Archive for category Ford
Ford Goes Green in Europe
Posted by in Ford on June 29, 2011
Over the next few years, Ford will be launching a number of green vehicles in Europe, as well as the United States, including hybrid and electric vehicles. This strategy builds on the Ford vision of bringing affordable fuel-efficient technology to millions of people in a variety of markets. Instead of a single vehicle or technology, Ford wants to offer a wide range of technology solutions to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for customers around the world.
Later this year, the Ford plant in Valencia, Spain will launch the newest Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, which will run on the new Ford EcoBoost engine. The EcoBoost engines feature better fuel efficiency and lower emissions than conventional gasoline engines. The C-MAX has been produced for the European market since 2003, but starting in late 2011, the Valencia plant will also produce a 7-seat version of the C-MAX to be exported to the U.S. So, if you’ve been admiring this vehicle from afar, you’ll soon be able to find one at your local Cleveland Ford dealer.
There are three types of electric vehicles that Ford will produce in the next few years, including hybrid electric, all-electric, and plug-in hybrid electric. In 2011, Ford will produce a Transit Connect Electric, which will be the first of five electrified vehicles under development as part of the global electrification strategy at Ford. This vehicle is being produced by both Ford Motor Company and Azure Dynamics, and will feature Azure’s Force Drive battery electric drivetrain. It will be available in European markets, with no news yet of whether or not a version will be available in the U.S.
So what makes the Transit Connect an optimal vehicle for electrification? For starters, the Transit Connect is a commercial van, whose users often travel predictable, short routes with frequent stops in tight urban or suburban areas. This type of driving results in a negative impact on the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. Also, commercial drivers generally return to a central location at the end of the day, which is perfect for recharging the battery overnight. The Transit Connect will have a targeted range of up to 130 km/80 miles on a full charge, a top speed of 75 mph, and will be rechargeable using standard European outlets. A full charge is complete in 6-8 hours. The best thing about this type of vehicle? Since it runs completely on lithium-ion batteries, it won’t use any fuel, and will have ZERO exhaust emissions. Read the rest of this entry »
2011 Ford Fiesta – Class Leading Amenities
Posted by in Ford on June 29, 2011
Class leading Ford Fiesta is now available stateside.
The subcompact Ford Fiesta is a global car, sold by the Ford Motor Company in markets all around the world. During summer 2010, Ford made the car available to North American drivers, utilizing a Mexican factory to build its B segment model.
Available in four-door hatchback or four-door sedan, the Ford Fiesta has effectively raised the bar for the subcompact segment by offering a car that is better equipped and offering best-in-class fuel economy. Indeed, the Ford Fiesta SFE, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission gets 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway.
Important Features
Ford says that the Fiesta includes 15 class-exclusive features, appointments which add a level of convenience, even luxury, not found in a car of this class. Those features include a six-speed automatic transmission, ambient lighting package, seven standard airbags, optional leather seating surfaces, push button start, perimeter alarm and other touches. Chief competitors including the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris are lacking in these departments.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta’s1.6-liter engine features Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) providing effective throttle response, performance and flexibility. Elasticity found in the new drive belt design does away with a belt tensioner and is an important contributor in fuel economy.
Fiesta Transmissions
The standard five-speed manual transmission features gear ratios chosen to provide robust off-the-line performance and extraordinary fuel economy for the driver wanting to maximize his driving experience. The six-speed automatic transmission in no slouch in that compartment either, providing ample power though no optional paddle shifters. Expect the latter to show up in the future as customer demand warrants it.
Ford SYNC, first introduced to the 2008 Ford Focus compact, is available and improved too. SYNC incorporates a driver’s mobile phone with the car’s onboard, voice-activated communications and entertainment system. This technology, when available, is usually found on more luxurious models.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta also features keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and adjustable cup holders to accommodate large and small containers alike.
Smartly Priced
Base models offer a sticker price just below $14,000 which is competitive to what other cars in this class start at. But, the Ford Fiesta is better equipped, offering features which are optional or unavailable from Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. Advantage Ford in price, packaging and style, attributes that will not be lost on customers shopping for a subcompact car.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan
2012 Ford Focus Review
Posted by in Ford on June 29, 2011
An all-new 2012 Ford Focus goes on sale early in 2011. Ford Motor Company revealed the upcoming Focus at the January 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The 2012 Focus is a C-sized small car rife with new technology, new powertrains and new customer features, some of which are not offered by other cars in this class. This is a huge market segment that accounts for 2 million units of production every year and includes the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda 3, and the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. The Focus has been a big success for Ford since its initial launch in 1998, selling more than 9.2 million cars worldwide from production plants in Germany, Russia, Spain, the Philippines, China, South Africa, and Vietnam.
In the U.S., the Focus will be available in five-door hatchback and four-door sedan versions. In Europe, the Focus is also available as a three-door hatchback, including a 300-horsepower RS model.
The new Focus will be built around an entirely new Ford powertrain, starting with an all-aluminum 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that features both a Denso direct fuel injection system and TiVCT, twin independent variable camshaft timing, two features that, taken together, provide very smooth idle with high horsepower and torque numbers, as well as excellent fuel economy and emissions performance, numbers not revealed at the moment. Initial power figures are 155 horsepower and a 145 foot-pounds of torque using a very high 12:1 compression ratio, previously suitable only for racing engines. Later on, there will be a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost version of this engine offered to the performance-minded buyer, and still later, Ford may offer a common-rail direct-injection diesel version, already slated for Europe, a hybrid version, and a battery electric version.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitch_McCullough