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Showing posts with label Ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ford. Show all posts

Ford Set to Take 1,000-Lap Challenge Around Bristol Motor Speedway on One Tank of Gas in 2011 V6 Mustang

[2011+V6+MUSTANG-1.jpg]

- Ford will attempt to circle the Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR track for at least 1,000 laps - more than 500 miles - on one tank of fuel with the 2011 Mustang V-6 during record challenge in June.

- Fans can enter to win a 2011 Mustang V-6 by correctly guessing the number of complete laps the car completes on a tank of gas at www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com.

- The 2011 Mustang V-6 provides 305 horsepower and best-in-class 31 mpg fuel economy.

- The 2011 Mustang V-6 will get a taste of Bristol this weekend when it serves as official pace car of the Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup event.


2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6



Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich., March 21, 2010 – Since first coming off the assembly line 45 years ago, Mustang has always been known for its sheer power and speed. Now you can add another element to that reputation – best-in-class fuel economy.

One year after the Ford Fusion Hybrid, America's most fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan, successfully eclipsed 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, Ford will put its new 2011 Mustang V-6 on a similar quest as it attempts to run 1,000 laps on a single tank of gas at Bristol Motor Speedway on June 23, and they're inviting consumers to be involved.

A team of Ford engineers and celebrities will attempt to prove Mustang's ranking as the most fuel-efficient pony car to date by circling the half-mile NASCAR bullring at least 1,000 times – more than 500 miles – and highlight the 3.7L V-6 model's best-in-class 31 mpg.

Fans can be involved in the Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge by entering a national sweepstakes in which they will guess the total number of complete laps that Mustang will complete during the Challenge. Ford has designed a specific website for fans, who can register their guess at www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com between March 21 and June 23, 2010.

The grand prize winner will be randomly selected from all those who correctly guess the number of laps completed during the Challenge and will take home a 2011 Mustang V-6 coupe.

"We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today's market it's also about fuel economy," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "By going 1,000 laps or more on one of NASCAR's most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can be mean and green."

The Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge will begin the morning of Wednesday, June 23 with a team of Ford test drivers continuously circling the track billed as "the world's fastest half-mile" until the vehicle runs out of fuel with a goal of surpassing 1,000-lap mark.

"To go at least 1,000 laps at Bristol means we'll be going twice as far as the NASCAR drivers do during their races, and we'll be doing it without a pit stop," said Fritz Wilke, Mustang Brand Manager.

The V-6 Mustang will be no stranger to Bristol by then, having been selected to serve as pace car for this weekend's Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

This event is a follow-up to last year's challenge in which Ford NASCAR driver Carl Edwards participated in driving the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid a total of 1,445 miles (an average of 81.5 mpg) on a single tank of gas around Washington, D.C.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.


Source: Ford Motor Company

2010 Ford Figo New

2010 Ford Figo New

The great American automaker, Ford, is invading their competitor’s markets by introducing the new Figo into the Indian market. The compact Figo is an all new car that features a fresh, contemporary shape that offers a distinct alternative to the traditional offerings in the city car segment with a shape that exudes the spirit of energy in motion with its bold fender flares and swept back headlamps.

Like all of the blue oval’s new car, the Ford Figo was designed with their consumers in mind. The all new body features lots of fresh fun elements like a large mouth front bumper, sporty alloy wheels pushed to car’s four corners, squared off rear end and subtle rear spoiler. Despite its compact size, the Ford Figo has a spacious interior with plenty of room for both passengers and cargo thanks to its taller roofline and more upright stance. Ford feels that this is the perfect car to combat the ultra affordable Tata Nano that is produced in the developing nation. The Figo’s size makes it the perfect car to navigate the narrow stretches of the Indian bazaars and markets without scarifying an ounce of style.

With Ford planning on bringing the equally compact Fiesta to the U.S. in the near future, the question that remains is whether or not Americans will have a soft spot in their hearts for a more spacious city car offering.
India’s role as an important player in the future of Ford Motor Company’s international strategy was underscored today when the company’s President and CEO, Alan Mulally, unveiled an all-new car targeting the heart of the Indian car market – the new Ford Figo.

The Ford Figo, a new nameplate and a fresh face on the Indian market, signals Ford’s intention to compete in India’s largest and most important small car market segment.

Ford Figo is the result of a significant Ford investment commitment to expand its plant near Chennai for volume production as a small-car centre of excellence regionally. Ford’s $500 million investment has doubled the plant’s production capacity to 200,000 units per year and introduces major advances in high-quality automation and innovative, eco-friendly production techniques.

“Our exciting new Ford Figo shows how serious we are about India,” Mulally said. “It reflects our commitment to compete with great products in all segments of this car market. We are confident the Ford Figo will be a product that Indian consumers really want and value.”


The transformed plant introduces eco-friendly production techniques like its new Three-Wet High-Solids paint process. This approach produces beautifully painted vehicles with three wet coats – primer, base coat and clear coat – of high solids-content paint applied one after the other without oven curing between coats. A first for India, it produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions and reduces volatile organic compounds emissions by about 20 percent compared to current medium-solids solvent-borne paints. Use of high-solids content results in a paint finish with high levels of gloss and depth of colour which is more resistant to scratches and stone chips
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Source:-carslegend.blogspot.com

FORD FIESTA, TOP 12 'AMERICAN IDOLS' GET PERSONAL

Aaron Kelly's Ford Fiesta

  • Ford is adding an exciting new element to its sponsorship of "American Idol" by giving each of the top 12 contestants a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own customized 2011 Ford Fiesta graphics
  • This new element will be featured in a video segment in tonight's episode of "American Idol," which airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX; fans will be able to see the Idols' customized Fiesta designs at www.americanidol.com
  • With the help of four up-and-coming Ford designers, the Top 12 Idols created their own personalized Fiesta theme, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to make the vehicle an expression of each contestant's personality
  • More than 100,000 people have already expressed an interest in the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta due to the success of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative

DEARBORN, Mich., March 17, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is adding an exciting new element to its sponsorship of the hit television series "American Idol," giving the top 12 Idols a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own personalized 2011 Ford Fiesta.

Tonight's episode of "American Idol," which airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX, will feature this new element in a video segment.

"Ford has been a sponsor of 'American Idol' since the show premiered in 2002, and each season we try to take our relationship with the show to the next level in a fun and meaningful way," said Connie Fontaine, manager, Ford Brand Content and Alliances. "This year, the Idols will get a closer experience with our vehicles as they interact with our designers and customize a Fiesta design that reflects their own personality."

All of the Idols' Fiestas will be on display at www.americanidol.com. From March 17 through May 21, 2010 fans 18 and older can enter the Ford Music Video Challenge weekly for a chance to win one of the vehicles and a trip to the set of a Ford Music Video shoot or the grand prize, which includes a Fiesta with their choice of one of the Top 12 designs and tickets to the finale. Official rules and entry details are available at www.americanidol.com/ford/challenge.

"Ford has great young designers who are bringing fresh thinking to our product lineup," said Fontaine. "We hope the design integration with 'American Idol' will shine a light on the remarkable talent that is working tirelessly to deliver great products to market."

Andrew Garcia's Ford Fiesta

"Idolizing" the Ford Fiesta
Ford began the design process by giving each of the top 12 contestants a palette of nine Fiesta colors to choose from, including vibrant shades like Lime Squeeze, Blue Flame and Bright Magenta. So the design team could get to know each contestant on a more personal level, the Idols also were given a personality survey to fill out with questions like, "What are the three things you are most passionate about?" and "What do you want your car to say about you?"

Four up-and-coming Ford designers – Dillon Blanski, Gustavo Bizyk, Lesli Ann Agcaoili and Dean Carbis – reviewed the questionnaires, traveled to Hollywood to meet with the Idols, and then helped each contestant develop the concept for his or her personalized Fiesta, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to transform the vehicle into an expression of each contestant's individuality.

