Cars
Ford Presents A New Way To Design The GT
Just when you think you thought you saw it all Ford goes and flips the script on you. To assist customers in personalizing their all-new Ford GT, Ford Performance is providing them with a unique order kit. Approved applicants will receive a kit that allows them to physically piece together every aspect of their all-new supercar – everything from paint colors, wheel options, caliper colors, interior material samples and racing stripes.
The Ford GT design team has gone well beyond the traditional online build site, developing miniaturized, abstract pieces for each kit employing the same advanced materials used throughout the car’s interior – including carbon fiber and a latch identical to that found on Ford GT race car. Swatches of each interior theme are included, featuring the same high-quality leather and Alcantara that will accent the cabin of the all-new Ford GT.
Each order kit features eight exterior color samples with removable stripes that can be interchanged, showcasing the multiple options available. It has scaled-down replica wheels, with different colored calipers among the choices for the exterior.
Jan 9th
Ford Brings Backs Some Classics As They Look To The Future
There is a lot of good news coming from the 2017 NAIAS. We have learned that Ford reveals new, even tougher, smarter and more capable F-150, featuring segment-first technology, including Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, embedded 4G LTE modem, SYNC 3 and B&O PLAY audio
The all-new Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck will be reintroduced to the North American market in 2019. Rugged all-new Ford Bronco midsize SUV returns in 2020 as a global vehicle; both Bronco and Ranger to be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. Ford-owned Chariot – the app-based, ride sharing service in San Francisco and Austin, Texas – will expand this year to eight cities, including at least one global city.
Ford presents a vision for the “City of Tomorrow” to inspire innovation and assist cities in solving mobility challenges to help people move more easily today and in the future.
“This year, the expansion of our business as an auto and mobility company moves into even higher gear,” said Mark Fields, president and CEO. “We’re introducing even more new vehicles and technologies to make life better for millions of people in the near term, plus we’re presenting a vision and partnering with cities to move more people even more efficiently in the future.”
Jan 9th
Lexus GSF Review
Lexus dives head first into the performance sports sedan battle with the GSF.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit I was never a big fan of the Lexus GS. It always felt like the fulfillment of an obligation to offer a mid sized luxury sedan. Previous incarnations of the GS, even the 350 F-Series felt just a little big and heavy on the track and when offered the choice of models it was usually one of the last options I chose. I like cars that are clearly designed for a purpose and the older GS series just felt like an afterthought.
The GSF is no afterthought. The GSF looks and drives like a Marvel Comics redesign. From its signature “Ultrasonic Blue Mica” paint job, bold and polarizing design, and 467 HP V8 engine, the GSF has been designed with a certain kind of driver in mind. This time around it was me.
The Look
The paint job alone costs more than some people’s cars. The GSF flares where it should flare, pinches tight where it should pinch. It’s wide and athletic in the front and has just enough of a swoop in the rear to distinguish the trunk from its less affluent cousin, the Toyota Camry. I’m on record for loving the spindle grill and remain a big fan of the overall posture of Lexus’ brand refresh. This car is not a mild mannered sedan with sports styling. The GSF is a luxury sports sedan and everything about the look promises a bold driving experience. A glance puts it in the same category as some heavy hitters with initials like M5, AMG and E63. Will the drive measure up?
The Drive
I’m familiar with the 5.0L 476 HP V8 engine, having tested it on the RCF last year. Spoiler alert, it is still super fun to drive. In a day of ecoboost this and turbo that, the thrill of pressing the gas and getting raw horsepower can be forgotten. Not so in the GSF, even in ECO and Normal mode, the engine springs to life with a roar. When the drive mode select is placed in S or S+ mode, the enhanced engine noise growls and fills the cabin with the noise of delightful revving and downshifting. Speaking of downshifting the 8 speed automatic transmission is a revelation. In canyons and straightaways it seemed to predict my next move, anticipating downshifts and never getting caught awkwardly between gears. The suspension was stiff but comfortable enough, stopping just short of a luxurious ride. Potholes and grooves in the road were managed without any rattling and overall the car felt very snug and well put together. Out on the highways, wind and road noise are a dull murmur and the engine noise only kicks in when aggressive maneuvers began.
What the F?
What the F is the F? What the F is the F series? Aren’t they the same?
Short answer, no.
Medium answer, welllll they do have some overlap.
Long answer?
The F Series badge is a trim level and a suite of options available across the Lexus lineup. It includes better components and bigger engines, premium sound, etc. The F is a stand alone. It’s an answer to the M series or the AMG of its european competitors, a car custom built for the well heeled driving enthusiast. Fans of Silicon Valley will get it, this car, um, F’s.
So, when you see the “F Series” badge, the driver thought enough of themselves to add a few extra touches. When the badge says “F”? It means this guy really likes to party.
Interior
Overall very sharp interior in the GSF. Lots of carbon fiber, well accented lighting and the familiar dash design work well with the comfortable bolstered seats and mid sized back seat, The increasingly dated infotainment system remains largely as is, utilizing the Remote Touch Controller to navigate the 12.3″ screen. The software has begun to feel a little clunky for a car so technologically advanced and is surely up for an update in the coming model years.
Features
Lexus has the GSF packed with so many safety features it dominated the Monroney sheet. Obvious ones like airbags give way to the less obvious like Pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Alert and Cross Traffic Alert. The entire suite of safety features really combine to impact the way you drive the car. Radar assist cruise control remains my favorite. It allows the driver to set a safe follow distance and an optimum top speed and the car does the rest. Best used on the open highway, it essentially takes over the throttle and braking responsibilities, even bring the car to a full stop if traffic dictates. A welcome step in the road to cars that have more and more self driving capabilities, this practical innovation is a pleasure to use and extremely effective at predicting slowdowns up ahead. The optional Mark Levinson Audio system is crystal clear, allowing max volume without distortion or buzzing.
The Lexus GSF comes in at high marks. What it lacks in refinement it makes up for in enthusiasm. The bold look and large, naturally aspirated engine will attract a more youthful part of the marketplace sometimes felt forgotten by the legacy brands of Cadillac and Lincoln and offer a clear alternative to M5 and AMG. An exciting drive, an aggressive look and a sharp interior design make the GSF stand out from the crowd.
MSRP as tested $86,760
5.0L DOHC 32 Valve V8
467 HP
19″ Forged Alloy Wheels
Jan 5th
One Truck Has Been America’s Best Selling Truck For 40 Consecutive Years
This may not be news for some, but believe it or not Ford F-Series Trucks have been the best-selling truck in America for the past 40 years. Ford has sold over more than 26 million trucks since 1977. Ford makes it a point to listen to customers, delivering constant innovation and best-in-class levels of performance enabled the Ford F-Series to set itself apart by making customers more productive through tougher, smarter and more capable trucks
Also Ford kicks off 2017 with a yearlong celebration for loyal F-Series owners and their trucks at 40YearsTough.com.
Ford truck leadership was established with the sixth-generation of F-Series for the 1977 model year, a time when 8-track tapes, disco and bell bottoms were the rage. The company was riding a sales wave – based on an all-new F-150 light-duty pickup featuring an improved 351-series V8 engine, standard front disc brakes, and an extended SuperCab offering.
To celebrate this feat Ford showcased the F-Series innovations and milestones, 1977 to present
1977: Ford begins F-Series truck leadership, selling 818,580 trucks for the model year
1979: Ford introduces the Built Ford Tough brand promise
1980: All-new seventh-generation F-Series features efficient gas and diesel V8 engines, new angular design, improved interior features; twin-traction-beam four-wheel-drive front suspension introduced
1984: F-150 replaces F-100 as base F-Series truck, adding improved safety features and new center console; optional CD player comes a year later
1987: Eighth-generation F-Series features a more aerodynamic design, available electronic fuel injection, redesigned interior including instrument panel, and rear antilock brakes
1998: Super Duty brand of medium-duty trucks debuts for commercial customers and aligns the popular F-150 line for light-duty customers
2001: Luxury King Ranch is an unprecedented success
2002: Ford, celebrating 25 years as best-selling truck in America and 20 years as best-selling vehicle overall, introduces Ford-engineered, Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo diesel engine
2008: Ford introduces all-new Class 3-leading F-450 pickup, once again raising the bar for maximum towing capacity
2011: Powerful, efficient EcoBoost engine technology introduced for F-150
2015: Ford shifts production away from steel to high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body for F-150; introduces all-new technology, including 360-degree camera
2016: New Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps make backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob; plus F-150 is only full-size pickup to earn a five-star rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2017: Ford celebrates F-Series leadership, marking 40 years with the best-selling truck in America and the best-selling vehicle overall for 35 years
Jan 4th
Ford Sends All GT Fans An Early Christmas Present
We are few days away from Christmas, but Ford has released a cool new gift for all those who love the Ford GT. The first road-going version of the all-new 2017 Ford GT has rolled off the line – heralding the beginning of production of the long-awaited halo car from Ford Performance.
In this new, low-volume assembly facility at Multimatic in Markham, Ontario, Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development, and chief technical officer, marked today’s milestone by driving a Ford GT off the assembly line.
Ford GT was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2015. Less than two years later, Ford Performance is now delivering the first cars to customers around the globe.
