#focus

Joining the custom Ford Fusions that are heading to this year’s SEMA Show, will be five custom Ford Focus STs built by Tanner Foust Racing, Bojix Design, M&J Enterprise, Galpin Auto Sports and Steeda Autosports.

While Ford has remained mostly quiet about its next-generation Focus RS model, the American automaker recently threw out a hint that the hot hatch could get an active front limited-slip differential to help control torque steer.

The Ford Focus Electric comes with its very own app for smartphones, dubbed MyFord Mobile, which is now available for download online.

Last month, Ford made a call out to its fans to help film its new Focus ST commercial on the streets of Key West, Florida.

Those anxiously awaiting for Ford‘s first electric car will be pleased to know the American automaker hopes to have its EV available nationwide by the end of this year.

Ford recently announced the EPA fuel efficiency rating for its electric Focus model. Since it doesn’t burn any gasoline, the number isn’t in miles per gallon (MPG), but was given as miles per gallon gasoline equivalent, or MPGe. A new term to the automotive lexicon, it’s worth exploring exactly what MPGe means and how an MPGe rating is determined, especially as the number of electric cars and plug-in electric hybrids on the roads continues to increase.

While pricing of the Ford Focus Electric isn’t breaking news, the American automaker is very close to its launch which means more details surrounding the car are coming out of the woodwork.

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.

A recall issued today could potentially affect 10,000 Ford Focus models. Gabriel, a company that provides ReadyMount suspension assemblies says that its set up for 2000-2005 Ford Focus models did not include a necessary washer.

Rumors are swirling about Ford ditching the Volvo derived 2.5L, five-cylinder engine and going with a 2.3L four-cylinder with a turbo. The new engine will likely be more efficient, but no word on if it’ll be called an EcoBoost. All this could amount to power somewhere in the range of 320 horsepower. That may seem like a lot for a front wheel drive car, but Fords RevoKnuckle front suspension is likely to be thrown in to help deal with torque-steer.

Forbes has reported that almost one-third of the more than two million vehicles Ford sold in America last year went to fleet buyers, which could be a cause of concern for the American automaker.

Tanner Foust recently spent the day at Homestead-Miami Speedway, putting the new Ford Focus ST-R turnkey race car to the test. The Global RallyCross Champion and founding member of the Octane Academy, not to mention Top Gear television celebrity and former Formula Drift champion, came away impressed with what the Focus ST-R could do on the track.

The Focus ST-R is scheduled to make its racing debut at the upcoming Grand AM weekend at Daytona on January 26-27th in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The ST-R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost engine mated to a six-speed Getrag transmission. Unfortunately Ford hasn’t disclosed how much power the ST-R puts out, but based on the video it appears that the Focus will be quite impressive in its competition debut.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: YouTube via Ford Racing TV]

Google is all about advancing technology in order to improve our world and lifestyle, and it appears that they also support any other company that’s pro-technology.

Ford‘s track-ready Focus ST-R isn’t cheap at $98,995, but it sure comes with plenty of punch as a turn-key race car powered by a 2.0L EcoBoost powerplant. To show off what the hot hatch is all about, Ford Racing and Andy Vrenko took it to its natural habitat – the race track.

For decades, we’ve known Ford crate engines to be huge V8 powerplants packing plenty of cubic inches and power. But Ford has been quietly offering a 2.0L inline-four from its old Focus for midget racers but very few even paid attention to that option.