Dang...this is a fun Cross Over/SUV. Refined from the first generation this Sport has all the right stuff added in to truly make it a "sport" and not just a trim package. Stem to stern suspension upgrade, 2.7L Ecoboost cranking out 315hp on premium fuel are just the start of what sets this apart from the Edges in the line up.
Walking up to it you notice right away this isn't a regular Edge. There are visual cues, gone is the chrome grill replaced with one in a magnetic paint. Gone are the regular wheels supplanted with low gloss magnetic painted 20...yes TWENTY inch wheels.
Opening the door you are welcomed to the smell of leather and alcantara trimmed seats that are heated and cooled. The latter appreciated in this hot climate where nothing is worse than sitting on a hot seat on a hot day. Settling in you notice a nice simply designed dash full of user programmable options in the information portion of the speedometer housing. Center console is equally clean and houses the new Sync3 infotainment center that is so much faster and intuitive than the last version.
An interesting feature that I really like on the Edge Sport is the standard adaptive steering wheel. The system controls the relationship between how much the driver turns the steering wheel and how much the front wheels turn. Low-speed steering – such as pulling into a parking space – requires much less turning of the wheel. On the road it doesn't seem to be any different than the traditional steering wheel, just when you a manually parking do you appreciate the reduced effort to simply turn into your space.
That 2.7; Ecoboost in the version I drove was every bit as powerful and sport as the nomenclature on the rear of the hatch implies. Tip in the throttle and its near instant power and torque propel you forward. Step on it a little harder and it will down shift quickly and push you into the seat back while it runs up to freeway cruising speed with the rest of the traffic. This is the most powerful engine available in its class and it shows.
Fuel economy isn't the concern it was with regular well under $3/gallon and premium hovering around $3/gallon here in Los Angeles but that won't last forever. Over my 20 mile loop from Carson to Signal Hill and back with a mix of fast flowing freeway, bump and go freeway and urban stop-n-go this Edge Sport returned a very respectable 21.7mpg, This compares favorably to the EPA estimates of 17 city/24 highway which is pretty dang good for a midsized SUV with this kind of power and all wheel drive.
As with most Ford products the last few years this Edge has a decidedly premium feel to it. A soft spoken luxury feel that makes one really appreciate the efforts the designers put into the product. Thoughtful touches like real brushed aluminum, soft to the touch leathers where you touch, Delightfully firm yet soft to the touch knows and controls. Non-plastic looking vinyl and plastic where you aren't touching but looking. I really like this generation Ford Edge...so much so I may let into my wife's wishes and let this be what replaces our aging Focus.
The updates were many barely a feature or touch point wasn't changed inside. Outside its an entirely new front clip incorporating the now familiar trapezoidal grill first seen in the Fusion a few years ago. Even the rear has new tail lamps on both the sedan and hatchback, the latter is my choice for a lot of reasons.
At the Open house I got to drive 3 versions of the Focus, the Titanium Hatch I liked best. Creature comforts were all over the place as well as really nice tech features that made it a more enjoyable car than the volume leader SE, which in itself isn't a slouch when it comes to features.
Let's focus on the Titanium. Above the well equipped SE you get Sync/Myford with navigation and the ability to voice command many of the features. It pairs well with a smart phone and lets you control it via fingertip controls or voice commands. Easily. Roll in push button start/stop, HD radio, and Dual Zone climate control for more of a premium compact luxury sedan than not. Optional in a technology package includes goodies like Automatic High Beam Headlamps, BLIS® with Cross-traffic Alert and Lane-Keeping Aid (includes Lane-Keeping Alert) make it uber competitive with the likes of likes of Audi instead of main streamers like the Corolla from Toyota.
Where the Focus still shines is its 2.0L direct injected 4cyl putting out 160 horse power and 146 ft lbs or torque. This little 4 pot really moves the Focus along with urgency and nary a huff or puff at steep grades. My only caveat with this car is the Dual Clutch Transmission. Early models, including my 2013 were plagued with premature failure and endless warranty repair and reprogramming visits. Over the now famous 21 mile loop of mixed urban driving this Focus returned a very respectable 29.1MPG.
The interior got a complete refreshing as well. The dash is different, flatter less curves and bumps than the prior, but still the same quality high end material feel to it. The dash layout changed. Thankfully adding the USB port right to the center console rather than buried in the center armrest that you can't easily swap while driving.
Really, the Focus Titanium with its technology package is a viable alternative to the Audi A3 hatch on many levels. The added bonus is that comparably equipped the Focus Titanium is a solid 9K cheaper. Yes, I said it, the Focus Titanium is built with the luxury feel to compete with the likes of an entry level Audi and that's where Ford shines these days, premium quality cars able to compete in the near luxury market at a price we can afford.
As a final side note, Ford added in a lot of these same upgrades to the SE models. The interesting addition to the SE was the 1.0L 3cyl (yes, THREE CYLINDER) EcoBoost. Its an interesting powerplant churning out 123 Horse power and 123 foot lbs or torque mated to a nicely ratioed out 5 speed manual. If MPGs and rowing your gears is what gets you going don't miss out on this combination. It returned a commendable 35.6 MPG on the 20 mile loop in a very nicely equipped Focus SE.
To paraphrase that old Shakespeare guy "how do I love thee my sweet Mustang, let me count the ways"... Seriously this generation was huge leap forward but more so in the convertible than the other models. Theres plenty to love. Last generation with either motor under the hood on bad roads you got some cowl and door shake, you could even see the hood wobble over the worst of what L.A. Freeways could pitch at you.
This generation is a whole new story. Yes, it picks up a few pounds of weight from stiffening key areas, but this was a purpose built convertible not a conversion. IT was designed to be a convertible so there isn't after work to be done to stiffen and make up for the loss of a roof. IT shows, driving the convertible top down, and elements be damned, it tracks as accurate and peppy as its hard topped variant. I. Love. This. Car.
