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The 2015 F-150: Ford's Bold New Design

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling, most-trusted pickup truck on the road for decades. It is used by more builders, contractors, landscapers, and workers than any other truck, and that's a fact*. It would not be too much of a stretch to call the F-150 and American icon. With all that in mind, there is huge news for the devoted legions of F-150 fans out there: the 2015 Ford F-150 will future a revolutionary redesign that will make it stronger, lighter, and more fuel-efficient than ever before. The 2015 Ford F-150 will be roughly 700 pounds lighter than the 2014 model; that is a weight reduction of about 10-15% depending on whether it is a regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab. This reduction in weight is achieved through using a combination of high-strength boron steel for the frame, and high-strength aluminum for the body panels. The addition of high-strength aluminum is the result of more than 25 years of research on Ford's part, as well as billions of dollars in investments for new tools, machines, and processes to work with the new material. High-strength aluminum is not your run-0f-the-mill aluminum found in soda cans: this is a material used in aerospace and military designs due to desriable properties such as its high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. In fact, the aluminum body panels will be much more resistant to rust and corrosion that the current steel panels. The 2015 F-150 will also feature several engine options depending on your specific truck needs. The current 5.0L V8 will still be available in the next generation of the F-150, along with two turbocharged options. The current 3.7L turbocharged V6 will be down-sized to a 3.5L turbocharged V6 that will get even better fuel economy. Then there's the real kicker: a 2.7L turbocharged V6 that is expected to achieve about 30 mpg on the highway. The 2.7L V6 is designed specifically for those whose lifestyle demands a full-size pickup, but who does not need to tow a huge boat, for example. The 5.0L V8 and 3.5L V6 turbocharged engines will still deliver the same raw power and torque for towing, hauling, and everything else you need a pickup for. But for those who need a pickup bed and less towing capacity in exchange for truly impressive fuel economy, the 2.7L will be a complete game-changer for the full-size pickup class. *Based on Polk survey data for light-duty pickups
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The Ford Bronco is Coming Back!

The Ford Bronco was last released 20 years ago in 1996, after having lasted five generations beginning in 1966. Built in Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan, the Bronco began as a compact SUV. After 12 years in the compact SUV market, the Bronco underwent a massive change in 1978 when it was upgraded to a large SUV by using a modified F-Series truck chassis. The Ford Bronco II was a smaller version of the Bronco that was produced from 1983 until 1990 and was initially tied to the launch of the all-new Ford Ranger in 1983. The Bronco II was discontinued in 1990; it seems that the full-size Bronco was exactly what people were looking for! The Bronco remained a staple in the SUV world throughout the 1980’s and 90’s. It went through three more generations before appearing in its final incarnation, the 1992 to 1996 series. This fifth and final generation saw the addition of crumple zones, rear shoulder seat belt, driver-side airbags, and a third brake light installed in the top. Since this safety equipment was now integrated into the top of the Bronco, the top was no longer legally allowed to be removed and was secured with “tamper proof” Torx bolts. The Bronco was discontinued after the 1996 model year and replaced with the larger, four-door Expedition. The Bronco maintained a loyal following, and rumors have popped up many times over the past 20 years that the Bronco would make a triumphant return. Well this time, it’s official: the Ford Bronco is coming back! And will return to the US “ no later than 2020.” There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the exact configuration of the Ford Bronco. The version that retired in 1996 was last build on a shortened F-Series chassis, so many believe that the new Ford Bronco will also be based on an F-Series platform. Others maintain that the Bronco will use the chassis from the Ford Ranger, which, although is no longer available in the US, is still produced and sold internationally. If this is the case, the Bronco may well resemble the Ford Everest, which a 4-door SUV built on the Ranger platform and available internationally. An even smaller group of Bronco fans maintains that the Bronco will be based on the upcoming 2017 Ford Raptor. Speculation is equally divided as to whether the Bronco will feature its iconic two-door look, or if it will be a four-door SUV. If the two-door, there is a slight possibility that the new Bronco may resemble the Troller, a Brazilian made SUV currently build on the Ranger platform. At any rate, we know for sure that after more than two decades, the Ford Bronco will finally be coming back! In the meantime, check out some concept art of what the new Ford Bronco might look like and ask your local NH Ford dealer for more information! The most likely configuration of the 2020 Ford Bronco The Ford Bronco as imagined on the 2017 Ford Raptor platform A burly, blacked-out version of the Ford Bronco on a Ford Raptor platform The Ford Bronco as imagined based on the Ford Troller

Ford Secures 1,000 UAW Jobs in Ohio

Ford has moved production of the F-650 and F-750 trucks from Mexico to the United States! The F-650/F-750 production will take place at the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, and will help secure more than 1,000 hourly United Auto Worker jobs as well as a $168 million plant investment in the US. The Ohio Assembly Plant was opened in 1974 and employs more than 1,400 people. “Our investment in Ohio Assembly Plant reinforces our commitment to building vehicles in America and to delivering best-in-class commercial trucks,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Working with our partners in the UAW, we found a way to make the costs competitive enough to bring production of a whole new generation of work trucks to Ohio.” The F-650 and F-750 are both available with either gasoline or diesel engines. Ford is the only automotive manufacturer to offer a gasoline engine in the medium-duty truck class. The gasoline engine is a 6.8L V10 that produces 320 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Ford also offers the option of having this engine factory-prepped to convert to either compressed natural gas or liquid propane gas, which will be attractive alternatives when the price of oil rises. For those interested in a diesel engine, Ford offers a 6.7L PowerStroke V8 diesel engine. Ford is also the only automotive manufacturer in the world that designs and builds its diesel engine and transmission combination for the medium-duty truck segment. Ford commercial trucks have been the best-selling commercial trucks in the US for 30 straight years!

SYNC 3 Coming to 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta

SYNC 3 is the all-new communications and entertainment system from Ford that will be launching on the 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta. It will provide be faster, more powerful, and easier to use than ever! With such highlights as conversational voice recognition, an intuitive touch screen, and a user-friendly graphical interface, SYNC 3 is poised to raise the bar for in-car communications systems! It is available on either a 6.5-inch or an 8-inch touch screen, depending on your preference. There are three configurable versions of all screens; Daytime, Nighttime, and Auto. Daytime is brighter and more colorful, whereas Nighttime has a darker background to prevent any distracting glare when driving at night. Auto, as its name suggests, will alternate between Daytime and Nighttime based on the light level in the car. SYNC 3 will allow you to check the weather, send text messages, find destinations, play music, adjust the ambient lighting and much more! Be sure to look for SYNC 3 on the 2016 Escape and Fiesta at your local NH Ford dealer!