Auto Expo 2014 Mahindra Reva lineup: Verito electric, upgraded e2O, XUV500 electric and Formula E car

Mahindra Reva will be unveiling some exciting electric models which should grab the attention of environmentalist and the carbon conscious customers at the Auto Expo 2014.

Mahindra’s portfolio at the expo will include showcase of Formula E racing car, unveiling of the improved e20, Verito electric sedan and the Maxximo electric light truck.

Further details about the Formula E racing car has not been revealed but its participation at the inaugural FIA Formula Championship that begins in September 2014 is likely.

Mahindra Formula E racing car

An updated version of the e20 which so far has received a lukewarm response in the Indian market will also be shown. The new variant will get an improved charging technology that will considerably reduce the charging period. This should help in making the e20 a more desirable vehicle. The launch of this small car will take place immediately after the expo.

The Verito will be the first electric sedan to hit the market when it is launched by the year end along with the Maxximo electric light truck. It is said that the electric Verito sedan will retain the USPs of the regular car but provide cheaper running costs. The year- end launch is aligned to avail the benefit of subsidies which is expected to be offered by the Indian government on EVs (electric vehicles) by then.

Apart from this, there are also talks that Mahindra will showcase the XUV500 in its electric avatar.

“We have been working a lot on next generation electric vehicle technologies, which we will be showcasing in the five products we will display at the Auto Expo,” Mahindra Reva Founder and CEO Chetan Maini was quoted as saying

2015 Mercedes V-Class unveiled, launch later this year

Mercedes has unveiled the new V-Class in Munich, Germany. This model will replace the ageing Viano. It is expected to go on sale later this year with Mercedes declining to mention the prices as of now. This is an MPV which focuses on luxury and maximum comfort.

The look is beefed up by protruding wheel arches and sculpted look continues with a sweeping shoulder line

The design takes cues from a variety of Merc models including the S, C and E Class. The front is dominated by a large chrome grille with the three pointed star featuring prominently.  LED infused headlights flank both sides of the grille.  The look is beefed up by protruding wheel arches and sculpted look continues with a sweeping shoulder line and an elongated taut lines along the side profile which begins from the wheel arches and rises slightly until it reaches the rear adding a touch of elegance.

Models can be equipped with Nappa leather for the seats, steering wheel and gear shift lever as well

The interiors are luxurious and highly customizable. Models can be equipped with Nappa leather for the seats, steering wheel  and gear shift lever as well. An optional Burmester surround system with a bass reflex speaker and 16 loudspeakers can also be ordered. Tempmatic climate control is the standard fitment while Thermotronic is the optional extra coming with focus, medium and diffused modes.

Active Park Assist which is an option is a useful feature considering the size of the vehicle, that makes parking easier

V-Class has been designed with practicality in mind and this is evident when you are loading or unloading your luggage. The large rear windscreen can be opened independently of the tailgate frame making it easier to load in tight parking spaces where the larger tailgate can pose a problem.

“Mercedes Benz intelligent drive” is available in the V-Class, which is a driver assistance system consisting of radar, camera and ultrasound sensors. The standard features are Crosswind Assist and Attention Assist. Crosswind Assist works to stabilize the car in strong crosswinds and Attention Assist warns the driver of inattention and fatigue. Active Park Assist which is an option is a useful feature considering the size of the vehicle, that makes parking easier.

The large rear windscreen can be opened independently of the tailgate frame making it easier to load in tight parking spaces

There are three engine choices all of which displace 2.1 litres in their four cylinder turbo-diesel forms. The base V 200 makes 138PS and 330Nm of torque. The midrange V 220 generates 165PS and 380Nm and the top of the line V 250 offers 193PS and 440Nm. Mercedes claims that the V 250 gives the same amount of torque as the previous V6 turbo-diesel engine while consuming 28 per cent less fuel.

Customization doesn’t  end with the interiors. The V-Class can be ordered in a short wheelbase (3,200mm) and a long wheelbase (3,430mm) version. Three different lengths are also on offer ranging from 4,895mm to 5,370mm.

Vardenchi to launch Moto Morini Scrambler and Granpasso at 2014 Auto Expo

Vardenchi, the Mumbai-based motorcycle customisation house, has confirmed that two iconic Moto Morinis will be launched in Indian at the Auto Expo 2014.

Last year, the custom house tied-up with the iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer to import and distribute its motorcycles in India. OVERDRIVE was the first to report the story.

