Hypoid distance. That is what makes a Ford 9" stongest. Why it's got the best hypoid is a pure coincidence from the design of the 57 T Bird. Ford got it right by accident.

Check out the article in the Feb 2017 issue of Hot Rod Magazine for all the particulars, but it's not online yet, so I can't just link to it yet.

But it goes something like this, the 57 T bird had a 300 hp supercharged 312 cu in engine option, and the word came down to the floor designer to minimize the driveshaft tunnel hump.

So, they designed the pinion to contact the ring gear, with a whole lot more angle, and most hypoid distance, of any gear set. The contact patch between pinion and gear teeth is signifcantly more than even a Dana 60, and the hypoid distance is 1.062 on the Dana, and 2.250 on the Ford.

This is about 10% more strength than a GM 12 bolt for example, which has about 1.35 gear teeth in contact, and the Ford has about 1.75

The trade off is about 3% power loss. Well, add 5% more power with a better intake and or headers, and everything is going to be Jake.

So, design-wise it's the best, however, Ford let everyone down in other aspects, such as the low grade iron of the housing, or the 28 spline axles, or etc etc etc. It's good to about 400 hp, more than that and you will need to upgrade things. 31 or 35 spline axles, nodular iron case, better bearings, etc. 

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GCBC's The Good 12 For 2017

GCBC's The Good 12 for 2017 includes the vehicles that would be most welcomed as permanent members of the GCBC Towers driveway. Park them out front on Christmas morning. Tie them with a bow. We appreciate your kindness.

None have base prices above USD $67,000. They reflect many different parts of the market, they come from different places, they're powered by very different engines, they're accomplished in different areas. And when any one of them drives by, I want it for myself. 

These may not be the best 12 vehicles you can buy. They're certainly not the 12 most reliable, the 12 fastest, the 12 most efficient, or the 12 most affordable. Undeniably, they're not the 12 most popular. But, with an attempt to represent a thorough cross-section of the market, they are the 12 vehicles we want for Christmas this year.

Click any of the images to be taken to the model's Sales Stats page. Don't forget to check out GCBC's The Bad 8, the cars which we don't want to receive even as gifts. For more on what The Good 12 really is, visit the GCBC Awards page.

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	MAZDA 3 5-DOOR It's the most affordable vehicle in The Good 12. But paying less shouldn't mean accepting less. Interactive, engaging, and handsome, the Mazda 3 is a car you'll want to drive, not just be driven in.
	JEEP WRANGLER The Jeep Wrangler does not pretend to be something it is not. In fact, it can't. But the Jeep Wrangler is a 4x4 convertible with true capability. That's enough.
	FORD MUSTANG There are too many good Mustangs to choose from – we can't just pick one. Even the base V6 now announces the Mustang range's sports car credentials. The GT350 is almost too good to be true.
	MAZDA MX-5 MIATA This is the best car in the world. Obviously, it's not the best transportation module for everybody. But the latest Miata exceeds the expectations for what a Miata ought to be.
	VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI What if there were no vehicular choices? Families, enthusiasts, budget-conscious city dwellers: everybody could make do with a GTI. Compromise doesn't have to be a dirty word.
	HONDA ODYSSEY Nothing beats a minivan's knack for combining affordability, personal space, or cargo flexibility. And no minivan beats the Honda Odyssey, the people mover of choice for drivers.
	MAZDA CX-9 There's enough power and enough space – barely – to make the CX-9 our favourite family utility. More power and space would be nice. But the CX-9 doesn't need to look any better than it already does.
	RAM 1500 ECODIESEL Diesels and pickup trucks go together like Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers. It's just the way it's meant to be. So much torque. Car-like fuel economy. Impressive urban ride and handling. In a truck.
	VOLVO XC90 The ride quality isn't perfect. It's not as big inside as you expected. The infotainment unit looks better than it works. But this is Volvo at its best, at its most stylish, at its most luxurious.
	PORSCHE MACAN S You used to ask why Porsche would build a small, performance-oriented SUV. Now, you ask how Porsche wrapped so much performance and usability into one package.
	CHEVROLET SUBURBAN You need one vehicle. It must do everything. It must carry your family and your neighbour's family and your stuff and their stuff and tow a gigantic horse trailer, horses included. This is that vehicle.
	DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT It's been more than a year but no rival is even attempting to catch up. An absurd 707-horsepower sedan isn't something Ford or Chevrolet or Honda or Toyota or any mainstream brand will do. Except Dodge.

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RECOMMENDED READING
2016's The Good 12
2015's The Good 12
2014's The Good 12
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 YTD U.S. Sales
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 Canadian Sales
2017's The Bad 8

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2017 Ford Escape Titanium EcoBoost 2.0 Review – It's A Top Seller For A Reason That'll Please Enthusiasts

We had the option of driving to Prince Edward Island in either our own long-term 2015 Honda Odyssey EX or this 2017 Ford Escape Titanium EcoBoost 2.0. 

