Ford Debuts Full-Size Explorer, Lego Style!

Ford has created a full-size replica of the company’s new Explorer crafted from Lego bricks. The sculpture was created by 22 designers over the course of 2,500 hours. All told, there are 380,000 individual bricks at work, weighing in at a hefty 2,654 pounds, and a 768-pound aluminum platform supports the creation.

Ford debuted its Lego Explorer at its Chicago assembly plant before shipping it to the new Legoland theme park just outside of Orlando, Florida. The block Explorer will ride all the way down to the sunshine state in a transporter with transparent sides so fellow motorists can view the creation.

As an attraction at Legoland, the Explorer will welcome visitors to the Ford Driving School for children, which allows kids to get behind the wheel of their own scale vehicle at a max speed of three miles per hour.

 

Watch the time lapse construction video here!

Spy Shots Of The New Ford Fusion!

Spy photographers have snapped a glimpse of the forthcoming 2013 Ford Fusion. The Mondeo-based sedan looks to have lifted lighting inspiration from the Ford Evos Concept that the automaker debuted at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. With thin, slit-like projection lenses and a very vertical grille, the 2013 Fusion looks to bring quite a bit more attitude to the table than the current model. Right now, the Fusion is built in Mexico, but there’s some indication that the model may shift to a U.S. plant in the near future as part of the current negotiations between Ford and the United Auto Workers.

At this stage in the vehicle’s development, it’s unclear exactly what Ford will offer in terms of powertrain options or what the inevitable hybrid variant will bring to the table when it arrives. We are told that Ford will likely show off the first real look at the 2013 Fusion at January’s Detroit Auto Show.

Design Your Own Mustang

Have you ever wanted to design a custom Ford Mustang? Well, now you can.

Ford recently launched a website that enables Mustang fans to create their own Mustang, selecting customized accessories, colors and decals.

Users can customize a Mustang V6, GT, Boss 302 or Shelby GT500 with three different backgrounds—a cityscape drag way or drive-in restaurant. Users can also choose from five different angles, as well as hundreds of accessories, including body kits, decals, decklids, grilles and wheels, as well as parts from Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Vehicle Personalization.

Completed designs can be saved as desktop wallpaper. Users can also connect to the website through their Facebook account to share and store all of their designs. Through Facebook, users can use “battle mode” to go head-to-head against other users and determine who has the best design.

To make your dream Mustang a reality, the website also allows users to download a PDF that includes a detailed list of all the real parts used to create your virtual Mustang.

To design your own Ford Mustang, visit at www.ford.com/cars/mustang.

Teacher Appreciation Program

Back-to-school season is quickly approaching. Why not return to campus in a new Ford vehicle?

At Mel Hambelton Ford, we appreciate and recognize that educators work hard.  Therefore, we created the Teacher Appreciation Program so that school employees could focus on what is most important — shaping the minds of our future generations.

At Mel Hambelton, all educators pay what Mel Hambelton Ford employees pay.  They receive the best prices available on all new Fords in stock without having to worry about shopping around or haggling with sales people.

In addition to competitive prices, educators may qualify for special finance rates unavailable to other customers, as low as 0 percent! Educators also get to keep all rebates and incentives that come with the vehicle. To further assist teachers, Mel Hambelton Ford will register your vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about waiting in line.

The benefits of the Teacher Appreciation Program don’t stop after you purchase your vehicle. Educators also receive a complimentary cleaning and maintenance program.

Anytime you service your vehicle at Mel Hambelton Ford, you will receive a free, full car detail. You also receive a free, two-year, 30,000-mile maintenance plan with concierge pick up and delivery service. The only requirement is that you make an appointment to have your vehicle serviced. We will pick it up from your school, perform the maintenance and return it before the school day ends.

To learn more about the Teacher Appreciation Program, call 855.252.FORD or
visit www.mhford.com.

Ford Goes Green!

In the past couple weeks Ford has announced improvements relating to tires, efficiency, and sustainability.

First of all Ford is leading research on increased efficiency with low-rolling-resistance tires. In line with Ford’s efforts to increase efficiency without sacrificing performance, these new tires can increase fuel efficiency by around 2 mpg,

And after your wear through your tires, Ford is recycling them into seals and gaskets. First introduced in 2008, gaskets from recycled materials are available in several 2011 models (full list of models below).

Ford’s “Reduce, reuse and recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.

Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of recycled plastics and bio-based materials whenever possible, provided these materials are environmentally favorable and meet all durability and performance requirements. Examples include soy foam seat cushions, wheat straw-filled plastic, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

See how Ford is using recyclable materials with these two info sheets:

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Ford_Sustainable_Materials_Graphic.pdf

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Ford_Sustainable_Materials_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Ford Motor Company vehicles that feature the sustainable seals and gaskets include:

• Ford Escape
• Ford F-150
• Ford F-250
• Ford F-350
• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Flex
• Ford Focus
• Ford Mustang
• Ford Taurus
• Ford Transit Connect
• Lincoln MKS

The Orange Army is back!

That’s right, the Wichita Wings Orange Army is back and gathering at Mel Hambelton Ford! The Wichita Wings Orange Army will be holding their 1^st annual Wichita Wings player membership drive on Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the dealership. All of the Orange Army Board Members will be there along with Lebaron Hollimon, Wichita Wings coach, Cliff Brown, former goal keeper for the Wichita Wings and present Director of Coaching, “Fast” Eddie Henderson, former Wichita Wings Player, and even more professional players from the past and the present. They will even be signing autographs on new Orange Army T-shirts and answering questions, not to mention the FREE taco bar available during the event, courtesy of Cholita’s Mexican Resturant! Thank you Cholita’s!

 

All Wings Youth Soccer players and parents need to be present at the annual player registration day on Saturday July 16th. A notary public will be available to get all registration documents completed. Even the Wings Soccer Association Board of Directors will be in attendance to answer any and all questions parents or players may have. The Orange Army and Mel Hambelton Ford  would also like to thank Chris Morgan W/Farmers Insurance and Service Body Shop for being the apparel sponsors. It all goes down this Saturday at Mel Hambelton Ford, youth soccer is important to us and we hope all of our fans can make it out and support the Wichita Wings Youth soccer! See you there!

 

2nd Annual Keys To Summer Is Almost Here!

Last Year's Keys To Summer winner chose the Ford Mustang.

On July 7^th once again people will flock to Mel Hambelton Ford.  The reason for the rush is the second annual “Keys To Summer.”  During the past two months entrants were randomly selected through online entry and registrants through the store, along with live giveaways on the radio station.  A grand total of 175 people were selected to try their hand at starting a brand new Ford.  The winner will get to pick one of four brand new Fords including the Mustang, F-150, Escape, and the newly redesigned Ford Focus.  Last year’s “Keys To Summer” event brought over 3,000 people to The Big Corner and this year will be even bigger.

This year donations will go to Kenny Kalish who lost both legs and his arm when an IED exploded in Afghanistan.

That’s great for the 175 people but what is there for a person who didn’t win a key to do?  The answer, plenty!  There will be a live band playing throughout the evening; “Lucky People” will be serenading the events of the night with covers from the 80’s up till today.  Other fun includes Mel Hambelton Motocross riders performing jumps and tricks, Cinderella Carriage Rides, and a full feature fireworks show to top off the evening.  Food and ice cream will also be available so come hungry!  But the real fun comes from the Raffles!  With donations from all over including massages, golf gift certificates, and helicopter rides, Mel Hambelton Ford will be giving away tons of prizes!  Mel Hambelton Ford also did a little shopping and will be giving away some amazing electronics prizes as well.  But the big prizeis a pre-owned car, for the mere purchase of a $5 raffle ticket someone will drive away in amazing car!  As usual Mel Hambelton Ford will be taking donations along with giving all the proceeds of the raffle to charity.   This time the donations will go to Kenny Kalish a local hero from Hutchinson.  Kenny Kalish was a Marine Cpl. Stationed in Afghanistan when an IED exploded causing him to lose both legs and his left arm.  The event begins at 5:00pm on Thursday July 7^th and ends after the fireworks show!

Local Heroes

We wanted to take a minute to recognize some of our amazing customers with really big hearts, and here is one story in particular we wanted to share with you!  The good folks at ThyssenKrupp Aerospace went down to Joplin to help with the clean up efforts and rented a van from us.  The following is the letter they wrote to us along with a few photos of the work they did.

The house before cleanup.

First I wanted to pass along my sincere thanks for the very discounted rate on the rental van we used to go to Joplin, MO.  I know that you charged us for three days what anyone else would have charged us for a single day.  We were able to clean up 4921 E 26^th St in Joplin as a result.  The house was mostly destroyed, and debris from it and all the houses around it was littered in the yard.  We worked long and hard with chainsaws, wheelbarrows, and team lifting to get all the debris piled at the curb for pick up by heavy equipment.  I am attaching a couple of pictures so that you can hopefully feel like you have been a part of people reaching out to help other people, which you most certainly were.  Please pass along my thanks to anyone else on your team that was a part of the efforts.

We would like to thank ThyessenKrupp Aerospace for giving us the opportunity to assist them in their efforts.  We are always looking for ways to help and inspiring stories to share!  If you have any stories or ideas for how we can help out others drop us a line at clay.schmidtberger@mhford.com.

After cleanup efforts.

We Have a Winner!

Mel Hambelton Ford Idle was a huge success! We are proud to announce the winner is Cameron Bedell, a 22 year old Music Major from Belmont University. He won a FREE Two Year Lease on a 2012 Ford Focus and briefcase full of cash! Each and every one of the contestants were amazing but Cameron won over the judges with his final song, Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder. All of amazing judges, Chris Medina, Tim Halperin, and Lauren Werhan (Miss Kansas) gave amazing performances before the finals and then had to make a really difficult decision, the had to choose a winner. It was tough but they chose Cameron. But Cameron wasn’t the only winner, Mel Hambelton Ford also raffled off 2007 Ford 500, and all proceeds went to Chris Medina’s fiancé, Juliana Ramos, who was in a serious car accident, we wish her a safe a speedy recovery. And finally Mel Hambelton had the drawing for their first Gem Swap II Game where the winner walked away with a FREE 64GB iPad2. Once again we would like to thank all of the contestants who auditioned for Mel Hambelton Idle, all of the players of Gem Swap II, and everyone who participated in the Raffle for Juliana Ramos! This event couldn’t have been possible without the help of each and every one of you!

The New Ford Taurus, Better Than Ever!

The new 2013 Ford Taurus is pulling out all the stops, with better fuel economy, a ton of new technology, enhanced design, improved craftsmanship and sharpened driving dynamics; it can’t get much better than that!  The buyer can even pick from two different engine types, the standard Taurus 3.5-liter V6 and the advanced 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Both engines have unique six-speed automatic transmissions which help with fuel economy, not to mention smart battery management, aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff, variable-displacement air conditioning compressor, reduced friction lubricants, and an electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) to put the Taurus at the top of the fuel economy pack!

Ford has made the Taurus even smarter with class-leading technologies like SYNC®  with MyFord Touch. They even added auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers, a rear view camera, and Intelligent Access with push-button start, so the driver can enter the car or start it up with just the push of a button. The new Taurus is even safer than before! It features the Trinity front crash architecture to help absorb and redirect the force of the crash, but Ford didn’t stop there. Taurus also features Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement (SPACE®) Architecture which provides additional strength to the sides while the new air bags have sensors that can tailor how the airbag is deployed depending on the occupant’s size. The design of the Taurus has even changed to a sleeker more athletic, sporty style. For more information on the new Ford Taurus head to http://www.ford.com/cars/taurus/ or http://www.melhambeltonford.com/