Mulally delivers Millionth Sync equipped unit to Steve Balmer, from one CEO to another, but how cool would it have been if.....

So, FoMoCo's CEO Alan Mulally presented the millionth SYNC equipped Ford to Microsoft's CEO Steve Balmer today. In what's purely a cross promotional move I'm sure. But that got me thinking, would a CEO drive a Fusion Hybrid? Maybe, probably to get the Eco Cred, but if I was CEO of Microsoft, or any other company I'd want something a little more special...

And that got me thinking, can we expect to see an MKZ Hybrid? I mean why not, Lexus has Hybrids, including their new unit which is a tarted up Prius. But I'd want an MKZ or even an MKS. Well, maybe I'd want a Hybrid MKZ and EcoBoost MKS!

TheCarConnection's review of the 2008 Ranger, with permission

Readers will know of my love for the Ford Ranger and my hopes that a new Ranger will come in the next few years. But with permission of TheCarConnection I'm linking to and reposting a detailed review they did of the 08 Ranger.

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UPDATE, edited to comply with Fair use, see the review at link in title

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Reason Why:
The most direct competitors for the Ranger are the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado compact trucks. The Ranger has a smoother V-6 engine, but the GM twins have an optional five-cylinder engine with more power. The Canyon and Colorado also offer a true four-door model with a back bench seat, though it's uncomfortable for long trips. The Mazda B-Series is a version of the Ranger that Ford supplies to its Japanese partner; you may prefer the B-Series' styling.
The Bottom Line:
The 2008 Ford Ranger’s best, highest use is as an inexpensive work truck or off-road play toy. Anything else exposes the flaws in its seating, its fuel economy, its available features and in its performance.

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Marty Padget, the Executive Editor wrote the above. And there are even more detailed information available on their sidebar. I'm trying something new here. Since I don't have access to new vehicles to review them, I spoke to TheCarConnection and I'm trying this out.

There could be more coming as we develop a relationship over the coming weeks, I'll keep you updated if this works out.

Update on Fiesta Fool, not stolen, just towed!

So, it wasn't stolen, just towed to the NYC impound lot! Figures, bonehead parks it on the street with a note saying "Climb on and take a pic!" and probably neighbors complained or the guy didn't altenate side park. Either way, the idiot's car wasn't stolen.

But you gotta wonder why Scott Monty from Ford's PR department, who's Tweeting about these things, couldn't get the facts straight? There was a Fiesta stolen, in DC, but there were updates saying the stolen vehicle was spotted on I-95 near Port Chester NY.

And what about the GPS? Considering the car has been sitting in the impound lot for 10 days, FoMoCo couldn't track it via GPS? It would be one thing if the car was in a shipping container ala Gone In 60 Seconds, but just sitting on the impound lot?

Read the AutoBlog update linked in title and ask yourself why did this get all the buzz?
I realize Twitter Updates aren't the AP, but couldn't someone from FoMoCo have gotten updated information to the various blogs following this? AutoBlog, Jalopnik, some mean guy over at MyFordDreams? Ok, I can understand not telling the last guy. Even though he does follow on Twitter and did ask for information a week ago.

Update: Scott Monty of FoMoCo left a comment; Ford didn't have all the facts and in all fairness Twitter is not a Press Release.

I was mentioned in a book?

Strategies and Tools for Corporate Blogging By John Cass (Amazon link in title) mentions me and my blogs? I'm actually surprised. I remember several years ago helping a grad student who was doing a research paper on blogging, maybe it's the same guy? I read a Google Books preview and learned some things that I hadn't known. MyFordDreams predates TheCarConnection, LeftLaneNews and several other more famous blogs.

The Auto Prophet and Brian from RaceDriven.com are mentioned as well. And here we are all still plugging away. So while AutoBlog and Jalopnik are the heavyweights, it's still nice to know I've gotten noticed over the years.

TTAC is digging FoMoCo's grave prematurely in my opinion

Over at The Truth About Cars, they're taking up shovels and getting ready to put FoMoCo in the grave and I think the constant "Death Watch" series they've been doing these last few years have gone to their heads. Some of the reasons Edward Niedermeyer says Ford will fail are their not being on the Uncle Sam payroll will be a disadvantage when competing with GM and Chrysler in the future. Also the fact that the upcoming Focus EV will based on technology developed by OEM Supplier Magna, that will not be exclusive. Read the article linked in the title for yourself, but again I think the guys over at TTAC have just become reliant on their hopes that the big 3 will die. I'm not a journalist like them, but I dn't see a true reliance on Electric Cars as they do. Sure, all the manufacturers will have to make them to qualify for credits toward their CAFE, but if history has tought us anything, it's that the Internal Combustion Engine and it's ability to refuel on long trips will always be superior to pure Electric Vehicles.

