Ford Focus RS gets a special touch from Hennessey

The Ford Focus RS is impressive as is it, with enough power and a tough character, playful, and not expensive to buy. For long I loved the RS badge on the Ford Focus. Well, now there is a more aggressive, more fun version of it, and it gets treatment from Hennessey itself.

Hennessey calls the tuning package added to the Focus RS : HPE400, so you guessed right, it will be making 400 bhp from its 2.3L turbocharged ecoboost engine and 577 Nm of torque. This boost in power is made thanks to a new engine management software, air induction systems, intercooler systems, stainless steel downpipes and exhaust upgrades, turbo system upgrades. For a bit more money, you can have parts fitted by Hennessey themselves for your Focus, with the badges.

Hennessey did not reveal much about the performance figures, but, they should be getting close or better to Mercedes Benz A45 AMG, The Audi RS3, and the BMW 2 series M package.

Ford Focus RS

How would you like to get a Ford Focus that has been developed by a team of dedicated rally professionals including the KEN BLOCK?? Well, you do not have to wait no more, because, there is one, revealed yesterday by Ford ( Feb, 3rd 2015). It will feature an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring, and will develop up to 330 bhp.

There were many rumors about it. All we know is, that the new Focus RS will be powered by a 4-cylinder 2,3L turbocharged EcoBoost engine, the same one on the Mustang, but with a Turbocharger, and minor development. The engine is said to produce up to 330 bhp and 433 Nm of torque. Power will be transmitted to all the wheels, with possibility of automatic adjustment, with the help of torque vectoring, power can be sent to all wheels, or in times, 70 percent of it, can go the rear wheels, via a six-speed manual transmission. Not only that, but the driver can chose which wheel to brake. A bit of rally and F1 technology. The new Focus RS can now have better cornering, avoiding understeer, it has now a more controlled drift, and who better can manage drift than Mr Ken Block himself??

Ford equipped the Focus with an electronic power steering, that comes now as a standard, stiffer springs for the suspension, sway bars, and 19-inch wheels, that come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport. In the inside, the car was fitted with Recaro seats, and a flat bottom steering wheel.

Improvement were not limited to the engine. In the front, the Focus RS has an angrier front bumper, with larger ar intakes, a reworked grille, and big front intercooler. Way back to the rear, it has a big large spoiler, and a new diffuser, to which are joined a twin tailpipe exhaust system.

There is no price tag on it yet. We have to wait until March. This Focus RS will be produced in Germany, sold in the hole world. Shipment to the North America and Asia continents will be later in 2016. It will be competing against, the Mitsubishi EVO, the 1 series hatch, yet, Ford needs to get more power to catch the world most powerful duo, the Audi RS 3, and the AMG 45 A class.

New Ford GT

Stop everything that you are doing, hold every horse, and concentrate, because, THE car is here, it is the newest Ford GT, and yeah, the best comes in a new generation, with a lot of carbon-fiber, F1 technology and an engine mounted in the middle.

The Ford GT was first seen in the sixties, then 40 years or a bit more, in 2005, also in the Detroit Auto Show, it was named, the GT 40, because it is 40 inches-long, and it is to celebrate 40 years of the GT. Today, Ford pleases our eyes, and minds with the new one, it looks similar as the previous one, more futuristic, has all the new gadgetry, well, because now we live in the future, it is not the present anymore in the automotive world.

 

Let’s start with what is powering the beast, a 3.5L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, that produces, and hold on to your hats, 600 bhp. That is 50 bhp more than the GT 40, and with a smaller engine. All the power will be channeled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed transmission with paddle shifters. Top speed is estimated to be around 200 mph, and acceleration around 3.0 seconds from stop to 100 kph. The GT 40 is said to compete in the LeMans 24H. Ford did not tell much about the car, but more figures will come.

Ford promises though that the car will have one of the power to weight ratios ever, thanks to its carbon-fiber passenger cell, carbon-fiber chassis, carbon-fiber engine tank and aluminium in the rear and front. Styling looks more European, and that is what catches the eye first, it is not a proper GT. It has active aerodynamics, a deployable rear spoiler, a lot of air vents, to channel the air through all the car’s body. The engine is now under a glass top, that looks more like the Gallardo’s or the R8’s. When you look at it from behind, it is a 458, merged in the spirit of a LaFerrari, side looks, it is an Aventador, with an F12 air vent. but it is still a Ford GT. In the front it still has the same hood, with the same air vents, it still has that angry look, from the GT 40, with LED headlights now, it is still aggressive, and that is what counts. The car has 20-inch alloy wheels, and ceramic breaks.

Interior has adjustable seats, LaFerrari style, adjustable pedals, and wait for it, an F1 looking like steering wheel, with all the buttons, that will do things. It features a digital display, for all the technology geeks. Ford said that the recently introduced Sync3 system will be available in the GT. Doors will till open upwards.

