Now through December 31st, 2012.

“Fuel economy and technology are consumers’ biggest priorities – and we have made them Ford’s as well,” said Mark Fields, Ford president, The Americas. “Our product portfolio reflects the investment Ford has made to transform our lineup in the past several years so our customers can be more green – and keep even more green in their wallets – than when fuel prices reached $4 per gallon in 2008.”

Now, from Ford Fiesta to Super Duty and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid to Lincoln MKT, the company’s lineup features improved aerodynamics and fuel- saving technologies including PowerShift, a Ford-designed dry dual- clutch automatic transmission available in the Ford Fiesta and all-new Focus, six-speed automatic transmissions, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and EcoBoost engines that save on fuel with no compromise to driving excitement.

The newest Ford vehicle in the fuel economy winner’s circle is the all-new Focus SFE, which today has been EPA certified at 40 mpg highway and 28 mpg city. Focus joins the 41 mpg city Fusion Hybrid and 40 mpg highway Fiesta in Ford’s 40 mpg and over club.

In addition, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America with its 41 mpg city EPA-certified rating, helping make Ford and Lincoln vehicles the most fuel efficient in the company’s 107-year history.

The arrival of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine later this year in the Edge crossover and Explorer SUV will see two more nameplates join Ford’s best-in-class mpg club.

More Ford fuel economy stars include:

• Ford Mustang V6: Its high-revving 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of 31 mpg; Mustang V6 is the first car in history to deliver the combination of 300-plus horsepower and more than 30 mpg
• Ford F-150: Its 302-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic deliver a best-in-class 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway – an EPA rating Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra can’t top. The 3.7-liter V6 is one of four all-new truck engines in the 2011 F-150 lineup
• Ford Fiesta: The combination of a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter four- cylinder and available six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission delivers 40 mpg on the highway, topping Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit by 4 mpg and 5 mpg, respectively
• Ford Super Duty: The Ford-designed and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel engine delivers as much as 20 percent better fuel economy than the 6.4-liter it replaced. The new Power Stroke isn’t just fuel efficient, it’s also the most powerful diesel pickup engine money can buy, rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque
• Ford Edge: With its 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic, Edge delivers 19 mpg city and a best-in-class 27 mpg highway. The upcoming 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in the 2012 Edge is expected to deliver even greater economy
• Ford Fusion Hybrid remains America’s most fuel-efficient midsize family sedan, topping the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 10 mpg in the city, according to the EPA
• Ford Escape Hybrid, Transit Connect, Ranger and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid also lead their segments with the highest fuel economy

Customers continue to get the benefits of Ford’s largest-ever investment in fuel-efficient powertrains. In 2010, Ford launched nine new engines and six new six-speed transmissions. The company is on track to deliver fuel-saving six-speed transmissions across most of its lineup of Ford and Lincoln brand vehicles by 2013.

Many of Ford’s new powerplants include fuel-saving technologies such as:

Twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), which enables the engine to operate at peak efficiency by continually adjusting the precise moment the intake and exhaust valves open.

Gasoline direct injection (GDI), which improves efficiency by raising the compression ratio and by using precise amounts of fuel placed directly in the combustion chamber Turbocharging, which uses exhaust gases to pressurize the engine cylinders with a more dense mixture of fuel and air, increasing power EcoBoost, which uses direct injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to allow four-cylinder engines to deliver the power of V6s and V6s to deliver the power of V8s. EcoBoost engines save fuel in part because they burn less fuel and because they weigh less than the larger-displacement engines they replace EPAS, which eliminates drag on the engine by replacing the hydraulic pump with an electric motor. EPAS, available on Ford Mustang, F-150, Fiesta, the new Focus and other vehicles improves fuel economy by approximately 4 percent.

Ford says its small Fiesta is the first car in its subcompact segment to earn top crash-test ratings in each of the world’s largest auto markets that perform safety testing: the U.S., China and Europe.

In the U.S., that means the 2011 Ford Fiesta is a “top safety pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety under its new test standards. Winning safety awards around the world is a big deal, because Ford is trying to show how it can build a single model that can sell globally. In the past, it made different models for different markets.

“Ford is committed to safety, including our efforts to deliver top crash test ratings that customers look to when choosing new vehicles,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety. “Fiesta is the latest example of that safety commitment.”

Ford says testing agencies in the U.S., China, Europe and Australia/New Zealand rate the Ford Fiesta at the top of the list for crash ratings. The automaker adds that Fiesta’s latest maximum five-star safety rating was awarded by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center under the China New Car Assessment Program, or C-NCAP.

Ford has climbed 35 percentage points in the last two years, while Toyota has fallen 46 points, leaving the automakers “in a statistical dead heat,” the Yonkers, New York-based consumer magazine said.

Toyota declined as it recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide during the past two years. Ford, the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy, improved its reputation for safety, quality and value, the magazine said.

“Ford built on the momentum seen in last year’s study, likely the result of a model lineup with improving performance, reliability and styling,” Consumer Reports said in a statement today. “The massive recalls announced by Toyota earlier this year contributed to the tarnishing of its public image as measured by the poll.”

