Ford IQ test part III

Ford Falcon Cobra Australia

Now all of these have appeared on my blog before, so if you want you can look them up that way, but real Ford fanatics should be able to get at least 75% of these without any problem.

Ford Falcon GT HO Australia

Ford Festiva SHOGun US specialty, not built by Ford

I've jumped from era to era and continent to continent, but with the exception of this one, all are production Ford cars. And since this one was sold only in the US, it should be easy.

Ford Limousine from Brazil

Ford EcoSport from Brazil

Ford Falcon Argentina

These are rare even in their own country, Ford Maverick Station wagons from Brazil

Ford Ka UK and Europe

Good luck, all the answers will be posted on Friday. Well, since the answers are visible when you roll the cursor over the pics, I will post them now. Thanks for the heads up Eric.

Ben's Oz Car Blog, back up and running and proposing the Falcon/Fairmont for the US!!!

Australia is known for the Marupials, mamals that evolved somewhat uniquely over thousands of years of isolation. And in a similar way Ford of Australia has evolved in relative isolation over the decades. In 1960 a new Ford was brought out in the United States and globally including Australia, the Falcon was Ford's first small car that attempted to compete with the foreign imports in the US. While the Falcon lasted only one decade in the US, elsewhere it flourished and continued. In South America, versions of the original Falcon were built until the early 90's with only upgrades and slight modifications. But in Astralia the Falcon evolved more fully into a unique vehicle that is still Ford of Australia's Flagship. The Falcon,Fairmont, LTD, Territory and Ute are all built on variations of the same chassis, with features such as IRS and both I6 and V8 powerplants. Here's a surprise, the most powerfull versions are both 6 & 8 cyl powertrains.
In the link above, you can check Ben K's Oz Auto Blog. Ben's a friend from down under, and he asks the same question that many have, "Is the Aussie Ford, the solution for Ford US's problems?"

I've been very clear on my views over the last 10 months. I firmly believe there is a need for this design here in the US, possibly several areas of the market that it could help Ford's US sales.

Ford SUV/Crossovers down under over at AutoBlog

Over at AutoBlog, they're discussing the Turbocharged version of Ford's Territory Crossover SUV. An impressive vehcile based partly on their domestic market Falcon chassis. Base models are powered by the 182 kw(243 hp) 4.0L I-6 and the new Turbo makes 240 kw (321 hp) with the intercooled engine from the XR6. The author goes on to speculate wether a vehicle like this wouldn't help the "way forward" at Ford here in the US. Now not to defend Ford, but there will be a 311 hp 4.4L V8 for the Freestyle in the future and possibly the 250 hp 3.5 L V6 also. These improvements would be comparable to the Ausie ute's numbers and bring Ford inline with the competition.

I've been saying for quite a while that Ford's Astralian Falcon/Fairmont chassis, and it's derivatives pickup and crossover should come here, simply as an enthusiast. But realistically bringing all of those vehicles here wouldn't improve Ford's position much and the lack of front wheel drive may actually have a negative impact in areas of the US like the North East where heavy snow is not unusual. Like this past weekend's blizzard, slippery conditions are a fact of life for half of the US market.

So in my opinion, the Territory may not be suitable for the US market when compared to the very capable FreeStyle, but the Falcon/Fairmont could easilly replace the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car. It's much better suited for that position, than the Volvo S80/ Ford 500 chassis, that underpins the new Mark S.

And for a new Lincoln, Ford could take that Fairmont chassis, install the new 2.7 L Diesel V6 and have a real competative model. Consider it, rear wheel drive, with IRS and a powerful and economical Diesel. Ford's Lincoln division could have a real world beater here. And the higher prices a Lincoln could demand, would make importing the design more practical. Hell, it would give Lincoln a model to export to Europe and compete with BMW and Mercedes on their home turf.

The importing of the design as oposed to the vehicle is what I see as the solution. If built here, the currency fluctuations wouldn't be as much of a concern. If Ford can import the designs of the Volvo S80/XC90 and Mazda 6 here, why not the Falcon/Fairmont?

I'll say again, Ford has the know how from a design point of view (at least overseas they do) why not bring some of these models here? All the hype recently about Mazda designing Ford's new B segment model, is ridiculous when you consider that the Fiesta sells so well world wide. Why can Ford compete globally, but not develop anything for the US? Why does Ford's design have to be "Dave"? Why can't it be "Bruce" or "Karl" ???

AutoBlog has the Japanese perspective on Domestic Auto industry woes

Over at AutoBlog, they have a piece and a link discussing the Japanese perspective on the Domestic auto industries' woes. They say that a Federal bailout would undermine domestic automakers' chance to recover. They heed caution, about an American Backlash, but feel that by sharing technologies such as Hybrid components, they can assist the domestics.

