Green Car Advisor
Ford
August 20, 2008
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Many people if not most who buy a small or midsize sport utility vehicle do so because they believe it offers greater personal protection than a car. And for that extra measure of protection, they are willing to sacrifice fuel economy.
Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid earned top ratings in recent crash-test evaluations, bringing to three the number of hybrid SUVs getting superior mileage without compromising safety.
The other hybrid SUVs earning top-safety-pick honors from the respected institute are the midsize 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid and the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which the institute had previously evaluated.
But the big winner announced today by the institute was the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, which outperformed the competition in recent front, side and rear crash test evaluations of eight small SUV models.
The 2009 Escape, including the hybrid version, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2008 Nissan Rogue joined the Tiguan in earning top ratings in all three of the institute's evaluations. All four models come equipped with electronic stability control and side airbags, which the institute considered very important.
The institute ratings of good, acceptable, marginal or poor are based on results of front and side crash tests, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against whiplash injury in rear crashes.
The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox, 2008 Jeep Patriot, 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2-door 2008 Jeep Wrangler all earned the second-lowest rating of marginal.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 20, 2008, 8:02 AM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen
August 19, 2008
Ford Motor Co. announced today that its 30 fuel-cell test vehicles have exceeded the expectations of the company's hydrogen research engineers by accumulating more than 865,000 real world miles without significant maintenance issues since the fleet's launch three years ago.
Encouraged by the program's success, Ford said it recently reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to extend its three-year-old hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle program for up to 24 months, until the next-generation system is ready for deployment in the 2010 timeframe.
Ford was one of the first automakers to launch a fleet of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles in 2005, after unveiling a prototype in late 2003. Its Focus Fuel Cell fleet partners include government agencies across the U.S. and in Canada, Germany and Iceland, where cold climate testing is expected to result in significant performance improvements on the next generation.
Additional Ford hydrogen projects have included a fleet of 20 hydrogen internal combustion engine buses, the Fusion Hydrogen 999 that set a land speed record in 2007, a Fuel Cell Explorer and a Plug-in Hybrid Edge that uses a fuel cell-powered HySeries Drive.
A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle produces electricity through an electro-chemical process in the fuel cell stack. Its only tailpipe emissions are drops of water. Fuel cell vehicles hold the promise of decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming by replacing vehicles that run on fossil fuels.
According to Ford's global fuel cell team, the first-generation fuel-cell vehicles worked much better than originally expected with virtually no degradation in performance. In light of that success, the Department of Energy, which shares the test program's operating cost with Ford, agreed to extend the program.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett August 19, 2008, 3:47 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Hydrogen
August 18, 2008
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
The nerve of some people.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today distributed a press release, saying that it had trademarked "EcoDriving" and launched a Website with fuel-saving tips for motorists.
This is the same Alliance that has vigilantly opposed legislation that would compel automakers to meet government-mandated fuel-economy standards.
The Website the Alliance launched -- ecodrivingusa.com -- contains what you'd expect: Nothing on how the industry can clean up its act and provide more fuel efficiency, just tips on how motorists can drive more fuel efficiently, a means to calculate your vehicle's carbon footprint, and of course instructions on how to "promote the EcoDriving program."
As for the Alliance's claim that they possess the trademark to "EcoDriving"?
The term "EcoDriving" is not unique to the Alliance or its services or products -- a litmus test that trademark terms must pass -- and the term has been in the public domain for awhile.
It can, for example, be found on ecomodders.com, ecodrive.org and other Websites that promote fuel-responsible driving and, unlike the Alliance and its new Website, aren't funded by BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 18, 2008, 5:58 PM
- Categories:
- BMW, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Legislation, Manufacturers, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen
Ford Motor Co. will launch production of the first EcoBoost V6 engines early next spring for installation into the Lincoln MKS sedan and Ford Flex crossover SUV, Automotive News reported today.
The automaker is planning to charge a $700 premium for the new 3.5-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine, the subscription news service reported, adding that the first vehicles will be rated at 340 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque.
