Ford Motor Co. will introduce a new self-parking feature on its upcoming Lincoln models. The new feature will debut at the Detroit Auto Show. It will then be made available as an option on Lincoln MKS and MKT models. This feature allows the car to automatically parallel park (See a video of it in action on Youtube).

The new self-parking feature is part of Ford’s efforts to cast the company in a more favorable light with car buyers. A similar self-parking technology has already been offered by Toyota’s Lexus division. In keeping with its push to boost its image through tech innovations and fuel economy, Ford will also debut a new hybrid version of the Ford Fusion which boasts of a mileage of 41 mpg.

Ford is also offering SYNC, which allows hands-free operation of mobile phones, iPods and more. However, Ford has yet to announce the cost of this new parking feature. Meanwhile, Lexus’ automatic parallel parking technology is priced at $700.

The year 2008 has been disastrous not only for the automotive industry but for the entire global economy as well. Car sales slumped and every major automaker registered a net loss in profits. Three million fewer cars were sold in 2008 compared to 2007. And the forecast is just as gloomy: analysts predict that the downward trend is expected to continue until 2012 or even later.

Still, despite the negative growth in sales, ten vehicles managed to get to the top of the bestselling vehicle list of 2008. The Ford F-150 continued its twenty-three year reign at the top although sales have significantly decreased compared to the mid-2000s sales figures. Meanwhile, six of the top selling cars are all made by Japanese automakers with the Toyota Camry as the best selling import car.

Here are the top ten vehicles of 2008 based on US sales:

1. Ford F-150 – 515,313 units sold
2. Chevrolet Silverado – 465,065 units sold
3. Toyota Camry – 436,617 units sold
4. Honda Accord – 372,789 units sold
5. Toyota Corolla – 351,007 units sold
6. Honda Civic – 339,289 units sold
7. Nissan Altima - 269,668 units sold
8. Chevy Impala – 265,840 units sold
9. Dodge Ram – 245,840 units sold
10. Honda CR-V – 197,279 units sold

Source

Ford Motor Co. helps keep teen drivers safe with the introduction of an innovative technology called MyKey that is designed to help parents encourage their teenagers to drive safer.Ford MyKey allows parents to program a special ignition key with a pre-programmed list of vehicle options designed for better safety.

For instance, parents can program the MyKey to limit the vehicle’s top speed to 80 mph as well as restrict the car stereo’s audio volume to 44% of the maximum volume. It also encourages the use of safety belts with Ford’s Beltminder system that provides a six-second reminder chime every five to six minutes if seatbelts are not worn.

Alerts are also sounded whenever the vehicle reaches 45, 55 and 65mph. The MyKey also prevents the traction control system, which limits tire spin, from being deactivated. The new Ford MyKey will come standard with the 2010 Ford Focus and will be available as an option in models for 2010 onwards.

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Ford Motor Company further beefed up its reputation for safety and technology with the recent announcement of its latest vehicle safety breakthrough advanced “active” collision-avoidance technology called Collision Warning with Brake Support. This new technology uses radar to detect moving vehicles directly ahead.

When the device detects a possible collision, it warns the driver through an authoritative beep and a red warning light that is projected on the windshield above the instrument panel. Collision Warning with Brake Support is just one of three new radar-based active safety and driver-aid technologies that Ford is introducing in a range of vehicles from 2008 to 2009.

The other new technologies are Adaptive Cruise Control and BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert. These three technologies use radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warn the driver with a combination of visual and sound alerts. The new technologies further strengthen Ford’s top safety ratings which includes the most 5-star government ratings of any automaker and most number of Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Electricity, not hydrogen, gasoline or ethanol, will fuel the cars of the future, says Ford Motor Co.’s global product development chief, Derrick Kuzak. He stressed that he was speaking as an engineer and was not commenting specifically on Ford’s future product plans. He also said that Ford will continue to develop these alternatives. He also said that the electrification of the vehicle is the ultimate solution.

