Ford

Ford cars are produced in countless factories around the world. Terje's cars include posts about both classic and new Fords.

What cars does Trump want us to buy?

trump
Photo: Pascal Huot/Shutterstock.com

«- They don't take our cars. Yet, they send cars to us by the millions! »
Trump's claim that Europeans don't buy American cars is true. But what cars does he want us to buy?

 

We have gradually learned that what comes out of Donald Trump's mouth is unfortunately often false accusations, harassment and threats. He probably makes his statements without checking the facts. This may also apply to his knowledge of the car market in Europe. But the claim that Europeans do not buy very many American cars – it is actually completely true.

What about Tesla?

In 2024, the Tesla Model Y became the fourth best-selling car model in Europe. It will likely be a big seller this year as well, despite Elon Musk's anti-social tendencies. But the vast majority of Teslas sold in Europe are manufactured in Berlin or Shanghai - not in the US. They contribute little or nothing to Trump's steel industry.

GM canceled its European plans

In 2023, GM's European president said they would establish themselves in Europe with their new electric car models. Work was started in Oslo to create a showroom, but it was cancelled. It is uncertain om, or when, GM will return. Electric Cadillac Lyrics could have been well received. The less expensive models, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV, would be able to compete with Tesla og Mustang Mach-E.

Never came to Norway. Ex Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Chevrolet Blazer EV.
 
But GM is not coming to Europe. Their profits come from selling large full-size pickups and SUVs that are not suitable in Europe. Sales of electric models were not as expected, and GM's small and mid-size gasoline-powered models are unlikely to do very well here. Moreover, they are not produced in the USA, either.
 
trump
Ford F-150 Lightning. Number in Norway: 414 (Photo: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com)

American pickup culture does not fit in Europe

The cars that Trump probably has in mind are Ford F series og Chevrolet Silverado, S og Tahoe – cars that have been top sellers in the US for several years. All the large frame-built cars are still built in the US. For many Americans, this is the ultimate type of car. If you can't afford a new car, you buy a used one. The success can be explained by a culture based on American patriotism and Western idealism. Americans have always loved big cars – many of the owners are big people themselves – and after several years of downsizing, pickups represent the latest big car models. One could also add that having a new full-size pickup in front of your house signals that you have succeeded in life – which is important in the US.
 
Large American pickup trucks and SUVs are a poor fit in European cities. They are too long and wide, and with a poor turning radius, they are best suited to straight, wide roads. They are also disproportionately expensive in European countries with taxes calculated according to engine power and weight.

 

trump
 
Left: (Built in USA) Chevrolet Traverse Z71 AWD 2.5 liter Turbo 4-cyl. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats on a self-supporting body. Length 524 cm, width 200 cm. Price: $47.795. Number in Norway: 2.

Right: (Built in USA) Dodge Durango GT Plus 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats on frame. Length 502 cm, width 194 cm. Price: $40.565. Number in Norway as of 2020: 16.

New US tariffs will hit ordinary Americans

Trumps Secondly, The claim is that the United States imports millions of cars. This is about car models in lower price ranges – cars that most people depend on. Because in the United States, most people depend on cars. 16-year-olds need a car to get to school. If you have a job, you need a car no matter how little you earn. The expensive, huge pickup trucks reign at the top of the sales charts, but affordable car models like Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic og Nissan Sentra coming close behind. Toyota Corolla og Honda Civic Hatchback is manufactured in the USA, while Honda Civic Sedan is manufactured in Canada and Nissan Sentra in Mexico. Many of the cars in the lower price ranges are manufactured outside the United States but are adapted for the U.S. market. The prices of these cars will likely rise regardless of where they are manufactured.

 

trump
2025 Buick
Left: (Built at GM South Korea) Buick Encore Avenir 1.3 Turbo. 9-speed automatic. Compact SUV. Price AWD $34395. Length 435 cm, width 181 cm. Number in Norway: 0.

Right: (Built in USA) Buick Enclave Avenir 2.5 Turbo 4-cyl. 333hp. 8-speed automatic. Mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats. Length: 527 cm, width: 202 cm. Number in Norway: 0.

American cars that are manufactured outside the United States

Numbers in parentheses are numbers sold Q4 2024.

Chevrolet
Trax – South Korea and Mexico (50900)
Equinox – Mexico (64200)
Trailblazer – South Korea (22000)
Blazer – Mexico (7800)

Buick
Envista – South Korea (12400)
Buick Encore GX – South Korea (13600)
Envision – China (12900)

Ford
Bronco Sport – Mexico (30300)
Mustang Mach-E – Mexico (16100)
Maverick (pickup) – Mexico (22100)
The Escape (Kuga) and Ranger are produced elsewhere for the European market.

Dodge
Hornet – Italy (5000)
Charger – Canada (2800)

Chrysler
Pacifica – Canada (11900)

Jeep
Compass – Mexico (27200)

Foreign car brands in the United States

Several foreign automakers have established production in the United States. In the last quarter of 2024, 82300 were sold. Toyota Camry there, 55800 Toyota Corolla as well as 25300 Corolla cross – all made in the USA. Volkswagen has established production in both the USA and Mexico. Their US-made SUV, Atlas og Atlas Sports, sold a total of 32000 cars in Q2 2024. Manufacturing facilities in the US provide protection from tariffs, but could potentially face new tariff barriers when exporting to Canada. Honda manufactures the Civic in both the US and Canada, and therefore transports car parts between the factories. This could result in tariffs being applied multiple times.

 

Left: (Built in USA) Chevrolet Colorado, frame-built mid-size pickup. Number in Norway: 105. Photo: Steve Lageca/Shutterstock.

Right: (Built in Mexico) Ford Maverick, mid-size pickup built on the same platform as the Escape/Kuga. Number in Norway: 1.

Conclusion

terjes cars
 
In 2010, my friend, the businessman, had Jonny Bunæs a meeting with Tesla's marketing manager where he said that Tesla could be an optimal electric car for the Norwegian market. The marketing manager then replied dryly that "Norway is probably far too small for us to invest in that country for many years." Who would have thought that Tesla would become a big seller in Norway – and Europe? Ford Mustang E-Mach also well suited to European conditions, although it is manufactured in Mexico, not the USA. If the USA is to succeed in selling more cars to Europe, they have to build cars that suit European conditions. But those are hardly cars that Trump is interested in, right?

 

See

Remarks by President Trump - Whitehouse.gov

customs duties
GM returns
Ford Edge

Station wagons signed Abbotts of Farnham

abbott estate
Ford Anglia 105E Abbott Estate (Photo: Terjes Biler)

For several years, Ford sent cars from its Dagenham plant to ED Abbott, Farnham, to be converted into estate cars, creating several interesting variants, such as this Anglia.

 

Building your own body variants was reserved for expensive cars like Bentley and Rolls Royce. If you had enough money, you could choose special and unique bodies. But after the war, British body companies were also used to build variants of common car models.
 
Do you recognize the car in the picture above? It's a Ford 105E Anglia converted into a "hatchback" with a tailgate and folding rear seat. It was marketed as a "Sports Saloon" that could be ordered through your Ford dealer, or you could bring your own Ford Anglia to E.D. Abbott in Farnham. Then you could deliver the car with an inward-sloping rear window and get back a practical hatchback with a top-hinged tailgate.
 
We'll come back to the Ford Anglia later.
 
The collaboration between Ford and ED Abbott began in the early 1950s. During a lunch break, a designer at the coachbuilding company had doodled over a brochure image of a Ford Zephyr mk1. He had redrawn the saloon model into a sleek station wagon and showed the drawing to his boss, who was so impressed that he presented it to the Ford boss in Dagenham. This was the start of a long-standing collaboration, with Ford sending half-finished cars to Farnham for conversion into station wagons.

 

abbott estate
Ford Consul mk1 Abbott Estate (Photo: Terjes Biler)

 

In the 1950s, station wagons were not as popular as they are today. People who needed extra space for practical reasons bought vans. Station wagons became a type of car designed for those who wanted extra space without sacrificing the elegance of a sedan – according to advertising at the time. One of Ford's best station wagon customers was the police. Uniformed mk2 Zephyrs eventually became a common sight on English roads. In 1956, a complete Zephyr sedan could be converted into a station wagon for £200. The price for semi-finished cars was £145, and a ready-to-deliver station wagon cost £1227. At that time, Abbot converted 30 cars per week (source: Classic & Sports Car).

 

abbott estate
Ford Zodiac mk2 "Farnham" Estate with Abbott logo on the tailgate. (Photo: 1markim/Depositphotos.com)

 

Edward Dixon Abbott began building coachworks as early as 1929 after serving as an RAF pilot in World War I. In the interwar period, coachwork was carried out on finer prestige cars such as Bentley, Lagonda, Lanchester, Healey and Talbot. The orders from Ford came at a time when coachbuilders were generally less busy. When Mr Abbot retired in the late 1s, the company was sold to R. Gordon Sutherland who drove Friary Motors – a car company in Old Windsor. both Friary og E.D. Abbott built station wagons under the same ownership.

 

abbott estate
Ford Zephyr mk3 Abbott Estate (Photo: Terjes Biler)


 

The collaboration with Ford continued until 1971 with the conversion of, among other things, Ford corsair og Zephyr/Zodiac to estate cars referred to as "Farnham Estates". When Ford began producing its new Consul og Granada series, they decided to produce the station wagons themselves. This meant the end of the "Abbotts of Farnham".

 

Ford Corsair (Source: automobil-catalog.com) and Vauxhall Velox Friary Estate (Source: FavCars.com)

 

One thing that makes converted estate cars attractive is that you can clearly see the lines of the saloon models they are based on. For example, notice how elegantly the tailgate of the Zephyr/Zodiac mk3 is shaped around the saloon model's rear wings. One model that took the clean lines of the saloon model was Vauxhall Cresta/Velox Friary Estate – today considered one of the most elegant of its kind. One Vauxhall Velox was converted on behalf of the Queen.

Ford Anglia Touring Saloon

Ford Anglia Sports Saloon by Abbotts of Farnham and Ford Anglia Estate (Photo: Terjes Biler)

 
In 1961, Friary was commissioned to convert the Ford 105E Anglia into a station wagon – or Touring Saloon under which it was marketed. During the conversion, the roof was retained, while the rear side window was replaced with a new one that followed the contours of the new sloping "fastback" rear section. The tailgate was designed to fit into the groove of the original boot lid. After a year, the design of the Ford Anglia Friary was changed because customers had experienced leaks through the new rear side window. Instead, it was chosen to retain the Anglia's original rear side window and extend the section at the C-pillar. The new cars were sold as Ford 105E Anglia Sports Saloon, colloquially referred to as Anglia Abbott Estate. The parts probably came from Friary. According to advertisements the conversion cost £75 excluding labour cost carried out at Abbott in Farnham.
 
At the same time as the new Abbott Estate was being produced, Ford in Dagenham had begun producing its own Anglia estate. It offered more space, but had new taillights and rear wings without the small characteristic fins. So you could say that some of the model's identity had been lost?

 

terjes cars
 
I have never seen either Anglia Friary Estate or Abbott Estate in reality. How many cars are there today of the Abbott variant? It probably ended up in the shadow of Ford's own station wagon. I have therefore taken the liberty of drawing Abbott's tailgate solution over an existing photo I have taken of a standard Anglia. I have drawn in the same color combination that was used for the Anglia Friary variant without being sure whether this is correct. I have also assumed that the tailgate has the same design on the two variants.
 
