AUTO NEWS

ALL-NEW FORD ESCAPE, FORD EXPLORER JOIN FORD EXPEDITION WITH TRICKED-OUT MAKEOVERS FOR SEMA 2019 – The all-new 2020 Ford Escape and Explorer make their debut at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show, joining Ford Expedition with tricked-out builds highlighting the latest trends in customization.

“There’s a growing hunger for consumers to personalize their SUVs, which have a huge range of possibilities from lowered street rides to off-road overlanding. As the latest versions of Escape and Explorer continue to provide buyers with even more options for what they want, the aftermarket is a great place to see just how much more there is out there.”

Eric Cin, global director, Ford vehicle personalization and accessories.

The Ford display represents the largest original equipment manufacturer exhibit at this year’s SEMA show. And for those looking to take a thrill ride in a Ford Performance vehicle on a closed track, the popular interactive experience Ford Out Front returns. Here’s a preview of some of the more than 50 customized vehicles Ford is showcasing:

LGE-CTS Motorsports Urban Ford Escape

Equally adept on a routine trip around town as it is blasting down dirt roads in Baja in search of that epic spot to surf, this Urban edition 2020 Ford Escape by LGE-CTS Motorsports is driven by attitude and poised to attack.

Featuring an aggressive stance courtesy of Eibach performance lowering springs combined with 20-inch TSW Petrol P6A wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport tires, Urban Escape joins a stable of off-road-centric builds by LGE-CTS Motorsports. A custom Borla cat-back exhaust and Power Commander throttle control system give the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine under its hood an aggressive growl.

Roof rack crossbars by Ford Accessories paired with Yakima mounts make this nimble Escape an adventure seeker’s dream. With a Rogelio’s Auto Upholstery custom leather interior and accessories for life audio products by Scosche, outdoor enthusiasts will be bathed in luxury en route to their next mountain biking or snowboarding adventure.

Air Design USA Ford Escape Sport Hybrid

Where style and capability meet, this Air Design USA 2020 Ford Escape Sport Hybrid emerges.

A stunning two-tone Sherwin-Williams paint job in white and black, applied by Faith Quality Auto Body, perfectly accents custom 20-inch Forgiato Flow 001 wheels donning Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires. Rugged black fender flares by Air Design plus door rocker moldings and silver skid plates make for a cohesive design that looks as good as it performs.

The interior keeps the utility in this sport utility vehicle with a Ford Accessories cargo organizer, cargo mat and floor liners. A portable refrigerator by Indel B ensures onboard capacity for stocking up on sustenance and other supplies.

This MAD Industries 2020 Ford Escape puts the sport in the automaker’s latest SUV offering or, in this case, right on top of it.

Equipped to haul gear for activities ranging from cycle to surf, this sleek Escape is built to look good while adventuring with 21-inch Rotiform OZR wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires combined with Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs. Custom BASF RM paint, Ford Accessories roof rack crossbars and Yakima bike carrier round out the exterior treatment.

Getting to your destination is a plush experience thanks to a Miko ultra-suede headliner, custom trim in matte gray and a kicking Rockford Fosgate audio system. A trip to the beach or a trek to the trail has never been quite like this.

Blood Type Racing Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid

Blood Type Racing embraces the concept of sustainable exploration of both road and trail with the first 2020 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid modified by the aftermarket.

A half-inch suspension leveling kit plus Ford Performance skid plate paired with 20-inch Ace Alloy AFF09 black chrome wheels wrapped in Toyo Tires Open Country A/T II rubber takes the off-road capabilities of this hybrid SUV up a notch or three. A Borla cat-back exhaust with black chrome tips brings a clean look and a distinct sound to Ford’s 3.3-liter hybrid V6 engine. Rounding out the black chrome look is a host of additional pieces, including front grille and rear bumper accents by Lacks Trim Systems, door handle accents and lower door moldings.

