Category: Ford

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Ford Video

“The Mustang is a happy car”

Chris Harris drives the Ford Mustang GT

When Chris Harris posts up a new video a lot of eyeballs will watch it. This is mostly because he’s very good at what he does. First and foremost he knows what he’s doing behind a steering wheel. He keeps the hoons happy with a bit of sideways action. He keeps the tech guys happy with great details.

With that said and despite Harris’ best efforts the Mustang holds no appeal to me at all. In this clip Chris spends a lot of time criticising aspects of the car and then loves it. I kind of understand what he means when he says, “the Mustang is a happy car”. And I also get that a car can be greater than the sum of its parts.

But I just can’t help thinking the best a Mustang could hope to be is a quick and sordid affair. For me, it could never be a long term relationship.

So, yeah, Chris Harris has a lot of influence in the car land. He even got me to watch 10 minutes of Mustang GT. Unless I’m watching Bullitt by chance, that’ll do me for another few years.

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Ford WEC

Ford returns to Le Mans in 2016

Ford GT LM GTE Pro

As expected Ford has announced it will be returning to Le Mans with a Ford GT in 2016. However, it won’t be an LMP1 challenge for outright victory, rather a crack at the LM GTE Pro category.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will run the cars for Ford and will enter a pair of cars in both the 2016 World Endurance Championship and the US-based United SportsCar Championship.

The two teams will combine to form a four-car effort for the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will mark the 50th anniversary of Ford’s first win at Le Mans with the legendary GT40.

Driver annoucnements are yet to be made, but with a high profile team like this you can bet the driving talent will be top shelf.

More pics and details after the break.

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Ford WEC

Ford set to return to Le Mans in 2016

Ford GT

Ford has announced it will be holding a press conference in Europe on Friday where it is expected to confirm its return to Le Mans with a GT-based entry in the 2016 race.

Chip Ganassi is tipped to lead a two-car team in the World Endurance Championship in the LMP1 category, along with a two-car United Sportscar Championship team. That will culminate in a four-car assault for outright victory in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The iconic Ford GT40 won Le Mans four times in success from 1966–69.

[Source: Racer]

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Ford Video WRC

The wheels are falling off

Jari Ketmoaa, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Rally Portugal

Jari-Matti Latvala won Rally Portugal on the weekend, rounding out a dominant 1-2-3 clean sweep for Volkswagen. We’ll get to that another time. Until then, another Jari made headlines with his spectacular aerial work.

Watch Jari Ketomaa launch his Ford Fiesta high into the sky. That was the good part. It soon turned very bad and very ugly.

Thankfully both Jari and his co-driver, Kaj Lindstrom, emerged without injury.

[Thanks to Julian for the tip]

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BMW Dodge Ford Lamborghini Video

The disappointment of Europe v America

BMW i8 v Lamborghini Huracan v Ford Mustang v Dodge SRT Hellcat

Take the sophisticated power of a BMW i8 and a Lamborghini Huracan and see how they go against the brawn of a Ford Mustang and a Dodge SRT Hellcat. Imagine you’re doing this and imagine that you’ve got four days and 1300 miles to work out what’s what.

Then imagine you’ve got to publish a video to YouTube that brings your experience to the world, brings us along for the ride.

Imagine how disappointed your friends and family would be if all you came up with was this 3 minute 40 second clip.

We like Car, we think it’s a good publication and while acknowledging they’ve got real magazines to sell we also think they should watch a few Chris Harris videos.

Otherwise they may as well not waste their production resources if this is all they’re going to give us with a tasty set of ingredients like this.

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Citroen Ford Hyundai Volkswagen WRC

2015 Rally Mexico in pictures

2015 Rally Monte Carlo

We’re just three races into the 2015 WRC season and dual world champion Sebastien Ogier already has a commanding lead in the drivers’ championship. Here’s a pictorial look back at how he conquered the dust and gravel in Rally Mexico.

It’s okay, unlike Sebastien, we give all of his main rivals equal time in the spotlight too. Enjoy the pics!

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Ford Video WRC

VIDEO: Ott Tanak’s Rally Mexico crash

Ott Tanak, 2015 Rally Mexico

If you haven’t yet seen Ott Tanak’s crash from Rally Mexico then put your floaties on and get ready to get wet!

The 27-year-old Estonian crashed out on SS03 and the off itself wasn’t so spectacular, it was only after he had gently rolled into the water that things became dramatic. It was actually a bit scary there for a moment: could Tanak and co-driver Raigo Molder escape their stricken Fiesta?

