2014 Ford Focus Se on 2040-cars

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2015 Ford Mustang GT Line-Lock Burnout

In this brief Short Cut, Autoblog's Steven Ewing demonstrates Line-Lock on the 2015 Ford Mustang GT. Accessed through an on-screen performance menu, the feature temporarily locks the front brakes to help you heat up the rear tires for better traction, as you would for drag racing. The result? A 15-second smokescreen.

Ford's BlueCruise gains hands-free lane changes and more in update

Ford is sending out an update to BlueCruise that will enhance its functionality with some nice features we tend to enjoy on other advanced driver assistance systems. Plus, in addition to BlueCruise getting the update, the Lincoln version named ActiveGlide will get the same update. For starters, both BlueCruise and ActiveGlide will gain hands-free lane changing. Similar to other lane-change assist systems, you’ll prompt the lane change by activating the turn signal. ItÂ’ll scan for traffic, and if all is clear, the vehicle will move into the requested lane. Ford says that itÂ’ll even suggest lane changes to the driver in the cluster as you approach slower-moving traffic. What this new feature doesnÂ’t do, though, are automatic lane changes. Systems like Super Cruise and TeslaÂ’s Autopilot will recognize slower traffic, then make a pass all on their own to move around said traffic — theyÂ’ll even move back over into your previous lane after making the pass. We wouldnÂ’t be surprised if Ford adds this functionality to the system in a future update. Another update in this release is new “In-Lane Repositioning” programming. ItÂ’s designed to recognize when there are vehicles in adjacent lanes and will then shift you further away from them within your lane of travel. Ford says itÂ’s especially helpful when passing semi-trucks, and will give you the usual and more comfortable buffer that a human driver might give a truck. The final update is a Predictive Speed Assist feature that will adjust your speed as you approach a curve. It will signal to the driver in the cluster that the car will slow for a curve, then do so gradually as you approach it. This is the sort of feature we typically like to turn off as soon as possible, since weÂ’d rather just remain at the same speed for curves on the highway. But, if youÂ’re one of those folks who like to slow down for curves on the highway, this will provide a more natural driving feel. Ford says that customers have cumulatively put over 16 million hands-free miles on cars with BlueCruise at this point. This update, simply named 1.2, for BlueCruise and ActiveGlide will see its initial rollout this fall. It will hit the Mustang Mach-E first, and Ford says other vehicles will follow. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. POV drive of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Performance cars overpower the Detroit Auto Show

At precisely the stroke of noon on Monday, the 2016 Acura NSX rolled on stage at the Detroit Auto Show amid plumes of smoke and dancing lights. The sounds of the powerful engine revving soared to the rafters. It was the second coming of Acura's iconic sports car, and the reveal had all of the expected trappings. Afterwards, champagne corks popped and the bubbly flowed. It was noon in Detroit, but for the green-car movement, it seemed like the clock had struck midnight. That's an exaggeration, but performance was the overwhelming theme of North America's most important show. Ford – which has helped lead the way in smaller displacement engines and early adoption of hybrid powertrains – had more than 1,500 horsepower on stage one point after it revealed the GT concept, the new F-150 Raptor and the Shelby Mustang GT350R. The NSX is technically a hybrid (it has three electric motors), but with 550-plus hp, there's no doubt this Acura was bred on the track. The theme continued throughout the show at nearly every stand. Alfa Romeo showed off the 4C Spider, which is the open-air version of a car that purports to be the spiritual successor of the high-performance 33 Stradale from 1967. On Tuesday, Cadillac is scheduled to reveal the 640-hp CTS-V with the V8 transplanted from the Corvette Z06, and the Lexus was expected to roll out its own V8-powered beast, the 467-hp GS F. For enthusiasts – especially enthusiasts with money – these are halcyon days. But make no mistake, all of this power has a purpose. Ford product chief Raj Nair said the Blue Oval uses high performance cars to develop technologies, like aerodynamics and materials, which are then shared across its lineup. "It's another proof point about how serious we are in developing innovation through performance," he said. Ford, which is rolling out at least 12 performance cars by 2020, said the sporty cars attract younger and more influential buyers to its fold, which can help burnish its image beyond adding sales volume. Toyota is taking a similar approach, senior vice president Bob Carter said, noting the Lexus RC coupe draws people into showrooms and gets them excited about the brand, even if they don't end up buying one. "They provide an aspiration and a halo that provides the attention that gets you noticed in a cluttered market," he said.