Ford Ranger Max Concept Pickup Truck Premieres at Thailand Auto Show

The star attraction at Ford's stand at the Thailand Motor Expo that runs from November 28 to December 10 is the Ranger Max pickup truck concept. A team of Ford truck specialists in Thailand worked closely with Ford's Australia-based Asia Pacific and Africa design team, led by Paul Gibson, to create the Ranger Max. According to Ford, many of the design cues seen on the concept could find their way into the next-generation production model of the Ranger.

Orange paintwork aside, the Range Max sports a new fascia with a huge three-bar chrome grille, a customized hard tonneau cover at the rear of the vehicle and what Ford calls a "Sportsbar" which attaches to the pickup bed and arches across the vehicle. A set of deep-dish, 18-inch alloy concept wheels and custom technical-look P285/60R18 tires with a chunky tread pattern finish the Ranger Max's extreme look.

"The tough style of Ranger Max is based on the capability and versatility that make Ford Ranger the choice of the most demanding truck owners," said Mr. Saroj Kiatfuengfoo, senior vice president, Ford Thailand. "Ranger Max's high-impact design and tough style appeal will excite truck enthusiasts in Thailand."

"We recognise that Thailand is the home of Ranger for Asia Pacific, and from Thailand we export Ranger around the world. We know Asia is a fusion of many cultures, and we look to Thailand as a wonderful blend of tastes, styles and emerging ideas. For this very reason, we decided to create Ranger Max in Thailand and show the high-impact truck to the world at Motor Expo," added Mr. Kiatfuengfoo.

Ford's 21st Century Model-T Contest Winners Announced

In celebration of the Model T's 100th anniversary, Ford challenged students at six universities from around the world to create a modern day Tin Lizzie that is simple, lightweight, practical and priced below $7,000. The winners of the competition were the student teams from Aachen University in Cologne, Germany and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, which each earned their schools $25,000 in scholarship funds. -Continued

The other universities that participated in the four-month competition were Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Calif.; Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.; University of Michigan-Dearborn, and West Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia, Pa.

The students from Germany's Aachen University created the “2015 Ford Model T” concept made of a basic structure that would be available in various derivatives including a compact pick-up, a sedan, and a mini city car. The students supported that the vehicle’s steel body was designed in a simple way and as a result, most of the car could be built using standard tools.

Australia's Deakin University students created a more impressive-looking three-wheel concept car code named Model T2 that featured a novel steering system and compressed air rotary hub motors.

Detroit Show: Ford Explorer America Concept – Unibody Construction & 2.0-liter Turbo Engine!

Ford’s really shuffling the deck with the Explorer America Concept that promises to give us a hint of what to expect from the upcoming generations of the SUV. First of all, the Explorer America does away with the current body-on-frame in favour of a modern unibody construction that not only reduces weight, but also promises to deliver better driving dynamics.

The concept also utilizes Ford’s upcoming Ecoboost engine line-up that feature turbocharging and direct injection technology (see details here). According to the American carmaker, the powertrain lineup includes a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 275 hp and 280 lb.-ft. of torque or, as a premium engine, a 3.5-liter turbo V6 delivering about 340 hp. Depending on engine selection, fuel-efficiency will improve by 20 to 30 percent versus today’s V6 Explorer. -Details and high-res pics after the jump

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FORD TO REVEAL NEW FUEL-SAVING CONCEPT IN DETROIT

The Ford Explorer America concept showcases a new kind of utility for the vehicle customers have known and loved for years: even better fuel efficiency.

“Customers are smart. They value vehicles – the more efficient, the better,” said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president of Marketing and Communications. “Ford gets it.

“Innovative technologies can transform people’s favorite vehicles. Look at SYNC, the Ford system that connects people and their favorite portable devices, including media players and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, while in their vehicles.”

Technologies and engineering innovations help Explorer America concept deliver an approximately 20 to 30 percent fuel-economy improvement, depending on engine selection, while providing room for six and their gear as well as moderate towing and off-roading capabilities.

This smarter utility concept simplifies Ford Motor Company’s systems approach for delivering sustainable vehicles, specifically demonstrating:

• A powertrain lineup that includes a 4-cylinder 2-liter engine with EcoBoost technology delivering 275 hp and 280 lb.-ft. of torque or, as a premium engine, a 3.5-liter V-6 delivering about 340 hp. Depending on engine selection, fuel-efficiency will improve by 20 to 30 percent versus today’s V-6 Explorer
• Migration from current body-on-frame to unibody construction, reducing weight and delivering superior driving dynamics
• A fuel-efficient 6-speed transmission with auto shift control, allowing the driver to select and hold a lower gear with just the turn of a dial when conditions warrant it
• A weight reduction of 150 pounds for the V-6 version thanks to its downsized – yet superior performing – engine, as well as more lightweight materials, suspension and chassis components
• Fuel-saving electric power assisted steering (EPAS) and other engine actions that deliver a fuel savings benefit of about 5 percent. Between 80 to 90 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will have EPAS by 2012

In addition to its fuel-efficient powertrain and technologies, the Explorer America concept addresses how the SUV market has changed in the past 15 years.

In the 1990s, customers were drawn by SUVs aligned with people’s adventurous, more rugged lifestyles. Today’s consumers are more discerning, demanding products that are capable and flexible – but more intelligently executed.

The Explorer America concept looks the part, too, with a modern, muscular design language that belies its ability to harness today’s active lifestyles. Its integrated three-bar grille, defined power dome hood, wrap-around rear glass panel window and sliding rear door give the appearance that this concept is ready for modern Lewis-and-Clark types to explore, from their own neighborhoods to the trail head.

Inside, intelligent features abound, including: single-touch stackable, sliding seats that allow for convenient access to the second row; a work table with seats deploy from the tailgate; and a three-dimensional compass and navigation unit with a topographical map built right into the instrument panel.

Ford Verve Sedan Concept Unveiled In China

Along with the production version of the Mazda2 Sedan (click here for details and images), FoMoCo pulled the curtains off the Ford Verve Sedan Concept at this week’s Guangzhou Motor Show in China. Based on the Verve 3door concept which was revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September (click here), Ford’s B-Segment sedan concept is identical up to the B-pillar with the hatch while its rear-end is apparently inspired from the liftback version of the new Mondeo. Whereas we loved the 3door Verve concept's looks, we cant say the same about the sedan version. -Continued after the jump

From what we’ve been told, the production version of the Verve Sedan will be introduced during the second-half of 2008, but it remains unknown whether it will be available worldwide or only in developing markets like China, Russia, South America and Eastern Europe.