 Don Wood Automotive
Welcome to Don Wood Auto Blog. We are commited to providing you the latest news realting to Don Wood Automotive and the Products and Services we provide.
Don Wood sells New Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, Scion vehcles; Polaris ATV and Ranger utility vehicles; Vespa, Piaggio, Kymco and Genuine Scooters; Used Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and Vans; Used Motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs. We have the financing expertise to help you get the lowest interest rates or meet special finance needs.
Our service department provides maintenance repair, auto repair, and warranty repairs. Factory trained technicians, who are ASE certified and factory certified to meet your most difficult vehicle repair needs.
Don Wood Parts department offer easy online parts ordering, large inventory of OEM parts and accessories. Our parts staff is trained to meet your needs quickly and efficiently.
Don Wood's dealerships, sell Tires and wheels from Goodyear, Bridgetone, Dunlop, Nexxen, Kelly, Falcon, Michelin, and Yokohama. When you buy tires form Don Wood you are eligible to participate in our Customer Care Club, which includes road hazard protection.
Our collision repair facility can handle small dents, to body benders, and we fix them quickly...We're the collision repair experts in Athens, Ohio. We use only OEM (original equipment parts). Don Wood Automotive has "state of the art" frame repair machine in our auto body repair facility.Our paint color matching system from PPG uses the latest computer software to ensure a perfect paint match and finish. We offer a lifetime paint guarantee.We are a DRP (direct repair facility) for many major insurance providers. We welcome the opportunity to provide free estimates for all insurance providers such as Grange, Progressive, Cincinnati, Nationwide, Geico, and Allstate etc... We make it easy to get your vehicle fixed quickly.
Don Wood Automotive has five locations in Athens and Logan, Ohio. Please look to us for all of your vehicle and powersports needs.
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By The Staff of Don Wood Hyundai, on December 27th, 2011
ATHENS, OHIO., Dec. 27, 2011– The all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster earned a GOOD DESIGN™ Award in the Transportation category for its innovative and unique three-door design. The GOOD DESIGN Awards are presented annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Founded in Chicago in 1950, GOOD DESIGN bestows international recognition upon the world’s most prominent designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary, and innovative product concepts, invention and originality, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered ordinary product and consumer design.
Hyundai’s Veloster continues to grab consumer attention and media headlines from experts both inside and outside the automotive industry. For 2011, The GOOD DESIGN Awards were judged at the American Institute of Architects in Los Angeles by an international jury of design professionals, architects, experts, and cultural leaders.
“With Veloster, we want to show consumers that high style, fuel efficiency and affordable pricing can all be found in one vehicle,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Veloster stands out from the crowd with a stylish yet functional design. We’re honored that GOOD DESIGN is recognizing the beautiful design and unique personality of the car.”
Veloster’s cutting edge integration of the third-door combined with a breakthrough design inspired by a high-performance sport bike allows Veloster to stand-out from its competition and makes a bold statement about Hyundai’s commitment to innovative design. Distinctive black A-pillars give the glass a motorcycle helmet visor appearance and in the front is an aggressive form of Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille and unique Hyundai-signature LED position lights. Veloster’s dynamic rear design has a distinctive glass hatch, dual centered chrome exhaust tips and black lower fascia that complement the assertive front fascia. Inside, the center stack and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank and the air vents are inspired by motorcycle tailpipes, while the floor console mirrors the seat of a bike.
“The new Hyundai Veloster is an eye-catching look that separates it from the rest of the pack,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Hyundai, Athens, Ohio.
All winning designs for GOOD DESIGN 2011 can be viewed at the Museum’s website: www.chi-athenaeum.org. All products and graphics will be exhibited at The Chicago Athenaeum in the GOOD DESIGN Show for 2011 in Chicago in June, 2012.
