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Ford to revamp lineup: more SUVs, trucks, and hybrids

Dearborn, MI – Regardless which automaker, there's a typical response to any automotive question in regards to the future, “we don't talk about future products.” Well, this day in Dearborn was slightly different, as Ford did just that in a Ford Uncovered event, that provided a sneak peek of what's to come from the Blue Oval.

The biggest takeaway from the event was Ford's push away from cars with heavy investments being made towards trucks and SUVs. Given the recent record of sales in the light truck segment, this news was far from shocking, but the extreme changeover was.

“Trucks and utilities – including their electrified versions – are going to be almost 90 percent of the volume,” explains Jim Farley, “Trucks and utilities – including their electrified versions – are going to be almost 90 percent of the volume,” explains Jim Farley, executive vice president, Global Markets, Ford Motor Company.

By 2020, 86 percent of the Ford business will deal with trucks, SUVs and commercial vans that will see three quarters of its current vehicle portfolio turned over, reducing the average showroom age from 5.7 years down to to 3.3 years.

“Trucks and utilities are going to fuel our growth and profitability,” adds Farley.

We weren't told which sedans will be extinct by 2020, but Ford will add a host of all-new SUVs over the next few years that include the Ranger, Bronco and another unnamed off-road utility specialist. The off-road vehicles will aim to be that weekend warrior of adventure. Farley pointed to the Ford F-150 Raptor as an inspiration for these vehicles with comfort found both at on-road high speeds and in the sand.

That's not to mean performance won't play a role in the future of Ford. Farley confirmed that the Explorer ST will soon be unveiled, along with an all-new Mustang Shelby GT500 that should set the horsepower bar pretty high.

Ford takes aim at Toyota for hybrid lead

Profits received from its SUV and truck business – F-Series accounted for $41 billion in 2017 alone – will allow Ford to invest more heavily into its other big venture: hybrids. The hybrid push will serve a dual purpose of contributing to carbon dioxide emissions, as well as assisting customers versus potential higher gas prices in the future.

Farley explained that Ford's current status as the No. 2 in global hybrid sales is expected to become No. 1 by 2021. Ford plans to add a conventional or plug-in hybrid to all of its high-volume sellers including the iconic Mustang and the Ford F-Series, the best-selling vehicle in Canada for 52 consecutive years.

“Hybrids are not just an engine alternative. We will have it in our Mustangs and F-150s that will help in performance and low-end torque, respectively. You have to offer hybrids on mainstream products and that's what will get Ford to No. 1.”

Hybrids will play a big part of Ford's future plans, but that doesn't mean pure battery electrics are out of the mix. Farley hinted at an unnamed four-door utility “with the rebel soul of a Mustang.”

Future of connectivity

Technology will be another major driving force of automotive change and Ford wants to be a leader in that department by equipping all of its vehicles with standard high-speed 4G LTE by the end of 2019.

Other automakers already offer up Wi-Fi, but a major benefit for all customers will come in 2020 with over-the-air software updates. This will allow every customer to possess the latest software, enhancing their existing vehicle in the process.

Lastly, another plan for 2020 will bring a suite of advanced driver-assist technologies called Co-Pilot360 to almost every Ford car, truck and SUV. It will be standard equipment that will include automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, backup camera and auto high-beams.

Next-gen 2019 GMC Sierra elevates its status

 

Detroit, MI – GMC unveiled the all-new 2019 Sierra Denali and SLT to a host of media in Detroit. The separate unveiling of the Sierra after the North American International Autoshow in Detroit was no coincidence, as it was a move to differentiate the top-selling GMC product from its Chevrolet Silverado sibling.

The two top-level Sierra trims – the Denali and SLT – represent the premium expression of where the GMC brand aspires to. Two industry-firsts: a six-function tailgate and carbon fiber bed are the clearest examples of that premium shift. The new MultiPro tailgate is standard on both trim levels and can make life easier for truck owners with six unique functions and positions to help with second-tier loading, load-stop solutions, and it even acts as a standing workstation. The carbon fiber box, labelled the CarbonPro, will be an available option on an increased seven-inch wider frame from than the outgoing model. The carbon fiber box is a big step up in durability for GMC, while possessing best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance.



Unique exterior designs further help in separating the Sierra from the Silverado. Most of them can be found on its front fascia with a distinct chrome grille, a fresh GMC stamp in the centre, and LED touches for its headlights, fog lamps and taillights. Its LED C-shaped headlights that wrap around its fenders are a work of art featuring an attractive “light blade” that sets a premium mood.

Even though the new Sierra sits higher and has a larger wheelbase, GMC has managed to shed 163 kg from its outgoing model thanks to additional high-strength steel and aluminum. The aluminum won't be used in the box, but is used where needed, in its doors, hood and tailgate. The available CarbonPro box will drop even more weight as its 28 kg lighter than the steel version used throughout the rest of the product line.

The Denali trim continues to impress on the inside with natural pebbled leather, open-pore wood and a dark-finish aluminum decor. Occupants enjoying those refined treatments will also be impressed by best-in-class front head- and legroom thanks to an expansion of three-inches of rear seat legroom. Rear seat storage compartments that can store a laptop or tie-downs, as in the new Silverado, can be found by flipping open its rear seats.



Powering the Sierra for now (more are expected to be added) are three engine offerings: a 5.3-litre and 6.2-litre V8, and an all-new 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-diesel. Performance numbers are to follow as well, but we can report that the 6.2-litre V8 and the diesel will be matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 5.3-litre receives an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Even though the V8s appear as carryovers, they've been improved with the use of start/stop technology and a Dynamic Fuel Management system. The latter is the same used in the Silverado that can deactivate all but one cylinder for better performance and fuel economy.



Another note of interest is in technology. The 2019 Sierra will feature a class-first head-up display, as well as rear camera mirror, a ProGrade trailering system that performs light tests and a pre-departure checklist, and hitch guidance to assist when positioning the hitch.

The 2019 GMC Sierra will go on sale in the fall of 2018 with more engine news, towing and payload capacities, and pricing to come at a later date.

Media day at the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow

Fresh off winning the AJAC 2018 Utility of the Year award for its Chrysler Pacifica, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Canada kept the momentum going during media preview day at the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow (Feb. 16-25) with the reveal of the all-new 2019 RAM 1500 Sport, a truck built exclusively for the Canadian market.

“The all-new 2019 Ram 1500 is the strongest, most technological and most capable light-duty truck we have ever built. But we didn’t stop there,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, FCA Canada. “We sold over 100,000 Ram products in Canada last year and we pride ourselves on knowing our customers and listening to their needs. That’s why the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 Sport is being built exclusively for the Canadian market and why we are confident our truck owners will embrace the unique style and capability it offers.”



Later in the day, Hyundai Canada took the wraps off the sporty Veloster and Veloster N, both of which are all-new for 2019. With an all-new design, the sporty Veloster also offers utility thanks to an additional passenger side rear door for easier rear-seat access. Available features include LED headlights, standard 18-inch wheels and, in the case of the Veloster N, a turbocharged 2.0-litre 275-horsepower engine.

Over at the Toyota stand, the i-TRIL Concept made its North American premiere. Developed by Toyota’s European Design Development Centre, ED2, the i-TRIL can operate autonomously, and communicate with the driver primarily through voice activation technology. It also employs Active Lean Technology seen on the Toyota i-road, which allows the vehicle body and front tires to lean while the motorized rear tires remain perpendicular to the road surface at all times.


 

2018 Detroit auto show round-up

Detroit, MI – The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit truly kicks off the year's auto festivities. There's so much history, pride and production that has taken place in the 'Motor City' over the years, that it's one of the shows not to miss.

For 2018, a few off-site reveals lightened the media days of the show, but there was still plenty to see, and most of the buzz came down to American-made trucks. The big American three showed off plenty of muscle with major pickup reveals and that was complemented by a plethora of various production SUVs and sedans that will be hitting the market at some point this year.

Here's a small glimpse of what was shown off at this year's auto show in Detroit.

Pickup trucks

We start at pickups as they are the true volume sellers for Chevrolet, Ford and Ram, and neither of the big three were holding back in Detroit.

Chevrolet and Ram came to the show with all-new full-size pickups in the Silverado and Ram 1500. Ford on the other hand, talked a bit about an upcoming hybrid powertrain and addition of a diesel to its top-selling F-150, but re-entered the mid-size space at the show with the North American rebirth of the Ranger.

