Ford News: Rumorpile: Ford's Performance Roadshow At Detroit

[William Maley]

Ford is bringing the performance goods to the Detroit Auto Show. Car and Driver, and Road & Track have published separate reports on what the blue oval has planned.

• Refreshed Fiesta ST: Car and Driver reports that some aesthetic changes are in store. No word on any changes to the drivetrain or suspension.
  
• Focus RS: Sources tell Car and Driver that maddest Focus will make its debut at Detroit. This will come equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder and possibly all-wheel drive. Road & Track says the RS is more likely to debut in Geneva.
  
• Shelby GT350R: Car and Driver, and Road & Track both report that Ford will debut a track-ready version of the new Shelby GT350. Named the GT350R, the model will feature will feature better aero, brakes, and tires.
  
• Raptor: A new Raptor is coming! Details are scarce, but previous reports say a EcoBoost V6 will be under the hood.
  
• Ford GT: Marking the 40th Anniversary of Ford's win at Le Mans, the GT is expected to be shown in race car and production form. Possible engines range from a highly-tuned 3.5L EcoBoost to a uprated version of the 5.0L V8.
  
• New Performance Sub-brand: A number of these possible reveals will be part of a new performance sub-brand (think BMW's M or Mercedes' AMG). The name is unknown, but rumors say one of the names that was being considered was 999 - a nod to the race car built by Henry Ford and driven by Barney Oldfield. This new brand will unify all of Ford's performance groups around the world.
  

Source: Car and Driver, Road & Track

View full article