Automotive News

Filed under: Hirings/Firings, Ford

While General Motors held a job fair a couple of weeks ago to hire 400 more engineers and technicians, Ford just held one for companies looking to hire some of the thousands of people that they’ve let go in recent months. To be fair, GM bought out thousands of employees last year as well, and they’ve also been providing assistance to help them find new jobs.

Ford screened potential employers in the fair to make sure they were hiring immediately and also offering jobs at pay levels close to what the ex-Ford employees were getting. Ford had originally intended for the fair to only be open to ex-Ford employees but because of the poor economy in Michigan, decided to open it to all comers. The morning was restricted to Ford people while anyone was welcome in the afternoon. About 10,000 people were expected to attend the event in Dearborn.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Mercury

For years analysts have been recommending to Ford that they shut down the Mercury division unless they actually create some unique vehicles for the brand. With few exceptions like the 1998-2002 Cougar, Mercury has had few vehicles that weren’t just rebadged Fords in decades. According to Warren Brown of the Washington Post, female buyers are the primary reason for Mercury’s continued existence.

In his decidedly unscientific analysis, when his wife and assistant evaluated the Mercury Mariner Hybrid a few weeks after the Escape hybrid they found the Mariner a much more enjoyable vehicle. They thought the Mercury was distinctly different and less SUV-like.

I find this all highly dubious and I seriously doubt that most women would actually feel this way, especially if they tried the vehicles back-to-back. Aside from possibly some different color combinations and maybe a little extra chrome trim in the Mercury, the two vehicles are exactly identical. A Mariner is equally as SUV-like as an Escape and anyone who says otherwise is deluding themselves. Let’s hear what the women out there think in the comments.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: SUVs, Auction Action, Ford

eBay Motors has been a treasure trove of good finds this week, and today we bring you another rare SUV like the Saleen Explorer XP8. Though there are more than a few full-size SUVs on the market today, for decades the Chevy Suburban ruled a segment of one before the Ford Expedition arrived in 1996. But until Ford could develop a suitable Suburban fighter it made do by offering the Bronco Centurion, a four-door version of the Ford Bronco that was converted by a company named Centurion Vehicles.

The Centurion began life as a four-door club cab short bed F-Series pickup. To it was added a Bronco tailgate and fiberglass cap to close off the bed. A third-row bench was also donated by the Bronco to make the Centurion capable of carrying 8-9 people.

This particular Centurion is built off of the eighth-gen F-Series, though Centurions were also built on the ninth-gen F-Series up until 1996 when the tenth-gens arrived. It’s powered by Ford’s big 7.5L 460 c.i. V8 using the three-speed C6 automatic. Sure, it’s got 220,000 miles on the odo and needs some TLC, but chances are any interested parties aren’t looking for a show vehicle.

[Source: eBay Motors via GM Inside News]

 

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs

Ok, ok. Breathe slowly and relax. Just because Bob Lutz isn’t opposed to a four-door Corvette, doesn’t mean GM will build a four-door Corvette. But they might. There you go again with the hyperventilating. Just chill.

Sure, Porsche built an SUV and will soon have their own super-sedan, but it doesn’t mean GM must challenge them. But they might. Panic attack? Hang on, we’ll join you.

Ahhh. Much better now.

Speaking with Rick Kranz, product editor of Automotive News, Bob Lutz admired what Porsche had done with their brand, extending it past sports cars to “coupes, convertibles, crossovers” and the upcoming Panamera. Then Lutz says, “You could do the same thing with the Corvette.”

Oh, now I feel lightheaded. Gotta sit down a second.

Kranz says, and we quote directly from his column, “But since the Panamera sedan is bound to be a home run — ditto for the four-door Rapide — there must be a market for a Corvette sedan… Memo to Bob, Ed (Wellburn) and Tom (Wallace): Build it!”

How about this? Memo to Bob, Ed and Tom: Before you go messing with success, ask Ford why the Vette is still in production, and the T-bird isn’t.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req’d]

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuner Tuesdays, Sports/GTs, Euro, Ferrari

Click image for high-res gallery

Back in March, Damon reported on the matte finish fixation that was clearly evident among a number of specialty manufacturers and tuners at the Geneva Motor Show. Last week, Hamann unveiled its take on the prevailing trend with the Ferrari F430 Black Miracle.

