Ford
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According to a report in Automobile Magazine, the Ford Mustang could move to the CD6 platform that underpins the 2020 Ford Explorer, but the soonest that would happen is 2026. The CD6 platform also underpins the Lincoln Aviator and will be used in the next generation Ford Edge. One of the side effects of moving to the new platform is that the Mustang would become much larger and heavier than the current S550 platform car, possibly up to the length of the Dodge Challenger. Currently, the Mustang is 188.3 inches long and rides on a 107.1 inch wheelbase, while the Challenger clocks in nearly 10 inches longer at 197.9 inches with a 116.2 inch wheelbase. The widths of t…
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Two weeks ago we told you about Chevrolet throwing money on the hood of the Camaro for Mustang drivers. Now it is Ford's turn, but with fewer restrictions. For one, you don't need to be a current owner of a Camaro in order to qualify. Every Mustang starts with $1,000 increase in it rebate. A base model Ecoboost coupe goes from $1,500 back to $2,500 back. If the car has been in stock more than 61 days, it also qualifies for an additional $750 rebate. Better deals are to be had if you move up a bit. The Ecoboost Premium coupe can be had for $4,250 off if it has been on the lot more than 2 months. If you want more power or an open roof, GTs and convertibles are going …
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Ford is getting ready to introduce a new Escape for the 2020 model year on April 2nd. The compact crossover is one of Ford's best sellers, moving as many as 308,296 units in 2017. The growth trend has stalled though and sales dipped to around 272k units last year. The current generation went on sale in 2013 and was facelifted for 2017, but since then, new editions of the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equiniox, updated Jeep Cherokee, and Toyota RAV-4 have hit the market. Ford offered a teaser video via twitter today that gives some hints as to what to expect from the 2020 Escape. The 2020 VIN decoder shows that the current 2.5 liter 4-cylinder will not be…
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Ford reported first quarter operating earnings of $801m, up $160m over the same quarter last year. The company says that it expects this quarter to be the strongest quarter of the year due to seasonal factors and major product launches later this year. However, the company says it still expects to finish 2019 better than 2018. Outside of North America, Ford is still losing money, but those losses are shrinking. Ford recently announced a restructuring plan for Europe that included over 6,000 layoffs. Also in the earnings report, Ford revealed that the company is subject to a criminal investigation by the Justice Department due to its emissions certifications.…
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Ford issued their press release late Friday September 17th 2021 as Police departments have been looking for electric purpose-built police vehicles to start replacing older ICE auto's in their fleets. Michigan State Police and the United Kingdom will get a chance to run 2022 with a select group of purpose-built police concept Mach-E suvs. So many requests came in from various police agencies in the UK (United Kingdom) that Ford decided to rotate through various agencies there a limited number of concept Mach-E's to be used and for feedback to come in on the auto. Michigan State Police will start a evaluation for 2022 on the Mach-E Police Concept. Police d…
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Ford released their new 2020 Ford Transit yesterday at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. While it has been updated alll over, the biggest changes are mechanical. The biggest news is around the new all-wheel drive system. Ford designed the Transit's AWD to not raise the load floor or seat height, making the AWD model as easy as the RWD model for entry, exit, and loading. The AWD system can send 100% of the torque to the front wheels when needed in low traction situations. All-wheel drive will only be available on gasoline engine equipped Transits. Under the short hood is a choice of an all-new gasoline V6 which replaces the 3.7 liter, an all new 2.0 liter bi…
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The Ford Ranger is beginning to hit dealers, but it has already been hit with a recall. Ford announced today that 3,500 Rangers in North America (3,000 in the U.S. and 500 in Canada) have an issue with the PRNDL bezel wiring, The problem deals with the wiring interfering with the shifter interlock override, preventing the transmission from locking when put into park. This means you can shift it out of park when the vehicle is off and without a foot on the brake. Ford says that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries arising from this issue. The trucks involved were built between June 4, 2018 and Jan. 9, 2019. Dealers will investigate whether or not the truc…
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When Ford decided to pull the plug in the U.S. on all of its cars except the Mustang, it meant that the U.S. will miss out on a lot of the goodness that European markets get from the Blue Oval. Today, more evidence of that was released in the form the the updated Ford Focus ST. The 2019 Focus ST gains a 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder, replacing the 2.0T previously offered. This motor is the same basic unit found in the Focus RS and Mustang. The motor bumps power up to 276 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 24 hp and 40 lb-ft of torque over the previous car. Running from 0-62 mph (100 kph) takes under 6 seconds. Diesel buyers can opt for a 2.0T diesel Focus …
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The folks over at Hagerty found something interesting on the NHTSA website the other day, a VIN decoder ring that shows a second 2.3 liter 4-cylinder turbo with a horsepower rating of TBD. Ford dropped the V6 in the base Mustang after 2018 deciding the Turbo-4 was enough, but crosstown rival Chevy kept their V6 going alongside their 275 horsepower 2.0T. While Ford's 2.3T beats the Chevy Turbo in power, it comes up short against Chevy's V6. With this finding, it looks like Ford is going try to rectify the deficit. Given that a similar 2.3T is good for 350 hp in the Focus RS, Ford should be able to easily surpass the 335 horsepower the Camaro V6 produces. A statem…
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It seems any auto manufacturer that has built a diesel in recent years is getting hit with a lawsuit. The latest one to hit the courts involves Ford and their Super Duty pickups. According to Bloomberg, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Ford and supplier Bosch for using emissions-cheating software on the 2011 to 2017 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks. The suit alleges that Ford conspired with Bosch on developing software that would allow the company to alter engine parameters to help emission standards during EPA testing. In the real world, the engines would spew out as much as 50 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxide pollutants. The suit alleges 58 violati…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 31, 2013 Ford's new EcoSport SUV will be sold in 62 countries by 2017. However the U.S. will not be one of the countries according to a report from The Detroit News. Ford’s executive vice president of global marketing, sales, service and Lincoln, Jim Farley said earlier this week that for the time being the EcoSport will not be sold here. He went onto say that Ford is studying whether to bring the EcoSport to the U.S. if the demand for subcompact SUVs climbs. Source: The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him o…
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Ford had planned on selling two cars by 2019 in the U.S. - the Mustang and Focus Active. The latter took elements of a crossover with a higher ride height, body cladding, and new bumpers, and put them onto a Focus hatchback. But plans to bring this model to the U.S. have been canned. Ford announced today that it has canceled the Focus Active as tariffs on Chinese-made goods would eat into profits. The company announced last year that it would import the next-generation Focus from China. "Given the negative financial impact of the new tariffs, we've decided not to import this vehicle from China. The significant thing that moved was the tariffs going up substantia…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 The Ford F-150 is a very important model for the blue oval since it's the top seller and one of the key ways Ford makes a profit. With a new model on the horizon, it has been rumored that Ford would be utilizing aluminum in it as way to improve fuel economy and give the F-150 a unique edge. But that decision seems to be causing more problems. The Truth About Cars has learned from a number of sources that Ford has rejected aluminum from Alcoa and other Tier 2 suppliers since it didn't meet internal forming requirements for the “tooling tryout” phase of pre-production. Because of this, Ford has pushed bac…
