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Ford upgrade kit takes Focus ST to 275 hp and 296 lb-ft

If you drive a 2015 Ford Focus ST but are already jealous of the 345-horsepower 2016 Focus RS that's on the horizon, Ford Performance has a new upgrade kit that could be a great compromise. Developed by the Blue Oval experts at Mountune, the MP275 setup takes the hot hatch's output to 275 hp and 296 pound-feet of torque when running on 93-octane fuel. Those are gains of 23 hp and 26 lb-ft, respectively. Providing much of the kit's extra oomph is a recalibrated ECU with more aggressive engine mapping. The company claims that the upgrade also improves throttle response, and it keeps the Focus ST 50-state emissions legal. In addition, customers get a Mountune high-flow intercooler, a new air intake, and all of the necessary hardware to mount the components in the engine bay. For those concerned about reliability, when an authorized Ford Performance technician installs the parts, the Focus maintains the factory warranty. The MP275 kit currently retails for $1,900 on the Ford Performance website. For added protection during harsh weather, customers can also get an end cap for the cone air filter for $15. Related Video: Ford Performance Upgrade Kit for 2015 Focus ST Boosts Output to 275 Horsepower, 296 Lb.-Ft. Torque • Ford Performance mountune Focus ST kit for 2015 optimizes performance without sacrificing reliability • Sold through Ford Performance Parts, the kit maintains the base car's factory-backed three-year/36,000-mile warranty • Package adds 23 horsepower and 26 lb.-ft. of torque DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 18, 2015 – Focus ST customers can get more performance out of their vehicle thanks to a new kit from Ford. And on that front, the new Focus ST mountune upgrade kit delivers in spades. The idea of a street-legal, reliable, largely stock 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making nearly 300 lb.-ft. of torque might have seemed ludicrous 10 years ago, but the components of the MP275 Focus ST performance upgrade not only combine to produce up to 296 lb.-ft. of torque with 93-octane fuel, they are designed for maximum reliability as well. "The 2015 Focus ST MP275 upgrade is the latest addition to Ford Performance's vast Focus and Fiesta performance catalog that gives enthusiasts the components they need to take their car to the next level," said Adam Gair, product manager, Ford Performance.

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is a track-day weapon with 500 hp

Ford promises more than 500 horsepower and a torque peak above 400 lb-ft.
The wait is finally over. After months of spy shots, rumor and innuendo, Ford has officially pulled the wraps off its new Shelby GT350. Judging by the spec sheet and the promises being made - especially that the Shelby GT350 will be "an all-day track car that's also street legal" - the wait appears to have been worth it.

2016 Ford F-150 gets sporty new sport mode for added sportiness

Good news, everyone! The Ford F-150 fullsize pickup truck is getting a new sport mode for 2016. Because it needs it, or something. "Crazy-smart Ford engineers have struck again – this time blending the sport mode feature borrowed from the all-new Mustang with the reduced weight of the all-new F-150 to deliver an engaged, dynamic driving experience with any of the four high-output, fuel-efficient powertrains available to truck customers," Ford says in its press release. In fact, the Mustang tie-in comes up a few other times. "An advanced feature of F-150's six-speed automatic transmission is its ability to match engine rpm as it downshifts in slowing for a corner. Electronics calibration for this feature comes straight out of Mustang." That's right, folks. A two-ton truck with rev-match downshifts. The F-150's sport mode holds the transmission in the powerband, limiting upshifts during more spirited driving. "It makes Mustang come alive, and we feel it does the same thing in F-150," says one Ford engineer. Sport mode is activated by pushing the tow/haul button twice, at which time an amber "S" illuminates in the dash. We're hoping this also means that pushing the sport button in a Mustang will activate tow/haul mode. Sport mode is standard on all 2016 F-150s, and can be used with two- or four-wheel drive. More details are available in the release, below. Related Video: F-150 PERFORMANCE ENHANCED BY NEW SPORT MODE - 2015 Ford F-150's 700-pound weight savings, its choice of four high-output, more fuel-efficient powertrains, and – for the first time ever – an on-demand sport mode combine to enable an improved driving experience for truck customers - Six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode is standard across F-150 lineup; system operates in two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive automatic and four-wheel-drive high settings - Automatic transmission technology used for both Mustang and F-150 was jointly created – allowing some performance advantages of the pony car to be applied to the pickup truck for a more responsive driving experience DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 5, 2015 – Crazy-smart Ford engineers have struck again – this time blending the sport mode feature borrowed from the all-new Mustang with the reduced weight of the all-new F-150 to deliver an engaged, dynamic driving experience with any of the four high-output, fuel-efficient powertrains available to truck customers.