ford’s small car figo, built on the platform of fiesta was launched in delhi this week
ford wants to compete in the small car segment as that accounts for 70% of the car sales. now, it all depends on the marketting and the pricing that they attach with this car.
i found the design really cool. but hope the car can deliver on mileage and maintenance front. who wants good looks and bad after-sales-service.
find more details here
Ford-Super_Duty_2011
Ford Super Duty customers expect and demand capability from the best-selling heavy-duty truck in America. For most Super Duty owners, it’s the core asset of their business. Day after day, year after year, it’s expected to deliver results in the most demanding situations. No nonsense. And never any excuses.
“Our Super Duty customers do some of America’s toughest jobs,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “Every day they’re out there working with little fanfare and all they ask is the right tool for the job. The new 2011 Ford Super Duty offers them a truck with best-in-class towing and payload, all-new powertrains and even more capability than ever to help them do their jobs.”
Ford’s F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks in the U.S. for 32 straight years. The new Super Duty further underscores Ford’s Built Ford Tough legacy.
“The 2011 Ford Super Duty offers the widest array of solutions for the widest array of heavy-duty work truck customers,” said Chris Brewer, chief engineer. “The Super Duty lineup offers a variety of body styles and powertrains, from diesel and gasoline engines, each with a new six-speed transmission, to pickup trucks and chassis cabs, each with the towing and payload capabilities that define Super Duty.”
New diesel and gasoline engines deliver improved torque, horsepower, fuel economy
For 2011, Super Duty features both an all-new diesel and gasoline engine that are mated to a new transmission. The new diesel, the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine, was designed, engineered and built by a Ford team dedicated solely to delivering this class-leading diesel engine to the next-generation Super Duty to enable continued best-in-class towing and payload.
Benefits of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine:
“Developing the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine was an awesome endeavor,” said Adam Gryglak, lead 6.7-liter diesel engineering manager. “After all the engineering and testing, we’re confident this engine will ensure the new Super Duty continues its leadership in capability, reliability and productivity.”
The engine and aftertreatment system for the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel powertrain ably meets the new, more stringent 2010 federal emissions requirements for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have to be lowered by approximately 80 percent.
New gasoline engine delivers more torque, horsepower than outgoing model
Ford tapped into a bit of its proud racing heritage to create the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine, which uses big-bore architecture to produce horsepower and class-leading fuel economy. The V-8’s large bore (102 mm) allows for larger intake and exhaust valves for improved engine breathing, and the short stroke (95 mm) allows higher engine speed for increased horsepower.
Benefits of the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine include:
New TorqShift transmission harnesses and manages the power; Live Drive PTO available
The all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission was designed to manage the high low-end torque produced by the new diesel engine. The same basic transmission also is mated to the new gasoline engine, giving customers of either engine the ability to efficiently get the increased torque and horsepower to the ground. Engineered for greater efficiency and fuel economy, improvements include refined architecture to provide relatively low clutch speeds, which result in lower drag losses, and optimized fluid levels and drainback to reduce churning of fluid while also providing superior lubrication.
In addition to hardware-based improvements, the new transmission features enhanced Tow Haul with integrated engine exhaust braking and SelectShift Automatic capability, which includes Progressive Range Select and a manual mode, allowing customers to select the gear to suit their needs.
The new TorqShift transmission also enables the first application of Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) in a Super Duty-class vehicle. On 2011 Ford Super Duty diesels with the PTO prep option, the PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft. This allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers or dump trucks. The power is available any time the engine is running.
Pioneered on agricultural applications, the Live Drive feature is particularly useful when mobile PTO function is required during start-stop operations, such as salt spreading or snow plowing. “A fully functional Live Drive mobile PTO will allow Super Duty customers to take full advantage of the equipment on their trucks,” said Al Bruck, 6R140 transmission engineering manager.
Best-in-class towing and payload; new towing options
Putting all that power to work is what defines Super Duty. The 2011 Ford Super Duty features increased towing and payload capability, extending its best-in-class rating, and also offering more towing from inside the bed. New is the first-ever factory-installed and warranted fifth wheel and gooseneck substructure directly attached to the frame.
“Our system is factory-installed and with a limited warranty from Ford. The electrical connection is mounted in the side of the bed wall, providing a clean installation,” said Peter Frantzeskakis, vehicle engineering manager.
