In the quest to explore and share answers to the nagging question, “What Woman Want” 60 women bloggers from BlogHer recently joined Ford executives in Chicago for the What Women Want Tech & Quality Event.
After a breakfast with Ford’s Global Digital and Multimedia Communications Manager, Scott Monty, the bloggers headed to the Chicago Assembly Plant for a day packed with hands on tours, roundtables, and test drives. Click here to see the event’s Flickr photo stream.
Ford’s Futurist, Sheryl Connelly, kicked off the event with a discussion on how Ford predicts the cultural and automotive trends that impact the company’s design and engineering approaches. Bloggers learned that Ford thinks about all of the non-driving-specific needs of their consumers from size to number of passengers to tech habits and, important to this audience, gender.
Next, the group was off to check out different quality and tech modules located around the Chicago Assembly Plant:
- Manufacturing Quality: Bloggers experienced the virtual reality technology Ford uses to ensure that their production line is ergonomically friendly to the workers themselves and then proceeded on to a tour of the 2 million square foot plus Chicago Assembly Plant to see exactly how the 2010 Taurus and Lincoln MKS are made.
- Fuel Efficiency: Ford sustainability experts gave bloggers 10 tips for being more eco-friendly, and highlighted Ford’s approach to sustainability – from green vehicle materials to new fuel efficiencies.
- Technology and Safety: Ford showed bloggers the cutting-edge technology that’s available in many Ford vehicles today. Bloggers got a chance to experience MyKey (which lets you set limits on your teens driving behaviors), Active Park Assist (automatic parallel parking), and Cross Traffic Alert (blind spot sensors). Watch as our bloggers explain some of these features:
- Vehicle Quality: Finally, bloggers saw the attention to detail and high quality materials that make up the sight, sound, and touch of a Ford vehicle – from the different design inspirations for the cup holder to the sound the door makes when it shuts, to new massaging seats.
- Vehicle Test Drives: The many pieces of the Ford puzzle came together with test drives in the “finished product” – the rubber hit the road when the bloggers got behind the wheels of the new Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Ford Fusion Hybrid.
You can click here to watch video of what the bloggers thought of their test drives.
The day ended with a What Women Want Roundtable – where bloggers got a chance to sit down with the Ford team and sound off on what was most important to them, and their readers, in a vehicle. Their feedback will be turned into a What Women Want Vehicle Checklist, which we will be sharing with you here at TheFordStory.com.
Click here to go Ford on Blogs to see the latest posts from these BlogHer participants.
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9 Comments
July 29, 2009 at 10:11 am
I have been to 2 Ford dealerships in my area just to look and see what they had on the lots and the salesmen are coming out looking at my ride and my first question to them is What do you have on this lot that is better than what I have? Only one of them had a convertible (which is an absolute must) and it was used, the color palate of the hard tops they had was just blah and even the salesmen trying to peddle their products agreed that if it were them they would keep what I have. I am a woman I have no idea what anything underneath that hood does, quite frankly do not care, I just want to look cool and sound like a muscle car.
July 31, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I live in New Jersey. Bring the Fiesta Diesel to America!!!
August 3, 2009 at 11:46 am
Unfortunately, my local dealer makes me feel neglected and unimportant every time I go there. When I tried them for service, my car disappeared for over a week, no one answered my calls, and it was several days before I was even told how long they needed to keep it. They didn't think it was a problem, just said they were busy. A huge sign assured me their customer satisfaction rating was 98%.
Recently a new car salesman let me drive a hybrid Fusion then disappeared when I asked questions. While waiting patiently for his return, I read on an easel sign about their 98% customer satisfaction. Then I saw the salesman and approached with my question. His answer was, "just go wait over there, and I'll be with you shortly." I walked out wondering who was providing service to whom.
I'm not sure I can do business with these people; it's too annoying. Also, I can't stand the implication from those customer satisfaction surveys that I am the only customer who is unhappy. I don't believe it.
Chevrolet and Chrysler closed dealerships. Did Ford? If they are looking for a good candidate, they should call me.
August 3, 2009 at 6:05 pm
August 4, 2009 at 1:00 am
Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
August 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm
My sport trac is so fun! This is the ideal vehicle for me. Not too big and the covered back bed has chairs, softball, baseball, and football equipment for my kids. I can lock it up and it makes transitions and prep times to leave easier. The sync system is somewhat tricky to use. A few days ago my phone stopped syncing up (it was great to use as I drove when it did work) and now I have to figure it out when ever I have time for it. It is nice to hear my mp3 as I drive and be able to control it on the steering wheel. There is plenty of room for my kids in the back seat (ages 13 and 9) and a few dogs. The floor is perfect, it is foamy instead of with carpet making clean ups easy after camping trips. Speaking of which, we can pull our dual tilt trailer with 4 quads and gear in the backbed (that isn't affected by rain). I am very happy with this truck so far.
I have always owned ford trucks. My husband has a 1995 Ford Lightning and we have onlyneeded to do maintence to it and he drives it every day in the hopes of someday "beefing" it up when ever it needs a new engine (currently 125,000 miles on it).
August 9, 2009 at 5:34 pm
August 10, 2009 at 11:19 am
April 16, 2010 at 10:19 pm
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