“Highlighting cars, minivans and SUVs that provide the best combination of features, utility, safety and reliability,” the annual list of Best Cars for Families—put together by U.S. News & World Reports—draws on reviews and test drives from auto journalists across the country. It’s a unique approach that provides a particularly wide-ranging look at the most family-friendly vehicles in the U.S. auto industry and, this year, the list also showcases some particularly Ford-friendly appeal: With four different products winning their segments, Ford has more honorees than any other brand.

Among them:

• Ford Fusion—The Fusion took home honors as the Best Affordable Midsize Car for Families after being lauded “for its roomy interior, large trunk, good safety scores and family-friendly tech features.”
• Ford Fusion Hybrid—This high-efficiency Ford scored as the Best Hybrid Car for Families, thanks to attributes like a spacious cabin and effective technologies.
• Ford Taurus—The Best Affordable Full-size Car for Families was the Taurus, which boasts excellent crash-test ratings and available tech benefits like the MyKey system; MyKey allows owners to limit vehicle speed, audio volume and more to help teen drivers stay safe.
• Ford Edge—With more of Ford’s strong technology offerings, a high-value price and notable fuel-efficiency ratings, the Edge was named Best Two-Row Midsize SUV for Families.

Unsurprisingly, every member of this high-quality quartet also won its category in the U.S. News & World Reports Best Cars for the Money evaluations from earlier this year. And all are on sale now at local Ford dealerships throughout America.

After beating out more than 45 other entries to win the overall “Truck of Texas” award during the annual Texas Truck Rodeo in October, the Ford F-150 was presented with its trophy recently in conjunction with the Houston Auto Show. The Texas-sized prize—it’s almost three feet tall—was given out by the rodeo’s sponsor, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA).

“We are honored to receive this trophy on behalf of the hardworking and dedicated employees who build this truck with pride,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing manager. “This award means a lot to us, and we thank the Texas Auto Writers Association for validating what our customers have been telling us about our Built Ford Tough F-150. We appreciate their recognition of the quality of our trucks.”

And that recognition was just one of eight TAWA honors fielded by the Ford team, which also won:

• Truck Line of Texas: Ford Motor Company
• CUV of Texas: 2012 Ford Edge
• Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch Super Duty
• Luxury Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost
• Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
• Mid-Size CUV: 2012 Ford Edge Limited
• Outstanding Feature: Ford EcoBoost Engine Technology

“Texas consumers put their trust in TAWA’s automotive journalists. After lining up vehicles from major auto manufacturers, our members determined Ford simply had the best trucks and crossover,” said Mike Herzing, president of TAWA, after the rodeo. “But the real winners here are Texas’s truck buyers. Ford delivers the trucks that fit their lifestyles.”

The Truck of Texas trophy will be displayed at Ford’s Kansas City, Mo., Assembly Plant, home base for the F-150.

Ford was the best-selling auto brand in the country in 2011, and as a recent study by U.S. News & World Reports shows, there’s a good reason for that kind of performance: Ford also won the most categories in the publication’s recent rankings of the “Best Cars for the Money 2012.”

“The award-winning vehicles have the best combination of praise from car reviewers, lower upfront costs and lower long-term ownership costs than their competition,” according to U.S. News & World Reports. “The winners aren’t just good cars or good values. They’re both.”

And for Ford, those winners were:

Ford Fiesta—The top choice in the Subcompact segment, as well as the highest-rated Hatchback, the Fiesta combines clean good looks, available high-tech features like Ford’s SYNC AppLink, an MSRP that starts at just $13,200, and EPA ratings that finish at 40 mpg highway. The Fiesta is offered in a sedan body style, too.

Ford Fusion—The Fusion beat out 18 other entries to take honors in the Affordable Midsize Car category, which is likely no surprise to the record 248,067 customers who purchased one in 2011. Further, the car’s high value proposition is about to get even higher, with the stunning all-new 2013 Fusion set to debut later this year.

Ford Taurus—The No. 1 Affordable Large Car was the Taurus, recognized for “its good performance, stylish design and excellent cabin electronics”—including its available SYNC in-car connectivity and infotainment system. The Taurus also is a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ford Fusion Hybrid—The Best Hybrid Car for the Money was the Fusion Hybrid, which, like its traditionally powered sibling, will get a complete overhaul for the 2013 model year. Not only will this next-gen version boast significantly higher fuel efficiency than the hybrid versions of rivals like the Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata, but it also will debut with a second hybrid powertrain with plug-in capabilities—and a higher miles per gallon equivalency rating than the Toyota Prius Plug-in or the Chevy Volt.

Ford Edge—Now capable of an eye-opening 30 mpg highway, the Edge bested all competition to be named the best Affordable Midsize SUV with Two Rows. The difference-maker? The Ford’s new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, which also enables 21 mpg city and 24 mpg combined, while still mustering a robust 240 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque.

Ford’s industry-leading engine technologies gained more fans recently, when the noted experts at Ward’s Auto named two different Blue Oval power plants to their roster of “Best Engines” for 2012.

This included the Ford Edge’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4, which displayed both an “uncanny ability to motivate the Edge” and fuel economy that “deserves plaudits in this segment.” The specs here put an exclamation point on those comments, as the engine’s direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) combine to deliver 240 hp, 270 lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA line of 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg.

“Fuel efficiency is important to our customers,” said Amy Marentic, Ford’s group marketing manager, Large Cars and Crossovers. “Adding the EcoBoost engine to the new Ford Edge crossover makes for 13 vehicles delivering 30 mpg or more in the Ford showroom.”

And remember, the same award-winning 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine also is available beneath the hood of the Ford Explorer, where it returns a class-leading 28 mpg highway, to go with ratings of 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway.

Also joining the “Best Engines” list—for the second straight year—is the big-time 5.0-liter V8 leveraged by the Ford Mustang Boss 302. Building on what was already the automaker’s most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 (when used in the Mustang GT), the engine in the Boss 302 has been retuned to reach 440 hp and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s courtesy of enhancements that include a revised intake, CNC-machined heads, a lightened valve train and a strengthened reciprocating assembly.

Ford Dealers Grand Rapids said the result is a power plant that helps the 2012 Boss serve as the perfect homage to its classic 1969 predecessor.

“In keeping with the spirit of the original, the new Boss 302 engine achieves its maximum power output at speeds at or above 7,500 rpm,” Mike Harrison, Ford V8 engine program manager “Unlike the original engine, however, low-speed torque and drivability are uncompromised thanks to twin independent variable camshaft timing technology and computer-aided engineering design tools.”

Consider it another way Ford’s under-the-hood innovations provide big advantages over the competition.

When 57 members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) recently put 48 of the top trucks in the industry through a rigorous two-day competition to see which were the best in the west, one particular company stood out from the herd: Ford. According to Used Cars Asheboro NC, The Ford F-150 and Edge, as well as the automaker’s innovative EcoBoost powertrain technology, combined to earn top honors in eight separate categories at the event, including the signature “Truck of Texas” honor.

“Texan consumers put their trust in TAWA’s automotive journalists. After lining up vehicles from major auto manufacturers, our members determined Ford simply had the best trucks and crossover,” said Mike Herzing, president of TAWA. “But the real winners here are Texas’ truck buyers. Ford delivers the trucks that fit their lifestyles.”

In addition to the F-150 earning the Texas Truck Rodeo’s top prize, the company also was honored for:

• Truck Line of Texas: Ford Motor Company
• CUV of Texas: 2012 Ford Edge
• Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch Super Duty
• Luxury Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost
• Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
• Mid-Size CUV: 2012 Ford Edge Limited
• Outstanding Feature: Ford EcoBoost Engine Technology

PA RV Dealers said the latter performance is particularly fitting, since EcoBoost engines are available in both the F-150 and the Edge, helping each ring up best-in-class fuel-economy numbers—and score new customers. In fact, a Houston Ford Dealer tells us that drivers are buying so many EcoBoosted Ford products that the company is running near full production just to keep up with demand, and now expects to sell some 100,000 F-150 EcoBoost models alone this year.

