Three Surprising Facts About Henry Ford

Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry. His accomplishments often outweigh who he was as a person outside of the corporate realm. Although his success as a leader and innovator are well documented, he was also a man that wore many hats. Here’s a look at three fun facts about the industrial pioneer.

1. He Did Not Invent the Modern Car

Despite popular belief, Henry Ford didn’t invent cars with his famous Model T; he just made them affordable and could keep up with the demand thanks to mass production. That is still a significant part of the Ford identity, and many dealerships offer financing options to continue to make cars accessible.

2. ‘Fordlandia’ Was an Actual Thing

Soon after he found success with the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford purchased land in the middle of the Amazon. The purpose was to build a city called ‘Fordlandia’ that would be known for providing manufacturers with rubber. However, Fordlandia never became a reality and the land remains vacant.

3. He Wanted World Peace

Most people want world peace, but Henry Ford went after it. In 1915 he began a journey to Europe by sea on a peace mission. The media did not support the idea and called it the “Ship of Fools.”

The Triumph of Henry Ford

As the "father of mass production," Henry Ford may always be known for creating the first affordable automobile. Thanks to his creative ideas, today his company is an innovative powerhouse of the automotive industry—one that continues to push boundaries and re-invent the wheel.

The Incredible Driving Range of Ford C-Max Energi

The Ford C-Max Energi is almost like two cars in one. For short rides around town, it operates as an all-electric plug-in vehicle, perfect for running errands without using any fuel. For longer trips, the hybrid engine offers excellent fuel economy and a range perfect for those great American road trips.

Electric Range

Fully charged, the Ford C-Max Energi has a driving range of 19 miles. The car's 7.6 kilowatt-hours battery is smaller than some of its competitors, which means it can be filled up easier and faster. With the car's onboard charger plugged into a standard 240-volt outlet (the kind that services a dryer or water heater), the electric battery will fully recharge in under three hours.

Fuel Range

With a charged battery on the highway, the car uses a combination of gas and electricity with a mileage rating of 88 mpg. Once the battery is completely drained, the Energi operates like a traditional hybrid with a fuel economy of 40 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. With a full tank and a full charge the Ford C-Max Energi has a range of 550 miles; that's Nashville to New Orleans on a single tank!

2017 Ford Fusion Updates and Upgrades

Ford engineers have been busy incorporating a number of new features into the 2017 Fusion. Several appealing updates in both design and technology make this vehicle a great choice.

Headlights

Engineers have provided a slight modification along the lower edge of front headlamps. The Sport, Titanium, and Platinum models also have new LED features, including low, high, and fog beams.

Front Grille

Modifications to the front grille have resulted in a longer, flush grill that blends with the surrounding body. Some models have a black finish while others have a chrome finish.

Shift Lever

This model eliminates the standard vertical shift lever, instead integrating a rotary dial that lets drivers move between park, reverse, neutral, and drive. This design clears the center console for other tech gadgets such as the USB charging port.

Luxury Features

Upgraded trim packages have made their way to the 2017 Fusion. Continuously controlled dampers enhance handling and ride quality.

With these updates to the 2017 Ford Fusion, consumers may find renewed excitement about this vehicle.

Ford Adds 20 New Vehicles to Autonomous Fleet

One of the first companies to test autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles is continuing its work. Ford has recently announced it is tripling its vehicle development. With 20 new vehicles bringing the fleet to 30, this company now has the largest fully autonomous fleet in the nation.

Autonomous Fleet Uses Updated Software

The new lineup includes updated sensors and software to make their automated fleet even safer. With the Solid-State Hybrid Ultra PUCK, the auto sensor has a range of 200 meters. With the new Hybrid Ultra PUCK sensors in place, the LiDAR sensors, currently used on automated vehicles, can be reduced by half.

Ford’s Ultra PUCK technology has a lightweight design, making it optimal for putting on even sensitive areas such as side view mirrors. These new auto sensors are bringing fully autonomous vehicles closer to fruition.

A History of Firsts

Ford was one of the first to use the LiDAR sensor, which autonomous vehicles use to emit short pulses of laser light. This light scans the surrounding environment millions of times to determine surrounding objects and their distance. Now they are the first to have around 30 cars in their fleet and are due to hit the California streets for testing in the next few months.