1/26/14

All-new Ford Transit Connect Endorsed by Tall Clubs International, Best Vehicle for the Vertically Gifted

  • The functional and fun Ford Transit Connect Wagon is being endorsed by Tall Clubs International as the perfect vehicle for the “vertically gifted”
  • The all-new Transit Connect Wagon offers headroom to spare along with fuel efficiency and class-leading configuration options
  • Tall Clubs International, a social and professional organization for the “vertically gifted,” has endorsed such products as the California King bed and clothing designers who create stylish fashions for tall people
The all-new Ford Transit Connect is standing a little taller after being endorsed by Tall Clubs International as a vehicle that brings fit and comfort to the “vertically gifted.”

The Transit Connect was recognized today as part of Paramount Tall Club’s annual Chicago weekend. Paramount Tall Club is a Chicago-based member of Tall Clubs International.

“People of a certain stature have to make special considerations for head and leg room when out buying a new car,” said Brian Comeno, president of Tall Clubs International. “Car shopping is very tough, and if you are concerned about fuel efficiency, smaller is sometimes the way to go.

“The Transit Connect provides both comfort and fuel efficiency, giving people who are vertically gifted important factors that go into purchasing a new vehicle.”

The Transit Connect, which hit dealer showrooms this month in the United States, comes in two all-new models – a panel-side cargo van; and a wagon, a stylish, spacious and fuel-efficient people mover.

The Transit Connect Wagon offers ample headroom and a spacious interior for a vehicle that is about 16 inches longer and wider than the Ford Fiesta sedan, making it a smart buy in a world that often leaves the “vertically gifted” challenged when car shopping. The wagon and cargo van have 46.8 inches of headroom in the first row and 45.1 inches in the second row. The long wheelbase wagon has 41.3 inches in the third row.

For leg room, the Transit Connect has 41.5 inches in the first row and 37.6 inches in the second row.

Aside from space, the Transit Connect Wagon takes adaptability to a new level with fold-flat second- and third-row seating, a 1,200-pound-plus payload and a rear liftgate.

The wagon also comes with the choice between two fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines - a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost ®. For more information about Ford Transit Connect Wagon, or the cargo van, including pricing, visit www.ford.com/2014tcbuild&price.

About Tall Clubs International
Tall Clubs International was established in 1938 and has since grown to include more than 100 chapters worldwide.

To be a member, men must be at least 6-foot-2 and women must be 5-foot-10 or taller.

Tall Clubs International has previously endorsed California King sized beds for providing adequate comfort to the vertically gifted, and its European branches have been active with clothing designers and retailers who make and sell garments that fit the “vertically gifted.”

“People who are vertically gifted can’t just go out and buy any vehicle they want,” said Comeno, who added he is one of the shorter members of the club, standing at 6-foot-2. “The Transit Connect is much more in tune with providing comfort, as well as fuel efficiency and of course, fun.”

Note: Additional photography and video are available. Please contact William Mattiace at wmattiac@ford.com or 313.815.5449
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 180,000 employees and 65 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 and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

1/20/14

Ford Reduces Weight, Increases MPG with Aluminum F-150 Debut


The Ford Motor Co.'s MY-2015 F-150 pickup truck will arrive as the first widely produced U.S. vehicle with a high-strength aluminum body, the automaker announced at the Detroit auto show.

Ford unveiled its completely redesigned F-150 pickup after months of speculation, providing full details about its plans for the top selling vehicle in the U.S. at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle will go on sale later this year.

By using aluminum rather than steel, Ford said it is reducing the curb weight of its F-150 by about 15 percent, or 700 pounds, from the 5,000-pound curb weight of the MY-2014 F-150. The move will enable the new F-150 to increase its fuel-economy rating. Ford hasn't released the truck's mpg.

However, several media outlets are reporting the full-size pickup could reach nearly 30 mpg highway.
Ford is offering a new base engine in the MY-2015 F-150 — a 2.7L, four-cylinder EcoBoost with stop-start technology. Ford will also offer a 3.5L V-6 with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), the 3.5L EcoBoost, and 5.0L V-8 also with Ti-VCT.

Five trim levels include the XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum, and King Ranch. The FX4 off-road package with electronic locking rear axle, skid plates and off-road-tuned shocks can be added to most four-wheel-drive models.

