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Ford pulling out of V8 Supercars after 2015

Australian racing fans are staring down the end of an era as news breaks that Ford will no longer participate in the V8 Supercars series. Although the official announcement has yet to be made, the decision – as reported widely in the automotive press Down Under and in global motorsport publications – indicates that the Blue Oval automaker has already confirmed its intentions to its shareholders early on Monday to shut down its factory effort in the popular tin-top series at the end of next season. The move will mark the end of an era for what has become the International V8 Supercars Championship. Alongside GM's Holden division, Ford was one of only two manufacturers competing in the series from its inception in the late 1990s through last year when a change in regulations opened the door for entries from Nissan, Volvo and Mercedes. Further rule changes are expected to attract even more manufacturers to the series, with Lexus said to be first among them. Over the past eighteen seasons, the V8 Supercars Championship has been won in a Holden Commodore fourteen times, leaving Ford to win the title only four times with successive versions of the Falcon. Eleven of the cars on the grid this season were Commodores, compared to only seven Ford Falcons between two teams that will need to switch to another manufacturer for the season after next – although some could opt to stick with their Fords for one more season, even without factory support, until the open 2016 regulations take effect. The decision follows Ford's announcement last year that it will cease manufacturing in Australia by 2016, ending a 90-year presence Down Under that stretches back to 1925. Blue Oval models like the Falcon, previously unique to the Aussie market, are being replaced by imported models like the Mondeo and Mustang.

Ford and OMS bring military ride-and-drive program to Hockenheimring

This post is appearing on Autoblog Military, Autoblog's sub-site dedicated to the vehicles, aircraft and ships of the world's armed forces. It kind of goes without saying, but joining the military means you won't be enjoying quite as much leisure time as members of the civilian world. That said, when a chance to let your hair down does come along, servicemembers usually enjoy some very unique opportunities... like driving a new Ford Mustang and F-150 around Germany's Hockenheimring. Ford and the Overseas Military Sales Corporation, the on-base retailer for the Blue Oval and the same outfit that worked out a raffle program for servicemembers to purchase the limited-edition 50th Anniversary Mustang, put together the ride-and-drive program at Germany's second most famous circuit. The OMS allows military men and women to purchase vehicles for both on-base use and for pickup when they arrive back in the United States. "The Ford Driving Freedom ride-and-drive event is designed to introduce the new 2015 Ford Mustang and F-150 to military personnel who are stationed on US bases across Europe," Ford fleet sales manager Doug Walczak said in the attached statement. "It's the first time such an event has been held overseas." According to Ford, over 300 servicemen and women applied to take part in this pilot program, which was more than double what Ford and OMS had room for. With such an impressive response rate, it's no surprise that similar events could come to other US bases. Scroll down for the official press release from Ford. U.S. Military Personnel Take Ford Mustang, F-150 for a Ride at Hockenheimring Racetrack · Ford and the Overseas Military Sales Corporation host first-ever Ford Driving Freedom ride-and-drive event for U.S. military personnel stationed on bases across Europe · U.S. military personnel got the unique opportunity to drive the Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang on Hockenheimring racetrack in Germany · Ford has worked with Overseas Military Sales Corporation since 1995 to offer Ford and Lincoln vehicles for sale throughout the Americas, as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as on select Navy ships HOCKENHEIMRING, Germany, June 9, 2015 – Members of the U.S. military got the unique opportunity to take a test drive of the Ford F-150 and Mustangtoday at Germany's famed Hockenheimring racetrack.

2017 Ford GT looks resplendent in Liquid Silver and will be built in Ontario

You didn't think we'd let an opportunity to capture another high-res image gallery of our favorite vehicle from the North American International Auto Show pass by, now that it's taking center stage in Chicago, did you? Especially since it's now painted in a brand-new hue? Of course not. And so we're happy to present to you the 2017 Ford GT in Liquid Silver, wearing titanium-tinted racing stripes. It may not be as classically American as the show-stopping blue that debuted with the concept in Detroit, but it's beautiful nonetheless. And, in even better news, we hear that the GT has been confirmed for production at Ford's factory in Markham, Ontario, according to our Canadian friends at CTV News. To recap what we know about the Ford GT – besides the fact that we're in mad, mad love with it, of course – it's beautiful, will be powered by a mid-mounted 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with "more than 600 horsepower," it's beautiful, it sends all that power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it's beautiful, blends a carbon fiber monocoque and body panels with aluminum subframes, and it's beautiful. We think it's likely headed for endurance-racing competition, as was the original GT40 that is its spiritual grandfather, and we're sure it will look good doing it. Heck, maybe it'll even win at Le Mans. In any case, check it out in high-res glory below, in multiple color schemes, in both images and video. Related Video: Related Gallery Ford GT Concept: Detroit 2015 View 45 Photos Related Gallery Ford GT View 11 Photos Related Gallery 2017 Ford GT: Chicago 2015 View 30 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Plants/Manufacturing Chicago Auto Show Ford Coupe Performance Supercars Videos autoblog black