While we patiently wait for the All-New 2019 Ford Ranger to arrive at the Borgman Ford Showroom in Grand Rapids, MI, we’re pleased to share some exciting news. The EPA fuel estimates are in for next year, and the New Ranger is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered mid-size pickup in America.

Adventure Further: All-New Ford Ranger Rated Most Fuel-Efficient Gas-Powered Midsize Pickup In America

This recent article from the Official Ford Media Center explains more about how the Ford Ranger accomplished these efficiency numbers without compromising on power, capability, or “Built Ford Tough” quality. Take a look in these excerpts below: The adventure-ready 2019 Ford Ranger is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered midsize pickup in America – providing a superior EPA-estimated city fuel economy rating and an unsurpassed EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating versus the competition. The all-new Ranger has earned EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined for 4×2 trucks.

When configured as a 4×4, Ranger returns EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. This is the best-in-class EPA-estimated city fuel economy rating of any gasoline-powered four-wheel-drive midsize pickup and it is an unsurpassed EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating.

“Midsize truck customers have been asking for a pickup that’s Built Ford Tough,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “And Ranger will deliver with durability, capability and fuel efficiency, while also providing in-city maneuverability and the freedom desired by many midsize pickup truck buyers to go off the grid.”

Keep reading on Media.Ford.com.

Pre-Order Your 2019 Ford Ranger at Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, MI

If you’re counting down the days until the All-New 2019 Ford Ranger arrives in West Michigan, visit Borgman Ford and place your order today! Ordering now not only ensures you’ll be one of the first to drive the New Ford Ranger, it also means you’ll be able to custom-build your truck to meet your exact needs and tastes – right from the factory!

The first of the New Ford Ranger pickups will arrive in early 2019. To get started with yours, please Contact Us or visit our showroom to talk with one of our friendly sales associates. Come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »

Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids is always interested in learning about the latest advancements and innovations coming out of Ford. Whether these emerging technologies will be included in Ford vehicles for West Michiganders to enjoy, or play a part in their manufacturing and design, Ford has always operated from a position of leadership in the industry.

From Fantasy To Reality: Ford’s New $45 Million Advanced Manufacturing Center Bringing The Future To Life – Today

Recently, Ford opened their brand new $45 million dollar Advanced Manufacturing Center in Michigan. Inside, they’re experimenting with 3D printers, augmented and virtual reality, and robotics to find new ways to make the factories that build Ford Vehicles safer and more efficient. This article on the Official Ford Media Center gives us a glimpse behind the curtain – take a look at some excerpts below: Inside Ford’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center, an engineer stands in front of a 3D printing machine churning out brake parts for Ford’s soon-to-be-introduced Shelby Mustang GT500. Across the room, two team members strap on virtual reality headsets to design and simulate production lines, while another is working alongside a collaborative robot, programming a safer way to install a vehicle part.

These technologies are no longer simply a Hollywood vision of the future. For Ford, which has been breaking new ground in auto production for more than a century, they are critical tools and technologies to improve the complex and demanding task of building cars and trucks. And this is all happening every day under one roof at the company’s new $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford.

“More than 100 years ago, Ford created the moving assembly line, forever changing how vehicles would be mass-produced,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of Global Operations. “Today, we are reinventing tomorrow’s assembly line – tapping technologies once only dreamed of on the big screen – to increase our manufacturing efficiency and quality.”

Approximately 100 experts work at the development hub for cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, including 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, digital manufacturing and more.

Ford’s investment co-locates approximately 100 advanced manufacturing technology experts and their specialized equipment in one open space. For Ford, this combination of advanced manufacturing expertise and a skilled workforce will continue to support their drive to mass produce the highest quality vehicles.

Test Drive a New Ford Today at Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, MI

Read the full article on Media.Ford.com. Borgman Ford is your home in West Michigan for expertly-designed New Ford vehicles. What has set Borgman apart since 1960 is our commitment to customer satisfaction, transparency, and our fair-and-square deals. Throughout the whole sales process, our team will never try to deceive you or pressure you into signing anything. We want to make sure you find the right vehicle for your lifestyle, tastes, and budget, and that all of your questions are answered before pen hits paper. If you want to be absolutely sure you’ll love one of the many New Ford Vehicles on our lot, ask about our Day Trader Program and swap vehicles with us for a day.

