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The new 2009 Ford Flex has scored five-star safety ratings from NHTSA in all four front and side-impact tests. The Flex numbers beat those of the rival Toyota Highlander, which received a four-star rating for the passenger in frontal tests. Ford also scored a four-star rating in the rollover test using both 2WD and 4WD Flex models, all of which should assuage some of the concerns of soccer moms afraid to tote the brood around in anything smaller than an H1 Alpha. Full release from Ford after the jump. More »
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Ford has announced that the redesigned 2009 F-150 pickup will have best-in-class towing capacity of 11,300 pounds, up 300 pounds from the 2008 model, according to PickupTrucks.com. The weight rating is 500 pounds greater than that found on its nearest competitor, the Toyota Tundra, and marks an important competitive edge in the rapidly shrinking half-ton pickup market. Though Ford doesn't specify the configuration that will be rated for 11,300 pounds, expect it to be a 5.4-liter 2WD equipped with any optional towing packages. So, what changed? More »
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Ford decided the world had seen enough unofficially official photos of the all-new 2009 Ford Ka. The spinmeisters at Ford Europe have let loose with high-resolution versions of the three leaked shots we've already seen, plus a press release sparse on real details, but huge on adjectives. Yes, the marketers have supped heavily from the well of hyperbole, describing the new Ka as "full of youthful and cheeky Ka spirit," "exciting," "bold" and yes, "fashionable." Full specs will be released prior to the actual debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October, but enjoy the tease below the jump. More »
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According to the Blue Oval folks, Ford Flex was the seventh most popular search term on Yahoo last Sunday, and the only vehicle in the top 10 most-searched topics. We're not really sure why that's news, but Ford seems pretty excited about it. Our thoughts? Well, we're happy they're happy — we don't know what more there is to say. PR-heavy press release after the jump. More »
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Holy cow, OMG, WTF — it's a real, live badge for the 2009 Ford Mustang! OK, we'll stop with the exclamations now. But why wouldn't we be excited — it's the 45th anniversary of the Mustang and, and, and — OK, we can't really figure out why we should be excited. Especially given we'll see an entirely new Ford Mustang less than one year later for the 2010 model year. Whatever, we salute Ford for 45 years of pony cars. At least they kept going with the muscular muscle cars even when no other 'merican automaker would. That took some guts — and we'll give 'em credit for that. However we'll still poke 'em for that big truck axle in the rear end. Speaking of credit, we're also going to give some credit to Mustang Evolution for pokin' fun at Ford with a snarky little comment on the new 'stangs looking a little thick around the waist. Way to be, guys! [Mustang Evolution] More »
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