What’s waiting for 2011 from Ford?

Whole list of 2011 models of most popular automakers is here.

Ford Edge The Ford Edge two-row crossover gets significant changes for 2011. It gets a revised exterior look with a new monstrous front grille and an overall higher-end look. The interior, a weak side of the first version of the Edge, obtains wholly redesigned with material more reliable with the vehicle's price. It is the first Ford to use the new MyFord Touch information and entertainment interface, which uses two small screens in the tool panel, a large screen in the center of the dash and a couple of five-way controllers on the steering wheel to herd all the Edge's myriad electronic doodads into some semblance of sense. More compelling to us is the 2011 Edge's reworked braking system — which replaces a truthfully poor system in the original Edge — a reworked suspension and wider tires to whip the Edge's handling and steering feel into shape.

Ford Escape, Ford Escape Hybrid For this year Escape and Escape Hybrid are accessible with HD radio to go along with Active Park Assist, which parallel parks your car for you at the push of a button.

Ford E-Series E-Series van celebrates its 50th year on the market with the availability of the Sync voice-activated communications and entertainment system, Ford Works Solutions suite of technology and an available navigation system and HD radio.

Ford Expedition This SUV gets slight changes for 2011 including standard Trailer Sway Control. The Sync system adds traffic, directions and information. The optional voice-activated navigation system includes HD radio. There's also a new headrest-mounted, dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. The Expedition and its longer brother, the Expedition EL, continue on with the familiar 5.4-liter V8.

Ford Explorer The SUV that defined an era, the Ford Explorer is back and it isn't like it used to be. It is based on a front-all-wheel-drive platform with a transversely mounted engine instead of the old truck-style rear-wheel-drive-longitudinal arrangement. In fact, the Explorer will actually offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter 237-hp four-cylinder engine to go along with a standard 290-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine. The four-wheel-drive version even has what Ford calls terrain management. This system, cribbed from Land Rover, allows the driver to select the conditions in which he is driving (snow, sand, mud, etc) and the vehicle will optimize traction and throttle systems. Moreover Explorer is the first vehicle on the market to use inflatable seatbelts. The standard second-row, outboard inflatable belts spread impact forces five times wider than conventional seatbelts, helping to reduce pressure across the neck and chest.

Ford F-150 For 2011, Ford has wholly overhauled the powertrain options in its F-150 pickup. A V6 option returns to the order sheet with the addition of the 302-hp 3.7-liter V6. This engine, standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, handily beats Chevy's V6 Silverado and elevates the V6-powered, full-size pickup. Replacing the weak-kneed 5.4-liter Triton V8 is the 360-hp 5.0-liter V8 related to the motor in the Mustang GT. It can tow up to 10,000 pounds. The big 411-hp 6.2-liter V8 is available in certain applications within the F-150 line and offers up to 11,300 pounds of towing capability. This motor is now standard for F-150 specialty models such as the SVT Raptor and F-150 Harley Davidson. The least predictable truck engine is the new 3.5-liter twin-turbo direct-injected V6 (known to Ford marketing as EcoBoost and to Ford engineers as GTDI). This turbo six offers 365 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque and delivers 11,300 pounds of trailer towing capability. All F-150s — except those powered by the 6.2-liter V8 — use a new electric power-assisted steering system.

Ford Fiesta Slightly modified Fiesta is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 120 hp and is offered with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, which takes the place of a conventional automatic in the line-up.

Ford Flex The base price is $46,000 on the new-for-2011 super Flex, the Flex Titanium. It comes with Ford's excellent 355-hp EcoBoost V6 (the Titanium is also offered for less money with the naturally aspirated V6) and unique exterior trim and wheels, and comes standard with a host of standard equipment including the popular Convenience package, which includes adjustable pedals, memory driver seat, power heated mirrors, a power lift gate and a 110-volt inverter. All Flex models head into 2011 with HD radio for the available voice-activated navigation system package. The second-row refrigerator is still available.

Ford Focus This Focus, the model in which Sync debuted several years ago, is basically a lame-duck model. As Ford builds out the remainder of these old-model Focuses, it has dropped the two-door model. All 2011 Focuses are four-door sedans.

Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid Seriously reworked as an early 2010 model, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are little changed for 2011. HD radio is now offered, as are rain-sensing windshield wipers. A Luxury package with either Ginger or Charcoal Black interior "environments" is offered with leather trim with contrasting stitching, machined aluminium pedals and illuminated door sills.

Ford Mustang The 2011 model year is another big one for Mustang. Now the Mustang gets a stronger engine and transmission line-up. Award for most improved must go to the standard V6 Mustang, which for 2011 ditches the boat-anchor 4.0-liter in favour of the lighter, smaller, more fuel-efficient and much more powerful 3.7-liter V6. The 305-hp V6, which can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, catapults the Mustang V6 out of wimpy, poseur-car status and into the realm of respectability. The base Mustang's suspension has been returned to provide better cornering response and it also gets a standard limited-slip differential. Nice.
The bigger news for long-time Mustang fans is the return of the 5.0-liter V8 to the Mustang GT's engine bay. This 412-hp all-aluminium V8 shares nothing but its displacement with the old 5.0, but the name still carries weight with Mustang guys. The 5.0 can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Like the V6-powered Mustang, the GT now comes with electric power-assist steering, has a slightly revised suspension tuning and benefits from NVH improvements.

Ford Ranger The near-dead small pickup from Ford gets stability control with Ford's Roll Stability Control function for 2011 along with a standard Class III trailer hitch. A new Ranger was shown recently by Ford.

Ford Taurus The standard Taurus sedan is accessible with three new paint colours: Bordeaux Reserve Red, Kona Blue and Sterling Gray. Nothing's new on the SHO model for 2011.

Ford Transit Connect This year Ford will offer its little cargo van in compressed natural gas and liquid propane prepped versions primarily for fleets. There is also a taxi prep package that includes a repositioned rear seat, vinyl seat surfaces, a rear air/heat blower and a wiring block connector for taxi-specific accessories and electrical equipment. Also for 2011, the Transit Connect is available in the XLT Premium Wagon Mobility Motoring package with additional grab handles and pre-wiring for mobility accessories. Ford is also offering commercial customers an online program that they can use to create their own custom graphics using a library of shapes, lettering and colours or they can upload their own images to the site.