New Ford Mustang set for 2014 World Debut

The 2014 Mustang is going GLOBAL! Yes, folks that means we will build and export right hand drive Mustang to the UK, Australia and Japan. As an enthusiast how do you feel about that? I know the Europeans will be extremely happy. Please read the article below from Auto Express

Ford to bring legendary muscle car to UK showrooms for first time, dealers already being briefed ahead of its arrival.

A big slice of America is crossing the Atlantic: the Mustang is heading to UK showrooms, Auto Express can reveal. To coincide with the muscle car’s 50th anniversary in 2014, Ford will launch it across the world, and in right-hand drive for the first time.

Sources have revealed that dealers are being told to prepare for its arrival. The newcomer will sit at the top of the range alongside regular models such as the Fiesta and Focus in dealerships. It will be the most European-friendly version of the coupé ever – but will still be a proper Mustang, with V8s for the fastest models.

The company’s ‘One Ford’ strategy is behind the Mustang’s migration. To cut costs and reduce the number of models (and platforms) the firm makes globally, the all-new model will be a ‘world car’, sold in different markets virtually unchanged.

The Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo already follow this approach, and it means there is a business case for producing right-hand-drive Mustangs in the States and shipping them to Europe. But the UK won’t be the only right-hand-drive market the car is offered in; Australia and Japan will take the car, too.

An insider revealed:

“The design studios in Europe and Australia are working on it, as well as those in America. It will be smaller and closer in spirit to the original 1964 Mustang.” 

Our illustrations give you a good idea of how the new ‘pony’ car will look. It’s leaner and ever so slightly smaller, but still very mean, and packs all the visual aggression for which the legendary model has been famous. This includes recessed headlamps, a traditional C-pillar and triple lens tail-lights.

Yet while it harks back to Sixties Mustangs, the new car will be the most technically advanced version ever. It will be far lighter than the current model, for improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

Plus, for the first time, it’s set to feature independent rear suspension. As on the Chevrolet Camaro, this set-up replaces the decades-old live rear axle of the current car, and should mean better ride comfort and traction.

Power will come from a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost turbo with around 300bhp, while a range-topping 500bhp 5.4-litre V8 will be available, too. Six-speed manual and auto transmissions are likely to be offered with torque vectoring to keep the performance in check, while the handling is expected to be tuned by Jost Capito and his team at Ford’s Global Performance Vehicles arm.

As well as upping quality under the skin, Ford will have to pay attention to the materials used inside – current models fall behind their European rivals in terms of fit and finish. The move to make the Mustang a world car will be controversial.

Bosses will need to tread carefully so as not to alienate the model’s huge fan base – nearly 75,000 examples were sold in the US in 2010 – and still appeal to discerning UK buyers used to the BMW 3-Series Coupé and Audi A5.

But with Vauxhall’s VXR8, and the Monaro before it, proving that there’s room for powerful muscle cars in the line-up of a mainstream maker, Ford will be confident of success.

Read more: Auto Express

I think expanding sales of the Mustang to the world is a great idea. It will be funny looking at a right hand drive Mustang that's for sure.

They say the Mustang will get smaller ala (First Generation Mustang) which is probably the result of the new "EPA Cafe Mileage Standards" and I'm sure the smaller roads in Europe had a little to do with it also.

Looks like the new Mustang will be getting the 300HP 2.5L Eco-Boost, 500HP 5.4L and I heard that the 400+HP 5.0L will be available. I think that's great. I have been looking for Ford to bring the 2.5L Eco-Boost to the Mustang for a few years now.

I look forward to seeing the 2014 Prototype Mustang in the near future.

Let me know what you think about the 2014 Mustang in the comments below.

You can also follow me on twitter @95SVTCobraVA

Tony

Cut, Cap & Balance Act, Is It Enough?



Cut, Cap & Balance Act (CCB Act), Is It Enough? In a word NO. Don't get me wrong it is a great start in the right direction and that is why I support the CCB Act. But, we can do better and will have to because of the economic conditions that we unfortunately find ourselves in today and for the foreseeable future.

Let's review what the CCB Act actually is.