It seems that Moto Morini’s initial focus in India will be limited to off-roading/adventure motorcycles with the Italian company choosing to leave its street bike Corsaro 1200 out of its Auto Expo lineup.  . The prices of both the motorcycles will be announced at the Auto Expo. By June-July 2014, the first lot of Morinis will be delivered to the customers.

Vardenchi Motorcycles founder Akshai Varde said, “I personally rode the Morini across Europe and instantly fell in love. These highly tuned beasts are genuinely the most fun motorcycles to have in your stable. I see this alliance as a initiator of a luxury segment in motorcycling that will prove to be a game changer.”

Bialbero Corscorta

All the three motorcycles will be powered by the same 1187cc V-twin that the company calls Bialbero Corscorta. This engine was designed by Franco Lambertini, a former engine designer for Ferrari, who was also responsible for the 1970s 31/2, perhaps Morini’s most famous model in history.

Moto Morini Scrambler

Moto Morini Scrambler is built for all-terrain crossover use, ably aided by the 19” front wheel and the tread-blocked tyres, be it asphalt, the cobblestones, or else the off-roads. The Scrambler is equipped with the Bialbero CorsaCorta 1187cc twin-cylinder that makes 120PS of power and and 102Nm of torque. The 21-liter tank is one of the most striking styling elements and has a sporty and ergonomic design which is not intrusive for the rider.

Moto Morini Granpasso

The Granpasso 1200 is Moto Morini’s answer to the BMW and KTM adventure series. It boasts a 1187cc V-twin oversquare engine which is good for 120PS of power and 103Nm of torque. The clutch is a multi-disc wet slipper one while the brakes are dual-Brembos. Typical to these class of motorcycles, the Granpasso has an oversize windshield and comfortable seats. Suspension duties are taken care by Marzocchi upside down units in the front and an Ohlins side-mounted monoshock with a piggy bank reservoir.

Indian cars fail crash test: Maruti Suzuki Alto, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 not safe for you

Some of the most popular small cars in India have failed the crash tests conducted by Global NCAP, an independent UK-based charity that carries out consumer orientated vehicle safety initiatives.

In the first-ever independent crash tests conducted on Indian vehicles, most small cars showed high risk of life threatening injuries in road crashes. “All the cars selected by Global NCAP for testing in a frontal impact at 64kmph received zero-star adult protection ratings,” the report said.

The models tested included the Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800, which is India’s best-selling car, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo. The NCAP first chose the entry-level versions of each model, none of which were fitted with airbags as standard. These cars form a fifth of the total passenger vehicle sales in India.

After the tests, Volkswagen Polo has made twin front airbags standard across its entire range. When it was tested again with twin-front airbags it passsed with a four-star rating.

VW Polo’s base model initially failed the test. But during the cours of the tests, VW made airbags standard across its Polo range, and subsequent tests earned it 4-star safety

The report added that in the Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800, the Tata Nano and the Hyundai i10, the extent of the structural weaknesses were such that even fitting airbags would not be effective in reducing the risk of serious injury.

The Ford Figo and Volkswagen Polo had structures that remained stable, and, therefore, with airbags fitted, protection for the driver and front passenger would be much improved.

Most models fail UN’s basic crash test

Global NCAP also assessed the same models against the UN’s basic crash test. This 40% offset frontal impact test at 56kmph is now widely applied by major manufacturing countries and regions, including Australia, China, European Union, Japan and Malaysia. However, India is yet to implement it. All but one of the cars tested failed to pass even this minimum UN safety standard.

While the Ford Figo cleared the test based on the dummy crash reading, it is marked failed here because of the absence of airbags

In a separate child safety rating, the child seats recommended by manufacturers were often found to be incompatible with their vehicle’s belt system. Here again, Polo’s base model initially failed the test, but when it was tested again with the newly introduced  twin airbags, it cleared the test.

Global NCAP’s comments on individual vehicles’ adult protection

Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800

Zero-star

64kmph test: The vehicle structure was rated as unstable, increasing the risk of life-threatening injuries and making the car unsuitable for the fitment of airbags.

Child safety: Using the child seats recommended by Suzuki-Maruti, the Alto 800 achieved a two-star rating for child protection.

UN minimum safety standard: The Alto 800 fails to meet the UN’s minimum safety requirements in the 56kmph crash test.

