Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ford CEO Alan Mulally called up to thank one of his new customers personally
The reason this story caught my attention is, of course, the customer in question was buying a Ford Fusion Hybrid. The reason the story got into the paper is two fold.
One, the customer decided to buy a Ford Fusion Hybrid over the Toyota Prius, even though the Fusion Hybrid isn’t available until this spring.
Which brings up an issue with hybrid car sales right now. Despite the quite reasonable assumption that hybrid car sales have dropped because 1) gas prices are still down, although they certainly seem to be creeping back up and 2) the overall industry is down, there is one other factor that has to be weighing in on buyers minds.
There are three very exciting hybrids on the way right now. The new Toyota Prius, which has upped the fuel economy ante to 50 mpg; the new Honda Insight, which not only will be a dedicated hybrid, but the cheapest to purchase (which will force everyone else to look closely at how much they’re willing to charge for their hybrids); and last but not least, the new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids which, if you go out and get your name down on one now, will still qualify you for the full federal tax credit, something Honda and Toyota hybrid buyers can no longer state.
Source: Ford boss thanks man who picked Fusion over Prius | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Monday, March 29, 2010
First Drive: 2011 Ford Mustang GT changes the game
by Jonny Lieberman
Autoblog.com
The reborn 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is the 2010 Ford Mustang GT's most obvious competitor (obviously). While the Camaro is certainly a head turner, it's just not that great of an all around performance car. However, despite the 2010 Mustang GT coming out on top in many comparisons against its crosstown rival, one fact is undeniable: When it comes to power, the Camaro SS kicked the Mustang GT's butt up and down the block. Across the drag strip, too. The 6.2-liter LS3-equipped SS (manual only, as automatic Camaros get the weaker L99 motor) produces a screaming 426 horsepower and 420 rumbling pound-feet of torque, enough mojo to embarrass the 2010 Mustang GT's relatively wimpy 4.6-liter V8 with its 315 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. True, the Mustang handled better, rode better, had a much better interior and cost less, but at the end of the day we're talking muscle cars. Gumption matters. Chevy was king. Ford had to act.
And act it did. Meet the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, or as everyone is already calling it, the 5.0. That's right, Ford is offering enthusiasts an honest to goodness 5.0-liter V8 (302 cubic inches, baby! Check out our Deep Dive for all the technical mumbo jumbo) in the 2011 Mustang GT. As we're sure you know by now, thanks to some fancy breathing, the all new small-block produces 412 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. That's less than the Camaro, sure, but remember that the Mustang is lighter than the Chevy by a good 300 pounds. Besides, it's looking like Ford has decided to underrate the 5.0's output by about 30 ponies for who knows what reason. Meaning that while Ford might be using invisible ink, the Mustang's got the Camaro beat on paper. But what about in the real world? Make the jump to find out.
While the new 2011 Ford Mustang V6 is a good car, the 5.0 is great. In a single model year, Ford has manged to address all of the 2010 Mustang GT's shortcomings. Besides the brand spanking new motor (which really is the big story), the Blue Oval boys made a number of other changes. It's going to take a well trained eye to spot any visual differences between the 2010 and 2011 models, but there are differences. First off, the aluminum pony in the grill has been lightened a shade. In addition, the front and rear fascias are slightly tweaked. There's a new lower spoiler and air dam up front and the rear wheels now have tire spats. All of the exterior changes plus an underbody aeroshield add up to a four-percent more aerodynamic car, and help this 412-hp brute achieve a very respectable 26 mpg on the highway. Also, let's not forget the big, shiny 5.0 badges. A1A Beach Front Avenue has been put on notice!
Changes you can't see include a whole host of NVH improvements, namely rear wheel liners, eight sound absorbers and hood liner insulation that all add up to a surprisingly quiet vehicle. Some might say too quiet as you can't hear the 5.0 burble, but we'll disagree. Overhead cam engines don't really burble the way cam-in-block mills do anyway. Put it this way, day-to-day livability has been greatly increased. Besides, once you open the V8's taps, the cabin is quickly filled with the sort of soundtrack that gearheads dream about. Ford has retained the 2010 Mustang GT's sound resonators, and the noise is even more blissful in 2011. In fact, above 3,500 rpm you're treated to a very finely balanced stereo mix of induction and exhaust noise. Trust us, you'll love it once you get on it.
