Ford is recalling more than 5,500 Ranger pickups in Canada over taillights that may not work properly.The recall covers trucks from the 2019 model year, and applies to some 78,264 Rangers globally specifically, 5,564 are affected in Canada.On those affected trucks, the rear lights may function intermittently or simply not work due to badly installed or misaligned terminals.This means the position lights, brake lights and turn signals may not illuminate fully, reducing the visibility of the truck to other road users.Dealers will repair the issue by adjusting the terminals. This marks the fifth recall for the Ranger this year, its first model year on sale in Canada, which suggests Ford is still working out the bugs on the new
Origin: Ford recalling more than 5,500 Rangers in Canada over faulty taillights
Ford
5 things we learned behind the wheel of the 2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford EscapeChris Balcerak / Driving Up against stellar competition Honda’s CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, for instance and part of a portfolio that is now almost completely car-free, its important that Fords completely redesigned Escape be a home-run. Compact crossovers are all the rage right now the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape are all among the top-10 sellers in Canada right now so a competitive Escape is absolutely key to Fords continued good fortunes. Here are a few observations are driving a top-line Escape Titanium with the 2.0-litre turbo-four and all-wheel-drive.It’s gasolineThe attribute that really stands out is how powerful the Escapes top-line engine is. Yet another of Fords 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, this one is good for 250 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic, it should be good from a sub six-second scoot from rest to 100 km/h. More importantly, its got grunt to spare when passing semis on the highway, and its good to tow some 1,587 kilograms. The only downside is that it needs revs. Unusually, especially for a turbocharged engine, is that both horsepower and torque peak at 5,500 rpm, pointing to an engine that might be a tad weedy at low rpm. Indeed, I thought the slight fluffiness I felt at low speeds was due to lethargic transmission, but its more probably the result of this EcoBoosts aggressive tuning. Once moving, however, the Ford Escape is the beast of the compact crossover segment.It’s also sophisticatedAbsolutely everyone who got a ride in the new Escape commented on the relaxed nature of the powertrain, some commenting that it felt smoother than either the CR-V or the RAV4, while others compared it with Audis Q5. While I wholeheartedly agree with the first assertion, Im not quite as sure about the second, but it doesnt change the fact that this is the most together EcoBoost four-cylinder that Ive yet driven. The most powerful four-cylinder in its segment as well as its most sophisticated, those looking for a reason to choose the Titanium only this trim and the SEL get the 2.0L EcoBoost over its Japanese competition need look no deeper than under the hood. This is the class of the segment in both performance and exemplary NVH. With great power comes…Pretty darned frugal consumption, actually. Fords EcoBoost engines havent always delivered the fuel economy from the supposed efficiency of turbocharging smaller engines, often exceeding Transport Canadas rating by as much as 50 per cent.The new Escape is certainly an exception, averaging 9.7 L/100 kilometres of combined highway/city driving compared to its 9.1 official rating. And this is with me enjoying the fruits of Fords now more energetic turbocharger, goosing it away from lights, cruising at 125 km/h, and just generally hooning about. With a little more, err, deliberation, perhaps I might have even hit Fords official numbers, which would have been a first for me with any EcoBoost engine. Well done, Ford.The interior is much improvedWith caveats, though. First off, the Escapes cabin is roomier than its predecessor, especially in the cargo area, which now almost rivals the voluminous Honda CR-V. Its also a calm environment, the absence of tire noise and the aforementioned lack of NVH from the engine compartment contributing to the tranquility. Together with decent seats, excellent headroom and enough legroom for six-footers in the back, the new Escape is one of the few compact CUVs in which four adults can travel in comfort. The interior trim bits, long a sore spot in the Escape, have also been improved. The dashbords synthetic covering is softer (if not quite soft), the Titaniums leather up to snuff, and some of the fake wood, well, looks less fake than in the past. That said, some of the plastic in the door panels, for instance are not state-of-the-art. That might not be huge deal on the base model, but in a $44,599 Titanium, it was somewhat lacking. Whether that alone is enough for some to remove the Escape from their shopping list is doubtful, however. The previous generations plastics were atrocious and that didnt stop it from being the third best-seller in a very competitive segment.It’s pretty high techAt least in the top-of-the-line Titanium edition. Standard equipment includes Fords CoPilot360 suite of advanced driver aids, on-board WiFi, Active Park Assist, and Fords MyKey security system that allows you to set maximum speed which I inadvertently did for younger drivers. There is even a USB-C port (as well as a conventional USB version) for those that have recently upgraded phone or iPad.Of particular note is Fords latest Sync 3 infotainment system. As with all Fords tech upgrades of late, I am terribly impressed with this latest Sync, which has what must be the most improved man-machine interface of any infotainment system of the last five years. The eight-inch touchscreen remains relatively uncluttered, the menus uncomplicated, and
