FUEL YOUR ENTHUSIASM

FUEL YOUR ENTHUSIASM

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The ALL-NEW 3.5L V-6 ECOBOOST From Ford

With its powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the 365-horsepower Ford F-150 EcoBoost® is outselling all other competitive six-cylinder trucks combined.
The new EcoBoost V6 is one of four new fuel-efficient engines Ford introduced in the F-150 for 2011. Another of those new engines – a 3.7-liter, 302-horsepower V6 – also outsells all other competitive V6 engines in full-sized trucks from Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge and Toyota.
According to sales data from J.D. Power and Associates, both new Ford truck V6 engines accounted for 79.5 percent market share of V6 full-sized trucks sold in July.
The Chevrolet Silverado takes second place with 12.1 percent market share, followed by the GMC Sierra with 4.0 percent, the Dodge Ram with 3.5 percent and the Toyota Tundra with 0.9 percent. Nissan does not offer a V6 in its Titan pickup.
In July, Ford sold 49,104 F-Series trucks. The EcoBoost V6 accounted for 40 percent of the mix, while the 3.7-liter took 16 percent of sales. This is the third consecutive month that V6s have outsold V8s in the F-Series. The last time the V6 outsold the V8 in America’s most popular truck was 1985. Year to date, the F-Series has sold 313,183 units, 8 percent higher than a year ago.
“Both of our new V6 powerplants are changing the way customers think about truck engines,” said Doug Scott, Ford’s truck group marketing manager. “The 3.7-liter has more horsepower than two of the three V8 engines we offered in last year’s F-150. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, at 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. torque, is in a class of its own – no one has anything even remotely close to this engine, which can tow as much as 11,300 pounds and deliver 22 mpg.”
Fuel efficiency, along with best-in-class performance, is another reason the two new Ford F-150 engines are rewriting the book on V6 truck sales. The 3.7-liter F-150 carries an EPA rating of 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, while the F-150 EcoBoost is EPA certified at 16 mpg city and 22 mg highway, making it the most fuel-efficient truck with more than 350 horsepower on the market.
The hot-selling F-150 EcoBoost is now the highest volume vehicle in Ford’s growing global family of cars, trucks and SUVs available with the company’s patented fuel-saving technology.
EcoBoost combines engine downsizing with turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies to deliver both performance and fuel efficiency gains as high as 20 percent over the larger engines they replace. Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost technology and has launched a family of EcoBoost engines globally in sizes ranging from 1.6 liters to 3.5 liters.
The next two models scheduled to receive EcoBoost engines are two of the company’s top-selling utility vehicles, the Edge crossover and the Explorer SUV. Both will offer a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and deliver class-leading fuel efficiency of 30 mpg and 28 mpg highway, respectively. Edge and Explorer EcoBoost go on sale this fall.
Overseas, Ford EcoBoost engines are also a hit, with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder optional in the European C-MAX multi-activity vehicle virtually sold out. Sales volume is nearly 50 percent higher than projections

The sexiest Mustang of all has to be the 2011 convertible.


Talk about staying power. It's 2011, and who'da thunk Harrison Ford would still be sexy now that Star Wars is fading history. Or graying but eternally hunky George Clooney. Or Charlie Sheen, who defies being categorized anywhere. (Undoubtedly Steve McQueen would be dean of them all if he'd been around longer.) We recall these examples of seasoned male magnificence to make a point. Like the Ford Mustang, the supreme, most iconic muscle car of them all, they've never left the spotlight. Now the 2011 Ford Mustang convertible proves it's more than perception, as it shows up as fresh and defiant as ever.

Consider this legendary rear-drive pony car that burst on the scene decades ago to be idolized in sporty car circles. Unlike rivals from Dodge and Chevrolet and their subsequent resurrections, it never entered retirement. Instead, a few costume changes ensued before it emerged in pure muscle car mode and hasn't looked back since.

The sexiest Mustang of all has to be the 2011 convertible. There's a whole lot of fire under the hood, spiked by a new 3.7-liter V-6 powerplant that just loves to growl when you throw the six-speed trans into gear. Having the brass to blow the chrome off of dual exhaust tips might not come easy for some vehicles. The "Stang's" 305 HP rating and impressive 280 ft.-lb of torque make that talent a given. But lest you think it's an uncultured beast, it balances that impressive power with refined handling, road-hugging finesse and the coolest profile around.

In the "oops" department, there's one entry. Like most four-seat sports cars, using the rear for anyone taller than doll-size is iffy. For someone "bootylicious," like Beyonce or Scary Movie star Regina Hall, trying to get back there could be really scary. There's something called the law of physics that even Ford can't overcome.

Pricewise, the basic soft top (only) Stang comes in a squeak under $30K. The 19/30 mileage numbers (automatic) or 19/29 (manual) thrive on regular. Adding fuel, like other Ford vehicles, is simple with no filler cap to replace, like a race car. If you've stopped for a big slurp, you and your car can get a fillup a few seconds faster so there's less time for that annoying Camaro or Challenger you passed earlier to play catch up.

Can we envision a Ford, a Clooney, a Sheen mesmerizing Malibu in a sizzling 2011 Mustang? You bet. We think these leading men have the smarts and sophistication to know a true classic when they see one. And one afterthought. Take heart, Justin Bieber, it takes time to become seasoned. With a little luck you can get there too.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

DETROIT MUSCLE / REDEFINED


ROUSH is proud to introduce the 540hp 2012 Stage 3™ Mustang. The powertrain of this vehicle features the 5.0L 4-valve DOHC TiVCT engine further enhanced by the R2300 ROUSH supercharger, feeding 10psi of intercooled energy to the already robust Coyote engine. The ROUSHcharger increases the base horsepower from 412HP to an impressive 540HP. ROUSH stands behind this system with an impressive 3 year/36,000 mile full powertrain warranty.



The RS3 comes fully-loaded with body styling upgrades, including the ROUSH front fascia with driving lights, chin spoiler, side rocker splitters, rear valence, rear deck-lid spoiler, and newly designed square exhaust tips. Interior enhancements include ROUSH leather seats with an embroidered Stage 3 logo, four-piece performance pedals, ROUSH illuminated sill plates, newly designed shifter ball in either black or white, and a new interior Stage 3 badge with the car's serial number engraved.