Ford spokesman Alan Hall, when asked to confirm the report, said, "We've not announced pricing."
The EcoBoost strategy, unveiled earlier this year, combines a smaller-than-usual engine with a turbocharger and direct injection to deliver 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer tailpipe emissions and, often, more horsepower than the larger fuel-injected engines that typically would be offered as standard equipment in most models.
Compared to a similarly powerful V8 engine, the fuel savings from the new V6 were estimated at $339 a year at $3.25/gallon. The savings will be substantially greater at current gas prices.
In 2010, Ford will also add the engine to the F-150 pickup as an alternative to the current 5.4-liter V8, the service reported.
The automaker is expected to introduce four-cylinder EcoBoost engines in other models in the next couple of years. Ford has said that by 2012 it plans to offer EcoBoost engines for almost every model the company makes.
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (5)
- Scott Doggett August 18, 2008, 10:45 AM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Lincoln
August 15, 2008
In case you've been wondering, major automakers and the lame-duck Bush Administration have reaffirmed their joint commitment to hydrogen fuel and to getting fuel-cell electric and other hydrogen-using vehicles into the retail market by 2018.
The happy group renewed its vows during a hydrogen technology showcase Thursday in Washington.
----------
A pair of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric Vehicles are shown in rendering of a hydrogen fuel station being installed near los Angeles International Airport.
----------
"With continued investment, hydrogen holds the potential to help fundamentally change the way we power our vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Bud Albright, an Energy Department undersecretary, said in remarks delivered during the public showcase.
The Energy Department, Transportation Department, nine automakers with prototype hydrogen-using vehicles and a number of fuel companies and other hydrogen advocates are in the midst of a cross-country tour to promote hydrogen as the logical successor to oil for fueling cars and trucks.
The manufacturers in "Hydrogen Road Tour '08" are BMW, Daimler, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai-Kia, Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- John O'Dell August 15, 2008, 4:49 PM
- Categories:
- BMW, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
- Technorati Tags:
- Electric Vehuile
, Fuel Cell, Hydriogen Road Tour
Ford motor Co. says it will build a retial model of the Lincoln MKT luxury crossover next year - probably as a 2010 model - and will offer one version with its new "Ecoboost" fuel efficiency powertrain.
----------
Left, Ford designer Peter Horbury introduces MTS concept at Detroit Auto Show.
----------
The company also said it will use the Ecoboost technology in a new version of the flagship Lincoln MKS sedan, to be launched next year as well.
The Ecoboost strategy, announced earlier this year, combines a smaller-than-usual engine with a turbocharger and direct injection to deliver 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer tailpipe emissions and, often, more horsepower than the larger fuel-injected engines that typically would be offered as standard equipment in most models.
Ford intends be producing 750,000 Ecoboost-equipped vehicles a year by 2013, offering the engine package for almost every model it makes.
The Lincoln MKT, a three-row, 7-passenger crossover styled like a sport-wagon, was introduced as a concept model in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
The standard production version will use a new 3.7-liter V6 while the Ecoboost package will use a 3.5-liter V6, the company said today.
The company hasn't released fuel economy estimates for either engine and is keeping power specs for the 3.7-liter engine under wraps as well.
Many analysts expect it to come it at about 300 horsepower.
The company said today that the smaller and greener Ecoboost engine will produce 340 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque.
Ford will build the new Lincoln at its Oakville plant in Ontario, Canada.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- John O'Dell August 15, 2008, 3:53 PM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Lincoln
- Technorati Tags:
- Ecoboost
, Ford, Lincoln MTS
August 14, 2008
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Ford Motor Co.'s decision last week to scrap plans to build a little brother to the F-150 pickup and abandon plans to import a compact truck from South Africa had more than a few of us wondering if Detroit's No. 2 automaker was backing away from its proclaimed small-is-better strategy for North America.
Mark Fields (right), Ford's president of the Americas, would like everyone to know that is not the case.
