Ford uses this years Goodwood to debut the new Fiesta to the UK as well as racing cars GT and Mustang.

• Ford GT road car to make its Hillclimb debut in the hands of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Ford Mustang GT4 race car will be piloted by Ford Chip Ganassi Racing driver Billy Johnson; Vaughn Gittin Jr returns with Mustang RTR to compete in a new drift category
• All-new Ford Fiesta makes UK debut at Goodwood alongside sporty new Ford S-MAX ST‑Line model shown for the first time

The road-going version of the Ford GT will make its first dynamic appearance in the UK later this month, in the hands of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell, at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

Priaulx and Tincknell will be joined on the Hill by their team mate, Billy Johnson, swapping his usual seat in the Ford GT race car for the fearsome Ford Mustang GT4, a track-ready race car unveiled at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, to tackle the challenging 1.16-mile Hillclimb course. 

Drift star Vaughn Gittin Jr also returns to Goodwood this year in his Mustang RTR to compete in the Festival’s first-ever Hillclimb Drift Championship. 

In addition to the track action, visitors to the Ford stand at Goodwood will discover models including the all-new Ford Fiesta making its UK debut. Also on show will be the Ford ST-Line range of Ford Performance-inspired models, including the Fiesta ST-Line.

Activities at Goodwood House, West Sussex, begin on Thursday, June 29 with the Moving Motor Show, followed by the Festival of Speed from Friday, June 30, to Sunday, July 2.

Ford's Bridgend Engine plant has produced the 20 Millionth engine, & continues to produce some of best engines in the world.

Ford’s Bridgend Engine Plant (BEP) in Wales has built its 20-millionth engine, 37 years after the first engine was built in September 1979.

Linda Cash, vice president of Manufacturing, Ford of Europe joined Bridgend Engine Plant manager, Ian Pearson, in marking the achievement saying: “Bridgend has a proud record of high-quality engine production and I’m delighted to celebrate this significant milestone with the team that builds them.

“Today the plant builds a range of high-tech EcoBoost products, and we continue to invest in Bridgend, with the plant confirmed to build the next generation of fuel-efficient petrol engines.”

Ford Bridgend currently supplies petrol engines, including EcoBoost products which provide ultra-low emissions, excellent fuel economy, refinement and performance, for a range of Ford vehicles. The 1.5-litre EcoBoost is available in the Ford Focus, Ford Kuga, Ford Mondeo, and Ford S-MAX models. The multi-award winning Ford Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, also built in Bridgend. The plant also supplies six and eight-cylinder engines for premium customers.

An all-new family of technologically-advanced, fuel-efficient petrol engines has been confirmed to be built in Bridgend. With an initial investment of £100 million, production is planned to start in late 2018.

• The Bridgend Engine Plant has benefitted from more than £1.8 billion of investment since it opened in 1980.  It builds six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines for customers and, together with Ford four-cylinder engines, total production is currently 3,400 engines a day, or one every 24 seconds off the busiest line.
• The first engine produced in Bridgend was a CVH petrol engine for the third generation Ford Escort.
• Bridgend’s success has been encouraged through a partnership with the Welsh Government who have committed to maximising the potential of Ford’s own investment.  The Welsh Government supports the plant with an annual grant for training of £50,000.
• Ford Bridgend total production now exceeds 20 million engines and its products power the Ford Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX, Kuga and Mondeo models. 

Plant Officially    Opened	May 1980
Number of Employees	1,850
2014 production	701,392 total
Plant size	141,702 sq m on 60 acres
Plant manager	Ian Pearson

New Ford video shows some of the world’s best drone pilots tackling a unique and challenging course involving a Focus RS, a Mustang & a robot.

• New Ford video shows some of the world’s best drone pilots tackling a unique and challenging course involving a drifting Focus RS, a smoking Ford Mustang – and a robot
• Drone racing stars Luke Bannister and Brett Collis also pilot their drones under a Ranger pickup and through a B-MAX car, navigating remotely with the help of special goggles
• “Dronekhana” was filmed at Ford’s European HQ in Cologne, Germany, the city that this week hosts Gamescom – Europe’s biggest interactive games trade fair. Ford, also this week, will target gaming GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title with the Ford GT supercar

Ford has brought together one of the world’s most exciting new sports and some of its finest fast cars to create a new video called “Dronekhana”.

