Earlier today Motor Trend Magazine named the 2010 Ford Fusion as their pick for Car of the Year award. According to Jonathon Richards, Fusion Marketing Manager, the Fusion bested a field of 23 contenders — including the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, BMW-7 series and Mercedes-Benz E Class

Click on each of these links!

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/111709_cut1.mp3


It's huge recognition that the team has improved the vehicles from last year to this year, brought out a world class Hybrid with fuel economy that really can't be beat in the industry at least the mid-size segment, I think it's being recognized by consumers who are buying our products in greater numbers than they were last year." :18 sec.
Sales of the new Fusion Hybrid are strong, accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. And more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda – according to information from Product Information Network, a division of J.D. Power and Associates. Fusion is now among America's Top 10 selling vehicles and the No. 1 selling domestic car, Richards says this award will help to perpetuate that sales momentum.

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/111709_cut2.mp3
Sales are significantly up last year to this year and we expect this award to have a big impact on how consumers view the Ford Fusion. One thing we do know about consumers buying the Ford Fusion is that they look to third party independent verification of their intended purchase and Motor Trend would certainly do that." :19 sec

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/111709_cut3.mp3
Well, I think it boils down to a couple of things… this is Motor Trend, and Motor Trend likes cars that drive really, really well, and in the mid-size segment that's the Camrys, the Accords, the Altimas the Ford Fusion there is really no car that handles as well as a Ford Fusion does. It looks great, it handles great, it gets unbelievably good fuel economy it's the most fuel efficient mid-size sedan in America." :14 sec.
Ford Fusion is America's most fuel efficient mid-size sedan for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models. The Fusion Hybrid with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, tops the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway while the four-cylinder Fusion with best-in-class highway fuel economy at 34 mpg, tops the Toyota Camry four-cylinder by 2 mpg. According to Richards, car buyers are so passionate about Fusion that they are choosing to buy the high series models – Hybrids, SEL and Sport


http://media.ford.com/images/10031/111709_cut4.mp3
With the breadth of product of Fusions that you have… from four-cylinder, to six-cylinder, to Fusion Sport and Fusion Hybrid, there really is no reason for a mid-size sedan, mid-size segment customer to shop anything other than the Ford Fusion." :15 sec.
Sales data indicates that high series models account for 50-percent of sales with customers also embracing technology offerings like voice-activated navigation, SYNC and Sony Audio.

Posted Today 05:07 AM by staff


Car engines boosting engine sales are not new. Mention a HEMI among enthusiasts and you'll see checkbooks.




Well, many analysts believe the EcoBoost engine as one of the major reasons for the resurgence of Ford Motor Co. Demand for the engine has exploded and has helped to increase vehicle sales, attract new customers, and raise the average transaction prices by thousands of dollars. In fact, the number of buyers who opted for the EcoBoost engine option exceeded even Ford’s expectations.

The first 3.5 liter, V-6 EcoBoost engine appeared in the summer of this year as part of the Lincoln MKS sedan. Since then the engine now powers the Ford Flex, the Taurus SHO and the Lincoln MKT crossover. Analysis of sales figures show that more than 30 percent of Lincoln MKS buyers; more than 40 percent of MKT buyers; and 20 percent of Ford Taurus buyers chose the EcoBoost option. The company originally expected that 25 percent of buyers would opt for the EcoBoost option on the MKS; 25 percent for the MKT; and 10 percent for Taurus.

The sale of the EcoBoost engine also means more revenue for each car sold. Customers who decide to take the EcoBoost engine with their cars are paying an additional $5,000 to $10,000 for the vehicle. This accounts for Ford’s net pricing gain for the year of $3.8 billion.

Now comes word that Ford is rushing to get the V-6 EcoBoost into new models including the F-150 pickup in the U.S. and the Falcon sedan in Australia. In addition, the company has plans to release 4-cylinder EcoBoost engines in models in the U.S. and Europe. And there are reports that Ford will be offering a 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine that could be used in the Ford Focus and Fiesta.

What makes the EcoBoost engine so unique is that it combines turbocharging and direct fuel injection. The technology results in more horsepower and torque from a smaller engine. Ford has said that the 6-cylinder engine performs like an 8 cylinder engine and gets better fuel economy.


German car makers had developed the technology for performance, but it is Ford who is the first to use it for both performance and fuel economy, and has filed about 125 patents on the technology.

