#2021 Ford Focus Crossover

[superautoreviews]

Ford Focus 2021 Interior, Price, Release Date

New Post has been published on https://www.dennyfordlm.com/ford-focus-2021-interior-price-release-date/

Ford Focus 2021 Interior, Price, Release Date

Ford Focus 2021 Interior, Price, Release Date – Next season, our company is trying to start to see the many entirely new Ford Focus 2021. It certainly has been, to work among, launched in 1998. Consequently, it offers received the eye of your costumers having its great design as well as an outstanding coping with. This version will symbolise another era;, therefore, we can easily definitively assume several changes. Their prototype is trapped while in its tests in The European countries. Through what we should happen to be capable of seeing, the latest Focus will certainly definitively keep on the standing of reputable and loved one’s automobile. The Ford technicians are already spending so much time to boost their performance plus gasoline ingestion as well.

Ford Focus 2021 Redesign

Exterior And Interior Design

The newest Ford Focus 2021 is going to be underpinned having a changed edition of Ford`s worldwide C-auto program. This structures can provide more room inside of the cabin and a lot more freight place. Additionally, it ought to be a bit bigger and over the present product. Due to the usage of lighter in weight resources in the design, it includes lowered excess weight. This can boost coping with, fuel economy and then aerodynamics.

Ford Focus 2021 Exterior

Talking about this exterior layout, the particular Ford Car maker remains trying to keep these details like a secret. Nevertheless, from what we should have experienced in the course of its screening, we can easily count on several changes. First of all, its body will probably be streamlined plus more fine than just before. The top fascia will attribute further headlamps, much more angular fog lights and much longer hood. About the final end conclusion, we are going to recognise two-item, side to side tail lighting.

Ford Focus 2021 Interior

Almost certainly, the most enormous big surprise would be the interior in the fresh Ford Focus 2021. This cabin will likely be restyled and will also forget about having a form of an affordable appear as before. The original interior can get much more stylish and chic visual appeal. We will have much more high-quality resources and delicate-contact plastic materials in their design. The dashboard is going to be improved way too. It would attribute the newest 8-inches touch-screen screen.

Ford Focus 2021 Engine

Underneath the hood associated with Ford Focus 2021, we will have various kinds of motors. Almost certainly, the foundation might be a 1.-litre a few-tube turbo EcoBoost vehicle together with the production of 123 horses. Another should really be considered a 1.5-litre a number of-tube turbocharged engine. That one is going to be a bit effective compared to past one particular. A new 2.-litre a number of-tube petroleum device will probably be presented way too. This particular engine can make 160 hp. The Ford Business has pointed out previously anything concerning the new 9 as well as 10-rate gearbox as being an alternative. However, the latest Focus includes a half a dozen-velocity twin-clutch system transmission right now.

Ford Focus 2021 Engine

Ford Focus 2021 Release Date And Price

The particular Ford Focus 2021 will likely be technically provided to everyone during early 2020. Nonetheless, it won`t carry on the purchase before the 2nd 1 / 2 of 2020. With regards to price, it will commence at about $17,000 and also $18,000.

[victroia21]

The Most Fun You Can Have For Under $5,000; Why the Mitsubishi Montero is the most underrated overlander.

Finally, 2020 is coming to an end. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say it was a year we are all glad to put behind us. However, there is one silver lining that came out of this year. It’s that it gave us an opportunity to break out of our normal routines. Like working a 9 to 5 and then going home to binge watch your favorite TV show. Some of us got laid off, others furloughed from work, creating an uncertain future. When our backs are against the wall, it forces us to make a choice. Do we operate with a scarcity mindset, or an abundant one? Meaning, do we choose to live in a world fearful of scarce resources? Or in contrary, choose a mindset of abundance, where even when the chips are down, we feel secure that there is plenty for everyone; everything except toilet paper of course. One thing that is certain in the U.S, is that there is plenty to explore. While most of the world was locked up indoors with no place to go, Americans somehow always find creative ways to seek adventure. This year may have forced us to social distance, and we could have chose to stay cooped up in our homes. Instead, a lot of us decided to hit the trails.

Overlanding has boomed over the last year and as a result 4x4 Sport Utility Vehicles have jumped in prices. Auction sites have seen increased sale prices for capable off road SUV’s. Vehicles such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser, Jeep Wagoneer and early Ford Bronco’s all have reached unattainable prices. So what’s left at an entry level price for the overlanding enthusiast looking to begin their newly acquired hobby? Well there’s a few affordable options; but none that combine reliability, practicality and capability as the Mitsubishi Montero. Also known as the Pajero in most parts of the world, the 4x4 Mitsubishi has everything you want in an overlander. It has an active-trac gear selector to manage the transfer case. You can quickly equip yourself with off road capability by switching to four wheel drive on the fly. The Limited trim model comes with a limited slip differential along with four driving options. You can select 2H to send power just to the rear wheels. There’s 4H for all wheel drive, typically used for more traction on normal pavement when roads become slick. Then most importantly there is 4H and 4L with locking center differential. When the center differential is locked it allows power to be sent to each axle equally. So your tires can rotate simultaneously for maximum traction. Yes I know, most hardcore off roaders prefer a solid rear axle with a locking rear differential and a body on frame chassis. However this 3rd generation Montero featured in this article opted more for comfort along with its off-road prowess. Its monocoque, unibody frame paired with its independent four wheel suspension gives the car an extremely comfortable ride even over the toughest terrain. Sure, there are some great affordable 4x4 options out there besides the Montero. There is the Isuzu Trooper, XJ Jeep Cherokee, Ford Ranger, Nissan Pathfinder and Xterra. Heck, there’s even a Montero Sport that is certainly an affordable alternative to the Toyota 4Runner. These models usually all tend to make the most affordable 4x4 list. However the Montero encompasses everything you want in an overlander. So what exactly is an overlander you ask? Think of it as a capable vehicle that has no problems driving over rugged landscape while maintaining a comfortable ride over normal pavement. Not only is it fun but overlanding provides us with a sense of freedom by allowing us to escape into the wilderness.

