9/30/15

The History of Ford Design



 By Tori Tellem


Did you know that Ford Design Department was established in 1935? And it wasn’t Henry Ford’s idea. It was his son Edsel Ford, who wanted to create cars that were not only functional but also nice to look at. The first designer hired by Edsel was E.T. “Bob” Gregorie, who had been a shipbuilder. But that process translated to designing autos. He brought the “styling bridge,” a U-shaped structure that rode on a series of parallel rails, which helped when it came to getting coordinates that could later be used on other car models, too.


Obviously, cutting-edge design existed from the start, when in 1908, the Model T changed the automotive industry forever. We can say that, even though the forward-thinking design of the era had an emphasis on mobility and not on color, since it was offered only in black!


The first vehicle from Ford Design Department pretty much blew everyone’s mind and put the spotlight on the design process: the Lincoln Zephyr in 1937. It sparked conversation due to having a horizontal grille – something that remains on Lincoln vehicles today. The following year brought the first vehicle for the Mercury brand, the Mercury 8, and its style heavily reflected Edsel’s design sense.






Click here to download the timeline.


World War II caused a pause in the production of automobiles, so in 1942, Ford stopped civilian vehicle production and made military equipment instead, including planes and tanks. When the war ended and the auto industry was back up and running, all eyes were on the new 1949 Ford. It didn’t disappoint, with its integrated fenders, chrome trim and aviation-reminiscent center grille design.


It’s hard to imagine now just how groundbreaking the F-Series was back then, thanks to its contours, integrated headlights, ability to tow and emphasis on cargo, since they’re the standard today.


Ford has been leading new trends, and creating new principles and new ways to design, and the decades have brought incredible achievements, from the Thunderbird and Mustang to the Explorer and Focus Electric. Plus, the aluminum-alloy-bodied 2015 F-150 was a game-changer, although interesting materials used in Ford vehicles happened even back in 1941, with the Soybean Car, which was a plastic vehicle made of soybeans, flax and other natural elements.


Concept vehicles and other technological advancements inside and out also left an indelible mark in the Ford Design Department work. The 1955 Futura, for example, featured pearlescent, a new paint technique that, as the name implies, utilized crushed pearls. A retractable hard top that electronically folded into the truck debuted in 1957, while the power sunroof arrived in 1971.


9/28/15

Odyne Parallel Hybrid System

Odyne Systems has developed proprietary and patented hybrid technology featuring robust automotive grade components combining reliable electric power conversion, power control and energy storage technology with advanced electric propulsion motors and modular lithium-ion battery systems.

The Odyne system is the best hybrid solution for medium and heavy duty work trucks with extended stationary work equipment usage. The Odyne hybrid system system:
  • Is the only hybrid system improving efficiency both when driving AND at the work site
  • Significantly lowers fuel utilization and cost - up to 1,750 gallons annually over the truck life, depending on duty cycle
  • Improves
    vehicle performance and efficiency through hybrid launch
    assist providing up to an extra 50 hp, valued for cornering, climbing
    hills and acceleration (trucks with anti-idle systems do not have this
    feature)
  • Features zero or significantly lower emissions at the work site
  • Has regenerative braking to restore battery power
  • Provides
    the most exportable power available on any hybrid truck - 5kW to power
    truck mounted equipment with the engine off, reducing idle time, noise
    and emissions
  • Has the largest stored energy system (a dual pack 28.4kWh system) for medium- and heavy-duty, plug-in hybrid electric trucks in the industry
  • Has vehicle in-cab heating and cooling, without running the internal combustion engine, providing comfort for work site crews
  • Can be Installed on new or existing trucks with the most popular automatic transmissions
  • Operates independent of fuel type and does not affect the EPA or CARB certification of the engine
  • Has a parallel hybrid configuration providing non-hybrid powertrain backup
  • Can be easily and cost efficiently recharged from the grid at off-peak rates
  • Provides more productive time in the field with fewer trips to the pump
  • Has software tailored to the application which can be adjusted remotely as more data is gathered
  • Is eligible for EPAct credits*
Odyne's
unique modular systems can be applied across chassis manufacturers and utility truck brands.  The company sells direct to truck manufacturers and through a global distribution and service network including Altec,
DUECO, Terex Utilities and Allison Transmission distributors.See Odyne's specifications page for additional information.
*Certain
U.S. fleets are required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative Fuel Transportation Program specified in the Energy
Policy Act (EPAct).  PHEV medium- and heavy-duty trucks are eligible for credits. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-15/pdf/2011-20740.pdf
Part 535. Trucks equipped with only an ePTO do not earn AFV credit  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/faqs.html#B21


Product Layout

Odyne Parallel Hybrid System Truck View




Odyne integrates standard advanced control systems and our modular hybrid system. This combination allows our plug-in hybrid system to be competitively priced, while it retains the flexibility to be built to customer specifications, it also enables later modifications which can extend the life of your hybrid truck. Our plug-in hybrid system is so versatile that it can continue to meet your evolving needs.


