Ford announced its most rewarding first quarter since 1998, with $2.6 billion in earnings on global sales of $33.1 billion. The earnings are up 22 percent versus the first quarter of 2010, while sales increased by $5 billion for the quarter. This large increase in sales was the biggest driver for the overall profit, as the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker moved 1.4 million units in Q1 2011, up 16 percent versus Q1 2010.

Most of Ford’s profit came from moving vehicles here in North America, where $1.8 billion in total earnings were bolstered by improved sales and lower incentive spending. Ford also managed to eek out a $293 million profit in Europe, which posted a loss in the fourth quarter of, 2010. In all, Ford managed $2.8 billion in operating profit, and $2.1 billion of that money came from automotive operations. Ford Credit earned $713 million on the quarter.

Further good news comes on the debt front, as Ford managed to pay down its debt by $2.5 billion during Q1 while also increasing liquidity by $2.8 billion. That means Ford has a much larger cushion in the event the industry’s economic situation once again takes a turn for the worse, while also paying less money in interest. Ford eliminated $1 billion in annual interest costs in 2010.

Ford’s outstanding quarter took analysts by surprise, as the projections of a 50 cents-per-share profit was demolished by a 61 cents-per-share reality. As a result, Ford shares are up four percent in early Tuesday trading.

[Sources: Ford, The Detroit News | Image: Chris Shunk/AOL]

You don’t need to spend Porsche prices to get a new car with a bit of pep. Forbes worked with Edmunds to put together this list of the ten quickest new cars for under $30,000.

Some, like the Ford Mustang GT and Subaru WRX, are pretty obvious — but who knew the Honda Accord coupe with a manual was a tenth of a second faster than the Mazdaspeed3? Let’s find out what other “cheap” cars made Edmunds’ 0-to-60 cut.

1.) Ford Mustang GT
0-60: 4.8 seconds
Price: $29,145

2.) Subaru Impreza WRX
0-60: 5.2 seconds
Price: $25,495

3.) Ford Mustang V6
0-60: 5.6 seconds
Price: $22,145

4.) Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
0-60: 5.8 seconds
Price: $27,695

5.) Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Coupe
0-60: 5.9 seconds
Price: $26,750

6.) Honda Accord Coupe EX-L
0-60: 6.3 seconds
Price: $29,730

7.) Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $23,700

8.) Mazda6 s Grand Touring
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $29,320

9.) Kia Optima SX
0-60: 6.5 seconds
Price: $25,995

10.) Hyundai Sonata SE
0-60: 6.6 seconds
Price: $24,345

**Yes, we know the Camaro V6 should be on this list — but we didn’t create it. By our numbers, it should slot in right below the Genesis R-Spec Coupe. Go bitch at Edmunds and Forbes for not including it.**

Courtesy of Jalopnik.com

2011 Ford Fiesta

When the 2011 Ford Fiesta arrived stateside (after being sold in Europe since 2008), automotive reviewers hailed it as setting a new benchmark in the small-car class. The Fiesta, available in sedan and five-door hatchback, is fun to drive, has an upscale interior, and gets near hybrid-like fuel economy (up to 40 mpg in Fiesta SE with SFE package). Head room in the front and rear is 39.1 inches in sedan/hatchback. In the rear, the specs are 37.1 inches in the sedan and 37.2 inches in the hatchback. Leg room front/rear in both sedan and hatchback is 42.2 inches/31.2 inches. Testers say that the front is comfortable enough for six-foot-plus drivers, while the back might be tight on leg room for some taller passengers. The 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,210.

Available at Ford of Orange.

Courtesy of familycarguide.com

When you’re the leader, your competitors are always aiming to overtake you. And their goals can be pretty easy to set; just a bit higher than your current performance. Beginning this week, the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty® will regain its towing leadership with the production of a beefed-up frame and hitch.

Ford F-350 and F-450 Super Duty trucks with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 diesel engine and dual rear wheels now can tow an industry-best 17,500 pounds. That’s 1,000 pounds more than the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 4×2 and 500 pounds more than the Silverado and Sierra 4×4.

Furthermore, the latest improvements arrive at a time when its customer satisfaction score – 83 percent – is the best in the industry for heavy-duty trucks; and when market share for the Super Duty is the highest in a decade. Another way of saying that is that people who buy the Super Duty really like it, and more people buy Super Duty trucks than any of the competing models.

“Super Duty stays on top because of our ongoing engineering work and analysis of extensive field data,” said Rob Stevens, chief engineer of the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. “We keep pushing to deliver the best-in-class attributes our customers demand.”

Higher-strength steel in a frame crossmember and an upgraded trailer hitch give the truck the additional towing capacity. Additionally, these actions boosted the F-350 DRW 4×2 pickup maximum payload to 7,070 pounds and maximum fifth-wheel towing to 22,600 pounds, each best-in-class ratings by 435 pounds and 900 pounds, respectively.

The hardware upgrades to the Super Duty complement software upgrades to the powertrain control system of the new Ford-engineered 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel to make towing even easier.

The Power Stroke delivers best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower. In an industry-first customer loyalty program, Ford provided the power upgrades free of charge to all “first-in” buyers of the 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup.

Super Duty customer satisfaction with the overall quality tops all competitors with a rating of 83 percent. That compares with 77 percent for the comparable Ram and 73 percent for the comparable Chevrolet trucks. The quality ratings are according to the 2010 Global Quality Research Survey conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills., Mich., and commissioned by Ford.

The new Super Duty dominates the heavy-duty pickup segment with nearly 50 percent of total heavy-duty sales, an increase in market share of 4 percentage points over the same period last year and its highest share since 2001. This is according to a Ford analysis of registration data by R.L. Polk.

Furthermore, Super Duty accounted for 80 percent of the heavy duty’s segment growth last year. In 2010 the segment was up 17 percent over 2009.

Ford F-Series is the best-selling and most-awarded pickup truck (for 34 years straight) and best-selling vehicle (for 29 years straight) in America.

Courtesy of thefordstory.com