Posts Tagged ‘Ford’
Ford Developing New Police Cruiser
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
A while ago, we took a look at new contenders to the retiring Crown Victoria’s throne as the country’s number one police cruiser. Now it looks like Ford is not ready to step down just yet. The Ford Motor Company has announced that it will produce a completely new purpose-built Police Interceptor specially engineered to replace the Crown Vic in 2011.
Ford’s new interceptor is being developed in conjunction with the company’s Police Advisory Board, which has spent the last14 months providing input on the attributes necessary to a quality law enforcement vehicle, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience, and comfort. The new Police Interceptor will be offered to law enforcement agencies as soon as the Crown Victoria goes out of production in late 2011.
The new vehicle is designed to provide municipalities with reduced ownership costs through improved quality, durability, and fuel efficiency.
“Ford’s commitment to the law enforcement community produced the Crown Victoria, the benchmark police vehicle,” said Lt. Brian Moran, fleet manager, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a member of Ford’s Police Advisory Board. “This commitment has continued, and Ford has been working closely with the Police Advisory Board on developing the new Police Interceptor. I am confident that the next-generation Ford police vehicle will meet the future needs of the law enforcement community and will set the new standard.”
Ford plans to reveal the new model and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010 – in time for law enforcement agencies, police equipment manufacturers, and upfitters to develop a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product.
Photo courtesy of wastemanagementdude under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Crown Victoria, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford police cruiser, LA sheriff's department, Police Advisory Board, police interceptor
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Used Trucks and SUVs Continue Rebound
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Almost every one of the most popular used trucks and SUVs on AutoTrader.com saw double-digit percentage price increases in October. The most improved vehicle was the Chevrolet Tahoe, which was up 27 percent from last year. The Dodge Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 also had price increases of over 20 percent since October 2008.
Similar trends emerged in the new vehicle market, with most truck and SUV models showing single digit increases. However, the F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado had 20 and 14 percent increases respectively.
“There continues to be renewed interest in these larger vehicles from consumers who need these vehicles for their work, because they have large families or some other true utility reason,” said Chip Perry, president of AutoTrader.com.
“In the past two years, record gas prices and a challenged economy caused many of these people to put off purchase of a new or used truck or SUV,” he explained.
“But for car buyers who really need large vehicles, they can only put off the purchase for so long,” Perry continued. “This rising demand coupled with low inventories could lead to continued price increases on these vehicles over the coming months.”
In a month where AutoTrader.com continued to witness an increase in views on the site over last year, the company had 13.6 million unique monthly visitors, up 6 percent from 12.9 million in October 2008.
“Consumers tell us over and over that the Internet is the number one medium from which they get information about vehicles and find dealers they want to do business with.” Perry remarked.
Photo courtesy of fdtate under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: AutoTrader.com, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge, Dodge Ram, F-150, Ford, Silverado
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Transit Connect Goes Electric in 2010
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Ford announced this week that it will be working with Azure Dynamics Corporation to build and distribute a pure battery electric Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will be integrating its Force Drive battery electric drive train into the existing Transit Connect for commercial fleet and retail use.
“We recognize an increasing interest in electrified vehicles and have an aggressive strategy to bring these vehicles to the marketplace,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of global electrification. “Our work with Azure to create a pure electric battery Transit Connect vehicle will allow us to offer our commercial customers an additional option for environmentally friendly transportation.”
The battery-powered Transit Connect will be one of four electric vehicles that Ford will make available over the next three years, including:
- Battery electric Transit Connect van in 2010
- Battery electric Ford Focus passenger car in 2011
- Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
- Plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012
“The opportunity to work with Ford on the Transit Connect BEV is a breakthrough advancement for us at Azure and for the light commercial vehicle market,” said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. “For Azure, it’s an important evolution of our existing relationship with Ford. From an industry standpoint, we are seeing delivery fleet and utility vehicle operator’s move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Transit Connect BEV will come to market at an ideal time to meet this growing trend.”
The Transit Connect BEV will offer fleet owners the opportunity to eliminate the use of gasoline and help to lower operating costs. The vehicle will be branded with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure’s Force Drive logo.
Photo courtesy of crazytales562 under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Azure Dynamics Corporation, Force Drive, Ford, Transit Connect, Transit Connect BEV
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Florist’s Business Blossoms with Transit Connect
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Michigan-based Mancuso Florists has weighed in on the benefits of the fuel-efficient Ford Transit Connect. The compact van has helped the business cut down on its fuel costs while maximizing its deliveries.
“It costs us about $30 to fill the gas tank in the Transit Connect,” said Frank Mancuso, proprietor of Mancuso Florists in St. Clair Shores, Mich. “It costs us about $70 to fill the tank in one of our full-size vans. A full tank lasts around the same time in either vehicle, so delivery costs are significantly reduced by using the Transit Connect.”
The Transit Connect is specifically engineered to meet the needs of small businesses, according to Ford. It is built on a dedicated front-wheel drive commercial platform, with a 2.0L Duratec I-4 engine and an automatic overdrive transaxle. The van delivers 22 city, 25 highway EPA-rated miles per gallon, and provides 135.3 cubic feet of cargo space with a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds.
