VEHICLE TYPE: The 2011 Ford Fiesta (US) will be a front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. Base Price for the sedan is $13,995 with a $15,795 tag for the 5-door. Its engine will be a DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection .Power will come from a 120 bhp @ 6350 rpm with torque of 112 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm.

These power plants will be matted to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual. Performance charts for the 2011 Ford came back with results of Zero-to-60 mph: 8.8–9.0 sec, and a top speed of 118 mph.

Dimensions for the 2011 Fiesta include a wheelbase of 98.0 in Length: 160.1–173.6 in Width: 67.8 in Height: 58.0 in. Curb weight for the Fiesta is a light 2550–2650 lbs.

Estimated fuel economy ranges around an EPA city/highway driving: 29–30/38–40 miles per gallon. When can you get the all new 2011 Ford Fiesta in America? Check out Ford dealerships later this year.

According to sources at AT&T: ““Cleaner, alternative-fuel vehicles are the future of our corporate fleet,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T’s vice president of fleet operations. “The Transit Connect Electric represents a real breakthrough and will be a strong addition to our range of alternative-fuel vehicles.””

It’s still a great chance to see a business fully evaluate how Ford’s electric Transit Connect operates in real-world environments. The actual workers who will be driving Transit Connects around probably won’t notice much of a difference, outside of its quieter engine. Electro-Transit Connect carries the same payload and measure the same size inside as your run of the mill gas-Connect.

Source: Motor Trend

But those same Ford employees & enthusiasts who praise this past year’s sales are worried about 2010. With car incentives (like those similar to C4C) dying down it may be a dismal year in 2010 for FoMoCo Europe. Now is the time they should learn to live in the Moment!

Apparently, FORD no longer stands for “F–ked On Race Day” – as the American Motor Company introduced their NASCAR Mustang to the joy of rednecks everywhere. Or, if they’re Chevy fans, the dismay. But when the Ford Mustang was teased several months back, race fans everywhere stopped putting their pickups on blocks and ran to the blogs. Check out all the details in Ford’s Press Release below:

FORD, RFR, CON-WAY FREIGHT UNVEIL NEW 2010 NATIONWIDE MUSTANG

“I have been a Mustang owner and enthusiast for many years myself so this is an exciting day to see this car racing in NASCAR,” said car owner Jack Roush. “My teams have won several road racing championships over the years in Mustangs, and I look forward to winning more with Colin, Carl [Edwards] and Ricky [Stenhouse Jr.]. With the continued support of Ford and Con-way Freight we plan to give Colin the opportunity for his second Rookie of the Year title in NASCAR, and ultimately a Nationwide Series championship.”

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“In the real world, a fuel economy saving of 10 percent can make a major impact on running costs. Transit has always been the vehicle business people choose when they want value for money and low cost of ownership. With this new ECOnetic version, we now have the best in class CO2,” Ford’s commercial vehicle directory Steve Kimber said in a statement.

The Ford Transit ECOnetic is priced around $25,000 in Britain and is based on the front-wheel drive Transit 280 panel van with short wheelbase. It is powered by a 2.2-litre 115PS Duratorq TDCi engine and runs on diesel. Yes, I said that right, it runs on diesel fuel.

The Ford van is only available in Britain and parts of Europe. However, this vehicle is similar to the 2010 Ford Connect which will soon be available throughout the United States. The Transit Connect is a spacious fuel-efficient alternative to larger commercial vehicles and was first unveiled at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

Ford Transit Connect has front-wheel drive with an upgraded powertrain. It is powered by a Duratec 2.0-liter dual-overhead cam (DOHC) four-cylinder engine. The Transit also has several design enhancements including the grille and interior touches. It is probably the best fuel efficient commercial van that will hit the market.

“This workhorse is like nothing available today in the American market,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “We’re offering small business owners a real choice to meet their needs, instead of asking them to pull seats out of minivans or compromise on one or more of their needs.”

Ford hybrid vehicles, including the Fusion and the Escape SUV, are top performers in the United States. The Ford Transit Connect will only add to a successful line-up. For example, shipping companies can save on gas while helping the environment. Ford Motor Company is providing technologies in vehicles that reduce carbon emissions in the commercial transportation business.

via newsoxy.com

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One can even choose to pose their fantasy Mustang in a burnout pose, or have it quietly lurk next to a darkened parking garage pillar, in the dead of night, waiting for its next victim. Customizations are downloadable, and come in varying sizes – ready to be used a a Facebook pictures, Myspace Profile background or Twitter Avatar. Hope you enjoy these fun color-combinations!

Here are the hard facts, courtesy of Left Lane News:
The Good
Ford division saw a 2.9 percent increase overall, driven mostly by Fusion (up 66 percent to 17,610) and Focus (up 43.6 percent to 21,830). Numerous Ford dealers reported that their Focus inventories, in particular, were essentially depleted. On the truck side, Escape sales were up 94.2 percent (to 20,241), Flex sales were up 64.7 percent (to 3,631) and Ranger sales were up 64.5 percent (to 7,695).

Mercury also saw a 6.6 percent increase in sales thanks to hefty demand for the Milan (up 59.8 percent to 2,934), Mariner (up 70.5 percent to 3,682) and even the Grand Marquis (up 3.8 percent to 2,667).

Volvo sales were up 25.7 percent thanks to a 257.2 percent increase in demand (to 1,461) for the S60, which was heavily marketed to clear out old inventories.

The Bad
Not helped by the Cash for Clunkers program due to its fairly high line-wide consumption, Lincoln was Ford’s sore spot. Sales were down 24.3 percent despite a 95.2 percent increase in Town Car sales (to 1,841).

The Ugly
Ford, up 2.9 percent to 142,135.
Lincoln, down 24.3 percent to 6,672.
Mercury, up 6.6 percent to 10,031.
Volvo, up 25.7 percent to 6,441.

All those plumbers, welders and satellite TV installers will have to wait until 2012 to get a Ford Transit Connect. Is this yet another sign of the coming Mayan Apocalypse? There’s some good news behind this shift – Ford Transit, which has been constructed in Turkey since it’s limited debut, will now be built on American Soil for 2013.

According to Automotive News: Ford will add Transit Connect production to either its Wayne, Michigan plant or its Louisville, Kentucky factory in 2012. That 2012 production shift coincides with Ford’s plan to retool the Wayne and Louisville plants to produce a new global, compact platform – the same that will underpin the 2013 Transit Connect.

Currently, the Turkey-based Transit Connect is built on the same frame as Europe’s Ford Focus. When it comes stateside (officially) a next generation skeleton will be used for these 2012 and 2013 models. Ford has yet to figure out a sales target for the Transit Connect, but it hopes to sell 60,000 units annually by the 2013.

But after The Big Three were targeted by the media and Government intervention (due to the downfall of America’s automotive industry) projects like Ranger X were stuffed away in storage. But you can read all about it in the full Ford Press release from 2008 below.

Ranger Max Show Truck Delivers Maximum Capability, Maximum Style and Maximum Impact

• High-impact Ranger Max show truck explores future design possibilities for Ford Ranger compact pickup

• Inspired by power tools and active lifestyle equipment, Ford designers describe Ranger Max’s new look as tough style with power dome and sportsbar as key features

• Ranger Max amplifies the urban appeal of Ranger and reinforces its proven durability and toughness

BANGKOK, Thailand, November 28 – Renowned for its genuine toughness and strength, the Ford Ranger takes a confident step forward with the debut of the high-impact Ranger Max show truck at the Thailand International Motor Expo.

Ranger Max pushes everyone’s expectations of Ranger. Visually bold and muscular, it takes to the stage at the Ford stand with confidence, sophistication and craftsmanship. The Ranger Max extends Ranger’s reputation as the best all-around compact truck on the market.

‘We know Ranger is tough and durable, and Ranger Max adds to those qualities. The show truck does not follow a trend; it sets a new tough style direction for compact trucks,’ says Paul Gibson, the chief designer of the Ranger Max show truck
. ‘Ranger Max is genuinely tough, and it is a truck that gets the job done. This high-impact show truck also has the bold visual presence that looks great on the urban scene.’

A team of Ford truck specialists in Thailand worked closely with Ford’s Australia-based Asia Pacific and Africa design team, led by Gibson, to create Ranger Max. Ford’s design team incorporated design cues into Ranger Max that may be seen in future-generation Ranger.

‘The Ranger Max is not just about creating show excitement,’ Gibson said. ‘We have a great opportunity to test design themes that may make their way into production. Ranger Max says exciting things about the possibilities for truck fans in Ranger’s future.’

‘The tough style of Ranger Max is based on the capability and versatility that make Ford Ranger the choice of the most demanding truck owners,’ said Mr. Saroj Kiatfuengfoo, senior vice president, Ford Thailand. ‘Ranger Max’s high-impact design and tough style appeal will excite truck enthusiasts in Thailand.’

Delivering Tough Style
Genuine truck toughness comes from great design and engineering, which means the production Ford Ranger is the ideal foundation for creating Ranger Max. No under-skin modification was needed with Ford Ranger to produce Ranger Max.

Gibson and his team of designers concentrated on exploring the limits of tough style. ‘Ranger Max wasn’t meant to be elegant or pretty. The robust nature of Ranger means that it is the dependable workhorse, and with Ranger Max we wanted to create a show truck that is cool as hell.’

They took inspiration from things many truck owners know and appreciate. The distinctive contrast between Ranger Max’s hardcore orange paintwork with matte black accents is inspired by the functional design found in some modern power tools – just like those used by many Ranger owners every day. Ford designers recognize how absolute function and durability inspire these industrial tools and make them more appealing.

Industrial shapes such as the cog-like detailing in the body accents and wheel arch mouldings extend Ranger Max’s theme of tough style as the ultimate power tool.
Pushing the power tool inspiration a step further, the Ranger Max design team noted how power tools and similar objects incorporated words into their design to convey instructions or warnings. Ranger Max uses ‘words’ in this same style to accentuate its robust ‘industrial feel’.

Ranger Max is full of details like this, such as the word GRAB imprinted subtly on the bold, black grab handle in the side of the sportsbar linked to the cab. Every letter is precisely shaped in a ‘truncated’ font that complements the toughness and utility the overall truck design communicates.

Several power tool brands have inspired Ford designers. Other inspirations for Ranger Max have come from active sports, such as rock climbing, and the tough, technical products used by active sportsmen.

Just like Ford Ranger, the robustness of these products is affordable and their designs are purposeful. People buy these products because they know they can depend on them to get the job done.

‘Ranger is respected,’ Gibson says, ‘and Ranger Max amplifies that identity, which gives it a modern and youthful character that’s really suited to sporting and social activities, too.’

Taking Ranger to the Max
With its character as the ultimate power tool, Ranger Max show truck exudes confidence and purpose. It’s up for the job – work or fun – and its tough style says so. It features full surfaces that convey the power and strength of its tough-truck backbone. The detail of its design demonstrates this show truck has been designed by people who know trucks and love them.

Like a high-quality power tool, it’s ready for tough use. This means purposeful matte black plastic accent features and trim items – and no fussy, fancy chrome.
Ranger Max has innovative features such as a remote-controlled power tonneau cover for the cargo bed and a distinctive sportsbar that visually extends the length of the well-proportioned Ford Ranger side-access Open Cab.

And Ranger Max rides on distinctive, deep-dish, 18-inch alloy concept wheels and custom technical-look tyres that finish its extreme looks.
This is a Ranger and proud of its tough-truck heritage. RANGER is boldly embossed in the hood and sidesteps on Ranger Max.

Dynamic Profile
Ranger Max’s high impact establishes a powerful presence wherever it goes. And that bright orange high-energy colour is officially known as Mango Hit. It is the colourful creation of Debbie Pascoe, colour and trim manager, Ranger Max design team.

Its profile exudes power and dominance as well as balanced proportion. The flexed ‘power dome’ shape of its hood communicates the pulling power and high torque of the engine. The power dome shape carries through to influence the design of the hard tonneau cover at the rear of the vehicle. These two overt muscular design elements give Ranger Max power and solidity. It’s enough to scare the typical pickup into the gym for serious weight training.

Adding even more dynamism to the profile is the exclusive Ranger Max sportsbar, which attaches to the pickup bed and arches across the vehicle. This unique crossbar is shaped to create the visual impression that Ranger Max is always on the move – or ready for action.

‘The sportsbar makes a big statement,’ explains Max Tran, a Ford designer who played a key role in developing the vehicle. ‘It adds a feeling of movement and dynamic character, and incorporates some great design details, including twin air scoop shapes on top.’

Built into each side of the crossbar is an integral grab handle. Finished in matte black plastic, the grab handle design is all about purpose. The dark shape of the grab handle visually extends the perceived shape of the Ranger Max side window shape, accentuating the feel of functionality and space of the Ranger side-access Open Cab – a functional feature which Ranger debuted in 2002 in response to feedback from tradesmen.

The grab handle is labelled – like instructions on power tools and on aircraft – with the word GRAB. Similarly, the side door of the Ranger Max is distinctively yet discretely labelled AXCESS. These functional callouts also extend to the Ranger Max fuel inlet, which is designed to intersect one of the bold wheel arches, labelled FUEL.

‘There’s no mistaking the purpose of labels like these on power tools,’ Tran explained. ‘On Ranger Max, they fulfil the same role. It’s the style of purpose.’
For example, the vent on each front fender uses hexagon-shaped details and discrete chrome badging with the word RANGER. MAX adjoins this Ranger badge to reinforce the show truck’s name.

Other design details in the Ranger Max profile include incorporating the side repeater lamp into the side mirror. The lower bodyside, with two-piece interlocked sidestep look, was inspired by rock-climbing carabineers and other outdoor gear you trust with your life.

Ranger Max’s stance communicates power, purpose and athleticism. The design team has crafted unique, 18-inch alloy concept wheels for Ranger Max. These deep-dish, six-spoke wheels – with black graphic funnel shapes to their centres – are must-have sporting accessories perfectly suited to Ranger Max. Featuring large offsets, the wheels build on Ranger Max’s distinctive tough style.

Big P285/60R18 tires with a chunky tread pattern give Ranger Max the footwear and traction it needs to accomplish any job or adventure.

The bold wheel arches with cog-shaped detailing reinforce Range Max’s stance and its purpose. Explosive, dynamic side graphics on the fenders and lower doors are inspired by the high-impact of shattering glass.

A New Face of Possibilities
Ranger Max is about confidence without aggression. It has a go-anywhere, do-anything attitude as well as great design detail. ‘When you look at the front design, the three-bar grille, the overt nostrils and open mouth, you’re looking straight into the face of Ranger’s evolution,’ said Gibson.

‘There are design elements we are developing and Ranger Max is one possibility. We’ve crafted the face of the Ranger Max to explore a new look. Elements from it could evolve into the new identity of Ford Ranger.’

The three-bar grille is a Ford hallmark design element, conveying strength and quality, integrated with a proud, large badge of the famous Ford blue oval. Ranger Max adopts dynamic, modern headlamps which angle at the top to communicate energy and movement.

More robustness cues abound in the front design. Here, the power-dome hood is a dominating shape. Its leading edge features an integral hot-air vent and reinforces that Ranger Max is a tough, powerful machine.

Self-confident Ranger branding – embossed in the top of the front grille surround – is another proud aspect of the front design.

Two major design elements link together to form the dominant frontal look of Ranger Max. The corporate three-bar grille imbeds itself into the lower enlarge air intake. A distinct line starting from the headlamps follows around the nostril and borders the lower air intake. This signature line unites the major design elements to create the defined face of Ranger Max.

Powerful Pulling Away
Ranger Max has presence on the road. Its bold rear design is the combination of proportion and details such as the pronounced contours of the tonneau cover which emulate the power bulge on the bonnet. The distinctive sportsbar integrates the cabin area with the tonneau cover. Continuing rearward, Ranger Max is neatly finished off with a tailgate cladding embossed with RANGER and a pair of unique tail lamps.

‘We’re really excited about the Ranger Max because we’ve been able to define a tough style and apply it to Ranger. It is credible and very believable. Ranger Max amplifies the reputation of our truck,’ said Tran. ‘There’s nothing minimal about the Ranger Max.’

Star at Thailand International Motor Expo
The Thailand International Motor Expo 2008, with Ranger Max as the star attraction for Ford, runs from November 28 to December 10.

‘We recognise that Thailand is the home of Ranger for Asia Pacific, and from Thailand we export Ranger around the world. We know Asia is a fusion of many cultures, and we look to Thailand as a wonderful blend of tastes, styles and emerging ideas. For this very reason, we decided to create Ranger Max in Thailand and show the high-impact truck to the world at Motor Expo,’ said Mr. Kiatfuengfoo.

Ford Brand Loyalty

Out of the few remaining American auto companies Ford stays strong with a high rate of return customers. Ford owners are some of the most passionate car buyers this country has seen. In 2005, Ford dealers reported a 51% return on Ford buyers (based on trade-ins and leases) and 50% on Mercury. Today, Ford dealers are holding steady about sales of Chrysler and GM cars. Credit, which most people use some amount of when looking into new rides, is also still good with Ford. According to Detroit News: “Ford Credit has demonstrated that it can still borrow money at relatively attractive rates, raising $1.9 billion through asset-backed loans and another $900 million through unsecured loans. It also has applied to form an industrial bank subsidiary that would allow it to borrow money at more favorable rates.”

Stronger Products & Classic Cars

Ford vehicles have always been a staple of the American psyche – from the classic Mustang to hard working pickups like Ranger and F-150. Solid models from Lincoln and Mercury also add to Ford Motor Company’s staying power. Not a day goes by in any major city where we don’t see a Crown Victoria Taxi or Lincoln Town Car Livery Cab. Lincoln has even been branded the “American BMW.” But gas guzzling trucks or sports cars can’t keep a company afloat in 2009…

Eco-Friendly Automobiles

One of the reasons Ford hasn’t needed mass amounts of government/private loans is due to the technology grants they’ve accepted for testing and production of alternative fuels/eco-friendly automobiles. Smaller, more fuel efficient cars like the Focus and Fiesta have attracted a new class of auto shoppers, who want to stop at the pump as little as possible.

Blue Collar Support

Green drivers aren’t the only large market Ford is tackling – Ford Trucks have successfully targeted the blue collar segment. From Econolines driven by your neighborhood plumber to the hauling-ass capability of an F-250, Ford pickups and vans are used nation-wide by “ham and eggers.” A new ad campaign starring Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe also targets working class consumers. It’s a chance for the company to grab blue collar buyers who may be tapering off from driving in a Dodge Ram or Chevy Suburban. It may be the perfect time, as we read reports of GM brand cuts and Chrysler dealer closures, Ford can jump in and take its palce as a solid American Car seller.