I was enjoying my cup of coffee yesterday morning while browsing the net looking for a Volvo tie rod and Volvo strut mount and, of course, the latest updates in the auto world. When I visited Ford’s website, I checked what’s new in their line-up vehicles. And oh boy, what on earth do we have here? It’s the 2008 Ford Super Duty truck!

From the pictures displayed on the pages, you can tell that it is absolutely tough! I can imagine how powerful it is and I think it can stamp all trucks with its fierceness and authority! I mean, this is a monster unleashed by Ford. But this monster is cool! You can compare it to your hard working dad or a workhorse, just like any other reliable stuff around but with more extra power!

The new F-450 is pickup truck is the most capable and the leading workhorse in America. It provides a top towing capacity with more than 24,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 6,000 pounds! Don’t be deceived by the mean-looking façade because this monster is quiet with the new 6.4-litre Power Stroke® V8 Turbo diesel - indeed it possesses the clean diesel technology.

Engine specifications:

• Fuel injection: Sequential electronic
  
• Engine control system: Electronic
  
• Induction system: Specially tuned
  
• Battery: 12-volt; 650-CCA/72-amp
  
• Alternator: 115-amp
  
• Cooling system: Pressurized series flow
  
• Cylinders: 8
  
• Cylinder head material: Aluminum
  
• Block material: Cast iron
  
• Valve operation: Hydraulic roller
  
• Camshaft drive: Variable cam timing
  
• Bore/stroke (in.): 3.55/4.16
  
• Compression ratio: 9.8:1
  
• Horsepower (hp at rpm): 300 at 5000 rpm
  
• Torque (lbs.-ft. at rpm): 365 at 3750 rpm
  
• Recommended fuel: Unleaded/diesel
  
• Transmission: 6-speed manual standard or 5-speed TorqshiftTM automatic optional

• 6.4 PowerStroke® diesel
  
• Dual Turbos
  
• Ford Clean Diesel Technology™
  
• Advanced Fuel Injection
  
• TorqueShift™ transmission
  
• Longer rear leaf springs
  
• Higher front GAWRs
  
• High strength front end
  
• Innovative Command
  
• Best-in-class towing
  
• Stowable Bed Extender™
  
• Handy Integrated Tailgate Step
  
• RapidHeat™ Cab Heater
  
• PowerScope® side mirrors

Volvo, the Europe’s most famous car maker, is planning to invade India to back up the Ford India Ltd. - an Indian brand that is connected to the Ford Motor Company of the US. Volvo and Ford plans to collaborate to give the Indian car market more quality cars. Ford will handle the supply of mid-size segment entrants while Volvo will handle giving more high-end cars. The Ikon was given as a sample and now, Ford will be doing the Fiesta for the Indian car market.

The Volvo Car India managing director Paul de Voijs told the Business Standard today that, "Future launches in India could be a part of our global synergy with Ford Motor. We could bring in vehicles having shared technologies (platform) with Ford Motor to increase our presence in India." He said that two powerful companies will merge to make quality cars for the Indian car market.

The Volvo C70 as well as the C30 is planned to share a platform with the Ford Focus line up and is seen to be available by next year.

Religare Securities’ analyst Arvind Jain said, "It seems to be a prudent strategy. Both the companies would leverage common technologies and resources to maintain their competitiveness." The venture of the two big car companies is a plain strategy that could prolog the existence in the Indian car market.

Volvo will release its four-door S80 along with its XC90 SUV. These two vehicles is priced at Rs 4.5 million and Rs 6 million respectively. Volvo is expecting these cars to be available on the car market this year.

These cars will all come from other production plants as imported vehicles. The pricing is not specified yet but they say it’s above the end of the A5 segment. Other car parts like Highland mats and Hypertech were all not mentioned whether they are available on the new cars. Let us just all wait and see if the new car will set a fire (or a grand blaze) in the Indian car market.

The Funkmaster Flex's Car Wars TV series will start its new season this coming Sunday on ESPN. And Ford will be one among the sponsors of the new show. Car Wars on TV will be using Ford’s new 2008 Lincoln Navigator as the car which will used by four competing groups. What these groups would be doing is that they will be modifying the new car and the winning team will receive a $50,000 prize.

Funkmaster Flex visited Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant just recently. If you can recall, Ford released a new car at the most recent New York Auto Show and now Ford is building the new vehicle which is going to be renamed the Ford Flex Expedition. This is the reason why the hip hop musician visited the site where his new Flex car will be made.

