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Borgman Ford is pleased to announce to our truck fans in West Michigan that Motor Trend has named the New Ford F-150 as 2018 Truck of the Year! This is the 5th time the F-150 has earned the honor, and it compliments the Ford Super Duty's win from last year. Every year, Motor Trend editors review several trucks from many different manufacturers. After spending quality time with the 2018 F-150 XL, Lariat, Platinum, and Raptor, the decision was unanimous. The F-150 would take home the crown this year, thanks to superior design, engineering, safety features, value, efficiency, and performance. Check out some excerpts from Ford's victory announcement below! New F-150 Named 2018 Motor Trend Truck Of The Year; Ford First With Full Truck Line Back-To-Back Wins Ford, America’s truck leader for 40 straight years, has bested all competitors to earn 2018 Motor Trend Truck of the Year honors for the new Ford F-150. This is the fifth win for F-150, and this award follows the all-new Ford Super Duty capturing the award in 2017. “Back-to-back wins for F-150 and Super Duty reflect what we’re also seeing and hearing from customers as we celebrate 40 straight years as America’s favorite and best-selling trucks,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and president, North America. “The Ford Truck team stretched further than ever to deliver our toughest, most capable and smartest trucks.” “This year’s competition was fierce, but the vote was unanimous,” said Ed Loh, Motor Trend editor in chief. ”The newly redesigned 2018 F-150 exceeded our expectations in every category – powertrain, performance, technology and overall execution.” The Ford F-150 line went up against the latest competitive truck offerings in a program that combined empirical and real-world testing to find the truck that best met the award’s key criteria: advancement in design, engineering excellence, safety, value, efficiency and performance of intended function. Motor Trend editors put to the test four vehicles from the Ford pickup lineup: the 2018 F-150 XL with the all-new 3.3-liter V6 engine, F-150 Lariat with the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost®, F-150 Platinum with an enhanced 5.0-liter V8, and the high-performance off-road F-150 Raptor. Judges cited overall towing capability, advanced technology functionality and powertrain performance among their favorite F-150 attributes. They also noted exemplary on- and off-road driving performance, best-in-class fuel economy and innovative cab design as F-150 strengths. You can read the full press release by visiting Media.Ford.com. Borgman Ford is West Michigan's Proud Home of Ford's Award-Winning F-Series Trucks If you're looking for a truck that tows more, hauls more, burns less, and works smarter than all the rest, visit Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids and browse our selection of New Ford F-150 Trucks! Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you have about the New Ford F-150's engines, features, sizes, or anything else you'd like to know - so ask away! Take a look at our New Ford F-150 Inventory and stop by to test drive your favorite. We will never pressure you into a sale, and pride ourselves on our customer service. Come see why we're the Best in the West!

Borgman Ford Mazda wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday. Whether you'll be spending your time with loved ones in the greater Grand Rapids area, or taking your family on a road trip, please take care on the roads. AAA projects 50.9 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 3.3 percent increase over last year. The 2017 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume since 2005 with 1.6 million more people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year. Nobody wants to hear this, but holiday travel, combined with holiday drinking, will result in hundreds of deaths and injuries this holiday season. Over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend alone, the National Safety Council estimates 433 deaths and 52,300 injuries requiring medical attention may occur because of car crashes. But the annual projection isn’t meant to scare you off, the nonprofit group says. It's meant to remind you to take good care on the road and remember, we're all in this together. Red Cross Holiday Safety Tips: 1. Make sure your car is in good condition for a road trip. 2. Pack an emergency preparedness kit and supplies in the trunk. 3. Share travel plans with a family member or friend. 4. Check the weather along your route and plan for travel around any storms that may be coming. 5. Be well rested and alert. 6. Buckle up, slow down, and don’t drive impaired. 7. Follow the rules of the road and use caution in work zones. 8. Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones. 9. Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get some rest. 10. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids Applauds Ford For Investing In Their Employees' Well-Being Borgman Ford is continually impressed with the advances Ford is making in their current and future generations of vehicles. However, this latest trial-run of new technology isn't going into the vehicles themselves but helping to support the workers who make them. With the help of Ekso Bionics in California, Ford is outfitting some of their assembly line workers with an advanced, non-powered exoskeleton to better support their upper body while performing tasks above their head. more Read More In this latest article from the Official Ford Media Center, Ford tells more about the new technology, how it helps its workers both on and off the clock, as well as plans to expand their use to other parts of the globe. Here are some excerpts from the article: Ford Pilots New Exoskeleton Technology To Help Lessen Chance Of Worker Fatigue, Injury Putting dishes on a high shelf or changing an overhead lightbulb occasionally might not be difficult, but could you imagine performing either of these tasks 4,600 times per day? How about 1 million times a year? These are the approximate number of times some Ford assembly line workers lift their arms during overhead work tasks. At this rate, the possibility of fatigue or injury on the body increases significantly. But a new upper body exoskeletal tool – the result of a partnership between Ford and California-based Ekso Bionics – helps lessen the chance of injury. “My job entails working over my head, so when I get home my back, neck and shoulders usually hurt,” said Paul Collins, an assembly line worker at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. “Since I started using the vest, I’m not as sore, and I have more energy to play with my grandsons when I get home.” Called EksoVest, the wearable technology elevates and supports a worker’s arms while performing overhead tasks. It can be fitted to support workers ranging from 5 feet tall to 6 feet 4 inches tall, and provides adjustable lift assistance of five pounds to 15 pounds per arm. It’s comfortable to wear because it’s lightweight, it isn’t bulky, and it allows workers to move their arms freely. Designed and built for dynamic, real-world environments like factories, construction sites and distribution centers, the non-powered vest offers protection and support against fatigue and injury by reducing the stress and strain of high-frequency, long-duration activities that can take a toll on the body over time. With support from the United Automobile Workers and Ford, EksoVest is being piloted in two U.S. plants, with plans to test in other regions, including Europe and South America. Continue reading at Media.Ford.com. Borgman Ford: Your Home For Quality Ford Vehicles in Grand Rapids & West Michigan We at Borgman Ford are proud to offer Ford vehicles to drivers in West Michigan, not just because of their quality, but also because of Ford's dedication to their employees. We hold the same values at Borgman Ford, both to our employees and to every customer who walks through our doors. We invite you to browse our full lineup of New Ford Vehicles online, stop by to test drive your favorites and experience the Borgman difference. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or ask one of our friendly sales associates. We hope to see you soon!

Borgman Mazda Excited For The Future of Cars in West Michigan Borgman Mazda has been tuned-in to the coverage of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, and now that it's wrapped up, we're excited to share three exciting exhibits from Mazda with our fans in West Michigan. On display this year was a re-imagining of the Vision Coupe from the 2015 show, an all-new concept called the Mazda Kai, and more information on the upcoming SKYACTIV-X Engine. These will serve as the basis for Mazda's next generation of vehicles, with elements of their designs making appearances throughout the lineup. more Read More While auto shows in the United States and Europe focus more on "halo" cars and actual production vehicles, the Tokyo Motor Show is a bit different. It's held once every two years and serves more as a platform for Japanese automakers to show off their concepts and visions for the future of transportation. For 2017, Mazda certainly brought their 'A' Game, but not in the same way as their competitors. Mazda remembered that people enjoy driving and respond to a well-executed design. The gentle rumble of the engine. The craftsmanship in the interiors. The feel of the seat and the view from the cockpit. This is where Mazda shone this year, and others somewhat missed the mark. Below, we've gathered up some highlights of these three concepts from articles on InsideMazda. Take a look! The Mazda Vision Coupe Returns The VISION COUPE represents Mazda’s design vision for next-generation models; a more mature expression of KODO applies a Japanese aesthetic to achieve more elegant and premium styling. The exterior features a “one motion” form that exudes a sense of speed and the interior combines three-dimensional depth with a strong longitudinal axis to create a relaxed space that maintains a sense of speed. Looking back through Mazda's design history, the starting point for “Mazda elegance” is perhaps represented by the 1960 Mazda R360 and the 1969 Mazda Luce rotary coupe. In an age preoccupied with the notion of efficiency, the focus of these models was on creating beautiful proportions. Though the playful allure of these cars ran counter to the general trends of this period, this style was ultimately to become the origins of the “Mazda elegance” of today. The Mazda VISION COUPE is a