You Gotta Scratch Mercury Sable Off Of Your List!

Quick, what Mercury model is the most memorable one of all? The Milan Hybrid? Mountaineer SUV? Maybe its the aged full-sized Grand Marquis sedan?

Well, if you’re a guy that answer would be Jill Wagner, the pretty young woman from North Carolina who has been successfully hawking Mercury cars and SUVs over the past few years. Jill has been the main spokeswoman for Mercury since 2005, helping to raise Mercury from obscurity to at least minimum visibility as she ends each commercial with the same statement, “You gotta put Mercury on your list!”

Kiss The Mercury Sable Good-Bye!

Whether people put Mercury on their list or not, the brand will soon be eliminating the Mercury Sable, the twin model to the Ford Taurus (see Sable Reaches end of the line Thursday, The Detroit News).  Like the Taurus — which took the Five Hundred’s spot two years ago — the Sable replaced the Montego, but as the next generation Taurus rolls out in June, Mercury will not be treated to its own version.

The Ford Motor Company has been saying that Mercury will eventually be recast as a small car division, which means that the Mountaineer will be the next model to go followed by the Panther platform Grand Marquis. That latter model, which is a driving museum piece, is probably the worst representation of what Mercury is all about, the antithesis of the youthful Jill Wagner (notice she has never been cast to sell a model that predates her!) Then again, besides the Milan and Mariner, there isn’t any other reason to enter a Mercury showroom unless you’re looking for a Lincoln which is in the middle of its own brand revival.

Will The Next Mercury Come From Ford Europe?

Ford’s plans for Mercury includes adding one small car to it’s line up. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, that car could be one of the six European models heading to North America, perhaps a vehicle that won’t be sold by Ford dealers here.  The Transit Connect, Fiesta and Focus will each be sold as Fords, but the Ford Ka may also make its way across the pond, perhaps badge-engineered as a Mercury.

Ford has been making the three-door hatchback Ka since 1996, rolling out the latest generation of the 1.3L I4 powered city car beginning with the 2008 model year.  That model sits on the Fiat Panda platform which powers the Fiat 500, the same car that Fiat hopes to introduce in the United States through its newly acquired Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealer network.

At this point, it is nothing but speculation for what Ford plans to do with Mercury. Right now, Ford is showering new model love on Ford and Lincoln while trying to get a good price for Volvo. This means that Mercury will have to wait, but we’ll probably have Jill Wagner around to sell the Milan and the Mariner and their hybrid variants for the foreseeable future, just what her guy fans want.

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Cadillac SRX Pictures and Full Info

For the 2010 model year, Cadillac will introduce an all new SRX based on the Provoq concept vehicle. The production car will share the front-wheel drive GM Theta Premium platform with Saab which will get its own CUV, the 9-4X; the same platform will also produce the GMC Terrain and second-generation Chevrolet Equinox. The V8 is largely dropped on this model. Expected competitors include the Acura MDX, Lexus RX and Lincoln MKX.

The first official pictures of the production vehicle were released on August 15, 2008. The car was officially unveiled in January 2009. It comes with either a 3.0 liter V6 with direct injection derived from the 3.6 liter unit in the Cadillac CTS, or a 2.8 liter turbocharged V6.

The base 3.0 liter V6 produces 250 hp (190 kW) and 221 lb·ft (300 N·m) of torque while the 2.8 liter turbocharged V6 has 300 hp (220 kW) and 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) of torque. Both engines are paired with 6 speed automatics.
Cadillac SRX Pictures

Cadillac SRX Pictures

Cadillac SRX Pictures

Cadillac SRX Pictures

Cadillac SRX Pictures

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Auto Sales: Looking For Signs of Recovery

April 2009 new car sales in the U.S. market were down once again, a drop of 34.4% over April 2008. Moreover, nearly 40,000 fewer new vehicles were sold in April compared to March 2009, even with one more selling day for April.

Finding Good News Amongst The Carnage

Reading some of the news releases from the manufacturers and you would think that April was a good month. Not surprising, since PR folks are looking for every possible ray of light and when they find one are eager to reflect the good news.

Take Ford: As the Blue Oval continues to map out its future, one where they’ll likely pass its chief rival, General Motors, sometime this year or next, the company was quick to emphasize the acceptance of their all-new mid-size sedans — the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and the hybrid variants offered with the first two models. According to Autodata, Ford sales were off 31.5%, but the company sold more midsize vehicles than expected while also picking up market share. Best news of all, Ford passed Toyota in sales for the month.

Chrysler continues to struggle as its current bankruptcy state and pending relationship with Fiat unfolds. Although Mitsubishi posted the worst month over month loss of any full line manufacturer at 55.9%, Chrysler showed the biggest drop amongst the Big Six, falling 48.1% for the month. That bad news hasn’t stopped Chrysler from touting its good news which included both the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler Town & Country seeing a sales increase over the previous month while the Jeep Wrangler saw its sales increase by 7% over April 2008. Chrysler was also one of the most vocal in claiming that the market may have finally stabilized.

More Good News To Report

Among the other manufacturers offering their reports the following good news could be found:

• Kia says that its all-new Soul, the Scion-like urban utility vehicle sold 3,228 units for April.

• The Audi A5 increased 40% in sales over April 2008.

• Sales for the luxury Hyundai Genesis continue to climb, reaching 2,076 units for the month.

• Honda had the best performance of all Big Six automakers, dropping 25.3% for the month, its best month so far in 2009.  Sales of the redesigned Acura TSX are up for the year by nearly 6% over 2008.

• Wounded GM continues to lead all manufacturers maintaining a 38,000 vehicle cushion over its closest competitor which for April was Ford. Monthly sales for April were actually up 11% over March. With Pontiac winding down and with Saab, Saturn and Hummer all expecting to be sold or closed down before the year ends, GM’s hold on the top position looks precarious at best.

Looking Forward to the Coming Months

The months ahead are a big question mark for all manufacturers as future sales hinge on two events: an economic recovery as well as a “cash for clunkers” program now being considered by the U.S. Congress.  An improvement in the former and the implementation of the latter could go far to stimulate sales, perhaps bringing about a sustained recovery.

Related Reading — Sales Data Shows Promise Amid The Gloom

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Dealerships Looking Into New Tax Incentives

Car dealerships in the south suburbs have been hit by both barrels in the past few years.

The first ball was the already crippling property accuse rates in south Cook County. Property taxes have doubled according to some dealerships in recent years.

If that wasn’t plenty to put them out of business, the recession has slowed car sales to a crawl, taking down several dealerships in the area and putting others on the edge of closing.

One notice of hope that’s emerged is Cook County’s approval this month of new rules for a property tax incentive that could drastically divide participation taxes for businesses - including car dealerships - that narrow.

The rule change was prompted by Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld in an effort to keep a dealership in the village from closing.

“If they coalesce we have a dealership that will not reopen, and that means canaille out of toil and no sales tax,” Hofeld said.

Steve Phillipos, principal owner of Steve Peters Chevrolet in Homewood - one of only two dealerships in the village - had appealed to Hofeld that without the impulse the dealerships would close.

“Without it we’re dead,” he said.

Hofeld went to the Cook County Board several months ago in an essay to get the requirement waived that a business must be abandoned for two years to acquire the tax incentive. The board voted to do so April 15.

Phillipos said he still has a hardly any hurdles to get over before his business can be fully operational. Currently, the dealership is from the top to the bottom of to a six-person staff trying to stay public long plenty to get approved since the incentive and receive financing from GMAC to restock its register..

Tuesday night, Homewood’s village board approved rebating much of its sales tax revenue back to the dealership to help it stay afloat during the rough economy. The county requires the tax rebate under the new rules for the incentive.

“That was the first step for the dealership to be fully operational,” said Brian Liston, some attorney for the dealership who specializes in land use and tax incentive issues. Liston said the dealership still needs approval from Cook County for the incentive and from the Cook County assessor as being property tax reclassification.

“We’re gathering documents to show the dealership qualifies for the incentive,” Liston said. “Steve Peters will be the first dealership to go in front of the board for this incentive, which can be a tough position. I feel confident the dealership can prove hardship. It’ll set the go at a pace for other dealerships that enjoin apply.”

Several dealerships in the area are looking to jump on cover with boards with the incentive if they fit.

“Our property taxes have gone end the roof in the last two years,” said Mike Jopes, CFO of Napleton/River Oaks Lincoln-Mercury in Calumet City. Jopes said the dealership now pays about $300,000 a year in property taxes while the business’session sales have wittily dropped.

“Property taxes are such a prohibitive cost that we’re considering whether we have power to stay here,” Jopes said.

Jopes said he is just starting to investigate if the dealership qualifies for the stimulus. He also is seeking the incentive for Napleton Lincoln-Mercury in Blue Island.

James Miller, co-owner of James Miller Chevrolet, before-mentioned he pays approximately $140,000 annually in property taxes on his dealership at the Matteson Auto Mall. That, on top of his fears about the fiscal permanence of General Motors, has given him enough concern to look into the incentive.

“I’ll definitely call the village about it,” Miller said. “We’re struggling. There’sitting a chance we won’face to face survive.”

Miller said of that kind incentives, however, should exist short term and not “just pad the pockets” of dealerships.

“I’household for it if it benefits a community and helps sustain a struggling business through rough economic ages or another unforeseen trouble,” he said.

The incentive reduces for five years a commercial business’s property tax charge rate from 38 percent to 16 percent, and an industrial business’s property tax assessing fixed measure from 36 percent to 16 percent. The incentive is nonrenewable.

Among the qualifications for the incentive:

• Businesses fust be in areas including any real estate obtained through the Cook County Tax Reactivation Project; areas certified in need of substantial revitalization; each enterprise community; or any one of the following five townships: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich or Thornton.

• The municipality in which the business is located must agree to bestow hindmost to the business a contingent of its sales tax revenue generated from the business. The municipality also must support the inducement for the property.

• The business must prove that due to economic conditions its net income is down at least 40 percent compared with the average income of the previous three years.

• The business must provide evidence the spur is necessary for the business to continue operations and would go out of business within 60 days without it.

The office of Cook County Commissioner Joan Murphy (D-Crestwood), who spearheaded the change in the incentive’s rules, will be sending out information this week about the incentive to officials in her district. Murphy was due to speak ready it Wednesday night to the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association.

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Driver Nails Bison, Totals Fusion, Buys Another From Ford

From the “You’ve got to be kidding” files comes word (actually via FoMoCo) about a woman who was driving near Yellowstone Park and hit a BISON with her shiny new Ford Fusion and lived to tell about it. Not only did she live, but she was so impressed with the Fusion’s sturdiness, she bought another one as a replacement.

OK, so here’s the short version: Maureen Edgerton, 51, of West Yellowstone, Mt., was driving home on the night of April 11, when she unwittingly drove her 2007 Ford Fusion into a herd of bison. She was doing 55 MPH, even thought the highway was snowbound at the time, killed several of the migrating brutes and walked away with only minor scrapes and bruises.

Related Ms. Edgerton, “The crash was like a war scene. By the time it was over the hood was smashed in, the mirrors were ripped from the doors and the windshield was shattered, but the interior of the car wasn’t affected whatsoever. And the car was still running and not leaking fluid. Not even the tires were deflated. Everyone who came to the scene asked ‘what kind of car is this?’ because they couldn’t believe it was possible to walk away from such a crash,”

Yeah, I bet they were. Shoot, I was shaking my head just reading the subject line of Ford’s press release. Bison, also commonly known as the American buffalo, are enormous brutes. Most people have only seen them in pictures, but I’ve been up close and personal with them on more than one occasion, actually even touched one once. They’re roughly six feet tall and ten feet long and weigh more than a ton; roughly the size and weight of a Mazda Miata, only with a bad disposition and short curved horns.