Yup, the newest SUV from Ford’s line-up will be carrying the Flex name. The new Expedition will be out this coming fall handling a custom-made interior, a bold two-tone paint job as well as 3D carbon body kit. Other specs and prices were not yet revealed, however, it will be out soon so we will just wait for it.

Anyway, online stores are selling quality car parts like headlights,
Magnaflow and Covercraft. So, whenever you are in need for car parts, check out your trusted auto parts website and avail of the latest promo and discounts.

Ford must be perfecting the new car model. I just hope to see a little progress for Ford in terms of its financial status.

Ford Motorsport has become known to all of us as one of the best teams to ever participate in motorsport events. I’ve been a witness of some of their triumphant moments in racing and I can say that they were successful for the years that they have joined the games and these years are still counting.

While I was getting some info about Dodge brake pads and the Chevrolet pickup handle relocation kit, I spent some sometime reading on the successful history of Ford Motorsport and what I was reading really caught my interest. By the way, I got the information from ford.co.uk.com and it really gave me the idea of how victorious Ford Motorsport has been from the year 1930 to 2005!

It is awesome knowing that the group started a long time ago and until now, Ford Motorsport continues to make history!

Here are the highlights of Ford Motorsport from 1930 to 2005:

1930s

• V8-engined cars twice won the famous Monte Carlo Rally

• Ford made its mark with a stream of wins by six-cylinder Zephyrs
  
• Maurice Gatsonides won the Monte Carlo Rally

• Victorious on the East African Safari
  
• Won Britain’s RAC Rally

• The Zephyr was replaced by the light but versatile and rugged Cortina
  
• Won the East African Safari
  
• Success on the Acropolis and RAC Rallies
  
• Roger Clark’s Lotus-engined car narrowly missed out on winning the London-Sydney Marathon
  
• Launch of the Escort and the beginning of Ford’s finest chapter in rallying history, winning the Circuit of Ireland, Tulip, Austrian Alpine, Acropolis and Scottish rallies in an eight-week period and then Finland’s 1000 Lakes Rally to help Ford secure the World Rally Championship for Makes
  
• Ford won the world title again

• The Escort RS1600 took over from the Twin-Cam
  
• Special overhead-valve engined cars dominated the 16,000-mile London to Mexico World Cup Rally, finishing first, with Finn Hannu Mikkola taking victory, as well as third, fifth sixth and eighth.
  
• Mikkola won the East African Safari and Clark entered the history books of British rallying by winning the RAC Rally

• Timo Mäkinen won RAC Rally
  
• Timo Mäkinen won RAC Rally in the new-style Mk2 Escort RS1800.
  
• Clark won RAC Rally and with Mikkola and Sweden’s Bjorn Waldegard spearheaded the official Ford team’s international charge over the course of the next few years as the Escort became virtually unbeatable
  
• Waldegard won three punishing world championship rallies: the East African Safari, the Acropolis and RAC events.
  
• Escort swept the board in the championship, winning the manufacturers’ title and the drivers’ crown for Waldegard, who edged out team-mate Mikkola

• From turbocharged RS200 to Ford Sierra
  
• Another Finn, Ari Vatanen, continued Ford’s success with victories in Greece,
  
• Brazil and Finland the first, and only, privateer to win the world drivers’ title.
  
• The introduction of the turbocharged RS200, which won 19 international rallies in the season before more rule changes led to the introduction of the Ford Sierra
  
• Frenchman Didier Auriol scored his maiden world victory on the Tour of Corsica

• The RS Cosworth and the final Escort World Rally Car make way for the Focus

• The new turbocharged four-wheel Escort, the RS Cosworth won in Spain

• The Cosworth won in Britain
  
• Five world championship rounds won by François Delecour, Miki Biasion and Franco Cunico. Delecour finished second in the drivers’ championship and Ford were runners-up in the manufacturers’ series
  
• Victorious in 25 European Championship rounds, as well as national titles in Africa and Austria, Switzerland and Portugal, Finland and Turkey
  
• Final world rally success came in Indonesia in with Carlos Sainz at the wheel
  
• Ford evolved the Escort World Rally Car. Sainz drove it to victory in Greece and Indonesia as the team finished second in the manufacturers’ championship
  
• The end of the season marked the end of the Escort’s career as an official Ford-entered rally car with a remarkable 46 world class wins
  
• Introduction of the Focus as the most technically-advanced rally car ever built, winning only its third event, the demanding Safari Rally, with Colin McRae, who also won the following Rally of Portugal

• The wins continue into the new century
  
• McRae won in Spain and Greece. Sainz victorious in Cyprus. Ford runners-up in the manufacturers' championship

• The team was second again as McRae and Sainz get another six world rally wins
  
• Introduction of a radical and revolutionary new Focus RS World Rally Car which took rally car design and technology to new frontiers. The car was a huge success and Markko Märtin claimed victories in Greece and Finland
  
• Markko Märtin won Rally Mexico. A new evolution was unveiled in April 2004 on Rally New Zealand and Märtin took that to victory on the final two asphalt events of the season in Corsica and Spain
  
• 50th consecutive points finish in the FIA WRC. Since 1973 and 411 world rallies, no other manufacturer has scored in more than 36 consecutive events.

Ford Racing fans, here is another NASCAR news for all of you. While we are waiting for the exciting NASCAR Nextel Cup all-star event this coming weekend, let us lend our ears, or I mean read the views of one of Ford Racing's promising driver, Robby Gordon regarding some
NASCAR issues. Gordon currently drives the No. 7 Menards/MAPEI Ford Fusion equipped with quality Ford performance parts, just like Mopar's Dodge Avenger performance parts.

This interview was taken during the Nextel Wake-Up Call press conference that took place at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Thanks to Ford Racing's website (www.fordracing.com) for this one.

CAN YOU TELL EVERYONE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE OFFER YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE IF YOU WIN THE NEXTEL FAN VOTE?
"I came up with an idea a couple of weeks ago and I think Kyle came up with it a year ago and it's like, Hey, I'll just give my money away. But then I started hearing a lot of other guys say, 'We'll give our money away, too.' But then I started thinking, 'They can't give their money away without asking their owner. They can only give 30 percent or 40 percent or 50 percent of their money away.' There's a pretty big difference there."

IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE TO RUNNING THE OPEN? WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT PAY OFF AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK.
"I think Kasey [Kahne] finished last year. I think the series is just so competitive right now that if you can gain a little more track time it obviously helps us. Provided that we have good communication with the crew chief of what went on during that race, track time, it's already gonna be dark by that point, so it should be able to relay back to the all-star race as well."

THE MONEY FOR THE CHALLENGE IS BIG BUT NOT NEARLY AS BIG FOR THE OPEN. IF THIS RACE WERE TO EVER LEAVE CHARLOTTE, HOW HARD WOULD IT BE FOR A TEAM TO TRAVEL AND RUN THE OPEN?
"Obviously, the money is a lot different. How do I say it, the money wouldn't even pay for the engine or the tires. It doesn't pay for it the way it is right now. I'm pretty sure my contracts don't require me to run the all-star race. As a matter of fact, I'm positive they don't, but we do it because it's here in Charlotte, it's easy to do and it's track experience that you can take into the Coca-Cola 600 the next weekend. As a matter of fact, I know all of my contracts are for the 36 Nextel Cup races."

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TERRY LABONTE TESTING FOR THE BUSCH RACE IN MONTREAL?
"I think Terry, that's probably the right thing; especially if he's not gonna run the race. Maybe he's gonna run the race, I don't know, but information is so important. We get such little information these days because of the testing that goes on – the little information you're able to gather with the seven Nextel Cup tests and the tracks you can't go to and really gather any information for the cars that we have, it'll definitely help RCR for gears and stuff like that, but we've been road racing for years and you can look at how many feet their straightaways are and how sharp the corners are and pretty much nail the gear to within 50-100 RPM anyway."

DOES THE OPEN GET THE CREDIT IT DESERVES?
"When you look at the guys in it, it's obviously competitive. You've got Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer and Montoya and Kenny (Wallace). The list is long of the guys that are in the Open. This series, you take the Hendrick cars out of the car of tomorrow deal, back on the mile-and-a-half tracks like this before, it was fairly competitive last year. There was 10 or 15 guys that could have won races on mile-and-a-half race tracks, and I think the car of tomorrow, even though the field is tighter, it's separated a little bit more.

"Those guys have dominated the first five events, but it's gonna be a tough race. It'll be exciting. Everybody will enter the Open or race the Open different than they'll race the All-Star Challenge because you have to use that car for the All-Star Challenge, so you have to make sure you have clean fenders on it and it's still aerodynamically sound.

