Archive for August, 2008

28
Aug
08

Eco-Driving Improves Fuel Economy

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: general

Ford tests show Eco-Driving can improve fuel economy by an average of 24 percent.

Tests performed by Ford Motor Company show that motorists coached by eco-driving experts can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their cars, trucks or SUVs.

Eco-driving refers to specific driving behaviors that can improve fuel economy, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote safe driving. Ford and Phoenix-based Pro Formance Group have teamed up to pilot an eco-driving program for fleet customers. The program would employ certified master trainers to deliver hands-on coaching to maximize mileage in everyday driving.

Ford’s eco-driving initiative builds on the recent launch by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, of a comprehensive nationwide effort to promote eco-driving at www.EcoDrivingUSA.com.

Proven Results
Over a four-day period, Ford and the Pro Formance drivers conducted validation tests using volunteers from Phoenix who were given individual coaching on specific driving behaviors. The Sports Car Club of America verified the results, which showed an average 24 percent improvement in fuel economy as a result of hands-on eco-driving training.

The 48 total drivers who took part in the validation tests saw results ranging from 6 percent fuel economy improvement to more than 50 percent, depending on their driving style and ability to master eco-driving behaviors. Eco-driving instructors coached drivers to employ smoother braking and accelerating, monitor their RPMs and drive at a moderate speed.

Maximizing Mileage
Among the eco-driving practices that drivers can begin practicing on their own are driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph, keeping tires properly inflated at the recommended pressure, and eliminating prolonged idling. Hands-on instruction is critical for achieving full potential of eco-driving since instructions for eco-driving techniques must be customized after instructors have had the opportunity to observe individual driving habits and then provide coaching for more fuel efficient driving techniques.

To learn more about how you can maximize your mileage, please see the accompanying list of 10 eco-driving tips.

Certified for Success
Eco-driving training was launched by Ford in Germany in the 1990s in cooperation with the German Road Safety Council. In the only industry-based drivers’ eco-training course, specially trained and certified instructors run programs for several target groups including fleet drivers and customers. Several of the master trainers recently traveled to Ford in Dearborn to teach the coaching techniques to drivers with the Pro Formance Group. They will now leverage Ford of Germany’s eco-driving expertise to develop a pilot program that would certify eco-driving instructors to train Ford’s fleet customers.

Ford is working with Pro Formance which also provides training for Ford’s Driving Skills for Life programs aimed at teen drivers. Pro Formance instructors typically come from a racing background and have an intimate knowledge of a vehicle’s mechanics and their handling dynamics. They have hundreds of hours of experience observing driving behavior and communicating how best to maximize a vehicle’s performance for fuel efficiency and safety.

14
Aug
08

Ford begins production of all-new Fiesta

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Future Vehicles, Quality, Styling, production line and technology
Tags:

Volume production of the new Ford Fiesta, the first of a generation of new global small Ford cars, started at the company’s Cologne plant in Germany.

This all-new model of the Ford Fiesta has been conceived and developed by the European arm of Ford’s global product development team to meet the demands and expectations of customers around the world.

It is also the blueprint for future Ford global product development, bringing together Europe, the Americas and Asia. The new Fiesta will be tailored for each region and go on sale progressively between now and 2010, starting now with Europe.

The Cologne plant has the honour of being the first Ford assembly facility in the world to build the new car. In January 2009, the Valencia plant in Spain will also begin to manufacture the new Fiesta. The production facilities for new Fiesta outside of Europe will be Nanjing in China, Rayong in Thailand and Cuautitlàn in Mexico. They will begin to produce the car for their respective regions from late 2008 through early 2010.

In a video message to Ford of Europe employees at today’s ceremony in Cologne, Ford Motor Company President and CEO, Alan Mulally, said: “Today we are celebrating the start of a new era for our fabulous Ford Motor Company. The first product of our Global Product Development System, the all-new Fiesta is an outstanding symbol for our One Ford vision of a single, global company designing and building cars for customers around the world. Be proud of what you have achieved and be proud of your contribution to a model that will get the world talking.”

A total of 455 million Euros was invested in the restructuring and modernisation of the Cologne plant for the new Fiesta.

The all-new Fiesta is manufactured with sophisticated techniques more commonly found in the production of large cars: Ford production experts introduced these features at the highly efficient Cologne Assembly Plant, without interfering with existing Fiesta production. The all-new Fiesta production team went into the plant on weekends to install and verify new systems on the existing line. Some of the 50,000 hours of operator training was done off-line on static cars, while some training was dynamic (on-line). In one example of the training undertaken over a six week period, the production team built the same car on the line every day, then stripped it down and built it again.