From:  greenfleetmagazine.com


Topics: Ford, Ford F-150, North American International Auto Show, Pickup Trucks

1/18/14

2015 Ford F-150 -- 2014 NAIAS


PickupTruck.com's Mark Williams has done all the digging, and now you have as much information on the 2015 Ford F-150 as we could dig up for you from the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

1/12/14

Harbor Welders Body with Raised Front Compartments








This Harbor Truck Bodies 11' Service Body has dual raised front compartments - 22" deep. This is also commonly called a Welder Body and in this case it is being used that way for the curbside front compartment is to hold Oxygen/Acetylene bottles. This body also features Harbor's famous standard stainless steel open top lids. 

This body also features a unique 18" rear platform with 3/16" diamond plate steel floor and 2" V-trough, a receiver style vise bracket stand, 2"x2" HD NBTB Rack with two sets of Rack Straps. Further modifications to the 18" rear platform is 4-4" vertical channels with 5" bumper step with recessed rubber mounted stop, tail, turn and backup lights in the rear face. And finally, a receiver hitch and 6-way plug.




1/10/14

The Rugby Eliminator LP Dump Body


The Eliminator LP Dump Body, by Rugby Manufacturing, is the industry leader in Class 3-5. Featuring a sleek, streamline style and designed for maximum durability, these units are available in 9' to 12' lengths with 12 and 17" side height options. Units come equipped with a sloped 1/4 cab shield that has a slotted viewing window. A lower mounting height improves the body’s overall stability. The patented EZ-LATCH™ system is also included for easy tailgate operation and maximum safety.


Other industry leading design features include:

  •     10 ga construction throughout on bodies with rigid sides, bodies with fold down sides have 12 ga sides
  •     Fully boxed and tapered dirt-shedding top rail
  •     Double-walled rigid sides with 6" vertical braces
  •     Single-walled fold down sides with 6" vertical braces
  •     Pockets for 6" side boards increase load capacity
  •     Side design includes fully boxed 45° dirt shedding top rail and a 50° sloped bottom rail for a completely self-cleaning profi le
  •     Front body's seamless one-piece design features triple bend top rails for long-term durability
  •     Stacked understructure consisting of 5" structural long members overlaid with 3" structural I-beam crossmembers spaced 16" (12" optional) apart
  •     1/4 cab shield with viewing window
  •     Full height corner posts with rear surface sloped 6° aids in tailgate closing
  •     Tailgate double walled panel design fabricated from 10 ga steel featuring fully boxed dirt-shedding top and bottom rails. Two vertical braces to provide additional strength and rigidity
Body Options

2-3 & 3-4 Yard Rigid & Fold Down Side Carbon Steel:

  •     Cabshields (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, Full) Standard and Tall
  •     7-gauge floor
  •     Cross sills on 12" centers
  •     Understructure Options: 
    • Stacked  
    • Crossmemberless
Aluminum Side Assemblies available on 3-4 yard Fold Down Side model


Standard Features

  •     Cab Shield Posts
  •     Full depth front pillars include easily locating cut-out for fast installation of cab shield insert. Makes all Eliminator LP cab shields interchangeable, helping to keep inventory low.
  •     Fold down sides feature a centrally located quick release lever that extends and retracts 3/4" pins at each end using a solid linkage member. Weight-saving aluminum fold down sides are optional on steel bodies.
  •     Low Mount Hoist
  •     The Eliminator LP's lower mounting height improves the body's overall stability. Actual mounting height 7 5/8".
  •     Rugby's patented and industry leading EZ-LATCH™ (located on each side of body) allows for easy body access. The latch system is designed for quick opening and slam lock operation with a cam action to draw-in upper tailgate pins.
Find Rugby Eliminator Accessories  and other products at:

 http://www.rugbymfg.com/light-dump-bodies/eliminator-lp.html





1/08/14

The NTEA Work Truck Show - March 5-7, 2014 - Indianapolis, IN




North America's Largest Work Truck Event

Indiana Convention Center (Indianapolis, IN)

March 5-7, 2014


March 4-5, 2014: Green Truck Summit

  March 4-6, 2014: Educational Sessions



• 500,000 square feet of vocational trucks and equipment


• Newest products and technical support from more than 500 exhibitors


• More than 60 educational sessions on top-of-mind industry issues


   

1/06/14

Ford Offers SYNC AppLink for 3.4 Million More Customers; New Organization to Drive Global Connectivity Vision

  • Industry-leading Ford SYNC® AppLink will be available on 3.4 million more vehicles later this year; free upgrade enables current Ford owners to access and control smartphone apps via voice command
  • New organizational alignments further Ford’s vision to deliver a seamless customer experience for drivers – both inside and outside of the vehicle
  • Ford names industry veteran Don Butler to lead company strategy for developing fully integrated connected car experience
Building on the pioneering SYNC® in-car connectivity system it launched in 2007, Ford Motor Company today announces new system investments and organizational alignments to deliver the industry’s best fully integrated connected car and digital consumer experience.