Two of the planet’s best drone pilots tackle a unique obstacle course that includes a drifting Focus RS, a smoking Ford Mustang, and a robot. 

Pilots Luke Bannister and Brett Collis navigate their drones remotely with the help of special goggles, which provide a first-person view as they fly under the Ford Ranger pickup and through the Ford B-MAX’s pillarless doors. 

A rig of 36 GoPro cameras captured the drones mid-action in a style made famous by the 1999 film The Matrix.

“It’s basically like stepping into the cockpit. It was a tough course and we had some mishaps – but at least the Mustang’s all right, that’s all that matters,” said 16-year-old World Drone Prix champion Luke Bannister who took on the course with Tornado XBlades team mate and fellow Brit, Brett Collis, 22.

Named in tribute to the YouTube phenomenon Gymkhana, starring Focus RS consultant Ken Block, “Dronekhana” was filmed at Ford’s European headquarters in Cologne, Germany, the city which this week hosts Gamescom Europe’s biggest interactive games trade fair. 

It follows previous “Snowkhana” videos that have become a festive Ford tradition.

Ford has also invited five gamers from across Europe to Cologne to try to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the “Longest video marathon on a racing game”, in Forza Motorsport 6. 

They face a two day stint behind the wheel of a virtual Ford GT race car to take on the simulated Le Sarthe circuit used for the Le Mans 24 Hours – where the real-life Ford GT race car won earlier this year. To set a new record, the gamers will need to race for more than 48 hours 1 minute – starting at 14:00 C.E.T on Tuesday Aug. 16. 

If successful, a presentation will be made to the record-breaking gamer on the Microsoft stand, at Gamescom, on Thursday.

HONEST JOHN AWARDS - Ford takes a triple win at the ceremony held in London this year.

Ford claimed three accolades at the 2016 HonestJohn.co.ukreader awards. The UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, won Most Popular Small Hatchback; the dynamic Ford S-MAX collected Most Popular MPV and the iconic Ford Mustang declared the Most Popular Convertible.

Most Popular Small Hatchback

Ford sells a new Fiesta in the UK every 60 seconds* and at the end of April 2016, it had topped the UK car sales leader board for 90 consecutive months. Fiesta is available from £10,345 and offers customers a stylish, practical, well-equipped and fun-to-drive supermini.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, said: “As an all-rounder the Ford Fiesta is a hard one to beat, proving equally at home on the motorway as it is around town. Our users also tell us they're impressed by the Fiesta's turbocharged EcoBoost engines, which deliver eager performance.”

Most Popular MPV

The stylish and sporty Ford S-MAX has enjoyed a remarkable run of sales success in Britain, with over 87,000 UK registrations since its 2006 debut. Ford’s latest version of this trend-setting, seven-seat, sports activity vehicle offers a range of more than 20 new technologies, including global debuts for Glare-Free Highbeam,Intelligent Speed Limiter and Ford Adaptive Steering. For the first time, the new S-MAX is also available with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (iAWD) system.

Most Popular Convertible

The Ford Mustang – introduced in the U.S. more than 50 years ago – has excited fans across the globe, but has never been available to order with right-hand drive, until now. Almost 4,000 customers have placed and order for a RHD Mustang in just 10 months.

Latest updates to Mustang include the addition of SYNC 3 with 8in colour touchscreen and a new array of colours including White Platinum, Grabber Blue and Lightning Blue.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, said: “The Ford Mustang may be a truly iconic model, yet it has remained elusive for British drivers. So Ford's decision to finally officially sell it here was met with huge interest and enthusiasm. It came as no surprise to us that our audience were keen to read about the new Mustang. Given its affordable price tag, it represents a lot of car for the money, yet is always guaranteed to get attention.”

The honestjohn.co.uk awards are uniquely judged by their website users. The main awards recognise and reward the cars and vans that HonestJohn users search for most on the site. This data comes from the number of page views each review has had over the previous 12 months from April 2015 to April 2016. The site gets around 3 million visits every month with the majority of these users viewing car reviews.

