Autoblog

Icon Quartermaster is a custom Ural Solo that's ready for adventure [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Videos, Motorcycle, Specialty

If you've been following our friendly neighborhood blog for the last few years, you already know how fond we are of the Ural brand of motorcycles and sidecars. Sharing a life-and-limb endangering moment aboard one and having it deliver you home safely tends to bond man and machine in a way otherwise impossible...

As much as we appreciate Urals in stock form, there's certainly room for some mechanical experimentation, which is why the Icon Quartermaster caught our very limited attention spans. According to the company, it is "based on the Ural Solo sT" and is "a bike designed for enduring the End of Days."

In keeping with that apocalyptic theme, the only bit seemingly left untouched by Icon's demented customizers is the engine. The frame, fuel tank, fenders and suspension bits have all been heavily modified, and the finished product looks awfully mean. Check it out in the gallery above and the video below.

Continue reading Icon Quartermaster is a custom Ural Solo that's ready for adventure [w/video]

Icon Quartermaster is a custom Ural Solo that's ready for adventure [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Focus ST

Chris Paukert — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Ford, First Drives

Screaming Yellow Zonker

We're having a strong sense of déjà vu, and it isn't just because we find ourselves in Southern France. Yes, we've driven these very roads that drape over the region's Edenic mountains like doctors' signatures several times before. They're some of the best in the world, replete with tight switchbacks bookending snaking climbs and descents interrupted only by the occasional masochistic cyclist or tour bus. The Mediterranean vistas don't exactly suck, either.

We've even navigated some of these routes around Nice in a performance-minded Ford Focus. Two years ago, Blue Oval operatives brought us to this same area for an early drive of their C-Max people mover, spicing up the trip by giving us a short stint behind the wheel of their then-new Focus RS500, a limited edition matte-black monster marshaling a scarcely believable 345 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque through the front wheels. Today, though, our 2013 Ford Focus ST driving companion is toned-down but no less outré thanks to its Tangerine Scream paint.

Compared to the RS500, the ST drops a cylinder in favor of a less powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost four generating 252 hp and 270 lb-ft. Fortunately, it's also a lot less costly, starting from just $24,495 delivered - a price that shades the far less powerful 200-hp, five-door Volkswagen GTI ($25,365). In fact, the ST is nearly as powerful as the Golf R while offering more torque (VW's all-wheel drive hot hatch registers 256 hp/243 lb ft) for a lot less money - the R starts around $35k. Subaru's AWD WRX is an interesting option, too, with more power (265 hp) but less torque (244 lb-ft) for more money ($26,345). The ST's closest natural rival, however, is the Mazdaspeed3 - ironic, as it rides atop the last-generation Focus' platform. The Mazda carries a marginally bigger stick, though: 263 ponies and 280 torques, coming in at $24,795.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Fiesta ST delivers a pint-sized punch

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

We Americans may only be a few calendar flips away from the launch of the 250-horsepower Ford Focus ST, but in Europe, an even more pint-sized hot hatch is about to be unleashed. Here at the Geneva Motor Show, the Blue Oval's European counterparts have just unveiled the 2013 Fiesta ST, a three-door version of the five-door ST concept that we saw at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show last November. And while Ford executives have said that they're "open to the idea" of bringing this model to the States, we'll wait for official confirmation before we get too excited.

Just like the concept, the production Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four delivering 177 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. That grunt runs to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission (no word about an optional dual-clutch unit), and Ford claims that the Fiesta ST will be able to shuffle to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds on its way to a top speed somewhere just below the 140-mph mark.

The Fiesta ST will launch in Europe sometime in early 2013. All we can say is, if Ford is going to tease us Americans with ST concepts at U.S. auto shows, it had better be prepared to deliver.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Fiesta ST delivers a pint-sized punch

2013 Ford Fiesta ST delivers a pint-sized punch originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:15:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

Meet the Fiesta ST concept - it's all the goodness of the newly introduced Focus ST, just in a smaller package. It looks just about ready to hit the streets, and that's a good thing, since
Ford says that it is "seriously looking" at bringing this hot little number to production.

The beating heart under the Fiesta ST's bonnet is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, producing somewhere between 175 and 180 horsepower. The concept car uses a six-speed manual transmission and sends power exclusively to the front wheels, and Ford claims that the Fiesta ST is capable of running to 62 miles per hour in under seven seconds.

