If your vehicle is affected please have it repaired as soon as possible. Additionally, until your vehicle is repaired consider parking it away from buildings such as your residence and other vehicles to help prevent property damage, injury or worse.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
Recalls Of The Day, November 8, 2012
The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration has issued two recalls. Both of them address the potential for fires.
If your vehicle is affected please have it repaired as soon as possible. Additionally, until your vehicle is repaired consider parking it away from buildings such as your residence and other vehicles to help prevent property damage, injury or worse.
If your vehicle is affected please have it repaired as soon as possible. Additionally, until your vehicle is repaired consider parking it away from buildings such as your residence and other vehicles to help prevent property damage, injury or worse.
Ford’s Flexible Michigan Assembly Plant Makes History by Launching C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid, Beating Toyota in Fuel Economy Across Lineup
- C-MAX Energi is fifth major advanced technology, fuel-efficient vehicle to be produced at the transformed Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) – the world’s only plant to build gasoline-powered, electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles all on the same production line and the only one to produce four vehicles delivering 40 mpg or more
- After launching the new Escape, Fusion and C-MAX hybrids, Ford now beats Toyota in fuel economy in every segment where both compete
- The C-Max Energi is America’s most fuel-efficient and affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle, delivering 108 MPGe city and “real car” horsepower of 195, eclipsing the Prius plug-in by more than 60 horsepower
- MAP’s five fuel economy leaders, coupled with the all-new Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid and the nearly half a million EcoBoost-powered vehicles sold globally, cements Ford’s fuel economy leadership position in 2013
WAYNE, MICH., Nov. 8, 2012 – Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant is making history with each new C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid that rolls off the line. It is the only manufacturing site in the world to build vehicles with five different fuel-efficient powertrains on the same line and the only one to build four vehicles that deliver 40 mpg or more in real-world driving.
Ford is committed to deliver eight vehicles for U.S. customers by year-end that deliver 40 mpg or more – a claim no other full-line automaker can match. MAP builds half of those – C-MAX Energi, C-MAX Hybrid, Focus Electric and Focus SE with SFE – helping Ford complete a lineup that now beats Toyota in fuel economy in every segment where they both compete
“Michigan Assembly Plant is setting a new global standard for flexible manufacturing, and is a central part of Ford’s important milestone, sweeping Toyota across the board for fuel economy leadership,” said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president of North America Manufacturing. “The transformation of this plant is proof of how our One Ford plan has transformed our products, giving our customers industry-leading choices for hybrids, plug-ins, electrics and EcoBoost-powered vehicles.
Converted from a plant that produced two full-size SUVs, MAP is now the only factory in the world to build gasoline-powered, electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the same production line. MAP produces the following vehicles that offer Ford customers a range of fuel- efficient options versus Toyota and other competitors:
- C-MAX Energi – America’s most fuel-efficient and affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle – is on its way to Ford EV-certified dealers in half the states across the country. As Ford’s first production plug-in hybrid, C-MAX Energi provides customers with an all-new electrified vehicle offering that delivers a class-leading 108 MPGe city EPA rating, “real car” horsepower of 195 (versus Prius plug-in’s 134 horsepower) and a leading EV-only speed of 85 mph, 20 mph above the Prius plug-in.
- C-MAX Hybrid – The country’s most fuel-efficient and affordable hybrid utility vehicle is now the best-selling hybrid utility vehicle after outselling Toyota Prius v, 3,182 units to 2,769 units, in just its first full month of sales in October. C-MAX Hybrid delivers EPA-certified 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway ratings – 7 mpg better than the Toyota Prius v on the highway – for a 47 mpg combined rating – plus more performance and technology.
- Focus Electric – Officially America’s most fuel-efficient five-passenger car, with a certified 110 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) city rating and 99 MPGe on the highway. Focus Electric, a zero-emission battery electric vehicle, also has been certified by the EPA to offer 105 MPGe combined, beating Nissan Leaf by 6 MPGe while offering more motor power and more standard features.
- The Focus ST – Its new 2.0-liter EcoBoost® four-cylinder engine is certified at 32 mpg highway – better than its manual-equipped competition in the Volkswagen GTI and MazdaSpeed3.
