Chronicling the Ever-Changing Automotive Industry
It’s been a quick three months with my new 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat, and for a refresher on my impression of it, see the review I wrote on it. In the past quarter, I’ve logged over 3,600 miles, virtually worry-free. Read on for what’s been happening with my F-150.
Continue reading ‘Owner’s Log: 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat (10/2011 – 1/2012)’
Ford’s Fusion, which debuted in the 2006 model year, was a big milestone for Ford. It marked the beginning of a turnaround for Ford’s car division, which lost its way after the much-lauded Taurus became a dinosaur in the mid-sized sedan market. Since the Taurus/Five Hundred had moved up to the full-size sedan market, a new mid-sized sedan was called for, especially one which would be competitive against offerings from Honda and Toyota. The Fusion has been a great success, especially since its 2010 refresh, and for 2013, Ford is pulling out all the stops with its redesign. Continue reading for details, pictures and Ford’s press release.
Continue reading ‘Detroit 2012: Ford Announces 2013 Fusion’
Two years ago, when I was starting up Road Reality, I reviewed a 2010 Ford F-150. It was a Lariat model with then-optional 5.4-liter V8. In that review, I said I was impressed. Since I was in the market for a full-size pickup truck and with a complete overhaul of the F-150′s engine options, a test drive of the new truck was in order. I also reviewed the 2011 GMC Sierra and test drove a 2011 RAM 1500, so the inevitable comparisons began in earnest – which you’ll find in an upcoming article. It may be a spoiler, but I brought the Ford F-150 home for good, trading in my 2010 Nissan Maxima. Continue reading for a full-on review of Ford’s latest F-150.
Continue reading ‘Review: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Lariat’
Well, it’s award time in the automotive industry! Last week, Car & Driver announced its Top 10 Cars of 2012, and this week, Motor Trend has announced their Truck Of The Year winner, the Ford F-150. With around 650,000 variations, not including paint colors, there’s something for everyone. The F-150′s configurational highlights include four engine choices, three bed lengths, three cab lengths, and a myriad of creature comforts and capability-enhancing options. The engine which gave the F-150 a leg up in the competition was the EcoBoost V6, with its twin-turbo and direct injection technologies. Its power and fuel economy bested that of the V8s in its rivals. Click on over to Motor Trend to read their press release.
by John Suit
Source: Motor Trend
Image Source: Motor Trend
According to a press release published by Ford today, the four engines available on its upcoming 2011 F-150 pickup should yield 20% gains in fuel economy compared to the same models in 2010. Since no V6 is available on the 2010 F-150, this is a believable number, especially considering the advanced engine technologies used to craft the new 5.0 and 6.2-liter V8s. As a recap, the engines available in the 2011 F-150 will be the 3.7-liter V6, 5.0 and 6.2-liter V8s, and later on in the model year, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. If the 20% number comes true, look for fuel economy numbers to be 14-17 city, 18-24 highway.
by John Suit
Source: Ford
This week, Ford announced a whole lot of details about the upcoming 2011 Explorer SUV, including photos, technology and capability. They spent a lot of time talking about fuel efficiency and high technology, which I’ll go into after the break, followed by a high-resolution image gallery.
Continue reading ‘Preview: 2011 Ford Explorer’
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My 99 just started rusting over last fee months (to were it was noticeable). Now today the skid plate [more]
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Is there anyway for us, as consumers, to influence a recall on these vehicles? I also have a 99 Grand [more]
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Nice artical John [more]
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