Your author is not a car guy, unless a borderline unhealthy obsession for old Swedish cars that need to be held together by a makeshift exoskeleton counts. And your author has yet to develop a taste for electric cars. He thinks they sound creepy. They sneak up on you like … Read more
Lightning strikes the F-150 range. Well, the Ford Motor Company has done it. After hinting about a full-electric pickup truck for several years and finally settling on a name this month, the introduction of the F-150 Lightning EV at a global news conference last night brought the hype to its … Read more
Automaker institutes a new build-shy term to describe its current production methodology. The term “build-shy” is new, but it aptly describes one automaker’s production strategy in this era of global chip shortages. GM, which is comprised of the Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC brands, isn’t allowing a shortage of semiconductor … Read more
Ford fires the opening salvo in its Jeep utility war with the Bronco Sport crossover. There is a war going on. In the utility vehicle sphere, that is. Jeep has long dominated the segment, picking up market share even as the segment expands. That’s left a world of competitors scrambling … Read more
The compact pickup truck market disappeared by the mid-1990s when small models from Toyota, Nissan, and others were replaced by midsize varieties. That loss left only mid- and full-size trucks for consumer consideration as the tiniest models were locked out of the market, largely due to the infamous “Chicken Tax.” … Read more
Early 2021 brought several weather surprises, including what’s become known as the Texas Winter Storm. That storm, though, ultimately affected much of the continental United States as well as parts of Canada and northern Mexico. Some 4.2 million Texans were without power as the state’s power grid buckled and rolling … Read more
Not every Mustang was a superstar. The Ford Mustang II is a bit of an odd bird when it comes to sports cars. Based on its brand name, it’s technically labeled a muscle car. However, its interior parts and lackluster engine make this classification dubious. While highly regarded in its … Read more
Raptor rapture returns in the form of this latest-generation performance pickup truck. The range-topping Raptor is back, an all-new model based on the current generation Ford F-150. This week, Ford introduced its capstone model, set for an early summer debut as a 2021 model. While some of the engine details … Read more
Pictured Above: The Ford Super Duty with the available Tremor Package navigates the Sandhills of central North Carolina. Maximized off-road capabilities are its strong suit. Tremor shakes things for the Ford Super Duty, but in a good way. America loves her pickup trucks with millions of units sold annually. The Ford … Read more
Pre-production versions of the all-new 2021 Bronco family of all-4×4 rugged SUVs, shown above, include Bronco Sport in Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Bronco two-door in Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat and Bronco four-door in Cactus Gray. New Ford Bronco has the Jeep Wrangler in its crosshairs. On Monday, the Ford … Read more
Ford’s luxury brand goes all-in on utility vehicles. The Lincoln Continental is one of the most storied models for Ford’s luxury marque, a big sedan with outsized styling, generous amenities, and class-leading comfort. In 2016, Lincoln resurrected the Continental to critical acclaim. Alas, its revival came as consumers eschewed sedans … Read more
We test the latest-generation Ranger pickup truck. The Ford Ranger is back, giving the blue oval brand a midsize complement to the full-size and segment-leading F-150. The latest version rolled out in 2019, ending an 8-year hiatus. The current Ranger is the largest we’ve seen thus far and is no … Read more
What is that we like about the Ford Mustang? Well, everything! The Mustang reached iconic status long ago, but we think the last two generations have solidified its place in pony car lore. The current Mustang features select classic styling cues, such as sequential turn signals, while adding contemporary attributes … Read more
The Ford Edge is a midsize, two-row utility vehicle, one of the earliest models in what was once a segment dominated by three-row models. The 2020 Edge is part of the second-generation line introduced for the 2015 model year. This year, dual-zone climate control is now standard. Also, the audio … Read more
Lincoln lost its footing as the best-selling luxury brand more than 20 years ago. These days, it ranks around eighth or ninth in a highly competitive environment. You can blame Lincoln’s inability to keep up with the changing market for one reason. Ford’s luxury marque has also failed to deliver … Read more
Big wheels and red-wrapped brake caliper covers on the Explorer ST. The Ford Explorer is one of the early names that sparked the modern sport utility vehicle revolution, a 1991 model year replacement for the Bronco II. Since its inception, it’s been a proven seller, a midsize SUV that’s now … Read more
The Ford Ranger is back and in some ways it is better than ever. Indeed, the current model, which was released in 2019, is now a midsize pickup truck. This means it is better suited to take on the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator, … Read more
It was during the 1970s when automakers from Japan began to find a market among the big American cars of that era. As Toyota, Honda and Datsun (later Nissan) products began to take hold, American car manufacturers responded by producing several smaller models to counter the overseas invasion. Unfortunately, many … Read more
Whether they’re big or small, we just cannot get enough of SUVs. That’s understandable as utility vehicles offer an excellent combination of passenger space and cargo room. And in most cases, they can tow too. Ford has its share of SUVs available, including the range-topping Expedition and hot-selling Escape. For … Read more
The Escape was Ford’s first hybrid, introduced in 2005 and built through 2012. When the third-generation Ford Escape rolled out in 2013, no hybrid option was offered. But beginning with the release of the 2020 Escape this fall, two hybrid variants will join a pair of gas models to comprise … Read more
The global auto industry consists of dozens of brand names, but not all are marketed throughout the world. Opel is popular in Europe, but it is not sold in North America. Suzuki cars are no longer sold in the United States, but its Maruti Suzuki brand is a top … Read more
Ford has a luxury truck and it is called the F-150 Limited. Combining the term “luxury” with “pickup truck” may seem out of character for this segment and it is. But, we’re seeing manufacturers dress their top-end trucks in the finest materials, resulting in a nuanced breed of pickups that … Read more
Rivian has yet to release a production model, but its prototypes are certainly getting a workout. Moreover, when a Rivian SUV or truck appears at a special event, including Overland West 2019, it may come with a very special feature: such as a connected electric camp kitchen. Camping, Glamping Style … Read more
The Ford Motor Company has received thousands of complaints about the dual-clutch transmissions found in some of its models. Specifically, owners of 2011-2016 Fiesta and 2012-2016 Focus models have complained to Ford about problems, which have caused these cars to operate dangerously or break down. Ford settled one suit earlier … Read more
The story behind car marques and the trademarks that define them. They are almost always easily recognizable with just one glance. What am I talking about? Car logos and emblems, “symbols” that tell you what a car brand is, usually without words. Every manufacturer has them with some maintaining their … Read more
Dissecting the most dynamic Ford Raptor ever. Think “raptor” and the Velociraptor dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period may come to mind. Just as easily, raptor also describes certain types of contemporary birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, and vultures. No matter, the “Raptor” appellation appended to the most powerful of … Read more
With the “chicken tax” removed, the Volkswagen Amarok could be readied for the US market. “The power to tax is the power to destroy” — John Marshall There may be no subject more contentious in the United States than taxation. Every citizen pays taxes and it is nearly impossible to … Read more
In the latest Kogod study, the Corvette Stringray slipped by several percentage points. The General Motors Company has taken its share of lumps, some of it deserved. But in one area it excels, what has everything to do with where many of its vehicles are produced. And that location is … Read more
The automotive industry continues to adjust to fluctuating market conditions and changing consumer demand. Whereas in times past fickle consumers scotched the best laid plans of the automakers, namely building quality small cars, it appears that this time around consumer sentiment is embracing the trend toward more fuel efficient cars. … Read more
Rumors of a possible Fiat Chrysler (FCA) alliance with another automaker have been circulating for the past several months. That’s understandable as FCA chairman Sergio Marchionne has iterated that his company’s best chance for long-term survival may be tied with the fortunes of another automaker. Highly-regarded Reuters is one of … Read more