Find out more at: http://www.odyne.com


9/26/15

New Ford TV Ads Highlight Why F-150 Is Toughest, Smartest, Safest, Most Capable F-150 Ever



DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 13, 2015

– Ford debuts three new national television advertisements, with the first spots airing today on Fox NFL Sunday to promote the all-new F-150 – the toughest, smartest, safest, most capable F-150 ever.


The ads, which will appear throughout the 2015 NFL regular season, feature the groundbreaking innovations and achievements that make F-150the leader in the light-duty pickup segment. The ads include:
  • “Wake-Up Call” is a leadership anthem spot highlighting Ford
    F-150 best-in-class claims, including the benefits of high-strength,
    military-grade, aluminum alloy that helps save up to 700 pounds of
    weight to improve towing, payload and gas mileage


  • “Battle-Tested” focuses on the work the F-150 engineering team
    completed to deliver the safest F-150 ever. The 2015 F-150 is the only
    full-size, light-duty truck to earn the highest rating from the National
    Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a five-star crash test rating
    for driver and passenger for all crash test modes and cab
    configurations* – SuperCrew, SuperCab and Regular Cab


  • “Brainstorm” shows the ingenuity of Ford F-150 engineers and
    their latest, segment-exclusive development – Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which helps make backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob


Rather than using computer-generated imagery, each spot was filmed using live-action and stop-motion animation – which provides an authentic element not always present in digitally animated spots.

To showcase the truck’s top safety rating, five 8-foot-tall metal stars were custom fabricated and towed by F-150 for the spot “Battle Tested.” The visual is accompanied by voiceover stating F-150 “pulled a five-star safety rating.”


“Ford truck customers rely on F-150 to get the job done – whether in their personal or work lives,” said Chantel Lenard, General Marketing Manager, Ford and Lincoln, U.S. “These new ads highlight breakthrough Ford F-150 innovations and achievements, including Pro Trailer Backup
Assist and the NHTSA five-star safety rating, and demonstrate why every competitor truck is history.”


TV spots will also showcase Ford’s long-running truck leadership. F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series truck lineup, now in its 67th year. F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 38 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle in America for 33 consecutive years.


Ford and Fox Network Group are working together to promote F-150 across the network’s news, sports and Hispanic platforms, including Fox Deportes and MundoFox.


Ford F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of up to 12,200 pounds and hauling capacity of up to 3,300 pounds. When equipped with the available 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine, the new F-150 4x2
returns EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined – the highest of any full-size gasoline-powered pickup on the market. Actual mileage will vary.


*Government five-star safety ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Tests include driver and passenger front, side and side barrier and pole tests.


About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a  global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

9/24/15

A.R.E. Truck Caps Plant Tour on Inside Industry




Tab Brown of Inside Industry gives us an informative and entertaining plant tour of A.R.E.'s industry leading Massillon, OH facility where they manufacture A.R.E. fiberglass truck caps and covers.

9/22/15

Seattle Fears Dangerous Drivers and Believes Technology Beneficial to Lessen Risk; Ford Smart Mobility Tour showcases technologies to help





  •     Seattle residents fear dangerous drivers, but more than half who responded to a survey say they would find blind spot monitoring and rearview back-up camera technology useful to lessen the risk – according to an independent study commissioned by Ford, which brings its Ford Smart Mobility Tour to town
  •     Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to take it to the next advances in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data; a major area of focus is multimodal transportation, including development of an app that facilitates routing and that integrates seamlessly with vehicles and electric bikes
  •     To improve the driving experience, Ford has introduced several driver-assist technologies such as its Blind Spot Information System and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, as well as semi-autonomous technologies including a lane-keeping aid and active park assist

SEATTLE, Sept. 17, 2015 – A majority of Seattle residents fear dangerous drivers – according to a recent survey.


