Latest news with #Ford
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Virginia State Police Add New Ford Mustang Pursuit Vehicles to the Fleet
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Virginia State Police troopers took delivery of their new S650 Ford Mustang GT pursuit vehicles this week, the agency shared in a video on social media on Monday. The state of Virginia is already one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to speeding and reckless driving. Now, thanks to its newest fleet of 480-horsepower Mustang GTs, the state is about to make things even more difficult for those who violate traffic laws. VSP announced earlier in the year that they would be bringing the American pony car to the fleet. In March, they debuted the Mustang GT in VSP livery at an event at the Martinsville Speedway. And now these 155-mph muscle cars are in the hands of troopers across the state. The VSP Mustang is not only fast and powerful, but it looks pretty good too. The silver and blue livery adds some shark-like flair. For what it's worth, VSP recently took ninth place in the American Association of State Troopers' contest for the best-looking police cruiser. Of course, you might not think it looks so great if you see one of these in your rearview with its emergency lights on. The Mustang is not new to police work. State police agencies have been using Mustangs for over 40 years. And Virginia is not the only state to adopt the new S650 generation for police duty. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky are among the other states that use the newest Mustang as part of their fleets. VSP didn't release specific details about the options on their new Mustangs. They appear to be wearing the 19-inch Carbonized Gray aluminum wheels and the Brembo brakes from the GT Performance Package. However, the VSP Mustang does not have the raised rear wing that is also included in the package. However, what is clear is that these cars are equipped with the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2 Surprising Reasons Investors Should Look at Ford — Is It Time To Buy, Sell or Hold?
Auto manufacturer Ford surprised its employees earlier this year by announcing that it will be cutting expected stock award bonuses by 50% for its middle managers who operate above the company's 76,000 other employees worldwide. Meaning, only 1,650 of those managers will receive their expected yearly bonus. Why? Ford claims that the 50% cut has been instituted to focus on 'driving a high-performance culture that recognizes and rewards employees for their business contributions,' as Fortune has reported. Consider This: Read More: Ford CEO Jim Farley elaborated the move was made simply to close 'our competitive gap over the next few years' with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers such as Tesla, Chinese car makers and now the looming threat of tariff-based price hikes. 'We're changing our culture to be more focused on quality and with accountable measures for all of our engineering teams and leadership,' Farley added. However, there are some who believe this benefit-slashing strategy is about more than just incentives, and that Ford may be in more trouble that it appears — something that current and prospective stockholders should be mindful of. While Farley has characterized these cuts as being incentive-based to increase productivity, a source with inside knowledge about the situation told the Associated Press that the move as actually made to cut increasing costs. Over the last year, Ford's stock has decreased by approximately 23% in the face of stiff competition, with the expectation that President Donald Trump's ongoing trade wars (and related tariffs) will only made the auto market more challenging in the near future. As a result, cost-cutting may be a major factor in Ford's survival. Find Out: Fortune has speculated that, since benefits such as stock-based awards are implemented specifically to keep employees, a benefit-cutting move such as Ford's was likely made as a 'headcount-reduction tactic' designed to alienate some employees into quitting. Again, this would be a move that would be made to further cut costs, albeit a rather extreme one — would could indicate Ford's financial issues might be more serious than the auto manufacturer has let on. For those who are already Ford stockholders, or considering buying Ford stock, the best bet at this point may be to simply hold. If you own Ford stock, hold and monitor the situation — while automaker's stock has dropped over the last year, these cost-cutting measures may actually right the ship and help the company. Similarly, for those considering Ford stock but have yet to buy, now may be the time to monitor the company's status before making the leap to being a stockholder. More From GOBankingRates 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle This article originally appeared on 2 Surprising Reasons Investors Should Look at Ford — Is It Time To Buy, Sell or Hold? Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford recalls nearly 700,000 cars for fire risk. See impacted models.
