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Report: Ford spells out new standards for Lincoln dealers

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Lincoln

lincoln logo

Being a Lincoln dealer in the 21st century has been anything but easy, as Ford has been looking to shed its luxury brand dealers the past couple years. Then Blue Oval recently killed off Mercury, a brand Lincoln dealers traditionally used as a feeder program. And perhaps the biggest challenge has been coaxing buyers into the showroom, as the brand’s 2010 sales total of just 85,828 units clearly illustrates.

The sledding apparently won’t get much easier for 2011 either, as Automotive News reports that Ford has added a few more regulations to be completed by October of this year. Fortunately, at least one of those standards is focused directly towards customers, as each Lincoln dealer will be required to feature owners’ privileges perks like a car wash with every service stop and a loaner for when vehicles are being worked on. Ford will also ask each Lincoln dealer to have a dedicated service manager and sales staff. That could be a tough pill to swallow for dealers who have Ford and Lincoln stores on the same site. Lincoln dealers will also be required to ditch all that old Lincoln-Mercury signage and instead feature a Lincoln-only sign featuring the four-pointed star. Lastly, all dealer lots will need to be filled with at least 30-percent certified pre-owned vehicles.

Those demands don’t sound all that unreasonable to us, but we’re betting Lincoln dealers won’t be too pleased with the prospect of spending more money without a lot of new products in the next year or so. Then there is the fact that Ford is reportedly looking to cut another 100 dealers in the top 130 markets in the year ahead. But while dealers likely won’t love these changes, there may not be much choice in the matter. Dealers who don’t comply with the new rules will reportedly receive smaller discount profit margins.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Ford spells out new standards for Lincoln dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford opens its archive of images to the world

Filed under: Etc., Ford

1966 Ford GT Mk II

Ford opens up its image archive – Click above for high-res image gallery

The year 2011 marks Ford’s 108th year in business. Over the course of its long history, the automaker has collected millions of images. Most of these images are stored in boxes, away from prying eyes… but that is about to change. Ford is launching a brand new site that will give users access to thousands of these archival images.

FordImages.com currently has over 5,000 images available to be licensed. The site adds hundreds more every week and is shooting to have 10,000 available by January of 2012. The seemingly endless galleries of images cover everything from key products and personnel to historic motorsports shots and all Ford vehicles through the ages.

The site offers more than just images, however, with a wide range of signs and artwork also offered. Limited-edition photos of cars like the Ford GT and Shelby GT500 are available and signed by Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby respectively.

If you’re a Blue Oval fan, this may become your new favorite web site. There’s enough material here to decorate your office, home and garage. All those boxes of stored photos mean there’s plenty more where these came from. Check out the gallery below for a few examples of what Ford will offer and be sure to read the full press-release waiting after the jump.

Gallery: Ford opens up its image archive

[Source: Ford]

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Ford opens its archive of images to the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009-2010 Ford F-150 being recalled to fix door handles

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Recalls, Safety, Ford, Canada

2009 Ford F-150

2009 Ford F-150 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has announced that the automaker is recalling 280,946 F-150 models in the United States and an additional 68,000 in Canada for faulty door handles. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the interior handles feature a housing embossment that may fracture with normal use. If this happens, the door latches may not fully return to their stowed position, and as a result, the doors may pop open during an accident.

NHTSA says that recall covers certain 2009 and 2010 model year trucks manufactured between January 18, 2008 and November 30, 2009. Ford is expected to begin notifying owners on or before February 14. If owners notice any interior door handle that doesn’t return to its stowed position, they’ll be urged to return the vehicle to a dealer to have the defective piece replaced free of charge. Eventually, all vehicles in the recall will be asked to return to the dealer for an inspection and free replacement of any trouble parts. Clear the jump for a look at the full recall notice.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Sources: NHTSA, The Detroit News]

Continue reading 2009-2010 Ford F-150 being recalled to fix door handles

2009-2010 Ford F-150 being recalled to fix door handles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video]

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Etc., Videos, Ford, Celebrities

Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor

Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor – Click above for high-res image gallery

By now, news that the Ford F150 SVT Raptor can get you over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house is older than the dirt splattered down the pickup’s side. Still, that doesn’t mean that we’re above taking a second to watch Vaughn Gittin Jr. put the FoMoCo beast through its paces. As you may recall, Gittin Jr. is the talented hellion who took the 2010 Formula Drift title, so the man knows a thing or two about stretching a vehicle to its limits and beyond.

