Melyssa Ford es una verdadera diosa, ante cuya sobrenatural presencia una no puede mas que caer de rodillas. Un verdadero monumento a la belleza y la cachonderia. Un arma letal que causa estragos en cuerpo, mente y alma de los hombres. Una sucubo de piel oscura capaz de dejarte seco en medio de una llameante inferno de los mas reconditos placeres. Un angel de eterea hermosura que te promete llevarte al mas perverso de los paraisos. Piel, carne, curvas, redondeces… todo lo tiene justo en su lugar.

De rodillas, tiranetas, adoren a esta deidad de fuego

Y aqui les va la biografia…

La carrera de Melyssa Ford y su belleza la han llevado rapidamente al reconocimiento no solo como una Hip Hop Honey sino como uno de los ultimos iconos Sex Symbol en la industria del entretenimiento.

Esta belleza llamada Melissa Ford ademas concurre a la Universidad York en Toronto y estudia Psicologia . Melyssa Ford eligio su camino educacional pensando en que un dia ella trabajaria para atender casos de ofensas sexuales e investigar reseñas criminales. Sin embargo, mientras todavia esta en Toronto, Melyssa Ford fue descubierta por el director Little X. Melyssa Ford luego recibio la oferta de poder protagonizar muchos videos musicales los cuales le han dado mucho reconocimiento en MTV y BET, convirtiendose en una de las Hip Hop Honeys mas reconocidas.

 Debido a sus grandes exposiciones, Melyssa Ford comenzo a tener muchas ofertas de conocidas revistas como XXL Magazine. Melyssa Ford hizo una participacion en XXL y esta le dio la oportunidad de conducir un show de su website,’ Lifestyles of the Phat and the Phabulous’, bajo la produccion del Vice-Presidente de Bad Boy Entertainment. Esta fue una gran oportunidad para Melyssa Ford asi que ella dejo la escuela y se fue hacia New York con un par de valijas y $25 para conducir el show.

Melyssa Ford fue pronto reconocida como una de las mas importantes de la y tuvo otro gran impulso en su carrera como Modelo y Hip Hop Honey cuando la revista Black Men’s Magazine cuando la eligio en 2001 para el numero de trajes de baño. La sesion de fotos salio tan bien que la revista le dio a Melyssa Ford la tapa. Melyssa Ford posteriormente aparecio en la tapa de Black Men’s Magazine tres veces mas lo cual la puso en la categoria de ‘la chica de tapa mas popular’ para la revista. Melyssa Ford tambien aparecio en la portada de 2002 del calendario Ebony Rider el cual puso sus ventas por el cielo sobrepasando en un año la cantidad de ventas de 5 años juntos.

 Smooth Magazine quizo que Melyssa Ford apareciera como una modelo pero pronto la incorporaron para escribir un una columna mensual de consejos luego de conocer sus estudios de Literatura Inglesa transformandose asi en la estrella de la casa.

La carrera de Melyssa Ford ha tenido muchos logros incluyendo su propio calendario y DVD, los cuales siguen teniendo muchas ventas.

Fuente: www.doggshiphop.com

¿Que opinaria tu novia de Melysaa?

“¡Naaaa! No se que tanto le ven, ni esta tan buena (yo estoy mejor)”

Another great Photographer out of Atlanta..has some seriously quality rig shots.  And some even better stills. Check out his Flickr, and personal Photography site to see some Atlanta’s baddest rides and more.

CH@DBee Flickr

A few of my Automotive favorites:

]]> http://pitstopbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/ford-deve-lancar-ka-st-1-6-em-dezembro/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:21:05 +0000 Fillipe Vivas http://pitstopbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/ford-deve-lancar-ka-st-1-6-em-dezembro/ http://ocdiesel.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/sb-cold-air-intakes-are-hot-at-oc-diesel/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:25:22 +0000 OCDiesel http://ocdiesel.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/sb-cold-air-intakes-are-hot-at-oc-diesel/

Why S&B Intakes?

S&B diesel performance intake kits are all about improving airflow to your cars engine. Its just a matter of superior design. Better airflow translates into a noticeable increase in power, acceleration and most importantly…bragging rights.

Airflow:

S&Bs intake kits are engineered to improve the airflow to your cars engine. It starts with years of research and development, as well as the most technically advanced testing. S&B tests to the ISO 5011 Air Filtration Standard in a climate – controlled lab when designing and testing our intake kits. This is the same technology used by Ford, Chrysler and General Motors to design the original induction system that comes on your vehicle.