They day I had this car it was classic June Gloom here in the L.A. Basin. So gloomy it was actually drizzling on my way down to Motor City in Carson where the Ford Open House was taking place. Lucky me, I was the first to arrive and had my pic of Mustangs...make mine an EcoBoost with 6 Speed Manual please, thank you very much. I arrived to have the drizzle stop and the top down on my ride of choice.
Yes, it was a bit nipply out, but who cares when heated and cooled seats are standard equipment on the EcoBoost Premium Convertible. Flip on the heaters, adjust the seats to fit and snick snick through the gears and you are off. Cars like this are meant to have a manual tranny, its half the fun of a spirited car when you get to match engine to gear and go to your hearts content. Mustang delivers fun in spades to start with, the convertible is having your cake and eating it tow. With extra icing.
I won't bore you with the details, and if you're a V8 only die hard who hasn't wrapped his head around same power as the V8 from V6 or 4cylinder, stop now and skip ahead a paragraph. The 2.3L Ecoboost in the Mustang is a marriage made in heaven. With 300+ horsepower on tap when you use premium fuel AND 320ft lbs of torque this car takes off when you want it to. It feels nimbler and quicker to respond than the GT. Top gear and 60 on the fwy and you spot a gap to dive into to get around slower traffic...no worries it has the power to do that without having to down shift. Just goose and go. Steep hill to climb like in Signal Hill...no sweat, an on ramp to charge up, no worries. This 4cyl twin scroll turbo engine cranks out the power the V8 did only a few short years ago. And that's an accomplishment. I said in another post this 2.3L Ecoboost is the best 4cyl Ford has ever made and I was serious.
All that fun doesn't come at a penalty either. My average MPG with spirited driving still was a very respectable 22.8 over a 20 mile loop from Carson to Signal Hill. Had I not gotten stuck in a 5 mile traffic jam wherein I spent my time shifting back and forth between 1 and 2 for 15 minutes that number would have been a lot higher. Those kind of numbers are what taking the Ecoboost over a V8 is all about, with premium still over $4/gallon in the basin those numbers make living with a spirited sports convertible a lot easier to afford than one would think. Do remember these Ecoboost engines turn out their best numbers for performance and MPG on premium fuel...don't cheap out on regular, get the 91 and live life in the fast lane.
The Ecoboost Premium Convertible comes with a lot of really sweet standard features, heated cooled seats, 6 speed manual tranny, Sync/MyFord (updated this year and faster than ever), glossy painted wheels, leather seating, push button start, HID head lamps and then you get to the goodies that are optional. Things like adjustable suspension, steering and larger performance wheels. The car starts at 34.8K and is nicely equipped as is. See ford.com for details on building your own. The Competition Orange version I had was optioned out to a whisker shy of 38.7K and that's a helluva lot of car for the money. I'll take one, but in Magnetic.
Of course as long as I have a kid at home this is not a practical car for me. One day again I will have a Mustang. And it will be a convertible. Just like this. Until then I'll take the adventures and chances to drive and imagine what life all the time motoring top down in the fast lane is like.
More high res pics of the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible in my flickr album from the Ford Open House.
Ford heavily updated 2016 Ford Explorer is on sale now. You can get it in a variety of forms from entry at a nose hair over 31K and nicely optioned out Limited starting at 41.7K or a Sport at 43.7K, the latter gets you the totally awesome 3.5L V6 with twin turbo EcoBoost. Between Limited and Sport think of it as having an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other daring you to push the limits.
New for 2016 is the option of the 2.3L Ecoboost on all models but the Sport. This engine is the model of refinement and power. Perfect balance. It gives up 10 horsepower to the standard V6 but picks up 55 foot pounds of torque that amply makes up the nominal horsepower difference. This is simply the best 4 cylinder Ford has ever put out, turbo or not. Smooth, steady power delivery, nice growl at the upper ranges without nary a rumble, shake or stumble throughout the rev range. It easily kept up with traffic and ran with the best of them. It climbed Signal Hill with no drama stress or worries.
Think of the Explorer Limited as the one you drive with an angel on your shoulder. Its completely comfortable, able and drives like a charm. Easy handling, remarkable given its overall size as it feels more like a competent luxury sedan not an SUV that bobbed and floated and sorta went where you aimed it that was common even a few years ago. IT doesn't beg you to flog it, it rewards the driver with competency and coddles them in just about every creature comfort one could want.
The list on the Limited is extensive and really nice. Heated standard steering wheel, tasteful matte wood trim with brushed aluminum accents. Heated/Cooled front seats. Power folding 50/50 split 3rd row seats are standard. Leather seating. Hands free power lift gate...a little wiggle waggle of the foot under the rear bumper and voila its open. A full list of standard features can be found on Ford.com. Suffice it to say its completely equipped as is, the options you can add are all technology related.
The angel on your shoulder will love the Limited. Its truly about refined motoring, plush and comfort all the way all day. Think cathedral on wheels. Its having your cake AND eating it too, as all that comfort, quality and zip doesn't come with a penalty at the pump. The fuel economy on my 21 mile loop was a respectable 19.1MPG. Not bad at all for a big SUV with All Wheel Drive.
If the Limited is soothing the angel on the right, the devil on the left is drooling to get his hands on all the twin turbo goodness that is the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 found in the Explorer Sport. This car is a beast in all the best terms of the word. Where the Limited is plush and controlled, this is firm in the sport sedan sense and begs you to push the limits. In corners, on ramps and straight aways. The suspension is tuned perfectly for zipping about. The devil on the left is pushing you to be bold and enjoy what this SUV can do.
But the Sport does this without being coarse or giving up any of the build quality and luxury found in the Limited. Yes, its a sport but that doesn't mean you give up the premium feel. In fact there are little touches all over to let you know this is still a top tier auto.
The devil is in the details. Brushed aluminum and carbon fiber trim on the dash. Red stitching on the black leather seats. Sport specific bright wheels. Its a complete package, its luxury meant to be pushed to the limit and the execution is there.
Yet with all that performance and giving into the urges this EcoBoost still doesn't kill you at the pumps. In spite of spirited driving and on ramp charges it turned in a respectable 17.3 MPG over the 21 mile loop of mixed freeway and urban driving. And a curvy hill to climb. Pretty slick...V8 performance when needed and V6 economy when you don't in a large SUV is quite a trick.
Common to both is the latest updates to Sync/MyFord. It's faster to the touch, better voice recognition in a word simpler and more intuitive than the version that launched 3 years ago. The improvements are welcomed.
Now there's a 3rd version coming later this summer that promises to completely upstage these two. Explorer Platinum. All the go fast capability of the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost in a version so luxurious its options will be few and luxury will be nothing like we've ever seen Ford put into an SUV before. This promises to have unique LED head lamps and fog lamps just to get the exclusivity cranked up a notch and make it possible to tell it apart at a glance, not by reading the rear tailgate.
So who you gonna listen to? The angel on the right looking for a heavenly motoring experience or the devil on the left begging you to be bad and push it?
More from the Ford Open House I attended in a flickr album.
I tried so hard to love this SUV. For a car guy like me it has a lot going on to love. Starting with the new for this year Ecoboost 3.5l V6. Those twin turbos give that beast life it never knew possible. This thing has CHUTZPAH like I never dreamed possible in a full size SUV.
Add in the 6 speed automatic and this beasty is really fun to drive and easyish on gas compared to its V8 brethren if you keep your foot out of the gas. In a rather spirited 20 mile loop including a steep hill climb, urban bump and go and zippy urban freeway I averaged middling 15.2MPG. Given its size not that bad, given that its EPA ratings are 15 City/20 highway/17 combined I did expect a bit better.
Where you sit in the new limited...a lovely leather throne you can't help but love this vehicle. Where it falls short is the lack of even faux wood, brushed aluminum or any other lux details you expect from an SUV starting at 54K and optioned up to nearly 60K. The hard plastics on the doors and dash wreak utilitarian hose it off rather than a luxury vehicle. Sad really as those touches just aren't what we've come to expect from Ford of late. Even the lowly Focus is detailed better in terms of luxury appointments, premium feel at half the price. I understand this is a stop gap edition and an all new for 2016 is coming that will address these short comings and be on part with expectations and the rest of the fleet.
But enough of the niggles...this truck has some outstanding features. The latest iteration comes with forward and rear sensors to protect bumping objects as you park, power liftgate, and heated/cooled power seats. All nice touches and expected at this price point.
The iteration I drove also had Ford's most current Sync MyFord package and it worked like a charm. Voice commands for everything and ample dummy switches for those that prefer that option than a slick working touch screen.
Really nifty touch too is the automatic running boards that deploy when you unlock the doors from the key fob or put the truck into park after driving. A nice way to get in and out without mucking up your pant legs.
At the end of the day, this may not have the premium feel of other Ford products of late, but the refinement and power of its 2015 updated engine/tranny combo more than makes up for the shortcomings. Nice SUV, certainly the most technologically advanced out there for the money.
I recently got the chance to drive the new 2015 Ford Edge and I was impressed. IMPRESSED!
I don't use that word lightly, especially with non-car automobiles. I'm a car guy for crying out loud, and this cross-over made me stop for a bit and rethink and adjust my opinion on them.
First impression as you walk up the edge is that is a very organic flowing machine. Lots of lines, curves and sex appeal. Gone is the slab slided straight edged body style of the first generation. Add in LED lights all over the place and the trapezoidal grill and you have an entirely new vehicle, yet familiar to the first generation.
The version I drove in a lap around Arcadia (SGV, the 626 to you neophytes) just added to my overall impression of the vehicle. Pep and power in regular driving with the 2.0l EcoBoost was ample for keeping up with the urban traffic flow. Little engine or road noise entered the cabin. Ditto road dimples and bumps didn't intrude and interrupt the ride. Very solid, but not sloppy with the handling.
Handling..I got to do that on a closed circuit track. Its nearest competitor the Toyota Highlander Limited couldn't keep up. The Edge inspired confidence and dared you to push it a little harder in the corners. AND it still rode really nice doing that. The folks at Ford nailed it with this CUV.
The interior bits are significantly upgraded on the 2015 Edge. Single needle tailored leather seats are comfy and I really appreciated the cooled seats option on the blistering hot day I drove the car. Great soft touch materials abound. The redundant knobs for the infotainment have solid feeling knobs. Its all got a high end quality feel
Sync/MyFord Touch is also available in the upper end models as standard equipment. It works really nicely. I'm hot, I'm cold, Directions home all work like a charm. Sync 3 rolls out next year and it will be a significant upgrade over this system...more able to understand diction differences, more commands and an easier user interface.
Mileage...this isn't a biggy for buyers at the moment as we in the L.A area are still enjoying gas a good $1.10 cheaper than the 4.39 of January. But you know as well these cheap prices are just a fluke and eventually OPEC will put the screws to us again and voila back over $4/gallon. Then Mileage matters and the Edge rocks out some solid numbers. The 2.0L EcoBoost showed an indicated 22.3 MPG in a loop of urban driving. The 2.7l Ecoboost on the TRACK showed an indicated 19 (as a comparison the Toyota Highlander had an indicated 7.9 which is the worst I've ever seen at one of these events).
This past weekend the 2015 EcoBoost Challenge visited Los Angeles at the Santa Anita Park in suburban Arcadia here in the SGV. To say I had fun would be an understatement. I mean...what could be more fun than cars on a closed circuit track?
There are several stations within the event. Each has its own merit...peaks in my not so humble opinion with the ST Academy where you get to drive a Fiesta ST or Focus ST in a reaction time, timed competition. Also in that group is the chance to really drive a Mustang EcoBoost the way it was meant to be...fast through twisty corners.
