Pentru ca MONDEO

Uite ca se intampla ceva si in Iasi, ceva ce nu m-a lasat sa ma plictisesc la sfarsitul lui septembrie. Ba mai mult, se intampla ceva foarte misto, numit IIFF , adica festivalul de film international. Nu are sens sa ma apuc eu sa va zic ce filme ca lumea ruleaza, ca puteti sa intrati pe site-ul lor daca va intereseaza. Partea care imi  place mie este ..the Ford thing. Adica oamenii aia mari care au cerut voluntari (printre care ma aflu si eu) au reusit sa obtina vreo..7 (sapte) masini noi noute de la Tester pe toata perioada festivalului. Ei nu stiu, dar au facut cel putin un sofer fericit, adica pe mine. Da, eu. Pentru ca voluntariez ca si sofer de  IIFF si pentru ca Mondeo. Masina asta m-a facut sa vad Fordul cu alti ochi.

Ford pushes ad agency to cancel bid for Chrysler work

Here’s the article at Autoblog:

Chrysler isn’t happy with its current marketing partner BBDO, and the Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker has put the word out that it would like some fresh perspective. Among the suitors vying for the $1.1 billion account is Grey, a London-based ad agency under the ownership of holding company WPP. Grey was reportedly scheduled to pitch their new ideas to the Pentastar on September 22nd, but the agency seems to have hit a Tsunami-sized snag.

WPP is the agency of choice for Ford Motor Company, and Ad Age says the nations 11th largest advertiser isn’t keen on the idea of sharing its resource with its cross-town rival. If this story is true, we’re sure WPP wasn’t all to happy with the Blue Oval, but when you spend $1.9 billion per year on advertising, you tend to have a bit of pull with your suppliers. And if you spend that much money, why would you want to share your ad company’s creative talent with a competitor? Chrysler’s ad deal with BBDO runs through January of 2010.

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THE MINI-BALLER LAND ROVER COMETH!!

TWO DOOR LANDROVER FOR THE MINI-BALLERS

Land Rover has today confirmed what we’ve long expected – that the popular LRX Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed for production. The British-born automaker doesn’t actually say the new ‘ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in 2011, but it definitely will be wearing the Range Rover moniker and will therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle.

No details are given about the coupelike SUV’s powertrain, but Land Rover does say the new vehicle “will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced.” Previous reports have suggested the production LRX will share underpinnings with the LR2 (a.k.a. the Freelander) and will be offered with an optional all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain that may use an electric motor to power the rear wheels and a transverse engine underhood driving the front wheels.

Judging from the lone rendering released with this announcement, the basic shape from the LRX Concept should survive mostly intact, perhaps gaining a slightly more pronounced front fascia to go along with the production-necessary external door handles. Expect more details to filter out at the beginning of 2010, but in the meantime, click past the break for the press release.

Read more →

Via: Luxist

When Buying Used Mustangs for Sale, Look Out for Signs of Abuse

The Ford Mustang has achieved iconic status in American culture since it was introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

One measure of how the muscle car has captured the imagination of America is its prominence in movies ranging from 1968’s Bullitt (starring Steve McQueen and featuring a 1968 Mustang GT 390 Fastback) to 2007’s I Am Legend (in which Will Smith drove a 2007 Shelby GT500 around an abandoned New York).

At present, one of every two sports cars sold in the US is a Mustang; used Mustangs for sale are also among the most popular vehicles on the after-market.

And the Mustang’s appeal shows no sign of waning as a recent survey revealed that the majority of teenagers chose the Ford Mustang as the new car they would most like to buy.
The Mustang is also seen as one of the most affordable sports cars on the market, with some models going for less than $20,000. However, this price is still beyond the reach of a lot of people’s budgets, explaining the popularity of used models. For Mustang lovers, the most desired used Mustangs for sale are the First Generation models, which were made from 1964 to 1973, after which these muscle cars were discontinued when the OPEC oil embargo caused gas prices to skyrocket. However, previous owners may have abused their Mustangs – after all, it is a sports car – and then failed to maintain it properly. So, look out for signs of abuse to avoid your dream car becoming a money pit.

When considering whether to buy a used Mustang, be sure to take it out for a drive at highway speeds. If you notice things such as a noisy engine or drivetrain, squeaks and rattles in the suspension and grinding of gears when in five speed, then the car was likely driven hard. Also pay particular attention to the clutch; if it feels loose, the car may have been abused. Considerable tread wear on the rear tires is another tell-tale sign. If you are not qualified to inspect a car for potential problems, take the car to a qualified mechanic to have it checked out.

You may be able to save some money on maintenance if the car still has its original warranty, which is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty takes effect on the date of purchase and transfers to the new owner. Thus, even if the Mustang was a 2005 model but was not bought until late-2006, it may still have some months left on the warranty. If you are buying the car through a dealership, you can also request a carfax report, which will give you the history of the car including such vital information such as if it was used as a rental vehicle and if it has had any major damage.
If you’re lucky enough to have bought a First Generation Mustang, make sure to bring it to a reputable restoration shop to have the work done on it. Remember that finding the right restoration shop for your dream car is just as important as the effort you spent looking for used Mustangs for sale. Ed’s Classic Mustangs specializes in Mustangs made from 1964 to 1973, and has a team of skilled restoration mechanics to make your muscle car look as if it just rolled off the factory floor. You can also buy a full range of Mustang parts and accessories online from Ed’s
Used Mustangs For Sale Article
Used Mustangs For Sale Article

Ford Explorer vai mudar no exterior

Mula da próxima Ford Explorer é flagrada (Fotos; Autoblog.com)

Na época em que os SUV dominavam o mercado americano, o Ford Explorer era o carro mais vendido dos EUA. Agora, em tempos de crise, quem manda são de carros menores e mais eficientes no consumo de combustível.

Mesmo assim, o Explorer ainda mantém uma legião de fãns. Por isso, a importância dessas fotos. Elas mostram a próxima geração do utilitário.

As fotos foram feitas de uma mula do modelo, mas já é possível notar diferenças em relação ao modelo atual. A grade dianteira, por exemplo, ficou bem maior que a atual, provavelmente para mandar mais ar para o motor Eco Boost, a nova linha de propulsores da Ford.

A traseira lembra um pouco o da Land Rover Freelander. Vale lembrar que até o ano passado a marca era controlada pela Ford e que o desenvolvimento foi feito pelos americanos. O carro deve ser lançado no ano que vêm, no máximo em 2011.

Ford Unveiled Figo

The Figo is a small car from the Ford that has been awaited for since a long time has been finally unveiled. The car will not be launched now, but it will be launched only next year.

The Figo will be a four-door hatchback that will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. The petrol variant will be available in a 1.2 litre engine and the diesel variant will be available in a 1.4 litre engine.

In Ford Figo, one could find the important elements of Ford’s kinetic design language that include modern headlamps, grille shapes and sculpted bonnet of its distinctive face to the subtle integrated spoiler and chamfered window shape at the rear. The company has used the kinetic design in globally renowned vehicles such as Ford Mondeo, Ford Focus, and the Ford Fiesta.

The Figo looks very different from the other models from Ford. It has an imposing stance and a spacious and stylish interiors. The car will be a true companion for urban driving.

The Figo comes with a molded body side that has chiseled front fenders, a “comet tail” undercut in the doors and additional light-catching sculpting in the lower body side.

Any specifications about the engine or transmission are not known. The company will start manufacturing the car from early 2010. The petrol variant of the car is expected to be priced at Rs. 3.6 lakh and the diesel variant at Rs. 4.6 lakh.

Frankfurter

Transmission intercepted by outside source….
Sending out identity hail…
DS14 responding…
Hb34ht9vy801uv…
Note attached as follows…

It should be noted that the transmission received by this station and as follows this interception was written by an exhausted, ill and over worked sub-standard agent. Please forgive the slightly lack lustre nature of this weeks transmission from Sol System. That is all.

…admiralty code attached…

Original transmission follows…

Transmission begins…

Although it would be easier to keep the little Abarth 500’s turbo on the boil with a paddle shift auto I can’t help thinking it would be less fun. The Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari may look good and go well, but really? An auto on a super hot 500? Really? Really, really?
Oh well.

Ferrari’s own 458 took allot of the attention. It’s certainly prettier than the 430, more efficient than the 430 and quite a bit quicker (in standard form) than the 430. Who’s betting the new McLaren will be just as good though?

