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Four Wheeler crowns Ultimate Factory 4x4... who wins?

Nearly every automaker doing business in the SUV or pickup truck segments offers a package designed to improve the off-road capabilities of its wares. But, of course, not all such factory kits are created equal. How, then, to separate the wheat from the chaff? Gather each of them up and put them through their paces, naturally.
The folks from Four Wheeler and PickupTrucks.com joined forces to run just such a comparison test, with the winner named the Ultimate Factory 4x4. A total of seven vehicles showed up to the fight: the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X and Xterra PRO-4X, 2012 Ram Power Wagon, and 2012 Toyota 4Runner Trail and Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Series.
With the contestants in place, the whole crew put each vehicle through a battery of tests that included skidpad and acceleration measurements, a hillclimb, a rocky stairstep course and a rock garden. Considering the nature of the beasts, on-road ride and comfort were not part of the routine.

2016 Ford Explorer order guide revealed

The configurator for the refreshed 2016 Ford Explorer is already up and running. However, if you're the type of person that really likes to dig into the nitty-gritty of a vehicle's features, then the order guide for this latest Ford is now available (pictured right). While the documents don't list fuel economy, engine power or pricing, they give a precise idea of all of the differences separating each of the five trim levels: Base, XLT, Limited, Sport and Platinum. In addition to the tweaked styling across the board, even the Base model now features a rearview camera with a washer. There are also three new colors available: Shadow Black, Blue Jeans Metallic and Guard Metallic. Base, XLT and Limited trims are available with either a 3.5-liter V6 or new, optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. All of them are mated to a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is optional with either engine. The new Platinum trim basically loads the Explorer up with everything imaginable. Power comes from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, matched with all-wheel drive. Plus, the Platinum trim gets standard luxuries like a dual-pane moonroof, adaptive cruise control, a premium sound system and Ford's super-soft Nirvana Leather covering the seats. There are also some new tech features throughout the rest of the lineup. For example, an updated auto-parking system is also available on the Limited but comes standard on the Platinum. Furthermore, a 180-degree front camera and second-row USB charging are optional on the Sport but are standard on the Limited and Platinum. Check out the gallery for even more of the changes. Featured Gallery 2016 Ford Explorer View 30 Photos Related Gallery 2016 Ford Explorer Order Guide View 20 Photos News Source: FordTip: P Design/Style Ford Car Buying SUV order guide

Ford Escort returns, just not for US

Ford is set to give the burgeoning Chinese market its very own C-segment model, while also reviving one of the brand's more notable nameplates. The new Escort, which will make its world debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show will be built in the People's Republic at the Changan Ford joint venture facility.
The Escort's exterior is best thought of as a mix of the finer points from the US market Focus and Fusion, with the Aston Martin-ish grille and narrow, wraparound taillights presenting a clean look at either end of the car. It's all fairly true to the concept car from last year's Shanghai Motor Show. That said, this exterior job is almost too clean. There doesn't seem to be a lot of character or substance beyond the typical Ford looks.
There's a similar issue in the cabin - it all looks pretty nice, but the design is rather plain, particularly when viewed alongside the display-filled cabin of a US-spec car. Still, there looks to be a fair amount of space in both the front and back seats, and the trunk isn't exactly tiny, either.