On Thursday Ford release the complete stats on the new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. AutoGuide.com went through some of the great things Ford is doing!!

"2011 F-Series Super Duty, powered by an all-new 6.7-liter Powerstroke V8. The engine makes 390-hp at 2800 rpm and a tremendous 735 ft-lbs of torque at just 1600 rpm. A standard 6.2-liter gasoline, which replaces the old 5.4-liter V8, makes 385-hp and 405 ft-lbs of torque, an improvement of 85-hp and 40 ft-lbs of torque. Both engines are mated to an all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission .

Ford rates this new engine in the F350 to tow a max of 21,600 lbs and a payload rating of 6,520 lbs. As for the F450 model, it is rated to tow 24,400 lbs.

Chevy has yet to release engine output figures for its Silverado HD model, but at this point that’s pretty much irrelevant as the F350 outshines it in towing and payload by 1,600 lbs and almost 200 lbs respectively."

Filed under: F350, Ford, Super Duty, Technology on March 1st, 2010
No Comments »

In an unprecedented customer field work evaluation program, Ford gave pre-production models of the all-new 2011 Ford Super Duty to commercial businesses around the country, months before the truck goes on sale. The trucks are currently being proven, out in the swamps of Florida, the mesas of Wyoming and the construction sites and ranches of Texas.

To test the trucks in extreme real-world conditions, select customers put the new 2011 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 to work immediately in the humid swamps of Florida, in the subzero wintry conditions of Wyoming and in the dusty, dry areas of Texas construction sites and ranches.

“As soon as we got this truck, we slapped a 22,000-pound trailer on it and headed for the field,” says a Wyoming-based Well Cementing supervisor. “Ford asked us to work this truck hard, and we’re working this truck hard.”

Here’s a sample of what the customers had to say:

“The truck sat in negative weather for several hours, then started right up with no issues.”

“A group of us were standing around the truck, maybe 10 feet away. A guy told me I left my lights on, and I said the truck is still running. He couldn’t believe how quiet it was.”

“I was towing a trailer 311 miles and had to keep checking in the mirror to see if the trailer was still there.”

Chris Brewer, chief engineer of the 2011 Super Duty, said early feedback from these extreme customers confirms the importance of the testing regimen his team has been conducting.

“We’ve tested this truck in every situation imaginable throughout the development process, but nothing can replace these real-world scenarios,” said Brewer. “The initial feedback we’re getting is very encouraging – especially on fuel economy.”

“We’ve never undertaken something this ambitious in the testing of one of our trucks. Sharing preproduction units with customers that do the toughest jobs and showing their unfiltered results underscores the confidence we have in this truck,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck marketing manager. “We want everyone to see what goes into the development of the 2011 Ford Super Duty.”

The 2011 Super Duty goes on sale this spring. Meanwhile, the 2010 Super Duty – the segment leader in towing with over 24,000-pound capability – continues to dominate the heavy-duty pickup market with 45 percent of the segment in 2009.

Learn more at fordvehicles.com/2011superduty

Filed under: F350, Ford, Interesting, Super Duty, Technology on February 25th, 2010
No Comments »

Can the Ford Fusion win any more awards this year?

Last week the Ford Fusion earned the title of Motor Trend’s Car of the year. This week Car and Driver magazine annouced the 10Best Cars for 2010, from a list of 58 cars, the 2010 Ford Fusion wins!

It’s an unlikely claim, but the Ford Fusion hybrid is in fact the most advanced car on this list. Through the body of this unpretentious family sedan runs the sturdiest bridge between the tech of the 20th century and that of the 21st.

2010 10Best Cars

• 2010 Audi S4
• 2010 BMW 3-series / M3
• 2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V
• 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
• 2010 Honda Accord
• 2010 Honda Fit
• 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
• 2010 Mazda 3 / Mazdaspeed 3
• 2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman
• 2010 Volkswagen GTI

Filed under: Ford, Fusion, Good News, SYNC on November 24th, 2009
No Comments »

John Heinzl from Thursday’s Globe and Mail wrote about the Focus and it’s “Features for the money!” Turns out the Focus is a great deal, and might even be more fun with the money saving standard transmission!!

“It’s practical, affordable, comfortable and well laid out. If those are your criteria, this is a compact you should definitely be looking at…”

“My only regret is that I didn’t get to test the five-speed manual. As much as I enjoyed zipping around in the four-speed automatic, driving the SES with a stick would have been even more fun.”

Filed under: Focus, Ford, Fun, Interesting, Technology on November 16th, 2009
No Comments »

It’s that time of year again – when the snow starts to fall, many drivers and their vehicles may not be prepared to drive on wet or icy winter roads. To stay safe, there are several things to remember.

Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln is pleased to provide the following tips on how to be ready for winter conditions to avoid getting stuck out in the cold.

Winter Vehicle Safety

Six tips from Ford of Canada for staying safe this winter

1. Vehicle maintenance: Vehicles that have been regularly maintained according to their manufacturers required maintenance schedule should be ready for winter weather. If not, a visit to the local dealership to “catch up” on your required maintenance will ensure the vehicle is ready for the season.
2. Read your owner’s manual: All vehicles have different characteristics that will react to winter weather differently. This is a good time to check the manual for your particular vehicle’s winter driving tips.
3. Monitor tire wear: There are three important aspects when it comes to tires: pressure, tread wear and age.
4. Tire pressure: Cold weather causes tires to lose pressure and become underinflated; meaning your safety on the road is compromised. Check your tire pressure regularly, especially when the temperature changes.
   • Tire tread depth: Proper tread depth can be key to slipping less and gripping the road better.
   • Tire age: Old tires can be unsafe tires, especially in the winter. It is recommended that tires over six years old be replaced.
   • All season and summer tires begin to lose their grip around 7 degrees Celsius. Consider switching to winter tires for better handling and braking performance.
5. Drive safely and be alert: Safe driving is always important. Remember to slow down and leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Also, avoid abrupt moves – don’t stop, start, or change direction suddenly and you’ll maintain better control of your vehicle in inclement conditions.
6. Goodbye cruise control: Never use the speed control in slippery conditions. If the weather suddenly becomes hazardous while cruise control is engaged, simply disengage it manually or lightly tap the brakes.
7. Get to know the safety feature alphabet: Become more familiar with vehicle safety features such as ABS, TC, ESC and RSC, to understand how they can help.
   • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS): Vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system do not require the driver to pump the brakes in slippery conditions when hard braking is required. Apply firm, continuous pressure on the brake pedal and ABS may activate to help you maintain control of the vehicle.
   • Traction Control (TC): This feature most often engages at low speeds. In the majority of winter driving conditions, it is best to keep the traction control feature ON. However, in extreme conditions – for instance, deep snow or sheer ice – it may be better to turn OFF your traction control to get moving.
   • Electronic Stability Control (ESC): ESC helps prevent your vehicle from skidding out or sliding laterally in slippery conditions.
   • Roll Stability Control™ (RSC®): AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ helps to avoid a rollover in a collision situation.

Filed under: Ford, Safety, Technology on November 6th, 2009
No Comments »