Ford gears up with new Fiesta RS WRC livery
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Racing
Teams come and teams go from the World Rally Championship. But while this season will see the arrival of Volkswagen and Mini on the WRC stage as newcomers, one perennial challenger that will return is Ford.
Having replaced the long-serving Focus RS last season, Ford will carry on with the new Fiesta RS for another crack at the title it narrowly lost once again to Citroën last season. No fewer than twelve examples will be on the stage this season, but only two will be fielded by the factory-backed Ford World Rally Team, which has just revealed their new livery for the upcoming season at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, England.
Castrol returns once again as the main sponsor, its logo dominating the new color scheme which will be sported by returning five-time rally winner Jari-Matti Latvala (with co-driver Miika Anttila) and former champion Petter Solberg (with Chris Patterson). The latter replaces perennial runner-up Mikko Hirvonen, who left for Citroën this season. Check out the new livery in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Ford gears up with new Fiesta RS WRC livery
Ford gears up with new Fiesta RS WRC livery originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsA day in the life of Ken Block and his SYNC-equipped H.F.H.V.
Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty
Ken Block has extended his tireless Ford promotion to SYNC, equipping his Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle with FoMoCo's infotainment system to star - along with DC BMX rider Kelly Bolton - in his latest video.
The day-in-the-life comes in three acts, beginning with Block driving one of his Gymkhana-prepped Fiestas to LA's Cars and Coffee, followed by a brief lunch, filming of the previously released Gymkhana 4 and wrapping up with a parking lot smoke fest where Block and Bolton do what they do best. Although we're not sure what we're impressed with more: Bolton doing a backflip off a ladder after Block topples it going sideways or the fact that Ken was able to drive his hardly street-legal H.F.H.V. around LA for the day. Check it all out after the jump.
Continue reading A day in the life of Ken Block and his SYNC-equipped H.F.H.V.
A day in the life of Ken Block and his SYNC-equipped H.F.H.V. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCar and Driver calls out J.D. Power IQS
Filed under: Car Buying, Technology, Ford, Design/Style
Ford has taken it on the chin from J.D. Power since the carmaker rolled out its new MyFord Touch system in the 2011 Explorer. Ford's ranking in the influential Initial Quality Survey dropped from fifth last year all the way down to 23rd, in large measure because of customer dissatisfaction with the new technology and its voice recognition interface, but also because of refinement complaints about the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission in the Fiesta. But unlike, say, the Houston Cougars, who plummeted in the Bowl Championship Series rankings after getting blown out in the Conference USA title game this weekend, Ford can make a pretty good case that it's getting jobbed.
The traditional definition of quality when it comes to new cars and trucks has been based on those vehicles being free of defects. But in the last few years, the tide has been turning, in large measure because J.D. Power is increasingly weighing customer complaints related to design and, in particular, new electronic technology. Car and Driver paints the complaints that have dogged Ford among the latter, suggesting that these are less valid quality metrics than something like a poorly assembled door panel.
The venerable buff book doesn't stop at defending Ford, however, cautioning against what it sees as a trend "toward the lowest-common-denominator solutions to reduce design 'problems.'" Citing examples like BMW moving its cruise control from a separate stalk to buttons on the steering wheel to appease whining customers and Porsche getting dinged on IQS for using brake pads that generate too much dust, C/D doesn't say it outright, but certainly implies that J.D. Power is no longer pushing automakers in the right direction.
Car and Driver calls out J.D. Power IQS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video
Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Australia, Celebrities, Specialty, Racing
Ken Block had a busy summer. The exhibition driver spent the season frolicking around the globe with a few friends and putting on Gymkhana shows as part of a world tour. The event showed up in just three cities; Los Angeles, Vienna and Melbourne, and gave a handful of lucky Block fans a show worth remembering. But with so few shoes spread across such a wide distance, that left plenty of the driver's faithful out in the cold. Ever the publicist, Block crafted a video for those who couldn't make it out to breathe the tire smoke.
The result is three shows crammed into less than six minutes of footage. There's plenty of sideways Ford Fiesta action as well as airborne motocross riders, scantily clad ladies of multiple nationalities and at least one gold tooth as part of the clip. One very famous Segway also makes an appearance or two. Hit the jump to see the full clip for yourself and read the press release.
Continue reading Ken Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video
Ken Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block gets own line of Hot Wheels in time for holiday season
Filed under: Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Ford, Toys/Games, Celebrities, Specialty, Racing
Like floods, wildfires and tsunamis, the Ken Block marketing machine is a force of nature. The exhibition driver has partnered up with Mattel for a special line of Hot Wheels toys that include 1:64-scale die cast versions of Block's WRC Ford Fiesta in either black or white liveries. As with most Hot Wheels toys, the cars are priced at $1, which means that just about everyone can afford to find one of these in their stocking this year.
Mattel has also unveiled two different remote controlled Ken Block cars, starting with the radio-controlled Nitro Speedsters Ford Fiesta. The pint-sized R/C car is a self-contained controller and racer unit, perfect for stuffing in your pocket. We imagine the tiny wireless car would be ideal for disrupting class or the occasional office meeting. The whole kit will set you back $25.99.
Those of us who demand a slightly larger R/C experience may opt for the Ken Block R/C Fiesta Stunt Car. The toy allows just about anyone to execute either wide or tight drifts with little more than a press of a button, and with a scale speed of 0-80 mph in two seconds, the toy should be plenty of fun for $45. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Continue reading Ken Block gets own line of Hot Wheels in time for holiday season
Ken Block gets own line of Hot Wheels in time for holiday season originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough
Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford
If you're wondering about the future of Ford powertrains, the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and the 2013 Ford Escape should provide all the clues you need. The entry-level crossover features a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines and exactly zero V6 options.
