High Five Tour Stopping at Stoneham Ford in Support of U.S. Soldiers

 Retired Marine Corps Col. John Folsom will be making his third trip across the country this summer to thank Americans for supporting the families of soldiers that have been wounded, injured or killed during combat. Traveling in a red, white and blue 2012 Shelby Mustang GT 500 “SuperSnake,” Folsom’s High Five Tour will make its only Massachusetts stop at Greater Boston Ford dealership Stoneham Ford on Saturday, July 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Aimed at raising awareness and funds for Wounded Warriors Family Support, a charity organization founded by Folsom, the High Five Tour encourages participants to donate to military families while giving them a chance to sign the special Ford Mustang with personal well-wishes. A $5 donation is recommended from those that can make it to Stoneham Ford, while others can text “highfive” to 20222 to make donations with their phone. 

“It is very important that we recognize not only the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, but that of their families as well, and the High Five Tour offers a great opportunity to do both,” said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Stoneham Ford. “It doesn’t get much more American than traveling cross-country in a Shelby Mustang, and we hope that local residents will come out and support Colonel Folsom as he carries out yet another trip supporting a wonderful cause.”

What: High Five Tour 2012 for Wounded Warriors Family Support

When: Saturday, July 14, 1 p.m. EDT – 4 p.m. EDT

Where: Stoneham Ford, 211 Main St., Stoneham, MA

How: The event is open to the public. A $5 donation to Wounded Warriors Family Support is suggested. More details on the High Five Tour can be found at www.highfivetour.com.

While at Stoneham Ford for the High Five Tour, attendees are welcome to check out the dealership’s newly installed charging stations for the all-new Ford Focus Electric. Stoneham Ford is one of three Ford dealerships in the Boston area to currently feature charging stations for the all-electric car, which has earned a 110 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) rating from the EPA. One Focus Electric charging station is available for use by customers, while a second station is used for service by Stoneham Ford’s certified Focus Electric technician.

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric, which will be available nationwide by the end of 2012, is one of the most efficient vehicles on the market, but Stoneham Ford is also taking steps to improve energy efficiency in its daily operations. An energy audit was recently performed to ensure that its HVAC, windows and oil disposal are optimized for eco-friendliness, and the dealership is currently making additional tweaks to further improve efficiency.

“The new Focus Electric is a huge step forward in Ford’s broader effort to greatly improve the efficiency of its entire lineup,” added Melkonian. “We’re supporting that initiative by not only making sure that the right infrastructure is in place for the Focus Electric to be successful, but by backing that up with efficient operations at our dealership.”

New England Auto and Art Experts Praise the New 2013 Ford Fusion

Critically acclaimed new vehicles are naturally praised for their performance and features, but they are often also appreciated from an art and design perspective, and the 2013 Ford Fusion is an example of a model that has earned shared admiration from art and auto experts alike. In conjunction with the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Mass. and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) recently presented the 2013 Fusion with the 2012 Gene Ritvo Award for Design and Elegance.

An organization of automotive media professionals throughout New England, NEMPA created its Gene Ritvo Award in memory of a late member, concours photographer Gene Ritvo. The award recognizes the best of design in the automotive world, whether it is a concept vehicle, a production car, a creative marketing campaign or a particular vehicle element that embodies elegance in design. This year, it went to the all-new 2013 Fusion due to reach Ford dealerships in the fall.

“Some of the leading voices in the art or auto world are in Greater Boston and the New England region, and earning their respect is a big deal,” said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Massachusetts Ford dealership Stoneham Ford. “The 2013 Fusion turns traditional auto design on its ear and proves that midsize sedans don’t have to be drab. Instead, they can have a vibrant look and dynamic drivability.”

When it debuted this past January at the North American International Auto Show, the 2013 Ford Fusion generated a lot of buzz with its sleek, sophisticated design. NEMPA judges meanwhile made special note of the Fusion’s front end, which resembles a mix between a Ford Taurus and an Aston Martin. Clearly sculpted lines continue down the flanks of the car, with a crease running from headlight to taillight: a style element found to a lesser degree on the 2012 Ford Focus.

The new Ford Fusion maintains its flair for the unexpected underneath the hood, using hybrid technology and EcoBoost engines to increase power and fuel efficiency. In addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrid models that will each feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant, the Fusion lineup will also offer 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines, so buyers can find their ideal performance balance. The same EcoBoost engines can also be found in the new 2013 Ford Escape compact SUV currently arriving at Ford dealerships.

Producing 178 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost unit returns a class-leading 33 mpg on the highway in the new Escape. Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost delivers 240 horsepower and 231 pound-feet of torque while still returning up to 30 mpg on the highway. The new Escape’s standard engine is a 2.5-liter Duratec engine that nets up to 31 mpg on the highway.

“Ford’s dedication to its EcoBoost technology has reaped huge rewards in power and efficiency,” added Melkonian. “Though it first appeared in larger vehicles like the F-150 and Explorer, the technology is now spreading throughout the lineup, starting with the compact Escape crossover this month and continuing with the new Fusion midsize sedan this fall. That makes it an exciting time to be a Ford dealer.”

Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards Have Ford Looking Good

                                                                                                   

While it may be what’s under the sheet metal that really counts, it is buyers’ perceptions of an automaker’s vehicles that tend to drive sales. The recently released Kelley Blue Book 2012 Brand Image Awards have found that consumers see vehicles at Ford dealerships in a particularly positive light. Winning in four award categories, the most of any automaker, Ford was named the Most Rugged Truck Brand and Most Family-Friendly Brand, as well as Best Interior Design Brand and Best Exterior Design Brand for non-luxury makes.

The Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards are based on consumer-perception data compiled from the auto researcher’s website and take into account the opinions of more than 12,000 vehicle shoppers. The data indicated that Ford’s best-selling F-150 impresses pickup buyers with its rugged durability, while models like the Ford Taurus sedan and the Flex crossover have the looks and spaciousness to satisfy families. When it came to the design awards, it was Ford’s increasingly upscale interiors and dynamic exteriors that helped earn the automaker recognition.

“Perception is reality when it comes to Ford’s vehicles; they have earned outstanding reputations for a variety of different qualities shoppers desire in their vehicles,” said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Massachusetts Ford dealership Stoneham Ford. “Their lineup has the capability to get tough jobs done and the comfort and safety suitable for growing families, as well as functional yet eye-catching designs inside and out.”

Though the Brand Image Awards focused on consumers’ perceptions of current vehicles, Ford is looking to keep up the momentum when its new 2013 Ford Explorer Sport arrives at dealerships later this year. As the first high-performance trim for Ford’s popular SUV, the Explorer Sport will bring added capability, family-friendly features and fresh designs, all attributes that helped the automaker win its recent awards.

With a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine, the Explorer Sport will churn out 350 horsepower, yet it is still projected by Ford to be the most fuel-efficient gas-powered high-performance SUV on the market. Four-wheel drive and a Terrain Management System are also standard features, meaning all that power won’t be wasted when conditions get rough.

The Explorer Sport will also pack in plenty of creature comforts for family members, as well as an array of sporty design cues that will make the neighbors jealous. Features like standard heated front seats and optional inflatable rear seatbelts ensure that families get a comfortable and safe ride, while Charcoal Black leather seats available with contrasting Sienna inserts give the cabin a premium look and feel. Outside, a unique Sterling Gray mesh grille accentuates glossy ebony crossbars, while 20-inch painted wheels and blacked-out headlamps give the Explorer Sport a distinctive appearance.

“The Explorer Sport embodies everything that consumers like about the Ford brand,” added Melkonian. “Whether it is the powerful-yet-efficient engine, the innovative safety features or the inviting interior and bold style, the SUV is a great example of how Ford nails down every aspect of their vehicles.”

All-New Focus Electric Rakes In Leaf’s Mileage Title

Ford recently gained new momentum in the fuel-efficiency race, as its Focus Electric earned the highest EPA mileage rating of any five-passenger vehicle in the United States. Currently arriving at select Ford dealerships, Ford’s new electric vehicle nets an impressive 110 MPGe in the city and 99 MPGe on the highway, shooting past most of the electric and hybrid vehicles on the market.

The Ford Focus Electric boasts a combined rating of 105 MPGe, which bests the Nissan Leaf by 6 MPGe. Ford’s electric compact surpasses the Leaf when it comes to charging and stamina as well, fully recharging in nearly half the time, about four hours, and featuring an EPA-estimated range of 76 miles. Depending on factors like traffic, weather and driving practices, Ford reports the Focus Electric can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge.

“The Focus Electric’s efficiency numbers are staggering, but the more impressive thing is that it gets there using the existing body of the gas-powered Focus,” said Alan Melkonian, owner and general manager of Massachusetts Ford dealership Stoneham Ford. “The current gas-only Focus can already get up to 40 mpg, and now Ford has introduced an electric vehicle that has a more comfortable interior and more passenger room than the Leaf. A great car like the Focus meant Ford didn’t have to go back to the drawing board like other automakers.”

Ford’s strategy of electrifying its existing models is intended to improve cost effectiveness and productivity in a market where manufacturers like Nissan and Chevy have thus far suffered as a result of creating electric vehicles from scratch. The Focus Electric is built on the same production line as the gas-powered Focus, giving Ford the flexibility to deal with varying customer demand. The automaker is continuing that approach later this year with the launch of the revamped 2013 Fusion Hybrid and all-new Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid.

Both 2013 Fusion hybrid models are projected by Ford to get the best mileage in their class according to their respective powertrain categories. The plug-in Energi aims to be the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan on the market, with Ford predicting it to get more than 100 MPGe in electric-only mode. Meanwhile, the Fusion Hybrid is expected to take the fuel-economy crown in its non-rechargeable midsize class, featuring a 47-mpg predicted rating.

For all its attention on the hybrid models, Ford is by no means neglecting gas-only versions of the all-new Fusion. The automaker will be offering both a 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine on the 2013 Fusion, giving owners a solid balance of power and fuel efficiency. While Ford expects the 1.6-liter EcoBoost to return a best-in-class 37 mpg on the highway, the 2.0-liter Fusion EcoBoost will provide customers the option of a fuel-efficient performance model.

“Ford is hitting fuel efficiency from all angles in a smart, practical way,” Melkonian added. “Its customers get a great selection of models and a choice of how they are powered, while it reaps the benefits of streamlined production and better quality control. The new Fusion will be a prime example of that when it arrives at our dealership later this year.”