Autoblog

Next Lincoln Navigator to drop V8 in favor of V6, but Ford Expedition might get both

Chris Paukert — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:28:00 EST

A great many buyers fled from full-size body-on-frame SUVs to car-based crossovers in large measure to save fuel. But that doesn't mean there's still not a buying audience for more traditional truck-based utility vehicles, and those consumers doubtlessly wouldn't mind saving some dollars at the pump, too. According to Motor Trend, those shoppers might be in luck.

That's because the magazine has confirmed that Ford isn't walking away from the full-size SUV segment, and it's poised to do something about its offerings' economy ratings, too. According to MT, global Lincoln director Matt VanDyke has hinted that the next Navigator may drop two cylinders and go with a V6 model - the current model gets just 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway from its 5.4-liter V8. The obvious fitment would be Ford's 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, an engine that has spread like kudzu throughout the rest of the Blue Oval's large vehicle lineup.

Downsized turbocharged engines like Ford's EcoBoost franchise have come under fire as of late for not delivering their EPA fuel economy ratings, but their benefits extend beyond consumption - the 3.5L offers superior power and a better torque curve than the naturally aspirated V8. MT also suggests that Ford's 3.7-liter V6 could form the base engine for the next Navi - it has similar horsepower but a lot less torque than the current 5.4L. That may be less of a problem with the next generation tipped to go on a diet, which could level the playing field somewhat.

Interestingly, Ford will reportedly keep a V8 option in the Navigator's Blue-Oval-badged sibling, the Expedition. That may be a strategy partially borne out of cost, and partially out of concern that the Expedition's more traditional buying audience still maintains a strong affinity for simple and robust V8 engines. That said, MT says the Expedition could also get the 3.7L and the EcoBoost 3.5 V6s

Next Lincoln Navigator to drop V8 in favor of V6, but Ford Expedition might get both originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

CA bank robber foiled by vanity plates bearing own name

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Ford, Police/Emergency

There's no such thing as the perfect crime, but some criminals are clearly more perfect than others. According to UT San Diego, a man wearing latex gloves and sunglasses recently strolled into a Chase Bank in San Diego, pointed a gun at a teller and began demanding money. The teller wisely obliged, handing over $2,920 in cash before the robber took to his vehicle and fled in a white Ford Expedition. Onlookers were quick to jot down the vehicle's vanity license plate, which read ALMDUDE. It didn't take police long to track down the vehicle's owner, 27-year-old Robert Alm.

While we're not surprised to hear of a their using their own vehicle to flee a crime scene, using one with vanity plates proudly proclaiming the thief's name is something new. Alm has since been booked on suspicion of robbery. Police say the man is homeless and has been living in the Expedition.

CA bank robber foiled by vanity plates bearing own name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Motorist Choice Awards announced, Ford takes home four

Zach Bowman — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Etc., Ford

The 2011 IntelliChoice and AutoPacific Motorist Choice Awards have been announced, and the Blue Oval took home top honors with Ford and Lincoln vehicles winning in six categories. Last year, Toyota and Lexus grabbed the top nod by securing nine wins over various classes. For 2011, that number fell to five.

The Motorist Choice Awards evaluate vehicles across 15 categories and two classes - popular and premium. This year, the awards are based on the responses from over 72,000 surveys that questioned owners who recently bought a 2011 vehicle. AutoPacific uses the 48 questions on the survey to gauge owner satisfaction in its Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Those findings are then paired with IntelliChoice's Best Overall Value Award, which is based on cost of ownership figures, to create the Motorist Choice Awards.

The Ford Expedition took home wins in the Cargo Hauler, Road Trip and People Mover categories. That makes the SUV the only vehicle to ace three categories in 2011. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading 2011 Motorist Choice Awards announced, Ford takes home four

2011 Motorist Choice Awards announced, Ford takes home four originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Ford feels Japan quake effect with shortage of red, black paint

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Due to a pigment shortage stemming from the March 11 earthquake in Japan, Ford has had to stop taking new orders for cars in Tuxedo Black, and is limiting orders of three shades of red. Officials from Ford say they're working on another source for the pigment as you read this, and have enough cars in each color to satisfy demand until production resumes.

The paint shortage affects the F-150 and Super Duty lines of pickups, as well as the Explorer, the Expedition, Focus, Taurus and the Lincoln MKS and Navigator. Ford's slowdown follows General Motors, who slowed production of pickups in Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as compact cars in Europe following parts shortages.

