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Ford
Ford adds ST-Line to Kuga SUV
Attractive pedestrians causing young drivers to crash
Research has shown that young British drivers are the most likely in Europe to be distracted by attractive pedestrians.
Life begins as Ford Fiesta turns 40
In the four decades years since it was launched in 1976, Ford has sold 4,339,149 Fiestas in the UK alone, with European sales set to surpass 18 million before the end of this year.
Ford marks Fiesta’s 40th with UK debut for revamped ST200
Ford will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fiesta at the Goodwood Moving Motor Show on Thursday, June 23.
Ford reveals the all-new KA+
Classic car, Auction, News, Celebrity
Professionals beats Minder in TV Ford Capri auction battle
The Ford Capri driven by Lewis Collins as Bodie in the classic TV show 'The Professionals' sold for £53,760, beating the figure achieved at the same auction for another TV Capri – the one driven by Dennis Waterman's character, Terry McCann, in 'Minder' .
Auction, Events, News, Classic car
The Professionals Ford Capri up for auction
A Ford Capri driven by the actor Lewis Collins as Bodie in the long running 1970s-1980s TV series 'The Professionals' - is to go under the hammer.
Ford invests £2.1 million in free young driver training
Ford has announced it will invest a further £2.1m in 2016 to provide free driver training to 7,000 18- to 24-year-olds across Europe.
That brings Ford’s total invested on training to £7.1 million through its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme in Europe since 2013. This year, Ford will offer the free driver training for the first time in Finland and Poland, and continue to provide training in the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain and Turkey.
Ford says that car crashes are the leading cause of death for Europeans aged 18 to 24-year-olds. Having already trained 13,500 novice drivers in Europe, the programme also highlights the risks posed by social media distractions such as texting and taking selfies at the wheel, as well as the dangers of drinking and driving, or driving after taking drugs.
“Too many young adults are dying in car crashes caused by a combination of inexperience and poor decision making,” said Jim Graham, manager, Ford DSFL. “With this new £2.1 million investment in young driver training for 2016, we can provide a further 7,000 young people with the skills and knowledge that could help save their lives.”
Ford has teamed with leading safety organisations across Europe including partnering with the AA Driving School, Brake and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the UK.
“Newly qualified drivers still have so much to learn about safety on the road so we strongly urge young drivers to take advantage of Ford DSFL training,” Graham said. “It’s fun, free, informative, and because we constantly re-evaluate what we teach, it’s always relevant.”
For more information, go to www.forddsfl.co.uk
Check out this cool video Ford has produced..
Ford to unveil Fiesta ST200 at Geneva
Ahead of its motor show debut in Geneva this week, Ford has revealed a new Fiesta ST200 model that delivers 10 per cent more power and 20 per cent more torque, with 200PS and 290Nm from its modified 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.
The most powerful production Fiesta ever (0-62mph in 6.7sec) will feature an exclusive specification including a Storm Grey exterior and machined 17-inch matt black alloy wheels with red painted brake calipers.
An enhanced interior includes partial leather Charcoal Recaro front seats with contrasting silver stitching, alongside illuminated scuff plates and seatbelts with silver detailing.
The ST200’s 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine can deliver an additional 15PS and 30Nm of torque for up to 15 seconds using transient overboost. A shorter final drive than that in the regular ST is said to further enhance in-gear acceleration for improved drivability and an even more fun to drive experience. Top speed is 143mph.
Since launching the Fiesta ST in 2013, Ford has sold some 30,000 examples in Europe, and almost two-thirds of these (19,200) were delivered to UK customers.
“The Fiesta ST is truly beloved by owners and critics. The ST200 takes this special drivers’ car to a new level of power and performance,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “I think it’s a future classic in the making.”
Production of the new Fiesta ST200 starts from June with customer deliveries this summer.
Minder Terry’s Capri to go under the hammer
Two famous motors from the classic TV series Minder, are set to go under the hammer.
