Ken Block revisits Twin Peaks to test his Fiesta on gravel
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ford, Celebrities
You know you want another one of Ken Block's trademark hoonage videos, don't you? Of course you do. And so we're glad to oblige. But, Ken Block being Ken Block, "just another" video wouldn't do. No, he and his crew at the Monster World Rally Team have to make each episode count. And that requires a certain measure of creativity.
For this latest three-minute clip, Block and company headed to the Dirtfish Rally School in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington. That may not mean anything to you now, but do you remember Twin Peaks? Dirtfish is based in the very same location where the popular early-90s TV show was shot. Block and his team headed there to test out the new Ford Fiesta HFHV on gravel for the first time, and were kind enough to bring along a video crew to, um... "document" the process. Follow the jump to go fire walking with Block and crew.
Continue reading Ken Block revisits Twin Peaks to test his Fiesta on gravel
Ken Block revisits Twin Peaks to test his Fiesta on gravel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block’s Gymkhana 4 is automotive hoonage, Hollywood style
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Celebrities, Humor, Specialty
If you're Ken Block and you feel the need to top your previous and ridiculously popular Gymkhana videos with a fourth installment, what do you do? Why, turn to Hollywood, of course. For Gymkhana 4, Block and his DC Shoes crew travel to the Universal Studios lot, and, as such, you'll see plenty of classic movie props in this film.
Let's see... we've got Back to the Future, Jaws, Zombieland and Slumdog Millionaire for starters, along with a couple of gorillas and Segways. But it's the automotive action you're most interested in, right? And in that case, we've got more good news for you: Block's sideways smokey action in back in full effect, and this time, he crashes through buildings, dodges animatronic sharks and pirouettes around the guys from Epic Meal Time.
All in, you'll find just over nine minutes of automotive hoonage starring Block's Ford Fiesta Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle, punctuated by movie references and product placement along with plenty of special effects and insane camera angles. See it all for yourself right after the break.
Continue reading Ken Block's Gymkhana 4 is automotive hoonage, Hollywood style
Ken Block's Gymkhana 4 is automotive hoonage, Hollywood style originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block releases first teaser of Gymkhana 4
Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Specialty, Racing
The relentless Gymkhana hype-machine is ramping up yet again and the first teaser is officially upon us.
Ken Block's Hybrid Function Hoon Machine will play the lead roll in Gymkahana 4 and we get a brief (and appropriately loud) taste of the turbocharged rally machine's anti-lag system. Nine GoPro cameras catch the two-foot-long flame projecting out the Ford's titanium exhaust, and you can get your first taste after the jump before the real show begins on Tuesday.
Continue reading Ken Block releases first teaser of Gymkhana 4
Ken Block releases first teaser of Gymkhana 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsGymkhana 4 production underway, arriving late summer
Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Ford
A new car, updated livery and a fresh set of tires can only mean one thing for Ken Block - a new Gymkhana video is in the works, and it's slated to take over YouTube sometime this summer. The new instrument of driving precision and rubber destruction is Block's Ford Fiesta Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle.
Gymkhana Four will no doubt be another internet sensation, one that will add to the constantly growing mass of people who've viewed the previous three videos. To date, Gymkhana installments one through three have been watched over 110 million times, with Gymkhana Three making its way on to YouTube's list of Top 10 Videos of 2010.
Whether you think it's merely a marketing stunt, a display of skill behind the wheel or something in between, there's little doubt that you're going to watch it. We'll do the same, and you'll be sure to find it here on Autoblog when Ken Block and DC Shoes release the finished version. For now, you can get a taste of what's to come by checking out the image gallery above.
Continue reading Gymkhana 4 production underway, arriving late summer
Gymkhana 4 production underway, arriving late summer originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block unveils new multi-hoonable Ford Fiesta HFHV
Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty, Off-Road, Racing
Being Ken Block has got to be a lot of fun, but like any other life, it has its share of problems. In Ken's case, he's actively involved in a number of rally disciplines, each of which has its own parameters and requires its own type of car. Solution: the Ford Fiesta HFHV.
The initials stand for Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle, but don't let that first H fool you: there's nothing Prius about this car. It's the new beast which Ford and Block have developed for adaptable use in each of three types of rally competition: stage rallies, rallycross and Gymkhana.
The car is based on Block's Ford Fiesta RS WRC, albeit with a 2.0-liter turbo four capable of producing as much as 600 horsepower and 665 pound-feet of torque, depending on configuration. And configurability is what this car's all about. By swapping the wheels and tires and adjusting everything from the suspension to the engine mapping, the HFHV can be quickly set up for any of these three functions. Believe it or not, Block's Monster crew says it can even be street-legal, depending on the setup.
Bottom line: expect to see this car wherever you see Block pop up, whether it's on a rally stage, a closed parking lot or a film set - starting with the X Games this weekend in Los Angeles. Follow the jump to watch the video footage and read the full press release.
