• Ford showcases its expanding business model and diversity in innovation across performance vehicles, new energy powertrains, design, and smart mobility initiatives
• New Ford F-150 Raptor creates a new performance segment for Ford in China, shares the stage with Ford GT and Focus RS; Ford GT to race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship in Shanghai in November
• Sophisticated new Ford Kuga features a host of technological advancements and updates to help make driving simpler, safer and more enjoyable
• Customers in China to enjoy expanded power of choice with arrival of the C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid
• Ford’s latest in-car connectivity system, SYNC 3, will offer Chinese handwriting recognition and enhanced performance

Ford is putting its vision of the future on display at Auto China 2016. Bold innovations illustrate how Ford is expanding its business model to become both an auto and a mobility company, using advanced technology to develop compelling new vehicles and solutions for the future of mobility.

Headlining the show and creating an entirely new product segment for Ford in China, the new F-150 Raptor brings a unique combination of performance, agility and versatility to off-road enthusiasts in the world’s largest auto market. The F-150 Raptor expands the unmatched Ford Performance lineup in China, which will also include the Focus RS and the Ford GT supercar.

Ford is also innovating to expand consumers’ power of choice with a range of efficient new powertrain options. The C-Max Energi will be Ford’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle in China, meeting strong consumer demand for alternative energy vehicles. The company also confirmed that a hybrid version of the Ford Mondeo will be available for the first time in China later this year.

A full display of Ford’s SUVs for sale in China – the new Kuga, EcoSport, Edge, Explorer and Everest – highlights the company’s SUV expertise, and the bold new Taurus LTD and Edge V6 Flagship showcase Ford’s design strengths and focus on innovation and quality.

Ford also announced the launch of its latest in-car connectivity system in China, SYNC 3. This upgraded SYNC technology offers much faster performance than previous generations, and simpler voice commands. The system also recognizes thousands of Chinese characters, allowing customers to handwrite an address in Chinese on the navigation screen. SYNC 3 also delivers Ford AppLink and already supports six Chinese apps.

“Ford’s presence at Auto China 2016 demonstrates the broad range of innovations we are bringing to China, from new energy vehicles, to cutting-edge performance and smart mobility solutions,” said John Lawler, Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor China. “These innovative new vehicles and advanced technologies are the tools that are helping Ford to develop solutions for tomorrow’s biggest transportation challenges, and ultimately to make people’s lives better.”  

F-150 Raptor: unmatched in China and globally
Leading the Ford Performance lineup in Beijing is the new F-150 Raptor, which Ford will be bringing to China next year. The toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 Raptor ever, its introduction creates an entirely new segment of performance vehicles for Ford in China.

Developed with the DNA of a Baja race truck, the F-150 Raptor is unique among off-road and performance vehicles, with a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension that enable it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain.

“No other company could create a truck like the F-150 Raptor, and we’re so excited to be bringing it to China,” said Jamal Hameedi, Global Performance Chief Program Engineer, Ford Motor Company. “The F-150 Raptor is unmatched in its superior off-road capability, without sacrificing comfort and space, and we think enthusiasts here will love it.”

Sharing the stage with the F-150 Raptor is the show-stopping Ford GT supercar, which was unveiled to Chinese consumers last year. As it prepares to bring the GT to customers in China in limited numbers, Ford has confirmed that a racing variant of the GT will be participating in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship in Shanghai in November.

Those interested in owning their own Ford GT can officially apply at the FordGT.com website. The Ford GT will be one of the rarest Ford products ever, with global production limited to 250 units per year, with the initial ordering period covering the first two years of production – 500 vehicles.

Rounding out the Ford Performance trio at the show is the Focus RS, the third generation of Ford’s high-performance road car, the 30th vehicle to bear the legendary RS badge and the first RS to come to China. Pioneering innovative Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive and featuring a unique 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, the Focus RS delivers class-leading cornering speed, optimized aerodynamics and unbridled driving enjoyment, whether on the road or track.

New Ford Kuga
As the sport-utility segment continues to grow at an accelerated pace in China – rising from 1.2 million units in 2010 to more than 6 million units in 2015 – Ford has expanded its SUV lineup to meet diverse consumer demands, from the EcoSport urban SUV up to the Everest and Explorer.

The new Ford Kuga is the latest example of how Ford uses its SUV expertise to bring innovation to the SUV segment. It features Ford’s latest design language for a bold and sporty look that is shared with the EcoSport and Edge. A modern, smart SUV, the new Kuga makes driving simpler, less stressful and more enjoyable with a comfortable and spacious new interior, and innovative technologies like enhanced Active Park Assist, Active City Stop and SYNC 3, the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system. The new Kuga will be available with either a new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine or a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine.

“The Ford Kuga is already one of the most popular vehicles in China, meeting and exceeding customer needs with advanced technology and the flexibility and capability of an SUV,” said Marin Burela, president, Changan Ford Automobile Co. “With the new Kuga, we are building on that popularity and offering our customers and their families a host of new and cutting-edge features that will help them unlock life’s possibilities.”

Premium design
Ford also announced the arrival of the Ford Edge V6 Flagship and Ford Taurus LTD, premium offerings that further demonstrate the company’s innovation in design. The Edge V6 Flagship is an upscale SUV designed for discerning individuals and families, offering premium design, materials, craftsmanship and class-leading specifications. It also features Adaptive Steering System – available on a Ford vehicle in China for the first time – as well as the all-new SYNC 3 in-car connectivity system.

The Taurus LTD will provide an even more distinguished ownership experience for elite Chinese business customers as a leader in the high-tech business sedan segment. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, the Taurus LTD features an upgraded exterior and interior design, advanced technologies such as SYNC 3, and state-of-the-art levels of craftsmanship and quality.

The power of choice
For Ford, innovation in new vehicles means more than enhanced performance: It means delivering on the promise to give customers in China the power of choice with a range of efficient powertrain options. When it arrives in China, the new Ford C-Max Energi will bring plug-in hybrid technology to Ford showrooms alongside Ford’s compact and efficient EcoBoost engines, and advanced traditional petrol engines.

The versatile C-Max Energi combines a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor using Ford’s next-generation power-split architecture. This allows the electric motor and a new, powerful and efficient 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine to work together or separately to maximize efficiency. The electric motor is powered by advanced lithium-ion battery systems, which are more efficient, smaller and lighter than nickel-metal hydride batteries used in first-generation hybrid vehicles.

Ford Smart Mobility
Ford is also using Auto China to showcase a number of bold innovations that illustrate how Ford is expanding its business model to become both an auto and a mobility company. The company’s plan is twofold:

• Continue to focus on and invest in its core business – designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing high-quality cars, SUVs, trucks and electrified vehicles
• Aggressively pursue emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, Ford’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics

As part of this expansion, Ford confirmed that FordPass, which reimagines the entire customer experience and aims to do for car owners what iTunes did for music fans, will be launched in China. A digital, physical and personal mobility experience platform, FordPass includes four main components:

• A marketplace, which offers access to mobility services and partners
• FordGuides, who will be trusted mobility assistants that are available night or day. Their only job is to guide, serve and solve mobility challenges – not to sell
• Appreciation and FordPass Perks that will reward users for their loyalty with access to unique experiences and merchandise; and
• FordHubs, Ford’s global mobility experience centers where consumers can explore Ford’s latest innovations, learn about Ford’s mobility solutions, and experience exclusive events

Ford will launch four FordHubs around the world, including one in Shanghai.

The latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system, SYNC 3, further highlights how Ford is using advanced technology to change the way the world moves. Initially available in China in the Taurus and Edge, SYNC 3 will allow drivers to control their entertainment, climate settings and navigation, as well as their connected smartphone, all with simple and conversational voice commands.

Highlights of SYNC 3 include significantly faster performance and an 8-inch touchscreen featuring larger buttons that are easier to operate. The touchscreen is used in the same way as a smartphone, including pinch and swipe gestures.

Customers will also be able to handwrite an address using a finger directly on the navigation screen. The system recognizes thousands of Chinese characters, and has an autocomplete function that makes searching for an address quick and convenient.

SYNC 3 also delivers SYNC AppLink, enabling voice-activation of a range of smartphone apps, including Sina Weather, Qingting FM, Ximalaya, QQ Music, Kaola FM and CNR. Customers with iPhones can also use SYNC 3 to connect to Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. This allows drivers to make phone calls, access their music, send and receive messages, get directions and more, while they stay focused on the road.

Auto China 2016 runs from April 25 to May 4 at the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) in Beijing.