Ford
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 16, 2011 This morning, the final Ford Ranger rolled off the Twin Cities assembly line, ending the twenty-nine year life of Ford’s compact truck. The Ranger was introduced back in 1982 as 1983 model and came into the growing market of compact trucks, becoming one the best selling trucks. In 1993, Ford revised the Ranger and got a Mazda counterpart, the B-Series a year later. With both four-cylinder and V6 engines, manual or automatic transmissions, and two or four-wheel drive, the Ranger and B-Series became a formidable force in the sales charts throughout the 90’s. But during the 2000s, the demand for small …
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December 19th, 2011 - "black-knight" - CheersandGears.com As we've mentioned before, teaser shots are all the rage these days with automakers. Defining details of future production and concept cars are deliberately hidden and buried by very low lighting -- such has become a signature hallmark of these photographs. Ford, though, is taking another direction for their latest teaser, this time of their upcoming EcoSport concept. Instead of a profile, front three-quarter, or rear three-quarter sketch or photograph that you can barely make out, Ford simply took a head-on shot of the car and cropped it to reveal part of the grille and a headlight, as well as the tumblehome 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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 21, 2011 The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has closed their investigation into 29,807 Ford Mustangs equipped with the manual transmission due to complaints alleging a faulty transmission. "There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. The preliminary evaluation is closed," said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a statement on its Web site. NHTSA looked into 364 reports of shift quality issues and data from Ford to determine what is the issue and whether a recall would be issue…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 28, 2011 Left Lane News posted spyshots of a couple Ford S-Max prototypes running around in Dearborn yesterday. The vehicles in the shots are the Ford Grand C-Max. However, an extended wheelbase and and a larger rear cargo area state this is an S-Max in drag. Left Lane News speculates the next generation S-Max could making it’s way to our shores. Their reasoning; Ford nixed the idea offering the C-Max as a seven passenger model due to it not being a true seven seater (5+2 layout) and it not suiting to American tastes. The S-Max is a true seven seater and would suit American tastes. At first, this seems a bit…
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Ford had a special event in Cologne, Germany tonight where it introduced the next-generation Fiesta. It is clear that Ford didn't want to mess with the Fiesta's exterior design much. The basic shape is the same as the current one, but it appears some of the lines have been softened somewhat. It also looks like slightly larger, but Ford hasn't provided any dimensions to confirm this. Ford has unveiled four versions that will appear in Europe: Titanium: Stylish ST-Line: Sporty looks Vignale: Luxury Active: Crossover-esq Interior-wise, the Fiesta follows suit with the recently-anno…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 29, 2011 Ford wowed crowds at November's LA Auto Show with their 650 HP Shelby GT500 coupe. Now, Ford could be readying a second act with the Shelby GT500. Topspeed reports Ford could show a Shelby GT500 Convertible at next month's Detroit Auto Show. The convertible will use the 5.8L supercharged V8 found in the coupe producing 650 HP. The convertible will not hit the same 200 MPH top speed as the coupe. We'll see if this pans out. Source: TopSpeed View full article
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When Ford introduced the next-generation Fiesta earlier this week, there was one model missing; the hot ST. This caused a number of people to wonder if there would be a new Fiesta ST. Good news, there will be Fiesta ST coming. But it will be awhile before we see it. Dutch publication AutoRAI spoke with Tyrone Johnson, development boss of Ford ST and RS models. Johnson revealed that the Fiesta ST would debut in late 2017, with production beginning a year later. Details about the next Fiesta ST are scarce, but Johnson did hint that the next ST would not see a major increase in power. Instead, the focus will be on improving the fun-factor. We wouldn't be surprised if a …
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Continuing its role as the come-back king, the Ford brand has surpassed 2 million vehicle sales for 2011, a first for the brand since 2007, making it the best selling automotive brand name in the US. The increase isn't attributable to just one vehicle segment; Ford has increased sales across their entire lineup. Small car sales are up over 20% this year. The Ford Escape has taken the title of America's best selling utility vehicle. The already best selling truck, the Ford F-150, bolstered by its new V6 and V8 engine lineup, has increased sales nearly 10%. Press Release is on page 2 Ford Brand Sales Top 2 Million for 1st Time Since 2007 DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 30, 201…
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As more consumers head over to crossovers and SUVs, automakers find themselves making changes to their lineup. Case in point is Ford which is considering dropping some of their nameplates because of the change in demand. “Over time, there should be some pruning of the portfolio to support growth in other areas. Clearly we’re going to invest in growing the SUV portfolio. We certainly intend to have a strong car base as well; we don’t know where the market’s going to go. But there will be some pruning over time as there should be in a nameplate and portfolio,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas. Ford's car sales are down 14 percent through November …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 4, 2012 With stiffer Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards on their way, Ford is looking at whether to add aluminum body panels on the next generation F-150. According to Ward's Auto, two sources say the company will utlize aluminum body panels, including doors and fenders on the next generation F-150. This comes as a surprise since steel has been the standard for trucks for decades. But this move coincides with a statement made by Ford's Group Vice President of Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak. Kuzak said the company has a goal by 2019 to drop 700 lbs for each model. Source: Ward's Auto View…
