Some marketing pitches just make you want to laugh at times. Here’s Ford with their latest offering for the mustang range – the 2012 Mustang Boss 302. And Ford’s calling the car the fastest and best-handling Mustang ever.

And get this, Ford’s targetting the BMW M3 as a rival with this car. A new air intake and camshafts ups the 5.0L V8′s output to 434 bhp (from 406 bhp). 380 lb-ft of torque’s on tap as well. The power’s transmitted to the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox.

Handling is addressed as well (the pitfall of Shelby-tuned Mustangs) with new coil springs, stiffer suspension bushings, a large stabiliser bar, and 14-inch Brembo brakes. The car also gets adjustable shocks and a new steering-assist system. A limited-slip diff is also available as an option.

Even with all of these enhancements, it’d be interesting to see what’s the verdict on this Mustang. Oh the day I’d hear Bentley pimping their cars “cheap” would be the day.

Check out the new facelifted Ford Mondeo which will be making its first public appearance in the upcoming Moscow show this August.

One of the biggest additions to the Mondeo badge is the new 237 bhp version of the 2.0L turbo Ecoboost four-banger which offers great performance and even better emissions. Standard with the Ecoboost is Ford’s dual-clutch Powershift transmission.

Other engine additions include a 2.2L turbo diesel and improved versions of the 2.0L gasoline engines dishing out an array of power outputs depending on the level of tune.

On the outside the new Mondeo gets a new front grille, extra chrome, day time LED running lights and a new tail-light design.

Inside, the cabin gets a new center console and a new overhead console. A new sat-nav and sound system are also thrown in as part of the updates.

Check out this new small car concept from Ford – the Ford Start Concept. The car’s unveiled at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.

Together with the enveiling of this new car, Ford announced that the company will also be extending its EcoBoost brand of engines with a new (and wee) 1.0L 3-cylinder engine that also happens to power the Start. The engine’s been green-lighted for production.

“This very real technology will come into production in the near future to deliver CO2 emissions of less than 100 g/km but power and drivability comparable to larger petrol I4 powerplants,” a statement from Ford said.

The 1.0L engine will be joined by a new 1.6L 4-cylinder engine and a 2.0L 4-cyclinder engine in the EcoBoost family. Currently, Ford offers a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost.

Ken Block made himself many a geek gearhead’s poster boy thanks to his Gymkhana videos on YouTube.

Now that he competes in the WRC, he’s bound to draw some real attention. Since Subaru exited the competition, Block had to switch to Ford. And that makes an all-American rally car-and-driver lineup.

Check out Block’s latest Gymkhana ride – a Ford Fiesta. Don’t underestimate the car thinking it’s just a regular Fiesta despite all the decals. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0L engine that can dish out as much as 838 bhp but’s detuned to 641 bhp. That’s Ferrari Enzo territoriy!

The engine’s mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox that delivers the power to all four wheels. According to Block, the car can reach 0 to 40 in just 2.0 seconds. Block’s Fiesta’s wider than the standard and packs a lot of aero and body upgrades.

On a business standpoint, you probably can’t go wrong teaming up with a company that has dominated the computing industry for decades.

On a technical standpoint, it doesn’t seem to speak to well if the company you’re teaming up with is known for its crappy technology.

Anyway, that’s the direction Ford wants to go that’s why they teamed up with software giant, Microsoft, in its future electric car efforts.

Ford recently outlined their plans to venture into the electric vehicle market. The Detroit company wants to launch 5 electric vehicles by 2013 starting with the Connect Electric, the Focus Electric, a new hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

So where does Microsoft figure in all this? Microsoft is set to release the Microsoft Hohm – a web-based energy management application.

Hohm will help owners with the best ways to effectively charge and manage electricity. It is also aimed to guide utility companies to manage the demand per area or region thanks to the data of who charges their cars, when and where.

So the Ford Focus RS gets a new variant – the RS500. Nope. The 500 in the name doesn’t mean that it’s got 500 hp. It’s because only 500 of these bad boys will be made.

But don’t worry. This amazing sporty front-wheel drive car is pumped with more steroids. The five-cylinder engine has been given a new induction kit and modified exhausts to give the car 345 bhp – 45 more than the standard car. Torque is also enhanced to 338 lb-ft from 325 lb-ft.

These effectively trim the car’s 0-60 time to 5.6 seconds. Top speed is still 163 mph, though.

On the outside, the car gets a few more styling tweaks. The car sports a matte black finish which is achieved by painting the car with the standard gloss paint and then shopping the car to 3M to have the matt film applied.

Inside, the car gets red detailing instead of the standard blue and a special plaque sits on the center console to indicate that the car’s unique edition.

I’ve always liked the Ford Focus. It might not be the best family four-door around, but it does give drivers the versatility of having a sporty ride with all the practicality needed by the family. Now here’s another version of the Focus that’s specifically built for the driver with more practical needs – the Ford Focus Estate.

“As with all of the models in our new global C-platform portfolio, there is scope to offer… this estate in markets around the world,” so says Ford of Europe boss John Fleming.

The platform has proven to be solid. The Mazda 3 shares pretty much the same underpinnings as the Focus and so does the upcoming Kuga. A new performance version of the Focus is also set to be unveiled by 2012. No word yet if the new model will be replacing either the ST or the RS.

The new Focus Estate will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show.

The thing with business is it really is a dog-eat-dog world. Falter and your competitors would be more than happy to kick you while you’re down.

Toyota might be the biggest automaker today after GM went bust but it might not be able to hold on to the title for long. Especially with mighty Volkswagen eating away at the lead and, of course, in the light of one of the biggest recalls in history.

An accelerator problem prompted Toyota to recall millions of vehicles worldwide. The company even halted US sales of select models until its engineers figure out a permanent solution to the problem.

Ready to pick on the wounded giant are GM, Ford, Chrysler and Hyundai who are offering Toyota customers incetives on trade-ins.

Chrysler is offering $1,000 bonus for Tundra, Tacoma, and Sienna owners who’d want to get any new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge or Ram. A similar $1,000 offer is made by Hyundai for any new takers of a Sonata, Elanta, and Elantra Touring.

Call it honor, but Toyota’s biggest Japanese rival Honda which has been permanently trying to pip Toyota’s model range, takes the high road in not trying to steal Toyota’s customers in such a manner.

The beloved American muscle car will get some upgrades for its 2011 incarnation including a new V8 engine for its range-topping trim level.

The V8 engine will see increased displacement from the 4.6L of old to a whopping 5.0L. That should bring back some memories from the ‘Stang fans of old.

The other bits slapped on the engine, however, get a modern twist. It is fitted with an aluminum block and head, twin overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder. It dishes out 412 bhp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Not quite supercar range but that’s enough guns to blast through America’s highways.

Ford also took time to make sure that even with the larger displacement, the new V8 will not be any heavier than the 4.6L and that it is even 5% more fuel efficient despite its power boost.

Between the top two Mustang tuners – Shelby and Roush – my money would always go to Roush. Why? It’s primarily because Roush doesn’t leave out the suspensions and handling when giving the Mustang more pony powers.

Now meet the two new Roush Mustangs – the new 427R 2010 Mustang and the 2010 Roush Stage 3 Mustang.

The 427R is powered by a 4.3L supercharged V8 engine to dish out 435 hp. Now that’s quite something given that it enables the car to do 0 to 62 mph in just about 4 seconds.

But if you want a faster Mustang, then you might want to go for the Stage 3. The car features a modified version of the engine found in the 2009 Roush P-51B Mustang including the R2300 supercharger that ups the power rating to an awesome 540-hp with a peak torque of 510 lb-ft.

Source: Roush

Ford will not be left out of the Frankfurt show. Being the only US automaker who survived the financial crisis without having to declare bankruptcy, they should be proud of showcasing their cars. Never mind if they’re not supercar material.

This here’s the new Ford C-Max which gets the honor of being built on the same platform as the next-gen Ford Focus. The car’s basically a people mover with five and seven-seater options. Your choice depending on the number of butts you’ll be hauling around.

The car will be powered by Ford’s turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. The C-segment platform used by the C-Max will also be shared by the upcoming Focus and the Kuga replacement.

Pictured is the illustration of the five-seater C-Max. The larger seven-seater will be styled differently mimicking similar people movers like Renault Grand Scenic which employs sliding doors for better access to rear seats.

