• 2013 ford f-150

    PUTC: 2013 Ford F-150 To Get Four-Cylinder EcoBoost Engine

    Our good friends at PickupTrucks.com and Automotive News are reporting this morning Ford is planning to offer a version of the F-150 with a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine by 2013. The move is a response to rapidly rising prices at the gas pump and new NHTSA standards that will raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks to 28.6 mpg by 2015. More »
    07/14/08
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    Comment by AndyDuncan: @petersterncan: You're absolutely right. 250hp 300lb-ft of torque is what the current 4.6liter v8 makes, and is more than the... more » | Other threads

  • chicago auto show

    Is The Ford Transit Connect Coming To The Chicago Auto Show?

    All of a sudden, the Chicago Auto Show is the happening place to debut the latest rides. The most recent rumor is that Ford will be bringing their european Transit Connect van to the Second City (the Transit XPress is pictured). The gossip is coming from The Car Connection, which reports that the FWD van will come with a four-cylinder engine and five-passenger seating to be marketed against the Dodge Sprinter. More »
    Feature
    01/23/08
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  • gossip

    Tata Could Win Bid For Jaguar and Land Rover Today... Or Much Much Later

    Though there are reports that Tata will announce winning the bid for Jaguar and Land Rover today, we tend to believe those that say the company is merely going to get "preferred-bidder status," meaning that Tata will get the bid unless negotiations falter. Also, it's kind of a big story so unless Ford is trying to bury the news we'd think they'd announce the deal in the new year. More »
    12/21/07
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    Comment by skulldriveshaft picasaweb and youtube: @FrankRizzo: HAH! but anyways - I want some tough as nails metal monster the original land rover was, incarnated on some... more » | Other threads

  • knight rider

    KITT to be Cast as a Ford Mustang in New Knight Rider Series?

    UPDATE:It's a Mustang! We've got exclusive first pictures of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR playing KITT!That's what we're hearing anyway. Although this may seem as rumortastic as they come, we feel our source is solid — he's a loyal Jalopnik reader with a validated connection to an LA FX studio working on the pilot for the new Knight Rider TV show. Our source is claiming he's got it on good authority that KITT's gonna be a Ford Mustang. Hey, maybe that takes care of that whole Mustang variant issue for 2009, right? In fact, maybe KITT'll even be a Roush Blackjack like the one p-shopped above and in the gallery below. We don't know — but we're going to do some investigating. More »
    11/27/07
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    Comment by slade123: hi more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Will The 2009 Ford Mustang Go To Mach 1... Or Just Be The Boss?

    According to the ever-evolving pony car watchers at MustangEvolution.com, fans of the muscular Mustang are trying to figure out what Ford will offer up to keep their promise of a special ed(ition) Mustang each year until the next re-design. As we're not expecting to see the new 'stang any time before 2010, our guess and theirs is we'll be seeing... More »
    11/27/07
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    Comment by GreenVanMan: What about a F.A.F edition? i mean, they have the build quality right already. more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Say It Ain't So: Ford to Axe Crown Vic, Report Says

    No matter that its dated appearance at Ford's auto show displays made it look like someone's grandfather was visiting — and had parked his car in the living room. The Crown Victoria is the last expression of a construct dating to the Eisenhower administration, and according to Ward's Auto, one soon to be mothballed. Ford's large, rear-drive municipal cruiser — Ward's sources say — will be eliminated from consumer lots the 2008 model year. Word is, it'll still be sold as a fleet car after that, though no word on whether it'll get a rumored style freshening. Send all condolences to The Society for The Preservation of 1979. (Thanks to Dave for the tip.) [Ward's Auto]
    11/01/07
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    Comment by FP - pass the stars, please: @LTDScott: Damn dude, love that Fox-LTD. Always liked the lines of those (and yes, I forgot about them until Vice... more » | Other threads