I'm personally not too hot on a "Bailout" of Ford and GM, but neither has actually asked for one, despite many pundits suggesting otherwise. Ford and GM have had talks in washington, about healthcare and alternative fuel infrastructure, which makes sense. After all, it does no good to build all these E-85 vehicles if nobody can find the fuel.

AutoBlog does mention the high tarrifs that Japanese charge on imported vehicles, making it almost impossible for foreign companies to sell their product in Japan. But I don't think anyone is calling for huge imports on Japanese vehicles, not that I'm seeing. But this does help to illustrate the inequity in foreign trade, where we in the US have few barriers to imports, the same is not true elsewhere.

The US manufacturers need to start real momentum on Diesels and Hybrids and more efficient and interesting products. The US government does need to increase incentives for alternative fuel infrastructure. I'm not so sure about the health care issue, I'm not in a position to discuss that.

Both GM and Ford already have Japanese partners and suppliers, so I'm doubtful when they speak about sharing technologies, I know that in Ford's case, that's already happening. I still believe that for Diesels, Ford needs to look no farther than their own backyard (Europe) where they sell efficient quality Diesel powerplants.

The AutoProphet, does some sleuthing on Lincolns Mark naming scheme

Many, including myself have been commenting on Lincolns move to aplha-numeric names for their new models. But the AutoProphet has gone one step further, doing internet searches on the issue and finding domain names, indicating future MK models. Good detective work, go and see what he found (link in title)
The first MK model from Lincoln was the 56 Continentall MK2 or MKII, a beautiful and sophisticated car, from a time when few thought Ford was capable of either. The MK series carried on until the 1990's up until the MKIIX or Mark 8. These were the cars to have, the top of the Lincoln line for the most part, each paying tribute to the original Continental commisisoned by Edsel Ford in the 40's, his version of European luxury car, that outdid most of the Europeans at the time.
So with that kind of legacy, what does Lincoln do? They squander it, by choosing to dilute the MK series, and copy Acura and countless others. The new Aviator became the MKX or Mark X, a blatant ripoff of the MDX, and I presume the X stands for 4x4. The new sedan becomes the MKS (Mark S) and the Zephyr becomes the MKZ (Mark Z.) Where will the stupidity end? The Zephyr, taking a name from the 1939 Lincoln of the same name, and actually avoiding refference to the 70's Mercury version of the Fairmont.

These are nice designs, but stupid names, and not enough to save Lincoln from further decline.
Will the Navigator become the MKN? Isn't the Mark LT enough? Way to go boys, drive Lincoln right into the ground why don't you?

I know, you're going to get sick of my Diesel rants, but...

You're probably thinking, "Enough with the Diesels Joe!" But this Ford Fiesta from Europe can get as much as 70 mpg on the highway. And feels torquy and almost dare I say sporty.
My fascination with Diesels is not really a new thing for me. Back in the mid 80's I nearly bought a used VW Rabbit Diesel like the one pictured here, same color green with tan leather interior and a crank sunroof. I had test driven several used Diesels, including a Rabbit pickup and of all of them thought the VW to be the best at the time. This was around 85 or 86, and the number of used Diesel cars in my price range was limited, so no Mercedes were driven. Yes they were noisy, and a little sluggish, especially if an automatic.

But read this Business Week article that I found over at AutoBlog, and see why Diesels may be coming to our shores soon and why they make more sense than Hybrids.

Get well Bob and family (Editorial staff) over at CarsCarsCars!!

One of my daily reads is CarsCarsCars! (link on sidebar) run by Bob S and his "Editorial Staff." Well Bob and crew (wife and 2 children) have been laid low by the Flu, so here's hoping a speedy recovery to them all. Bob has been one of the most creative writers that I've run into since I started blogging, and I just hope his wife never reads his blog, and discovers his infatuation with Claire or some of the other beauties that he longs for. While not specifically a Ford guy, Bob is a car guy with a uniquely New York point of veiw, and very funny as well. Now I'm not saying that Bob looks like a Pug (I've never met him) I just thought this was a cute "Get Well" photo. And if you don't like Pugs, tough. Keep an eye open for Bob's return to CarsCarsCars! and 4DriversOnly when he recovers.

Blue Oval News and the automotive "Press"

Over at BlueOvalNews, they have an interesting piece about the bias of the press, primarilly newspaper, against the domestic auto makers. And it's something that has always bothered me. So click the header and read what they have to say.

As far as the Auto Rags, magazines that we all grew up reading, I've long believed that they all woship at the altars of BMW and Honda, and lost their objectivity long ago.

It's impossible for an American car to do well, even if they win a comparison test, the writer will still criticize the car and maker, saying that it should have been better.

