Just reading the "plan" from Ford, so they can get some bailout money. It's got some interesting things. Such as 6 speed transmissions will be available in 100% of it's vehicles by 2012 as well as Eco-Boost engines coming out this year and available in 85% of it's vehicles by 2012 and 95% of them by 2015.
Will update more as I read through it. It's long....
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Here's some stuff on fuel efficiency. Pretty crazy.....
2009 Ford Escape with better highway fuel economy than Toyota RAV4
and Honda CRV.
2009 Ford F-150 with class-leading fuel economy better than Toyota
Tundra and Nissan Titan.
2010 Ford Fusion HEV with better fuel economy than Toyota Camry HEV
by at least 6 mpg.
2010 Ford Fusion with better highway fuel economy than Toyota Camry
and Honda Accord.
2011 Ford Explorer with better highway fuel economy than Toyota
Highlander HEV.
2011 Ford Fiesta with better highway fuel economy than Toyota Yaris and
Nissan Versa.
the focus for one will have it^^^ that will be nice i guess. also possible to maybe see another probe in the future for ford...
Ford's CEO also said he will lower his salary to $1 a year if the Govt gives Ford 9 billion dollars in bailout money. 2010 will also be a giant increase in plug in electric vehicles by ford. selling volvo is gonna help too. that company has been a drain for years. ford's future is very interesting.
Apparently they claim that Mazda showed them some kind of process that reduces new product development by 8-14 months. They don't say how long it normally takes though. Lots more Focus oriented vehicle platforms. Huge reduction from 25 down to 8 different platforms to build off.
Can't wait to see GM and Chrysler's info. I'll post up when I get it.
the focus for one will have it^^^ that will be nice i guess. also possible to maybe see another probe in the future for ford...
Ford's CEO also said he will lower his salary to $1 a year if the Govt gives Ford 9 billion dollars in bailout money. 2010 will also be a giant increase in plug in electric vehicles by ford. selling volvo is gonna help too. that company has been a drain for years. ford's future is very interesting.
The 2010 EV will be in commercial fleet vans ONLY. 2011 will see a sedan, probably commercial fleet only as well. 2012 is when the full line of EVs will be out.
It is just sad that these companies have to completely collapse before they will built a car that someone actually wants. The big thing that they need to control with their restructuring plan is the union. They need to stop with the over compensation of the employees and increase the quality of the cars instead. They don't need to get rid of the union but they need to get a fair contract that will help out the companies. I think if the contract is between no job and a job that pays a little bit less I am sure they will choose the later. They can scale back the healthcare plan a little bit too and save a few billion dollars.
Apparently they claim that Mazda showed them some kind of process that reduces new product development by 8-14 months. They don't say how long it normally takes though. Lots more Focus oriented vehicle platforms. Huge reduction from 25 down to 8 different platforms to build off.
Can't wait to see GM and Chrysler's info. I'll post up when I get it.
sad thing is, ford dumped almost all their stake in mazda after learning all the tricks. lol oh well. ford also downsizing dealers and wholesalers by like 600 dealers and 750 wholesalers. hopefully chrysler and gm will jump on this bandwagon. all its gonna take is for a few really rich people to want to not get any richer...HA! the UAW owns the auto market, and now, the US government. sad..
this is good info. I saw a Focus 2 door coupe on the highway on Thanksgiving, i was stunned to see it, so i went home and did some research, its rumored to have an inline 5 cylinder WITH a turbo!!
it was a decent looking car, for a focus.
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I read in a car mag last year that the big three were going to 4 cyl and 6 cyl turbo'd engines for better mileage and still have power. Because of the price of gas Europeans and others have been doing this for years. The big three should have been already doing this.
i agree to an extent, i think they should still have a vette, or cobra. Something with a nice v8 that u can stomp on at 1500rpm and still be pushed back in your seat. There is no feeling like the sheer tq. a big v8 makes, and the sound is to die for. I just dont ever see the 8cylinder being TOTALLY phased out, at least it gives some of us something to hang on to if they do.
Sure building vehicles like that is one thing, but they need the quality and reasonable pricing to be competitive again. I'm glad they are taking a step in the right direction finally.
this is good info. I saw a Focus 2 door coupe on the highway on Thanksgiving, i was stunned to see it, so i went home and did some research, its rumored to have an inline 5 cylinder WITH a turbo!!
it was a decent looking car, for a focus.
That's the Euro-only Focus ST (based on the Mazda3 platform with the turbo-5 from Volvo).
Isn't it amazing what the manufacturers pull out of their asses when their companies are on the line?
If the big three (and now the rest of them, with everyone having drops in sales) weren't doing so badly right now... how much longer would we have had to wait for this new technology?
They're all so full of crap.
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Ford Turbo option in 85% of vehicles by 2012
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