Mountune Ford Focus RS MP350

Here’s another tuning goodie from Ford specialists Mountune – their take on the Ford Focus RS. If your looking for a performance RS but haven’t put your name down for the limited edition RS500, then the Moutune MP350 offers to be an alternative.

The MP350 dishes out 345 bhp thanks to engine mods that rival the RS500. The 45 bhp increase is obtained through a larger intercooler, a larger airfilter, a larger exhaust downpipe, uprated fuel pump and a tweaked ECU.

The upgrades will be made available through Ford dealerships and opting for a package will not invalidate Ford’s warranty on the stock RS.

The car is considered a notch lower than the RS500 but it the numbers give it a fighting chance in a dog fight.

Ford Sells Volvo to Geely

One less car badge that would have a “Made in the USA” tag. Ford officially announced that it will be selling Volvo to Zheijang Geely Holding Group. The deal is expected to close by the third quarter and has to go through all the necessary bureaucratic hoopla.

Anyway, Geely will be shelling out $1.8 billion for Volvo which Geely will be paying in form of a note worth $200 million and the rest by cash. Jeez. How rich are the Chinese these days? Richer than you, that is.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally says that the sale will allow Ford to focus more on its brand.

While the most profitable of the Detroit Three (Chrysler’s even questionable now that it’s owned by the Italians), Ford is struggling to keep pace with other automakers. Hyundai overtook Ford as the world’s fourth largest automaker last year.

I wonder if ever being Chinese-owned will affect Volvo’s track record of safety. Maybe they’d start painting the car with lead-based paint and use panels made up of toxic plastic.

Ford Fiesta Draws in 6,000 Reservations

Consumers should be quite happy that Ford decided to sell the Fiesta in the US. Just last December, Ford claims that they’ve already had 1,000 reservations for the hatchback. Now the number’s up to 6,000 and many more have expressed interest.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta packs a 1.6L DOHC four-banger that dishes out 119 hp and a max torque of 109 lb-ft. It’s a fuel sipper too, capable of returning 40 miles to the gallon. It promises to be a zippy car that’s fun to drive.

Top Gear fans would probably remember Jeremy Clarkson’s test drive where he even used the car as a landing vehicle for the Royal Marines.

Interested fans can reserve Fiestas by visiting the Fiesta mini-site or by texting “reserve” to 4Ford on an iPhone or BlackBerry.

Pricing for the 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320 but can go past $20,000 with options.

2011 Shelby GT350 Packs Supercharged V8

I never really fancied Shelby modified Mustangs. For starters, they’re just known for slapping on superchargers and milking the most out of the engine for power and leave everything be. No suspension or braking mods making the car act wildly around bends.

This here’s the comeback of the iconic Shelby GT350 – the class-ruling car that Ford raced back in in the 1960s. The 2011 version packs a supercharger slapped on the new 5.0L V8 of the 2011 Ford Mustang. That means the Shelby is packing an estimated 500 hp.

And it’s not just the engine tune that gives the Shelby a bit more swagger than the standard Mustang. The car is also fitted with a 6-speed manual box, a center exit exhaust. The brakes are also upgraded to a Baer brake system. No word if they also tweaked the suspensions for even better handling. That’s 500 horses we’re talking about there.

The package (not, package) costs $33,995 and that’s on top of the cost of a new 2011 Mustang.

Top 10 Best Cars of the Decade

So it’s the year and the decades end and it’s all about lists. So we’ve made our own and checked it twice on our pics for the best cars of the decade. Largely our basis for choosing is the car’s impact to motoring. If it’s all about speed and performance supercars will pepper the list. For some reason, it does, but that doesn’t stop us from looking at the sensible side of things.

10. Toyota Prius

While die-hard gear- and petrolheads aren’t throwing in the towel yet in this econmentalist revolution that has affected the motoring industry, we have to admit the the impact of the hybrid. It might be slow to drive and you might look like a smug and sanctimonious bastard who likes the smell of his own farts owning one. But it did challenge the status quo regarding cars and saving the planet. And quite frankly, whether we like it or not, that’s where motoring is headed.
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Ford Reveals Facelifted S-Max

Well after the buzzkill of leaked photos, Ford has now revealed the facelifted 2010 Ford S-Max. Ford will be showcasing it together with the 2010 Galaxy at the 2010 Brussels motor show. Both models will come equipped with the new EcoBoost turbo engine.

S-Max drivers will be treated to additional storage space, powered sun blinds and even LED interior lighting option.

The facelifted model is more of a shell in which the real star will be placed – the new EcoBoost engine. It’s a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that features Ford’s latest direct-injection technology.

The EcoBoost offers improved mpgs rated at 34.8 mph and only 189 g/km C02 emission.

A new 2.0L Duratorq TDCi diesel dishing out 161 hp will also come as an option. The engine will have more fuel economy with Ford claiming that it can get up to 50 mpg.

Source: World Car Fans