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About 1,200 workers are expected to lose their jobs from the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants, in Victoria state.

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Beaulieu received its award from Sue Gill, Head of Skills & Training at Tourism South East. The VisitEngland citation stated: This attraction exceeds expectation. There are 'attractions' within Beaulieu that could be stand-alone businesses in their own right. Interpretation and presentation are of a very high standard throughout. Staff excel in customer care and their enthusiasm creates a 'special' experience for every visitor. Nothing is 'too much trouble' and their 'can do' attitude comes to the fore. Beaulieu really is a memorable and enjoyable attraction for all.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn, said: “England is world-renowned for the quality of its visitor attractions, which number over 6,000, and with this award Beaulieu is delighted to be recognised as the ‘best of the best’.”

VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford, said: “The quality of the 320 applications we received was very high, making the competition for a Gold Award extremely tough. It is therefore a tremendous achievement for Beaulieu to win a Gold Award, the highest accolade for Excellence in Tourism which VisitEngland can bestow. They raised the bar for excellence which others can aspire to. I warmly congratulate them.”

Beaulieu was one of the first stately homes to open its doors to visitors in 1952 and in the 60 years since, has developed into an award winning attraction that offers something for all ages and tastes. In addition to the world famous National Motor Museum it features World of Top Gear, Palace House and 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey.

To celebrate Beaulieu’s 60^th anniversary and the 50^th anniversary of the James Bond films in 2012, the attraction played host to BOND IN MOTION. This exclusive, official exhibition of 50 original James Bond vehicles, is the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world. The exhibition has brought a whole new audience to the attraction and, due to its phenomenal success, its run has been extended to 5^th January 2014.

This year’s third Honest John Awards are split into 14 main categories from “City Car” to “Sports Car”. The awards are not determined by judges or a panel, but instead are decided by honestjohn.co.uk website users.  The cars that fans search for most on the site and are therefore of most interest, are declared the winners.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, said: “Ford has picked up an impressive haul of trophies at this year's awards, across a wide range of models. Fiesta remains one of the most popular cars on the site thanks to its smart looks and keen running costs. It's a similar story for C-MAX, which so cleverly meets the needs of families. The Mondeo may be in line for replacement soon, but it remains a steadfast favourite on Honestjohn.co.uk”.

Anthony Ireson, Ford Britain marketing director, said:  "We are delighted that the Ford Fiesta, C-MAX and Mondeo are so popular with honestjohn.co.uk website users.  The stylish Fiesta has exciting new technology and is now available with the award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.  Mondeo enjoys a new series and powertrain line-up with reduced CO2 emissions, while our versatile and well specified C-MAX Titanium X is proving a hit with retail buyers.  It’s great to see them grabbing the headlines".

Honestjohn.co.uk was set up in 2000 to help consumers with advice on buying, selling and running cars.  Since then “Honest John” himself has answered more than 625,000 questions, with the site receiving around 1.5 million visits per month.
The data to measure customer interest is taken from Google Analytics and calculates the number of page views each review has had over the previous 12 months.

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The segment-leading Ford B-MAX, on sale since September last year, was crowned best MPV ahead of the Ford C-MAX, while the new Ford Fiesta, Britain’s best-selling car, fought off strong opposition to win the best small car title.

Ian Robertson, Diesel Car editor, said:  "From the moment you get behind the wheel of a Fiesta, you just know that Ford’s engineers have got this car spot on.

"The B-MAX is friendly and fun, clever and capable, with zippy performance and really good economy."

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director said: “This is an exciting time for our small car range.  Our stylish and dynamic new Ford Fiesta continues to top the sales charts and the B-MAX with its easy access door system is proving a smart, practical and economical choice for customers.  We are delighted to have received this independent endorsement from Diesel Car Magazine.”

Ford’s medium and large car range also received praise, with the Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Focus Estate being commended in the large car, large MPV and estate car classes.

The acclaimed Ford Mondeo has recently undergone a number of upgrades.  A new, simplified series line-up has been introduced and models equipped with the reputed 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine now boast CO₂ emissions from just 119g/km across both 140PS and 163PS power outputs.

Ford Fiesta and B-MAX, available in dealerships now, are priced from £9,995 and £12,995 on-the-road.

The Silverstone Classic…

This year’s on-track entertainment features no fewer than 24 action-packed races, many boasting massive oversubscribed 58-car grids. The full spectrum of historic motor sport is on the packed programme with hundreds of the world’s foremost, finest and most authentic historic competition cars filling Silverstone’s National and Wing pit complexes.

The Silverstone Classic is firmly established as the event all the top historic racing grids want to include in their calendars – it’s also the event that now inspires exciting new championships such as the Super Touring Trophy.

Indeed such is the festival’s incredible popularity that current predictions suggest the 2013 edition is poised to break the record of 1104 entries set in 2011, which is believed to have been the biggest race meeting ever staged in global motor racing history.

Once again the entire Silverstone site will be taken over by racing, displays, attractions and activities for the entire family, capped by sensational music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Add in special celebrations to honour key milestones in the history of iconic marques such as Aston Martin and Lamborghini plus a World Record parade of 911 x Porsche 911 to mark the iconic sportscar’s golden anniversary and it’s easy to see why advanced ticket sales are at an unprecedented level.

And, sticking to the event’s widely acclaimed ‘access all areas’ policy, all these tickets include free entrance to racing paddocks, trackside grandstands and the live music concerts.

Seventy years of Formula One history on track…

Nowhere will fans be able to see so much glorious Formula One history in on-track racing action. Three double-header grids (with races on both Saturday and Sunday) add up to more than 100 famous F1 cars covering more than seven illustrious decades of grand prix history.

The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association provides the two earliest grids. The pre-1961 field covers the entire history of F1 from the front-engined era ranging from the Bugattis and ERAs of the 1920s and 1930s to the stunning Maseratis and Ferraris of the 1950s.

The dawn of the 1960s witnessed a new innovative age for F1 with the rise of rear-engined ‘cigar-tube’ racers and with them a new generation of independent British constructors such as Brabham, Cooper, Lola and Lotus. This changing epoch is brilliantly represented by HGPCA’s second grid featuring large numbers of rear-engined F1 cars from pre-1966.

Completing the mind-boggling showcase of living F1 history comes the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship – an equally evocative series starring 3-litre cars from 1966 through to 1985. This period saw another major development with the advent of commercial sponsorship and, adding to the spectacle, cars must run in their period livery.   

The UK’s ultimate Le Mans revival 

No fewer than six different grids cover the full spectrum of post war GT and sportscar racing.

Harking back to some of the classic Le Mans 24 Hour showdowns of yesteryear are two very special dusk races on Saturday evening: one for the fearsome Group C prototypes from the 1980s and early 1990s, the other is the new Piper Heidsieck International Trophy for pre-1966 GT cars in association with Chopard featuring a packed 58-car grid of AC Cobras, Aston Martin DB4s, Ferrari 250LMs and Jaguar E-types. 

Sunday’s prestigious Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic GT Cars is another major highlight with Aston Martin aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories. Racing legends Stuart Graham and Richard Attwood shared a DB4 GT to take the chequered flag in 2011. Last year the coveted TT trophy went to the DP212 ‘project car’ driven by its owner Wolfgang Friedrichs and David Clark.

The three remaining grids are equally exciting and nostalgic: Historic Sportscar Masters (for Le Mans style sportscars up to 1974); the Stirling Moss Trophy (for pre-1961 sportscars) and Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy (for pre-1956 sportscars).

Superlative saloon car showcases

For the first time this summer’s Silverstone Classic will include three saloon car grids showcasing more than 40 years of thrilling touring car history.

The two-driver Under 2-Litre Touring Car race is always a huge crowd-pleaser and in 2013 the eagerly-awaited U2TC contest honours an important milestone in saloon car racing history – 50 years of the esteemed Lotus Cortina. Last year’s capacity 58-car grid included more than 25 of these racing deities and another huge turn-out is guaranteed in July in a packed field that will also flaunt hordes of battling Alfa Romeos, BMWs and Minis.

Turning the clocks forward, the Super Touring Trophy – introduced to huge acclaim last year – puts the spotlight on two equally memorable tin-top eras. The Group A period is well represented by flame-spitting Cosworth Sierras and their long-standing BMW M3 adversaries, while a growing number of super tourers epitomises what’s widely hailed as the zenith of the MSA British Touring Car Championship during the 1990s.

Adding to the saloon car entertainment is the new Trans-Atlantic Touring Car Trophy featuring many of the mighty V8 muscle cars that dominated saloon car racing in the second half of the 1960s. Indeed it’s almost exactly 50 years ago that Silverstone witnessed the beginning of the ‘Yank Tank’ era. It was on 11 May 1963 that saloon car legend Jack Sears debuted the 6.9-litre NASCAR sourced Ford Galaxie at Silverstone, promptly trounced the reigning Jaguars and totally transformed the sport for the following epoch. The new Trans-Atlantic Touring Car Trophy will mark the golden anniversary of Sears’ first win. Harking back to those halcyon days, the two races will witness large numbers of these mighty American machines taking on their more nimble European rivals from the same unforgettable period.

Yet more single-seater action…

On top of the superlative grids of historic Formula One cars comes further single-seater action.

This year the Silverstone Classic will pay special homage to Formula Ford, the world’s foremost entry level form of single-seater motor racing and the proving ground of so many future stars with Historic Sports Car Club’s category for pre-72 FF1600s joining the bill for the very first time. The fast and flowing nature of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit is certain to produce some superb slip-streaming and fierce competition.

Both Formula Junior and the combined F2/F5000 grids produced some memorably close racing last summer and so it’s no surprise that they have kept their sought-after places on the crowded Silverstone Classic programme.

Honouring racing legend Jim Clark

The remarkable racing achievements of double world champion Jim Clark will be honoured at this summer’s Silverstone Classic. Clark was world champion in 1963 and 1965, and was the first British driver to win the Indy 500. At the time of his death in 1968, when racing a F2 car in Germany, he had won more Grands Prix than any other driver.

Marking the 50^th anniversary of his first world title in 1963, a special BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner will be held in the circuit’s new Wing on Friday 26 July. Many of those who knew Clark will be sharing their memories and several of Jimmy’s trophies, cars and other memorabilia will be on display. Though reserved primarily for BRDC members and Classic competitors a limited number of public tickets are on offer via the Silverstone Classic website.

Adding to the tributes, the two HGPCA races – which include several of Clark’s former racing cars – will be renamed the Jim Clark Trophy for Pre-1966 Rear Engined Grand Prix Cars.

The magnificent men behind the machines

Sir Jackie Stewart will be joining many of the men responsible for designing and crafting the cars that have graced F1 grids throughout time at the 2013 Silverstone Classic.

Founded by Stewart, the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust looks after the interests of past and present F1 mechanics; in that role it’s organising a very special reunion at this year’s Classic enabling its members to meet old friends and reacquaint themselves with many of the wonderful machines they created.

“It seems to us to be the ideal place for a gathering of the most vital part of any racing team – the mechanics,” said Stewart who will be hosting the reunion at the Classic on Saturday 27 July. “A good number of our members will have most likely built or worked on the very many classic cars that will be competing at Silverstone that weekend.”

World record parades

On top of the huge programme of races, the Silverstone Classic is renowned for its equally spectacular on-track parades. In 2011 a 50th anniversary parade of 767 E-Type Jaguars established a new Guinness World Record. Last year in was the turn of Ferrari when an unprecedented gathering of 60 scarlet F40s took to the track in a memorable tribute marking 25 years of the world’s first 200mph supercar.

This year the Classic will host no fewer than three major parades, the biggest of which will see – appropriately – 911 road and competition versions of Porsche’s evergreen 911 marking 50 years in the life of what’s unquestionably one of the world’s most celebrated, revered and distinguished automotive creations. To date more than 800 owners have signed to join Sunday’s 911 x 911 pageant being organised by the Porsche Club GB.

An equally momentous milestone will be marked on Saturday when Aston Martin celebrates its centenary with a parade of 100 Aston Martin models. Joining the festivities more than 250 members of the Aston Martin Owners Club will be displaying their cherished cars on the Silverstone infield. 

Lamborghini, meanwhile, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at this year’s Silverstone Classic. A display and parade on track of more than 100 Lamborghini cars will include models representing all five decades since Lamborghini’s foundation in 1963 and the Italian company is previewing its power show by presenting its latest Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera Edizione Tecnica at the Silverstone Classic Media Day.

Car clubs: from Russia with love 

It’s not only sportscar legends such as Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche that will be displaying their automotive heritage at Silverstone in July.

This year’s event has attracted a record number of 79 car clubs all keen to contribute their own motoring lineage to what’s a massive in-field showcase totalling in excess of 8000 classic cars.

Perhaps best illustrating the festival’s ever-increasing international following and appeal, is the Volga GAZ Club. Several of its members are driving all the way from Moscow to add their own flavour to the festivities. Another highlight will be the return of last year’s super-successful BMW Zed Fest, only this time also including owners of BMW’s exalted M-Powered models.  

The sky’s no limit…

Famed for its family-friendly entertainment, the Silverstone Classic has so much more to offer those of all ages with everything from WW2 air displays and hot air balloon fly-outs to fun fair rides and pampering. Visitors can even learn to play some classic rock riffs at the Gibson Guitar Experience.

The Motorfair area allows pedigree manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW and Morgan to exhibit their heritage alongside latest models. Then there’s the ever-expanding shopping village for those looking for something special… or the classic race and road car auction – organised by Silverstone Auctions – should tastes be somewhat more lavish. Viewing takes place on the Friday with lots coming under the hammer on Saturday.

Most prominently, perhaps, for the first time all visitors will also be able to enjoy free gondola rides in the imposing BMW Eye. Standing more than 40-metres tall, the BMW Eye will give vast panoramic views over both the dramatic racing action on famous Silverstone circuit and the dazzling display areas showcasing thousands and thousands of classic cars.

Rocking and racing 

Living up to its ‘Rocking and Racing’ motto, this year’s Silverstone Classic again includes live music concerts on both Friday and Saturday evenings. One of Britain’s most famous bands – The Hollies – will top the live music bill on the second night. They will be preceded on Friday by another illustrious band, this time from the silver screen. The ‘Stars from The Commitments’ includes original cast members from the BAFTA winning movie The Commitments and they are still performing many of the film’s soul classics. 

Silverstone Classic festival-goers will also be treated to a host of other familiar favourites from four top tribute bands. Floyd Reloaded and Boot Led Zeppelin will be performing Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin classics on Friday while The Hollies will be supported on Saturday by the Ultimate Eagles and the Guns N’ Roses Experience.

There’s live music on Sunday, too, with the all-female Tetra Electra Quartet performing amplified arrangements of many much-loved classical favourites.

All powered by the AA  

This year’s Silverstone Classic is again supported by the AA, the UK’s biggest motoring organisation. The AA will be offering first drive experiences to those aged over 12 on the Stowe Circuit as well as providing free breakdown cover to all-comers – whether members or not – within a three mile radius of Silverstone.

Access all areas

In keeping with the event’s widely acclaimed ‘access all areas’ policy, all tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings.

For the first time, this year all tickets must be purchased in advance. Adult admittance is from just £35 (plus fees) and considerable savings are on offer for those festival-goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone and special packages for car clubs and their members are also available. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website. 

Staged in the dramatic new Silverstone Wing building, the inaugural BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner will take place on Friday 26 July almost exactly 50 years after Clark won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 20 July 1963 en route to his first World Championship crown. Open to members of the British Racing Drivers’ Club and Silverstone Classic competitors, the commemorative dinner will include special tributes to the Scotsman – a racing legend who is still widely hailed to be Britain’s greatest ever Grand Prix driver.

Born in Fife, Clark won the Formula One World Championship title in 1963 and 1965, and was the first British driver to win the Indianapolis 500, again in 1965. At the time of his death, when racing a Formula Two car at Hockenheim in Germany in 1968, he had won more Grands Prix (25 from just 72 starts) and pole positions (33) than any other driver.      

Many of those who knew Clark from the Sixties will be sharing their memories during this dedicated evening and several of Jimmy’s trophies, cars and other memorabilia will be on display in the Wing. As well as being inexorably linked with Colin Chapman and Lotus, Clark is also remembered as a Silverstone specialist. He won three consecutive British Grands Prix at the superfast Northamptonshire circuit in 1963, 1965 and 1967 (the race was staged at Brands Hatch in the intervening years) and 50 years ago did the F1 double at Silverstone winning both the non-championship BRDC International Trophy in May and then the British Grand Prix two months later.

“Jim Clark was one of the greatest racing drivers of all times as well as a notable member of the BRDC and a true Silverstone hero – that’s why we are so pleased and privileged to be honouring his incredible career with this special BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner in July,” said Derek Warwick, President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club. “The Classic is now firmly established as a major event on the international historic motor racing calendar and it presents us with the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to past champions. We hope this BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner will become a regular highlight in the years to come.”

Event Director Nick Wigley concurred: “The Silverstone Classic already showcases so much superb motor racing history that it seems entirely appropriate that we should pay homage to some of the champions from the past. And who better to celebrate first than Jim Clark – more so as this is the golden anniversary of his first world championship title,” added Wigley. “Indeed, several of Jimmy’s ex-F1 cars are still racing today at the Classic.”

Famous F1 cars once raced by Clark feature in two hugely evocative races organised by the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association (HGPCA) for Pre-1966 Rear Engined Grand Prix Cars; they are among an amazing collection of more than 100 of the world’s finest F1 cars still competing at the Classic. In honour of Clark, these two HGPCA races will be renamed the Jim Clark Trophy for Pre-1966 Rear Engined Grand Prix Cars. 

Tickets for the exclusive BRDC Silverstone Classic Dinner in the Silverstone Wing are priced at £99 (including VAT) and available from the official website: SilverstoneClassic.com/BRDCdinner.

A bumper number of over 1,400 people joined the event with 700 Ford cars, from early models to custom and modern classics, on display in the Beaulieu parkland.  The event this year celebrated the RS badge with a number of Owners’ Clubs from South London and Kent to Swindon and Bristol, taking centre stage on the main Arena. In addition, there were a number of trade stands selling Ford related parts and accessories.

Judith Maddox,Beaulieu’s Event Manager said: “The lovely weather brought Ford owners out in force and it was lovely to see such a wide variety of cars on show, from early Model As to the latest Ford Focus.”

The Ford Heritage Collection again supported the event, bringing along a Ford GT, an Escort Cosworth WRC and a Sapphire Cosworth as well as the Ford Supervan 3 which has a top speed of around 150mph. The Supervan is built on a Ford C100 race car chassis and was originally powered by a mid-mounted Ford-Cosworth 650bhp ‘HB’ F1 engine.

A People’s Choice trophy was awarded to David Pritchard from Westbury in Wiltshire for his pristine 1996 541hp Escort Cosworth. David is a member of the Bristol RS Club and is a regular attendee at Simply Ford.

The Best RS trophy was presented to Jonathan Bryant of Yate, Bristol for his 1983 Ford Escort RS1600I. Jonathan has given the car a complete make-over since purchasing it over eight years ago, after rescuing it from the overgrown hedge of its previous owner’s home!

The prizes were presented by Ivan Batholomeusz and Colin Gray from the Ford Heritage workshop.

Now, an odd couple based in the Netherlands hope to change that with visions of self-illuminating weather warning signs painted onto the tarmac, and a dedicated lane capable of recharging electric cars on the go.

The pair are Daan Roosegaarde, an artist famous for wacky interactive projects, and Hans Goris, a manager at the Dutch civil engineering firm Heijmans.

Mr Roosegaarde's past efforts have included a dance floor with built-in disco lights powered by dancers' foot movements, and a dress that becomes see-through when the wearer is aroused.

Heijmans spends much of its time working on more sober schemes, such as city centre car parks and shopping centres.

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Priced from just £16,995 - up to £2,000 less than segment competitors – and receiving praise for its engaging and entertaining drive, the Fiesta ST is already in strong demand at the head of the new Ford Fiesta range.

Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain managing director, said: “Our Fiesta ST offers the winning combination of accessible pricing, exhilarating performance and outstanding economy.  Expert commentators have described the car as sensational, praising its agility, responsiveness and addictive fun - yet with every-day practicality.  The rush of early orders proves our customers agree with this assessment too.”

Over 90 per cent of customers have opted for the Fiesta ST2 which adds partial leather Recaro seats, Sony DAB radio, EATC, Ford keyless start, privacy glass and LED daytime running lamps to the standard specification of 17in alloy wheels, ST front fog lights, DAB radio, SYNC connectivity, Thatcham CAT 1 alarm, Recaro seats and My Key.

The same is true for Focus ST which has seen the majority of customers opting for the highly specified, technology-rich models.  Over three in five new medium hot hatches in the UK is a Focus ST, with sales to date exceeding 3,000, outselling the VW Golf GTi more than two to one.

Available in Ford dealerships now, the Fiesta ST and Focus ST are priced from £16,995 and £21,995 respectively on-the-road.

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Ford’s fastest-growing driver assistance technology of 2012 was the rear view camera that helps drivers with reversing manoeuvres including parking. Ford customers in Europe bought 55,000 cars equipped with rear view cameras, over 11,000 of which were in the UK.  This represents an increase of 45 per cent on the 38,000 sold in 2011 in Europe – making it the third best-selling driver aid.

Ford also sold more than 100,000 vehicles in Europe equipped with Active Park Assist, the second best-selling aid, which helps drivers parallel park at the touch of a button, and without touching the steering wheel.

“Parking is the latest example of a tough, stressful task rendered simple by technology,” said Ford chief engineer Christof Kellerwessel. “Before GPS, you had to read a map or ask directions. Technology that was once unaffordable or far-fetched can now improve the lives of many.”

Ford’s rear view camera shows obstructions such as low obstacles, animals and children, on a screen in the instrument cluster or in the rear view mirror. It debuted on the Ford Kuga in 2008; was introduced on Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX in 2010; and has since has been rolled out across Focus, Grand C-MAX, C-MAX, Fiesta and B-MAX.

Ford’s Active Park Assist system, which was launched on Ford C-MAX in 2010 and is also available on Focus and new Kuga, uses ultra-sonic sensors to identify suitable parking spots. Active Park Assist automatically steers the vehicle while the driver controls the gears, throttle and clutch.

A Ford survey revealed that nearly one third of European drivers said they needed more than one attempt at parallel parking and new drivers rated parallel parking as being as stressful as Christmas shopping and twice as nerve-racking as motorway driving or a visit from the in-laws.*

Adjustable Speed Limiter technology again topped the list of “must-have” features with 270,000 vehicles sold equipped with the technology. It allows drivers to set a maximum speed in order to reduce the risk of speeding fines or bans through inadvertently exceeding the legal limit. The system enables drivers to set a top speed between 10mph and 100mph; it can be temporarily overridden by pressing the accelerator firmly.

“Our driver assistance technologies really do make a difference in day-to-day driving,” added Kellerwessel. “We’re committed to democratisingthese features and making motoring less stressful for ever increasing numbers of customers.”

Saloon car racing also has always had massive appeal in this country. The British Touring Car Championship can trace its roots the late 1950s and ever since motorsport fans have never lost their hunger for watching racing versions of everyday showroom models being driven bumper-to-bumper at seemingly impossible speeds and angles. Adding to the attraction, the saloon car scene is often as close as motor racing comes to being a contact sport… and a few spills only add to the thrills.

Ever wanted to write a story book for your child? A car book, with accurate illustrations and a great story? Dwight Knowlton did, and so he has created The Little Red Racing Car.

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An all-new Ford Mondeo is due next year, but Ford has made a range of changes to the current Mondeo line-up to keep it competitive against newer rivals.

“Whether saving TRACKER customers time or helping them monitor expenses, My TRACKER, really gets to the heart of the issues affecting motorists today,” comments, Stephen Doran, Managing Director for TRACKER. “Not only does it offer protection should a vehicle be stolen, but they will also see benefits the moment they install TRACKER Locate.”

Driving Down Costs

As the cost of motoring continues to rise, many motorists will want to monitor the expenses related to their vehicle. The My TRACKER Dashboard provides a summary of information on the total distance and time travelled, and fuel consumption, helping to establish any areas where money can be saved.

These reports can then be viewed monthly over a 12 month period – allowing for detailed analysis on where costs can be saved. Environmental concerns are also addressed with the CO2 emissions of a customer’s vehicle available within My TRACKER’s reports.

Monitoring Movement

My TRACKER also helps alert owners to where a car is going and when it is being used. The Alerts Tab features a security breach setting, which allows them to set a period when a vehicle will not be used. If the vehicles engine then starts within that time, an alert is sent free of charge to the owner.

In addition, there is a Geofence setting which allows owners to create an area on a map around a defined location. This can be set in any shape or size and can either keep a vehicle inside the area or away from it. If the vehicle then breaches the Geofence, an alert will be sent to the customer, again free of charge.

Improving Journeys

Compatible with both tablet computers and smartphones, My TRACKER also offers benefits while drivers are out on the road. Supported by Google Maps, My TRACKER allows customers to view their vehicle either by satellite or with Google Street View. With information on traffic flow, congestion zones, incidents and roadworks My TRACKER helps users stay one step ahead of traffic hot spots.

Other benefits include information on local amenities such as restaurants, hotels and the nearest petrol station, offering a comprehensive journey aid at the touch of a button.

My TRACKER also helps owners remember crucial dates, by allowing them to set reminders for MOTs, car servicing appointments, insurance renewals and other important dates of their choice. They can be sent via email, text – or both. My TRACKER is a free addition to TRACKER’s Locate SVR product and is accessed, simply by registering at TRACKER.co.uk.

Doran concludes, “My TRACKER adds value by offering a complete system which not only recovers your cherished vehicle if it is stolen, but also offers cost-saving benefits and allows you to monitor your vehicle – all at no extra cost. With these new features, the already cutting edge TRACKER Locate system is now the most comprehensive available on the market.”

Demand in the UK is helping drive Kuga’s production growth. Since it was launched at the end of last year, over 8,000 orders have been placed as families switch to SUVs in favour of conventional saloon cars.

Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe, said: “The new Kuga is a smarter SUV that offers a comprehensive array of technologies including the segment-first hands-free tailgate, and debuts Ford’s global intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

“This significant production increase is a very promising start to an SUV rollout that is spearheaded by the new Kuga and leverages Ford’s historic leadership in SUVs in North America and other regions to bring to Europe the all-new EcoSport, and later the Ford Edge.”

Ford has said it expects to sell more than one million SUVs in Europe in the next six years with SUVs accounting for 10 per cent of all Fords sold in the region by 2016. Ford Kuga UK sales and share were both up in March 2013, compared with last year.

The all-new compact EcoSport will launch at the end of 2013, and will later be followed by the next generation Ford Edge, a larger and more premium utility vehicle popular in the U.S. and other markets.

The new Ford Kuga achieved a Euro NCAP overall protection score of 88 per cent, the highest-ever for a mid-sized SUV, as well as a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for the Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance system, which  calls emergency services in the appropriate local language for the region following an accident.

New Kuga also delivers class-leading fuel economy through significantly improved fuel efficiency from a powertrain line-up that, for the first time, includes EcoBoost engine technology. Petrol engine fuel consumption has been reduced by 25 per cent and diesel engine fuel consumption by 10 per cent.

The new Kuga has been acclaimed by UK media, with Autocar magazine this week rating it ahead of five key competitors.

The interior has the pretty nice shape of a series car, but designers have also used unusual materials and elements, as well as unnecessarily many "lights". The steering wheel is beveled on the top side, it is a different approach to the so-called “sport style”. Atlas is meant to be very versatile, having all sorts of clever storage spaces, both in the interior and hidden in the baggage compartment. Engineers have equipped it with a camera system that can provide 360-degree visibility, and all sorts of other modern and fashionable gadgets.

Regarding the engine: there is an "EcoBoost" new generation gasoline engine with direct injection and turbo, plus a start/stop system, resulting in a 20% less fuel consumption. We don’t have other information regarding performance results (engine capacity, configuration, consumption), so we will have to rely on the manufacturer descriptions. Special attention should be paid to the wheels that have a variable geometry! Ford has applied the concept to the design of the rims that allow air to cool down the discs, on a cornering track for example, in the mountains, or can take a more aerodynamic shape on a highway.

The new Ford Fiesta was the star of the show, and was voted ‘Best Small Car’ following its early 2013 revisions, topping a shortlist of five key supermini competitors.

Fleet News judges said the new Ford Fiesta, which boasts six engines emitting less than 100g/km CO₂, kept the Ford Fiesta ahead of the pack. They said: “Backed by excellent support from the manufacturer and its dealer network, the Fiesta also wins thanks to its low running costs and strong residual values.”

Ford took home the award for ‘Green Fleet Manufacturer’ with the judges picking out the efficient EcoBoost petrol engines for special praise. They commented, “Ford’s holistic approach includes ultra-efficient manufacturer processes and support for green projects.”

The judges pointed out that even incremental improvements by Ford have a massive impact because of the company’s global footprint.

