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Lincoln's MKS takes on the Europeans
And does a fair job keeping up
Yes, this is a video produced to help garner sales but at least it's well done. And it's good to see Lincoln be competitive among a fair sampling of quality European sedans.
I won't spoil it for you but it's worth watching to see how far Ford has come in a tough market.
I've written before about the Lincoln MKS. I concentrate a lot on styling and branding. I'm of the opinion that the MKS has broken some new ground for Ford and recent sales figures seems to point to a receptive public. Ford is making money. Yes, the MKS is a bit more "shiny" than its European competitors but at least it doesn't look a slug. It's a car you wouldn't mind being seen in.
Let me know what you think. Are you willing to consider a Ford or Lincoln based on a video comparison such as this?
Which brand should General Motors keep?
Survey says...Pontiac!
Unfortunately, General Motors may be making a big mistake. According to Advertising Age, a survey recently completed by CarGurus asked potential car buyers which GM brand they would like to see survive the cuts. They chose Pontiac.
The survey had almost 1,700 respondents, with 44% naming Pontiac, 27% choosing Hummer, 20% selecting Saab and only 9% picking Saturn. Now the respondents picking Pontiac really isn't a stretch. Pontiac is known as GM's performance brand, dating back to the birth of the muscle car era in the '60s.
Now the rest of the survey results are a bit confusing. Second after Pontiac is Hummer. Maybe Sichuan Tengzhong, the Chinese company negotiating to purchase Hummer, knows something we don't. The goal, of course, is for GM to get rid of a brand that just isn't profitable anymore. The Chinese company sounds willing to put up the cash to keep Hummer afloat. This should be interesting.
Mustang: 45 years old today
This is certainly a day worth remembering. The Ford Mustang is 45 years old today.
As with any new car, a manufacturer is taking a chance. Will the time invested to develop a new model pay off with enough sales to justify it? Ford hoped they would sell 100,000 Mustangs a year. They sold 22,000 on the first day.
"When the Mustang was unveiled, the reaction was so positive that there was no doubt it was going to be a success," said chief designer Joe Oros.
The birth of this pony car launched an entirely new segment, with the likes of Dodge and Chevy introducing the Challenger and Camaro soon after.
With 9 million sold, Ford's Mustang played an integral role in the muscle car era. All I can say is, "Thank you!"
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The great shot above is from Fabio Aro on Flickr. Take a look at his stream. He's got some great car photography.
Chrysler's all-new electric cars
First model available to consumers by 2010
A few days ago, Chrysler announced their new foray into the green vehicle market, showing prototypes of the Dodge EV, the Jeep EV and Chrysler EV. It's pretty obvious that Chrysler is targeting a specific market with each car, with one to be selected for North American sales by 2010.
Chrysler, going green
Of course, the model that catches our eye the most is the Dodge EV. According to The Car Enthusiast, all of these vehicles will be using the same motor, electronic controller and lithium-ion battery technology that Tesla is using in their Roadster.
The Dodge EV is based on the Lotus Europa platform. Well, let's not mince words here. It is a Lotus Europa. The Europa was introduced in 2006 but is not sold in the United States. But I'm not complaining. Lotus is known for light, excellent handling cars. All the better and should make the Dodge EV very entertaining.
Like Tesla's Roadster, the Dodge EV is an all-electric sports car powered by a 200 kW, or 268 horsepower, electric motor.
With 480 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, performance-minded drivers will relish the cars 0 to 60 mph time of less than five seconds and a top speed of more than 120 mph. Pretty sweet and not unlike the Tesla. Driving range should be in the neighborhood of 150-200 miles and rechargeable with a standard 110- or 220-volt household outlet.
The other cars that Chrysler introduced were they Jeep EV and a mini-van, the Chrysler EV. Both use a system similar to the Volt's, whereby each has an electric motor with lithium-ion batteries and a small gasoline engine that provides energy to the electric-drive system when needed.
Jeep's are known by off-road enthusiasts as truly trail-ready and Chrysler hopes to maintain that reputation with a possible future innovation. Chrysler is looking at a four-wheel drive system for the Jeep EV that would include an electric motor at each wheel. Talk about off-road handling, especially if each motor could be controlled independently.
Chrysler can make an impact on the all-electric and hybrid market with these vehicles by delivering cars that not only work for the average driver but at a price they can afford as well. Wouldn't it be nice to see Chrysler benefit from their going green and see some true results. Success is in short supply right now with the American car makers. Chrysler has the opportunity to lead the way.
2010 Cadillac SRX
A sneak peak at Cadillac's restyled crossover
In Pebble Beach yesterday, Cadillac introduced their new SRX at a special sneak preview.
Clay Dean, Cadillac design director, said, "The next-generation SRX is the result of the continued exploration and refining of Cadillac design language, with the goal of creating dramatic presence in the luxury crossover space."
