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  • Ford Adds 411-hp V-8, FR Raptor XT Baja Racer to F-150 SVT Raptor Line

    Ford Adds 411-hp V-8, FR Raptor XT Baja Racer to F-150 SVT Raptor Line November 3rd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 3rd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Ford Adds 411-hp V-8, FR Raptor XT Baja Racer to F-150 SVT Raptor Line

     

    There's no doubt that the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup is one serious piece of off-road machinery. But for some, it's still not quite serious enough. So Ford has upped the ante at this year's SEMA show, revealing a new 6.2-liter V-8 and the FR Raptor XT, both of which will join the lineup.

    The 6.2-liter V-8 puts out a potent 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful half-ton pickup available. The 320-horsepower, 5.4-liter Triton V-8 initially slotted into the truck will still be available, too. The upgrade to the 6.2-liter engine will add $3,000 to the trucks price, bringing the total to $41,995.

    For the...

      There's no doubt that the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup is one serious piece of off-road machinery. But for some, it's still not quite serious enough. So Ford has upped the ante at this year's SEMA show, revealing a new 6.2-liter V-8 and the FR Raptor XT, both of which will join the lineup. The 6.2-liter V-8 puts out a potent 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful half-ton pickup available. The 320-horsepower, 5.4-liter Triton V-8 initially slotted into the truck will still be available, too. The upgrade to the 6.2-liter engine will add $3,000 to the trucks price, bringing the total to $41,995. For the truly bonkers--or the amateur/semi-pro offroad racer--Ford is also offering 50 units of the FR Raptor XT. The FR stands for Ford Racing, and the Raptor XT is a near-copy of the same truck--the F-150 SVT Raptor R, pictured in the gallery above--that completed the Baja offroad race, but with the addition of creature comforts like airconditioning and a full interior. The Raptor XT also gets a beefier 500-horsepower (estimated) 6.2-liter V-8 engine, six-speed auto, 4.56 gear set, front and rear e-lockers, a built-in chromoly rollcage, skid plating, five-point harness, beadlock wheels and tires, 15-inch front and 18-inch rear suspension travel, and, of course, a unique appearance package with a tubular front and rear bumper with integral lighting. The FR Raptor XT will cost $99,950, is not street legal, and will only see 50 units built. Production and delivery dates haven't yet been announced. [Ford] Read More

  • Ford Unleashes 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang

    Ford Unleashes 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang November 3rd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, November 3rd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 1 Comment

    Ford Unleashes 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang

    Ford's re-packaging of the Mustang into its 2010 model-year form factor has pleased the critics with a sleeker look, but now Ford Racing is getting ready to please the folks that live only to see quick ETs with the 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet, which was revealed today at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas.

    Since its victorious introduction at the NHRA Winternationals in 1968, Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph. The latest version, on show today, was finished in a “SEMA Special” paint scheme and a contrasting graphics package.

    The 2010 Cobra Jet, like its predecessor, is a factory-built...

    Ford's re-packaging of the Mustang into its 2010 model-year form factor has pleased the critics with a sleeker look, but now Ford Racing is getting ready to please the folks that live only to see quick ETs with the 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet, which was revealed today at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas. Since its victorious introduction at the NHRA Winternationals in 1968, Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph. The latest version, on show today, was finished in a “SEMA Special” paint scheme and a contrasting graphics package. The 2010 Cobra Jet, like its predecessor, is a factory-built race car that is intended for NHRA Stock and Super Stock racing. The goal for the 2010 Cobra Jet was to enhance the race features to further make its own place in NHRA history. These include options for a full race-prepared automatic or manual transmission, drag race-specific shocks and springs, manual steering and brakes, and a fully certified roll cage. Additionally, Ford engineers have developed for the 2010 Cobra Jet a factory-first launch control/rev limiter that will allow drivers to preset the rpm after they stage the car--when they are ready to leave, all they do is put the throttle pedal to the floor. Previously, the launch control/rev limiter was only available as an aftermarket option. Production of the new race cars will commence in January, with delivery of all vehicles expected in the first quarter of 2010. [Ford] Read More

  • Ford Posts First Quarterly Profit In North America Since 2005

    Ford Posts First Quarterly Profit In North America Since 2005 November 2nd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 2nd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Ford Posts First Quarterly Profit In North America Since 2005

    Slowly but surely the indicators are beginning to swing back up from the industry's trough of 2008 and early 2009. Ford appears to be leading the way in North America with today's release of a pre-tax $357 million quarterly profit--the first in the region since 2005. There is a counterstroke to the upswing, however.

    The company as a whole reported a net income of $997 million, up $1.2 billion from the third quarter of 2008, while quarterly pre-tax profit on the whole is up $3.9 billion to $1.1 billion as well.

