Ford Of Ocala Newsletter Fiesta Edition
May is an exciting month at Ford of Ocala with the start of the Swap Your Ride Sales Event where you can save $1000 plus get 0% on many of your favorite new Ford models. We also had the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the all new 2011 Ford Fiesta. Click here for pictures.
Six Million and Counting   The car that's conquering Europe is coming soon to North America.
The Ford Fiesta, Europe's top-selling car in the first quarter of 2010, set another record today at the Ford Niehl Assembly Plant in Cologne, Germany. The Fiesta will begin to arrive in dealer showrooms in North America during the second quarter of 2010. We are expecting our first Fiesta's sometime in the 1st or 2nd week of June. The 6 millionth German-built Fiesta, a three-door Vision Blue Sport edition, with a 1.6-liter Ti -VCT engine (120 PS), destined for a German customer, rolled off the production line today - 31 years after the first one was produced here in October 1979. To date, seven generations of the Ford Fiesta have been built in Cologne in 1989 and the Niehl facility became "lead plant" for Fiesta production in Europe. Since Fiesta production began in Europe in 1976, the ever-popular car has sold over 13 million units in total and has been built in four Ford European manufacturing plants, including Cologne. The first car was built in Valencia, Spain in 1976, where – as with Niehl – the latest-generation Ford Fiesta continues to be built. From 1976 until 2002, the Fiesta was also built at Ford's Dagenham plant in the United Kingdom, and at the Saarlouis plant in Germany between 1976 and 1980. Over the years, thanks to increased production efficiency, more Fiestas have been built faster and to even higher quality levels at Niehl. Ford continues to be considered by industry experts to be one of the most efficient carmakers in Europe. It took ten years to reach the first million units production milestone of the Fiesta; the second millionth Fiesta rolled off the assembly line in less than half the time; the time between the fifth and sixth millionth Fiestas was just over three years. Around 4,300 employees are currently producing 1,885 Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion models daily in a flexible three-shift-system at the Niehl site. In 2009, the plant manufactured 406,200 cars in total – 350,500 Fiestas and 55,700 Fusions. About 80 per cent of the plant's total vehicle production is exported. Niehl production of the latest-generation Fiesta started in August 2008. Only 18 months after its debut, more than 750,000 customers have purchased the new Fiesta around the world, with more than 670,000 cars being sold in Europe. The Niehl Assembly Plant also played a key role in an initiative to introduce the new Fiesta to consumers in North America. Under its “Fiesta Movement” program, Ford selected 100 customers to drive the new Fiesta and then relate their experiences through social networking sites such as Facebook, FlickR and YouTube. A fleet of 100 five-door Fiestas for the program was built at the German plant and exported to North America in March 2009. Ford also will launch its global Fiesta in key Asian Pacific markets during 2010. Aside from Niehl and Valencia in Europe, the Fiesta also is built in Nanjing, China and Rayong, Thailand. The Ford Cuautitlàn Plant in Mexico will celebrate its first production Fiesta model in the coming weeks. Quotes "The Fiesta's success speaks for itself. Its innovative design combined with state-of-the-art technology continues to be a great hit with customers. To achieve six million units of production is a great milestone for Niehl, and one that everyone at the plant should be justly proud of achieving. This is not just a success for Ford, but also for Cologne, North Rhine Westphalia and Germany." – Ken Macfarlane, Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe
How to Ace an App-titude Test
Customers have spoken - asking for safe, convenient access to their smartphone apps while in the vehicle - and Ford is responding by announcing the new SYNC AppLink software that will allow hands-free voice control of popular smartphone apps. SYNC AppLink, a downloadable software upgrade, will be released for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with the award-winning SYNC communications and infotainment system later this year, allowing drivers hands-free control of apps on their Android or BlackBerry smartphones via voice commands and vehicle controls. Ford will introduce AppLink on most SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with other smartphones. The Android MarketTM and BlackBerry App World™ are among the leading growth markets for mobile apps. The new SYNC AppLink will seamlessly integrate apps using the vehicle's voice and user interface controls, including buttons on the steering wheel, increasing eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time. The first SYNC-enabled apps available later this year