Ford Boasts Improved Resale Value For 2010 Ford Taurus
After a year on the market, Ford notes that its redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is getting far more money at auction—a full 39 percent more—compared to the 2009 model of the same age.
According to Ford, the 2009 Ford Taurus was selling at a discount compared to the 2009 Toyota Avalon, but now they've switched, with the 2010 Ford Taurus, comparably equipped, selling at about $2,500 more than the 2010 Avalon.
Of course, in all fairness, Ford neglects to say that Toyota redesigned the Avalon for 2011, and Ford had redesigned the Taurus for 2010, so Ford is at a bit of a natural advantages comparing apples to oranges.
The 2010 Ford Taurus redesign is undeniably better-looking, but it hasn't been received well on all counts. The model ends up sacrificing rear-seat headroom for its stylish new lower roofline, and it isn't as roomy overall as the model it replaces—although The Car Connection, in addition to the look, appreciates the higher-quality feel of the interior, advanced tech features such as Sync, and available all-wheel drive and high-performance Taurus SHO model.
Ford's observation might ring true for a vehicle that still looks very new, but the real test will come after the vehicles are two to three years old or more. Residual value experts ALG still rate the 2010 Ford Taurus at just two stars out of five, indicating that they predict it will depreciate at a higher than average rate.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Carlos Ghosn: Auto Sales Have Bottomed, Nowhere To Go But Up
Speaking at a World Economic Forum in New Delhi, Carlos Ghosn -- head of Nissan Motor Company and Renault SA -- had some interesting things to say about the global auto industry. Among the most notable and encouraging items, Ghosn believes that the international sales slump has ended and that the industry is beginning to rebound. He had previously predicted global sales to ring in around 55 million units, but has now upgraded that figure to 60 million. (For reference, 2008 and 2007 each saw sales in the 70-million-unit range.)
Like his rivals at Toyota, Ghosn attributes much of the rebound to sales incentives offered by governments around the world, including America and its Cash-for-Clunkers initiative. Though many of those programs have now ended, leaving sales in danger of falling slack again, Ghosn argues that such threats have been offset by surprising growth in emerging markets like India and China.
In his words, the industry seems to have hit a "plateau" (or more accurately: bottomed out) and is now poised for growth: "It's very likely that we will start to move up in 2010, selectively, with obviously China, India, the Middle East, South America playing an important role. The United States also." However, his forecast isn't without a few cloudy skies: "I'm afraid Europe, Japan are still going to have a tough year in 2010."
Given the most recent sales stats from China, Ghosn's predictions would seem to be on-target. Rao Da, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, says that auto sales in China have jumped 34 % so far in 2009, and now stand at 9.66 million units. Expecting a boom in sales toward the end of the calendar year, Da anticipates total vehicle sales for 2009 to top 12 million by the end of this month, marking an increase of 44% over 2008. While that rate of growth in China may be unsustainable in the long term, Da said he would not be surprised to see China's sales growth in 2010 on the order of 25%. Which would, of course, explain why every automaker worth its salt is scrambling to gain a foothold in China and why Chinese investors have been so bullish in their bids for HUMMER and Volvo.
[AutoNews, AutoNews, sub reqd]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Live From Ashville: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Photo Gallery
TheCarConnection is trying to make you feel as if you were at the press-only event where Ford Motor Company (F) is launching the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus. We've already posted exclusive photos on the standard Taurus, and on Tuesday we had a chance to drive and photograph the high-performance SHO model. While an all-out drive story is coming, check out these photos to see some details that haven't been included in other SHO or 2010 Taurus posts.
In keeping with the "below the radar" tradition of the SHO Taurus, exterior differences between the SHO and the non-SHO models are subtle. The high-performance SHO gets larger 19-inch aluminum wheels, a subtle trunk spoiler, and some badges. Standard Taurus models get 17- and 18-inch rims.
Inside, the differences are just as low-key, with some black and aluminum trim being swapped in for some plainer trim. The SHO's steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the pedals have aluminum trim, and the standard leather seats have Miko Suede inserts (a fake suede that feels and looks fantastic but wears 100x better than genuine suede).
The SHO I drove had Ford's adaptive cruise control. It's a radar-based system that runs at 7.6 gigahertz. The forward-facing radar looks out from behind a solid panel below the driver's side headlight, just inboard of the running lamps. Unlike past radar-based systems, this one has no moving parts, and should be more reliable than those older systems.
