Ford E-News - Jan. 5, 2011

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Ford SYNC now installed in more than 3 million vehicles

Ford Motor Company is ringing in the New Year with a noteworthy milestone, installing the industry-leading Ford SYNC® in-car connectivity system on its 3 millionth vehicle in North America. Customers buying Ford vehicles are treating SYNC as a must-have technology, purchasing the system, when available, nearly 80 percent of the time on current 2011 models – up about 4 percentage points compared to 2010 models. SYNC is standard across the Lincoln lineup. And a larger number of these customers are speaking out about how much they like the system, with recent internal research indicating more than 80 percent of SYNC users are likely to recommend the system to others, a 5 percentage point increase over previous year data.  more...

Alan Hall |  [email protected] |  313.594.3744

World-first Ford MyKey upgrade lets parents block explicit radio programming

Parents already can block out x-rated movies and web videos they deem inappropriate for their kids. Now Ford is upgrading its popular MyKey® with a world-first technology that lets parents block explicit satellite radio programming while their teens are driving. The new feature, which will debut as standard on Ford Taurus and Explorer later this year, screens out more than a dozen channels labeled by Sirius® Satellite Radio as "explicit." The upgrade also will allow parents to limit a vehicle's top speed at any of four different settings: 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph.  more...

Wes Sherwood |  [email protected]  |  313.390.5660

New SYNC Destinations app helps users get where they need to go with less hassle

Owners of 2010 and 2011 Ford SYNC-equipped vehicles that are Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI)-capable can now download a free SYNC Destinations smartphone app designed to help get them where they need to go with less hassle. Ford launched the SYNC Destinations mobile app for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and Android-based devices, with BlackBerry smartphones coming soon. Available at no cost, the app gives users of TDI services mobile access to a host of navigation and traffic information specifically designed to make any trip easier.  more...

Alan Hall |  [email protected]  |  313.594.3744

Make your mark with more than 200 tattoos available for new Ford Focus

The popularity of tattoos has turned body art into a fashion statement – especially among Millennials – and Ford is taking the trend one step further by offering car buyers a quick and inexpensive way to express themselves with "tattoos" for the new 2012 Ford Focus. From geometric patterns and racing stripes to whimsical imagery like splashes and swirls, customers will soon be able to choose from more than 200 unique vinyl wrap tattoos to find a design that reflects their personality.  more...

Angie Kozleski |  [email protected] |  313.323.1984

Decade of change: Top 10 ways your car is different from 10 years ago

The past decade has been revolutionary for several parts of our society, but few sectors have seen as much change as the auto industry. Ten short years ago automakers were touting the number of cupholders in the cabin and the increased off-road capabilities of family haulers. Today, these same companies are racing to offer increasingly hands-free mobile communication, eye-popping fuel economy and technologies aimed at helping drivers avoid accidents. As the calendar flips to 2011 and automakers kick off a new chapter of innovation at the North American International Auto Show, check out Ford's Top 10 ways the industry has changed since 2000.  more...

Kristen Kinley |  [email protected] |  313.337.2786

Ford expands start-stop technology from hybrids to conventional cars

Ford's popular fuel-saving technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop – a feature found today on Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid and on some Ford cars in Europe – will soon be added to conventional cars, crossovers and SUVs in North America. Ford's patented new Auto Start-Stop system for gasoline engines will improve fuel economy for most drivers by at least 4 percent. The gain can be as high as 10 percent for some drivers, depending on vehicle size and usage.  more...

Richard Truett |  [email protected] |  313.723.5045

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company