Interestingly, Farley maintains that Ford won’t necessarily wait until the Grand C-Max goes on sale in the U.S. to determine whether or not to bring the model to America, and it will actively solicit feedback from both journalists and consumers to see if there’s a business case to be made. Further, he reminded us that there was “absolutely no plan” initially to market the next-gen five-door Focus in the States, but that all changed after the 2007 Verve concept was met with an enthusiastic response from media members and show goers.

If Ford does decide to bring the C-Max to America, it may have a minor naming conundrum to deal with. At the moment, the Grand C-Max moniker is expected to be shortened to just ‘C-Max’ when it goes on sale in the U.S., or the MPV might take on the name ‘Focus C-Max,’ though a final decision has not yet been made. Do you think the short-wheelbase C-Max would sell? Check out our high-resolution galleries of both models and then be sure to vote in our poll below. We’ll have firsthand drive impressions of the European-spec C-Max range to share with you next week, so stay tuned.

2011 Ford C-Max

2011 Ford Grand C-Max

“A dark horse, which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed on the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph.” Beautiful words from the quotable Benjamin Disraeli, and inspiration for the name of the latest Mustang to come from Saleen’s stable. Due to the car’s name it may sound like our title is a clever play on words, but the truth is our seat time was limited to the passenger seat.

We can’t blame Saleen for being careful with the car – the 2009 620-hp Dark Horse Mustang you see here is the first one off the assembly line and is the only one built so far. To their credit, Saleen did take us out to Willow Springs Raceway outside of Los Angeles for some flying laps, so we were able to experience the full capabilities of the car’s performance. Saleen will build only 25 of the Dark Horse Extreme Edition Mustangs, all 25 units will be painted black with a flat black exterior graphics, navigation system, leather steering with alcantara inserts.

“The Dark Horse provides the capability of extreme horsepower and provides the detailed look our customers expect. By merging the Super Shaker with the Extreme powertrain we have created a no compromise solution for people looking for both performance and classic Mustang looks,” states Marc Musial, Chief Powertrain Engineer.

The Dark Horse provides 620HP with 600 ft.-lbs of torque with Speedlab SuperShaker option supplying exclusive styling while enhavncing performance . “The vehicle takes advantage of the ram effect into the SuperShaker air box,” states Dan Agnew, Powertrain Engineering Manager, “It increases pressure in the air box, which adds boost by 0.5 psi and holds air charge temperature relatively constant even with the higher boost.”

It has hardly been the best-kept of secrets, but visitors to Detroit will be the first to see the new R version of the Jaguar XF plus the revised range of XKs. All these cars get Jaguar’s all-new 5-litre V8 engine, which replaces the 4.2-litre unit and has just the cylinder-head bolts and the exhaust tappets in common with it.

Chief engines engineer Malcolm Sandford says the V8s are the most efficient engines in their class. The supercharged version makes 503bhp, plus 461lb ft of torque  all the way from 2000rpm to 5000rpm, yet it gets under 300g/km CO2 while propelling the Jaguar in which it is fitted to 60mph in under five seconds.

One thing that’s missing from the supercharged engine is the characteristic whine. Sandford hates it: ‘It’s the sound of imperfect machinery and it shouldn’t be there,’ he says. So there’s a new Eaton ‘Twin Vortex’ supercharger with four lobes per rotor instead of three, which is more efficient and soaks up less energy to drive it. The water-cooled intercooler can absorb up to 30kW of heat from the intake air.

Both engines have a neat water-cooled oil cooler nestling in the vee, and both have less internal friction than any rival engine according to data from an independent engineering assessor commissioned by Jaguar. The naturally-aspirated V8 produces strong figures, too: 380bhp and the same number of lb ft, the latter again strong from low revs.

All four of its camshafts have a very clever design of variable valve timing, using the torque generated by the camshaft itself as the valve springs try to force the cam lobes to move round. This uses less energy and generates a quicker response than the usual oil-pressure-fed system. The inlet camshafts also have variable lift, using a hydraulic pin to lock the tappet in one of two shapes as needed to engage with one of two camshaft profiles.

The new engines, and the 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel recently announced, are joined to revised ZF automatic transmissions which should feel more DSG-like than ever, thanks to crisper shifts and more locking-up of the torque converter.

With its supercharged V8 the  £59,900 XFR virtually matches BMW’s V10 M5 for power while producing more torque at lower, more usable revs. This new R-car has deeper front and rear valances, with chrome mesh in the lower air intakes, and subtle sill extensions with a gentle twist along their length. Wheels are 20in diameter and bear ‘Jaguar Supercharged’ lettering, and exhaust gases exit through four fat pipes. The bonnet has a pair of vents to let the hot air out.

It’s all quite understated, as is the interior which gets some new dark wood and aluminium treatments and new body-hugging front seats. Understated, that is, unless you go for the Red Zone seat facings. The former CATS suspension, with its two automatic stiffness settings, is replaced by a continuously-variable Bilstein system using sliding valves. The XF SV8, incidentally, has disappeared from the range although Jaguar insists the XFR is not its replacement, being an altogether harder-edged car.

The new XKR is mechanically almost exactly the same as the XFR, and both get a new electronic active differential which functions much like Ferrari’s version. So if there’s a tail slide, it can divert torque to the outside rear wheel to help correct it instead of relying on the electronic stability system to brake the inside rear wheel. With the stability system switched off, both Jaguars are set up to allow progressive power slides with the electronic differential keeping torque where it needs to be.

You can tell a 5-litre XK by the new outer vents on the front valance, new LED tail lights and, inside, the XF-type Jaguar Drive Control, the round gearshift selector which rises out of the centre console on start-up. The XKR gets the new ‘supercharged’ wheels, too.

As for an XK 3.0 turbodiesel, all the engineers will say is, ‘It’s a good idea.’ But the body language suggests it’s rather more than that.

You can read more about the cars from 2009 Detroit motor show.

Ford has decided to combine elements of its “Bold American” and European “Kinetic” design language for the 2010 model… The new Taurus is powered by 3.5-liter V6 Duratec engine, mated to one of two available six-speed automatic transmissions, including SelectShift with shift paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. The V6 motor delivers an estimated 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. It earns a ULEV-II emissions certification and comes paired with a choice of two new six-speed automatic transmissions. Initially, the car will be offered in SE and SEL trim levels. Ford says it plans to offer a performance-oriented EcoBoost model, with an announcement regarding availability coming soon.

Source: Ford

Just days after unveiling the Lincoln MKT crossover at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the automaker has officially announced that the vehicle will start at $44,995 for a front-wheel-drive model, including destination charges. A four-wheel-drive model with the automaker’s EcoBoost powertrain runs $49,995.

“We’re growing Lincoln’s product portfolio with a full-size crossover that offers more of everything luxury buyers want today – including more variety,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Lincoln MKT will help us further build momentum for Lincoln, which has been outpacing its luxury competitors and growing market share in recent months.”

“The MKT is fully differentiated from the Flex, the Lincoln MKT strikes the optimum balance between capable and driver-engaging handling, while simultaneously delivering a smooth quiet ride in all three rows,” said Chief Engineer Ron Heiser. “It combines a luxury touring experience with an agile ride and available Class III towing strength, as well.”

And chief designer Gordon Platto takes visible pleasure from pointing out the MKT’s features: “This is the first time we’ve actually fully integrated the grille from the 2007 MKR Concept. We’ve combined it with zero-offset bumpers for a smooth exterior. Inside, we use the same cut-and-sew leather and wood trim as in the MKS sedan, and our ‘floating armrest’ is also from the MKR and allows us to offer contrast-color inserts later.”

It will go on sale in late summer 2009… Fuel-efficiency also comes standard on the Lincoln MKT – and customers have a choice of two powerful yet practical V-6 engines…

A 3.7-liter, 24-valve variation of the award-winning Duratec engine family is standard. Delivering an expected 268 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 267 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 RPM, this engine has been tuned to provide brisk acceleration and smooth power delivery with best-in-class noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) control.

A two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off (ADFSO), combined with optimized transmission and final drive gearing, are designed to help this engine to deliver segment-leading fuel economy of an estimated 24 mpg highway, besting both the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 by 4 mpg..

For even more performance driving feel, Lincoln MKT also offers a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6. This engine provides the power of a normally-aspirated V-8 with V-6 fuel economy. This advanced engine delivers a class-leading estimated 355 horsepower at 5,700 RPM, while generating 350 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 RPM.

Specialist carving tools from Japan and North America, including a highly advanced, computer-driven cutting machine, have been used to create the sculpture, which is finely detailed to reflect all the elegance and style of the original. The Focus Coupe-Cabriolet sculpture, which is made from 120 separate pieces of crafted ice, was dismantled and then reconstructed on the Ford stand – which was specially reinforced to bear the weight – by a team of 12 specialists.

Although it weighs more than five real Focus models – it will gradually melt and the 6,500 litres of recycled water will drain away naturally. For those people who can’t see the life-size car at the opening of the show, ice-sculpting continues daily on the Ford stand throughout the event, with two sculptors working on models at the S-MAX ice bar.  Some pictures of COOL sculpture of Ford Focus…

]]> http://autosvalley.com/ford-focus-ice-car-sculpture/feed 0