Ford to Debut C-Max

Company will show five-seat and seven-seat wagons in Geneva.

Ford will debut production versions of the new C-Max and Grand C-Max wagons at the Geneva auto show.

The wagons will be shown alongside the new Focus, which was unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January and gets a European debut in Geneva.

The five-seat C-Max and seven-seat Grand C-Max will go on sale in Europe later this year. Ford plans to sell the Grand C-Max in North America, starting in late 2011. It will be sold as the C-Max in the United States.

The C-Max has a coupe-like, sweeping roofline that falls off to the rear. The seven-seat model has a higher roofline to accommodate the additional row of seats. It also has twin sliding doors.

"The launch of the new C-Max range is highly significant, and shows customers worldwide that they can expect some truly exciting designs as we roll out our new global range of medium cars," said Ford of Europe CEO John Fleming in a statement.

Ford plans to sell the Grand C-Max in North America starting late 2011. It will be sold in the United States as the C-Max.

The C-Max wagons and the latest Focus are based on Ford's new global platform created to underpin 10 new and redesigned small cars.

Ford's European engineers developed the new Focus and, unlike the previous two generations they created for Europe, it will be sold in the United States. Both North American and European sales of the Focus start early next year.

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2011 Ford Super Duty: More Pickup and More MPG

Ford will tout its redesigned 2011 Super Duty pickup as the “most capable, fuel-efficient” heavy-duty truck on the market in a national advertising campaign that launches in April.

The Super Duty, which goes on sale that same month, offers Ford's all-new, 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine. It will have 735 lb-ft of torque, 390 hp and “class-leading” fuel economy, Ford said. That's 85 lb-ft and 40 hp more than the 2010 pickup.

Ford also will offer a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine with 385 hp and 405 lb-ft--85 hp and 40 lb-ft more than the current 5.4-liter V8 gas engine.

The base price on the 2011 Super Duty will be $28,995, including shipping, said Brian Rathsburg, Super Duty marketing manager. That's a $600 increase over a similarly equipped 2010 Super Duty, he said.

The increase includes improved capability and fuel economy, a new automatic transmission, new seats and new safety equipment. The diesel engine sells for an additional $7,835, Rathsburg said.

Capability and Fuel Efficiency

Ford says its data show that nearly 97 percent of Super Duty buyers tow. The 2011 version can tow up to 24,400 pounds and has a payload capacity of 6,520 pounds.

“Torque is essentially the force generated by the engine to do work, so the higher the torque level, the more that work can be accomplished in terms of towing capacity,” Adam Gryglak, chief diesel engineering manager, said in a statement. “The new Power Stroke diesel enables class-leading towing capability at faster speeds, all with best-in-class fuel economy.”

Ford is not releasing fuel economy estimates for either engine, other than to say the 2011 Super Duty will average of 18 percent better fuel economy on the pickups and up to 25 percent better on the chassis cabs compared with the outgoing model.

The EPA does not require fuel economy estimates to be given on the window sticker because heavy-duty pickups are in a different weight class and do not have to conform to passenger-car standards.

Diesel Durability

Ford engineers put the equivalent of more than 10.3 million test miles on the new diesel, including extreme road and weather conditions.

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"I'm Happy I Left Toyota. Yes."

Ford's Jim Farley helps Ford Motor Company turn a profit



As much as these are trying times for Toyota Motor Company, they are especially good times for Ford Motor Company. Whereas one year ago the opposite might have been the case, the winds of change have blown. In fact, they've nearly flip-flopped two companies in transition.

In November, Motor Trend magazine awarded the 2010 Fusion their Car of the Year honor. During January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the company learned it won both the North American Car and Truck of The Year with the Fusion and Transit Connect. Then, most recently, Ford Motor Company posted a small profit.

While there are few links between the two companies that point to why one's on the up and one's having troubles, there is one interesting person who slipped out of Toyota and into Ford: Jim Farley.

Much credit for the turnaround that stopped the hemorrhaging of red ink and the lay offs of auto workers goes to Ford's new president and CEO, Alan Mulally. But we point to Jim Farley, fresh off a successful stint at Toyota, as being another key to the Blue Oval's good run.

Many industry insiders cite Farley as an important contributor to Toyota's successful expansion over the past decade. During his 17 years with Toyota, Farley held critical positions such as General Manager of Lexus (Mulally drove a Lexus when he hired in at Ford), National Advertising Manager, and Corporate Manager of Scion. At Ford, Farley acts as Group Vice President, Global Marketing. His responsibilities include overseeing all marketing and advertising for North and South America.

An honest look at the situation reveals that Farley didn't need to leave Toyota or his sunny home in Santa Monica, California. He chose to move to Michigan — a deeply depressed state that's meteorologically one of the cloudiest in the Union — to go to work for a troubled company in a struggling sector of the economy. Plenty of industry watchers wondered, "Is Jim Farley nuts?"

