Tag Archives: Ford

News

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sold for $225,000

When it comes to first-generation Mustangs, few examples can boast the story—and condition—of this 1971 Mach 1. With just 5,200 miles on the clock and nearly half a century in the hands of its original owner, this white-over-black SportsRoof is a time capsule of early-’70s American muscle. Recently sold at auction for $225,000 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, it’s a reminder of just how special untouched classics can be.

The car’s journey began in 1971 when a 21-year-old treated himself to what would become a lifelong obsession: a brand-new Mustang Mach 1. Equipped with a 351ci Cleveland V8 producing 285 horsepower, a four-speed manual transmission, and a 3.25 Traction-Lok rear differential, this Mach 1 offered the full spectrum of muscle-car thrills—albeit tempered with thoughtful factory options.

From the factory, it came dressed in white with black side stripes, a Ram Air hood, tinted glass, a rear spoiler, and 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels. Inside, the optional Mach 1 Sports Interior provided high-back bucket seats with knit vinyl inserts and silver stripes, woodgrain accents, a rim-blow deluxe steering wheel, a Sport Deck rear seat, and a console. Extras like power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, an AM/FM stereo, and a heated rear window completed a package that balanced performance and comfort. A personalized plaque behind the Hurst shifter commemorates the car’s original production date: August 16, 1971.

What makes this Mach 1 truly remarkable is its preservation. Aside from routine maintenance, the car remains largely untouched: the exterior paint is pristine, the interior still feels period-correct, and the original 15-inch Magnum 500 rims wear their factory tires. To ready it for sale, the dealer replaced the battery, fuel pump, fuel lines, and rebuilt the carburetor, making it perfectly driveable for the next caretaker who wants to experience the Cleveland V8 in action rather than just admire it from a garage.

Historical documentation accompanies the car, including a Deluxe Marti Report, the original window sticker, the owner’s manual, spare parts, and a clean Pennsylvania title. Adjusted for inflation, the Mach 1’s original $4,002 price tag is roughly $32,000 today—a bargain by comparison to what collectors are now willing to pay for this sort of low-mileage, all-original muscle.

In a market flooded with restored and modified examples, this Mach 1 stands out not only for its condition but for the story it carries: a single owner who cherished it for decades. For anyone chasing authenticity, low miles, and a V8 experience that feels straight out of 1971, this Mustang is the kind of opportunity that comes around once in a generation.

Source: Bring a Trailer

News

Ford Reenters Small-Car Market With Renault-Built Electric Fiesta Successor

Ford is officially re-entering the affordable small-car arena it voluntarily abandoned—and it’s doing so with help from an unexpected ally. In a move that could reshape its entire European strategy, Ford has struck a landmark deal with Renault to share the French firm’s Ampr EV platform. The partnership will spawn at least two new Ford-badged electric cars starting in 2028, one of which is all but confirmed as the long-awaited successor to the Fiesta.

This isn’t a badge-swap arrangement. Ford insists the upcoming models will be “distinct Ford-branded electric vehicles”, designed by Ford teams, engineered to drive like Fords, and positioned as true alternatives—not clones—to Renault’s reborn 5 and 4.

A New Fiesta—Built in France

The first EV out of this new collaboration arrives in early 2028. It will share its core architecture with the Renault 5 and even roll off the same lines at Renault’s ElectriCity complex in Douai. But the fundamentals—steering feel, driving character, interior UX—are being developed in-house by Ford.

Under the skin, expect the familiar Ampr hardware:

  • Front-mounted motor making 121–215 hp, depending on trim
  • 40 or 52 kWh battery options, converted to more affordable LFP chemistry by the time Ford’s version lands
  • A footprint and mission that squarely place it in the void left by the Fiesta’s 2023 retirement

For a company that once depended on the Fiesta as its European workhorse for nearly half a century, this is nothing short of a comeback storyline.

A Second Model—Likely a Baby Crossover

Model No. 2? A small electric crossover based on the Renault 4. Think of it as a potential successor—or spiritual successor—to the upcoming Puma Gen-E. Timing remains unclear, but development is underway.

Ford Needs These Cars—Badly

If the Renault partnership seems unusually cozy for Ford, that’s because the company is facing real pressure in Europe.

Market share has cratered from 12% to under 4%.
Sales of the Capri and Explorer EVs have been so sluggish that Ford cut up to 1000 jobs at its Cologne plant and reduced the site to a single shift.
And with Focus production ending last month, Ford’s passenger-car lineup in Europe is now effectively a collection of Transit-derived SUVs and MPVs—none of them cheap.

In short: Ford has marched itself upmarket, and the customers didn’t follow.

Bringing back a Fiesta-sized EV at a roughly Renault-5-like price tag (around £22k) is Ford’s most realistic path back to mainstream relevance—and a far more cost-effective one than developing a clean-sheet small EV from scratch.

Why Not Volkswagen?

Interestingly, Volkswagen’s smaller MEB Entry platform was long rumored to be Ford’s way back into the affordable supermini segment. But cost—and speed—won out. Renault’s Ampr platform is cheaper, production-ready, and already under two of Europe’s most eagerly awaited small EVs.

Ford still partners with VW on bigger EVs (Explorer, Capri) as well as commercial vehicles. The Renault deal will extend to vans too, though both companies stress this is still “exploratory.”

Farley and Provost: United by Necessity

Ford CEO Jim Farley calls the Renault agreement “an important step” toward making Ford’s European division leaner, more competitive, and future-proof. Renault Group’s François Provost describes the partnership as a showcase of “competitiveness in Europe.”