Source: NY Times

Ford has many reasons to be proud for what they’ve done to the Focus RS but it still has to prove itself across a number of challenges. The Nurburgring Nordschleife is still the proving grounds for any sports car out there and it’s great to see the Focus RS do a lap around it.

In an effort to prove that the Focus RS is the hottest hatch in Europe, Sport Auto’s EIC Horst von Saurma takes the car around the ‘Ring. The driver and car managed to do an 8:26. Not bad at all given that the Focus is a front-wheel drive car.

The RS is powered by a turbo-charged 2.5L Duratec engine. It generates 300 hp and a max torque of 324 lb-ft. It manages 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 163 mph.

Here’s a video of the lap:

The little hot hatch that has gained popularity in Europe will be coming to North America. The US launch of the Ford Fiesta is still on track for 2010. In addition to the Fiesta, Ford will also be making available the newly re-designed Focus by the second half.

“Right now, both of those programs remain on target,” Ford product development chief Derrick Kuzak told Reuters in an interview. “And on the Fiesta side, launching in the U.S., we will be building on some very good momentum because the vehicle has already launched in other regions of the world.”

Aside from the two cars, Ford is currently working on the other cars in the lineup. A fully-redesigned Taurus sedan is in the works as well as updated versions of the Fusion and Mustang are in store this year.

Ford’s hold of the market outside the United States with cars like the Focus and the Fiesta helped it stay afloat. The company is the only one in the Big Three not to be threatened by bankruptcy. GM has already gone bankrupt while Chrysler had to be taken over by Fiat.

Source: Reuters

Late in 2008, Ford announced that it would be building a new engine codenamed the ‘Bobcat’. The new engine will feature ethanol-injection as an added feature for improving the power and fuel efficiency of Ford’s soon-to-debut EcoBoost engines. Now, the engine’s development was confirmed by documents filed at the US Department of Energy.

EcoBoost was designed to provide excellent power with better fuel economy, thanks to turbo-charging and direct-injection. Ethanol-injection should hike up the EcoBoost engines’ performance, with slated improvements of 5 to 10 percent in terms of fuel economy.

How does it work? Ethanol is injected along with petrol into the cylinder chamber before combustion. The ethanol serves to cool the chambers as it combusts, allowing engines to run at higher compression rates and also combines with the high-octane petrol for better efficiency. The engine is being developed in tandem with Ethanol Boosting Systems, a company based in Massachussetts. EBS calls the process Direct Injection Octane Boost.

While there are no release dates given by Ford, the company is expected to start testing the ethanol-injected engine on a Ford F-series pickup late in 2009.

Ford has confirmed that the new Focus RS won’t be made available to buyers in the United States. This was recently confirmed by the company’s new performance car chief Jost Capito.

Although Ford expressed the desire to bring European models to the American market, the move to sell the RS just isn’t a financially sound move. “We’d like to, but the base car isn’t homologated for North America and that’s too costly a job to carry out just for a niche vehicle like the RS,” said Capito in an interview with Autocar.

While the loss of the Focus RS is a bit disappointing, Ford already has a couple of European models that will vie for a market share in their respective segments. The Ford Transit Connect has already started sales in the US. Additionally, the Fiesta is set to start selling in the States by next year.

Capito added that the performance division is still intent on making models that are specific to either the US or Europe. He is particularly keen on keeping the RS at a high standard, which might even mean that future global models might only sparingly see RS badges.

The Ford Focus RS got some really great raves from motoring editors and it might just be the hot-hatch to beat in the market. As a contender, Audi isn’t going to let Ford bid for domination without a fight. Soon to roll out of Audi’s production lines are the A3 sedan an d a hybrid variant. Now reports have it that Audi is working on a sporty version with the RS3.

Powering the RS3 will be a 2.5L 5-cylinder twin-turbo engine coming from the TT. The engine will dish out 355 horsepower and will be capable of a max torque of 332 lb-ft. The engine will be mated to the new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and torque-vectoring differential.

No performance figures yet but the power figures will definitely put the car in good shape to compete with the Focus RS which packs a “measly” 300 hp (which, in fact is already an engineering marvel given that the RS is front-wheel drive.) The Audi, however, sill be a four-wheel drive car making it more capable of putting down the power on the road.