    Those are potentially huge numbers--not just in quantity, but in significance. Despite still-low overall sales volume, Ford's global...

    Slowly but surely the indicators are beginning to swing back up from the industry's trough of 2008 and early 2009. Ford appears to be leading the way in North America with today's release of a pre-tax $357 million quarterly profit--the first in the region since 2005. There is a counterstroke to the upswing, however. The company as a whole reported a net income of $997 million, up $1.2 billion from the third quarter of 2008, while quarterly pre-tax profit on the whole is up $3.9 billion to $1.1 billion as well. Those are potentially huge numbers--not just in quantity, but in significance. Despite still-low overall sales volume, Ford's global and North American operations have changed positions well enough to see profit, even if only for the quarter. Provided enough other automakers can get their bottom lines aligned as well, the industry could reach a new equilibrium, and start turning back to growth as sales ramp up over the next several years. Ford credits its success with a strong product lineup on top of better transaction prices and improved profit margins. The company expects to be fully and comfortably in the black by 2011. With cars like the 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, its upscale Mercury equivalents, plus the coming Fiesta and new Focus, not to mention a range of new SUVs, trucks and crossovers, such as the Mercury and Lincoln versions of the Kuga, the Ford brand is definitely picking up steam. On the flip side, however, despite this quarter's upswing, the Blue Oval is down about $1.3 billion on the whole for the year. That's a reflection on what went down over the first half, especially the first quarter, during the industry's slowest sales period in two decades. Ford's future projections about profitability over the coming years also rest on SAAR numbers--as high as 12.5 million vehicles--that may be a bit optimistic, and that could spell disappointment down the road. This tempers the optimism with which this quarter's profit should be received, both for the company and the industry as a whole. Read More

  • Ford Planning Lincoln And Mercury Versions Of Kuga Crossover

    Ford Planning Lincoln And Mercury Versions Of Kuga Crossover November 2nd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, November 2nd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 6 Comments

    Ford Planning Lincoln And Mercury Versions Of Kuga Crossover

    Lincoln will be taking a new approach to what sort of vehicles it produces in the future, with plans to downsize its lineup in the wake of flailing sales of the once-popular Navigator SUV and other large cars.

    The new approach will see the luxury brand focusing on cars that will likely be the smallest Lincolns ever, an approach that some other luxury rivals have shied away from in fear of a North American market not ready for smaller cars just yet.

    For the immediate future, Lincoln could be planning a number of surprises to help return the brand to prominence. Spearheading this approach is rumored to be a new compact car based on a Ford...

    Lincoln will be taking a new approach to what sort of vehicles it produces in the future, with plans to downsize its lineup in the wake of flailing sales of the once-popular Navigator SUV and other large cars. The new approach will see the luxury brand focusing on cars that will likely be the smallest Lincolns ever, an approach that some other luxury rivals have shied away from in fear of a North American market not ready for smaller cars just yet. For the immediate future, Lincoln could be planning a number of surprises to help return the brand to prominence. Spearheading this approach is rumored to be a new compact car based on a Ford platform, most likely the one in the upcoming global Focus. Whether or not Lincoln is sure of such a move remains uncertain--the brand has already explored the possibility of smaller cars for city dwellers via its concepts, but turning them into production vehicles could be a risk that Lincoln is not willing to take. Meanwhile, a new compact crossover based on the European Ford Kuga is set to arrive in showrooms by late 2011, with production tipped to start in Ford’s Louisville, Kentucky. Redesigned versions of the Kuga will be sold as both Lincolns and Mercurys, while the Kuga itself will replace the current Ford Escape. The move is part of CEO Alan Mulally’s “One Ford” strategy to sell the same vehicles in various global markets with only minor differentiation. America’s weak dollar has also helped accelerate plans to start production of European models in North America and then export them. The original plan was to build the Lincoln and Mercury versions of the Kuga in Germany and import them to North America back in 2008. [Automotive News, sub req'd] Read More

  • Ford Shows Off ’34 Hot Rod With EcoBoost V-6

    Ford Shows Off ’34 Hot Rod With EcoBoost V-6 October 29th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran's avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, October 29th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 0 Comments

    Ford Shows Off ’34 Hot Rod With EcoBoost V-6

    Call it EcoBoost, call it TwinForce, it's a welcome addition to the Ford lineup and is heralded by the automaker as the key to finding a balance between power and economy.

    Hot rodders, on the other hand, have always lived by the motto “There’s no replacement for displacement,” preferring a bigger engine in the quest for more power. Ford has now teamed up with vehicle customizer Detroit Street Rods in order to prove this thinking is out-of-date with the new EcoBoost-powered ’34 Ford hot rod.

    Set to go on show at next week’s 2009 SEMA Auto Show, the Ford hot rod will be the first rear-wheel drive application of...

    Call it EcoBoost, call it TwinForce, it's a welcome addition to the Ford lineup and is heralded by the automaker as the key to finding a balance between power and economy. Hot rodders, on the other hand, have always lived by the motto “There’s no replacement for displacement,” preferring a bigger engine in the quest for more power. Ford has now teamed up with vehicle customizer Detroit Street Rods in order to prove this thinking is out-of-date with the new EcoBoost-powered ’34 Ford hot rod. Set to go on show at next week’s 2009 SEMA Auto Show, the Ford hot rod will be the first rear-wheel drive application of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 delivering an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. EcoBoost essentially combines turbocharging and gasoline direct injection technologies to help boost power while reducing fuel consumption. In initial testing Ford has found that a V-6 with EcoBoost gets as much as 20% better fuel economy than a conventional V-8 but with similar power levels. In the case of the ’34 Ford hot rod, the guys at Detroit Street Rods needed to repackage engine’s turbochargers to fit the engine bay of the all-steel replica body. Apart from this, the only other modifications include a new air filter, coated headers and large custom exhaust cones located outside the engine bay and just above the front fenders of the vehicle. The 2009 SEMA Auto Show kicks off on November 3 in Las Vegas. [Ford] Read More

  • Ford Says Geely Closer to Winning Volvo

    Ford Says Geely Closer to Winning Volvo October 28th, 2009 By Marty Padgett Marty Padgett, Executive Editor, October 28th, 2009 Marty Padgett 6 Comments

    Ford Says Geely Closer to Winning Volvo

    Volvo may be a step closer to new Chinese owners this morning, as Ford Motor Company says China's Geely is the lead bidder for the Swedish car brand.

    In a press release this morning, Ford named Geely and said it thought the Chinese company "has the potential to be a responsible future owner of Volvo and to take the business forward while preserving its core values and the independence of the Swedish brand."

    Ford's been trying to sell Volvo for more than a year. The latest piece in its global empire to go, Volvo would follow Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover in the exodus from Ford. The American automaker is selling the brands to re-focus...

    Volvo may be a step closer to new Chinese owners this morning, as Ford Motor Company says China's Geely is the lead bidder for the Swedish car brand. In a press release this morning, Ford named Geely and said it thought the Chinese company "has the potential to be a responsible future owner of Volvo and to take the business forward while preserving its core values and the independence of the Swedish brand." Ford's been trying to sell Volvo for more than a year. The latest piece in its global empire to go, Volvo would follow Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover in the exodus from Ford. The American automaker is selling the brands to re-focus its business on the core Ford, Lincoln and Mercury nameplates. Ford has been negotiating with Geely for most of the year. Given China's emerging influence in global car design and marketing, Ford has expressed concern about intellectual property from Volvo and Ford going directly to China's auto industry--everything from safety equipment to plug-in hybrid technology. Nevertheless, the company seems to be lining up a future cooperation with Geely/Volvo, including sharing components and possibly even car platforms, though it points out in the release that it's not interested in keeping a stake in the Swedish carmaker. Sources at Volvo have told TheCarConnection that a future relationship with China would leave Sweden as the center of product planning, marketing and some initial engineering. Geely's China-based engineers would execute mid-level engineering and manufacturing development at a savings of up to 30 percent from high-cost Sweden. Volvo would also produce a model in a Geely factory in China to expand the brand's global presence, but the goal would be to leverage Volvo's reputation and brand value, teamed with lower-cost Chinese manufacturing. According to a previous report, Geely hopes to start production of Volvo cars in a new factory in the Guangdong Province of China. As part of the deal, Geely will reportedly invest up to $10 billion in building the Volvo brand and the first model to be fully designed under the guidance of the Chinese automaker will be the next-generation XC90 due in 2011. From here, Ford and Geely will enter "more detailed and focused negotiations" over Volvo. Ford suggests in the release that it may decide not to sell Volvo at all. However, in the months since Ford put Volvo on the market, it's moved to separate the company as a business unit, and it's begun to split product development away from the Swedish company. New Ford models for North America, such as the 2012 Ford Focus, will share platforms with European Fords--and not with future vehicles like the replacement for the Volvo S40 / V50 sedan and wagon, which share a platform with the current European Focus. Where the Geely sale would leave Volvo's future lineup is uncertain. The company recently unveiled its 2010 XC60 crossover and a refreshed C70 Convertible, with a new S60 sedan to come early next year. A delay in any other model programs of six to 12 months is likely during a transition in ownership. Ford gave no timeline to complete a sale. Incidentally, Ford bought Volvo for $6.45 billion back in 1999 and has since written down its value to less than $2.4 billion. With the state of the industry and the economy in general, however, the final sale price could be substantially lower. [Ford] Read More

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