Crossroads Ford Lincoln

History of the Ford Mustang

crossroadsmarcie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:39 +0000

History of the Ford Mustang: In 1961, Lee Iacocca, Vice President and General Manager of Ford Division, had a vision. His vision was a car that would seat four people, have bucket seats, a floor mounted shifter, be no more than 180 inches long, weigh less than 2500 pounds, and sell for less than $2500.00. Out of this vision, the Ford Mustang was born. After many months of meetings, discussions and… market surveys, funding was finally approved for the Mustang in September of 1962. On March 9, 1964 the first Mustang rolled off of the assembly line. Only 18 months had elapsed since the Mustang had been approved for production. In order to keep production costs down, many of the Mustang’s components were borrowed from the Falcon, including most of the drivetrain. With a multitude of different interior, exterior, and drivetrain options, the Mustang would be able to be ordered as plain, or as fancy, as economical, or as fast, as the buyer wanted. In general, the Mustang was designed for everyone and was advertised as “the car to be designed by you”.

The Ford Mustang was heavily advertised during the latter part of it’s development. On April 16, 1964, the day before it’s release, Ford ran simultaneous commercials at 9:30pm on all three major television networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS. The following day, April 17, 1964, people “attacked” the Ford showrooms. Everyone was in a frenzy to be one of the first to own the Mustang. Ford sold over 22,000 Mustangs the first day. By the end of the year, Ford had sold 263,434. By the end of the Mustang’s first anniversary, April 17, 1965, Ford had sold 418,812 Mustangs. The Mustang had made a name for itself, and it was here to stay.

We love to hear our customers memories of their first Mustang, their favorite Mustang and their new Mustang. It just doesn’t get any better when you Ride The Pony.

The Ford Story

crossroadsmarcie — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:01:28 +0000

The Ford Story

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More evidence the 2010 Ford Taurus is going to rock!

crossroadsmarcie — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:03:38 +0000

Great News from USA Today, join the Fiesta Movement

crossroadsmarcie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:54:30 +0000

Wow the 2010 Ford Fusion got a great review from USA today auto critic today, a very impressive report. They told us at the franchise meeting that it would get the best fuel economy of any midsize hybrid, and that the drive was amazing. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-02-05-2010-ford-fusion-hybrid_N.htm

Something else I forgot to tell everyone about was the “Fiesta Movement”

Ford is giving 100 Fiesta’s for people to drive for 6 months, basically free in an extended version of the popular “Swap my Ride” campaign. These cars have been popular in Europe for years and we’re finally getting them in the US! Yay! You can go to http://fiestamovement.com/ and submit your application for an extended test drive of the fiesta.

More from NADA Convention

crossroadsmarcie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:10:50 +0000

Well I finally made it home from New Orleans after getting stuck in Chicago for the night and having my flight cancelled 3 times. After digging my car out of long term parking for an hour and making it home to no power for 4 days, and having the stomach flu I’d almost forgotten about all the exciting things that happened while I was in New Orleans. I’m back in the swing of things and wanted to tell you all the great news that was talked about in our Ford Lincoln Mercury franchise meeting.
You already know how excited I am about the new 2010 Ford Taurus which is going to have the same starting price as the current model $25,995. We also found out that the 2010 Lincoln MKS is going to have the Ecoboost engine available this summer giving it a whopping 355 hp and it will still get 25mpg! I thought that was pretty amazing, all that extra hp and no change in fuel economy. The 2010 model lineup will have Ecoboost engines available in 90% of the product line up. Lincoln is going to have a new crossover vehicle called the MKT that will have active park assist that will rival the Lexus version. The 2010 Mustang is going to be $1250 less than the Camaro, and the 2010 Fusion will start $1400 less than the Malibu and $1,000 less than the Accord. The biggest news to report…. Ford will have the most fuel efficient midsize sedan in the Fusion in the gas and hybrid models. Since 77% of people that don’t buy a Ford say it’s because of fuel economy, now that we have the quality equal or better than Toyota and Honda for the last two years, the highest safety ratings of any manufacturer this year, and fuel economy there isn’t much else to talk about!

