By Andrew Ganz

Confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry, Ford Motor Company announced today that its 2011 F-150 lineup will receive four new powertrains, ranging from a base 3.7-liter V6 to a pair of V8s and even a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6.

The F-150 was redesigned for the 2009 model year, but it made due with three rather outdated V8 setups, including two 4.6-liters and a 5.4-liter. Ford says that the 2011 lineup will offer more power, more refinement and better fuel economy.

All four of Ford’s new engines will be mated exclusively to six-speed automatic transmissions in the F-150. The 6R80 transmission gains Ford’s SelectShift system for full manual-style control to reduce upshifts. Gear ratios have also been modified and a one-way clutch is said to give the transmission smoother 1-2 or 2-1 shifts.

The 2011 F-150s will make their formal debut later this year at the State Fair of Texas’ auto show in September. The automaker hasn’t specified if there will be any cosmetic or suspension changes to go with the new V6s and V8s.

300-horsepower base V6
Ford dropped its base six-cylinder for the 2009 model year thanks to sluggish sales of its predecessor. Now, Ford thinks it has the right configuration for a base model. Taking the 3.7-liter Duratec V6 from the 2011 Ford Mustang, base variants of the F-150 will put out an impressive 300 horsepower (estimated).

That figure exceeds the horsepower output of all but the range-topping 2010 F-150.

Ford estimates 275 lb-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, meaning the powertrain won’t be best suited for customers who want to tow, however. Ford rates the 3.7-liter at up to 6,100 lbs. when properly configured.

5.0-liter V8
Ford’s truck engineers also looked to the 2011 Ford Mustang GT for its all-new 5.0-liter V8. Putting out 360 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 380 lb-ft. of torque (at 4,250 rpm), the V8 has been modified significantly from its Mustang application.

Ford says that the camshafts were retuned for better low-end torque and that a 10.5:1 compression ratio helps reduce engine knock at low speeds for towing. The V8 uses an additional oil cooler to help give it 10,000 mile oil change intervals.

F-150s equipped with the 5.0-liter V8 and the proper towing configurations will be rated at an impressive 9,800 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard F-150 gains Raptor’s 6.2
Already available in the F-150 SVT Raptor, the automaker’s range-topping 6.2-liter V8 will make its appearance on the standard F-150 lineup.

Rated at 411 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) and 434 lb-ft. of torque (at 4,500 rpm), the 6.2-liter helps the F-150 tow up to 11,300 lbs.

Ford says that the 6.2-liter will be available in certain “specialty applications,” like the recently-unveiled F-150 Harley-Davidson.

EcoBoost hits haulers
Already available in a number of Ford vehicles – like the Taurus SHO and Flex EcoBoost – the automaker twin-turbo, direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 will be a late-introduction offering on certain F-150 configurations.

Ford promises V8-like power with V6-level fuel economy, although the automaker hasn’t released specifics for either category. At any rate, look for horsepower near the Flex’s 355 ponies and torque somewhere around its 350 lb-ft. – which is spread from 1,500 rpm to 5,250 rpm thanks to the twin turbochargers.

As far as fuel economy, Ford suggests a 20 percent improvement over current F-150 5.4-liter figures, so figure around 16-17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

Ford says that its dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission – PowerShift – will now be available on twice as many models in Europe.

The Michigan automaker initially launched the PowerShift automatic on certain variants of its Focus and C-Max models; now it says that the Kuga, Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy will be available with the advanced automatic.

On the Focus, S-Max and Galaxy, the PowerShift transmission is mated to Ford’s new 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder gasoline engine, while all models equipped with the automaker’s 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel can be had with the six-speed.

On diesel models, the PowerShift transmission adds about £1,500 in the U.K. market.

In North America, only the Fiesta is available with a version of Ford’s PowerShift transmission – ironically, the Fiesta is available only with manual transmissions or a traditional four-speed automatic in Europe. Ford says that few European buyers would choose to select an automatic transmission in the Fiesta’s class.

www.sherwoodford.ca

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfVXBjeZ ... r_embedded



Ford has revived its historic Boss 302 nameplate for 2012 by reincarnating one of the most high-performance road-ready muscle cars ever to emerge from Detroit.

