Engineers know that too many drivers speed over four-inch deep potholes or take turns too fast on cobble stone roads.

To ensure its vehicles can withstand such driving behaviour, the engineers at Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium and Michigan Proving Ground in the United States, test vehicles for all global markets.

Several types of road conditions are simulated including moderately rough roads such as those in Europe and North America and severely rough roads like those in emerging markets, taking into account that weather conditions can make these roads even worse.

With much of Europe having been gripped by two bitterly cold winters in succession and public spending cuts leaving little money for surface repairs there and in the US, motorists on both continents are driving into spring on roads scarred by potholes and damaged surfaces.

Yet Ford drivers can rest assured that their vehicles are built to cope, thanks to the rigorous testing and development processes established for chassis and suspension systems.

Ford Proving Grounds are no smooth ride

All new Ford models are put through a tough testing and development process to ensure that they not only offer class-leading levels of ride comfort for occupants, but are also easily capable of withstanding the loads placed upon components by damaged road surfaces.

Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground subjects new vehicles to a variety of highly demanding road surfaces and features some 50 miles of test track, many of which are designed specifically to put suspension systems to the ultimate test.

“We have created some of the worst potholes in Europe on our own test track. If our cars can pass these tests, then they can cope with almost anything they encounter on public roads,” said Eric-Jan Scharlee, Technical Specialist Durability Testing at Lommel Proving Ground.  “You name the road surface, we have it at our proving ground.”

Both the Lommel and Michigan Proving Grounds feature replicated real-life road surfaces from around the world. Visitors to the facility in Belgium, for instance, may be surprised to find road signs indicating they have travelled to France, the UK and US, all within just a few hundred metres, but it is through such painstaking recreation of real road surfaces from across the globe that Ford is able to deliver the products that meet and exceed requirements of real-world drivers.

However, alongside these simulated real-world surfaces are artificial testing potholes designed to place controlled loads on Ford vehicle suspension components and allow Ford’s engineers to measure the forces and demands placed on cars as they pass through them.

“We use two types of test tracks at Ford to recreate the loads customers are seeing on public roads,” said Scharlee. “One type simulates actual public roads, such as the Lower Dunton Road in Essex, UK, while the other comprises a variety of potholes that have been artificially constructed to mimic different driving conditions.”

The standard is repeated at Michigan Proving Ground: “We go over gravel. We go over cobblestone. We go full-throttle. We shake things up,” said Dan Coleman, manager of Global Durability Process in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford develops suspension testing for global customer requirements

To recreate realistic road conditions, Ford engineers survey drivers of every vehicle segment in different parts of the world asking them to rate the roads they drive on how they use their vehicles.

They then create a statistical profile of the driver, the type of roads the driver uses and his or her driving habits – and apply it to a durability test cycle at the respective proving ground.

Using this data, engineers can extrapolate how much load is likely to be placed on the vehicle over the course of its lifetime, telling them how much the vehicle needs to be able to withstand.

“The challenge for a suspension system is when it exits the pothole,” said Simon Mooney, Test Engineer Road Load Data, at the Dunton Technical Centre, Essex, UK. “The impact can be like hitting a kerbstone. We test all the wheel and tyre sizes that we produce for our vehicles to their limit so we’re confident they can cope.”

With Ford dedicated to producing global vehicles, testing procedures and requirements at proving grounds around the world are commonised.

Rigorous testing using high-tech equipment

Chassis and suspension testing for passenger cars is conducted in two phases, with the first phase designed to simulate the extreme demands placed on the vehicle’s suspension and major structures over the course of its lifetime. During the second phase the emphasis shifts to the entire vehicle, including high speed and rural road driving simulations.

During these tests, high-tech equipment is used to record the loads and strains placed upon suspension components. The specially adapted wheel and suspension monitoring equipment fitted to so-called ‘Road Load Data Acquisition’ vehicles can amount to €125,000 per corner, combining with the sophisticated data recording and processing equipment inside the car to make such vehicles worth in excess of €1 million.

“We use specially instrumented wheels on the car which measure the force and corresponding moments in three directions. On some vehicles there are various sensors totalling some 200 extra channels through which to get the data,” says Mooney.

Please visit the following link for video material on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/v/THQUs18B3R0

Vibrant colours Squeeze and Hot Magenta have sold very well on Ford Fiesta models across Europe, meaning brighter hues will be offered in Ford’s palette in the future.

COLOGNE, Germany, Mar. 29, 2011 – It’s perhaps no surprise that France and Italy are fond of cream-coloured cars given their famous café cultures. But why do buyers in the Czech Republic favour blue far more than any other nation? And the Irish may be traditionally associated with green, but they much prefer driving silver.

These are but a few of the findings of a study by Ford that looked at car colour preferences by nation across Europe. Understanding preferences across the multicultural continent helps Ford stay in step with customers and stock the right vehicles in dealer showrooms.

“There is something very personal to buyers about the colour of their cars, and when you look a little deeper you see that the culture, fashion and tastes in the markets across Europe have a major impact of the colours that customers choose,” says Julie Francis, who is on the colour and material design team for Ford of Europe.

Colour trends – like fashion – change year to year. For example, a small but growing number of buyers are choosing brown, copper and other earth tones. “It took people a little while to warm up to the brown hues; they had previously been perceived as ‘old fashioned’ – think 70s, 80s,” says Francis. “But the brown tones are making a comeback in fashion, interior furniture, and now automotive, and have been revived with exciting interior to exterior combinations.”

