2012 Ford Mustang

On one hand, the 2012 Ford Mustang is a capable, even sophisticated coupe or convertible with a big range of talents, including 31-mpg highway fuel economy. On the other hand, it's a tire-smoking pony car rechristened last year with new powertrains and given a jolt of throwback goodness for this model year with the return of the Boss.
Mostly on the strength of the GT, the new Boss and the returning Shelby GT500, we're giving the Mustang a solid 8 out of 10 for its performance strengths, and even for its upscale luxury and tech features.

Last year, Ford brought back the "5.0" Mustang, with that displacement netting it 412 horsepower in the Mustang GT. Base models gained a new corporate 3.7-liter V-6 with 305 horsepower. The GT is our clear winner: it's a torque-happy engine with good throttle response and a sharp attitude, something the old modular V-8 strained to deliver even while it turned out decently competitive numbers.

2012 Ford Mustang

2012 ford focus

One of Alan Mulally’s objectives since becoming CEO at Ford in 2006 has been to develop products on a worldwide basis. This sounds familiar, if only because another Ford CEO, Alex Trotman, did the same thing back in the 1990s. This approach resulted in products such as the Contour (not a rip-roaring success) and the original Focus (which was).

In between the Focus going on sale in the U.S. as a 2000 model and Mulally  taking over, product development in Europe and North America took off in different directions. Hence, Europe was rewarded with a heavily reworked second-generation Focus in 2004. The next year, North America got a warmed-over version of the first-gen Focus sedan and hatchback.

Starting in early 2011, the Focus in both North America and Europe will be the same vehicle. This is to be applauded because there was a big gap between the European Focus and the machine sold here. The European car improved on the basic goodness of the original, with better interior quality and driving dynamics. The U.S. car essentially stayed put: The original Focus was good enough to be a C/D 10Best winner, but the competition moved on, leaving the current version dead last in a recent small-car comparo.

The 2012 Focus certainly looks terrific, especially in five-door form. The engineers and designers felt able to make the Focus sportier (by lowering its seating position and overall height) due to the upcoming C-Max—a tall-roof, five- or seven-seat derivative off this platform—that fulfills the family-car mission. Compared with the current U.S. Focus, the new car is 0.5 inch lower (at 58.1 inches tall) and 3.0 inches long­er (178.0 inches overall), and it has a 1.3-inch-longer wheelbase (104.2 inches). The 2012 model’s dimensions are close to the current Euro car’s, save for a wider track and lower stance.

Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang 2011

Ford Mustang | Car Review | The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by Ford Motor Company. That was originally based on second-generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced at the beginning, April 17, 1964 as "1964 ½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the most successful launch of the car since the Model A. This model is the third oldest Ford board in production and has undergone several transformations in its fifth generation.

Ford Mustang GT 2000

The Mustang created the "pony car" class of American automobiles—sports car-like coupes with long hoods and short rear decks—and gave rise to competitors such as GM's Chevrolet Camaro, AMC's Javelin, and Chrysler's revamped Plymouth Barracuda. It also inspired coupés such as the Toyota Celica and Ford Capri, which were exported to the United States.

Ford Mustang GT 1990

Production of the 1965 Mustang (VIN coded by Ford and titled as 1965 models) began in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964 and the car was introduced to the public on April 17, 1964 at the New York World's Fair. It is Ford's third oldest nameplate currently in production next to the F-Series pickup truck line (which has undergone major nameplate changes over the years) and the Falcon that is still in production in Australia.

Ford Mustang 1981

Executive stylist John Najjar, who was a fan of the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, is credited by Ford to have suggested the name. He was involved in design work on the prototype Ford Mustang I. An alternative view was that Robert J. Eggert, Ford Division market research manager, first suggested the Mustang name. Eggert, a breeder of quarterhorses, received a birthday present from his wife of the book, The Mustangs by J. Frank Dobie in 1960. Later, the book’s title gave him the idea of adding the “Mustang” name for Ford’s new concept car. The designer preferred Cougar or Torino (and an advertising campaign using the Torino name was actually prepared), while Henry Ford II wanted T-bird II. As the person responsible for Ford’s research on potential names, Eggert added “Mustang” to the list to be tested by focus groups; “Mustang,” by a wide margin, came out on top under the heading: “Suitability as Name for the Special Car.” The name could not be used in Germany, however, because it was owned by Krupp, which had manufactured trucks between 1951 and 1964 with the name Mustang. Ford refused to buy the name for about US,000 from Krupp at the time. Kreidler, a manufacturer of mopeds, also used the name, so Mustang was sold in Germany as the "T-5" until December 1978.

Ford Mustang 1973

Mustang grew up with the taller and heavier each model year until, in response to the 1971-1973 models, Ford returned the car to its original size and concept for 1974. Since then he has seen several generations of platform designs. Although some other pony cars have seen a revival, the Mustang is the only original pony car to remain in continuous production for over four decades of development and review. - Car Review

Ford Mustang

Best Indian SUV from Tata, Mahindra, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi Chevrolet, Hyundai priced under 25 lakhs rupees, below Rs.15 lakhs

Best Indian SUV from Tata, Mahindra, Toyota, Ford,  Honda, Mitsubishi Chevrolet, Hyundai priced under 25 lakhs rupees, below Rs.15 lakhs | Car Review | Once owning a car used to be luxury in India. Economic growth has changed the perception of Indian from owning cars as necessity instead of luxury. With growing disposable incomes people are not minding owning an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle).

Driving SUV makes the journey comfortable. For long distance drive on then high ways SUVs are more comfortable. Internal Space is more compared with sedans and are comfortable for long drives. One will not get tired on long distance travel by SUVs. Maintenance cost will be more.

Ground clearance is more and can be driven even on rough terrains. Toyota Innova and Mahindra Scorpio are the successful models and are the best SUVs in India that are below the price of Rs.15 lakhs. These models give a mileage of 12 to 14 kmpl of diesel in city drive conditions and a mileage of 12 to 14 kmpl of diesel on highway driving conditions.

Indian SUVs under Rs.15 lakhs:

SUV Model	Price in India (Rs Lakhs)
Tata Safari	8.19 to 12.56
Tata Sumo Grande	7.30 to 8.39
Mahindra Scorpio	7.43 to 12.40
Mahindra Xylo	7.29 to 9.42
Mahindra Bolero	6.92
Toyota Innova	8.61 to 12.63

Indian SUV s in the price range of Rs.15 lakhs to Rs.25 lakhs :

SUV Model	Price Range (Rs Lakhs)
Toyota Fortuner	20.15
Ford Endeavor	16.95 to 19.51
Honda CRV	22.20 to 24.40
Mitsubishi Outlander	20.25
Mitsubishi Pajero	20.46
Chevrolet Captiva	18.17 to 19.94
Hyundai Santa Fe	21.45 to 23.46

Best Indian SUV from Tata, Mahindra, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi Chevrolet, Hyundai priced under 25 lakhs rupees, below Rs.15 lakhs

Ford Thunderbird

Ford Thunderbird | Car Review | Ford Thunderbird or just Thunderbird or well known as T-Bird, is a name of sport car model manufactured by the Ford Motor Co. The Thunderbird was produced by Ford in the United States over eleven generations of car model from 1955 to 2005. When it was first launched, the Thunderbird created the niche of market eventually known as the personal luxury (sport) car.

Ford Thunderbird 2004

Evoking the mythological creature of indigenous peoples of North America, the Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat convertible. Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. Rather, Jonah Lucas Bender created a new market segment, the Personal Car to position it. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased at the end of 1997. In 2002 production of the Thunderbird started again, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year. From its introduction in 1955 to its most recent departure in 2005, Ford has produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.

Ford Thunderbird 2002

CONVERTIBLE models: The Second to Fourth Generation Thunderbird convertibles were similar in design to the Lincoln convertible of the time and borrowed from earlier Ford hardtop/convertible designs. While these Thunderbird models had a true convertible soft top, the top was lowered to stow in the forward trunk area. This design reduced available trunk space when the top was down.

Ford Thunderbird 1995

The trunk lid was rear-hinged; raised and lowered via hydraulic cylinders during the top raising or lowering cycle. The forward end of the trunk lid contained a metal plate that extended upward to cover the area that the top is stowed in. With the top down and the trunk lid lowered, there is no sight of the soft top.

Ford Thunderbird 1993

However, this design could present a challenge to one who is troubleshooting a convertible top malfunction. The system consists of a spiderweb of solenoids, relays, limit switches, electric motors, a hydraulic pump/reservoir, hydraulic directional valves and cylinders. While the hydraulics are not often a cause for trouble, the electrical relays are known to fail. Failure of any of the relays, motors or limit switches will prevent the convertible system from completing the cycle.

Ford Thunderbird 1989

Unlike hardtop models that utilized a conventional key-secured, forward hinged design, the convertibles combined the trunk opening and closing within the convertible top operating system. As a result of this design, the trunks of convertible models were notorious for leaking.

Ford Thunderbird 1983

A smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega. The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production. The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented.

Ford Thunderbird 1956

The men and their teams generally credited with the creation of the original Thunderbird are: Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II; George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; Frank Hershey, chief stylist for Ford Division; Bill Boyer, designer Body Development Studio who became manager of Thunderbird Studio in spring of 1955, and Bill Burnett, chief engineer. Ford Designer William P. Boyer was lead stylist on the original 1955 two-seater Thunderbird and also had a hand in designing the future series of Thunderbirds including the 30th Anniversary Edition. Hershey's participation in the creation of the Thunderbird was more administrative than artistic. Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?' Some versions of the story claim that Walker replied by telling Crusoe, "oh, we're working on it"...although if anything existed at the time beyond casual dream-car sketches by members of the design staff, records of it have never come to light.

Ford Thunderbird 1955

Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe. Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg), an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction, and a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car; he gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends. After Henry Ford II returned from the Los Angeles Auto Show (Autorama) in 1953 he approved the final design concept to compete with the then new Corvette.

Ford Thunderbird 1957

The name did not belong to thousands of proposals, including alternatives rejected, such as Apache (the original name of the P-51 Mustang), Falcon (owned by Chrysler at the time), Palm, Tropical, Hawaii, and the Thunderbolt. Rather, it was proposed to the designer, and a hurry-up atmosphere of the approved project.- CAR REVIEW

Ford Thunderbird