The Hackable Car, or Why Technology is Making Our Cars More Vulnerable to Attack
The modern automobile is a microcosm for our networked society. Everything from the brakes to the dual-zone climate control and from the windscreen wipers to the CD player is connected through a Controller-Area-Network (CAN) bus.
Like the nerves in our bodies, this network passes information from one component to another. It allows the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to work in unison, disconnects the cruise control when you step on the accelerator and allows the headlights to switch themselves on in low light conditions.
Read more »Ford’s Transit Connect Joins the NYC Taxi Fleet
The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLS) has given the green light for the Ford Transit Connect to be added to the 13,000-strong fleet of the Big Apple’s taxis.
NYC is not the only city in the USA where the Transit Connect has been approved for cab use. The approval in New York comes less than a month after the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) version of the Ford minivan was approved by the California Air Resources Board for use in the State of California.
Read more »Ford Marketing Boss Jim Farley Allegedly Tells GM to Stick it in Upcoming Book
We’re not used to automotive execs using foul language or trashing the competition when speaking out in the open and/or in public, so we were somewhat surprised with some of the comments allegedly made by Ford Motor Company Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Jim Farley.
According to Jalopnik, the Ford executive who joined the Detroit automaker in 2007 after nearly two decades at Toyota and Lexus, was quoted in a book as saying that he is “going to beat Chevrolet on the head with a bat” and that he hates GM.
And oh, Farely reportedly dropped the “F’ bomb on the General as well….
The quotes you’re about to read are said to have come from early copies of the book "Once Upon A Car” from New York Times reporter, Bill Vlasic. The book is scheduled for release to the public in October this year.
Read more »Chrysler Surpasses Ford as Canada’s Biggest Seller of Light Trucks
Canada’s economy seems unaffected by most of the Western World’s woes, where markets are struggling and unemployment is booming. In fact, Canada’s economy is growing and as a result, unemployment is falling and people are getting jobs. Therefore, they have money to buy cars, or light trucks, pickups and SUVs. Read more »
Double Standards, or how (Not) to Sell Cars to Women
In the 1950s, products for women were no doubt designed and marketed by men. Take for example the 1955 Dodge Le Femme, a truly absurd car (by today’s standards) that came with a matching purse, raincoat and umbrella as well as a bright pint interior with rose-patterned trim.
It’s the equivalent of offering a car today with a…tampon dispenser in the glovebox.
Across the pond there was the Daimler 104 Ladies’ Model with electric windows, a simplified gear change (no, I did not make that up), an umbrella and a vanity case under the dashboard.
Read more »2013 Ford Focus CoupĂ© Design Study by David Cardoso
Ford is going full force with its latest generation Focus that is currently available in a variety of body styles including a five-door hatchback, a four-door sedan, a station wagon and a pair of MPVs that carry the C-MAX moniker.
A three-door hatchback is on its way while we have also heard talk about a convertible and possibly a compact coupe model.
Enter the world of independent designer David Cardoso whose previous work on conceptual studies includes the Renault Twist, Audi Hydron concept, Cobalt coupe and the Mitsubishi Flexis.
Read more »Ford Begins Production of New Focus in Russia
Ford's Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg in Russia has begun assembly of the firm’s new generation Focus. The five-door hatchback is the first member of the Focus family to roll off the assembly line in Russia with the four-door and station wagon variants to enter production in September and January, respectively. Read more »
the drastic effect of the assembly line technique
As a result, Ford's cars came off the line in fifteen minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, increasing productivity eightfold (requiring 12.5 man-hours before, 1 hour 33 minutes after), while using less manpower. It was so successful, paint became a bottleneck. Only Japan black would dry fast enough, forcing the company to drop the variety of colors available before 1914, until fast-drying Duco lacquer was developed in 1926. This is the source of Ford's apocryphal remark, "any color as long as it's black". In 1914, an assembly line worker could buy a Model T with four months' pay.
Ford's complex safety procedures—especially assigning each worker to a specific location instead of allowing them to roam about—dramatically reduced the rate of injury. The combination of high wages and high efficiency is called "Fordism," and was copied by most major industries. The efficiency gains from the assembly line also coincided with the economic rise of the United States. The assembly line forced workers to work at a certain pace with very repetitive motions which led to more output per worker while other countries were using "less productive methods". (higher quality work from master mechanics, master carpenters, master craftsmen were forced out of auto manufacturing, replaced by unskilled labor at drastically less per hour) http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/07/changing-times-in-auto-industry.html
In the automotive industry, its success was dominating, and quickly spread worldwide seeing the founding of Ford France and Ford Britain in 1911, Ford Denmark 1923, Ford Germany 1925; in 1921, Citroen was the first native European manufacturer to adopt the production method. Soon, companies had to have assembly lines, or risk going broke; by 1930, 250 companies which did not, had disappeared.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile
Modified Ford Ranger Surabaya
Almost invisible is not the original form, it is only natural that the cultivation of yag by Agung with colleagues from this Cello was not kidding. Starting from the far-distant day the car has been prepared, in terms of conception until its final form, so it was appropriate when the car is a success for the title of The King contest in the mat modification Extream Clas Mild Surabaya Accelera Auto Contest 2011 which was held at SSCC Supermall Surabaya some time ago.
