Mazda has teamed up with AutoAlliance Thailand, Co. LTD. AAT with a 350 million dollar investment in creating the newest pickup truck from Mazda. This deal clearly shows Ford and Mazda’s dedication to Thailand and the investment adds to the total of over 1.85 billion dollars of investment into the AutoAlliance Thailand auto production plant.

This joint pickup truck program will help Mazda figure out how their workforce and resources are positioned in the global market. The AutoAlliance plant in thailand is already one of the most technologically advanced factories in the nation and it is fully capable of handling the requirements of this relationship. This plant is already known to produce high quality products with low cost in mind to compete with other manufacturers.

Since July 2007, AutoAlliance Thailand has been exporting Mazda and ford pick up trucks to over 130 countries around the world. The plant was also rennovated in July of 2009 to accomodate the manufacture additional vehicles from ford such as the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2.

One of the coolest features on the 2010 Honda Odyssey is the power sliding doors and power tailgate. While Honda is not the only car manufacturer to employ power openings, they were definitely one of the first companies to bring this technology to the minivan market, and they have continued to include this awesome feature. How important are sliding power doors and lift gate? Well suppose you’ve got a kid in one arm and a bag of groceries in the other. As long as you have your hands on that remote, then you’ll be able to pop a door or trunk open from up to 50 feet away with ease while never skipping a beat. Make sure to get one of the models (Touring, EX-L, or EX) that include these amenities. Cool aerodynamic style combined with super sleek body lines make the Honda Odyssey a prime player in the minivan pool. To show integrity and strength, Honda designers took advantage of very modern style cues worked in to the tailgate spoiler and hood. Daytime Running lights ensure that other drivers on the road know that you are there and increase overall visibility to further reduce the chance of a car accident. To differentiate the high end touring model, Honda painted the parking sensors so they would blend in to the front and rear bumpers.

Many states are starting to adopt new cell phone laws that require drivers to utilize a hands free system while using a mobile phone or suffer the consequences. Some places have even raised their cell phone ticket prices to show the seriousness of the law. With the optional Bluetooth Hands Free Link with Navigation, Honda minivan owners can comply with law enforcement while still maintaining their connection to the world. To add to entertainment choices, an auxiliary input which is suitable for any mp3 player or mobile phone with a standard headphone jack is included as standard equipment on Honda’s entire lineup of 2010 Odysseys. Power doesn’t stop at the tailgate and sliding side doors. The driver and passenger have 4 way power seats on the higher models. There is also an optional DVD rear entertainment system which the Touring model includes as a standard feature. To make the satellite navigation system even more user friendly, it also has voice recognition to help keep the driver’s eyes and hands where they belong. For maximum driver and passenger comfort, the Odyssey has three climate zones that can be controlled independently to keep the pickiest of drivers and passengers happy throughout any road trip. The Odyssey has a 60/40 rear seat split along with a storage bin to allow multiple seat configurations to optimize mobile storage efficiency.

For some people, motor vehicle safety is of up-most importance, and Honda knows this. The 2010 Honda Odyssey received the highest rating possible of 5 stars in front and side impact tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Utilizing the latest technology is key in accident prevention. There are a bunch of standard safety features that have been integrated into the Odyssey such as:

• ACE (advanced compatibility engineering) – engineers designed the body of the Odyssey to absorb impacts of different sized vehicles
• ABS (anti lock braking system) – prevents the brakes from locking up and skidding when the tires lose traction
• VSA (vehicle stability assist) with traction control – reduces the incidences of over steer and under steer
• EBD (electronic brake distribution) – works when braking hard to help the driver maintain steering control
• front side airbags and side impact door beams – additional protection for passengers involved in an accident

Honda’s Philosophy on Safety
Honda is committed to providing safety for everyone — not only for our own drivers and passengers, but also for other vehicle occupants and injury mitigation for pedestrians.

Through technology and innovation, we are developing increased levels of protection for the driver and all passengers in Honda and Acura vehicles. As a leader, Honda looks beyond government regulations, studying real world situations to develop new safety technologies for everyone.

2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID
The 2011 Ford Fusion utilizes a sophisticated, independent, double-wishbone front suspension with a stabilizer bar, which is usually only found in luxury and sports cars. The rear suspension is of the multi-link, independent variety which enables the Fusion to provide superb handling skills along with exceptional ride quality. The Ford Fusion Hybrid can putt along at up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric EV mode. There is no other hybrid vehicle on the market that can report such astonishing speeds in electric only mode. With this advent of gas saving technology, with just one tank of gas, the owner’s of the Fusion Hybrid can attain an amazing 41 miles per gallon in city and over 700 miles (of all freeway driving). This is a momentous fact that is valuable in considering when purchasing a hybrid car.

2011 FORD FUSION 2.5L HYBRID 4 CYLINDER
Can performance and awesome fuel economy be achieved with a little engine? Well Ford’s 2.5L Duratec I-4 engine contains a plethora of goodies that will satisfy a wide range of drivers. The technology used in the 4 cylinder motor cranks out 175 horsepower along with 172 pound foot of torque.
Applying the brakes in a normal vehicle wastes energy by turning the forward energy into heat via the vehicle’s brakes. Most hybrid vehicles employ some type of regenerative braking, and the Ford Fusion is no exception. It just makes sense to capture this energy instead of wasting it and converting it into heat. The Fusion takes up an amazing 94 percent of this energy that would normally be lost and sends it to the battery pack! An additional benefit is lower wear and tear on the other brake system components such as the brake rotors and brake pads.
The Fusion Hybrid is powered by a progressive NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery combined with the 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder Atkinson-Cycle motor. Whenever extra power is needed, the gas engine kicks in and delivers a total of up to 191 net horsepower. Ford also included a dual LCD Smart Gauge Cluster with EcoGuide which provides fuel economy data back to the driver to allow her or him to make adjustments to attain maximum fuel efficiency. Accessing the information is a simple task thanks to controls that are mounted to the steering wheel so no hands need to be taken off the wheel.
2011 FORD FUSION 3.0L V6
The 3.0 liter V6 version of the 2011 Ford Fusion puts out a satisfying 240 horsepower and allows drivers to take advantage of E-85 flex-fuel.
2011 FORD FUSION 3.5L V6
As far as engine options go, at the top of the pack is the 263 horsepower 3.5 liter Duratec V6. Fusion owners with this engine will also receive some additional standard goodies such as the 18″ wheels coupled with a sport tuned suspension to hang turns just a little harder than the lower model Ford Fusions.
The optional finished aluminum 18 inch wheels come with low aspect 255/45/VR18 tires for maximum performance. Bigger tires and a tighter suspension make a fun ride that can be tossed into corners. Electronic Stability Control (AdvancTrac ESC) helps the driver maintain control in precarious situations. Fishtailing, oversteer and understeer are less likely to occur with ESC in place.
FORD FUSION ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
The V6-powered Fusion with the optional All Wheel Drive system greatly improves traction and control on any slippery surfaces such as snow, ice, and mud. To achieve the highest level of performance, the AWD system constantly monitors a variety of available sensors to apply the power and torque to the wheels that need it to gain traction in the event of a slip up. This is an active all wheel drive system that automatically turns itself off to save gas when needed but is always available and ready for action.

FUSION TRANSMISSIONS
The Hybrid Ford Fusion is delivered with the eCVT, or electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission. There is no “shift shock” apparent to the driver and passengers; only a smooth ride is provided. This allows the engine to remain in its powerband without excessive shifting and it rewards owners with great gas economy.
There is an optional 6 speed transmission available for most non-hybrid Fusions. What’s the point of having all these gears? Well the smart engineers over at Ford decided that 6 gears brings together the perfect balance of acceleration along with fuel economy. The driver can still purchase their Ford Fusion with a standard transmission however even the auto-magic transmissions have 6 gears, so non stick drivers can still reap the benefits of great engineering. Drivers that opt for the automatic transmission in the V6 Fusions can easily switch over to the SelectShift mode to enable manual up and down shifting to give the driver full control of the vehicle.