Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat
Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Reviews, Diesel
Industry Giant Still Working Hard to Stay Ahead
2011 Ford F-450 Lariat - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ask any economics professor - competition is a good thing. Exhibit A? The large pickup truck market. Ford F-Series trucks have been the number-one selling vehicle line in the United States for more than three decades, but the automaker has never grown complacent. Each new iteration has been bigger, badder and more capable than its predecessor, and that goes twofold for Dearborn's heavy-duty models.
Despite the fact that Toyota and Nissan never followed up their light-duty trucks with three-quarter or one-ton models, just the threat of such entries spurred Ford, General Motors and Dodge to significantly up their games. In the first half of 2010, the Detroit Three have introduced revamped heavy-duty pickups to feed a segment that, while shrinking, remains large and highly profitable. With that in mind, we saddled up to the Big Daddy of the F-Series range, the F-450, to see if the behemoth could play the dual roles of load-lugger and daily ride. Click through the jump to see how we fared.
Photos copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL
Continue reading Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat
Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRumormill: Ford Falcon to get blown 5.0-liter Coyote
Filed under: Performance, Ford, Rumormill
Ford FG Falcon XR Series - Click above for high-res image gallery
Back before Ford announced it was producing a new aluminum block version of its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 for the 2011 GT500, speculation ran rampant that the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 would get the force-feeding treatment. At the time, Ford declined to comment, but even with the introduction of the lighter 5.4-liter, the speculation never died away.
It now appears that a supercharged 5.0-liter will first appear in Australia in 2011 powering the new Falcon XR8 and possibly a GT-HO. Ford acknowledged that the Boss 302 could have been fitted with a blower, saying in its release that "the Mustang team knew a supercharger would be the simplest way to extract significant power improvements from the new 5.0-liter V8, but they elected not to pursue forced induction for the 2012 Boss to stay true to the original Boss 302 engine."
Given that the rest of the 5.4- and 4.6-liter V8 applications in North America are disappearing in 2011, one has to wonder how long Ford will keep the current GT500 engine around. The most recent speculation is that a boosted version of the Coyote will arrive here in time for the 50th anniversary of the ponycar in 2014. And that can't come soon enough.
[Source: GoAuto.com.au]
Rumormill: Ford Falcon to get blown 5.0-liter Coyote originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Ford
2010 Ford Taurus SEL - Click above for high-res image gallery
While most of the major mechanical systems of the Ford Taurus were unchanged from the 2009 to 2010 models, the all-new styling and interior has inspired people to more people to buy the shapelier four-door than its bland predecessor. Through the first seven months of 2010, sales of the Taurus have jumped by 116 percent, and apparently that newfound enthusiasm also extends to early secondhand sales of the big sedan.
According to Ford, average auction prices on used 2010 Tauruses are now 39 percent higher than comparable 2009 models. That's a jump of $7,100 and, as the Blue Oval dutifully points out, a $2,500 premium over a Toyota Avalon of the same vintage. The Taurus, like its crosstown rival, the Buick LaCrosse, clearly demonstrates the benefits of injecting a healthy dose of style and substance to a mainstream sedan. The volumes may not match the Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords of the world, but the design has inspired people to pay more, generating profits for their manufacturers. Check out Ford's official press release after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%
Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39% originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRendered Speculation: 2013 Ford Mondeo/Fusion looks more Kinetic
The cover of the latest issue of Auto Express in the UK features one of the first renderings of the next-generation Ford Mondeo, which as we all know will be basically the same as Ford's future replacement for the Fusion in the States. If this drawing proves accurate, it looks like the new midsize models will combine a lot of what we see in the 2012 Focus at the front end with a greenhouse and rear stance that actually looks more like the current Taurus.The Fusion was Ford's first model to adopt the automaker's now ubiquitous three-bar grille design, but this rendering finally dispenses with that look in favor of something a little more Kinetic. We don't know if the production model will go this way or perhaps use the modified perforated version adopted by the latest Taurus and Explorer.
The new Mondeo and Fusion will probably debut sometime later in 2011 and come to market early in 2012 as a 2013 model.
[Source: Auto Express]
Rendered Speculation: 2013 Ford Mondeo/Fusion looks more Kinetic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNew Ford 5.0L and supercharged 5.4L V8s now available as crate engines
Filed under: Ford
Thanks to an alert reader perusing the Ford Racing online parts catalog, we now know that both the new 5.0-liter "Coyote" V8 and the aluminum-block supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that power the 2011 Mustang GT and GT500 can be purchased in boxes.
The 412 horsepower, twin-cam 32-valve V8 comes fully dressed except for the air-conditioning compressor and alternator. That means it has compete fuel injection and ignition systems and all the manifolding and other bits. The other item that's not included is the wiring harness and powertrain control module which will set you back an extra $1,499 on top of the $6,999 for the engine.
For those with a hankering for even more grunt, the aluminum 5.4-liter also comes dressed for success with 550 hp and 510 pound-feet of torque. The cylinder bores of the new engine have been coated with a Plasma Transferred Wire Arc system to make them tougher than steel or iron with much lower weight. The blown engine is a good bit steeper - $20,999 - plus the harness and PCM. A tip of the hat to GT!
