1969 Ford F-100 Ranger 4x4 on 2040-cars

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2015 Ford F-150 pricing announced, aluminum-bodied truck up just $395

The eagerly anticipated Ford F-150 has had its 2015 pricing announced, adding only a small amount to the pickup's total cost, despite its weight-saving aluminum body. The XL and XLT entry level models only see a $395 boost over the heavier, current-generation, 2014 truck.
The XL starts at $26,615 while the XLT rings up at $31,890. The increase for Lariat is up a similarly negligible $895, to $39,880. Going up the ladder, meanwhile, the leather-intensive King Ranch sees the biggest jump of the F-150 family, with prices increasing $3,515, to $49,460. Finally, picking up the top-end Platinum trim will cost an extra $3,055, with prices starting at $52,155.
The higher prices are being blamed not only on the aluminum bodies, which trim up to 700 pounds of body fat, but on increased levels of standard equipment. While we were expecting a price hike, the fact that the 2015 F-150's volume trims - Ford spokesman Mike Levine told Reuters that the XL and XLT alone cover 70 percent of F-150 sales - have had less than a $400 increase is hugely impressive.

Ford reveals new Galaxy van for Europe [w/video]

Here in its home market, Ford may be focusing more on crossovers, but overseas, minivans are still playing a crucial roll for global automakers. So while the Aerostar, Windstar and Freestar may have given way to the Flex and Edge, over in Europe, the Blue Oval automaker has revealed the all-new fourth-generation Galaxy. Following up on the MPV initially launched in 1995, replaced in 2000 and again in 2006, the new Galaxy features updated styling and equipment to position itself as the luxury counterpart to the sportier S-Max that just relaunched last year. Behind the Aston-style grille that's been finding its way onto just about every new passenger car Ford makes is a range of updated engine options, including two EcoBoost gasoline engines (a 1.5-liter unit with 158 horsepower or a 2.0 with 237) and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel available in states of tune ranging from 118 hp all the way up to 207. The flexible seven-seat cabin features a flat load floor, seats that stow and even deploy at the push of a button and an available full-length retractable panoramic sunroof. The new integral link rear suspension promises a smooth ride, with an available self-leveling feature just one of the many convenience and safety systems integrated into Ford's new European family hauler – the full extent of which you can read in the press release below. On your way down, you may want to check out the stunt which Ford staged with illusionist Darcy Oake to launch the new Galaxy. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Thanks for keeping us on our toes, Detroit Auto Show [w/poll]

Here at Autoblog, we love unexpected debuts at auto shows – and judging by our Detroit Auto Show comments and traffic, you do, too. Surprise reveals have been fewer and farther between in recent years with so many ways for vehicles to be teased or leak out, but this week's show has been a revelation. More to the point, it's been a series of revelations, with automakers from around the globe successfully delivering a brace of concept and production surprises. It's made our jobs a lot more exciting and challenging this week, and even though it's actually more work to react and run-and-gun when the sheet is pulled on a surprise reveal than it is to publish an already-written embargoed story, we've had more fun covering this show for you than any domestic show in memory. We hope you've enjoyed the surprises along with us. To that end, borrowing the words of an unnamed automaker PR flack, we'd like to thank the following automakers for enduring "mountain of antacids" and that "creeping sense of paranoia" necessary to keeping ones' wares totally under wraps until the sheets are pulled off the sheetmetal: Buick Avenir concept Chevrolet Bolt concept Ford GT concept Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Hyundai HCD-15 Santa Cruz concept And while we're at it, we'd like to throw in an shout-out to Detroit's substantially revised and revitalized Cobo Center, and in particular, the redone Michelin media center, which is arguably the single best accommodations for writing show stories that we've encountered on the entire international circuit. Well done, everyone. Thank you, and keep the surprises coming. Auto News Detroit Auto Show Buick Chevrolet Ford Hyundai Volvo 2015 Detroit Auto Show