It sounds like something from a science fiction movie.
Partnering with top-ranked national and international universities, the Ford “Atoms to Engines” team challenged skeptics to develop the world’s first virtual materials modeling prediction tool. Come again? It’s a tool that allows the team to simulate the microstructures of a material before the first prototype is built.
In other words… the Atoms to Engines team blends engineering and science to develop physics-based computer models that predict how properties and materials will behave and change during the manufacturing process. Building these computer models integrates the study of product performance, manufacturing and materials; in some cases it requires analyzing metals down to their atomistic level.
The result? Components are more durable and efficiently constructed, which saves the company considerable development time and money. In fact, the process is estimated to save Ford between $2 and $5 million a year in reducing test requirements and product development time.
Computational materials engineering also has been used on the recently released 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ block and head and the soon-to-be-released 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel, where the technology enabled the use of aluminum cylinder heads, for a 160-pound weight savings.
Learn more about Ford’s Atoms to Engines team and its work in computational materials engineering.
Quote
“Computational materials engineering is about blending engineering and science. Why is it worth it? Reduction of test time. Higher-quality parts. In other words, you’re getting the highest possible quality at the lowest possible cost.”
– John Allison, Senior Technical Leader, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering
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Posts Tagged ‘performance’
Perfecting Quality and Performance Atom by Atom
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Tags: Atom, EcoBoost, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford “Atoms to Engines” team, performance, Power Stroke®, quality
Posted in Ford Quality - text | No Comments »
Three Times the Charm
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Editors at Popular Mechanics today announced the winners of the magazine’s 2010 Automotive Excellence Awards, and Ford Motor Company set a precedent, winning more categories in a single year than any other automaker in the history of the awards.
The Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards recognize the best in automotive design, execution and technology for 2010 model year vehicles in 10 categories. Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT500 won the award in the Performance category, Transit Connect took top honors in the Workhorse category and F-150 SVT Raptor earned the award in the Off-Road Ability category.
Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company, accepted the awards on behalf of the Ford team.
To determine award winners, Stewart says editors of Popular Mechanics travel the globe and spend thousands of miles behind the wheel of every new car and truck introduced by the world’s automakers. After months of hands-on testing and research, the team nominates a list of vehicles in each category, then votes on the winners.
2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – Performance Category Winner
The editors of Popular Mechanics describe the Mustang Shelby GT500 as a new superpower to contend with in the 21st-century muscle car wars.
“The Mustang Shelby GT500 – with its incredibly potent 5.4-liter V-8 engine – certainly impressed us,” said Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics. “But it was Ford Special Vehicle Team’s (SVT) refinement of the chassis that made our staff declare the GT500 the best Mustang in the model’s long 45-year history.”
2010 Ford Transit Connect – Workhorse Category Winner
Popular Mechanics editors praise the Ford Transit Connect as a fresh alternative to a full-size van that is packaged to address the pressures of the economy, urban congestion and fluctuating gas prices.
“It was the brilliant combination of the Transit Connect’s efficient use of space – and fuel – that won over our team,” said Stewart. “This vehicle proves that small vehicles can handle big jobs, and it comes at an ideal time when contractors and other business owners are looking to downsize and save on fuel.”
2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – Off-Road Ability Category Winner
“The most extreme high-speed 4x4 pickup ever produced,” is the way editors of Popular Mechanics describe Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor.
“We spent time riding along with Ford SVT engineers at near race speeds and had a chance to climb behind the wheel of the truck ourselves,” said Stewart. “For the avid off-roader, the Raptor is the truck we’ve all been waiting for.”
Stewart says he was particularly impressed with the tuning of Raptor’s long-travel suspension.
“It soaks up high-speed desert terrain better than any production pickup truck we’ve driven,” he said.
Quotes
“Ford’s sweep of three categories in this year’s awards speaks to the onslaught of great products coming from Dearborn.”
– Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics
“This important recognition reflects the strength and diversity of the Ford product lineup. From a performance car to a workhorse vehicle to an off-road pickup, Ford is building quality products that people really want.”
– Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company
Tags: Automotive Excellence Awards, Derrick Kuzak, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Ford Transit Connect, performance, Popular Mechanics
Posted in Ford Cars - text, Ford Quality - text | No Comments »
MILLENNIALS FIRST TO DRIVE NEW FIESTA
Friday, February 20th, 2009Ford Targets 100 Socially-Networked Millennials for First Drive of Ford's New Small Car, the Fiesta
Ford is rebranding the driving experience during their upcoming social media campaign called the “Fiesta Movement.” The movement is strategically designed to spread the word and generate buzz about the Fiesta’s upcoming 2010 North American launch.
Aside from being voted “Car of the Year 2009” by What Car? Magazine, in the European auto market the Fiesta has strong customer loyalty and brand recognition for its performance, design and value.
The Fiesta Movement focuses on the emerging market force and highly influential Millennial group; those born between 1979 and 1995. With over 11,000 Millennials reaching driving age every day, they have been identified as one of the most significant consumer groups since the Baby Boomers.
Selected from over 1,500 applications, 100 Millennials have been chosen by Ford to act as special “agents” tasked to complete their individual Ford Fiesta missions. Throughout the missions they’re to use technology to capture and share their experiences digitally by connecting with their social networks through Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
Overall, the agents’ final mission and main goal of the Fiesta Movement is to produce socially authentic and genuine driving experiences through the use of social media.
Quotes:
“For Millennials, social media is just a part of life. In fact, statistics show that for those born after 1980, 62 percent of the content they consume comes from someone they know personally. The missions will take them to new places, to meet new people and to experience new things in their Fiesta.”
“Social networks are becoming an increasingly important way to talk to consumers, especially for the Millennial generation. According to statistics from a Universal McCann Comparative Study on social media trends, 45 percent of online users have started a blog, 57 percent have joined a social network and 55 percent have uploaded photos.”
“Since it was introduced last August, sales of the new Fiesta have totaled more than 89,000 units across the main European markets. That success continued into 2009, with January sales of more than 28,000 vehicles.”
“The Fiestas engaged in the Movement campaign are European-specification vehicles, updated for use in the U.S. The language in the message center was changed from German to English and the speedometer was changed from kilometers to miles per hour, but the voice for the Bluetooth functionality has a British accent!”
Links:
News Release: FORD TARGETS 100 SOCIALLY-NETWORKED MILLENNIALS FOR FIRST DRIVE OF FORD’S NEW SMALL CAR, FIESTA
Tags: , 2010 Fiesta, Fiesta Movement, Ford Fiesta, Ford Motor Company, Millennial, performance, quality
Posted in Ford Fiesta - text | No Comments »
Flickr Gallery
The 2011 Ford Mustang GT, powered by a new 412-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine, adds yet another notch to its belt: an EPA rating of 26 mpg highway when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, giving it the best fuel economy in its class.
start building with a 69 body, 78 frame. and chassie 302 small block v8 , bored 3.0 over, voodoo cam, double roller timing chain, high volume oil pump, all new suspension and 33x12x50 on ford factory, 7 inch rims, widen 3 inches
While on a job site a Peterbuilt Semi became stuck in the mud. The driver asked me if I could pull him out of the mud because he didnt want to have to call a Semi recovery vehicle. I hooked up to the Semi with a doubled \"snatch strap\" and I put the truck in 4 wheel drive and took off. I pulled the Semi out with literally no resistance.. Job well done Ford!!
in feb of 2007 I bought a 1995 Ford Ranger XLT, It had 241 000 Miles on it, I had been a previous Chevy S10
Owner. I want to say this is by far the best truck I have ever had. Right now she has 257000 miles on the original engine. She has never given me a major problem. I still get 26MPG Highway, she has only failed to start once time and that was because I left the lights on and killed the battery. This truck means alot to me because I bought it from the Adoption agency that handled my son\'s adoption. I nicknamed her \" black betty\" after the Bad Company song. I also turned her into a ha
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