Not only are they big and imposing, they can get plenty mean if crossed:

“Bison are among the most dangerous animals encountered by visitors to the various U.S. and Canadian National Parks, especially Yellowstone National Park. Although they are not carnivorous, they will attack humans if provoked. They appear slow because of their lethargic movements, but they can easily outrun humans—they have been observed running as fast as 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h) per hour. Between 1978 and 1992, nearly five times as many people in Yellowstone National Park were killed or injured by bison as by bears (12 by bears, 56 by bison). Bison also have the unexpected agility, given the animal’s size and body structure, to leap over a standard barbed-wire fence,” so says Wikipedia.

Running into one, let alone a herd of them, at any appreciable speed has got to be devastating. I had an uncle that ran into a heard of cows that had wandered onto a highway after some fog rolled into the area. A cow is half the size & weight of a bison, and it nearly totaled the car he was driving. And the car he was driving wasn’t little, it was a Kaiser Manhattan, and he still considered himself lucky to walk away.

So what did Maureen Edgerton do after she tagged a heard of buffalo at freeway speeds? She went and got ANOTHER Ford Fusion because she was so “Impressed by the Fusion’s crash protection, safety features and fuel efficiency, Edgerton has picked the new 2010 Ford Fusion to be her next new vehicle.”

If I were Ms. Edgerton, I’d be buying lotto tickets.

Ford’s press release:

DRIVER SURVIVES HIGH-SPEED YELLOWSTONE BISON CRASH TO BUY FUSION AGAIN

SUMMARY:

* Montana driver buys a 2010 Ford Fusion to replace her totaled 2007 Fusion after walking away from a catastrophic crash with a herd of bison near Yellowstone Park

* The all-new 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid – the most fuel efficient midsize car in North America – feature exclusive safety technologies and are “Top Safety Pick” rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

* Among the Fusion’s segment-exclusive safety and driver-aid technologies are Blind Spot Information System (BLISTM) with Cross Traffic Alert and 911 Assist

CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:

Maureen Edgerton, 51, of West Yellowstone, Mt., was driving home on the dark night of April 11, when she unexpectedly slammed her 2007 Ford Fusion into a herd of bison. The 55-mile-per-hour impact totaled the car and killed several of the migrating “American buffalo” on the snowbound highway. Edgerton, however, walked away with only minor scrapes and bruises. Impressed by the Fusion’s crash protection, safety features and fuel efficiency, Edgerton has picked the new 2010 Ford Fusion to be her next new vehicle.

QUOTES:

“The crash was like a war scene. By the time it was over the hood was smashed in, the mirrors were ripped from the doors and the windshield was shattered, but the interior of the car wasn’t affected whatsoever. And the car was still running and not leaking fluid. Not even the tires were deflated. Everyone who came to the scene asked ‘what kind of car is this?’ because they couldn’t believe it was possible to walk away from such a crash.”

– Maureen Edgerton, Fusion owner and resident of West Yellowstone, Mt.

“The Fusion’s safety systems worked just as they were supposed to in Maureen’s accident. They saved her life. I don’t think there was any question in her mind when she came to us that her next car would be another Fusion, because the new model has even more safety technology on it than the one she’d been driving.”

– Gary Berg, sales consultant at Bozeman Ford Lincoln Mercury in Bozeman, Mt.

“While our customer’s bison collision certainly demonstrates how tough the 2007 Fusion is, we’ve designed the new Fusion to be even tougher. It proves that a high level of safety can come in a midsize package.”

– Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems

DETAILS:

While Ford Motor Company does not have specific requirements to protect customers in collisions with bison or other animals, all of the company’s vehicles are designed and tested to meet rigorous crash safety requirements. These requirements help protect occupants in all sorts of collisions, even with bison, which can grow to more than 6 feet tall, 11 feet long and more than 2,200 pounds.

Having emerged from the accident relatively unscathed, Edgerton said the decision to buy another Fusion came easily. The new model has even more safety features, such as side curtain air bags and is “Top Safety Pick” rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also comes equipped with optional all-wheel drive and delivers segment-leading fuel economy for Edgerton’s long drives up Rocky Mountain passes to visit her daughter in Seattle, Wash.

Maureen and her husband Doug Edgerton, who manufacture and sell ski grooming equipment, have driven Ford vehicles for many years, including at present a 2005 Ford Escape XLT, a 2002 F-250 XLT diesel, 2008 F-250 XLT V10. Previous to purchasing her 2007 Fusion, Maureen put 250,000 miles on a 1999 Ford Taurus.

Front and side impact protection

Fusion gets some of its core strength from the use of lightweight high-strength steel in the body structure. The structure of the Fusion helps it withstand intrusion in many accidents, including the most common frontal and side impacts.

The tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear doorframes are stronger at the top of the vehicle – from below the beltline upward – than at the bottom. This helps to channel energy below the level of the occupants. At the torso level and above, the structure helps to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.

Fusion’s front and side-protection elements include:

* The first use on a Ford vehicle of dual-phase, high-strength steel rails on the front end;

* Two energy absorbing foam blocks between the inner door panels and interior trim, aligned with the occupants’ chest and hip ;

* Side-intrusion beams inside the door, anchored at the hinge and latch areas;

* Tailor-welded steel in the B-pillar structure with extra thickness – nearly a quarter inch of solid steel – above the beltline; and

* Front-seat side air bags for front occupants and side-curtain air bags for head protection in both rows.

Segment-exclusive features

Among the segment-exclusive safety and driver aid technologies on the new Fusion is Blind Spot Information System (BLISTM) with Cross Traffic Alert and 911 Assist – a new feature integrated into the award-winning Ford SYNCTM hands-free system.

The 911 Assist feature is designed to aid occupants in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator if an accident that activates an air bag or the emergency fuel cutoff occurs. Unlike competitive systems that are routed through an intermediate call center, 911 Assist places the call directly to the 911 operator to speed response time.*

Safety comes standard

Fusion offers standard AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control, which uses sensors to detect, measure and help reduce side-to-side skidding conditions to help the driver keep the car tracking on its intended path.

