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Ford recalls 90,736 vehicles due to engine valve issue

Ford will recall 90,736 vehicles as engine intake valves in the vehicles may break while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Saturday. The recall impacts certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine, the NHTSA said. According to documents posted by NHTSA and sourced from the automaker, "The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power." Following an investigation that started in January, 2022, Ford found 22 instances where "the engine intake valves fractured and fell into the combustion chamber of the engine causing catastrophic engine damage." The automaker's analysis continues: "Ford identified that the potential root cause of the failures was engine intake valve failure due to valves that exceeded the designed specification for hardness, were brittle, and more likely to fracture. Ford determined that this was due to the supplier’s grinding processes and the sensitivity of the intake valve material to grinding processes that were not within control specifications. The intake valve material was changed for vehicles produced after October 31, 2021." Fixing the problem will require replacement of the entire engine. "Dealers will inspect each vehicle to determine its cumulative number of engine cycles. For vehicles that do not meet the engine cycle threshold, dealers will accumulate high revolutions per minute (rpm) engine cycles per a service procedure. Engines will be replaced on vehicles that do not pass the engine cycle accumulation," Ford says.

2015 Ford Shelby GT350, GT350R Mustang option pricing leaked [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Ford wasn't willing to elaborate on Mustang6G's pricing report, with spokesperson Said Deep simply saying, "We haven't announced pricing at this time." The limited availability of the new 2015 GT350 and GT350R isn't the only Ford Mustang news today, as a leaked report by Mustang6G has shined a light on the cost of the optional equipment we first reported on way back in January. First, we have the standard GT350. As we reported earlier, only 50 cars will get the $7,500-Tech Package, which includes magnetic ride control, navigation with Sync 3, dual-zone climate control, and heated, air-conditioned, leather-upholstered, and powered seats. The other 50 standard models will get the $6,500-Track Package. You'll still get magnetic ride control, selectable driving modes and enhanced cooling systems for the engine oil, trans and diff. Stand-alone navigation is $795, a black roof is $695, stripes are $475, and as with the standard Mustang, Triple Yellow Clearcoat paint is $495. Fancy one of the just 37 GT350Rs? You'll pony up (pun intended) an extra $3,500 on top of the price of a GT350. From there, Mustang6G cites a $3,000-SVT Touring Package, which we think references the Electronics Package (navigation, Sync 3, and dual-zone climate control). Outside of those two items, the GT350R's only additional options include a black roof, stand-alone nav, and stripes, all of which carry the same price as the standard car. Like our report earlier today, these prices appear to only be for the 2015 model. While production outputs for the 2016 will probably increase, we can't be sure whether these prices be carried over, as well. Mustang6G claims it will have a starting price "very soon," which we'll naturally bring you as soon as it's published. We've also reached out to Ford to confirm this report as well as get any info on the GT350's starting price. Stay tuned. Related Video:

Rivian R1T, Mini Cooper Electric owners happiest with their EVs

The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study is out, and there's change at the top. With the swelling adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S. over in the past two years especially, the third year of the EVX study changes focus to first-time EV buyers. Those two factors encouraged change at the top of both premium and mass-market segments. Among premium EVs, the Rivian R1T pickup scored overall victory in its first year of eligibility with a satisfaction score of 794 out of 1,000. The Tesla Model 3 takes second place with 759 points. Tesla had won the top two premium spots in the study in 2021 and in 2022. The average score in the premium segment was 756. The Tesla Model Y (754), Audi E-Tron (735), and Polestar 2 (724) filled out the list of the five eligible models this year. Among the ten eligible mass-market vehicles, the Mini Cooper Electric nabbed the overall win by scoring 782. The Kia EV6 came second with 762 points, keeping Kia in the top two; the Kia Niro EV won the mass-market segment the previous two years. The Ford Mustang Mach-E (742), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (738), and Volkswagen ID.4 (735) completed the top five, the Niro EV (733) in sixth. All were above the segment average of 730. The four models fell below the segment average were the Ford F-150 Lightning (723), Chevrolet Bolt EUV (716), Chevrolet Bolt (711), and Nissan Leaf (698). How are the scores derived? J.D. Power worked with EV app maker and research firm PlugShare to get owner responses in ten areas: accuracy of stated battery range; availability of public charging stations; battery range; cost of ownership; driving enjoyment; ease of charging at home; interior and exterior styling; safety and technology features; service experience; and vehicle quality and reliability. Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, said, "Recent vehicle launches from both new brands and traditional automakers have had a profound effect on what factors are most important in the ownership experience. Today’s EV owners are looking for quality, reliability, driving enjoyment, safety and technology features." The Mini, in fact, scored highest of any premium and mass-market EV in the studyÂ’s highest-weighted index factor, quality and reliability.