From tailfins to connectivity

You’ve come a long way, baby. Here at LotPro.com, we can remember when it used to be all about tailfins. Back in the 60’s, car manufacturers – at least here in the U.S. – raced each other to see who could come out with the most outlandish tailfin design (in the end, it had to be the ’59 Cadillac). But in the new millennium, the latest consumer hot button seems to be all about affordable vehicle connectivity.

In a move that seems to have been every bit as prescient as hocking Ford up to its eyeballs as he did in 2006, CEO Alan Mulally formed a partnership with Microsoft that same year and announced that the new technology, called SYNC, would become available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models later that year.

More importantly, the decision was made to make the technology affordable ($395 as a stand-alone option and included at no cost on some trim levels – even in the Ford Focus) and to make it available across the entire vehicle lineup, not just the company’s luxury brands (its first production application was, in fact, in the Focus).

The payoff

Both decisions seem to have worked out brilliantly. In a world in which most automakers charge $1,000 or more for their infotainment systems, SYNC, which offers voice-activated, hands-free calling, audible text messages, calling features such as conference calling and call waiting, voice-activated music, voice recognition, ring tone support, phonebook transfer and a multilingual interface, is certainly a relative bargain. Since the system was introduced, Ford has sold many vehicles based, all or in part, on the fact that they were equipped with SYNC.

One particular advantage of a software-based system like SYNC is the ability to expand its applications. 2008 saw two application upgrades, Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™ while a new application, Traffic, Directions and Information, will be available this summer.

One million and counting

Since its introduction, SYNC has become synonymous with Ford. According to the company, more than 80 percent of the vehicles it sells in North America are equipped with the system.

Ford recently announced that it had delivered the 1 millionth SYNC equipped vehicle, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (coincidence? I think not) to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Not only that, but the guy who schlepped the vehicle to Microsoft headquarters was none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally (such a deal).

“We have made a commitment to deliver the vehicles that people really want and value,” Mulally said. “The success of SYNC is another proof point that we are doing just that. We will continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers’ lifestyles.”

Heute, Amerika, morgen die Welt (today America, tomorrow, the world)

So where does Ford go from here? “Working with Microsoft and other key technology partners, we’ve made Ford the connectivity leader in the auto industry,” said Jim Buczkowski, director of electrical and electronic systems. “We do not plan to stand still; we have several additional developments in the pipeline, including launching SYNC in Europe and around the world.”

Efficiency thy name is Fusion

Here at LotPro.com, we were planning on writing a follow-up to our original article (Ford Team to Drive 2010 Fusion Hybrid a Thousand Miles on a Single Tank of Gas) yesterday morning. That’s when Ford engineers had originally determined that the Fusion would hit the 1,000 mile mark of the original challenge.

But after logging into their Facebook page as well as checking their Tweets, it appeared that although the Fusion Hybrid had crossed the mileage target, there was still almost a third of a tank of petrol in the gas tank. So the team drove on.

Using drivers that have been trained in mileage-maximizing techniques (see below), the team of six managed to destroy their original estimated finish time of just over 43 hours as well as the 1,000 mile threshold. By the time the Fusion ran out of gas at 5:37 a.m. on Tuesday April 28th and rolled to a stop on the George Washington Parkway, it had beaten the first mark by more than 26 hours and the second by 445.7 miles – nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage (the Fusion’s official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank).

In the process of driving the challenge, announced on Earth Day, the team took several different routes around the Capital City that ranged from the fairly open (by D.C. standards) George Washington Parkway to a 3 mile stretch in the heart of the District that features roughly 30 traffic signals (lest you think this was just an easy jaunt around the countryside).

JDRF

As a bonus, the challenge team, which included Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards, was able to raise more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential,” said Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile.”

Maximum mileage techniques

You don’t have to be a NASCAR ace or an engineering geek to maximize your own vehicle’s mileage. Here are some tips from the pros and they include:

•    Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
•    Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
•    Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
•    Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
•    Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
•    Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
•    Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
•    Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
•    Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

For Ford, the hits just keep on coming

Certification on the new Ford Fusion Hybrid was completed this week and, not wasting a minute, Ford has announced that the new Fusion model is officially the most fuel-efficient mid-sized car in America with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg rating on the highway.

These figures mean that the Fusion handily tops the Toyota Camry’s city mileage by 8 mpg and highway figure by 2 mpg. Final certification was completed earlier in the week at Ford’s Allen Park, Michigan testing laboratories, which means Ford’s newest “green machine” even outpaced the Honda Civic Hybrid, besting the smaller car by 1 mpg in city driving (although the Civic holds an EPA rating of 45 mpg on the highway).

New Hybrid System

The new economy benchmark was a result of three years worth of engineering that culminated in the development of Ford’s next-generation hybrid propulsion system. The new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing (iVCT) enables spark and cam timing to be varied according to engine load for optimal fuel efficiency. In addition, a smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford’s previous hybrid system. Marrying these two technologies enables the Fusion to travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, as well as to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa.

“The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to run at a much higher speed in electric mode allows drivers to maximize fuel efficiently in many driving situations,” said Praveen Cherian, Fusion Hybrid program leader. “For example, this would allow drivers to travel around their subdivision and parking areas in all-electric mode.”

An Early Christmas Present

For Ford, facing congressional scrutiny on one side and battling a besieged credit market on the other, the news couldn’t have come at a better time. Here at LotPro.com, we hope, for Ford, that this is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

2010 Fusion Sport

Early major update and hybrid version available this spring

In the game of one-upmanship and survival of the fittest, the two latest offerings from Ford Motor Company aim to up the ante in the hotly-contested mid-sized sedan segment.

Time waits for no man, and that’s particularly true in the car business. This time around, the guys in Dearborn took a page from the playbook of their Japanese rivals and decided on a major re-work of both the Fusion and its cousin the Mercury Milan just three years into the current model’s life. The best news is that even though both will be given the 2010 model year designation, car buyers won’t have to wait long – both should be in dealer showrooms this spring.

2010 Mercury Milan

New Clothes

While both vehicles received a makeover, the biggest design changes occurred with the Fusion. Gone are the funky square headlights, replaced by a European-influenced trapezoidal lower air intake that sits below the familiar 3-bar grill. This time, however, a portion of the upper bar extends over new horizontal headlamps. The more aggressive front end is complimented by new fenders as well as a new domed hood.

Inside, the new instrument panel features a softer “skin”, while a new center stack an steering wheel give the Fusion a more contemporary look. Seats have also been revised with more side support, smoother bolsters and textured inserts. Options include new ambient lighting as well as Ford’s SYNC™ system, an option that surely sold many customers on the Focus.

2010 Fusion Interior

More Power

Under the hood, the Fusion’s 2.3 liter four has been replaced by a new 2.5 liter version. Horsepower is up by 15 to 175, while torque is up by over 10% (from 156 lb-ft to 172 lb-ft). Highway mileage, according to Ford, is an impressive 33 mpg, besting the Camry by 2 mpg and the Accord by 3 mpg.

The V-6 has also been massaged and now delivers 240 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, increases of 19 and 23, respectively, over the previous iteration. Both engines will be coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

2010 Fusion Hybrid

You’ll get a charge out of this

Alongside the new twins, Ford also unveiled hybrid versions of both models. Using the same 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing as the Escape/Mariner hybrids, the green-friendly models produce 155 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. New battery technology enabled the engineers to reduce their size by 30 percent while providing almost 20 percent more power than the previous generation.

Ford claims a top speed of 47 mph on battery power alone while besting the Camry’s city mpg by 5 and allowing for a whopping 700 mile city driving range.

2010 Milan Hybrid