Ford’s European arm has announced the Dutch market launch of the Focus X Road special edition model that was first seen this past April at the AutoRAI motorshow in Amsterdam. Built in a limited run of only 300 unit all of which are destined for The Netherlands, the ‘tough’ looking Focus Station Wagon is priced from €25,175 or at today’s exchange rates, $35,800.

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company that includes KIA has overtaken the Ford Group in the first half of the year to become the fourth largest carmaker in the world selling 2,153,000 units or 8,000 more vehicles than the US giant in the same period, according to figures published by the Automotive News Data Centre. Only a decade ago, the then newly unified Hyundai and Kia company was in 11th place overall.

We don’t know what’s more startling - the car itself that has a mere 99 miles on the odo and appears to be in pristine factory condition or the fact that someone actually brought a brand-new Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (can’t say that the Fox body was a high moment in the Stang’s history…) in 1985 and kept it in climate controlled storage for almost a quarter of a century. Either way, if you’re interested, the 1985 Mustang GT is up for auction on eBay where the highest bid is currently at $18,100 - though the reserve has not been met.

With the arrival of the new Ford Focus RS Mk2 tuners across Europe are readying various improvements for the hot hatch that leaves the factory with a 300 HP 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five linked to a six-speed manual gearbox that transfers power to the front-wheels. One of the first upgrades to hit the market comes from Ford specialist Graham Goode Racing (GGR).

The ‘RS340′ engine tuning package for the Mk2 Focus RS consists only of an ECU upgrade with firmware modifications and software reprogramming.

Available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Five Hundreds are powered by a 3 liter, four-valve V6 with 203 horsepower. The front-wheel drive returns 21 mpg city and 29 highway with the all-wheel drive getting 19/25.

With a seating capacity of five, the 500s have 108.3 cubic feet of space with a 21.2 cubic feet in the trunk. Both models have a 20 gallon fuel tank. Occupants are protected with double-stage air bags and a sensor to read the severity of a potential collision. An additional sensor to classify front passengers adds an additional level of safety to the protection package. To the rear, safety locks on the doors protect children and child seats are anchored with the standard LATCH system. The driver’s door features a keypad for numeric entry and the vehicles use the SecuriLock system to deter vehicle theft.

The 2007 Ford Five Hundreds are equipped with AM/FM/CD combos and may be outfitted with either a SIRIUS Satellite Radio or a DVD system to the rear including a seven-inch screen and wireless headphones. Note that satellite radio and the DVD system cannot be installed together nor can the DVD system be placed on a Five Hundred with a power moonroof.

Also, the model’s predecessor, the Taurus, was reinstated to its rightful throne as the maker’s top selling sedan after the Five Hundred’s demise. For the 2005-2007 model years, the Ford Five Hundred sat in many sales lots partially due to its nondescript design and also because of its lack of power.

The 2005 model year revealed the Five Hundred with a 3.0L Duratec V6 engine that produced up to 203 horsepower. Buyers were not thrilled with the insufficient horsepower, but were also turned off by only having one engine choice. Nevertheless, the Five Hundred was equipped with either a continuously variable transmission or a six-speed Aisin automatic. The full-size sedan was also fitted with all-wheel drive; though, the feature only kicked in when necessary, and otherwise the model used primarily front-wheel drive.

The four-door Five Hundred only received minor upgrades during its years like an available GPS navigation unit for the 2006 model year and the discontinuation of the SE trim for 2007. When the model was shown at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Ford representatives quickly detached the “Five Hundred” badging and re-established the “Taurus” title. And, though the model looked virtually unchanged, under the hood a more powerful 260 horsepower 3.5L V6 was added. Also, a six-speed automatic transmission became the intro standard on the 2008 Taurus. Though critics and consumers were fooled by the recycled Taurus badge, Ford hopes that the familiarity of the name will draw in new buyers.

Even though the Ford Five Hundred had a short run, many feature films and television series utilized its commonplace design on their sets. Blockbuster hits like Fracture, Ocean’s Thirteen, and P2 gave the model a prominent role. The Showtime sensation Weeds gave the Five Hundred a role in an episode, while the Kiefer Sutherland action drama 24 used the model as well.

With the general dislike of the Ford Five Hundred, a number of websites were created simply to criticize its design. By and large, the take on the model is that it was made for the boring consumer. Nevertheless, with the simple name change and minor upgrades for the 2008 model year, the reviews are coming in much more positive this time around.

The F-450 can tow loads greater than 24,000 pounds. According to one reviewer, this thing could drag an F-35 fighter jet around. Payload capacity is a massive 3 tons.

Under the hood you’ll find a 6.4-liter, 4-valve, turbo-diesel V8 (with clean diesel technology) producing 350 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (at 2,000 rpm).

The Crew Cab edition features an eight-foot bed and dual wheels in the rear to increase weight bearing as well as stability and handling. Drivers can choose from 2WD or 4WD and there are three trim levels (XL, XLT, Lariat.) The Lariat is considered the “luxury” edition and includes amenities such as reverse park assist, a moonroof, and even Western saddle-leather upholstery and trim if you pop for the King Ranch package.

The F-450 rides on a chassis that utilizes a leaf-spring rear suspension. The front grille is big and the fenders feature both prominent flares and air vents. Pair any one of ten wheel styles to achieve a distinctive look. Other options include a tailgate step (not a bad idea on a truck this big) and a bed extender. The side mirrors have been designed to telescope and they employ power-folding technology.

All trucks in the series include comprehensive airbag protection, all wheel anti-lock brakes, safety belts, and anchoring for child safety seats. The 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty carries a true market value price range of $37,988 to $48,762.

Among its attributes is the fact that the F-450 boasts the greatest towing capacity on the market, at up to 24,500 pounds. This truck also comes in a variety of different configurations, including three unique theme packages. They are the King Ranch, Harley Davidson, and the Cabela’s edition. Add this to the number of different cab, bed, drive train, and engine combinations, and you can see that making your choice may take some time.

The Ford F-450 has a few new tricks up its sleeve this year as well, including the above mentioned Cabela’s package. This model was introduced to appeal to the many sportsman that drive Ford trucks. Nice features with this package include the themed interior design and lockable storage units for hunting and fishing equipment. The Super Duty will also offer the high tech electronics that are found in the new F-150s. This includes things like voice-activated navigation and Ford Work Solutions, which is a system designed for work trucks to keep track of business information. Also new this year is a sprayed on bed liner.

The look of the 2009 F-450 hasn’t changed much since it was redesigned for the 2008 model year. In addition to the theme packages, the Super Duty is available in the regular, crew, or SuperCab configuration. The regular cab is only available with the 8 foot bed, while the crew and SuperCab are available in the 8 or 6.75 foot options.

There are also several choices of interior packages available, depending on which trim option you choose. Whether you are looking for practicality or luxury, the F-450 has an interior design package that will meet your needs. All models offer many of the tech features that are now so common in new vehicles.

With the new Super Duty, you also get a choice of three different power plants and two different transmissions. On the low end is the 300 horsepower 5.4 liter V8, of course, Ford also offers a 362 horsepower 6.8 liter V10, as well as the 350 horsepower 6.4 liter V8 turbo-diesel engine. Each of these can be paired up with either a six speed manual transmission or a five speed automatic. Two and four wheel drive is also available on all packages. Safety features on the Ford Super Duty include anti-lock brakes and air bags. Available options include rear view camera and post crash alert system.

The 2009 Ford F-450 Super Duty begins at around $41,000 and can go up considerably from there, depending on which package you opt for. The performance and durability of this truck has never come into question. One does have to wonder; however, why all of the fancy theme packages are necessary on a truck that is designed for working.

For the 2008 model year, the F-450 Super Duty gets a pickup truck bed and makes its debut as an extreme work truck that is now available to the general public. Its class leading towing and hauling capabilities includes the ability to tow up to an astounding 24,500 pounds and haul 6,000 pounds. Like the rest of Ford’s 2008 Super Duty lineup, the F-450 Super Duty includes an exceptionally strong chassis that is specially coated to resist corrosion, an enhanced rear suspension system that improves both the handling and the overall ride quality and relatively high quality cabin materials. The intimidating size of this massive truck makes it a little unwieldy in traffic and parking lots, but if you need what it has to offer, there is little else to consider.

While the 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty is probably more truck than necessary for most consumers, if you need to tow a 20,000 pound travel trailer it will be hard to find another truck that will do it with such ease. The sole engine is a 350 horsepower 6.4 liter turbo diesel V8. Both 2WD and 4WD versions are available with a choice of either a 6 speed manual or a 5 speed automatic transmission. All F-450s come with dual rear wheels, which allow more weight to be carried in the bed while providing greater stability.

The 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty pickup is only available in a crew cab body style with an 8 foot long bed. The first of 3 trims is the base model XL, which comes standard with 19.5-inch alloy wheels with commercial grade tires, vinyl upholstery, an AM/FM radio, a heavy duty towing package and the Tow Command system that works to integrate the control of the trailer brakes with those on the truck. The XLT comes with cloth upholstery and chrome wheels and adds power windows, door locks and mirrors; a CD player, an MP3 audio jack, a 40/20/40 split front bench seat, air-conditioning, and cruise control. The upscale and luxurious Lariat features fog lights, leather upholstery, power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and telescoping side mirrors. Numerous options are available for all models, including a King Ranch Package for the Lariat that includes 2 tone paint, 20 inch alloy wheels and distinctive leather upholstery.

Anyone who needs an aggressive, full time work truck will appreciate the 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty’s capabilities as well as its refined style. Alternatively, those who do not need immense torque and power on a daily basis will not want to pass by the easier to maneuver and smoother riding, less powerful pickups and SUVs.

E-150 XLT Wagon, the E-150 Chateau, the E-350 Super Duty XL Wagon, the E-350 Super Duty XLT Wagon, the E-350 Super Duty Ext Length XL, the E-350 Super Duty EXT Length XLT and as conversion packages (prices vary.)

The Chateau seats seven with the XL and XLT models accommodating eight to fifteen. Engine options start with the 4.6 liter Triton SOHC SEFI 16-valve V8 with 225 hp as an automatic transmission with four speeds. The 5.4 liter, 16-valve V8 generates 255 horsepower as a four or five-speed automatic. The 6.8 liter, 20-valve V10 offers 305 horsepower with a five-speed automatic, the same transmission on the 6 liter, 32-valve diesel V8 producing 235 horsepower. (Towing and payload capacities vary widely with body type and engine.)

All models of the 2007 Ford E-Series vans offer occupant protection with airbags covering the driver and passenger and employ brakes with anti-locking technology. Entry via a remote including a panic button is optional on all models (but standard on the Chateau.) All models have an AM/FM stereo with the unit including a CD on the Chateau and XLT models. (A DVD Entertainment system is optional across the line.)

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