  • spy photos

    New European Ford Focus To Be Revealed At Frankfurt Auto Show

    The UK's AutoExpress has snagged themselves some shots of what appears to be a facelifted Ford Focus for Europe. It looks from the shots they've got that the next Focus will receive a look that completes the Ford Euro boy-band trifecta, and putting that front fascia in line with the already refreshed Mondeo and Fiesta. We'll let Auto Express tell us the rest of the scoop after the jump as well as give us the big news from Ford of Europe: More »
    Spy Photos
    08/30/07
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  • kuga bait

    Report: Ford Considering C-Max, Kuga Crossover for US Market

    There's more chatter in the pipeline about Ford bringing models from its European division to the US. One day after the company announced it would show the upcoming Kuga crossover in Frankfurt this year, Germany's AutomobilWoche says boss Alan Mulally is hot to bring it and Ford Europe's much loved C-Max MPV to the land of burgers and fries. The economy-minded vehicles could give Ford a leg up on competitors if new fuel-economy regulations see the light of day, and a fresh set of designs from the boffins at Ford Europe would surely give the American line a B12 shot. That sound you hear prez Mark Fields' grinding a balance sheet, possibly in his teeth. [via Motor Authority]
    07/20/07
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    Comment by danio3834: @mzs: You think theyre holding out on that just to be mean? I'm sure there are many reasons, solid business... more » | Other threads

  • party, carumba, fiesta, forever

    Over the Back Fence: US-Bound Fiesta to Be a Sedan?

    Carmakers are still apparently convinced US buyers would rather be poked in the eye with a stick than drive a hatchback. BMW's opted for a coupe for its US-bound 1-Series, not a snogback like the Euro model. Now, according to Edmunds Inside Line, Ford's planning to bring its Ford Fiesta model to the states as a sedan, not a hatch, as its sold in other countries. If you'll recall, the Fiesta was last seen in the US in the early '80s (pictured), as a pale competitor to the VW Rabbit. You can still find a decently preserved specimen or two rocking autocross courses, though you'd be hard pressed to find a roadworthy example that wasn't a mere pile of red dirt by now. But the Fiesta Hatch lived on across the pond, and talk of Ford bringing it o ver have been slinging since earlier this decade. But a sedan? Please Tell me it's not just about golf clubs. – Mike Spinelli More »
    06/11/07
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    Comment by Trackback: Kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected here, German emperors were crowned here, and its 95-meter tower is an... more » | Other threads

  • bmw buying

    Bayrische Volvowerke? BMW Considered Purchasing Swedish Ford Division

    The last time the Quandt family's minions from München went on a purchasing spree, well, it didn't work out so well. And apparently with Mini sales down and development costs out, BMW looked into buying Volvo from Ford, to whom, of course, they'd sold Land Rover after their Rover Group finanical debacle. The idea would have eventually moved larger Volvos onto BMW-drived RWD and AWD platforms, while the Mini's architecture would have been used for the smaller models. Would it have worked? Would FoMoCo have parted with the brand? Will BMW buy another marque? Will Gordon Shumway ever play bouillabaisseballl again? Stay tuned. – Davey G. Johnson More »
    05/17/07
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    Comment by Halib: Why would BMW want Jag when they have Rolls? Why would they want Volvo when they already have a broader... more » | Other threads

  • over the back fence

    Super Snake: Shelby To Create Bigger 'Stang With Longer Fangs and 725 Hp?

    Maybe not having the Ford GT's giving FoMoCo a bit of an empty stable complex. It's the only reason we can come up with for this ever-expanding need to expand the Mustang's horsepower and speed. Not that we mind, we're just trying to figure out the reasons why. Maybe there's no need to determine a why when it comes to numbers that we're told reach 725 hp. That's right, you heard me correctly. We're pleased to introduce you to what we're hearing are the newest performance packages from Mustang, the Super Snake. The folks over at MustangsUnleashed have the scoop on what they're claiming is Shelby's next performance package extension for the GT500, and we've got what they think is the press release from Carroll's little shop below in addition to our own shot above of the very KR-like Mustang (which we've included a gallery of below) that we're told it'll look like. – Ray Wert More »
    04/30/07
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    Comment by saberfang: i love that so much that i would sell my soul to the devil just to own one when they... more » | Other threads

  • news

    Over The Back Fence: Which Automaker PR Chief Is Out The Door

    Well, yesterday we gave you the poll, and today we'll give you the rumor. Turns out the winner and the rumor are one and the same. So if you're interested in seeing who we've heard is leaving the automotive universe and where it's rumored they're going — go ahead and feel free to hit the jump. Come on, you know you want to... More »
    03/14/07
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    Comment by htrodblder: I hope its the guy who came up with the stupid new Goodwrench Logo. Of anybody who can sell... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Hot Hatchlet: Fiesta Supermini on the Way?

    According to the UK's Autoexpress, Ford's working up a new, super-Fiesta that will share a design aesthetic with Ford Europe's other new models (e.g., Mondeo and S-Max). The mag says the car's an outgrowth of the company's new small-car platform, from which the Mazda2 (which we will likely see in the US along with an new Ford small SUV, dubbed Ecosport) is based. Word is the new, Cologne-built model (represented above in spec illustration) won't be all econobox and no action. It'll get high-tech features like electronic brake force distribution and traction control systems and the Microsoft-developed Sync technology, as well as a markedly upgraded interior. The marquee event will be an ST model, powered by a turboxharged, 1.6-liter four, producing 170 hp. Hat hotchness! – Mike Spinelli More »
    01/26/07
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    Comment by JakeCota: Hi... It happens to existe some other versions that we don't get in Mexico and have more HP than the... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Pony Sedan? Ford Considers Expansion of Mustang Line

    Is the Ford Mustang franchise poised for a explosion of new models? That's what Auto Week's reporting, and the four-door concept above may be leading the charge. According to AW, a secret meeting on the Mustang's future that took place last year included plans for both sedan and wagon offshoots of the new-retro coupe when the next generation appears in 2011. The thinking is that the Mustang name holds more cachet than Ford's own brand, globally, and thus would be a properly calculated risk for worldwide expansion. And like GM, which is tapping its Australian Holden division for development of its new generation of beefier rear-drive models, like the Camaro and potential new Grand Prix, so to is Ford reportedly looking down under — to the land of the V8 Supercar racing series — for inspiration. We say go for it; and while you're at it, why stop at the wagon? (Whither the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier). More »
    12/13/06
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    Comment by legerdemain: Yes, make a Mustang-based sedan. That would be great. Just don't call it a Mustang. In fact, I'm not sure... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Could Land Rover Build an LR2 Sport?

    Why should the big boys in overjuiced Range Rover Sports have all the fun? As Edmunds Inside Line reports, Land Rover could drop FoMoCo's Yamaha-sourced 4.4-liter V8 into the new LR2 (that's the Freelander replacement), making it into a lower, quicker, smaller version of the Sport. Because of the modularity across the FoMoCo line, the swap would be an easy fit, though pricing such a beast would be tricky. Would anyone pay $50,000 for a 300+ horsepower small SUV? We're asking. – Mike Spinelli More »
    12/13/06
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    Comment by xenti: Destardi, It's a Ford. So not great reliability, no. more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Ein Schtang! More on the Next-Generation Mustang

    Germany's Auto Motor und Sport offers an artist's rendering of what the next-generation Ford Mustang will look like, circa 2010-2012. The sketches reflect reports indicating the new design will involve less emphasis on retrograde cues in favor of a more modern, aggressive style. AMuS also predicts a kammback version, which may remind history buffs of the Pontiac Firebird wagon concept from 1978. Supposedly, the object would add utility to the 'stang's sporting ways. Could it be there's yet another shooting brake — sorry, macho kombi — in the wings? Oh, the humanity. – Mike Spinelli More »
    11/14/06
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    Comment by Turbo Driver: Oh, the horror! Next you'll know it will be front wheel drive..... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Steve Saleen on the 2009 Mustang: More Power Coming

