Autoblog

Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO]

John Neff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, Ford

Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts - Click above for high-res image gallery

They started out in our steering wheels before taking up residence across the dash. They then migrated to the side of our vehicles and grew to be full-sized curtains. Automakers seem to stick them everywhere, so where else can airbags go to protect our fleshy, organic bodies when metal meets metal in an accident? Ford has the answer: seatbelts.

Today Ford is introducing the auto industry's first* inflatable seat belts, which are scheduled to enter production in 2010 on the next-generation Ford Explorer before being offered across its global lineup. They're designed for rear-seat occupants only (front passengers already have a plethora of airbags) and, in the event of a frontal or side impact, will inflate the belt across a passenger's chest in 40 milliseconds. When expanded, the belt cover five times more surface area of the body than a normal seat belt, which helps better distribute the forces of a crash.

The mechanics of Ford's inflatable belt system use cold compressed gas to inflate the bags, unlike traditional airbags that rely on a heat-generating chemical reaction. The seat belt bags also inflate slower and to a lower pressure than a traditional airbag, mainly because they don't have to cover the distance between the passenger and an object (steering wheel, dash).

This isn't the first time we've heard about Ford's inflatable seat belts. The automaker has been working on the idea for several years and revealed their intentions right before the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. Unfortunately, Ford may not be the first to market with the idea. The Lexus LFA, also set to enter production next year, features an SRS seatbelt airbag as well. We don't know if the next-gen Explorer will beat the LFA to dealer showrooms yet, but Ford can at least take pride in knowing that its technology will be protecting more than just 500 lives.

UPDATE: Videos added after the jump.

Gallery: Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO]

Ford unveils industry's first* production inflatable seat belts [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Unibody 2011 Ford Explorer cometh

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, SUV, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer - Click above for high-res gallery

A 2011 Ford Explorer prototype has begun making runs around Michigan, and although the camo is thick, we're getting out first glimpse of what Ford has in store for its unibody 'ute.

Built on the same platform that underpins the Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and - more importantly - Flex, the all-new seven-seater Explorer will trade a bit of off-road prowess and towing capacity for a smoother ride and increased fuel efficiency. Under the hood, expect a choice of Ford's newest EcoBoost engines - the 3.5-liter V6 and a new 2.0-liter inline-four - with the latter possibly mated to an all-new dual-clutch gearbox.

Although the camo obscures most of the design details, the A-pillars and greenhouse are reminiscent of the Flex, although the hatch appears canted slightly inward, with a set of LED taillamps mounted in back. The overall shape is sure to take cues from the Explorer America concept show at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and we plan on getting our first look at the production model early next year before production begins at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky plant in late 2010.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Explorer

Spy Shots: Unibody 2011 Ford Explorer cometh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST

One rule that all clunked cars needed to adhere to was a maximum rating of 18 MPG from the federal government, right? What wasn't required was that the clunked car be considered dirty. After all, it's pretty clear that CNG vehicles burn clean, but that didn't stop 232 of them from meeting their sodium silicate solution-induced death.

We looked through the official, but as of yet unverified, list (PDF) of trade-in cars that were clunked using the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cash for Clunkers) and found that the aforementioned CNG vehicles, 1,779 flex-fuel vehicles and 24 LPG vehicles found their way to the recycler thanks to CARS. Which alternative-fuel models were most dumped? Which single hybrid took a dive? Click above for our top ten and check out the full list after the jump.

Photo by dno1967. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Ford to nix Explorer Sport Trac, Mercury Mountaineer

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

Anyone who actually wants a Ford Explorer Sport Trac had better go out and grab one now because they won't be around much longer. As production of the the current body-on-frame Explorer winds down in the coming months, the pickup bed version and the rebadged Mercury Mountaineer will breathe their last breath. Sometime in 2010 a new unibody Explorer based on the Flex/Taurus platform will debut and an open bed version will not be part of the lineup.

With total Explorer sales down to just 78,439 in 2008, including the Sport Trac, and those numbers down by half again this year, the number of Sport Tracs sold simply doesn't justify developing a new one. At its peak when Ford was moving some 400,000 Explorers annually, about 60,000 were Sport Tracs. This year the number is likely to be 10,000 or less.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

REPORT: Ford to nix Explorer Sport Trac, Mercury Mountaineer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: NHTSA investigating if 2002-05 Ford Explorers/Mercury Mountaineers can slip out of park

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun looking at Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers from the 2002-2005 model years. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, out of some 1.4 million SUVs produced, more than 200 complaints have been filed with the government agency regarding transmission issues: 11 owners have said that the vehicle will go from park to reverse on its own, and 61 have said that the gearshift mechanism has failed when trying to get the SUV into or out of park.