Hybrids will be a better compromise and Ford is positioned better than GM or Chrysler in this segment. And let's not forget the EcoBoost program and Ford's research into Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines. While I'll admit that Ford isn't out of danger yet, they have been able to decrease the number of dealers, lower labor costs, reshuffle their product mix and invest in alternative energy technology and are following a plan that will allow them to return to profitability within 2-3 years. And the Department of Energy loans for alternative technologies will be as available to them as to anyone else.

Sometimes I believe the guys at TTAC have become dependant on their Death Watches to the extent they'll be disappointed when Ford doesn't fail.

New page to cover e-Bay auctions

As you may know from earlier posts, I've opened an e-Bay account to sell some collectibles, like the baseball cap signed by Carroll Shelby pictured above. And so I've added a new page to the MyFordDreams family (linked in title) MyFordShops, so I can post pics and details of those auctions.

Not all items are auto related. Like this item which is a picture disc of the BBC series Dr Who.

I've watched Dr Who since I discovered it 1976. It was on the air from 1963 to 1989 or so and they've re-established the franchise with the new series and spin offs.

What can I say, in this economy we're all doing what we can to stay afloat, MyFordDreams is no differetnt. I'm sure you've noticed that I've started to accept advertisements on the blog. All auto related and sites that I feel would be a benefit to my readers.

Don't worry, I'm not going to compromise the integrity of my blog. I'll still be giving you all I have to say about FoMoCo. And with this new page, I won't be blogging here about the auctions.

Ford's latest green effort, seat fabrics from recycled plastic bottles..

In the article from Reuters linked in the title, they're discussing Ford Motor Company's latest efforts to be green...... Making seat fabrics from recycled bottles. I applaud the effort, but want to remind folks that this is just the latest in a long history of Ford's cutting edge ideas on being green.

From the earliest days of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford was concerned about sustainable energy and alternative technologies. Look it up for yourself or go through my archives to read all about his research into uses for Soybeans in production materials and even as fuel. Bio Fuel over 80 years ago. Look up BaekOLite ( check spelling before you do) that was plastic alternative made from soybeans. Ford Motor Company has visited these ideas many times over the last 100 years. While I consider Bill Ford to be a more agreeable person than his great grandfather, his eco friendsly ideas do seem to be in his DNA. I can't recall the vehicle now, but I've seen photos from the late 40's/early 50's showing a concept Ford built using Soybean materials for interior materials.

And not long after Bill Ford took over in 1999 he rolled out the Model U concept, which again showcased alternative material usage.

And then there's the Reflex! I love when I can slip a Reflex into a post. Welll, back to the Green factors. The Reflex concept showed a Diesel/Hybrid powertrain with solar panels in the roof and an interior heavilly fitted with recycled materials, in this case I believe old sneakers.

So, while it's obvious many manufacturers are now trying to develop "Green" technology, let's not forget that it's been in FoMoCo's DNA for a hundred years.

With one of the best real world Hybrids (2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid) and research and development on Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, Recycled materials and alternative energy. Ford's no new comer to the game. I hate to bash another makers, but it's Sunday and not many people will be reading this. My neighbor recently bought a Saturn Vue Hybrid and he's quite smug about it. I didn't have it in my heart to point out that his "Mild Hybrid" system is quite frankly a joke compared to Ford's system in the Escape and especially the new Fusion.

I may not like the putz, but there's no need to pee on his parade.

Look up for yourself how Ford's history is one of inovation and safety.

Ford must NOT be tempted to react to Chrysler fire sale with Cash on the hood!

I'm sure you're all reading the same news as I have, about how Ford may be picking up sales while the image of domestic competitors takes a beating. After Chrysler anounced the Murder of 796 dealers last week, it is assumed that those lame duck dealers will set their prices ablaze to avoid being suck with units that other Chrysler dealers are sure to reject. And GM is heading down the same road later this year. Ford is getting quite a bit of positive press and internet buzz lately, because of the tremendous amount of new and improved product out now or coming in over the next two years. From the Fiesta Movement buzz, to the new Coyote V-8 and EcoBoost, it's all looking very good for Ford. Nobody is saying their out of the crosshairs of the economy, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ford has been working their plan and will continue to move forward.

And while I read today that Ford is going to offer some incentives to Chrysler and GM owners trading in their vehicles for new Fords, I would hope that they don't go for the quick buck and stay the course. I know it's easy for folks like me, who don't live and die by the sales of cars, but Ford's been able to avoid Federal Relief to this point by doing the right thing. Dealers and FoMoCo will be tempted to entice these paniced GM & Chrysler owners, but just keep it low.

It looks like so far it's less than $1,000 per deal, and you can read the article here at the Detroit News

Ford's got the lineup, including hybrids, to entice buyers and is riding a wave of good press, but let's not forget that waves crash to the shore in the end. Ford wants to keep their eyes open or they'll land on the rocks.

Coffee time with the FIESTA MOVEMENT videos on YouTube

So, after a hellish week, working 12 hour overnight shifts at my real job, how do I spend my relaxing Saturday morning? Why sitting in my boxer shorts with an extra large Dunkin Donuts coffee ( the best! screw Starbucks) watching Fieasta Movement videos on YouTube.

Ok, so you didn't need that visual, well some of you may have, but most of you are now weezy at the thought of a middle aged stocky/hairy man in boxer shorts. Well, I've always said, I'm not Jalopnik or AutoBlog. Sometimes you get a glimpse into my life. Not much, just a teaser.

But seriously, I've been anticipating the Fiesta for a long time, check check my archives here and at http://myforddreams.blogspot.com and you'll see for yourself. And I got up way too early, so it's coffee and feeding my Blue Oval addiction.

Brian at RaceDriven.com always has the latest on Motorsports..

I wrote a piece the other day lammenting about the loss of the "regular guy" blogger on the automotive scene. Well, it's not as bleak and barren as I had insinuated. And I completely forgot to mention Brian V of RaceDriven.com ( link in title ) who's been blogging for probably as long as I have. So, I thought I'd spread a little blog love and direct you over to him. He's got nice site, posts some interesting and informative stuff and is truly a fanatic about motorsports. One of the real gentlemen of blogging.

Here's a good source of Focus info (Euro Focus)

We're all painfully aware that the Focus we have here in the US isn't the same as sold everywhere else around the globe. And as we anticipate the arrival of the truly "global" Focus in a couple of years, I offer you a good source to see what we could be getting. David M of Auto-Future blogs from the UK and I've been reading his blog for quite a while now. He's written several excelent pieces on the future Focus and always has some interesting CGI as eye candy.

He blogs about all brands and it's interesting to read a perspective from the UK.

When did I catch the Blue Oval bug? Why am I such a Ford Fanatic?

Every now and then I do these personal nostalgia pieces, sue me, I'm just a guy and this is just my blog. It would be cool if I was AutoBlog or Jalopnik, with the latest news and great pictures, but it's just me. So, I was thinking, I do that a lot, about how did I become such a Ford Fanatic?
I was born in 1965, the fifth child of a middle class Irish American Family from New York City. And the very first car I ever rode in was a Ford! My parents bought a 1963 Fairlane the year before I was born and we had that car until I was 5 or 6. I guess that could be part of it. But my dad wasn't a gearhead, he didn't even drive when I was very little. My mom always joked that she was the one that drove away from the church when they got married! By the way, that was in a 1957 Ford ! Being born in Washington Heights it was not that common to have a car in those days, but at one point before we left for the suburbs our family had 2! And of course they were both Fords.

Being a family of 7 with the Fairlane was fine, except when we do our family vacations with all the lugage. So, every summer my dad would swap cars with his brother and we'd take his 66 Country Squire to various places from Plymouth Rock to Gettysburg. And that's when I fell in love with Country Squires. Weird kid huh? Most little boys would be wanting the Mustang or Corvette, I wanted the big woody! Uncle John's was black with the wood of course and blood red inerior. And Uncle John's good friend and neighbor worked for Ford at the Mahwah New Jersey plant! And later my cousin John Jr Worked there. And I'll never forget cousin John's 66 Mustang, he was always working on that. Both my grandfathers were Chevy guys, go figure?