Read more about Borgman’s Fair Trade Deals and stop by anytime for a visit. We’re the Best in the West and will not be undersold!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »

Is All-Wheel Drive Enough For West Michigan Winters?

We’ve already had our first major snowfall in West Michigan this season, and we hope everyone made it to their destinations safely. It’s probably not a stretch to say some of us had some trouble getting traction from a stop, going around corners, or braking downhill. The biggest factor in being able to maneuver in the snow and ice isn’t all-wheel drive, it’s your tires. In this Borgman How To, we’ll teach you everything a smart West Michigan shopper needs to know about winter tires including how they’re formulated, designed, and perform. All-Wheel drive is popular in our part of the country, mostly because of the advantages it provides when the weather turns on us. With a set of all-season tires on, they perform reasonably well in most situations. That being said, it’s only a piece of the puzzle. Powering all four wheels independently can help if one loses traction and the others have grip, but it doesn’t do much good if you’re driving on a sheet of ice or through deep snow.

This might surprise a lot of folks, but an underpowered front-wheel drive car with winter tires can and very often will out-perform an all-wheel drive counterpart with all-season tires. This isn’t all because of physics or driving dynamics, it’s because tires are your only interface with the road, and bringing the right tool for the job (the temperature & conditions) is what makes the biggest difference.

What Makes Winter Tire Rubber Different

What Are The Different Types of Winter Tires?

That being said, equipping an all-wheel drive vehicle with winter tires is that much better. In the sections below, we’ll explain why and how this is. Tires aren’t simply just rubber rings we put on our wheels. A great deal of engineering goes into making them, and the chemical makeup of winter tires is carefully dialed-in for optimal performance in lower temperatures. To contextualize the difference between summer and winter tires, here’s what you need to know: As rubber warms up, it becomes more pliable and flexible, and as it cools, it becomes stiffer. Warm, flexible tires conform more to road surfaces and thus generate more friction, or “grip.” As the air temperature drops, tires get firmer and lose this trait. This leads to skids, poor stopping distance, and trouble getting moving in cold, slippery conditions. The biggest advantage of winter tires is that the rubber is specifically formulated to stay flexible below freezing temperatures, therefore preserving their ability to grip the road and take full advantage of clever tread designs. There are three main types of winter tires you’ll see if you’re doing some research.

What’s Different About Winter Tire Tread Patterns?

If you look at a winter tire’s treads, they will look a little bit different than summer or all-season tires, but they’re not as aggressive as they used to be. Back about 15-20 years ago, winter tires had very large and widely-spaced treads. These did a great job of finding grip in the snow but were loud and uncomfortable to drive on. As we outlined above, the bigger problem was with the rubber, and you’ll find that modern winter tires offer comparable ride quality to summer tires. Now, the industry trend is to design treads that whisk away water between the tire and the road, which is the main cause of wheel slip and nearly eliminates hydroplaning.

You might also see things like tiny, horizontal grooves cut into the tread blocks themselves, and these also serve a purpose. With the rubber being more flexible at lower temperatures, these will actually widen when they come into contact with the pavement. It seems a little odd, but their purpose is to pick up snow and make it cling to the tire. Snow on snow actually grips pretty well – think of it like rolling a snowball to make a snowman. It will naturally fall off if the road conditions change.

Why Do Winter Tires Look Thinner?

Note: Some tire shops may offer a service called “tractionizing,” where tiny holes or grooves are cut into a winter tire to improve performance on ice and snow. Unless you’re entering your vehicle into a winter road rally, this is completely unnecessary and dramatically cuts the life of your tires short. Tire manufacturers ship winter tires with the precise optimization needed for everyday city and highway driving. You might notice that winter tires appear to be a little thinner than all-season or summer tires, and that’s because some of them are. This is intentional, and often winter tires are mounted on their own dedicated, thinner rims. In the summer, you want more of the tire pushing against the ground to spread the total force of the wheel evenly. In the winter, you don’t want all that extra tire trying to overcome a pile of snow (remember that snow is sticky, and once you start to dig it only gets worse.) This is an extreme example, but it’s easier to move through a snow bank with a pizza cutter than it is with a rolling pin.

