The History of Ford Design

 By Tori Tellem


Did you know that Ford Design Department was established in 1935? And it wasn’t Henry Ford’s idea. It was his son Edsel Ford, who wanted to create cars that were not only functional but also nice to look at. The first designer hired by Edsel was E.T. “Bob” Gregorie, who had been a shipbuilder. But that process translated to designing autos. He brought the “styling bridge,” a U-shaped structure that rode on a series of parallel rails, which helped when it came to getting coordinates that could later be used on other car models, too.


Obviously, cutting-edge design existed from the start, when in 1908, the Model T changed the automotive industry forever. We can say that, even though the forward-thinking design of the era had an emphasis on mobility and not on color, since it was offered only in black!


The first vehicle from Ford Design Department pretty much blew everyone’s mind and put the spotlight on the design process: the Lincoln Zephyr in 1937. It sparked conversation due to having a horizontal grille – something that remains on Lincoln vehicles today. The following year brought the first vehicle for the Mercury brand, the Mercury 8, and its style heavily reflected Edsel’s design sense.

Click here to download the timeline.


World War II caused a pause in the production of automobiles, so in 1942, Ford stopped civilian vehicle production and made military equipment instead, including planes and tanks. When the war ended and the auto industry was back up and running, all eyes were on the new 1949 Ford. It didn’t disappoint, with its integrated fenders, chrome trim and aviation-reminiscent center grille design.


It’s hard to imagine now just how groundbreaking the F-Series was back then, thanks to its contours, integrated headlights, ability to tow and emphasis on cargo, since they’re the standard today.


Ford has been leading new trends, and creating new principles and new ways to design, and the decades have brought incredible achievements, from the Thunderbird and Mustang to the Explorer and Focus Electric. Plus, the aluminum-alloy-bodied 2015 F-150 was a game-changer, although interesting materials used in Ford vehicles happened even back in 1941, with the Soybean Car, which was a plastic vehicle made of soybeans, flax and other natural elements.


Concept vehicles and other technological advancements inside and out also left an indelible mark in the Ford Design Department work. The 1955 Futura, for example, featured pearlescent, a new paint technique that, as the name implies, utilized crushed pearls. A retractable hard top that electronically folded into the truck debuted in 1957, while the power sunroof arrived in 1971.

Odyne Parallel Hybrid System

Odyne Systems has developed proprietary and patented hybrid technology featuring robust automotive grade components combining reliable electric power conversion, power control and energy storage technology with advanced electric propulsion motors and modular lithium-ion battery systems.

The Odyne system is the best hybrid solution for medium and heavy duty work trucks with extended stationary work equipment usage. The Odyne hybrid system system:

• Is the only hybrid system improving efficiency both when driving AND at the work site
• Significantly lowers fuel utilization and cost - up to 1,750 gallons annually over the truck life, depending on duty cycle
• Improves
  vehicle performance and efficiency through hybrid launch
  assist providing up to an extra 50 hp, valued for cornering, climbing
  hills and acceleration (trucks with anti-idle systems do not have this
  feature)
• Features zero or significantly lower emissions at the work site
• Has regenerative braking to restore battery power
• Provides
  the most exportable power available on any hybrid truck - 5kW to power
  truck mounted equipment with the engine off, reducing idle time, noise
  and emissions
• Has the largest stored energy system (a dual pack 28.4kWh system) for medium- and heavy-duty, plug-in hybrid electric trucks in the industry
• Has vehicle in-cab heating and cooling, without running the internal combustion engine, providing comfort for work site crews
• Can be Installed on new or existing trucks with the most popular automatic transmissions
• Operates independent of fuel type and does not affect the EPA or CARB certification of the engine
• Has a parallel hybrid configuration providing non-hybrid powertrain backup
• Can be easily and cost efficiently recharged from the grid at off-peak rates
• Provides more productive time in the field with fewer trips to the pump
• Has software tailored to the application which can be adjusted remotely as more data is gathered
• Is eligible for EPAct credits*

Odyne's
unique modular systems can be applied across chassis manufacturers and utility truck brands.  The company sells direct to truck manufacturers and through a global distribution and service network including Altec,
DUECO, Terex Utilities and Allison Transmission distributors.See Odyne's specifications page for additional information.

*Certain
U.S. fleets are required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative Fuel Transportation Program specified in the Energy
Policy Act (EPAct).  PHEV medium- and heavy-duty trucks are eligible for credits. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-15/pdf/2011-20740.pdf
Part 535. Trucks equipped with only an ePTO do not earn AFV credit  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/faqs.html#B21

Product Layout

Odyne Parallel Hybrid System Truck View

Odyne integrates standard advanced control systems and our modular hybrid system. This combination allows our plug-in hybrid system to be competitively priced, while it retains the flexibility to be built to customer specifications, it also enables later modifications which can extend the life of your hybrid truck. Our plug-in hybrid system is so versatile that it can continue to meet your evolving needs.


Find out more at: http://www.odyne.com

New Ford TV Ads Highlight Why F-150 Is Toughest, Smartest, Safest, Most Capable F-150 Ever

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 13, 2015

– Ford debuts three new national television advertisements, with the first spots airing today on Fox NFL Sunday to promote the all-new F-150 – the toughest, smartest, safest, most capable F-150 ever.


The ads, which will appear throughout the 2015 NFL regular season, feature the groundbreaking innovations and achievements that make F-150the leader in the light-duty pickup segment. The ads include:

• “Wake-Up Call” is a leadership anthem spot highlighting Ford
  F-150 best-in-class claims, including the benefits of high-strength,
  military-grade, aluminum alloy that helps save up to 700 pounds of
  weight to improve towing, payload and gas mileage
  
  
  
• “Battle-Tested” focuses on the work the F-150 engineering team
  completed to deliver the safest F-150 ever. The 2015 F-150 is the only
  full-size, light-duty truck to earn the highest rating from the National
  Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a five-star crash test rating
  for driver and passenger for all crash test modes and cab
  configurations* – SuperCrew, SuperCab and Regular Cab
  
  
  
• “Brainstorm” shows the ingenuity of Ford F-150 engineers and
  their latest, segment-exclusive development – Pro Trailer Backup Assist^™, which helps make backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob
  
  
  

Rather than using computer-generated imagery, each spot was filmed using live-action and stop-motion animation – which provides an authentic element not always present in digitally animated spots.

To showcase the truck’s top safety rating, five 8-foot-tall metal stars were custom fabricated and towed by F-150 for the spot “Battle Tested.” The visual is accompanied by voiceover stating F-150 “pulled a five-star safety rating.”


“Ford truck customers rely on F-150 to get the job done – whether in their personal or work lives,” said Chantel Lenard, General Marketing Manager, Ford and Lincoln, U.S. “These new ads highlight breakthrough Ford F-150 innovations and achievements, including Pro Trailer Backup
Assist and the NHTSA five-star safety rating, and demonstrate why every competitor truck is history.”


TV spots will also showcase Ford’s long-running truck leadership. F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series truck lineup, now in its 67th year. F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 38 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle in America for 33 consecutive years.


Ford and Fox Network Group are working together to promote F-150 across the network’s news, sports and Hispanic platforms, including Fox Deportes and MundoFox.


Ford F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of up to 12,200 pounds and hauling capacity of up to 3,300 pounds. When equipped with the available 2.7-liter EcoBoost^® engine, the new F-150 4x2
returns EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined – the highest of any full-size gasoline-powered pickup on the market. Actual mileage will vary.


*Government five-star safety ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Tests include driver and passenger front, side and side barrier and pole tests.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a  global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

A.R.E. Truck Caps Plant Tour on Inside Industry

Tab Brown of Inside Industry gives us an informative and entertaining plant tour of A.R.E.'s industry leading Massillon, OH facility where they manufacture A.R.E. fiberglass truck caps and covers.

