A pre-histroic car in New York

Flash news from Volkswagen for US market! Actually the news release is for Europe but the content should be explained to Americans. Volkswagen’s boring family sedan Jetta is quite common in US like in Europe. If you have two children, a wife and most probably you are young and you could not afford to buy a larger car. Anyway, family cars suppose to offer more comfort than coupes! This means suspension should be “a bit” more comfortable without compromising the handling.

Unfortunately, two generations ago Jetta (Bora) and Golf models were offering a catastrophic rear suspension system called torsion bar. Actually some Toyota models and French cars still have this. What’s wrong with that? Very simply; torsion bar is not a suspension, it is just a cheaper replacement for a proper suspension. Many of you will think, so what! When you have a car with a torsion bar, your handling will be worse and people in the back seat will feel the every single pothole inside their spine! It is offering neither better handling nor comfort but it is cheaper!

VW was using this with Bora (Old Jetta) and Golf, later on understood what they done wrong and replace the rear suspension with multi-link independent rear suspension. Multi-link independent rear suspension is a proper suspension, you don’t need to worry about anything but it is expensive for car companies. For that reason, Ford Focus always had worse interior and great handling. Ford Focus has the best rear suspension on its segment.

The current Jetta sold in US market is offered with torsion bar. This means, Americans have a pre-historic suspension system in a European car, hopefully in Europe VW did not risk its reputation and offers the Jetta with proper multi-link independent suspension. Anyway, Jetta is available with micro size engine 1,2lt TSi with 105 horses inside :)

European Jetta 

Pictures' Copyrights

Ford, VW

EcoBoosted dancers in Ford KA, Tony Guy Event

Today was the last of day of Ford KA and Toni Guy event in Bullring, Birmingham. Yesterday I did not have time to take a video of dancers in event. They did the same show every one hour I guess, or every 45 minutes. I am not sure about the timing but they were very energetic. Hopefully today I manage to take a full dancing show of EcoBoosted dancers.

I am sure you will be asking what is EcoBoost? This is the new engine technology in Ford cars. Small engines are coupled with turbo and they produce more power and consume less fuel. Also current 2,0lt engine turn into V6 engines with the help of turbo! Now you can understand why I called the dancers EcoBoosted :)

The iTunes link for the song
Party Girl, McFLY

Picture's Copyright
Ford

A Ford KA inside a BullRing

For many years, I always have sympathy to Ford KA. The first generation and never be the old generation Ford KA was one of the most significant and iconic designs from 1990s. When you think about the cars like Mercedes E Class, Ford Escort, Renault Megane, VW Passat; you can understand what I mean. I even did not upload their pictures to prevent any adverse flashbacks. From the mess of 1990s, I can clearly say Ford KA is the only car I loved. I know it is a very basic car and mainly targeted to girls. But it had the integration of basic and cleaver design and an identity for that price tag. Actually if you pay less, you get less but Ford KA can be an exception for this.

Anyway, my second big encounter with Ford KA was on Friday. My dear twitter friend Laurence Borel kindly invited me to Ford KA and TONI & GUY hair design event. As you might remember, I nominated Richard Hammond as the winner but he did not appear in today in Bullring Birmingham. Honestly, new Ford KA did not excite me that much. Even though it has the new Ford Kinetic Design, I could not emerge the same feelings like I had it for the first generation KA. This new model is based on Fiat 500 and that’s much better looking car. Sorry Ford, this is the ugly truth! Unfortunately, Fiat 500 and Ford KA share more than chassis and KA has the same interior dials from Fiat 500! That’s second minus point for KA. However, the production quality and some nice bits like leather steering wheel tries to compensates the catastrophe of Fiat and Ford dating but I didn’t feel the same like the new Ford Fiesta.

Okay, that’s enough for Ford KA. The event was dominated mainly by women, and it was something very usual. And they did something very clear to attend this event and have their hair designed by the team of Toni Guy. Despite the Ford KA’s lovely price tag, Toni Guy does not have very lovely price tags and this event was a great opportunity to people.

Lastly, there was a limited edition Tattoo Ford KA and it had very nice bits like chrome or chrome looking door handles, leather seat with a heating button which wobbles too much due to hurry design and powered by a 1,2lt engine with 69 horses which gives you’re the opportunity to put the engine into your huge handbag. By this way, you need to worry about your car :)

You cannot buy something better for this price. I know there are many annoying bits but for this price, it is a great value. It is safe, reliable, good handling (this is a Ford must), slightly better looking that Nissan Micra. You can see the full album in Picasa.

SPESIFIKASI Ford Ranger

SPESIFIKASI Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger finally introduce a new face. However, Australia was chosen as the premiere pickup United States (U.S.) this.

New Ranger provides the most important thing to pickup truck owners worldwide. Not just a matter of looks that addressed, staff also became an important reference of this car.

