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First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST (Euro-spec)

Friday, September 12th, 2008

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Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Focus ST

Save the hot hatch for last. That’s what we kept telling ourselves as we wandered the Belgian countryside looking for Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground. As it turns out, the facility, located next to an air force base - restricted airspace, you know - is so secret, our hosts at Ford could hardly find it. So we had a little extra time to repeat the mantra: save the hot hatch for last.

On our way to Italy to drive the new Fiesta, we took a detour to Lommel to sample some of Ford’s European C-segment offerings. A variety of vehicles, including one with the new dual-clutch gearbox, a Kuga crossover and the fire-breathing Focus ST, would be on hand for us to drive around the track. But we knew that if we gave into temptation and drove the ST first, the rest would seem sluggish by comparison, even though the vehicles aren’t comparable. So did we resist the urge, or give into the little demon that’s always whispering in our ears to go faster? Follow the jump and we just might tell you.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

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Posted in Uncategorized, hatchback, test, first drive, FirstDrive, test drive, TestDrive, drive, ford focus, FordFocus, featured, lpg, road test, RoadTest, ford europe, FordEurope, european ford, EuropeanFord, focus st, FocusSt, ford focus st, ford focus st road test, ford focus st test drive, ford lommel, ford lommel proving ground, ford proving ground, FordFocusSt, FordFocusStRoadTest, FordFocusStTestDrive, FordLommel, FordLommelProvingGround, FordProvingGround, hot hatch, HotHatch, lommel, lommel proving ground, LommelProvingGround, track test, TrackTest | No Comments »

Paris Preview: three Volvo DRIVe models with CO emissions under 120 g/km

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

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click to enlarge

Volvo will be coming to the Paris Motor Show with three low-CO2 models that all beat the EU’s important 120 grams per kilometer target. The new DRIVe (yes, the e is small) editions of the C30 SportsCoupe (53.4 mpg U.S.), the S40 saloon and the V50 Sportswagon (both at 52.3 mpg U.S.) make up what Volvo calls the “widest range of premium cars with low environmental footprint.”

The decrease in CO2 emissions comes from the by-now-pretty-typical eco-tweaks: a 10mm lowered ride height, a covered radiator grille for increased aerodynamics and “aerodynamically optimised wheels,” higher gear ratios and underbody panels, among other changes. The fuel economy package will add between 150 and 450 Euros to the cost of the car. Full details are after the jump.

Volvo said that production of these new eco-models will start in November and UK residents can expect to see the vehicles on dealer lots in January. Volvo will bring the DRIVe line to other countries in Europe following the UK debut and expects to sell over 20,000 of them in 2009.

Gallery: Volvo DRIVe

[Source: Volvo]

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Posted in Uncategorized, volvo, drive, volvo-co2, volvo-drive | No Comments »

Detroit Auto Show: Mercedes shows Ocean Drive concept…on ice

Wednesday, December 31st, 1969

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Click the image above for a full-sized gallery.

Mercedes-Benz put on an Icecapades-style show here at Detroit, simultaneously celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the all-wheel-drive Mercedes and of the Detroit auto show, where M-B had shown their first four-driver a century ago. Accompanied by a dogsled team, hockey players and figure skaters, the press conference-on-ice showcased Mercedes’ full range of 48 all-wheel-drive 4MATIC models globally, while simultaneously focusing on the introduction of the BLUETEC clean diesel technology. Lastly, fitting in to neither part of the split 4MATIC/BLUETEC double theme, the red carpet was rolled out for the Ocean Drive concept.

Make the jump for the rest of the story and the press release.

For our comprehensive listing of everything from Detroit, click here.

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Posted in Uncategorized, sedan, concept, convertible, car, show, detroit, auto, benz, door, drive, four, mercedes, ocean | No Comments »

SPY SHOTS - Hyundai Equus replacement sheds more camo

Wednesday, December 31st, 1969

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Hyundai’s working on a rear-wheel-drive successor to its home-market Equus luxury sedan. The car’s expected to debut at the New York Auto Show in April, and these most recent spy shots show it with less camouflage than we’ve seen it wearing in the past. You can’t see the front end, but you get a really good look at the clean flanks. The roofline pays homage to the Euro iron Hyundai undoubtedly has in its sights; not to mention the high-end Japanese makes like Infiniti and Lexus. The kink in the lower portion of the C-pillar is a nod directly to BMW - though Infiniti copied it first. Power will be provided by the Azera’s 3.8 liter V6 at the bottom end, while there’s a 4.6 liter V8 reportedly generating over 300 horsepower for the top-of-the-line car. This looks like a large vehicle, and we car nuts welcome more RWD platforms with available V8s - they’re a hoot to be irresponsible in. Rumors have the entry price in the $30,000 range, which is a mighty deal if it continues with Hyundai’s recent formula. Expect to find styling that’s pleasant in an inoffensive, non-polarizing way when the wraps come off, and we’re sure that equipment levels will be high and suspension calibrations will tend toward the softer side. How soft it goes will determine whether it’s a spiritual successor to the Crown Victoria, or if it plays in more rarified air occupied by the aforementioned lux-marques.

[Source: The Car Blogger via GM Inside News]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Uncategorized, sedan, Spy Shots, SpyShots, bmw, new york auto show, NewYorkAutoShow, Infiniti, Hyundai, RWD, lexus, show, auto, drive, mercedes, equus, rear wheel drive, RearWheelDrive, v8, bh, luxury, new, rear, wheel, york | No Comments »

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