This sounds a lot like the Ford Sync system in most Ford vehicles. GMC says that the IntelliLink home screen can be configured by the driver with the icons they want. It has icons built-in for Pandora and Stitcher streaming via smartphones. The system should work pretty much like Ford Sync since it, and IntelliLink are powered by Nuance.

The voice control system also uses the Gracenote media database to provide album art and artist information. This also allows people to find content using nicknames such as “The Boss” and others. IntelliLink’s integration of Gracenote is the first to provide track data via Bluetooth streaming rather than having to have the device plugged into the USB port.

“Gracenote is typically limited to devices plugged in to the USB port,” he said. “With IntelliLink, we are the first company to run Bluetooth streaming audio through the Gracenote database to display album art for music players connected wirelessly.”

The heart of the vehicle is the Aston Martin V12 that displaces 6L it has 510 HP and 420 pound-feet of torque. I guess I’m a little jaded by 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 that has a supercharged V8 engine of 5.8L with 650 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque. Those four extra cylinders don’t do the Aston Martin much good in output department compared to the Ford V8.

Aston Martin will only build 150 of the special Zagato vehicles, and you need to be very wealthy to get your hands on one. Each vehicle will sell for £330,000 plus taxes. That makes it one of the most expensive cars Aston Martin produces as well as one of the coolest looking cars to wear the Aston Martin badge.

[via Top Gear]

Ford says the 2013 GT500 convertible when equipped with the optional performance package is faster around the track than the outgoing model. When Ford hooned the 2013 GT 500 convertible around Sebring International Raceway, the 13 model is 3.5 seconds per lap faster than the 2011 and 2012 models. The 650 hp engine certainly helps that, as did the special SVT Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers that are available in the performance package. The special dampers change between normal and sport modes at the push of a button.

The convertible also gets an improved Brembo braking system with six piston calipers in front and larger front and rear rotors. The convertible can also be optioned with special track package including an external engine oil cooler, a rear differential cooler, and a transmission cooler. It should make for one of the highest performing convertibles ever produced by Ford.

The car that filled that need is a one-of-a-kind GT500 test car that was constructed to be rung out at the Sebring International Raceway by the Ford SVT development Team and Carroll Shelby himself. The car used already had a long history with Ford and had started as one of the first 2007 GT500′s built; the body was later updated to the new 2010 body style.

The test car was put up for auction with the proceeds being donated to the JDRF, which is a research firm that seeks a cure for type 1 juvenile diabetes. The car was run through the auction at Barrett-Jackson last weekend, and the winning bidder paid $350,000 for the car. This special test car has a full roll cage, six-point harnesses, and Recaro racing seats inside.

“I raced on the Sebring International racetrack for many years, but my ambition was always to build my own car,” said Carroll Shelby. “It was exciting to be back to collaborate on this GT500 durability car with the SVT guys. I’m really proud to have my name on this car. They took my dreams of what a car should be and made it a reality.”

The term “stock car” originally meant that the vehicle was the same model as what any regular fellow or lady could purchase from the lot. Over time there’ve been some changes to the sport of Stock Car Racing that have given a bit of a change to that unspoken rule, allowing the model on the track to be quite a bit different from its showroom equivalent. With the 2013 Ford Fusion comes a racing car which mirrors its production car. Director of Ford Racing Jamie Allison had the following to say on the subject:

“We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR. I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to re-engage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.” – Allison

This is not the first time that Ford has simultaneously released both production and NASCAR versions of a car at the same time. The first time this occurred was back in 1968 with the Ford Torino, then the most recent was in 2006 with the first Fusion. The 2013 Fusion is identified by its redesigned silhouette and its easy to spot front end grill. This car will feature five different powerplants, that being three gas, one hybrid, and one plugin-hybrid, as well as two transmissions and FWD/AWD options.

Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Toyota have been allowed by NASCAR to remodel their race cards to allow them to be more “brand identifiable” for upcoming races. The other three automakers have not yet revealed their models of choice.