The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 takes a standard 2011 Ford Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter V8 and adds an upgraded intake system and revised engine tuning to crank out 440 horsepower – an impressive jump over the standard GT’s 412 ponies. The Boss 302 also pumps out 380 lb-ft. of torque and is mated exclusively to an upgraded six-speed manual transmission.

A 3.73 rear axle uses carbon fiber plates in its limited slip differential to put the increased power to the rear wheels. A Torsen limited slip rear differential will be available – coupled with unique Recaro-designed front seats in a special upgrade package.

Mean-sounding
The intake system has also been reengineered to provide a throatier growl under hard acceleration, while a unique quad exhaust system made up of two standard Mustang GT outlets and two side pipes that exit on either side of the rear crossover. The side pipes send the exhaust through a set of metal discs to create an extra growling exhaust sound.

“We added the attenuation discs to meet legal regulations, but we knew buyers might operate these cars in situations where noise regulations weren’t an issue,” Shawn Carney, Mustang NVH engineer, said in a statement released to the media.

“The disc is removable and includes a spacer plate sized to match aftermarket exhaust dump valves. If an owner wants to add a set of electric valves, they just undo two bolts on either side; the disc and spacer slide out and the valve will slide right in. And the side pipes are tuned so that drivers can run wide-open and the sound levels are comfortable – very aggressive but livable for an all-day track outing.”


Mean-handling
The Boss 302 takes the Mustang GT’s standard suspension and adds higher-rate coil springs, stiffer bushings and a larger diameter rear stabilizer bar. The body is lowered 11 mm up front and just 1 mm out big to give it a more raked stance designed to recall the original.

All Boss 302s gain adjustable shocks and struts.

“We’ve given drivers five settings for their shocks,” said Brent Clark, supervisor of the Mustang vehicle dynamics team, in a statemetn. “One is the softest, two is the factory setting and five is the firmest, and we’ve provided a wide range of adjustment. A customer can drive to the track on setting two, crank it up to five for improved response on the track, then dial down to one for a more relaxed ride home. What’s unique is that drivers will find – thanks to the way the suspension works as a complete system – the softest setting isn’t too loose and the firmest setting isn’t too controlled; each step just provides additional levels of control.”

The shocks aren’t adjustable in the cabin; instead, Ford chose to stick with a simple race-style underhood adjustment built into the shock tower. To adjust the suspension, Ford says that drivers will only need to use a flat head screwdriver.

In addition, Ford modified the electric power steering for enhanced feedback and feel. Unlike other Mustangs, the Boss 302 will allow drivers to select one of three steering settings in the instrument cluster menu – Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The standard Mustang traction and stability control programs have been altered with a new intermediate sport mode designed to allow for a little more flexibility on the track.

To go with all of the underbody improvements, Ford selected a set of unique 19-inch black-alloy racing wheels. Staggered at 9 inches wide up front and 9.5 inches out back, the wheels are wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires.

Ford says that the tires and suspension upgrades help the Boss 302 achieve more than 1.0 g’s of lateral acceleration – the first in a non-SVT-modified Mustang.

Those new wheels wrap around 14-inch vented rotors and Brembo calipers up front and upgraded Mustang GT brakes with high performance pads out back. The ABS system has also been modified

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-mustang-boss-302.html

by John Neff (RSS feed)

When we reported last month that Ford may push the Taurus SHO up to 400 horsepower, it caused quite a stir in the comments. Speaking at the annual SHO Convention held this year in Dearborn, Steve Ling, Ford's North American car marketing manager told us, "365 horsepower is good. 400 is better." Words are one thing, but new spy shots from ace photog Brenda Priddy and her gang confirm that Ford is definitely planning something for the 2012 Taurus SHO.

This Limited-badged Taurus caught hot weather testing in the South West is pretty easy to spot as a SHO. The SHO-specific wheels are the dead giveaway, but out back we also see the SHO's two large tailpipes poking out of a modified rear valence. What's particularly interesting is the car's front end, which is heavily wrapped, most likely to obscure design changes to the 2012 SHO's front end that will further separate its look from standard Taurus models.

