Ford Fusion unveils new face

Updated: 13/06/08

Ever since its launch in 2005 in the U.S market, the successful Fusion sedan is now due a mid-life refresh. First prototypes were caught wearing a car bra on the front but new spy photos can reveal how the new face will look like.

Although the mule looks as if its been out in the sun for too long, the 3 bar grille could stay put. The radiator grille looks much bolder than the current model, with the top grille dipping down in the center for a "smiley" look. The outer edges of the bumper slant upward as they reach the side of the car. Such a slant would necessitate reshaped headlights to accommodate the new bumper shape.

It also reveals the shape of the new two air intakes on each side that would house fog lamps. The most telling bit, however, is a character line we haven't seen before that appears to bend down from the front wheelarch. This suggests that the entire front clip of the next Fusion will be all new, rather than just the mild refresh. The new Fudion is set to reach showrooms sometime in 2009 as a 2010 model.

Related links:

Ford Fusion caught cold

Ford Fusion gets electric power

EU demands health warnings for car adverts

The European Union is planning new rules that would see all car adverts clearly displaying the vehicle’s environmental credentials.

In the same way that some food packets now have coloured labels to show what ingredients it contains, car advertisements would be obliged to display warnings to show the respective vehicle’s CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

The legislation is based on a report that was published at the end of 2007 by Chris Davies, MEP, which called for 20 per cent of all car ad space to be dedicated to environmental warnings.

Angela Mills-Wade, executive director of the European Publishers Council, has criticised the proposal. She said, “If, as we believe, prescriptive legislation leads to less car advertising in the press, the regulators will not meet their objectives of promoting a certain type of information to consumers, yet the media will suffer unjustifiably by losing vital advertising revenues.”

A draft proposal for the new legislation needs to go before the College of Commissioners in the autumn before it can be passed through parliament and decreed EU law.

Car sales plummet (UK)

UK car sales have plummet since March. During March, sales fell down to 0.5% but last month sales of SUV's fell by 18.3% and small family cars like the Ford Focus, KIA Cee'd and Peugeot 308 saw a 8.3% drop compared with May 2007, despite cleaner engines added to the Focus range. Sales of large family cars (Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Chevrolet Epica) fell by 4.5%, however, its not all bad, sales of city cars (Hyundai i10/KIA Picanto, Suzuki Splash) rose by 120%.

The sports car segment suffered a sales drop of 14.5 per cent. But sales of luxury executive saloons, like the Mercedes E-class and BMW 5-series, are remaining buoyant, suggesting that company fleet schemes have yet to feel the pinch.

These latest SMMT sales results provide the first evidence of the impact of the Government’s proposed changes to Vehicle Excise Duty – commonly known as road tax - since their were put forward in Chancellor Alistair Darling’s budget. The drivers of some cars will see their road tax double.

Yesterday the Treasury revealed that more than a million households with gross incomes of less than £15,000 face above-inflation increases in road tax. Poorer families tend to drive older, less-efficient cars. Indeed, the Budget’s road tax increases have been described as a “poll tax on four wheels” by one rebel Labour MP.

The value of secondhand cars has also taken a blow since it emerged that the road tax changes will be applied retrospectively to vehicles registered since 2001.

“People are now finding themselves in negative equity,” said Edmund King, president of the AA. “We are talking to people who are extremely concerned. They can't afford to run their vehicles but they are trapped as they can't sell their cars.”

In another blow to Gordon Brown, Tony Blair told GMTV that the cost of motoring was contributing to the Prime Minister’s unpopularity and his disastrous poll rating. Blair said, “Voters are thinking, ‘It used to cost 30 quid to fill up the car; now it costs 60 or 70 quid.’”

In developing markets elsewhere in the world, car sales are booming. Ford has just announced a $500 million (£260m) expansion of its Chennai factory, South India, which will be used as a hub to serve the region. Meanwhile, Russia’s third-largest car maker, OAO Sollers, will invest $200 million (£110m) to expand its dealer network to respond to soaring demand.