Seattle Fears Dangerous Drivers and Believes Technology Beneficial to Lessen Risk; Ford Smart Mobility Tour showcases technologies to help

•     Seattle residents fear dangerous drivers, but more than half who responded to a survey say they would find blind spot monitoring and rearview back-up camera technology useful to lessen the risk – according to an independent study commissioned by Ford, which brings its Ford Smart Mobility Tour to town
•     Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to take it to the next advances in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data; a major area of focus is multimodal transportation, including development of an app that facilitates routing and that integrates seamlessly with vehicles and electric bikes
•     To improve the driving experience, Ford has introduced several driver-assist technologies such as its Blind Spot Information System and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, as well as semi-autonomous technologies including a lane-keeping aid and active park assist

SEATTLE, Sept. 17, 2015 – A majority of Seattle residents fear dangerous drivers – according to a recent survey.


The survey, conducted by independent research company Penn Schoen Berland, examined driving-related fears, as well as public receptiveness to driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies designed to ease driver anxiety and commuting hassles.


Dangerous drivers are the top concern for Seattle residents, the survey found. Three out of five said they are afraid of dangerous drivers on the road when driving themselves, or when being driven by others. Moreover:

•     74 percent find monitoring blind spots concerning
•     73 percent are concerned about not being able to see all angles when backing up
•     71 percent are concerned about backing up into a busy street

Most in Seattle say technology that can alleviate these driving concerns is compelling. The survey found:

•     Nine in 10 would be more comfortable driving a car with blind spot detection technology; 73 percent would describe such technology as “useful”
•     Nine in 10 would be more comfortable driving a car with a rearview camera; 69 percent would describe such technology as “useful”

Ford Smart Mobility Tour


This week Ford brings its Ford Smart Mobility Tour to Seattle. The tour highlights the company’s driver-assist features that can help address driving-related fears, including Blind Spot Information System and semi-autonomous driving technologies – along with the Ford Smart Mobility plan.


Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to take it to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. Ford introduced the plan in January, along with 25 initial experiments aimed at better understanding consumers’ mobility needs around the globe.

“Our smart mobility vision at Ford is about changing the way the world moves,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and Innovation. “We are transitioning from experimentation to the start of implementation, beginning with the Go Drive and Peer to Peer car sharing pilots. Our goal is to make people’s lives better by helping them more easily navigate to where they want to go, using one or more interconnected modes of transportation.”


Multimodal mobility solutions

In many cities, driving your vehicle directly from home to work is not feasible. Ford believes solutions for multimodal journeys can make travel to and within urban areas more convenient. The company is studying how electric bicycles and mobile application technology can work seamlessly with cars and public transport to deliver faster and easier daily commutes and help businesses operating in urban environments.


Ford’s electric bicycle experiments include:

•     MoDe:Me, introduced in March, is intended to keep the urban commuter moving in congested traffic
•     MoDe:Pro is built for urban commercial use, and is designed to stow in a commercial vehicle such as Ford Transit Connect
•     MoDe:Flex is easily reconfigurable for different customer needs. The bike’s center frame assembly includes the motor and battery, while the front and rear assemblies and wheels can be configured for road, mountain or city riding

Ford’s electric bicycle prototypes fold easily into Ford vehicles, and integrate seamlessly with the MoDe:Link app, which can be paired with a smartwatch.


This includes the “no sweat” mode, which increases electric pedal assist based on heart rate – ensuring a rider gets to his or her destination without breaking a sweat. The app also provides safety notifications. Hazards, such as potholes ahead, are signaled through vibrating handlebars.


Driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies


To improve today’s driving experience, Ford has introduced driver-assist and semi-autonomous technologies such as active park assist to help drivers parallel and perpendicular park more easily, as well as a lane-keeping aid to help drivers stay in their lane. Driver-assist technologies include BLIS® – which alerts drivers to vehicles detected entering their blind spots.


To stay connected while in motion, SYNC® 3, Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system, features faster performance and conversational voice recognition, along with an available intuitive smartphone-like touch screen.


Ford offers more vehicle nameplates in the United States with active park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane-keeping aid and blind spot monitoring than any other manufacturer – according to automotive research firm SBD. Ford also leads in four segments, offering vehicles with the most available driver-assist features among mainstream vehicles in the country:

•     Large light-duty pickup – F-150
•     Midsize SUV – Edge and Explorer
•     Midsize car – Fusion
•     Large car – Taurus

Ford will also demonstrate its new Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature that will be available on the 2016 F-150. The technology helps to ease the anxiety level of backing a trailer – which can be a challenging task for the novice and tricky even for those with trailering experience.