In 2008, Ford plans to manufacture 148,000 new Fiestas in Cologne. When operating at full capacity, a total of more than 1,900 cars every day – new Fiestas together with the Ford Fusion – will be manufactured in Cologne over three shifts.

EXPLORE THE FIESTA BELOW

Continue reading ‘Ford begins production of all-new Fiesta’

08
Aug
08

SHELBY GT500KR ACHIEVES 1.0G

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Quality, Styling, general, mustang, production line, safety and technology
Tags: ,
Suspension and aerodynamic changes bring King of the Road to 1.0G

The changes, on paper, may not seem significant. Try telling that to the engineers at Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT), and they’ll be quick to say otherwise. Handling tests conducted by SVT prior to the launch of the Shelby GT500KR proved that small, calculated changes to aerodynamics and suspension tuning can make big improvements. In fact, the Shelby GT500KR is capable of sustaining 1.0g of grip around the skidpad, a number considered to be the upper stratosphere of road-legal sports cars.

Kerry Baldori, Chief Vehicle Engineer for SVT, talks about aerodynamics saying, “Our goal with the Shelby GT500KR was to increase downforce on the front wheels versus the GT500, while at the same time giving it a more balanced aerodynamic package.” SVT achieved just this by adding a larger carbon fiber front splitter, lowering the ride height, and installing a low-drag rear spoiler. These changes not only increased front end downforce by 31%, but they also managed to reduce drag by three percent.

Changes to the suspension tuning compliment the new aerodynamics to bring the Shelby GT500KR to its incredibly high grip levels. Revised struts that are 17% stiffer front and 7% stiffer rear reduce pitch and roll, and increased negative camber in front gives the car more grip in turns. The Shelby GT500KR is also lowered 20mm in front and 15mm in back to lower the center of gravity. Finally, exclusive to the GT500KR are new Goodyear F1 performance tires with a brand new rubber compound for North America. These tires are not available on any other car in the U.S., and are made of a special rubber that is as close to an R (race) compound as you will find on the street.

All of these changes, while seemingly small, propel the Shelby GT500KR into the top level of the sports car handling echelon. The Shelby GT500 is a capable car in its own right, but leave it to SVT to find even more performance out of an already high performing sports car.

07
Aug
08

Ford Motor Company To Donate Vehicles to Veterans Hospitals

By cima Leave a Comment
Categories: Public Affairs and general
Tags: , ,

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, will donate seven Taurus X seven-passenger vehicles to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation Network at its 87th National Convention August 9-12 at Bally’s Hotel Las Vegas. The vehicles will be used by veterans hospitals to transport disabled veterans to and from medical appointments. In addition, Ford will contribute $25,000 to the DAV’s Jesse Brown Youth Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding young volunteers that play active roles in the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service.

Ford’s contribution to the DAV amounts to more than $200,000. Ford’s partnership with the DAV began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T Fords to take disabled veterans to their convention in San Francisco.

07
Aug
08

Ford promises to improve car, truck efficiency 20%

By cima Leave a Comment
Categories: Future Vehicles, Quality, fuel efficiency, general, safety and technology
Tags: , , ,

Ford Motor Co.’s group vice president for global product development, Derrick Kuzak, said Wednesday that Ford would “achieve class-leading fuel economy” for its new cars and trucks in North America “through unprecedented spending on advanced gasoline engines.”

That includes EcoBoost, a Ford-branded engine technology that combines gasoline-injection with turbocharging for up to a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy, as well as other technologies.

“We are committed to being the best or among the best in fuel economy with every new Ford product,” Kuzak said during a daylong event for journalists at Ford’s test track in Dearborn, Mich., where the automaker was showing off its 2009 lineup. That lineup includes the Ford Flex large crossover, the Lincoln MKS large sedan, and an all-new F-150, as well as updates to powertrains, paint colors and other options for many vehicles.

Kuzak boasted, for example, that the next-generation Explorer will offer “jaw-dropping” efficiency.

“We are making this happen,” he added, “with one of the most extensive powertrain upgrades ever for Ford. By the end of 2010, nearly all of Ford’s North American engines will be upgraded or replaced.”

While this focus might seem like a shift from Ford’s prior dedication to diesels, hybrid gasoline-electric engines, electric plug-in hybrids and other types of powertrains, Ford said it is not shying away from those technologies.

Rather, Ford sees improvements in traditional gasoline engines as the best near-term solution while the marketplace sorts through the variety of options now on the table for the future. That’s because these technologies offer more improvements in fuel efficiency for the buck when compared with hybrids, which usually come with a hefty premium.

Continue reading ‘Ford promises to improve car, truck efficiency 20%’

« Previous Entries
News and Events for the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury owner and enthusiast.





 

August 2008
M T W T F S S
« Jul   Sep »
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Categories