And then in 1972 or 73 my Mom bought our first Pinto! And again I fell in love. And you're thinking I'm crazy now aren't you. Well, I love Pintos and don't care what the world thinks. In the late 70's my dad bought a 73 Pinto wagon used from our neighbor and I was hoping that would be mine someday. But my older brother got it and by the time I was driving it was gone.

My parents had started out Ford owners but over the years drifted, buying GM and Chrysler vehicles. Like many dads, mine got on a Slant-6 phase, buying several Darts/Valiants and even talking both my sisters into Aspen/Volare territory. But back to me, my first Ford was a 1967 Ford Fairlane while I was in High School, by this time we were suburbanites and a multicar family was putting it mildly. Over the years most of my family strayed from the Blue Oval path even I did a couple of times. But I've had at least 9 Ford vehicles, including my own Pinto, a 79 that I learned to drive stick shift on. Lots of fun there.

I became such a hardcore Ford guy it was driving my poor parents mad. At one time I had 4 Ford products in their driveway, 77 Versailes, 78 T-Bird, 88 Festiva and 91 Mustang LX 5.0, not to mention the Chevy Truck I had. And you know how it is, when you have old cars, the hood would be off one of them and my tools were all over the garage. I think the ultimate expression of my Ford fanaticism was in 1998 When I made my personal Hajj to Dearborn and the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters. And while I did go to the Henry Ford Museum and other points of interest, I really mean the Headquarters building. It was a 2 day drive, stopping in Cleveland half way and I dragged one of my best friends, who's not a car guy. And I made sure I actually went into the building, went to the company store and bought a bunch of crap.

So, I guess it's in my DNA to a certain point. I only learned recently that my mom's father worked at a Ford asembly plant when he first came over from Ireland. But it was also environmental, with so many family members driving Fords. Ford has always been part of my life. Ok maybe now it's an obsession, but I haven't elevated to stalker level. I mean it's not like the local Ford dealer has a restraining order against me or anything. But I would explain why just over 4 years ago I started these blogs. Why I started "dreaming" so to speak. For a while I dreamed of an 05 Mustang. But I've always loved all Fords.

With my damaged DNA, this would represent the ultimate Ford, if you stuck an SVO Mustang drivetrain in it that is. It would combine my love of the blue oval, Pintos and Coutry Squires.

How cool would that be? A sleeper Pinto Squire with SVO power!

And so I blog, and hopefully someone reads.

only 98 bottles left on the wall? 2nd Fiesta stolen

So, at least 2 Fiestas are MIA, the one stolen from Brooklyn and now another.

I had read a couple of days ago that the Brooklyn Fiesta was found in DC, but SM of the Fiesta Movement said on Twitter that the DC car was a different Agent's. So, does that mean there's 2 stolen Fiestas? What about the GPS tracking?

In my youth I knew some shady fellas, long before Lo-Jack or GPS of any kind. And these fellas, who I haven't spoken to in 25 years and knew only cassually, would brag that could boost a car and get it to Port Elizabeth, where it would be shipped out to Latin America in a matter of days.

So, do you think Hugo Chavez is tooling around in one of these stolen Fiestas?

Just when you think you know it all, Jalopnik shows you something new

I've always obsessed on all things Ford, but just when I thought I knew all of the concepts and foreign Fords (Latin American, European, Australian etc..) Jalopnik shows I don't know it all.
And of course another opportunity to show a pic of the Reflex ( I really should get therapy.)

Jalopnik has a post on concept cars circa 1999 ( cue Prince song here) and among them was this odd little concept from the Tokyo Motor Show. I know this wasn't at the New York show, I haven't missed one of those since 1977. It's sort of cool, in an odd way. Sort of like the Nissan Figaro. It's sort of retro Anglia meets New Wave. Go hit the link in the title to see what other cars of the future didn't make it.

My love of all things small and Ford

It must be months since I've had my Reflex Fix! I loved this concept, the lines are great. I've always said I could do without the butterfly doors, but I love the idea of a little 2+2 coupe.
Hell, I love all things small and Ford. From the domestic Fords like the Pinto/Bobcat twins to the foreign Fords like the Cortina, Capri, Puma, Fiesta and Ka and especially the "global" Fords Escort and Focus. I love all Fords, but I've always had a warm spot in my heart for the little guys. That's one of the reasons I'm anticipating the arrival of the Fiesta next year. I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of the Tempo/Topaz twins, but the EXP/LN7 and the ZX2 were neat.
I remember when I went to Ireland in 2003 drooling over the Ford Fusion MPV, not to be confused with our Fusion midsize sedan, the Fusion MPV was based on the Fiesta platform.
And when I would watch old british movies or TV shows I'd get excited about seeing an old Escort or Capri. And I'm not just talking about the Lotus versions either. Hell, I'm a Pinto guy, I like them all.

