CNBC's Winners & Losers of 2009

Alan Mulally,CEO, Ford Motor

Mulally is in the winner's circle.

Read more at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/33278153/page/12/

Ford Fusion is top car; billionaire buys stock

By BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Photos and video Ford Motor Co. scored a hat trick on Tuesday. Motor Trend magazine selected the Ford Fusion midsize sedan as its car of the year. Billionaire financier George Soros revealed his investment arm has purchased $52.9 million in Ford stock. And, the company's stock price hit a 2year high of $9 per share before closing at $8.98 for the day.

"It's really gratifying to see that everybody is appreciating the Ford plan and the progress we are making," Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Alan Mulally said during a crowded celebration Tuesday, while sporting an arm sling because of recent shoulder surgery.

Mulally, who underwent surgery this month to fix a lingering tennis and golf injury, attended Motor Trend's award ceremony at Ford's world headquarters.

Mulally said the progress of his shoulder, like Ford, is ahead of schedule and said the Motor Trend Car of the Year award provides additional evidence of that progress.

About 500 employees attended the emotional ceremony, including hundreds who worked directly on the Fusion and proudly stood up to accept credit from Ford's leaders.

"It means so much to all the Ford employees," said Sonya Nematollahi, who was the engineering supervisor for the Fusion's instrument cluster and has worked for Ford for 19 years. "We had such a dedicated team that worked through Saturdays and Sundays and holidays."

Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend's editor in chief, said the 2010 Ford Fusion beat a field of nearly two dozen contenders that were put through intensive driving tests.

First introduced in 2005, the Ford Fusion was refreshed this year with a new engine, transmission and better fuel efficiency as well as a redesigned front end and interior.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, said better fuel efficiency was among the key improvements for the 2010 Ford Fusion.

Because of the improved fuel economy, Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said the 2010 Fusion has "really done a lot for our image, and it's done a lot for our sales and market share."

Since the redesigned Fusion was introduced in March, it has become the top-selling car built by an American automaker.

Top 2010 safety picks
The Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety named 27
vehicles as winners of its top
safety pick award for the 2010
model year. The award recognizes
vehicles that do the best
job of protecting motorists in
front, side, rear and rollover
crashes and have anti-rollover
technology called electronic
stability control, or ESC.

LARGE CARS
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

MIDSIZE CARS
AudiA3
Chevrolet Malibu (built after
Oct. 2009)
Chrysler Sebring (4-door with
optional ESC)
Dodge Avenger
Mercedes CClass
Su ba ru Legacy
Su ba ru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta (4-door)
Volkswagen Passat (4-door)
Volvo C30

SMALL CARS
Honda Civic (4-door with optional
ESC, except Si)
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf (4-door)

MIDSIZE SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

SMALL SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot (with optional side
thorax air bags)
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Ford Fusion

The Comeback Kid: Do-it-All Sedan is Reborn for 2010 and is Better, Smarter, Nicer, Prettier, Comfier, Leaner, Meaner, and Greener in Every Way
November 17, 2009 / By Matt Stone / Photography by Wesley Allison

n 1964, Motor Trend's Car of the Year award went to the entire Ford lineup, recognizing its combination of design, engineering excellence, and performance. In 1970, we gave the nod to the Ford Torino, which could be ordered in a wide variety of configurations. Forty years ago, buyers could choose from economical, six-cylinder-powered sedans to the dragstrip-ready 429 Super Cobra Jet fastback. These legendary winners had one thing in common: bandwidth. In the 1960s and '70s, this term wasn't yet part of popular lexicon. Today, the 2010 Ford Fusion's impressive bandwidth as a model range was one of the many factors that helped it earn the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year award.

Want an economical midsize sedan that doesn't cost much, yet won't bore you to tears? Need to please your greener side with a high-tech hybrid? Fancy a near-sport sedan with AWD, 18-inch rolling stock, and the latest infotainment and electronics? Depending on which model you choose and how many option boxes you tick, the Fusion can be any of the above. Arthur St. Antoine calls the Fusion "a compelling sweep across one of the market's most hotly contested segments."

The original Ford Fusion came to market for the 2006 model year. The basics were there, but the car wasn't fully baked. For 2010, Ford's product teams gave the lineup a soup-to-nuts redevelopment so thorough, it's as if the first-generation car never existed. Only the passenger-shell sheetmetal and other basic architectural elements escaped being redesigned, upgraded, or replaced. Although a four-door sedan is the only body style offered, powertrain choices expand from two to four, and each is new or substantially revised. There are several trim levels offered as well: base S, upmarket SE, luxurious SEL, a separate Sport model, and a Hybrid. Early in this year's COTY program, there were quiet whispers, while heads nodded, about how the Fusion looked, felt, and drove like an entirely new machine.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/112_1001_2010_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_ford_fusion/index.html#ixzz0XRoFQoMB

See All About SYNC

Visit Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury at Best Buy Nov. 5-7

November 5-7, Randall and Sherry Reed invite you to come see what SYNC is all about. Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury will be on location at Best Buy, located at 3171 N. George Bush Freeway. Prestige will be there with SYNC specialists from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Current customers, when you stop by to learn more about SYNC, you will receive a $5 Best Buy gift card. If you don’t yet own and want to see what SYNC is all about, you could receive a $50 Best Buy gift card when you stop by the event and then come into the dealership for a test-drive.

