And the Best Engine 2013 is. . .

[famousdayandyear]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWKQhkny06A" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWKQhkny06A</a>

[truth_seeker]

Ford of Germany has turned out excellent vehicles for many decades.

The latest version of the acclaimed Ford Focus is essentially a Ford of Europe creation.

I bet the winning Ford Engine is designed in Europe, too. Most of what is taking place will all automakers was leading edge a few years back in Europe; namely smaller displacement, fewer cylinders, with turbocharging.

The base 5 series BMW, Audi A6, and Jags are all turbo 4 cylinder power plants. They have MORE horsepower and torque than V8s and 6s of just a few years ago. And higher fuel economy, as well.

[famousdayandyear]

Gah.  I just thought it was a very funny video.

[ABX]

Ford of Germany has turned out excellent vehicles for many decades.

The latest version of the acclaimed Ford Focus is essentially a Ford of Europe creation.

I bet the winning Ford Engine is designed in Europe, too. Most of what is taking place will all automakers was leading edge a few years back in Europe; namely smaller displacement, fewer cylinders, with turbocharging.

The base 5 series BMW, Audi A6, and Jags are all turbo 4 cylinder power plants. They have MORE horsepower and torque than V8s and 6s of just a few years ago. And higher fuel economy, as well.

One thing I've noticed in my constant business travels is it seems domestic brands in the US are released several years behind Europe.  A good example is the Ford Mondeo in the UK. I saw the new model Taurus in the US and recognized it as the Mondeo from about 3 years ago. (the 2011 Mondeo has similar technology's the 2014 Taurus. The 2012 Mondeo had the same body styling (with new Aston styled grill) as the 14 Taurus). 

[Oceander]

One thing I've noticed in my constant business travels is it seems domestic brands in the US are released several years behind Europe.  A good example is the Ford Mondeo in the UK. I saw the new model Taurus in the US and recognized it as the Mondeo from about 3 years ago. (the 2011 Mondeo has similar technology's the 2014 Taurus. The 2012 Mondeo had the same body styling (with new Aston styled grill) as the 14 Taurus). 

Interesting.  Any thoughts on why?

[truth_seeker]

One thing I've noticed in my constant business travels is it seems domestic brands in the US are released several years behind Europe.  A good example is the Ford Mondeo in the UK. I saw the new model Taurus in the US and recognized it as the Mondeo from about 3 years ago. (the 2011 Mondeo has similar technology's the 2014 Taurus. The 2012 Mondeo had the same body styling (with new Aston styled grill) as the 14 Taurus).

That is true. Until now, Ford placed the previous version of the Focus in the US, while Europe got the latest version.

It shows you that US  manufacturers' managements have not felt Americans were particularly discriminating.

But Americans have been, discriminating enough to buy German, Korean and Japanese cars.

BTW some of what the new Chrysler Corp is selling, comes from Fiat, namely the new Dart II.

[Oceander]

That is true. Until now, Ford placed the previous version of the Focus in the US, while Europe got the latest version.

It shows you that US  manufacturers' managements have not felt Americans were particularly discriminating.

But Americans have been, discriminating enough to buy German, Korean and Japanese cars.

BTW some of what the new Chrysler Corp is selling, comes from Fiat, namely the new Dart II.

The new Dart (a) is butt-ugly, and (b) has nothing whatsoever in common with the original Dodge Dart.

[ABX]

Interesting.  Any thoughts on why?

My first thought is simply regulations. Different things are required in different markets and there are also different requirements in the manufacturing process. It may be easier and cheaper to roll out some things first there.

The other thing it may be is the diversity of the European market may allow for more experimentation to see what people like in the markets that have higher mark-ups. Roll out two or three different option packages and looks there then focus group it to see which ones go over best here. Then transfer that model to the domestic market.

[ABX]

The new Dart (a) is butt-ugly, and (b) has nothing whatsoever in common with the original Dodge Dart.

They should have just called it the Dodge Neon 2.

[Oceander]

They should have just called it the Dodge Neon 2.

I couldn't agree more.

[Oceander]

My first thought is simply regulations. Different things are required in different markets and there are also different requirements in the manufacturing process. It may be easier and cheaper to roll out some things first there.

The other thing it may be is the diversity of the European market may allow for more experimentation to see what people like in the markets that have higher mark-ups. Roll out two or three different option packages and looks there then focus group it to see which ones go over best here. Then transfer that model to the domestic market.

I believe that crash standards in the US are more rigorous than those in most European countries, so perhaps it takes longer to get a design crash-worthy for the US regulators than it does for European regulators.

[flowers]

The new Dart (a) is butt-ugly, and (b) has nothing whatsoever in common with the original Dodge Dart.

You got that right!

[GourmetDan]

Ya, but the engine is Ford's 999cc 3-cylinder turbo-diesel I believe.

[truth_seeker]

[massadvj]

Ford of Germany has turned out excellent vehicles for many decades.

The latest version of the acclaimed Ford Focus is essentially a Ford of Europe creation.