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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 Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 13, 2012 Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress, Ford's global marketing chief Jim Farley said the company is accelerating the One Ford global product development plan by reducing the number of platforms from eleven to nine and moving the date from 2014 to 2013. "It's a decision to accelerate the reduction of complexity. Derrick [Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development] and his team have committed to accelerating the process," Farley said. When asked which platforms would be cut, Farley decline to answer. The revised plan calls for 85% of Ford's global sales volume by 2013 to…
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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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 25, 2012 Ford is going down a different path from other automakers. The company says it will not go after the segment leader, the Toyota Camry with its brand new 2013 Fusion. The plan is to focus on a finding a balance between price and volume. “Between price and volume, we’ll sort out the right mix. I don’t think we’re very enamored with being No. 1 just to be No. 1. We’re much more enamored with getting the right price point and the right kind of people to buy the car,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s global marketing chief. Even though Ford’s decision to balance price with volume is a calculated move, Ford couldn’…
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Ford dropped a few bombshells this morning at a press conference in Flat Rock, MI. The big one was the American automaker dropping plans to build $1.6 billion assembly plant in Mexico (which was in the early stage of construction). Instead, Ford will invest $700 million into their Flat Rock that will add 700 jobs to the plant. “We look at all factors and in our view, we see a more positive U.S. manufacturing environment under President-elect Trump and the pro-growth policies and proposals that he’s talking about. So this is a vote of confidence for President-elect Trump and some of the policies he may be pursuing,” said Ford CEO Mark Fields during the press conference…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 9, 2012 Today, Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally announced that two key executives will step down from their positions in April. The two executives are Derrick Kuzak, Ford's head of global product development and Lewis Booth, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Kuzak has been in his current role since 2006 and is one of the people instrumental in creating "One Ford", the plan to develop cars on single global platforms with only cosmetic changes to account for local tastes. Kuzak is also responsible for the increase in measured quality. Booth a 34-year veteran of Ford, was tapped in 2008 a…
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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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 14, 2012 The Ford Focus RS and Mustang. One is a high horsepower FWD hot hatch, the other is a RWD muscle. Not much in common besides coming from the same company. But if a new report from Top Gear is believed, they’re could be more in common with the two. According to Top Gear’s report, engineers working at Ford’s RS team know what they want in the next generation Focus RS; a 320 HP 2.3L turbocharged inline-four engine. There’s one problem though, Ford hasn’t signed off on the project. Ford Global Performance Vehicle chief Jost Capito said back in 2010 on the return of the Focus RS, “depends on a lot of fact…
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It was an exciting day when Ford announced that the Ranger and Bronco would be coming back. But then disappointment arrived as an alleged Ford employee said on Reddit that the Bronco would be a slightly re-worked Everest SUV (cue sad trombone). A Ford executive has cleared the air somewhat on the Bronco, and it is good news. Ford's Chief Technical Officer Raj Nair told Autoline in an interview that while the Bronco would be based on the Ranger/Everest platform, it would be its own vehicle. “No, it’s a separate vehicle. It will be an incremental vehicle from the Everest. The Everest kind of serves a lot of off-road capability; maybe the space of the Explorer serv…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 22, 2012 Ford is using next month's Geneva Motor Show to show off a passenger van concept. Called the Tourneo Custom concept, this previews the next generation Transit van. Before we go any further, we would like to point out this isn't the Transit we're getting in North America. The Tourneo Custom concept is previewing the next generation of front-wheel-drive, passenger-friendly Transit for Europe and other world markets. The version for North America will based off of the heavy-duty, rear-wheel-drive Transit that's set to debut later this year. Now with that cleared up, lets get back to the Tourneo. The To…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 23, 2012 Ford's 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost is an interesting engine. Using a turbocharger and some other tech, the engine produces an amazing 123 HP. But there could be more power lying in that engine. Autocar spoke with the vehicle line director for the Focus, Gunnar Herrmann. They asked Herrmann if more power could be made with the 1.0L EcoBoost. “It’s a stretch, but possible,” said Herrmann. Rumor has it Ford is testing a 1.0L EcoBoost with an electric supercharger taking the place of the small turbo and a turbo from the 1.6L EcoBoost. Power is said to be 177 HP. This version is expected to sit betwee…
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Ford has revealed the updated 2018 Mustang which appears to amp up the competition between it and the Chevrolet Camaro. The exterior comes with a new front fascia with a larger grille, reshaped headlights, and lowered hoodline. Around back are a revised design for the taillights and quad-exhausts for the GT. The interior boasts higher quality materials and the option of a 12.3-inch digital cluster that can be customized to provide performance data. The big changes though lie under the skin. For starters, the base 3.7L V6 has been dropped. The 2.3L EcoBoost will now take its place as the base engine. Ford says the 2.3 will see a bump in torque, though the blue oval…
