Autoblog

Ford UK adds sportier Focus Zetec S to lineup

Zach Bowman — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:01:00 EST

Ford UK is giving Focus buyers a model to tide them over until the Focus ST arrives next year. The Focus Zetec S wears a full sports suspension with stiffer springs and dampers for slightly improved handling, though there's no word on whether or not the model sits any closer to the ground than its base counterpart. A full aero kit is part of the package, as well, complete with front and rear spoilers and new side skirts. Buyers can also look forward to a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, and inside, the driver is treated to sport pedals.

The Focus Zetec S will be available with four engine options, including a range-topping 177-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. That's a far cry from the 246 horsepower available in the upcoming Focus ST, though buyers looking for a little style without any of the go may find something to smile about in the Zetec S. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Ford UK adds sportier Focus Zetec S to lineup

Ford UK adds sportier Focus Zetec S to lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford Focus fashionable, Ford Focus jewelry... not so much

Zach Bowman — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Ford, UK, Humor

Ford is celebrating 100 years of history in England this year. While a number of celebrations and special events are scheduled to mark the occasion, the automaker has also commissioned some unique jewelry as part of the centennial bash.

Designer Katherine Hawkins was tasked with crafting a piece from components lifted from the Ford Focus and came up with a special necklace design. The piece uses dials, buttons, needles and springs from the hatchback as well as seat material. Hawkins doesn't drive herself, and had little idea of what the parts were actually used for in the vehicle.

We're not quite sure what to say about Hawkins' design other than we wish we could see what the designer could come up with using pieces lifted from '30s Lincoln instead of a 2012 Focus. Given that we aren't entirely smitten by the dial pad mounted in the middle of the vehicle's dash, we'd likely cringe a bit seeing the pieces dangle around anyone's neck.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford Focus fashionable, Ford Focus jewelry... not so much

Ford Focus fashionable, Ford Focus jewelry... not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford Fiesta Metal edition heads for UK

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Ford, UK

Ford UK is set to release a hotter version of the Fiesta to its customers. The Fiesta Metal Edition packs 132 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque courtesy of a reworked version of the same 1.6-liter Duratec engine that U.S. buyers enjoy. That's a 12 horsepower nudge over the base figures, and as a result, the special-edition Fiesta can hop to 62 mph in 8.7 seconds. A slightly lowered ride height is also part of the handling package. Right now, Ford is only planning to build 1,000 examples of the hotter hatch, each with a price tag of £15,695.

In addition to the slight bump in power, the Fiesta Metal Edition will come packing dual chrome exhaust tips, a silver-painted grille surround, and fog light bezels as well as 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the vehicle features a piano-black center stack surround, as well as Ebony black leather sport seats with contrasting stitching. Buyers will only be able to choose between three colors, however; Panther Black, Midnight Sky and Frozen White. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta Metal edition heads for UK

Ford Fiesta Metal edition heads for UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow

Noah Joseph — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Ford, UK, Design/Style

Though several automakers have celebrated their centenary recently, most haven't been around that long. Ford has, though, and not only that, it's been in the UK for 100 years, too. The Blue Oval has set to staging a series of celebrations to mark the occasion, culminating in the Ford Centenary Tour traversing the British Isles.

The celebratory road trip started in London last week and will end on September 18 at the Goodwood Revival, but on its way, it swung through Glasgow, Scotland, where Ford commissioned a group of artists to repaint the Focus in their own style.

The six graffiti artists affiliated with the Recoat Gallery installed themselves in downtown Glasgow and repainted the car in front of a gathering crowd. In case you missed it, you can check it out in our own gallery and read about the artists in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow

Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford celebrates the Transit in UK with special edition SportVan. One, please.

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Performance, Ford, UK

Ford Transit SportVan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Push comes to shove, the Brits know modern delivery vans better than we do. (Hard to admit, we know.) What we use high-cube trucks, pickups and vans of varying sizes for, they do it all in panel vans. They drive the wheels off 'em, and the Ford Transit (not to be confused with its kid brother, the Transit Connect) is the king of 'em all. In fact, it has for the past 45 years been the best-selling van in the UK. And to celebrate, Ford UK is launching the special edition you see here.

This Ford Transit SportVan is based on the short-wheelbase 260 model and comes equipped with a 140-horsepower turbo-diesel, 18-inch graphite-finish alloys, twin exhaust pipes and a variety of other features, all wrapped up in red with white racing stripes. Only 100 examples will be made, and given the van's popularity on the Isles, we're sure they'll all sell out in a flash. In fact we know they will, since every previous SportVan edition has, including editions in blue with white stripes, grey with silver, black with silver, white with blue and blue with silver stripes.