CUT

Cuts total spending by $111 billion in FY 2012. The savings is divided as follows:

• Reduce non-security discretionary spending below 2008 levels, which saves $76 billion.
• $35 billion cut to non-veterans, non-Medicare, non-Social Security mandatory spending.
• Defense budget at President's level.

http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/bill.php

"Cuts total spending by $111 billion in FY 2012." This is a good start but remember we are expected to run a 1.5 Trillion dollar deficit in 2011 and will probably be close to 1 Trillion dollars in 2012. We still have a long wway to go.

I have problem with the vague "Defence budget at President's level." I'm not sure exactly what that means. Hopefully that doesn't mean what ever the President determines is an acceptable level of spending for the defence of our coutry and the service men and women who serve. I personally do not trust this President to do the right thing. They say it will be at the same level the House passed for the FY 2012 budget.

CAP

Total federal spending is scaled back based on the glide path for the fiscal years below:

• 2012, 22.5% of GDP.
• 2013, 21.7% of GDP.
• 2014, 20.8% of GDP.
• 2015, 20.2% of GDP.
• 2016, 20.2% of GDP.
• 2017, 20.0% of GDP.
• 2018, 19.7% of GDP.
• 2019, 19.9% of GDP.
• 2020, 19.9% of GDP.
• 2021, 19.9% of GDP.

          http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/bill.php

I understand the theory behind capping it at 20% of the GPD. Here is their reason. "This would place spending in line with average spending over the last 30 years." Every year over the last 30 years except for a couple we have had a deficit. So here is my question. If we keep spending at 20% of GDP and we are still running a deficit does that mean we will have to increase taxes?

BALANCE

Requires the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) before raising the nation's debt limit.

          http://www.cutcapandbalanceact.com/bill.php

This sounds great but the devil is in the details. Here are the details they list on BBA.

The legislation would require that any Balanced Budget Amendment include the following:

1. A balanced budget component;
2. A super-majority requirement to raise taxes; and
3. A limit on spending as a percentage of GDP.

This means they do not have a BBA drafted yet. I like the outline in general but I want to see the details. I hope it will included a "Budget Line Item Veto."

All things considered it is a good start but I believe you will agree that it is just a start! November 6, 2012, cannot come soon enough!

Tony

July 24, 2011, A Day of Reckoning?

We all knew that the "Day of Reckoning" was coming for our fiscal irresponsibility at the Federal level. Has that day arrived? According to Speaker John Boehner today Sunday, July 24, 2011 may be D-Day for the Debt Ceiling negotiations.

At 6:00pm ET today the markets will open in Japan to begin the trading week. The fear is without an agreement on a plan to raise the Debt Ceiling and Cut Spending that the markets will react very badly ala the TARP vote witch the failure of that first vote on TARP caused the Dow Jones Industrials to fall over 777 points which is the worse single day point loss in history. Now we all I know that most of us including myself and many who voted for TARP did not like that legislation at all and were very much against it. The last thing the leaders in Washington want to see in a flat economy is a market free fall like the first TARP vote. They are very fearful that a market plunge like that would send us deeper into a recession that we have been trying very to get out of despite the efforts of President Obama's agenda.



Folks what we are watching unfold before us is the "Ultimate High Stakes Poker Game." They are eyeball to eyeball. Who is bluffing?  The President? The Senate? Or is it the House? We may very well know by 6pm today.

One thing is certain, if it wasn't for the "Patriot/Tea Party Movement" that rose up in the winter of 2009 none of this would be going on today. They would have hiked the Debt Limit without any talk about cutting spending. They would not have extended the so called "Bush Tax Cuts." They would be even further along in spending us into oblivion than they are today.

I am rather certain that the "Patriot/Tea Party Movement" will not get everything we would like to see happen with the budget. We want REAL CUTS! NO NEW TAXES! BALANCE THE BUDGET! The reality of Washington DC is that we have real influance in the House, only enough in the Senate to make things difficult for the Democrats and absolutly none in the White House which makes November 2, 2012, all that more important.

Regardless what the outcome may be the "Patriot/Tea Party Movement" has become a major player in the politics of Washington DC and the World. The "Patriot/Tea Party Movement" could not have accomplish this achievement if it wasn't for the Patriots who flooded the Congress with phone calls and emails, held rallies, marched on DC and voted in large numbers on November 3, 2010.

