2011 Ford Future Cars

When Ford CEO Alan Mulally took out massive loans in 2007 with the entire company serving as collateral, it looked like a desperation move by an automaker on the ropes. Come 2009, Mulally started looking like a genius.

Thanks to those loans, Ford didn't have to ask the government for loans or file bankruptcy, and thus didn't earn the public scorn that its cross-town rivals did. On top of that PR victory, Ford was a big beneficiary of the "Cash for Clunkers" program (Ford vehicles, particularly 90s Explorers, were some of the most common C4C trade-ins as well). And, thanks to some well-timed products like the 2009 F-150 and 2010 Fusion, its sales dropped slower than the market as a whole and the Blue Oval finished 2009 with a bigger share of the market.

Looking forward (and past the looming release of the Fiesta), Ford has enough product in the pipeline to build on its victories in 2009. Click through to the following pages for all the highlights of what Dearborn is cooking up for 2011.

Early reviews covered both angles when Ford unveiled the 2012 One Ford Focus a year ahead of sales. "They didn't know when to lift the pen," an analyst said. "The Cruze is toast" a journalist countered. Yes, well, both ring true. The '12 Focus sedan is a jewellike car, and it has a lot of side-surfacing going on.

When the North American Focus reconverges with the European Focus, you'll have a choice of funky four-door hatchback or the rich-looking four-door sedan, both of which were just shown at the 2010 Detroit show. With the top-of-the-range Titanium trim level, it surely will sticker well into the middle of the Fusion price range. Ford is loading up the small end of its lineup quickly, with two Fiesta and two Focus body styles. The early reveal will almost certainly depress sales of the mediocre 2010 Focus.

Ford also has previewed its "mouse" for Sync, a simple four-direction toggle-button. It's part of newly expanded infotainment packaging called MyFord and MyLincoln, which entails a high-resolution eight-inch screen in the center stack, WiFi and MiFi (when in park), improved voice command, Sony-branded sound systems, and two USB and three RCA jacks, with an SD card slot. Reboot and drive.

2012 Focus sedan: Launches with a 2.0-liter twin-independent variable cam timing gas direct-injection four, rated more than 150 horsepower. A 1.6-liter turbo EcoBoost is expected after Job One-worth the wait. Transmissions choices will be a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automated manual, with gearshift-manual controls. Trim levels are S, SE, SEL, and Titanium. Ford expects this car will eventually replace the Fusion as its bread-and-butter car. On sale first-quarter 2011.

2012 Focus hatchback: Sure to be popular among a small cadre of enthusiasts. Its huge taillamps look as if they came from the Volvo C30, which shares its platform with the current European Focus. Both models are significantly lower in height, wider, and about the same length as the current U.S. Focus. They're about 110 pounds lighter than the Cruze, despite their ability to meet all global crash standards. The new car uses more high-strength steel than any other Ford, at 55 percent. The battery electric version will probably be the hatchback.

2011 Lincoln MKX:
For 2011, Lincoln's Ford Edge-based MKX midsize crossover, which just debuted at the Detroit show, gets a number of updates, starting with a moderate face lift that includes the "split bow" grille that pays homage to the 1941 Continental. The rear fascia is redesigned with LED taillamps and new oval chrome exhaust tips. The interior is new as well, with hand-stitched French seams in the upholstery.

The MKX also receives Ford's latest Duratec V-6 engine, which gets an extra 200c on top of the existing engine, bringing displacement up to 3.7 liters. The extra displacement combined with variable timing on all of the camshafts means that the new mill makes 40 hp and 30 lb.-ft. of torque more, for a total of 305 hp and 280 lb.-ft. More impressive is that along with these double-digit increases in power ratings, the MKX retains its claimed class-leading ability to return 25 mpg on the freeway, and does all of this on regular unleaded. A "smart" charging system that reduces engine drag and a manually shiftable six-speed automatic transmission help further this cause.

