Ford is rather proud of its new SYNC system, and will be making it standard equipment on all 2013 Ford Fusion and Ford Flex models, the American automaker announced. Their MyFordTouch system will only be seen on upper trim levels however.

Surprisingly the 2013 model year of the Fusion and Flex will be the first time ever Ford has made their SYNC standard equipment. Since its introduction in 2007, Ford has installed SYNC in over four million vehicles. Now that it has become standard fare in the Fusion and Flex, Ford expects to add another nine million vehicles on the road with SYNC over the next three years.

“ Ford SYNC technology has led the industry in transforming the way we connect to our cars,” said Dave Mondragon, Ford general marketing manager. “SYNC has enabled Ford drivers to take advantage of the latest communication and entertainment technology with an easily upgradeable architecture that is friendly to use.”

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Fusion

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Flex

The Ford Flex never really caught on in the marketplace, but the car has a cult following among a certain subset, who enjoy its quirky looks and seven-passenger layout. Ford unveiled a revised version Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

For 2013, the Flex will get a few changes to help make it more attractive to consumers. The base 3.5L V6 gets a 20 horsepower increase to 285, while the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 remains unchanged. A 1 mpg bump is also applicable to the base V6.

A revised front end (similar to what was previously seen on higher end Flex trim levels) marks the big change for this year, along with an updated interior and a new version of the MyFordTouch infotainment system. Features like a blind-spot alert system, adaptive cruise control push- button start, rear inflatable belts, rain-sensing wipers and active park assist will all be available.

Gallery: 2013 Ford Flex

Ford is experiencing tremendous success with its new Vista Roof option, a large panoramic sunroof available on their crossover vehicles. Take rates for the inexpensive roof option are climbing as consumers opt for more airiness and light bathed cabins.

Both the Ford Explorer and Flex are popular models featuring the Vista Roof. Almost half of Explorer buyers are opting for the $1,595 Vista Roof, despite Ford expecting a take rate of just 30-35 percent when first introduced. With Edge buyers, 56 percent are choosing the roof and 32 percent of Flex buyers opt for it as well. The Vista Roof’s success in SUVs and crossovers is due to their large interiors that can at once feel claustrophobic for rear passengers but also offer the extra space to best accommodate the headroom-snatching glasswork and mechanism.

Interestingly, there is some degree of regionality to the roof demand. Customers in hot, sunny markets are somewhat less inclined to purchase the option. However U.S coastal regions select the panoramic roof at a near 60 percent rate. Ford has attributed this success to customers desiring more open structures and having more light available. Ford’s success with the panoramic roof only betters its bottom line. One supplier said that the American automaker could be profiting 25 percent or better on the approximately $1,500 average cost.

[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]

One of the newest safety features in the 2012 Ford Explorer are its rear seatbelts, which inflate during an accident. Now, spurred by the Explorer’s success and advanced safety ratings, Ford is making these available on the Flex and a number of Lincoln vehicles.

The seatbelts expand to protect the head, neck, and chest for rear-seat passengers—most of whom are children or the elderly, as 40% of Explorers have been purchased by parents. They are compatible with child seats and are slim enough to work like normal seatbelts.

And as a result, the Explorer is one of many Ford vehicles with a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. The Flex is another; expect its safety street cred to rise once its belts are upgraded. It’s not known which Lincoln vehicles will features these, but the MKX and MKT are probably a good guess.

With relatively poor sales the Ford Edge and its hideously-styled Lincoln-MKT derivative may be phased out in 2013 after just one generation. While a response to the lack of success for each model, Ford has a larger plan for its two remaining brands, aiming to create a larger gap between Ford and Lincoln.

With the introduction of the new 2011 Explorer, the Ford crossover lineup now has too many products and the Flex is the most likely to get the axe. We won’t be the first to suggest that a Lincoln-branded version of the Explorer could be on its way. This plan is also expected to include a redesign of the MKX in 2014 that will see it move away from the Edge.