One glaring example in my mind was the recent award to Honda of "Truck of the Year" to the Ridgeline. Hell, it's not even a truck, and not even an original idea.

But what about the Chevy Cobalt? It's hands down better than a Civic, yet the Civic is the holy grail to them. And god forbid you try and compete with the BMW 3 series, there will always be "something indescribable" about the BMW that tips the competition in their favor.

I say Horse Sh*t, the American auto makers have gotten quality to the point where it's no longer an issue, and it's time for a level playing field in the "Automotive Press." You can't crap all over Ford, GM and Chryser, saying that their plastics seem cheap, and then praise Honda's interiors, that are no better. I've driven Civics and Cobalts side by side, and I don't see the vast difference that the press does.

Auto magazine for the most part are becoming obsolete, being squeezed out by the Internet. For years I subscribed to Motor Trend, Car and Driver and AutoWeek, but today, the only one I read regularally is AutoWeek. I prefer to get my automotive news and information online, sometimes directly from the manufacturer's web page.

Virus and Spyware and Splogs Oh MY!! and other rants

My recent sideroad trip with the Splog experience, taught me a lesson. I discovered Spyware and Viruses on my computer, I believe as a result of visiting those sites. Luckily I was able to remove the Spybots and Trojans from my computers by running my anti-spyware and anti-virus programs several times. So it's back to reality and time to catch up on what's going on in the world of Cars.
I have seen over at Jalopnik and Brad Barnett's MustangSource.com (both linked on left) that photos of the much anticipated California Special Mustang GT are out. I didn't want to use the same photo as everyone else, so I found this picture of a classice CS/GT at www.mustangdreams.com . Now while the California Special is getting the attention, I don't expect anything but stripes and maybe a hood scoop to differentiate it from standard GTs, what's going on with the Mach 1? The AutoProphet had posted something last fall, about seeing a test mule on the road around Detroit. Will the Mach 1 be like the Bullit, with more power? How about a Bullit version in the dark green with argent colored wheels?
Ford has anounced that the Fairlane concept will be be a go for 2008, really not a surprise or very exciting. It's going to take the place of the pathetic Freestar/Monterey mini van. Maybe the new model will draw buyers in that have been avoiding the Ford mini van offerings recently.
Now just a couple of quick rants. Here is the Iosis concept, the shape of Fords to come in the future for Europe. This should be the new look of Mercury, smooth sleek, looking fast standing still. But Ford North Amercia with the "Dave" look thinks that we Americans can't appreciate this type of inovative styling. Do you agree? I personally think that by coming to market with the Iosis, Ford could make waves like they did in 85 with the Taurus. Do you remember how ground breaking that was? Can't Ford see that being safe is what's hurting them?
Take a risk, bring out the Iosis and of course the Reflex. The way to profit is by being bold, not just slashing costs and playing safe.
And what the hell, I just posted this photo of the Fortynine concept, because I love it. I know there's no place in the market for it. But wouldn't it be cool if someone at Ford had the stones to actually build it? Think of it as a $40k niche car, based on T-Bird/Lincoln LS with the Jag's supercharged V8. I don't know if it would make a profit, but it would be cool.

Autoblog article on Ford's "Ethanol corridor"

Getting back to what it's about, THE CARS, I was reading AutoBlog (link in title) about how Ford Motor Company is going to create an Ethanol Corridor with a partner Sun Energy. Well there is criticism about this stating that 40 pumps in 2 states hardly constitutes a corridor, and they're right. But Ford isn't in the Fuel business, they build cars, so any movement is forward movement. If criticism is warranted, it should be towards our government (states and federal) and the Petroleum industry. While Exxon/Mobil makes record proffits, and no progress towards making E85 available, why criticize Ford?

Ford has been making "Flex Fuel" Vehicles for years, I remember in 1999 when I bought my Ranger, Ford offered flex fuel Ranger and Taurus models, with no big anouncement. Then as now, the problem has not been with the vehicles sold, but the availability of the fuel.

After 9/11 our government should have pushed harder for the domestic production of Bio Fuels, like E-85 and Bio Diesel. Bio Diesel is a better fuel than petro Diesel, and E-85 greatly reduces the amount of foreign oil we need to import. So if we like Brazil legislated the bio fuel usage in this country, we would benefit by lower dependance on foreign oil, more investment on our own shores and a cleaner environment. So what's the down side? Why is so clear a solution put in place? It's because of BIG OIL COMPANIES, they love the increases in gas prices, while we suffer and our economy slows, they rake in huge profits.

I applaud Ford's move, even if it is just a drop in the bucket, it's a move in the right direction.

RaceDriven finds yet another thief, this has the hutzpah to steal the entire post including photos.

