Category Archives: Ford

Ford Focus’ appeal for teen drivers

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Posted in Ford

Mom and dads contemplating the first car of their teenager may consider buying the Ford Focus, which aside from its reasonable pricing and European style, comes with an innovative Sync system that allows voice commands to control the iPod and other smartphones.

The 2008 Ford Focus feels and looks entirely different from its 2007 predecessor, inside and out. The 2008 line-up now includes a 3- and 5-door hatchbacks and wagon, and a new two-door coupe. It boasts an EPA fuel economy of 24 MPG city, 33-35 MPG highway and is reasonably priced at about $14,600 for a brand new one.

But perhaps, Focus’ most attractive feature is its optional Microsoft-designed Sync system, which provides seamless integration with media players and Bluetooth phones. Sync can read incoming text messages out loud, and can text useful one-liners like “Be there in 10 minutes” and “I love you.” It can also recognize voice commands to control music so drivers don’t need to fumble with their controls while driving.

Ford Focus’ Sync system not only adds fun to driving. It’s a great driving safety tool that parents would surely want to have for their teens.

Ford unveils software to liven up driving

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Auto Industry News, Ford

The U.S. car maker Ford has released a new software called SYNC AppLink, which will make possible hands-free control of certain technologies via Android and Blackberry smart phone applications.

While the software will launch on the 2011 USA Fiesta, Ford said that the software will be made available to older Ford models that run its in-car connectivity system called SYNC. Ford also plans to create a developer community to encourage the development of apps for Ford cars.

Ford said the AppLink will allow drivers and passengers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Some of the apps that motorists will be able to control include the online radio provider Pandora and the micro-blogging site Twitter.

“The growth in smart phone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization, said in a news release.

Studies have shown that the mobile app development, which was a niche market just three years ago, will grow into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Mobile devices will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Ford agrees to sell Volvo to Chinese automaker

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Posted in Ford, Volvo - DO NOT USE

Officials with Ford have reached an agreement to sell the company’s Volvo brand to China’s Geely Holding Company in an effort to streamline their business and become profitable again.

The sale marks the second time in as many months that an American automaker had agreed to hand over one of its divisions to a foreign power at a reduced price due to financial difficulties. Last month, General Motors sold its Saab brand to the Dutch supercar maker Spyker after nearly shutting down the division just weeks before the deal was signed.

As part of the agreement, Geely will pay Ford approximately $1.8 billion by the end of the third quarter, and the Detroit-based automaker will continue to build powertrains, stamping and other parts for Volvo after the sale is completed, according to Auto Week.

As for Volvo, which has become a hallmark for quality engineering and vehicle safety, Geely plans on “liberating” the Swedish brand by aggressively developing and marketing vehicles on a worldwide level.

“China, the largest car market in the world, will become Volvo’s second home market,” Geely chairman Li Shufu said in a statement. “Volvo will be uniquely positioned as a world-leading premium brand, tapping into the opportunities in the fast-growing China market.”

Shufu added that his company plans to invest at least $900 million of new capital into Volvo in the near future, and will open a new production facility in China to increase development in the East. However, Geely will not move Volvo’s main development offices nor its Swedish headquarters, and plans to keep the two companies completely separate, Reuters reports.

Meanwhile, the sale will allow Ford the financial flexibility to develop and manufacture new lines and to concentrate on the domestic market, where they have always had the most success.

Unfortunately, the agreement might spell the end for Ford Company veteran Steven Odell, who is expected to step down as the chief executive officer at Volvo soon after the sale is completed. However, many believe that Odell, who has been a major player within Ford’s organization for years, will stay on with the company after being relieved of his duties, Business Week reports.

“Odell’s been with Ford so long and is loyal to it; that’s where his heart is,” said Thomas Ivonen, a board member with Volvo. “I feel certain he will remain with Ford.”

Remembering the Ford Mustang

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Posted in Ford

Donald Frey, the former senior product manager at Ford and the co-creator of the transcendent Mustang coupe, passed away on March 5 at the age of 87.

Frey was hired by Ford in the early 1960s to lead a low-cost campaign to develop a powerful sports car following the historically colossal flop known as the Edsel, Auto Week reports. To cut costs, Frey, Lee Iacocca and the rest of the executives at Ford decided to borrow the platform and instrument panel from the Falcon, and just 18 months later the Mustang was born.

