2003 Ford Focus Svt Edition on 2040-cars

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Ford profits soar as problems mount

Ford is doing well. It can't make enough examples of its new Fusion, it can barely make enough of the aging F-150, it's getting good brand rankings, people like its turnaround story, it's selling oodles of product and its quarterly profit numbers end in the word "billion." As other high-flying examples have demonstrated over the past few years, though, big numbers can come with problems that aren't exactly small.
Automotive News has published a good "nutshell" report of Ford's progress and problems. The Dearborn automaker's optimistic "general label rule" determination of gas mileage for the C-Max Hybrid has led to lawsuits, hybrid software updates, a downward revision of C-Max fuel economy and millions in rebates. AN notes the C-Max was the "worst-scoring model in this year's J.D. Power Initial Quality Study," but Ford will probably be happy that it managed not to be mentioned further in the study's results after last year's mediocre showing. Its MyTouch and SYNC systems, the bugbears sabotaging Ford's J.D. Power results, have also led to lawsuits, software updates, more software updates and a center console rethink. On top of that, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost in the 2013 Ford Escape that Ford called a "hero" was soon catching fire for three different reasons. And let's not even get into the troubled launch of the Lincoln MKZ.
The Automotive News piece notes that industry observers have been surprised at Ford's stumbles because everything has been looking so good. Nevertheless, there is still the issue of those billions in profits - the company is doing plenty of things, plural, right. Ford says it is tackling its problems, hiring engineers and instituting new quality control processes as part of its effort to find solutions. The test will be to see if in a year from now we begin the discussion of these issues with "Remember when Ford...", or "Problems continue at The Blue Oval."

Autoblog Minute: Focus ST Tuner, Traffic Deaths, Audi EV SUV

Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi is previewed. Autoblog's Greg Migliore recaps the week. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Ford releases an upgrade kit for the Focus ST, 2015 shows a spike in traffic-related deaths, and the future of Audi, here's a hint it's electric. I'm Greg Migliore, senior editor at Autoblog with these stories and more for your Autoblog Minute weekly recap. Own a Focus ST but suffer from horsepower envy in anticipation of the Focus RS? Not a problem. A $1,900-kit from the developers at Mountune will boost your hot hatch to 275 hp and 296 pound-feet of torque, when running on 93-octane fuel. Traffic fatalities in 2015 see the largest spike in decades. The report from National Safety Council cites more drivers putting in more miles, and distracted driving as contributing to the 14-percent hike in car-related deaths. Audi plans on releasing a fully electric SUV at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check in this Saturday for my complete weekly recap. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Frankfurt Motor Show Audi Ford Driving SUV Electric Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video ford focus st

Ford opens 88 new dealerships in China in a single day

"Ford opened 88 dealerships in China last year." "Ford opened 88 dealerships in China during the first half of 2014." "Ford opened 88 dealerships in China last month." None of those statements - even the last one - would seem unbelievable. Saying "Ford opened up 88 dealerships in China last Thursday," though, is a bit more dramatic.
Yes, on June 19 alone, Ford opened the doors on nearly 100 showrooms in the People's Republic, boosting the Blue Oval's total presence in the country to 750 dealerships. Of course, while an overabundance of dealers in the US proved troublesome for American manufacturers back in 2008 and 2009, there's no such concern in China. Considering the country's huge population and the breakneck pace of the local auto industry, you could be forgiven for being surprised Ford only has 750 outlets at this stage.
What's notable about this most recent push, besides the sheer volume of new stores, is their location. Over three-quarters of the new dealerships are in so-called Tier 4 cities, which are smaller towns that still contain millions of people. This fits with Ford's strategy in China of avoiding the bigger battlegrounds that are already dominated by competitors and focusing on setting up shop in newer markets that may have been overlooked, according to Automotive News.