The Ford GT will enter in production in 2016, now Ford is just teasing, it is clear that it will compete against new, yet to be revealed coming cars, the 458 turbo, the McLaren Sport, but competition will surely be fierce.

2015 Ford Mustang

Lovers of the Ford Mustang, cheer up, there is a new One coming, you have just to wait for the Paris Auto Show. It is the 6th generation Ford Mustang, and it comes in three powertrains variants, two of which are destined to Europe. It is a news that the Mustang will sell globally, habits were, that the American constructor sells his pony only in North America. This car comes after 50 years of the appearance of the first Mustang, and after that more than 9 million units were made.

As we mentionned above, the car comes with 3 powertrains variants, an EcoBoost version, a V6 version and a V8.

The Eco Boost engine :
It is a 2.3L straight four cylinders engine, fitted with a turbocharger. It is able to deliver 310 bhp @5500 Rpm and 433 Nm @3000 Rpm (320 lb-ft) of torque, Ford says that it was achieved using octane 93. This engine is more powerful, more efficient than the 4.6L V8 engine, that came with the 2005 Ford Mustang GT. It is a direct injection petrol engine. The Eco Boost launches the car from stop to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and tops 233 km/h.

A V6 Engine :
This is the base engine for the Ford Mustang, it is a 3.7L V6, that produces 300 bhp and 400Nm(270 lb-ft) of torque. What makes this engine special, it is the fact that it is the first engine to introduce twin independant variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) the ‘stangs. It is a technology that offers precise timing, controls air admission and exhaust from the engine, as well as the fuel intake. In addition, it improves the maximum power, and low-speed torque in overtaking and merging situations. It helps getting a more efficient engine.

a V8 GT engine:
and this is the biggest piece of cake that Mustang offers. It is a petrol engine too, direct injection. It was revised. It uses the Ti-VCT technology as well. Newer items were fitted to the V8 engine, such as larger intake and exhaust valves, newer intake and exhaust camshaft with increased lift, new cylinder heads with revised high-flow ports. The result is 435 bhp @6500 Rpm and 524 Nm @4250 Rpm. The car goes from 0 to 100 in 4.5 second and tops only 250 km/h. Not quite impressive, because if you want to get in the European market, there is a ferocious competition on power, top speed, acceleration. Ford needs to work a lot more if they want to succeed, because, besides aesthetics and name, there is power, and power matters.
in this link you’ll find more about the new V8 engine.

Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear wheel via two-option transmission, a Getrag 6-speed manual and a Ford 6-speed automatic. They are both double-clutch paddle-shift transmissions. A new technology that may interest people, is the ability to choose rear-end gear ratios. The manual transmission comes with a new shift linkage, it allows a more precise, faster shifting. A limited skip differential is mounted on the rear wheels axle.

On the outside, it is back to the basics, the Mustang is not a coupe no more, but a fastback, it got back to the older grille proportions. The car is 3 cm lower than the older model, it is longer too. It has a more aggressive, sportier look. But it did not forget that it was a Mustang, therefore, you can recognize it as a Mustang, from the middle grille, the lights, even with their new shape, and the running horse logo of course. There is a convertible version that is expected in the few coming days. To make the car more secure, Ford used high elastic limit steel for the car structure.

In the inside, Ford made a few changes, now the car is more spacious, for the front passenger, because of a reduction in the dash volume. It has a horizontal piece of real aluminium on the dashboard. It is fitted with sport seats. Now the car has a new steering wheel. Gear changes can be made through paddles or via a shift lever, which was moved closer to the driver, and the cup holder was translated a bit the middle. The driver can control his phone, navigation system, air conditioning with the SYNC2 system. He can also chose between various driving modes : Snow/wet, Sport or Track mode, and according to each mode, the car changes its steering efforts, engine response, stability control. The GT model includes Track apps : an accelerometer, a launch control, performance timers, line clock… Ford claims that this is the most premium interior that was fitted to a Mustang. One noticeable feature is that the car has now 8 airbags instead of only 4, with one made for the front passenger knees.  The only problem with the interior is the rear seats space, it is only suitable for a child, not an adult, it feels crowded, so Ford needs to work on that.

Ford did not stop there, but went a bit further. The car has now an independent rear monotube suspension that replaces the solid rear axle. It is well calibrated, to give a better driving. The car has now a wider rear track, a stiffer front sub-frame. The front axle is made by McPherson. As far as the brakes are concerned, the Mustang is fitted with 4 cylinder larger brakes for the Eco Boost, and a 6 piston eve larger brakes for the GT model. The car is heavier though, 50kg heavier than the old model, and up to 200kg than its concurrents on Europe.

Price estimated at 35000€ for the Eco Boost, and 40000€ for the GT version. We have to wait until 2015 to see it commercialized in Europe

Source : Ford