Valley Ford Lincoln Enjoying Changes and Ready for More

valley ford lincoln hanford californiaHave you had a chance to stop by Valley Ford Lincoln yet this year? If you have not, you may not know we have been experiencing some changes the past few months. In January, Valley Ford Lincoln welcomed a new management team. All the new managers want previous, current and future customers know that they will go beyond expectations to provide you with the best customer service they can provide. Management is not the only change, tentatively Valley Ford Lincoln will be moving into a new, state of the art facility around the end of June, allowing us to serve our customers better than ever before. Once we make the move to the new building, we will also be changing our name to Keller Ford Lincoln.

monster x tour at valley ford

Valley Ford Lincoln wants to be your first choice whether you are looking for a new Ford or Lincoln, or a quality used vehicle. We will also be sponsoring both local events and special events and invite the community to join us for all of them. For those of you that may have missed it, last week Valley Ford Lincoln was a stop for the Monster X Tour Wednesday and Thursday and displayed one of their featured monster trucks on our lot. The Monster X Tour will be at King’s Speedway on May 3 and 4 and tickets are still available. Valley Ford Lincoln is a sponsor of King’s Speedway, the site of the Monster X Tour and we invite you to take advantage of the fun events there as well. We plan to offer more of these fun events to both the customers and the community in the upcoming months, so stay tuned to our blog for more information.

valley ford lincolnFor those who may have not a great experience with Valley Ford Lincoln in the past, Jim Maze, our new General Sales Manager, invites you to call him at 559-584-5531 and allow us the chance to solve any issues you may have had. If you have enjoyed your experience, we invite you to contact us as well so we can make sure that we continue to provide you with outstanding customer service. Everyone at Valley Ford Lincoln looks forward to serving the community of Hanford as well as the surrounding area and providing them with the best products and services we can offer. Thank you for choosing Valley Ford Lincoln!

2013 Fusion Redesign Wins Award from KBB

2013 ford fusion hybridKelley Blue Book has been helping consumers with a variety of automotive related items for over 100 years. Their automotive experience has led them to awarding automakers with a variety of different awards for their vehicles ranging from resale value to appearance. This year’s winners of the Brand Image Awards were determined through research conducted by KBB through their BrandWatch™ program. This program helps collect data on the perceptions of over 12,000 new vehicle shoppers nationwide to help KBB determine what vehicles deserve special recognition. This year, KBB determined that quite a few Ford vehicles such as the Fiesta, Focus and Escape deserved honorable mention on their new designs, but the Fusion was the winner in the Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2013 award.

2013 ford fusion

The Fusion received a complete makeover from Ford for 2013 as they continue to work toward their One Ford mission to offer vehicles that appeal to consumers on a worldwide level. For 2013, the Fusion has a sleeker design and is slightly longer and wider than last year’s. These changes, although they may seem slight make a noticeable difference in the cabin space. The changes also help create more efficient aerodynamics as well as a more responsive driving feel. Overall, the improvements Ford has made to the 2013 Fusion and many other models are proving to be very successful in the eyes of consumers.

2013 fusionIf you want to get a closer look at a Fusion, or any other great Ford vehicle, Valley Ford has a great selection from which to choose. Whether you are looking something smaller and fuel-friendly like the Fiesta, or need a full-size SUV like the Expedition, Valley Ford can help you find the perfect vehicle for you. Visit our website at www.FordofHanford.com or visit us in person at 455 11th Avenue in Hanford. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Just When You Thought the SVT Raptor Could Not Get Any Better. . .

Shelby American gets a hold of one! The ultimate muscle truck, a 2013 Ford SVT Raptor with the Shelby touch, debuted at the New York Auto Show last week. In typical Shelby fashion, the Raptor has more power, more accessories and a distinctive look that makes it a great addition to the long line of Shelby collectible vehicles.

shelby SVT raptorJohn Luft, president of Shelby American explained that, “As a native Texan Carroll Shelby loved powerful trucks”. It only made sense that Ford’s SVT Raptor muscle truck would be next on the list to get a Shelby makeover. The difference with the Shelby Raptor is that is just at home on a racetrack as it is climbing dirt trails and either way it leaves the competition in the dust. Shelby took the stock 411hp 6.2-liter V8 engine and attached a 2.9-liter supercharger, boosting the horsepower up to an impressive 575. They also added a performance Shelby Borla exhaust and a unique 6spd automatic transmission that features a manual mode to give the driver complete control no matter what terrain they encounter. The addition of heavy-duty suspension with an “Off-Road” mode calibrates the transmission, traction control and stability systems to allow the Raptor to handle as good as it does at high speed in the dirt as it does on flat pavement. While the basic look of the Shelby Raptor is not altered, it will be available in any of three unique Shelby graphics packages that will let the world know that you are driving a customized beast.

shelby raptor

Shelby American will be offering the Shelby Raptor in a limited production of 100 per model year and each will be documented and numbered by Shelby and be entered into their registry. The complete Shelby package will be offered at a starting price of $17,995, this is in addition to the purchase price of the SVT Raptor. They are currently taking orders, but with only 100 available, you will probably need to wait until next year if you want to invest in one of these unstoppable 4WD muscle trucks. If you are in the market for a Ford truck now, Valley Ford has a great selection of F-150s in a large variety of trim levels, cab sizes and bed lengths. While you may not be able to get a Shelby Raptor, we can help you find the perfect truck for work or for fun with all the features and options you want. Visit our website, or come see us in person and check out all the great vehicles from which you can choose. Thanks for visiting our blog and we look forward to seeing you soon!

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Ford Launches First Automotive Sharing Program

ford motor companyFord Motor Company’s FORD2GO program officially launched earlier this week in Europe. This innovative program has many benefits for users as well as for Ford itself. While the program is currently being tested in Germany only, there is always a chance that a program like this, if successful will eventually become a reality in the United States as well. While the plan for the FORD2GO program was originally part of a keynote address given by Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford in February of 2012 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the launch will be the first real world test of the program. With more than half of the Europeans polled by Ford Motor Company, stating they would consider vehicle sharing, Ford thinks this trial run of the program will be very successful.

FORD2GO

The idea of vehicle sharing programs such as FORD2GO evolved from the need to relieve problems in densely populated urban areas such as parking and traffic gridlock. They also help to reduce the number of actual vehicles that are on the road, which helps to minimize environmental affects as well. Vehicle sharing provides an affordable alternative to public transportation, which can vary in dependability due to extraneous factors the user has no control over. While having a pool of vehicles for customers to use, it always allows them to experience the new Ford vehicles in a real driving situation, which can help them choose to purchase one in the future. The whole FORD2GO system is also easy to access to customers through an iOS or Android smartphone app. By the end of 2013, FORD2GO is expected to amass a pool of over 500 vehicles provided by 50 dealerships. The current network of German Ford dealers has 527 dealers with 257 branches and 1,083 Ford authorized repair facilities and all have the ability to join the FORD2GO program.

valley fordWhile the vehicle sharing program is something being tested only in Europe currently, there are many cities here in the United States that could benefit from a program like this. With Ford increasing its line of fuel-efficient vehicles, the pools are sure to offer a great variety of vehicles. Valley Ford offers a great variety of vehicles from the sporty fuel-efficient Fiesta to the EcoBoost powered F-150. No matter what type of vehicle you need, Ford has a selection that allows you to get a great vehicle for the value and save money on fuel as a Ford owner. Stop by our website or stop by in person and see what is new at Valley Ford!

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Ford Recruits Social Media Pros to Sell the 2014 Ford Fiesta

2009_ford_fiesta_sIn 2009, Ford was the first automaker to use social media to introduce the new Ford Fiesta and was the first to debut a vehicle entirely through social media with the Explorer crossover in 2010. Since then they have used social media as a marketing tool more than any other automaker. Most recently, Ford’s Lincoln Motor Company called on fans to help “steer the script” for a Super Bowl commercial that officially launched an all-new marketing campaign for Lincoln vehicles. Ford will continue the use of social media to market the new 2014 Ford Fiesta, calling on 100 social media influencers for the “Fiesta Movement: A Social Remix”.

fiestamovementsite

To market the 2014 Fiesta, Ford is looking for 100 people who are known for their social media presence. To convey the uniqueness of the Fiesta, Ford will use a mix of paid media, social media and individual experiences with the Fiesta to market it. This diverse group of people will be given the job of telling the story of the Fiesta through their own personal experience with the high-tech subcompact. Ford is providing each person with their own Fiesta, as well as all the tools they need to create social media content including cameras and as well as anything else they may need to document their experience. With Ford originally designing the Fiesta to reflect the individuality of its owner, allowing individuals to share their own Fiesta experience will drive this point home.

Ford is also planning to part of nationally prominent events including American Idol, the Bonnaroo music festival and the X Games, making the agents and their Fiestas the center of attention. The campaign will be all about sharing the experience of the Fiesta from the owners’ point of view, giving consumers a more real look at what it is all about. While Ford has spent many years entertaining consumers with ad campaigns, it is using the reach of social media to create a campaign that includes the customers as well. This campaign gives consumers a chance align themselves on a personal level with the different individuals, almost allowing them to be in the driver’s seat of the Fiesta with them.

ford-logo-jamsThe 100 lucky social media influencers will also be given a series of “missions” to complete all over the country. Expect to see the results of these missions on primetime television and various social media sites as well as through paid advertisements. Ford is hoping that the success of the original Fiesta Movement in 2009 will be even better for 2014 with the increase in social media usage. For the 2009 campaign, the Fiestas logged over one million miles, accounted for over 50,000 pieces of content and drew over 30 million views on social media sites.

If you are a social media influencer, or just a Fiesta fan, you can visit the Fiesta Movement website and follow the progress of the 2014 campaign. They are currently taking applications for “influencers”, so if you think you have what it takes, you can enter to be one of the lucky 100. The updated 2014 Ford Fiesta will be available with Ford’s award winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine which will allow it to attain a projected 40 mpg plus as well as a long list of high tech features to go with its new look. For those who want a little more speed, there is also a 197 horsepower Fiesta ST that will be available soon. If you want to be a part of your own Fiesta Movement, Valley Ford has a great selection of Fiestas, as well as any other great fuel-efficient Ford you are looking for. You can visit our website and our Facebook and Twitter sites as well and become a part of the Valley Ford experience!

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