Dec 16th
Former Indy Car Driver Alex Lloyd Talks Racing And More
Alex Lloyd made a name for himself as an Indycar Driver and now he can help share some fantastic information about the process of buying or selling a car, what to watch out for, how to avoid losing out on a deal with a company called Beepi. Beepi feels that people are at the heart of everything they do. It all started with one person – therr CEO, Ale Resnik – and his horrible car buying experience. After doing a ton of research and test driving a certified pre-owned car, he bought the car only to have it catch fire days later. Ale met Owen Savir, both serial entrepreneurs obsessed with breaking down complex problems, and together they vowed no one should ever have that bad experience again. They resolved to reinvent the entire way people buy, sell and own cars. Beepi was born.
For Alex he loves cars and was looking for the next career after racing. Lloyd says that, “There’s no question racing was a fun portion of my life. But I’m most excited about this next stage—disrupting an entire industry, putting the customer first, and making life simpler. I’m moving my entire family out west—a small village, if you will, consisting of my wife, four children and our five animals. I’m doing this because I truly believe in that future.”
For more on Alex follow him on Twitter at @alex_lloyd and go to Beepi’s website on how they can help you purchase or sell a car.
Nov 7th
Ford Releases App To Improve Driving
There is a very cool new app out there from Ford Motor Company. It will take driving to a whole new level. The all-new Ford Performance App brings track-based data-logging, advanced analysis, sharing capability and video capture to a user’s smartphone. It leverages the latest capability of Ford SYNC 3 and provides intuitive controls allowing users to record and share their track accomplishments. The app will be available for the most popular smartphone platforms in 2017.
“Ford Performance wants to provide our customers a simple, shareable way to capture their track exploits,” says Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “The ability to take their track sessions with them everywhere they go and easily share their footage and data with friends is a huge benefit of our new app.”
The Ford Performance App is based around the user’s smartphone, giving them easy access and portability to their data. Using a smartphone’s built-in camera offers mounting flexibility, letting users decide which perspective best captures the action.
The Ford Performance App features multiple recording modes and provides a host of vehicle performance data. The latest SYNC 3 technology communicates with the app – integrating performance data with course overlays, timing statistics, and on-screen virtual gauges to be shared via a user’s smartphone.
Data and video can be shared over social networks or exported easily for analysis on a personal computer. The new app launches in 2017 on the all-new Ford GT, and will migrate to other Ford products.
Nov 1st
Ford Takes VR To Another Level
A new virtual reality video has hit the internets. You can now experience the Gymkhana NINE VR Part One in the FordVR app and on the official Ford Performance YouTube channel.
The video stars professional rally driver Ken Block, part one puts fans right in the middle of the action, explaining such stunts as Gymkhana NINE’s insane train drift scene. Other candid moments from the video are highlighted as well, with the Ken’s Ford Focus RS RX taking center stage.
Part two of the experience will hit the FordVR app in the coming weeks. You can download the app now for iOS and Android devices in the United States.
Oct 21st
Have You Heard About The Petextrians
You might ask yourself what the heck is a Petextrians. Well that is a person who is texting or taking a selfie or using the ol Snapchat while walking and not paying attention to their surroundings. That makes it tough for drivers. Thankfully Ford has helped us out with this new phenomenon.
Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection is designed to reduce the severity of and, in some cases, even eliminate frontal collisions involving pedestrians to help bring even more peace of mind to your driving experience.
Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and the need to control the vehicle. While Pre-collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection may be especially helpful in unexpected situations, it does not replace the driver and has limitations, including nighttime, low and harsh lighting conditions, vehicles moving in a different direction and certain weather conditions.
Check out how it works below.
Oct 21st
Move Over Food Trucks There Is A New Game In Town
Remember when some people thought a power lunch was when you worked out on your lunch break during the work week? Well Ford and Reebok has taken this power lunch to a new level. Food trucks are old news – this fall, it’s all about the #FitTruck.
Starting tomorrow, the first-ever FitTruck, powered by Ford and Reebok, is hitting the road for a pumped-up fitness tour spanning more than 2,000 miles during seven weeks. The truck will pop up in locations across the eastern U.S., tapping Reebok’s world-class instructor network to take fitness beyond the gym with the help of the exceptionally customizable Ford Transit.
FitTruck Cities & Dates:
•Oct 20-21: Boston, MA
•Oct 24-30: New York, NY to Washington, D.C.
•Oct 30: Nov. 6: Virginia Beach, VA
•Nov 8: Raleigh, NC
•Nov 12: Charlotte, NC
•Nov 26-Dec 2: Columbus, OH
Oct 19th
