Ford

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R too much pickup truck

Owners of pickup trucks, station wagons and electric vehicles sometimes get stereotyped as having specific political beliefs and varying lifestyles. It’s a ridiculous notion. What’s intriguing is to consider why a neighbor, co-worker or passerby would purchase a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor for $118,000 or a 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage for $18,000. A potential buyer of one of the most expensive pickup trucks on the market would likely never consider purchasing the cheapest available new vehicle in the United States. The reverse buying scenario is also likely true. Both vehicles are on the bookends of the auto industry and both have worthy consumer interest. Neither option is a vehicle for the masses. But the Ford F-150 Raptor R is far more

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Ford’s Removable Roof Battery: A Game-Changer in EV Range Solutions

In the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable transportation, electric vehicles (EVs) are at the forefront. However, ‘range anxiety’ – the fear of running out of battery before reaching a charging station – has been a persistent concern for potential EV owners. Ford has proposed an innovative solution to this issue: a removable roof battery for EVs. “The techniques described relate to an electrified vehicle backup battery system, which includes a traction battery pack and a backup battery assembly that is removably mounted to the vehicle. This backup battery assembly can recharge the traction battery pack through a charge port of the vehicle.” Ford‘s patent application for this removable roof battery technology has been making waves in the industry. The proposed

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2023 Ford Bronco 100K build set for giveaway

PAOLI, Pa.– Aftermarket parts authority Turn5, Inc. (T5) has unveiled Stage 1 of its 2023 Badlands FordBronco build, coined “The Gator.” The company is transforming the 2023 Bronco with modifications totaling more than $100,000. The Ford Bronco will then be given to the winner of the T5 current sweepstakes ending Sept. 30, 2023. Customers can head to the “Gator” build pages below for a full rundown of Phase 1 including details on how they can increase chances to drive away the sweepstakes winner. According to T5, “This beast is ready to conquer any terrain and turn heads wherever it goes.” With the Gator theme in mind, T5 began the Ford Bronco build by installing a Paint Protection (PPF) wrap over

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2022 Ford Bronco Everglades: Rock & Roll, Best Off-Road

Jesse Colin Young wrote the song “Ridgetop” 50 years ago. It’s a love story about nature and his home in Marin County located down a road with a steep hill and marked with granite, ruts, pine needles and chert. To celebrate the milestone, Ford should hire the co-founder of the 1960s rock band The Youngbloods as a spokesperson or at least use his music in commercials. In 2022, a year after the carmaker re-introduced the Ford Bronco following a long hiatus, several special editions debuted, including the Everglades trim. It’s available only as a four-door model equipped with the standard features of the Black Diamond trim. Its singularity are front fenders with depth meter measurement lines for fording water. Ford

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Ford Mustang: Age 58, still an American icon

Like other automotive standard bearers, the Ford Mustang is unmistakable. It’s an American-made muscle car with a long hood, short rear deck and an omnipresent pony badge. Unlike other pony and muscle cars no longer around, the Mustang has endured good and bad style changes and revolving consumer interest. But the vehicle introduced by Henry Ford II at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., on April 17, 1964, is still around and faring well despite stagnating sales. Ford Mustang: American Icon Once selling more than 150,000 vehicles a year, the Mustang tally will reach about 40,000 this year. It’s a stark reminder of the increasing popularity of sport utility vehicles a pickup trucks. The 2022 Ford Mustang is the

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2022 Ford Bronco Raptor: Beauty of an Off-Road Beast

It’s not for everyone, but there’s something appealing about conquering muddy, boulder-laden lake beds, climbing awkwardly formed rock clusters or boldly going where only a few have gone before. It’s why the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor exists. It’s for those who viewed the 2021 return of the standard Bronco after a 24-year absence as a pedestrian effort. The debuting Raptor is the real deal. It’s huge, a monster off-roader equipped with a 418-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. It produces 440 pound-feet of torque. It’s propelled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive system that features selectable G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) mode and 37-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires. It will tow 4,500 pounds and the maximum payload is

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2022 Ford Lightning bolts quickly into fame

Not quite with the quickness of its name, the 2022 Ford Lightning arrived a year after it was announced. There was much fanfare, an avalanche of deposits and now there’s an estimated three-year backlog for delivery. First teased at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, Ford beat all the others — Tesla to GMC, Chevrolet to Rivian — to the streets to further add to manufacturer’s truck legacy. The industry’s best-seller for decades, hadn’t Ford already offered every conceivable truck necessary to maintain its sales advantage? The Lightning boldly adds to the mix. It’s a luxury-oriented, full-size electric pickup truck with top-level performance and a 300-plus mile range. Available in Pro, XLT, Lariat and Platinum trims, the F-150 Lightning splits its

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Ford recall numbers skyrocket, another 3 million affected

For the fifth time in five years, Ford is recalling vehicles. The culprit this time is the possibility of nearly three million cars rolling away after being shifted into park mode because of degrading transmission components. The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect, and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles. Ford Recall: Latest Defect Cause Unknown According to a Ford recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a damaged bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission could degrade or detach in the affected vehicles. Ford said the cause of the defect is unknown. A damaged or detached bushing could prevent the

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2022 Ford Maverick reigns in pickup gas mileage rivalry

