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While the tide of bigger-is-better SUVs has been in recession since, well, the recession, fullsize utes are still very much with us. Conservative creatures that have been loathe to evolve, fullsize SUVs nonetheless remain enduringly popular among large families, livery customers, and anyone with lots of friends, relatives, and toys to tug around. With respect to Toyota and Nissan, the only players that really matter in the segment are the new-for-2015 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, the GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and this truck: the Ford Expedition, the latest evolution of which we just drove for the first time at a press preview in West Virginia.

Unlike the General Motors utilities, the standard Expedition and the long-wheelbase Expedition EL are not all-new, but rather are heavily refreshed versions of the same basic truck Ford started selling way back in 2007. The front fascia is where most of the exterior update happens for 2015, with a new three-bar grille design, halogen projector headlamps, and new bumper design with available LED foglamps. Despite all the new bits, the facelift breaks exactly zero ground in terms of design; in fact, it already looks dated, and will only look older once the macho 2015 F-150 bows later this year. Even less has changed out back, where the tailgate gets a wide chrome band spanning the taillamps and a new chrome exhaust tip. Other exterior changes are generally limited to colors and an all-new wheel lineup that includes a gleaming set of six-spoke 22-inch polished wheels on high-end models.

Speaking of high-end models, a new Platinum trim is positioned above the cowboy-spec King Ranch model for 2015. Both the Platinum and King Ranch get their own color combos and exterior trim finishes (satin metal for the Platinum, chrome everywhere and ginormous badges for the King Ranch) and posh, leather-lined interiors with their own aesthetic. The Expedition family also now includes a price-leading XL model, as well as XLT and Limited grades.

That’s nice and all, but we didn’t fly to Appalachia to ogle new headlights and caress leather seats. The real draw was to see how the Expedition fares after making the switch from its outgoing V8 to turbocharged V6 power, the only way it will come henceforth. The change makes sense on paper, given that the turbo six – the same engine found in the F-150 EcoBoost – simply trounces the old V8 with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, compared to the outgoing 5.4’s 310 hp and meager 365 lb-ft of torque. Notably, the EcoBoost V6 also outmuscles the 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque produced by the 5.3-litre base V8 in GM’s portfolio, though it comes up shy of their forceful – and thirsty – optional 420-hp, 460 lb-ft 6.2-litre V8.

2015 Ford Expedition

2015 Ford Expedition originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 25 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aluminum Yields Weight Drop To Around 1,995 kilograms (4,400 Pounds)

Our new man Greg Migliore is in attendance at a Ford media event at the Blue Oval’s Dearborn, MI headquarters today, and he’s reported in with a handful of the 2015 F-150 stats that we’ve been dying to know. Ford is slow-playing the news release here, but we can still offer up some interesting output and performance figures after half-year of waiting.

We have all be quite aware that Ford’s shift to aluminum construction would save a lot of weight for F-150 models, and the results we’re hearing now are duly impressive. For instance: in Super Crew trim, a 2015 F-150 is a whopping 332 kilos (732 pounds) lighter than was its closest 2014-model-year equivalent. That’s like hauling three middle-aged dudes to your bowling alley’s league night for free. Polish your balls, guys.

Ford isn’t willing to offer up any actual curb weights just yet, but if we take that 332-kilo (732-pound) loss and extrapolate with the 2,326-kilogram (5,128-pound) curb weight of the 2014 F-150 Super Crew with the 3.7-litre V6, we can guesstimate that 2015 models will measure out in the 1,995-kilo (4,400-pound) range. That’s impressive.

We also learned just a bit about the new additions to the engine range. The base engine in the F-150 comes in the form of a naturally aspirated, 3.5-litre V6. That mill may be the little brother of the crew, but it still makes 283 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, giving the 4×2 pickup the a maximum payload of 866 kilograms (1,910 pounds) and a tow rating of 3,447 kilograms (7,600 pounds).

Stepping up one rung on the ladder is the hotly anticipated 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, turbocharged to the tune of 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. In 4×2 guise, that blown mill allows for maximum payload and towing ratings of 1,020 and 3,855 kilograms (2,250 and 8,500 pounds), respectively.

We’re obviously still excited to learn actual L/100 km ratings and curb weights for the Ford haulers, but in the meantime, you can scroll below to check out the official press release and an official video of the Blue Oval boys putting the EcoBoost F-150 through its towing paces at the Davis Dam in Arizona.

2015 Ford F-150 specs revealed, EcoBoost 2.7L to make 325 hp and 375 lb-ft [w/video]

2015 Ford F-150 specs revealed, EcoBoost 2.7L to make 325 hp and 375 lb-ft [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto enthusiasts love a good debate, whether it’s Mustang versus Camaro or Ferrari against Lamborghini. But how about a battle between two very different vintages of classic pickup trucks? In this case, the fight is between a 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express and a 1933 Ford Model 46 truck with a flathead V8.

The shootout comes courtesy of the internet series Generation Gap, and its concept is super-simple. One guy prefers classics, and the other likes newer rides. They choose a category, pick two vehicles and put them head to head. In this case, neither is exactly modern, though. The Ford is more than old enough to receive Social Security checks, and the Dodge is hardly a young whippersnapper.

Other than both being pickups, these two models were made to serve very different functions. The Li’l Red Express was basically the progenitor of today’s muscle trucks, with a big V8 that made it one of the quickest new models in its day (admittedly, 1979 was a rough time for automotive performance). On the other hand, the ’33 Ford was just meant to work, with little pretense for anything else. One of the hosts describes it as “the simplest, most difficult” vehicle he’s driven because of the tricky double clutchwork necessary to shift gears. Scroll down to watch the video and try to decide which of these two American classics you would rather have in your garage.

1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express in Generation Gap showdown with 1933 Ford Pickup

1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express in Generation Gap showdown with 1933 Ford Pickup originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 23 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford’s been a supporter of EAA AirVenture, a huge, annual air show held in Oshkosh, WI, for several years now, with one of its most notable contributions being a modified Ford Mustang, designed to look like one of America’s great fighting aircraft. There was an SR-71 Mustang, based on the legendary spy plane, a Red Tails edition, which honoured the ground-breaking Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, as well as Blue Angels and Thunderbird Mustangs, based on two great military aerial demonstration teams.

Each car is auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the EAA Young Eagles program, which introduces kids to the joy of flight. For the 2014 AirVenture, which runs from July 28 to August 3, the one-off pony car is based on the new-for-2015 Mustang, and one of the latest fighting aircraft – the controversial F-35 Lightning II.

The unique Mustang sports titanium paint scheme, with both glossy and matte sections, as well as yellow-and-blue trim and decal elements inspired by CF-1, the first F-35 test plane. A carbon-fibre front splitter and rear diffuser add some visual eye candy, while the interior boasts a set of Recaro seats. Ford also opted to fit unique wheels and a brawnier rear spoiler, to tie everything together.

Considering previous versions of the custom Mustang crossed the block for as much as $400,000, there’s little reason to think that this latest example, based on the eagerly anticipated sixth-generation Mustang, will be a cheap buy. The fighter-jet-inspired muscle car will be auctioned off at the Gathering of Eagles charity event, on July 31.

Ford auctioning off F-35-themed 2015 Mustang for charity

Ford auctioning off F-35-themed 2015 Mustang for charity originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The horsepower wars are tightening among the Detroit Three, as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger are getting bigger, more powerful, and yes, more fuel efficient.

That came into sharper focus this week as more information was revealed about the most insane Challenger ever – the 707-horsepower Hellcat – followed quickly by Ford’s in-depth showcase of the 2015 Mustang in Dearborn.

It’s shaping up to be a golden age for enthusiasts, and what’s under the hood is becoming more important than ever.

The V8s

• Right now, the 5.0-litre Mustang GT has the lead among Detroit’s V8 muscle cars in the power department, though there’s a caveat. The 435-hp output of the 5.0-litre ‘Stang is ahead of the 6.2-litre LS3 V8 Camaro SS, which is rated at 426 ponies. It’s also better than the 5.7-litre V8 Challenger R/T’s 375 hp.
• But, it trails the 6.4-litre V8 used in the 392 Challenger, which makes 485 hp. Blue Oval enthusiasts could argue the 392 is a sort of “Hellcat Lite,” and not the GT’s true competitor.
• The tables are turned in the torque department, as the V8 Stang summons 400 lb-ft, which is behind the Camaro SS (420 lb-ft), the Challenger R/T (410 lb-ft) and the 392 (475 lb-ft).
• Of course, we’re just talking about the 2015 Mustang’s competition, and since we don’t know what’s in store for the SVT-tuned example yet, we’re leaving out any comparisons to the Camaro Z/28 and ZL1, as well as the previously mentioned, 707-hp Challenger Hellcat.

The V6s

• Among V6s, the Camaro is the decided leader in power, boosting 323 hp, well ahead of the Challenger’s 305 hp and the now-detuned Mustang, which dropped to an even 300 hp this year.
• The Blue Oval does pack the most torque among six-cylinders with 280 lb-ft, just ahead of the Camaro’s 278 lb-ft and the Challenger’s 268 lb-ft.

The Wildcard

• Of course, we’re referring to Ford’s EcoBoost inline four-cylinder, which pushes out 310 hp and an impressive 320 lb-ft from a turbocharged 2.3-litre mill. Neither Dodge nor Chevy have anything similar in their current muscle car lines, and if there are any undecided potential buyers in this died-in-the-wool segment, it could prove to be a game-changer.

Tipping The Scales

• The turbo four is also the lightest Mustang and the lightest car among these offerings from Detroit, weighing 3,524 pounds (1,598 kilograms). The V6 ‘Stang is just two pounds heavier though, which puts it well ahead of the V6 Camaro (3,702 pounds / 1,679 kg) and Challenger (3,834 pounds / 1,739 kg).
• This trend continues among the V8s, as the Mustang GT is 3,705 pounds (1,680 kg) – just three pounds (1.3 kg) heavier than the lightest Camaro V6. The eight-cylinder Chevy comes in at 3,908 pounds (1,805 kg), which is still lighter than the Challenger’s weight of 4,082 pounds (1,851 kg).

So those are the cold, hard numbers. Objectively there are definite winners and losers, depending on what you value in a sporting automobile. But in the end, this segment has always been about more than the numbers. If anything, spec sheets trivialize it. Muscle cars are about the visceral experience from behind the wheel. Pick your favorite, plunk down your cash and hit road. Who are we to tell you that you’re wrong?

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2015 Ford Mustang vs. Camaro and Challenger [w/poll]

2015 Ford Mustang vs. Camaro and Challenger [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the 1950s and early 60s, the dawn of nuclear power was supposed to lead to a limitless consumer culture, a world of flying cars and autonomous kitchens all powered by clean energy. In Europe, it offered the then-limping continent a cheap, inexhaustible supply of power after years of rationing and infrastructure damage brought on by two World Wars.

The development of nuclear-powered submarines and ships during the 1940s and 50s led car designers to begin conceptualizing atomic vehicles. Fueled by a consistent reaction, these cars would theoretically produce no harmful byproducts and rarely need to refuel. Combining these vehicles with the new interstate system presented amazing potential for North American mobility.

But the fantasy soon faded. There were just too many problems with the realities of nuclear power. For starters, the powerplant would be too small to attain a reaction unless the car contained weapons-grade atomic materials. Doing so would mean every fender-bender could result in a minor nuclear holocaust. Additionally, many of the designers assumed a lightweight shielding material or even forcefields would eventually be invented (they still haven’t) to protect passengers from harmful radiation. Analyses of the atomic car concept at the time determined that a 50-ton (45,000 kg) lead barrier would be necessary to prevent exposure.

Although hope is still alive for nuclear-powered cars – engines powered by lasers and Thorium salts have been suggested – it’s amusing to think that there was a time when these cars were seriously considered the future of transportation. Our love affair with nuclear energy has waned considerably since the catastrophes at Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and, most recently, Fukushima.

Take a trip back in time to when creativity was out matched only by naïveté by checking out these nuclear-powered car concepts from automakers like Ford and Studebaker-Packard. Radiation suit not included.

Nuclear-powered concept cars from the Atomic Age

Nuclear-powered concept cars from the Atomic Age originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2015 Ford Mustang sounds great so far – at least on paper. Ford has just announced specs for the latest version of the iconic pony car in Dearborn, telling Autoblog that it will pump out as much as 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque from its 5.0-litre V8.

Those gaudy figures power the naturally aspirated GT model, and they easily eclipse the “more than” 420 hp and 390 lb-ft that Ford originally estimated.

The 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, and it’s the first turbo Mustang since the 1986 SVO.

The 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, and it’s the first turbo Mustang since the 1986 SVO.

The 3.7-litre V6, which has by default become the entry-level model, is rated at 300 hp and 280 lb-ft. Power is down slightly from 2014’s output of 305 hp to slot the naturally aspirated six-cylinder below the EcoBoost four banger.

The Mustang will start at US$24,425*, including destination charges, when it goes on sale later this year. *Canadian pricing yet to be announced.

Ford significantly redesigned the Mustang for 2015. It has a new suspension featuring an independent rear setup, beefier brakes, an upgraded infotainment system with MyFord Touch and more interior space. It’s all wrapped in sleeker styling that accentuates its fastback silhouette and improves aerodynamics while still channeling the appearance of the original 1960s pony car.

Meanwhile, fears that the Mustang’s new technologies would result in a significant weight gain were overstated. According to a Ford slide shown at the Dearborn presentation, the lightest model is the EcoBoost four-cylinder with an automatic transmission, which checks in with a base curb weight of 3,524 pounds (1,598 kilograms). That’s only 28 pounds (13 kilograms) heavier than last year’s lightest model, the V6 with a manual.

The rest of the lineup is similarly trim. The base curb weight of the 2015 V6 fastback with a six-speed manual transmission is 3,526 pounds (1,600 kilograms), a 30-pound (13.6-kilogram) increase from the 2014 model. A V6 with an automatic is 3,530 pounds (1,601 kilograms) (up just 12 pounds / 6 kilograms), followed by the EcoBoost with a manual (3,532 pounds / 1,602 kilograms).

The GT packed on 87 pounds (39 kilograms), and now weighs 3,705 (1,681 kilograms), and the GT with an automatic gained 54 pounds (24 kilograms) to now weigh 3,729 pounds (1,691 kilograms).

Ford product chief Raj Nair said the focus was on the power-to-weight-ratio (11.36 pounds /5.15 kilograms per hp for the lightest EcoBoost, 8.52 pounds / 3.86 kilograms per hp for the GT) and called the new generation “the greatest, most advanced performing Mustang we’ve ever done.”

As we’ve noted, these performance figures are even better than Ford (albeit conservatively) projected. But if they aren’t enough to quicken your pulse, sit tight. Ford’s Special Vehicles Team is hard at work on something that promises to be still more menacing. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: We’ve just received details about the Mustang’s weight, which have been added into the story. The official press release has also been posted, below.

2015 Ford Mustang specs revealed, GT to pack 435 HP

2015 Ford Mustang specs revealed, GT to pack 435 HP originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The next-generation Ford Mustang SVT is one of the most anticipated performance cars of the moment. We’ve already seen it testing multiple times, but it has always been covered is some very heavy camouflage. However, Ford has just given us our best view yet of the new muscle car. According to our spy photographer, the Mustang was at the Nürburgring for high-speed testing, which meant that the Blue Oval had to remove most of the heavy obfuscation that the SVT has worn previously.

The stylish, more revealing camo makes picking out some of the more interesting details about the SVT rather easy. Starting from the front, there is the big hood scoop to feed cold air to its still mysterious engine. You can also immediately make out the model’s new grille and lower front air dam. It has a vertical piece running from the bottom of the hood all the way to the ground. The aggressive styling almost gives the ‘Stang the look of two fangs ready to bite down. The hood seam is even taped off here, which shows us its outline.

Around the side, it appears that the front and rear fenders are wider than stock, and the sills are certainly much larger. You can also just make out the SVT’s bigger brakes behind its black wheels with a polished lip. Finally, at the rear, things appear mostly stock other than the diffuser that the exhaust outlets nestle into.

Overall, it’s certainly a fierce package, and it gives us a lot to look forward to ahead of the SVT’s rumored 2016 model year launch. Click through the gallery to check it out from all of the angles.

Ford Mustang SVT caught looking fierce on the ‘Ring

Ford Mustang SVT caught looking fierce on the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mustang6g.com believes that it has unlocked start date for 2015 Ford Mustang production citing a Ford dealer communiqué. According to the report, job one on the 2015 hardtop will allegedly start in just a few days, on July 14, although units that are known as “OK to Buy” won’t enter production until September 9. The cars built between those dates are most likely final pre-production cars for the executive test fleet, and will likely include the cars we’ll be driving at the media launch.

Sun worshippers, meanwhile, would seem to have a longer wait. Job one on the droptop supposedly isn’t slated to start until September 14, with production models starting on October 27. As is the case with the hardtop, these final pre-pros are for the execs and media to test, while actual dealer orders will come from vehicles made after the October date.

After speaking to Ford, though, we wouldn’t put a great deal of stock in those dates as reported. We reached out to Said Deep, Ford’s North American Product Communications Manager.

“There are multiple build schedules for any product that we build,” Deep told Autoblog. “We don’t recognize any of those dates.”

While it’s a virtual certainty that Ford is actively building pre-production Mustangs (your author spotted an uncovered, fully badged 2015 GT Convertible just yesterday), it doesn’t seem like we’re going to hear about the first consumer examples until they roll down the line at the Ford factory in Flat Rock, MI.

2015 Ford Mustang production to begin on July 14? Not quite, says Ford

2015 Ford Mustang production to begin on July 14? Not quite, says Ford originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hatchback, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Mazda, Pontiac, Porsche, Performance, Etc

Now-Dead Cars That Launched 10 Years Ago

Automotive anniversaries are often big news. Last year, the Chevrolet Corvette turned 60 and the Porsche 911 hit 50. This year, the spritely Mazda MX-5 Miata turns 25. The iconic Ford Mustang just turned the big Five-Oh, too.

But what about lesser anniversaries? Think about it: there are plenty of cars with birthdays that slide under the radar every year. And some automotive endeavors don’t even last long enough to warrant a proper milestone celebration.

To that end, we’re taking a look back to 2004 – just 10 years ago – to see what vehicles would be celebrating a decade of life, assuming they were still alive today. Do note, for this list, we’ve only included vehicles that launched for the 2004 model year, not calendar year.

Click here to see both iconic and easily forgettable cars that would be celebrating 10 fruitful years in 2014… if they were still alive… READ MORE

Meet the cars we miss and some we’re still happy are gone

Meet the cars we miss and some we’re still happy are gone originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 08 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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