The automaker says its roster of strong July performers was identical to June’s: the F-150 pickup, Edge 5-passenger CUV, Explorer midsize SUV and Mustang sports car....More
For Ford CEO Mark Fields, who is no stranger to Silicon Valley’s unique culture, growing the Dearborn, MI-based automaker’s outpost near San Francisco is a necessity not a luxury....More
Mainstream automakers now are incorporating woods and leathers into their vehicles, leaving luxury marques scrambling to differentiate their offerings....More
Lincoln must clear some hurdles if it hopes to succeed in China’s competitive luxury segment. Fortunately, it does have a head start with its enduring brand image....More
I came across some features that got me wondering, “Why don’t they all have that?” (as opposed to, “Why does the Lincoln Navigator have two volume settings for its chime?”)...More
From entry-level economy cars and rear-wheel-drive sport coupes to luxury plug-in hybrids and a raft of utility vehicles, this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Interiors pool finds automakers thinking creatively about passenger compartments....More
Editors evaluated 42 vehicles as part of the 2015 Ward's 10 Best Interiors competition. Here are some of the nominees. Winners will be announced April 16.
Lincoln is trying to boost its sagging brand image by launching Black Label versions of new vehicles as they arrive. For $6,000, customers can pick from four main design themes named Indulgence, Oasis, Modern Heritage and Center Stage, all emphasizing premium materials and build quality. The Lincoln Black Label MKZ, priced at $58,165, was judged as part of this year's Ward's 10 Best Interiors competition.
In a Q&A, Ford CEO Mark Fields discusses the power of the Continental brand and how the name inspired designers to create a concept car that debuts in New York....More
Some pundits have argued Ford would have been better off keeping Jaguar Land Rover over Lincoln, but in reality both brands still require massive investments....More
Among midsize luxury CUVs, the Lincoln MKX has trailed big sellers from BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes. But the new model arrives this fall with fresh styling, a clean interior, high-end audio and numerous active-safety technologies....More
Joe Hinrichs, Ford President-The Americas, says the supply base was dramatically downsized during the recession and is working to keep pace with demand....More
A concise pro-and-con summation of all 37 powertrains evaluated in the 2015 competition. Many of these comments came directly from editor score sheets....More
The F-150’s 2.7L V-6 didn’t make our list because of disappointing fuel economy, and the Mustang’s 2.3L I-4 just doesn’t sound like it belongs in a pony car....More
Fields says lower gasoline prices are a positive for consumers, but long term it’s not going to change their desire for more fuel-efficient vehicles....More
Even though Lincoln is just getting started there, the brand has something many premium makers lack: a rich history of celebrities and American presidents as customers. Still, the brand president says sales in China will not rival Audi anytime soon....More
Ford’s luxury brand is reaching out to potential customers who “want to be part of something a little bit bigger,” with membership privileges that include fine dining and weekend getaways....More
This year's competition saw 40 nominated interiors that were all-new or significantly improved from the prior year, and even some of the vehicles that didn't make the list pushed boundaries with regard to style, materials and colors....More
WardsAuto speaks with Tim Russi, Ally’s president-auto finance, and Clearlane founder Jeff Danford about a car-buying process that started at dealerships’ special-financing operations but now is online and appealing to more than just the credit-challenged....More