Three new engines provided by Ford Motor Co.. First, the diesel engine Ford Duratorq TDCi I4 new 2.2 liter with an output of 375 Nm maximum torque and power output of 110 kW (150 PS). Second, diesel engine Ford Duratorq TDCi 3.2-liter I5 with 470 Nm of torque and power 147 kW (200 PS). Finally, Ford Duratec I4 gasoline engine-powered 2.5-liter to 122 kW (166 PS).

"The machine is a great heart pickup truck capability," says Chief Programme Engineer Ford Ranger John Tatge, in a release received Legal, Friday (10/15/2010).

Ford's new Ranger engine featuring third at the Australian International Motor Show. This shows how Ford's new Ranger has designed a whole in order to compete in 180 markets around the world.

Premiering in Sydney, New Ford Ranger makes fuel efficiency as the main reason for purchase. With a sophisticated turbocharger, the new engine provides fuel economy and higher energy while reducing emissions to the customer a new generation Ranger.

And for the first time, a certain Ranger diesel model will be provided with automatic transmission or six-speed manual which presents a decrease engine rpm and the addition of the reach of Ranger for a long journey on the highway or city traffic. Petrol-engined models are equipped five-speed manual transmission.

The availability of diesel engines with 2.2 liter and 3.2 liter four-cylinder with five-cylinder showed that the Ranger is ready to master the compact pickup truck segment. This new machine also claimed to have a significant improvement in fuel economy that extend the distance between refueling.

A number of improvements have been made on the new Ranger, including the use of latest technology, fuel distribution through high pressure fuel system. Fuel delivery system has been adjusted and calibrated to produce precise combustion efficiency and improve fuel economy without affecting power.

The series of machine is calibrated to meet energy needs and emissions throughout the world. For areas emission standards strict Stage V, Ranger can be equipped with a MT82 six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission 6R80. Transmission designed for 4x2 and 4x4 versions of lighter and uses part of that has been reinforced, designed and tested to meet the standards of the global commercial vehicle.

The fuel for diesel engines are economical 2.2 liter - which is still to be certified officially - is expected to make the best Ranger in the segment. With a fuel tank capacity of 80 liters, 2.2 liter TDCi Ranger can spend a lot of gas stations before requiring refueling.

Nominee for Ford KA's hair style event

I have just heard about an event for Ford KA and after this event, KA is going to be the official girl car! This new Ford KA is technically based on Fiat 500 which is a better looking car. Due to maximization cost and minimizing the pleasure strategy of Ford, they are sharing platform with Fiat to reduce manufacturing costs. But will any girl dare this fact? Of course no! Therefore, who cares the platform of Ford KA when it has a very charming design :)

In following weeks Ford KA will have hair style competition powered by Toni & Guy. I used the word powered to emphasize automotiveness soul in events. You will upload your picture to Ford KA’s Facebook page and if you receive many “likes”, you will have chance to have your hair done by Toni &Guy. After that you will be nominated as the stylish person. And you will have chance to drive Ford KA for two months.

But I know the winner :) Actually he does not know that he is the winner but he should be nominated as the spiritual winner of the Ford KA style event. As you can guess he is Richard Hammond from BBC TopGear. His hair is looking much better than Vicky Butler-Henderson and I can clear say, Richard has the best hair in automotive business.

Newcastle, Metro Centre - 15th-16th October

Birmingham, Bullring - 22nd-23rd October

London/Kent, Bluewater - 29th-30th October

Manchester, Arndale Centre - 13th-14th November



Pictures' Copyrights

Ford, BBC TopGear

Nik finds the coolest stuff! The 1958 Ford family of cars

If you haven't been looking at Nik's blog, you have been missing a lot of cool stuff! http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/ to see all the cool stuff Nik finds, like old dealerships, Brazil's auto history, and lots of shoebox Fords

Limits of art: Ford Kuga

Last week I received an email about Ford Kuga’s artistic event. Kuga is the new mid-size SUV from Ford. It is based on Ford Focus chassis but looks much better than a Focus. Actually after Mondeo, it is the best looking Ford on market, I am including American Ford also. Kuga’s design is beyond Ford’s limit. If it was badged with BMW, it will be the most selling SUV on market.

Unfortunately I did not have chance to drive it. Actually I was not invited to this event, I just received an email. I hope that I can attend to next event. And have chance to try it, but I want to try its limit on off road. It is the new generation artificial four wheel drive cars, they are just designed to park comfortably over the pavement. That’s main reason why many people are buying them :) Therefore nobody is expecting these vehicles to cross Amazon forest. But I still want to see its capabilities.

The interesting fact with Kuga is the transmission. Ford woke up and realized that automotive world has changed and started to offer double clutch automatic gearbox (PowerShift). But in a Ford way! VW also offers the same technology with DSG brand. Basically they are the same but no! I don’t know why but Ford added a torque convertor to PowerShift gearbox. Torque converter is mechanical part between in traditional automatic gearbox and the engine. It is transferring power from engine to gearbox. But in double clutch technology, there are two clutches for this job and Ford added something extra.

I don’t think that engineers in Ford got crazy and added extra weight to gearbox. It should be either patent limitation or comfort reasons. Anyway, I cannot say it is good or bad until I drove one.

The Ford Kuga’s artistic event was amazing also. Ian Cook known as Popbang Colour, painted a Ford Kuga picture with tyres and remote control cars. I think there are no ways a picture can be more related with cars! This is the limit engagement of art with cars. By the way, controlling a remote control car is much more harder than driving a real car, keep in mind ;)

Pictures' Copyrights

Ford

SPESIFIKASI Ford | Luncurkan 2 Mobil Baru |Tahun 2011

SPESIFIKASI Ford | Luncurkan 2 Mobil Baru |Tahun 2011

Do not want to lose out to other auto manufacturers in Indonesia, Ford will be pounding the ground water in the car market in 2011 with two new cars. Ford Ranger, Ford will release fecelift and New Ford Focus facelift.

"Early next year we will launch two new cars. New Ford Ranger and New Ford Focus," said President Director of PT Ford Motor Indonesia Will Angove on the sidelines of a media test drive of Ford Fiesta, as reported by Reporters detikOto M Ikhsan from Phuket, Thailand Tuesday (24/08/2010).

According to Will Angove, the two cars have undergone a refresher to appear more perfect than its predecessor.

Ford Ranger reinforced with three variants of the 2.5-liter engine intercooled turbo, 2.5 liter Turbo Intercooler and VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger), and 3.0 liters Turbointercooler and VGT.

Third runway was wearing kitchen Duratorq TDCi Commonrail technology is impressive and has a torque of 330 Nm, which is great for a 2.5-liter, while 380 Nm for the 3.0 liter.

Ford Ranger engine toughness is unquestioned. Power issued a very large, well above the average of other pick-up car with similar engine characteristics.

The existence of this new pick-up in early 2011 will certainly enliven the market pickup RI. Especially the pick-up market in Indonesia is now increasingly colored by the existence of a superior product that is claimed of their respective car manufacturers, including Mitsubishi with Strada Triton, Nissan with Frontier, Toyota
His Hilux.

Against New Focus, Ford Focus priority to release the sedan version in Indonesia than the Ford Focus hatchback version. To Focus hatchback version, Ford has not determined when to release it into the market four-wheel-soil water, so does the price Ranger and Focus sedan facelift so officially released in RI.

Spesification

Body Type Concept two-door, four passenger

Front wheel drive configuration Mover

Three-cylinder inline engine, mounted transversely

Construction cast iron block, aluminum cylinder heads

Volume 1.0 liter engine

Manual Transmission, with six levels of speed

Overall Length 3682mm

Overall Height 1416mm

Overall Width 1690mm

Wheel distance 2300mm

Front Wheel distance 1470mm

Rear Wheel distance 1512mm

Wheels / Tires 17 "x 6.5" solid aluminum / 205/45R17 Michelin Green X

SPESIFIKASI Ford | Luncurkan 2 Mobil Baru |Tahun 2011

SPESIFIKASI Ford | Luncurkan 2 Mobil Baru |Tahun 2011

Do not want to lose out to other auto manufacturers in Indonesia, Ford will be pounding the ground water in the car market in 2011 with two new cars. Ford Ranger, Ford will release fecelift and New Ford Focus facelift.

"Early next year we will launch two new cars. New Ford Ranger and New Ford Focus," said President Director of PT Ford Motor Indonesia Will Angove on the sidelines of a media test drive of Ford Fiesta, as reported by Reporters detikOto M Ikhsan from Phuket, Thailand Tuesday (24/08/2010).

According to Will Angove, the two cars have undergone a refresher to appear more perfect than its predecessor.

Ford Ranger reinforced with three variants of the 2.5-liter engine intercooled turbo, 2.5 liter Turbo Intercooler and VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger), and 3.0 liters Turbointercooler and VGT.

Third runway was wearing kitchen Duratorq TDCi Commonrail technology is impressive and has a torque of 330 Nm, which is great for a 2.5-liter, while 380 Nm for the 3.0 liter.

Ford Ranger engine toughness is unquestioned. Power issued a very large, well above the average of other pick-up car with similar engine characteristics.

The existence of this new pick-up in early 2011 will certainly enliven the market pickup RI. Especially the pick-up market in Indonesia is now increasingly colored by the existence of a superior product that is claimed of their respective car manufacturers, including Mitsubishi with Strada Triton, Nissan with Frontier, Toyota
His Hilux.

Against New Focus, Ford Focus priority to release the sedan version in Indonesia than the Ford Focus hatchback version. To Focus hatchback version, Ford has not determined when to release it into the market four-wheel-soil water, so does the price Ranger and Focus sedan facelift so officially released in RI.

Some great looking cars from the National City Kimball Park car show and Heritage Days