Cincinnati Ford Dealer » Jeremy Korzeniewski

Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:24:00 +0000

2011 Ford Edge - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to popular American folklore, you should always buy the biggest engine available. Such thinking likely became prevalent in the 1950s, when the American automotive industry was busy building new V8 engines, experimenting with multiple carburetors and high compression, and generally discovering the art of hot-rodding. Gas prices? Fuel economy? Pfft. It was a great time to be an American.

These days, life isn't quite so simple. There are countless reasons to consider a downsized powerplant. First off, we all care about fuel mileage and many of us care about emissions. Then there's the cost consideration, and, finally, the biggest engine isn't always the best performer. Proof of such can be seen in the new 2011 Ford Edge, that we just drove ourselves and that was recently put through the full testing regime by the boys at Motor Trend.

There are currently two V6 engines available in the Edge (a 2.0-liter EcoBoost is on the way in a few months), a 3.5-liter and a 3.7, which comes straight from the Mustang. Power for the smaller engine comes in at 280 horses and 253 pound-feet of torque. The larger 3.7 puts out 305 horses and 280 lb-ft and is available only in the Edge Sport. So, the Sport is the fastest, right?

Not so fast... literally. MT clocked a 7.1-second run to 60 in the base Edge, but only managed a disappointing 7.6 seconds in the 3.7-powered Edge Sport. Apparently, the problem is weight. The base Edge tipped MT's scales at 4075 pounds while the Sport came in at an obese 4405, part of which can be explained by the addition of all-wheel drive. In any case, the Edge Sport, with its massive 22-inch wheels and wide tires, can't keep up with the base Edge in a straight line.

On the flip side, the AWD Edge Sport (with those aforementioned oversize wheels and tires) handily out-handled its base model sibling. In other words, this is a case where you need to pick your poison, either handling or straight-line acceleration. And of course the upcoming EcoBoost will add another interesting option to consider in a few short months.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge: First Drive

[Source: Motor Trend]

Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

It goes without saying, but we're going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don't expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.

In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn't resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge? Stay tuned for a First Ride report, and feel free to click past the break for Ford's official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:28:00 +0000

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Crossover, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Toyota

2011 Toyota Sienna - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's generally accepted that every new iteration of any vehicle is somehow better than its predecessor. And that's true of the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, which is festooned with more goodies (like a 16.4-inch widescreen monitor for rear-seat passengers) and a sportier flair (complete with a sporty SE trim) than the previous generation Sienna. The only question that remains, then, is this: Do those improvements automatically equal a better vehicle?

According to Consumer Reports, the answer is no. And surprisingly, it's not even close, with the new Sienna's overall test score of 80 paling in comparison to the 2010's overall score of 94. The main culprits cited by CR for the plummeting score are poor fit and finish and excessive interior noise - bad enough that CR claims it's not possible to have a proper conversation between front and rear passengers.

So, if not the Toyota Sienna - which held the honor for three straight years - what is CR's top-rated minivan? The six-year-old Honda Odyssey. For what it's worth, there's a new Odyssey coming out next year, but as we've seen from the Sienna, a new model doesn't necessarily equal one that tests better at the influential magazine. It's also worth noting that the new Sienna's overall score is roughly on par with that of the Kia Sedona, which has been available in its current configuration since 2006.

Consumer Reports also tested other people movers, such as the micro-minivan Mazda5 and the large box-on-wheels crossover Ford Flex. Both vehicles got rather positive reviews, and testers found that they may be looked at as realistic replacements for the tried-and-true minivan paradigm of the Toyota Sienna. Check out the official press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Sienna

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated

Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:59:00 +0000

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Work, Ford

If it weren't for the somewhat obsessive and frankly narrow-minded love by taxi drivers and police officers for the body-on-frame Ford Crown Victoria, we'd imagine the old Panther platform would have been put out to pasture a very long time ago. As it stands, though, New York cabbies especially seem hell-bent on keeping it around on life support as long as possible.

Interestingly, though, a report from USA Today suggests that cab drivers make more money when operating a Crown Vic than any other automobile, and that supposedly includes hybrids. According to John Shaban, a 27-year-old cab driver, "I don't like the hybrids... Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for them."

Could it be that customers inherently prefer the Crown Vic? Shaban believes so, saying, "People wait for the Crown Vic because it's roomier. They're more likely to get in." Regardless, that's all set to change soon as Ford finally discontinues its long-running rear-wheel-drive people mover. It's expected to be replaced with - you guessed it - a hybrid or some other fuel efficient alternative.

