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Ford’s F-150 Raptor is one powerful behemoth of a truck that needs no introduction. It’s a tough and capable off-roader that surmises the American dream of sticking it to the man as well as mother nature.

The Blue Oval has taken its latest Raptor and customized it to incorporate design cues of the US Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet. This particular truck has been auctioned off during the annual auction at AirVenture Oshkosh.

The purpose of this really cool customization job is to raise money and awareness for the Experimental Aircraft Association Gathering of Eagles. It’s an organization and an event committed to aviation and encouraging youth involvement in flight.

Over the years Ford has raised more than $3 million (RM 12,856,500) for this annual event since 2008 by creating these customized one-of-a-kind vehicles. The automaker has also served as exclusive automotive sponsor of the 2017 AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This F-22 inspired F-150 Raptor was eventually picked up by Gary Ackerman of Gaudin Ford in Las Vegas, Nevada for a whopping $300,000 (RM 1,285,650). Ackerman serves as Honorary Commander/Ambassador for the United States Airforce’s F-22 Squadron at Nellis Airforce Base in Nevada.

Ford design manager Melvin Betancourt and Ford Performance led the design and engineering work of the F-22 F-150 Raptor, said, “Our job – both in the air and on the ground – is to intimidate the competition.The money we raised will enable Young Eagles to reach for the skies as well.”

The modifications that were made are more than skin deep and Ford has released an extensive list of features that set this particular Raptor apart from its civilian counterpart. The vehicle has custom suspension, unique exterior trim pieces and off-roading equipment that help it tackle the worst of conditions.

The following is what the truck comes with:

  • Whipple-intercooled, high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost® making 545 horsepower and 895Nm of torque
  • Modified Addictive Desert Design front suspension and bump stop kit
  • Deaver rear spring pack to provide a smooth, progressive suspension
  • Fox bypass series shocks with adjustable compression and rebound valving to customize damping for on-road and off-road use
  • Innov8 Racing custom forged beadlock wheels with Falcon Wildpeak tyres
  • Upgraded Alcon six-piston painted calipers, oversized rotors, high-friction pads
  • Modular off-road 1.3-million candela LED lighting system by KC Hilites
  • Kicker audio system with 1,500 watts of amplification
  • Unique Sherwin-Williams exterior paint integrating F-22 Raptor jet cues including titanium grille with front silhouette of the aircraft; jet cues
    featured on the interior as well
  • Amp Research power retracting steps
  • DeBerti two-tyre, gas and ProEagle jack holder
  • LineX sprayed bedliner
  • All-stainless-steel cat-back Borla exhaust system with carbon fiber tips
  • DeBerti carbon fiber fender flares, hood and fender vents
  • Paint hand-cut and polished to a mirror finish by Independent Detail

The US Air Force’s F22 Raptor is a technological marvel for the 21st century. It is considered a stealth fighter that is able to evade enemy radar with relative ease. Unlike conventional fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, its weapons are stored internally. Once the pilot has chosen the target and is ready to fire, only then do its pod bay doors open, exposing the precision weaponry.

This aircraft is one of the deadliest fighter jets in existence and as such, its no wonder that Ford chose it as the the design theme for its ever popular powerhouse, the F-150 Raptor.

Ford’s venerable F-150 may be joining the elite line up of Police interceptors with this latest reveal. The legendary pick-up truck has been outfitted with the latest tech and protective features that will enable it to function as a pursuit vehicle for various police departments in the United States.

It will be the first pick-up that is pursuit-rated which giving law enforcement agencies a more versatile and capable petrol vehicle. Unlike the Raptor, it is equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine that delivers 375bhp and 637Nm of torque. It is said to have more power than any other pursuit rated police vehicle currently in service.

The truck is based on the F-150 FX4 off-road model and features Ford’s high-strength, military-grade, aluminium-alloy SuperCrew body. It sits on a a high-strength steel frame, which together offer up the largest passenger volume, payload and towing capacity of any pursuit-rated police vehicle. The Ford also provides best-in-class front, rear shoulder, hip room and rear legroom.

