Ford uses 2.0L 4L engine with Ecoboost technology for the Edge. The company boasts that this powerplant can perform as good as the outgoing 3.5L engines of the current model. The new engine also has a 15% better fuel mileage. Other options include a V6 3.5L engine that ouputs 285hp and a 3.7L variant that has 305hp. All engines are coupled with automatic transmission with some coming with paddle shifters to give that manual-like control.

The designers of Ford kept the excellent driving quality and dramatic lines of the first generation Ford Edge. Engineers have also boosted the fuel economy of the car and focused on decreasing vibration levels and noise.

The carmaker also installed MyFord Touch technology which replaces the tradition control knobs, buttons, and gauges of the vehicle. You can now control the music and other stuff through sleek LCD screens.

The MyFord Touch comes standard on both the Ford Edge Limited and the Edge Sport. The new system displays information via two LCD screens 4.2 inches big located near an analog speedometer. There is also an 8-inch screen at the center stack.

The driver can control the information to be displayed on the screen by using the controls placed on both sides of the crossbar of the steering wheel. There is also a SYNC function which allows connectivity with a mobile device.

The new breed of Ford Edge will be coming to dealerships by summer this year.

The numbers of Ford looks solid and a lot of experts want to be as optimistic as possible to see a turnaround for the whole of the auto industry.

The 9% increase in retail sales from August 2008 to this year marks the first recovery of the figures since November 2007. Aside from citing the CARS, Ford also looks to the new and more fuel efficient members of their fleet.

What gives perspective to the jump up in sales figures is the projected 10 million units rolling out of dealerships. The volume prediction is about a 40% drop from the 2008 figures. The overall figure is seen to have risen 2% from the November 2007 sales reports.

The fleet leaders which brought about the turnaround is the Ford Fusion up by as much as 66%, Ford Escape (94%), Mercury Mariner improved by 71%, and Mercury Milan (60%). The hybrid vehicle of Ford unsurprisingly brought a 323% performance magic for the gas-electric units. Fuel efficiency and green cars are key words in today’s car market!

Ford was able to leverage the cash for clunkers program with appropriate preparations of their products and dealers. The car manufacturer was able to get the increase in sales even though they cut off some spending for consumer incentives.

The month of July also marked the roll out of the Transit Connect and the Ford Taurus.

As they say, `once a ford user, always a ford user’. This saying has not been coined for nothing. Check out any part of the world and you shall not be able to find a place where Ford cars are not available. Ask any auto enthusiast about the Ford model T and see the glimmer in their eyes. This is one car that ruled the world from 1908 to 1927 and was also affectionately called as Tin Lizzie and the Flivver.

With this particular model Ford had been able to provide the world with an affordable auto. Another popular model that was manufactured prior to this car is the Ford Model N that is also referred to as the Ford Model R. this too was a successful model and nearly 7000 of them were sold worldwide. Costing just $500, this model was a highly affordable car. This car was introduced in 1906 and production of the same was stopped in 1908. The car that followed the Ford Model T was the Ford Model A.

Unlike other Taurus models, the 2010 Taurus SHO model beams with specialized shock absorbers, stabilizer bars, springs, and bushings. It also features Ford’s SR1 suspension that has the MacPherson front strut. Speculations arise that a performance package version will be available and will come with improved brake pads and a standardized steering system. But despite the powerful interior gears, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is less ostentatious on the exterior compared to other high-performance vehicles but is packed with a powerful engine.

The price range for the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is expected to start at $37,995 when it goes out in the market this summer. This price is quite high for a Ford Taurus, but this new model boasts with a 365-hp, four-wheel-drive automobile packed with high-performance gears and luxury interior packages.

Ford and other Detroit car makers in general are not really renowned with family cars. Matt VanDyke, US Communications director of Ford admitted that the company is recognized for its Mustang and truck models.

Ford now is doing means of getting the word out about their revamped 2010 Fusion and its sibling, the Mercury Milan, which will be released this month. The advertising expenses of the 2010 Fusion would be comparable to the Taurus models, and both cars will be called the “biggest initiative of the year”. This is the statement released by Chantel Lenard, the marketing manager of Ford for medium and small cars.

The Ford’s promotion will have the slogan “We Speak Car” and 2010 Fusion will be unleashed on American Idol, and on print and online advertisements. The Fusion will be released with the enhanced Taurus on this year, and will be pursued by Fiesta and Focus small cars in 2010.

The reason of Ford in doing this step is to be able to gain profit amidst recent economic recession and that is interrupted with unstable gasoline prices. According to Ford’s sales analyst, George Tipas, they are aware that their financial stability is going to be a bit unstable too.

The Fusion hybrid’s price will start off at $27,995 while the Milan is set at $31,300. Both car models are entitled for a federal tax credit of $3,400.

The new Ford Ranger is also developed with the new arrangement of side air bags, intended to provide protection for the head and upper body.

Environmental Protection Agency estimated that the 2010 Ranger can present 26 mpg fuel efficiency on the highway. The Ford also received a commendable 5-star rate for safety vehicles awarded by the US government.

RSC is known as the world’s most advanced electronic stability control system. AdvanceTrac engineered RSC with a sensor for gyroscopic roll that can verify the vehicle’s roll rate and angle. If it senses that the vehicle is going to roll, it will automatically operate with extra countermeasures – such as by decreasing the engine power and/or utilizing the brakes to the wheels – this is to improve the rollover resistance of the vehicle.

2010 Ford Ranger is also engineered with unsurpassed safety and security technologies, such as Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Ford’s Personal Safety System ® and the Securilock ® reflexive anti-theft system. Also the Ford is provided with the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and sensors that are programmed to guarantee that the air bags are not organized when small children are on the passenger side.

The third generation Sync comes with audio-based traffic updates, voice guide turn per turn navigation, and customizable news feeds that do not need the display screen.

These developments were unveiled by Microsoft when they showcased the new Sync during the International Consumer Electronics Show.

The voice prompting and instruction allows the drivers to concentrate their attention on the road and avoid eyes looking at the screen or hands leaving the steering wheel to press controls for navigation guides.

The enhanced product is called Sync with Traffic, Directions, and Information. This will be available come spring bundled with the 2010 Fusion and Mustang cars. By 2011, Ford officials disclose that they will make it a standard issue for all Mercury, Lincoln, and Ford vehicles.

Car owners will be able to try the service for free in the first 3 years and will have to pay about $8 per month after the trial period. Sync is still a free service enjoyed by Lincoln car owners. It comes optional for some Ford brands.

Traffic reports can be configured via internet so the system will retrieve the update via text. The text message can be read by the system if the occupant is driving the vehicle.

The new gen Sync also allows the driver to pick a destination and the voice of the system will guide the owner turn by turn. The driver can also make a hands free call through the system.

The Sync will also have news, sports, and weather updates which can be set up by the owner.

The Fiesta is schedule to roll out of the showrooms in the United States during the early part of 2010 but the car manufacturer is inviting around 100 tech savvy consumers to test drive the vehicle as early as April this year.

The consumers who will get the first try behind the wheels of the Fiesta are expected to tell the world of their experience through sites like YouTube, Flickr, and Facebook.

The brand manager for the Fiesta is very confident about the specs of the new vehicle from Ford but they want to incorporate the real experience of people when driving the car into the marketing aspect.

The effect of the early hands on is expected to be two-fold: the test drives will stir excitement as the drivers will relate their experience and will also serve as feedback to the design team at Ford.

The Ford Fiesta will be the smallest car to be released by the auto manufacturer in the United States since the Aspire which stopped production in 1997.

The Fiesta is similar to the Ford Focus in size and will be marketed as a sedan and a hatchback.

The marketing program will be maximizing the long term drive test but will also invite a number of people for a one-time test drive of the Ford Fiesta.

The American car manufacturer foresees the demand for the new vehicle at around 30000 to 70000 units on a yearly basis. This is still a rough figure without taking into account the jump or dive in the future price of gasoline.

The test units will have a 1.6L power plant that produces 120 horsepower in its engine bay.

By 2012, Ford plans to produce battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrids and hybrid electrical vehicles. All the BEV electric traction motor, energy storage system, transmission, motor controller, battery charger and other related systems will come from Magna. Ford stressed that its decision to choose Magna as its partner is based on their presumption that they will be able to produce first-class products with Magna’s help.

While Magna has been building European cars for years, this will be the first time that it will be engaging in the final assembly for an American carmaker on a contract basis.

The new BEV Ford plans to create will approximately be as big as the 2010 Fusion and will cover at least 100 miles on one batter charge, without a drop of gasoline. When battery runs low, it can be recharged using 110 or 220-volts outlets. Charging time varies on the type of outlet used. The zero emission Ford BEV is expected to function like other conventional cars but with an acceleration that is smoother.

Ford’s Group VP for Product Development, Derrick Kuzak said that the collaboration with Magna to create a Ford BEV resulted from the two companies’ joint foresight in electric transportation and their shared goal in creating a zero-emission, no-compromise, electric vehicles for the global market. More information on Environmentally Friendly Cars is on the interweb!

The car manufacturer finished 2008 with a $13.4 billion cash reserves. Ford will be drawing down available credit lines of $10.1 billion to address concerns on the rocky global economy.

Ford files a net loss amounting to $5.9 billion for the 4th quarter of 2008 compared to a year over year $2.5 billion. The car manufacturer closes 2008 as its third year of not earning any profits. Pretax operation loss was recorded on their books at $3.7 billion compared to $620 million in 2007.

The whole of the auto industry faced an unusual major slowdown in markets all over the globe recorded during the last three months.

Economist estimates the needs of Ford to stand at $10 billion to keep its operations running. Looking at its trend of burn rate, Ford without doing anything, can only survive until the end of February. The car manufacturer is expected to deplete its funds slower this year though.

Ford explains that they have enough liquidity to keep everything on a healthy level. Without any cash expenditures this January, the company will have a reserve of $26 billion.

The revenue of Ford dropped significantly by 36%. Its total income for the 2008 4Q is $29.2 billion amid the US recession.

Ford asked for a government bail out aid of $9 billion in December but declared that it will only use the funds when the economy further drops.