Tata Nano

Zero-star

64kmph test: The vehicle structure was rated as unstable, increasing the risk of life-threatening injuries and making the car unsuitable for the fitment of airbags.

Child safety: The car achieved a zero-star rating for its child protection as it was not possible to install child seats in the car.

UN minimum safety standard: The Nano was not able to meet the UN’s minimum safety requirements in the 56km/h crash test.

Hyundai i10

Zero star

64kmph test: The vehicle structure unstable, increasing the risk of life-threatening injuries.

Child safety: Using the child seats recommended by Hyundai, the i10 achieved a one-star rating for child protection. The three year-old dummy indicated a high risk of serious injury.

UN minimum safety standard: The i10 was not able to meet the UN’s minimum safety requirements in the 56kmph crash test.

Ford Figo

Zero-star

64kmph test: The vehicle structure was rated as stable, but without safety equipment such as airbags, too much of the crash energy was absorbed directly by the occupants.

Child safety: Using the child seats recommended by Ford, the car achieved a two-star rating for its child protection.

UN minimum safety standard: The Figo was able to meet the UN’s minimum safety requirements in the 56kmph crash test. But only because the dummy’s head narrowly avoided hitting the steering wheel directly and survived despite not having a driver airbag.

Volkswagen Polo

Zero-star

64kmph test: The vehicle structure was stable, but without safety equipment such as airbags, dummy readings indicated a high risk of life-threatening injuries.

Child safety: Using the child seats recommended by Volkswagen, the Polo achieved a three-star rating for child protection.

UN minimum safety standard: Without airbags, the Polo was not able to meet the UN’s minimum safety requirements in the 56km/h crash test.

New VM Polo with airbags

4-star

With two airbags (driver and front passenger), the Volkswagen Polo achieved a four-star rating for adult occupant protection in the 64kmph NCAP test. Thanks to the airbags, the protection offered to the driver and passenger head and neck was good.

Auto Expo 2014 preview: Maps, apps and more

The 2014 Auto Expo is here, and OVERDRIVE will bring you the best and the quickest insight into the India’s biggest automotive event. This year, the biennial event promises to be more than just a big show. There are about 80 launches and unveils scheduled this year, that’s almost twice as much as the 2012 edition.

A welcome change this time is that the Auto Expo is moving to a new location to make things smoother for automobile lovers.  Unlike 2012, it will be divided into two sections — the Motor Show and Components exhibition. The Motor Show will be held between February 7-11 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida while the Components show will be conducted between Feb 6-9 at Pragati Maidan.

On the other hand it looks like it will be one of the best attended editions of the Delhi-based show with only a handful of manufacturers staying away. Then comes the long, long list of launches, debuts, reveals and more that are ensuring that the buzz around the biennial show has never been greater. But there is more to this biennial event than just the wide array of cars, motorcycles and new technologies.

Auto Expo Mart

Auto Expo organisers have also brought out an app which is available on Android, Blackberry and iOS. This free app helps lists out the names of exhibitors and the site map to locate an exhibitor. Additionally it also gives you directions about the parking, shuttle service and the all important tickets. Visitors can also book their tickets through this app.

2014 Chevrolet Beat facelift teased

Chevrolet India has teased the Beat facelift on its official website by way of a silhouette of the popular supermini.

We have already spotted the Beat facelift test mules several times and as we reported last week, the updated Beat is slated for an Auto Expo launch.

The tag line for the teaser states, “Style is coming to take the country by storm”.

However, the Beat facelift is not too different than the current model. It wears the new hexagonal grille that is seen on rest of the Chevrolet lineup. The face also wears new bumpers with a new design for the fog lamps. Expect to see some tweaks to the interiors as well by way new upholstery & resigned plastic parts.

GM is also expected to show a slew of new products and concepts at the Auto Expo. Stay tuned to http://www.overdrive.in/autoexpo2014 for all the updates!

Auto Expo 2014 Jaguar Land Rover lineup: F-TYPE Coupe, Range Rover LWB and Project 7

While we’re still reeling from the sheer aural and visual impact of the Jaguar F-TYPE drop top, Jaguar plans to send us back into a frenzy of poppin-n-cracking with the new F-TYPE coupe. The top of the line F-TYPE R will feature a new 550PS V8 which is 55PS more than the top end V8 S convertible. The base V6 and V6 S models will continue to use the same supercharged V6 motor that produces 340 and 380PS respectively. Transmission duties are handled by an 8-speed auto box, while the entire body is constructed in aluminium.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Jaguar Project 7

Other than the gorgeous F-TYPE coupe, the desirable Range Rover Evoque facelift with a 9-speed transmission will also be showcased. The company may also bring in the DC100 Concept as also the Evoque convertible to the expo. JLR will also launch the Range Rover LWB, which should be the country’s most expensive SUV when it goes on sale.  Jaguar’s first ever SUV, the C-X17 concept will also be showcased. The single seater Project 7 roadster will also grace the Brit manufacturer’s stall.