When I was a kid, my mom bought a 71 Pinto 2 door. It was the 2.0 L with an automatic, admittedly not the fastest car on the block and to many not the coolest. But I loved that car. And later when my dad bought a 73 Pinto Wagon, I knew I was hooked. Then when I was in college I bought a used 79 Pinto from an ex-nun, 2.3L with the 4 spd manual. I had a blast with that car! It was chocolate brown with a mustard interior, had no A/C and the radio didn't work, but it's the car I taught myself to drive stick in. My mom bought her firts New car in 1982, an Escort in bright red with the blacked out trim the metric rims and 4 spd Manual. We called her Maria Andretti when she drove that. My next little Ford was my first ever new car the 1988 Ford Festiva. Only 1.3 L and 68 hp, but it was the LX model so it had the 5 spd and a nice interior, still no A/C. This was a great car. I would race my friends in this, sure I'd loose, but it was tossable and I did get a speeding ticket upstate doing 100 mph, all the while getting 40 mpg.

And my love of all things small and Ford makes me as green (with envy) as this FiestaMovement car. I'm not hip enough to be one of Ford's Agents. I didn't even apply, because I didn't want to make a video. I'm actually kind of shy and reserved. But recently I joined Twitter, just so I can Follow some of the Fiesta Movement news.

I should have made a video, Doh! But I'm not really the Movement's demographic, I'm 44 and not "hip". Sure, I blog, I MySpace and Facebook, and finally Tweet(?) but I've got a job and a life (despite the obsessive blogging about Ford) that wouldn't allow me to participate in all the missions. But I can tell you what I'd do if I did have one of these Fiestas. I'd take it to local car cruises and shows. I'd drive it up and down the local strip and to Dunkin Donuts to refule on Java. And I'm going to Cape Cod this summer for a week, I'd take it and park it in the busiest section of Provincetown and just stand there telling people about it. Oh and I'd blog,facebook, myspace and finally tweet about it too. But more importantly, I'll probably buy one when they do get here. So much for marketing and demographics, a "middle aged" man (wow that hurt) would actually buy a Fiesta.

What happened to all the regular guys that blogged about the auto industry?

When I started MyFordDreams in April of 2005, the landscape ( or blogsphere ) was lush with the "regular guys" that blogged about the auto industry. I remember one of the first I ever found was The Auto Prophet ( linked in title) the masked man of the auto blogging world.
But there was The Car Pundit, Rides Blog and many others. Some are still around, like the Prophet, Joe Sherlock of View Through The Windshield, Bob of CarsCars Cars and of course Gary of The Garage.

Jalopnik and AutoBlog have always been Pro sites, although many of those guys came up from the ranks of semi-pro blogging. I know it's been a rocky road for my blog. The first year I blogged so much it was fanatical. Then when I was having problems with my original blog I started up here at MyFordDreams2.

There was a real sense of community too. I remember when Dave Thomas, then was with MPH Online and now with Kicking Tires, started the blog for AutoBloggers and was really trying to herd us together. I think I have the honor of posting the last item over there back in 2007.

It's not easy doing this, guys like me don't get paid to do it. We do it out of passion, passion for the cars. I especially do it because of my passion for all things Ford. I'll be the first to admit I'm not on the level of the pros. Too many typos, poor grammar and sometimes too hot headed.
Many of my posts are inspried by what other sites write, but I don't just rehash someone else's work, I try and put personal color commentary and of course link to and refer to the original.

I always say, I love this and that I'm proud to have rubbed shoulders (well cyber shoulders) with some very talented and very nice folks. I want to thank TheAutoProphet for all of his help lately. He's been giving me advice and pointers. Over the years I've received that from many of my fellow bloggers.

I'll never forget the Carnival of Cars and how excited I would get if I was mentioned. That was always a point of pride. And when on those rare ocassions one of my posts would be mentioned by the pros like Jalopnik or Mark Tapscott.

Now that I'm blogging more actively, I'm hoping to rekindle those cyber relationships and grow new ones.

Ford nearly rained on Obama's CAFE party?