By The Staff of Don Wood Chevy, on December 27th, 2011
 Turbocharged Performance: New Chevy Sonic RS Unique exterior and interior styling, sport-tuned suspension and standard MyLink
12-27-2011-LOGAN, OH – A hotter Chevrolet Sonic is about to sound off – the 2013 Sonic RS. It goes on sale in late 2012, after making its public debut at the North American International Auto Show Jan. 14-22.
The new RS amplifies the Sonic’s youthful style and driving experience with unique exterior and interior features matched with a 138-horsepower (103 kW) Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. Sonic is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a turbocharged powertrain.
“The new Chevrolet Sonic RS pushes Chevrolet’s performance heritage in a new direction, for a new generation of drivers,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “It takes the Sonic’s great design and latest connectivity features and combines them with a more performance-oriented look and feel.”
The Sonic RS is offered exclusively in the five-door body style. Chevrolet’s exclusive MyLink infotainment system is standard. It enables navigation directions downloaded through a smart phone to be shown on the radio’s large display, and offers the personalized connectivity of Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio.
Sonic RS exterior features
- New front fascia with new fog lamp design
- New RS-specific grille
- New rear fascia
- New rear spoiler
- New rocker moldings
- Unique mirror cap finish
- Retuned sport exhaust with chrome outlet
- Unique 17-inch five-spoke wheel design
- Lowered and stiffened suspension with performance-tuned dampers
- RS badging.
The more-aggressive look of the Sonic RS is inspired by the concept that debuted in Detroit in 2010. The Sonic RS will be available in Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic and Black Granite Metallic, which is a new exterior color for the 2013 Sonic.
“The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment,” said John Mack, design director for the Sonic. “From every angle and every touch point, it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement – and one that drives Chevrolet’s performance legacy into its second century.”
One of the most-dramatic cues from the concept carried into the production model is the Sonic RS’s front fascia, which has a deep air dam design that enhances the car’s road-hugging stance. Vertical intakes at the edges of the fascia reinforce the wide, low proportion and house the fog lamps.
Sonic RS interior features
- New front sport seats
- New sport steering wheel with thicker rim and racing-inspired flat-bottom design
- New shifter knob (manual transmission)
- New aluminum sport pedals
- Specific instrument panel cluster graphics
- RS-specific interior trim color for the instrument panel and door trim inserts.
“Like the exterior, the Sonic RS’s interior looks and feels the part of a true performance car,” said Mack. “The seats are firm and provide great lateral support during quick cornering and the feel of the thick, flat-bottom steering wheel is a feature driving enthusiasts will truly appreciate.”
The Sonic RS’s interior is a connected environment, with the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment seven-inch color touch screen radio. This system allows customers to bring customized music libraries into the vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation. Navigation directions downloaded through a smart phone can be displayed on the screen and, when the vehicle is stopped, users can project video and even personal photo albums onto the screen from their phone.
Sonic RS performance
“The Sonic RS gives drivers performance and great mileage in the same package,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Chevrolet, Logan, Ohio.
The Sonic RS is powered by a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine that is rated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) – and provides an immediate feeling of power that is sustained across the rpm band, for a greater feeling of performance at lower rpm. It’s matched with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.
Unique gear ratios for the six-speed manual transmission and unique final drive ratio for the automatic give the Sonic RS a sportier feel than non-RS models.
Complementing the segment-exclusive turbocharged powertrain is MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension – featuring a robust, tubular V-shape beam – with gas-charged shocks. The front and rear tracks are identical at 59.4 inches (1,509 mm), for well-planted stability and balance.
The new RS is the only Sonic model offered with four-wheel disc brakes, which are partnered with a four-channel anti-lock braking system. The four-sensor system – one at each wheel – incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo.
Electric power steering is standard and features a wear compensator that continually adjusts the system interaction with the steering gear to ensure precise steering action over the life of the system.
