Autoblog

It's been a while since we've heard about FoMoCo's development of large rear-wheel-drive vehicles for Ford and Lincoln – no surprise considering the current climate. With fuel prices continuing their upward trajectory and CAFE standards looming on the horizon, Ford is apparently reevaluating the efficacy of offering RWD vehicles in a market starving for fuel efficient whips.

In addition to this morning's story that Ford is considering offering an EcoBoost four-cylinder on its F-150 pickup, Automotive News is reporting that Ford's use of turbocharged, direct-injected engines could expand to beyond 500,000 vehicles annually by 2012.

With the terrible fires ravaging California, many companies are stepping up efforts to aid in the relief fund, and Ford is doing its part by extending its A-plan vehicle discount to any family that lost a vehicle in the fires. To claim Ford's coveted employee discount, victims from the disaster need to show an insurance report, police report, or a note from FEMA. To sweeten the pot, Ford is also keeping any rebates on its products, which makes for some very hefty discounts indeed.

Ford also felt firefighters should get some love too since they're the ones battling the unpredictable blazes. Any firefighter in the state of California also gets the A-plan option, and all they need to show is their ID card. Ford also pitched in 11 Super Duty trucks and nine Expeditions plus $100,000 to the Red Cross. As we mentioned in our previous post that details what each automaker has donated, it's nice to see our favorite industry doing its part to aid in California's relief. If Ford can help someone buy a Fusion (with a great discount) who just had his Camry burn to a crisp, there's no harm in the Blue Oval gaining a little market share while giving a victim or firefighter a break.

[Source: Ford, Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty]

With safety becoming more and more of a priority in buyers' purchase decisions, automaker are striving for as many IIHS top scores and five-star ratings as they can collect. One technology that hit the ground running a few years back is the backup camera, which gives drivers of large SUVs, pickups, and minivans a clearer view of what's going on beyond the bumper. Ford designed its own camera technology for 2008 model year vehicles, with the image being shown in the rear view mirror.

The video screen only shows up when you're in reverse, and it gives you both video of what's behind you and the approximate distance you can travel before hitting something. Then the folks from Dearborn, MI threw in the beep sensor as a redundant measure. The technology works remarkably well, and the video screen is even visible in extremely bright sunlight. We got video of the camera tech during Ford's 2008 vehicle review event, so hit the jump to see how close we got to some little girl's bike with the new 2008 King Ranch Expedition. It was incredibly accurate.

Automakers have been paying big bucks for product placement in movies like Transformers and Casino Royale. When Ford marketers first heard that their recently redesigned Expedition made a free, blue oval-laden appearance on the wildly popular Sopranos finale, they must have figured that a little luck went their way. When those same product placement-o-holics discovered that the Expedition's big scene was when Tony Soprano enemy Phil Leotardo's head got crushed by said SUV, they probably weren't as happy. We thought the scene was especially odd considering that it contained a sustained close-up of the blue oval followed by Leotardo getting quickly shot in the head. Then we see the historic oval again on the front wheel as the mob boss' head gets run over by the two and a half ton vehicle with a crunch that can only be described as horrific.

Ford spokeswoman Whitney Drake said the appearance was "not a product placement." No kidding? Leotardo may have deserved his fate though. What self-respecting mob boss doesn't get chauffeured in a Town Car?

[Source: Detroit News]

click above image to view more pics of the 2007 Ford Expedition EL

Ford's new Expedition EL has to follow in some huge footsteps – or, perhaps more appropriately, tire tracks. The stretched-wheelbase SUV not only has to do battle with GM's Suburban and Yukon XL duo (long the sales leaders in the extended-wheelbase segment), but it also has to live up to the reputation of the Excursion. That monstrous predecessor never sold in large numbers, but it built a loyal following that remains to this day (if you doubt this, just try to find a bargain on a low-mileage example with the Powerstroke diesel).

Since Ford's previous attempt at building a cargo conveyance and people mover on the Super Duty platform didn't appeal to the average mass-market buyer, this go-around utilizes the far more civilized Expedition platform – and its independent front and rear suspension – as a starting point. Will this move create a kinder, gentler mastodon of metal? We put one through the paces for a week to learn more.

eBay Motors has been a treasure trove of good finds this week, and today we bring you another rare SUV like the Saleen Explorer XP8. Though there are more than a few full-size SUVs on the market today, for decades the Chevy Suburban ruled a segment of one before the Ford Expedition arrived in 1996. But until Ford could develop a suitable Suburban fighter it made do by offering the Bronco Centurion, a four-door version of the Ford Bronco that was converted by a company named Centurion Vehicles.

