Ford is playing musical engines with it’s new EcoBoost platform finding a home under the hood of new F-150’s, so to keep it simple they’re dropping a 6.2L into the Raptor and Harley Davidson limited edition trucks.

The upgrade to the 6.2L is music to the ears of those who wanted to get a better experience behind the wheel of something limited in production but not necessarily power.

Most of the people considering a Raptor or Harley edition won’t be disappointed to hear that a bigger engine will be chosen for 2011 models, these are just more reasons to pull the trigger based on the reviews where many said they should have put the 6.2L in to begin with.

In addition to getting extra power to the wheels, Ford is also bringing the 4 door SuperCab configuration to the 2011 models. The result is more passenger friendly, and accessible while providing additional leg room due to the longer wheelbase.

As expected, the price gets a little higher in 2011 due to the engine upgrade, putting it at a suggested starting MSRP of $41,260.

The new standard engine will put the Raptor into the segment it belongs, as one of the most capable off-road trucks that includes a suspension system that has been thoroughly tested and challenged in several offroad situations.

With the 6.2L V8, the 2011 Ford F150 Raptor boasts 411 HP and 434 ft. lbs. of torque, making it an offroad expert capable of the most technical and rugged of courses. Ford’s decision leaves little to improve upon in upcoming years, and grabs the attention of the competition and raises the bar.

What would be complete without addressing one of the most in demand vehicles in the world, the Ford F-150. Ford has brought the EcoBoost technology to the F-150 allowing for a V6 to produce V8-like power all while saving on gas.

EcoBoost technology joins F-150 lineup – The 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ engine specially tuned for truck application joins the revamped powertrain lineup for the 2011 Ford F-150. This engine incorporates established heavyduty truck diesel engine technologies of turbocharging and direct fuel injection in a gasoline engine. This new EcoBoost delivers 90 percent peak torque at 1,700 rpm and continues to 5,000 rpm, making it ideally suited for trailer towing and other truck applications. The rigid testing protocol for this engine was developed from the profile of the harshest-use F-150 customer. This profile was used as the baseline for extensive computer analysis, which was then backed by hardware tests and in-vehicle validation. All tests together replicate more than 1.6 million miles of customer use.*

How Turbocharger Technology Works

The turbocharger is a wonderful piece of technology that has allowed engines for hundreds of years to incorporate the ability to reuse its own exhaust byproduct to generate more power to the engine.

An engine is nothing more than an air pump. The more air you put in, the more power it makes. The downside is when you force more air in, it heats up and then causes the potential for internal detonation which can destroy an engine. Turbochargers can work around this problem when they pair it up with an intercooler, whose job is to cool the air down before it enters the engine.

Cooler air equals more power. Cool air is much more dense than hot air, so in terms of volume of air the engine can handle before detonation, the more dense the air the higher the volume and thus the more power the engine makes.

The Ford F-150 suggested MSRP starts at $22,415 for the XL model.

The Ford Fiesta Movement has attracted noteworthy attention this summer as it’s swept through social media channels. Viral video marketing created by selected agents and events organized by street teams are proving to be effective, in some ways more so than traditional advertising.

What’s making so many eyes take notice?

It’s the novel approach The Ford Fiesta Movement takes in marketing a compact vehicle. Each piece of the puzzle is dedicated to selling the Fiesta as an experience. From YouTube videos featuring auto-tuned robots describing engine specs to a zombie survival guide crafted to highlight keyless entry and push-button engine start, the Fiesta speaks to a generation immune to the usual gimmicks crafted to sell a product.

The process doesn’t end with the advertising. With 4.3 million YouTube views, and over three million Twitter impressions the campaign has generated, Ford announced that over 50,000 “hand-raisers” have retained interest in the vehicle, and plans to continue the campaign with an “unpackaging” process that follows the consumer. A picture of the new Fiesta owner and vehicle is snapped at the dealership at the moment of purchase and a USB drive packed with information about the model comes standard. When plugged into a home computer, the drive includes a download for a community application that keeps the owner connected to Ford, the dealership and fellow Fiesta owners.

What makes the Fiesta Movement is more than a mere branding and advertising campaign. It’s the integrated approach taken from the Fiesta’s launch that follows the customer perspective all the way through the showroom and continues with the buyer out the door. Not only is the Fiesta branded as fun, exciting and affordable, but it’s also the car with a connected community of users and lifestyle statement that may inspire buyer loyalty for years to come.

The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was honored with the title of being the most fuel efficient luxury sedan in America, promising 41 MPG when it hits the city streets in the fall of 2010.  The recognition comes with great engineering and in a market that is extremely competitive when it comes to saving gas in a luxury vehicle.

Many of the most fuel efficient vehicles are not desirable to the luxury buying segment because of their size and focus on being more economic than comfortable, and are usually not what one would consider luxury.

The Lincoln brand has been widely known as a high end luxury vehicle that has always been about comfort and style.  Even back in the days of the Mark VII’s they were in a class of their own with the roomy leather interior and functionality that most cars wouldn’t dream of having.

The Lincoln MKZ is a culmination of years in the making and it seems appropriate that this vehicle should earn such a title due to the extreme reliability and focus on providing not only a comforting driving experience, but one that is technological in almost every regard.

Lincoln has always been ahead of the rest it seems from their interactive dash board and more interior controls and features than one could ever learn about.  The engineers were truly passionate about this brand and the merging of great technology, innovation, and luxury.

In addition, the automakers are becoming more competitive in trying to win over lifetime customers who are loyal to the brand so expect that if you become a Lincoln owner, you’ll have a hard time finding something as luxurious and affordable at a suggested MSRP of $34225.