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Ford files trademark for 'EcoBeast' moniker

Ford has done some performance stuff with its EcoBoost line of vehicles, most notably with its Focus and Fiesta ST, the new, turbocharged Mustang and the luke-warm Taurus SHO and F-150 Tremor, but it's kind of avoided going wholly bonkers. That could be set to change quite soon, judging by a trademark filing with Uncle Sam. Ford has registered the name EcoBeast with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, listing it as "automobiles and automobile engines," according to the team at Motorlix, which discovered the filing. As always, it bears mentioning that companies are constantly filing trademarks, even if a good or service never emerges with said name. We agree with Motorlix, though – it seems highly unlikely Ford is going to just let this name languish. What vehicle or engine will wear this new badge is the real question. We're leaning towards something F-150 related, based on our last round of spy photos of the new SVT Raptor, although it's impossible to say for certain what the Blue Oval has planned. Here's hoping we find out in just a few weeks when Ford brings basically all of its performance merchandise to the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Until then, let us know what you think Ford is planning with the EcoBeast.

Ford spider screen keeps creepy-crawlies out of cars

Ford is waging a global war on spiders with the 2016 Focus RS. The little beasties can be a real menace to a vehicle by blocking lines with their dense webs, but engineers at the Blue Oval now have a new screen that they claim keeps the bugs at bay. Yellow sac spiders especially like to craft their webs in fuel vapor lines, but blocking the way can cause pressure to build, leading to a safety issue. Implemented in 2004, Ford already has a screen to keep the creepy-crawlies out. But the company now has an updated version in North America, and the Focus RS is the first global vehicle with it. "We are constantly improving and adapting, even when it comes to technologies that are already working," said William Euliss, Ford fuel systems engineer, in the screen's announcement. It might seem like a waste to put engineers on the task of making a spider screen, but the device could save Ford money in the long run. Arachnids have been responsible for the recalls of hundreds thousands of vehicles in the US over the years. Mazda issued two campaigns on the Mazda6 due to the webs causing pressure to build up in the fuel tank and potentially leading to a split. There was also a similar recall from Suzuki, and another one covering the air conditioning system on Toyotas. LOOK OUT! HERE COME THE SPIDERMEN: FORD ENGINEERS USE ARACHNID LEARNINGS TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SCREEN TO KEEP CREEPY CRAWLERS OUT AUG 5, 2015 | DEARBORN, MICH. Ford engineers developed an innovative spider screen to keep the creepy crawlers from nesting inside vehicles Screen prevents spiders from building cocoon-like webs dense enough to potentially block fuel vapor lines, which can damage engines and diminish vehicle performance Now, an updated version of the spider screen is being implemented in Ford vehicles in North America; it will go global with launch of the all-new 2016 Ford Focus RS DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 5, 2015 – Arachnophobes may not know this, but there is a team of Ford engineers who developed an innovative spider screen to keep the creepy crawlers from nesting in Ford vehicles. You're welcome. Cheiracanthium mildei and Cheiracanthium inclusum – more commonly referred to as yellow sac spiders – have been known to nest inside vehicles in North America, causing problems for car owners and automakers alike over the years. Instead of using webs to catch prey, these spiders build cocoon-like webs for shelter and to lay eggs.

Watch Piquet and Mansell bend some sheetmetal in Ford Fusion GP

As we told you about before, there were four episodes planned for the Ford Fusion GP campaign in Brazil, and the whole series has now run its course. The Ford ads pit Brazilian Formula One driver Nelson Piquet against English F1 pilot Nigel Mansell driving the new Fusion, the two coming together again after their partnership at the Williams F1 team ended in a miserable state more than 20 years ago.
They're lined up for you below, in reverse chronological order. You should watch number three first, though, as it adds a bit more spice to the NASCAR action in the fourth.