"We've seen for years here them wrecking across the finish line for the win. If you wreck across the finish line for the win in the Open, all of the information you just learned is out the door, so why do that? So I don't think you're gonna see as exciting of a race in the Open as you will see in the All-Star Challenge because of that."

ON JEFF BURTON'S RISE AND BEING IN THE ALL-STAR CHALLENGE.
"I think that shows how much a team has to do with the performance of an individual. One guy doesn't make a team perform."

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 60 Ford Fusion sponsored by Scotts-Miracle Gro has dominated the practice test in preparation for the upcoming CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 race.

During the test race, Edwards' No. 60 Ford Fusion was the fastest machine among the 32
race cars. His car, the No. 60 Ford Fusion equipped with aerodynamic parts similar to BMW spoiler reached a maximum speed of 179.390 mph. Carl Edwards commented: "Our car is really good and I think it is going to get a little bit faster as the night goes on. Hopefully we can stay on top because everyone is closing in. I think we had a really good set-up to start with, so we were really fast yesterday. But now everyone is working on their stuff and getting faster."

If you don’t know Carl Edwards, check out this trivia about him:

* Edwards is most popular among fans for celebrating his wins by doing a backflip off his car (or truck), a style of celebration he took from sprint car driver Tyler Walker. Seizing on the popularity of Edwards' trademark celebrations, Ford has recently ran several "Overactive Adrenaline Disorder" commercials featuring a "young Carl" performing backflips in his baby crib, off of a couch, and off a doctors exam table.

* Edwards previously dated Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Amanda Beard, who was a NASCAR fan long before she and Edwards began dating. While they were dating, she got him into an Olympic Training Center for help to perfect his trademark backflip.

* During the week of the Auto Club 500, Edwards participated in taping of the Fox television series 24, where he played Homeland Security Agent Jim Hill.

* Edwards made an appearance on the February 22, 2006 episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Ferguson produced the cover of the February issue of ESPN magazine which featured a bare-chested photo of Edwards. Joking that Edwards' nipples seemed far apart, Ferguson suggested this was due to the high rates of speed at which Edwards often traveled.

* Edwards was ranked #1 in the 2006 Sporting News pre-season poll

* Following the 2006 NEXTEL Cup race at Pocono, where he was caught in a wreck intentionally caused by fellow driver Tony Stewart, Edwards called Stewart a moron. Stewart returned this by suggesting Edwards was the "Eddie Haskel" of NASCAR. Both drivers later apologized for their comments.

* Edwards is a first cousin once removed to fellow NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and it was, in fact, Schrader who furiously told Edwards early in his racing career to get dirt track experience before going to Cup; he took the advice.

* He is not featured in the video game NASCAR 07, despite winning 4 races prior to its release, and finishing third in the NEXTEL Cup points in 2005. He is one of the few drivers who has opted not to sign his name and likeness over to Electronic Arts, the makers of the NASCAR 07 game. He has instead lent his name to a series of plug-and play video games made by Excalibur Electronics. Both the 8-bit and 16-bit version of Carl's racing game feature his signature backflip, shown whenever Carl's character wins a race. He has also endorsed a hand held LCD game, which is co-branded with NASCAR and is highlighted by red #99 Carl Edwards graphics.

* Off the track, Carl has been busy promoting his new record label, Back40 Records, a company he started with a high school friend back in Columbia, MO. Back40 Records is an Independent record label searching for new talent in the Mid-MO area.

Of course, it is. Ford has decided to close another plant - the Cleveland-area casting plant which was treated as a client by the Ashtabula County manufacturers on the area. Ford officials announced the closure. This definitely means job cuts for the employees.

The Ford Motor Company announced to discontinue the operation of their production plant in Brook Park this 2009. The company announced that over 1,200 employees will be eliminated. Ford also plans to close the engine manufacturing plant in the area after a year. The Ford Racing cold air intake is one among the car parts made in the mentioned facility.

"It doesn't appear to have an impact,” the executive director of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County Joseph Mayernick said. He also added that the news should not be a hindrance to those industries that manufacture Ford parts. Ford is taking some of their parts like the Centerforce clutch and the Corsa exhaust from some companies including the CSP in Ohio particularly at the Conneaut. There are almost 200 people working in that area which specializes in plastic parts and fiberglass used in making Ford cars.

