See the 2017 Ford Explorer and the 2017 Mazda CX-9 Side-By-Side at Borgman Ford Mazda

Borgman Ford Mazda in Grand Rapids has been driving the difference in West Michigan for three generations.  We owe our success over the years to our policy of being clear and honest with our customers, who in-turn come back to us when it’s time to buy their next Ford or Mazda vehicle. In order to help our customers better explore their Ford or SUV options, we’re putting two of our most popular SUVs Head to Head: The New Ford Explorer and the New Mazda CX-9.

Both of these Full-Size SUVs are capable and spacious, meeting the needs of the average Michigan shopper. Read on below to see how they stack up against each other and feel free to visit our showroom in Grand Rapids to compare them yourself!

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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.

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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.

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Introducing the SKYACTIV-X Engine to West Michigan

Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids is pleased to announce that Mazda has unveiled their latest breakthrough in fuel efficiency – the SKYACTIV-X engine. Mazda turned the conventional gasoline engine on its head to achieve fuel efficiency numbers 20% to 30% better than even their own 2.0L SKYACTIV-G engine.

In a gasoline engine, air and fuel are mixed at typically a 14.7 to 1 ratio. This mixture is compressed and ignited by a spark plug, and the explosion pushes the piston down and turns the engine. In a diesel engine however, there are no spark plugs: the fuel-air mixture is squeezed so hard it combusts. The SKYACTIV-X engine incorporates both in the combustion chamber. The spark plug starts the reaction, and the wave of pressure squeezes and combusts the rest of the fuel. Mazda calls this “Spark-Controlled Compression Ignition.”

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Borgman Ford is urging everyone to keep those affected by Hurricane Harvey in their thoughts this month. We also hope that everyone in our community with family in the Houston area has heard from them and knows that they’re safe.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the category four storm that devastated southeastern Texas and parts of Louisiana last month, Ford has pledged more than $3.5 million to the relief effort, including contributions to The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and more. Ford also sent four Transit Vans from their Chariot service to go help out in any way they can, whether it’s moving supplies or aid workers.

This article published in the Official Ford Media Center tells more about Ford’s response to the hurricane, including a quote from the CEO Jim Hackett. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

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Get Ready To Hit The Road for Labor Day Weekend

At Borgman Ford, we want to make sure that everyone taking off for the long Labor Day weekend has a safe trip across West Michigan. Whether your weekend plans are taking you up north or just across Grand Rapids, it’s still a good idea to check out the health of your vehicle from time to time. If you are about to embark on a long trip, making sure that your vehicle runs like a top before setting out can ensure that you arrive on-time and safely.

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Self-Driving Ford Cars Could Someday Deliver Pizza Around Grand Rapids

Borgman Ford has been keeping a close eye on Ford’s progress on autonomous vehicle research – which they hope to start producing as early as 2021. Ford has made a number of breakthroughs, including the use of LiDAR sensors for navigating and advanced computers that can recognize pedestrians, stop signs, and other obstacles. While the tech is still new, Ford is pushing forward with their program, recently teaming up with Domino’s Pizza to explore the idea of using driverless cars for automated pizza delivery!

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Borgman Ford Cheers Ford’s Impressive Progress on Sustainability

Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids is pleased to share the progress Ford has made toward a more sustainable future, helping conserve resources and protect the environment in Michigan, The Great Lakes, and across the globe. These past few years, Ford has made some tremendous progress, but they’re the first to admit there is still a long road ahead of them. Ford is actively engaged in improving their sustainability practices even further.

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Friday, August 25th from 4-10pm | Saturday, August 26th from 9am to 9pm

Borgman Ford Mazda will be acting as the west anchor for the 13th Annual 28th Street Metro Cruise, a huge celebration of cars and car culture on Friday, August 25th and Saturday, August 26th. Also joining us this year is the West Michigan Mustang Club, who will be showing off their Classic Mustangs as well as their new ones at Borgman Ford on Saturday, August 26th from 10am to 4pm. Stop by this weekend to see some cool cars from yesteryear through present day, and check out 50 Years of Mustang history right on our lot!

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The 2017 Mazda CX-5 Joins The Rest Of The 2017 Mazda Lineup: All Top Safety Pick+ Recipients

Borgman Mazda is pleased to announce that the newly-redesigned 2017 Mazda CX-5 was named as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” for 2017, confirming that it’s one of the safest SUVs you could drive in West Michigan. This is the highest designation for safety given by the IIHS, and the Mazda CX-5 has earned it every year since its launch in 2012.

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