Tag Archives: Ford

Is The Two-Door Ford Bronco A Proper Off-Roader To Rival The Wrangler?

After a 25-years hiatus, the 2021 Ford Bronco two-door manual SUV is set to become the envy among the off-roading community. After a lengthy period in which the Jeep Wrangler dominated the market as the only off-roader in its segment, Ford decided it was time to do something about it.

Sofyan Bey of Redline Reviews was handed one from the factory for a week: a two-door manual, Black Diamond trim Bronco draped in Cactus gray. On paper, it got everything that screams “off-roader” such as a truck ladder frame, all-wheel drive, locking front and rear diffs, and a front sway bar disconnect.

Its retro design is based on the first generation 1976 Bronco and comes with seven distinct style trim variants. The Black Diamond model is one of the lightest versions and features LED headlights, steel bumpers, black steelies, a full bash plate underneath, and 32-inch-tall General Grabber all-terrain tires. Moreover, the molded-in-color hardtop, incandescent taillights, and full-size spare tire come as standard. If you don’t mind plastic windows, the Bronco is also available with a soft top.

The two-door Bronco Black Diamond offers 8.4-inches of ground clearance, a 100-inch long wheelbase, and a 174-inch overall length. The Sasquatch package option for an extra $4200 adds two and a half inches of ground clearance, larger fenders, and 35-inch tires.

Also Watch: How Did Ford’s New Bronco Outer Banks Fare In A Challenging Off-Road Trail?

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With a 3500lb towing capacity and larger cargo space available even without folding the rear seats, the Bronco certainly outshines the Wrangler. After the two-person task of detaching the hardtop is done, you’re in for an open-air experience with no crossbar to disrupt the view – unlike the Wrangler. Ford also has included airbags built into the roof rails. The stylish doors are lightweight and have frameless glass to aid the detachability.

The cabin is a nice place to sit in thanks to the two-tone leatherette waterproof seats. With a few exposed screw heads, knobs, buttons, and auxiliary switches on the roof, the Bronco creates the impression of a competent off-roader. It’s equipped with a half-digital, half-analog instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment system, GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain) mode and LED cabin lighting. Opting for the Outer Banks trim makes a 12-inch display accessible. As with all Broncos, it’s highly customizable.

The interior has a hard-touch plastic and rubberized floor with drain pits to support the hose-down philosophy. The back seats provide sufficient legroom and USB charging outlets, but when the top is off, wind buffeting can be a problem for rear passengers.

Related: Ford Bronco Would “Absolutely” Work In Europe, Says CEO Jim Farley

Opening up the hood exposes a 2.3L turbo EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which offers 17mpg in the city and 19mpg on the highway. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with a crawler gear and a low-range transfer case. The engine delivers 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque that’ll push the truck from 0-60 (0-96 km/h) in about 7.8 seconds. With about 4,319 lbs (1,959 kg) of weight, it’s an impressive figure for an SUV. For $2000 more, you can get the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine capable of 330hp and 415 lb-ft of torque that’s paired to a 10-speed automatic.

The Bronco is excellent for those who enjoy an open-air drive with the wind in their hair. It’s joyful and easy to drive compared to the Wrangler owing to the short-throw manual, rack and pinion steering, independent suspension, and the turbo whistle you hear when you put your foot down.

The Bronco came into its own when Sofyan took it to an off-road trail just outside Frederick, Maryland. The handling and ride are as sublime as they were on the tarmac. According to Sofyan, it glides over gravel roads and makes driving through rocks, dirt, dips, and water holes seem like driving through a parking lot. When speeding past bumps, the independent suspension absorbs the shocks, so there are no annoying rattles.

Overall, despite being a grade at the bottom of the trim hierarchy among seven models, the Black Diamond Bronco is a highly capable SUV that costs just over $40,000.

Women’s World Car Of The Year Names 2021 Awards Category Winners

The Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) jurors have announced the 2021 winners in nine different categories.

Selected by a panel of 50 motoring journalists from 38 countries across five continents composed exclusively of women, the winners were narrowed down from three models in each category, all of which had to be launched between January and December 2020.

