Audi A6 Named Car of the Year by Rocky Mountain Automotive Press

The 2012 Audi A6 3.0 TFSI received the 2012 Car of the Year Award by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Given to five category winners, the 2012 Vehicle of the Year Awards honor new vehicles for sale in the Rocky Mountain region for their value, performance, fuel economy, comfort and safety. The award was presented yesterday to Audi of America during a special ceremony at the opening of the Denver International Auto Show.

The field for the 2012 awards included every significant new car, pickup, crossover and SUV for sale in the Rocky Mountain West. More than 70 models received test-drive evaluations in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming over the past months by members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press.

Chosen as the best new car to own and drive in the Rocky Mountain West, the all-new 2012 Audi A6 boasts an all-aluminum 3.0 L TFSI® supercharged V6 engine with 310 horsepower. One of Audi’s most innovative and technologically-advanced models to date, the A6 makes up to 2,000 decisions per second to assist the driver. Safety in the all-new Audi A6 is enhanced by a thermal imaging camera with Night Vision Assistant, the Audi Pre-Sense Plus safety system and quattro® all-wheel drive technology. Other intelligent features include head-up display and a MMI® Touch pad that recognizes handwriting in multiple languages. Audi is the first company worldwide to feature factory-installed wireless internet, enabling features such as Audi connect™ for real-time weather, traffic news and live fuel prices, and MMI Navigation with 3-D Google Earth™ images.

Rocky Mountain Automotive Press is a professional association of automotive media representing print, Web and broadcast journalists in the Rocky Mountain West.

For more information on the Audi A6, please visit Audiusa.com/A6.

Ford Delivers Record Number of 40-MPG+ Vehicles, Industry’s Freshest Full-Line Product Portfolio in U.S.

June 26, 2012 – Ford is delivering more fuel-efficient vehicle choices in 2012 than ever before and a fresher new vehicle lineup than any full-line automaker in the U.S.

 

“Customers are starting to see the true benefits of our One Ford plan,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “With more new vehicle options and an even broader range of fuel-efficient cars, utilities and trucks, Ford is delivering real power of choice for millions of consumers who are paying more attention than ever to what happens at the pump – no matter what the price.”

 

Ford is offering eight vehicles that deliver 40 mpg or better by year-end – double its number versus 2011 and more than any other full-line automaker. In fact, Ford’s eight-vehicle tally is more than the number of 40-mpg-or-better vehicles Toyota and General Motors offer combined.

 

Ford also is tripling its electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013, growing its electrified vehicle lineup to six models – including the all-new C-MAX Hybrid. The compact hybrid utility vehicle, which arrives this fall, is expected to achieve 47 mpg, at least 3 mpg better than Toyota Prius v with more performance and technology.

 

Ford plans for 10 to 25 percent of its global sales to be electrified vehicles (hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles) by 2020, and continues to find ways to make more affordable, high-volume, internal-combustion engines even more fuel efficient.

 

Ford has invested record amounts in its powertrains and new vehicles since launching its Blueprint for Sustainability. Since 2007, the company has improved fuel economy in its vehicles in all key segments, including:

 

• Small cars: Focus has improved its highway fuel economy 21 percent between 2007 and the 2012 model’s 40 mpg
• Midsize cars: The gas-engine-powered all-new Fusion is projected to be 28 percent more fuel efficient than its 2007 counterpart when it goes on sale this fall
• Full-size cars: The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost^® Taurus, now EPA-certified at 32 mpg highway, is 27 percent more fuel efficient than the 2007 Ford Five Hundred
• Sports cars: Mustang maintains its unbeaten balance of power and fuel economy with a 24 percent fuel economy improvement
• Utilities: The new EcoBoost-powered Escape delivers a 32 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the previous V6 Escape, while Explorer has reinvented modern full-size SUVs, fueled largely by its 40-percent fuel economy improvement to 28 mpg highway for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost compared to the previous model’s V6
• Trucks: F-150 improves 21 percent versus five years ago to 23 mpg city

Fuel-efficient EcoBoost powertrains are now a mainstay in Ford’s lineup. In fact, Ford’s annual EcoBoost production grows to nearly 1.6 million engines globally by 2013 – surpassing the company’s original target for that time frame.