Another update is the addition of MyLincoln technology, a new user interface for the climate, radio, navigation, SYNC, and other controls. Similar in concept to BMW's iDrive and other similar systems, MyLincoln replaces the traditional controls with a touchscreen and a five-way controller similar to those found on cell phones and iPods. A standout feature in the new interface is the touch-sensitive sliders for the stereo volume and fan speed. Rather than traditional push-buttons or knobs, the controls are integrated into the touchscreen and can be adjusted by either tapping a point on the slider bar or by dragging a finger across the screen. The new system also includes Ford's iTunes music tagging feature through SYNC.

2011 Explorer: New, unibody model based on the D3 front-drive (Ford Taurus) platform. Foreshadowed by the 2008 Explorer America concept, it will be available with all-wheel drive and replaces the Freestyle/Taurus X. Engines will include the 3.7-liter Duratec V-6 and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost version, making about 265 horsepower. Ford may add a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four later to aide Corporate Average Fuel Economy. On sale late '10.

OTHERS ON THE HORIZON

2011 Super Duty: Features a version of the 411-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 in the F-150 SVT Raptor, and the new Scorpion Diesel, a 6.7-liter V-8 with aluminum heads. On sale fall '10.

2011 F-150 EcoBoost: Likely a variation of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V-6 found in the Flex, Lincoln MKS, etc., biased for more torque. It should be able to beat the F-150's 4.6-liter V-8 for power. On sale late '10.

2012 Ford Escape: Based on the next-generation European Kuga, itself a derivative of the Focus platform. Lincoln may get its own version, and a plug-in hybrid will be added for '13. On sale late '11.

2012 Mercury compact sedan: Based on the new Focus. A coupe version has been rumored. On sale mid to late '11.

2012 Ford C-Max: Mazda5 competitor based on the Focus. On sale mid- to late '11.

2013 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln MKZ: Converges with the European Mondeo's platform and gets an optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4. On sale mid to late '12.

2014 Mustang: Next scheduled major change for the rear-drive musclecar.

Cars.com Names 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Best of 2010

Cars.com named the Ford Fusion Hybrid the 'Best of 2010' in the site’s annual Platinum Awards, which recognize the best cars of the new model year. Our editors put every new or significantly redesigned car, truck, SUV and crossover through a rigorous process of judging, and in the end the Fusion Hybrid proved to best a competitive field.

The other nominees included the Best New SUV, Chevrolet Equinox; Best New Compact, Mazda3; Best New Hatchback, Kia Soul; Best New Hybrid Hatchback, Toyota Prius; and Best New Wagon, Subaru Outback.

“The Cars.com Platinum Awards represent the best work by automakers for the 2010 model year. These vehicles excel on all levels,” said Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief at Cars.com. “The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid outshined all 2010s, earning it the title Best of 2010, Cars.com’s most prestigious award. We’ve seen hybrids come into their own over the past few years, but none have been so free of compromise as the Fusion Hybrid. We recommend that shoppers – green or otherwise – take a serious look at this car.”

Ford to Move SUV, Jobs to Chicago, UAW Official Says

Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. is transferring production of the Explorer sport-utility vehicle, once the best- selling U.S. model in that segment, to the Chicago factory that builds the Taurus sedan, a union official said.

The move, which may add about 1,200 jobs in Chicago, will take place in this year's second half from a Louisville, Kentucky, plant that has built the Explorer since the 1990s, said Rocky Comito, president of a United Auto Workers local in the Explorer's current factory. Mark Truby, a Ford spokesman, declined to comment on the production transfer.

"The Explorer was the product that carried the company through most of the '90s," Comito said. The SUV is being redesigned on the more fuel-efficient car chassis used on the Taurus, he said.

Explorer sales in the U.S. slid 33 percent to 52,190 last year as more consumers bought smaller SUVs and cars with higher fuel economy. Ford sold more than 400,000 Explorers in 2000.

