Latest Articles by chucksmith

Ford Taurus to Rise Again?

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

It sure looks like the Taurus will once again rise at Ford. This was after Ford CEO Mulally expressed his fascination for the Taurus. As a matter of fact, he even rented one just to check how well it drives. Mulally said that he was a fan of the Taurus 20 years ago when he studied the production system of the car which was then a part of the project he was doing for Boeing. But he said, "I haven’t had time to do the deep dive on why we stopped investing in Taurus, but I'd like to…the Ford Five Hundred should have been the new Taurus."

A day after Mulally made such statement, Ford Division’s new Marketing Chief, Barry Engle was already complaining about the Fusion claiming that it’s a name that is unpopular to at least 30% of buyers in the mid-size car segment. Engle further stated why not rename the Fusion and turn it into a Taurus, "I don’t know why we invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a name over 20 years and then walk away from it.”

Ford’s “ghosts of the past”

Ford has discontinued and remodeled several car models yet many of Ford’s own executives can’t seem to shake off the “ghosts of the past”. CEO Mulally finds it funny, saying that he was still looking for his Lincoln Zephyr to drive. He has forgotten that they have dropped the Zephyr in favor of the MKZ for this year’s model. Ford analyst Chief George Pipas has also referred to the Zephyr in the recent sale’s call but corrected himself.

Ford Taurus Facts

The Ford Taurus was a mid-size front wheel drive car and was manufactured by Ford Motor Company in North America. It was introduced in December 1986 as a replacement for the Fairmont-based rear-wheel drive LTD model. During its launch, the Taurus design became a milestone for both Ford and the whole American automotive industry. An approximately 7.5 million units of Taurus were sold.

The peak years for the Ford Taurus were between 1992 and 1996 where it was best-selling car in the US. It eventually lost its best-seller status with the arrival of Toyota Camry in 1997. The production for the Taurus ended on October 27, 2006 but fortunately, Ford Taurus parts are continuously being manufactured.

Ford has replaced the Taurus with three cars namely: the Ford Five Hundred which is a large crossover SUV version, the Ford Freestyle in replacement of the Taurus wagon, and the Ford Fusion which is a midsize car that is much closer in size to the Taurus. Ford is hoping that the three cars which they introduce in place of the Taurus will be able to cover the market that it has left.

What Would Ford's Future Be Like?

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Ford Motor Co. will be entertaining significant upgrades or replacements for its future vehicle lineup. Fresh Ford lineup is expected by 2010. Also, 70 percent of 2008 lineup will also showcase updates from previous projections.

"We're really excited about it," said Mulally, Ford CEO. "There's no reason why we can't really build cars and trucks that people really do prefer." Ford is obviously facing murky future due to its declining sales in the previous years. This is the very reason why the automaker is making all it can to assuage its ailing condition.

Ford celebrates its 104th year in the auto industry. However, the red date will not be celebrated pompously because of the dilemma and challenges that the automaker is facing. Ford lost $7 billion through September last year. Further, it is also expecting a decline in vehicle sales, worse financial results and negative cash flow this year.

To return to the right track, Ford is sticking with its Way Forward turnaround plan that will eliminate a total of 44,000 salaried and hourly jobs and will close 16 plants. Also, the automaker aims to freshen up its lineup. With said turnaround plan, Ford is expecting to gain small profit by 2009. To get through the hard times, the automaker ventures in a $25.45-billion financing deal that uses nearly all its assets. According to some critics, if the gamble won't pay off, Ford might eventually file for bankruptcy.

Mulally said Ford is making great progress toward integrating its engineering systems around the world, which are used to design and manufacture new products. He also suggested that Ford would have a deal to sell its ultra-luxury brand Aston Martin by the end of 2007.

When asked about the Ford-Toyota talk, Mullaly answered, "I've learned a lot from them." He added that the top executives have talked about a variety of mutual interests "especially advanced technologies." Mulally noted, "Despite the numbers, last year was a year of significant progress for us. It's like building a house. We built the foundation last year."