First up was the Drive the competition. Interesting choice of vehicles representing the areas Ford dominates in the market place, Crossovers and Trucks against some very worthy competitors.
Ford Escape Titanium VS Honda CRV
Ford Edge VS Toyota Highlander
Ford F150 VS Chevy Silverado
First drive it was the compact crossovers, Escape and CRV. The Edge handily won all categories when you look at driving dynamics. It was very capable in the corners and slalom. It smacked the CRV upside the head and left it dead in the straight line acceleration portion of the test. Honda's CRV does get a nod for improvements in the interior and the addition of the 2.4l direct injection Earth Dreams engine to the carlet for 2015. The changes weren't enough though for it to best the Escape on any level whether it be sheer performance or aesthetics.
Second up for me was driving the 2015 Edge Sport against the Toyota Highlander Limited. The Limited was very nicely outfitted and full of wonderful soft touch materials. Straight line acceleration was really very good, certainly more capable than what needs for daily driving. Handling was another matter, the steering was so over boosted there was no road feel and the front end dove under hard braking or in corners it was more like a 45 year old Buick than a contemporary car based cross over. The all new for 2015 Edge was equipped with the 2.7l EcoBoost and it handily spanked the Highlander on any metric you want to consider for driving enjoyment and confidence. It was really that good. Add in the significantly upgraded for 2015 interior and standard features and you will agree Ford really will handily beat the outgoing models sales.
Last up for me was the Trucks. The Silverado for this year got a direct injected 5.3l V8 that was a significant upgrade from last year. Its definitely more powerful than the trucks in the past, the interior needs a lot of work. Like I noted last year this LTZ doesn't have a better look and feel to build quality than my '13 Focus and that's unacceptable when you are talking vehicles in the $40K price point. The F150 as I've written in the past is superior in this category and this 2.7l EcoBoost equipped Lariat was no exception.
The track made a change with the trucks, instead of the curvy road portion of the track used with the cross overs they add in a rough road test....2X4s laid out on the tarmac for you to drive over and get a feel for how the truck will handle and ride on a rough cobbled dirt road in the woods. Here the Ford and Chevy were pretty neck in neck for acceleration and braking. In the slaloms they were again similar with Ford getting the nod for not understeering and plowing through, I chalk that up to the lower weight on the front due to smaller engine and aluminum construction. The rough road test...Chevy had more cowl shake and noticeable bed shake than the Ford...I presume that comes from a more solid build with the "military grade aluminum"
The ST Challenge portion of the day was without a doubt my most favorite part of the day.
Due to a slight equipment malfunction the timer was working so I got a few extra laps in the Focus ST. To perform this challenge one gets a brief lesson in how the drag timer works, rev to 3,000 RPM and let the clutch out and floor it until the finish line. Then you get to run through a slalom and a twisty curved set on the track before returning to the pit.
Mustang EcoBoost challenge was fun as well. Accelerate hard, mash the brakes for a quick 90 degree turn into some rough curves, then a slalom then a cool down straight away to the pits. Fun.
To learn about the Ecoboost Challenge for a potential visit to your area visit the web site HERE. This was the only shot for SoCal this year. The next closest they will be is NorCal in June.
Its the Ford Ecoboost Challenge at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia
Don't miss this one. Its where Ford shows its moxy and puts its car against the class leaders for you to compare on a closed circuit track. None of that mamby pamby wussy dealer rep with you as you drive around the block on a test drive. Its real cars on a closed circuit obstacle course where you get to do the things you've always wanted to do. Drive fast and accurate and really compare cars. Being on a closed circuit your safety is way up and you still can see how well they brake, accelerate, steer, ride and a host of other factors. It shows that Ford has the chutzpah to put their cars up to a challenge. No fear. No Pain, just fun in great cars.
The best part for me without a doubt ALWAYS is the ST Performance Academy. You get a short introduction on the course from a professional driver that includes tips on how to go your absolute fastest in the timed parts. Everyone is a winner just because you get to drive a fast car how it was meant to be, not stuck in bump and grind traffic.
Attending is easy. Simply sign up for a drive time on the Ecoboost Drive 2015 web site. Show up on Saturday March 14 with your drivers license and you are good to go.
Also...bring your sunblock as its going to be a clear, hot sunny 90+ day here in the SGV.
Lincoln Motor Company revealed its all new MKX to a gasp and wow response from the audience. It makes significant changes in style and luxury from the outgoing 2015 Model. Other than a floor pan and one engine nothing is shared with the Ford Edge. That's a big deal as many of the brands detractors denigrate the cars as "warmed over Fords". Not the case here.
The new MKX is full of sensuous flowing curves. There's a subtle rear wing built into the rear hatch. Fender flares on the sides to accommodate the wheels. LED driving lights and rear brake lights/turn signals that follow curves and creases in the body work. Nice integration of the elements. The split wing grill theme continues on the new MKX with horizontal bars versus the waterfall of old.
The interior is full of surprises as well. Two open storage compartments are integrated into the front seat console for easy storage of bulkier items such as purses or clutches.
As if the standard interior isn't pretty enough Lincoln brings 2 different "Black Label" packages to the table for the new MKX. Lincoln Black Label will be available at launch with four designer themes – two of which are all-new. One is inspired by the fashion, lifestyle and art scene of 1920s Paris, while the excitement, passion and pageantry of high-stakes thoroughbred horse racing create the vision for the second new theme. Modern Heritage and Indulgence also will be available on the new Lincoln MKX.
For audiophiles this Lincoln is the first to be equipped with what will be a brand exclusive Revel sound system from Harmon. Uncompromising acoustics and award-winning home theater audio quality comes to the Lincoln MKX through the available Revel audio system.
The Revel Ultima system is standard on Lincoln Black Label editions and available on Reserve models. It features 19 speakers with point source architecture, positioning the tweeter and midrange speakers close together for superior audio quality.