NHTSA's action isn't a full-on investigation, and there is no recall - it is a "preliminary evaluation... to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences of the alleged defect and any relationship of the alleged gearshift lever mechanism failures to the alleged vehicle rollaway incidents." For its part, a Ford spokesman has said, "We do not see a safety risk and we will be fully cooperating with the government with the investigation."

[Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

REPORT: NHTSA investigating if 2002-05 Ford Explorers/Mercury Mountaineers can slip out of park originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford still owes $82.6m in Explorer rollover case

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:36:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Ford

About this time last year, a case was under review in California involving a woman that was paralyzed after she rolled her 1997 Ford Explorer while trying to avoid an object in the roadway. The case has been bouncing around the courts since the crash took place in 2002, and when it was orginally brought to trial, the jury initially awarded the plaintiff $369 million, with $246 million in punitive damages. Over the past six years that sum has been cut down to $82.6 million (of which $55 million is classified as punitive damages), but no money has been paid out. The 4th District Court of Appeal in California was asked to re-review the case after Ford appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming that the vehicle met federal safety standards and hence, wasn't liable in the case. The court approved the $82.6 million payout yesterday and we're assuming that Ford is either cutting a check or crafting a new legal strategy.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Ford still owes $82.6m in Explorer rollover case originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Detroit 2008: Evolving the Explorer - Ford Explorer America concept LIVE

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Ford

Update: Video of the Explorer America concept reveal is available after the jump.

click above for morel live images of the Ford Explorer America Concept

The unveiling of Ford's Explorer America concept might finally prove that the end of the SUV era is upon us. FoMoCo's stalwart 'ute has left the body-on-frame world and joined the ranks of crossovers that - if you believe the hype - are quickly filling up the SUV-sized vacuum left in garages across the country.

On the outside, Ford decided to keep several of the design cues that have defined the Explorer over the years, simply smoothing the edges, raising the belt line and giving it a healthy injection of futuristic lines that would make it a shoe-in as Robocop's next black-and-white cruiser. The sliding door on the passenger side might not make it to production, but it would be a smart addition to bridge the gap between machismo and minivan.

Check out our previous post for all the details on the Ford Explorer America.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Explorer America Concept - Live Reveal

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Ford Explorer America concept

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Evolving the Explorer - Ford Explorer America concept LIVE

Detroit 2008: Evolving the Explorer - Ford Explorer America concept LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford temporarily shuts down truck, SUV plants

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Ford

As reported earlier, both Ford and General Motors will be cutting back production during the first quarter of 2008 in an effort to stem the tide of excessive dealer inventory. GM already idled three pick up plants for two weeks and now Ford has temporarily shut down two of its own plants Monday.

The F150 plant in Dearborn, MI and the Explorer plant in Louisville, KY ceased production yesterday and it's unclear as to when the factories will resume their duties. Both models have seen a slip in sales over the course of the year (F150s are down 12.4-percent and Explorers sales have slipped by 23.5-percent compared to 2006), with analysts pointing to the slow economy and even slower house sales contributing to the downturn.

In a related article from the Detroit News, FoMoCo exec Mark Fields says that the automaker is expecting a rough 2008 as car sales in the U.S. continue to slow. Fields asked and answered his own question, saying, "Do I think it's going to be Armageddon? No." And continued by saying that Ford will take the coming year on a month-to-month basis in order to "manage the business appropriately." We'd hope that Ford is looking a little bit further down the line then "month-to-month," but in its current predicament, maybe that's all it can do.

[Sources: Detroit News, Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Ford temporarily shuts down truck, SUV plants originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford settling class-action lawsuits related to rollovers

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

FoMoCo is on the brink of settling a class-action lawsuit brought by owners claiming that Ford's Explorer was prone to rolling over. The settlement covers approximately one million people in California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas who've owned 1991 through 2001 Explorers.

Ford's spokesperson, Kristen Kinley, believes that "the settlement is fair and reasonable," but declined to given an estimate of how much Ford would be shilling out to slighted owners. However, vouchers are expected to be issued to owners in the four states that would allow them to put $500 towards a new Explorer or $300 for another Ford, Lincoln or Mercury product.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford settling class-action lawsuits related to rollovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Britney Spears "Umbrella Attack" Ford Explorer for sale

Alex Nunez — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:02:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Auctions, Etc., Ford

Remember when bald-headed Britney Spears went bananas and attacked a paparazzo's SUV with a green umbrella? An armada of Martian flying saucers landing in Central Park's Sheep Meadow would have gotten less media attention. In any case, the owner either needs cash badly or simply came to the realization that in this celeb-addled society, there might be some ~~sucker~~ fan willing to pony up good money for this bit of tabloid memorabilia. It's up on eBay now, paired with the umbrella that was used in the "attack." The opening bid is $25,000 -- with the reserve still not having been met. When you consider that an '02 Explorer Sport has a private party resale value of around $9,000 according to KBB.com, it might behoove the owner to just yank the reserve and take what he can get. After all, 25 grand is a lot for a used Explorer like this, and it won't be long before people stop caring entirely. Autoblog says: Take the money. Run.

