Microsoft shows it's still keen on cars

Microsoft Corp. is angling for more automotive customers with a new version of Windows for the car, a move seen as reaffirming its commitment to the auto industry.

Last week the technology giant released Windows Embedded Automotive 7, which it says is about three generations ahead of the Microsoft software found in the original 2007 version of Ford Motor Co.'s Sync entertainment and information service.

The company says the latest software provides improved speech recognition; more options for sending text messages by voice; and more features to help car engineers get new technologies to market faster. "All that's left for the carmaker, or their supplier, is the work of adapting it for a particular vehicle or a particular device in the vehicle," Walter Sullivan, a senior program manager for Microsoft, told Automotive News.

Also included is a version of Microsoft Silverlight for creating richer graphics. Silverlight, a competitor of Adobe System Inc.'s Flash software, is used to add animation and multimedia functions to Web sites. Sullivan said Microsoft's aim is to speed up the pace of automotive technology introductions.

"Automotive systems traditionally take quite a while to develop -- anywhere from 18 months to three years," he said. "The complexity of the systems is substantial, and the amount of testing ... that they go through with these systems requires a significant engineering cycle."

Slightly older versions of Microsoft's software are in Ford's Sync, Kia Motors Corp.'s Uvo voice-activated technology and in a similar system for Fiat S.p.A. called Blue&Me. Nissan also uses Windows in the touch screen "information hub" on the Leaf electric sedan.

"Microsoft continues to invest in an automotive-specific platform," said Gartner Inc. analyst Thilo Koslowski. "There was some concern over the last probably six months that the company was somewhat de-emphasizing the automotive commitment because there has been some personnel change and also some organizational changes."

SEMA: Ford's Mustangs will run wild

Ford will fill its stable with 11 Mustangs at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The Ford stand will include nine customized 2011 Mustangs along with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. The 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and Boss 302 Laguna Seca are both powered by a 440-hp, 5.0-liter V8 rated at 380 lb-ft of torque. The Laguna Seca is a stripped-down, reinforced version of the Boss 302 with improved handling. The rear seats have been replaced by an X-bar support to stiffen the chassis. Ford also upgraded the springs and the rear stabilizer bar.

Other Mustangs at SEMA include:

2011 Ford Mustang GT by Ford Vehicle Personalization: This Mustang GT was designed using accessories made by Ford. The exterior includes a pedestal spoiler, side scoops and a billet grille. The Mustang GT rides on 18-inch wheels.
The white-and-black interior includes inserts that resemble carbon fiber and coral accents on the steering wheel, gauge cluster and shifter knob. Ford also included coral accent lights and white material to highlight the seats, door inserts and steering wheel.

2011 Ford Mustang by Team Baurtwell: Funkmaster Flex and Team Baurtwell designed a Mustang that includes smoked taillights, a 3dCarbon body kit and NC Forged three-piece billet wheels.
The chassis includes a Steeda lowering kit, sway bars and springs. Team Baurtwell also installed Baer brakes.

2011 Ford Mustang by MRT: The MRT-designed Mustang GT has carbon effects in the engine compartment and interior. It also has an upgraded performance-handling package, Baer brakes and an MRT stainless-steel exhaust.

2011 Ford Mustang by Creations n' Chrome: Creations n' Chrome teamed up with the American Cancer Society to design a Mustang GT and raise awareness for breast cancer. The pink chrome GT includes a Vortech supercharger, HRE performance wheels, Wilwood brakes and 3dCarbon styling kit.

2011 Ford Mustang by Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords: The Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords-customized Mustang includes a Ford Racing Performance Parts supercharger kit and Kooks Custom headers exhaust system. It also has a custom paint job, Roush fascia, Cervini's Auto Designs hood and brakes, seats and suspension by American Muscle parts.

2011 Ford Mustang by Mobsteel: The V6 Mustang by Mobsteel includes an STS Turbo patented remote-mount turbo system, Air Runner suspension and Magnaflow cat-back exhaust. It also has 15-inch Baer brakes, Savini forged wheels and Pirelli tires.

2011 Ford Mustang by Raceskinz: The interior of the Raceskinz-designed Mustang includes Raceskinz bucket seats and carbon-fiber accessories throughout. Performance upgrades include a ProCharger intercooled supercharger, Magnaflow cat-back exhaust and Baer brakes.

2011 Ford Mustang by Street Scene Equipment: The Mustang customized by Street Scene Equipment includes a Street Scene chin spoiler, grille and rear wing. The car rides on 20-inch Mint wheels. The interior includes Katzkin leather and a Polk audio system.

2011 Ford Mustang by Tjin Edition: The exterior of the Tjin Edition Mustang GT includes a custom DuPont paint job, a Webasto sunroof, a Unique Fabrication metal wing, Ignited LED headlights and StreetGlow lighting. It also has an Air Lift air suspension kit, an Eibach antiroll kit and trailer arms.Read more:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101028/SEMA/101029887#ixzz13h61XiSJ

Ford races toward best year since '98

Mulally: Next phase is growing business

With one more profitable quarter under its belt, 2010 is increasingly looking like Ford's big comeback year. The Dearborn automaker, which launched its turnaround plan in 2006, posted a $1.7-billion third-quarter profit Tuesday and said it is hiring workers and aggressively paying down its debt.

"We are moving from fixing the fundamentals of our business and weathering the downturn to growing the business," Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said Tuesday.

Ford's year-to-date profit now stands at $6.4 billion -- putting Ford on track for its biggest annual profit since 1998. "The company is better off than it was then," said Shelly Lombard, a credit analyst with Gimme Credit. "It can make money even with industry volume that's much lower ... and with a sales mix that is much less reliant on trucks."

That's especially true in Ford's long-troubled North American division, which has now posted its fifth consecutive profit. U.S. consumers have been willing to pay more for Ford cars because of their exclusive technology and improved quality, now on par with top Asian rivals.

Last year, Ford eked out a small profit of $2.7 billion, which resulted in bonuses for all Ford workers. With this year's profit expected to top $7 billion, they are likely to get annual bonuses next year, which would give metro Detroit's economy a boost.

Ford makes big dents in debt

Ford's ability to pay off big chunks of its debt has the company well on its way toward eliminating the biggest remaining challenge to its turnaround that it can control.

On Tuesday, the Dearborn automaker said it plans to eliminate its remaining debt to a UAW retiree health care trust with a $3.6-billion cash payment Friday. It also said it used $2 billion in cash in September to pay off some of its bank debt.

Honda, Toyota lead reliability survey; Ford tops domestics

DETROIT -- Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. dominate the list of most reliable 2011 models based on an annual survey by Consumer Reports magazine, with Ford Motor Co. tops among domestic automakers and General Motors Co. posting notable gains.

Chrysler and many European automakers lag the overall industry as many of their models scored below average in reliability, the magazine said.    Read more

Ford profit: Ford reports $1.7 third-quarter profit - latimes.com

Ford Motor Co. demonstrated the growing strength of the U.S. auto industry Tuesday by posting a third-quarter profit of $1.7 billion, a 69% jump over the same period a year ago and surpassing a previous record set in 1997.

The automaker — which unlike General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group avoided bankruptcy reorganization last year — benefitted from both cost cutting and top-line performance, gaining U.S. market share and selling vehicles for higher prices.

"Overall, we are doing better than we expected through the first nine months of the year," said Alan Mulally, Ford's chief executive, "and we expect to deliver solid profits in the fourth quarter and for the full year."

Ford has reduced its level of sales-incentive spending at the same time buyers are adding options to their cars and spending more, according to Edmunds.com, the auto information company. Edmunds.com estimated that buyers paid an average of $30,636 for a Ford in September, slightly higher than a year ago and up 10% from five years ago.

"For a long time, they weren't really in the car market very strongly, depending mostly on trucks and SUVs. Now they have good cars, and the car market is where the action has been in recent years," said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with Edmunds.com.

Ford's profit equaled 43 cents a share and compared with earnings of $1 billion, or 29 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. It was the automaker's sixth consecutive profitable quarter. Revenue fell to $29 billion from $30.3 billion a year earlier, before the company sold off Volvo, the Swedish automaker, to focus on its core Ford and Lincoln brands. Year to date, the company has earned $6.4 billion.

In early trading, Ford shares rose 7 cents to $14.22. "This was another strong quarter," said Mulally. "The key drivers for improvement in 2011 will be our growing product strength, a gradually strengthening economy and an unrelenting focus on improving the competitiveness of all our operations."

On Friday, Ford plans to use some of the cash it is generating to pay off the remaining $3.6 million it owes to the United Auto Workers union retiree healthcare trust, which will save it about $330 million in annual interest expenses. The automaker borrowed heavily to stay afloat during the recession and is working to pay back those loans.
The payment will reduce the company's total debt to $22.8 billion, a net reduction of $10.8 billion from the end of 2009. Ford said it expected its cash holdings to be equal to its total debt by the year's end, earlier than it previously anticipated. Ford also plans a stock offering that would convert $3.5 billion in debt to common stock during the fourth quarter.
"We are clearly ahead of where we thought we would be on improving our balance sheet and repaying our loans," Mulally said. "This allows us to reduce our annualized interest payments by over $800 million."

Ford's American operations had an operating profit of $1.6 billion, compared with $300 million in the same period a year earlier. The company was profitable in South America and in Asia, driven by gains in China and India, but lost money in Europe. The company said it expected its European operations to become profitable in this year's fourth quarter.
Much of the automaker's success is coming from a string of successful new products, such as the Fusion sedan and the Edge SUV. Truck sales, especially government and business fleet sales of the F-150 pickup also added to the quarterly profit, Caldwell said.
Ford's latest vehicles have been well received by consumers.

"It's much better than the Ford of five years ago," Caldwell said. Ford sales have risen 21% to 1.4 million vehicles through the first nine months of this year. That's more than double the overall industry gain. Its share of the U.S. market has grown to 16.7% from 15.2% — the largest jump of any automaker this year, according to Autodata Corp.

The automaker has been able to restructure so it can operate profitably with what are considered historically low auto sales numbers.
There are some signs of a more robust rebound in the U.S. auto market, which was up about 10% through the first nine months of the year.

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said Monday that U.S. auto sales hit an annualized pace of about 12 million vehicles in October, its best rate so far this year. Automakers will report their October sales results next week.

Ford May See Record Third-Quarter Earnings - DailyFinance

Ford May See Record Third-Quarter Earnings - DailyFinance

Ford Motor (F) is set to report record earnings for the three months ending September when the automaker releases its third-quarter profits before U.S. stock markets open Tuesday. Riding high on improved demand for its vehicles, analysts expect Ford to post a record third-quarter profit of $1.37 billion compared to $997 million in the year-ago period, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg News. The automaker's current third-quarter earnings record is $1.13 billion, set in 1997.On a per-share basis, Ford is expected to report earnings of 37 cents, according to a consensus estimate of 13 analysts polled by Zacks.com. In the third quarter last year, the automaker earned 26 cents a share. Under the leadership of Alan Mulally, Ford has piloted a so-far successful turnaround of the 107-year-old company. Last year marked Ford's first full-year profit since 2005, and the Dearborn, Mich.-based company is on target for a profitable 2010.See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/9xMGys