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LOS
ANGELES -- Ford Motor Co. will show off its brand new
2016 Explorer sport utility vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show
on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. It will come with a new look, added
capability and additional driver-assist technology, according
to the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker. The new Explorer will
go on sale next summer just as Ford celebrates its 25th year as
the best-selling midsize SUV in the United States.
“Like
any auto show, we have a pretty significant display,“ said
Mark Schirmer, Ford’s communications manager of North American
utility vehicles. “I think we’re at about 53,000 square
feet of space. Last time I looked, we’ll have 65 vehicles
on the stand. I think a lot of people will be going to the show
to see the new Mustang, the new F-150 and launching in the market
right now. I’m sure it will get a lot of coverage and attention.
We’ll have some of the new 2015 Ford Edges, which launch
early next year. We’re just starting to build the earliest
models.”
He added:
“I think the Ford auto show team has done an excellent job
with making lots of reasons for media and consumers to spend a
lot of time on the stand. We have a lot of interesting things.
We’ll have a big section out back, literally outdoors, where
we will have vehicle demonstrations going on. People will be able
to see technology demonstrations like Active Park Assist. It’s
in the new Edge, Focus and a bunch of other cars. We have some
fun things for the kids. I think they’ll have some scale
F-150 trucks for kids to drive around. I think what you’ll
see at the Ford stand is a lot of activities that will keep people
entertained and engaged.”
Can you
give me a preview of what the media can expect at the press conference?
“We’ll
be emphasizing the new Mustang and the new F-150, which gets a
ton of attention,” Schirmer said.” I think we might
have a couple of other surprises that we haven’t confirmed
yet. Our strength globally in utility vehicles and trucks with
the new F-150 will be emphasized. We’re going to have a
lot of executives out there, some of our top leaders. Joe Hinrichs,
the head of the Americas, and Raj Nair, our global head of product
development will be out there as well. We have a press conference
scheduled for 11:05 a.m. on the first press day, Wednesday.”
Will we
see any fuel cell vehicles or other hybrid cars on the Ford stand?
“We’ll
certainly have our collection of hybrids there, our Electric Focus
and those sorts of things. We always deliver a Green message.
We don’t have anything planned in terms of fuel cell. We’re
going to focus on our plug-in hybrids, which have done so well
and the full on electric Focus. They will all be there.”
What can
we expect to see new from the Lincoln brand this year?
“The
Lincoln stand will be next to us again this year,” the communications
manager explained. “They’re going to show the MKX
Concept, which will be making its North American debut. It was
shown for the first time this past Spring in China.”
Please
tell me more about the Ford App Developer Competition.
“We’re
asking developers to create apps that might be available to the
SYNC system. They’ve got it down to 10 finalists. They’ve
opened up some more software. Those finalists will be at the show
and I think on the second press day, in conjunction with the city
of Los Angeles, we’re going to be announcing the winner
of the App Challenge.”
Stay with
AmericaJR.com as we bring you updates on the winner of the Ford
Developer Competition as well as news on the 2016 Ford Explorer
from the Los Angeles Auto Show beginning Tuesday.
The
2014 Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public on November 21
and runs through November 30. Tickets are $12 for adults (ages
13+) Mon-Thurs and $15 for adults Fri-Sunday. Children (5 and
under) are $5 at all times. Seniors aged 65 and up are $10. Group
tickets can be purchased by Julian Lile at julian@laautoshow.com
or 310-444-1850. The L.A. Convention Center is located at 1201
S. Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Click
here to order your tickets online.
>>
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FREE TICKETS TO THE 2014 L.A. AUTO SHOW PUBLIC DAYS!!
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| Graphic
credit: Ford Motor Company |
Ford
highlighting its sales increases for the Explorer
