Tag: ford

Rumormill: 2015 Ford Mustang to get 2.3-liter EcoBoost

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Ford Mustang SVO

It’s that time of year again, kids. There are no auto shows on the horizon and most automakers have squirreled away all of their big announcements for later in the year in anticipation of the summer vacation season. What’s an enterprising auto journo to do but rustle up some tasty vintage rumors for the web to feast upon? The crew at Motor Authority has taken to citing unnamed sources as saying that a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is slated to find its way into the engine bay of the 2015 Ford Mustang.

This, of course, recalls the much-celebrated (but slow-selling) Mustang SVO of the ’80s. It, too, rocked a 2.3-liter forced-induction engine, which makes this particular rumor sound so sweet it makes sugar taste just like salt. MA doesn’t stop with the four-pot, though. The article goes on to say that an EcoBoost V6 will also show up in the pony car around the same time, and that the 5.0-liter V8 currently tucked behind the coupe’s grill will also stay along for the ride.

We hate to be the Debbie Downers of the interwebs, but we don’t necessarily see a turbo four sliding into the Mustang lineup anytime soon. For starters, Ford wouldn’t need to bore out the block to 2.3 liters to make solid power. The EcoBoost 2.0 already spits out 247 horsepower in the Focus ST – more than enough for a bottom-rung model.

Aside from that little tidbit, MA maintains that the rumored small 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 will power the also oft-rumored next-gen Ford Ranger successor in the States, a model we believe to be deader than the current news cycle.

2015 Ford Mustang to get 2.3-liter EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Racing

spy shots ford mustang drag racer

Spy Shots: Ford Mustang Drag Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our spy photographers have trained their expensive camera lenses on something very interesting. Caught running around one of Ford’s private test tracks, this Mustang is clearly set to live life a quarter mile at a time. Out back sits a pair of massive Hoosier slicks, while up front, a set of skinny Hoosiers are tucked under the fenders. Oh right, we’re not sure if you noticed, but there’s a massive hood scoop planted on the front of this pony car.

What’s going on under the hood? We don’t know. The front-end (minus the scoop) is from a GT500, while the rear end is standard Mustang GT attire. That scoop, however, looks like it was pulled off a Donzi 22 Shelby GT speedboat. Actually, scratch that… it looks even bigger. Check out this possible next-generation Mustang Cobra Jet by clicking through the gallery below.

Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: UAW to vie for board seats at GM, Ford and Chrysler

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM, UAW/Unions

United Auto Workers president Bob King

The United Auto Workers currently doesn’t have any representation on the boards of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, but boss Bob King apparently wants to change that. TheDetroitBureau.com is reporting that King and co. would like to add union representation to boards, and the UAW chief is looking to Germany for inspiration. German automakers adhere to a co-determination law that requires automakers to have union representation on the Board of Supervisors of each company.

According to TDB, the UAW hasn’t had any representation on a board since Owen Bieber (no relation to Justin) served on the board of Chrysler in the 1980s. Bieber was allegedly voted off the board for voting against executive pay raises. The union has also has some indirect representation thanks to the Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association. General Motors and Chrysler each have a VEBA representative, though the board spots aren’t affiliated with the UAW.

King hasn’t given many specifics about any plan to add union representation on company boards and he hasn’t outright called for The Detroit Three to agree to such an arrangement, but it looks like it may come sooner or later. The UAW contracts are up as of September, and there has been talk that King may want to negotiate with all three automakers at the same time instead of picking one target for pattern bargaining.

UAW to vie for board seats at GM, Ford and Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology, Ford

details of the Ford electrocardiogram seat

A heart attack behind the wheel can render much of your car’s safety equipment moot despite decades of advancement. Ford Motor Company has tasked its European Research Center in Aachen, Germany with finding a way to reduce accidents caused by drivers experiencing heart trouble. According to the automaker, their prototype seat with contactless electrocardiogram technology can warn drivers to seek medical attention immediately by scanning for potential cardiovascular trouble through clothing.