The car is set to be launched by the end of 2012.

There will be some special events and celebrations organized to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the iconic Ford Capri coupe produced by Ford Europe from 1969 to 1986.

The Capri was, after all, hailed as Ford Europe’s Mustang counterpart. The car was also billed as “the car you always promised yourself” in marketing pitches and advertisements. The range totaled 26 variants throughout the model’s lifespan. Overall, nearly 2 million units of the car were sold through 1986.

Among the celebrations will be meets organized in certain areas all over the UK. The confirmed meets include a June 6 event at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Aberdeenshire on August 30, Ace Café in London on September 5, and at the Brooklands Museum, Surrey due September 26.

There have also been hints in recent years of some Focus-based Capri designs, although none have made it to the concept stage yet. Who knows, the celebrations could end up in a revelation of a revived Capri.

Source: Autocar

Between Roush and Shelby, I’d always have the thing for Roush Mustangs. Shelby has had this thing for beefing up the engine so much and leaving the suspension as is. That makes for one brutish car if you’d ask me as opposed to Roush Mustangs which get performance tweaks all over.

Roush just unveiled their latest Mustang – the Roush 427RT. Don’t be misled by the monicker since this car packs a 4.3L V8 with a Roush supercharger boosting the total power output to a beastly 435 hp. This allows the car to go from 0-60 in about 4 seconds and 0 to 60 in less than 115 feet.

There will be three “trim levels” to this car with prices starting at $34,847 for the Stage 1T and $43,051 for the 427RT. Buyers, however, can go through 150 parts that they’d like to have on their Roush Mustang.

Source: Roush

Ford is giving a glimpse of the future with its Iosis Max concept four-door hatchback, from which the next-generation Ford C-Max mini-MPV would be derived. The Iosis Max also hints at the appearance of the new Ford Focus due in 2011.

The concept, according to Martin Smith, the vehicle’s chief designer, “is a store of design cues and signature elements that will be evident on the next generation of Focus-family models.” The Iosis Max has strong styling and aggressive elements reminiscent of those from the Ford Fiesta.

The Iosis Max concept runs on a 1.6-liter, 177-brake horsepower engine with EcoBoost, mated to a Powershift dual-clutch transmission system developed by Ford. Simulations peg emission levels at 125g/km.

There was a Ford Iosis concept revealed at the Frankfurt Show back in 2005. While only a few years separate the two concept hatchbacks, the designs are worlds apart. The Iosis Max looks kind of like a barracuda, with the downward-sloped headlights and the huge, frown-shaped lower grille. Good thing it’s still in the concept stage, and much can still be changed from here to production.

Source: Autocar

Ford is reviving its highly-popular Super High Output line with a new SHO based on the 2010 Ford Taurus, which will be unveiled as the Chicago Auto Show goes under way.

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO draws its 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque from a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, quite easily the most powerful EcoBoost yet. For the transmission, the Taurus SHO uses a six-speed automatic mated to the engine. It also has paddle-shifters and a partial All Wheel Drive system that can detect when wheels slip, automatically engaging to prevent any mishap.

The car is also fitted with EPAS, or electronic power-assisted steering, which helps in maximizing fuel consumption. A variety of other features have also been thrown in the mix: 19-inch alloy wheels and a sports suspension complete with heavy-duty shock absorbers, springs, and stabilizer bars.

For those who have been waiting for the SHO’s revival for far too long, well… you know what they say: Patience is a virtue. Pretty soon, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO will make its debut in all its sleek, EcoBoost-powered glory.

Source: Motor Authority

Great Britain-based What Car? Magazine lauded the new Ford Fiesta as the publication’s 2009 Car of the Year, calling it “the most complete car (they’ve) ever tested,” with a good balance of style, power, and the all-important fuel economy.

“It’s practical enough to be used as a family car, fun enough to be used as a sports car and stylish enough to make the right impression,” said What Car? Editor Steve Fowler. “It’s also affordable to buy, cheap to run and kind to the planet.”

