With high oil prices upon us once again, automakers are looking to new sources of materials when it comes to vehicle component manufacture.

In Ford‘s case, we’ve seen developments like soybeans used in seat covers, recycled denim jeans for sound deadening, even wheat straw for plastic bins and Kenaf (a tropical, cotton derived plant) used for interior door panels.

Perhaps even more ambitious, is an idea of using shredded, retired dollar bills for parts such as interior bins and trays. Around 8,000-10,000 lbs worth of old currency is shredded every day and either compressed into bricks, placed in landfills or burned. By tapping into this “money waste,” Ford says that along with other sustainable materials, it will significantly reduce the need for oil-based resins and plastics in vehicle manufacturing.

“The potential to reuse some of the country’s paper currency once it has been taken out of circulation is a great example of research we’re doing,” said Ford’s global director of Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental matters, John Viera.

Among vehicles currently using sustainable materials in their construction are the above 2013 Escape (soybean seat cushions, Kenaf in the door panels and cotton insulation in the dash), 2013 Ford Fusion (cotton cabin insulation equivalent to two pairs of denim jeans) and Flex (wheat straw in the storage bins).

Regarding the Escape door panels, Ford says that by using Kenaf in their construction, it offsets some 300,000 lbs worth of oil based resins per year.

Ford Motor Company has announced that it is pursuing a number of avenues aimed at easing the financial burden on small businesses and fleet companies, many of which are feeling the pinch of current gas prices.

A big aspect of Ford’s plan will be the introduction of a North American version of the ubiquitous Ford Transit commercial van, designed to supplement the long-running E-Series (née Econoline).

When it begins production at the Kansas City, Miss. assembly plant next year, the Americanized Transit will be offered with Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and also a diesel engine (though the automaker has yet to provide specifics on what this oil burning motor will be).

As a result, Ford says the Transit will achieve around 25 percent better fuel economy than the current E-Series, which is no doubt welcome news to many fleet operators.

In addition, during the Automotive Press Association conference in Detroit this week, Ford’s director of North American fleet, leasing and re-marketing programs, Kevin Koswick, said that the automaker is committed to providing a range of options to help fleets lower their operating costs. Besides introducing more fuel thrifty vehicles like the Transit, that also includes alternative fuel sources such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure electric, biodiesel and Compressed Natural Gas (which the current E-Series vans are designed to run on besides gasoline).

Also, in order to enable fleet operators to better keep track of their costs and monitor emissions output, Ford is also introducing a new tool dubbed the “Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Cost Calculator.”

This shows, via information such as the type of vehicle used, the type of driving situations, as well as local traffic conditions and energy sources available in a particular location, a  specific map of fleet fuel consumption and emissions output.

The idea is that fleets can make an informed decision as to which type of vehicles they use and for what purpose when it comes to reducing costs and impact on the environment.

The proprietary program, which must be used in conjunction with the support of a Ford representative, enables customized scenarios to be created for fleet customers, using special formulas and variables to determine the actual level of environmental impact and fuel costs of specific vehicles.

Another recall has been issued, this time from Ford Motor Company. This one concerns its full-size body-on-frame Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models, some examples of which suffer from weak head restraints that could fail in accidents, causing occupant injury.

Ford says that the issue concerns insufficient welds on the head restraint support brackets, on the right hand side second row seat only, the other seats in these vehicles are not affected by the recall.

Owners of 2012 Expedition and Navigator models built between November 19, through December 2, 2011 (some 569 vehicles in all), are urged to contact their nearest Ford or Lincoln dealer who will replace the faulty headrests free of charge.

Affected vehicle owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236, referencing recall campaign 12V034000, or Ford Motor Company at 1-866-436-7332.

The 2012 Expedition/Navigator recall marks the second time in two years that Ford SUVs have been affected by seat issues; last summer the Blue Oval announced it was recalling 2011 model year Explorers, built between July 15 and December 13 2010, for faulty second row seat reclining mechanisms.

As it aims to meet ever stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy Targets, Ford Motor Company continues with its march to introduce still more smaller displacement, turbocharged and direct injected EcoBoost engines into its North American product lineup.

From seven models available with EcoBoost technology last year, the number will increase to 11 for 2012, with the Focus, 2013 Ford Escape and Fusion as well as Ford’s new Police Interceptor joining the ranks.

