A Good Year at Ford

It’s been a good year for Ford. They did have to deal withsome recalls involving wheel bearing hub assemblies on some sedans and rustingfuel tanks containing fuel pump assemblies on trucks. However, like other autocompanies, Ford had a very strong year and will be giving out bonuses to theirworkers for the first time since the financial meltdown. Ford has gained steam thispast year selling more than 2 million cars for the first time since 2007, andthey show no signs of stopping with their completely remodeled 2013 lineup.

The Ford Escape, Fusion, Taurus and Focus will all show dramatic departures in styling from previous years in 2013. I’m really likingthe 2013 Ford Fusion whose front-end (to me) resembles that of an Aston Martin.The Fusion will come not only in a gasoline-powered model, but in electricplug-in and hybrid versions as well. The Ford Escape, which has kept its boxystyling since it was introduced over ten years ago, will now resemble more of across-over with its new curves and smoother lines.

What might be the coolest part of future Ford automobiles isthe technology that they will be equipped with. Ford’s MyFord Touch and SYNCsystem not only syncs all of your devices to the vehicle but takes it one stepfurther with voice-activated commands. You will now be able to tell your carwhat song to play, have it read you your text messages, and also reply to thosemessages through voice commands. New safety features include inflatable rearsafety belts and vehicle sensors used to monitor blinds spots and givecollision warnings. You can simply set a cruise control speed and the distanceyou want to maintain from the vehicle in front of you, and the car willautomatically slow down to avoid collisions. Other cool features includecap-less fuel tanks as well as the ability to control the color of dash and interior ambientlighting (blue, red, green, you name it!). Will 2012 be another great year forFord?

Ford Shelby Mustang

The Mustang that carried the Shelby name were truly amazing cars. The Shelby Mustangs were symbols of Detroit’s ability during the muscle years to build cars that were a cut above the ordinary. Today, everywhere Shelby Mustangs go, they stop traffic and turn heads. People who restore these cars know they’ve brought something very special back to life. This Mustang magic is what led Charles and Liz Lambert to become a two Mustang family: “The blue color catches peoples’ attention a little bit and then you can see them looking. When I come behind Liz in the Shelby you can see the jaw fall down. That’s the awesome part. Catch ‘em when this comes behind the blue one.”The Shelby Mustang is a fascinating chapter in what is already the best success story in muscle car history!

The option list included several power train combinations; the buyer could choose a 3 speed or four-speed manual transmission]] ($115.90 or $188.00 with six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engines, respectively) or the three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission ($179.80 or $189.60). The standard six-cylinder engine could be replaced with a 164 hp (122 kW) 260 in³ (4.2 L) for $116.00 or a 210 hp (157 kW) 289 in³ (4.7 L) V8. Boasting the V8 and four-speed manual, the Mustang Road & Track recorded a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 8.9 seconds, with the standing quarter mile in 17 seconds at 85 mph. Starting in June 1964, the new 271 hp (202 kW) "K-code" High Performance engine became available. At $442.60 (not counting the mandatory four-speed transmission you had to get on a K code engine) it was the single most expensive Mustang option, and only 7,273 of the 680,992 Mustangs sold in 1965 were equipped. With a skilled driver, K-code/4-speed equipped Mustangs could do 0-60 in around 6 seconds, and put down mid 14-second ¼ mile times with ease.


Other options included: limited-slip differential, styled wheels and wheel covers, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, center console, a vinyl top, various radios, a bench seat, and various other accessories. Disc brakes for the front wheels became optional later in 1965. The list would continue to grow through much of the Mustang's history, in which added trim packages like the Interior Decor Group (or "pony interior") and GT package (which included disc brakes, a handling package with stiffer springs, shock absorbers, stiffer front anti-roll bar, fast-ratio steering, and duel exhaust . Additional engine choices and convenience items are well known for the Mustang.

Also available during that two-year period was another homologation special for the up-and-coming sport of Trans-American sedan racing. The Boss 302 was Ford's attempt to mix the power of a muscle car with the handling prowess of a sports car. The automotive press gushed over the result, deeming it the car "the GT-350 should have been." Boasting a graphic scheme penned by Ford designer Larry Shinoda, the "Baby Boss" was powered by an engine that was essentially a combination of the new-for-1968 302 in³ (4.9 L) V8 and topped with cylinder heads from the yet to be released new-for-1970 351 in³ (5.8 L) "Cleveland". This combination meant that the Boss 302 was good for a conservatively rated 290 hp (216 kW) through its four-speed manual transmission. Ford originally intended to call the car Trans Am, but Pontiac had beaten them to it, applying the name to a special version of the Firebird. In the ¼ mile the Boss 302 could post very similar times to the Boss 429, oddly enough, despite the smaller displacement and an incredibly free-breathing induction system in the car. It should be noted that the blocks from these cars are incredibly strong, and Ford Racing plans on selling new Boss 302 blocks in the near future!!

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Photo Gallery

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Front Angle View

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Photos

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Side View

Ford Fiesta Hatchback 2012

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Interior

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback U.S. Spec

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Rear Angle View

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Images

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Steering Wheel

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Sporty Car

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Rear Side View

2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Pictures

Ford’s Sync 911 Assist feature, incorporated within its Sync connectivity system, works to automatically contact emergency services should the driver become involved in an accident. A new revision may make it even easier for first responders to quickly locate the vehicle.

As it had in the past, Sync 911 Assist ties into the Bluetooth phone connection incorporated with the Sync system. In the event of an airbag deployment or if the fuel pump shutoff is triggered, Sync 911 uses the phone’s service, automatically places an emergency call, and bypasses intermediary call centers to directly connect the driver to an emergency responder.

Previously, the 911 Assist feature used cell phone signal triangulation to provide emergency responders with the driver’s whereabouts. Ford has vastly improved the system to use the vehicle’s global positioning system (GPS) to provide precise coordinates of the vehicle’s location, helping reduce response time.

“Integrated GPS is a logical next step for 911 Assist, leveraging the GPS hardware that is now included with Sync,” said Gary Jablonski, manager of Ford’s infotainment product development team. “That’s the beauty of the Sync platform -- it can quickly adapt to and accommodate new technologies, features, and services that provide great value to customers without great additional costs.”

The improved Sync 911 Assist is only one of the many updated features available on most 2011 Ford vehicles. The updated 911 Assist feature is included free of charge on all vehicles equipped with MyFord and MyLincoln Touch (i.e. 2011 Ford Edge and Linlcoln MKX), and is available on most 2011 vehicles equipped with Sync. As was previously the case, the system will remain a complimentary service to all owners. Look for the revised system to be demonstrated at the National Emergency Number Association conference in Indianapolis June 5-10.

Source: Ford

Hybrid Haulers: Ford Announces C-Max Hybrids for European Market

Hybrid Haulers: Ford Announces C-Max Hybrids for European Market

Ford has been producing hybrid vehicles for North America since 2004, but the company hasn't offered one in Europe. This is set to change. Ford announced today it will build both hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of its new C-Max people mover.

“Our Valencia plant here in Spain will build these new C-Max five-seat hybrid models exclusively for European customers seeking a practical, efficient, and affordable environmental vehicle, while the export to North America of the new Grand C-Max petrol model in late 2011 opens a new era of production for the team at the plant,” said John Fleming, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe.

Ford is developing two different hybrid C-Max variants. One will function like the company's Escape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid models, but the plug-in hybrid -- a first for Ford -- may appeal to those living in crowded urban areas.

“The extra benefit of being able to  recharge your batteries at home or other parking locations means that PHEVs might better suit those customers who do the majority of their driving in the city and other urban environments where electric battery power is the preferred powertrain alternative,” Fleming said.

Source: Ford