2013 Ford Fusion goes official
Today marks the beginning of the 2012 NAIAS event and for this occasion the Blue Oval automaker has decided to unveil the new 2013 Fusion model which in international markets will be known as the Mondeo. The car is going to go head to head with popular models like the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
Ford will be offering this model with a choice of gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, each of which are set to achieve the best fuel economy efficiency in this competitive class. The car will be offered with an all-wheel drive configuration, automatic start/stop system, and also a choice between manual and automatic gearboxes.
Those who prefer gasoline engines will be able to get the 2013 Ford Fusion/Mondeo with a 1.6-liter direct-injection Ecoboost engine that comes with the aforementioned start/stop system and it will be able to return 31.5 mpg in the combined cycle. This engine will mark the very first time the automaker has offered an automatic gearbox with an automatic start/stop system. The beefier 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine will be able to develop 237 hp.
The hybrid version of the Fusion will feature lithium-ion batteries instead of the previous nickel-metal ones. As a result, the car will be more powerful and at the same time it will have a lower curb weight, while under electric power only it will be able to hit a top speed of 62 mph (up from the previous 47 mph). This hybrid model will adopt an all-new, Atkinson-cycle, 4-cylinder 2.0-liter engine that can deliver 47 mpg during city driving and 44 mpg on the highway.
Ford says that the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is going to be the most fuel efficient midsize car in the entire world, which will be able to deliver more than 100 MPGe. This figure is 8 MPGe higher than what the Chevrolet Volt can offer and 13 MPGe more than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model. This version of the Fusion is set to arrive in the upcoming fall.
Source: Ford via WCF
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2012 Ford Focus Electric
The Blue Oval automaker has announced this week that the upcoming 2012 Focus Electric will be the first all-electric vehicle that has seating for five people that will be able to have a fuel efficiency rating of 100 miles per gallon equivalent (100 MPGe), which is 1 MPGe more than the Nissan Leaf and 7 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt.
2012 Ford Focus Electric
To understand how economical the car will be, it will cost you about $2.10 to use it for 80 miles. This figure is based on the amount of energy it takes and on the U.S. national average cost of a kilowatt-hour. Travelling with a traditional gasoline-powered car that returns 30 mpg will cost you $8.80, with a price per gallon of $3.30.
2012 Ford Focus Electric
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is already available on order in California, New York and New Jersey, and next year its availability will be increased to an additional number of 15 states thanks to the fact that Ford will increase the production rate.
Source: Ford via WCF
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Ford Focus ST-R gets $98,995 price tag
The title of this article that you just have read is not wrong because the Ford Focus ST-R you see in these photos actually costs a whopping $98,995! This very expensive Focus is a racer that has been designed in order to compete in events like the Canadian Car Series, World Challenge TC and the Grand-Am ST.
It has a sport-tuned suspension, a FIA-compliant roll cage and beefier brakes. Other features of the car include a Recaro seat, a limited slip differential and 18-inch BBS rims wrapped around in Hoosier racing tires.
The Ford Focus ST-R is motivated by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that has a Ford Racing clutch. No word about the performances of the car but that power unit could develop more than 247 hp (250 PS / 184 kW) and a maximum torque of 265 lb.-ft (360 Nm).
The car is already available for order and the first deliveries will start towards the end of 2012.
Source: Ford via Car & Driver
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Ford Mustang Boss 302SX concept
The Blue Oval company has unveiled a few days ago the Mustang Boss 302SX concept in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Racing Industry Show. The car is envisioned to be slotted between the Boss 302S and the Boss 302R, featuring a very aggressive front fascia, retro body stripes and a vented bonnet. It also has a Ford Racing exhaust, an adjustable rear wing and it rides on 18-inch rims wrapped around in racing tires.
Ford Mustang Boss 302SX concept
Just as you would expect from an “ultimate track day car”, the interior cabin of this Ford Mustang Boss 302SX has been stripped of just about all of the equipment. It has only one Recaro seat, a data logger, a quick-release steering wheel and a FIA-compliant roll cage.