THE GOOD + Lots of power + Engaging handling + Have it your way + Acceptable infotainment + Handsome exterior

THE BAD – Plenty of chintzy interior bits – Uncomfortable fuel economy – Everybody's got one – Not that big inside – Ride is a touch stiff

Four humans, one large dog, a Baby Jogger Summit X3, and enough suitcases, baby stuff and assorted equipment to make my wife's childhood bedroom an office-away-from-home required the kind of space our van offers. Particularly since the van's third row of seating would come into use all week long.

But more and more families are turning away from passenger cars to small crossovers. The Ford Escape, consistently the top-selling utility vehicle in Canada, very nearly outsells the whole Ford Canada passenger car division. 

Through the first 10 months of 2016, Ford reported 39,080 Escape sales and 39,743 total C-Max, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, and Taurus sales.

The Escape isn't all-new for the 2017 model year, but it has been revitalized by a new engine lineup, a new front end, and new technology. 

We reviewed a Ruby Red $41,349 2015 Ford Escape Titanium EcoBoost 2.0 in February 2015. This time, the as-tested price has grown by $3340 and the engine pumps out 14 more horsepower. But the colour remains the same.

WHAT IS IT?
The Ford Motor Company began building Ford Escapes in 2000. The first Escapes were also rebadged as Mazda Tributes and Mercury Mariners. The current Escape is sold in some markets as the Ford Kuga. Thoroughly facelifted for the 2017 model year, the Escape now features SYNC 3 and the availability of a turbocharged 1.5L EcoBoost four-cylinder. 

2017 FORD ESCAPE TITANIUM Base Price: $26,889 * As-Tested Price: $44,689 * Colour: Ruby Red Assembly: Louisville, Kentucky Drive Type: all-wheel drive Transmission: 6-speed automatic Engine: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve turbocharged I-4 Horsepower: 245 @ 5500 rpm Torque: 275 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm Curb Weight: 3765 pounds Length: 178.1 inches Width: 72.4 inches Height: 66.3 inches Wheelbase: 105.9 inches Tires: Continental ContiProContacts Tire Size: 235/45R19 Passenger Volume: 2795 litres Cargo Volume: 962 litres Max. Cargo Volume: 1925 litres EPA City: 20 mpg EPA Hwy: 27 mpg NRCAN OEE City: 11.5 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 8.7 L/100km Observed: 21.6 mpg Observed: 10.9 L/100km * Canadian dollars, includes $1790 in fees.

In Canada, the Escape lineup begins with an outdated 2.5L 168-horsepower inline-four in S trim, which doesn't offer all-wheel drive. The 2017 Ford Escape SE comes standard with the 1.5T. All-wheel drive is a $2200 option. The 2.0L EcoBoost is a $1000 option. 

The $35,589 2017 Ford Escape Titanium is equipped exclusively with the 2.0L EcoBoost; all-wheel drive is again a $2200 option. 

Loaned to GCBC by Ford Canada, this Ruby Red $44,689 Escape Titanium includes all-wheel drive, $450 worth of Ruby Red paint, and $6550 of other options: a $1750 301A package, $150 floor mats, $1350 for adaptive cruise, a $500 towing package, $150 roof rails, a $2000 Candian Touring Package with navigation and a panoramic sunroof, and $650 19-inch wheels.

HOW BIG IS IT?
The Escape is delightfully compact on the outside, perhaps too small on the inside if you're test-driving it back-to-back with a Toyota RAV4. The Toyota is three inches longer than the Escape, just as wide, and nearly an inch taller.

The RAV4 does, however, benefit from a larger interior: 3% more passenger volume, 13% more cargo capacity behind the rear seats, 8% more total cargo volume.

Many buyers veering toward a small crossover from a conventional family car will find a different comparison worthy of note. The 2017 Ford Fusion is nearly 14 inches longer, bumper to bumper, than the 2017 Ford Escape, and half an inch wider, but it's eight inches lower. 

The Fusion's larger exterior dimensions produce 4% more passenger volume, yet the Fusion has less than half the Escape's cargo volume. 

DOES IT WORK?
Fitted with the hi-po powerplant, the 2017 Ford Escape provides the most fun you can have behind the wheel of an affordable, powerful, compact crossover. (Admittedly, our tester isn't affordable, but we'll get to that.) 

Feelsome steering, quick turn-in response, a firm but mostly compliant ride, surprisingly composed handling even when a twisty road throws up a suddenly tightening curve with unexpectedly rough pavement: all of this suggests the same engineers who brought us excellent on-road behaviour in the Fiesta, Fusion, Focus, and Mustang worked on the Escape, as well. 

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Historical Monthly & Yearly Ford Escape Sales Figures
2017 Kia Sportage SX Turbo Driven Review
2015 Honda CR-V Touring Driven Review
2016 Kia Sorento SX Turbo Driven Review

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The Escape is nimble, eager to change direction, and relatively unruffled by your feeble attempts to drive like it's a Focus ST. 