Well okay, there are some pretty awesome technologies coming out in Ford Lincoln Mercury vehicles this year. If you haven’t heard about all the awesome things that Sync can do you’re already behind the times, but for those of you that are maybe just getting into the vehicle market – Sync is a new option available on Ford Lincoln Mercury vehicles that interacts with your bluetooth enabled phone via voice commands to make and receive calls. You can also use Sync to stream music from your phone, voice activated navigation, 911 Assist, and more! You don’t have a subscription service to Sync, it’s a one time factory option and it’s only $299! In addition to the amazing technology Sync is offering our customers, we’re also going to have Blind Spot Monitoring, and Cross traffic monitoring these safety technologies will blow you away! It’s a great time to be in the market for a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury.

Of course I was excited about all the new product information, and the streamlined marketing and advertising that Ford is doing. After getting to hear about all this I even got to meet the President and CEO of Ford Motor Company Alan Mulally. He couldn’t have been nicer and more interested in what was going on in dealerships. I applaud him and his executive team for their teamwork, synergy, and efforts that they have put forth to make Ford a really great product for dealers to sell! Here’s to 2009 being a great year!

I remembered what I said that made him laugh, I told him I was going to post the picture of us to my facebook profile, and he thought it was really funny because they were teasing one of the other execs during the panel about facebook! It was really awesome meeting him though!

One more thing – I got to see George HW Bush and Bill Clinton speak on Monday. They talked about the importance of car dealers to their communities in providing civic support, jobs, and stabilization. They also talked about their first car memories, told some funny jokes, and told some of their regrets about their presidencies. It was enlightening to see them put so much faith in the turn around of the auto industry and how auto dealers play such and important role in the economy. Now do your part and go buy a car!

NADA Convention

crossroadsmarcie — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:26:06 +0000

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the NADA it’s the National Auto Dealers Association. Every year dealers gather from all corners of the U.S. to come and talk about the challenges todays auto dealers face and what’s new in the marketplace. I’ve been full time in our dealership for just over 5 years now and although I participated in the NADA’s Dealer Candidate Academy 2 years ago I hadn’t been to Convention since I was a young girl. I’m attending by myself and arrived last night in New Orleans and started the morning picking up my registration and wandering through the expansive exposition center taking in all the vendors. A lot of dealers come to convention just to shop for products they’re looking for in their stores. This year we aren’t particularly in the market for anything, so I’m walking around taking in all the montrously expensive and elaborate displays and wondering how much money these vendors have spent just to be here at NADA? However I was not going to be lured by any of these vendors and their flashy displays and free gifts. I was on a mission. I was here to see the new 2010 Taurus. The car everyone is going to be talking about. Being the proud soon-to-be second generation Ford dealer I am, I’m always a little deflated when I’m telling someone in my generation about what a great car the Taurus has become this year, and how amazing the redesign is for 2010. They look at me disdainfully, roll their eyes and say as if I have a third eye, “the Taurus?” Why would I ever consider such a thing, that’s what my parents drive. We’ll hang onto your hats kids because the 2010 Taurus is not only stylish, safe, green, and so technologically advanced that it is going to blow the doors of it’s competition. Yes, yes, and yes I’m talking about the Taurus. So of course I was determined to get some real photos of this new beauty to share with my friends and family and I’m pleased to say that it’s as gorgeous as all the hype. If you’re still in the dark on the hype about the new 2010 Taurus here’s your chance to be on the cutting edge. Tell your friends this isn’t their mother’s Taurus!
So I’ve got my photos of the 2010 Taurus and I’m stoked! (Yes, I’m easily amused.) I head up to my session and settle in and learn a new angle about the basics of selling cars, and head down to the general session. After being so excited about the pictures of the Taurus I almost forgot that Alan Mulally CEO and President of Ford Motor Company is this afternoons keynote speaker! I get in the general assemby room really early and I’m sitting in the third row behind all the Ford execs and very close to the stage. The excitement from my photos is starting to wear off and I’m again thinking about all the fanfare and money being spent on this convention. What a waste of resources I’m thinking, but then again I know that dealers in so many communities are really struggling and attitudes have been bleak for several months now. These dealers really need to know and feel that things are going to turn around for them. Just as I’m thinking about this, the presentation of the flag is made and a beautiful collection of patriotic songs is sung and everyone is feeling warm and fuzzy, and no doubt proud to be an American. Alan Mulally is introduced and delivers a message that is so down to earth, and optimistically powerful that I am again so proud I’m about to be a second generation Ford dealer. Listen for yourself to his address.