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Ford will soon be joining General Motors in reporting sales every quarter. Automotive News is reporting that Ford will transition to a quarterly call and release of sales numbers beginning in April. The company will still be proving monthly sales numbers to various data agencies. "We feel it's kind of transitioning to more of an industry standard. We think the intense focus on month-to-month numbers is just not how we want to run the business. We believe quarterly will provide great transparency," said Mark LaNeve, Ford's vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service during a call with analysts and the media. Various analysts have cautioned that moving to …
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Last week, Ford unveiled the Raptor Ranger. The bad news as we reported was the model wasn't going to come here, but a tweet from Ford's North America Product Communications manager gave some hope that possibly, a smaller Raptor could come. More fuel has been added to this fire via some comments made by the chief engineer for Ford Performance, Jamal Hameedi. Speaking with Australian outlet Drive, Hameedi said the truck "would do really well in the states." “I think it’s certainly like it’s a baby Raptor, it depends what you’re looking for. There are a lot of people that just want that size in a pickup truck and they don’t want anything larger,” said Hameedi. …
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 29, 2013 Originally retailing for $39,995, Ford is now listing the Focus Electric for $37,995. But that's not all! If you decide to do a three-year lease on a Focus Electric, Ford will offer up to $10,750 in discounts. An example three-year lease with 10,500 miles per year could cost a customer $285 per month, with $930 due at signing. Why is Ford offering these massive discounts on the Focus Electric? Slow sales. In 2012, Ford built 1,627 Focus Electrics. However, the company has only moved 685. "We certainly are not in a situation where we have to completely discount,, but we do have to respond to competiti…
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That rumor about Ford introducing a smaller truck below the Ranger from last summer? It seems we have gotten some confirmation on that. Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets confirmed the plans during the Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference in Detroit - the same place where he dropped the F-150 electric bombshell. Ford is "investing in more affordable versions of our truck business" and that "you can expect new nameplates below where we compete today," Farley said at the conference. No timeframe was given. Interestingly, a Ford spokesman said “we’ll have more details to share about new nameplates in the future.” Usually, they go with the boile…
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Ford has finally confirmed that it will be moving small car production in the U.S. to Mexico in the next two to three years. This information isn't new as we knew about it a year ago thanks to a new contract with the UAW. We learned that in 2018, the Ranger would be taking up residence at the Michigan Assembly plant, home currently home to the Focus and C-Max. Why is Ford moving small car production to Mexico? It comes down to costs. With low gas prices, consumers are buying up crossovers and trucks at a rapid rate. This means small cars are sitting on dealer lots, costing automakers money. “Every global manufacturer has to determine how it can best create reven…
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It appears Ford's performance arm is taking a crack at building a high-performance Fusion. A fresh set of spy shots show off a Fusion mule with some interesting hardware. There is are larger brake discs, bigger wheels and tires, quad exhaust pipes, and some body changes hidden in camo. Automobile reports that the sportier Fusion will pack the 2.7L EcoBoost four-cylinder with 300 horsepower. A six-speed automatic will route all the power to all four wheels. These pictures come at an interesting time for Ford. As we've reported, the fate of the Ford Taurus is unknown for the U.S. By building a sporty Fusion, it gives Ford a sporty sedan to take the place of the Ta…
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December 10th, 2012 Drew Dowdell - Managing Editor CheersandGears.com Ford today released a fix for the recently recalled 2013 Escape and 2013 Fusion with the 1.6 liter Ecoboost engine. The recall involves a reprogramming of the computer to address a coolant pressure loss under certain driving conditions. Only VINs with the eighth character “X” on Escapes or “R” on Fusions are affected. Ford Press Release on Page 2 Ford Produces Fix in Voluntary Safety Recall of 2013 Escapes, 2013 Fusions with 1.6-liter Engines Ford today announced a corrective action to address potential engine overheating that could result in engine fires in 2013 Ford Escape SE and SEL models w…
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Ford's CEO Jim Hackett has unveiled his plans for the company and there are a lot of cuts coming, along with shifts in various investments. “I get up every day feeling like time can be wasted here if we don’t get moving. I feel a real sense of urgency,” Hackett told investors yesterday in New York. The cuts include a $10 billion cut in material outlays and a $4 billion cut in engineering costs over the next five years. Ford will also cut costs on internal combustion engines and redirect the funds to the development of EVs. One move that consumers will see is the reduction of possible vehicle configurations. For example, the current Escape…
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Ford's European branch has had a tough time with three years of losses and making some drastic changes, including closing three factories back in 2013. But 2015 saw the branch make a $259 million profit. The blue oval wants to continue that with a new restructure strategy. The strategy includes a "voluntary separation" program that will allow workers to leave Ford at their own behest. Ford says this will save around $200 million per year in reduced staffing costs. Ford will also be eliminating less profitable models” from its product lineup. What models those might be are unknown at this time. It should be noted this elimination will not affect plans to launch sev…
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Ford has launched the configurator for the 2019 Ranger today and we got our first look at pricing. It will begin at $25,395 for the XL extended-cab model with 2WD - price includes $1,095 destination charge. Pricing for the rest of the lineup is as followed, $27,615 - XL SuperCrew 2WD $29,035 - XLT SuperCab 2WD $29,555 - XL SuperCab 4WD $31,210 - XLT SuperCrew 2WD $31,775 - XL SuperCrew 4WD $33,035 - XLT SuperCab 4WD $33,305 - Lariat SuperCab 2WD $35,210 - XLT SuperCrew 4WD $35,480 - Lariat SuperCrew 2WD $37,305 - Lariat SuperCab 4WD $39,480 - Lariat SuperCrew 4WD There are a number of options on off…
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The Mustang Shelby GT350 is already quick around a track, but Ford believed they could do better. So they brought the GT350 into their workshop and made various tweaks and changes. The end result is the 2019 Shelby GT350 that not only promises to be quicker, but also easier to drive at the limit. It begins with the tires. Ford worked with Michelin on developing tires specific to the GT350. The end result is a set of special Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with a unique tread pattern and compound. They wrap around a set of restyled 19-inch wheels. The anti-lock brakes and steering have been retuned to handle the performance of the tires. The suspension gets a new set of sp…
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Those who were hoping for a return performance of the Ford Fiesta ST will be disappointed to hear this news. According to CarBuzz, the director of Ford Performance of Europe, Leo Roeks said there isn't enough interest to bring the new model over. “It’s simply a matter of a lack of interest in the B-segment in America. It doesn’t make sense, nor is it possible financially speaking, to import a single trim level, and a niche one at that,” Roeks said. This news isn't that all surprising. Subcompacts have been seeing their sales drop for the past two years, and 2017 isn't looking much better. The Fiesta was one of the hardest hit models, seeing a decline of 24.3 per…
