2011 Ford Mustang GT: First Look

The Ford Motor Company has been nudged awake by the arrival of the Chevrolet Camaro (and to a lesser degree the Dodge Challenger). A year after the reincarnation of its old rival and but a year after the redesign of its own pony car, Ford is getting aggressive about its corner of the pony car market with the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, which introduces a 412-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, plus both a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic.

Uh oh.

What we appear to have here is a good old-fashioned crosstown Detroit smackdown set amid the post-apocalyptic ruins that was once the domestic auto industry. Which, let's face it, beats the hell out of no crosstown smackdown set amid the post-apocalyptic ruins that was once the domestic auto industry.

So let us then examine the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, this newly muscled competitor.

Rollin' in My 5.0
Possibly you've heard that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8. In fact, it's just about impossible that you haven't heard that the 5.0 is back, since rumors about it have been circulating for at least a year. And when Ford made it official to a slightly-too-large group of journalists on the evening of December 17, the news leaked out before Ford's press conference was even done. Such was the excitement surrounding this news that information that was supposed to be kept secret for about 10 days remained under cover for all of, what, 5 minutes? Mr. Happy Thumbs tweeted that the 5.0-liter would produce 412 hp. This caused a small Internet-based brush fire of info.

If you view the early leakage of information as an index of excitement, the return of the 5.0 to the Mustang ranks pretty high. And this 5.0-liter appears to be something quite special. And compared to the 5.0 of which Mr. Vanilla Ice extolled the virtues back in 1990, this new-generation V8 now fitted to the 2011 Mustang makes 187 hp more. Word to your mother, indeed.

Also, unlike the 5.0-liter Windsor V8 of old (introduced as Ford's small-block V8 way back in 1962), the new engine is actually a 5.0-liter and not a 4.9, and you can do the math with its 92.2mm bore and 92.7mm stroke if you like. Ford began development on the new engine some two and a half years ago, and it's simply a bored-and-stroked version of the all-aluminum, overhead-cam 4.6-liter Modular V8 first built in Ford's Romeo plant in 1991 and fitted to the Mustang in 1996. And in addition to being a nice round number and a historically significant size, the new 5.0-liter motor is also about as large in displacement as the existing block can go.

Old Number, New Tech
But it's about more than just size. Without the ability to match the displacement of Dodge's 5.7-liter Hemi and, more important, Chevy's 6.2-liter small-block, the Ford team had to work over the engine's breathing capacity and basically throw in all the tech the company has at its disposal in order to compete with the big boys.

Out went the 4.6's SOHC cylinder heads with three valves per cylinder in favor of a DOHC setup with four valves per cylinder (a setup first introduced for the 1996 Mustang SVT Cobra, actually). The Ford engineers say they tried to use the Shelby GT500 heads but couldn't make enough horsepower with them. As it turned out, new heads had to be designed to leave the valley between the cylinder banks as open as possible to maximize space for the new intake system (the alternator has been moved down in front of the engine for the same reason). The combination of a new, composite intake manifold with new tubular exhaust headers significantly improved the engine's breathing.

For improved fuel economy as well as a broader, more drivable toque curve, Ford has added variable cam timing on both the intake and exhaust valves, just as it did for the 3.7-liter V6 that will go into the 2011 Ford Mustang V6. Mike Harrison, chief engineer for the 5.0-liter engine, says the variable cam timing provides a 5 percent improvement in low-end torque, a 2 percent improvement in peak torque and a 7 percent improvement in power. The 5.0-liter V8 makes 390 pound-feet of torque to go with its 412 hp.

Bits & Pieces
As far as the details go, the 5.0-liter V8 features a stout, forged-steel crankshaft and it's got larger bolts for the cross-bolted main bearing caps. Wider crankcase bulkheads lend greater support for the crank as well. Powder-metal-forged connecting rods have floating wrist pins, while oil squirters cool the underside of the piston crowns. The compression ratio is 11.0:1. This new lump continues to use port-type fuel injection instead of direct injection because the engineering team believes that direct injection wouldn't add enough benefit to justify the time and expense of its development.

And for all this, the new 5.0-liter V8 weighs only 10 pounds more than the outgoing 4.6-liter version. And weight, or the relative lack of it, is what has been keeping the Mustang GT in the hunt with the thundering Camaro, despite the relatively weak output of the 4.6-liter V8. Using the data from our 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS and 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T comparison test as a baseline, the Mustang now has fewer pounds for each of its horsepower to pull around than the relatively heavy Camaro. With a slight weight gain from its 3,572 pounds in 2010 trim, the new Mustang GT should have a weight-to-power ratio of 8.7 pounds per hp. The Camaro is right around 9.0 pounds per hp and the flabby Challenger R/T is 10.7 pounds per hp.

If a class-leading weight-to-power ratio still seems a bit tame to you, Ford Racing has something right up your alley: the Boss 302R. This dedicated racer will set you back a little more than a standard 2011 GT — like somewhere between $79,000 and $129,000, depending on which racing series you want to run with it. Oh, and it's not what you would call street legal — at all. But its throwback paint scheme and historic name (nabbed from the Bud Moore-built racecar that Parnelli Jones made famous in the 1970 Trans-Am series) are pitch-perfect.

Other Items of Interest in the Appearance and Function of This Automobile
Barring some anomaly, the Mustang should be able to add the title of "quickest pony car" to its resumé once the 2011 version of the GT hits the street — which would be in addition to the title of "most nimble pony car."

Thanks in part to the choice between two new six-speed transmissions (a manual and an automatic), the Mustang will likely be the most fuel-efficient pony car, too, although only by a slight margin. (You'll forgive us, we trust, for waiting until now to discuss pony car fuel economy). Ford estimates a 2011 Mustang GT with the six-speed automatic should get 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. The Camaro SS gets 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and the Challenger gets 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway. And we hope the MT82 six-speed manual transmission will offer better shift feel than the five-speed Tremec of the 2010 model.

In the pursuit of fuel economy, Ford is also switching the Mustang's steering system to electric assist. This is not always a welcome swap, even if it seems increasingly inevitable as manufacturers attempt to squeeze more fuel-efficiency from every package. And we love the way the 2010 Mustang steers. We hope the challenge of meeting the standard set by the current car will make the new system better.

Ford says that more structurally rigid links for the rear axle, tuning of spring and damper rates and more roll stiffness in the rear antiroll bar will improve the vehicle's dynamics and steering response. Again, the 2010 'Stang seems pretty well tuned to us, but we'll see.

Meanwhile, Ford will up the performance ante for the Mustang GT by offering an optional Brembo braking package, which includes 14-inch front rotors along with 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires. (Presumably this will be the model Ford public relations will be handing out when it suspects a comparison test is in the offing.)

Like the 2011 Ford Mustang V6, the Mustang GT convertible also gets a strut-tower brace, a stiffer A-pillar and other items of structural bracing to combat the chop top's noodly nature.

The Mustang's interior has already been reworked for the 2010 model year, and for 2011 it gets a couple more niceties such as sun-visor storage, a universal garage door opener and illuminated visors. So there's that. Also the speedometer now goes to 160 mph and the tachometer redline moves from 6,500 to 7,000 rpm.

And — who could forget — the fenders of all 2011 GTs will carry "5.0" badges, just like Mr. Ice prefers. The 2011 Ford Mustang GT goes on sale next spring.

Spy Photos: 2011 Ford Edge

These are the first photos of the refreshed 2011 Ford Edge, seen on the streets of Dearborn on the same day as the facelifted Lincoln MKX. We expect the 2011 Edge to get its official debut at one of the winter auto shows with sales beginning in the spring of 2010.

You can see that the original Edge's love-it-or-hate-it razor grille has been pruned back on the 2011 model. Though the new grille is still quite large, both it and the new headlamps remind us a little bit of the front end on the Ford Taurus, one of the better looking cars in the Ford lineup.

Around back, the overstyled, clear-lens taillamps we never cared for on earlier Edges give way to more convention red and amber lenses.

Down the side of the 2011 Ford Edge, you'll notice reshaped rear quarter windows that give the illusion of a faster rear roofline and generally help Ford's medium-size crossover appear less boxy and rotund.

The door handles are slightly longer, too, and will apparently will be chrome on some models. And we do hope these wheels are production-spec, too, as they are comfortably un-huge and vaguely reminiscent of the wheels on the Europe-only Focus ST.

Of course, the big news on the refreshed 2011 Edge will undoubtedly be the addition of Ford's twin-turbocharged and direct-injected, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 to the options list. We hope Ford provides bigger brakes to go with the extra horsepower, which is expected to come in around 350.

Ford to upgrade Sync system

It could be the automobile industry's killer app.

In January, Ford Motor Co. will unveil the latest version of Sync at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, including a new feature that will allow the system to work with virtually any application on a motorist's cell phone or music player, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

That means drivers will be able to stream music from Internet radio service Pandora through their car's stereo or have Sync read incoming messages from their friends on Twitter. They will be able to manage these applications using Sync's voice controls or listen to information using its text-to-speech system. And they will be able to use the many location-specific applications that provide information about nearby businesses and attractions.

"Ford is once again the first to create a new technology," said analyst Mark Boyadjis of iSuppli Corp. "They are the first ones to integrate social media into the automobile."

Sync is the in-car communications and entertainment system that Ford developed with software giant Microsoft Corp. It was introduced in 2007, and Ford promised to add new features on a regular basis.

The Dearborn automaker would not discuss the latest upgrade, but is expected to provide details to journalists later today.

The new feature, known internally as "mobile apps," will be included in vehicles next year, but existing Sync customers will be able to download the upgrade and install it in their vehicle. Unlike the last upgrade that Ford released a year ago, this one likely will come with a price tag attached.

At the heart of the upgrade is a new application programming interface, or API, that Ford will make available to developers, allowing them to easily upgrade their programs to work with Sync.

Ford began offering Sync as an option in 2007, and the system has proven a game-changer for the company. Ford already has sold well over a million units, and 70 percent of customers who buy a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury model elect to purchase Sync. That has helped Ford increase the price it gets for its cars and trucks.

Sync also is attracting new customers. According to the automaker, 32 percent of customers say Sync was a key reason why they bought a Ford product.

"Fords used to be a pretty basic, plain-Jane car," Boyadjis said. "Even the Lincolns were little more than leather and some sound-deadening. Now, their cars are literally at the top of the space when it comes to technology. It has helped Ford gain market share from General Motors and Chrysler."

Microsoft making changes

The upgrade to Sync comes amid major changes this year at Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft. After a decade as a separate business unit, Microsoft's automotive division was folded into its embedded computing division -- a move some observers saw as a sign the software giant was focusing its resources elsewhere.

Not so, says Greg Baribault, director of product planning and marketing for Microsoft's automotive group.

"We were replicating a lot of work that the general embedded computing team was doing," he said, adding that Microsoft often creates stand-alone business units to explore new opportunities and combines them with core parts of its organization once they are proven to be viable.

"As the two grew, it became more and more confusing for customers," he said. "It just didn't make sense to keep these things running independently any more."

Baribault said the automotive business remains important to Microsoft, and the company continues to invest in it, as well as its core home and office businesses.

"The car is a connection point between these two places, and it has really been an island without connectivity," he said. "For Microsoft, the car is a very strategic investment."

Boyadjis said Microsoft is putting a positive spin on its reorganization

"Most people took that as a sign of divestiture rather than investiture," he said. "But I don't think it really limited their ability to service the automotive market. I've seen continual advancement from them."

System is spreading

Ford was not the first automaker to use the Microsoft system. Italy's Fiat SpA introduced a system with the same basic features in Europe in 2006. Now that Fiat controls Chrysler Group LLC, it is working with Microsoft to bring its version to the United States, Baribault said.

It will likely debut on the Fiat 500, which is due to arrive in this country at the end of next year. Existing Chrysler models would not be able to incorporate the system until they are refreshed.

Microsoft also signed a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Kia Automotive Group after its exclusivity agreement with Ford expired at the beginning of 2008, though it has yet to bring a system to market.

"I can't give you a date, but we'll see something from Kia soon," Baribault said. Microsoft is also talking to other automakers and working to provide similar technology to suppliers.

"The recession put a lot of these things on hold," Boyadjis said, though he expects to see other automakers introduce their own systems next year. However, he doubts any of them will pose a serious threat to Ford.

"Ford has taken over a lot of this and created its own ecosystem. It will be more competitive, but I don't think it will overshadow the success that Sync has had," Boyadjis said. "Every year, they're announcing features that are not only groundbreaking, but easily upgradeable."

Baribault said many of Sync's hottest features, like mobile apps, are proprietary additions developed by the automaker.

"They're doing a lot of this without our direct engineering involvement," he said. "We're enabling them to create their own unique applications and provide them to their customers."

FORD FIESTA RACKS UP MORE THAN 1,000 RESERVATIONS, BUILDS ON FIESTA MOMENTUM

* Ford Fiesta Reservations has more than 1,000 reservations placed since launching just six days ago, showing demand for Ford's newest small car
* Consumers who reserve a new Ford Fiesta will receive SYNC® and Premium Sound package, a $595 value, at no charge once their vehicle is delivered
* Consumers can visit www.fordvehicles.com/2011fiesta or text "reserve" to 4Ford on a smartphone to build, price and reserve their Fiesta
* The new 2011 Ford Fiesta is projected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg and will offer 15 class-exclusive technologies

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 9, 2009 – The new Ford Fiesta is off to a very fast start – with more than 1,000 reservations in less than a week on a new Web site that allows consumers to build, price and reserve the new car.

"The Fiesta Movement created an unparalleled awareness and interest for the Fiesta months ahead of it going on sale next summer," said Lew Echlin, car marketing communications manager. "Fiesta Reservations provides these prospective customers a customized experience for researching, reserving and following their Fiesta."

The Fiesta Movement helped generate momentum for Fiesta and resulted in more than 80,000 hand-raisers leading up to the car's reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Fiesta Reservations program will hold the interest of potential customers, and give them a VIP experience in conjunction with Ford dealers.

Through the program, consumers who reserve a new Fiesta will receive prioritized order handling with automatic build updates, their personal Fiesta Reservations consultant, and SYNC® and Premium Sound package, worth $595, at no charge once their vehicle is delivered. With a vehicle purchase, participants will be able to share their vehicle information through social media sites like Facebook.

Fiesta reservations have come from 47 states, with customers from California, Florida, Texas, New York and Illinois leading the way in reservations. The program also will provide Ford with a better understanding of mix rates as well as accessory interest, as this is the first time prospective customers can build and price their Ford accessories.

Customized service at your fingertips
Fiesta Reservations consultants will be available 12 hours a day to interact with participants and provide a personalized experience. Adding to the level of customer convenience, dedicated Fiesta Reservations consultants with multilingual capabilities are available.

Other personalized activities by the consultant include updating a customer's reservation per his or her desire, introducing the customer to a "Fiesta specialist" at a local dealership and answering any customer questions.

Interested consumers can access Fiesta Reservations by visiting www.fordvehicles.com/2011fiesta or by texting "reserve" to 4Ford on a smartphone.

Ford Flex Singled Out for the 2009 'Collectible Vehicle of the Future' Award from the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC)

- Panel predicts Flex the vehicle most likely to turn heads at the Woodward Dream Cruise of 2034
- Flex adds this award to almost 40 that it has garnered since its launch in 2008

DETROIT, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From America's new cars and trucks launched in 2009, the Ford Flex will become the most desired by future car collectors. That is the prediction of the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC).

Members of the organization, which supports the world-famous automotive collection at the Detroit Public Library, vote annually to predict the "Collectible Vehicle of the Future" from the year's new American-built cars and trucks. The Ford Flex was selected from eight all-new vehicles launched in 2009.

The award was presented to Ford executives by the Friends of the NAHC at their annual holiday reception on Thursday, Dec. 10 at NAHC quarters in the Skillman Branch Library in downtown Detroit.

The NAHC is the world's largest public archive of automotive lore and a treasure for automotive historians, journalists and collectors. Its collection of books, manuals, photos, company histories and historic documents is open to the public.

"We are delighted that the Ford Flex has been recognized by the NAHC as having a design that will become a collectible of the future," said Kate Pearce, Flex marketing manager at Ford.

"We knew from the start that we had a vehicle with stand-out design that looks like nothing else on the road, but that also meets the needs of our customers looking for passenger space with innovative technology and great fuel economy," she said. "Reaction from our customers has been fantastic and we hope they will enjoy their cars long into the future."

Charles K. Hyde, chairman of the NAHC Board of Trustees, said, "This selection is unique among all the 'Vehicle of the Year' awards, because it is selected by car buffs who know what future collectors will value. We asked our members to predict which of this year's new vehicles will turn heads in the Woodward Cruise of 2034."

Ford's Lincoln MKT crossover SUV rides high with inner style

NEW YORK — Oh, MKT, how we would love to loathe thee for thy overwrought grille, gratuitous sheet-metal bump, compromised third-row headroom.

But we just can't.

MKT, in case you've lost your way in Lincoln's thicket of MK-something nomenclature, is the Lincoln version of Ford Flex; a full-size crossover SUV.

Usually, hopping back and forth between a Ford and the equivalent Lincoln vehicle leaves you wondering what's the point of the Lincoln.

The Ford's generally as nice if you lard on the options, and hardly anybody has been taking Lincoln seriously as a status brand.

This time it's different, based on impressions from a preproduction MKT test vehicle put to normal daily duty, and driven from Northern Virginia to here and back, and in Manhattan traffic.

The tester had a lovely feel behind the wheel. Calm. Unruffled by most road irregularities. And quiet. Until you nailed the throttle and put the optional 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 to work. At that point, the big Lincoln broke into a gallop and issued a distant snarl from under the hood that invariably provoked a sly smile from the driver.

The base engine wasn't tested. It's a 3.7-liter V-6 with more power than Ford Flex's 3.5-liter base engine, setting Lincoln apart even at the lower end.

Ford Motor bills the EcoBoost as a V-6 that gives you V-8 power and V-6 mileage, courtesy of direct fuel-injection technology and two turbochargers. But — big but — if you drive it like you'll want to, like the V-8 it credibly apes, then V-6 fuel economy is just another broken auto-industry promise.

MKT steering, brakes and shifting are all responsive and not soggy the way Lincolns' of yore often were. Interior appointments — elegant upholstery, authentic wood trim, harmonized dashboard lighting, general ambience — went together, finally, to craft a distinct personality, something that suggests it could be worthwhile to pay extra for the Lincoln.

"Best interior we've ever done at Lincoln," asserts Frank Davis, executive director of product development for Ford Motor.

Gripe: The third-row seat has a lot less headroom than the Flex does, because of the tucked and tightened rear styling, vs. Flex's box shape.

Ford Flex, driven briefly for comparison, felt — sorry, Ford — really brittle, down-market, cheesy stacked up against the Lincoln. Doors didn't open and close with the same premium, high-quality feel. Surfaces didn't seem as high-end. Noise levels were higher.

You have to make peace with MKT's oversize grille, of course. Lincoln calls it a "bow wave" grille. "We felt it would be a look we could grow the brand with," says Pat Schiavone, Ford Motor design director.

Another identity element Lincoln is reviving is what Schiavone calls a haunch. It's a kick-up or shoulder at the rear edge of the back door. He says it harkens to the Lincoln Continental of the 1960s, among others.

Can't live on heritage alone. These days, gotta have the techno goods. MKT surely does, and here's a breathtaking development: They seemed to work well. MKT gave you no sense that the engineers did things just because they could.

Best example: Active Park Assist, a self-parking option. Whips into a parallel-parking spot faster than you could, and better. Tried it in Midtown Manhattan traffic and delayed other drivers barely long enough to get a honk.

Lexus pioneered such a system, but that one is cumbersome compared with MKT's.

In the Lincoln, you push a button to tell the system you're cruising for docking space. It uses ultrasonic waves to find a hole big enough, and alerts you via text in the driver information center. It tells you just where to stop, invites you to select reverse, and instructs you to touch nothing but the brakes.

In the oft-cited two shakes of a lamb's tail, MKT spun the steering wheel one way, then the other and was tucked in remarkably close to the curb.

MKT, like other Ford Motor models, has an option that looks sideways when you back out of a conventional parking spot to alert you if cross traffic is barreling along and might not notice you in time. Handy in the mall at holiday-shopping time when crazed drivers are speeding to grab that parking spot coming open 100 yards down the line.

Adaptive cruise control, an option getting common throughout the premium brands, lets you specify a following distance and will yank the rig down smartly if someone cuts in front and leaves too little space. When there's little traffic, it maintains a set speed, like an ordinary cruise, kicking into distance mode when traffic tightens. You can't shut off the distance mode and use the system solely as a conventional speed-based cruise.

Small but important details were nicely done. Instrument lighting, for example, was a crystal white; no sparkle, just presence.

Two things say that Lincoln's finally sure of itself:

•No chrome wheels; you get polished aluminum for shine. Chrome's a bit tacky, Schiavone says.

•No more "Lincoln" badge on the console.

The MKT is a bit hard to embrace at first glance. But inside, things are so remarkably right, you don't care about the outside.

It's breathtaking, and presumptuous on Lincoln's part, to note that the full-boat model is some $61,000. On the other hand, you can get a very nice one for $50,000 (roughly $5,000 more than a similar Flex) — still a lot but not quite as ridiculous for those luxury shoppers who want a big crossover.

MKT really does put Lincoln back in the luxury category and might be the first big step toward rescuing — redeeming? — the brand. Don't laugh. General Motors did it to Cadillac.

2010 LINCOLN MKT

•What? Full-size, six- or seven-passenger crossover-utility vehicle derived from the Ford Flex. Available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

•When? On sale since September.

•Where? Manufactured at Oakville, Ontario, using Ohio-made engines, in a factory that also builds the Flex.

•How much? Base FWD starts at $44,995 including $795 shipping; AWD starts at $46,990. EcoBoost, available only with AWD, is $49,995. About $61,000 with all factory options.

•How powerful? Standard: 3.7-liter V-6 rated 268 horsepower at 6,250 rpm, 267 pounds-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm. Available FWD or AWD. Optional: 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 rated 355 hp at 5,700 rpm, 350 lbs.-ft. at 1,500 rpm; comes only with AWD.

All use six-speed automatic transmissions with manual-shift mode.

•How big? Less than an inch shorter, about three inches narrower, than Lincoln Navigator large SUV. MKT is 207.6 inches long, 76 in. wide, 67.4 in. tall on a 117.9-in. wheelbase. Weighs 4,680 to 4,924 lbs. Passenger space: 114.9 cubic feet. Cargo: 17.9 cu. ft. behind third row, 39.6 cu. ft. when third row's folded, 75.9 with second and third rows folded.

Tows up to 4,500 lbs. Turning circle diameter, 40.7 ft. curb-to-curb.

•How thirsty? FWD rated 17 miles per gallon in town, 23 on the highway, 19 in combined driving. AWD models: 16/22/18.

Trip computer in EcoBoost AWD test vehicle showed 16.4 mpg (6.1 gallons per 100 miles) in mixed city, suburban use; 19.2 mpg (5.21 gal./100 miles) in high-speed interstate highway driving.

Ford specifies regular for both engines but says EcoBoost needs premium to get the advertised power. Ford won't say how much power the EcoBoost engine loses on the lower-octane fuel.

Tank holds 18.6 gallons

•Overall: What a pleasant surprise. Finally, a machine with the distinction and premium feel a Lincoln should have.

Ford Tough to Beat

The good news keeps on rolling in for Ford. After recently snagging Motor Trend's Car of the Year title for the Ford Fusion, that very same model has been awarded the Earth, Wind & Power (EWP) Car of the Year award. And the newly redesigned Ford Taurus (pictured) now has a trophy of its own, being named the 2010 International Car of the Year by the International Car and Truck of the Year (ICOTY) jury at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show.

On the truck side of things, "Like a Rock" and "Built Ford Tough" have given way to understated Swedish luxury and Truth in Engineering. The Volvo XC60 walked away with the Truck of the Year award for the ICOTY, while the Audi Q7 took the EWP's top truck honors.

Most Reliable Cars

Paying more for a new car doesn't guarantee better reliability. As a group, inexpensive small cars and midsized family sedans are the most reliable. That's one of the findings of our 2009 Annual Auto Survey, based on our subscribers' experiences with 1.4 million vehicles.

Small cars stand out. Twenty of 37 small cars have above-average predicted-reliability scores. Family cars fare nearly as well, with 21 out of 41 scoring above average. Other interesting findings include the following:

* A wide gulf separates the best from the worst. The least reliable vehicle, the Volkswagen Touareg, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the most reliable car, the Honda Insight.
* Ford is tops among the domestic automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan once again beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The upscale Lincoln MKZ beat its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.
* Even good brands falter. Among the least reliable in their respective classes are the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, the Nissan Versa sedan and the Subaru Impreza WRX.
* Five of the eight most reliable family cars are hybrids.

But reliability isn't everything. Some very reliable models do not perform well enough in our road tests for us to recommend them. One example is the Toyota Yaris: Its ironclad reliability doesn't make up for its below-average performance. The same applies to the Honda Insight and the Volvo S40, one of the most reliable nonhybrid family cars.

For full reliability charts and predicted reliability on hundreds of 2010 models, plus a list of what's up and what's down, visit ConsumerReports.org.

Ford Dominates the Domestics
Ford has consolidated its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability. Of the 51 Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products that we surveyed, 46 — or about 90 percent — are average or better, including the new Ford Flex SUV. But the Lincoln division has mixed results; some models score below their Ford equivalents. All-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX and MKZ, essentially high-end versions of the Ford Taurus, Edge and Fusion, respectively, are all below average.

GM shed the Hummer, Pontiac, and Saturn brands after emerging from bankruptcy. It now consists of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. Of the 48 models we surveyed from those brands, 20 have average scores, and only the Malibu v6 sedan is better than average.

Some newer GM products are bright spots. In addition to the Malibu, the Buick Lucerne did well in our road tests, and it scores average in reliability. The Chevrolet Traverse SUV also makes the cut, as does its cousin, the Buick Enclave, but only in the all-wheel-drive version. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, two good performers, earn our recommendation as well. GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but they are too new for us to have reliability data on them.

We recommend the Pontiac Vibe, the V8 version of the Pontiac G8, and the Saturn Aura, which have average or better reliability. Some of those cars can still be found on dealer lots.

As for Chrysler, we couldn't recommend any of its products in last year's survey because of mediocre performance, poor reliability, or both. Now we can recommend one: the four-wheel-drive version of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. It did well in our road tests and rates average in reliability. Still, more than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey.