Autoblog

VIDEO: Ken Block, Chris Atkinson test out their rear-drive chops in a 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 rally car

Chris Shunk — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST

Click above to watch the video after the jump

There are a lot of great racing choices out there for motorsports fans, but few offer up the excitement and showmanship of rally driving. Not many drivers seem to be having as much fun as Ken Block, as his YouTube videos and uncanny drifting prowess have fast become must see TV. For his latest video goodness, Block showed off his rallying chops at Team O'Neal's Rally School in New Hampshire along with fellow rally pro Chris Atkinson. To make the video interesting, the rally vets didn't hit the dirt in a state-of-the-art AWD Subaru. Instead, Block and Atkinson tried their luck in a vintage rear-drive 1978 Euro Ford Escort. Block actually owns the 31 year old vehicle and will be racing it in select events.

The super 'Scort may look like a Daytona USA stock car, but it has plenty of modern hardware beneath its boxy exterior. Power comes courtesy of a sweet sounding 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Millington engine that kicks out a respectable 280 horsepower paired with a WRC-style six-speed sequential gearbox.

Hit the jump to view Block and Atkinson having an absolute blast in a hopped-up Escort. We never thought we'd want a 1978 Escort, but Block's unlikely baby is as sweet as they come.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ken Block, Chris Atkinson test out their rear-drive chops in a 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 rally car

VIDEO: Ken Block, Chris Atkinson test out their rear-drive chops in a 1978 Ford Escort Mk2 rally car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Ford Falcon will be less 'Australian'

Chris Shunk — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford, Australia

The Ford Falcon is all Australian. It has always been driven by the rear wheels, and it has always been designed, engineered, and built Down Under. The automotive world is rapidly changing, though, and Ford is one of many OEMs that are driving towards global vehicle architectures and a less diversified corporate parts bin. What does that mean for the Falcon? Nothing for quite a while, as the once hot-selling Aussie special just received major rework in April, and another redesign is many years away. When it does go under the engineering knife it will likely have more in common with the Ford Taurus than anything native to the Outback.

Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak is working towards what the Blue Oval calls "One Ford." That means, for example, that there will be only one C-segment platform for like-sized crossovers, wagons, hatchbacks, coupes, and sedans, and that platform would be used in all regions around the globe. Ford will still have a rear-drive platform for performance vehicles, but the rabid push for fuel efficiency and weight reductions means that the chance of future Falcons being motivated by the rear wheels is slim. Plenty can change between now and 2015, so we'll keep our dimming hopes for a RWD Falcon for all alive, but the prospects look less rosy by the day.

[Source: Drive]

Next Ford Falcon will be less 'Australian' originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: FWD Impala around through 2012

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM, UAW/Unions, Rumormill

It has been rumored for the last few months that Chevrolet would be soldiering on with a front-wheel-drive Impala for at least the next few years. The recent contract agreement between the Canadian Auto Workers union and General Motors appears to cement this rumor as fact. According to the signed pact, GM promised to keep the Oshawa Assembly plant, where the current-generation Impala is made, open until 2012 -- two years longer than first planned. The Impala is a pretty good seller for the General, so we're not too surprised that upper-level management would want to leave it alone, but that doesn't stop us from wanting to see Chevy's bread-and-butter full-size sedan return to its roots by going rear-wheel-drive.

One thing is for certain: by the year 2012, the W-Body platform of the current Impala will be absolutely ancient. On the other hand, we've had nothing but good things to say about the new Zeta platform which underpins such enthusiast-friendly vehicles as the new Pontiac G8. Therefore, we can at least hold out some hope that GM will find a way to offer as many vehicles as possible using the new chassis architecture, whether they are named Impala or not. Anybody want to see a new Nova?

[Source: The GM Source]

Confirmed: FWD Impala around through 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 May 2008 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered speculation: Alfa Romeo 169

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, Alfa Romeo

With the Alfa Junior hatch gearing up for production, the 8C Competizione being delivered to customers and the 159, Brera and Spider gorgeous-ing up roads around the world, the next item on Alfa Romeo's plate is the 169, its upcoming flagship sedan.

Although the 169, spy shots of which we brought you back in February '07, could be based on a modified Maserati platform or potentially on one borrowed from Jaguar, it's slated to return to rear-wheel-drive either way, which puts it in a better position to take on Europe's very best sports sedans.

The image above, of course, is just a rendering, but draws on existing and anticipated brand styling cues. We hope the actual production version will be more sexy and, well, more Italian than this illustration, and we also hope it'll make it across the pond with its stablemates.

[Source: The Hollywood Extra]

Rendered speculation: Alfa Romeo 169 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2008 Equus shows Hyundai is serious about luxury

Chris Shunk — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hyundai

Hyundai's looking to bust into the highly-competitive entry-level luxury field with the 2008 Equus. The South Korean automaker already has the safety and luxury appointments thing down with the Azera, but the Equus appears to promise much more. With a spec sheet that includes rear-wheel-drive, V8 power, and a $30,000+ sticker price, Hyundai is clearly trying to follow the criteria that helped brands such as Lexus and Infiniti become established players in this tough segment.

Toyota was able to make Lexus a legitimate luxury brand in the states within 10 years with low prices, tons of standard equipment, and rock-solid reliability. What remains to be seen is whether a vehicle at this price point can survive a battle of the luxury sedans while sporting a Hyundai badge on the front grille.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Spy Shots: 2008 Equus shows Hyundai is serious about luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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