1930 Ford Model A Coupe With Rumble Seat on 2040-cars

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2015 Ford Mustang to offer solid-rear axle, sort of

One of the biggest knocks against the last Ford Mustang was its solid-rear axle. Not one to actively court criticism, Ford dutifully swapped out the old-fashioned rear end for something a bit more modern in the redesigned 2015 Mustang, adding an independent rear suspension across the board.
While an IRS Mustang is great news for those that value handling and ride comfort, there's one big group that it's bad news for - drag racers. See, a solid-rear axle is a big deal for drag racers, because not only is it more durable and cheaper, but it's better for the hard launches that can make or break a race.
To satiate this vocal demographic, Ford will sell a body-in-white version of the Stang, complete with a nine-inch rear axle, that will debut at the 2014 Performance Racing Industry show. The news came from gas2.org, which cited an unnamed employee of Ford Racing at this year's PRI show.

Chris Harris checks out Ken Block's Hoonicorn '65 Mustang

Ken Block's Hoonicorn, which stars in Gymkhana Seven, might still bear a passing resemblance to a vintage 1965 Ford Mustang, but underneath the skin, the car is one of the baddest custom machines to ever do a smoky burnout on the road. The ever enthusiastic British auto journalist Chris Harris is now showing what really makes Block's new ride tick on video, and Harris even gets to go for quite a ride. The only Mustang components really left on the Hoonicorn are the A-pillar, B-pillar and roof, according to Harris. Everything else is ditched to create Block's ultimate Gymkhana tool. The 845-horsepower, 6.7-liter Rousch Yates V8 sits behind the front axle, and the grunt is routed to all four wheels through a Sadev gearbox usually found on Dakar Rally vehicles. The whole drivetrain is packed with cool little touches; like that giant handbrake that also disconnects power from the front wheels when in use. The superlatives about the Hoonicorn could go on forever, but settle in and let a very excited Harris tell you about just some of them. He's like a kid in a candy store here, and the look that combines surprise, fear and joy during his ride with Block is the kind that lacks a suitable word in the English language.

This is the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum, full of Nirvana

We knew two the most important things about the Platinum trim on the Ford Explorer when the configurator arrived online at the end of last year: it starts at $52,600 and comes standard with just about everything. In advance of the Explorer Platinum arriving at dealerships in September, Ford's dropped details on the superluxe crossover and what its chief designer calls "the most upscale, high-quality interior we've ever offered on a Ford vehicle in North America." So-called Nirvana leather goes everywhere, on the micro-perforated front seats, the rear seats, the instrument panel, armrests, door bolsters, and upper door trim. It looks like it can be had in two colors, either Soft Ceramic or Ebony, with a headliner colored Anthracite that goes with a matching, fabric-wrapped A-pillar. Elsewhere, there's genuine aluminum and ash wood, a stitched-leather-and-wood steering wheel with a brushed aluminum Ford logo, and a gauge cluster with a 10-inch digital display flanked by analog dials. View 16 Photos Another first is the 500-watt Sony stereo, the first time that brand has incorporated its premium home audio technology into a vehicle. Twelve speakers in ten locations are said to be able to recreate the sound from several concert halls around the world, and to stage instruments and voices around the cabin the same way you'd hear them at home. The Explorer Platinum is less ostentatious outside, with LED headlights, silver skidplates front and back, and special 20-inch wheels denoting the Platinum from other trims. The 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is standard, along with Terrain Management, active park assist that works for both perpendicular and parallel spots, lane keeping assistance, and rain-sensing wipers. The two press releases below go over all the goodies.