Chapter 2180 The Ford Group is hungry

The subprime mortgage crisis that swept the whole country, even Ford Motor was affected without exception, this is actually a matter of course, when people lose their jobs, where do they get the money to buy houses and cars? Everyone is desperately trying to sell the car in their hand, one car is enough for a family, isn't it a waste of the car that has more? Sell that gas-guzzling pickup!

These details that are not paid attention to by the people of the United States on weekdays, but in the face of the pressure of life, they also have to choose to change the living habits of the past that are lavish, and begin to be careful about living expenses, all unnecessary expenses in the family have been cut, the original new car purchase plan has been postponed indefinitely, and living and saving expenses have become the first priority of the family. It can also add some leverage to keep your job.

In such a trend of everyone frugal life, compared with the same period last year, Ford's sales fell by 15.6%, but even so, Ford is still good, GM, GMC, Chrysler and other American auto giants are even worse, bloated GM even fell by 25% year-on-year, if it were not for a large part of the profits from the Republic to support, GM would almost have to lose its bottoms.

In this cold current that swept the entire automobile industry in the United States, even Japanese cars, which have always been known for their energy saving, have encountered a cold winter, although they are not as prone to a decline of 20 or 30 percent as General Motors and other automobile brands, but the decline is also between 10% and 15%.

Bill. Ford's reaction made Zhang Lan smile slightly, and the atmosphere eased.

"Mr. Ford, in the previous letters you sent us, you expressed your desire to expand the scope of our cooperation, and this time I have come with great sincerity." Zhang Lan looked at Bill with a smile. Ford, has made it very clear: our Alice Group has expressed interest in your intention to cooperate, what about your Ford family?

Bill. Ford's heart was overjoyed!

Although Zhang Lan's words are unknown, these words clearly indicate that Alice Group is still willing to cooperate with Ford Motor on this issue. Ford was pleasantly surprised, and he was even ready for a "protracted war" with Zhang Lan.

"If possible, we would like to have access to the group's ceramic engine technology, or fuel cell power." Bill. Ford looked at Zhang Lan cautiously, observing Zhang Lan's reaction.

"It can't be." For this point, Zhang Lan refused directly without thinking about it, "Mr. Ford, you should understand that it is good that we are allies, but even if we are allies, it is impossible for our Alice Group to cooperate with you in these two technologies, which are at least 20 years ahead...... Do you think we at Alice Group will take a technology that is 20 years ahead and work with others? ”

Although he had already guessed that it was the answer, when Zhang Lan said the answer, Bill. Ford still had a look of disappointment on his face, and his frustration was overflowing, "Really? That's a shame. ”

Zhang Lan just smiled and didn't speak. Compared to Bill. Ford also understands that the Alice Group will never cooperate with any one company with ceramic engine technology and fuel cell power technology...... No one or interest group or country can force Alice Group to do so, and Alice Group has enough strength to protect its own industrial security.

Come to think of it, Bill. Ford is working on another technology idea: hybrid vehicle technology. …,

"In that case...... "Bill. The muscles on Ford's face twitched, and he seemed disappointed and regretful, "I wonder if we can establish a wide range of cooperation in hybrid vehicles?" ”

Zhang Lan guessed right, in fact, Bill. Ford and the entire Ford family are playing the idea of hybrid vehicles, and Alice Group does not look down on hybrid vehicles, but for the automobile giants around the world, hybrid technology people are still their magic weapon.

In the world's automobile giants in the study of hybrid vehicles, to the Japanese and local automobile industry boss as the most, their Prius in the urban comprehensive working conditions, can reach 100 kilometers of 4.5 liters of fuel consumption, is currently the most advanced in the hybrid vehicle technology in various countries, and other automobile giants research hybrid vehicle technology, can only be regarded as mild hybrid, fuel-saving effect is not obvious.

Considering that Hi & Hontoyo & Tian has now become the absolute controlling company of the Alice Group, in fact, to a certain extent, most of the money they make has to be handed over to the Alice Group.

"Hybrids?" Zhang Lan smiled, did not nod, did not shake his head, and looked noncommittal, "Mr. Ford, please forgive me, I heard that your group is researching a new engine technology, through this revolutionary engine, this engine with only 1.0 displacement, can reach the parameter level of ordinary 1.8 engine, after higher settings and tuning of the engine, the performance can even exceed the 2.0 engine, and the effect of fuel saving is very obvious." I don't understand, why do you want to pursue hybrid vehicles when your group has such an excellent engine? ”

Bill. Ford's heart is full of hardship, why is it seeking a hybrid car? Aren't they all forced by your Alice Group?!

Speaking of which, Bill. Ford is full of grief and indignation! The reason for the grief and indignation is naturally very simple, in this cold snap that swept the entire American automobile manufacturing and sales industry, the only exception is probably Alice Motors.

Alice Group produces cars, known for saving and fuel-saving, this energy-saving and fuel-saving, and different from the Japanese car to cut corners on the body material to complete, but through the improvement of fuel efficiency to complete, the safety performance of the car has not been lost at all, in this swept the entire United States automobile industry in the cold current, Alice Group's automotive products are the only one against the trend, compared with the same period last year, up 8% year-on-year.

Alice Group sells automotive products equipped with high-performance ceramic engines and even fuel cell power systems all over the world, and theoretically speaking, at this time, the models that should be equipped with high-performance ceramic engines and fuel cell power systems are selling well, but the actual situation is just the opposite, compared with models equipped with traditional internal combustion engines, because the prices of models equipped with high-performance ceramic engines and fuel cell engines are generally higher. However, most of the people who purchase these models are government agencies and large conglomerates that pay more attention to their public image, and they are not greatly affected.

Even in the field of traditional internal combustion engines, because the technology used by Alice Group is more advanced, the fuel-saving effect is also very obvious, such as the 2.0 engine commonly used in the intermediate car market, ordinary cars equipped with 2.0 engines, under urban comprehensive working conditions, fuel consumption is generally about 10 liters, but the engine of the same displacement of Alice Group, fuel consumption can be controlled at 5 to 7 liters, which can be compared with the sub, but it is excellent handling performance, which can be called a 2.0 engine, 2.4 power, 1.6 fuel consumption.

10 kilometers of about 10 fuel consumption, many people will naturally consider hybrid vehicles, anyway, they sit 5 people, right? But if the fuel consumption is reduced to about 6, it is another matter, it is nothing more than one more oil, compared with the extra oil, it brings the overall improvement of power performance, this feeling, and the weak power system of hybrid vehicles can not be compared. …,

"Hybrids." Zhang Lan frowned,

Bill. He naturally saw Ford's bitter expression, but at this moment, Zhang Lan was also making the final consideration in his heart: what level of hybrid system should be taken out to cooperate with Ford Motor?

Zhang Lan frowned and meditated. Ford suddenly became nervous: What does Alice Group mean by this? Wouldn't even the "ordinary" hybrid system come up with it and cooperate with our Ford vehicles?

But at this time, Bill. Ford didn't dare to say a word, lest because he hastily interrupted Zhang Lan's thinking, this opportunity to reverse the grim situation of Ford would be lost.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Lan finally opened her mouth slowly, "Mr. Ford, over the years, although our Alice Group has shown several hybrid vehicles, we Alice Group agree that hybrid vehicles are just transitional models in the transition period from traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, so our Alice Group has not launched its own hybrid vehicles, which you must know. ”

Bill. Fuji nodded, there is no doubt about this, in fact it is not a secret, Alice Group has always looked down on hybrid cars, thinking that hybrid cars are just a "mongrel", such a model, naturally will not be looked at by Alice Group.

"But I would say that although we at Alice Group have never launched our own hybrid car, we at Alice Group have always been very successful in this area."

"I know this," said Bill. Ford continued, "As far as I know, the Prius hybrid car of Nippon & Toyo Honda has received technical guidance from your group, and we at Ford Motor also hope to cooperate with the Alice Group to develop a hybrid car similar to the Prius." ”

In the financial subprime mortgage crisis that swept the whole country, the Prius hybrid car is the only model in the United States automobile sales market with a year-on-year growth rate of more than 15%, and even many places in the United States can not get the car at all, and the orders have been lined up for two months.

Bill. Ford is very smart, he knows that the reason why Hi & Hontoyo & Tian was able to succeed in this model that sells well in Europe and the United States is inseparable from the hybrid technology provided by their major shareholder, Alice Group, otherwise their Prius would never be so perfect. Ford knew very well that it would be impossible for Ford to get the hybrid technology in the hands of the Alice Group without a little blood.

Zhang Lan nodded, obviously for Bill. Ford was satisfied, "In that case, we can work together on this...... Mr. Ford, so far, we in the Alice Group have three hybrid technologies, I wonder which one of our technologies would you like to work with? ”

"Three hybrid technologies?" Bill. Ford was at a loss.