Ford is converting four light-truck plants to make cars, including Louisville, Truby said. The Kentucky factory is getting a new model based on the same underpinnings as the redesigned Focus small car introduced this month at the Detroit auto show, he said.

"It's not a good thing to see a product leave a plant, but we're getting something that will hopefully be the next generation's hot seller," Comito said

Louisville has about 1,100 workers building Explorers, and Ford probably will have a similar number to assemble the SUV in Chicago, which will add a second shift, Comito said.

News Conference

Ford scheduled a news conference at the Chicago plant at 9 a.m. local time with Mark Fields, Ford's president for the Americas, and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat.

Truby and Bob Reed, a spokesman for Quinn, declined to comment on a report in Crain's Chicago Business that the conference is to announce the production transfer.

Ford gained 51 cents, or 4.8 percent, to $11.03 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have risen sixfold in the past 12 months.

To contact the reporter on this story: Keith Naughton in Southfield, Michigan, at Knaughton3@bloomberg.net

Ford's New 5.0L Promises More Horsepower and More Miles Per Gallon

For nearly every fan of the Ford Mustang, few numbers will elicit as much excitement as 5.0. The iconic 5.0 liter V8, last seen back in 1995, had been the performance benchmark for many enthusiasts for quite some time until the introduction of the 4.6 liter V8. Now, Ford is planning a reintroduction of the legendary engine to combat the higher output V8 engines of Dodge and Chevrolet.

In an official announcement made a few days back, Ford released that the 2010 Mustang GT would receive a newly designed version of the Ford 5.0 liter, this time based on the 5.4 liter used in the previous iterations of Shelby variants. For the upcoming powerplant, a new bore and stroke have been employed bringing the actual displacement up to an even 5 liters, as opposed to the previous generation that was just under. Along with new internal components, the upcoming 5.0 will crank out 414 horsepower and 400lb/ft at the flywheel. This is a 33% increase over the 4.6 liter currently used.

Along with a jump in power, the 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 will also make used of Ford's Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) System. The system reads the driver's throttle input and, after taking the current gear and speed, then adjusts the ECU parameters to offer either the maximum amount of power or the best fuel economy. The inclusion of the Ti-VCT system bumps the fuel economy up to 17 in the city and 25 on the highway when using the six-speed automatic transmission. The manual gearbox will achieve the same 16 city and 24 highway as the current 4.6 liter.

Of course, Ford couldn't bring back the 5.0 without also designing a high performance Mustang to put it in. Taking this honor will be the 2011Mustang Boss 302R. Designed specifically for the track, the Boss 302R will come from the factory with a full roll-cage, safety harness and racing seats. The suspension has also been upgraded to provide better cornering and a set of performance Brembo brakes to help with stopping.

The full run of Boss 302R's will only be 50 vehicles, with the price starting at $79,000.

The Detroit Auto Show

Visit the following website to learn more about Ford at the Detroit Auto Show:

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/autoshow/detroit?icid=autos_0110080>1=22014

Ford Fusion Hybrid, Transit Connect win Car and Truck of the Year awards

DETROIT -- The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named the North American Car of the Year today, while Ford's Transit Connect picked up Truck of the Year accolades in a poll of journalists.

It is only the third time in 17 years that a single manufacturer has won both titles.

“We've been focusing very relentlessly on our strategy around making sure our vehicles are world-class in the areas of fuel economy, safety, quality and smart technology,” Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said after the morning ceremony. “We're just so glad we're being recognized for that, both by the journalists but also, more importantly, by the customers.”

In 2009, Ford posted its first full-year gain in U.S. market share in 15 years.The automaker sold 15,559 Fusion Hybrids last year.

The Fusion Hybrid topped the two other car finalists, the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf. It's just the second time a Ford car has taken the award. The Focus won in 2000.

The Transit Connect, a small cargo truck, came out on top over the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback crossovers.