“Ford was first to bring affordable and widely available advanced connectivity features to the market starting with SYNC, putting Ford firmly on the map as a technology company,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development. “With the rapid pace of mobile and digital innovation, our goal is to move the bar yet again, leveraging emerging technologies and the flexibility of the SYNC platform to enhance the ownership experience for customers.”

Just ahead of expected additional announcements at the 2014 International CES®, the world’s largest hands-on showcase of emerging innovation, Ford announces it will expand its industry-leading SYNC AppLink system to 3.4 million more vehicles currently on the road.

Since its launch in 2010, Ford has migrated SYNC AppLink to more products and customers around the world, enabling vehicle owners to access and control smartphone apps including TuneIn, NPR and iHeartRadio via voice command. More than 1-million vehicles equipped with SYNC AppLink are on the road today, and another 3.4 million vehicles – model year 2010 and newer – will be eligible to download AppLink later this year.

Currently, SYNC AppLink allows users to seamlessly control over 60 smartphone mobile apps – on both iOS and Android platforms - using the car’s voice commands, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Ford is the first automaker to offer an open developer program, www.developer.ford.com, to help keep customers connected inside the vehicle and will continue to add new SYNC-enabled smartphone apps to enhance the driving experience.

Today, consumers continue to demand more personalized, simplified and integrated in-vehicle experiences. And, with consumers spending more time with digital media than with any other, Ford hopes to turn the connected vehicle into an intelligent vehicle, one that simplifies and personalizes the in-vehicle experience for the consumer.

Beyond the in-car experience, Ford’s ultimate goal is to use connectivity and digital to transform every aspect of the ownership experience, and to build the foundation for future mobility initiatives. With the eventual proliferation of embedded telematics capabilities for Ford Motor Company’s SYNC system, as recently announced on Lincoln MKC, a newly aligned organization will manage connectivity across the entire enterprise.

“SYNC launched a sort of connectivity arms race in the industry,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln. “The opportunity is much bigger than just in-car technology – it’s now about connecting the vehicle to a larger ecosystem leveraging ‘the Internet of things.’ We are creating a seamless and immersive experience for customers that begins with their first visit to our digital sites and continues throughout their ownership experience.”

Leading the newly aligned organization is automotive and telematics industry veteran Don Butler, who brings a wealth of experience. Butler will report to Nair, with matrix reporting to Farley and Nick Smither, group vice president and chief information officer. Butler was most recently vice president, Global Strategy for Cadillac at General Motors, where he also led strategy and business development for the company’s OnStar division. Butler also served as vice president for telematics startup INRIX.

“Not only does Don understand the connected car landscape, but probably just as important, he understands customer expectations,” said Nair. “Having a leader with technology experience both inside and outside the industry is a rare combination – we’re excited to have Don join our team.”
In the newly created position of executive director, Connected Vehicle and Services, Butler is responsible for Ford’s global integrated connectivity vision and strategy. He will lead development of a near-, mid- and long-term plan, with the goal of delivering a best-in-class customer experience both inside and outside of the vehicle.

As part of Ford’s plan to deliver a fully integrated connected car experience, the Connected
Vehicle and Services group will work with the newly created Global Digital Marketing organization to help accelerate the goal of connecting customers to their vehicles.

“We remain laser-focused on creating connected experiences our customers want and value, providing solutions specifically tailored to their individual needs and to market conditions,” said Farley.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 180,000 employees and 65 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 and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

1/04/14

Voters Tell Ford to Build the Hackmobile Transit Connect Wagon as Part of MAKE Magazine Online Competition

  • In the spirit of Vandemonium – and as a surprise to the builder, Ford will actually build the Hackmobile Transit Connect Wagon following contest presented by the company and MAKE magazine MAKE magazine will award the Hackmobile design team $10,000 as the grand prize and $2,500 to runner-up Jimmy Diresta in the Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge
        
  • Twin Cities Maker created Hackmobile for the Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, a competition to design the ultimate Ford Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourself enthusiast
  • The Hackmobile has been selected as the winning design in the Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, a contest presented by Ford Motor Company and MAKE magazine featuring 10 teams competing to create the ultimate Ford Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourself enthusiast.




