Forty-plus years after the debut of an American performance legend, the mighty Boss Mustang returns. The limited-production 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is set to become the quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever. The new car is based on the world-class foundation provided by the 2011 Mustang GT, but Boss gets a bump across the board: Engine output, brakes, suspension, interior and exterior are all tuned for peak track performance. Want even more? The Laguna Seca model deletes the rear seat and adds race-ready suspension and aerodynamic treatments familiar to any fan of the Ford Racing Boss 302R. more…

The all-new Taurus that Ford Motor Co. launched a year ago will never match its former glory as the best-selling car in America. But in Ford’s eyes, it doesn’t have to.

The remade Taurus

has emerged as a flagship for the Dearborn automaker, restoring luster to a nameplate that had become synonymous with “rental car,” and helping to revive an automaker that had become dependent on trucks and sport utility vehicles.

It is a prime example of Ford’s strategy to build sales volume by using the same basic underpinnings for a lineup of vehicles, each with its own identity. The Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover, the Ford Flex, even the redesigned Explorer, all share the D-size Taurus platform. As a result the signature Taurus doesn’t need to be high-priced or high-volume to make its business case.

A year after its introduction, analysts think the car is pulling its weight.

“Taurus is part of the engine driving Ford’s renaissance,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book in Irvine, Calif.

Ford is now the top brand on buyers’ consideration list, KBB surveys show, and the Taurus is the best resale-value sedan. Ford says the resale value has increased 39 percent over the 2009 model.

The case to revive the Taurus factors in volume from sister vehicles that allowed Ford to set and reach modest volume goals for the Taurus, said analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics in Birmingham.

Even though Ford has only sold 41,400 Tauruses through July, the Flex, MKT and MKS add another 36,100.

“Taurus volume was central to our D-size platform and it is the biggest piece,” said Pete Reyes, Taurus’ chief engineer.

Hall said by adopting that strategy, “the financial planning volume goals were probably met,” and Ford added other vehicles to share engineering, parts and plant capacity.

“Even if the Taurus is not a star, it doesn’t matter,” said analyst Joe Phillippi of AutoTrends Consulting Inc. in Short Hills, N.J. “Take a $28,000 car and turn it into a $42,000 Lincoln MKT. That’s good business. There’s a lot of margin in that.”

‘Design set it apart’

The Taurus itself appears to be netting a nice profit.

The average selling price exceeds $30,000, said marketing manager Amy Marentic.

Buyers, she said, are opting for higher trim levels and more features.

The car is selling well with little marketing support, due in part to the strength of Taurus’ 96 percent name recognition.

It’s attracting younger buyers. The average buyer is 57, seven years younger than a year ago, Marentic said. And the Taurus has captured 18 percent of the full-size car segment through July, according to WardsAuto.com.

But today’s sales pale in comparison with the original Taurus, which debuted in 1985.

It created a sensation with its aerodynamic jellybean shape and quickly became the top-selling midsize car.

“Its design set it apart,” Reyes said. “You didn’t see anything like it on the road.”

In those days, small cars were shrunken versions of boxy Crown Victorias, lacking strength and elegance.

“Cars got uglier as they got smaller,” Reyes said. The Taurus found its proportion and set a tone for American design.

Taurus sales peaked at close to 410,000 in 1992. But when SUVs took off, the Taurus suffered from a lack of updates.

“There was an incredible investment in trucks, and cars just didn’t get the money,” Reyes said.

‘More time in studio’

To keep plants in Chicago and Atlanta running, Ford pushed Taurus volume. But “there was no innovation, no reason to own a Taurus except that it was a good deal,” Bell said.

Many ended up in rental car fleets, and the Taurus was discontinued as a midsize sedan in 2007.

When Alan Mulally — a non-car exec — became Ford CEO in 2006, he asked what had happened to the Taurus name.

By then, the Ford Fusion was competing well against other midsize cars, but the Five Hundred, an oddly proportioned full-size sedan introduced in 2004, had failed to catch on.

Ford upgraded the Five Hundred and relaunched it with the Taurus name for the 2008 model year, while work continued on giving the new 2010 Taurus more style and power.

“We made the decision to spend more time in the studio, a year instead of six or eight months, to get the personality and lines of the car,” Reyes said.

To stay on track, engineering time was cut by four months. Reyes’ team made a single clay model. At one point it was in the wind tunnel with engineers adding and removing clay as aerodynamic data was gathered.

‘It caught me off guard’

Ford also decided to bring back the SHO, a performance version of the Taurus that was sold from 1989-99.

“It was an important part of the 2010 launch,” Marentic said.

Ford expected the SHO to be 11 percent to 15 percent of Taurus sales.

The “boulevard sledgehammer” has been running about 20 percent and is good for Taurus sales as a whole, Reyes said.

It hooked Darrell Stamper of Allen Park.

“I didn’t see myself as much of a Taurus guy. I saw it as an older guy’s car, a grandpa car,” said the 37-year-old firefighter.

But the family man needed to replace his pickup. He sat in a 2010 Taurus SHO.

“It caught me off guard. It’s the nicest car I’ve ever had.”

Ford insists it won’t let the current Taurus grow stale.

“It is important it continue to stay fresh,” Marentic said, in a segment where the newest car wins.

apriddle@detnews.com (313) 222 – 2504

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100816/AUTO01/8160336/1148/auto01/Taurus-a-blueprint-for-Ford-s-success#ixzz0x1OcXWaC

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100816/AUTO01/8160336/1148/auto01/Taurus-a-blueprint-for-Ford-s-success#ixzz0x1OItBY3

Many readers will have great memories of the Australian muscle car era. The best years were the 1970s and one of the best examples of the age is the XW/XY Ford Falcon GT. Not as many of you will remember that during that era a whole bunch of Falcon GT parts were exported to South Africa where they were assembled into Fairmont GTs. Recently (or perhaps not), a large haul of Fairmont GTs was unearthed making Ford enthusiasts across the country go weak at the knees.

Many readers will have great memories of the Australian muscle car era. The best years were the 1970s and one of the best examples of the age is the XW/XY Ford Falcon GT. Not as many of you will remember that during that era a whole bunch of Falcon GT parts were exported to South Africa where they were assembled into Fairmont GTs. Recently (or perhaps not), a large haul of Fairmont GTs was unearthed making Ford enthusiasts across the country go weak at the knees.

There were a few cosmetic difference between the Fairmont and Ford GT models, but essentially they are the same car. Indeed, in the areas that matter, these were fair dinkum Falcon GTs.

There appear to be scant facts around about the way this collection was built, but interweb rumour suggests the cars were purchased individually in South Africa with the sole intention of exporting them back “home”. The idea being, of course, that the home grown collecter market would gobble these GTs up at some profit to the importer.

The further one digs, the murkier the water becomes. One story goes that a bloke by the name of Tom Druce was seeking the cars in South Africa under the pretence that they would be restored and placed in a museum. The reality (or the internet forum reality, at least) shows that the cars were brought back to Australia and sold for a tidy profit.

Another rumour suggests that 10 Fairmont GTs were bought for the small sum of AU$15,000 each. While it is the GTHO Phase III that creates the headlines as far as auction prices go ($750,000 is the record),  the more humble GTs of the same era have been known to sell for over $200,000. You don’t have to be Einstein to calculate probable profits here, even if the cars were in an unrestored state.

You will also notice what looks to be a Holden HT Monaro. These too were sold in South Africa and badged as a Chevrolet SS.

Whatever the real story is with this collection of cars, one thing is certain, there are a lot of fans out there who would love to get their hands these cars and restore them to showroom condition.

There are a lot of holes in this article and if you can shed some further light as to the facts of the matter, I’d love to hear from you.

Source: Dirt Bike World forum & aussiexport.com (Thanks to Jono for sending this in.)

There were a few cosmetic difference between the Fairmont and Ford GT models, but essentially they are the same car. Indeed, in the areas that matter, these were fair dinkum Falcon GTs.

There appear to be scant facts around about the way this collection was built, but interweb rumour suggests the cars were purchased individually in South Africa with the sole intention of exporting them back “home”. The idea being, of course, that the home grown collecter market would gobble these GTs up at some profit to the importer.

The further one digs, the murkier the water becomes. One story goes that a bloke by the name of Tom Druce was seeking the cars in South Africa under the pretence that they would be restored and placed in a museum. The reality (or the internet forum reality, at least) shows that the cars were brought back to Australia and sold for a tidy profit.

Another rumour suggests that 10 Fairmont GTs were bought for the small sum of AU$15,000 each. While it is the GTHO Phase III that creates the headlines as far as auction prices go ($750,000 is the record), the more humble GTs of the same era have been known to sell for over $200,000. You don’t have to be Einstein to calculate probable profits here, even if the cars were in an unrestored state.

You will also notice what looks to be a Holden HT Monaro. These too were sold in South Africa and badged as a Chevrolet SS.

Whatever the real story is with this collection of cars, one thing is certain, there are a lot of fans out there who would love to get their hands these cars and restore them to showroom condition.

There are a lot of holes in this article and if you can shed some further light as to the facts of the matter, I’d love to hear from you.

Source: Dirt Bike World forum & aussiexport.com (Thanks to Jono for sending this in.)

1995 White GT 331, 11:1, Fully Ported Victor Jr Heads, Ported Parker Funnel Web Intake, N-91 Cam, Pro Systems Carb, and 4.10′s….. Awaiting dyno tune!
2000 F-350 Crew Cab 7.3L Turbo Diesel, 6″ lift, 18×9 Rockstars, 35″ Mud Grapplers, 2008 Tailgate, 1.15 Van Turbo w/ WW, Rosewood 160cc/80%, BDP Custom Tunes, BTS VB, AIH Delete, HPOP HPX, Triple Gauges, Intake, and 5″ Exhaust.

With California’s Death Valley conveniently located on the same continent as Dearborn, Michigan, why on earth would Ford ship engineers and the all-new 2011 Explorer all the way to the United Arab Emirates to conduct hot-weather and off-road testing? Especially on a crossover, a vehicle few people will ever drive off-road?

The value of this 14,000-mile round trip became abundantly clear as I stepped out of the civilized, air-conditioned comfort of my shuttle vehicle, an F-150 SVT Raptor.

The air in Dubai hits you like an atomic hair dryer. Unlike the heat in Death Valley, there’s some serious humidity hanging in the atmosphere due to the UAE’s proximity to the Gulf of Oman. Our day in the desert saw temperatures of 48° Celsius (118° Fahrenheit) with humidity in the range of 40-60 percent. That’s not a dry heat. Using a standard heat index calculator with a 50-percent humidity factor, the equivalent temperature showed 191°Fahrenheit.

President Obama describes how a then unpopular decision to fund new investments in America’s auto industry has fostered innovation, bolstered the economy and saved American jobs during a visit to the Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly Plant. August , 2010.

The stylish and intuitive execution of the 2011 Ford Edge interior highlights the midsize crossover’s improved craftsmanship and materials, creating an inviting environment

New MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology, which provides a smarter, safer, simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives, comes alive in the all-new interior of the 2011 Ford Edge

Chrome accents and details as well as a tiered, waterfall-like design along the dashboard also highlight the all-new interior

The all-new MyFord Touch driver connect technology is the focal point – literally and figuratively – of the new 2011 Ford Edge. This available groundbreaking system allows customers seamless and easy access to media or vehicle information by scrolling through menus with simple touch or voice commands.

The interior of the 2011 Ford Edge is more than just this dynamic technology, however. Upgraded materials, additional accents and fresh execution of colors and forms create an environment that is as comfortable and inviting as it is functional and convenient.

“With the addition of MyFord Touch, we created a high-tech look,” said Jim Smithbauer, interior design manager. “It drove our treatment of the center stack, in particular, but also the rest of the interior as well. The MyFord Touch system’s modern look inspired us to push the interior design even more to reflect and complement this cutting-edge technology.”