View complete story on Bloomberg.com.

“The all-new engine lineup for the 2011 Ford F-150 is focused on delivering what matters most to truck customers – best-in-class power, capability, durability and fuel economy,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “Each engine offers an unequaled combination of these attributes.”

The new 3.7-liter V6 is projected to deliver 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway in 4×2 configuration. Projections for the new 5.0-liter V8 are 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway in 4×2 configuration. No manufacturer offers better fuel economy numbers in these respective segments.

Also new for 2011 are the 6.2-liter V8 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost™. The EcoBoost will be available in early 2011; trucks with the 3.7-liter V6, 5.0-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8 will arrive in dealer showrooms later this year. The new V6 and V8 make up half of an all-new powertrain lineup for the 2011 Ford F-150, part of the most extensive engine makeover in the 62-year history of F-Series. This versatile new powertrain lineup enables F-150 customers to choose the engine that best suits their needs.

Read the full story

If the amazing new Ford Transit Connect hasn’t turned your head yet, it will.  The Ford Transit Connect won the North American Truck of the year award for a simple reason:  The Transit represents a revolutionary new mode of transportation.  With up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway, the Transit takes you further for less.  And with 135 feet of cargo space, the Transit carries amazing amounts of cargo or people.  Tri-County Ford has the full line of XL and XLT Vans and Wagons available for immediate delivery.

Gas prices are not going to trend lower, we all know that.  So as we move forward into the future, Tri-County Ford is pushing to stay on the cutting edge of high mileage technology.  So whether you’re considering a new car that gets better mileage, like the Fusion Hybrid, or considering upping your fleet capability and lowering your footprint on the road with a revolutionary Ford Transit, Tri-County Ford  stands ready to help you move to a greener, more economically nimble transportation future.

The award winning Fords of 2010 are now available for test drive at Tri-County Ford. For more information visit the Tri-County Ford  web site.

This year Buckner Tri-County Ford’s own Mark Louden will appear at The Dream Factory fund raiser at Brendan’s from 7 to 10 pm.  The fund raiser will go on all day at O’Shea’s, Flannigan’s and Brendan’s, but we all love Mark’s playing so the Tri-County Ford team will for sure be piling into catch Mark at Brendan’s from 7 to 10 pm on November 23.

The Dream Factory fund raiser is huge fun for the whole family with celebrity beverage servers like Denny and Susan Sweeney-Crumb, Roger Burkman, and Sandy Burgin from Survivor.  There’s special drink prices all day and plenty of great food.  So be sure to come out and help make a dream come true for a terminally ill child Monday, November 23rd.  All proceeds from all three pubs will go to help the Louisville Chapter of The Dream Factory make it’s thousandth wish come true.  Tri-County Ford  is so very proud to play a part in this historic landmark event.

At the Dream Factory banquet December 12th, Tri-County Ford will be donating food to help make this biannual event taste even better. The Dream Factory of Louisville will be celebrating it’s 26th year of making terminally or critically ill children’s wishes come true.  Tri-County Ford  is looking forward to helping this very worthy organization fulfill a very special child’s wish.  We hope you can join us in supporting The Dream Factory and the wonderful things they do for these very special, very brave children.  When we all pull together, we really can make dreams come true.

Despite all the challenges of this last year, we at Tri-County Ford  still feel so lucky to be among the Louisville area’s leading Ford Dealers.  2010 models are in and you have to see them to believe the advances in technology.  What Ford has done is truly amazing.  Come drive one.  We promise not to give you the hard sell, but we will reserve the right to mention all the good things The Dream Factory is planning for 2010. We’re a part of it and we’d love you to join us.

On display at the Tri-County Ford booth will be a selection of 2009 and 2010 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles built right here at KTP and LAP.  You’ll also get to speak to members of U.A.W. Local 862.

Ford Truck lovers will have a rare chance to come by the booth and actually speak with U.A.W. members who helped build the Ford Trucks that are on display.  If you’ve ever wanted to talk nuts and bolts about Ford Truck heavy-duty performance, the Tri-County Ford booth will be the time and place to get that done.

You’ll also be able to speak to Tri-County Ford Cash for Clunker consultants.  Cash for Clunkers has been an over-whelming success and Congress is voting to expand the program.  Tri-County Ford Cash for Clunker consultants will have all the latest information on how to qualify for up to $4,500.00 in cash-back monies with your new Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury purchase from Tri-County Ford.

Booth visitors will also gain special access to up-to-the-minute details on late-breaking rebate programs for all Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles.  Auto makers and dealers are aggressively fighting for market share and that means great deals, historic deals, for auto buyers.

Tri-County Ford is proud to once again be the Official Vehicle Sponsor of the 40th Annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals for the second year in a row.  As Official Vehicle Sponsor, Tri-County Ford is supplying all the courtesy vehicles for this year’s event.

If you love Fords, old and very new, you’ll love this year’s NSRA Street Rod Nationals sponsored by Tri-County Ford.  Come by our booth inside the Kentucky Exposition Center August 6 though 9th for special offers and commemorative memorabilia.