It would be cool to own a car like that today 🙂

 

See

abbott estate
Ford Consul/Zephyr mk1
friary
Ford Consul/Zephyr mk2
ed abbott
Ford Zephyr/Zodiac mk3
105th England
Ford 105E Anglia

National Transport Trust – Abbots of Farnham
Classic & Sports Car – Ford Zephyr MkII Farnham Estate

Military vintage cars

terjes cars
 
Military vehicles are for special interest. As a former wagon driver in the military, it brings back good memories when I come across a Gems, Kvarting or Valp. I myself started with a GMC 6×6 and ended up as a truck driver on a Scania hook truck. Here is a photo series of vintage French military vehicles.

 

Peugeot P4 "Geländewagen"

From 1981 to 2019, the "Geländewagen" was in active service in the French military. The French variant was built in France to the same specifications as the Austrian cars Steyr-Daimler-Puch, but equipped with engines and gearboxes from Peugeot. The first ones got engines from the Peugeot 504 and gearboxes from the Peugeot 604.

Citroën Traction Avant

Before the war was Citroën Traction Avant used as police cars in several countries. Among other things, the police chamber in Oslo is said to have been delivered several Citroen 11 Sport in 1937. These cars were probably also in service during the war - and not least during the liberation. In France, commemorations are organized for D-Day and the liberation. The Citroen in the pictures above has been used in several local celebrations, including the liberation of Perpignan - but I don't know if it was actually in use as a service car at the historical times. Anyway, it's an authentic 1930s car with wartime headlights.

Renault R2087 Gôelette

peugeot p4
Renault Goelette Militaire.

After the war, it was decided that the French military should be equipped with vehicles produced in France. Heavy trucks were built by Citroen, while Renault was commissioned to build light trucks. From the 1950s, Renault R2087 delivered, based on Gôelette with 4×4 and approximately 1000 kg payload, 2.2 liter side-vented petrol engines taken from civilian Gôelette series. These cars were well suited to transporting personnel and material into the field.

 


Mood pictures from the event.
 

ACMAT VT4

peugeot p4
Source: Wikimedia/Futurhit12 (Link)
peugeot p4
Ford Everest II (Source: FavCars.com)

As of 2019, this vehicle was deployed as the successor to the G-Wagen-based Peugeot P4. VT4 – Tactic vehicle 4X4 - is a modified variant of American Ford Everest II produced at the ACMAT factory in Saint-Nazaire, France – a factory that previously produced trucks for Renault. The engines in the VT4 produce 220 hp and can run on degraded fuel qualities. The cars can withstand airdrops and accommodate 5 people - 4 in combat equipment.

See

outfielder
Renault Goelette
peugeot p4
Citroen Traction Avant
bv202
Tracked vehicles on the Ford D series

The French G-Class that existed until recently
Tactic Vehicle 4×4

Who killed Thunderbird?

ford thunderbird
 

The Ford Thunderbird 50th Anniversary Edition marked 50 years since the first Thunderbird model was launched. Then there was a full stop.

 


ford thunderbird

 
Some say the Thunderbird has been dead for a long time because the models no longer followed the original concept. When Ford launched the Thunderbird in 1955, it was to take on the competition from the Chevrolet Corvette. The model was marketed as "a personal luxury car" to signal that Ford had no sporting ambitions. A small, snappy car with a big engine and 2 seats was still not too far from the Corvette, although the two models were to develop in completely different directions.
 
During the 50s, all American cars became more voluminous - both in size and level of equipment - a development that the Thunderbird became a part of. In 1958, the model got 4 seats. The cars got bigger, got more chrome and more equipment - and at the end of the 60s you could even get a Thunderbird with 4 doors. Eventually, the Thunderbird was to become more and more similar to Ford's other models. The latest models appeared as a 2-door variant of the Taurus family car. It bore little resemblance to the original concept.
 
GM chose to let the Corvette follow a completely different track. All Corvette models were produced as 2-seaters without growing as much in size as the Thunderbird. Corvette has always had a sporty profile and new models appear as pure sports cars.
 

The retro car

Actually, production of the Thunderbird series ceased already in September 1997. But after 4 years, Ford chose to produce a new generation of Thunderbird based on a retro roadster design. This was a time when there was a retro wave going through the car industry. The new Ford Thunderbird was launched as a 2002 model. In the autumn, the James Bond film "Die Another Day" was included Pierce Brosnan og Halle Berry shown in cinemas. Ford had succeeded in placing its new model in a couple of scenes. Good advertising. For 2003, they produced 700 copies of the “007” car in the special coral red color.
 
The 2002 model sold slightly better than Ford's expectations - which was far below what its predecessor sold. The following year, sales fell by half - and continued to fall. Thus, the retro model ended up as a sales flop. In some forums, the last model is presented as a reason why Thunderbird disappeared.
 
It is difficult to say when the Thunderbird actually "died" - or ended up as rather uninteresting cars. Maybe it happened in the late 70s? Maybe it happened with Ford's 8th generation Thunderbird? It was box-shaped and got a tasteless landau top - a design that was already outdated at the time of launch. Nor should we rule out that sedans with 2 doors were not as popular as in the past. 2 doors were reserved for sports cars and the Thunderbird was, as you know, no sports car.
 
The point is that it was hardly the 2002 model that ended the Thunderbird. Ford simply let the model die slowly over several decades. It was half dead long before the 2002 model arrived.

 

ford thunderbird
Perhaps the least flattering Thunderbird of all times?

2002 Ford Thunderbird

Design
A retro design that reflects the design of the first generation from 1955. The idea for the rear lights must have been taken from the 3rd generation. The shape gives associations to the exhausts from a 2-engine jet fighter. The retro design may look better today - than it did when the model was launched more than 20 years ago. The interior is traditional for its era - neither retro nor modern. Recessed decorative elements made of aluminum contribute a little to heighten the impression somewhat.

