Ford’s Focus Is a Big Bet on Small Cars

The company that ushered in the SUV Age hopes to make compacts cool and remake its image along the way.
Ford unveiled the 2012 Focus today at the North American International Auto Show. CEO Alan Mulally is betting the slick compact will help Ford shake its reputation for building SUVs like the Explorer and make the company a leader in the growing small-car segment. More than that, the Focus is the first car developed under the company’s “One Ford” plan to offer essentially the same cars and trucks worldwide, each tweaked to meet specific markets.
“The Focus is more than a car,” said John Fleming, head of Ford’s European division. “It is a new way of doing business.”
The idea behind “One Ford” is simple: Use one platform to build a wide variety of automobiles and offer them in every market. Automakers typically offer completely different models in each region of the world, which is one reason Europe gets cooler cars than we do.
Mulally has been pushing the idea since coming to Ford from Boeing— where he was head of commercial aviation — in 2006. It’s a huge gamble, but the payoff is unprecedented economies of scale. By 2012, Ford plans to build 2 million vehicles annually using the architecture underpinning the Focus. Eventually it will offer 10 models that use the same platform.
“This is their big global push to build one car for the world,” said Aaron Bragman, an industry analyst with IHS Global Insight. “This is a big bet for Ford.”
The odds that bet will pay off are pretty good.
Compacts aren’t very popular in the United States, but they’re huge everywhere else. One-third of all vehicles sold in Europe are compacts, known in the auto biz as C-segment vehicles. More importantly, they make up 70 percent of new cars sold in China, where consumers bought 17.3 million cars last year.
“One of every four cars sold worldwide is a small car,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas.
That figure will only climb. Small car sales in the United States are expected to grow 25 percent to 3.4 million cars by 2012. Ford’s betting a lot of those cars will be Focus hatchbacks and sedans.
It’s a handsome car, sleek and muscular, drawing heavily from Ford’s “kinetic design” styling. That means it’s got a lot of trapezoidal shapes, sharp lines and stretched headlights. It’s definitely got a European vibe to it. The interior is inviting and draws styling influences from aircraft cockpits, and nothing about the car seems cheap. In keeping with Ford for gadgets, the Focus will sport the cool MyFord system, which replaces many of the gauges, switches and buttons on the dashboard with touch-sensitive LCD screens.
Under the hood there’s a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s got variable valve timing and direct injection to boost fuel efficiency. The engine is mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Look for 155 horsepower, 145 pound-feet of torque and fuel economy in the 40-mpg ballpark. Europe gets a diesel, and Ford plans to offer a limited number of Focus electric cars in 2011.
“The Ford Focus will be a fuel efficiency and CO2 leader in every market,” promised company Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “It’s responsible, it’s fun and it’s functional.” REad more

DETROIT —

By Chuck Squatriglia January 11, 2010

Source & image credit :- Wired .com

Electric cars are coming here this year, but are they for you?

Electric cars have long been more of an idea than a reality. They've been hailed as the future of driving, yet they're hard to find on dealership lots. This year, that will change.
Several big automakers plan to start introducing a range of electric vehicles in late 2010 — with Tucson an early test market for one of them, the Nissan Leaf — giving the broader public its first chance to buy the vehicles that rely more on the electrical outlet than the gas pump. In the next several years, most major car companies plan to release vehicles that use electricity to get around.
But buying an electric vehicle isn't like purchasing a gas-powered car.
The big draw for many buyers is the chance to stop burning gas and drive a car that's better for the environment. But figuring out the fuel efficiency of electric cars isn't easy. Instead of keeping an eye on just gas prices, buyers will have to know how much they pay for electricity to charge the car. Away from home, finding a place to plug in could be difficult. Drivers also will have to figure out if a vehicle that could run out of power after 100 miles is right for them.
So what are some of the factors you should take into account if you're thinking about buying an electric car in the next several years? Here are some important questions and answers to consider.

Q: What type of electric vehicles will be available in 2010?
A: There is a fairly wide range coming onto the market. Vehicles such as Nissan's Leaf are purely electric, using just a rechargeable battery for power. The Chevrolet Volt, made by General Motors, also has a battery but includes a small gas-powered engine that creates electricity when the battery charge runs out after 40 miles. Other models are plug-in hybrids with engines that get power from both batteries and gas. But the common feature is that the vehicles can be recharged using a power cord and a plug.
Q: When will electric vehicles be available in the United States?
A: It varies by manufacturer. The Volt will be sold in limited numbers starting in November. GM says it will first sell the Volt in California and other undisclosed markets. Nissan plans to sell the Leaf all-electric vehicle in Tucson, Phoenix and other, mostly West Coast markets starting in December. Fisker Automotive, a niche electric-car company, plans to deliver its sports car, Karma, to dealers in the third quarter. But you may have to wait: Most automakers plan small initial production this year and in early 2011.
Q: How much will they cost?
A: Prices haven't been made public yet, but the Volt is expected to cost around $40,000 and the Leaf $30,000. Luxury models such as Karma and Tesla Motors' Roadster can cost up to $100,000. But buyers of electric vehicles will get a $7,500 federal tax credit this year. It's still unclear how comprehensive the warranties will be.
Q: How do I figure out the fuel efficiency?
A: That could be difficult. Price stickers for a gas vehicle include the number of miles it can travel on 1 gallon. But with Nissan's Leaf, there is no gas involved. The Volt does have a gas engine, but it isn't always in use. If you travel less than 40 miles per day — the maximum range of the Volt's battery — you may never end up using gas.
The Environmental Protection Agency, which sets standards for fuel efficiency, is still developing final guidelines for electric vehicles. GM said last year that the Volt can get 230 miles per gallon in city driving, an estimate based on draft EPA guidelines for electric vehicles.
But that figure has been criticized as misleading, since the Volt would get much lower mileage depending on how far you drive after the 40-mile battery range is used up and the gas motor kicks in. Environmental groups think the source of the electricity — often power plants that burn coal or natural gas — also should be publicized.
One way to judge how much it will cost you to run the car is to look at electricity prices. GM estimates a $1-per-day cost to fully charge the Volt. But keep in mind that prices for electricity vary significantly depending on the time of day.
Q: Can I just plug an electric vehicle into an outlet at home?
A: Yes, but you may want to figure out what kind of outlets you have. If you hook your electric car up to a 110-volt plug that is common in many houses, it could take a fairly long time to recharge the battery. Using a 220-volt plug could cut that time in half. An electrician may have to install special charging equipment at your home for some electric models.
You'll need to consider how easy it would be to find an outlet. If you don't have a garage, or park on the street in a city, it may be hard to power up overnight.
Q: How will electric vehicles perform?
A: Manufacturers say the power of the electric vehicles should be similar to that of their gas-powered cousins. But most aren't muscle cars. The Leaf, for example, has about as much horsepower as Nissan's subcompact brands and tops out at 90 miles per hour.
Q: Is this the right type of vehicle for me?
A: That is a key question to ask before you buy an electric car. Many are targeted to urban and suburban drivers who take relatively short trips each day. If you do a lot of highway driving or have a long commute, you could easily outdistance the range of the batteries. You'll need to have access to places to plug the car in. Public recharging stations are planned in Tucson, for example, but the infrastructure in the U.S. so far is fairly limited.
It may take awhile to work out the kinks in the new technology, so buyers this year and next may run into problems that will be fixed on later models. And keep in mind that nobody really knows yet how well these cars will sell — GM scrapped a similar attempt to mass market electric cars in the late 1990s, deeming it an unprofitable venture.

By Stephen Manning
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tucson, Arizona Published: 01.10.2010

Source :- azstarnet.com

China now top auto market Surge to estimated 13.6M sales in '09 passes slumping U.S.

It's official: China is the world's largest vehicle market after passing the United States last year for the first time.
Passenger car sales totaled 10.3 million in China last year, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Including trucks, total Chinese vehicle sales are estimated at 13.6 million units, up 45 percent, it said.
By contrast, U.S. car and light truck sales shrank 21.2 percent to 10.4 million in 2009, according to Autodata Corp. Including medium and heavy tracks, they would come close to 10.7 million units.
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Demand for vehicles picked up in the U.S. in the second half, helped by a "cash-for-clunkers" program that also took many older and more polluting vehicles off the road. The Chinese government offered similar incentives.
Chinese auto sales began to take off early in the last decade, helped by the emergence of a middle class with savings and pent-up demand for modern cars.
The growth in China's auto market -- and last year's surge -- has consistently surpassed forecasters' expectations.
"This is even better than anyone expected," Rao Da, general secretary of the China Passenger Car Association, told a news conference Friday in Shanghai, according to the Associated Press.
The Chinese organization's figures were in line with revised forecasts from J.D. Power and Associates of 12.7 million sales of cars and light trucks and 900,000 larger vehicles in 2009 for a total of 13.6 million.
"It's very, very strong growth, far beyond the expectations we had in the early part of 2009," said John Bonnell, a J.D. Power analyst.
On average, analysts expect Chinese auto sales to grow another 10 percent this year. Barring extreme economic or political upheaval, China is expected to remain the No. 1 market in the foreseeable future.
Its rise ahead of the U.S. market is the latest milestone on its path to become a global economic power. After a two-decade boom, China is believed to have passed Germany last year as the biggest exporter.
With a population of 1.3 billion, it is expected to overtake Japan soon as the second-largest economy after the U.S.
Automakers such as General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., and Volkswagen AG have benefited from the boom in China, where they sell vehicles produced in ventures with local partners. China is VW's biggest market.
GM says sales of its vehicles and those produced by its local partners rose 67 percent in China last year, while Ford's sales increased 44 percent.
By Christine Tierney / The Detroit News Last Updated: January 09. 2010 1:00AM
Source :- Det News.com

Honda Launches Entry Level Small Car at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo

Honda encourages us to think big with its ‘New Small Concept‘. The sharp-looking new super mini, aimed specifically at the Asian markets, was launched at the 2010 New Delhi Motor Show in India earlier this week. The all-new mini car is designed by Honda Siel Cars India Ltd, the Indian wing of the Japanese auto maker. The concept looks comfy and stylish, and it will form the basis for the new model set to go on sale in India and Thailand in 2011. Honda’s introduction of the new mini car can be attributed as a direct result of Toyota’s move to introduce Etios, its economy entry level car.
Image Credit : Auto Express
Looks wise, the new mini car from Honda is a definite keeper. The blacked out A-pillars give the impression of a wrap around windscreen, while the shapely tapered rear window enriches the dynamic profile. The concept sure rates as one among the most stylish cars in its class, thanks to a feast of slashes and creases in its bodywork. The low end car prices from Honda would slot the ’small car’ at around the 5,00,000 INR ($11,000+) range.
Image Credit : Auto Express
The car uses a wide platform, and according to the car’s designers this is to ensure that the car will be stable while traversing the bends, and to also provide ample room for at least five persons inside the cabin. According to sources at Honda, when the car goes on sale in 2011 the goal is to provide a compact and affordable family vehicle beyond the expectations of customers in emerging markets. Currently Honda has no plans to launch the mini car in the U.S. or UK market.
SOurce Url :-http://www.nitrobahn.com/conceptz/autoshows/honda-launches-entry-level-small-car-at-the-2010-delhi-auto-expo/

Tata To Introduce Nano In North America

Tata Technologies, a provider of engineering services outsourcing and product development IT services to global manufacturing industry, said that it will display Tata Nano for the first time in North America in Detroit on January 14, 2009. Tata Nano is the world's lowest price passenger car engineered by Tata Technologies and produced by Tata Motors in India.
Tata Nano was introduced at Delhi Auto Show in January 2009 and retails for about $2,500 in India. The model on display in Detroit is owned by Tata Technologies and is on loan from its Center for Advanced Engineering and Design in Pune, India.
Warren Harris, president and COO of Tata Technologies, said: “The innovative thinking that brought the Tata Nano to market is symbolic of what Tata Technologies has to offer the automotive industry. Tata Technologies was front-and-center in engineering and developing the Nano; working closely with Tata Motors and with a significant number of the Nano project suppliers.”
Kevin Fisher, head of global delivery at Tata Technologies, said: “Our work on the Nano is part of a sweeping wave of change within the automotive industry, the use of truly global engineering resources.”
Tata Technologies was involved from concept to launch on Nano project, working on the concept, advanced engineering, body-in-white, interior, exterior and also playing a role in approach taken to manufacturing.

Published:06-January-2010
By Staff Reporter
URl:-http://www.automotive-business-review.com/news/tata_to_introduce_nano_in_north_america_100106