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Jay Leno has to be under significant pressure knowing the appetite his fans have for a new Jay Leno’s Garage video every week. This time, Jay takes a break from his usual format (something he’s been doing with some frequency as of late) and goes back to his roots as a talk show host. There’s no classic in the garage his episode with an interesting story to tell and a sumptuous exhaust note. Instead, the focus is purely on interviewing 23-year-old NASCAR racer Joey Logano about what it’s like to be a racecar driver in his Ford Fusion.

Logano started racing at the tender age of six and has risen up the circle-track ranks to the big show of the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The two of them talk about what it’s like to compete in the sport today compared to yesteryear, and Logano shares some racing anecdotes. Of course, they also get into what it’s like to be on the racetrack controlling a car with about 850 horsepower, a four-speed manual transmission and brakes without any power boost. Scroll down to watch the video.

Leno talks racing with NASCAR racer Joey Logano

Leno talks racing with NASCAR racer Joey Logano originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 04 Jul 2014 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When the 2015 Ford Mustang hits dealers, it will be with a new batch of features that will power up Sync’s 911 Assist feature, and provide an even greater degree of information to first responders in the event of an accident.

911 Assist will already make a phone call, via a Bluetooth-connected phone, should you bin your car. The automatic message to first responders is a pre-recorded blurb from Ford. With the new enhancements, though, emergency personnel can learn about the maximum change in velocity and whether the crash involved a front, rear, side or a rollover impact. 911 Assist will also send information about how many seat belts were in use and if airbags deployed, allowing more accurate dispatch of resources.

“Sync will only broadcast relevant information to save time, and it constructs a very efficient message for the operator,” said David Hatton, the global project leader with Ford Connected Services. “After the introductory message, the voice line opens automatically and occupants can speak directly with the operator via Sync’s hands-free functionality.”

Take a look below for the official press release from Ford, as well as a video of 911 Assist in action.

2015 Ford Mustang will tell authorities how you crashed and if you were belted [w/video]

2015 Ford Mustang will tell authorities how you crashed and if you were belted [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the world great automotive gatherings. So, it was the perfect event for Ford to give the refreshed 2015 Focus ST its world debut in front of a loving public. It even surprised us with a new diesel-powered version, as well.

The Blue Oval really put its focus on making the ST a better driver for this refresh. It left its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder alone to still pump out a respectable 252 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The changes like a retuned front suspension, electric power steering and improved interior made the hot hatch an even better place to spend time behind the wheel.

To prove that the Focus ST is still as potent as ever, Ford set up a one-on-one race up the Goodwood Hill. But instead of putting the two cars side-by-side, former Stig from Top Gear UK, Ben Collins, piloted the real model up the course, and his rival drove the virtual version in Gran Turismo 6. The two hot hatches set off at the same time to see whether reality could beat the virtual world, and the finish was actually extremely close. Scroll down to watch the video and find out the winner of this battle at Goodwood.

Ford pits The Stig against Gran Turismo 6 in Focus ST Goodwood run

Ford pits The Stig against Gran Turismo 6 in Focus ST Goodwood run originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 03 Jul 2014 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Aftermarket, Ford, Performance

The introduction of a new generation of a model like the Ford Mustang may be exciting enough in its own right for enthusiasts, but that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, because you know that Ford itself as well as numerous aftermarket tuners will soon follow up with even more desirable versions. And few Mustang tuners carry quite the same clout of Saleen.

Recently reunited after its previous split, Saleen is back on the map and hard at work on new aftermarket modifications for a wide array of muscle cars. We knew it would only be a matter of time before it would release a new 302 Mustang, and now it’s sent out the first image to show us what to expect.

Details are scarce, but House that Steve Built says the 2015 Saleen 302 Mustang “is perfectly positioned as the next American exotic.” And it should know, considering that it’s the same outfit that produced the Saleen S7 that really was a true American exotic. From the teaser image above we can see that Saleen has given its Mustang a new front air dam, a very wide air scoop on the hood and of course Saleen’s trademark slat grille.

We’ll have to wait to find out more, but given that the outgoing 302 packed as much as 625 supercharged horsepower, we should be in for one seriously wild stallion indeed.

2015 Saleen Mustang 302 preview

2015 Saleen Mustang 302 preview originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 03 Jul 2014 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re in the market for a hot hatch, there are some excellent choices at your disposal – especially if you live in Europe. But if you want a diesel, well, your choices become rather more limited. Volkswagen tends to that niche market with the Golf GTD (essentially an oil-burning version of the GTI available Stateside), but that’s about the extent of it. The pleas of those looking for more diesel-burning hot hatch choices haven’t fallen on deaf ears at Ford, with the Blue Oval not only rolling out a face lifted gas-powered Focus ST at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, but also a new diesel version as well.

The diesel Focus ST (which we hope and pray isn’t marketed as the STD) packs a 2.0-litre turbo diesel four producing 182 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to propel the oil-burning hot hatch to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 217 kilometres per hour (135 miles per hour). With less power and only slightly more torque, that makes the diesel Focus ST considerably slower than the gasoline one, which packs 252 hp and 270 lb-ft, runs to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.5 seconds and tops out at 247 km/h (154 mph), but (in a testament to how far particulate filters have come) the diesel model cuts carbon emissions by nearly a third compared to the petrol version and returns about 50-per cent better fuel economy, which makes that much more of a difference in markets where diesel is already priced better than gasoline at the pump.

For buyers who wouldn’t consider anything other than a diesel, it also represents 23-per cent more power than the previous top-level diesel Focus. The VW Golf GTD, for reference, offers up 181 hp (just 1 horse less), 280 lb-ft (15 fewer torques) but is somehow estimated to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in a considerably fleeter 7.4 seconds.

Regardless of engine choice, buyers get the same six-speed manual transmission and all the other enhancements introduced on the updated Focus ST, including re-calibrated suspension and steering, updated front- and rear-end styling and upgraded interior equipment. Plus they’ll get to choose between the five-door hatchback or extended wagon body styles, giving our European compatriots four configurations where American buyers only get the one. Increased utility and fuel economy aside, we’re still convinced ours is the pick of the litter, and we’ve got our doubts that a diesel ST would sell in America. What do you think? Vote in our poll below and then have your say in Comments.

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Ford rolls out diesel Focus ST at Goodwood [w/poll]

Ford rolls out diesel Focus ST at Goodwood [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Typically when an automaker rolls out a concept car or pre-production prototype, it does its tour and then disappears into the company’s archives. Maybe it will be displayed for the public to see in the company’s own museum or maybe it will spend most of its time under covers in a warehouse somewhere, but every once in a while, an automaker will open up its history and start selling off its concept cars. For Shelby American, “once in a while” has just rolled around.

The House that Carroll Built is moving from its previous headquarters at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to a new facility off of the Las Vegas strip, and in the process is liquidating fourteen of the rarest cars in its collection. That presents a tremendous opportunity for muscle car collectors to bring one or more of these snakes home.

As you might expect, the catalog is composed mostly of Mustangs, but not exclusively. There’s a pair of 289 Cobras: the last of the 50th anniversary slab-sided continuation cars and an original development vehicle, offered at $200,000 (CAD$214,000) apiece. At the other end of the spectrum you’ll find the 2013 Shelby Raptor concept for $125k (CAD$134k) and Focus concept for $50k (CAD$54k). And of course there are the Mustangs.

The collection on offer includes three Super Snake concepts from 2010/11, a 2007 Shelby GT prototype, a 2011 GTS concept, a quartet of GT350 prototypes from 2012/13 and a 2012 Shelby GTS Wide Body prototype – prices for which range from $99,000 to $200k (CAD$106,000 to CAD$214,000). Scope out the entire catalog in the gallery above.

Shelby American cleans house of 14 concept cars

Shelby American cleans house of 14 concept cars originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 29 Jun 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With the introduction of its forthcoming 2015 F-150, Ford is breaking with convention by shifting from steel-intensive construction to aluminum. But what if it weren’t made of metal altogether? What if it were made of plastic instead, and packed an electric motor instead of an internal-combustion engine?

Feast your eyes, boys and girls, on the new Power Wheels F-150. Built by Fisher-Price and licensed by Ford, the third-generation ride-on toy started development nine months before the full-size version debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this past January, and is hitting sidewalks and driveways across the country this September.

The Power Wheels F-150 carries a sticker price of $349.99, and there’s a special version at Toys R Us with LED headlamps (just like the real F-150) for an extra $10.

Given that the PowerWheels has a higher retail price than most other licensed items like apparel, video games and memorabilia, it was unsurprising to hear Ford’s licensing manager, Mark Bentley, tell Autoblog that the PowerWheels is the Blue Oval’s “best-selling, No. 1 revenue generator.” No wonder the company takes the ride-on children’s toy so seriously.

To see this little guy in action, check out the video below.

2015 Ford F-150 gets Power Wheels treatment [w/video]

2015 Ford F-150 gets Power Wheels treatment [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost is proving to be The Little Engine That Could, and it continues to acquit itself well, finding favor as one of the best powerplants in the world. To confirm it yet again, the tiny mill just won the International Engine of the Year award for the third year in a row, likewise also nabbing the title in the Sub 1.0-litre category.

