Archives for February 2015

Focus RS Officially Debuts – Lamarque Ford – New Orleans

February 27, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

We’ve known about the upcoming Ford Focus RS for a few months, but this week, the AWD hatch made its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The all-new RS is one of many Ford vehicles focused on driving dynamics and high-end performance.

The Focus RS is powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine producing over 315 horsepower. Thanks to turbo-charged technology and new light-weight materials, this is the fastest, more powerful Focus ever. At the Geneva Auto Show, Ford also announced the RS will come with launch control, a new technology pioneered by the 2015 Mustang. Launch control allows for the wheels to spin in place before launching, which allows for faster and improved acceleration.

New to the RS, however, is drift control, a technology that allows to safely achieve oversteered drifts. Ford has added an improved AWD system, which is calibrated to the car’s electronic stability control. Along with the sports suspension, the performance AWD gives the RS unprecedented driving dynamics.

What do you think about the new RS?

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

Ford Earns Top Honors In The Chicago Auto Show – Lamarque Ford

February 25, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

In the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, the only major show that polls its attendees, Ford has taken the top spots across different segments.

Out of the show’s five categories, Ford earn the top spot in three of them: best all-new production vehicle, car voters most likely want in their driveway, and best exhibit. Here are the winners:

Ford GT

Ford GT won Best All-New Production Vehicle category, defeating the new Acura NSX. The 2017 Ford GT is a 600HP super car powered by Ford’s latest EcoBoost technology. As odd as it sounds, the GT is powered by a 3.5-liter V6, delivering unprecedented power from a small engine.

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang

Shelby took home the Most Likely To Have In Your Driveway award, but it wasn’t easy. The Shelby faced serious competition, as it beat Bugatti Veyron and other super cars. Ford Shelby GT350 is a modified Mustang. It includes an enhanced powertrain to deliver over 500 HP, upgraded chassis and suspension and the best braking package.

Best Exhibit

Ford also won the Best Exhibit award, where the brand showcased its new vehicles along with Hank the Robot and an F-150 track for kids.

Ford continues to deliver cutting edge technology and to develop the world’s most popular nameplates.

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Production For The All-New 2015 Edge Has Started – Lamarque Ford – New Orleans

February 23, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The assembly plant in Oakville, Canada, has started pricing the global 2015 Ford Edge. The new version of the SUV will be shipped to more than 100 countries as Ford continues to develop its global strategy. Most 2015 Ford models were developed with this mantra in mind, instead of having specific vehicles for certain countries or regions.

Last year, the Oakville Assembly plant got a huge revamp thanks to a $700 million investment. The plant is now ready to assemble all 2015 Ford Edges.

The assembly plant revamp added more than 250 new robots and new technology to improve efficiency. Ford’s focus on quality led to the development of new techniques to reduce cabin noise, align parts better, and give paint s sleeker finish.

Since 2008, global demand for sport utility vehicles is up by 88% and now account for almost 20% of the automotive market. Ford is staying ahead of these demand trends by investing heavily in new equipment and hiring new workers. The Oakville plant alone hired over 1,400 employees in the last year, in addition of being recognized for its environmental efforts.

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Highest Safety Rating Car: 2015 Mustang | Lamarque Ford

February 20, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded the new 2015 Mustang its highest vehicle ranking. After rigorous test and data review, the NHTSA gave mustang a five-star rating. Highest Safety Rating Car

The all-new Mustang offers twice as many airbags and crash sensors than the previous model, as it focuses more in driver and passenger protection. Other safety technologies include adaptive cruise control, cross traffic alert and SYNC 911 assist, which enables a phone to call 911 in case of an accident.

Additionally, 2015 Ford Mustang is the only car to offer over 300 horsepower in all its engine configurations, which include a 4, 6 and 8 cylinders.

The all-new 2015 Mustang is already available at Lamarque Ford, and you can take it for a test drive today.

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Highest Safety Rating Car

Generation Z Consumers Prefer Ford | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

February 18, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

New research by MaritzCX is showing that Ford is the number one vehicle brand amongst generation Z. However, it doesn’t as a surprise, as Ford has made great improvements to appeal to the 16-21 years old group.

Generation Z consumers care greatly about fuel economy, and Ford has the best line-up for that. After the introduction of the EcoBoost engines, the company now offers fuel efficient options for every model, including the powerful 2015 F-150 and the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang. Today’s Ford EcoBoost engines outperform the bigger competitor offerings, while consuming less gas.

Another big consideration is technology, which Ford has made a big priority. From the introduction of SYNC 3, to the new research on self parking and innovation, Ford has definitely caught the eye of Generation Z consumers.

Generation Zers overwhelmingly prefer cars over trucks or SUVs. Ford already offers a great line of compacts, mid-size, and full-size sedans, from the fuel-sipper Ford Fiesta to the performance-minded Taurus SHO.

Ford has payed attention go what Gen-Z consumers want, and while they represent a small fraction of car buyers today, they’ll be the main purchasing power in a few years.

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Is Apple Building A Car? | Lamarque Ford| New Orleans

February 16, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of buzz about Apple building a vehicle to rival efforts from other tech companies already in the race. However, given the amount of rumors always surrounding Apple, we remain skeptical.

According to Bloomberg News report, Apple has a team of over 200 employees working in a car project and it has snatched top-level executives from Ford and Mercedes. The same sources say Apple is aiming at 2020 for a release date.

But is Apple actually working on a car? Or is it trying to develop new technology for the dashboard? What we know is that when/if Apple enters a new industry, it changes the playing field. Apple already offers an in-car infotainment system called CarPlay, which takes over the onboard screen and displays the familiar iOS interface, with access to Siri, Maps, Phone, Messages and Music through your iPhone. Apple is all about the user experience, and if the company feels the current solutions are not good enough, they will do something about it.

Although the company has deep pockets (an estimated $178 billion cash-on-hand), the intricacy of the vehicle production system and supply chain still amount for what makes car companies great today. For the last 100 years, major improvements in the auto industry have been on the production side, and each time a manufacturer makes big strides on this front, they attain an unprecedented level of success. Ford started early in the 1900 with innovations in the assembly line, then GM in the 80’s and Toyota in the 90’s.

Apple is also known for its flawless management of the supply chain and production, so we can expect advancements on this front.

So do you think Apple is actually building a car? All we have to say is that when they first introduced the iPhone, no one thought they could do it.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

MIT’s Car-to-Car Communication System | Lamarque Ford

February 13, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

For the past few years there’s been a lot of talk about driverless cars, and while that is some impressive technology, is still decades away form being realistic. Car-to-car communication, on the other hand, will be deployed in the next two years and promises to make roads safer.

MIT researchers have been testing car-to-car technology, which allows cars to broadcast information to to other vehicles around it. Why is this important? When your vehicle can communicate parameters like speed, brake status, steering wheel position and more, other cars can use this information to build a model of what’s going on around them. We’re not talking just about blind spots, we’re talking about cars being able to “see” through walls, hedges, and just about any large obstacle. Once this information is processed by the vehicle, it then alerts the driver to take action.

While vehicles today are equipped with ultrasonic sensors and cameras, they are nearsighted and are very limited. Car-to-car communications could have an immediate impact on road safety, but it requires most cars on the road to have it.

Researchers behind this project admit is not easy to create a vehicle-to-vehicle network, as on-board computers need to process hundreds of messages from other cars, up to ten times per second. However, once the technology is fully implemented, it can prevent over 500,000 accidents and thousands of fatalities.

The good news is that the U.S. Department of Transportation is already drafting rules to allow this technology, which is a healthy sign for the industry moving forward.

To learn more about this technology visit MIT’s own Technology Review.

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2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Features | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

February 11, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

This Thursday, Ford will unveil the 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility at the Chicago Auto Show. The new vehicle comes from a collaboration between Ford and law enforcement agencies seeking the perfect interceptor, and it is the most driver-centric vehicle.

The new 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility has a redesigned front and back with upgraded headlamps, which give it a meaner look and better visibility. Inside, the electrical system has been upgraded to better distribute electrical loads and to power the new instrument panel.

