From Detroit News: In what appears to be the continuing distinction of Ford as the healthiest of the US automakers, the company has announced it will not follow GM and Chrysler into conducting large-scale dealership closings.

In fact, it may be because of those dealership closings by GM and Chrysler that Ford may benefit from a less crowded field in the marketplace and help it on its path to recovery and profitability.

Ford has already cut its dealer network by about 700 since 2005, and doesn’t plan on cutting much more from its current number of 3,700 US dealers.

Last week, Chrysler, currently in bankruptcy, announced it would shed 789 dealers by next month. Reducing its dealer network by 25 percent. GM recently announced it would cut 1,100 dealers next year, as part of a plan to reduce its number of dealers by 40 percent to 3,600, less than the number Ford currently has.

Ford’s head of North American sales, James D. Farley, was critical of how GM and Chrysler have managed their dealership cuts in an interview with the New York Times (in a story that ran in the Detroit News too), saying that some of their customers could migrate to Ford dealers, especially in rural areas.

“It seems very abrupt and unplanned,” said Farley. “It really depends on how GM and Chrysler handle these orphan owners. If they don’t give them a lot of attention, it will result in consumers going to other brands.”

$9.9b Sure buys lots of Hot Wheels

This is good news for Ford as well as their Fans! It’s time for a Fiesta – and speaking of which we know two people who will be happy that FoMoCo is heading in an upward swing. Our new friends Brad & Emma want to share their love of Ford’s Fiesta more than we do! Check them out at www.followthefiesta.com.

March 31 (Bloomberg) — Ford Motor Co., adjusting incentives as the U.S. recession deepens, said it will cover payments for as long as 12 months on new vehicles for buyers who lose their jobs.

Ford also said it will work through its dealers to provide support to local charities because of the recession, with details to be announced in April.

According to World Car Fans and The Financial Times: “Canada’s bailout has a similar term sheet as the White House’s US$17.4 billion bailout granted by US President Bush last week. Ottawa gets the option to take non-voting stock in the two automakers worth roughly 20 percent of the loans.  The loans are secured by a lien on many Canadian assets. Canada is also capable of blocking any deal valued over C$125 million, and has also demanded weekly updates on liquidity and profit. The companies also have to provide continuously updated financial projections once every ten days.”

Ford is the least in need of financial help out of “the Big Three” – and have turned down offers from both the US and Canada. They are depending on loans from technology and alternative energy firms to help advance their new wave of energy conscious vehicles. Let’s hope it works out for the blue oval – because unless Mexico wants to offer up some cash North America is pretty much tapped out.

Ford’s 2009 Flex crossover made it into the Car of the Year category, sharing space with VW Jetta and Hyundai’s $40,000 Genesis. As for the trucks – 2009′s Ford F-150, one of the best selling vehicles in that class for 2008, is fighting against Mercedes ML320 and the Dodge Ram. Good luck Ford – could be nice to see your name in auto news headlines without the word “bailout” next to it.

Ford is asking green technology industries and investors to loan them $14 Billion dollars to further their HEVT (Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology) research and development. Ford is shooting for “a 36% improvement on 2005 efficiency figures by 2015.” – Not an easy figure to pull off, but desperate times… Ford hopes to have their profits back up in 2011, and to begin repaying their loans by 2012.

Ford Fiesta – A Return to the US of A

The Fiesta is a classic small vehicle from the Ford Motor Company, which may be coming back to the United States (and dealer lots near you) by 2010. Much like a tall drink of caramel Tazo tea (or the seasonal Pumpkin Spice) Fiesta packs a whole lotta punch in a tiny package.

Ford Fusion Sport – Coming in 2010

Ford will also produce a sports sedan version of their still up and coming Fusion, which looks more like the Taurus, which has been made into a crossover, Taurus X. Fusion, like a Grande, will be one of the more common Fords out on the streets in years to come. It’s affordable, with a good amount of punch under the hood, without making you run to the toilet…wait, we got our metaphors confused. Regardless, with an approx. 25-30 mpg highway and room for five, the Fusion Sport will probably be the new standard (along with Focus) in Ford’s line up.

Ford F-150 – The Giant that won’t Die

You are still seeing them, Ford F-150 commercials during weekend football games, and F-150′s on the streets, driven by people who aren’t construction workers or laborers. And like a Venti drink form Starbucks, fewer people will order them, because it’s just too much to handle in one morning. You end up throwing half of it out before it’s finished, and you probably overpaid for it.