Rick over at RaceDriven.com has found yet another THIEF stealing posts and reposting. This one's not even as clever as the idiot Andy over at the Automobilist, he reposts everything, including photos. Now hopefully some of the larger bloggers like MPH's Dave or Jalopnik's Dave and Mike, or even AutoBlog's crew will take notice. How about Mark Tappscott or EL Severson of AutoMuse, all of their work is being stolen as well.

I can't see how much they can be making off these sites, but it can't be enough. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm David E Davis or Brock Yates, some talented writer, but this is my work, such that it is, and I don't like seeing it being reproduced on other sites. Especially this new one.

WAKE UP BLOGGERS!! They're stealing your work!

New link to the Garage Guy

There's a new link on the left, to Gary's blog the Garage Guy.
Now a little off topic here, but I grabbed this photo off Google image search, where I get most of my non auto images, and I have to say I want a garage like this one. Looks like it could hold 4 cars and I love that style of door. But back to Gary, who's been a recent commentor on this site and others I visit, he's actually got more than one page, but you can check his others by going either to his blogger profile, or just click the links on his blog.

Always looking for interesting/relevant pages to link to, so if you know of one, let me know.

Which one do you like? Mazda2 or Fiesta ?

This is the current Mazda 2 subcompact.
Here is the European Ford Fiesta.

Which would you want as a new Ford subcompact in the US? Go to Ford's site and compare specs and styling, then come back here and let me know which you would buy. I checked the stats myself and it seems that they are using the same engines, and other specs are so close, that it seems that they are the same car under the skin. My question then is this, which came first? Is the Fiesta only a reskinned Mazda2 or vice versa?

Who owns who?

There's something screwy here. Ford owns controling interest in Mazda, not the other way around, right? Articles are popping up online today, quoting Mazda's head honcho as saying" We'll help Ford beat the Japanese." Meaning that they will design the new platform for Ford's new subcompact car. Now even I had speculated that the upcoming Aveo/Yaris/Fit fighter could be based on the Mazda2. But in my heart I was hoping that it would be built from the European Fiesta/Fusion/Ka platform.

So now I'm confused, who owns controlling interest in who? Half of Ford's vehicles for the US will be based on Mazda platfroms and mechanicals. The Fusion/Milan/Zephyr (MarkZ now)/Edge/MKX (Aviator)/Mazda6/MazdaCX7 as well as Escape/Tribute and Focus(euro)/Mazda3/VolvoS40(V50/C30)/Mazda5, all built on Mazda derived chassis. What's not based on Mazda? 500/Freestyle/Montego/MKS/VolvoS80(V70/XC90) all built on the Volvo platform, Mustang, Crown Victoria(Town Car/Grand Marquis) and the trucks. Arguably you could say that the Ranger is unique, but it's shared with the Mazda B series trucks.

So is Ford becoming just a bigger outlet for Mazda designs? What makes the Mazda design superior than the designs of Ford Europe? It can't be cost, as some Euro designs are built in Latin America, China and Russia. Is it safety? If so why aren't all Ford vehicles in Europe built off Mazda designs. Has Ford gotten to the point, where they can't do anything for the North American market that isn't related to Mazda? Without the exception of full size trucks and vans, most Ford vehicles have some Mazda connection.

It's not that I don't like Mazda, it's more that I'm confused as to the reliance on their platforms over any other available. The Fiesta platform has spawned many models all over the world, the Ka, Puma, Ikon, Bantam, Courier, Fusion and EcoSport, are they all crap? Why does Ford assume that they couldn't be made suitable for North American markets? Is the Mazda2 so superior to the Fiesta? Then why does the Fiesta sell in such numbers around the world? Why is Ford getting ready to bring a new Fiesta chassis to market, and partnering with Fiat for common platform? If the Mazda2 was so superior, wouldn't they build the new Fiesta on that chassis? Or maybe they are, does anyone know?

I like the Fusion/Mazda6 chassis, and the Volvos80/500 chassis, but is there no talent in Dearborn anymore? Has Ford become so reliant on Mazda, that they can no longer create original designs other than trucks?

Automobilist.com a Fraud and Thief

I had suspected as much, but Dori of If It's Got an Engine and Marc a commentor at AutoBloggers and Racedriven have both done a little digging and found that Andy of the Automobilist.com is just running what is called a "splog" Clarification, it is MY opinion that Andy is a thief. These are not the words of Marc or Dori. I did not intend to mislead anyone to think that. Marc has just educated us as to what a SPLOG is.

