Ford Motor Company has gone to war before, pivoting their massive production capacity for building passenger cars and trucks to building jeeps, tanks and planes during World War 2. Now, with the Covid-19 epidemic bearing down on America’s most vulnerable people, Ford is there for America again, announcing innovative new partnerships with 3M, GE Healthcare and the United Auto Workers of America that will see Ford workers building respirators and plastic face shields to help protect our frontline healthcare workers, first-responders and store clerks, and ventilators to help save the
lives of the critically ill.

“This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company. “By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people in need and for those on the front lines of this crisis. At Ford, we feel a deep obligation to step up and contribute in times of need, just as we always have through the 117-year history of our company.”

Ford is currently gearing up to begin production on over 100,000 protective plastic face shields per week, and will turn the massive, high-speed 3D printing machinery the company has built up in rect years to produce components that will go into PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, for doctors and nurses nationwide. The face shields fully protect the face and eyes from accidental contact with contaminated droplets if an infected person coughs or sneezes nearby. Paired with N95 respirators, the face shields limit the potential exposure to the disease better than an N95 respirator
alone. Roughly 75,000 of these shields are expected to be finished and delivered to Michigan hospitals in the first week, with 100,000 more produced for hospitals all over America in the weeks after that.

In addition, Ford engineering and design teams are working with 3M to ramp up the manufacturing capacity of the company’s Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR), which give healthcare workers a constant supply of fresh, micro-filtered air while they’re working with covid-19 patients or in contaminated areas. To help increase production quickly, Ford and 3M have developed designs that employ many off-the-shelf Ford parts that are ready to go, like seat-ventilation fans from the 2020 Ford F-150, paired with off-the-shelf 3M HEPA filter inserts and portable-tool battery packs that can
power the respirators for up to eight hours before they need to be recharged. Ford and the UAW are looking at moving to large-scale production of PAPR devices at one of Ford’s Michigan manufacturing plants in days, not weeks, a move that would help 3M increase production of the desperately-needed devices tenfold over current production numbers.

Meanwhile, Ford’s partnership with GE Healthcare is moving quickly to simplify the design of GE’s existing ventilators, which is used to help support patients sent into respiratory failure or severe difficulty breathing by the covid-19 virus. These ventilators will be produced at a Ford manufacturing site in coming weeks, with the goal to produce 50,000 units within 100 days and up to 30,000 per month thereafter until the crisis has passed.

“We are encouraged by how quickly companies from across industries have mobilized to address the growing challenge we collectively face from COVID-19,” said GE Healthcare President & CEO Kieran Murphy. “We are proud to bring our clinical and technical expertise to this collaboration with Ford, working together to serve unprecedented demand for this life-saving technology and urgently support customers as they meet patient needs.” Work on this initiative ties to a request for help from U.S. government officials.

At McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, we’re proud to see the efforts Ford Motor Company is making in partnership with other companies to fight this disease, and we’re eager to see what else they come up with. Ford is doing their part to help America get through this, and we stand ready to do ours. McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville is offering a number of new shopping, service and test-drive experiences to help Northwest Arkansas and our local economy keep moving during this shutdown, including come-to-you test drives and pick-up-and-drop-off service appointments right at your home,
with strict sanitizing protocols of our vehicles developed by engineers and scientists at Ford. Check out our full selection online at our website, and then give us a call at (479) 250-0922 to set up an appointment today.

As seen in recent production cars and prototypes like the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV, and recently-released details about plans to put electric powertrains in a number of iconic Ford products in coming years, including the first all-electric Ford F-150, Ford Motor Company is clearly investing in vehicles powered in ways other than gasoline and diesel in a big way. Their latest project not only hints at what a more electrified future will look like, but also says that it doesn’t have to be slow and boring: an all-electric drag car prototype they’re
calling the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. Capable of turning quarter-mile passes in the low 8-second range at more than 170 miles per hour, the Cobra Jet 1400 is a fun look at our more electric, more sustainable tomorrow.

Built in house by Ford, the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 prototype delivers the equivalent of 1,400 horsepower (that’s where the “1400” in the name comes from) and over 1,100 ft.-lbs. of torque to the rear wheels nearly instantaneously. The name Cobra Jet honors the original Cobra Jet Mustang drag cars of the 1960s, building a bridge between the muscle car past and the high-performance future of the Mustang name.

“Ford has always used motorsport to demonstrate innovation,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director, Ford Icons. “Electric powertrains give us a completely new kind of performance and the all-electric Cobra Jet 1400 is one example of pushing new technology to the absolute limit. We’re excited to showcase what’s possible in an exciting year when we also have the all-electric Mustang Mach-E joining the Mustang family.”

The Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 was built in cooperation with a number of Ford suppliers and custom fabrication shops, including MLe Race Cars, roll-cage fabricator Watson Engineering, electric vehicle software and motor control supplier AEM EV and electric motor and inverter company Cascadia. The car debuted on April 26, appearing on MotorTrend On Demand’s show “Hard Cell,” which showcases electric vehicles that display the versatility and power that can be achieved with electric batteries and DC motors. The Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 will make its racing debut later this year at a location
and event that’s still to be determined.

“This project was a challenge for all of us at Ford Performance, but a challenge we loved jumping into,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We saw the Cobra Jet 1400 project as an opportunity to start developing electric powertrains in a race car package that we already had a lot of experience with, so we had performance benchmarks we wanted to match and beat right now. This has been a fantastic project to work on, and we hope the first of many coming from our team at Ford Performance Motorsports.”

Henry Ford was a racer and innovator, and that same spirit still lives at Ford. It’s one more reason why McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville is proud to sell quality Ford products, including the latest iteration of the original, iconic muscle car: the 2020 Ford Mustang. So stop in today to check out our full selection of Ford vehicles, or shop us online at our website today.

Ford Motor Company has gone to war before, turning out tanks, planes and trucks by the tens of thousands to defend freedom during World War II. Now, with a new partnership with Michigan’s Wayne State University, Ford is going into battle again, helping launch a new initiative that will improve access to rapid coronavirus testing for healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines of the epidemic. In addition to working with Wayne State to figure out the logistics of the massive effort, Ford has provided a fleet of new Ford vehicles, drivers and equipment to help establish
the first mobile testing service in the state of Michigan.

The efforts by Ford and Wayne State serve to boost drive-through testing sites that opened in Detroit and Dearborn on March 20. To date, 3,300 police officers, firefighters, doctors and nurses have been tested at those sites, but Ford is looking to push those numbers even higher to help track the disease and stop coronavirus cold.

Ford’s in-house innovation incubator, Ford X, is providing dozens of 2020 Lincoln Navigators and drivers from the Lincoln Personal Driver pilot service to assist in the effort, and is spending millions to equip the effort with tents, sanitation, portable generators and Wi-Fi. Each vehicle will be fully equipped for mobile testing with staff and medical kits, and will be capable of testing as many as 100 people a day, with test results returned within 36 hours.

“We believe this work with Wayne State and their coalition to improve access to testing for Michigan first responders is a meaningful opportunity to use our mobility knowledge and resources to help our community during this pandemic,” said Kristin Welch, manager, Strategy & Operations, Ford X. “This work is in addition to that being done by our colleagues throughout the company to help produce and distribute critical medical equipment including face masks and ventilators to support those that are caring for, and protecting others during these uncertain times.”

In addition to helping to stand up and equip the mobile testing efforts in Michigan, Ford has produced more than three million face shields for healthcare workers and first responders, and is now producing Ford-designed powered air-purifying respirators. The company has also produced and provided over 5,000 washable and reusable gowns to Beaumont Health hospital in metro Detroit for free.

At McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, we’re proud to be one small part of a company that is doing so much for others. We’re doing our part as well by offering innovative shopping, selling, and service opportunities to help keep Northwest Arkansas residents on wheels and our local economy rolling along, as well as participating in Ford’s “Built to Lend a Hand” initiative to help current Ford owners whose income may be affected by job loss or furlough. For more information about a come-to-you test drive or service appointment, or Ford’s “Built to Lend a Hand” program, give us a call.

And for the best selection of new and used vehicles around, shop our website today. We’re here to serve our community, and we’re ready to make you glad you trusted us with your business at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville.

With most restaurants, movie theaters, water parks and most every other entertainment option closed due to the coronavirus epidemic, options for safely getting out of the house and getting some sun are dwindled quite a bit. One option that is available to folks here in Northwest Arkansas is to take a long, relaxing drive in the country. As long as you don’t get out of the car and congregate with others, a drive is a great way to get out of your house with the family and help clear your head so you can stay a productive, happy person who your family and your community can rely on to see us through this confusing time.

While a drive is a great way to blow off some stress, you can really up the stress-busting with a playlist of great, positive songs. Singing along to an upbeat song is a proven way to help bring down your stress levels, which can, in turn, help boost your immune system and help fend off all kinds of health issues including elevated blood pressure and strokes. Seen below, check out McLarty Daniel Ford’s suggestions for stress-fighting songs for your next drive. Try some of these and see if you don’t come home feeling better, more relaxed, and less stressed. McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville is here for you, and has instituted new shopping, buying and vehicle service protocols to help keep our customers safe and the local economy rolling along. If you need a new or used car, call us today, or check out our huge selection online right now.

“Three Little Birds”
by Bob Marley and the Wailers
The simple fact of the matter is that almost nobody can lift you up like Bob Marley when you’re feeling down. “Three Little Birds,” a tune off Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1977 album “Exodus” is a classic feel-good fave, with a lilting reggae rhythm and a refrain built around Marley singing “every little thing is gonna be alright.” That message of being calm and faithful that things will work out permeates the song all the way through, and makes it the perfect antidote for stressful times.

“The Four Seasons: Spring”
by Antonio Vivaldi
We know, we know. Classical music might not be your thing, but studies have shown that listening to classical music beats stress in a way that other genres just can’t. If you’d like to put that to the test, Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is a great place to start. First written in 1716-17, the four-interconnected pieces are a masterpiece, with “Spring” being the most well-known and uplifting. Give it a try on your next drive.

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
by Justin Timberlake
Few people have had a better second-act career than Justin Timberlake, who got his start in the boy band NSYNC before striking out on his own and becoming an even bigger star, including appearances in feature films. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” which was included on the soundtrack for the 2016 animated film “Trolls,” is one of Timberlake’s biggest hits, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and taking home a Grammy Award. It’s still a rocket boost when you’re feeling down.

“Beautiful Day”
by U2
Though the Irish supergroup U2 is better known for moody, emotional songs like “With or Without You” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Beautiful Day,” off their tenth album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” from 2000, has become a fan favorite for its big sound and uplifting lyrics. It’s still a great one to play if you’re feeling down.

“It’s A Great Day To Be Alive”
by Travis Tritt
Though this toe-tapper was originally recorded by both The Sky Kings and Nashville artist John Randall, the most famous version was the one released in 2000 by Travis Tritt on his album “From Out of the Blue.” It reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country charts, and can still lift your spirits out of the basement when in need.

One reason McLarty Daniel Ford is proud to sell Ford cars, trucks, vans and SUVs is that Ford has been there for this country through thick and thin, helping Americans weather the lean years of the Great Depression, building jeeps, tanks and planes to help free the world from tyranny during World War II, helping America rise again after terrorists delivered a mighty blow to our nation on 9/11, and keeping America working and on wheels during the Great Recession of the late 2000s.

Now Ford has stepped up for America in a time of trouble once more, launching the new “Built to Lend a Hand” program to help Ford buyers and owners as we head into the period of health and economic uncertainty caused by covid-19. A multi-pronged approach to the crisis and the financial slowdown the epidemic has caused, Built to Lend a Hand is set to be a game-changer for the company, with Ford prepared to spend billions over the next year to demonstrate their flexibility and willingness to help customers facing tough times.

“We’re a family business with a 100-plus year legacy of steering through crises all over the world,” said Mark LaNeve, vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “We’ve faced down many kinds of disasters, and we’ll face down this one just the same – taking care of our customers along the way.”

The core of Built to Lend a Hand is designed to help those considering the purchase of a new Ford vehicle find more peace-of-mind in their decision, allowing eligible customers to defer payments on a new Ford vehicle for up to three months, with Ford paying their payments in full for an additional three months. That means when you buy a new Ford right now from McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, you’ll drive up to six months payment-free. The program applies to every 2019 and 2020 Ford vehicle on our lot at McLarty Daniel Ford, except for 2020 Ford Super Duty heavy duty trucks.

Built to Lend a Hand dovetails with another program Ford recently announced, which allows Ford owners who have experienced an income reduction or job loss to discuss more flexible payment options with Ford Credit, up to and including payment deferral. The website for the Ford Credit program is fordcreditsupport.com , or customers can call a special hotline set up by Ford at 1-800-723-4016.

Ford has also been instrumental in helping Ford dealerships, including McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, develop innovative new sales and service techniques like remote and online sales experiences, and pick-up-and-return vehicle service appointments. Ford engineers and scientists have also helped McLarty Daniel Ford and other dealerships develop stringent new disinfection protocols that allow us to fully sanitize vehicles after test drives, vehicle loans and service appointments, helping us keep our customers safe and stop coronavirus in its tracks.

“Our dealers are incredibly connected to their communities,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, North America. “They’re willing to lend a hand by doing whatever it takes to help our customers in this time of need.”

McLarty Daniel Ford stands ready to help our community and keep our local economy rolling during this trying moment in America’s history. We’re proud to see that Ford Motor Company has America’s back during the covid-19 crisis, just like they have been there for our nation time and again for over a century. If you’re thinking of buying a new F-150, Ranger, Mustang, Explorer, Expedition, Escape or any other Built Ford Proud vehicle, check out our full selection at the following link
Shop Now , then give McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville a call to arrange a personal, come-to-you test drive today!

Here at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, we’re proud to sell luxurious Lincoln vehicles. The pinnacle of style, comfort, luxury and technology, Lincoln vehicles are legendary, and are named for an equally-legendary American: sixteenth president of the United States Abraham Lincoln. Born on February 12, 1809, Lincoln shepherded the country through the fires of the Civil War before losing his life to an assassin’s bullet only days after peace had been declared.

We’re great admirers of President Lincoln, and are always finding out some interesting new fact about his life, his career and the history of one of our greatest Americans. Seen below, McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln has compiled a list of interesting facts about Lincoln’s life, so read on to learn more about this incredible statesman who helped hold the United States together in our darkest hour. And if you’re ready to drive the latest in refined luxury in a vehicle that bears his name, stop in and check out the full lineup of 2020 Lincoln vehicles at McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln of Bentonville!

1) Though Lincoln was one of the most famous lawyers the State of Illinois ever produced, he was almost entirely self-taught and never attended law school. In fact, Lincoln only completed 18 months of formal schooling.

2) Though “Honest Abe” has become synonymous with Lincoln, he apparently hated being called “Abe” and discouraged people from doing so his whole life. Instead, he preferred to be called by his last name: Lincoln.

3) Enjoy turkey with all the trimmings? You’ve got Abraham Lincoln to thank for Thanksgiving. In 1863, Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday by presidential proclamation. It has been an official U.S. holiday ever since.

4) Born in Sinking Spring Farm, Kentucky in 1809, Lincoln was the first U.S. President born in a state other than the 13 that originally made up the United States.

5) Lincoln signed legislation creating the U.S. Secret Service — which would go on to be the agency tasked with protecting U.S. presidents, among other duties — on April 14, 1865, just hours before he was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater.

6) In the closing days of the Civil War, Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln was saved from almost certain death after he fell from a train platform into the path of an oncoming locomotive in Jersey City, New Jersey. Amazingly, the stranger who pulled him to safety at the last second turned out to be the well-known actor Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, who would eventually kill Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.

7) Owing to his then-massive 6’3″ height and impressive strength, Lincoln was a wrestler in his youth, besting over 300 opponents in wild frontier brawls. He’s the only U.S. president in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

8) In 1876, a gang of grave-robbers attempted to steal Lincoln’s body from his tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, hoping to ransom the beloved president’s remains back to the government for $200,000. Luckily, the Secret Service caught wind of the plot and foiled the grave robbing, even though the gang managed to get Lincoln’s coffin out of his grave and into a wagon before they were stopped. Lincoln’s coffin was later wrapped in a steel cage and buried under ten feet of concrete to protect him from future thefts.

9) A rugged frontiersman, Lincoln personally test-fired and evaluated many of the rifles and muskets that were offered for sale to the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Lincoln even had a gun range constructed outside the White House near what is now the National Mall for test-firings. Safety first!

10) Lincoln was the first — and last — sitting U.S. President since George Washington to come under enemy fire. In July 1864, Lincoln visited Fort Stevens near Washington D.C., which was then on the front lines of a Confederate attack. While Lincoln was standing on the parapet of the fort surveying the battle, at least one Confederate sharpshooter took a pot shot at him, with Col. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. — who went on to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice — barking at his Commander-in-Chief: “Get down, you fool!” Lincoln did, and thankfully left the battle unharmed.

Though few of us will ever be able to afford a 2020 Ford GT — the latest generation of the storied Blue Oval supercar, originally created by Carroll Shelby, that traces its lineage to the high-performance machines that once bested the likes of Ferrari and Porsche at Le Mans — it’s fun to dream, and the Ford GT always delivers plentiful fodder for our loud-and-fast daydreams.

Ford Performance is always looking for ways to make the iconic Ford GT better, faster and more aerodynamic. With that in mind, Ford recently released the upgrades they’ll be making for the 2020 Ford GT to make it even more of a beast on the road or track.

Powered by the incredible 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, the 2020 Ford GT will crank out 660 horsepower, with the ability to tickle that redline even longer thanks to upgrades that significantly improve the Ford GT’s cooling system, with a broader torque band thanks to revised electronic calibration, plus a host of cutting-edge materials and engineering techniques, including gallery-cooled pistons and higher-energy ignition coils. Air flow to the engine is increased by a full 50 percent thanks to new buttress air ducts. The engine breathes deeper, meanwhile, with larger intercoolers that drastically decrease the incoming air charge, even during heavy-duty, high-temperature pulls on the track. Helping get those spent gasses out pronto with a throatier sound is the 2020 Ford GT’s all-new titanium exhaust, which is now standard equipment. Saving nine pounds over a steel exhaust, the new exhaust also ups the aggressiveness of the GT’s exhaust note.

“Ford GT continues to be the pinnacle of Ford performance,” said Ed Krenz, Ford Performance chief program engineer. “GT is always the ultimate expression of Ford racing innovation, and as we know from the 1966 Le Mans through today, that means constantly raising our game for our customers as well as earning the checkered flag.”

Upping both the visual appeal and lightening the weight, meanwhile is the new 2020 Ford GT Liquid Carbon. A first of its kind for Ford, the Liquid Carbon GT is completely “naked” without conventional paint, allowing the Carbon Fiber body and a special clear coat to carry off the bling. The model also features standard carbon fiber wheels with titanium lug nuts.

“This next chapter in the Ford GT story allows us to fully demonstrate our mastery in both the art and science of carbon fiber craftsmanship and finishing,” said Angus Smith, General Manager of Multimatic Niche Vehicles, North America. “The results of this ongoing partnership between Multimatic and Ford Performance speak for themselves, as each visually stunning and unique Liquid Carbon GT is a manufacturing marvel, showcasing the characteristics and nuances inherent in carbon fiber composites.”

Another beautiful addition to the 2020 Ford GT is the option to have yours painted in the iconic black, blue and orange “Gulf Livery” which pays homage to the GT40 that won back-to-back Le Mans championships in 1968-69. The Gulf Livery GT also features carbon fiber wheels.

“Our team is very focused on delivering a car that exceeds customer expectations,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “The black pinstripe and carbon fiber wheels have been highly requested with the Gulf livery, so we committed to making that happen.”

While we probably won’t be getting a 2020 Ford GT here at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, who knows? If you’ve got the coin, we’ve got the skills and the order forms, and we’re all about making dreams come true! For now, we’re just proud to sell the brand with the hottest performance cars on the road today, from the 2020 Ford GT to the 2020 Ford Mustang GT to the all-new 2020 Explorer ST. Ready to start your own legend? Then stop in today at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville for a very fun test drive, or check out our full selection online right now.