Ford F-150 Raptor

The Ford tuning specialist of record has given the Raptor ten ponies shy of 600 horsepower.

When Roush Performance decides to turn its attention to a new car, you know that something special is in the cards. And this Ford F-150 Raptor is no exception. Cooper Tire and Mickey Thompson were responsible for fitting the Raptor with a new set of polished wheels and tires, but the performance upgrade is all Roush.
This is the tuner's second upgrade for the truck, and having upped output from 411 to 525 hp for its Phase 1 program, it has returned with a new R2300 calibration supercharger kit to boost it to an impressive 590 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The supercharger kit includes a new 75mm pulley and custom Roush PCM calibration, and was painstakingly researched and tested in extreme temperatures ranging from -20 to 120 degrees F, and at altitudes of up 14,000 feet above sea level. The kit is priced at $599 and includes a 3-year or 36,000-mile warranty on the Roush parts only.

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EPA to Review Ford Fusion and C-MAX Hybrids After Consumer Reports’ MPG Findings

Ford has been making a lot of noise about the mileage of its Fusion and C-MAX hybrids, claiming that their 47 mpg city/highway/combined mileage easily beat rival Toyota Camry and Prius models.



When tested by Consumer Reports (CR) though, both Ford hybrids' MPGs were found overstated. Actually, that’s an understatement: the publication bashed the two Blue Oval hybridssaying that “these two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we’ve seen among any current models.”

Ouch! That must have hurt…

In CR’s tests, the Fusion Hybrid delivered 35/41/39 city/highway/overall mpg, while the respective numbers for the C-MAX Hybrid were 35/38/37 mpg.

Spurred by CR’s findings, an Environmental Protection Agency official who wished to remain anonymous revealed that the EPA will test the two Ford hybrids again.

Consumer Reports, which always buys the car it tests and doesn’t accept ads, said that it drove them 2,000 miles before installing a “precision fuel meter” in their fuel lines.

It then proceeded on to test city driving, which includes a standard course on its Connecticut test circuit, making multiple stops and letting them idle for a predetermined period. Highway mileage was obtained by driving both cars at 65 mph on the same part of highway.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood issued the following statement: “Early C-Max hybrid and Fusion hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg. Driving styles, driving conditions and other factors can cause mileage to vary.”

CR’s auto test chief Jake Fisher said: “Hopefully the EPA and Ford can look into this… Eighty percent of the vehicles we tested are within 2 mpg of EPA estimates.”

He conceded that the Fusion and C-MAX “are still excellent vehicles when it comes to fuel economy. They are not gas guzzlers”, but he pointed out that “they’re certainly not matching the advertised claims.”

Last month, Hyundai and Kia admitted that a “testing procedure error” resulted in them advertising mileage for the majority of their 2012-2013 model year models and offered compensation to owners.

“There is an arms race when it comes to fuel economy”, commented Fisher. “There’s certainly a lot of emphasis on these numbers and getting them as high as possible.”

 

By Andrew Tsaousis

 

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Ford Launches New Transit Custom in Sport Van Trim

European buyers interested in the new Ford Transit Custom will soon have one more selection available in the options list, as starting from early next year, the Blue Oval will offer the Sport Van grade that includes an assortment of cosmetic goods to spice up its appearance.



The new trim level is available only with the short wheelbase, but consumers have a choice of six metallic finishes, named Panther Black, Atlantic Blue, Moondust Silver, Midnight Sky Grey, Stratosphere Blue and Titanium Gray.

The Transit Custom Sport Van's bumpers, mirrors, door handles and side moldings are all painted in the body color, while Ford adds racing stripes on the bonnet and the bumper, plus new 18-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile tires size 235/50.

In the cockpit, the Sport Van model features part leather seats, an armrest in black leather, the Ford SYNC voice-controlled connectivity system, and an audio system with DAB radio as standard equipment.

Under the hood of the front-wheel drive model is Ford's 2.2-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine producing 153hp (114kW / 155PS) and a peak torque of 385Nm (284 lb-ft).

 

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2013 Ford Escape and Fusion Recalled Over 1.6-liter EcoBoost Engine Fire Risk

Ford Escape has issued a voluntary recall of 73,320 2013 Escape crossovers and 15,833 Fusion sedans powered by 1.6-liter engines sold in the U.S. and Canada due to possible overheating that can cause fluids to leak, thus causing a fire.

Although the company says that there have been no reports of injuries, Ford Escape 2013 spokesman Said Deep told The Associated Press that the company has received reports of 12 fires in Escapes and one in a Fusion. All cases involve vehicles with the 1.6-liter engine and, according to Ford, 2013 Fusion and Escape models with other engines are not affected.



Ford Escape 2013 informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the first incident occurred on an Escape in Florida on September 7. According to The Detroit News, that vehicle didn’t have an engine dipstick, which allowed the engine oil to overflow onto hot parts.

Some owners say that, before the fires, the instrument cluster displayed the message “Engine Power Reduced to Lower Temps” or “Engine Over Temp, Stop Safely”.

"We have identified an issue and are taking actions in the best interest of our customers", said Steve Kenner, director of Ford's automotive safety office. "It is important that affected customers not ignore this recall and contact their dealer as soon as possible. While we recognize the inconvenience recalls cause our customers, we are taking these actions on their behalf to help ensure their safety."

Customers can see if they are affected by the recall by:

• Checking their 17-digit VIN located on a label on the driver door opening at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side of their vehicle, or on their vehicle registration. In vehicles with 1.6-liter engines, the eighth character will be “X” on Escapes or “R” on Fusions.


• Logging onto Ford.com, click “View Notices and Recalls” in the “Support” tab and input their VIN to determine if their vehicle is part of the recall.


• Calling 866-436-7332 in the U.S. or 888-222-7814 in Canada.


• Contacting a Ford dealer.

 

The 2013 Escape turns to be a hot item indeed: this is the fourth recall Ford has issued this year and the third over a fire risk.

In July, more than 10,000 vehicles were recalled due to incorrectly fitted carpeting that could interfere with braking. Later that month, after three incidents, the Blue Oval issued a recall for models equipped with the 1.6-liter engine over a damaged fuel line that could result in a fire risk. The third recall occurred in September, to prevent a dislodged cup plug in the engine cylinder head from causing…, well, a possible fire.

 

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Mustang to Remain Ford's Top Gun

The next-generation Mustang will remain Ford's premiere sports car for all global markets despite earlier talk of a reborn Capri in Europe.

There have been plenty of rumors about the next-generation Ford Mustang flying around, in anticipation of its premiere at the 2014 New York Auto Show. Riding on an all-new rear-wheel-drive platform, it will feature an independent rear suspension and an overall more refined personality, though its 5.0-liter V8 will remain optional. Styling is rumored to resemble that of the Evos Concept. There have, however, been whispers emanating from Ford's European division about reviving the old Capri nameplate on the new Mustang's platform.

For those in need of a refresh, the Ford Capri was a small rear-wheel-drive coupe sold in Europe from the early '60s to the mid-'90s. For several years it was offered in the US as a Mercury, coming in various forms such as a rebadged Fox-bodied Mustang but it never caught on like it did overseas. But with the recent launch of the Toyobaru GT86/BRZ, voices at Ford have been crying out for the car's revival. As interesting and tempting as it sounds, the reality is that it's simply not going to happen. Ford CEO Alan Mulally is apparently not interested in such a car because he wants the Mustang to be Ford's one and only rear-wheel-drive performance sports car.

Instead of adapting this new platform for a smaller coupe like a reborn Capri, Ford will stretch it so that it can be further used as a basis for a new Falcon (for Australia only) as well as a new performance-oriented Lincoln model specifically designed to go up against heavyweights from the likes of Audi, BMW and Cadillac. It appears that when it comes to Ford's rear-wheel-drive performance models, size and prestige are what matter most.

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Ford Adds 123HP 1.0-liter EcoBoost to Facelifted 2014 Fiesta, Claims 40 MPG Plus

With fuel prices on the rise and federal and state mandates about fuel economy, U.S. manufacturers and buyers alike are beginning to see the advantages of downsizing when it comes to both vehicles and their engines.

Ford’s Fiesta, which has been redesigned for the 2014 model year and will launch at the LA Auto Show this week, is probably one of the best examples.

That’s because apart from the cosmetic changes, such as the larger trapezoidal grille that resembles that of the Fusion mid-size saloon (…or Aston Martin models), Ford’s subcompact will be offered in the States with the firm's new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

The turbocharged three-cylinder unit puts out 123HP that make the Fiesta deliver more power for each liter of displacement than the exotic Lamborghini Aventador (123 vs 108 HP per liter).

While the small Ford won’t scare any Aventador on the road, its EcoBoost engine provides ample performance for its class while, at the same time, delivering up to 20 percent better mileage and a 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with larger naturally aspirated engines.

In fact, Ford claims that the 1.0-liter EcoBoost-powered Fiesta will return more than 40 mpg, which makes it the most frugal non-hybrid subcompact in the U.S. market.

The redesigned Fiesta brings a host of other changes compared to the previous model. The most obvious addition is the MyFord Touch infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touch screen and enhanced voice control.

“This car was built for the digital generation,” says John Schneider, Ford chief engineer, Electronics. “With Bluetooth connectivity and MP3 capabilities, tech-savvy people who use social media to be constantly connected with the world around them won’t be slowed down when they get in this car.”

The 2014 Fiesta also features the MyKey system, which allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio limits and doesn’t allow electronic stability control systems to be deactivated – something that Ford admits will appeal to parents worried about their teenage offspring.

 

 

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