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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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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.

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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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.

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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The All-New Ford Focus RS | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

January 30, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ford’s hottest hatchback is back, and is coming to the United States for the first time. That’s right, the all-new Ford Focus RS will be available globally and U.S. enthusiasts couldn’t be more excited. Ford Focus RS is a high performance compact that has found wild success in Europe, where drivers prefer hatchbacks. This generation, however, puts the RS in a whole different level. Here’s why.

For months, Ford fanatics speculated over the Focus’ drive train. Some said AWD would be impossible in such a small car, while others feared a front-wheel-drive would be too similar to the Focus ST. So what did Ford do? They delivered with a new technology called Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control.

The new AWD technology allows a new level of handling and capability. Besides delivering power to all wheels, the system distributes torque to where is most needed, up to 70% of it to the rear axle if necessary. Combined with a highly responsive steering system, the Ford Focus RS delivers the best handling and performance experience.

To provide enough power for all four wheels, Ford went overboard and decided to use the same EcoBoost engine used in the 2015 Mustang: the 2.3 turbo-charged. The result? A small hatchback with well over 315 horsepower.

The new RS is also debuting a new exterior, which is more muscular and functional. The design team focused on aerodynamic downforce and air intakes, which help with the overall engine and brake cooling.

Focus RS also gets Ford’s latest in-car technology. SYNC connectivity for navigation, music and climate gives drivers easy access to all controls. For improved fuel efficiency, the new Focus RS relies on its EcoBoost performance and Auto Start-Stop technology.

While Ford didn’t say when the new hatchback will be available, we’re expecting to see it hit dealerships in 2016. Stay tuned for more news on the Ford Focus RS.

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Does Your Car Need Wheel Alignment? | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

January 28, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Is your car pulling to one side and need to hold the wheel to prevent it from drifting away? While there are many factors that can cause this, like uneven surfaces or street inclines, many people in New Orleans experience tire alignment problems.

We’re all used to the many potholes and narrow streets in the city, but one too many times hitting that curb can cause your tires to move off-center. But why should you be worried?

Minor improper alignment can cause your tires to wear faster and unevenly. Since the rubber is not touching the road equally, your tire will deteriorate only on certain sides and still require replacement.

Major problems may arise if your balancing is way off. Besides uneven tire wear, improper balance may lead to accidents or damage to other parts of your vehicle.

If you feel a minor pull in your car’s steering wheel, first check the tire pressure. Unevenly inflated tires can cause a car to behave this way, and should always be corrected immediately. Underinflation can also cause other problems, like poor fuel efficiency and reduced tire life.

Another sign of poor alignment is vibration in your wheels, which can also be caused by balancing or suspension related problems.

If the issue persists after checking your tire pressure, contact a trusted car technician. Tire alignments are inexpensive and can save you hundreds if they need replacement.

During tire alignment, a technician will adjust the suspension –more specifically, the part that connects your car to the wheels. Many believe tire alignment involves the adjustment of wheels or tires themselves, but we call that balancing. Alignment and balancing are often performed simultaneously, specially after hitting a big pothole or a car accident.

Our service department offers high quality services by factory-trained technicians, delivering the highest quality and customer service.

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Fuel Efficiency: Start-Stop Engine Systems | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

January 26, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

You might have not heard about it, but there’s a new fuel saving technology being used and tested by car manufacturers. Stop-start engine systems can increase your gas mileage by using a simple and relatively low cost solution. But how does it work?

Car engines are designed to perform best when driven at highway speeds, hence you’ll get better fuel efficiency at around 60-70 miles per hour. However, when your car is sitting idle waiting for the light to change, you get zero miles per gallon (car not moving, still burning fuel), which goes into your car’s average MPG. Stop-start engine systems eliminate the idling but shutting off the engine and immediately restarting when the brake pedal is lifted.

This technology first appeared in hybrid cars to minimize the use of the gasoline engine. Now that stop-start systems have gotten better and more affordable, manufacturers are including them as a standard feature in most vehicles.

Start-stop systems work through the computer that controls the engine. Once the main computer detects the vehicle has made a complete stop, it sends a signal to shut off the engine. Conversely, when the system detects the brake pedal being depressed, it seamlessly re-starts the engine, without the driver noticing.

Johnson Controls, a leading manufacturer of start-stop systems, projects that up to 40% of vehicles in the U.S. will use this technology by 2015. The technology has matured rapidly and most of today’s consumers show an eager interest.

With the introduction of the turbo-charged Fusion SE in 2013, Ford announced its own start-stop system. The company is now using the technology across different models and it hopes to bring it to every Ford in the near future.

While this fuel-saving method is relatively inexpensive and simple, there are a few challenges engineers had to overcome. For one, the system relies heavily on the battery, as it is literally turning switches on and off. Another challenge was to keep the air conditioning system on while the engine was not. In the end, better battery management and new a/c technologies allowed for the system to be widely used.

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Ford Opens Research Center In Palo Alto | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie

January 23, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Last week, Ford announced the opening of a new research center in Palo Alto. The move will allow the company to speed-up its development of new technologies, focusing on mobility, connectivity, autonomous vehicles, and big data.

