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Toyota, Ford not interested in FCA merger

Sergio Marchionne will preach the benefits of mergers to anyone who'll listen, but his calls for industry consolidation may be falling on deaf ears. At least, that is, the ears of those who the Fiat Chrysler chief would most like to bend. Not only is General Motors uninterested, but according to The Detroit News, neither are Toyota or Ford. "It's something we would not be interested in," said Toyota's North American chief Jim Lentz, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Toyota Technical Center. "At 10 million (vehicles) we have enough scale right now to do what we need to do. There really would be no advantage for us." Toyota isn't the only one unenthused by the prospect of merging with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The Detroit News also reports that Ford, though it may yet to have been approached by Marchionne, wouldn't be interested either. "We're not a suitor for FCA," said Ford CFO Bob Shanks. "We don't see that type of opportunity as one that applies to us." With GM, Toyota, and Ford expressing disinterest in Marchionne's merger idea, the FCA chief will likely start looking elsewhere – or look for other ways to compel his primary candidate to reconsider. He may eventually find a partner – more likely in the Far East or within Europe – but it may not take the form of the major player Sergio has hoped for. News Source: The Detroit NewsImage Credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Chrysler Fiat Ford Toyota Sergio Marchionne FCA merger fiat chrysler automobiles

Ford applies to trademark term 'Lincoln eGlide'

There's an epilogue to Ford's recent announcement that it's giving up on a battery-electric Lincoln co-developed with Rivian. The MachEClub forum discovered that just a week ago, Ford applied with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the term "Lincoln eGlide." The goods and services category details use for "Motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, sport utility vehicles, electric vehicles and structural parts and fittings; electric vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, sport utility vehicles, and structural parts and fittings." Living in an age where a small "e" is shorthand for "electric," and Ford having specified electric vehicles in the patent, the go-to guess is that this is for an electric vehicle. The inclusion of non-electric motor vehicles injects a little fuzziness. Tesla's trademark on the Model S specifies "electric automobiles" only, whereas Rivian's trademark for the R1T seeks coverage for "land vehicles" and just about every part found in or on a land vehicle.   Since Ford must have known about the end of the Rivian effort when it applied for the trademark, we suppose Lincoln has got some kind of eGlide coming no matter what. Lincoln refers to the theme of its latest cabin designs, as in the Aviator and Corsair, "Quiet Flight," and the road-scanning adaptive suspension on the Lincoln Aviator is called "Air Glide," neither term being trademarked. This leads our suspicions to eGlide becoming a vehicle component that could potentially serve a model with any powertrain, not necessarily battery-electric only, and eGlide won't be the name of the Lincoln EV that Ford says is still on the way. Another clue is that Ford included the word "Lincoln" in the term. Trademarked vehicle names such as Aviator and Corsair don't include the make, but services for vehicles do, such as the trademarks for Lincoln Connect and Lincoln Co-Pilot 360. We'll admit that a little bit of hope informs this line of thinking as well. Ford having done Lincoln the fabulous service of giving Lincolns terrific names, we'd be aghast if the Corsair and Navigator had to share showroom space with an eGlide. We've no choice but to wait for a retail product to provide answers. In the meantime, if we could just get to the bottom of this "Fastor Charge" trademark, and what's this bit about "Vandemonium?"   Related Video:        

2015 Roush Stage 3 Mustang has 670 hp

My last speeding ticket was nearly two years ago while behind the wheel of a 2014 Roush Stage 3 Mustang. Considering the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 produced 575 horsepower – the lowest of the Stage 3's tunes – an encounter with the friendly folks at the Michigan State Police seemed inevitable. With the 2015 Stage 3 producing 95 more horsepower, if and when I drive the new supercharged 'Stang, another meeting with Michigan's finest seems likely. The combination of the Ford 5.0-liter V8 and a 2.3-liter TVS supercharger turns out 670 horsepower, which should have owners of the weightier Dodge Challenger Hellcat at least a bit nervous. All that power is complemented by 545 pound-feet of torque and what is almost certainly an ear-shattering exhaust note from the quad-tip pipes. On top of the RS3's trademark sound and speed, Roush has fitted the sixth-generation Mustang's body with a new "R7" aero kit that actually looks toned down from last year's car. 20-inch "Quicksilver" wheels are standard, although Roush is offering a pair of optional designs. Either way, Cooper RS3 tires are the rubber of choice. Prices for the Roush Stage 3 Mustang start at $21,995, not including the $32,300 starting price of a Mustang GT donor car. Scroll down for the official press release. Related Video: ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang Produces 670 HP May 7, 2015 – PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN – ROUSH Performance is excited to announce final horsepower ratings for the all-new 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang. The RS3 is cranking out a heart-racing 670 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque to deliver the ultimate driving experience. All 670 horsepower are created as a direct result of the powerful combination of Ford's 5.0L V8 engine with ROUSH Performance's dynamic new 2015 2.3L TVS supercharger. The new ROUSH Mustang's generous power ratings impeccably compliment the RS3's list of standard and optional features, including the ROUSH Quad-Tip exhaust (with optional ROUSH Active Exhaust System), standard single-adjustable coilover suspension system (or optional competition-tuned 3-way adjustable system), and the fierce new "R7" aerobody. The 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang is not just a car – it's an experience. The RS3 truly bridges the gap between road car and race car, putting drivers behind the wheel of the ultimate uninhibited muscle car.