Name: Mitch
Email:
Web Site: http://www.capitalfordlincoln.ca
Bio: Hey! I'm Mitch, resident Habs fan and huge RoughRider supporter. I've worked with Capital/Percival since 07' and love being a part of our team. I've worked for our sales team as a Product Specialist and now that I take care of our Internet presence I love to share info about our vehicles. If you ever have a question you can't find an answer to, email me at mitchg@ CapitalFordlincoln.ca and I'll be happy to help!
Posts by mitch:
Some More Green Awards For Ford
March 8th, 2010The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid earned the inaugural Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award at the Chicago Auto Show. The award is named for the late Dave Hermance, the legendary engineer and vocal proponent of hybrid-electric vehicles who died in 2006 at the age of 59 when his experimental plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean.
The Hermance award, which is given by BermanWorks, the media company behind HybridCars.com, honors new North American vehicles that best represent the vision of practical efficiency and risk-taking – two qualities the engineering wizard and avid pilot cherished. The voting committee recognized Fusion Hybrid for “setting a whole new benchmark” for mainstream hybrid-electric vehicles.
“The word that most evokes the design and engineering accomplishment seen in the Ford Fusion Hybrid is integration,” the Hermance Committee said in its official statement. “Any remnants of dissonance in joining the yin of gasoline with the yang of electricity – whether for the feel of regenerative braking or the twinge of motor-generator and engine transitions – have been erased. The result is a product that is indeed a feat of seamless fusion, one that truly creates a new paradigm for how hybrid cars should drive.”
The Hermance committee went on to praise Fusion Hybrid’s “no compromise” drivability and functionality as well as its SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide human-machine interface. Its independent members also predicted that the Fusion Hybrid will “stand the test of time as a product that, years from now, will mark the beginning of when hybrids became transparent in terms of how they operate.”
The committee concluded that Dave Hermance himself would approve of Ford’s accomplishment with the Fusion Hybrid, “marrying a seamless, sophisticated hybrid powertrain to a highly competitive product, positioned solidly in the middle of the mainstream market.”
Funny Friday – Runnin’ From the Cops!
March 5th, 2010For the first Funny Friday of March we’re pullin’ out an oldy’ but a godie! If you haven’t seen this Ford Mustang video yet it’s hilarious.
Can’t see the video – CLICK HERE
What’s best about this video is it’s pretty believable. I can totally see Regina’s finest pulling a stunt like this with a poor young guy sitting in the back of a squad car, lord knows there’s tons of rookies cruising around Regina in the white crown vic’s with the big numbers on the side who would love to pull this off.
At the heart of it all is some pure fun which is what the Mustang does best. Whether you’re having fun trying to impress a guy/girl with you car or getting a rush ripping out to Moose Jaw or Saskatoon, the Ford Mustang is perfect…. mostly perfect, not exactly wonderful for winter. Just make sure when your having fun you don’t run into a situation that could put you in the shoes of the poor guy in the video!
Have a great weekend, from our team at Capital Ford!
What’s A Dream Home Without A Smart Garage?
March 1st, 2010
Funny Friday – Mustang is Far To Cool
February 26th, 2010The Onion News is the king of satire and it’s tongue in cheek articles are often criticized for being far to over the top but most times you can’t help snikering at their off the wall articls. Below is a great example involving the Ford Mustang. I thought it was appropriate to bring a little levity to recalls given the current buzz around the automotive industry. Read the rest of this entry “
2011 Ford Edge – The Power Of Choices!
February 24th, 2010Remember when vehicles came with only one powertrain option? Ah, those were simpler times. But there’s something to be said about having options, too. After all, variety is the spice of life.
The 2011 Ford Edge, which launches this summer, showcases Ford’s impressive drive to bring new powertrain options to the customer. Both the Edge 3.5-liter V-6 and Edge Sport 3.7-liter V-6 use advanced engine valvetrain technology (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, or Ti-VCT) and clever control strategies to increase horsepower and torque to best-in-class levels. This beats competitors such as the BMW X5, Lexus RX350 and Audi Q5, all while delivering unsurpassed fuel economy.
The 3.5-liter V-6 produces 285 horsepower and 253 ft.-lb. of torque while the 3.7-liter V-6 delivers 305 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of torque – all on regular fuel. Edge’s unsurpassed fuel economy is not at the expense of power and performance. For example, the 3.5-liter V-6 with Ti-VCT technology delivers highway fuel economy that is 15 percent better than the Nissan Murano but produces 20 horsepower more.
Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The SelectShift Automatic™ transmission is standard on the 2011 Edge SEL and Limited series, with class-exclusive paddle activation of the SelectShift standard on the 2011 Edge Sport.
In addition, the arrival of the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine in the months ahead will give customers yet more choice and will deliver class-leading fuel economy with impressive power and torque. All of this will be mated to a six-speed transmission that will help channel the impressive performance from the new EcoBoost engine. Since the launch of Edge in 2006, fuel economy performance has been drastically improved. With the introduction of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, fuel economy on the 2011 Edge will be 30 percent better than it was in 2006.
Ford Edge SEL
In Saskatchewan the Edge is a solid performer. All the standard features combine well with an available AWD system, helping out on icy roads or wet highways. With an Edge in the family, my wife and I have found ourselves driving on gravel. In Saskatchewan? Go figure. One of the features that gives some piece of mind is simple, but smart. On the bottom 8″ (or so) the Ford Edge is wrapped in a black textured plastic, including a lip shooting out about a half inch on the sides. The lip deflects and stones or debris and the plastic absorbs any road rash. When you’re in town and the vehicle is shined up it looks as good as the day you picked it up here at Capital Ford.
