Autoblog

Which models will join the 100,000 sales club this year?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Toyota

2011 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

The number of vehicle models slated to cruise past the magic 100,000 mark this year is up. In a big way. According to Wards, there are around 39 percent more nameplates expected to clear the six-digit hurdle in 2010 compared to 2009. So far, sales-trends point to 32 cars and trucks expected to meet or exceed the goal, compared to 23 last year. So which models are the winners of 2010?

For the first time ever, vehicles like the Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Versa are aiming to close out 2010 with more than 100,000 units sold. They join the ranks of mainstays like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado - two trucks that have already well-exceeded the 100k line, even with another full quarter left in the year. In all, a total of 16 cars and trucks have already performed similar feats of sales wizardry.

And who's the fairest of them all? That honor goes to the Toyota Camry. The Japanese automaker has already delivered a total of 220,061 units through August, putting it well ahead of any competition. That pace doesn't look to be slowing anytime soon, either.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Source: Wards]

Which models will join the 100,000 sales club this year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA probing Ford F-150 fuel tank straps

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Ford

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun an investigation of approximately 1.4 million 1996-2001 Ford F-150 pickup trucks after receiving 32 complaints that the straps supporting the fuel tank are prone to corrosion. According to NHTSA, in 28 of the cases, one or both straps broke, causing the fuel tank to drop to the ground, which could result in a fire hazard. [Source: Detroit News]

NHTSA probing Ford F-150 fuel tank straps originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford's off-road beast, the F-150 SVT Raptor, has only been on sale for a year, but it's already getting a few upgrades for the 2011 model year.

Many reports and a few spy shots indicated that Ford had been prepping a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor (you know, for when the family wants to do the Baja run with you), and the automaker has officially confirmed the details (again). The SuperCrew's wheelbase is a full 12 inches longer than the standard Raptor, meaning it should provide a more comfortable ride along the way, and the 5.5-foot box can still haul everything you need when you get there.

Speaking of capability, all Raptors now come standard with more power on tap - the 6.2-liter V8 will be the only available powertrain for 2011 (sad trombone for the people who rushed out to get the 5.4). As we reported earlier, it stands to reason that the 2011 Raptor will get a price increase to account for the larger mill, but it's a small price to pay for an extra 101 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque over the 5.4-liter V8.

From there, the other enhancements for 2011 are purely cosmetic. Raptors can now be had in a new color - Ingot Silver Metallic (pictured) - and matte black accent graphics are available on the hood. These new graphics can be ordered separately from the box side decals, too. Inside the cabin, Ford now offers a standard 4.2-inch LCD display (called the "productivity screen") in the center of the revised instrument gauges, similar to what was introduced on the 2011 Super Duty.

Dealers will start taking orders for 2011 Raptors as you read this with the first examples hitting dealerships later this year. Ford's detailed press release is available after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011

Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2011 Ford F-150 to get 3.7L V6, 5.0L V8 and 3.5L Ecoboost V6

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

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

When the 2011 Ford F-150 arrives this Fall, it will reportedly get an all-new powertrain lineup. Ford already officially confirmed several months ago that the light-duty pickups would be getting the first rear-wheel drive application of the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6. The transaxles in the current Ecoboost applications are torque-limited, so when the twin turbocharged and direct injected V6 lands in the truck, it could produce as much as 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

The current 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter are also expected to be supplanted by the newer, more powerful and efficient engines that debuted in the 2011 Mustang earlier this year. The F-150's new base engine will reportedly be the 3.7-liter V6 with 305 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, while the top engine will be the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8. The 5.0-liter will likely be re-tuned from the Mustang's 412 hp and 390 lb-ft to give it more torque and further elevate the model's 11,000+ pound towing capacity. The V6-powered trucks could be the first light-duty full-size trucks to hit 25 mpg on the highway, a figure that's even better than General Motors' hybrid trucks.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford F-150

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: 2011 Ford F-150 to get 3.7L V6, 5.0L V8 and 3.5L Ecoboost V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford

Now that Ford has decided that Lincoln doesn't really need a truck after all, its up to the F-150 to carry the torch as both the everyman's work truck and a luxury toy hauler for the wealthy. Somehow, it seems to manage its dual roles just fine, as evidenced by these spy shots of a 2011 F-150 Lariat Limited edition.

Ford's Lariat Limited was last seen in 2007, meaning that the 2011 edition will be the first time the latest F-150 generation is bestowed with this trim level, though there's also the King Ranch, Platinum and Harley-Davidson models to consider if you want to haul all your goodies in the lap of luxury.

Body-color bits are the name of the game, including a six-slat grille, side mirrors, door handle surrounds and accents on the large aluminum wheels. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com tells us to expect Ford's latest 6.2-liter V8 engine sporting something north of 400 horsepower.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat Limited spotted strutting its stuff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bigfoot monster truck defects from Ford to Chevy after more than 35 years

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Truck, Chevrolet, Ford, Celebrities, Off-Road

2010 Bigfoot Chevrolet Silverado - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's true: there really is nothing sacred. In a move that, for us, is on the same level as painting a Hitler mustache on the Statue of Liberty, Bigfoot has abandoned its Ford pickup body for a new Chevrolet Silverado skin. If you listen very, very closely, there are angels in cutoff jean shorts and camouflage hats weeping softly. We know it would hurt less if we told you that George Washington was a closet communist or that Porsche was switching to an all front-wheel drive portfolio, but there it is. For 35 years, Bigfoot was synonymous with the Blue Oval, but no more.

The truck helped launch monster trucks into the public eye, but Ford dropped its sponsorship of the team in 2007. That left Firestone tires as the main sponsor, and since the company also throws plenty of cash at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, it's aching for some cross-promotion. Since Chevrolet also sponsors the event, Big Foot will be wearing new duds and a heart transplant when it rolls out for the first time in public on July 7 in Anaheim, Florida. Yup, the truck will get its power from a General Motors mill, too. *Sigh.*

Gallery: 2010 Bigfoot Chevrolet Silverado Monster Truck

[Source: General Motors via PickupTrucks.com]

Continue reading Bigfoot monster truck defects from Ford to Chevy after more than 35 years

Bigfoot monster truck defects from Ford to Chevy after more than 35 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Toyota

2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.

First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is (somewhat ironically) still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.

Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford's F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent - a scenario Ford calls "pretty common."

Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM's only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.

See the complete American Made Index after the break, and check out additional commentary from Cars.com here.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: EcoBoost-powered Ford SVT Raptor R coming?

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Ford, Off-Road, Racing

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is really proud of its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and while the automaker currently only offers this mill in the Taurus SHO, Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT, PickupTrucks.com reports that the Baja-blasting SVT Raptor will get a version of this powerplant, as well.

Ford will be offering the EcoBoost V6 as a top-range engine on the F-150 for the 2011 model year, producing something in the range of 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, but in the Raptor R, expect output numbers to be significantly higher. Currently, the Raptor R 6.2 produces roughly 500 peak horsepower out of its modified version of the automaker's latest V8, and we doubt that Ford will want to skimp on power when it comes to a no-holds-barred race truck like the Raptor R.

PickupTrucks.com reports that we could see the Raptor R EcoBoost compete in this year's Best In The Desert off-road racing series, as well as the Baja 1000 later this year. All we know is, this sounds like one seriously brutal pickup for desert storming.

Gallery: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: EcoBoost-powered Ford SVT Raptor R coming? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Not too long ago, the rumormill was buzzing about the possibility of Ford offering a SuperCrew version of the brutal F-150 SVT Raptor, adding four-door versatility to the already awesome prowess of the automaker's latest pickup. Now, Inside Line reports that Ford has confirmed production of the more spacious Raptor for the 2011 model year.

IL also states that Ford will only offer the SuperCrew Raptor with the top-rung 6.2-liter V8, which produces a healthy 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. Need to get the family across the desert in a hurry? This is the truck you'll want to opt for. We'll wait for the official word from Ford before we discuss pricing, but expect the SuperCrew model to ring in just above the standard 6.2-liter Raptor's base price of $41,995.

