Ford News
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With the global economic crisis forcing consumers to tighten their purse strings, small cars with low sticker prices and high fuel efficiency are becoming more and more popular. While European and Asian markets have been popular with small cars for some time now, it is only recently that selling the compact runabouts in North America has become attractive to manufacturers as the masses clamor for greater value. Some of the manufacturers considering entering the U.S. market see the current economic conditions as a convenient time to bring their small cars to one of the world's largest...
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First 2010 Ford Mustang, Shelby GT500, and Chevrolet Camaro to be sold at Barret-Jackson auctionNext year's Barret-Jackson vehicle auction promises to be a stunning event, with news coming in that the first 2010 Ford Mustang and the first 2010 Shelby GT500 will both be auctioned off at the event. As if that wasn't enough, the auction will also include bidding for the first 2010 Chevrolet...
Ralph Hanson -
Volvo reinstates free maintenance on new carsFree maintenance programs were once de rigeur for the upper ranks of the automobile industry, but the service has been dying a slow death with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Audi abandoning their programs. BMW and Saab kept theirs however, and Volkswagen recently announced the start of free...
Nelson Ireson -
Tata Motors cash infusion for Jaguar-Land Rover could reach $1BWhen the automotive subsidiary of Indian mega-conglomerate Tata Motors took over Jaguar-Land Rover earlier this year, many feared for the brand's future. Since then, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has taken great pains to reassure fans of the two carmakers that all would be well. Yesterday it was...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford Fusion Hybrid certified as most efficient mid-size car in AmericaThough it was slow to join the hybrid ranks, Ford has hit what appears to be a home run with its new Fusion Hybrid, rocketing to the top of the mid-size sedan fuel efficiency charts. Official certification by the EPA has put the car's fuel efficiency at 41mpg (5.7L/100km) city and 36mpg on the...
Nelson Ireson -
2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announcedThe North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, recognizing the vehicles that capture the votes of 50 top automotive journalists. This year's finalists, announced today at the Cobo Center in Detroit, are split about like the U.S. car...
Nelson Ireson -
As Chrysler teeters on the brink of total shutdown, and rumors of a merger with General Motors fly about, Ford is adhering closely to its plan to 'rightsize' its operations, chopping production at 10 plants in North America. The closures, which start January 5, will only last a week as part of the plan to cut output by 37.9% in the first quarter. Ford's only two remaining North American plants will remain open. The plants are the Dearborn, Michigan facility where the F-150 is built and the Kansas City operation that builds the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner in addition to the F-150, reports...
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Right-hand-drive Wiesmann GTs coming in 2009Germany’s Wiesmann has built and delivered almost 1,000 examples of its MF sports car in both GT and Roadster bodystyles, however all of these have been built in left-hand-drive only. The company has now announced that it will start building right-hand-drive models from March of next year...
Alex Kaufmann -
Report: Limited production run planned for GTbyCitroen conceptCitroen, together with the makers of the Sony Playstation game Gran Turismo, created a new GT concept car named the ‘GTbyCitroen’ that went on display at the Paris Motor Show back in October. The concept was developed as part of the promotion for the 5th title in the long-running Gran...
Kenneth Hall -
Steve Saleen announces plans for 2010 Mustang Signature SeriesThe Saleen name is one of the best-known in the Ford tuning world, and despite his recent break with the Saleen, Inc. company he founded in 1983, Steve Saleen's new SMS Supercars project is going strong with a new range of 2010 Mustangs. Dubbed the 2010 Signature Series SMS 460 Mustang, the new...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford confirms Fiesta for U.S. in early 2010The Big Three Detroit carmakers are struggling right now, but their plans for the future are still bright, or at least optimistic - perhaps all the more so thanks to the focusing nature of the current crisis. As part of the Blue Oval's future, the Fiesta small car will finally be making its way...
