We love our Ford cars, trucks and SUVs here at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, and we’re always looking around for some new bit of trivia about our favorite brand to add to our knowledge. Think you know Ford? Then test your knowledge with the Ford Trivia Challenge. From the first Ford to the latest models, there’s a little something here for everyone who ever loved the Blue Oval. And when you’re ready to stop learning and start driving, stop in for a test drive at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, or check out our huge selection of Ford vehicles at our website right now.

1) Which of the following Ford model nameplates was introduced the most recently?
A) Expedition
B) Escape
C) Fusion
D) Flex

2) Which of the following Ford model nameplates is the oldest?
A) Torino
B) Bronco
C) Mustang
D) Maverick

3) In what model year did Ford introduce their first factory-built 4×4 pickup?
A) 1959
B) 1948
C) 1963
D) 1939

4) Between the introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908 and the end of the model run in 1927, about how many Ford Model T’s were sold?
A) 15 million
B) 4 million
C) 9 million
D) 11 million

5) Henry Ford completed his first gasoline-powered “horseless carriage” in 1896. What did he call that pioneering vehicle?
A) The Fordson
B) The Velocipede
C) The Ford-o-motor
D) The Quadricycle

6) About how many Ford F-150 trucks does Ford’s Dearborn Truck Assembly Plant in Dearborn, Michigan crank out every month?
A) 15,000
B) 20,000
C) 25,000
D) 30,000

7) Auctioned for $3.74 million in January 2019, which of the following famous Fords holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a Ford Mustang?
A) The original “Eleanor” Mustang from the film “Gone in 60 Seconds.”
B) Carroll Shelby’s “Lil’ Red” prototype, used as a test bed while developing the Shelby GT500.
C) The 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the film “Bullitt.”
D) Mustang serial number 000003, the first Mustang sold to the general public.

8) What year did the Ford F-series truck debut?
A) 1939
B) 1955
C) 1964
D) 1948

9) Which of the following is the name of a real vehicle once sold in the U.S. by Ford Motor Company?
A) Courier
B) Sparrow
C) Voltaire
D) Eleganza

10) What year did Ford start offering seat belts as an option in some of their cars?
A) 1950
B) 1955
C) 1960
D) 1965

ANSWERS: D, C, A, A, D, D, C, D, A, B

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, a lot of us will wind up making a long-haul road trip at some point in 2020. After the excitement of the journey wears off, you’ll find you have a lot of hours to fill as the miles roll by. One lifesaver for road-trippers in recent years has been the rise of modern podcasts. Basically, they’re audio stories that are told either in one or multiple episodes, with topics ranging from cooking to music to relationships and everything in between.

One of our favorite podcast genres is True Crime stories, especially those that take a deep and enlightening dive into the forces and motives of the criminals and the cutting-edge methods and insight it took to catch them. There’s a ton of them out there, but you really have to do some research to separate the truly great from those that are just so-so.

Luckily for you, a lot of us here at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville are podcast fans, and we’ve got some great suggestions for True Crime podcasts that will really cut your next roadtrip down to size. Check them out below. And if you need a great new or reliable pre-owned car to get you there in comfort and style, stop in at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville today, or check out our full selection on our website right now.

DIRTY JOHN — To well-off divorcee Debra Newell, John Meehan seemed to be the man she had always been looking for: good looking, charming, romantic, attentive, an anesthesiologist who swept the Southern California-based interior designer off her feet from pretty much the moment they met through an online dating site. Even though Newell’s daughters urged her to be cautious, within weeks, their whirlwind romance led to a quick marriage. As you might have guessed given that they made an eight-part podcast (and now a Netflix series) about their relationship, from there, Meehan and Newell’s marriage soon spiraled into a nightmare of lies, deceit, addiction and fraud as Meehan’s true backstory became known bit by disturbing bit. Eventually, it all culminated in a terrifying moment that you’ll never see coming. Hosted by L.A. Times journalist Christopher Goffard, who reported extensively on the case, “Dirty John” goes deep into the story of Meehan and Newell, ferreting out previously unknown details about the conman who wormed his way into an unsuspecting woman’s life through her heart. It’s a must-listen for true crime fans, and the ultimate affirmation of the old saying: “Marry in haste, repent in leisure.”

