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Nineteen Ford Racing FR500S Mustangs are now in the hands of their owners. In case you've forgotten, the Mustang FR500S is the $75,000, 325-horsepower racing car introduced at SEMA and offered directly to customers by Ford for use in the new single-make Ford Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup series. Starting this May at Road Atlanta, a series of eight Challenge races will take place in support of larger Grand-Am, HSR and NASCAR regional events, culminating with a September doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park, for which the series and trophy are named.
Last weekend, the FR500S owners made a pilgrimage to the racetrack in Salt Lake City, UT where they attended performance driving school, participated in seminars about the series, and, most importantly, took delivery of their racers. Kudos to the pair of drivers who strayed from the norm, opting for black and red cars instead of the white chosen by everyone else. Once all the talking ended, the group headed out to the track for open practice sessions in their cars. May's not that far off, and the next time this group of racers gets together, they'll be competing for championship points. If you want to see the cars in action, we've pasted the Mustang Challenge schedule after the jump.
Ford has released production photos of the new Ford Kuga destined for release in the UK. LeftLaneNews.com has a great writeup on the vehicle, quoted below:
Ford announced it will show a production version of its 2008 Kuga next Tuesday at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Built on the same platform as the European Ford Focus, the small crossover was inspired by the iosis X Concept shown at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and carries Ford's kinetic design. The Kuga will be built at Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany.
The Kuga will be available in front or all-wheel drive with a gasoline or diesel engine option. Ford claims the all-wheel drive Kuga will have "impressive on-road dynamics coupled with substantial off-road ability." The Kuga is the first crossover designed and developed in-house by Ford of Europe. The Kuga is set to hit the European market in early 2008.
Forget the Fiat 500 – this is 2008’s most hotly anticipated small car! Replacing one of Ford’s longest-lived models, it’s the all-new Ka – and Auto Express is the only magazine to give you an exclusive first look. Hot on the heels of our spy shots in Issue 997, we can now bring you these images, which provide the best view yet of the blue oval’s new baby. The Ka is the latest step in a thorough overhaul of Ford’s range. As you can see, the newcomer retains the familiar design cues of the original model, which was launched in 1996.
The city runabout has a loyal legion of fans in the UK, and they are sure to recognise the Ka’s wheel-at-each-corner stance, curvy shape and short overhangs. But the second-generation car also brings in new styling details that have made other Ford models – such as the Mondeo and S-MAX – stand out from the competition.
Heavily influenced by the Fiesta-replacing Verve concept, the Ka gets a distinctive family nose, with a large grille set low in the front bumper and big headlamps that extend up the bonnet. At the rear, it’s a similar mix of old and new, with a high, arcing roofline and upright rear end reminiscent of the current Ka, which is completed with fresh tail-lights.
Inside, designers will take further inspiration from the Verve concept and address one of the major flaws of the current Ka – its dated cabin. In comes a classy dashboard with soft-touch materials and a host of hi-tech equipment, including a socket to plug in MP3 players and a hands-free Bluetooth phone connection.
Under the skin lies a chassis shared with Fiat’s 500 and Panda, but Ford’s engineers have been working hard to ensure the Ka offers the same driver-pleasing handling and sharp steering feel of its predecessor. With quality taking a leap forward, so will refinement and the new Ka will have a far better ride than the current car, as well as lower noise levels. It promises to be able to cope better with town and motorway use than any rival in its class – and that includes the 500.
Engines will be shared with the Fiat, so buyers can expect to see a choice of two petrol units at launch – a 63bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre – along with the Ka’s first-ever diesel, in the shape of a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet powerplant.
The firm’s current Sportka is a popular budget hot hatch, and Ford will seek to repeat its success with an ST model. Performance will... [Read More]
Introduced at last year's Sydney Motor Show, the Ford territory-based FPV F6X has launched Down Under. It's just another in the string of Oztacular FPV products exclusive to the island continent, and it is the first FPV machine that isn't based on the Falcon sedan or ute. With looks that are reminiscent of the Freestyle/Taurus X, the all-wheel-drive F6X won't ever be confused for either thanks to its turbocharged 362 hp (270 kw), 405 lb-ft (550 nm) inline six and the performance it brings. The suspension is ret-uned for sport duty and the 18-inch rims hide upgraded brakes, featuring 6-pot Brembos in front, which heel the beast when necessary. Inside, a spiffy two-tone leather motif is standard, and outside, exclusive badging and optional striping are all part of the appearance package. Overall, it's pretty cool. The same can't be said for its price: $75,990 AUD is the starting number -- no small amount of cabbage for our Australian friends. Note to Ford: See? If you offered more cool stuff like this in the US, the brass wouldn't be reduced to making Homer Simpson jokes about the current product. TwinForce EcoBoost Taurus X SHO... do it already.