Further With Ford 2013 Trend Conference: Day 3

August 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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We’re on our third and final day of the Further With Ford Trend Conference, and back on the bus at 7:30 am, this time for some behind the wheel experience. We would be divided into two groups. One would drive a Ford Escape into Detroit to visit a few points of interest at how the city is revitalizing. As an architecture and amateur photography fan, I was keeping my fingers crossed I would be in this group, but alas, I was not. Instead, I was to drive a Ford F-150 into Detroit with a couple sheets of plywood for a Habitat for Humanity project. I was told I would experience the potential of the F-150, but for crying out loud I could have strapped the same plywood to the roof of my Porsche 911. It quickly dawned on me and my passengers that this was a dog and pony PR show. That said, the F-150, the best selling vehicle in the US, and amazingly, a vehicle I have never driven, proved to be easy and comfortable to drive.

My trip to Detroit happened a couple weeks before the city declared bankruptcy, and I can honestly tell you, it is no joke. Dearborn, where Ford is located is dominated with the sprawling, low level campus of Ford’s offices, the immaculate Henry Ford museum, and modest, but tidy, well kept homes. Drive twenty minutes into Detroit, and it is an entirely different world. It is perhaps the most perplexing city I have ever visited. I’ve been a guest of Ford at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, a fantastic stadium. I’ve met with our Founding Editor Gary Grant at GM’s Ren Cen for drinks, and it is a place that could easily fit in New York City. But exiting the highway in our F-150, it nearly takes your breath away at the devastation this city has suffered. Abandoned, boarded up homes outnumber occupied properties. It is a virtual wasteland. As a person, a car journalist, it is tough to grapple that this is the epicenter of the Detroit Three, some of the most powerful car companies in the world. You would never know it by driving around Detroit. The Motor City. It’s a crying shame.

We dropped off our plywood to volunteers of Habitat for Humanity, who were all smiles, and I left feeling a little better having helped, and hearing how many homes have been built or rehabilitated in Detroit. These people face what to me seems an insurmountable challenge, yet they are tackling it head on. If you can put aside any animosity about politics and bail outs, you can head over to www.habitat.org to make a donation to help a city that is in desperate need.

We drive back to Dearborn, and then we wait. And wait. It seems most of us completed our tasks much quicker than the planners at Ford had anticipated. And from experience, I know how crashes at car events catch like wild fire on the internet, two F-150′s collided just getting out of the lot. I was told no one but their ego’s were hurt. And we continued to wait. And wait. Finally, we were back on the bus, headed towards Ford’s proving grounds. Surrounded by high brick walls and security fences, this was like entering the Promised Land for me.

Our guide is a seasoned Ford test driver. This facility is no joke. It has what looks to be a flight tower directing traffic. An astute passenger spots a Hyundai Genesis sedan going flat out, and questions the test driver about it. His response? “We test everything here.” My best guess is they are benchmarking the Genesis against the Lincoln MKZ or MKS. Once in, our first task is to take a Ford Fusion Hybrid around the track, and hyper-mile it. The Fusion will grade you on how well you brake and maximize fuel economy. I thought I was doing alright, getting 100% ratings at a couple of corners, until my co-driver did the same course and nailed it 100% at all points. In my defense, I drove first, so he could see firsthand what to do.

Next was sort of a silly exercise where we colored in a Ford Focus any way we liked, with the promise we would eventually get a handbag with our creation. I did my Focus in The Garage livery. This was a time consuming activity, and we were running out of time. Next, I stood in line for a timed autocross event with a Ford Fiesta. The goal was to complete the course in 40 seconds. Too hot or too slow, you lose. Sadly, with time mismanaged so badly, while standing in line for a ride, I was told we had to head back for lunch. I’m not bitter about it, since I’ve spent a week with a Fiesta, but the majority of bloggers here are not car journalists, and missed out on how nimble the Fiesta is.

We essentially wolfed down our lunches, and it was back to the Westin, adjacent to the Detroit airport. I grabbed my luggage, and personally thanked Tony McCloud, who does a miraculous job of coordinating flight and lodging plans for 200 people for this event. I am exhausted, but it has been an informative and exciting time, as always, and I am happy to relay my experiences to you.

I can finally catch my breath once I am in the terminal. No trouble boarding my Delta flight home, but then we are stuck. The captain tells us flight traffic over Cincinatti Ohio is too congested for us to fly over. We can sit, or wait to hear if we can be diverted over Toronto. So, we sit. After a good wait, we are off, and we land back at Bradley Airport, outside of Hartford, CT. At this point, Bradley is mostly empty, and I haul myself back to my Ford Escape Titanium that awaits me in the parking garage, and make my way back home.

I would like to thank Ford for their hospitality, and with any luck, The Garage will be able to report to you the 2014 Further With Ford Trends Conference. Thanks for reading!

*Editors Note: Ford Motor Company provided flight, lodging and food, but I was not financially compensated for my participation in this event.

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Further With Ford 2013 Trend Conference: Day Two

August 8, 2013 by 1 Comment

IMG_1887Welcome back to The Garage’s coverage of the Further With Ford Trend Conference. Day one was pretty much about just making it from my home state of Connecticut to Detroit and an exciting dinner at the incredible Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Day two was all business, and the reason Ford flew the most elite bloggers in the business to listen to what their message was.

Wolfing down some breakfast and making a run for the bus, it’s just a few minutes drive to the Ford Conference & Event Center, where Bill Ford is present to wish us all a good morning. I rush off to my first conference, entitled ‘Sculpting the Future’, which focused on car design, and easily the most engaging and riveting session I attended. Notable attendees were Chief Designer J Mays, Jay Ward from Pixar, and best selling author Seth Godin. When J Mays spoke to us last year, he was living in London, and has since relocated back to Michigan. Mays fascinates me every time I am fortunate enough to get to hear him speak. Back in the States, Mays explains that every drive to and from work is a design study. Sure, he is constantly aware of the cars people are driving, but Mays went further as to not just study the other cars on the road, but what the driver’s of that car are wearing. Mays’ mentality in observing this is to design the driver, then the car. Imagine the type of buyer you want, what their style, habits and tastes are, then design the car itself.

Seth Godin takes the mike, and blows my mind. Godin spoke of design  with a sort of urgency to move forward and be edgier. To not appeal to everyone. Godin noted that the Mazda Miata is strictly a niche car, but it has mass appeal, which in turn has helped Mazda. Godin seemed to challenge the comfort level of the average car buyer, daring designers to produce something interesting. In an analogy, Godin explained that people from around the world will travel to New York City, and eat at a chain restaurant that they easily could have gone to in their own hometown. Why would you do that? The point is to explore, to find something new and different. Godin implored the panel if they had a checklist for what everyone wants in a car, to torch it. To focus on desire, and not making a car for everyone. In closing, he remarked “You cannot compromise your way to beautiful.” I wanted to stand on my chair and applaud the man.

Next up was ‘Returning To Your Senses’, a look at how technology has impacted our lives. A car used to be an isolation chamber. It was simply you, and the car. Nothing else. But this is 2013, and we are always connected, all of the time. With experts from MIT, Stanford and Google, the struggle with the modern driver is not just digital overload, but evaluating their digital health, if you will. Generation Y is turned off by cars, because they feel a car disconnects them from the smartphone that is permanently attached to their hand. Connectivity in cars is something several car companies are already offering in their cars, but is it safe?

Ford is working on that, under the mantra of creating ‘the car that cares.’ Bluetooth, in car texting, traffic and weather alerts are all technologies that are present in cars you can buy today. We are constantly bombarded by information. Ford is striving to create a non-distracting environment in the car. How? A seat that monitors your heart rate. Why? Let’s say you are merging into traffic on a highway, or changing lanes. Your heart rate increases under these stressful circumstances, and with this technology, Ford will divert incoming phone calls and text messages until the driver’s heart has returned to normal. Also in the works is continuous glucose monitoring for diabetics via a small device put on the driver that will warn if your blood sugar is too low. Another technology in the works are for people sensitive to allergies, where the car’s GPS can re-route you to a lower pollen count area to avoid an allergy attack. Constant connectivity are what new car buyers demand, and Ford is working on integrating that technology in ways to not distract, but to make safer drivers on the road.

We break for lunch, and the centerpiece is the radical Ford Atlas concept trunk, pictured at top. This room has some history to it, as the design mock-up for the first Ford Thunderbird was shown to Ford execs in the very same spot. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the designers of the Atlas concept. After lunch, I get a demonstration on 3-D Printing, which is fascinating technology. Designers can send a file from their desktop to a 3-D printer which will literally render a part that looks like the real thing, only it isn’t. What once took weeks now takes days, and the design process can move more quickly and efficiently.

Prior to flying out to Detroit, Ford had me complete a personality test from the experts at Myers-Briggs. While the result of the test did not surprise me, I seriously scratched my head at the suggestion an F-150 suited my personality type. Incorrect. Regardless of my personality, the Ford I would pick for my driveway is a Focus ST. While it was interesting to know that Ford is trying to understand the psychology of car buyers and how it affects their car buying decisions, the demonstration seemed boring. I moved on.

Next, we were off to one of Ford’s R&D facilities. About a year ago, Ford started using heat imaging to find and identify ‘holes’ in their cars. If you are not familiar with heat imaging, think of how police will use heat sensing equipment to find people. Ford takes that same technology by super heating the interior of a car (in this case, a Fusion), and with heat imaging they can find areas where there are, as they call them, ‘holes’, places that could possibly create wind noise at speed. Ford not only tests their cars, but benchmarks the competition as well. Riveting? No, but the point is the lengths that Ford is going to improve their cars.

We were also given a look at an impressive driving simulator. Imagine a dome large enough to contain a Ford Edge, supported by massive hydraulics to, well, you guessed it, simulate driving. The purpose? In a controlled environment, Ford is able to test drivers in a variety of situations. Are they sleep deprived? Busy on their cell phone? Are there other distractions that could affect not just their safety, but the safety of other drivers? Lane Keeping and Forward Collision safety technologies were developed here. If you thought full-scale driving simulators only existed in elite Formula 1 racing teams, you stand corrected.

Finally, it was time for our third and final trend session of the day, entitled ‘Greentopia’. The Further With Ford conference is for bloggers of all disciplines, not just gearheads like myself, and Ford had on hand plenty of bloggers who deal exclusively with the environment. What Ford was basically telling us is they are collaborating with companies outside of the car industry to find solutions to be a greener car company. Most interesting for me was panel member Scott A. Vitters from Coca Cola, who is general manager of the PlantBottle packaging program, which is absolute cutting edge technology in terms of recycling. Why is Coke at a Ford conference? Well, the technologies that Coca-Cola is discovering is not just about soda bottles, this is environmental technology that can be used in literally everything. And, I am proud to say that as manager of this program, Mr. Vitters graduated from my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College, two years before I did.