White remains the runaway hit in Turkey (49% of vehicles sold), overwhelmingly the number one choice of Ford vehicle colour. Turkey, with its often sweltering climate, also picked the lowest percentage of black vehicles. Denmark, by contrast, chose black as their top finish and were least likely to opt for white.

But geographical borders and climate do not always determine the colour tastes of car buyers. Norway and Portugal, for example, share the same six favourite colours.

Only one country has a number one colour other than black, white or silver – the Czech Republic. One quarter of Czech buyers choose blue Fords in 2010. Czech buyers also choose the highest percentage of red among all nations – mirroring the dominant red and blue colours in the Czech flag.

But patriotism only goes so far. The Netherlands didn’t even figure when it came to orange vehicles, while the Irish were the third least likely country to buy green.

So how does Ford use this data to make sure it offers the right colours in the right countries?

“For major markets, Germany, for example, we know that blacks and darker colours are always popular so we factor that in to our planning,” says Vince Shaw, marketing and product strategy manager for Ford of Europe. “Clearly we want our vehicles to be attractive to our customers and colour is a big part of that. In fact, one of the success stories has been Hot Magenta and Squeeze – bright red and green – offered on the Fiesta. They have both sold extremely well, so it’s clear that our customers are keen to have something more individual. We’ve learnt from that and in the future will offer more unique colours not found on the usual palette.”

There is also evidence that vehicle colour trends are just as prevalent as trends in other fashion markets.

“Red used to be by far and away the most popular colour, but then that was supplanted,” explains Shaw. “It looks like white is in the ascendancy now. Dark greys, blacks and blues are always popular, as they are in men or women’s clothing, but just like any other fashion the different car colours come in and out of fashion.”

It’s therefore important to notice trends and react to them quickly when it comes to vehicle design.

“Identifying rising trends and selecting signature colours are a big part of what we do, and we know how important it is to get the right colour into the market at the right time,” Francis adds.  “Too early and it won’t have registered on the customers’ radar, too late and the popularity of a particular colour will have already reached its peak,”

And with 2011 seeing the launch of the all-new Ford Focus, boasting striking colours like Candy Yellow, Candy Red and Mars Red, or the stunning Tangerine Scream previewed on the Focus ST model at the Paris Motor Show, this year may well see some hot new colour trends emerge throughout Europe.

Earthy tones, such as Lunar Sky, are coming back into fashion across Europe

Global Colour Popularity in 2010

A major paint supplier, Du Pont produces an annual overview of colour trends from around the world, and it reveals some more interesting trends for different regions. According to its figures Europe’s top colours are blacks and greys, while Asian countries opt primarily for white and silver hues. South America is also a fan of silver while North America’s top picks are the contrasting colours of black and white. Globally, silver was the most popular choice with 26% of the figures in 2010, with red (6%) and blue (5%) lagging behind as fifth and sixth most requested colours. Meanwhile, the brown/cream palette went down reasonably well, accounting for 3% of Du Pont’s 2010 sales, with intermediate size vehicles and MPVs in Europe being the biggest takers of this colour range.

While the European Commission’s intentions are positive, Ford believes there are other policy proposals that would better achieve the end goal than the recommendations in the White Paper on Transport Policy that was published today.

“The Commission’s position paper while well intentioned would not achieve its goals of improving transportation policy,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “I believe the Commission should address the environmental and congestion issues associated with vehicles in urban areas to ensure consumer choice, and drive jobs and economic growth in Europe.”

Ford believes the proposals outlined in the White Paper – which call for a 50 per cent reduction in internal combustion-engined cars in urban areas by 2030, and a complete ban by 2050 – would not effectively address the issues of congestion and environmental improvement in urban areas. The proposal  seeks to limit consumer choice of what vehicles can and cannot be purchased, and a more robust approach would better improve road transport infrastructure.

“While expanding the number of electric vehicles could help with our shared goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions depending on how the electricity is generated, it will not help us tackle the issue of urban congestion. This situation will best be resolved through a sensible debate on how to improve the road network and other aspects of the road infrastructure in urban areas as part of a holistic discussion on transport policy,” Odell said.

Ford also questioned if more environmental benefits could be achieved through alternative proposals not outlined in the White Paper.  Electric vehicles undoubtedly have an important part to play in the future of road transport. The White Paper, however, does not tackle the issue of how such a sharp demand for electricity within 20 years will be achieved.  Ford believes any proposals that seek to rapidly ramp-up the electric vehicle fleet not only need to be market driven, but also must be aligned to an overall European Union energy policy.

“We can do more to advance the debate on the future of urban mobility in the EU if we maintain and enhance the Commission’s previous, integrated, multi-modal transport approach that does not favour some transportation modes over others.”

Ford would welcome the Commission adopting a more realistic and holistic approach to policy. In particular, it needs to pay much closer attention to the competitiveness of the European automotive industry, which it presumably hopes will be able to make the huge investments necessary to develop cleaner and safer vehicles.

“There is a great need for the European Commission to develop a holistic industrial policy to enhance Europe’s international competitiveness,” Odell said.  “Industry is an important wealth-creator for the European economy, and a vital driver for technological innovation.”

“As we have seen in recent months with the German economy, industry is key in aiding economic growth and well-being.  It is critical for the future of the European economy that a comprehensive policy is created aimed at strengthening Europe’s industrial base.”

The Ford Focus has been Russia’s best-selling car manufactured in the country by a non-domestic manufacturer for the past seven years.

The Ford Focus currently being produced in Russia is the previous version to the all-new model which is just now going on sale in Europe and North America.  The all-new Ford Focus starts production in Russia later this year.

“Ford changed the Russian perception of cars when it started producing Ford Focus in 2002,” said Mark Ovenden, president and managing director, Ford Russia.  “The Focus proved that a volume-produced car could be safe and affordable with attractive design and high quality.”

Gray Greenway, general director of Ford’s St. Petersburg plant, said: “We have a phenomenal team at our plant, and it has been building the Focus with high quality since it was launched in 2002.  The customer expects nothing less from a new car, and the team is delivering.

“The Focus represents the dream car for many Russians. It’s safe, with best-in-class cost of ownership, and is available in a range of models.”

The Russian plant is the only Ford manufacturing facility which produces the Ford Focus in all three body styles: five-door, four-door and wagon.

Ford was the first foreign manufacturer to start vehicle production in Russia. More than 2,700 employees current work at the Vsevolozhsk plant.  Each day, the plant produces about 300 cars in two shifts.  Total Focus output at the plant last year was 70,000 units.

(Waving the flag – three Ford Focus cars line up in the colours of the Russian flag to celebrate the model’s 400,000th production milestone at Ford’s St. Petersburg plant)

Oslo, Norway, March 22, 2011 – Ford (NYSE:F) and Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX:AZD) have confirmed their first European customer for the zero-emission Ford Transit Connect Electric van. Norwegian Post today signed a contract to purchase 20 Transit Connect Electric vehicles, with an option to order more vehicles in the future. Norwegian Post is the largest provider of mail and logistics services and the biggest employer in Norway.

“The Norwegian Post will be an environmental leader in the mail and logistics industry by taking advantage of the latest technology available,” said Dag Mejdell, CEO, Norwegian Post. “In signing a contract for delivery of the new Ford Transit Connect Electric, the Norwegian Post is taking an important step towards its goal of reducing 150.000 tonnes of CO2 annually.”

Ford and Azure are introducing the Transit Connect Electric in summer 2011, as increasing numbers of fleet operators are demanding the benefits of efficient, clean alternative power for their vehicles.

With 28 kWh of power to call on, Transit Connect Electric has a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a range of up to 130 km (80 miles) on a full charge.

“Transit Connect Electric was designed and engineered with customers like Norwegian Post in mind,” said Scott Harrison, Azure CEO.  “The ForceDriveTM powertrain excels under the types of urban driving conditions that the Transit Connect Electric is likely to encounter during postal delivery routes. We’re honoured to have Norwegian Post as our inaugural customer in Europe and are eager to help them achieve the environmental, operational and performance goals that they seek.”

Ford’s Global Electric vehicle plan
The Ford Transit Connect Electric – Ford’s first all-electric vehicle in Europe – is the first of five electrified vehicles that Ford plans to launch in Europe by 2013. Next comes the Ford Focus Electric in 2012, followed by the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, as well as another hybrid electric model in 2013.
“By providing a variety of electrified vehicles, we are making it easier for our customers to embrace this fuel-saving technology,” said Thormod Skofsrud, managing director, Ford Norway. “This strategy is true to our heritage of making innovative technology available to as many people as possible and to our vision of developing great products.”

Practical and affordable
Transit Connect Electric will offer European operators the opportunity to eliminate petrol bills in their small vans and help to lower overall maintenance and running costs.

Ford’s Transit Connect commercial platform is an ideal choice for battery electric power thanks to its unique combination of car-like driving dynamics, generous cargo capacity, easy accessibility and low operation costs.

With a cargo volume 3.8 m3 and a payload of 500 kg, Transit Connect Electric will particularly appeal to operators who travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop and go driving.  Transit Connect Electric can be recharged using standard European 220/240-volt outlets in approximately eight hours.  Commercial van users generally return to a central location at the end of a driving cycle perfect for recharging over night.

Zero emissions
The Transit Connect Electric is a pure electric-powered version of the award-winning, long-wheelbase Transit Connect light commercial vehicle. Azure’s proprietary Force Drive™ powertrain uses an advanced lithium ion battery pack designed by Johnson Controls-Saft to power the vehicle that produces zero tailpipe emissions.

Azure’s ForceDriveTM powertrain has previously been deployed in more than 40 vehicle integrations and has more than 35 million miles of on-the-road experience.

Tried and tested
The Transit Connect Electric goes on sale in European markets this summer following its successful launch in North America in December 2010.

‘Glider’ units – complete vehicles except for the powertrain – are shipped from the Ford Otosan manufacturing facility in Kocaeli, Turkey, directly to an Azure-contracted up-fitter for final assembly.  The completed Transit Connect Electric vehicles are then sold by Azure Dynamics through a specially-created network of dealerships. The European Transit Connect Electric will be badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure’s Force Drive logo.

Transit Connect Electric builds on an existing relationship between Ford and Azure and battery supplier Johnson Controls-Saft.

“Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford’s future.”

Transit Connect Electric Technical data

Body

• ‘Glider’ assembly at Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey
• Final assembly by Azure Dynamics Corporation

Propulsion architecture

• Siemens AC induction motor, Azure Dynamics inverter
• Borg-Warner transaxle, Johnson Controls-Saft battery pack
• System voltage range 260V – 380V

Electric drive system

• Motor Siemens model 135, 3-phase AC induction motor, 300V nominal, liquid-cooled
• Torque 158 Nm (continuous) / 235 Nm (peak)
• Transmission Borg-Warner 31-03, single-speed
• Gear ratio 8.28:1
• IEC 62196 type 1

Battery

• Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion pack
• Capacity 28 kWh, 16 modules / (192 cells)
• Voltage range 215V – 390V / charger – 3.3 kW

Weights and capacities

• Maximum payload 500 kg
• Curb weight 1791 kg (est.)
• Cargo volume 3.8 m3

Performance

• Driving range up to 130 km (80 miles) per full charge
• Charge time of around 8 hours for full cycle using 230 V
• Top speed 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 12 seconds (based on kerb weight)
• 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 15 seconds (based on gross vehicle weight rating)

COLOGNE, Germany, Mar. 17, 2011 – With the price of oil increasing and consequently pushing up the cost of fuel at the pumps, it’s no wonder people are looking for more economical ways to drive. However, there’s no need to leave your car keys at home and struggle with public transport thanks to Ford’s dedication to designing cars that are not just great to drive, but also highly efficient to run.

“Ford’s attitude to greener driving is not a recent fashion but part of our long-term commitment to fuel economy and low emissions. This is why we can offer an unmatched range of fuel economy features and engine technology to our customers across the world. The Ford Focus, for example, features a wealth of such technology that is unsurpassed by any other vehicle in its class,” says Frank Davis, vice president of product development, Ford of Europe.

Efficient Engine Technology
Ford’s latest generation of Duratorq TDCi diesel engines offer impressive performance while maintaining excellent economy. The flagship Mondeo fitted with the new high performance
200 PS 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine achieves 6.0l/100km (47mpg) yet emits 159g/km CO2 – impressive stats for a car capable of 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h.

For those keen on even greater economy then the Fiesta ECOnetic model is ideal. Using a 1.6-litre TDCi engine it offers staggering combined fuel economy of just 3.6l/100km (78.5mpg). With exceptionally low CO2 emissions too, the Fiesta ECOnetic is about as frugal as possible, which is great news for customers’ pockets.

One of the newest highlights of Ford’s green thinking though is the EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine line-up. With direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging technology they give the performance of a larger engine with the fuel economy and lower CO2 benefits of a smaller engine. In short; more power, less fuel. The clever technology also allows for a broader spread of torque, which significantly helps the driving pleasure for performance enthusiasts, and equally for those attracted by the lower running costs.

On some models, the economical engines are coupled with further fuel saving technologies such as Ford Auto-Start-Stop – which automatically shuts down the engine when idling and restarts it when the driver wants to move off – and the Active Grille Shutter, which optimises aerodynamics by using vents to control airflow through the grille to the cooling system and engine compartment according to specific requirements at any given time, reducing aerodynamic drag and cutting CO2 emissions by up to 2 per cent.

Ford EcoMode
EcoMode is available on an increasing number of Ford vehicles, offering a fun way for drivers to keep an eye on how economical their driving style is. The software-based system uses algorithms developed from a database of ‘eco-driving’ techniques to help motorists achieve maximum real world fuel economy.

Drive in an efficient manner by changing gear earlier, avoiding unnecessary braking and keeping speeds down and EcoMode will reward you. In the instrument panel are three flowers with five petals each, one flower representing gear shifting behaviour, one representing how smoothly the vehicle is being driven and another representing speed.

If you drive economically, you are rewarded with illuminated petals on the flowers. The more efficiently you drive, the more petals you light up. Motorists who score more than 75 per cent efficiency will be rewarded with an advanced ECO Driver graphic in the cluster. Achieve 95 per cent and they’ll be crowned ECO Champion.

EcoMode is designed to help drivers alter their behaviour behind the wheel, and it’s possible that by doing this some drivers can improve their efficiency by up to 40 per cent. Even the average driver is statistically likely to see improvements of around 5 per cent should they aim to light up as many petals on the display as possible.

To help even further, Ford offers ECO drive training in certain European markets that can continue the philosophy behind EcoMode. Driving behaviour is the key aspect in reducing fuel consumption and by taking advantage of dedicated instruction Ford customers can make noticeable savings on their motoring costs.

Ford Econo Check
Ford customers can benefit from further fuel savings thanks to Econo Check – a unique and innovative service that could reduce their fuel bills by up to 25 per cent. Econo Check, launched in 2010 by Ford of Europe’s Customer Service Division (FCSD), offers both a vehicle inspection and an extended electronic analysis of driving style to generate a unique report for each driver and provide advice on how to improve fuel economy.

Econo Check is simple and begins with a vehicle check, where a Ford technician carries out a series of checks including items such as tyre condition and pressure, and air filter cleanliness. The technician then fits a small data logger to the vehicle, which stores data on driving speed, acceleration, anticipation, braking and gear changes for the next seven days. At the end of the monitoring period, the logger is removed from the vehicle – either by the dealer or the customer – and returned to Ford by post. A dedicated Econo Check personal report will then be emailed to the customer, showing the potential annual savings for fuel, CO2 and money if the report’s conclusions and advice are followed. With full implementation of these recommendations by the customer, the Ford Econo Check package can save up to 25 per cent on fuel, depending on individual driving style.

Adaptive Cruise Control
Driving at a constant speed can help reduce fuel use and driveline wear, both things that are offered by traditional cruise control systems. But Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) takes this a step further by being able to read traffic ahead using radar technology and react accordingly. Once it detects a vehicle ahead travelling at a lower speed, ACC starts to reduce throttle and fuel supply to the engine. If this isn’t slowing the equipped vehicle fast enough the brakes are also employed, allowing for a gentle reduction of speed and a safe distance to be kept with the car in front. As the vehicle ahead pulls over ACC then gradually increases speed back up to the set limit, smoothly accelerating to be as efficient as possible.

Speed Limiter
While the Ford Speed Limiter was designed primarily with safety in mind, it can also have noticeable positive effects on fuel consumption. If the driver wishes they can set a maximum speed that they would like to travel at. The sophisticated Ford software at the core of the system constantly monitors how fast the vehicle is travelling through sensors mounted in the front wheels. Once it detects the desired speed has been reached it communicates with the engine management system, which in turn limits the amount of fuel being delivered to the engine. The engine will then use the bare minimum of fuel to maintain that speed. The extra clever part of this system is that drivers can simply press the accelerator to the floor to override the feature, meaning overtake manoeuvres can readily be performed if required.

Top 10 Tips for Economical Driving

1. Low revs and right gear – Engines operate most efficiently below 3,000 revs per minute. The optimum point for changing gears is at around 2,500rpm in a petrol car and 2,000rpm in a diesel.
2. Anticipation – Read the road. Anticipating road hazards ahead can help you to be lighter on the brakes. This helps to keep a more constant speed. Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
3. Load – The more weight you carry, the harder the engine has to work and the more fuel it uses. It’s a good idea to check the luggage area and get rid of any unnecessary junk.
4. Roof Racks – If you’re not using it, take it off! Racks and roof boxes increase wind resistance and can make your engine work harder.
5. Tyres – Keep tyres properly inflated to the recommended tyre pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 per cent. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle’s door-post sticker for minimum cold tyre inflation pressure.
6. No idling – Today’s engines don’t need a warm up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel.
7. Air conditioning and other devices – Use the air condition system and other energy consuming devices like the heated windscreen only when you need to. Remember though, opening windows increases wind resistance and fuel consumption too.
8. City Driving – Avoid darting in and out of traffic, and accelerating hard. It uses more fuel and speeds up component wear.
9. Choose the right oil – Use good quality oils with the viscosity grade and quality recommended in the owner guide.
10. Servicing – Be kind to your vehicle. Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner’s Manual for proper maintenance.

Ford’s sales in these markets were 104,700 units, unchanged versus February 2010.

Ford’s Turkish sales increased by 110 per cent – from 4,400 last year to 9,300 this February – making it the highest-ever February sales month for Ford in the country. Ford’s sales in Russia increased by 50 per cent, while Eastern European sales rose by 9.4 per cent in February.

The increased sales volume in these markets helped to offset a smaller volume in Ford’s traditional 19 European markets. Sales were 85,500 units, down 7,700 units, and Ford’s total vehicle share in these markets was 7.6 per cent, a reduction of 0.8 percentage points from February 2010.

“It’s great to see the C-MAX having such a strong sales start,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “It’s already our No. 3 best-selling model after the Fiesta and Focus, and we’ve already sold over 31,000 C-MAX models in just a  few months after launch.”

“We’re also just starting the launch of the all-new Ford Focus five-door across Europe, with the four-door and wagon derivatives due in May. This is a great car, a class-leader in so many areas, and we fully expect it to do extremely well in the market.

“In terms of the UK, Ford is the clear top-selling brand year-to-date, with the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta No.1 and No.2 best-selling cars in the market respectively. The February market accounts for just three per cent of annual sales, and is effectively a curtain raiser for the high volume of sales during the important registration plate change month of March, when Ford customers have the chance to experience first-hand the exciting, new Ford Focus,” said de Waard.

Ford already has one of the freshest product ranges in the European auto industry, and this year it is anticipated that around 40 per cent of Ford’s sales volume will be of all-new or significantly freshened products. Over the next three years, Ford will launch at least 20 new or freshened products in Europe, and is also looking at ways to leverage Ford’s extensive product portfolio. Ford’s first electric vehicle – the Transit Connect Electric – also goes on sale in Europe this year.

February sales highlights (Euro 19 plus Russia and Turkey)

Market Performance:

• February sales in Russia were at 6,600 units, an increase of 50 per cent or 2,200 units on 2010, while Turkey reported a sales gain of 110 per centto 9,300, up by 4,900 versus February 2010. This has been the best February volume for Ford in Turkey ever. Eastern European sales were up 24 per cent.
• Market leader in Hungary and Turkey.
• Ford was No.1 imported brand in Italy.
• Ford’s share in its 19 European markets was 7.6 per cent for February, 0.8 ppts below last year.
• Commercial Vehicle market share of 7.7 per cent was up by 0.5 ppts – the best CV February share for Ford in its Euro 19 markets since 2008.
• Increased share in six of Ford’s main 19 European markets, including Spain, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Finland and Hungary, plus in Russia and Turkey.
• Germany reported sales of 17,600 for the month of February, up by 2,100 units or 13.4 ppts on 2010 – the highest share increase for the six major markets (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Spain).
• Highest share gains in the 19 European region were delivered in Norway (up 2 ppts, with share at 8.9 per cent, the highest February share since 2008), Hungary (up 1.4 ppts; share at 12.1 per cent, and the highest share since 2009) and Belgium (up 0.4 ppts; share at 6.4 per cent).

Model Performance:

• New C-MAX sales soared to 9,100 in February, now totaling more than 31,000 units since its market entry in late 2010, making the car Ford’s no 3 in Europe, the best February C-MAX volume since 2007.
• Kuga is continuing to develop strong momentum with sales of 5,200, up by 200 units or 3.6 per cent on 2010 – the best February volume and share for Kuga since launch in February 2008.
• S-MAX and Galaxy had another strong month in February, with S-MAX sales being up by 1,400 units to 3,700 or 63 per cent, the highest February volume since 2008, whilst Galaxy saw sales of 1,600, up by 100 units on 2010, an increase of eight per cent on February 2010.
• Fiesta (24,100), Focus (13,100), and all-new C-MAX (9,100) were Ford of Europe’s top-selling models in the Euro 19.
• Fiesta was best-selling foreign vehicle for the month in Italy and France.
• Since its market debut in October 2008, 1,178,400 customers have purchased the Fiesta around the world, with more than 1,027,000 cars having been sold in Europe.
• Transit sales soared to 8,700 units (up by 1,600 on February 2010) or an increase of 22 per cent, the largest February volume for Transit since 2008.
• Retail sales accounted for 76 per cent of Fusion, 65 per cent of Fiesta and Ka and 59 per cent ofKuga in the second month of 2011.

Year-to-date February 2011 performance (Euro 19 plus Russia and Turkey)

Market Performance:

• Market leader in the UK, Hungary and Turkey.
• Ford’s share was at 7.9 per cent, down by 0.7 ppts on the first two months of 2010.
• Germany‘s volume year-to-date February 2011 grew to 34,800, up by 15.5 per cent or 4,700 units, the highest year-to-date February volume since 2009.
• Ford’s share increased in six of its main 19 European markets, plus in Turkey.
• Leading import brand in the Italy for February year-to-date 2011.
• Scandinavian markets are going from strength to strength in the first two months of 2011. Swedenhad registrations of 3,100, up by 700 units, an increase of 30 per cent on 2009 and the highest year-to-date February volume improvement there since 1999. Norway‘s sales volume was at 2,300, up by 500, representing an increase of 25 per cent on the first two months 2010.
• The highest share gains of all 19 markets year-to-date 2011 were in Hungary (+1.2 ppts at 12.5 per cent share), Norway (+ 0.7 ppts, at 8.5 per cent) and Austria (+0.5 ppts to 6.9 per cent).
• For the first two months of 2011, Turkey‘s share was at 15.3 per cent, up by 0.8 ppts on the same period 2010. Sales in Turkey increased by 8,900 units to 16,600 in the first two months 2011 – a 115 per cent sales plus on the same period 2010. 2011 February year-to-date sales for Ford inRussia were at 10,300, up by 39.3 per cent or 2,900 units on the same period 2010.

Model Performance:

• The three best-selling vehicles in the first two months of 2011 were the Fiesta (51,100), Focus(33,600) and Transit (19,200).
• Year-to-date Transit share was the highest year-to-date February share since 2007.
• In the first two months of 2011, Fiesta remained the best-selling foreign vehicle in Italy.
• Focus was the UK‘s No.1 best-selling car year-to-date and was leading its segment in Spain, whileTransit was the best-selling commercial vehicle in the first two months of 2011 in the UK.
• Still being launched across Europe, all-new C-MAX sales achieved 18,000 – the highest volume improvement of a Ford vehicle in the main 19 markets for the first two months of 2011.
• C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling foreign vehicles in their segment in France.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, UK, Mar. 8, 2011 – While the all-new Ford Focus is impressing the media and customers alike with its class-leading autonomous driver assistance systems, such as Active City Stop, Lane Keeping Assistance, Traffic Sign Recognition and Blind Spot Detection, the boffins at Ford are not resting on their laurels.

The future of vehicle safety will build upon the innovative features now found in the all-new Focus, but there will also be an increasing use of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, something that Ford is already demonstrating with its ‘smart intersection’, established near Ford’s Research & Innovation Centre in Dearborn, Mich., USA.

The smart intersection communicates with specially-equipped test vehicles to warn drivers of potentially dangerous traffic situations, such as when a vehicle is about to run through a red light. The intersection is outfitted with technology that can monitor traffic signal status, GPS data and digital maps to assess potential hazards, and then transmit the information to vehicles.

Once the information is received, the vehicle’s collision avoidance system may be able to determine whether the car will safely cross the intersection or if it needs to stop before reaching it. If the system determines the need to stop and senses that the driver is not decelerating quickly enough, it issues visual and audio warnings to the driver, essentially giving the driver a crucial ‘third eye’ when it comes to spotting dangers at a crossroads.

In Europe, Ford’s Research & Advanced Engineering division is also contributing to various research projects in cooperation with other OEMs, suppliers, research institutes and governments in order to develop and evaluate innovative safety features that make use of V2I and V2V communication. A key part of this is the ‘Safe and Intelligent Mobility – Test Field Germany (simTD)’ project, which will run throughout 2012 around Frankfurt/Main, Germany, as a 400-vehicle field test, designed to evaluate feasibility and scalability of cooperative wireless systems in a real-world environment.

“For simTD, 100 drivers actively collect data by completing driving tasks and 300 drivers passively collect data by driving where they would normally go,” said Christian Ress, technical expert connectivity, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering Europe. “This wireless vehicle project is taking into consideration hazard and collision warnings as well as the delivery of real-time traffic information, including traffic light and traffic sign information. The goals of simTD are to improve road safety and traffic efficiency, and to pave the way for full deployment of V2V and V2I systems in Europe.”

Ford is also contributing to the European harmonisation and standardisation of wireless communication systems and applications within the framework of the ‘DRIVE C2X’ project, which is co-funded by the European Commission. DRIVE C2X is the acronym for ‘DRIVing implementation and Evaluation of C2X communication technology in Europe’.

“This project has just kicked off in January 2011 and brings together more than 40 stakeholders, such as OEMs, suppliers, universities and public authorities,” said Ress. “Within the framework of DRIVE C2X, field operational tests in a real-world environment will be conducted in seven test sites all over Europe implementing the same technology in order to ensure interoperability across all European countries.”

The fully-functioning smart intersection in Dearborn is clearly just the beginning of Ford’s approach to safety for the future. There are challenges still ahead, as successful deployment of cooperative systems can only be effective if all vehicles use similar equipment and “speak the same language”. Ress adds: “That’s why it’s critical for Ford to work closely with other automakers, suppliers and governments to agree on standard communication protocols and message sets. At Ford, we would like a system for connected vehicles that works in a similar manner globally.”

It may seem like science fiction with traffic signals sending messages to vehicles and vehicles talking to each other, but Ford believes this is the future for not only vehicle safety, but also for traffic congestion reduction, no matter where it is in the world you drive your Ford vehicle. And with the introduction of its smart intersection and the current commitment to establishing a useable wireless infrastructure that all vehicles can utilise, that future is much closer than Ford customers may realise too!

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 8th March, 2011 – Today is Ford of Britain’s 100th birthday and this year also sees Ford marking 100 years of vehicle manufacturing in the UK.

Ford Looks Forward
As it recognises these centenary landmarks in the UK, Ford is confirming its commitment to a country which has made it the market leader in car sales for 34 consecutive years and the commercial vehicle sales leader for 45.

Ford’s UK automotive industry leadership is broader than pure sales.  In the UK, Ford directly employs over 15,000 people, many in highly skilled roles developing and building high-technology, fuel-efficient, low CO2 engines. The Ford plants at Bridgend in South Wales and Dagenham in East London have the combined capacity to assemble two million engines annually and one in three Ford cars globally is powered by a UK engine. A further 100,000 jobs are supported through the Ford supplier chain and dealer network.

Ford is investing £1.5 billion in low carbon engineering and manufacturing that will help underpin the UK’s manufacturing and export-based economic recovery.

Ford of Britain chairman, Joe Greenwell, said: “Ford of Britain has been in the fabric of the nation for over a hundred years.  We have a proud heritage and a bright future. Ford of Britain is a major pillar of Ford’s global strategy and the new Ford Focus, centrepiece of the centenary, features advanced powertrains developed and produced in the UK.”

Over 80 years after its opening, Dagenham is still London’s largest industrial employer and around 40,000 Ford vehicles – the iconic Ford Transit – are built in the UK each year at the Ford Southampton plant.

Ford Dagenham also provides a leading example of the company’s sustainability strategy.  The most economical internal combustion engines Ford produces are assembled in a plant that generates all its own electricity, from wind power.  The
Dagenham wind turbines produce 6.7 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity each year – which has avoided over 6,500 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions, since 2004.

There are parallels between Henry Ford’s success with the Model T, in the early 20th Century and the success of the company today, with the Ford Focus, created for the 21st Century.  It is the basis for 2.5 million units of global annual production and at the heart of the new Ford Focus are engines and transmissions designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK at Dunton in Essex, Dagenham to the East of London, Bridgend in Wales and Halewood near Liverpool.

Heritage
Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and within months, had exported the first Ford cars to England.  He established the first British Ford dealer, through a company based in Long Acre, in London.  The UK quickly became the most important market for Ford cars, outside the United States.

By 1911, Henry had decided to start building cars in Britain.  Ford Motor Company (England) Limited was incorporated in London on 8 March 1911 – the first Ford company to be established outside North America.

Later in 1911, Trafford Park, a suburb of Manchester, played host to Ford’s first UK factory with a disused tram works converted to Model T assembly opening in October. Four-man teams built individual vehicles until Henry Ford’s revolutionary introduction of the moving assembly line in 1913. By 1914 Ford sales of nearly
10,000 cars were equal to the output of the next six biggest British manufacturers combined.

A few years later, in 1928, Henry Ford oversaw the construction of the “Detroit of Europe” – a new British plant on the banks of the Thames, at Dagenham.  Its first vehicle rolled off production lines in October 1931 – a Ford AA truck.

Motorsport and family values
The Dunton Technical Centre was born in 1966.  That same year, Ford scored its famous 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans, with the iconic, Ferrari-beating GT40 race car – built by Ford of Britain in Slough and Ford engines powered the top five finishers in the Indianapolis 500.

One year later, the Ford Cosworth DFV engine scored the first of a record 155 Grand Prix victories, over 18 dominant years.

