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Ever been to a press conference? It's weird. There's a podium and stage lighting. TV cameras. Boom mics. And there are journalists. Real journalists. Next to you is a guy from the New York Times, on the other side of you is a guy from Fortune. They have digital voice recorders and degrees from Columbia and deadlines. You were the editor of your high school newspaper (for one year, and that was 20 years ago) and your pen - the one the Ford PR people gave you, thank God, because you forgot to bring yours - doesn't work. The only thing you have in common with any of them is that like many of these seasoned pros, you are hungover and cynical. - Ford Motor Company

Courtney Rix Velasquez added 23 photos Thursday evening and shared this story with the public and broadcast this story to 394 people on Facebook and Whrrl. - Ford Motor Company

It’s been a long time coming but one of the big three auto makers made a big hit with parents everywhere yesterday. They introduced inflatable seat belts for the rear seats. In other words, cars will now have a suitable version of the air bag for rear seat passengers! I traveled to Dearborn this week to witness the big announcement and was not disappointed. I was able to see and touch the new inflatable seat belt and try it out myself. Plus, I received a tour of the safety lab This was really cool for a geeky person like me who likes to know all the whys and wherefores, though I had to strain to remember college physics concepts like g force and energy dissipation. - Ford Motor Company

Today I was invited to Ford to be a part of their announcement of the industry’s first ever inflatable seat belts to enhance rear seat safety. Upon impact, cold compressed gas fills the accordion-filled bag inflating across the occupant’s torso and shoulder within 40 milliseconds of a crash. It is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear set passangers, which are more often than not, children and older passengers. - Ford Motor Company

Despite being born and raised in Detroit, I am not what you’d call a “car person.” Give me a safe, fuel efficient car that holds all my crap and doesn’t break down every few months and I’m happy. - Ford Motor Company

In March 1996 I was hit and run over by a semi-truck while driving on the freeway. I obviously survived. I should not have. My car was broadsided by the semi and after a deadly pinball machine game, I wound up splattered against the median. The semi’s tire tracks mere inches behind my seat. An experience like that forever changes your perspective on car safety. I was fortunate to be wearing my seat belt, a fluke because I was a carefree college student who rarely wore one. I have no doubt it saved my life. - Ford Motor Company

For more than five years I've been one of those annoying people in San Francisco, driving a Toyota Prius and feeling smugly eco-superior. There have been many times when my husband and I have gloated over how little we spend on gas and how light it makes our carbon footprint. - Ford Motor Company

Labor day weekend I test-drove a Lincoln MKT, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company. Normally, when I think of a Lincoln, airport limos come to mind. I have a history w/Ford cars, so there is a bias there, but mostly it's toward "it's a car my mom & dad would own." I can certainly say my time w/the MKT changed my perception of Lincoln. And between my 5 day stint w/the MKT and my test drive w/the Taurus SHO I'm certainly rethinking my perception of Ford cars in general. - Ford Motor Company

I definitely had a blast during the brief two days I had to test out the car, but my kids were the ones most impressed. They were truly sad to see the car go. They are typically change-adverse, so it shocked me when they told me to get rid of my van in favor of the MKT! Even three weeks later, they occasionally mention "the cool car" and ask "when are we going to buy one for ourselves? - Ford Motor Company

For four days spanning the Labor Day weekend, I got to abandon my work horse of a mom mobile and test drive the new Lincoln MKT. I was looking forward to the Lincoln's arrival. Goodbye mini-van, hello Lincoln MKT. - Ford Motor Company

One of the main reasons I wanted to try out the Lincoln MKT is that it has a third-row of seats. I want something safe - unlike what I've heard about tall SUVs with third rows - and yet not quite as minivan-y as, well, my minivan. I want something edgier than a van, but safer than an SUV. The Lincoln MKT seemed to fit the bill. - Ford Motor Company

My dad and I bond over cars. He loves buying old cars, restoring them, and then selling them to start over again. When I was old enough to drive, we examined many cars to find the one that would be just right for me. Nearly every time I've bought or sold a car, my dad has been a major player. It was therefore a no-brainer that I'd bring my borrowed Lincoln MKT to his house to get his opinion. - Ford Motor Company

Sure, I'm predisposed to love the 2010 Lincoln MKT for the reasons I stated already: third-row seat, safety, Eco-Boost™, and luxury. It caught my eye in Chicago, so I already had favorable first impressions. But what about my family? Here is what they said during our first day with what my sons later dubbed, "The very cool new car:" - Ford Motor Company

