Ford F-Series At 2010 SEMA Show

•Customized versions of Ford F-150 and Super Duty will show their stuff at the Ford stand, displaying the variety of modifications customers can make at the 2010 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show. Themes include a motocross concept, a Pro Football Hall of Fame-dedicated truck and a race car support truck

•Ford F-Series trucks have been a popular mainstay at SEMA, winning three awards in the past five years, including the Accessory-Friendly Truck design award twice

•Ford F-Series is the best-selling line of trucks in the marketplace for 33 years running and the most customized trucks in the $31.85 billion aftermarket industry
Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 22, 2010 – Ford F-Series trucks have long been known for their definitive power and capability, but they’re also admired for the versatility of the platform, which can be adapted to everything from off-roading to low-riding. At the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas Nov. 2-5, the versatility of F-Series will again shine in the industry spotlight.

“These trucks sell imagery across the board,” said Melvin Betancourt, Ford specialty design manager. “Customers in the truck world want to go off-roading, or at least have the image that they can, or have a truck they can cruise in. We have trucks that fit everything in those categories.”

F-Series trucks have not only been a major presence at SEMA, but they have also garnered three awards in the past five years, including the Accessory-Friendly Truck design award. They have also been awarded Motor Trend’s Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from SEMA for the 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept. Additionally, Ford F-Series is the best-selling line of trucks in the marketplace for 33 years running and the most customized trucks in the $31.85 billion aftermarket industry.

The 2011 Ford F-150 offers an all-new powertrain lineup, including a new 3.7-liter V6engine that is projected to deliver best-in-class 23 mpg highway, pending final EPA certification. A new twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ engine with Ti-VCT also will be available, and has been torture-tested for tough truck use in the lab and on the road. The new 5.0-liter V8 engine is projected to deliver best-in-class 21 mpg highway pending EPA certification.

The F-Series dynamic duo is rounded out with an all-new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty, with the first Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-manufactured heavy-duty diesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbocharged engine. This versatile Ford diesel is a key reason why the 2011 F-Series Super Duty has best-in-class payload of 7,070 pounds and best-in-class towing capability of 24,400 pounds.

F-Series project trucks showcased at this year’s SEMA show include:


2011 Ford F-150 by Godfather Customs

Godfather Customs is demonstrating that going green can still mean style with its Ford F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. Modifications include a 2.5-inch cowl induction hood, bumper cover and roll pan and handle relocator. A tonneau bed cover and liner and halo taillamps round out the customizations.


2011 Ford F-150 by A.R.E. Accessories

This Ford F-150 by A.R.E. Accessories promotes the mission of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to educate, honor and preserve the history of professional football. Featuring hall of fame styling, the truck is painted with a stadium silhouette and features pigskin leather and materials reminiscent of the gold hall of fame jackets inside. The bed will display notable hall of fame memorabilia, while a wrap on the interior of the bed will simulate the hall of fame enshrinement gallery.


2011 Ford F-150 by Mickey Thompson

The Mickey Thompson Project TTC F-150 is the perfect off-road vehicle, with the new 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC Radical tires, Fabtech 6-inch suspension, PIAA auxiliary lighting and Warn Industries winch recovery gear. The interior comes with Katzkin leather and aftermarket audio, video and navigation enhancements. For additional utility, the truck features a BedSlide cargo management system and AMP Research power steps.


2011 Ford F-150 by The Custom Shop

On this Ford F-150 with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine by The Custom Shop, shaved handles, lightweight tonneau cover, lightweight rims and low-rolling-resistance tires help enhance looks and mileage. The green theme carries into the styling, with a custom show paint job with a detailed pinstripe border using a low-VOC-emissions DuPont paint. The interior matches the exterior styling with custom Katzkin tan and black leather.


2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Rize Industries

This Ford F-350 is a motocross concept that uses top-quality products with the highest standards in craftsmanship. The truck features a Rize Industries 8-inch quad-link suspension that offers additional ground clearance. The bed comes complete with a built-in loading ramp, power washer, air compressor, built-in motorcycle stand and storage space for riding gear.


2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms

Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms delivers the Pit Boss, the ultimate tow and support vehicle built off a Ford F-350 Super Duty platform. Built to haul a race car to the track and serve as a mobile pit, the truck offers a bed-mounted tire cage and custom swing-case toolboxes. The interior features custom headliner and leather upholstery, along with sound-deadening material and an in-dash computer system.


2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Skyjacker Suspensions

Skyjacker Suspensions’ Ford F-350 Super Duty is made to appeal to the active lifestyle of the Super Duty owner. A Skyjacker-developed 8.5-inch suspension offers a bold lift for work and play, and will let the owner go deeper into the field. Heavy-duty front and rear Fab Fours bumpers are added along with a Warn Industries winch and lights to round out the tough look.