Thankfully they did, both men getting to the safety of dry land without too much fuss. Molder even had the presence of mind to grab his pace notes.

If you’re an Autosport+ subscriber there’s some interesting post-rally analysis on Tanak’s crash. David Evans laments that the crash attracted world healdines, but the subsequent victory by Sebatsien Ogier barely rated a mention.

Further, Evans questions why it took 17 minutes to get FIVs on the scene. It took 12 minutes alone just to locate Tanak and Molder, as there were issues with their car’s tracking device.

The tale had almost remarkable ending. After spending nine hours in that lake the car was salvaged and brought back into service. M-Sport set about repairing the car and had three hours to do so. And they did, for a brief moment, get the car running.

Alas, shortly after leaving service the Fiesta stopped running, and despite the team’s best efforts Tanak was unable to resume.

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Citroen Ford Hyundai Volkswagen WRC

2015 Rally Sweden in pictures

2015 Rally Monte Carlo

Well, whaddya know, time flies when you’re having fun and Rally Mexico is almost upon us. By the barest of margins here’s your chance to check out the ice cool pics from Rally Sweden, which was one of the most exciting WRC events we’ve ever seen.

Let’s hope Rally Mexico provides as much entertainment and another chance to look at those silly hats!

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Bathurst 12 Hour Ford Nissan

A few laps around Mount Panorama

2015 Bathurst 12 hour

We bring you three videos from the recent 2015 Bathurst 12 hour race giving you a driver’s eye view around the 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit.

The first features the eventual race winner Katsumasa Chiyo in the #35 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 during Firday practice.

The second was filmed during the race and shows Ben Gersekowski behind the wheel of the #93 MARC Cars Australia Focus V8. This clip includes telemetry from the car which brings further interest.

In the final clip you start the race onboard the #42 BMW M3 GTR with Anthony Gilbertson … until he hits that kangaroo.

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Citroen Ford Hyundai Volkswagen WRC

2015 Rallye Monte Carlo in pictures

2015 Rallye Monte Carlo

Before Rally Sweden kicks off next weekend, take some time to relive Volkswagen’s dominantion of Rallye Monte Carlo, where the reigning world champions went Ogier one, Latvala two and Mikkelsen three!

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Ford

2016 Ford Focus RS previewed

2016 Ford Focus RS

Ford has given us a preview of its third generation Focus RS. It goes into production later this year and will be built in Germany. And, yes, it is coming to Australia!

The all-new Focus RS will be powered by a 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine pumping out “well in excess of 320PS”. That’s 235kW in modern lingo.

All that power to the front wheels will be a bt stupid won’t it? Well, yes, it appears Ford’s engineers have given up trying to tame big horsepower front-wheel drive hot hatches. This time the Focus RS will boast an all-wheel drive system. But not just any old AWD system, no, this one will be special, Ford claims. It’s best to just go straight to their press guff:

The Ford Performance AWD system is based on twin electronically-controlled clutch packs on each side of the rear drive unit. These manage the car’s front/rear torque split, and also can control the side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle – delivering the “torque vectoring” capability, which has a dramatic impact on handling and cornering stability.

The control unit in the rear drive unit continuously varies the front/rear and side-to-side torque distribution to suit the current driving situation, monitoring inputs from multiple vehicle sensors 100 times per second. A maximum of 70 per cent of the drive torque can be diverted to the rear axle. Up to 100 per cent of the available torque at the rear axle can be sent to each rear wheel.

“This AWD system is a breakthrough technology, capable of delivering supreme cornering and handling at the limit,” said Dave Pericak, director, Global Ford Performance. “We have ripped up the rulebook which says that AWD hatchbacks cannot be fun to drive, and have created a car which will surprise and reward in equal measure.”

The new Focus RS will officially debut in Geneva next month.

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Ford Motor Shows

Detroit 2015: Ford GT wins design award

Ford GT

The Ford GT has edged out the Honda NSX and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe to win the EyesOn Design award for the best debut production vehicle at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Moray Callum, Ford Motor Company vice president, Design, accepted the award and said: “Ford and its employees are honored to receive this recognition. The great thing about the all-new Ford GT is that we were able to maintain the essence of the original GT40, while making it into a 21st century car. The GT’s cutting-edge technology and engineering demonstrate Ford’s commitment to performance and innovation in every aspect of our business.”

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