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G. Noble Editor/Reporter CheersandGears.com March 2, 2012 It’s almost hard to believe the third-generation Ford Super Duty pickup is about to celebrate its third birthday. And in the automotive world, that’s about the time most models have their mid-life crisis and order up a serving of light to heavy plastic surgery. The Super Duty, as Ford revealed late yesterday night with the sole teaser image they released, will be no exception. There aren’t many details you can make out from behind the big ol’ bedsheet Ford thrown over top of the truck to conceal its new look, but if you squint really hard you can tell it’s definitely sporting a different grille than the curren…
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Earlier this month, Ford CEO Mark Fields dropped some big bombshells concerning the company. One of those was a hybrid version of the F-150 for 2020. A spy photographer has given us our first look at what Ford has in mind for this. The F-150 mule caught in pictures only has the front covered up. But it appears the truck is a plug-hybrid. This conclusion is due to flaps that aren't hidden so well. One of these likely has the door hiding the socket to plug in the truck. The photographer who took the photos reports the mule had a slightly narrow front track and sounded like it had a four-cylinder under the hood. Motor1 isn't sure about this considering Mark Fields said …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 9, 2012 Last week, Ford released a teaser picture of their new F-Series Super Duty hiding under a bed sheet. Ford didn't say much except there would be another model added to the lineup and it would be revealed on March 9th. Well its March 9th and the internet didn't pull a surprise reveal during the run up. So, ladies and gentlemen, the new 2013 Ford F-Series Super Duty. So aside from the front grill that seems to grow larger every year, what is the big news? Well it isn't with the powertrains. It happens to be the new model, the Platinum. The Platinum will will offer a slew of new standard features including S…
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Has it really been two years since Ford introduced the GT? *Looks at calendar* Yep, it has been two years. Since that time, we have been wondering about how much power the twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 would produce. Ford has finally revealed the numbers earlier this morning. The 3.5L EcoBoost V6 will produce 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Ford hasn't revealed the 0-60 mph time, but does say the GT has a top speed of 216 mph - making the fastest production vehicle done by the blue oval. Dry weight (meaning no fluids) comes in at 3,054 lbs. Ford also published lap times of the GT against a Ferrari 458 Speciale and McLaren 675LT done at Calabogie Motorsp…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 26, 2012 Today, Ford posted a twenty-six second video on their Explorer Facebook page. The video seems to be teasing a high-performance variant of the Explorer. The video shows a mesh grille, an exhaust that growls, and what looks like body-color wheels. We're guessing a EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 with 350 or so horsepower will lie under the hood. The good news is we won't have to wait long to see what Ford is teasing us. Ford says the CUV will be officially unveiled on the Ford Explorer Facebook page on March 28. We'll be watching. View full article
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"SUVs are the top-selling segment in the U.S. That is why we are introducing five new SUVs in the U.S. by 2020," for the Ford brand, said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service in a statement this week. We already know three of the five models: EcoSport in 2018, the electric compact crossover in 2019, and the Bronco in 2020. But what about the other two? Reuters has learned from supplier sources that the models in question will be based on Ford's next-generation Focus and Fiesta. Meanwhile, Lincoln will be getting an additional model to their crossover/utility lineup. Sources say it will be a midsize model sharing the underpinning…
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Drew Dowdell - March 28th, 2012 - CheersandGears.com Ford unveiled a new Explorer Sport today equipped with a 350+ horsepower Ecoboost V6 and four-wheel drive. Specifically targeting the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango R/T with the 5.7-liter Hemi, Ford is anticipating the the Explorer Sport to have an advantage of 3mpg city and 2mpg highway over the Jeep and Dodge. The Explorer Sport gains additional chassis reinforcement and larger brakes that both improves handling and maintains the Explorer's 5,000 pound tow rating. Styling changes include package specific 20 inch machined wheels, a special grill with low-gloss mesh combined with high-gloss bars and the Explor…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 29, 2012 Jost Capito, Ford's director of Global Performance Vehicles is leaving according to Car & Driver. The reason as to why Capito is leaving Ford is unknown. “We thank Jost Capito for his contributions on the company’s performance vehicles and motorsports plan. We wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his career,” said a Ford Spokesman in a written statement. Capito during his eleven-year tenure over at Ford oversaw the performance divisions in Europe and the U.S. From 2001 - 2009, Capito was the head Ford's RS division. He oversaw development of first and second generation Focus RS and motorspor…
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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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 11, 2012 The sub-compact market is heating up with vehicles like the Chevrolet Sonic, Kia Rio, and Hyundai Accent providing tough competition. One of the vehicles who kicked off the return of sub-compact vehicles, the Ford Fiesta, is getting a refresh. Car & Driver got their hands on some spy shots of a Ford Fiesta hatchback and sedan undergoing some testing. The Fiesta will take on some Ford's design cues seen on the Taurus and new Fusion. The front end will get an Aston Martin-esk grill layout and new headlights. Around the back, the sedan new taillights and a reshaped trunklid that brings it in line with…
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Ford has teased the next-generation Fiesta ST before its official debut later this week. In a video posted to Ford's Instagram, a pre-production model is seen driving through a factory. From what we can see, it looks like the ST will look similar to the standard Fiesta ST-Line shown back in November. We're expecting some other design changes to make the ST stand out from other Fiesta models. No word on the powertrain, though some suspect it will a 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder four-cylinder. Source: Ford Europe's Instagram View full article
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G. Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 13th, 2012 Without a shadow of doubt, Ford’s Mustang is a red-blooded, all-American icon. Since the 1960s, the stallion-badged pony car has won the acceptance of a large number of enthusiasts and normal buyers alike, its abundant presence dominating paved surfaces ranging from boulevards to drag strips. Love it or hate it, it was the Mustang that gave us other revered models like Chevrolet’s Camaro and Dodge’s Challenger, and inspired the European Ford Capri and Japan’s Toyota Celica. Facts are facts; the automotive world would certainly be a very dull place without it. However, while it has traveled to countries out…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 16, 2012 The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the next Ford Mustang, due out in 2014, will ditch the retro styling and go with the styling seen on the new Fusion. Sources tell the Journal, the new Mustang will keep shark-nosed grill and headlights. Why drop the retro styling? Ford wants to attract younger buyers. The group of people who usually purchase a Mustang is beginning to shrink. Also, Ford wants to take back the sales lead from the Chevrolet Camaro. For the first three months of this year, the Camaro outsold the Mustang by by 1,791 vehicles. Last year, the Camaro outsold the Mustang by 17,811 vehic…
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A group of Shelby GT350 owners are not happy with Ford. Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida claiming that the track-ready GT350 isn't. According to filling, owners complain that the vehicle overheats in as little as 15 minutes due faulty transmissions and rear differentials when driven on a track. When the vehicle does overheat, it goes into a limp mode that reduces power to protect the powertrain. The filing goes on to say that Ford fixed this issue in the 2017 model, but told owners of the 2016 model to make the fixes themselves - a possible breach of the car's warranty. “When Ford marketed and sold th…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 26, 2012 It only seemed like a few months ago when Ford was showing off the new GT500 at the L.A. Auto Show and it was announced that it would be producing 650 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. However, the GT500 wasn't certified by the SAE. If a report from the Team Shelby message board prove to be accurate, the 2013 GT500 has finally gotten its official figures. Those figures are 662 HP and 630 lb-ft of torque. Jamal Hameedi, Ford’s SVT team chief engineer and Jim Owens, Vice President of marketing for Shelby revealed the data during an interview. Source: Team Shelby Forum View full article
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It is unlikely that the Focus RS will be the only Ford model sporting the RS badge, although which models will follow have been up for debate. The chief of Ford Performance has hinted that the brand's crossovers could go under the RS treatment. "I think customers love performance. I think the definition of what that means for an SUV might be different than what it means for a Focus or for a Fiesta. But I think that we’ve seen, even in the US and globally, that people like aggressive-looking cars, they like sporty, they want the power and pick-up and engine improvement, so I think the answer is yes. SUV customers would appreciate performance, for sure," said Dave Peri…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 1, 2012 Thanks to the folks at FordSTNation.com, we know now what the starting price of the 2013 Ford Focus ST will be. $23,700 (excluding the $795 destination charge) will get you into a 247 HP hot hatch according to a leaked spec sheet. The pricetag undercuts the four-door GTI by a $100 and the Mazdaspeed3 by $300. The spec sheet also reveals two equipment groups adding on an additional $2,505 and $4,840. A fully loaded ST will cost around $29,000. Source: FordSTNation.com via The Truth About Cars View full article
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Ford is looking to make big strides in autonomous vehicles. Last year, CEO Mark Fields said that by 2021, the automaker would have a Level 4 self-driving vehicle (minus the steering wheel and pedals for the gas and brake) for ride sharing services. Then Fields said the Blue Oval would offer self-driving vehicles to consumers by around 2025. However, Ford's vice president of research and advanced engineering has put the brakes on this slightly, saying it might be closer to ten years after that first fleet implementation. “It’s really hard to guess and predict the pace of the technology. Our current view is the adoption rates will be relatively gradual,” said Ken Washi…
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 17, 2012 Ford has announced today that dealers will begin taking orders on the new C-Max Hybrid, due out later this fall. The C-Max Hybrid will carry a base price tag of $25,995 (excluding destination charge), which undercuts its closest competitor, the Toyota Prius V by $500. The C-Max Hybrid will come equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack delivering an estimated 141 HP. Fuel economy numbers hasn't been released, but Ford does say it will be America’s most “fuel-efficient hybrid utility vehicle”. Features for the C-Max Hybrid include hands-free liftgate, rain…
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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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 29, 2012 In the first quarter of 2012, Ford saw its market share drop 1.4 points. The reason: not enough inventory. "The market got a little bit ahead of us," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas. “Most of our production actions and capacity increases take place in the second half of this year.” Ford plans on boosting production at several of its vehicle assembly plants to counter what it says were weak dealer inventories during the first quarter of 2012. The plan includes trimming the summer shutdown period for plants and have three shifts running at Hermosillo, Mexico, assembly plant, later this y…