The Research and Innovation Center Palo Alto is Ford’s latest research center, and joins the Michigan and Germany campuses. As part of the move, Ford is partnering with Stanford to begin the next phase of testing of the Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicles.

Ford is conducting experiments in different areas, including connectivity. The new Palo Alto team will play a critical role in exploring ways to communicate with existing technologies. The team is already integrating Ford vehicles with Nest, and allow for temperature to be managed via GPS and proximity.

Another area of intense interest is autonomous driving technology. Ford is already running experiments globally and in its Michigan and Massachusetts research centers. The new campus will allow Ford to work closely with the Stanford engineering program and to test new path planning and prediction algorithms.

Ford’s autonomous vehicle research has two components: the path planning algorithms and aDRIVE, or Autonomous Driving Refined In Virtual Environments. aDrive is a visual test software that tests algorithms like traffic sign recognition and other road elements.

Ford is also hoping to get input from their human-machine interfaces to control systems. For instance, the company is researching better ways to control functions on a high-tech multi-contour seat, including natural speech recognition and a tablet-based interface.

As wireless technologies become a necessity in our everyday lives, companies are also evolving to align their goals. A century ago, car manufacturers were concerned with the vary basics of the vehicle, which was to move us from point A to point B. Today, the car has become a lot more than that, and vehicles now embrace the latest technologies. Ford has been at the forefront of this trend, and offers innovative safety features in all their models like blind spot information system with cross traffic alert, park assist, inflatable safety belts, AdvanceTrac with roll stability control, and more.

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2016 Ford Focus RS Features | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner

January 21, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ford is revealing the all-new 2016 Focus RS on February 3. After months of speculation and rumors, the company finally released a short teaser video clip that shows the Focus RS sliding sideways on a closed course. This performance version of the Focus is somewhat of a myth in the U.S., as previous versions have only been produced for the European market. So why is everyone so excited about?

Previous versions of the Focus RS used an upgraded Duratec ST engine, a front-wheel drive train, updated gearbox, and sports suspension. The 2009 version had a top speed of 163 mph and an acceleration of 5.9 seconds from 0 to 60.

The 2016 Focus RS will reportedly use the same EcoBoost engine found in the new Mustang. If true, we can expect great performance improvements and over 330 raw horsepower.

The RS suspension is also getting a refresh, as Ford has put some real engineering behind it. It features a limited-slip differential and Ford’s own RevoKnuclke front suspension, which helps stabilize the car when steering at high speeds.

Spy photos and people familiar with the project have spotted a few changes to the 2016 Focus RS’ body. More specifically, changes could include twin exhausts, a re-styled front bumper, and upgraded headlamps.

Thanks to Ford’s new global strategy, U.S. consumers can rest assured the new Focus RS will be available at home. During the 2015 North American International Auto Show, Ford announced its renewed commitment to performance vehicles, which got enthusiasts excited. Rumors about a new version of Focus RS have been floating around since 2012.

While some features have not been officially confirmed, the latest clip from Ford strengthens speculation of an AWD drive-train. Other rumors include extra cooling areas on the front of the car, 19-in alloy wheels, and an updated 6-gear automatic transmission.

Regardless of the specifics, Ford will certainly have a winner in the 2016 Focus RS, as it will strengthen the overall Focus brand and will add options for consumers.

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Extreme Off-Road Performance: The New Ford Raptor | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

January 19, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ford’s truck designed for off-road competition, the Raptor, will celebrate 2016 with an all-around updated version. Thanks to new improvements to the 2015 F-150, Ford is now calling Raptor the toughest, smartest, most capable truck. Let’s see what the new off-road beast has to offer.

It all starts with the new frame, which features more high-strength steel than its F-150 siblings. Thanks to the new aluminum alloy, not only is the new Raptor stronger, but is also 500 pounds lighter. In today’s off-road competitions, any weight reduction translates into more speed, power, and fuel efficiency. For improved stability, the 2016 Ford Raptor is 6 inches wider than F-150 and features 17-in all-terrain next-generation wheels and tires.

The current Raptor is powered by a 6.2-liter V8, which produces 411 horsepower and 434 lb. of torque. The new-generation Raptor will use a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost –an efficient V6 engine paired to a 10-speed transmission.

The 2015 Raptor offers a new technology called Terrain Management system, which allows drivers to optimize driving dynamics. The system controls powertrain, driveline, ABS and stability control and comes with six different presets for different driving conditions:

Normal mode for casual, everyday driving
Weather mode for snow, rice, rain and low traction conditions
Street mode for high-performance, on-road driving
Mud and sand mode for off-road sandy hills and loose terrain
Baja mode for high-speed off-road racing
Rock mode for rock crawling

The new Raptor is also bringing improvements to stability and suspension. An available Torsen front differential allows the Raptor to pull itself over big obstacles by increasing the grip of the front tires. Also, the new truck comes standard with FOX Racing Shox, which work to stiffen and damp the suspension over off-road terrain. Shock canisters are now half an inch bigger and feature more suspension travel.

The 2016 Raptor is not only more powerful and capable, is also more comfortable. The interior gets some upgrades, like new auxiliary switches and paddle shifters to control the 10-speed transmission.

What do you think about Ford’s latest performance truck? Is it Baja 1000 material? We think it is. Check out our current inventory here or stop by the dealership today.

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