Tag Archives: Ford

Ford Is Bringing The Escape PHEV And E-Transit To Australia

Ford Australia has announced that it will introduce at least five new electrified vehicles by the end of 2024 in the local market. The E-Transit will be the first EV that Ford launches Down Under when it arrives in mid-2022.

The car manufacturer hasn’t named all the electrified models that it will bring to Australia, other than confirming that the Escape PHEV will be the first to launch, just before the E-Transit hits the market.

As Ford Australia grows its electrified footprint, it will collaborate with JET Charge to ready its dealer network with charging infrastructure. It will also install charging stations at its facilities in Campbellfield, its YouYangs Proving Ground, and the logistics hub at Merrfield.

Read More: 2022 Ford E-Transit Starts At $43,295 When Order Open This Summer

While Australia’s adoption of electrified vehicles is behind many other nations, a recent study conducted by YouGov indicated that 58 per cent of businesses can see EVs become a part of their fleets in the future. In addition, 52 per cent of Australian consumers said they are likely to consider an electrified vehicle for their next vehicle purchase.

“We know that many businesses are looking to make the switch to electrified vehicles, and that’s backed up by increasing interest from consumers and growing support from government,” Ford Australia policy director Elly Haug said. “We’re committed to helping our fleet customers meet the expectations of their customers – and that includes taking real action on climate change. Offering a sustainable transport option with E-Transit will help businesses on their road to net zero.”

In Australia, the Ford E-Transit will launch with a 68 kWh battery pack that provides it with 317 km of range on the combined WLTP cycle. The vehicle’s rear-mounted electric motor also produces 198 kW (265 hp) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The E-Transit’s battery can be charged from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in 34 minutes when plugged into a 115 kW DC fast-charger.

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The Ford Bronco Is Much Better To Drive On The Road Than The Jeep Wrangler

The Ford Bronco is one of the hottest vehicles on the market right now and Matt Farah and Zack Klapman recently had the opportunity to put it to the test.

The following review is the first video in a two-part series that will focus on the new Bronco. This first part is centered on driving the car on the road, while the second will explore its off-roading chops.

Watch Also: Independent Front Suspension Makes The 2021 Ford Bronco Well Suited To Daily Driving

Ford sells the Bronco in seven different trim levels, including the limited-run First Edition. This model is the Outer Banks which sits above the Base, Big Bend, and Black Diamond in the range and below the Badlands and Wildtrak. It starts at $38,995 in two-door guise and $41,450 as a four-door. The Bronco tested also had the flagship 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 rather than the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost.

A key point of difference between the Wrangler and its main rival, the Jeep Wrangler, is its use of independent front suspension. It also has rack and pinion steering whereas the Wrangler has a recirculating ball steering system. Compared to the Wrangler, the Bronco is much more refined when driving on-road.

Farah also notes that the tires of this Bronco Outer Banks model don’t produce too much road noise but above 60 mph, the off-roader does create a lot of noise and is very loud. This is despite the fact that the Bronco tested had the available fixed roof complete with extra noise insulation.

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Ford Shelby Cobra Concept Sells For $2.64 Million At Monterey Car Week

Back in 2004, Ford unveiled the Shelby Cobra concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The car was a manual, V10-powered homage to the original Cobra and was overseen by Carroll Shelby himself. Fast forward 17 years, and while the car never made it to production, the lone prototype, nicknamed “Daisy”, has sold at auction for $2.64 million.

The car was sold Mecum’s auction at Monterey Car Week, where the final bid was $2.4 million, plus an additional $240,000 buyer’s commission to bring it to the $2.64 million number. And if you thought that was insane, not only did it exceed its estimated maximum selling price by roughly half a million dollars, but the last time this car changed hands, it was for only around a third of the price at “just” $825,000.

Read More: Would You Buy Two Gulf-Themed Ford GT Heritage Editions For A Combined $1.7 million?