The Centurion began life as a four-door club cab short bed F-Series pickup. To it was added a Bronco tailgate and fiberglass cap to close off the bed. A third-row bench was also donated by the Bronco to make the Centurion capable of carrying 8-9 people.

This particular Centurion is built off of the eighth-gen F-Series, though Centurions were also built on the ninth-gen F-Series up until 1996 when the tenth-gens arrived. It's powered by Ford's big 7.5L 460 c.i. V8 using the three-speed C6 automatic. Sure, it's got 220,000 miles on the odo and needs some TLC, but chances are any interested parties aren't looking for a show vehicle.

[Source: eBay Motors via GM Inside News]

click above to view our gallery of details shots showing the Funkmaster Flex Expedition

As the first day of the New York Auto Show wound down, we managed to catch our breath and snap some shots of the Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Concept. As one would expect, the big SUV carries a red-and-black paint scheme, some color-matched painted interior components, big wheels, and the FMF logo on nearly every surface. It's very similar to the truck we saw at SEMA (the wheels are the biggest difference), and carries serial number 002. Look for it to appear at Ford dealers sometime this fall.

Hit the gallery for more live shots of the Expedition FMF Concept, and of course plenty more coverage of the NY show can be found here.

Ford will be unveiling another production intent vehicle at the New York Auto Show next week that has a connection to last year's SEMA show. Back in November we showed you the custom Expedition that Funkmaster Flex brought to Las Vegas for the big show. Next week Ford will be announcing that a version of this truck will go into production this fall. The production version is truly the spitting image of the original show truck produced for SEMA, with the most obvious change being new 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. It features a 3d Carbon body kit that spruces up the front and rear fascias while adding side skirts to lower the truck's visual height. The Black and Colorado Red paint job with Orange pinstriping is just the like the show truck's, however. Inside the Expedition, Flex added a black leather interior with Colorado red stitching, as well as Colorado red accents all over the dash, doors and center console. Based on the short wheelbase Expedition Limited, it doesn't appear that any changes have been made to the motor or suspension. No pricing has been announced either, but any baller knows you need a lot of Benjamins to roll like this.

[Source: Ford]

When a vehicle rolls over, one of the critical components in assuring the safety of its occupants is the roof structure and its ability to protect, not injure its occupants. On the heels of nearly $250-million dollars in judgments relating to injuries caused in rollover accidents, Ford Motor Company has considerably stepped up its efforts to assure the roof strength of its vehicles.

A new standard proposed by NHTSA in August, 2005 raises the minimum force withstood by a roof structure from a multiple of 1.5 to 2.5 times the vehicle's weight while maintaining sufficient head room for a buckled-in average size adult male to avoid being struck by a crushed roof. Unfortunately, a final ruling could take as long as a year and would give the manufacturers until at least 2011 to comply.

In a letter to the NHTSA, Ford's director of automotive safety office, James P. Vondale, disclosed that some versions of 11 models would have roofs 20 percent stronger than required. For instance, the Expedition and Navigator, as well as some F-250 and E-series models would exceed the standard, matching the Volvo XC90, which has one of the strongest roofs on the market.

Follow the jump for more info and a list of the 11 models from Ford that will receive stronger roofs in the near future.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Last month, we reported that Ford would be offering F150 buyers the option of a diesel powerplant for the 2009 model year. At the time, it wasn't a stretch to think that an oil-burner would someday find its way under the hood of the Expedition, since both vehicles share the same front clip. That assumption proved true, when the Expedition's chief engineer, John Viera, told Automotive News that a diesel would be offered by the end of the decade.

Although a timeframe wasn't specified, expect the diesel-equipped Expedition to launch around the same time as its pickup truck counterpart, likely sporting a larger version of the 3.6-liter V8 shared by Land Rovers across the pond.

Viera points to the success of the diesel-powered Excursion, before it was discontinued, and the fact that any vehicle sold with a fuel-efficient engine is a hot commodity on showroom floors. The possibility of a diesel version of the Lincoln Navigator was also mentioned.

[Source: Amy Wilson/Automotive News (Sub. Req.)