Click above to view live pics at ShadowyFlight.com
NBC is unveiling the new Attack Mode for KITT today at the very large Comic Con convention in San Diego. ShadowyFlight.com is covering the reveal of the car live in its forums, but this image has already made its way on the web and confirms that KITT has had his wings sheared. Gone are the various spoilers that cluttered the first version and what remains is a cleaner car with dual side exhausts, a deep chin spoiler that looks pretty heavy duty, an equally strong looking mesh grille, what appears to be rocket launchers where a shaker scoop would go, a still-very-big rear wing, rear air diffuser and new spokeless wheels that were stolen right off of a Bonneville Salt Flats racer. The rear tires are extremely oversized and still manage to poke out from the newly flared fenders. Is it better than the first Attack Mode version of KITT? Yes. That doesn't mean we necessarily like it, though. The Knight Rider fan community seems split as well. Make up your mind in the comments after visiting ShadowyFlight.com for over 20 more additional high-res pics of the new Attack Mode KITT. UPDATE: New live shots on KRO reveal Attack Mode KITT has lambo doors. UPDATE 2:ShadowyFlight.com returned with a big gallery of live images.
Ford posted an $8.7 billion loss for the second quarter of 2008 that it claims is due to sagging sales in North America and one time charges associated with plant closings. The Blue Oval's brutal second quarter included revenues that were down $5.6B to $38.6B and losses from continuing operations that totaled $1.4 billion. Virtually all the bad news came from North America, as Europe posted a $582m profit, and South America ended the quarter in the black as well. Ford also wrote down $8B in special charges related to its restructuring.
The bigger news came in the form of sweeping changes to Ford's lineup that will begin with switching three truck and SUV plants to car production beginning in December. The Cuautitlan, Mexico; Louisville, KY; and Michigan Truck Plant will all be converted to produce small cars. Cuautitlan will build the Fiesta, and the other two plants will build vehicles based on Ford's next gen C architecture based on the Euro Focus. Below are the main changes Ford announced for 2009 and beyond, and the list is pretty substantial. Note a new car for Mercury, which should deflect rumors that Ford's middle child is getting kicked out of the house. We'll give you more information as we receive it.
Convert the entire Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup by 2010
Delay closing Ford Ranger plant from 2009 to 2011
Double hybrid production for 2009
Add European Transit Connect small van to North America in 2009
Add a new Lincoln seven-passenger crossover in 2009
Introduce a new small Mercury for 2010
Add European Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback in early 2010.
Bring next gen Euro Focus sedan and hatchback in 2010.
Build unibody Ford Explorer in 2010 with fuel savings of 25%
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Mustang AV8R
The Ford Mustang AV8R is a one-off, aviation-themed Mustang that's been modified with a suite of upgrades from Ford Racing, including the Handling Pack, a Whipple blower, cold air intake, and a new exhaust. Power from the 4.6L V8 subsequently jumps to 400 horses, and the car is further individualized with a custom exterior and interior. Outside, its Satin Silver finish is offset by a black hood and decklid, red accent lines, dark gray side stripes, an Air Force star on each front quarter panel, and an oversized, etched AF star on the glass roof. The faux gas cap on the trunklid also gets a white star motif, and the rear spoiler is black with a red stripe and the AV8R logo in the corner. The front and rear bumpers are swiped from the California Special, while the grille is the same one used on the Bullitt, only with red trim instead of a metallic finish on the lower lip. It's a very sharp-looking car.
Inside, the two-tone leather seats have embroidered AV8R logos, and their brown inserts are reminiscent of an old bomber jacket. Brown hide also adorns the shifter boot. In the video after the jump, we also learn that the interior trim appliqués are pre-production Bullitt units. The car will be auctioned off to benefit the Gathering of Eagles program, which is encourages young people to get involved in aviation.Back in 2006, the first Shelby GT-H brought $250,000 at an auction benefiting the same organization. If you want a shot at the AV8R, you'll need to get yourself out to Oshkosh this weekend. If you're feeling confident, just book a one-way flight. Maybe you'll be able to drive home.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Mustang at Road America.
You read that right folks. The 2010 Ford Mustang will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show on November 19th. According to a source speaking with InsideLine, the new 'Stang won't be shown in Detroit as originally rumored, conceivably as a response to the Camaro hype-machine we've had to endure over the last two weeks.
When the wraps are pulled off the 2010 Mustang, expect all-new front and rear fascias, including a new grille, headlamps and taillights, along with a tweaked hood and a few cues rumored to be pulled of the Guigiaro Mustang concept.
Speculation about powertrains has been running rampant for months, but a reworked V8 and V6 is part of the package, and possibly a new turbocharged, EcoBoost bent-six further down the line. Sales will begin late early next year.
The Detroit News is reporting that a worker at Ford's Woodhaven Stamping Plant in Michigan was killed this morning. While the family has requested the man's name not be released, sources at the factory told The Detroit News that he was a die-setter and was killed while loading a transfer press. Workers on the morning shift were immediately sent home so the accident could be investigated, but second shift workers will be back on the job today. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased worker.
The Internet got a sneak peek at the new 4.4L Ford diesel engine last April when somebody snapped a pic of the complete package sitting on the floor at Ford's national dealer conference. Now, thanks to some eagle-eyed sharp shooters, we can see the new oil-burning mill in its natural habitat under the hood of a Ford F-150. Sure, there's lots of black plastic covering all the good stuff, but we can get a glimpse of all the assorted plumbing that will make this engine squeaky clean. We can also have a good shot of the intercooler, peaking out between the grille and the radiator.
This engine is labeled as a Power Stroke, Ford's long-running moniker for the diesels equipped in its Super Duty trucks. For years, those mills have been made by Navistar, but after the fallout between the automaker and the supplier, Ford is now using a derivative of the diesel from Land Rover in Europe, though the 4.4L iteration will be made in Mexico for the North American market. Offering 20-percent more fuel economy than the 5.4L gas-powered Triton, along with a considerable bump in power, this could be one very important addition for the Ford Motor Company and will likely make its official debut at next year's Chicago Auto Show.
When we see things like this, we feel like Bruce Banner... having to contain our anger... at not getting... the Euro Focus. But hopefully tomorrow our fortunes will change, and if they do, here' s a look at the Focus we could get in 2011.
We were happy enough about the second-gen Focus, and this is even better. With a massive front maw, revised panels throughout, and a well executed sportback rear, the Focus Mk. 3 is, as the English would say, a bit of all right. The highlight show continues inside with better materials and an HMI-like control system. The UK will get the car later this year.
Although this Focus isn't slated (yet) for an RS version, it will put on an ST badge and mods at some point, and will come in three-, four-, and five-door variants, plus a wagon and a convertible. And if you're in Spain, you'll get a special edition diesel Focus WRC-S, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping 134 bhp. Each one of 666 samples will be signed by Ford WRC driver Marcus Gronholm. Prices have not been announced for any of the new Focus models.
Click above high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Flex
Ford has been banking on strong sales of its crossover vehicles to help counter the sinking ship that is its line of SUVs. While the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, along with the brand new Ford Flex and revised Escape, have sold well enough to post a meager 2.8-percent gain in overall sales so far this year, that number apparently isn't high enough to warrant a third shift at Ford's Oakville, Ontario plant that the automaker was hoping would be necessary. Unfortunately, this shift cancelation means that 350 workers who had planned on showing up for their first day next Monday are now left jobless.
While there are certainly buyers out there who require the capability to haul around their entire families and their associated gear, all large passenger vehicles -- crossovers like the new Flex included -- face an uphill battle now to overcome current market conditions, as this latest announcement once again proves.
After nearly eight years of getting little or no attention from the White House, it seems as though Detroit's automakers will be a major focus the 2008 Election. With the economy looking worse by the day, lawmakers in Washington have been kicking around the idea of a second economic stimulus package to get people shopping again, and Mowtown's lawmakers want in on the money. Michigan's two Democratic senators are attempting to use the prospect of such a bill to include federally-backed loans to help automakers and suppliers build new factories and engineer new models. The $4B would be used to offset the costs associated with the Treasury Department giving automakers $25B in loans at a discounted rate. Automakers have been against such a loan in the past, but with worsening conditions and tighter lending practices the idea is likely to sound much more exciting this time around.
Presumed Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama told the UAW in a letter that he supports the $4B in federal aid, stating that he would "provide real solutions necessary to help this industry compete and win in the global economy." Obama also promised tax breaks for consumers that purchase ultra fuel efficient vehicles and tax credits for automakers as well. Presumed Republican nominee John McCain opposes the idea of federally backed loans, but he does support tax breaks to those that purchase fuel efficient vehicles and a $300M in prize money for electric battery powered vehicles
Mercury has been languishing over the last several years with badged-engineered products barely distinguishable from their Ford brethren. As the market shifts towards smaller cars with higher fuel efficiency, there may be a golden opportunity for the Mercury brand to actually prove its worth as Ford's outlet for European-designed vehicles for the American market. In a move akin to what General Motors has done with Saturn, importing Opels to the U.S. in an attempt to revive the marque, Ford could bring its highly-desirable Euro-only models to the States badged as Mercurys.
According to unnamed sources, the New York Times is suggesting that Ford will begin manufacturing six Euro-spec models right here in America at plants formerly used to produce F-Series trucks, SUVs and vans. We'll have to wait until this Thursday before any official announcements are made by the Blue Oval, but that gives us some time to speculate on which Kinetic-infused products are on their way. That's what the comments are for -- have at.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
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