It’s no secret that many of us here at LotPro.com find the idea of the average family riding around in a heavily-optioned, leather-lined, extended cab four-by-four pickup truck to be close to be the ultimate in absurdity. The closest thing most of these “air haulers” will come to off-roading is accidentally jumping a curb and riding over the well-manicured flower bed of the local shopping mall. But with the price of a gallon of gas averaging less than $3.00, many urban cowboys are once again thinking of parking a pickup in front of their own suburban Ponderosas.

What’s more, the domestic automakers desperately need the profits they reap from truck sales to fuel their R&D efforts in what they see as the soon-to-be burgeoning small car segment. And with the Asian automakers re-trenching after a very much less-than-successful assault on the full-size truck segment, the American manufacturers are poised to regain a significant share of the truck market.

Finally, to reiterate what we stated last year, there still are, and will continue to be, legitimate markets for pickups in the U.S., which is also why Ford’s latest award is so important: the biggest market for pick-em-ups in America is Texas.

2009 Truck of Texas

Everybody knows that Texas is big. But few living outside the state can really grasp just how big it really is. If you’re traveling from Beaumont in the east to El Paso in the west, you’ll cover almost 840 miles. That’s further than Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and only 50 miles less than driving from Rome, Italy to Paris, France. And remember, the whole time you’re covering all that prairie; you’re still in the same state!

Texas is also big into oil drilling, oil refining, cattle ranching, farming and construction. Knowing that, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist (although if it did there are plenty of those types to be found at the Johnson Space Center, which is just south of Houston) to see why most pickup owners in Texas are serious about their rides. Texans, in fact, are so big on trucks, that in 1992, the Texas Auto Writers Association™ founded the “Texas Truck Rodeo. ™”

This year, the “Truck Rodeo” was held October 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas with testing at the famous Knibbe Ranch. For three days 41 members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA™) drove 44 trucks and SUV’s in a true “working ranch” setting. In addition to the journalists, more than 60 automotive industry executives attended the event. Winners were honored in various categories, with the overall winner receiving a silver cup “traveling trophy” along with the honor of being named “Truck of Texas” and “SUV of Texas”.

According to TAWA president Harold Gunn, “’ Truck of Texas’ is really the most important award of its type in the industry. We love trucks down here, and we really use these vehicles everyday. And since we spend so much time in our vehicles, for us it’s not just about how the horse feels being towed, but how your butt feels sitting in the truck, too.”

Results of the 2009 Texas Truck Rodeo

For the seventh consecutive year, a Ford truck took top honors – this year it went to the 2010 F-150, led by the SVT Raptor Supercab. Ford also won Outstanding Feature, while Ford’s lineup of trucks also won Truck Line of Texas.

Here is a complete list of winners:

Truck of Texas – 2010 Ford F-150

SUV of Texas – 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC

CUV of Texas – 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo

Truck Line of Texas – Ford

Outstanding Feature – Ford Work Solutions

Full-Size Pickup Truck – 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercab

Mid-Size Pickup Truck – 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4

Luxury Pickup Truck – 2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch SuperCrew

Heavy Duty Pickup Truck – 2010 Dodge Ram 3500

Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Ford Expedition King Ranch

Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition

Compact Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4X4

Full-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC

Mid-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle – 2010 Lexus R450h

Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8 Liter Turbo

Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Subaru Outback

Mid-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Lincoln MKX

Full-Size Crossover Utility Vehicle – 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost

The Bottom Line

LotPro.com would like to thank Harold Gunn for his help in furnishing the details for this article and, once again, a tip of the Stetson to Ford for a job well done.

The Lone Star State

Although Texas may be known more for pickups than passenger vehicles (it is the number one market for pick-em-ups in the U.S.), it is still a very large market for cars. With the state’s combination of big cities and vast prairies, it may very well represent a middle ground between the import-heavy east and west coasts and the domestic-leaning heartland of our country.

Now in its seventh year, the Spring Challenge is a perfect foil to the annual Texas Truck Rodeo which takes place in the fall. This year, the Challenge took place at the Texas Motor Speedway from April 26th to 28th and honored vehicles from the following categories: Car of Texas (the overall winner), the Family Car of Texas, Most Innovative, Best New Design, Best Use of Technology and (as we wrote about yesterday) Best Value.

Here at LotPro.com, then, we see the findings of the Texas auto writers as being, at least geographically speaking, somewhat unbiased. So from that perspective, here are the winners of this year’s Writer’s Choice Awards:

The Car of Texas – 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Yes, the Camaro is back. And even if you’re not a fan of the Transformers movie or even muscle cars in general, you have to appreciate the 111 more horses the SS version has over the Mustang GT while matching that V-8’s fuel economy figures.

The Family Car of Texas – 2009 Ford Flex

Squint hard enough and you will see a maxi version of the MINI intended for real families (not just 2 Pomeranians in the back). 2010 promises to give us a much-improved version of the Flex when Ford applies its EcoBoost magic with direct injection and twin turbocharging for a total of 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

Most Innovative – 2010 Volvo XC60

We told you this wasn’t going to be a domestic-only event. Among its many notable safety features, the City Safety System used by Volvo in their new XC60 crossover uses a laser system mounted behind the top of the windshield to detect imminent collisions below 19 miles per hour and, barring driver intervention, automatically stop the vehicle.

Best New Design – 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

It’s true. In addition to its zero to sixty performance, the new Camaro looks way cool.

Best Use of Technology – 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford recently set a record of 1445 miles on a single tank of gas while averaging 81.5 miles per gallon which certainly qualifies as a “best use of technology” in our book.

Best Value – 2010 Kia Soul

Kia is to the new millennium what Japanese manufacturers were to the 80’s – a company with a history of econocars that suddenly blossoms into one that offers both economy and style – plus one of the best warranties in the industry.

The Bottom Line

Once again, a tip of the Stetson to TAWA and all the winners of this year’s Spring Challenge.

Where do you spend most of your time

Here at LotPro.com, we’re, we’re as much of a sucker as the next person when it comes to beautiful automobile designs. But while a vehicle’s exterior usually generates the most excitement, it’s actually the interior of those same cars where most of us spend our time – which is precisely why Wards AutoWorld created these awards.

“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.

“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”

Eleven categories

This year, 35 vehicles were nominated for the four car categories (economy-priced, popular-priced, premium-priced and sports car) and two truck categories (popular-priced and premium-priced) as well as special-achievement awards in five other areas (grooviest interior, best redesign, best graphic display, design harmony and best brand expression).

And the winners are…

Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car)

According to the judges, “With its ingenious second-row flexibility, ample headroom and premium materials, Honda proves an inexpensive car need not feel cheap.”

Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car)

The judges had this to say about the CC, “In the popular-priced car category, the Volkswagen CC springs from the well-regarded Passat architecture and adds a beautifully executed interior that puts this $28,225 4-door coupe in serious competition with more expensive luxury cars.”

Acura TL (Premium-priced car)

“The all-new Acura TL, at $42, 995,” according to Wards, “delivers creamy caramel-tone leather and sporty luxury in a breathtaking combination that instantly raises Acura’s stature among upscale buyers.

Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car)

Nissan received kudos for designing an interior that is both modern and retro: “If price is an object, the 2-seat Nissan 370Z Touring pairs a potent 332 hp with a purposeful passenger compartment that manages to be both spacious and sporty, while paying homage to famous Z cars of the past, all for $36,865.“

Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck)

Wards felt that the new Dodge Ram was a great value for the money and that it “trumps its rival, the new Ford F-150, with a spacious, well-conceived interior that fits as well on the job site as at the soccer field.”

Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck)

“The Flex demonstrates marvelous flexibility (their pun, not ours) in a 6-passenger seating configuration that employs high-quality materials and a supremely nifty power folding function for second-row seats, allowing easy access to the third row.”

Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior)

The judges really liked the Soul’s red interior. “Priced at $18,345, the 5-passenger Soul Sport reaches out to youthful buyers with an ideal mix of comfort, quality and funkiness, with lighted door speakers that flash to the beat of the music.”

Audi A4 (Best Redesign)

Reflecting on the A4’s relationship with the rest of the Audi lineup, the panel of experts had this to say, “The all-new Audi A4 secures the German auto maker’s sterling reputation for benchmark interiors. Priced at $40,825, the new A4 exudes understated but unmistakable elegance.”

Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display)

The editors of the magazine “marveled at the amount of information Ford engineers managed to fit into the Fusion Hybrid’s relatively small instrument cluster above the steering wheel, all the while encouraging fuel-efficient driving with a digitally projected vine that sprouts leaves as mileage grows.”

Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony)

According to Wards, “The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.”

Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression)

Finally, the Cadillac CTS-V, “with its intoxicating styling and angular instrument panel, wins a special-achievement award for Brand Expression. Priced at $68,135 with a dizzying array of electronic gadgets, the 556-hp CTS-V is for the serious driver who craves equal amounts of performance and style.”

Plant opened in 1951

In an era of Greenfield manufacturing facilities, it’s refreshing to see an auto company refurbishing and upgrading an older facility to accommodate the latest in technology. By picking Cleveland as the first site for its new EcoBoost production facility, Ford has reaffirmed its commitment to the Midwest as well as to an historic engine plant.

It was back in 1951 that Ford first began producing engines at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1. Back then, the facility was the site of another first – the company’s first overhead valve engine, the Lincoln V-8. Later on, the Ford 355 engine was produced there and became known as the “Cleveland” engine. The 302 and 5.0 liter V-8’s were also built there, but in 2007, the plant was shut down.

After investing $55 million for tooling and equipment upgrades, 250 employees from the existing three plants in the area will return to Number 1 to build the new 3.5 liter EcoBoost V-6.

EcoBoost technology

While engines, for most buyers, may not be the sexiest part of a new car, they can contribute to over 33 percent of its cost. Ford has stated previously that with every new product they company plans on introducing, it expects to be the best or among the best for fuel economy. This is aided by one of the most extensive powertrain upgrades ever for Ford. By the end of 2010, nearly all of Ford’s North American engines will be upgraded or replaced.

This year marks the first application of Ford’s new EcoBoost engine technology. EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger-displacement engines.

EcoBoost V-6 engines will be introduced on several vehicles this year, beginning with the 2010 Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT and Ford Taurus SHO sedans as well as the Ford Flex crossover. Later on, four-cylinder EcoBoost engines will debut in 2010 in both North America and Europe. Ford also plans on eventually offering EcoBoost technology on more than 80 percent of its North American lineup by the end of 2012.

Just over ten years ago, Lincoln was the top-selling luxury brand in America. But shortly after that, the division fell on hard times. Eclipsed by Lexus and cross-town rival Cadillac, Ford’s luxury marque was all but given up for dead. But much like a Rocky movie (we hope you’re thinking of the first one), the carmaker has, once again, picked itself up from the mat and is back in the fight with a string of recent hits.

But the luxury and near-luxury car markets are moving targets and the fight can only be won with fresh, new product. So this year’s Detroit Auto Show saw the brand ready to continue the string of new products with the following offerings:

2010 Lincoln MKZ

With a complete redesign for 2010, the MKZ no longer looks like the red-headed stepchild of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. The all-new interior is luxurious and is trimmed in real wood and aluminum and includes the latest version of the Microsoft-developed Sync® infotainment system.

Outside, the MKZ borrows design cues from the stunning MKR concept with Lincoln’s new signature waterfall grill as well as wide horizontal LED tail lamps.

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Shakespeare once said “if music be the food of love, play on.” If Bill were around today and he had a chance to drive the new EcoBoost-equipped Lincoln MKS, he might very well say, “if EcoBoost is what being green is all about, I like it!”

The latest V-6 from Ford certainly doesn’t act like one. This twin-turbocharged, 3.5 liter direct-injected powerplant produces 355 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque and Ford expects it to produce EPA numbers of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the entire package will only be available with all-wheel drive versions of the MKS.

2010 Lincoln MKT

Sales of the all-new MKT crossover will begin later on this summer. Based on the same vehicle architecture that spawned the Ford Flex, the MKT will be available in either six or seven-passenger configurations.

Up front, the new crossover sports Lincoln’s trademark waterfall grill while the stern features a full-width horizontal tail lamp. Engine choices include a 3.7 liter 268 horsepower V-6 as well as the aforementioned 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine (again, with all-wheel drive only).

The MKT comes with a slew of standard amenities including 20 GB hard drive for music storage, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting, panoramic moon roof and Ford’s new reverse-sensing parking assist system.

Lincoln C Concept

We must not be in Kansas anymore, because the C Concept represents the first look at what might be a future C segment vehicle in the Lincoln lineup.