The survey, conducted by independent research company Penn Schoen Berland, examined driving-related fears, as well as public receptiveness to driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies designed to ease driver anxiety and commuting hassles.


Dangerous drivers are the top concern for Seattle residents, the survey found. Three out of five said they are afraid of dangerous drivers on the road when driving themselves, or when being driven by others. Moreover:

  •     74 percent find monitoring blind spots concerning
  •     73 percent are concerned about not being able to see all angles when backing up
  •     71 percent are concerned about backing up into a busy street
Most in Seattle say technology that can alleviate these driving concerns is compelling. The survey found:

  •     Nine in 10 would be more comfortable driving a car with blind spot detection technology; 73 percent would describe such technology as “useful”
  •     Nine in 10 would be more comfortable driving a car with a rearview camera; 69 percent would describe such technology as “useful”
Ford Smart Mobility Tour


This week Ford brings its Ford Smart Mobility Tour to Seattle. The tour highlights the company’s driver-assist features that can help address driving-related fears, including Blind Spot Information System and semi-autonomous driving technologies – along with the Ford Smart Mobility plan.


Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to take it to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. Ford introduced the plan in January, along with 25 initial experiments aimed at better understanding consumers’ mobility needs around the globe.

“Our smart mobility vision at Ford is about changing the way the world moves,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and Innovation. “We are transitioning from experimentation to the start of implementation, beginning with the Go Drive and Peer to Peer car sharing pilots. Our goal is to make people’s lives better by helping them more easily navigate to where they want to go, using one or more interconnected modes of transportation.”


Multimodal mobility solutions

In many cities, driving your vehicle directly from home to work is not feasible. Ford believes solutions for multimodal journeys can make travel to and within urban areas more convenient. The company is studying how electric bicycles and mobile application technology can work seamlessly with cars and public transport to deliver faster and easier daily commutes and help businesses operating in urban environments.


Ford’s electric bicycle experiments include:

  •     MoDe:Me, introduced in March, is intended to keep the urban commuter moving in congested traffic
  •     MoDe:Pro is built for urban commercial use, and is designed to stow in a commercial vehicle such as Ford Transit Connect
  •     MoDe:Flex is easily reconfigurable for different customer needs. The bike’s center frame assembly includes the motor and battery, while the front and rear assemblies and wheels can be configured for road, mountain or city riding
Ford’s electric bicycle prototypes fold easily into Ford vehicles, and integrate seamlessly with the MoDe:Link app, which can be paired with a smartwatch.


This includes the “no sweat” mode, which increases electric pedal assist based on heart rate – ensuring a rider gets to his or her destination without breaking a sweat. The app also provides safety notifications. Hazards, such as potholes ahead, are signaled through vibrating handlebars.


Driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies


To improve today’s driving experience, Ford has introduced driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies such as active park assist to help drivers parallel and perpendicular park more easily, as well as a lane-keeping aid to help drivers stay in their lane. Driver-assist technologies include BLIS® – which alerts drivers to vehicles detected entering their blind spots.


To stay connected while in motion, SYNC® 3, Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system, features faster performance and conversational voice recognition, along with an available intuitive smartphone-like touch screen.


Ford offers more vehicle nameplates in the United States with active park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane-keeping aid and blind spot monitoring than any other manufacturer – according to automotive research firm SBD. Ford also leads in four segments, offering vehicles with the most available driver-assist features among mainstream vehicles in the country:

  •     Large light-duty pickup – F-150
  •     Midsize SUV – Edge and Explorer
  •     Midsize car – Fusion
  •     Large car – Taurus
Ford will also demonstrate its new Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature that will be available on the 2016 F-150. The technology helps to ease the anxiety level of backing a trailer – which can be a challenging task for the novice and tricky even for those with trailering experience.


Seattle and STEM


Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, according to 2014 U.S. Census figures, due in part to a surge in employment opportunities. The city is a budding tech hot spot. With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, the Ford Smart Mobility Tour visits Technology Access Foundation in Federal Way. Students at TAF Academy will have the opportunity to interact with Ford experts and see firsthand possibilities that could await them in the automotive industry in the future. Ford will present Technology Access Foundation with a $5,000 donation this week.


The Ford Smart Mobility Tour will also visit Denver and Los Angeles.

