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Ford Focus ST Edition

Ford today announced a new, special edition version of the Focus ST five-door hot hatchback that enhances driving dynamics with upgraded suspension and light-weight wheels for ultimate road and track driving experiences, alongside unique exterior and interior specifications.

The Focus ST Edition is available to order in selected European markets, including the UK priced from £35,785. The most dynamic version yet of the fourth generation Focus ST offers true driving enthusiasts the opportunity to tailor the driving dynamics to their personal preference using a Ford Performance-tuned adjustable coilover suspension system.

Cornering responses and driving dynamics are further enhanced with standard flow-formed alloy wheels that reduce unsprung weight, and Sports Technologies including a hydraulically-activated electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) and selectable Drive Modes, including Track Mode, contributing to an even more rewarding and confident Focus ST driving experience.

Ford Performance has developed the Focus ST Edition exclusively in five-door hatchback body style to ensure the lowest possible weight for optimised control and precision, and with the 2.3‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission, 1 for maximum driver engagement.

A unique exterior is distinguished by an Azura Blue finish unavailable elsewhere in the Focus line-up, eye-catching high gloss black detailing and a distinctive black roof. Interior enhancements include part-leather Recaro sports seats, blue detail stitching and a red ST starter button.

“The new Focus ST Edition takes the hot hatchback to a new level of handling precision and control,” said Stefan Muenzinger, Ford Performance manager, Europe. “Not only does it offer increased poise and responsiveness for the enthusiast, but also gives the ability to tailor the feel and handling balance of the car to the customer.”

Precision and control

The Focus ST Edition will arrive with customers featuring a factory chassis configuration that has been extensively tested and developed by Ford Performance, including at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Fine-tuned to optimise balance and control through corners while working hand-in-hand with the vehicle’s high-performance powertrain, the chassis also offers drivers the flexibility to further tailor suspension settings to their specific driving style or environment.

The two-way adjustable coilover suspension system, produced by motorsport specialists KW Automotive, features twin-tube stainless steel damper housings and powder-coated springs, with a distinctive Ford Performance Blue finish. Focus ST Edition’s ride height is lowered 10 mm front and rear compared with the standard Focus ST, with a further adjustment of 20 mm available to the customer. Spring rates are increased by more than 50 per cent compared with the standard Focus ST.

Twelve jounce settings – the degree of upward damper movement allowed as the wheel contacts a bump in the road, and 16 rebound settings – the speed at which the damper returns to position after an upward movement, give Focus ST drivers an even greater degree of control over cornering responses.

The Focus ST Edition is also supplied with a technical document providing recommended suspension settings for a variety of driving conditions – including a dedicated setting for the Nürburgring – to help performance driving enthusiasts fine-tune their driving experiences.

The lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels, equipped as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, reduce unsprung mass by 10 per cent at each corner of the vehicle. The wheels are constructed using a flow forming process, which compacts the aluminium alloy to retain tensile strength and increase shock resistance while using less material. Able to more effectively follow the profile of rougher road surfaces and reduce the demand on the Focus ST Edition’s dampers and springs, the lightened wheels improve tyre contact with the road for enhanced grip and responses.

The Focus ST Edition continues to utilise sophisticated Sports Technologies to enhance performance, including an innovative eLSD that uses hydraulically activated clutches to redistribute up to 100 per cent of the available torque to the wheel with more traction to counteract wheelspin. Faster-acting and more precise than a conventional mechanical LSD, the system can pre-emptively adjust torque based on inputs from engine and vehicle sensors.

The 2.3-litre EcoBoost all-aluminium engine uses a low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger alongside an optimised air intake and exhaust system to deliver 280 PS of power at 5,500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque from 3,000 rpm to 4,000 rpm. Anti-lag technology inspired by the Ford GT supercar and F-150 Raptor pick-up also delivers even faster power delivery in Sport and Track drive modes.

Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 5.7 seconds, with standing start performance supported by flat-shift capability that holds the throttle open when the clutch is disengaged during upshifts through the six-speed manual gearbox. The Focus ST Edition can reach a top speed of 155 mph.

Drivers can also use selectable Drive Modes 2 to adjust eLSD, throttle mapping, electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) and electronic stability control (ESC) characteristics to match the driving scenario. A dedicated Track mode provides the sharpest responses and the most freedom within the ESC system for the maximum driver feedback and engagement.

