Thursday, November 19, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
K.B.'s Fox Bodied Terror
We don't talk much about Stangs on this sight but cumulatively, this team has owned 7 including Easy's SVO, and a Ghia Mustang II as well as other Fox chassied units like the Mercury Capri (my actual first car), and a few Fairmonts such as Shaman's wagon turned custom Ranchero via a heavy amount of cutting and welding. We are not strangers to Stangs and from the renderings, Kenny B. Is in the process of making what will likely be my favorite so far...
Friday, September 20, 2019
Ken Block Grid Poland 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
The New Bronco is Already Out, So to Speak...
So, is this unit, which is sold under the moniker 'Everest' (also called the 'RoadWalker' in China), basically a more aerodynamic version of the soon coming 4-door Bronco?...
Same Ladder frame as the Ranger and obviously the same front sheet metal, It would be easy for Ford to make this chassis much boxier and call it a 'Bronco'. The trick will be in cutting out 18" to 36" to make the 2 door.
I hope that Ford is not literal with the term used '2-door' and that it hopefully will come with something like the small suicide doors that come on the Super Cab F-150. I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days of folding seats forward and falling into the back seat anymore. Now that I think of it, Toyota stopped production (in the U.S.) of the FJ Cruiser in 2014 which had a similar layout. Having driven many of those units, I am sure that with the wider track of the Everest, the new Bronco will be more stable and feel much more planted in comparison to what I would call an ungainly feel in the FJ.
Either way, I think it will do well for a couple of years despite the fact that the "Retro" style has effectively run its course.
We will find out in about a year or so...
I hope that Ford is not literal with the term used '2-door' and that it hopefully will come with something like the small suicide doors that come on the Super Cab F-150. I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days of folding seats forward and falling into the back seat anymore. Now that I think of it, Toyota stopped production (in the U.S.) of the FJ Cruiser in 2014 which had a similar layout. Having driven many of those units, I am sure that with the wider track of the Everest, the new Bronco will be more stable and feel much more planted in comparison to what I would call an ungainly feel in the FJ.
Either way, I think it will do well for a couple of years despite the fact that the "Retro" style has effectively run its course.
We will find out in about a year or so...
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Electric F-150 now
This may be irrelevant in a year or so but it is interesting to know that a company called EcoTuned of Québec, Canada is putting out an electric drivetrain for the F-150 now. They also specialize in retrofitting and selling units that are over their drivetrain warranty. They swap out the fossil fueled drivetrain with a very sophisticated looking electric drivetrain. Find out more at http://ecotuned.com
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
The Taurus is Leaving us but it, and other models, may live on elsewhere...
China, with their craving for luxury and boasting of who has the biggest back seat, has a new Taurus.
Just as we are having all of our Ford cars taken away, China is producing this unit along with a few other models, that we are never likely to see.
There is another unit, internally referred to as the 'Escort', that Ford China has either named the 'Forus', 'Fortune', 'Forex', or 'Fu Ruisi', (they have literally named it 4 different things on different pages of their website).
They are also producing something called the 'Collar' or Territory, which looks an awful lot like the Range Rover Evoque, (which was built on the Focus / Escape platform). That turned out not to be the case, as we later found that it is, in fact, based on an existing model produced by Ford's Chinese partner, Jiangling, called the Yusheng S330.
They also have the RoadWalker (Australia also gets these as the 'Everest')and here is where it gets weird: It obviously has the front end of the new Ranger but it is an SUV, likely with a full ladder frame underneath. SURELY there is no way that we would get any of these, as it was the last ladder frame SUV that, (with a little help from Firestone), caused the huge roll-over controversy in 2000 and a major switch from american automakers to unitized bodied SUVs. I mean they wouldn't even think of trying that formula again, right!?!?
Oh, wait! The new Bronco coming out was said to be based on the Ranger and would have 2 & 4 door options. So this is basically a more aerodynamic version of the soon coming 4-door Bronco...
I know that it will probably sell fine but I also feel like we are going backwards a little. It seems like we always do this to some extent before we can move forward. The Mustang for instance, in its latest iteration, is a long way from its very retro, 2005 predecessor.
It is still a small world and even though Ford will not be offering me the exact vehicle that I want because I live in the U.S., it's nice to know that somewhere in the world, they are offering it to someone who can then sell me that vehicle or the parts to build it.
There is another unit, internally referred to as the 'Escort', that Ford China has either named the 'Forus', 'Fortune', 'Forex', or 'Fu Ruisi', (they have literally named it 4 different things on different pages of their website).
They are also producing something called the 'Collar' or Territory, which looks an awful lot like the Range Rover Evoque, (which was built on the Focus / Escape platform). That turned out not to be the case, as we later found that it is, in fact, based on an existing model produced by Ford's Chinese partner, Jiangling, called the Yusheng S330.
They also have the RoadWalker (Australia also gets these as the 'Everest')and here is where it gets weird: It obviously has the front end of the new Ranger but it is an SUV, likely with a full ladder frame underneath. SURELY there is no way that we would get any of these, as it was the last ladder frame SUV that, (with a little help from Firestone), caused the huge roll-over controversy in 2000 and a major switch from american automakers to unitized bodied SUVs. I mean they wouldn't even think of trying that formula again, right!?!?