Are Winter Tires A Good Investment?

The Borgman Service Center can help you select thinner rims and dedicate them to your winter tires. Ensuring the combined dimensions of your rim and tire match the vehicle’s specifications is important for maintaining predictable performance, correct fit (so the tires don’t rub against the wheel well or suspension components,) and to preserve the accuracy of the speedometer, anti-lock braking, stability, and tire pressure monitoring systems. The only person who can decide of winter tires are worth it is you, taking into account your level of comfort driving in winter, which part of West Michigan you live in, what sort of road conditions you often drive in, and whether you have the space to store them properly. The initial expense is a little higher, though ultimately the vast majority of people save money in the long run with the added benefit of safety. There may be an impulse to only buy two winter tires for the drive wheels to save money, but for serious safety reasons you absolutely should not mix-and-match.

The added cost for comes from buying a second set of rims specifically for your winter tires. Note that a good set of rims will often last for longer than you own the vehicle, and add value by making the swap between wheels in the spring and fall much quicker. Also, mounting a tire once or twice isn’t a big deal, but repeatedly changing the tires between one set of rims can cause stretching or cracks – wearing them out faster.

By switching these wheels in response to the seasons, you’re not only driving safer in the West Michigan weather, you’re not going to need to buy new tires as often either. This is both because they’re only being used one set at a time (obviously) and because summer or all-seasons are more likely to wear faster in the cold.

Upgrade to Winter Tires at the Borgman Service Center in Grand Rapids, MI

If you’re ready to upgrade to a set of winter tires, or just want to see which ones are available for your vehicle, visit the Borgman Service Center today and talk to one of our tire experts. We’ll show you tires that will be the exact fit for your vehicle, the best performing ones for your typical winter commute, and give you the best deal possible with the latest tire deals.

Should you decide to make the switch, we’ll happily swap them for your all-season or summer tires in the spring and fall too. Remember, we’re here for all of your automotive needs.Schedule Your Appointment online today and come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in News, Service | No Comments »

Earlier this year, Borgman Ford announced that Grand Rapids Michigan was selected for the Ford City of Tomorrow Challenge. Today we’re pleased to share the winner of the challenge: Kaizen Health. In the challenge, members of the community were asked to share ideas about how to solve mobility problems within the city. Entrants gave written proposals which were reviewed by other participants and a panel of expert judges, and the winner would be awarded a $100,000 prize to fund a pilot program.

Kaizen Health identified that many people in underserved communities cite transportation as a barrier to their medical care. Doctor visits and trips to the pharmacy can be difficult for the elderly, disabled, and other marginalized patient niches, so Kaizen Health recommended Grand Rapids adopt their patient-focused ridesharing program to remove these barriers and increase attendance.

This not only solves the immediate problem of giving these patients better access to their care but nurtures their long-term health as well. The Kaizen Health’s ride-sharing program has already been implemented by several hospitals in the Chicago area, and we’re excited to see it implemented within our own community.

Grand Rapids Announces Winner of City Of Tomorrow Challenge

This latest article from the Official Ford Media tells more – check out some excerpts below: After working collaboratively with Ford Motor Company, AT&T, Dell Technologies and Microsoft, the City of Grand Rapids today announced the winning project in the Ford City of Tomorrow Challenge.TM The winning proposal will be awarded $100,000 to fund a pilot program that will test its implementation in a real-world setting.

Kaizen Health, a proposal that aims to eliminate transportation as a barrier to good medical care, was chosen as the winning project in the City of Tomorrow Challenge – a crowdsourcing platform created to help prepare cities for the future by bringing groups of people together to design and pilot new solutions that help improve mobility in cities.

Kaizen Health is an early stage health technology company working to modernize and streamline access to transportation in partnership with providers, payers, self-insured employers and municipalities. The team is passionate about pursuing creative ways to deploy its technology and vehicle network to reduce unnecessary costs in health care and help people live healthier, happier lives. In Grand Rapids, the group has proposed a pilot that integrates existing services from Lyft, GO!Bus, The Rapid call center and Innova EV’s first- and last-mile vehicles to allow Grand Rapids residents to make independent decisions about their mobility options.

