Ford Focus RS

The wait is over. Ford today officially took the wraps off its new Focus RS – the hottest hatch on the planet, judging by the first official details. We'll see the new fast Ford at the 2008 London motor show, but the first customer cars won't arrive until spring 2009.
If you thought the original Focus RS was a hard-nosed, uncompromising hot hatch, the second-gen Focus RS should surely qualify for an ASBO court order. It puts 300ps (296bhp) through the front wheels to make it one of the fastest - and most frenetic - hatches around.
Ford Focus RS: 296bhp and shredded tyres, right?
It does sound that way, doesn't it. But Ford insists that its chassis mods have tamed the turbocharged thrust from the Volvo-derived, Duratec 2.5-litre five-pot that also powers the regular Focus ST.
You could argue that 300bhp is too much, or that Ford should have fitted four-wheel drive to the fastest Focus, but instead it's developed a raft of traction enhancing gizmos to stop the front wheels burning more rubber than Max Mosley and actually put some of that 302lb ft of torque to the road.

Bullitt Mustang unveiled

Yes, this is the one we’re been waiting for, but they had to make it a 2008 car to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bullitt and the best car chase of all time. So pull on your turtlenecks; Ford will reveal the new Mustang Bullitt at the forthcoming LA Motor Show, and will sell only 7700 at a reasonable $31,075, from January. You can have it in the original Highland green (unique to this model), or black. Either way the cabin leather is a black as a villain’s heart.
It looks as mean as Steve McQueen in every scene with Robert Vaughan…
Just as McQueen frequently used to demand fewer, rather than more lines, chief designer for Mustang Doug Gaffka and his team stripped this car down to essentials. He says: 'It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing'. We'd have to agree, it looks pretty good. Like the original, it sheds the pony from its mesh grille. The only badge is a roundel on the trunk. The 18in wheels mimic the original Torq Thrusts, and the turned aluminium dash seeks to evoke the era. The gearlever is a stubby, short-shifter like the one on the soundtrack (although cabin shots reveal an auto.)

Ford Focus RS photo leak

These leaked, blinding lime-green photos of the new Ford Focus RS have surfaced on the internet today – nearly a month ahead of the planned unveiling of Ford's new hot hatch. However, CAR has learned that they are computer-generated images of the Focus RS and do not reveal the finished item, which will be launched at the 2008 London motor show in July.The three shots were used in an internal presentation in 2007 and insiders claim the finished car is considerably different. Come back to CAR Online on 4 July 2008 to find out exactly how different it is...So what do we know about the new Ford Focus RS?Ford's latest hot hatch will use the front-wheel drive chassis and powertrain of the regular Focus ST, but beefed up considerably by the boys in the RS division. That means a power output of nearer 300bhp – all put through the front axle and a clever Quaife diff.What about the design? We reckon this shocking green hatch is a close guide to the finished thing; it's all butch bodywork and contrasting black trim on the grille. Compare it with the issued in December 2007.

RML SLR 722 GT

It’s another special edition, but it's nothing to do with Mercedes, apparently. Northamptonshire-based RML (Ray Mallock Ltd) have tweaked the SLR for rich racing enthusiasts. Don't fret, they've got some pedigree. In 2007 RML ran the Chevrolet WTCC teams, competed in the ALMS, and at Le Mans, and in the past ran they also ran Nissan's BTCC team. Compared to the standard SLR 722, RML claim to have ‘uniquely and comprehensively re-engineered’ the car, with over 400 changes being made.
So what are these changes?
The headline figure is of course the power, and the supercharged Merc 5.5-litre V8 now puts out 671bhp thanks to a new exhaust and air filter. However, that’s only up 21bhp, and torque is up a measly 7lb ft. The fuss, therefore, is all about the loss of 334kg. That’s right, 334kg! RML have stripped out all the weight that Gordon Murray was so adverse to see Mercedes put in, and now the SLR 722 GT weighs 1390kg, 5kg less than a 911 GT3.