Particularly noteworthy are productivity enhancements to the F-450 pickup to benefit the heaviest-duty trailer tow customers. Unneeded weight was shed, helping to improve fuel economy and top speed. Even with these changes, the Super Duty F-450 pickup maintains its class-leading gross combined weight rating of 33,000 pounds.
Addition of Trailer Sway Control leads safety enhancements
Ford’s lauded Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system joins the Super Duty lineup, giving those customers segment-first capability. TSC is integrated with AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, which now is standard on all single rear wheel (SRW) configurations.
The AdvanceTrac control module uses additional software to monitor the truck’s motion when a trailer is attached. Trailer Sway Control can determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reducing engine torque – to help reduce the trailer sway.
For further peace of mind, the available integrated trailer brake controller, factory-installed and covered by a Ford limited warranty, offers smoother and safer operation due to its ability to interface with multiple vehicle systems.
Normal braking is proportional to driver brake pressure for smooth brake stops at all speeds. If the vehicle’s Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is engaged, the special trailer brake kicks in to minimize the potential for trailer wheel lock up. In Super Duty trucks with Trailer Brake Control towing trailers with electric brakes, the Ford system can, during a sway event, also apply brakes to the trailer to help stabilize it.
Other enhanced towing, off-road control features and safety improvements include:
Improved ride, handling and steering for a more comfortable experience
In addition to increased towing and payload capability and improved fuel mileage enabled by the new powertrains, customers of the next Super Duty also will benefit from improved ride, handling and steering. For 2011, the engineering team optimized the frame and suspension of the current Super Duty, particularly the leaf springs and spring rate, as well as adjusting the internal valving in all the shock absorbers to enable greater towing and payload capability with further ride refinement.
The steering gear also is new. The 4×2 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty feature modified steering system geometry to take better advantage of the twin I-beam suspension, which combines the performance of an independent suspension with the durability of a beam axle suspension. Improved response, precision and better on-center steering and control come from making the steering gear symmetric left to right.
The result is greater customer comfort, confidence and control in all situations.
“A big part of the comfort in Super Duty trucks comes through controllability,” said Dan Gompper, vehicle dynamics supervisor. “No matter if the truck is loaded or unloaded, full trailer or empty trailer, customers can be fully confident.”
Bold exterior, new flow-through console highlights interior
The new hood of the 2011 Super Duty, with its prominent inverted power dome, complements the new diesel and gasoline engines lurking beneath. “Super Duty” is stamped on the upper grille, with a larger Ford oval proudly gracing the front.
Inside, customers will benefit from a new reconfigurable flow-through console that improves the functionality of the truck. Storage space is increased about 60 percent, and at least 70 different configurations are possible. A 12-volt powerpoint is available at the rear of the console and another is located inside the main bin, which is lockable. A 110-volt power inverter is standard with all console configurations.
Improved productivity through Ford Work Solutions
For many customers, the Super Duty cab also serves as a mobile office. Industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions is part of available technology to help customers stay connected with their business from the job site and track tools.
A new available 4.2-inch LCD Productivity Screen allows customers to take full advantage of the 2011 Ford Super Duty’s capabilities; an off-road message center has been added as well. The five-way button on the steering wheel allows customers to navigate through various menu options – several relating to fuel economy and towing convenience – never before available on a Super Duty truck.
Continuing the legacy of quality
With all-new powertrains enabling greater towing and payload capability, safety enhancements such as Trailer Sway Control added and greater functionality with available Ford Work Solutions, the new 2011 Ford Super Duty is poised to continue its legacy as America’s premier work truck.
The accolades the current Super Duty has received, based on 2009 model year GQRS (Global Quality Research System) data, include:
“With all-new powertrains and increased capability, the 2011 Ford Super Duty improves on its proud heritage as the ultimate work truck,” said Brewer.
Folha de S. Paulo/Reuters
A fabricante americana de veículos Ford Motor iniciará a produção de um carro compacto na Índia no começo de 2010. O presidente-executivo da companhia, Alan Mulally, afirmou que o mercado norte-americano está mostrando sinais de recuperação e que prevê que as vendas cresçam nos próximos dois anos.
A empresa está dando ênfase ao segmento de carros pequenos, segmento que, segundo ela, conduzirá as vendas cada vez mais. Mulally disse que o mercado de rápido crescimento da região Ásia-Pacífico assumirá grande papel nas vendas globais da Ford.
