Car Wallpaper

Friday, January 27, 2012

Ford has become the largest gain since 1998, but only with disposable income, a $ 6,200 reward employees

Piggy backing off tax gain, Ford Motor Company announced the highest annual profit since 1998, and the second largest in 109 years history of the company. Blue Oval net profit for 2011 was U.S. $ 20.2 billion, or U.S. $ 4.94 per share, up from $ 13.7 billion in the U.S., or U.S. $ 3.28 per share one year ago.

But most of the profit comes from a single, non-cash exceptional items of U.S. $ 12400000000 of the anti-removal assessment Net deferred tax asset.

Ford said that the entire pre-tax profit before tax was $ 8.8 billion or $ 1.51 per share, up from U.S. $ 463 million from 2010.

Sales in U.S. $ 136300000000 for the entire year, an increase of $ 15.4 billion from the year 2010, Ford reports total sales of 5.7 million cars and trucks worldwide, an increase of 382,000 units in relation to St . last year.

Ford ended the year Automotive gross cash $ 22.9 billion, compared with $ 20.8 billion on September 30, 2011, $ 20.5 billion on 31 December 2010.

Detroit company said that due to the economy in 2011 will give a bonus to approximately 41,600 U.S. employees are eligible hours. Ford North America profit before tax by $ 6.2 billion (USD 5.4 billion in 2010) will consist of approximately U.S. $ 6,200 per employee is entitled to a full year basis.

Car maker is not, as in Europe, where he posted an operating loss before tax of $ 27 million compared to a surplus of U.S. $ 182 million one year ago.

In 2012, Ford said it expects full year industry volumes ranged from 13.5 to 14,500,000 cars in the U.S. and from 14 to 15 million in Europe.

Ford is planning a number of major product launches in years, including the global implementation of the new Fusion, Focus and Lincoln MKZ in the D-segment flight and Kuga crossover segment C and the B segment will roll out the B- Max crossover in Europe and worldwide markets Ecosport.

The automaker said the U.S. will also drive the Ranger pickup in different markets and tripling production Ford EcoBoost-equipped models.

The first production Aston Martin Zagato V12 to debut in Kuwait Concours d Elegance

We expected to get the latest production version of the Aston Martin Zagato V12 at Frankfurt Motor Show last year, but instead, a British company to see turned one of the conditions in the road race spec engine to show an indication of what the will look to give out.

Now is the time, Aston Martin, to turn ideas and show the first ready-to-car buyers will have its world premiere at the Concours d'Elegance Kuwait from February 15 to 18 years.

"We are pleased that the new V12 Zagato shows for the first time in the form of production in Kuwait Concours d'Elegance," said Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez. "More than 50 years since the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato are working together on this modern interpretation, which remains faithful to the original orientation of the production, performance and exclusivity to create."

Zagato, wrote the model is based on the chassis, Aston Martin V12 Vantage Coupe with 6.0-liter V12 engine with 510 hp (380 kW / 517 hp) and 570Nm (420 lbs feet) and torque.

Only 150 units will be built, each at a price of £ 330,000 USD (excluding local taxes), what is the current price is about U.S. $ 513,300 or € 396.600.

Aston Martin has orders from the first cars to be delivered later this year.

Fiat Launch New Strada Small Pickup Truck

Starting next week, its new Fiat Strada to supply the domestic market, which Italije.Strada Fiat Ducato vans sold over 127,800 copies sold worldwide in 2011. It was built in the factory in Betim FIAS, Brazil.

Revised light commercial model is available in three variants of the work, walking and adventure, plus three body styles, including cabin, large cabin, four-seater cabin for a total of six different races.

Characteristic pattern of flight attendants 4x4 adventure in style displays in a raised suspension and an extensive set of pads. This version also includes a new standard electronic differential lock called E-box and off-road tires 205/65 R15.

Fiat said the new Strada overall objective is unchanged from the previous series with a length of 4409 mm (4457 mm for the adventure), width 1664 mm (1740 mm for the adventure) and the wheelbase for all versions of 2718 mm.

Payload including driver, and from 630 kg to 705 kg (1388 to 1555 CZK), depending on the version.

Power is courtesy of the 1.3-liter Multijet 16v diesel Euro-5 engine 95 hp and 200 Nm (147.5 lbs-ft) at 1500 rpm and 5.3lt/100km consumption (44.4 mpg U.S.) to provide European management.

In Italy, the pre-tax prices range from € 12.900 ($ 16.700 U.S.) to Single Cab modeling to € 16,000 (U.S. $ 20,700) for the Crew Cab version of the Warrior Adventure.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hybrids Losing To Efficient IC Engines

In today's Detroit News is a well written piece about the struggles of hybrids in the marketplace. Bottom line: most people would rather pay a lot less money for somewhat less efficiency.

A fascinating insight comes from Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the largest multi-brand car retailer.

Mike Jackson, chief executive of the retail chain AutoNation Inc., said that 75 percent of customers come into his showrooms and want to talk about hybrids. Only about 2.5 percent of AutoNation sales are hybrids.
"What happens from the 75 percent consideration to the 2.5 percent commitment?" Jackson said.
"They look at the price premium for the technology, which is already subsidized and discounted, and say, 'The payback period is too long; not for me.'"

At the point of purchase decision, people notice that the payback time for the hybrid-electric powertrain is on the order of 5 or more years, and the practicality of the vehicle is reduced because of the packaging of the batteries. They also notice that one of the more efficient non-hybrid vehicles, while not as efficient as a hybrid, is pushing 40mpg on the highway.

As a result, hybrid sales are not growing very quickly, even though gasoline prices in the U.S. remain stubbornly near $3.50/gal.

Hybrid sales slowed last year to 2.2 percent of U.S. sales, from 2.4 percent in 2010, according to researcher LMC Automotive.

Without widespread adoption, there is less hope for economies of scale in battery production.

For hybrids to really compete, the cost of batteries, and their energy density, must improve dramatically, or the price of fuel must go so high that the payback time will approach a few years--like $5/gal.