Ford Fusion Hybrid, Transit Connect win Car and Truck of the Year awards
Shawn Wright
DETROIT -- The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named the North American Car of the Year today, while Ford's Transit Connect picked up Truck of the Year accolades in a poll of journalists.
It is only the third time in 17 years that a single manufacturer has won both titles.
“We've been focusing very relentlessly on our strategy around making sure our vehicles are world-class in the areas of fuel economy, safety, quality and smart technology,” Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said after the morning ceremony. “We're just so glad we're being recognized for that, both by the journalists but also, more importantly, by the customers.”
More than 50 vehicles were considered this year.
“This is such a motivator for our team to be recognized by the Car and Truck of the Year jury,” Fields said. “These are the most demanding journalists, and we were in a set of very, very tough competitions. … I think it just shows that we're headed in the right direction.”
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Hall has gone social
If you haven’t already stumbled upon our Facebook page, found us on twitter, read an article from our blog or watched a rough cut video from our Youtube pages then it’s time to start.
Don’t worry; there are no marketing gimmicks in place. Hall is getting involved in our community and we want you to be a part of it. Sure, our interests are still in automotive but our primary focus is you, your friends and your family.
Tell your stories; share pictures of your new car, discuss opinions on cars you are thinking of purchasing with your new MileOne friends. What better way to decide what your next car should be than to ask people who are already driving them?
Join our social networks to discuss your experiences with other MileOne fans or simply follow us for auto news updates. Whatever your preference is, we have it.
If you have a story you want to share on our pages, let us know. Email your feedback to events@mileone.com or contact us through our blog DriveMileOne.com . If you prefer to connect directly through Facebook, visit our page.
Get socializing. Go “become a fan” of your dealer group facebook page, follow us on twitter, subscribe to DriveMileOne, check out photos on Flickr or watch videos on YouTube.
Jay Leno test drives a Tango electric car
It may not be the most aesthetically-pleasing car out on the market, but the Tango electric car does have Jay Leno’s stamp of approval. And in the auto industry, that speaks volumes.
The pencil-thin, yet surprisingly-fast electric car was the subject in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. In the episode, Leno talks with the inventor of the Tango, Rick Woodbury, and the two discuss the uniqueness of the car despite its rather peculiar appearance. In a rare moment of seriousness, Leno looked as if he was genuinely interested in what Woodbury had to say, which is pretty significant because the comedian wastes little time in trying to crack jokes at other people’s expense. One particularly important point that was stressed was the Tango’s use of lead acid batteries as compared to the lithium-ion variety, which Woodbury admits the company still doesn’t have the budget for. Nevertheless, the inventor of the Tango stressed that the company is preceding plans with putting lithium-ions in the Tango in the near future.
After their conversation, Leno then takes the Tango out for a ride and is pretty impressed with the ride, even saying that the car’s unique ability to split lanes – according to 63 police officers Woodbury asked, all of them have said that it’s perfectly legal – makes it the perfect traffic buster.
Another Leno quip that made us crack was when he said that the Tango’s the only car that you can hang both your arms on both windows. The man hasn’t lost his touch.
What is the average snowfall accumulation in the month of February in Richmond, Virginia?
See answer under Car Doctor.
De-salt your car
With the ice and snow over the past few weeks, most of us have been driving around on salted roads (or at least those of us who were lucky enough to get salted roads!). What you may not be aware of is that salt can cause damage to your car. It can cause corrosion and can speed up rust, which is particularly relevant to older cars. Without getting too scientific on it, salt increases the electrical conductivity of water and so accelerates corrosion.
Now that the cold spell seems to have subsided, it is probably a good time to give the car a good wash and try and get rid of the salt off the bodywork and undercarriage of the vehicle. Make sure in particular to wash the underside of your car to get rid of the salt which will have bounced up from the roads. When you’re washing the car make sure also to get the mud and muck out of the wheels and wheel arches. Give rubber, trims, door seals and tyres a good wash and rub also. If you’re using a hose at home make sure it has a high pressure nozzle so that you can get the water at power into those hard to reach places.
You may also find that your car mats have turned white in sections. This can be caused by road salt from your shoes. Mostly this can be removed with soap and water but if this doesn’t do the job you can also try some vinegar diluted with water.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Hall Automotive Service Center.
The average snowfall is 3.9”