Further performance and refinement is provided by QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology, which offers three listening modes – stereo, audience and on stage; patented Clari-Fi™ technology offering advanced, real-time music reconstruction for all compressed audio sources; and a 20-channel high-voltage hybrid amplifier for class-leading dynamics and optimized transparency.
A 13-speaker Revel system designed for the ultimate audio quality experience is available on the all-new Lincoln MKX Select and Reserve.
The brand also brings to the table some interesting new lighting tricks to the table all in the name of ultimate luxury. When the driver with key fob is within approximately 9 feet, the lower LED daytime running lights gently brighten, while “welcome mat” is projected on the ground from the folded mirrors. Door handles are illuminated, too, tuned to the exterior color.
Interior sequential lighting begins at the footwell, then illuminates the cupholders, pass-through, instrument panel, front door handles, front map pockets and rear doors. The lighting goes off in reverse order.
Key features and optional equipment for the new MKX:
3.7l V6 with 300 hp/280 ft lbs torque. Optional 2.7l V6 Ecoboost with 330hp/370 ft lb torque
both engines mated to a 6 speed automatic with AWD optional
integral link rear suspension, upgrades to the body structure and chassis components, make the new model the best-handling, best-riding and quietest Lincoln MKX ever
Lincoln Drive Control, a suite of ride-enhancing technologies, optimizes performance and offers three distinct modes: Normal, Sport and Comfort
of helpful driver aids and technologies are available, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping system, blind spot information system, cross-traffic alert and a height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate
an ultrasonic sensing system with 12 sensors enabling the full range of available parking-assist features: front rear side sensing, perpendicular and parallel parking assist and park out assist
available 22-way adjustable front seats with active motion help reduce muscle fatigue in the upper legs and lower back through six adjustable air bladders in the cushion and five adjustable air bladders in the lower seat back
built-in connectivity is provided through an available embedded modem. Via a smartphone app that communicates with the vehicle, the available MyLincoln Mobile™ app gives owners the ability to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle, as well as schedule a remote start.
The new MKX is a great indication of where the brand is going with its total luxury experience. The features packed in or optionally available will certainly make it class competitive if not a leader in terms of driver satisfaction and support. That the passengers are enveloped in total leather wrapped luxury is just the added bonus. I really hope that this model takes off to encourage Lincoln to continue to produce driver focused luxury autos.
These pictures grabbed on the floor of the Lincoln exhibit really show off a lot of the key design and interior elements of the new MKX. I truly could see myself coddled in this in a cross country run or in the bump and grind traffic of Los Angeles. It has all the right bits to make it a leader in the class. I hope for Lincolns future the buyers out there really like it as well.
As a bit of a disclosure. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accomodations to attend the NAIAS this last week in Detroit as one of their "digital influencers". (I need to add that to my CV somehow). All opinions are my own, as if anyone can silence my not so humble opinions.
And yes, I have a real favorite of the group I drove.
I'm going to date myself horribly in about 20 seconds. My romance with the Mustang goes back to learning of a publicity stunt Ford did when they rolled out this car in 1964. I read about the 'Stang in my Weekly Reader in second grade where they put this revolutionary sports car on top of the Empire State Building. It was the Mustang.
I remember the magical day my friends saw our first Mustang in the little town in the UP of Michigan. It was a big deal for a bunch of second graders. I remember it well, it was cool overcast day and this brilliant Turquoise Mustang was flying down 2nd street in front of our house. We all gasped and did the toot your horn arm signal and the driver obliged.
For Christmas that year my youngest brother got a metal pedal car...it was a red Mustang and he tooled all around the basement until the snow left and he got to take out on the driveway.
Flash forward to my starting to drive. I remember shopping new cars and I always wound up drooling over the Mustang's, convertibles and the SVT Turbo. In 1986 I met a woman who stole my heart that I eventually married. She had a 1984 Charcoal grey metallic Mustang LX Coupe. That was a terrific car and it lasted us into the early years of our marriage. We unfortunately had to get rid of it when child #2 rolled along as there was no way we'd get 2 car seats into it. But I digress too much.
This last week I got to spend a morning driving 3 Mustangs. 1 GT, 2 Ecoboost, 1 manual and 1 automatic. All had the performance pack. All had the latest technological goodies Ford has to offer on the Mustang. Two even were equipped with the Recaro package. Trust me. Spend the extra for those seats over the basic seats offered even with the premium leather package. There is nothing like settling in to a car and dialing in all the bolsters and such for a perfect fit for the car. It was nothing short of amazing how comfortable those seats are. They should be standard with the performance pack.
First up was the 2015 Mustang GT. WOW. With 435 horse power and 400 ft lbs of torque this car is a beast in the very best meaning of the word. Blip the throttle and you are off, mash it and the traction control nannies step in and ensure a straight as an arrow run through the gears with an oh so very satisfying growl.
The version I drove had the performance pack on top of all the goodies found on the Mustang GT Premium. Add in the Recaro seat package and I was in heaven. Coddled and nestled into the car as one, even with an automatic tranny this car begs you to hit it hard.
I really liked the adjustable driving mode with this car. You can chose from normal, snow/wet, sport and track to suit what you are doing at the moment. Its done with a simple flick of the switch and voila your driving character changes. Track pretty much disables all the nannies, on a wet road at 30 I flipped to that, punched it and got a nice fish tail going without trying.
Another adjustment available is for the steering. The options are pretty straight forward, comfort, normal and sport. One is aimed at parking lot maneuvers with minimal effort, the other for just cruising and the latter for canyon carving. All good stuff and easily adjusted on the fly with a simple toggle switch in the center stack.
The amazing thing about all these adjustments is that you can have your canyon carver and still live with the car on a daily bump and grind commute. The switch to independent rear suspension and redo of the front suspension to work in unison with that new rear end produced a car that is nothing short of amazing. Set it all to normal and comfort and you are set for a cross country run or daily commute without ruffling a feather. Set it to the more aggressive modes and you're ready to tackle Azusa Canyon and its glorious twisties and switch backs. Point is Ford refined this car so its at home in both worlds. Its still the hairy beast when you want it to be.
A pleasant surprise was the fuel economy numbers I achieved on my 20 miles loop. It was a good mix of urban, flowing freeway and bump and grind. End result for the 5.0l V8 with an automatic is a pretty amazing 18.4 MPG.
Along with the bumper to bumper redesign of the car the interior was gutted and completely redone. Yes, it has a few retro touches that still tell you its a Mustang, but its different. Things are integrated better with stunning, luxury touch materials that belie its pony car for the masses appeal. Its immediate competition has a long way to go to get to this level of fit and finish and high end material feel. More of a M Class for the masses and considerably cheaper.
My only niggle with the car is the tiny buttons on the steering wheel to control the center information stack or even the infotainment and sync. Perfect for someone with with petite hands, not for fat fingers like me. At least there are redundant controls on the dash for the infotainment center, but you don't even need that with the voice controls of MyFordTouch with sync. The latest version is much faster and more refined that the one used even a year ago.
I absolutely loved the Mustang Ecoboost with the Recaro package. The weight difference in the front end is immediately noticeable over the V8 GT. The car goes from meaty glued down performance to slot car darty with this engine tranny combo. Much more fun to drive than the GT.
The Ecoboost with Recaro allows you to perfectly tune your seats to align you with the 3 pedals that control the fun factor of the car. It was by far the easiest manual tranny car I have driven in ages. Pedals were perfectly placed and balanced. It just begged you to step on it and row those gears flicking though the gates picking up speed with each shift.
This car too had the performance pack which I won't go into to much detail other to say with a manual tranny those options become even more fun. Until you hit a traffic jam and bump and go traffic which is always my reminder why I don't want a stick if I live in the city and need to deal with jams on a daily basis.
Even with my spirited driving I turned in some impressive numbers with this 6 speed transmission Ecoboost Mustang. 27mpg is nothing to sneeze at when you have the same power as the Bullitt V8 of a few years ago. Impressive results for a car with performance that runs with the 8's of a few years ago with a turbocharged Ecoboost 2.3l 4 cylinder. These results compare favorably with the EPA estimates of 22 city/31 highway/25 combined. Nice work Ford.
The final car in my rotation is the one I want for my daily driving. Its the Ecoboost Premium but instead of the standard interior I'd opt up for the Recaro package and keep the performance pack that was on the car I drove. The standard seats are good, but the Recaros are amazing and worth every penny.
The Ecooboost Premium with automatic transmission you do loose a little bit of the performance edge in the 0-60 run, or is it all imagined as you are shifting for yourself. Since I don't have instrument testing I can't tell you for certain if its real or imagined.
All I can tell you is that this automatic is perfectly matched to the Ecoboost, not hunting for gears transparent in operation and will run through the gears at redline with no issues when lunging into the freeway from an off ramp stop signal. I loved this car for its utility and practicality when I ran into an traffic jam and I reverted to bump and grind traffic with the other lemmings on the 405. Much more comfortable than having to clutch in and out every 5 feet of movement over a couple of miles.
My only niggle with the Ecoboost is the fake sound track played through the speakers, fun when you are driving aggressively. Kind of annoying when you settle into cruise mode. My suggestion is that you have it disabled when comfort and normal are chosen for your driving modes and on for the more spirited driving modes. I mean it really tells you nothing of what the engine is really doing, its that fake, just makes for a nice sound track when you are having some fun.
It really comes down to economics of the Ecoboost over the GT with a V8. Gas is cheap now, but it won't be forever, especially with the guvs Cap and Trade tax going into effect in a few weeks on a gallon of gas. The Ecoboost Premium with Automatic turned in a very respectable 25.2 MPG over the same course the GT turned in 18.4. Over the course of the year that's a lot of Premium unleaded. Ad in the insurance premium difference between the two the Ecoboost makes more sense for me. All the fun with some frugality works.
I priced out an Ecoboost Premium I want with the Automatic, Magnetic dark gray metallic paint and Recaro seats...$38.1K. Anyone wanna be nice to me for Christmas?
I'm not a truck person and this is the closest thing yet to make me rethink that. Driving it I had to pinch myself to remind me in fact it was a truck, not a large luxury sedan. Not a sports sedan, but a very capable luxury car none the less. Its so refined you have to remind yourself it has got an 8 foot bed behind you and consciously need to remind yourself of that when making turns and lane changes.
Where to start. First off by now everyone has heard a bajillion times that through the use of "military grade aluminum alloy" the F150 has lost as much as 700 pounds over the outgoing generation. That's huge. (Yes, I know some folks have put similar versions on scales from each year and have measured that, but why quibble over a few pounds difference). The second you start driving you notice the huge difference in how the truck feels. Gone pretty much is the "truck ride" of yore, that diet make a pronounced difference in how the truck feels on the road. That diet has pretty much eliminated the pitch and yaw common in heavier trucks.
When Ford first began talking about the direct injection 2.7l twin turbo Ecoboost I was like "what!?", that's a smaller displacement V6 than they offered back in the Pinto decades ago. This engine is a jewel. Smooth, powerful and quick to respond. This engine is totally new for 2015. A special iron alloy block built to take the turbo load with special aluminium heads for better cooling to handle the heat load make this a very special engine. Producing 325 horsepower and 375 ft lbs of torque, its no slouch in the power department. Power comes on early in the curve and has a wide spread making it very responsive and an easy substitute from the V8's we're used to seeing in trucks.
The truck I drove was the Lariat in a SuperCab configuration. I opted for the more common 4X2 version from the several Ford had for us to drive that day. Its outright zippy. The interior is much more hushed than last years truck. Paying attention to traffic and not speed I found myself cruising along in the "fast lane" with others with no effort...well above the limit and was surprised by its quiet complacent ride even over some rough stretches of pavement. Over my 20 mile loop of mixed freeway, stop and to traffic and urban driving I averaged 19.7 MPG. This stacks favorably against the EPA's estimate of 19 city, 22 combined and 26 highway. Is this really a truck?
Also included in the F150 is 2 information screens. One is an 8" My Ford Touch that included navigation in the version I drove . If interest in particular to me was the 8" Productivity screen that you control from buttons on the steering wheel to display information critical to what you're doing,such as trailer towing, off roading, MPG, whatever. Nice touch and certainly good to be able to sort through data most important to what you are doing at the moment.
Interior fit and finish is the best I've ever seen in a truck from anyone. Earlier this year I drove a V8 powered Silverado in mid-range trim and was pretty repulsed by the fit and finish...worse material choices than my 2013 Focus, certainly not up to the levels seen in this year 2015 F 150, The details in the stitching on the leather trimmed seats alone is high end luxury car, not what you expect to see in a truck.
The version of the 2015 F150 Lariat I drove was very nice equipped. It included the Trailer tow Package and a technology package that bumped the base $38.7K sticker up by another $7K to well over $46,000. Not chump change and certainly way more than your average mid size sedan. But you also get your money's worth out of this truck as it has considerably more utility and a lot more luxury than those cars can only dream of.
Driving and spending time in this 2.7l Ecoboost truck I wonder why anyone would bother with the premium of a diesel like the Ram 1500 offers for only an extra MPG you gain. The F150 turns in its numbers on regular gas which is selling for $2.89/gallon in my corner of Los Angeles today, versus the cheapest diesel at 3.99/gallon. The cost per mile of diesel over the gasser just doesn't make sense in my book.
After spending a half hour driving the 2015 F150 in a variety of situations around the South Bay area of Los Angeles and Signal Hill all I can say is wow. Certainly the best in the class. Again. Certainly competitive with luxury SUV's out there and a better alternative if you have real toys to haul, never mind the utility as a work truck. You can build your own here on Ford.com.
Thursday of the L.A Auto Show Press Days was also Green Car Ride and Drive. That's where you get to sign up and drive the greenest of the new cars out there in production or concept form. I wasn't all that surprised when I saw that the Ford F150 with the Ecoboost 2.7l V6 was among the test options for us.
By now we've heard all the significant details, military grade aluminum brought about some 700 lbs weight reduction that allowed the use of newer, smaller engines for better fuel economy and less green house emissions. Yeah. Sounds like a win...and it is.
Pictured here is the mid-level Lariat with the standard SuperCab set up. Super comfortable seating for 5. Easy access to the rear via suicide doors. Its trimmed better than many so called luxury cars of 5-10 years ago, gorgeous leather, soft touch materials. Very much the class act and it starts at 38.7K.
This truck was loaded with technology, lastest MyFordTouch with navigation, blind spot monitoring, trailer, 8" productivity screen nestled with the gauges, power sliding rear window with privacy glass and more goodies than I can mention in this one post. Want to build your own? Visit FORD HERE.
Driving this truck was about exceeding expectations. The 2.7l V6 Ecoboost has ample power to zip around city traffic. Wait, I said zip? Yes, the weight loss and changes to suspension and the power of this tiny (recall the Pinto back in the day had 2.8l V6 available which had nowhere near the power) Ecoboost makes for a truck that handles more like a large car than trucks of yore. Its really quite composed over the the potholed streets of Los Angeles around the Convention Center, no shake and shudder, quiet and doesn't pitch and yaw going into turns. Very untrucklike.
An interesting feature on this truck is the stop-start feature that stops the engine when conditions are appropriate like at stoplights, rail crossings etc.,. This allows you to eke out an few extra MPG's in both city and Highway driving. I do have to say its among the best applications of the stop-start in any nonhybrid I've driven yet.
I get to spend a bit more time with this truck at a Ford Open House in a few weeks. A full review and driving impressions will follow...along with a video and MPG round up over my tried and true 20 Mile loop through the South Bay.
Why fool with success? The changes are subtle but significant in the next generation Ford Edge going on sale as a 2015 model late first quarter of 2015 (springish). Probably the most startling and absolutely amazing piece of design is the LED tail lamps with the light strip connecting the two. Stunning.
This new Edge will further cement Ford as the leader in the segment. Based on the architecture underpinning the new Fusion/Mondeo/MKZ yields a much stronger and stouter CUV that is slightly bigger and weighs a few pounds lighter than the outgoing edition. Already Edge outsells its Nissan and Toyota competitors 3 to 1, Honda might as well throw in the towel as they are outsold SEVEN to one.
Two new trim levels have been added. In addition to the base, SE and SEL there is now a high content luxurious Titanium model (pictured here) along with Sport that is more than a trim upgrade.
The Sport is aimed clearly at those that want real performance, not just pretty wheels and cosmetics. It has an upgraded suspension, steering, sport seats and new for 2015 the 2.7l V6 Ecoboost. This new engine is built from the ground up new for this year and reportedly generates 325HP and 375 ft lbs of torque. Think that puppy will embarrass every other CUV in its class? I do. Not one of its competition comes close to that sort of power.
Standard power plant in the 2015 Edge is the 2.0l Ecoboost which is capable of hauling this machine around and keeping up with traffic. For those of you who really prefer to have a loafing V6 with similar power they have kept their very capable and efficient 3.5L Ti-vct engine as an option.
There is a ton of new Tech available on the Ford Edge.
There's an enhanced ratio steering wheel that progressively increases turn ratio that enables better steering response and faster response. The turn from lock to lock reduced from 2.7 turns to 2 turns. Not much but enough to make steering in tight spaces even easier.
Enhanced Park Assist. This feature allows you to drive down a tight parking garage and find a space you can back into...and it does that backing for you.
180 Degree front camera so you can see around corners and not get your front clipped when pulling out from between two big trucks
Active Cruise Control with collision warning and brake support, adjusts your speed to stay with the flow of traffic ahead of you, even will send a warning and start braking for you should cars ahead suddenly stop.
Price...its keeping the same base price as 2014 models, $28,995 for the 2015 model. That is with a tone of added equipment like rear back up cameras added to the new standard equipment list. Not bad Ford, Not bad at all. The build your own feature goes live on Ford.com on November 5, 2014.
Here's a short series of bullet point posters from the event highlighting key new things on the Edge. More pics including interior on flickr.
I'll admit it, I thought it was a huge mistake dropping the 1.6L Eoboost in favor of the 1.5l Ecoboost. Yes, I understand some markets have a huge tax penalty for mills over 1.5 litres but this is 'murica fer crissakes land of displacement. I'll take my crow and eat with relish this time around..
Turns out the 1.5 Ecoboost is putting out the same horsepower number, 177bhp as the 1.6l And gives up a negligible 7 ft lbs of torque. Driving it is really no substantive difference in driving the 1.5l Ecoboost compared to last years 1.6l ecoboost. With a mill that tiny and car that big there is turbo lag from a dead stop when you punch it. but it builds power smoothly without any drama. I liked it.
Now for the big change from the outgoing model, this silly milliliter smaller mill actually made sense and produced an MPG number I didn't expect to see in a traditional gasser. In my 20 mile loop of mixed freeway and congested urban, the start stop feature worked just marvy and returned an unbelievable 26.7mpg far better than I've ever achieved in a Fusion gasser with the Ecoboost mills. A win with this tiny change in displacement.
Of course the rest of the car is a very nicely screwed together car as we/ve come to expect from the Fusion. This 2014 Fusion also has the newest version of MyFordTouch that works faster with better accuracy than the last generation
I like this little car. Its rev happy and you get to row your own gears. Puts the fun back in driving with that combo. I've extolled the virtues of this little car in a variety of places from when I first drove a prototype in '09 until the current release.
What is new for this year is an SFE package that takes a tiny 1.0l 3 cylinder engine, slaps in direct injection and turbocharging and an Ecoboost badge on the rear of an already best in subcompact class car. The result is a little car that is an absolute hoot to drive and turned in a respectable 40mpg on my 20 mile loop of mixed city and highway driving. Folks, that hybrid territory mileage without sucking the life out of the car in the process.
The standard trim of this car is nice, premium look and feel from stem to stern inside and out. My only niggle is that it is tight for a big guy like me, someone more petite and under 6 foot would likely find it completely acceptable. This example had a nice cloth that was grippy without looking cheesy like the mouse fur that was stuck in cars all that long ago. Certainly on par if not better than the rest of the subcompacts out there.
The 3 cylinder motor is a rev happy little mill. Good torque across the board if with turbo lag noted when in higher gears when you press the gas. Row the gears and keep it on boost and it will dart and weave around traffic with no problems. My only niggle is you don't need to look at the tach as at higher RPM's there is a coarseness to the engine that I didn't expect to find. Ford Mills of late are nearly as smooth and rev happy as the best in the business...Honda. I think the NVH engineers need to spend a little more time at the high end of the revs as its really not up to what I expected.'
Stats...we all love them. The Ecoboost 1.0 generates 123bhp and 125 flt lbs of torque. The standard issue 1.6l naturally aspirated 4 cyl generates 120 bhp and 112 ft lbs of torque and is coupled to their direct shift automatic. The Ecoboost is the clear win in the power category for the base models. My only niggle with the slick shifting manual is that its only a 5 speed and everyone else seems to be doling out very nice 6speeds that add an extra mpg on the highway. Regardless, on a 2,575 lb car that is a lot of power being put to good use and generating some great mileage numbers. Kinda having your cake and eating it too.
It was bound to happen, and I for one can't believe it took the good guys at Ford this long to plunk the Ecoboost 3.5LV6 into the Expedition. I can't think of a better place to put this power train than in the Expedition. That simple engine swap makes the Expedition uber competitive with the Tahoe from Chevy and the Sequoia from Toyota.
The 5.4L V8 it replaces was a good, durable engine, but lacking in power and refinement compared to the V8's of its immediate competition. The Ecoboost solves that in spades and will likely yield better mileage than the Chevy in the process.
The particulars. The outgoing V8 produced respectable 310 horsepower and 365 ft lbs of torque. It was thirsty, sucking down fuel at the rate of 14 mpg on the generous EPA estimates for city driving. Real world in the Ecoboost with 365 horsepower on tap and a whopping 420 ft lbs of torque. Couple it with 2 fewer cylinders to feed this next iteration of the Expedition with the Ecoboost will pick up an easy couple of mpgs over that out going V8. Having your cake and eating it too I say.
Its competition has V8s, but are weak compared to the Ecoboost. Chevy 5.3L small block V8 generates only 320bhp and epa estimates of 15/21. The Toyota Sequoia has a large 5.7L V8 that generates 381 thirsty horsepower with an epa estimate of 13/18. The Ecoboost hits right in the middle with power. EPA estimates aren't available yet, but the 2014 F150 with this engine is rated at 16/22 and I'd expect similar ratings out of the Expedition.
The Expedition Platinum I got to peak at the other day has MyFord Touch and navigation. The automatic tranny is a full 6 speeds and has the option of full manual mode, or partial locking in gear ranges for better speed control in hilly country. There is an optional independent rear suspension with mechanical leveling that should take the squat out of full loads quite nicely. There's even a new trailer brake control (TBC) that better synchronises your brakes/trailer brakes for safer trailering.
Aside from the drop dead gorgeous gray interior of the Platinum edition that's in this video, there is also a King Ranch edition named after the fabled ranch in Texas that was founded in 1853. The King Ranch edition is swathed in deep brown leather with the center console branded with the King Ranch brand. Nice.