The big reason why we're hoping the Fiesta ST gets the go-ahead? Ford says that the car will be a global model, meaning we'll have two new Ford performance products to sink our teeth into in the United States. We've seen plenty of spy shots of the hotted-up Fiesta, so we're fairly confident that this little darling will see the light of day sometime after the Focus ST goes on sale. The question is, will we get the three-door configuration, or will it spawn a set of rear doors?

We'll have a slew of live images direct from the Frankfurt Messe in short order. For now, hit the jump to read over Ford's official press release.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness

Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford Fiesta ST gets the nod... but will we?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:21:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Rumormill

The fine folk at Auto Express are reporting that the powerful Ford Fiesta ST has gotten the official go ahead from the suits in Europe. If all of the whispers making their way around the internet right now are true, our cousins across the pond will be getting a crack at a 180-horsepower version of the Blue Oval's tiny hatch very soon.

All of that pep should come courtesy of a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, and should help the Fiesta get to 60 mph in under seven seconds. Odds are the forced induction engine will be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or the company's new dual-clutch gear box.

But does that mean we'll get to enjoy the same kind of fun in our neck of the woods? It's hard to say, but since Ford is openly embracing a new global philosophy, a Fiesta ST for America isn't completely out the question. Consider our fingers crossed.

[Source: Auto Express]

Report: Ford Fiesta ST gets the nod... but will we? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Ford Focus ST arrives in the UK

Alex Nunez — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST

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

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

Today's reminder of how much more awesome the Euro-market Ford Focus is than our own comes from Ford UK, where the latest, greatest Focus ST goes on sale starting Thursday. As you're probably well aware, in ST trim the newly-restyled Euro Focus gets the once-over from Ford Europe's in-house tuning arm, TeamRS. The standard engine offerings are replaced by a turbocharged 2.5L five-banger underhood that's good for 225 PS (around 223 hp), is mated to a six-speed stick, and lets the Focus ST do 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. According to Ford, the new ST also lapped the Nordschleife in 8:35. The exterior is dressed up with 18-inch wheels, the expected body kit and available racing stripes. Inside, the proper cockpit gets a push-button starter and Recaro seating. Depending on the ST trim level selected (there are three) and available options chosen, you can add all manner of comfort and convenience features to the spiffy-looking pocket rocket. Even Bluetooth... but not SYNC. Something tells us the Brits aren't crying in their beers over this.

Yes, we know that the next-gen Focus will be global and that the U.S. will share the same car sold in Europe. No, that doesn't make looking at this any easier in the meantime. Ford's official missive is pasted after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Focus ST

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Latest Ford Focus ST arrives in the UK

Latest Ford Focus ST arrives in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Ford Fiesta/Verve ST

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:49:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Ford, UK

Ford's fully redesigned Fiesta won't be making its official unveiling until the Geneva Motor Show in March, but it's already working on the hotted-up ST variant and AutoExpress has some exclusive information and a rendering of Ford's performance-bred super-mini.

Aside from the highly-stylized exterior that will carry over from the production model, the ST will come equipped with a new front fascia sporting larger air intakes, a spoiler perched over the rear window and a set of upgraded wheels. Power is expected to come from one of the new range of turbocharged, direct-injected EcoBoost engines set to be revealed in Detroit, although the Fiesta ST will have to make do with a 1.6-liter four producing between 180 and 190 hp. A seven-second 0-60 time should square the ST up with it's competitors, the Corsa VXR and Abarth Grande Punto.

The chassis will be retrofitted to make things stick as well as the outgoing model and Ford plans to offer plenty of upgrades through its partnership with Mountune racing.

The new Fiesta will hit dealers abroad in the Fall, with the ST following sometime in 2009. Whether or not Ford will bring the ST to the States when the Fiesta makes the trek across the Atlantic remains to be seen.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rendered Speculation: Ford Fiesta/Verve ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta and Focus ST get more power

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford

While Ford keeps on cranking out newer, faster versions of the Mustang for American customers, Ford of Europe is preparing new packages for the Fiesta ST and Focus ST hot-hatches to do the same thing.

The £950 package for the diminutive Fiesta ST pushes power up to 185 hp from its 2-liter four, which is expected to come from upgraded engine management, cylinder heads, a new camshaft and exhaust. All that adds an extra 37 hp to the standard Fiesta ST's 148, dropping a sprint to 60 down half a second to eight flat.

