1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Tudor, Indented Firewall, Sedan, on 2040-cars

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Ford recalls EcoBoost-powered F-150 and SUVs for brake fluid leak

Ford is recalling approximately 280,000 trucks and SUVs equipped with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine to address a potential brake fluid leak. The recall covers the 2016-2017 Ford F-150, 2016-2017 Ford Expedition and the 2016-2017 Lincoln Navigator.  According to Ford's defect report, the issue stems from contamination in the brake fluid causing degradation or damage to the seals in the brake master cylinder, allowing fluid to escape. Ford says that braking performance is not immediately impacted by the leak, and owners may not realize there's a problem until a brake malfunction indicator appears in the cluster, accompanied by a chime.  "If the brake fluid in the reservoir is depleted to a predetermined level, the driver will receive an audible chime, message center alert, and red brake warning indicator in the instrument cluster," Ford said in its defect report to NHTSA. "If the driver continues to operate the vehicle, the drive may begin to experience a change in brake pedal travel and feel, and increased pedal effort." "If a loss of brake fluid is substantial enough to reduce brake function to the front wheels, full braking function would remain in the rear wheel circuit. However, reduced brake function in the front wheels can extend stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash," Ford said.  The issue can be addressed with a replacement brake master cylinder, which Ford will install free of charge. Ford has already begun notifying dealers and will send notices to customers starting in April.  Recalls Ford Lincoln Ownership Safety Truck SUV

Inside the Ford GT's interior

Ford has crafted a simple yet high-tech interior for the GT supercar, which has been on display at auto shows around the world this year. The instrument panel has a two-tier design with a floating wing. There are soft-touch materials and carbon fiber, which also is used for the passenger cell. Still, the GT's interior has been shrouded in more mystery than the rest of the car. To cast some light on the GT's cabin, we caught up with Ford design vice president Moray Callum, who explained the ins and outs of the future icon's interior. Put simply, "there's not a lot of excess materials," Callum said. But what is there is pretty cool. In case you haven't heard, Ford plans to launch the GT in 2016. It will run a mid-mounted twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and make extensive use of carbon fiber for the body structure. Related Video:

Ford S-Max Concept proves minivans aren't always minivans [w/video]

Ford's latest don't-call-it-a-minivan is called the S-Max Concept, and it's a looker. As you can see, the conceptual overgrown hatch makes good use of Ford's latest design language, especially at the very front of the S-Max, which bears a striking resemblance to production models that include the Focus, C-Max and Fusion.
Powering the S-Max Concept is a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, and while Ford doesn't actually list power figures for the concept, previous estimates put the mill at 133 kW of power (about 178 horsepower) and 240 Nm of torque (about 177 pound-feet). Inside, there's room for seven passengers and at least some of their luggage.
As you'd expect, the S-Max is loaded up with all of Ford's latest infotainment technology, including Sync and MyFordTouch. More interestingly, there are also onboard heart and blood glucose monitors that we doubt will be seeing the light of production anytime soon. On that topic, don't expect to see any S-Max-shaped vehicles hitting the US market from Ford, either. Scroll down below for the press release, but not before checking out the high-res image gallery above.