For the Escape and the Fusion, which currently represent the volume segments, Ford will offer both 1.6 and 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, with a 2.0-liter unit also set aside for the compact Focus.

The Taurus based Interceptor meanwhile, will receive a version of the 365 horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, currently doing duty in the SHO.

“Ford is committed to delivering class-leading fuel economy for our customers, which benefits the environment and helps the U.S. move toward greater energy independence,” declared Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering in response to EcoBoost expansion.

“Availability in high-volume nameplates such as the all-new Ford Escape and Fusion will take this affordable, fuel-saving technology to the heart of the market,” she said.

The proliferation of EcoBoost engines in 2012 should help Ford to deliver EPA fuel mileage targets of 40 miles per gallon or more across nine different models by the end of the year, certainly helping its chances of meeting tough CAFE regs of 35.5 mpg for both passenger cars and light trucks.

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Ford Explorer EcoBoost Review Here

Considering that many members of Generation Y (the demographic group born between the early 1980s and mid 1990s), spend much of their time connected to the web, they tend to favor vehicles that provide  advanced in-car technology and connectivity; via handheld devices, to the outside world.

At least that’s the findings from a study conducted by Deloitte LLP, which said out of  a global survey (which included 1500 Gen Y, X and Baby Boomers in the US, plus some 250 Gen Y in China and 300 in Europe), 57 percent of Gen Y members preferred an “electrified” vehicle. According to the study, the most important interior features were dash mounted controls, with 73 percent of respondents saying they preferred touch-screen interfaces.

In addition, Deloitte’s vice chairman Craig Giffi, says that Gen Y members are also more likely to be drawn to Hybrids than conventional internal combustion propelled cars and trucks, though he believes this is less of a “green” factor and more of an economic one, saving fuel and saving money, versus saving the planet.

However, for automakers, who are keen to cater to the 80 million or so Gen Y members (which represent the single largest demographic group since the Baby Boomers), it might take more than fancy technology to get them behind the wheel, since statistics show, that Gen Y on the whole, are less interested in cars than their predecessors.

“It’s no longer a foregone conclusion that we will be able to sell cars to a large and emerging demographic,” declared Ford’s President of the Americas, Mark Fields, during Deloitte’s Gen Y conference in Detroit. Fields was refering to the fact that in a 30-year period between 1978 and 2008 the number of 16 year olds getting a driver’s license shrank by 16 percent.

Fields also said that for Gen Y, the smartphone has now replaced the automobile as the “ultimate mobile device.” He believes that Gen Y is more tech savvy and relatively affluent than previous generations and to dismiss them as serious buyers is to “ignore them at your peril.”

He also said during his speech that “if we’re going to continue to grow as an industry and a company, it’s really important we reach this consumer.”

And to Ford’s credit, investing heavily in both in-car connectivity (via its MyFord Touch and SYNC) systems as well as increasing overall fuel efficiency via proliferation of its EcoBoost engine technology, has definitely raised the company’s profile with consumers in recent years, as well as boosting market share and profitability.

[Source: Bloomberg]

That’s according to a statement made by Don Chambers, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) government relations committee.

Under the Obama administration, the plans to boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to a fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 would require the adoption of advanced technologies for each vehicle, in order for automakers to achieve them. It would also mean that a portion of the costs in utilizing these technologies would end up being passed onto consumers, which could result in pricing a number of potential new vehicle buyers out of the market.

A study, which NADA plans to release in February will show that the costs associated with using new fuel saving technologies will be far in excess of government projections, by as much as 60 percent in fact, which means the sticker price of a new vehicle could increase by as much as $5,000.

Chambers’ comments were made during a hearing in Detroit, where members of the public are given the chance to voice their comments on the proposed CAFE regulations, before they’re finalized later this year. Two more hearings are scheduled for later this month, one on January 19 in Philadelphia, another on January 24 in San Francisco.

However, despite criticism from the NADA, the proposed CAFE regs have strong support, not only from environmental groups like the Sierra Club but also the United Auto Workers’ Union and no fewer than 13 automakers, including the Detroit triumvirate of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

In fact, many of those  who attended the Detroit hearing, believe that in the long run, tougher fuel economy standards will ultimately save motorists money thanks to fewer trips to the pumps, as well as reducing US dependence on foreign oil supplies.