Honda, Toyota and Nissan have all experienced slowdowns as a result of the quake, though none have had to limit color choices.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Photos copyright (C)2011 John Neff / AOL

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Ford feels Japan quake effect with shortage of red, black paint originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 luxed up for Mongolian hunting expeditions

Noah Joseph — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, China, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 Mongolian Expedition Vehicle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ordinarily looking like something you'd expect to see dragging Indiana Jones behind on a rope, the Mercedes-Benz Zetros is not exactly the pinnacle of luxury for which the Silver Star has become known to upscale buyers. But that doesn't mean it can't change.

Two businessmen in Mongolia have ordered a matching pair of the six-wheel-drive cargo truck and had them converted to luxury RVs for use on hunting expeditions. And we're not talking about poaching grouse with a shotgun, either: These guys hunt for wolves. In the Altai mountains. With an eagle. (Seriously, we couldn't make this stuff up - unless of course this is an early April Fool's joke from our friends in Stuttgart.)

For the expeditions, these Zetros customs have been fitted with everything you'd expect on a yacht: Full bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom (complete with shower, marble tiles and under-floor heating). They've got 46-inch flat-screen TV monitors, outdoor grilles, Bose sound systems, self-adjusting motorized satellite dishes, Wi-Fi, even place for an ATV.

A 7.2-liter inline-six diesel engine with 326 horsepower and 960 pound-feet of torque does the pushing/pulling duties, driving all six wheels for a chassis load capacity of 16 metric tons. Which strikes us as exactly what they'll need to schlepp all those electronics and marble tiling around the Mongolian desert. Follow the jump for all the details in the full press blast.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 Mongolian Expedition Vehicle

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 luxed up for Mongolian hunting expeditions

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 luxed up for Mongolian hunting expeditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Toyota, Off-Road

Arctic Trucks' tours of the North Pole - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Top Gear went to the North Pole - actually, to be specific, when Jeremy Clarkson and James May went to the North Pole, they went in a Toyota Hilux prepared by Arctic Trucks in Iceland. Richard Hammond went via sled-and-dog-team, which, believe it or not, looked a lot less comfortable than the satnav-equipped Hilux.

In what seems like a predictable (yet awesome) result of that odyssey, Arctic Trucks is now offering multi-day tours of Iceland in their ultimately prepped Toyotas. Having just returned from a trip to Reykjavik and the glaciers - sadly not with these blokes - we can tell you it would be an excursion you will never forget. No, it isn't the North Pole, but we'd argue it might be even better: more variety and ~~nicer~~ people, and no polar bears.

Follow the jump to read the press release on Arctic Trucks' offerings, and to watch video of Top Gear's epic polar expedition as seen in three parts. Photos your of your balloon-tired chariot can be found in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Arctic Trucks tours of Iceland

[Source: Arctic Trucks]

Continue reading Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video]

Be like Clarkson and conquer the Arctic in a Toyota Hilux [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uncertain future for Ford's RWD vehicles, more EcoBoost on the way

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Ford

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.

Continue reading Uncertain future for Ford's RWD vehicles, more EcoBoost on the way

Uncertain future for Ford's RWD vehicles, more EcoBoost on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires

Chris Shunk — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Truck, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ford

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]

Continue reading Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires

Ford extends A-plan to California families affected by wildfires originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Ford reverse camera in action

Chris Shunk — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Videos, Ford

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.

Gallery: Ford reverse camera

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford reverse camera in action

VIDEO: Ford reverse camera in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

That's whacked: Expedition front and center of grisly Sopranos scene

Chris Shunk — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Ford

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]

That's whacked: Expedition front and center of grisly Sopranos scene originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Ford Expedition EL

Eric Bryant — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Ford

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.

Gallery: 2007 Ford Expedition EL

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Ford Expedition EL

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Ford Expedition EL originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Ford Bronco Centurion, the pre-Expedition

John Neff — Sun, 20 May 2007 13:46:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Auctions, Ford

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]

eBay Find of the Day: 1989 Ford Bronco Centurion, the pre-Expedition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 May 2007 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Auto Show: Live shots of the Expedition Funkmaster Flex Concept

Eric Bryant — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, SUV, Ford

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.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition

New York Auto Show: Live shots of the Expedition Funkmaster Flex Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Preview: Funkmaster Flex Expedition going into production

John Neff — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:23:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Ford

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]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition

Continue reading New York Preview: Funkmaster Flex Expedition going into production

New York Preview: Funkmaster Flex Expedition going into production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Scott Davis — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford, Earnings/Financials

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]

Continue reading Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits

Ford bolstering roofs of some models in wake of lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Expedition to get diesel power

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 07:06:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Ford

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.)