In my neck of the woods of Southern California, there are plenty of trails to explore. I recently took my 2002 Mitsubishi Montero to Otay Truck Trail, here in San Diego. I wanted to test the Montero’s off roading potential with a few buddies of mine who brought their Jeep Wranglers. Neither of them were sold on the Montero because they had limited knowledge of what it was. After we hit a few trails I quickly changed their impression of the Montero. It simply chewed up everything in its path. Even in 2WD the Montero was quick and maintained its traction over the uneven terrain. Half the time I found myself having to wait up for them as I left the Jeeps in my dust.

The Montero is largely unknown in the United States because it has been discontinued here since 2006. The SUV featured in this article was one of four generations offered to the American people. The Montero was never considered a failure, it just lost its luster in the mid 2000’s when Mitsubishi began struggling with sales. The Montero also has rally racing victories under its belt. Enthusiasts who know it as the Pajero, recognize the SUV as a twelve time world champion at the Paris-Dakar Rally. The Pajero has the record for the most Dakar victories including a stretch of seven in a row from 2001 to 2007. Its victory run spans over three decades with its first championship coming in 1985. Mitsubishi even created a road legal version during its 2nd generation (1997-1999) called the Pajero Evolution. This vehicle was produced in order to homologate the Pajero for entry into the Dakar Rally’s T2 group, where it dominated its class. Unfortunately, it never made it to the U.S, but good news, its approaching 25 years old. Which means it can soon be legally imported to the States. So with its racing background, championship pedigree and well known capability, why is the Montero so unknown? Well I think it’s simple. As I mentioned before it’s been 14 years since the Montero left the United States. That’s an entire generation of car enthusiasts who have never heard of the this world rally champion.

Montero’s can be found in decent shape for under $5,000 in the States. That’s a bargain when you consider what features you get for that price. The Limited trim comes standard with leather, dual power seats, and an enormous sunroof. Not to mention a digital compass for when you get lost on the trails. An Infinity premium sound system, full size spare, and of course an incredible four wheel drive system. Even the lower priced XLS trim comes with a standard two speed transfer case sporting both 2H and 4H capability.

As a full size SUV with a stow away third row, the Montero can be compared to the Toyota Land Cruiser of its time. With similar capability at a fraction of the cost, the word bargain becomes an understatement. The 3rd generation Montero was redesigned in 2001 to be more of a highway cruiser that can comfortably seat seven. With that being said Mitsubishi still managed to maintain the Montero‘s rugged, brawny, boxy shape. This Montero pays its respects to the generations that came before it. While also allowing you to go from the grocery store one minute, to where pavement is optional the next.

Now that 2021 is here, Mitsubishi has decided to completely discontinue the Montero. Along with the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Montero will no longer be sold in other parts of the world. Mitsubishi Pajero’s as they call it, have largely remained the same since the 2006 redesign, when they left the U.S. In an ever changing auto industry, Mitsubishi decided to shift their focus to the growing crossover SUV market. So what’s left to be said about the underrated Mitsubishi Montero? It is arguably the most well rounded overlander. It’s designed to be a daily driver, it’s comfortable and has great visibility; perfect for taking a family of seven to the great outdoors. Or you can be like me, a single male who uses it to tear up trails in Southern California. Whichever way you use it, its versatility is a relic of a dying breed of SUV’s. Overlanding gives us the freedom to overcome boundaries. It provides us with a path to escape, both physically and mentally. It allows us to become one with nature and also happens to be a great way to socially distance. Thanks to Covid-19 for opening up my mind to a new hobby. Through everything we endured this past year, remember there is always a silver lining. Mine just happened to be my Mitsubishi Montero.

[enginerumors]

2021 Ford Focus Automatic, Release Date, AWD

2021 Ford Focus Automatic, Release Date, AWD

2021 Ford Focus Automatic, Release Date, AWD– Dreamed of everywhere you look! Striking the core of buyer’s flavour from either side in the pond is obviously very difficult if your light-weight sector is involved. Toyota and Honda find it challenging to match massive customer’s yearnings due to its compacts inside the US, while EU’s profits statistics are really symbolic. VW is prone to the exact…

[longwindow]

Dodge dart 2016

DODGE DART 2016 MANUAL

DODGE DART 2016 REGISTRATION

This head turning 2016 Dodge Dart Sedan fits your budget at Call or Text For Price.

DODGE DART 2016 MANUAL

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DODGE DART 2016 REGISTRATION

The price for listed vehicles as equipped does not include charges such as: License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Taxes, Dealer Prep, Smog Fees, Credit Investigation, Optional Credit Insurance, Physical Damage of Liability Insurance, or Delivery Fees. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. 🚗 FIRST TIME BUYER PROGRAM🚗 ACCELERATED APPROVAL PROGRAM🚗 ADVANCED EQUITY PROGRAM🚗 CREDIT REBUILDING PROGRAM GET PRE-APPROVED IN UNDER 15 MINUTES! CLICK THE FINANCING TAB AT LENDING PARTNERS FINANCE. TROUBLE GETTING FINANCED IN THE PAST?⛔ Bankruptcy?⛔ Repo's 1,2,3?⛔ Cash Jobs?⛔ Delivery Jobs?⛔ Open Auto Loans?💥AT HIGHWAY 700 YOU ARE💥APPROVED! 💥APPROVED! 💥APPROVED! Automatic - 4D Sedan - 4 Cyl - FWD: Front Wheel Drive - VIN# 1C3CDFAA4GD507759 - STK# CRVV59Īddress: 11108 Nw Us Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32615ġ00% GUARANTEED FINANCING! YOUR INCOME IS YOUR CREDIT!AT HIGHWAY 700 USED CARS EVERYONE RIDES! 2016 Dodge Dart 173,751 Guaranteed Financing! Zero Down!ġ73,751 mi.