And it's quick. In a segment where tens of thousands of buyers choose Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s and Nissan Rogues – small crossovers that don't even offer real power upgrades – the Escape's 245 horsepower are welcome. 275 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm means overtaking on a brief highway passing lane is a breeze. From rest, highway speeds comes up in seven seconds.

Exterior Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Interior Photo Credits: Ford

Fuel economy takes a hit, of course. We averaged 10.9 L/100km in this Escape in mixed driving, better than the 12.4 L/100km we observed a couple of winters ago in a similar Escape but a litre off the pace we saw in the Honda CR-V, North America's top-selling utility vehicle, and way back of the 9.1 L/100km we saw in the Hyundai Tucson, one of Canada's fastest-growing utilities. 

Power comes at a price. 

Acquiring a vehicle that first showed its face half a decade ago also results in compromise. Ford's new SYNC 3 infotainment unit is, well, it's fine. But in the Escape, SYNC 3's touchscreen is so far inset that operating the menus near the bottom is awkward. The screen is also a long reach away from the very comfortable driver's seat. The circular audio controls directly in front of the touchscreen are cheap and noisy. The shift paddles are chintzy. The sunglasses holder is fragile. Rear doors are tinny. 

Years after its debut, the Escape is still surprisingly terrific to drive. But inside, this doesn't entirely feel like a 2017 model year vehicle.

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IS ANYONE BUYING IT?
The Ford Escape is Canada's perennial best-selling SUV/crossover. 

But it likely won't top the sales charts in 2016. The Escape trailed the top-ranked Toyota RAV4 by 3383 units heading into November; its lead over the third-ranked Honda CR-V shrunk to only 745 units at the end of October. In a utility vehicle sector that's up 10% this year, Ford Escape sales are down 3%. 

South of the border, the Ford Escape was most recently America's top-selling SUV/crossover in 2011. In 2016, sales of SUVs/crossovers are up 7% this year, but the aging Escape – 2017 is the current generation's fifth year – is essentially flat, up by a scant 0.2%.

SHOULD I BUY SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD?
There are plenty of small crossovers on the market, but if you want a small crossover with big power the number of options shrinks to a handful. The more popular Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 don't offer hi-po options. The Nissan Rogue's naturally aspirated 2.5L inline-four isn't about to set the pavement on fire. Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson? Pleasant vehicles, but not powerful vehicles.

The Kia Sportage SX, V6-powered variants of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain and Dodge Journey and Jeep Cherokee, perhaps the somewhat larger Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and its 2.0L turbo – these are contenders. But turn your attention to the Subaru Forester XT if you want a proper, compact, high-power rival for the Ford Escape EcoBoost 2.0. Forester XTs start at $35,770 and come standard with all-wheel drive. 

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY?
Canadians don't need to spend $45,000 to fit an all-wheel-drive 2017 Ford Escape with the 245-horsepower 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. 

$31,589 nets you a 2017 Ford Escape SE EcoBoost AWD. 

At least for the time being, Ford Canada is offering $3500 off the Escape.

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
With the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder providing serious umph and 19-inch Continental ContiProContacts biting into the pavement, the light-on-its-toes 2017 Ford Escape is the best mainstream compact crossover to drive.

Is it the best compact crossover? No, not for families who want greater space efficiency or buyers who see no advantage in adding power or consumers who crave a higher level of perceived quality. 

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. The Escape was supplied by Ford Canada's press office.

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2016 Ford S-Max Vignale Specs, Features, Performance review

2016 Ford S-Max VignaleSpecs, Features, Performance review -  Passage demands purchasers need more from the Mondeo, Kuga, Edge and S-MAX, yet we can't think about whether Vignale is a stage too far. This powerful petrol will request just to a couple select purchasers, however motor aside, this lead spec offers minimal over the 2016 Ford S-Max car officially able Titanium models. The S-MAX Vignale

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Autonomous cars that can navigate winter roads? ‘Snow problem!

A look at what happens when you equip a Ford Fusion with sensor fusion.

Paul Leroux

Let’s face it, cars and snow don’t mix. A heavy snowfall can tax the abilities of even the best driver — not to mention the best automated driving algorithm. As I discussed a few months ago, snow can mask lane markers, obscure street signs, and block light-detection sensors, making it difficult for an autonomous car to determine where it should go and what it should do. Snow can even trick the car into “seeing” phantom objects.

Automakers, of course, are working on the problem. Case in point: Ford’s autonomous research vehicles. These experimental Ford Fusion sedans create 3D maps of roads and surrounding infrastructure when the weather is good and visibility clear. They then use the maps to position themselves when the road subsequently disappears under a blanket of the white stuff.

How accurate are the maps? According to Ford, the vehicles can position themselves to within a centimeter of their actual location. Compare that to GPS, which is accurate to about 10 yards (9 meters).

To create the maps, the cars use LiDAR scanners. These devices collect a ginormous volume of data about the road and surrounding landmarks, including signs, buildings, and trees. Did I say ginormous? Sorry, I meant gimongous: 600 gigabytes per hour. The scanners generate so many laser points — 2.8 million per second — that some can bounce off falling snowflakes or raindrops, creating the false impression that an object is in the way. To eliminate these false positives, Ford worked with U of Michigan researchers to create an algorithm that filters out snow and rain.