UPDATE: Commenter naugahyde points out that the listing is vague, as it says it's for a Ford Explorer Sport with the actual umbrella-weapon. So it could possibly not be the Explorer Sport that suffered at the hands of the pop star. Now, based on auction telecasts we've seen, this should be no obstacle to the insane with money if it is, in fact, the case. Then it's simply known as a "recreation."

[Source: eBay via TMZ]

Britney Spears "Umbrella Attack" Ford Explorer for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford shows off Direct Fuel system on 2008 Explorer

Chris Shunk — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Fiat

The same basic technology that shaves seconds off of pit stops will soon be available on select Ford models for 2008. Ford's capless gas tank, or Direct Fill System (DFS), may seem like little more than a way to save a few seconds at the pump, but there are actually some additional benefits, as well. One obvious positive is that drivers won't have to get their hands dirty by unscrewing the cap, but for people with arthritis, DFS can make life a lot less painful, too. Ford's self-sealing technology can also prevent fuel evaporation caused by ill-tightened caps.

It seems like Ford has been talking up this technology forever, and now it's finally here. Autoblog Green has a quick video that shows the technology in action and you can check it out after the jump. They saw it in person a couple weeks ago and you'll first find the feature first on 2008 Ford Explorer models.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Continue reading Ford shows off Direct Fuel system on 2008 Explorer

Ford shows off Direct Fuel system on 2008 Explorer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford rollover settlement under re-review

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:23:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Ford

In 2002, Benetta Buell-Wilson was driving her 1997 Ford Explorer in Southern California when she swerved to avoid debris on the freeway. The high center of gravity of the SUV and the quick steering input caused the Explorer to roll four-and-a-half times, eventually coming to rest on its roof. The impact caused the roof to collapse, crushing Mrs. Buell-Wilson's neck and paralyzing her from the waist down. The subsequent lawsuit, claiming that Ford manufacturered a faulty roof, awarded her $369 million dollars, of which $246 million was classified as punitive damages. In the proceeding cases, that figure was cut down twice by a California state appeals court to $82.6 million.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the state appeals court to review the decision, using the court's decision to overturn $79.5 million in punitive damages awarded during the highly-publicized tobacco case that was heard earlier this year. The rational being that the jury can punish a defendant only for the harm done to the plaintiff and not to the other people affected.

Ford claims that the roof was designed to meet federal safety standards and that no wrongdoing had taken place. This is one of many cases that Ford has had to defend over the past several years.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Ford rollover settlement under re-review originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2007 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Americans CRaVe the CR-V, replaces Ford Explorer as best-selling ute in U.S.

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 13 May 2007 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Honda, Toyota

It looks like the age of the traditional body-on-frame SUV is coming to a close for most mainstream customers. While there will continue to be a market for big SUVs like the Tahoe and Expedition for customers who actually need to haul or tow stuff, many customers in the high volume mid-sized segment are realizing they can get by with something a little smaller and lot more fuel efficient.

The Ford Explorer dominated SUV sales charts throughout the 1990s and into the first part of this decade with sales of 445,157 in 2000. In the last couple of years, however, Explorer sales have tanked seeing it drop from first to fourth on the sales charts. Last year ,sales dipped to 179, 229 and the freefall shows no signs of letting up. The numbers are down another twenty-three percent so far this year.

On the flipside, sales of the redesigned Honda CR-V are up forty-two percent so far this year and it has jumped to the number one spot on the chart followed by the Toyota RAV-4 and Ford Escape, with the new Ford Edge coming on strong as well. The CR-V is doing so well that Honda is having to consider how to increase volume to meet the demand. For the first time, the automaker has started importing extra units from Japan to supplement the main production facility in East Liberty Ohio. Ford has already announced plans to move the Explorer to a unit-body crossover platform, which can't happen soon enough. The only problem will be finding a place to fit into a lineup already filled with the Escape, Edge, Flex and Taurus X.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Americans CRaVe the CR-V, replaces Ford Explorer as best-selling ute in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 May 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Safety group sues NHTSA in Explorer debacle

Dan Roth — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:54:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

There's still fallout landing from the Firestone-tire-crashing-Explorer episode. Maryland-based Quality Control Systems Corporation has sued NHTSA in an attempt to gain access to any reports Ford made to the agency regarding injuries and deaths from tire-related incidents. This latest action, under the Freedom Of Information Act, has been brought on by NHTSA's refusal to share any data it's collected about Explorer crashes.