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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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Ford isn't doing so well at the moment as profits and stock prices are tumbling downward. To try and reverse this trend, the blue oval is considering cutting 10 percent of its global workforce. Both the Wall Street Journal and Reuters have learned from their respective sources the cuts are part of a previously announced plan to slash costs by $3 billion. The cuts will mostly affect salaried employees, with Reuters reporting Ford will offer generous early retirement incentives. To give you an idea of how jobs are on the chopping block, Ford currently 200,000 employees. A cut of 10 percent means 20,000 people are out of a job. "Reducing costs and becoming as lean …
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 4, 2012 This morning in Texas, Ford pulled the covers off the refreshed 2013 F-150. While not a dramatic refresh, the 2013 F-150 does include a number of enhancements to bring it in line with the rest of the Ford lineup. The exterior gets new grills (XLT and below: two bars. Lariat and above: three bars), optional high-intensity discharge headlamps, and some new 18- and 20-inch wheel options. Also available on the options list are power telescoping and folding outside rearview mirrors. Inside, the F-150 gets a set of revised gauges and a driver-configurable LCD screen sitting in the middle. Also, the higher end…
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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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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 7, 2012 At first glance, you might be wondering why pictures of a 2013 Mustang are considered spy shots. It's only when you notice the rear bumper has been trimmed and the bulging fuel cap, you see that this Mustang is hiding something. According to Motor Trend, that something is the 2015 Mustang. The trimmed rear might indicate a different powertrain or underbody structure. The bulging fuel cap most likely foretells a change to the vehicle’s hard points. And the big surprise lies underneath this Mustang. It appears the next-generation Mustang could be dropping the solid rear-axle and going towards independent r…
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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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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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2018 will mark the final year of the Focus RS and Ford is planning a proper send-off to their hyper hatchback with the RS Limited Edition. The most significant change for the RS Limited Edtion is a Quaife mechanical-slip differential for the front axle. This will help the car corner better and accelerate with little traction loss. Other changes include the choice of Race Red for the exterior paint, various trim pieces finished in black, and 19-inch painted forged alloy wheels. The RS2 package which features Recaro bucket seats, eight-way power driver's seat, heated seats, and navigation will come standard. “Our new limited-edition Focus RS represents accessible pe…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 26, 2012 Ford's current policy on pickup trucks is to continuously update them with new models and powertrains. For the 2013 model year, Ford introduced a mild-refresh of the F-150 and now has a new model to introduce, the F-150 Limited. The Limited takes the place of the King Ranch, Harley-Davidson, and Platinum of being the top dog in the F-150 lineup. With four trucks taking the luxury stance in the F-150 lineup, you're left wondering what makes the Limited special. Unlike the King Ranch, Harley-Davidson, and Platinum, the Limited doesn't really have a stand-out identity.Think of it as a Lariat with more luxurie…
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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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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 27, 2012 The Wall Street Journal reports that Ford is considering using a aluminum body in the next generation F-150 pickup. The move would drop about 700 lbs, a 15% drop in weight from the current F-150. The reason as to why Ford is exploring the aluminum pickup is due to upcoming CAFE regulations that by 2025, the U.S. vehicle fleet has to average 54.5 miles per gallon. Also, the regulations would ramp up fuel economy goals for vehicles of different sizes each year. Analysts aren't too sure if Ford will go the aluminum body route, saying it wouldn't be too practical. "Full-aluminum structured vehicles are much m…
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When Ford unveiled the updated 2018 F-150 back in January, they had announced new and updated engines. But they only spilled the performance figures on one, a 3.3L V6 producing 290 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. Today, the blue oval reveal performance details on a couple more engines. The 2.7L EcoBoost V6 remains at 325 horsepower, but torque is up 25 pound-feet to 400. Part of the increase comes from the 2.7 getting port injection. The 5.0L V8 sees increases of 10 horsepower and 13 pound-feet for power figures of 395 and 400 respectively. It gets port injection and spray-in bore liners that is used in the Mustang GT350. Both engines will come paired with a…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 9, 2012 The updated Ford Fiesta has been caught once again while doing some testing and it gives us our best look at what to expect. The front end has a vibe of the upcoming 2013 Ford Fusion, with its Aston Martin-esk fascia and similar styling on the headlights. Around the back is a new lip spoiler on the trunk and the taillights getting the Fusion treatment. The current Fiesta's engine; a 1.6L inline-4 making 120 HP and 112 lb-ft of torque will be replaced with a 1.0L turbocharged inline-3, producing around 125 HP and 147 lb-ft of torque. The new Fiesta is expected to come out at this year's LA Auto Show. Sou…