“Nós esperamos que o segmento de carros pequenos dobrará nos próximos 10 anos”, disse ele no lançamento do modelo Figo, novo carro de pequeno porte da montadora, em Nova Déli. “Quando você olha o tamanho dos veículos, cerca de 60 por cento dos automóveis do mundo todo serão menores como o novo modelo aqui.”
A companhia não revelou o preço do Figo, mas Mulally afirmou que a Ford não busca competir diretamente com o Nano, da Tata Motor, carro mais barato do mundo que custa cerca de US$ 2.000.
“Agora nós iremos focar na parcela maior do mercado (de carros pequenos), que é o lado B. Então, nós não temos planos de competir no lado A no momento.”
A Ford fabricará o modelo Figo em uma fábrica na cidade de Chennai (sul da Índia), na qual planeja montar um centro global de produção.
A montadora investiu US$ 500 milhões na instalação, que terá capacidade anual de 200 mil unidades.
O mercado automotivo doméstico da Índia é relativamente pequeno, especialmente considerando uma população de mais de 1,1 bilhão de pessoas com cerca de apenas 1,5 milhão de veículos vendidos no ano passado.
Nos Estados Unidos, as vendas de automóveis no início de 2009 caíram para níveis mensais não vistos desde o começo da década de 1980 em meio à recessão.
Contudo, alguma recuperação foi observada nos meses de julho e agosto, conforme o programa de incentivo do governo norte-americano para troca de carros velhos por modelos mais novos sustentou a demanda.
Mulally afirmou que há sinais de recuperação e que um aumento nas vendas é previsto nos próximos anos.
A Ford prevê as vendas totais da indústria automotiva dos Estados Unidos em cerca de 11 milhões de unidades em 2009, subindo para 12,5 milhões em 2010 e para quase 14,5 milhões no ano seguinte.
Fonte: Folha de S. Paulo/Reuters | www.folha.uol.com.br
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT TURBO I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 6-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Driver and front passenger airbags
17
unique XR front bumper
Limited Slip Differential
6-Speed manual or optional 6-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Driver and front passenger airbags
17
unique XR front bumper
Limited Slip Differential
Shown with optional tray
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Driver and front passenger airbags
One-tonne suspension
Optional fixed centre seat
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Driver and front passenger airbags
Cruise control
Optional fixed centre seat
Shown with optional tray
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Driver and front passenger airbags Fog lamps
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Cruise control
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Driver and front passenger airbags
Flush fit soft tonneau cover
Fog lamps
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Shown with optional tray
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)^
Driver and front passenger airbags
4.0L DOHC DI-VCT I6 engine
6-Speed manual or optional 5-Speed auto
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)^
Driver and front passenger airbags
17
unique XR front bumper
USB iPhone connector
The Fiesta hasn’t been getting on with my iPhone. It hasn’t linked consistently on Bluetooth and even when using the USB lead, it’s failed to recognise the unit as an iPod. Looking it up online, it appears that all Fiesta’s made from March 09 have an updated firmware for the audio/bluetooth. This provides an extra option within the car’s menu for Stereo Bluetooth. That would potentially have solved the problem.
I checked a new car in the showroom and sure enough, the option is there, but I’d also read that Ford didn’t like upgrading cars because of the warranty costs. Which seems a little daft because it seems it’s only a small “.INI” file that simply activates the part of the code that already exists in the vehicle. It’s also daft that they don’t put the file on their website as Fiat does with their system.
I’m guessing that the reason it wasn’t there from the start was so they could somehow tie it up with the iPhone 3GS which was announced in July. Cars made in March would have taken a couple of months to filter into the dealer network and so would have been delivered to customers around the same time or barely weeks before the apple announcement. I spoke to a salesman that said if I took in a memory-stick he’d get the mechanic to copy the file and then it’s up to me to instal it. However he seemed a bit dodgy and insincere, so I never followed that up.
Last week I took the Ex to the showroom so she could pay for the Fiat 500 she’d ordered (the dealership sells Ford, Fiat and Kia) and the salesman we dealt with then told me to book my car in and they would sort it out for me. So off I went this morning to drop it off. But it’s always the way…. you know when you get some kind if ailment, book a doctors appointment and by the time you get there you’re fine? Well a similar thing happened, I hadn’t tried linking up the iPhone to the car for some weeks, so I figured I’d give it a go. Dammit. It worked perfectly.
