MyFord Touch Performance Upgrades
 
Ford will launch performance upgrades and new features for MyFord Touch® Simpler graphics, faster touch-screen response and easier-to-use controls are among the many enhancements to the voice-activated in-car connectivity system DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 7, 2011 – Ford customers said MyFord Touch® could be faster and feature simpler graphics that are easier to use and that’s exactly what Ford plans to deliver with a broad set of performance upgrades to the system – launching first on the new 2013 Ford Escape, Flex, and Taurus.® has clearly been a game-changing technology, and now we’re changing the game.

While owners reported that they love the system, there were distinct areas where they wanted improvements. Earlier this year, Ford started delivering on their requests, beginning with more instructions and information on how to best utilize the capabilities of the system.

Ford launched two programs modeled after what consumers experience when purchasing a new electronic device. First, the company added a new MyFord Touch owner support website featuring how-to videos at  training sessions for new owners are now offered through Ford dealers – scheduled at customers’ convenience.

“The keys to continuous improvement are simple: Listen, learn and respond. That’s how we’re going to keep our customers happy,” said Gary Jablonski, manager, SYNC Platform Development. “Evolving the software with meaningful enhanced features was part of our plan from the very beginning. It’s no different than the experience with our smart phones and laptop computers – except now, it’s your car that gets better.”

www.syncmyride.com. Second, free “SYNC My Ride” personalized.

New look

The visual enhancements to MyFord Touch are based on simplifying the graphics with larger, bolder fonts, removing low-priority visual content, and designing screens based on a consistent pattern. More than 1,000 screens in total have been updated with the improved look.

“Our goal when designing the upgrade was to simplify the screens and give customers a fast and easy way to get information at any given moment,” said Jennifer Brace, user interface Design engineer for Ford. “That meant removing buttons, relocating high-use controls closer to the driver’s reach, simplifying tasks and improving font size.”

The new fonts are as much as 40 percent larger on some redesigned screens. The fonts also are wider and bolder to provide easier legibility, particularly among the rapidly increasing number of drivers age 60 and older.

New features

Ford also took the opportunity to update the performance of the system and add new features for customers to help them keep pace with the fast-moving consumer electronics market. Faster touch-screen response time, for example, was a key request from owners. Initial testing shows that touch and voice response is at least two times faster than the current system.

Also, the software upgrade includes the following enhancements:

– Inclusion of the latest music meta data available enhancing the music playback

experience

– Improved voice recognition for music search allowing drivers to pinpoint artists

with hard-to-pronounce names or nicknames beginning with 2013 models – no-charge upgrade will be available to existing owners. 

Available early next year – and also offered at no charge to existing MyFord Touch owners – the software upgrade enhances the ownership experience as it was developed by listening and responding to customer feedback.

“SYNC again, showing how quickly we can deliver more of what customers really want,” said Graydon Reitz, director, Ford Global Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering. “Our strategy to create the SYNC software platform and add the customizable screens of MyFord Touch gives us a level of flexibility and speed to respond to customer input like never before seen in the auto industry.”

The new touch-screen interface features new simpler graphics and controls that are easier to use. Customers will also experience significantly faster touch-screen response times, one of the top requests from owners.

New features include support for tablet devices and Audible.com audio books, improved navigation maps and enhanced voice recognition interaction.

Listening to customers

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit http://www.media.ford.com/ 

Suzuki 7 Year/100K miles Warranty

A fully transferable, zero-dollar deductible 100,000-mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty on all new vehicles. 

Duration - Suzuki's powertrain limited warranty covers 100,000 miles or 7 years, whichever comes first.

• Transferable - The powertrain warranty can be transferred from owner to owner, adding value at the time of resale or trade-in.
• Deductible - There is no deductible, so Suzuki owners won't have an out-of-pocket expense.

Suzuki's New Vehicle Limited Warranty

Suzuki's New Vehicle Limited Warranty: Covers all components of the vehicles as supplied by Suzuki for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. There is no deductible. Any repairs to correct defects in materials or workmanship will be made with no charge for parts or labor. Certain restrictions apply; see warranty information booklet for details. The battery is covered for 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. Should original body sheet metal panels develop perforation due to corrosion, they're covered for 60 months, with no limit on mileage. Tires are covered by a separate warranty from the tire manufacturer.