Two custom BTR Edition snowboards by Blank Snowboards displayed on a Yakima carrier mounted to Ford Accessories roof rack crossbars encourage occupants to step off and explore the great outdoors. A Ford Accessories Ford play rear seat entertainment system by Voxx provides entertainment on the journey to explore the wilderness.

CGS Performance Products Ford Explorer ST

This 2020 Ford Explorer ST from CGS Performance Products gets a clean and mean look perfect for turning heads at any event.

Performance gets a bump from a custom cat-back exhaust by Borla boasting carbon fiber tips that enhance the appearance of this Explorer ST, while massive 24-inch Savini wheels shod in Pirelli P-Zero rubber amplify the appeal. A sleek gray paint job by Sikkens brings an extra layer of luxury, while tasteful red accents along the roofline and side skirts complete its performance looks.

A custom interior by Alea Leather, on par with the bold exterior treatment, provides occupants with a lavish experience.

This 2020 Ford Explorer customized by Prefix is designed to be the king of racetrack support vehicles. It serves as a tribute to the men and women who work behind the scenes on the safety and support side of motorsports.

Track appeal comes courtesy of a lowered suspension, Ford Performance skid plate and 20-inch GWG wheels with Michelin tires. A Whelen emergency siren/signal system, Ford Performance recovery kit, plus Ford Accessories first-aid and roadside assistance kit by DC Safety properly equip this SUV to carry out the serious duties expected of a race support vehicle.

Scheduled to perform parade laps and pace vehicle duties throughout the 2020 Trans Am race season, this customized Explorer also features Recaro Cross Sportster ORV race seats to give driver and passengers the proper track experience.

Good Boy Daisy LifeStyle Ford Expedition Limited MAX

This Good Boy Daisy LifeStyle 2019 Ford Expedition Limited MAX pumps up the volume with its unique ability to livestream in-car musical performances from all over the country.

It boasts a street-savvy look and comfortable Nappa leather interior by Alea Leather. A Whipple EcoBoost Stage 1 induction kit and Borla’s touring exhaust ensure the band arrives early for soundcheck, while a flush bumper-mounted lightbar by Rigid helps them arrive safely. The band debuts in the utmost style via a custom paint scheme by Relic Works with 24-inch Forgiato wheels. Zoom Q8 cameras and Sennheiser mics enhance Good Boy Daisy’s ability to capture their travels and exploits, while a QSC TouchMix 8 digital mixer allows them to record and share their exploits with the whole world.

This Expedition captures the adventures of life on the road in a vehicle purpose-built for transporting up-and-coming musicians safely and effortlessly from city to city, show to show.

MAD Industries Ford Expedition Stealth

MAD Industries evolves the 2019 Ford Expedition into a daily driver with the chops for some serious weekend adventuring.

This build features a Whipple EcoBoost air induction system with Icon Dynamics Stage 2 coilover suspension that delivers performance whether it be the daily grind on the road or adventure off the beaten path. Fuel Forged FF-45 22-inch monoblock wheels with Nitto Ridge Grappler tires provide style for the city while keeping traction in the dirt. PowerStop Z36 high-performance rotors and ceramic formula extreme brake pads bring this big bad SUV to a halt.

An Adapt 50-inch lightbar by Rigid and SR-L series spreader white halos light the way to the great outdoors regardless of conditions, while a Yakima SkyRise rooftop tent makes setting up camp easy and comfortable. As this Expedition Stealth demonstrates, MAD Industries is up for adventure anywhere anytime, so you can work and play even harder.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUES SAFETY RECALL FOR SELECT 2019 FORD RANGER VEHICLES FOR AN HVAC BLOWER MOTOR ISSUE

Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for select 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles. In affected vehicles, the HVAC blower motor may have been built with an improper clearance between an electrical terminal and the conductive base-plate slot that may result in a resistive electrical short. This condition can increase the risk of the HVAC blower motor overheating, melting, smoking or causing a fire.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition. Ford is aware of one customer warranty report of smoke while driving that is potentially related to this concern.

There were six reports of incidents that occurred in vehicles prior to delivery to the dealership. These vehicles were returned to Ford for further inspection and analysis.

This action affects 17,965 vehicles in the United States and federal territories and 1,544 in Canada.

Affected vehicles were built at Michigan Assembly Plant, Aug. 1-Sept. 27, 2019. Dealers will inspect the HVAC blower motor in affected vehicles and replace it if it is within the suspect part production dates. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S34

Weather: cloudy, 16.9-.18.2°C air, 26.6-30.7°C track

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG disclosed that racing today was never going to be easy given yesterday’s tragic circumstances. Anthoine was one of my drivers in F3 and the minute of silence we observed for him today was quite an emotional moment. My thoughts go out to his family, while at the same time I hope for a quick recovery for our Sauber Junior driver Juan Manuel. As for the race, it was an afternoon to forget: Kimi’s race was over within a few hundred metres from the start, when he was hit by Max Verstappen in a very optimistic move, and Antonio missed out on some good points with an accident in the last lap.

When tragedies such as the one that took Anthoine Hubert happen, everything else loses relevance. Today we raced to honour the memory of the young Frenchman: it wasn’t a lucky race for us and we leave Spa-Francorchamps empty-handed despite lots of potential. Today, however, it wasn’t the final result that mattered.

Kimi Räikkönen (car number 7):

Alfa Romeo Racing C38 (Chassis 04/Ferrari)

Result: 16th

Fastest lap: 1:48.753

Tyres: Softs (1 lap) – Medium (30 laps)

“UNFORTUNATELY MY RACE WAS ALREADY OVER IN TURN ONE. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AS BOTTAS WAS AT THE OUTSIDE AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW I GET HIT AND I’M ON TWO WHEELS. AFTERWARDS IT WAS NEARLY POINTLESS TO STAY OUT AS THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN SO WE DID THE WHOLE DISTANCE. REALLY A SHAME AS WE HAD A STRONG CAR TODAY.”-

Antonio Giovinazzi (car number 99):

Alfa Romeo Racing C38 (Chassis 01/Ferrari)

Result: (DNF) 18th 

Fastest lap: 1:47.560

Tyres: Medium (29 laps) – Softs (15 laps)

“THE CAR HAS BEEN REALLY STRONG TODAY AND THEREFORE IT’S EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTING NOT TO FINISH THE RACE WITH AN ACCIDENT IN THE LAST LAP. OUR STRATEGY WAS GREAT AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE POINTS AND FOR THIS I FEEL SORRY FOR EVERYONE IN THE TEAM, BUT I GUESS THAT’S RACING.”

Tragic death of Athoine Hubert – Renault Sport Racing is shattered at the loss of one of its liveliest young talents, Anthoine Hubert, who passed away today at 6:45 p.m. local time following an accident comprising of numerous cars at Circuit Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. The 22-year-old Frenchman was competing for BWT-Arden in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Anthoine Hubert was a member of the Renault Sport Academy and raced in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the final ladder to F1. As reigning GP3 champion and member of the Equipe de France, FFSA (French Federation of Motorsport), Anthoine was a huge talent who also brought unlimited energy and positivity to his championship, his teams and the Renault Sport Academy.

Anthoine Hubert’s smile and sunny personality lit up our formidable group of young drivers, who had formed tight and enduring bonds. His great results in Formula 2 this season, including triumphs on home soil in Monaco and France, inspired not just the other recruits but also the wider Renault Sport Racing group.

“OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ANTHOINE’S FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THIS TRAGIC TIME. ANTHOINE WAS A BRIGHT YOUNG MAN. HIS PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT ON AND OFF TRACK WAS THAT OF A TRUE GENTLEMAN AND IT WAS A PLEASURE AND HONOUR TO HAVE HAD HIM WITHIN OUR ACADEMY. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY OUR TEAMS AT ENSTONE AND VIRY. HIS SPIRIT WILL REMAIN WITH THE TEAM AND WE WILL RACE IN HIS MEMORY.”

