Archive for the 'Future Vehicles' Category

27
Jul
10

2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Explorer, Future Vehicles, Quality, ford and safety
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by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Jul 26th 2010 at 11:57AM

For part two of our in-depth look at the 2011 Ford Explorer, we’ll take a look at its new powertrains and improvements in fuel efficiency, as well as how well it can still tow a trailer. But first let’s see what kind of techno-goodies Ford has applied to this new SUV.

Technology

This being 2010, technology has to play a big part in any major new vehicle introduction. On the inside, the Explorer joins the new Edge, Focus and Lincoln MKX in adopting the MyFord Touch interface. We first saw this new touch sensitive interface when the MKX and Focus were unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January. Much like modern smartphones, the center stack has a smooth surface with capacitive touch buttons to manage the audio and climate controls. Continue reading after the jump or check out part one of our introduction to the 2011 Ford Explorer first.

The MyFord Touch system will be standard on up-level XLT and Limited Explorers. The base Explorer comes equipped with a non-touch version dubbed simply MyFord. The non-touch version has an instrument cluster with a single 4.3-inch LCD display alongside the analog speedometer and a second non-touch 4.3-inch display in the center stack. Buyers can then add Sync along with that popular technology’s newly improved voice recognition capabilities.

MyFord Touch upgrades the instrument cluster to the same dual 4.3-inch display system that debuted last year in the Fusion Hybrid as SmartGauge. The center stack display is also replaced by an eight-inch touch screen. MyFord Touch also adds several data inputs including two USB ports and an SD flash card slot. With most phones and other portable electronics now able to charge via USB, having two ports will allow charging of a phone and the use of an iPod at the same time.

One of the big complaints about manufacturer integrated satellite navigation systems has been their high cost, typically around $2,000. Because Sync now includes an integrated GPS receiver and MyFord Touch has the display, Explorer (and Edge and MKX) drivers will be able to add map-based navigation for just $795. The map data will actually be supplied on an SD card to be inserted in the supplied slot. Of course, if you are starting from the base Explorer and you add the $1,000 MyFord Touch option plus $795 for the map data on the flash card, you’re back to nearly that originally two grand price tag.

Continue reading ’2011 Ford Explorer puts four-cylinder EcoBoost engine above V6 in pecking order’

27
Jul
10

Warren Brown reviews the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Future Vehicles, ford and mustang
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By Warren Brown
Sunday, July 25, 2010; F01

CORNWALL, N.Y. The hardest part was northbound on the New York State Thruway, especially near the Sloatsburg Service Area, where state troopers are especially active. I dropped the Mustang’s six-speed manual transmission into fourth gear and prayed the car wouldn’t stray past the posted 65-mph limit, or even give the appearance of intending to do so.

New York’s troopers are a humorless lot when it comes to speeding. And they have a particularly keen eye for potential culprits piloting hot cars.

I was driving the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT coupe with premium options. It is a hot car — 412 horsepower and 390 foot-pounds of torque worth of hot. It is motorized proof that the global automobile industry in general, and Ford Motor in particular, is suffering from a severe personality disorder.

It is an understandable dysfunction.

Consumers worldwide are asking car companies to do two distinctly different things — to give them cars with top fuel economy . . . and road-scorching performance. The 2011 Mustang is an attempt to do both.

But here’s a word to the wise: If it’s better fuel economy you’re after, get the Mustang with the 3.7-liter V-6 (305 horsepower, 280 foot-pounds of torque). It will get 19 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway using regular gasoline.

The 5.0 GT driven for this column will get you nothing but trouble. But you’ll never have so much fun going to hell.

Continue reading ‘Warren Brown reviews the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT’

27
Jul
10

Ford touts new Explorer’s 30% increase in fuel efficiency

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Cross Overs, Design, Explorer, Future Vehicles, fuel efficiency, social media and technology
Tags: , , , , , ,

A week before Ford Motor Co. will unveil the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer in major cities across the U.S., the automaker today confirmed the sport-utility vehicle will be 30 percent more fuel-efficient than the outgoing model.

Ford has been building up the crossover’s debut with Facebook teaser pictures of parts of the vehicle and a steady diet of snippets about features and attributes. The new Explorer goes on sale later this year, but the production model has not been shown on the auto circuit.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally will be in New York on Monday to make a splash in Herald Square with special guest Mike Rowe, who is host of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.” A simultaneous event is being planned in at least eight other cities including Dearborn, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles as part of an innovative marketing campaign.

Today’s news release confirmed the improved fuel economy. It will be achieved because the vehicle is lighter, more aerodynamic and car-based (from the Taurus family), and has an optional 2-liter four-cylinder Ecoboost engine, which means it is turbocharged and has direct-injection. The crossover also has a six-speed automatic transmission.

The current Explorer, with a 4-liter V-6 engine, is rated as getting 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg in highway driving. A 30 percent improvement would mean the new Explorer should get 18/26 mpg. Official figures will be released once the EPA completes its testing.

“The all-new Explorer will give a huge universe of existing and prospective customers the capability they expect and the luxury and convenience they want, all combined with the fuel economy they need,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, in a statement.

In an effort to get as many miles per gallon as possible, the Explorer will offer electric power-assisted steering, battery management, fast engine warm-up and aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff, and amore efficientair conditioning compressor.

Safety technology includes curve technology that will debut on the Explorer. It is an upgraded electronic stability control system to better hug the road if a driver takes a curve too quickly and will be added to 90 percent of Ford’s light trucks and crossovers by 2015.

The public got its first look at the replacement for the body-on-frame Explorer with the Explorer America concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

apriddle@detnews.com(313) 222 – 2504

26
Jul
10

Why Is Obama Putting So Much Stock in Battery Technology?

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Focus, Future Vehicles and ford
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Analysts Worry Federal Funding Might Dry Up Before Domestic Battery Industry Takes Off

By MARK CLAYTON

Why Obama is putting so much stock in battery technology

US President Barack Obama tries out an electric Ford Focus following a groundbreaking ceremony for…

President Obama’s trip last week to just such a plant in Holland, Mich., was his fourth automotive-battery-focused stop since being elected. To riff off of President Clinton’s mantra “it’s the economy, stupid,” it’s almost as if Mr. Obama’s catch phrase about what’s important could be, “It’s the battery, bozo.”

The reason is that batteries are central to the president’s election-year message that green-tech will lead America into well-paid jobs and a revived economy. But politics aside, the $2.4 billion the Obama administration has funneled to the advanced battery industry points to a tooth-and-nail struggle as the United States endeavors to catch up to Asia in making cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries for use in vehicles.

“The workers at this plant, already slated to produce batteries for the new Chevy Volt, learned the other day that they’re also going to be supplying batteries for the new electric Ford Focus as soon as this operation gears up,” Obama said at the Compact Power plant in Michigan. “By 2012, the batteries will be manufactured here in Holland, Michigan. So when you buy one of these vehicles, the battery could be stamped ‘Made in America’ – just like the car.”

26
Jul
10

Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

By Ron Olson Leave a Comment
Categories: Future Vehicles, Shelby, ford, mustang and shelby gt 500 kr
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by Chris Paukert (RSS feed) on Jul 15th 2010 at 12:29PM

We’ve just gotten off the horn with Ford‘s SVT performance division, and we’ve learned that the Blue Oval’s hot-rod arm is going to limit production of the 2011 Shelby GT500 to 5,500 units for this model year. According to Ford spokesman Henry Platts, the move is not the result of slow sales, but rather a desire to maintain exclusivity. In fact, sales of Ford’s king of the Mustang range have “exceeded expectations,” with in excess of 3,300 orders already placed.

The 550-horsepower GT500 has not only been performing surprisingly well in a down economy, it’s been going out the door loaded-to-the sills with options. According to Platts, there have been three times as many GT500 coupes ordered with the $1995 glass roof option as compared to the regular Mustang. In the “News That Makes Us Happy” category comes word that a full 68 percent have been spec’d out with the $3,495 performance package (includes 19- and 20-inch painted forged alloys, 3.73 limited-slip, tuned suspension, Gurney flap rear spoiler, etc.), and additionally, 70 percent of all GT500s have been ordered with the $2,340 electronics package (navi, dual-zone HVAC and Sirius/HD radio). With the GT500 starting at an out-the-door price of $49,495 before options, we’re guessing that the GT500 is more than carrying its weight for Dearborn’s bottom line.

While Ford is limiting total output of the GT500 to 5,500 units for 2011, Platts says the automaker has no plans to dictate how that shakes out in the coupe/convertible bodystyle mix. That said, if you’ve been fence-sitting on whether to pick up a GT500 of your very own this year, might we suggest that you make up your mind… quickly.

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