Not hardly.

Farley talked to AOL Autos recently to share his views on Ford, his departure from Toyota and where he sees the company's marketing headed.

Q: Are you happy you left Toyota?

A: "To be a part of the group that -- even for a short time -- is helping transform Ford into an exciting, vibrant entity, is for me a tremendous responsibility. I actually feel more emotionally connected than when I worked for Toyota. Certainly it was exciting working for Toyota and helping it become what it has, but this is different.

Now, my work is something I believe to be important. It's different than just making great cars even. Ford is a social institution. It's people. It's a historical institution for our country. It's not a job. It's something more than that. So, I can say I'm happy I left Toyota. Yeah."

Q: What contributes to your view of Ford?

A: "My grandfather was 380th employee of [Ford Motor Company]. Even though he never went past the fourth grade, his children and their kids all went to college because of Ford. My grandfather worked at The Rouge Plant, and when I walk in there now, I think of him. And mine is not a unique story. Not in this town. I have this historical connection to the company."

Q: Are you a "car guy?"

A: "Yeah, I'm actually a car freak, which is usually not a good thing in our industry. It can mean that you get infatuated with big engines and performance, and that you don't love minivans or crossovers. I think what makes me unique is that I'm a car guy who is also an advocate for customers. I can like what they like from their point of view. For instance, I love our Transit Connect. I see what customers love about that van the same way I see what enthusiasts love in a Mustang. So I guess I'm a different kind of car guy. Maybe a little more complex car guy.

"My love for cars extends to car photography. I have a big collection of black and white photographs from Jesse Alexander and Phil Hill. And I also collect stock certificates of bankrupt car companies like Hudson, Studebaker and St. Clair, and all sorts of wacky things like that.

"I do own a couple cars. I've gotten to a secure point in my life where my collection is pretty stable. One is an original Shelby Cobra, serial number CSX2521 that I've owned for about 15 years. It's just a 289 V-8, but it's so fun to drive, really well balanced. Another is my primer-gray '34 Ford five-window coupe that I bought from Ken Gross (journalist and director of the Peterson Auto Museum). I re-engineered it to accept a five-speed manual transmission and put a supercharger on the flathead. It's a very traditional fendered hot rod that I hope to give to my son one day. I don't think I'll ever sell these two."

Q: Do you see Ford doing more social media marketing as they did with The Fiesta Movement?

A: "The idea of giving someone a product and then letting them use social media for them to broadcast their experience is positive compared to the company doing it. This kind of thing isn't new. Back in the 1960s, GM's John DeLorean was giving away Pontiacs so people would talk about them. We've just put a new, more modern spin on it. I think that social media is a credible way to spread the story of what we're doing."

Looking Ahead

Speaking with Jim Farley helps one understand part of what's behind Ford's resurgence. While Farley's departure from Toyota isn't to blame for their troubles (and, not surprisingly, Ford isn't keen on commenting on their troubles right now), we know that that Toyota wishes they had Farley to help them through their issues today.

Ford is now building vehicles the market wants. And that's the point of being in the business.

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2010 Ford Transit Connect - Hobby Horse

On the Goldilocks scale for toy haulers, Chevrolet's HHR Panel wagon is much too small and the Dodge Sprinter is way too large. What hits the sweet spot is the new Ford Transit Connect, the just-right way to transport dirt bikes, ATVs, kayaks, and hot-air balloons.



This is the scout dog for Ford's platoon of globally engineered new products. On the heels of the Transit Connect, which has been on sale since last summer, you can expect the Fiesta subcompact, the all-new Focus, and the Grand C-Max people mover. Ford's Turkish-made mini-truck that is leading the way is small enough to slip into a standard home garage but large enough to swallow the bulky stuff that minivans, SUVs, and wagons reject. Ford conceived it as a tool for the trades, but the Transit Connect is also the answer to every outdoor adventurer's prayers.



The Transit Connect's forward module houses a tidy two-place cabin and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transaxle. The rear container is accessible through two sliding and two hinged doors. Its load floor is less than two feet above the pavement - a foot lower than the typical pickup bed - thanks to the Transit Connect's rudimentary beam axle and leaf-spring rear suspension.



The rear doors can swing open up to 255 degrees to uncork a 50-inch-wide by 50-inch-high enclosed loading dock capable of carrying 1600 pounds of freight. The 48-inch-wide (between wheelhouses) floor is 73 inches long, but another half a foot of space can be cleared by sliding the bucket seats forward. There's a pair of substantial tie-downs in the rear corners and access beneath the load deck to add your own forward anchors. A shelf above the top of the windshield is ideal for stashing a backpack or three. Fold-forward second-row seats are an available option.