    The authoritarians at Motor Authority say Mustang tuner Steve Saleen gave away a few details on the 2009 Ford Mustang, whose planned facelift recently came to light. Apparently, Saleen said the base Ford Mustang GT will see a bump to 385hp, with 390 lb-ft of torque. The next Shelby Cobra GT500 (if the name remains the same) will get 500hp with 460 lb-ft of torque. All of the above, he said, will come without a price increase. Guess that means we can call off Armistice Day '09 — the horsepower wars won't be ending anytime soon. – Mike Spinelli More »
    10/24/06
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    Comment by sebrock: What is interesting was his slip up on Corvette power. According to Steve the C7 will see 450hp. more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Updated Mustang for 2009, New Generation for 2012?

    Looks like Ford's planning to refigure its Mustang in time for the pony car wars to reach critical mass. According to Road and Track, Ford's applying a bit more new hotness to match the Mustang's current take on the old hotness. A facelfit for the 2009 model year will give it a more modern, aggressive and harder-edged look, in a similar approach to GM's take on the 1969 Camaro. The base model will get Ford's new, ubiquitous 3.5-liter V6, producing 260+ hp (take that, haters) and a return to 5.0-liter displacement for the V8. Subsequently, a new generation will arrive in 2012, based on the Aussie-Ford Falcon, which may hearken a four door version. Pony up, indeed. More »
    09/21/06
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    Comment by wohho: OOOOh xenti, you know that's just a stereotype. In many cases, domestic steel is more reliable than foreign, especially in... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Mondeo Dans le Monde: Ford's Paris Unveilings

    According to the snoops at Carscoop, Ford's planning to show off its next Mondeo midsized line in Paris, along with an as-yet-unnamed concept car. As European car watchers have testified previously, the Modeo will represent the first model to sport the new design language Ford introduced this past year in the guise of the Reflex prototype. The rendering above could hearken what we see on the show floor, though any questions about the new concept car can be answered with a question mark. More »
    09/18/06
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    Comment by Harvey Mushman: Bland yet handsome like Lexus? more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    New Boss Mustang Coming, Says Motor Trend

    The September issue of Motor Trend offers a surprising bit of conjecture in its news/gossip section. According to the mag, Ford's greenlit a new Boss Mustang for 2007, a year before the latest 'Stang is up for a redesign. If the spec image pans out, there won't be any doubt about the car's lineage — with black striping in all the right places, and a reported 5.0 liter V8 (whispers indicate 390 hp) that may even displace exactly 302 ci. The new model will likely be positioned below the Shelby GT500, with an identical suspension system, but will be subject to a weight-reduction effort that could bring it to within range of the V6 model. Boss. More »
    08/02/06
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    Comment by Al Navarro: Do I hear another taker for the "retromodern is so over" party? more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Crown Victoria, Indeed: Next Rear-Drive Ford Could Come from Australia

    Left Lane News has been working the down-under side of the street — following reports of a rear-drive sedan — possibly for US export — coming out of the Ford Australia studio. Word is the car will be a retro-styled model, possibly along the lines of the Ford 427 concept of 2003 (pictured). Australia being a land where rear-drive never fell entirely out of style, its local Big Two divisions are natural global development centers for such cars, a role GM's Holden division is playing in working up the next Camaro, GTO and Impala for GM. Production capacity would be a sticking point, however, considering the Aussie makers are used to handling far smaller multiples than their US counterparts. More »
    07/14/06
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    Comment by Mr_Mischif: Does it look like they tried too hard to look like a Continental GT in the back to anyone else? more » | Other threads

  • news

    Hier-De-Boom-Boom, Uemm BORK-BORK-BORK! Ford Looks To Sweden For Hybrids; The World For Everything Else

    Yeah, the US of A — we don't need no hybrids. In fact, when we think of our good ol' America, we think energy independence, high fuel economy and an addiction to small n' efficient cars. While we're not-so-much kidding on the square, we were thinking maybe Ford believes just that. Three days after announcing it wouldn't be meeting the 250,000 unit goal for hybrids — we hear news FoMoCo's looking to boost their spend on Swedish hybrid R&D, building a fresh and clean hybrid tech center for Volvo in Sweden. So why is the Dearborn-based automaker more interested in developing their hybrid tech across the pond? Well... More »
    07/03/06
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    Comment by Neil Block: It's most likely cheaper to develop such technologies at Volvo because of the already-existing technology centers at that company. Moving... more » | Other threads

  • news

    Ford's Thinking Hollywood, Baby! Bold Moves: The Movie!

