Truckeo » Ford

Ford kills Explorer Sport Trac

Greg — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:56:18 +0000

So just we we started getting our groove on, getting down with the Sport Trac and selling lots of Explorer Sport Trac lift kits, Ford has to go pee on our parade. According to Automotive News and Autoblog Ford has decided to kill the poor truck, instead of doing the obvious smart thing and renaming it as “Ranger”. Dumb.

Obviously this is going to be blamed on the economy. This is still dumb – if you look at the numbers it may seem like the truck doesn’t sell enough – estimates are 10,000 per year – but the tooling is not all unique to the Sport Trac, much of it is shared with the Explorer SUV. While halo vehicles are all the rage (and the press) like the 500 strong fleet of the Tesla, the 10,000 unit Sport Trac gets ignored. It sells 200 times better than the halo niche cars.

Oh well, no one at Ford would listen to me anyway. But I still think the truck should be renamed Ranger. The existing Ranger is a dinosaur in the truck world. It could use a little freshening up.

Ford Trucks to come with Laser Beams

Greg — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:41:09 +0000

Reminiscent of Dr. Evil in Austin Powers, the next generation of Ford vehicles will come equipped with laser beams to ignite that pesky gasoline that they will still insist on using. Researchers at Liverpool University have finally done something useful with all that grant money that they get and have figured out that laser beams can ignite a combustible mixture (this is new?) and have sold this undoubtedly patented idea to Ford, because GM and Chrysler were too broke and the European automakers are all selling diesel engines which don’t need anything besides compression to ignite.

I could have saved them all a lot of money on this idea. Simply go to Smokey Yunick’s website and purchase the man’s autobiography. In it you will learn all sorts of things about the early days of NASCAR, getting high in the jungles of Peru, getting laid at Indy and his experiments on replacing spark plugs with other flame sources.

From Smokey’s account of the Carrea Panamerica :

In Mexico City we work on car at the Hudson dealership. We can’t speak Spanish, but the dealer’s got a 15 or 16 year old son. A real nice guy and helper. He’s going with us as our interpreter. (Good idea as it turned out.) Gotta have a place to stay for five days. Taxi driver says “Go to Angel’s, best place in town” Angel’s is a big house, 15 bucks a day for room and three meals…free booze part of rent…free hookers and dirty movies all day and night…all for 15 bucks a day. Yes, it was all good… for a dose of the crabs…quite an interesting place.

Ford to give away trucks to all SEMA attendees

Greg — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:26:12 +0000

Ford is going to pull an Oprah and give away free trucks to all attendees of the SEMA Show this year. Or something like that – read the press release below, because I didn’t—————-

Ford Motor Company will be the featured automaker of the 2009 SEMA Show, taking place November 3–6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Ford has always been a strong supporter of SEMA and our industry,” said Christopher J. Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA. “We are pleased to announce their participation as Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show and to be collaborating with them on several branding and technology programs.”

Ford has long recognized the benefits of partnering with the specialty-equipment industry. The automaker participates with SEMA members on several technology sharing programs.

In recent years, Ford received several of SEMA’s prestigious design awards for creating accessory-friendly vehicles. Ford also paved the way for other automakers in the SEMA Technology Transfer Program and also participated in the annual OEM Tech Talks and measuring sessions.

“Ford Motor Company is pleased to be the featured manufacturer for the 2009 SEMA Show,” said John Felice, General Manager, Ford and Lincoln Mercury Marketing. “The SEMA Show provides us with the opportunity to showcase the flexibility of our vehicles for personalization and accessorization and ultimately drive sales of our new cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs.”

“Ford’s involvement this year is much more than a Show sponsorship,” adds Kersting. “SEMA will be making some exciting announcements in the coming weeks about several “first-ever” programs at the 2009 Show. These programs will further demonstrate how the SEMA Show represents one of many year-round activities that help us all do better business.”

Details about and registration for the 2009 SEMA Show are available at www.SEMAShow.com.

If you happen to have a Ford and want stuff for it, we have Super Duty leveling kits and Super Duty nerf bars in stock. (end shameless plug)

Ford gaining customers by not taking handouts

Greg — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:12:45 +0000

Maybe it is a sign of strenght – Ford Tough – or maybe it is the public’s reaction to the government bailouts, but Ford Motor Company is finding new customers by not taking federal money. I know that I personally have been thinking about a Super Duty instead of a Ram or Duramax for the same reasons.

Alan Mullaly said – “We have so many more advantages from where we are. Ford is in a completely different place,” Mulally said. “People also want to know they are with a company that is viable, that will be here long term and that is on a positive track.”

Ford is seeking the same priviledges that the other automakers have – specifically the ‘no strike’ agreement.

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