[via MotorAuthority]

The year range for the Escape SUVs under the recall is 2001 to 2002. On these vehicles, the brake fluid can leak from the master cylinder cap and lead to corrosion that could cause a fire. The Freestar and Monterey vans are being recalled due to issues with the torque converter. The output shaft of the torque converter could fail and cause a loss of power.

A loss of power while passing or accelerating into traffic could be disastrous. Apparently, only two minor accidents have happened over the last eight years. There were only minor injuries reported in the incidents.

[via Freep]

The car will hit dealers later this year. It has a more refined version of the split-wing grill that was introduced in 1938 on the Lincoln-Zephyr. The car has a roofline that is supposed to be a move away from the traditional sedan style. It also has a panoramic glass sunroof that spans from the windshield to the top of the backlight and is integrated into the sedans superstructure.

That is cool, but a similar glass roof on Ford Mustangs lets in an insane amount of heat in warm climates. Inside the car is room for four people. The transmission has a push button gear selector, and a LCD screen in front of the driver measures 10.1-inches and runs MyLincoln Touch. The concept also has an 8-inch center LCD touchscreen.

The AppLink feature allows the driver to control some of the apps on their smartphones using their voice. The Destinations app is free to download and use for drivers with Sync vehicles that are compatible. Once the driver picks their route, they can use the Destinations app to shoot the directions over to their car or truck.

The directions go to the cloud-based Sync services account and then to the car. The latest update to Destinations allows it to work in conjunction with AppLink for the first time. This new integration lets the driver send the directions to their car and then when in the car, the driver can use their voice to get traffic updates and other details. The driver can also get listings of accidents around them and report accidents using their voice so other drivers can avoid them.

Ford will offer the 13 Fusion in three versions including a normal gasoline version, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid version. Ford expects all three versions to be at the top of their classes for fuel efficiency. Ford will be packing the car with lots of tech too. The new Fusion will have the Ford Lane Keeping system, adaptive cruise, active park assist, MyFord Touch and a lot more.

The Fusion is based on the platform that will also underpin the Mondeo in other markets. Ford is also offering powerful and efficient EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines in the Fusion. Other key features of the line include start/stop technology and availability of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. The car will hit dealers later this year according to Ford. Pricing details should come then.

Beginning with the North American International Auto Show and Consumer Electronics Show, the two companies will be collecting plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The Focus Electric is the first vehicle with interior materials made of 100% clean technology. So, if you’re in attendance at either the Auto Show in Detroit or CES in Las Vegas, be sure your plastic bottles make it into a recycling bin!

This is not Ford’s first move towards the use of cleaner technology. The next time you sit in a Ford, remember that even the seat cushion has been made eco-friendly. Many vehicles include soy foam seat cushions and head rests. The seat is then finished with recycled yarns on seat covers. Even the outside touches of most vehicles are made from recycled materials to form underbody systems. Although 90% of a single vehicle is recyclable, Ford is working to put that to 100%.

[via CNET]

The OpenXC research platform – consisting of hardware and software developer kits created in partnership with Bug Labs – is being shipped this month, with MIT, the University of Michigan and Stanford among the first wave of universities taking part. The idea is that developers will eventually be able to use “key vehicle data” in their cloud apps and services.

“[Ford's] future is not just about building cars but about creating uncompromised personal mobility experiences for people around the world” Ford

Ford’s own work on that will involve opening up its in-car sensor feedback to developers. Weather Underground is looking to use windshield use data for real-time weather proximity reporting, for instance, with 3G-enabled vehicles sending back information that can be mashed up with other news.

A SYNC-enabled Segway probably isn’t going to be first on Ford’s list, in fact the company has set itself a more ambitious challenge than simply getting one person about without stressing their legs. ”With increasing pressures from urbanization and the need to reduce energy use,” CTO Paul Mascarenas says, ”we’re going to see energy storage, wireless connectivity, sensing systems and even autonomous vehicles as key parts of the solution.”

Ford will discuss some of its in-car technology during its CES keynote next week, including showcasing five titles from the Ford SYNC App Developer Challenge. One such app will be Roximity, which “provides real-time deals and specials relevant to a user’s location, based on personal preferences and interests” so that, when connected to SYNC, could deliver “a customized verbal message for a special deal on food from a favorite nearby restaurant.”

One of the best features about the Focus EV is that the car can charge in half the time it takes the Leaf to charge fully. Ford claims that the Focus EV needs only a bit more than three hours to charge fully on a 240V charging system. Nissan rates the Leaf for a driving range of 100 miles.

Ford says that the focus EV will be good for 70 to 100 miles on a charge depending on driving style. The environment plays a roll in how far an EV can drive as well. The Focus EV will sell for $39,995 making it about the same price as the Volt and over $5,000 more expensive than the Leaf EV. Ford will have a tough time with that price. Dealers in California, New York, and New Jersey are taking pre-orders on the Focus EV now.

[via Freep]

According to Ford, the problem only affects Fusion and Milan cars with 17-inch steel wheels, not those with alloy wheels. Nonetheless, that’s 128,616 vehicles in all, along with a further 3,000 steel wheel sets distributed to Ford dealers.

“Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the lug nuts replaced on all four wheels” Ford told the agency, “and to have the rear brake discs inspected for wheel mounting surface flatness and replaced, if required.” A comprehensive investigation into the problem has been undertaken by the company, it continued.

Ford claims there is no record, as of the end of September, of any accidents resulting from the problem. If you have one of the affected vehicles, you should contact your dealer.

[via NYTimes]

While this easter egg may seem to an outsider to have been a simple enough task to implement on a vehicle over a year out of the box, apparently this was no pie when it came to making it a reality. The tiny projector lamp solution came after six or seven attempts at the shiner, the final look appearing very close to what you’re seeing in the images above and below. The perfect balance between awesome and absurd had to be found.

The final solution ended up being so magically delicious that apparently it shut down the production floor at Ford’s Flat Rock assembly line when it was first activated. One of the workers flipped the switch, the light came on, and everyone ran in at a mad rush. We’re sure this sort of thing will start to show up on cars across the industry in just a few years time. Perhaps some Bat Signals in 2014?

[via AutoBlog]

The L.A. adventure had people winning prizes each of the three days with a final contest coming up after, the entire process working with the iOS-based GoldRun app. This app uses your iPhone or iPad 2′s camera to allow you to see the world and in this case superimpose images on top of everyday objects. If you made the right combination happen, you’d advance in the game! Have a peek at the images above and below to see how much fun searching for a brand new car can be when you’re doing it in a virtual reality landscape.

The Nationwide promotion worked in a very similar manner to the L.A. section of the game, with one challenge at a time per two-day period. Prizes were awarded, and a grand prize was again teased. The grand prize winner of course will win the still ultra-fabulous 2011 version of the Ford Escape. Everyone else will just have to head to the auto lot to pick up next years version. And NOTE: this final contest is not yet over, it runs until the 18th of November! Download yourself GoldRun app from the iOS App Store to participate!

The V8 is hailed as the most powerful ever placed in a production car from the factory. Along with the new engine, the GT500 also gained some other tweaks with new downforce generating body panels and new optional performance package for the track. Ford claims the new aero work and power gives the GT500 a top speed of over 200 mph.

The car also gets a revised and improved cooling system, a new upgraded transmission, a new clutch, and the engine uses a new TVS style blower. The car also has an optional Performance Package that adds a torsen differential and new Brembo brakes with 6-pistons. The Performance Package also gets new SVT Blisten electronic adjustable suspension with comfort and track modes adjusted with a button on the dash. Pricing on the GT500 for 2013 isn’t announced. So much for that Camaro ZL1.

The apps that show on the LCD allow the driver to get times on the track for things like quarter mile performance, eight-mile performance, and 0-100 times along with 0-60 times as well. The apps also have a feature for showing the g-forces the car is pulling on the track under turning, acceleration, and braking.

