Because the safety technologies are extremely advanced on the Fusion, and are a special grouping of such advancement, they have formed the basis for the R&D of future personal mobility solutions from Ford, including autonomous assist driving capabilities.The capabilities of the Fusion stem from new sensors, such as cameras and radar, combined with existing technologies like electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) and data from the anti-lock braking and stability control systems.

Among the available safety equipment on the Fusion is the Lane Keeping System (you can watch a video about it here), Driver Alert System, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), active park assist, cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, collision warning and a rear view camera. This all equates to driver assistance never before available on a midsize sedan in America.

Bet that got your attention, too!

With regard to the R&D, sensing systems similar to what will be installed on the Fusion are the foundational hardware that will help further progress active safety technology. “The new Fusion is a showcase of how we will use sensors and vehicle data to enhance the driver’s own capabilities when behind the wheel,” said Paul Mascarenas, Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Ford Research and Innovation. And watch for driver-assist technologies to eventually even help manage issues like traffic congestion and CO2 reduction.

Unifi’s REPREVE® brand of recycled fibers are used in all three vehicles; REPREVE is made from a hybrid blend of post-industrial and post-consumer waste. Each Focus Electric seating interior contains the equivalent of about 22 recycled plastic bottles made of PET – polyethylene terephthalate, the technical name of the plastic of which the bottles are made – while Fusion hybrids feature nearly 42.

Unifi and Ford are also setting up plastic bottle collection points within Ford facilities in Michigan and California. The bottles could be part of the more than 2 million plastic bottles that will be recycled into REPREVE for fabrics in the Fusion and Focus Electric in their first model years.

Here’s where you come in: When you buy one of these three Ford vehicles, you can automatically give back to eco-charities. The REPREVE Gives Back program has four environmental nonprofits from which you can designate: Keep America Beautiful, Conservation Alliance, American Rivers and Rocky Mountain Institute.

For more than 20 years, the MX-5 Miata has offered sports car enthusiasts a pure, uncomplicated and fun-focused roadster at an affordable price. Sticking to that simple concept has made the MX-5 the most popular two-seat convertible sports car in the world with more than 900,000 units produced, qualifying it as a Guinness World Record holder.

“It is an honor to receive this award for the MX-5 Miata,” said Jim O’Sullivan, Mazda North American Operations’ (MNAO) President and CEO. “Whether you are commuting to work or taking a relaxing drive on the weekend, driving the Miata will put a smile on your face.”

NEMPA President Keith Griffin said, “Mazda continues to stay true to its winning formula of fun-to-drive, affordable, light weight, sports cars with its third-generation Miata. It was an easy choice to name the Miata NEMPA’s Favorite Fun Entry-Level Convertible for the second consecutive year.”

The New England Motor Press Association was founded in 1987 to coordinate professional media coverage of the auto industry in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, whose 14.5 million citizens have unique demographics and automotive preferences.

Both are American icons. Both were founded by visionaries – Henry Ford and Richard King. And both companies are leaders in innovation, conservation and preservation. With all that in common, collaboration between Ford and King Ranch seems rather fitting.

The King Ranch models of Ford vehicles feature the same uncompromising quality demanded by both American icons, along with the bold ruggedness and old-West heritage of the birthplace of American ranching. Be sure to visit ford.com to learn more about the 2012 Ford F-Series trucks and Expedition King Ranch Editions.

Back in 1853, Richard King, a former steamboat pilot, purchased a 15,500-acre Mexican land grant that would become the King Ranch. Located in Texas along the Santa Gertrudis Creek in an area others saw as a wasteland, King saw an opportunity for the cattle operation he had dreamed of for years. Known for its “Running W” brand, King Ranch had grown to 146,000 acres by the end of the Civil War in 1865.

Richard King went on to revolutionize ranching, implementing land management and breeding programs, while investing in railroads, packing houses, ice plants, and harbor improvements to bring his product to market. King Ranch even developed Santa Gertrudis cattle, named for the Santa Gertrudis Creek, the first-ever American-bred cattle.