About Ford Motor Company


Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

About Penn Schoen Berland

Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), an independent research company, conducted the poll on behalf of Ford Motor Company among 1,500 general population respondents (age 18+) in the U.S. – with 300 in Louisville, 300 in Orlando, 300 in Los Angeles, 300 in Seattle and 300 in Denver. The online survey was conducted from Aug. 11-17, 2015. The margin of error for each city is +/- 5.66%.

9/20/15

America's Businesses Turn to Ford Vans as Economy Grows; Ford Vans Are Top Sellers in 47 States

  • More than half of commercial van customers in the United States in the first six months of 2015 bought a Ford van – Transit, Transit Connect or E-Series
  • Ford is the fastest-growing brand in the commercial van market, driving 80 percent of the segment’s growth in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of new vehicle registrations from IHS Automotive
  • Top-selling commercial van in 47 states is a Ford van

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 9, 2015
Growing businesses are increasingly turning to Ford commercial vans,making Ford the largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of commercial vans in the United States in the first half of 2015, according to Ford
analysis of IHS new vehicle registrations through June.

Ford vans have been America’s best-selling commercial vans for 36 years, helping businesses transport equipment to job sites, shuttle passengers to their destinations and more. The new Transit, which went
on sale just last summer, can be converted to serve as emergency response vehicles, food trucks and mobile dog grooming studios.


Businesses can choose from 58 vehicle configurations with the introduction of a dual sliding door option on the 2016 Transit van, meaning the vehicle with the most configurations in its class just got
even more flexible.

“Transit customers appreciate the van’s flexibility because it can enable them to right-size their vehicle to the needs of their vocation.” says Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and
E-Series. “There are 12 ship-through upfitters located within 30 miles of Kansas City Assembly Plant, making it easy and fast for customers to design their Transit vans to serve their business requirements.”

Transit sales success has led Ford to capture 56 percent of the U.S.commercial van market as of June 2015 – up from 48 percent in June 2014, according to IHS new commercial vehicle registration data.

Commercial van sales are increasing as the U.S. economy is growing, and Ford vans drove 80 percent of growth in the segment in the first half of the year, according to Ford analysis of IHS data.



Ford commercial van sales increased 28 percent January through June, while the segment overall grew 11 percent.


Ford vans are top sellers in 47 states, according to Ford analysis of  IHS data. Those 47 states represent 99.09% of the U.S. population.


Ford Transit became the best-selling full-size van in America just six months after it went on sale, replacing America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. For the
2015 model year, Ford produced more than 100,000 Transit vans, wagons,cutaways and chassis cabs at Kansas City Assembly Plant.


Ford Transit Connect, America’s small commercial van pioneer, has been on sale since 2009 and has reigned as the country’s best-seller in the segment for the last five years. Transit Connect leads the small
commercial van segment with 69 percent share and is on pace to have another record year, with commercial sales up 43 percent in the first half of 2015.





About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

9/18/15

Ford F-150 Surprises Construction Workers with Massaging Seats





We surprised some of the hardest working guys in Michigan with the massaging seats now available on the Ford F-150. The new F-150 is more than the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever. F-150 King
Ranch, Platinum and Limited editions offer passenger convenience features rivaling high-end luxury vehicles, making F-150 versatile and exceptionally comfortable to drive. With a maximum tow rating of up to
12,200 pounds and the first-ever multi-contour massaging seats available for a full-size pickup, now you can work hard and reward yourself.

9/16/15

9/14/15

What you can expect from your Spartan Service Truck Body







This workshop on wheels is preferred by general contractors, HVAC, plumbers, handymen, decorators, painters, carpenters, cleaners, and remodelers. You can work standing up inside, plus custom shelving and compartments keep you organized at the job site.


Features


    Gain added convenience on the job site by using the horizontal compartment door as a workbench; it can also be lowered flush to the sidewall

    Save time by organizing and storing tools with up to 5 spacious compartments per side (based on truck body length); with two adjustable shelves per vertical compartment accommodate bulkier tools and equipment

    Load and unload your cargo and tools with ease in a low-profile design with low floor heights that allow you to access what you need without using a liftgate

    Enjoy a bright interior work space with a durable and lightweight 3/8″ FiberPanel® PW (FRP) white side wall panels

    Minimize front wall damage with a heavy-duty FiberPanel® PW (FRP) front wall

    Load large cargo – even sheets of plywood – with the extra room of the true interior truck body lengths and 48-1/2″ double-swing rear doors