Cutting edge styling
I don't think Cadillac needs to worry about creating a "dramatic presence" in the crossover market or any market for that matter. Their new design philosophy makes a statement and is unmistakable from any other vehicles on the road.
But this plays into Cadillac's hands quite nicely. Their styling makes a statement, one that easily sets it apart from others. You could easily argue that they gambled a little but I think it's paid off.
BMW, as a competitor, is a good example. With the arrival of the new 7-series in 2001, BMW announced a styling breakthrough for the German auto maker. The automotive press, however, was not kind. Today, BMW is clearly toning down the "Bangle butt" styling in favor of something less overt. Did Chris Bangle's design hurt BMW sales, and likewise, their brand? I'll leave you to speculate.
Art and Science
I guess you can take the same approach with Cadillac. Not everyone is crazy about their Art and Science approach. But while BMW's 7-series caught flak and criticism, Cadillac's CTS, with its introduction in 2003, could be argued as relaunching Cadillac's brand. The CTS rejuvenated Cadillac, possibly saving it from extinction. It brought the younger buyers into Cadillac's showrooms, buyers that they had been trying to attract since the 1990's.
It's clear with the new SRX that Cadillac has no plans of changing their philosophy. But even though their current styling isn't new, it's not wearing thin. It will be interesting to see what they do in the future.
2010 Lincoln MKS
Several months ago, I wrote about Lincoln's new MKS and it's innovative styling, styling that is arguably ground-breaking for Ford. Production models began shipping to dealers in June of this year, with a national advertising campaign following soon after. According to Ford, 8,600 orders were placed for the MKS's prior to those vehicles reaching their respective destinations.
Just tune what you've got...
The current MKS is powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 derived from the 3.5-liter found in the Lincoln MKX and MKZ. It delivers 273 horsepower and 265 lb.-ft. of torque, using regular grade unleaded gas. An added benefit to buyers at current gas prices.
"This engine is tuned to maximize the increased torque to improve performance where the driver needs it most, in standing acceleration and passing," says Michael Celentino, Lincoln MKS chief engineer. "To help manage the extra torque, the Lincoln MKS's six-speed automatic transmission is equipped with a stiffer torque converter that delivers an immediate throttle response and a more connected feel."
But next year, a new twin-turbo V6
But what's more interesting are the details that have come to light regarding the twin-turbo V6 which will be available in the 2010 MKS.
Sometime next year, Lincoln will offer a direct-injected 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 to the MKS model line with an estimated 340-horsepower and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque. Figures that certainly rival the output of some V8's. This new engine and others like it are part of Ford's EcoBoost line of powerplants, formally referred to as TwinForce. Ford should have stuck to the original name. It was a little more catchy.
Ford's turbo trend
No doubt Ford is trying to appeal to buyers with gasoline sticker shock. As I've discussed here before, efficiency is the new name for performance. And Ford hopes to capitalize on the trend with this new line of turbocharged engines.
This new turbo V-6 will begin life in the MKS but should also see service in the F-150 as well as the new Explorer and Mustang. As I mentioned, EcoBoost is a line of engines, so Ford plans on dropping turbocharged engines into the Fusion, Focus and Fiesta.
Is Ford playing catchup? You bet, but so are all of the American car makers. At least they can take advantage of the latest technology. Now the hard part is convincing American consumers to buy their cars. What do you think? Can Ford, or any other domestic car maker for that matter, convince buyers to go for their products? Let's hope so. They're survival may depend on it.
American Muscle helps Homes For Our Troops
American Muscle donates $4230.36 to charity benefiting our troops at annual picnic
We just received word that on Saturday, July 12th, our friends at American Muscle held their annual company picnic and charity fund raiser. Once again, this year's charity foundation was Homes For Our Troops which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping those with serious disabilities and injuries.
This organization is committed to assisting those who have returned from their service to our country severely injured, and their immediate families, by raising donations of money, building materials, and professional labor to build a new home or adapt an existing home for handicapped accessibility.
Here's their breakdown of funds raised and how:
- Mustang Parts Sales Donation (5% Sales During The Event) - $3615.36
- Additional Company Donation - $500.00
- Phone Donations - $ 115.00
- Grand Total - $ 4230.36
In addition to their annual charity fundraiser, this event was also their annual company picnic. In their words, the picnic was "...a variety of fun activities, massive food consumption of previously unthinkable proportions, and shenanigans pursued including "American Gladiator" style jousting, expert mechanical bull riding, dunk tank dunking of boss, horseshoeing, a limbo contest 'How low can you go?', and of course the creme de la creme of picnic activities... the office employee versus the warehouse employee TUG OF WAR!" Sounds like they had a great time.
You can check out their pictures of the American Muscle crew cutting loose on their blog. They ask that you keep an eye out for next year's fundraiser picnic to help make it a bigger success!