In the Los Angeles Times story (linked in title) it says that President Obama's anouncement of an agreement on new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards nearly didn't happen because Ford was hesitant to sign on. "A senior Ford executive said the company had run the numbers again and concluded it might not survive if it accepted the deal. "

No wonder Obama mentioned his Ford Escape Hybrid, he was probably trying to sooth Ford.

Of the domestic manufacturers I would think Ford would be best prepared for these new standards. With new smaller cars like the Fiesta, more Hybrids like the Escape and Fusion and the EcoBoost engine family. But these are tough standards to meet. I would guess the biggest roadblock to meeting these standards would be trucks. pickuptrucks.com has a great piece on that.

These are strange days to be certain. And let's not forget that Ford, being a truly global manufacturer has to juggle a lot of eggs. Look at my earlier piece on the UK Scrapage program.

So much to do, and no clear directions from governments implimenting new policy on the fly.

I can understand Ford wanting to tread carefully these days.

Thinking about the CAFE standards and the Mustang..

You know, most of the news about the Mustang has been good lately. New powertrains promissed and great styling. But with the anouncement of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards it got me thinking. What would be a really great idea?

How about this, a 2.0 EcoBoost powered Mustang! How about that 275 hp Explorer America concept's twin turbo 2.0? Now, here me out here folks. I know the 5.0 will be dishing out 400 hp and that's a great thing for the GT. But how about the turbo 4 for the Pony Mustang? Isn't the rumored Ranger replacement coming with a 1.8 l EcoBoost ? And that will ahve 175 hp 180 lb ft of torque. So, sine they'll be doing the work to fit an EcoBoost in a rear wheel drive vehicle already, how hard could it be to do it in a Mustang? You could have 3 levels of Mustang, the Base with the EcoBoost I-4, a mid level with the EocBoost V-6 and the GT with the Coyote V-8.

Just a middle of the night thought. Well maybe a dream really, but isn't that what I do.

Ford "resists cutting dealer network" is a bit of a fib

Now don't get me wrong FoMoCo is doing a fine job trying to restructure during these tough times. But all the news stories about Ford not cutting dealers, like the one linked in the title, are a bit of a fib. It's true that FoMoCo isn't slashing and burning dealers like Chrysler has and isn't giving a doomsday clock to dealers like GM is doing. But, it's also not true that they haven't shed dealers. In reality FoMoCo started in 2005, as part of the Way Forward, shutting unproductive dealers and trimming some dealers in oversaturated areas. FoMoCo just did it slower and more carefully. 770 Ford dealerships have shut down since 05, just about 1 in 6 to be honest.

And I think it was obviously a good thing. I know of several Ford dealers within a reasonable drive from me that shut. One of those was a huge dealer that had just changed owners and was in the middle of major renovations. I wasn't a fan of this particular dealer, they had shady practices.

I see these news stories as a double edged sword. On the one hand it makes it look like Ford is doing better than GM & Chrysler, which they are. But on the other side, it makes it look like Ford isn't doing enough to cut costs and return to profitabilty, which of course is untrue.

In my opinion it would be to Ford's advantage to point out the facts, that they did cut dealers, but slowly over time and with less of an impact to the economy than the paniced moves of Chrysler and to a lesser degree GM. I can see that any positive press is good. But will people feel that Ford hasn't done their share? I know they have and that they've done it in a far gentler way. Sure, the closed Ford dealers had employees that lost jobs, but because it was gradual over 4 years, they had opportunities to find jobs. What Chrysler did is dump a huge pool of workers all at once. And next October when GM dealers run the clock on their franchise agreements, there'll be more.

Give Ford credit where it's due, but also point out that the Way Forward has been a process not a panic.

I'm sure GM & Chrysler CEOs were red faced when President Obama endorsed Ford

GM's future CEO, President Obama, goofed a little when he accidentally endorsed the only domestic automaker who didn't seek government relief. Read the article linked in the title.
Obama at a press conference anouncing new CAFE standards that will go into effect in 2016 was standing back from the podium, when he added that he thinks his Ford Escape Hybrid is still parked at home in Chicago. He said it drives real well and people should check it out.

Realising that CEOs for Chrysler and GM were standing right there, he quickly added that there were other Hybrid and "fuel independant" manufacturers as well. Doh! Alan Mullaly was seen pumping his fist in the air. You just know that FoMoCo execs are going to be talking about this around the water cooler. Ford should give Obama a new Fusion Hybrid as a gift. Or even better, give it to me.