http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:32:39 -0500 Tips and Advice -- find out how to maintain, service, insure, wash and wax, and change the oil in your car with tips from TheCarConnection.com. Lifestyle/Fashion http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/tcc-feed.jpg http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039536_ford-wows-with-2011-fiesta-interior-cant-compare-mazda2-yet http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039536_ford-wows-with-2011-fiesta-interior-cant-compare-mazda2-yet Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:45:00 -0500 Whether it was an odd coincidence or a calculated move, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011 Mazda2 were both introduced at the LA Auto Show, on the same day. What makes it significant is that they're closely related. While we've heard varying figures, it's fair to say that they share more than just a few pieces. TheCarConnection.com spent some ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039230_preview-2011-ford-fiesta http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039230_preview-2011-ford-fiesta Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500 What is it? Ford's first subcompact in a decade, designed in Europe, built in Mexico The basics: 1.6-liter four with five-speed manual or six-speed direct-shift automatic On sale: Summer 2010, with a website to let consumers sign up online now Price: $16,000 (est.) With small cars expanding their share of a flat U.S. market, the 2011 Ford ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039443_lincoln-mks-ford-flex-are-tops-in-nav-system-satisfaction http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039443_lincoln-mks-ford-flex-are-tops-in-nav-system-satisfaction Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:00:00 -0500 Happy with your nav system? So are a lot of Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex owners. The Clarion-supplied navigation systems in those vehicles have the most satisfied customers. Also ranking high are the systems in the Acura TL (Pioneer), Ford F-150 (Clarion), and Porsche 911 (Harman/Becker). Toyota's Denso-supplied nav system placed low on the ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039345_ford-best-buy-sync-for-success http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039345_ford-best-buy-sync-for-success Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:21:00 -0500 Ford has been on a winning streak lately, improving vehicle quality, buffing its brand perception, and growing the company's market share. Now Ford has something new to brag about, thanks to a successful pilot program aimed to raise awareness about Ford's Sync telematics system. The program was also a win for Ford's partner in the program, ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039030_does-the-2010-lexus-ls-600h-park-itself-as-well-as-a-ford http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039030_does-the-2010-lexus-ls-600h-park-itself-as-well-as-a-ford Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:59:00 -0500 For several years Lexus has offered an Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS; also called Intelligent Parking Assist) option on its Lexus LS 460 and Lexus LS 600h, and the same system is offered in the 2010 Toyota Prius. The Lexus/Toyota system was, and still is, the first and only system in the U.S. market to automatically steer the vehicle ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039243_2011-ford-mustang-gets-new-v-6-305-hp-30-mpg-highway http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039243_2011-ford-mustang-gets-new-v-6-305-hp-30-mpg-highway Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:32:00 -0500 An all-new engine promises to make the base V-6 Ford Mustang a lot more exciting for 2011. Today (and in advance of the LA Auto Show pressers), Ford officially announced that a new all-aluminum 3.7-liter DOHC V-6 will power the 2011 Ford Mustang, producing an impressive 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet. Two new six-speed transmissions (versus ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038872_ford-gaining-on-honda-and-toyota-in-perceived-quality http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038872_ford-gaining-on-honda-and-toyota-in-perceived-quality Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:48:00 -0500 Among mainstream brands, consumers still rate Honda and Toyota highest in quality--whether that is or isn't the case on actual quality surveys. But Ford is quickly gaining ground. That's according to the latest Perceived Quality Study (PQS), from residual values expert Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG). Perceived quality sometimes fails to mirror ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038861_today-in-social-media-the-toyota-4runner-you-in-campaign http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038861_today-in-social-media-the-toyota-4runner-you-in-campaign Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:40:00 -0500 Social media is the bold, new frontier of marketing: terra incognita, Wild West, Deep Space. Sites and services like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Flickr allow advertisers to reach huge numbers of people at minimum cost and maximum speed; all companies have to do is post videos or photos of a product, make sure the right people see them ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038859_u-s-consortium-to-make-bid-for-volvo-this-week http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038859_u-s-consortium-to-make-bid-for-volvo-this-week Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 In today's episode of the Ford/Volvo saga, the U.S. consortium known as Crown has announced plans to submit a bid for Volvo this week that will rival that of Chinese automaker (and current preferred bidder) Geely. Crown's bid will be in the $2 billion to $2.5 billion range -- somewhat less than Geely's rumored $3 billion offer. However, Crown ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038856_honda-lineup-ranked-most-fuel-efficient-in-america http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038856_honda-lineup-ranked-most-fuel-efficient-in-america Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:43:00 -0500 Nine automakers sell full lineups in the U.S., and the Environmental Protection Agency has ranked them according to fuel-efficiency. At the top of the EPA's list sits Honda, whose U.S. models average 23.6 miles per gallon; Hyundai (23.4 mpg) and Toyota (23.2 mpg) take home silver and bronze, respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, we ..]]> 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 ..]]>