http://www.thecarconnection.com/reviews Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:16:11 -0500 Car Reviews -- Get the consensus and opinions from TheCarConnection and from around the Web on your favorite car. Lifestyle/Fashion http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/tcc-feed.jpg http://www.thecarconnection.com/reviews http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038700_geely-intends-to-keep-volvo-production-in-europe-maybe http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038700_geely-intends-to-keep-volvo-production-in-europe-maybe Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:26:00 -0500 We've been keeping a close eye on the evolving Ford/Volvo/Geely saga. So far, the biggest point of contention in the brou-ha-ha has been Ford's concerns about intellectual property, which Geely might or might not respect after the ink dries. (China hasn't exactly been at the forefront of IP law.) However, there have also been unspoken worries ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038560_fords-big-day-fusion-gets-top-marks-company-stock-soars http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038560_fords-big-day-fusion-gets-top-marks-company-stock-soars Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A year ago, many people were predicting the end of Detroit. In light of the financial sector's collapse and the subsequent Big Three implosion (not to mention a few highly publicized chats between Detroit CEOs and members of Congress), naysayers around the world insisted that America's moment to shine was over -- at least as far as cars were ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038556_iihs-picks-the-safest-new-vehicles-for-2010 http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038556_iihs-picks-the-safest-new-vehicles-for-2010 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:24:00 -0500 The coveted Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) used to be quite exclusive--and a way for safety-conscious shoppers to narrow down their possibilities to a few top-rated vehicles in a segment. But since 2007, the number of Top Safety Picks has roughly doubled each year, going from just 23 ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038167_2010-ford-taurus-named-official-car-of-ces http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038167_2010-ford-taurus-named-official-car-of-ces Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:03:00 -0500 One of the world's biggest consumer electronics trade shows, the 2010 International CES, is just a couple of months away and in its lead up, organizers have named the 2010 Ford Taurus the official car of the event. As the official car of CES, the Ford Taurus will be featured prominently with technology demonstrations and in signage, ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038132_chrysler-retools-its-ev-program-possibly-for-the-better http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038132_chrysler-retools-its-ev-program-possibly-for-the-better Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:01:00 -0500 Last week, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne unveiled the company's five-year recovery plan. This week, we've received details about Chrysler's electric vehicle program, which has been given a fairly extreme makeover and a new direction. Most notably, Chrysler's EV development initiative -- known as ENVI -- has been "absorbed into the normal ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038093_cash-for-clunkers-reveals-weakness-among-detroit-brands http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038093_cash-for-clunkers-reveals-weakness-among-detroit-brands Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:38:00 -0500 It's obvious from the comments on this site and others in the High Gear Media family that Cash-for-Clunkers remains a hot-button issue, and new data about the program is likely to fuel the fire: according to stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most car buyers used Cash-for-Clunkers to swap out their domestic ride ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037982_how-to-make-hands-free-calls-safer-at-speed-move-voices-around http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037982_how-to-make-hands-free-calls-safer-at-speed-move-voices-around Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:17:00 -0500 The dangers of distracted driving are top of mind these days, what with recent studies on the risks, a Department of Transportation summit meeting, and even automakers speaking out against it. A Congressional bill would cut highway funding to states that do not ban using handheld devices behind the wheel, as 17 already have. Ford now tout ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038075_ford-ceo-rules-out-ka-and-ranger-for-u-s http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038075_ford-ceo-rules-out-ka-and-ranger-for-u-s Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:59:00 -0500 For many years Ford's sales performance in the United States has been linked closely with its top-selling pickup truck and SUV lines, but with demand for such vehicles continuing to slide the Blue Oval has acknowledged that its future lineup will have to feature much more small cars. Unfortunately, this future lineup won't include ..]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/ford_focus_2010 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/ford_focus_2010 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:53:00 -0500 2010 FORD FOCUS STYLING | [6 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "Improved storage spaces, better-positioned controls and attractive ice-blue backlighting" ConsumerGuide: "Well-arranged dashboard has mostly intuitive and handy controls" Cars.com: "Gawky profile doesn't mesh with the restyled front and back at all" It's been two years since ...
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]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/ford_flex_2010 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/ford_flex_2010 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:44:00 -0500 2010 FORD FLEX STYLING | [9 out of 10] Jalopnik: "looks pretty cool" Automobile Magazine: "quirky, modern" Car and Driver: "Ramrod upright" Edmunds: "Rolling stare magnet" If there's one thing that's indisputable about the 2010 Flex, it's that nothing else on the road looks quite like it. The only place you will find some hereditary ...
Browse Photos

]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037898_the-650-ford-taurus-a-cash-strapped-classic http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037898_the-650-ford-taurus-a-cash-strapped-classic Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:54:00 -0500 Forget the Tata Nano--the $2,500 car aimed at the developing world--or even the cheapest models in the U.S. market, the $9,970 Hyundai Accent and $9,990 Nissan Versa. If you're on a shoestring budget, a used car like the 1993 Ford Taurus might be the only option. Leave it to the sometimes-funny, always-ridiculous folks at The Onion to give the ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037884_fords-inflatable-seat-belts-are-finally-ready-to-roll http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037884_fords-inflatable-seat-belts-are-finally-ready-to-roll Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:46:00 -0500 At the 2001 Detroit auto show, Ford debuted some intriguing technology: airbag-enabled seat belts. After years of additional testing and refinement, it appears that the devices are finally ready for prime time. They'll soon be available as an option on next-gen Ford Explorers; afterward, they'll debut in Europe and other markets. While we're ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037618_ford-posts-strong-financial-data-first-profit-since-2005 http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037618_ford-posts-strong-financial-data-first-profit-since-2005 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:25:00 -0500 The rumors were true: Ford Motor Company has just published financials from the third quarter of 2009, and without being overly optimistic, it's fair to say that the data is moderately rosy. Among several bright spots in the report, one that seems particularly impressive is that July - September of 2009 saw Ford North America's first profit ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037614_north-america-to-become-new-export-base-for-ford http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037614_north-america-to-become-new-export-base-for-ford Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:16:00 -0500 Ford's new Fiesta sub-compact is about to go on sale across the country and just around the corner is a new global Focus. Both of these European designed cars will be manufactured in North America for the first time and there is much more to come, including exporting these locally built models back to Europe and other global markets. The ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037479_ford-wants-cloud-computing-social-media-on-sync-system http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037479_ford-wants-cloud-computing-social-media-on-sync-system Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:53:00 -0400 "The Cloud" is hot news these days: it gives people the ability to upload data to the web -- spreadsheets, movies, music files -- and access them from anywhere. That's exciting stuff, and it explains why Ford has cracked open the operating system on its popular Sync software for students at the University of Michigan, allowing them to develop ..]]>