Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids
Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Work, Ford
If it weren't for the somewhat obsessive and frankly narrow-minded love by taxi drivers and police officers for the body-on-frame Ford Crown Victoria, we'd imagine the old Panther platform would have been put out to pasture a very long time ago. As it stands, though, New York cabbies especially seem hell-bent on keeping it around on life support as long as possible.
Interestingly, though, a report from USA Today suggests that cab drivers make more money when operating a Crown Vic than any other automobile, and that supposedly includes hybrids. According to John Shaban, a 27-year-old cab driver, "I don't like the hybrids... Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for them."
Could it be that customers inherently prefer the Crown Vic? Shaban believes so, saying, "People wait for the Crown Vic because it's roomier. They're more likely to get in." Regardless, that's all set to change soon as Ford finally discontinues its long-running rear-wheel-drive people mover. It's expected to be replaced with - you guessed it - a hybrid or some other fuel efficient alternative.
[Source: USA Today | Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty]
Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE
Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford
2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery
Those waiting patiently for one of the most anticipated new vehicles of the year are going to have wait just a little bit longer. According to Automotive News, Ford has been forced to delay the initial shipments of the 2011 Fiesta by 10 to 14 days due to Hurricane Alex, which hit Northern Mexico in late June, and Tropical Storm Bonnie, which made landfall shortly thereafter.
It seems there are a number of damaged railroads around Ford's factory near Mexico City, and the automaker has been forced to reroute some of its shipments. Ford is reporting that it has collected about 2,000 down payments from customers waiting for the 2011 Fiesta, and some of those vehicles will be arriving later than initially planned.
While nobody wants to wait any longer than necessary for their brand new cars, an extra 10 days or so shouldn't cause too big a problem, right? Especially when it's due to... an Act of God.
*UPDATE: A Fiesta fan on Facebook has uploaded some images that show the damaged railroads in Mexico, one of which can be seen to the right. Click here for more.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Ford Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsSpy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff
Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford
Now that Ford has decided that Lincoln doesn't really need a truck after all, its up to the F-150 to carry the torch as both the everyman's work truck and a luxury toy hauler for the wealthy. Somehow, it seems to manage its dual roles just fine, as evidenced by these spy shots of a 2011 F-150 Lariat Limited edition.Ford's Lariat Limited was last seen in 2007, meaning that the 2011 edition will be the first time the latest F-150 generation is bestowed with this trim level, though there's also the King Ranch, Platinum and Harley-Davidson models to consider if you want to haul all your goodies in the lap of luxury.
Body-color bits are the name of the game, including a six-slat grille, side mirrors, door handle surrounds and accents on the large aluminum wheels. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com tells us to expect Ford's latest 6.2-liter V8 engine sporting something north of 400 horsepower.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, Racing
2010 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Race Car - Click above for high-res image gallery
All of you who have been anxiously awaiting the debut of the Ford Mustang in what we loosely refer to as modern-day stock car racing, take note: The original Pony Car will see its first action this Friday night at the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
To help build excitement for the Mustang's entrance into the Nationwide Series, Ford has just announced that it will offer a brand-new 2011 Mustang GT - powered by the excellent 5.0-liter V8, no less - to anyone that wins the race... provided they do so in a Ford-branded race car, of course.
For what it's worth, Friday's event will be the second straight race where a new 2011 Ford Mustang GT will serve as the pace car. In other words, those in attendance for the festivities would be witnesses to an All Mustang, All The Time Show if it weren't for the fact that Dodge will also be showing up with its new Challenger-based entry. 'Stang vs. Challenger? Sounds like fun.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night
PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPoll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta
Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, Mazda
In case you missed it, we just published our First Drive of the brand-new Mazda2 today. If your attention spans is anything like ours, allow us to remind you that we've also driven the Ford Fiesta once or twice. Since both cars are built atop the same platform and will be competing for your hard-earned bucks in short order, the natural question is: Which one would you choose?
If you don't have time to read both of our drives, here's a quick glance at some of the more salient details:
| 2011 Ford Fiesta | 2011 Mazda2 | |
| Base Price | $13,995 (four-door sedan), $15,795 (hatchback) | $13,980 (hatchback) |
| Engine | 120 horsepower, 112 pound-feet of torque | 100 horsepower, 98 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Five-speed manual, Six-speed dual-clutch auto | Five-speed manual, Four-speed auto |
| Base Weight | 2,537 pounds | 2,309 pounds |
| Efficiency | 29/40 (auto), 28/37 (manual) | 27/33 (auto), 29/35 (manual) |
Naturally, there's more to the equation than the tale of the tape. For instance, if you're in the market for an automatic transmission, the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiesta seems to be a much more attractive option than the old-school four-speed automatic in the Mazda. Also, the Fiesta can store more cargo and has more comfortable seats.
It would seem that the scales are tipping in the Blue Oval's favor. Consider too that the Fiesta is available as both a sedan and a hatchback while the Mazda2 is a hatchback only. Add in an available navigation system, leather interior, SYNC infotainment system and heated seats - none of which are available on the Mazda - and we've got a slam-dunk win for the Ford. Right?
Perhaps not. Our man Steven Ewing, the only member of the team to have driven both U.S.-spec models, tells us that the Mazda2 is notably more fun to drive than the Fiesta. Plus, he claims the 2 looks better in its specific shade of green, if that kind of thing is important to you. So, is the promise of an added dose of driving enjoyment worth the significant loss in comfort, convenience and economy? That's up to you to decide.
Poll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again
Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Toyota
2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.
First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is (somewhat ironically) still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.
Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford's F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent - a scenario Ford calls "pretty common."
Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM's only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.
See the complete American Made Index after the break, and check out additional commentary from Cars.com here.
[Source: Cars.com]
Continue reading Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again
Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo?
Filed under: SUV, Safety, Videos, Crossover, Ford
2011 Ford Explorer, is that you? - Click above to watch the video after the break
Sometimes, we have to wonder if automakers just like toying with the emotions of those of us who follow their comings and goings on a daily basis. How else can we explain how Ford would show up to the Shoreline Community College Automotive Center in Seattle with what appears to be the back half of a 2011 Ford Explorer in tow?
It's not really possible to know exactly what it is that we're gazing at in the video pasted after the break, but it sure does appear to match what we're expecting to see from the first unit-construction Explorer from the Blue Oval Boys. Nowhere else is that more evident than with the sloping C-pillar, which looks like a dead ringer for the one we saw blowing in the wind on a car hauler back in March.
No matter what it is that we're seeing in this video, the rear seatbelt airbag technology on display is definitely coming to a dealership near you, first on the - you guessed it - 2011 Ford Explorer. Enough talking already... check out the video for yourself after the break.
[Source: Driven Car Reviews]
Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo?
Video: 2011 Ford Explorer partially revealed during seatbelt airbag demo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsSYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video]
Filed under: Technology, Ford
Ford SYNC with Applink - Click above to watch the video after the the break
Ford's excellent SYNC infotainment technology is undoubtedly already one of the best systems on the market. But there's clearly been one glaring omission that's been keeping the Microsoft-developed system from attaining its true position as the ultimate automotive killer app that the world has been waiting for: horoscopes.
Good news, all you budding astrologers... Ford has seen fit to add daily horoscopes to all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with the cloud-based SYNC app Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI). There's no cost and all the driver needs are an active owner account on www.syncmyride.com and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone.
Horoscopes not your thing? No problem! There will also be access to stock quotes, movie listings, airlines, rental cars and hotels. If this kind of thing tickles your
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading SYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video]
SYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Ford considering shutting down Mercury division
Filed under: Ford, Mercury, Earnings/Financials
Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to a report from Bloomberg, which is citing two unnamed sources who are supposedly "familiar with the plan," Ford is planning to close the doors on its Mercury division after 70 years of existence. If true, Mercury will join recently departed brands ranging from Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer.
We can't say that this news comes as a shocker, as analysts far and wide have been predicting such an event for the last few years, but Ford has repeatedly denied any plans to cancel its interplanetary division when questioned.
For what it's worth, the Mercury brand has seen its sales fall by nearly three-quarters since the year 2000, now representing less than two percent of Ford's annual sales. What's more, Mercury is scheduled to lose two of its four models next year. At this point, the only thing we'll miss if Mercury leaves us is spokesmodel Jill Wagner.
Stay tuned for more as the story develops.
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[Source: Bloomberg]
Report: Ford considering shutting down Mercury division originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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