All-New Ford F-650/F-750 Diesel Will Provide Best-in-Class Standard Horsepower and Torque

• 2016 Ford F-650/F-750 to offer three diesel power ratings, including best-in-class standard horsepower and torque
  

• Customers can pick the diesel engine power rating that best suits their needs, with no vocational restrictions
  

• Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 turbo diesel engine is paired with commercial-grade six-speed Ford TorqShift^® HD automatic transmission optimized for medium-duty vocations
  

Ford, America’s truck leader, announces the all-new F-650/F-750 medium-duty truck lineup with 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 turbo diesel will feature three engine power ratings, including best-in-class standard diesel horsepower and torque, and no vocational limits on top ratings.
The three diesel power levels available for the 2016 Ford F-650/F-750 are:

• 270 horsepower/675 lb.-ft. torque (best-in-class standard)
  
• 300 horsepower /700 lb.-ft. torque
  
• 330 horsepower/725 lb.-ft. torque
  

Multiple ratings provide customers with the flexibility to scale engine power to work applications and operations.

“While other medium-duty truck manufacturers restrict top horsepower and torque ratings to certain applications, such as emergency services, the all-new F-650/F-750 will arrive with no vocational restrictions,” said John Ruppert, general manager Ford Commercial Vehicle Sales and Marketing. “We’re giving our customers the power of choice to determine what’s best for their business.”

The second generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel builds upon the success of the diesel engine found in the F-Series Super Duty lineup. The F-650/F-750 6.7-liter Power Stroke and commercial-grade six-speed TorqShift^® HD automatic transmission have been developed and tested for medium-duty applications. The powertrain offers an unsurpassed five-year/250,000-mile limited warranty.

Ford is the only medium-duty truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination – ensuring the powertrain will work seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations. This approach enables Ford engineers to optimize vehicle performance across the entire lineup and further refine the powertrain to the specific needs of the customer.

“Engineering the truck and powertrain together is the best way to deliver a great product for the customer,” said John Davis, Ford commercial vehicle chief nameplate engineer.

Key innovations on the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel are its compacted graphite iron engine block that enhances durability and helps reduce noise, vibration and harshness. The reverse-flow layout places the exhaust inside the engine’s V-shape, while the air intake is positioned on the outside of the V. This segment-exclusive design naturally improves a variety of attributes.

Shorter airflow from the exhaust system to the turbocharger sitting between the engine’s cylinder banks improves turbo responsiveness – key to providing torque quickly to truck customers when they need it most. Positioning the turbo inside the engine’s valley helps isolate the engine’s hottest temperatures, aiding performance and efficiency while also reducing noise, vibration and harshness for improved driver comfort.

During testing, the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel endured the equivalent of 500,000-plus miles on an engine dynamometer, replicating the duty cycle of the harshest-use customer.

In addition to its Power Stroke diesel, Ford remains the segment-exclusive automaker to offer a gasoline-powered engine for a medium duty truck. The 330 horsepower, 440 pounds-feet of torque 6.8-liter V10 is now available for both F-650 and F-750 models with the TorqShift^® HD six-speed automatic transmission. The 6.8-liter V10 can be factory-prepped for converting to compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas as cost-effective alternatives to gasoline.

The Ford F-650/F-750 anchors Ford’s Commercial Truck lineup – America’s best-selling line of commercial trucks for 29 years – giving vocational customers an unmatched one-stop shop to meet their needs, from a Class 1 Ford Transit Connect cargo van to a Class 7 Ford F-750 tractor rig. Every truck and van in the Ford Commercial Truck lineup will be all-new or significantly refreshed in the next 18 months.

Offered in Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab styles and in straight frame, dock height and an all-new dedicated tractor model for heavy towing applications, the 2016 F-650/F-750 features a bold look inside and out.

The new medium-duty truck lineup will be available in spring 2015.

The Wait Is Almost Over! Dealer Order Banks Now Open for All-New 2015 Ford Mustang

• Ford dealers can now begin placing orders for 2015 Mustang fastback

• 2015 Mustang fastback includes many new standard features such as fully independent suspension, push-button start, next-generation SYNC^® AppLink^™ and a choice of three powerful engines

• All-new Mustang EcoBoost^® and Mustang GT available with 50 Years Appearance Package

For Ford Mustang fans everywhere, today they are one big step closer to experiencing the next generation as Ford has begun accepting dealer orders for the 2015 fastback.

Ever since the world got its first look at the all-new 2015 Mustang nearly six months ago, the anticipation has been palpable. Ford engineers have been racking up millions of testing miles, refining each system to make sure everything is just right before the first Mustangs reach customers later this year.

“From the six cities around the globe where we revealed the all-new Mustang, to auto shows to the recent 50-year celebration events, we’ve received an amazing response from people when they finally see the new model,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “This car is all-new with enhanced sophistication and craftsmanship, but it still exudes the essence of Mustang that’s been honed throughout its history.”

Customers can choose from three available powerplants for the 2015 Mustang, each of which can be paired with an upgraded six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters:

• All-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost^®, producing more than 305 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque and with projected class-leading fuel efficiency
• Upgraded 5.0-liter V8, generating more than 420 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque
• Upgraded 3.7-liter V6, producing more than 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque

In addition to a sleek new design and dramatically improved cabin, each 2015 Mustang adds an array of new standard features:

• Fully independent front and rear suspension for improved driving dynamics and ride quality
• Eight airbags including front, knee and side-impact protection for driver and front passenger
• Individual tire pressure monitor readouts for each wheel
• Rear view camera system
• High-intensity discharge headlamps with signature lighting
• Illuminated, locking glove box
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with manual tilt and telescope adjustment
• Intelligent access, enabling the driver to enter without touching the key fob
• Push-button start
• SYNC^® connectivity system with next-generation AppLink^™ to control smartphone apps with simple voice commands; 4.2-inch color display and two USB ports

The ample standard equipment list can be further augmented with the availability of advanced technology features such as:

• Eight-inch, high-resolution touch-screen display and navigation
• Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert upgraded with Doppler-effect radar sensors to provide both improved sensitivity at longer distances and better resistance to false alerts
• Adaptive cruise control and collision warning for the first time
• Track Apps provide a variety of on-track performance measurements for drivers
• Selectable drive modes feature lets the driver quickly adjust steering, throttle response, shift control and stability control settings by toggling between normal, snow-wet, sport and track modes
• Mustang GT easy to use electronic line lock and a launch control system that manages engine speed and brakes, giving drivers maximum and consistent acceleration at the track

A 50 Years appearance package is available for Mustang EcoBoost Premium and Mustang GT Premium models. The appearance package includes a chrome-accented grille, round 50 Years rear badge, 19x8.5-inch alloy wheels with 255/40R19 all-season tires, anniversary floor mats and unique seat and door-trim stitching.

The 2015 Ford Mustang fastback with 3.7-liter V6 starts at just $24,425 including destination and delivery charges in the United States. Mustang will be available from Ford dealers in North America this fall.

The World's Smallest Car Meets Ford's Biggest Van

The all-new 2015 Ford Transit features more cargo space than competing vans from Chevrolet and Ram, with up to 15.1 cubic-meters of space in Europe and 487 cubic-feet of space in the U.S. How big is that? Find out when the world's smallest production car, the Peel P50, meets Ford's biggest van!

Ford Dearborn Truck Plant Celebrates 10 Years of Built Ford Tough Trucks

Ford Motor Company is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its groundbreaking Dearborn Truck Plant. As the centerpiece of Ford Rouge Center, Dearborn Truck Plant was conceived as Ford's vision of sustainable manufacturing and has served as flagship for the company's next generation of lean and flexible plants.

Dearborn Truck Plant has produced more than 2.6 million F-150 trucks since it opened in May 2004, and later this year, it will begin production of the all-new 2015 Ford F-150.

Ford Brings Custom Transit Connect Wagons to Maker Faire 2014; Makers Get a Chance to Meet the Unminivan

• Two new custom Ford Transit Connect Wagons, Hackmobile and Happy Mutant Mobile, will be on display at Maker Faire – an all-ages event for the do-it-yourself enthusiast

• Ford and MAKE magazine teamed up in the construction of Hackmobile, the ultimate Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourselfer, and Happy Mutant Mobile, which was personalized for the Web-based magazine Boing Boing

• All-new Ford Transit Connect Wagon, the #unminivan, is available as a five- or seven-seat vehicle that can be paired with one of two fuel-efficient engines – a 1.6-liter EcoBoost^® or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder

Ford and MAKE magazine will show two creative takes on personalizing the all-new Transit Connect Wagon as part of Maker Faire, an all-ages event celebrating the do-it-yourself spirit.

MAKE magazine put on the first Maker Faire in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers and artists. It has since grown, with several Maker Faire events taking place around the world. Last year, about 195,000 people attended the two flagship Maker Faire events, held in San Francisco and New York. This year, Maker Faire events will take place in more than 60 cities in North America and beyond.

Hackmobile and Happy Mutant Mobile Transit Connect Wagons will make a public appearance on Thursday, May 15, at TechShop in San Francisco before going on display at Maker Faire, Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and May 18, at San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, Calif. The vehicles will also be on display at Maker Faire in New York later this year.

“Transit Connect Wagon is exactly what customers want it to be,” said Minyang Jiang, brand manager for Ford Transit Connect Wagon. “Whether it’s used as a people mover or to carry cargo, the spirit of the vehicle is in how it can be transformed by its owners to express their passions. We think these two vehicles are a perfect example of the unminivan, of how to inspire the imagination in a new way.”

Hackmobile, a fabricating workshop on four wheels, was the winner of MAKE magazine’s Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, a competition that saw 10 teams vie to create the ultimate Ford Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. As part of winning the contest, Ford commissioned California-based builder CGS Motorsports to build Hackmobile.

The winning design team, Twin Cities Maker, is part of a Minnesota-based community nonprofit that operates a shop called Hack Factory, where members build projects and hold classes for the community.

The concept was for a Transit Connect Wagon to be designed and built around a machine the team dubbed “The Fabber” due to its use as a multipurpose tool in fabricating. Hackmobile has shelving and storage for tools to do woodworking, metalworking and 3D fabrication.
Happy Mutant Mobile was developed in collaboration with MAKE magazine and Boing Boing, a Web-based magazine devoted to technology and culture.

Boing Boing’s editors designed Happy Mutant Mobile to be as original as its name, serving as an official vehicle for the site.

The custom-designed exterior features a large screen that can roll down to show outdoor movies, a hood ornament that blows bubbles and LED signs mounted to the roof.

The interior is decorated in dark custom woodwork and green leather upholstery. It houses a mix of oddities and knickknacks, a 3D printer, camera equipment, magazine rack and computer equipment.
Theresa Contreras of California-based LGE*CTS Motorsports, which served as builder on the project, said the whimsical design features, like the bubble machine on the hood, make it one of the most unique builds the team has worked on.

“Transit Connect is a great platform for any build of this magnitude, or for the weekend warrior, for that matter,” Contreras said. “It’s amazing that the minute everyone lays eyes on this vehicle, they start thinking about how they would use it. I’ve heard everything from office desks to mountain bikes to band equipment. The unminivan can be a vehicle for everyone.”

The 2014 Transit Connect Wagon went on sale in North America earlier this year as an affordable alternative to customers looking for something new and functional in a five- or seven-seat people mover. With its dual sliding side doors, fold-flat second- and third-row seating, a maximum payload of 1,270 pounds, more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space, choice of a rear liftgate or side-hinged cargo doors and a starting MSRP of around $25,000, Ford Transit Connect Wagon takes adaptability to a new level.

Copy of Extreme Longboarding | Ford One Tank Adventure Videos

Watch as filmmaker Devin Super Tramp goes on a one-tank adventure with the Ford Focus ST. This amazing longboarding adventure was brought to you by a company that's all about MPG AND. Let Ford take you on your one-tank adventures because, at Ford, And is better.

New Ford Technical Support Center to Increase Vehicle Performance On- and Off-Track

• Ford reinforces commitment to racing and performance car development with announcement of new Ford Technical Support Center in Concord, N.C.

• Expected to be fully operational later this summer, the facility will serve as a center for Ford Racing technical support and for racing teams to develop and test their cars; center will eventually support development of future Ford performance vehicles

• Technical center’s full-motion platform simulator will allow race teams to optimize their setups for individual track configurations, and for drivers to buckle in and practice driving a track ahead of an upcoming race weekend

Ford announced the opening of its new Ford Technical Support Center in Concord, N.C. today. The state-of-the-art facility will add an array of tools to develop future performance vehicles and help increase Ford’s overall success in motorsports.

Expected to be fully operational later this summer, the 33,000-square-foot building will serve as a center for Ford Racing technical support and for teams to develop and test their cars for competition. The location was selected because of its proximity to the NASCAR research and development center and a majority of race car team headquarters.

“Motorsports and product development at Ford are interlinked, and this new center will house advanced tools that will serve both our race teams and the development of future Ford performance vehicles,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Ford global product development.

Beyond its direct and immediate effect on Ford Racing, the new technical center with its advanced simulation and measurement tools is just the latest investment by Ford in its pursuit to offer a profitable lineup of performance vehicles. The new infrastructure will allow swifter and smarter leverage of the latest in product development technology.

Ford offers one of the most complete and accessible lineups of performance vehicles of any full-line manufacturer. From the growing popularity of its Sport-branded models including the EcoBoost^® V6-powered Explorer Sport, to the award-winning Fiesta ST and its Focus ST stablemate, Taurus SHO, to the SVT Mustang GT500 and F-150 SVT Raptor, to extreme performance RS derivatives, Ford provides true performance options throughout its model range.

“Performance is a critical and growing business for Ford,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “We recognize our customers want vehicles that offer great fuel economy, leading technology and a great driving experience. Our new technical center is another tool that will help us continue to grow our performance vehicle business around the world.”

Initially, the facility will focus on supporting NASCAR teams in all three major touring divisions, but will eventually expand to include other Ford Racing teams participating in other series.

“This facility is an investment in advanced Ford Racing technical tools that will support our goal of winning races and championships,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “It also provides us with expansion capabilities as we support our broader array of Ford teams from NASCAR, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, IMSA, Rally and Global RallyCross, NHRA and other series.”

The centerpiece of the building is a full-motion platform simulator that will allow Ford Racing teams to optimize their setups for individual track configurations, and for drivers to practice driving a track ahead of an upcoming race weekend. Similar technology has been used in Formula One. After the simulator has been proven through racing, Ford will apply that knowledge to further improve vehicle dynamics on its high-performance street vehicles.

“We have enhanced our vehicle dynamics simulation tools to lead the development of Ford Racing cars in NASCAR and IMSA, as well as our street products,” said Nair. “The driving simulator will help us to push handling optimization to the next level so that our cars can be fast right off the trailer, allowing our teams to focus on fine-tuning changes when they get to the track.

“The simulator can also be used to make continual adjustments to advance the car setup for the race weekend based on what the teams see in early practice sessions,” added Nair.

In addition, the simulator will help hone communication between driver, crew chief and engineer, while also refining predictability and accuracy of simulation software.

The support facility will also serve as a parts distribution warehouse. The various pieces of test equipment include:

• Kinematics machine: This machine can test and measure suspension kinematics – camber, toe, scrub and various loads with tires and springs. Race teams use this weekly to set up their front suspensions for different track configurations
• Chassis torsional twist rig: Used to quantify the chassis structurally in the torsional mode – the key parameter for a chassis. It can be used to determine the entire torsional stiffness of the car, the stiffness of the chassis independently, or the influence of various components on the car
• Vehicle center of gravity machine: This is used to precisely measure the center of gravity height of a completed car. It can be used to quantify improvements over time. Race teams generally use the machine once a quarter to gauge progress and test their latest theories
• Coordinate measurement machine: This machine enables teams to measure their components for quality control and to build simulation models, which allows them to make sure their cars comply with regulations

Ford Transit Paint Process-Kansas City Assembly Plant

The two-wet monocoat paint process reduces the paint application process from three layers to two and drying cycles from two to one, including a single co-bake processing of the monocoat and primer surfacer. The process uses a new paint formula that combines color with the properties of a clear coat. Removing the need for a separate clear coat application increases overall paint efficiency and reduces energy use and the physical space needed for paint operations.

Go Further - Ford Escape Commercial

You never know what's going to come your way in this life. But if it takes both hands to carry, the Ford Escape and its available foot-activated liftgate will help make it easier to take it with you.

Ford Mustang Gets Fine Art Treatment: U.K. Sculptor Robin Bark Creates 50 Years Limited Edition Pieces

• U.K.-based Robin Bark has created a limited-edition 1965 Ford Mustang fastback sculpture to celebrate 50 years of the iconic sports car

• Bark captures the essence of the original Mustang in a handcrafted piece that evokes power and motion

• Only 500 individual works will be produced, each cast in solid aluminum, polished, numbered and signed by the artist

For many fans of automotive design, the vintage Ford Mustang has long been considered a rolling work of art. Now, the iconic pony car has become a piece of fine art. As part of the 50 years of Mustang celebrations, U.K.-based artist Robin Bark has been licensed by Ford Motor Company to turn Mustang into a limited-edition collectible sculpture.

Bark is well versed in the arts, with experience in industrial design, graphic design ceramics and metalwork. He frequently blends his passion for automobiles with his love of art.

“I think I was drawing cars the moment I was born,” said Bark. “Growing up in South Africa, I wanted to design cars, but there wasn’t much call for it, so I switched from industrial design to graphics, which took me into advertising for a time.”

Bark eventually returned to the U.K. and became an art teacher, where he experimented in new mediums including metal casting. He went on to develop a series of cast-aluminum sculptures of classic motorbikes and sports cars.

Bark starts a project with an extensive series of photos of the car, which he then translates into rough engineering drawings. As his first American car sculpture, Mustang came as a unique challenge for Bark.

“Mustang is a very different shape from the earlier cars I had done, which were more classically streamlined,” he said. “I look for what the designers were trying to achieve with shapes, and try to capture the essence of the car while also imparting a sense of motion to a static object.”

Bark shapes an initial model in clay. The fundamental shape is then transferred into a resin version, which polishes to work out how the light reflects off the contours. The resin model then becomes the pattern to cast an aluminum prototype. Bark stays true to Mustang’s iconic design while using as little detail as possible, avoiding lines and features that distract from the fundamental shape of the car.

“I tried to reveal its story as it reflects in the light,” he explained.

“From the shark-bite nose to the long, sweeping line of the fastback roof to the tri-bar taillamps, Mustang has a quintessential profile that makes it easily recognizable to everyone on the road,” said Moray Callum, Ford vice president, global design. “Robin Bark has captured the essential nature of one of the greatest Mustangs in his sculpture, creating an object of art that appears to be fluid motion.”

Shaped to the sculptor’s satisfaction, the resin model is sent to a specialist casting pattern maker. Working with a traditional foundry based in Guildford, U.K., the raw aluminum castings are produced in batches of 10 at a time. The foundry specializes in small batch production of unique castings and regularly creates reproduction parts for vintage race cars such as cylinder heads and gearbox casings for vintage 1930s-era grand prix race cars.

Each casting is polished to a finished piece that is signed and numbered by the artist and placed in a commemorative wood box. No more than 500 of the 1965 Mustang fastback sculptures will be produced.

Bark has shown his prototype at Mustang Club events in France and the U.K., where fans responded with great enthusiasm to his interpretation of the original Ford Mustang, ordering several pieces.
The limited-edition sculptures are available through the artist’s website, robinbark-motorart.com.