Thorough Research & Development:

During our ISO 5011 testing, we first measure the restriction of the airflow through your vehicles original induction system in order to establish a baseline. The goal of a Performance Intake Kit is to reduce the restriction of the airflow to your vehicles engine. In laymans terms, we want to make it easier for the engine to breathe. By reducing the restriction of the airflow, your engine will have better throttle response and produce more horsepower and torque. Since your engine will not have to work as hard to produce the required amount of power – the result is better fuel economy.

Back It Up – Certified Test Results:

S&B provides ISO 5011 Certified Test Results for its intake kits, so you can see exactly how much the airflow was improved (restriction decreased) as well as the efficiency of the filter. For example, the S&B intake kit for the 2002 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins Diesel improves the airflow 46.8% versus the OE Induction System while still stopping 99.90% of the dirt. Demand ISO 5011 Certified Test Results prior to purchasing your next Performance Intake Kit.

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We’re on a bit of an old timer kick here- including vintage Opels,  German-market Fords, and other European “heavy metal” (by the way, how great is it that the term “old timer” is a legal definition in the Netherlands and Germany?). It’s hard not to be intrigued by these cars – and the culture behind them – when they’re unavailable to us and differ markedly from the US domestic market and its, er, culture. The same could be said about the Fords and Holdens from down under.

The ultimate irony, of course, is that the cars from abroad likely looked to and took their cues from the America of yore (cool America) for inspiration- and appear to continue to do so in the culture that lives on today (albeit with a distinctly European flair). And thus the circle becomes complete.

As for America, it remains to be seen whether it will ever find its cool compass again.

Wonderful photographs by Mausi_Monroe.

- Gyro

The recession is technically over and before long, companies might actually start frakkin’ hiring people for jobs again…that is, if this isn’t just a financial bubble prefacing a double-dip recession. Naked short-selling aside, the auto industry is reaching into the future with great abandon, apparently unconcerned enough with the shakiness of the recovery to pump out some new, interesting, and in some cases, downright spellbinding new cars, trucks, and what-have-you. There will be new marques to choose from, as well as new forms of power. Here are fifteen such vehicles I’ve selected that I’m looking forward to. Complications notwithstanding, all of these should be on the road in the next year or two, if they aren’t already.

1. Buick Regal - An old name gets slapped on a new, very German car that is gorgeous and may actually be fun to drive as well. Moreover, it apparently will be powered exclusively by four-bangers. Not only is a high-performance version possible, we may (fingers-crossed) even get a wagon version, which would be awesome and hilarious at the same time: Buick wants younger buyers, so is a relatively big FWD wagon the way to go? For me, maybe.

2. Cadillac CTS Coupe - The latest and perhaps best iteration yet of 21st Century Cadillac zaniness. Art + Science Fiction. And the first hard-roof coupe from Caddy in seventeen years. It looks like nothing else on the road and has that same concept car aura of the new Camaro. Because its a bit smaller than the sedan, it should be faster too…which brings me to the V-series version, which is also coming.

3. Chevy Cruze - Chevy wants a “flawless” unveiling for the replacement for the boring Cobalt and its clone, the Pontiac G5. Looks to get 40+mpg on the highway. GM going small and Direct Injection with engines. Forget the Volt, this thing is important. If Chevy can’t steal some sales away from the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla with this, all is for naught.

4. Ferrari 458 Italia – A new Ferrari is like a new American fighter jet – really expensive, unobtainable, and almost pointless even – the F450 hasn’t aged a day – but nevertheless more than welcome. It looks and sounds the business, and with tons of F1 tech in it, it will most certainly drive the business too.

5. Ford Fiesta - It’s coming. How much different it will look from the European one isn’t known, but Ford has been without a small car since the Kia-based Aspire, which was pathetic. The Fiesta hopefully begins a trend of “cheap but not rubbish” small cars by American carmakers (unlike the awful Chevy Aveo, the only subcompact any of the Detroit 3 currently sell.)

6. Fiat 500 - Fiat Group bought Chrysler, which is awesome because it means Italian cars that don’t cost six figures will again be sold here soon. In Europe, the 500 is extremely popular, and also re-skinned as a Ford Ka, but in America the Nuovo Topolino will be sold at Chrysler dealerships, giving that sinking ship a badly-needed small car. It should sell well to people who want a car that’s cheaper and cuter than a MINI and fresher and more fun than the aged VW New Beetle. Also, it’s Italian. ‘Nuff said.