Based on the same vehicle architecture as the European Ford Focus and the Mazda3, the C shows what direction Lincoln might take if it were to expand its horizon to include smaller and more city and eco friendly vehicles.

Much of the design is typical concept vehicle “kitsch” with suicide doors, floating seats and DUB-inspired 20” wheels. The bustle-back look is reminiscent of recent Renault M´egane models, although the placement of the full-width tail lamp just above the shoulder line is all Lincoln.

While much of the detailing is the stuff of dreams, the fact that the C is based on current Ford technology means that the company could be seriously considering entering the segment a` la the MINI.

NACOTY and NATOTY awards

Patterned after the European “Car of the Year” award, the North American awards were first given in 1994. The jury is composed of no more than 50 journalists from the United States and Canada. In order to be eligible for consideration, a vehicle must be “substantially changed” from the previous model and be on sale shortly after the announcement of the award in early January. In addition:

•    Cars must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 5,000 vehicles.

•    Trucks must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 2,000 vehicles.

The three finalists are announced in December and the winners are unveiled at a press conference at the beginning of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (although the show does not sponsor the awards in any way).

Award trivia: During its sixteen years, hybrids have been honored 4 times. Domestic automakers have garnered eight awards, Japanese automakers have won the award three times and European automakers have received the award four times (for Car of the Year). In the Truck of the Year competition, domestic automakers have taken the award home 9 times, Japanese automakers have won 4 times, while European automakers have won twice.

This year’s finalists are:

Car of the Year

 Ford Flex

Hyundai Genesis

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Truck of the Year

Dodge Ram

Ford F-150

Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

“Nelly” Flex

Rapper Nelly got to see his customized 2009 Ford Flex for the first time on Tuesday when it was unveiled as part of Ford’s press conference. Working with Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt, they created, according to Betancourt, “a custom-color blue car with a white roof, a great sound system, 22-inch wheels, an exhaust system with a little bit of a rumble on it, and a personalized interior.”

Inside, the Flex features black Tuscany leather with Katzkin® seats and blue stitching that picks up the unique blue exterior color. In addition, Nelly’s Flex features the industry-exclusive Ford SYNC™ technology and a CIM LIIV™ wireless Internet entertainment system, which enables passengers to enjoy web surfing, online games, e-mail, downloaded movies, music and live television.

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R

Based on Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor, the modified “R” version was developed by Ford Racing specifically to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Using stock components of the F-150 SVT Raptor including the transmission, brakes and frame, the race version has more suspension travel, better approach and departure angles as well as racing specification seats, safety cage and harnesses.

2009 Troy Lee Mazda6

Featuring a custom paint job by Troy Lee Designs and body modifications by Funktion USA, this new Mazda6 features 18” Momo Strike wheels, Hoosier tires and deep-tinted windows. Performance mods include Eibach springs, cross-drilled 6-piston brakes by Wilwood Engineering and custom brake fabrication by JD Performance.

Dodge Challenger Blacktop

To a basic 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, the “Mopar Underground” added custom spoilers and a black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme. Modifications include a Mopar coil-over suspension and strut tower brace. The Blacktop rolls on 22” Dodge Viper wheels from Factory Reproductions with 265/35 R22 front and 305/30 R22 rear Dunlop tires.

Performance enhancements include a cat back dual-exhaust and cold air intake while inside, the Challenger features bright red Katzkin leather seats and a Mopar Kicker audio system.

And Last but not Least…

Dodge Challenger SRT 10 Concept

Realizing that the 425 Horsepower might not be quite enough for some enthusiasts, Chrysler’s in-house performance organization, Street and Racing Technology, put together what has to be the ultimate Challenger.

Power for the SRT 10 comes from the Dodge Viper 8.4 liter V-10 engine with 600 horsepower and 560 lb. ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission with Dodge Viper gear ratios. A single-piece 4” steel drive shaft connects the transmission to an aluminum differential with torque-sensing limited-slip.

Bringing all this power to a halt are silver-painted Brembo fixed calipers that feature six pistons in front and four pistons in back that clamp down on 2-piece 390mm vented rotors in front and 355mm vented rotors in the rear. Wheels are fully-forged Alcoa aluminum (20×9 front, 20×10 rear) with Pirelli P-Zero 275/35R20 tires in front and 275/40R20’s in back.

In a nod to the 1970 HEMI Cuda, the “10” also features a shaker hood – only this time, it’s constructed of carbon fiber, as is the deck lid and various aerodynamic bits fitted to the body.

Truck Sales in the Land of $4 Gas

It’s no secret that many of us here at LotPro.com find the idea of the average family riding around in a heavily-optioned, leather-lined, gas-guzzling extended cab four-by-four pickup truck to be a special form of lunacy. The closest thing many of these “air haulers” will come to off-roading is accidentally jumping a curb and riding over the well-manicured lawn of the local shopping mall. For evidence of how far the pickup has strayed from its original intent, one has only to look at the precipitous decline in sales this summer that was the direct result of skyrocketing fuel prices. With gas prices nudging $4 per gallon, the wannabees fled the market – leaving only those who really needed a truck as the customers that were driving them off dealer lots in the second half of the year.

And while the market has rebounded somewhat from this summer’s truck sales debacle, it appears as though the sales numbers for these vehicles will never reach the same heights again. But lost in the roller coaster ride of sales in the past year are two simple facts; Fact number one: there still are, and will continue to be, legitimate markets for pickups in the U.S. Fact number two: The biggest market for pickups in America is Texas.

2008 Truck of Texas

Texas is big. No doubt about it. If you’re traveling from Beaumont in the east to El Paso in the west, you’ll cover almost 840 miles. That’s further than Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and only 50 miles less than driving from Rome, Italy to Paris, France. And the whole time you’re driving in the same state!

Texas is also in the oil drilling business, the oil refining business, cattle ranching, farming and construction. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (which Texas has plenty of) to see why most pickup owners in Texas are serious about their trucks. Texans are so big on trucks, in fact, that in 1992, the Texas Auto Writers Association™  (TAWA™) founded the “Texas Truck Rodeo. ™”

The Truck Rodeo is held the third weekend of October and, for three days, members of  TAWA drive trucks and SUV’s on on-road and off-road courses. Winners are honored in various categories, with the overall winner receiving a silver cup “traveling trophy” along with the honor of being named “Truck of Texas” and “SUV of Texas”.

According to TAWA president Harold Gunn, “’ Truck of Texas’ is really the most important award of its type in the industry. We love trucks down here, and we really use these vehicles everyday. And since we spend so much time in our vehicles, for us it’s not just about how the horse feels being towed, but how your butt feels sitting in the truck, too.”

2009 Ford F-150

Ford Sweeps Top Awards

For the sixth consecutive year, a Ford truck has won top honors – this year it went to the new 2009 F-150. Ford also won CUV and SUV of Texas, while Ford’s lineup of trucks also won Truck Line of Texas.

Here is a complete list of winners:

TRUCK OF TEXAS – 2009 FORD F-150

SUV OF TEXAS – 2008 FORD EXPEDITION KING RANCH

CUV OF TEXAS – 2009 FORD FLEX

TRUCK LINE OF TEXAS – FORD

OUTSTANDING FEATURE – DODGE RAM BOX

FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 DODGE RAM 1500, LARAMIE 4X4

MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA D-CAB 4X4

LUXURY PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 FORD F-150 KING RANCH

HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCK -  FORD F-350 CABELA’S EDITION

FULL-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 GMC 2WD YUKON HYBRID

MID-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2008 FORD EXPLORER

COMPACT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XSPORT

FULL-SIZE LUXURY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID

MID-SIZE LUXURY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE -2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 BlueTEC

LUXURY CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2008 LINCOLN MKX

COMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X

MID-SIZE CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 MAZDA CX-9

FULL-SIZE CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 FORD FLEX

The Bottom Line

There are still markets out there where a pickup truck is more than a status symbol. So from LotPro.com, a tip of the Stetson to TAWA and to Ford for a job well done.

It’s all about the brand

With all the bad news emanating out of Dearborn lately, there was some good news about the Ford Expedition and it had nothing to do with sales figures (no surprise there). It seems that the Expedition was the vehicle of choice for the Joker’s henchmen in the opening scene of the recently released Batman movie The Dark Knight. According to Ford spokesman Brian Daly, “The Joker’s henchmen drive black Ford Expeditions in the opening scene of the movie – which takes place in a dark parking garage – and if you think about the millions of people who will see ‘The Dark Knight’, the level of exposure for the Ford brand is incredible.”

To help with this process, called product placement, Ford even has a division called Ford Global Brand Entertainment with offices in (where else) Beverly Hills staffed by employees of JWT, Ford’s advertising agency.

Desperately seeking sales

Other recent product placements include the two latest James Bond films. In Casino Royale, Daniel Craig drove a Ford Mondeo for 2 reasons: number one, the Mondeo, like Bond, is British. Number two; I really can’t picture 007 driving a Ford Taurus. I mean, really. The next thing you know, he’d be wearing suits from The Men’s Wearhouse. In the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, due to be released in November, Olga Kurylenko actually drives the smallest of European Fords, the Ka.

James Bond Ka

But I digress. Here’s how Ford describes their latest placement coup:

“When the character of Tom Scavo drives down Wisteria Lane this season on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” he’ll be behind the wheel of one of Ford Motor Company’s most talked about new vehicles, the 2009 Ford Flex.” According to Ford spokesman Bob Witter, “Tom is the type of guy who wants to be seen in a car that’s different,” he said. “He doesn’t necessarily belong in a high-end exotic car, yet he needs a vehicle that’s really bold and that stands out. Pairing him up with the Flex was a natural.”

Ford Flex

Not only will Tom be driving the Flex, but a new character, Dave Williams will be driving a Lincoln MKS, while Andrew Van De Kamp gets to tool around town in a Mazda RX8. Some kids have all the luck. I guess I grew up in the wrong neighborhood.

It’s a war out there

Ford certainly isn’t the only company car company out there doing product placement. A case in point is the movie Transformers, one of last summer’s biggest hits. In that movie, if you’ll remember, alien robots are able to hide in plain sight by transforming into cars and trucks. The good guys were all GM vehicles. In fact, these cars and trucks were such a large part of the movie, that at times it resembled one big commercial for General Motors.

Bumblebee

Will Ford have the last shot?

If you’ll recall, the good robot in Transformers was the new Chevy Camaro, while one of the villains (the only car villain, as I recall) was a Ford Mustang. While The General won that round, it appears that Ford may take the next one. Not to be outdone, the automotive star “K.I.T.T.” of the new Knight Rider TV series will not be a Pontiac Trans Am, like the original show, but a Shelby GT500KR. Take that, GM!

K.I.T.T.

What’s new for the Lancer for 2009?

For 2009, the Mitsubishi Lancer is new from the ground up. Not only is it new, but it is now available in a multitude of trim levels – from the base DE, all the way up to the tire-smoking Evolution. Vanilla Lancers include the DE, mid-level ES (with a sport version) and the GTS, which is more of a French Vanilla version, since it includes the 2.4 liter, 168hp engine – a jump from the 2.0 liter, 152hp engines found in the DE and ES.

From this point on, things only get better. The top two models are the Lancer Ralliart, which features a turbocharged 2.0 liter 235hp engine and all wheel drive mated to a 6-speed twin clutch manu-matic transmission. The final step in this progression leads us to the Lancer Evolution, featuring the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four, but this time it produces 291hp and 300 lb.-ft of torque.

New 2009 Ford Flex

Tired of the same cookie-cutter styling in crossover SUV’s? Ford has the answer – the 2009 Flex. Designed to replace the Freestar minivan, the Flex certainly makes a bolder styling statement. Where the Freestar could easily get lost in the sea of minivans at soccer practice, the Flex stands out – looking very much like a cross between an uber-MINI, with its upright style and contrasting roof, and a super sized version of the Scion xB.

Inside, the Flex offers all of the electronic wizardry of the corporate parts bins, and then some. The Sync communications/entertainment system – developed in collaboration with Microsoft – comes replete with a 2,300 song jukebox hard drive. The six passenger configuration (seven-passenger seating is also available) offers an optional refrigerator between the middle seats. The optional Multi-Panel Vista Roof consists of an electric sunroof over the front seat passengers, while a larger fixed panel acts as a skylight for rear seat passengers. And when the sun sets, the interior ambient lighting system can be set to one of seven color combinations.

Safety features include a full compliment of front and side airbags, as well as a curtain airbag system designed for all three rows of seats. 4 wheel disc brakes along with ABS and Ford’s Roll Stability Control round out the standard safety features.