Showing posts with label FORD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FORD. Show all posts
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
VIDEO: Ford Model T’s Assembly Process Still Looks Amazing Even Today
Few cars have revolutionized the automotive industry like the Ford Model T did. Besides being the first affordable vehicle, the “Tin Lizzie” is also known for its devilishly efficient mass assembly process, enabling Ford to build 15 million units in 19 years. Granted, it had a fairly simple design, but the rate at which workers were able to build one is amazing even today. The video we found shows how the front axle is built and attached to the frame. Hit the jump to watch the clip.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sollers Ends Negotiations with Fiat Group for Joint Venture in Russia, Then Signs Deal with Ford
Italian automaker Fiat SpA and Russia's Sollers OJSC, backed out of a potential partnership today following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February 2010 for the launch of a Russian joint-venture to produce passenger cars and SUVs.
Fiat, which controls US automaker Chrysler, and Sollers did not give any explanation for the breakup of negotiations, with both companies simply stating that they intend to continue expanding their existing operations and activities in the region. The 2.4 billion-euro deal signed last year was aimed at producing as many as 500,000 cars annually by 2016 and would have been supported by a 1.2 billion- euro loan backed by the Russian government.
Literally only minutes after the joint statement by Fiat and Sollers, Ford Motor Company came out with a press release announcing that is has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sollers, under which the two parties intend to launch a new 50:50-owned joint venture called Ford Sollers for the production and distribution of Ford vehicles in Russia.
Under the new proposed joint venture with Ford, Sollers, which is the second largest producer of passenger and light commercial vehicles in Russia, local plants in Vsevolozhsk (St. Petersburg region) and in the Republic of Tatarstan, will manufacture a range of Ford passenger cars and light commercial vehicles at local production facilities.
“We are delighted to be taking this next step for Ford in Russia with our proposed partner, Sollers,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This is a great opportunity, and will provide Ford customers in Russia with more products and better service.
“We are inspired by the opportunity to work with Ford,” said Vadim Shvetsov, general director of Sollers. “We are confident that our mutual efforts on the development of manufacturing facilities, new product launches and localization of parts content will ensure success for our strategy, and a leading position for the future joint venture company on the Russian market.”
Ford, which has been producing cars in Russia since 2002, did not disclose the financial terms of the deal with Sollers.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ford Launches Limited Edition Fiesta Sport+ with 134 Ponies in Europe
Ford is expanding the Fiesta’s European lineup with the Sport+ limited edition based on the three-door variant, and boasting several exterior and interior appointments, plus a tweaked 1.6-liter gasoline engine in order to attract more performance-oriented customers.
On the outside, the Sport+ (dubbed Sport S in Germany and S1600 in the UK) is set apart from its more mundane siblings by the custom Performance Blue or Frozen White paintjob with contrasting racing stripes and comprehensive bodykit that includes a new front bumper, wider side skirts, roof-mounted spoiler and rear diffuser with integrated twin-pipe exhaust. The special Fiesta rides on 17-inch alloys, also finished in white.
Inside, the driver and passenger get sport seats with blue stitching, while the leather steering wheel, handbrake handle and gear knob, side airbags and Motorsport-branded floor mats and scuff plates are all part of the standard equipment list.
However, the biggest change is the spiced up 1.6-liter Duratec Ti-VCT four-pot, delivering 134HP and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) of torque or 14HP and 8 Nm (6 lb-ft) more than the regular engine. While this doesn’t seem like a major improvement, the Fiesta Sport+ sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.7 seconds, 1.2 seconds faster than the 120HP 3-door variant. Top speed is pegged at 195 km/h (121 mph).
With a base price of €18,090 (US $24,440 at today’s exchange rates) in Germany, the Sport+ is also available in the UK, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.
Polish Ford Mustang Club Shows how to YouTube America's Original Pony Car
It’s no secret that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Mustang man. Though I acknowledge the gorgeous styling, sweet-as-syrup handling and raw power of cars like the Chevy Camaro, I know at heart I’d take a ’67 Mustang fastback over one of them any day.
So when the chaps and chapettes at the Mustang Klub Polska (Polish Mustang Club) release a video that not only features a dozen great Mustangs but also the cinematography to do these cars justice, you know I’m gonna pounce on this quicker than the news pounces on any story about Lindsay Lohan.
There are so many Mustangs in this vid, it’s hard to keep track of them all, but you’ll surely pick out the 2008 Mustang Bullitt, Dark Highland Green ’67 GT Fastback, red ‘65 convertible with the white top, a handful of 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snakes and countless others including a few Foose Mustangs and a handful of Gen 4’s.
It’s a Mustang orgy. It’s like Adam West dropping the ‘66 Batmobile off at your house. It’s like Hollywood making a movie adaptation of an old TV show that doesn’t suck. It’s like Justin Bieber and George Lucas retiring on the same day, promising to not record any more songs or make any more Star Wars spin-offs.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Polish Ford Mustang Club Shows how to YouTube America's Original Pony Car
It’s no secret that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Mustang man. Though I acknowledge the gorgeous styling, sweet-as-syrup handling and raw power of cars like the Chevy Camaro, I know at heart I’d take a ’67 Mustang fastback over one of them any day.