According to Ford, by 2025, nearly one quarter of Europeans will be at least 65 years old, a figure that increases to one third by 2050. As risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age, drivers suffering from conditions like angina can be more than fifty percent more likely to be involved in an accident, so there’s a lot of motivation to push this technology.

The prototype seat presently delivers accurate readings for 95 percent of drivers 98 percent of the time. Ford researchers are now looking into how the seat can be integrated with the other safety systems to work together to protect drivers who experience issues behind the wheel.

The safety aspect may be the most obvious application of this technology, but who knows – maybe it could also give real metrics about just how excited a thrilling run in a Mustang Boss 302 actually is. Press release posted after the jump.

Continue reading Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks

Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Why U-Haul won’t rent you a trailer for your Ford Explorer

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer

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

If you are a Ford Explorer owner who may need to infrequently tow small loads, here’s a Public Service Announcement that may be of interest. Apparently, U-Haul, which we’d guess is the first name that pops in people’s minds when the subject of a rental trailer comes up, will not loan trailers out if the lender plans on hooking it up to a Ford Explorer, regardless of the vehicle’s tow rating.

According to a spokesperson for U-Haul that spoke to Consumer Reports, it’s company policy to deny trailer rentals to Explorer owners. Why? Lawyers. Says Joanne Fried, director of media and corporate relations, “Every time we go to hire an attorney to defend a lawsuit, as soon as we say ‘Ford Explorer,’ they charge us more money.”

The issue can be traced all the way back to the Firestone tire debacle that tarnished the Explorer’s good name in the late 1990s. Though the original lawsuit has long since been settled and, more importantly, the current Explorer shares absolutely nothing but its moniker with the old truck-based model cited in the lawsuit, the name ‘Explorer’ is still enough to incite bouts of panic, sleepless nights and a bucket full of dollar signs to U-Haul’s legal team.

The corporate edict also applies to the Jeep Wrangler, unless the owner agrees only to tow the U-Haul trailer only when a hardtop is in place on the iconic off-roader. Seems more than a little arbitrary and ignorant to us, but we’re not the ones with law degrees, so what do we know?

Why U-Haul won’t rent you a trailer for your Ford Explorer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Do I make you horny? Ford says, “not so much” if you live in the U.S.

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Ford

patricia seashore

Ford touts it own horn – Click above to watch video after the jump

You’d think designing a car horn would be easy. Press the wheel, make it beep, and call it a day. It’s more complicated than that, as Ford’s Patricia Seashore can explain.

Ford adapts its horns to suit the needs of drivers around the world. Different cultures use the horn in different ways . As a result, vehicle horns must be tuned for the amount of use they’ll receive, as well as the tone they produce.

In North America, the horn is used less for warning others (“Hey, watch it, pal!”) than it is for friendlier communication (“Hey, I’m outside to pick you up!”). Ford tunes our horns to emit richer, more pleasing tones than past horns, but they’re still designed to get your attention. South American drivers, on the other hand, get a horn tuned for short, rapid bursts of sound. In India, Ford installs disc horns that have a longer life than our trumpet horns, which is necessitated by Indian drivers’ heavy horn usage.

Beyond cultural differences, Seashore’s team also studies different environments and how they’ll affect horn performance. Chinese drivers are serious horn users, so horn longevity is important. Chinese cars also need horns that can handle extreme heat and cold, plus a wide range of altitudes. Seashore says, “Altitude and temperatures affect the way sound waves travel – that’s just physics.”

Like we said, a lot of thought goes into your car’s horn. Click past the jump for a short car horn quiz and some b-roll of horn engineers at work.

Continue reading Do I make you horny? Ford says, “not so much” if you live in the U.S.

Do I make you horny? Ford says, “not so much” if you live in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 May 2011 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew [w/video]

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Reviews

Rollin’ With The F-150’s New 5.0

2011 Ford F-150 4x4 SuperCrew

2011 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew – Click above for high-res image gallery

As a race, we humans are obsessed with the notion of “best.” Whether it’s generations of on-point marketing or a strand of latent genetic code that pushes us to shack up with a better mate, we just can’t shake the disposition. It’s what drives our society forward – the quest for the latest product that promises a slightly improved experience or that one feature that eclipses the competition. It’s why we can happily saunter up to the feeding trough at the local buffet instead of poking at wild boars with pointy sticks. It is, simply put, a good thing.

The domestic full-size truck segment provides perhaps the greatest study in “best” available. Each new model year gives the Big Three one more shot at outdoing each other in the areas of power, towing capacity, interior room and fuel economy. Neither Ford, General Motors nor Chrysler skips the chance to brag about its latest advancements over the other two. But as with everything, there can be only true king. In this feudal system, it’s Ford F-150, which has attracted more buyers than the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 for years. Why? We took to the saddle of Ford’s latest entry-level F-Series equipped with the company’s new 5.0-liter V8 to find out.

Continue reading 2011 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew [w/video]

2011 Ford F-150 4×4 SuperCrew [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta ST tackles the ‘Ring

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Fiesta ST spy shots

Ford Fiesta ST spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford’s tiny-tough Fiesta ST is getting closer to production, and our spies recently captured this revised prototype being put through its paces out on the Nürburgring. This latest tester clearly sports a huge grille opening with a visible intercooler, large wheels and a revised rear exhaust.

The Fiesta ST will be powered by Ford’s 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, with an expected 180 horsepower running to those front wheels. We don’t doubt that the boosted Fiesta will be a pretty slick little hot hatch, and we’ll have the full details when the car makes its official debut later this year. In the meantime, click through our high-res image gallery to see the three-door test mule running ’round the ‘Ring.

Ford Fiesta ST tackles the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Model T convoy to revisit Britain’s highest mountain

Filed under: Classics, Ford, UK

Ford Model T convoy

Having a Ford Model T ascend a mountain might sound like a crazy idea, but in 1911 it was a marketing coup. Ford had just arrived in Britain and to prove its worth, a corporate sales agent named Henry Alexander drove a Model T to the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland – Britain’s highest mountain. The 4,406-foot ascent took five days, and he Alexander was greeted at the peak by the motor press pool of the day. Then he drove back down in just three hours.

A hundred years later, Ford of Britain is celebrating its centenary and will commemorate the Ben Nevis ascent with a convoy of over 60 Model Ts driving back to the mountain. Among them the very last unit to roll off the revolutionary assembly line. Unfortunately, environmental conservation prohibits driving up the mountain these days, but a group of volunteers will disassemble a replica Model T, carry it up the mountain and put it back together at its peak in celebration of the original feat. Now that’s dedication. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford Model T convoy to revisit Britain’s highest mountain

Ford Model T convoy to revisit Britain’s highest mountain originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 May 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

Filed under: Truck, Safety, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota

2011 Ford F-150 IIHS Full-Size Pickup Rollover Crash Test

IIHS Full-Size Pickup Rollover Crash Testing – Click above for high-res image gallery

Like their body-on-frame SUV cousins, full-size pickup trucks are more prone to roll over than a standard passenger car. That’s exactly why it’s so important to have a vehicle that earns good marks in roof-strength tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released the data on its recent volley of tests on full-size pickup trucks, and both the 2011 Ford F-150 and 2011 Toyota Tundra earned the coveted Top Safety Pick designation. The vehicles earned the highest possible rating of ‘good’ in the institutes crush test, where a large steel plate is pressed against one corner of the roof to calculate a strength-to-weight ratio.

Meanwhile, the 2011 Nissan Titan took home an acceptable rating in the rollover evaluation while the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, 2011 GMC Sierra and 2011 Ram 1500 netted marginal scores.

IIHS says that the roof on the Toyota Tundra stood up to 4.5 times the truck’s weight while the F-150 handled 4.7 times the pressure. A vehicle must withstand 4 times its weight before five-inches of crush is detected before being awarded a Good rating. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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