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The Ford Mustang will being playing a vital role in the company's future. Compared to its other products, the Mustang has "bold, emotional designs that elicit passion among its customers." According to Automotive News, Ford is hoping to expand this idea to their upcoming lineup that will be mostly comprised of trucks and utility vehicles. "Mustang has a soul. It's a balance of performance and design. If you can capitalize on the cachet and let that rub off on the rest of the portfolio, it's a good thing," said Darrell Behmer, chief designer for the Mustang. A prime example is the upcoming Mach 1 EV crossover announced back in January. The model is expected to bo…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 19, 2012 At the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, Ford unveiled a 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost engine for the new B-Max. The engine has since gone into other vehicles in Ford's European lineup, including the Fiesta and Focus. We've been wondering if the the three-cylinder would be coming to the U.S. and the word has come out it will. Today, Ford announced that 1.0L EcoBoost will be coming in the 2014 Fiesta. The 1.0L EcoBoost produces 123 HP and and 148 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 3 HP and 36 lb-ft from the current 1.6L four-cylinder. Ford expects the EcoBoost-equipped Fiesta to be the most fuel-efficien…
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Before the start of this year's Detroit Auto Show, Ford held a press conference revealing new models such as the new Bullitt Mustang and Ranger. But they also teased a new electric crossover wearing an iconic name - Mach 1. The only details provided by Ford is that it would provide a range of 300 miles and launch in 2020. A new report from Autocar has some possible new details on the vehicle. The Mach 1 crossover currently has the codename of CX430 and will likely have some design cues inspired by the Mustang. Underpinning the model will be Ford's C2 platform. Currently, this platform is being used for the next-generation Focus and Escape crossover. The Mach 1 i…
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Ford's decision to use aluminum on the F-150 has paid off in big dividends in terms of weight, fuel economy, and performance. Now you would think that Ford would use aluminum in other vehicles. Not so fast says Ford's president of the Americas Joe Hinrichs. At the Automotive News World Congress, Hinrichs says that aluminum will stick with the trucks. “One of the big benefits you get from light-weighting ... you can tow more and haul more. You don’t get those same benefits to a customer on the car side. Truck buyers will pay for more capability, car buyers will pay for better fuel economy, but there’s other ways to get fuel economy in a car without the need to provide mor…
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This morning, Ford announced that current CEO Mark Fields will be stepping down as CEO. Taking his place is Jim Hackett, former CEO of Steelcase (an office furniture manufacturer) and chairman of Ford's self-driving unit. “Mark Fields has been an outstanding leader and deserves a lot of credit for all he has accomplished in his many roles around the globe at Ford. His strong leadership was critical to our North American restructuring, our turnaround at the end of the last decade, and our record profits in the past two years," said Bill Ford in a statement. The news was first broke by Forbes last night and later corroborated by the New York Times last night. Accord…
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The Ford Raptor is a model beloved by many for its ability to drive really quick over the rough stuff. But with the next-generation F-150 switching to aluminum, it seemed the Raptor wouldn't comeback for a repeat performance. But new spy shots that appeared on Autoblog show that the Raptor may be coming back. The spy shots show off a F-150 with Raptor parts on the front and rear, while the center is the upcoming 2015 model. Also, our eyes see some beefy A-arm suspension pieces along with the tall ride height. We're not sure what is powering this mule, whether it's a V8 or one of Ford's EcoBoost engines. Source: Autoblog William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers &…
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Since becoming the CEO of Ford, Jim Hackett, and his management staff has had a difficult time of convincing folks about the ambitious restructuring plan that will see the lineup become more dependent on crossover and trucks, and job cuts. One group that has been quite worried about the plan are dealers. "There's been a lot less exposure to senior management. There's just not enough information flowing down to dealers about where the company's headed," said Jack Madden, owner of Jack Madden Ford to Automotive News. Ford is hoping to ease dealers later this week at the company's national dealer meeting in Las Vegas. Aside from seeing a number of new products, inc…
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One of the key problems with most electric vehicles is the limited range on offer with many offering a max range of around 100 to 120 miles. Many believe that for electric vehicles to be in the mainstream, they need to offer a minimum of 200 Miles. But not Ford. Speaking with Automotive News, Ford's director of electrification programs and engineering Kevin Layden says the updated 2017 Focus EV with a range of 100 miles will cover the average commute for a driver. "I think right now with the launch of the Focus Electric at 100 miles, it is going to satisfy a big chunk of the population. It's going to be really affordable and a step up from where we are now," said …
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The Escape is an important model for Ford. Last year, the company moved 308,296 Escapes off dealer lots. But with the announcement last week that Ford will be focusing more on trucks and utility models in the coming years, the Escape will be playing a bigger role. Car and Driver obtained the first spy shots of the next-generation Escape, expected sometime next year as 2020 model. Due to the extensive use of camouflage on the mule, we can't tell much about the design. We're guessing the front end might look similar to the EcoSport partly due to the flat shape. The lone shot of the interior reveals an interior layout similar to the EcoSport and Focus with the infotainm…
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There was a number of people who were disappointed at the news that Ford wouldn't be bringing over the Ranger Raptor to the U.S. When you take into consideration that the current-generation model has been sold around the world since 2011, Ford decided it was too late in the lifecycle of the model to design a Raptor variant to meet various regulations. But there is the chance of the next-generation Ranger Raptor coming to the U.S. Road & Track has done some sleuthing into social media profiles for various Ford engineers and has uncovered some interesting information. The current Ranger has an internal project code of P375 and is expected to stick around for a few …
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Ford has introduced another member of their police interceptor fleet with the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan (catchy name). The automaker claims this is pursuit-rated hybrid police car. Based on the Fusion Hybrid sedan, Ford has done a bit of work to make it ready for the various hardships that police vehicles go through - prolong periods of idling, stop-and-go driving, traveling at high speed over long distances, and driving over obstacles. Under the hood is an Atkinson-cycle, 2.0L four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery. The powertrain has been calibrated to allow the vehicle to run in battery-only mode up to 60 mph and provide maximu…
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Ever since Ford ended production of the Ranger in the U.S. in 2011, many have been clamoring for the blue oval to bring the Ranger sold elsewhere to the U.S. But Ford has said no since the current Ranger since the new model is close in size to the F-150, and would be very close in terms of pricing. But the blue oval could be changing that. The Detroit News has learned from sources that Ford wants to resurrect the Ranger pickup and build it at the Michigan Assembly Plant. Sources explained that Ford and the UAW are currently in contract talks, with one of the items being bringing the Ranger to the U.S. for the production. Now this will need to be agreed by the UAW and …
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Ford's original plan for the GT was to build the model for two years, with 250 units being built each year. Then Ford extended the production run to four years and expanded the total number of vehicles built to 1,000. So how is Ford doing on their production targets for the GT? According to Motor Authority, they haven't gone as planned. This information was first brought to light by a GT message board claiming Ford didn't reach their 250 unit goal for 2017. Motor Authority reached out to Ford and a spokesman confirmed that only 137 GTs were built last year. Why the delay? "This is a hand-built supercar, which we are committed to deliver flawlessly. We built into…