There is also a brake performance screen that records stopping distances. These will be great for Mustang owners that like to tweak their car to see if they get improved performance out of their rides with changes. Ford has also added a new audio system option to the mix for most mustang models. A new Shaker Pro system is available that has 550W of power.

I’m not so sure how I feel about the changes to be honest. The car looks very good from the front, but it looks almost just like a Shelby GT500. If I wanted a GT500, that is what I would buy. I wish it were set apart more from the GT500 style wise. The hood is changed with the power dome leaving and a new vented hood being added. The roof of the 13 Laguna Seca is also body color rather than black.

The 13 models get reflective hockey stripe graphics like the 70 Boss 302′s received. The back of the car sees new taillights with LED surrounds. I will definitely need to see those in person to pass judgment. Other than the body and color changes, the car also gets HID headlights and Sync. The car also gets a new instrument cluster with a LCD screen that has Track Apps for performance monitoring on the track. Otherwise, the 13 car is the same as the 2012 Boss 302 cars. Pricing is unannounced at this time.

The MyFord Touch system was so maligned that it cost Ford a lot of points in the important J.D. Power rankings. Ford is trying to improve things and has announced a new software update for vehicles with the system. The software will be rolled out to 250,000 Ford vehicles that use the MyFord Touch. Unlike most of the updates to the Sync system where the user has to plug a flash drive into their computer and save software to the drive themselves, Ford will be sending this software update out on a flash drive.

The flash drives will ship out to all 250,000 owners that have the system. The owners will also be able to roll into their local dealer and have the software update applied as well. The update is said to make big changes to the system with screens that are simpler and easier to use and understand. The text is larger as well and the buttons have shading. Ford also says that it improved the voice recognition and the system responds more quickly and is less likely to shutdown. The new software will be available next year.

[via Washington Post]

The body is a 100% reproduction of the original 1964.5, 1965, and 1966 convertible body and comes complete and ready for you to paint and install the interior and drive train into along with other parts. The idea is that the restorer can use this body and swap over parts to build a complete car rather than trying to weld and fix body damage or rust.

The new body can be used along with other Ford approved Mustang restoration parts to build a completely new Mustang if that is what the builder wants to do. The new body is made with better materials and techniques than the originals making a car built using these parts stronger than the originals. This company already makes body shells for the 67-68 and 69-70 fastback mustangs too. The price for the new convertible mustang body starts at $15,000.

Why would you want to access the Mustang customizer in flight? It’s cool to make your own custom Mustang anyway, but once you customize your own you can share it on Facebook and then for the entire flight you can access Facebook for free as well. That will probably be more appealing to most than just working up your own Mustang.

The special promotion starts October 21 and ends on November 18. There are 78,791,049,216,000 different possible combinations on the Ford Mustang Customizer. The user can choose from different wheels, decals, body kits, grills, and more.

This Boss 302 was designed by Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt. Betancourt designed the Boss 302 to look like the one that famous Ford race driver from the 60′s and 70′s took the the championship in the Trans-Am series in 1970. The car is painted in a color that will be coming for the 2013 Boss 302 cars called School Bus Yellow. The name of the color is a throwback to the 1970 racing series. It looks orange to me.

Rather than using decals like the production Boss 302 racing cars, the designer painted on all of the stripes for the special car and will have Parnelli Jones sign the car at the event where it will be auctioned off for charity. The car even has Jones’ racing number 15 painted on the door. The auction will take place at the Get your Heart Racing event this Saturday. I bet the car brings well into the six-figure range.

The negotiations to keep the plant open and for other facilities Ford operates have been going on for a while now and Ford and the UAE have reached a final agreement. Some interesting details on the 2013 Shelby GT500 came out of the negotiations. One of the things that the contract covers is $50 million for the addition of a new engine at the Romeo Engine Assembly Plant along with other tweaks to the plant. The new engine the plant will be constructing is a 5.8L supercharged V8.