Ford Explorer America

At the forthcoming Detroit Motor Show Ford will show off a concept clearly aimed at the States: the aptly named Explorer America. But it won’t be the traditional yank tank as we know it…
Gone is the body-on-frame chassis, replaced by a unibody construction. Off-road and towing ability is only described as ‘moderate’. Heck, there’s even a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine…
It’s part of Ford’s move to go green, and the Explorer is essentially a showcase for the company's new EcoBoost technology. EcoBoost is a combination of direct injection and turbocharging, which Ford reckons can cut emissions by 15 percent, and fuel consumption by 20 percent. But power will also increase, despite the downsizing of the engines: the 2.0-litre produces 275bhp and 280lb ft, while the new 3.5-litre V6 puts out 340bhp. Ford hopes to produces 500,000 EcoBoost equipped cars a year starting from 2009.
The smaller engines, and other lightweight materials mean Ford reckons the V6 Explorer weighs 68kg less than today’s equivalent, while economy is also helped by a six-speed auto and electric power steering. In fact, Ford wants at least 80 percent of its cars by 2012 to come with electric power steering, which the company believes can account for a five percent fuel economy saving.
And the Explorer concept?
The America itself looks compact thanks to the wraparound rear glass. The concept also features Ford’s three-bar grille, a sliding rear door, and apparently a work table that deploys from the tailgate. And to make sure you don’t get lost in America in the America there’s a fancy 3-D compass and map.

Avro Mirage 720 Ford GT

Avro’s 720 Mirage Ford GT is the supercar for when one limited edition just isn’t enough. Just ten of these Roush-tuned Fords will be made, and yes, the 720 signifies the horsepower output.
In 2007 Avro and Roush unleashed the 600bhp 600RE Ford GT. Just ten were made (and we’ve already seen one wrecked example) but Roush realised there was more to come from the engine. At the request of Brooklands-based Avro Motor Cars a further 120bhp has been found over and above the 600RE. And that’s 170bhp more than this Ford GT had when it left the factory.
The increase to 720bhp and 601lb ft comes mainly thanks to a larger Whipple supercharger. To make sure the 720 Mirage stays on the road the tracks are 5mm wider front and rear, there is adjustable KW suspension - that mean the car sits 25mm lower - and AP Racing brakes.
Perhaps the best feature though is the removal of the car’s American-spec rear bumper. Avro says it saves weight, but is also gives the Ford GT a clean, uncluttered look. And if you want the car to stand out, there’s the orange paint and black wheels. Yours for £179,400.

Volkswagen Scirocco GT24

Who’d have thought a little gathering in Austria could give birth to three stunning concept cars. This is VW's new Scirocco GT24 concept and it's appearing at the Wörthersee Tour alongside .
The Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 concept is a road version of the trio of racecars (pictured bottom far right) that will compete in this weekend’s Nürburgring 24-hour race. And like the concept from 2007, the VW Scirocco GT24 is a runner. According to Volkswagen the GT24 is also a pointer towards how an ‘R’ version of the Scirocco could look.
Let me guess, the VW Scirocco GT24 has a 2.0-litre turbo?
Spot on, and that forced-induction 2.0-litre makes 321bhp and 251lb ft. It’s mated to VW’s obligatory six-speed dual-clutch ‘box with power going to the front wheels. Why no four-wheel drive? Because even the earliest reports about a hot Scirocco pointed towards an R20 with a tweaked 2.0-litre turbo, rather than the new coupe using a V6.
To beef up the gearbox there are new clutch plates, alongside revised gear ratios and a lightened flywheel.

