Archive for Ford

Volvo and Ford are developing their own version of a dual clutch gearbox, following the footsteps of Porsche and Mitsubishi who are executing similiar plans. Mitsubishi’s upcoming successor to the Evolution line of rally turned tarmac monsters – the Evolution X, will feature a twin clutch automated gearbox, and Porsche has recently filed patents for their 7-speed dual clutch gearbox design.

If all goes through, we’ll see versions of the Ford Focus ST and high performance Volvo C30 hatches with 2.5 liter inline-5 turbocharged engines and dual clutch gearboxes. Click here for a video on DSG gearboxes, where a Volkswagen Golf GTI 6-speed manual goes against it’s DSG brother. DSG has worked so well for Volkswagen that they are going to phase out conventional torque converter automatics for a pure DSG automatic line-up across the range.

Related Posts:
Volkswagen DSG – Direct Shift Gearbox
Porsche patents dual clutch gearbox design
Volkswagen phases out automatics; makes way for DSG

While Nanjing Auto bought MG Rover back in July 2005, the forerunner to buy the Rover brand name from BMW was Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, who actually owns many of Rover’s design rights. SAIC was expected to buy the Rover brand name for US$21.7 million. It had plans to put the Rover 75 back into production in late 2007 or early 2008.

However, SAIC has to change it’s plans now, as Ford whom BMW has given first right of refusal over the Rover brand name has decided to execute it’s rights and buy the brand name from BMW – and it has no plans to resell it later. Ford feels it is essential to own the Rover brand name to protect the interests of it’s Land Rover brand, through which it gained it’s first right of refusal in the first place when it bought Land Rover from BMW in the year 2000.

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Ford plans to implement the capless fuel filler intakes it first introduced in the production Ford GT supercar on all it’s vehicles beginning with the 2008 Lincoln MKS, though details on exactly in how soon the change will be implemented across the model range are sketchy.

The image on the left shows the flap which covers the fuel tube, which opens under pressure from the gas pump nozzle. The “Capless Fuel Filler” flap, called Easyfuel, will fit snugly around the nozzle to prevent fumes from escaping while the car is being refilled.

Ford says this will solve the problem of drivers forgetting to replace the gas cap after refueling. These caps are often left at the petrol stations, on the boot, on the roof, or dangling from the cars as they drive away. Those left on the boot and roof usually fall off. I have actually made this mistake once in my life, 2 weeks after I got my driving license, LOL! Ford’s research have also shown that some drivers dislike touching their fuel cap and getting the smell of fuel on their hands. It would also remove the need to unscrew the fuel cap, which can be a pain for people suffering from arthritis.

Apple Computer has teamed up with Ford Motor Co, General Motors and Mazda Motor Corp to offer easy iPod integration with their cars. While some manufacturers have begun offering AUX input so you can plug in external MP3 players and feed music into the audio system, this is not a complete solution as you cannot control the iPod from car controls such as buttons on the steering wheel.

Optimally, a complete integration solution will allow you to browse tracks from an LCD screen and skip tracks from steering wheel buttons. Recently, our local boys Race Rally Research have jumped onto the iPod bandwagon by offering an iPod Nano 1GB integrated with the car audio system with their new limited edition Proton Waja MME and Proton GEN.2 MME.

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Ford Malaysia seems to be on an aggresive marketing campaign for the Ford Escape, perhaps in preparation to clear off it’s existing CBU stock for this. Ford has launched a new facelifted Ford Escape in Japan.

The Ford Escape’s current honeycomb mesh grille nose has been refreshed to the same chrome bar style of grille as the new Ford Ranger and Ford Everest, with a few other exterior design enhancements like new bumper, head lamp and tail lamp design. From some of these photos it seems you also get the obligatory signal lamp on wing mirror feature which every car manufacturer seems to be implementing these days, though if Ford Malaysia refreshes it I don’t know if we’ll get that level of trim.

Other than aesthetic enhancements, the 2.3 liter inline-4 in the Escape 2.3L VICS has also been equipped with variable valve timing, and the SUV’s overall NVH has been improved. More photos and two videos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Ford Escape Facelift launched in Japan

Ford is developing a small SUV based on the Ford Focus C-MAX to go heads on against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. The Ford Focus C-MAX based SUV will be a 5-seater like it’s competitors, and will feature an all-wheel drive system. Thankfully it looks like it will be a proper SUV, unlike soft-roaders like the Hyundai Getz Cross.

This artist’s impression reminds me of the Mazda CX-7, one of the sleekest crossover SUVs around in my opinion. And we all know the connection between Ford and Mazda.

This is the hottest Ford Focus hatchback soon to hit the streets in April 2006. The Ford Focus XR5 Turbo. It’s powered by a 2.5 liter Duratec 20-valve 5-cylinder engine. I highly suspect this powertrain comes from Volvo. The 2.5L Turbo Duratec makes 222 horsepower at 6000rpm and 320Nm of torque at a nice low 1600rpm on a 1362kg hatchback. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission which drives the front wheels. Can you say “torque steer”? Top speed is 241km/h and it will take you from 0 to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

A nice contender for the Volkswagen Golf GTI indeed.

Ford Motor Co just announced that from February 1st 2006 onwards, there will be no vehicles from makes other than those built by Ford or one of it’s subsidiaries allowed in it’s Ford Dearborn Tuck Plant in Michigan.

It’s not a company-wide policy, but only native to the Michigan plant. Opinions are split on the decision. On one hand, some hard-core corporate-patriotic employees are of the opinion that everyone’s in it together to turn Ford’s North American division profitable by 2008, and they should buy the products they make and support the company. On the other hand, some think Fords do not give you the best bang for your buck and since it’s a free country the employees should be free to drive whatever make they want.

Are Perodua vehicles or other makes allowed in the Proton headquarters parking lots?

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After a month-long road show, the Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia will be officially launched today at RM119,888 on the road without insurance.

Click here to read the rest of Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia Launched Today

I remember the previous Focus was launched back in 1999. It won a grand total of 78 automotive awards and was brought into Malaysia by Ford Malaysia in CBU form. I first saw the hot hatch outside my secondary school and it was serious drool material. Looked really good.

Click here to read the rest of Ford Malaysia to launch new Ford Focus