You have heard of "Horse Whisper's" well, Ford has "Engine Listeners" to listen for faults on various models.

• Ford “engine listeners” perform special checks in sound-proofed cells to identify the tiniest engine issues as part of rigorous quality tests for the Ford Focus RS performance car
• Months of training ensures employees can – in less than a minute – pick up any imperfections that are then addressed before engines are fitted to the hot hatches
• Ford also uses the same test for further fuel-efficient and powerful EcoBoost engines that are used in models including Ford Focus ST, S-MAX, and Mondeo

From wine tasting to tuning concert pianos, sometimes there is no substitute for the human senses when it comes to ensuring products meet the most stringent quality tests. Now you can add engine production to that list.

In a world where product testing is increasingly carried out using high-tech devices, Ford has found that for certain tests, nothing beats a good set of ears to help ensure the all-new Focus RS hot hatch achieves optimum performance.

Highly trained production workers conduct an auditory test that confirms the perfect running of the 350PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, in advance of it being fitted to the completed Ford Focus RS cars.

“This team knows what a perfectly calibrated engine sounds like and they know the tiny sounds to listen for in case there is a problem,” said Gunnar Herrmann, vice president, Quality, Ford of Europe. “Think of it like a doctor who has the most advanced diagnostic technology but still uses a stethoscope to gather vital clues to a patient’s health.” 

Employees at Ford’s manufacturing facility in Valencia, Spain, are taught to identify defects using specially prepared “faulty” engines that highlight the sound that they need to listen for. After several months of training and coaching, team members are qualified to conduct the intensive one‑minute tests in one of 18 sound-proofed cells at the end of the production line.

Should the engineers hear any rattling or whistling sounds typically associated with issues, such as a blocked lubrication passage or a damaged gear tooth, the engine is removed so that further checks can be carried out, and the problem addressed. In this way the quality of the manufacturing process also can be continuously improved.

The 350PS version of Ford’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine fitted to the all-new Focus RS has been specially engineered to ensure Ford’s ultimate hot hatch can cover 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 165mph.

Further vehicles that benefit from the scrutiny of the engine listeners in Valencia include the Ford Focus ST, S-MAX and Mondeo.

“The experience of hearing thousands of engines allows us to sense straight away when something is not working perfectly,” said Juan Carlos Rosmari, quality technician, Valencia Engine Plant. “Each different engine type has its own unique sound, and from listening to them in the test cells we get to know their individual characters – and the tell-tale signs which indicate a problem.”

Between them, Ford’s team of engine listeners carries out the test on 2,000 engines per day at the Valencia plant. Preparing engines for testing provides a natural break between the listening sessions, so that the employees can maintain full concentration on the tests over a working day.

The personal touch also can be found in other Ford quality processes such as the master crafts people who scrutinise the fine detailing and stitching of the leather trim fitted to a Ford Vignale model, or the highly skilled artisans who sculpt by hand the complex 3D shapes of new vehicles in Ford’s clay modelling studios.

“The skills of Ford employees, supported by the latest technology, help us deliver high-quality vehicles which perform better, look better, and provide outstanding durability throughout their life,” Herrmann added.

Ford introduces new lighting technology that removes the guilt of accidentally dazzling other drivers.

• Ford introduces new lighting technology that removes the guilt of accidentally dazzling other drivers – and that helps you to see more of the road ahead
• New Glare-Free Highbeam avoids drivers having to dip their headlights by simply blocking those rays that would otherwise shine in the eyes of other road-users
• Available for all-new S-MAX, Galaxy and Edge, Glare-Free Highbeam works alongside Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System, which can adjust the headlight beam angle and intensity according to factors including speed, light and steering angle

Have you ever driven on dipped headlights rather than run the risk angering other drivers by forgetting you are using high-beam headlights? Ford has now developed a technology that enables drivers to take full advantage of their headlights’ capability, without dazzling other drivers.