NHTSA has been waffling about the level of detail it will release. A federal judge had ordered the agency to revamp a proposed rule allowing a high level of secrecy. The order was appealed by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, we're assuming in the interest of self preservation, and NHTSA is sitting on its hands until that appeal is resolved. If something was amiss with the tires, recommended inflation pressure, or just plain bad driving, the public deserves transparency. NHTSA contends that deciding what level of information to release on a case-by-case basis would be overwhelming - as well as possibly revealing sensitive corporate information. A blanket policy favoring informing the public, rather than protecting companies that make faulty products would be a step in the right direction. Instead, we're going to still be in the dark while time is wasted clogging up the legal system and paying lawyers to duke it out. Now, that's what we call progress.

[Source: Detriot Free Press]

Safety group sues NHTSA in Explorer debacle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #53: Win an 80GB iPod Video for listening!

Dan Roth — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts

We've arrived at episode #53 of the Autoblog Podcast, which means we're at the final stage of the Autoblog Podcast Relaunch Sweepstakes. The prize this week is the king of all iPods, an 80GB iPod Video. It doesn't get any better than that, so if you've been waiting to enter the sweepstakes, now's the time. To do so, listen to the podcast and wait to hear the secret keyword revealed. Once you've got it, email the keyword to abresearch at gmail dot com along with your name, age and address. That's it! We'll accept submissions through Wednesday, January 10th at 12 AM EST, at which time we'll randomly draw the final winner. Check out the official rules here and subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes by clicking here.

For episode #53, we continue our discussion of concept and production cars that have been unofficially debuted ahead of the Detroit Auto Show that begins this weekend. The Chrysler Group had three vehicles prematurely revealed, including the Chrysler Nassau Concept, Jeep Trailhawk Concept and 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10, now with 600 ponies of ridiculous power. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Convertible also was revealed last week, but the biggest attention getter had to be the Ford Interceptor Concept, a rear-wheel drive Mustang-based sedan which gets a thorough once over on the podcast. Finally, news came in the past few days that the next-generation Ford Explorer would leave its truck roots and be born again as a large CUV. Along with our discussion of the news, we also read some feedback from listeners on how the new show is going. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
LISTEN to the show now
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Autoblog Podcast #53: Win an 80GB iPod Video for listening! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Next Ford Explorer to be a CUV

John Neff — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Ford

Bloomberg published an article back on December 18th that has gone unnoticed until today. A few of our colleagues have picked up the story so far, so we can't tell you who was the first to notice it, but the report was published the week after Ford hosted invited media at Cobo Arena for its Showroom of the Future event. Ford put on the same event for current employees and retirees earlier that month, at which it revealed details of the next Ford Explorer, which will transition from a truck-based platform to a car-based unibody platform with its next iteration. Rumored to be built on Ford's D3 platform that underpins the Five-Hundred sedan and various Volvos, the next Explorer will be giving up its ability to tackle the rough-and-tumble and tow-your-boat in favor of a lower center of gravity, increased fuel economy and more car-like handling.

Considering the continuining shrinkage occuring in the traditional SUV market, we have to agree with Ford's decision to keep the Explorer name and apply it to a package that has more mass appeal. However, adding yet another crossover vehicle to Ford's already crowded lineup that includes vehicles like the Edge, Freestyle and upcoming production version of the Fairlane Concept, will likely create some cannibalism of sales within the brand. Perhaps by that time the lineup will lose a nameplate or two (bye, bye Freestyle!). And Ford will still continue to sell and develop the Expedition as its proper SUV, capable of going off-road within reason and towing boats all the livelong day.

Thanks for the tip, Charles!

[Source: Bloomberg via Winding Road]

Next Ford Explorer to be a CUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford expands $1,000 cash back to 12 more models

Scott Davis — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Mercury, Earnings/Financials

In the month of November, Ford outpaced all other automakers in incentive dollars per vehicle; unfortunately, truck loads of cash incentives did not boost sales. Ford led the way over all manufacturers with $4,231 per vehicle in incentives, followed by Chrysler at $3,735 and GM at $3,011. Interestingly, Nissan was next at $2,236, with Honda and Toyota at $914 and $751 respectively. Now Ford is stepping up yet again with an additional $1000 bonus cash in addition to any existing rebates or interest rate deals on 19 of its Ford and Mercury vehicles, which now includes the popular Mustang coupe and Explorer SUV.

