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[SEMA 2009: Bigfoot still a crowd favorite, 35 years later]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/sema-2009-bigfoot-still-a-crowd-favorite-35-years-later/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/sema-2009-bigfoot-still-a-crowd-favorite-35-years-later/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/sema-2009-bigfoot-still-a-crowd-favorite-35-years-later/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bigfoot #1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We distinctly remember 3rd grade. Specifically, sitting in the library once a month during recess. Why would we give up dodgeball and four-square to sit inside and read? Because the new issues of Off Road and 4Wheeler had just dropped and they had stories about Bigfoot! Bearfoot too, and Carzilla - but mostly Bigfoot! Happy days, happy days. And here at this year's SEMA Show, both the original 1975 Bigfoot #1 (the world's first monster truck) and the new-for-2009 Bigfoot (#12 of fifteen Bigfoots) showed up to terrorize the Las Vegas Convention Center's parking lot.

Well, not terrorize - because people love the Bigfoots (Bigfeets?) so very much. But lordy, are these some hella intimidating trucks, even all these years later. Perhaps most notable is that the new Bigfoot is actually a 2008 Ford F-250 body cut to look like a 1979 F-250. Also cool is the 35-year gulf in technology between the two beasts. We could have spent a couple hours standing underneath (no, really!) Bigfoot #12 just admiring the headers. And the gas bypass shocks. And the supercharger, etc. Sadly, the duo of Bigfoots won't be crushing any cars this week. Let's make that double sadly, as this year's SEMA show features many deserving candidates. For more (and better) details, check out pickuptrucks.com's Bigfoot post.


Gallery: SEMA 2009: Bigfoot

SEMA 2009: Bigfoot still a crowd favorite, 35 years later originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Ford F-150 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

A total of 8,735 2009 Ford F-150 pickups are being recalled for stop lamps that may not illuminate during very mild brake pedal applications. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the culprit is a "brake stop lamp switch" that is improperly adjusted. Although the recall campaign does not mention any injuries as a result of the vehicle defect, the delayed brake lamps may increase the risk of an accident so owners are asked to bring their trucks in for repair.

As expected, Ford dealers will inspect and reinstall the brake stop lamp switch on affected F-150 models free of charge to consumers in a national campaign beginning on or before May 13, 2009. Owners with questions are encouraged to contact the Ford Motor Company Company Consumer Relationship Department at 1-866-436-7332 or online at www.ownerconnection.com. Recall campaign press release after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Ford recalling nearly 9,000 F-150 pickups over faulty brake lamps

Ford recalling nearly 9,000 F-150 pickups over faulty brake lamps originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brakebrake lamp switchBrakeLampSwitchfaultyFord F-150Ford pickupFordF-150FordPickuplampNHTSArecallswitchTue, 12 May 2009 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-ford-f-150-platinum-4x4/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-ford-f-150-platinum-4x4/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-ford-f-150-platinum-4x4/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Blue Oval delayed the introduction of its all-important 2009 Ford F-150 by two months late last summer. The company claimed it could save some cash by postponing the pickup's launch, but in the interim, the cost to fill up the F-150's biggie-sized tank was slashed in half. The delay couldn't have been better timed. Marketing North America's best-selling vehicle is an expensive endeavor to begin with, but add in the trepidation of $4-per gallon gasoline and an economy spiraling towards the floor, and there's no doubt that the F150's intended audience would've had a hard time plunking down the coin for a brand new pickup.

No doubt, Ford is relieved that gas prices dropped, but the sketchy fluctuations in the commodities market have changed the way this 106-year-old company looks at the truck business. One consequence of high gas prices has been the sharp drop in truck buying for recreational purposes, so Ford has marketed the new F-150 as the ultimate work truck. Labor-friendly features like an integrated trailer brake controller and pop-out side steps are winning buyers over, but will they be enough to pass muster in the Autoblog Garage? Hit the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4

Review: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Motor Company is recalling a whole herd of trucks to see the team doctors over concerns about a hose in the braking system that could adversely effect the vehicles' braking power. According to the NHTSA, about 605,000 2005 and 2006 model year Ford F150 and Lincoln Mark LT trucks equipped with the 3-valve 5.4-liter V8 will receive a hose replacement free of charge. The problem hose supplies the brake booster with engine vacuum, and could swell over time and eventually become disconnected. While the hydraulic braking system will function without the power assist, pedal effort will be significantly increased, and if drivers are taken off-guard by the problem an accident could occur. Ford will start notifying owners in June, and the recall campaign will kick off in July. According to FoMoCo, there have been 11 minor accidents related to the issue. Check out more details from the NHTSA after the jump.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]


Continue reading Ford recalling 605,000 full-size trucks

Ford recalling 605,000 full-size trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 May 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20052005 f1502005 mark lt2005F1502005MarkLt20062006 f1502006 mark lt2006F1502006MarkLtbrake boosterBrakeBoosterford brake booster recallford f-150ford f150 recallford pickupford recallford recallsford truckFordBrakeBoosterRecallFordF-150FordF150RecallFordPickupFordRecallFordRecallsFordTrucklincoln mark ltlincoln pickuplincoln truckLincolnMarkLtLincolnPickupLincolnTruckmark ltmark lt recallMarkLtMarkLtRecallnhtsarecallWed, 14 May 2008 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Ford may drop manual from Super Duty lineup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/rumormill-ford-may-drop-manual-from-super-duty-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/rumormill-ford-may-drop-manual-from-super-duty-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/rumormill-ford-may-drop-manual-from-super-duty-lineup/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's an unconfirmed rumor that Ford's going to make its Super Duty pickups shiftless, but the mere whiff of a reduction in choices is likely set enthusiasts afire with rage. The merits of standard versus automatic transmissions in trucks that routinely tow and generally work hard is a debate for another time, but the real crux of the biscuit comes down to cost. As it stands now, you can get a Power Stroke diesel with a manual for $1500 less than a self-shifter. If Ford removes the standard transmission from its Power Stroke offerings, does that mean that it will pass some of the savings on to consumers by reducing the price of the automatic? Not bloody likely. A more probable scenario would see the price of the Power Stroke option rising.

[Source: Four Wheeler]

Rumormill: Ford may drop manual from Super Duty lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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click above for more high-res pics of the 2009 Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is America's annual best seller, moving more units than anything else since Jimmy Carter was president. It's also one of the most challenged when it comes to cutting through the air, although we know there's worse. If the F-150 is going to clear the hurdle of new CAFE regs, that's going to change: its combined 16.5 mpg won't make it any friends come 2020.

Ford designers, led by North American Design Director Peter Horbury, are already looking at ways to make the next generation F-150 more aerodynamic, despite the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 having just debuted. The problem is, there simply aren't many options for making a difference: the only two components are the giant block of a passenger compartment and the massive drag-creating void of a bed behind it. Ford design did attempt to go a little aero with the front end of the 10th generation 1997-2003 F-150, but that, frankly, wasn't what people expected from an American pickup.

[Source: Auto Week]

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150



Continue reading Ford already thinking about more aerodynamic F-150

Ford already thinking about more aerodynamic F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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