While we there's no evidence in these spy shots confirming that Ford is pushing the car's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 up to 400 horsepower, the fact this car was caught hot weather testing could indicate that engineers are there to see how a more powerful version of this engine acts when the mercury skyrockets. That said, they could also just be testing how any changes to the front end design affect engine cooling for the current engine.

We're also hoping they're testing new brakes for the SHO, because the current car's stoppers have enough trouble hauling down this heavy sleeper sedan without another 35 hp making matters worse.

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Aug 17th 2010 at 6:01PM


2011 Ford Edge Sport
It goes without saying, but we're going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don't expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.
In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn't resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge? Stay tuned for a First Ride report.


FORD EDGE REACHES 400,000 SALES SINCE INTRODUCTION, MORE THAN ANY OTHER MIDSIZE CROSSOVER

Ford Edge sales this weekend hit 400,000, more than any midsize crossover since its introduction in late 2006
The crossover segment is one of the most fiercely contested in the industry, expanding 220 percent since 2006 – and expected to grow another 20 percent this year
The new 2011 Ford Edge began shipping this weekend from Oakville Assembly Complex and is arriving in dealership showrooms
2011 Ford Edge introduces America to the revolutionary MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology and offers unbeatable fuel economy of 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 17, 2010 – Sales of Ford Edge, which arrived on the market in late 2006, hit 400,000 this weekend – more than any midsize crossover vehicle during the same period.

Also this past weekend, the new 2011 Ford Edge began shipping from Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario to dealerships across the United States and Canada.

"Edge competes in one of the fastest-growing and most fiercely competitive segments in the industry," said Amy Marentic, Ford's Crossover Group Marketing Manager. "Still, Edge is growing sales at an incredible rate."

As of July, Edge sales for the year were up 33 percent over last year – more than double the overall industry sales.

In 2006 when Edge was introduced, the midsize crossover segment accounted for 4.3 percent of the retail industry. Last year, that number grew to 9.5 percent. And this year, it's expected to top 11 percent, making the segment the same size as full-size pickups and more than sports cars.

Now comes the new 2011 Ford Edge with three new powertrains, bold new styling, improved driving dynamics and industry-leading MyFord Touch technology.

"Edge defined the crossover segment when it was launched in 2006. Ford has taken a great vehicle and made it even better," Marentic said. "The new Edge promises to take the segment to an all-new level."

The 2011 Ford Edge SEL and Limited, which account for about 80 percent of all Edge sales, have EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway (front-wheel drive), which is unsurpassed in each category among V6 competitors.

The new Edge is now 1 mpg better city and 2 mpg better highway – with even greater power. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine produces 285 horsepower, best-in-class among V6 competitors and 20 more horsepower than the outgoing Edge.

MyFord Touch, standard on the 2011 Edge Limited, 2011 Edge Sport and available on the 2011 Edge SEL, defines an all-new in-car experience. It takes vehicle interior design into the realm of popular personal electronics devices such

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Aug 17th 2010 at 8:58AM

The cover of the latest issue of Auto Express in the UK features one of the first renderings of the next-generation Ford Mondeo, which as we all know will be basically the same as Ford's future replacement for the Fusion in the States. If this drawing proves accurate, it looks like the new midsize models will combine a lot of what we see in the 2012 Focus at the front end with a greenhouse and rear stance that actually looks more like the current Taurus.

The Fusion was Ford's first model to adopt the automaker's now ubiquitous three-bar grille design, but this rendering finally dispenses with that look in favor of something a little more Kinetic. We don't know if the production model will go this way or perhaps use the modified perforated version adopted by the latest Taurus and Explorer.

The new Mondeo and Fusion will probably debut sometime later in 2011 and come to market early in 2012 as a 2013 model.

Ford releases additional photos of Mustang Boss 302, triggers additional drooling
by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Aug 17th 2010 at 12:30PM


2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Perhaps the biggest news to come out of this year's Monterey action is the revival of the Mustang Boss 302 for 2012. It's a hardcore version of the already well-liked Mustang GT – the hot new 5.0-liter V8 has been given more power, and performance mods like an upgraded clutch, adjustable suspension, short-throw shifter and improved brakes are all on hand, as is an even more exclusive Laguna Seca model.