Our take? Pundits are wondering if Ford can sustain the success. Why not, especially with 4-cylinder and even 3-cylinder EcoBoost engines coming soon. Moreover, the company plans to have 90 percent of its American models and 80 percent of its global models carrying the EcoBoost by 2013.

Automotive News
November 17, 2009 - 2:01 pm ET



DETROIT (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co.'s Fusion mid-size sedan today was named Motor Trend magazine's 2010 "car of the year," adding to the perception that changes to the No. 2 U.S. automaker's vehicle lineup are gaining traction.


The Fusion was chosen best of 23 new or significantly upgraded vehicles that were eligible for the award after a week of testing, Motor Trend said.

The magazine said the full range of Fusion models was impressive to the judges, from the four-cylinder entry level vehicles to the all-wheel drive sport and hybrid versions.

The Fusion, which has become one of the top 10 selling vehicles in the United States and was redesigned for 2010, exceeded its previous annual sales peak earlier in November. The car was launched initially by Ford in 2006.

Ford posted a nearly $1 billion third-quarter profit that surprised Wall Street analysts this month and is the only large U.S. automaker not to reorganize in bankruptcy with U.S. government support in 2009.

U.S. 2009 sales of the Fusion were up 15 percent through October at 148,045 but trail Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry and Honda Motor Co.'s Accord in the mid-size sedan segment, one of the key areas in the U.S. market.

Ford's sales of the Fusion surpassed the previous full year sales record of 149,552 vehicles earlier in November. That record was set in 2007.

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Nov 16th 2009 at 12:39PM


Ford C-Max –

While the first-generation Ford Focus certainly had its faults, it was also ahead of its time, with engaging driving dynamics and a ton of different variations. You could get a Focus sedan, a three- or five-door hatch and even a wagon. For a few years there was even a high-revving SVT Focus (those were the days). While the current Focus is relegated to only sedan and coupe variants, the 2011 Focus will reportedly have a lot more options from which to choose.

Car and Driver recently sat down with Ford marketing chief Jim Farley, and when the subject of the Blue Oval's long awaited next-gen global Focus came up, Black Sheep's first cousin came up with the number 10. That's 10 as in the number of Focus variants we might expect here in the U.S. While Farley didn't go too far into which Focus variants will be available here, the list isn't difficult to guess.

One vehicle that we know has been given the green light for sale here in the U.S. is the Focus C-Max and Grand C-Max minivan, which will come in five- and seven-seat variations. Then there's the sedan and coupe, three- and five-door hatch, the promised Electric Focus, the Kuga crossover and possibly Lincoln and Mercury versions that will utilize Ford's global C-Segment platform. The next couple of years will be pretty interesting for Ford as it finally gets serious about small cars here in the U.S. With 10 Focus-based vehicles and an excellent new Fiesta, customers will finally have some solid small car choices from which to choose. The new Focus we've all been waiting for should make its global debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January, so stay tuned.

•Current owners of early-launched 2010 vehicles equipped with Ford SYNC now can visit www.syncmyride.com and download and install the latest application – Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) – at home for no additional cost
•SYNC TDI connects a customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to Ford’s Service Delivery Network voice portal delivering turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic, business searches and favorite news, sports and weather – all through simple voice commands
•Eligible customers can download this latest SYNC application similar to the way they would download a song from an online media store such as Apple’s iTunes
•TDI will be available on all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with SYNC, including the all-new Ford Taurus, which arrives in dealerships this summer
•SYNC, when available as an option, retains its retail price of $395, and includes a GPS receiver new for the 2010 model year; TDI services come with no monthly subscription fees for the first three years of vehicle ownership

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CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:

Consumers continue to be fascinated with upgradeable, take-it-with-you technology. It started with Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs), which showed incredible promise due to their affordability and convenience. But then came the PC-like Smartphone, which bundled cell phone, Internet, navigation and other must-have data services, and consumers fell in love all over again.

But despite their affordability, popularity of PNDs is decreasing. According to iSuppli Corporation, a market research and consulting firm specializing in electronic value chains, PND’s share of device shipments will decline to 30 percent by 2011 from about 50 percent in 2007.

Meanwhile, navigation-enabled mobile devices such as Smartphones will grow to account for 36 percent of total navigation system shipments by 2011. But even Smartphones don’t offer customers in-vehicle integration and control of navigation capabilities. That’s where Ford steps in.