The third honour was for ‘Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer’, awarded after Ford responded to feedback from fleets and the leasing industry. Two Ford vehicles were also ‘Highly Commended’ in their individual categories, the Focus in the ‘Best Lower Medium Car’ and the S-Max in ‘Best Seven-Seat People Carrier’.

Ford of Britain fleet director, Phil Hollins, said, “We are exceptionally proud to have received three widely-respected awards, which come as recognition for our hard work in developing the new Ford Fiesta, a wide EcoBoost petrol engine range and our continued commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions.

Hollins added, “The top-selling Fiesta and Focus have particularly benefitted from our new range of EcoBoost engines, and to see Ford scoop such top prizes is hugely encouraging for the remainder of 2013.”

The Mac 4x4 UK Challenge is a three-day off-road endurance treasure hunt in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This year 69 teams took part, raising more than £80,000 and taking the total, raised over 12 years, to around £950,000.

The two double-cab and one single-cab Ford Ranger models were used by course officials in planning the event, including checking the suitability of off-road routes, and marshalling the event, which includes monitoring competitors and rescuing any stranded vehicles.

Event founder and organiser, Selwyn Kendrick, said: “The Ford Rangers are vital to the success of the event as they enable us to get around the course, rescue stuck or broken down competitors and carry all our equipment with ease. We couldn’t do it without them, and as you’d expect, the Ford Rangers never miss a beat.”

The Ford Rangers are used across the 10 stages of the off-road endurance event, which includes access to land that would not normally be open to off-road vehicles. Each team commits to raise a minimum of £600, with all donations going to Macmillan.

“Next year we should soar through the £1 million barrier so we’re planning an even bigger and better event,” said Selwyn.

Winners for the fifth time were Simon Vogel and Mike Walker who were presented with the winner’s cup by actress and ‘petrolhead’ Jaye Griffiths, star of TV series Silent Witness, Coronation Street and Sherlock.

For more information on the event, click here.

The three-cylinder EcoBoost-powered FF1 will sit side-by-side with some of the world’s most exotic supercars following its astonishing pace around Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.

The single-seat, road-legal car with a top speed of almost 160mph, completed a lap in 7min 22sec to register the eleventh-fastest time ever on the circuit, putting it ahead of supercars such as the Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda. No other three- or four-cylinder car has posted a faster time at the legendary circuit. Driven gently, the featherweight FF1 is capable of more than 100mpg without modifications.

The FF1 will tackle the famous Goodwood hillclimb and it will also be on display in the FoS-TECH area during the Festival, which has become the UK’s leading exhibition promoting high-tech green and environmentally friendly technologies.

In addition, Ford will be showcasing the all-new and highly-acclaimed Fiesta ST at the Moving Motor Show, a preview day for the Festival of Speed that gives car enthusiasts the chance to see the industry’s latest models, with manufacturers using the famous Goodwood Hill to demonstrate their newest products.

Ford is a founding supporter of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival, and will be fully represented at both these prestigious events in July and September. On its 20^th anniversary, the Festival of Speed will be celebrating some of the best elements of the event’s highly successful history.

Dean, of Torvill and Dean fame, has been using the Kuga when driving to Elstree Studio to film the new series of Dancing on Ice, letting the car cope with all weather conditions when he steps off the ice. 

The Kuga’s Ford-engineered system evaluates road conditions every 16 milliseconds – about 20 times faster than the blink of an eye – and adjusts the power split from the front wheels to back to give drivers a precise blend of handling and traction at all times, reducing wheel-spin, yaw rate error and torque steer.

During snowy, icy and wet conditions that cause excess wheel-slip, the intelligent ‘torque on demand’ system can send up to 100 per cent of available drivetrain power to the front or rear axles, and determines the power distribution by measuring wheel speed differences in correlation with driver steering input and throttle position.

Anthony Ireson, Ford of Britain marketing director said: “The all-new Ford Kuga’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system, complete with a handy information screen displaying the torque demand on each wheel, offers improved ride and handling. 

“Complemented by the Torque Vectoring System, Electronic Stability Programme, trailer sway and roll stability control, it is also easy to understand how the Kuga has achieved its five-star Euro NCAP rating.”

The ST accounted for 44 per cent of all ‘pocket rocket’ sales during this period – ahead of the VW Golf GTI with 33 per cent, and Renault Megane Sport with 12 per cent. Total Focus ST sales in this period were 1,984, making it the top-selling hot hatch in the UK as well as Denmark, Norway, Finland, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe. “You really have to drive it yourself to experience the responsiveness of the engine and the fantastic chassis.  I am one of a fast-growing group of excited ST drivers."

The third generation Focus ST in Europe went on sale in summer 2012. Equipped with a 2-litre EcoBoost 250PS engine, the new ST is Ford’s first global performance car – having launched in North America last year and being introduced in the Asia Pacific regions this year.

Ford has sold a total of 3,819 new Focus STs in Europe since launch – 74 per cent hatchbacks and 26 per cent wagons. The most popular colour has been ‘Frozen White’ (41 per cent), followed by ‘Panther Black’ (28 per cent) and ‘Tangerine Scream’ (17 per cent).

The new Focus ST was named ‘Best Hot Hatch’ by Auto Express and the estate version was declared ‘Hot Hatch of the Year’ by Top Gear magazine.

Product marketing manager Alan Wood said that Ford will sell 5,000 of the 137mph Fiestas in Britain, with 600 orders already taken for what is one of the most eagerly-awaited hot Fords since the previous ST went out of production five years ago.

There have been hot versions of the Fiesta since the XR2 in 1981, and the previous ST was produced between 2005 and 2008. Wood said: “We sold around 17,000 STs during the first production run and we have high hopes for this model.

“The price entry point is £16,995 which gives us a really good competitive edge over rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and Peugeot 208 GTi, coming in around £2,000 lower. We have also been given good residual value ratings by CAP.”

The Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-litre 182bhp engine, with 240Nm of torque available from 1,500rpm to 5,000rpm. Two versions will be available, with the £1,000 ST2 upgrade getting part-leather Recaro seats, LED lamps and a better stereo. A maximum of 290Nm and 200bhp are available through a time-limited over-boost. Power is fed to the front wheels via a six-speed transmission.

The car also features Ford’s enhanced vectoring system, first seen on the Focus ST, which brakes the inner wheel if traction is lost during cornering. This allows swifter progress through the bends, with a sports mode on the electronic stability control also allowing for a small amount of tail-sliding antics.  

The Fiesta has been the UK’s best-selling car for the last four years, first taking sales leadership from the Ford Focus in 2009. With the latest Fiesta model launched to massive critical acclaim, this new model is looking to build further on the Fiesta’s sales success.  

Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief at Auto Express and CarBuyer, said, “The Fiesta is a brilliant car that’s just been made even better – adding the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine into the mix has given it an intoxicating spirit that you just don’t expect from a small, affordable car. It’s an exceptional all-rounder.”

CarBuyer.co.uk is the sister site of best-selling motoring weekly Auto Express, who wrote in their road test of the Ford Fiesta that, “The Fiesta is a great all-rounder – and one of the best Fords ever...combining stylish good looks with a driving experience that simply isn’t bettered in the supermini class.”

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said, “The Ford Fiesta is a proven sales success with great appeal to both business and private buyers. This award from the experts at CarBuyer is a welcome endorsement of the Fiesta’s market-leading attributes.”

Since prices were announced in November, 1,850 orders have been received ahead of volume deliveries. Of that number 1,600 were retail orders by private buyers, the balance being to fleets. At 87 per cent, the proportion of high-series Titanium and Titanium X orders is running 12 per cent ahead of numbers for the previous model. In addition, 98 per cent of all new Ford Kugas are being specified with optional extras worth an average of £1,000.

The new Ford Kuga introduces the 1.6-litre EcoBoost direct-injection 150PS turbo engine to the range. All of Ford’s European car and commercial vehicle powertrains are developed and tested at the company’s UK engineering base, Dunton Technical Centre, in Essex. The Dunton Technical Centre’s team of 3,000 engineers carry out 80 per cent of powertrain development on site, in the centre’s Powertrain Laboratory and Emissions and Environmental Test Labs.

The all-new Kuga builds on the success of its predecessor with a sophisticated design, elevated driving dynamics with an inventory of sophisticated driver-assistance systems including Torque Vectoring Control; spacious rear package with greater flexibility, a wider choice of low CO2 powertrains, a wealth of smart technologies and the five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.  

Overwhelming demand for the Kuga’s top-specification Titanium and Titanium X models has already prompted Ford to consider extending the range further upwards with a new flagship model later this year.

The Probe, in keeping with its name, established its pioneering credentials with a concept version appearing alongside Marty McFly in Back to the Future II. The sport hatchback that was released onto the market in 1989 held onto the futuristic design of the concept. It packed a decent punch with a Mazda F2 engine, but it was the sleek all over panelling that put it on another design plane from most of the competition.

That was a promising start. But the Ford Probe made its big bid for domination in 1993, as Ford invested heavily in an updated version released to great fanfare. It entered a hotly contested sports coupe market in competition with the Vauxhall Calibra, Volswagen Corrado and Honda Prelude. The Corrado in particular had a reputation for being a rip-roaring drive, to which Ford set out to make the Probe measure up. A V6 engine was introduced with 185 hp, capable of acceleration from 0-60 in around seven seconds. However the top speed didn’t quite match the Corrado, which perhaps shouldn’t really have mattered, except these were the 90s and back then, top speed was a really big deal.

Witness a relatively youthful Jeremy Clarkson deriding the Probe’s max speed as ‘a mere 140mph’ in the same review where he also criticised its poor fuel economy. Not that it was all bad from the Top Gear presenter. In a line bringing back memories of Alan Partridge, he believed the Probe’s appearance was ‘good enough to snap knicker elastic at fifty paces’. While perhaps saying more about Clarkson than the car, he was not wrong: the breath-taking design – which had moved on even from the first generation – really did turn heads. Indeed, comparing the budget sports cars on offer in 2013 to the Probe, you have to conclude that in terms of a car being a sheer pleasure to look at, there is almost nothing now, for a comparable price, to match the beauty of the Probe.

That leads on to the question at issue: was the Probe a dead-end, or does it have a legacy? The view that high-grade hatchbacks should look like sports cars does certainly seem to have died rather a death in the past decade. In fact, Ford ceded the point with the Focus, and just look what that has done for them. While no one would place the Focus ST alongside the Delorean in a futuristic style contest, its performance is probably comparable to the Probe. Then there are the sales figures, which obviously speak for themselves.

Perhaps the answer to our question is that the Probe does have a legacy, in that it showed the way not to go. Ironically enough, that led Ford to the Focus and where they are today.

Nevertheless, we all know what happens with retro fashions. As the prevalence of online Probe-admirers shows, this grungy motor may yet prove to be one that gains in affection as the years pass.

 “Ford’s double BusinessCar Awards win illustrates the excellent job Ford is doing to serve the business community, especially in the crucial lower medium segment where Focus excels, and it beat some strong premium competition to the prize,” said BusinessCar editor Paul Barker.

“The peerless S-Max is now a seven-time BusinessCar Award winner, and the new B-Max shows the breadth and fleet appeal of Ford’s line-up, taking second place in our overall headline Car of the Year category.”

BusinessCar says the lower medium category is one of the most hotly contested. Of the victorious Ford it adds, “No stranger to praise, Ford Focus is the kind of car that does everything well. Ever since the original arrived in 1998, it’s always been the drivers’ choice within the non-premium lower medium sector for its sharp handling and tidy ride. Since then, Focus has become more and more grown up and now has one of the most technologically advanced cabins in the business.”

Phil Hollins, Ford Britain fleet director, said: “The results of the BusinessCar Awards are always keenly anticipated because they are the only awards decided by the industry’s customers themselves. That S-Max has won its seventh accolade speaks for itself, and we believe that the success enjoyed by the Focus is a ringing endorsement of Ford’s fleet favourite.”

All new Fords are available with a variety of features designed to assist drivers in low temperatures. The new Ford Fiesta for example, has a Torque Vectoring Control system which enhances cornering capability on snow and ice. 

The Ford Quickclear windscreen technology melts snow and ice away at the touch of a button, avoiding the need to scrape the ice off manually in freezing temperatures, or wait for the heating system to come up to temperature.

In case of an accident, SYNC with Emergency Assist helps place a call to emergency operators in 26 European languages and gives the Ford Fiesta’s GPS coordinates. The feature is also available on the B-Max, Kuga and Focus models.

Driving on snow and ice can send some motorists into a blind panic but it need not be so stressful. Ford engineer, Eddy Kasteel, spends his winters testing vehicles on frozen lakes in northern Sweden and has some simple tips for safe and trouble-free driving on cold and slippery surfaces.

He said, “It’s important to reduce your speed in wintry conditions because braking distances can be 10 times longer or more. Fortunately, advances in electronic technology mean today’s Fords make it a lot easier to drive on snow and ice – like new Fiesta’s Torque Vectoring Control and Electronic Stability Control. Even the very best drivers don’t have the car control skills to compete with systems such as these.” 

Joanna Lovett, Ford consumer insight manager, said, “Date Street in London is the perfect place to get a relationship under way, while couples can step it up a gear at Lipscomb Close in Berkshire before fulfilling their destiny and arriving at Wedding Drive in Nottinghamshire.

“As Britain’s best-loved brand, there really is a Ford in every long-lasting relationship. A sporty, stylish Ford Focus ST makes dating a dream, while the flexibility of the Ford B-Max can make life easier for couples sharing a home for the first time.

“The Ford C-Max is ideal when a young family comes along, with a Kuga an adventurous alternative. And as the family grows, with seven seats and lots of space needed, the Ford S-Max, Grand C-Max and Galaxy are perfect,” she added.

And with 70 per cent of new Ford vehicles having the manufacturer’s SYNC connectivity system as standard, Valentine messages can be received on bonded phones and automatically read out loud. SYNC also updates phonebook entries, while music files can be browsed by genre, artist, album, song and playlist using voice commands to ensure the perfect playlist.  

Ford’s ultimate Valentine road trip around the UK might be:

1.     Valentine Road, Leicester

2.     Sweetloves Lane, Bolton

3.     Cupids Chase, Southend-on-Sea,

4.     Hearts Delight Road, Borden, Kent

5.     Chivalry Road, Wandsworth, London

6.     Flowers Close, Dollis Hill, London

7.     Date Street, Kennington, London

8.     Hug Bridge, Macclesfield

9.     Lipscomb Close, Hermitage, Berkshire

10.  Kissing Gate, Hull

11.  Love Lane, Ongar, Essex

12.  Diamond Close, Cambridge

13.  Wedding Drive, Worksop, Nottinghamshire

14.  Aisle Road, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow

15.  Bride Street, Liverpool

16.  Groom Walk, Guildford, Surrey

17.  Marriage Lane, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

18.  Partnership Court, Seaham, County Durham

19.  Bliss Gate, Kidderminster

20.  Trueloves Lane, Ingatestone, Essex

Developed by Ford Team RS, this hot new supermini is powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which achieves 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 137mph, thanks to 182PS and 290Nm. Despite the generous power and performance, fuel consumption is impressive, with 48mpg combined and just 138g/km of CO₂ emissions.

Ford has further refined the Fiesta ST’s excellent chassis with new steering and suspension settings and new braking components. An enhanced version of Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control system, and a three-mode Electronic Stability Control system, contribute to a rewarding and secure driving experience.

“The new Fiesta ST is a very modern performance car built on more than 30 years of fast Fiestas and a global development process,” said Juergen Gagstatter, chief programme engineer, Performance Cars, Ford of Europe. “This vehicle is a significant step forward, both in terms of our proud heritage of blending a powerful engine with a dynamic chassis, and also in achieving reduced fuel consumption and emissions.”

The new model features a unique new honeycomb mesh trapezoidal grille exterior and dramatic rear diffuser element. The high contrast interior is also equipped with Recaro seats as standard for the first time.

With UK sales forecast at 5,000 a year, more than half of European Fiesta ST production is destined for Britain. Take a look at a Fiesta ST video here.

The Kuga topped the SUV sector, the Transit Custom triumphed in the Business and Family Vans class, and the new B-Max was the joint winner in the small MPV category.

“Safety is a core value at Ford,” said Stuart Southgate, Ford automotive safety director. “For Euro NCAP to evaluate our vehicles and determine that they are segment leaders in their safety assessment is a wonderful recognition of the values and talent of our designers and engineers.”

Euro NCAP is Europe’s largest independent authority on vehicle safety. The awards reflect vehicle crash test performance and availability of advanced safety technologies. In 2012 the new B-Max, new Fiesta, new Kuga and new Transit Custom were each awarded a maximum five-star rating under Euro NCAP’s new crash test scoring system; and the Ranger and Focus retained five-star ratings awarded in 2011, against more stringent 2012 requirements.

The new Kuga achieved a score of 88 per cent for overall protection, the highest-ever rating for a mid-sized SUV, while the new Transit Custom achieved 77 per cent for overall protection, after becoming the first vehicle in its class to earn a five-star Euro NCAP rating that also applies to the new Tourneo Custom people mover.

The new B-Max achieved 83 per cent for overall protection. Ranger is the first and only pickup to achieve a five-star rating. Last year, Ford became the first car manufacturer to achieve a total of seven different Euro NCAP Advanced rewards in recognition of a wide range of technologies that Ford has introduced across a number of vehicles.

In 2012, Ford sold 953,174 cars in the 30 European markets monitored by Jato, including 306,405 Fiestas. And in case you’re curious, we’re told that the most popular European colour was Frozen White.

In the UK, Ford sold almost 110,000 Fiestas last year – confirming the model as the nation’s most popular car every year since 2009. In anticipation of the new model’s arrival, Ford’s 530 UK dealers set aside 24^th January as ‘Fiesta Day’ to help manage unprecedented levels of interest in Ford’s new baby.

In addition to special Fiesta Day showroom features and attractions, Ford has also launched a Facebook app which analyses information on profile pages to match users with their ideal Fiesta specification, apparently. The app also encourages the submission of ideas on the perfect 24 hours in a new Fiesta – as enjoyed by singing star Jessie Ware – click here for the video.

Ford is currently launching the new Fiesta across Europe, redesigned inside and out and offering the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which scooped the 2012 ‘International Engine of the Year’ award.

The results we got back from you were very clear-cut. While 87% agreed that the cost of car ownership has been going up in recent years, only 12% felt tempted to give up car ownership altogether.

The overwhelming majority of you car-loving enthusiasts wouldn’t dream of giving up your own little world on wheels, with one respondent saying that he would rather sacrifice a meal each day than give up private motoring. And this strength of feeling was pretty widespread, with 76 per cent of respondents saying they would miss their car “hugely” if it were taken away from them.

That said, however, there was a lot of interest in the possibility of supplementing car journeys with public transport, walking, cycling or by joining a car-share scheme; but only (said the vast majority) in addition to owning a car, not instead of it.

Understandably, those living away from urban areas were the most strongly averse to giving up their cars.

Numerous practical reasons were provided by those taking part in the survey to explain why they planned to keep their cars. Many explained that public transport was not adequate in the area they lived, such as one Ford owner who said, “Living in a rural area and with public transport a last resort, the car is essential to give me access to what I want, when I want. With the majority of the working rural population totally reliant on cars, there is no viable public transport solution in place, or even envisaged in the foreseeable future.”

Meanwhile, others said they preferred not to share their journeys with strangers. As one respondent colourfully pleaded, “Please stop trying to get us to pile into buses and subways like cattle. It’s not for everyone, and clearly not everyone takes a bath daily.”

And then there were the emotional reasons. Many of us see our cars as private spaces in which to venture out into the world. That’s important to us.

It seems that while Owners Club members are interested in car-share schemes for practical reasons, we are very strongly bonded to our cars, and we aren’t going to give them up any time soon – whatever the financial advantages might be.

Engineers subjected the new B-Max to laboratory tests that simulate the toughest treatment that children and pets can dish out, including soaking materials in milk and fizzy drinks; testing fabrics with a ‘mace’; and pounding plastics with a heavy rubber ball.

“By testing for everything from soft drink spills to muddy boots, we’ve made sure the B-Max interior is ready for anything,” said Mark Montgomery, senior materials engineer, Ford of Europe. “I’ve got young children myself, so I’m very familiar with the mess they can create.”

Samples of all leathers and fabrics used in the Ford B-Max’s interior were tested for stain resistance and ease of cleaning after being soaked for 24 hours in the liquids and being smeared with soil and grease.

Engineers also tested resistance to damage that can be caused by abrasive zips and fasteners found on children’s clothing and bags. The ‘mace test’ used a metal ball with needle-sharp spikes to brush fabrics 600 times and replicate the effect of snagging zips and studs. Engineers also carried out a special test to repeatedly rub the seat material with Velcro.

Impact tests – conducted at temperatures as low as -30 degrees Centigrade when plastic is more brittle – used a rubber ball 10 times heavier than a regulation football to ensure that plastic parts could withstand bumps and knocks. Fabrics were also rubbed 60,000 times in a 17-hour non-stop wear test; metal spikes were scraped across plastic parts to test scratch resistance; and carpets were checked for durability on a special test rig fitted with rough abrasion wheels.

“These tests make sure we’ve done everything possible to make sure the car looks as good the thousandth time that families sit in it as it does the first time,” added Montgomery.

News of hot prices for the next fast Ford comes as UK dealers mark the arrival of the full Fiesta range in their showrooms. Orders for this latest model have already exceeded 15,000. The Fiesta has been the UK’s top selling car since 2009.

ST power comes from a 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost, all-aluminium, four cylinder petrol engine which combines high pressure direct injection, low inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing, developing 182PS and 290Nm. It’s enough to manage the sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.9 seconds, while still producing a combined fuel figure of 47.9mpg and CO₂ emissions of just 138g/km.

The Fiesta is regarded to be the best handling supermini around, so a fast version is bound to drive superbly. A unique suspension and steering system is combined with enhanced Torque Vectoring Control and a 15mm lower ride-height to deliver significant dynamic improvements. 

Standard UK specification includes 17-in alloy wheels, halogen projector headlamps, ST front fog lights, DAB radio, SYNC connectivity, Thatcham CAT 1 alarm, Recaro seats, My Key, and air conditioning.

The ST2 trim adds part-leather heated Recaro seats, Sony DAB radio, Ford keyless start, privacy glass and LED daytime running lamps.

“The UK’s renowned love affair with fast Fords is about to get another boost,” said Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain managing director. “We have had fantastic success with the new Focus ST, and the Fiesta ST will deliver similar thrills to a whole new audience and at a uniquely accessible price.”

From the initial design, the Kuga was engineered to be as visually appealing up close as it is from a distance, with spaces between panels no wider than 0.5mm. The craftsmanship inside emphasises feel and touch through use of a soft instrument panel and soft door upper roll. Particular attention was paid to deleting exposed fasteners on moving parts like the tailgate, sun visors and glove box. The Kuga also features an opening panorama roof.

The Kuga offers more space for luggage than the current car and a luggage compartment that can be accessed more easily. Ford’s hands-free tailgate can be opened or closed simply by making a kicking motion beneath the rear bumper; you may get some funny looks but it’s bound to be useful when your hands are full!

The luggage compartment offers 46-litres more space than the current model, while the rear seats fold flat in one easy movement.

Road and wind noise have been significantly reduced compared with the current Kuga, to help deliver one of the quietest cabins in the segment. Improvements were delivered by using elliptical acoustic mirrors to measure elements that can influence the noise and vibration inside the car.

“We’ve evolved the vehicle to incorporate more space and a faster silhouette, a more precise execution and a higher quality feel,” said Martin Smith, executive design director, Ford of Europe.

Prices start from £20,895.

The Ford Mondeo remains both the UK’s ‘Best Family Car’ and ‘Best Estate’. In reaffirming the flagship Ford’s 2012 and 2011 achievements in both categories, What Car? said, “The Mondeo is rewarding to drive, with agile handling and a comfortable ride. It will satisfy the family man and the business user, being as assured on twisty lanes as it is on motorways.

“The Ford Mondeo estate is spacious enough to keep even the tallest adults happy, while its boot can cope with everything from the family dog to furniture.”

As the new Ford Fiesta goes on sale this month, What Car? has already declared it ‘Best Supermini’. The Fiesta has been the UK’s bestseller for four consecutive years and saw sales rise by 14 per cent to almost 110,000 cars in 2012.

“If ever a car feels like it has been touched by greatness, it’s the Ford Fiesta,” said What Car, “Freshly face-lifted for 2013, it now comes with sweeter engines and improved safety credentials.”

In making the 154mph Ford Focus ST ‘Best Hot Hatch’, What Car? said, “Fast and thrilling when you want it to be, yet also perfectly happy pottering around town or trundling along the motorway.”

Chas Hallett, What Car? editor-in-chief, said, “Ford really deserves its four What Car? category awards, it’s a fantastic achievement. It’s great to see a mainstream volume car maker building award-winning cars.”

Since 2003, Jennings Ford Direct, part of north east-based Jennings Motor Group, has been providing quality approved nearly new Ford vehicles to customers across the region, visit www.jenningsforddirect.co.uk

The dealerships located on Newcastle Road in South Shields and the group’s Cargo Fleet Lane site in Middlesbrough, which officially opened in 2009, house hundreds of nearly-new Ford cars which are sourced and delivered direct from the manufacturer.

Each vehicle comes with a highly competitive warranty package including, 24 month/unlimited mileage Ford warranty, 24 month Ford Assistance, HPI and National Mileage Register check, Inspection and Approval from the RAC, Ford Insure 7 Day Drive Away Cover and a tamperproof windscreen hologram.

David Walker, general sales manager at Jennings Ford Direct in South Shields, said; “Customers who choose to purchase their vehicle through the Jennings Ford Direct dealership in South Shields not only benefit from receiving thousands of pounds worth of savings, but they also receive an extensive peace of mind warranty package.”

In addition to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, which has been declared Used Car of the Year 2012 by car valuation experts CAP for its affordability, practicality, reputation and popularity in the used car market, customers can also take advantage of the entire Ford range including the Ka, Focus, Fusion, C-MAX, Mondeo, S-MAX and Kuga, view full range of used ford direct cars from Jenningsforddirect.co.uk here

Customers can also take advantage of a national delivery service which is available.

Jennings Ford Direct, Newcastle Road, South Shields Tel: 0191 4276666. Jennings Ford Direct, Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough Tel: 01642 256658

Jennings Ford, part of north east-based Jennings Motor, which operates dealerships in Gateshead, Middlesbrough and Stockton dealerships, was one of the first Ford franchises to take delivery of the latest model for 2013. For more information about the all-new Fiesta visit www.jennings-ford.co.uk

Since the very first Fiesta model was produced in 1976, Ford’s stylish, practical and economical model has been a phenomenal success worldwide.

Thanks to the all-new Fiesta’s fresh look and award-winning efficient engines, demand for Britain’s best selling car is expected to continue throughout 2013 and beyond.

Offering an extensive range of six powertrains and a Titanium X Series, the latest fuel efficient model to join the Ford family features a sharper design and a host of exclusive technology features, with prices starting at £9795.

Barry Fearon, sales manager at Jennings Ford’s Eslington Park dealership in Gateshead, said; “Advanced new technologies have allowed Ford to take the all-new Fiesta to new heights regarding fuel efficiency, which in the current economic climate, is becoming a major buying criteria with customers.”

Customers can take their pick from 100PS and 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines, crowned the 2012 “International Engine of the Year”, 80PS 1.0-litre petrol engines with direct-injection and Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, a 75PS 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with optimised fuel injection, low friction piston coatings and a variable pressure oil pump.

In addition, a 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, producing 200Nm of torque, a 105PS 1.6-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine or a 60PS and 82PS 1.25-litre petrol engines are also available.

As standard, the new Fiesta also boasts an Auto-Start-Stop system, which automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle is idle and restarts the engine when the driver wants to move off, is available in the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, 1.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi ECOnetic Technology powertrains.

New chassis and suspension components have been developed to improve the ride quality and refinement of the new Fiesta and tuned the Ford Electronic Power Assisted Steering system.

For peace of mind motoring, the new Fiesta’s package of leading Ford driver assistance and safety features includes MyKey, a segment-first technology that allows parents to encourage safer driving and limit their teenager’s exposure to risk at the wheel, as well as in-car connectivity system SYNC.

SYNC features Emergency Assistance that directly connects the vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident.

New to the Fiesta and available as part of an optional Driver Assistance pack (including rear parking sensors and powerfold mirrors) is the first-in-class technology Active City Stop, a system which has been well received in the Focus and designed to help drivers avoid low speed collisions.  

Customers opting for the Titanium X model can take advantage of additional features such as the Keyfree system and partial leather as standard.

Jennings Ford, Eslington Park, Gateshead Tel: 0191 4607464. Jennings Ford, Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough Tel: 01642 240055.  Jennings Ford, Yarm Road, Stockton Tel: 01642 632200.

The smart AWD system continually assesses road conditions, adjusting the torque split to each wheel to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.

The primary goal of the AWD system at low speeds is to enhance traction; at speeds above 18mph it is programmed to improve driving feel, handling and response. A unique cluster display on the dash shows drivers the torque demand of each wheel at any moment.

Ford Curve Control acts as a safeguard for drivers who have entered a bend with too much speed. The system helps to fight severe understeer by braking and engine torque reduction.

“Curve Control can support drivers if they find themselves in a situation where they are travelling too fast for the road conditions or layout,” said Michael Nentwig, assistant medium car chief programme engineer, Ford of Europe. “The obvious example is on a curved slip road coming off a motorway. If the driver hasn’t reduced speed sufficiently this system can step in and safely slow the vehicle down by around 10mph per second.”

Dynamics and cornering control are also improved by the use of Ford’s enhanced Torque Vectoring Control (TVC) system, which was first developed for the Focus RS. TVC is a type of electronic limited slip differential that works by adding brakes to the inside wheel during a turn, which ensures both wheels turn at the same rate.

In our next article on the new Kuga, FordOwnersClub.com will look at new innovations that Ford created while developing the car.

This week’s announcement, at the 2013 International CES, marks the first time that a car maker has opened its arms to developers in this way to help with developing applications that can work with, in this case, Ford’s SYNC connectivity system.

“The Ford Developer Program marks a dramatic shift in how we will innovate new features to add value to our vehicles throughout the ownership period,” said Hau Thai-Tang, vice president of engineering, Ford Global Product Development. “Opening the car to developers gives consumers a direct voice and hand in the creation of apps that can help our products remain relevant, up to date and valuable to our customers.”

The initiative is similar to those at tech companies such as Apple, Google and Facebook. App developers who want to enable their creations can now register online to download Ford’s AppLink SDK, which contains code libraries and documentation for the APIs that enable two-way communication between mobile apps and the vehicle.

Thai Tang continued, “When we first introduced SYNC in 2007 there was a need for an appropriate way to connect and control cellphones and digital music players in the car due to the massive consumer adoption trend. Now, with an even faster adoption rate of smartphones, there is a need for a renewed focus on voice control for the unique capabilities of these devices, especially for the use of apps.”

For more information visit https://developer.ford.com/

The Kuga is the centrepiece of Ford’s strategy to expand in the fast-growing European SUV market and offers a comprehensive array of features and technologies, including Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system, a hands-free lift gate that operates with a gentle kicking motion, class-leading fuel efficiency, and Ford SYNC with Emergency Assist.

“European customers have really taken the current Ford Kuga to their hearts,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Product Development. “The new Kuga retains that charisma and adds remarkable new technologies, features and capability.”

Ford plans to ramp up its global leadership in SUVs to deliver a comprehensive line-up of smarter vehicles to Europe. The new Kuga will be followed by the innovative EcoSport, Ford’s entry into the small SUV segment, and the Edge – a larger, more premium crossover that is already a success in North America and other markets.

Ford has said it expects to sell more than 1,000,000 SUVs in Europe in the next six years, around 10 per cent of Ford’s total volume by 2016. Since launching the first generation Kuga in 2008, Ford has sold more than 45,000 in the UK.

Production of the new Kuga started this month at Ford’s assembly plant in Valencia, Spain. Just six months after going on sale, the new Kuga’s North American counterpart the Ford Escape has achieved its best ever sales year.

In our next story we will look in depth at the new Kuga’s intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system.

The UK pick-up market has grown by more than 25 per cent since 2009, with eight models currently competing in the segment. The Ford Ranger has emerged victorious from a group of seven vehicles reviewed – the most comprehensive pick-up test 4x4 Magazine has ever conducted

Nigel Fryatt, 4x4 Magazine Editor, said: “Ford’s new Ranger has significantly raised the bar in the pick-up market.

“Our extensive tests showed the variety of products that are now on the UK market, and the Ranger topped them all with better overall ability, superb ride quality and an interior that makes it hard to believe this is a commercial vehicle. Indeed, no other pick-up came close in terms of interior comfort and specification.”

Ford UK managing director Mark Ovenden, said: “The awards keep on coming for the Ford Ranger as it continues to assert its presence in the market. Our customers have really welcomed the introduction of the all-new model, boosting sales by nearly 20 per cent compared with last year.”

This miniscule three-cylinder engine is small enough to sit on an A4 sheet of paper, yet packs the sort of punch that you would expect from a far larger unit.

It is impressive enough to have won several awards – even though it has only been available this year, and just in Europe – perhaps the most significant of which was being named the 2012 ‘International Engine of the Year’, as well as ‘Best New Engine’ and ‘Best Engine Under 1.0-litre’, at the International Engine of the Year awards.

Joe Bakaj, Ford global powertrain vice president, said: “We set the bar incredibly high when we started to design this engine. We wanted to deliver eye-popping fuel economy, surprising performance, quietness and refinement – and all from a very small, three-cylinder engine. The team responded to this challenge with some really exciting innovation and the result is a game-changer for petrol engines globally.”

The popularity of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost with judges saw it receive 28 per cent more points than its closest rival, as well as the highest points total of any engine in the competition’s history.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost uses low-inertia turbos to deliver power quickly when the throttle is opened from low rpm, and rapidly builds up to high power – at turbine speeds of up to 248,000rpm.

Further innovations include an exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head, lowering the temperature of exhaust gases to enable the optimum fuel-to-air ratio across a wider rev band. A cast iron block warms the engine more quickly than a conventional aluminium block, to cut the amount of warm-up energy required by 50 per cent, and thus cut fuel consumption.

The two main engine drive belts are immersed in oil to deliver a quieter, more efficient engine, while Ford engineers have also offset the engine configuration by deliberately ‘unbalancing’ the flywheel and pulley, instead of adding energy-draining balancer shafts.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is currently available in two states of tune: a 100HP version that delivers 58.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km, and a 125HP model that returns 56.5mpg with CO2 emissions of 114g/km.

In 1912, Ford’s model range comprised of a single vehicle – the iconic Model T. The 2012 launch of the Tourneo Custom adds a twelfth model to Ford’s passenger vehicle line-up.

Mark Ovenden, Ford UK managing director, said: “Ford continues to invest in its product range, which will offer unrivalled breadth and choice to our customers in the New Year with the addition of the stylish and luxurious Tourneo Custom people mover.

“Since the introduction of our global One Ford strategy in 2006, the company has been able to deliver more vehicles faster to increase its competitiveness still further in 2013.”

Since 2006, Ford has added five all-new car nameplates: S-Max, Kuga, Grand C-Max, B-Max and Tourneo Custom.

The twelve vehicles that make up Ford’s passenger vehicle range are Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta, Ford B-Max, Ford Focus, Ford C-Max, Ford Grand C-Max, Ford Kuga, Ford Mondeo, Ford S-Max, Ford Galaxy, Ford Ranger and Ford Tourneo Custom.

DELUXE WINTER CAR SURVIVAL KIT

If you haven’t time for browsing, you might want to save yourself the trouble and simply plump for this deluxe car safety kit. It contains plenty of gear to help keep you safe and warm, all stashed in a rugged-looking carry pack. There’s a scraper and de-icer, thermal blanket, instant hand-warmers and wind-up torch, drinking water (and even long-life food rations), plus a high-visibility vest, first-aid kit and emergency light sticks. Not to mention a folding mini-shovel. All for just £66.84. Click here for more details.

ZIPPO HANDWARMER

A genuine Zippo product, but not for smokers – this hand-warmer uses Zippo lighter fuel but there’s no flame produced (it has a catalytic burn action, apparently). With a burn time up to 12 hours, it’ll keep your hands warm till help arrives. It can be yours for £12.91, by clicking here.

EMERGENCY iPHONE CHARGER

Your mobile phone could be quite literally a life-saver, if you find yourself stuck in snow. Or maybe you just like to talk a lot. Either way, don’t be without the comfort of a back-up phone charger, such as this ‘Kitpower’ one for iPhones, priced at £12.87. Click here.

SNOW AND ICE GRIP SHOES

We’re told that if a car does become snowbound, you should stay with it and not wander off into the icy wasteland. However, if we have a winter like last year, you might be glad of these rubber overshoes with their grippy metal spikes, just to get from the car to the front door. Surely it’s worth £8.00 to stop yourself falling flat on your face? Save yourself the bruises and click here.

MULTI-USE TORCH

Not just a torch, this one, as it offers all sorts of safety goodies wrapped up in one slim package – such as a flashlight amber signal, a glass-breaking hammer and a safety-belt cutting tool. You can buy it for £11.46 (though you’ll need to get two AA batteries separately). Click here, then keep it in your car.

The above bits of winter kit are just a few of our favourites, however. Click here for a full selection of ‘Winter Driving’ essentials.

Jamie has joined forces with his old friend Jimmy Doherty to take brilliant British food to the Continent in the most entertaining way possible.

Partly filmed in front of an audience in a café on Southend Pier, Essex, the show aims to bring the country together in their love of British food. Jamie has high ambitions for Food Fight Club. He says, “It’s set up to be the most exciting, interesting and funny cooking show ever to be shown on TV.”

The Ford ‘Brooklands’ Capri was chosen by Jamie since he and Jimmy have been friends since the 1980s and despite owning Ford Fiestas, the Ford Capri was the car that they both aspired to when they were growing up together in Essex.

Developed by the then Ford Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) division at the Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, the Ford Capri 280 was limited to a production run of 1,038 units. It has a five-speed, manual transmission and a 2,792cc V6 OHV engine capable of propelling the coupé to a top speed of 127 mph.

Food Fight Club airs on C4 on Thursdays at 9pm, or you can catch it online at 4oD.

At its annual Fleet Hero Awards, Ford won the ‘Innovation in Car and Van Manufacturing’ category. The prize recognises manufacturers that are investing in innovation and new technologies to provide lower carbon vehicle options for fleet operators.

Ian Featherstone, transport knowledge manager at the EST and awards judge, said, “While alternatives to the internal combustion engine may be the future, existing technologies still have much to offer. Cutting edge, clever engineering like Ford's EcoBoost has allowed a tiny engine to punch well above its weight and has reopened the debate about the relative merits of petrol and diesel.”

This most recent honour is the third for the pioneering three-cylinder powerplant. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has been awarded the title of “International Engine of the Year” and last month we reported that it was revealed as the winner of the Dewar Trophy for outstanding British technical achievement in the automotive industry.

During October, the three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine took part in the 2012 ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon, this time under the bonnet of a Ford Focus.

Its two-day average fuel consumption figure of 61.93mpg was a near 10 per cent improvement on its official Combined Cycle figure of 56.5mpg. At the same event a Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi recorded a remarkable 108.78mpg.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is now available in the Ford Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX.

All like-for-like models are lower in price with significant extra standard kit. The UK’s best-selling 2.0-litre TDCi 163PS model, at £25,545, is £355 less than the outgoing model, with standard equipment including fold-flat seats, reclining rear seats, adjustable load floor, Ford SYNC with Audible Text Messaging and Emergency Assist, Visual AWD Monitor, Hill Start Assist and enhanced Cruise Control with Active Speed Limiter.

Now in production at Ford’s Valencia plant, the compact 4x4 offers segment-first technology including a hands-free tailgate; while Ford is boasting class-leading handling with its new global intelligent all-wheel-drive system and enhanced Torque Vectoring Control.

The new Kuga offers a choice of 150PS and 180PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engines, and 140PS and 163PS 2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engines. All-wheel-drive diesel models are available with Ford’s PowerShift transmission; and front-wheel-drive diesel models now feature CO2 emissions from just 139g/km.

Order books are open, with the first new Kuga’s expected to arrive in UK dealerships in early 2013.

These snow socks are cost-effective tyre covers that really do the job of getting you out of a slippery situation in snowy and icy conditions.

Priced from just £46.99, Autosock snow socks can be used on all makes and models of car, simply by slipping them over the driving wheels of your vehicle. They work by creating friction with the road surface – and, of course, they’re re-useable. When not in use, they fold up (to about the size of a shirt, we’re told) and are easily stored in your car.

What better, simpler way is there to keep moving on ice and snow… on those few days a year when the winter weather really hits!

The new Fiesta’s face is dominated by a trapezoidal front grille, and bracketed by laser-cut headlamps with daytime running lamps that use LED technology. These features combine with a power-dome bonnet design to give it the looks of a baby Aston Martin.

Ford has relocated electric window switches, heated seat switches and interior door handles in the new Fiesta’s interior. A full leather-rim steering wheel is offered for the first time and a new five-inch central colour display supports the model’s first integrated navigation system.

The new Fiesta features a high-gloss finish for the upper instrument panel that flows to the lower centre console and is replicated in the door panels. A satin-chrome detailing finish is also offered along with Ford’s signature Ice Blue lighting to illuminate dials, switches and displays.

New seat fabrics and designs are offered with high-quality leather, partial leather, comfort fabric and sport fabric trims. Eye-catching new patterns and textures including highlighted stitching also add to the vibrant new interior ambience, while additional supporting bolsters improve comfort.

New Fiesta also offers new and improved storage features. A concealed load space is introduced beneath the boot which has an adjustable floor height to simplify loading and unloading heavy items. A new central arm-rest also provides additional storage, while the door pockets are larger and more practical.

Ford-exclusive MyKey enables owners to programme a key - usually for younger drivers - that restricts the top speed of the Fiesta, reduces the maximum volume of audio system, and even disables the audio system altogether if driver and passengers are not using safety belts. It also can prevent the driver from deactivating safety technologies such as Electronic Stability Control and Active City Stop, which can help mitigate or prevent low-speed collisions.

“All parents know that if teenagers are experts at one thing, it's finding ways of getting into trouble,” said Ford's European MyKey system architect, Peter Patzelt. “MyKey allows Fiesta owners to set sensible restrictions for young drivers, and delivers peace-of-mind for parents.” The launch comes as the Government confirms it will take action to improve road safety among young drivers.

MyKey works by recognising different keys for the same car and then adjusting the vehicle settings according to the owner's requirements. It also enables owners to programme chimes to sound at set points between 40-80mph, prevents seatbelt reminders from being disabled and delivers an earlier low-fuel warning.

"Parents love MyKey because it helps them reduce their teenagers' exposure to risk at the wheel," Patzelt said. “Young drivers are not too keen on MyKey until they learn that it often improves the chances their parents will allow them to drive in the first place.”  

Anthony Ireson, Ford Britain marketing director, said: “We ran a Ford B-MAX promotional campaign offering the chance to win unusual prizes that would not normally be available to the general public. Over 70,000 of those participating clicked through to an online Ford B-MAX configurator so we knew there was strong appeal from the start, but even so we were amazed by the true level of interest – especially since most customers placed orders before they had even been to a showroom.” 

The new model offers an ingenious door system which integrates the traditional central ‘B’ pillar structure into the rear doors, creating an opening more than 1.5-metres wide when the hinged front doors and rear sliding doors are opened.  This wider opening enables easy side loading, easier ingress and egress and coupled with the fold flat passenger and rear seats, delivers great flexibility.

Power comes from a choice of fuel efficient powertrains.  The ground-breaking 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, named “International Engine of the Year 2012” and most recently awarded the Dewar Trophy, is available with both 100 and 120PS power outputs.  The 120PS engine features Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop system as standard, and achieves class-leading CO₂ emissions of 114g/km and an average fuel consumption of 57.7mpg.

Active City Stop uses a sophisticated light-detecting and ranging sensor to scan the road ahead 50 times every second – more than twice the speed of the movie industry standard frame rate – to help prevent collisions at speeds up to 10mph, and help reduce the severity of impacts at speeds below 20mph.

“Urban areas are breeding grounds for low-speed accidents caused by drivers failing to notice that the car in front has stopped,” said Florian Schweter, new Fiesta Active City Stop development engineer, Ford of Europe. “High traffic volumes, lots of potential distractions and slow-moving, stop-start traffic mean Active City Stop can provide a much-needed extra eye on the road.”

First launched on new Ford Focus and ordered by nearly 5,000 UK customers to date, Active City Stop is already available on Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and the new Ford B-MAX. It received a Euro NCAP Advanced reward on Focus in 2011.

Active City Stop is offered as part of an optional Driver Assistance Pack on Fiesta. This pack also includes rear parking sensors and powerfold mirrors, and is priced from £250. 

The big story with Ford’s new supermini is that seven of the powertrain options – both diesel and petrol – deliver carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g per kilometre. The highly efficient engine range will include the innovative 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which was awarded the 2012 ‘International Engine of the Year’.

The new Fiesta is the first Ford to use ‘MyKey’, an exclusive technology that allows parents to encourage safer driving and limit their children’s exposure to risk at the wheel.

Other features include a voice-activated connectivity system called ‘Sync’, ‘Active City Stop’ which helps drivers avoid low-speed collisions, and an emergency assistance system that connects vehicle occupants to local emergency services after an accident.

Ford has sold more than 15 million Fiestas worldwide since it first went into production in 1976. Of that number, almost four million have been sold in the UK, where the car has been the top seller since 2008.

Every member of the judging panel ranked the new Ranger as their number one choice, praising its performance on- and off-road, strong engine line-up, payload and towing capability, and safety.

The announcement came following extensive testing at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, England, after which it was awarded 47 points – more than the combined number of points garnered by the second- and third-placed Isuzu D-Max and Volkswagen Amarok.

Totally new from the ground up, the new Ranger now delivers more payload and class-leading towing capability, along with innovative new comfort and driver assistance features, and is the first such vehicle ever to achieve a Five Star EuroNCAP rating.

"The Ford Ranger is a great all-rounder, combining the perfect blend of on-road comfort and stability with off-road capability," said Jarlath Sweeney, the Irish judge on the panel of CV journalists that also serves on the ‘International Van of the Year’ jury.

“The Ranger is great for work and great for leisure, and customers will appreciate the difference as soon as they get behind the wheel,” said Paul Randle, vehicle line director, Global Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. 

The new Ford Focus ST Cosworth CS 330 is a tyre-shredding super-hatch with a maximum power output of 330bhp liberated from Ford’s Focus ST engine. This fiery hatch is the result of collaboration between Ford, Cosworth, and M&J Enterprises, and is one of five fast Focus models unveiled at the SEMA motor show in Las Vegas.

The CS 330 takes the standard Focus 2-litre EcoBoost directly-injected engine to rabid levels of performance by ‘enhancing the engine control parameters, optimisation of the exhaust and induction systems and improved thermal management’. So it’s basically a remap with a rather large intercooler bolted to the engine.

A lurid yellow paint job, bonnet vents, 19-inch alloys, uprated brakes and firmer suspension complete the picture.

"The CS 330 SEMA concept car is an opportunity we could not miss," says Nicole Armbrustmacher, Director of Marketing at Cosworth Americas. "The CS 330 project demonstrates our engineering strength at taking a production engine platform to a racing performance level."

"We are excited to be working with Cosworth and M&J Enterprises" said George Goddu, Business Manager of Ford Racing Performance. "Our customers demand a high performance race series model and with Cosworth's reputation they were a natural choice."

Ford is not making any promises of CS 330 production at this stage. But we live in hope. 

The small capacity engine received the 2012 Dewar Trophy, an award given by the Royal Automobile Club for outstanding technical achievement in the automotive industry.

Ford beat of competition from 35 other companies and was given the trophy with a unanimous vote from the judging panel.

John Wood MBE, Chairman of the Dewar Technical Committee said: “Ford‘s engineers at Dunton have produced an outstanding downsized powertrain that delivers exceptional economy while achieving the high torque and relaxed driving characteristics normally associated with a diesel and the smooth, free-revving qualities of a petrol engine, that has won acclaim from everyone who has driven it,”

The engine, which is small enough to fir on an A4 piece of paper, was designed at Ford's Technical Centre in the UK and is currently being produced at the Dagenham engine plant. 

The one-off ST was built with help from racing driver, and host of Top Gear USA, Tanner Foust and made its debut at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, hosted in Las Vegas.

There are several new parts fitted to the Focus Tanner Foust Edition to boost its performance, including a reprogrammed ECU, new airbox and a larger intercooler, all of which boost the output from 250bhp to 305bhp.

In order to give better handling the car sits lower to the ground thanks to some reworked suspension and gets a new body kit, complete with front splitter and a bigger rear spoiler.

To stop you better the ST is fitted with Brembo brakes with bigger discs than the standard kit. 

Having owned a Renault for the last 14 years, out member is looking to move to the world of Ford and grab a MK7 Fiesta from around 2009/2012, but they want to know what to buy, a 1.4 Zetec or a 1.6 Zetec S?

Out of those two options the Zetec S has been coming up trumps with the reasoning being the obvious power benefits, sports seats and sports suspension.

Not to mention the fact that despite the extra displacement and 30 more bhp, the 1.6 benefits from economy figures which are remarkably similar to the 1.4.

Another option raised by one of our members is to get the 1.4 Titanium for the extra equipment you can get.

Which one would you go for? Or would you opt for a different model altogether? Get involved here: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/37443-fiesta-14-zetec-or-16-zetec-s/#

The release was originally scheduled for late 2013 but could now be moved back until late 2014, with the estate version possibly taking longer still.

It comes as a result of Ford's decision to open consultations on whether to close its factory in Genk, Belgium which is responsible for the Mondeo's production.

This comes in the same week that Ford announced the closure of its Transit and stamping factories in Southampton and Dagenham respectively, which will mean the loss of 1,400 jobs.

However, more jobs could be created through the investment into the next generation 2.0-litre diesel engine, which is to be made at the engine plant in Dagenham

The other good news is that the release dates for the new Fiesta and the Fiesta ST have not been changed as a result of any factory closures. 

The Transit factory in Southampton and the stamping plant in Dagenham are due to close, as Ford looks to move more of its production into mainland Europe.

It will mean a loss of approximately 1,400 jobs in the UK.

The Southampton factory will close in July 2013 and the Dagenham plant will cease production by 2014. It is all part of the new One Ford plan which is aimed at improving Ford's global products and profit.

The engine plant in Dagenham is due to remain open and will be bolstered by some extra production as it takes on the manufacture of the next generation of 2.0-litre diesel engines, expected to become available in 2016. The engine will be developed at Ford's R&D centre in Dunton.

The announcement that it will be closing the plants comes after Ford announced plans to open consultations on the possibility of shutting down its factory in Genk, Belgium, which would mean a significant production delay for the next Mondeo. 

He swapped the 1.25-litre engine from a W reg Fiesta for the 1.4-litre unit from an X reg model.

Since doing the swap he has been experiencing a few problems with the car: the temperature gauge doesn't work, the radiator fan is constantly on, acceleration is quite jittery and the engine is misfiring.

The first response to the problems was that the ECU would need reprogramming but our member had forgotten to mention that the ECU had been changed to one which is compatible with the new 1.4 engine.

Another option mentioned was to replace the fuel pump.

So that is what our member has gone to change now and should be posting soon with the results.

If you have any suggestions to offer on how to fix these problems visit the post here: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/37238-engine-swap-problems/

There will be two variants of the 1.0 litre on offer, with a choice of either 99bhp or 123bhp.

The economy figures remain the same regardless of the power output, making us think why would anyone choose the 99bhp? In the C-Max fuel economy is 55.4mpg with 117g/km of CO2 emissions, with the Grand C-Max delivering 54.3mpg and 119g/km of CO2.

Prices for the C-Max, equipped with the 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, will start at £17,695, with the Grand C-Max starting at £19,795.

Along with the new EcoBoost engine, Ford is also introducing a new top-level spec to the Focus-based MPV, the Titanium X model.  Standard features on the Titanium X will include a panoramic roof, partial leather seats and new 17-inch alloy wheels. Titanium X prices will start at £22,195.

Other C-MAX updates include the inclusion of Ford's SYNC in-car connectivity system, Blind Spot Information System and a powered tailgate. 

As well as competing in the sport for a ninth year running, Ford will be sponsoring the race series which is, as you can probably guess, all about going sideways.

The sport emerged out of the drifting scene in Japan and has been rapidly gaining popularity, for obvious reasons.

Forumla DRIFT is based in America and features the very best professional drifters in the world (that's right, drifting is a job now).

Ford field two tuned up Mustang GTs, one of which took the championship in 2010 in the hands of drifter, Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Although this year's championship has just finished you can still watch it all on You Tube and next season will all be live, online fo anyone to watch, anywhere. 

Check out this little promo from Ford for a little taste of Formula DRIFT. 

We have had someone wondering why only two of the four cylinders on his 2003, 1.6 Fiesta are firing when running below 3000rpm. When the car runs above 3K it then seems to run on all four.

Before even getting to the forum our member had already replaced the HT leads, spark plugs, coil pack, cam sensor, crankshaft sensor, and fuel filter, all to no effect.

The next suggestion was there could be a block in the injectors or an air leak in the intake system, but apparently not. After checking all was well, still the same problem.

He then tracked the wires all the way from the coil pack to the ECU, ended up replacing two of them due to external breaks but still...the exact same situation.

So the mystery goes on and our member is still after the right answer to get his car firing on all four, all the time.

To check out all his attempts to fix it so far and to give your suggestions click here: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/36865-fiesta-zetec-only-firing-on-2-and-3-ive-run-out-of-ideas/

It comes after Ford technicians unveiled a prototype, carbon fibre reinforced plastic bonnet which was fitted to the latest Focus.

The bonnet is 50 per cent lighter than the standard steel one, it is also up to five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, and one-third the weight

Should this technology be used on other parts of the car, such as the wings, it could easily lower fuel consumption and increase performance.

The only problem that has kept carbon fibre composites like this from featuring on everyday cars is the manufacturing process.

Ford believes it has now developed a process which is efficient enough to become part of the production line.

Carbon Composites such as the one used for this prototype bonnet play a big part in Ford's future as they aim to decrease the weight of its cars by up to a third of a tonne by 2020. 

The completely unmodified, 1.6 TDCi covered 370 miles of real world conditions in the hands of former rally stars Andy Dawson and Andrew Marriott.

Taking the Fiesta round the economy run was a slightly different challenge to the one these rally drivers are used to but a challenge none the less.

They beat strong competition in the form of a Kia Rio 1.1 litre which achieved 102.2mpg, the first car to ever break the 100mpg mark at the MPG Marathon.

But somehow the 1.6 litre Ford eclipsed this achievement and put itself at the top of the fuel economy stack.

The return of 108.78mpg is 23 miles more than the official figure of 85.6mpg that Ford quote for the Fiesta ECOnetic.

The MPG Marathon, organised by fleet trade magazine Fleet World, is made to be a 'real world' test and aims to show how smarter driving can benefit economy.

One of our members wanted an easy and quick way to tune a bit more power out of their car and considered remapping a good option.

Needless to say our other members agreed, with loads of you reporting the benefits that remapping your car has given you.

An engine remap (for those of you who don't know) is just a change to the software running on you ECU which enables you to unlock the engine's full potential.

Just watch the video below that shows just what remapping is and what you can get from it.

Do you think it is the best way to get more from your car? To join in our forum conversation and let our member know your experiences with engine remapping just visit: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/36842-ecu-remap/

The addition of the Connect and Grand Connect to the Tourneo Custom means that the range now includes five, seven and nine seat variants.   

The new MPV is based on Ford's global C-Platform which underpins other cars in the fleet, such as the latest Focus and the next Kuga.

It will carry a similar engine line up to its sister cars, with a choice of three diesel engines and two petrol when the Tourneo Connect first goes on sale.

The diesel units available are all versions of the 1.6 litre TDCi, with the choice of a 75bhp, a 95bhp or a 115bhp option.

The first of the two petrol engines is the award-winning 1.0 litre Ecoboost with a larger, 1.6 litre Ecoboost engine also on offer.

No economy figures have been released for the engine line up but Ford has confirmed that it is targeting best in class emissions and economy.

A raft Ford ECOnetic of technology should help this become a reality with Auto-Start-Stop and an Active Grille Shutter system, which help minimise drag, available on all models.

The Tourneo Connect will go on sale in Europe in the latter half of 2013. 

Clamping has now been outlawed on private land in England and Wales.

It marks the end of the cowboy clamper who has been a nightmare for thousands upon thousands of motorists.

The ban is part of new legislation under the the Protection of Freedoms Act which makes clamping and towing away on private land a criminal offence.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach, the Home Office Minister responsible for changes to vehicle clamping law, said: "This common-sense ban will give motorists the protection they deserve against rogue wheel clamping and towing companies.

“It will save motorists £55 million each year in clamping charges and finally penalise the real criminals: the corrupt firms themselves."

Whilst we will no longer fear the dreaded boot, there are some tighter laws surrounding parking tickets.

Unpaid charges can now be claimed from the keeper of the car as well as the driver... so, if the driver dodges the fine, the registered keeper will have to fork out for it. 

The new EcoSport is based on the Fiesta and is Ford's first jaunt into Europe's compact SUV segment.

Engine line up for the SUV starts with the award-winning, 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine which can now be found in every new car Ford is introducing.

The economy figures have not been released as yet but you can expect them to be similar to those of the B-Max which is based on the same platform which underpins all of Ford's B-segment cars.

That would mean fuel economy of around 60mpg and a 0-60 time of around 11 seconds for the 118bhp variant of the 1.0 litre engine.

It may well be offered with an alternative 1.0 litre with less horsepower, as is the case with the new Fiesta.

Customers will also be able to specify a diesel option as well, most likely the new 1.5 unit which is aiming to phase out the established 1.6TDCi

The new EcoSport will be equipped with the latest technology, including Ford's SYNC system which allows operation of all major systems via voice control.

The first generation of the SUV was originally launched in Brazil in 2003, with this latest model being Ford's first global version of the car which is entirely developed in South America.

It will go on sale in Europe within the next 18 months with prices yet to be announced.

This includes new innovations to benefit all aspects of the car for both the driver and passengers.

“These features underline the sophisticated quality, technology and driving experience that all-new Mondeo delivers,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president Product Development.

Under the skin there is a new integral link rear suspension set up which aims to improve ride comfort, road noise whilst not impacting on the Mondeo's trademark handling.

This is coupled with an electronic power-steering system rather than the traditional hydraulic set up which worked so successfully on the old model.

This will be one development which will have to prove itself to the Mondeo faithful.

Parking is made easier thanks to Ford's new Advanced Active Parking Assist, their first system to support automated parallel and perpendicular reverse parking.

At the front of the car there is a class first, full LED, adaptive headlights.

Finally, for the driver's amusement there is the new Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch, an entertainment system that offers full mobile integration.

It features an 8-inch touch-screen, the ability to operate as a WiFi hotspot and a voice command system that lets the driver control anything from the stereo to the climate control.

Click here to read more about the engine line up in the new Mondeo.

Our members recommended waiting for Brodit to release their holder which can't be too far away, or try one compatible with the iPhone 4.

But one member has taken it a step further and already created his own custom holder in his Fiesta, made from Lego of all things.

Check out the pictures of this genius bit of design here... http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/36567-iphone-5-mounts/

The new Focus has shipped almost half a million units in the first half of this year and has overtaken the Toyota Corolla to take the top spot. 

It is partly due to this being the first in a line of global models that Ford has revealed, marking the start of a new approach to production.

From the Focus onwards, Ford aims to make as many models as possible identical in every country the car is sold in. 

Ford will hope to continue the fine sales of the Focus - and it could well become the first car in a long while to beat the Toyota Corolla over a whole year.  

The four stars of the world's most popular spectator sport traded their usual, 200mph cars for the new 1.6 Ecoboost Fusion, the American name for the new Mondeo which will reach our shores next year. 

The challenge was to drive three laps of the 2.5 mile oval in less than 15 minutes and who ever returned the best mile per gallon reading would be declared the winner.

The projected mpg of the car is 37 US mpg so around 44mpg to us here in the UK. 

The winner of the challenge returned a huge 46.9 US meaning that in UK that is 56.3 mpg, from a large family car with a petrol engine.

Not bad really is it? Check out the video for yourselves below.

(For the record, 1 US MPG is equivalent to approximately 1.2 UK MPG.)

The Tourneo will now be available in both five-seat and seven-seat versions in the form of the Tourneo Connect and the Grand Tourneo Connect respectively 

Ford is targeting these cars at “active families or professional chauffers.” 

No engines have been formally announced yet but Ford has confirmed that there will be a range of downsized petrol and diesel engines.

On this you can expect the 1.0 litre Ecoboost to lead the way for the petrols and the new 1.5 litre diesel which Ford is currently working to lead the diesel range. 

The new Tourneo Connect and Tourneo Grand Connect will go on sale next year, with the 9-seater Tourneo Custom already on sale.

There will be a display showing off the best of Cortina, including some rare Mark I models outside the RAC Earls Court exhibition.

Inside the exhibition there will be a white and green Lotus Cortina in pride of place on the Ford stand.

The Cortina was the best-selling car for 10 of the 20 years it was on sale and started Ford's domination of car sales in the UK which has now lasted more than 40 years.

As well as the Cortina displays, two Ford GT40 course cars will be on-track at Goodwood Revival including a 1969 GT40 Mk III and a 1964 GT40 Mk I race spec.

The announcement was made by Ford President and CEO, Alan Mulally at the company's go further event last week.

He said there will be 15 “truly global” cars in the line up by 2015.

This means there will be at least 14 new releases in the next five years as the new Ford Focus is the first of this new global age for Ford.

The new Mondeo, Fiesta, EcoSport SUV, Mustang, Edge and Transit are likely to be the first of the new global breed to reach our shores, having been unveiled at the same event in Amsterdam.

Others could include the next Ford pick-up truck and a car based on the Tourneo concept car, revealed at Go Further and likely to appear at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

So that's a possible nine accounted for, we will just have to wait and see what the others will be.

The EU has announced that it plans to introduce a rule that says a car must be identical to how it was when it left the factory in order to pass its MOT.

This would mean that any modifications, regardless of their effects on safety or performance, would mean an automatic fail.

It is unlikely that a new ruling would have any affect on wear and tear parts such as windscreen wipers.

The EU has said that this will affect all cars regardless of age, meaning any older, classic cars can't be updated with newer, more efficient engines or better safety equipment.

The proposal is very much in early days and it is unlikely that it will go in to effect as it is now but you can expect some modified cars to be in trouble if any plans of this like go ahead.

That makes it the 11th fastest car of all time and faster than a Ferrari Enzo, a Lamborghini Aventador, and a Pagani Zonda.

The little Ecoboost engine is tuned to develop 205 bhp making it one of the most powerful bhp per litre engines in the world with 205bhp per litre.

To put that in some perspective, a Bugatti Veyron has a mere 125bhp per litre in comparison.

It all means that the Formula Ford racer will do 0-60 in under four seconds and on to an unofficial speed of 159mph.

The car that did the lap was specially modified to make it road legal, by fitting head and tail lights, a horn, wheel covers and fitting road legal tyres.

The fuel economy isn't what you would call bad.

It delivers a reported 118mpg when cruising at 35mph and 57mpg when cruising at 75mph.

So can you by this brutally efficient, supercar slaying Ford?

No, unfortunately you can't as Ford will only be putting it into production for the purpose of their Formula Ford race series.

Ford has finally listened to the cries of fans in the UK and revealed they make a version of the next Mustang specifically for the UK at their Go Further event.

It will be the first time that Ford UK has had a two door sports coupe in it's range since they dropped the Cougar way back in 2002.

The next Mustang is due to be a heavily modified version of the current rear-wheel drive chassis on which the car has been based since 2005.

This will include the large task of adapting the engine bay and front axle set up to accept right hand drive.

The engines have not been confirmed but it is likely that the UK will miss out on the typical lumbering V8 thanks to EU emissions regulations.

It is more likely that there will be a V6 with more than 300bhp or four cylinder Ecoboost similar to that in the new Focus ST which would mean about 250bhp.

Perhaps the best news is that the new Mustang will be getting independent rear suspension as opposed to the live rear axle used on the current model which should mean some sharper and more balanced handling.

It comes as the French Police clamped down on speeding and drink driving as fifty supercars race through their country as part of the London to Paris race.

One driver was clocked doing 98mph in a 68mph zone just north of Rennes and swiftly had their licenses taken away leaving them stranded with a supercar.

Hardly where they thought they would be after leaving Portsmouth at the start of the 2000 mile drive.

There have also been three speeding fines, and three more warnings plus a variety of drivers being pulled over for drink driving checks.

It has somewhat marred the party feel of the Cannonball 2000 which sees fifty supercars, often decorated in weird and wonderful ways, travel through five European cities before crossing the finish on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday.

It comes after the unveiling of the new look Ford Fiesta yesterday with both cars expected to show off to the public at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

The new Mondeo shares many styling features with the new Fiesta, the most prominent of which is the front bumper including that distinctive new grille.

There are also the same bonnet lines and sleak headlights giving the Mondeo a far more aggressive look than its predecessor.

The headline news is that Ford's new saloon will be the latest car to feature the 1 litre Ecoboost engine.

This might sound a little ambitious, trying to power a car the size of the Mondeo with an engine that sounds more at home in a KA but this is no ordinary 1 litre engine after all.

In fact the 123bhp produced by the new Ecoboost makes the new entry level more powerful than the previous model which was powered by a 118bhp naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol.

It should also deliver economy and emissions that will rival most diesel cars in the class.

The new Mondeo will also join it's fellow Fords in receiving the latest in-car technology, including SYNC entertainment system and MyFord Touch system, which will allow voice control for all major systems.

The new Mondeo will first appear at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September but is not expected to hit UK showrooms until early next year.

Hamilton and Alonso were taken out at the start of the race, in a multi-car crash caused by Lotus driver Romain Grosjean.

Button, who started on pole, was never challenged as reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel weaved his way from 10th to second, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus.

Grosjean was handed a one-race ban, for causing the accident and is the first driver to be banned since Michael Schumacher in 1994.

Vettel’s second place leaves him trailing title race leader Alonso by 24 points. Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber is third.

Button’s victory leaves him sixth, with a slim chance of the Championship as he stands 63 points behind Alonso with 200 still in be won.

The Brit led at the first corner and was never troubled as he won the notorious Spa race for the first time.

He managed to stay clear of the drama at the start, as the right rear wheel of Grosjean’s car hit Hamilton’s McLaren left front which created chaos on the track.

As advancing drivers braked, Hamilton and Grosjean’s cars took out Alonso, with the Lotus flying over the front of the Ferrari, within metres of the Spaniards head.

Sauber’s Sergio Perez was also caused to retire after the teams strongest qualifying display in history.

The safety car was sent out onto the circuit to allow debris to be cleared.

The race eventually restarted on lap five with Vettel showing his championship credentials as he moved through the field on a one-stop strategy.

Vettel's pace guaranteed he took second as Raikkonen and the other drivers on two-
stop strategies made their final stops.

Raikkonen was stuck behind the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher, who was slow around the lap but very fast in a straight line.

Once Raikkonen had passed the seven-time champion he briefly closed on Vettel but, realising he did not have enough laps to make up a 13-second deficit, was forced to settle for third.

Pastor Maldonado was once again at the centre of attention.

After failing to finish in his Williams, he was given a five-place grid penalty for jumping the start and another for colliding with Timo Glock's Marussia.

Both punishments will be applied in next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The newest hot hatch to the Ford family has a starring role in the remake of the classic British crime series which premieres in London on Monday.

The car goes toe to toe with a Jaguar XFR in the main car chase in the film.

It is something which has been promoted very heavily with the Focus ST and the XFR recreating the duel at most of the major motor shows this summer, including Goodwood Festival of speed, CarFest and will appear again at CarFest North this weekend.

The film reignites the relationship between Ford and The Sweeney with the original series using a variety of Cortinas, Granadas and Consuls.

The Sweeney director, Nick Love said: “It was important for me to collaborate with Ford on The Sweeney as their legacy with the original TV show is so strong – they're the perfect partner. I like the Ford Focus ST so much, I want one!”

You can see The Sweeney when it hits the screen on 12th September.

The car is actually called the Shelby GT500 Cobra in honour of the 50^th birthday of the original Shelby Cobra , one of the all time iconic sports cars.

The car is a development of the 2013 Shelby GT500 mustang.

“The Friends of Carroll Shelby”, the organisation behind the car created a one-of-a-kind wide body kit and gave it the classic blue and two white strip paint job.

The real treat comes form underneath the bonnet.

The 662bhp, supercharged V8 from next year's Shelby GT500 has been taken apart, tuned up until it produces a supercar smashing, 850bhp.

To put that amount of power on the road, the rear tyres are a whopping 13 inches wide and wrapped in high performance tyres to stop it smoking off the line.

Ford’s group vice president for sales and marketing Jim Farley said: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra.”

Ok we don't actually mean your personal car, but one that you designed and made....out of Lego.

Theat's right, Lego is making a motion picture and they are pleading to the world to help them fill it with loads of unique and crazy vehicles.

So it is time to break out the building blocks and make your own crazy Lego creation to get a chance to see it on film and also win the added bonus of $1000 (£632 to you and me).

There is one small catch, whatever you design has to look like it was built from something else.

So why not design a car which used to be a cottage, a tank which came from a tower or even a boat that was once a building.

The 3D Lego film is being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the people who also brought you 21 Jump Street and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Check out their plea to you for more detail about this rather unique opportunity then grab your thinking hats and building blocks and get moving.    

For any more information and to submit your entry click here

A completely standard Focus, complete with it's 125bhp, set speed records over distances varying from half a mile to more than 2000 miles.

It did so at a test track in France in the hands of the very capable team from Ford, which included World Rally Championship star, Jari-Matti Latvala.

It clocked average speeds of 103mph over 1000miles and 118 over 100 miles.

Although the actual top speed of the car is 120mph, this is pretty good going given that these average speeds include the innevitable fuel stops which come with such long running.

Not to mention that when running at top speed the economy figure would be way below the 56mpg the car is capable of meaning the stops would be all the more frequent, probably stopping at least three times every 100 miles.

The award winning Ford engine develops more power than the old naturally aspirated 1.6 from the old Focus and delivers good economy.

For us all this makes it the best economy hatch-back on the market.

TomTom has released a new version of their software for iPhone.

Having released their first version some years ago now, TomTom has released an updated app which includes all the latest maps and new functionality.

Whilst the first incarnation of the app had integration with Facebook Places, this new version has added integration with the social location app Foursquare.

It will also allow you to simply copy and paste addresses you find online on your phone making it much easier than typing away on the slow touch screen on a normal sat nav.

It is a fair bit cheaper than buying a new satnav as well, the app costs £49.99 from the iTunes app store.

But don’t worry if you already own the existing TomTom software, you can get the new update for free.

It has not yet been announced when this new update will be available for android smartphones.

The 1968 Ford GT40 sold for a staggering $11million (£7million to you and me) at an auction in California last weekend.

The original Ford Le Mans car was dressed in the classic Gulf livery and actually ran at Le Mans in the period where the Ford was showing Ferrari how it should be done.

This particular cars biggest claim to fame is that it was a camera car for the 1971 film Le Mans, starring none other than car chase legend Steve MacQueen.

The $11million dollars fetched was a record for US car auctions and the amount raised by this car was almost a quarter of the total raised by the auction.

To give you an idea how much money that really is, if the owner didn't fancy a Le Mans car he could have bought 700 Fiestas for the same money.

Then again, we think that the GT40 is a tad more desirable than your own fleet of superminis.

That's right, a Job has come up at Buckingham palace, specifically the Lord Chamberlain's Office, for a chauffeur for Her Majesty the Queen and the rest of the Windsor family.

But what sort of character does it take to get behind the wheel of one of the Royal Family's many Rolls Royces, Jaguar XJs or maybe even the odd Range Rover. 

Well they want someone with good admin, ability to work in a small team, experience of e-mail (isn't that a given these days) and of course a full CLEAN driving license.

So I'm afraid if you have ever been caught speeding, having had one too many beers, or even been on your phone then your royal adventure could go no further.

But if you think you fit the bill then why not apply here.

We will warn you though, it's 48 hours of work a week for £23,000 a year.

But, you get accommodation provided and I don't care where you live, Buckingham palace is probably better.

One member, antman99, of the Ford Owners club has been featured in Auto Express magazine after concerns were raised over buckling Alloy wheels on his new Ford Fiesta.

The wheels on his Titanium spec Fiesta buckled after just 10 months of ownership yet Ford did not want to do anything about it, claiming it was down to his driving style.

This problem was picked up on our Forums with numerous other members complaining of similar problems.

Ford commented on the matter to Auto Express, saying “complaints relating to alloy wheel damage are not unusual in the UK.

“There have been some cases where Ford has contributed to repair costs as a gesture of goodwill.”

The issue is on going and if you have had any problems then check out the posts coming out on the Forums here.  

It lets the you connect any mobiles, MP3 players, i-Pods etc. connect through Blu-Tooth or USB and then be controlled through voice alone.

Like many other integration systems it will automatically transfer all media, contacts etc. straight onto the cars hard drive.

So if you want to make a call there is no fiddling around with buttons, all you have to do is ask the car nicely.

It will even read your text out if your phone is compatible which is something very few systems can match.

The party piece of the Ford SYNC system is the award winning Emergency Assistance. 

It helps you get in touch with the emergency services should you happen to find yourself in any sort of trouble making the B-Max one of the best cars to crash in (not that we would recommend it).

There is not yet word on when this system may be available on other models or if it will me made available as an aftermarket option.

But hopefully that won't take too long to make it's way on to the rest of the Ford range.  

This is because they do not drive enough miles to make them more economic than their cheaper petrol equivalents,

With fuel prices reaching records highs, many drivers are rushing to buy diesel vehicles in an attempt to save money on running costs.

But, analysis by car valuation expert Glass's Guide, shows running a diesel car is only cheaper if you travel at least 10,000 miles per year.

Last year saw record sales of diesels in Britain, as they outstripped petrol cars for the first time.

A total of 981,594 new diesels were sold – nearly 50,000 more than those run on petrol.

However, both new and used diesel vehicles demand a strong price premium when compared to their petrol counterparts.

The average cost of a three-year-old family-sized diesiel can be up to £2,000 more than its petrol equivalent.

Experts said the majority of Britain’s 8,763,500 diesel owners are wasting money.

Adrian Rushmore, Glass's Guide managing editor, said: "Sooner or later, buyers will realise you actually have to do 10,000 miles or so to recoup the cost.

"The 10,000 mile figure is based on averages of hundreds of thousands of car prices and current fuel prices.

"We know the vast majority of private diesel owners in the UK drive less than 10,000 miles a year.”

The average price of diesel last week was 139.73 pence per litre, while unleaded petrol was recorded at 134.81p according to PetrolPrices.com (correct at the time of writing).

Hamilton led throughout the race but continually fought off a determined challenge from both Raikkonen and the Finn’s team-mate Romain Grosjean who took the last place on the podium.

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

Alonso’s top ten finish extended his title lead over Red Bull’s Mark Webber to 40 points.

The Australian was ahead of the Spaniard after their second stops, but Webber suffered a failed differential and made a third stop with 13 laps to go causing him to drop to eighth by the time he took the flag.

Hamilton’s win was very similar in style to Alonso’s victory in Germany a week ago as he drove in a controlled and defensive manner.

The Brit led from pole position and calculated his pace ahead of the Lotus pair.

Grosjean was his main opponent for the first part of the race, as Raikkonen fought from sixth place on the first lap, after he dropped a place to Alonso at the start after a short term problem with his Kers power system.

But clever tactics by Lotus gave Raikkonen clear track in the middle of the race before his final stop and put in an impressive several laps to make up enough ground to pass Button, Alonso, Vettel and Grosjean.

As Raikkonen emerged from the pits, the two Lotus cars were side by side with the Finn pushing the Frenchman to the outside of the track and consolidated second place.

He set off after Hamilton and quickly closed to the Mclaren’s rear but the extra wear on Raikkonen’s tyres didn’t allow him to make the most off his extra speed all weekend and had to settle for second.

Grosjean was left to fend off Vettel until ten laps to go when the German made a third pit stop for fresh tyres.

Vettel used his fresher tyres to close a 15-seocnd gap on the Lotus but ran out of time. 

Formula One now heads into a mid-season four week break before the Belgium Grand Prix on 2 September.

Hungarian GP results

1. Lewis Hamilton 1:41:05.503

2. Kimi Raikkonen +00:01.032

3. Romain Grosjean +00:10.518

4. Sebastian Vettel +00:11.614

5. Fernando Alonso +00:26.653

6. Jenson Button +00:30.243

7. Bruno Senna +00:33.899

8. Mark Webber +00:34.458

9. Felipe Massa +00:38.350

10. Nico Rosberg +00:51.234 

The long-awaited hot hatch is on sale now wuth deliveries starting in September at a starting price of £21,995 with an estate version starting from £23,095.

This price tag comes a whopping £4000 less than the Focus ST's main rival the Golf GTi. Whether this gulf in price is reflected in the drive is we will have to let you know.

Also released was the anticipated horse power figures.

The new Focus ST boasts a 2 litre engine, rather than the 2.5 lump that was found in the old car meaning better fuel consumption but you would think a cost to the peak horse power. .

Remarkably though the Focus ST generates more power thanks to the Ford Eco-boost technology where the engineers have just bolted a turbo to the engine and called it environmentally friendly.

The turbo squeezes an extra 25 horses into the engine giving it an extra 37 over long term competitor, the Golf. With this said Volkswagen are expected to release the latest incarnation of their best selling car at the Paris Motor show this September.

For those who are money conscious and want something that returns a good economy again you are in luck as it is claimed that the ST will return a rather impressive combined cycle of 39.2mpg.

It all sounds too good to be true then. Although official figures are yet to be released there is likely to be a bit of a lack of torque compared to the outgoing model as to be expected from the smaller engine.

This appears on the surface then to be the only thorn in the new Focus ST's side.

On a personal level, I hope they choose to forget about the electrical power steering and fit the old hydraulic system, it was just better.

As per usual there will be the three trim levels: ST1, ST2, and ST3.

It has been announced that the entry level ST1 will come with Recaro seats, DAB radio and keyless start. If you can stretch the budget to the ST2 then you get the privilege of dual zone climate control, automatic wipers and lights. Finally, should you be feeling extravagant the range topping ST3 gets the addition of heated, leather Recaros and bi-xenon headlights. 

In 2011 emissions fell by 4.2 per cent year on year to 138.1g/km CO2 (equivalent to 52.5mpg), a reduction of more than 23 per cent since reporting began in 2000.

The SMMT's 11th annual New Car CO2 report shows that in 2011 almost half of new cars (46.8 per cent) had emissions below the 2015 European legislative target of 130g/km of CO2. In addition, more than 65,000 vehicles were exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) with sub-100g/km cars in Band A, almost doubling their market share to 3.4 per cent.

The biggest reductions in average emissions were made across all segments compared with 2010, with the biggest improvements in the Executive and Specialist Sports categories (falls of 9.5 and 7.0 per cent respectively).

Achieving record market shares, diesel and alternatively-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) continued their rise in popularity, taking 50.6 and 1.3 per cent of the 2011 market respectively.

Petrol-electric hybrids accounted for 92 per cent of all AFV volumes in 2011 with an average CO2 output of 104g/km, or 25 per cent below the UK average.

Registrations of electric vehicles (EVs) registrations rose by 557% in 2011 to 1,098 units, aided by the introduction of new models and the Plug-In Car Grant.

Paul Everitt, the SMMT's chief executive, said: "Industry can be proud of the progress it has made in reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel efficiency by 23 per cent since 2000.

The UK motor industry recognises its responsibilities and the industrial opportunities from the transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles.

Future environmental and economic success will be determined by sustained investment in new technology, R&D, infrastructure and consumer incentives.

"We are seeing steady improvement in conventional technologies and the emergence of a range of alternative technologies, creating one of the most innovative periods for the global automotive industry."

European CO2 targets stipulate that the entire fleet must achieve a 130g/km CO2 average by 2015. In 2012, 65 per cent of the fleet must comply, with the proportion increasing towards total compliance in 2015.

The former world champion became the only man to win three times so far this season and extends his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.

He drove a controlled and tactically perfect race to stay just enough ahead of his rivals to maintain his lead throughout.

Button fought from sixth on the grid to pass Vettel at the second pit stops but the German returned the favour with two laps to go.

But, the Brit was promoted to second place by race stewards, after they gave Vettel a 20-second penalty for his pass of Button on the penultimate lap.

Button’s team mate, Lewis Hamilton, retired with gearbox damage after fighting through the field well following an early puncture and will not incur nay penalty for a gearbox change due to his retirement.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber showed no real place and finished in eighth, extending Alonso’s championship lead to 34 points.

The Spaniard was never very far in front but always managed to stay far enough in front of Vettel and then Button to ensure they could not use their DRS to overtake him.

The Ferrari made a quick start from pole on the grid and although Vettel quickly closed on the initial gap, Alsonso was still able to pull clear before the first pit stops to keep his lead into the second stint.

Further down the grid Button was fighting past Hulkenberg and then Schumacher to creep into third place.

Reigning champ Vettel emerged from his first stop five seconds ahead of Button but was closed down by the McLaren and passed the German by making his second stop a lap earlier.

Button was never more than a second behind the leader from then until the end of the race but the Spaniard was also in control and stretched his lead towards the end as Button lost grip.

Instead of challenging for the lead, Button had to spend the closing laps fighting off a challenge from Vettel who eventually passed him at turn six on the penultimate lap.

With his 20-second penalty, Vettel was demoted to fifth position with Raikkonen taking his place on the podium. 

German Grand Prix Top ten

1. Fernando Alonso

2. Jenson Button +6.949

3. Kimi Raikkonen +16.409

4. Kamui Kobayashi +21.925

5. Sebastian Vettel +23.732

6. Sergio Perez +27.896

7. Michael Schumacher +28.970

8. Mark Webber +46.941

9. Nico Hulkenburg +48.162

10. Nico Rosberg +48.889   

More than 5,000 people die prematurely from conditions like lung cancer and heart disease because of emissions, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Exhaust from aeroplanes cause a further 2,000 deaths annually while emissions from the energy and industrial sectors and pollution originating from Europe bring the overall total up to 19,000 deaths per year in Britain.

In contrast official figures state that 1,850 people were killed as a result of road accidents in 2010.

Prof Steven Barrett, who led the study, said: "It does appear to be the case that air pollution from road traffic causes more deaths per year than the number who die on the roads.

"But those who die from air pollution tend to die about 10 years earlier than they would otherwise, whereas people who die in road traffic accidents might be on average middle aged, so it is likely that road traffic accidents cause more loss of life years overall than air pollution."

The researchers made their estimates by comparing models of how gases circulate in the atmosphere against health statistics and the results of clinical studies.

The study, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, suggests that 40 per cent of the major pollutant – particles which measure up to 2.5 micrometers in size – come from abroad rather than from Britain.

Separate research by scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health claims that long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of various health problems in our later years.

Their study, published in the PLoS ONE journal, reported that every 10 microgram-per-square-metre increase in air pollution corresponds to a six per cent higher risk of hospital admission for diabetes, a four per cent higher risk for breathing conditions like pneumonia, and a three per cent higher risk of heart disease or stroke.

Prof Joel Schwartz, who led the study, said: "The difference between a rural area and a dense urban area is probably about five to ten micrograms, so those percentages might be telling of the difference between living in a clean, rural area and a heavily polluted urban one."

Alonso led much of the race, after gaining pole in the torrential rain during qualifying, but Webber benefited from a different tyre strategy to hunt the Spaniard down after the final round of pit stops.

The Australian passed Alonso into Brooklands with four laps to go and held him off to gain his second race victory of the season and close the gap on Alonso in the driver’s championship.

Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel took third ahead of the Ferrari of Felipe Massa in fourth.

It wasn’t such a successful day for the British contingent at their home Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton struggling to eighth, Jenson Button in tenth and Force India’s Paul di Resta retiring after a collision with Romain Grosjean during the first lap.

The lack of pace the McLaren’s showed on the high speed of Silverstone really dented Hamilton’s championship hopes.

The Brit is now 37 points behind Alonso, whose lead over Webber was cut to 13 points with Vettel in third, 29 points behind Alonso.

The race was ultimately decided with the battle of the tyre strategies.

Ferrari started Alonso on the hard tyre, as did Hamilton, while Red Bull started Webber on the more conventional softer tyre. 

This meant that when it came to the final stops Webber was on the hard tyre and Alonso on the soft allowing the Red Bull driver to chase down the leader.

In just eight laps Webber managed to close a four second deficit with Alonso helpless in defending his position when Webber took him on the outside of the Brooklands corner at the end of the DRS overtaking zone.

Earlier in the race the use of DRS was suspended after a nasty collision between Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez on lap 12 causing the latter to retire.

As a result Maldonado was investigated once again by the stewards, for the third time in four races.

Whilst Alonso and Webber were battling it out in front of a sell out crowd at the front, Vettel, who slipped behind Massa to fifth on the first lap made use of his early pit stop strategy to pass the Brazilian.

Both Lotus drivers finished in the points with Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean finishing fifth and sixth respectively, while Michael Schumacher faded from third on the grid to pass Hamilton on the last lap and grab seventh position.

Williams driver Bruno Senna and Jenson Button took the final point places. 

British Grand Prix top ten

1. Mark Webber

2. Fernando Alonso +3.060

3. Sebastian Vettel +4.836

4. Felipe Massa +9.519

5. Kimi Raikkonen +10.314

6. Romain Grosjean +17.101

7. Michael Schumacher +29.153

8. Lewis Hamilton +36.463

9. Bruno Senna +43.347

10. Jenson Button +44.444

Bill Ford, the boss of motor company Ford, has predicted motorists will no longer have to drive for themselves in the future with the rise of the autonomous car.

Bill Ford junior has told an international conference that computerised cars could be on the road as early as 2017 with functions to help roads cope with a rise in car numbers from one billion to four billion by 2050.

Cars of the future will be able to communicate with each other to make the most efficient use of the road, warn drivers of accidents ahead and perform valet parking.

Mr Ford used the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to set out his vision, which is split into three phases.

In the near-term, or within seven years, he said cars would have car-to-car warning systems and functions for autopilot driving in slow traffic.

Between 2017 and 2025, Mr Ford predicted semi-autonomous driving with greater interaction between cars while beyond 2025, he said he expected to see fully autonomous vehicles.