7. Lexus LFA - The most interesting Lexus ever. Not saying much, but the amount of labor and attention to detail that went into this taut driving machine cannot be overlooked. Neither can the $375,000+ price tag. Lexus will still lose money on every one they sell. One of only two radial carbon fiber looms in the world weave the A-pillars together. A manically-anal-retentive gearhead’s wet dream, this.

8. Mahindra Pickup - This awkward, dowdy pickup will likely beat the Tata Nano as the first Indian vehicle sold in America. It runs on diesel engines, which I love, and is tough, durable, and no-nonsense (well, except the optional chrome grille.) It should also be cheap. Hopefully the government will permit their sale, because they can do the same farm and labor jobs as much larger American pickups but are far more fuel efficient and take up less space.

9. Mitsubishi Outlander - If there was a Comeback Crossover of the Year category, Outlander would win it hands down. While its European cousins the Peugeot 4008 and Citroen C-Crosser were brought to market with bold, in-your-face looks, The Mitsu was plainer than white bread, and more forgettable too. That ends immediately with a menacing new face with an Evo-inspired grille, more power, upscale-r interior, and very untrucklike road manners. In other words, it’s better in every way.

10. Nissan LEAF - Though being heralded with far less pomp and circumstance than Chevy’s $40,000, four-seat Volt, Nissan’s electric car for everyone will likely beat it to dealers. It also aims to be cheaper and more practical. But yes, it does somewhat resemble a parrotfish.

11. Saab 9-5 - The first all-new Saab seemingly ever, the new 9-5 flagship will go on sale when new sort-of owner Koenigsegg, figures out exactly how they’re going to make it. While there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the new 9-5 marks a return to more of that Saab quirkiness that was mostly lost during GM rule, when marketers thought comparing a TrailBlazer clone to a fighter jet would make people want to buy the 9-7x.

12. Scion iQ - While not a 100% sure thing, it is likely Toyota’s teeny-tiny iQ will come to America as a Scion, since they’d prefer young, hip people buy it than the average Toyota customer, who is about 75. While perhaps not as miniscule as a Smart, the iQ is better packaged, has at least one back seat, doesn’t look as stupid, carries Toyota’s vaunted reputation for quality along with it, and won’t be quite as overpriced. Hopefully its axles won’t rust away after three years!

13. Suzuki Kisashi – Suzuki’s had a bit of a raw deal in the U.S. as purveyors of stretched Equinox clones and dull-as-paste, chintzy Daewoos. The homebuilt SX4 shook things up, being the cheapest AWD car as well as the cheapest with satnav standard. They take it up a notchwith the very Japanesey Kisashi, a smart, Jetta-sized sedan that bucks the more-is-more trend and goes instead for driver involvement and all-around quality. Suzuki’s marketing sucks, but hopefully this will sell well, because it looks to be a fine car and a bargain to boot.

14. Toyota/Subaru Compact Sports Coupe - Pretty much nobody needs a sporty coupe more than Toyota, except for maybe Subaru, so the two decided to save some time and develop one jointly. I’m looking forward to their final results. So far we’ve only seen the Toyota version in concept form (and monkey-butt red metallic paint.) The Subaru will likely be larger and of course feature standard AWD. The last Subaru coupe was the epic-but-pricey SVX, while Toyota’s Celica died a slow death. Here’s hoping they have better luck with what will be far superior machines.

15. VW Golf TDI - What was the Rabbit became the Golf then the Rabbit again and now the Golf again. Golf Mark VI is more refined and mature Golf ever, and so is the TDI’s diesel engine. Not only that, the TDI is fun. Fun to dart around in. Which means even if you have to drive a little further to find a diesel pump, you’ll be grateful. And it gets 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The Mercedes SLS AMG.
Gullwings = WIN.
Q.E.D.

The company that made electric vehicles cool again and dispelled the ugly golf cart stereotypes is rumored to file for an IPO very soon according to a recent Reuters report. What makes this CleanTech startup unique from say the recent A123 Systems IPO? Tesla is currently profitable! Profitability is one way to counter the IPO risks noted in this well blogged article about Goldman Sachs and their IPO business.

Tesla is on a mission to prove that Silicon Valley can do what Detroit, Tokyo and Frankfurt cannot. While some may think their Tesla Roadster (costs approx. $109k), which has a range of approximately 220 miles and Ferrari like performance, is a toy for the rich- a new Tesla Model S is in the works to dispel this theory and open the company to those with a smaller budget. The Model S will cost around $50,000, have 4 doors and appear similar to a nice Lexus, but more beautiful in my opinion. It also will not have any tailpipe emissions and will cost about $2 to power for 300 miles.

