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Ford, GM to collaborate on 9- and 10-speed transmissions

Back in October, there were reports that General Motors and Ford Motor Company were hard at work co-developing new nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions, and now both automakers have confirmed this joint operation. While there are no specific vehicles mentioned to receive either transmission, a collaborative press release issued by GM and Ford mention that the transmission will be designed for front- and rear-wheel-drive cars, crossovers, trucks and SUVs.
These aren't the first powertrain components developed jointly between these cross-town rivals, either. The six-speed automatic currently used in vehicles like the Ford Edge, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Cruze and Chevrolet Equinox was engineered in a similar fashion. As is the case with this existing transmission, both automakers will assist in the design, development and testing of the new transmissions, but each will build its own units in its own factories. Scroll down for the official press release.

This is the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum, full of Nirvana

We knew two the most important things about the Platinum trim on the Ford Explorer when the configurator arrived online at the end of last year: it starts at $52,600 and comes standard with just about everything. In advance of the Explorer Platinum arriving at dealerships in September, Ford's dropped details on the superluxe crossover and what its chief designer calls "the most upscale, high-quality interior we've ever offered on a Ford vehicle in North America." So-called Nirvana leather goes everywhere, on the micro-perforated front seats, the rear seats, the instrument panel, armrests, door bolsters, and upper door trim. It looks like it can be had in two colors, either Soft Ceramic or Ebony, with a headliner colored Anthracite that goes with a matching, fabric-wrapped A-pillar. Elsewhere, there's genuine aluminum and ash wood, a stitched-leather-and-wood steering wheel with a brushed aluminum Ford logo, and a gauge cluster with a 10-inch digital display flanked by analog dials. View 16 Photos Another first is the 500-watt Sony stereo, the first time that brand has incorporated its premium home audio technology into a vehicle. Twelve speakers in ten locations are said to be able to recreate the sound from several concert halls around the world, and to stage instruments and voices around the cabin the same way you'd hear them at home. The Explorer Platinum is less ostentatious outside, with LED headlights, silver skidplates front and back, and special 20-inch wheels denoting the Platinum from other trims. The 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is standard, along with Terrain Management, active park assist that works for both perpendicular and parallel spots, lane keeping assistance, and rain-sensing wipers. The two press releases below go over all the goodies.

Ford sued by Versata over alleged software trade secret theft

Automakers are routinely subject to intellectual property and patent disputes, whether over design similarities or pieces of tech. Ford is now facing a lawsuit for alleged IP theft over a piece of software from a company called Versata, and the business wants $1 billion from the Blue Oval for the violation. With such huge amount of money at stake, the legal situation is already getting complicated. According to The Detroit Free Press, Versata's software is designed to help automakers improve product development by making sure all of a car's countless components work together. The company and Ford had a contract for the system for many years, and they were negotiating an extension at the end of 2014. However, the deal fell through, and the Blue Oval ended the two business' arrangement. Making the legal situation especially tricky is that Ford developed and patented its own software for the same task. The automaker then filed a lawsuit in Michigan to have the court check whether the program violated Versata's IP, according to The Detroit Free Press. Later, the software company registered a lawsuit in Texas and alleged the Blue Oval stole proprietary code. Versata has asked for an injunction against Ford and restitution. "Ford's patented software does not use or infringe any Versata intellectual property and Versata has provided no basis for their claims against us," the automaker said in a statement to Autoblog. "We are confident that we will ultimately prevail in this case and we look forward to the opportunity to present our evidence at trial." With both sides in dispute, that leaves Ford pushing for a hearing in Michigan and Versata for Texas. According to The Detroit Free Press, it could be at least a year before a trial, if not longer. Of course in the meantime, the two sides could conceivably reach a settlement, and the whole issue would disappear.