Expedition to get diesel power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It ain't SEMA without FunkMaster Flex and his fly Expedition

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, SUV, Ford

UPDATED: Added more pics and gallery after jump

Last month it was cell phones, this month it's SUVs. FunkMaster Flex is turning his hip hop car customization skills loose on Ford's new 2007 Expedition for this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas next week. Last year Ford had Flex customize a Fusion and an F-150 for the SEMA show, and they were pretty well received. So asking him back for an encore wasn't much of a stretch.

Perhaps better known for tuning celebrity rides than even his mixing nowadays, Flex will show us his interpretation of the all-new 2007 Ford Expedition, which "delivers hardworking SUV authenticity with original urban style and presence."

According to the release, the new Expedition has a more aggressive look, more towing capacity and more interior flexibility. The 2007 Ford Expedition FunkMaster Flex Concept sports a Street Scene Body Kit, 24-inch rims, two-tone black and redfire paint and a complete custom interior featuring DVD screens and performance audio system, all the standard fare for a SEMA-bound truck. Ford selected Flex to be the first customizer of the all-new 2007 Expedition after his successful work with other Ford products like the aforementioned 2006 Ford Fusion, F-150 and Mustang.

More pics of Flex's custom Expedition after the jump.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Continue reading It ain't SEMA without FunkMaster Flex and his fly Expedition

It ain't SEMA without FunkMaster Flex and his fly Expedition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford focuses on safety in 2007

Erin Mays — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:04:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

As promised, Ford is taking a page from Volvo's book and emphasizing safety for the 2007 model year for its Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brands. Side curtain airbags and rollover sensors -- factors that heavily contributed to the 2006 Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego earning the IIHS' highest rating of "Top Safety-Gold" -- will come standard on 14 Ford vehicles. The Expedition and Expedition EL's passengers will benefit from the addition of seat-mounted front-side air bags, a three-row Safety CanopyTM rollover detection system and AdvanceTrac(R) with RSC(R) (Roll Stability Control).

These newly added protective features come at a time where consumer demand for safety sits at the top of the most wanted list, followed directly behind quality and value. In fact, Ford cites a survey that found safety is now an "extremely important factor" for 54 percent of respondents, up from 51 percent in 2005.

[Source: Ford via TheAutoChannel.com]

Ford focuses on safety in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford Expedition EL and Lincoln Navigator go on camera at MT

John Neff — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:34:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Videos, Ford, Lincoln

Motor Trend recently posted a short video review of the new Ford Expedition EL and Lincoln Navigator that contained a few nuggets of new info about the Blue Oval's big utes. We're all well aware that with their 5.4-liter V8 that produces 300 horsepower and 365 ft-lbs. of torque, the Expedition and Navigator are underpowered compared to their GM competitors. MT reports that the powerdome hood on both models will likely be sheltering a diesel and perhaps a hybrid powertrain in the near future. That hood also leaves room for a much larger V8 to fit between the front wheels, so don't expect Ford to be down on grunt for long.

Ford's decision to use an independent rear suspension may also pay off for the Expedition and Navigator, as third-row seating is said to be the most comfortable in class with generous head and leg room. Those back benches also have a convenient power fold-flat feature that their competition lacks.

We'll finally get to see an Expedition EL square off with a Chevy Suburban in the November issue of MT. We're betting the battle will be close, but we'll put our money on the Suburban over the Expedition for its greater power and, we can't believe we're saying this, better style. Any takers?

[Source: Motor Trend]

Ford Expedition EL and Lincoln Navigator go on camera at MT originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford announces pricing for 2007 Expedition models

Stuart Waterman — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:34:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Ford

Hoping to rejuvenate sales of its big SUV, Ford Motor has cut prices across the board on 2007 Expedition models. Cutting the model range from four to three by dropping the 2006 base XLS model, the 2007 entry-level XLT is priced at $29,995 - $5,485 below last year's XLT, and $3,485 lower than the previous base model.

The Eddie Bauer model comes in at $36,395 (a $3,200 drop) and the top of the line Limited is priced at $37,845 (down $3,500 from 2006).

All prices are for RWD versions - 4WD will set you back an extra $2,900. If you need extra room, there is an EL (extended length) version of each model for an extra $2,650.

The price reductions come with an enhanced standard equipment list, including Ford's new six-speed automatic, additional safety features, and an extended warranty.

[Source: Ford]

Ford announces pricing for 2007 Expedition models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments