2009 Ford Ranger Facelift: First Official Photos

The redesigned Ford Ranger will makes its debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Built in Thailand, the new model will hit European showrooms this April and it will be available with two turbo diesel engines in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and three body styles – Single Cab, RAP (Rear Access Panel) Cab and Double Cab. In design terms, the facelifted European and Asian market pick-up truck is inspired from last year's Ranger MAX Concept.
Up front, the 2009 MY Ranger gets a new fascia with an 'in-your-face' three-piece chrome grille, domed hood and restyled headlamps. Other changes include the clear tail lamp design, the new exterior mirrors and the side air-vents.
The Ranger is offered with two 4-cylinder diesel engines, a 143HP 2.5-liter and a 156HP 3.0-liter unit both of which can be paired with either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. According to Ford, the Ranger's towing capability with either the 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre TDCi Duratotq engine is rated at up to 3,000kg or 6,614-lbs.

Source: www.carscoop.blogspot.com

Ford's new Electric Vehicle: First Details Revealed

An article in the Detroit News about Ford's ongoing electric vehicle program has let a few facts slip out about the upcoming "battery electric vehicle" (BEV) that Ford says it plans to bring to market by 2012.

Developed in conjunction with the plug-in Escape Hybrid that's due to debut a year before it, the BEV will be based on the new global Ford Focus platform which debuts in 2010, and will be a fully electric vehicle, with no gasoline engine component. Ford is aiming for the vehicle to have a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge. "Project M," as it has been internally dubbed, is a joint venture between Ford and Magna International, Inc.

Critics are already wondering if a 100-mile range will be enough for the average commuter. The upside to Ford's Focus-based BEV is reduced cost; with less complexity than a hybrid and most of the construction sourced from a single supplier - Magna. Ford's BEV will likely cost much less than the Chevrolet Volt, whose starting price has been estimated in the $40,000 range.

Source: Detroit News

Ford Focus RS Video

For the longest time Ford wasn't even breathing a word related to the Focus RS. Then suddenly a flood of information came through, including confirmation that the RS would make a return after a six year hiatus. When details burst out, few really believed that the RS was to be driven through the front wheels, given its power figures of 300bhp (224kW) and 440Nm of torque from a 2.5-litre turbo. After all, front-wheel-driven cars with slightly less power than the RS are known to have excessive torque steer. Nevertheless Ford had an answer to that in a hi-tech system called RevoKnuckle, a specially design steering knuckle containing two ball bearing sets which help compensate for torque steer. Additionally an LSD is fitted for extra traction.
Pushing the car forward is a 6-speed manual gearbox that helps the RS reach the 100km/h target in second gear. For certain engine frequencies a ‘sound symposer' is used to transfer certain pleasing sounds the car makes as it goes along into the cabin. Those bonnet louvers are there to help with idle cooling especially after heavy runs on a track so they aren't just there for aggressive looks.
The Focus RS is a serious performance machine, all indications point towards this. But on this video a more somber, normal Focus RS shows itself proving that there's more to this spicy lime hatch than mere numbers.

Source: Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO Spied Naked

Although Ford wasn't expected to unveil the new Taurus SHO until the Chicago Auto Show next month, a few undisguised pictures have made their way to the internet.

The pictures were taken along I-75 in Michigan and from the lack of snow, it seems reasonable to assume they are several months old. According to the report that accompanied the photos, the cars come with dual exhaust, a rear deck spoiler, and at least 19-inch wheels.

Power is expected to come from Ford's new 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo direct-injection V6 engine which produces 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque (474 Nm). Judging by the fact that the 2010 Lincoln MKS equipped with all-wheel drive and the same engine gets 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, expect the new SHO's fuel economy to mirror that if not be slightly higher thanks to its lighter weight.

The new SHO will most likely only be offered with all-wheel drive in order to keep torque-steer under control, a complaint that occurs often in front wheel drive vehicles with power rating at or above 300 hp. Other performance goodies will most likely include the SR1 suspension which offers a "one-to-one" rear shock absorber ratio for enhanced cornering and handling while still delivering a comfortable ride and Ford's new SelectShift transmission that allows for rev-matching downshifts and the ability to hold gears.

Source: bringbackthesho.com via jalopnik.com

First 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 & 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Put Up for Auction

Ford will be auctioning off a 2010 Shelby GT500, a 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor and a Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction this weekend with the proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Shelby GT500 is based off the new 2010 Mustang and features a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine that produces 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. Heavily updated in the recent refresh, the car's biggest change is a drastically improved interior that features higher quality materials and a more modern design.

Ford's F-150 SVT Raptor is the company's first SVT truck since the Lighting, but instead of being a high powered street racer the new truck is designed for off-road racing. It features over 12 inches of rear suspension travel and 11.2 inches up front thanks to a radically altered front suspension and Fox Racing Shox shocks.

The last car up for auction is a Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet which is also known as the Mustang FR500CJ. Built as an affordable entry-level factory car ready for NHRA racing it features a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine that produces 400 horsepower, this allows the racer to rip through the quarter mile in just 10 seconds.

The vehicles will be auctioned off this Saturday at 10PM EST and viewers can watch it live on the SPEED channel.

Source: Ford

New generation Ford C-Max test mule spied winter testing

Winter testing brings us more spy shots of upcoming next generation models.

Here is one of the earliest looks at the next generation C-Max from Ford, seen here trudging through the snow, probably somewhere in Scandinavia.

Have a closer look at the extending column between the front and rear doors. It tells us that the C-Max will be longer by about 10 centimeters. Or, at least, there will be an extended version which may seat seven instead of five. Rumors abound that Ford may be planning a seven-seater version of the C-Max for the North American market, likely to come with a 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

Design-wise there is nothing to be learned about the next C-Max here, as this is a mule, but if Ford tries to borrow a little of the styling magic of the S-Max, it may just work on this smaller model as the S-Max has been a great success not only in looks but in performance and practicality too.

Source: Ford

Ford Ka considered for U.S.

The Ford Ka may be coming to the U.S. Ford CEO Alan Mulally seems to be interested in America's renewed interest in small cars.

But he may be the only one. Word is most in the upper levels at Ford are not 100% on board with the idea. According to BusinessWeek, Mulally gives the final call to Derrick Kuzak, global head of product development. Kuzak and Chief Marketing Officer James Farley are not so keen on bringing the Ka to the States.

The second generation of the reasonably priced minicar comes with a 1.2-liter four-cylinder producing 67 horsepower. With the available five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel-drive, the pilot is lucky to get the car to 100 km/h in 13 seconds. Released just this year, the new Ford Ka also allows a 1.4-liter petrol and 1.3-liter TDCi.

Speed is not meant to be this car's selling point. 55 miles-per-gallon and a price of around £9,295 ($13,625) is. However, unless the car would get a U.S. production line, costs would likely increase. Although sold in South America already, making the car compatible with U.S. safety standards, environmental regulations, and export costs would push the price up, possibly making it a no-sale in the U.S.

Mulally, a big fan of the Ka, may continue to press the issue. And Mulally is the big boss. If he wants the car to come to the U.S., we will see the Ford Ka whipping around the streets as soon as he wills it so. Built on a Fiat Panda platform, it would become the smallest car sold in North America.

Source: businessweek.com

Ford Announces Aggressive New Electric Vehicle Plan In Detroit

Ford is staking its future on electric cars.

The Detroit automaker, the financially healthiest of the Big Three, has announced an "aggressive plan" to bring a slew of battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to market. And to do so sooner rather than later.

The automaker will be pursuing an ambitious strategy to take the lead on electric vehicles and has promised to introduce a battery-powered electric commercial van in 2010, an electric small car in 2011 and a plug-in hybrid by 2012.

"Ford is heading in the direction America and our customers want us to go, which is a green, high-tech and global future," said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, in a press release today.

The US automaker is also looking to streamline global development and operations into "One Ford" and has said it will work with partners all around the world to more quickly bring electric vehicles to market.

The company is partnering with Magna International on the small electric car Ford hopes to bring to market in 2011 which will be powered by a lithium-ion battery, which have a higher capacity to store energy, the same type of battery found in laptop computers. Ford promises the car will have a 100 mile (or 160 km) range on a single charge.

An electric version of the Ford Transit and Transit Connect commercial van is being developed with UK company Tanfield for the European market which Ford said it will introduce in 2010.
A plug-in version of the Escape Hybrid is also being developed with the Electric Power Research Institute and Southern California Edison and is to be launched in 2012.

Source: Ford

Ford Shelby GT500 video - taking it slow

Detroit is home to the Ford brand. It's also the place where Ford chose to unveil the most potent Ford SVT-tuned Mustang ever, the Shelby GT500 MY2010 seen on this video. Although the car is packing a 5.4-litre V8 monster of an engine on the video it doesn't exactly set the road on fire.

The engine has a supercharger fitted which helps to bring out 540 horses out of the GT500. It may not perform to its promised potential on the video clip, but it can certainly be heard loud and clear in certain shots especially when the driver changes gears using the ball-shaped striped lever. Ford did say the exhaust note was audible but not overpowering and it's just like they said; deep, throaty with a smooth burble.

Buyers of the GT500 will not always push it to its very limits so it's good to witness it under "normal" driving conditions. The test track on which the video was shot isn't exactly wide and long either and therefore it does limit what could be done on it.

Source: Ford