next-generation design vision model which showcases the “new elegance” that Mazda has developed, drawing upon their long history of design. The name of the car—“COUPE”—gives a hint of where this special “Mazda elegance” originally came from. Introducing the Mazda Kai Concept The Mazda KAI CONCEPT compact hatchback heralds a new generation of Mazda cars. Featuring the next-generation SKYACTIV-X gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture and a more mature expression of the KODO design language, the model embodies the technology, engineering and design concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda cars. Refinements in all areas of dynamic performance have produced a dramatically quieter, more comfortable ride and an enhanced performance feel. The KAI CONCEPT features muscular, solid proportions and its form is brought to life by a delicate flow of reflections over the body sides. More Details on the SKYACTIV-X Engine We already covered the new SKYACTIV-X Engine and how it works in an article here, but Mazda took some time to discuss this project during their presentation. Here's an excerpt from a related article: The SKYACTIV-X is a groundbreaking new engine exclusive to Mazda in which the benefits of a spark-ignition gasoline engine—expansiveness at high rpms and cleaner exhaust emissions—have been combined with those of a compression-ignition diesel engine—superior initial response and fuel economy—to produce a crossover engine that delivers the best of both worlds. Coming after Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine and SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, this third SKYACTIV engine has been given the new name of “X” in recognition of this dual role. "At Mazda, we believe that there is still ample room for further evolution of the internal combustion engine and that this technology has the potential to contribute in a major way to conservation of our global environment. Based on Mazda’s corporate vision of protecting our beautiful planet while enriching people’s lives through the 'joy of driving,' we plan to continue on our ceaseless quest to develop the ideal combustion engine." You can read the full, in-depth article about the presentation here. For complete coverage on Mazda and their exhibits at the 2017 Tokyo Auto Show, head over to InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com. Visit Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids, MI Are you as excited about the future of Mazda vehicles as we are? Between the bold new design language of the VISION COUPE and the Mazda Kai, the next generation of Mazda vehicles is sure to impress and keep the thrill of driving alive with the spirited and efficient SKYACTIV-X Engine. Whether you've driven a Mazda for years, or are new to the brand and want to know what makes them special, we invite you to visit our showroom in Grand Rapids to take one out for a test drive. Our friendly and courteous staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have and make sure you're paired with a vehicle that suits your needs and your budget. Remember that every New Mazda we sell includes our Free 20-Year 200,000-Mile Warranty!

Your Chance To Own Iconic Pieces of Ford History at Miedema Auctions Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids is pleased to share with auto enthusiasts in West Michigan that two of Ford's most recognizable vehicles from yesteryear will be up for auction this weekend on Saturday, November 4th. Held at Miedema Auctioneering in Lakeview, Michigan, the auction will feature a number of items and vehicles, including partially-restored 1966 Ford Mustang GT Fastback and a 1926 Ford Model T Sedan. The auction begins at 10 a.m, and you can view the entire catalog here. We first heard about this opportunity on Mlive.com, and we've included an excerpt from the article by Brandon Champion below: more Read More Model T, 1966 Ford Mustang Among Vehicles Available At Live Auction Car enthusiasts will have a chance to claim a piece of Michigan's auto legacy at an upcoming auction in Lakeview. The live auction will feature an extensive collection of vehicles owned by the late Walter Behrenwald, who unexpectedly passed away last month. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 and will be held at 805 N. Lincoln Ave., in Lakeview. "Cars now-a-days are not made like they once were, and when we see cars made many years ago we tend to stare in awe of the beauty," a news release issued by Miedema Auctioneering, Inc. reads. "Many people will collect cars to preserve their beauty and show them off from time to time, and this is what the late Walter Behrenwald did." You can see the full article here. About Borgman Ford Mazda in Grand Rapids, MI Borgman Ford has been family owned and operated since 1960. When Fred Borgman started the business, he believed there was a better way to sell cars: with utmost honesty and integrity. Three generations later, Fred's vision for making the car-buying process friendly and transparent continues under Matt Borgman, his grandson. Today, Borgman features a wide range of New Ford and Mazda vehicles, as well as one of the largest selections of quality Used Vehicles in the Grand Rapids area. We invite you to stop by and take your favorite vehicle out for a test drive!

