Welcome to the Hooniverse News! This is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or the bull. I also throw in a little opinion of mine, just because I can. This week:
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Tanner Foust and Cobb Tuning show how to properly tune a Focus ST
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Acura RLX priced under $50,000
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Henrik Fisker resigns from Fisker Automotive
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2014 Range Rover Sport possibly leaked on Facebook
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In case you missed it: Meguiar’s Forza Horizon DLC now available
Tanner Foust Edition Ford Focus ST
I would imagine that many of you know the name Tanner Foust pretty well. The professional driver and Top Gear USA host we all know and love has teamed up with Cobb Tuning to create a limited edition, high(er) performance Ford Focus ST that you can actually buy.
Cobb Tuning, one of the top tuners in the nation, contributes a custom ECU tune, intercooler, intake, and exhaust system to bump up the power to 300 hp and 380 lb.-ft. of torque (up from 252 hp and 27o lb.-ft). A full sport suspension and super-sticky tires contribute to better handling, which might help when you want to send all that torque through the front wheels. The car also features a graphics package, carbon fiber aero kit, bespoke grille, and racer-ish wheels.
Pricing and more details will be revealed sometime in April on their official website, but they did mention it will be on sale at Ford dealerships as well as from Cobb Tuning. They’ll also give you the choice to buy the whole package or just individual components, so presumably you can have a 300 hp Focus that isn’t as flashy as what you see here.
Source: Cobb Tuning via Autoweek
Acura RLX priced
Acura’s newest flagship sedan was revealed earlier this year in Los Angeles and it’s been hailed (by Acura) as being the most technologically advanced, the freshest, and the most powerful luxury sedan in company history. With all that said, it can be yours for $48,450 in standard trim or $60,450 (plus $895 for destination charges) in its highest trim. It goes on sale nationwide today.
Acura’s most powerful sedan uses a new 3.5-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 272 lb.-ft. of torque which gets sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. All-wheel-drive was confirmed back in L.A., but we don’t have a price or release date for that yet. Variable Cylinder Management, “advanced” aerodynamics, and an emphasis on a lightweight body contribute to a respectable 20 mpg city / 31 mpg highway. Some other nifty features include Precision All-Wheel Steer which uses slight rear-wheel-steering input to help improve cornering, a comprehensive AcuraLink infotainment system, and “Jewel Eye” LED headlamps to piss off anyone coming the other way.
Source: Acura
Henrik Fisker resigns from Fisker Automotive
Henrik Fisker, founder and chief executive of Fisker Automotive, announced his resignation earlier this week. Autoweek reports that Henrik had cited “several major disagreements” between him and Fisker’s current executive management, who are in the process of “some serious negotiating” to acquire funds for the Fisker Atlantic’s release.
The Atlantic (pictured), which is nearly everything a Karma is but smaller, was set to be released with the help of a federal loan, but that was put on hold due to slower than anticipated sales of the Karma. So far, Fisker Automotive has attracted the attention of Chinese holding group, Zhejiang Geely (they’re the ones who bought Volvo), who currently lead the bidding race to take control of the company. Tony Posawatz, who was Vehicle Line Director for the Chevy Volt, is Fisker Automotive’s current president and CEO.
Insert sensationalist speculation about Fisker Automotive’s future here.
Source: Autoweek
Range Rover Sport leaked?
If leaked photos of cars we know little about is your thing, then have a photo of what ought to be our 2014 Range Rover Sport, leaked on Facebook of all places. More photos and details will be available closer to the RR Sport’s actual debut at the New York Auto Show later this month, which some of us will be covering live.
Source: [someone who probably got a lovely call from a lawyer] via Sam Moores Photography
Meguiar’s Forza Horizon Car Pack
In case you missed it, our pals at Meguiar’s car care have some downloadable content (DLC) for those of you who play Forza Horizon. A total of 7 new cars are coming – one of which is free for everyone, that being the 1998 Nissan R390, and the other is only for players who have purchased a Season Pass for access to every DLC, which is a 2010 Joss JT1.
The rest of the car pack consists of a 2013 Audi RS4 Avant, 2013 BMW M135i, 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, and a 2004 Peugeot 206 RC. You can get it now in the XBOX LIVE Marketplace for 400 Microsoft Points (about $5 US).
Source: Meguiar’s
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