Ford News
-
Set to be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford’s new Kuga compact crossover has been revealed ahead of its embargo date by Spanish publication KM77. The concept appears to feature many stylistic elements shared with Ford’s Verve concept such as the oversized trapezoidal front bumper, side-mirrors and glasshouse. Though labelled a concept car, the Kuga is actually very close to production spec. A production version of the Kuga will go on sale in Europe in the second half of next year and will be the first Blue Oval product in Europe available with a hybrid...
-
More details on Ford's global futureFord’s future involves a reduction in the current number of vehicle platforms it uses across the globe and a rise in the number of common models sold in different markets. The move is part of Alan Mulally's plan to streamline the development process within the Ford Empire in an effort to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford’s next-gen Fiesta could be badged VerveTo emphasize its global ambitions for the next-gen Fiesta compact, Ford is considering dropping the longstanding nameplate in favor of the new Verve label. Due to hit the streets towards the end of next year, Ford’s replacement for the Fiesta will be displayed in concept form at the upcoming...
Siddarth Raja -
Ford launching low CO2 "ECOnetic" range in FrankfurtFord is the latest carmaker to launch a new range of ultra-low CO2 emitting vehicles, with next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show the venue for the debut of the new ECOnetic line. The cars will use a combination of ultra-efficient diesel powertrains as well as other fuel-saving and exhaust...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Updated: Ford presenting Verve Concept at FrankfurtFord’s Verve Concept, set to be unveiled at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show gives us a preview of the new global design theme for all future Blue Oval small cars. The new Verve is also the first of three new concept cars representing a future hatch that will be sold in Europe, Asia...
Siddarth Raja -
More details on Ford's global platform sharingFord’s future small and mid-sized cars will share common vehicle platforms across the globe and will be the keystone of CEO Alan Mulally’s strategy to help shed costs and turn around the fortunes of the struggling carmaker. The first of these new global cars will be the next-gen Fiesta...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
As Ford’s sale of the Jaguar and Land Rover labels ensues, more details surrounding the sale have emerged. Ford exec Lewis Booth has denied claims that an announcement of the sale is to be made at Frankfurt and instead hints that this year’s end or early 2008 is a more likely date for announcing the new buyer. Bidding for Ford include several private equity firms, which are being aided by former Ford CEO Jac Nasser and ex-president and chief operating officer Sir Nick Scheele. Now it’s been revealed that the former chief executive and chairman of the Jaguar and Land Rover...
-
DCX in deal with Ford to win back Daimler nameThe Daimler name is actually owned by a small UK carmaker owned by Ford Premier Auto Group’s Jaguar, which sells re-badged Jaguar XJ saloons as the Super Eight. Jaguar attained the rights to the company in 1960 when it bought the UK subsidiary established by Germany’s Gottfried Daimler...
Alex Kaufmann -
Ford to present Fiesta concept at 2007 Frankfurt auto showPint-sized autos seems to be the theme of this year’s Frankfurt auto show, with Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] the latest in a long line of carmakers expected to present new small car concepts at the upcoming show. The Blue Oval will be showcasing a concept version of its next-generation Fiesta...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford considers more exports for South AmericaFord is considering increasing the number of North American-built vehicles it sells in South America as demand in the continent experiences record gains. Though no plans have been finalized, Ford’s president of its South American division Dominic DiMarco says there are a number of options...
Alex Kaufmann -
Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 breaks fuel-cell recordThe Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 sedan has entered the record books as the world’s fastest hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle with a record speed of 207.297mph. A small team composed of enthusiasts from Ford, the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing...
James Martinez -
Ford To Meet With India’s Tata And MahindraOne of the key parties bidding for the Jaguar and Land Rover labels is a group consisting of Indian manufacturers Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, and according to latest reports Ford bosses are planning to meet with the bidders ahead of due diligence scheduled for later this month. The...
Siddarth Raja -
Ford is testing a new engine that injects small amounts of ethanol into the cylinder during high loads that’s said to develop up to three times the torque of a conventional petrol engine. The technology was pioneered by a start-up company at MIT and is just one avenue that Ford is investigating in its quest for more efficient powertrains. The new engine runs on normal petrol but at much higher pressures. A direct injection fuel injector pumps small amounts of ethanol into the cylinder which is said to keep the fuel-air mix from burning early preventing knock. The design would allow for...
-
Ford boss says higher U.S. fuel taxes not so badFord CEO Alan Mulally has told reporters at the Management Briefing Seminars today that higher fuel taxes would be a better alternative to raising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) to reduce fuel usage and emissions. The CAFE proposal being voted by the US government would see carmakers forced...
Ralph Hanson -
Preview: 2009 Ford Kuga CrossoverFord has already released its own official drawing of the new Kuga crossover as a concept, and, we now have a new image that reveals what a closer-to-final production version may look like. The new Kuga is scheduled to enter production at Ford’s Saarlouis plant in Germany early next year and...
Alex Kaufmann -
Long-wheelbase Ford Mondeo spotted in ChinaFord has developed a special long-wheelbase version of the new Mondeo sedan and the model was spotted recently in China where it joins other China-specific LWB models from the likes of BMW and Volkswagen Group. The first pictures of the stretched Mondeo have turned up on the Chinese forum...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford posts $750m profit for Q2Ford has reported a surprise profit of $750 million for the second-quarter, which comes after seven consecutive quarters in the red. Reasons cited for the positive result include recent cost-cutting and an improvement in the Blue Oval’s core automotive operations. The carmaker is currently...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
New Kuga will be Ford's first hybrid in EuropeFord is set to unveil a concept version of its new Kuga mid-sized crossover at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, which will be powered by the Blue Oval’s latest petrol-electric hybrid technology. The new hybrid drivetrain will eventually flow on to production versions, making it the first...
Ralph Hanson -
Private investment in car companies is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise to see equity firms circling the Land Rover and Jaguar sales like vultures. The last firm to express its interest is TPG, an American firm that owns stakes in MGM, Neiman Marcus, Alltel Wireless and is even considering a purchase of Qantas, Australia’s biggest airline. The only other automotive asset owned by TPG is the motorbike manufacturer Ducati. The purchase of both companies would be a drop in the pond for TPG, which has the brains and cash to turn both around. A Ford spokesman was quoted as...
-
Ford Oz to develop new RWD lineup, twin-turbo V6 destined for MustangFord may mimic General Motors by developing its next-gen RWD architecture in Australia for vehicles scheduled to arrive by 2011. The plans are under consideration at Ford HQ in Dearborn, and stipulate that Aussie engineers will develop the drivetrains for the new Mustang as well as the Crown...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Kuga and C-max destined for US?Yesterday, Ford revealed a drawing of a new compact crossover model that’s scheduled to hit European showrooms early next year where it joins other spectacular Blue Oval models such as the C-Max MPV as well as the new Mondeo sedan and Focus hatch. Now, Ford CEO Alan Mulally and product...
Alex Kaufmann -
Europe to get Ford Kuga crossover in early ‘08Ford will present a preview of its Kuga crossover at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, a new model based on the iosis X concept car that’s due to go into production early next year. At the unveiling of the iosis X at the Paris Show back in 2006, Ford announced that it would have a...
James Martinez -
End of the line for Ford Australia’s inline sixAustralia’s famous RWD 6-cylinder cars are under attack from high fuel prices. Aussies are moving to smaller cars and smaller engines and it’s just not worth building them locally when you can import them without the added production costs. The current inline six will be replaced with a...
Kenneth Hall -
Hyundai not interested in Jaguar, Land Rover or VolvoThere’s been no end to the list of potential bidders for Ford Premier Auto Group brands - Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. Carmakers such as BMW, Renault and Hyundai were all thrown into the rumor mill as well as equity firms Cerberus, Blackstone and Equity One as suitors but more details are...
Ralph Hanson