However, German automakers Daimler AG and Volkswagen, which currently offer some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on sale in the US, won’t back the CAFE proposal because there’s no incentive for diesel fueled vehicles.

Chambers says he supports the notion for more fuel efficient vehicles, but if it increases the price to the point that buyers can no longer obtain financing then “it makes no difference.”

Mitch Bainwol, who heads up the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers believes that, at the end of the day, consumer buying habits will ultimately decide whether automakers can actually meet the proposed Federal fuel economy standards, he also proposes a thorough mid-term review of the CAFE policy to see if the rules actually relate to fuel price trends, technological advances and consumer buying habits.

“Looking into the future, consumer purchasing patterns will be the biggest unknown,” he said, though given CAFE’s patchy track record, perhaps looking at lessons from the past could help paint a clear picture of what’s to come.

[Source: Automotive News]

It seems as if the two domestic luxury brands are engaging in a game of tit for tat. Yesterday, Cadillac revealed its new BMW 3-Series fighter, the ATS. Today, rival Lincoln took the spotlight, taking the wraps of this, the 2013 MKZ Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

We’ve been hearing for months about Lincoln’s new focus, including the formation of an independent design group, with the task of making the brand’s vehicles look a lot more distinctive. Brand Design Head Max Wolff, calls the MKZ Concept “elegant simplicity,” with the objective  of creating a car that embodies “warmth.”

Features such as a Cognac colored exterior, contrasting Champagne leather interior, accented with “responsibly harvested” Poplar wood are designed to accentuate this feeling of coziness, while the seats themselves feature perforations in the center, in order to give the impression of Champagne bubbles rising from a bottom of a glass.

So perhaps this car, is not only symbolic of a new design direction for Lincoln, but also emphasizing the brand’s new found freedom, via a rolling celebration.

High-tech interior embellishments include the latest version of MyLincoln Touch, accessed by a Thin Film Transistor Screen directly ahead of the driver, as well as a push button gear selection feature, said to become a signature touch of future Lincoln products.

Outwardly the MKZ employs a new take on the Lincoln split grille, that almost harks back to the 1938 Zephyr and more fluid lines that break away from the almost blocky look of the current MKZ sedan. Out back, full width LED taillamps and big bold chrome “Lincoln” lettering, plus exhaust tips integrated with the rear fascia are signature touches.

Yet most impressive, is the panaromic glass roof, a feature we can also expect to see more of on future Lincoln products, according to Wolff. The glass is actually integrated into the car’s structure, made from steel and boron and is designed to provide each occupant with a “personal,” open air experience.

And that basically sums up what Ford is trying to do with Lincoln, turning the marque into a true boutique brand, where the ownership experience is as intimate as the vehicles themselves. Will it work? Time only has that answer, but as other luxury brands, specifically Teutonic ones, seem bent on bigger and better, the strategy might just work.

GALLERY: 2013 Lincoln MKZ Concept

Despite all the current hype surrounding Electric Vehicles and the seemingly huge amount of money some automakers are investing in them, a recent survey among global auto executives by consulting firm KPMG revealed that most are skeptical about the future success of EVs.

In fact among the 200 executives surveyed anonymously, two-thirds predict that sales of both Hybrid and pure EVs will only account for around 6 percent of total vehicle sales in Europe and the US by 2025. Nonetheless, it appears a large majority still think automakers will continue to invest large in EV technology, regardless.

Around 81 percent of those surveyed said they anticipate larger investments in battery technology for EVs, some 85 percent predict more investments in electric motor development, while 76 percent see greater resources being allocated to electronics designed for EVs.

From the results of the survey, Gary Silberg, KPMG’s national auto industry leader believes that many automakers are “hedging their bets. They are saying that we don’t know yet what the winning vehicle technology will be for the future, and so they are going to invest in all of it and let the market decide.”

Besides EV technology, the survey also revealed that many executives, from different parts of the world, believe that Chrysler and Ford Motor Company will gain global market share over the next five years, 47 percent predicting Ford’s market share will increase, while 31 percent believe Chrysler will show gains.

According to Silberg, these findings are indicative of a more positive public perception of both companies, which will translate into greater global sales and market share.

[Source: Automotive News]

We’ve been hearing rumors of a new “global” B-segment crossover from Ford for some time. Now, the Blue Oval has officially revealed details on its latest EcoSport , unveiled at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo this week.

The new EcoSport, underpinned by Ford’s latest B-segment vehicle architecture, is the second of eight new models the company plans to introduce into the Indian market by mid decade and will also serve to drive sales in other Asian markets as well, plus in other parts of the world where vehicle demand is growing, notably Brazil.

Looking a lot like a Fiesta on stilts, the latest EcoSport will be produced locally in India at the Chennai integrated manufacturing complex for both domestic consumption and also export, with production in other countries, likely Brazil slated to commence down the road.

Given it shares engineering with the Fiesta, perhaps not surprisingly the EcoSport gets Ford’s 1.0-liter, 120 metric horsepower (PS) three-cylinder, direct injected, turbocharged EcoBoost engine, coupled with a five-speed manual transaxle.

Although at the time of posting this story, other technical features had yet to be announced, don’t be surprised if a four-cylinder engine, a diesel and a choice of front or all-wheel drive options, plus a self-shifting transmission materialize as well, at least in some markets.

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport

For the first time since 2007, just prior to the US economy tanking, and with things still spluttering along on many fronts, the new numbers are very encouraging from America’s second largest automaker.

As for where the biggest gains have been, Ford is reporting healthy demand for small cars, such as the B-segment Fiesta and the larger C-class Focus (shown), which look to post sales increases of some 20 percent for the year.

Light trucks have also been doing well, with the breadwinning F-150, along with the outgoing Escape and Explorer looking to post strong gains (current estimates predict around a 30 percent increase by the time all’s said and done), according to an official statement released by the company.

According to Ford’s US vice president for sales and marketing, Ken Czubay, “the industry sales rate has exceeded 13 million in each of the last three months.” He also believes that “the current momentum is not an aberration.”

Let’s hope he’s right. So far, following the announcement, investors seem to agree, as Ford stock rose 0.5 percent to $10.73 today, reversing a trend that has seen shares fall more than 30 percent so far this year.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Given that a coupe version of the 650 horsepower supercharged, 200 mph capable monster was revealed at the 2011 LA Auto Show, plus the fact that archrival Chevrolet chose that venue to introduce a convertible version of it’s 580 hp Camaro ZL1, there’s every indication that a drop top version of the Shelby could make it’s debut at NAIAS 2012 in Detroit next month.

If that proves to be the case, then it will be interesting to see what specifications it will sport. One thing’s for certain, it’ll weigh slightly more than the coupe and likely have it’s top speed limited, possibly to around 180 mph, since going that fast in a four-seat production convertible, especially a Mustang convertible is a rather unnerving proposition to begin with. Stay tuned for more details.

[Source: Top Speed]

With the current trend towards lowering emissions from our transportation devices, it seems even dear old Santa is jumping on the bandwagon, albeit with assistance from Ford Motor Company.

According to Ford designer Paul Wraith, Santa’s team of nine reindeer produce the equivalent of a whopping 214,670 tons of CO2 emissions and, considering that the sleigh travels huge distances (some 200,237, 360 km/125,148,350 miles) Santa also has to deal with a hefty fuel bill of some £122 million ($195 million) for carrots.

As a result, in order to deal with both issues, Ford has developed a new sleigh with cutting edge technology , including a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine which will help Santa save some 191,843 tonnes of CO₂ and £110 million/$176 million on fuel costs, plus such features as Active Park Assist (useful for tight rooftop landings), SYNC (enabling Santa to remain in contact with the elves back at the North Pole, while staying en route, as well as listening to his favorite Christmas tunes); Active Blind Spot Monitoring (allowing Santa to keep an eye out for potential hazards such as aircraft when navigating the skies) and even a MyKey feature (meaning that during the off season,  some of Santa’s cheekier elves aren’t tempted to take the sleigh out for joy rides).

“Our tongue may be firmly in cheek as we launch this sleigh design,” declared Wraith “but our heart is in the right place”. ” At Ford, we’re dreaming of a Green Christmas. We’re already thinking of the concept sleigh mark II. With electric vehicle battery technology developing all the time, we are keen to get to work on a zero-carbon version of our sleigh.”

Although Santa wasn’t available for comment due to his currently very busy schedule, Mrs Claus added that while “I am not looking forward to telling Donner and Blitzen the news [about the new sleigh], the polar bears in the North Pole will certainly welcome it.”