Ever since Mazdas first went “Hmmm,” the company has been innovative in its engine technologies. Now, the newest version of Skyactiv is ready to hit the market. With a compression ratio of as high as 18:1, these direct-injection engines operate at 17 percent better fuel economy than their predecessors. The newest Mazdas also convert kinetic energy to electricity whenever the driver brakes, and this lightens the load on the engine. The resulting five percent boost to fuel economy is indicative of Mazda’s commitment to breaking new ground, and AutoWeek has, for the last three years, praised the company’s continuing efforts.

Ever since the first Mustangs hit showrooms in 1964 sporting 2.8-liter engines, the American public has been in love with the Pony Car. Even Steve McQueen drove one during the greatest car chase on film. For the 2015 model year, Ford is stepping in line with other cars of the same class by having independent rear suspension. Previous incarnations of the Mustang have been unashamedly retro, but 2015 promises some changes.

Some Mustang purists find the new changes disagreeable, but the newest Mustang is receiving rave reviews from consumer groups. The 2015 model has six available engines from which to choose, and a 6-speed manual transmission will be standard on all of them. Supposedly, an 8-speed automatic will arrive later in the year.

New regulations designed to protect pedestrians during collisions will restrict the tight engine clearances so familiar to Mustang owners of the past, but Ford will likely rework the motors to leave room for extra turbochargers rather than the famous Shelby supercharger. Of course, the rumored GT500 model will have the supercharger while still making the regulated changes, and Mustang enthusiasts are already salivating at the rumored 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds. When it comes to fuel economy, most Mustang models won’t break any records at 26 mpg on the highway, but they’re not designed that way.

Ford is environmentally conscious, however, and the 2015 Mustang will have an option for customers to have 4-cylinder Ecoboost engine. In true Mustang style, even the smaller engine will crank out 305 horsepower. For acceleration and passing, it’ll also provide 300 pound feet of torque. Even with all of this information readily available, Ford is playing its Mustang cards close to the vest. There’s much news that remains unreleased, but the product promises to be worth the anticipation.

Selling more than a million Focuses around the world last year, Ford Motor Company has retained its title for the most popular car. That means Ford sold a Focus every 30 seconds during 2013! With an 8.1 percent increase in sales of the Focus, it also doesn’t look like it’ll be relinquishing that title anytime soon. Most of its popularity comes from Chinese demand, which accounts for roughly 40 percent of the total output.

Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally took over the company eight years ago and immediately set about reversing its poor fortunes. He trimmed its bloated lineup of redundant models down to a streamlined 15 and demanded interchangeability of parts among all cars. Even after cutting nearly half of Ford’s model portfolio, Mulally led the company to produce only 500,000 fewer cars than the previous years. Additionally, his efforts led to a profit of nearly $9 billion, which was a substantial gain on the previous year. The Focus regularly rolls off of assembly lines in eight plants around the world, which are located in the United States, Russia, Argentina, Germany, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Currently in its third generation, the Focus is a compact car designed to get 30 mpg on the highway or better. It also comes in performance variants that approach the skidpad G-force tolerance of much more expensive sports cars. In 16 markets within the United States, consumers can choose a model that is completely electric. It has a range of 76 miles and tops out at 84 mph.

Outside of North America, fuel economy and concern for the environment outweigh the need for bulging horsepower or screaming acceleration. Still, some Ecoboost engines used in Europe yield top speeds of near 155 mph while still providing 42 mpg. Even more economical, Econetic engines reach 116 mph while delivering more than 60 mpg, which is an incredible boon in the nearly $5/gallon 21st century.

Since its inception, the Focus has gone from boxy sedan to sleekly modern conveyance. Sporting 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, leather seats and a killer sound system, the modern Focus is fully loaded with both comfort and gadgets. In spirit, it’s much more Mustang and far less Escort. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a base Focus currently hovers around $15,000 with the fully electric model topping out around $35,000.

When he’s not putting in 90-hour work weeks and leading his Silver Spring car dealership to the top of the sales rankings, Alex Perdikis can usually be found analyzing his next shot on the links or pumping iron at the gym. Because most of his job these days occurs behind a desk, he believes in finding time to stay active. He devotes much time to being active with his wife and three daughters.

Perdikis has always had a love for golf even when he was tearing up the gridiron in high school and college. Even though he can’t devote enough time to the game to become a professional, he builds up a love for the game in Maryland with young people through The First Tee, an international organization dedicated to integrity, perseverance and respect.

The competitive drive Alex Perdikis has at his Koons of Silver Spring dealership is also what has fueled his love of football. He stood out from the crowd of other players from a young age and had the mental acuity to play linebacker. He continued that excellence in college until a serious back injury cost him his senior year. Knowing that playing at a high level could have serious, physical consequences, he gave it up in favor of raising a family and pursuing his other dream, which was succeeding in business. Despite this, he always catches games on the weekends and still enjoys a game of touch.

Because he has a history of running track throughout his school years, Perdikis has channeled his sports-related competitiveness into events of this type, such as triathlons. Staying in shape is a key component in his family’s lifestyle, and he even manages his daughter’s soccer team. In addition to these activities, Perdikis also enjoys tennis, which he played competitively when he was growing up in Maryland.

He also loves to play basketball and foster not only collective competitiveness but also interpersonal growth and skill development. In much the same way as he inspires his salespeople to achieve beyond the norm, Perdikis also inspires his teammates to play beyond their perceived level.

In both sports and business, Alex Perdikis never gives up the quest for success. Both he and his dealerships have earned awards from automobile manufacturers, business associations and similar organizations over the last 16 years. In fact, Koons of Tysons Corner exceeded $150 million of sales each year he was with them. The high-level customer service he both provided and demanded from his sales staff led the dealership to awards and recognition achieved by fewer than one percent of all General Motors dealerships.

Because he’s always looking for new ways to help others, Perdikis has also given generously of his time and money to nearly two dozen charities. Working to better the lives of people through organizations from the American Heart Association to the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County and the Washington Jesuit Academy, Perdikis gives back to his community.