With the conclusion of the working part of our day, the whole lot of us are exhausted and on information overload. The quietness on the bus drive back to the hotel speaks volumes. Thankfully, Ford affords us a couple hours to decompress. I have the pleasure of meeting Andy Baryer, host of Canada’s #1 Technology Lifestyle show at GetConnected, based out of Vancouver, who was lucky enough to get a one on one interview with Steve Wozniak.

Ford concluded the night with a dinner reception celebrating 50 years of the Ford Mustang. My hopes of seeing the 2014 Mustang were dashed, but we were entertained with great food, drink, a DJ, custom pinstriper artists from Detroit and a killer slot car race track. Putting in a few laps in a Ford GT-40 in LeMans in Gran Turismo 5 was icing on the cake.

With the party dying down, it was off to the quiet of my hotel room, where I watched in silence planes taking off and landing. A call home to my wife and son, I had little trouble catching zz’s as I knew I was in for another busy day tomorrow.

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Review: 2013 Ford Fusion

July 23, 2013 by 2 Comments

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To our regular readers, if it seems like The Garage has been pumping out nothing but reviews of mid-size cars lately, well, the bottom line is we’ve been slammed with an onslaught of new, redesigned mid-size cars hitting the showroom floor. Sure, the crossover is what everyone is chatting about, but in the real world, the mid-size family car remains king, and the competition is absolutely cutthroat. The 2013 Ford Fusion is all new for this year. Ford flew me to the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to see the global reveal of the car. While there, Ford took me behind the scenes, showing me clay models of the Fusion, and the advanced technology of putting the Fusion on massive computer monitors just to see how the car looked in different backgrounds, just to make sure they were getting the right look.

The work paid off. The new Ford Fusion is easily one of the most dramatic and stylish mid-size cars out there. Curvy and elegant, the Fusion just drips with class. Without a doubt the best view is from the front. Let’s face it-if you’re going to copy a grille from anyone, you cannot go wrong by aping Aston Martin. Flanked by narrow, deeply focused headlamp clusters, the Fusion looks a little more aggressive than one would think of a family car, but the end result is brilliant. Ford smartly decided it made more sense to be a true global company, meaning one design would work for the world. The Fusion is a direct result of this thinking, and if it looks as if the car has a very European flair, it’s because it partly is.

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Inside the Fusion, the look is quite contemporary. However, our test car was fitted with an all black interior with piano black and silver trim. As you can imagine, this made for a slightly austere and dark cabin. That said, the interior offered plenty of room for all, and the driver’s seat was very comfortable. Quality of materials was just average, and I was shocked to see how poorly the trim was attached on the passenger door. High-end Fusions feature the controversial Ford MyTouch, which car magazines love to complain about without really going in to detail as to what MyTouch is. As you can see above, you have an 8″ LCD screen that handles four aspects of the car-entertainment, navigation, phone, and climate control. Below that screen are a sort of buttonless controls allowing you to make adjustments you can make on-screen as well. In the gauge cluster, the sole analog gauge is the speedometer, which is flanked by two 4″ customizable LCD screens which can show different information from menu buttons on the steering wheel.

This all sounds really neat, and cutting edge, right? People were amazed at the capabilities of MyTouch as I went from screen to screen, and displaying the plethora of information available to me. And it was easy to show all of this because the car was in park. Cruising at 80mph, the last thing you want to be doing is scrolling through menus. While the redundant buttonless panel is cool in concept, it’s sort of like when you click an icon on your smartphone and nothing happens. Again, the big difference here is that you are trying to make simple adjustments that aren’t happening while you are driving a car. Ford’s MyTouch is an awesome concept in theory, but in the real world it still needs some work.

The Fusion is offered in three trim levels, S, SE, and Titanium. The S and SE come standard with a 2.5L four cylinder engine rated at 175hp, paired to a six-speed automatic. With the SE, you also have the option of a 1.6L turbocharged four rated at 178hp, and the bonus here is you can outfit your Fusion with a six-speed manual transmission, a rarity in this class of car. Of course, the automatic is also available. Finally, the Titanium has a 2.0L turbocharged four rated at 240hp, which is available only with a six-speed automatic. Unique to its class, the Fusion Titanium is available in front or all-wheel drive. In a quest for fuel economy, Ford is not offering a V-6 Fusion as it did before. Our all-wheel drive Fusion had EPA fuel economy ratings of 22/31 MPG city/highway, which I found to be pretty respectable. The top-spec engine gets the job done just fine, and is remarkably refined and unobtrusive. Acceleration will meet or exceed any typical buyer’s expectations, but as far as pure horsepower goes, the competition offers much more. Once again we go back to Ford’s global platform, and the dividends pay off handsomely. The Fusion handles exceptionally well when the road gets twisty, and is a perfectly competent long distance cruiser. As far as driving dynamics go, Ford nailed it.

IMG_1769The Fusion is, as was intended, a mainstream family sedan aimed directly at middle-class families. And with a starting price of around $22,000USD, that sounds about right. And I suspect the vast majority of Fusion sales will be the S or SE models. Our test car, however, was the Titanium all-wheel drive version, and a technological tour de force of essentially everything Ford has available now, and that is reflected in the price of our car. With standard equipment such as 18″ alloys, dual zone automatic climate control, power, heated leather seats, aluminum pedals, ambient interior lighting, premium Sony audio, XMSirius radio, HD radio, rearview camera, perimeter alarm and reverse sensing assist. Our test car’s options included the Ruby Red paint, active park assist, adaptive cruise control, navigation, 19″ alloys, and the Driver Assist Package (lane keeping system and cross-traffic alert). Including delivery charges, our Fusion rings up at breathtaking $37,670. We’re now in Lexus/Infiniti/Audi/BMW territory here, but outfit any of those cars like our Fusion you could be looking at an extra $15,000.

It’s pretty common for a manufacturer to give people like me, the media, the absolute top of the line car to see and sample the best that they have to offer. But that doesn’t mean it is what you, the consumer buys when you sign the check at the dealer. In its favor, the Fusion is positively gorgeous, and in speaking to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, he is clearly proud of his car, as is chief designer J. Mays. The Fusion manages to click off all the right boxes-styling, comfort, roominess, generous trunk space and good handling. And the car buying public has responded-Ford can barely keep Fusions on their lots, and are hurrying to tool up another Fusion factory in Michigan. I know Ford is proud of the technology they have available in the Fusion, but in the case of our test car, I found it way over priced. At nearly $38,000 I want a warm, inviting interior. Not plastic, and especially without trim popping out. She is a looker, has excellent handling, but Ford, we just needed that little extra to make it to the absolute top of the class.

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Further With Ford 2013 Trend Conference: Day One

July 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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For the second year in a row, The Garage was invited to be the guest of Ford Motor Company for the annual ‘Further With Ford’ Trend Conference. On a blistering Monday morning in late June, I dropped off my son for his first day of summer camp, and headed off for the airport in my test car of the week, ironically the new Ford Escape Titanium. The Escape whisked me to Bradley International Airport just north of Hartford in cool, calm comfort. I was excited, and eager to see and hear what insights Ford would reveal to how they are approaching the future of the car business.

It turns out I would have more time to ponder this than planned, thanks to numerous flight delays. Finally arriving in Detroit, I essentially threw my suitcase into my hotel room and booked it to the bus. To kick off the conference, Ford was hosting dinner for us at The Henry Ford, possibly one of the most remarkable museums I have ever visited. There is something for everyone. The limo JFK was assassinated in? It’s here. Parked in front of it is the limo Ronald Reagan was pushed into after he was shot. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what the museum has to offer.

It was almost time to get down to business, and as I sat down at a table, none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally starts introducing himself to some of the Ford execs seated near me. Next thing I know a hand is extended to me, I look up, and he says “Hi, I’m Alan, nice to meet you.” I stood up, introduced myself, and he asked what The Garage was about. I told him, and mentioned I had just had the Fusion, C-Max and currently the Escape. Mulally wasted no time, and immediately asked me my impression of the Fusion. I told him, and when I was finished, he said good-bye, walked up to the stage to greet the audience, and introduced Bill Ford, great grandson of Henry Ford.

Bill Ford is widely known for being pro-environment. In speaking to us, Ford emphasized his pride in the fact that over the course of the past seven years Ford has moved from being one of the worst car companies in terms of fuel economy to one of the best. Ford seemed excited to be offering EV’s (electric vehicles), but conceded it will be a slow build-up, as consumers deal with range anxiety, and spotty charging station locations. Ford perceives the Federal government’s lack of a national energy plan and proper infrastructure as hindrances to the success of making EV’s a success in America.

Finally, Ford brought up the company’s relationship with ZipCar. For those not familiar, ZipCar is a car sharing service operating out of major US and UK cities, as well as universities. Ford, as The Garage learned last year, is closely monitoring the changing car habits of Generation Y. This generation is slower to get a driver’s license, leaving the suburbs for the city, and postponing new car purchases moreso than any generation before. But let’s face it, sometimes you simply need a car. Bill Ford rationalized the relationship with ZipCar very simply. Eventually, members of Generation Y will need to buy a new car. If they had a good experience driving a Ford from ZipCar, they will be that much more inclined to buy a Ford for themselves. Simple, but very smart.

If Bill Ford is a member of automotive family royalty, our next speaker helped to define the world we live and work in today. Alan Mulally introduces Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer. Dressed in black head to toe with the exception of a pair of funky blue sneakers, 250 hand-picked bloggers sit in stunned silence in front of the man many simply call ‘Woz’.  I realize I am dating myself, but I have used Apple Computers since the Apple II came out, and before me is the man who helped make it. Amazingly, Woz acts like a regular guy, albeit a brilliant one. A little goofy, completely down to earth, listening to this man was mesmerizing and truly unforgettable. Wozniak seemed enthusiastic about EV’s, going so far as comparing it to Apple’s progression from floppy disks as a means of propulsion to computers than run themselves with internalized software. Without the floppy disk, the computer could not do anything. And to read the floppy disk, you needed mechanical parts that make noise and can break. Wozniak sees the advent of the EV in exactly the same light. For sure, I pray at the alter of the internal combustion engine, but I’m a car nut. But that’s old fashioned. Steve Wozniak is an innovator, and to him the EV is simply The Next Step for the automobile. I found it a profoundly interesting observation and comparison. I got the feeling Woz was ready and willing to talk for another hour but I could tell his handlers were getting antsy and rushing him to finish up.

Following a delicious dinner seated next to one of the curators of the museum, a British ex-pat who came to Dearborn, I had the pleasure of walking around the museum, taking in its vast auto collection of everything from a Dodge Omni, VW Microbus to a genuine Ford GT-40 Le Mans race car to a Bugatti. Enormous locomotives, a full replica of a 1960′s Howard Johnson’s hotel room. The bus Rosa Parks entered where she decided she would not sit in the back seat. It’s all there. I’d need at least a day, but I did my best with a couple hours.

Full and tired from a long day of traveling and an exhilarating night the The Henry Ford, we filed on to the bus back to our hotel in relative silence. I am back in my hotel room just in time to phone my wife and very tired seven year old son to say goodnight. My room is right at the airport, and thankfully heavily soundproofed, as I watch planes taxi in silence. Restless, I head to DEMA Lounge, grab a USA Today, local brew Crooked Tree IPA and a leather chair while I take in the indoor pond and towering bamboo trees. I’ve been on the go for fourteen hours, and finally get to take a breath and relax. But that 6:45am wake up is coming, and I know I have a very busy day ahead. Time for bed. Stay tuned for my coverage of Day Two of Further With Ford!

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Fashion’s Night Out with the Ford Fusion

September 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

On a warm late summer night last Thursday, The Garage was invited by Ford to be a part of Fashion’s Night Out with the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion. The event was called a ‘pop-up’ and was no simple display of just a new car. The concept originated from Donna Karan as a means to show how sustainability and environmental friendliness are working in the fashion industry…and the new Ford Fusion. This is actually a part of a web series known as Random Acts of Fusion. If the notion of high fashion and a mid-size American car sound, well, odd, bear with me.

New York City has been an easy train ride away my entire life, but I’ve never been to the Meatpacking District where Ford was hosting the event. I’m no stranger of the intensity of NYC, but that night it was times two. In talking with Ford’s PR staff, I was told the emphasis was on the topic of sustainability. What the means in real talk is Ford is taking lengths to use more environmentally friendly and renewable resources in constructing their cars. And it just so happens the new Fusion is, in my opinion, drop dead gorgeous, so the car hardly looked out of place in the midst of high fashion and models.

Ford has flown me to their headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan twice this year. First to see the global reveal of the new Fusion, and again for the Go Further conference. This was the first time I have seen what Ford had been telling me from the comfort of their home office in person. Ford feels the next generation of car buyers see cars differently from anyone currently above the age of 30, and they are right. Stats show younger generations are gravitating to the city. Technology is a must, not a luxury.

Back to Gansevoort Plaza in the heart of the Meatpacking District. Next door, TV’s Oxygen Network is having a private party for a show I know nothing about, but there are velvet ropes, red carpet and people holding clipboards. Everywhere there are huge men in black suits. Across the street there is a club with a line 50 people deep waiting to get in. And then some random protest group making noise, about what, I could not tell you. Music was pounding from all directions. I had spoken to Ford, taken my pictures. I needed a break.

I found a place around the corner without a line, and sat with a $9 pint of Heineken, and tried to contemplate what just happened. Across the street from me stood a fleet of Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series awaiting their owners. The Ford Fusion competes against the most common cars sold, the Camry, Altima, and Accord. Yet, at what seemed to be the epicenter of hip New York social life, people were checking out the Fusion. In droves. What struck me was that people were checking out a car that will sell just fine in Kansas City, Missouri to an average middle class working family, but some of these people were dressed in outfits that probably cost as much as my first Volkswagen.

I had time to spare, but I wanted to go home. Back to my family and bungalow by Long Island Sound. I hailed a cab, and when I told him to take to me Grand Central Station, he sighed ‘Thank God, I have got to get out of here!’ That says a lot from a NY cabbie. Even sporting my trusty Doc Martens and a sharp plaid shirt, I was hopelessly out of place. We cruised through Chelsea, where I’ve attended other auto events, which were much more my speed.

If it sounds like I had a bad experience, I did not. I was here for an assignment, and I learned a lot about how Ford is marketing their pride and joy. I questioned if they expected any of these socialites would buy a Fusion. But if anything, they are aware of it, and that it appeared to seamlessly meet their extremely high standards of style and fashion speaks volumes of the work J Mays and his design team has put into the Fusion. In my opinion, it was a success, and raised an awareness of a car this crowd never would have given a second thought to.

On my quiet train ride home, surrounded by exhausted New York businessmen playing with their smartphones, I am again impressed at the lengths Ford is going to reach out to new markets, and especially the ever elusive Generation Y. Having a plush Lincoln MKT awaiting me made the quick ride to home all the better, where I comfortably slipped back into my family life again.

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Going Further With Ford Part II

August 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sorry for the delay folks, but I am pleased to report my second installment for the Go Further With Ford trend conference. In case you missed it, The Garage was chosen from an elite group of bloggers to attend this year’s Go Further With Ford event. Day one consisted of a series of interesting panel discussions which provided a glimpse of where Ford is headed.

For Day Two, Ford drove us to Dearborn proving grounds-the test track. Just to be there was a thrill. The cars you buy from the dealer are tested and fine-tuned right here. You get a sense of the seriousness of the facility with a control tower, much like an airport, overseeing all track activity.

As a car guy with some, but limited race track experience, my hopes of being unleashed on the proving grounds were dashed. Which I can understand. As a car guy, I was in the minority here, with bloggers representing subjects from the environment, fashion, parenting, etc. Ford would be nuts to let them loose.

But to keep things fun and interesting, we had to complete four tasks. My first challenge was to autocross the all-new 2013 Ford Escape. Our bogey time was 38 seconds, with a two second leeway. Ford’s intent was for us to push the Escape hard, which I did. I just made the cut, and have the I Love Pandora t-shirt to prove it. In my 40 seconds of driving it, the Escape was nimble and quick off it’s feet, but look for a full, proper review in the future. In fact, the new Escape will be in my driveway for Labor Day weekend.

Next up was the 2013 Ford Mustang GT. We had three choices. You could drive a Mustang with an automatic. You could drive a Mustang with a manual. You could be driven by a pro driver in a Mustang Boss 302. I’ll lay out the conversation:

Ford: “Mr. Williams, do you want to be driven on the course by a driver?”

Me: “No, thank you, I would prefer to drive myself.”

Ford: “Manual or automatic?”

Me: “Manual”

It was a brief stint, but the Mustang GT was a hell of a ride. I never got higher than third gear on the course Ford provided us. While I’ll always prefer driving myself, I have to say the drivers Ford had on hand to give rides on the Boss 302 ‘Stang put on one hell of a show. Full-on power slides and burning rubber was the order of the day for the Boss cars.

And from brute-force muscle car Ford takes me to the new Focus EV for a drive. On a short road course the Focus EV has buckets of torque, rides just as well as the conventional Focus The Garage tested, but what impressed me most was it’s greater range over the Nissan Leaf. I have been to events where EV’s were present, and there was always a desperation to keep a car plugged in. Not so with the Focus. The car simply kept plugging along.

My next challenge was to experience Ford’s latest technology. I tag-teamed another fellow. His task was to run to a Ford Escape, sync his phone and make a call. Once done, he passes a baton to me where I have to use a Ford Flex to park itself. I confess, I have had cars with this technology but was too fearful to use it. Under the eyes of Ford, I had to, and by golly, it worked. All it took was simply line up near a parking space, and the Flex uses its sensors to ‘find’ the opening. With nothing more than simple brake modulation, the Flex, by golly, parked itself. My task complete, I hand the baton back to my teammate, who samples another nifty Ford technology with the Escape. With a key on you, all it takes is a swipe of your foot to open and close the rear liftgate. Ingenious stuff for when you’re carrying a child or groceries. Yes, it was silly, but a fun way to sample the latest technology available in Ford vehicles.

Last event was an offroad romp in a 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. With a mighty 6.2L V-8 belting out 411hp, the Raptor is the ultimate truck for a muscle car fan. No, we would not be able to drive them-instead members of the Ford SVT team would take us out on Ford’s off-road course, and positively punish and beat the living snot out of the Raptor. Yes, there were some slow, and extreme angle off-roading that would match any Land Rover, but the emphasis was on the brutal power of the Raptor, as we drifted in a cloud of dust, its V-8 wailing as we pounded the truck. This was no burst of the throttle, dog and pony show. No. I had to wear a race helmet. By the time my ride was over, hanging on for dear life, my camera, cell phone, and car keys had been thrown from my pockets throughout the Raptor’s interior. In other words, way harder than I ever would have driven it. When I asked the driver after a long morning of punishing the Raptor if it was getting tiring, he simply replied ‘Hey, any other day I’d be sitting in a cubicle!’

After a catered lunch and some formalities, that pretty much closed out Go Further With Ford for 2012. Leaving Ford’s proving grounds, I looked on as cars continued to race around the track, the new Fusion more than any other car. For a moment I thought ‘This car is ready for production’, but in reality development and fine-tuning never stops. And I did  a double take when I saw a car I’d never seen before with no badges whatsoever as it made its way to the track as we pulled out. Hmmm….

With a couple hours to spare at the Detroit Airport, I contemplated the Go Further event. It was my second trip to Dearborn this year, having been in Detroit for the global reveal of the Fusion. There were fewer of us then, and a pronounced international presence. This time around, with about 250 of us who mostly seemed to be American. As a car guy, again, it was interesting to be hosted by a car company with a group of people who have nothing to do with cars. If that doesn’t make sense to you, hear me out. Ford is using social  media to promote its product, and as a fellow blogger told me, not all car buyers seek out automotive media outlets to learn about cars, and he is absolutely right.

In the span of two days Ford not only showed the technology they have now, but are fully prepared for a car market that is changing, and by all accounts Ford seems ready for it. Exhausting, yes, but extremely informative and entertaining. It was an honor to be Ford’s guest, and receive a front row seat to where the company is headed. It was a pleasure sharing the experience with you.

Ford Motor Company paid my airfare, hotel room and meals for this media event, but I was not compensated monetarily.

Filed Under: Commentary, Events, Featured Stories, Green, In The Garage, Industry, Media Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Garage Goes Further with Ford

July 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After being a guest of Ford for the global reveal of the new 2013 Ford Fusion in Detroit this year, Ford called on The Garage again to attend a two-day forum, ‘Go Further with Ford’. Along with over 250 bloggers covering auto, fashion, environment, parenting, marketing and a myriad of other subjects, we all descended upon Dearborn, Michigan, where we arrived for dinner at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions and host to Super Bowl XL. We were treated to a speech from none other than Bill Ford, great grandson of Henry Ford. Known for being an ‘industrial environmentalist’, Mr. Ford’s concerns and thoughts on the environment and future of the car would underscore what our next two days would reveal to us.