The customizable nature of the Transit connect allows it to be specially fitted for the unique needs of any business, including a flower shop. The split rear cargo doors and low load floor make both loading and deliveries significantly easier.
“While reduced delivery costs are critical, Transit Connect offers other key advantages for floral retailers,” said Bruce Wright, editor of Flowers Magazine. “Small overall dimensions make Transit Connect much more maneuverable than traditional full-size vans, key in urban markets. It’s easier to handle and much simpler to park, reducing driver stress.”
The Transit Connect also presents the right image for a florist. “A full-size van is almost invisible, because they’re everywhere,” observed Mancuso. “But all kinds of people notice our Transit Connect. Our drivers get so many inquiries about the vehicle, we hand out cards with information about it. Transit Connect serves as a ‘rolling billboard’ for our business.”
Photo courtesy of Irargerich under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Duratec I-4, EPA, Flowers Magazine, Ford, Mancuso Florists, Transit Connect
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Silver Comes In First for Auto Paint
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
For the ninth year in a row, silver is the number one color choice for new cars and trucks, said paint supplier PPG Industries this Thursday at its annual Automotive Color Trend Show.
According to PPG Industries, one out of every four vehicles in North America is silver. Manager of color styling Jane Harrington says that’s an increase of 5% since last year.
“Silver looks great on any car, shows off all of the lines and helps people blend into the crowd,” Harrington said.
Since silver began its stint as auto paint champion nine years ago, the technology for auto painting has grown by leaps and bounds. The silver paint applied to vehicles today is vastly different than its older counterpart. Compounds in the paint, pigment sizes, and even the size of paint flakes have changed to allow for much richer and deeper color.
This year’s study of colors included a breakdown of colors by vehicle segments:
- 57% of compact cars are silver or black; 21% are blue or red.
- Blue and red make up only 17% of the midsize segment and 12% of the luxury segment.
- On the other extreme, 40% of all luxury vehicles sold in the U.S. are black.
- Europeans, who have a stronger small-car culture, have even more color variety in the compact segment, with 37% of the small cars in red, green, brown or blue, according to PPG.
Susan Swek, group chief designer of color material design at Ford Motor Co, said that colors may change, but they still have a lasting impact on buyers.
“Over time, different colors will sell and become popular,” she said. “But some things won’t change, when you buy a vehicle, people always go, ‘What color did you buy?’
Photo courtesy of schoschie under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Automotive Color Trend Show, Ford, Ford Motor Company, PPG Industries
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Chevrolet Caprice Resurrected for Police Fleets
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
With the Ford Crown Victoria going out of production, police fleets around the country need a new car for future patrol cars. Now Chevrolet has provided one answer: The new 2011 Chevy Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. The new Caprice is a full-sized rear wheel drive sedan that will be available in both V-6 and V-8 models, with a range of specialized equipment for law enforcement.
Chevrolet announced the rollout at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver. The Caprice PPV will be available for order by law enforcement agencies next year and will begin production in 2011.
The Chevy Caprice has a history in law enforcement. The old Caprice joined America’s police forces in 1976, and continued to serve until it was scrapped in 1996 when GM discontinued body-on-frame designs.
The new Caprice PPV has been augmented for law enforcement duty with modern equipment and new features:
- 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E-85. (V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year)
- Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags.
- Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one dedicated to powering various police equipment.
- Designed for five-passenger seating, providing the upper-center section of the dashboard is used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference.
- Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology.
- Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers, including space to accommodate the bulk of a typical equipment belt.
The new Caprice is based on GM’s global rear-wheel drive family of vehicles that includes the Camaro. It has the longest wheelbase of the series (118.5 inches) plus a four-wheel independent suspension that allows for super-responsive driving characteristics critical to police.
The Caprice’s 6.0L V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb.-ft. of torque, and is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty.
Photo courtesy of netcarshow.com
Tags: 2011 Chevy Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle, Active Fuel Management, Camaro, Caprice PPV, Chevrolet, Chevy Caprice, Crown Victoria, Denver, E-85, Ford, Ford Crown Victoria, GM, International Association of Chiefs of Police
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Ford Fleet Sales Rise 23%
Monday, October 5th, 2009
In another sign that the auto industry may be seeing signs of relief from its economic woes, Ford Motor Company reported this week that in September 2009, sales of fleet vehicles rose 23%. However, retail sales dropped by 14%.
Of all Ford brands, “the 2010 Taurus in the last couple of months has had the best sales figures,” according to a statement by George Pipas, Ford sales analyst. Ford’s September sales report showed a total sale of 5,077 Taurus vehicles, up 60% from September 2008.
In addition to the Taurus’ success, the F-Series truck saw a second consecutive sales increase in September, with numbers up 4%.
This continues an upward trend in fleet sales for Ford. In August, the automaker posted fleet sales of 176,323- up 17% from August 2008.
Photo courtesy of resedabear under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: F-series, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Taurus
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John McElroy Sees Bright Future for American Automakers
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
At the 41st annual Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) conference this week, industry analyst and host of Autoline Detroit John McElroy told those in attendance that reduced capacity, increased demand, and changes in the marketplace will “perfectly align” for American automakers in the next five years.
