Tag Archives: Ford

Automakers Suspend Operations, Change Equipment Due to Chip Shortage

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Ford is temporarily suspending production at its Kansas City assembly plant to deal with the shortage.

Automakers continue to search for ways to deal with the semiconductor chip shortage impacting the industry on a global scale.

Most companies cut back production and shift available chip inventory to high-profit vehicles like pickup trucks. Seemingly no automaker is immune to the problem, including pricey luxury and sports car makers. Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and others all recently announced moves to deal with the shortage.

This week is not different with Daimler, Stellantis and Subaru reporting today they are taking new measures to account for current run of chip shortages, both in the U.S. and in other facilities around the world.

New announcements

Ford plans to extend the shutdowns at plants that build its F-150, Ford Transit, Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, Ford Edge/Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Mustang. The Kansas City Assembly Plant that builds its top-selling F-150 and Transit commercial van suspend operations for the weeks of May 3 and 10. It’s currently closed down.

GM is slowing production of its van at its Wentzville plant to deal with the chip shortage.

The Flat Rock, Michigan plant, which builds the Mustang, and Chicago plant that builds the Explorer and Aviator will also be down the first two weeks of next month. They’ve been down since the week of April 12, according to Automotive News.

The company plans to continue the reduced production of its Super Duty and medium-duty trucks at the Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland.

General Motors plans to move its Wentzville (Missouri) Assembly plant from three shifts to just two on a temporary basis starting the week of April 26. It’s cutting van production at the site. Production of its midsize pickups, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, are unaffected. The company just restarted operations at the facility last week after a two-week shutdown.

Other moves

In what may be the most novel approach to dealing with the issue thus far, Stellantis is using analog speedometers in some its Peugeot models instead of the digital ones they would normally come equipped with.

Mercedes C-Class line at Bremen 2021

Daimler is cutting hours for 18,500 workers at two plants in Germany as it waits for more chips.

The move affects only the Peugeot 308, Reuters reported, which are built in France. The brand sold about 98,000 of the 308 model last year. The 308 is being phased out this fall in favor of a new vehicle. The company may reduce the price as a result of the less advanced speedo.

Daimler plans to reduce hours for 18,500 employees and idle production at its Bremen and Rastatt plants in Germany. Bremen builds the C-Class as well as the GLC, GLC Coupe and the all-electric EQC. The Rastatt plant produces the A-Class hybrid as well as the A-Class sedan, B-Class and GLA compact SUV.

Japanese automaker Subaru Corp. revealed plans to temporarily suspend production at its plant in Lafayette, Indiana. The closure will be in place until the end of April, according to officials. It will affect about 15,000 vehicles for North America, officials noted. The company builds the Ascent, Outback, Legacy and Impreza at the site.


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Dominos, Nuro Team Up to Test Driverless Delivery Vehicles

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Domino Nuro R2 Robot delivers

Domino’s and Silicon Valley startup Nuro are partnering to use the self-driving R2 robot to deliver pizzas in Houston.

The development of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology can sometimes be as easy as pie, a pizza pie that is.

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based pizza chain Domino’s and autonomous vehicle developer Nuro Monday unveiled a new self-driving pizza delivery vehicle. The two companies will be testing in a Houston neighborhood.

The way it works is that select customers who place a prepaid website order from the participating Domino’s store can opt to have their order delivered by R2, the nickname for the driverless vehicle, which got approval to drive on roads in California in February 2020 — first vehicle to get that approval in the U.S.

These select customers receive text alerts updating them on R2’s location and provide them with a unique PIN to retrieve their order once the vehicle arrives at their home. Customers may also track the vehicle via GPS on their order confirmation page. Once R2 arrives, customers will be prompted to enter their PIN on the robot’s touchscreen. R2’s doors will then open upward, revealing the customer’s hot Domino’s order.

Pizza delivery explores future of AVs

Domino Nuro autonomous pizza delivery

Domino’s and Nuro are launching autonomous pizza delivery in Houston, beginning this week.

“We’re excited to continue innovating the delivery experience for Domino’s customers by testing autonomous delivery with Nuro in Houston,” said Dennis Maloney, Domino’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer.

“There is still so much for our brand to learn about the autonomous delivery space. This program will allow us to better understand how customers respond to the deliveries, how they interact with the robot and how it affects store operations.”

Domino’s spokeswoman Dani Bulger said this system will not eliminate Domino’s need for delivery drivers, as this is a test intended to keep us ahead in the world of technology.

“We’ve introduced many innovations over the years, which have changed the roles of some jobs, but employment has continued to grow,” Bulger said. “We believe autonomous vehicles will play a role in our overall delivery strategy, alongside our delivery drivers, as we continue to provide the best delivery experience possible to our customers. We don’t use third-party delivery aggregators.”

This isn’t Domino’s maiden voyage with autonomous delivery vehicles. In 2017, the pizza maker teamed with Ford on a similar project in Ann Arbor. The test program ran six weeks and used driverless Ford Fusion sedans converted for specially for the project. Each vehicle is equipped with a heated compartment that can carry up to four pizzas and five side dishes.

