According to a leaked spec sheet, Ford‘s upcoming Focus ST global hot hatch will start at $23,700 ($24,495 with the $795 destination charge).

Since its inception, Ford’s former Global Performance Vehicles chief Jost Capito intended for the Ford Focus ST to be at the top of its class, ”We want to have the best hot hatch in the sector. We want to be better than a VW Golf GTI, better than a Renaultsport Megane 250 – and we believe we have achieved that with a car that can be used day-to-day but is also extremely entertaining for enthusiastic drivers.”

Packed with the robust EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Focus ST produces 247-hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. Offered with a 6-speed manual transmission, the driving enthusiast’s gearbox of choice, the Focus ST lays down a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds.

Although the latest hot hatch is certainly a lot of car for an affordable price, tacking on additional trim packages and equipment groups can quickly drive the price closer to $30k. Order codes ‘Equipment Group 201A and 202A charge for $2,505 and $4,840, respectively. A moonroof will cost $895, navigation is an additional $795, the special Tangerine Scream Tricoat Paint finish will cost another $495, and finally, an engine block heater will set you back another $35.

Depending on trim levels and combinations, a fully equipped Focus ST should fall close to $29,000, drawing it near basic Ford V6 Mustang territory. Despite the risk of overlap, these two sport oriented cars are distinct enough as to not risk the cannibalization of sales.

With the Focus ST set to arrive in dealers later this year, it’s only a matter of time before Ford releases a Fiesta ST hot hatch for the US as well.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Focus ST

[Source: FordSTNation.com]

A series of very public Li-ion defect related incidents have caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) decision to hold a meeting with automakers and battery suppliers with regards to the safety of the new technology.

“The purpose of this symposium is to bring together relevant stakeholders to share information on the status of safety activities related to the use of Li-ion batteries in vehicles designed for on-road use,” NHTSA explained.

Public concerns were raised last year when a Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicle had ignited following a NHTSA crash test. Then, the reliability of battery packs were put into question when a brand-new Fisker Karma EV had inexplicably stopped working during testing with Consumer Reports. In more recent news, a prototype battery extreme testing related explosion occurred at the Warren, Michigan GM Technical Center laboratory, injuring five employees.

Investigations on the Volt have found that GM’s electric vehicle is no more of a fire risk than cars with conventional gasoline engines. The Fisker defect was caused by faulty calibration of battery supplier A123′s battery welding process. Finally, the GM Tech Center incident was caused by a prototype and certainly not intended for production. None of these incidents indicate that Li-ion batteries are particularly unsafe, but amid the negative publicity, the public and the administration are struggling to understand the nature of the technology.

What’s more, supporters of the electric vehicle blame the safety issues surrounding Li-ion batteries as the cause of the lackluster sales numbers of electric cars. Both the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf missed the 10,000 unit sales target last year.

NHTSA is looking to clear the air when it conducts the safety meeting on May 18 in Washington, D.C.

As the only minivan to boast a plug-in hybrid powertrain in combination with flex-fuel capability, Chrysler also revealed the specifications of its new plug-in Town & Country.

Each van offers a powertrain featuring Chrysler’s 3.6-liter flex-fuel V6 engine combined with an electric motor  to produce a total 290 hp. Energy for the electric motor is stored in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery while a two-mode hybrid transmission transfers the power to the front wheels.

According to Chrysler, the batteries in the Town & Country are designed to recharge in 2-4 hours using a 220 volt “Level 2″ Charge cord, while a 110 volt “Level 1″ cord will take a longer eight to 15 hours. Ready for road trips, the plug-in hybrid Town & Country boasts a 700-mile range. Comparatively, the standard gasoline Town & Country ‘s range is only a little more than half that at 360 miles.

While Chrysler has not made any announcements about plug-in hybrid Town & Country production, we expect more details as the two-year trial runs its course.

The all-new 2013 SRT Viper is without a doubt the star of this year’s New York Auto Show. Boasting big numbers, the Viper’s enormous 8.4-liter V10 engine produces 640-hp. Plus, SRT has announced a factory-backed return of the Viper to the American Le Mans Series and international endurance racing.

But here comes the most important bit of information of all – show your support for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer and the very first Viper can be yours. The official charity of the American Le Mans Series, the Austin Hatcher Foundation For Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to aid cancer children and their families during the treatment and to provide continuing support throughout survivorship, all services are at no cost to families, and are funded solely buy donation.

The auction for the first 2013 SRT Viper will hold at Barrett-Jackson of Orange County, from June 22-24. Serial #01 vehicles have displayed a historic trend of reaching massive figures by auction end, so it will be exciting to see how much the new Viper can raise for the Austin Hatcher organization.

Co-founder of Austin Hatcher Foundation Dr. Jim Osborn said, “We are very excited that the first production Viper be auctioned at Barrett- Jackson Orange County to benefit the many families faced with pediatric cancer. We just can’t thank Mr. Gilles and his team enough.”

GALLERY: 2013 SRT Viper

Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of 140,310 model-year 2012 Ford Focus vehicles built through Oct. 18 in the Wayne, Michigan Assembly plant over a potential windshield wiper defect.

According to Ford, a seal plug on the passenger side windshield wiper motor electrical connector may be missing, causing water to fall into the motor and a short in the unit.

Ford’s recall entails the installation of a redesigned seal plug and dealers will re-coat grease for electrical connectors to ensure wipers are protected and functioning.

Ford told dealers to begin the recall on Tuesday and notified affected owners on Friday.

The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse officially debuted at the 2012 New York International Auto Show this morning as the as the brand’s latest full-size crossover.

“We have injected a stronger presence into the Traverse exterior by focusing on the details. The small but important changes give it a more vibrant personality that more closely reflects the lifestyles of the families who rely on the Traverse to get them through their busy lives,” said GM director of exterior design Phillip Zak.

GALLERY: 2013 Chevrolet Traverse

Exteriors with sportier styling borrowed from the likes of the Camaro are becoming a mainstay in the marque’s lineup and the Traverse is no exception. In this case, that is especially evident in the car’s taillights which have hints of the same half-moon glare as the brawny muscle car. While Chevrolet isn’t trying to send the message that the two vehicles are soul mates, the update helps the car seem tighter and less bulky.

Like the updated GMC Acadia, which we first saw at the Chicago Auto Show, the Traverse will be available with a front-center airbag to prevent passengers from crashing into each other during collisions.

Despite looking a little smaller than its predecessor thanks to the updated exterior, the incoming Traverse keeps the same dimensions as its older brother.

Size isn’t the only thing that translates between the two. The 3.6-liter V6 featuring fuel-saving direct injection technology and continuously-variable valve timing also migrates into the new model — power ratings also remain with 281 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an improved six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse is expected to earn the best fuel-economy rating of any eight-passenger FWD utility vehicle.

Having shared a gallery as well as a walk-around video of the six concepts featured at the Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, new photos have just been released of the Moab concepts in action.

An annual showcase of upcoming, potential Jeep products, the Moab Safari is a great way for the iconic brand to connect with its core audience. Unlike other concepts, however, these Jeeps are not meant to sit in rotating pedestals in convention halls. At Moab, Jeep spent the week demonstrating its vehicles and gained a lot of instant feedback from its die-hard community of Jeep 4×4 fans.

Present at the event was Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of the Mopar brand. He said, “We have several thousand accessories and performance parts, and you can see many of these parts displayed on the vehicles today, especially two new entries in the portal axles that you can see here and the Hemi. conversion kit. At Mopar, 2012 is a very big year for us. I mean, it is our 75th anniversary so we celebrate 75 years of history and obviously we enter the next 75 years at least with the ambition of becoming an important contribution to our vehicles.”

Check out the gallery below to see the Jeep concepts in action:

GALLERY: 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari

[S0urce: www.off-road.com]

The latest teaser image features two more macro shots, this time of what looks to be the interior trim of the Ram truck – the first of an interior light, the second of a piece of trim from the dashboard. While teaser images are considered by many automakers to be a fun and effective marketing trick to raise awareness and excitement, these obscure images fail to convey exactly what we should expect from the next generation Ram. Its official reveal will be during the New York International Show and we will share more substantial information regarding the new truck later in the week.

So far, we know that development of the new 2013 Ram 1500 truck heavily focused on the mechanicals, featuring a fuel efficient package that combines Chrysler’s Pentastar V6 along with an eight-speed transmission. What’s more, the new Ram will also feature the air bag suspension system from the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Legendary automobiles are hard to come by these days. A horsepower war engulfs the auto industry, robbing supercars of staying power, but 50 years ago — and still today, Carroll Shelby’s name and legacy remain self-distinguished.

A talented amateur, Shelby was quickly scouted to become a driver for Cad-Allard, Aston Martin, and Maserati during the 1950s. In 1953, Shelby set 16 U.S. and international speed records, exceeding 160 mph across the Bonneville Salt Flats in an Austin-Healey 100S . Then, Shelby set another record in 1956 at the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, breaking the time-trial record with a 10:21.8 seconds run in a specialized Ferrari roadster.

Racing in Formula 1 from 1958 to 1959, Shelby participated in eight World Championship races, for Maserati in his first year, then Aston Martin in his second. Finally, Carroll Shelby and teammate racing driver Roy Slavadori earn the coveted win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 behind the wheels of an Aston Martin.

Despite his talent and success in racing, many of us remember Carroll for what he did after he retired from racing. First revealed at the 1962 New York Auto Show, Carroll Shelby introduced a new “hybrid” sports car that possessed a body from the British AC Cars and an American Ford V8 engine. A game-changer at the time, the Shelby Cobra has now become an icon in automotive history.

While many Cobra fans would believe that the AC Ace chassis and the Ford V8 were necessary ingredients for the perfect Cobra sports car recipe, neither AC Cars nor Ford were Shelby’s first-choice for suppliers. It wasn’t until another British marque, Austin Healey, declined Shelby that he turned to AC. What’s more, Chevrolet quickly refused to supply Shelby with its small block V8, fearing the action would effectively help a man build a car that will compete against its own Corvette sports car.

Initially, the Cobra was fitted with a 260 cubic-inch Ford V8. A less notable engine, the 260 was replaced after producing 75 examples, making way for the more popular 289 cubic-inch as well as the staggering 427 cubic-inch big block V8 later on. In an era where cars struggled to hit 0-to-60 mph in 14 seconds, the 427 Shelby Cobra boasted the ability to rocket from 1-100 mph and slow back down to zero in less time than that.

Combined with limited production, its legendary performance and success in racing, the Shelby Cobra is still one of the most desirable vehicles in the world.  Well aware of the machines’ rarity and strong demand, many companies brought it to themselves to re-create Shelby replicas to satisfy driving enthusiasts. To date, tens of thousands of replicas and kit-cars have been produced, largely unchanged from the original design, in a wide range of quality and fit and finish.

We advise you to ignore questionable reliability of kit car builds though, as after 50 years, Shelby American still offers customers with the “continuation Cobra,” featuring a fiberglass or aluminum body as well as a genuine Shelby “CSX” serial number. Prices for a rolling chassis start at approximately $60,000.

Shelby will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at the upcoming New York Auto Show, introducing an all-new Ford Mustang Shelby 1000, the most powerful Shelby ever.

Start-ups are inherently risky and while many bright-eyed visionaries initially display great potential, up to fifty percent of new enterprises run out of money. Unfortunately, Waltham-based A123 Systems Inc. are at risk of becoming a statistic. 

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200 miles on the odometer abruptly shut down. News of the defect spread quickly, causing Fisker engineers scrambling to identify and solve the problem as soon as possible in an attempt to curb any damage to consumer confidence. Investigators determined the cause of the issue as a flaw in the Fisker’s battery module, which is supplied by A123.

Other than the incident at Consumer Reports, A123 CEO David Vieau told reporters that five Fisker customers are potentially affected by the flawed battery packs. As of March 26, A123 has started building replacement modules for Fisker and will begin to ship these battery packs out to customers this week. Despite moving forward, David Vieau admits that the cost of replacing the batteries will “require us to adjust our fundraising strategy.” Vieau did not elaborate.

Caused by faulty calibration in one of four welding machines, a misalignment of the components in some cells could lead to an electrical short, resulting in the permanent failure of the A123 battery or a decrease in performance and battery life. In order to replace all the defective battery packs, expense figure estimates are close to $55 million, which “represents a severe impact” on cash reserves, stated Dan Galves, New York-based Deutsche Bank analyst.

Galves wrote in a report, “We no longer have enough confidence that AONE can raise sufficient capital (without massive equity dilution) and/or continue to augment their book to future business. Recent quality issues may lead to concerns over AONE’s ability to manufacture with quality at high volumes, potentially leading to customer defections or at least difficulty in procuring new contracts.” AONE refers to A123′s stock symbol.

According to financial reports, A123 held $187 million in cash at the end of 2011 but Galves pointed out A123 suffered a cash burn of at least $155 million this year. The company will have to raise at least $50 million of additional short-term capital but, unfortunately, loan requests will be extremely difficult due to a general lack of confidence due to weak first-half results, long-term profitability concerns, pressure on battery pricing, and uncertainty on EV demand.

Dan Galves changed his rating on A123 from “buy” to “hold.” AONE share price have fallen 6 percent to $1.40 yesterday.

[Source: Boston.com]

Earlier this week, we took a close and detailed look at the six Jeep concepts heading to this year’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari. As usual, a video has been released showcasing all six concepts.

The concepts heading to Moab, Utah this year are the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk concept, Wrangler Apache concept, Mighty FC concept, J-12 Conversion concept, Mopar Accessorized Wrangler, and the Wrangler Traildozer concept.

The video includes soundbites from President and CEO of Jeep Brand, Mike Manley and Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care. Along with the feedback from them, we get a better look at all six concepts inside and out.

Watch the video of the 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari Concepts after the break.

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Starring Steve McQueen, the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Charger, as well as the hilly streets of San Francisco as the backdrop for the chase, Columbia University professor Emanuel Levy praised, “Bullitt contains one of the most exciting car chases in film history, a sequence that revolutionized Hollywood’s standards.”

Since then, many filmmakers have used Bullitt as a benchmark, applying its techniques to produce car chase sequences of their own. However, no director has attempted to re-create the complete Bullitt sequence again – until now.

For the season finale of Alcatraz, Detective Madsen stops and requisitions a Deep Impact Blue 2013 Mustang GT coupe and chases down a black Dodge Charger that is driven by her convict grandfather. Symmetry to the original Bullitt play throughout the chase, including scenes of the Mustang’s appearance in the Charger’s rearview mirror, the driver in the black Charger clipping the seatbelt, the iconic reverse burnout, the hill hops, as well as the old Volkswagen Beetle that makes multiple and non-linear appearances.

Check out the entire chase sequence from the season finale of Alcatraz below. 

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