Ford’s unmatched motorsport heritage has benefitted greatly from British talent.  Ford’s first ‘works’ rally efforts were based at Boreham in Essex and the UK has been intrinsically linked with top level Ford rally success.

Ford’s World Rally Team is today run by Cumbria-based M-Sport and they are one the largest employers in their local area, with 216 full-time staff.  M-Sport works directly with Ford engineers in the UK and Europe sharing skills and experience from competition that feed back into engineering processes and inform further development of vehicles, engines and components.

The results of their efforts have been seen in the all-new Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car – powered by a Bridgend-built, 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost engine – that scored a 1-2-3 victory last month in its debut WRC rally in Sweden and followed that up with second and third places in Rally Mexico.

Ford of Britain has been associated with cars whose names have earned affection and admiration in the streets and on the racetracks.  Zephyr, Anglia, Cortina, Capri, Escort, Sierra, Fiesta, and Focus are often fondly remembered family members while the Ford Transit has been adopted as a generic name for a carry-all van.  Mondeo man has even entered popular culture but in all cases Ford vehicles have been known for providing successive generations with great motoring and great value.

Celebrations
The history of Ford of Britain’s first 100 years is captured in entertaining, and comprehensive, fashion in Eric Dymock’s “The Ford in Britain Centenary File”.  Dove Publishing’s (www.dovepublishing.co.uk) book provides a fascinating insight into 100 years of company history and detailed descriptions of the vehicles that have touched the nation more than any other car company.

Ford plans a year-long centenary celebration with themed marketing campaigns to flag up this special year.  A Ford of Britain centenary logo has been created, which delivers its message as text on a keyless Ford Power starter button.

Historical displays will take place at various motoring events and a gala event will take place in the first half of 2011.

Ford-related events are being held around the country including the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire and the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire.  This year’s Goodwood Revival, the country’s premier historic motoring event, will see a significant number of classic Ford cars take to the circuit, in September.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, UK, Mar. 3, 2011 – Ford Motor Company continues to pioneer the use of computerised, digital X-ray machines as an integral part of its quality control process. While X-rays are usually the preserve of the medical profession, Ford has been employing them since 2002, having seen the potential benefits early on. Now, having worked with the machine manufacturers to evolve them for Ford’s specific automotive needs, these machines are often the first port of call for engineers keen to ensure their automotive parts are as perfectly formed on the inside as they are on the outside.

“The technology involved is from hospital technology,” said Glenn Austin, Radiographer at Ford’s Dunton Materials Laboratory in Essex. “Most of the software, all the demonstration packages, the manuals, solely refer to medical imagery. It didn’t have any application as far as they were concerned to engineering.”

Naturally there are challenges involved in using this type of technology in the automotive sector, mainly the difference in density between the skin, bones, flesh and organs of humans with the plastics, rubbers, foams and various different metals used in constructing an automobile. “But it’s essentially no different at all to what they do in hospitals,” continued Austin. “We’re just looking at engines in the way a doctor will look at a patient.”

The real-time 2D X-ray machine is the first part of the inspection, replacing the traditional type of film X-ray, as that process was deemed too time-consuming to be truly effective in the automotive sector. Instead, engineers can now bring a part to the Materials Laboratory and see in real-time the inner workings of it. The operator can zoom in or out of that part, rotate it and manipulate the density of the X-ray to find the smallest imperfection inside.

It takes a trained eye to spot these imperfections though, much like a doctor looking for a fracture in a bone or a shadow on a lung, but between the radiographer and engineer no problem area will go by unnoticed. This can be particularly useful in assessing prototype parts, from dashboards to alloy wheels and even glass, yet it can also be used to look inside parts that have failed. Crucially this can mean looking inside parts like electronic chips, finding a blown fuse or similar without having to risk the evidence being destroyed by an intrusive inspection process, such as cutting it open to assess it under a microscope.

The other option available is the 3D CAT (Computer Aided Tomography) scan X-rays, essentially a process of combining 720 2D X-ray slices using specific computer software to create a three-dimensional image. The resulting 3D image can then be rotated and inspected on the computer’s monitor, with the ability to even ‘fly through’ the created image. This ability can be particularly useful in finding problems such as blockages or obstructions in a fuel or air line, as the engineer can get a totally unique view, ultimately seeing it from the viewpoint of the fuel or air.

Being created by X-rays, the other benefit is that elements of different densities can be isolated and then extracted from the image. “We can move non-metallic elements – copper, rubber, plastic – and we can explode the component into its various individual parts,” said Austin. “We can see voids in a casting – for example, if you’ve got a porosity of air in that component, we can pull the air out of a component and measure the size of the void or the defect.”

By employing these machines, it means that the Materials Laboratory can not only help Ford engineers to develop new parts but they can also ensure that any potential problems are spotted early. “We stop it when it’s a little problem before it becomes a major problem, that’s the main thing,” said Austin.

“If something gets into production or gets out there and it comes back on us later, then we’ve pretty much failed in what we do. Certainly vehicles have come on leaps and bounds in reliability over the last several decades, and we like to think we’re at the forefront of that and still improving the reliability and quality of Ford vehicles today.”

Thanks to medical technology then, Ford has another powerful tool at its disposal to give its customers added peace of mind. And with the ever-increasing reliability that machines like these help to create, it’s less likely than ever for drivers of Ford vehicles to need the help of the emergency services. Prevention, as they say, is better than cure!