This is the engine that has been rumored to be in the 2013 Shelby GT500 and the GT500 uses the only supercharged engine in the Ford line right now. Ford also announced that future trim levels of the Fusion will come to the Flat Rock AutoAlliance facility along with the Mustang to pick up the slack left behind by the Mazda6 heading to Japan.

[via Mustangs Daily]

The two EcoBoost options will include the 1.6L EcoBoost that will debut in North America inside the Escape. The other EcoBoost option will be a 2L offering. The 1.6 is rated for 31 mpg by the EPA. Ford is mum on the numbers for the engine, but they claim it has similar output when compared to the larger 4-cylinder offerings from competitors.

The 1.6L EcoBoost has been in use inside vehicles in Europe already. Ford has also announced that it will be offering a hybrid version of the C-MAX. The C-MAX is the first Ford hybrid to use a hybrid transmission and lithium battery system that Ford build in house. A plug-in Hybrid version of the C-MAX will also come to the US in 2012.

I probably know more about the car than any of you ever wanted to know and once I laid eyes on all that awesome, fan boy mode ensued. You can check out the video at the bottom of this post if you have a bit of time and see the walk around where I hit the high points on the car and point out a few key differences between the normal Boss 302 and the Laguna Seca version of the cars. Note that the brake cooling ducts cool the rotors, not the calipers.

The Laguna Seca version has a 444 HP 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a 6-speed transmission. It has sticky R-comp 19-inch tires all around and this particular car was in the black and red color scheme. Ford also produces a silver and red scheme and silver or black with red trim are the only options for the Laguna Seca this year. The car looks much better in person than it looks in photos or video, but the colors schemes are love it or hate it with most people. Check out the walk around for all you ever wanted to know and probably much more.

One of the key updates to the car comes in a new Torsen differential in the front. The official press release on the truck doesn’t mention the ratio in the front differential, but I believe it was said to be a 4.10 ratio in the front. The Torsen differential is the same type of diff used at the rear of the 2012 Boss 302. What the Torsen differential brings is a better ability to put the power down in instances where one tire has more traction than the other tire does.

On the outside of the new Raptor truck key styling changes for the 2012 refresh inside a new side graphic that says Raptor. When I drove the 2011 Ford Raptor with the graphics designed to resemble digital dirt on the side the thing most people asked was if you could get the truck minus the graphics. I think the new graphics are much more attractive than the old version and buyers will like them on the truck much more.

The other big exterior change is the addition of a new wheel style that looks a lot better than the wheels on the 2011 Raptor. The new wheels are a Euroflange design that put the weights on the inside to protect from the bumps and debris that comes with off roading. The new wheels are shod in SVT-tuned 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. The suspension remains the same with internal triple-bypass FOX racing shocks. The big tires and special suspension give the Raptor 11.2-inches of suspension travel in the front and 12.1-inches of rear suspension travel on both SuperCrew and SuperCab versions.

The engine under the hood is the same 6.2L as last year packing 411 HP and 434 lb-ft of torque. One of the key new tech features of the 2012 model is the addition of a front camera in the grill area. This camera is angled down and is made to allow the driver to see what is in front of them even when the grade they are climbing means they see nothing but sky. The front camera shows what it spies on the LCD in the center cluster of the truck and has an integrated washer to keep the lens clear of mud and dust. The screen has graded lines to show distance to go and when in use it has blue dynamic guides so you can see what the truck is headed towards.

Inside the new 2012 Raptor, you can now get heated and cooled seats as an option. In previous models, the seats offered heat only. The seats are also now trimmed in blue thread with the same leather and mesh design that the 2011 models had, but with more color. The dash area also gets a blue anodized trim package option. The Raptor will be offered in a new Race Red color, which will not get the blue interior trim package option.

