Ford

Five years ago, Ford and GM entered in a partnership whereby the two U.S. auto behemoths would share a few newly developed transmissions, all in the name of greater efficiency and lower R&D costs. Now, it’s looking like Ford will take a different approach than originally outlined, adapting the GM gearbox to better suit its needs.

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It’s not like we haven’t sworn out all of the Mustang jokes already, but damn it’s fun to watch these guys crash. Of course, now that Ford is considering AWD for the next-gen Mustang, these kinds of unfortunate mistakes might thin out a bit.

When Ford showed off the new Ranger, it showed nothing but potential in terms of utility and everyday usefulness. It had damn near everyone wondering if Ford would go back to its roots and offer the new Ranger as a single-cab, two-door model with a longer bed. The hope was there, but according to a 2019 model year VIN document sent to the NHTSA, the Ranger will only offer four doors in either supercab or supercrew body styles. Both supercab and supercrew models will be available with rear- or all-wheel drive, but supercab models options with “bed delete” will only be offered with rear-wheel drive. That’s right; you’ll be able to turn the new ranger into a flatbed. As expected, the only engine on offer is a 2.3-liter four-banger paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

First introduced in 2002, the Ford Focus RS was produced in very limited quantities during the first- and second-generation models. The third-gen car was launched in 2015 after many years of rumors with a Mustang engine under the hood and an all-wheel-drive system. Discontinued in 2018 just as Ford unveiled the fourth-generation Focus, the RS nameplate is likely to return sooner than before and with even more aggressive performance ratings. Although a production model has yet to be confirmed, Ford was already spotted testing a higher performance variant of the Focus in Europe. Whether it’s the ST or the RS remains unclear for now, but both nameplates are likely to return in dealerships soon.

But the big mystery here is not when the Focus RS will return, but what engine it will use. According to recent rumors, the next-generation Focus RS could become a hybrid. This would be a first for the nameplate and a big blow for the Volkswagen Golf R. There isn’t much info as to what it will have under the hood, but more details should become available as the Focus RS goes out testing. Stay tuned for updates and check out the speculative review below to find out what we already know about the hot hatchback.

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With a few teasers and at least a couple of prototypes spotted on public roads, it’s no longer a mystery that a brand-new Shelby GT500 is underway. However, official information about the drivetrain is still slim beyond the rumors. Word has it that the new Shelby GT500 will hit the road with a twin-turbo V-8 under the hood mated to a dual-clutch transmission for extremely fast shifts and sprints to 60 mph, but new spy shots suggest that the muscle car may also get a manual transmission.

The next-generation Ford Focus ST was recently spotted testing in the wild, and we’ve already discussed what it may bring to the table in our speculative review. Now, a new rumor suggests that the new ST might be the last non-hybrid hot-hatch from Ford and that it could get its juice from the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost found in the Mustang. Sounds pretty wild, but it makes sense given Ford’s plans for the next-generation Focus RS.

After seven successful years on the market, the third-generation Ford Focus was replaced by a brand-new hatchback. Although it’s too early to say whether the new model will be as successful as its predecessor, it has many features to brag about, starting with a new platform that will underpin several Ford vehicles in the future. It also boasts a sportier exterior, new tech inside the cabin, and a revised engine lineup. With the standard Focus on its way to dealerships as of 2018, it’s time to talk about the RS model. The performance-oriented model might arrive by the end of the year and rumors and renderings are already making headlines on the internet.

Ford’s very own competitor for the all-popular Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Focus ST will benefit from all the cool features of the new Focus, but it will receive a few extra features inside and out. The sportier exterior with more aggressive cues will be joined by an exclusive interior, while its engine will provide the most power in an ST model yet. Until the next-generation Focus RS arrives, the ST will sit at the top of the range in terms of performance and pricing. Let’s take a closer look at what we already know about this car in the speculative review below.

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If you missed out on owning a 1969-1970 BOSS 302, a 1969-1970 BOSS 429, and a 1969-1970 Mach 1 Mustang, you’re about to be blessed with manna from heaven. Ford has announced a licensing program with noted coachbuilder Classic Restorations to build turn-key versions of the three aforementioned classic muscle cars. Each of the models will be built to the specifications of each customer using Ford’s newest chassis and drivetrain technology, as well as the automaker’s licensed reproduction parts.

Unveiled earlier this month, the new-generation Ford Focus introduced a brand-new platform from the company, as well as a number of new or updated engines. Set to arrive in the United States sometime next year, the Focus could also bring Ford’s brand-new, 1.5-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost unit to North America.

The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic cars ever build and there are many reasons for that. The innovative approach in the 1960s, the performance, the sales success, and its legacy on the race track have all contributed to the legend. But the nameplate also went through drastic changes. The second-gen model is now hated for turning the muscle car into a mundane compact, while the fourth-gen Mustang was this close to becoming a front-wheel drive car. The modern Mustang is again a symbol that brings together performance and affordability, but the nameplate is in for major changes in the near future. We already know that the pony will get a hybrid drivetrain in 2019, but it seems that Ford is considering offering the Mustang with all-wheel drive and as an EV.

The EV version is reportedly scheduled to arrive with the next-generation model. With the current-gen pony set to get a hybrid for the 2020 model year, it’s safe to assume that the seventh-gen Mustang won’t be here sooner than 2022. The same goes for the all-wheel-drive system, which won’t make it into the Mustang until Ford redesigns the car from the ground up.

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It’s finally happening! After competing for eight years in the Xfinity Series, the Ford Mustang is finally joining the Cup Series, the top tier of NASCAR. The Mustang will replace the Fusion, which the company has been racing in the premier series since 2006.

"We’re combining America’s favorite sports car with America’s top stock car racing series," said Mark Rushbrook, global director at Ford Performance Motorsports. "Mustang always has been about affordable performance, which can be traced to innovations we’ve made competing in racing, like NASCAR. Mustang is a perfect fit for our racing heritage today and tomorrow."

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Half a century ago, Ford unleashed the very first Mustang Cobra Jet, quickly capturing the hearts of straight-line Blue Oval enthusiasts with its impressive prowess in the quarter-mile sprint. Now, Ford is celebrating that history with a new limited-run racer model that brings the heat in a big way.

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The 2018 Ford Escape is, by most accounts, a good crossover. But its safety is being thrown into question after the model received the worst rating among seven small SUVs from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s passenger-side small overlap crash performance. Of all the SUV models that were tested, the Escape turned in the only ’poor’ rating among the group, a stunning grade considering that most of its rivals, including the Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain, all received ’good’ ratings.