Certainly many who saw this car full flow adheres to the audio, but before we get into that part of our surgical slight modifications on the exterior that has been stretched aka extends beyond the standard form and this is one attraction of this car. Ford Ranger standards body has indeed been a change that is quite critical, changes in sectors that performed on the body not only becomes wider or wide, but also extended by 40 cm at the cabin.
As for the chassis and the rear section in the stretch to approximately 1 meter. In order to outsmart the part that has been stretched, the sector also helped add to the wheels of these vehicles have wheels total of 6 pieces, really change that was not terrible. Likewise with the suspension that has applied airsuspen system allowing this Court's Ford Ranger could lie down till it is only 1 cm from the floor. Not enough with that, intalalation motororized also be applied from both doors, hood, rear deck audio installation breeding places and also some other devices.
Total cultivation does not take too long, sufficient within four months the majority of these cars have been completed, then stay after finish other sectors. Once satisfied to talk about body parts, turn to move into other sectors is quite interesting to see.
When viewing the back you might imagine with a car-style street party that has speakers much that can ust, ust as he walks. Now such a concept was also adopted during the Ford Ranger, the original rear deck luggage Ranger has transformed into an audio installation that shelters an average of all use of the product output Cello.
Rear speakers output Cello, such as C50 as much as 1 set and Cello also Reference 6.1 by 8 sets look back crowded the deck in such a way that has been designed like a dome with a motorized system that can be opened and closed. As for the front speakers take from Cello Opus 6 set as well as a center speaker that is still dominated by Cello Cello MG9 and C97 are each as much as 1 set.
Heart sound or head unit Kenwood DDX8036 output using BT, which is supported with additional devices such as LCD projectors and TV Panasonic LCD monitor 7 "output Oris 5 units all of which have been integrated by the power of Cello RA45 4 channels of 6 units, Monoblock Cello RA 15 by 9 units and also Capbank RCA 5 Farad 5 units. The result was no need to question again, the results of the workshop concoction Deden Soundwork Surabaya Xtreme can make you dance streets with this car, not to mention with a projector that can be fired on the flow of the waterfall at the rear of the vehicle , instead of the more unique look.
Some modifications are applied to this car automatically makes the performance of these vehicles need a much heavier, so it is natural that the Supreme takes into account its machinery sector. Little touches added to the affairs of the engine, some parts like a power booster HKS intercooler 32 ", Aluminum Piping, Oil Catch Tank Breddy, HKS Groundwire, oilcaps Radiator HKS, HKS blow off too Accu Delkor 100 amps of 3 units of co-pinned, as a result of this car is still can walk with maximum power.
Data & Facts: Head Unit: 2 din Kenwood DDX8036 BT (1 unit), LCD Projector: Panasonic (1 unit), TV Monitor: LCD 7 "Oris (5 units), Front: Cello Opus 6 (1 set), Center: Cello MG9 (1 set) & Cello C97 (1 set), Rear: Cello C50 (1 set) & Cello Reference 6.1 (8 sets), Speakers: 4 channels Cello RA45 (6 units) Subwoofer: monoblock Cello RA 15 (9 units), Capbank: RCA 5 Farad (5 units) Engine: HKS Intercooler 32 ", Aluminum Piping, Oil Catch Tank Breddy, HKS, Groundwire, oilcaps Radiator HKS, HKS blow off. Accu: Delkor 100 amp (3 units). Workshop: Xtreme Soundwork, Surabaya, Indonesia.
US Government offers Concessions to Detroit Big 3's Trucks Models
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the US government is willing to allow carmakers to lower the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) of their future trucks and SUVs at a slower rate than normal cars.
In return, the Obama administration wants to reach a deal by early next week that will allow the government to improve mileage standards from today’s target of 35.5 mpg (6.6 lt/100 km) by 2016 to 56 mpg (4.2 lt/100 km) by 2025 for both cars and light trucks, leaving the automakers a longer period of time to bring their large trucks, pickups and SUVs in line.