Popping the hood on the 2010 Taurus SHO reveals a huge engine cover. Thankfully there's a graphic to tell you what you're looking at. Below that engine cover, you'll find twin turbos that help the engine crank out 365 horsepower.
The exterior dimensions of the twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 are actually a few millimeters smaller than the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 found in lesser Taurus models. The tiny advantage comes from being able to tuck the tiny turbo chargers in close next to the engine block. This fitment requires less space than the larger tuned exhaust manifolds used to help the base 3.5-liter exhale more easily. Turboheads will see that the intake charge pathway leads forward to a large intercooler (not shown) and then up into the tall, high-rise style intake plenum and manifold.
The Garrett turbochargers are small, which means they are able to generate boost almost immediately. The flow of exhaust gas goes into the center of the turbo, spinning the impeller. The impeller wheel drives a shaft connected to a compressor wheel in another chamber. The compressor wheel sends high pressure air out toward the intercooler and eventually into the engine.
Engineers told us that these turbos are designed for a service life of at least 150,000 miles. Old turbo chagers (from the 1970s and 1980s) tended to fail because of main-shaft bearing failure due to heat soaking which caused the lubricating oils to cook off and coke up. These new turbos have large oil pathways to the main-shaft bearing as well as a cooling system that provides coolant to the blowers even after the engine has been turned off.
At normal cruising speeds, the turbos spin at about 25,000 rpm (this is their "idle"). At full turbo boost, the turbos are spinning approximately 170,000 rpm. The blowers can withstand temperatures of 1700°F.
Until you live with Ford's new Easy Fuel capless fuel filler system, you'll never know just how convenient the system is. The Easy Fuel is standard on all Taurus models, and all new Ford products. There is no gas cap: just put the filler nozzle in the hole and begin the flow of petrol. The inner flap seals the fuel system when you're finished. No mess. No muss. No fuss.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
The City of Detroit: Getting Its Due If GM Leaves Ren Cen?
While it may not make much difference to the world where General Motors has its HQ, it's big news here in Detroit. Yesterday, Jim Fouts, the mayor of Warren, Michigan, said he was delivering a proposal to GM about moving their HQ from Detroit's hopefully-named Renaissance Center out to the suburb of Warren where GM has a huge design and technical center.
These tough times make companies do what heretofore seemed unthinkable, at least that's the common way of thinking about things. In actuality, automakers have left Detroit before.
The main reason has always been because of economics, but the underlying issue is that Detroit city government has proven that it is incapable of providing a functional, business-friendly environment. Decades of corrupt, abrasive, racial politics have alienated all but the most altruistic business leaders and private citizens. Men like Roger Penske are to be lauded for their unfailing support of the city.
Perhaps Detroit just has to totally implode before it will turn around? This is a pervasive line of thinking among many in Southeast Michigan's business community. The city government is so broken at every level that it may not be able to keep major employers such as General Motors. The city will move one step closer to a melt down if GM takes Warren's offer.
General Motors - Not The First To Leave Detroit Or Ren Cen
Henry Ford II lead the development of the Renaissance Center that had its official beginning in 1971. He worked with other major Detroit personalities and businesses to fund the $500 million project. It would take until 1977 before the cluster of buildings was fully up and running. Ford Motor Company and many of its advertising and merchandising agencies were among the first large-scale tenants.
As the administration of Detroit Mayor Colman Young incessantly made Detroit a more untenable place to live and do business, the Renaissance Center faltered. Mortgage defaults were common. Eventually, Ford Motor Company restructured, and moved out of the Ren Cen and back to the Ford family homestead in Dearborn, Michigan.
Not long after, Chrysler Corporation moved most of its main operations out of the city of Highland Park, an enclave totally surrounded by Detroit. Chrysler's new HQ is in Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons play basketball at The Palace.
The City of Detroit will suffer if GM moves to Warren, but Warren won't prosper by the move. Plant closings have helped boost Warren's unemployment rate to 17.3 percent and further depress home values. The Warren Mayor was quick to point out in brief comments that his city is offering GM large tax breaks and that his city, unlike Detroit, has no income tax. GM workers still at the Ren Cen wouldn't mind a 4-percent raise with their move to Warren.