The cars don’t rely solely on LiDAR. They also use cameras and radar, and blend the data from all three sensor types in a process known as sensor fusion. This “fused” approach compensates for the shortcomings of any particular sensor technology, allowing the car to interpret its environment with greater certainty. (To learn more about sensor fusion for autonomous cars, check out this recent EE Times Automotive article from Hannes Estl of TI.)

Ford claims to be the first automaker to demonstrate robot cars driving in the snow. But it certainly won’t be the last. To gain worldwide acceptance, robot cars will have to prove themselves on winter roads, so we are sure to see more innovation on this (cold) front. ;-)

In the meantime, dim the lights and watch this short video of Ford’s “snowtonomy” technology:



Did you know? In January, QNX announced a new software platform for ADAS and automated driving systems, including sensor fusion solutions that combine data from multiple sources such as cameras and radar processors. Learn more about the platform here and here.

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Award season

Patryk Fournier

The first two months of the calendar year are often referred to as award season by the entertainment industry. Although we don’t compete with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, we still feel honored with the recent accolades and awards being bestowed upon us.

In the category of Best Backhaul Software or Development Platform for Automakers, the winner is… QNX Software Systems.

Thank you so much to Auto Connected Car News and all the people and companies who voted for us in the Tech CARS Awards. We pride ourselves on offering flexible development platforms that enable automakers to deliver unique, branded experiences. Working with leading-edge automakers and Tier 1 suppliers drives us (pardon the pun) to continue upping our game in advanced platforms for infotainment, digital instrument clusters, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and acoustics — including, of course, the recently announced QNX Platform for ADAS and QNX Acoustics Management Platform.

We would also like to congratulate our fellow award winners, Ford and Harman. Ford won for Overall Best Car Infotainment Software by Automaker for their QNX-powered SYNC 3 connectivity system.

And speaking of Ford, the GSMA Global Mobile Awards recently announced their shortlist of finalists. And we just happen to be a finalist in the category of Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive for our work in Ford SYNC 3.

QNX-powered Ford SYNC 3: Shortlisted for a 2016 Glomo Award. Source: Ford

The Global Mobile Awards, newly rebranded as the Glomo Awards, will take place on February 23 at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain.

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Ford ports SmartDeviceLink to QNX CAR Platform

QNX joins Ford, Toyota, and other industry leaders to help drive new standard for app integration.

Paul Leroux

For as long as I can remember, QNX Software Systems has been at the forefront of integrating cars and smartphones. Through our flexible OS architecture and large automotive ecosystem, we provide automakers and Tier 1 suppliers with the ultimate choice in connectivity options for smartphones and other smart devices. And now, QNX customers will have even greater choice, with the availability of Ford’s SmartDeviceLink (SDL) technology for the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment.

If you’ve never heard of SDL, it’s the open source version of Ford AppLink, the software that allows Ford SYNC users to access smartphone apps through voice commands and dashboard controls. Ford donated AppLink to the open source community to create a standard way for consumers to interact with smartphone apps, regardless of which phone they use or vehicle they drive.

SDL is quickly gaining industry advocates, including Toyota, UI Evolution, and, of course QNX. What’s more, companies like PSA, Honda, Subaru, Mazda are evaluating it for use in next-generation vehicles.

Why the interest in SDL? Because it’s a flexible, vendor-neutral standard that can benefit drivers, automakers, and developers alike. With SDL:

• Drivers can interact with apps by using voice commands, steering-wheel buttons, and other in-car controls, so they can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
• Automakers can deliver a consistent app experience across vehicles, while retaining the flexibility to customize that experience for each vehicle brand or model.
• Developers can create apps that can work across multiple smart devices and multiple automotive brands — which means they have greater incentive to create automotive apps.

SDL for QNX builds on a history of successful collaborations between Ford and QNX, including the QNX-powered Ford SYNC 3 infotainment system. According to Paul Elsila, CEO of Livio, the Ford subsidiary that maintains the SDL open source project, “With its large market share, QNX can play a key role in driving the adoption of auto industry standards, and we are excited to work with them in building vendor-neutral technology that can simplify the integration of smartphone apps in any brand or type of vehicle.”

SDL works with multiple smartphone platforms. Moreover, it is highly flexible: it can work across a full range of vehicles, from entry-level to premium, and across a wide range of displays. It can even be used in systems without displays — for instance, in systems that use a voice interface.

To learn more about SDL, check out the announcements that Ford, Toyota, and QNX issued this morning.

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The A to Z of QNX in cars

Over 26 fast facts, brought to you by the English alphabet

Paul Leroux

A is for Audi, one of the first automakers to use QNX technology in its vehicles. For more than 15 years, Audi has put its trust in QNX, in state-of-the-art systems like the Audi virtual cockpit and the MIB II modular infotainment system. A is also for QNX acoustics software, which enhances hands-free voice communications, eliminates “boom noise” created by fuel-saving techniques, and even helps automakers create signature sounds for their engines.