The spellcasters at Hamann work their magic by taking the garden-variety F430 and giving it the matte look via a foil treatment. If the owner tires of the appearance, the effect is reversible — the foil can be removed. We wouldn’t recommend doing that, however, as this puppy looks like evil on a popsicle stick — very delicious. The matte finish is combined with accents in either red, yellow, or the orange shown above and in the gallery. The contrasting hue is applied to a set of racing stripes, the individual aero package parts, the rearview mirrors, the brake calipers and Hamann’s ‘Edition Race” wheels. Open the lambo doors (another Hamann specialty) and you’ll see that the interior can receive a matching treatment as well.

Augmenting the new visuals is a 50-horsepower bump, thanks to a reprogrammed ECU and some exhaust system tweaks. We weren’t crazy about the last Ferrari package we saw from these guys, but the Black Miracle has made us believers again. If only Hamann offered the contrast stripe/trim pack in gloss black — that’d be perfect. Hamann’s press release is included after the jump.

[Source: HAMANN]

Continue reading Dark Magic: HAMANN Ferrari F430 Black Miracle

 

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Filed under: Podcasts, Videos, Chrysler

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The enhanced version of Autoblog Podcast #66 is finally here, and it broght some pictures to the audio party. In part one, we talk Cerberus’ purchase of the American icon turned German property Chrysler. In part two of podcast #66 we finished up the Chrysler talk, then we covered quite a bit of ground with the Malibu vs. Camry marketing campaign about to be waged by Chevrolet, Autoblog’s spy shots of the Accord Sedan, and the upcoming Saab 9-3. In the last part of the podcast, we touch base on the Corvette Z07 or SS or Blue Devil or whatever, and we also break down the German dominance of the international engine awards. We crammed a whole lot into 30 minutes, and it’s definately worth a listen. Remember, parts two and three of the podcast are available after the jump.

Check it out. Per your suggestions, we cut the podcast into three sections for smaller downloads, and we’ve also embedded sections two and three of the podcast after the jump. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve the enhanced version of the Podcast, let us know in the comments. We’re working on a better distribution system than shoving all three in our current RSS feed of the audio-only version, so soon you’ll be able to subscribe just to the enhanced version’s RSS feed.

DOWNLOAD Part One to your desktop (Chrysler Sale)
DOWNLOAD Part Two to your desktop (Accord sedan, Saab 9-3, Chevy Malibu)
DOWNLOAD Part Three to your desktop (Corvette Z07, Engine Awards)

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog YouTube video channel

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Continue reading VIDEO: Autoblog Podcast #66 (enhanced)

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Sports/GTs, Etc., Tech, Supercars, Mazda

In the late sixties and early seventies, many car companies were enamored with the power density of Wankel rotary engines, including NSU, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and General Motors. GM ultimately built at least two mid-engine “Corvette” concepts with Wankels, one with two rotors and the other with four. The four-rotor was eventually replaced by a small block to become the Aerovette. When John Z. Delorean left to create his own car, he envisioned it propelled by a rotary engine as well.

As was the case with every other carmaker save Mazda, the Wankel was ultimately abandoned in favor of a piston engine. But one Delorean owner didn’t forget the original vision. Through the 1980s and 1990s the only rotary-powered car sold in the US market was the Mazda RX-7 although Mazda did offer the engine in other Japanese-market models. One of those was a coupe called the Eunos Cosmo. The Cosmo eventually got a 2.0L three-rotor version of the engine that put out 300hp. One of these was sacrificed to provide a new heart for the Delorean you see here.

There’s more commentary after the jump, and a video, too.

[Source: EliseUSA.com via CarScoop]

Continue reading Delorean finally gets the engine it should have had all along - 3 rotor Wankel

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Videos, Mazda

Click Image for photo gallery. Follow the jump for video.

The Mazda 787B’s victory at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans represents the only win for a Japanese manufacturer at the fabled endurance race, and thanks to the car’s 2.6-liter R26B 4-rotor powerplant, it’s also the only time a car has done so with a non-piston engine. In addition to being an important car because of what it accomplished for Mazda, it also happens to be one of the most fantastic-sounding racing cars ever.

In the video we’ve embedded after the jump, you’ll see Kenichi Tanabe, editor of Japan’s Car Graphic magazine, put the Le mans-winning #55 car through its paces at Mazda’s Miyoshi Proving Ground in Hiroshima. The footage is great, but it’s the audio that’ll give you goosebumps. Thankfully, the only soundtrack is the wail of the R26B. No commenters yapping. No stupid music. Just the car. It’s bliss.

If you’ll excuse us, we have to go play Gran Turismo 4 now.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading NIght Watch: The sights and sounds of the Mazda 787B

 

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