Ford Motor Company Global Auto Shows

At the Tokyo Auto Show this month, Mazda unveiled its latest concept car, the Taiki.
It’s the latest addition to the Nagare design theme, following in the footsteps of the Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga and Mazda Hakaze concept vehicles unveiled earlier this year. As the fourth in the series, Mazda Taiki further advances and refines the theme through a fusion of the Nagare (flow) design concept and real-world technologies, such as a next-generation rotary engine and enhanced aerodynamic performance.

Mazda Taiki sets a new ideal for the front-engine rear-drive sports car of the future. It’s one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping create a sustainable society. The basic proportions begin with the stretched coupe form of a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, the short overhangs, and the liberating feel of an all-glass canopy. From the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space creates the dynamic sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually depicted.

Technologies introduced for the Mazda Taiki include the next-generation RENESIS (rotary engine 16X), which sets new standards for environmental and driving performance, a front-engine rear-drive layout, a unique 2-seat configuration, and Mazda’s rotary sports package.

We’ll find out more when the Taiki is unveiled in Tokyo.

Hitting dealerships at the end of 2008, the 2009 Mazda6 made its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week. Lighter, more aerodynamic than the old Mazda 6, and featuring a new interior and new suspension, the blogs are buzzing about its sporty, high design look, comparing it to the new CX-9 crossover. American enthusiasts hope that the Mazda6 intended for the North American audience will differ as little as possible from the European model. Design Chief Youichi Sato describes the design theme for the new Mazda6 as “bold and exquisite” emphasizing the connection between man and machine—what Mazda’s calling “kizuna.”

As before, there are three body styles: sedan, wagon, and hatchback. Totally redesigned, it’s 65mm longer, 15 mm wider, 5 mm taller, with a 50 mm longer wheelbase. The five-door hatchback symbolizes the new Mazda6’s sporty and sophisticated nature with a flowing, coupé-style silhouette and a six side-window cabin design. The sedan plays down its three-box form with its tautly-arched cabin and short, high tail, giving it a fastback look clearly related to that of the hatchback. The wagon features three-dimensional curves that give volume and tension to the side and rear view.
A new 2.5-liter gasoline engine has been developed from the previous 2.3-liter unit. The MZR 2.5 has a bigger bore and a longer stroke, plus freer-flowing intake and exhaust ports, which together improve low and mid-range torque by 10 percent. Power is 170 PS. Also available are the existing 1.8 and 2.0-liter gasoline engines and the MZR-CD 2.0 turbo diesel, carried over from the previous Mazda 6.

Volvo Cars introduced the Volvo ReCharge Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week.
Based on the compact C30 hatchback, the ReCharge is a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be recharged by a regular electrical outlet. “This is a ground-breaking innovation for sustainable transportation. A person driving less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) a day will rarely need to visit a gas station. In the USA, this may apply to almost 80 percent of drivers,” says Magnus Jonsson (Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars).

In principle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is a battery electric car with an efficient generator, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that steps in when the battery charge is insufficient. The APU is designed to distribute electrical power to the individual motors at each wheel. Since the combustion engine only powers the APU, it can operate optimally for regulated emissions and CO2. The engine-generator even has enough power to provide electricity to a house in the event of a power failure.

The ReCharge is ideal for commuters: drivers that travel less than 100 kilometres (62 miles) between home and workplace can cover the entire round trip on electric power alone, making carbon emissions minimal. For a 150 km (93 mile) drive starting with a full charge, the car will require less than a gallon of fuel, giving the car an effective fuel economy of 1.9 l/100km (124 mpg).

The only possible drawback is access to electricity, since it takes three hours to fully recharge. Volvo’s thought of that, too. “The only requirement is that the car owner has access to electrical outlets at convenient places, such as at home or at the workplace. Even a one-hour quick charge should provide enough charge to drive about 50 kilometres (30 miles) ” says Jonsson.

Ford unveiled the Verve Concept last week at the Frankfurt Auto Show. It’s the latest iteration of Ford’s ongoing “kinetic design” theme. The new Kuga, Mondeo, and redesigned Ford Focus Europe will be hitting the roads of Europe by the end of 2008, but this concept car is a bolder step in the small-car direction. Martin Smith (Executive Director of Design for Ford of Europe) describes the Verve Concept as “a chic, modern, and individualistic statement for a sophisticated, fashion-aware generation.” The concept was created by a team of designers from Ford studios in Dunton, England, and Cologne, Germany.

Ford is looking for public reaction to inform the design team’s vision. European design chief Martin Smith said that showing the Verve Concept at Frankfurt will be one of several opportunities in the near future for public feedback, and John Fleming (President and CEO of Ford of Europe) described the Ford Verve as a “bespoke concept car to generate reactions while our production plans are taking shape.”

This is significant for Ford. They’re shifting their design direction and creating a new small car portfolio in major world markets. Verve is the first of three small-car concept vehicles which will debut in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Given a wide degree of freedom to create the concept, the design team, including lead exterior designer Chris Hamilton, grounded their efforts in reality. From its surfaces, colors, and materials, the Verve has a sense of sophistication and fashion. While Ford Verve Concept was created with an eye toward production, there’s no news about specific plans yet.

So anticipated that photos of it showed up on the blogs before the embargo was lifted, the 2009 Jaguar XF had its official reveal at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week. Jaguar’s philosophy of building “beautiful, fast cars” is on display with the XF, but this car is larger than you might expect: there’s room inside for five adults. The XF feels like a departure from the ultra-modern C-XF that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, but it’s refined and luxurious as Jaguar enthusiasts expect.

The beauty is there, and so is the technology. Every XF model has shift-by-wire transmission control, with Jaguar’s sequential shift system - familiar to XK sports car customers. Shift-by-wire replaces manual shift linkages with electronic commands and gives every XF rapid and very smooth gearshifts. The Jaguar Sequential Shift™System gives the driver the option of one-touch manual gearchange control via steering-wheel mounted paddles. There are also multiple JaguarDrive Control™ transmission modes, including Dynamic and Winter settings, which interact with throttle progression, Dynamic Stability Control thresholds, and shift strategy to match mood and conditions.

The XF also features the all-new JaguarDrive Selector™, an industry-first rotary shift interface that combines precise, intuitive control with space-saving packaging, to allow maximization of interior storage options.

Every level of audio system features at least eight speakers, with a premium system designed in association with Bowers & Wilkins available on range-topping models. Radio options now include a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system and Sirius Satellite Radio for the North American market, while the XF technology count includes Bluetooth® communications technology, plus optional iPod® and MP3 player connectivity with full-function control through the Touch-screen, and an auxiliary port on every car for other portable audio devices.

Other available features include JaguarVoice™ control to operate audio and telephone functions, Blind Spot Monitor, Front and Rear Parking Aids and Rear Camera Parking Aid, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Speed Limiter, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Electronic Parking Brake.

The Jaguar 2009 XF will be available in late 2008.

At the Frankfurt Auto show this week, organizers and automakers are outdoing each other to show that the industry has turned a corner. Clean diesel, zero emissions, and hybrid technology are on display in what organizers are calling “the leading international fair for sustainable mobility.” Ford led the way, launching its new ECOnetic range of ultra low co2 models to be available by the end of 2008. Ford ECOnetic will join Ford Flexifuel range to give customers another affordable low CO2 choice. Ford of Europe is a leader in Flexifuel technology, which uses re-generative energy sources produced from renewable biomass.

The first to be launched by the end of 2007 will be the new Ford Focus ECOnetic, which promises to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions for conventional powertrain technology at 115g/km. The Ford ECOnetic will be extended in 2008 to include a sub-140 g/km CO2 Mondeo and a sub-100 g/km CO2 model in Ford’s all-new B-car model range. These cars will use a combination of the latest common-rail diesel powertrains together with
other features engineered to reduce CO2 emissions to the absolute minimum. Ford can read the market, and it’s clear that sustainability is on buyers’ minds. “We do know that more and more car buyers seek the lowest possible emissions as a key reason for purchase,” said John Fleming, Ford of Europe President and CEO.

The name “ECOnetic” evokes Ford Europe’s emphasis on “kinetic design” philosophy for both driving quality and emotional styling. Fleming wants customers to know that these ultra-low emissions models won’t sacrifice the dynamic driving qualities that people now demand.
“Whichever model our customers choose, Ford ECOnetic, Flexifuel, or, where available, LPG or CNG derivatives, can be assured of affordable, practical, low-CO2 technologies that will also retain our trademark qualities of excellent driving dynamics and dependability throughout the lifetime of the vehicle,” Fleming said.

A preview model for the Ford Mondeo ECOnetic is being shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Ford Kuga, Ford Europe’s latest addition to the crossover segment, was revealed this week at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Inspired by the iosis X Concept from last year’s Paris Motor Show, John Fleming (President and CEO, Ford of Europe) described Kuga as a promise kept: Ford said that they would develop a new model based on the iosis X Concept car in less than two years, and they did. The new Ford Kuga will go on sale throughout Europe during the first half of 2008.

“I’m excited that we are adding the Ford Kuga to our growing product range in Europe,” said Fleming. “It represents the continuation of our design-led commitment to add emotion and desirability to our cars.”
The new Ford Kuga is another bid to appeal to those customers that want vehicles that combine work, leisure, and family roles while being fun to drive. It’s a 4WD crossover that combines style with technology and on-road dynamics with off-road ability. This is the first crossover designed and developed in-house by Ford of Europe and exemplifies Ford’s new “kinetic design, ” described by Martin Smith, (Director Design, Ford of Europe) as “a flexible design language that will give an exciting look to all our vehicles.”

Kuga’s powertrain will feature Ford’s 2.0-litre, 136 PS Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engine, mated to a Durashift 6-speed manual transmission. Further details of the Kuga powertrain will be released closer to launch in early 2008. It’s only available as a front wheel drive version and will be produced at Ford’s Saarlouis plant in Germany.

“We’re very excited about Kuga, and believe that its blend of great looks, compact exterior dimensions, superb on-road driving quality, spacious and high quality interior and good off-road ability will allow it to stand out from the crowd,” said Fleming. “We can’t wait to see it on and off road early next year”

The blogs are already describing it as “stylish” and predict that it might be another model—like the European Ford Focus—that American customers will lust after.