[Source: New Ford 5.0L and supercharged 5.4L V8s now available as crate engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are…
Filed under: Truck, Work, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford
2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout - Click above for high-res image gallery
When it comes to all things pickup truck-related, our pal Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com has his finger on the pulse of what's happening. Every year, Levine gathers all of the currently available contenders in a particular segment of the truck market for a shootout. With General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all having launched heavily reworked heavy-duty trucks in the last six months, that was the segment of choice for this year's 2010 Heavy-Duty Shootout. Levine collected three examples each of the 3/4-ton gas, 3/4-ton diesel and one-ton diesel duallie pickups for a battle royale at Milan Dragway in Michigan and the General Motors Milford proving ground.
The trucks were put through their paces in acceleration and braking tests, both unloaded and hauling trailers of up to 12,000 pounds. The trucks ran on the level Milan drag strip and up seven- and 16-percent grades at Milford. Levine also evaluated ride and handling and the trucks were put through a fuel economy drive loop. The bottom line results for each category are available after the jump and you can - and should - read Levine's definitive report over at PickupTrucks.com.
[Source: PickupTrucks]
Continue reading 2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are...
2010 PickupTrucks.com Heavy-Duty Shootout: And the winners are... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford F150 SVT Raptor drops base engine, gets standard 6.2L V8
Ford 6.2-liter V8 - Click above for high-res image gallery
During Ford's announcement of the new powertrain lineup for the 2011 F-150 yesterday, we learned that the new 6.2-liter V8 would only be available in the SVT Raptor, Harley-Davidson and F-150 Platinum models. In the Platinum, the 6.2-liter engine will be an option for those who select the maximum towing package.
However, for the Raptor and Harley models, the big 6.2-liter will now be the only engine available. Since the two limited edition machines are considered premium products, Ford has decided that they should only get the most powerful engine that company will offer in its trucks for 2011. That almost certainly means that the base price of the 2011 Raptor will at least match the $3,000 price premium that was charged for the 2010 SVT Raptor with the then-optional 6.2-liter V8.
[Source: Ford]
2011 Ford F150 SVT Raptor drops base engine, gets standard 6.2L V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6
Filed under: Truck, Technology, Ford
The Ford F-150 is getting a lineup of four all-new engines for the 2011 model year that includes two V6s and two V8s. According to Ford, the entire new engine family will be more fuel efficient than the outgoing 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V8 by at least 20 percent.
The same 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 found in the 2011 Mustang will be available at launch this fall in the F-150, as will the 6.2-liter V8 from the 2011 Super Duty truck. Then, early in 2011, the F-150 will be the first rear-wheel-drive application of the much praised 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.
The base 3.7-liter V6 will be rated at 300 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque while yielding a 6,100-pound towing capacity, which matches the Silverado hybrid. The 3.7 liter will be offered in the XL, XLT and STX trim levels only. The high volume engine is expected to be the new 5.0-liter V8, which you can read more about after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Ford F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6
Ford F-150 engines for 2011 announced, includes EcoBoost V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition gets new 6.2-liter V8
Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Ford
2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
In the last few years, Ford has settled into a familiar product cadence of launching a new or heavily reworked vehicle one year with older carryover powertrains and offering new powertrain choices 1-2 years later. It worked for the Escape, Mustang and then the F-150. Earlier this year, Ford added its all-new 6.2-liter V8 as an option to the F-150 SVT Raptor, and today in Sturgis, South Dakota, Ford announced that the 2011 F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition will get the same premium powerplant.
The 6.2 liter replaces the soon-to-be-euthanized 5.4-liter V8, bumping output from 320 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque to a more robust 411 hp and 434 lb-ft. The towing capability of the 6.2-liter Harley truck is also now up to a more-than-healthy 9,300 pounds.
In addition to the substantially increased grunt, the F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition gets new side graphics and an upgraded instrument cluster. The new gauge pod has a full-color 4.2-inch LCD display embedded between the speedometer and tachometer that displays a variety of information including fuel economy and readouts from the inclinometer and roll angle sensors. The 2011 F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition also gets Ford's voice controlled navigation system with Sync as standard equipment.
No pricing was announced, but expect to pay a premium over the top-level Platinum trim just like the 2010 model. According to Ford, this will be the 17th truck on which the automaker has collaborated with the legendary motorcycle maker, making it one of the most lasting co-branded models in the market, and there's no reason to expect there won't be a 2012 model.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading 2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition gets new 6.2-liter V8
2011 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition gets new 6.2-liter V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Ford using government-backed loans to pay off debt
Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials
Ford was the only one of Detroit's three automakers able to avoid taking a direct government bailout in 2009 to bypass bankruptcy. However, that doesn't mean it hasn't been able to benefit from some government largess.
Back in 2006 before the credit markets collapsed, Ford essentially mortgaged every facility it had in order to borrow $23.5 billion. That money was used to provide operating cash flow that General Motors and Chrysler didn't have when things went south in 2008. The money allowed Ford to keep the lights on, but it also saddled the company with the debt service payments of $318 per vehicle in the second quarter of this year.
Rather than direct bailouts, Ford has been able to take advantage of several government-backed low interest loan programs like the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program run by the Department of Energy to fund new vehicle development and factory retooling. Ford is also getting tax breaks and low interest loans from various states as well as other countries like the UK and Russia. At the same time, it has used profits earned in the past year to pay down higher interest debt earlier than planned. In doing so, Ford hopes to get back from junk bond status to investment grade by late 2011 or early 2012.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
Report: Ford using government-backed loans to pay off debt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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