H&H Classics will offer Arthur Daley’s Daimler in a forthcoming sale at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford alongside Terry McCann’s Ford Capri – the very same one that featured in the opening titles.
The Daimler (often mistaken for a Jaguar) has recently been re-finished in its original livery as part of a recent bodywork restoration and benefited from £5,000 worth of mechanical fettling at the hands of a marque specialist. Its odometer displays just 43,990 miles. In the mid-1980s actor George Cole, who played Daley, wanted to buy the car himself, and came close to doing so before it was given away in a TV Times competition. It is estimated to sell for £35,000 to £45,000.
Alongside the Daimler will be its automotive partner, a two-litre white Ford Capri driven by Terry McCann played by Dennis Waterman. The famous Ford was not only driven by Terry in the opening sequence but also at various times during the series. The Capri is believed to have come close to being crushed, but escaped and now rejuvenated, shows 88,700 miles on the clock.
Its estimate of £65,000 to £85,000 could set a new world record for a two-litre model, highlighting the power of celebrity and provenance.
The original Minder show ran for ten series between 29 October 1979 and 10 March 1994, and starred Dennis Waterman as Terry McCann, an honest and likeable bodyguard (or minder) and George Cole as Arthur Daley, a dodgy used-car salesman and trader of pretty much anything on which a pound was to be made.
The H&H Classics sale at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford will take place on Wednesday 20 April.
Ford reveals facelifted Kuga sport
Ford has revamped its Kuga SUV.
Featuring a more ‘advanced, refined and sportier redesign’, the new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable, say Ford. These include the new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.
Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology - that helps drivers park hands-free in spaces alongside other cars - joins an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System for optimised visibility in low light. Further technologies include Hands-Free Tailgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.
Ford’s new SYNC 3 connectivity system delivers faster performance, simplified commands, and supports five additional languages. Simply by pushing a button and saying “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol,” and “I need to park,” drivers can locate nearby cafes, petrol stations or car parks, and find train stations, airports, and hotels. A new interface features larger, easier to operate buttons and enables pinch and swipe gestures for the first time.
The new Kuga features Ford’s latest design language for a bold and sporty look that is shared with the EcoSport compact SUV and all-new Edge large SUV. A large upper trapezoidal grille and a smaller lower grille are flanked by sleek new headlamps incorporating LED Daytime Running Lights, complemented by fog lamps.
Restyled taillights complete the sporty look, while a new range of 17- 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs also will be available in variety of finishes including Luster Nickel. One new colour, the vibrant shade Copper Pulse, will be offered throughout the range. A power-operated retractable tow bar automatically stores itself out of sight below the rear bumper when not in use, to retain the new Kuga’s sporty looks.
On the inside, Ford says the interior has been refined to offer a ‘more ergonomic, stylish and comfortable experience for occupants’. The steering wheel and air-conditioning controls are even more intuitive, and feature fewer and more easily distinguishable buttons and switches, ‘making the controls easier to recognise and navigate’. The steering wheel is also offered with heated leather to improve comfort in cold weather, while all automatic new Kuga models will feature paddle-shift controls that enable drivers to manually select gears while keeping their hands on the wheel.
A new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine is introduced, offered with front-wheel drive, Ford says it is targeting a fuel efficiency improvement for the new engine of about 5 per cent to 64.2mpg and 115g/km CO2 while producing the same power.
Also available will be a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with 150PS in front-wheel drive and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive versions that achieve from 60.1mpg and 122g/km CO2; and a 180PS Intelligent All Wheel Drive version that delivers from 54.3mpg and 135g/km CO2.
Ford’s 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in 120PS or 150PS front-wheel drive form achieves 45.6mpg and 143g/km CO2; and a 182PS Intelligent All Wheel Drive version delivers from 38.2mpg and 171g/km CO2.
Ford is launching the new Kuga and the larger Edge SUV this year, after introducing an updated EcoSport last year.
