Ford looking for tuners for next year's SEMA show
by Damon Lavrinc on Jan 5th 2007 at 10:51AM 
If you're the purveyor of a reputable aftermarket tuning house, here's your opportunity for some OEM-sponsored publicity. FoMoCo has opened up their inbox to proposals for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury project vehicles to be displayed at this year's SEMA show.
Naturally, there are a number of hoops to jump though in order to get a vehicle to pimp. Namely, you're expected to be financially solvent and are willing to submit periodic status reports, keep the vehicle's badging intact, bring the vehicle to the show and other Ford-sponsored events, all while carrying the prerequisite insurance.
If think you've got what it takes, follow the link for all the details on how to submit your one page proposal to the marketing mavens at Ford.
[Source: Sema.org via Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bam 11:49AM (1/05/2007)
Someone should build the Ford Futura Sprint GT/A Wagon, but do it right. Start with a Fusion/Milan, not a 6. Put the 2 doors on the passenger side, add a decent interior with a 6 cyl, six-speed standard drivetrain. May stop me from pining for a 159 Sportwagon, probably not...
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DJ 12:00PM (1/05/2007)
I REALLY like the Edge shown in the photo. I'll take it in black.
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Scott 12:44PM (1/05/2007)
Damn that Edge looks hot, wow Ford made me say this other than for the Mustang GT.......wait take off that stupid antenna.....
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Accordsforall 12:12PM (1/05/2007)
Hmmm..
How bout reduce the weight of the EDGE from 4100lbs in base version (4500lbs loaded) down to about 3500 LOADED. Take the body.. and sit on the roof. Turn it into what it actually is. A short, stubby wide at the hips WAGON. Stop trying to act like the EDGE is something new. Itts 150lbs lighter than the Exploder and will do NONE OF THE EXPLODERS past duties. Except go to the mall, and the nearest movie theater bathed in SILVER paint.
But thats alright.. FORD financed every factory they have, all of their machinery everything.. to hope they go into the BLACK in 2010. And this sorry example of a jacked up Wagon from VOLVO.. is a SORRY PITTANCE of an excuse.
They got the poor selling and canned Minivans.
They have the rejected Focus (same design since it debuted in fall of 99 as an 00).
The Ranger has been Ford's JOKE for years. While it looks better in other countries.. its a shame here.
The Exploder market has taken a dump on the hood when all of a sudden gas goes through the roof. And an SUV isnt the vehicle ya can take to work (weighing over 4400lbs.)
The Fusion is half assed.
And the 500 needs BOTOX.
The Freestyle isnt selling.. (when ya SURROUNDED by SUVS from the same maker) that do the same thing.. what exactly is its purpose.
Ford.. needs help.
Bueller...
Bueller...
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Phil L. 12:28PM (1/05/2007)
bam -
The sad part is, I really do read C&D articles - and paid close attention to Phillip's spoof from last June - so I immediately recalled the Ford Futura Sprint GT/A Wagon.
For those who don't, have some fun and *really* read this article:
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/11029/road-test-review-2006-ford-futura-sprint-gta-wagon.html
The specs even include "fiberglass-reinforced papier-mâché" bodywork...
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Um... no 12:58PM (1/05/2007)
If Ford wants more tuners in the States they should bring us the Focus RS.
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Daniel 2:18PM (1/05/2007)
Great move on Ford's part to get the "Tuners" turned on to the Edge (and Lincoln MKX). If a lot of the tuners develop eye catching rides that would be awesome advertising for Ford.
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Um... no 2:23PM (1/05/2007)
Turn tuners on to the EDGE?!
Are you completely serious?!
I would consider myself a tuner in ever sense of the word. There's a fine line between a "tuner" and a "ricer." If someone wants to throw some altezza tails, a billion subs, some 24" chrome rims that weigh a million pounds, and an ugly paint job on a FORD EDGE and call it a "dope tuner ride" then let them.
REAL tuners, who Ford is apparently trying to market to with this bullcrap will still call it ugly, heavy, slow, and ridiculous. The whole idea being being a "tuner" is taking some cheap piece of shit econobox and making it fast enough to surprise some people and have fun with, not taking something my mom would like and running it through an episode of "Pimp My Ride."
Seriously.
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STFU 2:41PM (1/05/2007)
#8...Why is a "tuner" someone who THROWS AWAY money into a turd POS econobox? I don't think immature idiots like yourself are who they are aiming this at.
They are looking for REAL "tuners" who actually MAKE MONEY "tuning" cars. Not morons like yourself running around with fart-can exhaust thinking your turd is fast because it's loud.
The new 3.5 in this "huge" vehicle is capable of over 400hp (see MKR concept). And the vehicle is based off a very good handling and very tunable chassis. And hey, it's good looking to boot!
Not everyone wants to ride around in primered, cheap glue-on ground effects, loud POS econoboxes. That's reserved for imbecciles like yourself.
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Um... no 2:51PM (1/05/2007)
>> Not everyone wants to ride around in primered, cheap glue-on ground effects, loud POS econoboxes. That's reserved for imbecciles like yourself.
