Ford
All-new 2011 Ford Ranger leaked ahead of debut!
Images of the all-new 2011 Ford Ranger have been leaked onto the webosphere, ahead of its official debut at this year’s Australian Motor Show, due to kick-start in just a couple of hours.
I am glad to report that the new Ranger looks pretty good, more like the American pick-ups from Ford. The front nose looks larger and it carries a more aggressive demeanor. There are also side air vents that are placed on the front fenders. These vents should be there for aesthetic reasons only.
The new Ranger which will also be available in a single cab form, with both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations is 7.5 inches longer, 1.7 inches wider and 2.5 inches taller than the outgoing model (for double cab). Wheelbase is also longer, by 8.6 inches.
There rear end is treated to two vertical taillights while the interior sports a double-binnacle instrument cluster, a display screen that is believed to be the trip computer on the centre dash and a four-spoke steering wheel.
There is also new lever-style parking brake. The double cab model has up to 20 different storage areas, along with a cooler that can fit 6 cans. Furthermore the glove box is also big enough to house a normally-sized lap top.
The all-new Ranger is offered with a number of engine options, both from the diesel and petrol families. The former is made up by a 2.2 liter Duratorq 4-cylinder with 374Nm of torque as well as a 3.2-liter 5-potter with 470Nm of torque. The sole petrol option is the 2.5 liter Duratec which is also flex fuel capable. Transmissions wise, there is a 6-speed automatic, a 6-speed manual and a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Ford said that the Ranger can now support up to 3,306 pounds of payload, on selected models and said that its towing capabilities have been improved as well. The new Ranger is said to be less harsh, unlike conventional pick-ups.
It has new rubber ‘hydro’ mounts placed on the frame, between the rail and the cabin. There mounts with hydraulic fluid help reduce violent vertical and horizontal motions more effectively. The brakes have also been improved, now larger with ventilated discs up front and drum brakes in the rear.
The new Ranger also comes with ESP with Traction Control , ABS, an optional Trailer Sway Control, Adaptive Load Control as well as Roll-over Mitigation. There is also a rearview camera system and Rear Park Assist feature.
The all-new Ranger was developed by Ford’s Australian arm and it will be manufactured in three regions including Asia, South Africa and South America. Asia will lead the way with Ford’s Thailand plant starting from next summer. The Ranger which is Ford’s global pick-up truck, dubbed the T6, will be sold in various markets, except US and Canada.
Continue reading to view more images of the 2011 Ford Ranger. Read the rest of this entry.
Paris 2010 – 300hp Ford Fiesta rally car revealed!
Ford has also taken the opportunity to showcase a rally racer in Paris. Just like the MINI Countryman WRC, this Ford Fiesta RS WRC will compete in the S2000 category and it will replace the Focus in Ford’s WRC campaign. The Fiesta RS WRC will make its rally debut at the 2011′s Swedish Round, happening in February.
Co-developed with M-Sport (no relation to BMW), the Fiesta RS WRC car is powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine which makes up to 300hp. The engine has been tuned by a French tuning house called Pipo Moteur.
The rally-prepped Fiesta has a lot to live up to, as the Focus it is replacing won manufacturers’ titles both in 2006 and 2007. It will be piloted by Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen with teammates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila.
An image gallery is available after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
Super Snake pack for 2011 Shelby GT500 – with optional 800hp!
Shelby has announced a new package for the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500. Called the Super Snake, it is made up by a Ford Racing handling kit with adjustable dampers, lowered springs, tuned stabilizer bars and front strut tower brace. There is also a Borla exhaust system, a short-throw shifter for a 6-speed manual with a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio as well as crossed-drilled brakes with 6-piston calipers along with vented rotors.
Also in the package is a Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels finished in durabright or anthracite, front brake cooling ducts and behind-the-door side scoops and a fiberglass hood. Shelby also included Super Snake stripes, available in either matte black or matte white. Other design features include “Shelby” lettering across the rear deck lid, “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate as well as Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats.
Now on to the more exiting bits. The package comes with a Shelby/Ford Racing supercharger that allows the engine to crank out over 660hp and 799Nm of torque. There is also a 750hp tuning level, from either a Shelby/Ford Racing supercharger or a Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger. This option also includes a billet twin 75mm throttle body.
If all that power isn’t enough for you GT500 owners out there, you can take home the optional Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit which bumps power up to 800hp. The options list is also made up by a Shelby/Eibach handling pack and a two tone leather interior.
The Super Snake package with the 750hp state of tune will set you back US$30,245. Ford did not disclose pricing for the 660hp and 800hp variants. The package is limited though, to 1000 units only. Continue reading to view the images above in high-res fashion. Read the rest of this entry.
Ford to debut next-gen airbags with new Focus
Ford has developed a new airbag system that is sad to be offer better crash protection. The enhanced system will debut with the all-new Ford Focus before being offered with other vehicles in Ford’s line-up.
First up is a steering wheel airbag with a tether system. Basically the lower part of the airbag will be pulled back to give more space between the driver and the airbag in the abdominal area. Ford says that this will soften the blow of the airbag to the driver’s chest and ribs which in return helps reduce the chances of bodily injuries.
The engineers at Ford have also worked on enhancing the side airbags. They are fitted with shoulder vents that remain open during inflation. The vents will help deliver varying levels of pressure based on the size of the occupant and how much of their shoulder blocks the vent. Taller occupants will block these vents with their shoulders and they should benefit from the higher pressures.
The passenger airbag have been modified as well. It uses adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas from the airbag inflators through vents outside of the airbags. There is a pyrotechnic device to force open the vent and it can provide less pressure in the airbag while being sufficient enough to help protect the occupant. Basically its about varying the pressure in the airbag depending on the occupant’s size.
There is a restraints control module which adjusts the level of venting based on seat position. With this, the occupant will have better head and neck protection. Ford has also released a video explaining about the new driver’s airbag. You can watch it after the jump. Read the rest of this entry.
247hp Ford Focus ST to debut in Paris
Ford has announced that it will present a hotter version of the all-new Focus at the Paris Motor Show. The Focus ST which is Ford’s first model developed under the company’s global Performance Vehicles Strategy will go on sale in early 2012.
The ST is powered by a 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine which is good for 247hp and Ford promises that it stays true to Ford’s ST heritage – “offering driving enthusiasts an intoxicating cocktail of exhilarating performance and handling accompanied by an addictive sound.”
Judging from the image released by Ford, this ‘Tangerine Scream’ ST seems to have a manual transmission although a dual-clutch Powershift unit is expected to be offered as well. In my honest opinion, I feel that the ST looks a little overcooked, especially the front end. A more powerful Focus RS is rumored to arrive sometime in 2013.
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2011 Ford Mondeo revealed in Russia: full details!
This is the facelifted Ford Mondeo mid-sized sedan which made it’s debut at the Moscow International Motor Show just hours ago. Ford has updated it’s flagship model with a variety of upgrades but lets check out it’s exterior design first. The refreshed Mondeo now has a modified front grille, revised hood design as well as the introduction of LED daytime running lights that make up the upgrades up front.
The side profile sports new fully chromed window surrounds (for the range-topping models) while the revised LED taillights round up the exterior changes. Overall the Mondeo looks that much better now, while there weren’t much to complain about the pre-facelift model.
Work has been carried out on the inside as well. The Mondeo now has a revised centre console along with a different door card design. There is also a central overhead console fitted with LED ambient lighting, a woven headliner, new ‘jewel’ detailing on the switches, satin chrome vents as well as the introduction of new interior colour schemes, which according to Ford, help to offer a more premium feel – something that was not really there with the pre-facelift.
Potential buyers will be happy to know that Ford has introduced new features on the Mondeo. They include Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam as well as a Driver Alert system. Ford says that these three features utilize a camera located at the top of the windscreen in front of the rear view mirror. Also in the list is a Blind Spot Information System, Speed Limiter, Rear Door Power Child Locks and a Rear View Camera.
Now lets move on to the drivetrain. The 2011 Mondeo debuts a new engine from Ford, which is a 240 PS 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine which joins the existing 203 PS 2.0 liter EcoBoost. Ford has also updated the 2.2 liter Duratorq TDCi diesel unit. It now makes 200 PS which marks a 12% increase over it’s previous guise. Also in the diesel family are 115 PS, 140 PS and 163 PS versions of the 2.0 liter Durotorq.
The current Duratec engines are maintained and they are made up by a 120 PS 1.6 liter and a 145 PS 2.0 liter. Ford revealed that it plans to introduce new 1.6 liter engines from the EcoBoost and Duratorq engine families in the near future. Transmission wise, both a 6-speed manual transmission and Ford’s PowerShift dual-clutch transmission are offered, depending on the trim level of course.
