truth about domestics

Ford revealed the new 2011 Explorer yesterday throughout the US – from Venice Beach in Los Angeles, to Detroit (D-town!), and to New York City!

The new Explorer looks awesome – inside you’ll find a beautifully crafted and supple interior and outside you’ll find an exciting and sporty exterior. The vehicle comes with features galore, including an optional 4-cylinder, 2.0 liter, Ecoboost engine which will offer a 30% fuel economy improvement over the outgoing model’s V6. It even has an exclusive Terrain Management system which allows you to easily dial-in which type of terrain you’re traversing.

Ford setup a website for the new Explorer, and you can price yours out here.

I built mine in black, with a black grill, sweet! I outfitted mine with 20″ chrome rims, crossbars for my skis, and dual headrests LCD screens with all of the connection goodies so that I can hook up my PC and play Starcraft 2 while being chauffeured through the Rocky Mountains. Yes!

Ford Motor Company has had huge success thus far with its SYNC connectivity software.  Cars with SYNC are flying off dealer lots in half the time of non-SYNC equipped vehicles.  In order to keep SYNC current in the eyes of the buying public, Ford has fitted it with a host of new features.  Any SYNC equipped vehicle with the Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) application can now get horoscopes, stock updates, airline information, movie times and more, sent right to their car!  The information is streamed from your data-equipped cell phone and transmitted seamlessly via a Bluetooth connection to SYNC.  These new services are available free of charge and are NOT offered on any of Ford’s Japanese, German or Korean competitors!!!  For more details, check out the video below!

Good news for GM and its customers – GM will be working with Google’s Android operating system to add new functionality and features via smartphones to its OnStar system. Currently, GM is relying on OnStar to provide various connected services, such as unlocking doors, calling emergency services in the event of an accident, and unlocking doors. With Google’s Android, GM will be able to expand those services to include things like navigation, mapping and routing, and using Google’s advanced search features. GM’s system will be similar to what Ford is doing with Sync, except GM will be developing its own applications as opposed to approving applications that work with the system.

The first vehicle to use Google’s Android is the Chevrolet Volt. The Volt is a perfect vehicle to incorporate this technology, allowing customers to review and change settings related to the battery, charge status, etc.

Read the full new story at The New York Times Blog.

According to some unnamed source (as usual), Google may be readying its Android operating system for use in vehicles, specifically GM vehicles. The system would allow customers to link their vehicles with smartphones, as well as enjoy some of the luxuries that Ford Sync customers have been enjoying.

In my opinion, this is an awesome idea, and GM should jump on this ASAP! Judging by the success of Ford’s Sync, GM needs a similar system of in-car technology. Not to mention, the Google Android operating system is becoming very mature, rivaling the likes of Apple and its iPhone.

Read the brief article at PCMag.com.

Isn’t technology wonderful?  Ford’s SYNC is so adaptable that it can even connect to Apple’s iPad, a device that went on sale just a few days ago.  There are upgrades coming of course, but at least those upgrades are downloadable, and not hardware related.

That’s right folks!  Ford Motor Company, and its SYNC system have done it again.  Not only does a new Ford pack more connectivity software and hardware than most of Mercedes lineup, but there are 1.5 million Ford vehicles on the road that agree with Fast Company magazine.  What did Fast Company have to say about Ford?  Well, they named Ford as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Mobile Technology Companies for 2010.  All this before their next generation, MyFord Touch debuts this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge.  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

Check out more of the Ford “Drive One” advertisements!

Check out Ford NASCAR driver Carl Edwards as he talks about the Ford Fusion hybrid!

The ads you see above are Ford’s latest round of Drive One ads.  The segments are only 15 seconds long but they feature real Ford owners talking about their cars in a natural setting – their car.  The ads were filmed with the owners not knowing the video would be used for a Ford commercial, making the messages they’re sending even more authentic.  For more, head on over to The Ford Story.

The 2011 Lincoln MKX was revealed at the 2010 North American International Auto Show to fairly strong reviews.  It is the first application to get Ford’s new MyLincoln Touch.  MyLincoln Touch includes an 8-inch touch screen, touch-sensors in the place of buttons, and the ability to control just about any function inside the vehicle using voice commands and the SYNC system.  For some nice photos of the MKX, head to our gallery!