B is for Bentley, BMW, and Buick, and for their QNX-powered infotainment systems, which include BMW ConnectedDrive and Buick Intellilink.

C is for concept vehicles, including the latest QNX technology concept car, a modded Maserati Quattroporte GTS. The car integrates an array of technologies — including cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors, and specialized navigation engines — to show how QNX-based ADAS systems can simplify driving tasks, warn of possible collisions, and enhance driver awareness.

D is for the digital instrument clusters in vehicles from Alpha Romeo, Audi, GM, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover. These QNX-powered displays can reconfigure themselves on the fly, providing quick, convenient access to turn-by-turn directions, back-up video, incoming phone calls, and a host of other information.

E is for experience. QNX has served the automotive market since the late 1990s, working with car makers and tier one suppliers to create infotainment systems for tens of millions of vehicles. QNX has been at work in safety-critical industrial applications even longer — since the 1980s. This unique pedigree makes QNX perfectly suited for the next generation of in-vehicle systems, which will consolidate infotainment and safety-related functions on a single, cost-effective platform.

F is for Ford, which has chosen the QNX Neutrino OS for its new SYNC 3 infotainment system. The system will debut this summer in the 2016 Ford Escape and Ford Fiesta and will be one of the first infotainment systems to support both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

G is for GM and its QNX-based OnStar system, which is now available in almost all of the company’s vehicles. GM also uses QNX OS and acoustics technology in several infotainment systems, including the award-winning Chevy MyLink.

H is for hypervisor. By using the QNX Hypervisor, automotive developers can consolidate multiple OSs onto a single system-on-chip to reduce the cost, size, weight, and power consumption of their designs. The hypervisor can also simplify safety certification efforts by keeping safety-related and non-safety-related software components isolated from each other.

I is for the ISO 26262 standard for functional safety in road vehicles. The QNX OS for Automotive Safety has been certified to this standard, at Automotive Safety Integrity Level D — the highest level achievable. This certification makes the OS suitable for a wide variety of digital clusters, heads-up displays, and ADAS applications, from adaptive cruise control to pedestrian detection.

J is for Jeep. The QNX reference vehicle, based on a Jeep Wrangler, showcases what the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment can do out of the box. In its latest iteration, the reference vehicle ups the ante with traffic sign detection, lane departure warnings, curve speed warnings, collision avoidance alerts, backup displays, and other ADAS features for enhancing driver awareness.

K is for Kia, which uses QNX technology in the infotainment and connectivity systems for several of its vehicles.

L is for LG, a long-time QNX customer that is using several QNX technologies to develop a new generation of infotainment systems, digital clusters, and ADAS systems for the global automotive market.

M is for Mercedes-Benz, which offers QNX-based infotainment systems in several of its vehicles, including the head unit and digital instrument cluster in the S Class Coupe. M is also for market share: according to IHS Automotive, QNX commands more than 50% of the infotainment software market.

N is for navigation. Thanks to the navigation framework in the QNX CAR Platform, automakers can integrate a rich variety of navigation solutions into their cars.

O is for the over-the-air update solution of the BlackBerry IoT Platform, which will help automakers cut maintenance costs, reduce expensive recalls, improve customer satisfaction, and keep vehicles up to date with compelling new features long after they have rolled off the assembly line.

P is for partnerships. When automotive companies choose QNX, they also tap into an incredibly rich partner ecosystem that provides infotainment apps, smartphone connectivity solutions, navigation engines, automotive processors, voice recognition engines, user interface tools, and other pre-integrated technologies. P is also for Porsche, which uses the QNX Neutrino OS in its head units, and for Porsche 911, which formed the basis of one of the first QNX concept cars.

Q is for the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment, a comprehensive solution that pre-integrates partner technologies with road-proven QNX software to jump-start customer projects.

R is for the reliability that QNX OS technology brings to advanced driver assistance systems and other safety-related components in the vehicle — the same technology proven in space shuttles, nuclear plants, and medical devices.

S is for the security expertise and solutions that Certicom and QNX bring to automotive systems. S is also for the advanced smartphone integration of the QNX CAR Platform, which allows infotainment systems to support the latest brought-in solutions, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. S is also for the scalability of QNX technology, which allows customers to use a single software platform across all of their product lines, from high-volume economy vehicles to luxury models. And last, but not least, S is for the more than sixty million vehicles worldwide that use QNX technology. (S sure is a busy letter!)

T is for Toyota, which uses QNX technology in infotainment systems like Entune and Touch ‘n’ Go. T is also for tools: using the QNX Momentics Tool Suite, automotive developers can root out subtle bugs and optimize the performance of their sophisticated, multi-core systems.

U is for unified user interface. With QNX, automotive developers can choose from a rich set of user interface technologies, including Qt, HTML5, OpenGL ES, and third-party toolkits. Better yet, they can blend these various technologies on the same display, at the same time, for the ultimate in design flexibility.

