Autoblog

Ford delaying next Mondeo

Scott Burgess — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Ford, UAW/Unions

Anyone waiting for the new Ford Mondeo will have to wait a little longer, according to Automotive News Europe.

According to union sources, Ford has delayed production of the next generation model for up to three months at its Genk, Belgium, factory.

Production was scheduled to begin next April, but was pushed back, union members have told media outlets in Belgium. Ford apparently admits it is continuing to work through a number of issues to "ensure a robust, high quality launch," Automotive News Europe reports.

The new Mondeo, which was scheduled to hit European roads this spring, is expected to be revealed later this year at the Paris Motor Show. It's likely to share nearly all of its looks and hardware with its North American sibling the 2013 Ford Fusion (shown above), a model that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Whatever problems the Mondeo faces, our sources tell us that these delays won't impact the Fusion's launch here in North America.

Ford delaying next Mondeo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to exceed EcoBoost target by 100,000 units

Chris Shunk — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Ford, Lincoln

Like almost every other automaker these days, Ford is having a tough time in Europe right now, and here in the States, its per-share stock price is lagging, but that isn't stopping the automaker from exceeding some of its goals. The Detroit Free Press reports that sales of the company's EcoBoost turbocharged and direct-injected engines are going beyond expectations. The Blue Oval's signature powerplants have made it to a wide variety of Ford and Lincoln products, from larger vehicles like the Explorer, Taurus and MKT to smaller models like the new Escape and Focus ST.

In fact, Ford is reportedly on track to sell 1.6 million of these forced-induction vehicles in 2013 - a full 100,000 units more than it had previously estimated.

The smaller, more efficient EcoBoost powerplants will make the Ford lineup more efficient and a program to cut down the amount of platforms the automaker uses globally is helping to trim costs. Ford product development chief Raj Nair claims that the automaker is on track to clip its platforms from 22 in 2011 to 10 by 2017. The move should save Ford hundreds of millions of dollars as platform costs drop as scale increases.

Ford to exceed EcoBoost target by 100,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford F-150 Limited unveiled as range-topping luxury truck

Scott Burgess — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Luxury

The F-150 Limited is back - more powerful, more luxurious and more expensive than any other 2013 F-150.

Ford Motor Co. is taking the wraps off the new Limited today in Dearborn. It will feature a unique look, a lush red interior and nearly every bell and whistle Ford can muster, surpassing the high-end Ford Platinum F-150.

"There's still a strong demand for luxury pickups and the Limited will help us meet that demand," said Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

Indeed, Ford says 30 percent of its pickup sales are the luxury trucks it offers such as the Lariat, Harley Davidson and King Ranch models. Each has carved out a niche, appealing to the inner street racer, biker or cowboy in need of a pickup. Currently, a Platinum F-150 rings up the top price of all F-150s, starting at $44,635. But the Limited will exceed that with its standard loaded up interior that includes everything from a moonroof and aluminum trim to heated and cooled seats.

It will also outperform its predecessor, the 2011 F-150 Limited. Ford has added its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 under this new model's red hood, giving it 365 horsepower and up to 22 mpg on the highway. There's also standard HID headlamps, 22-inch polished aluminum wheels and that special branding of the word "Limited" on the rear quarter panel.

This truck may not be for everyone, but some drivers are going to love it.

Continue reading 2013 Ford F-150 Limited unveiled as range-topping luxury truck

2013 Ford F-150 Limited unveiled as range-topping luxury truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA

Scott Burgess — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Performance, Ford

A woman's place is in the garage - and some people want to keep them there.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women was created by Ford Motor Co. and the Specialty Equipment Market Association to create a pony car designed by and built by women.

But before a group of volunteers pull out their wrenches and pop a few beers in the garage, they need the general public to pick the car they'll create.

Whichever Mustang gets the most votes will be built by an all-female crew and shown off at the SEMA show in Las Vegas later this year.

The three finalists include:

High Gear: A luxury Mustang concept inspired by couture clothing, jewelry and buildings. It's supposed to fuse muscle and power.

Chormatic: Uses neon colors and anthracite chrome to create a futuristic version that was inspired by street art.

Fast Metal: Symbolizes raw speed and power, using unique tone on tone dark metallic finishes with red accents.

Votes can be cast at HotRod.com and additional coverage about the vehicles can be found at AutomobileMag.com, MustangMonthly.com and MuscleMustangFastFords.com. The full press release is posted below.

Continue reading Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA

Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 May 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to save $1.2M/year just by turning off its computers at night

Eric Loveday — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

When a corporation as large as Ford decides to do something as simple as shutting down its computers at night, the savings can be astronomical. In the case of Ford, powering down computers can save the company $1.2 million each year.

The new program, called PC Power Management, utilizes energy saving settings provided by Microsoft Windows. The energy settings will be used on company laptops and desktops to reduce energy waste. A managed shutdown will occur each night and during the weekend period. Additionally, computers will be awake to receive updates during pre-selected non-business hours, freeing up time previously used for updates throughout the working day.

According to Ford, an estimated 60 percent of the company's computer remained on after business hours resulting in wasted energy. The new managed shutdown will eliminate waste to the tune of over a million dollars in savings for the company and reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 16,000-25,000 metric tons per year. Hit the jump for the full details on the program.

Continue reading Ford to save $1.2M/year just by turning off its computers at night

Ford to save $1.2M/year just by turning off its computers at night originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford and Mazda clarify future relationship, still strong

Michael Harley — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Mazda

Click either image above for a high-res gallery

While Ford sold most of its controlling stake in Mazda last November, the two automakers will remain close partners as the companies work together to develop new automotive systems and technologies -- refuting previous reports that the two companies may be drifting apart. The announcement comes from top executives at both Ford and Mazda, which have been meeting recently to discuss further collaborations within the industry.

A strong relationship benefits both automakers. Ford needs Mazda for its insight into manufacturing, product development and its window into the Japanese auto industry. Mazda still relies on Ford for its powertrains (which Ford will continue to provide). The recently launched Ford Fiesta and Mazda2, built on a shared platform, are another example of how the two automakers can work together. The cars were originally engineered for other markets and not intended for sale in the States. When Ford's product strategy changed while they were under development, the two companies met and solved the critical design elements together, making each viable for the domestic market. Problems solved, the Fiesta and Mazda2 debuted at the LA Auto Show earlier this month and are going on sale next year.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback

Gallery: 2011 Mazda2

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Ford and Mazda clarify future relationship, still strong originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mulally pockets $28 million in 2006

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Reuters is reporting that while Ford Motor Co. posted a $12.7 billion loss last year, its new Chief Executive earned $28.18 million. And that was for four months worth of work. Alan Mulally's pay for 2006 included salary and stock options, as well as an $18.5 million bonus. The man Mulally replaced, Chairman Bill Ford, had made good on his pledge to forego compensation until the company made a turnaround, and had no salary, bonuses, or stock earnings during the first 8 months of 2006. In the grand scheme of things, $28 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the huge corporate losses Ford has posted, but hopefully Ford is getting what they are paying for with their new CEO. Only time will tell, as the automaker isn't expected to get back into the black until 2009 at the earliest.

In all fairness, Mulally's package included a $7.5 million signing bonus and Ford had to pay an additional $11 million to compensate for getting him out of his Boeing contract early. And in case some think Ford would be smart to dump him and take the company in a different direction, the EXIT package would be almost as big. If the CEO is released during his first five years on the job, his exit package is valued at $27.54 million. Mulally gets that amount if he is let go for anything other than cause. That includes being let go due to a merger or bankruptcy filing. To put it in perspective, Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields made $5.57 million last year. That included a salary of $1.25 million and something related to using a jet. And CFO Don Leclair had $4.4 million in total compensation for 2006.

