Following-up on our 2009 Ford Focus Coupe post yesterday, more details have emerged about the trim levels, pricing, and options on the latest two-door model. For the 2009 model year, Ford will offer just two trim levels: SE and SES.

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The Ford GT is on the short list of coolest cars in the 21st century, with up to 600 horsepower, killer retro looks, and Ferrari F430-beating athleticism. Buyers were more than happy to accept a limited edition Ford supercar, but many owners were less than thrilled with Ford's corporate key and fob. While it sounds a bit petty, sharing a key with an F-150 just doesn't scream exotic track star.

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When Ford launched the redesigned Escape and Mariner compact CUVs last year, the bodies and interiors were all new but the powertrains were largely carried over from the first-generation models. For the 2009 model year, that issue has been addressed with thorough upgrades to both four- and six-cylinder engines. We'll talk more about the engine upgrades next week after we drive them. In the meantime we got an early look at the new automatic transmission for the non-hybrid models. The previous four-speed unit is replaced with an all-new six speed unit dubbed the 6F35.

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Think that the SUV and/or CUV craze is a relatively new phenomenon? Peter Horbury, head of design for Ford in the Americas, suggests that the Ford Model T was really a crossover. He has a point, considering that the old-timer sat rather high off the ground (because of the shoddy roadways at the time) and featured a modular design capable of hauling people, stuff, or a combination of both.

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Soon after the new Ford Fiesta launches in Eurpe in July, a version "with 99 grams per kilometer CO₂ will come very quickly," Ford of Europe Chairman Lewis Booth has told Automotive News Europe. This is the EcoNetic version of the Fiesta, which was announced at the Geneva Motor Show, and would essentially have "conventional technology" underhood, Booth said. By using options like low rolling resistance tires, different gear ratios and aerodynamic tweaks, a sub-100 g/km CO₂ version is possible.

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You've heard it all before; Ford vs Chevy, Mustang vs Corvette. Like the Hatfield's and McCoy's, it's nothing new, right?

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Fast, fun and fabulously good looking, a new version of Ford’s performance flagship Focus goes on sale at dealerships across Great Britain from May 1. Created by Ford TeamRS, the company’s dedicated performance vehicle arm, the 2008 Focus ST benefits from the new exterior and interior styling changes introduced across the rest of the Focus line-up earlier this year. Importantly though, while offering new technologies and features, the car’s well-honed dynamics remain untouched.

At the heart of the matter is the familiar 225 PS, 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec engine. Powerful, and accompanied by a suitably sporty soundtrack, this powerhouse delivers a potential 150mph top speed in tandem with 0-62mph acceleration in just 6.8 seconds.

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This is a genuine Steve Irwin-style "Crikey!" moment. Despite taking a sales-chart beating from snapping-jawed archrival Holden, Ford Australia has rolled out a new Falcon family, the FG series. Among the seven-model range are a couple of turbo-powered tear-aways. V-8-quick, sweet-handling, spacious, and tastefully restrained in appearance, they're the surprise, tire-smokin' stand-outs in the line-up.

Sad to say, they're marked "not for export," thanks to an earlier decision to shelve development of left-hand-drive versions. Never considered immigration Down Under? These cars might just be the thing to change a Ford fan's mind. Beginning with the stars, here's the rundown on the turbo versions of the new Falcons. We'll bring you drive impressions of the V-8 and naturally aspirated six-cylinder models over the next two days.

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Ford Motor Credit Company reported net income of $24 million in the first quarter of 2008, down $169 million from earnings of $193 million a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis, Ford Motor Credit earned $36 million in the first quarter, compared with $293 million in the previous year.

The decrease in earnings primarily reflected higher provision for credit losses, higher depreciation expense for leased vehicles and higher net losses related to market valuation adjustments from derivatives. These were offset partially by lower expenses primarily related to the non-recurrence of costs associated with our North American business transformation initiative and higher financing margin.

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China will undoubtedly be an important market for the new Ford Fiesta. Originally unveiled in European spec at the Geneva Motor Show last month, the Chinese version has just made its debut this week at the Auto China show in Beijing. The Chinese Fiesta is scheduled begin production before the end of the year at Ford's $510 million Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) plant in Nanjing, China.

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Ford Motor Company has recognized 47 top global suppliers at 57 locations for their work in helping Ford develop high quality, lower cost vehicles that customers want. The World Excellence Awards, which celebrated its 10th anniversary with a ceremony earlier this week, also recognize suppliers for embracing Ford's vision of profitable growth, teamwork and a better world.

"This marks the tenth year we have honored world-class suppliers for extraordinary contributions that directly impact Ford's ability to deliver high quality vehicles and customer satisfaction," said Tony Brown, group vice president, Global Purchasing. "This commitment to excellence is coming through in the latest quality data, which show Ford's initial quality in North America is now equal to the best in the industry. These successes belong not just to Ford -- but our suppliers as well."

"It is a pleasure to recognize the technical excellence of our supplier partners," said Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally. "As we work to deliver the products and services people really want and value, we are more fully integrating our suppliers into our processes. It is by working together that we will be able to deliver profitable growth for all involved with the Ford enterprise."

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Ford Motor Company said today that North American production of the Ford Focus will increase by nearly 30 percent in 2008 to keep pace with strong demand for the newly redesigned small car.

The new Focus – which delivers 35 miles per gallon and industry-first technology such as Ford SYNC™ – has been a hot seller since it began rolling off the assembly line at Ford`s Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant in late 2007.In the first three months of 2008, Ford sold 49,070 Focus units – an increase of 23 percent from the same time period last year. Importantly, retail sales were up 35 percent, while fleet sales declined slightly. The Focus now claims 7.6 percent of the U.S. small car market, 1.2 percentage points better than a year ago.Based on the strong demand, Ford is increasing production in order to build a total of 245,000 Focus units in 2008, up from 191,000 in 2007. The production plan means Wayne Stamping and Assembly`s 2,800 employees will work some overtime and Saturday shifts for the rest of the year to meet demand.

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Yes, you read that right. FoMoCo announced today that it will increase production of the Ford Focus by 30 percent in 2008 in order to meet the strong demand for the redesigned model.

Ford sold 49,070 Focus units in the first three months of 2008, which translate to a 23 percent increase from the same period in 2007. Ford Focus now claims 7.6 percent of the U.S. small car market, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.

Ford now plans on building 245,000 Focus units in 2008, up from 191,000 in 2007. Employees at the Wayne Stamping and Assembly’s plant will have to put in some extra hours and Saturday shifts in order to meet the goal.

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If only this limited edition version of the Ford’s Euro pick-up truck was something more than just a standard Ranger dressed in “ST” livery… The only difference with the Ranger Wildtrack upon it is based is the Performance Blue color (available on the new Focus ST and Fiesta ST models) and the "Le Mans" style white bonnet stripes.

Other than that, Ford Uk’s limited edition Ranger gets the same 156 Hp 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine as the Wildtrack along with standard ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), air conditioning, heated front seats, an off-road information centre and a lockable bed cover. Prices in the UK start at £20,900 or approximately $41,400.

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Advanced systems which alert the driver if a tyre is losing pressure while the car is in motion are providing Ford customers with safer motoring.

Ford's sophisticated tyre pressure monitoring systems detect when a tyre is deflating, and trigger in-car warning systems that enable the driver to stop and check.

Even regular tyres checks can fail to reveal if a tyre is damaged or already punctured. Ford's automated system is able to monitor the tyres at all times when the vehicle is in use and can help to draw the driver’s attention to a problem before it becomes a safety issue.

Michael Kremer, Ford wheel and tyre engineer explains: “Tyres play a critical role in the car's performance, providing that vital link between the vehicle and the road. Tyre pressure monitoring systems can help make motoring safer by giving drivers an instant alert when a tyre is losing pressure, so that immediate action can be taken.

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