Mazda launches amazing MX-5 CC

Mazda is claiming the world's first no compromises coupe-convertible, with its MX-5 Roadster-coupe.
Traditionally, folding tin-tops keep out thieves but steal luggage space. They boost refinement, but make handling less tidy. But the MX-5 Roadster-coupe's roof is as compact as the canvas one, and comes with just a 37kg weight penalty, which Mazda claims does not compromise the dynamics. Mazda has managed to stuff the entire folding roof mechanism into the cubby behind the seat where the soft top normally sits, making this the first CC that doesn't impinge on boot space. It's not just the first MX-5 to have an electric top, but it's also the quickest retractable hardtop in the world, requiring just 12sec to fold away. The Roadster-coupe roof is a £1750 option available on every MX-5 model from September and even comes with free air conditioning, itself normally a £500 extra.
Great value considering the £2000 a removable hardtop cost and air con package previously cost on an MX-5. It's little wonder Mazda expects half of all customers to tick the Roadster-coupe option. But the weight of the roof and its motors adds 37kg and the revised suspension settings are less aggressive, so expect the RC to appear dynamically softer than the standard soft-top car. Although unveiled a year after the basic soft-top car, the Roadster-coupe was always planned for production so Mazda created a space behind the seats big enough to accommodate the solid roof. With the roof down, subtly restyled wings, boot lid and a taller deck lid betray the tin-top MX-5. In fact, the MX-5 Roadster-coupe looks even tidier with the hood down than the soft top, whose folding mechanism can be seen through ugly gaps. But packaging so much metal into such a small space meant that the hood-up roofline appears more vertical and not quite so attractive.

Mazda Taiki

Mazda Taiki: the lowdown
Is it just us, or has Mazda gone a bit concept car crazy in recent months? Its current design mantra of 'nagare' - or flow - has spawned the Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze show-offs at recent motor shows. And, true to form, there will be another car in the series at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. That honour befalls the Taiki, a clean-fuel two-seater that's again inspired by natural waves and rhythms of nature, apparently. Officials drop hints that it'll inform the design of the next RX-8, but then spokespeople always say that sort of thing, don't they? Our guess is that Mazda is slowly but surely playing with a new style, and we're inching closer to flavours of what will actually appear in a showroom near you. Eventually. Don't expect sci-fi style out-rigger rear wheels quite yet, though...
The Taiki looks nothing like the next RX-8, surely?
You're right - this is a long, long way from any kind of production reality. But squint awhile at the front end, and you're not a million miles away from future design cues. The grille treatment, in particular, is said to be a preview of a fresh facial expression for Mazdas. The Taiki also premieres a new package of aerodynamic aids, although Mazda isn't elaborating any more until its Tokyo debut. Many manufacturers are playing with semi-active aero aids, so expect moving body parts to smoothe the airflow.

Mazda RX-8 facelift

Mazda’s facelifted RX-8 arrived at the Detroit Motor Show, and it’s more of a mild nip and tuck than a drastic overhaul. Mazda hasn’t suddenly dropped in a V6 or anything like that – so far over 165,000 rotary-engined RX-8s have been sold and Mazda doesn’t want to mess with a recipe that works. That means it’s still a four-door, four seater with 'Freestyle' (suicide to you and me) doors, and a unchanged 1.3-litre turbine engine available in 189bhp and 228bhp states of tune.
But while the engine hasn’t changed Mazda has been busy fettling the chassis. There’s a new trapezoid front strut bar, new rear suspension geometry and a more rigid driveshaft. The USA wll also get a new R3 sport package (pictured), though Mazda UK has yet to confirm whether it's coming to this side of the Pond. The R3 pack features tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, 19-inch wheels, a bodykit consisting of new front and rear spoilers and side sills, 300-watt stereo and some part-leather Recaros.
RX-8: the new look
All cars, including the R3-equipped RX-8s, get restyled front and rear bumpers, a new finish for the lights, and larger diameter exhaust pipes. Inside the rev counter now has a red-zone that only fades when the engine is at operating temperature. There’s also a new steering wheel while the four seats have been redesigned to provide extra comfort, and the backrests of the front seats have also been changed to provide extra legroom for those in the rear.
The revised RX-8 lands in UK dealers mid-year, with prices scarcely changing over today's model. British dealers sell around 4000 a year - down from a high of 10,000 in the RX's first year on sale.