myford touch ecoroute press release

8/9/2019 MyFord Touch EcoRoute Press Release

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NEWS

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW MYFORD TOUCH COACHES DRIVERS TO IMPROVE

FUEL EFFICIENCY; NAVIGATION ADDS ECO-ROUTE FEATURE

DEARBORN, Mich., April 14, 2010 When it comes to achieving the best possible fuel mileage

the way you drive can be nearly as important as the vehicle you drive.

Fords advanced new in-vehicle system MyFord Touch offers an array of real-time

information on fuel economy performance that can coach drivers to get more miles to the gallon

and save on fuel costs. In addition, MyFord Touchs map-based navigation system offers an Eco-

Route option that quickly calculates the most fuel efficient route a driver can take to get from A

to B.

MyFord Touch is the latest innovation from Ford to help drivers optimize fuel economy. It builds

on the fuel efficiency coaching concept Ford pioneered on its SmartGauge with EcoGuide

cluster for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid as well as the all-new 2011

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The system provides real-time fuel economy data and promotes fuel-

efficient driving by showing a graphic of growing leaves and flowers.

Go to www.media.ford.comfor news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video

New MyFord Touch driver connect technology provides an array of real-time feedbackon fuel efficiency performance that helps coach drivers to optimize their miles per gallon

MyFord Touch map-based navigation offers an Eco-Route option, which instantlycalculates the most fuel-efficient route for the driver. Ford testing shows Eco-Route can

help achieve fuel economy gains of up to 15 percent

MyFord Touch launches this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge and will be available

globally on the 2012 Ford Focus. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on new

Lincoln vehicles beginning with the 2011 Lincoln MKX
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We have learned that when we provide drivers the information and tools in an interactive and

entertaining way, they want to drive more fuel efficiently, said Jim Buczkowski, Ford director

of Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering. MyFord Touch provides an

unprecedented level of information and interaction so drivers can make the choice to be more

fuel efficient.

The green road home

When a driver provides a destination to the navigation system, MyFord Touch accesses historical

and real-time traffic data as well as posted speed information to calculate three navigation

options: Fastest, Shortest and Eco-Route.

Eco-Route is not necessarily the fastest or shortest route but is the most fuel efficient. Typically,

it charts a course that avoids congested freeways while maximizing the use of major roads where

the driver can maintain an efficient rate of speed. When Ford of Europe engineers tested the

feature, they achieved up to a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy using the Eco-Route.

When drivers use Eco-Route particularly in combination with MyFord Touchs fuel-economy

feedback and fuel-efficient driving techniques they can achieve a noticeable increase in fuel

efficiency, said Jennifer Brace, Ford user interface design engineer.

In addition to its Eco-Route feature, MyFord Touch enables drivers to monitor and track their

vehicles real-time fuel economy performance and mile-per-gallon averages for the past five, 10

and 30 minutes in the form of a bar chart next to the fuel gauge on the display. Drivers can

customize the amount of information provided to meet their needs and hone their eco-driving

skills over time.

MyFord Touch not only gives drivers information they can use to improve their driving habits,

but also expands on that capability by engaging the navigation system to give drivers a variety of

options, Brace said. The benefits will be greater because MyFord Touch and MyLincoln

Touch will be widely available in the future.

Go to www.media.ford.comfor news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video.

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Eco-driving tips

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the U.S. uses about 150 billion gallons

of gasoline annually. If every driver practiced eco-driving techniques, which can result in an

EPA-estimated 15 percent benefit in fuel economy, more than 22 billion gallons of gas would be

saved.

Eco-driving techniques tested by Ford showed that motorists coached in eco-driving can

significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their vehicles.Here are simple tips that

any driver can use:

1. Slow down and watch speed Drive 55 mph instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates a10 to 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip. Also, aim for aconstant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise

control whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speed and conserve fuel.

2. Accelerate and brake smoothly Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking softly

conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and

wears out some of the vehicle components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly.Maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for

more time to brake and accelerate gradually.

3.No idling Todays engines dont need a warm-up. Start the car immediately and gentlydrive away. Dont leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes

fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up

windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.

4. Check your tires Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This

alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3 to 4 percent. Under-inflated tiresincrease rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check

the vehicles door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.

5. Be kind to your vehicle Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running

efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other wastes fuel.

Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the

vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the owners manual forproper maintenance.

6. Travel light Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal areareduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as much as 5 percent.

Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in


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the trunk, makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.

7. Minimize use of heater and air conditioning Use heating and air conditioningselectively to reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner

when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10 to 15 percent of fuel. Use

the vent setting as much as possible. Park in the shade to keep the vehicle cool and reducethe need for air conditioning.

8. Close windows at high speeds Dont drive with the windows open unless you keepyour speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases

aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.

9. Choose the right oil Use good-quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended inthe owners guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide

the best fuel economy. Only oils certified for gasoline engines by the American

Petroleum Institute with the starburst symbol should be used.

10. Consolidate trips Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will enable you to bypass

congested routes and lead to less idling.

For additional information on how to save on gas, visit the Driving Skills for Life Web site and

click on the eco-driving module. Fords eco-driving initiative builds on the Alliance of

Automobile Manufacturers comprehensive nationwide effort to promote eco-driving at

www.EcoDrivingUSA.com.

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About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich.,manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees

and about 90 plants worldwide, the companys automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln,

Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford MotorCredit Company. For more information regarding Fords products, please visitwww.ford.com.


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myford touch ecoroute press release

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