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Ford – Shaken but stirred

Like many car manufacturers Ford has had financial problems in recent years and has been forced to sell a significant number of assets in an attempt to return to profitability.

During this time the company has seen its market position fall in 2007 second largest maker of larger cars, a position he has held for about 56 years to become the third place, behind Toyota and General Motors respectively. Ford To make matters worse then fell to fourth place behind Volkswagen.

Ford suffered some rather rapid restructuring as a result and discontinued its two quality brands Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian automaker Tata Motors. It has also sold Aston Martin to a consortium of businessmen led by Prodrive President Dave Richards, but has retained a financial stake in the company. Financial restructuring has also taken place in Volvo as part of the Ford group.

Despite these recent problems Ford continues to develop its range of successful business models and is very much as usual for Ford Europe and Ford U.S. try return to a stable business base.

Ford's European model range is now based on new design platform 'kinetic' and consolidated their designs to offer an attractive collection of small, medium and large vehicles.

The vehicle has attracted much attention recently is the new Kuga. Not to be confused with the puma which, together with the probe was an attempt to revive the Capri, but it proved a failure.

Ford has been out of the 4×4 market at a time largely due to his involvement with Land Rover and Volvo for the Kuga is expected. The Kuga is a five-door crossover vehicle and is only designed for occasional use off-road and is not intended to have the same capabilities and ground clearance that big 4×4 vehicles.

This may not be clear that the presenter Channel 5 Fifth Gear motoring program. He was very complimentary about the Kuga, but could not resist the temptation to punish conduct which actually caused a terrain that £ 7,000 worth of damage reported.

The Kuga uses an intelligent AWD (all wheel) Haldex drive system by which power is supplied road wheels when necessary according to the field. It is powered by a 2.0 TDCI diesel engine has been improved by Ford engineers so that it now has the most low CO2 emissions in its class and offers an impressive combination 44mpg which should reassure some environmentalists. The improved engine torque and a gearbox six-speed manual as standard. The current model range is the Zetec model and also the titanium with titanium with a slightly higher specification, although both are very well equipped.

The Kuga has a very good safety levels with a number of impressive Euro NCAP five stars for adult occupants, four stars for children and up to three stars for pedestrians so even be fine if you are unlucky to get beaten by one! There are a number of features passive and active including multiple air bags and a rigid safety cell. The Kuga also has ABS, traction control and electronic stability program. keyless entry and start can also be found as can a variety of different "packages" that manufacturers now offer according to customer needs. The specifications of both are very generous when and come with 17 "wheels alloy 19, but" are available. The Kuga will never match the capabilities of the great 4×4 but then not really intend to, so they will be happy to occupy the position in the market for which it was designed. Ford has created a new Winning here and apparently refuses to be surpassed.

About the Author

Jon Barlow looks at Ford’s loss of market share and how they are fighting back with new models like the new
Ford
Kuga

Aston Martin Rapide concept