While Tesla’s automobiles are an evolutionary step as far as design, production and backing- they will nonetheless need to compete with companies like Nissan, GM, Fisker  and Ford who all have both government backing, and either an EV or Plug-in EV in the works. Along with several battery makers including A123 Systems, Ener1 and Johnson Controls, Tesla received $465MM in low cost loans from the US government to help spur development. It is interesting to ponder whether or not the market for efficient automobiles will prefer plug in electrics, pure electrics or if it is large and wealthy enough for both. Signs point to the latter as several of these planned or existing cars, including Tesla’s, have a lengthy customer waiting list.

Tesla’s investors include Google, founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Daimler AG, Aabar Investments, Valor Equity Partners, Technology Partners, The Westly Group, Compass Venture Partners. Tesla has also received an ‘opportunistic’ US$82.5m equity investment from a group led by Fjord Capital Management, a private equity firm which focuses exclusively on clean energy. “Daimler, which invested US$50m in Tesla earlier in 2009, along with Aabar Investments, which is also Daimler’s largest shareholder, contributed to the offering to keep its stake at just under 10%. The new money was earmarked for Tesla’s expansion of its retail store network globally.”

The IPO would be the first from a US Automaker since Ford in 1956.

Mesmo com a Geely sendo considerada a preferida da Ford para assumir o controle da Volvo, o consórcio Crown não desistirá de comprar a marca sueca. A companhia deve apresentar usa proposta à gigante americana na próxima semana, oferecendo valores próximos ao da chinesa. Estima-se que as cifras fiquem entre 2 e 2,5 bilhões de dólares.

O consórcio Crown é formado pelo ex-diretor da Ford, Michal Dingman, em cooperação com outros antigos executivos da marca do oval azul. Além deles, investidores suecos também estariam trabalhando em conjunto para adquirir a marca.

Será o suficiente para convencer a Ford de que é melhor vender ao Grupo Crown do que à Geely? Veremos.

General Motors e Volkswagen já haviam anunciado importantes investimentos para os próximos anos. Agora quem o faz é a Ford. No último final de semana, em soledidade realiazda no complexo da marca em Camaçari (BA), o presidente da Ford Brasil e Mercosul, Marcos de Oliveira, anunciou a injeção de R$ 4 bilhões nas fábricas da marca no país. Os recursos serão injetados entre 2011 e 2015, sendo 70% deles (R$ 2,8 bi) destinados à unidade baiana.

No comunicado, a Ford informa que os investimentos devem gerar mil novos postos de trabalho e um aumento na produção anual de 250 mil para 300 mil unidades. Ao que tudo indica, a planta será adaptada para produzir as novas gerações de Fiesta e EcoSport, que devem chegar ao mercado nesta época. O indiano Figo, que inspirará uma reestilização no Fiesta atual, deve ser lançado no final do ano que vem

Outra novidade importante é que a companhia também investirá recursos na modernização da fábrica da Troller, localizada no Ceará. A marca de jipes foi adquirida pela Ford em 2007.

Lula assinou nesta sexta-feira (20)  em Camaçari, MP que permite renovação dos incentivos fiscais para a Ford por 5 anos. A medida provisória que permite a renovação pelo governo federal por mais cinco anos das isenções de 100% do Imposto de Produtos Industrializados (IPI) e 75% do lucro presumido do Imposto de Renda para a fábrica da Ford de Camaçari. Em contra-partida a  empresa anunciou investimentos de R$ 4 bilhões no País, dos quais R$ 2,8 bilhões para o Nordeste. Desse total, 90%, (cerca de R$ 2,52 bi) serão destinado à fábrica baiana, e o restante, à unidade da Troller no Ceará. O volume de recursos anunciado nesta sexta para Camaçari é maior que o R$ 1,5 bilhão da instalação da fábrica.

Segundo os diretores internacionais da Ford, os recursos serão usados na modernização e adaptação do maquinário visando aumentar a competitividade. Previstos para ser aplicados de agora a 2015, os investimentos gerarão mais mil empregos na fábrica de Camaçari e permitirão aumentar a produção de veículos dos atuais 250 mil para 300 mil por ano.

Originally introduced as a 2006 model, the Ford Fusion is a mid-sized car slotted between the compact Focus and the full-sized Taurus.  Redesigned for 2010, the Fusion has been an instrumental part in Ford’s reinvention of itself as a quality American car maker.  I put emphasis on “car” because Ford’s F-150 truck has been the top-selling truck for a long time, but their cars, as of late, have not garnered much positive praise.  To better compete with their rivals, Ford has begun offering a hybrid version of the Fusion, the subject of this review.

