Ford Midsize Cars

When we hear the words "high Performance" Ford F-150 we automatically think about the F-150 Raptor. Or, in the near future F-150 Raptor R. But there was a time when the F-150 was offered in a different high-performance guise. It was called SVT Lightning, and it was offered only for two generations, between 1993 and 2004. Now, Ford is using the Lightning nomenclature for the all-electric version of the F-150, so the name can’t be used anymore. That left Steeda with only one option for its take on a high-performance F-150 - name it the F-150 Thunder Editio because, you know, thunder comes after the lightning.

At this point, it would be a miracle if we see the Tesla Cybertruck this decade, the GMC Hummer is too expensive, GM can’t sell EVs to save its life, yet the Ford F-150 Lightning is already sold out. What does that tell you? The American public wants electric trucks, but they don’t want to pay a fortune for them and, while the Cybertruck is cool, it’s gimmicky and won’t appeal to the wide range of people that actually buy trucks. A Ford Ranger EV, however, would be more affordable than all of the aforementioned trucks, it would be usable in day-to-day life, and it would just make sense. As it turns out, it might happen sooner than we all thought.

In 2021, Ford sold 140,000 SUVs in China, which is up by 0.6-percent compared to the previous year. One of their popular models is the Explorer, which is also America’s third best-selling midsize SUV just behind the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander. To keep its midsize SUV competitive, the 2023 Ford Explorer has been spied in China, and its changes are quite extensive.

It’s always interesting to see how two stock or mildly modified vehicles stack up against one another in a drag race. Our fellow Canadian car enthusiast, Sam CarLegion has gathered two entry-level sedans with V-6 engines in order to find out who’s quickest. We have a Dodge Charger on one side and a Ford Fusion on the other. Both vehicles have all-wheel drive and V-6 engines, but that’s where the similarities end.

When Ford announced the new generation F-150 Raptor everyone expected to see at least a small power increase. Well, turns out Ford decided to offer the same engine under the hood: a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoost with 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. A very disappointing news for every Raptor fan out there.

Shelby however has the solution: its latest pack based on the new generation F-150 Raptor delivers no less that 525 horsepower. Still, way under the Ram 1500 TRX, but a lot better than a standard Raptor, right?

The Ford Edge, in general, competes against models like the Acura RDX, Hyundai Santa Fe, and even the Chevy Equinox. And it competes well. But Ford has kicked things up a notch with the Edge ST by replacing the four-cylinder with a V-6 and injecting a few other performance credentials to go with it. Now, the midsize luxury SUV segment has no shortage of high-performance offerings, but the Edge ST doesn’t exactly fall into the luxury category, nor does it fit into any category really.

See, none of the Edge’s competitors are offered as high-performance models, so the Edge ST actually sits in a niche all its own. That means that, unless you’re dead set on an Edge ST, you actually have to look at the luxury segment to find anything that actually competes. Dare I say the Ford Edge ST competes with the Audi SQ5 or the Porsche Macan? It’s not quite as expensive in base form, but with the 401A equipment group, which includes things like the panoramic vista roof and remote start, and the ST Performance Brake Package, it suddenly slips right into the same territory. Does it really hold its own, though? We spent a week with it to find out.

When the Kia Stinger came out in 2017, it changed many people’s perceptions of the Korean brand. It also turned out to be a very quick car that responds very well to minor modifications. With this in mind, YoUTube channel Sam CarLegion has arranged for a tuned Kia Stinger GT to show up on the drag strip. However, it’s not going to run by itself, as it is joined by a ROUSH-modified Ford Mustang GT.

Just a few months ago, the Ford Mondeo was revealed ahead of its official debut by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as it seems to be the case whenever a new vehicle will soon be released in China’s huge car market. This time though, Ford has officially launched their midsize sedan, and it’s designed, engineered, and assembled in China.

Performance luxury sedans are the perfect middle ground for those seeking comfort, practicality and performance in a single package. And while we have gotten plenty of great examples like the BMW M5, Mercedes AMG GT63, Porsche Panamera, and others, there are those that came to us as concepts, but never delivered in the real world. Here are the most prominent culprits.

Body-on-frame SUVs have seen a rise in popularity in North America as of late. The Toyota 4Runner, for instance, continues to sell well despite being more than a decade old. And then we also have a ton of new body-on-frame SUVs such as the Ford Bronco, which was a sales hit for the Blue Oval brand. Soon, the next-generation Ford Everest is expected to debut, but it probably won’t reach North America.

Hoonigan has been staging some of the craziest drag races, seen on YouTube. As part of the channel’s “This vs That” series, we now get “Hoonicorn vs the World” – a series of drag battles, where Ken Block’s teenage daughter – Lia Block – who is only 14, rocks the 1,400-horsepower Mustang, known as the Hoonicorn. In the previous episode, Lia Block raced an NHRA C6 Corvette and now, she’s going up against a Hoonicorn-inspired, 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta twin-turbo.

Ford stopped producing sedans for the U.S. ever since the final Fusion rolled off the production line on July 31, 2020. While sedans are not in Ford’s future here in North America, this body style is still popular in China, where the new Mondeo will soon make its official debut.

For the longest time, I’ve refused to acknowledge the Mach-E to have the Mustang spirit. But, it looks like I’ll have to change that now. The Mach-E just gave us solid proof that it has the Mustang DNA by failing a moose test that its rivals passed without breaking a sweat. The Mach-E swayed across and fishtailed its way into the cones at the first turn. The original Mustang must be smiling with tears in its eyes looking at the Mach-E.

Hot Wheels has launched its own version of the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, and while it does look pretty amazing, it won’t cost you the same $49,520 you would have had to pay when the original F-150 Raptor launched. This Hot Wheels goes by the name “2021 HWC Special Edition,” and it’s offered with a spectraflame light brown paint, that’s combined with camouflage patterns and intricately detailed graphics. The exterior is complete with Real Riders Baja Wheels, a matte black tailgate, a smoke-lined windshield, and a full-metal, black-painted chassis. On this specific model, the hood and tailgate even open, and on the inside, you’ll find a similar color theme.

In the end, the 2021 HWC Special Edition (F-150 Raptor Hot Wheels) will set you back just $30, which isn’t bad for a special edition Raptor. It is already on sale as of August 10, 2021, but its production is limited to don’t expect to find them on the shelves for very long.

Ford’s revival of old monikers continues. After bringing back the Bronco last year and resurrecting the ‘Lightning’ nameplate for the recently-unveiled electric F-150, Ford has now filed the ‘Splash’ name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademark covers ‘Electric vehicles’, so we know this will be an EV. If history suggests anything, it might be the electric version of the Ranger. But, the automaker has a third pickup truck in its arsenal now – the Maverick.

Ford unveiled the 2021 F-150 back in June 2020. The 2021 F-150 Raptor should’ve made its debut then, but the company pushed it for a later date. Eight months later, the automaker finally took the wraps off it, but again withheld information regarding its power specs. Fast forward to the present day, the power outputs quietly go live on the site. As it turns out, the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will continue to make 450 horses and 510 pound-feet of torque! So much wait and drama for what?

The world can never have enough lowrider trucks, especially if they’re vintage and are customized tastefully. Autotopia recently covered a customized 1968 F-100 that looks great and features a Mustang V-8 crate engine. The truck was originally a magazine project for Classic Trucks, but went on sale last year and was purchased at an auction by the current owner. Looks neat, doesn’t it?

Illinois-based Maxlider Motors is famous for creating custom Broncos. This includes proper conversions as well as restorations. The company rolls out almost 100 Bronco every year out of the factory and seems to be on the verge of expanding its horizon now. Maxlider Motors has developed a Midnite Edition for the 2021 Ford F-150. It includes new shoes, suspension upgrades, and the likes. But, surprisingly, the aftermarket company left the engine untouched. From the looks of it, the package looks swell. Care to buy it?

Ford Ranger is a capable midsize truck with a lot of potential for off-road and performance-oriented mods. Ford has denied us the pleasure of the Ranger Raptor in the U.S. market, but it has been a boon to the aftermarket companies who are filling this vacuum with their respective iterations. The latest one to do so is Roush Performance. Roush has taken the 2021 Ranger under its wing and turned it into an off-road beast.

Ford has been busy with its trucks lately. First came with the 2021 F-150, which also featured a hybrid model in the lineup. Recently, Ford unveiled the F-150 Raptor as well, and announced one with a V-8 engine coming next year. Then there’s the electric F-150 in the works and we should hear more about it soon. Given how all vehicles are getting electrified, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the Raptor’s next in line.

But, Ford has ruled this out even before the topic got picked up. According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, a higher-up from Ford has made it clear that the Raptor will continue to be a pure internal combustion-engined model.