Autoblog

Plug-in hybrid Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks coming in 2013

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Technology, Work, Ford, Diesel

Azure Dynamics has signed an agreement with Ford, whereby the Oak Park, MI firm will integrate its plug-in hybrid technology into Ford's F-Series Super Duty trucks.

Working in collaboration with Ford, Azure's plug-in hybrid technology will debut on the F-550 Super Duty chassis cab in early 2013. This agreement also allows for Azure to perform plug-in hybrid powertrain conversions on all available configurations of Ford's F-350 and F-450 trucks. Azure says that roughly two-thirds of its plug-in hybrid system will be applicable for all Super Duty configurations, with approximately one-third needing to be powertrain-specific (i.e. gasoline or diesel).

Additionally, the Azure-Ford agreement includes a so-called "ship-thru" provision that will allow Azure to sell its converted vehicles through qualified Ford Commercial Truck dealerships in North America. In 2009, Azure struck up a similar deal with Ford for the Transit Connect Electric.

Continue reading Plug-in hybrid Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks coming in 2013

Plug-in hybrid Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks coming in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mexican police seize armored F-350 'narco tank' with machine gun turret

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 28 May 2011 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

If you saw this gussied-up Ford F-350 in the U.S., you'd probably look around for a film set and production signs for Death Race 4000 - or at least the camera crew from Storm Chasers. South of the border, however, these "narco tanks" aren't film fantasies - they're wheeled dreadnoughts built for cartels to do battle with other cartels and the Mexican government.

This one, said to be called "Z Monster," was reportedly confiscated by Mexican police in Jalisco after a weekend of skirmishes with a drug cartel. Up front is a battering ram, and within its ubiquitous armor plating, it has gun ports, a rotating machine-gun turret and room for 20 men. There's a barely underground trade in these A-Team contraptions that have purposes from mere deception to big-bore devastation, probably none as serious as the Kenworth dump truck known as "El Monstro 2010" and the tank known as "El Monstruo 2011." But the way things are going in Mexico's five-year drug war, antes will be upped soon enough.

Mexican police seize armored F-350 'narco tank' with machine gun turret originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 May 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Continental recalling nearly 400,000 tires used on Ford F-Series pickups

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Ford

Due to some apparently shoddy rubber, Continental and Ford are recalling 2008-2009 F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks equipped with certain tires. The issue lies with nearly 400,000 Continental tires that are susceptible to uneven wear and, in certain situations, can experience tread belt separation. If that occurs, the risk of an accident will rise substantially.

This recall affects trucks built from May 6th, 2007 through September 20th, 2008. Approximately 390,657 units are faulty and the specific tires in question are:

Continental Contitrac LT275/70R18 125/122S (outline white letters, black sidewall)
Continental Contitrac TR BSW LT275/70R18 125/122S (black sidewall)
Continental Contitrac TR OWL LT275/70R18 125/122S

Click past the jump to read the full NHTSA bulletin. And yes, we clearly are all reminded that this isn't the first foray Ford has had with not-so-great tires...

[Source: NHTSA via Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Report: Continental recalling nearly 400,000 tires used on Ford F-Series pickups

Report: Continental recalling nearly 400,000 tires used on Ford F-Series pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Excursion lives! Get your 2011 model right here

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Truck, Ford

2011 Ford Excursion - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ford Excursion lives, though not through any fault of Ford. The clever craftsmen at Custom Autos by Tim can turn any 2010 or 2011 Ford F-250 or F-350 into what looks to be a factory-perfect interpretation of what the Excursion would look like if it hadn't been axed in 2005. Buyers can get their behemoths with either four or six doors and it usually takes Tim's crew around six weeks to turn a vehicle from a pickup to an SUV. In that time, the shop finds a 2005 Excursion from the southwest, drags it to their shop in Guthrie, Oklahoma and surgically removes the rear-end of the vehicle.

From there, the aft is grafted onto the new truck and a completely new interior is installed. The whole shebang will cost you $23,000 on top of the purchase price of your standard F-250 or F-350. Given that the F-250 starts at $29,480 without destination, chances are you're looking at a price tag of over $53,000 by the time all is said and done. We think we'd just as soon stick with a Chevrolet Suburban were it our chips on the table.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Excursion

[Source: Custom Autos by Tim]

Ford Excursion lives! Get your 2011 model right here originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2010: Airhead Kustoms Ford F-350 Super Duty lives life large

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford

Airhead Kustoms Ford F-350 Super Duty - Click above for high-res image gallery

Airhead Kustoms is going big for the 2010 SEMA show. Calling its creation the Pit Boss, Airhead Kustoms has teamed up with Cars by Kris to transform the rugged 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty into the ultimate tow and support truck. The already lofty power numbers of the stock pickup have been given a boost thanks to the addition of a Snow Performance water/methanol injection system, Nitrous Express diesel nitrous system and an AFE Power cold air intake.

Sorting out the ride and handling is a DJM Suspension setup that uses front lowering beams, a rear flip kit and beefy shock absorbers. Hellwig anti-roll bars and Firestone Ride-Rite air helper springs further aid in keeping this Pit Boss in check.

Inside, the Super Duty interior has been upgraded with a custom headliner and leather upholstery. A Rockford Fosgate sound system and a Dashboard Devices in-dash computer provide plenty of entertainment and information. The Pit Boss was built to get a race car to the track but the interior keeps things cozy once you are there. Have a look for yourself in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Airhead Kustoms Ford F-350 Super Duty

SEMA 2010: Airhead Kustoms Ford F-350 Super Duty lives life large originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking Way Up: Ford posts 33% sales gain in 2009, 15% market share

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Earnings/Financials

We'll have our monthly By the Numbers post ready lickity split, but here's a little tidbit worth sharing ahead of the full data download. While automotive sales have been almost universally down in 2009 compared to 2008, Ford has a legitimate reason to crow about its December figures, which are up a third over December of '08 and an impressive 50 percent over November.

Ford boasts that its market share is up to 15 percent - one full percentage point higher than in 2008 and the first time since 1995 that the Blue Oval has gained on its competitors. Ford, Lincoln and even Mercury sales were improved in December. Here are a few of the highlights:

Ford Fusion: Posted a December sales increase of 83 percent and set new December (18,852) and full-year (180,671) sales records.
Ford Taurus: Sales totaled 7,256 for the month, up 110 percent versus a year ago. Since the introduction of the 2010 model in August, Taurus sales are nearly 90 percent higher than a year ago.
Ford Escape: Set a December sales record (19,156), up 75 percent versus a year ago. For the full year, Escape sales totaled 173,044, the second-best sales year ever.
Ford F-Series: America's best-selling truck for 33 years in a row. Best sales month since March 2008. F-Series sales in December were 48,209 (up 16 percent), bringing the full-year total to 413,625. In 2009, F-Series increased its leadership position among full-size pickups with a 4 percentage-point gain in segment share.
Ford Hybrids: December sales of hybrid vehicles totaled 2,843, up 147 percent versus a year ago. Sales totaled 33,502 in 2009, a new record and up 72 percent versus a year ago.

Ford's full-year sales totaled 1.62 million vehicles, down 15 percent from 2008. Even that, though, is a mild ray of sunshine considering that the industry was down about 20 percent overall. In the mood to crunch the numbers even more? Feel free to hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Looking Way Up: Ford posts 33% sales gain in 2009, 15% market share

Looking Way Up: Ford posts 33% sales gain in 2009, 15% market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty makes surprise stop

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road

2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat King Ranch Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We just got back from the 2009 OC Auto Show in Anaheim, California, and we come bearing gifts. Alongside the F-150 SVT Raptor, Ford had parked a 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat King Ranch Edition. Even if each of the letters in its name were a foot tall, they'd still fit in this truck's smartly-lined bed. We've already told you about this 2011 Super Duty truck when it was unveiled at the Texas State Fair, a traditional venue for launching new pickups. There's not a lot to add from that previous rundown other than some live photos we snapped to give a better impression of what the real thing looks like in person.

This basically completes the overhaul of Ford's family of F-Series pickups that started a couple of years ago. The 2011 Super Duty debuts with a new look that integrates its massive grille slightly better than before, a new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission that features manual SelectShift control and a Tow Haul option with integrated exhaust braking, and either Ford's new diesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 engine that's been dubbed the "Scorpion," or what we believe to be the Raptor's 6.2-liter gas V8. Still no power figures for either engine, but the Power Stroke diesel does have the ability to run on B20 biodiesel.

The new exterior design is bold, but in a restrained way. The grille is massive and everything is big and brawny, but none of the details seem to be very polarizing. In person we really liked those vertically stacked headlights and the grille didn't appear as gigantic with its outer ring in body color. The lighted running boards and swanky interior on this top-level model are probably more than most heavy haulers will want or need, but it did look like a comfortable ride. Still, we'll take the F-150 SVT Raptor instead. Check out the full gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty

OC 2009: 2011 Ford Super Duty makes surprise stop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Numbers Don't Lie: Silverado beats out F-150 as America's best-selling light-duty pickup

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Off-Road

Quick - What's the best-selling light-duty pickup truck in America? Did you say the Ford F-150? Not so fast. According to the J.D. Power Information Network (via our friends at PickupTrucks.com), General Motors sold more Chevy Silverado 1500 pickups (119,959 units) in June that Ford sold F-150s (107,778 units), and that's not a fluke.

It seems that the automakers don't actually break out the sales of each pickup line when reporting overall figures, so Ford lumps all F-Series (F-150, F-250, F-350...) sales together when it correctly lays claim to the title of Best-Selling Pickup Line in America. Ford's Super Duty series commands nearly 50-percent of the HD pickup market, which puts the Blue Oval on top of the overall sales race.

Interestingly, all three American automakers picked up full-size pickup market share at the expense of Nissan and especially Toyota, which saw sales of its Tundra plummet from 76,516 units to just 36,106 units in June of 2009 compared to one year ago. Click here for the full breakdown of full-size truck sales data.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Numbers Don't Lie: Silverado beats out F-150 as America's best-selling light-duty pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Performance West Group Ford F-350 Striker

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Tuners, Truck, Ford, Specialty

Athletic governing bodies are coming down hard on steroids and HGH, which has probably led to a glut on the market. Performance West Group appears to have bought up the entire surplus and injected it into a Ford F-350 dually in order to create the Striker. Part pickup and part Ford Mustang GT500KR, the Striker will be intimidating other vehicles at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The greatest tuning minds of our generation are assisting PWG with the project. Gale Banks is tuning the PowerStroke V8 engine above its 350 hp and 650 lb-ft. Hulst Customs is fabricating the bodywork. American Lightweight will be providing the aluminum 24" wheels. Katzkin Leather and Sony are doing duty inside to make sure you enjoy what will surely be a monster system in beauteous comfort.

PWG will then drape the entire thing in Striker Silver and Badass Blue and then probably let it loose to kill things. The rationalist in us wants to ask "What the...?" The auto junkie in us wants to stick it in the driveway and let it reek of testosterone. And then transform into a Decepticon. Which means we can't wait for SEMA.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

SEMA Preview: Performance West Group Ford F-350 Striker originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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