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Former Ford chairman, CEO Red Poling dead at 86
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Ford
The Ford Motor Company and the automotive industry as a whole are mourning the loss today of Harold “Red” Poling, who passed away on May 12 in Pacific Grove, California, at the age of 86.
A Michigan native, Poling was a navy veteran and a graduate of Monmouth College and Indiana University, where he received his MBA. He started working for Ford as an intern at the Rouge steel mill way back in 1950, rising up the corporate ladder over the years as a financial expert.
In March of 1980, after running Ford’s North American and European operations, Poling was named president and CEO of the entire company, and ten years later was elected its chairman.
An inductee to the Automotive Hall of Fame and an active member of his community, Poling lead Ford through lean times and into profitability, ushering an enormous quantity of vehicles into production over his many years of leadership. Scroll down for an official statement from his successor Bill Ford.
Continue reading Former Ford chairman, CEO Red Poling dead at 86
Former Ford chairman, CEO Red Poling dead at 86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Roush sets the Stage with tuned 2013 Mustangs
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford
If you fancy a new Ford Mustang but are looking for some added muscle, few places will give you what you want and what you need like Roush. The veteran tuning house has just released its latest range of customized pony cars, and at the top of the line sits its most powerful model yet.
In full-fat spec, the Stage 3 Roush Mustang supercharges the 5.0-liter V8 up to a whopping 565 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. But the Roush kit isn’t all about power: it also features an upgraded suspension riding on 18-inch cast aluminum wheels with Cooper rubber that help it pull a full g on the skid pad, an enhanced aero kit and a choice of four different brake packages.
There’s also plenty of optional equipment to make the Roush Mustang your own – all covered under Roush’s bumper-to-bumper warranty – but if the Stage 3 model proves too much car, buyers can also opt for the Stage 1 body kit or the Stage 2 suspension upgrade without the supercharged engine. Scroll down to read the press release.
Continue reading Roush sets the Stage with tuned 2013 Mustangs
Roush sets the Stage with tuned 2013 Mustangs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Jost Capito leaving Ford SVT for Volkswagen Motorsport
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Volkswagen
Few know performance and racing like Jost Capito. The speed-obsessed auto exec started out developing high-performance engines for BMW, then headed the motorsport department at Porsche before taking up senior management positions with the Sauber Formula One team.
He also won the Dakar rally as a co-pilot, but his most recent post has been with Ford. There he oversaw the amalgamation of the company’s global performance divisions – including SVT in the States and RS in the UK – and ushered such vehicles as the SVT Raptor, Focus RS, new Fiesta ST and the Shelby GT500 into production, all the while managing Ford’s effort in the World Rally Championship.
The Ford chapter in Capito’s considerable career, however, is drawing to a close as Dearborn has announced his departure and Wolfsburg his arrival. Effective May 1, Capito will be heading up Volkswagen Motorsport, taking over for Kris Nissen, who managed the back-to-back-to-back victories Volkswagen took at Dakar.
In his new capacity, Capito will presumably be running the company’s new WRC effort, but we wouldn’t mind seeing his footprint on the next generation of GTI and R models, either. Look below for the official announcement.
Continue reading Jost Capito leaving Ford SVT for Volkswagen Motorsport
Jost Capito leaving Ford SVT for Volkswagen Motorsport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
2012 Ford B-Max spreads its little wings over Europe
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ford
Between the Fiesta ST, Tourneo van concept and the new Kuga (that’s Escape to us Yanks), Ford had plenty to showcase this year at the Geneva Motor Show. But one of the most pivotal – for its European operations, anyway – is the B-Max.
A mini-minivan based on the Fiesta platform, the B-Max takes an innovative form. At least, its doors do. Because as Ford has highlighted (and we dutifully reported) recently, the automaker has managed to eliminate the entire B-pillar, integrating it into the door itself to form an extra wide opening on both sides of the extra-small people-mover.
It strikes us as a useful feature, and while the B-Max itself will not be making the transatlantic voyage back with us from Europe to North America, we’re hoping that the door system will, in some shape or form, anyway. In the meantime, you can admire from afar in the gallery of high-res live shots from the Palexpo show floor and delve into the press release after the jump for all the details.
Continue reading 2012 Ford B-Max spreads its little wings over Europe
2012 Ford B-Max spreads its little wings over Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.