Dave Murtha, the director of operations of CSP, said, “The Brook Park situation will not affect business at his plant. There will be no effect whatsoever. We've experienced no setbacks."

The domestic auto maker decided to close the said plant which started its operation in 1952. The production plant is actually where the engine parts of Ford is made. But because it has been several years that engine parts have been stagnant, Ford has not found any reason to continue its operations there. Ford is manufacturing the V6 3L engine and if the demand for this engine increases next year, they will open the production plant again.

"It doesn't appear to have had an impact," said Mayernick. He said the relationship between the Ford Motor Company and the Ashtabula County businesses should not be affected because of the plan to close the Cleveland-area casting plant.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, one of Australia's leading online publications has recently reported that Ford Motor Company's Australian arm is planning to put the Ford Fairlane and LTD luxury sedans out of production. Right. Tom Gorman, President of Ford Australia announced this in a recent media briefing. He said: "A significant decline in sales of vehicles in the upper large segment over the past few years has meant that local production of long wheelbase variants, primarily for domestic sale only, is currently no longer sustainable. "

Gorman added: "The emotion of this decision has been very difficult. Sometimes the hard decision and the right decision are the same one. The Fairlane nameplate has been a key part of the Ford line-up since 1967. When the ZA Fairlane... created a whole new market segment in the process."

The Ford Fairlane and LTD has been Australia's flagship model for years and most Australian drivers own one. But why do Ford Australia is planning to discontinue the two of its most popular vehicle models?
According to Ford Australia, they will roll out the last models of Ford Fairlane and LTD later this 2007 or early in 2008. Now its official. The Ford Fairlane and LTD nameplates is headed six feet under. Perhaps Ford Australia will focus in producing quality non-luxury cars, trucks, and SUVs with affordable replacement auto parts unlike Mercedes-Benz models with luxury parts like Mercedes cargo mat.

Meanwhile, Ford Australia is planning to release a new model named Orion to be launch in the 1st quarter of 2008 so watch out for it.

I am very excited for the upcoming mother’s day celebration this weekend! I am thinking of the best present that I can give to my mom - something special that she truly deserves. I, like most of you, are close to our moms. Sometimes she’s there for us as our best friend and she has been our loving guardian ever since we were born. She has been there when we were first to learn how to crawl and walk and talk. We have to give the best so that we have to show our gratitude and love for our dear mothers this weekend and show them how special they are in our lives.

So, you came up with something special for your mom? Me? Not yet, but I was thinking of giving her a Ford pickup cowl cover or a Ford pickup oil filter relocation kit. Nah, just kidding!

But Ford has it! Yes, I’m serious. Inline with the Mother’s Day Celebration this coming weekend, Ford and Lincoln cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs have prepared the top10 mom-friendly features from these vehicle segments. A cool surprise to all moms out there, isn’t it? Through this way, moms will feel some special care and enjoy the fun and entertainment that their cars have to offer.

So let’s distinguish the top ten mom-friendly features from Ford and Lincoln cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs:

Headrest DVD Entertainment System: When we are stuck in a middle of a traffic jam, like when we were kids, we always ask our moms “Are we there yet?” We get bored of the traffic and sometimes it irritates children and babies alike, so they cry and cry. Whew! Pretty annoying scenario! That’s why DVD players are featured in Ford and Lincoln vehicles to keep us entertained while waiting for normal traffic to resume and for us to be energized while we haven’t reached our destination yet. It would also keep us from getting bored during long or short drives. In this manner, your mom can drive without much worries and with her attention directed straight right on the road and not on those fussing kids.

Reverse Sensing System: With the assistance of the Reverse Sensing System alerts, drivers can detect if there are objects in the vehicle’s path when slowly driving in reverse. This one is also great in helping moms drive thru a bike-filled driveway or navigate the car in the toughest and worst parking lots with no difficulty at all. This feature has innovative and ultrasonic sensors that are situated at the rear bumper to noticeably observe when things are behind the car. This feature is available on the Ford Taurus, Taurus X, Edge, Escape Explorer, Sport Trac, Expedition, F-150, F-Series Super Duty and the E-Series as well as on the Lincoln MKX and the Navigator.

MP3 Audio Input Jack: This very entertaining feature will definitely make your moms shake their body to the beat of the group. You can make your personal family soundtrack while traveling across the country. Shake it, shake it mama!