V is for the Volkswagen vehicles, including the Touareg, Passat, Polo, Golf, and Golf GTI, that use the QNX Neutrino OS and QNX middleware technology in their infotainment systems.

W is for the QNX Wireless Framework, which brings smartphone-caliber connectivity to infotainment systems, telematics units, and a variety of other embedded devices. The framework abstracts the complexity of modem control, enabling developers to upgrade cellular and Wi-Fi hardware without having to rewrite their applications.

X, Y, and Z are for the 3D navigation solutions and the 3D APIs and partner toolkits supported by the QNX CAR Platform. I could show you many examples of these solutions in action, but my personal favorite is the QNX technology concept car based on a Bentley Continental GT. Because awesome.

Before you go... This post mentions a number of automotive customers, but please don’t consider it a complete list. I would have gotten them all in, but I ran out of letters!

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2016 Ford Focus RS Release Date

2016 Ford Focus RS Release date  ~ The third-era Ford Focus RS will be uncovered on 3 February, and has been reviewed with an authority feature which demonstrates the model in last testing. In the feature, the late-organize model can be seen floating on street and track in the USA and Belgium.

The new RS, which was affirmed for creation toward the end of last year, is a piece of a project to

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Ford Ranger 2015 Review:The New Ford Ranger

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Planned to be cleared in the Asia-Pacific district in 2015, Ford has discharged the first teaser feature form

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2015 Ford Explorer Price Review

2015 Ford Explorer Price Review: Portage Explorer has advanced through the years from generation utility vehicle that has been created lately. Hybrids are outlined particularly for a wide space is suitable for the entire gang.

The SUV 2015 Ford Explorer can be gained in a couple of models including Base, XLT, Limited and Sport. With a normal expense for the crucial sort starts at $ 31.500 and

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Ford Mondeo Saloon 2015 Full Review

Ford Mondeo Saloon 2015 Full Review :This is a routine mixture in that its minimal 1.4kwh lithium-molecule battery is recently charged while the auto's moving, with no module elective as a gimmick of the pack.

Joining the yields from an electric motor and a 2.0-liter non-turbocharged petrol engine, the Mondeo saloon collects 184bhp, enough for it to sprint from 0-62mph in 9-2 seconds.

Urban

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Ford F-35 Lighting II Edition 2015: Fighter Jet of Muscle Car

This article talk about Ford F-35 Lighting II Edition 2015: Fighter Jet of Muscle Car. Ferocious look of the legendary muscle automobile from the land of character, Ford pony, is one facet that distinguishes this legendary ride by automobile \'muscular\' different.

Ford himself ne\'er unsuccessful in presenting distinctive editions of happening special pony virtually once a year. And now there

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EV Business Case Q4 - 2013

Batteries are critical for EV's

Batteries Edition

Just like engines in Formula One cars, batteries are the most important component for plug-ins and the one thing that usually car manufacturers don't build in-house, preferring to buy them/cooperate from established battery makers.

Digging a little deeper and finding out the relationships between EV and battery makers allows us to see a somewhat concentrated market, where three manufacturers dominate 80% of the market: AESC, Panasonic and LG. Let's look at them more closely:

- AESC is a joint venture between NEC and Nissan and they provide batteries for the Nissan Leaf and most of Renault's EV's, thanks to the global success of the Nissan Leaf and with the help of Renault sales, this is the #1 battery manufacturer, grabbing some 33% of the EV market in 2013;

- LG has been cooperating with GM and Ford, providing batteries for their EV's, and on top of that, it also sells batteries to Renault, allowing the South Korean company to have some 24% of the EV batteries market;

- Panasonic is the third musketeer and the one with the most high profile customers: Toyota and Tesla use Panasonic batteries, if the first is leader in hybrid cars and an important player in EV's, the second is currently the main consumer of battery cells thanks to the cell-heavy batteries of the Model S. With talks of Tesla and Toyota cooperating in the future and with Tesla ambitious growth plan, Panasonic should do well in the next few years;

 - Other contenders are Lithium Energy Japan (GS Yuasa / Mitsubishi), providing batteries for Mitsubishi, Siemens has a partnership with Volvo and Deutsche ACCUmotive is the provider for the Smart ED, others develop batteries in-house (BYD, Bolloré), while other battery makers are still on their first stages of EV partnership (Toshiba is teaming up with Honda and there's rumors that Samsung will cooperate with Renault).

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EV Business Case Q3 - 2013

Tesla is banking on european waiting lists

Waiting Lists Edition

With several waiting lists around the world, mounting to several thousand reservations, Tesla has its hands full to satisfy all of them, right now Europe's waiting lists are being delivered, to be followed early next year by Asia and left-hand drive countries, so only in the next Spring on we'll see if Tesla sales isn't just a early adopter thing and can keep growing without the need of reservation lists.