Ford Focus RS production underway
The first all-new Focus RS has rolled off the production line in Saarlouis, Germany, signaling an increasing demand for performance cars across Europe, says Ford.
The carmaker expects to produce 41,000 performance cars for Europe in 2016, up from 29,000 in 2015, representing an increase of 40 per cent.
The all-new Focus RS is among the models driving demand, along with the Mustang, for which Ford has taken more than 13,000 orders in Europe (2,650 in the UK), and the hot hatch ST versions of the Focus and Fiesta.
The Focus RS is one of 12 new performance vehicles Ford will bring to customers globally through 2020. Developed by a team of engineers in Europe and the US, it's powered by a special version of Ford's new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering maximum power of 350PS. This will enable the high-performance hatchback to get from 062 mph in 4.7sec, making it the fastest accelerating Ford RS model ever.
Since prices were announced in September, customers have placed more than 3,100 orders (2,300 of these in Britain).
"This will be a truly remarkable year for Ford performance cars, with unprecedented performance capability, as well as sophisticated powertrain and chassis technologies including the new Ford Performance All Wheel Drive system for Focus RS," said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe.
4x4, SUV, News, Family Car
Ford adds Edge to its SUV line-up
Arriving in UK dealerships this summer, the all-new Edge tops off Ford's three-car SUV line-up.
Offering space for up to five passengers, 'segment-first technologies and refinement to rival premium competitors', claims Ford, it joins the medium-sized Ford Kuga and compact EcoSport models in what is the UK's fastest-growing vehicle sector.
Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain, said: "The introduction of the stylish Ford Edge SUV is another incredibly exciting moment for Ford and its dealers. Joining performance products like Mustang and Focus RS and new luxury products like Mondeo Vignale already in showrooms, the Edge makes the Ford product line-up for 2016 never stronger.
Available in Zetec, Titanium and Sport series, the Edge is equipped as standard with Ford intelligent all-wheel drive, Active Noise Control, Pedestrian Detection, Ford DAB Audio with SYNC 2 connectivity, privacy glass and 19in alloy wheels. It comes in a choice of 10 exterior colours and a wide range of interior leather trim options.
The Edge will be offered in the UK with a choice of 180PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with six-speed manual transmission, or 210PS bi-turbo 2.0litre TDCi diesel with six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. Both powertrains will deliver 48.7mpg fuel efficiency and 149g/km CO2 supported by Auto-Start-Stop technology (47.9mpg and 152g/km when fitted with 20in wheels).
Ford's SUV flagship will feature new technologies, including Adaptive Steering, Front Wide View Camera and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; a camera- and radar-based system that can operate at speeds from 5mph to 110mph to detect vehicles and people in the road ahead.
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard, switching between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive to adapt to changing road conditions. It measures how the wheels are gripping the road surface every 16 milliseconds and can send up to 100 per cent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels.
Acoustic windscreen glass and laminated glass for both front door windows, reduce the intrusion of wind noise while underbody panels and wheel-arch liners further minimise noise from both the wind and the road.
All Edge models are also equipped with Ford's Active Noise Control technology that detects unwanted engine noise in the cabin and cancels it out with opposing sound waves fed through the integrated sound system.
Available to order now, the all-new Ford Edge is priced from £29,995 on the road.
Motorshow, News, Quirky, Sports Car
Revell Ford GT snap kits up for grabs at Detroit
Ford GT snap kits will be available to purchase through online stores and retailers starting in April
Kids can get their very first Ford GT when they stop by the Ford stand at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Ford is giving away Revell-built Ford GT model snap kits and will introduce a retail line in April.
The auto show kit includes 14 pieces for easy assembly in just a few minutes, and will feature a unique auto show stamp on the bottom to signify the special edition. The retail model is more detailed; it has 28 pieces, takes 10 to 15 minutes to build, and will be widely available to purchase for $14.99.
