Ford Explorer Gets EcoBoost V-6 and a Touch of Swagger

 

On Wednesday, Ford introduced the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport, a performance version of its bread-and-butter S.U.V.

In a media release, the automaker said the vehicle, which would represent the top of the Explorer model line, was the first-ever high-performance model for its venerable Explorer nameplate. That may be true, though some Wheels readers may remember the Sport designation on a two-door version of the S.U.V. offered in the 1990s and 2000s.

The Explorer Sport shares the carlike body-chassis unit found on the 2012 Explorer, but instead of that model’s 290-horsepower V-6 and EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines, the Sport gets a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 that, according to Ford, generates at least 350 horsepower. The engine is backed by a paddle-shifted 6-speed automatic. A somewhat stout 3.16:1 final drive ratio is said to provide a balance of responsive acceleration and economical low-r.p.m. cruising.

A reinforced chassis, electric power steering with a quicker ratio and stouter suspension calibration are intended to improve the vehicle’s handling. Brakes have grown, too, though the disc and caliper sizes were not disclosed.

 

If Ford’s projected fuel-economy figures of 16 miles per gallon in city and 22 m.p.g. in highway driving are verified by the E.P.A., the vehicle would better the fuel economy of the 2012 Jeep Cherokee and Dodge Durango, which share a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, by 3 m.p.g. and 2 m.p.g. in their respective categories.

In a reminder of shifting corporate allegiances, Ford compared the Explorer’s fuel economy with that of the Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport. The model was developed under Ford’s stewardship of the British S.U.V. builder, before the marque was sold along with Jaguar to Tata Motors in 2008. The Explorer Sport would have the edge by 3 m.p.g. in city and 4 m.p.g. in highway driving.

Subtle exterior cues give the Explorer Sport a somewhat more aggressive appearance than currently available trim packages. These include painted 20-inch wheels, various black trim pieces and a low-gloss gray-mesh grille with glossy black bars spanning its width.

Standard and optional features do not differ from those available at other trim levels and include 4-wheel drive, dual-zone temperature control, first-row heated power seats, rear-view camera, the MyFord Touch infotainment system and a premium sound system with 12 speakers.

Pricing for the Explorer Sport will be announced closer to its sale date this year, but as the new range-topper, it would be expected to exceed the price of an Explorer Limited with 4-wheel drive, which begins at $40,680.

 

source: NYtimes

Ford Focus ST-R racer will cost you $100,000

If you have a thousand Benjamins burning a hole in your pocket, may we recommend heading to your local Ford dealership? Ford has unveiled the track-prepped sibling to itsFocus ST sports compact, the ST-R, with a price tag just under a hundred grand.

The stripped-down commuter car comes kitted out with FIA regulation roll cage, uprated brakes and suspension components, and a more powerful 2.0 liter, four cylinder Ecoboost engine. The car itself is only the start of Ford’s plans with the ST-R, which should be the beginning of a global motorsports and trackday campaign. Ford will first send out the ST-R to North American racing teams for competition in Grand-Am ST, World Challenge TC and the Canadian Touring Car Series. For once, Ford is starting its enthusiast fare in North America, and then moving across the Atlantic, taking the ST-R to racetracks across Europe, not least of which being the ever-growing 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Rather than restricting this high-speed PR machine to top-flight racing events, Ford will sell the Focus ST-R to “seasoned hardcore professional drivers, amateur racers and track day enthusiasts” on order from Ford dealerships. If Ford’s international motorsports strategy means that the dealer down the street can sell me a full-on track racer, then let me give three cheers for globalization!

http://jalopnik.com/5840660/this-ford-focus-racer-will-cost-you-100000

Ford reveals production 2012 Focus ST at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

 

Hot hatch fans have been waiting patiently for Ford to officially reveal its new Focus ST. Well, stop waiting and start securing your deposit, because the Blue Oval brand has finally pulled back the sheet and peeled off the camouflage. The 2012 Ford Focus ST will makes its global debut at this week’s 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, and we’ve got all the details on the hi-po hatchback for you right here.

The Focus ST features a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder under its hood, rated at 247 horsepower and an impressive 265 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission should pair nicely with the torque-loving engine, which Ford says was painstakingly tuned to produce exquisite engine and exhaust notes by its sound engineers.

For image galleries and full article please visit Autoblog.

Ecoboost brings 30 mpg to 2012 Ford Edge

Is 30 the new 20? It is when it comes to highway mileage for crossover vehicles. Though the official ratings are not yet on the FuelEconomy.gov website, FordInsideNews is reporting that the pairing of the Ford Edge with the turbocharged Ecoboost 2.0 liter engine will be good for 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg highway, with a combined rating around 24. This is a 10 percent improvement over the normally aspirated V-6 version. That puts it squarely in the range predicted when we took a quick spin in an Ecoboost-powered Edge last January.

The new engine is expected to produce 230hp, which should be enough to move two tons of CUV with some alacrity. Pricing, availability, and other details are still upcoming.

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/06/ecoboost-brings-30-mpg-to-2012-ford-edge/

2013 Ford Taurus gets 2.0L EcoBoost four, styling tweaks [w/video]

 

 

Upon taking the wraps off of the 2013 Ford Taurus, Derrick Kuzak, the automaker’s group vice president of global product development, said the styling tweaks were wholly influenced by the new Audi A6. Sure, the new front fascia and LED square around the taillamps are total Audi knock-offs, but what’s important to learn from this is that Ford is using the A6 as its target for the Taurus, and with a host of updates for the 2013 model year, Ford’s flagship gets one step closer to being an Audi alternative.

 All in, the design tweaks give the Taurus an added sense of aggressiveness, though the car is still immediately recognizable as a successor to the all-new flagship that debuted for the 2010 model year. The trapezoidal grille has been tweaked, and now features active air shutters to improve overall fuel economy. The hood has been fully resculpted, and out back, tweaked taillamps with LED running lights blend into a slightly revised rear fascia. Dual exhaust tips are now standard across the board, as are new 20-inch wheel options.

 The big enhancements for 2013 are the Taurus’ powertrains. Ford’s trusty 3.5-liter V6 still serves as the base engine, though its output has been bumped up to 290 horsepower – a full 27 more horses than the outgoing car. New for 2013, though, is the addition of the automaker’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, rated at 237 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. With the EcoBoost engine underhood, the Taurus is estimated to achieve up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

 Inside, there’s a new steering wheel and more soft-touch materials have been added to the dash and center console, which now uses the automaker’s MyFord Touch infotainment system. Other new enhancements include the addition of Ford’s curve control system – first seen on the Explorer – that enhances cornering capability and braking control. Speaking of brakes, the Taurus also gets a larger brake master cylinder, meaning braking feel should be substantially better.

 Pricing will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date in early 2012, and while the 2013 Taurus might not be a perfect competitor to Audi’s A6, it’s sure to offer similar content (and style) at a much lower price-point. Check out all the details for yourself in the press release after the jump, as well as some B-roll footage of the new car. We’ll have plenty of live photos and impressions from the car’s official New York Auto Show debut, as well.

Please visit Autoblog for the full article and high res photo gallery.

Quick Spin: 2011 Ford Edge EcoBoost

 Can you have your cake and eat it too? Ford thinks so. The Dearborn darling is in the middle of unleashing a slew of turbocharged, direct-injection engines for its products in North America, and we recently had a chance to sample a few. We were most interested, however, in one particular vehicle: the 2011 Edge equipped with Ford’s new 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. After some seat time with the Edge EcoBoost and a quick shake of our automotive journalist-issued Magic 8-Ball, we can confidently say Outlook Good for this Blue Oval-badged mid-size crossover. Outlook good, indeed.

 

2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring

The 2012 Ford Focus is set to hit dealers early next year, and in addition to a cadre of standard and optional features, Ford is equipping every new Focus with its new breed of “torque vectoring control.”

WOAH Joey Lawrence Drives an Edge!

At our $29,000 SUV Shootout (details coming Feb. 1 on Cars.com and in USA Today, and on Feb. 5 on “MotorWeek”), actor Joey Lawrence and his wife, Chandie, helped us judge the nine SUVs on hand. We can’t tell you what they thought just yet, but we can let you in on our conversation with them about their Ford Flex, which they use to ferry their two young daughters. Like Joey and Chandie, I’m a big fan of the Flex, and you can read about my travels in it here and here.

First Drive: 2011 Ford Edge EcoBoost

If the automotive outsider were to take a casual peek into Ford’s product strategy, they’d probably think EcoBoost were the savior of the Blue Oval kingdom. Ledgers would be filled with scrawls of the word “EcoBoost.” Planning posters would show the proliferation of the EcoBoost engine family in the United States and around the world. In this paragraph alone, you can’t avoid thinking about EcoBoost.

Ford invited us to the outskirts of the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, recently to try out the latest member of the EcoBoost family. The family-hauling Edge is one of the first two Fords in the U.S. (the 2011 Explorer is the other) with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, the next size down from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that’s been leaving its mark in the Flex, Taurus SHO, and F-150.

The key piece to this EcoBoost operation (and achieving Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements) is shoehorned into the gloss-black Edge: the direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Estimated output is 230 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and this four-cylinder with forced induction and twin independent variable camshaft timing is expected to provide comparable performance to a naturally aspirated V-6 with more displacement. The transmission is the regular, non-SelectShift six-speed automatic.

Evoque – No Hybrid, Going to Stay EcoBoost Only?

Our Two Cents: This doesn’t really seem to bother us one bit.  Here’s the article from Autoblog…

Despite the fact that Land Rover has gone out of its way to promote its new Evoque as an environmentally friendly alternative to its normal brand of behemoth globetrotting earth movers, Auto Express reports that the front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive, naturally) unibody Rover won’t be getting a hybrid powertrain option.

Instead, Land Rover’s global product director John Edwards suggests that any future electrically assisted powertrains will likely be featured in the larger Discovery (LR4 in the States) and Range Rovers. Edwards points out that the Evoque was designed as a lightweight machine, and a small four-cylinder diesel engine can provide the kind of fuel mileage targeted for the model.

While it’s certainly true that hybrid componentry adds complexity and weight, American and Japanese automakers have proven that it’s certainly possible to put the fuel-saving bits and pieces in smaller-sized vehicles. What’s more, diesel vehicles aren’t exactly commonplace on American roads or dealerships, leaving us to wonder if the U.S. market will be left out of the high-mpg loop yet again.

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