The latest Ford SYNC application, Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI), ties together the advantages of both technologies, brings in even more options, and offers it in an affordable, widely available package. SYNC TDI leverages a customer’s existing mobile phone; includes an integrated GPS receiver to connect customers to real-time turn-by-turn driving directions, traffic reports and business searches; offers extra features and applications such as favorite news, sports and weather; and provides seamless voice-control of all these functions while in the vehicle – at no subscription cost for the first three years of vehicle ownership.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DETAILS:

Current owners of early-launched 2010 Ford Mustang, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ, and Mercury Milan and Milan Hybrid vehicles equipped with Ford SYNC® now can visit www.syncmyride.com and download the latest application – Traffic, Directions and Information – at no cost.

Eligible vehicles must be equipped with SYNC, but not equipped with Ford’s voice-activated navigation system. These vehicles are outfitted with the supporting GPS receiver needed to run SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information.

The SYNC application is an industry standout, where most add-on applications or services for consumer electronics, such as iPhones, have a fee attached.

Easy Downloading
Eligible vehicle owners can download the free software from www.syncmyride.com to a USB drive and then upload the application to their vehicle via the SYNC system’s USB port in their car. Customers also can have the application installed at their local Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership.

The online download can be found in the Update & Customize section on www.syncmyride.com and is simple to complete, just like grabbing a online song for your digital music player. Once the software is downloaded to the USB drive, in-car installation takes about 10 minutes. The vehicle must be running to begin, and users will receive two completion messages – one approximately 60 seconds into the process and another 5-10 minutes later – for proper installation.

Once the upload is complete, customers must reinsert their USB drive back into their computer to report successful installation on www.syncmyride.com, and then log back into their SYNC account to activate the application.

A Voice Command Away
Ford has partnered with Microsoft and other recognized companies – INRIX, TeleNav, TellMe, M/A-COM and Airbiquity – to enable the new Traffic, Directions and Information voice-activated services to seamlessly connect to real-time data via a customer’s Bluetooth-enabled phone – no integrated touch-screen navigation system or unsightly suction-cupped PND required.

The simple voice command, “Services” gets the driver started, with the MicroSoft TellMe voice portal interpreting this request and ready to route it to the appropriate network partner.

Users who say “Traffic,” for example, literally can receive personalized traffic reports based on best-in-class content from INRIX, a company that gathers real-time speeds, directions and locations from nearly 1 million commercial trucks and cars driving America’s roadways.

In a text message sent to the user’s phone and broadcast over the vehicle’s audio system in real-time, drivers get the location and severity of accidents or new road construction causing areas of heavy congestion.

Drivers requesting directions can use a variety of search criteria including a 14-million-plus business directory to find their destination, be it a favorite coffee shop or the location of a business meeting. Drivers can say “Search near me” or the name of the business and then say “Connect me,” “directions” or “text me the info.”

If a user answers “directions,” a turn-by-turn route is downloaded from partner Telenav and is spoken to the user over the vehicle’s audio system and displayed on the central information display near the radio. All directions incorporate real-time traffic information therefore always providing the best route to the driver.

With this new SYNC application, drivers can also personalize and categorize their favorite media topics, such as sports, weather and news using voice commands or through www.syncmyride.com. Users, for example, can personalize:

•Sports reports featuring scores and highlights for any professional or college team
•Current weather conditions and forecasts based on city, state or zip code
•News of all types – entertainment, business, top stories and technology
The new capabilities are in addition to SYNC applications that 2010 vehicle owners already have been enjoying including hands-free, voice-activated cell phone and digital media player integration as well as the security and convenience applications 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report.

Service Delivery Network
SYNC TDI is built on the Ford Service Delivery Network, a plug-and-play architecture that gives customers the ability to use a mobile device they are comfortable with – in this case a simple Bluetooth-enabled cell phone – to access best-in-class offerings from the mobile electronics industry.

This network also gives Ford the power to mirror successful online digital stores, delivering value-add SYNC applications and updates through friendly and familiar software delivery methods – something no other automaker can claim.

More importantly, the network makes these applications and services available to a wider range of customers and products. Customers that purchase more entry-level vehicles like the Ford Focus, where a navigation systems is not an available option, can now enjoy integrated capabilities such as turn-by-turn navigation through the affordable SYNC system.

The concept of building a flexible, upgradeable service delivery network that takes the latest and greatest from the electronics world and appropriately applies it to the car has made SYNC a technological differentiator for Ford – and a market success. There are now 1 million SYNC-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles on the road.