Additional standard safety features include six air bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System®, BeltMinder® safety belt reminder, the LATCH anchor and tether system for child seats, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

*The cell phone or 911 Assist hardware may become damaged in a crash, the vehicle may lose battery power, or the cell phone may be thrown from the vehicle, which could prevent operation. Additionally, not all crashes deploy an airbag or activate the fuel pump shut-off, which are the criteria to initiate 911 Assist.

###

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Photo from Flickr user R Doyle Bowman

© Gearhead Media - Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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Italian Week: 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal for $4,200+ [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

Today’s Italian Week Nice Price or Crack Pipe contender is an enigma; a car named in the pattern of a city in which it was never officially sold — and no, it’s not a Lincoln Versailles.

The Alfa Romeo Montreal was introduced in concept form at the 1967 World’s Fair, held in — wait for it — Montreal Canada. The production version arrived three years later at the Geneva Auto Show, bearing a strong resemblance to the Expo evince car, but adhering a shorter wheelbase, and with numerous detail changes.

The Bertone-styled car was eye-catching, with louvered headlamp covers, non-functional NACA pipe hood, and sleek, coupe bodywork. The mod horizontal slits behind the doors gave the appearance that the car was mid-engined, but the motivating force was by means of that long hood. That force was provided by a 2593-cc four-cam, aluminum-block V-8 with Spica mechanical fuel injection. All this was good for 230 SAE horsepower, and complemented the neat handling of the Giulia GTV-based chassis, making the Montreal an accomplished grand tourer, with a top speed of nearly 140mph.

But all that came at a price — $8,050 — and at a time when gas prices were spiraling ascending, and the economy was tanking. Sound familiar? The Montreal soldiered on, for a undivided production of 3,917, until the model was discontinued in 1977.

This Montreal has slipped across the border and into Massachusetts, where it is currently rusting in peace. The tin secretly has not been species to this Italian Stallion and the interior isn’confidentially a great quantity better. But it’s good looking, semi-historic, and rare, and that price isn’t a lot of cheddar for a V8-powered Italian sportscar with a heritage like this. Now, the vender doesn’t offer a By-It-Now price on the car, and who knows what that reserve is, admitting that it be not that it’s sitting at just under $4,200 so maybe you could swoop in and snipe it for just beans. Even with the rust, and the whole heart in Massachusetts thing, it’d influence by looks pretty awesome session in your garage.

So, Nice Price for an Italian/Canadian immigrant? Or Crack Pipe for a car that should have stayed in the going to decay country?

You decide!

eBay, or go here if the ad scompare.

Help me out by NPOCP. Click in this place to send a me a tip

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Ford, Lincoln, GM Top Social Media Chatter

The top three brands mentioned in the all-important world of social media are Ford, Lincoln and GM according to Vitrue a leading social media marketing company. Vitrue based its findings on the amount of chatter surrounding various automotive brands through social media websites including Twitter, MySpace and Facebook as well as across the blogosphere.

Top 20 Automotive Brands

Vitrue says that their survey covered the first three months of 2009, resulting in ranking for the Top 20 automotive brands as follows:

1. Ford

2. Lincoln

3. GM

4. Honda

5. BMW

6. Mercedes

7. Dodge

8. Ferrari

9. Toyota

10. Suzuki

11. Jeep

12. Nissan

13. Cadillac

14. Audi

15. Porsche

16. Kia

17. Subaru

18. Chrysler

19. Volvo

20. Chevrolet

“We strongly believe that the most successful and innovative automotive brands going forward will embrace social media as a foundational communication vehicle to connect with their consumers” said Reggie Bradford, CEO of Vitrue. “Consumers will play the most important role in development of this next generation of the automotive industry. Car companies must look to social media as a more influential, effective and efficient way to start a dialogue with their consumers.”

My Findings Have Been Confirmed

My personal experience working with the auto industry is that Ford and General Motors have an edge over all others and are willing to back what they do by reaching out to social media users including bloggers and freelance writers. Whether the news is good, bad or indifferent, all automakers need to harness the internet to connect with web users. Those brands that remain active online can help shape their destiny.

The Vitrue SMI — which is proprietary software used by the company to measure web chatter was designed last fall to help marketers understand how to benchmark their standings. Vitrue SMI gives the industry a gauge to help define who is winning in the social space.

Top 100 Brands Overall

This past January, Vitrue announced their first ever top social brands of 2008 which compiled the top 100 brands overall. As of now, Vitrue is digging down to see who is effectively utilizing social marketing practices within the automotive vertical. The Vitrue SMI is the first tool to measure word of mouth and provides a simple and comprehensive snapshot of what people are talking about on the social web.

So the next time that you’re leaving a comment on a blog, a tweet on Twitter, or making some other reference to your favorite ride, please know that what you’re saying is being picked up and analyzed by Vitrue and much of the rest of the auto industry.

Source: Vitrue.com

Related Reading: I Gave a Popular Car Quote Service A Try

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First Drive: Hyundai Genesis Sedan

The Genesis sedan stretches the Hyundai brand to encompass cars from the budget to the luxurious. Will selling this car alongside the likes of the Accent and Elantra hurt Hyundai or will customers simply not care?

I’m thinking that it was 1987 when I first laid my eyes on the subcompact Hyundai Excel Pony.  Those were the days when Americans were trying to figure out how to pronounce the name of the newest car maker on the block, the Korean upstart that many people were pronouncing as Hon-day.

For their part, Hyundai ran an ad campaign which repeated over and over again, “Hyundai rhymes with Sunday,” but it didn’t seem to have much effect. Import buyers of that decade were enamored with all things Toyota and Honda, scarcely giving Hyundai a second thought.

Fast forward two decades and the Hyundai brand has made a name for itself. Like the original Excel, Hyundai cars are priced cheaper than comparable European, Asian and American cars, but unlike the Excel, Hyundai models of today have a much higher quality rating, frequently ranking at or near the top of many consumer and industry surveys.

Making Luxury More Affordable

Yesterday, I finally had the opportunity to test drive the Hyundai Genesis Sedan, the all new flagship of the Hyundai fleet. The sedan’s reputation has preceded it, having garnered lofty awards including winning the prestigious 2009 North American Car of the Year award among others.

From the outset, let me say this about the Genesis sedan: the car is too nice to sport the Hyundai moniker. True, the only evidence on the outside of the car that it is a Hyundai is on the wheel covers, otherwise a Genesis badge is fixed on the truck deck with no Hyundai badge on the grille. This doesn’t mean that I think any less of Hyundai, rather the Korean automaker probably should have developed a separate line of cars, ala Lexus for Toyota.

No matter, the Hyundai sedan is a beauty in its own right. Competing against the likes of the Lexus GS, Cadillac STS, Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 Series, the Genesis is as elegant, well appointed and enjoyable to drive as its competitors, but priced thousands of dollars less.

Standard Engine Is Strong

Powered by its rear wheels — the first Hyundai sold in America as such — and sporting a standard 3.8L V-6 engine (290 h.p.) paired with a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission, the Genesis offers all of the power you could want with an optional V-8 (368 h.p.) to sate those who crave even more.

Inside, the cabin matches the best of Germany’s luxury sedans offering heated leather seating, a leather dash, plenty of head and leg room, and all of the creature comforts Mercedes, BMW and Audi owners demand.  

The standard XM satellite radio with 17-speaker Lexicon surround audio was the best yet, a six disc DVD changer completed the listening experience. 

My test Genesis was outfitted with the navigation system, an option that pushed the base price up to $36,100.  That package also includes a rear back up warning camera, rear sliding sunshade, and a host of other features that were too numerous to count.

Plenty of Go and Plenty of Stop

Engaging the transmission, the Genesis shifted quietly into gear, offering plenty of power as I approached the first stop sign. Yes, the brakes are very responsive, almost too sensitive to the touch, but working firmly to bring the nearly two ton sedan to a quick stop. Press on the gas and there is no hesitation with the V6, pushing up to sixty miles per hour in about six seconds.

Like so many sedans in its class, the Genesis comes loaded with all of your favorite safety features including eight airbags (front and rear side impact bags), ABS, brake assist, traction control, active front head restraints, HID headlights with adaptive lighting, and more.

The trunk space reminds me of some of the biggest American sedans including cars I drove many years ago. Flat and wide, the 16 cubic foot trunk is only slightly smaller than the class leading Lincoln MKS and offers a generous sized opening.  I’ve seen enough trunks lately with odd protrusions and wasted space, the Genesis has neither one of these faults.

Will customers rush to the Genesis sedan? Current owners of a Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne and other near luxury sedans will likely consider the car. But, as for Lexus, BMW and Mercedes owners will they still think “budget car” when they consider Hyundai? That remains to be seen. All in all, the Genesis sedan is a lovely car even if it shares showroom space and a moniker with the likes of the Accent and Elantra.

Related Reading: Hyundai Doesn’t Understand the American Consumer

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GM: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

These are extraordinarily difficult times for the global automotive industry as the we’re on the cusp of ushering in major change, the likes we haven’t seen before. By this time next year we’ll see the first mass produced electric vehicles hit the market and by 2012, the number of pure electric and hybrid models will skyrocket.

At the same time, the industry is going through a deep cleansing, one that will rid it of excess capacity, inefficient operations and see several brands disappear. I believe that Ford will replace GM as the largest producer of cars in the US followed by Toyota. Hyundai and Kia will continue to gain market share while Chrysler’s future is hinged on its relationship with Fiat, a very precarious one at that.

GM Faces A Deep Challenge

Looking closer at General Motors, I now see its US operations pared to the point where only three brands will survive. Despite President Obama’s optimism, it’ll take years to settle GM’s debt as both bondholders and union members hold firm. Now that the president has signaled that he won’t let GM die, what do these parties have to lose? A lot if they don’t hold their ground.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In keeping with the tradition of Sergio Leone, I offer to you the following categories to define GM’s future, particularly as it relates to its critical North American base:

The Good — Chevrolet comprises a full 60% of GM sales, therefore the Chevy brand is the face of the new GM. If this brand isn’t healthy enough to compete against Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen then the company will die.

Cadillac is the premium bookend for GM, a luxury division that needs additional assets. The CTS franchise is a success, the SRX a worthy model, but the replacement for the STS/DTS is a mystery. As for the Escalade, it will probably soldier on as a car based crossover at some point. Lincoln wasn’t much of a threat for the past decade, but now Ford’s luxury division is fighting back, positioning itself to leapfrog Cadillac.

The lifespan of Buick depends on how well the company emerges from restructuring, bankruptcy or not. Its Chinese base is upholding the brand, but in order to be a good middleground brand for GM, it needs some product loving. And quick.

The Bad — The Pontiac G8 is a knock out car, but not enough to keep the brand alive.  Cash strapped GM cannot afford to keep Pontiac alive, so may it rest in peace. The G8 could find its way over to Chevrolet…let’s hope so!

The GMC brand can now die, allowing GM to consolidate Chevrolet trucks with GMC. They’ll be a big battle with Buick-Pontiac-GMC franchised dealers, with some likely to gain a Chevy Trucks franchise in their settlement.

The Ugly — No longer relevant and a big embarrassment, Hummer will probably cease to exist unless a foreign, niche manufacturer buys the brand, its dies and assembles Hummer elsewhere.

There isn’t much that can be said about Saab unless the pending new owner of Volvo makes a pitch for the brand to create Scandinavian Motors. Nope, I don’t see that happening at all.

Pity, poor Saturn — it was once a decent idea that should have been dismissed long before a plant in Spring Hill, TN was built for “a different kind of car company.” Okay, I’m biased: I leased a 2001 Saturn L-Series and actually liked the car, body panel gaps and all.  But, Saturn held Chevrolet back and was always a tremendous financial drain on the automaker. I would hate to see it become a supply house for a Chinese or Indian automaker. Peugeot? Maybe.