The UK has been very receptive to Ford’s Europe-produced subcompact (called supermini in the UK). For November and December of 2008, the Fiesta was the top grosser in European car sales. The new Ford Fiesta will see a US release in early 2010, with hatchback and sedan variants to be produced at the company’s Mexico plant in Cuautitlan. Production for Asian markets had started very recently in Nanjing, China.

“This ultimate endorsement by What Car? will drive the new Fiesta to even greater success this year,” said John Fleming, Ford Europe CEO, as he accepted the award.

Most of the time, car magazines often get it wrong (due to bias perhaps) but not this one. The Fiesta will definitely be worth the thought when people consider buying a mini. I think the Fiesta’s one of the biggest comebacks – worthy of John Travolta.

Source: Ford Official Site

Having trouble with parallel parking? Then we’ve got good news for you. Ford has unveiled its new Active Park Assist system, an optional feature for both the Lincoln MKS sedan and Lincoln MKT crossover that will greatly help drivers parallel park.

The system utilizes ultrasonic sensing in tandem with EPAS, or Electric Power Assisted Steering, in order to put the car in the best parallel parking position and come up with the best possible steering angle.

To start things off, there’s a button on the instrument panel and the driver simply pushes this to let the sensors find an appropriate parallel parking slot. Once the driver accepts the parking assistance prompt, the steering system activates and the car practically parks itself. Pedals and transmission are still at the behest of the driver, while he is prompted on distances of nearby cars or people.

So far, only the two aforementioned models will have the Active Park Assist option. However, with Ford planning to put automated steering on more models, there’s a great possibility that the automated parking system will be seen more frequently.

Source: Motor Authority

Ford has come up with a new ‘smart’ gearshift indicator that will be installed on the automaker’s new ECOnetic and Transit cars. The gear-change indicator will be able to let drivers know when the best possible moment is to shift gears.

The indicator will be standard features of the ECOnetic line, including the Mondeo ECOnetic and Fiesta ECOnetic. The Ford Transit and Transit TDCi will also feature the indicator in the basic feature set. By providing drivers with information on when to shift gears, the gear-change indicator will contribute to cutting fuel costs as well as help reduce harmful emissions.

The system keeps track of vehicle data such as throttle position, vehicle load, and the way the driver drives. These bits of information is used by the system to come up with the ideal gear change moment.

“Many drivers could improve their fuel economy significantly by changing gear earlier,” said Tim Winstanley, diesel powertrain manager of Ford. “The indicator provides drivers with a helpful aid to using less fuel and encourages a smoother driving style.”

Source: Motor Torque

As the production version of the Ford Focus RS nears launch, new details have been revealed about this much-awaited car. The new bits of information include a 5.9-second 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) time and a top speed of 264 kph (164 mph).

The Focus RS is also equipped with a Quaife limited-slip differential that has automatic torque-biasing for steady traction on all kinds of surfaces. The standard 2.5-liter Duratec engine features reworked components, including the camshafts, cylinder head and gasket, and intake and manifold system. There are also improved springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. Overall, the RS provides an upgrade in power, handling, and appearance over the base Focus ST.

Blue, white, and vibrant green are the three basic colors available at launch. Buyers can opt to go with interior colors based off the exterior colors or choose a full-leather black interior.

The Ford Focus RS concept was unveiled back in July at the London Motor Show. It will be the first car to be badged with the RS designation since the 2002 Focus RS. The production model has just been completed, and the car is expected to be distributed early in 2009.

Source: Motor Authority

Ford topped the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) list of vehicles that have been deemed “Top Safety Picks,” citing some major milestones achieved for 2008.

IIHS president Adrian Lund said that the Top Safety Pick citation are given to vehicles that pass front, side, and rear crash tests with flying colors, along with electronic stability control, “a technology that can help drivers avoid many crashes altogether.” Ford was pleased with the results, and this shows that various innovations on car safety technology isn’t going to waste.

Acura managed to have all of its models get a Top Safety Pick citation, giving Honda 13 overall picks. Lexus and Infiniti, meanwhile, did not manage to get a single car picked, owing to “inadequate head and seat restraints”.

A majority of the 72 cars included in the list belong to the large-car and SUV categories. On the other hand, the Honda Fit/Jazz was the single subcompact to earn the honor, disproving the notion that size translates to safety when it comes to modern vehicles.

Source: Motor Authority