A Good Year at Ford

It’s been a good year for Ford. They did have to deal with some recalls involving wheel bearing hub assemblies on some sedans and rusting fuel tanks containing fuel pump assemblies on trucks. However, like other auto companies, Ford had a very strong year and will be giving out bonuses to their workers for the first time since the financial meltdown. Ford has gained steam this past year selling more than 2 million cars for the first time since 2007, and they show no signs of stopping with their completely remodeled 2013 lineup.

The Ford Escape, Fusion, Taurus and Focus will all show dramatic departures in styling from previous years in 2013. I’m really liking the 2013 Ford Fusion whose front-end (to me) resembles that of an Aston Martin. The Fusion will come not only in a gasoline-powered model, but in electric plug-in and hybrid versions as well. The Ford Escape, which has kept its boxy styling since it was introduced over ten years ago, will now resemble more of a cross-over with its new curves and smoother lines.

What might be the coolest part of future Ford automobiles is the technology that they will be equipped with. Ford’s MyFord Touch and SYNC system not only syncs all of your devices to the vehicle but takes it one step further with voice-activated commands. You will now be able to tell your car what song to play, have it read you your text messages, and also reply to those messages through voice commands. New safety features include inflatable rear safety belts and vehicle sensors used to monitor blinds spots and give collision warnings. You can simply set a cruise control speed and the distance you want to maintain from the vehicle in front of you, and the car will automatically slow down to avoid collisions. Other cool features include cap-less fuel tanks as well as the ability to control the color of dash and interior ambient lighting (blue, red, green, you name it!). Will 2012 be another great year for Ford?