I went there anyway and the receptionist agreed that it was being inconsistent, so probably warranted a look over. However she told me the car would need to be with them all day and they would need my iPhone all day too. Now that just wasn’t going to happen. There’s nothing dodgy or questionable on my iPhone but what it does do is automatically log into applications such as Facebook, e-mail and of course have all my contacts in it. What if the phone rings when they’re playing about. They might answer and important call… So many things could go wrong. So I rebooked for next week as a “while you wait” customer and they will fix it whilst I stare at them ! Interesting though that you have to wait a week for the next “while you wait” appointment.
However thinking about it as I drove home, the last time I tried to sync up the phone and car was about 3 weeks ago and since then I’ve updated the firmware on the phone to version 3.1. Maybe that’s fixed it. I’ll test it over the next few days and if necessary, cancel the appointment. I will report back…..
Estamos en la empresa orientada al marketing: el consumidor es el rey y únicamente él define qué es valioso.
Hemos visto en clase el esquema comparativo de empresa enfocada a la producción o al marketing.
Henry Ford llevó al extremo la “organización científica del trabajo” propuesta por F. Taylor, un enfoque totalmente basado en la producción y en la obsesión por reducir costes.
Henry Ford
En esos momentos EEUU necesitaba muchos bienes y servicios a precio muy barato, por lo que su mítico Ford T fue durante la mayor parte del siglo XX el automóvil más vendido de la historia, acaparando en 1921 el 57% del mercado mundial
La importancia de los gustos del cliente en la etapa pre-marketing, se resumen en la frase de Ford:
“Un cliente puede tener su automóvil del color que desee, siempre y cuando desee que sea negro.”
Parece que efectivamente, algo ha cambiado…
As it stands, neither the first and the last Ford Thunderbird associated with 007 is actually a vehicle driven by the James Bond character.
Thunderbird one has its origins dating to May of 1955, according to Andrew Lycett, when John Stepbridge of Famous Players, engineered a deal by which “Hollywood producer Gregory Ratoff agreed to pay $600 for a six months’ option on Casino Royale, plus a further $6,000 if the project went into production.” Ratoff subsequently converted his option and purchased full rights to Casino Royale (1953).
Characterizing that sum as “paltry,” Lycett states that “Ian decided to bank it immediately and buy himself a keepsake in the form of a big, powerful American car. [He] had seen a Ford Thunderbird in the street and fallen in love with its hooded headlights, chrome grill and sleek chassis. So after a nervous test drive around Battersea Park he ordered a black T-bird with conventional gear-change, overdrive and interchangeable hard and soft top.”
The flyer shown at left represents the most recent association between James Bond and the Ford Thunderbird.
This is the “2003 Limited-Edition 007™ Ford Thunderbird.” CIA operative Jinx drove a similar version of this vehicle in the Eon Productions film, Die Another Day (2002). Stated production was set to top at 700, with the owner’s unique sequence number identified by a plate concealed within the glovebox of the car. Ironically, this car, like Fleming’s, has a removable hard top.
“Thunderbird” also became a brand name of sorts as applied to Ian Fleming, himself. In correspondence to friend Evelyn Waugh dated December 3, 1958, and July 24, 1959, for example, Fleming’s wife, Ann, referred to him as Thunderbird. And in another letter, dated May 1, 1959, Ann Fleming signed herself, “Love, Mrs Thunderbird.”
En vandoag het 3e deel morgen zal de laatste wel komen.
Hendrik ook weer bliede
Oder kurz IAA. Nach dem Motto “erleben, was bewegt” habe ich mich am ersten Publikumstag in die Höhle des Löwen gewagt. Es war mein erster Besuch bei der 63. Automobilmesse, und gegen 12 dachte ich noch, Mensch, hättest du dir aber voller vorgestellt. Keine halbe Stunde später konnte man in einigen Bereichen kaum noch einen Fuß vor den anderen setzen, aber war ja zu erwarten.
Es war interessant zu sehen, wie unterschiedlich die Aussteller mit der aktuellen Krise umgehen. Während die einen gleich ganze Hallen anmieteten, sparten andere an allen Ecken – sei es an der Standgröße oder den Werbegeschenken. Einige blieben gleich ganz fern (z.B. Nissan). Insgesamt verzeichnete die Messe einen Rückgang von knapp 30% bei den Ausstellern im Gegensatz zur letzten.
Hier die wichtigsten Eindrücke im Überblick:
Schönster Halle Messestand: Sowohl Mercedes als auch BMW hatten das Motto: Nicht kleckern, sondern klotzen. Riesige Hallen, Sound und Licht vom Feinsten. Powered by Emotion war das Stichwort. Bei BMW fuhren sogar auf eigens gebauten Straßen um den eigentlichen Messestand die neuesten Modelle.
Größte Enttäuschung: Ford – außer kostenlosem Saft und Torwandschießen hat mich hier nichts umgehauen. Nur aktuelle Modelle, keine Studien, keine Neuvorstellungen.
Größter Protz: Neben einem vollverchromten R8 müsste ich eigentlich den Edeltuner Mansory nennen. Er präsentierte ein Konglomerat aus eh schon unbezahlbaren Autos, Kohlefaser und einem großen Schuss Arroganz. (Siehe Galerie: Cayenne und Bugatti) Jedoch ist mir bei Brabus eine G-Klasse ins Auge gefallen, die mich fast vom Planeten gebeamt hat. Es handelt sich um den Mercedes G V12 S mit 6,3 biturbo Rocket Motor (700 PS, 1.320 Nm), der den Kasten mit der Aerodynamik einer Schrankwand auf 240 km/h (abgeriegelt) katapultiert. Der Preis von knapp 542.000 € dürfte dann auch dem Letzten Tränen in die Augen treiben.
Schönstes Auto: Es waren viele außergewöhnlich schöne Wagen ausgestellt. Jedoch muss ich, nicht ganz voreingenommen, diesen Titel an den deutschen Traditionshersteller Wiesmann vergeben. Kaum ein anderer schafft es, so schöne, fließende Linien zu einem Meisterwerk zusammenzuzimmern. Der Wiesmann GT MF5 ist einfach ein Traum auf 4 Rädern!
Größte Überraschung: Ich habe mich sehr über ein ausgestelltes Walz Bike gefreut, dass man nicht alle Tage sieht. Was mich aber am meisten überrascht hat, war Melkus. Die Ossi-Schmiede war bei mir schon fast in Vergessenheit geraten, umso erstaunter war ich, dass sie mit dem RS 2000 gleich eine Neuvorstellung am Start hatten. Da hat es auch nicht gestört, dass der Wagen ziemlich dem verwandten Lotus Elise ähnelte.
Meister Andrang: Ganz klar – Lamborghini. Es wurden zwar nur 3, 4 Modelle vorgestellt, darunter der neue Eventón, aber die Besuchermassen davor ließen jedem unter Klaustrophobie Leidenden den Schweiß auf die Stirn steigen.
Fazit: Wirklich innovative Erneuerungen hat man vergebens gesucht. Es waren einige nette Ansätze dabei, aber das Rad wurde nicht neu erfunden. Es zeigte sich, dass es wohl noch eine Weile dauern wird, bis eine wirkliche Alternative zu Benzin und Co. marktreif wird.
Welten prallten aufeinander und die Hallenaufteilung war teilweise schon recht amüsant. So werden Sprit sparende Fahrzeuge und alternative Antriebe vorgestellt, und nebenan protzt Geiger mit Musclecars, die gut und gerne mal im Stand 30 Liter schlucken. Verschiedene Hersteller ließen sich mal wieder von der Konkurrenz inspirieren. Dies bin ich sonst größtenteils nur von den Japanern gewöhnt, doch z.B. auch der vorgestellte Peugeot 308 RC Z war eher ein Mischung aus TT und Boxster. (Das nur als Paradebeispiel) Es gab Miniaturmodelle, die selbst den Smart haben aussehen lassen wie eine Großraum-Limousine. Im Kontrast dazu gab es aber auch Autos, deren Heckpartie so breit war, dass selbst Jennifer Lopez neidisch geworden wäre.
Alle Eindrücke hier wiederzugeben, würde aber den Rahmen sprengen. Wenn man sich für Autos interessiert, lohnt sich ein Besuch allemal. Wer aber auf die große Erleuchtung hofft, was uns die Zukunft bringt, der sollte den Tag lieber anders nutzen.
#gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-2 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-2 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; }Oh yeah, he should be jealous not having thought of that gymkhana stunt before the marketing guys at Ford Mexico!
There are some similarities with the current brand campaign in Europe. You know, this “kinetic design” thingy which is supposed to make Ford cars look like they’re moving even when they’re still (big whoop…). I’ll go with the Mexicans on this one.
