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Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer playing in the dirt

Click above to watch the video after the jump

The outgoing Ford Explorer was a rear-drive-based body-on-frame SUV with a substantial thirst for fuel yet little in the way of off-road capability. The 2011 Explorer is built off a front-drive architecture, which would lead the uninformed observer to believe that dirt and rocks won’t get along with the newly redesigned CUV. But Ford has worked its magic with a clever all-wheel drive system that works in tandem with a Terrain Management System that promises a modicum of off-road capability. Without skid plates and higher ground clearance, we’re not talking hardcore rock crawling, of course, but perhaps there’s more ability here than one might otherwise expect out of a unibody three-row crossover.

Of course, it will take time to get this message across to the car-buying public, and the first effort in Ford’s educating process comes in the way of this sand-filled video. Ford put its newest 2011 model on display at the “San Diego Vision” media event, taking a bright red Limited model for a spin on very loose dirt. There are no rocks and no obtuse articulations; instead there are a bunch of different angles of the new Explorer doing dirt donuts with earth flying everywhere. It’s far from the most impressive off-road video we’ve seen, but it sure is pretty. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. Hat tip to Yaroukh!

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer Southern California Live Debut

[Source: Ford via YouTube]

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Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays in the California sand originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford to introduce Escape/Kuga concept in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Ford

Ford Kuga

Ford Kuga – Click above for high-res image gallery

A source within Ford Motor Company has reportedly revealed that a near-production crossover concept will be heading to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. When this concept vehicle takes its production shape, it will serve as the replacement for the venerable Ford Escape and Kuga crossovers.

Based off of the 2012 Focus’ platform, the new Escape/Kuga is expected to go into production in the second half of 2012 and be sold as a 2013 model in the United States. At this time, it is unclear as to whether or not Ford will keep both the Escape and Kuga names in the vehicles’ respective markets. The automaker’s “One Ford” global product strategy would call for a single name for vehicles sold in different regions, and the Blue Oval team will surely face a similar problem with the redesigned Fusion and Mondeo sedans in the near term.

We’ll have the full scoop direct from the Cobo Hall in January, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Ford Kuga

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Ford to introduce Escape/Kuga concept in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus production begins

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus production begins in Germany – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Ford Focus isn’t just an all-new model for the Blue Oval team – it represents the first example of the automaker’s “One Ford” global product strategy. Ford is now engineering cars that will be exactly the same in all markets, and for the first time in many years, we Americans will finally be able to buy the same Focus as the rest of the world.

Ford will start selling the 2012 Focus early next year, and thus, production of the new global C-car has officially started at the automaker’s Saarlouis Assembly Plant in Germany. This facility is capable of manufacturing up to 1,850 vehicles a day over the course of three shifts, and all three Focus bodystyles (sedan, hatchback and wagon) will be produced here. The high-performance Focus ST will be added to this line in early 2012, as well.

In addition to the Saarlouis plant, Ford has begun early production of the North American-spec Focus at the automaker’s Michigan Assembly Plant just outside of Detroit. This plant has been completely overhauled over the past year, as it was formerly used to produce the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

Ford plans to further expand Focus production in mid-2011 by adding manufacturing lines to its plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. What’s more, production in the Asia Pacific region will come on-line in 2012 at new facilities in Chongquig, China and Rayong, Thailand. Follow the jump to read the Blue Oval’s official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus production

[Source: Ford]

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2012 Ford Focus production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevy Camaro poised to outsell Ford Mustang for first time in 25 years

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford

Chevy Camaro - Ford Mustang split view

It’s been a quarter-century since the last time it happened, but Chevrolet’s reborn Camaro appears set to steal away the yearly pony car sales crown from the Ford Mustang.

According to AutoWeek, the Bowtie Brigade has cleared 75,685 Camaro sales through the end of November, while the Blue Oval has shifted 68,264 units. Extrapolating the monthly sales totals to the end of December, AW estimates that Chevrolet will finish 2010 with around 82,500 sales, besting the Ford’s estimate of 74,500. Trailing the muscle car pack in sales is Dodge’s Challenger lineup, trending at around 36,000 units.

There has certainly been pent-up demand for the Camaro among consumers after its prolonged absence, but what’s even more impressive about its yearly sales total is that if the lead holds, the Chevy will have outsold the Ford and the Dodge with far fewer special editions and no convertible bodystyle like the Mustang. (A droptop Camaro is slated to go on sale next year, and a high-performance Z28 variant is also expected).

For more details on the pony car sales race, check out the link below.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Chevy Camaro poised to outsell Ford Mustang for first time in 25 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 dyno run goes boom in spectacular fashion

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Ford

Shelby GT500 blows up on the dyno

BOOM goes the GT500’s dyno might – Click above to watch video after the jump

Strapping a car to a dyno and giving it the boot is not as safe as it might seem. Sure, the car is not actually going anywhere, but a lot of forces are at play in the drivelline. The owner of this particular Shelby Mustang GT500 in the video available after the jump, learned this firsthand when his prized pony when boom.

No postmortem discussion is available to find out what happened, and we’re not sure what (if any) modifications were done to this previous-gen GT500, but it certainly sounded pretty mean right until it barfed up a lung. Hop the jump to check out the unfortunate carnage. Thanks for the tip, Brent W!