Pricing on the new 2012 Raptor hasn’t been announced at this point, but Raj said the increase wouldn’t be large since it’s an incremental upgrade. During the unveil the speaker noted that Ford is selling every Raptor it can build and has traditionally offered its dealers only a 14-day supply of the trucks. The supply will be increased in 2012 to meet the market demand for the Raptor. Check out our exclusive video below to see the new 2012 Raptor for yourself.

The key component of the RS3 package as far as the performance goes is the 2.3L ROUSHcharger supercharger that pumps the 412HP 5.0 V8 up to 540hp and 465ft-lb of torque. The remainder of the package is suspensions bits, new wheels and tires, and a lot of show. The Hyper- Series RS3 cars are all black with the a choice of four bright colors for trim. I am really digging the colors too. Frankly, it was too much for our sensible resident Brit, Chris Davies. He couldn’t take that much cool and had to go lay down for a bit to recover.

The colors in the Hyper-Series package are bright and include “Mat It Mango”, “Gas It Green”, “Punch It Purple”, and “Launch It Lemon” accents on the vehicles. The main color is always black and grey graphics with the bright Hyper-Series colors as bits of trim. The cars come with the color on the graphics and the stitching on the seats inside the car and other touches carry the color over. The cars come with a shift knob that matches the trim color or a black one to help Brits survive the cool. There will only be 25 of each color Hyper-series car offered and they are serialized as “Vehicle #xx of 25 Mat it Mango” and so on.

The iHeartRadio app is now available on the Blackberry platform for smartphones and it is AppLink enabled for the Ford Sync system. If you have a Blackberry and a Ford car with the Sync system supporting AppLink you can download the iHeartRadio app on the Blackberry App World right now.

The app allows you to hit the Sync button in the vehicle and tell the app what you want to do. You can search for local stations by saying “Cities” and sort local stations by genre using the voice command “genre.” You can also save a station you like to favorites using the “favorites” voice command. The new app hit this month and is in version 1.0 and needs Blackberry OS 5.0.0 or higher.

The EcoBoost family of engines is extensively used around the world thanks to the ability for a smaller displacement engine to offer the performance of a larger engine via adding turbochargers to the smaller motor. The EcoBoost that will be in the European focus is a tiny 1.0-liter engine that offers the performance of a traditional 1.6L engine, but is more efficient.

The 1.0L engine will offer 98 hp and 118 hp in different versions with five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions respectively. The 98 hp five-speed transmission is likely an automatic since it has lower power output. Ford also notes that eventually this EcoBoost engine will make its way to models in North America as well.

The partnership between the two companies is aimed at allowing developers to prototype solutions for socially networked in-car connectivity. The idea is that the Bug Labs system lets the developer prototype the gear for inside the car use to be sure it works as they want and then they can move to making the finished product. Since anyone can buy the Bug Labs kits this will also open the door for custom devices that will connect with the car.

The collaboration was announced at the TechCrunch disrupt conference and uses OpenXC based on the Bug System from Bug Labs. The system allows the car owner to make just about any custom interface or accessory for vehicle with all sorts of modular and easy to use Bug Labs hardware and software. The idea is that Ford can sell or rent hardware and software modules through dealerships or other channels and offer developer resources to allow endless customization. Ford may also use an app store model to sell drivers cool and interesting upgrades and new features for their cars all based on Bug Labs hardware and software.

You can get the Raptor with a 4-door quad cab. I would assume that is the base for this 6-door project. Looking at this truck really makes me think that a Raptor SUV direct from Ford would be really cool. It would be a given that this enclosed version with extra doors would be heavier than the factory version, and lose some performance.

Thankfully, the Raptor has a giant 6.2L V8 under the hood and there are plenty of aftermarket parts to give the beast more power to make up for the extra weight. The Raptor has had some instances of the frame bending under certain conditions. I wonder if the builder took that into consideration when putting this Raptor limo plan in motion. Check out the video below to see more about the cool truck.

