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We don't remember seeing this at SEMA, because if we had, we would have made fun of it there as well. Nonetheless, the placard claims this Toyota Corolla SE Prototype was first shown at the infamous tuner show, and we claim it was first seen somewhere in a Ford studio run by Dave "Big Balls" Horbury. Seriously -- check out that grille, somebody falling in love with the Ford Fusion much? Perhaps this is a new salvo in a developing grille wars. Whatever. We feel like maybe we should be on the look out for a restyled Ford Taurus sporting a Klingon forehead grille. galleryPost('protocorolla', 6, 'Toyota Corolla SE Prototype Has The Wendys Flavor');
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We saw the first two versions of the 2009 Ford Transit Connect a little earlier, but now we've seen 'em up close and personal. Four differently outfitted models of the light duty van were shown off in an effort to showcase the vans versatility. The first two we saw were dressed up for a wine delivery company and a traveling jazz band; the other two examples are done up for a connectivity company and a catering service. While not options offered from Ford, these Transit Connects offer different looks at the flexible ways the little vans can be equipped. And we did see a feature we've been pining for. galleryPost('09transitlive', 12, '2009 Ford Transit Connects All Over the Place'); The Ford Transit Connect will be available with front window defrost, by way of embedded hot wire filaments. you can get an idea of what the fine, wavy wires look like below. Ford also indicated the option may appear in other models, depending on the public reception. Barely perceptible...
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While we already saw, the 2009 Ford Edge Sport press shots when the embargo let go, we wondered down to find the newly retrimmed Ford just hanging out for all to see. In the flesh, the Edge Sport works pretty well from a design perspective. Looks like the Edge should have been designed this way in the first place actually. Without the heavy trim colors and sporting bigger wheels to match the huge wheel wells, the Edge Sport plays the urban cruiser a little bit better. galleryPost('edgesport1', 6, '2009 Ford Edge Sport in Chicago'); We can't help but look on it with a little disappointment though, all that work and no additional oomph from the V6. Style has been thumping substance pretty regularly in the crossover market lately, so we're not really surprised. Doesn't make it excusable though.
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Those darn kids are always leaving stuff laying around - like 2009 Ford Transit Connects that aren't supposed to be free to see for another couple hours. We've heard they are bringing four different varieties of customized to show off here in Chicago and it looks like we're seeing two of them here. One appears to be some sort of wine and or food based delivery truck. The other is a decidedly more hip and musically focused custom. It looks decidedly jazzy and thankfully un-hip-hop related. Definitely dressed up compared to the bland whiteness of the press shots of the Transit Connect from last night. Guess we'll get the full story in a bit. galleryPost('doanefordtransitconnectprereveal', 3, '2009 Ford Transit Connects Bare All'); galleryPost('transitcon', 6, 'Ford Transit Connect'); Photos by Chris Doane
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Ford is working towards a new objective with it's "Work Solutions" package. Instead of simply providing customers with four wheels, a motor and maybe even a chassis, Ford wants to develop what they're calling "solutions." Yes, that certainly sounds like something that came straight from an MBA program someplace, and we're generally dogged cynics when it comes to such claptrap. But this here "solution" is actually pretty darn neat. Ford has teamed with Microsoft (yet again--hello, Sync fans) to create new hardware and software for contractors to use to manage work sites. The system begins with RF tags you can add to any tool--hammer, screwdriver, level, circular saw, all the contractor doo-dads you can imagine--then adds bed scanners that detect the presence of those RF tags. The system can tell you before you leave a work site whether or not you've left something behind. Add to useful feature a few others: the ability to surf the net anywhere...