See The Beautiful New Soul Red Crystal Paint at Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids If you haven't had the chance to visit Borgman Mazda and see a New 2017 Mazda CX-5 adorned with Soul Red Crystal paint, we assure you - it's stunning. The way light dances on the body lines as well as the mesmerizing depth of the paint creates the illusion of motion - even when the vehicle is at rest. What makes the Soul Red Crystal paint even more incredible is the story of how it came to be, as well as what Mazda had to do to replicate the effect on their production vehicles. Below is an excerpt from an article on InsideMazda which tells the story in greater detail. more Read More Here are some excerpts: More Than Just A Color: Mazda’s New Soul Red Crystal From the 1960 R360 Coupe, a microcar Mazda sold in Japan as well as Mazda’s first passenger car, to the 2017 Mazda CX-5, Mazda has had a long history with the color red. Red has deep roots in the Japanese culture, as it denotes strength, passion and is even used to depict the sun in the Japanese national flag. Believing paint color is one of the key elements of form, Mazda was determined to create the world’s most beautiful red when developing the new Soul Red Crystal. Let's Do This A Different Way Creating Soul Red Crystal was a challenging process, and it required Mazda to reinvent the way cars are painted. Like any beautiful object, the way light dances across its surface is part of the beauty. The interplay of light and form inspired Mazda to create a paint with exceptional depth and reflective quality. To achieve such a deep, lustrous finish, the cars needed to be painted by hand. While this was possible for Mazda’s concept cars, a new technique was developed in order to achieve the same quality Soul Red Crystal in production models. In a process called, Takuminuri, which translates to English as “artisan coloring,” painting robots were effectively taught to duplicate the techniques of Mazda’s best craftsmen. Takuminuri is a Mazda-exclusive approach to advanced paint technology, starting with the original Soul Red Metallic paint color in 2012, perfected with Machine Gray in 2016 and further refined into a color that uses the learnings from both. You can read the full article on InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com. Want to See The Beautiful New Color in Person? Visit Borgman Mazda Today! Soul Red Crystal is something that needs to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. If you'd like to come have a look, we invite you to visit the Borgman Mazda showroom in Grand Rapids and test drive a New 2017 Mazda CX-5 adorned with the new paint. If you have any questions about the Mazda vehicles we offer, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you, so ask away! Remember that every New Mazda we sell includes Borgman's Free & Exclusive 20-Year 200,000 Mile Warranty. Come see why we're the best in the west!

The New Ford F-150 Stole The Show at the TAWA Truck Rodeo Borgman Ford is delighted to let its West Michigan truck fans know that the New 2018 Ford F-150 was just named "Truck of Texas" at this year's Truck Rodeo! This is the second consecutive win for the F-150, and the 14th time it's been given the top honor of the event. The Texas Auto Writers Association or TAWA, holds their Truck Rodeo every year. At the event, member journalists in the auto industry have the opportunity to drive many different trucks from several manufacturers, putting them through a series of on and off-road trials. At the end of the event, a consensus is reached based on the opinions of more than 70 participants and a "Truck of Texas" is named - the association's highest honor. In the article from the Ford Media Center below, you can read more about the event and see how the F-150 did: New 2018 Ford F-150 Named Truck Of Texas At Annual TAWA Texas Truck Rodeo, Marking The 14Th Win For F-Series Ford, America’s truck leader, has once again secured top honors at the Texas Auto Writers Association Texas Truck Rodeo. The 2018 F-150 earned Truck of Texas at the 24th annual competition, marking the 14th time F-Series has roped in the most prestigious award. Additionally, F-150 Raptor won the Off-Road Pickup Truck category and earned the highest overall personal appeal score and best overall exterior score across all participating vehicles. “With the new 2018 F-150, we’re honored to earn back-to-back