Platform
The Thunderbird is built on Ford's DEW98 platform which was also used by the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type at the same time.

Drivetrain
The engine is a 3,9 V8 with 280 hp developed by Jaguar before Ford took over the company. Early versions of this engine series had problems with Nikasil-treated cylinder liners, but this was fixed long before production of the Thunderbird began. The AJ-35 engines for the Ford Thunderbird and the sister model Lincoln Laser are not manufactured in England. They are manufactured in the USA. All cars were delivered with 5-speed automatic gearboxes with rear-wheel drive

dimensions
Length: 472 cm (2002) – 445 cm (1955)
Width: 183 cm (2002) – 179 cm (1955)

Prices today
Autotrader.com: $30-40.000 (km under 25.000)
— $15-30.000 (low km and in good condition)
Finn.no: NOK 400.000 (km under 25.000) advertisement
— NOK 260 (low km and in good condition) advertisement
Mobile.de: €15-30 (low km and in good condition)
Shipping, scrap deposit and VAT are added to cars from abroad.

Number in Norway (2002-2005)
21 cars – all imported used (Source: regnr.info).

 

terjes cars
 
Ford has started to use previous model names, most recently Capri as an electric car. Few model names sound as good as Thunderbird. Maybe it will be used again on an electric car? In that case, a car with lightning without the thunder.

 

About the pictures

The main image forms the cover of Ford's brochure of the anniversary model. The pictures of the car in reality were taken in Frognerparken, Oslo, on the occasion of the celebration of Independence Day 2024. The picture of the original car was taken outside a car workshop in Fornebu 2024. The picture of the poster from the 007 film was taken from a sales advertisement on eBay and edited to a new format. The other images are press and brochure images from Ford and Lincoln, disseminated through FavCars.com.

See

ford thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird mk3
50th anniversary model
Ford Thunderbird mk1

Ford Explorer - worth the wait?

ford explorer
Ford Explorer at the Oslo Motor Show

The first cars of Ford's new Explorer can probably be delivered from June next year. Ford Norway expects to open for orders in the spring. We have tried to look at Ford in the cards. Is it worth the wait?

 

On tour of Norway

A new Ford Explorer is currently being driven around to Norwegian dealers. I got to see it when it stopped by the Oslo Motor Show at the weekend. Today it is located on Jæren and will drive up Western Norway to Namsos before heading down the interior towards Southern Norway.

See the itinerary here

Seeing the car in real life gave me a better impression than what I got from the press photos. In the pictures, I think the car appears shapeless, underbite and perhaps somewhat voluminous - in the sense of "bloated". Seen with my own eyes, I could see that the new Explorer is smaller than the Mustang. It is then also 28 cm shorter. I also got the impression that it had more of a passenger car feel than the advertising has tried to create. This is a car for roads all over Norway, but not a car I would drive in a desert with, as in the advertisement. And the underbite front? It is actually quite alright with a modern, unfussy lighting arrangement with a low grill for cooling the batteries. Like the Volkswagen ID.4 which shares the same platform, the air intake has to share space with the front bumper, which must have been a challenge for the designers.

 

Place

The space conditions are normal for the class. The luggage compartment holds approximately 450 liters with a small space for the charging cable, warning triangle and the like - but no "frunk". By comparison, the Ford Mustang Mach-E takes 402 liters in the back and 100 liters in the front. The Volkswagen ID.4 takes 543 litres. I thought the new Ford offered more space, but in return I can say that it is quite stylish - in other words - a good compromise between shape and space.

 

Will there be any news?

The advertisement highlights "new features" such as an adjustable touch screen, 17 liter storage space in the center console and a soundbar on the dashboard. Some may want to highlight the square steering wheel as well. To see if any may appear real news, we have to look at what Volkswagen doing. As you know, the drivetrain in the new Explorer is sourced from Volkswagen. The so-called MEB platform is shared with the Volkswagen ID.4, which today has a 77 kWh battery with a range of 520 km for rear-wheel drive cars and 512 km for 4-wheel drive. Volkswagen is currently working on developing the MEB+ which can operate with a range of up to 700 km. It will be exciting to see when the upgraded platform becomes available in the ID.4 and the other models on the same platform. If that happens before the summer of 2024, the Ford Explorer will probably also be delivered on the MEB+ platform.

Worth the wait?

If you don't want to wait, you can order a Volkswagen ID.4 now and maybe have it delivered before Christmas. However, considering that ID.4 may be upgraded in a few months, it may be worth waiting a few weeks and see what happens. Worth waiting before ordering is also for the new Ford Explorer - as well as the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4. If you don't want to wait, these days you can get great deals on beautiful, well-equipped. smooth-driving and long-range Ford Mustang Mach-E at the same price as next year's Explorer.

Next electric Ford model?

When Ford Europe announced its new electric car venture, it was said that there will be 2 new models. The next model will probably be a crossover with a low-built glass body, like the ID.5 – i.e. a car that will have a more coupe-like shape. It is rumored that this model may be named "Capri". Has Ford's management decided that new electric cars will inherit the names of previous, legendary models?
 

- Maybe you can call it recycling?

 

See

ford explorer
Ford and Volkswagen tie up
Ford Mustang Mach E
ID.4 GTX when winter comes

 

Ford Mustang Mach E

mustang mach-e

It was introduced as a 2021 model under the same name as one of the world's most legendary models and presented as a world first. Two years later, the model is in 11th place among registered electric cars in Norway. Sales are also falling in the US.

 

Should it have sold more?

The El-Mustang belongs to a very popular group of electric cars – medium-sized SUVs with room for large battery packs with a long range. We are used to finding Ford at the top of the sales charts. A decent 12 Mach-Es have been registered in Norway, but in June this year it is number 520 on OFV's sales list, overtaken by 11 other models in the same segment. Ford's Mexico-made electric car has about the same size, range and driving characteristics as the Tesla Model Y, but sells much worse. In the first quarter of this year, the Tesla was in 7th place on the US sales lists, while the Mach-E ended up in 4st place. When Ford's European Explorer arrives next year, it will also compete in the same segment as the Mach-E.
 
When I visited RøhneSelmer in Billingstad a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that they were about to deliver many vans and Mustang Mach-E to Hertz. Hertz Bildeling has placed 3 Mustang Mach-Es around Oslo.

We took the one on Frogner

I know people who say: If I'm going to buy an electric car, I'm going to buy a Mustang Mach-E. I suspect that it is the association with the "Mustang" that entices, but it can also lead some to believe that the Mach-E is higher in the premium tier than it actually is. The interior is delicate and seems durable, levers and controls are solid and intuitive. But that would also just be missing, because in the USA the Ford Mustang is considered a car built for most people. "Our" car had Premium equipment level with seats in perforated Sensico with red contrast stitching. They look good and are good to sit in, both for me and my better half who usually prefers softer seats than I do. Electrically adjustable with lumbar support. Sensico is also a vinyl material with all the good properties that real leather has. Car manufacturers are switching more and more to non-animal materials.


 
Another trend is that buttons and levers are replaced by touch screens. They are not always as easy to understand when an old man gets into a new car for the first time, but this time it went well. I found the radio channel and was able to take off right away. The car was in "Active" driving mode, set for one-pedal driving. It suited me very well. You have to enter the infotainment system to change the driving mode to, for example, "Quiet" and "Untamed". in other cars they would be called "Eco" and "Sport" respectively. The latter emits a hum through the stereo when the throttle is applied.

One-pedal

Whether to choose one-pedal driving or not is a matter of personal preference. Some people say that it is most economical to drive without one pedal on the road because you can then take advantage of free-rolling, but I think you can drive at least as economically with one pedal if you have turned to the system. In the Mach-E, it is optional whether you want to drive constantly with one pedal or use the gear selector's "L" button to operate regenerative braking manually. The effect of regenerative braking depends on which drive mode is selected. In "Active" (normal) the deceleration is so powerful that it will probably take some getting used to. If you come from another car with one pedal, you will hardly have any problems. The only problem I experienced was dosing the correct braking force when I lifted the accelerator to brake manually. I think it may be related to the fact that the regenerative braking then took hold and reinforced my own braking.

On the road

One of the areas where I think the electric Mustang has common features with the Tesla is the fixed suspension. I think it makes the heavy car feel lighter. Cruise control with automatic lane keeping worked well both on the motorway and as a queue assistant when we sat in a queue for 20 minutes. In the summer heat, accidents abound - often in connection with changing lanes. Wish people would be better at glancing over their shoulder before shifting – or at least swerving calmly over, so affected vehicles have time to adjust or honk. On the Mustang, the visibility obliquely to the rear is very limited due to the falling window line, but blind spot warning devices in the mirrors compensate somewhat. While we stood in line, I could study how the warning lights worked. In my opinion, they could have notified earlier. They do not replace looking over your shoulder.


4WD or RWD?

"Our" car was an LR (Long range) RWD (rear wheel drive). Among Norwegian customers, 3 out of 4 now choose 4-wheel drive. Then they get an electric motor that controls the front wheels. I use to say that 4 wheel drive can save your day. It undoubtedly also provides better traction on uphill slopes in winter, as well as that it can make the car more controllable when accelerating out of roundabouts on icy roads. The disadvantage is that you lose some range, 550 km instead of 600 km. In the Premium version, the 4-wheel drive increases the price by NOK 43. "Our" car will be suitable for someone who has a long journey, drives a lot, can manage without 100WD and who may not have charging options at work.

Range like a petrol car

Estimated range based on our trip was 620 km. That's on par with the range of a petrol car. Stated range according to WLTP is 600 km. Since we were left queuing for a long time after an accident further down the road, our consumption figures may have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The driving computer judges how you have driven since the last stop, and here I get 100% for acceleration, 85% for speed reduction (recovery of regenerative energy?) and 98% for speed. The consumption was measured at just 14 kwh/100 km - stated consumption is 17,3. I think the queue has to take credit for that. I can also retrieve figures for all driving in the last 3300 km. It shows a consumption of 20 kwh/100 km – not bad either considering that it has included several drivers.

charging

Owners of the Mustang Mach-E have access to use Ionity Plug and Charge where you can just insert the charging plug and be charged automatically after charging is complete. I haven't tested charging on "our" Mustang, but I remember that last winter I spoke to a new Mustang owner who beamed with joy that his car was charging at around 100 Kw at Ionity, while I was charging at an empty Tesla station next door of. Even with a partially preheated battery, I did not get more than 30 Kw on my charge.


Place

The space in the front and back is good, and fully on par with the competition. The rear luggage compartment holds 402 litres. In front, there is a "frunk" of 100 litres. This is on par with competitors such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Volvo XC40, but not on par with the Tesla Model Y. Tesla tempts families with children with a whopping 854 liters behind the rear seats and 117 liters in the "frunk". That is probably one of the reasons for the model's success. Both Tesla and Mustang also have ISOFIX mounts only in the outermost rear seats - none in the front passenger seat.

Now with roof load

A small detail is that the Mach-E is now approved for roof loads of up to 75 kg and 65 kg for cars with a panoramic roof. In the first years, the roof load was unclear, so the importer and a body builder set about retrofitting through-load hatches for skis. Even if the need is not as great as in the past, it is certainly still possible to have a loading hatch installed.

Recalls

All car models have one or more recalls that are handled in the dealer links. Since the Mustang Mach-E was put into production as a 2021 model, there have been several recalls, one of which was discovered in Norway when several cars were left with locked wheels on the way down to Geiranger. The error had occurred in connection with regenerative braking and was fixed with a software update.