Packing 123 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque with overboost (125 lb-ft normally), the tiny engine combines impressive power in a size small enough to be a carry-on item for a commercial flight. North American buyers only got a taste of the award winner in the 2014 Fiesta, while the 1.0 EcoBoost has been available throughout the Ford lineup in Europe for a few years now. North American sales have reportedly been strong, however, and next up in North America, the mill will find its way into the 2015 Focus.

The panel of 82 jury members from 34 countries also named the Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo found in the A45, CLA45 and GLA45 AMG models with 355 hp and 332 lb-ft as the best New Engine for 2014. The electric powertrain from Tesla won Green Engine prize, and the 4.5-litre V8 from the Ferrari 458 Italia took home the honour of top Performance Engine yet again. You can check out all the winners below, and scroll down further to read Ford’s celebratory announcement of its award.

• International Engine of the Year – Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo
• Green Engine – Tesla full-electric powertrain
• New Engine – Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbo
• Performance Engine – Ferrari 4.5-liter eight-cylinder
• Sub 1.0-liter – Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo
• 1.0-liter to 1.4-liter – Volkswagen Group 1.4-liter four-cylinder TSI Twincharger
• 1.4-liter to 1.8-liter – BMW-PSA Peugeot Citroën 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol
• 1.8-liter to 2.0-liter – Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo
• 2.0-liter to 2.5-liter – Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo
• 2.5-liter to 3-liter – BMW 3.0-liter twin-power turbo six-cylinder gasoline
• 3.0-liter to 4-liter – McLaren 3.8-liter eight-cylinder
• Above 4.0-liter – Ferrari 4.5-liter eight-cylinder

Ford 1.0L takes third-straight International Engine of the Year award

Ford 1.0L takes third-straight International Engine of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Brits don’t really have a major auto show these days. Not in a conventional sense, anyway, with stationary vehicles under floodlights in a closed exposition space. What they do have, you could argue, is much better: the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the public can view the latest machinery not only under an open sky, but in motion as well, speeding up Lord March’s front lawn. And this year, British automakers are rolling in with some very enticing new metal.

In the past few days alone we’ve confirmed the McLaren 650S GT3 and MSO, Jaguar F-Type Project 7, Range Rover Sport SVR and Ariel Ace will all be revealed for the first time at Goodwood this weekend. Ford isn’t, strictly speaking, a British automaker, but for all its history in the UK, it might as well. So it’s chosen Goodwood as the site to unveil its refreshed Focus ST.

The upgraded Blue Oval hot hatch still packs a 2.0-litre turbo four with 252 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque driving through a six-speed manual to the front wheels, so we’re not expecting much change in measurable performance. But Ford has given the new Focus ST a new front suspension setup and a new electric power-assisted steering rack that combine to promise improved handling.

While it was at it, Ford has equipped the 2015 Focus ST with redesigned front and rear fascias, HID and LED lighting, 18-inch wheels and an improved cabin complete with a redesigned centre stack, centre console and front door panels, a new flat-bottom steering wheel and standard rear-view camera. Buyers will also be able to opt for a new shade of silver and black or red racing stripes as well as a heated steering wheel and eight-way power driver’s seat – all of which promises to make one of our favourite hot hatches that much better, and that can be no bad thing.

Scroll down for the official release from Ford.

2015 Ford Focus ST gets sleeker style, improved dynamics

2015 Ford Focus ST gets sleeker style, improved dynamics originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford is expected to be launching a revised version of the Focus ST soon, but the latest snapshots from our spy photographers at the Nürburgring suggest that the Blue Oval is already working on an even more potent example: the new Focus RS.

Though the partially disguised test mule is wearing an ST badge (along with a Dewey sticker that makes us wonder what adventures Huey and Louie are up to and what manner of duck-tail rear spoiler they may be wearing), there are several tell-tale signs that something else is afoot here. There’s a larger front air dam, bigger brake calipers, dual exhaust tips (instead of the central exhaust on the ST) and a reshaped wing protruding from the trailing edge of the roof.

That may all be well and fine, but what’s under the hood? We don’t know yet for sure, but word has it that Ford is preparing to port over the 2.3-litre turbo four offered in the new Mustang, where it packs 305 horsepower and almost as much torque – potentially retuned to produce even more for the top-of-the-line Focus, which could channel it all to the front wheels like the last model or pack an all-wheel drive system. The Global C platform on which the Focus is based does, after all, also underpin AWD models like the Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC.

Of course there’s no telling if the Focus RS would make it Stateside, but Ford could take inspiration from the popularity of the Focus ST here and bring it over. Considering that the last batch of spy shots we saw of the Focus RS prototype were snapped on US soil, our hopes are rising.

Ford spotted testing new Focus RS at the Nürburgring

Ford spotted testing new Focus RS at the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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