Unfortunately this is another sport model we'll have to admire from the opposite shore, but driving back home in an SVT Raptor ought to help numb the pain. You know the drill: details in the press release after the jump, photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Transit SportVan

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford celebrates the Transit in UK with special edition SportVan. One, please.

Ford celebrates the Transit in UK with special edition SportVan. One, please. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford begins online car sales in the UK, 40% of buyers approve

Dan Roth — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Ford, UK

Ford has started offering vehicles for direct sale via the internet for United Kingdom customers. Ford conducted its own research and found that almost 40 percent of buyers don't even care about a test drive; they just want what they want with the click of a mouse.

Ford has set 50 dealers up to sell new and used cars and commercial vehicles on the web, and sales swung into action on June 29th. A new call center has also been opened to close the deal for customers that seek an alternative to the online purchase. The cars will be delivered to regional delivery centers; Ford has set up 12 facilities where customers will collect their cars and drive off.

The 550 traditional Ford dealers in the UK might understandably be miffed at this direct-sales move, but they're still the preferred choice of sixty percent of buyers. Haggling is possible with either outlet, and cutting out a level of complexity and cost would make life easier and possibly more profitable for Ford. For now, all statements support both efforts running in parallel.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]

Ford begins online car sales in the UK, 40% of buyers approve originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford reportedly turning its back on production Fiesta RS

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hatchback, Ford, UK, Rumormill

The Ford Fiesta RS has been canceled before - back in 2005 - and yet the rambunctious little hatchback lived to tell the story. Rumor has it that the hottest Fiesta has been canceled again, but these being changed times (and coming on the heels of news that the factory-tuned Fiesta ST has been canceled) it will be much more difficult for the even hotter RS to play the resurrection game.

If this news is true, the reasons for the RS being canned are the same as it was the time: meager profit potential. The Fiesta ST reportedly has a chance of being revived in 2012, but until then, it's apparently standard models for everyone.

[Source: EVO Magazine via 4 Wheels News]

Ford reportedly turning its back on production Fiesta RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ain't No Mountune High Enough: dealer-installed performance kit for Ford Focus ST

Noah Joseph — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, ROUSH, UK

Click above for high-res gallery of the Mountune Ford Focus ST

After driving the hot Focus ST at Ford's Lommel Proving Grounds, we returned with a big smile on our faces... and an eager anticipation for the upcoming Focus RS. British customers are also anxiously awaiting the even hotter hatch, and Ford's Team RS knows it. That's why they've teamed up with ROUSH's British subsidiary Mountune again to offer a dealer-installed package to pump up the existing ST, JUST like the one they rolled out earlier this year for the smaller Fiesta ST, and also while the orders roll in for the full-fat Focus RS.

The package includes a bigger intercooler, high-flow air filter and recalibrated ECU, all good for an additional 34 hp to boost output from 225 PS (222 hp) to 260 PS (256 hp). The extra power promises to drop the 0-60 sprint down to a scant 5.9 seconds and on to 100 in just 14.1 seconds. The best part for British enthusiasts is that the £1,120 package can be installed to any new or used Focus ST at a range of dealerships across the Isles. Ford and Mountune promise an accompanying suspension package in the near future and further mods for additional Ford models before the year's through. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mountune Ford Focus ST

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ain't No Mountune High Enough: dealer-installed performance kit for Ford Focus ST

Ain't No Mountune High Enough: dealer-installed performance kit for Ford Focus ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Ford Ka caught

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford, UK

The newest Ford Ka has been spotted by Auto Express, and the car in the flesh looks almost exactly like the Ka renderings that Auto Express published a couple of weeks ago. The grille could be a bit smaller than the one in the rendering, but it's difficult to tell without the highlights and chrome. The number of discrete elements in the GT-R-like mouthpiece, though, is the same.

Otherwise, the side swage line looks to be toned down a bit; and in the rendering, the Ford badge on the hatch that doubles as the latch has been replaced by a separate latch and key. Inside, Ford has said the car will outdo the car with which it shares underpinnings, the Fiat 500, and maintain the handling that has made it a European favorite for 12 years. All of which makes this a hot little Ka. Stay tuned for the Paris Motor Show when we see the real deal in person.

[Source: Auto Express]

Spy Shots: Ford Ka caught originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments