In the shadows of all the auto shows going on around the world, Ford took to the Autosport International Racing Car Show in Birmingham, England to unveil the 2012 Ford Fiesta WRC Rally Car dressed in its new livery.
Heading into its sophomore season in the WRC, the Fiesta is looking to build on the surprising success it had last year when it won the season-opening and season-ending races as the successor to the Ford Focus WRC.
Just like last year, the Fiesta RS Rally Car comes with a 1.6-liter Ford Ecoboost turbo engine and has been designed with the Blue Oval’s acclaimed ’kinetic design’ styling language. The car was prepared for rally-spec use by Ford’s long-time partner M-Sport and as has been the case for years now, Castrol remains the team’s primary sponsor.
The Fiesta RS’ surprising showing at the 2011 WRC season has given the team high hopes for a better showing this year. If for nothing else, the team should give perennial title-holder, Citroen, a serious run for its money.
The Stig is an intimidating character that even the most professional of racers can’t help but be in awe of. At least that’s what the Stig likes to think of himself. We can’t blame him for the lack of oxygen in his head. Lord knows how long it’s been since he last took that helmet off, but whatever you think of him, the dude is a polarizing figure that needs someone of equal stature to put him in check.
Enter Ken Block.
The world-class rally driver recently teamed up with Top Gear’s resident test driver for a promotional gig for Top Gear Australia magazine. The two are scheduled to be in the cover of the November issue of the magazine and you can expect that article to be a must-read.
Before that issue hits newsstands, though, Top Gear Australia bought a camera crew to a race track to film the two drifter extraordinaires participate in a one-on-one Hoonigan show in Melbourne, featuring Block’s Monster Rally Fiesta and the Stig’s ride-of-choice, the Australian-born Ford Falcon FPV.
Check out the video after the jump and wait for the dramatic climax in the end. There’s plenty of rubber-burning, tire-shredding action in this 90-second promo video.
Hatchbacks may not offer the same kind of thrill as sports cars and muscle cars. They also don’t have the utility of SUVs and pick-ups. Heck, they’re not so much for luxury, either. But at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, hatchbacks will have their turn in the spotlight as a host of custom-modded hatches will be making their way to Las Vegas.
This list comprises most of the vehicles you’ll see. There are Scions iQs,Ford Fiestas, Ford Focus, and even a Lexus CT200h. Not only are these vehicles modded to the brim, but they also give us an idea on all the possibilities that come with aftermarket works being done on hatches.
The people who think that hatches aren’t cool enough should take a good look at this list and if they don’t change their minds, then they really need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
But for those like us that enjoy modded hatchbacks, this list will tell us all the vehicles we need to look out for at the SEMA Auto Show.
Check out the 2011 SEMA Auto Show: Hatchbacks after the jump.
As far as the latter is concerned, the hatchback comes with edgy exterior graphics from Original Wraps with the Hot Wheels logo emblazoned on the sides of the car. It also has a new rear hatch spoiler, printed headliner technology from Freudenber Vitech, an aggressive Ford Racing suspension, and a new set of 18" custom-painted Motegi Racing wheels wrapped around Goodyear Eagle F1 Ultra Performance Low Profile tires. Meanwhile, the interior of the Team Hot Wheels Ford Fiesta boasts of a comprehensive, factory-available, two-tone interior package from Ford’s Custom Accessories division and a new short-throw shifter courtesy of Ford Racing.
The elaborate graphics design on the car alone was enough to catch our attention, but we also found out that nearly all of the styling components and functional accessories on this car are available from Ford Custom Accessories, Ford Licensed Accessories, or Ford Racing Performance Parts. That leads us to think that maybe we can dress up our own little Fiestas using this smoking hot Fiesta Hot Wheels racer as inspiration.
UPDATE 11/07/2011: We have added live images from the 2011 SEMA Show. Check them out in the picture gallery!
The Ford Fiesta did not have as many representatives at the SEMA Auto Show as that of the Ford Focus. Nevertheless, the former was in attendance in a variety of tuning programs, one of which comes courtesy of Gold Coast Automotive.
The US tuning firm prepared a program for the Ford Fiesta with an eye towards a comprehensive aerodynamic kit to go with a steady diet of performance modifications. In the case of the former, Gold Coast Automotive dressed up the Fiesta with a number of elements, including a 3dCarbon body kit, a SoCal SignWorx graphic wrap, a new fender flare kit, a custom front splitter, and a new APR Performance rear wing. As for the performance mods, the Fiesta was treated with a Jackson Racing Rotrex intercooled supercharger, a Wilwood four-piston front, a two-piston rear brake system, and a new set of Hankook Ventus racing tires.
All told, the changes done by Gold Coast Automotive on the Ford Fiesta have turned the car from a pedestrian hatchback to a definite eye-catcher. And at the end of the day, that’s what SEMA is all about, isn’t it?
UPDATE 11/07/2011: We have added live images from the SEMA Show. Check them out in the picture gallery!
