It is a well-known fact that electric vehicles and their wealth of instant torque are powerful weapons in drag races. But can Ford’s fastest EV take on its most powerful V8?
Edmunds decided to find out by pitting the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 against the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance. The two performance-focused cars with the Mustang name at the height of modern technology are actually closer on paper than you might imagine.
In Edmunds testing, the Shelby is only 0.1 seconds faster to 60 mph (96 km/h) than the Mach-E, with the former reaching highway speed in 3.7 seconds and the latter in 3.8 seconds.
Since the ICE-powered Mustang Shelby GT500 has to funnel all of its power to the rear wheels, it’s a handful to launch, especially when you’re on an unprepared surface, as the hosts find in this video. That means that the AWD Mustang Mach-E GT Performance actually gets off the line much faster than its competitor.
As others have also discovered, though, what the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance gains off the line, it loses a little farther down the track. Edmunds’ Ryan Zummallen complains that, with only five seconds at full power, the EV tops out much faster than V8-powered Shelby.
As they cross the line in the first race, the GT500 manages to tap into its high-end power and just beat the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance, which leads Zummallen to try and race more tactically.
“You know, I guess getting five seconds of full power only, I guess I could try to game it a little bit, maybe go a little bit lighter right off the line because I’m gonna get a gap either way and then try and hit it,” he said.
This proves not to be wise and in the second race, the GT500 beats the Mustang Mach-E GT handily.
Still, the initial result is an impressive one for the Mach-E, which proves itself to be almost as fast as a Shelby GT500 in a drag race. That’s not a result I would have likely believed without witnessing it, but as is often the case with EVs, seeing is believing.
The Ram 1500 TRX has established itself as the king of combustion-powered pickup trucks but can a Ford F-150 modified by Roush give it a run for its money?
To try and answer that question, the duo were pitted against each other for a series of drag races. After reading their specs, it doesn’t take a genius to guess which truck comes out on top.
Powering the TRX is a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 with 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. This engine drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and in ideal conditions, the truck can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 4 seconds. By comparison, the Ford F-150 tuned by Roush has a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 650 hp and 610 lb-ft that’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Off the line, the Ram has a significant advantage and walks away from the Ford without breaking a sweat. This result is replicated in each of the other races, both from a standing start and from a roll.
Admittedly, this isn’t really a fair fight as the F-150 tested is a previous-generation model. The fairest comparison would involve the TRX being pitted against a tuned version of the new F-150 Raptor. With enough power, Hennessey Performance has already proven that a modified new F-150 can out-accelerate the TRX.
A 16-year-old driver of a Ford F-Series pickup truck is under investigation after striking six cyclists in Waller County, Texas while allegedly trying to roll coal.
Click 2 Houston reports that the accident happened just after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, September 25. A group of cyclists were traveling along U.S. Route 290 at the time while training for a local Ironman event.
Chase Ferrell was traveling behind the group of cyclists and told local media that the driver of the pickup was rolling coal across the cyclists, repeatedly accelerating and braking to blow black soot from the truck’s exhausts across the group.
“A kid in a black truck attempted to ‘roll coal’ us where they accelerate past blowing diesel exhaust on cyclists,” Ferrell said. “It made me mad, so I accelerated to try to catch up to him, so I could take a picture of his truck, take a picture of him or his license plate or something.”
Soon after, Ferrell says the 16-year-old driver of the Ford hit six of the cyclists. While the cyclists were treated at a local hospital and released, some of them suffered shoulder, back, and neck injuries and are expected to require follow-up surgeries.
“When I pulled up on the scene, I thought I was going to be pulling up to people that were dead,” Ferrell said. “It’s senseless. It doesn’t make any sense for anybody to do that to any cyclist… it’s pointless.”
Click 2 Houston states that the 16-year-old driver spoke to officers on the scene but was not arrested. Local police have confirmed this is indeed the case, stating that the accident is still under investigation.
NEW AT 10 on @KPRC2: 6 cyclist are recovering after being hit by a truck. It happened on Business 290 in Waller County. A groups of cyclist were training for the Ironman Marathon. The driver identified as a 16-year-old pulled over until police arrived but has not been arrested. pic.twitter.com/spVBWf9Nj8
A few months ago, we stumbled across a Ford Crown Victoria in Sweden that had been fitted with a massive 27-liter V12. Fast forward to June and this insane engine up has been fired up for the first time while nestled into the Ford’s engine bay.
The engine in question was built by Rolls-Royce and formerly used in a World War II-era tank; in its hey-day, it delivered roughly 550 hp. That’s a lot of power for a Ford Crown Victoria but isn’t that much when you consider just how massive the V12 is. As such, those behind the project have equipped it with a pair of turbochargers and a custom ECU so it ultimately delivers closer to 2,500 hp.
During this video, the car is rolled out from the barn where it is being built before the engine is fired up. It takes a couple of tries to fine-tune the air and fuel ratio before the engine starts for the first time. A thermal imaging camera is then used to ensure that all 12 cylinders are working. The video notes that the pressure pipes to the turbochargers were not connected during these initial tests.
