Honeywell to provide turbo power for Ford's EcoBoost

With Ford's plans to provide more European offerings in it's lineups in the coming years, it is quickly moving to implement it's EcoBoost offerings in it's models.

EcoBoost relies on direct injection and turbocharging to develop similar power to a larger displacement engine with much improved fuel economy. The concept is actually an old one, and quite refreshing and cost effective compared to the other alternatives.

Ford has now announced that the turbos will be provided by Honeywell, the world's largest manufacturer of turbos. Offered as a premium engine option, the first EcoBoost will be a 3.5 liter direct injected twin turbo V-6. The engine will offer around 340 lb ft of torque, a minimum 30 lb ft increase over the current 4.6 liter V-8. It also represents a full 90 lb ft increase over the current 3.5.

The technology will debut in the new Lincoln MKS, which is a beautiful but underpowered entry level luxury car. Ford is proclaiming the MKS to be one of the most powerful and fuel efficient luxury cars on the market.

Ford's committment to EcoBoost will spread quickly, showing up in the Flex CUV in 2009 and the F-150 18 months later. It will eventually be spread across 23 nameplates by 2012.

Ford will continue to offer V-8 engines, and the EcoBoost offerings will fall in price below the V-8 and above standard V-6 offferings.

Saleen's 720hp SMS

Steve Saleen doesn't just celebrate his 25th anniversary by having some cake and ice cream. No, he marks the occasion by rolling out an awesome 720hp Mustang! The SMS boasts an aluminum 5.0 engine with a CNC ported supercharger and aluminum heads, as well as unique to this model options like SMS Red Butterfly induction system and SMS Light Blade led taillights. This is SMS Limited’s first working concept vehicle with plans to develop a Challenger and Camaro in the future.
Steve Saleen busted into the auto industry on August 19th, 1973 at Riverside International Raceway, where he took his GT350 to the winners’ circle. Steve quickly moved up in the ranks of open and closed wheel racing. His business degree eventually meshed with his love of racing when he formed Saleen Autosport and introduced his first modified Mustang, a 1984 that featured a blue and white paint job and performance modifications.
Concept features: SMS 720 HP Supercharged 5.0L Aluminum Block V8 SMS CNC Ported Saleen Supercharger
SMS CNC Aluminum Heads
SMS Red Butterfly™ Induction System
SMS Light Blade™ LED Tail Light System
SMS Billet Aluminum Watts Link System
SMS Cross Drilled 15″ 6-Piston Front Brakes
SMS Cross Drilled 12″ Rear Brakes
SMS Two Piece Billet Aluminum Hood Vents
SMS Carbon Fiber Side Splitters
SMS Carbon Fiber Diffuser Fences
SMS Red Butterfly™ Quarter Intakes
SMS Chromosome™ Silver Paint
SMS Leather Grip Billet Aluminum Shifter and Shifter Bezel
SMS Leather Dash
SMS Leather Two Tone Door Inserts
SMS Leather Two Tone Seats 6-Speed Transmission
Source: SMS Limited

Does Mercury matter anymore?

Image via Wikipedia's Mercury brand, long the lucky recipient of models identical to Ford with a different grille, has been rumored to be on it's way to the Oldsmobile/Plymouth graveyard. It's been a very long time since the brand had anything that caused any kind of excitement (with the possible exception of the Marauder). Mercury was originally designed by Ford to compete with Buick and Cadillac. But since Ford already has Lincoln, is this really a necessity? And competing with Buick is pretty pointless anyway unless you want to get in good with Grandma. The whole purpose of the brand seems to have lost it's way. What's the point of buying a Mariner when you can get an Escape? To have an Escape with fake wood accents? In spite of all of this, Ford announced last week that it would have new product for Mercury, including a small car in 2010. It appears that they finally have a goal in mind for the brand, which is to become a destination for importing European Ford models. Ford says it will build the European Mondeo sedan in North America beginning in 2010. The Mondeo is slightly smaller than the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln MKZ. Ford has also said that it will build an all new Taurus in 2010, but has not made any mention of a new Sable. In Europe, the Ford Mondeo is a relatively upscale small-midsize sedan designed for a market that will pay a premium price for such a car. Giving it a Mercury badge gives Ford room to charge a bit more for it than Fusion sticker prices, and of course North American production will be much cheaper than European production. The other new Mercury will a version of the crossover of the Ford Kuga. The Kuga is a small Escape-ish style SUV that looks distinctly different from the current Mariner. This is all well and good, I suppose. But if you want to get people more excited in the Mercury brand, why not bring back the Cougar? I'm not talking about the Probe like previous model either. I'm talking about the late 60's/early 70's one. With the current retro styling of the Mustang, it would make perfect sense. I think it would be a great shot in the arm for the brand and would bring people into the showrooms. But please Mercury, no more fake wood grain dashes.