Speaking of getting on it, the 7,000 rpm redline begs you to do just that. An all-new six-speed (finally!) manual further encourages you to bash the motor all you like. There's also a new six-speed automatic that's okay (though it does lack paddle shifters), but we spent exactly 17.5 seconds driving the auto version (that's two blasts down an eighth-mile drag strip), so you'll need to do your own research if you're not interested in rowing your own. If you are, the new six-speed manual is pretty good, though we'd prefer a short-throw kit. We also had occasional trouble coming down into second and/or fourth. We suspect this is mostly due to the shift lever's long throw, which again would be fixed by a short throw kit. That said, the new transmission doesn't seem to mind abuse.
The same can be said for the brakes. We drove both the stock brake GT and the Brembo-kitted version. As far as the regular brakes go, Ford saw fit to provide a bigger brake booster and for the first time in my car reviewing career, I have nothing negative whatsoever to say about Ford brakes. They're actually pretty good, and the Brembos are that much better. If you spend a lot of time hooning it up on windy canyon roads or at the track, go for the ain't-gonna-fade 14-inch Brembos. If you just like roasting fools at stop lights, the standard brakes are more than fine.
Time to put it all together. I found myself actually saying, "This engine's a pot of honey." Out loud, with another human being in the car. Why would anyone make such a ridiculous statement? Probably because the new motor really is a pot of honey, specifically when you're in fourth gear at 4,000 rpm and you bury the throttle. Turns out that 4,000 rpm is when peak torque (390 lb-ft) happens and the 5.0-liter V8 pulls like a jet airliner. Outside of the GT500 or a very breathed-upon Roush/Saleen, we've never experienced this kind of at-speed acceleration in a Mustang. Very impressive, and more than just impressive, a bit intoxicating. From a standstill, the 5.0 is every bit as superb. We won't be surprised if and when the 2011 Mustang GT breaks into the high 12s running the quarter-mile with a trap in the 112-mph range. Ford went all "no comment" when asked about performance figures, but again we'll speculate that 0-60 mph is probably mid-4s, which is quick by any method of accounting.
Our one serious gripe with the new V6 Mustang was the floaty front end, especially at high speeds. No such gripe with the GT. Not only is the front of the V8 much stiffer than its smaller, lighter sibling, but the entire car has been hardened by 15 percent compared to the 2010 model. Not only does this help handling, but triple-digit stability is impressive, words we thought we'd never type about a run-of-the-mill Mustang GT. But here we are.
Also improved for 2011 is the GT's handling. 2010 was something of a breakout year for the Mustang, as Ford finally committed itself to building a Mustang that goes left and right as well as it goes straight. Not only is the 2011 Mustang GT happy to turn into a corner, once you're flirting around with the apex you won't find yourself making loads of corrections. Put another way, the suspension is able to handle whatever you throw at it, and the steering feel is good enough that you only have to measure and cut once. As far as the never ending live rear end vs. independent suspension argument goes, we're saying the following: The 2011 Ford Mustang GT sports the very best solid rear axle in the world. We'd rather have the best solid axle than a mediocre multi-point rear. Hint, hint, Chevy. 'Nuff said.
The bottom line is this: Ford is done messing around. With the release of the 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 there are no more "Yeah, but..." reasons to buy any other pony car. Only serious Mopar-philes would choose the drastically more expensive and substantially worse Dodge Challenger SRT-8 over the Mustang GT. Aside from looks, we can't think of a single area where the similarly priced but slightly more expensive Chevy Camaro SS beats the Mustang. Speed, handling, soundtrack, brakes, interior (the GT is actually creeping into Audi levels of interior sophistication – look at those seats!), fit and finish – you name it, the Mustang's the superior sports car.
Speaking of Audi, the 5.0 makes the 354-hp S5 look like an overpriced slowpoke. We've driven both cars in anger and the 2011 Mustang GT is not only faster, but is actually rear-wheel drive, not a FWD platform fitted with Quattro all-wheel drive. Want us to go even further? We'd prefer the Mustang GT to a BMW 650i. Sure, the BMW has dash leather and... iDrive. But (again), the GT makes more power (the 650i manages 360 hp), handles better and is quieter unless you're really belting the throttle. Also, Sync's a whole lot better than iDrive, even the much improved new iDrive. Not only that, but the GT's new 5.0-liter V8 engine is in another league than (previous) competitors like the Nissan 370Z and Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8. Getting the point? In 2011, the Mustang GT is the car to beat. Welcome back, 5.0.
Ford Starts Production Of PowerShift Dual Clutch Transmission, Debuts In New Fiesta
In the never-ending pursuit of efficiency, performance and smooth power delivery, the next step forward for many automakers is the adoption of the dual clutch transmission. Once the province of high-end performance cars, dual clutch transmissions have been finding their way into everyday vehicles from Volkswagen, Volvo, Audi and more for years. Ford has now announced that it has started production of its own dual clutch transmission and the first car in the Blue Oval’s fleet to receive the fuel saving device will be the humble 2011 Ford Fiesta.