Ford Mustang Boss 302SX concept
The car is motivated by a V8 5.0-liter engine that develops more than 500 hp (507 PS / 373 kW) and comes with tubular rear lower control arms and an adjustable coilover suspension.
Source: Ford via Mustangs Daily
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2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss made a public appearance at this year’s edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show. It is motivated by a V8 5.0-liter engine that develops 444 hp and 380 lb.-ft of torque. As far as the changes that have been brought in comparison to the outgoing model, the 2013MY features a new design for the splitter, functional bonnet vents, standard HID headlights, LED tail lamps and easily removable covers.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Inside the cabin, this powerful rear-wheel coupe comes with Ford’s SYNC infotainment system as a standard feature. This includes a USB connection for digital music players as well as hands-free with voice activation calling through Bluetooth. Other than that, the system incorporates an on-demand diagnostic and information service plus an automated “911 Assist” emergency calling service which is entirely free.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Source: Ford
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Back in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford brought the three-door concept version of the Fiesta ST and now they’ve unveiled the five-door variant at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Even though we are dealing with a concept, the production version will look pretty much the same when it will come out.
The three-door version has borrowed a lot of the styling cues from its five-door sibling, like the 17-inch alloys, widened wheel arches, a bunch of aerodynamic enhancements, a new front end and a lowered suspension.
This concept is motivated by a 4-cylinder turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine that produces 180 hp and a peak torque of 177 lb.-ft. The entire horsepower is sent to the wheels in the front via a 6-speed manual transmission.
Source: Ford
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I’ve always considered the Ford Flex to be a cool crossover and never understood why it isn’t a successful model. However, the Blue Oval company has not lost hope and came up with the revised 2013MY which was unveiled this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Instead of using the razor-blade grille available on the outgoing model, Ford decided to opt for a sharper looking grille that is now connected to the revised headlights. They also developed new designs for the alloy wheels and came up with a bunch of new colors.
Inside the cabin, the 2013 Ford Flex comes with a redesigned dashboard, a restyled steering wheel as well as a new seat trim. It also has been fitted with the newest generation of automaker’s MyFord Touch system that features two 4.2-inch displays located in the instrument cluster along with an 8-inch display in the center stack.
This three-row, seven-passenger crossover comes with the company’s rear inflatable seatbelts along with an optional radar-enabled adaptive cruise control, Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, and a collision warning system with brake support.
Ford’s naturally aspirated V6 3.5-liter engine has been updated for the 2013 Flex and now has twin independent variable camshaft timing, managing to develop 285 hp and a peak torque of 255 lb.-ft, which is 23 hp and 13 lb.-ft more than the outgoing engine. Ford also mentioned that this new engine is 1 mpg more fuel efficient, which means that it will allow the car to return 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Customers will still be able to get the 2013 Ford Flex with the beefier V6 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine that churns 355 hp and 350 lb.-ft of torque. For the Limited and SEL models, the Flex can be ordered with an optional Appearance Package that brings two-tone mirrors and roof, leather seats, 20-inch machined alloys, bespoke door trim panels along with other upgrades inside the cabin.
Source: Ford
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We have another story today from Ford and it’s about the 2013 Shelby GT500 which will be on display at the Los Angeles auto show that starts today. At the heart of this model is an aluminum-block V8 5.8-liter engine that develops 650 hp (659 PS / 485 kW) and a maximum torque of 600 lb.-ft (813 Nm). It is going to be linked to a revised 6-speed manual transmission.
The car is able to reach a maximum speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) and in order to handle the loads required by this top speed, Ford’s engineers have modified the aerodynamics of the GT500, especially the front fascia and the splitters. The car rides on 19-inch alloys in the front and 20-inch rims at the back which are covered by the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 tires.
Those who want to buy the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 can also order the Performance Package or the Track Package. The first one comes with electronically-adjusted Bilstein dampers while the second package features a rear differential cooler, an external engine-oil cooler as well as transmission cooler.
Source: Ford
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The new generation of the Ford Kuga has been unveiled this week and it is the company’s very first “unified” SUV. The car will make its official debut this week during the Los Angeles Auto Show, and it is set to replace the Escape model in the United States, and it will hit the European dealerships in the beginning of 2012. Later on next year, the Kuga will also be introduced in China.
The styling of the compact five-seater is inspired by the Vertrek concept that we saw in Detroit earlier this year, a concept which was designed in Europe. It adopts the “One Ford” philosophy that was also used for the Fiesta and Focus models.
According to Ford’s development boss Derek Kuzak, the all-new Kuga/Escape will be able to provide the best fuel efficiency in its class, along with offering 11 convenience features that no other car in this segment has, including here a hands-free powered tailgate which if you aim a soft kick at the underside of the rear bumper will swing upwards.
The Blue Oval has also improved the aerodynamics of the new model which now features grille slats that will automatically close when maximum cooling power is not necessary. This not only reduces fuel consumption but it also diminishes aerodynamic drag as well.
The U.S.-spec model will be powered by a 2.5-liter normally aspirated engine, along with the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter petrol turbocharged Ecoboost power units. The European model will get these Ecoboost engines along with a choice of diesels which is already available for the Focus. Later on, Ford might introduce smaller 3-cylinder engines.
The new generation of the Kuga is 100 mm longer than the outgoing model, and most of this increase in length was aimed towards making the wheelbase longer. This new model will probably be Ford’s most important launch next year as far as the volume figures are concerned, even though the new generation of the Mondeo will be out in 2012. According to the Blue Oval company, 60% of North Americans who want to buy a new car are picking either a mid-size sedan or a sport utility vehicle.
Source: Ford via Autocar
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The new Ford Mustang is based on the 2012MY and brings a bunch of minor styling updates as well as some hardware improvements. According to the Blue Oval, the design updates that they’ve did were meant to make the Mustang look more masculine and aggressive.
As far as the exterior is concerned, the 2013 Mustang comes with a new more prominent grill for all the models in the lineup, a functional hood air extractor for the GT model, a new front splitter, new design for the rear lights, body-colored rocker panels, along with a glossy rear panel that has the “Mustang” emblem. Other than that, the new Mustang has been fitted as standard with HID and LED headlights and tail lamps.
The most significant change inside the cabin would have to be the new 4.2-inch LCD screen that can be controlled through a five-way button mounted on the steering wheel. The Track Apps function is able to display not only the regular range information and fuel consumption details, but also braking times, g forces, automatic and countdown starts, along with acceleration times in 0-60 and quarter-mile increments.
Clients will be able to order one of the two new audio systems for the 2013 Mustang. The first one has eight speakers and 370 watts, while the other one comes with nine speakers and 550 watts. The option list available for the entire range now includes the leather- or cloth-trimmed Recaro seats from the Shelby GT500 and the Boss 302.
Ford has also increased the output of the engine to 420 hp, which is 8 hp more when compared to the outgoing 5.0 GT. It can be linked to a new 6-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox that allows the driver of the Mustang to shift the gears through a button located on the side of the shifter.
The Mustang GTs fitted with a manual transmission can be ordered with the optional GT Track package that includes an upgraded radiator, engine cooler, 14-inch vented front discs, performance friction brake pads, 19-inch alloys, the Torsen limited slip differential from the Boss 302 model, along with summer performance tires.
The automatic Mustangs can be ordered with the V6 Performance Package, while manual models can be bought with the hill start assist system. Both manual and automatic Mustangs can be purchased with the Brembo Brake Package.
The 2013 Ford Mustang will make its public debut this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show and it will hit showrooms in the United States in Q1 2012.
Source: Ford via Carscoop
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Women are more emotional than men. At least that’s what has always been said about women: they’re the weak part of the humanity, but they still decide about what car to buy.
Let’s say you are a woman and you see these billboards on the streets of your town. So, we ask you: to which one are you attracted to? Which of the cars are you tempted to love and eventually to buy?
Renault
Audi
Ford
So, let’s see: which car brand is the most inspiring for you, dear ladies?
[Source: Adsoftheworld, Intro photo]
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3-cylinder 1.0-liter Ford engine
Ford’s chief Alan Mulally revealed in Cologne yesterday the company’s smallest engine in its existence, the UK-designed 3-cylinder 1.0-liter that will power the Focus where it will shave off the CO2 emissions to just 109 g/km. This is a turbocharged, direct injection engine that will be available in two power stages: 98 hp and 123 hp, and it will go on sale next year in the Focus, followed by the C-Max, Grand C-Max and the B-Max.
This is the smallest engine that Ford has ever made and it’s constructed mostly from aluminum alloy. At first, this power unit will be manufactured in Cologne where a new production line was designed, one that cost 110 million pounds. It was designed by the Blue Oval’s engineers in Dunton and Dagenham, but later on the production of this frugal engine will commence in Craiova, Romania as well.
The European production of this engine should reach 700,000 units while the global production should top 1.5 million units.
Source: Ford via Autocar
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Ford has unveiled the facelift for its Flex model ahead of the car’s debut later on this month at the L.A. Auto Show. The full-size, seven-seat crossover features a few cosmetic changes, including at the front fascia where the ends are now rounded out to give the car a less boxy appearance. Other modifications include the removal of the blue oval badge which before was in the center of the grille while the Flex badge is now spelled out at the front end of the bonnet.
Some of the most important new features added to the car include the latest generation of the MyFord Touch system as well as inflatable rear seatbelts for increased passenger protection. In the event of a collision, this system will inflate the rear seatbelts in only 40 milliseconds.
As for the engines, the 2013 Ford Flex can be equipped with a V6 Ti-VCT 3.5-liter unit that develops 285 hp (289 PS / 213 kW) and 255 lb.-ft (345 Nm) of torque. There’s also a beefier engine in the form of a V6 3.5-liter EcoBoost unit that churns 355 hp (360 PS / 265 kW) and a maximum torque of 350 lb.-ft (474 Nm). Both these engines are linked to a 6-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox and they can also be mated to a sequential transmission that s paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.
Source: Ford via WCF
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The new generation of the Ford Kuga will be unveiled later on this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show where it will be known as the Escape. The guys from Auto Express.co.uk have taken a few spy shots with the car which will go head-to-head with the Volkswagen Tiguan. Initially, the model will be available in North America, while later on it will reach Europe where it will be known as the Kuga.
We are dealing with a global car, just like the latest generation of the Fiesta and the Focus, and it has been created under the One Ford philosophy. This means that the Kuga/Escape will be sold in a variety of different markets which will get pretty much the same car.
Even though that this prototype is wearing some camouflage, we can easily see that Ford has borrowed a few design cues from the Vertrek concept that was unveiled earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show. It has just about the same sharp lines as the concept, along with a larger lower air intake with triangular grilles as well as LED headlights. Also borrowed from the Vertrek are the angular C-pillars and the sloping rear roofline. The entire car features a rugged protective cladding for the sills, wheelarches and bumpers.
The current generation of the Kuga has gotten numerous negative comments due to the lack of space inside the cabin, but Ford has fixed this issue since the new model has a 100mm longer wheelbase and the car is also 50mm wider. According to Ford, the new generation of the Kuga/Escape will be 20% more spacious inside the cabin.
The car will be motivated by the same EcoBoost 1.6-liter gasoline engine that powers the Focus, along with a bunch of TDCi units. Most likely, the new Kuga will be offered with a part-time 4WD configuration, along with systems like stop/start and regenerative braking, which will lead to lowered fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The current model has a starting price of 21,645 pounds, but the new one will probably be a little bit more expensive. We’ll have more information after the Los Angeles Auto Show. Stay tuned.
Source: Auto Express
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At this year’s edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Blue Oval company will bring the Fiesta ST Concept that previews the production model which is going to be sold globally. It will be just about the same concept that we’ve seen back in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the production version is scheduled to be released sometime next year.
Ford Fiesta ST Concept
The Fiesta ST Concept will be featuring a 4-cylinder EcoBoost 1.4-liter engine with 177 hp (180 PS / 132 kW) and 177 lb.-ft (240 Nm) of torque. The power unit will be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that will allow the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in less than 7 seconds, on its way to a maximum speed of more than 137 mph (220 km/h).
Source: Ford via WCF
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