Randall Reed Announces PlanetFordWhisperer.com Contest for $80K Ford*

Posted on April 3, 2018 by admin


Randall Reed, owner of World Class Automotive Group, has announced the PlanetFordWhisperer.com contest giving away a new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 or Ford F-150 Raptor to a grand prize winner at the Grand Opening of the newly designed Planet Ford in Spring, Texas on May 18, 2018.

The contest, taking place now – May 11,  2018, allows contestants to submit a short written photo essay or video sharing their Ford Whisperer tale for a chance to win an $80,000 dream Ford.  The Planet Ford Whisperer contest is part of Mr. Reed’s new Ford Whisperer campaign created in celebration of every single World Class Automotive Ford dealership receiving the Ford Triple Crown.  

Unprecedented Recognition

“We are thrilled to celebrate this unprecedented achievement of every independent dealer’s location earning Ford’s highest honor,” said Mr. Reed.  “This incredible accompaniment recognizes your well deserved commitment to your communities, charities, customers, employees and Ford Motor Company,” said Dianne C. Craig, Director of U.S. Sales for Ford. Since the inception of the Triple Crown, only 78 dealers have achieved the distinction, with less than half a percent winning it on an annual basis. “In total, our Ford stores have garnered this amazing honor 10 times, and it marks the 6th consecutive year for a Planet Ford location.”

The Ford Whisperer

With over 30 years experience as a Ford dealer, Mr. Reed has truly become a Ford Whisperer. He has a unique ability to understand the unique characteristics and strengths of his cars, trucks and SUVs. Being able to tune into vehicles, like the wild Mustang, powerful F-150 and strong and stoic Super Duty, he can then deliver them to the right owner to meet both driver’s needs and the Ford’s abilities. This talent has translated the historic award-winning service and creation of a contest to thank the family-owned dealership group’s world-class customers.

Enter to Win

At PlanetFordWhisperer.com, customers are invited to share in the celebration by submitting a quick and creative video or brief photo essay.  The would-be whisperer can share their favorite Ford tale, how they believe they can whisper too or even share how Planet Ford and Mr. Reed helped them find their ideal Ford. Everyone who registers

at the site, will be placed into a weekly drawing for a Ford Ambassador Prize Pack.  For those who also submit a video or photo entry for the vehicle contest, the contestants are encouraged to share their videos on social media with #PlanetFordWhisperer and #FordWhisperer, and then go tell their friends to vote, like and share! A panel of judges will select the finalists. 

Stellar Grand Opening

On May 18th, 2018, Mr. Reed will announce the Grand Prize winner and hand over the keys to his or her choice of the new $80,000 Ford. The winner must be present to win.  The grand opening celebration will be out of this world. There will be a host of family-friendly activities and live entertainment, including dueling ice carvers, and music by Houston’s very own Jason Cassidy and Rolling Stone’s Magazine Top-10 Country Artists, the Scooter Brown Band. Guests will also participate in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record, great sweepstakes giveaways, raffle with big prizes and a silent auction benefiting Light Up To Live, a charity for members of our Military.

For more information on how to enter and full contest rules, please visit PlanetFordWhisperer.com.

To learn more about the grand opening celebration or to RSVP, log onto Facebook.com/PlanetFord45.

*See site for official contest rules. 
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Ford’s Doesn’t Forget Hands-On Approach in Vehicle Testing

Posted on October 14, 2017 by randall

We all know that everything is more technology driven these days, especially when it comes to designing, building and even testing vehicles.  However, in the data-driven, computer-monitored world, sometimes there simply is no replacement for the human touch. Ford engineers Jonathan Gesek and Mike Del Zio are proof that both the objective and subjective remain integral parts of car development.

How so? For example, after driving a high-speed lap at the test track in a prototype Mustang, Del Zio, a vehicle dynamics engineer – the objective one – reported that despite wind tunnel numbers that would indicate otherwise, the car wasn’t responding around corners to his satisfaction. Gesek, who is an aerodynamics engineer – the subjective one – had a quick to stick solution.

Gesek applied a simple strip of duct tape over the lower gap of the grille. The goal was to reduce what is known as front-end lift. Del Zio re-tested the car, paying attention to the vehicle’s response when cornering at high speed. The result: a better-handling car and a modified grille.