Via AutoCar > UK car sales fall

New Tires On The Rear!

Hat tip to TrollhattanSaab for this neat video which clearly demonstrates why you should put your better (newer) tires on the rear wheels of your car--to preserve understeer bias.



So what's so important about keeping the car understeering?

Most drivers aren't skilled enough to correct an oversteer condition (you typically need to apply more throttle and countersteer quickly). Getting sideways means you have a higher chance of rollover due to tripping, or side impact. Most drivers will do the wrong thing for oversteer, they will brake, lifting the rear end further and giving away even more traction, making their problem worse.

But in an understeer condition, the instinct to jam on the brakes is the right one, because it gives more grip to the front wheels, which gives them a chance to regain steering ability. And if you must crash, it is much better to crash head-on because that's where you have the most protection from your crumple zones and seatbelts.

Goodbye Trollhattan

I saw the sad news on Autoblog that Trollhattan Saab is hanging up his keyboard and letting his blog go quiet. He decided that it was taking too much time to do a good job saabblogging, and not as much fun as it once was, with a shortened temper due to nicotine withdrawal. It's a shame because he wrote persistently on the highest-volume Saab blog that I know of. (Though I am more of a Volvo man myself.)

I'm hoisting a beer in your honor, Swade, best of luck.

'09 Jaguar XK & XKR go on the prowl

Updated: 16/06/08

Following my recent post on Jaguar's future schedule, the revised XK and XKR has now been spied undergoing testing in Northern England. Although changes to the front seem minimal with the exception of restyled front apron and air ducts, at the rear, lights will be slightly tweaked and should feature LED's. The electric aerial has been ditched in favor for a receiver located on the boot-lid. The interior should also receive a nip and tuck to keep it looking fresh and will feature the JaguarDrive rotary gear-change.

What we don't have confirmation on yet is the engine in the 2009 changed XK; it's most likely to receive the new 5.0 V8 in place of today's 4.2, but some insiders suggest that the engine isn't ready for production quite yet. Whichever engine is used, count on more than today's outputs of 298bhp (XK) and 416bhp (XKR).

Engineering changes will be limited to chassis mods garnered from the XKR-S. That means the XK could potentially receive a quicker steering rack, revised suspension, Alcon brakes and up to 20in wheels with specially developed Pirelli rubber. A Paris motorshow debut is likely in October, with UK sales starting in summer '09 with a price-tag of £62,000. The outgoing model has been on the market since 2005.

Related link:

Upcoming Jaguar and Land Rover rumors

Ford KA spied in Poland

The current Ford Ka has been on the market for over 12 years. When first launched, the car wasn't very popular, however, when times went passed, popularity increased. The new model, set to be launched later on this year, will be based off the successful FIAT 500.

Set for a world debut at the Paris motorshow this September, these two pre-production prototypes were caught just outside Ford's Tychy Plant in Poland, the same location where the Fiat 500 is built.

Petrol and diesel engines will be taken from the 500, entry level 69bhp 1.2 litre along with a 100 bhp 1.4 litre and the 1.3 litre MultiJet diesel option will be available too. Ford Europe also states we can expect to see a ST version of the KA powered by the same 135bhp 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine found in the Fiat 500 Abarth, although power is said to be slightly boosted up to 150bhp for the Ford version. This should do 0-60mph in less than 8 seconds and have a top speed of 125mph making one of the most powerful cars in its class. As with the Fiat 500, Ford is promising that the Ka will be among the most luxurious small cars on the market so there should be a generous optional equipment list.

In the pipeline, we can expect to see a 2+2 convertible version and even a tax-busting hybrid version. This promises to mate diesel-beating economy with petrol refinement and low emissions. This model will have CO2 emissions that fall below the 100g/km, therefore skipping any form of road taxation. Pricing should start at around £7500(€9500,$14775) raising to £12,000 (€1500,$23640) for the flagship ST model.

Via WorldCarFans and AutoExpress > Ford KA spied in Poland, Ford KA undisguised