2012 Formula Ford brings EcoBoost to open-wheel racing

We’re officially grabbing our helmets and ready to go racing. Ford has pulled what must have been an unusually creased sheet off of its 2012 Formula Ford racecar, and while the shape is similar to Formula F racers from years past, it somehow appears altogether modern thanks to angular items like angular air inlets and funky lightweight wheels.

The 2012-spec Formula Ford will power its way into Great Britain’s 2012 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship with 1.6-liter EcoBoost motivation and a sequential six-speed gearbox at the driver’s command. While 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque from the production-based engine might not sound like much, the lightweight steel-tube single-seater should have no problem providing thrills for both racer and spectator alike in the many feeder series it will eventually race in. Check it out in our gallery below and learn more about the car in the official press release reprised after the jump.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/2012-formula-ford-frankfurt/

Ford Fiesta ST Concept is tiny-tough hotness

Meet the Fiesta ST concept – it’s all the goodness of the newly introduced Focus ST, just in a smaller package. It looks just about ready to hit the streets, and that’s a good thing, since
Ford says that it is “seriously looking” at bringing this hot little number to production.

The beating heart under the Fiesta ST’s bonnet is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, producing somewhere between 175 and 180 horsepower. The concept car uses a six-speed manual transmission and sends power exclusively to the front wheels, and Ford claims that the Fiesta ST is capable of running to 62 miles per hour in under seven seconds.

The big reason why we’re hoping the Fiesta ST gets the go-ahead? Ford says that the car will be a global model, meaning we’ll have two new Ford performance products to sink our teeth into in the United States. We’ve seen plenty of spy shots of the hotted-up Fiesta, so we’re fairly confident that this little darling will see the light of day sometime after the Focus ST goes on sale. The question is, will we get the three-door configuration, or will it spawn a set of rear doors?

We’ll have a slew of live images direct from the Frankfurt Messe in short order. For now, hit the jump to read over Ford’s official press release.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/13/ford-fiesta-st-concept-is-tiny-tough-hotness/

Ford 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder finds a home in the Euro-spec Focus

Ford’s EcoBoost offerings may have started off big and powerful, but the Blue Oval is quickly moving towards small and thrifty. Ford will soon offer its smallest turbocharged offering yet, as a new 1.0-liter, three-cylinder has been announced in advance of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new EcoBoost engine will be available in the Ford Focus, C-Max and B-Max, and it will be available in 99 horsepower and 118 hp variants. A respectable 125 pound-feet of torque is available from a scant 1,300 rpm thanks to a turbocharger that can spool up to 250,000 revolutions per minute. Ford was able to extract so much power out of such a small, boosted engine thanks to improved twin variable camshaft design and an exhaust manifold cast that is cast into the cylinder head. And get this: While other EcoBoost offerings start with an aluminum block, the 1.0-liter includes an iron engine block, which isn’t only cheaper, it reduces engine warmup time by 50 percent.

The key benefits sought from engine downsizing, of course, are improved fuel economy and lowered emissions. In this scenario, Ford promises 120 g/km C02, which works out to right around 45.5 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the European cycle. That 120 g/km figure, in case you’re wondering, is identical to the much smaller Scion iQ, which gets a 36 city / 37 highway EPA rating. The diminutive engine will be fitted with five-speed and six-speed manual transmissions.

The three-liter EcoBoost will start off as a Europe-only affair, arriving early in 2012. Ford hasn’t announced any availability of this engine in the U.S., though presumably consistently high fuel prices could change that over time. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/12/ford-1-0l-ecoboost-three-cylinder-finds-a-home-in-the-euro-spec/

Slick 2012 Formula Ford racer to debut in Frankfurt

Ford loves racing, and it’s looking to cultivate new talent with this new 2012 Formula Ford race car. Powered by a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, the steel-tube chassis’d Formula Ford racer is a FIA-certified racecar built to run on tracks all over the world. The engine is mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox, which meters out the 158 horses and 162 pound-feet of torque.

This all-new Formula Ford racer represents the latest leap forward for the series, which has entered its 44th year of competition. Formula Ford sees many of its drivers progress to successful careers in the World Rally Championship and Formula One racing. Slated to make its racing debut at the 2012 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain (*whew!*), the racer will be introduced in a number of series around the globe.

While you’re waiting for our live photos and impressions from the floor of the Frankfurt Motor Show, check it out in our gallery above and full details in the press release after the jump.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/12/slick-2012-formula-ford-racer-debuts-in-frankfurt/