Continue reading Ken Block unveils new multi-hoonable Ford Fiesta HFHV
Ken Block unveils new multi-hoonable Ford Fiesta HFHV originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDates for Ken Block’s Gymkhana World Tour announced
Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Ford
Ken Block is coming to a
The Monster World Rally team will first head to Vienna, Austria, where the Gymkhana World Tour kicks offs on July 10. A live audience will be treated to a Gymkhana run that will in turn be filmed for a new soon-to-be-YouTube-sensational video.
From Austria, Ken Block and his crew will move to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. This July 23 stop on the tour is the week prior to X Games 17, after which Block will stick around to try and pilot his Fiesta to Rallycross gold. Following that, the Gymkhana tour heads Down Under to bring tire-smoking antics to the birthplace of Hoon. Ford Australia will welcome Block in Melbourne for the weekend of September 2-3 just prior to Rally Australia.
This is going to be a smokey summer for Ken Block, and an expensive one for his tire sponsor, Pirelli. Click past the jump for all the details in the full press release.
Continue reading Dates for Ken Block's Gymkhana World Tour announced
Dates for Ken Block's Gymkhana World Tour announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block busting through boxes in DiRT 3 promo
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Off-Road
We can never get enough of Ken Block's Gymkhana, and we're pretty sure that many of you feel the same way. Lucky for us, Block and Codemasters have the launch of DiRT 3 to look forward to, making a new drift video a no-brainer.
Watch Block as he hops behind the wheel of the Ford Focus Rally car at London's Battersea Power Station, the same place he took a bikini model from Zoo Magazine for a ride. As always, Block traverses some keenly placed obstacles whilst drifting and doing donuts all the way. As a special sendoff to DiRT 3, Block also drifts through a series of stacked DiRT 3 boxes, which we hope aren't filled with copies of the $59 game.
Hit the jump to watch the slide-master do his thing. This may not be Block's best work, but it isn't often that we actually enjoy being bombarded with advertising.
Continue reading Ken Block busting through boxes in DiRT 3 promo
Ken Block busting through boxes in DiRT 3 promo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 May 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKen Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Toys/Games
The launch of DiRT 3 is nearly here. You can pick up a copy of the Gymkhana-friendly game on May 24th, but since we're not quite there yet, Codemasters is more than happy to show off this new video, tantalizing us until the day we can finally plunk down cash for our very own copy.
Like we've seen in the past, this latest clip features a virtual Ken Block sliding his perfectly pixelated Ford Fiesta through a make-shift course. This time around, however, Block is joined by Tanner Foust and his equally impressive Rallycross-ready Fiesta.
The last time these two met in real life, Foust wound up beating Block at his own game. Now he's in Block's game, and we can't wait to take each car out for a few (thousand) laps of virtual tire destruction. Click past the jump to watch the clip.
Continue reading Ken Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle
Ken Block battles Tanner Foust in DiRT 3 Gymkhana battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: Ken Block and Zoo bikini model strap in for makeshift Gymkhana ride
Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Racing
It's a tried-and-true stunt: Take one professional driver (at least as often as not, it seems, Ken Block), put them in a fast car. Add one beautiful woman, a bunch of cameras, and stir. The result? Generally, lots of screams and nearly as many clicks on Youtube. We suspect the internet clicks will indeed come, but this particular video is suspiciously absent of screaming girls.
Judging by her lack of aural outbursts, we'd say that this particular bikini model, who was apparently plucked from the pages of Zoo Magazine, actually enjoyed her time in the passenger seat with Mr. Ken Block, he of Gymkhana fame. She even gives him a nice pat on the back upon exiting the Ford
This video was shot at a Gymkhana circuit at Battersea Power Station as a promotional event for the launch of DiRT 3, and both the video and GPS data overlaid over the screen were captured and recorded by a Racelogic Video VBOX. See it all go down for yourself in the video after the break.
[Source: Youtube]
Continue reading Video: Ken Block and Zoo bikini model strap in for makeshift Gymkhana ride
Video: Ken Block and Zoo bikini model strap in for makeshift Gymkhana ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3
Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty
As if Ken Block's Gymkhana series weren't popular enough, the DC Shoes owner/hotshoe has released eight (8) new edits of Gymkhana 3, each focusing on a different aspect of Block's behind-the-wheel trickery.
The videos, all of which can be viewed after the jump, highlight the more impressive of Block's tricks, like a rainy-day rolling 360 and a nearly impossible wall tap that leaves just a slight rubber smudge on the white concrete. There's also an in-depth look at Block's execution of the famed 51-degree bank wall ride.
Of the eight vids, two are dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at Gymkhana 3 and the making of a limited-edition Gymkhana 3 drip poster, signed in paint pen by Block himself. According to Block, the videos are meant to celebrate the success of Gymkhana 1, 2 and 3 and give fans something else to sink their teeth into. Check out all 8 videos after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3
Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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