Showing posts with label Ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ford. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Ford Plans to double its Chinese Market Presence in all Segments
Since November 2009, China is the world’s top car market, surpassing the US. So it’s only natural for automakers to pay their utmost attention. Among others, BMW previewed the new M5, Peugeot the 508, Nissan the new Tiida and Audi the Q3 at the Shangai Motor Show . The most recent example is Ford, which is planning to more than double its model line-up in the Chinese market according to a senior company executive.
“If you think of the marker as small cars, medium cars, large cars, SUVs, performance vehicles, all those different pieces, we compete in about 22% of that market today," Will Periam, strategy director for Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa, told Reuters during a recent industry forum in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
"In the future, we expect to compete in about 50%. And that will be by new versions of the products we have and all-new products which aren’t here today,” he added.
Periam also revealed that most of the models that Ford plans to introduce to China, such as the new Focus sedan and the Kuga, will be built at its local plant.
Ford is currently manufacturing the Focus, Mondeo, C-MAX and Fiesta in cooperation with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. and Mazda Motoe, and its Transit van with Jianling Motors, in which Ford has a 30% stake.
However, Ford missed last year’s boom when a record 18 million vehicles were sold in China, thanks in no small part to government tax incentives and subsidies. But this year the incentive plan has ended and the booming Chinese market has seen its booming sales rate decrease.
Secretary General of China Association of Automobile Manufactures reduced his estimate for 2011 sales growth considerably, from a 10-15% forecast to just 5%. Even so, Ford has increased this year its January to July sales by 13%, to 306,830 vehicles, compared to the same period in 2010, and Ford’s Periam estimates that China car sales will reach 32 million by 2020.
Story source: Reuters
Monday, September 5, 2011
German Tuner Breathes New Colors to Ford Mustang 5.0 GT
While the Mustang has many fans in Europe, Ford's pony car never really caught up with buyers across the Atlantic for a great number of reasons, one being that it is available only with large displacement engines that negatively affect pricing as well as other costs associated with ownership.
Nevertheless, Europe's tuning industry does offer owners some options for customization. This here package is for the latest Mustang 5.0 GT and it comes from a German company called Design World.
The exterior design is typical of German tuners, who love using vibrant colors on their projects. For the Mustang, Design World finished Ford's pony car in a two-tone black and orange color scheme enhanced with white stripes and carbon foil, which makes its appearance on the roof, the hood dome, the bumpers and the rear spoiler.
As for the interior, the upgrades are limited to orange trim bits on the steering wheel and the dashboard.
The American coupe rides on a sport suspension from H&R and 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black with orange-colored outer rims shod in 255/35 ZR20 tires up front and 285/30 ZR20 at the back.
Under the hood, a subtle ECU mod and a sport air filter bump the 5.0-liter V8's output from 412-ponies to 435-horsepower.
The cost for the package is set at €12,150, which comes to around US$17,320 at the current exchange rates.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Guess What Ford is Bringing to the Frankfurt Motor Show this Year?
The above rendering is the work of independent designer David Cardoso
While we wish CoolPictures reader and independent designer David Cardoso the best of luck in his work, the 2013 Ford Focus Coupé Design Study that he drew up and which is pictured above, isn't the surprise that Ford is planning for this year's edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show.
However, it does represent the type of vehicle we will be seeing in less than a month's time in Germany.
Ford will show a compact-sized sports coupe concept, possibly (but not certainly) based on the platform architecture of the Focus.
the study will not only hint at a future coupe model for the brand, but it will also provide a glimpse into the new design language that we will see in the next generation of Ford models.
In addition to the coupe concept, Ford has already said it will unveil "details of the next Focus performance car" which points at the new Focus ST, and two more production premieres, details of which have not yet been announced.
Designer: David Cardoso
Friday, August 26, 2011
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Pink Panther Car to be Auctioned Off
Two unique Hollywood vehicles will go under the hummer at the Chelsea Auto Legends Show on September 4. The first is one of the rarest and most spectacular cars ever produced: the bespoke “Panthermobile” created for NBC’s Pink Panther TV show that ran from 1969 until 1976.
The 42-year old “Panthermobile” is in original condition, but according to the seller, it needs some restoration. Its engine is not running, though it did when its current owner bought it to another auction in 2007. Nevertheless, it’s not street-legal anyway… Its sale estimate is between £50,000 and £100,000 (US$81,000-$162,000).
The second “movie star” that will be auctioned off at the same event is ta replica of the legendary car from the 1968 film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (be careful not to pronounce it like SP’s City Wok Guy).
This is not one of the six original cars built and used in the movie, but a fully licensed replica with full documentation. Its creation begun in 2000 by Tony Green. Green remained true to the originals even using some of their parts like the brass snake horn.
The car, which bears the license plate “GEN 22”, is powered by a 3.0-liter Ford V6, features an automatic Borg Warner transmission and is completely street legal. Even though it is fully functional, it hasn’t been driven for the last 18 months, so a service will probably be required.
The originals were designed by Ken Adam and built by Ford Racing Team and one fully functional example recently came up for auction with an estimate of US$1,000,000-$2,000,000.
The replica, which is sold along with authentic blueprints, has a sale estimate of £150,000-250,000 (US$243,500-$406,000).
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