Ford has recalled nearly 700,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a fuel leak issue that may lead to fires, the car manufacturer has announced. The recall includes 2021 to 2024 Ford Bronco Sport and 2020 to 2022 Ford Escape vehicles. According to Ford, a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. Liquid fuel or fuel vapor that accumulates near a hot surface may ignite, leading to an under-hood fire and increasing the risk of injury, Ford said in a NHTSA filing dated July 11. A fuel leak could lead to fuel odor both outside and inside the vehicle. "This safety recall supersedes the prior recalls and will include a new remedy for this issue, which is currently under development and expects to be finalized in the near future," Ford said in a statement to USA TODAY on July 16, adding there is an interim software update that will help detect cracked injectors and lower the risk of a fire. Ford said it is also recalling vehicles produced with these injectors that were not previously recalled, and the company is not aware of any injuries associated with under-hood fires related to cracked fuel injectors. The recalled models were also part of a separate recall in late June due to the possibility that the rearview camera may fail, which can increase the risk of a crash. The company offered free software updates in that case. Here's what to know about National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall no. 25V467000, and how Ford is handling it. How many vehicles have been recalled? According to a Ford spokesperson, the recall includes 687,000 vehicles in the U.S. and 694,271 vehicles if counting the U.S. and American territories like American Samoa and Puerto Rico. Impacted vehicles include: What led to the recall? Ford previously issued notices in November 2022 and March 2024 to address the risk of under-hood fires due to fuel leaks from cracked injectors in Escape and Bronco Sport vehicles with 1.5 liter Dragon GTDI engines. Ford tried to fix the issue by updating the engine control software to allow it to detect a cracked fuel injector and reduce temperatures of possible ignition sources. The remedy also included adding a tube to allow fuel to drain away from surfaces that may lead to a fire. On April 11, 2024, the NHTSA opened a recall query to determine 'adequacy and safety consequences' of the previous remedy, Ford said. The NHTSA did not believe the fix got to the root cause of the issue. Ford worked over the next few months to respond to the NHTSA, and then on July 23, 2024, Ford's Critical Concern Review Group began investigating a vehicle that had an under-hood fire after receiving the update. Ford began testing the vehicle and found it had a cracked injector that led to the fire. The company spent the next nine months inspecting vehicles that had experienced under-hood fires after undergoing the update. According to Ford, the company also noted injector cracking on eight vehicles that experienced an under-hood fire; among them, six did not have updated engine control software. 'Ford is aware of no allegations of injuries associated with these (eight) fires,' the company said. On March 7, 2025, Ford approved another remedy to address a subset of vehicles that did not properly receive the software portion of the update. What should I do if I have one of these vehicles? Ford said it notified dealers about the issue on July 15 and owner notification letters should begin mailing on Aug. 18, 2025. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have their engine control software updated for free. Some drivers have already received the update, so they do not need to take their vehicles in, Ford said. The company will let these drivers know if an update is needed or not. Owners can also search for their vehicle identification numbers online to see what recalls apply to their vehicles. According to Ford, a final fix is in the works and when the free solution is available, the company will let owners know via mail. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
The Drive
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
2025 Land Rover Defender Octa Review: The Ultimate Bug-Out SUV
The latest car news, reviews, and features. I hate the term 'bug-out.' I blame the lone episode of Doomsday Preppers I watched years ago, as every other word that came out of those people was bug-out this, bug-out that, and bug-out everything. Given that I only keep one or two cans of food in my pantry at a time, I'm far from a prepper, but even I can admit the 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa is the ultimate bug-out ride. This much became evident during a punishing, eight-hour off-road excursion along the Colorado-Utah border. This isn't a huge surprise, given the regular Defender's exceptional off-road and on-road manners, which already make it the ideal vehicle for folks trying to escape civilization—or zombies. The recipe isn't exactly complicated either; great ground clearance, great approach/departure angles, capable drivetrain, smart software, and a solid set of tires. Nick Dimbleby The new Octa, though… it escalates everything. It's so much more than just a range-topping trim with a few add-ons and a steeper price tag. From behind the wheel, it drives like a completely new SUV. It's cushy inside with just the right amount of macho outside. And its performance? Well, it makes a Bronco Raptor feel like a basic off-road go-kart from Tractor Supply. And hell, I had a lot of good things to say about the Ford. Pull up Land Rover's announcement and you'll see words like 'dynamically accomplished,' 'imposing,' and 'most