2017 Ford Explorer

The 2017 Ford Explorer has evolved quite a bit from its body on frame SUV roots into the modern crossover it is today. The versatility of the Explorer is one of its greatest strengths, along with plenty of high tech features, generous cargo space, a quiet and comfortable cabin, and an optional turbo charged engine. There are five trim levels to choose from, so the Explorer is very malleable in terms of ensuring the features you want and accommodations you need are incorporated.  The base model is efficiently equipped for comfortable day to day driving, while the platinum trim level may as well be a luxury sub class.

The Explorer isn’t the smallest SUV on the market, but it absolutely drives and handles just as well as its more compact competitors. Paired with generous cargo and passenger room, its evident that the designers envisioned a vehicle that could accommodate all walks of life. The sport model in particular features a 3.5 L v6 Eco boost engine and is paired with a nimble six speed transmission to deliver instantaneous power; going 0-60 in just 6.3 seconds. The Terrain Management System lets you shift on the fly into one of four settings; through mud, sand, gravel, grass or snow, so you can get through it and carry on with confidence and control. Other helpful upgrades include the Hill Descent Control that lets you set and maintain a constant speed while traveling downhill, and the all new Curve Control will slow you down as much as 10 mph in approximately one second when it senses that you’re going too fast for a particular curve.

The Explorer grants us exceptional handling and power, but there were no compromises made in regards to comfort. There are a plethora of soft to the touch materials and aesthetically pleasing designs in the interior. The comfort includes a 10 way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, heated steering wheel wrapped in leather, and heated and cooled front row seats. The Explorer offers some ultra-convenient technology features as well; such as The Hands-Free Foot-Activated lift gate that opens up with a quick little kick under the bumper, and the enhanced active park assist that utilizes 12 ultrasonic sensors for precise and easy parking.

The 2017 Explorer has quite a bit of uniqueness and offers plenty of features and technology. Overall, the explorer wins our favor with exceptional handling, unchanged power, and its vast versatility. 

The Raptor Came Back Meaner

The Ford F-150 has been setting the standard in the heavy duty truck industry for 40 years now. After 40 years of steady front running, they’re still not done exceeding standards or taking vast strides. When America asked for unsurpassed strength and endurance, they promptly delivered.

To many truck lovers delight, Ford has brought back the beloved Raptor. The all-new 2017 is leaner, meaner and more powerful than ever. It’s approximately 500 pounds lighter than the previous generation, thanks to a high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy body. It also features a new twin-turbo, intercooled DOHC 3.5L Eco Boost engine with direct fuel injection, a 10-speed automatic transmission, all-new Terrain Management System and 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox.

 

There are six preset modes for the truck depending on terrain and driving conditions. Normal mode is well-suited for everyday driving, while sport mode offers higher performance during on-road driving. The weather mode strongly improves overall control in rain, snow, ice, mud, and sand. Baja mode enables you to fly at high speeds on sandy dunes. The suitably named rock mode would be your go-to for rolling over rocks and rough gravel. The mode you choose determines all of the other important settings accordingly. The truck will change the FOX dampening, shift schedule, turbo lag, throttle response, 4×2, 4×4 Hi or Lo and Automatic 4×4, along with rear locker and even ABS in baja mode. Not only this, but you have 3 steering modes for more or less feedback.

This is obviously a truck very well suited for people who participate in off road activities. However, this truck has been rightfully coined as a ‘man toy’, and a dream- due to how exhilarating it is to drive! There are no limitations with a truck like this, and that could easily tempt anyone. The pickup is due for release towards the end of 2017 and is already gaining momentum and excitement from fans and critics alike. It’s expected to do very well upon it’s release.

The Snake is Back!!

               

               Mustang, a car known around the globe for style, performance and muscle, and it has been that way for 50 years. How do you make a Mustang even better? You have Carroll Shelby turn it into a Super Snake.

                In 1967, Carroll Shelby took a Mustang and turned it into the original high-performance Super Snake. And now to celebrate its 50^th anniversary, Shelby is back, taking the 2017 and doing it again. This time an 11 second quarter-mile at a time. Following up the release of the Mustang GTE last year, Shelby and Ford Performance unveiled a new striped variant of the American muscle car at the Ford exhibit at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction the weekend of January 21. Based on Shelby’s performance claims, the Super Snake can outperform the Mustang Shelby GT350R in just about every way and remains both street and track legal.

                The Super Snake begins as the already amazing Mustang GT with the 5.0-liter V-8, which you can get in automatic or manual transmission. But it only gets better from there, Shelby adds a supercharger and fine tuning, kick the horsepower up to a cool 670 horsepower. Not enough horsepower? Pay a little extra for a Whipple and Keene Bell supercharger and now the engine will generate 750 horsepower.

                So just how good are the Super Snakes performance numbers? Well,  with an automatic transmission, normal gas-station fuel, and Michelin street tires, the Super Snake with the optional supercharger can do zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, Shelby asserts, and hit 1.2 g on the skidpad. In our testing, the GT350R did zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, ran the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds, and pulled 1.10 g on the skidpad.

                So that’s awesome, Shelby made the Super Snake super-fast, what else did they do? Shelby upgraded a host of other features on the Mustang as well, the Super Snake has new dampers, anti-roll bars, springs, and bushings. It also has black or polished 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, six-piston Wilwood brake calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear, upgrade cooling for the brakes and engine. And on the outside, the Super Snake has a new hood, front splitter, grilles, rocker panels, rear spoiler, tail panel, rear diffuser, and lower rear splitter. Shelby also added LED lights, and, most obviously, striping on the top and sides with Shelby Super Snake branding.

                Shelby will only be making 500 on the Super Snake, so if you want one, you better hurry. With the cost of the Mustang GT plus all the extra bells and whistles, the Super Snake rings up at just under $80,000. So make sure to order you Super Snake early, contact us now!

After Much Anticipation, They Are Back!

After much speculation and wonder after the last few years, Ford has made it official. They are bringing back both of the much loved Ranger and Bronco!

The Ford Bronco was discontinued in 2005 and the Ranger followed suite in 2011. But now, they are back, with the Ranger returning in 2019 and the Bronco in 2020. Additional good news is that both of the trucks will be built in Michigan, this coming off the heels of Ford’s decision to halt the move of the small car production to Mexico.

"We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and the Bronco coming to Michigan Assembly that absolutely secures the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does."

-UAW Local 900 plant Chairman Bill Johnson

Ford made the official at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show when they announced to the world about the relaunch. At that time they announced that both the compact truck and SUV will be built at the Wayne, MI plant.

This is great news for those that love both the Ranger and the Bronco. However, when it comes to the Bronco, don’t expect it be the boxy, slab-sided throwback to the Broncos from the 1980’s and 1990’s. It is very likely that both the Ranger and the Bronco will be based off of the overseas model of the Ranger and the Ranger based Everest SUV. With the Bronco looking less like a two-door brick and more like an off-road Ford Edge, and the Ranger getting a facelift from its overseas brethren.

Regardless of their appearance, fans of these two trucks are stoked to have them back. Keep a lookout for more information of these returning trucks later this year. In the meantime, check out our other great Ford trucks and SUVs and contact

us today to test drive and take yours home today! 

Ford - Trucks you can write off

                Ford is using an interesting tactic in these final days of the calendar year. If you are a small business owner and need a truck for your business, buy a new truck and write it off on your taxes.

               

Ford sent out an email advertisement on the 27^th of December to prospective buyers urging them to purchase a new work truck, utility van or large SUV before the end of the year to take advantage of the IRS’s section 179 deduction. The section 179 deduction was recently retooled and made permanent, and Ford recognizes that this could be a big tax break for your business.

                The F-Series pickup, Transit work and passenger vans and Expedition SUV are highlighted in Ford’s push for year-end sale. Ford relies on sales from their F-Series line of trucks to carry the bulk of their sales as it has over the years. And the automaker plans on dialing back production on certain trucks and vans to curtail inventory levels.

                Ford's push aims to lure buyers by combining existing incentives with tax breaks being offered on vehicles put in service for business by Dec. 31. For those who qualify, up to $25,000 can be deducted on Expedition SUV purchases or the entire cost of a Transit work van, for instance.

                To take advantage of these tax breaks contact us and take a look at our inventory now!

FordPass App

                Mobility is the way of the future. Everything we do involves our mobile device in the palm of our hand. Ford is using the fact that everyone has their device in their hand and using it to their advantage with the Ford Pass App. The FordPass App isn’t just an app to make our lease payment, the FordPass App is aiming to be your personal mobility concierge.

                First off, FordPass incorporates several different separate sub-systems: FordGuides, FordPay and FlightCar. With it, Ford owners will be able to use the app to get around more easily thanks to car-sharing features and more.

               

FordGuides will be to Ford owners what OnStar is to GM owners. The FordGuide feature will help with navigation, roadside assistance or restaurant reservations, but more than that, FordGuides prides itself on giving the customer the best consumer experience possible.

FordPay is exactly as it sounds, a way to pay for features provided by the FordPass. But not just your lease payment, FordPass is partnering with companies such as McDonalds and 7-Eleven to make consumers experience day-to-day eaiser.

FlightCar is the wildcard of the bunch. The purpose of FlightCar is to help with ride sharing and car borrowing for when you travel. The plan is for FlightCar to help you with all your transportation needs, intended to be utilized for ride sharing, car sharing and multi-modal transportation.

To help with all the questions and concerns regarding FordPass, Ford Motor Company is launching FordHubs around the world including hubs in New York, San Francisco, London and Shanghai. These hubs will have live FordGuides to guide you through the FordPass.

Download FordPass now, available in the Google Play Store and on iTunes. And check out our Inventory of great Ford vehicles and contact use to schedule a test-drive today.

Towing Power

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When it comes to trucks, one of the hottest debated topics is who has the best towing capacity. While many try to contend, most are pretenders, and there is really only one true winner, the 2017 Ford F-450. It was recently announced that the F-450, Ford’s beefiest pickup, will have the highest towing capacity of any pickup on the road, a staggering 32,500.

To pull 32,500 pounds, Ford uses a gooseneck trailer system which attaches the trailer to the middle of the truck increasing the towing ability. With The Ford F-Series recently switching to an aluminum body they cut the weight of the truck by 350 pounds while reinforcing and strengthening the entire truck with its new fully boxed frame. The steel used in the frame is 95% high-strength steel making the frame 24 times stiffer than before.

In addition to Ford to making the F-Series lighter and having a stronger body, they have hooked up the new Super Duty‘s engine lineup to get a bump in performance.  The 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 still puts out 440 horsepower, but torque rises to 925 pound-feet of torque – up from 860 lb-ft. The 6.2-liter gas V8 also gets a modest bump in torque from 405 lb-ft to 430, which Ford is claiming as best-in-class, with power staying the same at 385 hp.

                Check out our selection of F-Series trucks that we currently have in stock and contact us now to schedule your test drive for the New F-450!