"We explained to the Idols that the graphics they design will actually be a symbol of them and their life experiences," said Carbis, who most recently served as lead exterior designer for the 2010 Ford Taurus. "They were really excited to work with us."

According to Carbis, Tuxedo Black was a popular color choice among the male contestants while the girls seemed to favor more vivid shades like Bright Magenta and Lime Squeeze. Some of the contestants even opted to accessorize their Fiesta with a four-piece 3dCarbon body kit.

"Some of the Idols are familiar with graphic tuning so they wanted to get the body kit and create more of a sports tuner package," he said.

Not surprisingly, music was a common theme among the contestants.

"Many of the Idols are obviously very music-oriented, so we talked about taking an instrument they play or the lyrics to their favorite song and somehow incorporating that into the graphics," said Blanski, 26, the youngest member of the Ford design team.

Both Carbis and Blanski say they are thrilled to participate in the "American Idol" project.

"Typically I'm expressing myself through the vehicles I design. Trying to interpret somebody else's passion and ideas and then help them put that into graphic form is totally different from anything I've done before," said Blanski. "It's a challenge, but it's also fun."

Katie Stevens' Ford Fiesta

2011 Ford Fiesta: A hit before leaving the gate
Thanks to the success of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative – which has generated more than 6.2 million YouTube views, more than 750,000 Flickr views and nearly 4 million Twitter impressions – more than 100,000 people have already expressed an interest in the 2011 Ford Fiesta.

Going on sale this summer, the all-new Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, sharp reflexes, and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers' expectations. With 15 class-exclusive technologies and a projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, Fiesta brings efficiency and convenience together in one package.

It's also designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable. In fact, Fiesta is expected to deliver best-in-class convenience and connectivity with the segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system, as well as an expressive color palette and available graphics.

Ford is planning many appearance and functional accessories for the Fiesta, including a lower body kit by 3dCarbon, a large, sporty rear hatchback spoiler brought over from Europe, several different shift knobs, and innovative body-side graphics by Original Wraps. A preview of these offerings and more is available at www.fordvehicles.com/fiesta while the graphics can be explored at www.fordfiestagraphics.com. The full Fiesta accessories offering will be available to review and purchase at www.fordaccessories.com when the Fiesta launches this summer.

Already, more than 7,000 consumers have made reservations for the Ford Fiesta – half of them from non-Ford customers. Customers can begin placing their order for the new Fiesta today through their local Ford dealer.

Crystal Bowersox's Ford Fiesta

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2012 Ford Police Interceptor: The Crown Vic's Robocop Replacement


Ford's Crown Victoria-based police interceptor will finally end production late next year. This is its replacement — the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor. Other than the movie Robocop, it's the first time Ford's Taurus has served as a purpose-built patrol car.

Ford first introduced its police package in 1950 and today the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the industry leader. The automaker's dominated the streets to the point that over the last five years, Ford's controlled more than 70% of the patrol cars sold. Obviously police fleets are an important segment. Unfortunately, the Crown Vic's Panther-platform's getting a little long in the tooth — it hasn't seen a redesign in over 15 years. The replacement? An all-new Police Interceptor built off the Ford Taurus platform that will be produced at Ford's Chicago, Ill. assembly plant.

The new Police Interceptor sedan will obviously offer two powertrain options in order to be competitive with the upcoming Chevy Caprice PPV. The first'll be a standard engine with a 3.5-liter V6 Duratec engine producing more than the Crown Vic's current anemic V8 and more than the standard Taurus V6 — over 263 HP. But it's the second powertrain that police officers'll be pining for — a twin turbo Ecoboost 3.5-liter V6 delivering 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque. That's the same engine found in the new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and it gives Ford a performance boost over the new GM patrol car — the Chevy Caprice PPV — that'll be hitting the streets at about the same time as the new Police Interceptor.



via:carscoop

From Concept To Reality: Ford's 2005 Mustang Coupe and Convertible



Ford's Mustang, the quintessential pony car, is one of the oldest nameplates in the business. During its 45+ year run, the Mustang has provided a variety of power trains under its hood, from 4-cylinders to coachbuilt (and Lamborghini-sourced) V10s.