OCDiesel.com proudly offers BD Diesel exhausts and exhaust components. BD Diesel is unique among its peers in that it designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of performance diesel products. The BD name was recognized in 1989, when the company introduced the first exhaust brake to the diesel pick-up truck market. BD’s roots date back to 1972, when Valley Fuel Injection, Ltd. first opened its doors. Nowadays, Valley Fuel Injection and BD Diesel are one, with eight specialty divisions that focus on diesel power train components.
OCDiesel.com carries a full line of BD Diesel’s stainless steel, 4” and 5” X-Hale Exhaust Systems for GM Duramax, Ford Powerstroke and Dodge Cummins diesel trucks, vans and SUV’s.
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Many dealers remain in the dark about online piracy: when your dealer rivals or third-party sites purchase YOUR dealership’s name in pay-per-click keyword buys – or incorporate your name into their website meta-tags. The fallout? Your rightful business is hijacked, because when customers are specifically searching for you, the pirates benefit by plundering the ‘gold’ of your search position.
Why is this sneaky behavior on the rise? Not only because the World Wide Web acts increasingly like the Wild, Wild, West – but because your competitors know your search real estate is super-valuable property, generating big business. Search is huge: more than 4 in 5 online new-car shoppers turn to search engines today, and search is the #1 most-used resource consumers use to research dealers. And roughly 40% of dealer-related searches specifically involve the dealership’s name.
Common types of dealer piracy:
1. Pay-per-click: PPC piracy is when your dealer rivals or third-party sites purchase your name(s) as keywords, so their ad comes up (to the right of the search results), when someone’s searching YOU.
2. Organic: Third-party sites can embed your name in their website meta-tags, so the ever-spidering search engines find THEM, when a searcher is looking for YOU. Third-party lead providers you partner with are authorized to use your name and inventory – but some third-party sites masquerade as quasi-directories, when they’re just using your name to generate leads. Typically, hitting their official-looking landing pages you’ll see: ‘Get a price quote from Dealer X (you),’ with a form gathering customer info. (And there’s usually an option to submit leads to your competitors!) These parasite pirate-sites typically sell leads to larger lead providers, who can sell them right back…to you. Even with a lead aggregator a dealer uses, they shouldn’t use your trade name to gather leads.
Dealers need to put piracy on their radar. All businesses should be in tune with what comes up in both paid and organic results when their specific name/URL is searched.
It’s unfair and often illegal, but that’s the reality of online piracy. More information on how to spot some piracy and take action, while explaining new technology that protects you from this time-consuming, COSTLY headache will be forthcoming.
Just when you’re hoping GM might be able to pull a brash, new, vigorous rabbit out of its marketing hat, the illusion dissipates in a puff of tailpipe smoke with a new GM commercial featuring GM Chairman Ed Whitacre. Rather than let Creative show us how fast and fun and splendid a product GM produces, Mr. Whitacre holds a walking meeting with us, during which he reminds us of our doubts about GM products; tells us he has shared those doubts; and then, at a time in which any promise from a corporate leader is apt to generate a universe of eye-rolling, assures us that GM will take the car back, if it turns out to be the same old crap we’re afraid it is (though he doesn’t quite put it that way). It’s really stunning: a commercial which, in its final moments, prompts potential purchasers to recall why they’ve been avoiding buying the product.
Remember how bad our cars were? Me, too! But now that I run the company, I don’t think they’re so bad. Actually, they’re pretty good. And if they are awful, we’ll take them back. This is great advertising strategy for GM? I bet they think so, over at Ford.
The message GM should be conveying — by showing us, not telling us — is that GM makes hot, gorgeous cars that are safe, reliable, and fun. And while having ads that are unique can be a good thing, right now GM needs to produce ads that are as similar as possible in style and format to their competitors’ ads, so that their ads subliminally convey that GM cars are the competitive equals of other companies’ products. You don’t see the head of Ford or Hyundai taking a meeting with the audience to assure them the product isn’t bad. The problem isn’t Mr. Whitacre’s fault, but the concept of the commercial, which almost inevitably had to result in a backward-looking, defensive message.
On the plus side — at least GM isn’t guilty of making that deeply creepy Prius commercial, in which human beings are reduced to anonymous plants in the landscape.