Both executives know what’s at stake. Europe’s EV adoption has slowed dramatically, Chinese imports are flooding the budget end of the market, and the EU is considering pushing its internal-combustion ban from 2035 to 2040.

Farley has been especially vocal. In a recent op-ed, he argued Europe’s decarbonization policies are “out of step with market reality,” pointing out the wide gap between mandated EV sales (25%) and the real number (16%). He also criticized the UK’s upcoming pay-per-mile EV tax as the regulatory equivalent of “one foot on the gas, one on the brake.”

His message was clear: without a regulatory “reset,” Europe risks losing its manufacturing base altogether.

Ford returning to the supermini class isn’t nostalgia—it’s survival strategy. The Renault-based Fiesta successor and its crossover sibling won’t just fill holes in Ford’s lineup; they could define Ford’s viability in Europe for the next decade.

Affordable EVs with real Ford personality? That’s the promise.
An industrial blueprint that finally stops the bleeding? That’s the hope.

And if Ford pulls off a proper electric Fiesta—one that drives like a Ford should—it might just rebuild the European loyalty the brand has spent the last five years eroding.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

Ford Ranger and Everest Refresh: Subtle Updates, Big Power Plays

Ford isn’t letting the new-gen Toyota Hilux or Nissan Navara steal any thunder in Australia. Just as its fiercest rivals roll out fresh metal, Ford has quietly but confidently unveiled updated versions of the Ranger and Everest—Australia’s top-selling truck and its SUV sibling. The changes aren’t dramatic, but they’re strategically targeted and, in some cases, overdue. Most notably, the long-running 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel is heading out to pasture.

Ranger: Familiar Skin, Sharper Details

Don’t expect new bodywork—the Ranger’s sheetmetal is unchanged—but Ford massaged the trims with new gloss and matte-black accents, updated wheel designs, and expanded color choices. It’s a light-touch refresh meant to polish an already dominant product.

Wolftrak Returns With More Bite

Leading the headlines is the Ranger Wolftrak, back with a tougher look and a new hero hue called Traction Green. Shadow Black and Command Grey remain, but they’re now paired with bright Zest accents, a “long-legged” sports bar, and 17-inch Asphalt Black alloys. It’s aimed straight at buyers who want rugged style without paying Raptor money.

Upgrades for the Working-Class Trims

Ford has been stingy with base-model tech in the past, but not anymore. The XL, even in single cab-chassis form, now comes standard with a 12-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate, and the full Driver Assist Technology suite.

The XLT gets a beefier Heavy-Duty suspension, and the XLS picks up practical perks like side steps, carpet floor mats, and 17-inch all-terrain alloys.

Sport Out, Black Edition In

The Sport trim is gone, but Ford’s keeping the Black Edition after its successful limited run. Meanwhile, the off-road-focused Tremor also returns temporarily, though Australia still misses out on the sporty, Europe-only Ranger MS-RT.

At the top end, the Wildtrak scores new 18-inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights, and a 10-speaker B&O audio system, all now standard. The premium Platinum trim adds a fresh Acacia Green paint option. The Raptor remains untouched—apparently because you don’t fix what’s already ridiculous in all the right ways.

Goodbye Bi-Turbo, Hello Refined Diesels

The biggest mechanical shift is the elimination of the 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel. Stricter emissions targets likely sealed its fate.

Replacing it is a revised single-turbo 2.0-liter, now with a new timing chain and upgraded fuel injection. Output sits at 168 hp and 405 Nm, modest but efficient.

Buyers craving muscle can still opt for the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, churning out 247 hp and 600 Nm. It’s optional on the mid-tier trims and standard on the more premium ones, including Wildtrak and Platinum.

Both diesels pair with Ford’s smooth 10-speed automatic, offering RWD or 4WD depending on spec.

The Raptor sticks with its fire-breathing 392-hp twin-turbo V6, unchanged. And while Ford didn’t mention it, the plug-in hybrid with its 2.3-liter EcoBoost and electric motor is expected to continue.

Everest: Same Story, SUV Edition

The Everest follows the Ranger in ditching the bi-turbo diesel for the upgraded single-turbo unit. The optional 3.0-liter V6 returns for the Active and Sport trims and remains standard on the Tremor and Platinum.

New Entry-Level Trim: Everest Active

Replacing both the Ambiente and Trend, the new Everest Active becomes the lineup’s entry point. It arrives well-equipped with:

  • 18-inch alloys
  • Leather upholstery
  • 12-inch infotainment screen
  • LED headlights
  • Privacy glass
  • Tire pressure monitoring

Above it, the Sport, Tremor, and Platinum stay largely the same, though the 2026 Tremor gets a premium seat pack with heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable front seats. Sport and Tremor also add a 360-degree camera as standard.

Color choices get a mild shake-up, with Acacia Green and Alabaster White joining the mix, while Equinox Bronze bows out.

Pricing and Availability

The 2026.5 Ford Ranger lands at AU$37,130–90,690 before options and before Ford reveals pricing for the incoming Super Duty–inspired variant.

The Everest starts at AU$58,990 and stretches to AU$83,490.

Ford will open order books in December 2025, with first customer deliveries slated for mid-2026.

Ford didn’t reinvent the Ranger or Everest—and it didn’t need to. With lean, targeted updates and a simplified (but still robust) engine lineup, the brand is keeping its Australian workhorses competitive without chasing trends. The bi-turbo’s exit may sting for some fans, but the refreshed trims and feature boosts should soften the blow.

After all, when you already dominate the segment, sometimes a tidy tune-up is all it takes to stay ahead.

Source: Ford