Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford slashing F-150 customization by 90 percent]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/ford-slashing-f-150-customization-by-90-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/ford-slashing-f-150-customization-by-90-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/ford-slashing-f-150-customization-by-90-percent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click on the pic above for our high-res 2009 Ford F-150 gallery

As staggering as it may seem, the 2008 Ford F-150 pickup can be ordered in billions of different combinations. That's all going to change for 2009. In an effort to reduce complexity and cut spiraling costs in the process, Ford will be slashing the number of possible F-150 configurations by 90 percent. The automaker isn't leaving the rest of the lineup alone either. The Ford Expedition goes from 250,000 combos down to fewer than 10,000. The 2009 Lincoln MKS debuts with about 300 combinations, and the 2010 Ford Focus will offer only about 150, which is 95 percent fewer than the current model. Are you in the market for a 2009 Ford F-150 and worried that you won't be able to get it exactly the way you want? Don't fret, Ford will still offer more than 9 million combinations for next year's model, including a brown one we presume.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


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

Ford slashing F-150 customization by 90 percent originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 F-1502009F-150configurationscustomizationF-150FordFord ExpeditionFord FocusFordExpeditionFordFocusLincoln MKSLincolnMksoptionsreduce optionsReduceOptionsMon, 18 Aug 2008 13:33:00 EST<![CDATA[No surprise here: Expedition, Navigator production stopped for nine weeks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/no-surprise-here-expedition-navigator-production-stopped-for-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/no-surprise-here-expedition-navigator-production-stopped-for-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/no-surprise-here-expedition-navigator-production-stopped-for-n/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the above image to see our Ford Expedition gallery

May was apparently a tough month for Ford's big SUVs. With consumer demand understandably cold for the gargantuan utes and their hard-to-swallow 12 mpg city ratings, Lincoln Navigator sales slid 37 percent while Ford Expedition sales were down 43 percent. As a result, Ford Motor Company has announced that its Wayne, Michigan, plant that assembles these vehicles will close down for nine weeks starting on Monday. While the plant sits idle, Ford will increase production of its passenger cars to better meet market demand for smaller and much more fuel efficient vehicles. Like we didn't see this coming...

Gallery: 2007 Ford Expedition EL


Gallery: 2008 Lincoln Navigator


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

No surprise here: Expedition, Navigator production stopped for nine weeks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Close assemblyCloseAssemblyford expeditionFordExpeditionlincoln navigatorLincolnNavigatorProductionshut downShutDownStoppagewayne assembly plantWayneAssemblyPlantTue, 17 Jun 2008 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford cuts inspired by Honda]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/ford-cuts-inspired-by-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/ford-cuts-inspired-by-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/27/ford-cuts-inspired-by-honda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Ford Explorer America Concept

For years, the success of vehicles such as the Ford F-Series pickups and Explorer SUV kept the Blue Oval brand from improving its line of mostly uncompetitive sedans. Automakers like Honda, though, never went the way of body-on-frame trucks and SUVs, preferring instead to continually improve its range of cars and crossover utility vehicles. That strategy is paying dividends in these days of high fuel prices, and Ford has taken notice. Asked whether he would prefer a more car-oriented model-mix, like that of Honda or Toyota, CEO Alan Mullaly recently answered, "Absolutely. We just don't have enough of those small or medium-sized vehicles yet, and that's what we need to concentrate on." Of course, all is not lost. As Automotive News points out, Ford has a new F-150 on the horizon, which is likely to improve its sales somewhat, and the brand as a whole has sold 647,140 vehicles, placing it well above Honda through April. Profitability, on the other hand, is another matter entirely.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford cuts inspired by Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 May 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford expeditionford explorerford f-100ford f-150ford f-seriesford-expeditionford-explorerford-f-150ford-f-seriesFordExpeditionFordExplorerFordF-100FordF-150FordF-serieshondaTue, 27 May 2008 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford fun in <i>I Am Legend</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/ford-fun-in-i-i-am-legend-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/ford-fun-in-i-i-am-legend-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/ford-fun-in-i-i-am-legend-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click image for more Fords in I Am Legend

