Showing posts with label car trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car trends. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports.

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends
The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports.

But now the magazine says the new 2012 Honda Civic is not up to par with the competition. The car's rating has suffered a precipitous drop over the previous model. The new 2011 Civic LX sedan scored 61 points overall, compared with 78 points for last year's model. The Civic had made Consumer Reports' Top Picks list for five of the last ten years.

Honda, like all Japanese automakers, is suffering from a strong Yen and the effects of the earthquake and tsunami from last march which have plagued production in the auto industry there. The automaker tried to cut costs in the development of the new Civic, a move which resulted in less-refined elements of the new car which likely did not impress test staff at Consumer Reports.


The U.S.-spec Honda Civic has long been a favorite of the preeminent American consumer magazine, Consumer Reports. Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends


We recently reported that the next-generation Ford Mustang won’t be bowing in until sometime in 2014, coming onto the market as a 2015 model.

That means the current generation Ford Mustang, and its aging platform, will have to soldier on for almost three whole years.

However, according to a new report, a facelifted version is due in the interim. This facelifted Mustang is expected to arrive as a 2013 model, and the good news is that we could see the car unveiled as early as this November’s 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

A heavily revised front-end will be key to keeping the Mustang popular for a few more years, with influences from its Shelby GT500 cousin expected to feature. Things like a protruding upper grille, and a smaller lower intake are expected, as is LED detailing.

The rear tail lights are also expected to get a flat design instead of the angled look first seen on the 2010 Ford Mustang.

As for the powertrain lineup, the current 3.7-liter V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8 should remain, though they will reportedly produce slightly more power than their respective 305 and 412 horsepower outputs.

Note, many of the changes featuring in this facelift will apply for the Shelby Mustang GT500 as well, which we previously reported would get a kick in horsepower to somewhere between 570 and 620 horsepower.

We’ll keep you posted as news on the 2013 Ford Mustang breaks.

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

2013 Ford Mustang To Receive Facelift, More Power : Car Trends

Ford Fiesta Celebrates 35th Birthday with Refreshing Facelift; Popular Small Car Reaches 15 Million Production Mark

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us
 The Ford Fiesta is celebrating two milestones in the summer of 2011, reaching its 35th birthday with a total of 15 million cars produced worldwide.
Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford Fiesta cars trends - us


COLOGNE, Germany, July , 2011The Ford Fiesta is celebrating two milestones in the summer of 2011, reaching its 35th birthday with a total of 15 million cars produced worldwide.
But despite turning 35, Fiesta is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis. In fact, it looks sharper than ever inside and out thanks to a refreshing facelift.
The Ford Fiesta reached the 15 million production landmark this month, a figure boosted by the popularity of the latest generation model. Ford has built a million of the current model since it debuted 28 months ago.
As Europe’s best-selling small car in 2009, 2010 and on track to accomplish the same feat in 2011, the Fiesta is one of Ford’s greatest success stories – appealing to several generations of drivers with its attractive styling, practicality, efficiency and performance.
“The Fiesta is a special car that has a special place in the hearts of European customers and car lovers around the world,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “It’s a testament to the original Fiesta from 1976 and the engineers who have developed and improved the car through more than three decades that the Fiesta remains one of the world’s most popular cars.
“Times and technologies have changed, but as long as the Fiesta continues to deliver the style, economy and performance elements that have been present from the very beginning, it will remain an enduring success.”
To keep the Fiesta’s dynamic styling and customer appeal as fresh as ever, Ford is introducing a number of exterior and interior styling changes.
Furthermore, two new exterior colours – Mars Red and Fashionista – are now available and Digital Audio Broadcasting radios, enabling drivers to tune into a larger range of stations with better sound quality where present, are introduced alongside Sony audio systems, both equipped with the signal-improving Diversity Antenna.
From the Fiesta Trend onwards the range now has carpet-backed rear seats and a map pocket on the rear of the driver’s seat. The enhanced Fiesta Trend also adds fog lamps with chrome surrounds and unique wheel trims for the exterior. Inside, new bright silver applications for the air vents and door levers create a striking contrast with a new dark grey interior package. A full leather soft-touch steering wheel, trip computer and attractive new seat trim are also being added.
The Fiesta Sport and Titanium feature the same updates, while the recently unveiled Fiesta Sport Special Edition adds exclusive features including leather seats, black alloy wheels, gloss black interior detailing and silver exterior elements.
The range topping Fiesta Titanium boasts further upgrades, including a new chrome strip for the upper front grille, exciting new 15-inch alloy wheels and a woven headliner. New partial leather seats are also available as an option.
“These upgrades ensure that the Fiesta continues to put its best foot forward in terms of style, equipment and comfort, just as it has done for the past 35 years,” said de Waard.
“With 15 million sales worldwide, the customer response to the Fiesta as a small car package speaks for itself, and we hope the carefully selected upgrades to the current Fiesta will further improve its appeal to small car drivers across the globe.”
The very first Fiesta was produced in Valencia, Spain, in 1976 as Ford’s practical and economical response to a fuel crisis that was gripping the world, and it immediately tapped into a small car demand in Europe and around the world.
Valencia continues to build the current Fiesta production with Ford’s manufacturing plant in Cologne, Germany, now producing the majority of new Fiestas. The Fiesta also is built in Nanjing, China, Rayong, Thailand, and Cuautitl� n, Mexico.
Thirty-five years, six generations and 15 million cars after its debut, the Fiesta continues to offer practicality, style and efficiency to car buyers of all ages.