The Niro R2 is designed to tackle the “last mile” deliveries, like groceries.

Much like the Nuro-Domino’s collaboration, customers punched in PIN to gain access to their order. There actually was a person behind the wheel of the prototype delivery vehicles — a Ford engineer monitoring the operation of the test cars. But the windows of the vehicles will be blacked out and there was no direct interaction with customers.

Size matters

The Silicon Valley startup rolled out its first iteration of R2 last fall. It’s specifically designed for “last mile” deliveries. To that end, the R2 is small. And that’s for a specific reason. Narrow vehicles allow for better passive and dynamic safety. This could help prevent pedestrian fatalities on roads.

Since Nuro vehicles only carry goods, the company can turn safety innovation inside out, shifting its focus to protecting those outside the vehicle.

The R2 features 360-degree cameras, as well as Lidar, short and long-range radar, and ultrasonic sensors. These techs combine that advanced hardware with a robust autonomy stack that includes mapping, localization, perception, and prediction. The result is a representation of the road without any blind spots.

Ford and Domino’s partnered in a test program to deliver pizzas using autonomous vehicles.

Intelligent production

The R2 is built using the principles of “Intelligent Production.” The company uses basic components when they make sense and crafts custom parts when needed. That allows Nuro to build the best system without being limited by the constraints of existing vehicles.

This approach allows Nuro to deploy and iterate quickly to create safe autonomous solutions as quickly as possible.

“Nuro’s mission is to better everyday life through robotics. Now, for the first time, we’re launching real world, autonomous deliveries with R2 and Domino’s,” said Dave Ferguson, Nuro co-founder and president. “We’re excited to introduce our autonomous delivery robots to a select set of Domino’s customers in Houston. We can’t wait to see what they think.”


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Ford Bagged Again by NHTSA

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airbag

In a fight with NHTSA regulators, Ford came out on the short end again, as more Takata airbags were at issue. This time, it will cost the automaker $610 million, of which they will have to carry the cost in its entirety.

air bag

Takata, the Japanese company whose name is now synonymous with airbag failures and bankruptcy, was at the center of the largest recall in automotive history. That a single supplier was able to put their airbag on so many different vehicles around the world says volumes for globalization and the cost-cutting measures that would lead OEMs to Takata. According to a CNN.com story, Takata airbag recalls began in 2014, and prior to this week’s announcement, had reached 67 million airbags in more than 40 million vehicles in the U.S. alone.

Previously in Japan, leaders of companies like Takata would publicly declare their guilt, ask all who were affected for their forgiveness, and to clear the names of their families, would commit seppuku. If that term is unfamiliar, it’s also known as hari-kiri, to publicly disembowel yourself to rid yourself and your family of shame. Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, none of the corporate heads of Takata had the decency to observe this tradition, and it should continue to hang over the heads of not only Takata’s directors but their families, too (Ed. note — this is a joke and meant to be taken as such). Three Takata executives, Shinichi Tanaka, Hideo Nakajima, and Tsuneo Chikaraishi, were indicted by a grand jury in Japan. All three had worked for Takata in the U.S. and Japan until around 2015 when it was first noted that there were problems with their airbags.

Ford argued unsuccessfully that the Takata airbags used in the models and years affected by this recall are different than those involved in the previous recalls. NHTSA safety regulators said they still pose a risk and rejected Ford’s assertion. Models covered by the recall include the 2007-11 Ford Ranger, the 2006-12 Fusion, the 2007-10 Edge, the 2006-12 Lincoln Zephyr, and the 2007-10 MKX. You will receive a notification if your vehicle is included in the recall, you can enter the VIN number on Ford’s website, or check with your local Ford dealer. Ford will repair the airbags free of charge, and your local dealer may provide a loaner car if you ask nicely.

[Images: Ford]

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner – November Ford Sales Are Up

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Ford Super Duty sales increased by 7.5 percent in November, while the F-series sold 713,325 trucks, 195,000 more than Chevrolet and GMC combined to capture the title of America’s best-selling pickup for the 44th straight year.

Meanwhile, the Ford Transit, America’s best-selling van, sold 9,917 units, 13.9 percent over last year, and a 70-percent increase in commercial sales for the month. Outselling its nearest competitor by 41 percent, Ford now holds a 31-percent share of the full-size van market.

Recording its first Bronco Sport sales at the end of the month, Ford’s Explorer also gained 21.9 percent on sales of 18,848 SUVs.

Shelby GT350 and GT500 sales increased 33 percent, with Mustang sales overall totaling 4,119 cars this month. Mustang’s retail share increased 1.4 percent to 32 percent of the segment.

This came at a time when total industry sales for November declined by 15 percent on sales of 1.24 million vehicles. According to Ford, the industry was down 12 percent, while fleet sales were off 25 percent. Attributing the loss to one less weekend in November this year than last, the automaker also cited renewed stay-at-home orders with the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Mark La Neve, Ford vice-president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service said, “F-150 inventory continued to tighten as we moved through our Q4 changeover to the all-new F-150. This was a result of coronavirus-related production stoppages in Q2 and a strong sell-down of the current model F-150. Dealers are really looking forward to the 2021 F-150, which is now in transit, as well as Bronco Sport and the all-new Mustang Mach-E.”

Granted, a surge in sales often accompanies the introduction of a new F-150, and the arrival of the Bronco Sport should bring a lot of potential buyers to Ford showrooms, but the Mustang Mach-E? Let’s not get too excited about a nameplate extension that should never have been.

La Neve should have reserved some of that enthusiasm and instead heaped praise on the Transit, who is eating Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter’s lunch. A local Mercedes-Benz dealer said that shortages in early 2021 will likely continue, which would only increase Ford’s leadership position in full-size vans.

What remains to be seen is if the Ram ProMaster can also inch its way past Mercedes in the commercial and retail categories.

[Images: © 2020 J. Sakurai/TTAC]

BMW Does a Complete U-Turn on its EV Program

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The production version of the i4 Concept will reach the U.S. next year. It will use a shared platform.

A week before unveiling the all-new iNext battery-electric vehicle, BMW said it will “realign” its strategy and begin developing a unique architecture solely for “electric drives,” rather than sharing the same platform for vehicles using both battery and conventional gas and diesel powertrains.

That’s a complete about face for the Bavarian marque which, in recent years, had hoped to save money and simplify manufacturing by coming up with common architectures that could roll off the same line. But it also marks a return to BMW’s original strategy when electrified models like the all-electric i3 city car and plug-in hybrid i8 sports car used unique platforms.

“The aim is to create an overall optimum with the new architecture,” CEO Oliver Zipse said during BMW’s quarterly earnings presentation on Wednesday.

(BMW preps for i4 launch, confirms plans for all-electric 5-Series and X1.)

Over the past decade, the auto industry has gone back and forth on the appropriate approach to developing electrified vehicles, pure battery-electric models, in particular. Some, like the Ford Focus Electric and the Volkswagen e-Golf, shared common platforms with the gas and diesel versions of those vehicles. Others, such as the original BMW i models, as well as the new Ford Mustang Mach-E and VW ID.3, used unique architectures.

BMW says the production iNext should get nearly 400 miles of range per charge.

Each approach had both pluses and minuses. Shared platforms result in design compromises, often limiting the amount of batteries that could be stored on a vehicle – impacting range, among other things. But development costs can be held down, while increasing the flexibility of a company’s assembly lines.

Unique platforms, most adopting a skateboard-style layout with batteries and motors mounted below the load floor, can handle larger packs, increasing range and lowering a vehicle’s center of gravity. But that means additional development costs and the tooling up of plants dedicated solely to EVs.

With an upcoming wave of new products BMW had aimed for a compromise strategy. They use flexible platforms that can squeeze more batteries under the load floor for models like the all-electric i4 fastback due out next year. But there’s space for a conventional internal combustion engine for products such as the next BMW 4-Series.

Now, , “We will realign our vehicle architecture from the middle of the decade,” said Zipse, adding that, “Our new cluster architecture is geared towards electric drives” exclusively.

BMW’s i3 is one of the automaker’s best-selling electric vehicles. It uses a unique, rather than shared, platform.

“Our new plant in Hungary plays a key role here,” said the CEO, noting that production of “the new BEV-centered architecture will start there.”

(BMW and Mercedes suspend joint autonomous vehicle development program.)

The plan is to make the new strategy a high priority, an all-new product development operation reporting directly to Zipse. But it will be able to reach out to all other areas within the company, from engineering to sales and marketing which “gives us more control and makes us much faster,” he explained.

The shared platform strategy had come under intense scrutiny within BMW, noted German magazine Automobilwoche, Over the summer, Manfred Wochs, the head of the BMW Works Council, had warned that it resulted in “too many compromises” that could set BMW back competitively, especially in key markets like the U.S. and China.

BMW is racing to get a leg up in an emerging market segment that currently is dominated by the upstart Tesla – with an assortment of traditional competitors, as well as start-ups like Lucid, Fisker and Rivian, aiming to gain share.

But Zipse insisted that BMW will be ready when its new EVs hit market around 2025. “We anticipate that the demand for fully electric vehicles will continue to increase significantly from 2025 onwards. Exactly then – keyword timing – we will ignite phase III of our transformation.”

(BMW may go for a plug-in hybrid with upcoming X8 M.)

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Jim Farley is Allowed to Race, and The Detroit Free Press is Allowed to Write About It

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Jim Farley. Image: Ford

Car Twitter is a weird, wonderful online “place”, but sometimes bad takes bubble up. And there’s a double-whammy of bad takery floating around this afternoon.

Take number one: Ford CEO Jim Farley is taking an unnecessary risk by racing cars that could hurt Ford should an accident leave him dead or too injured to work/lead the company, according to some experts interviewed by the Detroit Free Press for a story by Jamie LaReau.

Take number two: The Freep and/or Jamie are dumb for publishing/writing this article.

I do agree with the logic behind the arguments in favor of Farley racing, but that doesn’t make the Freep or LaReau dumb. It’s a reporter writing about what experts think. More on that in a sec.

The logic is this: Farley should be allowed to race because he’s a car guy and enthusiast and it’s arguably better to have a car enthusiast running a car company because a car enthusiast is more likely to understand a unique industry in which many purchase decisions are driven by emotion and/or if Ford is run by a car guy it means there will always be a place for performance cars in the company’s model lineup. Besides, the risk is low.

As I said above, in general, I agree with that, even though it’s not a given that a car guy will do a better job running a car company and/or keep performance cars alive. Just that it’s more likely. And racing today, even in vintage cars, is generally safe, although the risk of death and injury still does exist.

But to castigate the Freep for writing this story is a bit ridiculous.

There’s a “kill the messenger” critique of journalism that has existed for the past five years (and probably before that, but it’s been more noticeable since you-know-who and some of his partisan enablers took up arms against media that was fair and honest but critical). It’s not just relegated to politics — Elon Musk has rallied Tesla fanboys against media the same way, too.

In brief, this critique usually presents itself in one of two circumstances. Circumstance one: The subject of critical reporting deflects by accusing the outlet/journalist of bias and/or incompetence instead of addressing the criticism. Circumstance two: Journalist/outlet interviews a person/expert or multiple persons/experts, the reader doesn’t like what the interviewee(s) say, and instead of critiquing those who were interviewed and their claims, the reader moans that the outlet shouldn’t have published a story that dares to present an argument they don’t agree with — even if the outlet isn’t the one making the argument.

This is an example of the latter. What’s frustrating to me is that some of the annoyed Twitterati aren’t just car enthusiasts — they’re automotive journalists or people who work in the automotive media in some capacity.

In other words, people who should know better.

It would be one thing if LaReau was writing an opinion piece and got flayed for having a take that most people disagreed with. It’s an occupational hazard of writing op-eds. Y’all have flayed me a few times and that’s fine. You write an opinion column, you risk blowback.

But this is a feature story, not arguing either side. At least, LaReau doesn’t appear to be arguing either side — she quotes those who defend Farley’s racing, as well as those who think it’s not a good idea.

There’s also nothing in the piece that isn’t really true. Racing is risky, though far less so than it used to be. And none of the arguments from either side are way off-base. Regardless if you think Farley should race or not, all the arguments are valid.

To be clear, I am not defending LaReau for any personal reason — as small as this industry can be, I am not sure I’ve ever met her. I’d disclose if I knew her, or recuse myself from writing about this.

Has the discourse fallen this far? It’s bad enough that we flame each other, and cherry-pick facts, and fall for mis/disinformation, and that we’re often too tribal. Too often, people care more about “owning” and “destroying” someone in a discussion/debate to worry about being intellectually honest and reasonable.

All that makes for terrible discourse. And now we’re attacking writers and outlets for merely presenting an argument we mildly disagree with? Instead of attacking the argument itself?

This isn’t some free speech/First Amendment/cancel culture rant. The First Amendment doesn’t apply here, and there are some takes that do deserve to be shamed and scorned, and some takes that don’t deserve a platform (Holocaust denial comes to mind). I also think people are far too quick to scream “cancel culture” when someone gets deserved blowback for writing something truly terrible, especially if it’s bigoted in some way.

Obviously, tweeting out that the Freep shouldn’t have published this piece doesn’t rise to the level of screaming at some comic who said something transphobic or racist. But it’s still odd!

Why is so hard to argue that Farley should be allowed to race without suggesting the Freep shouldn’t publish a relatively harmless examination of how big companies insure CEOs who indulge in risky hobbies during their free time?

It’s actually an interesting dive into a part of the business I’ve never given much thought to before.

If you think some insurance experts (who, may I remind you, work for companies with a vested interest in NOT seeing their clients hurt pursuing risky fun during their off hours) are ninnies because they think it’s a bad idea for Farley to race, that’s fine.

Just don’t argue that the Freep can’t give those ninnies an interview because you’re such a ninny yourself that the mere suggestion that Farley hang up the Pilotis gives you the willies.

Yeah, that’s right. Don’t be a ninny.

[Image: Ford]

Rare Rides: The Singular 1989 Mercury Sable Convertible

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<img data-attachment-id=”1734518″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible/117105860_2717858104982174_8488039729603534362_n/” data-orig-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-10.jpg” data-orig-size=”960,720″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1989 Mercury Sable Convertible” data-image-description=”

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/754163072013786/

” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-6.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible.jpg” class=”aligncenter wp-image-1734518 size-large” src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”458″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-5.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-6.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-7.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-8.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-9.jpg 800w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-10.jpg 960w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Today we head deep into the purest sort of Rare Ride: A vehicle which exists as a singularity, a one-off. It’s a two-door convertible version of the first-generation Mercury Sable.

