اخبار معارض 2009

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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivans/MPVs, Commercial Trucks, Ford

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Ford Transit Connect

Ford is bringing its Transit Connect van to the US this summer with hopes of generating sales to businesses that need 143 cubic feet of cargo space and wouldn't mind car-like fuel economy. To drum up some interest in the Euro-sourced vans, the Blue Oval has just given away five of them to small business owners. One of the winners is a CPR instructor in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jerry Buffman had been lugging her dummies around in a 2001 Toyota Sienna, but needed more space. Buffman travels to locations with her bags full of CPR equipment and practice dummies, and the soon to be released Transit should make lugging all of her props a bit easier.

To showcase the Transit Connect's flexibility, Ford also gave away the mini cargo vans to a kayak company, a cleaner, a dog care business, and a pet and baby safety company. Ford is looking to introduce the production version of the Transit Connect at the Chicago Auto Show in February, with sales beginning this summer.

Gallery: Ford Transit Connect


[Source: MLIVE]No Dummies: CPR instructor, others win custom Ford Transit Connect vans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Ford

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus

Ford has launched its mini-site for the 2010 Taurus, and in addition to including images of its new flagship sedan in all available colors (see updated gallery below), a clue has been discovered that may shed some light on the rumored return of the much loved SHO model. Mousing over the word "GALLERY" will produce a drop down menu at the bottom of which is a selection called "PERFORMANCE SERIES". Mouse over that guy and the message "COMING FEBRUARY 2009" is revealed.

The 2009 Chicago Auto Show occurs in February, which suggests that Ford will be debut this "Performance Series" of the Taurus in the Windy City. Will it be the SHO? We don't know, though prior spy shots of a SHO-badged interior suggest an affirmative on that one.

When Ford debuted the new Taurus at the Detroit Auto Show this week, mention was made of both the standard 3.5L Duratec V6 and the "optional availability of Ford's advanced EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability soon." So we expect that Ford will debut the 355-hp EcoBoost V6 in the Taurus at the Chicago show, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be be wearing any Super High Output badges. Ford seems keen on building the EcoBoost brand name, as "EcoBoost" will appear alongside the Lincoln MKS, MKT and Ford Flex when those new models are ordered up with the same advanced engine.

Frankly, we hope Ford just calls it the EcoBoost Taurus and leaves "SHO" alone for now. The 2010 Taurus may share a name with the one that was offered with a Yamaha V6 back in the '80s and '90s, but the new one is a much larger, heavier car that's ill-suited for sport sedan duties. We'll reiterate our wish once again: a Fusion SHO tuned by SVT with a manual or dual-sequential gearbox, front-wheel-drive, weight saving measures and a small EcoBoost four-cylinder capable of producing a reverential 220 horsepower and return well over 30 mpg on the highway. But that's just us.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus

[Source: BringBacktheSHO.com, Ford]

2010 Ford Taurus SHO slated for Chicago debut? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Ford Taurus SHO spy shots

Thanks to our friends at BringBackTheSHO.com, we now have more evidence than ever that the SHO will rise again. These spy shots show a pair of serious looking Taurus sedans snapped along the I-75 corridor in Michigan (the greenish grass and lack of snow suggest they weren't taken recently). These two sedans are different from the Limited and SES models we saw at the Detroit Auto Show last week, wearing new wheels (at least 19 or 20 inches in diameter), a decklid spoiler, different tail-lights and a new rear bumper that extends lower over a pair of dual tail-pipes. There's also a conspicuous looking badge on the rear end that's covered with camo tape. What could it be? Who knows for SHO?

We expect to find Ford's new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 underhood, which produces 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Well, that's what the engine produces in the 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKS, 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKT and 2010 Ford EcoBoost Flex. Whether or not Ford increases the engine's power for SHO duty (it does stand for Super High Output, after all) remains to be seen, but expect all-wheel drive and a flappy paddle, six-speed gearbox to be standard equipment. The 2009 Chicago Auto Show, where we expect this car to debut, just got a whole lot more interesting.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO - spy shots

[Source: BringBackTheSHO.com, Photos used with permission of BBTS.com]

Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO spotted without camo! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Convertibles, Mazda

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 (JDM)

With over 800,000 copies sold during its 20-year lifespan, the Mazda MX-5 is the king of all roadsters. When the miniature Mazda hit the scene in 1989 as the Miata, Mazda gave it impeccable balance and precision. In the interim, the MX-5 has continued to evolve, and Mazda is looking to make even more magic for 2009. The new roadster will receive more horsepower, better fuel economy, and an updated aesthetics. The lightweight MX-5 is more about driving characteristics than outright power, so Mazda only increased output from the 2.0L engine from 166 to 168 hp. While the extra two ponies isn't going to set the track on fire, Mazda promises an improvement over the 2008 model's 22/27 fuel economy. Mazda also tweaked the MX-5's already sweet suspension for even tighter handling characteristics and made minor changes to the front and rear fascias. The 2009 MX-5 will also receive updates to the interior, colors, and available packages, and will debut in North American-spec at the Chicago Auto Show. Hit the jump to read Mazda's press release.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Roadster

Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5 LIVE

Continue reading Chicago Preview: 2009 Mazda MX-5 will say hey to USA

Chicago Preview: 2009 Mazda MX-5 will say hey to USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Trucks/Pickups, Suzuki

Click above for a larger image of Suzuki and Truckin' Magazine's Equator concept

At last year's Chicago Auto Show, Suzuki showed off three versions of its reworked Nissan Frontier pickup, the Equator. The three concepts were the RMZ-4, Quad and Quay, which represented trucks to haul a superbike, a quad and a boat, respectively. Since then, we've driven an Equator and heard that the production truck will sell for $17,995. Flash forward to the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and American Suzuki Motor Corp. is finally ready to introduce the "all-new" Equator with - wait for it - three concept trucks. This trio of trucks, however, have been customized by 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road and Truckin' magazines.

In the case of the Truckin' concept (shown above), an Equator has been lowered and fitted with a set of massive six-spoke alloys wrapped in rather serious-looking street rubber. So-equipped, it almost looks like this trucklet might canyon carve almost as well as the motorcycle in its bed. Well, perhaps that's stretching things a bit. The concept uses a massaged four-cylinder under the hood that probably couldn't come close to keeping up with that 999cc GSX-R sportbike in the bed. But it sure looks fun! We'll be sure to cover all three concepts along with everything else worth seeing when we get to the Windy City in about ten days.

[Source: Suzuki]

Chicago Preview: Suzuki bringing three Equator concepts to Windy City. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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