Sonic lineup at a glance
The Chevrolet Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door, with a starting price of $14,495 (including destination charge). Each body style delivers class-leading, rear-seat roominess and cargo space. Vehicle highlights include:
- Standard Ecotec 1.8L engine (non-RS models) paired with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions
- Standard electric power steering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing
- Sedan offers trunk capacity that is greater than most compact cars; hatchback and sedan offer better rear-seat roominess than Ford Fiesta. With a rear seat that folds nearly flat, the Sonic hatchback has greater cargo capacity than Fiesta
- Connectivity includes OnStar with six months of Turn-by-Turn navigation. Available features include XM Satellite Radio, USB and Bluetooth functionality and MyChevrolet mobile application
- Remote start, heated front seats and sunroof – all rarities in the segment
- Ten standard air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.
Sonic is built at the General Motors’ Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, which received a $545-million investment in upgrades and retooling and helped restore approximately 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan Detroit area.
By The Staff of Don Wood Ford, on December 23rd, 2011
ATHENS, OH-12/23/11–Winning an impressive award? All in a day’s work.
Toughness and rugged durability now merge with prestige and accolades. The Ford F-150 is the proud recipient of the 2012 Motor Trend Truck of the Year®.
When it comes to capability, power and performance, Motor Trend must have realized the competition didn’t stand a chance. The F-150 offers best-in-class trailer-towing capacity (11,300 lbs.)1 It can haul more than any other truck in its class—up to 3,120 lbs1.
But there’s more to the story than just sheer power. F-150 also has its focus on what’s important to everyone these days: fuel efficiency. The F-150 3.7L TI-VCT V6 delivers not only best-in-class standard V6 power, but also class-leading2 fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 17 city/23 highway/19 combined mpg (4×2).
Motor Trend also found the available EcoBoost® engine that’s designed with advanced technology and twin turbocharging to be beyond impressive. EcoBoost delivers a combination of efficiency and capability that’s unequaled in its class.3 What’s the experience like behind the wheel? Instantaneous low-end torque responsiveness with virtually no turbo lag.
The work may be tough, but inside F-150 it’s comfortable, quiet and user-friendly. The F-150 SuperCrew even boasts a fully flat load floor—the most usable cab space in its class4. And proving that you don’t have to work hard to be productive, F-150 offers an available class-exclusive2 driver configurable LCD productivity screen. Want to know your fuel economy, towing or off-road information? It’s all at your fingertips. And to keep you connected with life on the road, F-150 features available Ford SYNC® and the available Navigation System. It all adds up to a full-size pickup that delivers power, efficiency and intelligence—just a few vital factors that must have influenced the truck lovers at Motor Trend.
“The Ford F-150’s considerable strengths stood out in sharp relief against the competition. By offering high tech features like SYNC and EcoBoost, Ford has clearly taken a leadership position in the market and demonstrated a commitment to making the F-150 not just the best selling truck in America, but perhaps the most versatile. From a fuel sipping EcoBoost to a desert racing Raptor, the F-150 covers all of the bases,” said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend.
“The Motor Trend Truck of the Year award is more proof of how great a truck the Ford F-150 is,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Ford/Lincoln, Athens, Ohio.
To read the entire article, visit Motor Trend . To find out more about the F-150, visit ford.com/trucks/f150.
By Don Wood Toyota Staff, on December 23rd, 2011
 Earns Major Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety December 23, 2011, Athens, OH — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently announced that 15 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles earned Top Safety Pick awards for the 2012 model year, more than any other automaker.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., said, “Safety is a core value that dates back to the foundation of our company. IIHS’ awards further recognize our commitment to helping protect drivers and passengers.”
The 2012 model year winners are: Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius v, Sienna, Tundra Crew Cab, Venza, and Yaris; Lexus CT 200h and RX, and Scion tC, xB, and xD.
According to the IIHS, Top Safety Pick awards recognize vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in IIHS tests.
“These major awards for safety are even better when combined with their reputation for quality and great gas mileage,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Toyota/Scion, Athens, Ohio.