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Previous Page Next Page While popular on the Ford F-150, the FX4 package has been absent from the Ford Expedition option list since 2004. Ford is bringing it back for their all-new 2018 Ford Expedition. While the Expedition FX4 is intended to do the rock crawling like the Ford Raptor, the addition of the FX4 does make Ford's biggest family hauler more off-road capable, something Ford claims over 20 percent of Expedition drivers do. The Expedition FX4 will start with a standard issue Expedition in a 4x4 configuration with a 10-speed automatic and twin-turbo V6 producing 375 HP @ 5000 rpm and 470 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm. On top of t…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 15, 2012 When Ford launched the Fiesta in the United States in 2010, they had very high hopes for it. However, the Fiesta has been seeing its sales dip. So far this year, Fiesta sales are down 25% to 35,385 vehicles. The reason? Consumers are flocking to the Fiesta's big brother, the Focus. So far in 2012, the Focus has seen its sales go up by 31% to 147,877 vehicles. Ford is standing behind the Fiesta, despite the sales slide. “The small-car segment, given its size, the largest in the industry, is large enough for two vehicles,” said Erich Merkle, Ford’s U.S. sales analyst. Source: Bloomberg William Maley is …
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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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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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Ford announced today that once the current Ford Focus ends production in mid-2018, the model will shift production of the 2019 Ford Focus to China rather than Mexico. The Focus is currently built at Ford's Michigan Assembly in Wayne, MI along side the C-Max Hybrid. It has been known since mid-2015 that Focus production would be moving out of the U.S. once this model run was finished. During the 2016 Presidential election, then Candidate Trump criticized Ford for the move to Mexico, however Ford pointed out that they were making room for the upcoming Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco and that no jobs at Wayne Assembly will be lost as it retools for truck and SUV produc…
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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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The excitement over the return of the Ford Bronco has been somewhat staggering. This has meant a fair amount of rumor, speculation, and renderings of the new models have been popping up before the official introduction. The latest rumors come from an unnamed Ford employee speaking with Gear Patrol. According to the engineer, Ford has been struggling with the design of the new Bronco, reportedly sending it back twice. The last one was scrapped due to it looking "too much like a Wrangler.” The current design being worked on is said to be a four-door variant of the Brazilian Troller T4. What about a two-door? The engineer said, “there’s just no market for it.” It will f…
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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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Police departments now have another choice for a pursuit rated vehicle. Today, Ford unveiled the F-150 Police Responder which is the first pickup truck to be pursuit rated. If you're wondering what it means to be 'pursuit rated', it basically means the vehicle can travel at high speeds without overheating the engine, reduced braking performance, and other mechanical issues. The Police Responder is equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This comes paired with a 10-speed automatic and a part-time four-wheel-drive system. Top speed is rated at 100 mph. The FX4 off-road package comes standard for the F-150 Police Responder …
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 11, 2012 Bloomberg is reporting that Ford will announce Mark Fields as its new Chief Operating Officer, putting him right behind CEO Alan Mulally in the chain of command. Until now, Ford has not had a COO under Mulally. This has led many to speculate that this promotion will clearly put Fields in line to be the successor for CEO. Rumors of someone replacing Mulally as CEO have been swirling for months. Although Mulally, 67, says he has no plans to step down anytime soon, it's widely believed that Ford is preparing for new leadership behind the scenes. “We do not comment on speculation about personnel actions.…
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Deliveries of the Ford GT have been going since February, but various issues have caused Ford to notify owners that their GTs will be running somewhat late. Automotive News reports that owners got a letter this week from Ford saying delivery of their GT will be pushed back due to supplier constraints and homologation testing issues. "The craftsmanship required to build these vehicles for global markets has required that we adjust our original timing projections," the letter says. The letter goes on to say customers will be notified with an updated "three-month projected delivery window" within the week. Ford declined to say how long the delays will be, tel…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 12, 2012 Some peculiar Ford F-150s have made their way onto the web thanks to a spy photographer. The trucks in question features awkward panel fits, shorten cabs, and modified truck beds. What is the deal with these truck. Most likely, the trucks are the mules for the next F-150, due out in 2015. Automobile Magazine also speculates the trucks are also testing aluminum body panels, something we reported back in July. This would allow engineers to gain knowledge about whether its a good idea or not to implement aluminum in the next truck. Rumor has the 2015 F-150 having a aluminum hood and bed, but this is some…
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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 September 15, 2012 Ford's Interceptor sedan engine lineup consists of the 3.5L V6 producing 288 HP and 254 lb-ft of torque going to the front wheels, and the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 producing 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque going to all four wheels. Now, Ford has introduced a third engine option for the Interceptor sedan. The 3.7L V6 from the Interceptor Utility is now in the sedan. The 3.7L V6 produces 305 HP ans 279 lb-ft of torque. The 3.7L is only available with all-wheel drive. William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 20, 2012 “Please don’t write me off yet. I mean, I love it here.” Those words were uttered by Ford CEO Alan Mulally to reporters this week at the launch of the new Fusion. “My plan is to continue to serve as the CEO of Ford. I’m really clarifying that now. If I had any plans to do anything differently, I’d share it with everybody,” Mulally said. Mulally comments come a week after news surfaced that Mark Fields would become Ford's new COO, which led to speculation that Ford was setting up a succession plan for Mulally. Source: Bloomberg Businessweek William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He …