Fields revealed the latest details concerning the company's accelerated transformation during a speech this week at the Center for Automotive Research's annual Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan.
Fields said Ford executives "see this year's consumer shift to smaller vehicles as an opportunity and one that Ford is uniquely positioned to answer using the strength of our European small-car lineup and our fast-moving global product plan."
"We plan to answer the call with dynamic, fun-to-drive small cars -- and we intend to make them profitably," he said.
Ford, Fields said, will significantly accelerate its small-car development by leveraging global platforms that will deliver major savings through increased economies of scale.
Ford announced last month that it plans to bring six small vehicles from the company's European lineup to North America by 2012. As part of the product plan Fields outlined, Ford will introduce the new Fiesta small car in North America in early 2010 and the new Focus small car later that year.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 14, 2008, 6:51 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy
- Technorati Tags:
- F-150
, Fiesta, Focus, Ford Motor Co., Fuel Economy, Fuel Efficient
Mass production of the new Ford Fiesta -- the first of a generation of new global fuel-efficient cars from the American automaker -- started at the company's Cologne plant in Germany today.
The all-new model was developed by the European arm of Ford's global product development team to meet the increasing fuel-economy demands of customers worldwide.
The Fiesta is also the blueprint for future Ford global product development, bringing together Europe, the Americas and Asia. The new Fiesta will be tailored for each region and go on sale progressively between now and 2010, starting now with Europe, Ford said in a statement.
Other production facilities for new Fiesta will be located in Valencia, Spain, Nanjing, China, Rayong, Thailand, and Cuautitlán, Mexico. They will begin to produce the car for their respective regions from late 2008 through early 2010. Those made in Mexico will supply North America, with availability in 2010.
More than 12 million Fiesta have been sold worldwide since the very first Fiesta was launched in 1976.
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 14, 2008, 12:04 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy
- Technorati Tags:
- Emissions
, Ford Fiesta, Ford Motor Co., Fuel Efficient
August 13, 2008
By Bill Visnic, Senior Editor
The annual Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars confab in Traverse City, MI, put together a feisty session Tuesday called "Energy, Efficiency and Climate -- What Role Auto?" And while the session resulted in some prickly give-and-take between auto-industry and environmental representatives, there was essentially agreement on one point: California needs to give up its crusade to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.
Mike Stanton, president and CEO of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, which represents almost all domestic and import automakers doing business in the U.S. and a longtime auto-industry rep in Washington, DC, said simply, "It's a little ridiculous," to have federal emissions standards, competing state emissions regulations, and the potential for even more conflict with California's CO2-regulating proposal.
He said the 14 manufacturers represented by the AIAM want "one national standard" for emissions regulation.
But he also said political winds appear to be blowing against their wishes. Both presidential candidates support granting California's waiver to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.
"Neither candidate (Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain) has been terribly supportive of us in the past," Stanton said. Either presents challenges to the AIAM's hope for sanity in the emissions-regulation structure, he added.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (3)
- Scott Doggett August 13, 2008, 7:26 AM
- Categories:
- Chrysler, Courts, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Legislation
- Technorati Tags:
- Automakers
, Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars, CO2, Emissions, Fuel Economy, GHG, Greenhouse Gases
August 12, 2008
While automakers wait for more 85 percent ethanol blend gasoline pumps to be installed at gas stations, the ethanol industry is waiting for automakers to produce more "flex-fuel" vehicles that can safely burn the E85 blend, in what has resulted in a widespread waiting game.
"E85 needs more infrastructure," Rick Gunther, Midwest fleet and commercial operations manager for General Motors, told the subscription news service Greenwire. "I tell retailers, 'We're the chicken, you're the egg.' "
Detroit's Big Three automakers are waiting for Japanese companies Honda and Toyota to be more active in the flex-fuel market to stimulate demand for more pumps, but so far their response has been slow. Toyota plans to introduce a flex-fuel version of its Tundra in 2009.
Pump manufacturers told Greenwire they are waiting for Underwriters Laboratories certification of safety and efficiency on the new blender pump, which would offer more options for ethanol blends -- beyond the 10 percent or 85 percent currently available.