The upcoming full launch of SYNC TDI on nearly all 2010 model year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will build on that momentum, with internal studies showing that roughly 1 in 5 non-Ford owners saying they would be much more likely to consider a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury product because of the breadth of features offered with this latest SYNC application.

And Ford’s aggressive plan to further expand SYNC’s capabilities, as well as the way drivers interface with their vehicles, will continue to parallel the fast-paced world of consumer electronics.


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QUOTES:

“SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information is a ‘killer app’ that demonstrates the plug-and-play capability of the Ford Service Delivery Network. We can continue to give customers continuous access to the best-of-breed services without having to touch the vehicle or inconvenience the owner – and we can do it economically, helping us fulfill our vision of making connectivity affordable for millions.”

– Doug VanDagens,
Director/Ford Connected Service Solutions



“Working with our partners, we are replicating the electronics industry’s speed to market with groundbreaking technologies, while creating a truly rich driving environment where there is no compromise – where everything you expect will be at your fingertips or voice command, integrated into your drive with minimal distraction.”

– Jim Buczkowski,
Director/Ford Electronics Systems Engineering

###

.
Active Park Assist
•Ford Motor Company has won a 2009 “Best of What’s New” award for Active Park Assist, which uses ultrasonic-based sensors to help drivers parallel park with the touch of a button
•Active Park Assist is another example of Ford’s continuing commitment to deliver industry-leading solutions that enhance the driver experience and provide value to the consumer
•This is the third straight year that Ford Motor Company has been recognized with a Best
of What’s New award: Active Park Assist (2009); EcoBoost™ engine technology (2008);
Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel-Filler System (2008); Ford SYNC® (2007)
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 12, 2009 – Ford Motor Company won a 2009 “Best of What’s New” award today from Popular Science, making this the third straight year Ford has been honored by the world’s leading science and technology magazine. Ford’s Active Park Assist technology won in the automotive category and will be featured in the publication’s December issue.

“We are honored to be recognized by Popular Science with a Best of What’s New award,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “Active Park Assist is just one example of the smart technology features Ford is bringing to market not just for the sake of technology, but to meet the needs and wants of customers.”

Active Park Assist uses sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle to guide the vehicle into a parking space. The technology is a major leap forward in speed and ease of use compared with camera-reliant systems. The Ford system requires less driver interface and reduces the risk of selecting a parking spot that is too tight. Unlike competing systems, Active Park Assist also works in downhill parking situations, and is available as an optional feature on several 2010 models including Ford Escape, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT and Mercury Mariner.

“For 22 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us – those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future,” said Mark Jannot, editor-in-chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What’s New award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners represent the highest level of achievement in their fields.”

How Active Park Assist works:

•The driver activates the system by pressing an instrument panel button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space.
•The system then prompts the driver to accept its assistance to park.
•The steering system then takes over and steers the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and brake pedals.
•A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and people and provides instructions.
•While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel.

by Chris Paukert (RSS feed) on Nov 13th 2009 at 11:40AM



In a surprise move, Ford has announced that it will pursue the development of an all-new Police Interceptor model. The move comes on the heels of General Motors' announcement that it plans to challenge the Crown Victoria's law enforcement dominance with its own heavy-duty Chevrolet Caprice sedan.

Details are slim, but Ford says the forthcoming PI will arrive in 2011 and it will sport durability, safety, and performance parameters that are superior to that of the Jurassic Panther-platform Crown Vic. Given the relatively tight timeframe and durability targets, we have to assume that the replacement cop car could be based on the rear-drive Australian-market Ford Falcon shown above. The Blue Oval promises that the car will be engineered and built in America, so it could also be an Ecoboost version of the Ford Taurus (as seen in the SHO), but front-drive cars have had trouble meeting the durability and cost requirements of police duty in the past, making this something of an open question. In an official release posted after the jump, Ford says it will disclose full vehicle specs in the first quarter of 2010, which should give enough time for both law enforcement and police vehicle equipment manufacturers to prepare for the changeover.

Ford says it presently shifts about 45,000 of the 60,000 police cars sold in the States each year, so it makes sense that Dearborn would not be willing to cede this market to Chevy's Caprice and the already established Dodge Charger.

[Source: Ford]


PRESS RELEASE:

FORD ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF ALL-NEW POLICE INTERCEPTOR FOR LAW ENFORCMENT USE NATIONWIDE

* Ford confirms development plans of an all-new Ford Police Interceptor and affirms continued commitment to the police and municipal vehicle businesses
* New Police Interceptor's durability, safety and performance will exceed the existing Crown Victoria's law enforcement vehicle lineup
* Ford is the market leader in the law enforcement vehicle segment, selling 45,000 of the 60,000 police vehicles sold in each year in the U.S.

Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 13, 2009 – Ford Motor Company announced today it will produce an all-new purpose-built Police Interceptor specially designed and engineered to replace the Ford Crown Victoria law enforcement vehicle lineup in 2011.

The new Ford Police Interceptor is being developed in conjunction with Ford's Police Advisory Board, which provided input during the past 14 months on key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort. The new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011.

"We have heard the repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support of the law enforcement community," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Ford is answering the call with the new Police Interceptor – engineered and built in America."
Ford – which currently controls approximately 75 percent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S. – has invested significantly in designing the purpose-built new police and municipal vehicles to meet the needs of these crucial customers.

The new Police Interceptor is designed to provide municipalities with reduced ownership costs through improved fuel efficiency, quality and the kind of durability police departments nationwide have come to expect from Ford.

"Ford's commitment to the law enforcement community produced the Crown Victoria, the benchmark police vehicle," said Lt. Brian Moran, fleet manager, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and a member of Ford's Police Advisory Board. "This commitment has continued, and Ford has been working closely with the Police Advisory Board on developing the new Police Interceptor. I am confident that the next-generation Ford police vehicle will meet the future needs of the law enforcement community and will set the new standard."

Ford plans to reveal the new model and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010 – in time for law enforcement agencies, police equipment manufacturers and upfitters to develop a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product.

Each year, Ford sells approximately 45,000 police vehicles, making the Blue Oval the nation's largest provider of police and municipal vehicles.

"Ford long has supported our public servants with vehicles that work as hard as they do," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. "We intend to build on this legacy with a new generation of municipal and police vehicles that set even higher standards."

by Jonny Lieberman on Nov 13th, 2009 at 7:58PM


2010 Shelby GT500

Here's one we've been hearing rumors about for quite a while – an EcoBoosted V8 Mustang. Put another way, a twin-turbo, direct-injected, V8 Shelby GT500. The first rumor we heard was about a twin-turbo 50th Anniversary Edition 2014 1/2 Mustang, which would be the very definition of the word "Sweet!" We asked about this mythical car point blank to several fairly high-ranking Ford execs, only to be stared back at in silence. Although one dude – who shall remain nameless – did crack a knowing smile and asked, "Who told you that?"

Regardless of our shoddy scooping, The Detroit Bureau's Paul Eisenstein is now claiming that according to several unnamed sources, Ford is considering such a beast of an engine. Good idea? We think so. Not that there's much wrong with the GT500's current supercharged 5.4-liter monster, especially as it's pretty underrated at 540 hp. But it is a little long in the tooth being essentially a ten-year-old Ford GT power plant with a couple of changes. Not that current GT500 owners care, but at full clip, the Shelby gets... how to put this kindly... abso-fricking-lutely abysmal mileage.

We also know that while the current Taurus SHO's EcoBoost V6 makes an impressive 365 ponies, 600 horsepower is there for the asking (a little tuning, sure, but the engine can do it). With that in mind, can you even imagine the levels of sound and fury a twin-turbo V8 could unleash? Eisenstein doesn't mention it, but Ford wouldn't be slapping turbos on the old 5.4-liter or the older 4.6-liter modular engine. The EcoBoosting would be applied to the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8. When General Motors introduced LS3 V8 a few years back, it was noted by many that the intake manifold looked suspiciously like it was designed with forced induction in mind. We've heard similar rumors about the Coyote.

11/09/2009, 10:10 AMBy Drew Johnson
Less than a month ago, we were the first ones to bring you exterior pictures of a 2011 Ford Explorer prototype — not just some cobbled up mule wear Taurus X and Flex body panels. Now we have the very first look at the next Explorer’s interior and engine compartment!


Inside we can see a steering wheel with several buttons that looks to be quite similar to the steering wheel in the Ford Fiesta. On the center stack there is number pad that looks to be for phone use, various HVAC and audio controls and a large, multi-directional button in the middle that we assume navigates most of the menus on the vehicle’s display. It should also be noted that several of the plastic surfaces you see do not have their final grainings applied. Expect three rows of seats, with the third row being jump seats.

