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Used Car Buying Tips; 3 Reasons To Buy Used

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:30 GMT

http://buyanauto.blogspot.com/2012/01/used-car-buying-tips-3-reasons-to-buy.html

Remember, I am an ex-Car Salesman and I am going to give you 3 reasons why I was going to push you (the customer) towards buying a Used Car.

Used Car Buying Tip #1
The biggest reason I wanted you to buy a Used Car was because I was going to make a much better commission. The Used Car Commission would average between $400 and $1200 where as a New Car Commission was $100 to $300 on average. Let's be perfectly honest, what would you do?

Used Car Buying Tip #2
The second reason I wanted you to buy a Used Car is because of the survey. This would make dealers and car company's cringe, but let's be totally honest with everyone. You need to know why you are being pushed to this Used Car. This is felt by many Car Salesmen, not just myself. Every time I sold a New Car, the customer would get a survey that would rate how the salesman did along with the dealership. I always received high scores, but its because I had to work extra hard to insure that I did. When I sold a Used Car, I could literally toss you the keys and be done. I have witnessed many car salesman do this. It was just about the immediate gratification and they did not care about the next car you were going to buy or about your brother, sister, neighbor, co-worker or anyone else that may be interested in buying a car.

Used Car Buying Tip #3
This Car Buying Tip towards Used is not as obvious as the others. It is much easier to make you happy with your trade in value when you are buying a Used Car. First off, the Used Car Manager is appraising your Car, so if you are buying a Used Car from their department, I could get you a little more for your trade. Used Car Managers want their numbers to look good, selling more Used Cars makes sure they keep their job. Second, you are able to over allow on your trade to show you numbers like you are getting more for your trade. This over allowance comes out of the profit the dealership and salesman makes, but many times this is what wins a customer over when they just received an appraised value down the street for $1000 less. This is one important thing to remember, YOUR CAR IS WORTH WHAT ITS WORTH! If you remember nothing else, remember this. All dealers are giving you very close numbers on what your car is worth, but many just present the numbers differently to make it look like you are getting more. You would be surprised how many times dealers in an area call each other on trades. For instance, if you are trading a Toyota Camry and are shopping Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, etc., many other dealers will call the Toyota Used Car Manager to make sure what to appraise the car at. If you already shopped at Toyota, they will say, "I just appraised that Car." You told the Toyota salesman you were going to have lunch and think about it, so they DO realize you are shopping. Be honest and tell the dealer you are going to shop around, this will cause these dealers to get the numbers as low as they are willing to go, this could work to your advantage.

These are just 3 reasons you are directed toward that slightly Used Car, not only is more money made by the salesman, but it is just an easier deal. Understanding these tips can help you get a better deal the next time you are buying a Used Car. If I can help you in any way, feel free to email me (email at the top of this page) and be sure to add yourself to the subscription link on the right side of this page and you will receive any new articles written on this page for more Car Buying Tips To Save You Money.

How Clean Is Your Driving License

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:38:46 GMT

How Clean Is Your Driving License
June 14th, 2011

When you pass your driving test and get your driving licence you will no doubt be feeling very proud and happy and there are few things in life which will give you the same feeling. The problem is that for some people having a clean driving license is not something they experience for long.

Not having a clean driving licence can be a major issue for some people; in fact it can affect your car insurance quotes and your ability to get a job or to rent a car.

Some job application forms will ask you to list any endorsements on your driver's licence and this can be a question that will throw you. You may have had points on your licence in the past but assume they have expired; if you are mistaken but do not mention these points then you could be in trouble later on if you are found out.

It is better to make a point of checking your licence before applying for any jobs so that you are not left feeling very embarrassed down the road. Failing to disclose endorsements on a job application could lead to dismissal for deception which is something no honest person wants in their past employment record. However there is more to check than just penalty points.

Many people are driving around with an invalid licence but are totally unaware of this fact. It is important that you notify the DVLA if you have changed address or if you have any changes in your personal circumstances; this is also something that many people are unaware of. If you are reaching the age of 70 any time soon you will be sent a letter notifying you of your need to apply for an extension.

Knowing what your driving licence says about you is very important these days. More and more companies are now checking licenses thoroughly so it's wise to stay one step ahead of the game.

Get all the information you need about driving tests, licences and legal requirements for driving by visiting our site at licence check.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

229.251.2462

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Best Buy considering EV sales?

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:12:00 GMT

Best Buy considering EV sales?

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on May 9th 2011 at 3:31PM

According to Automotive News, Best Buy has its eyes on jumping into EV sales and service. The consumer electronics giant has been peddling Brammo electric motorcycles for years now and has recently parleyed that experience into garnering contracts to be a distributor and installer of EV chargers for the likes of the Ford Focus Electric and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Now the suits in charge apparently want to take the next step by offering full electric vehicles alongside Blu-Ray players and big-screen TVs.

The chain has over 1,000 stores that could effectively educate buyers on the products and service them should anything go awry. Right now, Best Buy is said to be in talks with a few EV startup companies, though the retailer hopes to expand those discussions to larger automakers, as well. The idea is that some dealers would rather outsource the hassle of instructing buyers on the intricacies of EV ownership rather than go through the trouble of educating their entire sales process on tasks such as pairing a smart phone.

Is this just another step in the inevitable march of the vehicle from transportation to appliance? Maybe, but it could also be a move toward a genuinely educated and capable sales staff that's invested in your comprehension of the product.

[Source: Automotive News ? sub. req.]

Ford wages average $8/hour higher than non-union and foreign rivals

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:03:08 GMT

Ford wages average $8/hour higher than non-union and foreign rivals

by Aaron Richardson (RSS feed) on May 9th 2011 at 9:29AM

In the run up to the next round of negotiations between Ford and the United Auto Workers, the automaker has said it pays workers an average of $8 more per hour than its foreign and non-union rivals. By and large, foreign automakers with U.S. factories employ non-union labor, which helps keep labor costs reigned in.

According to the Blue Oval, its cost of labor has risen to $58/hour, while its competitors average $50/hour. The wage gap has persisted even after Ford negotiated concessions with the UAW that cut labor costs by $500 million in 2009.

Ford says it will be impossible to sustain a competitive business if it can't close the gap. Worse, Dearborn says the differential could eventually prevent the creation of new jobs. The company's $58/hour wage rate is a three-dollar hike over last year, thanks in large part to $5,000 profit sharing checks Ford cut each of its workers this year.

According to a company spokesperson, its wage rate would be closer to $56/hour without the profit sharing initiative.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

229.251.2462

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Compare the automotive industry from only a year ago to today or from ten years ago to today

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:01:03 GMT

Digital Finesse

Posted by Lizelle Landino on April 28, 2011 at 7:07am
View Lizelle Landino's ADM blog

Compare the automotive industry from only a year ago to today or from ten years ago to today and we all will have the conclusion and understanding that this industry is ever changing and evolving. No longer is the car standing on the lot at a dealership a guarantee for a sale and no longer can you just stare out the window of a dealership waiting for business.

