“Innovation, by nature, is disruptive. If you can build upon an existing set of gears and everything is working smoothly, then you’re not revolutionizing yourself enough,” said Clay Christensen, a professor at the Harvard Business School and one of the most influential business thinkers in the world, as he opened the annual Ford Trends Conference. Sharing the stage with world-renowned American designer Kenneth Cole, Cole ended the night with a simple yet profound statement: “Today, companies do a lot of similar products, but what sets a great company apart is a powerful brand.”

As vehicles become an integral part of the Internet of Things, Ford and Intel are researching new opportunities for the connected car, including giving drivers the ability to remotely peer into their car using a smartphone, or a vehicle that could identify its owner using facial recognition software.

The all-new Ford Transit 15-passenger wagon makes its debut in the United States and Canada with the industry’s only five-row side-curtain airbag.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Dearborn, MICHIGAN—Ford underscored the importance of its licensing business (which brings in more than US$ 2 billion per year) by introducing yet another addition to its successful product tie-ups: the Ford F-150 Power Wheels. The ride-on toy, which is developed and sold by Fisher-Price takes the iconic F-150 to an entirely new dimension: one that kids will love and enjoy. It will be sold for US$ 349.99 (~PHP 16,100.00) beginning in September for the US market. This marks the third-generation ride-on toy inspired by the F-150 and though pricey, it actually can tackle rough terrain and even features LED headlights just like the real thing!

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Dearborn, Michigan—At the eve of the Further with Ford Trend Conference, Ford Motor Company unveiled the all-new, second-generation Edge crossover at their world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan Considered now as part of Ford’s “global product portfolio”, the all-new Edge could find its way to markets such as South East Asia and the Philippines where it is seriously being considered (it’s actually sold already in markets such as China). Innovation and design come together truly as the 2015 Edge packs a fresh new design, more interior technology, and more fuel-efficient drivetrains than its predecessor.