It has also provided people with near-endless variety. From the mainstream Shelbys and California Specials (both of which have returned for up-and-coming red-light racers), to lesser-known variants like the Twister and High Country Specials, the Mustang has always offered something for everyone.

Read full story from carscoop

Ford GT 90 1995

Ford GT 90 1995

Performance
Top Speed
220+MPH Skid Pad Not Available
EPA City/Highway
Not Available Slalom Not Available
0-60 MPH 3.1 Secong
0-100 MPH 6.2 MPH
Stopping Distance 
Not Available

General Inforamtion
Basic Price Not Available
Power Train Layout MID/Engine RWD
Body Material Carbon Fiber And Fiber Glass
Brake Type Vented Discs
Brake Size F: 12.9/388mm
Steering Rack And Pinion/Power Assist
Front Wheels 18.0x20.0/45.7x50.8 cm

More Updates SOon.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang by GeigerCars


GeigerCars has given a significant power increase to the Mustang Shelby GT500. The car's output was pumped up from 540 PS (397 kW / 533 bhp) to an impressive 810 PS (596 kW / 799 bhp).


Torque on the 5.4-liter V8 engine was increased up to 945 Nm (697 lb-ft). The power improvements are in part due to a 3.3-liter compressor which puts out 1.6 bar pressure. Other performance enhancers include better air flow, new cylinder heads, more coolers, bigger throttle valves, and upgraded fuel injection.


To cope with extra horsepower, Gieger has also fitted the GT500 with a three-disc carbon clutch and reinforced the six-speed transmission. Handling improvements have been made through a "racing chassis" (we're not sure what that means), a panhard rod with polyurethane bushings and adjustable lower control arms. Finally massive 15-inch, six-piston front brakes help haul the Shelby down from inevitable high speed runs.
via:world car fans



Press Release

GeigerCars.de - Ford Mustang GT "Shelby"

In the spirit of the Cobra!

Alongside the Ford Mustang V6 and its V8 brother Mustang GT there is the crowning glory of the series the wild Mustang Shelby GT500, which is equipped ex factory with 540 PS, an aggressive body and traditional double stripe paintwork. Anyone who remembers the American racing legend Carroll Shelby will be able to instantly imagine how uncompromising and purist the Shelby GT500 factory settings already are. The US car specialist Karl Geiger from Munich has now got its hands on this vehicle and take a look at how the upright Cobra has been transformed into an almost untameable monster!

810 PS, 945 Nm engine torque

As usual the engineers at GeigerCars.de from Munich operated on the open V8 heart of the American muscle car and in the process left no stone unturned. For more pressure they donated a 3.3 litre compressor to the 5.4 litre aluminium engine block which with its 1.6 bar supercharging pressure provides real fire in the forged crank drive. Larger throttle valves, a modified injection system, a 100 millimetre air flow meter and machined cylinder heads also guarantee that the inner organs are fine tuned. Additional coolers for charge air, coolant and engine oil ensure that the eight cylinder can always work at the perfect temperature range despite massively increased power.

Thanks to the massive changes the Geiger Mustang Shelby GT now generates a legendary 810 PS at 6,700 rpm, whereas the maximum engine torque of 945 Nm at approx. 4,300 rpm pulls on the increased differentials. Of course with so much engine torque the transmission also had to be reinforced and in the same step its 5th and 6th gears were shortened. A 3 disc carbon clutch produces smooth power transmission. A special manifold with racing catalytic converters and customised sport exhaust guarantee that exhaust gases are disposed of properly according to type.