MyFord Touch(TM) with Sony(R) Audio System adds a Sony-designed electronic finish panel with a high-gloss black finish and unique treatment of the touch-controlled buttons. Login to download images.
Upgraded interior showcases new MyFord technology
MyFord Touch, standard on the 2011 Edge Limited and 2011 Edge Sport, includes two 4.2-inch configurable LCD screens in the instrument cluster as well as the 8-inch LCD touch screen in the center stack and five-way controls on the steering wheel – plus a new media hub with two USB ports, video input jacks and an SD card slot.

Sony® HD audio is standard on the Edge Limited and Sport. The Sony-branded center stack features a gloss-black finish (allowing the controls to “pop” as they light up) and a single center knob with chrome details. Unique to the Sony electronic finish panel is the treatment of the touch-sensitive controls, which are executed as circular “landing zones.” There are no buttons to push. Instead, the touch of a finger activates the controls.

Consistent with other Sony products, the audio portion of the control panel is divided into “Source” and “Sound” sections, allowing customers to select the input (AM/FM radio, satellite radio, CD, personal devices) and tune the sound with bass, treble, fade and balance inputs on the screen.

The heart of the Sony Audio System is its extraordinary sound quality. Comprised of 12 high-quality speakers and a Class D all-digital amplifier, the Sony system has the ability to pump out 390 watts of continuous power (RMS). Further, Dolby Pro Logic® II technology creates true virtual 5.1 channel surround sound throughout the car for a unique listening experience.

MyFord Touch information also is displayed in two full-color 4.2-inch LCD screens (one on the left side and one on the right side) in the instrument cluster. The left side includes traditional vehicle information such as trip odometers, average fuel economy and cruise control settings. The right side allows customers to interface with multimedia technology. Each screen is accessed through respective five-way switches on the steering wheel.

Powerpoints are available inside the console and on the passenger side. The center stack and console are arranged to appear mounted on a pedestal, with storage below.

Complementing the technology upgrades to the 2011 Ford Edge are softer touchpoints, such as a soft, seamless instrument panel and a softer door trim panel. Those details demonstrate Ford’s increased focus on higher levels of craftsmanship and quality.

Additionally, accents such as chrome rings around the shift lever and cupholders, brightwork along the doors and scuff plates as well as available silver accent rails echoed on the door panels help create a warmer, more inviting environment for the 2011 Ford Edge.

Interior inspired by classic works
The dashboard, with its tiered, waterfall-like design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater house, encapsulates the flowing form throughout the interior. New stitch styles highlight the seats, while the door inserts, armrests and center console feature softer materials and more padding. Those touchpoints also reinforce the better balance between the lighter and darker surfaces found in the 2011 Ford Edge, as light and shadow play off each other to add visual depth.

The new flow-through console integrates seamlessly with the instrument panel and dashboard, eliminating hard cut points. The pass-through below the console is another spot where the available ambient lighting shines through, along with the front and rear door map pockets, door release handles, front and rear footwells and the front cupholders.

Each trim level – SE, SEL, Limited and Sport – offers subtle differences in the interior. SE has black screen appliqués, SEL features stamped pewter and Limited has Cocobolo wood appliqué. Setting the Edge Sport apart are Liquid Silver Smoke appliqués, which are echoed in the seats, and aluminum pedals. Edge Sport also has paddle shifters that activate the six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission.

“The interior environment has more texture, both visually and tactilely,” Smithbauer said. “It’s no longer a sea of one color and better embraces the form and function of the 2011 Edge. It’s more than just well-designed individual components. Edge has a sense of cohesiveness not found in competitors’ models.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Ford estimates it’s share of the Heavy Duty Truck market in the US last quarter was over 50 percent,in fact Ford had it’s highest truck sales in 2 years. That’s up 39 percent from last year. So it seems as Americans are  getting back to work they are  choosing Ford to get the Job done.

Ford is stepping up power on their work Horse with a mid year upgrade,the 6.7 Diesel power stroke Engine Boosting performance and Fuel Economy , remember they are doing this to a Engine that already is Best in Class best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower, this will be the most power engine every put in a pickup.

These numbers matter because our customers say they do. The higher torque means that oil and gas crews in Houston can tow up an 8,000-foot grade maintaining a steady speed and using less fuel.