Seattle and STEM


Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, according to 2014 U.S. Census figures, due in part to a surge in employment opportunities. The city is a budding tech hot spot. With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, the Ford Smart Mobility Tour visits Technology Access Foundation in Federal Way. Students at TAF Academy will have the opportunity to interact with Ford experts and see firsthand possibilities that could await them in the automotive industry in the future. Ford will present Technology Access Foundation with a $5,000 donation this week.


The Ford Smart Mobility Tour will also visit Denver and Los Angeles.

About Ford Motor Company


Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

About Penn Schoen Berland

Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), an independent research company, conducted the poll on behalf of Ford Motor Company among 1,500 general population respondents (age 18+) in the U.S. – with 300 in Louisville, 300 in Orlando, 300 in Los Angeles, 300 in Seattle and 300 in Denver. The online survey was conducted from Aug. 11-17, 2015. The margin of error for each city is +/- 5.66%.

America's Businesses Turn to Ford Vans as Economy Grows; Ford Vans Are Top Sellers in 47 States

• More than half of commercial van customers in the United States in the first six months of 2015 bought a Ford van – Transit, Transit Connect or E-Series
• Ford is the fastest-growing brand in the commercial van market, driving 80 percent of the segment’s growth in the first half of 2015, according to Ford analysis of new vehicle registrations from IHS Automotive
  
• Top-selling commercial van in 47 states is a Ford van
  
  

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 9, 2015 –
Growing businesses are increasingly turning to Ford commercial vans,making Ford the largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of commercial vans in the United States in the first half of 2015, according to Ford
analysis of IHS new vehicle registrations through June.

Ford vans have been America’s best-selling commercial vans for 36 years, helping businesses transport equipment to job sites, shuttle passengers to their destinations and more. The new Transit, which went
on sale just last summer, can be converted to serve as emergency response vehicles, food trucks and mobile dog grooming studios.


Businesses can choose from 58 vehicle configurations with the introduction of a dual sliding door option on the 2016 Transit van, meaning the vehicle with the most configurations in its class just got
even more flexible.

“Transit customers appreciate the van’s flexibility because it can enable them to right-size their vehicle to the needs of their vocation.” says Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and
E-Series. “There are 12 ship-through upfitters located within 30 miles of Kansas City Assembly Plant, making it easy and fast for customers to design their Transit vans to serve their business requirements.”

Transit sales success has led Ford to capture 56 percent of the U.S.commercial van market as of June 2015 – up from 48 percent in June 2014, according to IHS new commercial vehicle registration data.

Commercial van sales are increasing as the U.S. economy is growing, and Ford vans drove 80 percent of growth in the segment in the first half of the year, according to Ford analysis of IHS data.



Ford commercial van sales increased 28 percent January through June, while the segment overall grew 11 percent.


Ford vans are top sellers in 47 states, according to Ford analysis of  IHS data. Those 47 states represent 99.09% of the U.S. population.


Ford Transit became the best-selling full-size van in America just six months after it went on sale, replacing America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. For the
2015 model year, Ford produced more than 100,000 Transit vans, wagons,cutaways and chassis cabs at Kansas City Assembly Plant.


Ford Transit Connect, America’s small commercial van pioneer, has been on sale since 2009 and has reigned as the country’s best-seller in the segment for the last five years. Transit Connect leads the small
commercial van segment with 69 percent share and is on pace to have another record year, with commercial sales up 43 percent in the first half of 2015.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Ford F-150 Surprises Construction Workers with Massaging Seats

We surprised some of the hardest working guys in Michigan with the massaging seats now available on the Ford F-150. The new F-150 is more than the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever. F-150 King
Ranch, Platinum and Limited editions offer passenger convenience features rivaling high-end luxury vehicles, making F-150 versatile and exceptionally comfortable to drive. With a maximum tow rating of up to
12,200 pounds and the first-ever multi-contour massaging seats available for a full-size pickup, now you can work hard and reward yourself.