With the economy slowing down and fuel prices reaching an all time high in the U.S. and Europe, Porsche are probably left with no choice but to introduce diesel engines.
Industry experts are predicting Porsche will upgrade Audi’s V6 turbo diesel engine in its Cayenne. The diesel Cayenne is expected to achieve 23mpg, which should help improve the Porsche’s carbon footprint and allow the Cayenne to be registered in lower tax bracket in countries where registration taxes are based on emissions.
Reports claim the 240hp diesel Cayenne will be on sale by March next year. Porsche is expected to produce up to 15,000 diesel Cayenne’s annually, with prices to start at approximately £45,000 / $85,000.
According to Automotive News Europe, the diesel Cayenne was originally scheduled to be launched in January but was pushed back so it wouldn’t overlap with the introduction of the facelift model Boxster.
Ford’s released some spy-like pics and vids on the new Ford Focus RS. The shots are of a camouflage prototype undergoing performance and durability testing at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. The RS is set for launch in early 2009.
The Focus RS will be getting a front-wheel-drive with a reworked front axel to keep the fun into driving. The RS’s Duratec will be optimised to generate around 300 HP with 400Nm torque.
We’ll be seeing the new Focus RS at the London Motor Show in late July where we’re expecting to hear all the details.
Ford has unveiled its answer to an ageing Fiesta, the limited edition Fiesta ST 500.
The ST 500 uses the same 148bhp 2.0-litre engine as the standard ST; however, cosmetic changes have been applied.
Choosing a colour for the Fiesta ST 500 shouldn’t prove too difficult, as it’s only available in metallic Panther black with white leather interior, 17″ black alloy wheels, red painted brake callipers and a silver ‘U’-shaped stripe on the bonnet to echo the livery of classic Escort RS2000 models of the 1970s.
I was promised the Focus ST some time back and all I can say is boy’o'boy was it worth the wait. Given the new 2008 face lift model, all the anticipation and expectations I’d built up, came to life. The ST is a hatch taken to a new level beyond HOT.
It must have been Jeremy Clarkson who first marked the lurid orange Focus ST the ‘ASBO’, the electric paint and bold styling are the perfect ingredients to create a unmissable car, which to be fair is what most people want. Personally, even though I’m rather fond of the electric orange, given today’s knife culture, I’d prefer to keep the showing off to a low, so the Performance Blue or Panther Black would be the ideal choices for me, creating both a discreet looking car with bold styling.
The nip tuck of the new 2008 model characterises a colour coded bumper featuring a reworked mesh grill, fog lights and new rounded front headlamps. An extra lip is noticeable on the bonnet and the arches bulge utilising the curves of the headlights. On the rear, clear lights have been employed, and the surrounding around the exhaust shows signs of diffuser.
The Focus ST certainly looks to impress.
The interiors not exactly overwhelming, for the price it’s roomy and sharp. The new set of instruments, revised stereo, ventilation controls and a new grained soft-touch synthetic material on the entire instrument panel, all add to a welcoming everyday interior.
At present, three versions of the Focus ST are available. The standard ST1 features chrome-tipped twin exhaust pipes, an auxiliary instrument panel, high-performance disc-brakes front and rear, racing pedals, Ford keyless ignition system and Easyfuel filler cap. The ST 2 adds Bi-Xenon headlights with washers and ESP with TA and EBA. The premium ST 3 completes the Focus with a Sony Audio 6-CD player and full leather trim.
An increasing number of car manufacturers today are beginning to implement a push to start button with keyless ignition, however what I was left dazzled about was when I saw no fuel cap. Fords impressive Easyfuel filler cap prevents the wrong fuel being filled into the cars tank.
Under the bonnet lies Volvo’s trusty 222bhp 2.5-litre engine tuned by Ford’s TeamRS, capable of enough power to see the Focus ST from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, quicker than the Golf GTI (7.2), but it falls short of the Astra VXR, Megane 225 and Civic Type R by fractions of a second, which in real-world driving would be hard to notice
.
The 6 speed gearbox tries to impose economy, the official figures of 20.5 mpg, 41.5 mpg and 30.4 mpg for the urban, extra-urban and combined may drive you out of pocket, still you just can’t help yourself, put your foot down and listen to the refined engine growl with a hint of turbo whistle.
With the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Assist, driving the ST through the country and town, I felt extremely confident; I couldn’t feel any under or over steer and the ST takes most humps and bumps without a spasm.
Like most hot hatches the ST has only four seats, the sculpted cushion between the rear seats provide extra support and better shoulder-room. Getting in and out of the rear of the 3-door version can be a little awkward as the front Recaro seats have such stocky side support that the seats don’t fold forward very far.
Read the ST and it’ll tell you, don’t buy me unless you want aggressive style, plenty of speed and spirited performance, everyday. The Focus ST is sure to put a smile on your face, every time.
Thankfully it’s not like father, like son as Lewis Hamilton’s dad ends up pranging a £330,000 Porsche Carrera GT.
Anthony Hamilton (father of Lewis Hamilton) left home with wife Linda and lost control of the 205mph supercar. The Carrera GT SPUN 180 degrees and careered rearwards through a wooden fence and a hawthorn hedge before coming to an halt in a children’s playground, thankfully an empty playground.
Neither Anthony nor Linda was hurt in the impact of the crash at Burnham Green, Herts. Mr Hamilton wouldn’t say who owned the car, but apologised profusely.
Anthony Later, added: “This is my first crash in almost 30 years and it had to happen in someone else’s car. Thankfully the only thing hurt was the car and a bush fence, for which I am extremely sorry.”
A collector’s item, The Carrera GT is 1 of 1,270 made and thought to be 1 of 50 in the UK.
Even the best take a spill once in a while; police will talk to Anthony as part of “routine inquiries”.
With the economy slowing down and fuel prices reaching an all time high in the U.S. and Europe, Porsche are probably left with no choice but to introduce diesel engines.
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