Ford Mustang fans are invited to sign the electronic birthday card marking 50 years of their favorite car

• Fans can help set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^® title for most contributions on an electronic card with more than 50,000 signatures and messages

• 50 Years of Mustang will be celebrated at a variety of events in several locations

Ford Mustang is turning 50 on Thursday, April 17 and fans everywhere are invited  to sign an electronic birthday card. Everyone who wants to help  commemorate 50 years of Mustang can customize and add their own birthday message for their favorite car at:

http://action.ford.com/page/s/mustang-50.

Over the course of five decades Mustang has become one of the most  popular cars in both the offline and online worlds, with sales of more  than 9 million units and more than 6.2 million fans on Facebook. Mustang fans can participate in a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS official  attempt by signing the card, leaving a message and sharing the link on  social media. 50,000 signatures and messages are needed to set new  GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title.

“The spirit of Mustang infuses everything we do at Ford,” said Steve  Ling, car marketing manager. “Mustang inspires a feeling of freedom and  independence for drivers and fans, and it helps to inspire everyone at  Ford to create the best products we can for all of our customers in  every segment.”

If you would like any other information or would like to speak to a Mustang spokesperson/represent, please let me know and I can set up an interview.

Thanks so much!

Ford is always trying to help keep their drivers safe. Part of this commitment is keeping on top of current trends. Here is some of the information from the latest survey:

· 93% of teens and 97% of parents in Canada admit to distracted driving even though they know it’s dangerous

· 72% of teens and 67% of parents use hand-held technology, such as texting and talking on the phone, while behind the wheel

· In Manitoba, 67% of teens and 69% of parents of teens admitted to using hand-held technology while behind the wheel

· What’s promising is that one in five teens and parents report they are using voice-activated, hands-free technologies most or all of the time over a hand-held device

Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 16, 2013 – Teens and parents still send texts, read emails and answer their phones while behind the wheel, according to a recent survey commissioned by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. Nearly all teens (93%) and their parents (97%) admitted to having engaged in some form of distracted driving.

In Manitoba, 67% of teens and 69% of parents of teens admitted to using handheld technology, such as talking on a handheld phone or texting while behind the wheel compared to national results of 72% of teens and 67% of parents.

Recent studies cite cell phones as being one of the most common distractions for drivers, and that drivers engaged in text messaging in the vehicle are 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision or to come close to having an accident compared with non-distracted drivers¹.

Awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is also high. The survey shows that parents and teens alike believe that texting or emailing when driving is one of the most dangerous driving habits, second only to drinking and driving. The survey also shows one in five teens and parents report using voice activated and hands-free technology most or all of the time over a hand-held device.

“We want people to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving and help them develop safer driving habits,” said Dianne Craig, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “Ford is deeply committed to driver safety. Technologies such as MyKey® and Ford SYNC® have important roles to play in limiting distractions and helping to change behaviours.”

Driver Technologies:

· SYNC – Uses voice commands to offer hands-free control of multiple functions, including phone calls, texting, music selection and navigation, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

· MyKey® – features a “Do Not Disturb” function which blocks incoming calls and deters text messages. Calls are diverted to voicemail and text messages are saved on the device for later viewing. MyKey® also has the ability to set a maximum speed level, limit the volume on the sound system, and disable the sound system altogether until seatbelts are buckled.

· Lane Keeping Aid – in case a driver’s attention drifts, this technology activates when the driver leaves his or her lane without a turn signal, and gently steers the vehicle back into the correct lane.

· Adaptive Cruise Control – helps maintain a safe distance between vehicles. Monitors a lead vehicle, adjusting the speed of the vehicle on cruise control to keep it at a pre-set distance behind the vehicle ahead of it.

· Collision Warning with Brake Support – Alerts drivers of a potential collision. Uses radar sensors to warn of vehicles ahead that are within a pre-set distance. The driver is alerted by a head-up display and an audible warning signal.

Other Survey Findings:

· 37% of teens and 22% of parents text or email while the car is in motion

· Both teens and parents are also likely to speed with 84% of teens and 88% of parents admitting to it

· Six out of 10 teens admitted to turning on the music so loud that other nearby vehicles could not be heard

· 71% of teens and 59% of parents admit to tailgating

· Riskier behaviours increase as teens age. New drivers, those 16 to 17 years old, are more likely to say they follow all of the rules of the road compared to those 18 to 19 years old (71% vs. 48%)

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¹CAA, Distracted Driving, 2012, http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/index.php

About the Survey

An online survey was conducted by Leger from August 9-16, 2013. A total of 528 teens aged 16-19 years old with a valid driver’s license, and 528 parents with a valid driver’s license, and who have a teen(s) aged 16-19 years old with a valid driver’s license, responded to the survey. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-4.3%, 19 times out of 20. Respondents were asked about the distracted driving behaviours they partake in, their view of their own driving skills, and their opinions on various distracted driving behaviours.

