The rapidly shrinking US auto market has left automakers scrambling for any way to differentiate their products from the competition, and the fastest way to get the job done is with technology. Microsoft is all too aware of this, and the tech giant is betting big on automotive to give itself a larger presence in a rapidly growing field. Microsoft has increased both staffing and funding by 30% in an effort to get in on the connectivity and infotainment ground floor.

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While Chrysler has chosen to get out of the leasing business altogether after taking a bath on vehicles being returned with residual values far below expectations, Ford will reportedly be taking a different approach. Automotive News is reporting that after its finance arm recorded "extreme losses" on its lease vehicles, the automaker has decided to raise prices on its leases for the F-150, Super Duty, Ford Explorer and Sport Trac.

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Currently Ford’s sales rely heavily on its pickup truck line, which constituted 52% of its volume last year. The rapid fall in pickup sales volume precipitated by a weak economy and rising fuel prices was reflected directly in the F-150’s race down the best-seller list in the U.S. To fix the problem and improve overall sales figures, Ford has announced it will shrink truck output to just 38% of its overall volume by 2013.

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Workers at Ford’s engine plant in Cologne, Germany, could face losing their jobs unless the plant starts building a new fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine, warned Ford of Europe’s union boss Dieter Hinkelmann. The Cologne plant builds roughly 200,000 V6 engines each year for Ford’s North American SUVs as well as a small number of V8 and V12 engines for Aston Martin, but there’s capacity in place to build up to 560,000 engines per year.

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You read that right folks. The 2010 Ford Mustang will make its official debut in at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th. According to a source speaking with InsideLine, the new 'Stang won't be shown in Detroit as originally rumored, conceivably a response to the Camaro hype-machine we've had to endure over the last two weeks.

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Just as photos of the production version of the Camaro popped up on the web last week ahead of tomorrow's unveiling, Ford decided to trot out the 2010 Mustang this weekend. Unlike the fully-revealed Camaro, the '10 Mustang remained heavily camouflaged as it acted as the pace car for the Kohler International Challenge vintage race at Road America.

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When the Ford Fairlane concept bowed in Detroit in 2005, it proved that Ford could design a stylish crossover recognizable from a mile away. Unfortunately, Ford didn't exactly have a stellar record of bringing hot concepts to market, so expectations were low that we would ever see the Fairlane reach production.

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These photos likely come from the Polish facilities at Tychy, where the Fiat 500 and the Ford Ka are assembled. The Ford can be seen here before it has been completely revealed, with the intention of distinguishing itself from its Italian cousin.

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Back when it was virtually guaranteed 20% US market share, Ford would redesign its vehicles every five or more years. The Ford Ranger, Focus, and Crown Victoria changed even slower, with mostly only new lights and grilles. When competitive pressures started to put the Blue Oval into an anaconda death grip, that once guaranteed share began to shrink. To battle those competitive forces, Ford is looking to do a major redesign on its vehicles every three years from now on.

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It hasn’t even hit UK roads yet, but Ford is already chasing the warm hatch pack with the Fiesta Zetec S.

The Zetec S will sit at the top of the new Fiesta range when the car is launched in October, keeping the throne warm until the true king arrives – the scorching Fiesta ST.

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According to sources speaking with Pickuptrucks.com, Ford is considering offering an EcoBoost four-cylinder engine on its F-150 pickup in 2013. The boosted mill is expected to displace around 2.5-liters, produce 260 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque, and would only be available on the two-door Regular Cab F-150 4x2 and 4x4.

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These two designs show what the next-generation 2009 Ford Fiesta XR4 and a potential Cabrio variant could look like.

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Built alongside the Fiat 500 in Fiat’s plant in Poland, the next Ford Ka has been spotted out testing near its birthplace. The car is built on the same basic platform as its Italian brother, but despite sharing engines, brakes, steering and assembly lines, the two cars share very little in the appearance department, based on these first low-resolution glimpses.

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While domestic sales continue to slide, the auto market in China is thriving. Both General Motors and Ford have reported double-digit sales growth for the first-half of 2008 in the world's most populace country, with GM moving 590,126 Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac vehicles for a total sales increase of 12.7 percent, while Ford sold 172,411 units for 21 percent jump in growth. With China recognized as the second-largest vehicle market outside the United States, and with their economy forecasted to grow by at least nine percent this year, automakers in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. are investing heavily to expand sales and production in the Chinese market.

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The Focus RS will be equipped with a tweaked version of the turbocharged Duratec 2.5-liter inline-five found in the ST, and will send between 280 and 300 hp, along with 300+ lb.-ft. of torque, through the front wheels via a six-speed gearbox equipped with a Quaife limited-slip differential. With that kind of power, the RS should be able to make the run to 60 in less than six seconds – assuming you don't torque-steer yourself into a tree in the process.

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