And everyone is waiting for U.S. EPA to decide whether it's safe to use a 20 percent blend of ethanol in car engines. The 10-percent blend is now the maximum for regular engines, although EPA has approved E85 for flex-fuel vehicles.
Ethanol proponents say E20 and maybe even E30 are safe for regular car engines, although automakers disagree.
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett August 12, 2008, 2:08 PM
- Categories:
- Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, Chrysler, Diesel, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Toyota
Right, a GM thermoelectric generator.
The hot air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas.
Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve fuel economy 10 percent by using wasted exhaust heat as energy to help power the vehicle, according to an Associated Press article.
General Motors is close to reaching the goal, as is a BMW supplier working with Ohio State University. Their research into thermoelectrics -- the science of using temperature differences to create electricity -- couldn't come at a better time, as high gas prices accelerate efforts to make vehicles as efficient as possible.
GM researcher Jihui Yang told the AP that a metal-plated device that surrounds an exhaust pipe could increase fuel economy in a Chevrolet Suburban by about 5 percent, a 1-mile-per-gallon improvement that would be even greater in a smaller vehicle.
The mileage improvement was achieved by using the generated electricity to reduce the load on the alternator. Because it takes mechanical power from the crankshaft to move a belt that runs the alternator that produces electricity to power headlights, ignition coils, the radio and other electrical components, the greater the load on the alternator, the greater the demand on the vehicle's fuel to turn the crankshaft.
Reaching the goal of a 10 percent improvement would save more than 100 million gallons of fuel per year in GM vehicles in the U.S. alone, the AP reported.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett August 12, 2008, 12:44 PM
- Categories:
- BMW, Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda
August 11, 2008
With established rent-a-car companies reporting that they are having trouble meeting customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, a Southern California company has begun renting nothing but hybrid vehicles.
Business has been brisk at Eqocar in Burbank since it opened its doors three months ago, General Manager Nick Hamed told Green Car Advisor today. Hamed said Eqocar, which rents only hybrid vehicles, is in talks to open four more rental-car centers, all in California.
Eventually, the company would like to expand nationwide, Hamed said.
Eqocar has a fleet of 45 hybrids, which include the Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander hybrids, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus LS600h L, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrids, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Daily rates range from $59 for the Prius to $650 for the LS600h L.
There are plans to add the extended-range plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, hybrid versions of the Smart Fortwo, Chrysler Aspen, Cadillac Escalade, and Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Tesla and Fisker plug-in sports cars and the bubbled-faced three-wheel Aptera to the rental fleet, Hamed said.
The Aptera is reminiscent of vehicles appearing in The Jetsons, a futuristic cartoon series produced during 1962 and '63.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 2:42 PM
- Categories:
- Aptera, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Camry Hybrid
, Eqocar, EV, Ford Escape Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid, Highlander Hydrid, Lexus LS600h L, PHEV, Tahoe Hybrid, the Nissan Altima Hybrid, Toyota Prius
August 8, 2008
Ford Motor Co. is so confident in its upcoming EcoBoost engines that it has shelved plans to build an F-100 pickup truck and cancelled plans to import its Ranger compact truck from South Africa, The Detroit News reported Thursday.
Instead, Ford has elected to equip the full-size F-150 pickup with EcoBoost engines, which combine turbocharging and direct injection to deliver superior power and fuel economy.
The newspaper, citing unnamed sources at Ford, reports the automaker believes that an F-150 pickup packing the fuel efficiency the EcoBoost engines supply obviates the need to offer either of the small pickups to American consumers.
Industry analyst Erich Merkle told the newspaper it's a smart move on Ford's part.
"The small pickup segment doesn't really provide a lot of benefit," he said. "You buy a pickup truck for bed space and towing. There really isn't much substitute for a full-size pickup."
EcoBoost will debut on the Lincoln MKS sedan next year. Ford's bread-and-butter F-150 pickup will get the EcoBoost in 18 months, company officials said this week.
To download a Ford PDF explaining how EcoBoost works, click here.
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (5)
- Scott Doggett August 8, 2008, 2:37 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy
- Technorati Tags:
- EcoBoost
, F-100, F-150, Ford Motor Co., Fuel Economy, Fuel Efficieny
August 4, 2008
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Tesla Motors could not have made a bolder statement today with its choice for design director without employing canon fire.
With his blownback blonde hair and sunwashed face, Franz von Holzhausen, director of Mazda's North American Design Center in Irvine until he submitted his resignation last week, can easily be mistaken for a native-California surfer instead of the born-and-bred product of Simsbury, Connecticut, a well-to-do town of 23,000 known for Eggstock, an annual environmental awareness festival.
At Mazda, von Holzhausen oversaw the design and development of all concept and production vehicles for Mazda North America since his appointment in February 2005. Most recently, he spearheaded the design of Nagare (the gold car pictured below) and Furai (above) and played an integral role in the creation of the three concepts Ryuga (the grinning red car), Hakaze (the yellow crossover) and Taiki (the blue-silver manta ray).
Early in his career at Mazda, von Holzhausen earned recognition for his acclaimed work on the Kabura concept car (the manned red sports car, lower left). Sometimes, pictures say more than words. We'll let the images shown here address von Holzhausen's talents as a futuristic automotive designer with one foot planted firmly on the road.
"It's going to be an exciting adventure," von Holzhausen said about his move to Tesla, located in San Carlos, California, 500 miles up the 101 Freeway from Irvine. "I'm looking forward to working at a new startup company that doesn't have the confines of a large OEM."
Prior to joining Mazda, von Holzhausen served as General Motors' design manager, responsible for designing and managing the concept and production design process for the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Chevy SS and other GM programs. He began his career at Volkswagen, where he served as assistant chief designer in VW's Design Center California.
He studied industrial design at Syracuse University and graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, in 1992 with a bachelors' degree in transportation design.
Tesla also announced today the appointment of Deepak Ahuja, a seasoned auto industry finance executive with 15 years experience at Ford Motor Company, as chief financial officer.
Deepak (right) was previously the controller for Ford's small cars product development program, a strategic initiative to bring several fuel-efficient cars to Ford's lineup in the United States. Before that, he was CFO for Ford of Southern Africa, a $3 billion subsidiary where he oversaw the finance, legal and IT functions.
And before that, Deepak served as CFO for Auto Alliance International, a joint venture between Ford and Mazda with over $4 billion in revenue.
In a statement, Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori said "Deepak's experience as CFO of multi-billion dollar business units with global sourcing and manufacturing operations makes him the ideal person to lead our finance organization through the company's next period of rapid growth."
In the same statement, Deepak described the opportunity to work at Tesla as "very exciting."
Deepak holds bachelors and masters degrees in materials engineering from Banaras Hindu University and Northwestern University, respectively and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (0)
- Scott Doggett August 4, 2008, 7:17 PM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
- Technorati Tags:
- EV
, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuel Efficient, General Motors, GM, Mazda, PEV, Plug-in Electric Vehicle, Tesla Motors
Auto dealers and consumer advocates told federal rulemakers today that a proposed 25 percent mandatory increase in fleetwide fuel economy standards is out of touch with importance buyers now give fuel-efficiency.
Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America, said rulemakers wrongly assumed U.S. drivers would continue to covet large trucks and SUVs, even though car buyers began moving to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in 2004.
"The auto industry acts as if plummeting SUV and pickup truck sales are a new phenomena," he told the National Transportation Safety Board at a Washington public hearing. "The fact is, gas-guzzling-vehicle sales have been falling off a cliff for over three years. And yet the administration's proposed fuel economy standards presumes no fall and no cliff."
As a result, Cooper said, the proposed fleetwide fuel economy standard of 31.6 miles per gallon by 2015 would fail to meet consumer demands. According to a study performed by his organization, 59 percent of those surveyed want their next vehicle to get more than 35 mpg. Meanwhile, only 1 percent of new models offer that degree of fuel economy.
Adam Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls, which has a dozen Maine dealerships, said he has seen firsthand the shifting buying trends that have resulted in across-the-board losses for major carmakers.
Lee said he has laid off salespeople while waiting for automakers to produce the type of cars Americans want. "We just don't have the cars to sell," he said. "And I'm not just talking hybrids.... Consumers are waiting for good, old-fashioned small cars."
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett August 4, 2008, 2:05 PM
- Categories:
- Alternative Fuels, Chrysler, Courts, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- CAFE
, Consumer Federation of America, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, EV, GM, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, PHEV
Right, a "Ford Volt."
General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are discussing a possible collaboration on new engines and other powertrain technologies in an effort to split research and development costs, The Detroit News reported today, citing sources at both companies.
A deal could give Ford access to GM's Volt technology -- if it becomes commercially viable. It could also help GM offset cuts to its product development budget.
GM first approached Ford more than a month ago, two sources familiar with the situation told the newspaper. GM told Ford that it was willing to discuss a wide range of possible collaborations, including .
The matter went to Ford's board of directors last month, which voted to authorize negotiations with GM.
Since then, there have been at least three meetings between the two companies involving Barb Samardzich, Ford's head of powertrain operations, and her counterpart at GM, the News reported. No agreements have been reached, but the talks were characterized as promising.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (2)
- Scott Doggett August 4, 2008, 9:18 AM
- Categories:
- Batteries, Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Plug-ins and Electric
- Technorati Tags:
- Chevrolet Volt
, Chevy Volt, Electric Vehicle, EV, Ford Motor Co., General Motors, GM, Hybrid, PHEV
August 1, 2008
Ford of Europe today released these photos of its redesigned entry-level Ka model, developed and built with Fiat, and set for unveiling at the Paris motor show in October.
The original Ka, which was based on the Ford Puma coupé chassis platform, was launched 12 years ago and proved an unexpected success with Ford selling more than 1.4 million of the small city car.
The new model is based on the Fiat Panda/Cinquecento chassis platform and built in Poland.
Although fuel-efficient cars like this are now very popular in the U.S. and reports abound that the new Ka might be coming to America, Ford spokesman Jay Ward told Green Car Advisor the automaker has no intension to selling the microcar here.
"That is not currently in our plan," he said in an email. "We do have the Fiesta coming here in 2010, which will be an excellent addition to our car line-up and add to the already very successful Focus."
Unfortunately, the photos provided here only serve to show what we'll be missing.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (2)
- Scott Doggett August 1, 2008, 1:08 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy
July 30, 2008
Honeywell International has been selected by Ford Motor Co. to develop turbochargers for the first of its EcoBoost engines, which will initially appear in next year's 2010 Lincoln MKS.
The new turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine will perform like a large V-8, but will deliver the fuel economy of a V-6, Honeywell announced today.
To help bring the new engine to market, Honeywell says it leveraged the latest advances in turbine design and materials to optimise the performance and ensure the reliability of its gasoline turbo technology.
The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 will deliver upwards of 340-plus pound-feet of torque across a wide engine range - 2,000-5,000 rpm - versus 270 to 310 pound-feet of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range.
Honeywell expects the global turbocharger segment to grow from 30 percent of the overall automotive market to more than 38 percent by 2013 as automakers look to boost engines to help increase fuel-efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance.
Honeywell provides turbochargers to many automakers, including BMW, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett July 30, 2008, 2:21 PM
- Categories:
- BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen
- Technorati Tags:
- BMW
, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford Motor Co., Fuel Economy, Fuel Efficiency, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Turbocharger, Volkswagen
Ford Motor Co. started taking large steps away from gas guzzlers and toward a fuel-efficient lineup earlier this month, but the efforts came too late to prevent Volkswagen from overtaking it for the No. 3 spot among automakers by global sales volume.