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Before the Detroit Auto Show, Ford has made some big announcements concering their performance cars. First was the announcement of a new performance division named Ford Performance. The division will unify Ford SVT, Team RS, and Ford Racing to create performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers. Leading this new group will be Mustang chief engineer Dave Pericak. "Ford remains committed to innovation through performance. Our new global Ford Performance team ties together racing, performance vehicles and parts. It will allow us to more quickly introduce products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the t…
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General Motors isn't the only one considering putting vehicles on the chopping block. The Detroit News has learned from three sources that Ford is considering ending production on three models for the U.S. - the Fiesta, C-Max Hybrid, and Taurus. Sources say the Taurus would be first to go in late 2018. The Fiesta would follow suit either in late 2018 or 2019. The C-Max would be the last model to end production in early 2019. Ford said they would make an announcement concerning the C-Max at a later date. The company declined to comment on the other vehicles. The Taurus has been long rumored to be cut from Ford's lineup due to poor sales. This was further bolstere…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 21, 2012 Volkswagen's MQB modular platform strategy is has gained attention from VW's competitors. We reported yesterday that Jaguar-Land Rover is looking to MQB as a guide to cut down their platforms. Now another automaker looks to be taking some cues from VW. Inside Line is reporting that Ford is developing a new three-prong platform family. The platform family will underpin the next-generation Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, and other models in this group. The platform family is similar in idea to VW's MQB except for one key thing. A source Ford explains that while MQB can used from small to large vehicles, small veh…
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It seems someone at Ford wasn't paying attention and allowed some photos from their recent dealer conference to appear on a public site. Off-Road.com got their hands on some photos that were "publicly accessible part of a Ford website." The photos are from last month's dealer meeting in Las Vegas. The key picture that everyone is talking about is the one seen above, showing a new SUV's front and side profile, and an angled shot. Off-Road originally reported this was the Bronco, but later reports from Automotive News and Motor Authority say it is the new Baby Bronco. We tend to with the latter as the photos match up with this teaser released by Ford back in March. …
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 5, 2012 The wave of new subcompacts was started by back in late 2009 when Ford announced the Fiesta would be coming to states. Since then, automakers like Chevrolet, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, and Nissan have stepped up their game in this market. To take on the competition, Ford has refreshed the Fiesta for 2013. Exterior wise, the Fiesta shares the same trapezoidal grille treatment as the Fusion. Also, there's a “power-dome”hood and a set of angular headlights. For the European market, this refresh marks the appearance of the 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine. The 1.0L is expected to give the Fiesta best-in-clas…
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Even though it has only been on sale for a year and a half, the Ford Mustang has garnered a huge following in Australia. Last month, Ford moved 1,351 Mustangs in the country - a massive 372 percent increase from last May. Year-to-date sales stand at 3,772 models, an increase of 78 percent. This puts the Mustang as Ford's second best-selling model behind the Ranger - 4,069 units sold last month. While the sales numbers are impressive, it also makes Australia the second-largest market for the Mustang. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to secure more Mustangs for those who want to realize their dream, and we’ve achieved that for 1351 customers in May,” said Ford Austra…
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2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the original Mustang Cobra Jet. What better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than by introducing a brand new version. The new Cobra Jet uses a specialized 5.2L V8 that is based on the 5.0L Coyote V8 found in the Mustang GT. This is topped by a 3.0L Whipple supercharger. Ford is keeping quiet on the engine's output, but says it can do the quarter-mile in the mid-eight second range at a speed of 150 mph and above. Besides the new engine, the Cobra Jet comes with a four-link rear suspension with drag race-specific coil-overs; 9-inch solid rear axle, a “low-drag” disc brake system from Strange Engineering, NHRA-certified roll…
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Last month, Ford admitted that the 2.3L EcoBoost used in the Focus RS had an issue the head gaskets leaking coolant into the engine. The company said at the time they were working on a fix. This week, Ford has sent notices out to dealers and owners detailing the fix. According to Road & Track, Ford will be replacing the head gasket and perform a pressure test on all affected Focus RS models. If the engine fails the pressure test, Ford will replace the cylinder head. The recall affects 2016 and 2017 model-year Focus RS models built from Aug. 3, 2015, through July 6, 2017, and includes repair branded and salvaged vehicles. The company expects the fix to take two da…
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As Ford wraps up European production of the Focus RS next month, rumors are beginning to swirl about the next-generation. Dutch publication Auto International reports the next-generation Focus RS will be packing 400 horsepower via a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The report alleges that the turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder used in the current model will carry over, but will feature a larger starter motor for the hybrid system. Torque will rise to 394 pound-feet. A six-speed manual will be the standard transmission, but Auto International reports a dual-clutch transmission is in the cards for certain markets. There is some credence to this rumor as Ford is planning t…
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Ford of Germany and StreetScooter GmbH a subsidiary of Deutsche Post, Germany's postal service, are teaming up to build 2500 electric powered Ford Transit delivery vans by the end of 2018. StreetScooter and Ford begin production next month. Production starts with a standard Ford Transit chassis and then it is fitted with a battery-electric drive train and a cargo body based on Deutsche Post's and DHL Paket's (yet another Deutsche Post subsidiary) specifications. StreetScooter already manufactures small EV vans and cycles for delivery service. No word yet on range or charge times, however the new EV Vans are intended for urban use, suggesting a limited range…
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Ford will be temporarily shutting down production lines at five of their North American plants to help cut down on the inventory of slow-selling models. According to Automotive News, Ford will be shutting down both of their plants in Mexico. The Cuautitlan assembly plant, which is home to the Fiesta will be down for three weeks. Hermosillo which builds the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ will take a two-week break. In the U.S., Flat Rock (Mustang and Continental) and the Transit production line at Kansas City will also be down for two weeks. Michigan Assembly in Wayne will be down for just a week. It is unknown when the shut downs will begin. "We are continuing to match …
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Ford released details on the Ford Explorer Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show this week, but a Plug-in Hybrid wasn't mentioned. Curiously, at the Ford stand, the sign next to the hybrid version of the Explorer mentioned it as a Plug-In. One of the engineers standing nearby told me this was a misprint, but that is a pretty serious misprint to make and then actually put on the show floor. We do know that the Explorer platform is capable of being a plug-in hybrid as its stable mate over at Lincoln, the Lincoln Aviator is getting a plug-in hybrid in its GT form. Is it likely that Ford is holding back on announcing the Ford Explorer Plug-In Hybrid just so that the Li…
