Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Ford’s Domestic Brand Quality in Statistical Dead Heat with Toyota and Honda for 2008 Model Year
Ford Motor Company’s surging domestic quality is now equal to the best in the industry for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles collectively reduced “things gone wrong” (TGW) by 7.7 percent compared to last year and are now statistically equivalent with Honda (including Acura) and Toyota (including Lexus and Scion) atop the list of seven major automakers in the survey.
”This is One Ford at its best. It's taken thousands of people continuously working together with laser-like focus every day to boost vehicle quality for our customers to the top of the pack,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. “But this is a never-ending journey. The goal now is to distance ourselves from our top competitors. We want to be the sole quality leader."
Other highlights:
- The 2008-launched Ford F-Series Super Duty and the Lincoln Mark LT ranked first in their respective segments in both TGW and customer satisfaction.
- Ford Mustang GT 500 topped the sports car category in fewest TGW.
- Overall, 18 of 24 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recorded TGW improvements.
- Ford's newly launched Focus improved significantly in TGW and customer satisfaction, now equaling the Toyota Corolla in both categories.
- The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are significantly better in TGW than the Toyota Camry, which they tied in customer satisfaction.
- Ford ranked best in class for TGW performance in the functional areas of Vehicle Engineering and Electrical among major manufacturers.
The 2008 model-year GQRS survey, conducted for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., solicits feedback on vehicle trouble and customer satisfaction from owners of all major makes and models after three months in service.
Tags: 2008, F-Series, Ford Focus Ford Escape, Ford Mustang, Ford Sport Trac, Ford Taurus, Global Quality, GQRS, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln Navigator, Mercury Milan, Mercury Sable, Research System, ShelbyGT500, TGW
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Friday, June 27th, 2008
The popular Ford Focus bests industry segment average as most improved model.
A top industry study named Ford Focus the most improved model in the industry. The 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study by J.D. Power and Associates showed that Focus gained 88 index points over last year.
With the biggest improvement score in the industry, Focus performed better across all categories with significant improvements in the areas of fuel economy, audio/entertainment/navigation, interior styling and exterior styling.
Earning a 36-index point improvement was the Ford Escape, which put the strong seller in the top 10 of most improved vehicles in the industry. Five Ford Motor Company vehicles received second or third honors in their segments:
- Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 2nd place in Midsize Pickup segment
- Mazda CX7, 2nd place in Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) segment
- Mazda CX9, 2nd place in Midsize MAV segment
- Ford Focus, 3rd place in Compact Car segment
- Lincoln Navigator, 3rd place in Large Premium MAV segment
Overall, Ford moved up five positions to 22nd, with a 14-point improvement. Lincoln checked in at 12th place and Mercury placed 29th, improving by 12 index points.
Tags: Ford Escape, Ford Focus, Ford Quality, J.D. Power and Associates, Lincoln Navigator, Mazda CX7, Mazda CX9, Mercury, vehicle quality assurance
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Friday, June 6th, 2008
Ford brand quality improves at a rate faster than the industry average.
Year after year, Ford continues to make significant quality gains. According to the latest third-party study by J.D. Power and Associates, Ford’s brand vehicles increased in quality faster than the industry average.
Continuing its five-year upward trend and beating the industry average seven-point rate of improvement, Ford brand improved by eight points over last year’s study. Mercury improved by four points over last year, and the Lincoln brand exceeded the industry average. The Mazda brand improved the most, jumping 36 points from the 2007 study.
The Ford Motor Company received 10 vehicle honors, including three vehicles that scored highest rankings in their respective segments. They are:
- Lincoln Navigator, large premium multi-activity vehicle segment
- Ford E-Series, van segment
- Mazda MX5 Miata, compact sporty car segment
The 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS) by J.D. Power and Associates is based on responses from 81,500 new 2008 model-year vehicle owners after having driven their vehicles for three months.
Tags: Ford E-Series, Ford Quality, J.D. Power and Associates, Lincoln Navigator, Mazda MX5 Miata, Mercury, quality testing, vehicle quality assurance
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Thursday, June 5th, 2008
Premium materials and meticulous design delivers a luxury experience for customers.
The 2009 Lincoln MKS provides customers with a best-in-class interior volume of 105.9 cubic feet. And, the roominess extends to the luggage space – at 18.4 cubic feet, the luggage space is nearly four times larger than some competitors.
Premium materials such as chrome, wood, aluminum and leather have been integrated into interior features. Other design elements include:
- Leather seats that are double-stitched to ensure quality.
- A modern, symmetrical instrument panel design that is also featured in the Lincoln Navigator, MKZ sedan and MKX crossover.
- Comfortable seats that feature side bolster support, and four-way lumbar support (up, down, inboard and outboard) for additional comfort on long trips.
- Segment-exclusive standard heated seats for rear passengers.
Committed to “guilt-free luxury”, the new Lincoln flagship sedan also incorporates interior design details that are also more environmentally responsible:
- Soft leather seats chosen for their chromium-free, organic tanning process.
- Reclaimed ebony wood, used for some models, obtained from furniture makers and other sources.
Tags: Lincoln MKS, Lincoln Navigator, luxury design, luxury vehicle, MKX crossover, MKZ sedan, vehicle roominess
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Thursday, May 1st, 2008
The award-winning SYNC in-car communication system is now available to select Navigator customers.
Ford has just released its first dealer-installed SYNC kit that is fully functional, completely seamless and upgradeable to support SYNC features and functions. The installation time is quick, taking under two hours, and at under $550 dollars, the retrofit kit is highly affordable.
Owners of select 2008 Navigator or Navigator L models can get the Ford SYNC retrofit kit installed in vehicles equipped with the Elite Package that includes the voice-activated navigation radio and rear seat DVD. Vehicles must also have been built after December 4, 2007.
There is no need for an add-on HMI or microphone to operate SYNC as the system uses the existing steering wheel button controls and voice-activation functionality connected to the navigation system.
Committed to continually improving in-car connectivity, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle owners that have either factory- or dealer-installed SYNC will be able to upgrade the system's software and access future features and functions. Two new features that will be introduced later in 2009 include:
911 Assist – This free-of-charge accident assistance feature can place a call to a local 911 operator should the air bag deploy. The driver must have a cell phone that is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC.
Vehicle Health Report (VHR) – Customers can stay on top of all vehicle maintenance with a simple voice request at any time. Vehicle owners first set up their personal preferences at the SYNC Web site (www.syncmyride.com).
These types of ongoing innovations have ensured that Ford SYNC is on track to reach 1 million sales in 2009. This summer Ford SYNC will be available to the all-new Ford Flex, F-150 and Lincoln MKS. The 2009 model year Lincoln Navigator, which will launch later this year, will come factory-equipped with SYNC as a standard feature.
Tags: 911 Assist, Ford F-150, Ford Flex, in-car connectivity, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Navigator L, SYNC, Vehicle Health Report (VHR)
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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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