2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford Motor Company scored a historic doubleheader today, capturing both the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). It is only the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both titles.

“Winning both of these prestigious awards is confirmation that the ONE Ford plan is working, delivering industry-leading products for our customers,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards recognize vehicles based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. A jury of 49 automotive journalists in the United States and Canada vote for the vehicles, which must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the previous model to qualify for the award.

The Fusion Hybrid edged out finalists including the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf/GTI to win the North American Car of the Year award. It is the fourth hybrid vehicle in 17 years to win recognition as North American Car (or Truck) of the Year. It also is the second hybrid win for Ford – the most hybrid wins for any automaker. The Ford Escape Hybrid was named North American Truck of the Year in 2005.

2010 Ford Transit Connect

The Transit Connect bested finalists including the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback to win the North American Truck of the Year award. It is the sixth Ford truck to win the award – the most wins of any automaker in the 17-year history of the awards program. It also is the second year in a row that Ford has captured the title. Last year, top honors went to the 2009 Ford F-150.

Fusion Hybrid a winner out of the gate
The North American Car of the Year award is the latest in an impressive string of awards and accolades for the Fusion Hybrid. Most recently, the vehicle was honored as CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010, one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars, and the entire Fusion lineup captured the acclaimed MOTOR TREND Car of the Year® award.

The all-new Fusion Hybrid arrived in dealers in March, complete with a powertrain system that combines the best attributes of the gasoline engine and electric battery-driven motors to deliver the optimal experience for the customer in terms of driving performance and fuel economy.

The Fusion Hybrid also offers drivers a way to be more connected to the hybrid driving experience thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster execution that helps coach them on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid.

Other class-exclusive technologies and features that set the Fusion Hybrid apart from the competition include Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), Ford SYNC®, SIRIUS Travel Link™ and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.

Despite the slump in overall industry sales, 2009 was a record-breaking year for the Ford Fusion. Sales are at an all-time high, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. Perhaps even more significant, more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:

• MOTOR TREND Car of the Year Award
• One of CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010
• One of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars
• 2009 “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster
• Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
• One of America’s Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine
• Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine
• 2009 and 2010 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER Magazine
• Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com
• One of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
• The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Value”
• 2010 Consumers Digest Best Buy
• Detroit Free Press 2010 Car of the Year
• 2010 Most Environmentally Progressive Car of the Year by Earth, Wind & Power
• 10 Best Engine by Ward’s Auto World

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid is built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant.

Transit Connect fills unmet needs of small businesses and fleets
The Transit Connect was brought to the U.S. to fulfill the unmet needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs, offering them a new vehicle choice with significantly improved fuel economy, generous and accessible cargo space, and the agility and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas.

Powered by a 2.0-liter I-4 engine with a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission, the Transit Connect offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans, delivering an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The Transit Connect also has more than double the cargo-carrying capacity of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, making it suitable for a broader range of commercial-use applications. And it offers commercial users a cargo payload of up to 1,600 pounds – a larger payload than the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

The Transit Connect also is available with the industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions™, a suite of affordable technologies that provides customers with connectivity, flexibility, visibility and security to better run key aspects of their business.

On Transit Connect, Ford Work Solutions delivers three innovative features:

• A wireless in-dash computer that provides full high-speed Internet access, Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling and navigation. The system also allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks right on the job site.
• Tool Link™, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system that enables customers to maintain detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment.
• Crew Chief™, a fleet tracking, telematics and diagnostics system that provides dynamic location and performance data fleet owners need to more efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance for safety and economy, and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect include:

• 2010 Editors Choice for Vans by CAR and DRIVER Magazine
• Detroit Free Press 2010 Truck of the Year
• The Detroit News 2010 Truck of the Year
• 2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award for Best Workhorse Vehicle
• A Great Car for the Small Business Delivery/Utility Worker by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect is built at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Plant in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-sweeps-na-car-and-truck-of-31796

Japanese Used Ford Trucks for Sale

Mini Trucks, which are also known as Kei trucks, Kei means, “light weight“. Japanese Mini Trucks or Kei class vehicles are less expensive, smaller; lighter and very importantly they are fuel-efficient. Japanese mini trucks are available with automatic transmissions, 2WD, 4WD, air conditioning, forced induction engines and with other optional features. Japanese Used Mini Trucks are Popular in USA, Canada & Other countries as well.