The 2022 Ford Maverick has proven a success, although many buyers who placed orders for the new offering in the manufacturer’s extensive of lightweight trucks haven’t received their vehicle and likely won’t soon. The Maverick combines affordability and fuel efficiency, and it’s also backlogged with many other cars and trucks and many other products within the supply chain fiasco. With a starting price of $21,490 and a combined fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon, the Ford Maverick tops the list of the country’s most fuel efficient trucks. Ford Maverick: Best MPG Among Trucks Here’s a “baker’s dozen” list of the lightweight trucks in the United States with the best combined gas mileage averages. Each 2022 model truck listed with

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What’s Important About the Ford MT82 Transmission Recall

Ford MT82 Transmission Recall notice: Mustangs and Mustang GTs from 2011 to 2019 were equipped with a Ford MT82 transmission with a six-speed manual. Many owners have found the transmission faulty. Further, according to Car and Driver, Ford was aware of the problem since the car began testing in 2010. The company had issued no less than seven notices to dealers on how they could fix the problem. The transmissions, supplied by Getrag, had a wide array of issues, and it led to Mustang owners to file a Class Action Suit. Problems Included • Issues with the gearbox• Transmission that slips, jerks and harshly engages• Incurs premature internal wear• Increased shift efforts• Inability to drive• Some suffered complete transmission failure.

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Ford Lightning pickup truck will strike soon with 320-mile range

The enduring Ford F-150 pickup family will soon expand with the long-anticipated Lightning debut this summer with its just announced Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification and manufacturer revealed charge range. Depending upon engine configuration, the 2022 F-150 Lightning will have a range of 230 to 320 miles. Towing capacity is 7,700 pounds. The Lightning will come with two electric powertrain choices. The larger, extended range system will produce an estimated 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. That will make the F-150 Lightning Ford’s fastest pickup. It will have an estimated 0-60 mph time in the mid-4-second range when equipped with an extended-range battery. The smaller standard range version will have 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. Ford Lightning:

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#218, Author Mike Mueller on the Complete Book of Ford Mustang

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:50 — 46.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMike Mueller is an automotive expert among automotive experts. A journalist for more than 30 years, he has written and provided accompanying photography for more than 30 books on the Ford Mustang. He’s contributed images to many additional books and he’s written for many prestigious industry publications. Mueller is my guest this week on episode No. 218 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Mueller and I discuss his latest and just-released updated and revised book, The Complete Book of Ford Mustang. Ford Mustang: A nearly 60-year icon It’s a coffee table-sized volume with more than 550 color photographs

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Pickup truck owners beware: theft on the rise

Pickup truck owners get the best of all automotive versatility. But there’s also a dubious consideration — theft. According to newly released statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, four of the top-10 most stolen vehicles in the United States are pickup trucks. At the top of the stolen list for the second straight year is Ford F series pickup truck. Theft of the country’s most popular vehicle increased 13 percent from 2019 to 2020, with 44,014 reports of stolen. The most “popular” year for the full-size pickup truck’s theft is 2006. Pickup Truck Theft: Ford Tops List Trucks on the most stolen vehicle list also include the 10. Dodge Ram 1500 (11,991); No. 7, GMC Sierra 1500 Denali (13,016)

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2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Yes, It’s A (Great) Mustang!

Introduced slightly more than two years ago, The Ford Mustang Mach-E, a battery-electric compact crossover SUV, went on sale a year later to a resounding, universal reaction — that’s a Mustang? Mustang purists scoffed at the 2021 debut model describing it as automotive sacrilege. Other car buyers viewed the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) as innovative — what’s this new Mustang all about? 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: It’s Different Ford viewed its new vehicle with its Mustang nameplate, Mustang identifiers and a Mach-E moniker as a way to differentiate itself from other EV newbies. It’s succeeded. Ford’s first fully-electric crossover SUV offers good looks, comfort, performance and economy. It’s just a Mustang of another breed. The rear-wheel-drive Mach-E with a standard

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2021 Ford Escape PHEV delivers as new SUV option

Following global semiconductor delays, the long-promised 2021 Ford Escape PHEV debuted a few months ago, adding to the longstanding sport utility vehicle’s lineup. It’s a strong addition to the always-expanding segment of family-oriented vehicles. Sales of SUVs are nearing 50 percent of yearly vehicle sales in the United States. With the new Escape, buyers can combine the utility of a family and small business vehicle with the economy of electricity for short excursions. It also continues Ford‘s early entry into the hybrid SUV marketplace, an option that began in 2005. The Escape is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The SUV has a 14.4 kWh battery pack with an EPA-estimated 37 miles of electric-only range and

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Goodbye, farewell to Ford F-150 (diesel), Toyota Land Cruiser

They’re just cars and trucks, simply transportation from some, nearly family members for others. And every year, plenty of vehicles bid farewell. Via poor sales, it’s out with the old, in with the new. And usually, there’s extenuating circumstances. The Ford Bronco returned in 2021 after a 25-year absence. For RVers, some of the departing vehicles have been reliable companions, some short-term, others icons. For 2021 goodbyes that includes the Ford F-150 (diesel) and Toyota Land Cruiser. Ford didn’t have much success with the diesel version of the popular pickup truck. According to Car and Driver, the manufacturer notes the diesel option fell out of favor with customers who prefer EcoBoost V-6 gas option. The departure of the Land Cruiser

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