By The Staff of Don Wood Chevy, on November 29th, 2011
 It's Family, too: Sons Return 1965 Chevy Impala SS to Dad Chevrolet commercial and Internet video documents emotional homecoming
LOGAN, OH – 11-29-11 – Herb Younger thought his cherished 1965 Impala SS was out of his life forever when he sold it in the 1980s to pay for his children’s education. Now his car is back with him, an emotional reunion captured on video for all to see.
Chevrolet, keeping with its theme of showcasing authentic moments, created a 60-second TV spot and long-form online version of the real-life homecoming.
Younger bought his Impala new in 1964 and amassed nearly a quarter century of family memories before selling it.
Two decades later, his sons decided to reunite their father with his Impala. After five years of tracking Vehicle Identification Number leads through several states, they finally located their dad’s Impala in Canada and purchased it over the telephone. The car was still in pristine condition.
“It’s not just a car. It’s all the memories and feelings,” said Jared Younger. “It brings all that back.”
To capture the moment when Younger was reunited with his car, Chevrolet and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners conspired with Jared and his brother, Derek, and posed as a film crew documenting three generations of an American family. Little did Herb know, his Impala would come rumbling into view at a park where he was playing with his grandchildren. His recognition was instant. This was not a car like his. This was HIS car.
“Your first driver’s license, first car and first new car are special times. This special Chevy has been a part of the family for nearly 50 years,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Chevrolet, Athens, Ohio.
The commercial can be viewed here, and an extended version here.
“The moment when he realizes his car has come back to him is priceless, and is a prime example of the emotional connection many people have with their Chevys,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy. “The story is moving because it’s true – and there’s no better way to prove that Chevy runs deep.”
“‘My Dad’s Car’ tells a story that is common among Chevy owners, who tend to confess to carrying a lifetime love of the brand,” said Jamie Barrett, executive creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. “In the case of the Younger family, we got lucky and were able to capture the emotional reunion between Herb Younger and his lost-but-never-forgotten 1965 Impala SS.”
By The Staff of Don Wood Scion, on November 29th, 2011
 IT'S HOT!!!--2013 Scion FR-S ATHENS, OH – November 29, 2011–Rumors have been flying for years, and “spy” photos fueled repeated efforts to clear the cloudy crystal ball blocking the view of a major addition joining the Scion lineup. Now it’s official.
Toyota unveiled the new 2013 Scion FR-S at the Tokyo Auto Show this week. Now you can see the real deal, or at least something very close to the sporty new Scion joining the brand in 2013. In a word: WOW!
“The FR-S is more than a sporty look. It’s designed to deliver outstanding performance and handling in a moderately priced package,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Toyota/Scion, Athens, Ohio.
By Don Wood Toyota Staff, on November 29th, 2011
 AWARD: Toyota Prius is the One to Buy! ATHENS, OH, Nov. 29, 2011 – GreenCarReports.com has named the 2012 Toyota Prius family of vehicles as its “Best Green Car to Buy 2012.” Beginning with the 2012 model year, the Prius will expand to a family of four vehicles, including the third-generation Prius Liftback, the Prius v, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the Prius c.
GreenCarReports editors choose the most significant new “green” car available to shoppers during the 2012 model year, taking into account new technologies, their practicality, and their impact on the environment. The GreenCarReports’ “Best Green Car to Buy” award recognizes mass-market, environmentally sensitive vehicles that are available below $60,000. Utilizing the TheCarConnection’s ratings as a starting point for their evaluation, the GreenCarReports editorial team applies their criteria to select the winner that will carry the “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” environmental message.
“The Prius is more than just one car this year,” said Green Car Reports Editor John Voelcker. “With a new Prius v and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, it’s now a family of vehicles with some of the highest gas mileage on the market today, and the Prius name is likely to help encourage buyers to take the plunge into plug-in vehicles.”
The Prius vehicles that won the GreenCarReports’ “Best Green Car to Buy 2012” award were chosen from a competitive field of environmentally sensitive cars that also included the Fiat 500, Honda Civic Hybrid, Infiniti M35h, Mitsubishi i, and Volkswagen Passat TDi.
The Prius Liftback is in its third generation and earned an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined (51 city mpg/ 48 highway mpg) rating. The Prius v, which went on sale in October, will be an unmatched combination of versatility and fuel efficiency in a midsize. With 58-percent more cargo space than the Liftback, the Prius v has more cargo space than 80-percent of the small SUVs on the road today, while still accomplishing an EPA-estimated 44-mpg city.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which offers seating for five, is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. With expected class-leading fuel economy better than 50 mpg in the city, which is the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle, the Prius c will be an entry into the Prius Family appealing to youthful shoppers seeking fuel efficiency, technology, and spirited driving dynamics in the subcompact segment. Both the Prius c and Prius Plug-in will go on sale in the spring of 2012.
“Prius is the unmatched leader in global hybrid vehicle sales and technology,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Toyota, Athens, Ohio.
The Prius vehicles rely on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which benefits from 14 years of global market development, and pairs a highly efficient gasoline internal combustion engine with two high-output motor/generators, a large rechargeable battery, and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission to help the vehicles attain class-leading fuel economy in their respective segments. The development of the systems that govern the operation, integration and regenerative capabilities of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system represent considerable engineering effort, and help enhance the efficiency and performance of succeeding generations of Hybrid Synergy Drive equipped vehicles.
By The Staff of Don Wood Scion, on November 23rd, 2011
 Five Star Crash Rating: Scion tC
ATHENS, OH–11/22/11-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the all-new 2011 Scion tC sports coupe, a top overall rating of five stars.
The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and rollover safety. The test ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research facilities. The announcement was released on the NHTSA website www.safercar.gov.
All Scion models meet or exceed the safety requirements of the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The tC comes standard with a total of eight supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag, and side curtain airbags.
All 2011 tCs come standard with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
Additional safety features include a tire pressure monitoring system and newly adopted active front headrests.
“It’s not often that a car combines the best of sporty styling, performance and safety in one package like the Scion tC,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Scion, Athens, Ohio.
The all-new Scion tC, which went on sale in October 2010, has an impressive list of standard features including, 180 horsepower, 6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt 8-speaker audio system.
By The Staff of Don Wood Hyundai, on November 23rd, 2011
 Sporty Hyundai Veloster Captures Styling Award ATHENS, OH, Nov. 22, 2011– The all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster three-door coupe earned an Auto Style Award from eCityofStyle as part of its12th annual awards program. eCityofStyle.com, the ultimate online source for an insider’s look into the world of style, picked the five most stylish autos for the current model year. With more than 300 new cars for 2012, the finalists were selected after judges assessed exterior and interior style, fun-to-drive factor, exclusivity, and the all-important head-turning quotient.
“Gone are the days of Hyundai’s budget car status. Today, the Korean automaker is a legitimate threat to the establishment, designing cars that look considerably more expensive than they really are,” said eCityofStyle editors. “The Veloster is perhaps Hyundai’s most successful execution of its new design language, called Fluidic Sculpture. From the tight front end to the sculpted side creases to the powerful wheel arches, the Veloster’s exterior is both aggressive and sleek.”
Following the 2011 Equus’ style award win last year, Hyundai is grabbing consumer attention and media headlines again with Veloster. Veloster and the other winners were selected by fashion editors, stylists, fashion photographers and designers; all experts that live outside of the automotive world.
“With Veloster, we want to show consumers that high style and reasonable pricing can go hand in hand,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Veloster stands out from the crowd with a stylish yet functional design. We’re honored that eCityofStyle is recognizing the beautiful design and unique personality of the car.”
“The cutting edge design of the new Veloster is great, especially for someone wanting a car that doesn’t look like everything else on the road,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Hyundai, Athens, Ohio.