    Work comfortably in your cargo area with the stand-up truck body height interior


Options


    Enjoy more cab room and stand up to move between the cab and cargo area with a full-height cab-access door (cutaway only); Note: Shortens interior truck body length

    Load, store and quickly access long items, such as PVC, conduit or copper pipe, with a pipe door

    Organize and store your cargo and equipment with custom interior fixed or adjustable shelves above compartments

    See and access tools more easily from the interior with a sliding, reach-through Plexiglass® door for the horizontal compartment

    Save time by storing and accessing your ladder more efficiently  with a ladder rack and rear access ladder

    Keep cargo safe and secure with a Master Lock®

    Acquire additional towing capabilities with a hitch receiver



Find out more at: http://supremecorp.com




9/12/15

F-150 transmission has Mustang feel with pickup capability

Have to make a difficult choice between a Ford Mustang and an F-150? Well Ford’s new F-150 has got you covered. Kind of!



Jason Cannon



The all-new 2015 Mustang and F-150 were developed on a similar time line and share certain automatic transmission technology. Engineers often drove both vehicles on the same trips used for testing.

Advertisement



“Our team realized how well the new F-150 handled and responded to acceleration due to its reduced weight,” says Karl Jungbluth, Ford transmission calibration engineer. “So we decided we could adapt the sport mode capabilities of the six-speed automatic transmission from Mustang to F-150 to enhance the overall driving experience for truck customers.”



Sport mode on F-150 is activated by pushing the tow/haul mode button twice. An amber S appears in the lower-right portion of the tachometer indicating that sport mode is active.



The feature changes the frequency of gearshifts, allowing the truck to stay in the powerband “sweet spot” and holds lower gears longer to, as Ford puts it, “make driving more fun.”



There is some practicality of Sport mode beyond fun. It provides for less shifting on twisty roads and rolling hills. Instead of shifting gears up and down for peak efficiency, the transmission holds a specific gear longer to make driving more responsive.



Sport mode also reduces the frequency of having to step on the gas pedal to reach peak torque, resulting in quicker acceleration with less pedal travel.



An advanced feature of F-150’s six-speed automatic transmission is its ability to match engine rpm as it downshifts in slowing for a corner. Electronics calibration for this feature comes straight out of Mustang.



Sport mode makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150,” Jungbluth says.



F150 SportMode is similar to F-150’s tow/haul mode, which also changes shift points under acceleration, keeping the truck at a higher rpm and further up in the power range while driving over rolling terrain for an improved towing experience. The technology limits the transmission from shifting up when the vehicle crests a hill, and provides downhill brake support that allows engine-compression braking to slow the vehicle and maintain a steady speed.



Sport mode is standard with every F-150 engine and can be activated in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings.



By Jason Cannon 



Source:  http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/f-150-transmission-has-mustang-feel-with-pickup-capability/

9/10/15

Going to Extremes: Ford's Cold-Weather Testing in the Sunshine State Leads to Enhanced Vehicle Quality Globally





  •     Ford vehicles of all sizes – from Focus to F-Series Super Duty – annually submit to subzero testing in the U.S. military’s all-weather laboratory designed to re-create nearly every weather condition on earth
  •     Extreme cold-weather testing at the Florida lab in the summer contributes to continuity, collaboration and efficiency in Ford’s product development cycle and, ultimately, to enhanced global vehicle quality
  •     Ford customers worldwide can approach winter with the assurance their vehicles are designed – through extensive testing – to start and run in frigid weather conditions


EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fl., August 13, 2015  -- Each year, Ford brings global prototype vehicles and a team of engineers to the world’s largest climatic test facility – McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle – to push the limits of extreme cold-weather testing in order to improve vehicle quality and performance for customers.



In this sophisticated, all-weather facility used by the U.S. Air Force to test every aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory [1], Ford engineers can get temperatures down as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit in a span of just 10 hours. The hot, humid climate of northwest Florida in August has no impact on conditions inside the lab – making it ideal for simulating winter in Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay or Canada’s Yellowknife region.



So when it’s the middle of a development cycle, or the middle of summer, and there’s no access to a natural environment where engineers can evaluate whether a vehicle is starting as robustly as it should in below-freezing temperatures, McKinley Climatic Lab allows Ford to simulate, calibrate and validate – all under one roof.