And now for a question.
Can you think of a single car that’s looked better post-facelift? I can’t. The Punto Evo certainly looked better pre surgery, pre-Evo badge. Kia’s Ceed (verging on the good looking) definitely looked better last year. Why do they do it?
Oh yea.
Consumerism.
The need to have new stuff on show without doing too much work.
Yea. That.
Anyway;
Audi, terminally boring as they are, have released yet another sub niche car. Welcome in Audi A5 Sportback. The product of mixing A5 and A4 genealogy, we have Audi’s answer to royal style genetic barrel scrapping. How long before Audi’s product children become disfigured and stupid is anyone’s guess…

From the ridiculous to the sublime, I’m gonna go out on a whim and say the Lambo Reventon Cabriolet is better looking the coupe. Somehow it just fits better. Seeing it in the flesh (if I’m lucky enough) could change my mind, but really, even the Reventon is irrelevant. What I’m really waiting for is next years Mercielago replacement. My eyes are watering in anticipation just thinking about it.

From the sublime to the sober, it can be said with certainty that EV’s or electric vehicles dominated this year’s show. Audi unveiled what amounted to corporate bullshit mock-up pictures of an EV R8. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great idea, but drawings do not a show car make. Much more promising was Ford and Volvo’s electric Focus and C30. Indeed neither showcased impressive figures but what they do show is that at long last Ford is on the road to electrification.

Albeit with the conventional drive-train, Mercedes also showed a its new electric car. The new Gullwing will get full EV status by 2012 but in the mean time it stands as easily the best looking car Merc have made for ten, possibly thirty years. It maybe unashamedly retro but the Gullwing was right first time in the 50’s. No need to argue with that.

All of this though, all of this pales into insignificance. All of this is just the turning of cogs in the march towards consumer ideals. What’s the best news of the show? What mattered to me most?
I’ll tell you.
Come in close, now.
I’m going to whisper this very slowly.
Lotus.
Are.
Coming.
Back.
To.
F1.

Amen.

Transmission Ends…

Mais Ford 1951, via Buzian

Um tempo atrás eu escrevi um pouco e publiquei muitas fotos sobre os primeiros Fords originais do pós-guerra, aqueles que ficaram conhecidos pelo formato da carroceria, quase uma caixa de sapato, os shoebox, que são os produzidos entre 1949 e 51. Têm muita coisa sobre eles aqui no blog, a maioria está reunida aqui neste link.

Não é segredo que estou há mais de um ano procurando o meu. E por vários motivos, mas também por que ainda dá para comprar um lindo Ford com a admirada mecânica V8 flathead nestes anos. Os anos anteriores e seguintes ou são caretas demais ou caros demais! Os shoebox ainda são uma janela pela qual eu posso entrar neste mundo fascinante dos Fords clássicos. E, confesso diante da deixa do amigo Mário, que eu já entrei, o meu chega esta semana, e mais não falo por que eu quero fotografá-lo em casa para mostrar aos amigos! Apressado, Mário cantou a pedra e mandou estas fotos lindíssimas deste carro maravilhoso (baba escorrendo pelo canto da boca…). Mais eu escrevo oportunamente.

Mário, duplamente grato. Abraço, meu amigo.

New Car Just for Pot Smokers: $34,200

Your car is the only piece of technology that gets more expensive, rather than less expensive, over time. Calculators can now be found in a box of cereal. Computers become less expensive every year–desktops can now be purchased for under $500. Automobiles however continue to increase in price.

I’m an anachronism, I know; I think ten THOUSAND dollars is an outrageous sum of money for a car. Think about $10,000—think about what you could do with ten grand if I handed you that money today—the bills you could pay, the Christmas you could have, the sigh of relief you’d feel with that kind of money deposited into your checking account.

Yet you can scarcely get a new vehicle for $10,000 these days; in fact, you need to virtually double that number to purchase any decent family vehicle.  But imagine if Ford was still making that 1974 Country Squire your mom schlepped you around in 30 years ago. What if economies of scale were applied to vehicles? What is new since 1974 that I need? Not “want,” but “need.” Anti-lock brakes, shoulder strap seat belts and air bags, should definitely be included, but do we need anything else?

Do we need GPS, on-star, DVD systems, six disc CD changers, power locks and windows (and yet making a small, circular swirling motion with your hand still means “roll down your window.” Do today’s kids know why?), navigation systems, and self-parking systems?