Kuzak argued that alternative fuels such as hydrogen fuel cells face several technological hurdles and will required the construction of an entirely new energy structure, which he believes is not likely or practical. On the other hand, an electric car would be able to utilize the existing power grid. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use an electric only drive train that is powered by the fuel cell to generate electricity.

Via The Auto Channel

Over the past two years, Ford has achieved significant improvements in vehicle quality, making its vehicles some of the best in the industry in terms of quality. Now that the domestic auto industry is in a slump, Ford isn’t taking any chances. The automaker has set an aggressive new target – best-in-class initial quality for compact cars the company will launch in North America by 2010.

“We aim to launch our new compact vehicles at 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford’s group vice president, Global Quality. “That’s more than 500 TGWs less than the predicted industry average — and we believe these levels will ensure our upcoming small cars will achieve industry-best initial quality.”

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If you drive a 1995 Honda Civic, you better employ better anti-theft solutions because this popular model is America’s most stolen car for 2007, according to ‘Hot Wheels’, a report released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau based on information from the National Crime Information Center. The ’95 Civic is followed by another Honda model, the 1991 Honda Accord in the list.

The 1989 Toyota Camry was the third most stolen vehicle while the 1997 Ford F-150 was the highest-listed pickup truck as well as the most stolen domestic-branded vehicle. Other domestic models were the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 and the 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup, all trucks. Rounding out the top ten perennial favorites of car thieves were the Acura Integra, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Pickup and the Toyota Corolla.

According to the NICB, the types of vehicles being stolen remain consistent year to year. Thieves continue to prey on these older vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts.

To protect your cars from thieves, NICB recommends a ‘layered approach’ by using simple, low-cost solutions to make vehicles less vulnerable to carjackers. These four layers are: common sense, a warning device, an immobilizing device and a tracking device. Common sense means locking the car and taking the keys with you.

Using a warning device or alarm is also an effective deterrent. The third layer encourages the use of an immobilizing device that will prevent the vehicle from being driven such as a smart key or fuel cut off. The fourth layer is the use of a tracking device that law enforcement officers can use to track and recover a stolen vehicle.

The Ford Motor Company sure is going to be reaping in more bucks as part of an agreement that it has took part in. This is possibly one of the largest agreements on export that the car maker has ever been in. According to a report, Ford would be exporting products that would amount to around $800 million. The lot of exported products would include auto products as well as transmission parts. These would be sent over to the Asian country of China.

Aside from the mentioned products, Ford would also be sending over 30,000 vehicles to China. These vehicles would be built in North America and then shipped to the mentioned country. All of these would be coming true by next year. Alan Mulally is the chief head for Ford and he said, “This historic export agreement with China is another step in our commitment to accelerate the development of new products that customers want and value and leverage Ford’s global assets.“

Around a week ago, the Ford Motor Company has announced that they would be opening the doors again of its facility located in Windsor, Ontario. This has been confirmed by Dalton McGuinty, the Ontario Premier, when he announced that he would also be present at the reopening of the plant and he would be with some of the company’s officials. No details were given however regarding the reopening of the Ford facility.

This Ford facility in Ontario, Canada is known as the Essex Engine Plant and the car maker has disclosed that the plant would now be responsible for the creation and manufacture of V8 engines which would be fuel efficient. The reopening would also bring in more jobs for people in the area.

Some sources have mentioned that the government of Ontario would be shelling out around $17 million to help Ford’s investment in the Essex Engine plant which amounts to $186 million. This however has yet to be confirmed.

It is now official.

In an announcement sent out by the Ford Motor Company, the auto industry has finally confirmed the completion of the purchase of Ford’s Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands. Tata Motors of India bought the two brands which are part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG). The announcement did disclose that Tata Motors would be purchasing the two brands for an estimated $2.3 billion.

On the deal, Ford’s CEO and president, Alan Mulally, mentioned that with Jaguar and Land Rover being good brands, the company is confident that both of them would be able to do well with Tata handling them. He also disclosed that the decision to sell both brands was actually part of the company’s goal which was to have a stronger and more focus-driven brand.