The smallest EcoBoost displaces only 1.6 liters, and promises terrific fuel economy and performance. That engine is the thriftiest engine in the Escape, but what if it were to reside under the hood of something much smaller? That's where the Fiesta ST Concept comes into play. The performance-oriented Fiesta is on display at the Ford exhibit in LA, and though it's a showcar for now, this B-segment hatch looks production ready.
Ford claims that in this application, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost delivers 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque - a whopping 60 more ponies than the naturally aspirated 1.6 featured in the garden-variety production Fiesta. Given that the base Fiesta is only 2,600 pounds, we're guessing 180 horsepower is more than enough punch to turn the Fiesta into one heck of a fun ride.
The Fiesta ST concept certainly looks the part of a high-performance hatch, with a gaping, aggressive black mesh grille, attractive body-colored moldings and chunky five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, and feel free to click on the gallery above for our high-resolution photos.
Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough
Ford Fiesta ST Concept is a five-door street tough originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show
Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford
Ford already debuted the Fiesta ST concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but if you recall, that show car was based on the three-door Fiesta that isn't available here in the United States. Now, Ford is showing off a proper five-door version of the Fiesta ST, set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in two weeks.
Ford still tells us that the Fiesta ST is purely a concept right now, but the fact that both three- and five-door variants of the concept have been made leads us to believe that we'll eventually see a production version. What's more, Ford's own press release states, "The five-door Fiesta ST Concept shows the promise for a globally available performance model." Here's hoping.
Just like the three-door concept from Frankfurt, the five-door Fiesta ST is powered by Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine, good for 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Like its big brother, the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST concept uses a front-wheel-drive setup, with power being sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
Speaking of the Focus ST, we already saw the production car alongside the three-door Fiesta ST in Frankfurt, but Ford has announced that it will debut the left-hand-drive, North American-spec version of the car in Los Angeles, as well. The Focus ST is powered by Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four, good for 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and features amenities like Recaro seats, a performance-tuned suspension and upgraded wheels, tires and brakes.See what the Fiesta ST concept looks like with an extra set of doors in our attached high-res image gallery, and follow the jump for Ford's official release on the new concept.
Continue reading Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show
Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord rushes to fix gearbox problems, but not quickly enough for Consumer Reports
Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford
Consumer Reports recently cited issues with the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission in the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta as one of the primary reasons behind the automaker's fall from grace in its annual Car Reliability Study, but according to The New York Times, the automaker has already worked to solve most of the problems with the gearboxes. Ford has issued a number of technical service bulletins designed to improve drivability at low speeds. On September 13, Ford sent its dealers a bulletin describing how to reprogram the powertrain control module for "smoother acceleration, reduced hesitation, better low-speed drivability and improved shift scheduling."
In addition, a separate bulletin sent out on September 2 specifically dealt with harsh gear changes in the Fiesta. Like its larger sibling, dealers were instructed to reprogram the transmission for better performance. Still, those fixes come too late for Ford in the Consumer Reports' report. We'll have to wait until next year to see if the changes improve the Blue Oval's ranking.
Ford rushes to fix gearbox problems, but not quickly enough for Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord falls, Chrysler jumps in Consumer Reports reliability survey
Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep
Consumer Reports has released its annual Car Reliability Study, and the results weren't kind to Ford. The automaker saw its ranking fall from 10th to 20th due to issues with three specific models: the Explorer, Fiesta and Focus. Each of those vehicles ranked below average in reliability during their first year on the market due to issues with MyFord Touch and the dual-clutch transmissions in the Fiesta and Focus.
Meanwhile, Chrysler busily inched its way up the reliability ladder. Jeep managed to jump to the 13th spot to become the most reliable domestic manufacturer while Chrysler jumped 12 spots in the study and Dodge maneuvered up by three places.
According to the study, the Chrysler 200, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee all performed well in their respective reliability evaluations. Even so, Consumer Reports notes that of the 97 domestic vehicles the publication studied, 35 percent still rate as below average compared to the rest of the field. Head over to Consumer Reports to learn how the rest of the field shook out.
Ford falls, Chrysler jumps in Consumer Reports reliability survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Focus and Fiesta to be well represented at SEMA
Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Budget, Hatchback, Ford
Ford is hitting SEMA with a volley of modified Focus and Fiesta models this year. The company says that the aftermarket show is the perfect venue for showing off just how customizable both vehicles can be, and with creations from the likes of Roush, Cobb Tuning and Gold Coast Automotive among others, there should be a hatch or sedan on hand in Las Vegas for everyone. Roush is doing what the company does best: plopping an R900 TVS Supercharger on top of the four-cylinder engine in the Focus for a substantial bump in power, and a full Roush exhaust ensures that the engine will breathe easy.
Cobb Tuning, meanwhile, will be going the turbocharging route with its Focus. The car will boast forged pistons, a custom turbo kit and front-mounted intercooler, as well as a unique air box, intake and exhaust manifold. No one's saying just how much power the Focus will make, but a StopTech Trophy big brake kit should ensure the car can be brought down from speed in a hurry.
The star of the Fiesta show this year will likely be from Gold Coast Automotive. With an intercooled Jackson Racing Rotrex supercharger, Wilwood braking hardware on all four corners and a custom front diffuser and rear spoiler, this GCA entrant could be the mightiest Fiesta of them all. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Continue reading Ford Focus and Fiesta to be well represented at SEMA
Ford Focus and Fiesta to be well represented at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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