“The Transit Connect is what we call a white-space vehicle -- there's nothing like it on the road,” Fields said. “When you see this on the road, your first reaction is, ‘What is that?' ”

As of mid-December, more than 600,000 Transit Connects have been sold over seven years in 55 countries. Ford has sold 8,834 Transit Connects since it entered the U.S. market in July.

U.S.-based automakers have taken home the car trophy nine times. European companies have won four times, Japanese three and South Korea's Hyundai once.

In the truck category, domestics have claimed the crown 11 times, followed by four for Japanese makes and two for Europeans.

Ford has dominated the domestics, winning the award five times. The F-150 pickup won in 2009, 2004 and 1996. The Ford Escape Hybrid crossover took home Truck of the Year in 2005, as did the Ford Expedition SUV in 1997.

Last year, the Hyundai Genesis won Car of the Year and the F-150 Truck of the Year.

It was the second time a Ford hybrid vehicle took the award.

More than 50 vehicles were considered this year.

Automotive News is represented on the 49-member voting panel by Executive Editor Edward Lapham.

“This is such a motivator for our team to be recognized by the Car and Truck of the Year jury,” Fields said. “These are the most demanding journalists, and we were in a set of very, very tough competitions. … I think it just shows that we're headed in the right direction.”

Introducing the new Ford Focus

Visit this website to watch a video of the new Ford Focus:

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/multimedia/player/index.php?id=3980

Ford, Hyundai, Toyota lead industry to 15% gain

DETROIT -- Ford, Toyota, Subaru and Hyundai Group spurred a year-end U.S. sales rally that took some sting out of a painful year.

Overall, December sales of 1,030,096 light vehicles rose 15 percent from December 2008, when the credit crisis and a deepening recession dragged industry demand to 27-year lows. Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Sales and Subaru each rose by about a third last month, while Hyundai-Kia advanced 42 percent.

December's bounce was enough to boost full-year volume to 10.43 million, down 21 percent from 2008.

That was the lowest since 1982's 10.35 million sales and a sharp drop when compared with the rest of the decade. Through 2008, industry sales this decade had averaged 16.4 million.

But it's a distinct improvement from the first half of 2009, when the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate was 9.5 million. December's SAAR was 11.9 million, well ahead of analysts' expectations of 11 million or 11.1 million.

December was the third month this year with a year-over-year sales increase but perhaps the best signal yet that the U.S. auto industry is on the mend. August's 1 percent increase was fueled by the cash-for-clunkers government stimulus, and November's gain was an almost invisible 35 vehicles.

Still cautious

Still, automakers remain cautious about the pace of recovery this year. Ford Motor Co. expects 2010 U.S. sales to be between 11.5 million and 12 million. Sales boss Ken Czubay says last year's lessons were painful.

“2009 may be the most historic year in the automobile business. There were bankruptcies, bailouts, government stimulus,” he said. “I'm leaving my seat belt on because I think that volatility is still the new norm.”

American Honda, Nissan North America and Volkswagen Group also posted double-digit gains, and Mazda and BMW Group finished in positive territory.

Not everyone won in December. General Motors, Chrysler Group, Porsche and Mitsubishi all narrowly lost ground, with the sharpest decline being GM's 6 percent. The only big losers were Suzuki, down 48 percent, and Maserati, down 57 percent to 115 sales.

Ford's 16 percent sales decline for the year enabled it to gain ground on No. 1 GM and No. 2 Toyota Motor Sales and let Ford post its first improvement in annual market share in 14 years.

December was key. Last month Ford reported sales increases in each product category and for each brand. Ford's domestic-brand cars jumped 42 percent for the month and crossovers rose 51 percent. Ford domestic SUV sales gained 33 percent, but pickups and minivans were up 18 percent.

Ford brand sales rose 37 percent, while Lincoln gained 16 percent and Mercury a more modest 6 percent.