Read more »New Gen Y Buyer Survey Spells Trouble for Detroit
Auto pricing website TrueCar studied the car buying behaviour of four million Gen Y (18 to 27 year-old) over a twenty-four month period and here’s what they found.
Scion took the crown for top brand, with 37.4% of the market and for top model (the tC coupe), with 21.2%, while second place went to Mitsubishi (32.1%) and their Lancer sedan (20.3%).
Mazda was the third most visited brand for Gen Y buyers, though only 17th in terms of model. The top four vehicle choices were Japanese, with a German in seventh place and a South Korean in ninth.
Read more »It Came From eBay Hell: Mercury Cougar Based Bugatti Veyron Replica
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. Of all the cars I’ve featured in “It Came From eBay Hell”, this one takes the cake. It’s a 2002 Mercury Cougar with 120,000 miles (193,120 kilometres) on the clock, though that’s not what makes it special. No, what makes it special is the composite and fibreglass Bugatti Veyron body draped over it.
That’s right: it’s a Cougatti Vercuryon! Not only does this modern masterpiece come with (Walmart™ Brand) 20-inch rims, two-tone paint and leather everything, it also comes with all the stuff that made the Mercury Cougar the modern classic it is today:
Union of Concerned Scientists Releases 2011 Hybrid Scorecard: Prius = Good, Touareg Hybrid = Bad
The Union of Concerned Scientist, a non-profit science advocacy group in the U.S., has released its second annual Hybrid Scorecard. The organisation criticised hybrid car manufacturers for not delivering on the technology’s promise, for placing performance above fuel efficiency and environmental benefit and burdening hybrids with features that put them out of the price range of average Americans.
A total of 34 hybrid vehicles from the 2011 to 2012 model year were tested for their fuel efficiency, environmental impact, value-for-money and their so-called “forced-feature premium”. The latter is features that don’t improve fuel efficiency but probably make the cars more appealing to money-conscious consumers.
Read more »Ford Mustang Exotica Hides an Aston Martin Vanquish V12 Under its Hood [with Video]
We’re pretty sure that, during the time Aston Martin was under the ownership of Ford, the thought of stuffing an exotic V12 powerplant under the bonnet of a Mustang must have crossed the mind of a few company engineers.
And while we never saw something of the sort officially from Ford, an independent custom shop actually realized the idea with the 2005 Ford Mustang 'Vanquishd' show car that was presented at the 2006 SEMA aftermarket gathering.
Built by Western Motorsports, this one-of-a-kind Mustang gets a 6.0-liter V12 engine with 600 ponies from a 2001 Aston Martin Vanquish. Power is sent to the chunky rear wheels through a 6 speed manual Tremec T-56 transmission.
Read more »Pickup Trucks Inventories Rising, Manufacturers are Worried
It seems like US carmakers are beginning to worry about the rising inventory of their big pickup trucks. For example, General Motors has an inventory of 122 days (or 4 months) of its Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra according to a report from Reuters, or 50% higher than the typical industry inventory of 80 days.
But GM isn’t the only automaker in distress. Chrysler, Toyota and Ford also are behind their projected sales, with 93 days inventory for the first two makers and 79 days for the third respectively.
Read more »2011 Australian International Motor Show Photo Galore
Even though it’s not as famous as its Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo or Detroit counterparts, this year’s edition of the Australian Motor Show, which takes place in Melbourne from July 1 to 10, has some interesting debuts including the Mad Max Concepts pictured above as well as a number of new production and prototype models from the local divisions of General Motors (aka Holden) and Ford.
You can take a look at all the vehicles in our comprehensive photo gallery right after the break. For those of you interested in learning more about the Ford-badged Mad Max Interceptor prototypes, check out our previous post here.
Read more »
Ford Asks: What Should the Focus EV Sound Like?
So the all-electric Ford Focus EV is landing stateside in late 2011 to snub its nose at the likes of the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i MiEV with its utterly conventional name that’s not even an acronym.
Now Ford is asking its most important shareholders (the general public) what the Focus EV should sound like, as there are members of the world community that think silent cars are a danger to the blind and the deaf.
U.K.’s Auto Industry to Young People: Be an Engineer!
Twenty-three of the U.K.’s car and component factories have opened their doors to teachers and students alike in a renewed bid to entice young people into automotive and manufacturing engineering. At the annual summit of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tony Walker – Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.K.’s deputy managing director – said:
“The industry today is hi-tech. There are no oily rags. There are no smoke stacks. It is an inspirational and an aspirational place to be.”
In fact, carmakers are eager to point out just how fun and lucrative engineering can be. It’s all part of the U.K. government’s push to shift its focus away from financial services after the deadly Global Financial Crisis of 2007.
Read more »