John Davis, chief nameplate engineer for Ford's compact cars and utility vehicles, said it's all designed to improve the driving experience: from making the 550-mile trek down Highway 99 from Sacramento to San Diego to the daily 20-mile one-way trip to work - the distance some reports suggest the average American commutes.

ENGADGET: Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall

One insider described it as a way around the conflict-of-interest rules that force the mayor to keep a careful distance from the day-to-day management of the company.

FORBES: Bloomberg's New Conflict Of Interest?