Ford Launches The ‘Octane Academy’

Want to be the next Ken Block or Tanner Foust? Want to learn how to drift like Vaughn Gitten, Jr.? Want to see if you can out-drive Brian Deegan on a rallycross track? Ford is giving you the chance to prove yourself in an upcoming promotion called the “Octane Academy”. Entrants need to submit a video of themselves in action, describing (or better yet, demonstrating) why they should make the cut. Read more

Ford’s Latest TSB Warns Against Modding 5.0 Mustangs

Perhaps more than any other kind of vehicle, muscle cars are meant to be modded. In the old days, that generally involved a new intake manifold, a bigger carburetor, a high-lift, long duration cam and a new exhaust system from the headers back. Today, squeezing more ponies out of your car is generally done by reflashing the ECU, followed by a low restriction intake and high flow exhaust. Aftermarket blower or turbo kits can add serious horsepower, but often require additional upgrades (to the cooling system or clutch, for example) to handle the added power. The point is this: muscle cars are still meant to be modded, both to personalize them and to squeeze the last bit of horsepower from the engine. Read more

Toyota Wins, Ford Loses In Latest Initial Quality Study

Last year it was Toyota’s turn to get a beat-down in J.D. Power’s annual study of initial quality, thanks to ever-present headlines about unintended acceleration and a string of product recalls. This year it’s Ford’s turn, but their disappointing showing has little to do with product quality; instead, it’s more about Ford taking the lead in vehicle infotainment systems. Read more

Ford Focused On Safety And Technology

If you haven’t shopped for a new car in the last five years and you’re about to check out Ford’s latest offerings, be prepared to be surprised. A lot has changed over a short period of time, and today’s cars are coming with a dizzying array of new technology and safety systems, all designed to make driving more enjoyable while minimizing its risks. Excluding luxury brands such as Mercedes and BMW, no other automaker is putting as much effort into developing new safety and technology integration systems as Ford, and they recently hosted a group of journalist in their Dearborn, MI headquarters to show us what’s new. Below are the highlights of Fords current efforts, some of which are available today while others are still works in progress. One thing is clear: in-car technology is evolving at a staggering pace, so the cars of 2016 are likely to be filled with technology we can’t even imagine today. Read more

Ford’s Active Park Assist: So Easy A Dog Could Do It

The following video is from Ford France, announcing the new Ford C-Max with Active Park Assist. If you want to highlight how easy the latest technology is to use, why not use a troop of performing dogs to deliver the message? If you can train Rover to paw the right button, even he can park your car now (or so the commercial would have you believe). It’s not really that easy, since you still need to select Reverse and Drive on the shift lever, then control the car’s accelerator and brake. Still, it’s a cute ad that’s getting huge traffic on YouTube, because who doesn’t like to see dogs executing a hopelessly complex, Rube-Goldberg-like launch sequence? Read more

Report Says Mazda To Halt U.S. Production

Mazda and Ford used to be like a newlywed couple. Arm in arm, they seemed to do everything together, from collaborating on new cars and trucks to building them on the same production lines. Mazda sold rebadged Ford Escapes and Ford Rangers in their dealerships, and even used Ford engines in Mazda cars. Like a lot of couples, the automakers drifted apart as the years went by, and today the pair are separated if not yet divorced. A recent rumor had Mazda ending production of the Mazda 6 sedan, but the story turned out to be just that. Mazda isn’t killing off the 6, but they may well be changing where it’s built from Flat Rock, MI to Mexico or Japan. Read more

Ford’s Focus ST Begins Prototype Testing

By the end of this year’s One Lap of America, I was already starting to think about running the event next year. None of my current cars would be ideal, so I began thinking about the perfect car for a first year competitor. Brock Yates, Jr., who organizes the event, was enthusiastic about the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works, but their reliability record isn’t quite as good as Trabant’s. The Mazdaspeed3 would be a valid choice, since it offers decent power, reasonable handling, good cargo capacity and a low price. Still, some Mazdaspeed3 variants on the event ran into mechanical problems when pushed hard, and I simply can’t get past the ugly seat fabric. Then it hit me: the ideal car to run One Lap of America as a first time entrant will be the Ford Focus ST. Read more

Shelby Announces Entry-Level GTS Mustang

Have you always wanted a car tuned by Carroll Shelby, but lacked the price of admission for a GT350 or Super Snake? I’ve got good news for you, then: Shelby American has announced a new GTS post-title package for any V-6 or V-8 Mustang models. Starting at $9,995.00 (excluding your donor Mustang, of course), the kit gives you:

- A Ford Racing suspension, including new springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace
- A cold air intake
- A Borla exhaust
- Shelby brakes, developed with Baer
- A unique “deep draw” hood
- Black billet grille with a running Mustang logo
- A unique Shelby front fascia
- Shelby LeMans stripes and side stripes
- Shelby GTS badging and a Shelby CSM interior plate
- “Powered by Ford” side badges
- “Shelby” decklid logo

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