Digital shopping and digital living has created a very unique challenge for dealers. It now makes your competition a huge factor on your dealer success. Tools like social media, link building, seo, sem, video optimization actually takes much visibility away from a dealer because they now have to compete for online presence. The biggest mistake car dealers make is using the social media sites as a sales tool. Facebook, twitter etc are wonderful tools to connect and reach out to individuals but its not a sales tool. Why are you trying to sell a car on twitter? If you utilize these wonderful tools and finesse the art of social media correctly , you will gain the respect and trust that will make you a SUPER STAR! How is that? My advice for success and digital sales finesse is very simple and I call it Relationship selling 101. Change your thought process on what social media can offer you. All these tools have the most effectiveness and presence when all you are trying to do is build, gain and master relationship selling and conversational connections.

You are trying to gain and not lose twitter followers and facebook friends correct? Do NOT list your inventory or sales pitches on there but master the conversation and media presence in a unique but tactful way. What can you do on the social media aspect that will make you stand out and have people wonder " Wow I wonder who that person is or what that person does for a living". Its Tactful advertising that promotes a product nobody knows better than you - the product is YOU. Dare to be different and unique - Establish your "it" factor - Interest and intrigue people - gain the relationship because the SALE is next.

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can"

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

229.251.2462

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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4 Things Smart Dealerships Do when Women Buyers Visit

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:17:00 GMT

4 Things Smart Dealerships Do when Women Buyers Visit

by Anne Fleming on Apr 13, 2011

So a woman has stepped onto your lot and is looking to purchase a vehicle. What happens next
and the direction the visit goes is largely determined by how the dealership, specifically the salesperson, engages and influences her experience. Research shows that 45% of women feel apprehensive and 34% are intimidated when shopping at new car dealerships. The factors that lead to whether she stays or goes to the competition can be summed up with several factors that are fundamental to converting a female visitor to a happy and long-term customer:

Treat her fairly and with respect, as the front negotiator. Be willing to work with her without any intimidation tactics, pushiness or condescending attitudes. If she is with her husband or a man, treat her as the front buyer and keep consistent eye contact with her.

Maintain a relaxed and no-pressure environment, allowing her to feel cared for and listened to.

Build trust by ensuring she understands the safety standards and warranty information. Appreciate that she may likely have children passengers. Answer all questions in a way she feels listened to, and make sure all her questions get addressed. Don't use words like 'always' or 'never' - she will stop listening.

Make her experience enjoyable and educational, so she can drive away with more knowledge and awareness. Be the go-to knowledge provider and treat her with respect, which she will almost certainly share with her friends and family.

Women account for 54% of new car purchasers, and influence 82% of the purchases for the family. Successful women-friendly car dealers know how to have all their sales and service team members work with women buyers with finesse and respect.

http://www.drivingsales.com/blogs/automotivepr/2011/04/13/4-things-smart-dealerships-do-when-women-buyers-visit-?hq_e=el&hq_m=983222&hq_l=3&hq_v=c240df170a

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

Vehicle Electrification: 5 Technologies to Watch

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:34:18 GMT

Vehicle Electrification: 5 Technologies to Watch
APR 13, 2011

April 13th, 2011

The electric car is alive and well, and Ford has big plans for its future and that of electrification advancement. Just ask Chuck Gray, the Ford Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. He shared his insight at the SAE 2011 World Congress (April 12-14) on the top five technologies from Ford, which by the way, has more than 244 patents for its electrification technology. Electrification is an important element in the Ford overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. These models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid.

But it's not only the electrified vehicles capturing the spotlight - it's also the surrounding technologies, and Chuck highlighted the emerging top five.

Auto Stop-Start: Not just for electrified vehicles, this fuel-saving technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop will soon be added to conventional cars, crossovers and SUVs in North America. It's a feature currently found on the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid and on some Ford cars in Europe. The Ford-patented new Auto Start-Stop system for gasoline engines will improve fuel economy for most drivers by at least 4 percent. The gain can be as high as 10 percent for some drivers, depending on vehicle size and usage. It also reduces tailpipe emissions to zero while the vehicle is stationary or waiting at a stoplight with the engine off.

Human Machine Interface: Sure, the name of the technology might sound a little sci-fi, but it is a significant component in the Ford suite of electrified vehicles that helps to inform, enlighten, engage and empower drivers. Just as the growing leafy vine of today's SmartGauge^TM with EcoGuide represents fuel efficiency in the Fusion Hybrid, the cluster display in the Focus Electric will use blue butterflies to represent the surplus range beyond one's charge point destination - the more butterflies there are, the greater the range. At the end of each trip a display screen provides distance driven, miles gained through regenerative braking, energy consumed and a comparative gasoline savings achieved by driving electric. Other range enablers will include a budget view, range view and Brake Coach, which gives drivers feedback on their braking performance to maximize recuperation back into the battery.

The Focus Electric also will feature the MyFord Touch^TM map-based Navigation System using the vehicle's center stack 8-inch touch screen, which is another iteration of HMI. After adding their driving destinations, including their next charge point, into the vehicle's Navigation System, the vehicle will coach drivers on how to achieve the desired range - or if travel plans need to be adjusted. The onboard Navigation System provides an EcoRoute option based on characteristics of efficient EV driving.

Motor: The new Ford C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid models build on the success of the critically acclaimed powersplit architecture Ford uses in its current hybrids, including the Fusion Hybrid. In a powersplit hybrid, the electric motor and gasoline-powered engine can work together or separately to maximize efficiency. The engine also can operate independently of vehicle speed, charging the batteries or providing power to the wheels as needed. The motor alone can provide sufficient power to the wheels in low-speed, low-load conditions, and work with the engine at higher speeds.

While this system enables the current Fusion Hybrid to operate in fuel-saving electric mode up to 47 mph, Ford is targeting higher electric operating speeds for C-MAX Hybrid and even more capability for C-MAX Energi, which will have the advantage of additional battery power.

Battery: "Our battery and motor systems engineering are key enablers of our electrification strategy," said Chuck. "Our goals are to continue to improve energy efficiency while simultaneously reducing costs, providing a value benefit to the consumer." Future Ford hybrid and electric vehicles will use new lithium-ion battery systems that are designed to maximize use of common, high-quality components, such as control board hardware that has proven field performance in the current, critically acclaimed Ford hybrid vehicles.

Li-ion battery packs offer a number of advantages over the nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries that power today's hybrid vehicles. In general, they are 25 to 30 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter, which makes them easier to package in a vehicle, and they can be tuned to increase power to boost acceleration or to increase energy to extend driving distance.

Focus Electric, C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid models all will be powered by advanced lithium-ion battery systems that are being engineered by Ford. The Focus Electric battery system uses heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and fuel-free driving range. Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of pure electric vehicles. The system also features cabin climate preconditioning while on charge from the wall plug to further maximize electric range during driving.