“This proposal stems directly from the experiences of Grand Rapids residents and the obstacles they face on a daily basis,” said John Kwant, vice president of Ford City Solutions. “Listening to the community, collaborating with residents and bringing them into the design process is a new and novel approach to developing mobility solutions, and it’s exactly the kind of local engagement we wanted to foster with the City of Tomorrow Challenge.”

The Bright Future of Transportation in Grand Rapids, MI

Keep reading on Media.Ford.com. Borgman is grateful for all the people in Grand Rapids and West Michigan that have chosen us for their automotive needs over the years. As this city we’re all a part of continues to grow, Ford gave us a unique opportunity to shape how our transportation systems grow with it. The winning solution addressed an important problem: making sure that transportation does not pose a practical or financial barrier to their medical care. We’re excited to see how the pilot program performs, as we’re certain there are members of our community that could really use it.

To find out more about the Ford City of Tomorrow Challenge in Grand Rapids, MI, visit Challenges.CityOfTomorrow.com. Should your transportation needs include a New Ford Car, Truck, or SUV, check out our Online Inventory, read about our famous Fair Trade Deals, or explore our Day Trader Program. Come and see why Borgman is the Best in the West!

Posted in Community Events, News, Social | No Comments »

The snow has finally arrived in Grand Rapids, and the Borgman Service Center is here to help keep you on the road all winter long. There are a few things a lot of West Michiganders do when winter arrives, such as change over to snow tires, check their emergency kits, and more.

Rust & Corrosion Protection

This month, the Borgman Service Center is showcasing two other options available for the upcoming winter: professionally-installed rust protection, and smartphone-enabled remote start. These both make driving in our winter wonderland easier and are great gift ideas too! Read more about each below. Borgman Ford maintains a relationship with Great Lakes Chemical in Grand Rapids, MI. They are our trusted partner for professionally-applied treatments and coatings such as Diamon-Crystal for windshields, paint protectors, rust proofing, and more. Many of our customers choose one or more of their services when they buy a vehicle from us, but it’s not unheard of to have our service department handle it for you too.

Remote Start Systems

During the winter your vehicle’s body panels, subframe, suspension components and more are exposed to rock salt and other ice-melting solutions. Road commissions use these to chemically melt ice on roadways, and completely necessary for ensuring they’re as safe as possible. Salt mixes with the water in the ice to lower the freezing point, but it also makes the water more conductive. This faster transfer ions is what accelerates rusting, and it’s even more pronounced in salt substitutes. The underside of your vehicle gets the worst of it, and runaway rust can cause problems in your suspension, exhaust, and even brake lines! Frequently visiting the car wash can help, but adding an extra layer of protection to your vehicle will lock out salt water, stave off costly repairs, and dramatically extend the life of your vehicle.

The Borgman Service Center will be happy to handle the application of the latest in rust protection technology. We’ve teamed up with Great Lakes Chemical for this and other services. With their advanced process, there’s no need to drill holes into parts of your vehicle to apply the treatment, and it will not interfere with your manufacturer’s warranty. Using a specialized applicator, the technician will coat structural parts on the underside of your vehicle, as well as other areas that are prone to rust such as door sills. They will also “fog” the inside of your doors, quarter panels, trunk lid and seam, hood, and more. To for more information and a quote, visit the Borgman Service Center. Since the advent of fuel injection on the 90s and advances in motor oil, allowing your vehicle to warm up before driving it on cold mornings isn’t as necessary as it used to be. That being said, the jury is out on whether the extra emissions from idling outweigh the efficiency gains of a warm engine while you’re driving. At the very least, giving your vehicle about 5 minutes or so to warm up allows the climate control and defrosters to do their job, which makes you safer and more comfortable while driving.

Quality Service & Upgrades For Your Vehicle in West Michigan

There’s still the added inconvenience of waiting for the vehicle to warm up in the morning, after work, or while out and about during the winter. To make your experience with your Ford as convenient and enjoyable as possible, the Borgman Service Center offers Ford’s Remote Access kit and will be happy to install it on a compatible vehicle. This kit allows you to start your vehicle via your smartphone and includes other convenience features too, such as mobile alerts from the anti-theft system. To learn more and to see what solutions are available for your vehicle, visit the Borgman Service Center. Whether you’re thinking of adding upgrades to someone’s vehicle as a holiday gift, or need a vehicle health checkup before winter hits, visit the Borgman Service Center in Grand Rapids, MI for affordable offers and unparalleled customer service. We’ll review which solutions are compatible with the intended vehicle and lay your options out for you, but will never pressure you to buy. If you need a pre-winter check up, our trained technicians will carefully inspect your vehicle’s systems for cracked hoses, leaks, and other worn components – replacing them with the highest quality parts available at an affordable price. Visit our Service Center page and make your appointment online today. Come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in News, Service | No Comments »

Here’s the Truck Weekend Lineup on HISTORY®:

Ford F-Series And History Launch Six-Hour Programming Event – ‘Truck Weekend In America’

Calling all West Michigan Ford Truck Fans! Be sure to tune in this weekend (or set your DVR) for “Truck Weekend in America” on the HISTORY® channel and presented by Ford. Borgman Ford is pleased to share this two day, six-hour programming event all about Ford trucks, including a tour of the factory, custom builders, truck vs. terrain competitions, and more. Check out the programming lineup below!

• “Truck Night in America” – Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
• “Truck Hunters” – Saturday, 9 p.m. EST
• “Born Tough: Inside the Ford Factory” – Saturday, 10 p.m. EST
• “Truck Night in America” – Sunday, 8 p.m. EST
• “American Restoration: Truck Edition” – Sunday, 9 p.m. EST
• “Trucks Transformed: Custom Culture” – Sunday, 10 p.m. EST
• “Rescue Trucks” – Sunday, 10:30 p.m. EST

A recent article published by Ford tells more – take a look at some excerpts below: Beginning Saturday, November 10, the HISTORY® channel and Ford F-Series are launching “Truck Weekend in America” – a six-hour prime-time programming event that puts the automaker at the center of original storytelling throughout the weekend. This first-of-its-kind collaboration highlights Ford’s truck legacy of toughness, heritage and performance.

Ford F-Series is America’s best-selling truck for 41 straight years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 36 straight years.

“More than a century ago Ford put America on wheels, and today our trucks are a vital part of the way people work, play and live,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “‘Truck Weekend in America’ is a tribute to the passion of our engineers as well as our customers, and to both the history and the future of the pickup truck.”

Borgman Ford: Grand Rapids’ Home For Built Ford Tough Trucks

You can read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com or get a sneak peek of Truck Weekend here. Whether you’re inspired by the awesome lineup of Ford Trucks on the HISTORY® channel this weekend or want to drive something tougher than the West Michigan winter, Borgman Ford has over 100 different F-Series pickups to choose from. Take a look at our lineup and stop by our showroom anytime to test drive some of your favorites.

Our staff will be more than happy to help you compare the capabilities and options of two or more trucks on our lot to find the one that’s right for your needs, tastes, and budget. However, we will never pressure you into a sale, and will take the time to explain everything in front of you before you make a decision. If you see a better deal on a New Ford Truck somewhere else, show us and we’ll match it. Come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »

While Borgman Ford is always interested in what Ford sends to SEMA and sharing the cool cars with West Michigan, this year we wanted to share this story that warmed our hearts. The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, an organization created by two parents to honor their late son, received a brand-new 2019 Ford Explorer support their care programs.

There are a number of ways the organization supports kids undergoing treatment for cancer, both physically and mentally, and one of them is something called Diversion Therapy. This is exactly what it sounds like: planned activities to help take patients’ minds off of their circumstances. In this case, they were working on upgrading the Ford Explorer with a hoard of donated parts from aftermarket companies. This adventure-ready SUV was taken to SEMA this year and will be auctioned afterward – with the proceeds going toward survivor support programs.

Check out the video below and read all about it in these excerpts from the Official Ford Media Center!

Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Kids Customize a Ford Explorer

This past summer Ford donated a brand-new 2019 Ford Explorer Sport to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for the kids to customize into an eye-catching show vehicle. The high-performance Explorer will be part of the Ford display at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. It features a custom leather interior, performance engine upgrades, a custom outdoor theme body wrap, Yakima rooftop rack and kayak mounts.

“Some kids got to work on the upholstery, some on the racks and some on the lights,” said Johnathan Myren, Austin Hatcher Foundation’s Industrial Arts Director. “It serves as a diversion from the things they’re going through, and we see progress in terms of their cognitive function and fine motor skills.”

A number of aftermarket suppliers donated parts and services for the build, including BFGoodrich®, Yakima, RIGID® lights, Paragon Wheels, Borla® Exhaust, Hypertech, Traxda and Wizards Products. Wastegate Technologies and Wrap Artists created and installed the custom wrap, with Top Notch Customs LLC and Fully Loaded Interiors providing powder coating and custom leather interior.

“I have to thank Ford Motor Company for allowing us to participate in this project,” said Jim. “It’s been awesome to see the kids working on this, and to hear the excitement in their voices when they finally got to see the finished product.”

To read the full article and to learn more about the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, visit Media.Ford.com.

About Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, MI

Borgman Ford has always been a family owned and operated company serving West Michigan. Since we opened our doors in 1960 and every day since we operate on the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. That’s why we’re proud to represent Ford, a company heavily invested in creative, philanthropic efforts.

If you’re searching for a New Ford or Pre-Owned Vehicle in West Michigan, visit us any time to see our selection. Our staff will make sure all of your questions are answered, but will never pressure you into a sale. Come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Grandville High School to test drive a New Ford!

During the Ford Drive 4 UR School Event on Saturday, October 20th, lots of people in the community came over and took a New Ford out for a spin. For every person who did, Ford pledged $20 to the band program, and an extra $10 if they went out again in the New Ford Fusion. Your support really made a huge difference!

To date, Ford “Drive 4 UR” events have helped schools and community organizations all across the country raise over $35 million dollars for their associated causes. For more information, visit FordDrive4URcom.

Thank you again to everyone who came out and made the Drive 4 UR event a huge success. The weather cooperated with us for most of the day, and met so many nice people. We loved seeing some familiar faces stop by too! Together, we really made a difference to further music education in the Grandville community.

We hope to see you all again next year, and Go Dawgs!

Posted in Community Events, News, Social | No Comments »

Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids is cheering on Ford after their huge celebration in Wayne, MI this week. This event marked the start of production on the 2019 Ford Ranger, a hotly-anticipated revival of the popular midsize pickup truck.

Ford Celebrates Production Start Of All-New 2019 Ranger Midsize Pickup And A New Era For A Storied American Factory

This celebration marks not only the Ford Ranger’s return but the beginning of a new generation of Ford vehicles, as the upcoming 2020 Ford Bronco will be produced here as well. Ford invited plant employees, journalists, UAW Union representatives, and others to drive pre-production Ford Ranger trucks around an obstacle course in the parking lot. It looked like a lot of fun too – check it out in the GIF below and read on for some excerpts from Ford’s Official Media Center! For Michigan Assembly, a sprawling 369-acre plant in Wayne, Mich., which opened in 1957 building station wagons, the start of Ranger production marks a new era. The factory is set to build two high-profile vehicles again in the Ranger and all-new Bronco as American appetite for pickups and SUVs continues to grow.

Ford has invested $850 million to build exciting new vehicles at Michigan Assembly Plant, including the all-new Ranger for North America and the highly anticipated new Ford Bronco, scheduled to begin production in 2020.

“The revitalization of the Michigan Assembly Plant and renewed production of the Ford Ranger is another exciting chapter in our state’s comeback story,” Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said. “This is also an opportunity to look toward its promising future with production of the all-new Ford Bronco on the horizon. I thank our partners at Ford for investing in Michigan and contributing to the Motor City’s legacy as the automotive capital of the world.”

Ranger is designed for today’s midsize truck buyer who blends city living with off-the-grid adventure. The midsize pickup will deliver utility, capability and technology those customers want and need.