Volvo also had a unexpected success with the Volvo V60 Plug-In, especially in the Netherlands, where in a certain moment it had a thousands waiting list, now being delivered, and now responsible for a surprising #1 spot there. A promising start for the swedish automaker.

Speaking of Netherlands, Mitsubishi has allegedly a 8.000 waiting list in the Low Countries and more than 10.000 reservations of the Outlander Plug-In in Europe, an already enormous number that still has the thousands of japanese reservations left out. Mitsu will need several months to satisfy all these reservations, so it's no surprise that  the US landing of the japanese SUV was postponed several months, they just don't produce enough cars to satisfy all this demand.

BMW i3 "Angry Puppy" look

BMW - When the bavarian automaker announced the "i" sub-brand, with the advanced carbon fibre platform and two dedicated plug-ins, i feared they would be sold with speculative prices to a selected few, but to my surprise, the prices aren't that high (For a premium plug-in, at least), with the i3 starting at some 40.000$ and the i8 at 135.000$. Too bad that the i3 side profile was ruined...But still, BMW conservative sales goals should be surpassed and next year some 15.000 "i's" might be zooming down the streets, so their profitability should be a slam dunk.

Ford - After the first baby steps (Focus Electric), then came the Energi brothers to put the american learning to walk and now, with the first steps in Europe, it's preparing itself to run along Renault, Toyota or Mitsubishi. Battery costs must be down and it won't be long for an extensive price cut (2014 models?). As for the second generation of batteries, a tip: Make them smaller, so it won't ruin trunk space...

Renault - Two Words for their bad sales moment: Batteries and Rentals. The first bad option was delivering cars without the battery ownership option, cutting off sales, aggravated by the high rental/low mileage ratio. The second bad option has to do with the fact that the french manufacturer concentrated its focus just in Europe, almost completely ignoring the rest of the world, where 3 (USA, Japan and China) out the 4 largest EV markets are...And Renault's presence in ev-friendly scandinavian countries can only be classified as Marginal...

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My 2013 EV Preview

Opel Ampera

Based on what the media said that this year was going to be like, with one side, known as tree huggers reporting that EV sales would stratospherically climb to record heights, and some manufacturers hoping saying that this was the year of the electric car, while the other side of the spectrum, like Fox News, was classifying this type of vehicle like a fad, forecasting that sooner than later, they would disappear again in the ocean of bad ideas, just like they did by the end of the 90's, early 00's.

Well, with more than 100.000 units sold from January until November, how does it look the EV market?

First fact: Pure electric cars (BEV) like Nissan Leaf aren't growing that much, if at all, range anxiety is a reality, price tags are still on the high side and they suffer the competition from improved gas powered cars and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV), which leads us to...

Second Fact: Until November, Plug-In Hybrids grew by more than 300%! Not only the Volt family removed Nissan Leaf from the #1 spot this year, but also Toyota Prius PHEV got in it's first year the #2 EV spot, leaving the Nissan in a surprising third place. And for the first time, there were more plug-in hybrid sales (55.000) than pure electrics (52.000). This leads me to think that people prefer to have a middle term between gas and electrics vehicles, even if they have to sacrifice the EV range.

Deep down, both ends of the spectrum were wrong, people didn't started to buy EV's just because they existed, but the electric thing isn't going away anytime soon, as sales keep growing in a steady pace, reaching more and more countries and next year there will be new manufacturers joining the party, with the existing ones reinforcing the investments, contributing for the EV market to grow from the 120.000 units of 2012 to some 180-220.000 by the end of next year.

Let's see some of these new models:

Cadillac ELR - Well, hello gorgeous! One of the most handsome cars to be launched this year and certainly the first Cadillac that doesn't remind of J.R. Ewing of Dallas or rap music celebrities, this is the real entry of the storied marque in the XXI century, too bad it will cost some 60.000$...

GM Springo - It's design didn't came from the future like a Fisker Karma, but being derived from a conventional car can be a quality, especially a popular one like the Chevrolet Sail, because it assures that it can be sold cheaper and in this case, "cheap" is an important asset. Although without a Chevrolet badge, this EV is part of GM's worldwide strategy and was made with the chinese market in mind. If it can crack that market, there's a open road to make it a major EV seller. But that is a big "if".

Renault Zoe - The fourth musketeer in Renault's charge in the electric market, this is the car that will decide if Carlos Ghosn push into BEV was visionary or not. A handsome B segment with 210 kms range for just 21.000 € (plus a monthly battery fee), apparently the Zoe as it all to become the best selling EV in Europe.

Ford C-Max Plug-In - This was launched just a couple of months ago and it's already making an impact on the US market, previewing a great 2013 for Ford on the EV front. Along with the Fusion Plug-in, these two cars will put the Blue Oval as challenger in the US market, preparing the way for a worldwide distribution and become Ford an EV global player.

Tesla Model S - If there is a poster car for the electric revolution, this is it. Great looks on the outside, spacious on the inside, powerful, and above all, with an unparalleled electric range, this is a car intended to be the best car in the world. It's not going to top ranking sales, but it will do wonders for EV visibility.For some reason Toyota and Daimler-Mercedes have agreed collaborations with start-up Tesla...