The Transit Connect is hardly steeped in driving joy, but it does carry out its chores without whining. The run to 60 mph takes eleven seconds, and only the very patient will ever experience the 90-mph top speed. ABS is included as standard with the disc/drum brake system. An optional stability control system is well worth the extra $545. Our test vehicle was equipped with a $1395 navigation and computer system that we don't recommend because the touch-sensitive monitor proved cranky. Bring your Garmin and a notebook.

With every market niche filling up with kid-hauling crossovers, it's nice to see Ford think inside the box with the Transit Connect. Now you've got one less excuse to postpone your great adventure.

ON SALE: Now
PRICE: $22,535/$26,215 (base/as tested)
ENGINE: 2.0L I-4, 136 hp, 128 lb-ft
DRIVE: Front-wheel
WEIGHT: 3420 lb
0-60 mph: 11.1 sec
Top Speed: 90 mph
70-0 mph braking: 164 ft
EPA mileage: 22/25 mpg

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2010 Ford Transit Connect

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect. (Ford).

What...is that thing?

The question came up more than once in our week with the panel van / truck / urban box known as the Ford Transit Connect. In fact, we're not sure we know how to answer it ourselves. Unlike most vehicles on the market today, it simply doesn't fall into any typical category.

Ford says the vehicle is "specific for everyone," but after a week we think the TC might not be exactly designed for our needs. Nevertheless, we consider it one of the most interesting vehicles we've been in and it's packed with features that we can't help but tell people about.

For people or stuff?

There are two main types of TC: Van and Wagon. The difference between the two is that the Wagon version comes with rear glass and seats, whereas the Van version is more of a panel van. Two wheelbase lengths -- XL and XLT -- offer size variations, but that's about it.

Adding to the simplicity theme, there's only one powerplant: a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gas engine, meaning fuel economy is decent for a vehicle of this type. Remember that the only alternatives to this sort of thing are larger, full-size vans such as the Ford E-series, Chevy Express, Dodge 2500 van, and the currently-unavailable Dodge Sprinter.

Fuel numbers for the TC could improve if the company upgrades the transmission (the only one available right now is a four-speed with overdrive) and offers a direct injection version of their four-cylinder. Ford insiders tell us these could come down the road, but the Transit Connect needs to be cheap in order for it to make sense for buyers here and loading it up with engine technology would not be the way to do that (the current price starts at $20,780 -- less than $2,000 more than the Chevy HHR panel, a vehicle with less than half the cargo space and not nearly the same usability).

With that baseline spare of options, the Transit Connect turns into something of a chameleon for its owners. And that's what we really like about it.

Unique Innovations

While the Transit Connect might seem about as exciting as a root canal, after a week we found ourselves wishing it would stick around our fleet. Of the things we loved about it, here are our favorites:

Work Solutions computer: The brains of Ford's "workplace solutions" system is actually a computer they've stuck in the center console. While it looks like the average navigation system (and yes, it's got one of those), it's actually much more powerful. Once the system loads (it does take a few minutes), you have access to the sorts of things you'd find on your laptop: there's word processing, email, a web browser and a host of other functions. Ford includes a wireless keyboard with trackpad, too. You can even hook up a printer so you can give a customer an invoice or a quote on the go.

Tool Link: In conjunction with the tool company Dewalt, Ford developed a way for you to keep track of all the tools in your vehicle. Using an RFID system (radio-frequency identification), your tools get "tagged" and the system checks to see if they're all are within the vehicle. If any of your tools are missing, they show up when you do your inventory, preventing the hassle of leaving without one. Although primarily for tools, anything can be wrapped -- think fishing poles, sports equipment, etc.

Fold-out doors: The Transit Connect has a massive opening in the rear in which to put about 135 cubic feet of your stuff. What's great is that the doors won't get in the way of all the loading and unloading you'll do, since the TC's rear doors swing open and stay held to the side of the vehicle by a simple -- but ingenious -- use of door magnets.

The reality is that while these innovations were designed mostly for commercial usage, they're fantastic beyond that workaday usage. In fact, we'd go as far as to say we've seen more innovation here than we find in most luxury cars. Why? Because this stuff is actually useful, as opposed to the sometimes ridiculously unnecessary "luxury" found in higher end sedans and SUVs.

Is the Transit Connect for everyone? No, but we hope that everyone working at a car company today gets a ride in one to see how they can innovate their products for their consumers.

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Ford to build next Explorer at Chicago Assembly

Ford Motor and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn are scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday morning to announce 1,200 jobs will be added at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant to build the new Explorer SUV, a person briefed on the matter said Monday.




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Both the governor and Ford executives will attend, the source said. A Ford spokeswoman declined to comment.

“Tomorrow, in one day, we’re going to get 1,200 new jobs for Illinois,” Quinn said at a breakfast today, according to the Associated Press.

The new Explorer will be built on the same frame as the Taurus sedan, which also is built at the Chicago plant, said Haig Stoddard, an automotive analyst with IHS Global Insight, who said he learned of Ford’s plans through multiple industry sources.

Ford currently builds the Explorer at its Louisville Assembly Plant, but that plant will soon be converted into a small car plant.

The original Ford Explorer debuted in 1990 as a 1991 model, and it replaced the Bronco II in Ford’s lineup. At the height of its sales in 2000, 445,157 Explorers were sold, according to Ward’s automotive data. But that same year, the Explorer was subject to a massive recall due to rollover problems tied to its Firestone tires. And since then volatile fuel prices have diminished the American public’s love affair with SUVs.

In 2009, Ford sold just 52,190 Explorers, a 33.5% drop from 2008 — outperforming the mid-size SUV segment, which declined 45.7% in 2009, according to Autodata Corp., but still a shadow of its earlier sales dominance.

In its new form as a more car-like crossover, the Explorer will compete in a crowded field ranging from the Toyota Highlander to the Chevrolet Traverse.

“It won’t sell like the Explorer used to, but it should still be a profitable vehicle for them,” said Stoddard, who estimates that sales will top 130,000 annually.

Ford has said very little about what the new Explorer will look like but has confirmed that it will build Explorer off of a car platform but will still give it adequate towing capacity for 80% of Ford’s consumers.

The last time Ford provided a glimpse of its next generation Explorer was in 2008 when it showed a concept called Explorer America at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

At this year’s auto show in Detroit, J Mays, Ford’s vice president of design, said the design of the Explorer has changed since then.

“Don’t expect the Explorer America concept,” Mays said. “It doesn’t look exactly like that.”

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Explorer's New Look Under Wraps

Ford unveiled this concept in 2008, but the automaker says the design has changed since then. The new Ford Explorer is to launch in January. (FORD)

The most important vehicle Ford hasn't been talking about is the next generation of its once-dominant Ford Explorer SUV.

Ford plans to launch its new Explorer in January -- about the same time as its all-new, highly publicized Focus compact car, a vehicle Ford unveiled last month.

But it has been more than two years since Ford revealed an early concept called Explorer America, and Ford says the design has changed since then, raising questions about what the new model will look like.

Ford didn't show the new Explorer to employees in January, when the company announced it would be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant, and the Dearborn automaker barely talked about it during the Chicago Auto Show last week.

"They just want to keep people concentrating on the Focus and Fiesta" -- two small, fuel-efficient cars -- said Haig Stoddard, automotive analyst for IHS Global Insight.

Sales of the Explorer, and midsize SUVs on the whole, are a shadow of what they were 10 years ago, but Ford is still banking on the Explorer to boost sales. "It's another piece of the puzzle for our company to get back to profitably growing," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas.

Excited about Explorer

Ford hopes its all-new Explorer can repeat history and again redefine how a midsize SUV looks and drives.

Ford says the next-generation Explorer, set to go on sale by year's end or early next year, will still be an SUV -- even though it will be built on a car structure rather than on a rigid truck structure. It also will have a driving performance that matches today's crossover vehicles.

"What we are trying to do with the new Explorer is turn the midsize SUV segment on its head," Fields told the Free Press after Ford announced it will build the Explorer at its Chicago Assembly Plant.

There, Ford will build the Explorer on the same structure as the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans.

Fields said the new Explorer will have enough towing capacity to satisfy traditional SUV buyers -- perhaps 5,000 pounds or more -- and will get gas mileage that is 25% better than the outgoing Explorer, which gets a combined 17 m.p.g., according to the U.S. EPA.

"We've got a lot of brand equity with Explorer, and it is up to us to live up to brand expectations," Fields said.



Explorer's burden
When Ford launched the Explorer in the 1990s, the company redefined the midsize SUV segment.

The Explorer was the best-selling midsize SUV from 1995 to 2004 in the U.S., according to J.D. Power and Associates, with sales peaking at 431,488 in 1998. But a Firestone tire recall on the Explorer in 2000, volatile gas prices and the introduction of a new type of vehicle -- the crossover -- took their toll on SUVs.

Explorer sales fell to 52,190 last year, and the entire midsize SUV segment barely topped 280,000, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Meanwhile, crossovers like GMC Acadia, Toyota Highlander and the Ford Edge have emerged, topping sales of 690,000 in 2009.

Still, Stoddard expects annual sales of the next-generation Explorer to top 130,000 annually.

"It won't sell like the Explorer used to, but it should still be a profitable vehicle for them," Stoddard said.

Is 5,000 pounds enough?
Devin Lindsay, analyst for IHS Global Insight, expects the new Explorer to have a smaller engine and lower towing capacity than the current model.

