Cincinnati Ford Dealer » Chris Shunk

Foreign auto companies irked by Obama snub at DC Auto Show

Chris Shunk — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Chrysler, Ford, GM

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama visited the Washington Auto Show, and he even had time to get a closer look at a few vehicles. We're guessing that the carmakers were more than happy to set aside some time to talk to the Commander In Chief, but not every automaker got the chance.

Bloomberg says that the Association of Global Automakers is upset because the president only spent time with the Detroit Three, even though other automakers reportedly flew in executives from around the world for the occasion. The executives were reportedly on hand and waiting in a "bullpen" in the event President Obama had any questions about specific vehicles, but The Pres stuck to American cars like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Silverado.

AGA CEO Michael Stanton voiced his disappointment about the perceived slight, adding that many members "bent over backwards to meet the request from the White House." Stanton also points out that AGA members have invested $43 billion in the U.S. and employ over 80,000 workers here.

Foreign auto companies irked by Obama snub at DC Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Mustang V6

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews

Cylinder-Envy No More

My first car was a used 1981 Ford Mustang. It was a complete piece of garbage, but it was the best I could do with $900 worth of hard-earned busboy tips. It only had one side mirror, the power steering fluid had to be filled every two weeks and there was a nail in the dashboard. I would have removed that last bit of nonstandard hardware, but whenever the Brown Bomber didn't want to turn over, touching the nail for luck seemed to work. But compared to my friends' cars, mine at least looked the fastest. Looks don't win at the stoplight, though, and my rust-colored 'Stang featured the double whammy of a 109-horsepower 2.8-liter V6 and an automatic transmission.

To say that my Mustang's powertrain was a disappointment could be the understatement of the century, but I wasn't the only V6-powered Mustang owner suffering from horsepower humiliation. It would be another 30 years before Ford would offer a V6-powered Mustang with anything more than mule muscle, but that's where we are today. The 2012 Mustang boasts a legit 305 horsepower, or more punch than the 4.6-liter V8 under the hood of the 2009 Mustang GT. I have no doubt that the 2012 Mustang is vastly superior to my 1981 shame machine, but does that 305 horsepower and a vastly improved rear-wheel-drive chassis make this Mustang one of America's great performance bargains? Hit the jump to find out.

Continue reading 2012 Ford Mustang V6

2012 Ford Mustang V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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J Mays talks about Ford’s new EcoSport concept

Chris Shunk — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Budget, Videos, Crossover, Ford

We're not all that hopeful that the next generation Ford EcoSport will make its way to North America, but global markets ranging from Brazil to India should soon get their hands on a production version of this comely B-segment crossover.

It's too bad that the Fiesta-sized EcoSport isn't likely for our shores. We're liking the Kinetic look and wide stance, and we're guessing that the planned 1.0-liter EcoBoost mill should be both mildly entertaining and extremely efficient. And we're not the only ones that are impressed with the EcoSport.

As you might imagine, Ford chief designer J Mays sounds positively smitten with the Blue Oval's newest crossover creation, and he recently spent some time on camera to give an in-depth look at the concept's finer design points. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading J Mays talks about Ford's new EcoSport concept

J Mays talks about Ford's new EcoSport concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Fusion eager to take on Camry, Accord

Chris Shunk — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

The current Ford Fusion is already capable of taking on the Camry and Accord, but the fact is that the Honda and Toyota mid-size offerings sell better at the dealership. Ford was quick to point out at its press conference that Camry and Accord sales were down 31 percent and 28 percent, respectively, since 2007, with increased competition being a major culprit for the decline. The Fusion has taken a different route, with 2011 serving as the sedan's best year of sales ever. Ford is hoping to add a whole lot more pressure to the Japanese stalwarts with the addition of the 2013 Fusion.

The Fusion looks like a mix of a Euro Ford Mondeo (back) and a Aston Martin (front), but the overall design is a fresh take on the mid-size sedan. Ford will offer the Fusion in three flavors: the standard model, the 47-mpg Fusion and the plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi. The standard model itself comes in several trims and boasts three engine choices. The base Fusion is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder mill, with 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. The fuel efficient offering boasts a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine with 179 horsepower and 172 lb-ft, plus fuel economy numbers of 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The highest performance Fusion will pack a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 237 hp and 250 lb-ft.

Ford will continue to offer optional all-wheel drive, and MyFord Touch version 2.0 will show up on the option sheet as well. Hit the jump to read over Ford's press release, and peruse our live high resolution images from the Detroit Auto Show in the gallery above.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Fusion eager to take on Camry, Accord

2013 Ford Fusion eager to take on Camry, Accord originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Edge Limited EcoBoost

Chris Shunk — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Filed under: Crossover, Ford, New Car Reviews

EcoBoost Finds Right Mix Of Power, Efficiency

The sport utility vehicle became an endangered species not long after fuel prices began to skyrocket. But while vehicle buyers changed their shopping habits, they didn't actually stray that far from the SUV formula. Many of today's hottest-selling vehicles are crossovers; essentially the same tall wagons as the SUV, but with a lighter unibody chassis.

Among other things, the CUV promised to deliver superior efficiency, and while some improvement has been evident, in many cases, the genre's fuel savings have failed to impress. A good case in point is the Ford Edge. When Ford's two-row CUV entered the market in 2007, it managed only 24 miles per gallon on the highway, and many buyers struggled to hit 20 mpg in mixed driving cycles. There were plenty of reasons for its unimpressive efficiency. Most crossovers remain substantially heavier than a comparable four-door sedan, and with plenty of frontal area, they don't exactly slice through the wind. But perhaps the biggest issue has been unevolved powertrains.

Ford thinks it has the answer to that problem in the form of its new EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Ford is using the compact, turbocharged mill in a variety of crossovers, including the 2012 Ford Edge, and we sampled a well-equipped Edge Limited to see how effective the Blue Oval's engine downsizing strategy is going.

Continue reading 2012 Ford Edge Limited EcoBoost

2012 Ford Edge Limited EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada lagging behind U.S. auto recovery

Chris Shunk — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Ford, GM, UAW/Unions, Canada

The Detroit Three are in much better financial shape than three years ago. General Motors and Ford are now profitable, and Chrysler appears poised to begin making real money soon. That success has lead to plans to spend billions of dollars on North American plants, but Automotive News reports that our friends to the north aren't seeing much of the money.

Ford, GM and Chrysler are reportedly planning to spend at least $13.3 billion in the U.S. in the next four years, but investment in Canadian plants is dropping fast. In fact, there was only $1.2 billion in plant spending in Canada in 2011, down 62 percent versus the average of the last decade. A big reason for the decline in spending is the strength of the Canadian dollar and the relative weakness of the U.S. dollar.

Automakers are also spending more in the U.S. thanks to a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers, which helps level labor costs compared to foreign rivals. Meanwhile, automakers and the Canadian Auto Workers are now working on a new contract for 2012. The CAW has so far fought many of the cost cuts that the UAW has accepted.

To make matters worse for our northern neighbors, Ford closed the St. Thomas plant that once built the Lincoln Town Car and Ford Crown Victoria, and GM ha reportedly announced plans to build two models in the U.S. that are currently being built in Canada.

We're guessing that while the Canada announcements have been few and far between in the past year or two, that could change if the CAW makes a few concessions at the bargaining table in 2012. If not, auto jobs in Canada could be in real trouble.

Canada lagging behind U.S. auto recovery originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150 EcoBoost hits 100,000 sales

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Ford

Ford bet big on the combination of light duty pickup trucks and boosted V6 power, and it appears the gamble has paid off. The Detroit News reports that Ford has already reached 100,000 F-150 sales in 2011, just as the automaker promised it would.

Overall EcoBoost models accounted for 40 percent of all F-150 sales, which is impressive considering that the boosted mill comes with a $895 price premium compared to the very capable 5.0-liter V8. Still more impressive is the fact that Ford also sold plenty of 3.7-liter V6 models as well, and the overall take rate of V6 engines is over 50 percent on the year. Ford hasn't sold this many six-cylinder F-150 models since Doc Brown turned a DeLorean into a time machine (1985).

