On Sunday evening, I had the good fortune to have dinner with Ford’s CEO, Alan Mulally and a number of Ford executives. I was the lone wolf mad dog blogger at the table, surrounded by conventional journalists from America and the UK. Needless to say, I was nervous as could be, not having previously met a single person in the room. I compensated by throwing down three pineapple vodka infusions – the house specialty at the Capital Grille in Troy, Michigan (and for good reason, I must say) – in rapid succession while twittering and waiting at the bar.
All in my best attempt to summon inspiration from the late great Hunter S. Thompson.
As the outsider not knowing a soul, I felt a bit uneasy as I eased into my spot at the corner of the table. I was only guy not wearing a tie (although I did have a proper navy jacket). My non-corporate arrangement of facial hair du jour couldn’t have helped. Continue reading →
MPG-o-Matic Ford Flex Review Summary: The 2009 Ford Flex nearly defies description. As a brilliant alternative to SUVs and minivans, the Flex represents a rebirth of the great American station wagon with the comforts of a spacious limousine.
Available in both all-wheel- (AWD) and front-wheel-drive (FWD) configurations, the Ford Flex breaks new ground in the seven-seat people mover category. It’s not an SUV, it’s not a minivan, and it’s not like any crossover you’ve ever seen before.
While the Ford Flex competes with a range of seven-seat crossovers and SUVs, there’s nothing currently on the market that provides direct competition. With the Flex, Ford has created an entirely new segment. Continue reading →
Of all the electric vehicles I saw, drove, or rode in earlier this month at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s (EDTA) 2008 conference in Washington DC, none can have as immediate and important an impact as Smith Electric’s “Edison” … this electrified Ford Transit van has the potential to revolutionize local delivery for a wide range of firms, both small and large. The Ford Transit goes toe-to-toe with the venerable Sprinter for sheer versatility, offering a remarkable amount of cargo and head room.
While the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid won’t start rolling off assembly line until late winter, I had the chance to drive a pre-production version yesterday at a Ford media event. The ride was brief, but eye-opening. With temperatures hovering in the twenties, I was able to coax 40.5 miles per gallon (MPG) out of the Fusion Hybrid in my first (and only) twenty minutes or so of driving through the suburbs and highways around Dearborn, Michigan.
Seeing that the Fusion Hybrid will glide under electric power up to 47 miles per hour, I’d reckon that I’ll be able to get a production version into mid-forty MPG range with ease. A bit more time in the saddle and I’ll have it figured out. (To prove my numbers weren’t a fluke, my co-driver — a two-time Prius owner — was able to top my result by a mile or so, after discovering a simple technique to provoke electric drive.)
The competition for the Toyota Camry Hybrid just got a whole lot tougher. The Fusion Hybrid has a sporty edge to it, with crisp lines and an industry leading dashboard display that takes economical driving to the next level.
It’s not just good. It’s really good.
For everyone that wants to put Detroit down for not keeping up with the times … they simply haven’t seen or driven the Ford Fusion Hybrid … yet.
For all of its simplicity and technological wizardry, Microsoft’s Sync audio system can be tough to explain to the uninitiated. “Have you ever been experienced,” Jimi sang … and though, well, I have … I’ve had a tricky time concisely explaining exactly how Sync works in the past.
Thankfully, the brilliant folks at Common Craft have made it all easy to understand.
While my Sync experience has been limited to the audio capabilities (I didn’t have a Bluetooth capable phone until well after I reviewed the Ford Focus, Ford Edge, and Ford Fusion this past spring), Common Craft’s piece explains how Sync delivers complete control of your mobile phone as well as your digital music player.
Needless to say, I’m looking forward to reviewing my next Ford, so I can have the Sync system place my calls, and read my text messages aloud as I’m rolling up the miles.
The Sync system is a big plus for anyone considering a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle. Ford’s advantage over its many rivals is not likely to last indefinitely. As I learned first hand at SEMA last week, Microsoft is putting a good bit of effort into developing their in-car software (of which Sync is just a part), and is destined to own a market where all fear to tread.
Make no mistake about it. Microsoft isn’t likely to have a significant rival in the dashboard space: not Apple, not Google, not Yahoo, not open-source. The opportunity rests unchallenged in Microsoft’s hands.
For more detail on the Sync system, check out this segment I did recently with my pal Gary Rosenzweig at MacMost.com:
MPG-o-Matic Ford Flex Review Summary: The 2009 Ford Flex nearly defies description. As a brilliant alternative to SUVs and minivans, the Flex represents a rebirth of the great American station wagon with the comforts of a spacious limousine.