OCTOBER 14, 2015

Editor-In-Chief's Note: I would be remiss this week if I didn't mention that The Great Sergio got his deal with the UAW (pending ratification), one that eliminates most of the advantageous wage gap that FCA enjoyed over Ford and GM these last several years. And by doing so his strategy becomes crystal clear: He must forge an agreement to merge with another automaker – and quickly - because FCA will simply not survive another economic downturn, for the reasons I discussed in last week’s column. But then again this is Sergio's Folly to bear. He lives in a giant Me Cloud of his own making, a grandiose state of delusion that has him hovering over a world of compliant sycophants and agreeable head-nodders who bow to his every whim and wish because after all, he is the smartest guy in this or any other room, and the sooner we all acquiesce to his view of the world the better off this industry will be. And that's a giant bowl of delusional bullshit too. -PMD

(Ford/newspressUSA)
Ford has certified that the 2.3-liter EcoBoost® 4-cylinder engine powering the all-new Focus RS delivers 350 horsepower at 6,000 rpm on way to a 6,800-rpm redline. The Focus RS turbo makes peak boost of 23.2 psi, with peak torque certified at 350 lb.-ft. at 3,200 rpm. The Focus RS also comes with a trick feature called stall recovery. There will be no need for drivers to manually restart the engine or move the gear selector to neutral as the innovative technology simply pushes the clutch back in. “We knew we wanted to put start-stop technology on the RS,” explained Tyrone Johnson, engineering and vehicle manager, Ford Performance Europe. “So we said, ‘What if we went one step further, and controlled for engine stall at launch using the same technology?’ Well, that’s exactly what we did and it’s just as fast as our start-stop technology.” Other stuff? An all-new low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger with a larger compressor wheel that delivers more airflow and power throughout the rev range. A large intercooler to maximize charge density, a low-restriction intake manifold and a high-performance exhaust system including an electronically controlled valve that optimizes back pressure and exhaust volume level. The Focus RS will be available here in the U.S. in the spring of 2016.

(Lotus)
Editor-In-Chief's Note: Watch Lotus wring out its new 3-Eleven over a two-week test session at the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit here. Over 2,000 kms were covered as part of a comprehensive test and development program. The Lotus 3-Eleven is the quickest and most powerful production Lotus road car ever produced, "offering the ultimate pure driving experience," according to the company's PR minions. Prices start at £82,000 for the Road version (including VAT and on the road costs) and £96,000 excluding VAT for the Race version (£115,200 including VAT).

(Ferrari images)
Ferrari has revealed its C7 Z06, er, we mean the F12tdf, a special edition that pays homage to the Tour de France, the endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 50s and 60s with its 250 GT Berlinetta (I mean, come on, it looks eerily similar to the Corvette, right? -PMD). Ferrari PR minions call the F12tdf, "the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track." It's lighter, more powerful and faster: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Just 799 will be built and it will cost a giant boatload of cash.

(BMW Images)
This is the all-new 2016 BMW M2. The details? The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder inline engine delivers 365 bhp at 6,500 rpm with maximum revs of 7,000 rpm. The engine’s peak torque is 343 lb-ft is on tap between 1,400 and 5,560 rpm, with the overboost function raising this figure by 26 lb-ft to 369 lb-ft between 1,450 and 4,750 rpm. With the optional M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) in place and Launch Control activated, the new BMW M2 goes 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds (4.4 s with the six-speed manual gearbox). The top speed of the all-new BMW M2 is electronically limited to 155 mph. It will be here next summer.
 

Editor's Note: Watch the debut of AutoextremistTV on YouTube here. This "Episode 1" is just the initial test of what we plan will be a frequent addition to Autoextremist.com. -WG