• Ford calls on bloggers, social media mavens and Facebook friends to join an early test drive of the all-new Ford Focus and share their experiences with friends and followers
• Selected participants will receive the local-market equivalent of $10,000 for a charitable cause, with up to $500,000 in total contributions around the world
• Video applications now being accepted via Facebook for Ford Focus Global Test Drive

Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 21, 2010 – In the Ford Focus Global Test Drive, everyone wins.

Ford Focus engineers get rapid feedback from interested customers and prospects, drivers get a first look and some thrilling international wheel time in Ford’s breakthrough new Focus before it goes on sale, friends get to come along for the ride of a lifetime and deserving charities will benefit, big-time.

Focus Global Test Drive will be held in early 2011 in southern Europe – the location will be confirmed next month. Driving exercises will be created to give participants an early, behind-the-scenes look at the new Ford Focus, and will allow them to enjoy a few high-speed, high-adventure activities. Participants will be free to document and share their experiences.

Via the Focus Facebook page, friends and fans from around the world are invited to submit video applications explaining why they should be included in the first-ever Focus Global Test Drive. The application process invites prospective test drivers to “start more than a car” by providing the market equivalent of $10,000 for a charity they are passionate about, under the categories of hunger, education and environment/sustainability.

Details of the Global Test Drive application are now available on the “Global Drive” tab at http://facebook.com/fordfocus. A total of 100 participants from around the world will be selected to travel to Europe to be among the first external test drivers of Ford’s all-new, next-generation Focus.

Focus Global Test Drive participants will be selected based on a range of criteria including their individual creative content, social networking vibrancy and volume of votes they receive.

With a total of up to $500,000 to be distributed across driver-preferred charities, participants will have the opportunity to “start more than a car.” Ford gets some early feedback on a critical new global vehicle while drivers and their guests will savor an exhilarating international experience, and charitable organizations will benefit. In Focus Global Test Drive, everyone wins, as Ford continues its commitment to great products, a strong business and a better world.

All-new Ford Focus

The all-new Ford Focus is the result of a global product development program bringing together Ford’s best engineers and technology from around the world. The new Focus will be nearly identical in all 122 world markets in which it will eventually be sold, with 80 percent parts commonality. Focus will be manufactured in Ford plants around the world, from Asia to Europe to North America. Rollout of the all-new Ford Focus will begin in early 2011. For more information on Focus, go to http://www.newfordfocusmedia.com/.

Courtesy of media.ford.com

Smart Stop Technology

• The throttle opening is greater than 1/3
• Vehicle speed is above 5 mph
• Brakes are applied firmly

• How VSC helps the driver maintain control in curves and turns, particularly in wet or slippery conditions.
• VSC sensors detect when the vehicle begins to slip laterally in a turn and the system responds to help maintain vehicle control.
• The VSC system reduces the throttle and applies the brakes to individual wheels to help correct the vehicle orientation.
• TRAC helps prevent the drive wheels from spinning while accelerating under slippery conditions
• When the wheel speed sensors determine that one or both of the drive wheels are starting to slip, TRAC starts reducing the throttle and may even apply the brake in a pulsing manner to the offending wheel(s) until wheel slippage is brought under control.

• How during ABS operation, the vehicle responds by “pulsing” the brakes to the individual wheels to help maintain maximum tire traction with road surface.
• During braking, sensors monitor the rotational speed of each wheel and a computer compares the individual wheel speeds to prevent wheel lock up.
• When ABS is activated, you may feel the brake pedal gently pulsate, which is normal.

Courtesy of pressroom.toyota.com

Although the Orange County Auto Show perennially lives in the shadow of the much larger and more prestigious LA Auto show in late November, it is a terrific opportunity to check out the upcoming 2011 models in the metal before everyone else in the country. After all, Orange County is the epicenter of car culture as evidenced by the number of automakers that have their headquarters here.

My personal design favorite at the show is the 2011 Kia Optima Photo: James Hamel

Kia

For me, the 2011 Kia Optima really stole the show for me. I absolutely love both the exterior and interior design and it amazes me that this is just a mainstream family sedan. It looks vaguely like the new Saab 9-5 but is infinitely better looking in the metal (and cheaper too). I quite honestly don’t see how anyone could buy a 2011 Sonata after seeing the new 2011 Optima.