The new Mondeo is also offered with ECOnetic technologies that include Smart Regenerative Charging, Ford Eco Mode driver information system as well as an Active Grille Shutter system that regulates the airflow through the radiator and engine compartment. The 2011 Ford Mondeo which is available in both sedan and estate forms will go on sale starting from next month. Prices will start from £17,295 in the UK.
You can check out a high-res image gallery after the jump and watch a video. Read the rest of this entry.
The Boss is back! Ford unleashes 440hp Mustang Boss 302
Good news for Mustang fans! Remember the mean-looking Mustang Boss 302 of the late 60′s and early 70′s? Well after four decades the Blue Oval has given a new lease of life to the Boss 302. The latest generation Mustang Boss 302 is, just like it’s predecessor, a hardcore version of the pony car featuring upgraded components and an angry demeanor. Power comes from the familiar 5.0 liter V8 found found in the 2011 Mustang GT. Further work has been carried out on the engine allowing it produce 440hp compared to 411hp. Torque is now figured at 380 lb.-ft.
The powerplant is treated to revised camshafts with a more aggressive grind and a more aggressive control calibration. Other upgrades in the drivetrain are made up by a race clutch with upgraded friction materials, a short-throw close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission as well as a limited-slip differential with a 3.73 ratio rear axle using carbon fiber plates. Available as an option is a torque-sensing or Torsen limited-slip differential.
Ford also emphasized on the sound that comes out of the Boss 302. It uses a Boss-specific intake system that is tuned to feed the engine with minimum restrictions hence a retuned induction sound. It also uses a quad exhaust system with side pipes that help produce a more intense V8 sound. The side pipes are also tuned so that drivers can run wide-open while producing comfortable sound levels. Ford also said that up to eleven pounds of sound-deadening material have been eliminated to enable the occupants to further enjoy the sound.
The Boss 302′s suspension has been retuned as well. It sports higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar. The car is lower by 11 millimeters at the front and 1 millimeter at the rear compared to the Mustang GT. Also included in the suspension upgrade list are manually-adjustable shock absorbers. The Boss 302 also has a speed-sensitive electronic steering system with three modes for different weight levels. Also part of the system is traction control and an electronic stability program, both of which can be completely turned off when desired.
The lightweight 19-inch black alloy wheels, with staggered widths are shod with Pirelli PZero summer tires and the wheels hide Brembo four-piston calipers up front and standard Mustang GT brakes at back with Boss-specific pad compound. The ABS brake system also uses low-compressibility brake lines that expand up to 30% less than traditional flexible brake lines, allowing maximum fluid pressure to reach the calipers in the least amount of time. Ford did not reveal the Boss 302′s sprint performance figure but did say that it can hit 155mph which makes it the fastest non-SVT Mustang ever. It also said that Boss 302 offers more than 1.0 g of lateral acceleration.
Now lets have a quick look on what makes a Boss 302 different in terms of design. First up is the black or white roof panel which is in line with the C-styled sticker on the side of the vehicle. The front has been revised and features blocked-off fog lamp openings and aggressive lower splitter which can also be seen on the Boss 302R race car. The splitter is not only for esthetics but it helps manage the air under and around the vehicle during high speed travel. The spoiler at the back also helps minimize overall drag.
Inside, the driver will be faced with a Boss steering wheel finished in Alcantara suede, a material used for seats as well. The Boss 302 also has it’s instrument panel, gauge cluster and door panel trim finished in dark metallic. There is also a black pool-cue shifter ball and door sill plates that read “Powered by Ford”.
In it’s press release Ford said that it is pitting the Boss 302 against the BMW M3: a huge task I must admit. Ford claims that the Boss 302 can ‘top’ the 2010 M3 in terms of lap times at the Laguna Seca circuit in the US. The 302 does make more power compared to the M3′s 4.0 liter V8 but can it beat the M3′s refinement in the handling department? I am not too sure about that. Ford also unveiled a limited-edition Boss 302 Lugana Seca. Its more of a track-ready version of the 302 with increased body stiffness, a firmer chassis set-up and an aerodynamics package that is carried over from the Ford Racing Boss 302R.
Continue reading to enjoy an image gallery as well as to watch three videos. Read the rest of this entry.