I bet the winning Ford Engine is designed in Europe, too. Most of what is taking place will all automakers was leading edge a few years back in Europe; namely smaller displacement, fewer cylinders, with turbocharging.

The base 5 series BMW, Audi A6, and Jags are all turbo 4 cylinder power plants. They have MORE horsepower and torque than V8s and 6s of just a few years ago. And higher fuel economy, as well.

Not just Europe.  I test drove a Mazda Speed3 6-speed last year and found it to be way more animal than I could handle.  I ended up buying the 6-speed 2.5 liter and find it's plenty fast enough and fun to drive.

[jmyrlefuller]

The new Dart (a) is butt-ugly, and (b) has nothing whatsoever in common with the original Dodge Dart.

Oh... don't get me started on modern automotive designs.

It seems like ever since the late 1990s or so, pretty much every vehicle in existence has looked the same. Ever eager to make their cars as aerodynamic as possible, cars have become ugly (those swept-back headlights are not flattering), homogenous and bland. You could not make a car like the beautiful '66 Polara (my personal favorite) today.

Of course, the ever increasing mileage pressures (made even more onerous with the ethanol mandates) have not helped.

[famousdayandyear]

Oh... don't get me started on modern automotive designs.

It seems like ever since the late 1990s or so, pretty much every vehicle in existence has looked the same. Ever eager to make their cars as aerodynamic as possible, cars have become ugly (those swept-back headlights are not flattering), homogenous and bland. You could not make a car like the beautiful '66 Polara (my personal favorite) today.

Of course, the ever increasing mileage pressures (made even more onerous with the ethanol mandates) have not helped.

Ethanol will kill the internal combustion engine.  It's destroying my car as we speak; and just about pricing me out of the food market.  Seen the cost of bread lately?   Or anything that uses good ole corn products?  What do they feed hogs these days.

[truth_seeker]

Ethanol will kill the internal combustion engine.  It's destroying my car as we speak; and just about pricing me out of the food market.  Seen the cost of bread lately?   Or anything that uses good ole corn products?  What do they feed hogs these days.

It goes beyond engine damage and food prices.

It serves to subsidize farmers growing corn, making lotsa money.

Merely another government "dole" that can't seemingly be ended.

Minorities, single moms, government defense contractors, real estate

[Oceander]

[Rapunzel]

We had one - yep ONE - candidate in 2012 who was anti-ethanol. The corn lobby defeated him in Iowa's primary.

[truth_seeker]

I'm not sure I would exactly call that leading from behind.  Since Ford presumably owns its European operations, including the design studios, it would seem to follow (so to speak) that Ford is, in fact, on the leading edge of design, it just does that designing in Europe rather than the US.

Point taken. It is fairly recent, that Ford have brought their best stuff to the US in a timely manner.

Until the current model, Europe used to be one model ahead of us with the Focus.

And the winning engine isn't used in the US at present. 

[jmyrlefuller]

We had one - yep ONE - candidate in 2012 who was anti-ethanol. The corn lobby defeated him in Iowa's primary.

You hit the nail on the head. The corn lobby, thanks to Iowa being first in line, has a disproportionate influence in American society, and I strongly suspect that they're part of the reason why that high-fructose corn syrup junk pervades so much of our food. (Pardon my digression here, but you can't possibly tell me it tastes the same as sugar. You can mask the corny taste with certain acids, which is how they do it in soda, but I can notice the difference.)

Anyway, back to the car talk...

[Oceander]

Point taken. It is fairly recent, that Ford have brought their best stuff to the US in a timely manner.

Until the current model, Europe used to be one model ahead of us with the Focus.

And the winning engine isn't used in the US at present. 

I think you are correct in that the design culture has moved from the US to Europe, as it seems it is Ford's European designers, not its American designers, who are on the cutting edge.

Wasn't Ford also planning on releasing a new Mustang model that was based on a European platform?

[famousdayandyear]

May I have one of these, please:

[truth_seeker]

I think you are correct in that the design culture has moved from the US to Europe, as it seems it is Ford's European designers, not its American designers, who are on the cutting edge.

Wasn't Ford also planning on releasing a new Mustang model that was based on a European platform?

Bottom line: While the US auto-industry continued to decline, they still did well enough with "light trucks" to survive. That is pickups and SUVs. Big vehicles, big V8 engines. Nothing particularly innovative there.

Meanwhile the international competition was advancing towards the next era, evidenced by the investment Toyota made in hybrid technology. And the investment VW Group made in clean diesel technology.

The problem for US companies is this: the competitors are not standing still. Once behind, the US firms stand little to no chance of leapfrogging to the front.

The Europeans use racing, to advance and to showcase technology. Audi (VW Group) have dominated LeMans racing, using diesel technology. Formula 1 uses variations of hybrid bits.

Meanwhile Nascar goes around and around ovals, in low tech vehicles, to the delight of their undemanding fans.

With a few exceptions, US firms simply don't participate in the highest levels of international racing.