Auto Expo 2014 Harley-Davidson lineup: Street 750, Street Bob and Street Glide

The big news for Harley-Davidson, of course, is the new Street 750, their first India-made product. The company intends to announce prices for the Street 750 at the Auto Expo and open bookings and expects to start delivering the Street 750 to Indian customers by May-June 2014.

Harley-Davidson Street 750

At the global launch in Milan, the company also confirmed that it intended the Street 750 to be priced at under Rs 5 lakh on road, setting the stage for a Harley that will be priced at an extremely tempting and affordable Rs 4.4 lakh. We expect the Street 750 to be the largest-selling Harley in India before the year is out. Harley-Davidson will also showcase the new Street Glide model that our Alan rode a couple of months ago in Malaysia.

2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

The motorcycle which came out of Harley’s Project Rushmore feature among other things part-liquid cooling and significant upgrades. Harley will also present and start sales of the new 2014 Street Bob model – one of our favourite Harleys in the whole range and a bike that is in CKD assembly in India.

Ashok Leyland launches Partner and Mitr LCVs in India

Ashok Leyland has launched two LCVs (Light commercial vehicles)- Partner and Mitr in India. This is the second offering from the Ashok Leyland-Nissan joint venture in India.

Pricing for the Partner, which has two variants based on their wheelbase i.e 2850mm and 3350mm is Rs 8.89 lakh and Rs 9.19 lakh. The Ashok Leyland Mitr bus is priced at Rs 12.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai).

Partner is a LCV based on the Nissan F24 platform. Manufacturer claims that its focus with this vehicle is on driver comfort and it has given the Partner a modern Euro cabin with car-like interiors.

Ashok Leyland Partner

This LCV weighs in at 6.6 tonnes and is capable of hauling a 4 tonne payload. Power is derived from a ZD30 common rail diesel engine. Air conditioning is also available in the top end LX trim but power steering is standard on all models. A tilt-able cabin allows for easy servicing.

The Mitr is a 26+1+1 seater bus which is targeted to be a staff carrier. It shares its engine and platform with the Partner.  The ZD30 engine produces 116PS and a peak torque of 320Nm. Power is transmitted by a five speed manual gearbox. Mitr has parabolic suspension at both front and rear ends. A school bus variant is also expected to be launched soon.

Ashok Leyland MITR school bus

Speaking at the occasion, V. Sumantran, vice chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are delighted to present the next range of products from the Ashok Leyland-Nissan JV – PARTNER and MiTR. With these two new products, we have stayed true to our LCV mission – to deliver to the Indian customer, contemporary products that deliver best-in-class user experience, coupled with exceptional efficiency.”

Overdrive's 2014 Auto Expo Preview

2014 New Skoda Superb 1.8 TSI DSG Elegance: First Drive [Review]

The Superb gets a mid-cycle refresh and in this latest guise, is as good a value package as it ever was. We take it for a quick spin

The Skoda Superb has been on sale for the past 10 years. And in this time, it has received a generation change once. The new for 2014 Superb isn't a generation change though; in fact, we won't even term it as a dramatic facelift, but facelift it certainly is. 

So, the new Superb - in typical facelift mould - gets new head and tail lamps and revised bumpers both front and back. Additionally, the bonnet design has changed and it now houses the Skoda logo, in line with Skoda's new design philosophy. The grille too follows this new design language, which was first revealed on the new Octavia in India. 

Other changes include new front fenders, nicer looking design for the 16 inch alloys and a revised tail gate which receives badging on the sides instead of the centre seen on the previous car. All these changes, we have to agree, have freshened up the Superb's looks and we particularly like the new LED daytime running lights. Having said that, it still looks a bit disproportionate compared to its competition like the Toyota Camry.

The changes to the interior are a lot less significant. There's a new steering wheel design - three-spoked for the automatic versions and a four-spoke steering wheel for the manual - and nothing else. This isn't all bad news though, because the Superb's cabin was always regarded highly for its build quality, good ergonomics and operability; the latter, be it for buttons, dials, rollers or toggles, have always had a positive and tactile feel to them. All this remains true for the new Skoda Superb as well.

Top Ten Cheapest Cars with Active Safety Features

The trickle-down theory may be best known for its economic application, but it’s an idea that’s relevant to the automotive sphere as well, especially in regards to safety. Features like antilock brakes, airbags and stability control first came about in high-end luxury sedans and gradually propagated to more mainstream vehicles before eventually becoming required standard equipment in all cars sold in the U.S. These days, active safety technologies are making their way into more affordable, mainstream cars and are even factored into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s vehicle safety ratings.

We compiled a list of the least expensive new vehicles that are equipped with a basic suite of active safety technologies. Each qualifying car had to be equipped with the following: a blind spot monitor (BSM), a lane departure warning system (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW), and a backup camera. Just as a refresher, we’ll explain what each of these systems do.

- Blind spot monitor (BSM): uses lenses or other sensors to detect if another vehicle has entered in either the left or right blind spot areas. It then displays a visual and/or audio warning to alert the driver of the other vehicle’s presence.

- Forward collision warning (FCW): uses radar, laser, and/or camera sensors to detect an impending collision. From there, systems vary on what action is taken. Some notify the driver with flashing lights and an audio warning, whereas some also ready the seatbelt pretensioners in the case of a crash. Higher-end FCW systems can also engage the brakes to help lessen the impact speed or avoid the collision altogether.

- Lane departure warning (LDW): cameras are able to detect lane markings and alert the driver if the car is drifting outside of the lane without the driver signaling. More complex versions of LDW can also intervene and use the steering to correct the car’s course and keep it in its lane.

- Backup camera: mounted on the rear of the vehicle, this camera provides an image of the area behind the car on a central display screen on the dashboard.

Pricing for this list was determined by adding up all options and/or trim levels needed to get the aforementioned features. As it turns out, the average price of entry for these features is right around $30,000, undercutting the average new car transaction price which is now above $31,000. We were also surprised to see that seven out of our ten vehicles come from American automakers.

2014 Buick Verano Convenience Group: $25,795

The 2014 Buick Verano is the least expensive car on our list by a margin of more than $3000. A backup camera is the only one of these features to come standard on the Verano, but buyers of this compact premium sedan only need to step up one trim level from the base model to get the full suite of active safety technologies included on the Convenience Group trim.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT: $29,105

Another General Motors vehicle comes in as the second cheapest, the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. A backup camera is standard on the mid-grade 2LT trim, and the three other active safety features come with a reasonably-priced $890 Advanced Safety Package. This package also requires opting for the $1000 Leather Package and $1175 Electronics and Entertainment Package, but all in this nicely-equipped Malibu still comes in at a reasonable $29,105.

2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring: $29,390

The 2014 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback have an impressive set of technology features, but FCW and LDW systems only come on the top-trim Grand Touring model in a special $2600 GT Tech package. That makes for an expensive little compact. You do get a lot for the money, though, as we are impressed with the Mazda 3’s upscale interior and best-in-class driving dynamics. If you can’t quite afford this loaded-up 3, the backup camera and BSM system do come as standard on lower-priced trim levels like the i Touring and Grand Touring.

2014 Buick Encore Premium Group: $29,890

Buick’s compact SUV has trim levels that are structured slightly differently than on the Verano sedan. To get FCW and LDW systems, you have to step up to the Encore’s top trim level, called Premium Group. This loads the Encore up with lots of other luxury and convenience features, but it still comes in under $30,000 with front-wheel-drive.

2015 Chrysler 200C: $30,475

Chrysler just introduced the new 200 at the 2014 Detroit auto show, and this midsize sedan is thoroughly modernized with a more stylish look. The new Chrysler 200 also ups its technology game, with a $1295 SafetyTec Package optional on the 200C that adds not only the required safety systems for this list, but also adaptive cruise control and a parking assist feature. This safety package does require the addition of $795 Premium Lighting Group and the $1395 Navigation and Sound Group, but a Chrysler 200C with these options only just tops $30,000. The Chrysler 200 will go on sale this spring.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited: $30,645

Next up is another Chrysler product, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee crossover. To get the option of selecting the $2155 Technology Group package, Cherokee buyers have to step up to the Limited trim level. This package adds the required active safety features, along with adaptive cruise control and parking assist, just like in the Chrysler 200. The Limited comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine; adding four-wheel drive adds $2000, and opting for the 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 costs $1495.

2014 Nissan Rogue SL: $30,920

Nissan first got into the idea of affordable active safety features with the Altima sedan that sourced its optional LDW, BSM, and moving object detection all from the same rearview camera. The Altima lacks FCW, which keeps it off this list, but the recently redesigned 2014 Nissan Rogue does have FCW and earns a spot here. A backup camera is standard on all 2014 Rogues, and a $1990 Premium Package available only on the top-trim Rogue SL adds FCW, BSM, and LDW.

2014 Ford Fusion SE 2.0 EcoBoost: $31,700

The 2014 Ford Fusion is available with a whole host of luxury features that drive its price up into the high-$30,000 range, but Ford offers its full set of active safety features in the mid-range Fusion SE when equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. Fusion buyers must opt for the $1200 Driver Assist Package to get BSM and LDW, and FCW comes along with the $995 adaptive cruise control. This also requires adding the $2350 Equipment Group 202A which adds leather, fog lights, and a power passenger’s seat.

2014 Chevrolet Impala 1LT: $31,750

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is one step up from the Malibu in size and price, and offers a similar $890 Advanced Safety Package that adds FCW, LDW, and BSM on top of the standard rearview camera on the Impala’s 1LT trim. Adding this package also requires the $940 Convenience Package. At this price, the Impala is powered by a 195-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; to get the optional 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6, buyers have to step up one trim level to the 2LT model.

2014 Mazda 6 Grand Touring: $32,570

Like its Mazda 3 little brother, the 2014 Mazda 6 packages most of its active safety features into the $2080 GT Technology Package available on the highest Grand Touring trim. This adds FCW and LDW to the backup camera and BLIS that come standard on the lower-trim Mazda 6 Touring. Other features like adaptive cruise control and Mazda’s i-ELOOP fuel-saving technology are also included in this package.

Honorable Mention: 2014 Honda Accord Sedan EX-L: $29,060

The 2014 Honda Accord doesn't quite make it onto our list because it does not have a full blind spot monitoring system. We wanted to give it some credit thanks to an interesting substitution, the Honda LaneWatch system. LaneWatch is a camera mounted below the passenger side mirror that projects a video feed to the central display screen showing an expanded view of the car’s right side. While it doesn’t display a visual alert like other blind spot monitors, LaneWatch provides an extended field of vision that helps diminish the car’s blind spot on the right side of the vehicle. All Accords offer a backup camera as standard, LaneWatch comes as standard on all Accords EX and up, and LDW and FCW systems come on the EX-L trim level and up.

Ford Posts $3.0 Billion Q4 Net Income, $8.6 Billion In 2013

Ford Motor Company finished 2013 on a high note, posting net income of $3.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013 and total net income for the year of $8.6 billion. That's up from Ford's net income of $5.7 billion in 2012, and comes on full-year revenue of $146.9 billion.

Although Ford's fourth-quarter net income was lower than in the fourth quarter of 2012, it marked the 18th consecutive quarter in which Ford has posted a positive profit. The strong results came as Ford finished the year with sales up 10.8 percent compared to 2012.

As a result of the strong financials, Ford plans to distribute profit-sharing checks to approximately 47,000 hourly workers in mid-March. Depending on an employee's hours, those checks will be around $8800 per worker.

Within North America, Ford reported a full-year pre-tax profit of $1.7 billion. That was down $200 million compared to 2012, which Ford primarily attributes to a Ford Escape recall that cost the automaker $300 million. In Europe, meanwhile, Ford continued to lose money, but its full-year pre-tax loss of $571 million is an improvement of $161 million compared to 2012. Even though the European new-car market contracted, Ford says that its profit margin increased -- to -5.8 percent.

Ford also said today that it produced 6.4 million vehicles worldwide last year, of which 3.1 million were assembled in the U.S.

Here Comes The Judge

When it comes to modern cars, I have an encyclopedic recollection of horsepower numbers, 0-to-60-mph times, and all manner of arcane statistics. My car-geek knowledge trails off considerably, though, when it comes to older cars. I mean, I know that a Chevy 400 was a small-block while a 396 was a big-block. I know a Wedge from a Hemi. But anything pre-1960 is probably a mystery to me. So when the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance invited me to judge Class 02 (Production 1916–1948), I naturally accept. As a matter of principle, I never let ignorance prevent me from expressing an opinion.

Fortunately, the show organizers have the wisdom to group me with two other judges who have a slightly firmer grasp on the subject at hand. Our expert trio includes Bob Fuller, chairman of the Keels & Wheels Concours, and John Carlson, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada. I'm outvoted two to one, which means that first place won't go to the monster truck that I saw in a nearby grocery-store parking lot. Not this year, anyway.

Armed with our score sheets, we approach our first entrant, a 1935 Ford Tudor sedan. The score sheet includes twenty categories evaluating every nuance of a car. Doing some quick math, I realize that we have twenty minutes per car, which means one minute each for the fuel system, the undercarriage, and eighteen other important things. If actual mechanics worked this fast, McDonald's would offer engine rebuilds while you're waiting for your Egg McMuffin.

Still, our first candidate is easy because it is basically what a 1935 Ford would look like if it were built on God's assembly line by a team of angels. At another event, it scored 996 points out of a possible 1000. "That's basically unattainable," Carlson says. "As close to perfect as you can get."

Carlson and Fuller chat with the owner and have him start the car and go through a quick inspection -- headlights, horn -- before we're on to the next car. This one, a 1930s Chevy, looks immaculate to my eye, but Carlson can see that it's not quite as choice as the Ford. "It's got some goofy stuff, like an alternator instead of a generator and incorrect tire valve stems," Carlson says. "He's made it into a driver, but that kind of stuff takes it out of a competition like this." I'd noticed that Carlson complimented the Ford owner on his valve stems, where no such comment was forthcoming here.

Farther down the line, we encounter a 1917 Paige Six-51 Brooklands with its owners standing nearby wearing period attire. Even I can see that the Paige is a little bit scruffy, with chipped paint on its wheels and incongruous aftermarket turn signals. I ask Carlson if presentation, or a car's story, figures into his calculations. "The owners here are dressed up, and they're charming as hell," Carlson says. "But you can't let that sway you. It has to be about the car and only about the car."

By the time we're done checking out the 1923 Stutz Speedway Four, it seems like the Ford is still the front-runner. Not that I've actually scored anything, because covering all twenty categories in the allotted time just seems impossible. It turns out that Carlson and Fuller mostly ignore the score sheets, too. They take notes, but they're pros and don't need to add up each category to figure out their top three.

"The real fuss-asses will add all that stuff up line by line, but if you do that you can have the wrong car win," Carlson says. If you do keep a more detailed tally of the individual categories, you should never, ever let an owner see your assessment. "Showing them the score sheet is the kiss of death," Carlson says. "Because then they might want to debate individual categories. Some people ask for it because they want to see which areas they need to improve, but at this level I shouldn't have to tell you. This is the big leagues."

I'd always assumed that concours judges are universally the type of people who delight in gloating over an incorrect gasket. But Fuller and Carlson are cheerful, engaging, and don't ever chastise the owners for their cars' imperfections. Certainly the judges noticed that you made your headlight reflectors out of Reynolds Wrap, but they're not going to make you feel bad about it. Your car just won't win.

Ultimately, you shouldn't feel too bad about that, either. "If you want to be better than everyone else, in this crowd, you're setting yourself up for disappointment," Carlson says. "There's always someone with something bigger, better, faster." He goes on to tell me about a guy he met who mentioned that he'd done a few restorations -- on his submarines. You think you're cool because you won something at Pebble Beach? There's a guy sitting out in the bay looking at you through his periscope and laughing at the limited scope of your ambitions.

After some discussion, my fellow judges concur that the '35 Ford is the winner. Hey, I'll buy that. Judging duties complete, I wander out to the front gate, where there's another sort of car show in progress -- a ride-and-drive from companies like BMW, Infiniti, Jaguar, and Porsche. As with Pebble Beach, this old-car event is ironically a great place to get your hands on the very latest new stuff. I head to the BMW tent and grab the keys to an i3.

It strikes me that the most interesting old cars are the ones that were ahead of their time -- maybe a little bit expensive and technologically daring for their day. And the i3, with its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tub, electric powertrain, and space-station-via-Ikea interior, is the most futuristic car I've driven in a long while.

I don't know if it's a candidate for the 2050 Concours, but I'm going to memorize the look of its valve stems, just in case.