Veloster’s cutting edge integration of the third-door combined with a breakthrough design inspired by a high-performance sport bike allows Veloster to stand-out from its competition and makes a bold statement about Hyundai’s commitment to innovative design. Distinctive black A-pillars give the glass a motorcycle helmet visor appearance and in the front is an aggressive form of Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille and unique Hyundai-signature LED position lights. Veloster’s dynamic rear design has a distinctive glass hatch, dual centered chrome exhaust tips and black lower fascia that complement the assertive front fascia. Inside, the center stack and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank and the air vents are inspired by motorcycle tailpipes, while the floor console mirrors the seat of a bike.
Joining the Veloster as Auto Style Award winners are the BMW 6 Series, Fiat 500, Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG and Range Rover Evoque. For more information about the 2012 Auto Style Awards visit: http://www.ecityofstyle.com/i91/asa/
By The Staff of Don Wood Ford, on November 22nd, 2011
 REPREVE seats reduce Ford Focus Electric waste--and look great!
- Ford is the first automaker to use REPREVE® branded fiber inthe seat fabric for the all-new Focus Electric
- REPREVE is a polyester fiber made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials including used plastic water bottles and post-industrial waste
- Through the use of REPREVE, each all-new Ford Focus Electric keeps 22 plastic bottles out of landfills
ATHENS, OH, Nov. 17, 2011 – Sitting on empty plastic bottles while driving or riding in a car would be less than ideal. That’s not the case when it comes to the all-new Ford Focus Electric, as it features seat fabric made of recycled material that includes the equivalent of more than 20 plastic bottles per car.
The fiber – called REPREVE® – is made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials and manufactured by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a global leader in sustainable textile solutions.
Unifi officials say 22 plastic, 16-ounce water bottles are used in the seat fabric of a single Focus Electric. The figure is based on the amount of REPREVE branded fiber used in the production of fabric in each vehicle.
Ford is the first automaker to use REPREVE branded fiber in its seat fabric.
“What better vehicle than the Focus Electric to put seat fabric made of recycled materials?” said Carol Kordich, lead designer of Sustainable Materials for Ford. “Not only does the use of this fabric in Focus Electric help reduce waste, it also helps to offset the need to produce new raw material from crude oil – a process that consumes precious energy and natural resources.”
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is green in other ways, too. Focus Electric runs on battery power alone, requiring no gasoline and producing zero carbon dioxide emissions.
“We are excited to work with Ford for the introduction of REPREVE into the automotive industry,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO of the Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi. “As REPREVE continues to expand into new applications and markets, consumers are becoming more aware of companies like Ford and Unifi working together to make a positive impact on the environment.”
In 2009 Ford mandated that fabric suppliers use a minimum of 25 percent recycled content for all 2009 and beyond model year vehicles. Since then, 37 different fabrics meeting the requirements have been developed and incorporated into Ford vehicles.
Kordich said Ford is taking it a step further by mandating that fabric be 100 percent sustainable in vehicles with eco-conscious powertrains like Focus Electric.
REPREVE fits the bill, she said, because it is a combination of post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer waste, like the plastic water bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate plastic. Using REPREVE also reduces energy consumption by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil for production.
“It made sense when we were designing the Focus Electric to keep pushing for even more innovative ways to offer our customers the best, most environmentally sound products without sacrificing quality,” said Kordich.
REPREVE meets all Ford performance requirements, said Kordich, and Ford already is considering other uses across its entire car and truck lineup.
“REPREVE is a smart way to cut costs, reuse and recycle materials and make smarter use of resources,” said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Ford, Athens, Ohio. Eco-conscious solutions
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.
Last month, Ford announced it is using 25 20-ounce plastic bottles to make the carpeting in every all-new Ford Escape utility vehicle it builds. It’s the first time Ford has used this type of carpeting in an SUV.
Over the past several years Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of nonmetal recycled and bio-based materials whenever possible, provided these materials are environmentally favorable in the specific application. Examples include soy foam seat cushions and head restraints, wheat straw-filled plastic, castor oil foam in instrument panels, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.
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