We'll keep you posted as to further happenings. Regardless of GM's decision, things are still going to get uglier in Detroit before they get better.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Rolls Royce 200EX Concept: Embargo Hemorrhage
Some folks in the U.K. were itching to be the first to feature pics of the Rolls-Royce 200EX concept (to show at the Geneva Motor Show). The 200EX provides a strong hint at the fourth BMW-produced Rolls-Royce model and is reputedly a production-ready version of the car that will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. So U.K.'s The Daily Telegraph's impatient fingers pushed the button a day early, hence the pictures you see here.
Front and rear structures/crash protection are said to be shared with the new 2009 BMW 7-series (which we've driven and appreciated), but cylinder count won't be limited to eight as it is in that car. Thumbing its nose regally at modern concerns like CO2 emissions and fuel frugality, Rolls will continue in grand 12-cylinder tradition with the new model, this time with a newly-developed BMW engine that is said to share fundamental design with the 4.4-liter turbo V-8 from the 7. AutoCar claim that the engine should ring in at an even 6.0-liters.
They say that despite commonalities with the 7-series, only 20 percent of the big Bimmer's parts will be used for the 200EX, which will get its own wheelbase. Still, the new Rolls will shrink in the shadow of the Phantom, which is said to dwarf the 200EX by 18 inches in overall length.
[source: AutoBlog]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010 Ford Fusion: First Drive
The Ford Fusion was introduced back in 2005 as a 2006 model. Its mission was modest ... it was supposed to save the company. Given the situation of Ford and other Detroit automakers, the end of this story hasn't played out.
Ford understands how important the Fusion is to the company's health. The mid-size sedan competes in the second largest segment of the automotive market (compact cars are the first). J.D. Shanahan, Fusion's Chief Nameplate Engineer stated, "There is a huge upside for us in the mid-size segment if people realize how good this car is. It's tough for Camry and Accord owners to consider a Ford, but we've got something here that they should consider." Traditionally, the mid-size Toyotas and Hondas have sold per annum at about twice the Fusion's rate.
Ratings from Consumers Reports and J.D. Power attest to the fact that Ford Motor Company now builds cars that match or exceed the quality perennially delivered by Toyota and Honda. When one combines this new reality with Fusion's excellent driving dynamics, the argument to consider the Fusion as a serious contender becomes impossible to ignore.
In normal times, since the Fusion was only three model years old, it would have been due for a minor refresh some added features and a gussied up nose and tail. That's not what happened to the 2010 Ford Fusion. Ford spent $650 million on a major overhaul. In other words, don't look at the new Fusion as a microwaved leftover dressed up with some fresh garnish.
The top line is that Ford spent their money in three key areas; engines and transmissions, interiors, and styling. The result is a dramatically improved and refined midsize sedan that includes a full range of models including a base gasoline four-cylinder model, a mid-level V-6, an exceptional hybrid, and a gutsy Sport model with a big-bore V-6. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive can be ordered on select models.
While the current environment isn't quite perfect for the introduction of the Fusion line's first Sport model, that doesn't stop the Sport for being truly entertaining. Power comes from it's large V-6 comes on strongly and smoothly with refinement befitting a Lincoln this is no surprise since this engine is used in Lincoln products. The Sport's handling is so tied down, Ford felt comfortable letting journalists autocross the car, something that is completely out of character with the sedan's purpose in life. However, flying around cones in a parking lot proved that the car has the chops to precisely clip apexes, delivering a feeling of control that eludes the mid-size market's mainstay, the less buttoned-down Toyota Camry.
Ford knew that while the original Fusion was more than competitive in terms of size, features, and handling dynamics. The company also knew the car lacked refinement and that its powertrains were not efficient enough. This changes for 2010. The 2.5-liter and both V-6 engines are quiet, smooth, and significantly more fuel-efficient (an average of six to ten percent across the line).
The 2010 Fusion's new styling looks sharp, especially the aggressive front end that puts a new face on Ford's three-bar grille. The design required a new hood and front fenders, and the result is as sculptural as it is contemporary. The changes at the rear are more subtle, and along with updating the look, improve visibility because the third brake light is now mounted at the top of the trunk lid.
All 2010 Fusion models are significantly more refined inside than the outgoing model thanks to more (and more efficiently applied) insulation, thicker glass, and additional seals on the doors. Additionally, the entire instrument panel is new and made from a seamless soft-to-the-touch material that fits with tight tolerances for a high-quality appearance. Misaligned seams always scream, "I'm a cheap car," and the Fusion doesn't have any.
In terms of equipment, the 2010 Ford Fusion is well equipped even in its base "S" configuration. Standard features include a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, air conditioning with cabin filtration, a CD audio system that is MP3 compatible, split-folding rear seat, and power windows. Content builds from here up through the following trim levels; SE, Sport, and SEL.
On top of the dense standard feature list, the 2010 Fusion also offers the following as options (depending on model); a reverse camera with a screen that is in the rearview mirror or in the nav unit (if equipped), Sirius Travel Link, moonroof, and a Sony audio system.
Regarding safety, the 2010 Ford Fusion offers what has become the standard quiver of features; ABS, traction control, electronic stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, remote keyless entry, and six airbags. Extra safety-directed features include the Blind Spot Information System, rearview sensing system with camera, and 911 Assist for vehicles with SYNC all options on most models.
The IIHS gave the 2009 Fusion a "Top Safety Pick," and according to Ford, the 2010 Fusion will perform even better.
The bottom line? It's better than ever, and a serious mid-size contender. Stay tuned for our full review of the 2010 Ford Fusion, and in the meantime, see our extensive photo gallery over at our 2010 Ford Fusion page.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
L.A. Show: 2008 Honda FC Sport Concept
Part Storm Trooper, part Vector W8--and all fuel-cell vehicle?
Honda's showstopper at the Los Angeles auto show is the FC Sport, a sportscar that borrows the fuel-cell powertrain from the FCX Clarity and wraps it in a dramatically wedgy body that looks like Jerry Weigert's been given a day pass to the Honda design studios in Pasadena.
The official press release follows, along with live shots from the L.A. show floor:
Honda today revealed the Honda FC Sport design study model, a hydrogen-powered, three-seat sports car concept, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The FC Sport emphasizes the design flexibility and potential of Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology - already deployed in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan - and reconfigures it into a lightweight sports car design with an ultra-low center of gravity, powerful electric motor performance and zero-emissions. The design study concept is inspired by supercar levels of performance through low weight and a high-performance, electrically driven fuel cell powertrain.
"The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."
The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain and a sleek, aerodynamic body contribute to the vehicle's performance potential. A modular approach to fuel cell component packaging and the electric drivetrain contribute to the FC Sport's low center of gravity with the majority of vehicle mass distributed between the axles, creating the balanced weight distribution sought after in sports cars.
The ideal placement of the Honda V-Flow fuel cell stack and related components demonstrates the benefits of a platform-specific, hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain. The FC Sport is configured to accommodate a custom-formed high-power fuel cell stack, located between the rear seats, and a battery pack placed low in the middle of the vehicle. The electric motor resides just forward of the rear axle. Two fuel storage tanks, visible from above, are located above the rear axle.
The optimal placement of fuel cell components for performance also allows for a relatively large passenger cabin by conventional supercar standards with enough space for three seating positions. The interior layout focuses primarily on the driver with a racecar-like center driving position. The enclosed canopy opens upward from the rear to allow for entry and exit. Two rear passenger seats flank the driver's left and right side.
The sleek, low-profile body is designed to convey a high-technology appearance with sculpting that combines angular shapes in the front of the vehicle that taper into geometric, hex forms in the rear. The rear hex forms house cooling radiators for the fuel cell. Formula 1-style barge boards behind the front wheels enhance high speed aerodynamics and convey the vehicle's racing pedigree. The hydrogen storage tanks, visible from the rear deck, showcase the FC Sports fuel cell technology in much the same way that a "naked bike" motorcycle showcases its engineering technology.
The glacier white body color conveys the FC Sport's clean environmental aspirations while the dark wheels and deeply tinted glass provide a symbolic contrast befitting of the vehicle's unique combination of clean power and high performance. Green construction techniques further contribute to a reduced carbon footprint. An organic, bio-structure theme is carried through to the body construction where exterior panels are intended to use plant-derived bio-plastics.
The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas, in Pasadena, California, developed the FC Sport design study with the primary objective of using existing fuel cell technology as the basis for an ultimate Honda sports car. Designer Jason Wilbur led the design efforts.
Honda R&D Americas, Inc. began its operations in California in 1975 with local market research activities and has steadily grown its capabilities over the past 33 years to include all aspects of new vehicle design and development. Recent development efforts include trend-setting products such as the Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Element, Civic Coupe and Civic Si.
In 2008, the company opened two new design centers in Southern California: the Acura Design Studio (Torrance), for the research and design of new Acura products; and the Advanced Design Studio (Pasadena), for the exploration and development of advanced design themes for both Honda and Acura.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
U.S. Soldier in Iraq Wins 2010 Ford Mustang
Describing his relationship with the Ford Mustang as "20 years of love, addiction and obsession," 22-year-old Kory Chesher of the Army's 101st Airborne Division was thrilled to find himself the winner of a 2010 Ford Mustang. Courtesy of Ford Motor Company, he will also be flown to the L.A. Auto Show on November 19 where the 2010 Mustang will first be revealed, provided he can take a leave of absence from service in Iraq.
Chesher's 242-word essay, one of thousands of entries to Ford's "Mustang Stories" online contest at www.the2010mustang.com was voted the winning story by site visitors. And indeed, this young man bleeds Mustang: "The only thing greater than a life loving Mustangs is a life with a Mustang," he raved in one part of his essay. One thing's for sure; Chesher's significant other is going to have to be cool sharing affection with a Pony Car, as he swears also that "Mustangs are my one true love."
Wow. And I thought I was obsessed with my Mercedes. Mr. Cheshire claims it all began at six years old when he spotted a '68 black Fastback and inquired as to what kind of car it was. "That's a Mustang," his dad told him, and thus the obsession took root.
Congratulations Kory, get home safe, and if we see someone drooling on the hood of a 2010 Mustang in L.A., we'll be sure and say hey.
Stay tuned as we present live coverage from the L.A. Auto Show, and watch as Ford finally pulls the wraps off of the new Mustang they've been teasing us with for months.--Colin Mathews
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Consumer Reports Rates Ford and Japanese Brands Highest
We reported earlier today about Ford Motor Company's solid reliability ratings in Consumer Reports' 2008 Annual Car Reliability Survey. Says Consumer Reports, "on average, Ford continues to build the most reliable American cars." But the comprehensive test also revealed that reliability of European makes is on the rise and that fuel-efficient vehicles represented with largely superior reliability. These findings and others were presented today at an Automotive Press Association Lunch in Detroit, Michigan.
Again, Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury "continue to pull away from the rest of Detroit," good news that Ford should proudly claim in this hostile market, and hopefully a harbinger of the quality and reliability of its upcoming European-derived models like the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Says CR, "Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers." The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, notably sharing production and design with the new Mazda6, rank among the top family cars in reliability, and the new Focus sedan has risen dramatically since its debut in 2000 to now rank as above average.
Long plagued with quality issues, European brands like Mercedes-Benz are finally improving. That automaker's C-Class, E-Class V-6, and ML350 SUV have improved to average reliability, placing them in Consumer Report's "recommended" category. Three more Mercedes models made it to the average reliability level. This is in contrast to last year, when Mercedes made no models that even managed an average score.
Even with the improvements, roughly one third of Mercedes' products have reliability problems, with no models scoring above average. With that storied brand trying to bring diesel back to America, qualms about their reliability doesn't bolster an argument for a fuel the U.S. abandoned in the passenger car market 20-odd years ago. Audi presented a better story, also the purveyor of new diesels for it's '09 lineup, with two-thirds of its fleet scoring average or better, and most of BMW's 3 Series and 5 Series also scoring average or better. A Ford-owned Volvo made strides, leaving only the XC70 wagon rated below average.
As to the excellent reliability of fuel-efficient vehicles, the big story from Consumer Reports is in the gasoline/electric hybrid segment. Hybrid leader Toyota Motor Company scored high with its Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Lexus GS450h hybrid sedans, as well as its Lexus RX400h and Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs. Nissan's Altima hybrid rated highly in the sedan category, and Ford scored yet another reliability win with its Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid small SUV twins, which scored above average in predicted reliability. Finally, in the hybrid realm, the Honda Civic Hybrid, with its Integrated Motor Assist, scored above average.
Following the Japanese-heavy solid reliability stories with hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles, Japanese brands in general scored tops in reliability in Consumer Reports' annual survey, and lead a staggering 15 of 16 categories in the organization's predicted reliability ratings. We're used to this story from Japanese brands, though some of their newer ventures like the Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, Nissan Armada, and Infiniti QX56 SUV have been marked exceptions to their high-quality habits. Last year's Toyota Camry also had significant reliability problems, but the brand seems to to have these issues on the mend as they did score above average once more in the '08 survey. The Nissan vehicles mentioned "showed striking improvements" with the troubled models gaining average reliability. New products from Nissan such as the Rogue small SUV and the similarly sized Infiniti EX crossover have begun their product cycles with above average reliability, helping Nissan and Infiniti enjoy overall improvements in their rankings versus last year.
South Korean companies Hyundai and Kia also rank highly, scoring about even with the Japanese makers mentioned above. The majority of their models scored at least above average.
GM models were "a mixed bag," according to Consumer Reports. They spanned the range from above average for the 4-cylinder Chevrolet Malibu, average for the V-6 model of the same vehicle, and above-average ratings for the Buick Lucerne V-8 and four-cylinder Pontiac G6 (cousin to the Chevrolet Malibu). Chevrolet's Avalanche has moved up to an average ranking, but a solid one-quarter of GM's models are "still well below average." Sadly, models that performed well in Consumer Reports' testing regimen, such as the Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook, rang in with reliability that was below average.
But the worst reliability story come from the now Cerberus-owned Chrysler. While the newer platform-mates Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot small SUVs made respectable above-average ratings, nearly two-thirds of Chrysler's products were solidly below average. The Pentastar's bread-and-butter minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, which are claimed by many to be perhaps their most valuable products next to the new 2009 Ram pickup, earned low scores from Consumer Reports. Also scoring low for Chrysler were its Jeep Liberty, Dodge Avenger, and Chrysler Sebring V-6. Scoring abysmally low was the Chrysler Sebring Convertible, earning the worst predicted reliability score that was calculated at a whopping 283 percent lower than average--not good numbers for a car company that's struggling for existence.
It's a good day when we can report that an American manufacturer like Ford, whose future is at stake just like competitors GM and Chrysler, is at least turning out reliable, well-built cars that can compete on the same ground as the Japanese. Changing consumer opinion is a longer, tougher road, but with large agencies like Consumer Reports lending their support, perhaps the tides will change for Ford, which has recently seen stock prices drop to desperately low 1980s levels, leading some of its largest stockholders like tycoon Kirk Kerkorian to consider the sale of his entire holdings of Ford stock.
Fresher European-sourced products are quickly on the way for Ford, as consumers and the media have long complained about Ford's decision not to bring the excellent European Focus platform to America. Instead, we persist with the 8-year-old Focus platform spruced up only with styling and sheetmetal changes. If they can keep up the quality story with the new European products that are sized right for the times (and enjoy commensurately smaller consumption), Ford may be poised for a slow but sure comeback as long as the stock market and credit crisis begin a resolution. And that's a big "if."--Colin Mathews
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Nissan Cuts 2009 Altima Production for North America
Detroit News reported that Nissan Motor Co. will be cutting production of its popular 2009 Altima sedan, built in its Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss., assembly plants. Steve Parrett, Nissan North America spokesman, explained that employees in both plants will take three successive Fridays off without pay: Oct. 17, 24, and 31. Parrett is unsure of how many workers this affects.
All three vehicles under the Altima nameplate are affected: Sedan, Coupe, and Hybrid. This move shows just how deep economic troubles run in the auto industry, as even a relatively healthy Nissan Motors is cutting back and trimming costs, or in this case responding to a lack of market demand. Thankfully, it's a far cry from the plants GM has been forced to close, but nonetheless it takes a toll on the American worker who is facing what many analysts are calling the worst economic situation since the Great Depression.
This news comes on the heels of Nissan's overtures toward acquiring a 20 percent stake in Chrysler, announced earlier today.
The third-generation Altima has been a highly successful vehicle for Nissan and a big boon to that automaker's turnaround in the beginning of this decade. Introduced for model year 2002, this Altima abandoned the cramped interior and frumpy styling of the second generation. Journalists were suitably impressed by the third-gen Altima's huge jump in size, comfort, and power, especially with fitment of Nissan's powerful and refined refined 3.5-liter version of its award-winning VQ V-6 (VQ35DE). The fourth-generation Altima, introduced for model year 2007, addressed journalist's qualms with interior quality, trim pieces, and fit/finish.
But has the Altima, which now has a longer wheelbase and more interior room than once big-brother Maxima, grown too large and heavy for a market that is rapidly downsizing? Where are Nissan's competitors for vehicles like the Honda Fit? The Euro-derived Nissan Versa is an awkwardly styled econocar that looks right on paper but has not resonated with Americans like the Honda Fit has.--Colin Mathews
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