High end chassis engineering

So that so much power can also be transformed in acceleration, GeigerCars.de fitted the Shelby with a special racing chassis as well as a Panhard rod made from chrome-moly steel including polyurethane bushes on the ends to balance the axial offset and new reinforced and adjustable trailing arms for improved rear axle directional stability. For the all-important contact to the asphalt surface four classic OZ alloy wheels in 8.5 and 10x20 inch guarantee adequate grip thanks to Michelin high performance tyres in 245/35ZR20 and 285/30ZR20. The upright Cobra is slowed down using 6 piston high performance brakes on the front axle with 380 millimetre large drilled or optionally slotted brake discs.

Perhaps this Mustang Shelby version would also put the fear of God into the US racing legend Carroll Shelby!

Technical data

Engine: 5.4 litre eight cylinder V with modular compressor, Ford GT aluminium engine block, machined cylinder heads, modified injection system, larger throttle valves, sport air filter, 100 mm air flow meter, cold air box, aluminium rocker arm, forged crank drive, 3 disc carbon clutch, reinforced transmission with shortened 5th and 6th gears, increased differential, engine oil cooler, 3.3 l compressor with 1.6 bar supercharging pressure

Power: 810 PS / 541 kW at 6,700 rpm

Max. engine torque: 945 Nm at 4,300 rpm

Maximum speed: 354 km/h

Wheels/tyres: OZ alloys, front 8.5x 20 in. with 245/35ZR20, rear 10x20 in. with 285/30ZR20

Brakes: VA 380 mm slotted discs with Geiger 6 piston brake calipers GT V6, brake hoses

Chassis: racing chassis, Geiger Panhard rod, reinforced and adjustable Geiger trailing arms

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Ford Mustang GT 2011

Ford Mustang GT 2010



It’s easy to have mixed feelings about the 2005-2009 Mustang GT. It’s handsome, for the money you paid you got pretty good V8 power and it was fast enough. Where the (suddenly) last-gen Mustang falls down is the lowest bidder interior, questionable handling and non-track day brakes. “Listen baby I had a great time, but don’t lose any sleep sitting by the phone.” But hey, Ford’s prepped a (kinda) all new steed for 2010 and you can bet Mullally’s golden ‘chute that Mustang engineers have been hard at work addressing the above issues. Well, except for the brakes.



If you have an internet connection and a passing interest in cars, you’ve already sick of seeing the redesigned ‘Stang. But in person, it’s much better looking than in 2D. The detail that struck me hardest were the three creases on the hood. It’s an intriguing, complex surface. The side mirrors are painted body color (yay!) and the antennae has been moved to the rear. And you know, I like the more geometric rear end with the three-bar taillights. I also like the resculpted face. Sure it has some Camaro cues (hooded lights, downhill curve) but they’re good cues and segment appropriate. The only body panel they didn’t change is the roof, but sitting on the fatter (er, more muscular) haunches it reminds me even more of the ‘68 Fastback. Which is good. And you really got to see this baddie in Grabber Blue.



Ford got halfway to the promised land with the interior. Gone are many of the more egregious examples of IQ insulting penny pinching. For instance the bulk of the dash is now covered in actual aluminum. The gauges are not only crisper but Mustang exclusive. The leather seats sport oversized, contrast stitching and a stylish accent stripe. But there’s hardly any bolstering and after more than an hour, they hurt your back. Another example of almost but not quite: Ford placed soft  leather inserts into the doors. Nice. But above ‘em is the same lousy plastic as last year. Pity.



Put your foot into the throttle and you’ll bang your head (against the headrest). Power is up for 2010. Up to Bullitt levels. That’s 315 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. And check this: should you choose to fill up with premium gas, the ECU makes the torque earlier between 1,000-3,000 rpm. Also like the Bullitt, engine noise is piped into the cabin. Literally. While the sound isn’t quite as sweet as the car McQueen inspired (blame thicker sound proofing), the grunt is better than before. 0-60 times are probably in the 5 second flat range, just like the Bullitt. In certain interior packages, you can even shift gears with the Bullitt’s knob. If you’ve guessed that Ford benchmarked the Bullitt when designing the new car, pat yourself. Why? The Bullitt was the best Mustang Ford ever built.



