Tag: Ford

Ford has announced the appointment of Rob Crouse as Director, Sales for Middle East and Africa (MEA) to continue the acceleration of sales growth in the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa and Sub-Saharan African markets. Crouse will be based in the company’s MEA regional headquarters in Dubai.

In his new role, Crouse will report to Kalyana Sivagnanam, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Middle East and Africa.

Sivagnanam said: “It is with great pleasure that we can announce Rob Crouse in his new role as Director for Sales for the MEA region. With more than 20 years experience in sales with Ford, Rob is the perfect choice for building on our sales success in the region.”

Crouse, the former General Manager Marketing and Sales at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is responsible for overseeing the MEA business unit’s growth and performance in vehicle sales in his new role. In his former role, Crouse was responsible for servicing the needs of all the existing clients and expanding Ford’s consumer base whilst supporting the introduction of new vehicles into the South African market.

Under Crouse’s leadership, the Ford Ranger in South Africa ended July 2015, with sales volumes increased by 38.3 per cent over the same month last year. Overall, the total FMCSA volumes continue their upward trend, with total sales year-to-date up by 46 per cent.

“I’m excited to be part of the team that is going to transform the MEA region to deliver solid market share growth and happy customers who are delighted with our products and services, while meeting the challenges of the region’s varied customer needs to deliver a world class experience with the Ford brand,” said Crouse.

“I am looking forward to the all-new experience in these culturally diverse markets that make up this fascinating region of the world,” he added.

The all-new Ford Focus RS delivers 350 PS maximum power from specially engineered 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. With advanced technologies, Focus RS is among 12 new performance vehicles Ford will offer through 2020 globally, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Ford has announced that the all-new Focus RS high-performance hatchback will deliver a maximum power output of 350 PS. The Ford Performance-developed model features a unique version of the new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine that debuted with the all-new Ford Mustang.

Ford will demonstrate the performance of the all-new Focus RS to the public for the first time at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed in United Kingdom, where Ken Block – Gymkhana and World Rallycross star – will tackle the famous Hillclimb at the wheel of a prototype car.

“We promised enthusiasts a serious driving machine and, with 350 PS under the hood, that is exactly what we will deliver,” said Dave Pericak, Global Director, Ford Performance.

“The stunning pace and innovative technology of the all-new Focus RS place it head-to-head with performance models from luxury and exotic marques, and it’s ready for the challenge,” Pericak said.

With Focus RS, Ford is introducing its Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring. The innovative system helps deliver a new level of handling capability and driver enjoyment by combining outstanding traction and grip with unmatched agility and cornering speed.

The Focus RS is the first Ford RS model equipped with selectable Drive Modes – including an industry-first Drift Mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts – and Launch Control.

The new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine for the all-new Focus RS shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminium four-cylinder engine in the all-new Ford Mustang. The engine has been significantly upgraded for the Focus RS to deliver 10 per cent more power with 350 PS maximum output.

Increased power is generated by a new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with larger compressor that delivers significantly greater air flow, along with a much bigger intercooler to maximise charge density. Engine breathing also is enhanced through a less restrictive intake design, and a large-bore high performance exhaust system with an electronically controlled valve in the tailpipe that helps optimise the balance of back pressure and noise output.

The cylinder head is produced from an upgraded alloy material capable of withstanding higher temperatures, while the cylinder block employs stronger high-tensile cast iron liners.

Engine cooling also has been given the highest priority, with engineers creating additional space within the front of the vehicle to house a significantly larger radiator pack – the biggest ever fitted to a Focus – which provides the level of cooling demanded for intense circuit driving.

Meticulous calibration work has ensured that the power unit delivers excellent low-end responsiveness with a powerful mid-range pull, climbing to a free-revving top-end up to a maximum rev limit of 6,800 rpm. Maximum torque of 440 Nm is delivered between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm, with 470 Nm available for up to 15 seconds on transient overboost during hard acceleration.

Inspiring performance demands an inspiring soundtrack. Ford Performance engineers have tuned the RS to deliver a rewarding and sporty sound character during spirited driving, with the distinctive burbles and pops that are a RS signature.

“This very special 2.3-litre EcoBoost unit will inspire drivers as they feel the surge of the turbo, and reward them as they take it to the red line – all delivered with a visceral sound guaranteed to put a smile on your face,” Pericak said.

Developed by a team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and the U.S., the all-new Focus RS is the third generation of Focus RS cars, following models launched in 2002 and 2009. The 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, the Focus RS will be built in Saarlouis, Germany.

Focus RS is one of 12 new performance vehicles Ford will bring to customers globally through 2020 as part of a new era of Ford performance, and will be available for delivery to European customers from early 2016.

With  the  capacity to cover more miles per gallon,positive impact on the environment and other features, 2015 Ford F-150  has taken the lead among other vehichles.  Automotive Science Group (ASG) has taken a comprehensive approach to calculating a vehicle’s impact on the environment as well as the complete cost of ownership and impact on social justice issues. On all three counts, the 2015 Ford F-150 beat out the competition in the pickup truck class.

ASG took into account the full life of vehicles from sourcing parts during production to projected use and disposal. In regular cab, crew cab, and extended cab, the F-150 XL Supercab with 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine topped other light-duty pickups for “environmental performance.”

Despite its advantage in city and highway economy, Ram’s EcoDiesel (23 combined miles per gallon) was determined by ASG to have a bigger impact on the environment than the aluminium F-150 (22 combined miles per gallon). Since Ram’s diesel model releases a higher amount of particle emissions per mile than the 2015 F-150, the life-cycle edge goes to Ford’s pickup.

Widening the angle to include “economic performance” and overall “social performance,” Ford’s F-150 also was the winner in both cases. In annual fuelling costs, there is no comparison between Ram and Ford: F-150 would save owners $2,750 over the EcoDiesel model over the course of five years. Chevy Silverado (20 combined miles per gallon, $750 more in fuelling costs compared to F-150) is much closer to the Ford model with gasoline currently cheaper than diesel fuel.

When the 1500 EcoDiesel won Green Truck of the Year, Ram Chief Executive Officer Ron Hegbloom reiterated that fuel economy in the top priority of truck buyers, but the shift in gas prices has made the F-150 far more affordable while providing nearly the same efficiency. In terms of particulate emissions, there is an even better case to be made for the Ford EcoBoost model that comes in at a lower sticker price.

Life-cycle emissions tests are becoming more common when comparing green vehicles against gasoline alternatives, and the conversation should include the source of electricity when electric vehicles are concerned. While it may not carry as much weight in the pickup class, Ford F-150 is leader of the pack.

Germany will soon be home to some of the hottest and coldest temperatures, most arid and humid conditions, hurricane force wind speeds, and highest altitudes to be found anywhere on the planet courtesy of a new climatic wind tunnel test centre being built by Ford at its engineering centre in Merkenich, Cologne.

The all-new, multi-million US$ facility – which is planned to be the most advanced wind tunnel test centre in the global auto industry when it is opened in the next few years – will feature two climatic wind tunnels capable of operating at wind speeds of up to 250 kph – almost at the Category 5 rating for hurricane wind speeds.

The test centre will also house an altitude laboratory capable of emulating heights from sea level to 5,200 metres high – higher than the average height of the Tibetan Plateau, often described as “The Roof of the World.”

“Around 50 percent of the vehicles we sell around the world are sold in areas that are more than 1,000 metres above sea level, including regions like the Alps and Pyrenees here in Europe,” said Barb Samardzich, Chief Operating Officer, Ford of Europe, at the ground-breaking ceremony.

He added: “This new, world-leading climatic wind tunnel test centre underlines Ford’s continuing commitment to investing in the most advanced vehicle testing technologies to provide our customers with the highest quality, world-class vehicles.”

The climatic wind tunnel test centre will also feature four separate cells where cars can be cooled to temperatures of minus 40 Celsius Arctic conditions, to plus 55 Celsius, just 2.8 Celsius below the highest-ever air temperature globally recorded in the Sahara Desert.

In addition, humidity in the centre will be capable of being adjusted from the driest desert conditions of just 10 percent humidity, to the most humid of rainforests at 95 percent.

The new test centre, which will measure 5,500 square metres in size, equivalent to a football field – also underlines the continuing importance of Ford’s engineering centre in Merkenich, Cologne, which has the global lead for the design and the development of all Ford global B- and C-segment vehicles.

Ford has recalled 850,050 models that span a couple of the brand’s most popular sellers in North America, including the Fusion and Escape. Reportedly, the issue stems from a problem with the restraints control module, which may experience a short circuit.

“If a short circuit occurs, the airbag warning indicator will illuminate,” Ford said. “Depending on the location of the short circuit, the deployable restraint systems (e.g., airbags, pretensioners, side curtains) may not function as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury,” Ford added.

Other affected models include the C-Max hybrid and the Lincoln MKZ, all from the 2013 and 2014 model years. About 745,000 of the vehicles were located within the United States and federalised territories, about 82,000 of them were sold in Canada, and the remaining 20,000 were sold in Mexico. This brings Ford’s recall totals for the year so far to about 3.9 million, and while that figure is dwarfed by the more than 30 million recalled by fellow Michigan resident General Motors, it is still about three times the number of cars that the brand recalled last year, according to the New York Times.

Ford said that it was not yet aware of any injuries or deaths that might have occurred as a result of the defect, but it detected the problem as part of its “normal internal processes,” such as warranty claims, Kelli Felker, a company spokeswoman, wrote in an email to the New York Times. Felker noted that the airbag issue was not in any way related to the massive 14-million unit recall by Takata Corp. earlier this year, an effort that spanned many automakers around the world — including Ford. The control module at hand is not manufactured by Takata. While the Fusion has largely missed the rounds of software updates and other fizes, the Escape and C-Max models have been notably susceptible to recalls. The Escape was recalled numerous times (for different years) over fire risks. Both were brought in earlier this year for a problem with the same restraints control module; 595,000 vehicles were covered under that previous effort. The Ford Fusion is the automaker’s bestselling car in the U.S. and its second vehicle (along with the F-150) sitting in the top 10 on the domestic market. Through the first eight months of 2014, Ford sold 218,892 models of the midsize sedan. Ford’s Escape sits just behind in 11th place with 208,444 models sold in 2014.