I had the opportunity to kick a ten yard field goal on Ford Field, and failed miserably. Check the gallery below for a pic of Ford social media chief Scott Monty kick a three-pointer, wearing a suit and dress shoes, no less.

Back to business the next day, we would be taken to four different forums, covering distinct subjects. The first for me was the Age of Accessible Design, and easily my favorite. Faced with a panel of people completely immersed in design, yet in worlds not related to cars, with one exception. Ford’s chief designer, J Mays was on hand, as well as Project Runway winner Christian Siriano. In addition, an architect and furniture designer were there to offer their point of view.

The discussion was riveting, and Mr. Siriano was entertaining and informative, but offered a different view from automotive design. Mr. Siriano can change trends instantly with his fashion design. With cars, as J Mays pointed out, it is completely different. Instead of next week, Mays is working on designing cars we won’t see until five years from now. J Mays was quite candid, emphasizing that each new car design is essentially a multi-million dollar gamble. You don’t often think of it from that angle, but it is absolutely true. But the most telling piece of info I got out of the forum was this. J Mays actually spends most of this time in the UK. Mays spoke about the ‘Europeanization of America’ in terms of design. That large cars are wasteful and status driven. In other words, don’t expect another mammoth Ford Excursion super-size SUV. Instead, Mays sees an America that is concerned about fuel cost and efficiency, which have driven the European car market for decades. It is now upon us.

Another forum focused on Eco Psychology. This is the motivation of Bill Ford, and he is intensely focused on being green, even if Ford’s board of directors are intent on only profits. To that end, Ford is doing extensive research on using natural and organic materials in building their cars. At the same time, Ford is adamant in letting the customer decide, not dictate their options. Be it gas, gas-hybrid, or EV, Ford is allowing the customer to make the choice.

Ford is also keenly aware of the shift in car buyer’s mentality. As a member of Generation X, mine is the last generation where getting a license to drive was viewed as a rite of passage, as a means to see something greater than what was in the confines of my hometown. Generation Y, or Millenials, see the world far differently from me and generations prior. They are in no hurry to get a license. The internet satiates their need for exploration. They gravitate to urban centers where everything they need is within walking distance. Having graduated to an unstable economy, Gen Y is driven to access to local amenities and superior public transit rather than a car. Still, a car is needed, which explains Ford’s relationship with Zipcar, a company that offers rental cars in major American cities by the day our hour.

What was most telling was Ford telling us Generation Y’s feeling disconnected while on the road-unable to text or web surf. While that sounds pretty pathetic to me, I suppose that is the new reality. Which brings me to the final forum of the day, focusing on technology. Ford, in conjunction with Microsoft has come under some fire about its MyTouch infotainment package, but strides seem to have been made to improve it. Ford seems to recognize that too much tech can overwhelm or confuse a driver. It intrigued me that Ford is currently developing software that reads from the steering wheel a driver’s heart rate and sweat to decide if it is not a good time to relay a text message or other info. It is not currently available, but it is cutting edge technology.

Personally, it was a thrill to hear Bill Ford tell all of us we were invited to Dearborn because we were the elite bloggers in our respective fields. As East Coast Editor for The Garage, I sincerely hope you enjoy and are informed by the material we provide here. for you. Our busy day was capped off with a reception at Tech Shop Detroit, followed by a live concert by indie rock/folk band Blind Pilot.

*Editor’s Note: Ford Motor Company paid for my travel expenses and accommodations, but I was not compensated by Ford monetarily.

Filed Under: Commentary, Events, Featured Stories, In The Garage, Industry, Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

Automotive Legend Carroll Shelby Passes at 89

May 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

By now you may have heard that the great Carroll Shelby, one time race car driver and constructor has passed away at the age of 89 on Friday, May 10, 2012. The automotive world has truly lost one of the greats who lead a full life and accomplished feats few men can imagine. On the news of Mr. Shelby’s passing, my thoughts were he may be the last man to have such a singular impact on racing history and the cars that bear his name. My next thoughts brought me back to August, 1988. I was all of 15 years old at the time, while on vacation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts had read that Enzo Ferrari had died. An ocean and generation apart, Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Shelby had some similarities, but for now let’s talk about Mr. Carroll Shelby.

My fear is the current generation of gearheads are watching too much Barrett-Jackson auto auctions on Speed TV, where over the past few years Mr. Shelby has gone on stage to auction off one of his latest Mustang-based creations to charity, and there is no doubt the hundreds of thousands of dollars Shelby has raised has helped many people. Where my discontent lies is in the portrayal of Carroll Shelby, often depicted as a simple chicken farmer from Texas, and oh, he makes chili too! How cute.

Kids, that is not the Carroll Shelby that impresses me. In the 1950′s, Shelby won races in an MG TD, set 16 US and International speed records in a specially modified Austin-Healey 100S. In 1959 he drove the winning Aston Martin DBR1 to victory at the 24 Hours of LeMans-one one of only two victories Aston Martin can claim. Shelby also competed in Formula 1 racing from 1958-59. Due to heart problems that plagued Shelby from youth, he was forced into retirement.

This is where the magic happens-as if winning LeMans is not enough. Shelby was able to seal a deal with British sports car maker AC to drop a Ford V-8 into their AC Ace, creating the AC Cobra, pictured at top. Spawning the ultra-rare and desirable Daytona Coupe, the Cobra is one of the most desirable and iconic exotic sports cars of all time, and the most copied car ever built by kit car companies, although Shelby and his lawyers spent years fighting this.

It is well known that Ford had attempted to buy Ferrari in the 1960′s, and with the deal nearly sealed, Enzo Ferrari backed out at the last minute. With the deal off, Ford vowed revenge on Ferrari, and Ford was going to beat them on their own turf. Ford called Carroll Shelby for help. The result? The Ford GT40 won LeMans four years in a row. It is the only American built race car to ever win at the historical Circuit de la Sarthe.

With Ford’s connection to Shelby cemented with its AC chassis and involvement in Ford’s domination over Ferrari with the GT40, Ford sought to build on the equity of its new pony car, the Mustang. While there are rumors that Shelby’s initial reaction was of zero interest in modifying Mustangs and refused the project, under pressure from Ford management Shelby gave in and agreed to put his name on the Shelby Mustang GT350, the purist example of a Shelby Mustang. Later iterations of Shelby ‘Stangs seemed counter to Carroll’s original vision, and by 1970 Ford and Shelby parted ways.

Carroll Shelby slipped into obscurity it seems, until the very man who demanded a Shelby Mustang-Lee Iaocca, called on him to inject some badly needed adrenaline to the ailing Chrysler Corporation. At its inception the Omni was a crude answer to VW’s Golf, but with Shelby’s hand Dodge created a GTI killer with 175hp on tap for an impressive 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds with a top end of 130mph. Shelby had a hand in several other high performance Dodge products, and was an integral part of the creating the Dodge Viper.

Shelby’s history with Ford resumed again with his input in the modern iteration of the Ford GT, an homage to the GT40 and Shelby Mustangs once again hit the showroom floor in 2005. Fittingly, Carroll Shelby’s last car with his own input was the Shelby 1000, the most powerful Shelby to ever hit the street or track. And so we draw the circle back to Enzo Ferrari, the man Shelby beat on relentlessly at the most prestigious stage of endurance racing. When Enzo Ferrari died, the twin-turbo V-8 Ferrari F40 was the last car he oversaw was ready for market, the most powerful, fastest, and expensive Ferrari of all time. For Carroll Shelby, the Shelby 1000 holds that same distinction.

This puts Mr. Shelby in some elite company, and proves again if the will is there, Americans can beat the best the European exotics have to offer. Carroll Shelby deserves to be remembered as more than a chicken farmer, he is the singular American figure to absolutely punish the best Europe had to offer on their own soil. For that, we thank you, Carroll Shelby.

The Garage offers our sincere condolences to the Shelby family and all of his friends and co-workers.

Filed Under: Commentary, Exotic Cars, Featured Stories, In The Garage, News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Ford Taking Orders for Hot Focus ST

May 2, 2012 by 1 Comment

Ask the average North American car guy what comes to mind about what high performance cars Ford builds, the Mustang and Taurus SHO will come to mind, and he’ll stop there. Soon, the Ford Focus ST will be joining that group. In Europe, Ford has been building (and racing) performance versions of their small, mainstream four cylinder cars for decades. Finally, North America gets a taste of what we’ve been missing all this time.

One glance at the Focus ST and you immediately know this is no ordinary grocery getter. Apart from the aggressive aero, standard 18″s, lowered ride height, beefier brakes and sport suspension, the Focus ST has the grunt to match the look. Motivation comes in the form of a 2.0L EcoBoost four, cranking out 252hp and 270 lb. ft. of torque. A six-speed manual is the only transmission available, and I am happy about that. Posers, stay home. If a car like the Focus ST appeals to you, but you could not be bothered to learn how to work three pedals and a gearshift together, you don’t deserve to get to play.

The 2013 Ford Focus ST has a starting price of $23,700USD, plus $795 destination. The ST will be available only as a five-door hatchback. If you feel like building your own Focus ST, click here for the link to Ford’s site. Even going with the priciest option package with goodies like HD Radio, Recaro seats with leather, sunroof and navigation, the ST still comes in under $30 grand. To put that into perspective, the VW Golf R four door with similar power and features will run you over $6,000 extra.

Ford is now taking orders for the Focus ST. It’s been a long, long wait to see such a car from Ford here in North America. To reward us for our patience, the first 1,000 people to place an order will be rewarded with a GoPro HD Hero2 Motorsports Edition camera pack. That shows Ford understands the buyer of the Focus ST completely-the fact that high quality photography is a passion for many here at The Garage is living proof. Stay tuned for more Focus ST news and updates.

Filed Under: Featured Stories, New cars, News Tagged With: , , ,

Long Beach Formula D teaser revealed by Vaughan Gittin Jr.

April 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Anyone who hasn’t seen drift in person is missing out on the spectacle of the show. Drifting is more than just smoke and engine noise, it is a delicate automotive ballet as two drivers attempt to keep their rides sideways in close quarters, without wiping out their dance partner. Thanks to the availability of cheap, high quality on board cameras though, we can get a taste of just how close drivers get during a run.

Vaughan Gittin Jr. is one of the best and has just released this teaser video from the upcoming Formula D event in Long Beach.

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Filed Under: Driving, Motorsport, Video Tagged With: , , , , ,
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