 



Forced recalls only cover faults that can lead to accidents or danger to life and health. A "bug" that is fixed by Ford on its own initiative is improvements in connection with which the Mustang failed Teknikens Världs moose test. According to the website Cars.com there are no recalls for the 2023 model, but among the 2021 and 2022 models there are the following recalls:

- Risk of the front window and panoramic roof falling off.
- Early cars with AWD can accelerate/brake unmotivated.
– Bolts for fixing the auxiliary frame (front) can come loose.
– Part of the right drive axle set at the rear can break off.
- Rear seat belts can come loose in an accident.

Conclusion

To succeed in creating an electric car with a long range, car manufacturers use an SUV to carry the weight of the battery pack. This has meant that the market is flooded with one uniform type of car where the differences are very small. The Mustang Mach-E looks great from every angle, but where does it stand out from the competition? Is it for price, appearance, space, driving characteristics or quality? I am left with a single number on my block: 600 km. - A lot of range for the money!


Facts about the Ford Mustang Mach-E LR RWD

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 471 x 188 x 162 cm
Wheelbase: 298 cm
Net weight: 2088 kg (without driver)
Payload: 442 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 1500 kg (from 2023-)
– without brakes: 750 kg
Roof load: 75 (from 2023-)

Drivetrain
Motor: Electric
Power: 301 hp
Torque: 430 Nm
Wheel drive: RWD

Consumption and range
Battery capacity: 99 kwh gross, 88 kwh net.
Stated consumption (combined): 17,3 kwh/100 km
Measured consumption: 14,0 – 20,0 kwh/100 km
Stated range (WLTP): 600 km
Calculated based on driving under ideal conditions: 620 km

Luggage compartment
As a five-seater: 402 liters in the back
As a two-seater: 1441 litres
"Frunk": 100 litres

Tires
Dimension: 225/55 R19 V XL
Type: Summer tire
Brand: Continental PremiumContact 6

Prices:
Price for Premium LR RWD: 532
Fees: 22
Total: 554

About the car

Place of production: Mexico
Colour: Solid Black
Leased by Hertz Car sharing
Model: 2023
Mileage: 3987
Km driven: 174
Sources: vegvesen.no, Ford.no, Goodcarbadcar.net, Cars.com/recalls, Elbilstatistikk.no

mustang mach-e
360 degree reversing camera


See

mustang mach-e
Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid
Ford and Volkswagen tie up

 


Ford.no
How we test the cars

 

Ford and Volkswagen tie up

explorer
The all-electric Ford Explorer can be a great cabin car

Ford Europe has big ambitions for electric cars. By 2030, they will offer only electric vehicles in Europe. The production facility in Cologne is to be converted into something they call a Electrification Center. Production of the Fiesta has already been stopped there - and if I'm not mistaken, production of the Focus should be moved before the end of the year.

 

Another Explorer?

When Ford unveiled the first of its new electric cars this week, they showed us what they're up to. But it didn't just give answers – it also gave more question marks.

One might wonder why Ford is creating a new Explorer, when they already have a model with the same name in their model range - and neither of the two models have anything in common. I am also surprised that the new model should be so close to the Mustang Mach-E in terms of size, features and price. I also can't find any external features of the new Explorer that highlight it compared to the Volkswagen group's own MEB-based models such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4 e-tron, although it's probably a matter of taste and comfort.
 
I think Ford would have been better served by developing a more popular model that could appeal to Ford's existing markets on the continent and in the UK. Here at home, the new Explorer can probably have a fair chance as a cabin car. We obviously can't get enough of square SUVs with heavy batteries. In addition, many customers will probably choose Ford based on previous brand loyalty and good experiences with Ford dealers.


 

Square steering wheel and adjustable screen

The launch of the new Explorer did not give very much concrete information about the MEB platform, although everyone knows that it is er there and offers range, charging and engine power on par with the best on the market. Also, the platform may receive further improvements as it nears production.
 
What else is worth noting about the new Explorer?
 
A square steering wheel and an adjustable screen. I think many people will welcome the latter. It's actually a good idea. Watch the demo!

Too early to draw conclusions

When I express skepticism about Ford's new electric car, it is primarily because I do not see any significant advantages, compared to both Ford's own Mustang Mach-E and the Volkswagen Group's own MEB models. Surely Ford could have come up with something better than an adjustable screen? But let me also add that the car is hardly fully developed. It may be that Ford has an ace up its sleeve when the cars go into production.


 

You can reserve the new Ford Explorer right now. It is completely without obligation. Your reservation will be an option to be among the first to book when bookings open.

Ford.no


 

A marriage of convenience

The collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford does not involve any ownership in each other's companies. It is about a kind of marriage of convenience that both benefit from. The two companies have collaborated in the past, including on the Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan models. Today's collaboration was formalized in 2019 and includes several key models.


 

Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger

The new Volkswagen Amarok is now produced together with the Ford Ranger at Fords Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, South Africa. The two brands use their own engines.


 

Ford Connect and Volkswagen Caddy

The new Ford Tourneo Connect (7-seater) is produced together with the Volkswagen Caddy at Volkswagen's production facility in Poznań, Poland. Soon the Transit Connect will also share production with the Volkswagen Caddy. Ford uses its own engines.


 

New Ford models based on MEB

From the second half of this year, production of the new Ford Explorer based on Volkswagen's MEB platform will start at Ford's own plant in Cologne. The first cars will be delivered at the beginning of 2024. During 2024, Ford will also launch another new electric car model, also based on the MEB platform. It is likely that Ford can get batteries supplied from Volkswagen's new production facility PowerCo with production starting in 2025.


 

Volkswagen T7 and Ford Transit Custom

From 7, the new Volkswagen Transporter T2024 will be produced at Ford's Otosan factory in Turkey together with the Ford Transit Custom. It is not known whether the Transporter will continue to use the Volkswagen Group's own engines or the same as the Transit Custom, which includes electric and hybrid drivetrains.