Mustang is a good performance car right out of the box. For those requiring a bit more brawn, there’s the $1,400 Track Pack  that gives you Pirelli P Zeros, stiffer shocks and sways — plus upgraded brakes. The real question though, is whether you should buy a Bullitt right now for several grand off sticker, or wait a month and grab the 2010 Mustang. Probably at full price ($27,000 or so). Tough choice. If forced, I’d say that the Bullitt sounds better whereas the new GT drives better. Meaning this is the best Mustang ever. For now at least.

Geneva Motor Show: New Focus Station Wagon



At next week's Geneva Motor Show, Ford will stage the world premiere of the fifth member of its Focus family after the five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and the C-MAX and Grand C-MAX minivans, the station wagon model.

According to our sources, the more practical and roomy Focus SW (also known as the Estate in some countries) will initially be launched in Europe. However, if there's enough interest by buyers in other international markets, Ford will add the station wagon variant to its global range of Focus models in the very near future.

more detail. ...

SHELBY GT500CR PROTOTYPE MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE IN VEGAS


Classic Recreations 1967 G.T.500CR makes first public appearance in Las Vegas the same weekend as the NASCAR Shelby American Race


Yukon, Okla. (Feb 25th, 2010) - Less than four months after custom coachbuilder Classic Recreations announced the Officially-Licensed 1967 Shelby G.T.500CR continuation car program at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the first prototype made its debut in the same city but with a very different setting.


Details of the reborn supercar have been a closely guarded secret, but on February 25th, 2010, the first GT500CR prototype was photographed near the Shelby American facility in Las Vegas, prior to an all-Shelby weekend where car owners and NASCAR fans gathered to celebrate the legendary mark during the NASCAR Shelby American GT350 stock car race.


The G.T.500CR is the first official 1967 Shelby Mustang continuation car ever built, and each hand-built vehicle features a 427 cubic inch (7.0L) engine, model specific bodywork, custom paint and hand-stitched upholstery.
Every has an official Shelby serial number, badges and will be included in the Shelby World Registry. The prototype that appeared in Las Vegas is the 545 horsepower Performance Model, featuring a fuel injected, naturally aspirated engine, modern coil-over suspension with rack-and-pinion steering and more.


About Classic Recreations

Classic Recreations founder Jason Engel, and his company's team of skilled technicians and craftsmen, have been modifying and custom fabricating high-performance vehicles for more than 10 years. Each built-to-order G.T.500CR takes approximately four months (nearly 2,500 man hours) of painstaking assembly. Find out more about how to get your own hand built vehicle at www.1967fastback.com.


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eBay Find of the Day: C/D Pinto Project Race Car


Time was, automotive magazines used to do stuff that was awesome. This IMSA Pinto is evidence of that. Car and Driver built this car in 1974 to illustrate that racing on a big scale for a modest budget was possible.The car grabbed the pole position in half the races it entered that season and won outright at its second race at Charlotte. Surely more powerful than the emissions- and oil-crisis choked street Pintos of the day, this race car is better suited to road courses than hugging the wall at Talladega, but it's likely loads of fun either way.


Although the car itself is built from a ’72 Pinto, the team chose to use the larger 2.3-liter I-4 introduced in 1974, and had its block modified by Doug Fraser Racing Engines. A number of other changes, including a Corvette radiator, full roll cage, tall 4.10:1 and 4.30:1 rear axle ratios, and brakes and a steering box cribbed from a ’74 Pinto, were all part of the recipe.


Overall, the experiment was a success -- the Pinto won its second race (at Charlotte), and managed to garner two pole positions in the four races it was entered in. Although it was relatively underpowered, the car’s forte was handling, and it could more than hold its own on tight road courses.