Let's start with the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. It comes with six different engine/transmission combinations featuring a new 5.3-litre and 6.2-litre V8 engines that come with an industry-first Dynamic Fuel Management system that shuts off a certain amount of cylinders for better fuel efficiency. In addition, a new inline-six turbo-diesel enters the fray paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The fuel-efficient message was clear in the new Silverado highlighted by the loss of 450 lbs. from its outgoing model.



As for the 2019 Ram 1500, it too takes on a fuel-efficient tone with its 3.7-litre Pentastar V6 and 5.7-litre Hemi V8, both utilizing a 48-volt eTorque mild-hybrid system with stop-start technology. Having that hybrid system in place boost torque numbers to 90 lb-ft more in the V6 and 130 in the V8.

The 2019 Ford Ranger was teased at last year's NAIAS, so it was only fitting to come back for its production reveal. The new version gets upsized in order to compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. It's now re-entering a segment with slight growth and an opportunity for Ford to capitalize. Powering the new Ranger is a 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo-four matched to a class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission with full numbers to be released shortly.

SUVs

For the most part, the crossover/SUV reveals were dominated by the luxury automakers.

Starting off with Acura, the luxury wing of Honda showed off one of its core vehicles, the 2019 Acura RDX Prototype. No longer does it resemble its mainstream brand with an exclusive all-new platform that takes on many stylings from the Precision Concept and Precision Cockpit shown off at previous auto shows. Its exterior is more bold and daring with cutting edge lines and a tight, more sleek grille. On the inside, a floating 10.2-inch display sets a clean and tech-centred tone that includes a new touchpad interface and operating system. It's powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder matched to a class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission.

Other big reveals were the 2018 BMW X2, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept. Starting off with the BMW X2, the compact crossover will fill the only gap in BMW's X-division when it comes out in the spring. The G-Class gets fully re-done for the first time, even though it slightly resembles the same boxy, military-inspired look we've always loved with a lighter and tech-driven feel featuring a dual 12.3-inch widescreen display and driver safety assist systems. Rounding out the trio is the one crossover concept from Lexus. The LF-1 Limitless is one of the more beautiful vehicles at the show displaying the futuristic design language of the brand with a new take on its large spindle grille complemented by thin and sleek LED lights. In addition, fully autonomous features in 'Chauffeur Mode' allow the crossover to take over control of the vehicle.

Sedans

There was a time when sedans would kick this list off, but times are changing. The biggest splash came from a muscle car in the Ford Mustang GT. But it wasn't any GT, it was the limited edition 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt, inspired by the 1968 classic movie starring Steve McQueen that came out 50 years ago. The Dark Highland Green colour featured in the movie was on display (it also comes in Shadow Black) and it can only be had with a six-speed manual gearbox with a white cue-ball shifter. Other features include a big dual exhaust, black five spokes and a Bullitt gas cap instead of any Ford badging. Under the hood is a 5.0-litre V8 that ups power to 475 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.



The other more practical sedan choices were the 2019 Kia Forte and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The Forte and Jetta both increase in size and add some necessary design flair that had been lacking in both. The Forte takes on more of a coupe-like finish; while the Jetta, now in its seventh-generation, adopts more pronounced, sharper cues for that sportier touch.


A double win for Toyota at AJAC's Green Car of the Year

In its third annual Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's (AJAC) Canadian Green Car of the Year awards, Toyota pulled a rare clean sweep at a press conference at the 2017 Vancouver International Auto Show.

The Toyota Prius with Technology Package took top honours as the 2017 Canadian Green Car of the Year, besting the 2017 Kia Optima HEV and the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.

The 2017 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year award went to the 2017 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid taking victory over the other two finalists, the 2017 Subaru Forester and 2017 Mazda CX-9.

“Toyota is committed to maintaining its leadership position in designing, engineering and building environmentally-advanced vehicles that meet the many demands of today’s drivers,” said Cyril Dimitris, Vice-President, Toyota Canada Inc.

This was the second year that AJAC split the car and utility categories up. For 2016, the winners were the Chevrolet Volt and the Mazda CX-3; while in its inaugural year, the sole winner was the Kia Soul EV.

Subaru puts on daring display of its WRX STI

Subaru went to great lengths to garner attention with its latest daring stunt involving a modified WRX STI and the St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic bobsled track.

