Tonight in San Diego: Joel P West & the Tree Ring
Part of the Ford Fiesta movement, Brown and Nielson were asked to pick a San Diego artist deserving of national recognition.
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Tonight in San Diego: Joel P West & the Tree Ring
Driver held after pot found in tires
SignOnSanDiego.com stories: News — Wed Apr 07 12:00:00 UTC 2010 A 20-year-old Mexican citizen was arrested Monday by U.S. Border Patrol agents on suspicion of trying to smuggle marijuana in the tires of the Ford Explorer he was driving.
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Driver held after pot found in tires
Ford Vs. Toyota: Which is Crash Worthy?
The Ford Motor Co. will push the competition with the Toyota Motor Corp. and the Nissan Motor Co. a little further with a new television commercial that showcases an actual crash test of bread-and-butter pickup – the F-150 from the F-Series.
The new television ad is the latest in a series for the F-150 featuring Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.” The ad is specifically designed to draw attention to the fact that the automaker’s pickup yielded the highest possible safety rating from the federal government. It could also be noted that other worthy rivals like Toyota and Nissan did not get such commendation.
Ford’s second ad, which emphasizes on the merits of larger leaf-spring bolts, is expected to work wonders like Covercraft Car Covers. The ad will begin airing later this May. The Detroit automaker will also start acquiring space for print and online versions of the ads in a variety of media outlets. Both ads are part of its new “Ford Challenge” campaign, which challenges purchasers especially the non-Ford enthusiasts to compare cars and trucks against competitors’ vehicles. The campaign is designed to thump a more confident tone and stress on the segment-leading features of Ford’s products. “It really goes back to telling our story,” said Ben Poore, the Ford’s truck marketing manager.
Most automakers in the market have been hesitant to feature crash-test images in their advertising, which may be altering as safety standard increases on the list of the consumer’s considerations in buying vehicles. “Sometimes it can conjure negative images with a product, even if it is successful,” said Alexander Edwards, a marketing expert with Strategic Vision in San Diego. “Once you put in this crash test, it really depends on the executions.”
The Chrysler Group, in its short-lived Dr. Z campaign, flaunted DaimlerChrysler AG Chairman Dieter Zetsche crash a Pacifica crossover. Volkswagen AG, on the other hand, has been running a series of jarring ads depicting crashes relating to their product lines. Nicole Nason, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) director, recently commended Volkswagen’s in-your-face ads, saying safety has become a major selling point with U.S. motorists. “Consumers used to take tepid sips of the safety Kool-Aid and are now gulping it down,” Nason said at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2007 World Congress in Detroit.
Ford’s F-150, a full-size pickup truck, received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA for both the driver and front passenger. The most popular variant of the F-Series, which has been offered for five decades, has already etched a reputable standing in the auto industry. This is why it has been the best selling vehicle in the United States for 23 years and the best selling pickup for almost three decades.
The Toyota Tundra, which is seen as the closest threat to the F-150, received four stars. Ford’s ad did not point out the Tundra by name, but only said some competitors did not fare as well in the government crash tests. Nissan’s Titan pickup also received four stars.
Ford’s new ads also departed from the norm by casting actual Ford engineers as the straight men to the witty Rowe. In the safety ad, Bill McDonald, a supervisor at Ford’s crash barrier facility in Dearborn, tried in vain to upstage Rowe for laughs. Additionally, the leaf-spring ad paired Rowe with Ford truck suspension engineer Paul Angove.
Ford started featuring Rowe in truck ads early this year. “We’re really happy with the results,” Poore said. According to the automaker’s internal research, the “Ford Challenge” ads are increasing consumer perception of its products, boosting purchase consideration and sales.
Adding actual Ford employees to the equation was logical step, Poore said. “This is what Mike does in the real world. He goes to peoples’ jobs and he makes them heroes,” he said, referring to Rowe’s TV show spotlighting less-than-glamorous occupations.
Rowe is not the automaker’s only truck pitchman. Toby Keith, a famed country music star, remained one of Ford’s most influential weapons in the marketing arsenal. Keith is now getting ready to take the F-series on the road again as an ingredient of his “Big Dog Daddy” concert tour. “We’ll have a major integration of the truck into his show,” Poore said.
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.
