truth about domestics

Out of all the new cars and trucks released in the past year, only 3 each are chosen as the finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards that will be presented at the 2010 North American International Auto Show.  The interesting news here is that both GM and Ford managed to get a nominee in the car and the truck categories!  For GM, the car is the Buick LaCrosse and the truck is the Chevrolet Equinox.  The Ford nominees are the Fusion hybrid and the Transit Connect.  For more, head on over to Autoblog or the North American Car and Truck of the Year site.

You read that right folks!  The Dodge Challenger has claimed the top spot on Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey with 92% of V8 Challenger owners saying they would buy another Mopar pony car again.  That knocks the Toyota Prius out of the top spot…actually, the domestics knocked it all the way to 5th!  The Challenger is followed by the Ford Fusion hybrid, and Chevrolet Corvette!  It’s nice to see a car from each maker in the top three.  Kinda warms my heart on a cold Michigan December night.  For more details, head on over to Consumer Reports.

(Image source: Dodge)

If you have ever had the opportunity to hear Alan Mulally speak, then you will understand where I am coming from.  If you haven’t had the opportunity, then you do not know what you are missing (and I suggest you rectify this as soon as possible.)  He is charismatic, intelligent, and quick on his feet.  He is also a hard worker, and someone who knows how to get the job done.  As CEO of Ford Motor Company since 2006, he has reworked a culture that was developed over decades of people being content with doing their job with a “good enough” attitude.

The magic he performed at FoMoCo kept the company from taking a Federal bailout like crosstown rivals GM and Chrysler and it also prevented Ford from filing for bankruptcy (like said rivals did early in 2009.)  For these reasons, and for pushing his teams to produce world class vehicles such as the 41 mpg Ford Fusion hybrid, Alan Mulally was named Automobile magazine’s 2010 Man of the Year.  Congratulations Alan!  Check out the full story at Automobilemag.com.

(Image source: Ford)

Well this is the contest for you!

Fusion 41, part of the Ford Drive One campaign, is a brand new challenge and campaign seeking eight passionate 2010 Ford Fusion or Fusion Hybrid owners with an active social media presence.

For more information, check out the link above, or the original article at Mashable.com.

This time last year Ford Motor Company was selling 73% fewer hybrids.  This is in large part due to the increase in available hybrid models, from 2 models last year (Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner) to 4 now with the addition of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids.

Even better is that 60% of Fusion hybrid buyers and 52% of all Fusion buyers were non-Ford owners before their latest purchase!  For the full story, as well as Ford’s official press release, head on over to Autoblog Green.

(Image source: Ford)

Comedian Mark Malkoff has decided that he wants to travel the country, trying to earn the keys to 100 cities.  To help him along the way, Ford has donated a 2010 Fusion hybrid.  Check out the video above and stay tuned with more coming from Autoblog.

I am personally glad that I do not have the job of selecting the 10 best American-branded cars.  I don’t even know where I’d begin.  Ok so I do (Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Cadillac CTS-V, Mustang GT, Ford Fusion Hybrid, etc.)  That’s not the point of this article.  No, it’s to showcase the 10 best that MSN has selected.  Click the link here to head over and see if you agree or disagree with the list.

(Thanks for the tip Megan!)

(Image source: GM)

Autoblog requested another 2010 Fusion/Milan hybrid from Ford to test now that the temperature in Michigan is above the 15 or so degrees from their last test this past winter.  Ford obliged and handed them a Ford Fusion hybrid.  The reason for the second test?  Cold weather hurts any car’s fuel economy, and hybrids are even more susceptible to the cold.  The cold has a negative effect on the battery performance, as well as how much power is needed for accessories such as seat heaters, window defrosters, etc.

The results?  The cold weather car achieved around 29.4 mpg while the warmer weather test saw 38 mpg in similar driving conditions, weather excluded.

For the full review, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: World Car Fans)

For years (if not decades) people have been saying that the Detroit 3 need to be more like Toyota.  People have also been saying that the Detroit 3 are not listening, they are not giving us what we want like Toyota does.  The D3 don’t produce quality cars, cars that are fuel efficient, and full of new technologies.  So it comes as a pleasant surprise to learn that Toyota is in trouble along with the Domestic 3.

What’s that?  Don’t believe me?  Just look at the numbers.  Ford has passed Toyota (and all other manufacturers) to become the top ranked brand in initial quality.  GM and Ford both produce full-size pickups that are more fuel efficient than Toyota’s.  Ford also makes the most fuel efficient mid-size sedan and mid-size sedan hybrid (Fusion and Fusion hybrid respectively), beating the Toyota Camry on both counts.  Ford increased market share in the U.S. this year while Toyota has been losing some.  Long story short, it appears that Ford is gaining on Toyota.  Only 7,284 vehicles stood between the two as Ford continues to gain ground.

For the full story, head on over to the Detroit Free Press.

(Source: Motor Trend)

So, again, let me begin by stating that I think generally Consumer Reports is full of crap.  Their reviewers care more about how many cup holders a car has than anything else, which is a really stupid idea anyway.  Why does the Honda Odyssey win over other vans?  Well it’s got 45 cup holders, that’s why!  Doesn’t the vehicle only hold 8 people anyway, why would you need 45 cup holders?  Oh…uhmmm…in case you’re a heavy drinker?

I digress.  So, CR went on to say that basically the Ford Fusion hybrid is equal to the Toyota Camry hybrid, only sportier.  Really?  That’s it?  How about the fact that it looks better?  Or gets 8 miles per gallon better in the city than the Camry?  Or is available with SYNC technology?  Or that Ford is number one in initial quality?  Yea, if you ignore all of those facts, then the Ford Fusion hybrid is equal to the Toyota Camry hybrid.  However, once you include those facts…well, the Fusion leaves the Camry in a pile of leaves (get it, a green spin on the old saying.)  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.