The corporate technology behind the new transmission is dubbed PowerShift, and Volvo has already been using it for the past year. The particular unit being produced by Ford is a six-speed fully automatic dual clutch transmission that will eventually appear across most of the automaker’s product portfolio.
Offering better fuel economy than a conventional manual transmission, the new PowerShift unit’s characteristics are particularly well-suited to smaller car applications, making the transmission a perfect fit for Fiesta and the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus.
Ford PowerShift dual clutch transmission
According to Ford, the PowerShift dual clutch transmission will help the 1.6-liter Fiesta deliver an expected best-in-class fuel economy rating of at least 40 mpg on the highway.
Ford is building the PowerShift dual clutch transmission with its technology partner GETRAG at a plant in Irapuato, Mexico. The unit itself features a ‘dry’ dual clutch design that manages to eliminate the additional weight and complexity of a torque converter, planetary gears and the fluid pumps employed in conventional automatics. Its key characteristic is the seamless flow of torque and virtually instant shift times.
Sales of the 2011 Ford Fiesta with the six-speed PowerShift dual clutch transmission will start this summer.
China's Geely to Buy Ford's Volvo in Record Deal (Update3)
Monday, March 29, 2010
March 29 (Bloomberg) -- Zhejiang Geely Holding Co. agreed to buy Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Co. for $1.8 billion in the biggest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker, more than 18 months after the two companies first entered discussions.
The price includes a $200 million note and the remainder to be paid in cash, Ford Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said yesterday in Gothenburg, Sweden. Time spent on seeking regulatory approval in different jurisdictions means the companies now aim to complete the deal in the third quarter, Geely Chairman Li Shufu said.
Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., the automaker's listed unit, gained 1.5 percent to HK$4.16 in Hong Kong trading. Ford rose 12 cents to $13.98 at 8:04 a.m. before regular New York Stock Exchange composite trading, extending a surge of 39 percent this year through March 26.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Ford CEO Alan Mulally drops off keys to new Shanghai Focus owner
Harriet Luo, the recent buyer of a brand new Ford Focus was in for the shock of her life when she found out that Alan Mulally, Ford’s global president, Joe Hinrich, head of Ford Asia, and Robert Graziano, head of Ford China, were all on site to hand the keys over to her.
Harriet was completely shocked by the arrival of the car industries biggest men to hand over her new Ford Focus car keys, and was quoted as saying “This is totally beyond my expectations. Having Mr. Mulally, Ford’s global CEO, hand over the keys to my new Ford Focus was absolutely incredible,” exclaimed Luo.
Ms Luo had compared more than ten different cars before deciding on a Ford Focus, which she liked due to its price, quality, and recommendations from family and friends.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES BY ETHISPHERE
DEARBORN, Mich., March 22, 2010 – Ford Motor Company has been recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading business ethics think tank.
Ford is among 100 global companies chosen for the designation from a field of thousands of companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries. Ford is the only automaker to receive the honor in 2010. The results are based on an extensive review of companies’ social responsibility efforts, corporate governance and business practices.
“Ford Motor Company is honored and pleased to receive this recognition,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “At Ford, we’re not only committed to making great products and building a strong business, we believe in contributing to a better world and doing business in an ethical way.”
This is the fourth year Ethisphere has published its list of the world’s most ethical companies. The firm is dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.
“Ford’s promotion of a sound ethical environment shines within its industry and shows a clear understanding that operating under the highest standards for business behavior goes beyond goodwill and lip service and is intimately linked to performance and profitability,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. “This year’s award was more competitive than ever, because companies realize that making ethics a priority is critical in a tough and unprecedented economic environment.”
The criteria researchers and analysts followed included:
- A review of each company’s codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories
- An evaluation of investment in innovation and sustainable business practices
- A look into activities designed to improve corporate citizenship
- Input through nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.
Information was provided to the Institute through formal questionnaires and through additional independent research.
“This honor underscores the efforts by the men and women at Ford Motor Company who diligently and consistently work every day to do the right thing on behalf of all of our stakeholders,” Bill Ford said.
The complete list of the 2010 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be found at http://ethisphere.com/wme-2010.
Monday, March 22, 2010
LET YOUR VOTE BE HEARD!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Chuck Kramer as "Priciple of the Day" at
Alan Mulally interviewed by Joe Courrege at Randall Reed's Prestige Ford Lincoln Mercury