    Ford must really think the public is concerned with how they're turning the company around because Ford's hitting the "big (little) screen" like a star — like a not-so-bright, not-so-shining star — in a 50-part documentary series highlighting the "Bold Moves" FoMoCo is taking. In an e-mail today to all Ford staff, Mark Fields, President of Ford North America, outlined exactly what the documentary would accomplish: More »
    06/26/06
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    Comment by Vega: This is going to fit in really nicely with other famous documentaries like "Studebaker - The comeback" and "The Rover... more » | Other threads

  • news

    Summer Sales Fever: You Get An Employee Discount, And You Get An Employee Discount, And You...!

    As month-end quickly approaches, US auto execs are getting copies of their double-super-secret internal sales numbers — which probably explains why we've been seeing so many of their faces turning whiter than snow despite the hot June sun. Our insiders tell us they can already see the sales declines — and the fear of what's yet to come this summer. So what's that going to mean for consumers like us? Well, it'll more than likely mean the Big Three are yet again taking from the Oprah playbook — and looking to give it away, give it away, give it away now — just to get those ol' busted 2006 models out the door and off of the showroom floor. So if you're in the market for a new car, look forward to the same idyllic purchase prices of last summer as the automakers push out those employee pricing and big-league incentive plans again. The rumors we've heard are that each automaker's got their own twist on last summer's everything for a buck sale — everything from not-so-Bold Moves to the reveal of "Step 2" — and all of it's after the jump: More »
    06/23/06
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  • gossip

    Ghosn Fishing? Is Renault-Nissan-Ford In the Works?

    It's some wild-ass speculation to be sure. BusinessWeek's David Kiley picked up on a recent quote from Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and ran screaming into the fortune-teller's tent. In a recent article in Forbes Kiley notes on BW's Autobeat blog, Ghosn was asked, "Do you see the day where you could expand the Renault-Nissan alliance to include a North American company?" to which he responded, "Why not?" That said, Kiley came up with Ford as the only such firm available (well it couldn't be GM — the legal fees alone would be 12 figures). Of course it could be wishful thinking, considering such an outrageous story would likely net Kiley about 1,000 column inches and put him in range of a Pulitzer. But could it happen? Would it take too much genius even for Carlos the Great. Hmmm. More »
    05/25/06
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    Comment by jonnylieberman: I hope he gets ahold of Jag. They need some savin' Also, do you think it would be better to measure in... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Shelby's Got Bank: EBay Goes Wild On Carroll's Mustang

    The big buzz around Ford's finance offices yesterday was the prices dealerships are advertising on the not-yet-priced 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500. Here's what one FoMoCo finance employee told us yesterday: More »
    05/18/06
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    Comment by exige+ducati749s: funny thing is this: they ask for serious bidders, but all they'll get is kids clicking. This isn't a... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Escape to Brazil: Next Ford Small SUV to Be Variant of EcoSport

    A report in The Car Connection indicates the next Ford small SUV could be a variant of the Brazilian EcoSport (pictured), a front/four-wheel-drive ute built on the Fiesta (Fusion in Brazil) platform. Ford is reportedly outsourcing engineering tasks on a new version to be built in Mexico for the US market, possibly as a replacement for the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute. By tapping its Brazilian division, Ford can save around one-third on engineers' salaries and close to 9/10s on the cost of swimsuits. More »
    01/31/06
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  • gossip

    Ford's Reflex Concept Could Give Way to New Puma

    Europeans know the Ford Puma as a small, mildly sporty hatchback based on the Fiesta, not as a sexy beast with 20" alloys and curves for days. But if Autoexpress is correct, Euros may see something in their forecourts that looks like the Reflex concept Ford showed off at the Detroit show this year. The Reflex, they say, will inspire the looks of the Puma, which is said to be on the docket for 2008, based on the next-generation Fiesta platform. It's not quite as likely the US will see anything like it, rumor is we'll be getting the next-gen Fiesta, so, as they say, you never know. [Thanks to Daniel for the tip.] More »
    01/12/06
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    Comment by InfinityReversed: That is UGLY. Surely they can do better than that?! more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Coming to America: 2007 Mazda 2?

    We'd heard a rumor last year that Ford is considering bringing its Fiesta to America in 2007 as a new entry-level model below the Focus. Maybe if Mazda decides to launch the Mazda2 in the US market — as was implied recently by Mazda prez Hisakazu Imaki — Ford will ride along with a rebadged version. At least that's what My Ford Dreams is asking. Whatever happens, it's assured something will happen in the lower end of the Ford stable — it has to, what with all the competition gearing up for a mini showdown. More »
    12/29/05
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    Comment by tr: i'd much rather see a road going version of the mx-micro sport concept from 2004 http://arabam.milliyet.com.tr/fuar/2004/detroit/mazda_mx_m... it would fit in much more... more » | Other threads

  • news: industry news

    Ford of Europe Head: We Ain't Sellin' Jaguar!

    Despite rumors to the contrary, Lewis Booth main Lewis Booth and generally guy in charge of FoMoCo's Euro endeavors says that Jaguar is mos def not on the block, despite impending staff cuts. He also said that the automaker's Old Word unit is on track to post a profit of $100-200 million bucks. All's rosy in Ford-land. Go about your business. Especially you, you male-belly-dancin' Beth Chayim Chadashim types. [Thanks to Punkey for the tip.] More »
    12/12/05
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  • gossip

    Ghosn Shopping: Will Ford Sell Jaguar to Renault?

    Let's see, Bill Ford recently said the company's Premier Automotive Group would be profitable next year, which would be a lot easier without perpetual red-ink machine, Jaguar. Now, LeftLane news cites a report from French business magazine L'Expansion that Ford may be mulling an offer from Renault to buy Jaguar. Ford's already denied Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn a shot at Volvo, but Jaguar may be a different story. Where Ford and Volvo are intertwined in several new models, Jaguar has few such ties to the Ford home brands' purse strings. Renault, on the other hand, needs a luxury marque for global competitiveness (what, Infiniti's not good enough?), and Ghosn has already proven his mettle as a turnaround artiste for Nissan. Watch this space. More »
    12/05/05
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    Comment by noremac: Porsche buys Saab and Renault buys Jag...how sweet. Can someone then buy SMART, Alfa and Seat so we can buy... more » | Other threads

  • gossip

    Ford Says No to Renault's Volvo Bid

    Reportedly, Rowan Atkinson-doppelg nger Carlos G. and posse approached Ford about the possibility of purchasing Volvo from the American automaker. Reportledly, Ford declined. Given that Renault-controlled Infiniti has no brand presence in Europe, the French concern is looking to purchase a more upmarket marque. Reportedly, that marque may now be Saab. More »
    10/11/05
    461

  • gossip

    A Lincoln Mark IX?: FoMoCo Ponders a New Luxury Coupe

    Rumors of a new Lincoln coupe based on the Ford Mustang platform have bubbled over on AutoWeek. According to insiders, FoMoCo could have the coupe ready by 2009; that's two years after it launches the new sedans that are reportedly the linchpin of the division's survival. After that, the thinking is, the company will have time to rebadge a Mustang to replace the coupe-sized hole in its line, left when the Thunderbird-based Mark VIII was discontinued in 1998. Still, Ford officials haven't confirmed the plan exists. More »
    10/10/05
    1,772

  • gossip

    New Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante to Hit in 2007

    AutoExpress magazine has confirmed the soft-top version of Aston's slinky V8 Vantage will arrive in 2007, likely as a 2008 model, according to PistonHeads (just call us third-hand Rosie). The company's entry-level Volante, which will be powered by the same 380hp 4.3-liter V8 as the coupe, has been trademarked, and will sell for around $150,000, or an approximately $10,000 premium over the closed-topper. More »
    08/23/05
    528

  • gossip

    Small-Car Showdown Coming: Ford May Throw a Mexican Fiesta in the US

    This story's been floating around for months, but it's probably one of the more likely rumors shopped this year. Ford Motor is reportedly considering a new, small car for the US market that's priced in the $10,000 range. With competition on the way from GM's Daewoo-China alliances, Ford risks getting shut out of the American-branded subcompact market. According to Automotive News, dealers — using their canary-in-a-coalmine senses — are clamoring for a lower step in the Ford line, and the company may ablige in model year 2008, with a Mexican-made Ford Fiesta. No word on which body style, other than the hatchback would make it north of the border. More »
    08/11/05
    873

  • gossip

    Jaguar's First SUV Could be Nigh

    Jaguar denies it, but the UK's AutoExpress reports Ford's big cat brand is planning a four-wheel-drive crossover SUV. Similar in ride height to the Audi A6 (obviously unlike the prototype, pictured), the UK hauler — allegedly due in 2009 — would be built on Ford's Volvo-derived global P2/D3 midsized platform (Volvo S80/Ford 500), which would make it a cousin of the new Euro Ford SAV (E-MAX) minivan, with the AWD system of Land Rover's new Freelander. More »
    07/27/05
    317

  • gossip

    Unconfirmed: Ford Will Match GM's Employee Discount Program

    There's no official word from Ford yet, but one of our secret agents operating in deep retail cover informs us a Ford district manager just called to say the company (along with DaimlerChrysler) is preparing to match GM's employee discount program. The agent, known only as The Man Behind the Green Door, says the employee price (known internally as "A-Plan") will be offered on everything except Ford GT and Mustang GT. We kind of knew this would come, since both companies implied they would adopt the plan if GM extended its own — which GM announced earlier today it would do. [Update: It's official.] More »
    07/05/05
    81

  • gossip

    Ford Considering Hot New Focus RS

    Ford may be tapping its performance-engine resources in Sweden to create a new Focus that would rival the hottest of hot hatchbacks. The company is reportedly eyeing a 350hp, twin-turbo, AWD, package of fun for its next-generation Focus RS. At the very least, a sports-minded Focus could see a new turbocharged in-line six that will debut in Volvo's new S80, due out next Spring. Maybe Ford's interoffice phones work after all. More »
    06/08/05
    334

  • gossip

    Apres Minivan: Ford's New Crossover SUVs

    A clearer picture of Ford's plan for the post-minivan world may be emerging, with new SUV-like crossovers set to phase out the traditional play-date pods, according to Edmunds Inside Line. Unnamed sources told an IL reporter Ford has several new crossovers in the planning stages, including those based on 2005 design concepts, the Ford Fairlane and Mercury Meta One. Like the Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle, and Mercury Montego, the new utes will likely be based on the Volvo D3 platform, and arrive in 2008, just as the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans are to be discontinued. More »
    06/07/05
    287

  • gossip

    It's Got a 4.6 Liter Plant: Cop Brakes, Cop Shocks, Cop Fire-Suppression System

    Although not confirmed by FoMoCo officials, Whitey McDonald, CAW Chair of Local 1520 at the St. Thomas plant in Canada, says that Ford is finally installing a fire-suppression system in Crown Victoria police cruisers. Vics have become rather notorious for bursting into flame when rear-ended at high-speeds, and a number of suits have been filed against Ford by law enforcement agencies. While Ford maintains that it's the dangerous nature of police work rather than any design flaw with the car, they're undoubtedly worried about the threat of the new Dodge Charger, which DCX is hoping takes a chunk out of Ford's po-po pie. More »
    05/05/05
    81