So who is going to blink in this "Ultimate High Stakes Poker Game?" For the sake of "We The People" let's hope it is Barry and the Democrats!

Tony



U.S. Government Ends Chrysler Investment With $1.3 Billion Loss



Wow! What a surprise! I never saw that one coming!

Published July 21, 2011,| FoxNews.com

The U.S government has sold its shares in Chrysler LLC at a likely loss of $1.3 billion in taxpayer money, the Treasury Department said Thursday, announcing the end of a controversial investment that resurrected the troubled auto company.

Italian automaker Fiat SpA, which has run the company since it emerged from bankruptcy protection in June 2009, purchased the U.S. government's remaining 98,000 shares in the auto company for $560 million.

The financial loss irritated Republican lawmakers."I am deeply disturbed to learn that the Obama administration left $1.3 billion taxpayer dollars on the table in resolving its bailout of Chrysler," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"The administration has sold out an American icon to a foreign company using TARP funds underwritten by taxpayers. Now they are essentially give that same company $1.3 billion of taxpayer money," he said.

"At a time when American taxpayers must make tough choices to repay their mortgages -- even on houses worth less than they paid -- it is unfathomable that Italian automaker Fiat and its subsidiary Chrysler got away with repaying less than the full amount borrowed from the U.S. government," he added.

Treasury provided a total of $12.5 billion to Chrysler and its financing arm after the recession hampered auto sales and sent Chrysler and General Motors to the brink of collapse. The funds came from the government's $700 billion bank bailout fund.

Since then, $11.2 billion of the assistance has been repaid, Treasury said. Chrysler repaid $5.1 billion in loans from the government in May. But the $1.3 billion remaining is unlikely to be recovered, Treasury said.

"With today's closing, the U.S. government has exited its investment in Chrysler at least six years earlier than expected," said Tim Massad, assistant secretary for financial stability.

"This is a major accomplishment and further evidence of the success of the administration's actions to assist the U.S. auto industry, which helped save a million jobs during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression."

Chrysler has made a remarkable turnaround from two years ago, when it was rescued by the government.

The company earned net income of $116 million in the first quarter and is forecasting 2011 earnings of $200 million to $500 million. Under the leadership of Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, the company has cut costs and revived its sales by refurbishing most of its lineup of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram vehicles.

Its sales rose 30 percent in June compared to the previous year.

The purchase of the government's stake gives Fiat 52 percent ownership of Chrysler. That's likely to rise to 57 percent before the end of the year when Chrysler begins producing a 40 mpg small car in the U.S.

Fiat received a 20 percent stake in Chrysler after the bankruptcy in exchange for management expertise and technology. The Italian automaker has gradually raised its stake by meeting benchmarks set by the government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is just a small example of why the Federal Government should NEVER bailout anyone. The whole idea of the bailout was to keep the automaker afloat and keep it from going into bankruptcy. How did that work? Not so good.

I believe that the Obama Administration's main goal was to protect the Unions at the expense of everyone else. The Obama Administration broke every bankruptcy law in the book just to protect their union buddies.

November 2012 cannot come soon enough!

Tony

Reid: Cantor should not be in debt limit talks

Ahhhhh, the headline says it all. Anytime Harry Reid doesn't like someone then that person's stock goes up in my book!

By LAURIE KELLMAN - Associated Press | AP – 2 hrs 27 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says House Majority Leader Eric Cantor should not be part of the debt limit negotiations. He's calling the Virginia Republican congressman "childish."

Reid says Cantor's conduct during the sensitive White House talks have shown, in Reid's words, "he shouldn't even be at the table." Reid says other congressional leaders are negotiating in good faith as an Aug. 2 deadline approaches for raising the debt limit.

That's when the Obama administration says the government would begin defaulting if no agreement is reached to raise the borrowing limit. Leaders of both parties and the business world have said that a default would be catastrophic.

The daily talks ended Wednesday with Obama and Cantor clashing, and the president leaving the room. They resume late Thursday afternoon.

http://news.yahoo.com/reid-cantor-not-debt-limit-talks-140004596.html

 It seems to me that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has been getting under the skin of a few people lately. Like the House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and yes even POTUS himself Barack Hussein Obama, Mmmmm! Mmmmm! Mmmmm!