SOME FACTS ABOUT JAPANESE MINI TRUCKS

• 4×4 Japanese Kei Truck or Mini Truck Is An ATV - Off Road - Multi Purpose Utility Vehicle.
• In Japan, the Kei Mini Trucks must have to pass mandatory inspection and strict EPA emissions standards, the cost of inspections increase as the vehicle ages, resulting in early export.
• Mini trucks engines are available in 550cc to 660cc, liquid cooled, 2, 3 or 4 cylinder gasoline, 40 MPG
  These mini trucks were having 12? tires.
• Some of them are available with differential lock or axle lock.
• These Mini Trucks are having Bed capacity, ~ 880lbs
• Having Weight ~ 1800lbs
• Their size was available in Ten feet long, Five feet high and Four feet wide.
• Japanese 4×4 Kei Mini Truck is approved in the USA For their use only in Off Road.
• 4′ x 6′ rear bed with folding sides, some available with dumps & Hydraulics.
• They are having full instrumentation - electric, oil, temp,
• Heat, defrost, wipers and headlight all standard, some with A/C.
• To be used in USA all imported Japanese 4×4 Kei Mini Trucks are Restricted To 25 mph otherwise they are available at 60 mph.

Uses of Japanese Mini trucks:
Construction, Landscaping, Hunting, Farming, Fishing, Hotels, Manufacturing Yards, Airports, Automobile Yards, Hospitals, Schools/Universities, Sports Centers, Train Stations, Complexes, Industrial Complexes, Amusement Parks, Industrial Mines, Malls, Warehouses, Parks/Gardens, Auto Garages, Docks, Boatyards, Museums, Race Tracks etc.

Some of the best quality Kei mini trucks manufacturers in Japan are Suzuki, Daihatsu, Honda, Isuzu, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Hino, Mazda etc.

If you are looking to import Kei Mini Truck of any make, then please visit now our Japanese Car Portal

Ford Motor Company will introduce nine new or upgraded engines and six new transmissions in North America in 2010 as part of a five-year effort to overhaul its entire global powertrain portfolio.

The push began in 2008 and continues through 2013 and includes 60 new or significantly upgraded engines, transmissions and transaxles globally over the five year period.

One of the advanced and fuel-efficient North American powertrains is the 2012 Ford Focus’ all-new normally aspirated 2.0-liter direct fuel injection engine, the first of its kind in a Ford vehicle in North America.

“Ford is delivering on our commitment to lower emissions, improve fuel economy and deliver the highest quality powertrains in the industry,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president, Powertrain Engineering. “We are making this happen with one of the most ambitious powertrain upgrades ever undertaken by Ford. By the end of 2010, nearly all of Ford’s North American engines will have been upgraded or replaced since 2008.”

North American launches
In 2010, Ford will launch new engines and transmissions in Fiesta, Mustang, Super Duty and F-150. These new powertrains are expected to propel each vehicle to best-in-segment in fuel economy.

Fiesta’s Ti-VCT 1.6-liter engine and PowerShift dual clutch transmission will deliver an estimated 40 mpg on the highway, topping both Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

Mustang’s new Ti-VCT 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 delivers the class-leading performance and fuel economy Mustang buyers expect. The 2011 Mustang V-6 with six-speed automatic will deliver at least 30 mpg on the highway. No other V-6 powered sports coupe in the world delivers this level of performance and fuel economy, regardless of price.

Mustang GT gets a new 5.0-liter V-8 that cranks out a 412 total horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque yet delivers at least 25 mpg on the highway – better than any competitor.

Both versions of the Mustang get all new fuel-saving manual and automatic six-speed transmissions.

Spring also marks the arrival of an all-new Ford-designed-and-built Super Duty diesel truck engine. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel powerhouse is expected to lead the class in fuel economy towing, hauling, horsepower and torque.

With its advanced emissions systems, the new 6.7-liter diesel engine also will run cleaner than the outgoing model. The 2011 Super Duty also gets a new 6.2-liter gasoline engine.

Even as they concentrate on improving powertrain performance, Ford engineers continue to reduce engine and transmission weight. For example, the new Super Duty diesel and transmission together are185 pounds lighter than the outgoing powertrain.

With its novel features such as a “live drive” Power Take Off (PTO) and rugged TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission, Super Duty will remain the most capable workhorse in the segment.

Ford: Driving powertrain innovations into the market
Other new Ford powertrains coming in 2010 include an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 for the F-150. The EcoBoost 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged engine delivers the thrust and performance feel of a V-8, with the fuel efficiency of a V-6. Current EcoBoost-equipped models are delivering up to a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy and a 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.

By 2013, Ford plans to offer EcoBoost engines on 90 percent of its product lineup with annual volume of vehicles with EcoBoost at 1.3 million globally.

Toward the end of the year, a new 2.0-liter Ti-VCT four-cylinder for the next-generation Focus will mark the first introduction of a normally aspirated direct injection engine to the powertrain lineup. The all new engine will launch on the 2012 Focus in North America.

Ford: America’s fuel economy leader
No automaker has posted a larger fleet-wide gain in fuel economy in the past five years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Ford’s combined car and truck fuel economy has improved nearly 20 percent since 2004 – almost double the next closest competitor.

Additionally, Ford’s tailpipe CO2 emissions are declining. Ford’s 2009 fleet-wide average is down approximately 9 percent from 2008.

“We are focused on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that’s how Ford will truly make a difference,” said Samardzich.

Source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-launches-unprecedented-nine-31765

Japanese Used Vehicles for Sale

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (Daihatsu) has decided to dissolve the joint business formed with FAW Jilin Automobile Co., Ltd. (FAW Jilin Auto) to establishthe body parts manufacturing company FAW Daihatsu (Jilin) Body Parts Co., Ltd. (FDJB). Daihatsu’s decision to transfer its 50-percent stake in FDJB to FAW Jilin Auto, effective from January 4, 2010, was based on the change in the framework of Daihatsu’s business in Jilin City, China*.

The decision to transfer all management rights of FDJB to FAW Jilin Auto was reached after talks between Daihatsu and FAW Jilin Auto, with the aim being to have FAW Jilin Auto display the comprehensive strengths of the FAW Group and for Daihatsu to improve management efficiency by consolidating its management resources. FDJB will continue to manufacture body parts after the dissolution of the joint venture, in its new role as a subsidiary of FAW Jilin Auto.

In addition, in order to continue the technology licensing agreement, no changes will be made in the partnership between Daihatsu and FAW Jilin Auto with regard to the provision of parts and other activities.

Source: http://www.daihatsu.com/news/n2010/10010701/index.html

Japanese Uesd Auto Parts for Sale

Novi, Michigan – Hino Trucks engines rank highest in customer satisfaction for a second consecutive year according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Medium-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission Customer Satisfaction StudySM.

The study measures customer perceptions of 2007 model-year Class 5, 6 and 7 gasoline and diesel engines, and provides manufacturers with a comprehensive and objective measure of customer satisfaction with the products and related dealer service. Four factors are measured to determine overall engine satisfaction. In order of importance, they are: engine warranty; engine quality; engine performance; and cost of engine ownership.

“The J.D. Power and Associates award is the ultimate recognition because it is the voice of the customer of the on-road experience they have had with our product. We are proud to be recognized for back-to-back awards as Hino continues to build on a foundation of quality and value. Our goal of constantly surpassing expectations and striving to be the industry leader is the cornerstone of our business plan, and we are committed to continuing our efforts,” noted Glenn Ellis, Vice President of Marketing & Dealers Operations for Hino.

Looking to the future, Hino Trucks continues to plan for new technologies and models that meet and exceed both environmental and customer needs. 2010 will see the release of new models meeting stringent emissions standards. In 2011, Hino, the world leader in commercial truck hybrid technology, will introduce its third generation proprietary hybrid system in a newly designed class 4 and 5 cab over specifically designed to meet the needs of the U.S. market.

The 2009 J.D. Power and Associates study finds that 2007 model-year medium-duty engines have considerably higher fuel economy than 2006 model-year engines did in the 2008 study. The improvement in fuel economy drives an increase in satisfaction with the cost of ownership factor, as well as an improvement in satisfaction with medium-duty engines overall.

According to J.D. Power and Associates, Hino engines continue to perform well across the board, particularly with regard to quality. When compared to the average engine in this market, Hino Trucks engines tend to have fewer engine problems and less downtime. And, with business owners trying to minimize expenses in this tight economy, reducing the cost of ownership - particularly their fuel expense - is top of mind.

Source: http://www.hino.com/news/story_851.php?PHPSESSID=be3c2af59616f4064efdd5b680a98677

Japanese Used Trucks for Sale