The opportunity to accommodate 75 global prototype vehicles of all sizes for rigorous testing – plus house a versatile team of 54 engineers and technical experts – creates efficiency in the company’s product development cycle that helps Ford learn in just three weeks what could take twice as long in a smaller facility. Collecting multiple data sets, analyzing results, and comparing and contrasting enables Ford engineers to quickly implement changes that enhance vehicle quality and ultimately benefit the customer.



Optimum performance in the most extreme weather conditions means different things for customers in different parts of the world. That’s why Ford engineers strive to account for all variables when seeking assurance that customers who live and work in cold climates will be able to reliably start and run their vehicles in subzero temperatures. Specific situations engineers test for include:



  •     In the oil fields of Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay, Ford F-Series trucks are not only a mode of transportation, but also a safety device for workers who need a warm cabin to retreat to on-site to prevent cold-weather injury on the job. Ford engineers conduct idle tests at the lab – running the engine week after week as temperature fluctuates from 40 degrees to minus 40 degrees, and examining the exhaust as it heats up then cools back down – to help ensure the needs of these customers are met
  •     For those customers who depend on their vehicles for work commutes and to transport their families around town, Ford testing at the lab ultimately seeks to provide them with the assurance that their vehicles are designed to start and run in the bitter cold. As temperatures in the lab drop to minus 22 degrees, Ford engineers examine the volatility of 13 different types of fuel commonly used by customers across the globe to calibrate the cold start
When running tests at such low temperatures inside McKinley Climatic Lab, engineers make changes daily to help ensure engine start and vehicle driveability, and that Ford is meeting the high quality standards its customers expect. Learnings from these cold-weather tests helped Ford engineers perfect the 6.7-liter engine that powers the current F-Series Super Duty. Engineers found that replacing metallic plugs with ceramic gold plugs enabled the engine to heat up more quickly, for a more robust start.



[1] http://www.eglin.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=6450



About Ford Motor Company



Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

9/08/15

Transfer Flow In-Bed Fuel Tanks

Double or Triple your pickup's fuel capacity 
with an in-bed auxiliary fuel tank system




Increase your Ford, GM or Dodge Ram diesel pickup’s fuel capacity and driving range with an in-bed auxiliary fuel tank systems from Transfer Flow! Transfer Flow in-bed auxiliary tanks are available in 37, 50, 75, 98 and 100 gallons, and are available in sturdy aluminized steel and bright diamond plate. Transfer Flow fuel tanks are fully baffled to minimize fuel sloshing and come complete with all necessary installation components and detailed instructions (some pickups require a fillneck kit or tee). Using the patented technology of our TRAX 3™ or our MaxFlo-TFI™ operating system, the transfer process is entirely automatic and 100% worry free! Exclusive design features allow some tanks to be used in conjunction with other popular cargo accessories such as retractable truck bed covers and tonneau covers. Let us "fuel your adventures" with a safe, legal and durable in-bed auxiliary fuel tank system from Transfer Flow!


See all the models at: http://www.transferflow.com/fuel-tanks/in-bed

9/06/15

All-new Ford F-150 Raptor Prototype Trail Testing





Ford Performance engineers are busying trail testing prototypes of the all-new F-150 Raptor, the toughest, smartest and most capable Raptor ever. The all-new Raptor is able to tackle even tougher hills, ruts and
bumps along trails than the previous model. Here an early engineering  prototype that combines parts from the 2017 Raptor with the 2015 F-150climbs tight two track trails in Northern Michigan, where the team is
testing the new truck’s components over challenging terrain. The 2017F-150 Raptor has better ground clearance than the first-generation Raptor and comes standard with new 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The shock absorption technology works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain. An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case further improves
Raptor’s trail performance. The new transfer case, which manages power distribution between the front and rear wheels, combines the best attributes of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with durable,
mechanical-locking four-wheel drive. You’ll be able to test the all-new Raptor for yourself in Fall 2016.






About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.



9/04/15

Ford Secures 1,000-Plus U.S. Jobs, Starts Production of All-New Ford F-650/F-750 Medium-Duty Trucks in Ohio


  •     Ford kicks off production of 2016 F-650/F-750 for the first time in the United States; medium-duty truck lineup – previously assembled in Mexico – now built at Ohio Assembly Plant
  •     All-new F-650/F-750 medium-duty truck production shift to Ford’s facility in Avon Lake, Ohio, helps to secure more than 1,000 UAW hourly jobs and $168 million U.S. plant investment                
  •     2016 Ford F-650/F-750 trucks, available this summer, deliver commercial-grade quality, capability and convenience, and feature segment-exclusive Ford diesel and gasoline engines, delivering strong performance at an affordable price
Ohio Assembly Plant Fact Sheet



AVON LAKE, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2015 – All-new Ford F-650/F-750 medium-duty trucks roll off the line today for the first time in the United States. Production of the trucks at Ohio Assembly Plant, previously built in Mexico, helps secure more than 1,000 hourly UAW jobs and a $168 million plant investment in the United States.