So when the chaps and chapettes at the Mustang Klub Polska (Polish Mustang Club) release a video that not only features a dozen great Mustangs but also the cinematography to do these cars justice, you know I’m gonna pounce on this quicker than the news pounces on any story about Lindsay Lohan.
There are so many Mustangs in this vid, it’s hard to keep track of them all, but you’ll surely pick out the 2008 Mustang Bullitt, Dark Highland Green ’67 GT Fastback, red ‘65 convertible with the white top, a handful of 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snakes and countless others including a few Foose Mustangs and a handful of Gen 4’s.
It’s a Mustang orgy. It’s like Adam West dropping the ‘66 Batmobile off at your house. It’s like Hollywood making a movie adaptation of an old TV show that doesn’t suck. It’s like Justin Bieber and George Lucas retiring on the same day, promising to not record any more songs or make any more Star Wars spin-offs.
It’s that good. So check out the video and leave your mark in the comments section below.
By Tristan Hankins
Via: Motofilm
_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________Tuesday, February 15, 2011
4500-Mile Creampuff: 1986 Ford Mustang SVO
This 1986 Ford Mustang SVO is ridiculously clean compared to the many examples with peeling paint, discolored wheels, and thrashed interiors. The seller claims that this car has only 4500 miles from new and all original paint. Silver is an excellent color on this model, and the listing includes promising underbody photos. Find it here on eBay in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey with the reserve already met. (There was previously a $15k Buy-It-Now that has disappeared.)
As mentioned in the comments section, this is the same SVO we featured three years ago (link) when it was in Georgia. The paint on the front end is amazing, and the headlights show no signs of the typical yellowing. If paint is all original this one somehow escaped the dealer with no front plate. Other Mustangs still had recessed lights in 1986, so the SVO was the first model to include the flush headlights that would define the Mustang face for the next eight years.
The interior looks very clean and complete. No dash shot is included, but seller claims that the dash and the leather on the wheel, shifter, and E-brake are all perfect. The headliner was replaced due to sagging, a common problem on these cars.
The engine bay looks surprisingly clean. Even the anodized brackets and hardware doesn’t look overly corroded. It is obvious that the car has been stored indoors. The wheels wear new Goodyear tires and the originals are included with plenty of tread but old and cracking.
This is a great looking example of a desirable Mustang model. The colors are good, and the seller has perfect eBay feedback and sounds like he knows what he is talking about. This car could be enjoyed for a couple of thousand miles per year and qualify as a low-mile car for the next couple decades. That would be more fun that staring at it in the garage, which also wouldn’t be a bad pastime.
Ford Launches Limited Edition Fiesta Sport+ with 134 Ponies in Europe
Ford is expanding the Fiesta’s European lineup with the Sport+ limited edition based on the three-door variant, and boasting several exterior and interior appointments, plus a tweaked 1.6-liter gasoline engine in order to attract more performance-oriented customers.
On the outside, the Sport+ (dubbed Sport S in Germany and S1600 in the UK) is set apart from its more mundane siblings by the custom Performance Blue or Frozen White paintjob with contrasting racing stripes and comprehensive bodykit that includes a new front bumper, wider side skirts, roof-mounted spoiler and rear diffuser with integrated twin-pipe exhaust. The special Fiesta rides on 17-inch alloys, also finished in white.
Inside, the driver and passenger get sport seats with blue stitching, while the leather steering wheel, handbrake handle and gear knob, side airbags and Motorsport-branded floor mats and scuff plates are all part of the standard equipment list.
However, the biggest change is the spiced up 1.6-liter Duratec Ti-VCT four-pot, delivering 134HP and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) of torque or 14HP and 8 Nm (6 lb-ft) more than the regular engine. While this doesn’t seem like a major improvement, the Fiesta Sport+ sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.7 seconds, 1.2 seconds faster than the 120HP 3-door variant. Top speed is pegged at 195 km/h (121 mph).
With a base price of €18,090 (US $24,440 at today’s exchange rates) in Germany, the Sport+ is also available in the UK, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.
By Csaba Daradics
_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Ford to Unveil a "Groundbreaking New Vehicle" Along with European Premieres at Geneva Show
As we're nearing closer to the 2011 Geneva Salon, automakers are providing us with more details about their plans. Today, Ford announced that it will display a number of new production and concept cars including what the company simply described as a "groundbreaking new vehicle" without getting into any specifics.
“Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen T. Odell will unveil a groundbreaking new vehicle during a Ford news conference at 14:30 on March 1 at the Ford stand,” the company said in a statement.
What Ford did reveal is that it plans to showcase an all-new version of the 2011 Ranger pickup-truck called Wildtrak, the Vertrek SUV concept that hints at the next-generation Kuga, the Fiesta RS WRC, the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid that will be joined by a C-MAX HEV when they both go on sale in Europe in 2013, and a conceptual all-electric version of the Transit Connect.