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Ford has announced a new subsidiary that will be tasked with the development of autonomous vehicles. Called Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, the group will be overseeing all parts of the company's autonomous plans including the integration of self-driving technologies, research, AV transportation-as-a-service network development, and business strategy. Ford is also planning to spend $4 billion in investments through 2023. "Ford has made tremendous progress across the self driving value chain — from technology development to business model innovation to user experience. Now is the right time to consolidate our autonomous driving platform into one team to best position the…
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If you want to one up your friend who will be getting their hands on a new Ford GT, then why not put a bid on the first functional prototype of the last-generation GT. Going up for auction next month at Russo and Steele Arizona sale in Scottsdale, AZ, the GT Confirmation Prototype 1 (CP-1) is the first fully functional prototype. It was the fourth GT model ever built - wears the VIN 004 - and the first to come with a full interior. Being a prototype, the GT CP-1 has some special parts such as a "sniffer pipe" for emissions testing, quick-release fuel tank, and a carbon-fiber clamshell. The prototype also features signatures of 13 members of the original Ford GT design…
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Autonomous vehicles could be getting a large boost thanks to a new alliance between Ford and Google to build self-driving vehicles. Yahoo Autos has learned from three sources that the two companies will be announcing a partnership at the Consumer Electronics Show next month. Details of this new partnership are scarce, but it is understood that the partnership would be legally separate from Ford to shield it from concerns about liability. The deal is also non-exclusive as Google has been talking to other automakers about using its self-driving technology. Automotive News adds that both companies have been working on a contract manufacturing deal “for a long time” a…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2012 The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Saturday that it would look into the Ford Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid not getting the claimed 47 MPG combined. On Thursday, Consumer Reports said their test C-Max and Fusion Hybrids are not coming anywhere close to the 47 MPG combined. The C-Max Hybrid got 37 MPG combined and the Fusion got 39 MPG combined. "These two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we've seen among any current models," Consumer Reports said in a statement. If the EPA finds a discrepancy in Ford's milea…
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Last week, Ford shocked the industry by announcing that it would cut most of its passenger car lineup. The only models that would remain are the Mustang and the upcoming Focus Active - due to arrive in 2019. The move has earned a fair amount of ire from various folks, but the company is trying to push back and explain their reasoning. "We're going to feed the healthy part of our business and deal decisively with the parts that destroy value," said Ford CEO Jim Hackett to Automotive News. The "healthy part" are Ford's utilities and trucks. According to Ford CFO Bob Shanks, this part made more than $3 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Ford is projecting that l…
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The Good News: The Truth About Cars is reporting that the Ford Focus RS will be coming to our shores by 2016. The new RS will use the 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder and feature all-wheel drive. Expect pricing to be above the $30,000 mark. The Bad News: Ford will likely be importing the RS from Europe. Sources tell TTAC that the Michigan Assembly Plant where the North American Focus is built can't fit the RS into its production line. So that means the RS destined for America will be coming from Europe, and in limited numbers as well. Source: The Truth About Cars William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or…
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The current Ford Focus has been with us since 2012 and it is getting somewhat long in the tooth when compared with the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, and refreshed Mazda3. But Ford is on the case as we have gotten our first look at the next-generation Focus caught by a spy photographer. It looks like Ford is planning to do some evolutionary changes in terms of the Focus' exterior to keep it in line with other Ford models. The interior looks to be taking some ideas from the new Fiesta and refreshed EcoSport with a similar center stack design. Reports say Ford will go with an all turbocharged engine lineup with the 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost being the bas…
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When the Ford Ranger returns to the US market in a few weeks, the EPA window sticker will be a primary strong selling point. The EPA estimates for the Ranger have been announced and it beats any other gasoline powered pickup on the market. The two-wheel drive Ranger will have a 21mpg city / 26 highway / 23 combined rating. That combined rating ties the combined rating of the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado. The 4wd model gets a 20 city / 24 highway / 22 combined rating of which the city and combined rating are the highest in the class. The Ranger starts around $25,395 and offers only one engine, a 2.3 liter 4-cylinder, that will tow and haul more than the V6 offerings fr…
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While Ford is introducing an updated 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and ten-speed automatic for the 2017 F-150, the 2018 F-150 is more interesting to us. This is because Ford will be giving their full-size truck a facelift and a diesel engine. Thanks to Car and Driver, we're able to get a closer look via a set of spy shots. We'll begin with the facelift. Ford has done a decent job with the camouflage, but we can pick out a new grille design that seems to mimic the F-Series super duty. Expect new headlights, along with new taillights and wheel choices. We have reported previously on the venturi exhaust and a video with the noises of a diesel engine . Now we have more proof of …
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The Mustang is expected to get a refresh in 2018 and there is a possibility that the V6 engine will be dropped. This information comes to us from the Mustang6G.com's forums where a dealership employee posted the order guide for the 2018 Mustang. The guide revealed that the V6 engine order code was marked as “invalid.” Dropping the V6 would make the 2.3L EcoBoost the new base engine, which is close in terms of horsepower to the V6 (310 vs. 300). The order guide also reveals that the 2018 Mustang will get a 10-speed automatic and a set of MagneRide adaptive dampers as options. Source: Mustang6G.com View full article
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com March 30, 2013 A group of Ford customers have filed a class action lawsuit in West Virginia alleging that vehicles were not equipped with the proper safety equipment to prevent unintended acceleration. According to Reuters, the suit lists thirty vehicles built between 2002 and 2010 with electronic throttle control systems but without a brake override system. The vehicles in the suit include 2004-2012 F-Series pickups and the 2005-2009 Lincoln Town Car. (A full list of vehicles in the suit will be at the end of the article.) "They're trying to be compensated for their economic losses by having overpaid for cars that …
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With Ford planning on dropping most of its cars except for one, the automaker is making changes to its advertising strategy, Automotive News is reporting that Ford has ended nationwide marking for the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, and Taurus. The company is also dialing back spending in certain regions. Mark LaNeve, Ford's vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service tells AN that the money will be used on the Mustang, EcoSport, and new models coming in the pipeline. "It allows us to focus our resources. If we can take that money from sedans, where we have a middle-of-the-road position, to be the leading brand in SUVs, that'd be a really good position," said LaNeve.…