Ford states that inventory levels, at a 93-day supply, are "outstanding". That number compares to 90-days at GM and 76-days at DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group. Working to get production more in line with demand, Ford has reduced its inventory from 752,900 units in November of 2005 to the current 627,800.

One glaring concern is in the profit-critical truck market, where Ford's problems were most pronounced. Demand for Ford trucks was down 51 percent from a year ago, and incentive spending was up 51 percent In contrast, GM's incentive spending on trucks is down 13 percent for the same period, and sales were up 16 percent, mostly due to the introduction of the new GMT900 platform trucks. While the F-150 will still reign supreme in sales this year, its current year-to-date total of 725,459 units through November is 10.7 percent off last year's pace.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford expands $1,000 cash back to 12 more models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford to debut fuel cell Explorer, redesigned Escape hybrid in L.A.

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Truck, Green, Ford

UPDATE: New photos and press release available after the jump.

It seems as though the Los Angeles Auto Show will serve as the venue for both GM and Ford to bring their eco-friendly offerings to the public.

On the Ford side of things, it's been confirmed that a hydrogen fuel cell Explorer will make its debut alongside the newly redesigned 2008 Escape Hybrid. The Explorer can travel up to 350 miles on a tank of gaseous hydrogen and is equipped with electric motors on both the front and rear axles, making the 'ute 4WD.

Ford is also expected to debut the 2008 Super Duty pickup, which houses a new diesel powerplant and employs a number of emission limiting devices.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Continue reading Ford to debut fuel cell Explorer, redesigned Escape hybrid in L.A.

Ford to debut fuel cell Explorer, redesigned Escape hybrid in L.A. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford Explorer dons Ironman armor

Alex Nunez — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Ford

After Ford signed on to become the title sponsor of the Ironman Triathalon in 2005, the company decided to create an Explorer "buzz vehicle" to celebrate the relationship. The result is the 2007 Ironman Explorer, easily the best-looking Explorer variant based on the current body style.

Up front, the grille gets blacked out, making it look more compact than it does on other Explorers. This is a simple change that results in a huge visual improvement. Below that, a U-shaped silver grille embossed with the Ironman logo is added. Again, a welcome change -- it adds contrast and looks tougher than the simple bulge on the lower bumper of the standard Explorer. This new piece is flanked by amber foglights, and the standard headlight assemblies get a sharp-looking blackout treatment as well.

The black theme continues on the lower body cladding and the new exposed-rivet wheel flares, while Ironman-specific six-spoke 18" wheels fill the wells. The net effect of the external mods is that the truck, in pictures at least, looks less massive and a whole lot sportier.

Inside, two-tone Black-and-Stone leather covers the seats, and the center stack gets done up in silver trim.

Five exterior colors are available, including Orange Frost, which is exclusive to this model. Look for the Ironman Explorer in Ford showrooms this September.

(Additional info after the jump)

Source: Ford

Continue reading Ford Explorer dons Ironman armor

Ford Explorer dons Ironman armor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Manufacturers caught in a midsize SUV conundrum

Eric Bryant — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, SUV, Earnings/Financials

With midsize SUV sales down sharply so far this year, many automakers are left wondering what to do with the segment. Largely dominated by body-on-frame 4WD vehicles, the segment has morphed from pint-sized replicas of Blazers and Broncos into vehicles that are often only a few inches smaller and a few pounds lighter than full-sized SUVs. With little or no fuel-economy or price advantage, the buyers that need towing capabilities seem to be taking a step up in the market, while those that are looking mainly for people-hauling abilities are spreading their sales around other vehicles in the showroom, such as minivans, crossovers, and large sedans.

Those automakers that previously relied on strong sales in the segment to boost their bottom line are now faced with a difficult decision - dump billions of dollars into a segment that may be in a persistive vegetative state, or let those products wither on the vine with predictable results. Ford has coined a new term, stating that it won't "Crown Vic the Explorer" and will continue to refresh the former cash cow. The fate of GM's TrailBlazer is unclear, with the automaker dumping the ill-received long-wheelbase version (a truck that was substantially longer than the supposedly-larger Tahoe), trimming production capacity, and postponing or cancelling an upcoming redesign. The perilous financial positions of both companies means that they can ill-afford a mistake. Meanwhile, Chrysler is looking toward diesel power and the promise of improved fuel economy to pump up the sales of its Jeep Grand Cherokee, which are down 26% so far this year.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Manufacturers caught in a midsize SUV conundrum originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments