Autoblog

Ford unhinges rest of its Explorer-filled, SEMA-bound toybox

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Ford, Design/Style

Galpin Auto Sports Explorer - Click above for high-res image gallery of Ford customs to debut at SEMA

SEMA 2010 is just around the corner and Ford has supplied a number of vehicles to various aftermarket tuning companies ahead of the festivities. The 2011 Ford Explorer is just one of the vehicles receiving the tuner treatment, but it's getting a lot of attention. Ford has supplied three of them to different companies, to create three different styles: Urban, Luxury and Adventure.

The Urban style was handled by Funkmaster Flex and the Team Baurtwell shop. The crew from GAS, or Galpin Auto Sports, turned its Explorer into a high-end machine for Luxury. CGS Motorsports handled Adventure and added lifestyle touches to the 'ute while still providing an upscale, custom feel.

Other vehicles wearing a Blue Oval at SEMA include;

2011 Lincoln MKX by ID Agency
2011 Ford Taurus SHO by Rick Bottom Designs
2011 Ford Taurus SHO by H&R Springs
2011 Ford Edge by K-Daddy Kustomz
2011 Ford Fusion Sport by Steeda Autosports

You can view each vehicle in the gallery below, and a full press release is available after the jump.

Gallery: Ford's lineup for SEMA 2010

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford unhinges rest of its Explorer-filled, SEMA-bound toybox

Ford unhinges rest of its Explorer-filled, SEMA-bound toybox originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:58:00 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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Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport

Chris Shunk — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Ford, New Car Reviews

2010 Ford Fusion Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford introduced the Ford Fusion back in 2005, the Blue Oval's midsize sedan was a pleasant surprise. Ford delivered vastly improved quality while also offering impressive driving dynamics, room for five adults and a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines. The Fusion put Ford back into play in the battle for midsize sedan supremacy, and in some ways the agile sedan shined brighter than the Camry and Accord. The Fusion also won respect from Consumer Reports for its high quality, and JD Powers named the Fusion an APEAL winner. For all that is right about the Fusion, though, it has consistently ranked fourth or fifth in the sales battle, losing big to the Altima, Accord, and Camry.

Ford put a lot into the first generation Fusion, and for 2010 the Dearborn, MI-based automaker is taking more big strides. The Fusion has a fresh look, more powertrain combinations, and hybrid offering that can achieve 41 mpg in the city. Ford also introduced the new 2010 Fusion Sport with a 3.5L V6 engine producing 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. We've been waiting patiently for Ford to offer its 3.5L engine in the Fusion, so we happily took the keys to a well-equipped Fusion Sport recently to test it for ourselves. Follow the jump to see how the new Fusion Sport fared during its stay in the Autoblog Garage.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport

Continue reading Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport

Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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