Ram Power Wagon, prepare to meet your match.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Inside Line]

Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers

Zach Bowman — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Humor

Click above to peek inside the suggestion box

Ford has officially stirred up a mess of snakes by inviting consumers to submit their ideas on how to improve the company's vehicles to its website at TheFordStory.com. We've spent the better part of a day sifting through what the world has to say to Ford, and though we expected bucket loads of the web's own brand of vitriol, so far the comments were largely constructive.

We say "largely" because, as you know, the internet is still the home of LOL Cats and Chocolate Rain, and for every common sense suggestion on the site, there's one telling the company to offer an automatic pet feeder as an option. We wish we were kidding.

Ford has split its internet suggestion box into six categories ranging from performance and driving dynamics to safety, and while we dig ideas like trimming weight through the use of structural adhesives and the implementation of rear fog lights, a few themes rose above the rest to grab our attention. We've cataloged five we think Ford could do well to listen to, along with another five the company could skip all together.

Follow the jump to peek inside the suggestion box.

Continue reading Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers

Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford, Off-Road

KBB spends time aloft in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above to watch video after the jump

Do we even need to say again that we love the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor? No? All right. But we do. Anyway, if we can't be actually driving the thing, what we'll take after that is someone else properly driving it and getting high-def video, especially if said footage involves jumps.

The folks at Kelley Blue Book have filmed just such a video, in which it offers nine suggestions of the things you should definitely do in one, and while our favorite is jumping, we wouldn't mind trying out Tip #6: Drive it like we're being chased by murderous robots. Since that one will probably come true. Rather soon. And we could use some practice. Follow the jump for the vid.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor

Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford adding SuperCrew to SVT Raptor lineup

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Rumormill, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford's desert-clobbering SVT Raptor is already off to a relatively good start, and things are only poised to get better now that the automaker has shoehorned its new 6.2-liter V8 under the truck's hood. Adding to that, the folks at InsideLine report that a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor is also in the cards, possibly slated to debut later this year.

IL states that mules of what appear to be a SuperCrew Raptor have been spotted near Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. When prompted for a response, a spokesperson for the automaker simply said, "We do not comment on future product." (We've heard that one a thousand times before.) Still, we don't dispute IL's predictions, and having four-door functionality only boosts the Raptor's attractiveness to potential consumers.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Ford adding SuperCrew to SVT Raptor lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford SVT Raptor outselling estimates, black most popular color

Chris Shunk — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:18:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

While we wholeheartedly love the F-150 SVT Raptor, part of us wondered whether there'd be many takers for a $40,000 truck that was purpose-built for the sand dunes. Looks like we needn't have worried, as it appears demand is very strong for the Raptor. In fact, Ford had its flacks issue a press release bragging about just how successful the Raptor's been so far. The factory super-truck has reportedly found 5,300 takers to date, and F-150 marketing manager Mark Grueber says Raptor "is so popular that we actually wound up building more 5.4-liter V-8 models than we had originally anticipated."

The reason Ford thought customers might be interested in waiting to pull the trigger on a Raptor is the spring availability of the Dearborn, MI-based automaker's new 6.2-liter V8 engine. The new 6.2 promises 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, or 91 more ponies than the soon-to-be-mothballed 5.4. Ford's already taking orders for the 6.2-liter model, and we're thinking they'll only increase in number over the coming weeks and months.

After filling out 5,300 orders, Ford also has a better idea of which amenities customers want in their Raptors, and the content story is a good one for the automaker. Ford reports that customers are checking option boxes for the luxury package, reverse-sensing camera and moonroof at a rate of at least 79 percent. Ford's expensive but fantastic touchscreen navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link[TM] is being chosen in 62 percent of Raptors sold. And while we loved the Raptor in Molten Orange, 52 percent of customers are opting for Tuxedo Black. Hit the jump pore over Ford's bragfest press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford SVT Raptor outselling estimates, black most popular color

Ford SVT Raptor outselling estimates, black most popular color originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fed reportedly expanding investigation into Ford F-150 airbags

Chris Shunk — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

Back in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration announced a Ford F-150 airbag investigation. There were 530,000 2005 model year F-150s involved in the investigation before Halloween, but now the number has swelled to 1.56 million trucks spanning the 2004-2006 model years. The government agency has also upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis - one step closer to a recall.

The F-150 airbags are being investigated because the administration has reportedly received some 300 complaints of airbags that deployed without an accident. An earlier report revealed that the majority of the premature airbag deployments happened at ignition or directly after ignition - a really lousy wake up call first thing in the morning. Of the 300 complaints, there were 60 injuries, including cuts and bruises and two people reported being knocked unconscious as a result of the airbag deployment.

Ford, which is reportedly cooperating with the federal government in the investigation, predictably doesn't want to speculate as to whether the investigation will lead to a full-blown recall.

[Source: Reuters]

Fed reportedly expanding investigation into Ford F-150 airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #162 - Paukert Redux

Dan Roth — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:17:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Podcasts, BMW, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Ferrari, Design/Style

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

He won't admit it, but Editor Paukert is fully addicted to joining us on the Podcast. He sat in again with Chris, Sam and Dan for Episode #162 of the Autoblog Podcast, and there was much rejoicing. First up, Ed Whitacre's somewhat inscrutable claims about the Chevrolet Volt's pricing and profitability. Staying with talk of prices, we move on to mooted pricing figures for the 2011 Ford Mustang. Staying in Dearborn, we touch on the likelihood that a version of the Ford F-150 will replace the severely aged Ford Ranger. Adding some spice, we head to the Mediterranean to discuss Ferrari 458 Italia pricing, and stay on the Continent to consider Bugatti Veyron operating costs. Updates round it out, with the updated-for-2011 BMW 3 Series and SMax/Galaxy tweaks bookending some talk of the just-unveiled 2011 Shelby GT350. We wrap it all up with some of your questions and tie a bow on it at an hour-and-a-half. See you next week!

Until then, fill in with Joystiq and Engadget. Let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #162 - Paukert Redux

Autoblog Podcast #162 - Paukert Redux originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford undecided on Ranger replacement, but F-150 likely to be pressed into service

Noah Joseph — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Australia, Rumormill

2010 Ford Ranger - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is deliberating, according to reports, over whether to replace the Ranger in the North American-market. The compact pickup is the second most popular in its class, at 55,600 units last year selling roughly half as many as Toyota does the Tacoma, and it was once the segment's best seller.

According to Pickuptrucks.com, Ford's Derrick Kuzak believes that most customers buying the Ranger use their vehicle like they would a car, rather than taking advantage of its inherent load-lugging utility. With that in mind, Kuzak says a more fuel-efficient F-150 - on which they're currently working - and new global small cars like the Fiesta and Focus could very well effectively replace Ranger in the North American market.

As it is, the most efficient 2010 Ranger is the base rear-wheel drive 2.3-liter four-cylinder model with a five-speed manual transmission, and it only achieves 22 miles-per-gallon city and 27 highway. When you look at that model with an automatic though, it nets 19/24. That's not all that much better than the much more capable F-150 with the three-valve 4.6-liter V8 and six-speed automatic, which gets 15/21. What's more, with an Ecoboost V6 F-150 widely expected in the not-too-distant future, we're betting on very similar economy numbers to the current automatic-equipped Ranger.

Development is still ongoing in Australia on the next-gen version of the foreign-market Ranger, which is a completely different truck from that sold in North America. However with the Fiesta, Focus and soon the Mondeo/Fusion abandoning their regional entrenchments in favor of global universality, the prospect of bringing the Australian Ranger home to roost still isn't outside the realm of possibility, but doesn't sound all that likely, either.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Ranger

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Ford undecided on Ranger replacement, but F-150 likely to be pressed into service originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford porting 3.7L V6 into 2011 F-150

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

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

Ford hasn't offered a V6 option in the F-150 since its best-selling truck was redesigned for the 2009 model year, but a report from our friend Mike Levine over at Pickuptrucks.com says that's about to change. Levine cites sources at the Blue Oval who say the same Ti-VCT 3.7-liter V6 (shown at right) that will power the 2011 Mustang and Lincoln MKX will also be found under the hood of the F-150 by the end of the year. Levine tells us that the 3.7 will likely only be added to the XL and STX models, though there is a chance that the XLT could also get some fuel-sipping love. A V6 pickup will likely be a big hit with fleet customers as well as buyers who love trucks but don't use them for towing or hauling.

The sources didn't quote power numbers, but since the Lincoln MKX version will reportedly produce the same 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque as the one used in the Mustang, there is a good chance that Ford will simply copy and paste the same mill under the hood of the smallest F-Series. If the 3.7 does find its way into the F-150, we'll be very interested to see the official EPA fuel economy numbers. We can't see a 23 or 24 miles per gallon full size pickup with up to 305 hp being a bad thing.

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

[Source: Pickuptrucks]

Report: Ford porting 3.7L V6 into 2011 F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:59:00 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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Consumer Reports: Over 40 percent of 'sudden acceleration' claims involve Toyota

Chris Shunk — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Ford, Toyota

We're guessing you've heard about Toyota's massive 3.8 million vehicle recall for unintended acceleration. It appears to be an issue that could have potentially resulted in several deaths and reports of hundreds of accidents. Consumer Reports wanted to dig deeper on the matter, studying National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data for the 2008 model year. CR chose 2008 because the claims occurred prior to the widespread media coverage that has resulted in a flood of new complaints.

In studying NHTSA's accumulated 5,916 reports CR found that 166 involved unintended acceleration complaints. Of those, 128 were reported prior to August 28, 2009, when a California family was killed in a Lexus sedan experiencing uncontrollable acceleration. Of those 128 complaints, 47 came from Toyota and five from Lexus, representing 41 percent of overall unintended acceleration complaints. That's obviously a disproportionate amount of reports for an automaker with 16 percent of the US market's overall share. Here's one complaint logged by NHTSA.

"I felt the vehicle [2008 Lexus ES 350] increasing in speed to about 90 mph, without depressing the accelerator. I had been on cruise control at about 73 mph... [A] passenger screamed at me to slow down. I was unable to do so, even after stepping forcefully on the brakes."

While Toyota had a disproportionate amount of unintended acceleration claims, the Japanese automaker wasn't alone. Ford received an also high 36 overall complaints, or 28 percent of all U.S. models. The F-150 appears to have been one of the Blue Oval's main culprits, and complaints ranged from a gas pedal that was too wide to an engine that decided to go buck wild.

"The engine immediately increased in rpm to the point where the rear tires began spinning on the gravel. I put the transmission in Neutral and the engine rpm increased. I removed my foot from the brake and the engine continued at a very high rpm. I then depressed and released the accelerator and the engine returned to a normal idle."

While Toyota and Ford have the lion's share of unintended acceleration claims, other automakers have a disproportionately low amount of complaints. Chrysler came in with 11 complaints, GM had seven, Honda had five and Nissan had three. Head over to Consumer Reports for its full report and more information on unintended acceleration.

UPDATE: Numbers and percentages mentioned in second paragraph further clarified.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports: Over 40 percent of 'sudden acceleration' claims involve Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in Blue Flame - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford first revealed the new F-150 SVT Raptor a year ago, the initial powerplant was the same 5.4-liter V8 found in more pedestrian F-series trucks. At the launch, however, Ford officials promised that an all-new 6.2-liter V8 would become available right about ... now!. Well a month from now. The order books for the Raptor 6.2 officially open on December 1. Ford has already taken 3,000 orders for the 5.4-liter Raptor and 700 have gone to customers.

Last year, Ford told us the 6.2 would crank out at least 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of twist. Now that the engine has been certified and the final numbers are in, the targets have been exceeded. The 6.2-liter for the Raptor has been officially rated at 411 hp at 5,500 rpm and 434 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm.

According to F-150 Marketing Manager Mark Grueber, the Raptor 6.2 will get to 60 mph 1.5 seconds faster than the 5.4 while matching its fuel economy (as though anyone buying a Raptor will car about MPGs). That should put the 6.2 somewhere in the upper six- to low seven-range for a 0-60 mph run (Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com clocked a Raptor at 8.8 seconds with a brake torque). But take heed, with more power comes a higher MSRP: the new engine will cost $3,000 more than the carryover 5.4, starting at $41,995 delivered.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Ford]

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SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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