Monday, April 7th, 2008
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury quality increases by 8 percent and customer satisfaction up to 77 percent in GQRS study.
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury is now in statistical tie with Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus/Scion according to the first quarter 2008 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study. The study, which is conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, surveys customers of all major automotive makes and models on car troubles and asks owners to rate their overall satisfaction with their three-month-old vehicles.
With a combined average of 1,284 things-gone-wrong (TGW) per 1,000 vehicles during the first three months of ownership, Ford’s domestic brands improved 8 percent versus last year. This performance is statistically equivalent to the 1,250 TGW level of Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus/Scion.
Some other key findings from the GQRS report include:
- Ford/Lincoln/Mercury’s customer satisfaction rating has also risen to 77 percent.
- The new 2008 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable both recorded quality levels that equate to less than one problem per vehicle, as did the Volvo S80 (947).
- The Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ were close, with 1,030 TGW and 1065 TGW, respectively.
- Taurus showed a 33 percent quality improvement compared with the product it replaced.
- The new Ford Escape improved 16 percent over the out-going model, and the new Ford Focus improved 13 percent.
- 36 of 40 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda nameplates improved this year versus 2007.
- Ford earned best-in-class honors for interiors and electrical, two important engineering functions.
- Ford tied for best-in-class in two other functions, paint and vehicle engineering, which includes such areas as ride and handling and cabin quietness.
When it comes to TGW, customer satisfaction or both, a total of 15 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles ranked in the top three of their respective segments. Segment leader models are:
- Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – TGW for sports car
- Ford Taurus – customer satisfaction for large car
- Ford Sport Trac – customer satisfaction for medium traditional utility
- Mercury Milan – TGW for midsize car
- Lincoln Navigator – TGW and customer satisfaction for large premium utility
Tags: 2008 Ford Focus, Ford Escape, Ford Mustang ShelbyGT500, Ford Sport Trac, Ford Taurus, Global Quality Research System, GQRS, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln Navigator, Mercury Milan, Mercury Sable, TGW
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Friday, February 29th, 2008
Ford Focus attracts younger buyers seeking sync, connectivity and fuel economy
Focus’ retail sales have been up year-over-year for the past three months – and February retail sales also are tracking above year-ago levels. The small car’s sales were up 18 percent in November – the car’s first full month on the market – followed by a 9 percent increase in December and 33 percent in January.
J.D. Power sales data show that 32 percent of 2008 Focus year buyers are 16 to 35 years old. That’s up from 28 percent of 2007 Focus buyers.
Helping drive the trend: More Millennials who are becoming drivers – and vehicle buyers. Born between 1980 and 1995, approximately 70 million Millennials live in the U.S. Each day, more than 11,000 of these savvy consumers reach driving age, looking for stylish, fuel-efficient vehicles that feature the latest technology.
Ford is ready with a mix of accessible vehicles – including Focus – that feature industry-leading connectivity technology with SYNC, improved fuel economy, an array of safety features and creature comforts such as the popular ambient lighting feature that allows occupants to cycle the cabin lighting through seven available colors depending on their mood.
SYNC’s advanced capability allows consumers to access the songs, artists, genres, albums, play lists and more through voice commands. Powered by Microsoft and launched in the fall of 2007, the award-winning system is available in 12 vehicles from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.
- Ford Focus sales are gaining momentum, with three consecutive months of year-over-year retail sales volume increases. February sales are on track to trump February 2007 retail sales.
- Ford’s strategy of simplifying the Focus vehicle line, along with offering affordable industry-first SYNC technology, is paying off.
- Nearly 40 percent of the 2008 model year Focus units sold during the past three months included SYNC. SYNC-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles sell nearly twice as fast as those without.
Tags: 2008 Ford Focus, Ford Focus, fuel economy, Lincoln Links, Mercury, Microsoft, Millenials, SYNC
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Thursday, January 24th, 2008
Someone Will Drive Away in a 2008 Focus in 'SYNC Your Life' Video Contest
Ford Motor Company introduces the 'SYNC Your Life' video contest that lets you imagine how you could voice-activate your life – just like the Ford SYNC in-car communication and entertainment system lets you listen to mp3 players and use your cell phone hands-free while you drive. You can SYNC your morning coffeemaker, your exercise machine, the door to your house – the sky's the limit and creativity counts.