CenterSlide™ Second Row: The Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator allows moms to reach for their kids or stuffs at the second row or the middle section with easiness and manageability. The middle section of the second row moves forward up to 27.9 cm or 11 inches.

Power Liftgate: This feature is available on the Ford Expedition and Taurus X; the Lincoln MKX and Navigator. It lifts and lowers by pushing the button on a keyless-entry key fob remote. The accessible power liftgate raises and lowers with the push of a button on the remote keyless-entry key fob. It makes shopping for moms very easy!

PowerFold™ Seats: You can fit all the stuff you need because there are a lot of spaces when the class-exclusive PowerFold seats are folded with a click of the button! Ford’s available class-exclusive PowerFold™ third-row seats provide extra room for stuffs, baggage, gear, and all other items you may have with you. It is offered in the Ford Explorer, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models.

Memory Seats: This is one feature they will all love! When moms share their vehicle with their driving kids or any member of the family, the feature allows the driver to save and keep their ideal seat locations to memory and there’s no need to reset whenever they come into the vehicle again. The Ford Taurus X, Ford Taurus, Edge, Explorer, Expedition and the F-150 has this as well as the Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKX, and the Navigator.

Compartmentalized Centre Console: This feature has a handy portable divider which is a standard centre console found in the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX crossovers that offer several organized techniques to hold a range of devices such as cell phones, napkins/tissues, hand bags and even DVDs and laptops. It is also featured in the new Ford Escape and Escape.

DVD-Based Navigation System: Moms who have the “always on the move” attitude will surely love Ford’s DVD-based Navigation System. The system features:

• a 6.5-inch-wide screen (16.5 cm)
  
• recites turn-by-turn travel directions in English, French or Spanish
  
• Helps find spots of interest like gas stations, ATMs and restaurants.
  
• Features a six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 player and AM/FM radio.

Ford is planning to celebrate the anniversary of its Deuce Coupe of being in the industry for 75 years. And the company is planning on celebrating the occasion by doing a party. The party will be on August 9-12 and will be held at the Greenfield Village where they are going to celebrate the two huge contributions of Ford to the automotive industry - the flathead V8 and the '32 Ford as well.

The Ford Motor Company plans a little swap meet between the models '32 Fords and the Ford car which are powered by the powerful flathead V8. This engine source is also used on some other relevant models. A revelation of classic cars will also happen on the August 11, Saturday which will be held in the Dearborn Proving Grounds test track. And on Sunday, 11th day of August, the Edsel Ford estate will all be capped. Ford parts, of course, and other car parts are installed on the said vehicles.

The event will be attended by Ford’s highest ranking officials including Edsel Ford, the honorary chairm, and, of course, the Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. You can also visit the official Ford Website on the event so you will know more details about the event. The website is at the 75 Web site.

It’s good news for Ford that despite the hard times being encountered at present time, they still have time to celebrate important events.

We are not familiar with the people responsible for Ford’s success during the past years. We are even unaware who distributes and delivers the manufactured Ford parts and all of the other stuff. But this time, the Ford Motor Company has recognized all of the right people and groups so much so that we’ll be aware about who they really are.

Ford has recognized the excellent job carried out by their global suppliers across the globe. The Fifty Five 2006 World Excellence Awards were presented last April 17, 2007 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan. Fifty five of its worldwide dealers have been acknowledged for their outstanding performance last year, and the Ford Motor Company showed their appreciation thru this wonderful event.

The World Excellence Awards is not only given to suppliers who achieves the highest delivery and quality and levels of cost but being aware of the diverse values, cultures, ideas and values of the hundreds and thousands of people they provide work for.

"We appreciate the contributions that these award-winning suppliers have made to Ford Motor Company, and applaud them for their hard work and dedication. Their efforts have positively impacted customer satisfaction," said Tony (Thomas K.) Brown, the Senior Vice-President for the company’s Global Purchasing team.

“Ford and its suppliers are working together to reach their goals.” This was according to the keynote speaker who is the Ford Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally.

"Together, we are one team working on one plan with one goal in mind - build the products people really want to create profitable growth for everyone associated with our wonderful Ford Motor Company," Mulally said. "We can ensure a viable Ford Motor Company and a vibrant automobile industry if we go forward together."

