)
Ford Focus Sports Aston Martin Style
The facelifted Ford Focus has been officially revealed at the motor show near the Geneva Lake, and we can’t help but wonder if we’ll be seeing this model on the Philippine roads. The compact vehicle is now a full member of the new design language for the company, adopting the Aston Martin-like front grille.
Aside from the AM cliche, the Focus has restyled bi-xenon headlamps, complete with an adaptive front lighting system. The Blue Oval company has also mounted redesigned taillights, along with four completely new body panels.
The second generation of the SYNC infotainment system debuts in the facelifted Focus with significantly less buttons, more ergonomic layout and ”one-shot” navigation functions. SYNC 2 features a high-resolution, 8-inch color touch screen and advanced voice control for easier access to audio, navigation, climate control and compatible mobile phones.
The 2014 Focus will be available with a new 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline turbocharged engine with 150 HP (110 kW) and 180 HP (132 kW). A new 1.5-liter TDCi turbodiesel with 95 HP (70 kW) and 120 HP (88 KW) will be also offered.
There is also the familiar 1.0-liter EcoBoost with 100 HP (74 kW) and 125 HP (92 kW), along with a 1.6-liter TI-VCT gasoline with 85 HP (63 kW), 105 HP (77 kW) and 125 HP (92 kW). Buyers will be able to chose and a 95 HP / 115 HP 1.6-liter TDCi and a 150 HP 2.0-liter TDCi, along with a 145 HP (107 kW) electric variant.
In terms of transmissions, the Ford Focus facelift will be available with five- and six-speed manual gearboxes, as well as a six-speed automatic and a six-speed PowerShift automatic.
Will this Ford Focus be introduced here in the Philippines? We’ll bring you updates soon!
Nissan GT-R Converted to a Convertible
When it comes to legendary supercar and ever-favorite road monster Nissan GT-R, will wonders never cease?
Tuners and motoring enthusiasts don’t seem to think so, as they create more and more ways to enhance the widely popular GT-R. Admittedly, while some of them turn out to be successful, other designs are so far-out and do not give justice to the supercar at all.
Recently, Newport Convertible Engineering has revealed a cabrio conversion for the Nissan GT-R.
The same California-based team who chopped off the roof of the Toyota Prius, Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover is now back with a similar conversion for the Nissan GT-R. Details are limited at this moment but NCE mentions on its website they have come up with three designs for a GT-R Cabrio available only through a custom order.
Those three designs probably refer to a dual hump behind the driver and passenger, a fixed roll bar and a simpler design without the roll bar. Needless to say, turning the GT-R into a convertible will add some weight which is certainly not what you would want from an already heavy supercar but on the other hand the GT-R will be an even more eye-grabber.
What do you think of this Nissan GT-R convertible?
Up for Bid: 2014 Ford Mustang from Need For Speed film
Ford has announced the 2014 Mustang from the Need for Speed movie will go under the hammer at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction on April 12th.
Created specifically for the movie, the car has been equipped with a custom wide body kit that includes a new front bumper and extended side skirts. The model also has a “twin-snorkel” hood, angel-eye fog lights and 22-inch Forgiato alloy wheels.
According to Ford North America car marketing manager Steve Ling, “Director Scott Waugh challenged our team to give this central character enough personality and American masculinity to take on some of the world’s most exotic cars, just like in the popular Electronic Arts video game that inspired the movie.” He went on to say “The new owner of this particular Mustang will take home a rare vehicle and their bid will increase access to critical health care services.”
Speaking of the latter, proceeds from the auction will benefit the Henry Ford Health System which is a nonprofit group that aims to improve the health and well-being of the community.
The Need for Speed will be shown in theaters on March 12 (in the Philippines) and March 14 (in the U.S.).
Glimpse of the Next Honda Civic
Would you like the next Honda Civic to look like this?
Several pictures of the Honda Civic Type R concept have leaked to the web ahead of its official debut today.
Designed to preview the 2015 production model, the concept is described as a “racing car for the road.” As a result, it has been equipped with an aerodynamic body kit that includes a front splitter, aggressive side skirts, a rear diffuser and a massive rear wing. We can also see LED-infused headlights, a ventilated hood, gloss black accents and a four-tailpipe exhaust system.
Technical specifications are still pending but Honda has previously confirmed the car will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that develops “at least” 280 HP (206 kW). That doesn’t sound overly impressive but Honda Motor Europe President Manabu Nishimae has said “We have recently spent a week at the Nürburgring, carrying out extensive testing and we are on target, and have already set a time approaching the lap record.”
Toyota is Roaring to “Go” with Wigo in the PHI and Aygo in Geneva
Coming in the heels of the Toyota Wigo launch here in the Philippines, the global office of the giant automaker is exhibiting in Geneva the all-new Aygo together with its French cousins, the second-gen Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1.
Looking a bit more upscale than the French duo, Toyota’s second generation of the Aygo has grown in length by 25mm to 3,455mm while height has dropped by 5mm to 1,460mm but even so front headroom is up by 7mm. In addition, Toyota decided to widen both front and rear tracks by 8mm and applied a completely different front fascia compared to the new C1 and 108 thanks to an “X” graphic which makes the model look quite interesting and unique.
The revamped Aygo has a sloping beltline and an integral rear spoiler while body style choices will be limited to three and five doors as it seems Toyota hasn’t developed an open-top version like its French relatives. At the back we notice a hexagonal tailgate with the bumper extends to the more muscular rear wheel arches making the car look bigger than it actually is.
Power comes exclusively from an updated variant of Toyota’s three-cylinder 1.0-liter gasoline engine which now delivers 68 bhp (51 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 95 Nm (70 lb-ft) at 4,300 rpm to the 14- or 15-inch alloys. Drag coefficient is down from 0.30 to 0.29 which has helped improve fuel economy to 57.2 mpg US (68.8 mpg UK or 4.1 liters / 100 km) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 95 g/km. For the interior Toyota has designed a trapezoidal center console and elongated the cabin by 9mm even though the 2,340mm was left untouched. Also up is the luggage room as the capacity has increased by 29 liters while the firm’s newly developed x-touch multimedia system takes care of the entertainment department with a 7-inch touchscreen display offered as standard with a rear view camera.