Gittin Jr. teamed up with the crew from Wrecked Magazine to bash through the sand outside of Las Vegas when someone threw open the gates to the local CORR track. That’s when things got really interesting. The drift guru set to vaulting the pickup to ever loftier heights. At one point, re-entry causes the Raptor’s frame to flex enough to cause the tail gate to pop open on contact with terra firma – impressive given what this bruiser was engineered to withstand. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

Gallery: Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor

[Sources: YouTube, Wrecked Magazine]

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video]

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opinion: Obama should have tapped Ford’s Mulally for adviser role, not Immelt

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Immelt and Obama

When President Obama tapped General Electric chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt to be his top outside economic adviser, my first reaction was: Really?

Maybe I’m partial to the auto industry, the industry I follow the closest, but my next reaction was: Was Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s line busy? His email down?

Immelt took over for legendary CEO Jack Welch in 2001. And I’ve never been aware of a huge fan club for Immelt as a great CEO. According to published reports, though, he is very socially and politically connected, and has visited the White House some 16 times since Obama took office.

[Image: J. Scott Applewhite/AP]

Continue reading Opinion: Obama should have tapped Ford’s Mulally for adviser role, not Immelt

Opinion: Obama should have tapped Ford’s Mulally for adviser role, not Immelt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2000 Ford SVT Cobra R still in the wrapper

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford

2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R

2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R – Click above for high-res image gallery

In the world of Hot Wheels collecting, there are two types of people: those who open and those who don’t. We tend to fall into the third, more populous category of those who demolition derby.

Clearly, we could never have demonstrated the kind of self-restraint it takes to purchase a brand-new 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R and leave it in its original factory wrapping. Fortunately, there are people out there like the seller of this particular machine. According to the eBay Motors listing, there are a mere 11 miles on the odometer, and the plastic you see on the hood and fenders is the same garb that the mean Mustang wore off the production line.

Even the front splitter and brake cooling ducts are in their original bubble wrap in the trunk, and the interior is swaddled in plenty of FoMoCo plastic. That means that this pony is as close to a factory-new Cobra R that you could possibly buy today.

Ford famously minted a mere 300 examples of the Cobra R in 2000. The cars were bare bones, street-legal racers, and while the 5.4-liter V8 under the hood was supposed to churn out 385 ponies, owners typically found the engine to return those numbers at the wheels, not the crank. When launched, Motor Trend found the car capable of 0-60 mph runs in the 4.4 second range and a skid pad effort of over 1.0 g.

So, what’s it worth? Hard to say, but the auction has a Buy it Now price of $70,000, though the seller is also entertaining offers. Check out the auction here. Thanks for the tip, Brent!

Gallery: 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 2000 Ford SVT Cobra R still in the wrapper originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2012 Ford Focus

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, First Drive

Ford Proves It Can Build A Compact With A Pulse

2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery

We should no longer be surprised by the notion of a compact car with big-sedan features and eye-popping fuel economy. New creations like the Hyundai Elantra and Chevrolet Cruze have gone about making the compact segment one of the most hotly contested arenas in the market, rankling the chains of long-time fighters like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla in the process. But while the Cruze and Elantra have proven that big content can come in small packages with smaller price tags, there’s a growing sense that the fun-to-fling small car may be on its way out in favor of commuters that have inherited the soft-riding genes of their bigger brethren.

In a way, the change was all but inevitable. Whereas the compact segment once served up a cornucopia of rides that were low on power but big on handling, the market has proven that above all else, buyers in this neck of the woods want value. In an effort to pinch every last copper cent, both Hyundai and Chevrolet have scrapped the independent rear suspension in their respective compacts in favor of the considerably cheaper torsion-beam design.

So when Ford announced that American buyers would finally be able to get their hands on the global Focus, our ears perked up. The last Euro-Focus had built a reputation for being a smart handler, and if this latest version could make it across the pond without becoming too watered down in the process, compact buyers would once again have a vehicle that’s as fun to drive as it is responsible to own. Now we get to find out if Ford pulled it off.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus: First Drive

2012 Ford Focus

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First Drive: 2012 Ford Focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford earned $190M in Q4, $6.6B in 2010

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford announced this morning that the company earned net income of $190 million in the fourth quarter of last year, which is actually down sharply from the $886 million earned in the same quarter a year ago. The reason for the dip, however, is a good one, as Ford took on $960 million in debt reduction charges during the quarter, which ultimately reduced the company’s debt by $1.9 billion.

It’s a different story for last year as a whole, as Ford is reporting a $6.6 billion, that’s with a ‘b’, profit for all of 2010 – Ford’s best fiscal performance in over a decade. This means the Blue Oval has $20.5 billion in gross cash on hand, while it’s debt has been reduced to $19.1 billion. Over the course of last year, Ford reduced its debt by a total of $14.5 billion or 43 percent, all of which was taken on before the financial crisis and used to weather the storm of uncertainty.

Ford’s full-time work force will also be happy to hear that the company’s financial performance last year means healthy profit sharing in the form of approximately $5,000 for each employee. Ford also announced that it’s raising its first-quarter production plan in North America by 15,000 units to 650,000, which means even more job security for those on the assembly room floor.

[Source: Ford, Automotive News – sub. req.]

Continue reading Ford earned $190M in Q4, $6.6B in 2010

Ford earned $190M in Q4, $6.6B in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Windstar recalled again, this time for suspension issues

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Recalls, Safety, Ford

windstar corrosion recall

Back in August, Ford recalled 462,750 Windstar minivans in Salt-belt states for rear axle corrosion problems, with another 117,000 units recalled in Canada. Then Utah’s 29,900 Windstar owners were added to the list in November. In 2009, Ford also recalled 1.7 million Windstars for faulty cruise control deactivation switches.

So is the much maligned Windstar finally over its recall addiction? Hardly. The Detroit News reports that Ford is issuing another recall for 425,000 1999-2003 Windstars in 22 cold-weather states. The recall focuses this time on the front suspension’s lower control arm, rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments, all of which can potentially corrode to the point of becoming a safety hazard. DetNews says that one possible cause of the corrosion problem is condensation from air conditioning lines that drip on the subframe on the right-front side of the vehicle.

Ford actually informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it was issuing the recall, adding that the company was replacing the parts even though it didn’t feel the repairs were necessary. Ford likely issued the recall in response to NHTSA intensifying its investigation of the minivan to an engineering analysis back in December.

Ford will reportedly begin repairing the recalled minivans as early as March, and some loaner vehicles may be offered while repairs are made.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford Windstar recalled again, this time for suspension issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus

Filed under: Technology, Ford

PowerShift six-speed transmission

The 2012 Ford Focus is an exciting piece of machinery for a variety of reasons. It puts the Focus on equal footing across the globe, along with being a stylish and well-equipped compact that should be an entertaining steer. On that last bit, Ford is hyping some of the new driver-centric technologies under the Focus’ skin, beginning with the PowerShift dry-clutch six-speed automatic with its Torque Hole Filling Technology (THF). What’s that? Ford’s glad you asked…

When you’re driving along in a car equipped with a traditional automatic transmission, you get a momentary lag after an upshift. This is known as the torque hole. Ford wanted to find a way to fill this gap, so with some trick computer modeling and enough math to last a lifetime, the Blue Oval engineers created a system where the engine and transmission talk to each other and prepare for potential torque holes. Additional torque is supplied to fill the hole and the resulting shifts are more seamless to both driver and passengers.

If you want even more geeky details, click past the jump for Ford’s complete release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus

Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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