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Ford's new Focus RS hatches hot and heads for America

The hot hatch market is heating up, and heating up fast. What you see here is Ford's new challenger for pocket-rocket supremacy, the third iteration of the breed and the 30th model to wear the Rallye Sport designation. But perhaps best of all, it will be the first time Ford will offer a new Focus RS in America. Following yesterday's leak, the latest Ford Focus RS is now ready to step out into the light and light up its tires. Answering the call is the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo four as you'd find in the new Mustang, but upgraded with a new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger, larger compressor and intercooler, freer-flowing intake, large-bore dual-pipe exhaust with electronically controlled valve and upgraded internal components. The result is a 6,500-rpm redline (closer to that of Ford's atmospheric performance engines) and an output quoted as "well in excess of 315 horsepower" – which is already 5 more than the EcoBoost Mustang and a good 63 more than the existing Focus ST. Power is transmitted to the tarmac through a new performance-focused all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring that can send as much as 70 percent of available twist to the rear wheels (and as much as 100 percent between them). The system works in tandem with the brake-based torque vectoring system and stability control, and will even divert torque to the outside rear wheel under cornering to keep it flat and under control while reducing understeer. Those still suspicious of dual-clutch gearboxes will also be pleased to read that Ford has stuck with a conventional six-speed manual. We'll reserve judgement on the inclusion of the electric power steering until we get a chance to drive it, though. Of course the small team of global Ford Performance engineers who developed the new Focus RS – and the Gymkhana legend Ken Block who consulted on the project – didn't just tinker with the powertrain and leave it at that. The suspension features stiffer spring rates, bushings and anti-roll bars than the Focus ST, augmented by two-mode switchable dampers. 19-inch alloys wear Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber, with optional Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slicks for track-day enthusiasts. Ford has yet to detail the brakes on its new hot hatch, but you can bet they've been upgraded as well.

Ford decides C-Max shoppers not interested in fuel economy

If you say a car – the Ford C-Max Hybrid, for example – is "fun to drive," can anyone really come up with some empirical evidence against your claim? What about calling it "versatile"? We wonder if Ford has been thinking along these lines when it talks about the green little hatch. Ford is refocusing its sales strategy for the C-Max Hybrid after the model took a sales hit on both sides of the Atlantic recently, Automotive News reports. That sales dropoff may stem from the fact that Ford has had to revise its fuel-economy figures downward for the C-Max twice since last year, most recently in June. That made the company's once-proud fuel-economy comparisons with the Toyota Prius kind of pointless. Ford is going a different route, calling the model versatile (which, to be fair it was also doing a year ago), technologically advanced and fun to drive. Since the C-Max has about 50 more horsepower than the Prius, that last part may be true. Ford representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from AutoblogGreen about the mpg-mention-free advertising direction, but we will update this post if we hear back. Sales of the C-Max Hybrid have suffered in the US. Through September, Ford sold 15,245 C-Max Hybrids, down 36 percent from last year. We shall see if a new focus away from the car's lowered mpg numbers helps. At least Ford can be pleased with sales of the C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid, which are up 51 percent compared to 2013.

Hot Wheels Ford Transit Connect is worth more if we keep it in the box

If the 2014 Transit Connect is anything like it's utile current-generation predecessor, and we suspect it is, it will undoubtedly be one of the most functional vehicles in North America. Ford has used the occasion of SEMA to turn the TC in to things that both make use of that functionality, and occasionally sort of wreck it in the name of good old-fashioned fun. The Ford Hot Wheels Transit Connect most certainly falls into that second category.
Most TC owners might cite the vehicle's massive cargo capacity as its top positive trait, though in the case of this wide-bodied Transit said space has been sapped in the name of a 55-inch television screen, a massive Hot Wheels drag strip (continuing a popular theme at SEMA this year) and custom storage for dozens of models from one's personal hot wheels collection. Designers have also plucked the grippy Recaro seats from the Focus ST, and thrown in a pair of 18-inch tablet screens for connectivity on the go.
Naturally, the Transit Connect wouldn't be an appropriate SEMA vehicle, or Hot Wheels name-bearer, if it weren't wearing an eye-popping appearance package. Additional homage to the Focus RS can be found in the blazing blue and orange front fascia and bumpers, while 20-inch wheels make sure the wider (four-inches in front and six-inches in the back) Transit Connect sits just right. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder-engine that powers the Hot Wheels TC ensures that the concept is more show than go, but you probably had that pegged from your first look, anyway.