The greatest inventory clearance, The Roundup of Markdowns, concluded this March in Nanaimo with the traditional Mystery Car Giveaway!!
This sleek little 1995 Ford Taurus was perfect for someone to win. When the winner’s name was drawn Anna of Nanaimo was amazed,
“I’ve never won anything before, it’s so over whelming. Thank you Steve Marshall Ford!”
At 73 years old, we were glad we could help Anna with a first!
DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2010 – At Ford Motor Company, the commitment to energy efficiency and saving money now starts at the office computer.
Under a new program called PC Power Management, the power settings on Windows laptops and desktop computers are centrally controlled to reduce energy waste and optimize software updates. A managed shutdown of computer systems not in use, especially overnight and on weekends, further reduces energy use.
At the same time, the system ensures all computers connected to the Ford Intranet are awake and able to receive software deliveries during off hours, decreasing downtime during working hours due to software loads.
The savings to the company on power cost alone is expected to top $1.2 million annually when the system is fully implemented. By reducing PC power consumption, Ford also stands to reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 16,000 to 25,000 metric tons annually.
“In the past, as many as 60 percent of Ford’s PC users haven’t shut their PCs off at the end of the business day, resulting in wasted energy,” said Keith Forte, Ford IT project supervisor. “Going forward, we’ll be able to manage PC power consumption more efficiently while minimizing interruptions during the working day as a result of software updates.”
PC Power Management is being rolled out to Ford computer users across the U.S. this month. It will be migrated to Ford operations around the world later in the year.
The cost savings and reduced carbon footprint are obtained by developing “Power Profiles” for each PC in the company. With its power profile enabled, each PC monitors its usage patterns and determines when it can be turned off. If the user is working late, he or she will be alerted of the approaching power down and given the opportunity to delay it. In addition, the PC is able to detect when a Microsoft Office product is active and is able to save open documents before shutting down in case the user is not present.
Ford developed its PC Power Management system with NightWatchman™ software from 1E Inc. 1E research found that almost half of all employees who use computers at work typically do not power them down at the end of the working day. In the U.S. alone, over $2.8 billion of PC power is being wasted every year, according to 1E.
Ford’s actions to reduce the amount of energy used in all of its facilities, from manufacturing to office buildings have earned it the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s coveted 2010 ENERGY STAR Award for the fifth consecutive year. In 2008, Ford improved energy efficiency in the U.S. by 5 percent resulting in savings of approximately $16 million. Since 2000, Ford’s U.S. facilities have improved energy efficiency by nearly 35 percent. That’s equivalent to the annual energy consumed by more than 150,000 homes.
As part of the company’s commitment to ENERGY STAR, Ford urges its employees and customers to join the effort by reducing their personal energy use and cutting their CO2 footprints. Home energy use accounts for about 25 percent of the average American’s carbon footprint. Individuals can help reduce that by pledging their support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR” campaign. http://www.energystar.gov/
The ENERGY STAR Pledge includes small, individual energy-saving actions that collectively can make a difference. Among those recommendations from the EPA:
By working together, Ford believes both individuals and corporations can make a difference in reducing energy use.
Canada Post has chosen the compact commercial van to replace its current fleet of mail carriers. The Canadian post office went through a competitive bidding process to select a new vehicle that included total lifecycle costs, which favored the relatively fuel efficient Transit Connect that’s rated 30 mpg city, 36 mpg highway..
The Ford Transit Connect is truly becoming the greatest addition to Fleets in Canada!! Including Nanaimo, Check out Mid Island Towing’s Transit Connect!
CANADA POST SELECTS FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TO REPLACE AGING NATIONAL FLEET OF LIGHT VEHICLES
2010 Ford Transit Connect
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OAKVILLE, Ont., March 18, 2010 – Through an open and competitive RFP process, Canada Post has selected Ford Transit Connect to begin replacing its aging national fleet of light vehicles and modernize its business, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, announced today. In total this year, 1,175 Ford Transit Connect vans will be purchased. This is the largest fleet sale of Ford Transit Connect vehicles in Canada to date.
Criteria such as environmental impact, employee health and safety requirements, performance, capacity and total lifecycle costs (purchase, fuel consumption and maintenance) were essential in order to find a vehicle that best met Canada Post’s needs. The Ford Transit Connect is used by a number of Post Offices around the world and is well-suited for Canadian roads and winters.
It was named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show and has won numerous international awards.
“At Ford we are dedicated to delivering quality, safe and fuel efficient vehicles to Canadian businesses – and the Ford Transit Connect delivers on all fronts,” said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “The versatility of the vehicle will allow employees to work more efficiently, and the fuel economy delivered by the Transit Connect will help bring Canada Post one step closer to achieving important environmental goals.”
“We are pleased with the outcome and look forward to the delivery of our first vehicles as we begin to replace many of our aging light vehicles, with vehicles that are much more efficient and environmentally-friendly,” says Bill Michalopulos, General Manager, Sourcing, at Canada Post. “It will also help our efforts to modernize our operations as we introduce motorization to our delivery routes.”
Implementing small changes, drivers could save up to $538 a year or $6,610 in the lifetime of their vehicle. In any economy, every penny counts. That’s why it’s important to get the facts.
Debunking a few of the most popular maintenance myths, including the following:
SAVE: Either way, there’s a considerable savings here: Let’s say you’re an average consumer who drives 20,000 kilometers a year, which means you would need about four oil changes a year under the old formula. With the new extended mileage, consumers need only about two oil changes a year, cutting their bill for oil changes in half – you could pocket upward of $50 a year or $650 in the lifetime of your car and do something to help the environment by saving oil.
Las Vegas, March 12, 2010 – Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor sedan today, showcasing a car for law enforcement officials that will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria – while also confirming production of a Police Interceptor utility vehicle.
Ford, the police vehicle market leader for 15 years, specifically designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety and technology innovations.
Ford will also add a second Police Interceptor to the lineup, a utility vehicle to provide customers a choice of the best vehicle to suit their needs. More details will be released in the third quarter of this year.
“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle – engineered and built in America – that’s as dynamic as it is durable,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.
To develop the all-new Police Interceptor, Ford engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ford’s Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals, which provided input on key vehicle attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality.
“Their feedback mattered to us,” said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers. “Safety and durability were at the top of their list. So safety and durability were at the top of ours.”
A focus on safety
Continuing Ford’s safety leadership includes engineering the Police Interceptor to pass 75-mph rear-end crash testing. Currently, the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the only pursuit sedan to meet this test.
The new Police Interceptor also features Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system to help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side-impact crashes. The multiple side-curtain air bags use Ford’s unique Roll Fold technology to help them slip between the occupant and the side window.
Increased power, enhanced sophistication
Ford’s Police Interceptor engine strategy will provide a V-6 lineup that performs equal to or better than V-8 engines. The lineup comes with two powertrain options, allowing police to choose the powerhouse that best meets their patrol requirements.
A highly efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility is 25 percent more efficient than the 4.6-liter Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) V-8 offered in the current Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
Plus, an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque across a broad rpm range.
“We have an extremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology,” said Tobin. “Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis.”
EcoBoost brings municipalities and police fleet administrators the first ultra high-performance, yet environmentally friendly, police pursuit vehicle. Offering performance that bests normally aspirated V-8 powered police cruisers and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V-6, EcoBoost represents a triple-win for police departments, the tax-paying constituents they serve and the environment they help collectively to preserve.
A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost to the road via the sophisticated torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system.
“Ford remains committed to leading the police vehicle market, and our new Police Interceptor demonstrates how much engineering and innovation we’re willing to invest to address the unique needs of those who protect and serve communities throughout America,” Fields said.
Rigidly tested, police-tuned
Throughout its development, Ford’s new Police Interceptor has been put through the paces, undergoing a battery of torture tests to ensure its individual components can hold up to the rigorous driving styles of police professionals.
Certification testing designed by the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department evaluates the durability and capability of the vehicle through a variety of tests where the car’s systems are pushed to the limits for nearly an hour and a half – far exceeding the demands most patrol cars ever experience.
To meet the rigors of the durability testing, the brakes have been increased in size and performance. The cooling package is purpose-built as well, featuring a heavy-duty alternator and larger radiator. Its honeycomb grille is designed to work in harmony with the interior components, offering more air flow throughout the vehicle. Plus, the standard 18-inch steel wheels are vented, designed to work in concert with the enhanced brake system.
“This vehicle is pursuit-ready,” said Carl Widmann, vehicle engineering manager. “It’s no nonsense, through and through.”
Functional, inside and out
Special features continue inside, too. “Working with our police partners, we’ve considered every detail,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Approximately 90 percent of the interior has been redesigned to meet the needs of our special police customers.”
Front seats have been specially designed, with a lower bolster removed to better accommodate officers’ utility belts. Inserted into the seatback are anti-stab plates, designed to protect front-seat occupants.
The Police Interceptor second row also has been optimized to address police-specific needs.
The vinyl seats are specially sculpted and set back to improve second-row space and maximize legroom. The back door hinges are modified to open up another 10 degrees versus traditional rear doors.
The Ford Police Interceptor also is equipped with a column shift specifically designed so the console area is free for the ever-increasing amounts of aftermarket police equipment necessary for officers to do their jobs.
The new vehicle also features:
Ford’s new Police Interceptor sedan will be manufactured at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be offered without interruption when production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ends in late 2011.
