2006 Ford F350 Super Duty Xlt Drw Gray 4x4 6.0l Turbo Diesel Power Stroke Engine on 2040-cars

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Ford of India in hot water for Figo celebrity bondage ads

Apparently sensibilities in India, at least in the case of some Ford marketing partners, are downright lascivious at times. Case in point are a new series of print ads, presumably touting the vast cargo capacity of the Ford Figo hatchback, that involve more than a whiff of T&A, S&M and other sexy abbreviations.
In all seriousness, the advertising campaign is taking some major heat in the Indian press for being outrageously sexist. All three images - which seem to be produced by a graphic artist with some Heavy Metal work in his/her portfolio - show bound and gagged people stuffed into the Figo's boot. With a tagline reads, "Leave Your Worries Behind." one version features a peace-sign throwing Silvio Berlusconi holding hostage three buxom and barely clad women, all wearing ball gags with hands and feet bound. Charming. Another version shows Paris Hilton ­similarly kidnapping a trio of Kardashians, while a third (tame in terms of the clothing at least), has Michael Schumacher toting Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton.
Clearly in bad taste, at least, the Indian source also questions the timing of these risqué Ford ads, as the follow by days new anti-rape legislation passed by the Indian Parliament. Ford has responded in a statement, that it and its advertising partner (JWT India) "deeply regret" the ads, and claim that they "never should have happened."

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang to cost $52,995?

The 2015 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang was one of the shining stars of this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. And the Blue Oval's latest muscle car might even have reason to burn a little brighter if a recent rumor about its price proves true. Best of all are rumors that an even more potent version of the Shelby is potentially on the way. According to Horsepower Kings citing unnamed Ford sources at the LA Auto Show, the 2015 GT350 carries a starting price of $52,995, and the Tech package adds a further $2,995 on top of that. There's also the claim of a Track package for an undisclosed price. However, it doesn't look like LA is the last we'll see of the newest Shelby because the source also alleges that a top-rung GT350R is under development with bigger brakes, modified aerodynamics and sportier tires. This rubber-burner is reported to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Assuming these claims are correct, it puts the Shelby in fighting form against its two Chevrolet Camaro rivals. Ford reports that the GT350's 5.2-liter V8 pumps out over 500 horsepower and more than 400 pound-feet of torque. At $52,995, it would undercut by a couple of grand the $55,505 (before destination) base price of the 580-hp 2015 ZL1. The super 'Stang might also beat the 505-hp Z/28 with its power rating, while being vastly cheaper than the track-focused Camaro's $72,305 price. This could be quite the performance shoot-out.

Detroit 3 to implement delayed unified towing standards for 2015

Car buyers have a responsibility to be well-informed consumers. That's not always a very simple task, but some guidelines are self-evident. If you live in a very snowy climate, you generally know a Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro might not be as viable a vehicle choice as an all-wheel drive Explorer or Traverse, for example. If you want a fuel-efficient car, it's generally a good idea to know the difference between a diesel and a hybrid. But what if it's kind of tough to be an informed consumer? What if the information you need is more difficult to come by, or worse, based on different standards for each vehicle? Well, in that case, you might be a truck shopper.
For years, customers of light-duty pickups have had to suffer through different ratings of towing capacities for each brand. For 2015 model year trucks, though, that will no longer be a problem. According to Automotive News, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler Group have announced that starting with next year's models, a common standard will be used to measure towing capacity. The Detroit Three will join Toyota, which adopted the Society of Automotive Engineers' so-called SAE J2807 standards way back in 2011.
The standard was originally supposed to be in place for MY2013, but concerns that it would lower the overall stated capacity for trucks led Detroit automakers to pass. Ford originally passed, claiming it'd wait until its new F-150 was launched to adopt the new standards, leading GM and Ram to follow suit. Nissan, meanwhile, has said it will adopt the new standards as its vehicles are updated, meaning the company's next-generation Titan should adhere to the same tow ratings as its competitors.