Regenerative braking system: Regenerative braking is a function that captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Greater than 90 percent energy recovery is achieved by delivering full regenerative braking, which means less than 10 percent of braking is through traditional friction brakes.

"As we see continuing escalation in the price of fuel, people are becoming more interested in electrified products," Chuck explained. "We've developed a clearer picture of how these technologies can be leveraged and brought to market, and we're confident that each will further improve the efficiency of our expanded portfolio of products."

You can keep up with the latest Ford electrification news at the Ford Electric Vehicles Facebook page.

--
Posted By DigitalCarGuy.com to DigitalCarGuy.com at 4/13/2011 11:40:00 AM

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

Better Ways to Buy Tires

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:31:14 GMT

Better Ways to Buy Tires

Investing in tires generally is difficult to understand. It's so hard to know where to start, and especially if you're new to buying tires you might not know where to begin. I'm sure this asset will help you purchase your next set of tires. This is the kind of guide we wish we would of had the first time we bought tires.

Step 1: Closely examine the tires you have on your car at this time. Examine the volume, brand, model #'s etc... All this information is easily read off the sidewall of the tire. If you don't understand what it all means, that's ok. Be sure you jot it down on a piece of paper for reference though. You should also confirm that you actually need new tires.

Step 2: Call up our featured tire shop or the tire shop of your choice and say: Hi, I own a 2003 Honda Civic and I'd like to see what you have in stock that would fit my car? (replace your make and model obviously) Make sure you have pen and paper handy, and copy down everything they say. Get the exact pricing information including installation, and all the detailed info on the tires. If they don't tell you,get an idea of the mileage the manufacture expects for the specific tire. NOTE: There are shops that won't be able to tell you what tires fit your vehicle. That's exactly why I had you copy down your current tire information. Give them this information instead and they should be able to help.

Step 3: Call around to a few other tire shops and compare the prices, mileage, and other factors of the tires.

Step 4: With all this information in hand, narrow your choices down to 2-3 potential tires. Look up the details of your tire possibilities in a search engine and see what the experts say about each tire. Read customer comments, trade blogs, anything you can find.

Step 5: You're all set, you've done your homework and are ready to make a tire purchase.

We really hope this guide helped you in some way. If you learn something you'd like to share during your tire purchase please leave a comment so others can learn as well. Thanks!

Learn more about tires and how to make an excellent tire purchase at our site http://howtobuytireskc.weebly.com/

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

Ford shows off 67-mpg Focus Econetic ahead of Amsterdam debut

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:49:00 GMT
Ford shows off 67-mpg Focus Econetic ahead of Amsterdam debut
by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Apr 6th 2011 at 2:00PM

Ford Focus

We may have the 40-mile-per-gallon SFE trim on the 2012 Ford Focus here in the States, but European eco-warriors will soon be able to sink their teeth into the new Focus Econetic, designed purely with efficiency in mind. Ford claims that the Focus Econetic can achieve up to 80 mpg on the European testing cycle, or about 67 mpg here in the U.S.

Ford's road to super-efficiency starts with the automaker's 103-horsepower, 1..6-liter Duratorq diesel engine. That, combined with start-stop, smart regenerative charging, Eco mode and a revised final drive ratio allow this engine to perform as efficiently as possible at all times. For reference, the standard Euro-spec Focus equipped with the 1.6-liter diesel four is good for about 55 mpg (U.S.).

Aerodynamic enhancements consist of active grille shutters on the front fascia, as well as special low-drag wheel covers. We're all for added efficiency, but it might be nice if these plastic wheel caps didn't look like they were ripped straight from a 1992 Honda Accord.

The Focus Econetic makes its official debut next week at the Amsterdam Motor Show, with the first examples hitting the streets in early 2012. Both four- and five-door body styles will be available. Follow the jump for the full details.

Gallery: Ford Focus Econetic

[Source: Ford]
Show full PR text
FORD REVEALS NEW FOCUS ECONETIC Â– EUROPE'S MOST FUEL EFFICIENT COMPACT CAR

- New Focus ECOnetic debuting early next year is expected to achieve 80mpg* (less than 3.5 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres) Â– better than all compact cars currently on the market in Europe

- Focus ECOnetic expected to deliver ultra-low CO2 emissions of less than 95g/km when final certification is completed later this year

- 1.6-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine further optimised with new injection system and turbocharger, enhanced charge air cooling and friction reduction technologies

- Additional features include unique aerodynamic package with standard Active Grille Shutter, ultra-low rolling resistance tyres and revised final drive ratio

- Full range of Ford ECOnetic technologies shared with other new Focus models including Ford Auto-Start-Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Ford Eco Mode and Shift Indicator Light

- New Ford Focus ECOnetic available in five-door and estate bodystyles

Brentwood, Essex, 6 April, 2011 Â– Ford Motor Company today announced the new Focus ECOnetic, debuting next week at the Amsterdam Motor Show, will establish a new industry benchmark for fuel efficiency in the popular compact class.

The new Focus ECOnetic, which will go on sale in the UK early next year, leverages a host of advanced technologies that are expected to make it more fuel efficient than any other compact vehicle on the road today in Europe, including diesel, petrol and hybrid powered vehicles.

Focus ECOnetic is expected to achieve 80mpg* on the combined cycle (less than 3.5 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres). In addition, Focus EConetic is expected to deliver ultra-low CO2 emissions of less than 95g/km when certification is completed later this year.

"The Focus ECOnetic is a testament to our company's relentless drive for technological innovation and commitment to environmental leadership," says Gunnar Herrmann, Ford's global medium car line director. "It's also going to be a great car to drive."

The new Focus ECOnetic will be available in both stylish five-door and estate bodystyles.

Latest Low-CO2 Technologies
To achieve its outstanding fuel economy, the new Focus ECOnetic employs the latest low-CO2 technologies in its powertrain, aerodynamics and driver information systems.

The vehicle is powered by a new 105PS version of the 1.6-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel which has been optimised for enhanced fuel efficiency, with a new injection system and turbocharger, enhanced charge cooling and further friction reduction measures.

The Focus ECOnetic also benefits a number of additional low-CO2 features which have been developed specifically for this model including a unique aerodynamic package with an Active Grille Shutter, ultra-low rolling resistance tyres and a revised final drive ratio.

The new Focus ECOnetic incorporates the full range of Ford ECOnetic Technologies shared with other models in the all-new Focus line-up, including Ford Auto-Start-Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Ford Eco Mode and Shift Indicator Light.

Unique High-Efficiency Engine

The common-rail fuel injection system of the diesel engine has been completely redesigned, with eight-hole nano sac injectors operating at injection pressures of up to 1,600 bar, controlled by a more powerful engine management system. The new injection system delivers more precise control and increased combustion efficiency.