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 26, 2012 This week hasn’t been good for Ford’s factory workers in Europe. The blue oval announced the closure of three plants; two in United Kingdom and one in Belgium. We’ll start with Belgium. On Wednesday, Ford announced the closure of the Genk Assembly Plant in Belgium. The Genk Assembly builds the current Mondeo midsize, and the S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs. The closure will affect about 4,300 jobs when it happens in 2014. "This (closure) wasn't the plan. Initially we had committed to build the next-generation Mondeo and S-Max and Galaxy at this plant, but the contract has a clause for significant decline in marke…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 2, 2012 Back in September, we reported that Ford would move Mark Fields, the brand's president of the Americas to the post of Chief Operating Officer. This would place Fields right behind CEO Alan Mulally in the succession plan. This was supposed to take place at a board meeting during the month. This didn't happen at that month's meeting. So it comes as a surprise that almost two months after this news, Ford has come out and announced that starting December 1st, Mark Fields will officially become the new Chief Operating Officer. This news came out yesterday during a surprise conference call with CEO Mulally and…
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With only 500 Ford GTs being built for its production, each one will be considered as a rare and special vehicle. But there will always be those who want something a bit more special. Ford has just the GT for you in the form of the 2018 GT '67 Heritage Edition. Paying homage to the 1967 Le Mans victory by the all-American team of Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, the '67 Heritage Edition is finished in the same red paint and white stripes, as well as the same no.1 that the winning GT40 wore. Other exterior items to take note of are the exposed carbon fiber package, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, red brake calipers, and silver mirror caps. The interior comes with red accent s…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 8, 2012 The rumors of the next-generation of the Focus RS have been like a roller-coaster ride. There has been rumors dealing with the Focus RS being put on the back burner for a Fiesta RS, the Focus RS sharing its engine with the next generation Mustang, and what could be the possible engine specs.Now, we have some more track to add. Auto Express is reporting that the next-generation Focus RS will utilize a new 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder that could be producing as much as 350 HP. This engine could also be used in the next-gen Mustang. Transmission-wise, the Focus RS will utilize a six-speed manual. There are …
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Back in January, Ford announced they would be introducing 13 new electric and hybrid vehicles including a hybrid Mustang and plug-in hybrid version of the F-150. Automotive News has learned about four additional vehicles that will launch in 2019. According to sources familiar with Ford's plans, the company will launch plug-in hybrid versions of the Escape and Lincoln MKC, along with hybrid variants of the Expedition and Navigator. Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive said it makes sense for Ford to do hybrid variants of SUVs and crossovers as they are hot sellers. "They're at a critical point in their strategy, and that's tryin…
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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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For some, the announcement made by Ford's Asia Pacific is a dream come true. In a teaser video, a prototype Ranger is seen being put through its paces while undergoing testing in the Australian Outback. Towards the end of the video, the name Ranger Raptor is revealed and will be arriving in Asia Pacific markets next year. There isn't much to go on in terms of concrete details. It appears the Ranger Raptor will only come in the Double Cab configuration and feature a new grille - possibly the same one as seen on the F-150 Raptor. We're expecting some of the ideas from the F-150 Raptor's suspension will be applied for the smaller Ranger. Of course, some are asking …
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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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There is a small group of people that wish Ford would bring back the F-150 Lightning. Appearing in 1993-1995, and again from 1999 to 2004, the Lightning was a go-fast truck that handled surprisingly well. But since 2004, Ford hasn't brought back the Lighting. Instead, it has focused on the off-road monster that is the Raptor. Enter Pioneer Ford in Bremen, Georgia. The dealership is building their version of the Lightning. Starting with a regular cab, short bed F-150, Pioneer rips out the stock engine and drops in a 5.0L Coyote V8 with a Roush Supercharger. Horsepower is rated at 650. Other changes include a lowered suspension, side exit exhaust, 22-inch wheels that …
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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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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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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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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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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 2, 2012 Ford has been getting a load of complaints dealing with MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch systems with speed and ease of use. Ford has issued an update earlier this year to to fix these problems and add new features, but owners are still complaining. Starting this month, Ford will be issuing an update being referred as "version 3.5" of the software. Vehicles that are without navigation will get the update first. Vehicles with navigation will get their version of the update next month, while hybrids, plug-ins and electric vehicles will follow thereafter. Ford is also extending the warranties for vehicles …