Could it be that Mr. Cantor has been actully standing up for what most of us would like to see the Federal Governmnet do and that is "CUT SPENDING!!!" Could it also be that Mr. Cantor is actully making a stand against and saying "NO NEW TAXES!!!"

If that is true then I tip my hat to Mr. Cantor for a job well done so far.

Anytime you get under the skin of Barack Hussein Obama Mmmmm! Mmmmm! Mmmmm!, you deserve the "Golden Oar Award" for stirring the pot if you get my drift.

EPA: High-ethanol fuel blend safe to use

If you believe this dribble then I have prime real estate in South Central Florida for sale. E15 will eat at all of your gaskets and cause all kinds of trouble.

Nathan Hurst/ Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington— Drivers shouldn't worry about using gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol, a key Environmental Protection Agency official said Thursday amid deep insistence from Republican lawmakers and automakers that such use could damage engines.

GOP members controlling the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee overseeing energy and environmental legislation used the Thursday hearing on allowing so-called E15 fuel to be sold nationally to criticize the EPA's decision to move forward with a controversial waiver allowing the sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol.
Currently, ethanol blends of up to 10 percent are the norm at gas stations across the country, and the EPA has approved a waiver allowing up to 15 percent.

Margo Oge, director of the agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, said her scientists conducted extensive research showing that "no unusual damage was found compared to control vehicles tested with normal gasoline."

But that claim came as both lawmakers and auto manufacturers alike cried foul. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., insisted the wavier — which would allow fuel stations to sell gasoline mixed with up to 15 percent ethanol, but not require its sale — isn't a "science-based decision" and warned that automakers had come out strongly against approval.

Auto industry leaders circulated letters among Capitol Hill reporters this week, opposing the introduction of E15 into the American market.

Despite restricting the sale of E15 for use only in vehicles model year 2001 and higher, the manufacturers said they were unable to ensure that their customers wouldn't encounter problems by using the fuel.

Some of those same manufacturers — including Detroit's Big Three — have autos designed to burn E85, which is only 15 percent gasoline.

But those that aren't, manufacturers warn, could encounter reduced engine lifespan, poor performance and costly repairs. Officials with groups representing small engine manufacturers echoed that sentiment at Thursday's hearings.

The EPA approved an orange-and-black label for E15 pumps in late June, which will have to be applied to any equipment dispensing the 85 percent gasoline, 15 percent ethanol blend. That label warns against use in cars with model years earlier than 2001 and in motorcycles, boats and gas-powered lawn equipment.

nhurst@detnews.com
(202) 662-8738 From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110708/AUTO01/107080340/EPA--High-ethanol-fuel-blend-safe-to-use#ixzz1RkWZ5Oxo

Taking Back Our Country Part 1 - New Federal Tax Code

New Federal Tax Code

With a debt approaching 14 Trillion dollars, yes I said 14 Trillion, Now 14 Trillion looks like this… $14,000,000,000,000, leaves you with the question “Where do you start?” In my humble opinion you start with the Federal Tax Code. The KEY to taking back our country is getting control of our money.

Tackling the Federal Tax Code is actually very simple. You SCRAP the existing system. The current Federal Tax Code is over 64,000 pages thick and is full of corruption and it needs to be REPLACED with a new Federal Tax Code that I believe should be what is commonly known as a Value Added Tax (VAT). I prefer to call it what it is a National Sales Tax. Now this is not a new idea but I believe it could be the answer to our dysfunctional tax code.

The National Sales Tax will replace ALL Federal Taxes, Fees and any revenue enhancement programs excluding Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid has to be addressed separately which I will go into at another time.

So how will this National Sales Tax work?

The National Sale Tax

The National Sales Tax (NST) should have a range between 1% to 5% at the point of sale with NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCLUSIONS. I suggest a 5% NST. For example let’s use that ear of corn you just bought at the grocery store as an example.

When the Farmer bought the seed, fertilizer, herbicide, etc. He would pay a 5% NST.

After the corn is harvested the Wholesaler would pay a 5% NST on the Farmer’s corn crop.

When the Grocery Store Chain buy’s a supply of corn from the Wholesaler they would pay a 5% NST.

That ear of corn you picked out in the produce section of the Grocery Store you will pay a 5% NST.