Funny. I see huge rims on that Ford right now, and my rig doesn't have either of those things. 400hp in what's basically an SUV is all well and good until you want to do something fun like an autocross or track event. Then what? Unload the groceries and tear it up, and since that thing doesn't have any kind of advanced traction control I'm sure, hope you don't roll over?
They can make all the HP that they want in that thing - it's still a truck and it still has a high center of gravity, no matter how low those ground effects and 35 series tires make it look.
Being so immature as I am, I guess I'm way too blind to see that the word "tuner" has more than one meaning... but apparently you can't tell the difference between someone who tunes cars and someone who rices them out... kinda like how that Ford is.
>> Why is a "tuner" someone who THROWS AWAY money into a turd POS econobox?
A POS econobox like what? "Tuners" by your definition do up more than just Civics and Corollas. I've seen some Supras and RX7s do some pretty amazing things, and I still think it's funny that the ancient ass underpowered NSX beat a Ferrari 575 around the Top Gear track.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt though - seriously. If for some reason you ARE right, and someone like Shelby gets ahold of one of these trucks and actually makes it fast in a straight line AND fun to drive - which is more than they've accomplished with the current Mustang - then I'll sell my Acura and buy 3 of them. In 4 or 5 years there's where resale value will be on them anyway.
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STFU 3:28PM (1/05/2007)
"...A POS econobox like what?" I don't know, you are the one that mentioned it in your first post.
"...400hp in what's basically an SUV is all well and good until you want to do something fun like an autocross or track event." Who wants to autocross in an SUV? Did the post say anthing about the "tuned" Edges must be able to autocross?
Ford is making the vehicle available for aftermarket companies who want to try their hand at developing aftermarket parts for the Edge. It could be nothing but a body kit to a whole package like a Roush Stage III or a Kenny Brown type perfromance package.
Are you saying these guys like that aren't capable "tuners" in any sense of the word?
And why mention a Mustang resale value? Which by way is VERY high. Not to mention those that have been "tuned" by Shelby.
So, just stay with you Acura. It should last a long time and you won't have any reason to buy any of these vehicles you like to trash. You're just a little ricer who can't admit it when some other mfg. has a better looking vehicle than your's. typical.
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Um... no 3:42PM (1/05/2007)
>> Who wants to autocross in an SUV?
Who wants to "tune" an SUV?! What good is it? That's what I'm asking.
>> Ford is making the vehicle available for aftermarket companies who want to try their hand at developing aftermarket parts for the Edge. It could be nothing but a body kit to a whole package like a Roush Stage III or a Kenny Brown type perfromance package.
EVERY car that's sold on the free market is available to aftermarket companies who want to develop parts for them. What's your point? There's a lot more than that big stupid body kit to the Roush Stage III. Major difference in being that the kit on the Roush actually looks good, and is somewhat functional. Plus the Roush is fast, and actually can handle. This kit looks like crap, the wheels look like something out of a rap video, and the thing still weighs 4500 lbs and is slow. Even if they made it fast, it won't be able to turn, so what's the point? Stop light drag races?
For me being the "ricer" and you being the know it all car guy you're really not living up to your end of the deal praising the Roush as just a pretty body kit. I'd take a Roush WITHOUT the stupid body kit - what does that make me now?
Am I saying Roush aren't capable tuners? No, I'm not. I've prised the Roush Mustang in this post, and the las tone. The SHELBY Mustang is the one I dogged on, because they made it fast, but it's got CRAPPY suspension and SHITTY brakes, much like I'm sure this body kitted EDGE does.
I was talking about Edge resale value. FYI. Well, pretty much any Ford resale value. You don't want to start comparing Honda/Acura to Ford resale value. That's suicide - PLUS - my initial post wasn't an import vs domestic thing anyway, I was only implying that the kind of "tuners" that Ford is trying to target with this thing, which at this point is apparently still subjective, was more along the lines of the stupid ricer crown than the real "tuner" crowd.
But whatever - Ford can give this to whoever they want - be it some fools at Nopi (GM, Cobalt, I'm looking at you) or Shelby or Roush or whoever and it'll still be a big stupid SUV with huge rims and a big body kit - neither of which make it more sporty, fun, or fast.
SUVs are retarded enough - it's a minivan made to look like a truck for soccer moms who think they're too cool to drive minivans. Making a minivan look like a truck is insulting enough, but then taking the whole package and trying to make it look like a sports car by making it look like it belongs in Need for Speed is rediculous.
>> You're just a little ricer who can't admit it when some other mfg. has a better looking vehicle than your's. typical.
Apparently I'm not the only "ricer." When Ford using their Bold Moves to put themselves the red until 2010 and actually starts developing cars that don't suck ass, then you can come back and tell me I'm wrong. Until then, yeah - I'm happy with Honda and what they've got to offer, and as such - that's where my money, and apparently a lot of other peoples' money goes.
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Matt 7:11PM (1/15/2007)
Blah. Tacky. Looks like a Hotwheels car.
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