Since its founding in 1936, Consumer Reports has become the go-to source for shoppers. From new refrigerators to bottles of wine, Blue-ray players to homeowner’s insurance, if it’s on the market it’s likely the non-profit organization has scientifically tested it. Of course the consumer watchdog is probably most famous for its vehicle reliability ratings.
Over 1.5 million Ford SUVs have been cleared in a government probe that examined allegations they were at risk of rolling away.
“First thing I do when I get in my car is turn off the stability control and traction control”.
Many of us have heard someone, at some point, utter this. Or maybe we ourselves are the guilty party. When asked why it was turned it off, the typical response is along the lines of “’cause I’m a real driver,” or, “it gets in the way of driving”.
All-wheel drive-equipped vehicle sales have increased in recent years with sales growing 53 percent since 2009 based on data from R.L. Polk. Continue Reading…
In the market and shopping for a used car? Consumer Reports has released a list of 20 used vehicles to stay away from as they have a reputation for causing trouble. Listed is a top 20 list of used cars from 2003 to 2012 model year to avoid in alphabetical order. These vehicles had multiple years of much-worse-than-average overall reliability, according to Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey.
The BMW 7-Series may be the German automaker’s luxury flagship, but used models aren’t without their issues. From 2001-2008, the 7-Series featured the good ‘ol “Bangle Butt” and sported some highly controversial styling. Early production of that generation was overwhelmed with issues even causing BMW to purchase back some of the vehicles back in 2002-2003. BMW of North America even extended its warranty on all 2002-2003 model year 7-Series vehicles to six years/100,000 miles from the original four years/50,000 miles.
According to Consumer Reports, the BMW 7-Series ranked “worse” in the categories of Engine Major, Engine Minor, Transmission Major, Transmission Minor, Body Hardware, and Audio System.
Welcome back to the all-you-can-eat Top-10 buffet! You know you want more, and AutoGuide’s happy to serve up another heaping helping of facts, neatly garnished with a sprig of fun. Grab a plate, load it up and tuck in to another generous portion of automotive infotainment.
AutoGuide’s last installment of “Under the Hood” investigated traction control; today it’s time to look at another safety feature. This one has nothing to do with gripping the road and everything to do with keeping your vehicle shiny-side up.
Traction is important; it’s the difference between moving forward and sitting still. Without any friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road surface you’d never make it to work in the morning, let alone to that Grand Funk Railroad concert on Saturday night.
Joining the already impressive lineup of customized Ford vehicles at the 2012 SEMA Show will be a pair of custom Ford Escapes and a Ford Explorer Sport.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded a five-star crash test rating to three Ford vehicles today: the Taurus, Explorer and Lincoln MKS.
Until recently the traditional choice for police cars was very simple: almost always a Ford Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor, but with the legendary cop cruiser out of production, forces across the country have had to turn elsewhere, diversifying the pack.
Footage from Ford just became available confirming an addition to the Ford explorer family. The clip doesn’t show much of the SUV, but that might tell more than you think.
The video shows opens to a distinct growling exhaust note that revs out before cutting to a split-screen view of close-up angles on the car. We see a tailpipe, speedometer and matter black aluminum alloy wheels.
Though Ford didn’t release any specific details yet, it seems likely that the automaker is hinting at a high-performance variant on its popular Explorer SUV. The reasoning behind that thought? First, the video is shot on a track. Second, the shots we get are focused on speed and sound — both calling cards for sports-tuned models.
A live webcast is supposed to take place on the company’s Facebook page on March 28 when more details will be made available. While it’s purely speculation, an SHO version of the Explorer seems like a reasonable announcement given the drag strip setting for the clip, which you can watch after the jump.
Ford is expected to also show the car that day at the New York International Auto Show.
For decades, we’ve known Ford crate engines to be huge V8 powerplants packing plenty of cubic inches and power. But Ford has been quietly offering a 2.0L inline-four from its old Focus for midget racers but very few even paid attention to that option.
Now Ford has added their new-generation 2.0L Focus engine and looks to add an EcoBoost variant in the future. Ford announced a pair of new V8 crate motors for 2012, adding a 347 pushrod motor based on the historic Boss 302 block. With 363-cubic inches, it packs 500-hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The other new crate engine is a 427-cubic inch powerplant and is based on Ford’s Boss 351 engine block. With Ford Racing’s X-heads system, it makes 500-hp and 520 lb-ft of torque.
But the new addition of the 2.0L inline-four from the Focus is what’s making headlines, with its 160-hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The naturally aspirated engine will be complemented by EcoBoost offerings which means turbocharged power for all. The 2.0L EcoBoost for example in the new Explorer makes 240-hp and 270 lb-ft of torque which suddenly becomes a very appealing engine for small race cars to mid-sized boats.
Unfortunately Ford hasn’t announced availability on the EcoBoost crate engines.
[Source: Automobile Mag]
In a country where everyone is a little bit lawsuit-happy, we take this story with a grain of salt. Margarita Salais claims that her 2006 Ford Explorer, purchased from Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights, once housed a dead body and is now suing for $25,000 plus court fees.
When she purchased the SUV back in March, she had no gripes with it at all. But as the temperatures outside got warmer, the car got smellier. She took the Explorer back to the dealership complaining about a horrible odor and the dealership claimed it was caused by a dead animal. Subsequently, Salais filed with State Farm, her insurance company, and Elite Trauma Clean-Up was hired to search and clean the vehicle. Salais’ lawyer claims that the company determined the odor was human in nature while a representative from Elite Trauma Clean-Up said the odor was only found to be from rotten meat, and not necessarily human in nature.
So now what? Salais’ lawsuit still stands since the dealership refuses to buy back the Explorer. State Farm also discovered that the Explorer was an ex-rental car that had been stolen three times. Of course the dealership didn’t bother mentioning that… maybe Margarita should have asked for a CarFax?
[Source: Left Lane News]
Car and Driver has published an article expressing its gripes with J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study, stating that its results tell us less about a vehicle’s defects then we might think. J.D. Power’s IQS measures new-vehicle quality after 90-days of ownership and has done so since 1987, but the advent of more technologically advanced features are now impacting quality results.
Take Ford for example. From 2010 to 2011, Ford dropped 18 places (from fifth to 23rd) in J.D.’s IQS, but one would argue that Ford’s quality has only increased over the past year – surely not decreased that significantly. The reasoning behind it is the fact that J.D. Power is voicing the opinion of the consumer and consumers are complaining about design issue rather than a functionality problem. That is, a customer finds it frustrating to use Ford’s MyFord Touch system and notches it as a problem, rather than observing a loose electrical connection, something that really impacts the quality of a vehicle.
Another great example from Ford is the new PowerShift dual-clutch automatic found in their new Fiesta. Customers are complaining about its shift quality compared to a conventional automatic transmission with a torque converter, but there has hardly been any actual mechanical issues problems with the transmission, if at all.
Unfortunately a lot of the manufacturers are actually changing the functionality of the vehicle because of these complaints, such as Porsche consumers complaining about brake pad dust. Obviously the better-performing a brake pad is, the more dust it produces; but the general laymen finds it an inconvenience and even a quality issue if a brake pad produces so much dust. As a result, Porsche vehicles are probably equipped with less-capable pads than they originally were, all because of these “quality” issues being reported by J.D. Power.
At the end of the day though, it’s still the voice of the consumer that manufacturers care about.
[Source: Car and Driver]
Ford brought four of its new Explorers to this year’s SEMA Show, each customized by some of the top builders in the nation. Galpin Auto Sports, Stitchcraft Interiors, Tjin Edition and DSO Eyewear put their spin on Ford’s “SUV” with each sharing the spotlight at Ford’s massive booth.
First up, Tjin Edition’s features 24-inch iForged wheels lowered on Eibach Springs while Baer Brakes gives the Explorer upgraded stopping power. Custom orange pinstripe accents the otherwise blue exterior while a Thule bike rack gives plenty of utility to the SUV.
Stitchcraft Interiors’ Business Edition Explorer sports a lowering kit from H&R set off by a custom set of 22-inch wheels. The two-tone exterior features charcoal with a contrasting orange while much of the focus was on the interior with UltraSuede and leather amenities. Extra horsepower is courtesy of a Nitrous Express system and a Magnaflow exhaust.
DSO Eyewear’s Explorer features an immaculate white exterior accented by 24-inch wheels from Niche. Inside, a Midnight Tuscany interior is set off by Raven Suede accents. Upgraded performance comes from a Gibson and K&N air filter.
Last but not least, Galpin Auto Sports flexed their Ford customization skills with a matte dark gray Explorer. Plenty of audio upgrades were done with JL Audio pumping out 2,000-watts of pure sound.
Ford’s Lane Keeping technology is much more effective than a cup of super strong coffee – this technology will let you know when you’re too tired to drive.
Set to launch in early 2012 on the Ford Explorer, the Lane Keeping technology is perfect for drivers that are in for the long haul or have to pull a late-night road trip. This system will keep drivers in control by alerting them when it detects signs of drowsiness.
Using a camera mounted near the rear view mirror, the system is able to keep track of how you’re driving. When it senses your attention is wandering, the alarms start to go off. Depending on how alert you are, you may get a warning chime or a coffee up that lights up on the dashboard.
And if all that fails, the system takes it up a notch to get you focused on the road. If you start to drift across the lanes, the steering wheel will vibrate in order to snap you out of your sleepiness.
“Our engineering teams tested this technology for thousands of miles in many parts of the country to help ensure it performs on a wide range of roads with different lane markings,” said Michael Kane, vehicle engineering supervisor for Driver Assistance Technologies for Ford.
After the jump, watch the video to see the Lane Keeping System in action.
The world’s largest aftermarket expo is just days away and Ford has released a second batch teaser images, highlighting the customization potential of its truck and SUV offerings.
Three modified versions of the new Ford Explorer will be on hand at the 2011 SEMA Show. The first, called the “Business Edition” Explorer is built by Stitchcraft Interiors will feature luxurious leather and Alcantara interior with a custom charcoal and orange exterior. The DSO Eyewear Explorer is designed to embrace a “active urban lifestyle” with 24-inch Niche wheels, a pear white paint job and “Midnight Tuscany” leather interipr with “Raven Suede” accents. And finally there’s the Tjin Edition Explorer, also with 24-inch wheels (from iForged), Eibach suspension, a Baer brake upgrade, while inside the car gets a Lamborghini-esque black leather interior with orange stitching.
Heading into the realm of real trucks, you won’t be able to miss the F-350 Super Duty, which has been transformed into the Matchbox Superlift Brush Truck. With a 10-inch Superlift Suspensions lift kit and 41-inch wheel and tire package. Painted “Oh, So Orange” the truck gets a complete firefighting utility bed and equipment, along with all the necessary lights and sirens. (And we secretly think its a Transformer).
The “Project No Compromise” F-150 gets a solid array of mods, from a MagnaFlow exhaust and Skyjacker Suspensions four-inch lift, to a two-inch fender flare kit. A real truck, it also boasts Ford’s new fuel efficient and powerful EcoBoost V6 engine.
Built by CGS Performance Products the “Tarmac” F-150 is notably more urban, sitting low to the ground with an extensive list of mods that include Colorado Custom billet wheels, a Whipple twin-screw supercharger, a modified exterior with a new hood and grille, plus a custom red leather interior.
And finally there’s the “Black Mamba” F-350 Super Duty (above) with its Bentley-styled front-grille and suicide rear doors.
Congrats go out to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, the winner of the 2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year.
The Evoque was up against some stiff competition this year. Other contenders up for the award included BMW X3, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Ford Explorer, Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, MINI Countryman, Saab 9-4x and Volkswagen Touareg.
According to Motor Trend, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque passed each of its six criteria for the distinction (Advancement In Design, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance Of Intended Function) with flying colors.
Based on the Land Rover LR2, the Evoque is an evolutionary leap over its predecessor, says Motor Trend. Even though it shares a platform with the LR2, the Evoque performs considerably better in every way. “The Evoque is meant to appeal to the buyer who ranks style, content, and fuel efficiency above approach and departure angles,” says Motor Trend.
Just a few of Evoque’s perks that wowed the judges included its Terrain Response handling and AWD system, its stylish design, roomy cargo area, emission reduction, improved fuel economy and impressive value (it has a price tag of $43,995 – not too shabby when you see all the great features it comes with).
Discuss this story at RREvoqueForum.com
Our friends over at Tjin Edition gave us some teasers today on a pair of Ford vehicles that they’re currently building for the upcoming SEMA Show. This year, Tjin Edition has teamed up with Ford to build out a Mustang GT 5.0 and an Explorer, with the Mustang being a follow up to last year’s Ford Fiesta UTI Sweepstakes car. That means the 2012 Tjin Edition Ford Mustang will be built in collaboration with UTI and given away later next year.
The Tjin Edition 2012 Ford Explorer will feature a custom Dupont paint job by LR Auto Body, set off by a set of 24-inch iForged Concave wheels wrapped with Falken rubber. Eibach Suspension will give it a lower stance while bigger Baer brakes gives the Explorer improved braking performance and rotors that won’t look minuscule behind the massive 24-inch wheels. On the inside, Tjin Edition outfits the Explorer with black leather interior and a pair of Recaro child seats, while a Thule bike rack will sit up top.
The giveaway Mustang will also sport a bright orange Dupont paint job by LR Auto Body, 20-inch Forgestar wheels, Baer big brakes and a ton of extra performance thanks to a Paxton Supercharger. Needless to say the Mustang will also get a custom interior. More details on the Mustang’s giveaway will be released at SEMA.
Tjin Edition also teased to us that these aren’t the only two vehicles they’ll be working on for SEMA. Rumor has it there will be a couple of GM creations and a collaboration on a Honda project.
GALLERY: Tjin Edition Ford SEMA Vehicles
LEGO has to be the best toy ever! You can build anything with those colorful little bricks – including a full-sized Ford Explorer. It’s on display at the Chicago Assembly Plant, but will be making it’s way to the new Ford Driving School at the LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park.
Made from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks, the bright red LEGOLAND Florida edition Explorer was created by 22 designers (you have a great job if you get to build a LEGO car and get paid for it). It tips the scales at 2,654 pounds and sits on a 768-pound interior aluminum base.
It’s sitting pretty at Ford’s Chicago plant, which produces the Explorer, but will soon be making the trip across country to Florida. It’ll make the journey in a trailer with transparent sides, offering motorists a unique change of scenery. The LEGO Explorer’s final destination is the new 150-acre LEGOLAND Florida theme park just outside Orlando. If you’re planning a trip there, you’ll find this attraction in front the Ford Driving School for children.
“Ford is excited to support the alliance between LEGOLAND Florida and the Southeast Ford dealers. The LEGOLAND Florida Explorer and the Ford Driving School attraction are great opportunities to showcase our products and safety messages to families and visitors in a unique way,” said Tracy Magee, Ford Experiential Marketing manager.
The new LEGOLAND opens its gates on October 15, and will feature than 50 family-focused rides, shows and attractions and a historical botanical garden. Using more than 50 million LEGO bricks, the park is divided into 10 themed entertainment zones. One of those zones is the Ford Driving School, where kids can get behind the wheel and feel what it’s like to drive.
Watch a time-lapsed video of the making of the LEGO Ford Explorer after the jump:
Ford is experiencing tremendous success with its new Vista Roof option, a large panoramic sunroof available on their crossover vehicles. Take rates for the inexpensive roof option are climbing as consumers opt for more airiness and light bathed cabins.
Both the Ford Explorer and Flex are popular models featuring the Vista Roof. Almost half of Explorer buyers are opting for the $1,595 Vista Roof, despite Ford expecting a take rate of just 30-35 percent when first introduced. With Edge buyers, 56 percent are choosing the roof and 32 percent of Flex buyers opt for it as well. The Vista Roof’s success in SUVs and crossovers is due to their large interiors that can at once feel claustrophobic for rear passengers but also offer the extra space to best accommodate the headroom-snatching glasswork and mechanism.
Interestingly, there is some degree of regionality to the roof demand. Customers in hot, sunny markets are somewhat less inclined to purchase the option. However U.S coastal regions select the panoramic roof at a near 60 percent rate. Ford has attributed this success to customers desiring more open structures and having more light available. Ford’s success with the panoramic roof only betters its bottom line. One supplier said that the American automaker could be profiting 25 percent or better on the approximately $1,500 average cost.
[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]