To provide more accurate control of the charge air temperature and to deliver a cooler, denser charge, the intake system features a water cooled intercooler in place of the standard air-to-air system.

Other new, or completely revised, features to enhance fuel efficiency include:

New variable geometry turbocharger design
Reduced engine friction from low-friction piston ring coatings and variable flow oil pump
Additional reduction in engine losses from low inertia vacuum pump and asymmetric crank sprocket design
Updated emissions system combining a diesel NOx-reducing catalyst with a coated Diesel Particulate Filter system

The 1.6-litre ECOnetic diesel is paired with Ford's six-speed Durashift manual transmission. This transmission is a totally new high-efficiency design which has been optimised to eliminate frictional losses, and utilises special low friction transmission oil.

A revised final drive ratio has been selected to raise the overall gearing, reducing engine speed and offering improved fuel economy when cruising in top gear. Economy is further enhanced by fitting the latest-generation dedicated low rolling resistance tyres.

Exclusive Aerodynamic Package

While the standard all-new Focus already boasts an exceptionally aerodynamic bodyshell (five-door CD = 0.295), the ECOnetic model has been designed with a number of additional features to minimise drag still further.

Much of the aerodynamic development was concentrated on smoothing the airflow underneath the vehicle. The ECOnetic derivative features additional undershields and deflectors.

Aerodynamic performance is also improved by the use of special low-drag ECOnetic wheel covers, which are more streamlined than a conventional alloy wheel design.

The ECOnetic model features, as standard, the innovative Active Grille Shutter Â– an advanced new system that optimises aerodynamics by using vents to control airflow through the grille to the cooling system and engine compartment.

If air is required to cool the engine the vents are opened; but if no airflow is needed, the vents are shut, thereby significantly reducing aerodynamic drag. When fully closed, the reduction in drag means that the Active Grille Shutter can reduce CO2 emissions by two per cent.

Low-CO2 Ford ECOnetic Technologies

The Focus ECOnetic incorporates as standard the full range of low-CO2 Ford ECOnetic Technologies which are shared with other models in the new Focus line-up including Ford Auto-start-stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Ford Eco Mode and Shift Indicator Light. In addition the Focus ECOnetic includes:

Electric Power Assisted Steering
Low-friction engine and transmission oils
Low tension Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD)
Thermal Management Systems to optimise warm-up

Customer Availability in Early 2012

Available with either five-door or estate bodystyles, the new Ford Focus ECOnetic will be produced for the UK market at the lead Focus manufacturing plant in Saarlouis, Germany. Market introduction is scheduled to be in early 2012.

The existing Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi, which went on sale last month, and is available across all series, emits 109g CO2 /km while returning 67mpg*

*Note: Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.co.uk

If you have any further enquiries or require publication-quality, downloadable photographs on Ford Motor Company products or services, visit our dedicated media website www.media.ford.com or contact our press officers.
Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Diesel

Tags: amsterdam, econetic, europe, focus, ford, ford focus econetic

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

The "Be-Attitudes" for Internet Car Sales: Credos To Live By Everyday

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:02:13 GMT

The "Be-Attitudes" for Internet Car Sales: Credos To Live By Everyday
by Merla Turner on Mar 29, 2011

I love the car business! While at the Dick Hannah dealerships I had the great honor of working with amazing managers and staff - selling, training and managing ten different brands' Internet teams over the years. We sold thousands of cars through the Internet every year because the Hannah's were committed to both cutting-edge technology and sound core principles that drove massive success.

Today, I train dealers daily and am inundated with questions from highly successful dealers on how to effectively get more phone calls/leads and how to convert those leads into butts in the door! As a follower of industry blogs and news, it recently struck me that while it's important that much of the advice served up to dealers is focused on the bleeding-edge of technology - it's so easy for all of us to forget what we ONCE mastered and still NEED to master every day. So, thinking back on my long dealership career, I set out to distill what I learned are the crucial "beatitudes" of Internet car sales.

The Beatitudes in the New Testament are, of course, a set of eight blessings, or starkly simple and beautifully basic rules to live by. "Beatitude" also means achieving a state of blessedness or extreme happiness.

I certainly don't mean to evoke the concept of 'beatitudes' in some religious, denominational way (...these rules aren't even brand-specific!), I just wanted to share credos to live by as a reality-check, hoping their simplicity reminds and re-inspires you and your digital dealership to focus on the absolute foundations of success, given the frenetic swirl of the ever-new.

The 8 "Be-Attitudes" for Internet Car Sales:

BE FOUND: In a world where 9 in 10 auto shoppers hunt down dealerships online (more than double the rates of any other information resource), and with roughly half the visits to dealer websites arriving via a search engine, make sure that you have done everything to BE FOUND by searchers.

SEO/PPC
Today that means having sustained, aggressive SEO, and often expanding your visibility (when needed) through strategic PPC buys.. Your customer is first and foremost a searcher - and you need to make sure you're easily found and have great first-page visibility at the big three search engines.

Google Places/Yahoo! Local/Bing Maps
Have your dealership properly set up and fully optimized for Google Places, Bing, Yahoo!

Online Review Sites & Directories
It is imperative that everywhere your customer looks online for your dealership - they find the correct dealership details and contact information.

Social Media Sites
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are no-brainers. But WHAT you post on these sites is the critical issue - it's not about selling, it's about relationship-building.

BE DESIRABLE: They found you - now you need to ensure what they found is HIGHLY DESIRABLE.

Website
Your website needs to look nice, but above all it needs to be functional, useful and easy to maneuver, with clear calls to action so it converts into leads. Additionally, if you don't know what Google Previews is, read about it here. Google allows customers to preview your site and decide whether or not they even want to click on it, so make sure your site is desirable in preview mode too.

Review Sites & Directories
Given the massive importance of online reviews and social feedback today - and their recent, radically heightened visibility at Google and many car-buying sites - you need to be absolutely sure the online word-of-mouth about your dealership is robust and positive - and that you shine with a positive reputation at all the search engines/websites consumers use.

Social Media Sites
2 Words: Warm Fuzzies. Barrages of vehicle specials or impersonal vehicle articles on your Facebook page will cause your customer to 'unlike' you faster than you can say "pounder." Check out the social media advice that Gary May posts on DrivingSales.com - real, practical advice that I would use if I were still at the dealership today.

Check up from the neck up:

Find some new eyes - ask customers what they think about your site.

As friends and family to test out the usability of your website. I would always ask my folks to go on the dealership website and pretend to shop for a car - I knew if they could easily figure out how to find answers to their questions and submit an inquiry, the general population could too. (Sorry, Mom and Dad...)

Add a feedback plug-in to gather feedback and get suggestions.

Do some quick searching on Google, Yahoo and Bing. Do reviews come up? What is the star rating? Is your dealership information accurate and enticing?

Read your Facebook and Twitter content. Would you 'like' or find valuable your dealership's messaging?

BE FAST: You simply have to get back to Internet customers and leads lightning-fast, because with any response that stretches past a half an hour, you're losing sales.

