Ford's SEMA Fleet of Custom F-Series, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mustang Concepts

Ford has detailed more of its 57 custom concepts that will be on display at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Besides the 10 Transit Connect tunes we’ve presented earlier this week, Ford will also bring six different interpretations of its F-Series trucks. There will also be concepts based on the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mustang. You’re invited to scroll down and check them out one by one.

Ford F-350 from Cars by Kris

The heavy duty truck gets an extensive list of modifications, including Carli Suspension upgrades to the chassis to handle 22-inch, eight-lug wheels from American Force Wheels, custom upholstery with hexagon stitched seats, painted interior accents and custom floor mats, as well as technical modifications like the Banks Power Ram-Air Intake, Straight-Shot Water-Methanol Injection System and iQ Man-Machine Interface.

Ford F-350 by EcoTrek

This is an environmentally-friendly truck with a 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine – no, we're not joking; it’s what Ford says. It features two additional fuel tanks that have a range of 1,800 (2,897 km) miles each, a rooftop shelter, refrigerator, stoves and flexible solar panels that allow it to be used in some of the most rugged locations. The truck can run on diesel, biodiesel or algae-based biodiesel.

Ford F-250 by Hulst Customs

This mean-looking F-250 features powertrain upgrades via Banks Power, 22-inch wheels from American Rebel MFG and a two-tone leather interior that matches the custom-painted black panels and chrome accents.

Ford F-150 by JR Consulting

Equipped for adventures at hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, this F-150 features an 11,000-pound (4,989-kg) winch from Superwinch, a CargoGlide storage cargo management system, 20-inch Dick Cepek all-terrain wheels and tires and more.

Ford F-150 by Skyjacker Suspensions

Aimed at people who are into the backwoods lifestyle, this F-150 features a 6-inch lift kit from Skyjacker Suspensions, locked storage area from TruckVault, bumpers from Fab Fours Inc. and BMF wheels with BFGoodrich Tires.

Ford F-150 by Fatal Clothing

A full-size pickup posing as a street racer, the F-150 by Fatal Clothing features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine matched with twin-screw supercharger from Whipple Industries and performance exhaust system from CGS Motorsports for a total output of 650 hp. Huge 24-inch DUB wheels somehow fit beneath the wheelarches, while the Katzkin Leather interior has Fatal Clothing logo embroidered in the seats.

Ford Fusion Concepts

Two interpretations of the Ford sedan will be on display at SEMA, a 400-hp racer concept by Full-Race Motorsports that gets turbocharger and exhaust upgrades, and a blingy tune from DSO Eyewear.

Ford Focus Concepts

The main theme for the Focus is motorsport: there’s one with a Lotus livery, one with a Gulf racing livery and a rally-inspired Focus ST for law enforcement. The fourth Focus concept is one that celebrates Southern California’s car culture.

Ford Fiesta Concepts

There are five Fiesta interpretations: a 3Dcarbon tune that mixes elements from European road touring cars and American muscle cars, a rally race-ready Fiesta ST from Ice Nine Group, a Fiesta ST that will be featured in the upcoming Forza Motorsport 5 video game, a model dedicated to the U.S. military by COBB Tuning/Tanner Foust Racing and a Fiesta ST with a custom BASF paint job by Bojix Design.

Ford Mustang Concepts

Finally, there are three Mustang tunes, starting with Vortech Superchargers’ 605hp Project Yellow Jacket Ford Mustang. There’s also the spectacular Hollywood Hot Rods Mustang GT Convertible with 750 horsepower and a handsome concept from Nitto.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford Stages Fratricidal Race Between 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet and Fiesta ST Rallycross

Ford builds a variety of racing cars, but it’s hard to find two models that are more far apart from each other than the Mustang Cobra Jet and the Fiesta ST global rallycross car (GRC).

While the former is designed to run the quarter-mile as quickly as possible on the drag strip, the other is a nimble little car made for crazy rallycross stages that combine dirt roads with asphalt and various obstacles.

There are more differences: the Cobra Jet is a rear-wheel drive monster powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine fitted with a Ford Racing-built Whipple 2.9L Supercharger, while the Fiesta ST GRC is an all-wheel drive supermini with a 550hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to an OMSE gearbox with custom ratios.

The two cars were driven at the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway by drag racing legend Roy Hill and rallycross driver/Top Gear USA presenter Tanner Foust. We won’t disclose the outcome of the race, but we'll tell you that the race wasn't as one-sided as one would have expected.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

2014 Ford Fiesta Gains 3-Cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost in the U.S., Delivers 37 MPG Combined

The 2014 Ford Fiesta is now available in the U.S. with the 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which makes the Fiesta the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, gasoline-powered car on the market with a certified 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km) rating on the highway.

The frugal powerplant achieves fuel efficiency ratings of 32 mpg city (7.35 l/100 km), 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km) highway and 37 mpg (6.35 l/100 km) combined. All ratings are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and correspond to both the 4-door sedan and five-door hatchback 2014 Ford Fiesta with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is officially SAE-certified at 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque, but it features an overboost function that allows it to make more than 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) for up to 15 seconds.

Fuel economy is also boosted by the Fiesta SE Manual EcoBoost Package that includes a rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields, lower grille blockers and low-rolling-resistance tires.

The 2014 Fiesta also gets a new MyFord Touch system with 6.5-inch touch screen featuring enhanced voice control and Ford MyKey, which allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. MyKey mutes audio until safety belts are fastened and makes sure driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated.

Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family now includes the 1.0-liter three-cylinder; 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines; and the 3.5-liter V6. Ford estimates that around 80 percent of its global nameplates will be available with EcoBoost engines by the end of this year. 

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford Goes Bananas for 2013 SEMA with 57 Tuned Concepts

As you can see, there will be no shortage of Blue Oval models at the upcoming 2013 edition of the SEMA aftermarket and tuning show in Las Vegas from November 5 to 8, with Ford having confirmed no less than 57 debuts laid out on more than 27,000 square feet (2,510 sq.m) of space inside the Las Vegas Convention.

And that's not all, as Ford will also occupy more than 110,000 square feet (10,220 sq.m.) of the convention center’s Silver Lot, where "company-sponsored racing schools from Miller Motorsports Park will take center stage in 'Ford Out Front'", according to the release.

We don’t need to tell you that among these 57 concepts will be plenty of Mustangs, ST models (Fiesta and Focus) and F-150s, but we will mention that there will be a special exhibit dubbed "Vandemonium" with specially tuned 10 Transit Connect Wagons and cargo vans.

Another highlight at Ford's presentation will be special guest Gene Simmons of KISS fame and his wife, actress Shannon Tweed, who will reveal a 1956 F100 truck to be featured in a charity auction.

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford to Withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the End of this Season

In a surprise move, Ford of Europe became the second team after MINI in four days to announce a withdrawal from the World Rally Championship (WRC) after the 2012 season.
Ford's motorsport division, in its current form, has participated in the WRC with a full factory-backed team since 1997 in cooperation with Malcom Wilson’s M-Sport.
In a statement, the Blue Oval explained that its decision to leave the series one year earlier than originally planned was made due to the “difficult economic environment” in its European business.