Gone, Lindsay said, will be the optional V8 engine with a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. Instead, Lindsay expects the Explorer will come with a 3.5-liter V6 or a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

During the Chicago Auto Show, Fields confirmed that Ford plans to offer a fuel-efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine when the Explorer goes on sale. Fields said the engine should improve fuel economy 15%.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, said Ford can produce an SUV on a car frame with more than adequate towing capacity.

"When you start getting over 5,000 pounds ..., you have covered almost 80% of the needs of the U.S. customer," said Kuzak, who added that he wasn't confirming the Explorer's actual towing capacity.

Ford has said little about the next Explorer. The last time Ford showed what the next Explorer might look like was in 2008 when the Explorer America concept was shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

But J Mays, Ford's vice president of design, said during an interview at this year's Detroit auto show that the new Explorer "doesn't look exactly like that."

"Don't expect the Explorer America concept," he said.

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First Look: 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric and Taxi

At this week's 2010 Chicago auto show, Ford is introducing no less than three new propulsion options for its Ford Transit Connect commercial vehicle workhorse, along with showcasing a Taxi version of the vehicle that could serve as Ford's eventual replacement for its long-serving Crown Victoria.

Included in the Transit Connect's expanded powertrain mix is the long-expected EV version featuring a lithium-ion battery pack, along with compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas-powered models. Ford says all of them will be available at the end of the year and claims the biggest benefit of the new options are reduced operating costs -- which Ford believes will be music to commercial fleet owner's ears.

First up: The Transit Connect Electric. It's the first entry in Ford's aggressive electric vehicle strategy, going into production in late 2010. Following it will be an electric Focus in 2011 and an unnamed plug-in hybrid model in 2012.

This Transit Connect uses a liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery pack supplied by Azure Dynamics, a company that specializes in electric powertrains for commercial vehicles. The connection between Azure and Ford is a budding one. Azure's Balance Hybrid Electric is a medium-duty commercial truck based off the Ford E-450.



In the Transit Connect, its 28-kilowatt-hour "Force Drive" powertrain boasts an 80-mile range and a top speed of 75 mph. If the range seems low, consider the Transit Connect EV is aimed at "fleet owners that have well-defined routes of predictable distances and a central location for daily recharging," as Ford's press release says.

When the juice runs try, the charge port above the passenger rear wheel can be connected to a 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlet. A full charge takes six to eight hours, and Ford estimates the pack will last the lifespan of the vehicle. The battery pack doesn't impede on space either, as the Transit Connect Electric still boasts 135 cu-ft of cargo volume with 59.1-in of load height and 47.8-in of width between the wheel arches.



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2011 Ford Super Duty - The New Powertrain

If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. The engineers at Ford take this lesson to heart and have redesigned the all-new 2011 Ford Super Duty from the ground up, innovating along the way to build the most durable and advanced truck possible.

Leading the way is the powerful and durable all-new 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel. Supporting that is a body that went through temperature and environmental tests to show this truck can perform no matter what. In all, after 2 million-plus miles of testing, Ford knows Super Duty has it where it counts in horsepower, torque, towing, hauling, durability, quietness and fuel-efficiency.

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2010-2011 Ford Mustang Mach 1

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2011 Ford Super Duty F-450 King Ranch Pickup

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2011 Ford F250, F350

The Next-generation Ford Focus

A brief behind the scenes look at the next-generation Ford Focus reveal from 2010 North American International Auto Show. This includes a walk-around presentation about the car from Jim Hughes - Focus Chief Engineer.

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MyFord Connect

Technology that will redefine driver connectivity and interaction with their car. MyFord and MyFord Connect™ will be available this year on the 2011 Ford Edge, and it goes global with availability on 2012 Ford Focus. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on new Lincolns beginning with the 2011 Lincoln MKX.

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2011 Edge

Ford Thoroughly Sharpens its Edge



The 2011 Ford Edge is much more than a simple refresh. Ford is offering three new powertrains and a revamped transmission to the Edge's SEL, Limited, and Sport lineup. Peer closely at the new Ford Edge's exterior and you'll notice the slight, but distinguishable changes. Upgrades like slimmer headlights, a bolder front grille, fresh wheel designs, and a more pronounced chin spoiler create a clean, sophisticated look.

We're hard pressed to call what Ford has done to the 2011 Ford Edge a simple refresh. Pick nearly any aspect of the popular mid-sized SUV and the Blue Oval's engineers probably tweaked, restyled, or replaced it. It looks and sounds like an all-new edition.

Ford is offering three new powertrains and a revamped transmission to the Edge's SEL, Limited, and Sport lineup. Previously, customers could outfit their Edges with a grand total of one engine and transmission. Now, there's a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that's expected to deliver best-in-class mpg (though no figures have been released), some 15% better fuel economy than the Edge's current 3.5-liter six. A reworked 3.5-liter (285 hp and 253 lb-ft) puts out 20 more ponies versus the previous edition and is said to be cleaner and more fuel efficient than anything preceding it.

The big brother of the mix is a 3.7-liter V-6 that cranks out a robust 305 hp and 280lb.-ft. of torque (equal to the 2011 Mustang V-6) and is standard equipment on the Edge Sport. Like the Mustang, both V-6 mills use Ford's TiVCT, or twin independent variable camshaft timing, for improved fuel economy and horsepower, as well as lower emissions. Power is routed through a recalibrated first-generation SelectShift six-speed automatic transmission, though the Edge Sport gets the same unit, but with steering wheel-mounted paddles for a more engaging drive. Slip the gearshift into manual mode and the ECU allows for quick shifts at the rev limit.

Peer closely at the new Ford Edge's exterior and you'll notice the slight, but distinguishable changes. Upgrades like slimmer headlights, a bolder front grille, fresh wheel designs, and a more pronounced chin spoiler create a clean, sophisticated look that's better aligned with its named competitors, the Lexus RX350, BMW X5, Audi Q5, Acura MDX, and Nissan Murano. The A-pillars match more seamlessly with the redesigned hood. At the rear, new taillights achieve a jewel-like appearance and are mated with 4-inch chrome exhaust pipes. A blacked-out grille with matching smoked head and taillights -- plus some painted bodywork -- differentiates the Sport from other trims. Ford calls the design updates "more expressive" and "bolder." From what's been shown so far, we tend to agree.

The front lip spoiler was built with two functions in mind. Along with underbody shields, its secondary role is to aid in reducing interior noise levels by controlling passing air. Thicker rubber subframe mounts and a more robust windshield also help mitigate the first generation's relatively high NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels.


Dramatic freshening of the 2011 Ford Edge and Edge Sport includes extensive exterior redesign, improved materials and craftsmanship on the interior, class-exclusive technology and new powertrains. The 2011 Ford Edge will be built at Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, and will be available in dealers this summer.



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NEW FORD RANGER TVC

Ford designers deliver a distinctive, muscular Tough Style look for new Ranger with clear inspiration from high-impact Ranger MAX show truckAvailable in Standard Cab, Open Cab and Double Cab body styles with choice of class-leading 2.5- and 3.0-litre Duratorq TDCi commonrail enginesThe New Ranger is offered special price during the introduction. The Open Cab Hi-Rider 2.5 XLS, which comes with full package of Duratorq TDCi commonrail 2.5L that is very fuel economy but powerful and limited slip differential, comes in the best-in-class price of only Bt599,000 during the introduction period.New Ranger arrives in Ford dealer showrooms from February 11
Ford gave the compact pickup segment an exciting new look today with the reveal of the new Ranger defined by its distinctive, muscular Tough Style exterior, building on its reputation of versatility and toughness of 100% Truck.

Inspired by the outstanding public reaction to the Ranger MAX show truck revealed at the 2008 Thailand International Motor Expo in November, Ford designers have put into production the show trucks horizontal three-bar grille, distinctive wraparound headlamps and sculpted surfaces united with precise execution.

Reinforcing new Rangers Tough Style is genuine class-leading strength and power that have made Ford Ranger one of the most respected pickups on the market, says Saroj Kiatfuengfoo, Senior Vice President, Ford Thailand. Add to that improved refinement and comfort, and there is no other compact pickup that matches Rangers all-around qualities. It has instant credibility as an urban vehicle. Its the modern muscular look that todays truck owner wants.

New Ford Ranger travels everywhere in style. Its tough styling is enhanced by the new three-bar grille, stylish headlamp, new design front bumper, power-dome design hood, which is directly inspired by the Ranger MAX show truck, LED turning light mounted on the side mirrors, Ranger signs on the body side, new sporty rear lights and refined surface.

Its interior is decorated in style and continues to accentuate the power of the 100% truck. The gray and black color scheme in the passenger cabin enhances sporty look and feel while the ergonomically moulded seats and door panel come in new sporty design and made of high-quality materials. The soft red light on the control panel enables driver to clearly see all the important information. The three gauge cluster in round setting that sits on the chrome trimmed panel enhances the trendy design of the round air vents. High quality materials and full equipment make drivers and passengers feel like they are sitting in a luxury passenger car.

The new Ranger offers greater comfort thanks toMP3-compatible audio which can also shows the artist name and song title, specially design air conditioning system that keeps the temperature in the passenger cabin cool for the entire journey despite strong sun and high temperature outside, and a body shell engineered to isolate the cabin from road noise.

The new Ranger is as tough as ever. Powered by Fords impressive Duratorq TDCi commonrail engines, new Ranger offers class-leading torque for excellent off-the-line acceleration and quick response. No other compact pickup matches Rangers ability to deliver excellent low-rev torque. Its 3.0-litre TDCi engine produces peak torque of 380Nm at only 1800rpm. The 2.5-litre TDCi engine also packs a potent punch, developing 330Nm at 1800rpm.

The new Ford Ranger is available in Standard Cab, Open Cab and Double Cab body style configurations in both 4×2 and 4×4. The Ranger range continues to offer customers exciting choices with the versatile Ranger Hi-Rider and Ranger Wildtrak.
The new Ford Ranger is built in Thailand and exported to approximately 130 global markets.
To celebrate its leadership in pickup innovation, especially the launch of the market-first Open Cab design, Ford Thailand will offer the Open Cab Hi-Rider 2.5 XLS at only Bt599,000 during the introduction period. Other models are also have special price offers, starting with Bt487,000 (STD 2.5 XL model) up to Bt912,000 (DBL 4×4 3.0 XLT AT WildTrak) during the introduction period.

Source: Youtube

First Look: 2012 Ford Focus

The Import We've Been Waiting For
January, 2010

The U.S. Focus is dead. Next year, Ford obliterates the heaviest complaint levied at its lineup. Next year, Ford gives us a European Focus.

Well, it's technically a global car. As a 2012 model, the third-generation Focus, whether in four-door sedan or five-door hatchback form, will be nearly identical in all markets. Ford's European small and medium vehicle center in Germany led development. Powertrain engineering occurred in Ford's technical center in England. Ford put its European driving dynamics specialists in charge of ride and handling. This is as European as it gets.

But there's better news: Ford says it's using identical chassis and suspension architecture in all markets, except for minor regional tuning differences. That means the torque vectoring Dynamic Cornering Control system -- added by those special driving dynamics folk -- is coming our way. It transfers power between the drive wheels to reduce understeer, and improve traction and turn-in.

The rear suspension is an updated version of the independent multi-link (Ford calls it "Control Blade") found in previous Focus models. Torsional rigidity is up 25% over the current North American Focus, thanks to extensive use of high-strength steel (comprising 55% of the body shell). Ultra-high-strength and Boron steels account for 26%. Ford says these materials help the Focus meet crash legislation across world markets and minimize vehicle weight.



Read more: Motortrend

First Look: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

High-Tech Hauler: Using Technology For Grunt Work

Heavy-duty trucks are the workhorses of the truck world. Capable of towing nearly 20,000 pounds (as much as 24,600 if you include the F-450), these are the pickups that haul huge loads, are built to survive the rough stuff, and see more than their share of dirt, grime, and hard labor. So it's a little strange to look at them as being high-tech vehicles. In fact, "high-tech" may be the last phrase you think of to describe them. However, that is starting to change, especially with regard to the 2011 Ford Super Duty. Ford recently gave us a sneak peek at the next F-250/350/450, and while it may not look dramatically different from what you see at dealerships today, a lot has changed under the skin to make it more capable, more efficient, quieter, and more reliable than it was before.

The overall appearance of the Super Duty has not changed all that much. But there are differences. Take a look at the nose: The headlights and side-marker lights have been restyled, as has the bumper. The grille now has two large bars, much like the three-bar grille first seen in the Super Chief concept Ford unveiled at the Detroit auto show in 2006, and there's a much larger Blue Oval up front. The hood is also new, featuring a more pronounced dome. Inside the cab, there's a new 4.2-inch LCD screen within the gauge cluster that displays trailer brake control gain, an inclinometer, fuel economy, trailer data, and more, and it can be customized to show what information you want to see. Also new to the interior is a flow-through console that includes two 12-volt powerpoints and a 110-volt inverter.

Under the hood, though, is the most significant change to the Super Duty: the engines. An all-new diesel engine will make its debut, and it was designed, engineered, tested, and built by Ford. It's a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8, with a compacted graphite iron engine block instead of gray cast iron. CGI is a stronger material, one that Ford has successfully used in other markets and is implementing here for the first time. Use of CGI also helps reduce the overall weight of the new engine, said to be about 160 pounds lighter than the outgoing 6.4-liter.

The cylinder heads are made of aluminum, as opposed to last year's iron. The 6.7 uses what Ford calls a Single-Sequential Turbocharger. As Adam Gryglak, Large Diesel Engine Engineering Program manager explains: "The Single-Sequential Turbo [SST] design harnesses the power of two compressors and one turbine in a single housing. The double-sided compressor provides airflow capability across the entire engine operating range, matching the performance of twin turbo systems. The SST design offers the fast response of a small turbocharger, as well as the increased airflow to produce more horsepower, similar to a larger turbocharger. The double-sided compressor wheel operates sequentially, as one side of the wheel flows air at low engine speeds and both sides of the wheel compress air at higher engine demand."

The intake and exhaust are completely different for 2011, with the exhaust brought inboard (in the valley) and the intake outboard. This move was made to improve throttle response and, because the overall surface area of the exhaust system is smaller, it reduces the heat transfer to the engine compartment. Its compact size makes the heat easier to manage and also increases stiffness to reduce vibration.

Fuel delivery now comes through piezo injectors, which can deliver up to five events per cylinder, and fuel is delivered at up to 30,000 psi. Use of these injectors helped Ford engineers greatly reduce typical diesel engine noise, and this engine is noticeably quieter than its predecessor. To meet 2010 federal emissions requirements, the engine is backed by an SCR system, which uses an aftertreatment of Diesel Exhaust Fluid to reduce NOx emissions. The DEF tank can be refilled by the owner (DEF is readily available), and will need it about as often as regular service intervals. Ford hasn't yet released power numbers, but they are said to be "significantly higher" than the 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque of the outgoing model. Fuel efficiency is said to be better as well. The 6.7 is capable of running on B20.

On the gas-powered side, buyers will have a choice of the 6.8-liter V-10 (at least for now), and an all-new 6.2-liter V-8. This 6.2 replaces the three-valve, 5.4-liter V-8. We don't know horsepower and torque numbers yet, but in the Raptor it's supposed to put out an estimated 400 horsepower (as opposed to the 5.4's 300), an estimated 400 pound-feet of torque (compared with 365 in the outgoing 5.4), and is said to provide better fuel economy.


Click to view GalleryThe SOHC V-8 uses roller-rocker shafts, variable cam timing, two spark plugs per cylinder, dual knock sensors, and more efficient airflow. The 6.2 and 6.7 will be backed a new 6R140 six-speed TorqShift transmission. The new transmission helps improve fuel economy and provides a new option: live drive PTO. You can use the PTO when the engine is running as a source of auxiliary power. There's also an integrated exhaust brake.

Even though the new Super Duty is still based on a version of the current generation's frame, a lot of work has been done to cater to those who tow and those who haul. As is the case with horsepower and torque numbers, Ford has not yet announced the towing and payload capacities of the new truck-although they are said to be higher than those of the outgoing model. Ride, handling, and steering have been improved for 2011.

Ford is now offering a factory installed fifth-wheel as an option on longbed trucks. It adds a crossmember above the rear axle, a seven-pin connector in the pickup box, and a precut hole in the bed-which comes with a fitted plug when the truck isn't being used for towing. And the factory fifth-wheel has been durability tested with a 24,000-pound trailer in tow.

Suspension has been modified to improve ride, and according to the engineers at Ford, there will now be less of a difference in loaded/unloaded ride. Another feature that's new for 2011 is the use of new brake electronics, and with that, standard hill-ascent control (applies brakes to prevent rollback when starting uphill from a stop) and hill-descent control, included with the optional off-road package. Trailer sway control and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control are standard on all SRW trucks.

Read more: Motortrend

German Tuner Mcchip-dkr Boosts Ford Focus RS to 401-hp, 451 lb-ft

The mid-300-hp Focus RS has been done. So with its latest performance package, German tuner Mcchip-dkr has raised the stakes: 401 hp and 451 lb-ft of torque from the European-only hot rod.

Read more: Motortrend News

Sheriff Drives Drug Dealer's Confiscated Muscle Car

Courtesy of a local drug dealer, a sheriff in Michigan is driving a hot new sports car.

William L. Federspiel, the sheriff in Saginaw County, obtained the 300-horsepower 2007 Ford Mustang GT through state and federal drug forfeiture laws, whereby property obtained in connection with drug dealing can be seized by police.

Jeff Schrier, The Saginaw News



In this photo courtesy of Michigan News, Saginaw County Sheriff William L. Federspiel shows off the decked-out Ford Mustang -- confiscated from a local drug dealer -- that he drives.
Federspiel drives the car to and from work, and he had the words "Taken From a Local Drug Dealer" painted on the door, along with a sheriff's logo.

"I want people to know the drug dealers don't run the town, we do," Federspiel told the Saginaw News. "I want the bad guys to know this will be the end result of what they do."

Federspiel stressed that no taxpayer money was used to convert the car for law enforcement purposes, and he told the newspaper that he hopes to seize more cars for the rest of the county's sheriffs.

"I don't want to buy another vehicle for my command staff," Federspiel said, and he's already got his eye on another imprisoned drug dealer's car, a 2008 black Cadillac Escalade, for one of his men.

Federspiel says he hopes the flashy car will make a point. "The reason I'm going to drive the Mustang is because it stands out, and I want it to stand out," he told the newspaper. "I'm not driving it just to drive it. I'm trying to educate people."

Source: AOL News Nation