2016 F-650/F-750 trucks, the toughest, smartest, best-value medium-duty trucks ever, anchor Ford’s commercial vehicle lineup – America’s best-selling commercial trucks for 30 straight years. Ford is the only truck manufacturer that provides vocational customers an unmatched one-stop shop to meet their needs – from the Class 1 Transit Connect cargo van to the Class 7 F-750 tractor rig.



“Our investment in Ohio Assembly Plant reinforces our commitment to building vehicles in America and to delivering best-in-class commercial trucks,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Working with our partners in the UAW, we found a way to make the costs competitive enough to bring production of a whole new generation of work trucks to Ohio.”



Offered in Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab body styles and in straight-frame, dock-height and an all-new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing applications, the 2016 F-650/F-750 line features a bold new look inside and out.



Ford is the only medium-duty truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination – ensuring the powertrain will work seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations.



Along with its 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 diesel engine option, Ford remains the only automaker to offer a gasoline-powered engine in the medium-duty truck segment. The 6.8-liter V10 with 320 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque now will be available for both F-650 and F-750 models with the heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. The 6.8-liter can be factory-prepped for converting to compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas as cost-effective alternatives to gasoline.



Ohio Assembly Plant investment

In 2014, Ford announced a $168 million investment to shift production of F-650 and F-750 from Mexico to Ohio Assembly Plant, in addition to adding new body shop equipment and other tooling needed to produce the medium-duty vehicles. The production shift from Mexico is part of the collective bargaining agreement Ford and the United Auto Workers negotiated in 2011.



"Through collective bargaining, we were able to secure production of the Ford F-650/F-750 to Ohio Assembly Plant,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director, National Ford Department. “Building these world-class vehicles in America helps secure jobs for more than 1,000 UAW members and provides economic growth for the Avon Lake community. Strengthening the economy through job creation continues our efforts to rebuild the American middle-class and communities all across this nation.”



Opened in 1974, Ohio Assembly Plant employs nearly 1,400 people and is one of the largest employers in Lorain County. In addition to now producing all Ford F-650 and F-750 models and configurations, the plant also produces Ford E-Series cutaway vans and stripped chassis.



Toughest, smartest, best-value Ford medium-duty truck ever



2016 Ford F-650/F-750 trucks are the toughest, smartest, best-value Ford medium-duty trucks ever – providing the ideal combination of value, capability and upfit readiness in the segment.



These attributes underscore the F-650/F-750’s position as the future of medium-duty trucks:

  •     Toughest: Fully designed and developed by Ford truck engineers in Dearborn, Mich.; robot-tested on taxing durability courses; 500,000-plus miles of harsh dynamometer engine testing at extreme power levels and temperatures; Ford-built in the U.S.
  •     Smartest: All-new upfit-friendly chassis developed in cooperation with leading industry body makers; clean chassis capable of accommodating vocational bodies with little to no modification; all-new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing
  •     Best value: Choice of segment-exclusive 6.8-liter V10 gas engine or 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel – both backed by Ford’s heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission enhanced for medium-duty use with great power, performance and fuel economy; includes unsurpassed five-year/250,000-mile warranty and national network of Ford service centers
More information regarding the all-new 2016 Ford F-650/F-750 lineup can be found here.

About Ford Motor Company



Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

9/02/15

Tommy Gate's G2 Series Liftgate




Tommy Gate's G2 Series is the latest in parallel-arm technology. Dual hydraulic cylinders apply direct power to both sides of the platform for increased consistency in motion and stability. With reduced maintenance requirements, wide variety of platform options, and vast hitch compatibility, G2 Series hydraulic lifts are a strong, versatile lift that are convenient, efficient, and make trucks work better.


Liftgate Features


    Dual hydraulic cylinders

    Maintenance-free components

    Recessed control

    Larger platforms

    Fully-enclosed hydraulic system