Truck of Texas awards for F-Series, a recognition that speaks to the truck team’s dedication to our hardworking customers,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and president, North America. “That’s especially true in Texas – truck capital of the world.” At the Texas Truck Rodeo at Longhorn River Ranch, journalists evaluated trucks on both on- and off-road courses over a two-day period. The panel previously awarded Truck of Texas honors to Ford F-Series in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003-09, 2011, 2014 and 2016. “The competition was incredibly fierce at this year’s Texas Truck Rodeo,” said Nic Phillips, TAWA president. “More than 70 member journalists put in more than 300 hours of driving time evaluating the vehicles presented. The results in several categories are separated by the narrowest of margins, just tenths and hundredths of a point, confirming just how competitive the trucks and utility vehicles are today. You can read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com. New Ford F-150 Trucks For Sale in Grand Rapids, MI Want to test drive a truck like the one at the 2017 TAWA Truck Rodeo in person? Visit the Borgman Ford showroom in Grand Rapids today and take the 2018 Ford F-150 out for a spin! Our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff will be more than happy to assist you, so please feel free to stop by and ask any questions you may have. Click Here to see our full lineup of New Ford F-150 Trucks. Come see why Borgman is the Best in the West! Remember, if you find a better deal on a New Ford F-150, let us know and we'll match it - we will not be undersold!

Test Drive New 2018 Ford Mustang: Coming Soon to Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids Borgman Ford is excited to share all of the new features of the New 2018 Ford Mustang with drivers in Grand Rapids. As the new sports car rolls out across West Michigan, we have been keeping an eye open for interesting stories about how the latest Mustang was designed and built, and the latest entry is fascinating. A pair of Ford engineers were able to alter the way the New Ford Mustang tackles corners with a single application of duct tape. By obstructing one of the openings on the front grille, they were able to change the vehicle's aerodynamics just enough to improve the steering. Seriously - what can't it do? more Read More While designing and engineering vehicles using computers has its merits, this particular story shows that the human ingenuity is an important part of the equation, and how the vehicle 'feels' can't always be quantified. Check out an excerpt from this article from the Ford Media Center below: How One Piece Of Duct Tape Improved Handling And Efficiency In New Ford Mustang In the data-driven, computer-monitored world of vehicle testing, sometimes there is no replacing the human touch. Ford engineers Jonathan Gesek and Mike Del Zio are proof that both the objective and subjective remain integral parts of car development. After driving a high-speed lap at the test track in a prototype Mustang, Del Zio, a vehicle dynamics engineer – the objective one – reported that despite wind tunnel numbers that would indicate otherwise, the car wasn’t responding around corners to his satisfaction. Gesek, an aerodynamics engineer – the subjective one – had a quick solution. Gesek applied a simple strip of duct tape over the lower gap of the grille. The goal was to reduce what is known as front-end lift. Del Zio re-tested the car, paying attention to the vehicle’s response when cornering at high speed. The result: a better-handling car and a modified grille. “That little strip of tape made all the difference,” Del Zio said. You can read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com. New Ford Mustang For Sale in Grand Rapids & West MI If you want to experience the thrill of driving a New Ford Mustang around West Michigan, visit Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids today and go for a test drive! Our friendly and knowledgable staff will be happy to answer any questions you have about the car and show you all of the available options, such as MagnaRide Automatic Dampers, the Customizable Dashboard, and the "Good Neighbor Mode." To see our selection of New Ford Mustangs, check our inventory online or visit our showroom today! Get your next ride on the West Side, and remember, we will not be undersold!

The New 2017.5 Mazda6: Coming Soon to Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids, MI Borgman Mazda is eagerly awaiting delivery of the New 2017.5 Mazda6 sedan, which is due to arrive this month at our dealership in Grand Rapids. This mid-cycle update adds a number of features that discerning West Michigan drivers are sure to appreciate, and makes them more accessible by restructuring the vehicle's trim options. When the New Mazda6 arrives, you can come take a closer look at available features, such as the leather seating surfaces and 8-way power driver’s seat with the Touring Premium Package, or the Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, which is now standard on the entry-level 2017.5 Mazda6. What's more, the 2017.5's pricing structure will remain identical to the 2017 Mazda6, giving you more value for your money. more Read More Below, we've provided some excerpts from the official announcement on InsideMazda to give you a more in-depth look at some of the new features. Here are some excerpts from the press release: 2017.5 Mazda6 Sedan Adds Available Leather To The Core Of Mazda’s Midsize Mix The Mazda6 midsize sedan returns repackaged for the 2017.5 model year, with the Mazda6 Touring gaining leather seating surfaces, among other trim changes in both entry Mazda6 Sport and mid-trim Mazda6 Touring models, further bolstering Mazda’s award-winning midsize family sedan. The 2017.5 Mazda6 Sport adds standard Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, furthering Mazda’s continued commitment toward making ever-safer cars and crossover SUVs. In fact, Mazda6 was named a 2017 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick+” recipient—the highest recommendation the non-profit safety agency awards. Mazda6 joins the entire Mazda family of cars and crossover SUVs tested by the IIHS to earn its highest distinction when equipped with optional headlights and equipment and is the only automaker able to make this claim in 2017. Mazda6 Sport comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seating surfaces, power windows and keyless entry, electronic parking brake and backup camera, among a much longer list of features. The mid-trim Mazda6 Touring’s upgrades to 19-inch wheels and leatherette-upholstered seats. Mazda6 Touring models also add Advanced Keyless Entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear HVAC vents, a 6-way power driver’s seat, Smart City Brake Support low-speed automatic braking, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers. In addition to the biggest update for 2017.5—the newly available leather seating surfaces—navigation and heated front seats are now standard for the 2017.5 model year. All of Mazda6’s features are complemented by a host of improvements introduced for 2017, including improved sound insulation, available Nappa leather seating surfaces, standard G-Vectoring Control vehicle dynamics enhancement technology and available Machine Gray Metallic paint. These highlight the Mazda’s designers and engineers efforts to provide the latest improvements and updates as soon as they become available, foregoing the traditional route of simply adding midcycle updates every few model years. You can read the full article by visiting InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com. New Mazda6 Sedans For Sale in Grand Rapids, MI Borgman Mazda is your proud home of the New Mazda6 in Grand Rapids, and West Michigan's Exclusive Mazda dealer. We invite you to come for a visit, check out all of the exciting features the New 2017.5 Mazda6 when it arrives this month, and take your favorite vehicle out for a test drive. Our staff is highly knowledgeable and very friendly, and will never pressure you into buying. You can browse our New Mazda6 inventory online or during a visit, and feel free to ask any questions you may have. While you're here, ask about Borgman Mazda's Exclusive 20-Year 200,000 mile Warranty, which comes Free with every New Mazda Vehicle we sell. Come see why Borgman is the Best in the West!

From Holograms to West Michigan Roads: See How Ford Designers Make Use of Cutting-Edge Tech At Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, we've always been amazed by the talents of Ford Vehicle designers, especially the sculptors that produce mockups of concept cars out of clay based on an artist's sketches. The unfortunate truth is that sculpting these representations of a future Ford vehicle is a slow, expensive process. Looking for a better way to bring their vehicles to places like West Michigan faster, Ford has been experimenting with Microsoft HoloLens: a mixed-reality technology that can accomplish what used to take weeks or months in mere days. more Read More Using the powerful wireless headsets, Ford designers can see changes "projected" onto a Ford vehicle in real time, add notes to specific design elements using their voice, and collaborate with other designers on the project whether they're in the building or halfway around the world. Microsoft HoloLens also allows designers to study practical aspects of a New Ford Vehicle's design, such as seeing and adjusting a driver's field of view from the side mirrors, which is represented by ovals "projected" on a wall behind the vehicle. Pleased with the added capability and efficiency of Microsoft HoloLens, Ford has recently announced its plans to broaden their tests of the platform with their design teams around the world. You can read more about the Microsoft HoloLens and watch a video of this exciting new technology in action below. Here's an excerpt of an article published in the Official Ford Media Center: Make Way For Holograms: New Mixed Reality Technology Meets Car Design as Ford Tests Microsoft HoloLens Globally Ford designers have been swapping some clay-sculpting steels and rakes for mixed reality headsets and visualization software that can change vehicle design elements – side mirrors, grilles, vehicle interiors and more – in mere seconds. Designers have been piloting Microsoft HoloLens technology for a year now in Ford’s Dearborn studios, allowing them to see proposed virtual design elements as if these pieces were part of physical vehicles. They’ve been able to explore different shapes, sizes and textures of future vehicle attributes in minutes and hours instead of the weeks and months it can take to create clay models. And now, Ford is expanding this pioneering testing across the globe. “It’s amazing we can combine the old and the new – clay models and holograms – in a way that both saves time and allows designers to experiment and iterate quickly to dream up even more stylish, clever vehicles,” says Jim Holland, Ford vice president, vehicle component and systems engineering. “Microsoft HoloLens is a powerful tool for designers as we continue to reimagine vehicles and mobility experiences in fast-changing times.” HoloLens technology uses mixed reality, which enables designers to see holograms in photo-quality backdrops through wire-free headsets. They can scroll and preview at the flick of a finger through numerous design variations projected virtually onto an actual car or clay model. “We may not be able to teleport yet, but HoloLens allows us to review full-size 3D designs with designers and engineers around the world in real time,” says Craig Wetzel, Ford manager, design technical operations. “And we’ve only just scratched the surface, so possibilities for the future seem almost limitless. This is very exciting.”You can read the full article by visiting https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/09/21/ford-tests-microsoft-hololens-globally.html The Latest Ford Vehicles at Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, MI Ford is always pushing forward with new technology, whether it's in how they design their vehicles, make their operations more sustainable, or integrate exciting new features in their vehicle lineup for drivers in West Michigan to enjoy. During your visit to Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, you can learn more about the exciting new technology available on New Ford Vehicles. For example, Ford SYNC 3 with AppLink and FordPass opens up a wide range of functionality between your Ford and your smartphone, including starting your vehicle, locking or unlocking the doors, hands and eyes-free calling, entertainment, navigation, and more. You can browse our full lineup of New Ford Cars, F-Series Trucks, and SUVs online, or visit us to take one out for a test drive. Come see why Borgman is the Best in the West!

The 2017 Mazda CX-5: One of the Most Human-Friendly SUVs in West Michigan Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids is pleased to announce that the 2017 Mazda CX-5 was recently named as one of 10 vehicles with the best user experience, or UX, by Wards Automotive - a well-respected trends analyst in the industry. The list isn't just a rating of the vehicle's interior styling or features, but more of a broad assessment of how easily people can interact with those features and how the design affects them. We're glad that Mazda is being recognized for their meticulous attention to those little human-friendly details - a big part of what makes the Mazda CX-5 such a joy to drive. more Read More This article published on InsideMazda tells a little more about the Wards Auto "10 Best UX" list, as well as some of the features of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 that helped it earn a place on it. Here's an excerpt from the article: Leading Auto Industry Analysts Recognize Mazda CX-5’s Ease Of Use, Ergonomics, Layout, and Experience What’s the use of all the cool features if you can’t easily operate them? A great user experience in a vehicle is far more than how you choose a radio station or how easy it is to set a route in the navigation system. The user experience is everything you touch, look at or control in a vehicle, and more importantly, how it all works together. When the editors at Wards Automotive, an industry leader in automotive trends and analytics, choose their “10 Best UX” nominees, they look at more than just the size of the touchscreen or the texture of the climate control knobs. They’re looking at every interaction between the vehicle and the occupants inside. Wards rigorously evaluates every automotive brand sold in the U.S. Its independence and integrity have made it a respected arbiter of quality, and achieving a “10 Best UX” award is a major recognition for the 2017 CX-5. This year, the Wards Automotive editors selected the 2017 Mazda CX-5 as a “10 Best UX” winner, beating out many other nominees for the honor. “This is our second annual event rating the user-friendliness and overall effectiveness of a vehicle’s user experience,” said Tom Murphy, Wards senior editor. “Our scoring of 22 nominees this year was even more rigorous than it was last year, making the CX-5 truly deserving.” The award is an honor, but it’s also an achievement earned through Mazda’s dedication to creating vehicles focused on a human-centric design. To achieve the best user experience, the 2017 CX-5’s features must be both premium and have intuitive function. Mazda’s engineers performed a comprehensive study of driver ergonomics to learn how best to create a vehicle that will drive drivers the comfort and responsive performance necessary to achieve Jinba Ittai–“horse and rider are one.” You can read the full article by visiting InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com Visit Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids to Test Drive the New 2017 Mazda CX-5 If you're looking for a new SUV in West Michigan, visit Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids and test drive the New 2017 Mazda CX-5. The human-centric design of the CX-5 isn't really something we can describe, it's something you have to experience. Take one for a spin and feel how naturally and smoothly the CX-5 takes corners, the clear, crisp sound of the 10-speaker BOSE Sound System, and the overall, clean look of the interior design. Feel free to check out our selection of New 2017 Mazda CX-5 SUVs and stop by anytime to see one for yourself.

