Ford Declares It’s Do or Die for Lincoln Dealers

Everyone has heard the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” However, Ford Motor Company seems to be doing just that.

At a meeting held in Detroit last week, Ford CEO Alan Mulally told the Lincoln dealers present that they had two years to complete $1 million worth of renovations on their showrooms. If dealers have joint Ford and Lincoln dealerships, then it’s worth it to dish out $1.9 million on restorations.

And although some Lincoln dealers might welcome this ultimatum, those in disagreement really have no other choice. Ford plans on reclaiming franchises that refuse to invest in refurbishments, taking over the dealerships and providing compensation for the out of work dealers. It really is a “take it or leave it” arrangement.

The reason for all this hubbub is Ford’s wish to revamp its only remaining luxury brand, Lincoln. Ford projects its U.S. Lincoln sales will balloon from the 86,000 units sold in 2010 to 162,000 by 2015. The showroom overhaul is the first step in making Lincoln a more appealing luxury brand.

But Ford is interested in more than just improving its dealerships; it wants to make them exclusive as well. Indeed, the ultimatum only applies to urban dealers at this time. Dealerships who can’t afford the pricey makeover are simply given the boot.

Ford is using this tactic to decrease the number of Lincoln dealers specifically in the top 130 U.S. markets, where 55 percent of its business is derived from. At the close of February, 434 Lincoln dealers were in the top 130 markets. By the end of this year, Ford wants that number to dwindle to 325.

Thus that Lincoln dealer you see when you drive to work or pass on your way home may soon be victim to a grim fate. Or maybe it will be one of the lucky ones, given a new coat of paint and freshly laid carpet. In the eyes of Ford, it seems that either way is fine.

Future of Electric Vehicles: Refillable Liquid Batteries

One argument that continues to resurface amongst electric car bashers is the six to eight hour charging period that most electric batteries have. All those arguments may be coming to close in the near future thanks to an ingenious solution brought to us by the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In an effort to minimize the discrepancy in refueling time between conventional and electric vehicles, MIT has developed refillable liquid batteries with which all-electric cars could be charged in a matter of minutes. Although the project is in its infancy, much speculation has been made as to whether the batteries would be refilled at a pump the same way we get our gasoline now.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

The battery essentially works by pumping a solution with solid particles, which are either cathodes or anodes, through the battery’s circuit. It is interesting to note that MIT’s new battery be highly compartmentalized and will house the two functions of the battery (storing and releasing energy) in separate, physically-partitioned areas. This solution, which has been lovingly nicknamed “Cambridge crude” by professor W. Craig Carter, appears in the form of black, viscous goo.

Due to the new design, MIT speculates that the battery will be both smaller and less expensive than the EV batteries being produced today. Thought this product may not hit markets soon, a company known as 24M Technologies has staked its claim by fueling the project with a 16 million dollar investment. MIT hope that by pairing with 24M Technologies the commercialization of the battery will enjoy huge success.

MIT Says Refillable Liquid Batteries Are the Way of the Future

One argument that continues to resurface amongst electric car bashers is the six to eight hour charging period that most electric batteries have. All those arguments may be coming to close in the near future thanks to an ingenious solution brought to us by the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In an effort to minimize the discrepancy in refueling time between conventional and electric vehicles, MIT has developed refillable liquid batteries with which all-electric cars could be charged in a matter of minutes. Although the project is in its infancy, much speculation has been made as to whether the batteries would be refilled at a pump the same way we get our gasoline now.

The battery essentially works by pumping a solution with solid particles, which are either cathodes or anodes, through the battery’s circuit. It is interesting to note that MIT’s new battery be highly compartmentalized and will house the two functions of the battery (storing and releasing energy) in separate, physically-partitioned areas. This solution, which has been lovingly nicknamed “Cambridge crude” by professor W. Craig Carter, appears in the form of black, viscous goo.

Due to the new design, MIT speculates that the battery will be both smaller and less expensive than the EV batteries being produced today. Thought this product may not hit markets soon, a company known as 24M Technologies has staked its claim by fueling the project with a 16 million dollar investment. MIT hope that by pairing with 24M Technologies the commercialization of the battery will enjoy huge success.

Aston Martin Goes To the City

With the vast majority of automakers expending energy on green technology and environmentally friendly vehicles, it is no surprise that even luxury car companies want to be a part of this growing trend. Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen’s Audi which introduced the A1 subcompact last year, Aston Martin is launching their version of a compact city car this month.

Known as the Cygnet, this city car is meant to be a solution for urban drivers who face the problem of tight parking spaces as well as the answer to demands for more eco-friendly vehicles. Emitting only 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, the Cygnet is a much greener option than other Aston Martin models such as the One-77 which emits 572 grams per kilometer. As Peter Schmidt, editor of Automotive Industry Data asserts, “The attitude of the super-rich has changed…They really do want to be seen to be green.”

In order to reduce cost and production time, Aston Martin enacted a supply deal with Toyota Motor Corporation. Under the deal, Toyota produced the engine, transmission, and frame of the Cygnet, using the Toyota iQ, a similar subcompact car, as their template. Aston Martin needed the partnership to expand the appeal of the Cygnet and ensure a speedy turnaround to increase demand.

While the Cygnet shares several components of the iQ, it remains a characteristically ultra-luxury car. Boasting a hand-stitched leather interior with 3 million possible combinations of trim and color choices, six types of alloy wheels, a navigation system, a six-speaker stereo, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the Cygnet is worthy of its Aston Martin badge.

However, the green, subcompact car does sacrifice some of the speed characteristic of Aston Martin. The acceleration rate from 0 to 62 mph is only 11.6 seconds, a slug compared to the One-77 which races to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The price tag on the Cygnet could also be a cause for concern. Buyers will be paying $50,500 for the Cygnet as opposed to the iQ which only costs about half of that price.

But Aston Martin believes the increase in urban populations as well as the pressure for green technologies will persuade luxury car buyers to opt for the Cygnet. Indeed, Aston Martin hopes it will be its second-best selling car, planning to sell 1,500 models a year. While the Cygnet might not live up to typical sports car standards, it certainly will be a car to talk about.

Ford Hopes Three Cylinders Are Better than Four

With expensive gas prices tightening their grip around American wallets, the innovators over at Ford have been losing sleep coming up with ways to combat this fuel-driven oppression. So far, they have arrived at a very un-American solution to the problem: smaller is better. Ford’s engineers have been laboring on a new three-cylinder EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine which they hope will revolutionize the small car market stateside.

This diminutive dynamo hopes to pack as much punch as a four-cylinder while still delivering superior miles per gallon. Ford claims that the EcoBoost will supply an output better than or equal to the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine already equipped in the Fiesta. Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s VP of global product development shared that “Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more mile per gallon. Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”

While some critics are still skeptical of three-cylinder sales due to American’s past inclination toward bigger, more powerful engines, the statistics don’t lie. Ford and GM recorded that more than a third of its customers are buying cars with smaller four-cylinder engines which is nearly twice as much as was documented in 2008. With no indication that fuel prices will ever return to the glorious days of yore, consumers are finally waking up to the reality of better mpg or bust.

Ford Hopes Three Cylinders Are Better than Four

With expensive gas prices tightening their grip around American wallets, the innovators over at Ford have been losing sleep coming up with ways to combat this fuel-driven oppression. So far, they have arrived at a very un-American solution to the problem: smaller is better. Ford’s engineers have been laboring on a new three-cylinder EcoBoost 1.0-liter engine which they hope will revolutionize the small car market stateside.

This diminutive dynamo hopes to pack as much punch as a four-cylinder while still delivering superior miles per gallon. Ford claims that the EcoBoost will supply an output better than or equal to the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine already equipped in the Fiesta. Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s VP of global product development shared that “Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more mile per gallon. Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”

While some critics are still skeptical of three-cylinder sales due to American’s past inclination toward bigger, more powerful engines, the statistics don’t lie. Ford and GM recorded that more than a third of its customers are buying cars with smaller four-cylinder engines which is nearly twice as much as was documented in 2008. With no indication that fuel prices will ever return to the glorious days of yore, consumers are finally waking up to the reality of better mpg or bust.

"Toyota Friend" Reminds You to Take Care of Your Car

Your cell phone vibrates. Is that a text message, a phone call? No, it’s just a message from your Toyota Prius plug-in, reminding you it needs a charge.

That’s right, Toyota Motor Corporation is developing a social networking service exclusively for Toyota drivers called Toyota Friend. Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, hopes that Toyota Friend will offer a way to create a friendship between car and driver. Just as people use Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends, Toyota Friend is meant to link Toyota drivers to their cars, dealerships, and fellow Toyota owners. Indeed, users can message each other, browse for charging stations, find vehicle tips, and even post their findings to other popular social networking sites.

While Toyota Friend has not been launched yet, it is set to premiere in 2012 in Japan. Toyota is working on the project with both Microsoft and San Francisco-based Salesforce.com, making it likely that Toyota Friend will be introduced in the U.S. and worldwide later in the year.

More than just a networking service, Toyota Friend has the potential to take the guess work out of car maintenance. It has the capability to notify users when their car needs an inspection and will automatically make an appointment with a Toyota dealership. And it doesn’t matter where you are when your car is in need: Toyota Friend’s alerts can be viewed via cell phone, computer, and even the car’s interior display.

The next time you are driving in your Toyota Prius, talking to it about its low battery or asking if something is wrong with the engine, consider that in the future your car just might talk back.