Ford Faqs

The Ford Motor Company will be ending production of the $150,000 Ford GT high-performance sports car this year after two model years. The vehicle was first intended for a short run, according to Ford. The end of production this year is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the famous first, second and third place finish of the original Ford GT40 cars, on which the car is closely modeled, in the 1966 LeMans race.

Production of a small number Ford GT’s began in 2003, to coincide with Ford Motor Co.’s 100th annviersary. Full-scale production didn’t begin until 2004. While far from a big seller, the GT has been profitable for Ford, spokesman John Harmon said. The company sold about 1,300 GTs last year.

If you are still upset over the decision that was made by Ford in 2004 to stop building the supercharged Lightning pickup, here is at least partial relief. The 2007 F-150 FX2 is a rolling demonstrator on how pickup power freaks can create their own speedy trucks with parts from the Ford Racing catalog.

The Lightning was a hot-rod version of the Ford F-150 pickup that first appeared in 1993 with a 240-hp V-8 and a $20,000 price tag. Production only went until 1995, but a second-generation version bowed in 1999 with a supercharged 360-hp V-8 that eventually produced 380 horsepower before it was put to rest in 2004.

“Fiesta XR4 will be on sale before the end of the second quarter and we are confident this junior hot hatch, with its combination of European styling, German engineering and outstanding driving dynamics, will take the class by storm,” said President of Ford Australia, Tom Gorman. It is powered by a specially modified version of Ford’s 2.0 litre Duratec 16-valve engine, the XR4 delivers 110kW of power and 190Nm of torque.

Unique overhead stripes are available as an option and complement XR4’s enhanced performance ability. “In keeping with its performance pedigree, Fiesta XR4 will only be available in the three-door body style with a five-speed manual transmission,” said Mr Gorman. Fiesta XR4 is the second high performance vehicle in the Ford Australia line-up to come from Ford’s TeamRS organisation.

Even though Ford has launched its new Five Hundred sedan for 2005, Ford’s midsize Taurus continues into the 2005 model year with a simplified lineup. Sedans and wagons are offered in SE and SEL trim levels. Two new body colors are available. The SEL models gain woodgrain trim on the console, doors and instrument panel. When properly equipped, sedans seat up to six occupants and wagons seat up to eight. Mercury offers a related Sable sedan.

It was formerly known as the Freestyle, but now Ford has renamed its redesigned large crossover the Taurus X. We think the name could use some work, but the Freestyle has been due for a redesign since almost the day it first debuted.

When the Taurus X arrives at dealerships in late summer, it will feature Ford’s new 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 260 hp and matched to a six-speed automatic. This is a considerable upgrade from the previous Freestyle’s anemic 203-hp V-6, which was mated to a frustrating CVT automatic transmission.