Meanwhile, the larger, more powerful Focus ST gets treated to a similar upgrade, worth about £1,500. This package is tipped to include a new air filter, ECU and exhaust, amounting to a similar 38-horsepower increase in power for a total of 260 that drops the 0-60 blitz down to 5.5 seconds. Thank heavens Ford sells a version of the Focus here that's just as fast. Oh, wait...

Get this: current ST owners in Europe can also get this package retrofitted to currently-owned cars, along with a full-factory warranty on the parts. Europeans, then, will just have to make do with these hot hatch packages a while longer before the 300+ horsepower Focus RS arrives in 2009, at which point Blue Oval fanboys from the U.S. will invade your countries with the intent to drive.

[Source: Auto Express]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Focus ST

Ford Fiesta and Focus ST get more power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbo Boost! Ford of Europe planning K.I.T.T.-inspired Focus ST Black Edition

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click the image above for more high-res shots.

Ford's finally done it. In an effort to quell our burning lust for the Euro-Focus here at home, they seem to have neglected to issue an English press release for its newest special edition hot hatch. While the indecipherable French-translated text our colleagues over at the Jalop procured is bad enough, equally confusing is the marketing scheme behind the Focus ST Black Edition. Supposedly, the Hoff's epic '80s serial Knight Rider was the inspiration for the design of this L.E. model, and although some of us around Autoblog HQ were products of the Reagan decade, we're pretty sure that K.I.T.T. was never based on a Blue Oval offering. But we digress.

The real news is that the Black Edition ST gets an appropriately sinister paint job, matched with orange graphics and trim, along with 19-inch OZ Superturismo WP wheels wrapped in Dunlop SP Sportmaxx rubber, sized 225/35Z R19. On the inside, the standard ST Recaros remain, albeit with matching orange trim, while piano black inserts and a new sport steering wheel make the package a cohesive whole.

Power is still provided by the 2.5-liter turbo'd five-pot found in the standard ST, pushing out 223 HP and 236 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,600 and 4,000 RPM. Only 50 Black Editions will be made available, and if you're brave enough to follow the jump, you can read the entire translated press release. A "Knight to wrinkle" it is.

[Source: Ford, Jalopnik]

Gallery: Ford Focus ST Black Edition

Continue reading Turbo Boost! Ford of Europe planning K.I.T.T.-inspired Focus ST Black Edition

Turbo Boost! Ford of Europe planning K.I.T.T.-inspired Focus ST Black Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe Rallies to the Cause: Ford Focus ST WRC Edition

Noah Joseph — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Ford

click above image for more high-res pics of the Ford Focus ST WRC Edition

Hot hatches and rally cars: two European trends that are only starting to catch on in America, Ford's home market. But that doesn't stop the blue oval from campaigning fiercely in both arenas. The latest point where the two intersect is here, with the Ford Focus ST WRC Edition.

Not to be confused with the 136-hp TDi-powered Focus WRC-S shown last month at the Barcelona show, the ST WRC Edition (as you might well have guessed) starts with the already red-hot European Focus ST and upgrades from there. It's motivated by a 2.5-liter turbocharged Duratec inline-5 mated to a six-speed and coupled with an Eibach suspension kit that drops the ride height by 15mm. The WRC Edition, available only in white and decked out in special stripes and decals, also gets a full body kit with a front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser, plus chrome-tipped exhaust and monster 20" powder-white OZ racing rims.

The only change to the interior is an aluminum plaque on the center console bearing the signatures of Marcus Gronholm and ~~his co-pilot~~ Mikko Hirvonen, ~~victors of the 2006 World Rally Championship~~, the two drivers who took the 2006 WRC constructors title for Ford, which this car is made to commemorate. Only 50 will be made, and even with the approximately $11,000 premium over the standard Focus ST, they should sell out pretty fast.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Focus ST WRC Edition

Europe Rallies to the Cause: Ford Focus ST WRC Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe: Ford Focus RS lives after all

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Although Ford has continued to deny the existence of the next Focus RS, Car magazine's spy photographers were able to capture a mule undergoing testing. The current-gen. body panels will be ditched in favor of the new "kinetic" design language that's blessed the new Mondeo, but we're less concerned with styling than we are with the mechanicals.

According to Car, the new RS will get the same turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five that's in the current Focus ST, except power will be routed through a close-ratio six-speed transmission and sent to all four wheels via a Volvo-derived AWD system.

Through the use of new variable intake and exhaust manifolds, reinforced connecting rods, a revised turbo, a larger intercooler and some significant tweaks to the ECU, the motor should be capable of 300 HP and 280 lb.-ft. of twist. 60 is expected to come up in around five seconds flat and the estimated 165 MPH top speed isn't out of the question.

The new RS will likely bow in Geneva next year, with sales beginning that spring. Although it won't have all the fancy electronics of the Evo and STI, for £28,000, it stands to be the biggest bang for the buck abroad.

[Source: Car]

Europe: Ford Focus RS lives after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula Onovich: Russian Grand Prix gears up again

Noah Joseph — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Russia is back in the race for a grand prix, with the picturesque city of St. Petersburg being touted as the potential venue.

The venture had gotten what looked to be a decent rolling start several years ago with several promising leads. Bernie Ecclestone visited Russia a couple times with an eye towards getting a Russian Grand Prix off the ground in either Moscow or St. Petersburg. Russian businessman Alex Shnaider had brought Formula One to the capital when his Midland F1 team unveiled its car outside the Kremlin in 2005, and fellow businessman Alexander Berezhnoy had put forward a plan in 2001 to build a new circuit to be called the Pulkovo Ring near the St. Petersburg airport. Since then, however, the proposal seemed to have fallen by the wayside.

Continues after the jump

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Continue reading Formula Onovich: Russian Grand Prix gears up again

Formula Onovich: Russian Grand Prix gears up again originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Feb 2007 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Focus RS: It's coming back, in all its FF fury

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Here in the U.S., we haven't benefited from the hot hatch hysteria that has swept through Europe over the past several years. Our choices have been limited and even more so when it comes to domestic manufacturers. With the exception of the SVT Focus, Ford has never graced our shores with one of their hotted-up hatches, but still we yearn for some tire-smoking, turbocharged three-door action.

So without bemoaning the fact that we won't be getting the new RS, we'll just give you the facts, as they've been gathered by Autocar.

Continued after the jump...

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading New Focus RS: It's coming back, in all its FF fury

New Focus RS: It's coming back, in all its FF fury originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Focus RS

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

The Mecca for fans of all the world's cars procured some pics of the new Focus RS wearing Focus ST clothing. So how did Mr. Lehmann and his photogs identify it as the delectable RS variant? Noise and power.

The all-wheel-drive, rally-inspired coupe blew past the shooter in a turbo-charged hurry, while one of the occupants gave the one-finger salute to the snapper. The wastegate was audible as the RS accelerated away and although a four-wheel burnout didn't take place, the car's rampant acceleration was all the proof needed that power was finding its way to all four wheels.

It's appropriate that shots of Ford's 300 HP Focus would surface the very week we have our WRX/EVO focused RR of the Day. Both models have proven that small displacement, turbo-charged rally machines are a viable commodity here in the States. But alas, Ford doesn't see fit to grace our shores with one of the most potent vehicles in their worldwide line-up. This fact causes some of us to weep late at night when no one is around.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: Ford Focus RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10-unit Focus ST White Edition for Japan

Alex Nunez — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Hatchback, Ford

Specialized, market-specific limited edition color and trim packages are popular in Japan, and Ford has just announced a very exclusive new addition to that segment: the Focus ST White.

Limited to 10 units, the Focus ST White (Japan's traditional racing color) can only be reserved on the web beginning August 1, 2006. If more than ten potential customers register (bet on it), names will be drawn to see who gets to pony up ¥3,200,000 ($27,000 USD) for one of the cars.

Mechanically, nothing differentiates it from any other Focus ST. It's still powered by the 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder and makes 225 horsepower.

Until recently, the ST had been available in Japan in just two colors: Electric Orange and Performance Blue. On July 13th, dealers in the country began sale of the Focus and Fiesta ST Black editions. All of these pale compared to the ST White, though. In it, Ford of Japan has achieved something quite remarkable: they have taken a standard issue car in a color that is readily available in other markets and made it into one of the most exotic vehicles to be found in Japan. Amazing.

If the Japanese car culture is as advanced and knowledgable as it seems, the White STs will turn heads wherever they go. You may find this color package underwhelming, but in Japan, these cars will be scarcer than the new Cornes Ferrari.

(More photos after the jump)

[Source: Ford Japan (translated)]

Continue reading 10-unit Focus ST White Edition for Japan

10-unit Focus ST White Edition for Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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