“This engine has tons of torque and already has been proven in the field with both the F-150 SVT Raptor and Super Duty,” said Mike Harrison, V8 engine program manager. “The exhaust for the Ford Harley-Davidson edition has been specially tuned to feature a throaty V8 rumble customers will love.”
Standard features for 2011 include all the bells and whistles of modern auto technology such as; the voice-activated Navigation System, a 4.2-inch productivity screen, power moon roof and Remote Start System Features include a standard 4.2-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) productivity screen.

The exterior of the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson offers an audacious front fascia and six-bar-shaped front chrome grille with “Harley-Davidson” satin chrome badging. The truck also has a standard, fully integrated deployable running board, and 22-inch Euroflange forged wheels.
The exterior paint selection reflects classic Harley-Davidson styling with Ingot Silver and Tuxedo Black.

Interior trim panels are covered in Tuxedo Black paint; all interior chrome surfaces feature a new satin finish. Premium leather-trimmed seats come with accent color inserts and a unique badge.

Design manager Brad Richards stated; “We take creation of the Ford Harley-Davidson trucks very seriously, but it’s also something we have a lot of fun with along the way,” Richards also said; “we hope that comes through in each of the finished trucks.  “We ensure Ford Harley-Davidson trucks exude the same bold personality as the legendary motorcycles,” Richards added. “We take two brands that are undeniably unique and forge a product that embodies the best qualities of both.

The new Boss muscle car was modeled after the 1960’s and early 70’s infamous Bosses that were well known for great looks and high performance. But according to Automotive News; “Ford is quick to point out the new Boss 302 is more than a trip down memory lane.”

The new Boss was unveiled at Laguna Seca this week.  According to Ford Motor Co, the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is the “quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford.”

As far as the exterior is concerned, the designers attempted to keep the new Boss in line with the appearance of the 1969 model. The grille is unique to the 2012 Boss, and the front splitter resembles the 302E racer. Aerodynamic changes include a deeper front air dam and a rear spoiler.  A black or white roof panel complements the exterior appearance and the body of the new Boss comes in the nostalgic racing car colors of bright blue, yellow, orange, red, and white.

The renowned  ‘69 Boss 302 claimed 290 hp at 5800 rpm, and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, and although it was a legend in its time, by modern standards, its (claimed) 290 hp at 5800 and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm is less power and only marginally more torque than the 2011 Mustang’s V-6.

Additionally, Ford is launching an even more exclusive “Boss 302 Laguna Seca” model. It gets rid of the rear seat while stiffening the body and suspension, and carrying over the aerodynamics package from the Ford Racing Boss 302R.

The 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and 302 Laguna Seca will arrive in dealerships sometime in 2011 at a price yet to be determined for sure, an estimated price is around $36,000 for the base 302 and $40,000 plus for the Laguna Seca.

One dilemma that Ford is facing is how to upgrade the F-Series trucks in order to have enough power so that the V-6 models can replace the old gas hog V-8 engines, while at the same time providing 20% better fuel economy.

But Ford is up to the challenge offering what Ford is calling “the most extensive powertrain overhaul in the truck’s history.”  The line-up for the 2011 Ford F-150 features four new truck engines: a 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s, and a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-liter.  Headlining the engine lineup is a new twin-turbo EcoBoost engine with Ti-VCT that has been specifically tuned, calibrated and tested for durability and reliability.

Features of the new 3.7 V-6 include; estimated 300 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 275 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, class-leading fuel economy, 6,100 pounds maximum towing capacity,

“This is a well-designed engine with a massive amount of attention to detail around the block and the structure of the block,” said Jim Mazuchowski, V6 engines program manager. “This attention to the stiffness and rigidity of the bottom end, how the engine is fastened with four-bolt mains and two side bolts, enhances durability and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).”

Every engine option for the F-150 will be combined with a six-speed automatic transmission redesigned in order to improve fuel economy. With the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, fuel economy will improve up to 20% as compared to the current 2010 model 5.4-liter V-8.

The 3.7-liter V-6 and the two V-8 engines will arrive in dealer’s show rooms the end of this year and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost will be available during the first quarter of 2011.

Early production of the Ford Focus at the Michigan plant will involve pre-production vehicles that are built in order for Ford to test the final design and perfect the assembly process. The plant will start formal production later in the year.

The Michigan Assembly plant was originally built to produce the F-150, Expedition and Navigator.  It has been completely redesigned in order to switch gears and produce smaller Ford  cars,  such as the Ford Focus.  Ford tooled the plant so that several variations of the new Focus could be produced there, one such model is the electric powered version which will be launched in 2012.

The equipment within the manufacturing plant is flexible enough to be able to switch production without retooling, which is usually time consuming but necessary when changes to the production model are made.  For example; if the market suddenly changes and more electric models are being sold, Ford will be able to swiftly modify the productivity without as much overhead cost and produce those models that the market currently demands.
“If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that customer’s wants and needs can change quickly — much more quickly than we have been equipped to respond to efficiently in the past,” Jim Tetreault, vice president of Ford’s North American manufacturing, said. “At Michigan Assembly, we will achieve a level of flexibility we don’t have in any other plant around the world, which will allow us to meet shifting consumer preferences in real time.”

Ford is still contemplating which prototypes of the Focus will make it to mass production market.  At the Geneva Motor Show this year the Focus station wagon was featured, which is one possibility.  The Focus hatchback, Grand C-Max minivan or a mini model are other options.  Depending on what the demand is for the 2012 Focus, Ford will be prepared to build them all at the Michigan plant.

Ford’s Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs, Ford of Europe, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, and Latin American operations will all be a part of this movement. Some of the moves included are:

-The Ford executive vice president, John Flemming will lead the operations of the company’s Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs operations. Currently he is participating in two roles. He is the Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, as well as, the head of Global Manufacturing & Labor affairs.

-Stephen Odell has been appointed as the successor of John Flemming and will be taking over as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. Currently, Odell holds the position of CEO of Volvo Cars.

-Finally the chief financial officer of Volvo will take on the role of chief financial officer of Ford of Europe. This role goes to Stuart Rowely.

Ford will be selling the Volvo brand later this year. These changes will take affect when the deal is officially closed. In addition to these changes, Ford will also be working on reorganizing its operations in South America, Mexico and Canada. All changes made will have the same goal to strengthen the company as a whole through more focused efforts.

“These moves allow us to strengthen our global team as we accelerate our One Ford plan and continue to profitably grow serving our customers around the world,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.

By purchasing new or used Ford trucks from the Sunset Ford dealer, either from its Waterloo, IL location or the Saint Louis MO location, you send a clear message that you care where you choose to invest your money. The Ford brand is known for their safety and reliability, as well as their affordability. This makes them a continually trusted brand around the world.

The Sunset Ford dealerships make it incredibly easy to make and keep these regularly scheduled appointments. You can schedule regular maintenance for your vehicle via the dealership website. Visit www.sunset-ford.com and schedule your next appointment now. At each appointment you can schedule the following necessary appointment. Best of all, the technicians in the service centers are Ford trained and specialize in all Ford models. They are friendly and certified, not to mention, fully qualified and capable of correctly maintaining your used Ford vehicle. Just like the vehicles you’ll find at Sunset Ford, their service department is just as affordable.

If you’ve been rather lax on vehicle maintenance, it will undoubtedly catch up to you. If you have your vehicle regularly maintained you can rest assure, day after day, your vehicle is operating at its highest potential.

Dan Kratz, the director of Fleet Operations of Safety Kleen comments:

“Replacing older cargo vans with new, more fuel-efficient vehicles is part of an initiative to green our fleet,” he said. “The Ford Transit Connect offers significant fuel savings over traditional cargo vans – 24 mpg versus 15 mpg. We also anticipate having less maintenance costs because the oil change intervals are longer with the Transit Connect.”

“As we continue to engage existing and new customers, the Ford Transit Connect continues to find more and more applications across different businesses,” he said. “Safety-Kleen is another example of a commercial customer realizing the benefits of the vehicle and its capability to deliver on the green pillar of Ford’s product innovation.”

The Ford Motor Company offers a wide array of eco-friendly cars, Ford trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and now, utility vehicles. As the number of eco-friendly vehicles continues to grow, so does the demand for such vehicles. The demand for an eco-friendly vehicle has taken off with the everyday driver. The demand, now, has begun trickling into larger companies. Because of the eye-catching design features and economic capabilities of the Transit Connect, it offers businesses an eco-friendly travel solution, as well as, on the go marketing opportunities.

The Ford Motor Company will provide you with a full vehicle history report of any of their certified pre owned vehicles, prior to purchase. The certifying process consists of a 169 point complete inspection of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not pass the test, they simply don’t qualify to become a Ford certified pre owned vehicle. In addition the vehicle history report, as mentioned previously, will give you great peace of mind in knowing the repair history of that vehicle.

Once a vehicle has become certified, Ford continues to back those vehicles. All certified pre-owned Ford vehicles are covered by a Powertrain Limited Warranty; they will have comprehensive warranty coverage, as well as, 24 hour roadside assistance.

Ford is confident in each of their certified pre owned vehicles so that you can have complete confidence in your decision.  Purchasing certified pre owned is as close to buying a new vehicle as you can get. The biggest perk of purchasing a certified pre owned Ford is that you will pay much less than you would for a new model, but will have the same confidence as you would with a new model.

The Ford Thunderbird was known for its classic design which mimicked that of the American sports car. Several owners of used Ford Thunderbirds have traveled from afar to Dearborn Michigan to honor the model at a recent classic car show which was held at the Ford World Headquarters.

“The Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic products in the history of the automobile,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Global Marketing. “Each generation of the Thunderbird had a unique personality that ushered in a new generation of breakthroughs in design or technology.”

The classic model debuted on October 22, 1954. It wasn’t apparent right away, but soon grew into a bigger legend with each generation. Since the debut the Thunderbird model included classic two-seaters, roadsters, convertibles, four door models, sedans, and hardtops. All in all there were a total of more than 4.2 million Thunderbirds produced.

It may be a little difficult to find one of the classic models at your average dealership. Visiting a Ford dealer will give you the best opportunity for finding a classic Thunderbird. Stop in to a Sunset Ford dealer today. They have a location in Waterloo, Illinois, as well as, in Saint Louis Missouri. If you can’t find one on the lot, they can help you track one down.

If you currently own a classic Thunderbird and are in need of authentic parts for restoration visit www.fordrestorationparts.com to obtain true Ford parts.

The brake pads of your vehicle will give you signs they are wearing and will soon be in need of replacing. This happens well before you need to replace them. However, if you fail to recognize these signs you may end up with damage to your rotors.

If your vehicle makes a high pitch squealing noise when you depress the brakes, it is time to replace the brakes. Many of the lower cost brakes don’t have the wear indicator, thus they will not have a high pitch squeal when the brakes are in need of replacing. Other ways to tell if your brakes need replacing are noticing that your brake pedal needs to be further depressed in order to obtain the same amount of braking, or of the vehicle needs a longer stopping distance than previously. If your steering wheel is shaking when you depress the brakes, this indicates your rotors are warped. Warped rotors either need to be replaced, or can sometimes simply be turned. Your rotors should not need to be replaced each time the brakes are replaced. Instead it is wise to replace the rotors with every other brake replacement.