Product placements in films get a lot of virtual ink here at Autoblog, probably because we all like cars (obviously) and are, for the most part, movie buffs. The carmaker placement king over the last year was unquestionably Transformers, which did more to expose (and evangelize) the new Camaro to the masses than GM's marketing department could ever have hoped. The Bond films are always good for some car-related water-cooler discussion, and last year also saw VW use The Bourne Ultimatum to shill for the Touareg 2. Ford's been kind of off the blockbuster radar since Casino Royale, but makes a tidy comeback in the new Will Smith thriller, I Am Legend.

Over the holidays, I managed to slink away from the wife and kids for a couple of hours to catch the film with some friends. As a movie it's imperfect but very entertaining, with a nice performance by Will Smith. The Ford stuff is very noticeable if you're aware of this sort of thing, and for the most part the cars are used well.

NOTE: Since I'm going to reference some scenes and elements that are spoilerish in nature, including the film's ending, I'll give the rundown after the jump.

Continue reading Ford fun in I Am Legend

Ford fun in I Am Legend originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredford escapeford expeditionford interceptorFordEscapeFordExpeditionFordInterceptori am legendIAmLegendshelby gt500ShelbyGt500will smithWillSmithFri, 04 Jan 2008 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Funkmaster Flex on the Expedition FMF Edition [VIDEO Interview]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/funkmaster-flex-on-the-expedition-fmf-edition-video-interview/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/funkmaster-flex-on-the-expedition-fmf-edition-video-interview/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/funkmaster-flex-on-the-expedition-fmf-edition-video-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



We caught up with Mr. Flex at the 2007 New York Auto Show to talk about his new Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition and what it's like to apply the flavor of his personal customization to a vehicle that begins life on an assembly line. We learned that applying a two-tone paint job like the Orange and Black livery on the Expedition FMF Edition is not an easy task for mass production. Funkmaster also tells us about wheel selection (we've seen a few different styles on the FMF Edition) and how much he expects his signature ride to cost when it goes on sale in the fall.

Follow the jump to watch the interview, and check out all of our videos from the show over on YouTube where you can subscribe to the Autoblog Video channel.

Continue reading Funkmaster Flex on the Expedition FMF Edition [VIDEO Interview]

Funkmaster Flex on the Expedition FMF Edition [VIDEO Interview] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FMF EditionFmfEditionFord ExpeditionFord Expedition Funkmaster Flex EditionFordExpeditionFordExpeditionFunkmasterFlexEditionFunkmaster FlexFunkmasterFlexinterviewFri, 06 Apr 2007 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[American Idle: Ford halts production lines at seven plants due to defective part]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/american-idle-ford-halts-production-lines-at-seven-plants-due-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/american-idle-ford-halts-production-lines-at-seven-plants-due-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/28/american-idle-ford-halts-production-lines-at-seven-plants-due-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The importance of quality parts and strong supplier relations was laid bare for the Ford Motor Company Thursday, as it was forced to hit the red button on five assembly plants (and partially close a sixth) after it learned that of a defective clutch mechanism employed in certain 4-speed automatic transmissions. The costly shutdown idles plants producing F-Series pickups, E-Series vans, Expeditions, and the Lincoln Town Car. 15,000 workers are affected.

No word yet on how many units are affected, or how soon production will resume on these profit-rich vehicles, but an analyst has pegged the shutdown as costing some $34.4 million per day, before taxes.

[Source: Associate Press via Yahoo News; BBC News]
   

American Idle: Ford halts production lines at seven plants due to defective part originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4-speed automatic4-speedAutomaticauto assemblyAutoAssemblyautomatic transmissionAutomaticTransmissioncar productionCarProductiondefective partDefectivePartE-SeriesEconolineF-150F-SeriesFord BusFord ExpeditionFord F-150FordBusFordExpeditionFordF-150Lincoln Town CarLincolnTownCarsupplierTier 1Tier1Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:17:00 EST