By Chris Borrelli

Chris Borrelli

Ford has announced that it will use $550 million to transform its Michigan assembly plant. The plant has been building Expeditions and Navigators but will converted to build the next generation Focus and 2011 Focus battery-electric variant (BEV). Is this a good move or a little too risky? Via Left Lane News.

By Austin Knight

Gotadime

The Focus RS is obviously not able to compete with the GT-R on the track, but on nice, winding country roads, Autocar figured it might actually have a shot. Watch the video, and see why Autocar picked the RS over Godzilla.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

I’m very excited that we’re finally getting the European Focus in 2011, and like a lot of people, I’m really curious what it’s gonna look like. Well the losis Max concept unveiled in Geneva should give us a pretty good idea of where Ford plans to take its next generation C-segment car. So what do you think? Love it? Hate it? More pics at Autoblog

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

My eyes hurt. From Craigslist

Car has 236000 original two engine shared computer miles. First engine was swaped at 200000 miles and the current one has so far 36000 miles used by me and it was 40000 miles used before where it came out of a rear ended totalled 2003 ZX3.So current engine has total of 76000 miles.No check engine light is on. next smog is due in March 2010.this price $2500 is without the sound system. call me at 209-404-8203 if serious and want to buy. DOHC ZETEC 16 valve 2.0 litre Ford engine, 25 to 30 miles per gallon. 5 speed manual transmission. 18 inch diablo bianca wheels with brand new kumho Escta 225 40 ZR18 tyres. AEM Smog legal cold air intake with K&N Gen 2 Fipx air filter Focus sports front and rear strut braces, red coated, logo engraved for superior cornering and handling. Focus sport crankshaft pulley and MSD coil and plug wires. MSD ignition system New Centre force dual friction clutch/pressure plate installed 4 months ago. Wings west whale tail roof spoiler and side and rear body kits. Wide rally or F1 type 3 piece wrap around wing, rare and expensive Focus wing SVT RED/BLK new leather seats installed 2 months ago. Front Erebuni Italian bumper, body kit Custom hotwheels interior, many extras. One chamber Jones racing muffler, sounds nice, great exhaust system. Bear Decela slotted/drilled perf brake rotors with EBC green brake pads. Expensive speedgraphics.net decals, you can easily take them off if want to make the car look simple and clean.

Continue reading "Too Much Pep Boys?" »

By Craig McAlpine

imotormag

Ford has finally released the long overdue press statement on the Focus RS, and to make up for the delay it’s 9,000 words long! However, we just picked out the interesting figures for you and put together a gallery of all the new pictures.

As we had already reported (but is now confirmed…) the Focus RS will start from £24,995 (around $35,000 US), and it will have a 300 hp engine that will shoot the fast Ford from 0-62 in 5.9 seconds and go on to an unlimited top speed of 163mph.

Continue reading after the jump!

Continue reading "Ford Focus RS: Faster Than a GT" »

Last week’s Paris Motor Show was just another brutal reminder of all the cool cars we don’t get over here. Like the Euro Ford Focus RS below. That car is cool. We’re stuck with the boring US version. How about the Renault Megane with the crazy huge rear diffuser? We don’t get it. Same goes for the Alfa Romeo Brera TI, Fiat 500 Abarth and Volkswagen Scirocco. See these cars and read the full article over at Road & Track.

Pricing details haven’t even been announced yet, but that’s not stopping European customers from gobbling up the 2009 Focus RS. Ford is reporting that 40% of those thousand applicants have specified the Electric Green paint—the color worn by the Focus at the London Motor Show in July. Other top choices include Electric Blue and Frozen White, but I’m kind of thinking that for 295 hp, I’ll take it in any color they’ve got. Ford UK’s hot hatch will get a turbo’d inline five—the Volvo motor—as well as a short-throw six speed and the "Revoknuckle" electronic torque biasing limited-slip differential, said to completely eliminate torque steer. Too bad Ford is still debating on whether to bring us an Americanized version! More pics after the jump.

WorldCarFans, via Jalopnik.

Continue reading "Ford Hits 1000 Pre-Orders For Focus RS" »

You can now get your Fast Lane Daily fix here on CarDomain, as we will be serving up their videos every weekday. Today’s episode, hosted by Derek D, brings you a bunch of hot new stories from the web, including a look at the new Saleen-tuned Ford Focus. Hey, it’s almost as cool as the Focus we built for SEMA last year.

Most of the time, I think art involving cars is pretty lame. But I thought this "Caution: Falling Cars" installation was hilarious. I wonder if anyone actually got fooled? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Might the Cayenne soon be made in the US? Given that the Americans love SUVs—though gas prices have no doubt strained the relationship—and that North America is Porsche’s most important market, it makes business sense. Autoblog
• To celebrate the 100th birthday of the Model T, Ford is sponsoring a contest to design a 21st century equivalent. It’s a cool idea, but the concept of bringing back the original Tin Lizzy is a little funnier. Detroit News 
• After the Bush administration revoked California’s right to enforce its own emissions regulations, the Golden State is now having to fight to preserve its traditionally tough stance on pollution. If you’ve ever seen the smog in LA, you’d know it’s probably a good idea to let the state decide what’s best for itself. Automotive News
• In an effort to combat alcohol-related road deaths, French authorities are exploring the idea of mandating breathalyzers in late night watering holes. Since using them wouldn’t be required, the machines would either shame people into calling a cab, or spark competition to see who had the highest BAL. Both maybe? Bikes in the Fast Lane
• The new Ford Focus is set to debut during American Idol tomorrow. We predict that Paula will babble about how awesome it is, Randy will call it "dawg," and Simon will hate it. Freep

There’s an old joke here in Seattle that begins: "What do you call a sunny day after two days of rain?" The punchline? Monday. But the weather over the weekend was actually pretty nice, which made the wet commute into work almost bearable. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Tata Motors just bought Jag and Land Rover, but apparently the company still has some cash burning a hole in it’s pocket. Rumors are swirling that it might pick up Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta. Autoblog
• On Behind the Music, Billy Idol related how he got busted cheating on his wife after she heard one of his phone calls over their baby monitor. So Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking justifiably hit the ceiling when he found one in his hotel room ahead of a meeting with VW’s board. Jalopnik
• The new Ford Focus ST is set to go on sale in the UK on May 1st, and with 224 horsepower, it should be a blast to drive. Why doesn’t the Blue Oval offer cool stuff like that over here? CarScoop
• Of course, we don’t want to see everything in the UK make it to our shores. Motorists across the pond can’t be too happy about the wireless speed cameras being tested. Auto Express