The lightbar will guide our way.

<img data-attachment-id=”1734526″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible/117013927_2717858464982138_7753399091940307748_n/” data-orig-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-16.jpg” data-orig-size=”960,720″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1989 Mercury Sable Convertible” data-image-description=”

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/754163072013786/

” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-12.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1734526″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-1.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”458″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-1.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-11.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-12.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-13.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-14.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-15.jpg 800w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-16.jpg 960w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Taurus and Sable were a big risk for Ford when it introduced its new midsize twins for the 1986 model year. The company went big on cohesive product development, aerodynamics, and a new, modern take on a family sedan and wagon. Six years in development paid off: The Taurus and Sable were an instant hit. They readily found favor with customers eager to leave their boxy rear-drive sedans behind.

<img data-attachment-id=”1734522″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible/117018365_2717858261648825_4065848823506835085_n/” data-orig-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-22.jpg” data-orig-size=”960,720″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1989 Mercury Sable Convertible” data-image-description=”

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/754163072013786/

” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-18.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1734522″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-2.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”458″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-2.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-17.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-18.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-19.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-20.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-21.jpg 800w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-22.jpg 960w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The twins’ first generation ran from model years 1986 to 1991, and cars were available solely in sedan and wagon body styles. Sable remained in its original guise until 1989, when it was lightly refreshed via some new parking lamp lenses and different tail lamps. But over at Cars & Concepts, some designers had an idea for additional Sable development sans roof.

The project started with a standard Sable sedan that wore silver paint and a burgundy cloth interior and was powered by the reliable Vulcan 3.0-liter V6. Extensive surgery was required to turn the sedan into a convertible, and the first order of business was ditching the rear doors. Front doors were then made longer to aid rear-seat access, which meant the interior door panels were reworked entirely. A redesign of the rear suspension also occurred.  Somewhere in the process, the roof and windows went away too.

<img data-attachment-id=”1734524″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible/116900387_2717858314982153_7366365930932568073_n/” data-orig-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-26.jpg” data-orig-size=”598,800″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1989 Mercury Sable Convertible” data-image-description=”

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Many engineering hours were spent to design a fully automatic hydraulic convertible roof. It folded behind the rear seats and was hidden by a solid tonneau cover. And speaking of the rear seats, tiny 3-inch televisions were added to entertain passengers who found Gameboy screens slightly too small.

<img data-attachment-id=”1734520″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible/116927955_2717858494982135_1603542097836061345_n/” data-orig-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-32.jpg” data-orig-size=”960,720″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1989 Mercury Sable Convertible” data-image-description=”

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” data-medium-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-28.jpg” data-large-file=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-4.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1734520″ src=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-4.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”458″ srcset=”http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-4.jpg 610w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-27.jpg 75w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-28.jpg 450w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-29.jpg 768w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-30.jpg 120w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-31.jpg 800w, http://gagetruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/rare-rides-the-singular-1989-mercury-sable-convertible-32.jpg 960w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The convertible transformation was finished in time for the 1989 SAE Expo, at the very first edition of the NAIAS. There’s no evidence to suggest the project was anything other than Cars & Concepts showing off what they could do. The concept was put in a warehouse for many years until it was titled properly and sold via eBay in 2006. It’s currently for sale via a car dealer in Austin, who used the Sable as a display at his dealership.

The car has accumulated slightly less than 300 miles between 1995 and today, and its odometer presently reads 9,800. This very unique Sable is all yours for $18,900 or thereabouts.

[Images: seller]

2021 Ford Bronco First Ride – Love at First Glance

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Last week marked the Ford Bronco’s 55th anniversary, with the model’s creator celebrating the momentous occasion by throwing an exclusive and socially distanced Bronco party in Holly, MI.

At this off-road soiree, Ford showed off its Bronco family adventure concepts, announced that 165,000 Broncos have been reserved since the July 13 reveal, and proclaimed that Austin, TX would be the first location of the Bronco Off-Roadeo (Ford’s spelling, not a typo) off-road adventure playground.

While all these pieces of information are great, they aren’t exciting enough to headline a Bronco Anniversary party. Instead, the headliners of this party were the off-road ride-alongs in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and the 2021 Ford Bronco 2-door.

For this event, Ford took over Holly Oaks ORV Park in Michigan’s Oakland County. Situated behind the towering 350-foot Mt. Holly ski hill, this 235-acre park consists of sand and gravel mines, both active and inactive. It is a joint venture between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Oakland County Parks system, and it’s scheduled to have its grand opening next month.

(Full disclosure: The author has placed a reservation on the Bronco.)

This yet-to-open ORV Park is an excellent place for the Blue Oval to demonstrate the off-road capabilities of its off-road-focused brand. Unfortunately, Ford didn’t allow journalists to drive the Broncos or take pictures of the pre-production interiors. Sad as it may be, we can still provide some feedback on Ford’s most anticipated product since the 2018 EcoSport.

First up was the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Riding on the same platform as the Ford Escape, the Bronco Sport targets outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for adventure, Steppenwolf style. At this event, Ford showed off their most capable version of the Bronco Sport, the 2021 Bronco Sport Badlands. Starting at an MSRP of $32,660 with a destination charge of $1,495, it’s also the most expensive.

The 2021 Bronco Sport Badlands is powered by Ford’s ubiquitous 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Ford is targeting 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque in the Badlands. Power is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive comes standard. The Badlands trim also has an available advanced four-wheel-drive system with a twin-clutch rear-drive unit. Paired with Ford’s Terrain Management System that features up to seven G.O.A.T Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. Ford capitalizes both Ts, and yes, that technically spells G.O.A.T.T), the Bronco Sport starts to look, from the passenger seat, like a compelling off-road-focused product.

Dropping down the first hill in the park, it became apparent that the Bronco Sport in Badlands trim is more off-road capable than most other crossovers. It has a Subaru-like 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a torque-vectoring AWD system. In Sand mode, the Bronco Sport sliced easily through the floor of the former sand mine. The advanced four-wheel-drive system allowed for some wheel slippage in Sand Mode while never losing traction. When it comes to capability and enjoyment, the Bronco Sport Badlands feels similar on the sand to the Ford Focus RS in drift mode on the track. Part of that is because the rear differential on the Bronco Sport Badlands is similar to that of the RS.

On the trails, the Bronco Sport continues to feel extremely capable, again, as least as near as we can tell from the right seat. It handled mud and ruts with ease, climbed and descended the hilly terrain without complaint, and even plowed through the water hazard. While it was apparent that Ford set an off-road path that the Bronco Sport could handle, that doesn’t mean it isn’t an impressive vehicle off-road. If the Bronco Sport can handle loose gravel while traversing hills, mud, ruts, and some rocks, it should conqueror America’s crumbling infrastructure. For a vast majority of people, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands will get you to wherever your adventure is located.

If you need to drive your adventure instead, there is the 2021 Ford Bronco. This is Ford’s direct challenge to the Jeep Wrangler’s American off-road supremacy. By the time the Bronco actually lands in dealerships, it will have been over four years since Ford made the announcement of the Bronco’s return. So was it worth the wait?

Yes. It was. The 2021 Ford Bronco appears to be a legitimate Jeep Wrangler competition.

Ford brought two pre-production two-door Broncos to the event. Luckily, we were able to ride in the vehicle with the top removed. Our ride came in the Outer Banks trim. Based on Ford’s Bronco trim documents, the Outer Banks is one of the more luxurious trim levels. It is the first Bronco trim that allows you to add leather, a 12-inch touchscreen, heated steering wheel, and the Bang & Olufsen ten-speaker audio system. This trim starts at $38,955 with D and D fees of $1,495. That is for the two-door version.

Under the hood of the Bronco provided was Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 twin-turbocharged engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine and transmission combination is one of the most popular pairings in the Ford F-150. In the Bronco, the 2.7-liter engine is good for 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is not standard on the Outer Banks, but the 10-speed transmission is the only transmission available for that trim. That standard engine is a 270-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that also powers the Ford Ranger. The Outer Banks also features six G.O.A.T modes. Four-wheel drive is standard on all Broncos.

The most noticeable enhancement to our Bronco tester was the off-road-focused Sasquatch Package. This package includes 17-inch beadlock-compatible wheels, 35-inch mud tires, an electromechanical transfer case, locking front and rear axles, larger fender flares, a high clearance suspension, and heavy-duty Bilstein shocks. The Sasquatch Package is available on all Bronco trims. It requires the 10-speed automatic transmission and will have a price that varies by trim. So far, the price is as mysterious as Bigfoot himself.

Before hitting the trail, our driver demonstrated one of the Bronco’s off-road tricks; a spotter camera that shows you what’s in front of your Bronco. In certain G.O.A.T. Modes, the camera remains on for better visibility. In this instance, the camera showed off the steep incline we were about to enjoy.

As the Bronco descended into the off-road park, I was eager to see how it compared to the Jeep Wrangler. While I’ve had extensive seat time in a Wrangler, the ride can be unforgiving and harsh. I’ve been told that is the trade-off for a premier off-road experience. But maybe that’s just a Jeep thing. The Bronco’s monotube Blistein shocks feature remote oil reservoirs for better cooling and position-sensitive dampening. This smooths out the bumps over rocks and ruts while helping the Bronco attack sand and dirt.

Throughout the Holly Oaks ORV course, the Bronco’s powertrain felt much more powerful than the stated 310 horsepower. The 2.7-liter delivers a linear punch of power to all four wheels and provides blistering acceleration. Paired with the Sasquatch Package and G.O.A.T Modes, it feels as if you’ve unlocked some sort of off-road cheat code. Features like Trail-Turn Assist, which brakes the inside wheels when making a tight turn, and Trail One Pedal Driving, which lets you drive precisely with one foot while rock crawling, will help you feel like Ivan Stewart.