I was taken aback by the current relevancy of Henry Ford’s words when he said, “What’s right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have a great capacity – intellect and resources – to do something about them.”

I’m with Alan, I’ve never been more pleased to represent such an important industry in my community.

An answer finally

crossroadsmarcie — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:42:53 +0000

Well the american auto indutstry finally has an answer to it’s questions of bailout. $17.4 billion dollars will be pumped into GM and Chrysler in the form of loans and hopefully keep them from filing bankruptcy. No one seems to win in this scenario, government money being used in private companies to stave off a continued domino effect that is taking place in the American economy right now. How did we let things get this far, that we have to provide government money to these companies to save thousands of jobs. 1 in 10 jobs to be exact. Our democratic free market doesn’t seem to have worked out very well recently.
It will be interesting to see what comes of American automakers in the next 18 months.

There is still great news for Ford fans despite the doom and gloom of the media. We’re turning a corner in the public eye, because of the hard work Ford Motor Company has done the last 3 years it was just announced that Ford just received more top safety ratings than any other manufacturer. Yippee! We’re also currently ranked equal or better with Toyota and Honda for the last two years. Safety, quality and reliability in products that consumers have been asking for, you’ll see these all in the Ford product line up in 2009, and in 2010 you’ll be blown away and won’t believe these products are Fords! Get ready it’s coming.

American jobs at stake my take on the auto buyout

crossroadsmarcie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:07:09 +0000

Since I’m in the car business and my dad has owned Crossroads Ford for the last 25 years, people keep asking me “Marcie, what do you think about the auto bailout?” I think it’s awful, and philosophically I’m opposed to a bailout, isn’t that why we have bankruptcy in America, free markets and such? BUT do I think that our economy is going to get better if we lose 1 in 10 jobs if the Big Three goes under, definitely not. 1 in 10 jobs! Can you believe that 1 in 10 jobs in the US is tied to the american auto industry? It’s hard to fathom the economic impact that losing American automakers would have on our economy, consumer confidence, the banking industry, and american families. Now Ford is actually in a much better position than GM and Chrysler and Ford can make it through these difficult times as long as GM and Chrysler don’t go under. It’s hard for most people to understand that the solvency of the Big 3 rely on each other because they share suppliers even though they make different products. So if GM goes under it’s not good for Ford, which is why it’s important for all three US automakers that GM gets bailout money. We need GM to stay in business. Americans (even the ones that drive those foreign automakers cars) need the US auto industry to stay around.

I am proud to say that Ford his been making a huge turnaround in the quality and depth of the products we make, environmental impact, safety and cutting edge technology. I’m proud to be the next generation Ford dealer in my community right now. I think the 2010 lineup of products will blow away previous perceptions of Ford, think of us as the next Toyota, but made in America! You can follow the Ford story and the progress we’re making at www.thefordstory.com

So while you’re enjoying your holiday parties this December, look around the room and think about if 1 in 10 people at your party were to become unemployed. And the next time you’re shopping for a car, at least put Ford and Crossroads Ford on your shopping list. You can’t give me that Toyota quality line anymore when you tell me you bought something else, Fords quality is equal or better to Toyota and Honda. If you want proof email me I’ll send you the links. We might be a small car dealer in the area, but we can get whatever vehicle you want. We try to make it easy for our customers when they’re looking for a vehicle, we keep our overhead low and we pass off the savings.

Here’s the video of Alan Mulally talking about The Ford Story

Eco-Driving a Ford Flex

crossroadsmarcie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:59:41 +0000

Eco-Driving a Ford Flex

This was a really interesting perspective on driving green in the world of hybrids and fuel economy talk. Check out this article.

