Chủ Nhật, 26 tháng 6, 2016
Just over a week ago, the Ford GT won its class at the 24 Hour of Le Mans race in France. This impressive achievement came 50 years after the Ford GT40 Mark II, the predecessor to the 2017 GT, took the same checkered flag in 1966. Commemorating both wins, Ford has created a special edition of its GT supercar called the ’66 Heritage Edition. 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition Image: Ford If the 2017 GT weren't rare enough, limited to 250 cars per year, the ’66 Heritage Edition will be even rarer still — and only offered for the 2017 model year. Owners who select the Heritage will be able to select either a Shadow Black paint job in either gloss or matte finish. No matter the finish, the hood will be accented with a silver stripe and the carbon fiber parts of the car's body will be left exposed. 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition Image: Ford Finishing off the exterior, the hood and doors will be plastered with "#2" hood and door graphics in a color called Frozen White. Lastly, Ford will bolt up 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels finished in a gold satin clear-coat with black lug nuts. As for the interior, it's decked out with carbon fiber seats with pillowed inserts. The seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and headliner all feature Ebony leather. Mimicking the '66 race car, and perfectly complementing the leather treatment, gold accents are also added throughout the cabin. 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition Image: Ford If you want to own one of the 2017 Ford GTs, '66 Heritage Edition or otherwise, you will need to log on to Ford's website and apply — yes, apply — for the privilege. Yes, simply being able to afford to buy the $450,00 American supercar isn't enough. You need to be selected to do so, too. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Thứ Ba, 21 tháng 6, 2016
Seems like just yesterday when 7-speeds in an automatic transmission seemed like too many gears. Ford's desert-racing F-150 Raptor pickup is getting a new 10-speed automatic transmission for 2017. Turns out, the Mustang might get that same gearbox for 2018. A Ford dealer recently discovered a new Mustang transmission option on their system, codenamed 10R80, according to Mustang6g6. Although the new transmission doesn't have a model or engine tied to it in the dropdown, it could well be mated to any one of the 'Stang's engines — from the new turbocharged four-cylinder to one of the pony's potent V8s. Since it's going in the Raptor — and the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, it should be mentioned — we know the 10-er can handle lots of torque. That means it could be bolted into the high-performance Shelby GT350R, for example. The 10-speed transmission uses advanced materials and alloys to save weight, and it is the first Ford gearbox that does not use cast-iron components. Image: Ford Ford and Chevy co-developed and are implementing 10-speeds into their model lines for fuel efficiency, plain and simple. Buyers still want fast-like-lightning American pony cars. At the same time, carmakers have to hit increasingly stringent federal fuel economy standards. Adding a ton of gears to a transmission keeps engine RPM low and fuel consumption equally low. That said, this is a short-term fix for the fuel efficiency issue. In the longterm, Ford and others will have to hybridize and electrify more models in order to hit future mile-per-gallon standards. Would a hybrid Mustang be sacrilege? To some, perhaps. No matter, though, because it'll still be fast. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Thứ Sáu, 17 tháng 6, 2016
Thứ Năm, 16 tháng 6, 2016
Thứ Ba, 26 tháng 4, 2016
Carmakers, tech giants and ride-share companies are teaming up to make autonomous cars a reality in the U.S. Ford, Volvo, Google, Lyft and Uber announced on Tuesday they had started the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets, which will work to promote autonomous driving technology with lawmakers, regulators and the public. The Coalition will be headed by David Strickland, former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Self-driving vehicle technology will make America’s roadways safer and less congested," Strickland said in a release. "The best path for this innovation is to have one clear set of federal standards, and the Coalition will work with policymakers to find the right solutions that will facilitate the deployment of self-driving vehicles.” While carmakers Volvo and Ford are keen to promote autonomy for safety reasons, the tech and ride-hailing companies likely have a slightly different agenda. Specifically, Lyft and Uber want to own a fleet of self-driving cars, which would eliminate the financially and logistically messy need for human drivers. Regardless of motive, autonomy will be a benefit for everyone. An estimated 94% of road accidents are caused by human error, according to the release, and there were 33,000 fatalities on America’s roads last year. Self-driving cars have the ability to significantly diminish that number. Video: Armand Valdes, Loris Ravera, Quincy Ledbetter Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.BONUS: A manual to self-driving cars: How they work and where they're headed