Also on hand was the 2011 Sportage which deftly mixes masculine exterior design cues in a segment (compact SUVs) that favors organic and flowing lines. The interior may not be swathed in soft touch plastic but at prices in the low $20,000 range for a well equipped model can you complain?

2011 Honda Odyssey

Honda/Acura

The big news here is the launch of the 2011 Honda Odyssey. While some claim the exterior design is controversial, I like it because it is unique. What no one can deny, however, is that the 2011 Odyssey has the best interior of any minivan ever built.

Not only is it stylish and well built but it also boasts many clever first in class features. For instance, there are child safety latches (and enough width) for five full size car seats, there is a trash bag ring for rear passengers (so when your kids are done with their juice boxes they can dispose of them there) and the 3rd row “magic seat” now qualifies as the easiest to fold third row in the history of mankind.

There are also countless other family friendly safety features that Chris Martin from Honda personally demonstrated for me but I quite frankly can’t remember them all. The Odyssey has a very, very impressive interior and that will guarantee this minivan’s sales supremacy.

Over at Acura, the main focus was on the very stylish Acura TSX Wagon being released later this year. Although I am in the minority, I love the look of wagons and the TSX actually has the Audi A4 Avant beaten for style. And it should cost a lot less. (Note: if you were wondering, the cargo hold of the TSX wagon is just as large as most similarly sized crossovers. The only difference being you might actually have fun driving the TSX.)

Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback

Toyota/Lexus

At Toyota they had a plug-in Prius on display which is essentially a Prius with an extension cord attached to it. So that’s not very exciting. At Lexus, however, they had the all new Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback on display. Yes, it may share its electric/gas powertrain with the Prius but the similarities end there.

I have never had a visceral response to a Lexus product ever. I don’t think they are intended to excite and titillate. But I am afraid that this CT200h got my pulse racing a bit. The exterior styling is bold and aggressive and the interior is inventive. Dare I say it but the Lexus CT200h is seriously youthful! Young people might buy it! Sorry, I got a bit too excited there.

Mazda2

Mazda

The Mazda2 is adorable, the interior is minimalistic design at its best and I would pick one over a Fiesta any day. No, I don’t care that it’s less powerful and has fewer options. It’s also cheaper.

Courtesy of Examiner.com

presented by Motor Trend Magazine

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The future is here. Visit the OC Auto Show, Thursday, October 7 through Sunday, October 10, to see the latest in electric-powered vehicles. The OC Auto Show is the place to check out the latest electric powered vehicles all under one roof.

FRIDAY
Meet the Laker Girls – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meet the Hooters Calendar Girls – 6 p.m.
Hooters’ Miss OC Auto Show Contest – 7 p.m.
Meet Cheryl Pilcher, Camaro Product Manager & Scott Settlemire, Camaro F-bodfather – 7:30 p.m.
Velvet Ring Girl Contest – 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
Meet Celebrity MMA Fighters – various hours during the day
Swimsuit International Model Search – 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Meet the KLOS-FM Rocker Girls – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Hooters Wing Contest – 2:30 p.m.
SHIFTR Lifestyle Stage / DJ – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
MMA Demos, brought to you by BAMMA USA – 7 p.m.

SUNDAY

Meet Celebrity MMA Fighters – various hours during the dayMeet Marvel’s Spider-Man® – 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Live Promo Shot for Speed Channel’s Battle of the Supercars -12 noon – 6p.m.
Meet Marvel’s Iron Man® – 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

The OC Auto Show is owned and presented by the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association and produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows, LLC.

The auto show will be open to the public Thursday, October 7 through Sunday, October 10, at the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 W. Katella Ave. in Anaheim.

Show hours are Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, from 12 noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens (62 and older), $5 for students (with ID) and free for children 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. Attendees will receive a FREE one-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine with each online ticket order or box office purchase, compliments of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association. Advance E-tickets can be purchased at a $2 discount and weekday discount coupons can be downloaded from the official auto show Web site, www.OrangeCountyAutoShow.com.

Courtesy of ocregister.com and Motortrendautoshows.com