Roadside Assistance Program

All new Suzuki vehicles are covered during the 36,000-mile/3-year new vehicle limited warranty period. Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in the U.S. and Canada. Available services include tire changes, jumpstarts, lockout service, mechanical repairs, and towing to the nearest Suzuki dealer or authorized service center.

Warranty Repair Courtesy Vehicle Program

If your SUZUKI vehicle is rendered inoperable, unsafe or illegal to operate and is required to stay overnight at a participating SUZUKI authorized dealer to complete a warranty repair during the 36 month/36,000 mile new vehicle warranty period, your participating SUZUKI authorized dealer will provide a courtesy rental vehicle of its choice through an appointed rental company. Additional Restrictions and Limitations apply.^‡

FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS AND COMMERCIAL TRUCK SAVINGS

In addition to the tax and bonus depreciation benefits, Ford is also offering some great incentives on our lineup of commercial

vehicles. During Commercial Truck Season, you may also be eligible for up to $2,500 in upfit incentives in addition to other customer

cash and financing incentives. See your Ford Dealer or visit

TIMING IS KEY

http://www.fordtoughtruck.com/ for more information.

All indications are that in 2012 the bonus depreciation deduction will be reduced to 50% of the cost of new equipment and that the

allowable Section 179 deduction will drop back down to the pre-2007 $25,000 level. Commercial Truck Season savings also end on

12/31/11.

BONUS DEPRECIATION AND YOUR

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PURCHASE

The attached Q&A will help you gather more information about the bonus depreciation tax deduction – as will www.irs.gov or a callwww.fordtoughtruck.com for details on Commercial Truck Season savings.

Q. What is the advantage of bonus depreciation allowed by Section 168(k)?

A. Bonus depreciation, as described in the tax law in Section 168 (K), allows a company to take a 100% tax deduction for purchases of qualified property purchased and placed into service after September 8, 2010 and by December 31, 2011. There is no set dollar limit to the amount of property that can be deducted as long as it is purchased and placed in service during the required time period.

Q. What is the advantage of the Section 179 deduction?

A. Section 179 of the tax law allows a company to take a 100% tax deduction for the purchase of qualified property that is

placed in service. For tax years beginning on or before December 31, 2011, this deduction is limited to $500,000 of purchased

equipment. This limitation is decreased by one dollar for every dollar the company spends over $2,000,000 on new equipment.

Q. What is a “qualified property”?

A.All trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 6,000 lbs are considered qualified property for bonus depreciation. SUV’s are

qualified if they are built on a truck chassis and have a gross vehicle weight rating of over 6,000 lbs.
Q. Are all trucks and passenger vans eligible?

are eligible for the 100% depreciation deduction. Trucks that are less than 6,000 lbs are eligible for a first year deduction of

$11,260 under Section 168(k). All vans that have a GVWR of at least 6,000 lbs are also eligible for the bonus depreciation

deduction.

A.All trucks that have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of at least 6,000 lbs (when fully loaded with people and cargo)

Q. I would like to take advantage of bonus depreciation but do not want to pay cash or use available credit.

Does ford offer financing options to help?

A.Yes. Whether you need 1 or 100 commercial vehicles, Ford Credit can help you get them quickly and easily with a Commercial

Line of Credit (CLOC). Once you establish a CLOC with Ford Credit, you can acquire additional vehicles when you need to. Just

sign and drive.

Q. Are vehicle modifications, extended warranties or pre-paid maintenance programs eligible?

A.Yes. As any or all of these items are included in the complete purchase price. Additionally, we offer various upfit discounts for

vehicle modifications and Ford Extended Service plans offer various combinations and coverage for commercial use.

Q. Are certified pre-owned or used vehicles eligible?

A. Pre-owned or used vehicles are not eligible for the 100% depreciation deduction. However, both new and used vehicles are

eligible for the deduction provided under Section 179 of the tax law.

Q. Why should we think about this now if we have until December?

A.Inventories are limited and we anticipate that in late December our ground stock may be impacted by bonus depreciation and

Section 179. Current Commercial Truck Season offers may also impact our inventory availability.

Q. Our business faced a challenging 2011 and we do not expect to see enough in profits. Can our business carry over the

depreciation benefits into future years?

