Ford

Post image for What Has Happened to Continuity?

Was it something I said or did? Why aren’t you talking to me any more? Did I not do everything you asked? No, I’m not talking about dating here, although, in some way I sort of am. I am talking about being “dumped” by a brand. This is particularly painful if you are a blogger or content creator. Breakups are really hard, especially if you worked diligently to maintain the relationship. When it comes to commitment, you need to think about another word as well – continuity.

I have been very lucky. I have worked with a lot of amazing global brands like Sony, Ford, Intel, AT&T, Trend Micro, IBM (see some of the programs by clicking through the links) and plenty of smaller brands and firms. Some of these were longer-term projects and some were much shorter. Some were with other groups of bloggers or content creators like the Cast of Dads and other groups put together by brands or PR firms.

There is also another set of brands and vendors that I have worked with that are slightly different. These are sort of like the “summer time romances” where they are active for a while and then go away until the next project comes out. They provide me with new products to review from time to time or new experiences to participate in. Some of these brands are LG, Belkin, Microsoft, Logitech, D-Link, Jabra, Honeywell, Hyundai, Klutz, Nintendo, Norelco, and even Apple, among many others.

Continuity

Continuity

There is still one thing really irks me though. It’s when these brands go quiet…for a long time. They may come back, but often it is after an extended silence where much of the momentum and excitement that was originally present is lost due to a long period of “inactivity.” Don’t get me wrong though, I place an extremely high value on each and every program that I have participated in (or am currently involved in), regardless of whether they are long or short term.

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Post image for The Ford Fiesta Movement is Back! And Here’s My Entry! #FiestaMovement

Piggybacking on the success of the previous Ford Fiesta Movement a few years ago, Ford is re-launching the Fiesta Movement (www.fiestamovement.com) to showcase the 2014 Ford Fiesta. Ford is currently looking for “the most vibrant voices and talented storytellers to be agents in the Fiesta Movement.” So, I figured that I would throw my hat into the ring!

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I do lots of car reviews and have participated in a few Ford programs in the past so being a Fiesta Agent makes a lot of sense to me. But as I watched some of the promotional materials about this year’s program, I noticed that it seemed to be geared towards a younger audience (20-somethings). So how could I make my voice be heard among the youth out there? I thought about it and realized that I have an even more rounded story (I hope).

I would not only be bringing 1 agent to the mix (me), but 5 others as well (my family). The program should really be about the experience, how a family (or individual) interacts with the Fiesta, and how it solves daily challenges and usage scenarios. So let me introduce you to my family of agents! Here’s the video (available directly on YouTube as well):

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Post image for Flexing the Form & Fun Factor of the 2013 Ford Flex SEL AWD

Back in 2010, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Ford Flex. I always had my eye on this unique looking SUV/Crossover. It truly is sort of a blend between both of these styles. The distinct body reminded me of the old Woodie style and as I mention in my video review below, I really think that the Flex would be right at home carrying a longboard to the beach somewhere.

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Fast forward to 2012 and my family and I got to drive the 2013 Ford Flex SEL AWD up to Lake Tahoe. We took several mini roadtrips around the lake and truly got to enjoy the fun and flexibility that makes up the Flex.

I didn’t immediately notice to many large changes to the design. It still has the elongated boxy look and, unfortunately, it still has limited rear cargo space for luggage. But there were some other more subtle changes that are worth mentioning. For starters, the middle row now comes equipped with inflatable seat belts. This is something that my kids actually pointed out to me. Another nice addition are the sunroofs. Our particular Flex had four of them, one main one that opened over the front seat, two middle ones with individual shades and one large one in the rear with a shade as well. It really conveyed the feeling of being in a convertible.

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Post image for Technology & Style Drive the 2012 Ford Edge Limited Edition

I have been test driving Fords for a few years now and I see an evolution happening. Not only are the autos becoming more stylish, the technology driving them is evolving. I remember first testing out the Ford Sync (when it was known more as Microsoft Sync) in the 2010 Ford Flex. Now, Ford has kept the innovation engine running full steam ahead and it is exemplified in the 2012 Ford Edge Limited Edition.

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I won’t spend too much going through all of the details, but here are some of the highlights that I find to be important. The Ford Edge is a 5-seater with plenty of cargo space, so it is perfect for families. The seats in the back can be folded down (via electronic push-button) in a 60/40 split, giving you ample space to lug a huge amount of “family stuff.” The Edge is considered a crossover, so not quite big enough to be an SUV but not small like a sedan or hatchback. Personally, I find this size to be pretty optimal since you maintain pretty good gas efficiency by keeping the auto size lower but still sit high enough on the road to peer down at people. The estimated MPG, by the way, is 21 city and 30 highway. In my testing, we hit right around 22-23 as a mixture of city/highway.

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The Edge is stylish but in a subdued way. While the front grill is pretty aggressive, the side profile isn’t. It’s funny, you can almost dress up or dress down the Edge to your pleasing – great to go on camping or road trips, or going out for a night on the town. Safety is a key concern for Ford and their technology is growing to meet the needs of increasingly distracting driving conditions. Two features that I have always stated should be standard on any vehicle are present in the Edge, namely, blind spot indicators (called BLIS) and a rear-facing camera for when you back up. These two items should be, in my opinion, required by law. I do believe that the rear-camera will be a standard feature in the coming years. Another feature becoming more common in vehicles these days is the push button starter and the keyless entry system. I find it so difficult now to physically pull the keys out of my pocket to start my old car…yeah, I’m whining but it’s so nice to be lazy. And, the Edge that I tested had the remote start option which allows you to start up your Ford remotely in order to heat up or cool down the interior prior to you getting in.

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A Solid, Tech-Filled, All-Around Performer – 2011 Ford Explorer Test Drive

January 19, 2012
Thumbnail image for A Solid, Tech-Filled, All-Around Performer – 2011 Ford Explorer Test Drive

A few months ago, Sony and Ford Motors invited the Cast of Dads out to the East Coast to participate in a variety of events, one of them was driving a 2011 Ford Explorer (note, link is for the 2012 model) from Boston to NYC. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the event, and [...]

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The “Power” Behind the New 2013 Ford Escape

January 3, 2012
Thumbnail image for The “Power” Behind the New 2013 Ford Escape

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Ford folks at a San Francisco 49er game. There I got to see a preview of the new 2013 Ford Escape, which is billed as a “smart utility vehicle.” I didn’t actually get to test drive it, but I did have a chance [...]

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How Ford is Saving Teenage Lives, One Person at a Time – “Driving Skills for Life”

October 25, 2011
Thumbnail image for How Ford is Saving Teenage Lives, One Person at a Time – “Driving Skills for Life”

I’m scared. In 1 year, I will have a teenager. In 4 years, I will have a teenage driver. And I have two more daughters after that. Just writing the past few sentences has given me a few more grey hairs. While automobile safety has improved dramatically over the past few years, so have distractions. [...]

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Hey, No Messaging While Driving, Unless It’s Your Car Doing It – Ford Safety Technology Preview

June 6, 2011
Thumbnail image for Hey, No Messaging While Driving, Unless It’s Your Car Doing It – Ford Safety Technology Preview

Last week, Robert Scoble (Scobleizer.com), Mark Hachman (PCMag.com) Xavier Lanier (Notebooks.com & GottaBeMobile.com ) and I squished into a Ford Explorer to get a preview of some new safety technology that Ford and other auto manufacturers are starting to develop. With this new tech, appropriately outfitted cars actually “talk” to each other, many times a [...]

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