“These honors show Ford trucks still reign supreme in Texas, and it is rewarding to see that the truck-savvy Texas auto writers appreciate just how innovative our F-Series pickups are,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “These awards validate what our customers have been telling us about our ‘Built Ford Tough’ F-150, and we are honored by their recognition of the strength of our truck lineup as well as our crossovers and EcoBoost engines.”

According to Knoxville Ford Dealers, the Ford Edge has long been one of the most fuel-efficient offerings in its class. However, with the all-new 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, the Edge now boasts an EPA-rated 30 mpg highway and 21 mpg city. The new EcoBoost engine will complement the best-in-class Edge V6 fuel economy, giving customers expanded fuel efficient choices.

With 30 mpg on the highway, the Edge EcoBoost bests all SUVs its size or larger. Even cars that are far smaller, like the Honda Civic Si and the Saab 9-3 automatic, don’t get 30 mpg highway. Charlotte Ford Dealers mentioned that other features that enhance the crossover’s efficiency include variable-displacement air conditioning compressor, a unique six-speed automatic transmission, and category-exclusive active grille shutters to improve aerodynamics.

EcoBoost has been successful at attracting new, more upscale customers to Ford showrooms. Taurus SHO and Flex models have long benefitted from the EcoBoost, and now it’s even available on the popular F-150 pickup. With its balance of power and fuel-efficiency, Ford plans to add the EcoBoost to 90 percent of its lineup by 2013.

“Fuel efficiency is important to our customers,” said Amy Marentic, group marketing manager, Large Cars and Crossovers. “Adding the EcoBoost engine to the new Ford Edge crossover makes for 13 vehicles delivering 30 mpg or more in the Ford showroom.”

Ford models delivering more than 30 mpg now include:

• Edge with EcoBoost: 21 mpg/30 mpg
• Escape Hybrid FWD: 34 mpg/31 mpg
• Escape Hybrid AWD: 30 mpg/27 mpg
• Fiesta five-speed manual: 29 mpg/37 mpg
• Fiesta automatic: 29 mpg/38 mpg
• Fiesta SFE automatic: 29 mpg/40 mpg
• Focus five-speed manual: 26 mpg/36 mpg
• Focus automatic: 28 mpg/38 mpg
• Focus SFE automatic: 28 mpg/40 mpg
• Fusion 2.5-liter automatic: 23 mpg/33 mpg
• Fusion Hybrid: 41 mpg/36 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Coupe automatic: 19 mpg/31 mpg
• Mustang 3.7-liter Convertible automatic: 19 mpg/30 mpg

The new 2011 Ford Edge is now poised to become a top pick of more customers than ever before, after recently being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The prestigious honor is awarded only to vehicles that offer electronic stability control—a standard feature on the Edge—and score the highest possible ratings in the IIHS evaluations of front, side, rear and rollover crash-test protection.

It’s yet another recognition of Ford’s leadership role in vehicle safety, which also extends to offering Edge owners a wide range of advanced driver-aid and safety technologies, including:

• Adaptive cruise control—which automatically responds to changing traffic conditions to maintain a preset distance between the Edge and other vehicles
• Collision warning with brake support—which leverages in-vehicle sensors to help reduce speed, automatically pre-charges brakes and alert the driver if the system detects an imminent collision
• BLIS with cross-traffic alert—which helps detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving, and, when reversing out of parking spots, can detect traffic approaching from the sides of the Edge
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System—which alerts drivers when it senses that tire pressure is low
• MyKey—which allows parents to limit such things as vehicle speed and audio volume to help encourage safe driving habits in teens

The bottom line, according to Eric Peterson, Ford’s crossover marketing manager: “The new Edge delivers features that both help prevent a crash and help minimize occupant injuries when a crash is unavoidable. It’s a comprehensive safety story from bumper to bumper.”

Notably, it’s a story that has made its way onto the best-seller list, too. In fact, when you mix the Edge’s safety performance with best-in-class EPA ratings of up to 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, you get a vehicle that garners more customers than any other mid-size crossover in America.

And it’s on sale at local Ford dealerships now.

The Ford Edge received a dramatic refresh for the 2011 model year and it has been paying off. Along with strong sales and plenty of accolades, the 2011 Edge was just named the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.

For 2011, the Edge received an extensive exterior redesign, improved materials and craftsmanship on the interior, class-exclusive technology and new powertrains. All of these improvements impressed members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which gave the award.

Canadian auto journalists named their choice for the Utility Vehicle of the Year after strenuous road and track testing. Kansas City Ford Dealers said that each vehicle was tested in order, without interruption, in the same conditions. In the end, it was the Edge that came out the winner.

“We are pleased to receive the 2011 Canadian Utility of the Year award from AJAC,” said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. “The Canadian-built 2011 Ford Edge features industry-leading technologies that create a whole new in-vehicle experience.”

In many instances, opting for a larger engine will typically provide more power and thus better performance. However, that’s not always the case, as seen with the 2011 Ford Edge crossover.

This updated model comes with two V6 options, a 3.5-liter and a 3.7-liter. The power difference is substantial, with the smaller engine producing 280 horses and 253 pound-feet of torque and the larger engine producing 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft. According to the folks at Motor Trend, the Edge with the smaller engine can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 7.1 seconds compared to the 7.6 seconds required by the more powerful Edge Sport.

The 2011 Ford Edge Sport, which also features all-wheel drive, is a bit heavier than the base Edge, which is where the base Edge really has the advantage. That said, the Edge Sport, with its 22-inch wheels and wide tires and added traction can easily out maneuver the base model in the corners. Edge Sport offers the kind of driving dynamics not often found in crossovers, according to Williamsburg Ford.

What’s also important to note is that Ford’s latest power plants are not merely about power, but are designed to balance performance with fuel economy and emissions. That’s also why in just a few months the 2011 Edge will be available with a third engine choice, an ultra efficient EcoBoost four-cylinder. Bradley Ford says the turbocharged EcoBoost is the kind of efficient, good performing engine that today’s motorists want.

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The Ford Edge, that is. The eye-catching crossover, significantly refreshed for the 2011 model year, has now been tested by the EPA and officially certified as having unsurpassed fuel efficiency in its class: 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway. And while that shouldn’t be unexpected given Ford’s commitment to improving fuel savings across its lineup, here’s a surprise: The Edge now also boasts the most standard horsepower in its class as well.

The key to this kind of performance is Ford’s new 3.5-liter V6 engine, which leverages a wide range of advanced powertrain technologies. These include twin independent variable camshaft timing to optimize airflow, piston-cooling oil jets for a higher compression ratio, polished valvetrain buckets for reduced friction and a revised cylinder head that helps the whole powerplant run more efficiently. As a result, not only did the Edge achieve significant efficiency gains, it gained a significant 20-hp power boost as well. The 2011 model will pack 285 horses under the hood.

That mill is just one of three new engines available on the new Edge. The Edge Sport will holster a more powerful 3.7-liter that ups the ante to 305 hp, and, marking its initial application in North America, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4 powerplant will be on the Edge option list for the first time.

These new powertrains represent just some of the revisions customers will see on the ‘11 Edge. As explained by Elaine Bannon, chief engineer on the vehicle, “The new Edge demonstrates how a refresh at Ford is much more than just a few tweaks. It’s reworking all the elements, adding more content and improving the look and feel of the vehicle.”

That includes the debut of MyFord Touch, which will take Ford’s impressive SYNC in-car connectivity system to the proverbial next level with a more streamlined driver interface, minimal menu layering for ease of use, WiFi capability and more personalization features.

The ability to get MyFord in your Ford begins with the launch of the 2011 Edge later this summer.

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