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The Ford Mustang has been riding a wave of sales success, beating the Camaro in the total sales for the year - 87,258 vs. 54,535. But this past month, the Mustang saw a steep decline in sales (32 percent) and was beaten by the Camaro. Because of this, Ford has put Mustang production on idle for a week. The Detroit News reports that Ford has idled their Flat Rock, MI plant for a week. Ford Spokeswoman Kelli Felker said this was to match production with demand. At the end of September, the supply of Mustangs stood at 89 days. Analysts say a 60 day supply is a healthy target - something the Mustang is somewhat close to. But why did the Mustang see a steep drop in s…
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Ford will be idling the Kansas City assembly plant for a week next month to cut down on truck and van inventory. Automotive News reports the downtime will take place from January 2nd to 9th. A spokeswoman said the downtime would be used to performance plant maintenance. At the moment, Ford has an 85-day inventory of F-Series trucks and 108-day inventory of Transit vans. Ford had recently idled Kansas City back in October for a week. It was one of four plants that saw extended downtime this year. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 17, 2012 You would think with rumors of the Ford debating whether would do a Fiesta or Focus RS, that would cause the rumor well for the possible next generation Focus RS to dry up. Nope, in fact the rumors are intensifying. Auto Express had the chance to speak with chief program engineer for the Focus ST and other global performance cars, Matthias Ton. Ton said the 2.0L EcoBoost used in the Focus ST is close to its power limit without significantly upgrading the fuel system and turbocharger. Ton went onto say that if a Focus RS is given the green light, that it would a new 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder that's curren…
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When Ford introduced the GT, they made it very clear it would be a limited run affair. 500 models would be built over the course of two years. Then the company expanded the amount to 1,000 vehicles that would be built over four years. Now, Ford has expanded the pool of GTs again. An additional 350 GTs will be built, bringing the grand total to 1,350. This also means a longer production run. Previously, Ford was going to wrap up production in 2020, but has pushed it back to 2022. If you were one of the many people who applied for a GT and didn't get one, Ford will be opening the application process one more time beginning on November 8th and have it running for …
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With the rising demand for luxury pickups, manufacturers are going all in offering appointments you would find in luxury sedans and SUVs. Case in point is the new Limited trim for Ford's F-Series Super Duty, which made its debut today at the Texas State Fair. Ford says the Limited is positioned for high-end customers, “from boat captains to captains of industry.” The Limited begins with a custom Camelback two-tone leather upholstery, stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel, stitching for armrests and instrument panel, a suede headliner, hand-finished dark ash trim, and the truck's VIN number laser etched in the center console. Outside, there is a ne…
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 13, 2013 Everyone has been going somewhat crazy with a PowerPoint presentation given to analysts at Deutsche Bank by Ford. The reason? Well, one of the slides in the presentation has a Ford Edge that's not like the current model. That has everyone thinking that the Edge in the presentation is what the next generation model will look like. The somewhat blurry image from the slide shows the Edge keeping its current shape. The only changes are a new front clip with redesigned grille, headlamps, and lower fascia with integrated fog lights. Is this the next-generation Ford Edge? We don't know if it is or not. So…
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Ford has unveiled the fourth-generation Focus today at events in Germany and China. Available as a sedan, hatchback, and wagon, the model will go on sale in Europe and China later this year. The Focus is the first Ford model to undergo the company's revamped product development process that involves talking and studying current Focus customers around the world. This allows Ford to tailor the Focus to the needs and wants of each global region. Compared to the outgoing model, the new Focus has a bit more style. The overall profile reminds us a lot of the Mazda3 with a flatter nose and a lot of sculpting. The overall size is about the same as the current Focus, but i…
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We find ourselves wondering if Ford is sandbagging their power figures on various engines. We saw this with the Focus RS and Fusion Sport. Now its the F-150's turn. Back in May, Ford announced the 2017 F-150 would be getting the next-generation 3.5L EcoBoost V6. Horsepower would remain at 365, while torque would be bumped up from 420 to 450. Today, Ford announced the final power figures for the second-generation EcoBoost and they are somewhat higher. The new power figures are 375 horsepower (up 10) and 470 pound-feet of torque (up 50). Ford says the engine's torque beats competitors gas and diesel engines - even GM's 6.2L V8 which held title with 460. This eng…
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Ford isn't shy about making its ambitious plans on electrifying their lineup known to the world. But the automaker had decided to raise the stakes with plans to build an all-electric F-150. “We’re going to be electrifying the F-Series — battery electric and hybrid,” said Jim Farley, Ford president of global markets at the Deutsche Bank Global Automotive Conference. Car and Driver was able to get a Ford spokesperson to confirm Farley's comment. Farley didn't provide any details or a possible timeline as to when the F-150 EV will debut. Car and Driver is speculating that we could see this model with the next-generation F-150, possibly expected to appear somet…
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While the full production of the Shelby Mustang GT350 and GT350R kicks off next year, Ford announced that it will be doing a limited run of 2015 GT350 and GT350R models for the 2015 model year. Ford will build 100 GT350s with 50 of them being equipped with the Technology package - MagnaRide magnetic dampers, SYNC 3 with navigation, and dual-zone climate control -, while the other 50 will come with the Track package - MagnaRide magnetic dampers, additional cooling for the engine, transmission, and differential; and a front strut-tower brace. Meanwhile, Ford will only build 37 GT350Rs for 2015. Why 37? This is pay homage to Carroll Shelby who planned on building 35 GT350s…
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Ford has quietly ended production of the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid and will be ending C-Max Hybrid production sometime next year at their Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI. "Ford C-Max Energi production has ended," said Dan Jones, Ford's North America Car Communications Manager to Green Car Reports. "We will continue to make C-Max Hybrid [models] at [the] Michigan Assembly Plant until mid-2018." The C-Max Hybrid and Energi were introduced in late 2012 as 2013 model year vehicles to take on the likes of the Toyota Prius. But the two models would be hit with a double whammy. First was a number of complaints and lawsuits from owners saying the real-world …
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Ford today took the wraps off the newest addition to the growing Transit Connect family. Called the Transit Connect Wagon, Ford is careful not to call it a minivan. As a reflection of the versatility of the Transit Connect it is built on, the TC Wagon will be available in 2 wheelbases, 5 or 7 passenger seating, and have a choice of either a 2.5 naturally aspirated 4-cylinder or a 1.6T 4-cylinder with Ecoboost. Configured as a short wheelbase version with the Ecoboost engine, the TC Wagon's fuel economy is estimated at over 30mpg. On the utility side of things, the short wheelbase version has a cargo capacity of 120 cubic feet with the long wheelbase version bum…
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Last week, Ford CEO Jim Hackett unveiled his plans for the company. One key part of his plan is moving $7 billion from the development of cars to trucks. What does this entail? Car and Driver have done a bit of digging and has brought forth some answers. Jim Farley, Ford’s president of global markets tells the magazine the company will focus on its regional strengths for future products. For the U.S., this means developing “authentic, off-road capable” vehicles according to him. That includes the upcoming EcoSport crossover, Ranger pickup, and Bronco SUV. Ford is planning to focus on utility vehicles in other markets as well as they have found success with “styl…
