Ford Foose F-150 - a Lightning by any other name...
Ford's SVT group had a long run of very impressive machines - from the Mustang Cobra through the Contour and Focus SVT models.
Of particular fame was the high-performance F-150 dubbed the Lightning.
However, Ford has fallen on hard times and one of the first things to get dialed back was the SVT programs. Now, the only product left is the Mustang GT500, which is more a vehicle to carry the Shelby name than SVT.
Anther casualty was the hi-po F-150...until now.
Ford has entered into a partnership with Chip Foose and the first product of this relationship is the F-150 Foose Edition. Packing a 450hp supercharged 5.4l V-8 (similar to the 500hp version in the GT500 Mustang) - this is the most powerful half-ton F-series ever.
Other changes include customer grill-work, lowered suspension, and 22" wheels w/ Z-rated rubber.
Expect this to be a sign (along with the relationship with Shelby) of how Ford plans to market SVT-type vehicles in the future. Give customers the extra enticement of a famous name label on the special edition products to give them more cache then SVT was able to provide alone.
Of particular fame was the high-performance F-150 dubbed the Lightning.
However, Ford has fallen on hard times and one of the first things to get dialed back was the SVT programs. Now, the only product left is the Mustang GT500, which is more a vehicle to carry the Shelby name than SVT.
Anther casualty was the hi-po F-150...until now.Ford has entered into a partnership with Chip Foose and the first product of this relationship is the F-150 Foose Edition. Packing a 450hp supercharged 5.4l V-8 (similar to the 500hp version in the GT500 Mustang) - this is the most powerful half-ton F-series ever.
Other changes include customer grill-work, lowered suspension, and 22" wheels w/ Z-rated rubber.
Expect this to be a sign (along with the relationship with Shelby) of how Ford plans to market SVT-type vehicles in the future. Give customers the extra enticement of a famous name label on the special edition products to give them more cache then SVT was able to provide alone.
Holy Crap! - Shelby to unveil 540hp Mustang at New York
Back in the day, Carol Shelby was responsible for some pretty hot Mustangs. Now, he's lending his name again to even more hot Mustangs such as the Shelby GT-H (a special GT for Hertz), Shelby GT, and the GT500 coupe and convertible.
If you thought the Shelby GT500 with its 500hp was an impressive ride - check this out.
The GT500KR (KR = King of the Road and hearkens back to the classic GT500KR of 40 years ago) is a limited production (only 1000 will be built), coupe only, with an even higher performance version of the 5.4l supercharged V-8 from the standard GT500. In this iteration, we get 540hp and 510lb*ft of torque.
Other special touches include:
Recalibrated suspension, underhood cross brace, carbon composite hood with scoops paterned after the original GT500KR, 20" Shelby designed wheels for the concept (18" of the same design for the production KR), front brake cooling ducts, and 40th anniversary badging all over.
Expect MSRP's over 50k with actual transaction prices quite a bit higher.
If you thought the Shelby GT500 with its 500hp was an impressive ride - check this out.The GT500KR (KR = King of the Road and hearkens back to the classic GT500KR of 40 years ago) is a limited production (only 1000 will be built), coupe only, with an even higher performance version of the 5.4l supercharged V-8 from the standard GT500. In this iteration, we get 540hp and 510lb*ft of torque.
Other special touches include:
Recalibrated suspension, underhood cross brace, carbon composite hood with scoops paterned after the original GT500KR, 20" Shelby designed wheels for the concept (18" of the same design for the production KR), front brake cooling ducts, and 40th anniversary badging all over.
Expect MSRP's over 50k with actual transaction prices quite a bit higher.
Chrysler and Sirius to offer back-seat TV system
Chrysler and SIRIUS announced today the exclusive availability of SIRIUS Backseat TV™ programming in 2008 Chrysler Group vehicles starting with the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans.
The initial offering will be 3 channels of live, family TV programming from Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network delivered directly to the vehicle.
The system will later be made available in the 2008 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The system will carry an MSRP of $470, which includes the first year of service, when packaged with Chrysler Group’s Rear Seat Entertainment System and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. After the first year, SIRIUS Backseat TV is available for $7 per month when packaged with SIRIUS Satellite Radio ($12.95 per month).
The initial offering will be 3 channels of live, family TV programming from Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network delivered directly to the vehicle.
The system will later be made available in the 2008 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The system will carry an MSRP of $470, which includes the first year of service, when packaged with Chrysler Group’s Rear Seat Entertainment System and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. After the first year, SIRIUS Backseat TV is available for $7 per month when packaged with SIRIUS Satellite Radio ($12.95 per month).
Pictures of the Infiniti EX concept
Infiniti is readying a new crossover to compete against the likes of the BMW X3.
This 'concept' that they call the EX is looking quite ready for production and is expected to hit showrooms by the end of the year.
Oddly, the EX is practically the same size as Infinti's current FX crossover, but with better packaging. It will be interesting to see if this V-6 crossover means the FX is not long for this world or that it will be redesigned soon to make room for the new EX.
Expect more details next week after the official unveiling.
This 'concept' that they call the EX is looking quite ready for production and is expected to hit showrooms by the end of the year.Oddly, the EX is practically the same size as Infinti's current FX crossover, but with better packaging. It will be interesting to see if this V-6 crossover means the FX is not long for this world or that it will be redesigned soon to make room for the new EX.
Expect more details next week after the official unveiling.
Chevy to show 3 microcar concepts in New York
Update: April 4, 2007 - Chevy has unveiled all three microcars and opened voting at vote4chevrolet.com. Check out the new post with pictures!
Today, Chevy announced that they will have a trio of microcar concepts to show off at the New York Auto Show.
They have teased us with a rendering of the Trax concept, designed, along with the other two (the Groove and Beat) at GM's design center in Incheon, South Korea. The Trax packs a 1.0 litre gas engine and is aimed (as most micros are) at urban drivers.
GM will be allowing show goers to vote on their favorite at vote4chevrolet.com starting on April 4th.
It looks like GM may be taking the threat of the DaimlerChrysler Smart ForTwo seriously and is preparing their own competing product - and using the web site to gauge which concept is closest to the mark.
Today, Chevy announced that they will have a trio of microcar concepts to show off at the New York Auto Show.
They have teased us with a rendering of the Trax concept, designed, along with the other two (the Groove and Beat) at GM's design center in Incheon, South Korea. The Trax packs a 1.0 litre gas engine and is aimed (as most micros are) at urban drivers.GM will be allowing show goers to vote on their favorite at vote4chevrolet.com starting on April 4th.
It looks like GM may be taking the threat of the DaimlerChrysler Smart ForTwo seriously and is preparing their own competing product - and using the web site to gauge which concept is closest to the mark.
Hummer news - H3 gets a V-8 and H2 gets an upgraded interior
It looks like a couple more of the GM announcements for New York have broken cover...
First is a mid-cycle refresh of the Hummer H2, with a freshened front end (not that anyone outside a Hummer fanatic could tell), a version of the 6.2l V-8 from the Cadillac Escalade (increasing the tow rating to 8000 lbs), and a brand new interior with new seats, new dash and gauges, and improved appointments all around.
Then there is the baby Hummer, the H3. Always criticized for being a bit of a laggard on-road, even if it had serious off-road cred. The inline-5, shared with the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon just didn't have what it took to be competitive.
That's nothing that 3 more cylinders wouldn't take care of...and that's what we get. The H3 Alpha brings GM's 5.3l V-8 with 295hp and 317 lb*ft of torque to bear to not only move the H3 down the road with more authority, but also to increase the tow rating by 33% to a solid 6000 lbs.
Expect the freshened H2 and the H3 Alpha to go on sale later this year.
First is a mid-cycle refresh of the Hummer H2, with a freshened front end (not that anyone outside a Hummer fanatic could tell), a version of the 6.2l V-8 from the Cadillac Escalade (increasing the tow rating to 8000 lbs), and a brand new interior with new seats, new dash and gauges, and improved appointments all around.Then there is the baby Hummer, the H3. Always criticized for being a bit of a laggard on-road, even if it had serious off-road cred. The inline-5, shared with the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon just didn't have what it took to be competitive.
That's nothing that 3 more cylinders wouldn't take care of...and that's what we get. The H3 Alpha brings GM's 5.3l V-8 with 295hp and 317 lb*ft of torque to bear to not only move the H3 down the road with more authority, but also to increase the tow rating by 33% to a solid 6000 lbs.Expect the freshened H2 and the H3 Alpha to go on sale later this year.
Gee, Buick...that's just Super
As I've mentioned before, Buick will be unveiling it's 'performance' series of cars at the New York Auto Show in April.The badge being applied to these is 'Super'. This will show up first on the LaCrosse and Lucerne and mark the first V-8 in the LaCrosse and a performance suspension, etc. on the Lucerne.
As you can see here, they will also sport bigger, Enclave-like grill work that, in at least the LaCrosse's case - will be standard across the line.It will be interesting to see if these actually help Buick sales while we wait for true re-designed models in the vein of the Enclave's style.
Chevy's Lambda to get Nomad badge
It's unusual, in the GM pecking order, for Chevy to have to wait for anything. However, when it comes to the Lambda chassis (Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave) - Chevy gets to be last.
Word out of Edmund's Inside Line sub-site is that Chevy will correct this in the 2009 model year with their own version of the Lambda crossover. Along with the new crossover (that will effectively replace the defunct Uplander minivan, much as the other Lambda's replace Saturn's Relay and Buick's minivan-esque Rendezvous), they are expected to recycle another classic name from Chevy's past - Nomad.
Nomad, in case you aren't familiar, was used decades ago on Chevy's station wagons, and more recently on a Kappa-based, rear-drive sport wagon concept. So, at least they'd be consistent in putting the name on a utilitarian vehicle.
Unknown is if the new Chevy Nomad will be stylistically similar to the Saturn/GMC version or if GM will do the right thing and differentiate the styling as Buick as done with the Enclave.
Obviously, I'm hoping for the latter.
Check out the Edmund's story at:
IL: Chevy Mulls Reviving "Nomad" Name for New Crossover Vehicle
Word out of Edmund's Inside Line sub-site is that Chevy will correct this in the 2009 model year with their own version of the Lambda crossover. Along with the new crossover (that will effectively replace the defunct Uplander minivan, much as the other Lambda's replace Saturn's Relay and Buick's minivan-esque Rendezvous), they are expected to recycle another classic name from Chevy's past - Nomad.Nomad, in case you aren't familiar, was used decades ago on Chevy's station wagons, and more recently on a Kappa-based, rear-drive sport wagon concept. So, at least they'd be consistent in putting the name on a utilitarian vehicle.
Unknown is if the new Chevy Nomad will be stylistically similar to the Saturn/GMC version or if GM will do the right thing and differentiate the styling as Buick as done with the Enclave.
Obviously, I'm hoping for the latter.
Check out the Edmund's story at:
IL: Chevy Mulls Reviving "Nomad" Name for New Crossover Vehicle