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

Here are 6 important point about the 6.7 Diesel

1. First use of a compacted graphite iron (CGI) engine block in a Super Duty-class vehicle in North America; stronger than cast iron, Ford has successfully used CGI in engine blocks in products around the world. The block structure was optimized for reduced weight and maximum strength to meet the demands of higher torque and horsepower.
2. Unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture, an automotive-industry first for a modern production diesel engine, reduces overall exhaust system volume, which leads to better throttle response for the customer; additionally, reduced exhaust system surface area minimizes heat transfer to the engine compartment and improves NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance.
3. The new engine architecture enables easier service work for all major engine components, potentially reducing downtime. On turbocharger service, for example, the body/cab no longer has to be removed from the frame to access the turbo; also, the high-pressure fuel pump, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) components and thermostats are directly accessible from the front of the vehicle.
4. Honeywell’s VNT™ (variable nozzle turbine) DualBoost turbocharger features an industry-first dual-sided compressor wheel that works in a single housing. The unit is uniquely center-mounted on a pedestal low in the back of the valley for improved NVH. This turbocharger design allows the single unit to deliver the benefits of a twin-turbocharger system in a smaller, more efficient package, combining the advantages of a small turbocharger (faster response) and a large turbocharger (ability to compress and force more air into the engine for more power) in one unit.
5. The high-pressure Bosch fuel system injects fuel at more than 29,000 psi. The system delivers up to five injection events per cylinder per cycle using eight-hole piezo injectors to spray fuel into the piston bowl. The direct-injection system is calibrated and phased for optimum power, fuel efficiency and NVH performance.
6. Aluminum cylinder heads for reduced weight; the mid-deck construction with dual water jackets provides increased strength and optimal cooling; also, six head bolts, instead of four as found on other engines, help improve sealing and maintain cylinder integrity. o Compatible up to B20 fuel, allowing greener fueling options of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. The new Super Duty debuted not only with a new diesel engine, but with a new heavy-duty TorqShift™ six-speed automatic transmission. As experience was gained building the new powertrain, engineers continued to test components, check data and seek optimizations.

Something else that has been speculated about in the past year is the possibility of a retractable hardtop version of the Mustang Convertible. The problem with this rumor is that it’s said to be slated for the 2008 Mustang, but we’d be much less surprised if that Ford decided to add these feature during the facelift of 2009 instead. The image above was photoshopped by Carspyshots.net community member Soho81, and although it’s on a 2006 Mustang Convertible it gives you a good idea of what me might be install for in 2008, or 2009.

The 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 adds plenty of technology options to give customers what they are looking for. Key to helping customers take advantage of all the capability offered by the Harley-Davidson F-150 is a standard 4.2-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) productivity screen.

This screen offers menu options, giving the customer important information related to fuel economy and towing performance. The menu is navigated through a five-way button on the steering wheel and is positioned between the tachometer and speedometer.

Additionally, the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 comes equipped with a standard voice-activated Navigation System that integrates several functions including voice-recognition destination entry, climate control and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio into one easy-to-use system, displaying them on an 8-inch touch screen.

For the customer who wants more control of transmission gear selection, SelectShift Automatic™ transmission functionality is available. A toggle switch located on the console shift lever engages the mode, where the transmission doesn’t second-guess the driver, giving him or her total control over gear selection and performance feel.

Other standard features on the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 include:

• Power moonroof
• Rear view camera
• Second-row heated seats
• Ambient lighting
• Remote Start System

Customized Harley-Davidson appeal
The 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 interior is customized to appeal to the truck buyer who appreciates the attention to detail for which both Ford and Harley-Davidson are renowned.

Examples are the seats and console lid, which feature handmade cloisonné badges that are produced by the same company that makes badges for Harley-Davidson® motorcycles; the console has a limited-edition serialization plate, which is numbered individually.

“We take creation of the Ford Harley-Davidson trucks very seriously, but it’s also something we have a lot of fun with along the way,” said Design Manager Brad Richards. “We hope that comes through in each of the finished trucks.

“We ensure Ford Harley-Davidson trucks exude the same bold personality as the legendary motorcycles,” Richards added. “We take two brands that are undeniably unique and forge a product that embodies the best qualities of both.”