AutosWashington

Geography has always made Spokane a transportation hub. First the riverways made it an axis, then the trains, then the highways and Interstates.  All along the way, Spokane’s very location has made it a home base for commercial interests—from the earliest traders to today’s diverse economy.  Commercial vehicles have always been in high demand in and around Spokane, Washington, and Ford has responded to the need.

Whether it’s something as basic as light-duty delivery pickup, a fully geared-up E-150 tradesman’s van, or a heavy duty diesel designed to haul heavy loads for long distances, Ford has the right fleet vehicle for the job.

And local fleet specialists are in touch with all the suppliers who can add the needed touches—ladder racks, shelves, storage boxes, winches—whatever you need, there are a number of solutions.

For all your questions about Ford Fleet Vehicles in Spokane, Washington, check with the dealer who specializes in fleet vehicles.

Tags: commercial, Fleet

If you need a truck with more power than a “family pickup”, look to the Ford SuperDuty line. The Ford F-250 and Ford F-350 will deliver bigger payloads, greater towing capacity and work trucks that are definitely in it for the long haul. In and around Spokane, Washington, the SuperDuty line has been a longtime favorite with farmers, ranchers and other serious commercial users.

Ford’s recognition of the need for heavy-duty pickups goes back decades.  There has always been a great need for vehicles that fit somewhere between light trucks and 18-wheelers, and Ford has made—literally—a science out of defining what’s needed for best performance within the category and then machining the components to exacting specifications.  You can take an in-dept video tour of the differences via The Truth About Trucks.

For an up-close and personal look at actual Ford F-250s and Ford F-350 SuperDuty pickups in Spokane, Washington, just visit the source.

Tags: Superduty

If you want to talk about tradition, Ford F-Series trucks have it. Most popular of all, of course, has been the Ford F-150, with a lineage that goes back to those first, “modern” 1/2-ton pickups that Ford produced for post-WWII America. “Modern” back then meant advances like a one-piece windshield or a foot-pumped window-washer that meant you didn’t have to stop to wipe away the road dust if you were driving into Spokane, Washington from the secondary roads stretching out into the countryside.

Nowadays, modern means the chassis is made from steel that is lighter yet stronger—a nod to the importance of both fuel economy and safety.  The cab of the Ford F-150 has developed into one of the safest enclosures on the highway thanks to front-seat side impact air bags and Ford’s Safety Canopy System that surrounds front- and second-row passengers. To a time traveler from the days of the first F-Series trucks, the current F-150 interior would look more like the cockpit of a high-performance aircraft. From a terminus in Spokane, Washington, you could drive a Ford F-150 off into the night in any direction and your onboard GPS capability could show you at any moment exactly where you were.

If you’re a long-time admirer of the F-150 line, expect to see more, really wonderful things. The F-150 Platinum edition will hitch up those two requirements of any serious truck owner: a truck that’s really comfortable and really ready to work. If you live in or around Spokane, Washington, your F-150 connection is just down the road.

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Ford Fusion is the mid-size that made directly challenging the competition a cornerstone of its marketing.  Since Ford Fusion was in the same market niche as Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata, the original idea was to pose the “Fusion Challenge”—videotape the reactions of actual owners when they surrendered their cars and drove the Fusion for a week. The resulting material was so persuasive, Ford broadened it to the “Ford Challenge” and rolled it out nationwide.  Ford’s whole “Drive One” marketing slant grew out of the success of that marketing concept.

Auto safety has become a prominent aspect of Fusion design. ABS and instruments that monitor tire pressure are standard. Back-up cams and navigation systems are also available, always welcome additions in the regions around Spokane, Washington where the weather conditions are always changing, sometimes dramatically. 

And you can expect Ford Fusion to be the focal point for future high-tech innovations.  After all, the Fusion is a direct descendant of the “Futura” line—a pedigree that entered the design lexicon in 1955 as a Lincoln concept car and was later converted to the very first Batmobile, centerpiece of the TV series that ran from 1966 through ‘68.

If you’re looking for ways that Ford Fusion can be the answer for your more conventional requirements, test drive one today.  You will find a large inventory waiting nearby.

Tags: Ford Fusion Spokane Washington

Take something compact and rugged and make it stylish.

That has been a recurring theme throughout the history of Ford Motor Company, and Ford Focus embodies that longstanding tradition with examples waiting for you to see in Spokane, Washington.

Ford Focus has all the practical appeal that goes with a smaller, more fuel -efficient car.  It costs less to buy; it costs less to operate.  And it shares in many of the innovations that are revolutionizing the experience of being on the road.  Whether you’re commuting to work or putting work far behind you, Ford Focus will transform your driving experience. Sync, designed for Ford by Microsoft, allows Bluetooth connectivity in the new Ford Focus. Media players are voice-activated.

The nationwide emphasis on fuel economy has made the Focus more popular than ever, but if you live in Spokane, Washington, or anywhere in Eastern Washington State, there is a large inventory waiting just down the road.

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Ford Flex is a fulfillment of the “people mover” concept.  This concept has been a consistent theme for decades whenever automakers discussed mega trends.  General principles of the theme have stayed pretty much the same:  Make form follow function.  Tighten the focus on problem solving and economy.  Get down to the basics, and let fashion and style take a back seat until the initial design is complete.  That’s a pretty accurate description of how the Flex came to be. And in the market area around Spokane, Washington, the “people mover” is delivering as promised. 

