Archive for October, 2008

Happy Birthday Ford Model T

Friday, October 31st, 2008

The Ford Model T celebrates its 100th birthday this year, marking a new age for travel and success across the world. Many folks will be able to see a special parade unit featuring the Model T in America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, which will take place on November 27th in Detroit, Michigan.

Henry Ford launched the first Model T on October 1, 1908, making it the first mass-produced car of its kind. Since that initial car came off of the line, Ford put out 15 million more over the course of the next 19 years. The Model T remained one of the most popular and purchased cars until production ended on May 26, 1927.

During the America’s Thanksgiving Parade®, the 19 Model Ts will represent the 19 years that the car was in production. Each of these Model Ts was sold for $825 in its day, making it a truly universal car, as was Henry Ford’s vision. As a sort-of two-door roadster, the car made a name for itself by being able to power through even the deepest mud and toughest of storms.

Still, though the price was considered low and the vehicle considered powerful, Ford continued to refine the car’s capabilities on the assembly line. By 1921, more than 57 percent of the automobiles in production were Model Ts.

Currently, Ford still works hard to be on the leading edge of technology and advancement in the automotive industry. Its newest line-up of cars feature EcoBoost engines, which offer fuel-efficient powertrains, and also provides some of the world’s smallest cars on the market.

The company is still based in Michigan, though it has moved over to Dearborn. Ford cars can be found on six continents around the world and are made from 90 plants worldwide by more than 229,000 employees.

Offering a great inventory from Ford and Lincoln, New and Pre-Owned vehicles. Woodridge Ford Lincoln of Calgary, Alberta. Our Service, Parts, and Body shop departments give you the ultimate in convenience through their on-line features. Visit us at http://www.woodridgeford.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isabel_Fournier

Automotive News:

Bmw 2007 7-series Review
The 2007 BMW 7-Series hasn’t changed much since it was redesigned in 2002. It still has the same simple look to it that speaks of class. The minute you look at…

Check Out the 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang Gt500kr

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Jean Cocteau once said “A car can massage organs which no masseur can reach. It is the one remedy for the disorders of the great sympathetic nervous system.” Jean Cocteau found automobiles to be a masseur of the whole body. I bet Jean was probably talking about a Ford Mustang when he was writing this quote. Now if you want to find a Mustang that will give you the best message then you should ride in the 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR.

The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR is a special-edition GT500 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the original “King of the Road.” The GT500KR is a product after the GT500 to wear the mostly extinct SVT Badge trying to prove to us that Ford still has a performance division.

The 1967 New York auto show host the launch of the original Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR that is powered by a 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V-8 engine with 335 horsepower. The 2008 Shelby KR models are supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine under the hood with a Ford Power Upgrade Pack that comes with revised ignition timing and throttle calibration. The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR that over takes the older model by 205 horsepower.

Other than the racing stripes and hood vents the other Shelby GT500’s have, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR comes with a signature hood with two forward looking mail slots at the leading edge of the hood feeding the blown 5.4’s appetite for air and twist-down hood pins for a more secure racing genius.

The test done recently on the Shelby GT badge did not go well when the stick through pins of the badge vibrated out on rough terrain. The badges used on the Cobra grille and fenders have wings on them in celebration of the 40th anniversary GT500KR edition. The rocker stripes on the GT500KR are the same as it predecessor.

They have a Triton engine that uses four valves per cylinder instead of three that are used in the iron block truck version and they use the cylinder heads from the Ford GT, that has a aluminum block.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said “There is no past that we can bring back by longing for it. There is only an eternally new now that builds and creates itself out of the Best as the past withdraws.” So remember these thoughts when thinking about purchasing the 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR. It will not last forever.

They are only going to produce one thousand of these, they will being selling the 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR in Spring. You can probably bet with the S word on the hood and a power bump should have about $12,000 premium, putting the King of the Road about $50,000 area.

The director of the advanced product creation and SVT division of ford Hermann Salenbauch said the Shelby GT500 is one of the most successful cars they have ever made in almost every way.

About the Author:

Ford Mustang Faqs is a great resource site for anyone who loves one of the more popular muscle cars. Search for your favorite models and read up on the latest reviews.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/check-out-the-2008-ford-shelby-mustang-gt500kr-606135.html

Automotive News:

High performance delivered by Honda cars
Know more about Used Engines cheap Transmission Replacements do visit GotEngines.com and GotTransmissions.com.
Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

History of the Ford Boss 302 Mustang

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

In an effort to burnish their total performance image introduced the 428 Cobra Jet in year 1968, and in 1969, built one of Detroit most interesting power plants, the Ford Boss 302 Mustang engine. It was built for model years 1969 and 1970, is named for its engine. The past and present collide as these two Mustangs take to the track. Dragon Power captured in the first ever die cast model to feature the original. Customized parts exterior and interior design fuses the look and feel with today styling and technology. Their tribute starts off with a motor swap to a crate engine that came directly from Performance.

The new hood on the American Speed Company is the prototype for the production version, the front suspension and brakes have been installed, and the new Boss 302 is being fitted with a Vintage Air Front Runner system. The Vanquish body shells were fitted with 300 horse power mounted as far back in the chassis as possible. When most muscle car fanatics make reference. Initially built in 1969 and again in 1970, combined muscle car performance with incredible handling. That car ignited lifelong passion for race cars, and began racing on the historic and vintage car circuit, moving to historic stock cars.

But unlike other corvettes, which cloak their power beneath stock skins, our test car arrived under gift wrap special edition body kit penned by styling wizard designer of the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray and the Ford Boss Mustang. The program was part of an effort to win the Championship in 1969 and 1970. The new Racing Performance Parts line was conceived because there was an unmet need for engines built from a block stronger than original regular production engine blocks but more affordable than full race prepped blocks.

Despite its strength and capability, surprisingly affordable because of its high volume production. The suggested retail price for the Boss 302 block is affordable at $1,759, while complete engines range from $4,650 to $10K for the 500 horsepower 331 cubic inch engines. This had nothing to do with the Cleveland heads, as rules dictated a 302 cubic inch displacement, so stroking a 351 Cleveland block was not an option, so ford engineers solved this dilemma by mating a Windsor block with high flow Cleveland heads, a clover if you will, that had high revolutions per minute capability to make the most of the high turbofan engines offered by the heads, which was conducive of the large 4v ports and canted combustion chambers.

The new Ford Racing Performance Parts Boss Mustang car line was conceived because there was an unmet need for engines built from a block stronger than original regular production 302 blocks but more affordable than full race prepped blocks. Making its debut in 1969, the original powered a limited production Mustang model sold for two years. The program was part of an effort by the Ford Motor Company. Features that separate the engine from its competition include 4-bolt mains for lower end stability at high power outputs High 41,000 PSI tensile strength iron alloy for ultimate strength Nodular iron main caps for additional strength Screw-in freeze plugs for additional strength and stability front cross over lifter oiling for high revolutions per minute valve train capability bores with specifically engineered drilling between cylinders for maximum wall stability and gasket sealing with street-capable cooling performance.

By: Ronald W. Firquain

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ronald W. Firquain is a auto mechanic, musician, Arabian horse owner for 20 years, writer, marketer, entrepreneur, webmaster and has 18 years of computer experience. car tips

Automotive News:

BMW Offers Bluetooth Technology
Some bad news for folks who cannot stay off of your cell phones: state and local legislatures are starting to crack down. Because of the increasing number of motor…

Ford Mustang Vs Chevrolet Camaro

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

The Chevrolet Camaros ride quality is marginally stiffer than the Mustang’s and were easier to modulate. Had the Z28’s performance advantage come at a huge cost in such areas as ride comfort, ergonomics, and noise control, we might feel more reserved about its dominance. Ford Mustang GT Highs:Catchy new look, sophisticated new feel. Still, a shoot-out is a shoot-out, and the tradition of Camaro-Mustang faceoffs gives little credit for finishing second at the track. The Mustang has a tight, polished feel that we would not have thought possible from a platform whose roots are in the 1978 Fairmont. As we reported in a preview drive , Ford’s work to improve the structural rigidity and suspension control of this chassis has paid impressive dividends. The new generation Mustang GT is a much sweeter automobile than this evidence suggests.

Of course, performance figures do not tell the whole story. The Camaro still held the upper hand. How about the contests that don’t reward brute power? As you’d predict for otherwise similar cars, the 275-horsepower Camaro creams the 215-horsepower Mustang in sheer speed. In nearly every performance measurement we take, the Camaro Z28 runs all over the Mustang GT. Against a commendably smooth and refined new Mustang, the Camaro redesigned last year for it fourth generation, more than holds its own. But the report from the front as 1994 gets underway shows the tide clearly running in Chevrolet’s favor. The Fortunes of war have varied over decades. Chevy’s pony car quickly established itself as the Mustang’s most bitter rival, and the two have been brawling ever since - in showrooms, on racetracks, and between the covers of magazines. Chevrolet was caught flat-footed and had to spot the Mustang more than a million sales before responding with the Camaro in the fall of 1966.

Thirty years ago, in the spring of 1964, Ford invented the American two-plus sporty coupe when it popped the Mustang on an eager public - A public that responded by ordering 22,000 cars on the first day.

By: manudevil20

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Chevrolet Camaro Forum
I highly recommend visiting here for more info about autos. performance

Automotive News:

Honda Body KitsPimp My Ride
Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5 years. He has specialized in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes and other aftermarket products….

2008 Ford Focus: In Tune with the New Generation

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

The 2008 Focus’ interior now has an elegant stylish look. It is more spacious to accommodate the entire family. The seats are comfortable and protective even for long distance driving. Its driver seat is fully adjustable to accommodate people of different sizes. Its back seat is also comfortable and large. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather for better and precise driving.

The most startling addition to the 2008 Focus is the Sync system. This high-tech system allows the owner to make hands-free calls while driving. It also allows the driver to set digital audio players, without removing his/her hands from the steering wheel, through a voice-recognition system. It is also equipped with the standard six airbags for safety. Anti-lock brakes are available on an optional basis.