SWINDLED — Another very old, very wise saying holds that money is the root of all evil. Those out to get money from others by any means necessary can go to some truly dastardly and devious lengths to do so, and once they’re caught, unwinding those tangled webs of lies, machinations and schemes can make for some very entertaining listening. “Swindled” is a podcast devoted to seeking out and telling the stories of some of the most shameless and audacious grifters the world has ever known. Hosted by an unnamed “Concerned Citizen,” whose deadpan delivery and wry humor takes some getting used to, each episode usually includes details of two swindles in the same vein, connected by a common thread. There’s currently 12 full-length episodes of “Swindled” available online, and the topics run the gamut of human failings, including a sea captain who went on the run after discovering one of the richest sunken treasures in history, a mortician who used her knowledge of death to defraud insurance companies for a fortune, the true story of the Love Canal industrial contamination that poisoned an entire neighborhood, the life and mysterious death of Oklahoma nuclear whistleblower Karen Silkwood, the disturbing crimes of convicted boy band mogul Lou Perlman, the great McDonald’s Monopoly scam and scandal of the 1990s and more.

THE DROPOUT — Few tech gurus have had a more meteoric rise and dazzling fall in recent years than Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Beautiful and brilliant, Holmes seemed like she was a shoo-in for the tech sector’s Next Big Thing in the 2010s, when her Silicon Valley startup Theranos started generating huge buzz — and equally huge checks from investors — after Holmes announced the company was on the brink of revolutionizing medicine through a tabletop device called Edison that could diagnose hundreds of illnesses and genetic conditions in minutes, using only a single drop of a patient’s blood. Holmes eventually inked a groundbreaking partnership with the drug store chain Walgreens that helped make her the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world. All the while, Holmes was selling her investors and the public on the idea that Edison would soon do for medical testing what the iPhone did for communication. The truth, however, was that the company was built on a tissue of lies, with engineers struggling to make Edison work as promised and an increasingly-desperate Holmes going to ever-more elaborate lengths to keep those demanding results at bay. Eventually, the house of cards came tumbling down. This six-episode podcast is a riveting exploration not only of Holmes and Theranos, but also the resilience of the American Dream in the startup era.

Any one of these great true-crime podcasts will help you knock your next road trip down to size, and you might even find yourself a podcast addict like a lot of us! Need a beautiful new Ford or Lincoln to get you there? How about a reliable pre-owned vehicle with plenty of miles left to give? Then stop in today at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville, or check out our full selection online right now.

From the school drop-off lane to a night on the town, you’ll find no full-size SUV with better design, luxury and comfort than the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited. Ford’s top-shelf trim for the Expedition, the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited is the SUV for those who refuse to settle, loaded with cutting-edge technology, power and features, plus the craftsmanship and materials choices you’ve come to expect from Ford.

Now, Ford is making a great SUV even better, with the debut of the all-new 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4. Nothing less than the most luxurious off-road vehicle Ford has ever built, the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4 is all about putting uncompromising luxury and uncompromising 4×4 performance in one great SUV, with the power and rugged 4×4 gear you need to tackle any challenge and the interior refinement and technology you deserve.

The 2020 Ford Expedition is already one capable, comfortable machine, with three-row seating for seven, an available heavy-duty trailering package for best-in-class towing of 9,200 pounds, the 375-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, backed by Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, and a full-leather, full-power interior with real wood and brushed aluminum trim plus all the latest technology.

With the FX4 package, the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited becomes even more useful, thanks to a full complement of world-class off-roading components, including 32-inch all-terrain tires on 18-inch cast-aluminum rims and premium off-road-tuned shocks. Seven heavy-duty steel skidplates protect crucial engine and drivetrain components on the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4, including armor for the steering box and associated components, engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank, plus an all new sand shield to protect the twin turbochargers. Helping improve the Expedition Limited FX4’s approach angle is a special chin spoiler under the front bumper, while chrome-plated running boards and step bars serve as heavy-duty rock rails for side panel protection while allowing for easier ins and outs.

“There’s a growing trend in people looking to enjoy rugged terrain without having to give up the refinement, comfort or convenience of getting there,” said Devin McParlane, Ford Expedition consumer marketing manager.

Putting the power where you need it on the 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4 is an electronically-controlled two-speed transfer case with neutral towing capability, sending power to Ford’s patented 3.73:1 electronic limited-slip differential. Giving those components a high-tech assist is Ford’s advanced Terrain Management System, which automatically adjusts power transfer and engine control for changing traction and road conditions, for the ultimate grip on the trail. Inside, heavy, easy-clean rubber floor mats keep the mud and stains to a minimum.

Want the ultimate in full-size SUV luxury and capability in one incredible vehicle? The new 2020 Expedition Limited FX4 package is available for both the standard 2020 Ford Expedition and the long-wheelbase 2020 Expedition MAX versions at Ford dealers now. Stop in today at McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville for a test drive, or check out our full selection of 2020 Ford Expedition models at our website right now.

Anyone who has ever owned a four-wheel drive vehicle and used it to its fullest potential knows how much fun off-roading can be, and there’s no better place to get off the beaten path than right here in Northwest Arkansas. From the Ford F-150 FX4 to the luxurious 2020 Ford Expedition Limited FX4 to the race-ready Ford F-150 Raptor, Ford builds some of the toughest off-roaders in the business.

