Not to be outdone today by Ford’s debut of a , has taken the wraps off its redesigned .
The big news is all up front, where the 2013 Traverse features what Chevy is calling the new face of its crossover utility vehicles. It includes a three-bar upper and two-bar lower grille design, as well as a “powerdome” hood, though no changes have been made to the direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 underneath. Though everything was redesigned ahead of the A-pillars, the rest of the body was left alone until you reach the D-pillars. Aft of those you’ll find a redesigned rear end with new taillights and liftgate and a relocated license plate pocket.
Chevy has tinkered with the interior too, but not much. The Traverse’s biggest selling point has always been its voluminous interior passenger and cargo space, and that hasn’t changed. The most noteworthy addition inside is that of MyLink, GM’s branded infotainment system that supports Bluetooth voice and audio, as well as apps like Pandora and Stitcher.
Minor suspension adjustments round out the rather short list of changes for this mid-cycle refresh. The segment’s current leader is the aforementioned , which sold around 135,000 units last year. The Traverse wasn’t too far behind with sales surpassing 107,000 units. Our guess is that these 2013 model year changes probably aren’t enough to unseat the Explorer, but should be enough to keep the Traverse selling well in this quickly growing segment.
has just revealed its to the assembled media in Dearborn ahead of its debut. And while the 350-horsepower, 350-pound-foot-of-torque crossover will be the performance capstone for the nameplate, Autoblog has learned that the Sport also previews a number of subtle performance updates that will roll out throughout the entire range for the new model year.
The Sport isn’t just an engine upgrade and appearance modifications – there are meaningful tweaks across the entire vehicle.
Among those changes is a new solid mount for its electric power steering rack, a move designed to take some of the slop out of the system and deliver more accurate direction changes (the Sport also receives its own unique boost tuning to add both quickness and heft). In addition, engineers have gone over the Explorer’s suspension and steering, fitting new ball- and steering joints, with the goal of increased stiffness so that shock and bushing tuning can be more finely adjusted. The result, say Ford officials, is a better controlled vehicle – one that allows for greater performance differentiation model to model (Sport versus XLT, say) through simple tuning of the vehicle’s compliant bits.
To be clear, the Explorer Sport stops well short of a full-on performance model like the – Ford itself suggests likely competitors include the and its . Even so, the Sport isn’t just an engine upgrade and appearance modifications – there are meaningful tweaks across the entire vehicle, including everything from a 3.16:1 final drive ratio to a water-cooled Power Take Off faceplate cooler that keeps the standard all-wheel-drive system at proper operating temps when it’s being worked harder by those 350 pound-feet.
Ford says the Sport knocks a full two seconds off the 0-60 time of other models.
Apparently Ford has learned its lesson based on feedback it received from (a vehicle that shares much of this CUV’s architecture and drivetrain). Like the , the Explorer Sport has received a brake upgrade, moving from 13.1-inch rotors to 13.8 inches. In addition, the discs themselves are thicker, leading to a 22-percent increase in stopping power. That’s good news, because Ford says the Sport knocks a full two seconds off the 0-60 time of other models, but it declined to cite a hard number.
Other Sport-specific hardware changes include a throatier dual exhaust with large polished tips, a reworked Terrain Management System to take advantage of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine’s extra torque in all conditions, as well as larger shock tower braces and a new cross tunnel brace for added rigidity.
Ford says it sold 135,000 Explorers last year, and fully 50 percent of those were conquest buyers. Of that percentage, 12 percent were luxury brand converts, so Ford is clearly betting that the 2013 Sport’s augmented performance and style can yield even more higher-end transaction prices.
The last time we remember talking about a high-performance was 2007 when a rare . For the 2013 model year, however, will start producing high performance Explorers right at the factory. Dubbed the Explorer Sport, this new addition to the Explorer lineup sports the same twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 found in the , , and and . It produces the least amount of power in this application – 350 horsepower – and while Ford doesn’t mention torque figures in the press release below, we can assume somewhere around 350 lb-ft.
Ford is projecting fuel economy numbers in the neighborhood of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg highway, and says the Explorer Sport can also tow up to 5,000 pounds. Other tweaks to get this three-row crossover dancing include reinforcements to the chassis, a faster ratio for its electric steering system, a unique 3.16:1 final drive ratio and larger brakes. There are also paddles to shift the six-speed automatic transmission and special settings for the Explorer’s Terrain Management System.
When treating the Explorer Sport to a few exterior changes, Ford designers went with a dark theme, blacking out the lighting elements, roof rails and sideview mirrors, as well as the grille, lower front fascia and wheel faces. Inside the Explorer Sport gets Charcoal Black leather seating, with or without contrasting inserts, and special stitching on the seats and steering wheel.
No pricing was given, but the new Sport model will sit atop the Explorer line, which means a base price north of the Explorer Limited’s at $38,180. Ford is showing the Explorer Sport at a media event near its headquarters in Dearborn as we speak, so stay tuned for the first live images of the Explorer Sport as we get them.
The new Ford Transit cargo van promises improved fuel economy compared to the outgoing , in part because it will be powered by the . But that’s not the only mill that will be powering the Transit. Ford announced that the fresh take on cargo vans will also boast a diesel powerplant option when it makes it to production in 2013.
hasn’t yet delved into any specifics about the diesel powerplant, but The Blue Oval is confident that buyers will experience some serious fuel savings. The automaker says the choice of a turbo-six or an oil burner plus over 300 pounds in weight savings versus the Econoline should combine for 25 percent better fuel economy. That could lead to serious savings at the pump for the independent contractor and large fleets should save some major cash as well.
In fact, Ford is so confident that the new Kansas City-built Transit and its other products will deliver big fuel economy benefits that it’s developed a tool to show fleets just how much fuel and CO2 can be saved. The Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Cost Calculator utilizes a wide range of data like vehicle type and traffic conditions to evaluate overall fuel costs and carbon emissions. to read over the Ford press release.
Having trouble keeping track of which watchmaker is producing timepieces for these days? It can get a little confusing. Girard-Perregaux held the license for many years, after which a lackluster partnership was formed with . Then was contracted to make one very fancy-looking watch for the Prancing Horse marque, before got the nod. And that’s not including the more affordable watches marketed less to Ferrari owners than to the Scuderia’s tifosi. Now, Maranello has formed another partnership with a different watchmaker.
That watchmaker is Movado, the Swiss firm best know for creating elegant and simply styled timepieces that look just as much at home in a museum showcase as they do on a wearer’s wrist. Movado also makes watches under the Ebel, Concord, ESQ, Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Juicy Couture and Lacoste labels, and will now be adding Ferrari to its roster of brands.
The collection is set to draw its inspiration from Ferrari’s road and racing cars, and is set to be launched next year at the Watch & Jewelry Fair in Basel, Switzerland, after which they will go on sale at Ferrari stores around the world and online with prices peaking at 1,500 euros (around $2,000). for the official announcement.
has announced that it will set up a new research facility in Palo Alto, California. While the manufacturer has similar labs in locations from Germany to China and Israel, the new location will be the first on the West Coast. Specifically, engineers and designers will focus on independent technology projects as well as finding new research directions and potential partners. While Ford is currently recruiting some staff locally, others are expected to be pulled from the company’s global workforce. Something tells us the company will have no trouble finding volunteers to move from Dearborn to Palo Alto.
TJ Giuli is one of those volunteers. The Ford researcher is a Stanford alumnus who’s going back to California to help lead the lab’s establishment. According to Giuli, the research community in the area is excited to have Ford in the neighborhood. for the quick press release.
It looks as if General Motors may be considering a version of the Buick Encore. L’Automobile Magazine managed to source a few patent drawings depicting the vehicle with a Chevrolet face. If our Google translator and murky comprehension of the French language are to be trusted, the images originated in the European patent office. All told, the model is likely to be a little more than a foot shorter than the current but still offer buyers the option of all-wheel drive.
So, is this vehicle headed to the U.S.? It’s entirely possible. While GM already has a platform heavy with crossover vehicles, the truth is the company could use a smaller model to compete with the likes of the , and .
Odds are the smaller Chevrolet CUV would be targeted at European and Asian markets, including China, though there’s a chance the vehicle could also show up as a Canadian-spec model. L’Automobile seems to also suggest the baby hatch could also play a role in the new partnership between Citroen and GM.
For some, the horsepower wars being waged by auto manufacturers over the past few years are getting a bit out of hand. A ? A ? Ridiculous. But if you count massive amounts of gas-guzzling horsepower and torque a crime (we don’t), then the worst of all offenders is perhaps Shelby. Last year at the , the company unveiled its most powerful creation to date: the , with up to 800 horsepower. And while 800 hp is just bonkers, Shelby’s next trick is even more insane.
Today, Shelby American has revealed the 2012 Shelby 1000. The name of, course, is taken from the car’s horsepower figure, which is around 950 in street trim and around 1,100 in the S/C track version. To harness the extra power, Shelby has installed a beefier suspension, larger brakes, a single-piece driveshaft and a nine-inch rear end, but we’re guessing it will still be quite a handful on the street.
Only a limited number of 2012 Shelby 1000 models will be produced, with the post-title package (not including the base GT500 donor car) starting at $149,995. That means the total cost will ring in at right around $200,000. Shelby says that it will start taking orders once the car is officially unveiled at the New York Auto Show next week. for the official press release.
General Motors struck back at the mighty with the similarly brawny , and now it looks like GM has taken aim at the as well.
According to posts on the Camaro5.com forums, a dealer reference guide has revealed buyers will be able to opt for a new performance track package for the . The 1LE pack includes a number of aerodynamic tweaks, including an aggressive front splitter and unique rear spoiler, both painted in smoke gray. Red Brembo brake calipers, a hood wrapped in matte black vinyl and 20-inch wheels shod in Goodyear Eagle Supercar tires are all part of the party. Those big rollers are actually borrowed from the ZL1.
Larger sway bars front and rear as well as stronger axle half shafts help the vehicle withstand track abuse. A Tremec six-speed manual gearbox with a higher 3.91 final drive and a liquid cooling system is also standard. Finally, the report says the Camaro 1LE will feature an optional dual-mode exhaust similar to what’s found on the .
Will the hardware be enough to help the Camaro fend off the road-race ready Boss 302? Given the sublime driving experience the tweaked Mustang offers its buyers and the heady 444 horsepower on hand, it seems unlikely. That doesn’t mean we’d be averse to putting the two head to head on a track, however.
UPDATE: General Motors has now released official information on the 1LE. The model will land at under $40,000 and and be able to pull up to 1g on the skid pad. According to Al Oppenheiser, Camaro Chief Engineer, the vehicle was able to best the three-minute lap time at Virginia International Raceway, and GM is currently seeking approval from SCCA to allow the package to be used in the Touring Class competition.
In addition to borrowing the dual-mode exhaust from the ZL1, the 1LE will also feature the same variable-effort power steering. Other changes include a strut tower brace, ZL1 wheel bearings, toe links and shock mounts as well as a ZL1 high-capacity fuel pump and pickups for consistent fuel delivery during hard cornering. Even if the 1LE can’t keep pace with the Boss 302, it should make for an impressive on-track machine. for the full press release.
The future of the U.S. Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program might be powered by a Motor Co. V-8.
BAE Systems, Northrup Grumman and Meritor Defenses said this afternoon that their proposed light fighting vehicle, which is called the Valanx, will have a Ford Power Stroke 6.7-liter diesel engine under it’s steel hood. (And likely a .50 cal on its roof.)
If it’s good enough for the , it’s good enough for a Call of Duty.
“Ford products have a reputation for dependability and performance, even under challenging conditions,” said Ann Hoholick, BAE Systems Vice President of Amphibious & New Programs in the release.
Ford had dropped out of the JLTV program, which is searching for the next fighting machine to replace the venerable for the U.S. military. Ford is not a partner with the group but did provide a statement this afternoon.
“We’re proud of Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engines and their best-in-class power, durability and fuel economy,” said Ford spokesman Mike Levine. “And we are proud the engines were chosen to be part of BAE’s JLTV entry.”
Let’s just hope that engine is as bullet proof.
to Call of Duty: Ford could power U.S. military’s future
The redesigned is already selling quite well, and it looks like the three-row crossover is about to add another variant to boost the bottom line a little more. posted on its Facebook page a 26-second video that teases a high-performance version of the Explorer.
The video show only a mesh grille, a beefy exhaust and what appears to be body-color wheels. There’s not much else we can share about the brawny family hauler, but we think it’s safe to speculate that an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 with 350 or so horsepower lies in waiting under the hood of this Explorer Sport.
The good news about this tease is that we won’t have to wait long to see the finished product. Ford tells us that the powerful CUV will be officially unveiled on the on March 28. to watch the video for yourself, and stay tuned for more information on this hi-po ‘ute as we get it.
It was a big weekend for Sean Kennedy, Mark Heidaker and the team at Hennessey. The trio managed to walk straight past the previous world record for the standing mile with a top speed of 257.7 mph. Kennedy took the wheel of Heidaker’s Hennessey-prepped Ford GT for the feat. The vehicle used to be both twin-turbocharged and supercharged before Heidaker decided he needed a little more thrust. Hennessey then ditched the supercharger for a more efficient twin-turbo setup. The work seems to have paid off. Putting down that sort of speed in the span of a standing mile is nothing short of amazing, and the engineering behind the machine deserves all sorts of respect.
Of course, commanding the roided-out GT to do your bidding is also plenty impressive.
Tucked beneath that wild wrap is a white GT with a blue stripe, one of our favorite color combinations on this iconic shape. to see the run from inside the cockpit.
There is little question that , under the leadership of CEO Alan Mulally, has perhaps never looked better in terms of product and financial stability.
But it’s been less than four years since the company’s stock was hovering near $1.00 a share. The Ford family was making noise about selling out. And Mulally was actually lampooned on Saturday Night Live.
Bryce G. Hoffman, a reporter for The Detroit News, has penned a new book, , on the fall and rise of the Blue Oval. The book really begins with the 2000-2001 Firestone tire recall, continues through the 2008 financial meltdown and eventually finishes with the comeback and reformation of the company under Mulally.
David Kiley, Editor-in-Chief of our sister site, AOL Autos, reviews the book for HuffingtonPost Detroit, bu you can check out a video interview with Hoffman talking all things Ford .
: Bryce G. Hoffman’s new American Icon book on Ford [w/video]
When Ford unveiled the at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January, we were smitten. A pint-sized, good-looking CUV with thrifty engines could do well here in the States. Brazil’s Noticias Automotivas has caught what looks like a production EcoSport sans camo before it undergoes crash testing and, as promised, it looks little changed from the showcar.
The sparkly LED-powered headlights are gone but everything else seems to be very close to what design boss told us about in New Delhi. The final version is expected to come with two engine options: the 1.6-liter Sigma and the 2.0 liter Duratec.
Despite Ford’s plans to expand the EcoSport beyond Brazil, we’re not hopeful it’ll be sold in North America, as we’ve heard Blue Oval executives dismiss the -sized CUV as too small. Be sure to check out Noticias Automotivas for additional photos of the new EcoSport.
has not been long known for polarizing design. The company’s styling philosophy has read more closely along the lines of “cheap and cheerful.” But when it brought out the in 2008 as a 2009 model, Ford started down a road of trying to be more expressive, emotional and evocative in the design of its crossovers and SUVs, not just with the Mustang.
For Ford, the Flex has been one of those hollow victories. The people who buy it love its Mini-Cooper-on-a-high-protein-diet look, especially with the available two-tone paint jobs, and the comfortable packaging and cruising ride they get without bumping up to a frumpy minivan. The trouble is that there haven’t been enough of those happy buyers taking the plunge.
Ford sold just 27,000 Flex models last year, down 20 percent from the year before – not exactly one of CEO Alan Mulally’s homeruns. Also, its marketing has been confused since its debut. Ford initially pitched it as a cool urban crew wagon – think Funkmaster Flex. The advertising Powerpoint presentation actually said “No dog drool.” No kidding. The high-concept ads were all shot at night on city streets. It bombed. Soon after launch, we saw families and even a dog or two in ads.
The newest trim line of the family will also be its most expensive. The will have a starting price of $45,700 for a , officials tell Autoblog. That’s well over double the $21,820 asking price of a no-frills 1500.
Of course, spending that kind of money, you’d expect the interior trim to come with some fancy name like “black burled walnut,” an overpowering smell of leather every time you open the door and more shiny chrome exterior accents than 1934 Airflow. The Laramie Limited, introduced at the in February, does that and more, playing its role as the ultimate Ram when it arrives at dealerships in the coming months in the full-size and heavy duty offerings. The starting price for a Ram Laramie Limited 2500 HD SWB 4×2 is $47,780 (prices do not include $995 in destination charges).
In recent years, Detroit’s pickup builders have continued to create more high-end pickups along with their work versions. Hey, how’s a One Percenter supposed to tow his yacht? Just a few weeks ago, of its , which will push the price of an F-450 Platinum . There appears to be a growing market for these vehicles as well, as the J.D. Power Information Network notes that nearly 30 percent of heavy duty truck buyers spend more than $50,000 for their vehicles. All of that money is not simply going for the diesel powertrain upgrade. No, these trucks are loaded up with all of the amenities of a luxury sedan. After all, affluent buyers want to flaunt their success a little, but it’s not like you can carry a load of lumber in the trunk of a .
So a new isn’t as exciting as a new , but given the enthusiasm the current midsize sedan has generated around these parts, musing about what might be coming down the pipeline is worth at least a few minutes. Hyundai’s Korean CEO Kim Choon-ho has told Reuters that a “revamped” Sonata is due in just two years, following closely on the heels of a new in late 2013.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, and its cousin from ever since they first hit our shores back in 2010. This pair is the class of the midsize class, and we can only wonder what Hyundai has planned to keep them on top, given the fierce competition.
We’d suspect the new Sonata will be launched here as a 2015 model, which would make some sense. Though we haven’t driven it yet, the new-for-2013 looks poised to bring the goods, and the next generation of the hot-selling at the .
While China is still the big dog when it comes to growth markets for automakers, Iraq looks to be heating up. As the country slowly stabilizes, the country’s 30 million citizens find themselves with a growing income and a need for more reliable transportation.
But, according to , the biggest factor in the resurgence of Iraqi car-buying is a decrease in violence by insurgents. Last year only (?!) about 1,500 Iraqis were killed by roadside bombs, snipers or other violence. That’s compared to more than 34,000 in 2006. As you might imagine, safer streets lead to much greater satisfaction derived from Sunday drives.
Ready to cash in on the auto-buying-boom are , and . All three see huge potential in a country still driving thousands of procured via an oil trade with Brazil in the 1980s.
Apparently, one popular car in Iraq is the – nicknamed “Obama” by Iraqis. Then again, the last year that the was known as “the Obama,” so maybe the term goes for any large American sedan.
Episode #274 of the is here, and this week, Chris, Zach, Dan, and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert cover our recent drive of the (as well as some other Ford products), the , the outselling the and combined yearly total in three days, and the forthcoming . Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our , thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #274:
In the Autoblog Garage
Hosts: , , ,
Runtime: 01:21:01
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Strategic Vision has announced its 2011 Total Value Index (TVI) awards, and has earned its position at the top of the podium. placed second, with taking third place overall. According to Strategic Vision, its Total Value award is calculated based on explicit owner statements on hundreds of (weighted) attributes with regards to immediate and expected (long-term) economic factors such as warranty, technical innovation, standard equipment, fuel economy, and so on. The company says that the current economic crisis, rising fuel costs and affordability concerns make its TVI very relevant to today’s consumers.
“An important ‘time marker’ in this year’s study is that for the first time in over ten years, American manufacturers lead the number of Total Value winners, with eleven segment leaders. This is an important milestone toward the ‘domestic comeback,’” says Chris Chaney, the company’s vice president and head of automotive research. He also notes that consumers find perceived value in alternative fueled vehicles, pointing out that the , , and all led their respective segments.
The Total Value Awards have been presented by Strategic Vision annually since 1995. The 2011 TVI was calculated from 68,088 buyers (of the 325,000 total who responded during 2011) who purchased models during September 2010 to June 2011. The (an updated 2013 model of which is shown above) earned the Total Value award in its Large Car segment.