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A day after reports saying Ford was planning a significant layoff of its global workforce, the company has cleared the air on the cuts. In a statement issued today, Ford announced that it would be cutting 10 percent of its salaried employees in North America and Asia - roughly 1,400 employees. Ford says the cuts are needed to reduce costs as the company readies for a slowdown in sales and investing more into new technologies. "We remain focused on the three strategic priorities that will create value and drive profitable growth, which include fortifying the profit pillars in our core business, transforming traditionally underperforming areas of our core business…
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Ford has announced that it will be revealing the new Ranger Raptor on February 7th in Thailand. Details about the model are very thin, but Australian outlet Motoring reports that it debuts a new 2.0L turbodiesel four-cylinder. No power figures were given, but Motoring says it should produce more power than the current top-dog in the Ranger's powertrain lineup - a 3.2L turbodiesel four-cylinder with 197 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic is said to be in the cards as well. We're taking the information about the engine with a fair amount of salt. We do expect Ford to be making a number of changes to the Ranger Raptor's suspension to make it f…
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The rumors seemed to be right on the money as Ford announced this morning that it would make a return to Le Mans next year with the GT supercar competing in the LM GTE class. This is one way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford’s historic 1966 overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the GT will not only compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The blue oval announced a racing program that will compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a two-team, four-car effort. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will be handling the program. Drivers for the effort will be announced at a later time. Ford say…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 31, 2013 Ford announced today that the 2014 F-150 pickup equipped with the 3.7L V6 will come with a CNG/LPG Prep package, making it the first light-duty pickup in the class to come with this feature. The package includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and rings. The CNG/LPG Prep package will set you back $315. That doesn't mean you can head to your nearest CNG/LPG station and fill up though. You will need to visit a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier which will install the CNG/LPG-specific fuel tanks, fuel lines and fuel injectors. When all is said and done, the conversion will set you back $7,500 to $9,500. Fo…
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Earlier this month, the FBI searched Ford Motor Company's world headquarters after starting an investigation into a former employee who is accused of industrial espionage. The Detroit News got their hands on the court records and search warrants which show on July 11th, the FBI had permission to search the entire building and seize digital and electronic recording devices, emails, and and other records involving Sharon Leech, a former Ford engineer who is at the center of this investigation. Leech, an engineer who worked at Ford for seventeen years, was fired recently after Ford's security team discovered recording devices planted in the automaker’s meeting rooms. Ford's…
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A fire at a supplier's plant last week is causing some headaches for Ford. The company has halted production of the F-150 at Kansas City Assembly Plant, and F-Series Super Duty at Kentucky Truck and Ohio Assembly due to a parts shortage. F-150 production at Ford's Dearborn plant is expected to be idled either today or tomorrow. The supplier, Meridian Lightweight Technologies makes instrument panel components for the F-Series trucks. Last Wednesday, the company's factory in Eaton Rapids, Michigan caught fire. The cause is still being investigated, but the Lansing State Journal reports the fire started in an area known as the "tunnel," a place where workers put magnesi…
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 11, 2013 Earlier this week, everyone went into a tizzy with the report of a new 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder that would be coming to the 2014 Fusion midsize. Well, that report was only half right. Today at a event, Ford announced the 2014 will come with a 1.5L EcoBoost four-cylinder. This will be Ford's fifth EcoBoost engine and will be offered in the Fusion's twin, the Mondeo in other markets. The 1.5L EcoBoost will make its official debut later this month at the Shanghai Motor Show, a perfect place to show the new engine since the Chinese Government offers a significant tax relief for vehicles powered by engi…
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Does Ford see the upcoming Ranger as a threat to the sales of the F-150? Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of global operations says no. "There always will be some substitution, but this is more of a lifestyle vehicle for people who want to use it for different purposes. The F-150's gotten bigger over time and more expensive. We believe there's room now to slot the Ranger in very nicely in the showroom," he told Automotive yesterday at an event kicking off production of the Ranger. The new Ranger is quite expensive with the base XL SuperCab 2WD setting you back $25,395 with destination - higher than the Nissan Frontier ($19,965), Chevrolet Colorado ($21,495), and T…
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Its now official. This morning, Ford announced that current CEO Alan Mulally will step down on July 1st and that Mark Fields, Ford's Chief Operating Officer will take his place. Originally Mulally planned to stay as CEO through the end of 2014, but changed his mind after he decided the new leadership team would be ready for the challenge. “From the first day we discussed Ford’s transformation eight years ago, Alan and I agreed that developing the next generation of leaders and ensuring an orderly CEO succession were among our highest priorities. Mark has transformed several of our operations around the world into much stronger businesses during his 25 years at Ford. Now,…
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Not even a full year has passed since Ford lowered the fuel economy estimates on a number of vehicles, but they are doing it again. This afternoon, the company announced that it will be lowering the fuel economy ratings on a number of its 2013 and 2014 model year vehicles due to an error in the company's internal testing. The error comes from what is known as the Total Road Load Horsepower (TRLHP). The automaker explains TRLHP is used as a measure of resistance in dyno testing for fuel economy ratings. TRLHP is different for each vehicle. Ford says that the TLRHP used on the affected vehicles was incorrect. There was also problems in how the wind tunnel testing was facto…
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Raj Nair, Ford’s President of North America has left the company effective immediately after an internal investigation revealed behavior that was "inconsistent with the company's code of conduct." “We made this decision after a thorough review and careful consideration. Ford is deeply committed to providing and nurturing a safe and respectful culture and we expect our leaders to fully uphold these values,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett in a statement. The Detroit News reports the investigation stemmed from an anonymous complaint accusing Nair of unspecified behavior. Ford wouldn't go into detail about the behavior "to protect the privacy of…
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Possibly one of the biggest stories to come out from the Detroit Auto Show was Ford's announcement that the Bronco and Ranger are coming back. There weren't many details aside from release timeframes (2019 for Ranger, 2020 for Bronco), along with the Bronco being based on the bones of the Ranger. Now, an anonymous Ford employee has spilled some more details on the two models. A poster who claims to be a designer at Ford's Development Center in Dearborn (and has been verified by the moderators of the Ford Ranger Reddit) says the Ranger that will be arriving in 2019 will be the same model sold around the world. There will be alterations to the exterior and interior. Co…
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2017 will be an important year for the Ford F-150 as the blue oval will be introducing the second-generation of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and a ten-speed automatic transmission. The second-generation 3.5L EcoBoost is completely all-new with the block, heads, turbochargers, and other components changed. A key item Ford points out with the 3.5 engine is that it features direct injection and port fuel injection - basically two injectors for each cylinder. In low-load situations, the engine uses only the port fuel injection as it is said to be more efficient. During heavy-load situations, both injection systems are used to provide maximum power. Horsepower still stands at …
