Ford Pinto
Upon release the Pinto was received with both positive and negative reviews. "Road & Track" faulted the suspension and standard drum brakes, calling the latter a "serious deficiency," but praised the proven 1.6 L "Kent" engine, adapted from European Fords. The larger "2300 inline-4" found in the Chevrolet Vega was an innovative, brand new design using an aluminum alloy block and iron head, but needed more development work as initially released. "Super Stock Magazine" found the fit and finish to be "superior" and were impressed with the car overall. "Car and Driver" found the Pinto, when equipped with the larger 2.0L engine and front disc brakes, to be a nimble and powerful commuter car with good visibility and sports-car feel. A review of the 1974 Pinto with an automatic transmission by "Car and Driver" was not as favorable noting significant decreases in mileage and acceleration.
Lincoln Continental Mark VI
In order to remain in compliance with increasingly stringent federal fuel economy standards (under CAFE, Ford Motor Company was required to average 20.0 MPG for all of its vehicles for 1980), significant changes were made to the powertrain for the Continental Mark VI. The 460 and 400 cubic-inch V8s seen in the Mark V (and the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Continental) were replaced in favor of much smaller V8 engines. The standard engine for the Mark VI was a 129-hp 302 cubic-inch V8. Essentially the Windsor V8 shared with the Versailles, the Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis, and the Ford full-size trucks, the engine was the first V8 sold by Ford with fuel injection; to denote the engine, it was marketed by its 5.0L metric displacement (slightly rounded up from the correct 4.9L figure). As an option, a 140-hp 351 Windsor (5.8L) V8 was available; it was sold with an electronically-controlled variable-venturi 2-barrel carburetor. After 1980, the 351 was discontinued on the Mark VI, due to poor sales and the lack of a distinct power advantage over the 5.0L V8.