include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, with additional apps on the way. Updated versions of each app, incorporating the SYNC application programming interface (API), will be available through Android Market and BlackBerry App World for customers to download. Built-in, Beamed-in and Brought-in: The SYNC App Ecosystem From its introduction, Ford has been building an ecosystem of available SYNC apps, continuously improving the consumer experience. Built-in apps, including Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™, are downloaded and installed directly on the in-car SYNC operating system SYNC apps like Traffic, Directions & Information rely on beamed-in, or “cloud-based,” information. Drivers access the Ford Service Delivery Network, a network of data centers providing turn-by-turn directions, business searches, and on-demand news, sports and weather information, through a simple voice-connection using their cell phone. SYNC AppLink represents the third category of the ecosystem, brought-in apps, leveraging apps installed on a user’s smartphone, such as Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak Studies show mobile app development – a niche market just three years ago – is expected to blossom into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Sites serving specific mobile operating systems, such as Android and BlackBerry OS, have experienced massive growth, with analysts predicting the mobile device will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer. Ford and SYNC will answer the consumer demand by offering the only platform available for drivers to safely control their mobile devices and applications in the car. Leveraging SYNC’s safer voice commands and steering wheel controls, drivers are able to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. “Brought-in” apps residing on a consumer’s smartphone also eliminate the need for yet another piece of hardware to be installed in the car which only serves to add cost and complexity. Customers will be able to download SYNC-enabled mobile apps through the same app store interfaces currently used. As SYNC-enabled versions of existing apps are released into the app stores, users will be prompted to download the latest version upon connection. Also, as developers grasp the notion that the vehicle interior has opened to them, a new dimension of apps designed from the outset to maximize the unique in-car environment will follow. Opening the door to developers To facilitate future SYNC-enabled app development, Ford has also activated a new developer network on its SYNCmyride Web site (www.syncmyride.com/developer). Interested developers can find a link to submit innovative ideas, and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK). The package will allow developers to modify existing applications and create all-new apps that can successfully interface with SYNC. Working with trusted partners, Ford is completing beta-testing on the SDK. Once beta-testing is complete, a broader release of the development tools is planned for later this year. Initial reports have been positive, with one of Ford’s development partners creating a SYNC-enabled version of its app just three days after receiving the development tools. Quotes “The growth in smartphone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market. SYNC is the only connectivity system available that can extend that functionality into the car. AppLink will allow drivers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.” – Doug VanDagens, Director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization “We’re very pleased by the rapid development time and positive feedback we’ve seen from our first partners. We want to encourage all developers to visit our site and submit ideas, helping us tap into the global pool of innovation and creativity.” – Doug VanDagens, Director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization Fiesta has it all - and more
Going on sale this summer, the all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, sharp reflexes, and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers' expectations. With 15 class-exclusive features and technologies and projected best-in-class highway fuel economy, Fiesta brings efficiency and convenience together in one package. Fiesta is designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable. In fact, it is expected to deliver best-in-class convenience and connectivity with the available segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system. Fiesta also features an expressive color palette and available graphics. Already nearly 1,500 consumers have placed orders for the Ford Fiesta and more than 125,000 hand-raisers are showing an interest in the new fuel-efficient car. Customers can place their order for the new Fiesta today through Ford of Ocala and online at www.mynewfordfiesta.com
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Eyes on Road, Hands on Wheel - Any Questions?

