Ford E-News - Jan. 6, 2010

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Mustang GT returns to its rightful place, at its rightful displacement

The GT is back. The 2011 Mustang GT is powered by an all-new engine - with a legendary 5.0 liter displacement - featuring Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) and aluminum block and heads. With 412 horsepower and 390 ft-lb. of torque, this advanced new engine helps the 2011 GT deliver unsurpassed highway fuel economy projected to be 25 mpg. The 2011 Mustang GT also benefits from Electric Power Assist Steering and improved noise, vibration and harshness control.

Developed concurrently, the Mustang Boss 302R revealed by Ford Racing uses the new 5.0-liter engine to power a factory-built race car ready for track days and road racing in several Grand-Am, SCCA and NASA classes. With a special Grand-Am Homologation Package, it will also be ready to compete in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge starting with the season-opening race at Daytona on Jan. 29. more...

Angie Kozleski | [email protected] | 313.323.1984

iTunes Tagging, HD Radio combined for first time at Ford

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and forgot to download it when you got home? Ford has the answer. Ford is the first auto manufacturer to offer HD Radio((TM)) technology with iTunes(®) Tagging capability, which will be available this year. HD Radio receivers pull in digital radio signals and play them with dramatically improved sound. With a simple push of the "TAG" button on the radio display, the song information is stored in the radio's memory. When a customer's iPod is then synced to iTunes, a playlist of tagged songs will appear. Customers then can preview and, if desired, purchase and download tagged songs from the iTunes Store. more...

Alan Hall | [email protected] | 313.594.3744

Ford, MIT team up to study driver wellness

Stress is everywhere this time of year, but there may be ways to minimize it. Ford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are kicking off a study that plans to look at driver workload and identify new opportunities to use in-vehicle technologies to improve driver safety by lowering stress. The project will focus on how the car can potentially enhance overall human wellness, become an oasis from stressful situations, and increase driver attention and safety, with a 2010 Lincoln MKS serving as the test vehicle. more...

Marisa Bradley | [email protected] | 313.845.3971

Strong like a bull: 2010 Taurus earns five-star crash ratings

The strong-selling new 2010 Ford Taurus now boasts a top five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is seeing good consumer response to its suite of advanced crash-avoidance technologies, such as a segment-first, radar-based forward collision warning system that helps drivers avoid accidents. More than 90 percent of Taurus customers are ordering the higher-end series or additional technologies such as the fuel-efficient EcoBoost((TM)) engine and Ford's advanced safety features. more...

Wes Sherwood | [email protected] | 313.390.5660

Ice on the go - Transit Connect fleet helps Reddy Ice deliver

When it comes to fuel efficiency and maneuverability through crowded city streets, no small commercial vehicle handles the job better than the Ford Transit Connect. That's why Reddy Ice(®), the largest manufacturer and distributor of ice in the U.S., recently added 17 Ford Transit Connect vans to its service fleet. The company was looking for a greener, more affordable solution to traditional cargo vans. The Transit Connects will be used by technicians servicing ice-dispensing machines throughout the country who routinely drive an average of 25,000 to 50,000 miles a year. more...

Anne Marie Gattari | [email protected] | 313.323.7809

Ford Racing has a new rally driver on the block

Rally racing at Ford is taking off in a new direction with the addition of Ken Block to the team. For 2010, Block will campaign a Focus in the World Rally Championship and a Fiesta in Rally America and the X Games. Last year, a Fiesta rally car's participation in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and X Games 15 was a key component in launching the 2011 Ford Fiesta. more...

Angie Kozleski | [email protected] | 313.323.1984

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 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. 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