Ford to continue building small cars, announces new models

Image by Getty Images via Daylife
In spite of potentially dropping gas prices, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly recently told FOX Business Network that Ford will not shift it's focus away from increasing production on small cars. Mullaly said that Ford's previous plan to focus on large vehicles was not the right business plan. "No, I think the dye is cast," Mullaly said. "It really starts with a point of view about the future and a couple of points of view for Ford. We clearly focused on big SUVs and trucks in the United States and we focused on dynamite cars and smaller vehicles around the world. That's not a balanced plan."
Despite rumors to the contrary, Ford will not abandon it large car and truck division altogether. "We've been the preferred industry leader in trucks and SUVs for 33 years," he said. "These are wonderful vehicles. Even though the market is down substantially, there's going to be a market for large trucks and SUVs. We're going to continue to invest the appropriate amount and maintain our leadership." Having said this, Ford won't ignore the trends altogether. It is already planning on retooling two of it's U.S. plants and one Mexico plant to build small cars instead of trucks and SUV's.
Ford also recently dropped some information on some of it's future product. They weren't kidding about a total overhaul in the next couple of years...
2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ Refreshed versions of these midsize sedans are expected to launch in early 2009. Fusion and Milan will also be offered as hybrids, with fuel economy that's promised to top that of the Toyota Camry hybrid. 2010 Ford Mustang A revised form of the pony car, already being previewed to enthusiasts across the country, will hit dealers in early 2009. We're expecting a debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. 2010 Ford Taurus A thoroughly restyled Taurus sedan will launch in the middle of 2009. Ford plans on offering its EcoBoost technology (turbocharged engines with direct-injection) in the new car. 2010 European Ford Fiesta and Focus We knew the cars would (finally) make their way to the U.S. for 2010, and Ford has now revealed they'll arrive in both four- and five-door models. There's no word on whether a three-door Focus, especially in RS trim, would make its way stateside. 2010 Lincoln crossover Ford claims its luxury division will receive a seven-passenger crossover halfway through 2009. Given the vehicle's description and the hint that it'll receive the EcoBoost powertrain, we're expecting a Lincoln version of the Ford Flex. Time will tell if styling from the MKT concept transitions into production. 2010 "Small Cars" We've precious little detail on what Ford is planning here, but the company claims it will launch a new small car as a Mercury in 2010, alongside another small vehicle with roots in Europe. The latter is described as a "whitespace" entry, suggesting it may be a unique offering in our market. 2010 Ford Explorer The ubiquitous Explorer will abandon the traditional body-on-frame structure for unibody construction in 2010. Given that, and the promise of an EcoBoost motor and a six-speed automatic, we're expecting it to be similar in concept to the Explorer America concept shown at the 2008 Detroit show. Ford claims the changes will help the model return a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy. Along with the new products come a number of changes to Ford's assembly plants. The automaker already revealed its intention to switch factories from building slow-selling full-size trucks to small cars, so these revelations aren't earth shattering. Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan, may have to revise its name. Presently home to the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, the factory will be retooled starting in December of 2008 to build the 2010 European Focus for the North American market. Production for both the Expedition and Navigator will move to the truck plant in Louisville, Kentucky, although a line in the same facility will also be responsible for assembling the 2010 Focus. Ford's factory in Cuautitlan, Mexico, will build the 2010 Fiesta for North America instead of its present product, the F-Series trucks. Expecting further declines in the full-size truck segment, Ford has extended the life of the Ford Ranger by two years, giving the plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, an extra two years of work.

Honda FCX fuel cell car hits the road, but it is really good for the environment?

