BEIJING, March 25, 2010 – Visitors to the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, which starts April 25 at the China International Exhibition Centre, will be greeted by the wonderful experience of Ford’s great new products, smart technologies and exciting interactive displays. They can even star in their own film.
Ford’s extensive Beijing exhibit symbolizes the brand’s growing global momentum, powered by products like the new Ford Fiesta and new technologies for connectivity, entertainment and fuel-efficient motoring.
The new Ford Edge will make its regional debut at the Beijing Auto Show. The new sport utility vehicle will feature MyFord TouchTM driver connect technology, powered by SYNC. Offering truly seamless connectivity between your car and your mobile device, SYNC is one of many Ford Drive Smart technologies showcased at the event.
“Drive Smart is one of the key pillars of the Ford brand,” said Robert Graziano, chairman and CEO, Ford China. “With the China debut of SYNC, the Beijing Show will be a proof point why Ford is building a reputation globally as a technology leader as we build momentum after a record year of sales with great products like the Ford Focus and the new Ford Fiesta. Customers are recognizing increasingly that Ford stands for unique strengths and appeal.”
Ford is planning to reveal even more technology and great products to fuel its onward momentum. An all-new concept car will make its global debut at the show, and this will also be the first chance for Chinese customers to see the car that spearheads Ford’s next generation of global models, the next-generation Ford Focus.
Previewing the next-generation Focus
Beijing Auto Show visitors will be among the first to see the sleek, stylish, next-generation Ford Focus. It’s making a global preview tour well in advance of its market introduction in China.
Ford is showing the future shape of Focus because it will be the flagship of an important new portfolio of up to 10 vehicles from one new global platform. When the next-generation Focus goes into production in China in 2012, Ford expects global volumes of its new C-car family to reach 2 million units annually. The new Focus will be sold in more than 120 markets worldwide.
To learn more about the new technologies in the next-generation model, visitors can play a starring role in a film which highlights Focus technologies. Techno-talented visitors who become budding film stars can show their friends a copy of their starring scene via email.
Visitors at the Beijing Auto Show can also take the Control Blade Challenge on the Ford Beijing stand. It’s a unique, interactive experience that simulates being connected to the road, demonstrating the driving quality and sophisticated rear suspension setup at the heart of the Focus driving experience. Ford notched up record sales for Focus in 2009 in China.
A boost for Drive Green
Showcasing the company's latest chapter in a global push for fuel economy, Ford will make further news in Beijing with its acclaimed EcoBoost engine technology, which is a core technology as Ford works to bring significant fuel economy benefits to millions of motorists around the world.
EcoBoost combines direct fuel injection and turbocharging to give customers a fuel-efficient, smaller-displacement engine with the power and performance they expect from a larger-displacement engine. Globally, Ford has already begun introducing EcoBoost engines, including a V6 engine with the power of a V8 and new I-4 engines with the performance feel of a V6 yet with up to 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent lower CO2 emissions.
Two large, orange robots help communicate the Ford EcoBoost story and showcase the EcoBoost engine on display.
Ford will demonstrate how EcoBoost delivers the “best of both worlds” for customers – great responsiveness and improved fuel economy – and show what’s in store for the Ford range in China, where EcoBoost will be introduced during 2010. Further details will be provided at the Beijing Show.
The Drive Green story also features the new Ford PowerShift transmission. It’s a new approach to giving drivers the great automatic transmission ease they expect with the fuel-economy efficiency previously only found in a manual transmission. It’s so easy that there’s no clutch pedal at all – its two internal clutches do all the work automatically for seamless automatic shifting – and there’s a special interactive experience on the Ford stand to learn more about it.
Experiencing Ford MyFord TouchTM, powered by SYNC
Ford’s unique connectivity and entertainment technology, the award-winning SYNC system, was first demonstrated at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show. Now MyFord Touch, powered by SYNC, is one of the highlights of the Beijing Auto Show for Ford as it will arrive in China equipped in the new Ford Edge SUV.
MyFord Touch adds even more voice control plus full-colour LCD screens for much of the information that the driver requires. The information can be customized by the driver using voice controls, touch screen technology and the five way phone style buttons mounted on the steering wheel.
Rather than reaching for a button or switch, you can play a tune from the playlist of a Bluetooth device or USB, or select a number to phone from an address book through voice commands while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Experiencing this new MyFord Touch technology is compelling.
Drive Safe
How strong are the protective body shells of products like the Ford Mondeo? How are Ford products designed to protect their occupants?
Ford provides answers to these questions, which are important to all customers. Mondeo is in the spotlight at this year’s show, with product experts and informative displays and exhibits highlighting its safety engineering and equipment. Visitors can also meet a crash test dummy and see future safety technologies being developed by Ford, such as inflatable safety belts.
Ford’s commitment to safety extends beyond Ford products themselves. In 2009, more than 3,100 drivers in China participated in Ford’s innovative Driving Skills for Life program. It’s part of a global Ford initiative to promote safe and fuel efficient driving through awareness and training.
Beijing Show visitors can take the interactive Safety Driving Challenge to test their own driving skills.
Drive Quality
Increasingly, customers in China are embracing the quality and innovative design of Ford products, leading to record sales. Beijing Show visitors get up close and personal with Ford quality and learn first-hand why the introduction of new Ford products, such as the hot new Fiesta, have such enduring appeal. There’s a special 3D Drive Quality experience awaiting visitors, too.
Starting from April 10, visitors will be able to log into a tailor-made site for the Beijing Auto Show 2010 – www.ford-autoshow.com.cn – to preview Ford’s auto show information and interactive content, including online games.
