Ford Fiesta – AUSmotive.com

Ken Block's latest weapon

It’s been over a year now since we first saw Ken Block light up the screens with his Gymkhana 2 video. Ken has now switched from Subaru to Ford power for his next feature. In fact, his new Fiesta has 650 horsepower. It can reach 100km/h in a staggering 1.9 seconds!

Filming for Block’s Gymkhana 3 film has taken place. For the first time Ken has ventured away from home shores to a secret European location. Chris Harris from Evo was there to experience it first hand:

“Rubber scrubbed, he runs me through one of the scenes theyâ€™re about to shoot. And no, Iâ€™m not going to tell you what it is, but it involves horsepower, immense skill and tyre death. Kenâ€™s control centre is simple, but very effective. He sits way back in the chassis, has a paddle shifter for the first time on a Gymkhana-steed and a massive, I mean MASSIVE handbrake lever embossed with the Ken Block logo, which he deploys at any opportunity. After which, he always grins.”

Follow the link below for more pics and the full report from Harris.

[Source: Evo]

UPDATE 15 September: Click HERE to watch Gymkhana Three.

Top Gear – Series 12, Episode 6

Top Gear - Series 12, Episode 6

It is often said many car fans live their dreams through the exploits of the Top Gear crew. Well, maybe it’s not said that often. Nevertheless, it is true. I think. Aside from that, Jeremy Clarkson lived one of my dreams in the most recent episode of Top Gear. Driving through a shopping mall. Ever since seeing the Blues Brothers this has been a dream of mine. It would just be so much fun. And I do concur with Jeremy, a new Ford Fiesta would be a much better car for the task than a big oafy Corvette.

Elsewhere in the show Hammond drove a Caterham R500 Superlight and a Veritas RS III around the Top Gear test track. In doing so, he proved that some things are best kept simple. Even though the Veritas isn’t exactly an over complicated beast, it’s no Caterham. The light weight British meccano set with gilt-edged pedigree may not look so great, but it is devastatingly effective around a track.

Jeremy and James tried to find a good communist car. They thought they found one in the Lada Niva, but sanity prevailed.

Speaking of which, I wonder if it will prevail with Boris Johnson? The Mayor of London was the guest and he proved that a political satirist can actually make it into office. I’ve no idea about his politics, or his effectiveness, but he’s mad as a cut snake and, clearly, doesn’t take himself too seriously. I like that.