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GM readying aluminum-body fullsize pickups

Ford's extensive use of aluminum in its 2015 F-150 is a big deal. A really big deal. Big enough, in fact, that General Motors is reportedly changing its fullsize pickup strategy. According to The Wall Street Journal, The General has locked in partnerships with Alcoa Inc. and Novelis Inc. - companies that will supply aluminum for the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.
"Ford's introduction of the 2015 F-150 pickup truck was a game changer, and it's the first, not the last, conversion of this type," Novelis spokesperson Charles Belbin told the Journal. The switch to aluminum has allowed Ford to shave roughly 700 pounds off its fullsize truck's curb weight. And while official mileage ratings have not been announced, the weight loss should go a long way for improving efficiency, especially when combined other efficiency-minded improvements including better aerodynamics and new, turbocharged V6 engines.
Of course, aluminum-bodied cars are nothing new. But extensive use of aluminum in a major, best-selling product like the Ford F-150 is expected to kick off widespread use of this weight-saving material as availability rises and cost decreases. The WSJ reports that GM had originally explored the idea of moving to aluminum pickups back in 2008, but abandoned the idea due to cost concerns amid economic woes.

Ford spotted testing new Focus RS at the Nurburgring

Ford is expected to be launching a revised version of the Focus ST soon, but the latest snapshots from our spy photographers at the Nürburgring suggest that the Blue Oval is already working on an even more potent example: the new Focus RS.
Though the partially disguised test mule is wearing an ST badge (along with a Dewey sticker that makes us wonder what adventures Huey and Louie are up to and what manner of duck-tail rear spoiler they may be wearing), there are several tell-tale signs that something else is afoot here. There's a larger front air dam, bigger brake calipers, dual exhaust tips (instead of the central exhaust on the ST) and a reshaped wing protruding from the trailing edge of the roof.
That may all be well and fine, but what's under the hood? We don't know yet for sure, but word has it that Ford is preparing to port over the 2.3-liter turbo four offered in the new Mustang, where it packs 305 horsepower and almost as much torque - potentially retuned to produce even more for the top-of-the-line Focus, which could channel it all to the front wheels like the last model or pack an all-wheel drive system. The Global C platform on which the Focus is based does, after all, also underpin AWD models like the Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC.

Get a taste of Ford GT ownership from Dust Devils

It seems that the automotive world might be right on the cusp of getting some kind of follow-up to the Ford GT. It might not be called the GT or even use the coupe's retro look, but rumors point to such a beast being on the way. If the future halo model can inspire as much adoration among fans as the previous ones, then the Blue Oval is sure to have another winner on its hands. To get idea just how closely GT owners are bonded to their cars, take a ride with the participants in the ninth Ford GT National Rally in this short documentary titled Dust Devils. The owners convened with over 80 of the retro supercars in Las Vegas, NV, to admire the coupes and give them a workout on the desert roads. It's especially nice to see the drivers of these limited production Fords unafraid to take their cars to the track and stretch their legs a little. Related Gallery 2016 Honda Accord Coupe V6: Quick Spin View 25 Photos There's just something about the shape of the GT and the GT40 before it that gets everything right aesthetically. The long, low-slung look is simultaneously menacing and lithe, and the growl from the latest model's supercharged V8 is nothing to complain about either. Get just the slightest taste of what it's like to have one of these halo Fords in this clip, from the people that love them the most. News Source: Lets Make Media via Vimeo Ford Ownership Coupe Performance Supercars Videos