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

crossroadsmarcie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:32:07 +0000

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

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 29, 2008 – Pushing a vehicle to the limit takes on a new meaning in the new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide – an innovative new instrument cluster that provides real-time information to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency.

“SmartGauge with EcoGuide gives the customer real-world feedback to make the most of their hybrids,” said Gil Portalatin, Hybrid Applications Manager. “Unique to Ford and Mercury hybrid sedans, this instrument cluster acts as a good ‘coach,’ engaging drivers real-time to help them achieve maximum fuel economy.”

Ford collaborated with IDEO and Smart Design, two world leaders in helping consumers connect with technology, to develop the instrument cluster. Job One was properly integrating the driver with the cluster’s science and technology.

“The main question hybrid drivers had was, ‘How do I know I’m getting the most out of my hybrid?’ ” said Jeff Greenberg, Ford senior technical leader. “We needed to create a system that better communicates with drivers and gives them the tools to maximize fuel efficiency. That’s what SmartGauge with EcoGuide does.”

The driver is immediately engaged by the SmartGauge displays, on either side of the center-mounted analog speedometer, with a special greeting that combines illumination and graphics.

EcoGuide then uses a multi-layered approach to coach the driver to maximum fuel efficiency. A tutorial mode built into the display that helps the driver learn about the instrument cluster and the hybrid in a whimsical way that does not overpower.

For instance, drivers can choose one of four data screens to choose the information level displayed during their drives. They are:

Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status
Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer
Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power
Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and accessory power consumption

All levels can show instant fuel economy, fuel economy history, odometer, engine coolant temperature, what gear the car is in and trip data (trip fuel economy, time-elapsed fuel economy and miles to empty). The engine coolant temperature indicator turns green when engine conditions are warm enough to allow engine pull-down.

At the core of the instrument cluster’s design was an understanding that the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) experience evolves and deepens over time and the technology needed to reflect that.

The four levels of information can be customized to fit each driver’s needs or situation. If cruising on the highway, for instance, only basic information may be desired. Once a driver moves off the highway into a city, additional information to optimize fuel economy may be desired and can be easily accessed.

Long-term fuel efficiency can be displayed in two ways – either as a traditional chart or using an innovative display that shows “growing leaves and vines” on the right side of the cluster. The more efficient a customer is, the more lush and beautiful the leaves and vines, creating a visual reward for the driver’s efforts.

Additionally, the real-time system feedback allows drivers to assess or modify their driving habits to achieve maximum fuel economy. A shutdown screen reviews important information from the latest trip, including fuel economy performance and comparative data from previous days.

Extensive customer research was completed to ensure the instrument cluster is as driver-friendly as possible. Prototype testing was done in Ford’s Virtual Text Track Experiment (VIRTTEX) simulator, the industry’s largest driver distraction laboratory operated by an automaker. Test drivers were able to safely interact with the new technology as engineers gathered data and helped refine SmartGauge, aiding drivers in making informed decisions without being distracting or overwhelming.

“When you’re driving, you have a second or so to look at your display,” Greenberg said. “A dense display isn’t going to work. SmartGauge with EcoGuide is designed to minimize distraction caused by multiple displays. We did a lot of work to eliminate extraneous movement and create a smooth, fluid display.”

The instantaneous fuel economy gauge, for example, can be shown or hidden at each of the EcoGuide levels to suit the needs of individual drivers. “We did a lot of research and modified our designs along the way to make SmartGauge with EcoGuide unobtrusive, using subtle cues to relay information,” Greenberg said.

The brainstorming sessions with the IDEO team proved invaluable. “We received more than 100 ideas about information to display – that was our input to our studies with VIRTTEX,” he added. “In VIRTTEX, for example, we learned that you can’t overlay multiple levels of information. One of our design goals then became to geographically separate the information so it can be better understood while driving.”

Four Hybrids The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids join the already successful Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids – the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the planet. With the addition of the two new hybrid sedans, Ford will double its annual hybrid volume and be the largest domestic producer of full hybrid vehicles in North America.

The Fusion and Milan Hybrids will be built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant and a will arrive in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2009.