Ford Fiesta to pace the field at NASCAR race

Can't say we are surprised by this one. Ford has been a marketing machine when it comes to promoting the all new 2011 Ford Fiesta. Now don't get us wrong we love, love, love all the attention this outstanding little car that could is getting. Why we even have been doing some ourselves right here at your favorite Maryland Ford Dealer, Leonardtown Ford.

Sure enough, the upcoming Sprint Cup Carfax 400 will be paced by none other than the Blue Oval's tiny 2011 FiestaSedan. With less than a third of the displacement of the tube-frame beasts lapping Michigan International Speedway, we wouldn't quite expect lightning-quick pace laps, but hey – safety first. While pace cars are typically some sort of performance product, manufacturers aren't past parading less than muscular new hardware in front of the captive audiences of the raceway.

If Ford was looking for a way to bring its marketing for the Fiesta out of the social media realm and into a more mainstream American venue, they could have hardly done better than the Sprint Cup. On average, the series races net 7.9 million viewers. On Sunday, August 15, each and every one of those souls will get to watch a maroon four door fiesta lead the pack, complete with a massive Blue Oval decal down the side. Talk about cheap advertising.

SOURCE [AutoBlog]

Yeah, there's an app for that

Yet again proving that there is an app for everything.



We at your favorite Maryland Ford Dealer (well we think we are your favorite and if not then we should be!) have always thought the phrase "There's an app for that" didn't apply to EVERYTHING. Well apparently we were wrong. We stumbled upon this little article about a new app to help save fuel. How sweet is that! Imagine the fuel savings you could get if you use this with the all new Ford Fiesta.

When the discussion turns to apps for the iPhone, it's far easier to think of things that the iPhone can do than it is to come up with a list of stuff that itcan't. DriveGain has introduced a new iPhone app that promises to save drivers up to $205 a year in fuel costs by following some simple visual and spoken cues.

The DriveGain app uses the iPhone's built-in GPS system to calculate the vehicle's speed and rate of acceleration and deceleration. The visual displays include a recommended gear indicator and some sliders that drivers try to keep in the green. In addition, the app calculates fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, fuel cost per mile and much more. By following the on-screen cues, DriveGain claims that it can help users save hundreds in fuel while reducing CO2 emissions by up to 660 kilograms per year.

The DriveGain app is currently only available for manual transmission vehicles, but automatics will be supported soon. The apps database has over 16,900 different cars to choose from and can be used on the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as on the iPod Touch and iPad. iPhone 4 support is coming soon. To download the app click here.

SOURCE [DriveGain]

Supercrew F150 SVT Raptor spy photos

Looks like the rumors we have been hearing at Leonardtown Ford are maybe not rumors after all! Autoblog reader Geo happened to be cruising on I-275 in Detroit last week when he was passed by a convoy of Ford F-150 pickups. Snugged smack dab in the middle was none other than the upcoming F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew without a stitch of camouflage to cover those two extra doors. Geo did what any good enterprising AB reader would do and clicked a couple of photos as the desert-crushing truck blew by. The prototype in the photos has ditched the outlandish graphics of its shorter brother, but it still looks just as mean, and it's even slathered in silver paint, a color that isn't currently available. If the badge on the fender is any indication, this particular example packs the same 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mill we were fortunate enough to sample not too long ago, which means it should have no problem jumping over hill and dale. If ever there was a backyard party on four wheels, this is it.

Gallery: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew

Reader Spy: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew spotted naked and unashamed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Residual Value Report: Ford cars make big jump

Here is a little tidbit we thought was worth sharing. It seems that Ford has seen it's residual valve take a nice jump in the past five years. Now this isn't something new to this DC area Ford Dealer. We have known all along how well this brand retains it's value. Just ask our Used Car manager he has seen trade in value skyrocket in the past few years.

The Automotive Lease Guide has just released its annual report of residual values. Thanks to slimmed production and lower incentives, both Ford and Chevrolet saw jumps of 11 and 7.5 percentage points, respectively, compared to five years ago, and a number of other manufacturers saw the worth of their products climb as well. Ford's passenger cars managed to rank second in the highest improvement since 2005 with a residual value of 48.8 percent. Both Ford and Chevrolet trucks are counted separately in the survey because of their disproportionately high residual value.

Both Suzuki and Hyundai found themselves on the top five list of improved residual value with 12.6 and 9.1 respective percentage point jumps over 2005 – healthy numbers. But for as much as those brands have improved over the last half decade, others, like Porsche, Volvo and BMW have seen their numbers fall.

Porsche has taken the biggest hit, with the company's residual value falling to 44.4 percent – an 8.2 percentage point drop since 2005.


SOURCE [AutoBlog]

Jay Leno's garage

Some pretty cool video of the 2011 Mustang GT with Jay Leno



Want one in your garage?  Come see us at Leonardtown Ford!

Update on the F150 SVT Raptor

Well, you asked and Ford has delivered and will keep on delivering.  You can now get a F150 SVT Raptor with the new 6.2L V8 engine...talk about horsepower!  And in 2011 you will be able to get a crewcab!

My only wish is that someone from Leonardtown Ford could have been with these guys in Michigan when they were mudding.  Now that would have been fun.

Check it out...http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/05/second-drive-2010-ford-f150-svt-raptor-62.html

2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Motor Trend review

We didn't want you to think that we had forgotten about the much anticipated 2011 Super Duty.  We have several in stock -  both the 6.2L gas engine as well as the 6.7L turbo diesel.  Come to Leonardtown Ford and take a test drive and judge for yourself!