 

See

Ford MEB
Mustang Mach-E's little brother
explorer
Ford Mustang Mach-e waiting for electricity
explorer
Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid

 

Ford Transit Connect L1

transit connect

Drivetrain from Ford Focus and practical van solutions from Transit make Transit Connect a Columbi egg for those who need a van without sacrificing driving pleasure. But I didn't choose it for fun.

 

A good reason for van?

My daughter and her boyfriend are coming to visit for Christmas. They need a wider bed. Therefore, today's task was to get rid of the old one and buy a "new" bed at "finn.no". A sofa bed from IKEA fits well. Since I no longer have villa, Volvo and own trailer, I had to go online to hire a van. Fortunately, I still have wife og whoop-whoop, - so on a walk with vov-voven the other day I noticed a brand new Ford Transit Connect for rent in the neighborhood. "I have to try that one", I thought. Because if I'm being completely honest, there's a little bit of anticipation in driving a brand new car, even if it's "just" a van.


Do you really need a reason to drive a van?


I found an all right place behind the wheel. You sit at passenger car height, with plenty of space in the height and a windscreen like on a tour bus. The car has three seats where the middle one can be folded down as a stable work table and the armrests – an excellent combination. The compartment in vans is not only for driving, but also a warm room where you chat, eat, drink coffee and the like.


 

Same engine, new automatic transmission

It was 5 years since last time I drove the Transit Connect. Later, it came in an upgraded version, including a new front. I noted the changes on the dashboard. The ugly button cluster is gone and the infotainment screen is larger. The engine is the same, but not the automatic gearbox. I liked the old one better, but now you know that there have been a number of problems with Ford's Powershift solutions.

Automatic transmission in a van is not so stupid, especially if you do mail and goods deliveries - and the like. The car I drove 5 years ago had a 6-speed double-clutch solution. It made better use of the fine bottom draft in the engine than the new automatic gearbox. The new one is a conventional 8-speed gearbox with torque converter. It takes some getting used to for the right foot to cooperate 100 percent. If you step on the gas a little too hard, the gearbox downshifts instead of holding the gear. I had mixed feelings. Automatic cash registers make driving fun - at the same time, I think it can get a bit fussy. On the highway you don't notice that the car shifts between the highest gears, but I wish it could hold the gears a little longer before downshifting.


 

transit connect

Short or long?

Ford Transit Connect comes in two sizes, L1 and L2 – short and long. I had the short one. With a total length of 4,43, it slips playfully easily into all parking pockets, but the luggage compartment is limited in length. The mattresses and bed frames that I had to drive onto the pile were 2 metres. The maximum load length of the L1 is 178 cm down at the floor, but only 155 directly behind the back of the driver's seat. The long version of the Transit Connect, L2, can carry 215 cm down at the floor - sufficient for all frame mattresses. My solution was to cut up the mattresses and bend the steel. They should have been discarded anyway. I made room for the frame rails by opening the loading hatch into the compartment. The "new" piece of furniture was a two-seater sofa bed. We got it loaded fine.

The Ford Connect L1 falls short as a moving vehicle. The cargo space is nevertheless a decent 2,9 cubic meters and rather snobbish with two sliding doors, a side window on the right side, inner lining on the floor and Plexiglas in the partition from Lafinto. In addition, there are many nice furnishing solutions to buy, with shelves, drawers and double floors and more, so you can keep your sewing things in order. You can also buy great camping equipment from abroad, but then you should probably choose L2 because of the bed space.


 

transit connect
The middle seat can be folded down and provides a nice table and armrests. In vans, I almost always lose something between the seats. There are many places where small items, such as a mobile phone, can hide if it falls off the table.

 

Facts about the 2022 Ford Transit Connect 1.5 Ecoblue

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 443 x 184 x 186 cm
Wheelbase: 266 cm
Net weight: 1602 kg (without driver)
Payload: 728 kg
Number of seats: 3
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 1390 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg
Roof load: 100 kg

Drivetrain
Diesel engine: Transverse 1,5 Ecoblue 4-cyl. Turbo
Power: 120 HP
Torque: 270 Nm @ 1750 – 4000 revs
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, Ford 8F35 (conventional with torque converter)
Front wheel drive

consumption
In ht vehicle license: 6,0 litres/100 km
Own measurements: 5,8 litres/100 km
From brochure: 5,1 litres/100 km (combined)
– 5,8 litres/100 km (city driving)

Cargo space
Volume: 2,9 cubic meters
Load length along the floor: 178,6 cm
Load length behind partition: 155,8 cm
Load length through hatch: 300,0 cm
Height in cargo space: 126,3 cm

About the car
Place of manufacture: Otosan, Turkey
Colour: Magnetic
Equipment level: Prof+
Price: 410 (with 600 ecoblue 1.5 HP, 100 Nm)
Varnish supplement: 6

Leased by Hyre.no
Model: 2022
Mileage: New
Km driven: 75
Source: Ford.no, Vegvesen.no


 

 

See

 
Ford and Volkswagen tie up

The collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford does not involve any ownership in each other's companies. It is about a kind of marriage of convenience that both benefit from. See more
 

The neighbour's Transit Connect
Ford Transit Custom
Got the job done!

 

Ford Motor Company and the Hat Trick
How we test the cars

The fiesta is over

ford fiesta
 

 

It wasn't the first, but it was the first car to open people's eyes to a new small car class. A class that may now disappear when new electric cars make their entrance.

 

Shall release production capacity

Ford has announced that the Fiesta will be withdrawn from the model program during 2023. In Norway, the Fiesta has been off the price lists for more than two years. In Germany, cars are now only delivered from stock. Fiesta is produced in both Cologne and Valencia. Ford wants to free up production capacity for its new all-electric SUV, which will be built on Volkswagen's MEB platform - the same platform used in the ID.4, among other things. The demise of the Fiesta not only marks a distinction between thermal cars and electric cars, but also a transition to less diversity in the car market. Will Ford's new electric car be number 6 or 7 built on the same platform? It's not Ford's fault - those are the cars people want.


Is the party over? - or is it now starting?


 

ford fiesta
Ford Fiesta mk1

Not first in the class

The new small car class was invented several years before Ford entered the field. The pioneers in the class were the Renault 5 and the Fiat 127. They were built according to the same concept, but Latin cars never quite reached home in the north. Therefore, it was to be Ford that made people open their eyes to the small car class.

A party in everyday life?

The name "Fiesta" gives associations to something festive. When the first cars rolled out in 1976, it was like a breath of fresh air – at least to my young eyes. In 1981, Ford even launched the campaign model Fiesta Festival with fresh decor. I got to study the car up close at my local Ford dealer. Although the Fiesta was a small revolution compared to the Escort and Taunus of the 70s, it was a true Ford in both engineering and design. The rack-and-pinion steering was direct, so was the clutch - and the 1,1 liter seemed nimble. On the road it was a bit bumpy, but no more than you had to accept on a 3,5 meter car.

 

ford fiesta
1984 Ford Fiesta 1,1 mk2

Produced for 7 generations

The first four generations retained the small car's shape and style. As the Fiesta grew larger and more similar to the Ford Focus, one would think that the void left by the early Fiesta models would be filled by the Ford Ka. The first Ka cars were then also produced together with the Fiesta mk4 in Spain, but the Ka did not appeal to everyone. It was a car you either loved or hated.

Model history

1976 Fiesta mk1 – The original.
1981 Mk1 facelift – Minor changes.
1983 Mk2 – Half a generation.
1989 Mk3 – An all-new model.
1995 Mk4 – Half a fishmouth generation.
1999 Mk4 facelift – the fish mouth disappeared.
2002 Mk5 – An all-new model.
2005 Mk5 facelift
2008 Mk6 – An all-new model.
2017 Mk7 - Ford Focus "light"
2023 Production of the Fiesta ends


The good, bad and ugly?

At the car fairs, older cars driven by grandmothers often appear. An old Fiesta gives a lot of nostalgia, but is unlikely to become a classic. The exception is the Fiesta XR2, XR2i and ST. From 1981 you could get the mk1 as the XR2, later also in the mk2. The model got round headlights with additional lights in the grill, wider fenders, fatter trim and wheels, 1,6 liter engine with Weber carburettor with an output of 82 HP. Also worth mentioning are the Fiesta mk3 RS1800 and RS Turbo. The Fiesta ST (pictured) also has a 1,6-litre engine – with a standard output of 182 HP.

 

ford fiesta
2016 Ford Fiesta ST mk6 1,6 182 HP

I have no basis for pointing out a bad Fiesta model, but I still dare to point out the one I like the least. The Mk4 is more than one facelift of mk3 than a new generation. The exterior changes were reminiscent of the facelift of the 1995 model Scorpio. In retrospect, the Scorpio with the fish mouth was named one of the world's ugliest cars, and I think the fish mouth was just as bad on the Fiesta. A shame, because under the skin, the Fiesta mk4 was a good car with, among other things, new Zetec engines of 1,25 and 1,4 litres.

 

I remember the mk3 well as a rental car for a few weeks in the early 90s. It had a standard 1,1 liter engine with power steering (optional). I don't know if it was the servo that stole power, but there wasn't as much pep in the engine as I remember from the mk1. But it was exceptionally easy to drive, lay well on the road, had plenty of space and was easy to park.

Fiesta memories

terjes carsSeen in today's eyes, the Fiesta mk1 was probably not much of a car, and at least not something you would want to get into an accident with. I have an over 40 year old memory of this car.

After a family party, I was the "dedicated driver" to drive everyone home in the middle of the night. It was my brother-in-law, who was the car's owner, my sister, our grandmother, grandfather and my 12-year-old little brother. He was allowed to sit huddled in the trunk. Where the village road went through a forest, I suddenly got an uneasy feeling. I felt that something was wrong. Even though we were driving at 80, I couldn't bring myself to touch the gas, so the car stopped by itself. "Why do you stop?", asked the entourage. Then I understood what was wrong. On the side of the road, we looked straight into the eyes of a large elk bull. Guardian angel or intuition? Fiesta against moose would be a bad idea anyway.

Feel free to post your own Fiesta memories in the comments section below. If the comment field does not appear, click on the title of the post.

 

ford fiesta
Ex Ford Fiesta mk6, Ford Fiesta mk 5 and sister model Mazda 2
ford fiesta
Ford Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid – Brussels Autosalon 2020 Motor Show. (source: Depositphotos.com @JelleVanDerWolf/ VanderWolf Images)

About the pictures

The main image is based on a newspaper advertisement from December 1980 which has been colored digitally. The photo of the red Fiesta mk1 was taken outside Økern Bilauksjon when they were stationed at Fornebu. The car has now probably found new owners – hopefully someone who will take care of it. The gray car in profile is a mk2 with a rounded front. The car appears to be in daily operation and was photographed along the road at Ringebu. The newer Fiesta ST is pictured at Drammen Travbane on the occasion of an event from NMK Drammen where it is said to be a good Ford environment. Of the two photos of the mk4 Fiesta, one was downloaded from FavCars.com, while the other was taken recently in a park in Céret, France. The large picture of the Fiesta mk3 was taken in Perpignan on the occasion of a car meeting there. The assembly of the two Fiestas, formerly mk6 and mk5, together with the Mazda 2 has been done digitally. The newer blue car is downloaded from Depositphotos.com. It is a "mild hybrid" with a 1,0-litre engine of 155 HP.

See

Ford Fiesta mk1 – 2
Steer clear of the cost bombs
Ford MEB
Mustang Mach-E's little brother