With V6-powered F-150 models selling this well, we're expecting General Motors and Chrysler to follow suit with their own six-cylinder offerings. It seems truck buyers would be more than okay with the decision.

Ford F-150 EcoBoost hits 100,000 sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford reimagines Santa’s sleigh with Evos design, EcoBoost power

Chris Shunk — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Ford

Ever thought about how much CO2 is being emitted from Santa's reindeer? Neither have we, but Ford has. The folks at the Blue Oval figured out that Chris Kringle's road crew drops a knee-wobbling 214,670 tons of CO2 each year while delivering presents to 267 million homes.

Those are sobering statistics, so Ford decided to fight back with EcoBoost power. The Ford design team started with the Evos concept morphed into an imaginary Santa-worthy sled. Under the hood rests a 123-horsepower, 125 pound-foot 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that reduces CO2 by 191,843 tons. This new sled is obviously good for the environment, but we're guessing the reindeer union is going to lose its lunch over this one.

Ford also interviewed Mrs. Claus for her thoughts on the new sled. Santa's significant other likes the boosted 1.0-liter and even pointed out that the new sled would afford The Big Guy extra time to reconsider the naughty list, meaning there's still a glimmer of hope for the MyFord Touch team.

Click above for a high-res image of Santa's turbo sled, and hit the jump to read how Ford came up with those fantastic numbers.

Continue reading Ford reimagines Santa's sleigh with Evos design, EcoBoost power

Ford reimagines Santa's sleigh with Evos design, EcoBoost power originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world’s largest float

Chris Shunk — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:29:00 +0000

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Ford

The Rose Bowl - The Grandaddy Of Them All, as they say - is one of the most storied bowl games in college football, and the pre-game parade is a big part of the pageantry of the event. Last year, Natural Balance broke the record for the world's largest float with an 84,300-pound rolling display, but the pet food company seems thirsty for more world-record glory.

For 2012, Natural Balance is building a 100,000-pound monstrosity that is 116 feet long and contains a 65-foot wave pool built specifically for one Tillman the Dog. Tillman will be surfing the waves on the float, which sounds impressive if you didn't already know that this super dog is also an avid skateboarder.

To tow this massive float, the folks at Natural Balance are counting on power from the tried-and-true Ford 6.8-liter V10. The 362 horsepower mill, which boasts 457 pound-feet of torque, is completely stock. The same can be said for the six-speed automatic transmission, save for a custom gear reduction setup behind the output shaft to get the float moving. The beefy 10-pot was pulled directly from an F-650, but we're guessing the 28-foot long truck won't be getting a 100,000-pound tow rating anytime soon.

Hit the jump to check out the entire infographic for yourself. You'll learn that the float is larger than 2,000 Tillmans, and you'll also catch a glance of the custom rig that will house Ford's big V10.

Continue reading Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world's largest float

Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world's largest float originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Racing quietly shows off Mustang Boss 302SX

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Ford

We can't get enough of the Boss Mustang 302, and it appears Ford Racing can't, either. Mustang Daily reports that Ford unleashed the newest member of the Boss family at the PRI show in Florida; the Boss 302SX. The Boss 302 concept is called the ultimate track car, and its stats tell the story.

The SX package delivers the updated looks of the 2013 model, and adds a bit more kick under the hood. The overhauled 5.0-liter V8 will reportedly crank out over 500 horsepower due to changes that include the same intake manifold as the 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet.

Mechanical upgrades also include an improved oil cooler, fuel system, adjustable coilover suspension and Ford Racing mufflers. Team Ford also made changes at all four corners with lightweight 18x9.5-inch wheels mated to racing slicks. And of course, Brembo brakes have been added all around and the interior features an FIA-spec six-point roll cage to protect whoever sits in the single Recaro seat behind the wheel.

Keep in mind that the Boss 302SX is just a concept for now, but all we can see is a serious track star that is begging for production.

Ford Racing quietly shows off Mustang Boss 302SX originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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