Ford Kuga could come in Lincoln

How's this for an odd twist – Ford essentially kicked off the SUV craze with its Explorer, an embiggened four-door Ranger. And man, did we go crazy. Before the cheap-gas bubble burst, slightly more than half of all passenger vehicles sold here in America were SUVs. Just below the Explorer was and is Ford's little truck (which is no longer little) the Escape. And almost ten years later, the Escape pretty much looks like a body-on-frame SUV, even though people stopped associating SUVs with mud during George W Bush's first term.

So what if the next Escape looked more like the CUV that it actually is, and less like the SUV it isn't? And what if Lincoln got a version? Mercury too, though they already have the Mariner, a rebadged Escape. Also, what if the next escape was built here, but then badged as a Kuga and sold in Europe? According to CEO Alan Mulally and some other, more chatty Ford folks, it's all more than possible.

The latter is really interesting, and shows you just how far the dollar has fallen against the Euro. And it also shows you Ford's One Ford strategy at work – wherein starting very soon, most Ford cars are going to be global in nature. Aside from essential legal parts (like standard stability control in U.S. vehicles) the cars can be sold wherever. Built wherever, too. For instance, the Ford Fiesta, which will be coming to our shores next year, is Ford's best selling car in Europe and will soon be built only in Mexico and shipped both across the border and across the Atlantic.

Back to the Kuga, the plan is to begin building the Kuga in Louisville, Kentucky in late 2011 for export to Europe. Sometime after that, the Kuga will replace the Escape and the Lincoln/Mercury editions. Moreover, this could be the start of a trend – Fords being built in the U.S. for export across the pond.











[Source: Automotive News sub-req]

-->Read More...

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in Blue Flame packs 411 HP

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.











[Source: Ford]

-->Read More...

Ford Motor and Canadian Auto Workers reportedly reach a deal

Ford Motor Company and the leadership of the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement after a marathon four-day wrap-up to negotiations. Union membership needs to approve the deal, which will guarantee a Great White North presence for Ford until at least 2012. Voting is underway this weekend, and if approved, the CAW will be responsible for building 10 percent of Ford's North American production, down from the current 13 percent, which the union had been trying to hold on to.

Workers did agree to time off reductions, and pledged that new employees will have to pay into their pensions. Ford's given its word that the company will build as many vehicles in Canada as it sells there, and the union deemed the pledge good enough to grant GM- and Chrysler-style concessions to Ford.

The Panther platform has been given its last rites; the St. Thomas Assembly plant is the only Ford location currently building the body-on-frame biggies, and that plant will close in September 2011. The 1,600 people in Ontario who build Town Cars and Grand Marquis are understandably unhappy about word that Ford intends to shutter the plant, but the Panther has cheated death more than once. This time, it may stick.

Better news for CAW members is that Ford's Oakville assembly complex, also in Ontario, has the go-ahead to add a third shift when needed. Ford also says it will manufacture a new vehicle at Oakville, which currently builds the Edge, Flex, MKX, and MKT crossovers, but that will likely come after the current labor agreement expires.

[Source: CBC News, Photo: Ford/CC]

-->Read More...

2010 Saleen S281 Mustang at the SEMA Motor Show.

Several pictures of Saleen's 2010 S281 Mustang have been released ahead of it's unveiling at the SEMA Motor Show.

While details are limited, the S281 features a unique body kit with a new hood, grille, front fascia, side skirts, and rear window louvers. Out back, the car boasts a sleek spoiler, a rear diffuser, and an aggressive four-tailpipe exhaust system.

Like the current model, Saleen will likely offer a variety of engine tuning packages for the 2010 S281 Mustang. These will probably include a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 with 335 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque and a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 with 465 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque.

-->Read More...

Photos: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang

-->Read More...

Ford Agree Largest Recall in History

Ford Motor Company will agree to recall 4.5 million vehicles in danger of catching fire due to poor electrics. The decision comes on the heels of a lengthy investigation by the U.S. government into the cause of those fires, and includes 1.1 million Ford Windstar vans from 1995 to 2003. Several other models make up the remaining 3.4 million vehicles.

The problem is linked to a switch made by Texas Instruments that allows drivers to disengage cruise control by tapping on the brake pedal. Ford used the switches throughout the 1990s, up to 2003, on a total of about 16 million cars and trucks.

Several deaths, and at least 550 fires and 1,500 complaints have been linked to the switch. Eight separate recalls related to the switch over the last ten years has affected a total of 14.1 million vehicles.

The automaker has been accused of delaying the recalls due to the expensive repair cost involved. The company has been the defendant in dozens of lawsuits related to faulty piece.

Ford plans to notify customers officially beginning on October 26. In a statement, Ford acknowledges that the part "may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke or burn."

-->Read More...

eBay Find of the Day : "Licorice Streak Special"

When television funnyman Tim Allen rang up Steve Moal and asked for a custom Tracknose roadster, his response was the car you see here. It's known as the "Licorice Streak Special" and it's won numerous awards in the 10 years since the Home Improvement star was handed the keys. The gang at Moal Coachbuilders did their typically wonderful job of turning out an immaculate one-off that captures the attitude of a classic hot rod with modern designer touches that make this car equally at home at a week-night cruise-in or on the Links of Pebble Beach.

It's technically a '32 Ford, but very little of it would have been available to someone wandering into a Ford dealership back in the day. Just check out all of those Art Deco brass bits by "Kaki" Kakizaki. It's got an aluminum body stretched over a custom tube chassis and is powered by a built SVO 351 that definitely delivers "more power" (*Cue appropriate grunting*).

While it would take something on the order of $450,000 - $500,000 to replicate it, the Licorice Streak Special is up for bid for another 8 days or so and is currently still below its reserve at "just" $85,100. Check out the gallery below and the eBay Motors listing for all of the details about the build.











[Source: eBay Motors]

-->Read More...

Ford Grand C-MAX: Early Unveiling for 7-Seat LWB Version of C-MAX

Official photos of the long-wheelbase version of Ford's all-new C-MAX compact minivan that receives the Grand moniker circulated on the net today. Due to be revealed alongside the five-seat C-MAX at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Grand C-MAX gets a 150mm boost in length to make room for a third row of seats that can accommodate two more passengers, while Ford also equipped it with a pair of sliding doors at the back to provide easier access to the rear seats.

Ford's new five- and seven seat MPVs are based on the underpinnings of the next generation Focus that is expected to be launched in 2010. Both models will be offered with the company's all-new EcoBoost 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine.

The image gallery also provides us with our first glimpse of the car's interior, with the dashboard (same for both MPVs) featuring a similar design language - though somewhat more cluttered, to the European market Mondeo. Unless Ford plans to surprise us, buyers should expect to see the same console sans a few minor changes, on the 2011MY Focus.

FoMoCo's new Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic rivals are scheduled to go on sale in Europe during in mid-2010.

Via: Autoblog.nl & WCF

-->Read More...