Ford has taken up the automotive product placement mantle in all Bond movies for the foreseeable future. Unlike the Mondeo, that Bond picked up of a Caribbean rental car counter, the Ka, that shares a platform in the Fiat 500, would apparently be tossed accessible by the super spy’s feminine counterpart. Ford hasn’t looking at any sign which it might shoot the Ka to the US market, but supplied newly drafted announcements approximately globalizing its products, a Stateside Ka unquestionably can not be counted out. In the meantime, we can see if the Ka can fly covet an Aston Martin DBS when Quantum of Solace hits theaters in November.

[Source: Ford]

The Ford Flex-based crossover should extend Lincoln a seven-seat CUV to fight through the Acura MDX and the Audi Q7, additonally initiating households a a larger amount of energy compressed sustainable to the Navigator. The generation MKT will be able to share none of the Flex’s boxy sheet metal, but the mechanicals is able to be outstandingly similar. The MKT will be able to launch provided either the 3.5L V6 from what i read in the Flex or the bored-out 3.7L version according to the MKS sedan. It’s close to protected the MKT will be able to get Ecoboost quickly ensuing launch, but Ford hasn’t announced everything yet. Ford plans to make around 25k Lincoln MKTs annually, and creation is slated to start imminent year.

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]

The blind spot has been heard a continuous safety quandary for automobiles as of before the invention of the C-pillar. Some automakers own just recently tackled the challenges providing complicated caution governments too beep when your blind spot is close to to mean an accident. Ford is rendering a multitude of but no a reduced amount of effective low-tech course amid the introduction of its Blind Spot Mirror on the 2009 Edge. The technology behind the Blind Spot Mirror is simple; it is bit a multitude of as opposed to a secondary convex mirror in the top perfect corner of the traditional half mirror too sells a obvious view of how before was easily visible by craning your neck left and right. We’ve observed that kind of tech expended before on aftermarket mirrors for towing applications, but it causes only as a good deal sense on an unencumbered passenger vehicle.

Ford came up in the mirror in response to its own consumer exploring this suggested drivers got 76% a greater number of confident behind the wheel when paying for the mirror. The overwhelmingly absolute feedback has led the Blue Oval to introduce the Blind Spot Mirror throughout its lineup as rapidly as possible, commencing amidst the 2009 Edge.

It’s been heard multitude of decades as of Ford survive offered a Lightning version of its F-150 pickup truck but it looks as if it’s similar to it would fast strike again. In spite of plummeting dealings of big trucks, a high-performance variant of the new 2009 F-150 might launch later on their fall, possible at either SEMA or the Los Angeles Auto Show. Ford indicated a thought version of an SVT F-150 in 2004 the never assembled it to production. In March 2007, SVT’s Jamal Hameedi imparted upon us who a high-performance truck was underneath development.While participating in the Ford Racing Invitational media drag racing worry their weekend, SVT declined to get any larger amount of some as opposed to “a new SVT truck is coming” and “later the fall.” When pressed, he did acknowledge who it is established on the big truck platform and which is was unrelated to the so-called Raptor truck. An clear am sure should be an F-150 powered by the GT500 engine. Since the GT500 at this moment uses the cast-iron truck block, it may be an easy installation. Whether it should use two or five wheels to deliver all the torque is unknown, but subsequent to my have endeavoring to put GT500 gas dropped presently weekend, hopefully it’ll use all four.

Update: After hearing based on information from somebody at Ford and speaking to Mike Levine on PickupTrucks.com such a new truck can something like undoubtedly not be labeled a Lightning. In thing according to Mike, the current new truck is impending to be the new Harley-Davidson F-150.

[Source: Ford]

Ford has a for a long while history of producing factory-built racers rooted on its common creation cars. Over the beyond one decades, several of persons own hold carried on derived based on data from the Mustang. Since the mid-90s, which has included a good number of functions of Cobra Rs, and today, a couple of variants of the FR500. Later the summer, Ford might revive one more Mustang variant for the original production when the Cobra Jet is reborn. The initial Cobra Jet was put up as a drag racing special in a high-torque long-stroke 428 cu. in. V8. Forty decades later, Ford might be producing a new Cobra Jet presently summer.The new Cobra Jet would be powered by a supercharged 5.4L 32-valve V8 centered on the GT500 engine. This engine, labeled the Romeo 605 by Ford Racing officials, could use an upgraded supercharger as put side by side to the GT500. The car will be able to appear based on what i read in the factory detuned to a mere 400 hp in form to equate NHRA rules. The 605 allows an signal of the real gas possibility of the engine in just tinier tweaks on the competitor. Ford is clearly planning to produce 50 new Cobra Jets at the behest of a handful of dealers, who may end up purchasing all the cars and at that time selling them. The new drag racing specials are possible to be priced at $69,900.

[Source: Ford]

While the U.S. is in regards to to get its mainly taste of two-door, rear-wheel-drive, car-based pickups in the craft of the Pontiac G8 ST (official and cr a great deal TBD), Australians experience continued enjoying these kinds of things, referred to as utes, for decades. While Holden introduced a new version of its Commodore-based ute the preceding year, Ford has recently gotten almost to meeting the problem amongst its new Falcon-based ute. And you recognize how who means: Ford vs. GM cage balance in Koala Bear country!

Pickuptrucks.com has pitted the Holden SS Ute and Ford XR8 Ute, both top-shelf sports models, against every further in their Ultimate Sh-Ute-Out for the ages. For as similar as these kinds of utes are in levels and power, we got surprised to discover how unique properties very are. The Ford ute, for instance, is thought a good amount of of a workhorse as opposed to the Holden and hence persists in to use a leaf-sprung rear suspension alternatively of an IRS want the Holden. Apparently it is the a great deal more truckish of the two, as distinguishable by its separated cab and bed judged against to the clean one-piece design of the Holden. Both cases tested use big V8 powerplants, but the XR8’s Boss V8 was a good amount high-tech judged against to tried-and-true Gen IV pushrod.

Being who Pontiac is just about to embark on re&wshyp;selling the Holden Ute in the U.S. as the Pontiac G8 ST, right now comparo is a fantastic Beginner’s Course in the good earth of Aussie utes. And who knows, if the Pontiac G8 and G8 ST turn over well, the current may recently be the urging Ford needs to bid the Falcon stateside sooner as opposed to the next-generation model. Check out the gallery of insanely cool high-res shots based on data from the comparo below, courtesy of Pickuptrucks.com, and hit the source to was reading the comparo based on data from create to finish.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Volvo, yet the accomplishment story in Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, has hit choppy waters. And according to Wall Street Journal insiders, Ford is preparing to treat the Swedish automaker the same way it did the English ones: put particularlly floaties on it and continue the type bobbing extensively sufficient to deal it.

Volvo drew up $94 million in income in Q1 of 2007, but lost $151 million in Q1 of the current year. In total, within the beyond two years, the in the wake of smiling Swede has lost $1.7 billion, portion of that is due to exchange rates, and a new is due to marketing a lower number of cars. To battle the decline, Volvo is shedding up to a third of its strive motivate at one European plant, and cutting going back on creation at another. As you could suspect, both of people plants initiate the record vehicles in Volvo’s lineup.

A couple of weeks ago, Ford was intriguingly — or deceitfully — that much in “Volvo’s not for sale” mode. Now it looks the Mulally has admitted to one or two Ford execs the current Volvo is in regards to to wear the “Needs a Caring Home” sign. Jerry York, the best hand man of Kirk Kerkorian, maintains this Volvo would maybe be purchased in 18 months. The way Times seem now, we would be surprised if it took the present long.

[Source: Wall Street Journal via Yahoo!]

The Hertz Shelby GT-H hit the auction scene with a bang back in 2007, as the first black and gold drop-top sold at Barrett Jackson for a hefty $250k . In the past year, the powerful pony cars have had to endure some wear and tear from reckless renters, and what’s likely to be a much lower price of ownership. Between 75 and 100 Shelby GT-H Convertibles are scheduled to hit the block at Kruse’s 17th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair from May 29 to June 1, 2008.
[Source: Kruse via Jalopnik]

We’re rather pleased that Saleen has seen fit to offer their excellent 302 cubic inch V8 as a crate engine. Having driven several Mustangs equipped with the powerplant , we feel qualified to say that this is an engine more than worthy of carrying on the 5.0 legacy. If you want take-no-prisoners style horsepower, consider opting for the supercharged model, which we found almost too powerful for every day use in the Saleen S302E Mustang. Perhaps a more streetable choice would be the naturally-aspirated version that we sampled in the Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang.

Regardless of your choice of induction, the base engine will have started life as one of Ford’s 4.6 liter modular blocks. After being bored and stroked to the requisite five liters, the block receives bigger injectors, ported aluminum heads, performance camshafts, forged-aluminum pistons, forged-steel connecting rods and a forged-steel crank. Power levels range from 390 to 580 horsepower, depending on your choice of options. You can peruse the complete press release after the break.

[Source: Saleen]

Today’s reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you’re probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe’s in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine is replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that’s good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth… but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren’t crying in their beers over this.

Yes, we know that the next-gen Focus will be global and that the U.S. will share the same car sold in Europe. No, that doesn’t make looking at this any easier in the meantime. Ford’s official missive is pasted after the jump.

[Source: Ford]