Ford Fiesta Production & Crash Test Kudos

The Ford Fiesta is making it to the United States and it is being sold to customers. I can vouch for that because I saw my first 2011 Fiesta that wasn’t on a test track or sitting in a dealer showroom earlier this week.  Decked out in Lime Squeeze Metallic, that sedan zipped past me as we were both making left turns opposite each other at a busy intersection.

Production Delays

So far, Ford has managed to contain what could be an embarrassing PR problem with its Fiesta. Built in Mexico, the Ford Fiesta has slowly been making its way to the United States, but delays due to weather problems at the beginning of the summer followed by having to halt shipment this past week to fix a defective part has made Fiesta sightings almost as uncommon as finding Big Foot.

But the Fiesta isn’t your local Yeti with 4,400 models sold through the end of July. That number is likely to pick up; I’m fully expecting that by this time next year the Ford Fiesta will be one of the top ten selling cars in America.

IIHS Honors

One of the biggest tests for the Ford Fiesta (or for any model for that matter) is putting it through the crash test wringer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS is funded by the major insurance companies and conducts crash tests on new models. The higher the score, the lower your insurance premium. Consumers can save hundreds of dollars annually on auto insurance costs if their vehicle scores high.

This week, the IIHS announced that the Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback garnered the Top Safety Pick laurels, the first mini car (subcompact or smaller) to do so.  The Fiesta received good ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and for having electronic stability control as standard equipment.

Moreover, the Fiesta represents the eighth Ford Motor Company product to win a Top Safety Pick award giving Ford one more model than Toyota, now in second place. Yes, that feat is great news for consumers and a marketing coup for Ford who most certainly will promote that advantage.

Tough Materials

So, how did Ford make such a small car so tough? Ford says that more than half of the Fiesta’s body structure uses high-strength or ultra-high-strength steels in the floor structure, front rails, beams and in the ultra-rigid, integrated body reinforcement ring designed to help better protect occupants in side impacts.

Further, Ford uses ultra-high-strength aluminized boron steel in its Fiesta A- and B-pillars, pillars that hold up the windshield section and the middle of the roof at the door posts.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Nip/Tuck Ford Edge Now Shipping

Midcycle refresh for 2011 Ford Edge

2011 Ford Edge

The most popular midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is the Ford Edge, a vehicle introduced in late 2006 for the 2007 model year. To date, more than 400,000 sales have been recorded, but the Ford Motor Company is not resting on its laurels.

Edge Shipped

This past weekend, the first of the 2011 models left the Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario and are heading to dealerships across the United States and Canada. Though some have mistakenly called the 2011 Ford Edge a second generation model, she isn’t.

Instead, the new Edge has received a significant nip/tuck inside and out, a mid-cycle refreshening designed to breath fresh life into this CUV. A new fascia, front fender, hood, headlamps and tail lamps help give the Ford Edge its updated look.

Strong Sales

Not that the 2010 Edge was flagging in customer interest. Year to date, sales are up 33 percent over 2009. Importantly, the midsize CUV segment has expanded going from 4.3 percent of sales when the Edge was introduced to 9.5 percent today.

And it is a crowded category at that with competition coming from the Dodge Journey, Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Touareg, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Accord Crosstour, Toyota Venza and others. Ford data shows that the segment will continue to grow, with a 20 percent rise forecast for this year alone.

New Edge

The 2011 model features a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower, up from 265 last year. Notably, the base front-wheel drive Ford Edge will get 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway delivering best in class fuel economy. Optionally, the Edge will offer the first application of Ford’s 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine or a 3.7-liter V6.

Inside, the changes are notable too and include MyFord Touch driver connect technology, Blind Spot Information System, MyKey and adaptive cruise control.

Getting Technical

MyFord Touch, standard on the Limited and Sport packages, features two 4.2-inch configurable LCD screens placed in the instrument cluster and an 8-inch LCD touch screen in the center stack. Driver can access five-way controls on the steering wheel – in addition to a new Media Hub with two USB 2.0 ports, video input jacks and an SD card slot.

Ford has taken the midcycle refresh to a level not usually seen in the industry. The Mustang and Fusion are recent nip/tuck beneficiaries, showing that automakers can get much more mileage out of a generational model when the facelift isn’t just skin deep.

See Also — Autoweek: Ford Edge Gets $200 Price Cut

Source: Ford Motor Company

Infiniti G25 Expands the G Line

New Infiniti model makes Pebble Beach debut

Infiniti is getting a new model, the G25, to be slotted below the G37 (formerly G35) sedan. Powered by a 2.5-liter (what else?) V-6 engine, the G25 expands the popular G line which also includes a coupe and convertible.

September Availability

Nissan Motors has priced the 2011 Infiniti G25 from $30,950 and has introduced the vehicle at Pebble Beach before making it available through Infiniti dealerships this September.

“With the new G25 Sedan, we’re broadening the appeal of the G Line with a model designed to provide an additional choice for buyers looking for a true luxury sedan, but who might not need the higher levels of performance provided by our larger engine-equipped G37 models,” said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore, speaking at a media event at the 60th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. “The G25 is positioned in the heart of the luxury sport sedan market, allowing us to bring Infiniti’s Inspired Performance to a wider selection of buyers.”

G Similarities

The all-new Infiniti G25 shares the same exterior, interior and chassis as the G37, but the difference between the two is in engine displacement. Infiniti says that the 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 bangs out 218 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque. Compare that to the G37′s 3.7-liter DOHC 24-valve V6′s 328 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque.

Standard for the sedan is a 7-speed automatic transmission; the sedan is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive. Three trim levels or packages will be offered: base G25 Sedan, G25 Sedan Journey and G25x Sedan AWD.

G25 Amenities

Standard equipment list is generous and includes leather seating, Shodo (whatever that is) aluminum interior trim, eight-way power driver’s seat and four-way power front passenger’s seat, automatic climate control, premium audio system with six speakers, XM Satellite Radio, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, HID Xenon headlights, four-wheel ABS, traction control and vehicle dynamic control systems.

Choose the Journey trim package and you can get heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, auto on/off headlights and dual zone a/c.

What’s up next for Infiniti? Expect a full blown hybrid to be added to the G line in the not too distant future.

Source: Infiniti

See Also — USAToday: Nissan’s Infiniti debuts new G25 sedan