Let's recap: I enjoyed seeing the MKT while at a special Ford Event in Chicago. I was therefore excited to borrow one for a couple days. - Ford Motor Company

So, I briefly mentioned the test drive of the new Ford Taurus 2010. I know this whole story is going backwards, and you will actually hear the beginning of it tomorrow, but the middle part of the story is the Mile High Mama's and Ford show the Ford Taurus 2010 around Denver co-event. We were about an hour and a half late, and by the time we got there I pretty much didn't want to sit in a car at all. But, really, who doesn't want to drive a pretty new car? Not only that but a pretty new car that looks NOTHING like a soccer mommy mobile? So, test drive I did. - Ford Motor Company

Had a nice party invitation yesterday via Facebook: a reception introducing the new 2010 model year Ford Taurus redesign, with Ford Exec Director of American Products Frank Davis in attendance. Now, I'm not a big car nut (like a few friends of mine) but I am still interested in cars and concerned about the long-term health of the American car industry as a bellwether for the national economy, so I RSVP'd yes and showed up promptly at 6pm for the event. - Ford Motor Company

As part of a 100-city social media blitz to promote its 2010 Taurus, Ford descended upon Denver last night to host a tweetup where attendees could inspect the new car and test-drive it on our rain-slicked streets. I was among the local bloggers they invited to Katie Mullen's downtown and observed the following: - Ford Motor Company

Calling all social media types! Mile High Mamas is co-hosting an event with Ford Motor Company on Tuesday, September 22. Ford’s Executive Director of Product Programs Frank Davis has been driving cross-country in his new 2010 Taurus and wants to meet up with YOU and hear your story about what makes Denver special. Join us at Katie Mullen’s Irish Restaurant for a casual evening of free appetizers, mingling and test-driving. - Ford Motor Company

Last night, I attended an event hosted by Ford Taurus at Katie Mullen's pub on the 16th Street Mall to promote their 2010 Taurus model. It was a dark and stormy night, but they still gave me the keys to a brand-new car to drive around the one-way maze of streets downtown. The 2010 Taurus features a redesigned interior and improved gas mileage with Ford's EcoBoost engine. Frank Davis, executive director of product programs for Ford, said the EcoBoost allows V8 performance with the fuel efficiency of a V6 engine. - Ford Motor Company

Eco-line sub brands are all the rage in the car world right now, bringing greener versions of existing models to the market place before an onslaught of EVs, etc. Ford's Econetic brand is typical of the breed, but what technologies are used in this line of cars, and how do they work. Here's a demonstration from the floor of the Frankfurt auto show - Ford Motor Company

There's a neat piece of design hidden in the new Ford Grand C-Max. The centre middle row seat tumbles and folds into the outer seat squab - meaning that kids can simply step in and walk through to the back row. One of those things that makes you go 'why didn't anyone think of that before'... - Ford Motor Company

What were your favourite details from cars in Frankfurt? The vents on the lower body sides of the VW L1 were far and away my personal highlight, until I looked more closely at the door handles on the Rolls Royce Ghost. But back in the real world, I was quietly impressed with the fold-away centre seat design in the Ford Grand C-Max, a car that otherwise leaves me quite cold. Aimed squarely at young families, I suspect it’s a design feature that will not only make people go ‘oooh’ in the autoshow or dealership, but that they’ll really use in day-to-day life - watch the video below to see a quick demo of how it works. - Ford Motor Company

John Fleming, Ford of Europe CEO, talks about Ford's plans for EVs, new engine technologies, and its Econetic brand at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

Ford Taurus Game Day Drive Experience winner, Adam Jackson, documents his time in a 2010 Ford Taurus. - Ford Motor Company

In May, which which was only 4 months ago, I announced that Laura and I were going on a road trip. Ford Motor company provided me with a brand new Lincoln MKS Sedan for 5 days and I would be traveling to Las Vegas via Los Angeles and back. The trip was very well documented and I think Ford was extremely happy with how I covered the event. Here are a few resources from our last trip that are still online. This time, they’re giving me another car from this Friday (the 11th) until Monday (the 14th). For this second road trip they didn’t just give me a car though, I had to apply for a 2nd go around and luckily, my past work with Ford was very influential and they chose me again for another test-drive. - Ford Motor Company