The very first Honda FCX fuel cell car has been delivered to it's very first owner, Ron Yerxa. Ron is best known as the producer of recent movies like Election, Cold Mountain, and Little Miss Sunshine. Sounds like a typical happy story about a Hollywood persona doing their part to set an example and save the environment in their own special way? Sorry, Hollywood. I'm all for alternate technology and doing what's right for the environment. I don't want my country to be dependent on foreign oil forever. But the point that everyone always seems to forget is that the electrical power for the fuel cell has to come from somewhere, right? Well, it comes from coal or natural gas burning power plants. You may feel all warm and fuzzy when you plug your eco car in at night, but think about all of the coal you're polluting the environment with. You may not live in a big city or anywhere near the power plant supplying your electricity, but it's still out there. For the record, the FCX emits nothing more than water vapor from it's happy little tailpipes. Originally introduced at the Tokyo auto show in 2005, it was one of the first concept vehicles to integrate an advanced fuel-cell power train into a traditional sedan setup. Sporting 136 horsepower and a 280 mile range, it's also the most practical such vehicle so far. Since it has not been extensively tested for road worthiness, the FCX is being leased to five lucky buyers in California. Three dealerships are currently certified to lease the car. Executive vice president of American Honda John Mendel calls the move a "key step" toward "the goal of broader commercialization" of fuel cell vehicles. Honda plans to eventually lease up to 200 of the FCX's to mostly Southern California residents in the near future. The FCX Clarity does boast a 74mpg rating, which is a 25 percent increase over the previous model, as well as 30 percent better range and a 40 percent smaller battery pack. The lease price is expected to be around $600 per month, which wouldn't exactly save you a lot of money on gas unless you're currently leasing a Lexus. I may be in the minority, but I just don't see much benefit from fuel cell cars. Look at it however you want to, but the energy has to come from somewhere. Whether it's direct pollution, or in this case upstream pollution. Until we start developing technologies that don't rely on coal, we're really not making any progress. Could it be that automotive companies are exploring this technology because it's an easy way to sell cars or meet CAFE fuel economy standards? Until we start figuring out ways to get clean energy from sources like solar, wind, or water, it's the same old song to me. Just with different lyrics.

One nasty twin turbo Saleen - video of the week

You gotta love the sound of a turbo'd V8...

Saleen introduces the new Racecraft brand at Mustang Week 2008!

Today at Mustang Week 2008 in sunny, tourist laden Myrtle Beach, Saleen introduced it's newest brand to the general public. Dubbed Racecraft, it's premise is affordable performance packages for Mustangs. "The Racecraft moniker has been synonymous with Saleen performance since the first Saleen Mustang, "said Saleen Automotive General Manager, Marques McCammon. "Racecraft is a brand that our enthusiasts know as the secret sauce in Saleen suspensions, now that brand name will grow to encompass a full line of exciting performance vehicles." The Racecraft brand will prove not only great value for it's customers, but also an easy canvas for customization and business first styling that puts go before show. Sounds like they're talking my language! "This formula is one of legitimate performance that you can see, hear, and feel. It just seemed a natural for us to say that Racecraft will `Power Your Senses` ", said McCammon. Racecraft model names will correspond with the horsepower package that is offered with each model. For instance the first model in the lineup, the 420S, will feature a 420 horsepower supercharged V8. Each Racecraft vehicle will also feature the signature Racecraft suspension, Bridgestone performance tires, light weight aluminum alloy wheels, race inspired graphics and signature interior accents. Each vehicle is backed by a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. Consumers will be able to purchase an array of performance additions that can boost power to 475 hp without voiding their factory warranty. Pricing for the 420S will be in the sub $40,000 range, which will include transportation and applicable federal taxes. Typical parts for the car will run below $1000. "There are many customers out there who want to experience extreme performance reasonably priced; we designed the Racecraft brand with this buyer in mind, says McCammon. There was a lot of speculation at first that Racecraft would replace the Saleen moniker, but this is false. The brand is intended to be an entry level model for Saleen, much like a Ford compared to a Lincoln. The 420S is just the first in a entire line of future products. "Consumers should expect to see the next Racecraft model as early as the fall", said Product Planning Director, Julie Zona. I'm pretty surprised that it took this long for someone to have such a great idea come to fruitation. With the announcement of the Challenger drag package, let's hope that more companies follow suit and build some affordable bare bones muscle cars, just like the old days! RaceCraft 420S Mustang features: · Racecraft 4.6L SOHC Supercharged V-8 · Horsepower: 420 @ 5800 RPM · Torque: 400 ft.-lbs. @ 4000 RPM · 39 lb. fuel injectors · 98 mm mass airflow sensor · hi-flow inlet tube and air box cover · Performance air filter · Racecraft specific rate front and rear coil springs · Racecraft front struts (N2) · Racecraft rear shocks (N2) · Racecraft front sway bar and pivot bushings · Bridgestone Potenza All-Season Performance Radial Tires · 18"x9" Front and 18"x10" Rear Aluminum Alloy `Torque Blade` wheels · Racecraft exterior badging · Racecraft logo side rocker graphics · Racecraft `420S` performance vinyl hood graphics · Racecraft rear decklid graphics · Racecraft 180 MPH silver faced speedometer with MyColor feature · Satin aluminum instrument panel upgrade · Racecraft steering wheel badge · Leather-wrapped steering wheel · Leather wrapped billet aluminum shift knob · Leather shift boot · Performance cloth seats with Racecraft embroidered headrest · $38,995 MSRP

Mustang Week 2008

Just got back from the car show at Mustang Week 2008! Lots of nice cars out there. Not the nicest of days as it's been overcast all day long but that didn't stop the hundreds of spectators that showed up to check out the 200+ stangs in attendance. The great thing about the show is that there were numerous cars in the parking lot that were just as nice as the ones entered in the show. I was also surprised to see all the big name vendors that were in attendance. Lots of great stuff indeed. The only thing that dissapointed me is that there were only a few four eyes inattendance. My goal is to get mine finished by next year so that I can take the week off and attend all of the festivites. On to the pictures! Click on any of them to view the larger image.

One off Mustang to be auctioned for scholarship program

Ford has donated a one off special edition Mustang, named the "AV8R" after the legendary P-51 aircraft. The car will be auctioned off at the 2008 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh. The event expects 650,000 visitors and 2,500 aircraft. Chuck Yeager, Jack Roush, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Morgan Freeman are all scheduled to appear at the event.

The car is painted in a satin silver with black accents. It has AV8R graphics adorning the sides and features bomber jacket inserts on the interior as well as Bullit style gauges and shift knob.

Performance enhancements include a complete suspension package along with a supercharger and special exhaust. Horsepower is estimated to be 400+. Another cool feature is the Air Force "star" embedded in the glass roof.

Proceeds from the AV8R’s auction will benefit the EAA’s Gathering of Eagles program, which provides scholarships for younger people interested in careers in aviation.

AirVenture Oshkosh is set to begin on July 28 and the auction is scheduled for July 31.

Korea to build it's version of a musclecar

With the recent introduction of the distinctly American inspired Genesis, Hyundai is quickly trying to expand past it's economy car roots. Sporting a 380 horsepower V8 and rear wheel drive, the big luxury car offers features of a car that you might expect to get in a BMW or a Mercedes with the specs of a classic American sedan, all with a low bargain price.

But if that isn't enough for you, check out the forthcoming Tiburon, set to bow in 2009. It's the little brother of the Genesis. Specific details are sparse, but considering the reception of the previously popular Tiburon suggests that this model will only grow its fanbase.

As a matter of fact, the new car is so much different from the old one that Hyundai is considering changing it's name. It's been rumored that the name Tuscani, as the car is known to the rest of the world, will adorn the shiny new ride. Genesis coupe is also a possibility, perhaps contingent on how successful the sedan becomes.

The mystique created around this car, much like it's bigger brother, is due to it's V8 power and rear wheel drive coupled with a low low price. Starting in the low $20's it will be offered with a 2.0 turbocharged four cylinder with around 200 horsepower. There will also be a 300 horsepower V6 available with a six speed manual transmission.

The four will be Hyundai's first turbocharged engine since the Scoupe in 1995. For those of you who don't remember the Scoupe, it was a laughable disaster at the time. Of course, Hyundai has come a very long way since then in terms of quality. Like any terd, however, it can be polished and has developed somewhat of a cult tuner following.

I must say that I envy the engine lineup. I think it would be a blessing for Ford to offer such a range of engines on the next generation Mustang (hint, hint). The ol' weak 6 definitely needs to go. It's barely good enough for rental car duty.

The new Tiburon will go into production in late 2008 and be in showrooms early next year.

Will you be able to have an onboard dyno in the future?

As hot rodders, muscle car enthusiasts, racers, or whatever you want to call this hobby, we have long been slaves to the dynometer. It's a familiar story. Man places performance upgrade on car. Man drives to tows car to performance shop with dyno. Man pays $100 an hour to find out if the upgrade worked and how much power he gains from it. Sound familiar?

Well perhaps in the future this won't be the case. I for one find it absurd that you need an incredibly expensive piece of machinery to measure performance. Aftermarket onboard computers and laptop software are expensive and their reliability is questionable.

16-year-old Taylor Blackwood of Germantown, Tennessee wants to change all of that. You see, he has developed preliminary technology that would allow someone to measure horsepower and torque by placing pressure sensors near the u joint of a vehicle. Their leads connect to a battery-powered signal conditioning unit and wireless transmitter located in a two-piece, weight-balanced plastic collar that bolts onto the driveshaft about halfway between the yoke and the center bearing. Extensive testing of this device over a two year period has resulted in sensors that are tough enough to withstand high torque situations. He's even been granted a provisional patent on the device.

Initial tests show that the sensors are very close in measurement to a classic dyno. The system requires that the tires hook up with no wheelspin to give accurate numbers. However, a slow start in second gear would provide great results. All of this without threatening to alert the law, which I must say isn't a fun proposition.

All of this sounds great, but there is still much development needed for this to be a realistic business idea. Sorting out the electronics to record data is tricky. The user interface is still under development, but the idea is to have a meter similar to what you would find in the Bugatti Veyron, albeit a much more affordable one that is accessible to you common enthusiast.

As envisioned the device would be made for specific model lines, not a universal kit. Initial offerings would be for your more popular tuner cars. On an interesting side note, Taylor is developing and testing the device on his Mustang GT.

2009 Dodge Challenger...the drag package!

I'm not a huge Mopar fan or anything, but you have to give them props for their latest package that will be offered with the 09 Challenger. The Drag Race package allows consumers to get a stripper Challenger that doesn't come with all of the stuff you don't need to go fast.

Starting with a stock, plain white car, Dodge removes roughly 1000 pounds from the stock car's portly 4150. The car will be produced on the same assembly line as regular Challengers, but will have no body sealer, sound deadening, ventilation system, airbags, or rear seats. Mama Mopar also removes the windshield wiper assembly and side and rear impact beams, which means that this ride won't be street legal.

With all of the stuff that's been removed, some things have in fact been added. Included is a lift off composite hood with functional scoop, polycarbonate windows, manual rack and pinion steering, a lightweight brake system, and a cable throttle linkage. The wheelbase has also been shortened a half inch and the engine sits further back for better weight distribution.

Three available engines will power this back to basics blank canvas: a 5.7-liter or 6.1-liter HEMI V-8, or a 360 cubic-inch 'Magnum Wedge' V-8, coupled to either an automatic or manual transmission. No specific horsepower or torque numbers have yet been released.

Dodge plans to build at least 100 examples of the car to qualify it for NHRA's Comp, Super Stock and Stock classes. Pricing will be roughly the same as the current SRT8, in the low to mid $30,000 range.

Now of only Ford would add a drag race package to the thousands of current Mustang packages....

2010 Mustang revealed! Umm...sort of

This past weekend a heavily camouglaged 2010 Mustang "debuted" at a Road America racing event in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It served as a pace car in the race complete with "spy shot" black covering up all of it's top secret details.

Naturally there is speculation that this was a PR event aimed at stealing some of Chevrolet's thunder with it's recent Camaro braggado. As far as I can remember, this is definitely the first time a car has been paraded around an event in disguise.

Ford confirmed that it's plan remains to fully debut the car at the Los Angeles auto show later this year. It is expected to have the same basic overall dimensions with some subtle styling updates, rumored to be close to the current Shelby Mustang. A new pair of engines is rumored as well, an "Ecoboost" turbo V6 and a new version of the classic 5.0 V8.

AmericanMuscle.com is your online authority for Mustang Parts.

Fabric paint, does it work?

I've seen a lot of questions floating around about fabric paint. Being that I am trying to save my money to spend on the mechanical bits of my Mustang and the seats are door panels are in overall good shape except for some fading, I decided I would try it for myself.

The results are actually pretty decent. I used about three coats on each piece after a good thorough cleaning. I was pretty pleased with the way they turned out. It took around two cans to do one door panel and one seat. The paint runs about $6 a can and I got it at the local auto parts store.

You are supposed to allow 72 hours to dry properly but I must say that it was dry to the touch ten minutes or so after I painted them. It was a little rough but it's supposed to soften up after some time passes. Even ten minutes later no color came off when I rubbed my hand across it.

Unfortunately the passenger side door panel and seat are being more stubborn to remove. The bolts on the seat aren't going to come off easy and I'll have to work on it another day. More to come!

Video of the week - Kenne Bell Cobra

Enjoy!

2010 Chevrolet Camaro - First Look

Well the gloves are off and the fight is about to begin. With much bravado, Chevrolet is getting ready to remove the curtain and reveal the next in the line of many cheap plastic equipped Camaro's.

Taking a dig right at Ford and it's venerable Mustang, "We stopped bringing Mustangs on our development rides because they were so far behind us in our rearview mirror," says Al Oppenheiser, GM's North American rear-drive vehicle chief engineer. Sounds like fighting words to me.

The bad thing for us Ford afficianados is that he just may very well be right. While exact numbers haven't yet been released, V6 powered Camaros will be in the neighboorhood of 300 hp and 270 lbft of torque. This is thanks to the fact that instead of using the weak 3.5 liter V6 present in models such as the Impala, Chevy is going with the direct injected 3.6 present in the current Cadillac CTS.

In addition to this, SS models with recieve a 6.2 liter derivative of the aluminum intensive Corvetter small block. Automatics will run with 395 hp and 395 lbft of torque. Expect manuals to have 420 hp and 408 lbft of torque. As far as the previously rumored turbocharged V6 model, for now Oppenheiser admits that they are "thinking about it."

The other big news is that the new Camaro will use an independent rear suspension for the first time. This multilink system is easily put in place thanks to the car sharing a platform with the Pontiac G8. Target weight for the V6 will be 3700 lbs and the V8 will be 3900. The main difference maker in weight will be in the suspension.

All in all it looks to be an impressive effort. It remains to be seen how this new "musclecar war" will pan out considering Dodge Challengers have just recently hit the showroom and the first ones are only available with an automatic. Traditionally Camaro's have outpowered Mustangs but have a much smaller fanbase and don't seem to sell as well. In my opinion this is a direct result of Ford's loyalty to it's fans. We don't have to worry about the Mustang going out of production for several years (well, except for the Probe fiasco). Now comes the best part, comparison tests!

Ford temporarily shuts down Michigan plant

In a move that makes a lot of sense considering the latest in automotive developments, Ford has shut down it's Michigan plant until August. With sales of previously popular large vehicles taking a dive and the price of raw materials going through the roof, Ford's Michigan plant currently builds the Navigator and Expedition models, both large gas guzzling SUV's.

Ford has also announced that it plans to lay off 15% of it's white collar work force and reduce overall truck and SUV production for the year. All of these moves, along with increasing small car production, are signaling a largely reactive move towards recent customer trends.

While Ford is in the process of retooling it's current plants to build small cars, the Wayne plant will remain primarily a truck plant. This is being done in anticipation of the future F-100 pickup which will be rolled out with a short development span.

2009 F-150 delayed, loses Boss engine option

With truck and SUV sales down considerably, Ford has announced that the new 2009 F-150 will be delayed, at least until the fall. Ford is already shutting down truck facctories and retooling others to build cars instead. This is no doubt due to the fact that F-150 sales are running 18% down and Focus sales are up around 35%. Apparently the real reason for the delay is the fact that so many 2008's still reside on dealer lots.

Along with this somewhat depressing news comes even more depressing news: the development of a Boss V8 for the F-150 is dead. The powerplant, which was to be a 6.2 liter, was originally designed to be an answer to the larger GM truck powerplants. This is actually the second time this program has been cancelled, last time seeing the axe in 2005.

With all of this bad news coming out of Detroit recently, there are a few good things that have spawned from the latest gas crisis. Ford has recently announced that it will base the next US Focus on the European model. This model has long been revered by American fans and has achieved an almost cult status based on it's legendary handling and solid performance.

Lots of folks have wondered for years why Ford has stuck us with the boring and horrendously ugly version of the Focus. Europe gets to have all the fun with multiple performance packages and a good solid chassis that goes along with the frugal gas mileage. Meanwhile we get by with a reject from the Kia factory.

In other related depressing news, automakers don't forsee a change in the trend toward smaller vehicles any time soon. Ford is talking like their shift towards building more small cars is permanent, as is the focus of American to downsize. They are hoping to top 280,000 in Focus sales, compared to 173,213 in 2007.

AmericanTrucks.com is your online retailer for Ford F150 Parts.

Will Ford bring back the SVO?

GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz recently caused quite a stir amoung muscle car fans when he suggested that the Camaro could one day sport a turbocharged four cylinder engine. Critics say this is preposterous. I say it's been done before!

The original Ford SVO, built between 1984 and 1986 has a distinct cult following to this day. It was powered by a 2.3L four cylinder turbocharged/intercooled fuel injected engine and was designed by Ford to be a "driver's car." The car featured many specs and unique styling attributes that make it drastically different from your average GT, but with similar performance with half the cylinders.

Some of it's unique features included:

WC T-5 manual transmission with unique gear ratios
7.5" 3.73 ratio Traction Lok axle (1984 models had a 3.45 ratio)
Hurst shifter
Functional hood scoop
Functional air dam with integrated fog lamps
"European" grill-less front end
Unique headlight arrangement
Unique tail lights (later used on the 1993 Mustang Cobra)
Functional biplane spoiler
Flares ("spats") in front of rear wheels
Unique sail panels
Wider track than a standard Mustang
Improved suspension geometry
Koni adjustable shocks
Large 4 wheel disc brakes
16x7" 5-lug aluminum wheels
Goodyear Gatorback tires (NCT tires on 1984 models)
Unique charcoal trim interior
8000 RPM tachometer and "illegal" 140 MPH speedometer
"Recaro style" seats
Suede-effect dash panels
Leather trimmed controls
Repositioned pedals to facilitate heel-and-toe shifting
Dead pedal for driver stability during high speed cornering
Fuel octane switch to modify boost level and fuel map
All power and convenience options standard

Unfortunately the SVO missed it's sales target of 10,000 cars per year, selling only 9,844 in it's entire production run. This was due in large part to it's $6000 price premium over a standard GT.

Naturally after Lutz's comments and Ford's announcement that it may build an Ecoboost V6 turbocharged Mustang there is a lot of speculation that Ford could bring back the SVO. I say this is a great idea.

Original SVO's have developed a rabid following. There are numerous websites and registries dedicated to the four banger. The engine itself lends well to power increases and many applications can easily see 400-600 horsepower. One has to believe that, if produced, the car would lend itself well to those who currently own one or want to own one. Ford just has to follow the original formula but have it priced similarly to below the cost of a new GT.

Another thing to consider is the current generation of "boy racers" who have grown up on 4 cylinder tuning. This would appeal to them as well, except for the fact that they have a penchance towards import models. These views are being softened, however, in light of the popularity of drifting and the fact that Amercian cars perform well in this sport.

So my message to Ford is, just build it!

Ford rethinking it's future large car platform

In a not so entirely suprising move, Ford is considering nixing it's future large car platform. "We need to understand the role of those vehicles, given the change in the market mix," said Ford Product chief Derrick Kuzak. A final decision, however, has not been made and the models are still on target for production begining in 2013.

In the meantime Ford has announced that it will bring it's European Focus and Fiesta models to the U.S. in 2010, sporting the company's new Ecoboost engines which they are also considering placing the future Mustang and F Series trucks.

I just can't understand why this would happen. It would seem obvious with declining sales in truck, SUV, and large cars that it would be. But there is still a niche customer that appreciates these large vehicles, and a rabid consumer base that was excited at the potential of the Ford Interceptor concept car.

An all out axing of the large car platform just seems like a bad business idea. Scaling back on production to meet demand would make more sense. Using the more economical EcoBoost V6's also seems like a viable way to make it happen.

You can't blame automakers for thinking this way. Ford recently reported that it's sales for June were down 28%, whereas Focus sales were up a record 53% in the month of May. People just have the perception that only small cars get good gas mileage, and in turn that's what they will buy. I have a friend that recently purchased a new Honda Pilot and negotiated $9000 off sticker because it's an SUV. An SUV that gets 20+ mpg.

I for one hope that Ford explores all of it's options before making a move of this magnitude. I know that my love for large, rear wheel drive, V8 cars is not shared by everyone and is not practical for most. But I hope there is at least enough interest out there to save them in some capacity. There is something distinctly pleasing about a big American car.

What’s wrong with domestic automakers?

Over the last ten years or so it is obvious that the big three U.S. automakers have been losing a lot of ground to foreign makes. The years when Chrysler, Ford, and GM ruled the world of cars is in the distant past. Now they have been tip toeing on the edge of implosion for several years and things are only looking worse.
Why is this happening? Domestic automakers do produce the best trucks in the world. In fact, Ford has had the best selling vehicle in America for as long as I’ve been alive with the F-150. But rising gas prices are cutting into truck production. So what is the cause of the big three’s decline? The reasoning is simple. Domestic cars suck.
I know it’s hard to admit. With the exception of a few (i.e. Mustang) most American cars are boring and no fun to drive. They have a poor reputation, caused by years of being unreliable and cheaply made. Their resale value is terrible.
Just take a look at cars such as the Honda Civic and Accord. When they first came out I wasn’t too impressed with the styling. Over time, it has grown on me. But the thing that strikes me is, they aren’t afraid to take chances. Their cars are unique looking and exciting. They are fun to drive. And most importantly, they are rock solid reliable and have a ridiculous resale value.
When I started shopping around for a new vehicle, I rationalized that purchasing a slightly used vehicle was a great way to go. Everyone knows that as soon as you drive off the lot you have lost thousands of dollars in resale value. The thing that astounded me about Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissan is that they don’t lose much value at all.
Good luck purchasing a used Accord or Civic with 100,000 for less than $6,000. Amazing isn’t it? You could buy a used Ford Taurus with this kind of mileage for $2,000 or less. Is it the quality or the perception of quality?
There have been some signs of progress. New domestic cars are light years ahead of their predecessors in terms of styling, performance, and reliability. Warranties have improved, and their reputation has as well.
The real question is how long will it take people to notice? Or care?

Trading in you gas guzzler? Make sure it's worth it!

Previously I had posted a link that allows you compare vehicles side by side and gives some very useful information concerning fuel costs. I recently came across a more useful tool that actually breaks down your cost savings per month and the estimated time it would take for you to realize these savings based on your trade in. The value of your trade in is based on estimated fair market value.

The example I have here assumes that I am trading in my 2005 F-150 for a new Honda Civic LX 5 speed coupe:

2008 Honda CivicLX 2dr Coupe (1.8L 4cyl 5M) $17,325

2005 Ford F-1502dr Regular Cab XLT 2WD Flareside 6.5 ft. SB (4.6L 8cyl 4A)

My Trade-In Value (includes typical options): $12,126

Cost of Fuel-Efficient Car Minus Trade-In: $5,199.00

MPG of Fuel-Efficient Vehicle: 30

MPG of My Trade-In: 15

Number of Miles Driven per Month: 1000

Price of Gas: $3.95

Amount Saved on Gas (per month): $131.67

Number of months to break even and begin saving money on gas: 39

Seem a little unreasonable? Most people trade in their cars every three years or so, so my estimate of 39 months seems like it wouldn't be worthwhile to make this trade. However, there are many other things to take into account here.

For one, my truck isn't paid off. My current payment is $340 a month. With a down payment of $5000, my payment on the Civic would be around $220 a month. I could easily sell the truck outright and get somewhere near the estimated retail value of $17,120 considering it has several thousand dollars in upgrades that aren't accounted for in the blue book pricing.

Add the savings of $120 a month on the car payment with the $131.67 in gas savings and you're looking at a monthly cost reduction of $251.67 a month! Not to mention that I would have a vehicle that has 0 miles on it compared to 35,000. And a better resale value. The only negative to this experiment is that I would be acquire roughly $5,000 more debt, the difference between what I owe on the truck and the cost of the Civic.

Try it yourself and see what your results are!

Keepin' it Orginal

I have to admit, I sometimes have feelings of guilt. Guilt about changing the color of the interior in my Mustang. I know this sounds a little funny, but I've always been split on the restore/modify fence. I love some original restored cars, even those with chalk marks on the firewall. But part of me also loves cars that are modified, though I prefer the simple look without too many body mods.

My thinking is that if you don't do anything permanent to harm the car (i.e., anything that can be changed back to normal without hacking anything up) then you're ok. I just prefer an interior color other than blue. Rather than spend an exhorbitant amount of money on replacing every interior piece or buying some orignal color interior paint, I just decided to go ahead and change the color to grey.

This isn't really a big deal for most Fox Body Mustang Enthusiasts. Doing 5 lug swaps, changing engines and trannys, etc. is no big deal. Have often do you see completely restored 5.0's that are completely original? But as cars become rare and prices rise, it will be inevitable. Just look at all the orginal 64 1/2 and up stangs that go for big money now. They experienced a similar phenomena as they were modified heavily and raced in their heydey.

I for one feel like I should build my car however I desire. I bought it to (perhaps) keep it forever and build it the way I like. I want to be able to enjoy the car and be happy with it. And you should too, because that's what this hobby is all about.

Is the V-8 Mustang doomed?

Recently I read a stunning article in Motor Trend with the appropriate title "Future Shock" Apparently Ford is seriously considering placing a twin turbo V-6 in the upcoming, slightly refreshed model. Thankfully, Ford is going to sell these alongside the V-8 models if this does happen. However, the problem is that most automakers are feeling the crunch to meet the 35mpg CAFE regulations by the year 2020. You can't blame American automakers for following trends, but it sure is putting the pinch on them. Americans have been eating up trucks and SUV's for years now. A sudden shift in oil prices is quickly putting a stop to this.

Now Ford is even considering bringing back a mid size truck that is tentatively named the "F100," much like in the old days except it was once a base model. You better believe that the current downsizing trends are only just the beginning. Chevy is also comtemplating bringing one of it's new ultra small compacts to the U.S., one that was previously pegged only for European consumption. American automakers have been through all of this before, however, and I'm confident they can eventually work their way through our poor economic situation.

The real question is, will consumers buy a twin turbo V-6 Mustang? Or more appropriately, is there a niche for it? I for one think it's a great idea and would welcome it to the stable. But would I buy one? Probrably not. Like most muscle car fans I can't see myself driving anything less than a V-8. I understand that the 6 will make as much or more power for the same price. It's just a personal preference.

I do believe that there is a market for this car. Just look at what happened with the Nissan Skyline. Instant cult hit. The only thing standing in it's way is that most Mustangs are sold with the base V-6 anyway (read: rental car, female shopper). It's just unfortunately a way of life, but without these sales the car would probrably have died many years ago. So anything to keep it around is worth a shot in my book.

The other great news is that Ford is considering bringing back the 5.0 in a much evolved form. This engine is rumored to replace the 4.6 and may appear in several special edition Mustangs (Boss 302 anyone?). The Shelby Cobra will also continue on with the new model in 2010. I for one applaud these moves. The 70' Boss 302 is my favorite car of all time, and I love the Shelby.

Hopefully they'll still be producing them when I one day can afford one....

http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/112_0803_2010_ford_mustang/index.html