If you can piece it together – we're talking a bobsled run with a car on the world's oldest track.

Piloting the WRX STI was British rally champion Mark Higgins, who has been a stunt man for Daniel Craig in several James Bond films.

Subaru is known for its full-time symmetrical all-wheel-drive, but for this stunt, the WRX STI had to be fitted with a stiffer suspension and studded tires.

The video is something to behold with plenty of scary moments along the way. At one point, it looks like the car is about to flip, but Higgins keeps it together. It's an impressive feat for both Higgins and the WRX STI, but this is something you leave to the professionals, or at least the crazy ones.

Range Rover Velar newest addition to roster

In 1970 Land Rover launched the original Range Rover. Almost half a century later that spirit of innovation continues with the introduction of the fourth member of the Range Rover family, to be unveiled on March 1, 2017.

Elegant simplicity, a visually reductive approach and all-new consumer technologies are the hallmarks of the new Range Rover Velar.

Land Rover Chief Design Officer, Gerry McGovern, said: “We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover. It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.”

Refined for every occasion and for various terrains, the Range Rover Velar uses unique sustainable materials and advanced engineering to continue Land Rover’s drive to go Above and Beyond.

The origin of the Velar name (pronounced vel-ar) dates back to the first Range Rover prototypes of the Sixties: the pioneers of the luxury SUV landscape.

When development engineers needed to hide the true identity of the 26 pre-production Range Rover vehicles, they chose the name Velar, derived from the Latin ‘velare’ meaning to veil or cover.

Full details of the Range Rover Velar will be announced on March 1, 2017.

Smart brand to go all-electric

The Mercedes-Benz sub-brand Smart will stop selling gas-powered cars by September in both Canada and the United States.

It's a decision that can at first surprise, but given the environmentally-focused state of the industry, it just might make sense for how to utilize the niche brand. Currently, Smart only has two vehicles on offer in Canada – a regular fortwo and a fortwo cabrio, and both of those are available in gas or electric versions.

The report comes from Automotive News, which obtained a copy of a letter to Smart dealers from Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dieter Exler.

"Developments within the micro-car segment present some challenges for the current smart product portfolio," Exler said. "The smart lineup will consist exclusively of the zero-emissions smart electric-drive coupe and cabrio in the U.S. and Canada."

For 2017 it will be business as usual with sales continuing of gas and electric cars, but that will cease in September, as all 2018 model year cars will be in electric form.

Ford reveals GT numbers...and it's good news

The long-awaited 2017 Ford GT supercar has been unveiled, talked about and even dissected at its Ontario-based Multimatic production site. However, the few things not disclosed were the performance numbers; at least until now. 

With production beginning, Ford finally revealed that the Ford GT will spew 647 hp at 6,250 rpm and peak torque numbers of 550 lb.-ft. at 5,900 rpm from its 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine. These numbers mark the GT as the most powerful EcoBoost engine produced by Ford that can top out at a speed of 347 km/h.

The 2017 GT was always suspected to receive more than 600 hp, but it's nice to finally see something official. According to Ford, the GT set a 2:09.8 lap time at Calabogie Motorsports Park near Ottawa, bettering times of some close competitors in the McLaren 675LT and the Ferrari 458 Speciale. A strong power-to-weight ratio coupled with its advanced active suspension system to achieve those quick lap times.

“The Ford GT is all about performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development and chief technical officer. “We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbon fibre architecture. We then reinvested some of that savings into where it counts most – performance, specifically, the active dynamics. The result is an even faster car.”

Now that we have all the numbers in place, it's time to get the first 250 vehicles produced for 2017 and out on the road for some real life testing. In total, there will be 1,000 units produced over a four year period at an approximate price of $450,000 USD.

Ford unleashes leaner and meaner Mustang

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, Ford partnered with its ambassador of Service, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, to introduce the new Mustang – the world’s best-selling sports coupe and the company’s most advanced Mustang ever.

A host of improvements including new technology and design changes give owners ways to customize Mustang to their preferences, even better performance from more powerful engines and new MagneRide™ suspension technology. Customers have more ways than ever to personalize Mustang to make it their own, with three new paint colours, 12 distinct wheel choices and a customizable digital instrument cluster.