McElroy gave a presentation at the conference entitled “The Golden Years in the U.S. Auto Market, 2010-2015”, which outlined the positive impacts of the economic downturn on the future of the auto industry. He believes that a pent-up demand from harder times will create such a buyer rush that automakers will no longer need to offer incentives to customers, leading to higher profits along with the increased sales. McElroy suggested that Ford would first see massive profits, followed by GM and Chrysler.
While the financial misfortune of the Big Three had a terrible impact on their business, McElroy says that the same situation created several positive conditions that will lead to recovery. He cited lower labor costs, elimination of excess capacity, and lower break-even points as indicators that the automakers will have greater success in the future.
The market itself has also shifted, according to the presentation. Environmental regulations have begun to force consumers away from large trucks and SUVs toward smaller cars. Prices on these new vehicles may rise up to $5,000 per unit to make up for the loss of profits from fewer truck sales and the costs of new technology.
The used car market, he said, is set to experience a “boom time” in the coming years as the number of used vehicles available declines due to fewer trade-ins. Other factors include reduced rentals and fleet sales.
Whether McElroy’s predictions are accurate will have to be seen over the next few years, but an upturn for the auto industry would certainly be a welcome change.
Photo courtesy of nDevilTV under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: AFLA, Autoline Detroit, Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association, Chrysler, Ford, GM, John McElroy, US Auto Market
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Ford Begins Building Own Diesel Engine
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Ford Motor Company has announced that it will build its own diesel engine to be installed in the next generation on the F-series Super Duty pickup truck, ending its relationship with Navistar International Corp.
The 6.7-liter turbocharged V-8 diesel will be manufactured at Ford’s Chihuahua engine plant in Mexico. It is planned to be included with the 2011 model-year Super Duty. The new engine promises better fuel efficiency while still delivering more torque and greater horsepower. In addition to these major improvements, Ford claims that the new engine can last for 250,000 miles without any major problems.
“This all-new diesel engine has been so extensively tested both in the lab and in the real world that we’re confident we’re giving our customers the most reliable and productive powertrain available today,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president in charge of global product development for Ford.
Navistar International has been Ford’s exclusive supplier of diesel engines for the Super Duty line since 1979. In 2003, the engine supplied by Navistar received a host of quality complaints, prompting Ford to sue them to recoup warranty costs. Navistar then countersued Ford, blaming them for the issue. A new engine was produced for 2007 forward that fixed the issues, but Ford announced last year that the relationship between the two companies would end after the 2010 model year.
Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP in Birmingham said the move makes sense.
“If you buy an engine from outside, that money leaves the company,” he said. “Ford has gotten a lot of experience from its diesel joint-venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën in Europe. They should have the experience and capability to do it.”
The new engine will be ready to meet strict new emissions standards for diesels that take effect in 2011.
Tags: 2953 Analytics LLP, emissions standards, F-series, F-series Super Duty, Ford, Ford Motor Company, fuel efficiency, Navistar, Navistar International Corp, PSA Peugeot Citroen
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Crown Victoria Turns in its Badge
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Ford Motor Co. recently met with the heads of several of the nation’s largest police fleets in Dearborn, MI to talk about the future of police vehicles.
The Crown Victoria, an invaluable asset to police fleets for years, is being discontinued. Ford has not sold the Crown Vic to consumers since 2007, but will continue to produce the cars as fleet vehicles until 2011. Although the Crown Victoria is on its way out, Ford is committed to remaining an integral part of America’s police force.
Ford’s major offer to the nation’s police fleets has been the new Taurus sedan. While it may seem like an excellent opportunity for an upgrade, the Taurus and other newer cars lack some of the features that made the Crown Victoria so effective. The Crown Vic was a body-on-frame car, which made it extremely tough and easy to repair in the event of a collision. It has a column shifter, which frees up the center console area for guns and electronic equipment. It also boasts enough rear space for a spacious trunk while still accommodating two suspects in the back seat.
In addition to these major features, most aftermarket police equipment is built specifically to fit inside a Crown Victoria. When some fleets attempted to switch their fleets over to Chevrolet Impalas, they found that their communications equipment would not fit in the vehicles. The Crown Victoria also has rear-wheel drive, which allows for greater handling and more even weight distribution.
With these features missing from many of its current models, Ford has yet to decide on what vehicle will be chosen to replace the Crown Victoria when it finally retires.
“We’ve got some big decisions to make, and we’re making them,” said Jim Farley, head of global sales, marketing and service for Ford. “We have no intention of walking away from our share of that market.”
Other companies are anxious to take over Ford’s contract with police fleets; other big automakers are eyeing the prize, but the Canadian Auto Workers and some small start-ups are also looking to provide law enforcement agencies with the perfect police cruiser. Ford however, is determined to stay in the game, and not just for the money: Ford Americas President Mark Fields says “Every municipality has police, so you have Ford product everywhere across the country. It reinforces that Ford is part of the community.”
Photo courtesy of banspy under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: American police force, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Impala, Crown Victoria, fleet, fleet vehicles, Ford, Ford Motor Co, Impala, Taurus
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