Oh, wait! The new Bronco coming out was said to be based on the Ranger and would have 2 & 4 door options. So this is basically a more aerodynamic version of the soon coming 4-door Bronco...
I know that it will probably sell fine but I also feel like we are going backwards a little. It seems like we always do this to some extent before we can move forward. The Mustang for instance, in its latest iteration, is a long way from its very retro, 2005 predecessor.
It is still a small world and even though Ford will not be offering me the exact vehicle that I want because I live in the U.S., it's nice to know that somewhere in the world, they are offering it to someone who can then sell me that vehicle or the parts to build it.
We're back. Here's why...
For a couple of years now, Ford had delighted us by bringing almost all of their overseas goodies to our shores. After much complaining and begging, we finally received the RS Focus. Even better, (thanks to what I assume was a lot of hard negotiations from Ken Block), it had AWD! We got a boat load of turbo'ed engines, which had been so popular in every other part of the world but here! We even received what would become the Mondeo in G.B., before G.B. got it. This was all too fantastic! Well, we have been slapped awake by the hand of status quo. All the cool stuff you were enjoying???Yah, um, we decided against cool stuff and enjoyment... But hey, more boring shit is on the way.
Here is some of the cool stuff you WON'T BE GETTING in the states!
These are the models Europe will no longer be getting:
Technically, there are a few models like the Taurus, (also getting nixed here in the states), the F-150 / F-250 / F-350 that the rest of the world has not had the joy of driving. and Europe never saw the Explorer or Flex either, when other manufacturers were sending units like the Chrysler 300 Estate (the result of a Dodge Magnum rear-ending a Chrysler 300 at high velocity), overseas.
That being said, we finally get the Ranger from Australia and Europe will get the regular and Raptorized versions of that unit.
China will get all of these (except the Flex) plus a new Taurus, and... Well, there is a lot going on for Ford in China right now, so I will address all of those different China Domestic Market only units in another issue.
Anyway, it is just sad to see some very exciting units no longer on show room floors. Ford is just giving the people what they want and they understand that the sheep just want plain old hay.
Here is some of the cool stuff you WON'T BE GETTING in the states!
These are the models Europe will no longer be getting:
Technically, there are a few models like the Taurus, (also getting nixed here in the states), the F-150 / F-250 / F-350 that the rest of the world has not had the joy of driving. and Europe never saw the Explorer or Flex either, when other manufacturers were sending units like the Chrysler 300 Estate (the result of a Dodge Magnum rear-ending a Chrysler 300 at high velocity), overseas.
That being said, we finally get the Ranger from Australia and Europe will get the regular and Raptorized versions of that unit.
China will get all of these (except the Flex) plus a new Taurus, and... Well, there is a lot going on for Ford in China right now, so I will address all of those different China Domestic Market only units in another issue.
Anyway, it is just sad to see some very exciting units no longer on show room floors. Ford is just giving the people what they want and they understand that the sheep just want plain old hay.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Monday, September 28, 2015
PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR THE RS!!!
Ford dealerships will be taking orders for the 2016 Focus RS starting October 1st. See the gearheads at Zeck Ford to order yours, (I am getting there early).
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Not coming to America
These pics were from the Shanghai Motor Show for 2013 with the "Escort Concept." A name that, for most, stirs up thoughts of basic, affordable transportation rather than great driving dynamics or bold design. As Ford put it, "Customers in China described seeking a vehicle that is stylish – but not one that is arrogant or pretentious." It seems that china prefers a sedan to a hatchback, as it is not offered in hatch or wagon.
The end product did not deviate much from this concept, as you can see
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Throw back
Still my favorite Gymkhana video so far... and it's a 5 door so us Americans can relate...
Please to enjoy, Ken Block's Gymkhana 3... again!
Please to enjoy, Ken Block's Gymkhana 3... again!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
More details on the All-New Ford Focus RS Headed to US
This suggest that we may start seeing the Focus RS early next year.
All-New Ford Focus RS Headed to US
All-New Ford Focus RS Headed to US
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Gaining access to the Ford Focus RS in the Midwest
It is widely speculated that gaining access to the new Focus RS will be very limited. With that in mind, we approached Zeck Ford near Kansas City. Zeck Ford is known as being a group of true Ford enthusiast and we knew that if anybody in town was working hard to get their hands on a 2016 Ford Focus RS, it would be them. Sure enough, they have been working their contacts already, well before the national release of this new beast. Stay tuned to find out more...
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
It's official! The Focus RS will have AWD & 320 HP!
According to the official Ford release today, the 2016 Focus RS will have an electronicaly enhanced AWD system routed through a 6 speed manual gear-box. It will produce 320HP via the 2.3L turbo unit found in the Mustang. The Euro-domestic market RS of just a few years ago was a legend in its own right, until today...
Monday, February 2, 2015
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