2014 Ford F150 Xlt on 2040-cars

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2016 Ford F-150 gets new Limited model

The average price paid for a full-size pickup this year is $42,429. Ram is right at that mark, with an average price of $42,256, the Chevrolet Silverado is below it, at $38,384, and the Ford F-150 is above, at $46,573. That average transaction price is thirty percent higher than it was six years ago, and that F-150 price is eight percent higher than one year ago. We can thank that escalation for the arrival of the new F-150 Limited, a truck that Ford says responds to the "growing needs of discerning truck customers interested in exclusivity, capability and craftsmanship." Reuters went further, saying customers want "trucks that could substitute for a higher end German sedan." Billed as "the most advanced, luxurious F-150 ever," everything has been thrown at the standard features list. Buyers will get the luxury modifiers we expect from Europeans, like Mojave leather throughout, climate-controlled, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and fiddleback eucalyptus wood. Driver assistance systems are legion, including a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, active park assist, a remote tailgate release, and SYNC3. Ford's new Pro Trailer Backup Assist will be an option. As if that won't be enough to tell it from the less luxurious models, the Limited sits on unique 22-inch wheels, the word "Limited" is written on the hood, the VIN is laser engraved in a plaque in the armrest, and the grille, tailgate, and door handles get a satin chrome finish among other changes. Only four exterior colors make the palette: Shadow Black, Magnetic, Blue Jeans and White Platinum Metallic tri-coat. The sole engine offered is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. We've been talking about luxury trucks for years now, and Ford's competition is in the game, too - Chevy has its Silverado High Country, Ram its Laramie Limited. This new F-150 Limited, however, raises all bets. It will go on sale this winter at an as-yet-unknown price, but since the current top-of-the-line Platinum starts at $51,585, we have a feeling that getting a Limited out the door under $60K will be near impossible. Admire the new seduction in the images above, the press release below has more.

Ford to ramp up Lincoln rollout in China in bid to catch rivals

DETROIT/BEIJING — Ford Motor Co's premium Lincoln brand plans to build as many as five new vehicles in China by 2022, according to two U.S. sources, in a move to expand sales in the world's largest vehicle market that would also blunt the impact of trade U.S.-China trade spats. Ford has said it plans to build an all-new sport utility vehicle in China by the end of 2019, however the company has not detailed future production plans for the Lincoln brand in China beyond that. "Our localization plans to support the China market are on track and will serve to further drive Lincoln's growth in China," Lincoln spokeswoman Angie Kozleski said. "Beyond that, it would be premature to discuss our future product and production plans or timing." Sources familiar with Ford's production plans told Reuters the automaker now expects to begin building the new Lincoln Aviator in China in late 2019 or early 2020, along with replacements for the MKC compact crossover and the MKZ midsize sedan, followed in 2021 by the all-new Nautilus, which replaces the Lincoln MKX crossover. A fifth model, a small coupe-like crossover, is tentatively slated for production in China in 2022, the sources said. Ford has much to lose if the war of words over trade between China and U.S. President Donald Trump escalates into a full-blown tariff war. Last year, it shipped about 80,000 vehicles to China from North America, more than half of them Lincolns to support the brand's growth. All Lincoln vehicles that Ford now sells in China are brought in from North America. Even if China does reduce its 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles - as Chinese President Xi Jinping promised on Tuesday - it is not clear that would mean a big, long-term increase in Fords and Lincolns made in U.S. factories heading to Chinese showrooms. Ford is pursuing long-range plans to build more vehicles in China to serve a market that is now roughly 60 percent larger than the U.S. market, and projected to keep growing. But it is playing catch up to hometown rival General Motors Co and German luxury brands including Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which have invested heavily in Chinese production in recent years as a form of insurance against trade, political and currency gyrations and to lower price points for their premium cars.

NHTSA advances investigation of Ford Crown Victoria headlights

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening a preliminary evaluation into reports of suddenly failing headlights on 517,945 examples of the 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. The government started looking into this problem in April when the North Carolina Consumers Council filed a defect petition with the agency. Now, the inquiry has moved to the next step. According to NHTSA's documentation (as a PDF), it examined its own database and worked with Ford to come up with a total of 3,609 complaints of the front lighting control module suddenly failing. When this happens, drivers lose the low-beam headlights, but the high-beams can be used by holding the stalk. Sometimes turning the switch off and on fixes the issue. Additionally, there are 15 allegations of crashes, and one reported shoulder injury. NHTSA's preliminary evaluations "evaluate the scope, frequency, and consequence of the alleged defect" and don't necessarily lead to a recall. NHTSA looked into this problem once before in 2008 and 2009 and decided that a recall wasn't necessary. Ford also extended the warranty on the front lighting control module for these vehicles. INVESTIGATION Subject : Loss of headlights Date Investigation Opened: AUG 10, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: PE15028 Component(s): EXTERIOR LIGHTING All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) FORD CROWN VICTORIA 2003-2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 2003-2005 Details Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company SUMMARY: After receiving a defect petition (DP15002) concerning the loss of headlights and other exterior lighting in model year (MY) 2003-2005 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaints received from consumers and identified a total of 605 reports (for all submission dates) alleging headlight failure. The complaints indicate failures of both low beam headlights typically while driving, a defect condition that was evaluated under a prior ODI investigation (PE08066). Most consumer VOQs indicate that the headlights failed suddenly and without warning leaving the driver with no forward lighting, however some report the headlights flickered or dimmed prior to turning off. In some cases drivers were able to turn the headlights back on after a period of time while others reported the headlights would not come back on at all.