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 Listen to this report as a soundclip (right-click to download - 1.8 Mb) |
July 16, 2008 |
| Vehicle-to-intersection communications research holds key to safety | |
 The 2009 Ford Flex is cruising toward an intersection with no signs of slowing. A voice inside the car says "stop light" and a red light flashes above the dashboard. The driver then brings the vehicle to a safe stop. The recent demonstration highlighted emerging technology from Ford that allows a vehicle to communicate with a "smart intersection," sharing data that can prevent accidents and alleviate congestion. The project will accelerate Ford's research into proprietary "active safety" technologies as it continues development of a common architecture and standards for smart intersections together with General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., Daimler AG, Toyota Motor Corp., the federal government, and local and county road commissions.[More...] |
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Wes Sherwood | wsherwoo@ford.com | 313-390-5660 |
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| A Flex and a few rules for the road make carpooling easy | |
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Jay Ward | jward35@ford.com | 313-845-2387 |
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| Thinking outside the box, Flex engineers deliver aerodynamics | |
 At first glance, few would assume that the new Ford Flex, best known for its signature boxy profile, is an aerodynamic leader in the emergent crossover vehicle segment. But Ford designers and engineers spent countless hours in the wind tunnel and made numerous subtle tweaks to deliver breakthrough aerodynamics while staying true to the stunning looks of the Ford Fairlane concept that inspired the Flex. Compared to the competition, Ford Flex moves through the air with surprising ease. In fact, the Flex's aerodynamic performance is the untold story behind its class-leading fuel economy.[More ...] |
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Jay Ward | jward35@ford.com | 313-845-2387 |
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| Model T's birthplace gets new lease on life | |
 If walls could talk, the Piquette Plant in Detroit would have a quite a tale to tell. It was in the humble three-story brick building in Detroit that Henry Ford built the first Model T, a car that changed the world and put the world on wheels. The Piquette plant, a once-neglected relic of the industrial renaissance, is getting a new lease on life. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, historians and car buffs, the Piquette Plant building, now known as the Model T Automotive Heritage Complex, is being restored and is open to the public. As part of the festivities celebrating the 100th birthday of the Model T, coats of paint and years of grime are being carefully removed from the building's exterior before the installation of a large historic marker and period-correct signage.[More ...] |
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Marisa Bradley | mbradl31@ford.com | 313-845-3701 |
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| New Ford Racing chief is living the dream | |
 Brian Wolfe grew up pining for about fast cars. He listened to his father's stories about Henry Ford and watched his brother race cars on the weekend. Wolfe himself started racing the same day he received his driver's license. He saved up and bought a 1968 428 Cobra Jet Fairlane. So when Wolfe was recently named director of Ford Racing, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream.[More ...] |
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Kevin Kennedy | kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com | 313-203-7108 |
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