Of course all the NST paid by the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain is included in the price you pay for that ear of corn. You may ask, “Is that right?” The answer is yes.

All of the actual or estimated taxes that the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain will pay under the current Federal Tax Code are included in the price of that ear of corn. So nothing will change when it comes to passing the cost of doing business.

What will the NST apply to?

The NST applies to all aspects of the U.S. economy. Which means it will apply to agriculture, industry, finance, service, investments, energy, etc., remember I said NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCLUSIONS. For example it will apply to houses, Cars, Bubble Gum, Insurance Policy’s, Lawyer Fees, Gasoline, Food, Medicine, Stocks, Doctor Bill’s, etc. Do you get the picture now?

What is the advantage of the NST over a Flat Tax or the Fair Tax?

As stated above the NST will not exceed 5% at all levels of purchase and applies to all sales without exception. Your income is NOT TAXED!

The Flat Tax of 10% to 20%, which ever rate they decide on will still tax your income and require you to file a return every year just like you do now. Most if not all of the exceptions are eliminated. Check the following link for more information.
A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax Link

The Fair Tax resembles the NST because it does tax you when you buy something. The problem with the Fair Tax is that it will tax you about 25% at the retail level and will have some exceptions and exclusions. Check the following link for more information.
The Fair Tax Link

How do we keep Congress from raising the NST rate or creating new taxes?

We all know that Congress will do their best to raise the NST rate or will create new taxes weather we like it or not so they can spend more money on their pet projects. How do we stop it? It will take a Constitutional Amendment to guarantee that Congress will not pervert the NST.
What will this Constitutional Amendment look like?

Repeal the 16th Amendment.

The NST will not exceed 5% without a National Referendum. There are two exceptions to this rule.
Exception 1: In case of a Natural Disaster Congress can enact up to a 1% increase in the NST above the 5% limit until either the public infrastructure that was damaged is replaced and paid for or it is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in November in a National Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.
Exception 2: In case of a Declared War by Congress, Congress can enact up to a 1% increase in the NST above the 5% limit until either the War is over and paid for or it is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in November in a National Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.

Congress CANNOT increase the NST above 5% without the prior approval of the public through a National Referendum requiring 60% of the vote or more. All increases will be limited to 1% without exception.

Any increase in the NST above the 5% limit CANNOT exceed 5 years. The public must re-approve the previous NST increase in a National Referendum requiring 60% of the vote or more.

The President will have the power of a Budget Line-Item-Veto.

Congress MUST maintain a Balanced Budget.

All Budget Deficits must be balanced with Spending Cuts.

All Budget Surpluses must be applied to the National Debt or in case the National Debt has been paid then it must be refunded to the citizens (above 18 years old) of the United States of America equally.

This new Constitutional Amendment will fundamentally change the way our Federal Government works. It will literally take most of the power of taxation away from Congress and give it back to “The People”. Think about that for a minute. You will through a “National Referendum” for the first time in our history have control over your tax money.

I firmly believe that this proposed Federal Tax Code will bring in the revenue to help balance our budget along with spending cuts.

We must elect people who will truly reform our Federal Government by not adding a bunch of new laws but by repealing old laws.

Wounded Warrior Family Support High Five Tour With Col. John Folsom

On July 2nd, Col. John Folsom came rolling into town on his 18,000 mile High Five Tour across the country to every state capital (including Hawaii & Alaska) to drum up support for the “Wounded Warrior Family Support” project.

The “Wounded Warrior Family Support” mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically.

Wounded Warriors Family Support mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The resort condominium that we own in Orlando, Florida are quiet havens where war torn families can reunite and become stronger.

Please Support the families of our Wounded Warriors by making a donation today! Here is a link to their website…

Wounded Warriors Family Support


The Central Virginia Mustang Club had the honor of meeting Col. Folsom at Richmond Ford. Many of us made donations and signed his 2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. Richmond Ford also gave a generous donation along with many of their employees.

When the time came for Col. Folsom to hit the road the Central Virginia Mustang Club had eight Mustangs escorting him down the highway. Most of the Mustang had peeled off by the time they got to Petersburg except for three of us; we escorted him to South Hill, Virginia.

CVMC wishes Col. Folsom and “Wounded Warrior Family Support” happy trails on the rest of his journey.