Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford recalls 2013 Focus, C-Max and Escape over faulty child safety locks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/ford-recalls-2013-focus-c-max-and-escape-over-faulty-child-safe/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/ford-recalls-2013-focus-c-max-and-escape-over-faulty-child-safe/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/ford-recalls-2013-focus-c-max-and-escape-over-faulty-child-safe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



We have yet to find any official documentation from either Ford or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but Edmunds and Cars.com are both reporting that there is a recall on the 2013 C-Max, Focus and Escape. All three vehicles were assembled with a faulty child door lock mechanism on the left rear door that might not work properly allowing a child to accidently open the door from the inside.

Affected vehicles were built in the middle of November, 2012 totaling somewhere between 5,600 and just over 7,000 units, and concerned owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236 to see if their vehicles are involved in this recall. The recall doesn't go into effect until March 25, but in the meantime, owners can probably check the operation of the door or position children on the right side of the car, if possible, until the recall has been performed.

Ford recalls 2013 Focus, C-Max and Escape over faulty child safety locks originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford c-max2013 ford escape2013 ford focusc-maxc-max recallescapeescape recallfocusfocus recallfordford recallrecallFri, 15 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20505180/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/15/ford-recalls-2013-focus-c-max-and-escape-over-faulty-child-safe/20505180/article-detail.xml 20505180 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-fd.jpg <![CDATA[2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/2013-north-american-car-and-truck-utility-of-the-year-finalists/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/2013-north-american-car-and-truck-utility-of-the-year-finalists/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/2013-north-american-car-and-truck-utility-of-the-year-finalists/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

North American Car of the Year crystal award

2012 is almost in the books and automakers are spending December gearing up for the 2013 auto show season, which tips off next month at the Detroit Auto Show. Traditionally, the latter opens up with the announcement of the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards, and this year figures to be no different.

But up until this moment, we didn't know which six vehicles would be parked ahead of the stage as finalists, with executives and engineers waiting for the winners to be disclosed. Whittled down from October's "short list" of nominees (11 cars and 10 truck/utility vehicles), the finalists are as follows:

2013 North American Car of the Year:
2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year:
As determined by a non-profit, independent jury of 50 US and Canadian journalists(*), the pair of lists above arguably feature a surprise or two, and they open up some potentially interesting story lines. Will the Ford and Honda, which compete against each other in the marketplace, split votes among jurors who only want to vote for one family sedan? Did the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ twins miss making the finalists' list because they were listed as separate entries, or did they just not win over enough jurors? Until the voting patterns of the jurors are released (after the awards are announced), we won't really know if any of these scenarios played into the calculations.

What do you think of these six vehicles? Which would you vote for? Which do you think will win? Participate in our polls below by guessing which vehicles will win, then state your case for who should win in Comments.

*Full disclosure: Author is a NACTOY jury member.

View Poll


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Continue reading 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]

2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year finalists announced [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15002013 cadillac ats2013 ford c-max2013 ford fusion2013 honda accord2013 mazda cx-52013 ram 1500accordatsc-maxcadillaccx-5fordfusionhondamazdanactoynorth american car of the yearNorth American truck of the yearnorth american truck utility of the yearramWed, 12 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20400146/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/12/2013-north-american-car-and-truck-utility-of-the-year-finalists/20400146/article-detail.xml 20400146 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/nactoy-award-crystal_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/nactoy-award-crystal.jpg <![CDATA[Ford confirms hybrid and PHEV C-Max will be built in Spain]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/ford-confirms-hybrid-and-phev-c-max-will-be-built-in-spain/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/ford-confirms-hybrid-and-phev-c-max-will-be-built-in-spain/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/10/ford-confirms-hybrid-and-phev-c-max-will-be-built-in-spain/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Ford C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has just provided more details about its first European market hybrid models. The company's plant in Valencia, Spain will be building both regular and plug-in hybrid versions of the new five-seat C-Max MPV starting in 2013. The plant will receive $36 million in upgrades to accommodate hybrid vehicle production of the C-Max, which will be exclusively for the European market.

The new C-Max is the first vehicle being launched this year off of Ford's new global compact car platform that will also spawn the new 2012 Focus. The C-Max is essentially a tall wagon version of the Focus. The hybrid version will use Ford's next-generation hybrid system that will launch in North America in 2012, though no other details about the powertrain are available at this time. The C-Max is also the first application of Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which could be paired with the hybrid system.

The new C-Segment platform has been designed to support the installation of conventional, hybrid and full battery electric powertrains. A BEV version of the C-Max is also possible, though Ford has only confirmed plans for the Focus Electric at this time.


Gallery: 2011 Ford C-Max


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford confirms hybrid and PHEV C-Max will be built in Spain

Ford confirms hybrid and PHEV C-Max will be built in Spain originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20132013 ford c-max2013 ford c-max hybrid2013 ford c-max phev2013FordC-max2013FordC-maxHybrid2013FordC-maxPheveuropean hybrideuropean hybridsEuropeanHybridEuropeanHybridsfordFord C-Maxford c-max phevford hybridFordC-maxFordC-maxPhevFordHybridplug-inplug-in hybridplug-in-hybridplug-in-hybridsPlug-inHybridPlug-inHybridsplug-insMon, 10 May 2010 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19470850/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/10/ford-confirms-hybrid-and-phev-c-max-will-be-built-in-spain/19470850/article-detail.xml 19470850 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/ford-cmax-5-seat-1280-1opta_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/ford-cmax-5-seat-1280-1opta.jpg -1 2