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 F-100 put on hold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/ford-f-100-put-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/ford-f-100-put-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/ford-f-100-put-on-hold/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Ford's plans to manufacture the F-100 pickup, its answer for consumers who want a more fuel-efficient pickup, have been shelved (for now). A proposed smaller and lighter sibling to the popular F-150 pickup, the F-100 would have been built at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Instead of designing a new small truck, one that consumers may not have warmed up to in the first place, Ford is reportedly making an "unprecedented" investment in more fuel-efficient powerplants to drop under the hood of the best-selling F-150. According to Ford, much of the funding will be directed towards its EcoBoost engines that utilize turbocharging and direct injection to deliver increased power and efficiency. The company is also looking at a technology called "ethanol boosting" which injects a small amount of the biofuel into the engine to increase fuel economy even further. Investing in new engine technology is expensive, but Ford is counting on reduced warranty costs (they have decreased by $1.2 billion in the past 18 months) to help offset development fees.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford F-100 put on hold originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EcoBoostFord economyFord F-100Ford F-150FordEconomyFordF-100FordF-150new truckNewTrucksmall truckSmallTruckThu, 07 Aug 2008 13:56:00 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[Enter the Rumormill: Ford considering F-100 small pickup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/enter-the-rumormill-ford-considering-f-100-small-pickup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/enter-the-rumormill-ford-considering-f-100-small-pickup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/enter-the-rumormill-ford-considering-f-100-small-pickup/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've been begging for better small trucks from automakers for some time now, and it looks like Ford may have an answer for us. Pickuptrucks.com reports that Ford may revive the F-100 name on a new mid-size truck built on a modified version of the future F-150's platform. Rumored to be a little less than 9/10th the size of the F-150, the F-100 would also feature extensive use of aluminum to save even more weight. Unlike the Ranger, which shares no parts with the F-150, the proposed F-100 would share many and be built on the same assembly line as its big brother. Ford clearly needs a solution for the upcoming change in CAFE standards that will required a fleet average of 28.6 mpg for light duty trucks by 2015, and an F-100 offering an EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, a naturally aspirated V6 and V8, and possibly even a diesel could do the trick.

As for what will happen to the Ranger if an F-100 is added to the line up, no one knows for sure. Believe it or not, but the Ranger still sells having moved 7,585 units in April and 29,182 year-to-date. Whether or not those numbers are high enough (or whether they're predominately sales to fleets) to keep it alive for much longer remains to be seen, but its presence in the market place satisfies a need for small, relatively fuel-efficient pickups. We don't see an F-100 filling that role, but rather competing with larger mid-size trucks that are predominantly powered by V6 and V8 engines. So we hope that Ford sees the value in a redesigned Ranger, even if the rumored F-100 comes to market.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Enter the Rumormill: Ford considering F-100 small pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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