How I trained the importance of this to my employees? I asked them to imagine...

A car pulls into the lot and a nice family gets out. They walk the lot, peering into car windows, checking pricing on hangtags. They glance around looking for help, but nobody comes. Up and down they walk, and within 30 minutes they get back into their car and pull out. A salesperson comes running: "Wait, I can help you, come back"!

Wouldn't that be too little too late?

What I know to be true about car dealers is that we are NOT going to let our walk-in traffic wander around the lot and leave without talking to an employee, so why would we let our internet customers do so?

If we don't handle inquiries in a timely fashion there are so many repercussions, the biggest being that customers 'wandering around online' quickly move from one site to another, gathering information and contacting other stores that are focused on - and able to - answer their questions and meet their needs. In short, lost sales, lost gross.

When I was at the Ford dealership we had a 40-foot banner (stretching across the room where leads were worked) that said: "SPEED IS POWER, ATTITUDE IS EVERTHING!" For those of you who imagine 'this is not an issue at my store', let me tell you: many dealers mistakenly think their response times are speedy, but they need to analyze the realities. I fell into that trap over and over again - thinking to myself, "I have a process, my team and I are on it," when a quick check of new incoming leads proved otherwise.

Check up from the neck up:

At the DrivingSales conference last fall, I heard Grant Cardone say that, "anything worth doing is worth doing everyday." I agree! Pull a report from your CRM tool every day to analyze how long after the lead was received:

That a call made

That an email sent (response quality counts, auto responders do not!)

That notes were entered, indicating meaningful contact was actually made

Another tried-and-true suggestion: Set a reminder on your calendar monthly to review and refine your Internet inquiry coverage and response training. I always found that the 8th (or so) of the month was perfect - nowhere near mid-month or month-end closeouts, but still early enough in the month to address issues before the bulk of our leads would come in.

BE REAL: Do your salespeople come across as 'old school,' or as real human beings helping customers find the car of their dreams? Do your salespeople understand their customers' (understandable) fears, and work to alleviate them - without buying into their objections? Now, I'm not suggesting that we throw away strategies that work to close deals, just that we deliver them in a way that doesn't turn customers off.

Train your people to build a relationship with customers - that starts the moment they inquire. People like people like them, so make sure the way your sales staff connects with customers (via phone/email/text/chat) smacks of authenticity and a real desire to help them. As I've learned from Dennis Colome, it's not what you say, but how you say it that matters.

Great salespeople know how to connect with a customer immediately, find common ground, build a rapport and set that firm appointment. Help your staff accomplish this by using phone scripts that help them identify the customer's needs, that avoid typical "salesperson speak," and ask for the appointment over and over again.

With almost everyone and their dog on Facebook, Twitter or both, people are suddenly connecting with others on a very personal level - even people they don't know well. Consumers are now used to seeing peoples' pictures and equating the image to some sort of a relationship. With that in mind, when you follow-up via email, have an inviting picture of the salespeople (family pictures are great too, people have a hard time resisting pictures of parents with their kids) in their signature line - you'd be surprised how less likely that customer is to distrust them or flake out on an appointment.

Check up from the neck up:

When speaking to a prospect, do your employees engage people in an authentic, friendly tone of voice?

When speaking to a prospect, do your employees talk more about the vehicle, or everything else? In my experience, "vehicle talk" leads to a lot of vehicle questions that lead to other objections you can't control over the phone and/or email! However, the more time you spend building a relationship with a customer, they more they trust you - and the more likely you are to sell a vehicle at higher gross.

BE INFORMED: It's a clichÃ©, but today's Internet car buyer is insanely informed, and not just about invoice pricing. Some customers walk in with binders filled with specs, competitive models, etc. When I secret-shop dealerships to help them with their processes, it's shocking how many salespeople don't have even basic product knowledge on vehicles that people are dropping $10,000 to $100,000 on! Can you imagine salespeople at the Apple store not being informed about the newest i-whatever coming out?

At the dealership I spent a great deal of time on core training like phone/Internet lead handling and sales conversion, but your people must know the product because it closes far more deals. That doesn't mean they should spill their guts and create objections, but product knowledge can be used in appropriate situations to excite people, convert cross-shoppers to the vehicle and increase trust in the salesperson. Salespeople must be able to answer the customer's objections and understand how to redirect them back to the appointment or close the deal with an appropriate question.

Check up from the neck up:

Are your people all product certified? Probably.

Does the majority of your product training only happen when it's crunch time to be certified, before you get in trouble with the OEM? (Happened to me a couple times...)

Do you have a committed process and/or manager responsible for ongoing product training?

Have you trained your employees how and when to deliver product knowledge information that leads them directly back to the close?

Each is equally important, and with the wealth of information online, salespeople need to be masters at answering questions in a way that sets firm appointments.

BE BOLD: When I secret-shop dealers it's also shocking how passive, almost listless, salespeople can be in follow-up - with calls and emails like, "Would you like to look at the car?" (!!!) Your employees MUST ask for the appointment every single time!

Same-day appointments are golden and to secure them you simply must be bold. When I was at the Honda store, my GM had a great line: "How close to right now can you be here?" Love that line because IT WORKS!

Be willing to go out on a limb to do whatever it takes to get the customer in the same day. Customer stuck at work? Take the car to their office. Customer needs to 'get dinner first'? Order the family a pizza.

Boldness and enthusiasm lead to incredible closing ratios because both are contagious. Excitement breeds excitement, for your customers and your staff!

Check up from the neck up:

Are your people ruthlessly aggressive, yet fantastically kind, in asking for appointments? How do you know?

Do you talk to your salespeople daily about the importance of being bold and asking for appointments? Do you role-play "asking for the appointment" with them?

Do you incentivize/spiff your staff for each customer they get in the same day?

BE INVOLVED: For so many years, the Internet department has been quarantined from the desk manager, the GM and Dealer Principal - it's crazy and costing many, many dealers business. Quite often, the majority of dealership managers have never even worked an Internet inquiry, the very source of most dealership traffic! It's my personal belief that:

GM's

Sales/Desk Managers

Finance Managers

Closers

...all need to get intimately engaged with the dealership's Internet operations, and, frankly, go in and get their hands dirty. At my former dealership, the whole management team cycled through every aspect of Internet sales, by actually working leads themselves for two whole days.

Check up from the neck up:

Internet Managers/Directors, I have a message for you, spoken from experience:
We Internet people sometimes possessively hang tight to our Internet processes because we feel our job security is tied up with being the only person at the dealership that understands the Internet world. Nothing could be further from the truth: the more cars sold because of Internet efforts, the busier you will be in managing the MASSIVE amount of work it takes to keep things successful!

Furthermore, the more other managers in your stores understand the Internet buyer, the more gross everyone can make. So, encourage your store's management team to get involved - the rewards (and your paycheck) will be well worth it!

BE UNIQUE: The average dealership has a bunch of same-brand competitors in their market, so it's absolutely critical for you to tell your story - and communicate and get creative with what exactly makes you unique. Whether it's your sales staff, the way you sell cars or special promotions, you need to get that story out there.

I'll give one example: At my Chrysler, Jeep and Honda stores we were attracting, and wanted to keep attracting more, leads/sales well outside our DMA, so I created a promotion called "Weekend in a Car." We offered these customers a package: a weekend night at a nearby 5-star lodge, where they could relax, go to the spa and pick up their car Sunday and take a leisurely drive home. (We cut a deal with the hotel, and it cost us less than $100 a customer.) And while only 3% of eligible customers ultimately took advantage of the offer, it was wildly successful and made us extremely unique.

Check up from the neck up:

What really sets your dealership apart from the competition?

Is that difference meaningful and of value to your customers?

Do you effectively communicate what sets you apart? Not only in your advertising, but in how you interact on the phone and via email with your customers?

It's my sincerest hope that these core steps or rules will 'Be' helpful to your dealership's Internet sales processes and produce more car deals! If you have any questions or need help, please call me at 866-475-5553 or email me at m.turner@exteres.com.

Happy Selling!

By Merla Turner: Director of Dealer Training at eXtÃ©resAUTO (and recently honored as one of the "Top Rated" Internet Trainers by DrivingSales' Dealer Satisfaction Awards). Previously she served as Internet Director at Dick Hannah Honda in Vancouver, WA.

Please visit the link for this post;
http://www.drivingsales.com/blogs/exteres/2011/03/29/the-beattitudes-for-internet-car-sales-credos-to-live-by-everyday

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Thomas@Ieracitano.com
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First Bugatti Veyron Super Sport comes Stateside

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:49:45 GMT

From: Jeff Glucker

Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 7:29 PM

Subject: Video: First Bugatti Veyron Super Sport comes Stateside

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Videos, Bugatti

Take a walk-around the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport - Click above to watch video after the jump

The first Bugatti Veyron Super Sport has touched down on United States soil. It's one of only five examples produced that will hit the same top speed as the 268-mile per hour world-record setting version. The other 35 examples to be built will be limited to just 258 mph, because, you know, that extra 10 mph would simply be overkill.

Symbolic Motors of San Diego, California is the lucky dealership holding the keys to this amazing machine. It retails for $2.58 million, though we're pretty sure that this one was snatched up before it even arrived Stateside. Click past the jump for a video walk-around of the very first Bugatti Veyron Super Sport to hit the States. Thanks for the tip, Mark!

Gallery: 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Rex Roy / AOL

[Source: DragTimes.com]
Continue reading Video: First Bugatti Veyron Super Sport comes Stateside

Video: First Bugatti Veyron Super Sport comes Stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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comparing the computer industry with the auto industry

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:20:00 GMT
At a recent computer exposition, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If General Motors had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

General Motors issued a press release in response to Bill's comments, stating: "If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft: we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason - you would simply accept this.

Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive — but would run on only five percent of the roads.

The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.

The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

Have a great weekend!

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

Consumer Reports releases 2011 list of American Top Picks, Ford again on top

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:04:58 GMT

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Thomas Ieracitano
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From: Aaron Richardson

Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 4:40 PM

Subject: Consumer Reports releases 2011 list of American Top Picks, Ford again on top

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Ford

Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the second year running, the Ford Fusion has not only come out as the top family sedan pick in Consumer Reports' list of the 2011 American Top Picks, once again eclipsing the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in reliability.

Topping the list in the budget car segment is the Ford Fiesta, though CR admits they aren't sure how reliable the car will be, given that it's a clean-sheet design. The Chevrolet Cruze takes the small car category.

Ford captures CR's small SUV category with the Escape, and Chevrolet has nailed down the family SUV category with its Equinox 2LT. The funky Ford Flex takes the family hauler category, and the Mustang is the top pick among sporty cars.

The only non-Ford or Chevrolet product on the list is the Buick Regal, which takes top honors for CR's sports sedan category. The Ford Fusion Hybrid (above) garners the American green car pick for 2011, and the Chevrolet Avalanche rounds out the list in the pickup truck category.

It should be noted that some categories in CR's list only have a top-scoring American vehicle, not a top pick. In the budget car segment, the sports sedan segment and the small car segment, CR passes on picking a favorite because there are new models in the segment that haven't had a fair chance at the prize yet.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Shunk / AOL

[Source: Consumer Reports]
Consumer Reports releases 2011 list of American Top Picks, Ford again on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan with SFE package joins the 40 mpg club

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:52:45 GMT

2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan with SFE package joins the 40 mpg club
Posted 2/25/2011 3:33 PM

Final EPA figures are now in and the news is good for Ford's latest offering. The 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan with the optional SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package has notched a 28 mpg city rating from the EPA and officially returns 40 mpg on the highway. The Focus SFE becomes the fourth model in the corporate lineup to earn at least 40 mpg, joining the Ford Fiesta SE with SFE package (40 mpg highway) and the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (41 mpg city).
Several functional enhancements help the 2012 Ford Focus SFE make its mileage bogey. For starters, the most fuel-efficient version of this new compact four-door model is fitted with Ford's six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission, a cog-changer that improves mileage by up to nine percent compared to a conventional four-speed autoshifter. The other key SFE-spec enhancement is an active grille shutter system that automatically opens and/or closes to meet underhood cooling requirements. In addition to speeding warm-ups and optimizing aero efficiency, Ford says the shutters can cut CO2 emissions by up to two percent. Also in the mix are special 16-inch steel wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, four-wheel disc ABS brakes and a special "SFE" badge.

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Thomas Ieracitano
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Ford Ranger Wildtrak Debuts at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:31:33 GMT

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 10:11 AM

Subject: Ford Ranger Wildtrak Debuts at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

We're not at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show but our friends from Jalopnik are and they've just sent us photos of the new 2011 Ford Ranger Wildtrak double cab making its debut there.

The Ranger Wildtrak is Ford's top-of-the-line midsize truck for markets outside of North America. It's a stylish version of all-new Ranger "T6" that goes on sale later this year.

No official word yet on its powertrain, though we expect there's a five-cylinder 3.2-liter diesel with a robust 197 horsepower and 346 pounds-feet of torque under its hood.

Copyright © 2011 blog.DigitalCarGuy.com All Rights Reserved.

Dealers Paying More Money for Trade-Ins Right Now

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:30:15 GMT

Dealers Paying More Money for Trade-Ins Right Now
February 24, 2011

Trade in Prices, 2 out of 3 new car buyers have a trade-in, and if you're one of them, you're in luck.

Trade-ins are commanding higher prices, according to a recent study by the National Automobile Dealers Association.

They're in demand due to a shortage of used cars.

NADA expects a 4% drop in used-car supplies throughout 2011, leading to a 5% to 10% price increase in used-car auction prices, which is one of the primary methods for car dealerships to acquire used vehicles.

When dealers can't get their vehicles at auction, they look elsewhere - namely trade-ins.

A lot of the price increases are due to pent-up demand.

With the economy improving, people are more able and willing to replace their old clunkers with a new car. GM and Chrysler have seen residual value gains of 15% to 20% for 2 to 5-year-old models, according to NADA.

Used Japanese, German and Korean brands have seen 10% price increases.

If you have a lease that ends soon, you can also take advantage of the situation by comparing your end-of-lease buyout price with the market price of the vehicle.

Some people are reporting price differences of several thousand dollars. It's certainly worth looking into.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
229.251.2462
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Lincoln's Sputnik Moment

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:18:26 GMT

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Share5 The Truth About Cars Â» Branding Â» Dealer News Â» Luxury Â» New Cars Â» News Blog

Lincoln's Sputnik Moment

By Edward Niedermeyer on February 7, 2011

Ford's been fixing Lincoln for so long now, it's almost surprising that things on the dealership level are still so broken. But, as Ford told its dealers at last weekend's NADA convention [via Automotive News [sub]], it's time to put up or become a former Lincoln dealership. By the end of this year, every Lincoln dealer must comply with a few of Ford's "more than reasonable" expectations, to wit:

Offering what Lincoln calls "owner privileges." That includes providing a free car wash and loaner vehicle to owners who come in for service

Having a dedicated service manager and dedicated sales staff for Lincoln, Bokich said. That applies specifically to Lincoln dealers paired with Ford stores..

Having only the word "Lincoln" appear on all franchise signage, not Mercury. Ford discontinued the Mercury brand as of Dec. 31.

Having at least 30 percent of used-vehicle inventory be certified pre-owned vehicles.

You know, those do sound like reasonable standards for a luxury brand dealer network... and if a Lincoln dealer doesn't like them, well, Ford is looking to trim the network by 100 stores or so anyway. Still, isn't Lincoln's problem pretty conclusively product-related? There's no word from Ford's boffins on that front, which means some dealers may be happy to leave the Mercury sign up and become one of those used car lots that still has an Oldsmobile sign up. Yes, Lincoln needs a top-notch dealer experience (and an own-brand sales manager to keep marks away from the Taurus) to make Lincoln viable, but demanding it without even hinting at future product is to ask Lincoln dealers to make an incredible leap of faith.

Posted in Branding, Dealer News, Luxury, New Cars, News Blog
Tagged as Branding, Dealer News, Luxury, New Cars

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Road Test Review: 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 5.0-liter V-8

Info@DigitalCarGuy.com (DigitalCarGuy.com) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:14:36 GMT

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 8:41 PM

Subject: Road Test Review: 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 5.0-liter V-8

By Mike Levine and Mark Williams

Last year, the Ford F-150 offered most buyers a choice of legacy two-valve and three-valve 4.6-liter V-8 engines or a three-valve 5.4-liter V-8. While those engines got the job done, they werenâ€™t known for power or performance.

This year, Ford has totally revamped the F-150â€™s powertrain lineup with three all-new advanced engines, plus wider availability of the 6.2-liter V-8 that was previously limited to the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor.

Weâ€™ve extensively tested the 6.2 in the Raptor and the new entry-level 3.7-liter V-6 during our six-cylinder Work Truck Shootout. Weâ€™ve also spent several hours towing and piloting the novel twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, the F-150â€™s top-of-the-line towing engine. But our time with the fresh 5.0-liter V-8 was limited to a brief drive and drag race in Texas last year. Thatâ€™s no longer the case.

A 2011 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 5.0 4x4 showed up in our driveway last Tuesday, and we wasted no time putting it through its paces. In less than a week, we drove it 800 miles â€" 622 miles of which it towed a 9,000-pound conventional tandem axle horse trailer.

Snap judgment? This could be the best all-around engine ever offered in the F-150 â€" at least until EcoBoostâ€™s early adopters can confirm that millâ€™s reliability and efficiency in real-world use.

The 5.0 is positioned as the midrange engine choice for the F-150 â€" below the EcoBoost six-cylinder and 6.2 V-8 and above the 3.7. Itâ€™s rated at 360 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 380 pounds-feet of torque (at 4,250 rpm). Thatâ€™s more power than the old 5.4-liter V-8, but it doesnâ€™t carry as high a tow rating. In the regular cab, it can pull up to 10,000 pounds instead of a maximum 11,300 pounds..

Like its engine, our test SuperCrew four-door was a middle-of-the-road model with a relatively steep MSRP of $39,445, after a $1,500 discount for the optional chrome, convenience and tow packages that runs through the end of the model year.

The metallic red F-150 came equipped with cloth captainâ€™s chairs, AM/FM/CD stereo and Fordâ€™s Sync hands-free multimedia system and Bluetooth connectivity. It lacked navigation, a rear backup camera and reverse sensors, making tail-first maneuvers a challenge in tight spots, and we couldnâ€™t back up to the trailer without the help of a spotter. The optional chrome package added brightwork that included side steps and wheel covers. If it were our choice, weâ€™d skip the package and invest in a nice set of aluminum wheels.

Despite a lack of luxury items, the XLT F-150 was more than comfortable inside. We turned our phone into a substitute for satellite radio by using Sync and Pandora to stream tunes wirelessly over Bluetooth, though we had to pair the phone and truck twice after the F-150 stopped playing music this way.

Ford has updated the F-150â€™s instrument cluster with nice gauges and an optional 4.2-inch trip computer that Ford calls a â€œproductivity screenâ€ that weâ€™ve liked since it debuted in the F-Series Super Duty. It includes apps that provide fine-grained details about towing, off-roading, fuel economy and more. Controls on the steering wheel make short work of finding the information you want quickly and with minimal distraction.

The truckâ€™s second-row seats and flat load floor made it easy for us to stow our gear for our tow test or accommodate two kids in booster seats running errands around Los Angeles.

Our four-wheel-drive 5.0 was rated 14/19 mpg city/highway. These days, weâ€™d expect fuel economy to be higher, especially in a small-displacement eight-cylinder. It should have at least tied the 15/21 mpg rating of the 5.3-liter V-8 in the Chevy Silverado 1500. But making up for the so-so mileage was an optional 36-gallon fuel tank that gave us peace of mind and extra range pulling the heavy trailer. For comparison, the premium EcoBoost V-6 F-150 is only available with a 26-gallon reservoir.

Unloaded, the F-150â€™s trip computer calculated a bladder-busting driving range of 521 miles, though we wouldnâ€™t come close to that with the trailer behind us. In our first stretch of towing â€" 226 miles from Norco to Needles, Calif., which included the challenging Cajon Pass on Interstate 15 â€" we averaged 9.42 mpg, burning 24.03 gallons of fuel (versus an optimistic trip computer estimate of 9.8 mpg and 22.9 gallons of fuel). Those are respectable numbers for a rig that weighed 14,780 pounds on a CAT scale -- just 320 pounds less than the truckâ€™s gross combined weight rating.

On that same stretch, we also started to realize the vast potential thatâ€™s locked inside the 5.0. As we left the L.A. basin and started climbing Cajon Pass, the truck shrugged off the weight behind it. Visibly, we could see the rear squatting lower, and we could feel the truck hunker down from inside, but power wasnâ€™t an issue. It was available on demand.

On the steepest parts of Cajon, we had no problem keeping up with traffic at around 65 mph with the modest 3.73-to-1 rear axle. When the engine needed more power, its six-speed transmission smoothly downshifted to 3rd gear, and the mill found its sweet spot at around 4,000 rpm. The truck never lost momentum. In fact, it gained speed to the point where we had to ease back on the accelerator. After cresting the top of the grade, the truck quickly upshifted into 6th at 1,600 rpm and 65 mph.

We noticed some interesting transmission behavior as the terrain flattened out. We kept the truck in tow/haul mode the entire time it was hooked up to the trailer. Tow/haul mode does two things: The transmission holds gears longer when the truck is working hard to keep power up, and it downshifts automatically to slow the truck with a tap of the brake pedal on descents. Every cog swap was carlike, but several times after upshifting into 6th, we felt the torque converter lock up about 20 seconds after the gear change. Weâ€™re sure that helped with shift feel, but we wonder if we werenâ€™t sacrificing a bit of fuel economy with the torque converter seeming to stay loose for such a long period. If we could squeeze out extra mileage with a faster-locking torque converter, weâ€™d take that option over smoother shifts.

Another trait we noticed as we requested more power from the engine on climbs and to pass traffic was its split personality â€" similar to that of the 3.7-liter V-6. Loping along, the V-8 was subdued and quiet. But when we needed more power, the exhaust note snarled like a sports car â€" not surprising, since the engine is also shared with the Ford Mustang. We loved the deep notes it made. They were perfectly tuned to match the engineâ€™s effort and sounded much better than the flat exhaust note of the EcoBoost V-6 when that engine is under load. Thereâ€™s nothing like the tenor of a hard-working V-8 in a half-ton pickup.

The 2011 F-150 also features standard 12-volt electric power-assisted steering for every engine except the 6.2 V-8 â€" the first half-ton pickup to do so. (The limited-volume Chevy Silverado Hybrid uses a 42-volt system.) The steering feels light when the truck is stopped and during low-speed maneuvers. It dynamically adjusts steering effort to match the speed and loads the truck is under. On the highway, the steering was precise and provided excellent driver feedback. There was none of the numbness generally associated with electric steeringâ€™s early days in small cars. It seemed to vary boost levels as we entered turns, smoothly assisting the trailer around bends in contrast to the on/off boost that can occur with conventional hydraulic steering pumps.

As we drove across the desert, we encountered strong winds that had knocked several semis off the highway the day before. While we could feel the gusts buffeting the truck and trailer, we never felt control was an issue. At least once, immediately passing an 18-wheeler, we were hit by a strong gale that seemed to trigger the F-150â€™s trailer-sway control system.

Trailer-sway control senses difference in yaw between truck and trailer and uses the wheel brakes in both vehicles to counteract any sway before it becomes dangerous enough to throw the rig off the road.

If you order a 2011 F-150, we highly recommend you option it with the integrated trailer brake controller, which extends sway control to the trailer (in addition to controlling the trailerâ€™s brakes via ABS). Even though our truck was optioned with the F-150â€™s trailer towing package, it didnâ€™t include the brake controller, which costs an extra $230 from the factory. A local dealer had to add the controller after it arrived for our test.

Our turnaround point for our road test was near Laughlin, Nev. Cajon Pass was a warm-up for testing the 5.0 F-150 on the 12-mile, 5 percent grade Davis Dam hill climb on Arizona Highway 68, just east of Laughlin. Davis Dam has become the default location for measuring performance against the industryâ€™s new trailer towing standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Itâ€™s also where Ford recently tested the EcoBoost six-cylinder against competitorsâ€™ eight-cylinder engines. On Highway 68, the 5.0 was incredibly strong â€" so strong that we could accelerate at any point along the route and still gain speed to where we had to slow down to safely control the truck and trailer around turns.

We also staked out a 7,500-foot stretch of the grade where we could safely climb the hill from a full stop and measure its performance using our VBOX kit. Zero to 60 mph up the steady 5 percent grade took 30.29 seconds, and the truck finished the quarter-mile in a respectable 25.06 seconds at 55.5 mph.

Those numbers, plus seat-of-the-pants feel, make us wonder how much Ford might be sandbagging the 5..0-liter V-8â€™s power figures, something we suspected during our first drive in Texas.

We also ran the same performance tests on level ground. The zero-to-60 mph time with the trailer was cut almost in half, to just 16.85 seconds. Unloaded, the 5.0 yielded a zero-to-60 time of just 7.18 seconds â€" almost as quick as the large displacement 6.2-liter V-8 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab 4x4 that was the fastest truck in our 2008 Light-Duty Shootout.

Our final confirmation of the tremendous towing performance and potential of the 5.0 came on the Dynojet Research chassis dyno at our friends at K&N Engineering in Riverside. At the rear wheels, we measured a very healthy 311 hp and 325 pounds-feet of torque. While the torque curve isnâ€™t as flat as the EcoBoost V-6â€™s curve, it is broad, and power steadily climbs over most of the rev range instead of being peaky near 4,000 rpm.

Overall, weâ€™re very impressed with how comfortable the F-150 5.0 was during our long-haul towing legs. We towed just under the truckâ€™s max GCWR and towing capacity, yet the truck felt like other half-tons towing much less. A truck that drives this smoothly and comfortably, with very little driver fatigue, at max capacities is something quite special â€" even unusual in any truck segment.

The truck was also comfortable and relatively easy to manage in unloaded driving around Los Angeles. It was also fun to show off some of the 5.0â€™s power at one or two green lights. We averaged between 13 mpg and 17 mpg depending on traffic conditions, surface streets and highway driving. Nothing to brag about for fuel economy, but superior to what weâ€™ve observed driving a 6.2-liter V-8 in LA.

Which engine should F-150 buyers choose? If youâ€™re going to tow and haul more than 10,000 pounds frequently but want something smaller than a heavy-duty pickup, opt for the 6.2.. If youâ€™re going to tow more than 10,000 pounds occasionally and need a truck for light-duty hauling activities the rest of the time, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would probably be a good fit. But if youâ€™re going to tow 5,000 to 10,000 pounds regularly and arenâ€™t quite ready to trust a twin-turbo six-cylinder to move your rig, the 5.0 is for you. If we were going to buy an F-150 today, the 5.0 is the box weâ€™d likely check on the order form.

Special thanks to K&N Engineering and American Horse Trailer Rentals

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