[Source: USA Today | Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty]

Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:32:00 +0000

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

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Those waiting patiently for one of the most anticipated new vehicles of the year are going to have wait just a little bit longer. According to Automotive News, Ford has been forced to delay the initial shipments of the 2011 Fiesta by 10 to 14 days due to Hurricane Alex, which hit Northern Mexico in late June, and Tropical Storm Bonnie, which made landfall shortly thereafter.

It seems there are a number of damaged railroads around Ford's factory near Mexico City, and the automaker has been forced to reroute some of its shipments. Ford is reporting that it has collected about 2,000 down payments from customers waiting for the 2011 Fiesta, and some of those vehicles will be arriving later than initially planned.

While nobody wants to wait any longer than necessary for their brand new cars, an extra 10 days or so shouldn't cause too big a problem, right? Especially when it's due to... an Act of God.

*UPDATE: A Fiesta fan on Facebook has uploaded some images that show the damaged railroads in Mexico, one of which can be seen to the right. Click here for more.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Ford Fiesta shipments delayed due to hurricane, damaged railroads *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:02:00 +0000

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford

Now that Ford has decided that Lincoln doesn't really need a truck after all, its up to the F-150 to carry the torch as both the everyman's work truck and a luxury toy hauler for the wealthy. Somehow, it seems to manage its dual roles just fine, as evidenced by these spy shots of a 2011 F-150 Lariat Limited edition.

Ford's Lariat Limited was last seen in 2007, meaning that the 2011 edition will be the first time the latest F-150 generation is bestowed with this trim level, though there's also the King Ranch, Platinum and Harley-Davidson models to consider if you want to haul all your goodies in the lap of luxury.

Body-color bits are the name of the game, including a six-slat grille, side mirrors, door handle surrounds and accents on the large aluminum wheels. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com tells us to expect Ford's latest 6.2-liter V8 engine sporting something north of 400 horsepower.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, Racing

2010 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Race Car - Click above for high-res image gallery

All of you who have been anxiously awaiting the debut of the Ford Mustang in what we loosely refer to as modern-day stock car racing, take note: The original Pony Car will see its first action this Friday night at the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

To help build excitement for the Mustang's entrance into the Nationwide Series, Ford has just announced that it will offer a brand-new 2011 Mustang GT - powered by the excellent 5.0-liter V8, no less - to anyone that wins the race... provided they do so in a Ford-branded race car, of course.

For what it's worth, Friday's event will be the second straight race where a new 2011 Ford Mustang GT will serve as the pace car. In other words, those in attendance for the festivities would be witnesses to an All Mustang, All The Time Show if it weren't for the fact that Dodge will also be showing up with its new Challenger-based entry. 'Stang vs. Challenger? Sounds like fun.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Series race car

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night

PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:59:00 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, Mazda

In case you missed it, we just published our First Drive of the brand-new Mazda2 today. If your attention spans is anything like ours, allow us to remind you that we've also driven the Ford Fiesta once or twice. Since both cars are built atop the same platform and will be competing for your hard-earned bucks in short order, the natural question is: Which one would you choose?

If you don't have time to read both of our drives, here's a quick glance at some of the more salient details:

	2011 Ford Fiesta	2011 Mazda2
Base Price	$13,995 (four-door sedan), $15,795 (hatchback)	$13,980 (hatchback)
Engine	120 horsepower, 112 pound-feet of torque	100 horsepower, 98 pound-feet of torque
Transmission	Five-speed manual, Six-speed dual-clutch auto	Five-speed manual, Four-speed auto
Base Weight	2,537 pounds	2,309 pounds
Efficiency	29/40 (auto), 28/37 (manual)	27/33 (auto), 29/35 (manual)

Naturally, there's more to the equation than the tale of the tape. For instance, if you're in the market for an automatic transmission, the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiesta seems to be a much more attractive option than the old-school four-speed automatic in the Mazda. Also, the Fiesta can store more cargo and has more comfortable seats.

It would seem that the scales are tipping in the Blue Oval's favor. Consider too that the Fiesta is available as both a sedan and a hatchback while the Mazda2 is a hatchback only. Add in an available navigation system, leather interior, SYNC infotainment system and heated seats - none of which are available on the Mazda - and we've got a slam-dunk win for the Ford. Right?

Perhaps not. Our man Steven Ewing, the only member of the team to have driven both U.S.-spec models, tells us that the Mazda2 is notably more fun to drive than the Fiesta. Plus, he claims the 2 looks better in its specific shade of green, if that kind of thing is important to you. So, is the promise of an added dose of driving enjoyment worth the significant loss in comfort, convenience and economy? That's up to you to decide.

View Poll

Poll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Toyota

2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.

First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is (somewhat ironically) still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.

Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford's F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent - a scenario Ford calls "pretty common."

Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM's only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.

See the complete American Made Index after the break, and check out additional commentary from Cars.com here.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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