powerful.' Y'know, the typical buzz words for a new flagship performance vehicle. Yes, the Defender Octa is the pinnacle of the Defender—not just in the lineup, but probably for good. Having been around since 2020, this is almost certainly the last version of this Defender we'll ever see. Let's start with the engine: the twin-turbo, mild-hybrid, 4.4-liter V8 now produces 626 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, up considerably from the standard 518 hp and 462 torques. It's capable of doing zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, and while that's not the point of this thing, it feels and sounds great doing so. Jerry Perez A key differentiator is the new 6D suspension, which is what you'll find in the Range Rover Sport SV. (For what it's worth, I've tracked that car on an F1 circuit and was floored by its chops.) A system of hydraulically interlinked, continuously variable semi-active dampers ditches sway bars for this much more responsive and adaptable setup. Compared to the regular Defender, wheel articulation is considerably improved, as is stability on dirt and tarmac—so much so that the roll center remains the same despite riding 1.1 inches higher. Design-wise, the Octa is slightly more aggro. Up front, a redesigned grille with larger openings feeds the repositioned radiators, and a bronze-colored recovery hook sits above the skid plates, which run the full length of the underbody. Out back, a new bumper and lower fascia encase quad exhaust pipes, while 33-inch tires and a 2.6-inch wider track give the Octa a menacing look without going overboard. The 20-inch Edition One wheels are phenomenal, too, showing that great design isn't just for the fancier Rovers. Jerry Perez The interior is fancified in various ways, but it's not so much that the Octa loses its utilitarian nature. The performance seats look straight out of a supercar with their slightly more pronounced bolstering and exposed chopped carbon shells, but they're wrapped in 3D‑knit, high-performance fabrics so they can get wet and dirty while remaining easy to clean. The dash, doors, and other panels feature softer surfaces, whereas the regular Defender doesn't, making the cabin visually nicer and a bit more comfortable. First up was a Baja-style dirt track. When I hopped into the Octa with American racing badass Davy Jones behind the wheel, I didn't think I'd be in for an eye-opening ride. His skeletonized, blacked-out Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph should've told me something about his tendencies, but I hadn't even processed that thought when we were four tires off the ground over the starting line. First corner, a left-hand kink that immediately led into a tight right-hander. Why treat that as two separate corners when you can just kick the rear out going into the kink and then swing it hard the other way to slide it through as one? That's what he did. The savagery didn't end there, as the Le Mans winner and Indy 500 runner-up kept powering through the bumpy course while telling me what I should and shouldn't do when we swapped seats. Okay . Nick Dimbleby I activated Octa driving mode and set off on my first lap, which felt like crawling compared to Jones' pace. My second lap gave me a taste of the Octa's balanced chassis and super-quick steering. I was blown away by its agility and sharp turn-in, even under awful grip conditions. The rear was playful and slidey, but I never had that oh-shit feeling where you feel like you're about to roll. Bumps I could see with my eyes could not be felt with my butt, and all I had to do was keep the momentum up to allow the suspension and traction control to work as intended. On my third lap, I put most of the pieces together and even recreated Jones' drift through the first two corners. I felt like a rallying hero. I've driven real rally cars before, and the Octa made it easy and fun to drive at a stupidly quick pace on dirt, whereas the rally car made me fear for my life. Still not fully grasping how Land Rover turned a Defender into a rally raid truck while keeping its utilitarian nature, I woke up the next morning ready for a full day on the trail. We'd start southwest of Grand Junction and dive deep into Glade Park, where we'd crawl up several thousand feet in elevation. On our way down, we'd drive along the very edge of Moab in Utah and do a water crossing before following the Colorado River back into camp. Land Rover didn't waste any time with the route, as the going got tough just minutes into the trail. Jerry Perez, Nick Dimbleby I had not been so happy about Land Rover's decision to send a trail guide with me in the car. This wasn't my first rodeo, you know? But an hour into our expedition, I was more than grateful for Matt's presence and expert guidance. This trail wasn't just for the incredible photos you see here—it was to punish the hardware and test my skills. You put a tire an inch off where it should be, and that might be the last thing you do. The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac R/Ts clawed their way up the loose rocks caked with dirt, rarely skipping a beat thanks to the Terrain Management system. I was in 4Lo and with the suspension set to its highest setting, giving me 12.7 inches of ground clearance. I felt like we could've conquered that segment on 4Hi or Auto, but Matt explained that, given the many hours ahead of us and the 105-degree weather, we wanted to avoid unnecessary slippage that could overheat components. We'd also be driving the entire route on the recommended tire pressure for street driving (37 psi) to more or less prove that the Octa doesn't require any special prep to shine off-road. Jerry Perez, Nick Dimbleby It didn't take long for the steep hairpins to put all systems to the test. Full steering lock to one side or the other while asking the differentials to propel a 5,900-pound SUV without any wheelspin is tough. Decent-size boulders were no match for the air springs, which absorbed them with ease and allowed the tires to drive right over them without upsetting the balance. I'd also never been more reliant on front and side cameras like that day; it made the difference between continuing to climb or having to get out every two minutes to analyze the trail. For having 626 hp, feather-like applications of the throttle were easy, especially when crawling up or down big rocks; likewise, the brake pedal was calibrated just right to offer a powerful bite without being too grabby. Just like at the Baja track, the Octa-specific steering rack (13.7:1 ratio) made it quick and easy to navigate the tightest of trails without doing much wheelin' at all. Nick Dimbleby Coming down from the mountains proved that while the Octa's suspension could take a multi-hour beating from hell, it was a different story for my lower back. This was by far the most aggressive trail I had ever experienced in any vehicle, and it seemed like it kept going forever. Branches and other bits of nature left their artistic signatures on the body panels of six-figure Defenders, and I could hear the underbody protection doing its job over and over again. After lunch, it was six hours down and two to go. At last, some smooth, curvy tarmac to open up the V8 and hear it roar. Like in a James Bond movie, a convoy of 10 dark-colored Defenders snaked their way through country roads around Moab as if we were en route to a supervillain's lair. In Sport mode (Octa mode is virtually the same but for loose surfaces), the Landy had a downright nasty attitude; the V8 just wanted to push harder, the new Brembo brakes dig deeper into corners, and the quad exhaust makes all the noise coming out of 'em. Just like in the dirt, you momentarily forget that you're driving a 16-foot-long SUV because body roll is minimal even when cornering at 80+ mph. That's where my co-pilot kindly requested I draw the line. Even with the knobby Goodyear Duratracs, which are rated up to 99 mph (another set of all-terrains and all-seasons are rated for 130 mph and 155 mph), road noise was minimal, and it was easy to hold a conversation or listen to music while storming down a canyon. Nick Dimbleby At $170,200, the Faroe Green 2025 Defender 110 Octa Edition One I beat the living daylights out of is one very expensive toy. If the regular Defender was already the highbrow option for well-off suburban parents, the Octa is surely the money-no-object gift for trophy spouses. Regardless of whether these see any action off the pavement or not, what Land Rover has built here is nothing short of breathtaking, and—I almost can't believe I'm saying this—worth every dollar of its asking price. It's not enough to look at it, glance at its specs, or even read my words to understand how capable it is, or to know what a joy it is to drive. In an era where production vehicles have to make sense (especially SUVs), the Octa exists simply because it can. Hell, in 2026, it's even going racing in the Dakar and World Rally‑Raid Championship—that's how badass this thing is. Does it make any financial sense to buy one? Absolutely not. Would I buy one even if it were called the Bug-Out Edition? You betcha. 2025 Defender 110 Octa Base Price (As Tested) $153,625 ($170,200) Powertrain Mild-hybrid 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 | 8-speed automatic transmission| all-wheel drive Horsepower 626 @ 7,000 rpm Torque 590 @ 1,800 rpm Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 34 cubic feet Curb Weight 5,900 pounds Max Towing 8,200 pounds EPA Fuel Economy 15 mpg city | 19 highway | 17 combined Score 9/10 Imagine a Raptor but not made by Ford. Email the author at jerry@
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Ford sees $570M cost from recall after vehicle fires
Published Jul 16, 2025 • 1 minute read Ford Bronco Sport vehicles at a Ford dealership in Los Angeles. Photo by Eric Thayer / Bloomberg (Bloomberg) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling almost 700,000 vehicles to address a long-running issue over cracking in an auto part that can leak fuel into the engine and cause fires. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The action applies to certain Bronco Sport and Escape models from 2020 to 2024, according to documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Ford has identified eight instances that involved cracking in a fuel injector and a fire under the car's hood. None of these resulted in injuries. Ford said in a separate regulatory filing that it expected to incur about $570 million in costs as it evaluates fixes for the problem. It will be treated as a special item in its second-quarter results and won't affect its adjusted earnings or cash flow, the company said. Ford shares fell 1.8% at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday in New York. Issues with the fuel injectors were identified as early as 2022, when Ford recalled about 500,000 vehicles. US auto-safety regulators opened a so-called recall query in 2024 to assess the adequacy of the prior action, saying that Ford's remedy plan 'does not address the root cause of the issue.' The automaker opened its own investigation that year and subsequently had multiple meetings with NHTSA prior to the latest recall. Crime Sunshine Girls Entertainment NFL Toronto & GTA