I went out to the Langely show this weekend and took some pics. As usual the show was very large and the quality and diversity of the cars was great. It was hot this year and it was packed… I had a pretty hard time getting shots, there was just too many people around…. and the sun was so bright that it was hard to get a good shot will the extreme contrast… but here’s the link to what i got. Langley show pics
enjoy.
Despite people’s worst expectations, the government program to give people up to $4,500 to trade in their old cars for more fuel efficient ones spurred automobile sales, especially when dealers added their existing sales incentives.
Cash for Clunkers didn’t immediately restart any assembly lines, but it did clear the stockpiled inventory that has to be removed before manufacturing can resume. Now marketing specialists are studying the sales results for clues to forecast future demand that should reopen the lines.
Many of the program participants were loyal Detroit supporters upon whom the industry depends. The Department of Transportation listed the top ten swapped vehicles, and all the cars and trucks came from Chrysler, Ford and GM. Since the department didn’t give a percentage breakdown, like they did for new cars, it’s difficult to know from the published lists how many Japanese vehicles were brought in or how much these trade-ins reflected the relative popularity of what must have been durable cars and trucks made ten years ago when Detroit held a greater market share.
In general, the program began well for Detroit with these special buyers. At the end of the first week, 47% bought vehicles made by GM, Ford or Chrysler, a number slightly above the three companies’ market share that hovers between 44 and 45%.
However, as more people took advantage of the government’s offer, Detroit lost its preeminence. By August 14, the big three only accounted for 42% of the new car sales, and by the end of the program the number was down to 38.6%.
In the first two weeks, the Ford Focus was the top car, with the Dodge Caliber in eighth place and Chevy’s Cobalt in tenth. Two weeks passed, and Focus fell to third place behind Toyota’s Corolla and Honda’s Civic, while Chrysler and GM disappeared. By the end, the Focus was fourth behind Toyota’s Camry, but the Ford Escape had crept into tenth place.
While Bill Ford could feel vindicated that the changes he’d introduced in the past few years were finally being rewarded, General Motors could console itself the old strategy was still valid: that it had so many models in the market, that even though no one did well enough to make the top ten, the range of choices meant it still outsold their competitors.
At the end of two weeks, it had the largest market share, 18.7%, compared with Toyota’s 17.9%. However, the general drift of the market also affected them: by August 14, Toyota outsold them 18.9% to 17.6%, and by end Toyota was up to 19.4% while GM stayed at 17.6%. In 2008, before they went to Congress for money, GM’s share was 19.1%.
Ever since GM had problems with the Corvair in the 1960’s, it has retrenched into the strategy that trucks and luxury cars were its core business. Unfortunately, the government’s sales numbers show people are no longer as interested in trucks. The nature of the program may have skewed the statistics by favoring people who had outgrown their pickups, perhaps because, at their stage in life, they no longer needed to haul things for their house and yard, and now needed a different type of vehicle for a changing family.
Still GM should be worried that at the end of the second week of the program, August 5, 83% of the participants brought in trucks, but only 40% bought new, more fuel-efficient ones. By the end of the program, August 26, the numbers remained essentially unchanged: 84% brought in trucks and 41% drove away with new ones. The cars it eschewed were the market.
Instead, GM’s chief sales analyst, Michael C. DiGiovanni, picked through the data and discovered strong interest in the Camaro muscle car and Equinox SUV. Over at Ford, the vice president for sales and marketing, Ken Czubay, saw hope for the F-series pickup trucks when sales rose for the first time since October of 2006.
These men seem to still hope the interest in fuel efficient automobiles is a passing flirtation, perhaps one encouraged by a matchmaker, but that people will return again and rescue their behemoths from becoming mere niche vehicles. Detroit is nothing if not consistent in its drive towards obsolescence.
Notes:
August 3. David Shepardson, “Big Three Sell 47 Percent of ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Sales; Ford Focus Top-seller,” The Detroit News.
August 15. David Shepardson, “Japanese Sales Climb in ‘Clunkers’ Program; GM, Ford Slip Behind Toyota in Vehicles Sold,” The Detroit News.
August 26. Department of Transportation press release 133-09, “Cash for Clunkers Wraps up with Nearly 700,000 Car Sales and Increased Fuel Efficiency, U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Declares Program ‘Wildly Successful’.”
September 1. Bill Vlasic and Nick Bunkley, “Clunker Program Spurred August Sales,” The New York Times.
