2011 Ford Fiesta Preview

After six years of test-driving cars, I have to say that most of them seem to blend together in my head as a swirling, gelatinous mess of uninspiring silver and gray sheet metal. But this clearly doesn’t apply to the 2011 Ford Fiesta. It has a strong sense of self, a huge personality and its own brand of humor. If only I could find a date as interesting.

How would you like a car that starts at just under $14,000, gets better fuel economy than some hybrids (close to 40 mpg), has tons of safety and convenience features and is fun to drive? Me too!

The Fiesta comes in a sedan or hatchback and has nine bold and unique exterior color choices, such as Lime Squeeze, Bright Magenta Metallic and Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat. There are three different wheel choices, seven options for interior upholstery (imagine plum leather inside an Oxford White car) and customizable interior ambient lighting. Add to that an optional graphics package that lets you choose from more than 100 removable exterior graphics, and you’ve got a car whose style can be modified to fit almost anyone.

The Fiesta’s available Sync communications and entertainment system kept my daughter and I plugged in, even while stuck in traffic trying to get to the “American Idol” finale. Although Sync was a little spotty up in the Hollywood hills, I could make phone calls, have text messages read aloud, get turn-by-turn directions, stay in touch with news, stock quotes — even my horoscope — all through voice commands. This is where the humor comes in: On the day of my test drive, Sync told me that as a Leo, it was not a good day for me to travel. Ha!

2011 Ford Mondeo Ecoboost

You may remember that back at the end of May we reported on the 2011 Ford Mondeo Ecoboost. Well thanks to Ford of Europe the first official pictures of the revamped Mondeo along with mechanical updates, have now been released.

Only subtle changes to the front have been made, including a larger trapezoidal lower grille and restyled driving lights to bring it inline with the Fiesta and new 2012 Focus. Like the Focus the new Mondeo gets active shutters behind the grille to restrict air-flow at high speed to assist in aerodynamic drag and reduce turbulence.

To accompany the facelift two new power plants will be available, the first is a 2.0-litre Ecoboost in-line four packing an impressive 237 horsepower. This unit will be able to achieve the same levels of fuel consumption that a lower power engine would, whilst still pumping out only 179 grams per kilometre of CO2 emissions. A six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox will be mated to the Ecoboost engine, and the chances are that this powertrain will find its way into the Edge and Explorer models come 2011.

A 2.2-litre diesel inline-four will be the second powerplant available and will generate 197 horsepower which is a 12 percent hike from the previous model. Keep a look out for the reports on when the facelifted Ford will be publically unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show in August.

Ford Fiesta Looks to the iPhone 4 Launch

Ford Motor Co. is once again drawing inspiration from Apple in the hopes of making its own product introductions as exciting as the launch of the iPhone 4.

The auto maker designed its in-car infotainment system, which is powered through a cell phone and loaded with applications, to replicate the Apple smart phone experience. But this time Ford executives handed out memory sticks loaded with instructions for owners of all new Fiesta subcompacts. The offering is designed to enhance the experience new owners have when they pick up the keys and drive off the lot. Ford acknowledges that customers often get their cars and trucks home and wish they had an easier way to learn about the features of their new purchase.

“Apple really knows how to do it. You take out the computer and the packing is done right. You feel like you’ve bought something really special,” Paul Anderson, the Fiesta’s launch manager, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week.

The device is inserted into the Fiesta’s USB port. Then car’s stereo plays a 19 minute introduction to the car and its features. The style is sassy and knowing, trying to build on the idea that new owners have joined a community of like-minded and in-the-know young customers.

Ford Mustang gets 776 miles on tank of gas

The new V-6 engine along with the advanced six-speed transmission in the car is a key element in delivering both fuel economy and performance for Mustang," said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. Ford achieved its superb EPA rating without a hybrid engine in the Mustang, even though it makes the Fusion Hybrid and MKZ Hybrid.

The Mustang rounded past the 1,000-lap mark at 7:26 p.m. Wednesday, 12 hours and 26 minutes into the challenge, but the car wasn't close to being out of fuel:

Mustang engineer Seong Park was behind the wheel when it finally came to a halt on the backstretch of the NASCAR track at 12:41 a.m. ET.

Ford hypermiles Mustang V-6 to 48.5 mpg

The Ford Mustang V-6 is setting records at the racetrack. However, these records are measured in MPG, not MPH.

(Credit: Ford)

Since it became the first vehicle to deliver both 31 mpg and 305 horsepower, Ford has really been emphasizing the efficiency of its new 2011 Mustang V-6. The automaker's latest stunt, dubbed the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge, was an attempt to demonstrate that a stock production Mustang V-6 could run 1,000 laps (533 miles) around Bristol Motor Speedway on a single of tank of fuel. When the dust settled, the Mustang not only completed the challenge, but had actually gone on to complete 1,457 laps (776.5 miles) before the tank ran dry, averaging an impressive 48.5 mpg.

We're sure that you're picturing the fuel-sipping Mustang blasting around the oval track at a decent clip, but that's not necessarily the case. The Mustang averaged a mere 43.9 mph during the 12-hour and 26-minute test, a ridiculously slow speed for a track that's normally host to Nascar races that exceed 100 mph. Heck, that's a ridiculously low speed for most North American interstates.

2011 Ford Super Duty Price details and pitcture

Ford Super Duty customers expect and demand capability from the best-selling heavy-duty truck in America. For most Super Duty owners, it's the core asset of their business. Day after day, year after year, it's expected to deliver results in the most demanding situations. No nonsense. And never any excuses.


"Our Super Duty customers do some of America's toughest jobs," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Every day they're out there working with little fanfare and all they ask is the right tool for the job. The new 2011 Ford Super Duty offers them a truck with best-in-class towing and payload, all-new powertrains and even more capability than ever to help them do their jobs."

Ford's F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks in the U.S. for 32 straight years. The new Super Duty further underscores Ford's Built Ford Tough legacy.

"The 2011 Ford Super Duty offers the widest array of solutions for the widest array of heavy-duty work truck customers," said Chris Brewer, chief engineer. "The Super Duty lineup offers a variety of body styles and powertrains, from diesel and gasoline engines, each with a new six-speed transmission, to pickup trucks and chassis cabs, each with the towing and payload capabilities that define Super Duty."

Ford Transit Connect Electric

Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Transit Connect Electric at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show and confirmed the zero-emissions small van will be in fleet operators' hands later in 2010.

The 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics.

"Ford Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford's future."

In addition to the Ford Transit Connect Electric, Ford plans to bring three more electrified vehicles to market by 2012 - the Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012 and a next-generation hybrid in 2012.