The 2010 Fusion has a redesigned exterior, adding Ford’s new corporate “3-bar” grille to a newly-styled front end, and redesigned rear.  While the new car isn’t completely changed from the previous Fusion, it’s a more attractive look, which spills over into the interior.

Getting into the car, you notice the well-appointed interior, with a fair amount of soft touch materials.  If you squint, you’d almost think you’re in a 3-series BMW from earlier this decade.  The hood over the instrument cluster, the shape of the air-conditioning vents and the feel of the dashboard pay homage to the Bimmer.  Most of the hard plastics in the car are painted an aluminum color or faux carbon fiber pattern, which look good.  At night, you’ll notice the illuminated cup holders, part of Ford’s Ambient Lighting feature, along with illuminated foot wells.  Sitting in the driver’s seat, you notice how deep and supportive it is, an obvious nod to the Fusion Sport model that Ford offers, and a boon for anyone who likes going around corners, even in a hybrid.

The air-conditioning vents are at the top-center of the dash, moving the navigation screen and associated controls lower on the dash.  While not my favorite design, the designers of the Fusion at least tried to keep the most often-used buttons and knobs as high on the dash as they could, and the navigation screen is in a decent location height-wise, allowing you to view it without taking your eyes completely off the road.  With navigation being such a popular option these days, it’s a wonder more cars aren’t laying out their dashboards like the Lincoln MKS, with the vents off to either side of the navigation screen, which is at the height of the dash.  The Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class also have this design, albeit their designers took slightly different routes, giving their navigation screens pop-up motors, hiding them when not in use.

The review vehicle I drove was equipped with optional SYNC, and the optional navigation package as well, which as I’ve experienced before, is well-designed and easy to use.  Alongside the SYNC system, the tester had the optional Sony 12-speaker audio system, which while not as great as some of the other systems I’ve heard, is still far better than the base stereo in most cars.  The SYNC system on the Fusion Hybrid also includes an Hybrid Electic Vehicle (HEV) screen, which gives you a visual readout of how the power is being routed through the hybrid system.  It’s a neat display, and being in the main navigation touch screen, it is in a good place for your passengers to see.  The driver gets a customizable display, split into two LCD screens flanking the speedometer.  The information displayed on them can be changed using buttons on the steering wheel, and contain all of the information shown in gauges on regular cars, as well as hybrid-specific information such as whether or not the gasoline engine is running and the state of the hybrid batteries.  The display modes can help you stay in EV, or “Electronic Vehicle” mode longer, thereby increasing fuel mileage.  Thoughtfully, Ford built a “demo” mode into the display, to get a new hybrid driver up to speed on the functions of the instrument cluster, but anyone who buys a Fusion Hybrid is going to want to spend some quality time with the manual, reading up on all the acronyms used by the car.

Which leads me to the question a lot of people have asked me: How does the Fusion Hybrid drive?  The answer is a bit more complicated than if it were pertaining to a regular car.  The short answer is that the Fusion Hybrid drove well.  The real answer, however, is that it is an interesting drive.  With the hybrid system, there are a lot of features and functionality to get used to.  Accelerating from a dead stop to keep up with normal traffic, the car stays in Electronic Vehicle (EV) mode up until about 5 mph.  Then, the gas engine starts up, providing power almost at idle, which gives it a slightly rough start, which smoothes out quickly once you’re getting up to speed.  It’s at this point that you can hardly tell you’re in a hybrid car, as the transition from gas to electric and back at any speed over 5 mph is downright seamless.  Surprisingly, once you get away from a stop, there is plenty of acceleration to be had, owing to the hybrid motor’s power.  At highway speeds, that power seems to drop off quickly, as the electric motor is no longer helping out.  The flip side of this is driving in a city, where you have to stop every block or so for stop lights and signs.  By accelerating slowly and keeping an eye on the instrument cluster, I was able to keep the Fusion in EV mode for several blocks, boosting my fuel economy by almost 2 mpg.  The disconcerting bit here is the car’s transmission.  Most people are used to regular automatic transmissions, but some cars have been offered with Continuously Variable Transmissions, or CVTs.  The difference in operation between them is slight, the most noticeable being that there are no gear changes on a CVT, so you have a constant engine noise while accelerating.