Ups & Downs With GM

Life at GM will never be the same, a company whose heritage is a mixture of lousy production methods (pre-1980s), cool technology (OnStar) and stiff competition (Toyota, et al).

If the company does survive, it may eventually have to hook up with another automaker to stay in business. Perhaps Carlos Ghosn would be interested in an automotive troika provided that GM comes to the party without financial baggage.

Related Reading –Brain Drain: GM Whacks Engineers

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2010 Ford Shelby GT500, More Power, Better Mileage

OK, scoops out on the 2010 Shelby Mustang (officially dubbed the Ford Shelby GT500), and it looks even better than the ’09s. There’s more power, and, get this, better mileage. Sure, we all want better gas mileage, but what Ford is touting is kind of comical. Still looks like a pretty damn good ride.

The 2010 Shelby is pretty much like the 09, but there are differences, both the ones you can see, and the ones you can feel when you mash the right-hand peddle.

The 2010, like the previous versions, was developed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (otherwise known by the letters SVT). The uber-Mustang delivers a more horsepower with an increase to a whomping 540HP. Similarly, the torque has increased to 510 ft.-lb., while SVT has increased downforce and reduced drag. There’s also new gearbox enhancements (always welcome with these guys, their trannys always being a sticking point for some drivers). There’s also a standard 3.55:1 rear axle ratio, so the 2010 Shelby GT500 should accelerate like nobody’s business.

Here’s my favorite part though: The new for 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 provides better highway fuel efficiency – up 2 mpg compared with the outgoing model. Ford even mentions this in the headline of their press release. Guess that goes to show you that there must be some sort of PR directive to make everything they can look more Earth friendly.

It’s funny, because really, if you’re going to plunk down the change to buy a Ford Shelby GT500, (no pricing as of yet, but you know it won’t be cheap), saving a few dollars on gas isn’t going to be much of a concern for you. But it’s still nice that Ford thought of doing this.

And they dragged those improved MPG figures from a pretty impressive mill. The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine cranking out 540 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 510 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The engine redlines at 6,250 rpm. The car’s power dome hood is made from aluminum and not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a bitchin’ hood extractor.

And speaking of looks, there are new exterior bit & bobs. In addition to the hood extractor to remove heat from the engine, there’s a “Gurney Flap” spoiler that produces more rear downforce.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms this spring.

The Ford Press release:

2010 FORD SHELBY GT500 PACKS MORE POWERFUL PUNCH, INCREASES HIGHWAY FUEL MILEAGE BY 2 MPG

* Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) delivers a more powerful 2010 Shelby GT500 with horsepower increased 540, torque increased to 510 ft.-lb., downforce increased and drag reduced

* New gearbox enhancements, plus a standard 3.55:1 rear axle ratio, mean the 2010 Shelby GT500 will deliver improved acceleration performance, while providing better highway fuel efficiency – up 2 mpg compared with the outgoing model

* Aggressive new exterior design features new functional details, such as the hood extractor to remove heat from the engine and “Gurney Flap” spoiler to tune rear downforce; world-class materials and craftsmanship create the most unique GT500 interior yet

* 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms this spring

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2009 – The new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers the most power and refinement ever for a Ford SVT-tuned performance Mustang – and a few surprises, too.

“The new Shelby GT500 demonstrates Ford’s continuing commitment to high-performance vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “In addition to the numerous performance and refinement improvements inside and out, it’s also two miles per gallon more fuel efficient on the highway.”

“We’re proud of the many enhancements jointly developed by the Ford and Shelby Automobiles team that we’ve incorporated into the new model,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. “Building on what we learned to create the Shelby GT500KR, this new car offers a great combination of power, handling and braking. It is truly a special car that is a great deal of fun to drive.”

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team used the gains made on the Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustang as the performance starting point and built from there. The design team, with a nod to the original Shelby Cobra from the 1960s, takes those design cues even further with nuanced improvements in both the coupe and convertible, each of which boasts a more-refined interior.

“Working together on the KR, the Ford and Shelby teams developed new systems to continually improve the iconic Mustang,” stated Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “Those lessons learned are incorporated into the 2010 Shelby GT500. This approach will help maintain Mustang’s leadership position and make the ownership experience even more enjoyable.”

“The muscle car segment is becoming even more competitive,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT. “We need to uphold the Mustang badge with honor, the Shelby badge with honor and most importantly the Ford badge with honor. This is the car that will do all of that.”

More horsepower, more refinement, more functionality

The combination of added horsepower, refinement and functionality makes the 2010 Shelby GT500 a unique high-performance car. It delivers more horsepower and more torque than the outgoing model, thanks in part to advancements pioneered on the GT500KR.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine that produces 540 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 510 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The redline is 6,250 rpm. The car’s aluminum power dome hood not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a hood extractor.

The Shelby’s open-element air induction system features a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system to reduce air restriction. This approach allows more air to be pumped through the engine, producing more power and increasing the engine’s efficiency. A cold-air intake feeds the coolest air possible directly into the air box, helping further increase horsepower. The intake necessitated moving the Cobra snake badge to the other side of the grille to enable maximum airflow.

The twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission has been significantly upgraded, improving drivability and NVH. The discs on the 2010 Shelby GT500 are larger – 250 mm in diameter compared with 215 mm in diameter on the outgoing model – and made of copper and fiberglass to make them more robust. A unique component of the twin-disc system is the control of the intermediate disc. Rather than floating, it instead has six straps that control the engagement of the clutch, improving drivability.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 offers customers improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears. Gears 1-4 remain the same, but fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50, meaning that the 2010 Shelby GT500 will turn lower engine RPMs in those gears and deliver improved fuel efficiency. The new final drive ratio, moving from 3.31 to 3.55, enables the improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.

The Shelby’s distinct sounds will be apparent as always, though with new refinements, thanks to the work of the Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) team. A patented resonator placed between the air filter and engine throttle body helps keep unwanted noise in check.

“You still hear the supercharger but not so that it’s intrusive,” said Kerry Baldori, chief functional engineer for SVT. “It’s the same with the exhaust. You want people to know you’re driving something special, but you don’t want an exhaust note that overpowers the whole interior.

