Advertisement

Ford Fiesta hatchback to get optional bodykit soon!

ford fiesta bodykit 1

I caught this particular Fiesta while at Sime Auto ConneXion’s Ford PJ showroom snapping photos of the ‘updated’ Focus – it’s a 1.4 litre manual that’s testing out the upcoming bodykit for the car.

There’s already a decent buzz among Fiesta fans regarding the impending kit for the hatch, which consists of a front lower lip, side skirts and new rear diffuser (the hatch’s standard panel will be replaced by this one), though buyers wanting to slap a complete kit on will have to be patient – the side skirting will need some reworking in terms of size.

ford fiesta bodykit 2

As can be seen on the mule, the skirt looks more than a tad blocky, and its dimensions pretty much says it’ll have some ground clearance issues, so Ford are going to trim and reshape that one before the kit gets the go ahead for local production.

Pricing hasn’t been officially announced (well, you’d need a product to sell first), but the word is that the entire bag will be priced around RM3,000, in all probability nicely below that. I’d think that sedan owners won’t be left out eventually – you can just see the possibilities there too!

ford fiesta bodykit 3

Otherwise, it’s rather flashy, the bits, especially the rear diffuser, and that front lip does look quite trick (well, perhaps it could do with a bit more integration to the bumper). What do you think?

More photos after the jump.
[Read more...]

43 Comments      

Ford Focus gets new features – TDCi sedan joins lineup

foci 1

Improvements are always a neat thing, and if you get additional features without having to pay a sen more, well, all the better. Such is the case with the Ford Focus here – the car get some minor enhancements, available across the range, without any change to the price.

The changes and add-ons are minimal, so it’s not a facelift (in any case, the C307 has already had its mid-life upgrade), though the front bumper has been reworked, with revised fog lamp housings the main giveaway.

foci 2

The top lip of the grille is also now body coloured (it was in chrome before), and the car now comes wearing a new wheel design – the five-spoke Y-pattern borrows its shape from the alloys seen on the Mondeo.

Elsewhere, the Focus now comes with auto rain sensing wipers as well as auto headlamps, auto dimming rear view mirror as well as a dimmer switch for the instrument cluster to complete that which is new on the Focus, which continues to be priced at RM112,888 and RM111,888 for the petrol hatch and sedan respectively, on the road without insurance.

foci 3

Meanwhile, a new variant joins the local Foci lineup, this being the TDCi sedan. Everything that’s on the TDCi hatch is to be found here, and the price is identical too – RM128,888 on the road, with insurance. And yes, both the diesels feature the above mentioned refinements.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

43 Comments      


Auto ConneXion opens new Ford 3S Centre in Kuantan

Sime Darby Auto Connexion, guardian of the Ford brand in Malaysia, has appointed Sri Mutiara Motor Sdn Bhd as its new Sales, Service and Spare Parts (3S) dealer in Kuantan, Pahang to further expand its network in the growing East Coast market.

Sri Mutiara’s showroom and service centre, located separately along Jalan Beserah, was officially opened recently by Hazem Abd Rahman, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion and Kwan Meng Chong, MD of Sri Mutiara Motor, which is an existing Ford dealer with an outlet in Temerloh, Pahang.

Sri Mutiara Motor can be contacted at 09-5148911 (sales) or 09-5666192 (service).

29 Comments      

New Fiesta RS WRC gets thumbs up from Ford drivers

fiesta wrc 1

Following the vehicle’s first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show last month, specific set-up testing has begun for Ford’s new Fiesta RS WRC, with the two Finnish drivers who will be piloting the Ford next season being delighted by the new offering.

Ford’s WRC drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, accompanied by their respective co-drivers Jarmo Lehtinen and Miikka Anttila, took the 2011 world championship challenger out on gravel roads in Spain and France during the seven-day set-up test.

Both Finns will drive Fiesta RS WRCs in all 13 rounds next season, and both had lots of positives to say after the test run.

“I had looked forward so much to driving the Fiesta RS WRC and I was very satisfied with it,” enthused Hirvonen. “It was just as much fun as I hoped and I’m genuinely excited about what we can achieve with it. Of course, there is still a lot of development to do, but first impressions are very good. It has its own unique feel and it’s like driving an angry bee.”

fiesta wrc 2

“The biggest difference between the Fiesta RS WRC and the outgoing Focus RS WRC is the engine. There’s less torque from the Fiesta’s 1.6 litre engine than that available from the 2.0 litre unit in the Focus, so it requires a different driving style as a result.”

“The engine needs to be kept at high revs, and a slightly more aggressive approach is needed, especially in slower corners, where the driver needs to take command and attack harder, rather than letting the car do the work,” Hirvonen added.

Latvala tested on what he described as the ‘roughest rally road on which I’ve ever driven’. “The road is usually used for testing cars of the type that compete in the Dakar Rally and it was full of big rocks, holes and bumps. It asked a lot of the car, but I pushed hard because the team wanted to see how the Fiesta behaved in those conditions,” he said.

“I was impressed and I was pleased at how quickly I found a good feeling at the wheel. The balance felt very good and the engine was better than I expected,” the 25-year-old said.

fiesta wrc 3

The Fiesta RS WRC – having already successfully completed more than 2,500km of durability work, mainly in the hands of P-G Andersson and Matthew Wilson – tested last week was powered by an engine close to the specification in which the car will compete next year. Specialist engineers from Ford and M-Sport as well as Pipo Moteur have worked closely in the development of the 300 hp direct injection 1.6 litre turbocharged unit, which is based on Ford’s EcoBoost road vehicle powertrain.

In a parallel test near M-Sport’s base at Dovenby Hall in north-west England, the definitive 2011-specification engine was also run. This unit is scheduled to power the Fiesta RS WRC when the test programme continues with a three-day session on asphalt in Spain, following Rally de Espana.

The preview model in Paris was finished in a striking blue and grey livery specially developed for the show by Ford of Europe’s design team. The car’s final styling will continue to be worked on until its eventual debut.

13 Comments      

Ford Fiesta officially launched in Malaysia – and it’s cheaper than expected!

fiesta1

It has arguably been the car with all the pre-launch publicity this year, having had a good seven months plus of doing so in various forms up to this point, but now the wait is over and things are finally rolling for the Ford Fiesta. The car was officially launched this evening in Malaysia at the Opera in Sunway Pyramid, and the neat surprise is that the pricing has improved on that bandied about before pre-launch.

Before today, the indicative pricing for the Fiesta, which is of course available in three variants – an entry-level 1.4 litre hatch, a 1.6 litre sedan and a range-topping 1.6 litre Sport hatch – was RM73,888, RM79,888 and RM84,888 respectively, all on-the-road with insurance.

fiesta4

The wonderful news for those looking at the B-segment offering is that the 1.4 LX manual’s price has dipped under RM70k, in this case RM69,888, while the 1.6 LX sedan goes for RM78,888. As for the 1.6 Sport, it’s two thousand cheaper than expected, rolling in at RM82,888, again all on-the-road with insurance.

Our earlier test drive report, filed by my colleague Danny Tan, already explains the Thai-made car wonderfully in great detail, but to recap, you’re certainly getting a lot for your money with the Fiesta. At the top-end, here’s a hatch with plenty of snazz about it.

fiesta6

There’s that new Duratec Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing) 1.6 litre pot for starters (which is also to be found on the sedan), offering 118 hp (or 120 PS, if you prefer) at 6,000rpm and 152 Nm of torque at 4,050rpm, and the Fiesta is the only car in its price range offering a six-speed Powershift twin-clutch tranny on both variants. Meanwhile, the 1.4 litre Duratec pot on the entry-level LX hatch turns out 94.5 hp (96 PS) at 5,650rpm and has 128 Nm at 4,050rpm, mated to a five-speed IB5 manual box.

Other items on the equipment list includes ABS with Hill Launch Assist, ESP and TCS, EBD, emergency brake assist, a six-speaker audio system offering Bluetooth/USB/iPod connectivity and Voice Control, dual airbags, Easy Fuel capless refuelling system, Isofix mounting points, power folding side mirrors and 195/50 series rubbers riding on five-spoke 16-inch alloys.

fiesta2

The kit listed is for the 1.6 Sport, but on the whole the two other variants have a decent spread of features. In terms of boot space, the sedan offers 471 litres of cargo space, while the hatch has a 281 litre capacity – getting more naturally if you fold down the 60:40 split rear seats.

A wide colour palette is available for the exterior, with Cool White, Mica Black and Metropolitan Grey common to all three models. The manual gets a fourth shade, True Red, while the rest of the sedan’s six colours are made up of Phantom Blue, Sparking Gold and Highlight Silver.

fiesta3

As for the 1.6 Sport, eight’s the total weight in this case – besides five of the colours listed above (save Sparkling Gold and Phantom Blue, which are unique to the sedan) the Sport gets two exclusive shades – the designated hero colour called Chili Orange and Aurora Blue. The eighth body colour, which I believe will only come in at some point in the future and will have a slight premium attached to it, is a very distinct looking Phantom Purple (maybe you can name your Fiesta Barney?)

The Fiesta range comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty, and to sweeten the deal further, buyers get the Ford Extended Service Plan thrown in for good measure – the three-year or 60,000km free maintenance plan covers parts and labour, and included in the list are engine oil and filter changes, multi-point inspections, engine belts and hoses, spark plugs and wiper blades.

fiesta5

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion says that more than 500 bookings have already been taken in the Klang Valley alone (the nationwide numbers are still being compiled), with the first customer deliveries going underway now that the car has been launched. Nonetheless, the waiting period for the Fiesta currently isn’t that long – with a steady stream of stock coming in from Rayong, if you book a Fiesta now you’ll likely get it in January, which really isn’t too long a wait.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

353 Comments      

Ford looking to sell most of its stake in Mazda?

Ford logo According to a report by Japanese business daily Nikkei late last week, Ford is looking to sell a majority of its remaining 11% stake in Mazda – reducing it to 3% or less – to Sumitomo group businesses and other companies with working ties with Mazda.

The daily added that the shares sale is expected to lead towards both automakers slowly parting ways in terms of cooperation. Ford, however, has said that the report is mere speculation, and that its ownership stake in Mazda remains unchanged.

In acquiring 25% of Mazda’s outstanding shares, Ford became Mazda’s top shareholder in 1979, and in 1996 gained management control when it raised its stake to 33.4%.

7 Comments      

Next generation 2011 Ford Ranger unveiled in Sydney!

The next generation 2011 Ford Ranger has been unveiled to the world at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney! We have shots of the double cab XL model at the moment, and it looks like the Ranger is back to its macho square looks with a big three bar chrome grille at the front, and we do see a little hint of the F150 at the front end, which is no surprise considering the new Ranger’s design team was led by Craig Metros, who was also the lead designer on the F150 team.

Why Australia? Apparently there is the birthplace of this new model – the project was led by Australia’s Ford Product Development Center. Australia’s terrain was also used in the truck’s development testing, along with the other countries where the truck will be sold of course. However, the first factory to build the new “T6″ Ranger will be none other than the Thailand plant up north beginning summer 2011, followed by South Africa and South America.

The new Ranger is a larger truck than the one it replaces, and it’s the longest in its class. Its wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer (for the Double Cab), and dimensions-wise it’s 1.7 inches wider, 2.5 inches taller, and 7.5 inches longer. Luckily Ford didn’t attempt to apply any futuristic “Kinetic Design” kind of surface patterns on the Ranger – although Kinetic Design looks good on the Ford Kuga SUV I don’t think it would work so well on a truck body.

On the interior, the design team took inspiration from items such as power tools from Bosch and DeWalt for the interior styling elements, and the instrument cluster is supposed to be inspired by Casio G-Shock watches. The parking brake is now operated by a regular handbrake lever. There’s plenty of storage space – Ford claims a total of 20 different interior storage areas, and the glovebox is said to be big enough to fit a laptop computer, though they didn’t say how big of a laptop.