A.Any tax loss that you incur during 2011, including any additional loss caused by bonus depreciation, may be able to be carried

over into future years depending on your business’s tax situation. The loss may also be able to be carried back to prior tax years

in order to get a refund of taxes that were previously paid.

Please note:

This information is provided by Ford Motor Company to its customers. It should not be construed as tax advice or as a promise of potential tax savings or reduced tax liability. For more information about the tax programs mentioned within this letter, please contact your tax professional or visit the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov.

1. A smart businessperson puts considerable thought into what and when they buy for their business.
2. Right now the Economic Stimulus Act is making the timing of business purchases easy. You’ll benefit from the bonus depreciation tax
3. deduction provided under IRS section 168(k) and the tax deduction allowed under Section 179 when you make qualifying business
4. purchases before December 31, 2011. Both of these tax provisions currently offer businesses
5. cost of most new equipment.
6. This includes the purchase of qualifying Ford F-150 and Super Duty trucks and/or E-Series Vans.
7. The only catch: a tax deduction equal to 100% in the case of vehicles, the new equipment must have a gross vehicle weight rating over 6,000 lbs.You must make your purchase and put the vehicle to use in your business before December 31, 2011.

Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

Apple Chevrolet Buick Northfield, a proud member of the Apple Auto Group, wants to say Happy Anniversary to Chevrolet!

100 Years of Chevrolet History:

Auto racer Louis Chevrolet co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Co. with William C. Durant in 1911, with the goal of creating a racer’s dream car.  The Series C “Classic Six” vehicle premiered in 1912, and sold for $2,150.  Louis left the auto-making industry in 1913 to focus on racing, but granted Durant the rights to continue using the Chevrolet name on future models. Chevrolet aims to design cars that possess a spirit of their own – a car with personality and spunk that can inspire new and old generations of Chevy owners alike - a car that you can, as Dinah Shore sang, “see the U.S.A. in.”

General Motors’ vice president of design, Ed Welburn, will never forget the first time he saw a Chevy.  He was about 6, walking down a leaf-lined street with his mother in a suburb of Philadelphia.  A ’55 Corvette whipped around the corner, kicking up fallen autumn leaves, and just as quickly as it came it was gone.
The Corvette’s sleek, sporty frame had a lasting impact on young Welburn, and a few years later, at age 11, he wrote a letter to General Motors expressing his interest in designing cars and seeking career advice.  GM wrote back offering advice on what he should study and details of their internship program, advice that he took to heart. Welburn went on to intern at GM, and after graduating from Howard University in Washington D.C., he was hired full-time.  The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is just one of the car designs on which Welburn worked.

On the past century, Chevrolet has produced several iconic cars and trucks that have revolutionized General Motors’ reach. Chevy has also secured a place in U.S. pop culture history, popping up in the songs of Don McClean, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Young Jeezy.


Story quoted from ABC News online:  For full article, click below.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/extras/2011/11/03/chevrolet-centennial-100-years-of-iconic-cars/

Suzuki Kizashi Article from JD Power

Suzuki Kizashi Ranks Highest among Midsize Cars

in J.D. Power and Associates 2011 APEAL Study

The Suzuki Kizashi ranks highest among midsize cars in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.SM The study measures how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. Kizashi earns a score of 818 (on a 1,000-point scale) in the 2011 APEAL Study—33 points above the Midsize Car segment average of 785.

Suzuki Kizashi 818

Hyundai Sonata 816

Kia Optima 814

Ford Fusion (Total) 793

Chrysler 200 789

Nissan Altima (Total) 787

Buick LaCrosse 785

Midsize Car Segment Average 785

Honda Accord (Total) 783

Buick Regal 782

Mazda MAZDA6 Sedan 780

Subaru Legacy Sedan 778

Toyota Camry (Total) 768

Chevrolet Malibu 765

Mitsubishi Galant 740

2011 APEAL Study: Midsize Car Segment Ranking

Based on a 1,000 point scale

Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout

(APEAL) StudySM

The Special Power Report • Published by J.D. Power and Associates • Publish Date: September 2011

© 2011 J.D. Power and Associates, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any material contained in this publication, including photocopying of this publication in whole or in

part, is prohibited without the express written permission of J.D. Power and Associates. Advertising claims cannot be based on information published in The Special Power Report.

September 2011

Driving Dynamics: A Kizashi Strength

The Kizashi, a midsize sport sedan aimed at driving enthusiasts,

is the newest member of Suzuki’s lineup. Kizashi performs particularly

well in the Driving Dynamics category, outperforming

the Midsize Car segment average in all attributes that comprise

the category:

• Braking responsiveness

• Handling in adverse conditions

• Handling on winding roads

• Responsiveness of steering

• Ride smoothness

• Quietness over harsh bumps

About the Study: The J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. The 2011 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2011 from more than 73,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2011 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

2011 Suzuki Kizashi: Highest Ranked Vehicle Appeal among Midsize Cars

Kizashi vs. Competitors

In addition to Driving Dynamics, the Kizashi also outperforms the Midsize Car segment average in eight of nine other study categories. Compared with other models in the Midsize Car segment, Kizashi excels in the following attributes:

• Engine: Smoothness of gearshift operation

• Vehicle Interior: Interior materials convey quality, and Interior quietness

• Seats: Comfort of driver’s seat support and cushion, Comfort of 2nd row seat, and How well the driver’s seat holds you in place

• Storage and Space: Front seat room

• Audio/Entertainment/Navigation: Audio system gives impression of depth

• Visibility and Driving Safety: Forward visibility, Visibility when changing lanes, and Effectiveness of headlights

 

Apple Auto Group Philosophy and Values

Welcome to the Apple Auto Group blog.  Our goal is provide quality content about who we are as a company, exciting technology and product enhancements, and what Apple Auto Group events will provide you the quality information you are looking for when servicing your vehicle, purchasing an item for your vehicle, or research the purchase of a new or used vehicle. 

Who is Apple Auto Group?

MISSION, PHILOSOPHY, VALUES, AND VISION:

The Missions Statements, Philosophy and Values of Apple Auto Group are the guideposts we look to for help in decision making in all dealership situations.

Mission Statement:  Apple Auto Group

 

Our goal is to be an industry leader in providing unmatched quality automotive products and services.

We will constantly strive to meet the changing needs of our customers.

 

Our aim is to provide an atmosphere that encourages employee teamwork, integrity and excellence.

 

Together we will set and continually improve sales, service and operational standards to ensure long

term market leadership and profitability.

It is our mission to exceed our customers’ and employees’ expectations and maintain their loyalty for a lifetime.

The Apple Auto Group Vision

“To Be So Effective That We Are Able To Be Helpful To Others”

 

Apple Auto Group Philosophy

The Apple Auto Group philosophy is based on five areas that, we believe, are critical to business success. 

Those areas are:

Customer Enthusiasm

Employee Satisfaction

Financial Performance

Market Effectiveness

Ongoing Improvement

Our philosophy holds that each area is of equal importance. However, in any planning or decision-making process, or in any situation of seeming conflict or contradiction among the five critical areas, CUSTOMER ENTHUSIASM will always carry the most weight.

 Apple Auto Group Values

WE BELIEVE THESE BASIC VALUES BRING SUCCESS TO OUR BUSINESS AND THE PERSONAL LIVES OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

The Value of Honesty and Integrity: We believe that all decisions are to be made with integrity.  Leadership is setting good examples for others to follow, expecting as much from yourself as from others.

The Value of Individual Responsibility and Accountability: We believe we are responsible to satisfy the needs of our customers for all our product services. Individual accountability for our own performance and for the quality of our products will demonstrate to our customers we are enthusiastic about them and really care.

The Value of Unconditional Dedication to Excellence: We believe there is no place for mediocrity and half-hearted efforts.  We accept personal responsibility for overcoming obstacles and being the very best.  We actively choose to excel in every aspect of our personal and professional lives.   

The Value of Cooperation, Communication and Working Together: Close mutual support of one another is a fundamental tenet of ours.  We value open communication and encourage new ideas, realizing the cooperative teamwork produces a better employee work environment and enthusiastic customers and suppliers.

The Value of Our People: We have nothing of greater value than our people.  We respect the uniqueness of every individual and believe that such an attitude will build a team of confident, creative members, possessing a high degree of initiative, self-respect and self-discipline.

The Value of Ongoing Improvement: We believe in not accepting the status quo, in constant improvement, and in the value of ongoing education in any form.  We believe in providing opportunity for personal, professional and organizational growth within our company.

The Value of Being Good Community Citizens:  We give willingly to and are actively involved in the support of our communities, because they provide us our success.