New term for me, you learn something new everyday. See my previous post on this here;
http://myforddreams.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-do-you-call-it-when.html

Robert Farago, mournes loss of Ford GT

Robert Farago, of "GM Deathwatch" fame, is mourning the passing of the Ford GT supercar. I found this link over at the CarPundit's site. Not that I don't like TheTruthAboutCars site, but since it's rarely Ford related, it's not on my daily check list.

Now I had always read that the GT was only going to be sold for a few years, so it did not surprise me that it was being discontinued. Also the fact that on my best day, short of winning the lottery, I could never afford one, means that I will miss the idea of a GT, I'm not all broken up over it. Now, if Ford was going to discontinue the Mustang, then I'd be crying a river. I'm not thrilled about the SVT Adrenaline being shelved, nor about the EcoSport's future being uncertain. There are developments that don't make me happy, but I'm in a holding position, waiting to see where the "Way Forward" will take us.

Winter reading continues

I'm continuing my winter reading assignment, moving onto a fourth book on the Ford family and company. This time it's The Fords, an American Epic by Peter Collier and David Horowitz. You would think that reading 4 books on the same subject (or subjects) one after another would be boring, but you know what? It's not, each author puts their own style on the subject and each has some perspective or piece that the others missed.

I wish I had been this enthusiastic in my studies, maybe then I'd be running Ford Motor Company, or at least working for them, but never before in my life have I had the desire to read so much. It reminds me of those anoying commercials from my you R.I.F. "Reading is Fundamental" and they always emphasised the FUN in fundamental.

The Ford family and company are both very interesting subjects.

The man who nearly brought Ford down?

Jacques Nasser, the man Ford employees called "Jack the Knife." Is this one man who headed Ford for less than 3 years, the man who nearly brought Ford Motor Company down? His efforts to diversify Ford's business and "streamline" management, cost Ford Motor dearly, in cash and talent.
Jacques Nasser was like a rock star, being courted by celebrities and entrepenour/industrialist alike. His vision was to bring Ford into the 21st century and by diversifying, isolate it from the turbulent auto market. I've read online, peoplle blaming Nasser for aquiring auto companies like Jaguar and Volvo, causing Ford to loose money. Well I would argue that those weren't really bad purchases, and that his real failing was his insistance on involvement of Dot Coms. Before he took over Ford Motor had $55 Billion in cash reserves, let me repeat $55 BILLION!!
After Jacques Nasser's spending spree, Ford lost $5 Billion and those cash reserves were gone.

Ford has been low, as it is now, but the company has always come back, and many times with a Ford leading the company. Edsel Ford saved the company his Father nearly destroyed, Henry Ford II helped bring the comapny back after WWII, and again in the 60's (with the help of men like Lee Iacoca) and now Bill Ford Jr. is handed the company in as precarious a position as it's ever been. Hopefully for the company, he can find the talent necessary to turn things around. Much has been said about Mark Fields, but at least he's not Jacques Nasser.

Admit it, we've all been tempted to do this, but...

We all loose our temper sometimes, feeling we've been wronged by the world, or sometimes more specifically one person or place of business. But this guy went a little too far. In an article over at AutBlog, you can read about the angry Ford Escape buyer, who felt he got overcharged and how he took it out on the dealership. Too funny, I mean we've all dreamt of doing it, but this guy's going to calm down real quick in that jail cell.

UPDATE: This poor soul, quit his job after getting out on bail, then boarded a plane to Los Angeles, and while enrout killed himself in the lavatory by hanging himself. Obviously a troubled mind.

FlatRateTech.com

When you think about it, Service can be a very large part of your purchase of a new vehicle. Many times over the years, a salesman has taken me back to the service are of the dealership as a way of selling you on that dealership and not just the vehicle. And while it's obvious that I love Ford, it may not be apparent that I don't love all Ford dealers or their service departments. Over the last 18 years, I've bought many Ford vehicles, from several dealerships, but have brought all of them to only one dealership for service. Scarsdale Ford in Scarsdale NY has in my opinion the best service department in my area. I won't name the worst, but if you saw the photo a few months ago of the Ford GT that was wrecked by an employee of the dealership making a bank run, that's the one. It's in Westchester county on a major road, and is actually the closest dealer to my home.
But to get more on point, any dealer's service department comes down to people. Now I don't know this group in the photo, they were the result of a Google image search. But the people who service and repair our cars are actually more important than the ones who sell us our vehicle.

Wouldn't it be nice to know what they think about the industry and the vehicles? Well, thanks to Vince of FlatRateTech.com, now we can. This is a forum for industry service people to discuss issues, that could have an impact on every consumer. From the "Flat Rate" to "Technical Service Bulletins" and everything in between. Take some time to visit the site, and for good or bad, find out what the guys that fix your car have to say.

Thanks Vince for the email.