Overall, the driving experience of the Fusion Hybrid is pretty close to a 4-cylinder Fusion.  While the Hybrid may not have as much acceleration from a stop as its gasoline-only sibling, the Hybrid accelerates just as well once speeds climb, with much less fuss and noise.

The Hybrid handles almost as well as the gas-only Fusions, but the extra weight of the hybrid motor and batteries is evident, and the Fusion Hybrid pays the penalty in curves.  It still handles well, but doesn’t feel as light on its feet as the 4-cylinder Fusion.  It appears as though Ford aimed again at the BMW 3-series when it tuned the suspension and steering of the Fusion, although it’s not quite there.  With front-wheel drive and more of its weight in the front of the car, the Fusion just simply isn’t going to handle like a BMW.  When driving over speed bumps or potholes you can feel the suspension work, but it won’t spill your morning coffee, and the steering is set up to tell you exactly where the front tires are pointed, which helps when going around turns.

When ferrying passengers around, you’ll be glad to be in the driver’s seat.  Comparatively, the rear seat is just not as comfortable.  It’s not overly firm, and there is a good amount of leg room, especially on a car in this class, but the head room was lacking.  At only 5′8″, my head was too close to the roof of the Fusion, something which may cause taller passengers to complain if they have to sit there.

Opening the trunk, you can see that the engineers at Ford had to modify its shape on all sides in order to fit the hybrid battery and other components.  There are air flow vents on the sides, and the front and bottom of the trunk are covered in access panels, hiding the batteries and their cooling fans.  While the hybrid parts are intrusive, you’re still left with a sizable trunk which can easily swallow a good amount of luggage or groceries, the latter being more likely.

Conclusion:

The redesigned 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is a great car.  Based on a well-rounded platform which supports a range of options and models to meet almost any commuter’s needs, the Fusion shows Ford’s drive to be competitive in the crowded mid-sized sedan market.  Featuring a comfortable and roomy cabin, as well as all the safety and technology options todays commuters want, the Fusion Hybrid has garnered the media’s attention, and should be a strong seller for Ford in the foreseeable future.  Recently, it won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award for 2010, one which should boost its sales even further.

Competitors: Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda Mazda6, Mercury Milan, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry

As-Tested:

Year: 2010
Make: Ford
Model: Fusion Hybrid

EPA Fuel Mileage: 41/36 City/Highway

Base Price: $27,625.00

Options:

$5,215: Rapid Spec 502A (includes Navigation System – Voice Activated, Driver’s Vision Group, BLIS w/Cross Traffic Alert, Rear View Video Camera, Moon & Tune Value Package, Power Moonroof, Sony Sound System – 12 speakers, Leather-trimmed Heated Front Seats)
$345: Powercode Remote Start System

Total: $33,185

Rapid Spec Savings: $1,270

Destination: $725

As-Tested Price: $32,640

Ford has an online Window Sticker viewer.  Click here to view the Window Sticker for the actual test vehicle.

Special thanks to Steve Fransisco and Century Ford of Mt. Airy, MD for loaning the tester to Road Reality.  Click here to view their web site.

By John Suit

A year after I bought my Fiesta, I’m not doing the mileage I thought I would. The job I bought it for, went sour in February and in the two months until that time I’d done 5.5k miles. Eight months later and I’m coming up to 11k but still far less than the 18k I told Ford I would do, 24k the Insurance company was up for and the probable 36k I’d worked out it was going to be. So £330 a month is lot to pay for a car that’s hardly used. Also times are getting tight and I can’t really afford to keep it, especially as the insurance and tax are nearly due. So I contacted Ford Finance and they’ve agreed to let me sell.

The list price for the car and all it’s options was £13,700 when I bought it. The price I paid was £12,900. According to Parkers guide, if I sell privately I can get £12,000, which is not a bad drop in a year. But as the car is currently parked away from my house, it’ll be a pain to keep going round there to show people and give test drives. So I’m going to try to chop it in to the dealer where I got it from. Again, according to Parkers, I should be able to get £11,000 for it trade and that’s for more than the £9500 I owe on it, so there’s some profit still in it.

I will blog the outcome….

Saturday, it was announced that Rolls Royce would be joining Volvo in making HD radio a standard component across all its lines for 2010!  This comes quick on the heels of an announcement from Mercedes-Benz that HD will be in all its 2010 models that have “premium feature packages.” Looks like HD has locked on with the luxury car aficionados!