A new Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study lends further evidence that voice-controlled Ford SYNC® helps drivers minimize electronics-related visual distractions compared to manually operating hand-held cell phones and music.

The study by VTTI -- to be released April 15 in Detroit at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress during a panel discussion titled "Human Factors in Driving and Automotive Telematics" -- supports the Institute's growing body of research on driver distraction and as well as a similar Ford study in 2009.

The study concluded that drivers were able to dial and complete other tasks more quickly and with less eyes-off-road time when using SYNC. At the same time, drivers manually operating phones and digital music players steered more erratically and looked away from the roadway for longer periods of time.

When study participants initiated a call, hand-held operation required more than 2.5 times as many glances away from the road and more than 4 times longer in total eyes-off-road time than when drivers used SYNC. For MP3 player song selection, hand-held operation required more than 6 times as many task-related glances than SYNC, and took more than 10 times longer in total eyes-off-road time.

Real-world results
VTTI's new study is consistent with the groundbreaking "100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study", completed in 2005 for the U.S. Department of Transportation. The study followed 109 drivers for one year and tracked more than 42,300 hours of driving data collected with over 2 million miles driven.

The 100-Car Study concluded that manually dialing a hand-held device while driving -- a task that requires looking away from the road --was almost 2.8 times riskier than normal driving. The study also showed that talking and listening on a phone while driving has a similar risk to normal driving.

Quotes

"This study suggests that keeping drivers' eyes on the road as much as possible is important for maintaining safe vehicle control, which is in line with recent naturalistic driving research."

-- Shane McLaughlin, Research Scientist, Center for Automotive Safety Research, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

"We know that people are going to have phone conversations and listen to music while they drive, and this research backs up what most of us instinctively know -- that while driving, it is better to place a call or select a song using a voice interface instead of doing it manually."

-- Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

"VTTI's real-world and controlled study results indicate that SYNC's voice interface offers substantial advantages compared to manually using a hand-held device to do the same task."

-- Dr. Louis Tijerina, Ford Senior Technical Specialist

Silence with a Splash of Lime Squeeze

For years, car buyers have understood the rule of thumb in the auto industry -- small cars deliver better fuel economy but are no match for larger, heavier vehicles when it comes to quietness inside the cabin.

But the 2011 Ford Fiesta is poised to shatter that age-old axiom by delivering a quiet ride that beats all other competitors in its small car class and even beats some larger cars in interior quietness.

This didn't happen by accident. With quietness becoming ever more important to customers, Ford engineers designed the sporty subcompact to meet the same noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) standards as larger Ford car lines.

The result: The Fiesta, which arrives in Ford showrooms this summer, has interior noise levels lower than the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris in 80 mph wind tunnel testing.

Ford engineers measure noise in sones -- a unit of perceived loudness inside the vehicle. In 80 mph wind tunnel testing on the highway, the inside of a Fiesta records 25.4 sones compared to 27.6 sones for the Honda Fit and 26.2 for the Toyota Yaris. The Fiesta also is quieter than the larger Toyota Corolla, which measures 30.3 sones.

Built off Ford's global B-car platform with high-strength steel, the new Fiesta for North America also features a quiet PowerShift transmission, an acoustic-laminated windshield and revised chassis and tire tuning.

Sounds of silence
A multitude of enhancements were made to the Fiesta interior noise control package to meet the unique expectations of North American drivers, including:

* Acoustic-laminated windshield, reducing wind noise
* Wind tunnel-optimized side-view mirrors, reducing wind noise
* Stiffened door modules, reducing the potential for rattles
* Rear-mounted roof antenna for less wind noise and improved aerodynamics
* Wind noise-optimized grille
* Additional sound-absorbent material throughout the cabin for a quiet interior
* Revised door seals for reduced wind noise

Fiesta's interior quietness performance excels in both 80 mph tests as well as 30 mph coarse road tests.

Transformational transmission
The PowerShift automatic is a North American-exclusive offering. This unique transmission, based on hyper-efficient manual transmission technology, not only provides the convenience of a traditional automatic, but also improves the interior quietness in Fiesta.

Fiesta's PowerShift engine and transmission mounts were specially tuned to eradicate driveline noise. In addition, this advanced transmission features Micro Slip, a technology that actually induces minimal clutch slip to enable smooth gear changes and isolate engine vibration.

The Fiesta also features all-season tires, specially tuned shock absorber valving, and increased front spring rates and damping -- all of which add up to a remarkably quiet ride.

Quotes
"A buyer of a larger car expects it to be quiet. For a Fiesta driver, the quiet cabin will be a welcome surprise, allowing them to better enjoy a conversation with a friend or their favorite road tunes."

-- Steve Pintar, Fiesta Chief Nameplate Engineer

"A smaller car can pose challenges for noise and vibration control. You have smaller spaces to work with, and there are always cost and material concerns to keep the car affordable. With Fiesta, we started with an unusually rigid structure that helps prevent rattles and then enhanced the global noise and vibration package to harmonize with a revised chassis, tire tuning and the revolutionary PowerShift automatic transmission -- a key factor in allowing Fiesta to deliver up to a projected 40 highway miles per gallon. Small-car buyers don't need to compromise a quiet cabin to enjoy top fuel economy."

-- Steve Pintar, Fiesta Chief Nameplate Engineer

Go Hohm to Recharge Your Batteries

Today, Ford and Microsoft are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future by announcing a new solution that will make electric vehicle ownership easier and more affordable for consumers.

The two companies are teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohmâ„¢ energy management application for Ford's electric vehicles. Ford is the first automaker announcing the use of Hohm, starting with the Focus Electric next year. Hohm will help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. It also should help utility companies manage the added demands of electric vehicles on the electric grid. ...

Plugging into the energy ecosystem

Both companies agree that effective management of the energy ecosystem is critical for electric vehicles to be successful and for consumer interest to grow. In a recent Accenture survey, 42 percent of consumers said they are likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle in the next two years.

Increasing numbers of electric vehicles, however, will have a significant impact on energy demand. That is because the addition of an electric vehicle to a household could effectively double home energy consumption while the vehicle is charging.

Ford and Microsoft agree that making energy management easy and affordable for consumers will be key to the success of electric vehicles in the marketplace as well as in creating a positive environmental impact.

Global electrification is underway

Introducing Hohm to Ford's electric vehicles supports Ford's aggressive global electrification plan, which will put five new electrified vehicles on the road in North America and Europe by 2013. In North America, they include the Transit Connect Electric later this year, Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and two next-generation hybrids in 2012.

America's largest domestic hybrid seller, Ford Motor Company today has four hybrids on the road and another coming this year. They include the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Also coming this fall is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which is expected to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America.

Life with electrified vehicles -- with full battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles needing to be recharged daily -- will require consumers to change how they think about personal transportation and energy use.

Hohm, an Internet-based service, is designed to help customers avoid unnecessary expense by providing insight into their energy usage patterns and suggesting recommendations to increase conservation. With Ford electric vehicles, Hohm also will help drivers to determine the best time to charge their vehicle. Smart recharging habits will help utility companies understand and better manage the increased demands placed upon the electric grid because of electrified vehicles.

Powerful partnerships

Ford and Microsoft's participation in the Hohm program builds on the success of their decade-long partnership to provide customers with superior in-car experiences. The Ford SYNC® communications and infotainment system, built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, has been installed on more than 2 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles since its launch in 2007, helping drivers connect and voice-control their mobile devices while driving.

Microsoft Hohm is available today for free to all U.S. residential energy consumers and has multiple partnerships with utilities and other stakeholders already in place. Ford is the first automaker to join in collaboration with Hohm.

Ford and Microsoft also plan to continue to work with utility partners and municipalities to help further develop the energy ecosystem. Ford's work includes collaboration with a dozen North American energy companies to road-test a fleet of 21 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid vehicles. The research has accumulated more than 160,000 miles of real-world data, which provided important groundwork for the new Hohm application.

Quotes

"Ford and Microsoft both share a strong commitment to contributing to a better world. Today, we begin the next major step in our working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable."

-- Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and CEO

"Electric vehicles will play an important role in the global effort to improve energy efficiency and address the issues of climate change and sustainability. But as the market for electric vehicles expands, it will have a significant impact on home energy consumption and demand across the nation's energy grid. With Microsoft Hohm, Ford and Microsoft will deliver a solution that will make it easier for car owners to make smart decisions about the most affordable and efficient ways to recharge electric vehicles, while giving utilities better tools for managing the expected changes in energy demand."

-- Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO

"Rechargeable vehicles represent a new frontier. Their commercialization will take broad-based collaboration and systems solutions," said Mulally. "Working together, Ford and Microsoft will provide the systems solutions to help facilitate this exciting future."

-- Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and CEO