Ford F-150 EcoBoost hits 100,000 sales
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.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDeeZee American Guardian 2011 F-150 is not to be trifled with
Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford, Police/Emergency
We love bull bars. A favorite of law enforcement officers everywhere, the bull bar quietly underscores the fact you aren't just into protecting yourself against future collisions, but that you plan to instigate them. The DeeZee American Guardian 2011 Ford F-150 seems fully capable of nudging traffic out of its way thanks to its Police Interceptor iForce kit by Rockwell Collins. Extra pushing power comes courtesy of an AirRaid intake kit, Maganaflow exhaust and a HyperTech Max Energy Tuner.
Of course, sometimes it's simply better to drive over obstacles than through them. With that in mind, DeeZee threw on a six-inch BDS off-road lift kit, massive Goodyear tires and a set of menacing BMF wheels. The rest of the truck is sprinkled with accessories borrowed from the DeeZee catalog, including bed caps, a cargo carrier and a bed rack. Hit the jump for the quick press release.
Continue reading DeeZee American Guardian 2011 F-150 is not to be trifled with
DeeZee American Guardian 2011 F-150 is not to be trifled with originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsStrategic Vision disses J.D. Power, crowns VW and Ford quality leaders
Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Volkswagen
Quality studies can be funny things in the auto business. It's not unusual to have one completely contradict another, which can result in an automaker that was panned as a loser in one study claiming to be a leader based on another. That's exactly what Volkswagen and Ford get to do thanks to Strategic Vision's 2011 Total Quality Index.
Back in June, J.D. Power released its annual Initial Quality report, which ranks vehicles and their brands based on how many problems are reported per 100 vehicles. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Volkswagen ranked near the bottom as per usual, but Ford was also smacked down from 5th to 23rd place thanks to owner complaints about the automaker's complex SYNC/MyFordTouch technologies and Powershift dual-clutch gearbox issues.
Well J.D. Power, Strategic Vision thinks your definition of "quality" is terrible, and they believe that their Total Quality Index, which they say measures not just individual problems, but also the "total positive experience created for the owner/driver," is the way to go.
On those grounds, Volkswagen was rated the best full-line automaker in Strategic Vision's 2011 Total Quality study, which surveys 37,069 buyers who bought 2011 models late last year. Owners rated Design and Exterior Styling as the most impressive things about their VWs.
Ford, meanwhile, which suffered so harshly at the hands of J.D. Power's problem-counting study, comes up roses here, tying for second place with Honda and Nissan. Strategic Vision does say that Ford owners reported more problems than the industry average, but its designs and brand strength helped it overcome those issues to create an overall positive experience for owners.
Follow the jump for Strategic Vision's full report, which also shows the best-ranked vehicles in each segment - including surprisingly positive results for Chrysler, Jaguar and Land Rover.
Continue reading Strategic Vision disses J.D. Power, crowns VW and Ford quality leaders
Strategic Vision disses J.D. Power, crowns VW and Ford quality leaders originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year
Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Crossover, Chevrolet, Ford, Canada
2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery
Both Chevrolet and Ford have something to brag about at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show. The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada named the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze the Canadian Car of the Year; the 2011 Ford Edge took Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year honors. According to General Motors, AJAC members cited the compact sedan's efficiency, refinement, and price as the key factors, and that added bonuses like 10 standard air bags helped seal the award for the Cruze.
The 2011 Ford Edge crossover, won over journos with its extensive redesign and came out ahead following both road and track tests. Additionally, the Edge's onboard technology features helped drive home the win. Hit the jump for both press releases.
Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / Chris Shunk / AOL
[Sources: General Motors, Ford]
Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year
2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Edge named Canadian Car and Utility of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: 2011 Ford Explorer plays on seesaw at Chicago Auto Show
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, SUV, Videos, Crossover, Ford
Click above to watch Autoblog Short Cuts: 2011 Ford Explorer demonstrates Terrain Management
Ford has set up a display to show off the multiple Terrain Management modes on the 2011 Explorer at this year's Chicago Auto Show. As you may recall, the tech keeps an eye on a laundry list of parameters, including specs like engine speed, throttle position, transmission shift patterns and the stability and traction control systems.
Visitors can ride shotgun over a number of surfaces, including a seesaw that transitions from a steep, slippery incline into a similarly aggressive descent and a deep sand section. The multiple surfaces are designed to flex the Explorer's all-terrain muscles, at least in the climate-controlled comfort of McCormick place.
Our own Drew Phillips cooked up a quick video of the ride along for your viewing pleasure. The clip after the jump includes all of the gravity-defying action of the Explorer all-terrain system when viewed from both the cabin and from the safety of the show floor. Follow the jump to check out the video for yourself.
Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays on seesaw at Chicago Auto Show
Video: 2011 Ford Explorer plays on seesaw at Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Ford B-Max minivan concept coming to Geneva
Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford
It sounds like Ford is getting ready to square off against the Opel Meriva small minivan in Europe. According to Automotive News, Ford will be bringing an all-new B-segment van to next year's Geneva Motor Show. The Blue Oval's European arm is keeping the details of the vehicle close to its chest, but from what we understand, the new minivan should begin production toward the end of 2012. The company has already made it clear that its Craiova, Romania facility will be tasked with constructing a new B-segment fighter sometime soon, and news has it that the vehicle will be more people mover than hatchback.
