ice-capades

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven)  $3.77 Regular (Cash) @ Gulf  $3.83 Regular (Cash) @ Citgo

Ford EV Timetable for Europe Thrown Out Amid Weak Demand https://fordauthority.com/2024/05/ford-ev-timetable-for-europe-thrown-out-amid-weak-demand/ It wasn’t too terribly long ago that Ford was investing heavily in all-electric vehicles all across the globe, but its ambitions in Europe were even greater – in fact, the automaker planned to transition its entire passenger vehicle lineup to EVs in that region by 2030 or sooner. However, declining consumer demand has since prompted the automaker to scale back those plans in North America, delaying multiple models, expanding its hybrid offerings, and touting its diverse powertrain offerings in what amounts to a major pivot. In Europe, The Blue Oval is set to launch the all-new Ford Explorer EV this summer, but its electrified plans beyond it and another model riding on Volkswagen’s MEB platform remain a bit unclear, and the automaker could pivot to include a new, low-cost platform and perhaps even small cars. Now, somewhat unsurprisingly, Ford is altering its EV timeline in Europe amid weak demand, according to Financial Times. Europe’s Ford Model e head Martin Sander revealed that the automaker will no longer adhere to its 2030 goal in that region, noting that such a target is now “irrelevant” due to the fact that EV sales are currently trending “below expectations.” Sander added that the speed of the transition to EVs ultimately comes “down to the consumer,” adding that FoMoCo plans to focus on hybrids in the short term as part of its pivot. “Demand is behind our expectations now and we are not hitting our ambitious targets. Everyone is getting extremely nervous. It’s irrelevant if [the electric vehicle-only date] is going to be in 2030 or 2035. The trajectory is clear. We are committed to zero emissions . . . we just need to be reasonable about it and together find a way to manage to get to net zero in a profitable way,” Sander added.

I'd forgotten about the Eddie Bauer models!

Cyber Stuck: First Tesla CyberTruck on Nantucket Has a Rough Day https://nantucketcurrent.com/news/cyber-stuck-first-tesla-cybertruck-on-nantucket-has-a-rough-day The first Tesla Cybertruck to visit Nantucket rolled off the Steamship Authority ferry Thursday afternoon. It didn't take long to make an impression. The vehicle with Connecticut plates was first spotted by people on Main Street, where it was parked directly on a crosswalk in front of Congdon & Coleman. But that was just the beginning. A few hours later the truck reappeared, and this time it was stuck in the sand at Eel Point. The spectacle drew a small crowd before the $80,000 (starting price) vehicle was pulled out by the new "I Pull Out Beach Towing" service. The operator - whose identity is unknown - was described as "super nice...Just a first-timer who made the standard mistakes." Tesla was recently forced to recall nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks this week due to a defect with the accelerator causing it to get stuck when pressed, increasing the risk of crash. That covered all the Tesla Cybertrucks sold since the model went on sale last year, according to USA Today. Could the truck's bizarre appearance Thursday on Nantucket been a planned stunt of some kind? Time will tell, and the Current plans to investigate. Stay tuned...

Your vehicle is being produced with the specifications noted on the Window Sticker, which represents the final specifications for production.

The right to strike over plant closings is just one of many conditions that should never have been included in the UAW contract.

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven)  $3.77 Regular (Cash) @ Gulf  $3.85 Regular (Cash) @ Citgo Surprised to see Citgo price lowered this morning since it was increased just a few days ago.

Most state and/or federal laws applicable to lemon law buyback situations require a complete disclosure of any applicable vehicle repairs. In addition, there are disclosure requirements to the potential retail customer that will provide information beyond that included in a CarFax report.

My gut reaction is wondering how what appears to be such a minor repair issue would qualify this vehicle for a Ford buyback. The solution was a reset to restore the automatic function? There has to be more to this story including documentation. I'm not buying it.

Changing priority codes has nothing to do with commodity restraints. You're doing business with the wrong Dealer!

2023-2024 Ford Super Duty Black Oval Kit Revealed https://fordauthority.com/2024/05/2023-2024-ford-super-duty-black-oval-kit-revealed/ The Blue Oval is one of the more iconic symbols in the world and has been for a very long time now, which is precisely why Ford continues to use it to this day. The Blue Oval also hasn’t changed much over the years, save for a few small tweaks, but recently, one big shift has begun to take place – consumers are showing a preference for blacked out appearance packages, which has also prompted Ford to begin offering black versions of its famous badge, too. In fact, such a thing debuted as a factory offering for the 2020 Ford Super Duty Lariat Sport Package, and was later added to FoMoCo’s catalog as an accessory for that pickup, as well as the Ford Ranger and Ford F-150, along with a black Ford Performance badge. Now, a new Black Oval kit has debuted for the current-gen Ford Super Duty, too. This new 2023-2024 Ford Super Duty Black Oval kit is available for models without a front camera under part number M-1447-SDB3, or those with a front camera via part number M-1447-SDC3. The latter part features a provision for the camera, though otherwise, the two kits are essentially identical. In either case, both kits are designed to fit 2023-2024 Ford Super Duty XL, XLT, and Lariat trimmed pickups, and come with both a smoked front and rear chrome oval. Both kits also retail for exactly the same price, too – $140, and each is available to purchase via the Ford Performance catalog right now. Given how popular the new, Black Oval has become over the past few years, it’s easy to forget just how monumental a change this represents. After all, the first oval Ford emblem appeared way back in 1907, and the first Ford Blue Oval emblem surfaced in 1927 before landing on all of the automaker’s vehicles starting in 1979. The familiar Blue Oval has changed quite a bit since then, but it has always remained blue – at least, until very recently.

