AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 FORD EXPEDITION

On The Cover Review: 2012 Ford Expedition

Ford is known for the capability of their F-150 pickup, and the Expedition is like the SUV version of their perennial best-seller. The old-school body-on-frame configuration is important to people who need to tow a boat trailer or haul up to eight people. And the big 5.4-liter, 310-hp V8 can do things that lesser V6 crossover-based trucklets can never achieve. The Expedition does have some car-like qualities, however, like the ride-smoothing independent rear suspension. The Expedition actually comes in two sizes; regular, which would compete directly with a Chevy Tahoe, and EL, which would face off against the Suburban. There is an expedition model for almost any style, including a two-wheel-drive XL starting at $36,305. Or go big and order a fancy four-wheel-drive King Ranch edition, which’ll set you back $52,105 plus options. For proven, rugged dependability, the Ford Expedition may just be the ticket.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT ELECTRIC

On The Cover Review: 2012 Ford Transit Connect Electric

Do you remember the gargantic Hummer H1? The military vehicle turned civilian that was the poster child for environmental destruction and excess fuel consumption? Yeah, well, the company that built that monster, A.M. General, is partially responsible for one of the most environmentally-friendly delivery vans on the market. Meet the new Ford Transit Connect Electric. The rig itself, minus drive train, is built by Ford Motor Co. in Turkey. The roller is then sent to A.M. General’s factory in Michigan, where it is fitted with a 640-lb lithium-ion battery pack and all the electronic equipment to turn this into an actual vehicle. The Red Book staff recently got the chance to get behind the wheel of a new Transit Connect Electric. Like many other all-electric vehicles, you can’t tell it’s running when you start it, which can be a strange sensation. It has lots of instantaneous off-the-line torque, but soon after you take off, power becomes underwhelming. Still, if you had a delivery fleet, and some way to keep these things charged up, they may be a smart choice for delivery fleets.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302

On The Cover Review: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Over the years, few cars have been treated to as many special editions as the Ford Mustang. Dozens of iterations from the Bullet edition to the California Special, the Hurst to the Dan Gurney edition, can make it hard to figure out what’s what. Some are just emblems and stickers. Some are truly performance upgrades. Thankfully, the 2012 Boss 302 is one of the latter (and a little of the former). Inspired by the Boss 302 Mustangs that raced in SCCA competition in 1969, the latest Boss is also designed to handle in the twisties, with stiffer springs and suspension bushings, fatter stabilizer bars, and adjustable shocks and struts. Under the hood, the standard Mustang GT 5.0-liter V8 is upgraded with a new intake and camshafts, boosting the numbers from 412-hp up to a healthy 440. And if you really want to go all out, you can order a Boss 302 Laguna Seca edition, which deletes the back seat and gives you a few more aerodynamic tweaks.

AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 FORD FOCUS

On The Cover Review: 2012 Ford Focus

When it comes to the new Ford Focus, Ford’s focus has changed. Gone are the days of the cheap econobox. Today’s version is better looking, more sophisticated, and potentially more expensive. The 2012 Focus is basically the same car sold in Europe, so taught handling and high quality were greater priorities. Options include Ford’s SYNC system, Sony HD radio with iTunes tagging, active parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. All of these options can increase the $17,000 base price of the Focus to more than $27,000 for the Titanium model. Ford believes that the higher-priced, higher-optioned models will appeal to a more tech-savvy audience who are more willing to pay a premium price for a sophisticated small car than they ever had in the past. This is partly due to fuel mileage concerns, as people want to lose the gas guzzlers, but still have nice features. The Focus can achieve up-to 40-mpg with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.