Ford News

Ford will debut a concept version of a high-performance Focus model at the upcoming Paris Auto Show. Calling it an “exciting performance model” it will be a concept and not a production version, but it’s likely to be quite close to reality with Ford already announcing plans to deliver a “global performance model” of the new Focus using EcoBoost technology.

This won’t be an RS model and Ford recently announced the turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder in the current Focus RS has been discontinued as it no longer meets increasingly strict emissions requirements.

We’re excited by the possibility that this new high-performance Focus (possibly named ST in Europe and SVT in the U.S.) will get a 250-hp version of the EcoBoost 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, however, there’s also a strong possibility that we’ll see a smaller turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder with closer to 180-hp.

More: High-Performance Ford Focus Concept to Debut at Paris Auto Show on AutoGuide.com

A new report detailing customer satisfaction in the auto industry has just been released, with domestic brands Lincoln-Mercury and Buick taking the top spots. The annual American Customer Satisfaction Index survey points to a slight decline overall in consumers’ satisfaction with their vehicles, but shows strong results for domestic automakers.

In total, the satisfaction index has dropped from 84 (out of 100) in 2009 to 82. The highest score, with a total of 89 points, is shared by Lincoln and the now defunct Mercury brand with a gain of 1 point over last year’s survey. Buick remain unchanged at 88 points.

In many ways these gains are also the result of losses by other automakers, with 14 of the 18 top brands declining.

Sharing the third position with 86 points are BMW (down 1 point), Mercedes-Benz (unchanged) and Cadillac (down 3 points).

The biggest gainer for 2010 is Nissan, climbing 4 points to 82 on the index. Big losers included Honda (off 4 points to 84), Chevrolet (off 3 points to 80) and Volkswagen (with the biggest loss of 5 points, down to 81).

Interestingly, despite Toyota’s recall woes, the company lost just 2 points down to 84, although the same issues are believed to be responsible for the larger drop of 4 points for the Lexus brand, down to 84.

The ACSI survey is the result of 250 interviews per manufacturer with owners aged 18 to 84.

More: Lincoln-Mercury and Buick Top Latest Customer Satisfaction Survey on AutoGuide.com

Ford’s 2012 Boss 302 Mustang is destined to excited enthusiasts everywhere, but the car has been a poorly kept secret for fans of Grand-Am racing, who have watched Ford unveil a Boss 302R race car and slowly develop it into the 2012 Boss 302 road-going variant.

With a re-worked 5.0L V8 making 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, the Boss packs significant power upgrades over the standard 5.0 model. A re-worked exhaust and intake system are standard, with the exhaust using trick quad pipes that exit out of the back bumper as well as just before the rear wheels. The side pipes are mostly there to give an added boost in V8 rumble, but engineers have made the exhaust to be tunable via a set of discs that can alter the sound, and made the installation process for a set of aftermarket dump valves designed to be a matter of undoing a couple of bolts. An upgraded clutch and 3.73 rear end put the power to the ground, while a limited-slip differential is optional as are Recaro seats.

Adjustable shocks and stiffer springs underpin the chassis, with drivers able to choose from one of five settings but turning a knob on the shock towers. The steering feel (which can be utilized in Comfort, Normal or Sport modes selected by the driver) and traction control systems have also been optimized for high performance driving. 19×9″ wheels in front and 19×9.5″ wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZero rubber, while Brembo brakes with 14″ rotors and a special compound brake pad help bring the car to a halt.

For those who are even more hardcore, a Boss 302 Laguna Seca model will be offered that deletes the rear seats but adds lightweight wheels, R-Compound tires, brake ducts, a front splitter and a rear wing. The Laguna Seca is apparently capable of pulling 1.03 lateral Gs and should make a potent competitor in sports car racing series across North America.

More: 2012 Mustang Boss 302 Unveiled on AutoGuide.com

When the new 5.0L 2011 Mustang GT first debuted, Ford also revealed a Boss 302R track car. A street version of the Boss was presumed but Ford refused to confirm the rumors. Now it appears they don’t have to thanks to some loose-lipped announcers on SPEED TV who revealed that a Boss 302 would debut later this week at Laguna Seca as a part of the festivities surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

And it’s not just the time that was revealed with news also leaking about a low $30,000 price tag. As for the engine, the 5.0L V8 will remain, but with power upped to 430-hp – an 18-hp increase over the stock block.

We also expect some track-inspired goodies like light-weight wheels, upgraded brakes and some nice suspension components.

AutoGuide will be in Monterey later this week for Pebble Beach and will be sure to deliver live photos of the new Boss 302 if and when it debuts.

Hit the link below to see the video:

More: Boss 302 Mustang to Debut Later This Week; Details Leaked on AutoGuide.com

Ford is keeping up their relentless web campaign to help promote the 2011 Explorer, and they’ve released three new videos to demonstrate what their new SUV crossover is capable of.

The three videos highlight the Ford Explorer’s Terrain Management System, Blind Spot Information System and the Trailer Control System. All three are pretty neat, although the Terrain Management System and the Blind Spot Information System are respectively, a gussied-up all-wheel drive system and an increasingly common technology respectively. The Trailer Control System is pretty cool, and considering that 30% of Explorer buyers tow, perhaps the most relevant.

More: 2011 Ford Explorer Videos Show Snazzy New Features on AutoGuide.com

When Ford execs announced that the company would revamp its lineup, switching from a product line consisting of mostly trucks to one where the majority of vehicles sold are cars, some wondered how this would be possible. Ford’s solution is to transform trucks into cars, or, more accurately, into crossovers. Using a car-based unibody platform rather than a truck frame allows for better on-road driving dynamics and often numerous other efficiency improvements. The usual down sides are reduced utility, like true off-road capability and towing capacity.

Based on the same architecture as the Taurus and Flex, the Explorer makes huge improvements in fuel economy, up 20 percent from last year’s model. This is due in part to a new EcoBoost 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 237-hp at 5500 rpm and 250 ft-lbs of torque from 1700 to 4000 rpm. A V6 engine is also offered, with 3.5-liters of displacement and 290-hp with 255 ft-lbs of torque. Both engines get a 6-speed automatic transmission. V6 models also come with Ford’s new intelligent 4WD system with a terrain management system that allows the driver to use a simple console-mounted dial to choose between settings for snow, sand, mud and a normal mode. There’s also a hill descent mode. This should help pacify most potential buyers looking for SUV capability.

As for the other supposed drawback of a crossover, well, the V6-equipped Explorer is rated to tow 5,000 lbs. While that’s not that close to the 7,100-plus lbs. the old V8 Explorer was rated at, it’s 1,500 lbs more than the old V6 model.

As for interior room, there’s a three-row setup and while we’ve yet to sit in the new Explorer (later today), sized like the Flex third-row room should be adequate. And even with all seven-seats used, there’s still a solid amount of space for groceries – with a total of 80.7 cubic feet of space with 2nd and 3rd row seats down. The first two rows also gain head room over the previous model.

Along with the new EcoBoost motor, innovations on the new 2011 Explorer include a seatbelt airbag on the outboard second row seats. This system expands the size of the seatbelt in an accident while providing some added cushioning – particularly important for smaller second-row passengers (ie. your kids). Other safety features include Roll Stability Control, Curve Control (essentially a more potent form of stability control) and an emergency braking feature that will slow or even stop the car if an impact is deemed unavoidable. Another technology highlight is a cross-traffic alert system that uses the onboard radar system to look sideways to let you know if there’s oncoming traffic when pulling out of a tight parking spot. And let’s not forged Ford’s MyFord Touch driver interface system.

With impressive new sheetmetal that actually gives the 2011 Explorer a more truck-like appearance, there’s some worry that a third crossover (joining the Flex and Edge) in Ford’s lineup could hurt the existing models. That may be true, but Explorer sales are almost certain to return to record pres-recession and pre $4.00 a gallon levels. The reason? Simple, Ford has rejuvenated the Explorer. Most people who owned one didn’t need the truck capability and they’re sure to be impressed by the added on-road functionality of the new Explorer, not to mention the improved style, features and interior trim. As for those who do need more truck-like functionality, Ford’s intelligent 4WD system and impressive (for a crossover) tow rating should keep a significant number of truck-lovers (though not all) coming back.

More: 2011 Ford Explorer Gains EcoBoost Engine and Car-Based Platform, Keeps SUV Look on AutoGuide.com

Following reports of a new Focus ST/SVT model that is set to debut at the Paris Auto Show this fall, we’re now hearing the first rumblings regarding the next-generation Ford Focus RS – which may come to market using an hybridized version of the company’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. According to “very senior sources” inside Ford, the RS Team is currently studying the possibility of building such a car that would use an electric motor to power the rear axle, giving the car an all-wheel drive setup. Along with delivering AWD traction and added power, the system would be able to operate on pure electric power for short periods time, giving it excellent in-town fuel economy.

What sort of power Ford engineers are looking for isn’t yet known, but with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine easily capable of 250-hp, an electric motor could easily bump that up over the 300-hp mark. That would be a necessity as the current RS model makes 305-hp.

It’s not entirely clear if the car will get an RS badge either as Ford execs have insisted that RS-badged models have to be tied-in to rallying or some form of motorsports. There’s a strong belief that Ford could take this new setup off-road, just as Porsche has decided to begin racing a hybrid version of the GT3 in endurance racing.

With the project still in its early stages another possibility, reports AutoCar, is that the next-gen Focus RS could remain front-drive, using instead the next-generation version of the hybrid setup currently found in the Fusion Hybrid – which would be significantly less exciting.