Like most technologies, improvements would eventually be included from extra stock and when economies of scale made it practical. (For instance, today’s new inexpensive computers come with “only” one GB of RAM and 160 GB of storage. You can certainly over pay for the newest technologies, but most buyers don’t do that.)  The 2009 Country Squire’s technology might resemble it’s cousin born in 1999, yet it would probably cost around $1000. How about that—a new car, with a warranty for $1000?

Yet the lunacy continues. Today, Lexus is offering technology that will keep a vehicle in the center of your lane. VW offers similar technology.  From the Lexus website, “An available Lane Keep Assist system applies steering torque to help the vehicle stay in the center of the lane (provided of course you’re on a road with clearly marked lines).
To help keep you from drifting out of your lane when cruise control is in operation, an available Lane Departure Warning System gives an audible warning. After this warning, it takes corrective steering action to help keep you in your lane. When cruise control is not engaged, the system sounds a warning if you drift out of your lane.”  Is there any doubt that Detroit will follow suit? Ford is now offering side-view mirrors that can you give you a digital representation of a vehicle in a blind spot (sure, that was easier and less expensive that just removing the blind spot).

Unless you’re still doing bong hits while you drive and steering with your knee (or asking your friend to steer from the passenger seat—don’t ask me how I know; I just do) this seems, once again, like an extreme technological advance. Starting at $34,200 those who would benefit most seem the least likely to be able to afford it.

We rightly criticize Detroit for their current predicament—not because they didn’t know what they were talking about, but because they didn’t have the gumption to be proactive. Let’s face it—they gave us exactly what we wanted. It’s not as if SUVs were sitting on new car sales lots for years and years longing for buyers like the sad pathetic Charlie Brown Christmas tree. SUVs were in demand and Detroit built us SUVs. Detroit said that Americans didn’t want small cars. To a great extent they were right. Every Japanese import gets bigger every year. Note the 1980 and 2009 Honda Accords, pictured. Japan made in-roads with a niche market, not by appealing to the broad desires of Americans.

Detroit’s mistake was in not foreseeing these eventualities. Do you think the Big Three Automakers are discussing a possible ceiling for what Americas will pay for a car? Do they anticipate a day when consumers will revolt and turn to foreign makers who anticipate a paradigm shift in American automotive purchasing? Are they afraid that mass-producing a new vehicle and allowing economies of scale to drive the cost down to nearly impulse purchase prices will spell the end of other product lines?  Or is their business model to keep adding technology to the car to continue to drive the price of the vehicles skyward in order to progressively add to corporate profits?  (The only technology for which I wait is a car that folds up like George Jetson’s into a briefcase—until then, mommy says I’m a big boy and I can park and stay in my lane all by myself.)

Who’s the moron, though? For now, it’s us. GM, Ford and Chrysler perpetuate a business model that wrung profits from the wallets of consumers during the boom years and we keep getting stuck with vehicles that don’t serve our needs. Once again, Detroit’s lack of ingenuity and low tolerance for risk serves the public desire—for now.  But if there’s any lesson to be learned from the recent stint in automotive hospice, it’s that giving consumers what they want may not be the best business model after all.

Wonderous Cars

Sorry about the scarcity of posts the weekend guys – I am moving house and it is tiring and chaotic and stressful and meh. I will be back on form Monday, I promise. For now, I will leave you with a little car porn.

Leamington Spa, it seems, is wonderfully rich. We got hints about this from the regency architecture, the inability to deal with unusual clothes, and the fabulously plummy accents that seem to be all around. The upside to this is that everyone in Leamington seems to own beautiful cars. Here is a rundown of the most wonderful cars that I have seen driving through and around leamington this weekend (oh, and I was never fast enough to take my own pictures, so these are borrowed!):

1 x 2007 Ford Mustang GT (my favourite car...)

1 x White Audi R8 (and I know there is a silver and a black around here too...)

Approx 5 x the Sexy Nissan Z

1 x Vintage Rolls Royce

3 x Different Maserati!

1 x Sexy but Ostentatious Red Ferrari!

