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.”

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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!

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DTE Energy of southeastern Michigan invited PHEV-curious consumers into its “Smart Garage” at the North American International Auto Show. What the heck is a PHEV? Well it’s a hybrid-hybrid. Confused? It’s pretty simple actually. You have a normal hybrid vehicle that can be plugged in and ran as an electric vehicle. Once that energy starts to run a little low the normal hybrid system fires up.  AT the NAIAS, DTE energy demonstrated how electric vehicle users will use smart meter technology to recharge their vehicle using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.

In this video, DTE Energy manager Hawk Asgeirsson talks about the potential for electric vehicles and smart garages.

Learn more about Ford’s work with its utility partners.

What will they think of next?

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Wait a second… Run that past me again… How does that work? No wonder everybody wants one.

The new 2011 Ford Mustang with 3 all-new powertrains has three times more orders than the 2010 model in its first month, and half of all nationwide orders are for the new, class-leading 3.7-liter V-6 engine.

Nearly 11,000 Mustangs have been ordered since order banks opened in late January.

Fifty percent of the 2011 Mustang orders are for V-6 models, which feature a new, high-performance, all-aluminum Duratec 3.7-liter dual overhead-cam (DOHC) Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) engine. This new engine delivers 305 horsepower and an expected best-in-class EPA fuel efficiency of 30 mpg on the highway – a 25 percent improvement versus the 2010 model.

2011 Mustang V-6 order levels are up 19 percent versus the new 2010 model orders.

A first-ever Mustang Club of America (MCA) Special Edition package available on V-6 models generated three times more orders than expected. Plus, the California Special series – which is available on the Mustang GT and harkens back to the original 1968 feature vehicle – are triple the expected rates.

2011 Mustangs also are being equipped with record levels of technology. Navigation is specified on 18 percent of orders. High-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps are on 26 percent of vehicles. Rear-view cameras are on 10 percent – all up from 2010.

“The new engine transforms Mustang. Everything people love about the car lives on, and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, the feel, the fuel efficiency, even the sound of the best sports cars in the world.” – Steve Ling, Ford North America Car Marketing Manager

For the 2011 model, 41 percent of orders are for Mustang GTs.

The Mustang GT’s modern 5.0-liter four-valve, Ti-VCT V-8 engine delivers 412 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque. At the same time, highway fuel economy is projected to be better than the previous model and unsurpassed in the segment.

On a lighter note there was a great article on Onion news a while back about the Ford Mustang and in the wake of all the recall commotion in the industry right now it caused a little bit of chaos here at Capital Ford when it was rumoured that the Ford Mustang ran the risk of being recalled and possibly not even launched for 2011. Of course none of this is true. The king of satire that is Onion news crafted a well written article about the Ford Mustang, titled “Ford Mustang recalled for being too cool.” It’s our Funny Friday this week.

It’s only February and we’re already getting amped up for the 2011 Mustang here at Capital Ford. It’s great to see a classic muscle car like the Mustang, a leader in the segment, step up with some incredible refinements. It’s will no doubt continue to lead the pack.

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DETROIT—-Ford officials issued a massive recall of the entire Mustang line Tuesday, apologizing for a quality-control oversight that led to the company manufacturing a badass muscle car that was way too awesome for the American public. “We deeply regret this lapse in judgment and accept full responsibility for the mistake,” Ford CEO Alan R. Mulally said standing beside a gorgeous, cherry-red vehicle recalled for being “way too smoking.” “After numerous road tests, we’ve found the car to be a mean, mean ride that Americans are simply not cool enough to handle, and it would be irresponsible of us to allow anyone to get behind the wheel of this killer car. It’s truly frightening how sweet the Mustang is.” According to Mulally, Ford has canceled production on the 2011 Mustang, and will instead release a line of fuel-efficient vehicles in an effort to appeal to boring old Americans.

You can check out similar articles on the Onion News website. I hope that brought a smile to your face and that you have a great weekend which all starts tonight with a huge win over Slovakia! GO CANADA GO!

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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?

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When we got on the phone with Thomas we dived right into it, asking how he got his start at Ford.

How did you get your start with 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.

Can you give us a glimpse into the your career at FoMoCo? It must be fun!

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.

When do you expect the Battery Electric Transit Connect to hit the road?