The hybrid car technology in the hands of the Alice Group is very advanced. Ford knew it, but they had three hybrid technologies in their hands. Ford was a little confused and shocked, because in their intelligence, it seemed that the Alice Group only had one hybrid technology, that is, the kind of hybrid technology shown on the Prius. But since Zhang Lan has already said so, it is naturally impossible for him to deceive people, since this is the case......

"I'm ashamed that so far I've only known about the hybrid technology you've demonstrated on the Prius, and I don't know about the other two," said Bill. Ford had no shame on his face, but a look of curiosity, "May I ask Mr. Zhang Lan, what are the other two forms of hybrid power in your group?" ”…,

Of course, it's normal not to be ashamed and curious, otherwise it will only show that Bill. Mr. Ford has a ghost in his heart. Of course, Bill. Ford never thought that Zhang Lan's words were so heartfelt, or maybe this guy was testing himself?

"I was negligent on my part," Zhang Lan smiled apologetically. Ford said, "The first is the hybrid technology we currently use on the Prius, which is equipped with a 1.5-liter engine, which can achieve a fuel consumption of 4.5 liters to 5 liters per 100 kilometers in urban traffic conditions, which we call mild hybrid technology." ”

Bill. Ford suddenly smacked his tongue violently. As for the Prius's hybrid technology, do you also call it mild hybrid technology? As far as your mild hybrid technology is concerned, it's already a hybrid technology that everyone is emulating, right? I don't know how many car companies think of the hybrid technology you apply to the Prius.

Don't blame Bill. Ford's shock, in the current mainstream market, the so-called mild hybrid technology, the effect of fuel saving is very slight, but it is 1 liter to 1.5 liters of fuel saving per 100 kilometers, symbolic of a bit of fuel saving effect, where can it be compared with the Prius with the body of a mid-level car and the fuel consumption of a mini car?

"That's ......" Bill. Ford didn't know what to say to express his feelings, and shook his head, "I see, I always thought that the technology on the Prius was already very advanced, may I ask Mr. Zhang Lan, since you classify the technology applied to the Prius as mild hybrid, what is the medium hybrid system?" ”

"Medium hybrid, we use a specially designed 500cc twin-cylinder engine, with a battery pack to use, we designed this 500cc twin-cylinder engine can reach a maximum of 64 horsepower, with the battery pack, according to our comprehensive test, in the city with integrated chopsticks conditions, fuel consumption is about 3.2 liters to 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers, if the speed is less than 60 kilometers per hour, the engine is not turned on, the power in the battery can maintain the car for 60 kilometers."

"If it is equivalent to the fuel consumption of a 500cc single-cylinder rally motorcycle or a 250cc street motorcycle, the fuel saving effect is even more obvious; If it is in the suburbs or on the highway with good commuting conditions, fuel consumption is basically stable at about 3 liters...... By the way, I forgot to mention that the test car, we used the Prius, and this hybrid system replaced the power system on the previous Prius. ”

The fuel consumption of a four-wheeled sedan is actually the same as the fuel consumption of a 500cc single-cylinder rally motorcycle? This fuel consumption is also too amazing!

However, Zhang Lan smashed his mouth with a look of regret, "But because of the displacement of the gasoline engine, the high-speed performance of this car is not high, and the maximum speed is only 160 kilometers per hour, which is a pity, if it can be ......."

"No, no, no, no regrets at all!" Without waiting for Zhang Lan to finish speaking, Bill. Ford's words have come out of his mouth!

With only a little more than 3 liters of fuel consumption per 100 kilometers, it can reach a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour, and it can run 60 kilometers in a crowded city where the maximum driving speed does not exceed 50 kilometers per hour. What else do you dare to think?

The technology of the mid-level hybrid has been so advanced that Bill. Ford couldn't imagine what kind of heavy hybrid technology Zhang Lan was going to talk about next.

"And what about cars with highly hybrid powertrains?" Bill. Ford's voice trembled, and he asked Zhang Lan excitedly.

Reason tells Bill. Ford, Alice Group will never come up with the highest degree of hybrid cars to cooperate with Ford Motor, but as a person who is obsessed with cars, any bit of new technology on the car, let Bill. Ford was so excited that he couldn't sleep because he didn't know what was going on with a new toy.

Now, Zhang Lan has fully hung Bill. Ford Appetite, Bill. How could Ford hold back the curiosity in his heart?

"Our highly hybrid powertrain, in fact, is very simple, in terms of engine, we still use the previous 500cc twin-cylinder engine, but we use two turbochargers on it, and the power of this 500cc twin-cylinder engine is increased to 90 hp......"