“We spent a lot of time getting the right sound quality out of the exhaust so you get that nice, crisp Shelby sound outside and a pleasant sound inside the cabin. It’s a nice balance; one isn’t overpowering the other,” said Baldori.

Driving dynamics also are improved, thanks to SVT’s signature chassis tuning as well as new 19-inch Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and forged aluminum wheels on the 2010 Shelby GT500 coupe and 18s on the convertible.

Springs and dampers have been optimized for better roll control, giving customers more confidence when braking, accelerating or turning. The new chassis tuning takes its philosophy from the KR program, with a greater emphasis placed on primary body control. The team also stiffened the steering shaft.

“All our changes were about making the car respond as fast and as predictable as possible,” Hameedi said. “The 2010 Shelby GT500 conveys an athletic, confident feel. The shifter, clutch pedal, brake-pedal efforts and overall steering efforts are easier now. We wanted to make sure we had a nice, crisp short-throw shifter that was easy to go from gear to gear.”

The Goodyear F1 Supercar 19-inch tires have been upgraded, too. SVT members developed a “recipe” for the attributes and characteristics they wanted in the tire, which Goodyear’s team of engineers, designers and manufacturers brought to life. The result is better grip, better handling and better NVH properties, leading to a better customer experience.

The wheels themselves complement the high-performance nature of the 2010 Shelby GT500. The 19-inch wheels are forged aluminum wheels milled on both sides. The extra machining process creates “blade” spokes with very thin, yet strong, cross-sections. The spokes have a specific curve from the rim to the hub, not only for strength, but also to accentuate the offset and width of the tires.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac®, Ford’s stability control system, with several options for performance. The default “on” mode accommodates every-day driving, and a Sport mode delivers for those wanting to put the Shelby GT500 through its paces on the track. The system also can be turned completely off, although the anti-lock brake system and other active safety systems remain in place. Standard safety equipment includes dual stage front air bags, side-impact air bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System®.

Numerous aerodynamic upgrades, including a redesigned splitter, were made to the front end of the 2010 Shelby GT500.

The team worked hard to get as much downforce with as little drag as possible, said Baldori. They worked to seal off the air that comes in the front so it can’t go under the car. A lot of time also was spent sealing components such as the radiator and intercooler to get rid of all leak paths. The result is an increased downforce, reduced drag and improved overall efficiency of the vehicle.

Directing the air so it’s used most efficiently was a painstaking process that ultimately will be rewarding to customers. The design of the front fascia and the car’s “flush” hood helps focus air flow. The top grille focuses air into the radiator, with a rubber flap inside the engine compartment helping to seal the system. The lower grille helps cool the intercooler.

SVT engineers also went as far to block off specific diamonds in the front of the 2010 Shelby GT500’s distinctive grille to help maintain the correct cooling and aerodynamic balance.

A meaner, reskinned snake ready to take to the streets

The 2010 Shelby GT500 is the most-robust design and most-distinctive model of the new Mustang lineup. “The design we chose was a ‘flush’ hood where the fascia defines the entire front of the vehicle,” said Hameedi. “That’s very hard to execute from an engineering standpoint, but it really sets the Shelby off as very different from the base Mustang.”

“This epitomizes the ultimate Mustang,” added George Saridakis, exterior design manager of the Mustang and Shelby GT500. “It’s all about power and expressing power.”

Saridakis said his team took a cue from the Shelby AC Cobra 427 with respect to the front grilles, which are gaping and appear ready to swallow the road.

Another obvious difference for the Shelby is the addition of racing stripes, which also will now be available on the convertible. “Racing stripes made their mark on 1960s-era Ford performance vehicles,” Hameedi noted. “That’s something we feel is a key part of the Shelby performance DNA – maybe more so than some of our competition.”

Rounding out the Shelby’s exterior modifications are the unique signature coiled Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders, a more aggressive front splitter and lower-drag rear spoiler, which added to improved aerodynamic features. The spoiler is raked back aggressively to minimize drag, while an integrated Gurney Flap provides the downforce.

What’s inside counts with the 2010 Shelby GT500

The base 2010 Mustang received a powerful new interior design. For the GT500, the interior design team members challenged themselves to raise the bar even higher to create the ultimate Shelby Mustang interior.

Using genuine materials such as real leather in all seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel and Alcantara® suede inserts on the seats and steering wheel gave the appearance a precisely crafted, jewel-like yet functional feel. Customers can select racing stripes on the seats that match the exterior stripes.

The genuine aluminum finish panels have a unique-to-GT500 three-dimensional dimpled texture pattern inspired by racing clutch plates, braided hoses and cross-drilled racing brake rotors.

The pattern has been painstakingly tuned to compensate for the compound curvature of the instrument panels. In addition, the “GT500” logo has been discretely engraved into the aluminum in front of the passenger as a nod to classic Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s.

This unique aluminum finish panel is fully encapsulated by an exquisite soft seamless TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) instrument panel with a shape that resonates with Mustang’s powerful heritage. The center stack flows into the console and features a sub-flush shifter trim ring, flush cup holder door and lockable console stowage featuring the word “SHELBY” engraved in its Satin Liquid Chrome release button.

All 2010 Mustangs and Shelbys feature bright 360-degree rings surrounding the gauge cluster, uninterrupted by the steering column. These rings will come in chrome for the Mustang and a Satin Liquid Chrome finish for the GT500. This finish is featured throughout the interior. An intricate cobra is etched into the center of the aluminum steering wheel badge. The Shelby Cobra appears at startup on the navigation screen, and the familiar red “SVT” logo utilizes new ambient lighting to illuminate the door scuffplate.

“When customers drive this car, they’re not only going to be impressed by the performance and the Shelby heritage, but they’re going to see all these carefully designed details and know they’ve bought a well-crafted car,” Saridakis said.