Despite all of these features, a good portion of the drive was spent with the G.O.A.T. Modes off. Our driver enjoyed the Bronco most while just putting the pedal down and navigating obstacles. Sand, rocks, hills, and water were minimal disruptions to the Bronco. All of this was completed in relative comfort with little drama. The Bronco with the combination of the 2.7-liter V-6, 10-speed transmission, and the Sasquatch Package seems to be the new off-road capability leader. We can’t wait for more Bronco seat time to fully verify that statement.

(Ed. note: The rumor mill suggests the first media drives of the Bronco will be next spring, pending the pandemic’s effects on travel. Of course, rumors are just that. Stay tuned to these pages and as soon as we get wheel time, and not just seat time, we’ll have a full first drive.)

While the two-door Sasquatch Package Bronco will most likely be the Bronco with the most capability, it’s easy to see that off-road adventure comes standard on every Bronco model. With six trim levels, numerous options, and over 200 accessories at launch, Ford is looking to take on Jeep. Based on our much-too-short ride along, Ford has the right product. Now they have to execute building and launching the vehicle. One-hundred and sixty-five thousand orders mean that a lot of people want a Bronco, but a lot of people also have high expectations of the Bronco. The good news for Ford is that if the 2021 Bronco performs like the pre-production model we rode in, they’ll exceed most of those expectations.

[Images © 2020 Adam Tonge/TTAC]

First Look: 2021 Ford F-150 Puts Premium on Power, Features – and Adds 1st Hybrid

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The all-new F-150 Limited features a new exterior design with a bolder and even tougher look. The interior provides more comfort, technology and functionality.

Pandemic be damned, this is going to be a big year for the Ford Motor Co., Detroit’s second-largest automaker rolling out an array of new products as diverse as the reborn Bronco and all-new Mustang Mach-E battery-electric vehicle. But no single model launch will carry the weight of the 2021 Ford F-150.

Along with heavy-duty models, collectively known as the F-Series, they make up the best-selling product line on the U.S. market and, in the process, also generate the vast majority of Ford earnings. So, with the company struggling, its balance sheet falling deeply into the red during the first quarter of this year, the successful launch of the all-new F-150 will be critical.

And the truck that Ford designers and engineers are rolling out during today’s evening web event should have plenty to offer customers. As one would expect of a full-size pickup, there are numerous new features targeting those who count on their trucks to earn a living. That includes more storage, a tailgate designed to serve as a workbench, space to use a laptop computer and several optional onboard generators. There’s also a new business jet-style seat, new safety gear, and Ford’s first hands-free driving system. The 2021 truck also becomes the first F-Series to be offered with a hybrid powertrain.

(Feel the Earth move? Ford shakes things up with 2020 F-Series Super Duty Tremor.)

“This is a game-changing truck,” said Todd Eckert, the marketing manager for Ford Truck, during a media background briefing earlier this week. “It’s the toughest, most productive F-150 ever.”

Ford is looking to maintain its status as the top seller with the new 2021 F-150.

Ford was one of the first automakers to roll out a pickup – though who actually was first is a matter of long debate. What’s clear is that it gained market dominance earlier on in the 43-year history of the F-Series, and has no intention of ceding its sales crown anytime soon.

The new model won’t qualify as the most radical F-150 update in Ford history. That claim almost certainly belongs to the outgoing generation which saw Ford shift from steel to an “aluminum-intensive” design featuring a mostly steel chassis and a body primarily reliant on military-grade aluminum alloys. With a few tweaks, that approach carries over into the 2021 remake, Chief Engineer Craig Schmatz told TheDetroitBureau.com.

The switch to aluminum had several benefits, according to Ford, notably cutting as much as 700 pounds off the mass of the earlier, all-steel truck. The automaker continued to emphasize weight savings this time around, said Schmatz, though that might not be immediately apparent.

“We’re offering a lot of new features and technology (on the 2021 model) that add more weight,” he explained. “Our strategy has been to offset the (added) weight with selected other efficiency actions,” such as going from a heavy steel to a lightweight magnesium instrument panel crossbeam.

Ford’s “aluminum-intensive” body saves more than 700 pounds, helping to improve performance.

Visually, Ford opted for an evolutionary approach to the new F-150. Those familiar with the truck will likely notice many of the new design details, though the 2021 model won’t stand out like the latest-generation Ram 1500.

Pushing beyond what we’ve seen with the last-generation F-Series array, the various new versions of the F-150 will get distinct elements, including lights and grilles so you can tell a base model from the elite F-150 Limited that is likely to come very close, if not cross over, the $100,000 mark when all the possible option boxes are ticked.

All told, there will be three different headlights: halogen, LED reflectors and LED projectors with dynamic bending. There will be 11 different grilles, an assortment of body styles and box lengths, even 13 different wheels, ranging from 17-inch painted steel to 22-inch alloys.