Targeted at the market space between the (gradually diminishing) minivan and the rock-solid SUV niche, Ford Flex represents a 21st century take on the same needs that gave rise to both design streams. There is room for seven passengers.  The 2nd and 3rd row of seats fold flat to make room for cargo. With an optional refrigerator console and imaginative seat configurations, the Flex can get to within a stone’s throw of being an RV.  In an area like Spokane, Washington, travel holds a lot of promise. So much different scenery is just a short drive away.  And the Ford Flex makes the trip so much more enjoyable.

All the next generation of computer/satellite communications options are available—SIRIUS satellite radio, Microsoft’s SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system, CD and DVD players, GPS navigation systems, and even a system that changes the “mood lighting” between seven different colors.

If you’re ready to slip into tomorrow’s transportation, just climb up into the driver’s seat of a Ford Flex and let the door close behind you.  You’re there.  In Spokane, see the Ford Flex at Gus Johnson Ford.

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Along with Ford’s legendary F-Series pickups, the Explorer has earned acceptance across the board—as a rugged fleet vehicle and a family favorite. The model line has been in production since the early 1990s and the beginning of the “SUV boom”.

Today the Explorer represents a configuration that is a little smaller than the full sized Ford Expedition and larger than the Ford Escape—a package that is popular with buyers in the Spokane, Washington area.

Sport utility vehicles have been the focus of much speculation in light of fuel costs, and manufacturers have been listening closely to the conversation.  The sheer practicality of the SUV concept ensures that the category will be around for many years to come and that there will be versions in many different sizes, exactly what you see in the Ford lineup.

In addition to the considerable performance record Explorer has already compiled, Ford is looking to the future of the SUV with the Ford ExploreAmerica concept vehicle.

Ford's ExploreAmerica concept vehicle

If you’re looking to solve a few of your transportation needs in the here and now, Ford Explorer makes an excellent choice.  Proven, versatile, and “Built Ford Tough”, see the Ford Explorer at Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane, Washington.

Tags: Ford Explorer Spokane Washington

Ford was the first automaker to offer a true hybrid SUV. That was back in 2004, and five model years later, the Ford Escape Hybrid continues to lead the way. Customers in the Spokane, Washington area continue to make this a much sought-after vehicle.

As the cost of gasoline occupies an ever-larger share of their budgets, families in Washington are investigating alternatives to traditional vehicles. The Escape Hybrid offers the full range of possibilities: it can  switch, automatically, from 100% gasoline power to 100% electric motor or a combination of the two.  Whenever you step on the brakes, the electric motor instantly becomes an electric generator, cranking out power to recharge the batteries.

Acceleration in the Escape Hybrid is comparable to the fully gasoline powered Escape, but as you’d expect, the Hybrid comes out on top in terms of fuel economy, getting between 33 and 36 m.p.g. in stop-and-go city traffic such as you might experience in Spokane.

As we all move into a new age where energy concerns become even more important, the Escape Hybrid has become the focus of inventors and engineers outside the automotive industry. The Escape Hybrid is an ideal testing platform for ideas as straightforward as “plug-in cars” that recharge overnight in the garage to infinitely more esoteric schemes for harnessing energy from nature and putting it to work on the road.

Until we arrive at solar-powered transportation, you can still see the closest thing we have to The Car of Tomorrow waiting at Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane, Washington: The Ford Escape Hybrid.

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Greater fuel economy and improved performance are just two of the upgrades waiting in the newest version of Ford’s mid-sized SUV, Ford Escape. You can see how the changes affect you personally at Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane, Washington.

The automatic transmission has gone from four-speed to six- on both the four-cylinder and V6 models. Other refinements have been made in the engine and onboard electronics as Ford continues to braid together the latest strands from mechanical and computer technologies.

With available all-wheel drive, the Ford Escape has long been an excellent choice for the kind of snow conditions we face here every winter in the Northwest.  Whether you’re driving on the fairly level plains along the eastern side of the state, from Spokane, Washington to Walla Walla, traversing the Snoqualmie Pass outside Seattle, or dealing with the rugged terrain you can find on the Olympic Peninsula, the Escape seems to have been designed especially for Washington State highways.

Best of all, at Gus Johnson Ford in Spokane, Washington, the inventory of Ford Escapes is large enough to give drivers plenty of choices.

Tags: Ford Escape Spokane Washington

It’s already become one of Ford’s best-selling crossover SUVs, and now the Ford Edge will add a new “Sport” look to its appearance package options.

The 2009 Ford Edge Sport made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show and created quite a stir. It should generate just as much buzz whenever people see it for the first time, either on the street on a showroom floor.

Ford is clearly staking a great deal on the agile little performer, focusing its design and production expertise on the task of keeping Edge in touch with all the possibilities of onboard electronics and interactive communications.

Down the road, don’t be surprised if Edge becomes the Ford pacecar when the automaker introduces advanced hybrid engines and revolutionary propulsion systems like the HySeries that will move passengers and cargo using rechargeable plug-in hydrogen fuel cells.

Because the future of Edge is so rosy, being a current owner is even more attractive. You can get a feel for this innovative engineering by visiting your local showroom and taking a test drive.

Tags: Edge