Today, King Ranch spans over 825,000 acres, with properties in Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Yep, everything about King Ranch is big! In addition to its involvement in ranching, King Ranch’s citrus operations make it the largest citrus grower in the country. And King Ranch is the largest producer of turf grass in the United States, providing sod for thousands of lawns, athletic facilities, sports stadiums and golf courses.

And then there is the world-famous King Ranch Saddle Shop. The King Ranch Saddle Shop is a living, uninterrupted outgrowth of the original 1860s saddle shop created by Richard King when he was unable to find saddles and other tack that fit his cowboys’ demanding needs. King Ranch models look good and feel authentic because they are – just like the ranch that inspired their creation.

Ford King Ranch Edition F-Series trucks and Expedition wear the same “Running W” brand as the leather goods manufactured there, and share the same understated luxury and commitment to quality. After all, “The quality of the leather and craftsmanship along with what Ford stands for – that’s who King Ranch is,” says current King Ranch Chief Executive Officer, Robert Underwood. And all King Ranch Edition trucks and Expedition models proudly wear the “Running W” King Ranch logo on their floor mats, center caps and front fenders too.

The eight-passenger King Ranch Expedition and Expedition EL offer the flexibility of a power liftgate and a third-row power-folding seat, perfect for hauling around friends, family or a few ranch hands and their gear. And thanks to the standard rear view camera and rain-sensing-wiper, King Ranch Expedition drivers have a clear view of what lies behind and the open range ahead.

The King Ranch F-150 gets its giddyup and go from either the standard 5.0-liter V-8 or an available 365-horsepower EcoBoost® engine that offers up to 11,300 lbs. of best-in-class towing*. Riding herd over big loads is a snap, with trailer sway control which uses motion sensors to activate braking and reduce torque.

Built to work, King Ranch Super Duty® trucks, with available 6.7-liter Power Stroke® engines rated at 400-horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque are as hardworking as they are good looking. Lighted step bars illuminate for easy access,while PowerScope trailer tow mirrors and available factory installed 5th wheel/gooseneck prep kit readies this workhorse to tow up to 24,500 lbs.

Times Editor Davan Maharaj announced the gift, calling it “great news” that will bolster coverage of subjects vitally important to readers. A Ford Foundation spokesman said that, as media organizations face challenges funding reporting through advertising and traditional revenue streams, “we and many other funders are experimenting with new approaches to preserve and advance high-quality journalism.”

The Times plans to use the two-year grant to hire journalists who will focus on the Vietnamese, Korean and other immigrant communities, the California prison system, the border region and Brazil. Maharaj said that although The Times already covered those beats, the reporting was typically done by journalists who also had other responsibilities. The five new reporters will provide more robust coverage of those topics.

As the Internet has triggered massive shifts in audience and advertising, many media have looked to partnerships and new sources of funding.

“These are vital coverage areas that have been affected by our need to make tough choices in the past decade,” Maharaj, who became editor at the end of 2011, told the staff via email. “Although the grant is for two years, we intend to continue with these beats beyond that period. We will immediately start our search for reporters.”

Ford Foundation spokesman Joe Voeller said the nation’s second-largest foundation would consider extending the grant beyond two years. The Foundation and Times editors said the money comes with no strings attached and the newspaper will have complete editorial control over the new reporters and their coverage.

The Go Further theme can also be explored through the new Fusion engineering and technology, and also with its design, one that feels athletic, but looks elegant. “It visually communicates that Fusion is going to drive as exceptionally as it looks,” noted Chris, who, with his team of designers, created a vehicle that represents an advancement in midsize family sedans.

The Fusion will be the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. That means a pair of EcoBoost™ four-cylinder engines, while the hybrid will have an all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine. The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world, is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles.

