Welcome to part 3 of our 6 part series on the must watch episodes of Top Gear. In this installment, we’ll watch as the chaps try and conquer outer space and revisit the amphibious vehicle challenge from last week’s list. We even get a Special this week, what a treat!

If you haven’t been keeping up with the weekly episodes you can get caught up by viewing the articles below.

The Best of Top Gear: Told By a Guy Who Has Watched Every Episode

The Best of Top Gear: Told By a Guy Who Has Watched Every Episode Pt.2

Series 9: Episode 4

We start this installment with one of the greatest challenges Richard and May have ever undergone. You really have to watch it to get the full effect of what they are trying to accomplish. Simply put, it’s the best thing ever.

Series 10: Episode 1

Out of the 17 complete seasons out currently, this one is my favorite. With an episode like this one to kick it off why wouldn’t it be. If I ever get the opportunity to drive this road, I would do it in a heart beat.

Series 10: Episode 2

In last week’s Top Gear list we mentioned that Jeremy, Richard, and James would revisit the amphibious vehicle challenge. Well here it is. This time they’re met with a little more of a challenge and for that alone, it’s a must watch episode.

*Special*

One of the best specials and it’s in my favorite season, imagine that. Just remember to watch out for those Honey Badgers. You know a Honey Badger doesn’t kill you to eat you, it tears off…well you’ll just have to watch the episode.

Series 10: Episode 5

Over the past couple of weeks we’ve watched the fellows at Top Gear challenge public transportation all across Europe. This time they take nearly every mode of transport on; trains, boats and even a bike to see if any can beat the mighty car through London during rush hour. The challenge is great and the results are even better.

Series 10: Episode 7

May, Hammond, and Jeremy try to prove to the producers that British Leyland Motor Company had actually built a decent vehicle. They set out with £1200 of their own money to prove the point. I don’t know if British Leyland evey really made a decent car but what I do know is this is one of the best and funniest bargain vehicle challenges out of the entire show.

Series 11: Episode 1

This is another great episode where Jeremy talks about environmentally friendly cars. He attempts to prove that a BMW M3 is more fuel efficient than a Toyota Prius. It’s a serious challenge that makes you scratch your head and takes what you know of fuel efficient vehicle and turns it upside down. Also, the chaps try to create their own police cars and it’s utterly hilarious.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the episodes above get in contact with us at 513-932-1010 ext.127 or write us at mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com. You can also contact us if you have trouble with your vehicles technology, but we do like to talk about Top Gear, so be prepared.

Everyday, Americans use computers to book hotel rooms, airfares, seats at concert and soon maybe even spots through an intersection. In a recent MSNBC article, researchers are developing software in which a car’s onboard computer will “talk” to intersections around a city. By evaluating where a person is traveling, the computer will talk to each individual intersection, reserving times to pass through. If a time slot is available near the time the car will arrive at the intersection than the car may pass but if is full the car will either have to stop or find an alternative intersection. The concept sounds great in theory, keeping track of cars as they enter and exit the most dangerous locations on the road but time will only tell if this technology will be used in mass. My only question is, will certain drivers get VIP status to these intersection events?

To read more click here.

If you have an iPod or any other portable music playing device then chances are you enjoy using it in your vehicle. I smell something brewing here…

Have you ever wondered how to merge the two together in perfect harmony? I have, mainly because the only way to play music in my car is to play Pandora through the speakers on my phone. Over time you realize the trick is to locate the right angle in the cup holder so the sound can bounce around the car. Thus, creating the illusion it’s coming out straight out of the vehicle’s speakers. As you can imagine my driving trips aren’t very enjoyable…

Alas! If you happen to be blessed with a USB port in your vehicle then you’re probably enjoying your entertainment experience a little more than I am. If you just so happen to be dipped in gold and have a Ford vehicle equipped with SYNC then you’re living the entertainment dream.

The reason is simple, you have the ability to control your media player with your voice. That’s right; you’ll be able to command your device better than Captain Kirk commands his crew during a galactic battle.

Step One

Plug your device in the USB port and press the voice button and say “USB”. You might encounter a message that says “Initializing”. The vehicle is just compiling all of the music and forming voice commands for everything. This usually doesn’t take long unless you have thousands of songs saved on your device.