– CYRIL ABITEBOUL, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RENAULT SPORT RACING

10 Millionth MINI revealed at MINI Plant Oxford: The brand’s ten millionth vehicle rolled off the production line in Oxford.

MINI Fans all over the world have a variety of opportunities to look back on the 60 years of history enjoyed by the British brand over these weeks and months. Now there is another reason to celebrate.

The ten millionth vehicle of the heritage brand was produced at the British MINI Plant Oxford where the classic Mini was manufactured from 1959 onwards.

The anniversary vehicle rolling off the production line was a model of the MINI 60 Years Edition and it then came face to face with the brand’s first small car ever manufactured.

The classic Mini from 1959 and the Edition model from the year 2019 then joined forces with 60 other vehicles of the brand – each of them from one of the production years. They are all taking part in a road trip travelling to Bristol in convoy, where thousands of fans are celebrating the world’s biggest birthday party for the British original at the International Mini Meeting being held on Sunday 11 August.

The production anniversary to celebrate 60 years of the brand’s existence bears witness to the uninterrupted popularity of MINI in the 21st century.

 In 1959, the genius who designed the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, laid down a definitive milestone in automobile history. The vehicle concept with the engine mounted transversely at the front of the car along with the gearbox configured beneath the engine, and the wheels positioned at the corners of the car together with a tailgate body provided maximum interior space on a minimum footprint.

The design also ensured amazingly agile driving characteristics and it became the blueprint for modern small and compact cars. Around 5.3 million units of the classic Mini were sold worldwide up until the year 2000.

Just one year later, the global success story of the brand was continued. Since the relaunch of this marque, MINI is the original in the premium segment of small cars. The reinterpretation of the inimitable design, the unsurpassed driving fun that is unique in the competitive environment and the individual style of the brand are not simply generating enthusiasm in the class of small cars.

These characteristic qualities are empowering MINI to continuously acquire new target groups in the premium compact segment. And the next stage is about to be launched.

In November 2019, production of the all-electric powered MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; electricity consumption combined: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) will commence – also in Oxford. In future, this will also make electromobility a typical MINI experience full of driving fun and individuality.

Alone in the previous year, almost 400 000 MINIs were sold in 110 countries. This means that the sales figures for the modern MINI are following hot on the heels of its historic predecessor. The models MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Clubman are currently being produced at the MINI Plant Oxford. Up to 1 000 vehicles are manufactured there every day. The MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman roll off the assembly line at the Dutch production partner VDL NedCar.

Peter Weber, Head of the MINI Plant Oxford disclosed that seeing the ten millionth vehicle of our brand come off the production line here in Oxford was a moment of pride for all the employees. Some of them have family members who were already producing the classic Mini at this site. This is a wonderful chapter in the history of MINI and proof of the passion that our customers have for this very special British motor car.

In the run-up to the production anniversary, MINI put posts on social media asking the brand’s British community to share their personal stories from 60 years of MINI with other fans. The huge response made it possible to bring together characteristic vehicles from each production year between 1959 and 2019 as the showpiece for the anniversary celebration at the MINI Plant Oxford.

The highlight of this exceptional coalescence was the joint outing to the International Mini Meeting in Bristol.  The first classic Mini ever built drove at the head of the convoy. It bears the registration 621 AOK well known among MINI fans and the car was followed in chronological order by protagonists from 60 years with the ten millionth vehicle of the brand bringing up in the rear of the impressive anniversary procession.

BENTLEY MOTORS CELEBRATES CENTENARY AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK – As part of its centenary celebrations, Bentley today announces the events and special introductions the British marque will host during Monterey Car Week, 15th-18th August. To mark the occasion, two models will debut: the all-new Flying Spur luxury four-door Grand Tourer, and the EXP 100 GT: a vision of luxury mobility in 2035.

The third-generation Flying Spur sets new standards of driving enjoyment and luxury, showcasing Bentley’s unique application of cutting-edge and modern technology, while seamlessly integrating the latest British craftsmanship and innovation features that push the boundaries of refinement and attention to detail.