“That little strip of tape made all the difference,” Del Zio said. “The key to the subjective is confidence. At the end of a straightaway, what confidence do you have in being able to brake and make a turn? Things start to come up fast at 155 miles an hour.”

In recent years, Gesek and Del Zio devoted hundreds of hours to improving the aerodynamic performance of the new 2018 Mustang, helping maintain or improve upon EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings over current models by up to 5.6 percent.

Front-end styling changes include a lowered nose, a larger front splitter that adds downforce and helps keep the front end planted to the ground, and a rocker shield that allows air to flow better underneath the car.

Active grille shutters are standard across the lineup on non-Performance Pack-equipped vehicles, reducing drag at higher speeds by completely closing off the grille, sending air over and around the car instead of into the engine compartment.

The changes improve aerodynamics by reducing drag (by up to 3 percent on the EcoBoost® model) and improve performance by helping Mustang keep a better grip on the road.

When you’re ready to test a Ford vehicle for yourself, visit www.ReedHasIt.com to shop thousands of vehicle online.

Source: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/10/how-one-piece-of-duct-tape-improved-handling-and-efficiency-in-n.html

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Planet Ford Locations Named Top Ford Dealers in Nation

Posted on October 13, 2017 by randall

Planet Ford 45 team in Spring celebrates being named #1 Ford dealer in the nation*

Great honors for both Planet Ford in Spring, Texas — named #1 Ford dealer in the nation —  and Randall Reed’s Planet For in Humble, Texas — named a Top 10 dealer in the US.

I had the pleasure of presenting Planet Ford in Spring’s Managing Partner/General Manager, Shawn Burns and the dealership team with a gift for earning the “title” as the top dealer in the U.S.*

Planet Ford 59 in Humble celebrate being named Top 10 Ford Dealer *

Planet Ford has been the #1 Ford dealer in Houston for 17 years running In September, the sales team took that winning attitude and team spirit to new heights to garner the top spot in the Ford Motor Company U.S. dealership family. I also enjoyed celebrating with Randall Reed’s Planet Ford in Humble. They were named one of the Top 10 Ford Dealers in the Nation!

Both Planet Ford’s team were met a challenging month as many were not only recovering from the affects of Hurricane Harvey, but helping our neighbors and community as well.

The Planet Ford family, known for their award-winning service, was fully prepared. Both location are multiple Triple Crown and Ford Presidents Award winners, among many other honors.

Mr. Burns shared, “We are fortunate to have a great team committed to our customers and being the best in the business. John Centner, General Manager at Planet Ford in Humble/VP for World Class Automotive agreed, “We are thankful that we have such a passionate team that is dedicated to our customers, our community and helping people with all of their automotive needs.”

Congratulations to our entire team for the hard work you put in daily and striving for excellence!

To learn more about Planet Ford in Spring (serving greater Houston, The Woodlands, Aldine, Cypress, Conroe), take the short drive on I-45 or log on to www.PlanetFord45.com for award-winning service and savings! For information on Planet Ford on Hwy. 59 in Humble (serving Kingswood, Atascocita, Katy, Conroe and greater Houston), visit www.PlanetFord59com!

*Based on Sept. 2017 Ford Motor Co. New Car Reporting.

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STEAM DELIVERED: FORD LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE YOUTH TO THINK LIKE AN ENGINEER

Posted on October 11, 2017 by randall

Where was this when we were kids? Take a look at how Ford is connecting kids to science, technology and math in a fun new way.

Talk about driving a child to want to learn. Now that the school year is in full swing, Ford Motor Company is bringing science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) education to youth across the country with fun, and educational challenges delivered right to their doorsteps.

Ford has launched FordSteamExperience.com as a way to showcase many of the education-focused programs it is now offering. The company’s latest addition is a collaboration with Academics in a Box, designers of Groovy Lab in a Box, an award-winning educational kit line designed for children ages 8 and up interested in learning STEAM fields. The unique experience is delivered right to their homes at no cost when they sign up.

The Ford STEAM Box challenges students to think much like a Ford engineer. The box includes a number of activities – designing a vehicle frame out of origami and kirigami modeling, working with copper tape which conducts electricity to create a working motor, and creating headlights and taillights using LED lighting – all adding up to a complete prototype of a Ford Mustang GT model.