Even the classic white shift knob – an icon of Shelby Mustang DNA from years past – received special attention. First, it had to be the traditional white. It also had to be specific to the Shelby. The answer was to combine the racing-stripes theme with the traditional “H” pattern found on shifters to create a one-of-a-kind knob. Like the exterior, the racing stripes wrap from end to end, encircling the knob.

Wide suite of standard features on the 2010 Shelby GT500

The 2010 Shelby GT500 includes several Ford innovations and industry-exclusive standard features, including:

* SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.

* 911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.

* Vehicle Health Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.

* Ambient Lighting System with MyColor™ allows drivers to customize the interior lighting of the vehicle to suit their mood. The enhanced MyColor system features seven base colors – ice blue, purple, blue, orange, red, white and green. Customers also can create 125 custom colors by mixing the red-green-blue palette.

Available options:

* Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™ is an industry-leading technology that provides users a unique, information-rich in-car experience. The suite of data services includes up-to-the-minute real-time traffic data with accident and incident information for 78 markets, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. SIRIUS Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.

This combination of outstanding performance coupled with a fresh, exciting, well-crafted interior intensely focused on improving the entire experience will make the 2010 Shelby GT500 even more sought after, and a fitting addition to a long and proud history.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms in spring. The cars will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Reference Materials

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Powertrain: Better Performance, Fuel Economy

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Offers Better Ride, Stability; Adds to Storied Performance Heritage

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About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

Photos from Flickr users Chad Horwedel, Portnoy668, stephg67

© Gearhead Media - Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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First Ford Fiestas Set Ashore

Built in Europe for the American market, the first wave of Ford Fiestas have now arrived in the states. The "test fleet" is geared toward raising awareness of the hot-selling Fiesta to young American drivers, those people born between 1979 and 1985 in particular.

Like invading troops, 140 Ford Fiestas have come ashore at ports in Baltimore and Oxnard, California signaling the first salvo in a war that the Ford Motor Company hopes to win beginning next year when the cars are made available to a wider audience.

The Fiesta Movement

In the meantime, as part of the automaker’s online and offline marketing campaign for its line of all-new subcompact cars, Ford launched the “Fiesta Movement” to generate buzz about the car, itself at the vanguard of several European models the company plans to unleash on America over the next few years.

Last Spring, as gas prices began to surge and consumers quickly abandoned trucks and large sport/utility vehicles, Ford realized that it had a problem on its hands. Customer demand for its aged compact Focus went through the roof, but the automaker didn’t have enough model variety to attract people to the Ford brand.

Small European Cars For America

But, the automaker already had in place a handful of smaller models sold in international markets, particularly Europe, which could also be sold in the states, thus Ford management decided to transfer that technology to several North American plants beginning with the Ford Fiesta.

Well before a Mexican factory comes online to build the American spec Ford Fiesta, the company had its Cologne, Germany plant build a number of test models which comprise the cars that are now passing through American ports. Ford solicited applications from young drivers who might be interested in getting their hands on the Fiesta for a six-month period, choosing 100 to be public ambassadors for the new car.

Sharing Their Fiesta Experience

In exchange for getting to drive a Fiesta, the so-called trendsetters are expected to publish their experiences online, through sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. Right now, I’m following at least one person via Twitter who will be sharing his tweets in the months ahead.

As I write this, Ford is in the midst of a resurgency that is bringing numerous new and updated models to its Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brands over the next two years.  For example, the next generation F-150 pickup truck rolled out late last year while the 2010 Ford Fusion is already out and includes its first ever hybrid model. A new Mustang arrives this Spring and the Taurus will be pushed upmarket to compete against large sedans when it rolls out this fall.

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company

Related Reading: 100,000 Ford Hybrid SUVs Later

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Lincoln Announces MKZ Pricing Ahead Of Release

New for 2010, the Lincoln MKZ is an entry level luxury sedan competing in a stiff marketing segment. Will buyers see the car for being something much more than a richly contented Ford Fusion or Mercury Milan?

Losing The Fusion Feeling

When the MKZ was first introduced to the world as the Lincoln Zephyr for the 2006 model year, the car was received with a collective yawn by automotive critics. The model was based on the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan and, strangely, was not distinguishable enough to convince buyers to opt for Lincoln’s entry level luxury sedan. Switching to the MKZ name in the second year of production didn’t help matters much, but by the end of its first generation run the sedan has gradually been accepted by consumers.

For 2010, an all new MKS will be rolling out and, in advance of its introduction, the Ford Motor Company has announced pricing for the model it says competes squarely against the Lexus ES350 and Cadillac CTS.

More Luxury Content Than Lexus, Cadillac?

According to Lincoln’s marketing folks, the MKZ contains more luxury content standard versus the Lexus and the Cadillac, while retailing for $34,965 (front wheel drive) and $36,855 (all wheel drive). Sales of the 2010 Lincoln MKZ will begin this spring.

“Customers universally are surprised when they get into a competing vehicle and find out that they have to pay more for luxury features, such as premium leather seats,” said Jonathan Richards, Lincoln MKZ Marketing manager. “That’s what sets the MKZ apart from the competition. It comes standard with all the features you would expect from a world class entry-level luxury sedan.”

Besides Bridge of Weir leather, the front seats can be heated or cooled and every MKZ comes with SYNC voice activated navigation/sound system standard. A reverse sensing system and driver multi-adjustable power seat are some of the other standard features being touted by Lincoln.

All New Sport Appearance Package Debuts

New for 2010 is the Sport Appearance Package, which offers special sport suspension tuning with stiffer springs and larger stabilizer bars; 18-inch Euroflange polished wheels; unique grille, body-color door handles and darkened headlamps; and an interior with tuxedo seam seat patterns, contrasting piping, upgraded floor mats and aluminum appliqués.

Will the Lincoln MKZ take away sales from the ES350 and CTS? That’s hard to say. With Lexus quality and Cadillac ingenuity coming into play, the MKZ faces some stiff competition in this segment. But, with an all new design language which matches the bigger MKS, the MKZ no longer has the look or feel of a Fusion or Milan.

See Also:  Ford 2010: Arriving Sooner Than You Think

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