“We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Michigan Assembly Plant Manager Erik Williams. “The Ranger is back home in the U.S., and our employees at Michigan Assembly Plant are thrilled to be able to build it for our customers.

Pre-Order Your New Ford Ranger at Borgman Ford Today!

Read the full article by visiting Media.Ford.com. If you want to be one of the very first in West Michigan to drive the All-New 2019 Ford Ranger, visit Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids today and get your order in! Our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff would be happy to show you through the ordering process and help you determine which configuration of the Ford Ranger is right for you. One of the benefits of ordering early is you get to pick and choose features, colors, fabrics, and more. Plus, when the 2019 Ford Ranger arrives in West Michigan in February, yours will be one of the first in line, reserved, and ready to roll.

Beat the rush and pre-order your 2019 Ford Ranger at Borgman Ford today. Check out our Ford Ranger info page to read more about the truck, and then Contact Us or visit to get yours into the queue. Come see why Borgman is the Best in the West!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »

We imagine a good number of West Michigan Ford Performance fans know what carbon fiber is, or at the very least what it looks like. It’s commonly found as a trim option in Ford vehicles with sport packages because of its widespread use in motorsports. Though purely aesthetic in this case, carbon technology has seen widespread use in aerospace, performance racing, and more recently in consumer goods because of its ultra light weight and incredible durability.

The ‘carbon’ in carbon fiber is simply graphite (the same stuff that’s in pencil lead,) which is just trillions of sheets of carbon atoms stacked on top of each other. A single, one-atom-thick sheet of perfectly-arranged carbon atoms is called graphene, and it’s been one of the holy grails of nanomaterial since it was first isolated in 2004. Though the potential applications are immeasurable, it hasn’t seen many practical applications because it’s difficult and expensive to produce. Recently this has begun to change.

Ford has recently managed to overcome those hurdles. With the help of Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, Ford found a way to introduce graphene into various coatings and foams used under the hood of Ford vehicles, boosting their strength and heat dissipation. Long story short, it was a rousing success and soon West Michigan Ford drivers will enjoy quieter vehicles with better-protected engine components. It is expected to go into production this year and will be included in the New Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang with more vehicles to follow.

Cell Phones, Sporting Goods, And Soon, Cars: Ford Innovates With “Miracle” Material, Powerful Graphene For Vehicle Parts

An article on the Official Ford Media Center tells more about how it was developed – check out some excerpts below! It’s in cell phones and even some sporting goods – and soon, for the first time in automotive, it will be under the hood in Ford vehicles. Ford Motor Company is announcing the use of graphene – a two-dimensional nanomaterial – in vehicle parts.

Dubbed a “miracle material” by some engineers, graphene is 200 times stronger than steel and one of the most conductive materials in the world. It is a great sound barrier and is extremely thin and flexible. Graphene is not economically viable for all applications, but Ford, in collaboration with Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, has found a way to use small amounts in fuel rail covers, pump covers and front engine covers to maximize its benefits.

“The breakthrough here is not in the material, but in how we are using it,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability and emerging materials. “We are able to use a very small amount, less than a half percent, to help us achieve significant enhancements in durability, sound resistance and weight reduction – applications that others have not focused on.”

In 2014, Ford began working with suppliers to study the material and how to use it in running trials with auto parts such as fuel rail covers, pump covers and front engine covers. Generally, attempting to reduce noise inside vehicle cabins means adding more material and weight, but with graphene, it’s the opposite.

Shop High-Tech New Ford Vehicles at Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids, MI

Keep reading on Media.Ford.com. If you’re searching West Michigan for a vehicle with the latest tech, both under the hood and in the cabin, visit Borgman Ford in Grand Rapids today! With nearly 400 New Ford Vehicles to browse, there’s a vehicle here that suits your needs, tastes, and budget. Take a look at our New Ford Inventory and stop by anytime to go on a test drive! If you want to put one through the paces of your daily routine, ask us about our Day Trader Program and swap rides with us for a full day.

If you have any questions, our friendly and courteous sales staff is here to help. Learn more about Borgman’s Fair Trade Deals and come see why we’re the Best in the West!

Posted in New Inventory, News | No Comments »