Henry Ford racing Alexander Winton, crazy hot headed young hooligans, they must have reached speeds in the 40's (whoopee!)

found on http://edwardianera.tumblr.com/page/67

the drastic effect of the assembly line technique

The large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable automobiles was debuted by Ransom Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in 1902. The assembly line style of mass production and interchangeable parts had been pioneered in the U.S. by Thomas Blanchard in 1821, at the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. This concept was greatly expanded by Henry Ford, beginning in 1914.

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

Ford KA 2012

FORD KA 2012

O COMPACTO MAIS VENDIDO DA MARCA DO OVAL AZUL GANHA CARA NOVA E VERSÃO ESPORTIVA!

A vida do Ka sofreu uma reviravolta em 2008. O antigo compacto de quatro lugares cedeu espaço para um modelo feito para atender as necessidades do consumidor de carros populares, com espaço para passageiros e bagagem. O Ka virou um sucesso e rapidamente assumiu lugar de destaque na linha de produtos da Ford.


Por isso, é fácil entender a atenção dedicada na primeira reestilização feita no modelo que hoje responde por 19% das vendas da Ford. As principais mudanças foram realizadas na frente, que ganhou novo para-choque e faróis com máscara negra. Atrás, as lanternas do Ka trocaram as lentes vermelhas por um conjunto transparente e o para-choque ganhou um aplique preto com dois refletores na parte inferior. As calotas e rodas de liga leve de 14 polegadas também são novas.

Olhando por dentro é mais difícil reparar nas alterações. A principal delas foi a adoção da iluminação branca, que substitui a antiga de tom esverdeado. O revestimento dos bancos e painéis de porta é inédito e algumas partes do painel receberam pintura prateada. As palhetas dos limpadores do para-brisa agora são do tipo flat-blade - mais eficientes e silenciosas - e o compacto também recebeu mudanças na suspensão, que ganhou borrachas no batente superior. Segundo a Ford, a alteração visa melhorar o isolamento acústico do veículo.

Mas a grande novidade do Ka 2012 é o reposicionamento da versão com motor 1.6. A partir de agosto, o propulsor é oferecido na versão Sport, equipada com spoiler dianteiro, saias laterais, aerofólio e rodas de liga leve de 15 polegadas. Chama muita atenção a decoração do carro, com a opção de uma exclusiva cor laranja e faixas decorativas em preto fosco (nas cores preta e vermelha as faixas são brancas) inspiradas no Mustang Boss. O interior tem acabamento exclusivo, com o logotipo Sport nos bancos.

No que diz respeito ao desempenho, o Ka 2012 também evoluiu. O motor Zetec RoCam 1.0 atinge a velocidade máxima de 162 km/h com etanol e 160 km/h quando abastecido com gasolina. No caso do propulsor 1.6, os números sobem para 181 km/h e 178 km/h. Os preços do Ka 2012 começam em 24.500 reais sem opcionais. A versão Sport custa a partir de 35.900 reais.

FOTOS:

O para-choque ganhou nova grade e entrada de ar trapezoidal

A mudança renovou o visual do Ka

As rodas de liga leve também foram modificadas

Na parte de trás, as lanternas translúcidas se destacam

O interior ganhou iluminação branca nos instrumentos

O painel exibe grafismo inédito

A versão Sport é a maior novidade do Ka 2012

As faixas decorativas foram inspiradas no Mustang

O aerofólio traseiro não nega o caráter esportivo

Os bancos são diferenciados e decorados com o logotipo Sport.

Fonte:Quatro Rodas

No doors needed when it looks this good

Finally another great Trans Am race car transporter

Found on http://www.gt40s.com/forum/original-gt40s/30147-original-race-car-transporters.html

2012 Ford C-Max is a compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV)

The C-Max is a compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) produced by Ford since 2003; it is the smallest MPV in their line up amongst the S Max and Galaxy.The 1st generation C-Max was based on Ford's C1 platform which was also used by the 2nd generation Focus hence the C-Max was referred to as the Focus C-Max. It also shares the control blade independent rear suspension from the Focus.

2012 Ford C-Max Car Wallpaper

The C Max is a compact crossover built by Ford; with the introduction of the S Max it means the C Max is the smallest MPV in Ford's line up. The C Max has been in production since 2003 albeit as the Focus C Max as it was based predominantly on the Ford Focus.

The 2010 C Max is still based on the Focus but Ford is trying to create a separate audience for the C Max; it is aimed at young families that need to fit baby seats and buggies. What makes the C Max unique from most of its competitors is that it is available as a 7 seater in the form of the Grand C Max.

2012 Ford C-Max Side View

2012 Ford C-Max is a compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV)

New Ford RS World Rally Car Shows its 2011 Colors

Ford Team driver Mikko Hirvonen lifted the covers of its 2011-specification Fiesta RS World Rally Car at the Autosport International Racing Car Show in Birmingham today, revealing the color scheme that will adorn the vehicle in the FIA World Rally Championship. In addition, the company also confirmed that the racing team's new name and logo by announcing that it will compete as the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

"The preview version of the car we unveiled in September at the 2010 Paris Motor Show was dramatic in its blue and grey livery, developed specifically for the show by Ford of Europe's design team," said Ford of Europe motorsport chief Gerard Quinn.

"But now we have a fully finished car in a really eye-catching new livery plus a new team name, and excitement is building throughout the squad as we prepare for the opening round in Sweden next month.

The new racing model replaces the Focus as the firm's World Rally Championship challenger due to the new regulations. The Fiesta RS WRC comes with a four-wheel drive transmission and a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, based on the EcoBoost road vehicle power plant.

Ford said the full specification of the car will be announced at the beginning of February. For the time being, the company will continue testing in Sweden next week ahead of the Fiesta RS WRC's championship debut in Rally Sweden, the opening round of the series, on 10 - 13 February.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Caterham-Lola SP/300R: British Sportscar Maker Reveals its First Ever Prototype Racer, Road Going Model a Possibility

The Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK, welcomed the world premiere of Caterham's first ever sports prototype racing car, the Caterham-Lola SP/300R. Created in partnership with legendary British racing and engineering brand Lola, the SP/300R is currently in the final stages of development and will be ready for a one-make championship in 2012, with the company planning to build up to 25 examples per year. Caterham said that a road-legal version of the sports car is also being considered.

The prototype model features the debut of Caterham's new supercharged version of the Ford 2.0-liter Duratec power plant, expected to produce around 300bhp. A Hewland-sourced paddle-shift sequential gearbox transfers power to the rear wheels.

Caterham said that the prototype weighs under 600kg [1,322 lbs] translating into 500bhp-per-tonne, and is capable of completing the 0-60mph [96 km/h] sprint in around 2.5 seconds, while reaching a top speed of around 170mph [273 km/h].

The SP/300R is built on a bespoke chassis designed by Lola. The basic chassis is an aluminium tub with a longitudinally mid-mounted engine, coupled to a stress-bearing rear transaxle. A forward splitter and large rear wing reduce lift, while a flat underbody maximizes ground effect benefits.

The prototype's bodywork also features an F1-style raised nose section and sectioned panels, which are said to help reduce repair costs, ease maintenance and more importantly, allow single-handed removal of body panels track-side.

The front and rear suspension are dual wishbones with pushrod dampers and adjustable ride height, with the design of the rear axle derived from that used at the rear end of the Lola Formula 3 and World Junior cars. The car rides on bespoke racing tires fitted to 13-inch race rims.

Prices for the Caterham-Lola SP/300.R will start at £60,000 [~US$94,300 or €72,200], excluding local taxes.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________VIDEOS_______________________________

Next Lincoln Models to get Unique Designs and Different Technology than Fords

According to an Automotive News report, future Lincoln vehicles will be heavily differentiated from their Ford counterparts, as the two brands will no longer share design cues and technology.

“The strategy isn't just new products, but full differentiation from the Ford brand in not only design, but in technology”, said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, on the sidelines of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Mr. Kuzak also said that Ford would achieve this by modifying the existing platforms in order to create unique Lincoln products. That could be the case with Ford’s power steering or chassis electronic control, for example.

“Imagine adding suspension control to that and what would happen to the platform if you did that on Lincoln only”, he added.

Scott Tobin, Lincoln's director of product development, told Automotive News that future Lincoln products will have newly designed interiors, an extended V6 engine line-up and other features, such as paddle shifters and all-wheel drive systems, with no rear-wheel drive variants in the works.

Lincoln also plans to reorganize its dealer network by eliminating at least 200 franchises in the top 130 U.S. markets. Furthermore, remaining dealers must agree to thoroughly upgrade their facilities and implement other changes.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Autonews

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

The key markets for the 2011 Ford Vertrek

With the new model, the automaker is targeting class-leading fuel economy and low emissions, without forgetting performance. The Vertrek is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged Ecoboost four-pot with start and stop technology.

Outside the U.S., the new global compact SUV will also receive Duratorq diesel engines, such as the recently updated 2.0-liter motor, which delivers better fuel economy and CO2 emissions reduced by up to 7 percent, depending on application.

The key markets for the 2011 Ford Vertrek