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IIHS crash tests second F-150 bodystyle

Sometimes, being the king comes with some extra scrutiny. At the urging of Automotive News, the Ford F-150 is the first truck to have multiple cab configurations crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. According to Automotive News, IIHS was preparing to release the crash-test report on the 2015 F-150 after the safety watchdog evaluated the popular, four-door SuperCrew body. However, the agency learned from AN that configuration contained steel bars welded around the front wheels for added protection. Those reinforcements aren't on the other cab variants, and IIHS is now going back to check a SuperCab without the strengthening to check its safety performance, as well. While the added bars might help the SuperCrew score better in the vital but difficult small-overlap front crash test, there's no guarantee that's their sole purpose. As the head of the IIHS crash lab Joe Nolan indicated to Automotive News, if Ford were just trying to beat the system the company could only put the reinforcement on the driver's side where the agency does the small-overlap test. Also, when the National Highway Travel Safety Administration checked the latest F-150, the Feds gave all three cab styles top, five-star overall ratings. Due to the additional testing, IIHS won't have the F-150's scores ready until July, according to Automotive News. Starting next year, the cab variants of other trucks will also starting being crash tested by the agency. Related Video:

Roush getting back into sport compact business with Focus ST mods [w/video]

Roush Performance offers a whole raft of parts for folks looking to tune their Ford Mustang and F-150 models, and now Focus owners can start getting in on the hotted-up action, too. Owners of the 2012-13 Focus and 2013 Focus ST can now get a Roush cold-air intake system, and ST owners can also opt for a high-performance cat-back exhaust.
Although all of these components are now available for order, the parts will ship sometime in July; no word yet on pricing. Down the road, Roush will also offer styling upgrades for the Focus as well as performance tuning upgrades such as engine controller, suspension, wheels and tires. Scroll down for a quick video of what the Focus ST exhaust sounds like, as well as a Roush press release.

Driving the 2021 Kia Telluride and 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High Performance | Autoblog Podcast #653

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd. They kick things off with some discussion of the 2021 Kia Telluride, which remains a hot seller even more than a year after its introduction. They then pivot to the 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High Performance and discuss the merits of a rally-inspired engine in a somewhat traditional pony car. Next, they talk current events, speculating as to what might benefit from the new electric car platform under the Ford Mustang Mach-E. They wrap up with an update to a previous "Spend My Money" segment whose subject ended up purchasing a mid-2000s Porsche 911.  Autoblog Podcast #653 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2021 Kia Telluride 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High Performance Ford Mustang Mach-E platform will be used for another electric vehicle Spend My Money Update (He bought a Porsche!) Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: