In recent years there has been a dramatic change in the North American Automotive Market. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been brought down relentlessly by current and upcoming fuel prices causing a great shift in the market trend towards smaller and more fuel efficient means of transportation.

Ford Motor Company’s second quarter fiscal was disappointing at best with Revenue excluding special items coming down to $38.6 billion from $44.2 billion last year. Ford ended the quarter with $26.6 billion of cash declining $10.8 billion from a year ago. That’s a decline of 13 % in revenue and a 29 % drop in cash at hand.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for Ford? Can Ford still be competitive in the automotive sector?

With EcoBoost Engine Technology in the future things may turn around for the better. They claim to provide a 20-30 % gain in fuel economy as well as V-8 performance from a V-6 engine. This is done by using twin turbochargers as well as direct injection to their vehicles. Ford will introduce the Lincoln MKS in 2009 with this new technology delivering an estimated 340 horsepower and more than 340 lb. ft of torque for a V-6 engine. They will have 500,000 units by 2013 utilizing this new technology. This new technology also consist of up to 15 % fewer CO2 emissions to the environment.

This was stated by Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development.

“We know that what will make the biggest difference is applying the right technology on volume vehicles that customers really want and value and can afford,”

said Kuzak.

“EcoBoost puts an affordable technology within reach for millions of customers, and Ford’s systems approach adds up to a big idea that differentiates Ford’s sustainability strategy in the market.”

said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development.

Ford has also been aggressively working on a Ford Focus hydrogen fuel cell. They have been working on the project for three years and it has just been extended for another two years for deployment in the year 2010. Hydrogen Technology creates no emissions and only dissipates water as the emission. There has been a lot of positive feedback for this vehicle. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 set a land speed record in 2007 reaching 207.279 MPH in the world’s first production-based hydrogen fuel cell race car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.

Will EcoBoost and hydrogen fuel cells be Ford’s savior in this time of need? It’s very hard to say at this point. With all the alternative fuels that are flooding the market currently such as Electric, Hydrogen, Biodiesel, Natural Gas, and vegetable oil vehicles in the horizon there will be a lot of stiff competition for Ford as well as GM and Chrysler.

Let’s hope that Ford Motor Company sticks to these upcoming technologies and doesn’t look back.

Credible sources report that the next generation Miata has been pushed back in development until 2012. This is partially due to Mazda extending development of their new ultra fuel efficient powertrains, which are to power the new designs.

Lauren Van den Acker reported that the last version of the vehicle strayed from the original and the next upcoming design will have “balls”.

Sources tell us that the essential outline of the vehicle will remain the same. Meaning it will still be a fun little rear wheel drive sportscar. But the execution of the design will fall more in line with Mazda’s current product development such as the recently introduced Nagare and Kazamai.

Later this year, Mazda will introduce a facelifted design of the current Miata at the Paris Motor Show in October.

For more information, please visit www.MiataTurbo.net

The French tuning house Caractere has gone to work on the new upcoming Audi A4 Avant. Making subtle differences in facia, as well as adding stylish wheels and an exhaust Caractere is trying to position itself as a premium tuning brand.

While the 2009 Audi A4 Avant is a perfect subject to undergo these changes, we must wonder where all of these small tuning houses are popping out from. Since the days of Wings West and it’s rollercoaster ride in the industry, new entrees have been trying to fill a niche market, such as this one for premium styling products.

One must wonder when the bar will be raised so full fledges tuning houses such as Abt, APR, MTM will rid themselves of the “body kit and exhaust” type tuners.
Anyways, hats off to Caractere for a semi decent attempt at trying to accomplish something that has been over and done with for the past 5 years.

Log onto www.AudiForum.ca to discuss.

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