Ford of Ocala is the Cutting Edge!

Your Right as an American!

It's hard to believe today is the Election Day 2008.

And regardless of who you support or what you believe in, it is a fundemental responsibility of each of us as Americans to determine our collective future by voting today.

I'm trying to do this in a non-partisan, non-political way and you may wonder why it is in a Ford Blog but contrary to someone's assertion otherwise, Ford is American as baseball and apple pie. It was Henry Ford's genius, hard work and foresight that brought about the transportation revolution in the USA. Without the Model T, Model A and the Ford truck we never would have become the world power that we are today. And while our economy is tanking, we can still "Be American and Buy American" to do what we can to help the recovery effort.

I am proud to be an American and I am proud to work for Ford Motor Company. And today I am proud that I can vote for what I believe in.

You Can Win A New 2009 F-150!! *

And go on tour with Toby Keith and get a tour bus of your own for a weekend! Plus a lot more, but go to the "BIGGEST AND BADDEST CONTEST" site for all the details and full contest rules. Basically you have to be 21 years of age and submit certain information to qualify. Since I'm a Ford employee and not eligible to enter, I didn't pull the full rules to enter for this blog. But they are pretty straight forward and hey, you never know unless you try. *Contest runs thru mid-March 2009. Ford of Ocala is only responsible for the information printed here. Any errors, ommissions or changes are the sole responsibility of Ford Motor Company.

In the meantime, we are having great deals on our remaining 2008 inventory but it is going fast because of the large incentives and rebates Ford of Ocala is offering. In addition, Ford Motor Company has authorized Ford of Ocala to offer low rate financing to more consumers than any other time in our history! While other dealerships are telling you "NO!" we have the opportunity to get your payment and financing where you want it to be.

So come on in or call (2816 NW Pine Ave Ocala, Fl/ 352.732.4800), talk to a sales specialist and take advantage of the many opportunities available at the largest Ford Dealership in North Central Florida. You'll be glad you did!

Tests to Compare 2009 F-150 with Rivals

While Ford Motor Co. launches TV ads for the all-new 2009 F-150 today, the company is planning a new online application that will launch in mid-November at http://www.fordvehicles.com/.


It's a series of real-world comparison tests that pit the F-150's capability in towing, hauling, durability and fuel economy against rival trucks. The four documentary-style webisodes were filmed at Ford's Michigan Proving Ground in Romeo.

But for now, you can check out the specs yourself and see why Ford of Ocala has been the truck leader in North Central Florida since 1925.

New Ford Hybrid Fusion and Milan will outperform Toyotas!

Fighting the long-held perception that much of the technology in their company's first "full"-hybrid system for the Escape hybrid SUV was bought or licensed from Toyota, executives and engineers at Ford were crystal-clear during this week's media preview of the all-new hybrid architecture for the company's upcoming Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid sedans: Everything, they said, was designed by Ford in North America.
The new hybrid system is "100 percent Ford technology; 100 percent Ford design, invented right here in North America," said Nancy Gioia, Ford Motor Co.'s director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrids. She and other engineers say every major component was developed under Ford engineering.
In detailing the key components, engineers said they stressed an interdisciplinary approach that helped optimize all components for maximum system efficiency. The process developed several intriguing new components and advances, they said.

Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide is Coming

FORD’S SMARTGAUGE WITH ECOGUIDE COACHES DRIVERS TO MAXIMIZE FUEL EFFICIENCY ON NEW FUSION HYBRID

*Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide gives hybrid owners a more-connected, fuel-efficient driving experience by coaching them on how to optimize performance of the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids
*SmartGauge with EcoGuide’s unique design uses two, high-resolution, full-color liquid crystal display (LCD) screens on either side of the analog speedometer that can be configured to show different levels of information, including fuel and battery power levels, average and instant miles-per-gallon. Growing leaves and vines track and reward the driver’s efficiency
*All-new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids are expected to offer class-leading fuel economy and will be available in the first quarter of 2009

Ford of Ocala Sponsors Ocala Shriners Rodeo 2008

Ford of Ocala is very proud to be a major sponsor of such a worthy event

“This is a professional rodeo,” Public Relations Chairman Larry Koblentz said. “Rodeo cowboys get points toward national finals.”
The Ocala rodeo is a sanctioned Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event. Events include bull riding, steer wrestling, bronco riding, team roping, barrel racing and tie down roping.
One of the high points of the Ocala Shrine Rodeo for members is the special rodeo for the nearly 200 physically challenged children who are sponsored by the Ocala club. These Marion County children are receiving or have received medical care at Shriners Tampa Orthopedic Hospital or the Shriners Burn Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
These children are invited to attend the rodeo, and about 30 are selected to participate in a series of rodeo events appropriate for their special needs. Kids are paired with a rodeo professional and guided through such events as goat riding, roping dummy steers, riding a hand-rocked bull or taking a real horseback ride.
“The kids all get a cowboy hat, bandanna, contestant number, lariat rope and T-shirt,” Koblentz said, adding that each also gets a trophy. “They’re all winners.”
In previous years, this special rodeo took place on Sundays before the regular performance, but members thought the heat would be less severe in late afternoon. This year the event is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. and is free. Each year, a Rodeo Princess and Rodeo Buckaroo are selected from the young patients and will be introduced at this Thursday event. Last year’s princess was Megan Simons, and the buckaroo was Joshua Logsdon.
Because the rodeo is completely produced by the club, it keeps members working throughout the year, Koblentz explained. From hiring specialty acts to selecting concessions to obtaining sponsors to selling tickets, the club members do it all. They also oversee at least 200 volunteers at each performance.
“When we finish this rodeo, we’re already working on the next one,” he said. “All proceeds from the rodeo go to the Shriners children’s hospitals.”
The club has raised $1.2 million from the rodeos over the years, Koblentz said. He calls the work provided by the 400-member club a “labor of love” because proceeds go to such a worthy cause.
“There is no charge for treatment at any Shriners hospital,” Koblentz said.

Race of the Century

FORD AWARDED $10 MILLION ENERGY DEPARTMENT GRANT

FORD AWARDED $10 MILLION ENERGY DEPARTMENT GRANT TO ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT OF PLUG-IN VEHICLES

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 6 – Ford Motor Company has been awarded a $10 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy for research, development, and demonstration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Ford received the grant for the continued development of a demonstration fleet of 20 PHEVs. The total project cost is $20 million, and the government will fund $10 million, or 50 percent, of the program.

In June, Ford delivered the first flexible fuel capable plug-in hybrid electric SUV to the Department of Energy. The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, capable of running on gasoline or E85, is part of a demonstration fleet Ford is developing in a partnership with Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute, DTE and Johnson Controls/Saft.
Advanced vehicle testing is underway on vehicles in California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. The company delivered the first gasoline-only Escape PHEV to Southern California Edison in December 2007.
“As a leader in both hybrid and flexible fuel technology, Ford is well positioned to bring the two together in a plug-in vehicle. With plug-in hybrids, we have the potential to significantly change our transportation and energy future,” said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford’s Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “Our ultimate goal is to create plug-in vehicles that can be mass produced and meaningfully contribute to our nation's energy security.”
The Ford Escape PHEV is equipped with a 10 kilowatt advanced lithium ion energy battery supplied by Johnson Controls/Saft that stores enough electric energy to drive up to 30 miles at speeds of up to 40 mph. The battery works in tandem with a small four-cylinder engine.
Based on current estimates, the vehicle would emit 60 percent less CO2 than a conventional gasoline powered vehicle. The CO2 reduction would reach 90 percent if cellulosic ethanol is used in place of gasoline.