[Source: Reuters]

Mulally pockets $28 million in 2006 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Ford incentives focus on Fusion and F-150

Scott Davis — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Marketing/Advertising

Not wanting to lose the momentum from 2006, Ford Motor Co. will offer some new lease deals and cut-rate financing on the Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans. The F-150 gets in on the action as well, with leasing and financing incentives on some models. The new deals that follow will run from January 3 to February 28.

Beginning yesterday, customers can lease a 2.3-liter equipped Fusion for $249/month for 39 months with zero cash out of pocket at signing. The Mercury Milan can be leased for even less, at $208/month, but requires $1,999 cash up front. If a lease doesn't suit your needs, 4.9% financing for up to 60 months is also available.

To generate some interest in the full-size truck market, the F-150 SuperCab XLT lease is available for $249/month for 36 months and the F150 SuperCrew XLT comes in at $299/month for 24 months, both requiring $1,999 cash at the time of signing.

Rearing its ugly head again is zero percent interest, now available for up to 60 months on the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. One cool feature, however, is the no-charge "Moon and Tunes" package that adds a power moonroof with sun shade, AM-FM radio 6-disc CD changer, and a roof rack with cross bars.

[Source: Automotive News (sub req'd.]

New Ford incentives focus on Fusion and F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota poised to take #2 spot from Ford

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Toyota

Ford Motor Co. has admitted what we saw coming for some time. The New York Times just ran a story saying Ford has announced that they fully expect Toyota to take over as number two behind General Motors. At least in America. Perhaps not unexpected, but it still sounds weird to hear that Ford won't be #2. To put this in perspective, Ford has been number two since the 1920s! And if that's not enough, Ford says the projections show they think that third place might be their permanent new slot. Apparently The Way Forward means taking one step back, which if that's what it takes to return to profitability, then so be it.

Back in September Ford speculated that its market share would hit a low of 14-15% allowing Toyota to surpass it. With the death of the Taurus and the decline in sales of light trucks, Ford has certainly been hurting. Conversely, it seems that Toyota can do no wrong with buyers, despite product that some consider boring and increased recalls with uncharacteristic lapses in quality. But things aren't looking any better for Ford. The new Tundra should be out in February, which will only increase Toyota's market share according to most analysts. Although we expect the Dodge Ram to be the truck that suffers most from the Tundra's arrival, eventually relinquishing it's No. 3 spot to the Japanese pickup over time.

[Source: Reuters via The New York Times]

Toyota poised to take #2 spot from Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford neuters the beancounters

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:18:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford just amended its bylaws to take a little fiscal power away from its board. In the old version of the bylaws, the finance committee could greenlight spending on product development projects. Under the new one, not so much. The Dow Jones MarketWatch learned about this item through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Apparently the board will still be able to review how things are done regarding the management of Ford's financial affairs, but the ability to ok items will be removed. What this will probably mean in the real world is that decisions can happen more quickly. Management will be able to make decisions on its own concerning product and won't have as many layers of approval to go through to make changes when needed. Sounds like a step in the right direction. Anything that cuts the bureaucracy has to be good.

Thanks for the tip, Devin!

[Source: Dow Jones MarketWatch]

Ford neuters the beancounters originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whither the white collar: Ford set to buyout 10,000 salaried workers

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford

Here come the pink slips for the white-collar guys and gals at Ford. And to speed up the exodus, 6 preprogrammed tags have been added to those termination notices. Actually, Ford Motor Co. is starting to offer buyouts to many of its salaried employees to help trim its U.S. payroll. As many as 85 percent of each department's workers will get the option of the buyout. Ford is looking to rid itself of 10,000 of its 38,500 salaried workers by 2008.

If the buyouts don't produce big enough cuts, layoffs will be used. Ford already got 38,000 hourly workers to sign up for buyout programs earlier this year. This new program was started in October. They started making the offers to salaried workers and senior managers and are now going after lower level managers and non-management workers.

Follow the jump for more details.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Whither the white collar: Ford set to buyout 10,000 salaried workers

Whither the white collar: Ford set to buyout 10,000 salaried workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Scott Davis — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford, Earnings/Financials

When a vehicle rolls over, one of the critical components in assuring the safety of its occupants is the roof structure and its ability to protect, not injure its occupants. On the heels of nearly $250-million dollars in judgments relating to injuries caused in rollover accidents, Ford Motor Company has considerably stepped up its efforts to assure the roof strength of its vehicles.

A new standard proposed by NHTSA in August, 2005 raises the minimum force withstood by a roof structure from a multiple of 1.5 to 2.5 times the vehicle's weight while maintaining sufficient head room for a buckled-in average size adult male to avoid being struck by a crushed roof. Unfortunately, a final ruling could take as long as a year and would give the manufacturers until at least 2011 to comply.

In a letter to the NHTSA, Ford's director of automotive safety office, James P. Vondale, disclosed that some versions of 11 models would have roofs 20 percent stronger than required. For instance, the Expedition and Navigator, as well as some F-250 and E-series models would exceed the standard, matching the Volvo XC90, which has one of the strongest roofs on the market.

Follow the jump for more info and a list of the 11 models from Ford that will receive stronger roofs in the near future.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Q4 for Ford will be even worse, stock prices still rise

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:54:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Oh boy. It looks like the $5.8 billion loss Ford just reported isn't the end of the red ink for the foreseeable future. On Oct. 23, new Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally had to announce those huge third-quarter losses, the biggest quarterly loss since 1992. The Premier Automotive Group (the luxury group that includes Land Rover, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Volvo), alone was responsible for $600 million of that loss. Now the company has announced that fourth-quarter earnings will also be dismal due to production cuts, lack of SUV demand, and employee buyouts.

Chief Financial Officer Don Leclaire reassured those in attendance that Ford's cash reserves were adequate to meet the crisis at the meeting on Monday. Although Ford had a negative cash flow of $3.1 billion during the quarter, it finished the period with $23.6 billion. This was partially possible after it transferred $3 billion from their VEBA (Voluntary Employee Benefits Assn.) fund.

Particularly troubling, at least according to Goldman Sachs analyst Robert Barry, were losses from the Ford Premier Auto Group and Ford Motor Credit: "The scale of losses in PAG were worse than expected -- a loss of $593 million vs. our estimates of a $134 million loss. And Ford Motor Credit earnings were well below our expectations -- just $448 million vs. our $710 million estimate." Goldman Sachs had rated Ford a "sell," but just removed that tag today, apparently feeling that the restructuring might make a difference. "We think the focus will remain weighted to restructuring upside," Robert Barry of Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients, after he upgraded Ford shares today to "neutral" from "sell."

It made a difference for Ford stock prices too, as shares were up 4.8 percent to $8.28 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. That represents the biggest one-day percentage gain since late August when expectations were high for a turnaround plan by the automaker. That doesn't mean Ford is out of the water just yet, and to his credit, Mulally admitted that Ford's results were "unacceptable" and really didn't try to spin the numbers. After accounting for $2.1 billion of the previous quarter's loss, Mulally said that the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover is again being considered: "Clearly, the review of that is high on my priority list." Aston Martin is still on the block and has had at least three potential buyers step forward. The sale of AM could bring $500-$750 million.

On top of that, Ford is going to have to restate losses all the way back to 2001 as a result of a discrepancy in derivative investment accounting. None of this boosts Wall Street's confidence in the automaker. On the plus side though, Ford saw an unexpected gain from interest on overpaid taxes from as far back as the early 1990s, earnings from its South American operations, and from their share of increased Mazda sales. Mulally also said that Ford has stopped looking for an alliance with another automaker, such as the recently scrubbed Renault-Nissan deal with GM.

[Sources: BusinessWeek and Automotive News, sub req.]

Q4 for Ford will be even worse, stock prices still rise originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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