[via Autoholics]

“The Ford Evos Concept unites three key elements which are at the core of our One Ford global product strategy: outstanding design, smart technologies and fuel economy leadership,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development

Connectiviy is of course a major area of focus with Ford aiming to create a more seamless lifestyle between the home, office, and car. However, Kuzak says that the idea is not to transform a vehicle into a smartphone. Instead, it is to provide a personalized and safe connection to the outside world in a manner that’s specifically designed for the vehicle context.

By connecting to the cloud, the vehicle can provide a similarly connected lifestyle for the driver as experienced at home or at the office. Ford is exploring how this connection combined with personalization options and additional data from the cloud can enhance the driving experience. For instance, a vehicle could automatically play the same music or news program that was just streaming at home. It could also automatically heat or cool interior temperatures before the driver gets into the car based on departure times set in the driver’s calendar.

Other areas explored include enhanced driving experiences and driver wellness. Through adaptive technologies and the use of personal preferences and other data from the cloud, the vehicle can adjust handling and performance based on the road ahead and the driver’s habits. The vehicle can also monitor the driver’s wellness through technologies including heart-rate monitoring seats and allergy-free interiors.

Additionally, the Ford EVOS Concept explores a cloud-optimized hybrid powertrain. The vehicle is equipped with a state-of-the-art lithium-ion plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain that when combined with cloud connectivity can provide better fine tuning of performance and fuel efficiency.

Below are a series of videos that introduce the various features and technologies of the Ford EVOS Concept.

Block’s awesome Fiesta racing car is called the HFHV or Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle. The HFHV is a competition ready race vehicle and Block will use the car for all sorts of different racing and hooning sessions. Ford points out that Sync will not replace Block’s co-driver Alex Gelsomino in rally events because turn-by-turn directions are not allowed in rally competition.

With Sync, Block can drive the car and use his voice to activate things like phone calls and music. The HFHV has 600 HP and is based on the M-Sport WRC Fiesta rally car. Block plans to use the car for North American competition including stage rally events, Gymkhana, rallycross, and X Games.

Block’s latest video Gymkhana 4 has hit YouTube and the latest installation has a lot more Hollywood production value to it than some of the other videos in the series. It has more product placement too. That is fine by me though, because if all commercials were this cool I’d not fast forward through them.

This time out Block appears to been getting up to some hoonage at the Universal Studios theme park. You can see Block flying around trams, robot sharks, and doing donuts around a gorilla suit clad person on a Segway. I think Ken Block may be the only man alive that can actually make me want a Ford Fiesta, but it would damn well need to shoot flames out the back and do donuts around gorillas.

[via StangTV]

The truck comes in Tuxedo Black and a new White Platinum Tri-coat color. Standard equipment inside the truck includes a 4.2-inch productivity screen, power moonroof, voice activated navigation, and a remote start system. The real feature that performance fans want to know is the engine specs. The HD truck gets a 6.2L V8 engine with 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque.

The truck can also tow up to 7,500 pounds so taking that boat, trailer, or camper on the road isn’t an issue. Interestingly the black hue the truck comes in is Tuxedo Black. This is one of the colors that have been hard to get on other vehicles thanks to low production of required pigments in Japan post tsunami. The truck also boasts second row heated seats, a review camera, and power-adjustable performance pedals. Pricing isn’t known right now, but it will be a more expensive truck for sure.

[via Ford]

The complaints center on the inability to shift into gears when driving the car normally and crunching or grinding on shifts. The investigation is looking at the transmission on both 6-cylinder Mustangs and the 5.0-liter Mustang GT as well as the 2012 Boss 302. Ford has previously issued a technical service bulletin or TSB that offered a proposed fix for the crunching and grinding by replacing the fluid inside the transmission with a different weight. Many users reported no change in shifting after having the TSB fix applied.

I happen to own a 2012 Boss 302 and my car is affected by the shifting issue often referred to as lockout. The first time the issue occurred on my car was at a road course event. Not expecting issues with the car, I was recording the laps with a windshield-mounted camera, so you can’t see hands or the shifter in the video. You can though hear that at the start of the session in part one of the video below I was able to shift without any issues.

Towards the 7:30 mark in part one the car suddenly refuses to go from third to fourth gear smoothly and starting in part two the inability to shift into fourth gear happens with almost every shift at high RPM. The transmission goes from third to sixth rather than fourth gear typically in my case. If you just want to hear the shift issue, skip to video two. I put the first video up simply for reference to show the car was shifting normally to start with.

What you can see in the video is that the clutch pedal started feeling very spongy and was not returning to the fully disengaged position when I removed my foot from the pedal. The clutch pedal was only releasing about an inch before becoming stuck and it would only fully disengage after the RPMs dropped. The shifts on the front straight where you can see the paddock building in the background are at about 7500 RPM at roughly 80 mph-100 mph.

It’s worth noting that the instructor in the car with me is baffled by the shift issue as well, at one point he thinks I am making a shift error hitting the gates and I tell him that the pedal feels weird. This shift issue also happens on the street as well. There may be some language on the video, the instructor drops the f-bomb at times so be warned.

[via Fox News]

Eagle claims that Ford broke off discussions in 2008 and that after that date tech that violated Eagle patents started showing up in Ford vehicles. The tech that Eagle Holdings alleges infringes on its patents includes Ford’s Sync, Active Park Assist, Blind-Spot identification System with Cross Traffic Alert, Integrated Control System for Stability Control, and MyKey.

I’m not sure what to think on this, we have certainly seen more than a few trolls in the tech world try and make money off patents that only vaguely cover their claims. Ford’s Sync system is especially curious to name in my mind since Ford openly says the system is powered by Microsoft and Nuance. Eagle certainly can’t claim that it owns the patent on hands free devices. I am curious to see more detail on the claims in this case and I am sure over time they will surface. It’s also important to note that just about all car makers have a system in their vehicles today that is very similar to Sync.

[via TechEye]

AppLink allows the user to control certain apps on their smartphones using the Sync hands free system in the car. At launch, AppLink was very limited in the vehicles it was available for. Ford has announced that it has added compatibility to ten more Ford vehicles that was previously on the 2012 Mustang and Fiesta.

The new 2012 model year vehicles to support AppLink include Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Fiesta, F-150, F-150 SVT Raptor, Super Duty, Expedition, E-Series and Shelby GT500. AppLink allows the driver to voice control apps like Stitcher for music and others. More apps are being added that are AppLink enabled as well. Ford also reports that 2,500 developers have signed up to offer apps that work with AppLink so far.

Ford has announced that the Focus Electric will use an advanced liquid cooling system for its lithium-ion battery packs to provide an advantage over models without a cooling system. When the battery is being charged or used the Ford system will use an integrated chiller to lower the temperature of the hot coolant going through the battery as needed.

In the winter, months if the coolant is at a good temperature presumably the chiller wouldn’t activate. The system uses the vehicles AC system to cool the fluid as it flows around the battery. The cooling system will work when the car is charging as well even though it’s not on. “Batteries can heat up when they’re charging or being used, and it’s made worse by ambient temperatures,” said Dave Fabricatore, Thermal Program Management team engineer. “Controlling the temperature lets us deliver the best range and power for the customer, while improving the longevity of the battery.” The Focus Electric will launch late this year.

The engineers from the Ford European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University have worked together to expand the possible in-car health tech and wellness solutions to helping people with chronic illnesses or medical disorders manage their condition on the go. This sort of tech might also one day help authorities determine if a medical problem was a contributing factor to an accident.

The new tech puts sensors into the seat of a Ford vehicle and that data can be collected by onboard software and sent to remote medical services. The sensors could be used to do things like call 911 in the event of a heart attack behind the wheel too. The system uses six sensors that are specially designed to read the heart rate through clothing. Most sensors need direct contact with the skin to read heart rate. The accuracy is said to be up to 98% and the sensors can read through ten layers of cotton, but has some issues with some synthetic fabrics and labs wool.