The surprise under the hood is the lack of turbos! While we were expecting to see a 3.5L Ecoboost motor, what we see here is the regular 3.5L V6. After some further checking around, the two powertrains we now have confirmed for the Explorer are the 2.0L 4-cylinder Ecoboost and the regular, non-turbocharged 3.5L V6. While the twin-turbo, Ecoboost V6 could still find its way into the Explorer sometime after launch, it may only be part of police of package.


Code-named “U502,” this all-new Ford Explorer is in for a big change. While Ford’s iconic SUV has always ridden on a body-on-frame chassis, the 2011 model will switch to the D4 unibody platform. Ford’s D4 platform, a moderately updated version of the D3, currently underpins the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT. Ford is hoping for a significant weight drop, and in turn, 20-25% better fuel mileage, by switching the Explorer to a unibody setup.

Under the camouflage, we can see a typical Ford 3-bar grille. You also get a look at an impressive pair of projector headlights and trick set of LED taillights.

One thing you should not expect with this new Explorer is a Mercury or Lincoln variant. We’ve also learned there will be no Sport Trac model.

Watch for production to start in the second half of 2010 at Chicago’s Torrence Avenue assembly plant.

by Sam Abuelsamid n Nov 13th 2009 at 9:33AM



For years, Microsoft founder and former CEO Bill Gates was the keynoter at the Consumer Electronics Show. When Microsoft first announced its intention to create software for cars nearly a decade ago, most people that had suffered through the indignities of the blue screen of death recoiled in horror. The idea of having to close all of our car windows and re-booting our cars became a running joke. While Microsoft's automotive in-roads probably didn't get as far as the company hoped, it does have one prominent application: Sync, one of the most popular options in Ford vehicles in recent years.

With Gates' retirement, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly will be taking on the big keynote in Vegas next January and the Consumer Electronics Association (CES) will honor the automaker for its efforts in developing Sync and the Work Solutions package for its trucks. Ford has continued to expand the functionality of Sync recently adding traffic, directions and general information, as well integrating with Bluetooth phones to automatically call 911 in an emergency. The show organizers have also named the new Taurus as the official car of the 2010 show. Why? We're not entirely certain.

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2009 at 5:29PM


2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid -
There was a time when Ford vehicles absolutely dominated the list of the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. The F-Series was always number one, followed by stalwarts like the Taurus, Explorer, Ranger and even the Focus (or Escort before that). 2001 was a long time ago, though, and the past eight years haven't exactly been stellar for the Blue Oval. The tide may be changing for 2009, though, as the Dearborn, MI-based automaker has seen its market share rise steadily in a down auto market.

Ford's biggest success may be the 2010 Fusion, as the sharply redesigned sedan now delivers best-in-class fuel economy, an impressive hybrid option, a Sport model and all the features and amenities necessary to compete against the best vehicles in the segment. Customers have taken notice of the new Fusion, and Ford's payoff is that Fusion sales are the best they've ever been. In fact, Ford has already eclipsed the model's all-time best sales year of 2007 by nearly 2,000 units. The Fusion is selling so well in this dismal car market that it has now made its way into the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. Ford can also take pride in the fact that the Fusion is the best-selling domestic car (not including trucks) in the U.S.

While the Fusion has finally hit its stride after five years on the market, Ford's mid-size sedan has a long way to go before catching the Japanese bogeys. The Toyota Camry has nearly doubled the Fusion's year-to-date sales of 151,000 units, and the Honda Accord isn't too far behind. Even the Nissan Altima is ahead of the Fusion by nearly 18,000 units.

While the Fusion still has a ways to go before it can look down upon the likes of Camry and Accord, we're thinking cracking the Top 10 is still worth a Dos Equis or two. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, which is rightfully chock full of bragging.

By Herb Shuldiner
WardsAuto.com, Nov 6, 2009 8:59 AM
ROCKLEIGH, NJ – On a small test course adjacent to its headquarters here, Volvo Cars of North America LLC demonstrates its new pedestrian-protection technology with full autonomous braking.

The new system, which is engineered to automatically stop cars from hitting pedestrians at speeds of up to 16 mph (25 km/h), will be introduced in the ʼ11 Volvo S60 sedan that goes on sale in September.


The system consists of a camera behind the rearview mirror and a radar unit installed behind the front grille of the car. Camera optics are similar to the human eye.

”If you can see it, the camera can see it,” says Adam Kopstein, manager, automotive safety and compliance for VCNA. The camera detects objects 164 ft. (50 m) ahead of the vehicle and has a 45-degree field of view.

The radar has a 60-degree field of view and can “see” 500-650 ft. (150-200 m) down the road.

Both the camera and radar are always on when the S60 is moving. Volvo engineers worked for a decade with Delphi Corp. to create the system. Algorithms were devised to recognize human head, neck, legs and shoulders of all sizes and shapes.

In a test drive, the system works as advertised – ultimately. That's because it's difficult to restrain reflexive braking when approaching an obstacle – even a dummy – in the road ahead.


Volvo’s pedestrian safety system.
The new pedestrian safety system stops the vehicle without the driver stepping on the brake. In the test at 16 mph, full braking force is applied to stop the vehicle about 4 ft. (1.2 m) in front of the dummy.

Kopstein says that the new system will reduce speed by 16 mph, regardless of how fast the vehicle is traveling. But it will only fully stop the vehicle from 2 to 16 mph.

The pedestrian-detection system differs from Volvo's City Safety System that's available only in the XC60 model at this time. City Safety applies 50% of braking force to prevent frontal collisions with another vehicle. It is not capable of recognizing and stopping for pedestrians.

Volvo says there shouldn’t be concerns about potentially adverse effects from the radiation emitted by the radar unit in the pedestrian system.

"The emitted power from the radar is significantly below the legal thresholds of any region of the world,” says Thomas Brobeg of the Volvo Safety Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. “Vehicle and pedestrian detection in the 76 GHz band requires only little radio power output.

“The radar that is used for pedestrian detection in the coming S60 puts out significantly less power than a standard Bluetooth headset. A hundred Volvo S60s with pedestrian detection will emit less radio power than one cell phone.”



The pedestrian safety system brings Volvo a step closer to its announced goal of preventing auto fatalities completely in any Volvo by 2020.

Kopstein says 4,700 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. by motor vehicles in 2007, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. data.

In many urban areas, pedestrian fatalities occur in collisions with vehicles traveling at relatively slow speeds, the auto maker says.

Posted by Mike Levine
A radical twin-fuel engine from Ford, code-named “Bobcat,” that variably blends gasoline and ethanol on demand to realize diesel-like performance continues to make steady progress in its development, according to presentations made by the automaker to the Department of Energy and Society of Automotive Engineers in April. The presentations also provide a first look at the engine’s architecture and make some remarkable claims about “E85-optimized” engine efficiency versus size.

The Bobcat engine starts with a small turbocharged engine with separate gasoline and ethanol (E85) fuel injectors for each cylinder. The gasoline system mixes fuel and air in the motor's intake manifold using port injection. The second system uses direct injection to introduce small amounts of ethanol directly into the combustion chamber to control premature detonation, or knock, which results from the high temperature and pressure of a turbocharged engine. The ethanol prevents knock by cooling the air/fuel mixture until the engine is ready for combustion. With knock suppressed, the compression ratio can be increased.

Ford’s engineering partner, Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC of Cambridge, Mass., has trademarked the term “DI Octane Boost” to describe the process; the direct injection of ethanol effectively increases the octane of regular gasoline from 88-91 octane to more than 150 octane.

The percentage mix of gasoline and ethanol varies according to load. In low- to medium-load conditions, only port-injected gasoline may be required. Direct-injected ethanol is added and increased as a function of load but only in the amount necessary to prevent knock. Using such technology, a 5.0-liter V-8 Bobcat engine could potentially produce 500 horsepower and 750 pounds-feet or more of torque.

Two 3-D computer-rendered diagrams included in Ford’s DOE presentation show the front and rear views of such an engine using a 90-degree V-block design. Two massive air/water heat exchangers sit atop the engine to cool turbocharged air before it enters the throttle body and intake manifold. Twin turbos sit on the lower right and left sides.

A separate engine cutaway diagram of a Bobcat motor shows the positioning of a gasoline port injector and ethanol direct injector. The gasoline and ethanol would be stored in two separate fuel tanks.



EBS claims that relative to today’s common port fuel injected gasoline engines in cars and light-duty trucks, direct-injection ethanol boosting would provide a fuel efficiency gain for typical combined city/highway driving of 25 to 30 percent, at an incremental cost of $1,100 to $1,500, depending on the size of the vehicle. The efficiency gain and torque are comparable to current turbodiesel engines, like Ford’s 350-hp/650 lbs.-ft. 6.4-liter Power Stroke, but at about a third of the cost and with the advantage of cleaner emissions without expensive exhaust aftertreatment hardware.

Ethanol boosting also promises 5 to 10 percent greater fuel economy than Ford’s new line of gasoline-turbocharged direct-injection EcoBoost engines, which it’s based on. Ford’s DOE presentation says, “The E85 optimized engine and the dual fuel concept are logical extensions of Ford’s ‘EcoBoost’ strategy.”

Another way to measure efficiency, regardless of engine architecture, is through a metric called Brake Mean Effective Pressure. BMEP quantifies the amount of work an engine can do versus its displacement by measuring the average pressure exerted on an engine’s pistons. The more efficient an engine is, the higher its BMEP score.

According to Ford’s SAE presentation, an experimental 3.5-liter GTDI EcoBoost engine modified with E85 direct injection and gasoline port fuel injection run on a dynamometer achieved a BMEP score of 305 psi (27 bar), which translates to approximately 553 pounds-feet of torque and 316-hp at 3,000 rpm (flat torque curve from 1,500 to 3,000 rpm). The experimental engine was limited by the engine block’s ability to handle higher compression ratios. In comparison, a standard GTDI EcoBoost engine on a dyno was rated at 17 bar, which translates to approximately 350 pounds-feet of torque and 300-hp at 4,500 rpm (flat torque curve from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm).

As we mentioned earlier, ethanol use increases with engine load. A potential drawback to the Bobcat engine would be access to an ethanol refueling infrastructure, especially when a truck is working hard pulling a trailer or climbing hills.

Ford’s SAE presentation provides several range estimates for refueling a 5.0-liter Bobcat V-8 with a 10 gallon E85 tank and 26 gallon gas tank compared to a current Ford F-150 with a 5.4-liter V-8 and 26 gallon gas tank. Under mild driving conditions, the 5.0-liter E85 tank might have to be refilled only once every 20,000 miles and the gas tank refilled every 528 miles. Today’s 5.4-liter V-8 is said to have a 486 mile range under these conditions. However, an extreme towing scenario with the 5.0-liter V-8 pulling a fully-loaded trailer up a constant 6 percent grade could mean refilling the E85 tank as often as every 100 miles. That would be more often than the gas tank, which has an expected range of 243 miles under those conditions. Today’s 5.4-liter V-8 is said to have a 99 mile range under these conditions.

If the ethanol tank did run dry, the Bobcat engine could operate indefinitely with lower performance using only gasoline until a source of E85 could be found.

Under most operating conditions, however, Ford’s Bobcat engine could be the right powertrain at the right time to meet newly mandated corporate average fuel economy requirements that require fuel efficiency standard for all light trucks (crossovers, pickup trucks, SUVs and vans) to rise to 30 mpg by 2016, from 23.1 mpg today.

Will it work in the real world? Ford will try out its theories outside of computer simulations and the laboratory before the end of the year when a Bobcat engine is tested in an F-Series pickup for the first time.

by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.11.09
Cars & Transportation




Even in the early heydays, Henry Ford was fond of using plants like hemp and straw to reinforce plastic components for his cars. Now bioplastics are back and turning up in cell phones, forks, and more. Ford Motors started trying out soy-based seat foam a few years back, and is now expanding its palette of plant plastics. It's a small step, but the 2010 Ford Flex will be the first car to feature a plastic part that contains wheat straw.

The Flex's third-row storage bin will be made from a polypropylene blended with 20% wheat straw, the brittle leftover of wheat harvesting. This modest step, says Ford, will cut the need for some 20,000 pounds of petroleum and prevent 30,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. And this is just the start. Ford claims it is "advancing a strategy to migrate this bio-based material to numerous other interior, exterior, and under-hood applications for multiple product lines." According to the company the wheat straw plastic actually performs better than conventional resins, having better "dimensional integrity," and weighing 10 percent less than plastics reinforced with glass or talc.


Wheat straw, the hollow stalks left behind after wheat is harvested, is considered an agricultural byproduct, and so is thought to be a more sustainable bioplastic feedstock than edible crops like corn or soy (which have proved to be highly destructive crops when mass produced for biofuels). We've already seen wheat straw used for fencing and the pages of Canadian Geographic. When it comes to wheat straw, there is evidence that removing agricultural wastes from farms can exacerbate soil erosion. If the wheat straw industry gets big--if Ford starts replacing a significant percentage of its plastics with the stuff, for instance--problems could emerge. But for now we're happy to see oil replaced with something renewable and non-edible.