Ford Is Testing Ways For Autonomous Vehicles To Communicate With Pedestrians in Urban Settings like Downtown Grand Rapids Borgman Ford knows that many West Michigan drivers are at least curious about autonomous vehicles and the progress Ford is making toward bringing them to market. As these vehicles undergo more and more testing, we start to unearth some problems. Some of them are software bugs or mechanical flaws, and those are relatively easy to correct over time. It's the social hurdles that prove more difficult to overcome. If you've ever driven through downtown Grand Rapids, you know exactly how important it is to communicate with pedestrians or other drivers - even non-verbally. The head-nod, the wave, or even just eye contact can signal a driver's intent to others around them. How will autonomous vehicles do the same? Ford and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are currently testing a solution: a series of lights mounted behind the windshield that flashes three easily-recognizable patterns to people around the vehicle. more Read More These patterns are fairly intuitive, with a solid light indicating that the vehicle is in "autonomous mode," back-and-forth pattern to show that the vehicle is yielding, and flashing lights to alert others that the vehicle is accelerating. This is not only helpful to pedestrians near the vehicle but to other drivers as well, such as in the awkward "who goes first?" scenario at 4-way stops. Here are some highlights: Ford, Virginia Tech Go Undercover to Develop Signals That Enable Autonomous Vehicles to Communicate with People Today, a simple head nod or hand wave from a driver is usually enough to indicate it’s okay for a pedestrian to cross the street, but in an autonomous vehicle future, how will a self-driving car with no human driver communicate with pedestrians, cyclists or humans operating other cars on the road? Looking to prepare for this eventual reality, Ford Motor Company partnered with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, to conduct a user experience study to test out a method for communicating a vehicle’s intent by soliciting real-world reactions to a self-driving car on public roads. So Ford outfitted a Transit Connect van with a light bar placed on the windshield. To simulate a fully self-driving experience without using an actual autonomous vehicle, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute team developed a way to conceal the driver with a “seat suit.” The suit creates the illusion of a fully autonomous vehicle, which is necessary to test and evaluate real-world encounters and behaviors. The simulated autonomous Transit Connect was driven on public roads in northern Virginia – home to a density of traffic and pedestrians – throughout August, with researchers capturing video and logs of pedestrian reactions. "This work is of value not only to vehicle users and manufacturers but also to anyone who walks, rides or drives alongside autonomous vehicles in the future,” said Andy Schaudt, project director, Center for Automated Vehicle Systems, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. “We are proud to support Ford in developing this important research.” You can read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com How Ford's Research Helps Grand Rapids Drivers Today Though seeing a fully-autonomous Ford vehicle cruise around West Michigan is still a few years off, you can visit Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids today to see some of the semi-autonomous features that are available in New Ford vehicles. Ford's research into self-driving cars has helped them integrate things like Enhanced Active Park Assist, the Blind Spot Information System, Lane-Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Pre-Collision Assist, and more into the current lineup. Stop by for a visit and ask one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales associates to show you these unique features on one of the many New Ford Vehicles that support them, such as the New 2018 Ford Fusion. Feel free to take any of our vehicles out for a test drive too - and see what makes Borgman Ford the Best in the West!