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The past few years have seen a number of rumors about the next-generation Ford Focus RS and if it will come to the U.S. or not. A new report from Road & Track says the Focus RS is coming, with a big change for the U.S. According to a source, Ford is planning to send a limited number of the next Focus RS to the U.S. The next RS will come equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder. The source says power figures are still be determined, but Road & Track speculates that the RS could be packing 310 to 350 horsepower. As for what wheels all of that power will go to, another source says that it will utilize a new all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring to improve …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 4, 2012 The thought of the hyper-performance Focus has been under consideration for awhile, but there are murmurs of another car taking the Focus' place. Autocar reports that Ford could be considering building an RS version of the Fiesta instead of the Focus. Ford has already decided that there will be another RS model, the debate now is which one. Both vehicles make a good case as to why they should be the lone RS model. The Fiesta is a global car and is the vehicle that is used in the World Rally Championship. The Focus is also a global car, has been sold as an RS before, and can bring in higher profit margin…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 6, 2012 Ford is making some big waves today in the van market. At a event today in Amsterdam, Ford unveiled the new Transit and Transit Connect. We'll begin with the 2014 Transit Connect. Ford has really done a good job of bringing Connect in line with their new design language. Up front, the Transit Connect wears a trapezoidal grille smaller, sleeker headlamps, and more pronounced foglamps. The back features slimmer taillights and a tailgate. No word whether the barn doors on the current Connect will be available. Ford is staying quiet on what will be the powertrain lineup will be, but has said the European m…
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The current Ford Fiesta ST uses a 1.6L EcoBoost four-cylinder. But the next-generation Fiesta ST could be using a turbocharged three-cylinder. “We’re seeing more and more of what we can do with the 1.0-litre engine in development and the signs are promising. It’s a great engine – it sounds brilliant and there’s loads of torque when the turbo comes on boost, so we’re looking into things for the next ST,” said Darren Palmer, Ford's head of small cars to Auto Express. Currently, the most powerful version of the 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder produces 138 horsepower. But Ford has been experimenting with the engine to see how much power can be extracted. At the …
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Last week, Ford halted production of their F-Series pickup after a fire ravaged a supplier's plant in Southwestern Michigan. While Ford and supplier Meridan said everything was ok, analysts said it the shutdown could hurt Ford if it lasted more than a week. Last night, Ford announced that it would restart production of the F-150 at their Dearborn plant on Friday. Production at Kansas City and Louisville will come back online on Monday. Getting to this point took a lot of work for both Ford and Meridan. According to Automotive News, Ford was the first automaker on site after the fire and was able to retrieve all of the tooling over a 48-hour period. One of dies used wa…
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November 30, 2012 G. David Felt Staff Writer - Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com Today Ford warned 89,193 owners of 2013 Ford Escape and Ford Fusions with the 1.6 liter turbo to park their cars till ford can have them towed in for service due to engine fire risk. This marks the third recall on the 1/6 liter turbo engines that is Fords cornerstone engine to lure buyers to American brands. Unlike fords last recall on these auto's which they promised to fix in two weeks of the last recall, this recall has no estimate of repair and Ford has promised to cover auto rentals till they figure out a fix. Ford says no injuries have been linked to this new problem, but unt…
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Ford's slow drip of Ranger information continues as the blue oval announced some key details of the 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder. The 2.3L engine isn't as potent as the ones found in the Mustang and Focus RS, but it does provide a healthy 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does trail the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma's V6 engines in horsepower, but outperforms all in terms of torque. Ford Ranger: 2.3L Turbo-Four - 270 hp, 310 lb-ft Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon: 3.6L V6 - 308 hp, 275 lb-ft Toyota Tacoma: 3.5L V6 - 278 hp, 265 lb-ft Nissan Frontier: 4.0L V6 - 261 hp, 281 lb-ft Ford can also claim best-in-class whe…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Last month, Ford held a meeting with their dealers in Las Vegas to give them an update of where the company is heading and what to expect in the near future. According to a report from the Mustang6g.com forum, Ford shared vague plans for a four-door variant that would feature a turbo V8 and compete against the likes of the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera. No timeframe was mention as to when this model could debut. Let's try to take this rumor apart. The poster who originally brought this to light appears to have joined the forum earlier in October. This either means this is completely made up or there is some truth to this, considering the poster got this info from…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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When Ford provided the details of the 2017 Fusion lineup earlier this year, the one model that caused our eyes to widen was the Fusion Sport. Packing a twin-turbo 2.7L EcoBoost V6, the Sport would have 325 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Well, Ford has announced the final power figures for the Sport and our eyes are even wider. The Sport will still have 325 horsepower coming from the V6. But torque has been increased to 380 pound-feet. No, that isn't a misprint. Not only does the Sport blow everyone out of the midsize sedan class in terms of power, it also gives the likes of the BMW 340i a run for its money (320 horsepower, 330 pound-feet of torque). This is …
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Ford is making their high-line F-150 Limited a bit more special for the 2019 model year by dropping in the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 from the Raptor. The high-output version of the 3.5 makes 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This makes the F-150 Limited the most powerful light-duty pickup on sale - outgunning the 6.2L V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500. The only visual clue to the high-performance motor under the hood is the dual exhaust pipes out back. Other changes for the 2019 Limited include a new two-tone leather option and a massaging function for the front seats. No word on pricing, but the F-150 Limited goes on sale later in year…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 15, 2013 When Ford launched the C-Max Hybrid, they claimed that it would get 47 MPG in the city, on the highway, and combined. In the real world, that wasn't coming up at all. Owners complained that they were not seeing anywhere close to those numbers and the EPA opened an investigation to see if those numbers were achievable. Today Ford announced that they are voluntarily lowering fuel economy estimates on the C-Max Hybrid to 45 City/40 Highway/43 Combined. Ford also announced they would be compensating current owners the average estimated fuel cost difference between the two labels; $325 to lessees and $550 to …
Last reply by William Maley, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 20, 2012 Ford's decision to end Ranger production and move towards an expanded F-150 lineup could cost it about half of its Ranger owners, a new report says. Ford ended production of the Ranger last year and closed down its St. Paul, Minnesota, assembly plant where the truck was built. Ford said that the market for small pickups was dwindling and the decision was made to not continue with the Ranger. Instead, Ford is pushing Ranger owners to the F-150 or other Ford vehicles. "We are retaining some Ranger buyers, with the bulk of them moving to F-Series and Escape. As for the compact pickup segment, it has become …
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