In spite of the 2014 model year, the 6 will go on sale during Q1 of 2013 and will feature the SkyActiv 2.0-liter gas engine that shifts through a six-speed auto or six-speed manual. Mazda says it is gunning to post class-leading fuel economy figures.

We will also be looking to see if it spawns a coupe, since the Takeri could make an equally beautiful two-door. If so, that isn’t expected to happen for at least a year after the sedan bows, but recent events at Mazda have made such long-distance predictions exceedingly difficult. Follow the jump for a press release with more info on the 2014 Mazda6.

Mazda’s support has helped enable SCRAMP, operators of the Raceway, and Monterey County to make Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca one of the finest racing facilities in the world. Over the past decade, the circuit has received such major improvements as permanent pit lane garages, permanent luxury hospitality suites and expanded track runoff areas, plus spectator enhancements ranging from a new scoring trylon with hi-definition monitors to radar-controlled speed signs over the track’s two straightaways.

Jay Amestoy, Vice President, Public Affairs and Motorsports for MNAO, said, “We first fell in love with this track and the Monterey peninsula as fans in the 1970s and ‘80s when Mazda was new to the U.S. and we were establishing our name with the American public and race fans. Our successful partnership with SCRAMP and the Monterey County Parks Department during the last dozen years has made the raceway our home-away-from-home. At Mazda, we don’t have company picnics, we have track days. We are enthusiasts at heart, and it shows in the vehicles we build. No Mazda reaches the showroom without extensive development and testing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.”

During its 50-plus years of racing, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has established itself as the premier road-racing track in North America. Worldwide, it is mentioned in the same breath with other historic tracks such as Le Mans, Nurburgring, Monaco and Silverstone. It is common for overseas tourists to visit Mazda Raceway even when there are no on-track activities. One of the reasons is that it is home to one of the most famous series of turns in motor racing, the Corkscrew, turns 8a and 8b, which has a heart-pounding six-story drop in elevation.

According to John Pinio, Monterey County Director of Parks, the relationship between Mazda and the County has been one of harmonious cooperation. “The County receives a tremendous boost from Mazda’s ongoing participation in the facility,” Pinio said. “Mazda has been an ideal corporate partner and honestly cares about supporting the community in ways that go beyond a traditional sponsorship.”

“I can’t begin to say enough about our partnership with Mazda. Through the support of Mazda North American Operations, and its dedicated management who share our passion for motor racing, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is able to attract world-class racing to California’s Central Coast. It is one of the primary economic engines for the Monterey Peninsula,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “A dozen years of working together has raced by, and we are looking forward to what will hopefully be another dozen.”

Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective to see what’s right in front of you. As Alan Mullaly, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company said “Go Further is what Henry Ford meant when he promised that Ford would “open the highways to all mankind.”

Go further is about giving people the power of choice in the 2013 Ford Fusion with the widest-ever portfolio of fuel-efficient powertrains offered in the Fusion, including EcoBoost®, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines; automatic and manual transmission offerings; and auto start stop technology.

It’s also about turning a MyFord Touch® software upgrade for customers into a an opportunity to recycle for a charity.

It’s about a commitment to go above and beyond every day to solve real problems for real people. Making a difference in people’s lives. Like taking on the challenge of helping schools raise $1 million for education through 300-plus events across the U.S. in a single month with Drive One 4 UR School.

And, perhaps most importantly, it’s about a can do, will do, must do spirit.

The free event is open to the public and will feature 100+ health and fitness vendors including the Gazelle Sports/BROOKS store, Fifth Third River Bank Run late registration/packet pick-up, product sampling from Core Power, Starbucks Refreshers and others, Fifth Third Financial Empowerment Mobile and the Douglas J Head to Sole Relaxation Station.

Main Stage events include the Elite Athlete Introduction (5p), Anniversary Runners Introduction (5:20p) and Gazelle Sports Fashion Show featuring the Road Warriors (5:40p).  Pre-race Pasta Dinner from 4:30-8p.