Its exterior was also refurbished. The hatchback design of its predecessors was removed. The 2008 Ford Focus now comes in coupe or sedan cars. Its SE cars’ alloy wheels are a standard 15-inch, while the SES versions have 16-inch alloy wheels.

Looking into the power and performance aspects, the new Focus has more power than the previous models. The 2008 Ford Focus has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that provides 140 horsepower. It also has a five-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. You can also save some on fuel with the Focus’ latest version. It is estimated that you will consume only around 24 miles per gallon along the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission. In automatic transmission, fuel economy is the same except that in the highway you will spend less fuel with only 33 mpg usage.

A silent drive can be expected in the 2008 Ford Focus whether in the city streets or on the highways. It is considered as the quietest car among its class. When it comes to prices, the car is relatively cheaper. Compared to the other cars, Focus costs less while having more features and a slightly powerful engine.

Ford has certainly succeeded in overhauling its Focus models including making Ford Focus contract hire popular. Although the body chassis is still the same, the additions have definitely made the 2008 Ford Focus more fun and comfortable to drive on for personal or contract hire users.

By: Darrell Freeman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Darrell F writing about Ford Focus contract hire and Ford leasing deals including contract hire.

Automotive News:

Choosing Between A Subaru STi and Mitsubishi Evo
One of the most common questions we get asked at MRT Performance, literally on a daily and weekly basis, is whether I would buy an Mitsubishi EVO X or an EVO IV…

Driving Lessons - Can You Afford Them?

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Hardly a day passes without tragic news of yet another young life lost and wasted on the roads. Traffic accidents are the greatest cause of death amongst 16-20 year olds yet, compared to terrorism, for example, this dreadful toll seems to be something that society in general accepts as a risk of everyday living.

Now consider that 3000 people are killed on the UK roads every year - that is the equivalent of one 747 crashing and killing everyone on board every seven weeks. Can you imagine the uproar if that many planes were wiped out? No-one would fly.

These figures do not include those who have been injured - sometimes horrifically and for life.

Again, despite these awful figures, many people do not take their responsibility to drive safely seriously. They consider traffic police and traffic calming to be the enemy and as for speed cameras, do not even talk about them!

Currently the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) are undertaking a public consultation on the whole process of learning to drive. The plan is to improve driving tests and the whole process of learning.

But there is a catch. Some people simply cannot afford to learn - it can cost a great deal - so they decide to drive anyway, without a licence or insurance. They feel they have no option.

Against that is the fact that driving instructor income is so low, it fails to attract the best professionals into the industry. A top grade instructor with a full diary - that is as many pupils as he can take - may earn, if he’s lucky, £30,000 per year. Sounds great? It isn’t. Read on.

That £30,000 per year is the gross figure. Take away all his expenses and franchise fees and he/she may be coming away with £15,000 BEFORE TAX! So his net figure is likely to be in the region of £12,000! That is a pretty miserable income for a professional working 60 hours a week - including evenings and weekends.

It takes many driving instructors up to 2 years to train and only a very small percentage of those who start the course actually finish and pass the relevant tests. Compare their income to many other ‘professions’ and you see they are right at the bottom of the pile. So, what do you get? You get poor instructors.

But, if they charge more, earn a reasonable living and, therefore, attract the best people to the job, less people will be able to afford to learn to drive and so there will be more youngsters tempted out on to the roads without any reasonable training.

In other words - poor instructor pay = poor instructors = poorly trained drivers who are highly likely to have an accident in their first year of driving. But - good instructor pay = good instructors = pupils who can’t afford any lessons!

It is a difficult situation to redress. But the Driving Standards Agency is making no attempt at all to look at this conundrum. Instead, the public consultation is fixated on changing the driving test and looking at ways of limiting certain age groups’ driving after they’ve passed.

But now DrivingHelp.com (http://drivinghelp.com) have utilized the internet to help drivers pass their test with as little cost as possible. With clever use of video, they offer a course of lessons to be undertaken in conjunction with their real life driving instructor. Use of these free video lessons in the proper manner may half the amount a pupil may spend. In the UK the saving can be as much as £500!

So, if you are a UK driving student, or the concerned parent of one, visit DrivingHelp and see what it can do for you!

By: Paul Bessell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Automotive News:

2008.5 Mazda 3 Review - First Impressions
Our long term vehicle is a mid-year model Mazda 3 with mid-year added features like piano black trim, mp3 compatible CD changer, power driver’s seat, lighted…

Ford Body Kits

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5years. He has specialized in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes and other aftermarket products. He has deep knowledge of a wide range of products including knowledge of benefits of body kits and other products, product options and how to choose a car aftermarket product. You can learn about a wide range of body kits and other car aftermarket products at his site www.ilovebodykits.com.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

Automotive News:

Modding Mercs – Performance Tuning Your Mercedes-benz
When you think of high class vehicles typically you’ll think of expensive prestige cars made by Mercedes-Benz after all they are among the most popular choice for…