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Even though we got a sneak peak at it during the Showlopnik coverage, Ford has officially dropped the pics for it's Transit Connect on us. Now, it doesn't look a heck of a lot different then the Euro model, but there are some differences. True, it will be built in the same plant and Turkey, and it will still be based on a front wheel drive four cylinder platform, there will not be a diesel version available - yet. Indeed, Ford will be bringing only a four pot gasser to the US market and mating it to a four speed auto. Though at a press event, they didn't deny there was a possibility of an oil burner if the market demands it. galleryPost('transitcon', 6, 'Ford Transit Connect'); All we know is that would make a perfect transit for either a Nash Metropolitan drag racer or a couple of well built supercross motorcycles. For some reason, Ford does not plan on showing versions outfitted as such. This calls into question the junkyard scrapper version and the livin'...
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Ford is working towards a new objective with it's "Work Solutions" package. Instead of just providing four wheels and a motor, Ford is aiming at providing what they term as 'solutions' for their customers. We're generally dogged cynics when it comes to talk like that, but this option generally is pretty darn neat. Ford has teamed with Microsoft yet again for new and improved hardware and software to manage a contractors work site. The system begins with RF tags you can add to any tool, then adds bed scanners that detect the presence of those RF tags, then the system can tell you before you leave a work site whether or not you've left something behind. Add to this the ability to surf the net anywhere with integrated wimax hardware by Sprint, and a vaguely UPS like "Crew Chief" system which combines GPS with the tool sensing to determine the best crew to do a job at any given call. Of course, this is all targeted at Ford's commercial customers,...
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If you've been holding off on a brand new Ford Edge because the styling just wasn't sporty enough, have we got good news for you. Tonight at a press event in Dearborn, Ford took the wraps from it's latest trim level of the well received crossover, the 2009 Ford Edge Sport. Featuring some nice design details like perforated alcantera seating surfaces, an 8 piece body kit, smoked headlights, dual exhaust tips, stiffened up performance suspension, and... oh okay, big stinky wheels. The Edge Sport gets polished 20" wheels standard and 22 incher's optional, both wrapped in fat Pirelli Scorpion Zeros. And just because you were already thinking it, no, there are no additional ponies riding under that hood. Expect to see the sportier looking Edge at dealers by fall. Keep it parked here for our live Chicago Auto Show coverage as we bring you all the reveals that are fit to print, er, publish. galleryPost('edgesport', 9, '2009 Ford Edge Sport'); CHICAGO, Feb....
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We had the pleasure of meeting a few of the ladies (and occasional gent) from the Chicago Auto Show Intern Blog Showlopnik , which lovingly parodies the name of our site. While talking to them they were busily prepping their stories and had mentioned they'd walked the floor to take pictures. We were hopping they'd possibly discover something we hadn't seen before and, lo and behold, there's a picture of the as-of-yet unreleased Ford Transit Connect . So there's your confirmation. Thanks for the picture Showlopnik and thanks for taking our advice about blogging , it's paid off. galleryPost('fordtransitcovered', 1, 'Ford Transit Connect Van Courtesy Of Showlopnik'); [ Showlopnik ]
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We had the pleasure of meeting a few of the ladies (and occasional gent) from the Chicago Auto Show Intern Blog Showlopnik , which lovingly parodies the name of our site. While talking to them they were busily prepping their stories and had mentioned they'd walked the floor to take pictures. We were hopping they'd possibly discover something we hadn't seen before and, lo and behold, there's a picture of the as-of-yet unreleased Ford Transit Connect . So there's your confirmation. Thanks for the picture Showlopnik and thanks for taking our advice about blogging , it's paid off. galleryPost('fordtransitcovered', 1, 'Ford Transit Connect Van Courtesy Of Showlopnik'); [ Showlopnik ]
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All of a sudden, the Chicago Auto Show is the happening place to debut the latest rides. The most recent rumor is that Ford will be bringing their european Transit Connect van to the Second City (the Transit XPress is pictured). The gossip is coming from The Car Connection , which reports that the FWD van will come with a four-cylinder engine and five-passenger seating to be marketed against the Dodge Sprinter. This isn't a new rumor and this is something supported by the picture of the Ford Transit spotted in So-Cal with Michigan manufacturer plates. Not only could this debut in Chicago, it could go on sale as soon as the fall as a 2009 model. [ The Car Connection ]
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