[trustmatch]

Volvo crossover rentals

Volvo crossover rentals drivers#

Volvo crossover rentals driver#

Volvo crossover rentals license#

Given the fact it’s targeting the ‘premium performance’ division of the highly competitive sector, there’s no denying the PHEV will be a key player in the growing success of the Formentor range.Ĭupra Formentor review Ford Puma ST - March Cupra says the PHEV should be capable of covering up to 31-miles on electric-only power. The latter will cover 0-62mph in just over six seconds. Powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, they combine to deliver either 201 or 242bhp, depending on tuning. The Cupra Formentor is already one of the best-looking family crossovers on the market, but now it’s set to add a plug-in hybrid to make it even more attractive to buyers. Today we focus on the best small and family crossovers and SUVs. What we guarantee is that you get a car from a reliable provider that will do anything to give you a remarkable and hassle-free experience in the Faroe Islands.Welcome to the third of our four-part introduction to some of the best new cars which will make their debut in Arnold Clark showrooms across the country in 2021.

Volvo crossover rentals driver#

Whether you come with your US driver license, or if it is issued in Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond, you are ready to hit the road and start exploring.

Volvo crossover rentals drivers#

You are not required to have an international drivers permit in order to drive in the Faroe Islands.

Volvo crossover rentals license#

Your national drivers license will do perfect. Do I need an international drivers license in the Faroe Islands? What are the most popular rental cars in the Faroe Islands?Ĭheap and small cars are the most frequently booked cars closely followed by small SUVs. The insurance also covers damages at tires or glass. other cars or items hit with the vehicle, and reimburse those that might be harmed. The insurance will cover damages that you might cause with the vehicle, e.g. It can be added for those vehicles where it comes as extras. A car insurance SCDW – Super collision damage waiver – is included in some cars. Unlimited mileage is included in all rentals. In severe weather conditions (very rare) Landsverk might advice locals and visitors to keep away from certain roads or from driving all together. In case of heavy snow some roads might be closed. The roads in the Faroe Islands are kept free of snow by Landsverk during normal winter conditions. Is it safe driving around the Faroe Islands during winter? All rental cars are provided with winter tires during the winter half of the year. During winter from December to February, you might want to consider a 4×4 if you require the ability to get anywhere in snowy or icy conditions. What car do I need to drive around the Faroe Islands?Īny car will be fine on the roads in the Faroe Islands during summer as they are all tarmac and generally well kept. None of the public roads require off-road capability so you are fine driving small cars around. To some of the smaller villages the road will be single-lane but still tarmac. The road network in the Faroe Islands is generally of a high quality and most places around the country you will be driving on tarmac two-lane roads. Frequently asked questions about car rental in the Faroe Islands How are the roads in the Faroe Islands?

[captainphotogirl]

The Sophie's Friend Job

by

photogirl

Fandoms:

The Young Elites Series - Marie Lu

Leverage

Not Rated

No Archive Warnings Apply

Gen

Complete Work

29 Dec 2021

Tags

No Archive Warnings Apply

Sophie Devereaux (Leverage), Raffaele Laurent Bessette, Parker (Leverage), Nathan Ford, Alec Hardison, Eliot Spencer (Leverage), 

Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, not a main focus of the fic I just want to be careful, Crossover, Leverage Crossover, I don't know if this is crack or not, I just had fun writing it that's all I know, Raffaele and Sophie are grifter rivals

Summary:

The first time Sophie met him, she was at a gala.

Amid the dancers and waiters was where Sophie worked best. She had often thought that she was most aware of her surroundings when she was in a crowd, her eyes scanning for anything that broke a pattern.

At the moment, it was a young man with expensive jewelry. There was something about him. Something unusual.

Or: Sophie has a rival. Her rival may or may not be Raffaele from the Young Elites. And he is definitely not as good as her

[orbemnews]

How Mazda Rode Out the Pandemic While Rivals Slipped The pandemic crushed new-vehicle sales last year in the United States, with behemoths like Ford Motor, General Motors and Honda all posting double-digit sales declines. Altogether, the sales slide reached 15 percent, with under 14.5 million new cars hitting American roads, down from a five-year average of around 17 million. But Mazda — the 13th-ranked carmaker in America — was one of just three to increase sales last year. (Tesla and Volvo were the others.) The critical accolades piled up, as well. U.S. News and World Report, for the fifth year, made Mazda its Best Car Brand. Every one of its new models that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested was a Top Safety Pick, more than any other brand. It ranked No. 1 in a Consumer Reports survey on the most reliable new vehicles. And then this year, Mazda received the top spot in that magazine’s coveted Brand Report Card, based on a combined score that measures “road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety.” “During the pandemic, a number of brands were able to take some advantage of getting people to take a look at them,” said Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision, an automotive research and consulting firm. “Mazda has had a little bit of an easier time succeeding because, with just 2 percent of the market, they haven’t had a lot to lose.” Mr. Edwards, whose firm conducts hundreds of thousands of in-depth surveys with new car buyers each year, attributed part of Mazda’s appeal during this atypical period to consumer perceptions held by its typical buyers. Just as car shoppers are attracted to Jeeps for the perception of go-anywhere ability, and to BMWs for the idea of being able to drive at top speed on the autobahn — even if these things never actually happen to an ordinary owner — consumers were attracted to Mazda during the pandemic because the brand offered them a fantasy of carefree relief. “Mazda owners tend to be younger, single college graduates. They have an income that’s slightly higher than the general population, and they’re less likely to have kids. They enjoy fine dining. They travel the world,” he said. “So everything that we weren’t able to do this year, this is what Mazda owners love to do. That’s part of the brand imagery.” And driving was the next-best thing. “Mazdas have this image of being an escape,” Mr. Edwards added. In addition, though it has a cadre of loyalists, Mazda relies heavily on “conquest” sales — luring consumers from other brands — to fuel sales growth. During the pandemic, as potential car buyers navigated closed dealerships, dived deeper into online reviews and embraced at-home test drives, the small Japanese marque made its move. “With all of the rules being rewritten, they were able to pick up additional people that were reconsidering what vehicles they were going to consider,” Mr. Edwards said. For years, Mazda sported best-in-class fuel economy across its entire range, but it may be best known for its zippy $26,830 MX-5 Miata roadster. The Miata, one of the few affordable two-seat sports cars still on the market, is an industry benchmark for the cost/fun-to-drive ratio. The $20,650 Mazda 3 compact sedan and hatchback won the 2020 World Car Design of the Year award, for bringing Italianate styling, and driving passion, to a dwindling category; even Volkswagen has quit selling its Golf hatchback, long a core competitor, in the United States. The $24,475 Mazda 6 is a handsome family sedan that competes fiercely with the Honda Accord, even though the Honda sells a dozen Accords for every Mazda 6. It is, however, being discontinued after the 2021 model year, another victim of the shift to S.U.V.s and crossovers. Mazda competes in that bracket, as well. Its top seller in the States, the $25,370 CX-5, is a rival to the best-selling Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 and occasionally even competes with luxury models like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Today in Business Updated  May 26, 2021, 4:06 p.m. ET “When I worked at another auto company, the engineers were taught that value was performance divided by cost,” said Jeff Guyton, president and chief executive of Mazda’s North American operations. “The first day that a Mazda engineer comes to work, he or she is taught that value is performance divided by weight. “That’s a totally different mind-set,” he continued. “And we do that because weight is the enemy of cost. But it’s also the enemy of fun-to-drive, and it’s also the enemy of fuel economy. So if we judge value as performance divided by weight, we should be able to tackle all of those things.” Mazda’s unique perspective has deep roots. The company, which was founded as a cork-maker in 1920 in Hiroshima, has always been something of an outlier. “Historically, Mazda has been pretty small, pretty independent, and geographically they’re not located in the heart of Japan, where most of the big car companies are, so I think that has also afforded them a bit of that independent thinking,” said Dave Yuan, senior editor of Japanese Nostalgic Car, a website for American fans of Japanese cars. “Their very first vehicle was a racing motorcycle, to challenge the dominance of the big British bike brands.” Mr. Yuan credits Mazda’s focus on “courageous” engineering for its distinct perspective. “They tend not to be bound by a lot of the industry conventions,” he said. “They’re always going to try and seek out things that they believe are the right technology.” This includes, most famously, early and current efforts to tame and maximize the Wankel rotary engine, a high-revving, compact engine with a potent power-to-weight ratio — and inherent difficulties with fuel efficiency, oil consumption and tailpipe emissions. Mazda engineers are working on using the rotary as an onboard generator for their first electric car, the MX-30, where low-stress running conditions would allow it to operate quietly and efficiently. This spirit also encompasses Mazda’s dedication to what Mr. Yuan calls “signature philosophies,” such as “what makes a car drive well, and what makes a car enjoyable to drive.” Many resulting adaptations — the placement of gas, brake and clutch pedals; the position of seat backs; the way an engine builds power under a hard turn — don’t show up on spec sheets. But in day-to-day driving, they imbue Mazdas with a sense of refinement and delight. “They really feel like a boutique, artisanal, intricately thought-out product,” Mr. Yuan said. Yet, emerging from the pandemic, small automotive brands like Mazda face significant challenges. The key trends for the future are electrification and advanced driver-assistance technology, two categories that require immense investment. Mazda just doesn’t have this kind of capital, or scale. So one strategy involves a partnership with Toyota, the world’s top-selling automaker. In this deal, Mazda gains access to what Mr. Guyton called “Toyota’s wealth of resources and technology.” But when asked what Toyota acquires, he became a bit more philosophical. “I think the Toyota organization looked at Mazda and said: ‘Hey, you guys are consistently competitive in all these big segments all over the world, and yet you have a tenth of the resources we have. If we could have just a little of that in our organization, think what we could do with all the resources we do have.” The two brands are building a factory in Alabama, a plant that may — along with existing factories from Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai — help that low-wage, nonunion state become the second-largest auto producer in North America, after Michigan. According to Mr. Guyton, the cars built there will not be “twins separated at birth” — nearly identical vehicles with different badges on the front. Rather, they will be more like children from a blended family: “They’re going to grow up in the same house, but they are totally unique products.” This dedication to keeping Mazda Mazda will be crucial for the automaker’s future. “Subaru has been true to themselves, and they’ve been able to grow every year, even through the 2008 recession,” Mr. Edwards said. “Mazda’s really been true to who they are, and if communicated properly, with their enhancements, they are a competitor coming out of the pandemic.” Source link Orbem News #Mazda #Pandemic #Rivals #rode #slipped

[monterplant]

2021 Ford Focus Active review

2021 Ford Focus Active review

With Ford focusing on three models in the Focus line-up, what purpose does the Focus Active serve exactly – the perfect crossover offering or a pointless jacked-up hatchback? (more…)

[perfectirishgifts]

EVs Catch Fire. How To Pick Winners: Arrival Channels Henry Ford’s Ghost

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/evs-catch-fire-how-to-pick-winners-arrival-channels-henry-fords-ghost/

EVs Catch Fire. How To Pick Winners: Arrival Channels Henry Ford’s Ghost

Electric Vehicle (EV) startups have been on fire. (Poetic and cautionary.) How to pick the long-term winners?

Beyond pioneer and leader, Tesla, who will emerge as a winner from amongst 100s of new competitors? … [] Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during an event to launch the new Tesla Model X Crossover SUV on September 29, 2015 in Fremont, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Setting aside Tesla, the undisputed leader, a good start would be to focus on EV makers with revenues, such as Chinese players like NIO and XPeng (ticker: XPEV), or booked orders with commercial customers, like Lordstown Motors (ticker: RIDE). Customer contracts are always a great sign.

However, when an industry faces fundamental transformation, refer to history. Winners in the original automobile revolution weren’t distinguished simply by making great cars. Many did. Nearly all failed.

What Won The First Automobile Revolution? Innovation Beyond The Car.

From 1895 onward, at least 1900 automobile companies percolated in the USA alone. The few who prevailed brought industry-level vision to the battle. General Motors won by aggregating automakers to serve every customer, from Chevrolet’s bargain dependability to iconic 20th Century luxury brand Cadillac.

1928: American inventor and industrialist Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) and his son, automobile … [] executive Edsel Ford (1893 – 1943), sit in ‘The Fifteenth Millionth Ford’. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Ford brought mass production to a new level. While not the first to the assembly line game, Ford played biggest and best. When completed in 1928, Ford’s River Rouge complex became the largest integrated factory in the world. It inspired scale within industrial enterprises worldwide. They drove down prices and created the automotive mass market.

Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge Complex, the largest industrial facility in the world when it … [] commenced operations in 1928.

Leading The New Mobility Revolution

Who of the current swarm of EV players has vision beyond the vehicle— and who’s making it happen?

I expect UK-based EV manufacturer Arrival to be one of the winners. Benefitting from two colliding investment maelstroms, SPACs and EVs, Arrival recently announced a merger and reverse listing with Special Acquisition Corporation (SPAC) CIIG Acquisitions Corporation (ticker: CIIC). CIIC shares have vaulted over 50% in the past WEEK, though 10% to 30% daily swings aren’t unusual in this SPAC EV cohort.

(I’m not making a stock recommendation. If you’re interested, consider waiting for a pullback. Many SPACs surge following news of a merger with a compelling private company, then pullback for a while before nearing the actual re-listing event.)

Three of EV company Arrival’s prototype vehicles.

In addition to $1.2 billion in confirmed orders from customers such as UPS, the company offers a grand strategy beyond most of their peers.

Arrival focuses on commercial customers, which offer potential for large contracts. While that’s not unique, the company goes further by configuring their entire business— development, production and go-to-market— around customization.

Commercial vehicle customers often require far greater customization than consumers. A UPS (an Arrival customer and investor) delivery lorry requires different features and configurations than a Snap-On Tools truck or city bus.

Arrival’s solution enables customization at scale. Henry Ford drove standardization— for years, Ford’s Model-T was only available in black— to drive down prices. Arrival proposes the opposite: to dramatically enhance customization and response time for commercial customers, at costs competitive to traditional internal combustion and diesel versions.

Their “microfactories” leverage robotics and automation to achieve greater customization and do so physically closer to demand. Via material choices and modular design, Arrival optimizes its product platforms for distributed manufacturing. The company explains, “Designing vehicles for Microfactory assembly is core to our product development process.”

Part of Arrival’s robotic, automated production facility. Small, flexible facilities enable … [] introduction of production closer to demand. Each facility will be able to produce economically at volumes far lower than traditional vehicle production capacity.

In addition to better responding to customer demands, such a capability could help shape them. The ability to produce low volume runs of custom vehicles could support customer experiments in the field. They could try various options, then scale up what works, faster and at lower cost than ever before.

If Arrival’s strategy works, it’s liable to be far more responsive to local demands and perhaps even local politics. “Each Microfactory serves a city or its community— sourcing from the local area and developing custom vehicles for the region they’re in.” Imagine bidding for government contracts with locally produced buses, contributing valued-added jobs to the mix— while your competitor sources from overseas.

A visual of Arrival’s planned microfactory, to open in South Carolina in 2021. The installation … [] includes a $46 million investment, far more cost effective than typical automotive production facilities.

In addition to its original plant in the UK, the company plans to open a microfactory in South Carolina by mid-2021.

Proximity: The Future Of All Business

Arrival illustrates one of the essential dynamics driving change across all industries: proximity. (See my Forbes article from 2017, The Future of All Business.)

Digital technologies enable us to distribute capabilities from sensing, data collection and analytics to decision making, production and service at more precise, granular locations across the economy. As a result, digital technologies push the production and provision of products and services ever closer to the moment of demand.

Literally pushing production closer to the point of demand in time and space.

Imagine if you could produce exactly what each individual customer wants at precisely the time and place they’re ready to pay for it. Customization opportunities explode. Waste, production overruns, excess inventory all collapse. Transportation and logistics costs decline. Sustainability metrics improve.

Arrival’s strategy manifests this trend. Decades from now, we will still have massive plants where it makes most economic sense. But we’ll also have mid-sized facilities closer to demand, small-scale plants in urban areas and even desktop printer-sized capabilities on your kitchen counter. 3D printing company Desktop Metal, also going public via a SPAC (Trine Acquisition Corp ticker: TRNE), foreshadows this future.

3D printing equipment maker, Desktop Metal, planning a merger with a SPAC, Trine Acquisition Corp … [] (TRNE), in late December, 2020, offers metal additive manufacturing equipment from desktop to factory production scale, shown here.

Global supply chains will become hybridized, thus far more flexible and resilient to shocks such as pandemics.

While it’s impossible to know for sure how Arrival will perform long term, they have far better foresight than most of their peers. Major investments from Hyundai, Kia and BlackRock suggest that vision has a shot at reality.

Take a cue from Arrival and Henry Ford. Build your business around the future, not the past. Consider how proximity relates to your offerings, customers and markets. Chances are your competitors— existing and upstart— already are. And expect some well-funded SPACs to be hovering, too.

(Disclosure: At time of publication, I do not own shares in CIIC but do have a small position in TRNE.)

From Manufacturing in Perfectirishgifts

[dipulb3]

2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody review: Meaner and more agile

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2020-dodge-charger-srt-hellcat-widebody-review-meaner-and-more-agile-2/

2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody review: Meaner and more agile

The Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody gives Dodge something no other American rival offers: a full-size sedan with astronomical horsepower. Ford is getting out of the sedan business altogether and Chevrolet is trimming back its portfolio, with both companies shifting focus towards crossovers and SUVs. Thankfully, Dodge isn’t following that lead.

Like

Mighty supercharged V8

Improved handling dynamics

Meaner looks

Don’t Like

Aging cabin

Dreaded fuel economy

Lacks driver-assistance features

More than wider hips

The new-for-2020 Widebody adds 3.5 inches of width compared to the standard Charger. In addition to the fender flares, the Widebody gets a unique front fascia with a mail-slot grille providing more direct route radiator cooling, as well as a new rear spoiler and side sills to better blend with the added width. The result is a more menacing design that gets many nods of approval wherever this sedan goes.

Besides a more hulking stance, the wider exterior shell allows for the installation of thicker wheels and tires. In the Hellcat’s case, the previously standard 20-by-9.5-inch wheels wrapped with 275/40-series tires are replaced by 20-by-11-inch wheels covered in 305/50-series rubber.

2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody: Sharper looks and handling

See all photos

A new wheel and tire package also means the engineers had to rework the Hellcat’s suspension, resulting in new tuning for the three-mode Bilstein adaptive dampers, 32% stiffer front springs and larger anti-roll bars. Other chassis tweaks include a multimode electric power steering system in place of the old full-hydraulic setup, as well as brake upgrades with six-piston front Brembo calipers biting down on 15.4-inch, two-piece rotors.

What’s the result of chassis revisions and meatier rubber? A much more competent Charger that instills more confidence through corners. With Track mode activated, steering response is nearly immediate, and the dampers keep the 4,587-pound big boy from being clumsy in turns. The Pirelli P Zero tires’ wider contact patches give the Charger commendable stick before the fronts begin plowing forward, and brake muscle is stout, quickly getting the car slowed down. Where the Charger’s size can’t be disguised is under braking and side-to-side weight transfers, but avoid slalom exercises and you’ll be fine.

The Hellcat Widebody is stiff in Track mode, transmitting impacts from every road rut into the cabin. Additionally, in Track mode, the steering weight is on the heavy side for street use — unless you want Popeye-sized forearms. Summon the Hellcat’s Sport setting for the best balance of performance and comfort. You’ll want Street mode for the gentlest behavior, but be forewarned that ride quality isn’t magic-carpet cushy and the steering still has quite a bit of weight with a small dead spot on center.

A wider body allows for the installation of wider tires.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

Supercharged centerpiece

Visual and handling changes aside, the main reason anyone buys a Hellcat is for the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 under the hood. It still makes 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque for 2020, but hold out for a 2021 model and you’ll get 717 hp in the Hellcat and 797 hp in the new Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. 

The more powerful 2021 SRT Chargers won’t arrive in dealers until Spring, meaning if you want a Hellcat now, it’s going to be an example with 707 horses, which is difficult to pooh-pooh. Not with a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.6 seconds and a 10.96-second quarter-mile run. The Charger Hellcat is a brute that makes the right noises burbling at idle, which becomes supercharger whine during acceleration with a menacing exhaust note to boot. Throttle response is nearly instant, and a tidal wave of power is available at all parts of the rev band to forcefully push this sedan forward or spin the rear tires for smokey burnouts and donuts.

The supercharged V8 is still the star of the Hellcat show.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

Power is routed to the Hellcat’s rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission that, in Track mode, rips off rapid but not completely seamless shifts. You can shift it yourself with the steering wheel-mounted paddles, which offer respectable response to commands and rev-matching on downshifts. My advice is to let the computer do all the shifting, though, because the transmission is nicely programmed. 

For the times you aren’t trying to find a nice piece of pavement on which to perform smoke shows, the Street setting gives the drivetrain a more mellow personality. Gearbox shifts are smoother and slightly muted. Not surprisingly, the biggest strike against the Charger SRT is poor fuel economy, which is apparent with how rapidly the fuel gauge needle drops. EPA fuel economy estimates have this 707-hp beast returning 12 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway — numbers low enough for the Charger to be slapped with a $2,100 gas guzzler tax. Does that matter to a typical Hellcat shopper? Not likely.

Same as it ever was

Inside is where the Charger is showing its age. It’s roomy, with a straightforward layout and clearly marked controls. The front bucket seats are comfortable with generous side bolsters and trimmed with nice leather, while lots of soft-touch surfaces, an optional suede headliner and real carbon fiber trim bring some premium touches to this test car. There’s also a nice big trunk in the back with 16.5 cubic feet of space. Unfortunately, the interior design is a bit stale now and there are some budget-rate areas, such as the hollow window controls and flimsy plastic lower door panel compartments.

The cabin is getting long in tooth, but the infotainment technology is still on point.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

What isn’t stale is the Uconnect infotainment system with its crisp-looking and responsive 8.4-inch touchscreen controlling a bumping 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio setup, navigation system that quickly calculates routes, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And to keep anyone phones or tablets from going dead in the Charger, there are numerous USB and 12-volt outlets within easy reach of people in both rows of seats. 

Sadly, anyone looking for a big driver-assistance tech menu will be disappointed. The Charger Hellcat comes with the federally mandated backup camera and standard blind-spot monitoring and that’s it. Things like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning are not available.

Big performance bang for your buck

Really, when you think about what the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody brings to the table for $73,590 (including $1,495 for destination and gas guzzler tax), it’s a performance bargain. And that’s even truer with the Widebody, which allows the Charger to take corners in a respectable fashion thanks to its suspension changes and bigger tires.

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody will set you back $73,590 to start. 

Jon Wong/Roadshow

The Hellcat Widebody tester pictured here stickers for $83,150 with a handful of options that I’d gladly leave off, such as different wheels, a sunroof and some small visual upgrades. My ideal car keeps the frostbite paint job seen here, though, as well as the $1,595 carbon-suede interior package. I’ll also keep the great $1,995 Harman Kardon Audio Group, bringing my ideal car’s bottom line to $77,180.

Yes, the Charger Hellcat Widebody has plenty of shortcomings, but when I walk towards this menacing machine in the parking lot, I don’t think about them. When I engage launch control and let the supercharged V8 rocket me forward, I also don’t think about them because I’m too busy laughing with glee. The Charger Hellcat Widebody is an immensely entertaining machine.

[imotorholic]

This is 2021 Ford Puma, which is a crossover. | No doubt that Ford Puma is a great product for global but misses out in the Indian market, do you guys want Ford Puma in India, let us know in comments section. | Stay tuned @imotorholic for daily updates related to cars and bikes. .. .. .. .. .. @imotorholic @fordindia @ford #motorholic #motorholicindia #motorholer #carholic #carsofinstagram #carinsta #cargram #carinstagram #carswithoutlimits #carsland #carlovers #carlifestyle #carporn #carofinstagram #ford #fordtechnology #fordperformance #focus #fordfocus #fordindia #fordfocusclub #fordfocusrs #focusrs #interiordesign #blue #design #forddesign #interiordesigner #interior #newdesign (at Gujarat Ahemdabad) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFnLuOMgrvP/?igshid=7xaey5ps4rwi

[perksofwifi]

2021 Ford Puma ST: Ford’s Euro-only CUV Gets a Sporting Edge

Remember when the ST badge was reserved for the Focus? Then it migrated to the Fiesta, the Explorer, and Edge. Well, now it’s the Puma’s turn. The cutesy little crossover that we don’t get in the states—which by itself is curious, given America’s hankering for SUVs—just received the ST treatment. It’s the first performance SUV that Ford has given Europe, and even though the upgrades are standard ST fare, it adds up to yet another sporty compact from Ford that we want but can’t have.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think ST is probably power. To that end, the Puma gets a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine (likely the same unit from the current, also Euro-only Fiesta ST) that makes 197 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 236 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 rpm and 3,500 rpm. That power is sent exclusively through a six-speed manual to the front wheels. Ford has also added a Quaife limited slip differential up front to help improve traction should you find yourself on a twisty bit of road.

Ford also beefs up the rest of the Puma to cope with the extra power. The torsion beam rear suspension has been stiffened by more than 50 percent compared to the standard car, there are new springs and dampers are all four corners, and there are a host of drive modes—Normal, Eco, Sport, and Track—so the Puma ST can suit just about any driving situation you find yourself in. Even though the dampers are non-adjustable, they’ve been stiffened, and that—along with a 25 percent quicker steering rack—should give the Puma the extra agility you’d expect from an ST.

Ford worked with Michelin to create a bespoke tire for the Puma ST. Ford says the new, Puma ST-specific Pilot Sport 4S tires should take full advantage of the upgraded chassis without sacrificing ride quality. Putting 19-inch wheels on a small car like the Puma can dramatically change the way the car rides thanks to added unsprung mass and less sidewall to cope with lumps and bumps, so hopefully the Puma’s suspension can shoulder its extra responsibilities.

Inside, the Puma gets a set of sporty-looking seats with big bolsters to keep you in place, and has added nice touches like an ST-specific gear knob and ST badging on the steering wheel. All in all, it’s a sharp and fun-looking package. There’s no word about an on-sale date, but that hardly matters for us Yanks. At the moment, we won’t get the Puma in any guise, let alone this sporty ST variant, but trust us when we say we wouldn’t be mad if Ford dropped the uninspiring EcoSport and sold the Puma ST here instead.

The post 2021 Ford Puma ST: Ford’s Euro-only CUV Gets a Sporting Edge appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-ford-puma-st-revealed-photos-details-info/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

[perfectirishgifts]

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, For When You Need More Than To Escape

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/the-2021-ford-bronco-sport-for-when-you-need-more-than-to-escape/

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, For When You Need More Than To Escape

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

When Ford made the decision several years ago  to discontinue virtually all of its traditional car nameplates in the North American market, it came as a surprise to many outside the company. But it was really just an acknowledgement of the realities of what consumers actually wanted to buy. So in place of a new Focus, Ford has realigned its utility lineup to create more models, each of which has more focus on specific customer needs and wants including the 2021 Bronco Sport. 

Back in the early part of the last decade, I worked at Ford for a time and this is where I first heard of the concept of the super-segment. Traditionally, automotive marketers have focused on narrower segments like compact cars, midsize utility vehicles or full-size trucks. That’s because consumers usually picked a segment that they were interested in buying and mostly cross shopped the competing products of that type from different brands. Someone interested in a small car, would compare a Ford Focus to a Toyota Corolla to a Honda Civic. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

But over the last decade, there was more fluidity in buying decisions within a Ford dealership between the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Escape. Increasingly, customers were choosing the Escape over one of the sedans. Many of those customers were using the Escape in the same way as they would a Focus or Fusion. Thus the idea of the super-segment was born. As we’ve seen in recent years, more and more shoppers migrated to the utility vehicles in their super-segments and thus some manufacturers have been discontinuing the traditional cars. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Recognizing this, the latest generation Escape that debuted a year ago retains the crossover form-factor but has moved significantly more toward the car end of the spectrum than prior generations because that’s how Escape buyers were using it. The looks became softer and the interior looks and feels  more upscale than before. That in turn left more of a gap for something in the same size class that had a more rugged look and feel – the Bronco Sport. 

While the Bronco Sport shares half of its name with the larger, Ranger-based Bronco that is arriving next summer, it’s a completely different beast derived from the same transverse engine unibody architecture as the Escape. But the Bronco Sport is also a very different machine from the Escape. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The design obviously draws on the same Bronco DNA as its larger siblings with round lights, horizontal grille, raised peaks on the fenders and an overall boxier shape than the Escape. Compared to the Escape, the Bronco Sport has 1.6-inches less wheelbase and is almost eight-inches shorter overall. It’s also four—inches taller, much of which is in the rear half under the step roof. Unlike the big Broncos, the Sport lacks the body modularity, so no removable roof and doors on this one. 

That shorter length compared to the wheelbase means correspondingly better approach and departure angles. With the available 29-inch all-terrain tires, the Bronco Sport has an inch more ground clearance at 8.8-inches compared to the Escape. Under the hood, the Escape and Bronco Sport share the same powrtrains with a choice of two turbocharged EcoBoost engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base set up is the 181-horsepower 1.5-liter three-cylinder while the 250-hp 2.0-liter four is optional. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Downstream of the transmissions is where things diverge again. The Escape comes standard with front-wheel-drive while all-wheel-drive is optional. The Bronco Sport features standard four-wheel-drive on all trim levels. There is an important distinction between AWD and 4WD. AWD is designed to divert some of the drive torque to the rear (usually about 10-15%) when there is excessive slip on the front wheels, but it relies mainly on the front axle for tractive effort. 4WD permanently splits the torque 50/50 between the two axles and always drives all four wheels. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The Bronco Sport First Edition and Badlands models also feature a twin-clutch rear axle that activates when slip is detected to effectively transfer torque as a locking differential would. The chief competitor to the Bronco Sport is the Jeep Compass Trailhawk which has virtually the same footprint but isn’t as tall. 

We had the opportunity to sample the Bronco Sport in a 90 minute on-road drive as well as have some off-road play time at the new Holly Oaks ORV park north of Detroit. As if the exterior design of the Bronco Sport wasn’t enough to tell you that this is more than just a rebadged Escape, you’ll also feel it inside. The Bronco Sport feels decidedly more utilitarian than the Escape which is not to say cheap, but just different. There’s a good-sized storage slot just below the eight-inch center touchscreen and another at the bottom of the center stack ahead of the shifter. The climate controls feature nice, large round knobs with a good gripping surface. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

From the driver’s seat, the extra roof height is clearly apparent and looking out over the broad, flat hood, those fender peaks let you discern exactly where the corners are which is very handy when traversing narrow trails. The seats are comfortable and the back seat offers even more overhead space although a bit less leg room than the Escape and it lacks the sliding rear seat. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

That tall roof was an addition designed for the outdoors adventure types that this vehicle is expected to appeal too. Like the big Bronco, there are plenty of accessories available from day one on the Bronco Sport including an interior bike rack. With the back seats folded down, the roof will accommodate two mountain bikes inside where they can be kept locked up. 

When longer items like paddle or surf boards need to hang out the back, the Bronco Sport brings back the separate lift-up rear glass which can be open while the tailgate is shut. With the tailgate open at a campsite, a pair of bright LED flood lamps on the underside can illuminate the area behind the vehicle. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

On road, the driving dynamics are not dramatically different from the Escape with decent ride comfort and good responsiveness when changing direction. One thing that was immediately noticeable is that the Bronco Sport feels louder than the last Escape I drove by a noticeable amount. It’s not oppressively loud and would likely be acceptable to most people but the Escape definitely feels more serene by comparison. 

As in the Escape, even the base 1.5-liter engine is more than adequate for almost anyone and provides sufficient get up and go to merge onto highways as well as climbing steep grades. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Back at the ORV park, the Bronco Sport demonstrated impressive capabilities over a wide array of terrain. It’s capable of fording through almost two feet of water and crawling over good sized rocks. The 18:1 crawl ratio is just shy of the 20:1 provided by the 4WD low range in the Compass, but it should be adequate for most uses. Anything you can’t handle in one of these smaller off-roaders is probably best left to the bigger, dedicated Broncos and Wranglers. 

Ford has put technology to good use in the Bronco Sport. The surround view cameras can be left on at low speeds to provide a view of what you are maneuvering around. The front camera is particularly helpful when approaching the crest of a hill so you can see what is on the other side without a spotter.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The trail control mode is also very handy when travelling lesser known trails. It’s basically a cruise control mode that maintains constant speed which was handy when going down a 20 degree grade with turns in the middle. You can focus on steering on watching where you are going without touching either pedal. 

The slippery and sand modes, mud and ruts and rock crawl modes also come in handy, adjusting the throttle response, steering and slip thresholds for the stability control. We got to try an autocross in deep sand which was quite fun. The sand mode allowed more rear slip making it easy to control direction by kicking out the back end with a bit of extra pressure on the accelerator. 

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Overall, our first impression is that the Bronco Sport seems to succeed at Ford set out for it to do. It fills a whole for consumers with an active outdoor lifestyle that the Escape can’t handle but where the big Bronco may be more than needed. It offers a lot of handy touches and thoughtful design elements provides a vehicle more focused at a particular buyer. 

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport starts at just under $27,000 for the base model and can run up to about $41,000 for a loaded Badlands model before adding extra accessories. Bronco Sports are available now.

From Transportation in Perfectirishgifts

[craigshaw9856]

2021 Ford F-150 First Drive: Now With Even More Torque

Ford Motor Company’s 2021 Model Year is full of new trucks, crossovers, and SUVs. The one hundred and seventeen-year-old company has a renewed focus on these profitable categories while no longer offering a sedan in North America. The Bronco, Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E expand Ford’s vehicle portfolio while adding new segments for the brand. […]

The post 2021 Ford F-150 First Drive: Now With Even More Torque appeared first on The Truth About Cars.