Diesel are part of the answer for the future of Ford in US

I think we can all agree on a couple of points. First our dependance on foreign oil is a weakness in both our economy and national security. Second that there is no one pure solution to that situation. Now while many will say Hybrids are a solution, they're not really and they have their own set of concerns. First Hybrids are really only suerior on an urban loop, they loose any advantage with long highway drives, where the Hybrid drive reverts to the conventional powertrain. Also with Hybrids, there are the issues of safety, reliability and recycling. I've heard concerns from Fire Fighters about what hazzrds may be present if a Hybrid is in a bad accident. Is there an electrocution risk? Are there potential hazzardous chemical reactions or release? With all of the electronics and new technologies, how reliable will Hybrids be over the long run? At the end of the vehicles' useful life, will there be issues associated with battery disposal?

All these questions will be answered over the next few years, as these systems vary, the answers may be unique to each brand or system used. But they're all valid questions. Now while I like Hybrids, I see them as only a part of the answer, actually a small part. I and others believe Diesels will be a larger part of the answer. Hydrogen, is often touted as the ultimate answer, but in reality it's not in the foreseeable future. Hydrogen production is problematic, because it takes more energy to produce the Hydrogen, than you get out of it. I'm not a scientist, but there are many articles on the subject online, do a Google search and you'll see what I'm talking about. Basically, Hydrogen would only make sense where Nuclear or Geo Thermal Energy plants were in use.

But Diesel technology could be a longer term solution with fewer down sides. But you're saying, Diesel like gas is petrolium based and dirty. You recall your uncle's Diesel Cutlas or Cadilac as a rattling unreliable nightmare. Or you had a neighbor who owned a Diesel Mercedes, that sounded like a Mack truck and was slow to get up to speed on the highway. Well that was 20 years ago or more. Diesel engines had fallen out of fashion in the US, but in Europe they evolved slowly, to the point that today, not to offer a Diesel engine in a vehicle line is foolish, since over 50% ( I had heard 65%) of all new cars in Europe are Diesels. Cleaner fuel and better emission equipment, along with improvements in turbocharging and direct fuel injection have lead to a new generation of Diesels, that have great power, and greater fuel economy.

And add to that mix, the prospect of Bio Diesel, and it's a no brainer. Fuel created by a renewable source, here on our shores, that burns cleaner and produces more power than conventional Diesel fuel. But you've heard recently that there is a problem with Bio Diesel, something about microbes and algae that can clog the fuel filters. Well, here's a little known fact, the same is true of petroleum Diesel. I work with #2 Fuel Oil, which is another name for Diesel, and we store large amounts of it in tanks for use in our boilers. We need to add a few gallons of biocide and stabilizer to our tanks every few years to prevent the growth. Sounds like a pain right? Not really, when you consider that to treat 20,000 gallons of #2 oil, I only need to add about 10 gallons of stabilizer each year. Think of it as adding dry gas or fuel injection cleaner to your car once a year. And if the marketers of Bio Diesel know what's good for them, they will have added it before it ever comes to your tank.

But who wants to be driving a boring Diesel? Well, they're not so boring anymore. Take a look at this attractive station wagon, it's a Ford of Europe Mondeo. It's available with a 2.0L TDCi engine, that makes about 150 hp and 280 lb ft of torque. Now the 150 horses doesn't sound impressive, but remember it's the torque that really gets you going. And that 280 is damn close to the Mustang GT. So gobs of power and what kind of fuel economy? Try 30-40 on the highway. Want better economy, go for the smaller 1.6L Duratorq, in a Fiesta or Focus can get between 40-50 mpg highway. Want more power? How about the new 2.7L V-6 Ford just built for Jaguar and Land Rover. Why coudln't that engine be in a US Ford?

Diesels may not be the total answer, but they are better than doing nothing. And Ford has them all they need to do is federalize them. Click the link to see what they've been doing to meet European standards. There is no reason that we couldn't have these powerplants here in the US in the next few years, I'm not saying the next decade either, I mean by 2008. If Mercedes is going to bring the BlueTec Diesels and have them 50 state compliant, why can't Ford? Low Suphur Diesel is here, and Bio Diesel is on the way. If Ford truely wants to drive inovation, start work on federalizing these powerplants now!

I fully aplaud Bill Ford's commitment to Hybrids and alternative fuel technologies, and hope that part of his thinking is Diesels. Ford has the weapons in their arsenal, it's time to use them. Don't worry about GM and Chrysler, don't concern yourself with the Japanese disdain for Diesel, do what you know we need to, bring those powerplants here, soon.

Jalopnik points to models to be axed as part of Way Forward

I have to actually split the hat tip on this one, because Dave over at MPH Online sent me an email on this, but his site was experiencing technical problems, then I found the info over at Jalopnik.

