Ford Unveils Facebook Mileage Challenge

Ford is at it again in social media-- this time unveiling a new Facebook-based countrywide mileage challenge.

The company has tabbed eight drivers in eight different cities across the country to test out its F-150 Ecoboost and its supposed ability to get 22 miles per gallon.

The contest winner will be determined by the highest average miles per gallon during the week, the most votes on Facebook, and the most volunteers at a community participation event.

The winner will receive a free year's supply of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gas. Additionally, it will offer free gasoline in the winner's city at two gas stations for 2 hours, 22 minutes - in honor of the F-150.

The event will feature competitors from: Louisville, Pittsburgh, Houston, San Diego, Orlando, Denver, Kansas City, and Raleigh.

Ford, in its release on its The Ford Story Web site, claimed that the competitors range from a person with 40,000 Twitter followers to a middle school biology teacher.

The Facebook release is meant to bring attention to its F-150 truck, particularly its Ecoboost engine. Ford claims the engine "delivers an unbeatable combination of power, capability and efficiency, making it perfect for this challenge."

In an interview last week with IBTimes, Ford head of social media Scott Monty stated the company uses Facebook to post photos, videos, and to directly interact with its consumers in a variety of ways. This contest will likely involve all of those different elements, which is why the company likely chose Facebook instead of Twitter or Google+ to announce the contest.

Ford hopes to the Ecoboost engine in 90 percent of its vehicles by 2013.