Not bad going for one weekend eh?!!

an ode to The Van

Today has been an uneventful one spent at home. My sister turns 20 today (I feel sooo old!) but she’s at school, two states away. She got my macaroni-themed present yesterday so we talked then. I’m sure we’ll call as a family as soon as my parents get home from vehicle shopping. 

We got word this week that our beloved 1993 Ford Club Wagon Van is not worth the $2000 it would cost to fix it. We took it in last Saturday when it was discovered that it wouldn’t go in reverse (the transmission dropped). I find myself feeling nostalgic thinking about all the good times our family has had because of it. 

The Van was special, not just because it was a vehicle, but because it was modified to accommodate a power wheelchair and gave me further independence. When I first got sick we had a Ford Taurus station wagon which we bought after my youngest brother was born (4 months before my illness). The Taurus couldn’t hold a power chair and I really needed one because I didn’t have enough strength to push a manual one. A van, became a reality for us. Americans, in general, covet our vehicles, but for our family, having our van has truly been a blessing. 

Its health had been declining in recent years, rust had been eating away at its body, the gas gauge did not work, duct tape held the console/cup holders together, the side doors barely latched, the engine made awful noises all the time and a hole had worn through the floor in the back. Yes, you could see the road as you were driving. When I was a Senior in high school, we had the engine completely rebuilt with new and used parts and much of what fell apart before and after that was not really necessary for The Van to get you from Point A to Point B. It was, and still is, Our trusty, rusty Van. In fact, most people in town know our Van because: 1. We’ve had it for so long, 2. Most people in our town drive SUVs or luxury vehicles that are in mint condition and 3. The Van is associated with me and I’m somewhat of a local celebrity. 

Dad said that he’d hope for The Van to last until I graduated college. There were times that we weren’t sure it would make it. But it did, plus 2.5 years! We can be grateful for that I suppose…

It carried me and my 400 lbs. power wheelchair wherever I wanted/needed to go, not to mention all the times the other 5 people in our family needed to use it. In its 16 years and 180,000 miles of driving, our family has made memories in The Van that I’m sure we’ll cherish the rest of our lives. The Van has witnessed many states and even Canada, life milestones and life changes. Here are some of the highlights:

1. The Van has been to 21 different states, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, plus Ontario & Québec, in Canada. In fact, it drove from Montréal to Chicago in one long day! 
2. All 3 of my younger siblings learned to drive a car in it. And they didn’t get in any accidents.
3. The Van witnessed my first date, my high school Prom, my grandpa’s funeral, my many adventures with friends, rock concerts, mall trips, doctors appointments, carpools, college move-in & move-out days, IKEA trips, job interviews, track meets, chorus concerts, little league baseball games, family gatherings and countless other events in my parents’ and siblings’ lives.
4. The Van has been pulled over a few times… Once when my friend, Ashley, was driving it. We didn’t have the headlights on (by accident) and we got away with a warning…phew! My dad wasn’t that luck… on several occasions!
5. We wrote messages on the inside and outside windows and many of them are still there.
6. It ran out of gas at least two times that I can remember… Once coming home from church and then, of course, the infamous time we ran out of gas on I-26, about 25 miles Southeast of Columbia, SC on our way to Hilton Head. I don’t think any of us will forget that… having to call the State trooper, my brother having to pee on the side of the road while we waited for my dad to return with a newly purchased gas can and gas. We even have pictures of the event! 

The Van stopped on I-26

Dad humbly filling the tank with gas

The sheriff that helped us was not happy we took his picture

Oh, Van… it is sad to say good bye to you.  You have been an integral part of all six of our lives: the joys, the sadness, the frustrations, the memories. I am sorry for all the times we insulted you, for the times we didn’t take the best care of you. I am sorry for all the times we doubted you. I am sorry for all times we were embarrassed of you (and there were many, especially in this town). You had a long and beautiful life and I am happy to have shared it with you. There is so much more I could say…

But most of all, thank you. Thank you for being there. Thank you for keeping us safe and almost always getting us where we needed to be.

We will miss you…

Ford Fusion car boot

The baggage reclaim has been used on several other occasions for guerrilla marketing in quite a successful manner and here at Budapest Airport’s baggage reclaim Ford Fusion have joined in too.

It’s probably not there anymore as it was spotted in September last year, never the less it’s a clever design and I sure wish my car could hold that much baggage – load me upppp!

