Sending your kids off to college would normally point towards getting them the right vehicles to drive around campus. But before giving them the car that they want, you can be assured that they will have preferences and a guide to which car they have in mind will surely be something useful.

AutoWeek Magazine enumerates the possible cars for teens heading off to campus. And admittedly, they are cars that will surely give you problems since all of them are dream cars that teens would surely love.

The recommended cars:

• 2009 Hyundai Elantra Sedan
• 2009 Honda Civic
• 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
• 2009 Ford Escape
• 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
• 2010 Kia Soul
• 2009 Dodge Caliber SE
• 2009 Ford Focus
• 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan

(Source) Press

Tags: autoweek, autoweek magazine, best cars, Chevrolet, chevrolet cobalt, Dodge, dodge caliber, dream cars, ford escape, ford focus, honda civic, Hyundai, hyundai elantra, Mitsubishi, mitsubishi lancer, sending your kids, toyota prius

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Motorists know for a fact that when it comes to saving fuel, taking a load off the car engine is the way to go. But the thing is, what adds to the engine load that makes it consume more fuel than normal? One is the car air conditioning system which affects the normal idling of the car. But all that may change if this brainchild from Ricardo pushes through.

The system is called the EAC (Enhanced Air Conditioning). This system is designed for hybrid or start-stop terrain vehicles to which the air compressor will automatically shut off when the drive power is solely electric or when the stop-start arrangement slashes the engine.

The system is allied to a sophisticated mapping and mobile communication system In the Ford Escape Hybrid which is a Sentience project tested automobile. Also it manages the speed and path of the car. Hence the EAC system can envisage potential stopping points and can decide on when the air-con may require to be switched off. And it assists in decreasing the fuel consumption furthermore.

Though still a project as of this time, the concept is ideal and logical. At least it helps improve the fuel consumption and should it be implemented, fuel for your dollar is sure to be noticed.

(Source) Vicky.in

Tags: air compressor, air conditioning system, brainchild, car air conditioning, car engine, Ford, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, fuel consumption, mobile communication system, motorists, slashes, sophisticated mapping, terrain vehicles, vicky

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Ford is thankful that it has one vehicle doing well in the market. The vehicle is their Ford Fusion and thanks to the growing popularity of this vehicle, they have moved up in the retail market share for April.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America – as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America’s best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

(Source) Press

Tags: Crossover, ford escape, ford fusion, ford products, fuel efficient vehicles, green cars, hybrid models, hybrid version, kelley blue book, Mercury, mercury mariner, mercury milan, mid size sedans, new ford, utility vehicles

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Ford is on the offensive in efforts to speed up the developmental process of their electric vehicle plans. Ford is accelerating its research, development and testing of advanced Li-ion battery technology, thanks, in part, to a $55 million tax credit incentive from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Ford has engaged researchers at the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to conduct digital simulation tests, collecting degradation data that Ford and its battery suppliers have used to improve Li-ion performance.

In addition, Ford has entered into research partnerships with eight regional electrical utility companies to conduct real-world tests on Li-ion-powered Ford Escape PHEVs.

These vehicles:

• Use a common household current (120 volts) for charging, with a full charge of the battery completed within six to eight hours
• Can achieve up to 120 mpg when driven on surface streets for the first 30 miles following a full charge
• Operate in two modes, electric drive and blended electric-engine drive
• Run as a fuel-efficient standard Ford Escape Hybrid one the charge in the battery as been depleted

(Source) Press

Tags: battery suppliers, battery technology, eight hours, electric vehicle, electrical utility companies, electrification, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, li ion battery, volts

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Ford gets the nod of Kelly Blue Book as two of its vehicles have been included in the Top 10 Green Cars list. Today, editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com named the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid to its 2009 list of “Top 10 Green Cars.”

“This recognition says strong things about Ford as a hybrid manufacturer,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “What we really like about both the Fusion and Escape Hybrids is that they do everything great hybrids should do – in terms of providing excellent fuel economy – but at the same time, they drive like conventional vehicles.”

Nerad says fuel economy was just one of the factors editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com took into consideration when selecting this year’s list of “Top 10 Green Cars.”