Also Check Out: 2021 Ford F-150 And Mustang Mach-E Named North American Truck And Utility Of The Year

“This year, voting was more complicated due to the pandemic, which limited each juror’s ability to drive”, WWCOTY notes in the press release about the nine vehicles declared best of the best in each category. “Despite the challenges, jurors made an extra effort to get behind the wheel of these vehicles to evaluate them in time for voting.”

Their work isn’t done yet, as they will now have to select the ‘Best Car of the Year’. Thus, another round of voting will take place, and the result will be announced on March 8, which is International Women’s Day.

You can check out the winners in each category down below.

2021 WWCOTY Best Urban Car: Peugeot 208

2021 WWCOTY Best Family Car: Skoda Octavia

2021 WWCOTY Best Luxury Car: Lexus LC500 Cabrio

2021 WWCOTY Best Sports Car: Ferrari F8 Spider

2021 WWCOTY Best Urban SUV: Peugeot 2008

2021 WWCOTY Best Medium SUV: Land Rover Defender

2021 WWCOTY Best Large SUV: Kia Sorento

2021 WWCOTY Best 4×4 & Pickup: Ford F-150

2021 WWCOTY Best EV: Honda e

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Classic Recreations’ Shelby Mustang GT500 CR Is An 810 HP Carbon Fiber Beast

Saving weight is very hard to do. Yet, Classic Recreations has managed to save a whole wack of it thanks to a full carbon fiber body.

The company is the only one licensed to make Shelby continuation cars and it partnered with SpeedKore for its carbon-fiber know-how. Together, they’ve made a Shelby GT500 CR that weighs 600 lbs less than steel-bodied cars.

In order to make it, the company first scanned a real Classic Recreations 1967 GT500CR and designed a carbon fiber body in CAD. Once molded, the carbon body panels were autoclave-cured. That means that they can be exposed (they’ll also paint them if you want), so the company was sure to make the weaves match from panel to panel.

As a result of the lower weight, the “Carbon Edition” GT500 comes with a Detroit Speed suspension, JRI Coilovers, and a quadralink rear suspension. It also features high-performance Wilwood brakes to make sure it stops as quick as it scoots.

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Also Read: Ford Built The Final Mustang Bullitt In Late 2020

Under the carbon hood, there’s a 5.2-liter Gen3 Coyote V8 with stainless steel headers and a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The one in these pictures makes 810 hp, but the carbon-fiber upgrade is available on GT500CR 900C, 900S, and 545 models as well.

Inside, you get an Alcantara headliner, Kicker audio system, a Kenwood media system, ProCar leather seats, and custom red gauges.

The company unveiled the images of the first completed production car at Motorsport Ranch in Texas on February 2. The location was a reference to Carroll Shelby’s lineage and the date a reference to when he started building the first Cobra in 1962.

Carroll’s grandson Aaron Shelby was on hand to observe the latest iteration of the car his kin launched.

“Shortly after my grandfather beat Enzo on the track at Le Mans, Carroll and Ford engineered the all-new 1967 Shelby GT500 as a ‘Ferrari killer’ for the street,” said Aaron Shelby. “Fifty-five years later, this car has new life with the capabilities to take on Europe’s biggest names once again. I’m proud of Classic Recreations’ efforts to keep Carroll’s dream alive.”

Prices for the carbon fiber-bodied Shelby GT500CR start $265,000, but the Carbon Edition is priced at $298,000.

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What Does Jay Leno Think Of The Ford Mustang Mach-E?

The Mustang Mach-E is one of the most important vehicles released in recent memory by the Blue Oval. Eager to see what it is all about, Jay Leno was joined by Ford chief executive Jim Farley at his garage to check out both the road-going Mach-E and the one-off Mach-E 1400 developed as a technical showcase for EVs.

Most of the video is about the street-legal Mach-E, which isn’t much surprise, while the final few minutes are dedicated to the Mach-E 1400. Despite being a traditional automotive enthusiast at heart, Leno appears quite fond of electric vehicles and is impressed with the technologies that have been packed into both cars.

Read More: Ford’s Wild Mustang Mach-E Prototype Racer Comes With Seven Motors, 1400 HP

Topping out the range of the Mustang Mach-E is the new GT Performance Edition. This model pumps out 480 hp and 634 lb-ft (860 Nm) of torque, an increase of 21 hp and 22 lb-ft over the standard GT. As such, it is able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in a mere 3.5 seconds and can travel up to 235 miles (378 km) on a full charge.

As Ford hasn’t yet provided journalists the opportunity to test out its new EV, Leno wasn’t able to take the car out onto the streets. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to hear Farley talk about the Mach-E and well worth a watch.

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Ford Bronco Launch Delayed Until Summer 2021 Over COVID-Related Issues At Suppliers

Ford is pushing back its launch window for the all-new Ford Bronco to the summer of 2021, due to coronavirus-related issues with its suppliers. The Bronco was initially supposed to launch this upcoming spring.

“Deliveries will begin the summer rather than the spring. That’s being driven by COVID-related challenges some of our suppliers are experiencing,” stated Ford spokesman Said Deep.

While Deep refused to name the suppliers, he did clarify that the pandemic has specifically delayed development work for tooling. When asked whether the launch could be delayed even more, Deep stated only that Ford is monitoring the outbreak closely, reports Reuters.

Read Also: Ford Reveals Modified Bronco, Bronco Sport, F-150 And Raptor Concepts

Order books have also been delayed, with customers now able to place orders starting mid-January, as opposed to December 7 as previously planned.

Ford is still planning to begin building the Bronco at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan in the spring. The Blue oval brand is already shipping the smaller Bronco Sport, which it builds in Mexico.

Deep also added that Ford’s issues aren’t related to the shortage of chips that could disrupt vehicle production in China going into 2021.

Overall, following a two-month shut down of assembly plants earlier in the year, the entire car industry has been largely successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19 within their facilities.

The all-new Ford Bronco will retail from $28,500. This figure is for the base-level two-door model, equipped with a four-cylinder EcoBoost unit. The four-door version has a starting MSRP of $33,200. These prices do not include destination/delivery charges.

New Ford Mustang Allegedly Due In 2022, Will Stick Around Until 2030

Having been in production since 2014, the sixth generation Ford Mustang is slowly approaching the end of its life cycle.

Previous reports had suggested that the Blue Oval come up with a strategy about its successor, which is allegedly due in late 2022.

The time frame has now been reconfirmed to AutoNews by sources close to the company’s plans, claiming that it will launch for the 2023 model year. Its first mid-cycle refresh is expected in 2025, and suppliers have been told that the life span of the muscle car has been expanded to eight years, meaning that it will remain in production until 2030.

Watch Also: 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Review Says It’s “A Bit Magical”

Ford’s future rival to the likes of the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger might migrate to the same platform as the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. As a result, it should have a bigger footprint, translating into improved interior space and larger cargo area.

But that’s not the biggest news, because if they stick to this plan, then the new-gen Mustang will also be compatible with all-wheel drive. There have been talks about an electrified V8, with the ICE powering the rear wheels and an electric motor setting the front wheels in motion.

It is unknown yet whether the turbo-four variant will live on, but Ford has allegedly decided to keep offering both coupe and convertible versions of its pony car, in left- and right-hand drive. As fir the design, the new Mustang is understood to go down the evolutionary road, whereas the latest technology gear will be implemented in the more driver-focused cockpit.

Note: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 pictured below

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BMW, Honda, Ford, VW To Remain Neutral On Trump’s New Emissions Rule

BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will not take a position on legal challenges to the Trump administration’s decision to weaken fuel economy standards introduced while Barack Obama was president.

The Trump administration recently finalized the rollback of U.S. vehicle emissions standards. Under the Obama administration, car manufacturers were required to make 5 per cent increases in efficiency across their models through 2026, but now, these required efficiency improvements have been reduced to 1.5 per cent annually.

Read More: 23 States Sue Trump Administration Over Lower Fuel Economy Standards

Auto News reports that on Monday, BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda will ask a U.S. Appeals Court in Washington for permission to be heard in a court challenge over the new regulations “to ensure that any remedy imposed by this court is both appropriate and achievable.” The four automakers finalized a voluntary agreement with California in July 2019 on vehicle emissions rules.

In a statement issued on Friday, Volkswagen said its “preference continues to be one set of national standards that’s achieved through an agreement between the federal government and California.”

A group of 23 U.S. states, including California has challenged the Trump vehicle rule and while some automakers are taking a neutral stance on the regulation changes, others are supporting the move. For example, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Toyota have sided with the Trump administration on the rollback.

These automakers have also sided with the government in a separate lawsuit to determine if the federal government can strip California of the ability to set its own zero-emission vehicle requirements.

You Can Now Buy Patrick Dempsey’s Panoz-Built 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback SVT

The 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback is a fine car in stock form, but actor and racer Patrick Dempsey wanted it significantly improved to use it as a daily driver.

To help him turn the Mustang into the pony car of his dreams, he commissioned Panoz Auto Development and JRD, the official tuner of Panoz vehicles. 3,900 hours and approximately $300,000 later, Dempsey was presented with the black Mustang you see in these photos.

Completed in 2008, the project used a number of components from both the S197 and SN95 Mustangs, including a 420 HP supercharged 4.6-liter V8, Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission, bits of the suspension and brakes, and some interior items.

Watch Also: Patrick Dempsey Takes Jay Leno For A Thrill Ride In Two Stunning Porsches

Dempsey later sold the car to Equus Automotive, which brought further updates to the exterior and interior. The current owner, who is based in Utah, has had it for the past three years and is now willing to part ways with it for a satisfactory amount of money. At the time of writing, and with six days until the auction ends, the highest bid on Bring A Trailer stands at $75,000.

So let’s see what you would get if you decided to bid for it – besides bragging rights for driving a car that Patrick Dempsey used to own.

On the outside, the 1965 Mustang keeps things classy with a black paint, rear wheel-arch flares to accommodate the S197 rear axle, 17-inch Torq Thrust–style wheels shod with BFGoodrich G-Force Sport tires, as well as HID headlights and LED taillights with a high-mounted third brake lamp. Upon acquiring the car from Dempsey, Equus Automotive modified the front and rear lower valances and replaced the hood and rear side window glass.

The changes made to the cabin are much more obvious and include a custom upholstered dashboard, metal pedal covers, air conditioning, power windows and door locks – all made by Panoz, with the power-window switches and climate-control buttons coming from a 2004 SVT Cobra. Equus Automotive redid the cabin with black leather seats, a modified lower console and a retro-style Becker Mexico radio with Bluetooth; plus, it also placed its logos on the modern steering wheel and headrests.

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Since it was built to be a daily driver, the 1965 Mustang restomod also features modern tech such as power rack-and-pinion steering, ABS, traction control, front and rear three-point seatbelts, a collapsible steering column, and a child-seat restraint system in the back seat. Furthermore, Panoz used computer-assisted design and custom molds to develop front and rear crumple zones, integrated side-impact protection, and a reinforced toe box for additional chassis rigidity.

The car has been driven for approximately 8,500 miles (13,679 km) since the initial build and is now offered with a complete build guide and a clean Utah title. Check out the listing and following videos for the full details.

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How Does The 495 HP 2020 Corvette Fare Against A 760 HP Mustang Shelby GT500?

Whenever a performance-focused vehicle is released in the U.S, you can be assured that Hennessey Performance will get its hands on one and bump up its performance. However, before working on a recent C8 Corvette and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that came into its shop, the tuner lined up the two to see how they compare in a straight-line.

Kicking things off is a drag race from a standing start where the Corvette has an advantage. You see, while the ‘Vette’s 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine ‘only’ churns out 495 hp with the Z51 Performance Package, it is mid-engined and has much better grip than the GT500.

Watch Also: All American V8 Brawl – Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody Vs New Corvette C8

Consequently, the Corvette gets off the line for quicker than the Mustang which, by the way, uses a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with no less than 760 hp. The Chevy holds on to its lead for quite a long time and it isn’t until the C8 hits roughly 120 mph (193 km/h) that the Mustang overtakes it and storms ahead thanks to its added power.

For the second test, the two went toe-to-toe in a rolling drag race from 40 mph (64 km/h). This race favors the Mustang because it is able to put all of its power to the ground from the get-go without encountering any traction issues like it does when getting off the line.

Neither of these results are surprising but they have made us very intrigued to see how Hennessey’s twin-turbo Corvette will stack up against a GT500 when it’s been tuned and is running at full power.