Hackmobile was created by Minneapolis and St. Paul-area residents Jon Atkinson, Becca Steffen, Riley Harrison and Michael Freiert, members of Twin Cities Maker. Their idea was to design a Ford Transit Connect Wagon to transport a three-axis CNC machine the team calls The Fabber because of its use as a multipurpose tool in fabricating.

Aside from The Fabber, Hackmobile will have shelving and storage for tools – making it a mobile workshop for woodworking, metalworking and 3D fabrication.

Twin Cities Maker is a nonprofit community organization that operates a shop called the Hack Factory, where members build projects out of various materials, as well as hold classes for the community.

“The Blue Oval has always been about innovation, and that do-it-yourself spirit is alive and well today,” said Sherry Kollien, Ford SEMA vehicle project manager. “The sky is the limit with vehicles like Ford Transit Connect, and we’re very excited to surprise the Hackmobile team and make their dream vehicle into a reality.”

The 10 contestants in the Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge were given a budget and specific design and build criteria to work with before submitting their proposal. They were encouraged to define a particular vision for the ultimate do-it-yourself Ford Transit Connect Wagon.

Members of the public were allowed to vote once a day for as few or as many entries as they liked, judging the concepts based on overall design and customization, as well as maker spirit.

The all-new 2014 Ford Transit Connect – which features class-leading configuration options and goes on sale early next year – has been named International Van of the Year 2014. Its versatility has ignited the creative spirit of so many owners that Ford refers to it as their moment of Vandemonium.

The 2014 Ford Transit Connect comes in two distinct models – the traditional, hard-working, panel-side hauler cargo van; and the all-new wagon model, a stylish, spacious and fuel-efficient people mover. Transit Connect Wagon features sliding doors and flexible, fold-flat seating for up to seven.

The DIY challenge is part of Ford’s Makers and Movers campaign with MAKE magazine highlighting Transit Connect Wagon. Throughout the campaign, owners who have used their talents to customize the vehicle have been showcased in stories and videos on Makezine.com. The profiles show how Ford has manufactured a vehicle that can be modified for an individual’s tastes and passions.

For more information about Ford Transit Connect Wagon, or the cargo van, including pricing, visit www.ford.com/2014tcbuild&price.
About MAKER MEDIA

Maker Media is a global platform for makers, connecting them with each other, and providing them with valuable resources, products and services. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing maker movement that is global in scope. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate new ways of interacting with the world around them. The launch of MAKE magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Maker Media also develops “getting started” kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels. Maker Media spun out of O’Reilly Media on January 1st, 2013 and received venture funding from O’Reilly AlphaTech Partners, Floodgate Partners and Collaborative Fund. The company is located in Sebastopol, CA.
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 180,000 employees and 65 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 and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

1/02/14

2013 SEMA Show - EcoTrek F-350 - Ready for Deep Op Environmental Service



Created by EcoTrek Foundation founder Tom Holm, this Ford F-350 Lariat 4x4 crew cab was designed to be an eco-friendly extreme expedition vehicle, capable of being deployed during disasters in remote areas.


The truck uses the stock Power Stroke powertrain with the factory six-speed automatic, but the engine runs on a unique algae-based biodiesel fuel (also being looked at by the U.S. military) and, along with the 50-gallon auxiliary tank under the bed, will go up to 1,800 miles between fill-ups. This “off-the-grid” rig has a 9-inch suspension lift with air bags and sits on aggressive 38-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires.


The truck uses a reinforced SpaceKap shell that offers access from either side and houses a full complement of kitchen (including a refrigerator-freezer) and sleeping gear; the shell is mounted to heavy-duty slide-out racks that sit on top of a pair of TruckVault lockable (combination locks) storage bins that protect equipment.


On top of the bed cap sits a massive, fully insulated foldout bed tent, complete with an ultra-long ladder for easy access. For added protection, the EcoTrek Super Duty has a monster front bumper and brush guard, complete with a huge winch, as well as a super-heavy-duty rear bumper, complete with an overbuilt tire carrier capable of handling a full-size spare.


The truck is set to make appearances around the country to promote the idea of eco-friendly exploring for future generations as part of nonprofit EcoTrek’s mission to educate folks about renewable fuels and materials. We’re told much of this truck was built by a student team at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College.


According to EcoTrek, the truck is designed to help preserve cultural and natural resources or to serve as a support and recovery vehicle during natural disasters. But until it gets that call, it’s likely to be showing up at a host of military air shows.


To download a file of the display specs for the EcoTrek F-350, click here.



From http://news.pickuptrucks.com