If Ford does decide to go the hybrid performance car route, it might not be alone with reports that Subaru is planning a hybrid diesel WRX STI, and that Mitsubishi is also considering a hybrid EVO XI.

More: Next-Gen Ford Focus RS Could go Hybrid, AWD on AutoGuide.com

Recently Ford engineers drove a modified Fiesta concept car from Ann Arbor, Mich., to San Mateo, Calif., as part of a new technology experiment. Along the journey it was the Fiesta, and not the folks inside it, Tweeting about the trip.

Equipped with software called the “Auto”-matic Blog, the Fiesta (named AJ) was able to send out tweets about its location, speed, acceleration and braking. It did this by tapping into the vehicle’s onboard telemetry, GPS system and ECU, even knowing when the headlights are on (must be getting dark) and when the wipers are being used (must be raining).

Connected to the internet, impressively, the software can even search real-time traffic info and weather conditions, commenting that it’s no looking forward to what’s coming up.

Once AJ even commented that he, she, it was joyful. When asked how a car can be joyful, Joe Rork, one of the IT brains behind the project commented that, “There’s no traffic, and it’s not raining and it’s enjoying a winding road.”

Incredibly, in order to pull off this stunt, Ford used mostly readily-available technology like a high-speed connection, Wi-Fi router and Dell computer with Windows 7.

According to Rork, the project is just an extension of Ford’s already high-tech vision for cars of the future. While Tweeting cars might not be around the corner, Ford will soon add Twitter feed capability to its SYNC-equipped cars later this year.

More: Meet AJ: the Ford Fiesta that Can Tweet on AutoGuide.com

Ford is looking to add even more grunt to its Taurus SHO model in the future, hinting at plans to up horsepower as high as the 400 mark. At the 19th annual national Taurus SHO convention, held lat week in Dearborn, MI, Ford marketing manager Steve Ling commented that, “365 horsepower is good. 400 is better.” Ling preceded this comment by stating that, “The SHO is at the top [of Ford's performance sedan category] and we’re going to keep it there.”

Ford’s Advanced Engine Design and Development Engineer, Brett Hinds, went so far as to hint that we’re likely to see some of the added potential inside the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine when Ford unwraps the EcoBoost F-150 later this year.

Ford also gave a glimpse at what the future SHO will look like with Taurus Exterior Design Manager Earl Lucas commenting that the big sedan will get lower and wider, although less bulky and use less chrome. With the SHO’s success established, Ford will now look to differentiate the car from its Taurus siblings with unique styling including different front and rear bumpers and exclusive wheels.

The next-generation of Ford’s SHO is set to arrive somewhere around 2013, but big changes could come much sooner in a mid-cycle update.

More: Ford Taurus SHO to Get 400-Horsepower from EcoBoost V6 on AutoGuide.com

As Ford Racing just announced, they will be supplying 43 Fiestas to the Team O’Neil Rally School in New Hampshire in order to create the Fiesta Rally School. The O’Neil Rally School will outfit each Fiesta with a roll bar, rally suspension, and off-road tires so that aspiring rally drivers can safely learn the Scandinavian flick and other sideways rally driving techniques.

This partnership further solidifies Ford’s commitment to using the new Fiesta as their global rally car in 2011 and beyond, where it’ll be seen running in the FIA World Rally Championship and in Rally America with highly skilled hoonage provided by the likes of DC Shoes headman and rallying driver extraordinaire Ken Block.

The 43 donor Fiestas are being repurposed from the 100 European-spec versions that arrived in North America for the Fiesta Movement. The Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience will be the only rally experience offered by a manufacturer in North America, which combined with the Ford Racing School of High Performance Driving at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah gives the blue oval an impressive motorsports presence on both sides of the country.

“Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience will provide consumers with the opportunity to experience Fiesta in a true rally environment,” said John Felice, general manager, Ford and Lincoln Marketing. “From learning how to drive high-performance Mustangs on the track at Miller Motorsports to driving a Fiesta on a rally road course at Team O’Neil, these driving schools allow consumers to experience our products in unique and different environments.”

“The opportunity to find a second life for nearly half of the cars from the Fiesta Movement is a way to keep alive the legacy these cars have brought to the Fiesta launch in North America,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “Fiesta’s nimble driving dynamics and precise handling attributes make it a perfect fit to serve as a rally school car at Team ONeil.”

“Our philosophy at Team O’Neil is to teach drivers how to master front-wheel drive in order to keep speed in the corners, accelerate through the corners, and use the brake to make a turn,” said Tim O’Neil, five-time U.S. and North America rally racing champion. “Fiesta is a strong, light, front-wheel-drive car. The addition of Ford Racing-developed performance parts including an rally suspension, underbody protection and roll bar gives us a great future with these cars.”

For more information on Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience and to register, go to Team O’Neil Rally School & Car Control Center

More: Ford Racing and Team O’Neil Driving School Team Up to Create Fiesta Rally School on AutoGuide.com