Ford Fiesta Celebrates 35th Birthday with Refreshing Facelift; Popular Small Car Reaches 15 Million Production Mark Ford Fiesta cars trends - us

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends

Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends
Ford’s July sales totaled 180,865, up 9 percent versus a year ago – driven by 13 percent higher Ford brand sales and 40 percent higher sales for Lincoln.


Ford Motor Co.’s July Sales Up 9 Percent; Ford Brand Utilities, Stronger Lincoln Lead the Way

* Ford’s July sales totaled 180,865, up 9 percent versus a year ago
* Ford brand sales were up 13 percent, paced by utilities (up 43 percent); Escape sets any-month sales record of 24,411 (up 66 percent); demand for new Explorer (up 108 percent) and Edge (up 4 percent) continues to grow
* Lincoln sales up 40 percent as MKZ increases 80 percent and MKX registers 33 percent gain versus a year ago

Download Full Sales Release (With Tables)
Ford sales figures - 1998 to currnet
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Blue Oval News – Ford’s July sales totaled 180,865, up 9 percent versus a year ago – driven by 13 percent higher Ford brand sales and 40 percent higher sales for Lincoln.

“We are encouraged to see the stronger pace of auto sales, along with continued customer demand for our fuel-efficient cars, utilities and trucks,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

Ford Brand Cars: Up 8 Percent
Fiesta and Fusion posted higher sales than a year ago.

Fiesta sales totaled 5,296, up 58 percent, and Fusion sales were 19,318 – a record for the month of July. Fusion has set a monthly sales record in each of the last 11 months. In the first seven months of 2011, Fusion was Ford’s top-selling car, with sales totaling 151,004, up 17 percent versus a year ago.

Focus sales, constrained by low inventory, totaled 14,889, down 3 percent. Fiesta and Focus remain the fastest-turning vehicles on the Ford showroom floor.

Fiesta, Focus and Fusion have put Ford back in the car business,” Czubay said.

Year-to-date, Ford brand car sales totaled 430,633, up 24 percent.

The Fiesta and Focus recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000.

Ford’s Los Angeles region ranks first among Ford’s 22 regions in Fiesta sales and has moved up to fourth place in Focus sales. Ford’s two new small cars also are playing a key role in market share gains in Ford’s Eastern and Western market areas.

Ford Brand Utilities: Up 43 Percent
Ford’s best-selling utility is the Escape, which set an all-time monthly sales record of 24,411 models. Year-to-date, Escape sales totaled 147,018, up 29 percent.

Explorer sales totaled 9,897, up 108 percent versus a year ago, and Edge set a July record with sales totaling 9,731 models, up 4 percent.

“Customers value the fuel efficiency and technology in our new utilities” said Czubay, noting that more than 90 percent of Explorers and more than 80 percent of Edges are equipped with MyFord Touch, Ford’s industry-leading hands-free system that controls entertainment, information and vehicle systems.

Ford recently announced that the 2012 Explorer, which begins production later this summer, has an EPA estimated highway fuel economy rating of 28 mpg when equipped with the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Explorer on the highway now beats Honda Pilot and Jeep Grand Cherokee by 5 mpg, Chevrolet Traverse by 4 mpg and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg.

Through July, Ford was the best-selling brand of utility vehicles in America, with sales totaling 330,619, up 27 percent.

Ford Brand Trucks: Up 1 Percent
Ford truck sales were slightly higher than a year ago in July and higher than a year ago on a year-to-date basis. July truck sales totaled 67,473, up 1 percent. Year-to-date, Ford truck sales totaled 442,262, up 9 percent.

F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 34 years in a row, posted July sales of 49,104, down 3 percent versus a year ago. Sales of the F-150 with new V6 engines continued to outsell V8s in July as V6 engines accounted for 56 percent of F-150 retail sales. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine accounted for 40 percent of F-150 sales, and the 3.7-liter V6 accounted for 16 percent. In July, F-Series 2011 sales crossed the 300,000 milestone, with 313,183 trucks sold.

Sales of commercial vans were about equal to a year ago. Econoline sales were up 2 percent, and Transit Connect sales were down 1 percent. Ranger sales were up 23 percent.

Lincoln Brand: Up 40 Percent
Lincoln posted a 40 percent sales increase in July – paced by the brand’s newest products. In the first seven months of 2011, Lincoln sales totaled 49,817, up 1 percent versus the same period a year ago.

The MKZ sedan is Lincoln’s top seller with July sales of 2,869, up 80 percent. Sales for the MKX crossover totaled 1,915, up 33 percent. Sales for the MKS sedan and Navigator SUV also were higher.

Lincoln was rated the most dependable brand in the J. D. Power and Associates 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study, and – among individual models – the MKZ sedan ranked second in reliability. Lincoln also was named the top brand in the 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

“We are absolutely focused on making Lincoln a world-class luxury brand with compelling vehicles and an exceptional ownership experience to match,” said Czubay. “We also have a lot of Lincoln news coming up – with seven new or significantly refreshed models in the next three years.”
Ford July 2011 Sales Figures : Car Trends