As you can imagine, fitting a 27-liter V12 into a Crown Vic was no small feat. In fact, the car actually has the front end of a Chevrolet C10 pickup truck and the rear of the engine extends into the cabin.
Ford is looking for ways to make more parts out of more sustainable materials. And to do that, it’s borrowing waste from SmileDirectClub to make fuel clips for F-250 Super Duties.
The automaker teamed up with HP, the manufacturer of its 3D printers in order to find a use for the waste material that comes as a result of the printing process. And it found one.
Basically, the extra material is turned into plastic pellets that can be used for injection molding. Before you go wondering if recycled fuel-line clips are good as regular ones, it turns out they’re actually better.
The clips made from the waste material are 7% lighter, have better moisture resistance properties, and cost 10% less to make than the traditional clips. They’re so good that Ford’s team is looking for other vehicles besides the F-250 to put them in.
“Finding new ways to work with sustainable materials, reducing waste, and leading the development of the circular economy are passions at Ford,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford technical fellow, Sustainability. “Many companies are finding great uses for 3D printing technologies, but, together with HP, we’re the first to find a high-value application for waste powder that likely would have gone to landfill.”
Some of the material comes from Ford’s own 3D printers that it uses to make some low-volume commercial vehicle parts and fixtures used by assembly line workers. But that’s not enough to supply Ford’s needs, so it turned to SmileDirectClub.
The company makes aligners, a form of dental braces, and operates America’s largest facility of HP 3D printing systems. Producing more than 40,000 aligners a day, its waste is enough to supply Ford’s needs.
The material is collected by one of HP’s partners and molded into fuel line clips by a Ford supplier before being used in F-250 Super Duties.
“A key to achieving our sustainability goals and solving the broader problems of society is working with other like-minded companies – we can’t do it alone,” Mielewski said. “With HP, we defined the waste problem, solved technical challenges, and found a solution in less than one year, which is something in which we all take pride.”
Following last year’s announcement, Ford has launched the new S-Max Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid in Europe.
The two MPVs pack the same powertrain as the Kuga Hybrid, namely a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle petrol engine mated to the brand’s latest-gen power-split transmission, an electric motor and a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery that allows them to drive on zero emissions for short periods of time.
The self-charging powertrain puts out 190 PS (187 HP / 140 kW) for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 9.8 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than the Kuga Hybrid, and is backed up by regenerative braking that recovers up to 90 percent of the energy normally lost during deceleration.
On the WLTP cycle, the S-Max Hybrid delivers 6.4 l/100 km (44.1 mpg UK / 36.8 mpg US) and emits 146-147 g/km of CO2. It has a total towing capacity of 1,750 kg (3,858 lbs) in the five-seat variant, and 1,560 kg (3,439 lbs) as a seven-seater. The Galaxy Hybrid returns 6.4-6.5 l/100 km (44.1-43.5 mpg UK / 36.8-36.2 mpg US), emits 148-149 g/km of CO2, and does the 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 10.0 seconds.
As the battery is positioned under the boot floor by rerouting the exhaust system, the S-Max Hybrid offers up to 2,200 liters (77.7 cu-ft) of cargo capacity with all seats folded down, and 285 liters (10 cu-ft) behind the third row. It can haul objects up to almost 1 meter (39 in) tall and more than 1 meter (39 in) wide between the rear wheel housings. The Galaxy Hybrid has a load volume of 2,339 liters (82.6 cu-ft) behind the first row and 300 liters (10.6 cu-ft) with all seats in place.
Both the S-Max and Galaxy hybrids have special interfaces in the available 10-inch digital instrument cluster, standard FordPass Connect modem, remote door lock/unlock, vehicle status and locator, electrically adjustable front seats for the Trend and Titanium trim levels with heating/cooling and massage functions in the Vignale, and optional electric tailgate.
The two hybrid MPVs are put together at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain.
Ford has reportedly secured around 230,000 reservations for the all-new Bronco.
In the two weeks since reservations books for the Bronco opened up after its online reveal on July 13, automotive enthusiasts have been clamoring to lock in a reservation. All 3,500 First Edition models were quickly accounted for, prompting the automaker to double production to 7,000 units. As it turns out, though, it is not just the First Edition that shoppers have been reserving.
According to an administrator from the Bronco6G forum, approximately 230,000 reservations for the Bronco have been placed since July 13. The administrator doesn’t state were this number comes from, other than claiming it comes from a “reliable” source. Mind you, the number does not account for the Ford Bronco Sport.
This figure comes roughly a week after a Ford spokesperson told Car and Driver that “reservations have been so popular that some Bronco customers may not receive their Bronco until 2022.”
The Ford spokesperson added that the first deliveries are scheduled for spring 2021. It was also confirmed that customers with reservations will have their Broncos built before production of stock units bound for dealerships commence.
Of course, securing 230,000 reservations for the Bronco does not mean Ford has sold that many. Those looking to reserve a Bronco can do so with a $100 refundable deposit, but it won’t be until this December that customers are able to convert this into an order through their selected dealership.
Nevertheless, the positive reception to the Bronco bodes very well indeed for Ford’s latest SUV – plus it should put Jeep on high alert.
Nearly a quarter-century after it was last made, the new Ford Bronco makes its debut today (July 13) with as much anticipation as any new vehicle in recent memory.
Often cited as the first Sport Utility Vehicle, the Bronco has a loyal following and its new edition is likely to continue the iconic vehicle’s increasing legacy.
The Ford Bronco debuted in 1966 and the 2021 edition was unveiled July 13, 2021.
Brian Rabold, vice president of valuation services for Hagerty, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss all things Ford Bronco.
Ford Bronco: Its legacy contines
Hagerty, the Michigan-based automotive lifestyle company, provides specialty insurance for collectible vehicles. The Bronco, in its various model years, generations and trims, has increased in value rapidly in recent years.
Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Rabold about the history of the Bronco and Hagerty’s insights into the vehicle’s chronology and its re-emergence.
According to Hagerty, consider some facts and figures:
* the age of the average owner of Bronco owner is 54, seven years younger than the average collector car owner;
* The first generation (’66-‘77 Broncos) are the most valuable at a median value at $50,600. The ’73-’77 Wagon 4×4 with the 302cid engine is the most valuable model with a median value of $60,200;
* The highest sale for an unmodified Bronco at auction is $143,000 for a 1971 Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition.
Rabold discusses all of the Bronco’s attributes and he has an impressive knowledge of the vehicle’s place in American automotive culture. He also gives us an opinion about one oddity of the debut of the new Bronco.
Originally scheduled for July 9, the planned debut of the 2021 Ford Bronco coincided with the birthday of O.J. Simpson.
Simpson, the former Heisman Trophy winner and National Football League star, was wanted in the slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
After Simpson failed to turn himself in, a national television audience of 95 million watched for hours as the drama unfolded of Simpson slowly being pursued on Los Angeles Freeways as the passenger in a 1993 white Bronco driven by his friend.
Simpson was acquitted a year later in one of the most closely watched murder trials in American history. But the Bronco has since been associated with the bizarre day.
Ford officials said it was “pure coincidence” when they announced the debut’s original date. But Ford dropped the Bronco in 1996.
Rabold said he “gives Ford the benefit of the doubt.”
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The Ford Mustang and the Ford Transit now have one more thing in common besides the Blue Oval badge.
Ford of Europe has announced that the Transit van is from now on available with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s the same gearbox available on the Mustang sports car and the Ranger and F-150 pickup trucks.
The 10-speed auto is offered as an option on rear-wheel drive Ford Transit models powered by the latest 170 PS (168 HP) 2.0-liter EcoBlue HDT turbo diesel engine. Ford says the automatic transmission underwent “intensive performance and durability testing to ensure suitability for heavy-duty use in commercial vehicles that operate at high weights, tow frequently, and have high-intensity work schedules.”
The automaker claims the 10-speed auto offers the ideal solution for RWD Transit applications where automatics are preferred for their ease-of-use and convenience. Those include higher weight conversions including grocery delivery vans, emergency response vehicles and motorhomes, as well as the factory-built 15-seat and 18-seat Transit minibuses.
Equipped with the 10-speed automatic gearbox, the Transit comes with GVM (gross vehicle mass) ratings ranging from 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) to 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) and single- or dual-rear-wheel options. The model is also available with chassis cab, minibus and van body styles. The 10-speed automatic gearbox allows the Transit to tow up to 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs).
Additionally, the maximum GTM (gross towing mass) of 6,100 kg (13,448 lbs) makes the Transit appropriate for operators in construction, utilities or events industries who frequently tow equipment.
A new report claims that Ford is considering turning the Bronco and Mustang into their own individual sub-brands.
Although the latest-generation Ford Bronco has yet to be released, it is claimed Ford could, down the road, make Bronco and Mustang their own sub-brands and launch several models under each brand. The new sub-brands could form part of the so-called ‘Ford Icons’ group.
“We have to leverage what we’re good at,” a source recently told Autoweek. “What are we good at? Mustangs and trucks. Mustang is a niche product with a great legacy. We need to expand on that legacy. More Broncos is a no-brainer.”
2021 Ford Bronco photo renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes
The Ford Bronco will initially be unveiled in two- and four-door guises and then joined by the smaller Bronco Sport, which itself may spawn a new pickup truck. EV and hybrid variants of both can also be expected at some stage in the future, as can electrified versions of the Mustang, the unnamed source added.
“Who knows what the timeframe is in this COVID atmosphere we’re in but yeah, we’re looking at more EVs, hybrids, sedans, crossovers, coupe EVs, convertible EVs, rear-drive, all-wheel drive, you name it. There’s probably going to be a fistfight over a pickup called Mustang, though. The aim is for the Mustang-badged vehicles to be the more performance-oriented of the two sub-brands,” the source added.
While we would not be shocked in the slightest to see Ford make Bronco into its own sub-brand, it could run the risk of alienating enthusiasts if it spins-off the Mustang badge. That being said, it has already softened us up with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, a vehicle that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
