Saturday, 27 October 2012
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Friday, 14 October 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
ENGINE OF FORD TAURUS
2008 Ford Taurus - Engine 2008 Ford Taurus - Engine 2008 ford taurus, features, audiophile, radio, wheel, brakes, airbags
Key Standard Features:
* Audiophile AM/FM Radio; 6-Disc CD Changer; MP3 Player
* 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
* Front Side Airbags
Key Technical Specs
Standard Engine
3.5L V6
Standard Transmission
6 Speed Automatic
Cylinders
6
Horsepower @ RPM
263@6251
Torque @ RPM
249@4501 (foot-lbs)
2008 Ford Taurus - Engine 2008 Ford Taurus - Engine 2008 ford taurus, features, audiophile, radio, wheel, brakes, airbags
Key Standard Features:
* Audiophile AM/FM Radio; 6-Disc CD Changer; MP3 Player
* 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
* Front Side Airbags
Key Technical Specs
Standard Engine
3.5L V6
Standard Transmission
6 Speed Automatic
Cylinders
6
Horsepower @ RPM
263@6251
Torque @ RPM
249@4501 (foot-lbs)
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Ford Motor Co.: 3.5L Twin-Turbocharged DOHC V-6
By Drew Winter
WardsAuto.com
Special Report
Ward’s 10 Best Engines
Engines that combine direct injection with turbocharging are not new to the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. Most recently, we’ve recognized the beautiful synergy of the two technologies on BMW AG’s 3.0L DOHC Twin-Turbo I-6 in the 1-Series, Mazda Motor Corp.’s DISI 2.3L turbocharged DOHC I-4 in the MazdaSpeed3 and others.
But Ford Motor Co.’s 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 is a different take on the technology.It represents the cornerstone of a massive global engine downsizing strategy aimed at dramatically improving fleet fuel economy and reducing carbon-dioxide emissions.
Gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology branded by Ford as “EcoBoost” eventually will encompass not just premium and performance vehicles, but popularly priced vehicles as well.
That includes fullsize pickups in the U.S. and 4-cyl. engines as small as 1.6L in Europe. Ford says EcoBoost will improve fuel economy up to 20% and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions as much as 15%.
As many as 1.3 million new Ford vehicles will be powered by EcoBoost technology annually by 2013, the auto maker says.
We laud Ford’s executives and engineers for launching such an ambitious plan, but that’s not what impressed jurors most about the 3.5L EcoBoost. It wasn’t even the V-6’s 365 hp or 104 hp/L specific output.
What ultimately convinced Ward’s jurors EcoBoost is the real deal is the stunning 350 lb.-ft. (475 Nm) of torque the V-6 produces at just 1,500 rpm. After starting there, it’s torque “curve” remains flat as a table top to 5,250 rpm.
That blew away some excellent V-8s vying for a spot on the list this year. The 4.6L V-8 in the Toyota Tundra has lots of low-end grunt and makes a healthy 327 lb.-ft. (443 Nm) of torque, but it doesn’t get maximum twist until 3,400 rpm.
Even the only V-8 that made our list this year, the 4.6L Tau in the Hyundai Genesis sedan, can’t match the EcoBoost with its 333 lb.-ft. (451 Nm) at 3,500 rpm. Ditto for the DI supercharged 3.0L V-6 in the Audi S4 Euro hotrod. It needs at least 2,900 rpm to reach maximum torque of 325 lb.-ft. (441 Nm).
Of course, that doesn’t mean judges spent all their time staring at torque charts. The EcoBoost did an admirable job motivating the big and beefy Taurus SHO, whose porky 4,368 lbs. (1981 kg) would challenge the strongest, biggest-displacement V-8.
And it delivered decent fuel economy considering it’s a high-performance engine in a beast of a car: 17/25 mpg (13.8-9.4 L/100 km). That’s exactly the same as the thrifty Tau V-8 in the Genesis sedan, which is more than 350 lbs. (159 kg) lighter.
If the SHO suffers any negative feedback in this area, we can only hope the body will tell the engine: “Look, it’s not you, it’s me.”
We’re convinced the Ford 3.5L EcoBoost is going to make the world a better place, in more ways than one.
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Monday, December 28, 2009, 02:15 PM - Technology
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Ford Motor Co.: 2.5L DOHC I-4 HEV
By Drew Winter
WardsAuto.com,
Special Report
Ward’s 10 Best Engines
The best way to ensure a return appearance on the Ward’s 10 Best Engines list is to substantially improve on what you did the previous year. Ford Motor Co. did that in spades with its hybrid system in the ’10 Fusion sedan.
A winner in 2009 when we tested it in the Escape Hybrid, the system in the Fusion Hybrid boasts mechanical, engineering and software upgrades. The result is smoother power transitions from gas to electric assist, the ability to drive faster in all-electric mode and even better fuel economy.
The Escape Hybrid impressed us last year with 34/31 mpg (6.9-7.5 L/100 km) city/highway, numbers we easily exceeded during testing.
The Fusion Hybrid offers an even better rating, 41/36 mpg (5.7-6.5 L/100 km). We also easily beat those in real-world driving.
“I reached 55.2 mpg (4.3 L/100 km) during a highway run,” brags Ward’s AutoWorld Executive Editor Tom Murphy.
Both vehicles use the same 2.5L DOHC I-4 operating on the Atkinson combustion cycle, but the Fusion makes 156 hp vs. 153 hp in the Escape. The torque peak of 136 lb.-ft. (184 Nm) arrives much earlier in the Fusion as well: 2,250 rpm compared with 4,500 rpm in the Escape.
Total system power goes up too: 191 hp instead of 177 hp in the Escape, even though the electric motor is smaller (275 volts vs. 330 volts).
Ford says the system upgrades allow the Fusion Hybrid to operate longer at higher speeds in electric mode, up to 47 mph (76 km/h). That’s about 7 mph (11 km/h) faster than the CUV. Editor Murphy managed 40 mph (64 km/h) in EV mode.
Judges also noted the interaction of internal-combustion and electric-power sources was even more seamless. That’s because the transaxle on the Escape still is a first-generation model with software and control-strategy improvements.
The new Fusion features the next-generation transaxle with a downsized traction motor and generator, plus the addition of a variable voltage controller that allows the electric motor output to hit 160% of rated power.
Credit also goes to Ford’s aggressive use of engine braking, instead of foundation brakes, to initially – and smoothly – slow the vehicle during deceleration.
This technical tweak, combined with the ability to stop the engine during deceleration and start it up again during acceleration so effortlessly the driver does not even notice, led to high marks in the noise, vibration and harshness department.
“Near flawless,” gushes Ward’s Dealer Business Editor Steve Finlay.
Because they are designed to be HEVs and not plug-in electrics, both the CUV and the sedan only can drive about 1 mile (1.6 km) under full electric power. But that’s plenty of time to deliver a unique and addictive driving experience, something we never, ever, thought we’d find in an HEV.
Sunday, December 27, 2009, 10:41 AM - Power
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by Jonathon Ramsey Posted by Administrator
401-hp Ford Focus tuned Mcchip-dkr
There are few things we love more than hooning around in a vigorous, purebred sports car – and that's exactly how Mcchip-dkr describes its 401-horsepower Ford Focus RS. That's the Stage 2 version delivering the "whole-blood athlete," but if you want to work your way up to those heights, you can get the Stage 1 conversion for €799 ($1,142 USD). You'll take your hatch from 301 stock horsepower to 345 and bump torque by about 50 lb-ft to 383 with an ECU upgrade.
But if 401 is your lucky horsepower number and you like the sound of 457 lb-ft. of torque, then you'll need €4,499 ($6,421 U.S.). That pile of pounds will give you access to a new manifold, uprated intercooler, spark plugs, and a sports exhaust as well as the necessary ECU tweaks. Mcchip-dkr thankfully didn't do anything regrettable to the Focus RS' already terrific looks. What they've done with torque steer outside of the stock RS' trick Revoknuckle and limited-slip setup is anyone's guess.
Have a look at the press release after the jump, and there are more images of the car in the high-res gallery below.
Gallery: Mcchip-dkr Focus RS
[Source: Mcchip-dkr]
PRESS RELEASE
Focus RS with 401 HP – by Mcchip-dkr GmbH
December 2009 -- Quick as a bird and dressed with sportive elegance – these are the strengths of new Ford Focus RS. But in case of Mcchip-dkr still there is another characteristic to add: it is vigorous like a purebred sports car!
The well-known software tuner from Salzgitter/Germany has perfectly attuned the performance to the vehicle. The result is only uncompromising fun from driving but also full suitability for daily use. The engine, completely overhauled by Mcchip-dkr, reaches enormous 401 hp.
Certainly tuned by Mcchip-dkr Focus RS is an outstanding vehicle in any situation. Mcchip offers two power upratings at once. Power stage 1 transforms serial 305 hp (440 Nm) into comfortable 345 hp with no less than 520 Nm. Power stage 1 consists „only" in software optimization made by Mcchip-dkr, available for 799 Euro, and your car will easily reach the speed of 271 km/h.
However it is power stage 2 for 4,499 Euro that transforms Focus RS into a whole-blood athlete. Power stage 2 gives the car even 401 hp. That is enough to accelerate RS up to 278 km/h without any problems. In addition to that the torque equals to 612 Nm. That means powerful pulling and dynamic drive. The „big" power stage consists in the enhanced intercooler and sports exhaust system, modified inlet manifold incl. tubes, special sparking plugs as well as world famous and in-house engine electronics.
Self-confident and fast – that is the look of the recent creation by Mcchip-dkr, already available...
More information about the large Mcchip-dkr Improvement - program is available under: www.mcchip-dkr.com
Sunday, December 27, 2009, 10:37 AM - product
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by Jeremy Korzeniewski Posted by Administrator
There's seemingly no end to the lists and awards that can be dolled out to (sometimes questionably) deserving cars and trucks at the end of the year. Take, for instance, the Urban Automobile of the Year Award by On Wheels Media. This is the 14th year in a row the award has been passed out, and this year top billing goes to the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.
Athletic, upscale, class-leading, confident, engaging and impressive are all words that seem befitting of an award winner, and you'll find all of them in the press release after the break describing the new SHO. But wait – there's more! We have a second Urban AOTY, this one on the green side of the coin. With the latest Toyota Prius and Honda Insight obvious choices for such an award, Ford is surely happy to see that its 2010 Fusion Hybrid – the most fuel efficient midsize sedan in America at 41 city, 36 highway – earned the trophy, giving the Blue Oval a total sweep of the ceremony.
So, what qualifies a vehicle to be an Urban Automobile of the Year, anyway? Glad you asked. According to Randi Payton, president and publisher of On Wheels Media, "The Urban Automobiles of the Year resonate with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel-efficient and have performance and safety characteristics relevant to consumers in metropolitan areas." So, there you have it.
Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
Ford Taurus SHO & Fusion Hybrid Named 2010 Urban Autos of the Year
The Ford Taurus SHO America's smartest full-size sedan has been named '2010 Urban Car of the Year' by On Wheels Media and an independent panel of 15 automotive journalists
The Ford Fusion Hybrid America's most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan has been named '2010 Urban Green Vehicle of the Year' by On Wheels Media, the fifth award for Fusion in recent months
The awards will be presented during the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards taking place in Detroit on January 12, 2010
The Ford Fusion Hybrid America's most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan has been named '2010 Urban Green Vehicle of the Year' by On Wheels Media, the fifth award for Fusion in recent months
The awards will be presented during the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards taking place in Detroit on January 12, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009, 04:41 PM - Technology
Posted by Administrator
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Human touch is highly subjective and complex, making it difficult to replicate in a lab. So designers of vehicle interiors have historically relied on direct feedback from customers to determine which visual and tactile interior environments pleased most people. However, the results were unscientific and sometimes resulted in customers feeling unsatisfied and uninspired by their driving experience.
To energize dull, lifeless interiors, Ford Motor Company has developed a secret weapon: A robot known as RUTH – short for Robotized Unit for Tactility and Haptics. RUTH enables Ford engineers to refine various touch points around the vehicle’s interior to objectively meet a wide range of subjective customer preferences. Ford is the world’s first automaker to use a robot to scientifically test the feel and appearance of switches and surfaces.
Engineers at Ford’s European Research Center in Aachen, Germany used the robot in developing the interiors of the European models of the new Focus and Fiesta, versions of which are coming to the United States in 2010.
Weird science
RUTH brings a scientific, three-dimensional approach to touch. Friction, force, roughness, softness and temperature are among the parameters measured throughout the vehicle’s interior. The measurements taken are then compared and correlated to consumer feedback on what is perceived as having a high-quality appearance and feel. The output from this research is helping engineers generate measurements for the “Ford DNA” – a consistent signature look and feel – for different parts of the interior, such as the armrest or steering wheel.
The advantage RUTH has over a human is its higher perception resolution. For example, Ford engineers can take a consumer’s perception of soft or cool and then establish scientific measurements that meet those characteristics.
Unlike some automakers that test components or materials in a lab setting, apart from the actual vehicle application, RUTH assumes the role of the driver and can feel components inside three-dimensional spaces, such as a design prototype. RUTH mimics complex human movements, from pushing knobs to adjusting the air vents, just as the customer experiences it. Other systems have only linear or rotary measurements, which typically fall short when it comes to replicating customer operation.
Some examples of RUTH’s uses include:
•Measuring the resistance of pushing buttons and turning knobs to make sure they don’t feel too loose or have too much resistance. The robot also compares the different buttons and knobs to one another, to ensure they have a uniform feel.
•Determining softness, hardness and texture of surfaces like the dashboard to ensure they fall within limits consumers have shown they prefer.
•Taking the temperature of components so materials match expectations. For instance, a metallic-colored knob should feel cool, while a wooden trim piece should feel warm in order to be perceived as high quality.
•Measuring the spaces between pieces to minimize gaps for a tight look throughout.
Ford modified the robot – typically a model used to package consumer products in manufacturing plants – for its specific scientific purposes. Besides the new Fiesta and Focus, Ford engineers have used RUTH to refine the interiors of Ford of Europe’s Mondeo, Galaxy, S-MAX and C-MAX. It’s been in use for about four years, with its work is now being reflected in Ford production models around the world.
Quotes
“Instead of telling our suppliers we want a certain surface soft, we can give them the data curve for a particular softness requirement based on RUTH’s calculations. This means a characteristic like soft is no longer a subjective input. We can provide our suppliers with objective data so that the final product is so precise that we practically eliminate the need for numerous iterations to get what we want.”
– Mark Spingler, Vehicle Interior Technologies Engineer for Ford of Europe
“All of these little measurements add up to a much greater sense of quality from the moment you sit down inside a Ford. We’re leading the way in measuring touch so that high quality interiors can be delivered in affordable cars, not just expensive luxury models. We’re able to convey in numbers exactly how something needs to feel and build exactly to those specifications. It takes the guesswork out and replaces it with science.”
Friday, December 25, 2009, 02:45 PM - Technology
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Ford Motor Company is the only automaker to use the same type of motion-capture software in its virtual engineering labs as Hollywood employs to create such motion pictures as “Avatar,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Polar Express”
•Ford uses motion-capture software for a variety of automotive applications including the study of human movement for better ergonomics, immersive virtual driving experiences, and virtual manufacturing
•The technology is the latest innovation at Ford to help engineers optimize vehicle design, comfort and ergonomics. The work from this technology is being applied to future products
VIDEO: Human Occupant Package Simulator (HOPS)
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 24, 2009 – Leaping into the world of virtual engineering, Ford Motor Company now employs the same type of motion-capture technology used to create films like “Avatar,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Shrek” to design vehicles that are more comfortable and enjoyable to drive.
Motion-capture, a technology that digitally captures movement, is used by Hollywood computer animators and video game designers to make nonhuman characters appear more lifelike. Ford uses the technology to create realistic digital humans that engineers use to test vehicles in the virtual world. Ford is the only automaker to use motion-capture software in this way for vehicle design.
“Just like in the movies, we hook people up with sensors to understand exactly how they move when they are interacting with their vehicles,” said Gary Strumolo, manager, Ford research and engineering. “Once we have all that motion captured, we create virtual humans that we can use to run thousands of tests that help us understand how people of all sizes and shapes interact with all kinds of vehicle designs. It’s an incredibly efficient way of engineering tomorrow’s vehicles.”
Capturing motion in movies and cars
One of the newest ways Ford is using motion-capture technology is through a system called Human Occupant Package Simulator (HOPS), which combines motion-capture software with a special test vehicle to measure and evaluate body motion.
A human test subject is outfitted with up to 50 motion-capture sensors. The test subject performs a series of movements, such as swinging a leg outside of the vehicle or reaching for the seat belt. The markers record trajectories of the test subject’s movements. The recordings are then loaded into a database to create digital human models.
Ford engineers use the digital human models to evaluate movement using different virtual vehicle design proposals from a small car to a full-size pickup truck. The system also can be reconfigured to represent the driver and the front, second or even third-row passenger compartments.
The HOPS motion-capture technology allows engineers to apply a more scientific approach to understanding how people interact with vehicles.
“Comfort or discomfort is inherently a subjective measure,” said Nanxin Wang, Ford technical leader. “For a given vehicle, some people will say it’s comfortable to get in, while others may say just the opposite. The challenge is to find out why people feel that way and how we can change the design to improve the perception.
“Before HOPS, the only way to evaluate a given design was to have people get into a vehicle and tell us how they liked it,” Wang continued. “This took lots of time and guesswork. Now we can couple this subjective appraisal with objective measurements of their arms, legs and head movements, along with muscular efforts to quantify movement mathematically. Our design teams use the data as a guide for developing a variety of vehicle platforms that provide optimal comfort, regardless of a person’s size or shape.”
Creating a holistic experience
Ford also is applying motion-capture animation software to improve real-life driving situations before the first prototype is even built. In Ford’s Immersive Virtual Evaluation (iVE) lab, engineers create virtual vehicles complete with exterior views with buildings, intersections and pedestrians.
“This technology enables us to evaluate many vehicle exterior and interior alternatives in a virtual environment from any location – in the driver’s seat or hundreds of feet away from the vehicle – with animated characters and vehicles,” said Elizabeth Baron, a technical specialist in Virtual Reality and Advanced Visualization at Ford.
Two specialized tools used in the iVE lab are the Cave Automated Virtual Environment (CAVE) and the Programmable Vehicle Model (PVM).
“The CAVE is a room where images are projected in stereo onto three walls and the ceiling to generate real-time, virtual vehicle interiors and exteriors at actual scale,” explained Baron. “When you look around, you can see virtually everything inside and outside of a vehicle that is still only a design in a computer.”
The PVM, an adjustable physical device that can be scaled to the actual dimensions of a car or truck, provides an even greater realistic experience by adding the element of touch.
“We set up key dimensions – steering wheel, gas, brake, center stack, etc. – and then we put the virtual world around that physical model,” said Baron. “Instead of being in a room, you’re actually sitting in a representation of the vehicle. You can touch and feel most everything, but what you’re looking at is digital.”
Both virtual design tools help Ford improve the design aesthetics, engineering and ergonomics of its cars and trucks. They also enable the company to bring products to market faster and more cost effectively
Another Article on the TAURUS:2010 TAURUS EARNS FIVE-STAR CRASH RATINGS, PIONEERS FAST-SELLING CRASH-AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES
Friday, December 25, 2009, 02:39 PM - Technology
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2010 Ford Taurus
.•The new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned the U.S. government’s top five-star ratings for driver and passenger in front and side crash tests
•The new Taurus has an advanced crash safety structure, a standard suite of advanced restraint and air bag technologies, and previously earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” – adding to Ford’s industry-leading number of top crash safety-rated vehicles
•Taurus advanced collision avoidance technologies, including radar-enabled advanced collision warning system and Cross Traffic Alert that warns drivers of hard-to-see parking lot traffic, are well received by consumers
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 24, 2009 – The strong-selling new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned top five-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is seeing good consumer response to its suite of advanced crash-avoidance technologies.
The redesigned Ford flagship sedan previously earned a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Ford Motor Company has more IIHS “Top Safety Picks” and NHTSA five-star ratings than any other automaker.
“The new Taurus is the Ford safety flagship with top safety ratings and advanced crash-protection and crash-avoidance technologies that you may not find in luxury vehicles that cost twice as much,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president for Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “A stiffer body structure and new crash-avoidance technologies make the Taurus even safer.”
Safety sells
The new Taurus features crash-avoidance technologies, such as a segment-first, radar-based forward collision warning system that helps drivers avoid accidents. The system, enabled by Adaptive Cruise Control, uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal and an audible warning when slower-moving traffic is detected ahead.
One in three purchasers of the Taurus Limited AWD opts for Adaptive Cruise Control with the Collision Warning with Brake Support system, as do nearly half of Taurus SHO buyers.
The new Taurus is selling faster than its key competitors in the full-size segment – Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse and Chrysler 300 – recording double-digit percentage, year-over-year growth, said Taurus Marketing Manager Pei-Wen Hsu.
“What’s remarkable is that more than 90 percent of Taurus customers are ordering the higher-end series or additional technologies such as the fuel-efficient EcoBoost™ engine and Ford’s advanced safety features,” said Hsu. “The car is attracting younger, more diverse and affluent customers than it has in the past.”
Safety leadership grows
The new 2010 Taurus earned the five-star and “Top Safety Pick” ratings based in part on advanced features such as the Personal Safety System™ – a suite of protection technologies, including dual-stage front air bags and front-passenger weight classification, which work together to help protect occupants in moderate to severe crashes. The Ford-exclusive Safety Canopy® features side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side-impact crashes.
The new Taurus also features some of the industry’s first side air bags that use pressure pulses from a side impact to deploy up to 30 percent faster than traditional air bags with acceleration-based sensors. Pressure-based sensors more accurately measure crash severity to better differentiate between a potentially serious air bag-deployable crash and a less serious accident that would not require air bag protection.
Other key safety features include:
•Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement (SPACE®) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle.
•Trinity Front Crash Architecture is a new body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing structure features octagonal front frame rails, engine cradle/front subframe and “shotgun” front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.
•AdvanceTrac® with ESC (Electronic Stability Control) constantly monitors road conditions and the driver’s responses, using sensors to detect and measure the vehicle’s oversteer and yaw to help detect and prevent potentially dangerous conditions.
More driver-aid and safety technologies
The new Taurus features other segment-exclusive safety and driver-aid technologies such as MyKey™, which helps parents encourage their teens to drive safer with top speed and audio limits, as well as a “no belts, no tunes” feature that mutes the audio system if front seat belts are not buckled.
Taurus also helps lessen common stresses with a Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) that uses two multiple-beam radar modules to detect and help warn drivers of an approaching vehicle entering the defined blind spot zone. Cross Traffic Alert uses the BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot.
“We want to help drivers avoid crashes while giving them enhanced protection if a crash does occur,” said Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems.
Friday, December 25, 2009, 02:30 PM - Technology
Posted by Administrator
Posted by Administrator
12/25/2009, By Andrew Ganz
Ford says that its first ever North American application of the three blink turn signal technology – where a light tap of the lever in either direction blinks the lights three times before self-canceling for quick lane changes – will debut on its all-new Fiesta in 2010.
Ford is hardly the first automaker to offer the technology; first introduced by the Germans about a decade ago as an autobahn tool, the feature has found its way into most of Europe’s offerings, as well as a good number from Japan and Detroit. Ford is one of the last major automakers to offer the convenience feature.
The automaker says it introduced the system in response to a list of the “Top 10 Driving Pet Peeves” compiled by Hagerty Insurance. The survey nicknamed those who leave their turn signals on for an extended period as “Morse Coders.”
The system will also show up on Ford’s upcoming 2011 Super Duty and we’d expect it to arrive on pretty much every new Ford from here on out.
Friday, December 25, 2009, 02:23 PM - product
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Ford Taurus earns five-star crash ratingsPosted by Administrator
Posted By Mark Kleis On December 25 @ 4:22 am
Although the all-new Ford Taurus has been on the market since August 2009, the Taurus had not yet received federal crash test ratings – until now. The 2010 Taurus has officially received five-star ratings for driver and passenger in front and side crash tests.
Although the Taurus has just now received official crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it already wore the title of “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
“The new Taurus is the Ford safety flagship with top safety ratings and advanced crash-protection and crash-avoidance technologies that you may not find in luxury vehicles that cost twice as much,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president for Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “A stiffer body structure and new crash-avoidance technologies make the Taurus even safer.”
Although the Taurus is engineered to handle an impact well while keeping its passengers safe, it also features crash-avoidance technologies, such as a segment-first, radar-based forward collision warning system that helps drivers avoid accidents by warning them of impending collisions. The system, enabled by Adaptive Cruise Control, uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal as well as an audible warning when slower-moving traffic is detected ahead.
Ford says that it currently holds more “Top Safety Picks” and five-star crash rated vehicles than any other automaker.
Friday, December 25, 2009, 02:14 PM - product
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12/25/2009, 12:00 PMBy Mark Elias
The Canadian fall and winter can be brutal when the roads are slick and you’ve got a lot of power to put down to the tarmac – so it’s a good thing Ford equipped the Taurus ess-aych-oh with all-wheel-drive. A brief jaunt into Ontario from Michigan up King’s Highway 402 proved that the SHO is back – just don’t pronounce it phonetically, as lame fanboys are wont to do.
After a few forgettable years with a poseur Taurus (nee Ford Five Hundred), The company brass felt ten years was a long enough wait to revive a legend in the Ford Taurus SHO.
The Taurus SHO was one of the first four-door sports sedans built in America. Starting as a mid-size model in 1989 and continuing until 1999, if started off with a Yamaha-designed, OMC-built V6 with a manual transmission, eventually winding up in 1999 as a V8 with Yamaha heads on a Cosworth block mated to an automatic tranny. After skipping a couple of generations, it re-entered the fray, returning this year as a 2010 full-sized luxury-level sedan.
But by this time, the Taurus SHO has some competition, both foreign and domestic.
As we discussed at the launch of the Taurus SHO about six months ago, rivals include Acura’s TL, Cadillac’s CTS, Chrysler’s 300C and Lexus’ GS350 all the way up to BMW’s turbocharged 535i.
To compete, Ford upped the Taurus Ante. Gone is the rental fleet darling, and in its place is a high-value full-size sedan chock full of amenities.
Playing the part
Looking like a large five-seater family sedan with a positive, or forward lean, the Taurus epitomizes the phrase “sleeper.” So subtle, in fact, the only way you could tell it was the SHO model, is by the two-toned grille, and the SHO badge on the right rear. Otherwise, expect that the spoiler and split-spoke wheels might begin showing up as dealer-installed options on a regular Taurus before long.
The Taurus is a big sedan, but it wears its proportions reasonably well. At its core, it’s a three-box design with some glitz added around to jazz things up around the greenhouse.
Unlike the Fusion, Taurus wears Ford’s new kinetic design language – expect to see more of this in the future.
Inside and out, the Taurus doesn’t scream luxury by any stretch, but the SHO still offers one of the better-designed interiors in a Ford in many years. A personal “pod” built up around the driver keeps all pertinent buttons and switchgear close at hand. When looking at the dashboard overall, with the two “brushed aluminum” eyebrows, one pictures the dashboards found in large Thunderbirds from the mid 1960s. That this retro vibe that carries over to the contemporary confines of this cockpit is a case of looking back to move forward.
We likethe ability to quickly sync a Bluetooth equipped smart phone simply by pushing the setup button and then issuing voice commands, and we appreciate the almost Korean-like level of equipment not typically found in this price range. Heated and cooled front seats, a kicking Sony-branded audio system and more – luxury brands don’t typically include this much spec with this much grunt (more on that in a minute) for another $15,000.
And probably for the first time in any Ford, this Taurus SHO’s optional multi-contoured seats feature… get this: A butt massager. Occupants of the driver’s seat bottom will be delighted, and in some cases thrilled, when they discover their chair has rollers in it to keep the blood flowing in the glutes during long cross country ventures.
Still, this interior isn’t as upscale as the Taurus SHO’s intentions would make it seem. Roomy and comfortable, absolutely. World-beating, probably not.
A seven-letter mantra
Repeat after me: Ecoboost. The twin turbo-equipped V6 has found its way into the Flex and Lincoln’s MKT, but here is where it really shines. Add to that the Haldex all-wheel-drive system from Sweden and you’ll think you are driving a safety-enhanced Volvo. No, not really, but the system adds a fair amount of stability when encountering less than ideal conditions on the tarmac.
As for powerplants, this Ecoboost 3.5 liter direct injection V6 engine is brilliant. Producing 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, and 350 lb-ft. of torque, the V6 can propel this 4,400-pound beast at high speed in an amazing manner. That it has 12-pounds of weight for every single horsepower equivalent is nice to note, as well. So good, in fact, we think the idea of an SHO Fusion is one that should be seriously considered. Perhaps it’s time to ready the SVT offices for occupancy again.
Our test Taurus SHO came equipped with the optional SHO Performance Package option box ticked, and as a result scored us with 20-inch P245/45 Y-rated summer performance tires and nickel-aluminum wheels. In addition to beefier brakes, and a sport tuned electronic steering system, the transmission is equipped with a 3.16:1 final drive ratio.
We thought the Ecoboost V6 was torquey the first time around. Today, we still think it’s only rock and roll, but we like it! That and the audio cone under hood that funnels the fun decibels back to the cockpit for soome grat automotive aural excitement. The handling is once again sporting without being racecar harsh, making this a very livable, high performance boulevardier.
The six-speed transmission offered us a chance to exercise our thumbs by way of the paddle “chiclets” on the steering wheel. They work well enough; we just think they should be of the flatter, larger, more controllable paddle-style of shifter.
The ride over the pock-marked highway leading to Canada was smoother than we thought possible considering the conditions of the road. The strut tower brace linking the MacPherson struts get most of the credit here, coupled with the reverse lower control arms. A rear-mounted multi-link suspension handles things out back and maintains the rear tire adhesion with the pavement. Overall, the ride was such that we just wanted to push the SHO harder through the nicely swept turns in lower Ontario than most people would ever be capable of doing in other vehicles.
Leftlane’s bottom line
Better than the sum of all the juicy bits that come as part of the Taurus SHO is the public observations and remarks of everyone from the drive-thru attendant at Tim Horton’s Donuts, to the Immigration Officer at the U.S./Canadian border in Sarnia. The positive reactions were universal.
While the Taurus SHO is a damn good car judged on its own, it walks a fine line between performance and luxury, merely dabbling in both sides. Channel some of the lessons learned in developing the Taurus into a more trim, budget-friendly EcoBoost V6 Fusion SHO - it just rolls off the tongue – and we’ll be first in line with cash in hand.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
Friday, December 25, 2009, 01:54 PM
Posted by Administrator
Finally! A great V6 engine for the 2011 Mustang.Posted by Administrator
-3.7 Liter
-305hp
-30 MPG Hwy
-6 speed auto or manual
This is what the Mustang needed all along.
A great looking car with a decent interior and tons of personality. All at a good price.
A Performance option package will be available as well.
Who needs a V8?
Here is the official word:
" The 2011 Ford Mustang puts 305 high-performance horses in the hands of V-6 coupe buyers with a new all-aluminum dual-overhead cam (DOHC) engine that delivers a projected 30 mpg on the highway with a six-speed automatic transmission and fun for drivers on nearly every road.
For 2011, Mustang's new 3.7-liter Duratec 24-valve V-6 uses advanced engineering to deliver its power and economy: Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds. Aluminum construction means light weight. It's an engine designed to crank out torque down low, rev to 7,000 rpm and deliver the mechanical music sports coupe lovers crave everywhere in between.
"Mustang is completely transformed with this new engine," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "Everything people love about the car is still there and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, the feel, the fuel efficiency, even the sound of the best sports coupes in the world.
Extra horsepower and refined engine operation will be the most noticeable features to new 2011 Mustang 3.7-liter V-6 buyers while projected class-leading fuel economy, also a standard feature, offers an additional bonus. The numbers speak for themselves:
• 19 mpg city/30 highway with six-speed automatic transmission, up from 16 mpg city/ 24 highway on the 2010 model with automatic – a 25 percent improvement over 2010
• 18 mpg city/29 highway with six-speed manual transmission, up from 18 mpg city/26 highway on the 2010 model with manual
To reinforce the sporty nature of the 2011 Mustang, all V-6 models will come standard with new instrument cluster graphics, including a speedometer that reads up to 160 mph and a tachometer that reads to 8,000 rpm, reflecting the free-revving style of the new engine.
Additional lightweight soundproofing measures help filter unpleasant, high-frequency noises while tuned intake and dual exhaust add the sounds Mustang buyers relish.
Occupants also benefit from new door seals and a rear wheel arch liner that reduce road noise for a quieter, more enjoyable drive, all with minimal weight gain compared to the 2010 model."
http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 5029573001
Friday, December 25, 2009, 01:43 PM - product
Posted by Administrator
Posted by Administrator
by John Neff on Dec 25th 2009 at 1:30AM
2011 Ford Mustang GT
Thanks to some embargo breaking that's already occurred, we've known for a week that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT would pack a brand new 5.0-liter V8 producing 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. We thought those tidbits might hold over the internet 'till the official embargo date lifts early next week, but we were wrong and therefore are still awake at 1:30 AM on Christmas morning writing this post. Thanks to Jalopnik via MustangHeaven via BurlappCars, we have the first images of the 2011 Mustang GT and its new 5.0-liter V8.
You can read more about some of the engine's details that have already leaked here, but let's just take a look see at what we've got. Kudos to Ford for leaving the engine's tippy top unadorned and we also dig those 5.0 badges on the engine and fenders. Nostalgia FTW – OMG! An old fat guy with a sack of stuff just crawled out of my fire place! I think he's a burglar. Gotta go hide the silver, Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 11:13 PM - product
Posted by Administrator
By Posted by Administrator
Astrid Wagner
COLOGNE, Germany - Ford is celebrating a year of success for its best-selling small car, as John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, recently collected the 26th major European honour for the Fiesta in Bucharest – the Romanian Car of the Year award.
Over the past 12 months, the Fiesta has been lauded across the globe, winning over 70 prestigious awards in 16 countries and regions to date – Australia, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Germany, Indonesia, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, Australia, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Catalonia. In China alone, the Ford Fiesta has collected an astonishing 44 accolades so far!
The awards have included national and individual publications' overall Car of the Year awards and best supermini and B-segment honours – all awarded for the Fiesta's all-round qualities. Other awards have been for Fiesta's design or manufacturing excellence, and several for the Fiesta's impressive environmental performance, most notably for the sub 100g/km CO2 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic model.
"We are extremely proud of the latest Fiesta model both in terms of what it has achieved and what it represents," said John Fleming. "The Fiesta is one of the vehicles that is key to how Ford Motor Company is transforming itself globally. We're delighted that so many car buyers have chosen it, and that so many opinion formers have acknowledged its many strengths."
The large number of accolades the car has received highlights how well it has been received by the global media.
More importantly though, is the success new Fiesta has met with from customers, with over 540,000 examples sold since the car was launched just over a year ago. Of those, over 492,000 sales have been in Europe, where Ford Fiesta is the No.2 best-selling car overall, and the No.1 top-seller in its segment year-to-date.
"With the Ford Fiesta continuing its global rollout in North America in early 2010, we hope it is only a matter of time before our best-selling car adds to its impressive collection of accolades," Mr. Fleming added.
Fiesta awards to date in Europe:
Catalan Car of the Year TeleMotor / Radio/Motor Catalonia
Croatian Car of the Year Croatian Car Association Croatia
Best B-Segment Car Auto Motor und Sport Czech Republic
Red Dot Design Award Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen Germany
Auto der Vernunft Guter Rat / Superillu Germany (Fiesta ECOnetic)
Manufacturing Excellence Award Technische Universitat Berlin Germany
Hellenic Car of the Year Autobild, Drive Autocar, Top Gear, Car, Car & Driver and 4 Wheels Greece
2010 Design Award Romanian Car of the Year Romania
Car of the Year Romanian Car of the Year Romania
Small Business Car of the Year Finance newspaper Slovenia
Car of the Year Castilla
La Mancha La Tribuna Spain
Women's Car of the Year Group Spain
Car of the Year The Sun United Kingdom
Car of the Year Auto Express United Kingdom
Car of the Year What Car? United Kingdom
Car of the Year What Diesel? United Kingdom
Car of the Year Fleet World United Kingdom
Green Car of the Year Top Gear United Kingdom
Best Supermini What Car? United Kingdom
Best Supermini Auto Express United Kingdom
Best Supermini What Diesel? United Kingdom
Perfect Car for "Now" What Car? United Kingdom
Best Small Car 2009 Fleet News United Kingdom
Northern Car of the Year Northern Group of Motoring Writers United Kingdom
Scottish Car of the Year Scottish Group of Motoring Writers Scotland, United Kingdom
Fiesta awards in Asia Pacific and Africa:
Best Small Car Under A$20k Year Year Awards Australia
Editor's Choice for the Week Sydney Morning Herald Australia
Most Improved Car Top Gear Indonesia
Lowest Avg. Fuel Consumption 33rd TOTAL Economy Run South Africa
Plus, a total of 44 further accolades in China!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 11:08 PM - product
Posted by Administrator
Posted by Administrator
DEARBORN -- The 2010 Ford Flex and the award-winning 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid have been named 2010 All-Stars by AUTOMOBILE Magazine, one of America's leading automotive lifestyle publications.
This year marks the second consecutive win for the Ford Flex. Last year, AUTOMOBILE Magazine described the 2009 model as a "class act among people movers."
"For 2010, Ford has equipped the Flex with its much-anticipated EcoBoost™ engine, thereby addressing the Flex's only weakness – power – and effectively transforming it from a well-rounded family hauler into a large sport wagon," said Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. "The Flex is unique in a market brimming with compromised, look-alike utility vehicles and is one of the best-handling full-size crossovers on the market."
Jason Mase, Ford crossover marketing manager, says it is the design and features available with the Ford Flex that make the vehicle stand out.
"We're delighted that AUTOMOBILE Magazine has named Flex an All-Star two years running," he said. "The AUTOMOBILE editors recognize Flex stands apart from the rest of the crossover crowd with unmatched style, tremendous passenger comfort and space, and leading technology features like the available EcoBoost engine, Active Park Assist, Ford SYNC® and a refrigerated second-row console."
Jennings says what makes the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid special is that it doesn't drive like a hybrid.
"Its very ordinariness is what makes the Fusion Hybrid an AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star," said Jennings. "The Fusion Hybrid is not a performance machine, but neither does it feel hobbled or inadequate for daily driving. Perhaps the best thing about it is that, apart from the LCD color screens, you might never know you're driving a hybrid."
The recognition from AUTOMOBILE Magazine is the latest in a string of prestigious awards for the Fusion Hybrid.
"Third parties are now endorsing what we have known for quite a while," said Greg Scott, Fusion marketing manager. "The Fusion Hybrid is a great car."
The AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Stars are chosen by the AUTOMOBILE Magazine staff, its worldwide bureau chiefs and its contributors, following an intensive test drive of the year's most innovative and important new cars. Winners are selected based on design, value and performance, driving enjoyment and the vehicle's ability to redefine an existing category or create a new market segment.
"The level of excellence found during our annual All-Stars competition was at an all-time high and the competition was strong, despite the auto industry coming off its worst year in recent history," said Jennings. "We whittled down a list of 39 finalists to the 10 All-Stars, and the end results produced a list of true standouts."
The 2010 Ford Flex: Turning Heads Today and Tomorrow
In addition to being named one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine's 2010 All-Stars, the 2010 Ford Flex was recently singled out for the 2009 "Collectible Vehicle of the Future" award from the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC). Members of the organization, which supports the world-famous automotive collection at the Detroit Public Library, predict Flex will be the vehicle most likely to turn heads at the Woodward Dream Cruise of 2034. Ford's unique crossover has been turning heads since its introduction in 2007.
For 2010, the Flex offers outstanding fuel economy in the full-size crossover segment with 17 mpg city/24 highway and an unsurpassed 20 mpg combined. It also offers a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine, an auto-fold 60/40 second-row split bench seat, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and the Ford-exclusive MyKey™ technology, which allows owners to program a maximum top speed – and radio volume – to encourage safe operation by teen drivers.
Banner Year for 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2009 has been a banner year for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. In addition to being named one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine's 2010 All-Stars, America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan was honored as one of CAR and DRIVER magazine's "10Best" cars for 2010, and the entire Fusion lineup captured the prestigious MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award. The Fusion Hybrid also is a finalist for North American Car of the Year.
Despite the slump in overall industry sales, Fusion sales are at an all-time high for 2009, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. And more than 60 percent of Fusion sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.
Additional awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:
"Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2009 Ward's Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster
Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
Named one of America's Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine
Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine
Named 2009 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER
Named Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com
Named one of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
Earned The Detroit News Readers' Choice Award for "Best Value"
Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 05:14 PM - product
Posted by Administrator
Ford wants Transit van to connect beyond small firmsPosted by Administrator
Jamie LaReau
Automotive News -- December 23, 2009 - 12:01 am ET
With small businesses skittish about the economy, Transit Connect sales have been modest. So Ford is looking to sell the cargo van in other market segments, such as to sports enthusiasts.
Bob Wheat sees unusual uses for the Ford Transit Connect small cargo truck. Some people want it for wheelchairs, and sports enthusiasts want to carry their gear, says Wheat, general manager of Village Ford in Dearborn, Mich.
"We sold one to our body shop employee, and he's making a camper out of it," Wheat says.
But the vehicle's core audience -- small-business owners -- are nervous about the economy, and sales of the vehicle have been modest. So the jury's out on whether small, European-style commercial vehicles will catch on with U.S. customers. Ford Motor Co. hopes the vehicle will appeal to a broader audience.
"Confidence among small-business owners is very cautious right now," says Ford sales analyst George Pipas. Businesses "are not in a position to turn over their whole fleet, but they've bought some to see just how they can use them in their business."
A total of more than 600,000 Transit Connects have been sold in seven years in 55 countries. U.S. sales started in July. The vehicle is 181 inches long, 10 inches shorter than the Ford Fusion sedan.
Damoni Hurt, Transit Connect marketing manager, sees potential beyond small-business owners.
"There are untapped markets out there that we're still trying to hone in on, like the sport enthusiast, the aftermarket 'trick my ride' niche," Hurt says. "There is upward growth because we're in a new segment."
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