Ford Designs a Greener Sleigh Concept for Santa Claus

Ford's UK division is dreaming of a green Christmas this year as the company's designers took some time off from their regular schedule to reinvent Santa Claus' sleigh and bring it to the 21st century.

The first thing you'll notice about Santa's new ride is the absence of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course Rudolph, as the nine reindeers have given their place to a gasoline engine and in particular Ford's new 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder unit.

And all for good reason, as Ford car designer Paul Wraith, explains: “They may look cute, but Santa’s team of nine reindeer create a staggering 214,670 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions each year, so something had to be done to help him re-discover his greener roots."

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Second-Generation C-MAX Doubles Ford's Share in the European Mid-Size MPV Segment

Ford’s pair of mid-size minivans, the five-seater C-MAX and its seven-seater sibling, the Grand C-MAX, have proved to be a hit in the European market, doubling the Blue Oval’s sales in their segment.

Since its launch in late 2010, Ford has sold more than 135,000 C-MAX and Grand C-MAX MPVs in Europe, more than double the number its predecessor achieved in 2010. This was partly to be expected though, as the previous C-MAX, despite a facelift in 2007, was essentially a seven-year old model.

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Chuck Norris Approved: Amazing Hole in One Wins 59-Year-Old Woman a 2011 Ford F-150 [Video]

They say seeing is believing but you'll probably want to watch the video of Brenda Hewett shooting a puck in a barely visible, tiny hole on a board from the far blue line during the Akwesasne Warriors Federal Hockey League game this past Saturday more than a couple of times to become a believer.

What makes the feat, which won her a brand new 2011 F-150 truck from Frenchie's Ford in New York, even more spectacular is that the 59-year-old woman is said to have never held a hockey stick in her life. Truly unbelievable. Watch the clip after the break.

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Scary Motorcycle Accident Caught on Rider's Helmet Camera as it Happened [NSFW]

Motorcycle accidents are often very severe for the simple reason that there's no buffer zone between the rider and the vehicle (or the road), which makes them all the more terrifying to watch when they're captured on tape.

You can multiply the feeling by about ten when the camera happens to be mounted on the helmet of the motorcyclist involved in the crash…

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Ford to Preview New Global Model with a Concept at 2012 New Delhi Auto Show

The Auto Expo 2012 that takes place in New Delhi, India, from January 7 to 11, will serve as the backdrop for the presentation of a new, but as of yet unnamed, concept model from Ford.

The Detroit-based carmaker won't reveal any specific details about the study but said that it will preview an all-new vehicle planned for introduction in India as well as other global markets in the very near future.

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Petter Solberg Completes First Tests in Ford Fiesta RS WRC [Video]

Former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg is wasting no time getting behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC as he prepares for the 2012 season.

The Norwegian rally driver got his first taste of the Blue Oval's Fiesta RS WRC this week when he completed close to 200 miles (320 kilometers) of driving in the French Alps.

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Will China’s New Tariffs Really Harm Foreign Manufacturers Like GM?

Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that a new tax is imposed on U.S.-made vehicles with a motor capacity of 2.5-liters and above, effective today, December 15.

The so-called “anti-dumping” duties imposed not just on U.S. carmakers, but all companies that manufacture cars in the United States, were imposed because the Chinese authorities felt that U.S. imports were “damaging the local car industry”.

Most analysts, on the other hand, agree that this is China’s response to the World Trade Organization rejecting its appeal on U.S. duties on imported tires three months earlier.

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Gisele Keeps Abreast of Detroit's Sports Car Offerings, Rides a Mustang Turbo [Video]

In today's world, when you have a good thing going, you don't want to put the pause button on it. After seeing the success of Gisele's spin in a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, the hooter-loving crew over at Hightechcorvette called in the young lady for another high-speed run, this time in a turbocharged Ford Mustang.

Gisele was apparently more than willing to place the seatbelt under her arm to get a taste of the Blue Oval's signature pony car, no doubt to compare it with Cadillac's V8-powered sports coupe.

We'll have to wait and see if she completes the trilogy with a ride in a Chrysler Group sports car in the not so far future. For now, head over the break for some bouncing action.

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Ford Extends its Participation in the WRC until 2013

Ford's European division announced on Thursday that it is extending its participating in the FIA World Rally Championship into 2012 and 2013. Ford’s WRC program will continue to be operated by UK-based M-Sport.

The team will be named Ford World Rally Team and will retain support from Castrol for the next two years. Ford’s “weapon” of choice will be the Fiesta RS WRC, which made its debut this year and claimed the first three places in the first and the last races of the season.

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Ford's European Sales Rise Slightly but Company Warns Decision Makers

Even though Europe is experiencing economic instability, Ford saw its year-to-date sales from January to November in the 51 European markets increase by 2.5 per cent, or 35,500 units, to 1,451,000 cars. In November sales in these markets dropped by one per cent, or 1,300 units, to 123,700 vehicles. While overall sales in Ford’s traditional 19 European markets fell in November by 4.4 per cent to 95,700 units compared to the same month last year, the Blue Oval increased its market share in five of these markets as well as Turkey, Russia and Romania.
Ford warned European decision makers to act swiftly as the economic situation is getting worse.
“We’re pleased that we continue to see strong demand for new products like the Focus and C-MAX, and have been able to take advantage of growth opportunities in Germany and key Eastern European markets”, said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Services, Ford of Europe.
“But the overall market in Europe remains challenging as consumer confidence has been dampened by the economic turmoil in the region. We urge decision makers to move quickly and decisively, even if the actions are painful in the short term, to begin reducing volatility in the markets and rebuilding consumer and market confidence,” de Waard added.

Ford's European Sales Rise Slightly but Company Warns Decision Makers

Even though Europe is experiencing economic instability, Ford saw its year-to-date sales from January to November in the 51 European markets increase by 2.5 per cent, or 35,500 units, to 1,451,000 cars. In November sales in these markets dropped by one per cent, or 1,300 units, to 123,700 vehicles.

While overall sales in Ford’s traditional 19 European markets fell in November by 4.4 per cent to 95,700 units compared to the same month last year, the Blue Oval increased its market share in five of these markets as well as Turkey, Russia and Romania.

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China Slaps New Duties on U.S.-Made Cars because it’s Damaging its Domestic Industry !

Another chapter in the tense relationship between the world’s two biggest economies, those of the United States and China, has opened today with the announcement by Chinese authorities of new duties on U.S.-made cars that are imported into the country. Reuters reported that the Commerce ministry of China said on its website that the measure, which imposes “anti-dumping” and “countervailing” duties on cars with an engine capacity of 2.5-liters and above, is effective tomorrow, December 15, and will last for two years.
The reason cited is that U.S.-based manufacturers have been, according to the statement, “dumping cars into the China market, causing damage to China’s domestic industry”.
It’s not just American carmakers but also foreign manufacturers that build cars in the U.S. that will be affected by this new tax.
GM, which has sold more than 2 million vehicles in China for the second year in a row, will have to face duties ranging from 8.9 to 12.9 percent. Chrysler’s duties range from 6.2 to 8.8 percent, while BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be hit with 2 and 2.7 percent respectively.
This movement is considered a retaliation against the U.S. government filing 12 trade cases against China since the latter joined the World Trade Organization on December 11, 2001.
China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming had said in late November that his country would fight back if other countries resort to trade protectionism.

Published by: Carscoop

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Ford Introduces C-MAX Hybrids, Claims They Outperform Toyota's Prius and Prius V - Cars photos

Along with the Focus Electric, the Blue Oval also announced two more new models today, the C-MAX Hybrid and the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which Ford claims will allow operation in all-electric mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid currently in production. Ford is willing to compare its new cars, which will be launched in North America in 2012, with the competition and in particular, Toyota’s Prius models.
According to the company, the plug-in C-MAX Energi will deliver a better fuel economy equivalent (MPGe) in all-electric mode than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid along with a 500 miles (800 km) driving range, while the Hybrid is said to be more fuel efficient than the Prius V.
“C-MAX is the right car for the time as it combines the dynamics and quality of a traditional car with the versatility of a MAV and leading fuel efficiency that you cannot even get from Toyota”, said Sherif Marakby, director of Ford’s Electrification Programs and Engineering.
Both hybrid versions of the C-MAX feature a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine that operates on the Atkinson-cycle, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack.
Ford says that its next-generation ‘powersplit’ architecture allows the two motors to operate separately or in parallel, with the electric motor being capable of powering the car in low-speed conditions and the gasoline engine kicking in and/or charging the battery when necessary.
In the C-MAX Hybrid, the battery pack is recharged when the gasoline engine is in operation. A regenerative braking system also recovers more than 95% of the braking energy and helps charge the battery.
The C-MAX Energi plug-in can also be charged by connecting the vehicle’s charge port to either a standard 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt charging station.

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Ford Introduces C-MAX Hybrids, Claims They Outperform Toyota's Prius and Prius V

Along with the Focus Electric, the Blue Oval also announced two more new models today, the C-MAX Hybrid and the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which Ford claims will allow operation in all-electric mode at higher speeds than any other hybrid currently in production.

Ford is willing to compare its new cars, which will be launched in North America in 2012, with the competition and in particular, Toyota’s Prius models.

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China Slaps New Duties on U.S.-Made Cars because it’s Damaging its Domestic Industry!

Another chapter in the tense relationship between the world’s two biggest economies, those of the United States and China, has opened today with the announcement by Chinese authorities of new duties on U.S.-made cars that are imported into the country.

Reuters reported that the Commerce ministry of China said on its website that the measure, which imposes “anti-dumping” and “countervailing” duties on cars with an engine capacity of 2.5-liters and above, is effective tomorrow, December 15, and will last for two years.

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Ford Begins Production of 2012 Focus Electric, Promises to be Better than Nissan’s Leaf

Having already launched its first all-electric vehicle, the Transit Connect Electric in December 2010, Ford announced today that it is beginning production of its first plug-in passenger car, the Focus Electric.

The all-electric, zero-emissions version of the Focus will be manufactured at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant from this month – and the Blue Oval is making some really bold statements about its EV.

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All-New 2013 Ford Fusion / Mondeo Coming to Detroit, Take a Virtual Spin with App [Videos]

The second-generation of the Ford Fusion saloon is on its way with the world premiere to take place at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January.

As you'd expect, the Blue Oval is preparing a month long tease for its mid-size model starting with a new app that will give users the opportunity to drive the 2013 Fusion through a series of “worlds” that unlock to reveal the car.

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Lights Out for Ford's U.S. Market Ranger as Production Comes to an End

After a career spanning close to three decades with more than 6.6 million sales, Ford has decided to cease production of its Ranger light-pickup truck on December 19 and close its 86-year old Twin Cities Assembly Plant in Minnesota.

With the demise of the Ranger, Ford is leaving the light-truck segment, which it has led for no less than 18 years.

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Shocker: Crash Tests Reveal that Most Cars Sold in Latin America are Deathtraps on Wheels

Shocker: Crash Tests Reveal that Most Cars Sold in Latin America are Deathtraps on Wheels

The FIA Foundation announced the results of the first ever crash tests carried out by the Latin New Car Assessment Program (Latin NCAP), and the news isn’t good for consumers and automakers alike. Actually, the crash test results reveal a terrifying reality: most of the best selling cars in Latin America’s emerging markets offer minimal or no protection at all to their adult occupants let alone children...
Max Mosley, president of Global NCAP, said: “The latest results of the Latin NCAP reveal that South America’s most popular cars are still about 20 years behind the levels of safety enjoyed in Europe and North America. This cannot be acceptable.”
"We want to see the UN’s global crash test standards applied to all new cars across the world. And we want consumers to be aware of the life and death choices they make when buying a new car," Mosley added.
The 64 km/h (40 mph) frontal impact crash tests revealed that most of the cars that were tested suffered from poor structural rigidity which, along with the absence of airbags in most of them, “awarded” them an unheard-of, in the 21st century, one-star rating!
This kind of performance is indeed scary, especially when compared to models sold to the European and North American markets, where the top five-star rating for every new model, save for ultra compacts which usually score four stars, is the norm.
Whereas in North America and Europe safety agencies constantly upgrade their requirements, in most Latin American countries safety regulations are virtually non-existent.
A measure of the work that needs to be done is the fact that Argentina and Brazil will make airbags mandatory by 2014 – and that, sadly, is hailed as a sign of progress.

Published By: Carscoop

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