If true, that means that the new van is likely to carry the B-Max moniker to keep in line with creations like the C-Max and S-Max. In Europe, Ford has relied on its aging Fusion people mover to carry the company in the small-car segment, and the aging platform has begun to slip over the past few years. While it once held the number two slot, the Fusion has fallen to be the fifth most popular vehicle among the B-segment vans.
Regardless of whether or not the B-Max can knock the Meriva off of its throne, we aren't likely to see it here in the states.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Report: Ford B-Max minivan concept coming to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFollowup: Ford F-150 EcoBoost finishes Baja 1000 in 38 hours
Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Off-Road, Racing
2011 Ford F-150 Ecoboost - Click above for high-res image gallery
When it comes to the Baja 1000, simply crossing the finish line is reason enough to bust out the champagne. Ford has announced that its 2011 F-150 Ecoboost race truck has managed to cover the entire 1,061 mile course in 38 hours and 20 minutes. According to FoMoCo, the truck put up with some of the most grueling terrain on the planet - racing through temperatures below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. More impressively, as you may recall, this particular 3.5-liter V6 engine entered the cross-country rally with the equivalent of 10 years of abuse on the clock. The very same lump went through extensive endurance testing at the Cleveland Engine Plant before being bolted into an F-150 that was used as a log skidder in Oregon.
Finally, the same engine drove around a NASCAR track at full speed while towing 11,300 pounds. Ford then unbolted the engine and plopped it into the race machine you see above - bone stock and without so much as a rebuild. With 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, the EcoBoost was more than powerful enough to pull the Baja F-150 across the line. Click past the jump for the full press release.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Followup: Ford F-150 EcoBoost finishes Baja 1000 in 38 hours
Followup: Ford F-150 EcoBoost finishes Baja 1000 in 38 hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJeep Grand Cherokee named ‘SUV of Texas,’ Ford named winning ‘Truck Line’
Filed under: SUV, Truck, Dodge, Ford, Jeep
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Ford F-150 - click either image for high-res gallery
Ford, Jeep and Ram have new feathers to stick in their caps. The Texas Auto Writers Association has voted Ford the official Truck Line of Texas, while the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has landed the title of SUV of Texas. Despite FoMoCo's line of top-notch trucks, the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn was awarded the much-coveted Truck of Texas honor. We expect to see each respective manufacturer tout their new titles in ads any day now.
The Texas Auto Writers Association holds an annual Texas Truck Rodeo every year, giving journalists from the state are given the opportunity to drive nearly every truck on the market over a two-day period. At the end of the event, votes are tallied for each award category and the winners announced. In addition to the categories just mentioned, there were other awards handed out, including Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4, Mid-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x2 Texas Edition, Luxury Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, Heavy Duty Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4, and Outstanding Feature: Ford/ MyFord Touch.
This year's big winners make plenty of sense to us, as Ford has crammed the F-150 with a slew of excellent drivetrain options and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a massive step in the right direction for Chrysler. Likewise, the Ram Laramie Longhorn offers one of the best interiors of any pickup available right now, and its supple rear suspension strikes us as just the thing for traversing the Lone Star state.
Photos by Zach Bowman and Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 AOL.
[Sources: Chrysler, Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]
Jeep Grand Cherokee named 'SUV of Texas,' Ford named winning 'Truck Line' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block?
Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities
Ken Block and AJ Allmendinger do the burnout thing - Click above to watch video after the jump
Ford has released the fifth video in its 43 Fiestas series, and this time Ken Block and AJ Allmendinger have gone head-to-head to see who can do the best burnout. As always, Richard Petty himself is on hand to oversee the festivities. While you'd think Allmendinger's ridiculous V8-powered, rear-wheel drive NASCAR beast would be the de facto champion of lighting 'em up, Block's wee rally-sped Fiesta held its own this time *ahem* around. The Gymkhana champ fell back on his signature pirouette-around-a-fixed-object move to win an approving nod from the King himself. Not too shabby.
This latest stunt is one in a series leading up to a massive prize giveaway that includes tickets to the Ford 300 Nationwide and Ford 400 NASCAR races and flat-screen televisions. Ford will also give one lucky winner the keys to a 2011 Ford Fiesta, and if the company happens to take the win at the Ford 400, it will give 43 lucky winners their own unique Fiesta. You can head over to the 43 Fiestas site for more details, and hop the jump for a look at the video.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block?
Video: Who can do the better burnout, AJ Allmendinger or Ken Block? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsAll-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe
Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Australia, Diesel, Off-Road
2011 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford has finally unveiled the not-for-U.S. 2011 Ranger. The company has just pulled the sheets back on its compact pickup at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, and there's no mistaking the newest Blue Oval for anything but a Ford. With its corporate three-bar nose and heavily arched fender openings, the Ranger borrows plenty of cues from the likes of the Edge, but throws in a payload capacity of around 3,300 pounds and engine options with up to 346 pound-feet of torque. The 2011 Ranger will debut in 180 markets with three cab choices, two-wheel and four-wheel drive options and two ride heights.
Under the hood, the most potent engine available will be a stout 3.2-liter Duratorq turbocharged five-cylinder diesel with 200 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of twist, though the company says that there will be a choice of a total of three powerplant options, including one gasoline mill. No matter what engine buyers choose, Ford is serving up six-speed manual and automatic transmissions to handle shifting detail. Hit the jump to check out the full press release for yourself, and no, North Americans, you still can't have one.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe
All-new Ford Ranger debuts for the rest of the globe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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