“The new Mustang is our best ever, based on more than 50 years as one of the iconic sports car in America and now, the world,” said Joe Hinrichs, president of The Americas. “Tapping Mustang’s enormous fan base, we’re bringing the new Mustang straight to the people – and introducing the new car across multiple social media channels, reaching millions.

Ford tapped Johnson to reveal the new Mustang to the world by giving one of the first models available to a deserving member of the military. A video of the debut was launched on Johnson’s social channels, including Youtube, Instagram and Facebook, where Mustang holds the title for the most-popular car with more than 8.4 million ‘likes.’

Technology for greater personalization

Mustang makes available Ford’s first 12-inch all-digital LCD screen in the dashboard. This all-new customizable instrument cluster can be easily personalized, offering three separate views. Customers can personalize the displays for normal, sport and track mode. All-new Mustang MyMode with memory function allows customers to save their favorite drive settings, including suspension and steering preferences.

The new Mustang is so customizable that even its engine note can be adjusted. Delivering an audible experience like never before, an all-new active valve exhaust system is optional on Mustang GT, with a fully variable soundtrack to match the entire acceleration range.



For the first time, Mustang benefits from a vast array of Ford driver-assist technology. Customers can feel more confident than ever behind the wheel with new features like Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, distance alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and Driver Alert System.

Ford SYNC® Connect with FordPass™ is available on Mustang for the first time. When using the FordPass® app for smartphones, drivers can start, lock, unlock and locate their car for ultimate convenience.

Ultimate performance

Performance is at the core of Mustang DNA, offering drivers a unique thrill of acceleration and cornering for the ultimate fun-to-drive experience. On all models, new shock absorbers make for better ride control, a new cross-axis joint in the rear suspension leads to increased lateral stiffness, and innovative stabilizer bars bring sharper response and handling.

MagneRide damper technology is a new option with the Mustang Performance Package to optimize ride and handling in all situations.

The proven 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine continues to offer outstanding performance advantages versus the outgoing 3.7-litre V6. Using Ford’s transient overboost technology uniquely calibrated for Mustang, torque is increased for wide-open throttle acceleration.

Ford’s legendary 5.0-litre V8 engine has been thoroughly reworked. It is more powerful and revs higher than any Mustang GT before. This power increase was achieved with the first application for Mustang of Ford’s new dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection on a V8 engine – delivering robust low-end torque, high-rpm power, and improved fuel efficiency.

The manual transmission for both engine options has been upgraded for optimal torque. For the V8, the manual transmission has been totally redesigned to include a twin-disc clutch and dual-mass flywheel to increase torque capability and deliver more efficient clutch modulation.

A new 10-speed automatic transmission, available with both EcoBoost and V8 engines, is the best automatic Mustang has ever offered. With a wide-ratio span and optimized gear spacing, this all-new gearbox helps deliver higher average power for acceleration – improving responsiveness and performance.

Compared to the previous six-speed, the new 10-speed transmission has quicker shift times, better low-speed tip-in response and significantly reduced friction losses. The all-new electronic control system includes unique tunes for different drive modes and features real-time adaptive shift scheduling to ensure the right gear at the right time. Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles allow drivers maximum manual control.



Energy in the design

Overall, the car’s exterior design is now more athletic, with a lower, remodeled hood and grille that deliver a leaner look and refined aerodynamics, upper and lower front grilles, and a new position for hood vents. For the first time the entire Mustang line will feature all-LED front lights including signature lighting, low-beams, turn signals, efficient projector high-beams and available fog lamps.

The rear of the car gets revised LED taillamps for a more technical look, plus a new bumper, fascia and available performance spoiler. Dual-tip exhaust is standard for EcoBoost® Mustang, while V8-powered Mustang GT gets a standard quad-tip exhaust.

With a dozen available alloy wheel designs and fresh exterior colour choices – including all-new signature Orange Fury – enthusiasts can order a Mustang with the look they’re after.

Improved touch points and visual cues with a more premium look and feel characterize the new cockpit. The center console adds a new hand-stitched wrap with contrast stitching and padded knee bolsters while door handles, rings and bezels are finished in aluminum. Restyled seating surfaces feature new patterns and colour choices, the instrument panel sports an updated Mustang badge and there’s a new key fob design. A heated steering wheel is optional.

Ford’s most advanced Mustang ever goes on sale in North America this fall.

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