Ford is introducing a new technology called “Surveillance Mode,” which warns the driver if someone approaches the vehicle from the rear. Once enhanced, the system rises all the windows and locks all the doors to protect the officer.

Thanks to Ford’s own Police Advisory Board, which was formed to develop future iterations with help of agency veterans, the new Ford Police Interceptor is featured-packed and offers innovations in every front. Here’s a list of the biggest changes coming in 2016:

Rear Camera. Now standard in every Interceptor Utility, it gives cops the chance to better monitor their surroundings. It also acts as a parking aide.
Liftgate Release Switch. It times out the rear liftgate so it remains open for 45 seconds. This feature came directly from customer feedback.
Standard All-Wheel Drive. Designed for high-speed handling and maneuverability and low-speed improved traction.
Available 3.5-liter EcoBoost Engine, producing 365 horsepower and 350 lb. of torque.
New improved heavy-duty suspension, for rough city surfaces and off-road pursuit.
New six-speed transmission with Pursuit Mode. Automatically detects driving conditions and switches from normal driving for improved fuel economy, and Pursuit Mode for aggressive high-speed chases. Pursuit Mode is also programmed to perform a J-Turn.
Enhanced cooling system and high venting features throughout the vehicle.
High-strength steel frame.
Designed in Dearborn, built in Chicago.

Additionally, all engines and features have been tested and calibrated to meet the demanding requirements of law-enforcement agencies. Ford is first to introduce many of these features and is always working with law-enforcement agencies to improve these vehicles.

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Petty’s Garage Ford Mustang GT Specs | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

February 10, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Another day, another limited-edition Ford Mustang for sale. This time, our folks at Petty’s Garage Team are putting together two really special packages for 2015 Mustang GT fans, running on a very limited production of 143 units. What makes this modified Mustang so special?

First, Petty’s Garage did not plan to put out this masterpiece for sale –at first. The first model was displayed at the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, and it drew so much attention they decided to give it a shot. Growing interest and the right mechanics gave birth to two modified versions: Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Stage 1 Mustang GT will include a Ford Racing supercharger, custom engine adjustments, a MagnaFlow exhaust, and other upgrades. The updates bring the Stage 1 GT to 627 horsepower territory.

Also, the Stage 1 comes in any color, along with a reworked rear spoiler, 20-inch HRE Flowform wheels, center-exist exhaust, and other improvements to the interior.

Stage 2 gets upgraded brake calipers (for enhanced capacity for extreme performance vehicles), three-piece forged aluminum brakes, and a custom two-tone paint job. Out of the 143 production run, only 43 will be Stage 2 Mustangs.

Orders for the new Stage 1 and Stage 2 2015 Mustang GT can be placed at your local Ford dealership.

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2015 Ford Edge Sport Features Revealed | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

February 10, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

At last, the official numbers and specs for the 2015 Edge Sport are out, and Ford is calling it the most powerful Edge ever. Last year’s Edge Sport already had an impressive 3.7-liter engine, capable of producing 305 horsepower and 280 lb. of torque. For 2015, Ford is going well beyond those numbers, increasing torque by 25% and raw power is now in V8 territory.

Once again, Ford is using their new EcoBoost strategy to achieve better performance and improved fuel efficiency. Instead of going with a bigger engine, engineers decided to scale back the displacement and added a turbo-charger. The new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 delivers 315 horsepower and 350 lb. of torque.

The 2.7-liter EcoBoost also incorporates a technology found only in Ford’s PowerStroke line: a graphite iron cylinder block. The new construction adds vibration and harshness control while increasing the rigidity of the design.

The 2015 Edge Sport’s suspension has also been upgraded, and is now 15% stiffer than in previous models. New monotube dampers and updated coil springs give the new Edge better control and steering.

Additionally, the 2015 Edge Sport looks better than ever, inside and out. Upgraded LED taillamps and a more athletic shape set the new Edge apart. On the inside, an 8-in LCD touch screen houses Ford SYNC and other cabin controls, while the 12-speaker Sony audio system envelopes the driver and passengers in crisp detailed music.

Remember the new Ford Edge Sport is coming this spring, with a starting price of $38,100.

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