I must say the The Mustang 5.0 engine pays homage to the original 5.0, delivering 420 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. The powerplant features twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), an aluminum engine block and cold-air induction to help improve power. You will not be disappointed with how much horsepower this engine will produce.

But that’s only for starters. The 5.0 also has a compression ratio of 11:1 and cylinder heads designed to optimize airflow. Every part under the hood, including the high-energy coil- on, plug design, is designed to work in harmony. This lets the muscular engine breathe efficiently and deliver 100 percent exhilaration every time you hit the gas. And then there’s the exhaust delivering a distinctive throaty roar.

HID Headlamps have some intense power. The HID headlamps feature a gas bulb that lasts longer and produces a whiter, brighter, stronger light than conventional headlamps. Standard on all Mustang models.

Electronics Package includes:

• Navigation System with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link (includes 6-month complimentary subscription*)
• HD Radio™ Technology
• Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control

*SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Traffic and Travel Link subscriptions sold separately or as a package after trial expires. SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link service available in select markets. Subscriptions are governed by SiriusXM Customer Agreement; see www.siriusxm.com. Sirius U.S. Satellite Service available (only to those 18 and older] in the 48 contiguous U.S.A. and D.C. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc.

The available Shaker Pro Audio System also includes an in-dash single-CD/MP3 player and eight speakers and one subwoofer. The sonic boom from this system comes courtesy of the trunk-mounted subwoofer. A unique mounting enclosure keeps the subwoofer out of the way to maximize the amount of useable trunk space. The Shaker Pro Audio System is optional on Mustang GT Premium and Shelby GT500.

To add to the wow factor, the engineers installed ground effect lighting. Installed under the mirrors, the LED lights shine on road a perfect mustang logo.

Here’s some of the pictures I captured of the car:

WINNIPEG, MB., August 1, 2013 – Yesterday marks the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Henry Ford, whose innovative ideas revolutionized transportation and brought mobility to the masses. Henry Ford’s enduring impact is being recognized through events and declarations across Canada and around the world.

In fact nearly 70 years ago, Henry Ford was one of the first in his time to use an agricultural product in his vehicle by building a plastic car from soybeans. Today Ford Motor Company continues his vision by using a variety of natural products in the creation of its vehicles including yams, wheat, corn, wood chips and soybeans.

Henry Ford first began experimenting with soybeans to make plastic automobile parts in the 1940s. The experiments resulted in the creation of a soybean “plastic-bodied car.” Ford eventually unveiled the “Soybean Car” on August 13, 1941 at Dearborn Days, an annual community festival.

The car was a combination of steel and plastic. Fourteen plastic panels attached to a tubular steel frame, resulting in a vehicle that weighed approximately 2000 pounds. This new plastic vehicle was 1000 pounds lighter than the typical steel vehicles made at that time.

Henry Ford reportedly built the “Soybean Car” because he wanted to create a project which combined industry with agriculture. He also believed that plastic panels made the car safer than traditional steel panels. Additionally, there was a shortage of metal at the time the car was built.

Ford hoped his new plastic material might replace the traditional metals used in cars. A second soybean vehicle was in the process of being built when World War II broke out. The war led to the suspension of all auto production and, as a result, the plastic car experiment.

The Ford Motor company’s commitment to using sustainable products has only strengthened with today’s vehicles such as the Ford Fusion. The company uses soy-based polyurethane foam for seat cushions, seatbacks and headliners. Wheat straw and other plant fiber-reinforced plastics are used for vehicle storage bins and interior door panels. Engineering wood technology (recycled and renewable) is used for interior trim. Yarns are being made into seat fabrics, cotton from blue jeans are made into interior padding, nylon carpeting is being made into resin for cylinder head covers and sugars made from corn, beet and cane are being examined for use in biodegradable plastic parts.

While innovative and exciting, Ford’s foray into the use of sustainable products in its vehicles has a long history, showing that Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford was a man ahead of his time.

For additional information, go to http://media.ford.com/mini_sites/10031/HenryFord150. Please see attached for two pictures of Henry Ford and the Soybean vehicle. Photo Credit: Ford of Canada.