A lot has been said about the new 2011 Ford Mustang, which receives a bevy of significant upgrades for the 2011 model year. Chief among these are two all-new engine options: a 3.7 liter V6 good for 305hp for the base Mustang and a 412hp 5.0 liter V8 in the Mustang GT. Both of these new powerplants are impressive, but the new V8 in the Mustang GT is attracting the most attention.

A 2011 Mustang GT with that new 5.0 liter V8 just arrived at a local Ford dealer, so I stopped by early this morning to grab a few photos. Are you looking forward to the new 2011 Mustangs, or are you more fond of the Chevy Camaro or Dodge Challenger? Sound off in the comments section.

My wife left for Grand Junction on Friday afternoon, taking a route southwards and westwards from Northern Colorado that would see her spending more than a few hours on interstate 70. She sent the following pictures, along with a few comments about the car (paraphrased a bit here):

It’s a fun car. Not sure if I’d want one as a daily driver, but it’s great when the weather is nice. It also held cruise going over Vail pass, so it has enough power.

The pictures here were taken at Vail Pass (above) and near Avon, CO (below).

Granted, the 4.0 liter V6 in this 2010 Ford Mustang isn’t exactly state of the art — generating only 210 hp and 240 ft-lbs. of torque, compared to 305 hp and 280 ft-lbs. of torque that the all-new 3.7 liter V6 offered in the 2011 Mustang can produce — but it has enough power for passing and navigating twisty mountain roads.

Related Content:

• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day One
• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day Two

The road trip has been an integral part of automotive culture for decades. Who among hasn’t thrown a suitcase into the back seat of their favorite vehicle and hit the open road?

That’s exactly what my wife is doing this weekend, deciding to leave me, the kids, the dog, and her boring minivan behind as she hops behind the wheel of a rented 2010 Ford Mustang V6 convertible (above) to drive out and see her parents (and congratulate her newly-graduated niece) this weekend.

I’m still trying to figure out how she managed to convince me to stay home with the kids, dog, and to do list while she’s soaking up sunlight and listening to the radio, but I digress — she always has managed to stay a step or two ahead of me.

She’ll be sending some thoughts about the vehicle (and some photos) back my way while she cruises, and I’ll post them as I get them.

Related Content:

• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day One
• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day Two

I’ve always thought that the Ford GT (and its forbear, the Ferrari-busting, LeMans-winning GT40) was the ultimate combination of track-punishing power and gorgeous sports car aesthetics. Let not forget that the GT also sounded amazing, thanks to a 5.4L supercharged V8 that churned our 550 horsepower.

Alas, Ford only made about 4000 Ford GTs, but the car does live on as a favorite vehicle for many racing teams. One such team is Matech Competition, a Swiss racing team that is running a heavily modified Ford GT (draped in Darth Vader’s favor color) in the FIA GT1 Championship Race on April 17th, 2010 at the Yas Marina circuit in the United Arab Emirates.

You can read more about this car over at Autoblog, visit the official Matech Competition website, or watch a large version of this sweet-sounding video of the car in action over at YouTube. Don’t know how the Blue Oval does it, but supercharged Ford V8s always sound like music to the ears.
ultimate

What the heck is a Photosynth, you ask? Photosynth is a Microsoft-developed web service that lets you assemble digital pictures into an engaging 3D experience. Here’s what Microsoft says about it (from the Photosynth website):

“In simple terms, Photosynth allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same scene or object and automagically stitch them all together into one big interactive 3D viewing experience that you can share with anyone on the web.”

Regardless, it’s a novel way to combine a bunch of single car photos together into something a bit more interesting.
 
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• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile
• About.com: New York Auto Show – 2009 Ford Flex Photo
• About.com: 2009 Ford Flex Pricing Revealed

I’ve written about the “minivan stigma” before, which I’ve always felt was a bit undeserved. From a practical point of view the minivan is arguably the most efficient family-mover in existence, thanks to it’s voluminous cargo space, the ease and convenience of sliding doors, and relatively car-like handling and performance. That said, some people simply despise the thought of owning a minivan, so car manufacturers have taken notice. One of the reactions to this fear and loathing of minivans was the introduction of the 2009 Ford Flex, a new entry into the 6+ passenger crossover segment that attempts to combine some style with most of the traditional features that minivans offer. Did Ford manage to pull off the combination? Our answers and a full-length review after the jump.

Flex Those Features
The Flex I tested was the Limited edition, which was loaded with an impressive number of standard features. A 3.5L V6 engine—generating 263 hp @ 6,250rpm and 249 lb.-ft @ 4,500rpm—is the standard powerplant, mated to a six-speed automatic overdrive transmission. This particular model came equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), undoubtedly a popular option in my neck of the woods here in Northern Colorado.

The interior is nicely appointed, with leather trimmed and heated seats, woodgrain trim accents, and 2nd and 3rd row seats that fold flat for additional cargo space. Dual zone climate control helps keep multiple passengers in their comfort zones. I found the seats to be firm and supportive, with the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat making it easy to find the perfect seating position.

I can’t say the same for the steering wheel, which—in a “What were they thinking?” design fumble—doesn’t telescope, which could make finding a good driving position for drivers on the shorter and taller ends of the size spectrum a difficult proposition. (Note: Ford has apparently responded to this frequent complaint by adding a telescoping steering wheel to the 2010 Ford Flex.) Seating space in all three rows was ample, although storage space behind the 3rd row seats was a bit modest.

Our test vehicle came with a few extra amenities, including a Class III trailer tow package ($570), a panoramic vista roof ($1495), a 2nd row floor console ($100), a rear console refrigeration ($760), a navigation system ($2375), and a white two-tone roof ($395). Ford’s excellent Ford Sync system was also included, which I’ll cover in more detail in a paragraph or two.

The Flex is also loaded with safety features, including traction and stability control (AdvanceTrac w/RSC), driver, front passenger and side-curtain airbags, the LATCH child safety system and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2009 Flex also fared well is crash testing conducted by the NHTSA and IIHS, earning 5 out of 5 stars across all tests in the former and  “good” ratings in testing by the latter.

During our week-long test period with the Flex, we carted groceries, kids, pets, and relatives through a mix of different weather types, from clear days to rain and sleet.The highlight of our test our period was a day-long drive up to Estes Park, CO and the nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.  Despite some super-sized dimensions—the Flex weighs in at a substantial 4700 lbs weight and sports a 117.9″ wheelbase and overall length of 202.3″—the 3.5L V6 managed to move the Flex up and down curvy mountain roads without any trouble. The Flex is clearly no sports car, but the performance is equivalent to comparably-equipped minivans.

The Awesome Ford Sync
I’ve raved about Ford’s slick Sync system before, both in a review of a previous Ford vehicle here at Drivelineblog and also over at Windows IT Pro. In essence, Sync teams a sophisticated voice-recognition system with your car stereo, phones, iPods, and other mobile devices. Setting up a cell phone to work with Sync only takes a few minutes, and the voice recognition is exceptional: I was able to change radio stations, place phone calls, and select CD tracks all by using some voice commands. Sync isn’t perfect—the voice recognition doesn’t work so well when you have a vehicle full of shouting kids—but in most other instances it works like a charm.

Note: I tested the 2009 Ford Flex Limited model; the 2010 Ford Flex includes a number of upgrades and changes, including: a telescoping steering wheel; a new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 (EcoBoost) engine option with 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque; improved suspension for better handling; and a number of other minor upgrades and improvements.

Bottom Line: The Ford Flex limited is an impressive, 7-passenger people mover that features a slick exterior and lots of family-friendly interior features. It does lack the sliding doors and voluminous cargo space that the best minivans offer, but for families looking to avoid a minivan the Flex is a great—albeit pricey—alternative.

Related Reading

• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile
• About.com: New York Auto Show – 2009 Ford Flex Photo
• About.com: 2009 Ford Flex Pricing Revealed
• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile

Vehicle Specifications
Vehicle: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
Manufacturer website: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Base Price: $36,555
Price as tested/options: $43,820; Class III trailer tow package ($570), 2nd row 40/40 seats-autofold ($870), panoramic vista roof ($1495), 2nd row floor console ($100), rear console refrigeration ($760), navigation system ($2375), white two-tone roof ($395)
Engine: 3.5 liter Duratec V6 (263 hp @ 6,250rpm, 249 lb.-ft @ 4,500rpm)
Drivetrain: Front engine, AWD
Fuel Type / Fuel Economy (EPA): Unleaded 87; 16 / 22

There has been a dearth of top-caliber car movies over the past few years, but Gone in 60 Seconds—which was itself a remake of the 1974 original—has been one of the better ones. Nicholas Cage and the always captivating Angelina Jolie may have been given top billing as actors, but the true star of the movie was the modified 1967 Ford Shelby GT—affectionately referred to in the film as “Eleanor”—that car thief Cage uses to outrun the fuzz in the final 30 minutes of the film.

If you’re looking to own your own Eleanor, custom hot rod builder Classic Recreations inked a deal with the Gone in 60 Seconds film producers in 2008 to create licensed versions of the vehicle. Two version are offered: A 535hp variant ($138,000), and a 750hp model ($189,900). Both models are painstakingly hand-crafted from a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback body by the Classic Creations team in Yukon, Oklahoma. All the requisite features of Eleanor from the movie are standard, including the “Go-Baby-Go” nitrous button.

Visit the Classic Creations website for a complete list of specs (and more photos) of the 750hp and 535hp variants. (Photos: Classic Creations LLC)

While GM and Chrysler may be dealing with the shame of bankruptcy, Ford seems to have — so far — weathered the global financial storm while remaining in control of its own destiny. That might explain this YouTube video clip, which reportedly shows a Ford employee being taking for a joyride on a robotic arm. Comments by the YouTube poster seem to indicate that the footage was shot at a Ford factory, but it’s more likely that it was recorded at a robotics supplier.

Regardless of the shooting location, you have to give the passenger credit for trusting the operator/programmer of the robot arm. A hydraulically-assisted face plant wouldn’t feel so great, and the hapless subject appears to skim just inches above the floor in spots.

2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Remember when the Ford Taurus was cool? Scratch that — it was more than cool. When Robocop rolled down the streets of Old Detroit looking for drug-addicted perps to pummel, he didn’t drive a Yugo, a Toyota, a Saturn, or a Volvo. To facilitate his nightly exercises in ass-kickery, OCP’s favorite officer would slip behind the wheel of  his trusty, flat black Ford Taurus.

So after more than a decade of being lost in the wilderness — including a short, delusional period where Ford insisted on calling the Taurus the Ford Five Hundred — Ford has finally delivered a Taurus that Officer Murphy would again be proud of, thanks to the recent unveiling of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

You can read the official Ford press release for the full scoop, but here are the vitals: a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 churning out 365 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission, a torque sensing all-wheel drive system, a retail sticker starting at $37,995, and an on-sale date of mid-2009. You can also find out more at the stalwart BringbacktheSHO Taurus fan community, which finally sees their prayers answered.

Maybe the new 2010 SHO will convince Conan O’Brien to update this homage to his emerald green 1992 Taurus, which you can see in the video clip embedded below. (Sourced from Eclipsenetwork.com.)

Funny – For more amazing video clips, click here

While most of the changes to the vehicle will likely fall into the cosmetic (both interior and exterior) category, it will still be a significant refresh. Motor Trend is reporting that there’s a possibility the revamped Mustang may even get Ford’s new EcoBoost twin turbo V6 as an engine option.

Specific details will have to wait until the 2008 LA Auto Show (Nov 21-30), the venue where Ford plans to unveil the updated pony car. While we all wait, feel free to click through this gallery of available images.