Ralph Hanson -
700hp Lightning GT EV on track for 2010 launchFollowing its debut at the London Motor Show earlier this year, Britain's answer to the Tesla Roadster, the Lightning GT electric sports car, is expected to move to the next stage of development in 2009. The team behind the Lightning GT has announced that they will be producing two prototypes by...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The U.S. Senate rejected an emergency bill to provide billions of dollars of aid to the Detroit 3 carmakers late on Thursday, dashing the hopes of General Motors and Chrysler, both of which may run out of cash by the end of the year. "We have not been able to get this over the finish line," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after 10 pm, following day-long negotiations to broker a deal among lawmakers, carmakers, unions and other interest groups. Earlier this week the White House and Congress reached an agreement on most major points of the planned $14 billion rescue package, with only...
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Sweden offers $3.4 billion package to auto industryThe U.S. House of Representatives has just passed the $14 billion loan bill and it's now headed to the Senate, but that's not the end of the story. Lawmakers in Sweden have proposed their own aid package, totaling $3.4 billion for their country's auto industry. The primary players there are Saab...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford hoping to distance itself from Detroit rivalsThe demise of the Detroit 3 is unsurprisingly tarnishing the image of American carmakers, however Ford executives are hoping to distance themselves from their neighbors, General Motors and Chrysler, by refusing government loans (for now). Chrysler and GM's current financial situation is no secret...
James Martinez -
Ford enthusiast site conflict rooted in alleged sale of counterfeit goodsA number of Ford-brand enthusiast sites today revealed that at least one other site, TheRangerStation, has received a letter from a law firm claiming to represent the Blue Oval, demanding that they relinquish any domain names with Ford brands in them, as well as turn over for destruction all...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford refuses to comment on talks with Chinese firms over Volvo saleEarlier this week reports emerged that Ford was in talks with Chinese carmakers Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and Changan Auto over a potential sale of Volvo. The Blue Oval has now confirmed that the struggling Swedish carmaker is up for sale but refused to comment on whether...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Detroit carmakers approach Canada for $6.8B in loansA decision on the U.S. government's loan package is expected to come from Congress sometime today, but already carmakers are approaching the Canadian government, seeking more aid. The $6.8 billion sought from Canada would still fall short of the $25 billion originally asked for from Congress, even...
Nelson Ireson -
Labor negotiations between Volvo and Sweden's auto worker union have come to a close today, resulting in the termination of 2,721 emloyees, the vast majority of which are blue collar workers. The layoffs come as Ford has engaged Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in talks to buy the brand, according to latest reports. Ford has revealed that the company is in talks with a Chinese company for the purchase, though it hasn't confirmed SAIC as the suitor. SAIC's recent bid to revive the British MG marque in the UK and Europe shows its eagerness to get a toehold in the west. While the...
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Ford appoints new performance vehicles chiefFord Motors is stepping up its efforts in performance vehicles, with a senior employee being appointed to the newly created position of Director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. Jost Capito will be taking up the position at the beginning of next year, and will be...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford ending production of Taurus X and Mercury SableFord’s North American lineup will be experiencing a major overhaul over the next couple of years, with the entire lineup expected to be completely upgraded by 2010 and six new European models set to join the ranks. The biggest impact is the considerable shift towards smaller vehicles and more...
James Martinez -
Washington: Automakers, Senators working on solutionThe CEOs of America's major carmakers, before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee today, are acknowledging their past shortcomings but also projecting future strategies based on lessons learned. Lawmakers thus far appear to be more receptive to the idea of loans now that the...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: Ford seeking $6 billion from Volvo saleFord recently announced that it was opening up consideration of 'strategic options' for its Volvo brand, reversing repeated denials that the Swedish carmaker would be sold. According to the latest reports, Ford has approached the government of Sweden for aid to help prop up Volvo and is now seeking...
Jeremy Weber -
GM CEO will head to Washington in a Chevrolet VoltPreviously we reported that GM CEO Rick Wagoner would be driving a Malibu hybrid to Washington for this week's auto industry bailout hearings, however it has come to light that he will actually be driving the company's much anticipated Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. Wagoner will be driving a...
Ralph Hanson