Tech Integration: A Ford Standard

Bluetooth and App Integration To Come Standard In Certain Ford Vehicles

Ford wants drivers to have full access to the best technology while also maintaining the highest degree of safety.  

With that in mind, it's no surprise that Cnet is reporting Ford will make it's Sync system more widely available.  So this means Bluetooth and app integration a standard feature on their 2013 Fusion and Flex vehicles.  

As you know, we're big fans of the Ford Sync and have covered it immensely on here.  

"With this latest generation of Sync, users can control the system without having to learn nearly as many commands or navigate as many menus," said Brigitte Richardson, Ford global voice control technology and speech systems lead engineer.

Now, all those benefits will come standard.  How great is that?

The app integration means you will be able to use voice commands to skip songs on Pandora or change stations on Stitcher when your phone is paired to the system. Other benefits of Sync include 911 Assist and Sync Destinations.

To check out Ford and Ford Sync around Buffalo, visit West Herr Ford in Hamburg or Amherst! 

Tweet For Cash With Toyota

Toyota Shareathon Offers Social Media Users Unique Opportunity 

You can get $500 from Toyota just for a tweet.  

As part of Toyota's Shareathon event, anyone who buys a Toyota by January 3rd and tweets about it can register for a $500 prepaid debit card.  The event runs Decemmber 21st to January 3rd.  

The best part is, by earning retweets you have a chance to get even more money.  

Starting at 11 a.m. ET each day of the Shareathon event,  the first 140 Shareathon registrants will be eligible for the $500 gift card.  you can earn even more money by getting your followers to retweet your message. Each retweet will increase the debit card value by $50 a plug, up to $500 for a maximum $1,000 debit card.

Search the Twitter hashtag #Shareathon to see what the people are buzzing about.  Then get to tweeting, grab a Toyota and collect your money! 

Carpool Apps

Three Apps Team Up Drivers Looking To Save Fuel 

So we all know carpooling can help drivers save fuel.  However, sometimes it may not be easy to find someone whose logistical schedule that matches yours.  As with everything else, there's an app for that.

Cnet recently hightlighted 3 carpooling apps that can help match up potential carpoolers.  Each app has it's own unique approach including a network based approach or destination focused.  

Here's a breakdown of each from Cnet: 

Avego Driver: This carpooling app matches drivers with riders in real time rather than scheduling trips in advance. Once a match is made, the app manages pickup and dropoff locations, and automatically divides the cost of the commute across all the riders using micropayments

Carticipate: Schedule or request a ride in advance or simply browse the list of posted trips in your area to find a carpool. The app leaves it up to you to connect with the driver or rider via e-mail and work out the cost-sharing details.  Available for iPhone only at the moment. 

RideRemedy: It's the only carpooling app that lets you look for riders to share a cab.  To use RideRemedy, you need to enter a destination with exact the travel date and wait for the app to try to match you with a ride or passenger. iPhone only as well.  

So with that, find yourself a carpooling companion.  Let us know if any of these work out for you.  

Car Town: Facebook's Most Played Game

Car Themed Social Game Taking Off Big Time

Love them or hate them, Facebook games are here to stay.  If you're a car fan, then there's one for you.

Car Town is now Facebook's number one rated social game.  Yes, it even beats Farmville, Mafia Wars and all the other games you see your friends posting about.

The main premise of Car town is to build your dream garage with some digital replicas of cars.  There are some real gems on there including the BMW 3.0 CSL.  

Not only that, you can race your friends, customize all the cars, and complete challenges.  Until recently that was it.  Now, Car and Driver is adding a new wrinkle.  

Car and Driver recently started a design contest where the winners can collect new exclusive cars for their garages.  

Cool stuff.  If that's not your thing consider this, almost 6 million people are playing Car Town.  Crazy right?  

Your Friends' Favorite Drives

New BMW App Crowdsources Driving Routes 

We've covered plenty of apps that will show you the quickest route for a trip or even the most fuel efficient. But what about just the most fun route?  

With BMW's Ultimate Drive app, you'll be able to see just that.  We mentioned Ultimate Driver yesterday, and this is just another awesome feature.  

With this app, drivers can create and search for other drivers' favorite routes.  It almost feels more like a travel guide than a navigation app.  If you aren't on a time crunch, this seems like a fun app to try out on a Sunday afternoon.  

You can search for routes by location or sort them by length, newness, and user rating.  You can also comment on submitted routes, share them through Facebook, or save them to your GPS.  Plus other users can obviously do the same to your routes.   

Cnet reports that users have been good about leaving tips concerning potential road hazards such as closures.  Seems like an app that will be made or broken by it's social use.

Either way we think it's cool, feel free to check it out and let us know what you think! 

Social Media On The Go

New App Makes Facebook and Twitter Even More Mobile

If you love social media, a new app from BMW is just for you.  

BMW's iDrive system recently added a text to speech function that will allow users to have Facebook statuses and Twitter updates read to them as they drive.  

So now, you can know what is going on and connect with your friends no matter where you are.  In 2011, that's an incredibly useful tool.  

To make this happen you first need BMW's iPhone cneected app.  You can then put your phone in the mobile docking station and let the app do the rest of the work.

Of course the question is, how does this read hashtags and online slang?  So far, no one is sure.

However the real issue here is safety.  We know people are probably checking Facebook and Twitter as they drive.  Right or not, it's happening.  Now this is a preventative measure.  For that we say kuds to BMW.  

The Sounds of Electric Vehicles

Facebook Fans Will Determine The Sound of Ford Focus Electric 

You've heard of focus groups, well Ford is moving that concept to the digital sphere.  If you take part, you'll be able to hear your contribution in the Ford Focus electric.  

Ford wants to know what you think the Ford Focus electric should sound like. Visit their Facebook page and you can choose from 1 of 4 sounds.

Why such a focus on sound?  Hybrids were too quiet.  A law enacted last January requires cars that are too quiet, such as hybrids and electric vehicles, to have some sort of artificial noise generator.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in the process of clarifying the quality of noise the cars should make, and when it should be in operation.

Listen to the sounds, a few of the sounds are a little crazy.  One even sounds like a spaceship type of thing.  

If you want to weigh in, visit the Ford Facebook page.  

Google Plus Ford

Automaker The First Consumer Brand on New Social Network

So like us you've probably heard the buzz about Google's new social network, Google Plus.  I'm on there and must say it could definitely stick around.  Well, so far no business or brands are on there.  Well except for Ford.    

Yes, Ford was the first official consumer brand to make their way onto Google Plus.  It only makes sense, given that they were named "Marketer of the Year" by Ad Age last year.  Turns out they're embracing the "social" part of social media heavily.  

They already had a photo caption contest and asked for specific feedback.  They asked "what do YOU want from US?"  Who WOULDN'T want to hear/see that from their brand.  

That's not all, they actually are scheduling a hangout, which is essentially a video conference, with their Director of Marketing Communications.  Talk about transparency.  

So far, the site had 1,222 followers as of Saturday morning.  That number should only grow as the network itself continues to grow.  

So give Ford a visit and tell them what you'd like to see. Google Plus wont be open to all businesses for a little while, but when it is you better believe we will be on there.   

The New Look West Herr.com

Buffalo Car Dealer Unveils New Website

At West Herr it's all about moving forward.  That's why it's with great pride we unveil the redesigned WestHerr.com, a proud accomplishment.  

The main change is that it's faster, which obviously makes for a better car buying experience.  

Also a new toolbar from Wibiya allows site users to connect to all of West Herr's social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  

However, the biggest change is the search function.  The new advanced search function let's you dive deeper into the average car search.  

You can specficially for a car with such things as navigation functions, heated seats or even what the in car entertainment is like.  Now that's a thorough search!

We also offer car counts on each category so you have a better idea of what you're working with.  The goal was to make our customer's search easier and more convenient.  

Feel free to let us know what you think of the site and how we can improve it.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Facebook For Car Owners

Toyota To Create Private Social Network

In an episode of the HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Larry David waves at a fellow Toyota Prius driver and says "we're Prius drivers, we're a special breed."  Soon enough, Toyota will make that idea of connecting with other Toyota drivers a reality.  

Toyota will launch a social network called Toyota Friend exclusively for Toyota owners.

Not only will owners be able to connect with each other but they'll also be able to talk directly to Toyota representatives.  As you'd expect, Toyota Friend users will also be able to connect the Toyota network to Facebook, Twitter and the other social networks out there.  

Left Lane News reported that there will mobile versions of the network as well. 

Combine this with Toyota's already announced a partnership with Microsoft for its global cloud-based platform development and you really have something here.  Toyota is really upping it's game in the digital media realm.  

The network will launch in Japan in 2012 then eventually make it's way over to America.  Stay tuned here for the latest details!