Ford to Re-Enter Minivan Market With Imported Transit Connect Wagon !

In the past five years, Ford has sold a glut of crossovers and no minivans. 

By the end of next year, Ford will be back to building tall roofs and sliding doors, but on a rather unexpected family car: the European-designed Transit Connect Wagon.

This is not your typical American minivan. In fact, Ford won't even call it by such a name.

It's "an affordable and stylish alternative to conventional minivans," Mike Levine, Ford's truck spokesman, told MSN Autos. "Customers are looking for alternatives to conventional minivans that are too large, too expensive and consume too much fuel. Transit Connect Wagon will appeal to these customers."

The 3-row, 7-seat Wagon -- built in Spain and sold across Europe as the Tourneo Connect -- has an upright, high-top design with the simpler, fluid lines that typically grace a commercial vehicle. That's exactly the point, as it's based on the next-generation Transit Connect work vans also coming in late 2013. Overall, it's a little shorter, thinner and lighter than its plumper, frumpier-looking minivan competition. And it looks surprisingly attractive in these first photos. 

Two wheelbases will be available, similar to how Dodge once offered a regular Caravan and a Grand Caravan. The long-wheelbase model is comparable to the Honda Odyssey, while the shorter-wheelbase version puts it on par with the smaller 5-seat Mazda 5, until now the only compact minivan in its segment. Two 4-cylinder engines found in the 2013 Fusion will be on hand: a 2.5-liter with 175 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-liter making 178 horsepower and greater low-end torque. The Wagon won't offer a V6 engine and is down on towing capacity and overall cargo room compared with its rivals. As such, it's expected to return the segment's best fuel economy, with an expected "30-plus" EPA highway rating. 

Ford's once-popular Windstar/Freestar minivans faded out after 2007, ceding the market to better vans from Toyota, Honda and Chrysler. General Motors, faced with outdated models and poor crash tests on its minivans, hasn't built any since 2008.  The Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country -- the longest-running and top-selling minivans -- have been the only American models consistently in the game.

But while the "cool" parents have switched to more popular SUVs and crossovers, minivans remain a huge draw for those who don't give a damn how they look, and who want true practicality and superior cargo space. This year, minivans are on track to surpass a half-million in sales; all eight minivan models in the U.S. sold nearly 470,000 units through October. Ford is smart to jump back in.

The Wagon will be priced below the base Toyota Sienna, Levine said, which starts at $27,245 with destination. However, the Transit Connect Wagon could steal sales away from the 7-seat Flex, which already has trouble keeping up with Ford's more popular 7-seat Explorer. Levine said the Flex was "aimed at slightly older, more affluent buyers" than the Wagon and wouldn't be affected. 

We agree the Wagon is a very different vehicle, but how many similarly sized vans and crossovers can one automaker sell? Once Ford admits to calling it a minivan, consider us sold.

Source : autos.msn.com

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta To Be Auctioned For Sandy Victims !

Ferrari is doing its part to help Hurricane Sandy victims by auctioning off the first F12 Berlinetta that will be sold on American soil. The base price of Ferrari's halo model is about $315,000. We'd expect this one to go for much more than that. The auction will take place at 9 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 17 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

“Here at Ferrari, we have experienced and seen the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has caused in the affected area firsthand,” Marco Mattiacci, chief executive and president of Ferrari North America, said in a statement. “We want to use our event next week at Formula One in Austin to give back to our local community by auctioning the F12 Berlinetta.”

If you can't make it to the auction, but want to win the car, contact your local Ferrari dealership. They have information on how to place bids.

Ferrari also has a partnership with the Red Cross — including its own contribution page —for its fans.

From : Jake Lingeman

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Its Redesigned 2013 Civic !

Honda wasn't happy, though, and took the rare step of fast-tracking the Civic's midcycle refresh years ahead of schedule to tackle the concerns -- which, in my important critical opinion, were valid. In late October, the company directed its U.S. dealers to reduce inventories of 2012 Civics by 60 percent to clear room for the 2013 model, scheduled to go on sale Nov. 29. That means buyers will get even better deals as the current models are forced out.

It bears repeating that the Civic retains an unusually versatile lineup. Shoppers can choose from a coupe or sedan, manual or automatic transmission and trims ranging from the pared-down, fuel-saving HF to the sporty, 201-horsepower Si. Three powertrains are available: gasoline, hybrid and natural gas - the only production natural gas car that's not a van or a truck. 

All this alone is impressive - as are the sales - but the 2013 Civic needs a stronger core that will see it compete on a higher scale. Happy Civic owners, if they care at all, just might notice the difference.

[Source: Honda]

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Honda Revamps Hybrid Powertrains, Promises Greater Efficiency !

Honda has overhauled its hybrid technology for the first time in 13 years, a major shift that it says will allow more efficient performance, particularly on compact and large vehicles. 

Honda's current Integrated Motor Assist, which has been in use since the first 2-seat Insight in 1999, uses what is essentially an extra-large starter motor to assist the small gasoline engine. As a result, the system is lighter and cheaper than Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, but cannot start or run any of Honda's current hybrids solely on electric power. As a result, Honda hybrids don't even match the stellar fuel economy ratings of the Prius.

Honda's new systems are tailored to the size of the vehicle, eschew continuously variable transmissions for 7-speed dual-clutch units and use more powerful lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-metal hydride. 

Its smallest hybrid system installs a small electric motor directly inside the gearbox, which will finally allow low-speed electric driving and can disengage the engine during coasting -- similar to what Porsche allows on its Cayenne Hybrid.

The automaker's midsize solution -- which will be used on the 2014 Accord plug-in hybrid -- uses two electric motors that can allow electric driving for several miles and has two other performance settings. 

Larger vehicles such as the Acura MDX could be equipped with Honda's all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain. This system would pair a 3.5-liter V6 engine with three electric motors -- two of which would independently drive each rear wheel and apply different torque levels to improve cornering performance (it's similar to what Acura's current SH-AWD system offers). Honda says each of the rear-wheel motors could be charged against the other, so energy generated from one wheel can be applied simultaneously to the other.

Honda hasn't released any models, other than the Accord, that would use this technology, nor has it mentioned cost, fuel economy or availability. But if Honda succeeds, Toyota (and now, increasingly, Ford) may finally have some real mileage competition.

Source: Honda

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Amazing : Nissan Upgrades Titan Pickup For 2013 !

Nissan announced pricing for the 2013 Titan pickup last Friday. The Japanese full-size truck will start at $29,815 for the Titan S King Cab 4x2, while the SL Crew Cab will be the most expensive, topping out at $43,735. Those are price increases of $300 and $1,600 over 2012 models.

All 2013 Nissan Titan pickups get the company’s 5.6-liter V8 producing 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard and maximum towing capacity tops out at 9,500 pounds for the King Cab and 9,400 pounds for the Crew Cab.

Trim levels remain the same for 2013. S and SV are lower trims, PRO-4X is the off-road model, and SL comes with almost all of the goodies. Seven new colors are also offered.

Updates for 2013 include a new aerodynamic rear spoiler tailgate design, standard step rails on SV and SL models, a standard 120-volt outlet on SL models, new optional wheels and a few other bits. A four-spoke steering wheel replaces the three-spoke design.

The Titan PRO-4X gets a refreshed exterior. New graphics, a satin chrome grille, dark wheel finish and dark finish lower radiator skid plate differentiate it from last year’s model. The interior is also revised with white stitching accents, new logo design and Titan embroidery for cloth seats. The PRO-4X also comes standard with a display screen, USB input and satellite radio.

From : Jake Lingeman

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High Performance Ford Mustang Here For You !

This strikingly capturing High Gear Mustang is definitely a sensation and is next to your perfect dream car. It comes with the H&R lowering springs together with Forgeline wheels. The seats have received all attention and have quilted-leather overhaul which produces a Stang a Bentley-like vibe. Also under the hood you get to come across the Edelbrock E-Force supercharger and it breathes through the Magnaflow exhaust. It’s time to have fun with Ford Mustang, the ultimate winner.

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Amazing Lamborghini Aventador J Roadster !

Yes, it’s a real car, and yes, it’s for sale. Lamborghini makes that point clear at the end of its press release, and we imagine the furor among the 1% to get that first spot in the queue will be enough to rival the 99% on iPad 3 launch day.

The Aventador J adheres to a pretty simple recipe, namely dispense with everything unnecessary to going fast, like the climate control and nav systems. Lambo has also given the roof and windshield of the Aventador LP700-4 coupe the Sawzall treatment, fitting small wind deflectors instead. The company says it’s going for a two-seat sport-bike effect, so it’s done some other interesting things to lower the curb weight of the J.

Notable here is the use of a new carbon fiber fabric called “Carbonskin” that Lamborghini claims is soft enough to be used on the seats and interior trim. Carbon fiber is used in more traditional ways throughout the rest of the car – in the bumpers, designed to increase downforce, the front air scoop, complete with winglets, and in the huge rear diffuser.

Powered by the same 700-hp 6.5-liter 12-cylinder as the standard Aventador, the all-wheel-drive J is capable of speeds over 300 kph (186 mph), meaning the driver and passenger had better have their helmets at the ready.

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New 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD

The 2013 S60 introduces All Wheel Drive, making All Wheel Drive now available on the entire S60 model line up. Starting at $33,750 MSRP, the New Volvo S60 T5 AWD has an electronically controlled AWD system from Haldex, which gives it the traction abilities.  And even on a dry road, the tractive abilities and precision handling from the AWD system help to lessen over-steer and under-steer conditions so you can enjoy the driving experience.

The S60 comes in two models, a front-wheel drive T5 or all-wheel drive T5 or T6 sedan. Included on the T5 is a turbocharged 250-hp five-cylinder, the T6 includes a turbocharged 300-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Both are matched with a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. 

The T6 R-Design has a turbocharged 325-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Chassis equipment includes dynamic stability traction control (DSTC) with advanced stability control, and corner traction control with torque vectoring. Safety features include Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake, City Safety, whiplash protection front headrests (WHIPS), anti-lock brakes, and six airbags. Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth are standard. The T5 includes T-Tec cloth upholstery, the T6 has standard leather upholstery.

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