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2016 Ford Focus RS leaked ahead of official debut

We won't officially see the new Ford Focus RS until the Blue Oval shows it to the world at an event on Tuesday, but here it is ahead of time, courtesy of the folks at Evo. As you can see, this is one hot little hatch, and if Evo's story is to be believed, those aggressive looks will be backed up with some pretty serious performance. Power is said to come from Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine, though the magazine's estimate of 250 horsepower seems awfully conservative to us (considering that's less than the current Focus ST). If earlier reports are to be believed, we think the RS will come packing more like 300 hp, if not more. For the first time, the Focus RS will use all-wheel drive with brake-operated torque-vectoring, and Evo says that up to 70 percent of the engine's power can be sent to the rear wheels. Hitting 60 miles per hour will reportedly take less than five seconds. Otherwise, it's business as usual, with a mean-looking exterior complete with the necessary aero bits (notice that wing!), and inside, we can see a beefy set of Recaro chairs. That's really all we know for now, but stay tuned for more when the Focus RS makes its official debut in the not-too-distant future. Related Video:

Autonomous tech will drive motorheads off the road

While autonomous technology could make car travel much safer and more efficient — and automakers and marketers are salivating over the prospect of a "passenger economy" that could potentially generate $7 trillion by 2050 — those of us who enjoy driving are not so stoked. Experts have predicted that as autonomous vehicles are deployed in large numbers, human-driven cars eventually could be outlawed on public roads due to the carnage they create, which is currently more than 41,000 deaths a year in the U.S. alone and climbing. Such scenarios have driving enthusiasts envisioning a "Red Barchetta" style nightmare becoming reality, making Rush lyricist Neil Peart a clairvoyant as well as one of rock's most badass skin-pounders. But there could be a couple of refuges left for motorheads, and they won't be on public roads. As Popular Science's Joe Brown points out in a recent editorial, we're seeing a wave of vehicles being offered by legit mainstream automakers that aren't made for public roads. The poster child of this vanguard is the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which comes with a crate full of goodies that lets you turn the already formidable street-legal muscle car into a drag-strip dominator. Brown also notes that two out of five of the Ford GT's driving modes are for use on the track, "catering to the $450,000 machine's club-racing clientele." We're also currently enjoying the heyday of production off-road-ready pickups that kicked off with the Ford Raptor in 2009. The latest salvo in this escalating war of overachieving trucks is the Chevy Colorado ZR2 that can take on the likes of California's Rubicon Trail without issue. Brown also gives a shout-out to his magazine's Grand Award Winner, the Alta Motors Redshift MX, which "isn't even allowed on public roads" and is "meant for bombing around motocross tracks, big backyards and single-track woods trails." If you follow Brown on Instagram, you know that he's also a two-wheel aficionado, and he points out that sales of off-road bikes are leaving street machines in the dust. Sales of off-highway motorcycles rose 29 percent between 2012 and 2016, according to the ­Motorcycle Industry Council — compared to 6 percent for road-bike sales during the same period. "That's a nearly 400-percent drubbing," Brown remarks.

Shelby Super Snake returns with 750+ horsepower

If you've been waiting for the ne plus ultra of new Mustangs, we're glad to report that the wait is over, friend. Feast your eyes on the new Shelby Super Snake. Based on the 2015 Ford Mustang GT, the new Super Snake is being offered with over 750 horsepower thanks in no small part to a Ford Performance supercharger. That's even more than the 605 hp in the last Super Snake released in 2007, the new 627-hp Shelby GT, or the 500-plus-hp Shelby GT350 you can order from the factory. Shelby American's latest also packs upgraded Ford Performance suspension components, a Borla exhaust, 20-inch wheels from Weld Racing and coated in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber, six-piston Wilwood brakes, and more. Differentiating it visually from lesser pony cars are a carbon-fiber hood and aero kit, blacked-out grille, racing stripes, and special badging inside and out. Inside you'll also find a short-throw shifter and three-gauge instrument pod. The upgrades will set you back $49,995 on top of the price of a donor Mustang GT, and only 300 examples will be built this year. For the first time the Super Snake will be available with either a manual or (heaven forbid) an automatic transmission. Related Video: SHELBY SUPER SNAKE RETURNS WITH 750+ HORSEPOWER MUSCLE CAR BASED ON 2015 FORD MUSTANG GT • The legendary Shelby Super Snake returns for the 2015 Ford Mustang model year • 750+ horsepower option combined with new independent suspension and braking system • The first Super Snake available with an automatic transmission • Production limited to 300 Shelby Super Snakes per model year LAS VEGAS – June 16, 2015 – Shelby American is launching the newest Shelby Mustang to wear the legendary Super Snake badge, which will be based on the 2015 model Ford Mustang GT. With the option of over 750 horsepower, as well as unmatched performance enhancements to the handling, braking and cooling of the Ford Mustang GT, the new Shelby Super Snake continues the lineage of the best-selling and most sought-after Shelby car. Additionally, it will be the first Shelby Super Snake also available with an automatic transmission. There will only be 300 total 2015 model year Shelby Super Snakes built. "When Shelby American introduced the 605 horsepower Super Snake in 2007, the car became an instant sensation," said Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International.