While Chrysler has chosen to get out of the leasing business altogether after taking a bath on vehicles being returned with residual values far below expectations, Ford will reportedly be taking a different approach. Automotive News is reporting that after its finance arm recorded "extreme losses" on its lease vehicles, the automaker has decided to raise prices on its leases for the F-150, Super Duty, Ford Explorer and Sport Trac. Keep in mind that the residual value of these particular vehicles is falling so fast that Ford will be forced to price these leases so high that no consumer in his right mind would actually lease one. So while Ford is not actively removing itself from the leasing business when it comes to trucks and SUVs, its decision to sharply raise prices will have pretty much the same effect.
If you're a Harley-Davidson fan you might be interested in driving...well, riding an actual Harley. But for those who can't (or won't), Ford has been working on a new Harley-Davidson edition of its F-Series Super Duty pickup. While previous versions were based on the smaller, lighter-duty F-150 pickup, these spy shots and accompanying reports indicate that the new version we're looking at is the full-fat, heavy-duty F-450, complete with dually rear axle and quad-cab four-door set-up.
Like the previous set of spy shots that surfaced back in May, these photos of the undisguised test mule show a variety of exterior add-ons, including blue flames extending down the flank of the truck, although the flames are only visible on one side of the spied vehicle, with the Harley badge evident on the other, suggesting these could have been applied to throw us off. (We won't be surprised to see the final version unveiled in either way.) Unique wheels and special lettering along the side of the bed walls also form part of the visual package, while special badging and leather are anticipated to round out the interior. No changes are expected of the 6.4-liter twin-turbo diesel, already capable as it is of towing a couple of hogs on a trailer behind it, but we're expecting a price tag of over $60k for the special-edition truck.
Do you often wonder why putting your foot down while driving your Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator doesn't deliver the response for which you'd hoped? Well, that could be because you're driving an enormous beast of a vehicle saddled with an overburdened 5.4L V8 producing 300 horsepower. Well, Saleen now has the solution for more power that Ford has not been willing to offer.
The SpeeLab division of the American tuning house has announced the availability of its Series VI twin-screw supercharger for the current-model Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The forced inductor, already on duty in the Saleen S331 Sport Truck, provides an extra 100 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque in the SUV. The result? Substantial extra pulling power, for one, while acceleration is said to be vastly improved, dropping the 0-60 run into the sixes while improving 35 - 65 mph passing times by 30 percent, all the while making a negligible impact on fuel consumption.
With gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon, it's no surprise that fuel stealing is on the rise. What's amazing is the lengths to which thieves are willing to go to swindle the pricey commodity in larger-than-normal quantities. An Orlando man was recently arrested for having a hidden, professionally welded 800-gallon gas tank retrofitted to a Ford truck that police say was expressly used for stealing petrol. The man also had a key that disables pump meters, which should scare the hell out of gas station owners.
He was caught after a Hess gas station attendant became suspicious of the inordinate amount of time he was spending pump-side and called the police. Law enforcement officials say that due to the elaborate setup of the gas-stealing truck and the theif's possession of the pump meter-disabling key, he is likely one part of a larger gas-stealing syndicate that resells the fuel for profit. It isn't surprising that some unscrupulous folks would be attracted to the possibility of netting $3,200 in about a half hour, but since they are going to so much trouble to remain undetected, you'd think they wouldn't try to steal all the gas at once.
Ford Motor Company is recalling a whole herd of trucks to see the team doctors over concerns about a hose in the braking system that could adversely effect the vehicles' braking power. According to the NHTSA, about 605,000 2005 and 2006 model year Ford F150 and Lincoln Mark LT trucks equipped with the 3-valve 5.4-liter V8 will receive a hose replacement free of charge. The problem hose supplies the brake booster with engine vacuum, and could swell over time and eventually become disconnected. While the hydraulic braking system will function without the power assist, pedal effort will be significantly increased, and if drivers are taken off-guard by the problem an accident could occur. Ford will start notifying owners in June, and the recall campaign will kick off in July. According to FoMoCo, there have been 11 minor accidents related to the issue. Check out more details from the NHTSA after the jump.
It's an unconfirmed rumor that Ford's going to make its Super Duty pickups shiftless, but the mere whiff of a reduction in choices is likely set enthusiasts afire with rage. The merits of standard versus automatic transmissions in trucks that routinely tow and generally work hard is a debate for another time, but the real crux of the biscuit comes down to cost. As it stands now, you can get a Power Stroke diesel with a manual for $1500 less than a self-shifter. If Ford removes the standard transmission from its Power Stroke offerings, does that mean that it will pass some of the savings on to consumers by reducing the price of the automatic? Not bloody likely. A more probable scenario would see the price of the Power Stroke option rising.