There are 3 engine options, with two of them being diesel and one of them being a petrol. The petrol version will probably never be seen in this region – it’s powered by a 2.5 litre Duratec petrol that produces 166 PS and 226Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual. The smaller diesel has been downsized from the current Ranger’s 2.5 litre size – the new T6 Ranger with the smaller diesel engine is equipped with a 2.2 litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine making 150 PS and 375Nm of torque.

The larger turbodiesel engine option is a 5-cylinder 3.2 litre engine making 200 PS and 470Nm of torque – that should be very fun! The diesels can be fitted with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

Look after the jump for a small photo gallery of the new T6 Ranger.
[Read more...]

45 Comments      

Paris 2010: Ford Fiesta RS WRC really looks the part

Here’s something for Ford Fiesta fans to salivate over. The Fiesta RS WRC is Ford’s challenger to Loeb and team for next season’s World Rally Championship. Based on the Fiesta S2000 from the IRC, the Fiesta WRC will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine capable of 300 hp. Ford, M-Sport and French company Pipo Moteur worked on this car.

The Fiesta WRC will undergo its first major test next week in Spain, where pilots Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen will try the car for the first time. Its race debut will be at the Rally of Sweden in February 2011.

Click here to view the studio images. Pictures from Paris are after the jump.
[Read more...]

14 Comments      

Ford Fiesta RS WRC – Ford’s 2012 WRC entry

We’ve shown you the new MINI WRC set to take on the World Rally Championship in 2012. Now feast your eyes on Ford’s entry into the downsized category of the WRC, the Fiesta RS WRC. In keeping with Ford design, the showcar is enveloped in blue and grey livery complementing the company’s kinetic design styling cues.

After Paris, the next official debut of the car will be the Rally Sweden in February 2011. The four-wheel drive Fiesta RS will house a 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine.

This has been developed in association with their rally partner M-Sport and French tuners Pipo Moteur, which has created a powerplant that is capable of producing 300hp. Unfortunately, apart from this not much else has been revealed in terms of performance figures.

Keeping it up to scratch with the rest of the pack, the car has completed 3000 kilometres of testing, but is still in development, with a major test on gravel roads in Spain next week. Thus major changes could be made before its debut in Sweden. Drivers for Ford will be Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, along with teammates, Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila.

High resolution press photos are available after the jump.
[Read more...]

12 Comments      

Ford to prove its Ecoboost V6 engine in Baja 1000 race

To prove that its 3.5-litre Ecoboost is more than enough engine in the F-150 truck and that it’s durable, Ford will give the Ecoboost its racing debut at the famous Baja 1000 desert race this November. The twin turbo, direct injection engine will be in stock condition (said to have been selected randomly off the line from Cleveland Engine Plant), and the machine is this cool F-150 you see here.

“The engine going into our race truck for the Baja 1000 is the same engine going into the 2011 Ford F-150 that customers can purchase starting next year,” said chief engineer Eric Kuehn. “No special blocks or structural upgrades. We are fully confident that because of the strict testing the 3.5-litre EcoBoost truck engines underwent before we started manufacturing, it will take anything the desert can dish out.”

Ford will compete in full-size stock class, which includes competitors with unlimited V8 engines. For safety, a full roll cage is added to each truck. Also allowed for competition are modifications to the suspension, tyres and wheels.

Baja is part of a “torture test program” by Ford to convince customers that its 365 hp/570 Nm Ecoboost V6 is a class leading engine. Visitors to Ford’s US website can see a poor engine enduring thousands of miles on the dynamometer and in the lab to ensure 150,000-mile durability (240,000 km) for the most demanding F-150 customer.

The site will also show a series of web-based documentaries hosted and narrated by Mike Rowe of the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs. The “jobs” include towing a pair of Sprint Cup Ford Fusions for 24 hours around a 1.5-mile oval track and hauling timber in Oregon.

More pics after the jump.
[Read more...]

21 Comments