“We go beyond fuel economy and powertrain, and we look at things that people generally look at when buying any car, such as comfort, convenience, safety and value for the money,” he said.

Ford Hybrid Marketing Manager David Finnegan says winning two of the 10 spots on kbb.com’s “Top 10 Green Cars” list for 2009 demonstrates Ford’s versatility as a hybrid manufacturer.

“We are continuing to expand our portfolio to offer consumers a wider range of alternatives,” said Finnegan. “Not only do we have the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet with the Ford Escape Hybrid but we also are committed to being a leader in the car segment. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid provides 41 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway, making it North America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan.”

(Source) Press

Tags: car segment, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, ford fusion, ford vehicles, fuel economy, fuel efficient suv, green cars, hybrid marketing, hybrids, kelley blue book, kelly blue book

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Power steering in most cars today is a benefit that makes navigating entirely easier and apparently Ford Motors is aiming to make sure that this is available in all of their car models. Customers already behind the wheel of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, one of Ford’s first products to sport EPS, also are enjoying other clever steering characteristics that enhance drive quality.

One such EPS-enabled feature, pull-drift compensation, is a software-based technology that helps drivers offset vehicle pulling or drifting that can occur in steady crosswinds or on uneven roads.

Customer complaints about a “constant pull or drift to one side” or “steering that requires extra uneven effort” historically have been a source of customer dissatisfaction in steering, ride and handling in quality studies. Ford’s EPS with drift-pull compensation is projected to improve customer satisfaction in these areas by up to 50 percent.

The 2008 Escape, one of the first vehicles to showcase EPS with pull-drift technology in North America, substantiated this projected improvement, cutting the number of customer complaints associated with steering in half.

(Source) Press

Tags: car models, Cars, customer satisfaction, Ford, ford escape, ford motors, Mercury, mercury mariner, north america, quality studies

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The times may be tough but finding out you have produced the 100,000th vehicle under your wing is already an achievement in itself. Apparently that is what Ford is celebrating today as it has reportedly rolled off its 100,000th hybrid SUV and reinforced its commitment to ramping up production of hybrid vehicles this year.

Ford launched the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids five years ago and the vehicles remain the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. At the same time as workers at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant celebrated the hybrid milestone, Ford dealers are preparing to begin selling the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, which will be America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedans.

Today, the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV and Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV deliver 34 mpg city driving, 31 mpg highway. The newest entries to Ford’s hybrid lineup, the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid deliver 41 mpg city driving, 36 mpg highway, the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans on the market today.

The Kansas City Assembly Plant, which employs 4,100 people, has been the hub for Ford’s hybrid SUV production since 2004 when the first Ford Escape Hybrid rolled off the line. Lean, flexible manufacturing processes and specially-trained employees at the plant allow the hybrids to be built on the same production line as conventional Escape and Mariner SUVs.

(Source) Press

Tags: escape hybrid suv, first ford, ford dealers, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, ford fusion, fuel efficient suvs, hybrid car, hybrid vehicles, hybrids, mercury mariner, mercury mariner hybrid, mercury milan, midsize sedans

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It looks like Ford is far from being satisfied as far as the Ford Escape is concerned. After being the best vehicle to withstand car crashes, it is increasing its technology leadership with the addition of five new features that improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle.

The new Escape, in showrooms this summer, will add MyKey(TM) teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. The new model also will be the North America’s first SUV to offer Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot.

The 2010 Ford Escape’s standard safety technologies also include:

• AdvanceTrac(R) with RSC(R) (Roll Stability Control) – the world’s only system with a gyroscopic sensor that actively measures and helps prevent both side-to-side “yaw” and roll movements
• Safety Canopy(TM) – a side air curtain technology offering protection for the first and second seating rows, and helps provide rollover and ejection protection with extended deployment in rollovers
• Personal Safety System(R) – a suite of seven safety technologies, including new dual-stage front air bags for the driver and front-seat passenger, side air bags and a front passenger sensor system
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System – alerts drivers when tire pressure is low. Properly inflated tires not only are important for safety – they also can help improve fuel economy.

(Source) Press

Tags: air curtain, car crashes, driver distractions, ford escape, fuel economy, inflated tires, parallel parking, rear view camera, rear view camera system, safety technologies, safety technology, seat passenger, side air bags, stage front, technology leadership, tire pressure monitoring system

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Hyundai will be unveiling its Hyundai Santa Fe, a mid-sized SUV similar to the Honda CRV. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. It was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai’s first SUV, released at the same time as the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute and Pontiac Aztek.

The Hyundai Santa Fe was a milestone in the company’s restructuring program of the late 1990s because, despite receiving criticism from journalists for its obscure looks, the car was a hit with the American buyers. The car was so popular that at times, Hyundai had trouble supplying the demand.

The rugged SUV Santa Fe seems to borrow its style and design from coupe and promises to quench the thirst of a buyer for sportiness as well as style. It will possess the ground clearance and power of a SUV but the visual appeal of a stylish coupe.

(Source) Khabrein

Tags: Crossover, ford escape, honda crv, Hyundai, hyundai santa fe, hyundai sonata, Mazda, mazda tribute, Pontiac

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With a new and improved Ford Escape from its 2008 model, the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid has been unanimously chosen by Kelley Blue Book as one of its “2009 Best New Family Vehicles.”

“After undergoing a major overhaul for the 2008 model year, the Ford Escape Hybrid is improved again for 2009 with a more powerful and more efficient gas-electric powertrain,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “Its fuel economy rating of 34 miles per gallon in the city is even better than that of the Toyota Camry Hybrid.”

The 2009 model features new comfort-designed seats with soy-based foam that substitutes for petroleum-based products to conserve limited resources and reduce CO2 emissions. Eco-friendly seat fabrics made from post-industrial 100 percent recycled materials also are offered on the

Earning a spot on kbb.com’s exclusive list of “2009 Best New Family Vehicles” is not the only accolade the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid has received. Ward’s Automotive Group named Ford’s redesigned Escape Hybrid engine to its “2009 10 Best Engines” list. The vehicle also was recognized as “Best Crossover/SUV Value Under $28,000″ by Intellichoice.com, a leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis.

(Source) Press

Tags: crossover suv, ford escape, ford escape hybrid, hybrid engine, kelley blue book, kelly blue book, miles per gallon, petroleum based products, recycled materials, toyota camry, toyota camry hybrid

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To pick up the pace in developing efficient electric cars, Ford has announced that is has entered into a partnership with battery producer Johnson Controls-Saft to develop advanced lithium-ion battery system to power Ford’s first commercial plug-in hybrid (PHEV). At the same time, Ford said seven regional electric utility partners are joining Ford and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct real-world tests on an expanding fleet of Ford Escape PHEVs.

The addition of seven utility partners to the test program aims to speed up the commercialization of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The partnerships will help Ford accelerate its electrification strategy, including bringing a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) van to market in 2010 for commercial use, a small BEV sedan developed jointly with Magna International by 2011 and a PHEV by 2012.

(Source) Ford

Tags: battery producer, battery system, commercialization, electric car, electric cars, electric vehicle, electrification, ford escape, hybrid electric vehicles, johnson controls, lithium ion battery, plug in hybrid phev, utility partners

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With oil price plunging since the latter part of 2008, the demand for hybrid cars has dwindled in numbers. As a car owner, why invest in a hybrid if you can manage the fuel prices for now? Throw in the fact that people are cutting down on spending as well and perhaps you can imagine how hybrids may become a thing of the past.

Toyota and Ford have held back their hybrid cars production. With an unreasonable demand, the last thing that these two car manufacturing giants would want is to keep a large inventory of these hybrid cars (the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape).

So have we seen the end of hybrid cars as an alternative mode of transportation today? Unless oil prices fluctuate again or the financial crisis improves, it is unlikely we will see hybrids flourish in the economy. So don’t be surprised if these concerned car manufacturers focus on making fuel-based car models once again.

Via Business Week

Tags: car manufacturers, car models, car owner, car production, car sales, financial crisis, ford escape, fuel prices, hybrid car, hybrid cars, hybrids, oil price, oil prices, toyota prius

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