Here are the lists of recipients of the Ford Fifty Five 2006 World Excellence Awards:

Suppliers earning the Gold Award (Quality, Cost & Delivery) are:

• ArvinMeritor, Inc.; Almussafes, Spain - Exhaust Systems
  
• Autoliv BKI S.A.; La Pobla de Vallbona, Spain - Air Bags
  
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Tondela, Portugal - Latches
  
• Durakon Industries; Lapeer, Michigan USA - Bed Liners
  
• Ewie Co., Inc.; Ann Arbor, Michigan USA - Cutting Tools & Abrasives
  
• Faurecia Interior Systems; Koln, Germany - Door Modules
  
• Fujikura Ltd.; Yamagata, Japan - Wiring Harnesses
  
• Intier Automotive Seating; Eastleigh, England - Seats
  
• Intier Automotive Seating; Excelsior Springs, Missouri USA - Seats
  
• Johnson Controls, Inc.; Shelbyville, Kentucky USA - Seats
  
• Lear Corporation; Genk, Belgium - Seats
  
• Ronal Polska Sp. z o.o.; Walbrzych, Poland - Wheels
  
• Stena Gotthard AB; Goteborg, Sweden - Recycling & Environmental Services
  
• Superior Industries International, Inc.; Pittsburg, Kansas USA - Wheels
  
• TRW Polska Sp. z o.o.; Czestochowa, Poland - Air Bags

• Aristeo Construction Company; Livonia, Michigan USA - Construction
  
• Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG; Dachau, Germany - Air Bags
  
• Autoliv North America; Columbia City, Indiana USA - Air Bags
  
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Saarwellingen, Germany - Door Modules
  
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Santa Margarida, Spain - Door Modules
  
• Continental Automotive Mexicana S.A. de C.V.; Silao, Mexico - Brake Assemblies
  
• Dalphi Metal Internacional, S.A.; Silla, Spain - Steering Wheels
  
• Delphi Corporation; New Castle, Indiana USA - Steering Columns
  
• Denso Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc.; Athens, Tennessee USA - Emissions Sensors
  
• Dr. Franz Schneider, S.A.; Valencia, Spain - Instrument Panels
  
• Elanders Infologistics Vast AB; Goteborg, Sweden - Print Management
  
• Ewie Canada Co.; Windsor, Ontario, Canada - Cutting Tools & Abrasives
  
• Faurecia Interior Systems; Valencia, Spain - Door Modules
  
• Flex-N-Gate Battle Creek; Battle Creek, Michigan USA - Stampings
  
• Grupo Antolin-Dapsa , S.A.; Burgos, Spain - Seats
  
• Grupo Antolin-Logistik Deutschland, GmbH; Koln, Germany - Headliners
  
• Hayes Lemmerz Autokola, A.S.; Ostrava, Czech Republic - Wheels
  
• Hayes Lemmerz International - Frenos, S.A. de C.V.; Apodaca, Mexico - Brake Assemblies
  
• Hella Autotechnik, Ltd.; Mohelnice, Czech Republic - Lamp Assemblies
  
• International Automotive Components; Koln, Germany - Instrument Panels
  
• Johnson Controls, Inc.; Hudson, Wisconsin USA - Seats
  
• Latcha + Associates; Farmington Hills, Michigan USA - Creative Services
  
• Lear Corporation; St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada - Seats
  
• Linde Creighton Ltd.; West Midlands, England - Forklift Trucks
  
• Litens Automotive GmbH; Gelnhausen, Germany - FEAD Systems
  
• Magna Closures; Pisa, Italy - Latches
  
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Nagano, Japan - Audio & Navigation Systems
  
• P&A Industries, Inc.; Findlay, Ohio USA - Stampings
  
• Rehau AG + Co.; Viechtach, Germany - Spoilers
  
• Sanden Corporation; Gunma, Japan - A/C Compressors
  
• Sanyo Automotive, Inc.; Penang, Malaysia - Audio
  
• Stenco Construction Company, L.L.C.; Livonia, Michigan USA - Construction
  
• Tenneco Inc.; Valencia, Spain - Exhaust Systems
  
• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ilsenburg GmbH; Ilsenburg, Germany - Camshafts

• Autoliv Sverige AB - New Consumer-Focused Technology
  
• Denso Corporation - Durability and Reliability Performance
  
• Johnson Controls, Inc. - Corporate Responsibility
  
• Kelly Services, Inc. - Diversity and Community Service
  
• Lear Corporation - Consumer-Driven 6-Sigma
  
• Novelis Inc. - New Consumer-Focused Technology