What yesterday was a rumor has spread like wild fire not just online, but I heard it on the radio this evening. As part of the Way Forward, Ford has shelved several new models, most notably the GT supercar, but also the Sport Trac Adrenaline from SVT. News is that SVT will be folded into another department also. Read the whole story over there, here's my view of it, as skewed as it may seem;

First the GT, this should be no surprise to anyone. The cost to have Saleen assemble the cars and the low numbers they actually sell, make this "halo" car something Ford can't afford to continue. And I had always heard that the GT would only be out for a few years, originally the rumor was that it would be replaced by either the V-10 "Cobra" roadster or the GR-1 Coupe. I know that many will be disapointed, but in reality this will have no effect on the majority of consumers. Who really can afford $150k ? Don't give up hope yet, maybe a GR-1 could pop up in the future.

Now the Adrenaline was more of a surprise, and quite frankly a disapointment. The SVT cars may not have been big cash cows for the company, but were big ego boosters, maybe not as much as the GT, but they were smaller "halos" for Ford. Now many Ford faithful that were waiting for this new SVT offering may be lured away to other brands. As I posted on recently, GM's Chevy division is offering SS version of many of their vehicles, including the Trailblazer and Silverado.

The loss of SVT as a seperate unit, is hard for me to comment on. After all, before there was SVT, there was SVO and while the unit may now be trimmed and absorbed into another section, that doesn't mean Ford has given up on Special performance models (hopefully.)

But Ford's absence from the "hot hatch/coupe" sport compact segment, and now the "performance truck" segment (which they dominated with the Lightning) has been a sticking point of many Ford fans since 2004. And although the Shelby Mustang is out this fall as a 2007 model, there are still customers that feel under served by Ford.

some sort of sporty performance variants need to start showing up from Ford soon, to inject some excitement into the lineup. An SVT Fusion would be nice.

The Way Forward may be rough terain for Ford, let's hope they don't loose some of the faithful along the way.

The F Word

Focus, Fusion, Freestar, Freestyle, Fivehundred, Fiesta, Fairmont, Falcon, Festiva and Fairlane, did I forget any? We've all heard how a name can make or break a car, the old story of how Chevy couldn't sell the Nova in Latin American countries because it sounded like Spanish for "No Go" and how the Maverick did well because of it's "macho" sounding name in the same markets. And of course the trend over the years to come up with different naming schemes, based on alpha-numeric mixes, such as MKX vs MDX or M5, Z/28. MX5 etc...

In the 50's when Ford's management was looking for the name for the new division to compete with GM's Buick, they had over 6,000 ideas before coming down to Edsel. But could Ford's naming scheme over the last few years be hurting their image as much as the bland product itself? Cars are F and SUVs are E right? How simpleminded is that. Luckily in Europe and other markets Ford doesn't sufffer this brain damage, in Europe you have the Ka, Fiesta, Fusion, Focus, Mondeo, Galaxy, Australia it's Falcon, Fairmont, LTD, Focus and Mondeo. Still too many F names, even if some of them are Iconic like Falcon. And possibly more F names like the return of Fairlane in the US?

Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Excursion and now Edge, nothing edgy about that, and maybe in the future maybe EcoSport? Trucks/SUVs fair no better than cars.

In fairness, not all Ford cars begin with F, obviously the Mustang and Crown Victoria, but the Crown Victoria is on it's way out and the Mustang is a commodity in itself.

I was talking to a friend and co-worker and he told me that the E/F naming scheme was one factor that turned him away from Ford. He had other issues, but this is among his pet peeves with Ford. And it's one of mine also. I realize that some names have been tainted and can't be re-used (Pinto/Bobcat) but what about some of the others? Maybe a part of the Inovation that Ford is driving towards should include a rethink on the current naming scheme? What's next the Ford Forgetable?

Why no 3 door?

The Mazda 3 is a fine car, don't get me wrong, but last night when one of them drove by me, I was wondering why is there no 3 door version? I know 5 doors offer more utility, but is the 3 door hatch no longer in fashion? I always though that if you want 4 doors it should have a trunk or be a station wagon. I'm not saying others won't buy it, obviously they do, but is there no place in the lineup for a 3 door?
The Focus built on the same platform is available (anywhere but here) as a 3 door. Does anyone know if the Mazda3 is available globaly as a 3 door? I'll check online and see, but I don't think so. I had read online that the Civic 3 door would not come to the US either, apparently it's going to be limited to the home market and UK.

I prefer 3 doors, they're slightly more sporty than a 4/5 door. When did they become obsolete?

What do you call it when...

What do you call it when a person takes something you've worked on and uses it without permision? I think you call that stealing. And in the case of your written words and thoughts, that's called theft of intilectual property, correct?

