Car Blog

The Ford Focus Electric offers breakthrough, customer-centered technology, and a home charging station that brings convenience and value to match. Jointly developed with Leviton, a leading North American producer of electrical devices, the unit offers a wide variety of benefits for Focus Electric customers.

One of the main advantages of the charging station is the nonpermanent-style installation. The unit plugs into a 240-volt outlet instead of being hard-wired into the electrical breaker box. The nonpermanent-style design makes removal and replacement as simple as unplug and plug back in should the owner move.

“We’re delivering an industry-leading charge station that offers customers not only the best value, but also tremendous flexibility,” said Mike Tinskey, manager of vehicle electrification and infrastructure, Ford Motor Company. “It’s just one part of how Ford is making Focus Electric a simpler driving solution for customers.”

Manufactured in the United States, the unit’s exterior housing is made out of up to 60 percent post consumer recycled material. The unit also is compatible with all upcoming Ford plug-in vehicles.

Complete with attractive design aesthetics, the unit also has a larger power design than the competition, allowing for faster charge times as vehicles accommodate.

“We are pleased to partner with Ford, a world class innovator, as we embark on the electric vehicle revolution.  Leviton has a long history of providing commercial and residential electrical power delivery solutions which are easy to use and backed by industry leading service and support.  Our Evr-Green electric vehicle charging products continue that tradition and add another solution to our growing portfolio of green products and services.  These innovative solutions will help promote the adoption and expansion of electric vehicles,” said Mike Mattei, Vice President and General Manager for Leviton’s Commercial and Industrial business unit. Read the rest of this entry »

Ford unveiled its all-new Focus Electric – the company’s first-ever all-electric passenger car. The zero-CO2-emissions, gasoline-free version of Ford’s popular small car is the flagship of the company’s growing fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles coming to North America and Europe by 2013.

“Focus Electric is the flagship of our new family of electrified vehicles, showcasing our commitment to offer consumers choice when it comes to fuel-efficient or fuel-free vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. “Its advanced powertrain will deliver significant energy efficiency advantages and zero CO2 emissions without compromising driving enjoyment. And its suite of smart driver information technologies will transform the way customers think about energy usage and their transportation needs.”

The Focus Electric will launch in late 2011 and is designed to offer enough range to cover the majority of daily driving habits of Americans. It will offer a mile-per-gallon equivalent better than Chevrolet Volt and competitive with other battery electric vehicles.

A full recharge is expected to take three to four hours at home with the 240-volt charge station –half the charge time of the Nissan Leaf.

Focus Electric introduces new features and technologies – including a unique version of the MyFord Touch driver connect system especially for electric vehicles, a new value charging feature powered by Microsoft and a smartphone app called MyFord Mobile that helps plug-in owners control their vehicles remotely.

The sleek and stylish five-door hatchback leverages Ford’s global C-car platform shared by the gasoline and diesel-powered Focus models, which debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show and were launched at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Both Focus gasoline and electric variants to be sold in North America will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., with production powered in part by one of the largest solar energy generator systems in the state.

For European markets, a decision on where the Focus Electric will be built is currently being finalized.

Focus Electric is one of five new electrified vehicles included in Ford’s electrification strategy. Initial deliveries of Transit Connect Electric began in North America at the end of last year and the vehicle will be launched in Europe later in 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

The Editors of Edmunds’ InsideLine.com named the all-new, performance-oriented 2011 Kia Optima as an “Editors’ Most Wanted(SM)” Award winner.  The Optima was one of six vehicles to receive the accolade and the only midsize sedan honored.

“Consumers no longer have to settle for mediocre traditional midsize sedan offerings – the Optima breaks through the status quo by offering world-class design, confidence-inspiring performance, and a long list of safety and technology features without compromising Kia’s outstanding value,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). “We’re honored to receive this distinguished recognition from the editors of Inside Line.  This award underscores the dramatic impact Kia’s design-led transformation is having on the brand.”

The stylish, all-new 2011 Optima was praised for its “comfortable cabin, excellent mileage and plenty of features.”  In the review of the vehicle, Inside Line called the Optima “an affordable family car that looks, feels and drives a class higher.”

“The Edmunds’ Inside Line ‘Editors’ Most Wanted(SM)’ Award winners are chosen for one simple reason: They’re the cars, trucks, and vans that we like the best,” said Ed Hellwig, Editor of InsideLine.com. “‘Editors’ Most Wanted’ winners are the cars that we remember the most even after hundreds of test drives.  These are cars that we’d buy for ourselves and highly recommend to our friends and family.”

The Edmunds’ InsideLine.com “Editors’ Most Wanted(SM)” Awards are awarded annually to six vehicles based on the votes of 11 Edmunds’ Inside Line editors.  Every car and truck for sale in the United States is eligible for the “Editors’ Most Wanted” award if tested by Edmunds’ Inside Line by December 1. Read the rest of this entry »

Audiovox Corporation announced the introduction of the industry’s first automotive Blu-ray Disc player that plays any Blu-ray Discs as well as traditional DVDs and CD Audio Discs.

“We developed the AVDBR1 in response to the consumer preference for Blu-ray Discs in their home entertainment systems.  This mobile solution will allow them to maintain a single video collection that works both in the vehicle and at home,” said Tom Malone, President of Audiovox Electronics Corporation.

The AVDBR1 is installed under the seat or in a storage compartment in the vehicle and connects to any monitor by using either the HDMI, composite or component output.

The unit has been road tested to tolerate the vehicle’s environment and its small size allows for multiple horizontal and vertical mounting options in the vehicle. A blue accent light is used to illuminate the slot load disc area and button array. The unit is powered from a 2-pin, 12-volt connector to the vehicle’s accessory power source and comes with a full function wireless IR remote control. An 18 foot long IR extension is also included to allow for operation of the system via remote control, while the unit is concealed, under a seat, storage compartment, trunk, or cargo area. The infrared sensor will accept the IR commands from a remote and relay it back to the unit. Note: WiFi capable – for wireless media streaming (firmware upgrade available 2011). Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $349.99.  This unit will be available in the spring of 2011.

“There are more than 1,600 Blu-ray titles and over 190 BD-Live content titles available in the United States today and Blu-ray content will continue to grow every year. Once again we believe we will lead the way in mobile entertainment by providing consumers with a product that connects their home lifestyle to their mobile environment,” Malone concluded

Ten short years ago, automakers were touting the number of cupholders in the cabin and the increased off-road capabilities of family haulers. Today, these same companies are racing to offer increasingly hands-free mobile communication, eye-popping fuel economy and technologies aimed at helping drivers avoid accidents.

“Cars have become more like brains on wheels,” said Sheryl Connelly, Ford’s global trends manager. “Consumers today want to stay connected and they want the drive to be an experience, especially since the amount of time Americans spend in the car has nearly doubled in the last 10 years.”

Technology evolution

Many of the changes in automobiles were driven by the ever-evolving ways people use mobile devices and the Internet to consume information, communicate with others and even engage in commerce. According to the UN agency, about five billion people use cell phones while weekly Internet usage is up 560 percent.

This trend has exploded in the past decade, redefining the way we use our cars. As the calendar flips to 2011, and automakers kick off a new chapter of innovation at the North American International Auto Show, here are our Top 10 ways the industry has changed since 2000: Read the rest of this entry »

The all-new 2012 Ford Focus is the first beneficiary of a new class-exclusive Ford technology that employs downhill skiing and snowboarding moves to increase vehicle stability in turns.

Engineered to increase novice driver confidence by adding a finer sense of control in curves, the next-generation Focus will please enthusiast drivers as well with the addition of a vehicle stability control system previously reserved for premium sports cars.

“The new Focus is the first North American Ford vehicle to offer torque vectoring control,” said Rick Bolt, program manager for the Ford Focus. “This is a technology that has been offered on high-end sports cars, yet Ford is making it standard on their new small car.”

Just as a downhill skier or board rider shifts weight to their outside edge in transition from schuss to edge – adding balance and stability to carve through a turn – torque vectoring control provides slight braking force to the wheel and the tire that is subject to potential slippage to help the driver and vehicle gracefully negotiate the curve.

The slight braking pressure applied to just one driven wheel is imperceptible to the driver. The behind-the-wheel experience is an improved sense of stability and control throughout the curve. This increased vehicle stability in cornering situations is sure to please enthusiast drivers yet serves as a confidence builder for novice drivers as well.

Torque vectoring control uses the Focus braking system to imitate the effect of limited-slip differential, constantly balancing the distribution of engine output between the driven front wheels to suit driving conditions and road surface. When accelerating through a tight corner, the system applies an imperceptible degree of braking to the inside front wheel, so that more engine torque goes to the outside wheel, providing additional traction, better grip and improved vehicle handling. Read the rest of this entry »