Unlike a lot of concept cars, Daisy is fully functioning, and in addition to all the other mileage it accrued, Carroll Shelby drove it more than 150 miles (241 km) at a two-day testing session at Irwindale Speedway in California. It’s also worth noting that the Shelby Cobra concept wasn’t just a parts bin special either, having an almost entirely unique chassis, body, and interior in addition to its powertrain. And anything that was a shared component primarily came from the Ford GT, which we don’t think anyone would argue is a bad thing.

See Also: The Most Expensive McLaren F1 Road Car Ever Sold For A Staggering $20,465,000

Under Daisy’s hood lies the crown jewel of the Cobra’s planned revival: a 6.4-liter DOHC 40-valve aluminum V10 with dry sump lubrication. One of just four specially-designed V10s made by Ford Advanced Powertrain, the engine sends 605 hp (613 PS / 451 kW) to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted six-speed Ricardo transaxle. That’s impressive power even by today’s standards, and considering it’s roughly the same size and weight as a Mazda Miata, we can only imagine how fun it is to drive.

Needless to say, whoever ended up with this car is one lucky person, but given the price they paid for it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up spending most of its days locked in a garage.

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Hennessey Announces Tamer VelociRaptor 400 Bronco

Hennessey announced a V8-powered Ford Bronco with 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS) last fall, but its $225,000 price tag put the model out of reach for most consumers.

Now the company is following up with a more affordable variant known as the VelociRaptor 400.

It features a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 that has been equipped with a high-flow air induction system, a new exhaust and upgraded engine management software. Thanks to these changes, the output climbs from 330 hp (246 kW / 335 PS) and 415 lb-ft (563 Nm) of torque to 405 hp (302 kW / 411 PS) and 503 lb-ft (682 Nm).

That’s an impressive increase of 75 hp (56 kW / 76 PS) and 88 lb-ft (119 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.9 seconds, which isn’t much slower than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.

Also Read: Hennessey Prepping V8-Powered Bronco With 750 HP For $225k

Standard 2021 Ford Bronco Wildtrak

Besides the performance upgrades, the VelociRaptor 400 comes equipped with heavy duty bumpers, retractable side steps and 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch off-road tires. Rounding out the highlights are LED auxiliary lights, embroidered headrests, individually numbered plaques and special branding.

The model will be available in two- or four-door configurations with or without a soft top. The VelociRaptor 400 is currently available to order and the package costs $24,950. That means owners can expect to shell out around $80,000 when the base price of the Bronco Wildtrak is factored in.

That’s not cheap, but Hennessey noted the VelociRaptor 400 retains all of the usual “engine modes and off-road systems.” The company also provides a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty.

Production will be limited to 200 units for 2021 and that will increase to 250 units next year.

Someone Was Ready To Pay $500,000 For A 2004 Ford GT Confirmation Prototype With A 5 MPH Top Speed

A 2004 Ford GT prototype that isn’t road-legal and has its top speed capped at just 5 mph (8 km/h) failed to sell at an online auction as it didn’t match the reserve despite attracting a $500,000 bid.

This Ford GT is known as Confirmation Prototype 1 and carries serial number 00004. It was used by Ford for emissions testing and road certification purposes.

As this was a development prototype, it looks a little different from most other GTs out there. For example, it has a port on the passenger seat for testing different grades of fuel, experimental exhaust pipes, an exposed rear bumper, and a bare aluminum headliner. It also features the signatures of the car’s development team, including Carroll Shelby, Bill Ford, Camilo Pardo, and Fred Goodnow, the Bring A Trailer listing reveals.

Read Also: Someone Made Nearly A $400,000 Profit On A Pristine 2019 Ford GT

The interior of the GT prototype is similar to production models but does have a few quirks. Key features include leather-wrapped Sparco bucket seats with exposed carbon fiber backs and aluminum ventilation grommets. There’s also a CD stereo and a steering wheel that uses the airbag of a Mustang and the steering column of a Ford Windstar minivan.

Like the road-going car, the prototype is outfitted with a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine coupled to a Ricardo six-speed manual transaxle driving the rear wheels through a helical limited-slip differential. Documentation reveals the car has been driven 1,212 miles (1,950 km) and the engine has 217 operating hours under its belt. Like we mentioned earlier, a Ford-installed chip limits the car to 5 mph (8 km/h), although it is stated in the comments that it can be unlimited and run at full power.

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Ford Crown Vic With Gargantuan Twin-Turbo 27-Liter Rolls-Royce V12 Starts Up

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A few months ago, we stumbled across a Ford Crown Victoria in Sweden that had been fitted with a massive 27-liter V12. Fast forward to June and this insane engine up has been fired up for the first time while nestled into the Ford’s engine bay.

The engine in question was built by Rolls-Royce and formerly used in a World War II-era tank; in its hey-day, it delivered roughly 550 hp. That’s a lot of power for a Ford Crown Victoria but isn’t that much when you consider just how massive the V12 is. As such, those behind the project have equipped it with a pair of turbochargers and a custom ECU so it ultimately delivers closer to 2,500 hp.

Read More: This Ford Crown Victoria Is Getting A 27-Liter Twin-Turbo V12 From A Tank

During this video, the car is rolled out from the barn where it is being built before the engine is fired up. It takes a couple of tries to fine-tune the air and fuel ratio before the engine starts for the first time. A thermal imaging camera is then used to ensure that all 12 cylinders are working. The video notes that the pressure pipes to the turbochargers were not connected during these initial tests.

As you can imagine, fitting a 27-liter V12 into a Crown Vic was no small feat. In fact, the car actually has the front end of a Chevrolet C10 pickup truck and the rear of the engine extends into the cabin.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes Ford CEO Jim Farley For A Ride In The Mustang Mach-E 1400

Regardless of what you think of the name, the Mustang Mach-E has proven to be a solid vehicle out in the real world. Even better, though, was the one-off Mach-E 1400 Ford created as a proof of concept, and in this video, we get to see professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. take Ford CEO Jim Farley out for a spin in it.

The Mustang Mach-E 1400 was built by Ford to show the insane performance potential electric vehicles could have when dialed up to 11. As such, the SUV sports seven electric motors making a combined 1,400 hp (1,419 PS / 1,044 kW), as well as an aero kit that aside from making it look really cool, produces a whopping 2,600 lbs (1,179 kg) of downforce at 160 mph (257 km/h).

Read More: Ford Is Now Building More Electric Mustang Mach-Es Than Gas-Powered Mustangs

The video more than demonstrates the Mach-E 1400’s immense power and roadholding, and while the high-pitched wail from the SUV’s electric motors and straight-cut gears might not be to everyone’s taste, there’s no denying this vehicle’s performance. Unfortunately we don’t get to see any live footage of it drifting, but for those who wanted to see some sideways action, a Facebook post from Gittin Jr. has you covered with some still photos of him and Farley sliding around.

See Also: Driven: The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Isn’t A One-Trick Pony

Watching the video, we couldn’t help but be reminded of the scene from Ford v Ferrari in which Carroll Shelby drove Henry Ford II around in a GT40 prototype so hard it brought him to the point of tears. Although, based on Farley’s ecstatic Twitter post from the event, it seems as though he fared a lot better than Henry Ford II did in the film.

Limited-Run Ford Focus ST-3 Lands In Australia With Extra Features

Ford Australia has introduced a new flagship variant of the Focus ST hot hatch dubbed the ST-3.

Capped at 200 units for the local market, the Focus ST-3 comes loaded with standard features including a panoramic sunroof, heated and electrically-adjustable front Recaro sports seats with lumbar support, a B&O Play 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer, a Head-Up display, and a Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert.

Read Also: Tuned Ford Focus ST Goes For The Slammed Look, Do You Like It?

The hot hatch also sports Ford’s Advanced Front Lighting System that uses a camera to detect curves in the road and turn the headlights. The system can also adapt the beam shape of the headlights to suit the road and driving situations. Other standard features include wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and push-button engine start, ambient LED lighting and dual-zone climate control.

No mechanical changes have been made to the Focus ST-3 from the standard car, although it is available exclusively with the seven-speed automatic transmission, rather than the six-speed manual that the standard model is also offered with. Power comes courtesy of an all-aluminum 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 206 kW (276 HP) at 5,500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque between 3,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.

“The Focus ST has attracted a passionate following, and the ST-3 supplements our highly popular Ford Performance portfolio that also includes the Fiesta ST, Mustang and Ranger Raptor,” Ford Australia president and chief executive Andrew Birkic said. “The premium equipment levels add an extra touch of prestige to the Focus ST’s already highly-regarded performance credentials, with the technology and innovation our enthusiast customers expect in a hot-hatch.”

Prices start at AU$47,990 (US$37,400).

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Fights Range Anxiety By Taking On A 12-Foot Rocket

Ford pitted the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover against a rocket to prove that range anxiety is nothing but a misconception.

Part of the brand’s ‘Mustang Mach-E v. Everything’ marketing campaign, which includes a series of five short films that highlight the strengths of the zero-emission crossover, it helps visualize its EPA-estimated autonomy of 300 miles (483 km) in the Extended Range RWD variant.

“Mustang has always been disruptive, and the all-new all-electric Mustang is no different”, said the company’s chief marketing officer, Suzy Deering. “We needed a campaign that brought the spirit of Mustang to life in the most compelling, entertaining way possible. And ‘Mustang Mach-E v. Everything’ does just that.”

Review: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Is A ‘Stang, Jim, But Not As We Know It

Besides the 12-foot (3.65-meter) rocket, the EV took on gravity in another short film that tested its reaction against a falling chandelier. Its over-the-air updates were also demonstrated in comparison to a mobile pit crew, and its charging time was validated next to a lightning charge generated by a 12-foot Tesla coil. In the last video, dubbed the ‘Mustang Mach-E v. DNA’, Ford proved that it is capable of differentiating between identical twins.

The 2021 Mustang Mach-E range kicks off from $42,895 for the Select model, which has a 230-mile (370-km) range, followed by the Premium, California Route 1, First Edition and GT, which start at $47,000, $49,800, $58,300 and $60,500 respectively. These can travel for an EPA-estimated 300, 305, 270 and 250 miles (483, 491, 435 and 402 km) respectively. The 458 HP dual-motor GT is the fastest variant, with the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration taking only 3.8 seconds.

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These Are 10 Interesting Features Of The Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E has started to land in the hands of customers in the United States and journalists had the opportunity to check it out.

In this video from Jason at Engineering Explained, we find out about 10 of the EV’s intriguing features. Not everyone will like them, but they do all influence the overall experience of the Mach-E to varying degrees.

One of the cool features that the YouTuber is a big fan of is the keypad located on the B-pillar that allows owners to get inside without the need for a key or their smartphone. Ford first introduced a keypad like this back in 1980 and it remains just as handy today as it was four decades ago. Speaking of the B-pillars, they also house illuminated buttons that are used to open the doors. A small grab handle has also been neatly incorporated just below the button.

Read Also: The Mach-E Is Like No Other Mustang Before, So Why Did It Get That Name?

Another interesting feature of the Mustang Mach-E is its frunk that includes a drain plug, meaning you can load it up with all kinds of stuff without worrying if something spills out – you can just drain it and, if it gets dirty, you can also rinse it out.

Anyone who buys a Mach-E will also get access to a smartphone application that allows you to lock and unlock the vehicle, start it up, and open up the trunk. The app also displays tire pressures.

Those in the market for a Ford Mustang Mach-E can pick one up from $42,985 before EV tax incentives. The entry-level Standard Range RWD variant has a 75.7 kWh battery and has been rated by the EPA at 230 miles (370 km) of range over the combined cycle.

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