Here at Ridestory, we'd like to extend a big "thank you" to American Muscle for their charitable efforts. The wounded soldiers you've helped out will no doubt appreciate it.
5 ways Chrysler will help you go mobile
Chrysler recently announced their uconnect service, which will provide wireless technologies to users in and around their cars. I wrote previously about this likely trend in my post, Your car goes digital.
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Briefly, this is what Chrysler is making available to you with their uconnect service.
- uconnect phone
Bluetooth connectivity to your phone, allowing hands-free calls while driving. - uconnect tunes
Includes a 30-gigabyte hard drive for ripping up to 6,700 songs from CD or USB memory sticks. Photos can be uploaded to the same hard drive so you can personalize the systems home screen. Movies can also be played on the screen when the car is not moving. - uconnect gps
uconnect GPS will combine the features of uconnect phone and tunes with navigation and real-time traffic. Includes voice recognition. - uconnect studios
This feature offers optional SIRIUS Backseat TV, featuring three channels of family TV programming and optional SIRIUS Satellite Radio. - uconnect web
uconnect web gives you the ability to turn your car into a mobile hotspot. With faster 3G technology providing the connectivity and a WiFi network within the car, occupants will have internet access with any wireless device such as a laptop or phone. And you'll be able to log on to your vehicle's wireless network up to 100 feet away.
These are all technologies that Chrysler hopes peaks your interest in their cars. Road warriors will certainly benefit, with their car providing the connectivity they need back to the home office. Of course the access is only there if the uconnect system is within sight of a cell tower. You're still not going to have a connection out in the middle of nowhere.
The hardware will be available in all 2009 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. What about the cost? The router module is $449, with dealer installation running $35-50. The wireless internet account will be $29 a month with a one-time $35 activation fee.
Is $40,000 too much?
flickr photo credit: Larry Boswell, Chevy Volt Concept
I wrote not long ago about the Volt and the costs of innovation that General Motors decided to accept for its development.
In an article in the Seattle Times, GM's Bob Lutz revealed that the first generation Volt will sell for $40,000, about $10,000 more than originally projected. Lutz went on to say the auto maker will not profit from sales of the car.
Lutz has made it clear that cars like the Volt are the wave of the future. He expects a quarter of all cars sold between 2020 and 2025 to be either electric or hydrogen powered.
Like I explained in my previous post, I'm unsure about the government subsidizing the cost of the vehicle. The United States Congress is looking into tax breaks for those who purchase vehicles like the Volt. I would rather the government take the money and invest it in expanding an alternative fuel infrastructure, such as hydrogen fueling stations. Stations such as these will need to be available once those alternatives become more viable.
I was reading comments from readers over at the Autoblog and one stuck in my mind from Keat. He made the point that as production ramps up, like any new product, the price comes down. Basic economics. Plus, as GM switches gears and produces more fuel efficient vehicles, the Volt will be the auto makers "halo car". It will be the car that set's the stage for GM as the innovator they need to be as we head into a future of sparse yet expensive fuel supplies.
2009 Corvette ZR1
General Motors released the official specs today of the upcoming 2009 Corvette ZR1 and the performance numbers are staggering.
- 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds
- 0-100 mph in 7.0 seconds
- Quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph
Yes, you read that right. In the time it takes some fairly fast cars to hit 60 mph, this Corvette is doing 100.
The ZR1 will top out at 205 mph, making it the fastest Corvette ever. With these kind of stats, it certainly has to be ranked among the super cars available around the world, in many cases outperforming the European exotics. The ZR1's advantage? Price. Yes, this new Vette starts at $103,300, including the $850 destination charge. But the performance to price ratio clearly gives it a leg up.
Taking on those worldly super cars is one hopped up American V8. The LS9 6.2L supercharged small-block makes 638 hp and is hand-assembled at GM's Performance Build Center, in Wixom, Mich.
"A favorable power-to-weight ratio gives the ZR1 an advantage over the competition and performance that has to be experienced to fully appreciate," said Tom Wallace, Corvette chief engineer. "Of course, on a racetrack, drivers of competitors' cars may appreciate the ZR1 in a whole different manner."
The standard ZR1 comes with the same basics as the Z06, including lighter weight seats and components. The available uplevel interior package includes power-adjustable, heated and leather-trimmed sport seats (embroidered with the ZR1 logo); side air bags; Bose premium audio system; navigation system; Bluetooth connectivity; power telescoping steering column; custom leather-wrapped interior available in four colors and more. Chrome wheels are the only other available option on the ZR1.
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On top of the base price, be prepared to pay:
- $1,700 Gas guzzler tax
- $10,000 Option package
- $2,000 Chrome wheels
"The ZR1 is an incredible machine by any measure," said Ed Peper, North American Vice President, Chevrolet. "There's simply no other vehicle in the world that does a better job of balancing performance, price and fuel economy."