Interestingly, while the larger Ford plan will see Ford and Lincoln move apart from each other, Ford is planning a compact front drive car or crossover for Lincoln. This could be a new model based on the upcoming Focus – especially as the elimination of the Mercury brand will also put an end to plans to bring a Focus-based Mercury to market. As for the possible crossover, we’d expected this to be a Lincoln-branded version of the upcoming Escape-replacement – which will fall more in line with the European Ford Kuga. A Lincoln compact crossover would also be a perfect competitor to the rumored Buick compact crossover that’s either going to be based on the Chevy Cruze or Chevy Aveo architecture.

[Source: AutoNews via Autoblog]

Ford announced today that five of their vehicles have been selected as Top Safety Picks By The IIHS, boosting their total to 11 vehicles. The 2010 Ford Flex and Fusion, Lincoln MKZ and MKT and the Mercury Milan all scored the highest possible ratings in the IIHS’s front, side and rear impact tests as well as their roof strength test. The ratings mean that Ford now leads the industry in Top Safety Picks as well as government five-star crash ratings.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Ford]

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Parents magazine has made the list (and assumedly checked it twice) to bring you their top 15 picks of family-friendly vehicles for 2010. Teaming up with Edmunds.com, Parents has only included models that come equipped with antilock brakes and front, side, and side-curtain air bags. These vehicles also come with family necessities such as sliding rear seats, smart storage for toys, and other amenities that make the drive that much smoother. You may be surprised to learn that not many minivans or SUVs made the list. The picks aren’t in any particular order and are broken down into categories such as sedans, hybrids and large vehicles.

They are listed after the jump, along with a few of their top selling points:

[Source: Parents]

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Ford is sticking by its slow-selling Flex crossover despite the distinctive box-on-wheels failing to meet its sales targets, and a host of internal competition in the form of a re-designed Ford Edge and an all-new Ford Explorer.

The Flex was marketed as a family-hauler after Ford killed its Freestar minivan in 2006. However Ford is launching an all-new Explorer SUV that will move from a truck platform to a car based unit. Ford is hoping to cast a wider net with the new Explorer, attracting buyers who want a more traditional vehicle and would normally consider a minivan or large SUV.

Sales of the Flex are up by nearly 15% this quarter, but they lag behind General Motors own competitiors, as well as the current Explorer, which is up over 41%. While the Flex has been praised for its good driving dynamics and powerful twin-turbo V6 engine, the slab-sided styling has polarized consumers into “love it” and “hate it” camps.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

The 2011 Ford Mustang V6 makes as much power as the 2005-2009 V8 version did, proving that six-cylinder technology is no longer for the runts of the Mustang litter. Add a couple turbochargers and direct-injection, and you get Ford’s wonderful EcoBoost motor, which has all the power you could ever want from a big V8, while getting better fuel economy.

Ford customers seem to agree, and an internal study shows that buyers are very satisfied with the performance of the EcoBoost engine. While the survey was probably not the most scientific, real-world experience with a Taurus SHO was enough to prove that the technology is sound, and the rumored four-cylinder Ecoboost should be a treat.

Press Release After The Jump

[Source: Autoblog]

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The Ford Ranger has been on the market for 12 years in its current incarnation, and while the Ford F-Series might be America’s favorite truck, the Ranger doesn’t look like its slowing down any time soon either.

With the April sales numbers released yesterday, Pickuptrucks.com made the startling discovery that in April of 2010, the Ranger outsold some pretty good cars like the Ford Mustang, Ford Flex, Honda Fit,  Chevrolet Suburban and the Mercedes C-Class. The Ranger is also beating the Flex, Fit and Suburban in Year-To-Date sales.

We’re not exactly sure what would compel anybody to buy a Ford Ranger, but the low price-tag and durable construction must be appealing for a certain section of consumers. Then again, everyone loves a good underdog story, and a 12 year old pickup beating the entry level Mercedes in the sales race? You couldn’t make that up.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]