The details that link all the variants include wheels pulled out by about ¾ of an inch to create a “more planted…powerful stance,” said chief designer Ehab Kaoud, as well as C-Clamp headlights, “power dome” hoods, larger tire diameters, round wheel openings and raised front fenders.

(First Drive: 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty.)

Many of the changes are functional, such as the active grille shutters standard on all models that contribute to an average 3% improvement in aerodynamics.

Many of the changes are functional, such as the active grille shutters standard on all models that contribute to an average 3% improvement in aerodynamics. Optional new power running boards now stretch beneath the cargo box to make it easier to climb up to reach goods or tools. The board can be remotely deployed or operated with a foot waggle, much like the auto tailgates on many Ford SUVs.

Under the power dome hood, Ford will offer buyers what it bills as the widest array of powertrain options available. These include five familiar packages:

* The base, naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V-6;

* The turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6;

* The 3.5-liter turbo EcoBoost V-6

* The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8; and

* The 3.0-liter PowerStroke turbodiesel V-6.

Ford has yet to release horsepower, torque, fuel-economy or towing numbers for the 2021 F-150 powertrain options, though it claims it will be upgrading them and we know that the PowerStroke diesel currently maxes out at 11,500 pounds towing.

(left to right) All-new F-150 Limited in Smoked Quartz Tinted Clearcoat, F-150 Lariat in Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and F-150 XLT Sport Appearance Package in Carbonized Gray.

The “most capable” offering for 2021, however, is set to be the all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost, a full hybrid which, according to a Ford statement, “is targeted to have the most torque and horsepower of any light-duty full-size pickup, at least 12,000 pounds of maximum available towing capacity and a targeted EPA-estimated range of approximately 700 miles on a single tank of gas.”

As you might expect, Ford wanted to use the hybrid drivetrain – which draws energy from a 1.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery – to do more than just boost mileage. Among the numerous additional features coming with the hybrid, there’ll be a built-in 2.4 kilowatt generator. Various F-150 models, including the hybrid, will be available with three different generator packages, ranging from 2.0 kW to 7.2 kW. And they’ll be able to provide 120 and/or 240-volt current.

There are plenty of features aimed to make work a little easier. That includes details as small as the ruler now built into the tailgate, and lighting that can spot the tailgate when folded down. These days, part of the workday can involve getting online.

The cabin is completely redesigned with more comfort, technology and functionality along with more premium materials, more color choices and more storage.

It’s not uncommon for current F-150 owners to “spend hundreds of dollars” on ready-made solutions, “or come up with their own hacks” to create a place to lay out a laptop or tablet computer, said Engineering Manager Dawn Piechocki. The 2021 truck can be equipped with a foldaway shifter on the center console that creates a flat surface to work on.

The F-150 is itself loaded with smart technology, starting with larger touchscreens – now either 8- or 12-inch. Unlike some competitors, however, Ford retained buttons for numerous vehicle functions, such as climate control, something it said owners forcefully demanded. The infotainment system is the latest take on Ford Sync. This now permits optional wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And it pairs with an updated Ford Pass smartphone app that can operate or check on a variety of vehicle functions.

Then there’s CoPilot 360, with an array of standard advanced driver assistance systems, such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Upgrades add features like blind-spot detection and active cruise control.

The 2021 F-150 will become the first vehicle in the full-size segment coming standard with smartphone-style Over-the-Air, or OTA, updates. These will allow Ford to revise onboard software, even add new features automatically, said Stuart Taylor, executive director of the automaker’s connectivity team, adding that “updates will be short, often completely invisible.”

Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob; and the F-150 is the only light-duty full-size pickup with this feature.

One of the features expected to become available next year will be Active Drive Assist, a technology Ford announced earlier this month for the Mach-E long-range battery-SUV. It will permit a motorist to drive completely hands-free on about 100,000 miles of U.S. limited-access roadways that have been mapped in super-high resolution. The hardware will be pre-installed when the new F-150 goes on sale late this year, though the software for the system is still being finalized. Owners will be able to buy and then remotely download the program when it’s ready – or go to a dealer to have it installed.

Among other technology, the new F-150 will be offered with an array of cameras providing various views, including one that essentially lets you look back while towing as if there was no trailer.

The launch of the new F-150 is “a pivotal moment for Ford,” said analyst Jessica Caldwell, of Edmunds, so the automaker will be working hard to avoid the production snafus that fouled the early run of the new Explorer last year. The first F-150 plant is already ramping up, with two other plants to go online in the coming months.

(Ford planning mid-2022 to launch F-150 EV.)

Expect to see the 2021 Ford F-150 reach U.S. showrooms in November or December, said Eckert. Pricing will be revealed closer to launch, but analysts would be surprised if the numbers don’t climb a bit considering all the new content, with Edmunds forecasting the average new truck will roll off the lot at around $50,000.