When it comes to dangers on the road, we’re going to guess you immediately think of people who aren’t paying attention because they are texting while driving, distracted by who knows what or the like. What probably doesn’t come to mind at first is that the driver next to you could suddenly suffer a heart attack. You’re welcome for that ray of sunshine today.

But there is indeed a bright spot: Engineers at Ford have developed a prototype car seat that uses electrocardiograph (ECG) technology to monitor the heart’s electrical impulses and detect signs of irregularity, resulting in an early warning that a driver should seek medical assistance, such as for a heart attack, high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances or other cardiovascular issue. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t be grossed out when you first read this; rather, find it fascinating and forward-thinking, because it truly is. Here goes: It turns out there’s a milky-white substance that seeps from dandelion roots (there’s the ick thing) that can be utilized as a natural alternative to synthetic rubber in products (there’s the cool thing).

And so, Ford and The Ohio State University are all over this weed, much in the way the weed is all over your yard. The two are researching the potential of the dandelions’ said milky substance as a plastics modifier to help improve the impact strength of plastics, with the material possibly then capable of being used in places such as cupholders, floor mats and interior trim. Read the rest of this entry »

They used to say, if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Now? Give it to Facebook! That’s just what Ford did, handing over the important duty of naming the 2012 Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package to nearly 1.4 million Mustang fans, because undoubtedly they would have an opinion or two. And that they did – more than 3,000 submissions were made to the Mustang Facebook page and almost 6,700 users installed the “You Name It” app. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s difficult to pick the most noteworthy feature of the 2013 Ford Taurus, but let’s start with how the flagship sedan manages to make a bit of automotive history: It is the first car in the Ford North America lineup to offer the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ engine. Beyond that, the new Taurus also touts improved fuel economy, more smart technology, a fresh look and additional safety features. And did we mention the Taurus SHO is the sportiest model yet to wear the performance badge? But more on that one in a minute.

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Sticker price: $25,170 – $37,770

Depreciation is the single biggest cost of owning a vehicle, as it measures a car’s loss in value during the time you own it. In reality, it is what the car ultimately costs you. That’s why it’s important to have some idea of how well a car holds its value before you buy.

In making their predictions, value experts at Kelley Blue Book take into account a long list of factors. Among them: the past history of a given model or brand, how good the car is compared to its competitors, and how many competitors there are. Read the rest of this entry »