 

A 1.0-liter EcoBoost – Ford’s smallest, quietest engine ever – arrives in one of Ford’s U.S. small cars next year. Already on sale in the European Focus, the 1.0-liter engine was named the 2012 International Engine of the Year this month.

 

Additional 1.6-, 2.0- and 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines are already available on Escape, Explorer, Edge, F-150, Flex, Focus ST, Fusion, Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles, and Taurus.

 

While EcoBoost offers up to a 15 percent reduction in CO₂ versus larger-displacement, non-turbocharged engines, this technology can also save customers money on fuel. During a 7.5-year ownership period, for instance:

 

• All-new Ford Escape 2.0-liter EcoBoost buyers could save $2,245, the equivalent of 6.1 months of fuel, compared to Toyota RAV4 V6
• 2013 Ford Taurus 3.5-liter EcoBoost buyers could save $2,090, the equivalent of 10 months of eating out for an average family, compared to the Chrysler 300C
• All-new Ford Fusion 1.6-liter EcoBoost buyers could save $1,650, the equivalent of more than three months of groceries, compared to a Toyota Camry four-cylinder owner’s fuel use

“Whether you are talking about new technologies, engines or vehicles themselves, customers increasingly are looking for good value,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Customers are telling us Ford is delivering what they truly want – including the newest vehicles to choose from in America.”

 

Ford has the freshest new lineup of passenger and commercial vehicles in the U.S. industry – surpassing Honda, Toyota and Hyundai, according to the recent 2012 Bank of America Merrill Lynch “Car Wars” study.

 

This is just the beginning, Nair said. Globally, Ford plans to have the youngest portfolio of passenger vehicles for the next five consecutive years.

 

Ford’s move to truly global platforms enables the company to create more new models for customers more quickly.

 

In 2011, the company had 22 distinct vehicle platforms in use around the world. That number drops to 10 by 2017, ahead of One Ford plan goals. Five of these will be manufactured in at least more than one region.

 

By 2016, 80 percent of Ford’s planned 8 million vehicles will be based on the five global platforms.

 

“Even better new vehicles, faster – that is what we are committed to deliver for our customers,” Nair said.

Join us for the unveiling of the 2013 Porsche Boxster at Porsche of Delaware June 28th

Unless it’s the road calling, it’s going straight to voicemail. Escape to new realms of performance in the all-new 2013 Boxster. A two-seat tribute to record-setting roadsters of the past. But like nothing you’ve seen before. With its push-button retractable roof and athletic mid-engine balance, the new Boxster connects you to every subtle nuance of the pavement. And the sheer ecstasy of open roads ahead and open skies above. Porsche. There is no substitute. Experience the new 2013 Boxster.

Date - Thursday, June 28, 2012 Time - 6:00 - 8:00PM Place - Porsche of Delaware Dress - Resort Casual RSVP by Monday, June 25th (visit PorscheofDelaware.com or call 302.292.8250)

Porsche of Delaware A Winner Group Company 1851 Ogletown Rd. Newark, DE 19711 302-292-8250 PorscheofDelaware.com Click for Directions

Ford to Host Five-City Focus ST Performance Academy

DEARBORN, Mich., May 30, 2012 – For sport compact fans, the only thing better than driving the new Ford Focus ST is driving the Focus ST on a course with professional instruction and timed autocross hot laps.

 

That, and more, is what Ford is bringing to driving enthusiasts in New York; Washington, D.C.; Boston; San Francisco and Los Angeles this summer, beginning June 30 in New York.

 

The events will happen on Saturdays in June, July and August in each market. Events will include 48-foot race trailers, a fleet of Focus STs for training, timed competition, as well as pre-event racing instruction.

 

Events will open at 9 a.m. and run all day through 6 p.m. Locations and dates are:

 

• New York, IZOD Center, June 30
• Washington, D.C., FedEx Field, July 14
• Boston, Gillette Stadium, July 21
• San Francisco, Candlestick Park, Aug. 4
• Los Angeles, Dodgers Stadium, Aug. 11

Pre-registration is live at http://www.drivefocusst.com/. Participation will be limited and will be honored on a first-registered, first-served basis.

 

“Our fans have expressed extremely high interest in this car, but we know the proof is in the pudding,” said Lisa Schoder, Ford Focus ST Marketing manager. “We want ST fans, as well as drivers of competitive vehicles, to be able to taste this car firsthand.

 

“What better way to do it,” she added, “than to bring the car to the people with the help of professional driver instruction on closed courses.”

 

Focus ST, Ford’s first global performance car, will integrate a collection of advanced and sport-oriented technologies previously unavailable to North American customers. The combination of these technologies into a refined, yet high-performance sport compact will elevate the category and further cement Focus as the most complete compact car range sold in North America.

 

Among the more visible options will be the Tangerine Scream metallic color that will be offered exclusively on Focus ST, as well as race-inspired Recaro^® seats with matching color accents.

 

Ford is offering drivers who preorder a 2013 Focus ST the GoPro^® HD Hero2 Motorsports Edition camera pack upon delivery. Already a staple in the motorsports and action sport communities, a GoPro is the ideal camera to capture a spirited drive or Focus ST track day. The first 1,000 presale orders placed between May 1 and Aug. 20 are eligible for the GoPro HD Hero2 camera system. Cameras will be sent after vehicle delivery.

 

More information regarding Focus ST can be found at http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/ or https://www.facebook.com/OfficialFordST.

Father’s Day Is the Perfect Time to Kick off Restoration of America’s Favorite Classic, the 1964-66 Ford Mustang

DEARBORN, Mich., June 12, 2012 – With the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang less than two years away, this summer is the time to begin restoring your classic pony car so that it can be ready for one of the most important milestones in American automotive history.

“Working nights and weekends, and as your budget allows, it takes roughly two years to do a complete wheels-up classic car restoration,” says Brian Martin, director of automotive restoration development at McPherson College in Kansas. McPherson is the only school in North America that offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in automobile restoration.

Martin says with careful project planning and outsourcing of some specialized jobs such as painting and transmission rebuilding, a father and son following a detailed plan can easily restore a first-generation Mustang in a good-sized

 home garage. What’s needed are basic hand tools, proper manuals, good mechanical skills and a realistic budget.

Restoring a classic Mustang is a great father and son project, and this Sunday, June 17, is Father’s Day – a great day to kick off a Mustang restoration with the goal of having the car ready for its 50th anniversary on April 17, 2014.

Jonathan Brand and his dad have restored three classic Mustangs in their home garage, a ’65 coupe and two ’69 models. It was an experience Brand says he will never forget.

“My dad and I weren’t as close before we restored the Mustangs,” says Brand, an artist who now lives in New Haven, Conn. “It definitely brought us closer together, all those hours working on the cars. He taught me a lot about cars, and we had a lot of fun.”

Brand’s advice: Have patience, manage the budget and use Ford-licensed restoration parts, especially for the sheet metal repairs.

“We tried using panels from junkyards, but when you consider the time it takes to get them off and then to get them to fit properly on your car, it just isn’t worth it. We found the new parts fit really well,” Brand says.

95 percent of classic Mustang parts available

America’s love affair with the original Mustang is still going strong after nearly 50 years. Debuting in April 1964, the original Mustang sold more than 1.2 million units – including more than 174,000 convertibles – before its first redesign in 1967.

The original Mustang has long been America’s most popular classic car of the postwar era and is usually No. 1 or 2 on the list of most popular cars Hagerty Classic Car Insurance of Traverse City, Mich., insures.

Ford Motor Company aggressively supports the original Mustang with thousands of high-quality, officially licensed reproduction parts available at www.fordrestorationparts.com.  These replacement parts look, fit and perform exactly as the originals. Many Ford restoration parts are actually made from the original Ford tools that have been preserved for the restoration market. About 95 percent of all the parts needed to build a “new” classic ’64 to ’66 Mustang are available today.

“We offer everything from a door handle to a complete Mustang body,” says Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “We just recently launched a 1965 Mustang convertible body – the complete assembly, all the sheet metal from the hood to the trunk. It is designed to enable fans of the original Mustang to build the classic of their dreams using a body that is stronger than the original.”

Reproduction Mustang bodies are available in every classic model year from 1965 to 1970 along with the ever-popular 1965 and 1967 convertibles. All cars feature modern welding andassembly techniques and are made from high-strength, modern automotive-grade steel. Officially licensed fenders, bumpers, door skins and other body parts for project cars that have restorable bodies are available to replace parts susceptible to rust or damaged in accidents.

Mondrach says it is nearly impossible to pluck a restorable 1964-66 Mustang or such parts as fenders, bumpers and grilles from scrapyards. Most have been wrecked, or rusted, and Mustangs with any parts good enough to be reused were long ago picked clean by restorers.

Classic Mustang restoration: Easier than you might think

Because the original Mustang uses technology that was state-of-the-art for mass-produced cars in the 1960s, the car is extremely easy to work on compared with today’s vehicles.

Also, the Mustang’s mechanical components have always been easy to find and affordable, further adding to the car’s appeal among collectors. In addition, the car can easily be modified with better suspension, performance and safety options that were unavailable at the time.

Ford Racing, for example, offers many optional crate engines and performance options to meet the needs of every Mustang enthusiast.

Mondrach suggests starting a restoration with a Mustang whose body is sound and not in need of major rust, welding or accident repairs. “The costs add up quickly when you are cutting out and replacing damaged body panels. It may be more cost effective to start with a complete new body and use the engine, transmission, suspension and major trim from a donor car,” he says.

Martin, of McPherson College, recommends refurbishing the drivetrain, suspension and other mechanical components before the body and paintwork. He says a reasonable budget for a complete restoration is between $30,000 and $50,000, but that would include a new or rebuilt performance engine, transmission, rear axle, brakes, suspension, cooling and electrical systems, as well as all the trim, paint and interior parts to be as good as new.

Before starting a restoration, experts say, knowledge is the first and most important thing to attain. “Join a club. Buy the original Ford-issued repair manuals,” Martin says. “Ford service manuals from that time were really good. They were designed to speak to mechanics with a high school education, not like today’s repair manuals that assume you have an engineering degree.”

Other tips for restoring a classic Mustang

• Decide how you will use the car when it is done. This will influence the cost of the restoration. Building a 100-point show car is far more expensive and time consuming than building a very clean weekend cruiser
• Keep track of all the money you spend on parts, service and supplies, says Jonathan Klinger of Hagerty Insurance. You will need to document your costs to prove to the insurance company what you have invested, and receipts will be required when registering a custom-built “assembled vehicle” for title
• Join the local Mustang club, a good source for used parts and knowledgeable members

Week- long series of bicycle races begin June 28 in Oxford

Professional cyclist Michael Chauner of West Chester and his Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA team will participate in the inaugural week-long Chesco Grand Prix, beginning June 28 in Oxford.

Chauner began racing competitively on the road at age 14 and steadily improved through the junior ranks, collected state and national championship medals and developed a strong interest in both endurance track cycling events and international competitions on the road.

In 2004, he was selected to compete with the Junior National Team in Belgium, France and Holland and later in the season helped his Pennsylvania team decisively win the National Team Pursuit Championship, qualifying him for that year’s World Track Championships in Los Angeles.

Chauner recently returned from Europe and has four wins to his credit this season, including a recent victory in Kalken, Belgium.

“The Chesco Grand Prix will be through the downtowns of some beautiful sections of Chester County,” said Crosby Wood of the Chesco Grand Prix. “The races are for elite and professional cycling teams that travel throughout the United States. Cycling is growing rapidly in the area and these races are perfect for individuals and families. We’re expecting large crowds.”

The dates for the races are:
Thursday, June 28: Oxford Criterium

Friday, June 29: Malvern Criterium

Saturday, June 30: Phoenixville Criterium

Sunday, July 1: 2nd Annual Coatesville Classic

Tuesday, July 3: Chesco Time Trials, Unionville

Wednesday, July 4: Chesco Road Race and Holiday BBQ, Unionville

Thursday, July 5: Parkesburg Criterium

Friday, July 6: Kennett Square Criterium (Finals)

Sunday, July 8: The Chesco Tour (recreational ride through Chester County)

The Chesco Grand Prix is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of competitive cycling.

Chauner graduated from Bucknell University in 2008 and collected 11 collegiate cycling victories throughout his academic career making him the top Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference winner during 2004 through 2008. As a freshman in 2005, he became the ECCC Champion and achieved a top-5 performance in the Collegiate National Road Championships.

He has a personal coaching business for other cyclists alongside his own racing career. After developing under the tutelage of Olympic silver medalist Brian Walton for seven years, Chauner now works with Sweden’s top cycling coach and exercise physiologist, Mattias Reck.

Chauner will join Bobby Lea. a member of the United States’ 2012 Olympic Cycling Team, on the five-man squad from the Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA .

Wood said, “This annual event is destined to become one of the prestigious bike races in the United States, especially when the national Velodrome is constructed in Coatesville.”

“We haven’t forgotten the area leisure riders as we have a tour scheduled for Sunday, July 8,” Wood said. “The county’s back roads are wonderful places to explore by bicycle. Cyclists of all abilities and skill levels will be able to choose a 20 mile, 40 mile or 75 mile route, starting and finishing in the historic village of Marshallton. Each route will sample the quiet roads of the Brandywine Valley, ending at the Marshalton Inn and Four Dogs Tavern where Chef David Cox will serve award-winning food and refreshments.”

Six of the nine venues will host a card of multi-lap “criterium” races for amateurs, elite women and pro men with all races held on downtown circuits of between 1 and 3 kilometers (.6 to 1.5 mile). The featured pro races will all be 50 miles with shorter distances for amateurs and women. The time trial and road race on July 3rd and 4th will be held on circuits through West Marlborough Township, an area known for its preserved wide open spaces and expansive horse farms.

The professional races will be invitational for 90 registered elite level and professional cyclists, most will be member of five-man teams. Points will be awarded for the top finishers toward overall team and individual prizes. A total of at least $25,000 in prize money will be awarded throughout the series.

The Chesco Grand Prix is endorsed by the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, the official Tourism Promotion Agency for Chester County whose mission is to promote Chester County and the Brandywine Valley as a tourism destination.

Initial sponsors for the Chesco Grand Prix include the Sheraton Great Valley Hotel, PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak and Victory Brewing of Downingtown. Sponsor interest is high and additional sponsors will be announced soon. The Greater Media’s Philadelphia radio group will promote and cover the Chesco Grand Prix. The stations include WMMR, WMGK, BEN-FM and 97.5 The Fanatic/950 ESPN.

Diesel Keeps Picking Up New Fans

Just in time for the Memorial Day travel weekend that involve long-haul journeys for many Americans comes a reminder of the benefits of clean-diesel technology – one of which is the ability for a vehicle to go a long way on a tank of fuel, especially in highway-cruising mode.



Got Clean Diesel?



With that as the backdrop, one of America’s leading advocacy organizations for diesel technology is making the case that most of diesel’s expansion in the auto market is still ahead of it, not behind. More than 10 new clean-diesel cars and light-duty trucks will be introduced in the U.S. market in the next two years by Audi, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes and Volkswagen, notes the Diesel Technology Forum.

“The resurgence in new diesel autos in the U.S. market will greatly increase the popularity of clean diesels throughout the nation,” said Allen Schaefer, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Forum, in a news release.

Of course, Audi and Volkswagen have been at the forefront of the clean-diesel push in the U.S. market, with an increasing variety of clean-diesel versions of some of their most popular models comprising a rising portion of overall sales of those nameplates.

Audi also has been instrumental in pushing for positive popular perceptions of diesel power through TV advertisements and other means.

According to Schaeffer, the combination of capable and attractive diesel-powered cars, and advocacy of the technology, is working. Only 3 percent of U.S. sales so far are clean-diesel powertrains, compared with about half of all new sales in Europe.

But diesel has been running about neck-and-neck with U.S. hybrid sales even though there are many more hybrid models available. And diesel sales increased for each of the last two years and then rose again, by 35 percent, in the first quarter of 2012, the Forum said.

Clean diesel’s edge of 20 to 40 percent in fuel economy over gasoline has been increasingly relevant to Americans at a time of near-$4-a-gallon gasoline, Schaeffer noted. And “in many parts of the country, diesel fuel prices are at or below the cost of premium unleaded” that is required in many of today’s cars. “Diesel could well be the more economical choice.”