Fuel-Efficient Models Drive Ford Sales in April

Fusion, Edge and Explorer Thrive Amidst High Gas Prices

BEVERLY, MASS. (05/09/2012)(readMedia)-- Not too long ago, the prospect of $4-per-gallon gas prices would have spelled doom for auto sales, but some automakers have turned a negative into a positive by developing fuel-efficient lineups. This is evidenced by Ford's U.S. sales from last month, as two of its more efficient models, the Fusion and Edge, had their best April ever at Ford dealerships.

A recent survey by consumer-research firm J.D. Power and Associates found that fuel economy is the top consideration of car buyers this year. With the 2012 Ford Fusion midsize sedan offering a hybrid model that returns 41 mpg in the city, and the 2013 Ford Edge crossover rated at 30 mpg on the highway, both effectively meet that customer demand. Meanwhile, sales of the 40-mpg-highway Ford Focus compact were up 57 percent year-over-year through April, representing its best start to a year since 2001.

"Ford has realized that if they develop cars that are fuel efficient enough to make a real day-to-day financial impact, buyers won't stay on the sidelines when gas prices get turbulent," said Jeff Klein, general sales manager of Thomas Ford, a Beverly, Massachusetts Ford dealership. "Their approach has even held true in the SUV and pickup segments, which have traditionally suffered with high gas prices."

Last month, the Ford Explorer SUV saw its best April sales since 2005, and its sales are up nearly 12 percent this year compared to same period in 2011. The Ford F-Series pickup showed strong sales as well, with its best April since 2007 and a 4-percent sales increase compared to the same month last year. Both Ford vehicles are available with the automaker's new smaller-displacement EcoBoost engines, which deliver improved fuel economy but use direct injection to generate the output of a larger powerplant.

When equipped with its available 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, the 2013 Ford Explorer nets a best-in-class 28 mpg on the highway while still producing 240 horsepower. On the other hand, buyers of the 2012 Ford F-150 can opt for a 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost that churns out 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque while maintaining 22 mpg on the highway. That EcoBoost engine accounted for 43 percent of all F-150 sales in April, up from about 35 percent in the same month last year.

Compared to the larger engines that they replace, EcoBoost units can increase fuel economy by up to 20 percent and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15 percent. Buyers can also currently find EcoBoost engines in the Ford Flex, Edge and Taurus, and Ford expects that more than 90 percent of its vehicles sold in North America will be available with an EcoBoost engine by 2013.

"Ford's EcoBoost technology has essentially changed the landscape of the pickup segment by showing that you can create a fuel-efficient truck that can still haul and tow with the best of them," added Klein. "Now, the engines are being rolled out across much of Ford's lineup for other drivers that were never going to completely sacrifice power in the name of fuel economy."

About Thomas Ford:

Thomas Ford, located in Beverly, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and Ford service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, call them at 978-922-0059, visit their web site at www.thomasford.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.