Ford Extends Helping Hand
Dearborn automaker FoMoCo recently announced that they will be earmarking a sum for the victims of the raging wildfire in California, the hotbed of Japanese automakers in the United States. The automaker pledged to help via donation of money, vehicles, as well as manpower to the relief and recovery efforts in Southern California where millions have already been evacuated due to the raging wildfire. The automaker also announced that they would give their consumers from the area time to recover from the catastrophe before paying for their purchased vehicles.
FoMoCo has already put into motion the move that will see 20 specially-equipped vehicles help fire and rescue departments in their recovery effort on some of the areas most devastated by the fires. Eleven Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks and nine Ford Expedition SUVs have been dispatched already by the automaker.
“Many Southern California Ford employees and Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers share the concerns of their neighbors as they also have been affected by this devastating fire,” said Hal Dewsnap, Ford Lincoln Mercury Los Angeles regional manager according to The Auto Channel. “Local fire and rescue officials told us they have an urgent need for heavy duty work trucks and SUVs. We located the 20 specially equipped vehicles at local dealerships and they are on their way to local fire and rescue squads.”
Apart from the 29 specially-equipped vehicles, the Dearborn automaker also earmarked $100,000 to be donated to the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross. Said amount will be used to help with the relief efforts.
Jim Vella, president of the Ford Motor Company Fund said that the money donated will be used in different ways to help those who have been uprooted by the fires. “The San Diego Chapter Red Cross has a critical need for medical, food, water and other supplies, as well as counseling support for hundreds of residents forced from their homes,” said Vella. “We are responding to this need immediately,” he added.
The Ford Volunteer Corps, a program established by FoMoCo’s Executive Chairman Bill Ford after the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia will be once again called to duty. Employees of the automaker in Southern California will be called upon to donate some of their time and volunteer in the ongoing relief efforts.
Consumers who have leased or purchased a Ford, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, or Mazda timing belt -equipped vehicles will be given time by the automaker to pay for their vehicles. The automaker announced that these consumers will be allowed to delay their payments for their vehicles for one or two months. The automaker announced that the offer is available to any customer who are leasing or have purchased vehicles from Ford Credit, Jaguar Credit, Land River Capital, Mazda American Credit, PRIMUS or Volvo Car Finance.
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Border Patrol agents seize 38 pounds of cocaine near Temecula
San Diego News Network — Thu Oct 22 12:00:00 UTC 2009 The cocaine was seized at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday on northbound Interstate 15 when agents stopped a Ford Freestar minivan. about: Border Patrol Crime Drug Enforcement Administration Ford Freestar Law_Crime Local News Mexico News Patrol SWRNN Temecula United States Border Patrol U.S
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Border Patrol agents seize 38 pounds of cocaine near Temecula
Conrad Ford ‘secret Army’ Live @ The Beauty Bar In San Diego
Pardon the distortion in the audio at times, the camera was by a speaker.
1994 Low Rider Ford Expedition In Mission Beach | Sponsored By Deja Vu
Come check out this tricked out 1994 Ford Expedition Low Rider with hydrolics and also with Lamborghini Doors. This vehicle has 26 inch rims and 2 tv’s and a custom interior to go with it. This is …
Best Auto Dealerships in San Diego
If you’re looking to drive down the San Diego streets in style, then it’s probably time you visited some of the premier dealerships in the city. From foreign luxury cars to the new hybrids, these establishments will get you on the road quickly and easily. Below are the ten best auto dealerships in San Diego:
1. Pioneer Porsche
858-695-3000
9020 Miramar Rd
San Diego, CA 92126
2. Mercedes-Benz Of Escondido
760-745-5000
1101 W 9th Ave
Escondido, CA 92025
3. Heller Auto Group – Ford
800-427-3585
1717 Auto Park Way South
Escondido, CA 92029
4. Toyota San Diego
619-280-4100
5910 Mission Gorge Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
5. Jimmie Johnson Kearny Mesa Chevrolet
858-560-9008
7978 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
6. Ball Auto Center – Honda, Acura, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Kia, Renegade
619-474-6431
1935 National City Blvd
National City, CA 91950
7. Rorick Buick Cadillac
760-692-1580
5334 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92008
8. Courtesy Chevrolet
619-297-4321
750 Camino Del Rio North
San Diego, CA 92163
9. Midway Jeep Chrysler
619-224-4151
777 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
10. Pacific Nissan
858-581-3200
4433 Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