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?

Are there any other battery electric vehicles coming down the pipe?

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.

How do the 3 main “green” initiatives fit in with sustainability?

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.

How is Ford positioned to meet upcoming fuel economy mandates? (CAFE)

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.

Can you tell us about the voluntary Go-Green program for dealers?

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.

Can you give us a peek down the rabbit hole at anything big new or cool?

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.

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The Fiesta is set to be a leader in fuel economy with a best-in-class 50 (canadian) MPG with a quick response 1.6L engine.  It will also be equipped with a DOHC I-4, 6 speed transmission with electric power assist.

Fiesta will also be available in 4 & 5 door body styles.  This little car is set to be a game changer for Ford.  Its impact has already been felt around the world with the release and sale of 500,000 units in Europe & Asia.  The idea behind the Fiesta was to put into play a car that was compact, but that offered world class quality.

“Fuel economy leaders have traditionally been manual shift models,” said Pierro Aversa, team leader for transmissions. “Fiesta changes the game by offering an advanced PowerShift six-speed automatic that delivers maximum fuel economy”

With dual clutches, the engine will always maximize its responsiveness and fuel efficiency.  This responsiveness will be determined by the input received by the accelerator pedal.  As well, a nice new twist given to the Fiesta is technology taken from its cousin, the Escape.  Equipped with EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering), this will allow for easier turning and parallel parking manoeuvres.  This technology will be equipped in 90% of Ford’s line up by 2013.

With safety being on most people’s mind when buying a car, it is especially important in a compact.  The Fiesta will be equipped with dual stage first row airbags, and class exclusive driver’s knee airbag.  It will also be equipped with side air bags and side curtain air bags.

The frame of the Fiesta has been build with approximately 50% boron steel in all critical areas, making it best-in-class for occupant safety.  This “little “car has been tested and retested for the pounding it will take on our North American roads, and by all accounts is more than ready.

The new Ford Fiesta is coming to Capital Ford soon… in fact ordering just opened for our stock today!

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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.

Getting charged up and moving

Transit Connect Electric, which will accelerate at a similar rate as the gas-powered Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 125 km/h, has a targeted range of up to 140 kilometers on a full charge.

Owners will have the option of recharging the Transit Connect Electric with either a standard 120V outlet or preferably a 240V charge station, similar to your oven, installed at the user’s base of operations for optimal recharging in six to eight hours. A transportable cord that works with both types of outlets will be available for recharging at both kinds of locations.

The vehicle’s charge port is located above the passenger-side rear wheel well. The onboard liquid-cooled 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is charged by connecting the charge port. Inside the vehicle, an onboard charger converts the AC power from the electric grid to DC power to charge the battery pack.

Driving on electric power

When the vehicle is operating, battery power is provided to the drive motor through the electric powertrain’s motor controller. The motor controller uses throttle input from the driver to convert DC power supplied by the battery into three precisely timed signals used to drive the motor.

The onboard DC/DC converter allows the vehicle’s main battery pack to charge the onboard
12V battery, which powers the vehicle’s various accessories, such as headlights, power steering and coolant pumps.

In the Transit Connect Electric, the battery pack has been efficiently integrated without compromising interior passenger room and cargo space. The battery pack is expected to last the life of the vehicle.

An ideal platform

• With a unique combination of car-like driving dynamics, cargo capacity, accessibility and low purchase and operation costs, the Transit Connect is an ideal choice for electrification.
• The Transit Connect Electric is expected to offer lower cost of operation, because recharging with electricity is generally less expensive than refueling with gasoline. Users may also benefit from much lower maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. Consider the following:
• The number of components typical in an internal combustion engine and transmission are dramatically reduced in an electric vehicle to just a few moving parts in the electric motor and transaxle, which results in much fewer parts to wear out or maintain
• Electric powertrains operate with solid state electronics, which have demonstrated low or no maintenance over the life of the product
• Electric vehicles have completely sealed cooling systems that do not require refilling, replacement or flushing
• Electric vehicles require no oil changes or tune-ups
• There are no belts to wear out or break and no spark plugs or injectors to clean or adjust
• There is no exhaust system to replace and no liquid fuel system to freeze or clog
• The use of regenerative braking reduces wear and tear on brake pads

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