Ford: F-100 F100 on 2040-cars

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RTR Spec 5 Concept shows off 2015 Ford Mustang's drifty potential

Meet the Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 Concept, a fully functional drift car that, according to our team in Sin City, has been doling out demo drifts in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Destined to be the flagship of RTR's Tactical Performance Line, the Spec 5 Concept is, in addition to its 5.0-liter Aluminator V8 engine, chock full of performance parts that you can buy for your very own 2015 Mustang. In addition to the Ford Racing engine, the OEM parts supplier has lent the Spec 5 an aluminum radiator and a close-ratio six-speed transmission.
ASD Motorsports provided the front lower control arms, while the car itself rides on a fully customized coilover suspension. Magnaflow and American Racing have provided the exhaust system and headers, respectively. 20-inch HRE wheels, designed for RTR, are wrapped in sticky Nitto rubber.

Rising aluminum costs cut into Ford's profit

When Ford reports fourth-quarter results on Wednesday afternoon, it is expected to fret that rising metals costs have cut into profits, even as rivals say they have the problem under control. Aluminum prices have risen 20 percent in the last year and nearly 11 percent since Dec. 11. Steel prices have risen just over 9 percent in the last year. Ford uses more aluminum in its vehicles than its rivals. Aluminum is lighter but far more expensive than steel, closing at $2,229 per tonne on Tuesday. U.S. steel futures closed at $677 per ton (0.91 metric tonnes). Republican U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is weighing whether to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, which could push prices even higher. Ford gave a disappointing earnings estimate for 2017 and 2018 last week, saying the higher costs for steel, aluminum and other metals, as well as currency volatility, could cost the company $1.6 billion in 2018. Ford shares took a dive after the announcement. Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks told analysts at a conference in Detroit last week that while the company benefited from low commodity prices in 2016, rising steel prices were now the main cause of higher costs, followed by aluminum. Shanks said the automaker at times relies on foreign currencies as a "natural hedge" for some commodities but those are now going in the opposite direction, so they are not working. A Ford spokesman added that the automaker also uses a mix of contracts, hedges and indexed buying. Industry analysts point to the spike in aluminum versus steel prices as a plausible reason for Ford's problems, especially since it uses far more of the expensive metal than other major automakers. "When you look at Ford in the context of the other automakers, aluminum drives a lot of their volume and I think that is the cause" of their rising costs, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at auto consultancy LMC Automotive. Other major automakers say rising commodity costs are not much of a problem. At last week's Detroit auto show, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne reiterated its earnings guidance for 2018 and held forth on a number of topics, but did not mention metals prices. General Motors Co gave a well-received profit outlook last week and did not mention the subject. "We view changes in raw material costs as something that is manageable," a GM spokesman said in an email.

2016 Ford Focus RS leaps to 62 in 4.7 seconds, starts at $36,605

We don't have to wait for the numbers to leak onto Ford's website again because the Blue Oval is now officially confirming that starting price of the 2016 Focus RS at $36,605 in the US, which includes $875 for destination. That money buys quite a quick hot hatch too – the RS with at least 345 horsepower can sprint to 62 miles per hour in mere 4.7 seconds and eventually reach a top speed of 165 mph. The 4.7-second blast bests the 0-60 times from lower-powered competitors like the Subaru WRX STI (5.1 seconds) and the Volkswagen Golf R (4.9 seconds). A few high-horsepower Europeans could outrun it, though, including the newly upgraded 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG (4.1 seconds) and Audi RS3 (4.3 seconds to 62 mph). This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. A combination of launch control, all-wheel drive, and torque vectoring at the rear axle might make that quick acceleration consistently achievable, too. Drivers just select the option from a menu, put the hot hatch into first gear, floor the gas pedal, and let off the clutch. The car rockets away, and a shift light on the instrument cluster illuminates at 5,900 rpm. It starts blinking at the 6,800 rpm redline. We just need to get through the winter to see which car wins in a real-world drag race. The Focus RS is being built in Saarlouis, Germany, and the first North American deliveries are expected in the spring of 2016. Ford isn't talking options yet, but the previous leak suggests things like navigation, leather seats, a sunroof, and 19-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires will be available. Related Video: FORD'S ALL-NEW FOCUS RS SPRINTS TO 62 MPH IN 4.7 SECONDS AND HITS 165 MPH All-new 2016 Ford Focus RS sprints from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 165 mph Fastest-ever Ford RS model will start at $36,605 featuring Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive and a projected 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque from its 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine Innovative Focus RS offers drive modes – including industry-first drift mode – along with launch control; customer deliveries of high-performance hatchback start in North America in spring 2016 DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2015 – Ford Motor Company's all-new Focus RS will sprint from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds – making the high-performance hatchback the fastest-accelerating RS model yet.