The car had been sold off by Car and Driver back in 1974, and was subsequently restored by Don Sherman, now of Automobile Magazine, but a C/D alum, in 2005. Sherman had his nostalgic fun with the car before selling it to Fox Motorsports. Fox has added some more beans to the Pinto's powerplant, and now has it up for sale on eBay Motors. You've got seven days to scrape some dough together and go vintage racing in the car that started Pat Bedard's respectable – if short – racing career.

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Ford Releases new turbo'd 203-hp 2.0-liter for Mondeo at Geneva Motor Show


Ford's all-new C-car makes its European debut at next month's Geneva show, alongside final versions of C-MAX and Grand C-MAX which go on sale this year. There are also further product enhancements for the Ford Kuga and Mondeo and more options revealed for the new S-MAX and Galaxy.

All-new Ford C-MAX range

The all-new Ford C-MAX family provides two of the star attractions presented by Ford Motor Company at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show. The C-MAX family brings new levels of style and desirability to the compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) market.

Ford's C-segment MAV customers now have the choice of a new five-seat C-MAX or a distinctive new seven-seat Grand C-MAX, which features twin sliding doors and innovative seat design to provide outstanding space and flexibility. AtGeneva, the interior of the five-seat C-MAX is revealed for the first time. It features a coupe-like, sweeping roofline which falls off to the rear, but without compromising the comfort and practicality of the vehicle. The seven-seat model features a higher roofline and thinner pillars which emphasise the generous room and visibility on offer within the cabin.

The all-new C-MAX cockpit will represent the next generation of Ford's human machine interface (HMI) system. The key elements of this technology are two five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel, which control two main vehicle displays: one in the instrument cluster and the second mounted in a high position in the centre console. This simple, intuitive control system enables the driver to operate the key vehicle features while keeping both hands on the wheel, and with a minimum of distraction.

Fuel-efficient, low-CO2 powertrains for the C-MAX range include the new 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine and updated 1.6- and 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

"The launch of the new C-MAX range is highly significant, and shows customers worldwide that they can expect some truly exciting designs as we roll out our new global range of medium cars," said John Fleming. "The new C-MAX is just the start – with the next-generation Focus coming quickly after, we look forward to revealing more of the story in the very near future."


All-new Ford Kuga powertrain and transmission enhancements

The stylish Ford Kuga crossover strengthens its reputation as the leading vehicle in its class with exciting new powertrain and transmission options designed to boost performance and improve fuel economy and CO2 performance.

The updated Kuga now offers a powerful new 163PS version of the 2.0-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine achieving a CO2 output of just 159g/km in the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) models with manual transmission (six per cent reduction compared to the previous 136PS engine). The new efficiency advantages delivered by the Ford Powershift gearbox lower CO2 emissions for the 140 and 163PS AWD diesel automatics to a class-leading 179g/km.

With 20 per cent more peak power, the new 163PS engine improves the performance of the Kuga, increasing the top speed from 112 to 121mph and cutting the 0-62mph time from 10.7 to 9.6sec, as well as meeting the latest European Stage V emissions standards.


All-new Ford Mondeo powertrain and transmission enhancements

The versatile Ford Mondeo now benefits from improved fuel economy and lower emissions combined with stronger performance thanks to new high efficiency Ford EcoBoost petrol-injection turbo and upgraded Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

The Mondeo gains the all-new, high efficiency, turbocharged, 203PS 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi petrol engine and significantly improved Stage V, 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesels with 115PS and 140PS power outputs, plus an impressive new 163PS version.

In addition, the smooth and effortless Ford Powershift six-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission system comes to the Mondeo range, fitted as standard with the 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and optionally available for the 140PS and 163PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

The newly introduced 2.0-litre 163PS Ford Duratorq TDCi allows the Mondeo to achieve impressive fuel economy with a combined fuel consumption as low as 53.2mpg*, as well as complying with stage V emissions regulations. Together with the new Ford Powershift, the Mondeo delivers a combined fuel economy of just 50.4mpg.

*Note: Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive
EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.
Source: Ford; Photos autoblog