Archive for Ford

Ford Motor Co has announced that it is considering selling its Volvo Cars marque, but a review of its current options would take several months to complete. Volvo itself is currently undergoing a restructuring plan under its new CEO Stephen Odell.

It was previously speculated that the Swedish government may be interested, but what about Volvo (the industrial group whose businesses include making Volvo trucks) themselves? Volvo sold Volvo Cars to Ford in 1999. But it seems that they’re not interested in revisiting the past. They’ve come out and said that they “absolutely do not want to buy Volvo Cars”, quoted verbatim from their chairman Finn Johnsson in a report from Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri.

However Volvo has stated they would gladly gladly finance joint projects such as sponsor projects or R&D projects, and could consider being part of various consortiums without actually being the main owner.

They’ve also publicly opposed calls for the Swedish government to take over Volvo because according to them, the government knows nothing about the car industry and Volvo needs a owner that has the ability to work on increasing sales and cooperate with suppliers on components and development.

Johnsson suggested Renault as a good potential owner.

Ford says this Ford Ranger Max concept truck that’s being exhibited at the 2008 Thailand International Motor Expo explores future design possibilities for the Ranger, and the underlying meaning could actually be to look forward to a facelifted Ford Ranger that looks like this, which is actually less truck-ish and more Hilux-ish.

Apparently the design theme here is a power tool, think power drills, saws, the whole works. These tools usually have little lettering to label each button and dial and so does this concept. Even the grab handle in the side of the sportsbar has the lettering GRAB on it. The side door is labelled AXCESS, and the fuel inlet is labeled FUEL.

The bed is covered by a remote-controlled powered tonneau cover to protect and hide your cargo. Those large wheels are 18 inchers and have a deep-dish design and are wrapped with 285/60R18 tyres.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery and a video of the concept.

Click here to read the rest of Ford Ranger Max Concept exhibited at the Thailand Motor Expo 2008

American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live did a satire skit on the Detroit 3 and their request for a federal bail-out which involved the heads of all three American auto companies on a panel - Rick Wagoner, Robert Nardelli and Allan Mulally.

I found it quite hilarious and I am sure those who are opposed to the Detroit 3 getting a federal bailout or simply anyone that enjoys a good laugh will enjoy this. At least the satirical fictional CEOs did not fly in their private jets to the satirical fictional hearing!

Anyway here’s a note: the video jokes about the U.S. congress asking for a 200 mpg car by 2015, but the number is actually 36 mpg, which is about 6.5 liters per 100km.

Watch the video after the jump.

Related Video:
VIDEO: What would happen if GM collapses?

Click here to read the rest of SNL satire sketch on Detroit 3 bail-out

The world has much to thank Ford about when it comes to the new Ford Mustang. It’s the car that started the whole “retro-futurism” muscle car trend that gave us beauties like the new Transformers Chevy Camaro and the new Dodge Challenger.

This is the revised fifth generation Mustang, facelifted for the 2010 model year, which will go on sale in early 2009. You can have it in either 4.0 liter V6 or 4.6 liter V8 engines, with the former being from the Cologne engine family featuring an iron block with an aluminium SOHC head, 2 valves per cylinder, and a redline of 6,100rpm. Peak output is 210 horsepower at 5,300rpm and peak torque is 325Nm at 3,500rpm.

The V8 from the Ford Modular family is where it gets just a little more “exciting”: variable valve timing, all-aluminium and 3 valves per cylinder good for 300 horses at 5,750rpm and 434Nm of torque at 4,500rpm up to a redline of 6,250rpm. Both engines can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The special limited edition Mustang Bullit will be continued with this facelift, with an additional 3,000 units planned to be added to the initial 7,700 unit number. This version features a slightly tuned up engine producing 315 horses and 440Nm of torque, and Ford also promises crisper throttle response and a higher redline of 6,500rpm.

The Mustang also gets a new glass-roof option priced at US$1,995 allowing you to enjoy the night sky without actually having to opt for the Convertible model.

Pay a visit to the photo gallery after the jump for high-res Mustang goodness.

Click here to read the rest of 2010 Ford Mustang: official details and photos

Another one of the big 3 is dumping their stocks in other car brands in order to stay afloat. This time it’s Ford will be reducing their 33.4% stake in Mazda to just slightly over 13%. Part of the stake will be bought back by Mazda and the rest by a group of Mazda’s business partners at a price of 184 yen per share. The “business partners” have not been named but some of them are rumoured to be Sumitomo, Itochu, Tokio Marine Holdings and Denso.

“The sale of Mazda shares by our partner, Ford, will not result in any change in Mazda’s strategic direction and we will continue to accelerate our product-led brand improvement and cost innovation initiatives. We will continue our strategic relationship through our ongoing joint ventures with Ford, as well as the sharing of platforms and powertrains,” says Mazda’s Chairman, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki.

What that means is that the Mazda 3 will continue to share platforms and engines with the Ford Focus, the Mazda 2 with the Fiesta, Duratec and MZR will be still be one and the same, and so on.

Hisakazu Imaki will cease to be the President and CEO, with the vacant posts to be taken up by Takashi Yamanouchi who previously held the post of Executive Vice President and Assistant to President in charge of corporate liaison, purchases, HR, admin, secretariat and auditing. David E. Friedman who is currently CFO will be replaced by Kiyoshi Ozaki.

There are also a few other Western names like Daniel Morris, David Stickel and Anthony Pastor who will step down as a result of the reduced Ford shareholding.

Related Posts:
Ford wants to sell Mazda to… Mazda?

This is probably arguably the most advanced C-segment car in Thailand, priced at just over the 1,000,000 Thai baht mark - the facelifted new Ford Focus TDCi with a 6-speed Powershift twin clutch transmission.

For a special launch price of 1,099,000 Thai bahts (approximately RM113,500), Thai customers will be able to enjoy a torquey and efficient 2.0 liter TDCi turbodiesel engine that produces 134 horsepower and 320Nm of torque at only 1,800rpm, with the ability to overboost to 340Nm briefly whenever the engine management decides its needed.

The 6-speed Powershift transmission out-cogs all of its competitiors, with the Civic having a 5-speed slush-box and the Altis having only a 4-speed auto.

It’s also more advanced, being a twin wet clutch transmission co-developed together with transmission company Getrag. It also has a slow creep function that helps with really slow traffic, parking maneuvers and those who just expect an auto to creep along slowly without you having to touch the accelerator pedal. Alot of twin clutch transmissions do not do this.

What else? It comes with 16 inch alloy wheels, a 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone automatic air conditioning, and those who have driven the pre-facelift Focus will also know that its quite a fun drive, thanks to its sharp chassis and Control Blade multi-link rear suspension. Safety features include ABS, ESP stability control, and airbags.

While its just fairly rapid at 9.6 seconds to 100km/h (the Civic 2.0 does it in 9.2 seconds), Ford claims a potential fuel economy of just 5.8 liters of diesel (B5 biodiesel capable) every 100km, which could definitely be achievable thanks to a large amount of torque kicking in so early and the 6-speed twin clutch shifting quick and having plenty of ratios to keep the engine in its most economical operating range.

Both the 4-door sedan and 5-door hatch have the same introductory pricing but the hatch has a few extra equipment over the sedan such as wider alloys (16×7 instead of 16×6.5), a sports suspension and blackened headlamp surrounds.

Them Thai folks are lucky to be getting this car. The Powershift transmission might make its way onto our local shores but It’s unlikely that Sime Darby Auto Connexxion will launch the diesel version here thanks to our low Malaysian diesel quality.

Watch a video promo of the facelifted new Ford Focus after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New Ford Focus TDCi with 6-speed twin clutch Powershift launched in Thailand

I just caught the latest installment in the James Bond universe - the Quantum of Solace over the weekend. I’m abit disappointed that the sexy Aston Martin DBS did not get much screentime other than an initial heated car chase scene.

Instead, Bond goes on to drive a few SUVs from the Ford group of marques, though the makers did try to “balance” them out with a fuel efficient small car.

Let’s have a look at the cars of the Quantum Solace.

Click here to read the rest of Cars used in the Bond movie Quantum of Solace

Ford has spiced up the Ford Focus Zetec for the UK market with a single alphabet suffix that means a few things, namely a full bodykit, 17 inch alloy wheels, aluminium-look foot pedals, and an S badge on the front cover. This new equipment level is called the Ford Focus Zetec S and is available for both 3-door and 5-door bodies.

The Zetec engine range (125 PS 1.8L, 145 PS 2.0L, 115 PS 1.8L TDCi, 136 PS 2.0L TDCi) is maintained, with the addition of the 115 PS 1.6 liter Ti-VCT engine. Ti-VCT stands for Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing, which uses variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves of the engine. It’s got a pretty punchy torque curve, as although peak torque of 155Nm is achieved at 4,200rpm, Ford claims that alot of that is already there from 2,000rpm onwards, though a percentage is not stated.

Each Zetec S model costs approximately £750 above the equivalent Zetec model, while Ford says the Zetec S accessories such as the bodykit and wheels would typically cost over £1,600 if purchased separately.

As usual, more images after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New Ford Focus Zetec S for the UK market

Ford Motor Co is in need of cash and is looking to selling some of its 33.4% stake in Mazda to raise some money, but does not want rival automakers to buy the shares, so what does it do? It approaches non-automotive manufacturer companies to see if they are interested in buying the stakes.

According to Reuters, here are a couple of companies that Ford has apparently approached so far - Denso, Tokio Marine Holdings, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings, Sompo Japan Insurance, Nipponkoa Insurance, Aioi Insurance, and trading houses Sumitomo and Itochu. Even Mazda has been approached to buy back some of its own shares from Ford.

Each company has been approached to buy about 1% of Mazda, which is valued at US$40 million. Ford wants to try to raise about US1 billion from this deal.

Source

Click for hi-res image

Ford is adding the 200 PS 2.5 liter turbocharged inline-5 engine from the Volvo T5 cars and the Ford Focus ST to its Ford Kuga SUV. The inline-5 engine producs 200 PS at 6,000rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1,600 to 4,000rpm, which can take the car to a top speed of 208km/h.

The new engine will be displayed at Paris 2008 in a special Ford Kuga Individual which demonstrates Ford’s new Individual styling program. It adds 20 inch wheels wrapped with 255/35ZR20 tyres, a new larger rear spoiler, new bumpers and skirts which extend lower by approximately 50mm for a lower look, body-coloured wheel arches, and the rear twin exhaust pipes integrate nicely into the rear bumper styling.

The Kuga also retains its Haldex generation 4 intelligent all-wheel drive and is mated to a 6-speed manual as standard, though a 5-speed Durashift 5-Tronic automatic sourced from Aisin is available as an option.

A hi-res gallery is available after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Ford Kuga gets 200 PS 2.5L inline-5 engine