Software Fix in the Mail to Improve MyFord Touch Systems

In response to consumer frustration, Ford and Lincoln owners will soon receive a USB thumb drive software fix in the mail to improve their MyFordTouch and MyLincolnTouch control systems. Owners can install it themselves or go to their dealer. The process takes slightly more than one hour, and the car cannot be turned off before the download is complete.

 

Automakers to Test Market Appeal of Three-Cylinder Engines

Automakers will test the marketability of cars with three-cylinder engines in the U.S. Ford plans to offer a three-cylinder Focus or Fiesta by mid-2013 to be followed by a compact car from Mitsubishi. "This engine is a game-changer," Steve Cropley of Autocar magazine, a British publication, said of the three-cylinder Ford Focus. Automakers are packing more power, measured by horsepower and torque, into these new engines.

 

Auto Leasing Roars Back to Life!

Leasing is coming back, say dealers, but in more sensible ways. Automakers can subsidize a lease vehicle's resale value, which results in lower monthly payments, with the option to buy the vehicle at the end of the lease period. "We will see more two and three-year leases, and that means we'll see more fresh cars returning off lease," said Paul Taylor, chief economist for NADA.

 

Claim Accuses Ford of Covering Up Defects in F-Series Fuel Tanks

Papers filed with the U.S. District Court in New Jersey claim Ford was aware that the linings of F-Series pickups and E-Series vans built between 1999 and 2008 could "separate and flake-off," which could clog the fuel lines and lead to loss of power or stalling. Plaintiffs claim Ford issued a "secret" technical bulletin to dealers advising them of the problems, but customers were not informed. It is not clear if federal regulators are looking into the issue as it could be considered a potential safety hazard. There is no immediate comment from Ford.

 

Start-Stop Technology Coming to Conventional Vehicles

Start-stop system technology has been used in gas-electric hybrids but has now moved over to conventional vehicles to improve mileage and lower emissions by shutting off the engine when it's not being used. Shutting down the idling engine can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 12 percent in conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. The majority of new cars and trucks will be equipped with the new system over the next ten to fifteen years.