According to Lisa Sheth, a Ford engineer, she says programs like Ford STEAM Box include activities designed to help the company engage and build relationships with parents, who are the best resources for encouraging and inspiring young kids.

“Parents play a critical role in motivating their kids to stay curious and sustain their excitement in STEAM education,” says Sheth. “Ford sees an increasing desire from them for more STEAM-related activities, and this is a great way for us to help bring that about.”

Elaine Hansen, co-founder of Academics in a Box, says Ford is the perfect partner to help them reach their goal – to expand their reach and enable more students the opportunity to have education delivered to their home.

“Doing good has been part of our business plan from the beginning, and Ford is doing just that,” she says. “Ford wants to engage in educating our youth, and we are happy to work with a company that has the same goals as we do.”

Expanding Girls’ Fast Track Races
In addition to working with Academics in a Box, Ford is expanding its collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA by bringing the Girls’ Fast Track Races experience to eight Girl Scout councils from four last year. The races will now reach hundreds of Brownies and Juniors from Girl Scout councils in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and Texas. Girls’ Fast Track Races provide participants with hands-on experience with the concepts of engineering, design, aerodynamics, and weight distribution as girls build and compete with their very own wooden race cars.

Elizabeth Perez, vice president of institutional giving for Girl Scouts of the USA, shares that “Girl Scouts has long been committed to challenging stereotypes and providing girls of all ages with interactive and engaging programs that increase their interest in STEAM. We are grateful for our Ford collaboration because it goes beyond simply offering STEAM content; Ford engineers work directly with girls during the races. Providing this leadership development opportunity is a key element of our Girl Scout programming.”

Sheth adds that Ford is deeply committed to rallying youth to get inspired about pursuing careers in high-tech fields. “We’re excited to bring Girls’ Fast Track Races to even more girls—giving them an engaging experience focused on teaching core STEAM principles,” she says.

To learn more, visit FordSteamExperience.com.

Source: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/10/steam-education-delivered-to-your-door.html

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Ford & Lyft Join Forced to Make Self-Driving Cars Mainstream

Posted on September 28, 2017 by randall

It seems like something straight out of the movies… in fact, it is. Remember movies like, Total Recall, Batman, The Fifth Element or Time Cop.  Well, it’s no longer sci-fi. Self-driving cars are a reality. Now Ford Motor Company and Lyft are joining forces to help drive this new technology into the mainstream for consumer use.

According to Sherif Marakby, Ford Vice President, Autonomous Vehicles and Electrification, “There is no doubt self-driving vehicles will have an impact on how people and goods will move more efficiently in the future. But the magnitude of that impact — and how quickly self-driving vehicles can benefit society — will largely depend on businesses, government and the public working together.”

Ford said the new partnership with Lyft  will bring self-driving vehicles to the masses and help both companies progress toward a more affordable, dependable and accessible transportation future.

“As we at Ford continue making progress on developing self-driving technology — through our self-driving vehicle and Argo AI’s virtual driver system — we are simultaneously building out the infrastructure and systems necessary to make it easy for people to use our service. Think of it this way: Someday, when you open the Lyft app during a period of high demand, Ford and Lyft software will need to be capable of quickly dispatching a self-driving vehicle so that you can get to your destination as quickly and as safely as possible,” Marakby added.

Looking for a car that you can drive yourself? Check out ReedHasIt.com for a great deals on Fords, Lincolns, Volkswagens, Certified, pre-owned and more!

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Ford Makes List of World’s Most Ethical Companies

Posted on March 14, 2017 by admin

For the eighth year in a row, the Ford Motor Company has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. With its focus on being a good corporate citizen, Ford garnering the honor for the 8th year makes it the longest streak for any auto manufacturer.

According to the American automaker’s recent release, Ford’s commitment to ethics is evident in programs aimed at monitoring human rights and safe working conditions, sourcing conflict-free minerals, to programs such as the Partnership for a Cleaner Environment, which is aimed at encouraging sustainability through Ford’s supply chain.

Ford also seeks to foster long-term relationships with its suppliers through active engagement, which includes sharing best practices, as well as providing training and evaluations to ensure suppliers meet both legal requirements and Ford standards.

