Ford Motors is setting its sights on unveiling new compact car made for the Indian market. The new car model is the Ford Figo, a new and fresh face which is Ford’s bet to compete with the growing demand for small cars in India. Only the exterior design was revealed to the public at the press conference held in New Delhi and further details will be unveiled once the vehicle production launches in 2010.

For the record, Figo is an Italian word for “Cool”. Production for the Ford Figo will be held at the expanded integrated manufacturing facility near Chennai.

Image Courtesy: BBC News

(Source) Press

Tags: BBC, car model, compact car, debut, figo, ford motors, India, integrated manufacturing, italian word, new car, new delhi, new ford, news source, small cars

Continue reading...

Technology may soon resolve the problem of parking if this technology from Ford were to be a gauge. Parallel parking has to be one of the challenging and stressful means a driver has to deal with but with the new Ford feature, the Ford Active Park Assist System, you car can be practically placed on auto-pilot as it maneuvers itself into parking spaces without much effort.

The whole system seems to be like giving a car a mind of its own. But while it seems dandy, you have to wonder if the system is full proof and free from issues. One issue is what should happen if it should malfunction in the middle of the parking motion. While most cars have sensors, would it stop or leave you in a precarious position?

The new technology has been said to be set out and among the vehicles that carry this technology is the 2010 Ford Taurus. Regardless, the people who have issues on parallel parking may finally be put to rest although some questions in mind may need to be explained further.

(Source) Dvice

Tags: auto pilot, Cars, Ford Taurus, full proof, gauge, new ford, new technology, parallel parking, parking spaces, precarious position, sensors

Continue reading...

With the release of the new four and six cylinder versions, the new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now the new top domestic sedan based on Consumer Reports. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was originally tied with popular brands like the Toyota Camry Hybrid but overtook everyone else with the new enhancements made. All the new ford fusion versions were quieter and more refined than previous versions.

The price range of the Ford Fusion Hybrid is pegged to be at $20,365 for the four-cylinder Optima to $32,360 for the Fusion Hybrid. This includes a $5,000 package with added navigation, leather seats, a moonroof and other options.

(Source) Press

Tags: consumer reports, enhancements, ford fusion, leather seats, moonroof, new ford, previous versions, Toyota, toyota camry, toyota camry hybrid

Continue reading...

It has been quite some time since we last saw a Ford Capri. In fact, it has almost been 30 years or so. But if rumors persist, we may yet see the return of the Capri in a smaller version like a 3-door hatchback. The new Ford Capri aims to compete against the likes of the Volkswagen Scirocco, offering a coupe-like hatchback with a heavy appearance on the rear.

Design will be influenced by the Ford iosis Max Concept that was shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The iosis Max Concept will also set the stage for the rest of the next-generation Focus lineup along with the next C-Max.

Power will come from the 1.6L 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that made its first debut in the Lincoln Concept C – it was also featured on the iosis Max Concept. The engine produces up to 180-hp while providing fuel-economy that is 20 percent better than the conventional gasoline engines.

Would the Ford Capri become a hit once again? Only time will tell. But at the rate that some cars are slowly coming back, it may just have its share of customers though more buildup may be in order to really make an impact for its return to the automotive scene.

(Source) EGM Car Tech

Tags: appearance, c max, car tech, concept c, conventional gasoline, debut, ford capri, ford iosis, fuel economy, gasoline engines, geneva motor show, Lincoln, lincoln concept, max power, new ford, next generation, volkswagen, volkswagen scirocco

Continue reading...

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

Continue reading...

The arrival of the new Ford EcoBoost V-6 engine is certainly going to make a lot of motorists happy, particularly the ones who are looking at wise alternatives on retaining power while bringing down fuel consumption at the same time.

Arriving in the 2010 Lincoln MKS, MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus SHO models this summer, the twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine delivers the horsepower of a normally aspirated V-8 with the fuel efficiency of a normally aspirated V-6.

Features:

• The 2010 Ford Flex boasts a projected 22 mpg highway, equaling the highway fuel economy of the 2009 Flex with all-wheel drive with more horsepower (355 projected vs. 262) and more torque (350 ft.-lb. projected vs. 248 ft.-lb.);
• 2010 Lincoln MKT leads its segment in fuel economy, exceeding the V-8-powered Audi Q7 by 4 mpg highway;
• 2010 Taurus SHO generates an estimated 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,500 rpm;
• The new Lincoln MKS will deliver more power and better highway efficiency (25 mpg) than the 2009 Lexus GS460 (24 mpg) or 2009 Infiniti M45x (20 mpg).

(Source) Press

Tags: family auto, ford flex, fuel consumption, fuel efficiency, lincoln mks, motorists, new ford

Continue reading...

People who are thinking of getting a new Ford are in for a treat. Aside from possibly foregoing car insurance, they can expect to drive safer and worry less with the new body and paint technology announced by Ford Motors. Ford’s new industry-first Paint and Body Technology Center brings repair and crash safety experts together to drive down auto insurance costs by making vehicles more damage-resistant and less expensive to repair.

The new Ford Paint and Body Technology Center in Inkster will leverage the combined expertise of Ford’s repair and safety experts, auto repair technicians and insurance companies. Ford’s goal is developing affordable, innovative vehicle designs, replacement parts and repair procedures that lower the cost to fix a damaged vehicle.

“Our bottom line for this new initiative is simple: If your vehicle costs less to repair, it’s going to cost less to insure,” said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD). “The work Ford will perform at the new Paint and Body Technology Center will help reduce insurers’ repair costs so they can drive down auto insurance premiums for consumers.”

(Source) Ford

Tags: auto insurance costs, auto insurance premiums, auto repair technicians, car insurance, crash safety, ford motors, ford paint, insurance expenses, new ford, safety experts

Continue reading...