That is one heck of a brand association. Rolls Royce has been known for refinement and luxury since before World War II. It is a name that has stood the test of time and retained its noble bearing throughout. The Phantom, for example,  is to cars as a tuxedo-clad James Bond is to espionage (the Sean Connery Bond). To have HD radio become a standard firmly affixes the growing medium in the luxury market and the luxury mindset.

Here is the statement from iBiquity via Radio Ink:

“We are proud to confirm the availability of HD Radio technology for yet another prestigious brand — Rolls-Royce,” iBiquity COO Jeff Jury said. “The Rolls-Royce brand is revered. This commitment to HD Radio technology as standard illustrates how digital radio’s dynamic function enhances the in-car ambiance. The addition of Rolls-Royce to the HD Radio roster truly solidifies the technology’s stature in the luxury automotive class.”

Rolls Royce  joins an array of other car makers in offering HD either as a standard or an option: BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Mercedes, Mini, Scion, Land Rover and Volvo. In addition, Audi, Ford, Kia, Lincoln and Mercury are soon to join their ranks and have committed to offering HD as well. Now that approximately 85% of the US is covered by HD signals, it looks like it could be a great time for a road trip!

It’s really fun watching a medium grow up. There are always growing pains, but the process always seems to yield fascinating results.  As each quarter slips by, we see more maturity in the HD radio platform. Not only are the high-end auto makers adding it in as a standard, but there is now a HD listening option for the iPhone. (See my earlier post.) The times are certainly changing, and as far as HD is concerned, changing for the better!

Today I had a couple of interviews and photoshoots to take care of and like most of the interviews I’ve done recently they were a lesson in the history of Lowriding. There is alot of history that has not been told and I have been fortunate to sit down and talk to some legends in Lowriding. These profiles will be in a future issue of Lowrider Magazine. I started my Sunday in the San Gabriel Valley not too far from my home.

My day ended in East Los Angeles right near where I spent some of my youth.

Check out the Downtown Los Angeles skyline in the background.

Uma grande empresa anda pra lá de interessada na área em que seria erguida a fábrica da Ford em Guaíba.

Por enquanto, as negociações são secretas.

É peixe grande.

ZH

___________________

   Alguém tem um palpite do que seja ?

Now that both Cameron and I are both official Canadian Permanent Residents, we thought we’d celebrate the Canadian way – by buying ourselves a rather large truck..

We only collected it yesterday and since today was such a beautiful day we thought we’d go on a little adventure. After a breakfast of homemade hash browns and bacon (thanks to my lovely husband) we headed off towards Rissers beach.

We found some cool shells and even a massive lobster claw – I bet there would have been some good eating on this guy! We’re looking forward to eating some lobster again soon (lobster season has just started).

Rissers beach (provincial park) stretches for about 1 km and then a boardwalk runs over an inland marsh and eventually brings you back to the car park.

A tunnel takes you under the road..

Once back at the car we decided we would head a long to Crescent beach (literally 2 mins from Rissers beach). It’s equally beautiful and the novelty (for us Scots) is that you can drive along it.

By this point the bacon and hash browns were wearing off so we headed back to Bridgewater to trusty old Tim Hortons. After that we ventured along the Centennial trail, before a hasty drip to the dollar store and Save Easy (the grocery store). As I’m typing this I can smell the roast beef cooking and to top it all off Cameron has just told me he’s going to take me out for a pint of Guinness after dinner. An all round good Sunday!

With an increasing number of holiday festivities being held in the home this year, we’re all looking for creative and cost effective ways to spruce up our table settings and create a look that will impress our guests. When it comes to setting your Thanksgiving table, options for the adventurous host are limitless. What are the hottest trends for you to bring to your table this year? Here are a few ideas that will take your Thanksgiving table from ordinary to extraordinary:

Color, Texture and Mix – Match:

In table linens and accessories, this year we are seeing rich, saturated colours. We are also seeing a lot of texture and the mixing and matching of patterns with solids. There are a lot of options out there to do something warm and inviting.

Color Trends

Warm tones have always been popular for Fall and that continues with some of the biggest trends in colour combinations this year. Some of those include:
- Deep Spice and Aubergine with muted Gold accents – Dark Chocolate with Blues and Gray accents – Olive Green, Aubergine and softer greens as accents – Dark Chocolate, Taupe and Natural

Tabletop Decor

- Use things that you already have in your home – pull out your 3 or 4 of your favourite vases of different heights. Use complementary colors of fresh flowers for a simple and stunning arrangement. Fill three or four vases and/or glass bowls with different colors and sizes of ornaments, fruits, leaves – anything with color and texture that will create visual excitement.