“Strong ethics and corporate citizenship are the foundation of our business philosophy, which demonstrates to our customers what we stand for as a company,” said Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman. “This honor is a reflection of Ford’s core values, and it shows that our employees are continuing to make the right decisions every day for all of our stakeholders.”

Ethisphere’s list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies acknowledges and honors companies that recognize they have a role in society to influence or drive a positive change. These companies consider their employees, investors, customers and other key stakeholders when taking action, while their values and culture align with the decisions they make every day.

For its efforts, Ford has been recognized by several third-party organizations, including:

  • 2017 World’s Most Admired Company by Fortune
  • 2016 The Just 100: America’s Best Corporate Citizens by Forbes
  • 2016 America’s Best Employer by Forbes
  • 2016 Top Green Company by Newsweek
  • 2016 World’s Most Attractive Employer for Engineering and IT by Universum
  • 2016 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

For more information about Ethisphere Institute’s methodology and to view the complete list of 2017 World’s Most Ethical Companies, visit www.ethisphere.com/worlds-most-ethical/wme-honorees/

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NEW OMNICRAFT BRAND PARTS AVAILABLE AT FORD DEALERSHIPS

Posted on January 24, 2017 by admin

The Reed Factor has learned, Ford dealers will now have access to Ford Customer Service Division’s all new Omnicraft brand. It is a complete family of parts to sell and to service all makes of vehicles as the .

Adding Omnicraft to Ford’s family of parts line to also cover non-Ford vehicles means an improved customer experience through competitive pricing, quality and convenience.

“Omnicraft is a significant benefit to any vehicle owner who needs parts or to have their vehicle serviced,” said Frederiek Toney, president, Global Ford Customer Service Division. “Now, owners of non-Ford vehicles have access to quality parts at a competitive price, backed by Ford and installed by Ford’s world-class certified technicians.”

For launch, Ford focused on developing the most commonly requested parts at a competitive price. Initial offerings include oil filters, brake pads and rotors, loaded struts, and starters and alternators.

“Today, 1,500 parts numbers are available with plans to eventually reach approximately 30 parts categories and 10,000 parts,” Toney said. “We targeted the most requested parts first to provide our dealers with a solid foundation of inventory.”

At launch, Omnicraft parts will be available at Ford and Lincoln dealerships and will roll out to other Ford Authorized Distributors throughout 2017.

Omnicraft is the first new brand offered by FCSD in 50 years and is an important growth opportunity for dealerships as they will be able to sell parts and offer service for all vehicles. Ford also offers its Motorcraft® complete line of replacement parts for Ford vehicles.

For more your Ford parts, visit www.ReedHasIt.com.

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Randall Reed Signs Lease for Love Field’s DalFort Property

Posted on May 19, 2016 by admin
The all-new Braniff Centre Coming in Spring 2019

The All-New Braniff Centre Coming in Spring 2019

Randall Reed, the CEO of Reed Enterprises announced a lease has been signed and submitted to the City of Dallas as the company prepares to launch a massive $134 million renovation. Reed Enterprises has grand redevelopment plans for the 28-acre property and DalFort building site known in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Building at Love Field. Mr. Reed’s signature is a pinnacle point of a four-and-a-half-year commitment that will bring back life to this long dormant and deteriorating gem on Lemmon Avenue.

“We are ecstatic, to say the least!” said Mr. Reed, “After years of tribulations, challenges, and failures, we finally have achieved success. Our steadfast commitment and determination to rehabilitate this historical landmark, which has sat vacant for nearly 15 years, has finally come to fruition.” Submission of the property lease marks the beginning in the next leg of an incredible journey that will fulfill a vision to resurrect a diamond in the rough and bring economic growth and development to the city of Dallas.

The Braniff Centre will be a multifaceted complex encompassing an elite, Trustmark designed Lincoln automotive dealership. It will be the first of its kind to be built. In addition, the complex will house Reed Enterprises’ world headquarter, a brand new private aviation FBO, aviation maintenance services and over 300,000 sq. ft. of hangar space. The centre attractions go beyond just automotive and aviation, it will also offer a distinctive, full-service business hotel, retail shops, as well as both high-end and quick, casual dining restaurants.

The new Braniff Centre will bring revitalization while preserving the historical architecture of the Braniff Operations and Maintenance building as a memorial event space for the enjoyment and utilization of generations to come.

“This is a massive undertaking of preservation and progress,” says Mr. Reed. “Completion of the private aviation services, hangar spaces and the Braniff memorial is anticipated to be in the spring of 2019.  The commercial development’s full completion is expected the following summer of 2020.”

About Randall Reed

Randall Reed and Sherry are owners and founders of Reed Enterprises, which encompasses World Class Automotive Group, Reed Enterprises Love Field, Starbase Jet and Reed Aviation.  Learn more at www.TheRandallReedFamily.com.

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Fed Up with Traffic? New Fusion Reduces Road Woes

Posted on April 20, 2016 by admin
2017 Ford Fusion Available with Stop and Go Technology

2017 Ford Fusion Available with Stop and Go Technology

One thing everyone at The Reed Factor can agree on, stop and go traffic most of us encounter every day is maddening.  While, there’s no vehicle that can prevent aggravating traffic congestion, Ford is adding something new to help make traffic less stressful.

The 2017 Ford Fusion will now be available with new stop-and-go technology that piggybacks on the existing adaptive cruise control feature, can help drivers experience less stress on the road. When activated stop-and-go automatically accelerates and brakes for the driver while maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

According to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard released by Texas A&M Transportation Institute, America’s drivers spent 6.9 billion hours stuck in traffic in 2014, an average of nearly an hour a week wasted. Drivers fighting traffic in the most gridlocked cities – New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. – found it significantly worse, losing nearly an hour and a half, sometimes more.

Now, whether on a long-distance trip or the daily commute, customers of the 2017 Fusion equipped with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology can drive with less stress.

Using dedicated steering wheel buttons, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go allows drivers to set cruise control speed and following distance from the vehicle ahead. The semi-autonomous technology can automatically adjust the set speed for comfortable travel – much like a human driver would – bringing the car to a full stop when traffic halts. If the car has to stop for more than three seconds, the driver can tap the resume button or accelerator and the car returns to its preset speed. This assures the driver is paying attention in the event of a long pause in traffic.

Adaptive cruise control employs a combination of sensors and software. When activated, the technology uses an advanced radar-and-camera based system, which reads the road every 50 milliseconds – tracking traffic and adjusting Fusion’s cruise control according to traffic flow. In slow traffic, with minimal driver input, the car can automatically brake itself to a stop, then resume travel up to set speed and following distance.

“When testing this system, we traveled to cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, heading straight for the worst possible congestion,” says Scott Lindstrom, Ford driver-assist technologies manager. “It was important for us to test this system under conditions the average driver encounters every workday.”

Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go is a great tool for dealing with traffic, but for unpredictable moments Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, part of the overall technology, employs the same sensors and camera to watch the road ahead for potential collisions with a vehicle or pedestrian. When a situation is detected, the system provides a visual and audible warning to the driver, pre-charges the brakes and, if necessary, can then automatically apply up to full braking force. This can help reduce the severity of, or even eliminate, some frontal collisions.

The 2017 Fusion is the first Ford vehicle in North America to offer adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – among 20 driver-assist technologies available across the entire Fusion lineup, including Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi. Stop-and-go will be added to three new Ford products within the next two years.

The new Fusion arrives at Ford dealers this spring. When you’re ready to shop for your new Ford, visit www.ReedHasIt.com!

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Popular Mechanics Names Shelby GT350R Mustang Sports Car of the Year

Posted on March 24, 2016 by admin

Screen Shot 2016-05-20 at 2.37.31 PMThe Ford Shelby® GT350R Mustang, perhaps one of the most iconic performance vehicles of all time, has been named Popular Mechanics Sports Car of the Year. The Reed Factor would have to agree, especially after seeing the latest offerings.

Popular Mechanics said the Ford Shelby GT350R was selected from among a long list of contenders because it pushes the boundaries of what an American sports car can be.

The iconic sports car features a unique, high-revving flat-plane crankshaft 5.2-liter V8 produces 526 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque – the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever for the most track-capable, street-legal Mustang ever built.

To learn more, visit www.PopularMechanics.com. To shop for the latest Fords or pre-owned vehicles, visit www.ReedHasIt.com!

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