Furthermore, the company will display its latest powertrain enhancements including a new 114g/km CO2 Mondeo ECOnetic that combines 115HP 1.6-liter turbo diesel with start-stop technology, as well as the new Ka Metal created through Ford’s Individual programme.
“Today Ford has its strongest product line-up ever and we’ve got an aggressive plan to keep our vehicle portfolio the freshest in the industry," said Odell. “We have at least 20 new models and derivatives coming across our entire European range – from small cars to commercial vehicles – and at Geneva we will be introducing some of these.
Lincoln Shakeups Continue as Ford Lays Down the Law for its Luxury Brand
After rejuvenating Ford and euthanizing Mercury, FoMoCo is finally ready to take its top-tier brand seriously. This means it will set standards for Lincoln by taking cues from true premium marques.
Ford recently spoke with its remaining 1,100 Lincoln dealers and spelled out a plan - or provided them with an ultimatum - that will hopefully please and attract customers while allowing for time to re-characterize and rebuild the ailing luxury brand. If these requests aren't met by October 1st, Ford just won't think dealers are committed enough to continue selling Lincolns.
Some of these "strongly recommended" premium touches include a loaner car should a customer need to leave their car at the shop, as well as a car wash (both free of charge). Dealers will also have to erase all evidence of Mercury and, if they are paired with Ford lots, have their own unique service managers and staff so as not to contaminate the pool.
Ford also wants Lincoln dealers to have 30% or more of their pre-owned inventory be certified vehicles. To make matters worse, Ford announced that over 100 more dealer spots will be gone this year in order to drive sales in the direction of dealers who have earned the right to survive.
Naturally, Lincoln dealers aren't exactly thrilled with the concept of spending extra cash while not having any hot new product. However, if people are patient, things might just end up well; with Cadillac's former exterior design chief Max Wolff at the helm, Lincoln could finally get away from its toothy, Ford-derived designs and give Cadillac a run for its money.
Is the Cougatti Just the Purtiest 2002 Mercury Cougar you ever did see?
Sure, most people would love to have a Bugatti Veyron; sadly, at over a million bucks a pop we're talking a vehicle that's slightly out of reach for most consumers. Thankfully, one man and eBay have rectified this issue with something we'll call a Cougatti (or Bougar).
Based on a 112,000-mile 2002 Mercury Cougar with a V6 and automatic transmission, this one-of-one Cougatti has a starting bid of $89,000 and no takers as of this writing. Potential buyers get all the body work, 20-inch wheels, angel eye HID headlights, LED tails, two gas caps (one functional), and power windows/mirrors.
No pics of the interior just yet, but the seller says it is "in progress" and "very close to being ready for upholstery".
Is this cross-bred creature a crime against humanity or a bargain basement show car? Leave your comments down below.
Link: eBay
Saturday, February 12, 2011
New Ford Will Increase The Maximum Trailer Tow Rating
Ford communications increases the maximum trailer rating of 2011.5 and F-350 Super Duty F-450 models for £ 17,500. No coincidence that General Motors, the maximum conventional trailer for the visitors nabbed early 2011 with the latest versions of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD HD figure to £ 17,000.
To draw up such a huge burden for anyone to see her car should be properly equipped in case of Ford, this means that the 6.7-liter V8 valve diesel engine (400 hp and 800 pounds feet of torque), Crew Cab, dual rear wheels, suspension and weight distribution hitch. For a track, GM says the cars are eligible for the maximum load, the standard-bearing suspension.
Which led to an increase? Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari explained that the context had changed in August 2010 will work with the new design, the suspension going into production on Monday, July Then in February, was in early 2011, Ford Super Duty Conventional maximum tow rating 16,000 pounds properly equipped.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Shelby Introduces Limited Edition 2012 Shelby GT350, Adds Convertible Option for the First Time Since 1970
At the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Shelby unveiled the limited edition 2012 Shelby GT350, which enters the new model year with two fresh color options and, for the first time since 1970, a convertible body style. Based on the Ford Mustang GT, the Shelby GT350 comes with three engine choices, including a base version with a naturally aspirated 430HP V8 mated to either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission, and two supercharged variants delivering 525HP and 624HP.
The new color options are Race Red and Kona Blue, both with white Le Mans stripes, while the Performance White with blue Le Mans stripes combo continues for the 2012MY. Last but not least, the new GT350 convertible can be ordered with a light bar, while other options include a once piece drive shaft and color coordinated billet aluminum engine cap set.
“Last year, we brought back the GT350 45 years after it was launched,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “They look and sound just like the ones we built in 1965. We’re repeating history by offering two additional colors and building a few convertibles for the second year of production.”
Prices, not including the donor Mustang GT, start from US$26,995 for the naturally aspirated version and US$33,995. The company said it plans to keep production limited to 350 units.
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