Ford teases 2011 five-seat C-Max people mover ahead of Frankfurt debut

By Chris Paukert

Ford has just released a few images of its next-generation C-Max tall hatchback ahead of the model's Frankfurt Motor Show debut, and we're as intrigued as much by what lurks under its hard candy shell as we are with its Iosis Max-derived styling. You see, the EurOval's handsome C-Max "compact multi-activity vehicle" is built on the company's new global C-platform architecture – the very same chassis that will underpin the next Focus that arrives in late 2010.

Ford is not yet disclosing much about its new Euro-market model, but the 2011 C-Max will be powered by a new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. Like the larger EcoBoost powerplants available in Ford's U.S. products, that means that the little I4 will be equipped with turbocharging and direct-injection for better power and fuel efficiency. No output figures for the engine have been released yet, but we suspect Ford will release horsepower and torque numbers (and further information) when the car rolls out in Frankfurt later this month.

Those wishing to purchase the C-Max will have some time to think about whether they're interested in plumping for options like the promised blind-spot detection system or the semi-self parking feature, because the model isn't slated to hit EU dealer forecourts until the second half of 2010. As this five-seater isn't slated to come to the States at all, the rest of us will just have to slake our curiosity on the high-res images below and the press release after the jump.

Auction Action: Everything you need to start your own performance driving school

By Dan Roth

Now all you need is talent, or if you don't have any, you can at least teach others to drive as horribly as you do. Hurry to Indianapolis for the Saturday, February 28 auction of Track Attack racing school, and you could pick up some good stuff. There's seven SCCA spec racers, a fleet of go karts, a Ford Mustang that was a Champ Car pace car, a car transporter, motorhome, tools, lots of racing gear – basically everything but the track. If you can't make it to Indy, the auction will be webcast, as well. Teaching others how to drive not your thing? There's the makings of a racing team in there, or enough goodies to seriously boost the equipment in your workshop. It's a darn shame that the school is closing, but there's no sense letting any meat on the bones go to waste, right?

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 uses cast iron, NOT aluminum block!

By Sam Abuelsamid

Let's make this perfectly clear. As much as Mustang fans (this author included) would like it to be otherwise, the 2010 Shelby GT500 does not use an aluminum block. At least a couple of times over the past few weeks, there have been online reports that the cast iron block of the last generation has been ditched in favor of the lighter material. These reports are incorrect.

At the Ford preview briefing just before Christmas, we explicitly asked SVT chief engineer Jamal Hameedi if the block had changed, and he told us that it remains iron. When the aluminum rumor popped up yet again yesterday, we contacted Ford spokesman Alan Hall, who repeated the iron refrain. Whatever Ford's reasoning was for keeping the hood closed on the GT500s at the Detroit Auto Show, it is not because they were hiding an aluminum block. The reason for the iron block is that the aluminum unit from the Ford GT is designed for a dry sump lubrication system and there is nowhere to package the oil reservoir in the production Mustang.

Detroit Preview: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 bites back

By Sam Abuelsamid

When Ford introduced the new 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show in November, marketing boss Jim Farley promised the next chapter in the Mustang story would be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Well that time has arrived and to anyone who has been following the Mustang pattern over the last several years, it should come as no surprise that it's the Shelby GT500. Just like the last iteration, the new GT500 is the most powerful factory production Mustang ever.

Like the more prosaic Mustangs, the GT500 is mechanically an evolution of the older model. Just as Ford used the current-gen Bullitt model as the starting point for the 2010 Mustang GT, the lessons learned from developing the limited edition GT500 KR fed directly into the latest Shelby-badged variant. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V8 has now been cranked up to 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, and the handling is claimed to be better than before. Check out everything that's new on the GT500 after the jump.

Galpin Ford Sells 40 2008 Ford Mustang GT's For $18K

By Jason

Galpin Ford, the #1 volume Ford dealer in the world, is offering an extraordinary low price, of $18,995, on 40 Mustang GTs all with an MSRP of $28,160. That represents a savings of nearly 1/3 on America's favorite sportscar. Galpin recently obtained 40 2008 Mustang GT V8 Coupe vehicles from a special performance fleet at a significantly reduced price and is passing saving on to customers. These 40 specially priced vehicles are available at this exclusive low price for a limited time only.

"As the largest volume Ford and Mustang dealer in the world, we are able to offer enthusiasts such exclusive low prices on their favorite vehicles," said Terry Miller, General Sales Manager for Galpin Ford. "This opportunity came to Galpin and we are very excited to extend this unprecedented offer to our customers."

The 2008 Mustang GT has a 4.6 ltr 300hp V8 engine, power windows, power door locks, cruise control, tilt wheel, 17" premium painted cast aluminum wheels, anti-lock brakes, traction control, 6 way power drivers seat, interior upgrade package, and a Shaker 500 audio system with six disc CD player and MP3.

In addition to the 40 specially priced Mustang GTs, Galpin's All Mustang Showroom features a selection of Saleen, Dan Gurney, Roush, and Shelby Mustangs. And, of course, world famous Galpin Auto Sports is on site to customize all makes and models.

First Drive: 2010 Ford Mustang GT

By Sam Abuelsamid

It's a new day and we all know what that means! Yet another post about the Mustang. Most of us here at Autoblog are unabashed Mustang fans. So when the call comes from Dearborn to drive yet another new Mustang, we invariably set about rearranging schedules. Such was the case last week. No sooner had we returned to frost-bitten Detroit after the LA Auto Show than the call came to return to SoCal. It was time to take the 2010 Mustang off the LA Convention Center stand and out into what passes for the real world in these parts.

Before we hopped into the updated Mustangs, Ford wanted to give us a refresher on what was being left behind. We were supplied with 2009 models to drive from our hotel to the staging area in Malibu. Anyone who has ever spent time in a 2005-09 Mustang is immediately aware that the weak link is its interior. In a word, it looked and felt cheap. The order of the day for the new 2010 model is refinement. Find out after the jump if Ford has made a Mustang worthy of competing in the now crowded class of modern day muscle cars.

When the S197 Mustang debuted as a 2005 model, it was actually the first Mustang ever to get its own purpose built platform that wasn't shared with any other Ford product. The Mustang has always been a solid selling car for Ford, which is why it's been produced uninterrupted for nearly 45 years. Nonetheless, the Mustang engineering team was working with a budget when that 2005 model was being developed. As a result, they put the focus on the mechanical bits at the expense of some of the touchy-feely stuff.

Stop by AmericanMuscle.com for all your Mustang Shocks and Mustang Radiator needs.

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Ford Ranger Max concept debuts at Thailand Motor Show

At the Thailand Motor Expo this week, Ford's rolling out a show truck based on the locally-produced Ford Ranger. Dubbed the Ranger Max, it's a styling exercise designed to infuse the compact pickup with some visual muscle and toughness. According to Ford, power tools were among the inspirations for the project, hence the blend of matte accents and this OSHA-friendly orange paint job. Anyway, it's pretty cool, what with the embossed "RANGER" logos on the grille and tailgate; vented, domed hood; chunky wheel/tire package; flared fenders and integrated step rails. If Ford were to (finally) replace the U.S.-market Ranger with something incorporating the main cues from this (especially the overall grille/front-end treatment), you wouldn't hear a peep of complaint from us -- we'd be too busy listening to "One Night in Bangkok" on the stereo while we cruised down that street from the Ford Flex ads. PR from Ford Asia-Pacific follows the jump.

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