Ford Fiesta ST

Ford is wrapping up development on the Fiesta ST.
Caught undergoing testing on the Nürburgring, this prototype is slightly more camouflaged than previous models. Despite this, the production car will feature modified fascias, a tailgate-mounted spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension and a dual exhaust system.

Under the hood, power will likely be provided by a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS). It will be connected to a six-speed manual transmission, but a six-speed automatic will also be optional.

Acura TL

Since the current-generation TL was introduced in 2008, though, we’ve been unable to get over a couple of significant shortcomings: an automatic transmission that missed the six-speed boat—making do with only five forward ratios—and that awful beak. For 2012, Acura has attempted to address these complaints.

Now That We Have That Out of the Way

First, the styling. That you should defend your products to the death is PR 101, but even Acura folks admit that, if there was one deal breaker that potential customers cited when choosing other cars over Acuras, it was the TL’s, um, controversial styling. The 2012 update should help. The stylistic changes might not have much effect in pictures, but seeing the 2011 and 2012 models side by side proves that the numerous small alterations did help.

RMR Hyundai Veloster rally car

There are more famous racing families than the Millens, but not many. While Steve Millen was closely associated with Nissan, his brother and nephew have long been associated with Hyundai That nephew is Rhys Millen, the drifting champion we know and love. And this is the latest tool of his trade.

Rhys Millen Racing started with the new Veloster coupe that debuted last month at the Detroit Auto Show and stripped it down to nothing. They stripped the chassis to its bare metal, soaked it in alkalai for five days and then reinforced the welding. They replaced the metal body panels with carbon/Kevlar to cut 75 percent of the shell's weight, dropping the scales down to 2,656 pounds. The company stripped out the interior and fitted a custom eight-point roll-cage, firewall and Sparco bucket. What's more, the Veloster rallycross car uses an unspecified custom long-travel suspension, with 18-inch HRE wheels, Hankook rubber and 14-inch Alcon brake discs (12-inch in the back) gripped by six-piston calipers all around.

Seat Ibiza FR TDI Car

The FR badging on the Seat Ibiza could equally stand for Frugal and Rapid as it could Formula Racing.

Seat has managed to squeeze its excellent 2-litre 143bhp TDI engine under the bonnet of its diminutive Ibiza, creating the only diesel hot hatch in its class – the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI.

Seat says it is alone in a niche with the new Seat Ibiza FR TDI, a car that boasts more torque than a Mini John Cooper Works and even a Porsche Cayman. But superlatives aside, is there more to this frugal warm hatch?

It’s a very important car for the German car maker. Stuart Milne travelled to Spain to put Audi’s largest vehicle through its paces.

Since the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe went on sale in 2006, it has been a solid seller, finding homes with those looking for a well-built but affordable mid-sized SUV.

For 2010, it’s had a nip, tuck and a new engine to freshen it up, but is it enough to keep its reputation as a quality product?

Car Specifications Model Tested

• Model tested: Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI 5-door
• Price as tested: £16,875 (£16,465 - £16,875)
• Insurance group as tested: TBC
• CO2 emissions as tested:119g/km
• CO2 emissions range:119g/km
• Company Car Tax: TBC
• EuroNCAP result: *****
• Date tested: February 2010, Barcelona, Spain
• On sale: March 2010
• Road tester: Stuart Milne

The Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI may wear all the accoutrements of a hot hatch, but it is the car’s running costs that really impress.

The punchy TDI returns a massive 61.4mpg while emitting just 119g/km – we struggle to think of another car that is as easy on the wallet while still able to raise the driver’s heartbeat.

It’s a huge improvement on the previous diesel FR – that featured a 130bhp 1.9-litre engine that lacked the refinement of the new common rail unit, but the new car still manages to be greener and quicker.

Out on the road this is immediately evident. It’s quiet at tickover and the cabin is free from vibration. On the move it’s a similar story, and at speed the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI reveals itself as a comfortable, surprisingly long-legged cruiser thanks to the laid-back, low-revving nature of the engine.

Pick it up by the scruff of the neck and its character changes, although the FR still has to be worked quite hard to get the best out of it, meaning frequent gearchanges are needed to keep the engine on the boil.

The three-door Seat Ibiza FR TDI Sport Coupe will reach 62mph in 8.2 seconds, the five-door we tested is 0.1 seconds slower, while both cars will knock on the door of 130mph.

Seat Ibiza FR TDI Gallery:

Powerful punch

You don’t get a sense of pace until the car is really motoring in the middle of the rev range – that’s where the thumping 236lb/ft of torque makes a difference. Nail the throttle in third and there’s some serious punch; ideal for overtaking.

Driving at speed requires a different approach than with the petrol equivalent. Where the petrol is eager to rev, the diesel demands the driver ride the wave of torque to push the car out of bends.

The quick steering is light at low speeds, but weights up as the speed increases, although it’s still a touch light, failing to inspire as much confidence as we would have liked. It is fitted with Seat’s XDS handling system, which brakes the inside front wheel during fast cornering for improved stability and grip.

A sports chassis sees suspension stiffened and lowered which adds to the driver appeal with a firm setup. However, as an everyday companion the Seat Ibiza FR TDI would appear to fit the bill well.

The Seat Ibiza FR TDI is the only hot Ibiza to be offered in both three-door Sport Coupe and five-door bodystyles, and represents the first time a six-speed manual has been fitted in this generation of the supermini.

Safe and well equipped

A good level of equipment is fitted as standard, including climate control, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, hill hold assist, a trip computer and a smattering of FR branding.

The standard Seat Ibiza scored a five-star EuroNCAP rating and the FR comes with ESP, tyre pressure monitoring and driver, passenger and side airbags as standard.

In the Ibiza FR TDI, Seat offers an interesting proposition – a sporty car with genuine green credentials and low running costs. That won’t be lost on buyers – the diesel FR will make up a massive 70 per cent of sporty Ibiza sales.

It might lack that last 10 per cent that makes the Ibiza Bocanegra such a hoot, but for performance motoring on a budget, the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI is well worth a test.

Marshall Engines Engine Long Block 4 motor mount holes right-hand front of block

Marshall Engines Engine Long Block
Part Number: MEIF12214CW
Manufacturer Number: F12214C
Marshall Engines Engine Long Block Marshall Engines Engine Long Block
List Price: $2,390.13
Our Price: $2,025.53
You Save: $364.60
Core Deposit: ? The “core” is your old part. Send us your old part and the core deposit will be refunded to you upon receipt. Detailed instructions will come with your order. $577.50
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MARSHALL ENGINES PREMIUM LONG BLOCK ENGINE, REMANUFACTURED -- SOHC, head cast number YS4E, 4 motor mount holes right-hand front of block; Comes complete with adjusted valve train components, gasket set and new oil pump; Without breather hole in left-hand side of block; Cylinder heads are bake cleaned and shot blasted; Features high quality seals, installed valves and springs and 3-angled cut on valve seats; 100 percent mag inspected and pressure tested, vacuum tested for perfect seal, decks milled and surface checked, final oil pressure bench-mark tested on OHC heads, camshaft and followers installed; Crankshaft kit includes main and connecting rod bearings and is reground to factory tolerance for size, oil holes are completely chamfered then micro-polished to exceed the original finish ensuring proper bearing lubrication, a final wash is also done to ensure that every crank is clean, bake cleaned then shot blasted, checked for bend and journals polished; Shipped in foam-to-fit packing to protect crank and bearings; This purchase includes Marshall Engine's Extra Protection Warranty, special protection for your engine against overheating, lack of lubricant, contamination, detonation, pre-ignition, dry start, melted pistons and foreign object contaminations; The Extra Protection Warranty is an addition to the comprehensive protection against failures in parts and workmanship; Typically ships in 7-14 days.
Warranty: Marshall Engine's 3-year or 100,000-mile warranty

Chevy Camaro

2010 Chevy Camaro

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro is getting a small price bump of $350 for the 2LT and 2SS models as well as a power and torque bump. The 2010 MY car was officially rated at 227 kW (304 bhp / 308 PS) with torque peaking at 370 Nm (273 lb-ft). However, as previously reported the engine has been re-certified for an extra 6 kW (8 bhp / 8 PS) out of the VVT direct-injection V6 engine, and torque was increased by some 7Nm (5 lb-ft). Production of the 2011 model begins on June 7.

"We are pleased with Camaro's success in the market during its first year of production," said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. "The 2010 model year has been a banner year for us, and we plan to build on this momentum."

Additionally customers will be able to order their cars in the optional SEMA-tested colour Synergy Green. Head-Up Display (HUD) also becomes available in the Camaro, the second Chevrolet to get it after the Corvette.

Vanilla Ice resurfaces with The Car Loft

Just when you thought the world was safe from Robert Van Winkle, the O.G. Vanilla Ice rears his frosted tips once again. Don't run for the hills just yet – the guy isn't bent on releasing a new attack on hip-hop this time. Instead, he's jumping feet first into hawking garage/loft condos for The Car Loft. Haven't heard of the project? There's probably a good reason for that.

According to the company's website, The Car Loft is what would have happened if someone had decided to fund and build the awesome garage/house we all drafted in first grade. The roughly 25x30 structures feature parking for up to four cars and a loft space up above for entertaining, sleeping or work. So far, so good, but we started getting skeptical when we heard each unit came pre-furnished with flat-screens, high-end tools, towels and plates monogrammed with the Car Loft logo. Oh yeah, each unit is completely hurricane-proof and features 24-hour surveillance you can monitor over the internet. No word on whether or not you have to pay extra for the robot that cleans up after you and dispense slushies at the same time.

Supposedly The Car Loft has already started its first compound in Delray Beach, and if it's successful, you can expect similar condos to crop up everywhere from Las Vegas to Detroit. Okay, maybe not Detroit. No word on how much these things are going to cost, but based on how often the word "exclusivity" appears on the Car Loft site, we're betting it's more than we've got stuffed under the mattress. More importantly, we've got to wonder how many high-rollers are going to want to wake up every morning smelling like they've spent the night under a Jiffy Lube.