Step Two

Once the initializing is complete your device should automatically start playing music. You can then use voice commands like; “Play Artist xxx”, “Play Track xxx”, “Play Genre xxx”, along with the simple commands of “Play/Pause”. These aren’t the only commands you can use, there are many more.

When using your device through USB explore different voice commands. Try things like “Play that album I really like”. I’ll save you some time and tell you that’s not a command that works. You could say “Play similar”, that command works. It will take what is playing and compile a unique playlist based around that particular song.

!Warning!

There are some instances where people have experienced some connection issues when they leave their USB cords plugged into the ports after they turn off the car. Ford does advise that you unplug the USB cord every time you turn off the vehicle. If you have experienced this issue and have a MyFord Touch system rest assured that Ford took that into consideration when developing the MyFord Touch upgrade and is hoping will resolve that issue.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns when it comes to playing your music through your USB port then give us a call at 513-932-1010 ext. 127 or write us at mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com

Country artists around the U.S. sing their songs about lost love, their dogs, and of course their American trucks which no import could replace. But with such songs of mud slinging, hay hauling, and other workin’ man things, where does an $800,000 1947 Ford pick-up fit in? For the Ford Motor Company, one of these rare collectors (1 of 35 made) will fit in their personal collection, recently being purchased from a man in Ontario Canada. Rare features included in this piece of Americana include a supercharger, sliding back glass window and of course who could forget the “smokers kit.”

The truck was no doubt a once in a lifetime purchase for Ford and is said to go on display very soon. With such a rare and expensive truck, I doubt Ford would agree with country star Joe Diffie that you could set the “truck on fire and roll it down a hill” and it would still be more valuable to them than a “Coupe Deville.”

The Ford Escape got a complete overhaul for the 2013 model year making it better than ever. This sleek looking crossover gives off a more swooping, sharper look than its boxy predecessor. With the wrap around tail lamps, lower grill and sharp headlamps Ford’s Kinetic Design influence becomes very clear. But while the new Escape is chalk full new or enhanced features (one which you can even shake your leg at) there are a few you probably didn’t know at all…

The All Seeing Mirror

Some of the feedback Ford received regarding previous Escape models was the amount of external noise occupants could hear while inside the cabin. When Ford set to reduce this noise in the new Escape they sought out some pretty innovative technology, called an elliptical acoustic mirror. It essentially looks like a huge satellite dish with a microphone at the end, but is able to identify “hot spots” where noise penetrates the interior of the car. This high tech device was used for the first time on the Escape to reduce wind noise and produce a quieter ride. According to Blue Oval News, ”this technology is deployed more commonly by European luxury vehicle manufacturers and is considered a breakthrough among U.S. manufacturers.”

Leafy Greens inside Your Door

In an effort to make Ford vehicles more sustainable and eco-friendly, engineers at Ford decided to build the doors out of plants! Yes you heard me right… organic plants. The material used in the creation of the doors is called bolster and is made in part from kenaf, a tropical plant.” The use of kenaf is anticipated to offset 300,000 pounds of oil-based resin per year in North America, and the use of such material reduces the weight of the door bolsters by at least 25 percent, which translates into fuel savings for drivers,” reports Ford. The door bolsters are made by international Automotive Components in Greencastle, Indiana and are made from a 50/50 mixture of kenaf and polypropylene. This leafy green doors are just one of the many environmentally friendly materials widely used in the all new 2013 Ford Escape available this spring.

The Lazy Boy of Car Seats

American drivers spend an astonishing 101 minutes on the road a day, causing lower back pain to become the second highest cause of pain for Americans (only second to headaches). With the help of Mike Kolich and his global seating comfort team, Ford set out to reduce this discomfort. The result of their efforts, industry leading seat satisfaction rating.  As you’ll see in the video below, Mike Kolich and his team looked at seats from office chairs to lawnmower seats. They even ran studies in America, Europe and Asia to find the perfect combination of comfort and stability. The seat they ultimately developed is expected to not only help relieve drivers of  lower back pain but also reduce the overall weight of the car. Thus, creating a more fuel efficient option for consumers.

