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2015 F-150 kick-starts Ford sales

The F-150 had a middling year in 2014, and its sales dipped slightly as Ford transitioned to producing the all-new truck with an aluminum body. But with one factory humming, another on the way and a fuller stock of trucks, 2015 is already shaping up to be a different story. The F-Series posted a 17-percent leap in January, helping to push Ford sales to a 15-percent gain for the month. The F-Series had its best January performance in 11 years with sales of 54,370 trucks last month. Much of this strength comes from the new generation of the F-150. While many of the old model are still being sold off, Ford is rolling out the new version. Just five percent of the F-150's retail sales were the new truck in December, but it was up to 18 percent in January. The increase comes as the first factory that makes the truck, Ford's Dearborn facility, is fully back online. The other F-150 factory, in Kansas City, is still completing its changeover to build the aluminum-bodied truck, and that's expected to be finished in the first quarter of this year. Sales of the truck will still be "tempered a bit" until the Kansas City plant ramps up, Ford sales analyst Erich Merkle said. Ford expects to have a full inventory of F-150s by mid-year. To that end, the company announced plans on Wednesday to add 1,550 jobs to support the F-150, including 900 positions at the Kansas City factory. The remaining jobs will be spread out over sites in metro Detroit. The Dearborn and Kansas City factories collectively will be able to build more than 700,000 F-150s annually. The added headcount also means Ford has reached the maximum number of entry-level workers allowed under its pact with the United Auto Workers. About 300 to 500 employees at several plants in the Midwest will transition to a higher pay rate, and their wages will rise from $19.28 an hour to $28.50 an hour. The F-Series was Ford's hottest seller in January, moving off lots in an average of 12 days. The high-end models, the King Ranch and the Platinum versions, are moving slightly quicker. The average transaction price is also up $2,100 for the F-150 compared to January 2014. "We're really pleased with how the new one is doing on dealer lots," Merkle said. A larger stock of F-150s will allow Ford and its rivals to capitalize on low fuel prices, which have slowed consumers' interest in smaller vehicles.

Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars

Popular Science has named the winners in its Best of What's New awards, the victors coming in the categories of aerospace, automotive, engineering, entertainment, gadgets, green, hardware, health, home, recreation, security and software. The automotive category did not go wanting for lauded advancements:
Tesla Model S: the Grand Award winner for being "the standard by which all future electric vehicles will be measured."
BMW 328i: it's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets called out for being more powerful and frugal than the six-cylinder it replaces.

48-inch panoramic display kicks off Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience

Arguing against screens in new cars is a losing battle. Every automaker is working hard to boost the display real estate in new models, and the level of integration between cars and the connected world at large is growing rapidly. Ford and Lincoln recently detailed a digital development roadmap that places screens and software at the forefront of their ownership experience going forward, and it’s clear the pair view vehicles as another device in peopleÂ’s connected lives. Ford said the average U.S. household has 16 connected devices and noted that it believes vehicles should offer a seamless connection between them. The Ford/Lincoln Digital Experience features apps from Google, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and apps from Amazon, among others. The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus is the current flagship for this technology, as it brings the brandÂ’s first 48-inch panoramic display, featuring the highest resolution ever offered in a Lincoln. The system serves as part of the SUVÂ’s driver assistance features, including BlueCruise, the hands-free semi-autonomous driving function. Beyond offering new features, Ford said the Digital Experience helps reduce distraction by letting drivers place the apps they use the most closest to their line of sight. Media, weather, and other information can be positioned in widgets on one side of the display to provide quick information, and owners can set up profiles to store different configurations for drivers. Part of the Ford/Lincoln tech expansion includes third-party app installations. The new system offers Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Prime Video, YouTube, and more. Google Play games are also available and can use a Bluetooth controller connection. Video conferencing apps will soon be available to let owners Zoom wherever theyÂ’re parked. The Nautilus is the first Ford or Lincoln model to get the Digital Experience, but others will follow. Ford said the system is designed for future updates and expansion through over-the-air updates and 5G internet connectivity. 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve with Jet Appearance Package 2024 Lincoln Black Label Nautilus Hybrid View 41 Photos