As with the standard Focus ST, an optimised steering knuckle design; responsive, two turn lock-to-lock EPAS; and performance braking system with 330 mm front, 302 mm rear discs and optimised fade resistance support enthusiast driving on track.

Distinctive design

The Focus ST Edition’s practical five-door hatchback body benefits from exclusive features and specification inside and out.

The unmistakeable Azura Blue exterior paint colour contrasts with High Gloss Black detailing on the upper grille, front bumper wings and door-mirror caps, as well as the rear roof spoiler and rear diffuser panel. The roof panel is also finished in high gloss black and is complemented by ST badges edged with a black surround.

Inside, the Focus ST Edition’s standard part-leather Recaro sports seats are edged in Ford Performance blue stitching, with the same effect used on the leather ST steering wheel, gear lever gaiter, centre console knee pads and floor mats. The engine start button is also finished with sporty red lettering to complement the ST badges.

The Focus ST Edition joins the existing, Ford Performance-developed Focus ST line-up that offers five-door and wagon body styles, 280 PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol 1 and 190 PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel1 engines, and a seven-speed automatic transmission option for the EcoBoost petrol.

Throwback:Nissan Says Merry Christmas By Turning the Leaf into a Rolling Christmas Tree

Nissan’s bringing the yuletide cheers to all of us

After spending an entire year producing cars, building future plans, and spending millions of dollars in research and development, automakers typically take a step back during the holiday season, either to unwind, reflect on the year that’s about to end, or, at least in Nissan’s case, turn a Nissan Leaf into a fully lit Christmas tree.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Nissan Tree.

I don’t know what I’m more impressed with. That Nissan was able to cover the entirety of the Leaf’s body with Christmas lights or that it managed to find a way to use the Leaf’s own regenerated energy to actually power all these lights. Mind you, we’re not just talking about a strand of lights with this setup. Nissan used over 15,000 lights on light up the Nissan Tree. It also used 190 meters of utensil and enough Christmas balls to fill a ball pit.

The e-Pedal system is doing the work

Throwback:Nissan Says Merry Christmas By Turning the Leaf into a Rolling Christmas Tree
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All the lighted bits on the Nissan Tree, from the snowflakes on the wheels to Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer on the roof, are powered by the Leaf’s e-Pedal system and B mode functions.

For those unfamiliar with these features, the e-Pedal is a single pedal function found in the Leaf that can be used to accelerate and brake the electric car. Engaging the e-Pedal allows you to slow the car down when you lift your foot off the accelerator so much so that the Leaf can stop by itself. While the feature itself doesn’t accelerate the car when activated, it does stiffen the real accelerator pedal and you’ll feel that immediately.

Beyond this, the e-Pedal is also the same function that helps the Leaf harvest energy via regenerative braking.

Nissan accomplishes this by recycling the energy from the Leaf’s movement during deceleration or braking. The regenerated energy then goes straight back to the batteries where it is used to recharge the cells that eventually provide the energy for the Nissan Leaf to light up like a rolling Christmas tree.

Nothing but a day’s work for the Nissan Leaf

Throwback:Nissan Says Merry Christmas By Turning the Leaf into a Rolling Christmas Tree
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It’s hard to power over 15,000 Christmas lights in one go.

It’s even more difficult when you consider that you’re using regenerated energy to actually power all these lights. But the Nissan Leaf is a special kind of electric car.

You can point to its 40-kWh battery pack that comes with an EPA-rated range of 151 miles. You can point to its electric motor, which produces 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Or you can point to all the technical bits and systems it carries with it, including the aforementioned e-Pedal system and the B-mode driving function that also helps regenerate energy under braking using the more traditional brake pedal.

You can point to any of these as factors in the Leaf’s ability to regenerate as much as 744 kWh of clean energy if the car is driven 11,000 miles each year.

Nissan Leaf specifications
	Battery
Type	Li-ion battery
Capacity	40kWh
	Electric motor
Name	EM57
Maximum output	147 HP @ 3,283 9,795 RPM
Maximum torque	236 LB-FT @ 0 3,283 RPM
	Performance
Cruising range	150 miles
Charging time (normal charging)	16 hours (3kW) 8 hours (6kW)
Charging time from alert to 80% (Quick Charging)	40 minutes
Curb weight	3,433 – 3,508 Lbs
Gross vehicle weight	4,453 Lbs

For some perspective, that amount of energy is equivalent to energy savings of 20 percent on domestic electricity consumption of an average household. For even more perspective, the amount of regenerated energy can power all these things:

266 Christmas trees with 700 incandescent lights for a full hour of joy
297 ovens for one hour to cook your Christmas dinner
744 televisions for five hours to watch your favorite Christmas movies
10,783 houses with 1,000 LED lights for five hours

Compared to what the Nissan Leaf’s regenerated energy technology is fully capable of, powering over 15,000 Christmas lights covering the Leaf doesn’t sound like hard work for Nissan’s venerable electric hatchback.

Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance

Is the Hyundai Veloster N a good hot hatch?

Hyundai’s first foray into one of the most competitive segments in the entire auto industry was a resounding success.

The automaker promised an electrifying — not the sort that you think — debut, and the Veloster N lived up to the hype.

Hyundai’s decision to throw gobs of money at the feet of Albert Biermann — he’s the former boss of BMW’s M division — paid off as the Veloster N was deemed a hot hatch that could rumble with the segment’s legacy models. The success of the 2020 Veloster N, however, also raised expectations for an even better follow-up. The 2021 Veloster N has to be better than its predecessor, and from the looks of it, Hyundai’s N division was up for the job.

Some improvements for the 2021 Veloster N involved turning previously optional pieces and features from last year’s model to standard equipment, That might not sound like a big deal for those who could afford those options before, but it’s no less gratifying knowing that a lot of them are now standard in the 2021MY.

Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior
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Take the Performance Package, for example. This package cost $2,100 last year, and among the items included was a bump in power from the stock 250-horsepower output of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to 275 ponies. This year, that same engine produces 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. In addition to the bump in output, the 19-inch wheels, larger brakes, and the electronically controlled limited-slip differential are now standard in the 2021 model. The new Veloster N is also equipped with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, ensuring that customers can choose between the new gearbox and the existing six-speed manual. Sure, the latter is the more natural gearbox for those inclined to enjoy the hatch to its limit, but that there’s a choice now is a step in the right direction.

Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior
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New sport seats are a welcome addition, and they weigh 4.4 pounds less than the previous seats.

The hot hatch’s eight-inch infotainment display is now standard, too, as is a suite of driver assistance systems that include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane following assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, blind spot collision-avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic collision warning.

Taking into account these additions, upgrades, and inclusions, it’s within Hyundai’s right to raise the price of the 2021 Veloster N. That’s not the issue, though. The issue is whether the automaker raised it higher than it probably should have.

How much is the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N?

Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior
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According to Cars Direct, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N will start at $33,245, including the $995 destination charge.

Do the math and that figure is $4,670 higher than the $28,575 starting price of the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N.

Mind you, we’re talking about base prices. It’s only going up if you splurge on options, the most important of which is the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Opt for that setup and an additional $1,500 will be tacked into your receipt, raising the hot hatch’s price to $34,745.

On one hand, there is some justification for the increased starting price of the Veloster N. One is the Performance Package, or what used to be a package in the 2020MY Veloster N. The entire content of that package is standard on the 2021 model. That includes the 275-horsepower output, the set of 19-inch wheels, the bigger brakes, the limited-slip differential, and the assortment of driver assistance safety features. Bolstered seats with illuminated N logos and an eight-inch touchscreen with a navigation system also adds to a compelling list of “new” standard pieces in the Veloster N.

Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior
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On the other hand, the price bump does move the Hyundai hot hatch up the pricing ladder relative to the competition.

In base form, the 2021 Veloster N is now more expensive than the base Volkswagen Golf GTI S, which starts at $29,690.

The DCT-equipped Veloster N is also more than $4,000 more expensive than a 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI S with its own DSG transmission. The latter starts at $30,490.

This is the reality that a lot of prospective hot hatch owners have to navigate. Is the upstart Hyundai that exciting to justify a price tag that makes it one of the most expensive hot hatch models in the market? Or is a Volkswagen Golf GTI S more of a bargain now? There’s a scenario where, even with all these additions and added equipment, Hyundai priced the 2021 Veloster N higher than it probably should’ve. Of course, we won’t know if the hot hatch justifies the price hike until we take one out for a spin, but would-be buyers will have to make a difficult decision on which hot hatch suits their money and taste better.

Or they could just splurge and spend north of $40,000 on a 2021 Honda Civic Type R. That’ll answer all these questions.

Source: Cars Direct

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