Ford is also stepping up incentives on top-selling vehicles to generate more momentum for this year. Ford is also busy promoting Edge, Mustang, Escape and the F-Series. The automaker is also absorbed in 0 percent financing on auto parts for Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. Escape and Mariner are set to be replaced with a redesigned version in the future. In addition, Ford is offering low lease specials on certain F-150s. Owner-loyalty discounts, for one, offers discount range of $500 and $3,000 on certain models. Auto parts for 1992 Ford F-150 have established a well-defined reputation for decades now.

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Chuck, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles and news. He has a degree in Automotive Technology.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Toyota Likely To Beat Ford In U.S.

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to gain enough to take over Ford Motor Co. as the second largest automaker in the United States next to General Motors. According to some auto analysts, they saw large sales in December on the part of Ford. This is perceived to be in favor of the struggling Japanese automaker.

Edmunds.com tracked auto sales data and stated that Ford could suffer a remarkable 19.6 percent drop in December compared to last year's record. On the one hand, Ronald Tadross, Bank of America analyst, expects that Ford would drop by 10 to 12 percent range. Also, several analysts expect that Toyota has the nerve to unseat the ailing Ford.

If auto analysts' prediction would turn into reality, it would happen for the second month in a row and the third month of 2006. Jesse Toprak, chief economist for Edmunds, said Toyota likely will claim the No. 2 spot for the year in 2007, although Ford could bounce back for a few months during the first half of the new year. Toprak added, "They're [Ford] going to be down in pretty much every single segment. They really did not have any new products that will bring excitement and showroom traffic to a great extent."

Toprak also noted that the sales drop of Ford is attributed to the cessation of Taurus production. Taurus is a midsize front wheel drive vehicle. The car was introduced in 1985 to replace the Fairmont. Taurus auto parts are known for their reliability. No wonder why the car is loved by a lot of aficionados even up to this present time.

Toprak also expects that the sale of Ford's bread and butter trucks will also decline. One of Ford's pride vehicles is the F-150, the best-selling pickup in America. This is the very reason why Ford is meticulously supervising the manufacture and assembly of auto parts Ford F-150. "We cannot be distracted about things like that," said George Pipas, Ford's top sales analyst. He added that Ford is focused on returning its business to profitability.

It can be recalled that Ford has lost $7 billion during the first three quarters of 2006. Moreover, more declines in sales are expected to overwhelm the automaker. Toyota, on the one hand, is expected to yield a 7.3 percent increase in December.

2008 Super Duty: Boundless Truck Passion Lingers

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Lights flashed and music blasted to introduce the equally rugged new truck from Ford – 2008 Super Duty. Mark Fields, Ford president for the Americas, and Bob King, UAW vice president emerged from the huge, bright red pickup truck. They were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd composed of about 1,200 KTP employees, media members and government dignitaries.

"The passion for Super Duty is absolutely boundless. This truck already has received one of the highest accolades, Texas Truck of the Year," said Fields. "More than 10,000 consumers -- some current customers, some new -- have already expressed serious interest in Super Duty." King added, "Boy, are we excited about Super Duty! Ford has given us a great design, and we have a great membership here who can build the best product in the world."

The 2008 Super Duty is given increased capabilities. It is also equipped with enhanced Super Duty Ford OEM truck parts including the new chassis and the combination of high performing powertrain, suspension and axle to provide greater towing capacity and maneuverability without sacrificing comfortable ride.

The remake version of the truck also boasts its Ford Super Duty power mirror, clean-diesel engine, redesigned grille, sculpted fender flares and fender-mounted air vents, and a host of innovative features. Simply, the truck carries with it the "Tough Ford Built." Production versions of the truck are now manufactured at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP). According to KTP plant manager Todd Bryant, the new Super Duty is meeting or exceeding the company's internal targets. "Super Duty is a week ahead of schedule, and the quality is right where we want it to be. The trucks will be in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2007, as promised."

The introduction of a powerful and striking Super Duty is crucial to Ford. According to Jim Sanfilippo, auto analyst of Automotive Marketing Consultants Inc., "Super Duty is pivotal to Ford's North American vehicle lineup, considering that the truck represents about 40 percent of total F-Series sales in a very profitable full-size truck market."

Ford's F-Series has established a reputation for Ford. When one speaks of the F-Series, they mean no less than quality and performance. This fact is not only known by Ford F-Series parts dealers but by aficionados and critics as well. These trucks alleviate the company's ailing existence to stand the complexities and rigorous demands of the automotive market. For the model year 2008, Ford will be keeping its boundless passion in the manufacture of trucks and this will be mated to all-new Super Duty.

First Mosler MT900S Goes To George Lucas

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Who ever thought that a man like George Lucas would be very much interested in vehicles that are just not so ordinary? Sure, this guy would not be up to buying the simplest Ford Customline parts of any sort. Lucas would certainly be the kind of guy who would be spending it huge. After all, he is the same George Lucas who is a director, a producer, and a screenwriter. Little did we all know that he also is a car fan and he has been the very first in the whole planet to actually drive home the newest Mosler MT900S. And he would be driving it in black, just like his creation’s, Darth Vader, costume.

According to Lucas, he first noticed the Mosler MT900S when his thirteen year old son took home a magazine with the vehicle in it. The vehicle quite took his fancy and with just a few calls, he was able to place an order for the vehicle. Who could stop this director from purchasing such a vehicle? This guy has got more resources than you could ever think of. Lucas did even say, “I was drawn to its looks, its power, its use of high-tech materials, and, of course, its speed.” Did you know that Lucas is also the proud owner of a Ferrari F360?

The Mosler MT900S that Lucas now owns is all black. The interior is black and so is the exterior. He chose to have a rear wing delete option. And for entertainment, the director opted to have an Alpine 12-disc CD changer and stereo. This whole system comes with a lightweight carbon fiber subwoofer enclosure for that added thrill and excitement. Lucas also did even have the freedom to choose and design what he would like the interior of his Mosler MT900S to be. And he decided on having the seats and interior customized as per his specifications. All in all, Lucas spent $203,000 for everything.

Warren Mosler is the founder of the company which created the Mosler MT900S that Lucas now owns. Mosler now says, “We designed the MT900S to be the extreme performance vehicle. The MT900S is intended as the ultimate road-going street car for a discriminating group of enthusiasts, collectors and investors capable of appreciating its performance to the fullest.”

2007 Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award Goes To FORD Family

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The prestigious Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award, for the first time next year, will be given to an entire family and not to a single person. The Petersen Automotive Museum and Hotrod & Restoration have chosen the Ford family as the recipient of the award.

The awarding will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, one of the most influential vehicles from the automaker. The 1932 Ford, otherwise called Model B or Deuce coupe, is highly collectible these days. However, one should be prepared to pay thousands of dollars to restore its original style and appeal. Said vehicle played a significant role in giving birth to the hot rod era.

Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award is scheduled to be given to Edsel B. Ford II, chosen representative of the family, on the second day of March next year. Edsel B. Ford II is the great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company.

“There couldn't be a more fitting family member to represent the Ford family than Edsel B. Ford II," said Dick Messer, director of The Petersen Automotive Museum in a recent press release. "His grandfather, Edsel B. Ford (son of Henry Ford), oversaw the design of the 1932 Ford coupes and roadster, now nicknamed the 'deuce'." Those vehicles are the roots upon which the hot rod niche market has been built."

]Robert E. Petersen, founder of The Petersen Automotive Museum and award namesake noted, "There couldn't be a more appropriate time or appropriate place to honor the Ford family. The 1932 Ford roadster remains the most popular body style among hot rodders and has long been recognized as America's quintessential hot rod. These vehicles formed the foundation for the hot rod movement."

Ford Motor Company, an US multinational corporation Ford in 1903, is the third biggest automaker around the globe. The auto corporation is now made up of several brands that include Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo. Ford also owns one-third controlling interest in Mazda. The company has been in continuous family control for more than 100 years.

Ford has introduced numerous remarkable vehicles in the past. Up until now, the third largest automaker is still making big waves in the auto market despite its reported losses in several segments. Current flexible fuel vehicles from the automaker are F-150, Focus, Taurus, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Crown Victoria, and Ranger.

1986 Ford Crown Victoria parts reflect reliability and durability. Ford Ranger aftermarket parts, consequently, exude quality, style and performance. Also, hybrid electric vehicles from the automaker also created warm acceptance from the auto market. This is especially true with Escape Hybrid. Ford Escape hybrid parts accessories have established a superb reputation in the industry.

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Chuck, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles and news. He has a degree in Automotive Technology. Check out Ford Ranger aftermarket parts and Ford Escape hybrid parts accessories for more information.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Ford Begins Super Duty Production at Kentucky Plant

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Ford Motor Co. has finally started its production for its new F-Series Super Duty pickup truck. The new truck from the automaker is expected to secure the already outstanding reputation of Ford when it comes to manufacturing trucks. According to enthusiasts, when you say Ford F-Series it means no less than excellent.

The new Super Duty truck from the automaker features outstanding Ford F-Series parts that include tailgate step and swing up hand grab bar for easy access to the vehicle. The new pickup truck also boasts its new exterior and interior design. The new pickup is also equipped with a regular production bed.

The automaker has invested $65 million to make the Kentucky truck plant sophisticated and functional. The Kentucky plant of Ford is responsible for the meticulous assembly of advanced Ford F-250 parts. The production of Kentucky plant will be augmented by the coming of F-550. Employees in the plant cheered during the first day of Ford F-550 parts assembly. Currently, the plant employs 4,848 hourly workers and 306 salaried employees. They will work to produce large volumes of F-250 to F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks.

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said that the start of production was an important milestone in an increasingly competitive truck market. "Our competition is benchmarking what we have today, and we've spent a lot of time developing the truck of tomorrow," He continued. "It's a very, very important launch to us -- both from a volume standpoint, a profit standpoint and from an image standpoint of Ford being very serious about retaining its leadership in trucks."

Critics and experts alike believe that Super Duty trucks will maintain its remarkable reputation in the auto industry. Bob King, a United Auto Workers vice president, said the new Super Duty trucks would stack up against other vehicles in the market, including foreign competitors.

The 2008 Super Duty from the second generation was introduced at the Texas State Fair this year. Moreover, the automaker intends to release its new generation F-450 late next year. According to critics, the bread and butter vehicles of Ford will be hard to topple.

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Chuck, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles and news. He has a degree in Automotive Technology. Check out a href=http://www.americanbodyparts.com/auto-body-parts/ford-fseries-pickup-parts.html>Ford F-Series parts and Ford F-250 parts for more information.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Kelis Will 'Push it to the Edge'

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

All-new Ford Edge will come with a new urban marketing campaign featuring the Grammy-nominated singer Kelis. The campaign titled "On the Edge," a creation of The Uniworld Group – Detroit, will also feature a song entitled "Push it to the Edge" which was created by Kelis. Said marketing campaign will be aired today in major radio, print, television and Internet outlets throughout the country.

The marketing campaign starts with the Edge making a grand appearance in front of a paparazzi crowd and the photographers cannot keep their lens off the optional panoramic Vista Roof of Edge. Then, the roof slowly opens to reveal the dressed to impress Kelis.

Consumers will hear the song for about the new bold Ford crossover from the hip-hop artist starting today. "With a bold style that breaks the rules, Kelis is the perfect spokesperson for the Edge urban marketing campaign," said Jeri Ward, Ford Edge marketing manager. "Our target buyer can easily relate to Kelis' sharp and sophisticated style."

Kelly started wowing Ford enthusiasts on the 18th of this month at her husband's, rap icon Nas', black and white ball in New York City. The event is in connection with the celebration of the Nas album – "Hip-Hop is Dead."

"I am an informed buyer who likes to shop around for what I like," said Kelis. "I prefer bold designs and that's what I see when I look at the Edge. I believe it was built to defy expectations and change people's perceptions, two concepts that have helped me define who I am."

On the Edge marketing campaign will air on The Steve Harvey Morning Show and The Tom Joyner Morning Show and other national syndicated radio shows. Kelis will also participate in several Edge sweepstakes giveaways on the mentioned shows. The giveaways will start in February. The banner ads for Edge will also be displayed on AOL - Black Voices and Black Planet and other major websites.

Ford Edge boasts its bold design and sophisticated interior. It also features powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 265-horsepower. The automaker's AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control which is incorporated in auto Ford Explorer parts, are also made part of Edge. The crossover is also equipped with side air bags and Safety Canopy to secure safety of the occupants.

Spanglish For Ford Edge Ad

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

It has been very much said that when you need to advertise a product or a service, you would have to make sure that your commercial or advertisement actually does suit the culture and the norms of the area or the market where you would be displaying and broadcasting your product. After all, you surely would not want to have your Ford Focus performance parts advertisement in English when you are going to show it in a place where people do not understand the language.

In this regard, the Ford Motor Company has hired Zubi Advertising to make an advertisement for the company’s sport utility vehicle, Ford Edge. Zubi has been the brains behind the advertisement that would last some thirty seconds and has been entitled “Temptation”. This commercial would be showing on the 24th of December and it would not be a Spanish-only kind of commercial. The ad would actually be using Spanglish (a mixture of Spanish and English), for that matter.

So what would be the advertisement be all about?

The Ford Motor Company has said that the ad would be showing a young Latino somewhere in an urban area. He would be zipping through the streets in a copper colored Ford Edge. As he zooms through the city, he would be seeing a female who would be admiring the driver and the vehicle. The young Latino guy would speak (in Spanish), “Gracias. My wife feels the same way.”

So where’s the English, you may ask?

After that scene, a tagline would flash across the screen and you would read “Bold stays faithful.” Yes, in English, and not in the Spanish language.

The question now is why did the Ford Motor Company choose to have such a marketing campaign. Well, a statement was released by Zubi wherein its chief head honcho, Joe Zubizarreta, was reported to have described the campaign to “signal a reconsideration of mass media solutions in an era where Hispanic consumers are seeking alternative methods to interact with products and messages.”

Indeed, with such a kind of campaign going on, Hispanic consumers may likely be able to interact and relate with the advertisement thus lead to higher sales for Ford. However, only time would tell as for now.

Ford Experts Wipe the Clouds Blurring AWD Technology

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Ford Motor Company is now offering affordable all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles like Fusion and Mercury Milan. These vehicles will be offered to an extended Ford market in the auto industry. The new automobiles from the automaker will also delve on clearing the blurry ideas about AWD technology.

“Many people think about the AWD system on the Ford Edge the same way they think of the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system on their F-150,” said Ashok Rodrigues, 4WD technical specialist for Ford Motor Company. “There’s been a lot of confusion in the industry as to how manufacturers use the terms 4WD and AWD.” Rodrigues further noted that there are three basic types of AWD/4WD systems, regardless of whether they’re based on front-drive or rear-drive vehicles. The three types are part-time, center differential and on-demand.

Rodrigues added that the part-time four-wheel drive. Some enthusiasts call it 4WD. Part-time systems are found on F-150 and Super Duty. Ford F-150 truck parts, for instance, incorporate a simple lock and unlock feature. The function is to lock the front wheels to the rear wheels. The system can be used by pressing a button or flipping a switch on the dash.

“With a part-time system, you will inherently bind up when you go around corners,” said Rodrigues. “When cornering, the front wheels want to track a wider arc than the rear wheels. Because all four wheels are locked together physically, you simply can’t do that with part time. It is an inherent part of the design and is fully intended.”

Center differential system, on one hand, splits the torque that the car engine produces - 40 percent goes to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear wheels, unlike the previously mentioned system, the wheels of a car with part-time system turn independently at different speeds. Hence, it removes binding when cornering.

On-demand all-wheel drive system drives one axle and then another as road conditions demand. Fusion and Edge' primary drive axle is the front axle while in Explorer it is the rear axle. Ford Explorer auto parts integrate computer controller that monitors engine speed, position of the accelerator pedal, and steering angle to deliver accurate amount of torque as needed.

“What’s really impressive about these systems is that they don’t just react to slip,” said Rodrigues. “They usually prevent that slip from occurring in the first place. By predicting slip and preventing it, the driver doesn’t feel the vehicle slipping and responding. The operation is seamless.”

2004 Ford Expedition parts also integrate the system to produce a smooth and confident drive feel regardless of the weather condition. Groundbreaking AWD systems do not help with acceleration it just improves traction and handling but will not give more braking power.