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Ford Debuts Hybrid Police Car Model

April 27, 2017 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ford’s latest invention could end up saving lives and the environment. One of newest re-imagined vehicles from the automobile company includes a hybrid gas-electric police car. Under this latest model, the Ford vehicle promises to be both fuel efficient and street ready for any situation.

Ford is the biggest provider of police vehicles in the United States, and its new reveal continues to enhance the daily commute of police officers throughout the country. At recent press conferences in both New York and Los Angeles, Ford officially unveiled the latest model of the green vehicle already decorated for the Los Angeles streets. Following the reveal, the company released a statement reading “The all-new Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan will help cities decrease emissions and cut down on fuel costs by reducing engine idle times versus traditional police cars.” As the conference continued, more details were revealed about the new model.

According to the company, the vehicle’s gas mileage is expected to be about 38 mpg which is twice the mileage of an everyday Ford Police Interceptor. While the new model is not as fast the regular police car, Ford expects the new vehicle to earn a pursuit rating following testing regarding acceleration, handling, braking, top speed and ergonomics by the Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department later this year. This factors would make the police vehicle the first hybrid vehicle to earn the rating. Also, Ford promises that the car will also be durable for various speeds and obstacles necessary for police pursuits such as curbs or intersections thanks to its combined gas and battery power. While it is still too early to confirm these promises on the field, Ford’s guarantee at the notion implies that the model is not too far off from reality.

By estimate, the hybrid vehicle is expected to help officers save about $3877 per year over fill-ups and downtime. This advantage alone benefits the environment from constant reliance on gasoline and small-town police stations struggling under a budget. Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police President Thomas Korabik remarked positively on the idea for his 10-officer station, though is also interested in seeing “how it would hold up” with other demands. As Ford continues to keep ahead of upcoming trends, the company could very well be up to that challenge.

As of now, the price of the hybrid is set to be available in the summer of 2018 with no definite release date in sight. However, if testing for the pursuit rating goes well, this probably won’t be the last we hear of the hybrid police vehicle.

While Lamarque Ford cannot sell you a Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, Lamarque has a wide selection of the civilian models available!

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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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.

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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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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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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CES: Ford Showcases New Mobility Technology | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

January 7, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

As the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is underway in Las Vegas, Ford announced its mobility strategy for 2015. Besides investing in new technologies to improve its line-up, Ford is looking to solve some of the most challenging transportation challenges worldwide. Although CES is mostly run by tech companies (in the traditional sense of the word), a record ten car companies showed up this year in Las Vegas. This trend is only going to get bigger, as more car manufacturers embrace wireless and mobile technology. Let’s see what Ford has in store for 2015.

At CES, Ford outlined its plan to take on connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, and big data. Through 25 mobility experiments worldwide – nine in the Americas, seven in Asia and nine in Europe and Africa, Ford will anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s vehicles. Mark Fields, Ford CEO, talked about a world where vehicles talk to each other as they communicate to the power grid and our smart homes. As the world population grows, Fields said, there is a need for a different transportation model and Ford is trying to stay ahead of the game.

Amongst the most notable experiments was Parking Spotter, conducted in Atlanta with Georgia Tech. The experiment uses driver-assist sensors already present in Ford vehicles, like sonar and radar, and it uses them to search for open parking spaces. The data is then shared on a cloud database and is made available for other drivers in the city. Ford will then use this information for its driver-assist app, which will help drivers find parking spots with ease. You can call it the crowdsourcing of parking spots.

To help drivers get better insurance rates, Ford is also experimenting with what it calls Data Driven Insurance. In London, Ford will set up a “driving behavior passport” to reward good driving. Remember, your vehicle already has a myriad of sensors that constantly monitor speed, throttle, breaking, gas consumption and more. The idea is that drivers will be able to take this information with them, either from car to car or from insurance to insurance, and get a lowered rate.

Although Ford already offers Crew Chief Fleet Manager to help businesses stay on top of their fleets, the company is looking for ways to improve it. Engineers are already working with HP, one of the world’s biggest tech companies, to track driving routines of its commuting employees. This experiment hopes to bring in new data on how drivers react to external factors like traffic and weather and on how to further improve their driving experience.

Another big part of Ford’s presentation was the autonomous vehicles, which the company said is going great. Ford, like many other car and tech companies, is experimenting with self-driving vehicles and is certain this technology will take-off in the future. Many of today’s safety features were made possible by experimenting with autonomous driving, like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist, active park assist and pedestrian detection.

Ford also used the CES stage to talk about its upcoming SYNC 3, the company’s new in-car entertainment and communications system. SYNC 3 promises to bring better interface and improved car-driver interactions, like revised speech commands and voice recognition. Remember Ford is constantly looking for new technologies to improve its vehicles and how drivers interact with them. Check out our current inventory and see what the new 2015 models have to offer.

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Reasons To Buy A Ford In 2015 | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 31, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

2015 is going to be a great year for Ford, as the company is introducing a myriad of updated models and new technologies. Consumers will have the best selection of SUVs, crossovers, pick-up trucks, sedans and sports cars, including some of the most anticipated cars of the new year. Ford’s commitment to quality, performance, fuel efficiency and safety make it one of the best options for car buyers in 2015. Let’s look at the top reasons to buy a 2015 Ford.

Ford Offers EcoBoost Engines

Ford now offers EcoBoost engines in every model available (except Expedition), which means consumers have access to the latest performance and fuel efficient technology. Who would have though a 6-cylinder F-150 could outperform V8 competitors? America’s best selling truck now offers two EcoBoost engines, the biggest one producing 365 horsepower. Even Ford’s popular muscle car, the Mustang, is getting an EcoBoost treatment this year with a powerful 310 horsepower four-cylinder, that’s right, a four-cylinder Mustang. The technology behind EcoBoost is, in simple terms, a combination of small efficient engines and turbo-chargers with direct fuel injection.

Ford Has The Best Looks

When Ford started its One Global strategy, it was obvious some change was in place: design. Ford’s new design language features an Aston Martin-esque front grille, along with lean lines and a bolder look. Ford family of sedans is now well, unmistakably Ford, as the Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion feature similar elements that give the brand a much needed make-over. The new design extends to the SUVs, crossovers, and large sedans and it makes use of a piano-black mesh front grille for upscale models, such as the Taurus SHO or Explorer Platinum.

Ford Has Smart Production

Ford’s engineers have been hard at work to find new materials and innovative production techniques. Hence, the company is now using high-strenght aluminum for its engines and the body of the F-150, which many said it couldn’t be done. The company also has a new prototyping system that allows engineers to work faster and smarter, “printing” parts directly on sheets of metal.

Latest Technology

Ford now offers several safety technologies that can help reduce the risk of accidents, whether the driver is distracted or after a crash. The newest safety systems include AdvanceTrac stability control, SafetyCanopy system (crates a canopy with airbags to reduce roll-over related injuries), SOS post crash alert system, inflatable rear safety belts, blind spot system, driver park assist, and others.

Additionally, Ford offers great entertainment and console options, like MyFord Touch, SYNC, which is getting an update, intelligent-access with push-to-start button, rear view camera, birds-eye view and more.

Check out Ford’s 2015 inventory at Lamarque Ford today.

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2015 Ford Fiesta ST Review | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 29, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Ford’s smallest car offering, the Fiesta, is commonly associated with austerity and is seen as an entry level option. However, the Fiesta ST gets major upgrades over its base model sibling, putting performance front and center. The ST model includes upgraded interior, exterior, and an exhilarating small engine that packs a lot of punch.

The heart of the 2015 Fiesta ST is a four-cylinder, 1.6 liter turbo-charged EcoBoost engine. The ST produces 197 horsepower and 202 lb. of torque, outperforming the base model Fiesta, which gets 120 hp and 112 lb. of torque. The new lightweight all-aluminum engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission for maximum on-demand power. Acceleration and power are not a problem for this small sporty car.

Safety features include seven standard airbags, side curtain and knee airbags and a three-mode AdvanceTrac electronic stability control. Other standard features like SOS post-crash alert system, tire pressure monitoring and side intrusion door beams are also included.

The upgraded exterior gets a sports-tuned suspension paired with power-assisted steering, which guarantees the smoothest ride and better handling. The twist-beam rear axle also helps Fiesta ST reduce understeer and increases rear roll stiffness. Overall, the ST’s low center of gravity helps increase control and stability against the base model. The ST also gets a new grille, body-color handles, power mirrors and fog lamps, along with the ST branding.

The 2015 Fiesta ST gets some serious interior upgrades, making it more sporty and conformable than ever. The new Recaro Partial Leather-Trimmed seats hold you in place in fast turns and add extra lumbar support. ST’s entertainment system also gets an upgrade, and comes standard with Sirius XM Satellite radio, SYNC with MyFord Touch, and a Sony audio system. Fiesta ST adds some convenience by bringing the intelligent push to start button, a race-inspired leather-wrapped steering wheel, and ambient lighting. The driver or passenger can select from different light colors like orange, aqua, red, white, or yellow-green.

To test drive the performance focused Fiesta ST, stop by Lamarque Ford or check out our current inventory online. Don’t miss out on this sportsy mini-car with great handling, performance, and high-quality interior, priced at an affordable starting MSRP of $20,945.

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Ford Tuning Via Your Car’s Computer | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

December 24, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Vehicles have always been subject to tuning or after market modification, either to change their appearance or to enhance the engine and its parts. Ford is introducing a new way to tune cars taking advantage of computer-controlled engines. Thanks to the implementation of EcoBoost and custom software, the company is calling this move a new revolution in the way we interact with our vehicles.

The system, Ford says, is really straight forward: since a computer already controls every aspect of your car’s engine, the company is giving access to modifications via a handset. The advanced technology in EcoBoost engines controls direct injection, variable cam timing and turbo-charging, which give these engines its superior performance and fuel efficiency as from-factory tuning. However, the new system allows for tuning professionals to tweak different attributes that make significant performance gains without adding new parts.

The handset is being distributed through Ford Racing and is already available at FordRacing.com for Focus ST and Fiesta ST. By simply plugging in the device into the car’s diagnostic port, owners have access to a myriad of characteristics of the car’s performance like spark plugs timing, turbo, wastegate control, idle speed, throttle and more. Modifying different engine parameters has never been easier, thanks to the new hand-held programmers.

One of the less obvious benefits is that when used within recommended limits, vehicles will still remain under Ford’s limited warranty. The company is also working with professional tuners to develop high quality parts that will take Fords to the next level. For instance, Ford reported gains of up to 90 lb. of torque in the Focus ST without voiding the warranty, and similar results for Fiesta ST and Mustang EcoBoost. Ford is readying similar devices for other EcoBoost engines in its line-up.

By introducing this new computer-based tuning, Ford is empowering more customers and shops to truly test the limits of the new EcoBoost engines, now available in every model. It seems like all the pieces of Ford’s new global strategy are falling into place.

Visit us at the dealership or online to check out our current inventory and test drive an EcoBoost engine today.

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