Source: Ford

All New Ford Ranger

Powerful stance and confident proportions are central to the ‘21st Century Tough’ character of the all-new Ford Ranger



Designed around pickup truck capability, the large body all-new Rangers feature a deep, spacious box and high beltline that give it a purposeful presence. Its sculpted, contemporary shape is optimised for aerodynamic efficiency

The all-new Ranger debuts with a spacious, comprehensively featured Double Cab model that previews a complete range of three body styles, 4x2 and 4x4 versions and a broad series lineup



Stretched on the inside for more spaciousness and easier access, Ranger has all the comforts, features and refinement for up to five occupants

The interior design and contemporary look of the all-new Ford Ranger features outstanding levels of craftsmanship and feature content, reflecting the importance of dual use to many customers in this segment around the world



HARDEST WORKER – ALL-NEW FORD RANGER DEBUTS WITH MORE POWER, CAPABILITY AND TECHNOLOGIES



The all-new Ford Ranger – the latest in a wave of global vehicles – makes its worldwide debut today at the Australian International Motor Show.

The all-new Ranger has a powerful presence and promises to give pickup truck owners more can-do capability and a transformed truck ownership experience.



From impressive gains in power and safety to exceptional towing capability, the next-generation Ford Ranger emerges as a clear segment leader.

Source: Ford

FORD POSTS THIRD QUARTER 2010 NET INCOME OF $1.7 BILLION

•Ford reports third quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or 43 cents per share, a $690 million improvement from third quarter 2009. Pre-tax operating profit totaled $2.1 billion, or 48 cents per share, a $1.1 billion improvement from third quarter 2009++

•Ford is announcing further actions to reduce Automotive debt and strengthen its balance sheet, including further paying down its revolving credit line by $2 billion; plans to use cash to fully prepay the remaining $3.6 billion of debt owed to the VEBA retiree health care trust; and conversion offers on two convertible debt securities

•Ford now expects its Automotive cash to be about equal to its debt by year end, earlier than previously expected. This will be an improvement of $8 billion to $9 billion from the end of last year

•Ford ended the quarter with $23.8 billion of Automotive gross cash and total liquidity of $29.4 billion. Automotive operating-related cash flow was $900 million positive

•Revenue for the quarter totaled $29 billion, a decline of $1.3 billion from third quarter 2009; excluding Volvo revenue from 2009, revenue increased $1.7 billion ++

•Ford Automotive operations posted a third quarter pre-tax operating profit of $1.3 billion, a $953 million improvement from third quarter 2009++

•Ford North America reported third quarter pre-tax operating profit of $1.6 billion, a $1.3 billion improvement from third quarter 2009

•Ford Credit reported third quarter pre-tax operating profit of $766 million, an $89 million improvement from third quarter 2009, and provided Ford with a $1 billion distribution during the quarter

•Ford will deliver solid profits in 2010 with positive Automotive operating-related cash flow, and continued improvement in 2011

Source: Ford

Ford Concept Cars Sold For Charity

These cars are often the beginning of an idea.

Some are design exercises, others are proposals to gauge public interest. All of them draw a crowd.

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Eighteen concept cars from Ford Motor Co. were auctioned off Thursday night in Monterey, Calif., as a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Children's Center.

The three-day auction, open to the public and featuring 225 vehicles from around the world, began Thursday night. Ford raised nearly $1 million for charities.

"Concept cars serve as the auto industry's vision into the future, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase these vehicles at RM's Sports & Classics of Monterey," said Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of Ford's founder and a member of the company's board of directors.

Auctioning concept cars is not as rare as one might think, said Ford spokesman Robert Parker, who attended Thursday's auction. But "it's certainly not a common occurrence to do this many," he noted.

The highest price concept vehicle sold Thursday night was the 2006 Ford GT, which fetched $148,000, including the 10 percent buyer's fee.

"RM's all-Ford Thursday evening sale in Monterey presented the biggest single offering of concepts in the last 10 years," said RM car specialist Dan Warrener, who consigned the collection of Ford concept vehicles.

"All 18 of these automotive works of art found new homes and the prices realized were solid, especially considering the fact that they cannot be titled for use on public roads," he added.

Some concepts cannot be titled because they lack drivetrains and had to be pushed onto the auction block, Parker said.

The event in Monterey preceded the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, one of the most prestigious and expensive car shows in the world, which begins Sunday.

Source: The Detroit News

Amazing Race Team Tapped To Produce Ford Focus Reality Show

Dearborn — Ford Motor Co. has tapped the team behind “The Amazing Race” to create a five-week online reality show to promote the features of the new 2012 Ford Focus coming in March.Focus Rally America will have six teams racing across the country in a rally that includes weekly challenges. The race will start about Feb. 1 and conclude as the new Focus arrives in showrooms.

The show, including live streaming of the race from inside the six cars, will be on the Hulu website as original content.

Contestants, being cast now, must have social network skills and big personalities.

The marketing effort builds on the Fiesta Movement that garnered attention for the 2011 Fiesta, which is on sale now.

Focus Rally America is designed to show off the connectivity features of the new Focus, including its navigation systems and ability to communicate online. Viewers will be encouraged to help their favorite team by sending messages to help them figure out clues along the way.

Source: The Detroit News