As you may well imagine, Volkswagen did very nicely in the European market for 2009, as did Opel and Ford (and there’s no prizes for guessing for which models). There are a couple of surprises though, with Fiat doing very well, but not with the Fiat 500, which makes a nice change, and Peugeot and Renault put in appearances as well. Check out Europe’s top ten cars for 2009 after the jump.

Continue reading: Europe's top ten cars for 2009

The Ford Focus RS takes on the Nurburgring in this video, going at a spectacular speed, driven by Horst von Saurma from Germany’s Sport Auto magazine. The Focus RS lapped the Nurburgring in 8 minutes, 26 seconds, a big difference from the Focus ST with 225hp back in 2005 which did 8:51 minutes.

The Focus RS in Europe is equipped with a 2.5 litre turbocharged engine with 300 hp and six-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 26 km/hr and reaches 100 km/hr in 5.9 seconds. Check out the hot hatch in the video.

Source | CarScoop

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS at Nurburgring

I don’t recommend you watch this video if you get car sick, but otherwise, let the race begin! At the wheel of this Opel Astra is Fabrizio Giovanardi, Vauxhall driver in the BTCC championship. While he’s the only one likely to drive an Astra like this, he beats the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus, saying “get a move on” as he overtakes one. Over to the video.

Source | CarScoop

Continue reading: Astra beats Golf and Focus in rally video

The new 1.6 litre Ford EcoBoost will appear on the European market in three versions. The turbo compressed petrol engine with direct injection will debut in 2010 and will play a key role in the next C-Max and Focus range. The C-Max will have 180 hp, as already seen on the Iosis Max, and two less powerful variations will follow.

They will have 130 and 150 hp, and can be matched on request to a double-clutch Powershift transmission. Compared to the current aspirated options and equal power, fuel consumption is reduced by about 20 percent. That’s a big effort from Ford, and we’ll be interested to see a road test to verify.

Source | AutoWeek.nl

Continue reading: Ford's 1.6-litre EcoBoost to appear in three versions

The Ford Focus RS has the Renault Megane R26.R in its sights, as it gets back to pursuing records in the category of hot hatches, on the Nurburgring.

The French rival completed the Ring in 8′16″9 last year, and the 300 hp of the Focus RS will put itself to the test, with 70 hp more. Apparently a test car with 250 hp and Continental road tyres made 8′27″ on the track, so hopes are high for the Focus RS.

According to Ford, based on these figures, the Focus RS could get round in 8′15″ with standard tyres, reduced to 8′12″ with semislick options. We’ll wait and see what happens at the Nurburgring in spring.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS looks to the Nürburgring for a record in the hot hatch segment

The Ford Focus RS is unlikely to please everyone, with doubts about the rear and the interior of the car. And while the performance figures are impressive (0-100 km/hr in 5.9 seconds, a top speed of 250 km/hr), there are questions about just how to drive a front wheel car of 300 hp. After its debut at the Geneva show, Ford has released these additional new shots of its Focus RS.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS new pics

Here’s the first official video of the new Ford Focus RS and while we think you’d actually need to drive this snappy hot hatch to get a feel for its 300hp (and it may have been nice to have the lights on in this video), we’ll wait for dynamic footage to get a good idea of the 265km/hr top speed.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS: first video

The hot-hatch segment is really heating up as details on the Ford Focus RS escape from the guys at Ford Austria, and we’re left totally speechless. The arrival of the new Ford Focus RS sees a maximum speed of 265 km/hr, totally dispelling any ideas we had about nifty city cars that are easy to park.

The first half of 2009 should finally see the Focus RS available on the market, and in Austria at least, it will cost 39,000 euros. In addition to the peel-your-face-off-the-seat speed, acceleration is said to measure 5.9 seconds to reach 100 km/hr. Colours include Performance Green, Indianapolis Blue and Frost White.

The old Escort Cosworth looks like it just found its true heir.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS: 265 km/h of maximum speed

In the face of the economic crisis and oil costs, in England it has been seen again that no-one can really control what the heart desires. Two months after its launch at the London show, Ford has already collected 1000 orders for its Focus RS.

The 300hp sports car with front wheel drive has been requested by 40 percent of customers in the brilliant green of its presentation. This is an important recognition for the sports division at Ford, who has bet on the RevoKnukle system for the front suspension rather than employing all wheel drive, in order to create a direct replica of the Focus WRC rally car.

Source | Carscoop

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS: 1000 orders in the UK

Its destiny was uncertain and information continuing to disappear: after all we’re talking about the heir to the Escort RS Cogsworth, a car with a strong heart and heavy feet. After having officially confermed its presence with a teaser Ford has begun to unleash onto the road the first models of the Ford RS, waited upon by fans as the first spring sun.

The two-colour duco and especially the air vents of the bonnet don’t deserve criticism for their gaudiness as in place is a 280hp with five cylinder turbo from Volvo origins. The only shame, according to rumours, is the presence of rear wheel drive, though it does have electronic differential. The debut, as already anticipated, should be in 2009.

Via | AutoExpress

Continue reading: Spy shots: Ford Focus RS

After the ufficial teaser, the Top Gear site has some realistic images and developments on the new Focus RS that, suprisingly, will be presented under the “concept” category at the London show, and will not be a reality until 2009.

The five cylinder turbo will have between 280 and 300 hp but the latest rumors conferm the use of only rear-wheel drive and not all-wheel, which would be necessary to compete with other rally cars such as the Subaru Impreza STi and the Mitsubishi EVO X. The RS however should be equipped with semi-active limited-slip differential. At this point we ask ourselves if releasing it in 2009 will be too late for such a special version, which will probably be on the heels of the career-end of its previous model.

Continue reading: Ford Focus RS: only a concept in 2008

Today Auto Motor und Sport published the first official images of the Land Rover LRX Concept that will be shown for the first time at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit.

The LRX is a two-door crossover with a coupè-like body that previews the future small Land Rover, which will be positioned under the Freelander. The production version is expected to make its debut in spring 2009.

The car measures 435 cm in length and 155 in height, being shorter but, above all, quite a bit lower than the Freelander. The concept has aggressive air intakes, 20″ rims and narrow head lights. In the side view there is a notably high belt line which creates along with the sloping roof profile a small glass surface, similar to a sports car one.

Continue reading: Land Rover LRX Concept: first official images