Ford Car reviews

The Ford Eagle Squadron Mustang GT made landfall at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, proving that even American muscle can make a splash at one of the U.K.’s most esteemed auto events. As surprising as it is to see a Mustang get prime placement at the Goodwood House, the one-off Mustang’s debut at the event makes a lot of sense considering the fact that the muscle car was designed to pay tribute to the famed Eagle Squadron and the Royal Air Force’s 100th anniversary. Following its debut, the Mustang Eagle Squadron Mustang GT is home stateside where it will be auctioned off at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association fundraiser on July 26.

One of the most amazing things about car customization is that there are no rules about how it should be done or what you can and can’t do. And that means if you’ve got the skills and the imagination, you can turn any four-wheeled machine into a rolling piece of art, an expression of creativity capable of rivaling anything you might see hung in a museum or played on the radio. Such is the case with this hot rod Ford Model A, created by the talented folks on Velocity’s original series Speed Is The New Black for a rock star client.

Continue reading to learn more about the Heavy Metal Model A.

It’s been almost a year since Ford gave the sixth-generation Mustang its mid-cycle upgrade, and the time has come for the Shelby GT350 to get its refresh. Despite rumors that it won’t be around for long, the GT350 continues into the 2019 model year with revisions inside and out to go with tweaked underpinnings.

As we’re waiting for the Shelby GT500 to return after a long hiatus, Ford just rolled out an upgrade for the GT350. But, while the muscle car did get some notable updates in the aerodynamics and drivetrain departments, it didn’t gain the visual changes we’ve seen on the facelifted Mustang. In short, it’s still based on the original sixth-generation Mustang. The good news is that the updated coupe was tested by Billy Johnson, a racing driver with plenty of experience in the FIA World Endurance and the IMSA championships with the Ford GT and Mustang GT4 programs. Let’s see what changed and what remained the same in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

The sixth-generation Ford Mustang gained a comprehensive facelift for the 2018 model year, and the update also injected a bit more power into the 5.0-liter V-8. But if 460 horsepower still isn’t enough for you and you simply can’t wait for the Shelby GT500 model in 2020, there are plenty of shops to choose from if you want to supercharge your pony. Roush is one of them, and its new JackHammer package will put more than 700 horsepower under your gas pedal.

Based on the latest Mustang GT, the JackHammer package is pretty much a Stage 3 update with some extra features. As usual, you get the sportier appearance with black body inserts, a range of stripe and hockey stick graphics, and a handful of bespoke features inside the cabin. Under the hood, there’s a brand-new supercharged atop the 5.0-liter V-8 and plenty of oomph to take the fastback to the drag strip. Let’s find out more about that below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Roush JackHammer Mustang.

The Mach 1 name has always been associated with performance, but up until now, it was associated with a higher-performance version of the Mustang Coupe. The name first came to be back in 1969 when the Mach 1 Mustang was born. It was used again in the early 2000s as a send-off for the fourth-gen Mustang. All of this happened before the SUV and crossover craze, however, and now – thanks to the overwhelming demand for SUVs and crossovers – Ford is resurrecting the Mach1 name yet again, but this time it will be a high-riding standalone performance model. It will at least be based on the Mustang, though, but will be all-electric. We’ve seen a short teaser of the Mach 1 performance crossover, but details are excessively scant for now. So, we took a little bit of creative freedom, threw it in a blender, and are now showcasing a rendering that depicts what we think the Mach1 crossover will look like. Keep reading to learn more about it.

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.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford 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.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming Ford Fiesta ST.

The Ford Focus has finally entered its fourth generation, and it brings a lot of change in terms of design, comfort, and economy. It comes complete with a largely revamped interior and loads of new technology; not to mention a range of new engines that are more powerful and more efficient. As usual, the new Focus will call Europe (and China) home first, before coming to the United States for the 2019 model year.

After almost 10 years on the market, the sixth-generation Ford Fiesta was finally discontinued in 2017, making way for a brand-new model with a fresh and sportier design. The new Fiesta also brought new technology on the table, as well as revised engines and an ST model powered by a three-cylinder unit. Come 2018 and Ford added a new member to the Fiesta family, this time around in the form of a crossover-styled model called Active. The Fiesta Active joins the Ka+ Active, a similar version of the smaller Ka+ hatchback launched earlier in 2018.

Designed for a small niche that used to include the Volkswagen CrossPolo — a model that is no longer available — the Fiesta Active will share the market with the Hyundai i20 Active. Essentially a hatchback with increase ground clearance and crossover-style cladding, the Fiesta Active is aimed at customers who want the benefits of crossover but still need a compact car that’s easy to drive and park inside the city. A bit more rugged on the outside, the Fiesta Active shares its technology and drivetrains with the standard hatchback, although certain differences are noticeable in every department. But more about that in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Fiesta Active.

With the current generation of the Ford Fusion being on sale since 2012, it’s long overdue for a facelift, and that’s what we’re going to get at the 2018 New York Auto Show. Like most facelifts, few changes can be seen on the inside or outside, but what Ford has done is include its new Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assistance technology on all trim levels as standard equipment. Hybrid models get a new, larger battery with improved all-electric range, while some higher trim levels now get a standard 4G LTE internet connection and the Fusion SEL returns to the lineup to replace the SE Luxury package.

Introduced in 2014, the Ford Edge, one of the company’s key vehicles, gained a significant update for the 2019 model. Alongside the revised exterior, high-tech interior, and upgraded turbo engine, Ford also updated the model lineup with an ST model. Replacing the old Sport, the new Edge ST brings the performance-oriented "ST" badge into the SUV market for the first time. At the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, Ford unveiled a second new trim. It’s called the Titanium Elite and slots right between the Titanium and the ST.

Ford’s choice for a new trim seems rather awkward at first glance. Unlike other models, the Edge doesn’t have the luxury-oriented Platinum trim. The latter seemed to be the next logical step after the ST, but Ford chose to introduce a slight upgrade to the Titanium model. The Titanium Elite would make more sense if the Titanium were to be discontinued soon, but as things stand, I can’t really understand where Ford is going with this. But let’s have a closer look at what we already know about this new trim.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Edge Titanium Elite.

The current-generation Ford Focus RS has enjoyed an eventful life since it was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. But like all good things, the Focus RS’s time in the sun is about to end. Weep not, though, dear friends, because Ford is giving the hot hatch the proper swan song with the release of the Focus RS Heritage Edition. Limited to just 50 units, the Focus RS Heritage doesn’t dabble in the subtleties. It’s got enough goodies and equipment to make even hardened hot hatch fans tremble in excitement. And, if that little tease isn’t enough to persuade you, maybe the hatch’s bright orange exterior will do the trick.

The Ford Edge has been around since 2007 and its current generation debuted in 2015. But the second-generation Edge was getting a little, well, dull, so Ford has given the mid-size crossover a sharpening. This mid-cycle refresh for the 2019 model year brings revamped aesthetics, few minor changes to the interior, and a slew of active safety equipment. In fact, Ford is claiming the 2019 Edge comes with more standard driver assist features than any of its competition.

So what makes the Edge so technologically adept? Well, the standard safety features list is long. It includes Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support; Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; Blind Spot Information with Cross-Traffic Alert; Lane-Keeping Alert; Lane-keeping Assist; Auto High Beams; and Hill-Start Assist. Basically, the 2019 Edge comes with all the latest (almost autonomous) driver aids without having to order an expensive option package. Here’s how the 2019 Ford Edge shapes up.

Continue reading for more on the 2019 Ford Edge.

Well, it’s back. The Ford Ranger mid-size pickup has returned to the U.S. and in glorious fashion. The pickup made its debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit right beside the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado. While it’s not the F-150, the 2019 Ranger will put Ford back in the mid-size pickup fight against the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and most importantly, the venerable Toyota Tacoma.

The addition of the Ranger positions Ford as having the widest-spread pickup lineup in the world. Entries include the new Ranger, the half-ton F-150, the heavy-duty Super Duty lineup, and the commercial medium-duty segment with the F-650 and F-750 cab chassis.

Of course, the Ranger will have its work cut out; the Toyota Tacoma has long been the leader in mid-size trucks and the General Motors twins aren’t too far behind. Let’s see how the 2019 Ranger stacks up.

Continue reading for more on the 2019 Ford Ranger.

Arguably one of the most iconic Mustang of all time, the Bullitt returns into showrooms five decades after the original car helped make the best chase seen in movie history. It was 1968 when Steve McQueen drove a Mustang GT390 Fastback like there was no tomorrow on the streets of San Francisco in the "Bullitt" movie, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October 2018. To mark the event, Ford prepared a new iteration of the Mustang Bullitt for the first time since 2009. The car was unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Motor Show alongside the original version, and it’s the most menacing Bullitt ever made.

Set to go on sale in the summer of 2018, the new Mustang Bullitt walks in the footsteps of its predecessors. It’s based on the Mustang GT, it features a host of unique features inside and out, and it has a subtle appearance. But under the skin, the Bullitt packs a bit more oomph than the GT and delivers better performance. If Steve McQueen was still around, I’m sure he would’ve taken one home and maybe even use it for a sequel to the iconic movie. But unfortunately Steve is no more, so we’ll have to settle for the cool, Bullitt-inspired commercial Ford made for the car. Check it out below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Mustang Bullitt.

Performance versions of SUVs and crossovers are just dumb. To put outlandish power in a top-heavy vehicle originally designed to haul people and cargo across foreboding terrain is simply asinine. In the last year, we’ve seen Chevrolet launch the Tahoe RST, Jeep launch the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, and Dodge debut the Durango SRT. Now Ford is getting into the game. Just a single day after teasing a new ST-badged model, Ford has debuted the Edge ST – yes, you read that right.

It’s a 2019 Edge crossover with a 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 making 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission and turning all four wheels. It rides on an ST-tuned suspension and offers optional performance braking package. How crazy is that?

But really, how crazy is that? In reality, it’s not. Think back to the late 1960s when muscle cars developed from ordinary sedans and coupes. Automakers like Ford (and all the various divisions under General Motors and Chrysler) stuffed increasingly powerful V-8s into cars that, just a few years prior, wouldn’t be out of place in your grandmother’s driveway. It seems the same is becoming true for SUVs. These mommy-mobiles are turning into the 21st century’s version of the Ford Torino, Dodge Dart, and Chevy Impala. And who doesn’t love a vehicle that can pull double duty doing family errands and tearing up the autocross course? Maybe performance SUVs aren’t so dumb after all.

Let’s see how the 2019 Ford Edge ST stacks up.