BYD Qin - Same goal as the Springo, different approach. Instead of a conventional design borrowed from a conventional  gas powered car, this is one stands out (especially the back) and has a Plug-In Hybrid powerplant instead of a pure electric approach. Visually appealing for chinese standards, the Qin has 315 hp in Hybrid mode, making it 2 seconds (0-62 in 6.9s) faster than the Chevrolet Volt. All things considered, it has a real chance to be successful outside its home market. Will it sell more more than its predecessor (F3 DM) in China? Probably, the question is how much.

Roewe E50 - Finally someone other than BYD playing the Plug-In game in China. Despite a low-profile launch last December, this funky little hatch delivered a good starting month at 238 cars, so BYD could have  a worthy contender here.

BMW i3 - The first true electric car from the bavarian maker, when it arrives to the market it will satisfy the ones who look for sporty DNA and the latest in technology (Built with carbon-fiber plastic), but don't mind to pay more for that. The question is how much more urbanites are willing to pay for it.

Volkswagen e-Up! - VW is coming late to the electric party, but it hopes to make an entrance with a splash and one of the first models will be this, an electrified version of the tiny Up!. With a promised price tag of 24.000 €, the e-Up! will help EV's popularity in Europe and especially in Germany, EU's largest market.

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid - One of the favorite combos in Europe are station wagons with a diesel engine, so it isn't rocket science to think that adding electricity to that combination can be a sales success, so Volvo went for it and the first 1.000 units were sold even before the first car was delivered. The carmaker expects to sell 5.000 units in 2013, but i think that in this case actual sales will be stronger than the manufacturer's forecasts.

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In Memoriam Carroll Shelby

I should have had my camera with me. Because if I had photos to show you, you’d understand. Too late now!

It happened in Wilno, a small town in rural Ontario. I had just stepped out of the local tavern when I saw the thing, only meters away.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

It lay close to the ground, absolutely still. Its striped, muscular frame suggested immense power, and its skin reflected the blood-red rays of the setting sun. I stood frozen, refusing to believe what my eyes were telling me.

Moments passed, and I decided I had nothing to lose. I began to walk towards it. Closer… closer… closer.

Finally, I was standing over it. No response. So I reached down and, ever so gently, stroked it. And then it happened. A voice behind me, yelling a question. I mustn’t have responded, because the question was repeated.

“So would you like a peek under the hood?”

"Yes", I said.

Beneath the thing’s hood was a gleaming and oh-so-potent 427 V8. And the thing itself was an AC Cobra, immaculately restored to its mid-60s glory. For the next 30 minutes, the Cobra's owner treated me to a bumper-to-bumper inspection of the car, inside and out. I must have exclaimed “Cool!” about 100 times. Because it was.

The best part? When the owner started it up. The car's engine and side-mounted exhaust pipes erupted into sonic mayhem, right off the decibel scale. Pure rock ‘n’ roll.

Ever since then, I have had the comfort knowing that, on the highways of Ontario, there can be found an unalloyed embodiment of one man’s automotive vision and imagination. A man whom I've never met, but whose work I've admired for more than 45 years. An man who, just recently, left us. The car, an AC Cobra. The man, Carroll Shelby.

RIP Carroll.
 

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Rome to Edinburgh in a Ford

Matthias Lorenz-Meyer travels from Rome to Edinburgh in a Ford Mondeo, on two tanks of fuel.

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QNX-based nav system helps Ford SUVs stay on course down under

Paul Leroux

This just in: SWSA, a leading electronics supplier to the Australian automotive industry, and NNG, the developer of the award-winning iGO navigation software, have created a QNX-based navigation system for Ford Australia. The new system has been deployed in Ford Territory SUVs since June of this year.

To reduce driver distraction, the system offers a simplified user interface and feature set. And, to provide accurate route guidance, the system uses data from an internal gyroscope and an external traffic message channel, as well as standard GPS signals. Taking the conditions of local roads into account, the software provides a variety of alerts and speed-camera warnings; it also offers route guidance in Australian English.

The navigation system is based on the iGO My way Engine, which runs in millions of navigation devices worldwide. To read NNG's press release, click here.


SWSA's new nav system for the Ford Territory is based on the Freescale
i.MX31L processor, QNX Neutrino RTOS, and iGO My way Engine.
 

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Ford on the rise in India

Ford India recorded the highest ever sales in the first quarter for the company with 97% year-on-year (YonY) growth for the quarter ending March 2011. They sold over 10,000 vehicles there in March, making it the highest selling month so far. This was driven by strong sales of the Figo.

The Figo was selected as Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011.

The car is being exported to South Africa, Nepal and Mexico.

Production at Ford India has crossed 100,000 units in a single financial year (April 2010-March 2011) as well.

The Ford Fiesta will be launched in India later this year.

Ford India has a dealer network of more than 170 outlets in 100 cities across India.

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