- Your guests are all unique – why not celebrate their individuality? Use different patterns and/or colors of napkin rings that match their unique personalities. Are they simple or sophisticated? Fun or formal? Unpredictable or conservative? Show them you care with a little customization to complement your table linens.

- Candles are always a dramatic and cost effective way to make a statement – use votives at each place setting with a name card and emphasize beautiful table linens for a classy and simple look. Or go more dramatic and cluster your favourite candle sticks of varying heights and looks as a centerpiece. Use colors that complement or match your dishes, glasses and table linens.

- Nothing brings subtle sophistication to your table like a well-selected runner. Use one the length of the table plus 12 inches to hang over the edge (usually a 90″ or longer) as the perfect centerpiece. If you are using a solid tablecloth or placemats, make sure to jazz it up with a festive pattern. If you have a patterned look already, use a vibrant solid runner that picks up on one of the colors in your runner.

- Use 2 napkins instead of one with a napkin ring. With a solid napkin inside, and a more decorative napkin on the outside.

When setting your table, just remember: do what feels right for the mood. A casual gathering calls for a relaxed setting. A formal meal should feel that way at the table. Either way, it doesn’t take much to elevate your in-home dining experience. Replacing an old tablecloth with something fresh an exciting, and adding a few simple table accessories can go a long way to impressing your guests. It’s that time of year when family gatherings abound and everyone spends countless hours congregating around the dinner table. With the hours spent preparing the perfect meal, make sure you don’t forget to finish it off with the perfect setting.

The first year of owning a classic car, it’s going to need more work than any other. So I’m going to end up talking a lot about the various problems I’ve had with my Galaxie, but that’s not all there is to it. If that were the case I would have sold it after the first couple weeks.

Before I go any further I need to explain something about myself. I’ve been in twenty-five car accidents. It’s not that I’m a terrible driver. I was only driving in five of those and none of those were very serious. Statistically you’re safer with me behind the wheel than in the passenger seat. That said, I’ve been in cars that were cut in half, cars that flipped over, cars that sunk, and cars that caught fire and exploded. (Yes, cars can explode. I know people tell you that that only happens in the movies, but I’ve got pictures on my Facebook to prove it.) Now given, this history with vehicles, it probably comes as no surprise that in general I don’t like to be in a car. This is where owning the Galaxie means something different than it might to other people.

The 1965 Ford Galaxie is twenty-two feet long. It’s a big steel box and it’s on the road with a bunch of plastic cars with less steel in them than your average Hot Wheels. The bottom line here is that I feel safe in my Galaxie. A hell of a lot safer than I felt in my ’83 Firebird (wrecked when I was 16), my ’83 Mustang (engine died), my ’73 Volkswagen Bus (engine died), my ’89 Convertible Mustang (hit a truck), my ’94 Toyota Camry (hit a Jeep), or even my ’78 Monte Carlo (caught fire and blew up).

In addition to my feeling safe, the Galaxie has the added bonus of having more style than any car made in the last twenty years. Yes, there may be a whole thing where there are Chevy Guys and Ford Guys, but first, you’re Classic Car guy. When I pass another classic car, I wave and they wave back because we know that while we’re both probably getting less than 15 miles per gallon, we’re still recycling, because our car has been used before. And let’s not forget that unlike new cars, my Galaxie doesn’t assume I’m stupid. It doesn’t tell me when I’ve left my keys in the ignition or left my lights on or my door open. It assumes that if I’m bright enough to drive a car, I can figure out when my lights are on and that just maybe I have a reason for them being on. It’s also not going to remind me to put on my seatbelt or when I’m really low on gas. Yes, it has a gas gauge, but it’s not going to beep at me. In fact my Galaxie is incapable of beeping at me for any reason at all.

Having said all of this, I still haven’t gotten to the best part about driving my Galaxie: It is fun to drive. Driving most modern cars is almost like playing a video game. Most modern cars are so air tight you can’t hear the road. You can’t feel the engine. Hell, you could easily be in some bad car simulator.  Whereas when you’re driving a car like the Galaxie, you experience the drive. You can feel the road. You can hear the engine. There aren’t sensors to tell you when something is wrong. YOU are the sensor.

My point here is that while I’m going to talk a lot about all of the problems I’ve had with my car, the only reason I’m talking about them is because I love my car. If it weren’t for that love, it’d just be this machine that needs work all the time. It’s not though. Instead it’s this machine that needs attention from time to time and after giving that attention, it continually rewards me with something more than just a means to get from point A to point B. It rewards me with a good drive.

To Be Continued….

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