Ford

Nov 16 2011

2013 Ford Escape, EcoBoost power

2013 Ford Escape, EcoBoost power
Love it or hate it, the 2013 Escape – previewed by the Vertrek concept from this year’s Detroit Auto Show – takes much of its design inspiration from the 2012 Focus. The large, trapezoidal lower grille, the wraparound design of the taillamps and even the alloy wheels are further interpretations of the Focus formula. And while the sexy lead image you see above makes the Escape look all tough and handsome, truth be told, we’re not sure if we love it. We’ve seen the new Escape in person and it still strikes us as a bit too… Focused. Call us old school, but there was something appealing about the mini-SUV styling of the old Escape.

What aren’t old school, however, are the new suite of engines that Ford is offering in its compact CUV. The standard engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder, which produces 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. Next up is an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 173 hp and 177 lb-ft on tap, and the range-topping engine is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost that boasts 237 hp and 250 lb-ft. All of these powerplants are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and with the 2.0-liter underhood, the Escape is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds. Depending on the engine, Ford says that the new Escape is up to five miles per gallon more efficient than the outgoing model, though official EPA numbers (or estimates) have not been released at this time. Front-wheel drive is standard, but buyers can opt for a new intelligent all-wheel-drive system, as well.

Source: Ford

Nov 14 2011

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 650 horsepower. 600 pound-feet of torque. 200-plus miles per hour

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 650 horsepower. 600 pound feet of torque. 200 plus miles per hour
The heart of the new Ford stunner is a 5.8-liter, aluminum-block V8, complete with a larger, more efficient supercharger. Nearly the entire powertrain has been upgraded for 2013, including a new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle. The cooling system has also been upgraded, and the new six-speed manual transmission now has a final drive ratio of 3.31-to-1 – optimized to handle the massive amounts of torque put down by the new engine.

Further enhancements can be had in the GT500 Performance Pack, which incorporates SVT-designed Blistein electronic adjustable dampers with ‘normal’ and ‘sport’ modes and a Torsen limited-slip differential. What’s more, the Track Package adds an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler. Like the current GT500, 19-inch wheels are standard up front (20-inch rollers are found out back) and a Brembo braking system keeps everything in check when its time to control all that force. The whole package weighs in at just 3,850 pounds – 270 less than the Camaro ZL1 – and Ford says it will not be subject to the dreaded Gas Guzzler Tax.

Source: Ford

Nov 2 2011

2012 Ford Focus Electric from $39,200*

2012 Ford Focus Electric from $39,200*
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric showed up on the company website’s configurator this morning with a base price of $39,200 before state and federal incentives, plus an additional $795 for destination charges. That brings the total base starting price of the Focus Electric to $39,995. Factor in a maximum federal tax credit of $7,500 and the price falls to a more palatable $32,495.

What you’ll get for your money is Ford’s fun-to-drive Focus with a permanent-magnet electric motor producing 123 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The motor is fed by a 23 kwh lithium-ion battery system and mated to a single-speed transmission. A full charge can be had in 18-20 hours by a typical 120v outlet or 3-4 hours by a special 240v charger. While no quick charge option is available, Ford has partnered with a company called SunPower to offer a home solar charging option for an additional $10,000.

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