2004 Ford E250 Wheelchair Van on 2040-cars

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Ford recalls 200K Escape, Transit Connect models over instrument panel

Ford is announcing two new recalls that cover a total of 203,494 vehicles in North America. By far the larger of the campaigns is a recall for 203,445 examples of the 2014-2015 Escape and Transit Connect in North America. Specifically, there are 182,520 units recalled in the US, 18,226 in Canada, and 2,699 in Mexico. For these models, the instrument cluster, warning messages, lights, and chimes might not work at startup. This problem puts the vehicles out of compliance with the federal motor vehicle code, and the fix is a software update. The other recall is minuscule and only affects 49 units of the 2015 Transit that are owned by a single fleet customer. The company's vans have a specially ordered front passenger seatbelt, but the parts aren't labeled correctly under the federal code. Everything works properly, though, according to Ford. The fix is simply a new decal with the required info. No accidents or injuries are known to be related to either of these two recalls. Related Video: FORD ISSUES TWO SAFETY COMPLIANCE RECALLS IN NORTH AMERICA DEARBORN, Mich., June 24, 2015 – Ford is issuing two safety compliance recalls in North America. There are no accidents or injuries attributed to these conditions. Details are as follows: Ford issues safety compliance recall for certain 2014-2015 Transit Connect and Escape vehicles for instrument panel issue Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 203,500 2014-2015 Transit Connect and Escape vehicles in North America for an issue with the instrument panel cluster. When starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster, warning chimes, messages and warning lights may not work, which is a compliance issue with FMVSS 101 and other applicable FMVSS requirements. If these displays don't work as intended, it could increase the risk of a crash. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Affected vehicles include certain 2014-2015 Transit Connect vehicles built at Valencia Assembly Plant in Spain, May 13, 2014 to Dec. 10, 2014 and certain 2014-2015 Escape vehicles built at Louisville Assembly Plant, May 19, 2014 to Feb. 6, 2015. There are 203,445 vehicles in North America, including 182,520 in the United States and federalized territories, 18,226 in Canada and 2,699 in Mexico. Dealers will update the instrument panel cluster software at no cost to the customer.

2015 Ford F-150 configurator is ready to go to work

Ford is inching towards the on-sale date for the eagerly anticipated, aluminum F-150 pickup. While we're preparing to drive the new truck (expect our take on it sooner rather than later), the best-seller has reached another, albeit more minor, milestone as its online configurator has officially been switched on.
We took to Ford's consumer website to mess about with it and see just how ridiculous of a truck we can build. Among the fun things we discovered were these two nuggets - the most expensive truck we could configure was not the top-end Platinum model, but instead the King Ranch, which rang up at $65,955. The other exciting discovery? The new truck would be available in a questionable shade called Blue Jeans (shown above with the optional contrasting Caribou paint). Yep, Blue Jeans.
You can head over to Ford's consumer page and build your very own aluminum F-150 now. Take a look.

2016 Ford Focus RS leaps to 62 in 4.7 seconds, starts at $36,605

We don't have to wait for the numbers to leak onto Ford's website again because the Blue Oval is now officially confirming that starting price of the 2016 Focus RS at $36,605 in the US, which includes $875 for destination. That money buys quite a quick hot hatch too – the RS with at least 345 horsepower can sprint to 62 miles per hour in mere 4.7 seconds and eventually reach a top speed of 165 mph. The 4.7-second blast bests the 0-60 times from lower-powered competitors like the Subaru WRX STI (5.1 seconds) and the Volkswagen Golf R (4.9 seconds). A few high-horsepower Europeans could outrun it, though, including the newly upgraded 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG (4.1 seconds) and Audi RS3 (4.3 seconds to 62 mph). This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. A combination of launch control, all-wheel drive, and torque vectoring at the rear axle might make that quick acceleration consistently achievable, too. Drivers just select the option from a menu, put the hot hatch into first gear, floor the gas pedal, and let off the clutch. The car rockets away, and a shift light on the instrument cluster illuminates at 5,900 rpm. It starts blinking at the 6,800 rpm redline. We just need to get through the winter to see which car wins in a real-world drag race. The Focus RS is being built in Saarlouis, Germany, and the first North American deliveries are expected in the spring of 2016. Ford isn't talking options yet, but the previous leak suggests things like navigation, leather seats, a sunroof, and 19-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires will be available. Related Video: FORD'S ALL-NEW FOCUS RS SPRINTS TO 62 MPH IN 4.7 SECONDS AND HITS 165 MPH All-new 2016 Ford Focus RS sprints from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 165 mph Fastest-ever Ford RS model will start at $36,605 featuring Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive and a projected 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque from its 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine Innovative Focus RS offers drive modes – including industry-first drift mode – along with launch control; customer deliveries of high-performance hatchback start in North America in spring 2016 DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2015 – Ford Motor Company's all-new Focus RS will sprint from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds – making the high-performance hatchback the fastest-accelerating RS model yet.