Up until now, there has been a problem, though: with the advent of smartphone and in-vehicle navigation systems, a lot of us folded our paper maps and dropped our compass in the junk drawer for good a few years back, relying on helpful gadgets to provide turn-by-turn directions to and from even the most far-flung destinations on the pavement? The issue is: once you decide to leave the pavement behind and venture out to where adventure really begins, all that fancy technology doesn’t help much and you’re at the mercy of local landmarks and your own memory to get you back to civilization again.

Always at the forefront of making driving safer, more adventurous and more fun, Ford Motor Company has come up with a solution, making finding your way home when off-roading as easy as following a Breadcrumb trail.

When enabled in the SYNC 3 navigation settings found on most late-model Ford vehicles, including the Ford Ranger and F-150, the all-new Breadcrumbs feature drops a virtual pin every second when you’re driving off road. Utilizing satellite navigation similar to that employed by the U.S. Armed Forces, the system creates a trail that provides an exact record of when and where you turned while winding through the wilderness. When you’re ready to head back, just push a button on the SYNC 3 touchscreen and Breadcrumbs reverses the trail, giving you an easy-to-follow path all the way back to where you began, without the stress of remembering landmarks or reading a map.

The Breadcrumbs system is the perfect companion to the adventure-ready 2020 Ford Ranger 4×4, which — new for this year — can be equipped with the FX4 Off-Road Package. Making a great truck even tougher and more capable, the 2020 Ford Ranger FX4 includes an electronic locking rear differential, plus Terrain Management with Trail Control, which makes optimizing your Ranger’s engine and drivetrain systems as easy as twisting a dial. For even more capability, Ford Performance now offers a full range of accessories built specifically for Ford Ranger, including off-road items like a winch-ready steel front bumper and lift-and-level kits that are a simple bolt on.

McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville is all about off-roading, and we can put you behind the wheel of a Ford Tough 4×4 today! Stop in for a test drive of the rugged 2020 Ford F-150, 2020 Ford Raptor or the incredible new 2020 Ranger 4×4 today!

Stopping in at McDonald’s for that morning cup of coffee is part of the daily routine of millions of Americans. Now, Ford Motor Company and McDonald’s have paired up to turn a byproduct of your morning joe into parts that will soon go into millions of Ford production cars.

McDonald’s serves up tens of millions of cups of coffee every year, and that means roasting tens of millions of pounds of coffee beans. A byproduct of coffee roasting is coffee chaff, the dried skin of the bean, which usually drops off during the roasting process and is discarded. Always looking for new ways to reduce waste that might end up in landfills, Ford recently developed a process that converts the coffee bean chaff, when mixed with other additives, into pellets that can be molded into sturdy plastic car parts, including headlamp and taillight housings and more.

Ford says the resulting parts are about 20 percent lighter than conventional plastic components, and take 25 percent less energy to produce, while still meeting Ford’s rigorous standards.

“McDonald’s commitment to innovation was impressive to us and matched our own forward-thinking vision and action for sustainability,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability and emerging materials research team. “This has been a priority for Ford for over 20 years, and this is an example of jump starting the closed-loop economy, where different industries work together and exchange materials that otherwise would be side or waste products.”

McDonald’s has pledged to divert a significant portion of their yearly coffee chaff waste to Ford, so it can be turned into high-quality car parts.

“Like McDonald’s, Ford is committed to minimizing waste and we’re always looking for innovative ways to further that goal,” said Ian Olson, senior director, global sustainability, McDonald’s. “By finding a way to use coffee chaff as a resource, we are elevating how companies together can increase participation in the closed-loop economy.”

This collaboration by auto giant Ford and fast food giant McDonald’s is the latest innovative collaboration by the companies, aimed at building a cleaner and more sustainable future. Ford has long been on the cutting edge of sustainable production techniques, including prototype plastic car parts produced from corn that were developed by Ford founder Henry Ford before World War II.

Ford is working in partnership with supplier Varroc Lighting Systems, which produces a variety of headlamp assemblies for the company, to develop the coffee-based plastic assemblies. McDonald’s meanwhile, is working to meet the goal of sourcing 100 percent of their packaging from recycled, renewable or sustainable sources by 2025.

From the incredible 2021 Mustang Mach E all-electric SUV to headlight assemblies made from a restaurant byproduct that would otherwise be thrown away, Ford’s commitment to building a more sustainable future is one more reason McLarty Daniel Ford of Bentonville is proud to sell quality Ford cars, trucks and SUVs. Want to drive the future today? Stop in at McLarty Daniel Ford for a test drive, or check out our full selection of advanced Ford vehicles at our website right now.