True Blue Aggie
09-30-2005, 12:35 PM
•The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The Sport Trac is a Ford Explorer midsize SUV with a small pickup bed on the back. The new model has the Explorer's smoother-riding independent rear suspension, a much stiffer chassis and an optional 4.6-liter V8 with 292 horsepower.
What happened to the HP?
Automakers depend on fair
11:41 AM CDT on Friday, September 30, 2005
By TERRY BOX / The Dallas Morning News
In a world of anonymous "appliance" sedans, Ford's new Fusion boasts a provocative chrome grille and a taut, clean body.
http://www.dallasnews.com/bi/images/clikEnlarge.gif http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/09-05/0929fusion.jpg Courtesy Photo
The 2006 Ford Fusion
But the Fusion – the most important new car at this year's State Fair of Texas – will need to be more than just another pretty face in the crowd. It's attempting to crack the hyper-competitive midsize sedan segment dominated by Japanese heavyweights Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
"We think we have an opportunity here because while consumers have told us that they want a car they can count on, they also want one that stands out," said Dan Geist, Fusion marketing brand manager. "It's a niche we can fill."
With Ford Motor Co. intent on competing again in midsize sedans – after decades as a leader in trucks – the Fusion has emerged as the company's most significant new car in 20 years, company officials say.
Built on the highly regarded Mazda6 platform, it has drawn positive reviews and should be at dealerships this month.
"This is our ticket back into the car business," said Ben Poore, Ford Division car group marketing manager.
Besides the Fusion, the other major new vehicle at the State Fair will be the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle, a truck critical to embattled General Motors Corp. The auto displays at the fair open today and run through Oct. 23.
DallasNews.com/extra (http://dallasnews.com/extra) State Fair stories (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/statefair/vitindex.html)
Treasure hunt: Can you find these items at the Fair? (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spe/2005/statefairfinal/)
Your pix: Submit photos from the Fair (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spe/statefair/pix/index.html)
BigTex.com: (http://www.bigtex.com/) Official site (http://www.bigtex.com/)
• Buy tickets online (https://tickets.statefairoftexas.com/Sites/SFT/OrderForm.nsf/SFTForm01?OpenForm)
The truck, which will be officially unveiled at the State Fair, is the first all-new Tahoe in six years. And the GM assembly plant in Arlington is the lead factory for the Tahoe and will begin building it in December.
The current Tahoe has about a 60 percent share of the full-size SUV segment, and GM is counting heavily on the new truck – with its aerodynamic styling, increased power, better fuel economy and greater refinement – to retain that share.
"We think we will have what it takes to continue to be No. 1," said Carl Hillenbrand, Chevrolet product manager.
Some of the other new vehicles at the fair include:
•The dually version of Dodge's 2006 Ram Mega Cab. For those who prefer their pickups supersized, Dodge is taking its already large four-door Mega Cab and adding optional dual rear wheels that make the truck wider and give it more payload capacity.
•The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The Sport Trac is a Ford Explorer midsize SUV with a small pickup bed on the back. The new model has the Explorer's smoother-riding independent rear suspension, a much stiffer chassis and an optional 4.6-liter V8 with 292 horsepower.
•The Lincoln Zephyr and Mercury Milan, Lincoln and Mercury's versions of the Fusion.
•The 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which has been lightly restyled and is available with a 303-horsepower V8 engine.
•The Saab 9.7X. Based on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer-GMC Envoy, the 9.7X is Saab's first midsize SUV.
What happened to the HP?
Automakers depend on fair
11:41 AM CDT on Friday, September 30, 2005
By TERRY BOX / The Dallas Morning News
In a world of anonymous "appliance" sedans, Ford's new Fusion boasts a provocative chrome grille and a taut, clean body.
http://www.dallasnews.com/bi/images/clikEnlarge.gif http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/09-05/0929fusion.jpg Courtesy Photo
The 2006 Ford Fusion
But the Fusion – the most important new car at this year's State Fair of Texas – will need to be more than just another pretty face in the crowd. It's attempting to crack the hyper-competitive midsize sedan segment dominated by Japanese heavyweights Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
"We think we have an opportunity here because while consumers have told us that they want a car they can count on, they also want one that stands out," said Dan Geist, Fusion marketing brand manager. "It's a niche we can fill."
With Ford Motor Co. intent on competing again in midsize sedans – after decades as a leader in trucks – the Fusion has emerged as the company's most significant new car in 20 years, company officials say.
Built on the highly regarded Mazda6 platform, it has drawn positive reviews and should be at dealerships this month.
"This is our ticket back into the car business," said Ben Poore, Ford Division car group marketing manager.
Besides the Fusion, the other major new vehicle at the State Fair will be the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle, a truck critical to embattled General Motors Corp. The auto displays at the fair open today and run through Oct. 23.
DallasNews.com/extra (http://dallasnews.com/extra) State Fair stories (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/statefair/vitindex.html)
Treasure hunt: Can you find these items at the Fair? (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spe/2005/statefairfinal/)
Your pix: Submit photos from the Fair (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spe/statefair/pix/index.html)
BigTex.com: (http://www.bigtex.com/) Official site (http://www.bigtex.com/)
• Buy tickets online (https://tickets.statefairoftexas.com/Sites/SFT/OrderForm.nsf/SFTForm01?OpenForm)
The truck, which will be officially unveiled at the State Fair, is the first all-new Tahoe in six years. And the GM assembly plant in Arlington is the lead factory for the Tahoe and will begin building it in December.
The current Tahoe has about a 60 percent share of the full-size SUV segment, and GM is counting heavily on the new truck – with its aerodynamic styling, increased power, better fuel economy and greater refinement – to retain that share.
"We think we will have what it takes to continue to be No. 1," said Carl Hillenbrand, Chevrolet product manager.
Some of the other new vehicles at the fair include:
•The dually version of Dodge's 2006 Ram Mega Cab. For those who prefer their pickups supersized, Dodge is taking its already large four-door Mega Cab and adding optional dual rear wheels that make the truck wider and give it more payload capacity.
•The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The Sport Trac is a Ford Explorer midsize SUV with a small pickup bed on the back. The new model has the Explorer's smoother-riding independent rear suspension, a much stiffer chassis and an optional 4.6-liter V8 with 292 horsepower.
•The Lincoln Zephyr and Mercury Milan, Lincoln and Mercury's versions of the Fusion.
•The 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which has been lightly restyled and is available with a 303-horsepower V8 engine.
•The Saab 9.7X. Based on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer-GMC Envoy, the 9.7X is Saab's first midsize SUV.