The contest prizes are:
- Grand Prize: One person wins a 2008 Ford Focus SES equipped with SYNC; the winner’s video will be used in an online advertisement.
- First Prize: 5 winners will receive a Sony DVD high-definition handycam camcorder.
- Second Prize: 5 winners will receive an Xbox 360 Arcade.
- Third Prize: 5 winners will receive a $100 AMEX gift card.
After you've made your video, you upload it to
http://www.jumpcut.com/syncyourlife/. You can also upload raw footage of your video shoot and edit it online. Keep in mind that there is a 100 MB limit on individual files, and it’s best to mark your video as “private – not remixable.”
You can upload your video until May 14, 2008, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Tags: 2008 Ford Focus, Ford Focus, Ford Focus SES, Ford SYNC, SYNC, SYNC video, SYNC your life contest, video contest
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Sunday, October 14th, 2007
Sharp Character Lines Define the 2008 Ford Focus
For the new 2008 Focus, Ford’s design team drew inspiration from the highly successful Fusion, borrowing that car’s prominent chrome-bar grille design, flared wheel arches and sweeping, crisp lines to create a small car that stands out with a sporty stance.
Available in two body styles – two-door coupe, a first for Focus and the four-door sedan – in S, SE and SES trims.
Tags: 2008 Ford Focus, exterior, Focus S, Focus SE, Focus SES, Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, four-door Focus sedan, grille design, small car, two-door Focus coupe
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Sunday, October 14th, 2007
Connect Your Digital Life to Your Drive Life
Industry-exclusive Ford SYNC™ is a fully integrated, voice- activated in-car communications and entertainment system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players.
Now accessible and affordable. One might expect this technology to be available only on luxury vehicles, but Ford SYNC is standard on the 2008 Ford Focus SES and priced at $395 as an option on other Focus trims.
Value Leader. The 2008 Ford Focus starts at $14,695 and offers the best value in its segment along with an all-new design, fuel economy in the mid-30s and such available class-exclusive features as Ford Sync™ and factory-installed ambient lighting.
Tags: 2008 Ford Focus, 2008 Ford Focus SES, digital media players, Ford SYNC, mobile phones, SYNC, Technology
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Sunday, October 14th, 2007
Convenient Features of 2008 Ford Focus Enhance the Driving Experience
- Look up. A new “top of dash” display, positioned at eye level at the top of the center stack, is easier and quicker to read when driving.
- Focus at your fingertips. A new “poke-through” center console design houses the controls for the audio and climate control as well as standard auxiliary input jack and two power points. In vehicles equipped with SYNC, the associated USB port is located on the center stack near the power points.
- Lets you set the mood. Adding to the appeal of the interior, the 2008 Focus comes with an available next-generation, color-configurable interior ambient lighting system. Taking the customizable dashboard lighting system first introduced on the 2005 Mustang to the next level, the ambient lighting system on the 2008 Focus can change the light inside the cupholders and in the front and rear footwells. The driver or front-seat passenger can choose from seven different colors, including red, orange, blue, indigo, violet, green and yellow, simply by cycling through a dash-mounted switch.
Tags: 2005 Mustang, 2008 Ford Focus, Focus interior, lighting system
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Sunday, October 14th, 2007
Highlights of the Focus Over the Years
2007: All-new 2008 Focus introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
2006: Focus gets AutoPacific’s first Ideal Vehicle Award as top-rated compact car, 2006
2005: Ford reworks Focus with major design and engineering improvements
2003: Ultra-clean Focus PZEV introduced
2002: High-performance SVT Focus excites “hot hatch” enthusiasts
2000: Focus is Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year and MotorWeek’s Best Small Car and wins North American Car of the Year
Tags: 2007 NAIAS, 2007 North American International Auto Show, 2008 Ford Focus, Automobile Magazine, AutoPacific, awards, Ford Focus, hot hatch, Ideal Vehicle Award, MotorWeek, North American Car of the Year, small car
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