What's Next: Ford 1.6-liter EcoBoost

Here’s the third EcoBoost motor from Ford, joining the current the 3.5-liter V6 and the recently-announced 2.0-liter EcoBoost. The 1.6 and 2.0-liter turbo direct-injected I-4s are expected to get 20% better gas mileage than the larger, naturally aspirated engines they are set to replace next year. This little 1.6 is expected to put out around 180 horsepower and 170-175 lb-ft of torque. More at Autoblog

Frankfurt: Ford Focus BEV Concept

A Ford apresentou, no Salão de Frankfurt, uma versão do Focus movida a eletricidade em forma de carro-conceito. Ela antecipa o que virá a ser um modelo de produção da marca, que deve chegar à Europa em 2013. O BEV, como foi batizado, não passou por grandes mudanças visuais, limitando-se a adotar um motor elétrico para garantir que nenhum poluente seja lançado à atmosfera.

O propulsor, desenvolvido pela Magna, gera 100 kW (136 cv), com torque de 32,4 kgfm. Ele é alimentado por baterias de íons de lítio, capaz de serem recarregadas em tomadas domésticas de 230 volts. Elas garantem 120 quilômetros de autonomia e necessitam de seis a oito horas para serem completadas. Para economizar energia, o hatch ainda traz o ar-condiciondo automático do Fusion Hybrid vendido nos EUA. A velocidade máxima é de 136 km/h.

GALERIA

Ford 750 Fire Engine

I drove a Ford Bronco II (4WD) in high school. My brother drove a Ford Ranger, and our dad generally drove Ford F250 and F350 work trucks. A Ford 750 or a Ford 850 are each another matter entirely.

The old fire engines in Richwoods, Missouri were amazing to check out, but this Ford 750 stole my heart…

Stay tuned for another post with photos of other retired Ford 850 and Super Duty fire engines.

****

Richwoods, Missouri is located between Sullivan and Hillsboro, Missouri, in Washington County, on Highway A/Y, off of Missouri Highway 47.

Nova Ford Ranger...

Fiquei impressionado  com o comercial da Nova Ranger, muito bom.

Senti muita firmeza na Nova Ranger, principalmente por resgatar um detalhe que já havia sido perdido pelas outras caminhonetes, que é o pára-choque de aço.Se não me engano a última caminhonete que apresentou esse detalhe foi a Toyota Hilux em 2003.E se a Ford queria ultrapassar a Chevrolet, já conseguiu.

Toyota Hilux 2003:

Reparem no pára-choque.

Agora a Nova Ranger…

Reparem o pára-choque.

Não deixem de ver esse vídeo:

Världspremiären av Saab 9-5

Då var det dags för Saab att presentera sin ny skapelse, den nya 9-5:an. För de som har följt med Saabs, minst sagt dramatiska år är denna bilmodell inget nytt. Bilder och text har visats tidigare.

Saab satsar allt på ett kort. Denna modell måste lyckas annars är det kört. Även om Saab 9-5 blir en framgång, är det först 2012 när en ny variant av 9-3 modellen lanseras som bolaget sägs uppvisa positivt kassaflöde. Det kinesiska bolaget BAIC har börjat visa på en hög svansföring.

Christian von Koenigsegg känner ingen ångest för att kineserna skall kvadda bolaget och dess varumärke, samt stjäla den värdefulla tekniken(vilken den nu är). “Vi kan hjälpa varandra” säger kinesen Wang Dazong, VD på BAIC.

Volvo PV har med sitt modellprogram mycket bättre förutsättningar att lyckas. Volvo är idag på väg att profilera sig stort inom miljöbilar. Den nya serien DRIVe ger en förbrukning på snåla 0,39 liter per mil. 2012 kommer Volvo PV med en plug-in hybrid. Med en normal körcykel kommer denna bil att dra 0,19 liter per mil då man kan köra 5 mil på batteri. Någon liten småbil lär det inte vara fråga om. Det kommer att bli en V70 med 100 hkr elmotor som backas upp av en snål 205 hkr diesel.

Ford är tvärsäkra, de vill sälja Volvo PV, när det finns köpare som betalar rätt pris.

Lieber Ford Kuga...

