2014 Ford F150 Xl on 2040-cars

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Ford talking unibody Ranger replacement

Now here's some welcome news. Car and Driver reports Ford is seriously mulling a replacement for the recently deceased Ranger, but the successor to the compact pickup's throne may not look anything like what we've seen from the nameplate in the past.
While speaking at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, Doug Scott, marketing manager for Ford Trucks, said there's still a market for a smaller pickup, but that buyers expect to see a larger differentiation between the smaller utility vehicles and their full size counterparts in price, capability and fuel economy.
According to Scott, that means a vehicle with a payload capacity of around 1,000 pounds paired with a towing capacity of 3,000 pounds and "a dramatic reduction in fuel consumption." But the biggest piece of that recipe is the price tag, and Scott says to keep the MSRP far enough away from the already cheap F-150, the answer could come in the form of a unibody design. Scott says target customers in this market don't care whether the truck has a traditional frame or not, so long as it's tough enough to do the job and has the capability they need.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and our new long-term Acura TLX | Autoblog Podcast #661

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. This week, they talk about the cars they've been driving, including the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and Audi A4, as well as the recently departed long-term Volvo S60 T8 and the new addition to the long-term fleet, an Acura TLX. In this week's news, they talk about the Stellantis merger completion, some more thoughts about GM at CES, BMW announcing an electric M car, an upcoming electric Lincoln Corsair and the possibility of an electric-only Ford Mustang in 2028. Autoblog Podcast #661 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 What we're driving:2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 2021 Audi A4 S Line 45 TFSI Quattro 2020 Volvo S60 T8 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec News:Stellantis is a thing now More thoughts on GM at CES BMW announces electric M car is coming this year Electric Lincoln Corsair-E coming in 2026, report says The next-gen Ford Mustang reportedly going all-electric, arriving in 2028 Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

Ford issues recalls for Fiesta, Fusion, E-Series, and Lincoln MKZ

Ford has issued two new safety recalls for North America. The first covers certain 2014-15 Ford Fiestas, 2014-16 Ford Fusions, and 2014-16 Lincoln MKZs with doors that might not close properly. The second pertains to 2021 Ford E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway vehicles with a wiring harness that might chaffe and expose important wiring.    Ford is recalling 268,343 Fiesta hatchbacks, Fusion sedans, and MKZ sedans across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 248,912 of the affected vehicles located in the U.S. The recall says the "latch pawl spring-tab design" could crack in locations where the temperature gets too hot. If the tab breaks, the door might not shut. Or, worse, the door will shut temporarily and reopen once the vehicle is in motion. As a fix, Ford dealers will remove and replace the side door latches. In a separate recall, Ford is targeting 3,631 2021 E-Series stripped chassis and cutaway vehicles. These vehicles could have frame-mounted wiring harnesses that could deteriorate and break due to rubbing on the frame. If the chaffing wears down the harness, wiring for the fuel, trailer tow, and antilock braking systems could be exposed and damaged. In the worst-case scenario, the damage to the fuel pump wiring could cause the pump to stop working, which could stall the vehicle.  Those with affected E-Series vehicles should bring them in to dealerships for inspection. If there is no damage, technicians will add anti-abrasion tape over the area and "ensure clearance to surrounding components." If the harness is damaged, the wiring will be spliced and fixed, then anti-abrasion tape will be added. Ford also issued a third recall, but it is specifically for the Canadian market. On 54,292 examples of 2006-10 Ford Fusions, 2006-10 Mercury Milans, and 2006-10 Lincoln MKZs, a valve inside the hydraulic control unit might stick open. According to Ford, this could result in a longer brake pedal travel, which could possibly create dangerous situations if the driver is unaware. Dealerships will inspect the control units and replace those that are defective. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport Leaks!!