“Our annual Revell Make ‘n Take model kit program has become a fun-filled auto show tradition,” said Mark Bentley, Ford Licensing manager. “Letting kids build their own Ford GT is a great way to introduce them to the Ford brand and create new enthusiasts.”
Ford has worked with Illinois-based Revell to build snap kits for motor shows and for retail sale since 2013. The licensing agreement started with Mustang, followed by a Raptor version.
“We’ve always enjoyed building Ford products,” said Brian Eble, Revell’s Vice President of Marketing. “Ford’s iconic designs make them a great brand to replicate. From first time model builders to master builders; Ford products continue to be one of the most sought after subject matter for scale plastic model kits.”
Ford develops Drug Driving Suit
Ford has created a unique suit to show young people the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.
Ford developed the suit together with scientists from the Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany to simulate some of the effects of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy). These include slower reaction time, distorted vision, hand tremors and poor coordination.
The new Drug Driving Suit has been incorporated into Ford's Driving Skills for Life young driver programme that has provided training to more than 500,000 people around the world since its launch 11 years ago. Young drivers will have the opportunity to experience the suit, and also receive hands-on training covering skills including hazard recognition, vehicle handling and distraction awareness..
"Driving after taking illegal drugs can have potentially fatal consequences for the driver, their passengers, and other road users," said Ford Driving Skills for Life Manager Jim Graham. "We have already seen how the Drink Driving Suit has a dramatic effect on those who wear it behind the wheel, and are confident that the Drug Driving Suit will have a similar impact."
According to a European study, drivers who get behind the wheel after taking drugs are up to 30 times more likely to be involved in a severe crash.* Despite the risks, one in 10 people say they have accepted lifts from people they believe have taken illegal drugs.**
Like the Drink Driving Suit that Ford last year incorporated into the DSFL programme, the new Drug Driving Suit simulates the effects of reduced mobility, vision and coordination with padding and ankle weights, goggles and headphones. The team also introduced new features that simulate effects that are specific to illegal drug use.
"We know that some drugs can cause trembling hands, so we incorporated into the suit a device that creates just such a tremor," said Gundolf Meyer-Hentschel, CEO of the Meyer-Hentschel Institute. "Drug users sometimes see flashing lights in their peripheral field, an effect recreated by our goggles, while imaginary sounds are generated by the headphones. Additionally, the goggles distort perception, and produce colourful visual sensations - a side effect of LSD use."
Further details about the Ford DSFL program, including training dates and venues, plus how to enrol in the online training academy will be available online.
Zenos reveals faster, more focused E10 R
A year after its first model entered production, Zenos Cars has introduced its quickest and most focused car to date: the E10 R.
With more power and torque, lighter components and uniquely tuned suspension, the E10 R has been developed, says Zenos, to deliver maximum performance and driving thrills both on track and on road.
A new Ford-sourced turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine uses a bespoke ECU developed with partner Specialist Components to deliver 40 per cent more power (350 bhp) and 19 per cent more torque (475 Nm / 349 lb.ft). And with over 450 Nm of the total torque available between 3,000 and 6,000 rpm, the E10 R offers great flexibility for overtaking manoeuvres.
Thanks to a power-to-weight figure of 500 bhp/tonne, the E10 R is expected to achieve zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.0 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).
Inside, there's a shortened gear lever for the standard six-speed transmission and twin-skin composite seats fitted with four-point racing harnesses to enhance safety.
The brakes have also been uprated, with ventilated discs and uprated four-pot callipers fitted as standard, while changes have been made to spring and damper rates for dynamic improvements.
The 'standard' Zenos E10 R is priced from £39,995, but it will initially be available as an exclusive (15 examples only) Drive Edition, named after the company's design partners, priced at £43,995.
The Drive Edition is distinguished by its unique black anodised finish of its aluminium spine, visible from inside the cabin, Satin Black front and rear splitters and side winglets, and Satin Black interior trim.
Optional equipment on the E10 R, and standard on the E10 R Drive Edition, includes a new Charged Graphite paint finish, one-way adjustable dampers, quick-release steering wheel and uprated master cylinders.
The Drive Edition also gets an upgraded interior, with six-point harnesses, carbon leather trim and carbon seats all fitted as standard equipment.
Orders are now being taken for the E10 R, which sits at the top of a three-model E10 family. The range begins with the 200 bhp E10, priced from £24,995, and also includes the 250 bhp turbocharged E10 S, priced from £29,995.
The Zenos E10 R will make its international debut at the Autosport International 2016 show, which will be held from 14-17 January at the NEC in Birmingham.
The Stig names Ford Mustang as ultimate stunt car
The all-new Ford Mustang has been named the ultimate stunt car by Ben Collins, aka The Stig.
Also a top Hollywood stunt driver, racing driver and former Stig (for eight years) on the BBC's Top Gear - Collins has a new film out called "Ben Collins: Stunt Driver". In the new film, the Ford Mustang fastback - powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine - beats an array of high-performance road and competition cars during 48 hours of explosive, high-speed challenges featuring aerobatic planes, helicopter gunships and military machines.
"The point of this adventure was to find the perfect car for an epic, high octane, Hollywood-style car chase, and it's the iconic Ford Mustang that gets top billing," Collins said. "Mustang has starred in many a classic car chase during the past 50 years, and is still the stunt driver's weapon of choice to leave the bad guys standing in a cloud of tyre smoke."
Collins' movie stunt driving credits include the James Bond films Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre, as well as The Dark Knight Rises and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Collins has also competed in Le Mans, GT and NASCAR race series.
The Mustang helped Collins evade baddies in his new film with all-new front and rear suspension systems including integral link independent rear suspension, and standard performance brake packages behind 19-inch wheels. The lightweight chassis delivers up to 0.97 g-force when cornering, says Ford. Launch Control also helps, with the 5.0-litre V8 Mustang sprinting from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds.
"Mustang has made more than 3,700 movie appearances and has kept cinema-goers on the edge of their seats in car chases from the legendary 'Bullitt' sequence in 1968, to the first movie to feature the all-new Mustang, 'Need for Speed' in 2014," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "Being named the ultimate stunt car in 'Ben Collins: Stunt Driver' further cements Mustang's place as an automotive and screen icon."
The all-new Ford Mustang is now on sale in the UK now with prices starting from £29,995 (EcoBoost) and £33,995 (V8). The new DVD, Ben Collins: Stunt Driver is out this week.
Ford Focus ST gets Mountune boost
Ford Focus ST buyers now have the option of even more adrenalin with a new performance upgrade from engine tuners Mountune.
Mountune's kit increases the power output of the Ford Focus ST's 2.0 EcoBoost engine from 250 to 275PS and, when fitted by a Ford dealer, does not affect the vehicle warranty.
The Mountune upgrade kit comprises a large capacity alloy intercooler, low-loss cast crossover duct with silicone hose, high-flow dual-entry air filter and specially developed performance-map calibration. Its fitment not only produces a 10 per cent increase in maximum power output at 5,500rpm, but also an improvement in torque from 345Nm to 400Nm at 2,750rpm.
Kevin Griffin, Ford of Britain sales director said: "The 2015 Focus ST 275PS upgrade is the latest addition to a wide range of Ford Performance parts and accessories from Ford dealers. It enables Focus ST owners to experience even more impressive performance, while offering the reassurance that the upgrade will not affect warranties."
Mountune's MP275 upgrade kit costs £1,195 including VAT plus fitting, which takes two hours. The Ford Focus ST 5-door with 2.0 EcoBoost engine at £22,495 in ST-1 specification includes 18-inch alloy wheels, ST body styling, Recaro sports front seats with DAB radio and Ford SYNC including Bluetooth and voice control.