The change reflects sales figures the two automakers recently provided for the first half of this year. If sales trends hold true through the remainder of this year, the new world order among automotive giants will be Toyota in the No. 1 position, followed by General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford, respectively.
Toyota led GM at the half by about 278,000 vehicles, while VW saw a global sales increase of 7.2 percent to 3.31 million vehicles and Ford watched its sales fall 11 percent to 3.09 million vehicles.
Ford, which has been exceedingly slow to respond to the growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, ceded the No. 2 spot to Toyota in 2003.
Exacerbating the situation for Ford is the recent sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors. The two brands no longer contribute to Ford's overall sales tally. But with sales of the British luxury brands under 300,000 vehicles a year, they would not have contributed enough to enable Ford to retain its position among automakers.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (3)
- Scott Doggett July 30, 2008, 1:07 PM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Jaguar, Range Rover, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen
- Technorati Tags:
- Emissions
, Ford Motor Co., Fuel Economy, Fuel Efficient, General Motors, GM, Range Rover, Tata, Toyota
July 28, 2008
If you think gasoline is expensive now, thank your creator that it's not 1920.
Back then, gas cost 20 cents a gallon - and it was no bargain at that price.
The average American made $1,500 in 1920, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
If, like many Americans today, you put 10,000 miles a year on your Model T back then and got 15 miles per gallon, you'd have spent $133 annually at the pump.
Or to put it another way, nearly 10 percent of your income was spent on gasoline.
So who could afford to put a lot of miles on a vehicle back then without thinking twice about gas prices? Babe Ruth for one.
In 1920, the Boston Red Sox traded him to the New York Yankees for $125,000. At the time, the sum was the largest ever paid for a player.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (4)
- Scott Doggett July 28, 2008, 9:24 AM
- Categories:
- Ford, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric, Surveys
July 24, 2008
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Ford Motor Co. today announced plans to accelerate its transformation away from gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs to fuel-efficient vehicles with the addition of new small cars to its North America lineup and unprecedented production changes as the automaker reported a record-high total net loss for the second quarter of $8.67 billion.
In addition to bringing six small vehicles to North America from the company's European lineup, Ford is accelerating the introduction of fuel-efficient EcoBoost and all-new four-cylinder engines, increasing hybrid production and converting three existing truck and SUV plants for small-car production, beginning this December.
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said the company is more focused than ever on its transformation plan, which calls for:
• Aggressively restructuring to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix.
• Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value.
• Financing the plan and improving the balance sheet.
• Working together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford's global assets.
Aggressive Restructuring
Ford will convert three existing North American truck and SUV plants for small car production, with the first conversion beginning this December.
The moves are in addition to Ford's announcements in May and June that it is reducing its North American production plans for large trucks and SUVs for the remainder of 2008, as well as increasing production of smaller cars and crossovers.
Continue reading...
- Posted by
- Permalink | Comments (1)
- Scott Doggett July 24, 2008, 7:55 AM
- Categories:
- Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota
July 23, 2008
Ford of Europe's most frugal car ever - the 2009 diesel-powered Fiesta ECOnetic - made its world premiere at the British auto show on Tuesday, but don't expect to see one in the U.S. anytime soon.
Powered by a specially-calibrated version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder TDCi turbo-diesel engine, Ford's most economical Fiesta can travel 63.6 miles per U.S. gallon on the European Commission's combined test cycle.
That said, EC fuel-economy estimates tend to be slightly higher than those the U.S. government attaches to vehicles sold in America. That's because, unlike U.S. mileage testing, the fuel-economy tests for cars sold in Europe contain a minimum of acceleration and therefore differ significantly from normal driving conditions.
Still, the fuel economy is impressive and it's matched with a class-leading carbon-dioxide output of 98 grams per kilometer, making the Fiesta ECOnetic the lowest carbon vehicle in both its segment and Ford's European range.
Continue reading...
- Posted by</
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
But the big winner announced today by the institute was the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, which outperformed the competition in recent front, side and rear crash test evaluations of eight small SUV models.
