has made actual improvements, as well, however, including the introduction of the Escape Hybrid and the roll out of six-speed transmissions. The next five years should see even bigger gains as Ford deploys millions of EcoBoost engines, battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Ford's official press release is after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE:

FORD LEADS THE INDUSTRY ON FUEL ECONOMY IMPROVEMENT, DRIVEN BY POWERTRAIN ADVANCEMENTS

* Ford Motor Company records the largest increase in fuel economy gains and CO2 emission reductions over the past five years, according to Environmental Protection Agency
* Incremental engineering solutions – ranging from aerodynamic enhancements and weight reduction to energy management and mechanical improvements – have significantly contributed to Ford's fuel economy gains
* EcoBoost, the cornerstone of Ford's sustainability strategy, debuted in 2009 with a strong take rate; 2010 marks introduction of four-cylinder EcoBoost
* Ford to deliver 30 new powertrains over next two years to increase fuel efficiency
* Ford brings battery system design and development in house as part of core competency to meet aggressive electrification strategy; on target to deliver new electrified products to market

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 17, 2009 – The Blue Oval is on a 'green' streak.

Ford Motor Company has improved in fuel economy more than any other major automaker since 2004, according to a recent report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA rated Ford's combined car and truck fuel economy improvement at nearly 20 percent, almost double the next closest competitor.

Ford credits its recent gains in fuel economy in part to its introduction of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids and numerous incremental aerodynamic, mechanical, energy management and weight-saving improvements across its vehicle lineup. Going forward, it expects the 2009 introduction of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids and its fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines to further improve its fleet-wide fuel economy.

Dramatic fuel efficiency improvement is evident throughout Ford's vehicle lineup – from cars and crossovers to sport utilities and trucks. Depending on powertrain specifications, the 2010 Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Escape Hybrid, Taurus SHO, Flex, F-Series and Transit Connect offer best-in-class or unsurpassed fuel economy. The same can be said of the 2010 Lincoln MKS and MKT and Navigator, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid.

Ford expects to see its overall fuel economy continue to rise in 2010 with the introduction of the 2011 Ford Fiesta and redesigned 2011 Ford Focus – both high-mileage small cars.

"2009 has been a breakthrough year for Ford, leading with the launch of EcoBoost and the introduction of new products that will result in further improvement in 2010," said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. "Our commitment to delivering affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles for millions has never been stronger or better demonstrated."

Not only is the improved fuel efficiency good for customers' wallets, it benefits the environment as well. As a result of the boost, Ford lowered its tailpipe CO₂ emissions more than any other automaker with a fleet-wide average of 434 grams per mile – 37 grams lower than its 2007 total and 25 grams lower than 2008.

A powerful difference maker
The fuel efficiency of the 2010 Ford Fusion improved 21 percent over the 2009 model, jumping from 28 mpg to 34 mpg in highway driving, and leap-frogging the competition. Powertrain improvements were a big difference maker. Fusion and other new models benefit from the introduction of Ford's new six-speed transmission, which offers a wider gear span than four-speed transmissions.

The six-speed allowed Ford's engineers the flexibility to tune the powertrain for greater responsiveness in low gears and better fuel economy in the taller gears. The new double-overdrive gearbox is designed to contribute up to 4 percent fuel economy improvement. Ford has committed that almost 100 percent of its transmissions will be advanced six-speed gearboxes by 2013.

Ford's EcoBoost breakthrough
This year, Ford introduced its new line of powerful, fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines, available in the Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT. Recently honored with a Popular Mechanics' Breakthrough Award, EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer CO₂ emissions and superior driving performance versus larger-displacement engines.

On average, nearly one in five buyers of the Taurus, Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT have opted for EcoBoost since the engine lineup's introduction in August. By 2013, Ford will offer EcoBoost engines in 90 percent of its product lineup with annual volume of vehicles with EcoBoost at 1.3 million globally.

"We are 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. "We are focusing on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that is how Ford truly will make a difference."

It's all about incremental improvements
The fact that the 2010 Ford Taurus and 2009 Ford F-150 are up to 12 and 17 percent respectively better on fuel economy than their 2004 predecessors isn't due to one "silver bullet" solution but a host of vehicle enhancements, including aerodynamic refinements, weight efficiency and mechanical improvements.

The progress made by Ford during the past few years reflects an engineering philosophy that every joule of energy gained through incremental improvement is precious. Ford engineers work tirelessly using a systems approach to manage vehicle energy and implement a variety of design and engineering solutions that can each improve fuel economy by 1 percent or more. Taken together, the improvements help deliver significant savings for consumers at the pump.

Aerodynamics
The ease with which a vehicle moves through air greatly influences its fuel efficiency. Ford engineers use sophisticated computer modeling and wind tunnel testing to painstakingly tweak vehicle designs millimeter by millimeter to get the best possible aerodynamics without losing sight of the designers' original vision. The energy saving can be significant. A 10 percent reduction in aerodynamic drag increases fuel economy by approximately 1 percent for cars and approximately 2 percent for trucks with conventional internal combustion engines.

The 2010 Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ are 5 percent more efficient than outgoing models in terms of drag coefficient, which measures the force that pulls a vehicle back when it is moving. The Fusion S leads the group with a segment-topping 34 mpg highway rating, in part because it is 8 percent more aerodynamically efficient than the outgoing model.

Weight reduction
Reducing vehicle weight also is a critical part of fuel economy improvement. For every 10 percent reduction in weight, fuel consumption is estimated to improve by 3 percent. According to a recent study, replacing heavier materials with lightweight materials is nearly as important as hybrid technology for automakers to meet the expected increase in the One National Program regulations by 2016.

Ford increasingly uses light-gauge, high-strength steel and lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium to meet weight reduction goals ranging from 250 to as much as 750 pounds. In turn, weight savings in body and structural materials allow for the use of smaller-displacement engines and lighter-weight suspensions and chassis components.

The Fusion team eliminated 125 pounds for the S-Series fuel economy leader. The size of the radiator, for example, has been reduced in size by one-third with no degradation in performance. Also, 16-inch aluminum wheels and low-rolling resistance tires help aid aerodynamics while still delivering top performance.

Energy management
Ford is eliminating energy waste in every vehicle system, including power steering. Ford's new Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) can improve fuel economy up to 3 percent, while reducing CO₂ emissions and enhancing steering performance. EPAS saves fuel primarily because the steering system is powered by an electric motor connected to the vehicle's battery, as opposed to engine-mounted hydraulic pump steering systems. By 2012 Ford plans to fit nearly 90 percent of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with EPAS.

"While we are implementing our near-, mid- and long-term plans, we are continuing to achieve efficiencies throughout the vehicle in areas that can quickly lead to fuel economy improvement today," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. "Whether we're reducing wind drag, eliminating engine-driven power steering pumps or switching to low-friction engine oil, this attention to every detail and these small improvements collectively deliver significant fuel economy gains for our customers."

A new frontier of electric vehicles
In 2009, Ford launched an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation lithium-ion battery powered hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years. The vehicles include:

• Transit Connect battery-electric commercial van in 2010
• Focus Electric passenger car in 2011
• Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
• Plug-in hybrid in 2012

These new vehicles pave the way for additional applications in the future, using Ford's high-volume global small car and midsize car platforms. The use of global platforms showcases Ford's ability to develop products with worldwide market opportunities in mind. Powering the company's electrification drive is its ONE Ford global product vision.

As part of Ford's electrification plan, it will bring battery system design, development and manufacturing in house as a core competency in support of the development of its next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012. This underscores Ford's commitment and belief in the growth potential for electrified transportation. Ford will continue to work with supplier Johnson Controls-Saft on the design and development of battery cells and packs for Ford's PHEV that also launches in 2012.

"Next-generation hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure battery-powered vehicles are the logical next steps in our pursuit of greater fuel economy and sustainability," said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of Global Electrification. "A growing number of consumers want that kind of choice, and we want to be in a position to deliver it to them across multiple vehicle categories."

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