The very first Ford Mustang coupe was unveiled on April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair. Although Ford expected to sell just more than 80,000 Mustangs in its debut year, over 400,000 were purchased in the first 8 months of production.

More than 45 years later, the Ford Mustang is still a hot commodity. In 2007, the Mustang GT shook up the automotive world with an aggressive exterior redesign and a shockingly powerful new engine. The ’07 Mustang GT is equipped with a 300 horsepower, five-speed V8 engine that can move from 0 to 60 in just 5.5 seconds.

New Jersey Nets guard walks away unharmed after one-car accident

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Ford, GMC - DO NOT USE, Infiniti - DO NOT USE

Late last month, New Jersey Nets star Keyon Dooling received an assist from the Closter Police Department after crashing his Infiniti sports utility vehicle during one of February’s most violent snowstorms.

The Nets backup point guard was on his way to practice on February 25 when he hit an ice patch, slid over the curb and blew one of his tires before colliding with a stop sign, according to NJ.com. Ironically, the Nets had cancelled practice just minutes before Dooling’s accident due to the inclement snowstorm, but he had left early to try to beat the weather and was not home to receive the call.

“I have to get here at least two hours before practice to get my body going,” laughed the veteran, who has been bit by the injury bug during each of his four stops with NBA teams.

Luckily for Dooling, who walked away unharmed after the accident, the Nets sent an intern driving a GMC SUV “with some good old American muscle” to pick up the club’s second leading assist man.

Dooling indicated to reporters after the accident that he planned to ditch his SUV for a Ford pickup, which is better equipped to handle the winter conditions in New Jersey.

American automakers score well in new reliability survery

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford, General Auto News, Toyota

On the heels of a few troubling months, the U.S. automotive industry received some terrific news this week. On Thursday, J.D. Power and Associates unveiled their 2010 Vehicle Dependability Survey, which found that Ford, Buick and Cadillac all decreased the number of problems with their vehicles.

The annual survey, which rates 3-year old cars based on how many problems they average per 100 vehicles, found that 25 of 36 vehicle brands manufactured in 2007 showed improved long-term durability compared to the previous year, the Daily Finance reports.

Among the top 10 most reliable 2007 brands are Ford, Mercury, Honda, Toyota and Lincoln. In fact, all three Ford divisions finished in the top eight in the survey.

“These results, along with other consumer-driven indicators, show that we are making solid progress on our promise to deliver high initial quality, long-term durability and overall customer satisfaction,” said Bennie Fowler, group vice president for global quality at Ford.

Toyota also had an extremely strong showing, with the Prius and Corolla finishing first and second in the compact car segment. The Sequoia and the Tundra also earned high marks in the multi-activity and large pickup categories.

Florida woman arrested for driving while shaving – her bikini line

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

In a criminal case taken right from a movie script, a Florida woman was arrested last week after crashing her car into another vehicle while shaving her bikini line in traffic.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 37-year-old Meghan Barnes was on her way to Key West to visit her boyfriend when she decided to shave her pubic region. While driving approximately 45 miles per hour through Cudjoe Key last Tuesday, Barnes handed the steering wheel over to her ex-husband – who was riding in the passenger seat – so she could finish the job.

Unfortunately, the plan fell apart when an SUV slowed down in front of Barnes’ Ford Thunderbird and she crashed into the back of it, causing minor injuries to the occupants of the other vehicle.

“If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it,” arresting officer Gary Dunick told the local newspaper, The Citizen.

The police report indicates that Barnes and her ex-husband drove for another half-mile after the accident and switched seats to make it look like he was driving. She was charged with driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving without valid insurance. Police also told the Citizen that Barnes had been arrested for a DUI the day before and had her car impounded.

NYC ranked 20th best U.S. city for auto repair

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

Owners of used cars in New York have reason to celebrate; repair shops in your home city generally provide customers with fair quotes for auto repair. In a recent study by AutoMD.com, titled Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness, researchers ranked New York City as the 20th best large U.S. city for auto repair.

To conduct the research, AutoMD.com had mystery shoppers stop by over 600 maintenance shops in the 50 largest U.S. cities and request a quote on a typical auto repair job – a front brake pad replacement for a 2004 Ford Focus. The top 50 list was calculated based on each city’s average repair affordability, price disparity between shops in the same city and general shop integrity.

New York City ranked 16th in repair affordability, 32nd in price disparity and 19th in shop integrity.

“Doing your research is critical to getting a fair shake at the repair shop,” said AutoMD President Shane Evangelist. “Fortunately, car owners now have access to online tools so they can compare local repair shops, establish a local market repair invoice price and make sure that they get a fair deal.”

Overall, Memphis topped AutoMD’s list, while Chicago was ranked dead last.

Miata, Mustang and Beetle: The most affordable used convertibles on the road today

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Posted in Ford, Mazda - DO NOT USE, Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

With spring just around the corner, the national interest level in convertible vehicles is sure to rise. Consumers in the market for a moderately priced used convertible in New Jersey may want to take a look at the Volkswagen New Beetle, the Mazda Miata and the Ford Mustang Convertible, three of the most affordable drop top cars manufactured in 2003.

The Volkswagen Beetle is the most moderately priced car in its class. The long-awaited convertible version reappeared on the scene in 2003 after a 6-year hiatus. It features a power-folding cloth top, a rollover protection system and a six-speed automatic transmission, the first of its kind in convertibles costing less than $30,000, according to Edmunds.com.

The New Beetle is more of a cruising vehicle. With a standard 115-horsepower, ULEV-certified 2.0-liter V4 engine, it goes from 0-60 miles per hour in about 11 seconds, Inside Line reports.

For car buyers looking for a bit more power, the convertible can be purchased as a performance-oriented 180-horsepower Turbo S, which is available as a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

“The Beetle offers a unique combination of safety, fun and upscale features for its price range,” reports the news source. In 2003, a brand new Beetle convertible was priced at $21,025, making it the least expensive drop top on the market.

The 2003 Mazda Miata is a 2-seat sports car that comes standard with a manual folding soft top, although a removable hard top is available.

Introduced in the late spring of ’03 were three new versions of the Miata. The Club Sport, which is designed for racing enthusiasts, has no power steering or air conditioning. Mazda also rolled out the Shinsen version and the LS – two higher end models with unique trim.

All three Miatas come with a 142-horsepower 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic.

“It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow,” says Edmunds. “The Miata defines the spirit of the modern roadster.” In 2003, a new Mazda Miata cost $22,363.

Falling just behind the Miata in terms of price is the 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible, which is “an absolute hoot to drive,” says Automotive.com. “The Mustang is fun to drive, fun to be seen in, quick, fast, and pretty loud, with excellent handling.”

The base Mustang comes with a 190-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, but the higher end GT model is available with a 260-horsepower 4.6-liter V8, making it one of the most powerful convertibles in its class. Car buyers can choose from a five-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic.

The 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible is a bit dated in the interior and isn’t as easy on the eyes as the Miata or Beetle, but it offers a stronger on-road performance. Brand new Mustangs in 2003 cost just over $24,000.

Ford Focus wins overall used car of the decade award

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Posted in Ford

The Ford Focus Hatchback has been named the used car of the decade by the car valuation expert CAP, which may attract additional attention to used Ford models in New Jersey.

Judges explained that the Ford Focus won the prestigious award because of its versatile nature and its outstanding value.

‘The Focus shook up a conservative sector in which the only truly desirable car had for a long time been the Volkswagen Golf,” said CAP judging panel chairman Mark Norman, quoted by the Ayrshire Post. “It was a truly brave move by Ford, which created a new vehicle from scratch.”

“As a used car, it has satisfied every [criterion] for the demanding consumer who requires a true five-seat family car with quality, comfort, performance, durability, reliability, safety, economy, practicality and style,” he added.

The American car manufacturer took home several awards in the competition, including the Ford Ka’s receipt of the best secondhand model award in the small car section, the highest award given to a vehicle used solely for personal transport. Judges stated that the Ka won the award due to its affordability, low running costs and reliable engineering.

Interest in used Ford models in New Jersey may increase following the news of Ford winning such prominent awards.