Paris Motor Show - Ford Focus Details

The 2012 Ford Focus is, hands down, the best compact car ever offered by a domestic brand.  Nothing comes close.  Sure, Chevy is rolling out the Cruze as you read this, but, really, that car lacks the pedigree of this Euro-developed gem.

With the coming of the Paris Motor Show, Ford has let loose with some stats to go with it's new C-segment car.  Power comes from a 2.0 liter, direct-injected four pot, good for nearly 160 horses (yay!).  That easily bests the motors in the Corolla and Civic.  Transmission choices include a five-speed manual (of which they'll sell maybe seven) and a dual clutch six-speed.  Highway EPA could touch 40 MPG.

Miserably, the wagon version, perhaps the best looking wagon ever sold, won't be available here.  Instead, you'll be able to buy the sedan and hatchback, pictured above.  Although extremely sharp looking, the sloping roofline of the hatch looks like it might limit versatility.  Maybe we can special order a wagon?

On YouTube you can see several videos of test mules running around tracks, so lets hope Ford keeps the Euro-tuning for the US market.  And if the base engine doesn't suffice, the Focus ST will be offered with a turbo'd, Direct Injected turbo with 247 horses.

Ken Block Does It Again - Gymkhana 3

Ken Block is at again with some jaw dropping driving skills.  An incredible combination of rally, drift, and stunt work.

US Version of Fiat 500 Unveiled

Today's a very busy day for Chrysler.  They're showing off much of their refreshed 2011 lineup, which include the minivans, the Jeep Patriot, and the Sebring (to be renamed the 200).  They also unveiled the US version of the Fiat 500, which is one of the bright spots in Chrysler's new alliance with the Italian car maker.

Considering the popularity of the Mini, expect to see quite a lot of these little buggers driving around next year.  The Fiat 500 is a tad smaller than the Mini, but more importantly, should be quite a bit cheaper.  That'll mean more of it's target audience, urban hipsters, should be able to afford it.

And thanks to it's hatchback architecture, it retains at least a modicum of practicality.  I think America's young folks are craving just this type of car, and should be quite a success for the reinvigorated Chrysler.

[Chrysler]

Fads and Trends - Saddle Brown Interiors

Like popular culture, the auto world has its share of fads and trends.  The most memorable is probably fins from the fifties, which graced seemingly every American car made in that decade.

Today, we've got things like fender vents, which are on everything from Buicks to BMW M3s, Jaguars, and Porsches.  More recently, integrated exhaust outlets, directly attached to the rear bumper, are on Benzes, BMWs, Lexuses, even Ferraris.  Personally I think it sucks.

One fad I do like, which has been with us for a while now, is saddle brown interior leather.  This is popping up on countless luxury cars and sports cars, and even SUVs.  You can get it on just about every BMW, Ferrari, and Audi, and more and more mid-market rides like the Mustang and Grand Cherokee.  Even the Hyundai Genesis coupe and sedan can be had in attractive brown leather.

Its a great look, much more interesting than black leather, which I loathe.  I never feel like riding around in a cave.  I've always enjoyed taupe and cream leathers, but they'll look dirty before you get your new car home from the dealer.

Anyway, you're likely to see this shade of hide available and more and more cars.  Maybe they should start selling saddle soap at the dealership.

Video - New Lancia Stratos

The new Lancia Stratos, love child of rally obsessee Michael Stoschek, is spectacular looking.  Here you can see and hear it go about its business on a race track.

Based on the bones of a Ferrari 430, it sounds quite nice and will undoubtedly be quite fast.  It may not keep up with a new 458, but it doesn't matter.  It just too damned pretty.

Enjoy.

[Youtube via Autoblog]

FIA GT Championship Televised....On Bloomberg?

I doubt you find yourself watching Bloomberg financial news channel early on Saturday morning.  There's a good reason to do so, however: FIA GT racing.  Why it is on Bloomberg I have no idea, but thank you very much to Mayor Bloomy for letting America get a glimpse of some great racing.

I've officially become a GT hype man.  Forget NASCAR, forget Indy Car, and even Formula 1, for that matter.  GT is vastly more interesting and exciting.

NASCAR is stuck in the past, with cars that use pushrod motors and are seemingly shaped to maximize advertising space.  Formula 1 is stuck in the future, with high strung, delicate cars that shatter into millions of expensive pieces if the driver happens to drive aggressively. 

But GT finds the balance.  They race on great circuits (not ovals), and use actual road cars.  Nowhere else will you see a more varied group of supercars racing at the same time.  Everything's there:  Nissan GT-Rs, Porches, Ford GTs, Corvettes, Aston Martins, Maseratis, and even Lamborghinis.  And they don't have to use the same, homogenized motors like every other racing league.  You'll hear bellowing V-8s, wailing V-10s, and shrieking V-12s. 

And don't think these chaps drive like your grandparents.  They're tapping, rubbing, and smashing their way to the finish.  Cars run off and get covered in mud, bumpers get crushed and dented, and overtaking happens on seemingly every turn.

This is racing.  So dammit, start watching!

[Photo: Flickr]

New Bentley Continental GT for 2011

The Bentley Continental GT has been with us since 2003.  It was the first Bentley to be released under ownership by Volkswagen group.  Consequently, it shares it's platform, and engine, with the VW uber-sedan, the Phaeton.  This doesn't seem to bother rich people, as the GT is the best-selling Bentley in history.

It seems Bentley doesn't want to mess with success, as the thoroughly redesigned 2011 model looks unchanged at first glance.  However, upon closer inspection, all the sheetmetal is new, and makes for a sleeker, more cohesive look.  It's certainly not as sleek as an Aston Martin, but sleek is not Bentley's raison d'être.  Like a good Bentley, it looks bulky and imposing, but graceful and expensive at the same time.

Expect an updated W-12 engine with mountains of power, and a new, 4.0 liter V-8, of unknown output, to be the new base engine.

Cars You Can't Have - Citroen C6

Full the longest time, the full size sedan was a segment for retirees.  They offered a pillowy ride, tons of space, and some luxurious touches.  As for style, let's just say it was low on the priorities list. 

That's changed in the past few years with some rather nice offerings.  The Toyota Avalon is very nice, but dull.  The Ford Taurus, recently redesigned, is handsome and luxurious.  There's the respectable Hyundai Genesis and the highly successful Chrysler 300 / Dodge Charger pair. 

But there's one full-size sedan on the other side of the pond, that, unfortunately, can't be had over here.  The Citroen C6 is the flagship of the brand, and follows a lineage of very big, FWD sedans by the marque.  It won't appeal to street racers, but unlike most of the full size sedans of the world, the C6 is dripping with style all its own.

The unique greenhouse ends at the taillights and the doors house frameless windows.  The backlight is concave.  Concave!  I have never seen that on another car. 

Concave rear window

The interior, especially in cream leather, is positively Parisian.  The back seat is immense, especially for a European car.  There isn't much power (it's French), but the ride, thanks to the air suspension, is feathery.

The C6 is very nearly the perfect full size sedan.  If offers all the comfort, space, and luxury of other big sedans, but has styling totally unique and different than anything else.  It's the closest thing you'll get to a modern DS.

Vive Le France!

[Photos: Flickr]

2011 Dodge Durango Comes Out

We've seen plenty of spy photos of the 2011 Dodge Durango, so there isn't much new info to report.  As expected, the new three-row SUV shares its chassis with the Jeep Grand Cherokee (sourced from the Mercedes ML), although with a lengthened wheelbase for more interior room.  Although it's technically not a crossover, which are car-based, the new Durango is now has a car-like unibody, but retains the classic rear-wheel-drive architecture of its predecessor.

Dodge's press release regarding the Durango specifies all-wheel-drive, not 4wd, meaning it's not going to be a rock crawler.  This will allow Dodge to save some weight by excluding heavy duty transfer cases.  That'll help fuel economy somewhat, but it most likely won't match the Durango's closest competition, the new Ford Explorer. 

Regardless, the new Durango looks be a handsome and capable SUV that will at least stay relevant in today's cutthroat SUV segment. 

[Dodge]

What Do People Have Against Hatchbacks?

Europeans love wagons and hatchbacks.  Americans, for some reason or another, despise them.  Why?

Auto journalists blabber endlessly that wagons are cool, we need more wagons, car companies need to sell more wagons.  It never ends.  But I can understand why Yanks don't care for station wagons.  They are perceived as a bit frumpier and more family oriented then sedans.  A BMW 5 series sedan carries more cache than a 5 series wagon.  Is that fair?  Not at all.  But I can understand that.  Besides, American would much rather drive about it the station wagon's replacement, the crossover SUV.

I'm a little more confused when it comes to hatchbacks.  Hatches are usually a derivative of a compact / entry level sedan, the type of car many young folks drive because, well, that's what they can afford.  In such cases, I'd think they'd want to buy a car that maximizes utility and practicality.  But vastly more sedans are purchased than hatches.

For example: go to Autotrader and do a search on the Toyota Corolla or VW Jetta.  Then look up their hatchback counterparts, the Toyota Matrix and VW Golf (Rabbit).  You will no doubt find hundreds more sedans than hatches.  This is despite the fact that hatches can carry bulky cargo, are often times shorter in length (thus easier to park), and, IMO, are cooler and more exclusive.

[Photo: Flickr]