LA Show 2010: Ford Displays Tuned 2012 Focus Hatchbacks

Three personalized Focus models will also be on display at Ford's 2010 Los Auto Show stand, giving visitors an idea of how they could improve their stock rides. The cars received a makeover consisting mostly of visual enhancements from Ford Vehicle Personalization, FSWerks and 3dCarbon.

Developed by Ford Vehicle Personalization, the first Focus showcases what can be done with Ford Custom Accessories. Boasting a tri-coat white paint, the hatch received an extensive body kit with modified front and rear bumpers, the latter with integrated diffuser, plus lowered side skirts and a roof spoiler. To achieve a striking contrast, designers applied Caribbean Blue accents to many body parts, such as the headlamps, mirrors, wheels and doors.

Inside, the color theme switches to a black and white contrast, used on the leather seats, steering wheel and center stack. Bespoke scuff plates and aqua accent lighting complete the composition.

Next up is the FSWerks 2012 Ford Focus. In this case, modifications also include performance parts, like the stainless steel exhaust, which is said to maximize engine output, though no figures have been released yet. Gone is the stock suspension, too, replaced with an H&R Springs coil-over kit, cutting ride-height by a whopping 3 inches (7.62 centimeters).

Other treats include an FSWerks cold air intake, engine cover and 19-inch DPE R16 wheels, wrapped around Continental ExtremeContact tires. There's also a 3dCarbon roof wing and, under the sheetmetal, a front stress bar.

Last but not least, we have 3dCarbon's take on the Focus. The California-based tuner envisioned a "sinister look" for the car, or so it says, achieved by applying 3M's Ventureshield Paint Protection film foil wrap on the black body panels, complemented with smoked-out windows.

The hood received a glossy black finish, while the car rides on 20-inch Series KM650-KMC wheels, accented with red pinstripes. The 3dCarbon Focus also gets H&R sport and a cat-back exhaust.

By Csaba Daradics

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LA Show 2010: Ford Focus Race Car Concept

Making its world premiere in LA today is the Focus Race Car Concept that will form the base for the Blue Oval's next global touring race car. Powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the new racing model will get its first shot on the tarmac at the 2011 British Touring Car Championship.

For the creation of the Focus racer, Ford collaborated with various race teams from around the world in order to make sure that the new car meets rules governing circuit racing in the United States and beyond..

"This teamwork has resulted in a global racing platform using a common Focus body and a safety cage built to FIA regulations – a competitive platform that can be tailored for regional competition, based on different rules," said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development.

"By leveraging our collective experience and Ford technology worldwide, this approach parallels our global dedication to the Focus production car and specifically its exciting performance derivative, the new Focus ST, to deliver a competitive race car that can be campaigned around the world."

Based on the new Focus, the Race Car Concept has been upgraded with AST performance dampers, sport sway bars provided by Ford Racing and enormous, 320 mm front brakes, for extreme stopping power. Hoosier race tires wrap around the 18-inch Anthracite alloy wheels.

Inside, there's a roll cage and a Recaro racing seat with a six-point safety harness, alongside a fire suppression system. The AIM MXL Pista dashboard has a digital layout and features, among other data, a tachometer, rev counter and gear position indicator.

Ford is keen to benefit as much as possible from the teams' racing experience, so it's going to provide them full support, including data, advanced engineering tools and parts. The idea is that, in a few years time, new race-inspired technologies should make the transition to street models, as was the case with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302.

By Csaba Daradics

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Vaughn Gittin Jr’s RTR-X Mustang: Mr. Reid, Your Car is Ready

In the 1960s, Van Williams and Bruce Lee starred in a TV series called The Green Hornet. It was a lot like Batman, really: a wealthy, playboy millionaire called Britt Reid fights crime with a gadget laden car. Only Batman didn't have a chauffeur named Kato that knew martial arts and the Hornet drove a Chrysler, not a Ford.

So Seth Rogen and Jet Li are remaking it as a comedy, which is...good? Anyways, the Chrysler Imperial is back, reprising the role it played in the '60s original. Which is fine, but I think it should have had a bit of a remake as well. No, I'm not saying it should be replaced with a Chrysler 300C with green tinted headlights (God forbid).

What I think it should be replaced with is this: Vaughn Gittin Jr's RTR-X Mustang from the 2010 SEMA Show. Here are four reasons why:

-1. It's based on a Dynacorn late '60s Mustang, perfect for the period.

-2. It's black and green, with green headlights - just like the Hornet's ride should be.

-3. It has a 440hp V8, making it the perfect vehicle for catching crims.

-4. Just look at this thing: it's menacing.

So all in all, perfect. A fast, mean-looking two-seater that can be fitted with all the crime-fighting gadgets a millionaire playboy could ever want or need. There's just one thing that bothers me: do you think we have time to reshoot all the vehicle scenes before January?

By Tristan Hankins

Photos: Need for Speed - Facebook

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SEMA Show: Stealthy Ford Taurus Police Interceptor Concept

A [supposedly] stealth concept version of Ford's Police Interceptor will make its world premiere at this week's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. As cool as it may look though (minus that worn-out driver's seat...), somehow we can't see this interceptor being very stealthy as those massive 22-inch alloy wheels and blacked out grille are bound to capture motorists' attention on the road.

Said to be inspired from the SR-71 Blackbird, the original stealth airplane revealed in the 1960s, Ford's Police Interceptor study also gets a large boot spoiler adorned with bead lights painted black, smoked tail lamps and tinted windows while the body was lowered an inch.

Ford doesn't say what's hiding under the hood, but the production Police Interceptor sedan model will be offered with two powertrain options, an E85-capable normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering at least 280 horsepower and a turbocharged version with direct-injection and at least 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

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