Origin: 5 things we learned behind the wheel of the 2020 Ford Escape
Ford insiders make the case for – and against – the Mach-E being named ‘Mustang’
Ford Mustang Mach-ENadine Filion News about Fords 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric SUV keeps breaking every day, pointing to ever-more ambitious plans for the model. After shipping it to dealers late 2020, the automaker plans to sell 50,000 examples globally through 2021, reports the Detroit News for context, Nissans Leaf managed 30,000 units in its best year. A performance-spec Shelby version is allegedly in the works, too.And Ford Europe design chief Murat Gueler admits some execs have even talked about building a family around the Mustang name. This is, of course, assuming Mustang enthusiasts, pitchforks and torches in hand, havent by then burned Dearborn to the ground for sticking the name of the iconic pony car on an electric SUV in the first place.Yes, the reaction to the Blue Oval calling the Mach-E a Mustang has been simply calamitous. Even with Ford bringing on the charismatic Idris Elba as a brand ambassador, the backlash has been unrelenting.No fewer than four petitions for the name to be changed have been launched; promises have hurriedly come down from Ford execs that youll be convinced once you drive it; and a survey of social media shows fans of rival muscle cars from General Motors and Mopar have even sympathetically relaxed or resisted their usual trolling of Mustang owners.There have been, arguably, early warnings Ford holds no name completely sacred. In 1967, the company turned its Thunderbird, once a two-seat roadster, into a marshmallow-y four-door luxury sedan; 10 years later the vaunted Mercury Cougar muscle car badge would show up on a station wagon.Then again, those marques didnt jump from gasoline to electric power, or from car to sport utility.‘Making the Mustang Mach-E’A few days after its launch, Ford released this video about the Mustang Mach-Es development, featuring several executives, engineers, designers and Mustang fans.The company doesnt hide that the group behind the vehicle, Team Edison, didnt start out with the intent to make their new EV product a Mustang, pinning the inspiration for bringing the haloed brand into it on Jim Farley, president of new business and technology.The video shows us, too, that Mach-Es being labelled Mustang faced plenty of scepticism from inside the company, even from executive chairman Bill Ford himself, who was absolutely adamant that it not be a Mustang.But, as you might expect of a piece of apologia like this, by the end of the 20-minute clip, all those Doubting Thomases have been convinced, turned onto the thought this noiseless four-door could be a Mustang after all.The film finishes with the fans take, sage words to the effect progress cant be stopped, and that itd be kind of neat to see Mustang on the flanks of a spaceship a hundred years from now.The argument against Mach-E — from a Ford insiderBut the argument doesnt stop there just because the credits roll; in fact, Driving.ca managed to tap for an exclusive interview a Mustang subject matter expert working for Ford who vows the Mach-E is not a Mustang. End of story. If you ask them, this is instead a marketing gimmick gone wrong.Mustang was used for publicity purposes; its as simple as that, writes our insider, whose identity were keeping hidden to save them from a possible reprisal by their employer. We can all see Ford did not have faith in the vehicle to live on its own. If they did, they would have given it a separate name. Mustang Family Photo, but one of these things is not like the others The Mustang enthusiast community, they suggest, is not opposed to progress, just what they take as a flagrant disregard for the Mustang brand. We are not upset about it being electric. Fact is, electric (power) gives us instantaneous torque, and that is pretty darn great. We are upset about it turning into a completely different vehicle segment within a brand that already has multiple SUVs.Porsche didnt slap a 911 on their SUV. Lamborghini didnt call their SUV a Murcilago. Was introducing an SUV within those brands polarizing? Absolutely. But, at least they didnt sacrifice a name that means so much to people.There are few counter-arguments our insider, a lifelong Mustang fan, cant refute. People have claimed Ford experimented with four-door and station wagon (Mustang) designs in the early 60s, they explain. Although this is true, (Ford) chose not to pursue these body styles because they claimed it went against Mustangs mission to be a sporty vehicle. When you have a product as enormously successful as Mustang, you invariably have to consider how to capitalize on the idea. While Mustang used the platform of the compact Falcon as its starting point, the four-door Mustang could have brought the idea full circle by adding two doors to the pony car. Fortunately for Mustang fans, cooler heads prevailed. Ford That feeling of a loss of identity may be the strongest argument against the pony badge being slapped onto the face of the Mach-E if not, the pony badge itself is. The
Origin: Ford insiders make the case for – and against – the Mach-E being named ‘Mustang’
News Roundup: Tesla Cybertruck and Ford Mustang Mach-E vie for biggest EV reveal of the year
Welcome to our weekly roundup of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away:Tesla reveals Cybertruck, breaks two windows in the processThe Cybertruck is here and it’s getting ALL the media attention. Price starts US$39,900, there are three range options (250 miles+, 300+ and 500+), and it’ll supposedly sprint to 96 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. But that’s not what people are talking about. Why? Because, well, just look at it! The polarizing design of the Cybertruck was actually eclipsed when a member of the reveal team, in an attempt to demonstrate the shatterproof-ness of the windows, accidentally shattered the two left-side windows with an iron ball. “Room for improvement,” said Elon. The Mach-E stole the LA Auto Show before the show had even started Ford Mustang Mach-E Nadine Filion In other major EV news this week, Ford pulled the sheets off its Mustang Mach-E SUV. David Booth rounded up the most important facts about the controversial “Mustang.” Did you know that it was originally supposed to be called just “Mach-e”? True story. But when designers wanted to spring on a new battery-powered platform, those with their fingers on the purse strings said they’d release the funds only if the Mustang label was involved. Find out what other secrets the new E-SUV holds right here. The Internet’s best reactions to the Mach-E arrival Ford Mustang Mach-E Nadine Filion As it is wont to do, the Internet voiced some strong opinions about the Ford Mach-E. One of the most controversial parts is right there in the name—and according to Driving.ca’s own poll, a full 72 per cent of readers believe that, now having seen it, the Mach-E is not worthy of the Mustang name. The public wasn’t the only source of concern over the name, either: Ford admitted at the launch that plenty of former Mustang designers refused to work on the project. One Twitter user got in on the joke by Photoshopping an image of the Carrol Shelby standing next to a black-and-white Mach-E. Ha! Not likely…The RAV4 Prime arrives with a whopping 302 horsepowerThe 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid has arrived with the winning combo of more power and better fuel economy. The first plug-in-hybrid version of the popular Yota SUV will get 60 km of pure electric motoring per charge of its 17.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, and enough power combined with the 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four to push it to 96 km/h in 5.8 seconds. Based on the 62,000 RAV4 units Toyota expects to sell to Canadians this year, the electrified 2021 RAV4 should absolutely crush sales when it’s released in the summer of 2020. ALG report names best car brands for resale valueWe’ve all heard the maxim about new cars losing a bunch of their value the moment they’re driven off the dealership lot, but it’s also true that the exact amount of money lost varies depending on the brand of car. The annual ALG Residual Awards is designed to recognize those carmakers whose products tend to guard their value better than the competition. At the top of the mainstream list is Honda, which stole the title from Subaru, which had held it the last four years. Land Rover took top mention for premium brands, followed by Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Find out if/where your vehicle landed on the
Origin: News Roundup: Tesla Cybertruck and Ford Mustang Mach-E vie for biggest EV reveal of the year
Reader Review: 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Supercrew
Bob Corrigan with the 2019 Ford Ranger in Calgary.Al Charest / Postmedia Small trucks such as the original Ford Ranger, last sold in North America in 2011, are a distant memory as pickups continue to morph into oversize haulers. As such, the small and useful light-duty truck segment has languished.With a 2019 model-year truck, however, Ford has returned the Ranger nameplate to Canada and the U.S. Like its full-size brethren, the Ranger has grown in size.According to Bob Corrigan, thats not a bad thing. Corrigan recently drove a SuperCrew 2019 Ranger Lariat 44. Regarding the Rangers growth, he says buyers are simply looking for more room in a vehicle. I spent a lot of time driving smaller trucks in my younger days when I was delivering newspapers to paper boys, the Calgarian says. They were useful vehicles for the size.Corrigan also owned a 2007 Ford Ranger, one of the last generations of the truck that first launched in 1983 as a replacement vehicle for the Mazda-built Ford Courier. Originally sold with a. 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and four-speed standard transmission, the Ranger could also be had with a V6 powerplant. The truck quickly gained a faithful following and became a best-selling compact pickup for Ford.I bought my 2007 Ranger as a utility vehicle, but I only kept it for a year and a half before it transitioned into being my sons truck, Corrigan says. He drove it to university and used it as a work truck for his painting business.We just sold it this spring.According to a Ford media release, the automaker chose to return the Ranger name on a midsize truck because theres a new generation of midsize truck buyers seek(ing) more manoeuvrable, fuel-efficient pickups.Although absent since 2011 in Canada and the U.S., a Ford Ranger truck has been available in other global markets for years. Ford based their new North American version on the global platform but says theyve developed the Ranger specifically for our market.For example, while the North American Ranger does have its similarities to the global product, including styling cues and a high-strength steel backbone frame, the new truck is equipped with steel, frame-mounted front and rear bumpers the global Ranger lacks these.Power comes from a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and power is transmitted through a 10-speed automatic transmission. An available FX4 four-wheel drive package adds off-road tuned suspension components, all-terrain tires and frame-mounted steel bash plates and Dana Trac-Lok differentials. The truck can be had in two-wheel and four-wheel drive in SuperCab and SuperCrew cab configuration. Trims include the base XL, next level XLT and well-equipped Lariat. Pulling up to the 19 Ranger, equipped with the $3,000 Lariat package and a host of options including the FX4 off-road package for a total of $51,859 before taxes, Corrigans first thought was of the overall size.Its significantly bigger than the old Ranger, he says, and adds, But, given that, I think it will be a truck for people who have occasional use for such a vehicle without being in the full-size truck market.His tester was painted in Fords Hot Red Pepper metallic.Red might be the name, but its more of an orange and I think its a very attractive colour, Corrigan says. Overall, the Ranger has solid, clean looking lines, almost like a scaled-down F-150.Corrigan says its a step up to get into the cab, but one thats not awkward. Once in the leather-covered drivers seat, he adds that it took him little time to become comfortable and familiarize himself with the controls.Although I owned that older Ranger, Ive never been much of a Ford guy, Corrigan admits. But, with this 2019 Ranger, Im very impressed with how Ford has set up the controls and touchscreen system it was easy to set up and very intuitive, even better than our 2019 Toyota Camry.Fit and finish was rated as excellent, with the contrast stitching on the all-black interior receiving a favourable comment. The fitted floor mats, which were a $170 tray-style floor liner option from Ford, would protect the interior nicely in all kinds of conditions and Corrigan approved.Immediately after picking up the Ranger, Corrigan and his wife drove 300 kilometres to their vacation home in Fernie, B.C.Although this Ranger has the FX4 off-road package, in regular drive mode with the tires it had, it was very quiet Fords done a great job on the sound-deadening, he explains. You can talk and just enjoy the ride without a lot of noise, road or wind, from entering the cabin.Power supplied by the EcoBoost engine was rated as excellent.Driving down Highway 22, we had the opportunity to pass several times and I never had any concerns about pulling out and the 10-speed automatic never felt like it was hunting for gears, Corrigan says. I think Fords done a great job with these four-cylinder engines to get the power out of them.Plus, the Ranger is capable of towing a maximum 3,400 kilograms (7,500
Origin: Reader Review: 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Supercrew
‘Ford v Ferrari’ depicts a generation of car guys best left behind
A still from Ford v. Ferrari (2019)Twentieth Century Fox Ford v Ferrari, which opened Friday, November 15 starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, follows British racing driver Ken Miles (Bale), and hot-rodder Carroll Shelby (Damon) as they build a special race car to help the Ford Motor Company beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 and 1967.The goal was to break Enzo Ferraris stronghold on international racing that had his Scuderia Ferrari winning everything throughout the 1960s.They strike an odd-couple pair: Miles is a wiry, eccentric Brit; Shelby is a square-jawed, cowboy-hat-wearing Texan. Neither much like the corporate pressure exerted by Ford chief Lee Iacocca and his marketing goons, who themselves were humiliated by Ferraris Old World gravitas after a bungled buyout attempt. And there you have the necessary tension for a movie.Its a beautifully shot film that will be enjoyable for modern car buyers and enthusiasts alike engines rev, tires squeal, stopwatches click. But what I saw is a devastating picture of the lack of diversity that permeated the industry in the 1960s.If automakers want any hope of relevance in the next decades, as they face the most radical changes and challenges theyve experienced in 150-odd years of automotive history, they would be wise to contemplate it closely. Because Ford v Ferrari shows a generation best left dead and gone. Matt Damon and Christian Bale on the set of Twentieth Century Fox’s ‘Ford v Ferrari’ Twentieth Century Fox It’s a Man’s WorldPicture this: During all 152 minutes of the film which, for those who love vintage racing cars, will feel as good as an ice cream sundae on a summer afternoon men dominate the screen for 98 per cent of the time, by my unofficial count. They are in the executive suites at Ford and Ferrari, in the workshops and garages in Venice, on the track out at Willow Springs Raceway. (And when I say men, I mean white, straight men.)No fraction of the storyline is devoted to parsing the thoughts and feelings of any female who appears, even peripherally, on screen. Instead, Caitriona Balfe, who plays Miless wife, Mollie, is presented as the doting mother: She smiles mildly and nods her head indulgently as her husband struggles to gain traction in the race world. She clucks and scolds like a schoolmarm when Miles and Shelby come to blows on her front lawn then brings them each a soda pop. Other women waft through the film like smoke: Secretaries in wood-paneled offices handing manila folders to men in navy suits; corporate wives smiling silently, always positioned one step behind their husbands shoulder; young racing fans that serve as pretty dcor on racing podiums. To the victor go the spoils.The critique I heard most often about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood could easily apply here: This is a film celebrating those nostalgic golden days when white men ruled. Its pretty to watch if you can suspend thinking for two hours about what that world must have been like for any ambitious or creative folks who didnt fit that demographic.Behind the Shiny ExteriorThe central message of Ford v Ferrari that the answer to the question Who are you? is what really matters in life is delivered in the beginning, middle and end of the film by Shelby. The biggest problem with that is Carroll Shelby. The man who was responsible for turning the Ford Mustang into the epitome of American muscle occupies a god-like status in car culture and embodied everything the red-blooded American male of the era was supposed to hold supreme.Some of it is admirable: A former chicken farmer from Texas who pulled himself up by his own proverbial bootstraps, Shelby wore overalls when he raced and built his own cars with Ford-tough V8 engines. He beat the Europeans at their own game at Le Mans. In his later years, he established a charity that helped provide organ transplants for children.Most of it was not: Shelby was a notorious womanizer who blew through six marriages and was heading toward divorce from his seventh when he died. He spoke to everyone with language so blue it was legendary; ask any car journalist or professional driver who knew him, and theyve got plenty of descriptive words to describe the way he treated anyone within earshot. Many of those words are unprintable here.During all 152 minutes of the film, men dominate the screen for 98 per cent of the timeFor fun, he shot lions, elephants and rhinoceroses on animal hunts in Africa. He filed so many lawsuits against Ford, against local car builders, against online forums and, ironically, against the company that later would supply all of the Cobras for the film that he become more known and reported on for that in his later years than for any feats of automotive genius.In fact, after his blast of success with the AC Cobras in the 1960s and his hot-rod take on the Ford Mustang, Shelby didnt have a single real hit. Instead, there were claims he falsely represented many of the cars he
Origin: ‘Ford v Ferrari’ depicts a generation of car guys best left behind
Ford recalls more than 30,000 new trucks in Canada over a fire risk
2019 Ford F-150Handout / Ford Ford is recalling more than 30,000 new F-150 trucks in Canada because an improperly attached battery terminal fastener could lead to the engine stalling, the brakes power assistance failing or even to a fire.Some 30,073 F-150s from model years 2019 and 2020 are affected here, as well as about 135,000 units in the U.S. Specifically, the issue is with trucks built between June and October in the Dearborn or Kansas City plants.On affected vehicles, a fastener on the positive terminal of the battery may not be attached properly; if left alone, this could lead to the engine losing power and then stalling, or to the brakes and steering losing their power assistance.While there is also an increased risk of fire, the company has yet to receive any reports of incidents related to this defect. Ford also issued a battery-fastener-related recall on older Lincoln MKX SUVs that may have led to three fires so far.In Canada, that recall concerns 5,253 MKXes from model years 2016 and 2017 equipped with the 3.7-litre V6; and just under 50,000 of the same in the U.S.A fastener on the battery terminals in affected vehicles could short circuit if it contact a transmission cable mechanism, increasing the chance of a fire. Ford says its received three reports of fires likely attributable to the issue, though none resulted in accidents or
Origin: Ford recalls more than 30,000 new trucks in Canada over a fire risk
5 things you need to know about the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
LOS ANGELES, California — As if calling an SUV a battery-powered one, at that a Mustang doesnt already foist an uphill challenge on this new model, Fords 2021 Mach-E also has to strip sales away from Tesla, prove to Ford shareholders that there really is a mass market for mid-priced electric vehicles and, at the same time, prepare the ultimate of Ford loyalists F-150 owners for the inevitable electrification of their pickup trucks.Thats a pretty steep ask. Heres how Ford plans to do it, plus some background info you just need to know.Ford was first going to just call it “Mach-E”Rumour round the L.A. Auto Show has it Ford originally tried to build the Mach-E on an existing that should be read gas-powered platform, but the engineers couldnt hit their range and performance targets.CHECK OUT ALL OUR LATEST AUTO SHOW COVERAGESo they made a deal with the devil, asking Fords accountants for more money so they could build a bespoke battery-powered chassis. The tithe exacted by the bean-counters? That they name it Mustang so they could build on the name recognition of probably the most famous Ford of all time. Which explains whyFord wants to move a boatload of its electrified sport bruteThis is no halo vehicle or vanity project. Ford is looking to move some (battery-powered) iron, here. I count, for instance, no less than nine distinct trim levels across the Mach-Es five models Select (available early 2021), Premium (late 2020), First Edition (also late 2020), California Route 1 (early 2021) and GT Performance (spring 2021). Thats a huge number of trims from a company that prides itself on efficient manufacturing. The only way to amortize the cost of that proliferation is to sell boatloads of product, which also explains whyFord is sticking it with impressively aggressive pricingBase (Select trim) Mach-Es will start at $50,495 and, unlike Elons $35,000 Model 3, youll actually be able to buy them at that price from launch. Even the all-singing, all-dancing GT Performance Edition will slip in under $83,000 (yes, these prices are all Canadian).Again, Ford plans to move a bunch of Mach-Es in preparation for what will surely be its real heavy-hitter in the EV world, an electrified F-150. The first two models available the Premium and California Route 1 will start at $59,495 (for the standard-range version of the Premium) and $64,495 (for the Route 1 and its extended-range battery). In between Ford’s offering a vast array of powertrain and battery optionsRunning through the Mach-Es order guide is like feasting at the ultimate of electric vehicle buffets. Want a rear-wheel-drive BEV with a big battery that maximizes range? Mach-Es got the California Route 1. Want an all-wheel-drive with a cheaper battery but better performance? Well, Ford has a Premium SR AWD with your name on it that can scoot to 100 clicks in about five-and-a-half-seconds.Wading through the vast array of options and combinations will make your head spin, so Ill attempt to simplify it all for you. There are basically two battery options: a standard-range (SR) 75.7-kilowatt-hour affair; and an extended-range (ER) 98.8-kWh monster.Combine the extended-range unit with a modestly-powered (282-hp) rear-wheel drivetrain and you have the 475-kilometre California Route 1. Package the same 98.8-kilowatt-hour ER hardware with 459 all-wheel-driving horses and you have the GT Performance with its three-and-a-half-second blitz to 100 kilometres an hour (though range is reduced to 375 km).The Premium, which looks to be the backbone of Fords sales effort, can be had with any combination of long- and short-range battery and rear-wheel- or all-wheel-drive powertrains you want, in 255-, 282- and yet another iteration 332-horsepower guises.Dizzy yet? Like the California, the First Edition (which will exact something of a premium $71,995 for its limited quantities) is only available with the extended-range battery, but drives all four wheels with less urge (332 hp) than the GT Performance, resulting in yet another range rating, this time 425 kilometres.Theres a Mach-E for every purse and purpose, and the only way Ford can do this at these (comparatively) aggressive prices is to sell dealerships full of them. 2021 is going to be very interesting for Fords bottom line.The big question, then, is where Ford will find all the zero-emissions enthusiasts to fill Mach-E seats. Its first course of action duh, look at the name, Dave is obviously loyalists. Now whether this means past patrons of Ford in general or of Mustang in particular is anybodys guess.Certainly branding a sport utility vehicle Mustang when it shares nothing but a grille shape and some taillights with your iconic sports car is a brave that should be read risky move. I do think, however, that while Mustang cognoscenti may prove outraged, current Ford owners looking for their first EV will appreciate the tie-up. Theres no doubt Ford also has Tesla firmly in its sights.
Origin: 5 things you need to know about the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
A Ford GT40 replica that starred in ‘Ford v Ferrari’ is heading to auction
Are you a gearhead with a few extra barrels of money taking up space in the basement? Well, the crew at Mecum Auctions has just the car for you.As one of two replica Ford GT40s finished in this livery for use in the James Mangolds new film Ford v Ferrari, this beautiful machine is the Ken Miles hero car driven by Christian Bale during filming.Built at Rich MacDonalds Superformance Facility in California, this isnt your typical movie car thats been hacked to pieces before being rode hard and put away wet.MacDonalds incredible attention to detail is truly astonishing, making it easy to explain why this car was the one that provided the movie magic GT40 close-ups in the film. In what is surely one of the most legendary examples of self-confidence, MacDonalds shop built the car before they had even been selected to provide the vehicles for the movie.Powered by a specially prepared Roush V8 built to 511 cubes, this movie monster cranks out 600 horsepower thanks in no small part to kit like a KN Inglese-style injection system and an jaw-droppingly gorgeous rear-exit bundle of snakes exhaust. All this sends power through a five-speed manual transaxle, meaning youll be saving the manuals while being a total baller.Slathered in that iconic Gulf Blue, it features a pressed steel roof and a unibody structure constructed of electro-galvanized steel. Independent suspenders are installed front and rear, with unequal-length A-arms up front, Bilstein shocks with HR springs at both ends, and trailing arms out back.The car is also signed by Ken Miles 1966 crew chief and Ken Miles son, Peter. This hero car has seen plenty of screen time beyond the movie and its trailers, appearing at various red carpet events alongside the stars of the film. Short of an original GT40 racecar, provenance doesnt get much better than that.Itll be on the block at Mecums event in Kissimmee next
Origin: A Ford GT40 replica that starred in ‘Ford v Ferrari’ is heading to auction
Ford Mustang MachE EV launched
Ford Mustang Mach-E EV launched The new crossover EV has a range of more than 370 miles The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been revealed in Los Angeles, with the company’s pure-electric crossover featuring a range of more than 370 miles on a single charge. There will be standard and extended range battery options, as well as single- or duel-motor set-up for rear- or all-wheel drive. A performance Mustang Mach-E GT model will be available, with a sub-five second 0-62mph time, thanks to a 342 kW power output and 830 Nm of torque. The batteries are placed in the underbody, allowing for a coupe-styled SUV with plenty of space for five. There’s a small load area up front to complement the traditional boot, and Ford has included a number of styling features to like the Mach-E SUV with its inspiration – the famous Mustang. Pitched as a vehicle on a par with the Model T by Ford, the Mustang Mach-E will have the next-generation of the company’s Sync infotainment system. A 15.5-inch screen promises more intuitive usage, and the Mustang Mach-E benefits from over-the-air updates over time. Kit includes a B&O sound system, the introduction for Ford of ‘phone-as-key’ technology, and a panoramic glass roof that has a special coating to keep the cabin cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Three modes – Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled – will provided different driving characteristics, depending on preference and situation. Technical features see the option of the 75.7 kWh standard range battery or 98.8 kWh extended range pack. Ultra-rapid DC charging will be available at up to 150 kW, with Ford one of the founding members of the Ionity network, which has installed chargers across Europe capable of up to 350 kW. UK pricing and specifications will be announced at a later date, though expect prices for the range to start between £40-45,000 mark, with a launch edition at £50,000 or more. Deposits of £1,000 are being taken now, and the Mustang Mach-E will arrive towards the end of 2020.
Origin: Ford Mustang MachE EV launched
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