Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft CEO gets 1,000,000th Ford with SYNC]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/microsoft-ceo-gets-1-000-000th-sync-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/microsoft-ceo-gets-1-000-000th-sync-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/microsoft-ceo-gets-1-000-000th-sync-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One Millionth SYNC: Click above to view the high-res gallery

Ford and SYNC have combined to be the peanut butter and jelly of automotive tech combo deals. 80% of the vehicles Ford sells now has the infotainment system, helping the Blue Oval and Microsoft reach 1 million sales of the infotainment system in less than two years.

Since Microsoft created the SYNC software, it has just as much reason to celebrate its success as Ford. Microsoft CEO and Detroit native Steve Ballmer decided the best way to celebrate was to get his hands on SYNC vehicle number 1 million; a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The 41 mpg sedan was delivered by none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally.

Mulally reiterated his support of SYNC, saying that Ford would "continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers' lifestyles." SYNC already interfaces with navigation and entertainment systems, and 911 Assist helps call emergency services in the event of an accident. SYNC will receive further updates this summer when it gains the ability to deliver traffic, directions and information services. Hit the jump to view the Ford press release, and check out the gallery below to see Mulally deliver a 2010 Fusion Hybrid to the Microsoft CEO.


Gallery: One Millionth SYNC


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Microsoft CEO gets 1,000,000th Ford with SYNC

Microsoft CEO gets 1,000,000th Ford with SYNC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballmerfordFord FusionFordFusionfusionfusion hybridFusionHybridhybridmicrosoftmulallysyncThu, 28 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What do billionaires drive? Same cars as the rest of us...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/what-do-billionaires-drive-same-cars-as-the-rest-of-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/what-do-billionaires-drive-same-cars-as-the-rest-of-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/19/what-do-billionaires-drive-same-cars-as-the-rest-of-us/#commentsFiled under:

If you had a net worth in the billions of dollars, what would you drive? A bright red Ferrari? The million-dollar Bugatti Veyron? The super-luxurious Maybach 62? How about one of each? You may be surprised to find out what Forbes' Top Ten richest people in the world are driving. Not an exotic Italian supercar among them.

  • Bill Gates drives a '99 Porsche 911 cabrio. He's also got a rare Porsche 959, for which he got President Clinton to sign a law legalizing it for road use. Now that's some serious clout, but with $50 billion at his disposal and a taste for Stuttgart's finest, wouldn't a Carrera GT or a new 911 Turbo have found a way into his garage?
  • Billionaire investor Warren Buffett drives a Lincoln Town Car Signature Series, complete with landau roof.
  • IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has a '93 Volvo 240 GL, but prefers taking the bus. Seriously. And he uses his senior-citizen's card, too.
  • Like his pal Bill, Mircosoft co-founder Paul Allen has a Porsche 959 (how original), but drives around Washington State mostly in an '88 Mazda B-Series pickup.
  • Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, meanwhile, has got the Infiniti FX45, Hummer H1, Volvo XC90, Rolls Royce Phantom and Daewoo Matiz in his garage. Two of each, so that his entourage can follow in identical wheels. (If the Daewoo seems out of place, it's because the prince is part owner of the company.)
  • Michael Dell (whose name is probably emblazoned on the computer you're using to read this) alternates between a 2004 Porsche Boxster and a 2005 Hummer H2.
  • Larry "the Oracle" Ellison has got wheels with some style: a pair of new Bentley Continentals, a GT coupe and a Flying Spur sedan. (They go well with his fighter jet and America's Cup racing yacht.)
  • Jim Walton, owner of Wal-Mart, has for a garage what you'll probably find at the local used car lot: a 2002 Dodge Dakota, '99 Chevy Silverado, '98 Mitsubishi Montero Sport and 2000 Acura Integra, all available at everyday low prices. (His '59 Cadillac is probably a sweet ride, though.)
  • Jim's sister Alice Walton walked after killing a woman in '89 behind the wheel of a Porsche. Now she drives an F-150 King Ranch pickup. (More carefuly, we hope.)
  • Like his colleagues Bill and Paul, Steven Ballmer made his billions at Microsoft, but he stays true to his motown roots at the wheel of a '98 Lincoln Continental.

We know what you're thinking. "If I had that kinda money...". But you don't. Neither do we. So we'll all just keep on dreaming. Follow the link to Forbes for pics of these millionaire-mobiles (not the actual ones owned by wealthy, just stock shots).

[Source: Forbes Auto]

Continue reading What do billionaires drive? Same cars as the rest of us...

What do billionaires drive? Same cars as the rest of us... originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>959alwaleedballmerbillionairebuffettdellforbesgateskampradrichwaltonTue, 19 Sep 2006 20:32:00 EST<![CDATA[A peek into the garages of the world's billionaires reveals... a 13-year-old Volvo?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/10/a-peek-into-the-garages-of-the-worlds-billionaires-reveals-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/10/a-peek-into-the-garages-of-the-worlds-billionaires-reveals-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/10/a-peek-into-the-garages-of-the-worlds-billionaires-reveals-a/#commentsFiled under:

Nate Chapnick over at ForbesAuto.com is either terribly resourceful or amazingly persistent, as he's gone to the trouble of ringing up DMVs around the U.S. in order to find out what car keys America's billionaires secret in their suit pockets.

Judging by a list that includes far more prosaic iron than one might think, perhaps being a plain-ol' millionaire is somehow a more liberating existence. Okay, so perhaps the aformentioned Volvo, a 1993 240 GL owned by Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad makes some sense. But c'mon: Paul Allen of Microsoft's got nothing better to trundle about in than a 1988 Mazda B-Series? Somehow we doubt he'd even let his maid roll curbside to snag the day's Wall Street Journal, let alone use the aging pickup as his daily driver.

Mind you, even though we're all for being thrifty and not throwing our billions on chrome-plated Lamborghinis (you'd never suspect that Autoblog editors command ten-figure salaries from a peek into our garages), we still can't wrap our heads around fellow Microsoftian Steven Ballmer's 1998 Lincoln Continental.

A peek into the garages of the world's billionaires reveals... a 13-year-old Volvo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballmerBill GatesBillGatesBillionaireDMVMicrosoftPaul AllenPaulAllenFri, 10 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST