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2015 Ford F-150 enters production

Ford has given the F-150 a dramatic makeover for 2015, switching to an aluminum body that helps reduce weight by about 700 pounds. Because the truck is dramatically different, Ford also had to change the way it makes the F-150, so we went inside its sprawling factory in Dearborn, MI, this week to see the Blue Oval's new manufacturing techniques in action.
The company has added 850 jobs at the site and upgraded its stamping and tool and die facilities. The body shop is also modernized, and it has been fitted with 500 new robots that join the structures together. The first 2015 F-150 rolled off the line on Tuesday, and the trucks will begin arriving in dealerships in December. Get a closer look at the F-150's unique assembly process in our video.

Ford, Renault have surprises in store for Le Mans

All those prototype and GT racers won't be the only attraction catching our eye at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. Two major automakers have also confirmed that they've got new metal to unveil. And while they're not saying exactly what they'll be, we've got some pretty good ideas. First up is Ford, which has announced a "major Ford Performance news announcement" on Friday. Chairman Bill Ford, CEO Mark Fields, and product development chief Raj Nair will be on hand for the announcement set to take place on Friday at 10:00 AM Eastern. The Blue Oval isn't saying just what it has in store, but the widespread speculation has been that it will present a racing version of the new Ford GT at Le Mans a good half century since the original GT40 raced there. Meanwhile, Renault has announced that it is marking the 60th anniversary of the Alpine marque at Le Mans this Saturday. The French automaker has been working on reviving the dormant marque, and looks poised to finally reveal its new sports car at its iconic home endurance race this weekend. Tipped to be called the Alpine AS1, the new sports car will bring the marque back out of retirement in a more real way than the ELMS-winning LMP2 prototype ever could. Expect it to be based on the mid-engined chassis underpinning the Renault RS 01 spec racer, but built for the road. Related Video: FORD TO ANNOUNCE SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCE NEWS THIS WEEK - Ford this week is making a major Ford Performance news announcement via live-streamed media conference - Bill Ford, executive chairman will host the event with Mark Fields, president and CEO; and Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development COLOGNE, Germany, June 8, 2015 – Ford this week is making a news announcement regarding Ford Performance at 14:00 UK time on Friday. Ford Executive Chairman, Bill Ford; President and CEO Mark Fields; and Group Vice President of Global Product Development Raj Nair, will be joined by special guests for an event that will be live-streamed around the world. The news conference will be available to view live at http://bit.ly/FordPerformanceSpecialEvent where an automated calendar entry for the June 12 event is now available. Broadcasters please note the conference will be available from BT Tower at 15:00-15:30 CET/13:00-13:30 GMT (HD – ref: HD/LOG/C 113) (SD – ref: ARQIVA 71). ### Save the date: 60th Anniversary of Alpine To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Alpine, we have a surprise for you at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake

History has a way of repeating itself, especially in the auto industry. When Jaguar was owned by Ford, the British brand attempted to field a competitor for the BMW 3 Series, called the X-Type. Based on the bones of a Ford Mondeo, it aped the styling of Jaguar's flagship model, the XJ, while borrowing liberally from the Ford parts bin. That was 2001.
Now, in 2013, Jaguar is planning a new 3 Series challenger based on the platform previewed by the C-X17 Concept, while Ford is attempting to take the latest Mondeo upmarket. The moves have both brands recognizing where, why, and how the X-Type failed. "It didn't look mature or powerful or anything. It was just a car," Jaguar's current head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, told PistonHeads. Basing the X-Type on a front-drive car while giving it styling that was meant for a rear-driver lead to proportions that "were plainly wrong," Thomson told PH. Ford's European head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, added that the X-Type was "a fake Jaguar, because every piece I touch is Ford."
For what it's worth, the X-Type's successor in the segment will sport rear-drive, with plenty of input from Ian Callum. Thomson described the new model, which would challenge the 3 Series as having, "Big wheels right to the ends of the car, low bonnet, short overhangs, very low cabins." Sounds good to us.