… Als ich dich das erste Mal sah, warst du königsblau und auf einem Plakat abgebildet. Schon damals war ich hin und weg. Ich brach beinahe in Tränen aus, während ich wie hypnotisiert an der Scheibe des Straßenbahnwagons klebte und versuchte, dich in deiner ganzen Schönheit wahrzunehmen und kein noch so kleines Bisschen von dir zu verpassen. Es war Liebe auf den ersten Blick! Und ja, wenn ich ehrlich bin, brach ich nicht nur beinahe in Tränen aus. Ich heulte Rotz und Wasser, nachdem du aus meinem Blickfeld verschwunden warst. Es war so hart für mich. Endlich hatte ich jemanden gefunden, der so war wie ich und dann verschwandest du einfach, als die Straßenbahn um die Kurve fuhr.

Ich war niedergeschlagen, deprimiert, verwirrt, konnte nicht mehr essen, nicht mehr schlafen. Ich verzehrte mich nach dir und ich versuchte alles Mögliche, um noch einmal in die falsche Straßenbahn zu steigen und an dir, ja dir!, vorbeizufahren! Mit dem Erfolg, dass ich bald sämtliche Plakate in- und auswendig kannte, aber dich, ja dich!, sah ich nie wieder!

Ich war gebrochen, mein Herz hatte ein Loch und alles Pflaster der Welt hätte es nicht stopfen können. Manchmal trank ich mich besinnungslos, manchmal nahm ich tagelang gar nichts zu  mir. Manchmal saß ich eine ganze Woche auf meinem roten Sofa und schaute in die Leere, dann wiederum rannte ich stundenlang rastlos durch große Straßen und enge Häuserschluchten. Auf der Suche nach dir.

Und dann, vorhin, als ich mich mal wieder dem Obstschnaps hingeben wollte, sah ich dich vor dem Tante-Emma-Laden stehen. Du, oh ja du! Wunderbarer Ford Kuga! Ich weiß, es klingt platt, aber ich habe mich tatsächlich so gefühlt, als ob mein größter Traum wahr geworden war. Ich hatte dich wieder und ich wusste, dass ich dich dieses Mal nicht so einfach gehen lassen konnte. Ich musste mich bemerkbar machen und ich hoffe, ich habe dir damit nicht auf die Füße getreten. Und dass du genauso empfindest wie ich.

Lieber Ford Kuga, ich habe dir eine Nachricht hinterlassen und ich hoffe, du wirst sie finden. Ich habe sie dir direkt unter den Scheibenwischer geklemmt. Ich weiß, dies ist eine im Leben einzigartige Begegnung. Es passiert nicht oft, dass man jemanden trifft und glaubt, dass es das Gegenstück zu einem selbst ist, so wie in dem Sprichwort: Jeder Topf hat einen Deckel. Oh Kuga, du bist mein Deckel! Ich habe so lange nach dir gesucht, mich gesehnt und nun habe ich dich gefunden! Ford Kuga, willst du mich heiraten?!

Dein Panzernashorn

How To Have Fun in a 1978 Ford Escort

Here is a video that Ken Block sent me this morning of himself and fellow rally driver Chris Atkinson having some fun in Ken’s 1978 Ford Escort. Under the hood sits a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Millington engine that boasts 280 BHP. It also is setup with WRC-styled paddle shifting and a six-speed sequential gearbox. I think this video does an incredible job of capturing the definition of fun!

—By Vaughn Gittin JR

[streetfire id=6851b0c4-d94c-4a75-988f-9c7f010be7c8 w=428 h=352]

Country Auction on the Pittsboro - Goldston Road in Chatham County North Carolina: China and Spectacles

 

 

 

 

Top:  A speaker and tripod stand next to an old car.  The auctioneer utilizes a wireless microphone and speaker system to enable all bidders to hear, and to save his voice for the long day of bidding.  The old car, a mid 1960’s Ford Galaxie 500, had been off the road for 20 years (according to the inspection sticker).  With the moss, rust, and lack of a functioning engine clearly prominent, the car brought just two hundred dollars.

Middle: A banana box lies beside a bidder’s chair, holding her winning bids; china, glassware and a gravy boat.

Bottom:  A wood carving and pairs of spectacles await their turn in the bidding under a tent constructed to keep the weather off of many smaller items.  Though the auction day remained sunny throughout, rain had poured non-stop the two previous days.

[Via http://chipmillard.wordpress.com]