There is a site, nominally a blog, that is simply subscribing to RSS feeds from other pages, and then having them posted on his own page. He's not reposting vebatim, just the first few sentences and then a link to the original poster's blog or webpage. I know, you're going to say "but Joe, don't you do that from time to time?" Yes, I do sometimes refer to work that others have done, but I usually add my own comments or spin on the subject and link or give a "hat tip" to the original author. Very often my site contains "original content" inspired by news or opinion I've read elsewhere.

This fellow, dose not claim that he created these posts, he even has a disclaimer on his site, saying that all content is copyrighted by the original source. But curiously enough, he has ads running down both sides of his page. And for me, that's part of the problem. It appears that he's looking to advance himself on some level based entirely on the work of others. He's been posting everything from sites that he has subscribed RSS feeds for, and I doubt he even reads or moderates the site. Now the ads can't be making that kind of money, so I don't see a real financial gain, so why go to all the trouble? In my humble opinion, it defeats the purpose of blogging to just set up a site, that is in essence an RSS reader.

He had contacted me about a "link exchange" and I checked his site, tracking it for several days, to see if he ever posted any original content. Then I e-mailed him to discuss my concerns. Lastly I posted an inquiry of fellow bloggers on the AutoBloggers blog. He has failed to respond and now I am doing this, as a sort of test of my theory that he doesn't even moderate his site.

If he does, he will contact me, if he doesn't I will encourage other bloggers to take a stand against this practice. And if all else fails, I can persue other avenues, including contacting his webhost. So Andy if you read this, please e-mail to explain the situation.

I know that this is not "On Topic" for my blog, but that's life.

Joe

Short Rant, sorry

While Ford quietly rolls out the new Expedition SUV, where is the new Focus? It's not as if the Focus is a bad car, it's not. But while the rest of the world got a new Focus and many platform-mates, we got a "freshened" last generation Focus. This is not inovation, it's not even good business. GM brings out a new Cobalt to replace the Cavlier, Honda brings out a totally re-designed Civic and Ford puts more chrome and a spoiler on the Focus. To add insult to injury they drop the SVT version with it's 170 hp and leave the ST sedan as the top performer with 150 hp. You can't even get the 150 hp in the hatchback.
And while we suffer this situation, everywhere else around the globe (Except Canada and Mexico) Get this! A new C1 platform Focus. The performance version making over 200 hp and styling that is smoother and more graceful. They even build and sell them in Russia and China! You can get the new Focus in India, South Africa, All of Europe, Australia, Asia and South America! Ford's excuse is that it had been too expensive for the US market. But you can get this same platform from Mazda as the Mazda3, or Volvo as the S40/V50 and soon C30.

Enough with the big trucks, bring the new Focus and some of the other small Fords here to the US. I'm sure that there is still a market for SUVs, but can't Ford recognize that there is a resurgance in the small car segment? And the current Focus is just not exciting enough to capture attention.

Learn something new everyday

Pictured here is a 1936 GAZ M1, a Soviet Russian car. Does it look familiar to you? Squint, look hard, it's a 1935 Ford. I had read in Douglas Brinkley's Wheels for the World, that Henry Ford had sold and later produced cars, trucks and tractors in Soviet Russia from the earliest days of the Model T and Fordson tractor, which was not really news to me. But I had somehow never known, until reading his book, that when Stalin nationalized the auto industry, that the Ford models became the GAZ.

GAZ still builds cars today, none that you would want, but they do. And again Ford is doing business in Russia, building and selling the new Euro C1 Focus. And don't even get me started on the Focus, hell they build and sell the NEW Focus in China!!! Not in the US???
But I'll stop before I go off on a rant

Edsel Ford II's Capri RS2600

When your family owns the company, it's easier to import a car we don't get here. Pictured is a Ford Capri RS2600, that Henry Ford II had brought up to EPA&DOT specs for his son Edsel Ford II in the 70's. Follow the link for the background and more pics.

Reminds me of a line from a Mel Brooks film "it's good to be the King!" Well in this case, a prince in the American Royal Family of the Auto Industry.

Has AutoWeek been reading my blog? Because we agree on something

I was reading Bob Schultie's CarsCarsCar! blog today (Hi Bob) and I found this link to an AutoWeek article, giving 7 suggestions for Ford's Way Forward. And it struck me, that someone over at AutoWeek must be reading my blog, because a lot of it what I've been saying for months and some of the pictures are even the same. Actually I'm not enough of an egomaniac to believe that. I realize that a lot of what they say and I've said in the past is common sense. I only wish Ford saw it that way. You know what? I'll even drive to Dearborn to pick up my Reflex if they want. Click the link to AutoWeek and see what they say.