We've now spent a good deal of time fawning over the official photos of Ford's new Boss, as well as a set of live photos shot by our own Drew Phillips. However, Ford has just released another smattering of high-res shots showing the track-storming Boss models in all their glory. Scroll through the attached galleries to see the full raft of Boss 302 images, and be sure to wipe the drool from your keyboard when you're done. Hat tip to Antonio!


http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-for ... -boss-302/

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Aug 16th 2010 at 2:01PM



Thanks to an alert reader perusing the Ford Racing online parts catalog, we now know that both the new 5.0-liter "Coyote" V8 and the aluminum-block supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that power the 2011 Mustang GT and GT500 can be purchased in boxes.

The 412 horsepower, twin-cam 32-valve V8 comes fully dressed except for the air-conditioning compressor and alternator. That means it has compete fuel injection and ignition systems and all the manifolding and other bits. The other item that's not included is the wiring harness and powertrain control module which will set you back an extra $1,499 on top of the $6,999 for the engine.

For those with a hankering for even more grunt, the aluminum 5.4-liter also comes dressed for success with 550 hp and 510 pound-feet of torque. The cylinder bores of the new engine have been coated with a Plasma Transferred Wire Arc system to make them tougher than steel or iron with much lower weight. The blown engine is a good bit steeper – $20,999 – plus the harness and PCM. A tip of the hat to GT

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed)

When it comes to a new Explorer Sport Trac for 2011, the only real surprise would have been if Ford had actually opted to build one. With the standard Explorer moving to a unit-body architecture, there are no plans for a new pickup truck version, a vehicle that probably would have been something akin to the Honda Ridgeline.

Since the Ridgeline hasn't exactly been flying off dealer's lots, Ford has wisely decided to focus on its full-bodied version, the Explorer. The Blue Oval hasn't made a habit of breaking out Sport Trac sales from its SUV kin, but the Explorer only totaled 52,190 in 2009, so the pickup's volume probably wasn't a huge seller. According to Automotive News' sources, Sport Trac sales usually totaled about 20 to 25 percent of Explorer sales over the last decade, but that number strikes us as curiously high. Over its entire life, we never saw a ton of them – even on the roads around Michigan where domestic pickups are commonplace.

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Aug 8th at 10:31AM



Doesn't it seem like only yesterday that Ford was in charge of seven different brands? Now The Blue Oval is down to two, Ford and Lincoln, after today's sale of Volvo to Chinese automaker Geely and the pending execution of Mercury. This means more energy and money will be available to plot success for Ford and Lincoln, and according to a report in Automotive News, that means Lincoln could get "a compact, front-drive car or crossover" (Lincoln Concept C, anyone?) and perhaps a model based on the next Ford Mondeo. Not exactly what we would have expected from Ford's luxury brand, but times change.

A small taste of what's in store for Lincoln: the MKX will get a redesign next year, the same year that the venerable Town Car dies, and, according to AN, a brand-new MKX with a design less like the Edge will appear in 2014. The MKZ gets a new look in 2013, which could be the last year for the controversial Ford Flex/Lincoln MKT and Navigator, perhaps replaced by an Explorer-based crossover or an SUV with more chops for rough terrain. Hopefully, they'll also rework that whole MK-Random-Letter approach to nomenclature as well.

The more germane revelation is this: Ford apparently believes Lincoln's success is contingent on putting lots of daylight between Ford and Lincoln engineering. Lincoln models need to be more distinct from their Ford counterparts in everything from engines to styling to feature sets. That might mean a lot more luxury features and refinement could be making their way into Lincolns soon – and that's something increasingly anxious Lincoln dealers ought to be able to get behind.

www.sherwoodford.ca

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed)


2011 Ford Super Duty pickup –

Ford has made it official: beginning with next week's production, the 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel in the 2011 Ford Super Duty pickup will be upgraded to 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. That's a bump of 10 hp and a jump of 65 lb-ft, enough to leapfrog General Motors' 6.6-liter Duramax by 3 hp and 35 lb-ft. Or, to put more bluntly, enough to run over the Duramax on its way to the top of the heavy duty engine heap.

Further, at the end of August, the Super Duty's frame will be strengthened, upping its payload rating by 550 pounds (to 7,070), which will also increase its fifth-wheel tow rating by 1,000 pounds to 22,600.

Although not much can be done for your tow rating if you bought a Super Duty as soon as it hit the showroom, you can get the power upgrade from your suddenly feeble 635 torques. For one year starting on August 31, 2010, will be able to take their pickups into Ford dealers and get their engines tweaked to the new standard. Since there's no hardware involved, Ford says it should take just 20 minutes to get the reflash job done – learn more with the official press release after the jump.

UNIQUE CUSTOMER PROGRAM ALLOWS ALL PICKUP OWNERS TO GET 2011 FORD SUPER DUTY POWER GAINS

* The 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbocharged diesel powering the 2011 Ford F-Series
Super Duty is now rated at best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower
* Existing 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty diesel pickup owners can get the increased power along with additional fuel economy improvements through a free dealer-installed software upgrade to the truck's powertrain control module

For more news from the CAR Management Briefing Seminars, please click here.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 3, 2010 – In an industry first, Ford Motor Company will make sure all 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup customers – past and future – receive the added power produced by the all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel.

The new Power Stroke is now rated at a best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower. Owners who purchased a 2011 Super Duty diesel earlier this year will receive a letter inviting them to their dealership for the free 30-minute software upgrade to the truck's powertrain control module.

The upgrade program will begin by Aug. 31 and continue for the next 12 months. The 2011 Super Duty diesel pickups in dealer inventory also will receive the upgrade.

"We want to take care of our loyal, F-Series Super Duty pickup owners who supported us when we debuted our all-new Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built Power Stroke earlier this year and reward them by offering them the same best-in-class torque, horsepower and fuel economy our new customers are receiving right now," said Barb Samardzich, Ford Motor Company's vice president of powertrain engineering.

Samardzich made the announcement at the Center for Automotive Research's annual Management Briefing Seminars.

Marc Cross, co-owner of Jordan Ford in San Antonio, is eager to share the news with his loyal customers. His store is in the center of the largest truck market in the country – about 20 percent of truck sales nationally – and among the top 100 retail Super Duty volume dealerships in the country.

"Simply put, I love it," said Cross, who has been with the dealership since 1987 and a co-owner since 2003. "Not just the increased power, which is fantastic, but the fact that I can call my loyal customers who bought the 2011 Super Duty diesel pickups at the outset and let them enjoy this upgrade, too.

"It's human nature to say, 'Darn, I should have waited.' But with this program, there's no penalty for being an early adopter, so to speak."

Cross' affiliation with Ford dates back to 1978; he says this type of program is a first as far as he can remember.

"I think this is unprecedented; I don't remember anything like this," said Cross, who added the 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup is outselling the outgoing product about 3:1. "This shows the tremendous alignment between Ford Motor Company and its dealers and its customers. I also think in a way people expect this type of action from Ford. Ford is operating differently – at a higher standard."

This latest initiative complements ongoing customer service related to the introduction of the new Power Stroke. 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup customers also can return to their dealers for one no-charge DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) top-off. DEF is used in the aftertreatment system to help reduce emissions. It generally is topped off during oil-change service intervals, depending on customer use.

"For customers who haven't yet taken advantage of this free offer for a DEF top-off, the software upgrade might be the perfect time to come in and have both services at once, free of charge," said Doug Scott, Truck Group Marketing Manager.

Ford unveiling Boss Mustang on August 13th?
by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed)



With all-new powertrains debuting in the 2011 Ford Mustang, you knew it was just a matter of time before a new limited-edition model was introduced. Well, it looks like that time may be next week. As you all know very well by now, the 2011 Mustang GT has the new Ford 5.0 V8 underhood. Since the new race version (above) wears the Boss 302R moniker, a new street-going Boss 302 seems like a no-brainer.

During a recent Grand-Am race, the announcers let slip that the consumer-spec Boss 302 would debut in mid-August at Laguna Seca as part of Pebble Beach week. (The exact date spinning around the rumormill is August 13.) The Boss reportedly delivers about 430 horsepower with a price in the low $30,000 range. Ford's motorsports partner, Multimatic, is apparently building some special parts for the Boss 302, but we'll have to wait until next week to find out those specifics if indeed this rumor is true. Check out the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zZ1sjNm ... r_embedded

by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Jul 26th 2010 at 9:57AM


http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/26/vide ... #continued

Alan Mulally on CNBC – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Our trusty spy photographers have captured the next-generation Ford Ranger out testing several times now, but speculation continues to swirl over whether or not this trucklet will be available for U.S. consumption. After all, there's been talk of a more entry-level F-150 that would sort of fill the void of not having a dedicated Ranger replacement, but Ford has never ruled out the possibility of an all-new small pickup.

While talking about the new 2011 Explorer on CNBC's Squawk Box this morning, Ford's president and CEO, Alan Mulally, appears to have unintentionally confirmed a new Ranger for North America. While discussing the whole lineup of Stateside Ford products, Mulally specifically says "new Ranger," which leads us to believe that all of these test mules we've seen might not just be for our overseas friends (something that we've been wondering about anyhow, as we've seen more Stateside evaluations of this 'overseas' truck than any other foreign market vehicle in recent memory). No, Mulally doesn't come right out and say that an all-new Ranger is headed our way, but we've continued to hear scuttlebutt about just such a truck from our sources, and given that his remarks were otherwise confined to North American products, we're beginning to think that a new Ranger is all but confirmed.

To see what we're on about, follow the jump to watch the CNBC interview, and pay close attention beginning around the five-minute mark for Mulally's Ranger remark. A big ol' tip of the cap to Dan!


*UPDATE: Ford continues to tell Autoblog that the new global Ranger is not planned for North America. As we've previously reported, the new F-150 will receive an EcoBoost powertrain that should deliver similar economy figures to the Ranger while providing improved size and capability, thereby negating the need for bringing a smaller pickup in this market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPeIy5cc ... r_embedded

By Mark Kleis

Ford’s Alan Hall – mentioned in the video – recently spoke to Leftlane about the changes to MyFord Touch. Hall explained that the changes to the system now allow for a far greater ability to recognize voice commands, which allows Ford to reduce the number of steps required in order to achieve a desired goal. What may have taken four or five steps before, says Hall, will now only take one or two [steps].

This was made possible by increasing the number of possible first-level commands from a paltry 100, to an impressive 10,000+. Ford also increased the number of commands which can be recognized to accomplish the same job, making use more intuitive and requiring less specificity and memorization for operation.

MyFord Touch also expands on Sync by integrating an advanced LCD screen which can now control several additional aspects of the vehicle, such as climate control.

Ford has also added a new safety feature that will allow users to put the vehicle in a “Do Not Disturb” mode, blocking incoming phone calls and texts to minimize distraction while driving.


www.sherwoodford.ca

by Christopher A. Smith
2010 Ford Taurus SHO Convention highlights

Blue Oval execs rolled out the red carpet for Taurus SHO owners last week in Dearborn, MI to welcome 100 privately owned examples and many more enthusiasts to town for the 19th annual national Taurus SHO convention. Ford would love nothing more than to win the approval of the already rabid SHO enthusiast community, many of whom appreciate the performance potential of two turbos and all-wheel drive but aren't necessarily on board with the new super-sized model. To that end, Ford dropped some not-so-subtle hints on what could be in store for the next SHO, a model rumored to be on deck for 2013.


"365 horsepower is good. 400 is better.""The SHO is at the top [of Ford's performance sedan lineup] and we're going to keep it there," said Steve Ling, Ford's North American car marketing manager during a Tuesday lunch presentation at Ford World Headquarters. "365 horsepower is good. 400 is better."

Advanced Engine Design and Development Engineer Brett Hinds spoke at length about the EcoBoost V6 during the Tuesday presentation, noting that the 3.5-liter engine had the potential for considerably more power, as we'll likely see later this year between the fenders of the F-150. That version of the EcoBoost will definitely produce more torque than the SHO's mill, but if the rumors of 400 horsepower for the F-150 are true, a more muscular SHO could indeed be just around the corner