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2012 Ford has announced today that the new Transit will come with a 3.2L Power Stroke turbodiesel inline-5 to join alongside the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 when it goes on sale later next year. The 3.2L Power Stroke turbodiesel doesn't have any power ratings for the U.S. at the moment, but Ford does say the European version of this engine produces 197 HP and 347 lb-ft of torque - 90% of that torque is will be available between 1,700 and 3,500 rpm. While the 3.2L doesn't hold a candle in power to the recently phased out 6.0L Power Stroke (235 HP and 440 lb-ft of torque), the 3.2L is expected to be much cleaner and effi…
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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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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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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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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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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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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 14, 2012 The next-generation Ford F-150 could be aiming for the best-in-class fuel economy. A source tells Reuters that the 2015 F-150, due out in late 2014, is aiming for a 15-20% improvement in fuel economy. The 2015 Ford F-150 "will be a game-changer that will alter the dynamics of the truck segment. They're shooting for best-in-class fuel economy," the source told Reuters. When asked about this, Ford spokesman Mike Levine said, "Ford is committed to offering our customers leading fuel economy (but) it's premature to talk about future products," Ford increasing the fuel economy of the next F-150 is due to t…
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Automakers except for Tesla are finding it tough to appease to Wall Street. Despite rising sales and various plans for electrics and autonomous vehicles, Wall Street takes a very pessimistic view of the industry. Ford has been trying their best to change Wall Street's view but to no avail, so they are changing up their strategy. “In the past, maybe we said too much. This is a very competitive world we’re in. You want to give Wall Street enough information, but you also don’t want to telegraph exactly where you’re going. And I think that’s a balance that we are going to continue to work on,” said Ford Executive Chairman, Bill Ford at a Detroit Economic Club event. …
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Ford has announced a new joint venture with Chinese automaker Zotye on affordable electric vehicles for the Chinese market. Named Zotye Ford Automobile, the venture will see the two automakers develop and manufacture electric vehicles for a new brand. Ford and Zotye will be investing a total of 5 billion RMB (about $756 million) on this venture. Part of that investment will go towards a new manufacturing plant in the Zhejiang Province. The two automakers will also work on mobility solutions. “We are delighted to have signed this joint venture agreement with Zotye to form our third joint venture automotive company in China. Subject to regulatory approval, Zotye For…
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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 is expanding their green options to governments with the launch of the Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan. The model will be positioned for those who don't need a pursuit-rated vehicle such as Police and Fire Chiefs, detectives, and other government officials. Based on the Fusion Energi, the Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan comes with the 2.0L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and a larger 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery. Ford says the electric range of 21 miles should be enough for most folks to get through a shift without needing a recharge. If the battery does become depleted, the gas engine will kick on to provide a total range of over 500 miles. “This is th…
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Truck manufacturers love to boast how they are the best in terms of power, towing, and payload. Every few months, one of them will announce some changes to put them at the top of the pile. Case in point is Ford. Today, the blue oval announced that the 2018 F-Series Super Duty features a slightly tweaked 6.7L PowerStroke turbodiesel V8 with 450 horsepower and 935 pound-feet of torque - an increase of 10 for both figures. The increase is due to a new cylinder head design, and optimized fuel and turbo boost calibrations. This puts Ford at the top when it comes power figures for heavy-duty trucks. Ford claims this increase gives the Super Duty best-in-class figures fo…
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Earlier this year, we reported that Ford would be investing $700 million into their Flat Rock, MI plant for two new models - an electric crossover in 2020 and an autonomous vehicle following a year later. Those plans have changed as Ford will move production of the electric crossover to Cuautitlan, Mexico. This information comes from an internal Ford memo obtained by Automotive News last night. Flat Rock will become an “AV center of excellence”. AV, in this case, being autonomous vehicles. “This allows us to bring this exciting new vehicle to global customers in a more effective way to support our overreaching business goals,” the memo says. Ford spokesman …
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Ford and General Motors have differing views on autonomous vehicles. GM is planning on launching a number of Chevrolet Bolt EVs in various urban markets in 2019 for a ride-hailing service. Ford, on the other hand, is taking a different approach in terms of powertrain and use. Ford's top sales executive, Jim Farley said their autonomous vehicle - due in 2021 - will be a hybrid vehicle with a focus on commercial applications. Farley explained that going with a hybrid powertrain would allow their vehicles to stay on the road longer thanks to a longer range when compared to EVs. The company expects their autonomous vehicles to be on the road for roughly 20 hours a day. U…
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