“Ford’s 2018 F-150 Police Responder is the perfect all-terrain law enforcement vehicle,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford’s police brand marketing manager. “Aside from its industry-first on-road pursuit capability, this purpose-built pickup can comfortably seat five, while providing capability in off-road patrol situations for officers in rural environments patrolled by sheriff’s departments, border patrol operations and the Department of Natural Resources.”

Unlike the road-going civilian version, this Police interceptor features a whole slew of upgrades that include police-calibrated brake system with upgraded calipers and pad friction material, upgraded front-stabilizer bar for improved braking and handling and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.

Inside the cabin, there’s a column shifter, heavy-duty cloth front seats with slim bolsters and anti-stab plates as well as vinyl rear seating and heavy-duty vinyl flooring for easy cleanup. There’s also a 240-amp alternator that helps generate enough electricity to support on-board electrical devices used by various police departments including laptops and radios.

Under body skit plates and front bull-bars are installed to ensure maximum protection of the truck when going through rough terrain. Ford has also fitted a class IV hitch, giving the truck towing capabilities, which is said to be best in class with a maximum payload of 3175kg.

The F-150 Interceptor is an amazing truck but we shall have to wait and see if Police departments around the US welcome it as a useful addition to their current fleet of interceptors vehicles.

Ford has made it even easier for car buyers to own its award winning mid-size family hatchback, the Focus. According to the automaker, owning a Focus will only cost you RM668/month or you can forgo this deal for a RM15,000 cash rebate, the choice is yours.

This is an exceptionally good deal based on the numbers but we would advice our readers to speak with a Ford repesentive to know the full terms and conditions of this repayment scheme before committing to anything.

That said, the Focus is one of the best vehicles that the US based automaker sells in our market. It’s the third generation car of the Focus family and is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine.

Thanks to forced induction technology, a smaller engine is now able to offer similar output to a much larger displacement one. As such, though the car only has a 1.5-litre engine compared to the 2.0-litre one in its predecessor, power is relatively similar.

It’s exceptionally smart too – the automated louvers behind the front grille open and close to minimize drag of up to 6% enabling the car to save more fuel. The car does this automatically when it detects the vehicle’s speed is sufficiently high and that the engine is receiving adequate air for cooling purposes.

Then, there’s a slew of safety tech such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert feature. This system warns drivers of obstacles (vehicles) that are in their blind spots and also alerts them when it detects a vehicle approaching from either left or right side of the car, up to a range of 40 metres.

But the Focus’ best party trick, is its ability to park on its own, with minimal human intervention. Through the use if the Enhanced Active Park Assist system, the car is able to parallel or perpendicular park perfectly, with the driver only having to change gears, brake and accelerate when necessary.

In addition to that, the car can also drive itself out of parking spaces through the use of the Park-Out Assist feature. This takes the stress out of having to carefully maneuver out of tight parking spaces on congested streets. Sounds like magic, but in actual fact, the car relies on various ultrasound sensors that act as its eyes, to help it navigate in and out of spaces.

Enhanced Active City Stop system, allows the Focus to apply the brakes as and when needed at speeds of up to 50Km/h when it senses an impending collision. It cuts engine power and engages the brakes to prevent avoidable fender benders or reduce their severity.

Finally, there’s Enhanced Transitional Stability, which is a Godsend for those who constantly drive during heavy downpours. This system, monitors the car’s movements and intervenes when necessary to prevent the driver from loosing control and sending the vehicle into a spin.

Going one step further, with the Ford MyKey, owners can set limits on the abilities of the Focus when the supplementary key is in the hands of a different driver. This key can be programmed to enable or disable certain features in the vehicle. For example, if a less experienced person is about to drive, the owner can programme the key, allowing for additional features. These could include, reducing the maximum speed of the car, prompting low-fuel alerts earlier and limiting entertainment (SYNC 3) functionality until seat belts are fastened.

Other features of the Focus include the following:

  • Keyless entry Push-button Start
  • Six airbags
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
  • Electronic Power-assisted Steering (EPAS)
  • Torque Vectoring Control
  • Hill Launch Assist
  • Six-speed SelectShift with paddle shifters

The Ford Focus can be ordered in six different body colours that include Frozen White, Panther Black, Ingot Silver, Candy Red, Magnetic and Winning Blue. The Focus Trend is priced at RM118,888, the Focus Sport+ is RM139,888 while the sedan version, the Focus Titanium+, comes with a price of RM139,888.

For more information about this or other Ford models, visit the automaker’s local website or your nearest authorized dealer.

Ford’s venerable Expedition now comes in a new trim level called the FX4, and its purpose is to be the most off-road capable Expedition ever. The reason for its inception is that the Blue Oval determined that 20 percent of Expedition owners use their vehicles for off-road adventures and as such, their Expedition should be able to keep up with them.

“The FX4 Off-Road package delivers off-road driving confidence,” said Mike Kipley, Expedition vehicle engineering manager. “The technology we’re using works to adapt to different driving conditions so customers can enjoy the adventure without worry.”

The following is what separates the Expedition with the FX4 Off-Road Package compared with other variants of its namesake:

  • Patented electronic limited-slip rear differential to help improve off-road performance in low-traction situations. It automatically shifts power output to the rear tyre that has the most traction.on which wheels need extra traction. Overall, its gearing improves towing performance and capability
  • Off-road-tuned shock absorbers to keep wheels in contact with the road
  • All-terrain tires with thicker sidewalls
  • Seven different skid plates that serve as underbody armor and protect critical areas. These plates consist of a sand shield to protect the turbocharger intercoolers from getting clogged by dirt or mud, steel plates to protect steering gear, engine, transmission and transfer case as well as the fuel tank.
    18-inch Magnetic Metallic-painted cast-aluminum wheels
  • Chrome running boards
  • FX4 badging on the liftgate and front fender
  • New rubber floor liners featuring deep side sills that can be removed and cleaned of any mud, sand or water

Like the rest of the variants, the FX4 benefits from Ford’s Terrain Management System that offers seven different drive modes (Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul, Eco, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut) that help the Expedition cope with different road conditions. Drivers also have the option of toggling between 2WD and 4WD mode depending on their preference/needs at any given time.

Under the hood of the FX4 is the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine that produces 375bhp and 637Nm of torque. It is mated to an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission that will help fuel economy and provide the vehicle with the capability of towing a load of up to 4,218kg.

The Cabin is very spacious as expected and is able to offer seating for eight occupants and still provide a decent cargo space volume. And unlike the old days, Ford’s current Expedition comes with a whole slew of entertainment and safety tech that should win over city dwellers as well as adventure seekers.

The Ford Expedition FX4 will only be available in the US and will go on sale sometime in the second half of this year.

Delivery services in Germany are looking to alternative methods to power their trucks. Deutsche Post’s subsidiary StreetScooter GmbH and Ford-Werke GmbH have entered a partnership that will see the manufacture of electric-powered vehicles serve as delivery trucks.

Deutsche Post was part of a similar project involving a smaller sized van that they got to run electricity. For this project, a Ford Transit will serve as the base on which the new delivery truck will be built by utilizing an electric drive train and special body that will be constructed according to Deutsche Post and DHL Paket specifications.

Production of this type of vehicle will begin next month and by the time 2018 rolls to a close, atleast 2,500 of such vehicles would have been made to support the urban delivery traffic of Deutsche Post DHL Group. By that time, it will be the largest use of electric powered medium-duty delivery vehicles in Europe, which should pave the way for production of other such vehicles.

“I consider this partnership another important boost for electro-mobility in Germany”, says Jürgen Gerdes, member of the executive board of the Deutsche Post AG. “This step emphasises that Deutsche Post is an innovation leader. It will relieve the inner cities and increase the people’s quality of life. We will continue working on completely carbon neutral CO2-neutral logistics!”

Deutsche Post DHL Group and Ford share a common goal. That is, to guarantee a sustainable future by reducing emissions and creating new traffic solutions with their future vehicles. This partnership should help them achieve their goal and prove to the rest of the world, that electric power can serve as a viable alternative to that that utilise fossil fuels.

There has been a major shake up at Ford Motor Company. Rumours of President and CEO of the Blue Oval, Mark Fields, being fired was rife these past few days. Many speculated that Ford’s global performance shortcomings played a part in him being axed from his post.

Ford however, released a press release stating that Mark Fields, after a 28-year career at the company has elected to retire and vacate his position as the top man of the American based automaker, which will be filled by his successor, Jim Hackett.

Hackett, 62 was the former CEO of Steelcase, Interim Athletic Director at the University of Michigan and until June 1st, executive chairman of Ford Smart Mobility LLC. Reporting directly to Executive Chairman Bill Ford, he will lead the automaker’s worldwide operations and 202,000 workforce for the foreseeable future.

“We’re moving from a position of strength to transform Ford for the future. Jim Hackett is the right CEO to lead Ford during this transformative period for the auto industry and the broader mobility space. He’s a true visionary who brings a unique, human-centered leadership approach to our culture, products and services that will unlock the potential of our people and our business,” Bill Ford said.

Hackett and Bill will place a lot of emphasis on three priorities at the company, which are sharpening operational execution across the global business, modernising Ford’s global business and transforming the company to meet future challenges.

Speaking of the contribution of Mark Fields, Bill said, “Mark Fields has been an outstanding leader and deserves a lot of credit for all he has accomplished in his many roles around the globe at Ford,” Bill Ford said. “His strong leadership was critical to our North American restructuring, our turnaround at the end of the last decade, and our record profits in the past two years.”

Other shake ups at the company include Jim Farley being appointed as executive vice president and president of Global Markets, Joe Hinrichs as executive vice president and president of Global Operations, Marcy Klevorn as executive vice president and president of Mobility, Mark Truby as vice president of Communications and Paul Ballew as Global Chief Data and Analytics Officer.

These new appointments will be made effective on 1st June 2017 and with these major changes Ford hopes to strengthen its position as a key player in the global automotive market.

Ford has been investing huge sums of money to bolster its production in the USA with the latest being $350 million (RM1.5 billion) in its Livonia Transmission Plant. Doing so, will allow the automaker to offer a new transmission to expand its lineup of fuel-efficient powertrains.

The impact of this will include creating or retaining 800 hourly jobs to support production of the new transmission. Though the some of these jobs will be filled this year, most of them are expected to be filled sometime in the next two years.

The money that will be poured into the Livonia Transmission Plant is in addition to the $1.4 billion (RM 6.1 billion) and 500 created or retained hourly jobs announced for the plant in 2016 to support production of a new 10-speed transmission for the 2017 F-150 Raptor as well as other F-150 trucks.

“We remain committed to American manufacturing and investing in our people and facilities,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Even as the industry’s largest employer of hourly workers in the United States and biggest producer of American-made vehicles, we believe it is important to continue investing right here in our home market.”

Since the beginning of this year, Ford has allocated $2.25 billion (RM 9.73 billion) in new investments for its facility in Michigan. The blue oval has spent $12 billion (RM 51.9 billion) in its US based plants and created 28,000 jobs in the last five years.

This pattern proves that Ford’s fortifying its home base to ensure that production stays constant and to cement its commitment in boosting the US economy and workforce.

Ford has developed a police spec hybrid pursuit vehicle for Police departments in the US. Called the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, the vehicle features clever tech that help it save fuel and put less strain on the car’s engine when it comes to powering the various electronic equipment.

Under the the bonnet is a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine and an electric motor which is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Ford says, that the car can run on pure electric power at speeds of up to 100km/h. It will switch between electric, petrol or a combination of both (hybrid) as and when necessary to ensure police officers have the performance needed to respond to emergency situations.

The Blue Oval also says that the car will be able to cover more than double the distance of a regular petrol-only pursuit vehicle but with the same amount of fuel. This can be attributed to the use of a lithium-ion battery pack that helps power the electrical systems and putting less of burden on the engine especially when the vehicle is stationary.

This pursuit sedan is one of 13 electrified vehicles that will be introduced to the market in the next 5 years. Others include a hybrid F-150 pick-up, hybrid version of the Mustang, plug-in hybrid Transit, all-electric small SUV and a hybrid powered self-driving vehicle which has not been named.

“Electrifying our next generation of vehicles is core to our unwavering commitment to sustainability,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “By being a leader in electrified vehicles, we remain committed to delivering cars, trucks and SUVs that are better not only for our customers, but for the environment and society as well.”

Ford has poured $4.5 billion dollars into its alternative energy campaign with the hopes offering general consumers the vehicles that are most useful to them. Though the launch dates of these various vehicles are still far off, the hybrid pursuit sedan will be made available for purchase by various police departments as early as the middle of next year.

Ford and its Malaysian partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) have presented two Ford vehicles to the Montfort Boys Town in Selangor as part of its Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme.

Montfort Boys Town provides practical vocational training to underprivileged youth. And with the required help, its students will attain the tools and skills they need to live a product life in society. It’s school currently provides Automotive After Sales and Service training which it calls Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM). Currently, the school only offers level one (SKM 1) and two (SKM 2) of the training programme but with the newly acquired vehicles and equipment from Ford, it hopes to introduce a level three programme or SKM 3.

A Ford Kuga Mondeo were handed over Montfort Boys Town as well as training equipment to aid the students in gaining practical knowledge and skills for them to become successful automotive technicians.

“Ford is proud to support the Montfort Boys Town and help further build on the learning opportunities and practical training and experience they can provide to their students,” said Bagus Susanto, managing director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.

“Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme is part of our continued investment in the social and economic development of our country. We hope our contribution will help the students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the workforce and propel their future careers,” added Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, managing director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion.

Ford’s Conservation and Environmental Grants programme which was launched in 2000, showcases the company’s commitment to support local communities in the country. As part of this effort, Ford conducts a Global Caring Month annually. Last year, volunteers from Ford and SDAC visited the Lovely Bursing Centre in PJ, where they spent time with the elderly, repainted the facility and donated various supplies.

Ford’s new Mustang, the Shelby GT350 isn’t thoroughly enjoying its time in the land of the free. Based on news articles published by Business Wire and Car Throttle, several owners of the Shelby GT350 have qualms regarding the Blue Oval marketing the car as ‘track ready’. Apparently, several owners have found out that their GT350s started overheating after spending just 15 minutes on track. These overheating claims are from customers who have bought the base car and those fitted with the Technology Pack.

Several of them have filed a class-action lawsuit against, what they believe is, Ford’s misleading claims of the Shelby GT350 being track ready. They feel that if Ford approved them for track use, then these vehicles should be able to hold up to all kinds of abuse at racing speeds. The complaints of overheating surrounds that of the transmission and rear differentials. Lawyers of the unhappy owners also say that they require compensation from Ford on behalf of the owners of these vehicles.

The Shelby GT350 is a rear-wheel-drive muscle car from Ford that features a 5.2-litre V8 engine that puts out about 526bhp and 429Nm of torque. Considered as a well balanced muscle car when compared to previous generations, the latest Shelby GT350 has been a hit in the US and abroad. If the GT350 nameplate seems familiar, it should because it was used back in the days of the original car, which was also pushed to its limits on tracks all around the US.

How Ford responds to this lawsuit remains to be seen but as of now, Ford has not offered to rectify these issues albeit internal investigations are probably underway to figure out the root cause of the problems.

Source: Business Wire, Car Throttle

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