With the new MyFord touch systems and the refined features of the new 2011 Edge, we’re sure to see an increase in demand from one of our best sellers. What do you think of the new look of the Ford Edge?
Interview With Thomas Niemann From Ford’s Sustainability Dept.
February 22nd, 2010
When you’re Ford Motor Company you employ well over 200,000 people, you operate on all continents and you have an awfully big, full plate of things to worry about. With so much going on in the global arena Ford does a great job keeping steadfast on all important environmental, human rights and sustainability goals. At times this comes at the expense of profit but they understand in the long haul, doing what’s right is important. As a small town Saskatchewan Ford dealer we’re nothing more then a tiny blip on a radar for Ford. For us it was a huge deal when we contacted some great folks charged with Ford’s digital communications via Twitter, who arranged a telephone interview with Thomas Niemann, manager of Ford’s Sustainability Report, which interestingly is Ford’s only report that isn’t a financial one.
When we got on the phone with Thomas we dived right into it, asking how he got his start at Ford.
After Thomas explained his interest in sustainability and the natural progression to becoming the global Sustainability Report Manager for Ford Motor Company I asked him for a little bit of background into life in the Ford Sustainability Department and what he liked best about working in such a key role for FoMoCo.
Just last week, the Leafy Lundi was centered around the Transit Connect Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in an article titled Get connected with a Green Fleet. It was launched at the Chicago auto show in the middle of February and is very impressive for small business owners. You can read all about it on our blog but we wanted to know when it was expected to hit the road in Canada for our customers.
The Transit Connect is great for small business but most folks are looking for a vehicle to get to and from work, get the kids to the rink on the weekends, go on a quick weekend excursion or hopefully to the airport for a brief winter hiatus to somewhere hot. The next question was how this technology could be adapted for regular consumers and more importantly what will be the next (BEV) coming down the pipe that isn’t a work van?
Ford is proud to feature EcoBoost technology, award winning hybrids and now the BEV’s, there are some competing elements there for a greener environment. We’re curious to know how they will all shake out going forward and if one will squeeze out another or if they are all in harmony as a well rounded “Green Ninja” of a portfolio.
In 2011 the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or café as it’s normally called is raising the bar and broadening the scope of vehicles. This café could be incredibly taxing (well beyond Starbucks!!) for manufacturers. Forget headache, this will be a severe migraine for manufacturers who don’t meet standards. The requirements take every single vehicle sold across the US and Canada then assess a penalty of $5.50 USD for every 0.1 mpg under the standard….. so very roughly for Ford it would mean $80 MIL for ever 0.1 MPG not meeting the standard. We wanted to know how Ford stacks up against other car makers and what the plan is to high jump this raised bar.
Recently posted on The Ford Story website was an article about Ford’s Go Green Dealership program. As a dealership, leveraging Ford’s expertise in sustainability is an attractive offer. Capital Ford has implemented multiple recycling stations for paper and cans along with some electricity conservation measures but the voluntary Ford program takes it to another level. We wanted to know if we had a shot at being a Go Green dealer and if there are any being built or retrofitted to date.
Of course, what would a good interview be without a dig for something ground breaking that no one knows about yet and has yet to cover. We asked Thomas for a peek down the rabbit hole to what’s the next new, big extraordinary effort coming from Ford sustainability next.
On behalf of Capital Ford we want to acknowledge the interview with a huge Saskatchewanian “Thank You” to Thomas, who just before taking my call just ended a conference call with some European counterparts. He’s a very busy man and we’re privileged to take up a little of his time. I’d be crazy not to thank Ms. Gwen Peake for putting the whole thing together for us. As the Global Digital Communications Manager for Ford I’m confident she has little time to spare and we’re awfully lucky to have won her support.
You can check out all of Ford’s Sustainability Reports all the way back to 2001 on their website here.
A Little Tailgate Time With Guillermo
February 19th, 2010If you watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” you probably know Guillermo, Kimmel’s jovial sidekick. It seems that, it has been Guillermo’s lifelong dream to appear on a float during the Mardi Gras Tucks parade in New Orleans. At one point, Guillermo eats “muffaletta” sandwiches with New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas before acquiring sage advice from Saints safeties Roman Harper and Darren Sharper. Where else could this take place but on the tailgate of a 2010 Ford F-150.
Get connected with a Green Fleet
February 15th, 2010Fleet operators are among the early adopters of electric vehicles. That’s because their vehicles typically travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments and they have a central location for daily recharging.
Well, Ford Motor Company has what may be the ultimate electric fleet vehicle going into production later this year – the zero-emissions, all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect – the 2010 North American Truck of the Year.
The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics. Read the rest of this entry “
European Ford’s To Make Appearance In Canada
February 12th, 2010Yeah, I know… there’s nothing funny about that title at all. In fact it’s true, European Ford’s are on their way to Canada in the form of a fun, compact, stylish and if I can use the term “wicked” car named Fiesta. We just hope they bring some of the features that we’ve seen in some of the Ford’s over there like the Ka. Yeah, that’s really its name, Ka. Check out the video below to see what we mean!
Mom’s & Dad’s Rejoice Over Ford MyKey™
February 10th, 2010On a sad note this is that last of the Taurus VS posts. The bright side is we’ve saved the best for last. This post will pit the Ford Taurus VS hormonal teens who would love to drive the SHO to the limits. This is a particular post that Mom’s and Dad’s will find as comfortable as a warm reassuring hug.
I have to tell you, thinking back at how I drove my parents mini-van there’s no chance I would pass up a technology like MyKey when my wife and I have children. Before I get into the specifics of how MyKey™ will save you’re vehicle from you children check out this great video showcasing a few of the highlights. Read the rest of this entry “