[Source: YouTube via Mustang Evolution]

Continue reading Video: Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 dyno run goes boom in spectacular fashion

Video: Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 dyno run goes boom in spectacular fashion originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Cadillac, Ford, GM, Lincoln, Design/Style

Max Wolff, Lincoln design head Max Wolff, formerly of General Motors, has been hired by Ford Motor Company to head up Lincoln’s design team effective January 3, 2011.

During his tenure at GM, Wolff was most recently responsible for leading Cadillac’s exterior design team, though he also held positions at the automaker’s Holden and Daewoo divisions. Ford sees Wolff’s global design experience as a benefit for Lincoln, bringing “a fresh perspective that will challenge us internally and take Lincoln to new levels of prestige,” says Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s Group Vice President for Global Product Development.

Wolff, 38, is tasked with creating a definitive design language for Lincoln that extends beyond the large split-grilled creations we currently see. Specifically, Ford has cited that the Lincoln brand will debut seven all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles over the next four years, including the automaker’s first-ever C-segment car. For the full details, hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief

Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Ford’s Sync lose ground to Fiat’s Blue & Me?

Filed under: Technology, Ford, Fiat

It recognizes hundreds of voice commands. It will interface with your Bluetooth-enabled smart phone. It was co-developed with Microsoft. Sounds like Ford’s popular SYNC tech, right? Sure does, but it also smacks of Fiat’s Blue & Me system that has been in production in Europe since 2007. The technology will be available stateside when the tiny Fiat 500 goes on sale early in 2011. The cost? $500 in a base 500, and the system is standard on uplevel Sport and Lounge models.

Like the Fiat 500 itself, Blue & Me certainly sound compelling, but it’s one small niche product in a sea of cars, trucks and crossovers. Perhaps more significant is the fact that Fiat’s infotainment tech could be available in Chrysler products as early as 2012. And while B&M apparently doesn’t do everything as well as SYNC, it also carries some advantages of its own. For instance, 500 Sport and Lounge buyers can shell out an extra $400 for an optional Tom Tom navigation system that interfaces with the voice command system. Fiat also enables drivers to download their driving habits to a USB stick and load it to a website called Eco:Ville. The site will process the data and give drivers tips for more efficient driving.

So will Blue & Me become as popular as SYNC? Who knows, but at the very least it’s nice to see that competition for Ford’s system is on the way.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2011 Fiat 500

2011 Fiat 500

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Will Ford’s Sync lose ground to Fiat’s Blue & Me? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford Explorer orders nearly double expectations

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer

2011 Ford Explorer – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Ford Explorer is a drastic departure from its predecessors, ditching body-on-frame construction in favor of a unibody structure, and sharing its platform with the Taurus sedan (as well as the Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT). This shift to a traditional crossover construction has not turned away buyers, however, and Ford reports that Explorer pre-orders have nearly doubled original projections.

According to The Detroit News, Ford has received roughly 15,000 orders for the 2011 Explorer. This includes about 3,000 retail and 7,500 dealer orders, as well as an additional 4,500 orders from companies.

Jason Mase, Ford’s manager of utility vehicles, told The Detroit News that about 55 percent of buyers are opting for the trailer tow package, and 64 percent want all-wheel drive. Mase says that consumers don’t really care if the vehicle is a crossover or an SUV, the major concern is that the vehicle fits their specific needs. So far, so good, and Ford expects this trend to continue after the Explorer officially hits dealerships in early 2011.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer Southern California Live Debut

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Ford Explorer orders nearly double expectations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford adding 100 dealers in China

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, India

Ford Fiesta

According to Ford, 70 percent of the company’s growth in the next decade will come from the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. The Blue Oval had only planned to have 310 dealerships in China at the end of 2010, but having sold nearly half a million cars this year and expecting the boom to continue, the number has jumped to 340 dealers. This is part of Ford’s larger plan to add 100 new dealerships in China, mostly in smaller cities and inland provinces where new car demand is high.

Ford is planning a new plant with its Chinese joint venture partner, Changan, and will introduce four more models into the Chinese market next year, including the 2011 Edge. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific market, Ford has already spent $500 million on increasing production capacity in India, where it now sells the Figo subcompact.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req. | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Report: Ford adding 100 dealers in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Ford employee pleads guilty to stealing $50M in trade secrets

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ford

According to the Department of Justice, 49 year-old Mike Yu has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of trade secrets. Yu worked as a product engineer for Ford for 10 years before accepting a job with another company, but when he left the Blue Oval, he took more than his family photos with him when he walked out the door. The engineer copied over 4,000 Ford documents onto an external hard drive before letting the company know of his new employer. Those documents included proprietary information on everything from engine and transmission mounting designs to electrical systems and full body shells. Yu began working for Beijing Automotive Company in 2008.

Yu returned to the United States in November of that same year, and was arrested upon his arrival. The Federal Bureau of Investigation found a Beijing Automotive Company laptop among Yu’s possessions at that time with 41 Ford design specification documents on its hard drive. Yu had apparently accessed those documents while working for the company.

Under his plea agreement, Yu faces up to six and a half years in prison and a $150,000 fine in addition to an agreed loss amount of between $50 million and $100 million. The former engineer will be deported after his prison time is up. Follow the jump to read the official government statement.

[Source: The Department of Justice]

Continue reading Former Ford employee pleads guilty to stealing $50M in trade secrets

Former Ford employee pleads guilty to stealing $50M in trade secrets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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