- Focus with the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package – This sleek small car delivers an EPA-certified 40 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg city through its advanced six-speed automatic transmission.
Four years ago, Ford’s Manufacturing and Product Development teams began working together to develop product platform designs that enable the use of programmable equipment to produce multiple variations of products in one facility. Today, more than 80 percent of the tooling in the plant’s body shop can be programmed to weld a variety of body styles. This allows Ford to quickly adjust the mix between models as customer preferences change.
In the final assembly area, Ford Manufacturing engineers collaborated closely with UAW representatives to design job stations that can be adapted to different kinds of work content, depending on the vehicle. For example, even though C-MAX vehicles have 1,074 separate parts from the Focus, both vehicles travel through nearly all of the same 604 workstations in the trim and chassis areas.
Several workstations play key roles in the plant’s ability to build both electrified and gasoline-powered cars.
- In chassis, workers at one station have plastic fuel tanks on one side of the line and electric chargers on the other. Depending on the build sequence, they install either a charger in a Focus BEV, or a fuel tank in a C-MAX or gasoline-powered Focus.
- Several stops further down the chassis line, other workers attach either battery packs or exhaust systems, depending on the vehicle.
- In the trim area, multiple stations have been reconfigured so that a team of workers has a longer time window to do the complicated functions of installing a high-voltage wire and battery into C-MAX or Focus BEV, while being given quicker tasks to perform when gasoline-powered Focus cars come down the line.
In addition to the $550 million that Ford invested to convert MAP into a flexible factory, the company added a third crew of 1,200 workers in May, bringing total employment to 5,170 workers.
Fuel Economy Details
The Ford fuel economy leaders are:
Cars and Electrified Vehicles
- C-MAX Hybrid at 47 mpg combined beats Prius v by 7 mpg in the compact hybrid utility segment
- C-MAX Energi at 100 MPGe combined beats Prius Plug-in by 5 MPGe in the plug-in hybrid market
- Fiesta SFE at 40 mpg highway beats Toyota Yaris by 3 mpg in the subcompact segment
- Focus SFE at 40 mpg highway beats Corolla by 6 mpg in the compact segment
- Focus Electric at 110 MPGe city does not have a Toyota competitor
- Fusion 1.6-liter EcoBoost at 37 mpg highway beats Camry by 2 mpg in the midsize sedan segment
- Fusion Hybrid at 47 mpg highway beats Camry Hybrid by 9 mpg in the midsize hybrid sedan segment
- Taurus 2.0-liter EcoBoost at 32 mpg highway beats Avalon by 4 mpg in the full-size sedan segment
Crossovers, Trucks and SUVs
- Escape 1.6-liter EcoBoost at 33 mpg highway beats RAV-4 by 5 mpg in the small crossover segment
- Explorer 2.0-liter EcoBoost at 28 mpg highway beats Highlander by 3 mpg in the midsize crossover segment (Note: Flex 3.5-liter EcoBoost ties Highlander)
- Expedition at 20 mpg highway beats Sequoia by 2 mpg in the full-size SUV segment
- Edge 2.0-liter EcoBoost at 30 highway beats Venza by 4 mpg in the midsize crossover segment
- F-150 3.5-liter EcoBoost at 22 mpg highway beats Tundra by 2 mpg in the full-size pickup segment
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Ford Fusion Launch Ads Show How All-New Sedan Sets Itself Apart from the Bland Competition
- Three television commercials for the all-new Ford Fusion debut this week and show viewers how and why this sleek new sedan outshines the competition
- In one of the new ads, all other vehicles on the road become invisible while the new Fusion remains, standing apart from the crowd. In another, a Fusion drives over a cliff showing off “the one thing” the car cannot do
- The ads are part of an integrated launch campaign that builds on the “Random Acts of Fusion” digital series starring Ryan Seacrest and print ads developed with input from Chinese artist Liu Bolin
DEARBORN, Mich. – If there’s one thing commentators agree on when talking about the all-new Ford Fusion, it’s that this is one midsize sedan that people really notice. This is the theme of the surprising launch campaign for the car, which debuts this week.
These words open the debut television commercial for Ford’s all-new midsize sedan, which is part of the new campaign that shows how this revolutionary new vehicle sets itself apart from the competition.
“The media launch of the Fusion will showcase how Ford is shaking up the bland midsize sedan segment,” said Jim Farley, group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “Why do car buyers have to sacrifice styling and forward-looking design for fuel economy? They don’t.”
At the center of Fusion’s design inspiration was the goal to achieve unparalleled fuel economy. The new Fusion is designed with the driver in mind, offering functional design elements that enhance its sleek exterior. Unique to Fusion is a range of engines including a normally aspirated engine, two EcoBoost® engines, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid model.
Beginning this month, three TV advertisements will debut during a mix of prime-time network programming and various broadcast sporting events. The first spot shows Fusion as the only car left standing as all the other vehicles on the road become invisible. The second twist features a Fusion driving off a cliff, demonstrating “the one thing” the car cannot do. The final spot shows other cars moving backward while Fusion moves forward, going further toward its destination.
The advertisements make note of the Fusion’s strong fuel economy including 47 mpg combined in the Fusion Hybrid and 100 MPGe in the plug-in electric model.
Building on digital, print campaigns
The new TV advertisements build on the momentum developed by the prelaunch digital series “Random Acts of Fusion” starring Ryan Seacrest and a new series of print ads developed with Chinese artist Liu Bolin. Two million people visited the Random Acts of Fusion website generating nearly 12 million video views. During the course of the prelaunch, Fusion picked up 100,000 new fans on Facebook.
The successful Random Acts of Fusion campaign will be extended through the vehicle launch in digital and social channels evolving to provide individual experiences to new fans (and skeptics) of the car. For example, in one video Ford surprises a follower named Michael who is skeptical of the EcoBoost engine’s performance. Ford shows up at Michael’s door with a new Fusion and takes him out for a hot lap on a nearby racetrack.
The advertisements showcase the all-new Fusion’s sleek new design and how it brings alive the next generation of more expressive vehicles from Ford.
In addition to its fresh face, Fusion offers the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive applications and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.
The new Fusion is on sale now at Ford dealerships.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Recalls Of The Day, November 7, 2012
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration has not issued any recalls. We will keep you posted of any changes.
Listening Helps Cadillac ATS Shape Interior Acoustics
Advanced sound deadening features make for a serene interior
DETROIT – The all-new Cadillac ATS sport sedan employs high-tech electronics to manage interior noise, following a simple piece of parental advice – “Listen!”
The new ATS contains three microphones inside the cabin that carefully monitor, and then adjust, interior sounds to create a proper environment for Cadillac’s sport sedan.
Active sound control technology proactively monitors the ATS’s cabin for unwanted noise and works to eliminate it. Alternately, passive sound-deadening in the form of covers, foams and other materials built into the vehicle absorb, block and eliminate vibrations, wind noise, and noise from passing cars.
Working together these technologies reduce the ATS’s overall sound levels by 3 decibels while idling, or the equivalent of making the vehicle nearly 50 percent quieter.
“Not all noise is unwanted, especially in a vehicle like ATS,” said vehicle performance engineer James Murphy. “While wind rush penetrating a closed window is undesirable, the driver does want to hear the vehicle respond with power during spirited driving.”
On the “active” front, Cadillac sound engineers worked with audio experts from Bose to create sound management technology that offsets low frequency “boom” noises between 40Hz and 180Hz.
“Imagine the feeling that goes through your chest at a rock or hip-hop concert when the bass hits you,” said Kent Ting, noise and vibration engineer. “That is similar to the ‘boom’ noises the Bose Active Sound Management system addresses by providing a cancelling noise signal.”
Three Bose microphones constantly monitor sound quality and deliver a counterbalance of noise through the vehicle’s speakers to cancel unwanted noises. The microphones are strategically placed above the interior door frame on the front driver and passenger and rear driver’s side to listen to the same sounds the occupant would hear.
The new ATS contains three microphones inside the cabin that carefully monitor, and then adjust, interior sounds to create a proper environment for Cadillac’s sport sedan.
Active sound control technology proactively monitors the ATS’s cabin for unwanted noise and works to eliminate it. Alternately, passive sound-deadening in the form of covers, foams and other materials built into the vehicle absorb, block and eliminate vibrations, wind noise, and noise from passing cars.
Working together these technologies reduce the ATS’s overall sound levels by 3 decibels while idling, or the equivalent of making the vehicle nearly 50 percent quieter.
“Not all noise is unwanted, especially in a vehicle like ATS,” said vehicle performance engineer James Murphy. “While wind rush penetrating a closed window is undesirable, the driver does want to hear the vehicle respond with power during spirited driving.”
On the “active” front, Cadillac sound engineers worked with audio experts from Bose to create sound management technology that offsets low frequency “boom” noises between 40Hz and 180Hz.
“Imagine the feeling that goes through your chest at a rock or hip-hop concert when the bass hits you,” said Kent Ting, noise and vibration engineer. “That is similar to the ‘boom’ noises the Bose Active Sound Management system addresses by providing a cancelling noise signal.”
Three Bose microphones constantly monitor sound quality and deliver a counterbalance of noise through the vehicle’s speakers to cancel unwanted noises. The microphones are strategically placed above the interior door frame on the front driver and passenger and rear driver’s side to listen to the same sounds the occupant would hear.
Copyright General Motors
“Passive” noise cancelling materials are woven into the vehicle in unassuming places, following the attention-to-detail-approach taken by ATS engineers. Some examples include:- Roof – between the roof’s base sheet-metal and the interior lining, the ATS is treated with sound- deadening material that lessens noises like rain hitting the vehicle.
- Windshield and front side windows – Instead of traditional tempered glass, the ATS features acoustically laminated glass, which is made up of a sheet of sound-absorbing laminate sandwiched between two layers of glass. This limits the sound of wind rush and other traffic while driving.
- Rocker sections are injected with sound-absorbing foam that reduces noises made by the tires on varied road surfaces.
- Undercarriage – An underbody aero shield and wheelhouse covers serve a dual purpose of blocking road noise while driving, and trapping powertrain noise at idle.
- Powertrain – The ATS’s engine uses laminated steel, acoustic covers, isolation, and glove-fitted foam materials that contribute to reducing noise and vibrations under the hood. All of these materials are especially helpful in minimizing noise from the high pressure Spark Ignition Direct Injection system, which typically produces a “tick-tick-tick” diesel engine type of noise when the vehicle is idle.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Recalls Of The Day, November 6, 2012
Hello everyone.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued four recalls. Today's issues include children who chomp on their child seat and choke. YIKES!
Another issue is wheels that could fall off. This would not be good!
Yet another issue is the potential for fire in a motor coach. This could ruin your day.
Lastly, a truck has an issue with a control box that could catch on fire. There's nothing like a flaming truck barreling your way to get your heart racing.
In all seriousness these issues could cause serious injury or death. If your vehicle is affected by these recalls please take corrective action as soon as possible.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued four recalls. Today's issues include children who chomp on their child seat and choke. YIKES!
Another issue is wheels that could fall off. This would not be good!
Yet another issue is the potential for fire in a motor coach. This could ruin your day.
Lastly, a truck has an issue with a control box that could catch on fire. There's nothing like a flaming truck barreling your way to get your heart racing.
In all seriousness these issues could cause serious injury or death. If your vehicle is affected by these recalls please take corrective action as soon as possible.
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Monday, November 5, 2012
Recall Recap For The Week Of October 29 - November 2, 2012
The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration has issued their recap of recalls for last week. The list is short because last week they were closed due to Superstorm Sandy. We are glad they are back to full operation. Additionally, the list is incomplete.
All recalls issued last week are on this blog.
All recalls issued last week are on this blog.
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NHTSA Campaign ID
Number :
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Manufacturer :
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Eldorado
National- California, Inc.
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Make / Model Years :
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ELDORADO
/ 2011
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Subject :
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Transit
Bus Egress Windows Set: Handle may Break
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