Glare-Free Highbeam uses a windshield-mounted camera to detect the headlights or taillights of vehicles and bicycles up to 800m away at night, and uses specially developed headlights to block light that could otherwise temporarily blind other drivers and cyclists.

Driving with high-beam headlights enables drivers to see hazards in the road much earlier. And studies have shown that automated high-beam headlights are activated up to 10 times more than when drivers have to switch to high-beam themselves.

Edmund King OBE, AA President, said: “Road-users being dazzled by the use of vehicle full-beam is an increasing problem in the UK, and is said to be the cause of hundreds of road accidents and around 10 fatalities each year. 

Headlight technology is advancing rapidly, providing drivers with a greater field of vision and illumination on the road, but can cause an equal number of problems for other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It is testament to Ford for offering this advanced feature to their customers to help tackle the issue.”

According to the UK Highway Code:

1.Rule 114: “You must not use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.”

2.Rule 115: “You must keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users.”

3.Rule 115: “You must slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights.”

“Ask any driver what the most annoying habits of other drivers are and sooner or later the subject of people who don’t dip their headlights will come up,” said Michael Koherr, research engineer, Lighting Systems, Ford of Europe. “Ford’s new Glare-Free Highbeam helps maximise the use of high beam and means drivers can see significantly more of the road ahead – without causing any distraction to other road users.”

The technology was developed by a global team of Ford engineers and supplier partners. Testing included a purpose-built light simulation area and test drives in night-time conditions around the globe.

Glare-Free Highbeam works together with Ford’s Auto High Beam system, and Ford Dynamic LED headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System, which can adjust the headlight beam angle and intensity to one of seven settings according to speed, ambient light, steering angle, distance to the vehicle in front and windscreen wiper activation. Ford’s automated lighting technologies are automatically activated when low ambient light conditions are detected.

“We found that some drivers are so concerned about dazzling other road users that they don’t use high beam at all,” Koherr said. “Ford’s Glare-Free Highbeam technology can remove that stress for drivers, and softly transitioning between settings also helps the driver’s eyes adjust faster to changing quantities of light.”

Further semi-autonomous technologies offered by Ford can scan traffic signs and adjust the throttle to help drivers stay within legal speed limits, and can detect people in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle’s path, and automatically apply the brakes if a potential collision is detected. Ford also is developing future advanced lighting technology that improves visibility at roundabouts, stop, and give way or yield signs, and draws the driver’s attention to pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals in the vehicle’s path or even just off the road.

Glare-Free Highbeam is available now for the all new Ford S-MAX, Galaxy and also will be offered for the forthcoming Ford Edge SUV.

Drivers will simply push a button and speak to find nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks using new SYNC 3

• Drivers will simply push a button and speak to find nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks by saying “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol,” and “I need to park,” using new SYNC 3
• Ford’s voice-activated communications and entertainment system also enables drivers to operate new apps and earn money delivering packages, share audio clips, check weather
• Launching at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, SYNC 3 will be rolled out in Europe to be available first on Mondeo, S‑MAX and Galaxy; and later Kuga

Ford Motor Company is launching its new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system in Europe, allowing drivers to control their connected smartphones, audio, navigation, and climate functions with more conversational voice commands.

SYNC 3 features a redesigned 8‑inch touch screen and faster performance. Simply by pushing a button and saying “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol,” and “I need to park,” drivers can find nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks, as well as locate train stations, airports, and hotels. The system then guides the driver to the selected destination via the navigation.

The system will be demonstrated for the first time at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on the new Kuga, which Ford also is revealing at the event. The company announced new apps for the system that can be voice-activated using SYNC AppLink, enabling drivers to earn money by transporting packages, to record and share audio clips, and to check the weather. SYNC 3 launches in Europe in the summer, starting with Mondeo, S-MAX, and Galaxy.

“Whether you are craving your morning cappuccino on your daily commute or covering the cost of a journey by transporting a package, SYNC 3 brings to life innovative new ways of staying connected on the move,” said Christof Kellerwessel, chief engineer, Electronic and Electrical Systems Engineering, Ford of Europe. “Designed to complement modern smartphones, with an intuitive touch screen, SYNC 3 understands more conversational speech, is faster, and offers an easier-to-read graphical interface.”  

Connectivity redefined

Ford SYNC already enables drivers of 15 million vehicles worldwide to voice-activate essential in‑car features. Now for SYNC 3, Ford has drawn on more than 22,000 comments, and insights gained from research clinics and surveys to ensure the new version is the most customer‑centric designed system to date.

Simplifying the user experience by putting the options customers use most at their fingertips – navigation, audio and phone – the system has been further improved through increased processing power and a reduction in the number of steps required for a command.

Ford has added compatibility with five additional languages* and more localised versions of the subscription-free Emergency Assistance. In the event of an accident where the airbag has deployed or fuel shut off has occurred, Emergency Assistance utilises a Bluetooth paired and connected mobile phone to help vehicle occupants initiate a direct call to Emergency Services in the correct language for the region. Emergency Assistance alerts first responders with the vehicle location to help emergency call-takers send appropriate resources to the scene.

Starting this year, owners of SYNC 3-equipped vehicles will have more choice in how they access their smartphones in the car:

• iPhone users can activate Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car allowing drivers to make phone calls, access music, send and receive messages, get directions optimised for traffic conditions, and more while they stay focused on the road. The system is also compatible with Siri Eyes Free which allows for easy access to Siri with iPhones connected over Bluetooth
• Android™ users can activate Android Auto™. Android Auto makes apps and services that drivers already know and love, accessible in safer and seamless ways including Google Search, Google Maps and Google Play

Over-the-air software updates are automatically available via Wi-Fi, once a vehicle is set up with credentials for a home Wi-Fi network accessible in a customer’s driveway or garage.

SYNC 3 also enhances the driver’s experience using the Ford Service App by providing Online Traffic Information on the navigation map for better journey planning, adapting to changing traffic situations.

“With pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures, plus the familiar one-box-search we know from internet search engines, SYNC 3 provides customers with an experience on the vehicle screen very similar to smartphone screens, and is easier and more intuitive,” Kellerwessel said.

Pioneering new apps

First introduced in Europe in 2013, Ford’s SYNC AppLink technology already enables drivers to voice-activate a wide range of smartphone apps, including ADAC, Audioteka, AUPEO!, Cityseeker by Wcities, Cyclops, DetektorFM, DIE WELT, Eventseeker by Wcities, Glympse, Goal Live Scores, Meople, n-tv, Radioplayer, Roald Dahl Audiobooks, Spotify and Wetter.de.

Now Ford is making five new apps available to drivers with the launch of SYNC 3, including the first in-car apps of their kind, MyBoxMan and HearMeOut.

Designed by FretBay, and catching the eye of Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford at the SYNC AppLink Developer Challenge Dublin, MyBoxMan enables drivers delivering a package for others to earn around €5-8 for a typical five kilometre journey.** HearMeOut, the world’s first hands-free voice-based social networking app, enables drivers to record 42‑second audio posts, share them on Facebook and Twitter, and listen to and like audio posts from people they follow.***

“Drivers have never had access to apps like this behind the wheel. MyBoxMan and HearMeOut open up entirely new ways for drivers to stay connected and even earn money,” said Scott Lyons, business and partner development, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford of Europe. “Like a ride request service for deliveries, MyBoxMan is breaking new ground in social shipping, making intelligent and efficient use of car and van capacity on trips that are happening anyway.”

Further new apps available for SYNC 3 include:

• AccuWeather, the, the global leader in digital weather information, helps drivers to plan and time their trips around weather conditions, and giving advance warning of inclement weather with Superior Accuracy™. The patented AccuWeather MinuteCast^® function uses an exact street address or GPS location to provide minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts, including information about precipitation type, intensity and duration
• Cadena Ser enables drivers in Spain to listen to the country’s most popular national radio station. The app provides voice control to access podcasts, shows, local stations, news and event listings on demand. Available in Spanish for iOS and Android
• Los 40 Principales is the most popular music radio station in Spain, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic. It plays top 40 contemporary hit music, including pop, rock and house. Drivers in Spain can use voice control to access podcasts and shows on demand. Available in Spanish for iOS and Android