2008 Consumer Reports Magazine reliability survey results…

Regardless of where you stand on the validity of Consumer Reports’ testing and survey methods, there’s millions of people out there who consider the magazine their buying bible. Thus, it’s news when the non-profit releases findings from a new subscriber-based survey. This time it’s the 2008 Reliability Survey, and while you’ll have to buy the latest issue of Consumer Reports to see how your favorite favorite brand or model in particular performed, the overall trends indicate that fuel efficient vehicles, whether they be hybrids or just small gas-powered cars, are very reliable.

Next-gen ‘unibody’ Ford Explorer spy shots…

Source: Autoblog

Our (Autoblog’s) spy photographers have noticed a test mule running around Detroit, and we agree with their guess that it’s the upcoming reinvention of the Ford Explorer on a unibody platform. Since its inception, the Explorer has been a true SUV built on a sturdy truck frame, but the market has turned its back on traditional SUVs, so Ford came up with the Explorer America concept that debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The concept previews the vehicle you see here, though current mules for the production version are cobbled together with bits of Taurus X and Flex body panels.

Gran Torino movie poster…

Clint Eastwood’s Changeling has all the Oscar buzz going for it at the moment, but we’re stoked for the other movie he has coming out this year, Gran Torino. And yes, the title has everything to do with the car, as you can see from the poster below, which was just released.

Almost there…

Why bother typing?

Ford creates a Photo Lab for you iPhone…

Now does your iPhone’s current apps. need another friend to keep them company? Well Ford, via the technical know-how of Tao Agency, have created a fantastic app. for you. Introducing the Ford Flex Photo Lab.

‘09 F-150 & Dodge Ram turn out cash-back incentives…

Thanks to Kicking Tires:

A year ago, the fact that both the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150 would be redesigned and on sale at the same time was huge news. Fast-forward to today — when trucks aren’t the top sellers they once were and are featuring huge discounts — and the excitement is more muted.

2015 Ford Model T – hip or not?

Thanks to Ford:

“AACHEN, Germany, October, 2008 – A century after the Model T put the world on wheels, Ford Motor Company has announced the winners of a four-month competition that challenged five universities from around the world to create a revolutionary vehicle concept for the 21st century.

Kirk Kerkorian reduces his FoMoCo shares…

From the The Detroit News, 21.10.08:

FoMoCo.’s largest private shareholder – Las Vegas casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian – is cashing in his chips.

He has begun selling off his shares in the struggling Dearborn automaker at a substantial loss, according to a statement released by his Tracinda Corp. this morning.

Did the F-150 REALLY win???

Thanks to Autoblog for this revelation…

Yesterday we told you that the new Ford F-150 was selected by the Texas Auto Writers Association as the Truck of Texas. However, it turned out there were two seemingly contradictory press releases on the Ford and Chrysler web sites both laying claim to the title. As always, the devil is in the details. Apparently, they do things different in Texas.

2008 Truck of Texas results are in…

The annual Truck of Texas contest has been run & now, the final results have been published. Here is the “Freeps” (Detroit Free Press) story:

Ford Motor Co.’s all-new 2009 Ford F-150 today won the coveted Truck of Texas award, which is essentially the Super Bowl in the truck industry, the president of the Texas Auto Writers Association, Harold Gunn, said.

This is the sixth consecutive year that a Ford truck has won the award, which is widely used in promotions in the Lone Star State, which is No. 1 in full-sized truck sales.