Ford made a profit. Yes, you read that right, a car company, and not just that, but an American car company, actually made money in the past quarter. After all the doom, gloom, buy-outs, shotgun marriages, bankruptcies and the like, this is the last thing you’d expect to read, but it sure looks like it’s true.

And add to that that this is Ford Motor Company that we’re talking about. The only car company of “The Big Three” that walked away from the government bailout cash. They took a look at the terms of the deal, and said, ‘No thanks, we think we can make it on our own.’ And damn if they weren’t right.

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By Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Responsive 240 hp V6 engine
• Capable chassis and suspension
• Roomy and comfortable interior
• Good value

Cons:

• Some chintzy interior plastics
• Exterior design still needs work
• Disappointing fuel efficiency

Introduction

Trivia question: Which manufacturer produced the best-selling car in America 15 years ago? If you’re thinking Honda or Toyota, guess again. Although it seems hard to believe, given the recent collapse of the US auto industry, in 1994 the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable reigned supreme, proving that America could beat the foreign competition and build a top-rated, best-selling family sedan.

Unfortunately for Ford, the Taurus/Sable lineup gradually lost its edge and by the late 1990’s Honda and Toyota had firmly re-established their dominance in the market for mid-sized sedans, and it’s been a Camry and Accord love fest every since. Fast forward 10 years and it looks like Ford is finally ready to reclaim its title as the go-to manufacturer for quality family transportation. With the refreshed 2010 Fusion, Ford has an appealing mid-sized sedan that should make the competition more than a little nervous.

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It looks like Ford will be moving the production of its Kuga small (-ish) SUV to a plant in Kentucky. Yes, this will be good news for those needing jobs in Kentucky (which would seem to be a lot of people), but it also has some interesting ramifications in a larger sense.

For starters, a lot of you might be asking, “What’s a Kuga?” Good question. The Kuga is an SUV primarily sold in the European market. So how can making a car in Kentucky, which is sold in Europe, make sense? And also, if they’re going to build it here, will they sell it here?

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Back in the Saddle?

With the Car Allowance Rebate System a.k.a ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program officially over and American auto sales needing another stimulus, the industry and consumers are looking forward to the custom tuned delights promised by the annual SEMA show. While SEMA 2009 promises the usual range of over the top tuner specials and reminders of upcoming products from the major brands, stalwart Mustang tuner/manufacturer Saleen hopes to make a splash with its new S281.

While little information is currently available on the S281, exciting teaser images have been released and they suggest that Saleen intends to stay in the game, despite the economy and uncertain direction after the departure of Steve Saleen in 2007.

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Ford Motor Co. will unveil the first of many models that will be built on its new, compact-car underpinnings this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Ford’s on a roll, with a ton of Cash for Clunkers money in its pockets while receiving great reviews on all its new vehicles, especially their 2010 Taurus. This is a good time for Ford, and positive responses on the new C-Max will only strengthen the carmaker’s position moving into 2010.

Based on the Ford iosis Max concept displayed earlier this year at the Geneva car show, the all-new C-Max is roomier and more stylish than the vehicle it replaces. The car will debut in Frankfurt Sept. 15, and is scheduled to roll into Ford of Europe showrooms in the second half of 2010.

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Ford Motor Co.’s Chinese joint venture with Changan Motors reported a 111 percent sales increase in August compared to the same period last year — the company’s seventh straight month of year-over-year growth.

At this point, Ford is the Biggest One of the Big Three, by making strategic moves that all seem to work. The venture with Changan Motors is paying off. Cash for Clunkers paid off for them in a huge way. And with their newest models and an upcoming whole slew of new ones coming in 2011, Ford’s management is pleased. While the others limp along using money from Uncle Sam, Ford is not government-sponsored in any way, which must make them very happy indeed.

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Ford Motor Co.’s unexpected $2.3 billion second-quarter profit could signal the end of the worst downturn in recent automotive history for at least one of Detroit’s automakers, but Ford’s recovery still depends on the broader economy.

Finally, some genuinely positive news to report. Old Henry Ford (pictured) is no doubt smiling up in heaven right now! I’ve been telling people for the past year that Ford would emerge as the best of the Big 3, but no one (except those people who work for Ford) believed me. Now maybe they’ll listen. The formula for the carmaker’s success isn’t molecular physics—they started to make high-quality, reasonably priced, fuel-efficient cars that can compete against the imports. And the best thing is that they didn’t take any bailout money to do it.

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Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford, recently commented on the future of his car company and made a statement that most motorheads would have thought inconceivable a matter of months ago. Mulally said that a key portion of Ford’s future plans center on “more and more electrification, both hybrids and battery electric vehicles.” In addition to that, he also made some predictions as to when the Blue Oval would be in the black.

The Ford CEO said that the automaker is on path to be profitable by 2011. If he was talking about the first quarter, that’s a scant 18 months away. And for a company that posted record losses of $14.7 billion in 2008, and forecast continued losses through the rest of 2009 and through 2010, that’s a pretty amazing thing to say. And something to keep in mind is that Ford is the only American manufacturer to turn down bailout money from the feds. Of course, they were also in much better shape, product-wise than either GM or Chrysler.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Luxo interior and ride quality
• Microsoft Sync - the only endearing Microsoft product in existence
• Gutsy and fuel efficient Triton V8

Dings:

• Mundane exterior styling…
• …except for the obnoxiously large faux chrome grille
• Cargo loops in bed smaller than a needle hole

Ruling: Although you might not notice at first glance, Ford’s F-150 really is new and improved.

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President Barack Obama will tell you that he hasn’t had the best luck with cars in the past. In fact, he claims, he’s had some real clunkers along the way to the White House.

“The car I learned to drive on was my grandfather’s Ford Granada,” the president told an Indianapolis radio station during the campaign. “It may be the worst car that Detroit ever built. … This thing was a tin can. They wanted to keep the cars big, so they made them out of tin foil. … You basically couldn’t go over 80 (miles per hour) without the thing getting out of control.”

Now, we find out, courtesy of Bloomberg News that Obama drove a Fiat during college. During a meeting on Chrysler’s planned tie-up with Fiat SpA, the president “recalled the mechanical problems that plagued his old car.”

Better luck may await the President, however. Obama bought a Ford Escape hybrid during the campaign and regularly touts the vehicle including most recently at a White House event where he was surrounded by other auto CEOs and Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally.

>> Review by Alex Kramer >> Photographs by Derek Mau

Pros:

• High-output V6 engine
• Well-balanced suspension
• Solid build quality
• User-friendly SYNC system
• Head-turning 22” wheels

Cons:

• Hefty 4,300 pound curb weight hampers handling, acceleration, and fuel efficiency
• Huge wheels = lots of unsprung weight and road noise
• Transmission lacks manual shift option
• Edgy exterior styling

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Ford, perhaps the healthiest of the big three automakers in this very unhealthy time, seems to be pulling another smart move if the rumors about its Euro-only city car, the Ka, coming to the U.S.

Again, this seems like a no-brainer to me. Not only has the precedent been set with the success of the Smart Car (as far as small and urban vehicles are concerned), but this is another off the rack solution to raising CAFE and emission standards. All Ford (or GM or Chrysler for that matter) has to do in a lot of instances is sell cars over here that they’ve already been selling in Europe. And if not whole cars, there’s lots of efficient power plants than could be dropped into the engine bays of North American models.

So bringing the Ka to the North American market (there’s no reason not to sell it in Canada) seems like a good idea. And Ford already has a performance variant rolling along the roads of Europe, so there could also be some fun out there as well. If Ford is smart and this rumor proves to be true.

There’s been no official word from Ford yet concerning the Ka’s potential future here in America, but the recent Chrysler/Fiat deal could give the Ka an in for the U.S. market. Fiat’s 500 and the Ka share the same platform, which could present an interesting cost-cutting scheme for Chrysler, Fiat and Ford.

Source: LeftLaneNews

Photo from Flickr user Panoramas

Ford Motor Co. announced that it has successfully completed the debt restructuring initiatives it announced last month, reducing its automotive division’s debt by $9.9 billion — a move that the car manufacturer said will save the company approximately $500 million per year.

The automaker and its credit subsidiary are using $2.4 billion in cash and 468 million shares of stock to retire that amount.

If the bookmakers in Vegas were taking bets on which member of the Big 3 will finish in first place when everything is said and done, my whole bankroll would be riding on Ford. They’re making all the right moves, with great cars coming out and a very proactive approach to becoming a leaner, meaner operation.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Dramatic interior quality improvements
• More attractive, stylish and aggressive exterior improvements
• Hoot-hollerin’ V8

Dings:

• Intrusive arm rest
• Annoying IP illumination reflection in windshield
• Rear seats fit for a double leg amputee

Ruling: The first Mustang which might actually attract people who’ve never liked Mustangs.

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Good news is few and far between in the car world these days, but here’s some from Ford.

Cleveland Engine Plant No.1, which had been idled since 2007, is now open for business and it has began production of the firm’s new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engines. The EcoBoost V6 will be optional on the 2010 Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and come standard on the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 has received some $55 million for tooling and equipment upgrades from Ford to build the EcoBoost engine. Even better news? The reopening of Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 will see approximately 250 employees forming the shift to build the engine. So 250 people get to keep their jobs, which is great. According to Ford, the plant will be staffed by employees from the existing three plants at the site.

Source: CarScoop