Part two of the best of Top Gear is here (Six parts total). In this installment we have the first of many Top Gear Specials that will pop up. You can find part one at The Best of Top Gear: Told By A Guy Who Has Watched Every Episode. Enjoy!

Series 7 Episode 5

The first look at the fastest production car ever made, the Bugatti Veyron. This car is an amazing engineering feat and it’s astonishing to watch Jeremy attempt to beat May and Richard from Italy to London. However there is a twist, James has learned how to fly a private jet. I don’t know who allowed a man with no sense of direction to traverse the open sky but I’m sure he has been fired.

*Special*

This is the first of many upcoming Specials. These specials will enter the list according to their original air date so enjoy the crew trying to improve the Winter Olympics by adding cars to the mix. I don’t know if their award for second place will ever make the cut though.

Series 8 Episode 1

We’ve all sat in a van at one time or another in our lives. Whether on a family vacation or a car pool to a soccer game. At some point though, you’ve wondered what it would be like to sit in that same van but without a roof. In this episode Jeremy, Richard and James do just that. You may say “ok, anyone can chop the roof off a car and call it a convertible”. Don’t worry they have to go through a series of challenges to make sure their van is practical for road use, so you’ll be safe when you pick up your convertible van at a dealer near you.

Series 8 Episode 3

It’s safe to say most of us out there believe owning an amphibious vehicle would be an awesome thing to have. The only problem is they’re not easy to come by and extremely expensive to purchase and maintain. In this episode Richard, James and Jeremy attempt to show how you can take an ordinary vehicle and modify it into your very own personal amphibious vehicle. We’ll be revisiting their second look at amphibious vehicles in next week’s list so be sure to check this one out first.

Series 8 Episode 6

If you love camping then chances are the presenters of Top Gear wont like you, but they’re trying. In an attempt to understand those who like to camp they try their hand at it. It’s safe to say I don’t think you’ve experienced a camping adventure quite like this one.

Series 9 Episode 1

It’s fun to watch the ol’ chaps do power slides and max out a vehicles top speed, but we tend to forget how easily things can go wrong when you’re pushing these vehicles and yourself to their limit. This episode reminds us how dangerous it is to push a vehicle to far.

Series 9 Episode 2

After we’ve just seen Richards brush with death while pushing a vehicle to its limit. James will have a go as well. Captain Slow drives the world’s fastest production car to its limit of 253MPH. He attempts this on the only track that has the required 5 and a half miles of straight tarmac needed…

Contact Us

If you have any questions pertaining to Top Gear or the list so far give us a call at 513-932-1010 ext.127 or write us an email at mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com. You can also contact us if you have any issues with Microsoft SYNC system but we know you really want to talk about Top Gear. Stay tuned for next week’s installment.

Cincinnati Ohio – Ford has just announced a new sales event in correlation with the 2012 Cincinnati Auto Expo. If you have been waiting to purchase a new Ford vehicle, there isn’t a better time to visit your local Cincinnati Ford dealer. Detailed within this event is an additional $500 in Auto Show Bonus Cash with Trade Assist on nearly ever vehicle in the Ford lineup. If you are looking for a smaller, fuel efficient vehicle, you may consider the 2012 Ford Fiesta or the 2012 Ford Focus. Need something a little larger? Both the 2012 Ford Fusion and 2012 Ford Taurus qualify for the $500 in Auto Show Bonus Cash. The larger vehicles including the 2012 Ford Edge, 2012 Ford Escape, 2012 Ford Flex, and 2012 Ford Explorer are also included in the event, as well as the 2012 Ford F-150. And let’s not forget about the 2012 Ford Mustang that also qualifies for the $500 Auto Show Bonus Cash with Trade Assist. Make sure you make it down to the 2012 Cincinnati Auto Expo this year, and after you’ve had the chance to see all the Ford vehicles, check out our Lebanon Ford Auto Show Specials. Hurry, these offers only last till February, 29th 2012.

Discover myTech Team

And don’t forget, when you have your new Ford vehicle, make sure you give the Lebanon Ford myTech Team a call to be sure you are getting all you can out of the technology found in your new vehicle. myTech Team is an exclusive service to Lebanon Ford and is here to answer all of your in-vehicle technology questions, regarding topics including SYNC, MyFord Touch, programming Homelink garage door openers, and much more. You can schedule one on one consultations with a myTech Team Representative in our dealership or in the comfort of your own home. You can contact myTech Team by calling 513-932-1010 ext. 127 or by email at mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com.

Ford has come a long way from the early 2000’s when 10 patents is all they had classified as hybrid technology. Fast forward to today and they nearly have 500 patients devoted to the production of their next generation hybrid vehicles. One such vehicle making headlines is the all new 2013 Ford Fusion hybrid which is expected to go on sale later this year. With an expected mpg of 47 miles, this highly advanced sedan would become the most fuel efficient car on the road.

In a recent article Ford’s chief engineer of Global Core Engineering Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Chuck Gray, was quoted saying how despite the economic downturn Ford continued to invest in the development of new products like their all-new Fusion hybrid. One such inventor who’s made that commitment to innovation a reality is Ming Kuang, who has been with Ford since the early days of their hybrid technology movement. Kuang has been an invaluable team member to Ford’s evolution of hybrid technology. His commitment can be shown by the nearly 40 patents Ford has with his name on it.

“The work on the Fusion Hybrid is all about a commitment I made a long time ago to have a positive effect on our environment,” said Kuang in a recent Ford article. “It’s about helping make the world my children live in – and the world my children’s children will live in – a better place.”

Ford’s continues to push the boundaries on what was thought to be possible in hybrid technology. With the development of the new 2013 Fusion hybrid, which is expected to get 47mpg and the fully battery powered 2013 Fusion Energi which is expected at 100 MPGe, Ford’s green initiatives have taken to new heights.

[Source: Ford]

If you are like me, there is nothing quite like that “new car smell” that greets you as you climb into a brand new car. While this aroma is quite pleasurable, it may be hazardous to your health. According to WebMD a recent study suggests that the “new car smell” comes from a deadly concoction of new glues, trim pieces, and fabrics. While researchers have not made any hard conclusions, researches have found that prolonged exposure to such smells may lead to potential health complications.

WebMD also reported that of all new cars, the top two cars with the least chemical concentrations are the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius. The two cars with the highest chemical concentrations are the Mitsubishi Outlander and Chrysler 200.

More details are sure to come but one must wonder what exactly is making those smells?

In-vehicle technology can sometimes be confusing. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of 10 easy DIY (Do it Yourself) fixes and setups for Microsoft SYNC and MyFord Touch infotainment system. If you have any questions regarding this list drop a comment below or contact our myTech Team by phone (513) 932-1010 x127 or email mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com.

General Fixes

From fixing common Microsoft SYNC issues to maintaining your phones Bluetooth connectivity you’ll find the answers to the most common Microsoft SYNC issues:

How to Fix Common Microsoft SYNC Issues

Quick Ways to Fix Common Microsoft SYNC Connection Issues

How to Easily Keep Your Mobile Device Connected to Ford SYNC

Phone Fixes

From iOS to Blackberry we’ve got you covered when it comes to syncing your mobile device to Microsoft SYNC. Check out our step by step articles below on mobile device fixes and setups (coming soon Windows7 phone):

10 Easy Steps to Setup your Blackberry Device with SYNC

How to Fix Common Android Device SYNC Issues

How to Fix Common iPhone iOS SYNC Issues

Quick Setups

Taking the time to setup SYNC services in your Ford vehicle can help you get the most from your in-vehicle technology. Below you’ll find setup information on SYNC services as well as instruction on how to setup your mobile device to play video through MyFord Touch:

A Simple Way to Place Calls From Your Ford

3 Easy Steps that Could Change Your Driving Experience Forever

How to Play Video on MyFord Touch from a Mobile Device [w/video]

You’re the Mechanic with SYNC Vehicle Health Report

Contact Us

If you need further assistance with your Ford’s in-vehicle technology contact myTech Team at 513-932-1010 ext. 127 or write us an email at mytechteam@lebanon-ford.com.