For Complete Details and to Register:

To sign up, visit: www.syncbestbuy.com

Randall Reed’s Truck or Treat

Community Gathers for Sweet Deals

As the sun gave way to the night, lil’ ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and kids gathered for Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury’s annual Truck or Treat.

Saturday, October 24th, families with younger children dashed from decorated truck to truck grabbing spider rings, balloons and candy galore. “It was great fun for everyone,” said Justin Wright, general manager for Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury. “The kids really had a great time, and so did we!”

Get & Give
At the end of the Truck or Treat route, several families dropped off a treat for families in need by donating a perishable item or two as we kicked off Randall Reed’s Spirit of Giving Drive. The dealership will be collecting cans and other perishable items through Thanksgiving and donating it all to families in need.

Drive One 4UR School

Community comes out for fun and to raise funds

Garland High School students and families participated in Ford’s Drive One 4 UR School Program on Saturday, October 24, raising nearly $600 for the school. Event participants from the community came out to Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury to show their support. Twenty-nine people each raised $20 for the school by test-driving a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle.

Drive One 4 UR School, which launched in 2007, demonstrates Ford Motor Company’s commitment to supporting local communities in good times and in bad. During the past two years, Ford Motor Company has provided more than $1.3 million to high schools that have participated in the program, with further plans to continue this fun, engaging way to help high schools raise money to support their sports and extracurricular activities.

“We loved being able to sponsor the Drive One 4 UR School event, and we’re so glad the community turned out to support Garland High School,” said Randall Reed, President of Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury. “We know the money will be put to good use, and we’re pleased with the responses we got to our vehicles — especially the Ford Super Duty.”

Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury is located at 3601 S. Shiloh Road in Garland, just off of 635 and Garland Road. We’re just a short drive on 635. For a map and point-to-point directions, please click on the link. Map & Directions

Lincoln’s Star-Studded Evening

Everyone loved the luxury of this event!

Lincoln’s Star Studded Evening was a smashing good time! Over a hundred guests joined us for an evening of luxury that included a wine and food pairing, visited with our guest author, Andrea Ridout, author of If I Had a Hammer (HarperCollins Publishers) and host of Energize Green on CNN, and saw the new Lincoln MKT.

“It was truly a star-studded evening,” said Justin Wright, general manager of Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury. “From the exquisite automobiles to the fabulous food, to the plethora of prizes, it was a great time for all!”

Outside of the event, everyone loved the Classy and Classic Car Show featuring Lincolns--old and new--from the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club. From the ‘40s to the ‘70s, it was an automotive blast from the past that highlighted the true luxurious heritage of Lincoln.

Dozens of guests won wonderful prizes, from Apple iTouches to video cameras to auto detailing certificates to oil changes, and much more!

Last but not least, while guest were here, (and still available through December 31st), many drove for the cure. For each Lincoln Mercury test-drive, Ford donated $20 to Susan G. Komen for the cure. Learn more at www.FordCares.com.

Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury is just a short drive on 635. For a map and point-to-point directions, please click on the link. Map & Directions.

Prestige Gives Away New Mustang GT Convertible

Garland Resident Wins Car of His Dreams!

Saturday, October 24th, Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury gave away a new 2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible.

Luke Thomas, 56, a Garland resident, clearly has luck in his favor. With a 1 in 45,000 chance of winning the beautiful new Mustang, he walked into the showroom with the five winning numbers.

“I still don’t believe it,” said Mr. Thomas. “This is too good to be true.” However, it is true. On Saturday, he drove off in a new Mustang GT Convertible which includes a GT grill and fascia, 18” aluminum wheels, dual bright exhaust tips, an AM/FM premium stereo with a CD player, keyless remote, and much more!

“We are so excited for Mr. Thomas and his wife, Debbie,” Randall Reed, president of Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury. “This is a gorgeous Torch Red Ford Mustang GT Convertible from Prestige, and it’s one that will bring him many years of driving enjoyment,” added Justin Wright, general manager of Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury.

The 2010 Mustang is not redesigned, it is refined. The aggressive and eye-catching look features an angular power dome hood, new wheel design, sequential rear turn signal and restyled chrome pony badge. The new interior styling is just as exciting. It delivers a premium feel within a modern environment featuring a new seat and door trim and sew styling.

About Randall Reed’s World Class Automotive Organization
Listed in Ward’s Dealer Business as one of the top 100 mega-dealer groups in the United States, Randall and Sherry Reed’s dealerships have been serving Texan’s automotive needs for 28 years with Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Dodge, and Hyundai franchises in Humble, Spring, Garland, Houston, Dallas, and Huntsville. The Spring and Humble Planet Ford stores are perennial recipients of the Top 100 Ford Dealers designation.