A technological tour de force, the new Flying Spur will be the most advanced luxury Grand Touring four-door available. Alongside its totally new and advanced aluminium and composite chassis, it features optional Electronic All-Wheel Steering – a first for a Bentley, coupled with Active All-Wheel Drive and the acclaimed Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll system powered by a 48V architecture.

The all-new Flying Spur will be on display on 16th August at the Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and at the Home of Bentley for the remainder of the weekend.

It will be joined by the EXP 100 GT concept car, which makes its US debut. With the EXP 100 GT, Bentley has reimagined the idea of Grand Touring for the future.

• Lewis finished P11 in a chaotic race at Hockenheim
• Valtteri failed to finish after a crash at Turn 1 late in the race
• Lewis (223 points) leads the Drivers’ Championship by 39 points from Valtteri (184 points)
• Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport (407 points) lead Ferrari (261 points) by 146 points in the Constructors’ Championship

Lewis Hamilton stated after the race: – This has been one of the most difficult races we’ve had as a team for a long time. I thought I had the race under control, but we took a risk going out on slicks and the race fell apart from there. I went wide at Turn 16 and it was like ice out there, then hit the wall and damaged my wing. I made a mistake and paid the price. I was in the lead and then finished P11. I’m not even sure how, but that’s very painful and I’m just glad it’s over. It’s hard to perform when you’re not at 100 per cent. I need to make sure I’m fit and healthy again in time for the next race. You live and you learn from days like this. It’s important now that we regroup for Hungary. I’m happy for Seb, who fought his way back to P2 from the back, and how good to see Daniil and Toro Rosso on the podium too – good for them.

Valtteri Bottas added that it was a really tough race and I’m very disappointed. It was tricky out there: the track was very slippery and the conditions changed all the time. It was very easy to make a mistake and unfortunately I made a mistake in the end which lost us a lot of points. It’s a shame because today was a good opportunity for me to make up some points to Lewis and it was my own fault that I ended up not getting any points at all in the end. I had a good shot to get a podium and I was pushing hard to get past Stroll. I was quite close to the limit in Turn 1, then I suddenly lost the rear and just went off; I don’t think there was any time to catch the car. It’s very disappointing for the entire team, but we’ll give it everything to come back stronger in Hungary.

Toto Wolff also stated that this one hurts us to the core: it was a disastrous result today. We had a decent start of the race with good pace. Then obviously you add incidents, crashing out, tricky conditions, the wrong calls and in the end you’re left with zero points after running 1-2 in the opening laps. Lewis’s incident happened right at the pit entry, so we were not prepared when he came in and made the wrong calls afterwards. Valtteri crashed like many other drivers today, which made a bad day even worse for us. Our 200th race in F1 has been the most difficult day we’ve had in a long time, but we are united in the pain as we are united in the joy of winning. Today is a day for us to look at our mistakes and to learn from them, so we can come back stronger next weekend.

Andrew Shovlin also added his feelings after the race – A very frustrating day. We had opportunity to get both cars in really good points but failed to take them and that’s always painful. The weather wasn’t easy to deal with, the rain was coming and going and around midway we were in reasonable shape but got caught out on dry tyres when the rain got heavier. With Valtteri we went to mediums the lap after Max, which was ok but we should have reacted sooner when the safety car came out to take the opportunity to go to back to intermediate and that cost him the position. With Lewis our timing was about as bad as it could be, we’d stopped for softs just as the conditions were getting worse and then he slipped off the track the next lap in the same place as Charles went off. We were ready for Valtteri to come in, so when Lewis needed a nose change we just weren’t ready and lost a load of time. Despite all that, we were still 2nd and 3rd during the next safety car period but we were too cautious with the jump to dry tyres and lost position with both. On top of that, Lewis had the penalty to serve and should have done that earlier as we lost of a load of positions once everyone was bunched up. We then had both drivers spin at turn 1 in the damp, which pretty much finished our day. Really disappointing and sometimes these days help you improve so we are looking forward to getting back on the track next week in Budapest.