Ford Europe Hasn't Made Decisions on EVs Beyond VW Variants https://fordauthority.com/2024/05/ford-europe-hasnt-made-decisions-on-evs-beyond-vw-variants/ Ford and Volkswagen entered into a historic partnership agreement years ago, one that has thus far produced multiple vehicles sold by both companies – many of which share platforms, powertrains, and many other things in common. That list includes the Ford Explorer EV and another, as-yet-unveiled all-electric crossover riding on VW’s MEB platform, and soon, The Blue Oval will also build the new VW Transporter van alongside its Transit Connect at the joint-venture Ford Otosan Assembly plant in Turkey, too. However, amid declining global demand for EVs as of late, it’s unclear which direction Ford Europe plans to go in terms of EVs moving forward, as Ford Model e Europe head Martin Sander explained in a recent interview with Autocar. Other than the new Explorer EV and its counterpart – which is rumored to bring back the Capri nameplate – Sander said Ford still has “not made a decision on future products after the two MEB products we are launching now,” referring to both of the aforementioned models, each of which are underpinned by Volkswagen’s existing MEB platform. This is quite the interesting note following Ford’s announcement that it plans to electrify its entire lineup in Europe by 2030 or sooner just a couple of years ago, though Sander also offered some other clues as to what Ford Europe, specifically, may be considering. That includes, interestingly enough, the possibility that the automaker may continue making small cars in that region, even after it recently discontinued the Fiesta and is planning to axe the Focus in 2025. Of course, Ford Europe has also long been considering the use of its own, next-generation EV platform for future all-electric models, and Sander also revealed that the automaker was still thinking about doing precisely that as well. Regardless, the focus here is clearly on driving down EV prices, which remain a bit high for consumer taste, and using a shared platform is one way to do precisely that.

The retail order can be altered prior to scheduling with some limitations, particularly the trim (XLT, Lariat, etc.) The order can still be altered after it's scheduled, but prior to the vehicle being "locked in" for production. There are limitations to changing scheduled orders also, such as the number of changes and the type. Commodity constraints change frequently and can affect order changes being approved. The Dealer can assign priority codes 03-19 for retail orders, without the Regional office. If the order is changed before scheduling, the priority code may revert to the default retail priority code 19. If so, the Dealer must reassign a lower priority code again. Changing a retail order's specifications is independent from the priority code. A retail order can be cancelled but only prior to the order being scheduled. A Dealer cannot cancel any order (Stock, Retail, Demo AXZD Plan) that has been scheduled. Hope this helps answer your questions!

I would highly recommend visiting your local Ford dealership's parts department. They can access the Ford Parts database which includes every part available and includes illustrations to assist in identifying the correct part, part number and availability.

Ford University Launches as All-New Dealer Training Platform https://fordauthority.com/2024/05/ford-university-launches-as-all-new-dealer-training-platform/ Ford has placed a lot of effort into helping ensure that there are enough automotive technicians to fill future needs over the past several years, funding scholarships for aspiring techs and launching a variety of new training programs, to boot – even ones centered around working on all-electric vehicles. However, now, The Blue Oval is taking the proverbial next step in that regard by launching Ford University, which is an all-new dealer training platform that aims to make those workers product experts. Ford University is a digital and video-based platform that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and contains a personalized data-driven dashboard for each employee, virtual coaching, and a cinematic content library. It stems from a desire to not only make dealer employees product experts, but also, to help dealers keep up with ever-changing technology and the launch of new products as well. The idea for Ford University stemmed from Abby Vietor, Global Director of Dealer Training & Productivity/Ford University, who came to the automaker from the tech industry with the goal of reinventing the automaker’s customer purchase experience. “We’ve assembled a team of video producers, content creators, and training specialists dedicated to creating engaging content that reinforces complex topics and information,” Vietor said. “This helps with the goal of ensuring that our dealers are not just salespeople, but trusted advisors equipped with stories, insights, and the knowledge needed to make genuine connections with customers.” Ford University aims to deliver important information to dealers in a way that workers can retain it over the long-term by utilizing methods such as a “teach, show, practice, reinforce” framework. Learning experiences, in many cases, are more game-like than anything else, which should help drive engagement, to boot. Dealers can begin accessing Ford University content today, though the automaker already has plans to expand it moving forward.