Ford EV

Ford EV Options: A Quick Look at Hybrids and Plug-Ins Made by Ford

Maybe you’ve been considering purchasing a hybrid vehicle, but you don’t know where to start. Did you know that Ford alone offers three types of Hybrid Vehicles?

Hybrid vehicles come with a one-two punch of having both an electric motor and gas engine. While the vehicle is running on the gas engine, the electric motor is being charged. There’s no need to plug them in! Ford offers two hybrid vehicles: The 2013 C-Max Hybrid and the Fusion Hybrid. Both vehicles offer 47 MPG both city and highway. These vehicles would be an excellent option for those commuting to Nashville, as most of your drive would be using the electric motor, but if the electric motor runs out, then the gas motor would seamlessly kick in. The Hybrid offers you the ability to make a longer commute while great fuel efficiency.

There are also two Ford Plug-In Hybrid options. The 2013 C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi have plug-in features, while also having a gas engine and electric motor. As aforementioned, Hybrids automatically switch between gas and electric depending on how fast and far you drive. In contrast, the Plug-In vehicles allow you to offset your fuel usage. Just like the hybrids, the Plug-In hybrids have regenerative braking systems, so your battery charges when you break! Even while driving in All-Electric mode, these Plug-In Hybrids can reach up to 21 miles of driving range, making them practical for day-to-day driving to the grocery store, post office, or a short work commute.

The final vehicle to look at is Ford’s 2013 Focus Electric. This vehicle is All-Electric, with no gas engine. The advantages of this All-Electric vehicle are plentiful: No need for any gas or oil changes, zero CO₂ emissions, and it’s powered completely by a rechargeable battery. Also, electric vehicles generally have fewer moving parts than gas-powered vehicles, so that typically reduces the cost spent on maintenance.

The image above is a chart that appears in Ford’s Electric Playbook (a booklet made from 100% recycled fiber). This chart allows you to compare the three types of hybrids based on categories like efficiency, charge time, and top-speed in electric mode. These statistics, complied by Ford, show many advantages over competitors. Competitors generally have longer charge times, lower driving ranges in Electric Mode, and lower top speeds.

Ford Hybrid and Plug-In vehicles come with SmartGuage with EcoGuide technologies, so your vehicle is literally coaching you on driving efficiently. For instance, the hybrid models have Efficiency Leaves, which grow as driving habits and efficiency improve. A Brake Coach feature, located on the left cluster screen, helps drivers optimize the Regenerative Braking System.

To find out more about our hybrids, visit this webpage. Click this link for more information on the Ford C-Max, here to learn more about the 2013 Fusion Hybrid, and here to look at the 2013 Focus Electric.

Fusion Hybrid is more fun than Volt - USATODAY.com

Check out why the Fusion Hybrid is more fun than the Volt! (via)

Ford Focus: Best Selling Car in the World in 2012

Ford Focus Grabs Global Sales Crown as World Buys Small 

It's official: The Ford Focus was the best-selling car in the world in 2012. 

And while the title comes with all sorts of caveats, the rise of the nameplate says all kinds of things about the U.S. and Asian automotive industries, the importance of global manufacturing and how Thailand became the new Spain. Ford Motor Co., leading U.S. automakers in building their best cars in decades, registered 1.02 million Focus cars in 2012, topping 872,774 for Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data that Ford released today. Ford's F-Series pickup line was the No. 3 nameplate, its Fiesta subcompact was No. 6, and General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Cruze was No. 8, ahead of Honda Motor Co.'s Civic.

Source: Bloomberg

The Honda Fit

The 2013 Honda Fit

The 2013 Honda Fit, also known as the Jazz in countries outside of the U.S., is the definition of functionality. While it may not include all the bells and whistles like the 2013 Accord and Civic, it has unique qualities that only it can deliver.

Feel

The most surprising feature of the 2013 Ford Fit is its interior space. While most sub-compact vehicles make you feel like you’re practically on the ground, you feel suspended in the Fit, feeling more like you would in a typical sedan. The Fit has wide window vents, as well as a large windshield so the interior seems much more open compared to other sub-compacts. These features also help with road visibility.

Check out some of the interior features that come with the 2013 Honda Fit:

·         Seat up to five passengers

·         57 cubic feet of flat space in the trunk, after folding down back seats

·         Fore more linear space, the back seats fold up to create 4 feet of space from floor to ceiling

·         Fold the front passenger seat and right side of the rear seat down to create space for anything up to 7’9.” That’s plenty of space for a ladder, a rolled up rug, or even a surfboard!

Finish

The 2013 Honda Fit has a bold look, and its wide range of color options simply add to that boldness. Here’s a list of some more design features the Fit offers:

·         Available in such colors like Blue Raspberry Metallic, Midnight Plum Pearl, and Milano Red, allowing you to truly stand out from the crowd

·         60-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System, combined with USB Audio Interface, allowing you to listen to your music with clarity

·         ACE Body Structure that enhances protection and crash compatibility, making its frame both modern and safe

Functionality

As mentioned, the Fit is a functional vehicle. It’s the true Point A to Point B Honda. Here are some features exclusive to the Honda Fit:

·         Race-inspired paddle shifters on the steering wheel

·         16-inch alloy wheels that provide an agile touch

·         Audible turn-by-turn directions from Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation system, with over 10 million points of interest

If you’re interested in the 2013 Honda Fit, check out our website for more details. View our Honda site for additional information on all our Hondas.

The 2013 F150

The 2013 Ford F-150

New for 2013

• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (TBC)
• MyFord Touch with SYNC capabilities
• New grille designs and high-intensity discharge (HID) Headlamps
• The new Limited body trim (22” polished aluminum wheels, standard)
• Strong variety of engines, including the 3.5L EcoBoost Ti-VCT, which delivers the highest maximum towing and payload capabilities in its class, along with fuel efficiency (17city/23hwy/19 combined mpg).
• This direct-injection twin-turbo engine offers up to 22 mpg highway. The 36-gallon tank on EcoBoost shows that the F-150 can travel over 750 highway miles between fill-ups.

Best-in-Class

• Towing capabilities (view details here)
• Payload capability and cargo box volume
• F-150 Limited offers best torque, capability and fuel economy**
• Generates most available power: up to 411 HP**

Accolades

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2013 F-150 SuperCrew a “Top Safety Pick” for 2012, earning the highest possible rating.
• Best-selling truck in America for 36 straight years**
• Vincentric Best Value in America award for full-size, half-ton pickups*
• America’s overall best-selling vehicle for 31 years.
• Since its inception in 1948, the F-Series has made more than 32 million trucks.

*This information can be found at Ford.com.

** This information can be found in the Jenkins and Wynne 2013 Ford F-150 information brochure.

The 2013 Honda Crosstour

2013 Honda Crosstour

Feel:

Originally known as the Accord Crosstour, Honda has progressed this vehicle to its own line as the Crosstour, as it possesses a perfect balance between an Accord Sedan and an SUV. While the Crosstour has many similarities with the Accord, many features are exclusive to the Crosstour:

• Paddle shifters mounted on steering wheel (exclusive to V-6 model)
• 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space

Finish:

• The Crosstour has the quietest ride out of any vehicle I have tested so far
• The EX-L model comes with black (or, depending on the base color, ivory) leather seats, which look stylish and have maximum comfort. Along with the EX-L, the other trim levels the Crosstour comes in include the EX 4-cylinder and the EX V6.
• Store up to 16 GB of data, directly in the vehicle! If you are a fan of Pandora, the HondaLink has a Pandora radio app built right in to its 4” audio touch screen. Listen to your personal music anytime you drive!

Functionality:

• Interior space is the major difference between the Crosstour and the Accord.
• Back seats, with a 60/40 split, lay down flush, which can be easily lowered by one-touch levers located in the cargo. With both seats down, you have a full 51.3 cubic feet of storage space!
• A utility box hides in the floor of the cargo, so you can keep valuable items stored out of sight. The box also lifts out of the floorboard. Tired of making multiple trips to your car after grocery shopping? Load all your bags into the utility box and carry them all in at once!
• Standard features for the Crosstour include:
• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink
• USB Audio Interface
• Rearview Camera
• Side Curtain Airbags
• Its safety features are exactly what you expect from a Honda: Lane Departure Warning, Back-Up sensors, Forward Collision Warning, and Honda LaneWatch are all standard features on the EX-L model.

The 2013 MKZ

2013 Lincoln MKZ

Feel

The newly designed 2013 Lincoln MKZ is no longer your traditional luxury vehicle… it is now so much more. Stop by Jenkins and Wynne to see the interior features that make the MKZ stand out. Such features include, but not limited to:

·         Push-button Shift, which replaces conventional console shifters. This feature reduces the clutter between the driver and passenger seat, giving you more comfort and relaxation.

·         Suspension Bridge Console: an aesthetically pleasing design of the center console, modeled in the shape of a suspension bridge.

·         Heated Steering Wheel: to show that Lincoln pays attention to detail to provide maximum comfort.

Finish

The MKZ offers excellent design features that you can’t find anywhere else. Here’s a list of just a few of these unique features:

·         New Design: While it maintains Lincoln’s signature split-wing grille, refinements to the body of the vehicle separates it from any Lincoln model made before.

·         Retractable panoramic glass roof: This is the largest effective opening roof among sedans. Have the advantage of looking at the night sky!

·         Active Noise Control: Advanced technologies reduce undesirable vehicle sounds to make for a relaxing, more enjoyable ride.

·         Active Park Assist: helping you with troublesome parallel parking spots.

·         Standard Full LED Exterior Lamps: Both headlamps and taillights have LED lighting, give you maximum clarity while driving at night. The headlights even turn along with the wheel, so your path is always illuminated!

·         Standard 18” aluminum wheels, giving the MKZ a sleek, stand-out look.

Functionality

Along with its new look and features, here are some performance benefits that come with the MKZ:

·         SYNC technologies that help keep your eyes on the road while staying connected.

·         2.0L EcoBoost I-4 engine, giving your Lincoln efficient flow of fuel into each cylinder.

·         The MKZ is also available as a hybrid, with EPA-estimated 45 MPG city and highway making the MKZ the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle in America.

If you would like to learn more about the MKZ, visit our website. Also, don’t forget to check out our blog for all the current information at Jenkins and Wynne.