Quick Q&A with Ken Block
I had the chance to interview Block, and considering he is in the speed business, I opted for a rapid-fire Q&A:
MG: Does all that spinning ever make you carsick?
KB: No.
MG: How many cars have you wrecked?
KB: Three.
MG: Major injuries?
KB: I compressed and fractured a vertebrae jumping a car in New Zealand. It still bothers me every once in a while.
MG: How and where did you learn your car-control craft?
KB: All my skills come from stage rally racing. I went to a rally school in New Hampshire called Team O'Neil. Everything I've done since then has come from continuing to build on those skills I learned at that school.
MG: Do you still play racing videogames?
KB: I do. I enjoy videogames, but they can never replicate the feel of tire grip, which matters so much in what we do.
MG: Modern cars have all these systems to prevent tire slip, but you and thousands of others live for tire slipping experiences. How do you see this dichotomy?
KB: Needs and desires. Safety on the road is what we humans need, and what the insurance companies need. I can understand that need. But I think we should always have these types of vehicles [pointing to his racer] and race circuits, so people can experience that (other) kind of thing.
Ford Fiesta ST
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST. This is the second North American Ford to wear the Sport Technologies (ST) badge. The 2013 Focus ST was the first.
Europe has had a Fiesta ST since 2005. While a global car, our Fiesta has been specifically engineered and designed for North America, and is built at a dedicated plant in Mexico. Unlike Europe, our Fiesta only comes in four-door sedans and five-door hatches, so our new five-door ST doesn't look quite as cool as Europe's new three-door ST coupe, or for that matter, Block's three-door factory Fiesta rally car.
The exterior bits that make the ST more visually sporty -- unique grille and chin spoiler, rear diffuser and spoiler, dual exhaust tips, and unique 17" wheels -- are also on the understated side.
Give props to Ford for concentrating on substance over style.
A new, high-output variant of the 1.6L EcoBoost gives Fiesta ST drivers lots to play with: 197 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque. The engine is exclusively mated to a 6-speed transmission, and the ST features upgraded brakes and suspension compared to regular Fiesta models. It also features electronic Torque Vectoring Control to reduce understeer during hard cornering, and a three-mode stability system (Off, Standard, Sport).
Inside you'll see a few unique ST pieces, such as the specially trimmed seats. The biggest inside development is one you hear. Powertrain sounds are fed directly into the cabin to enhance the sporty experience.
Our first blush with the ST in the parking lot manoeuvres demonstrated that this Fiesta is ready to play hard with very substantial and satisfying low-end torque, and quick and predictable handling.
At $24,999, it's at the top of the Fiesta food chain, but represents good value in the hot hatch category, which includes such players as the Golf GTI, MINI Cooper and Fiat 500 Arbarth. With a fuel economy rating of 5.6L/100km highway and 7.8L in the city, the ST also looks to be good value over the course of its life.
I had the chance to interview Block, and considering he is in the speed business, I opted for a rapid-fire Q&A:
MG: Does all that spinning ever make you carsick?
KB: No.
MG: How many cars have you wrecked?
KB: Three.
MG: Major injuries?
KB: I compressed and fractured a vertebrae jumping a car in New Zealand. It still bothers me every once in a while.
MG: How and where did you learn your car-control craft?
KB: All my skills come from stage rally racing. I went to a rally school in New Hampshire called Team O'Neil. Everything I've done since then has come from continuing to build on those skills I learned at that school.
MG: Do you still play racing videogames?
KB: I do. I enjoy videogames, but they can never replicate the feel of tire grip, which matters so much in what we do.
MG: Modern cars have all these systems to prevent tire slip, but you and thousands of others live for tire slipping experiences. How do you see this dichotomy?
KB: Needs and desires. Safety on the road is what we humans need, and what the insurance companies need. I can understand that need. But I think we should always have these types of vehicles [pointing to his racer] and race circuits, so people can experience that (other) kind of thing.
 |
| Photo: Mike Goetz |
Ford Fiesta ST
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST. This is the second North American Ford to wear the Sport Technologies (ST) badge. The 2013 Focus ST was the first.
Europe has had a Fiesta ST since 2005. While a global car, our Fiesta has been specifically engineered and designed for North America, and is built at a dedicated plant in Mexico. Unlike Europe, our Fiesta only comes in four-door sedans and five-door hatches, so our new five-door ST doesn't look quite as cool as Europe's new three-door ST coupe, or for that matter, Block's three-door factory Fiesta rally car.
The exterior bits that make the ST more visually sporty -- unique grille and chin spoiler, rear diffuser and spoiler, dual exhaust tips, and unique 17" wheels -- are also on the understated side.
Give props to Ford for concentrating on substance over style.
A new, high-output variant of the 1.6L EcoBoost gives Fiesta ST drivers lots to play with: 197 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque. The engine is exclusively mated to a 6-speed transmission, and the ST features upgraded brakes and suspension compared to regular Fiesta models. It also features electronic Torque Vectoring Control to reduce understeer during hard cornering, and a three-mode stability system (Off, Standard, Sport).
Inside you'll see a few unique ST pieces, such as the specially trimmed seats. The biggest inside development is one you hear. Powertrain sounds are fed directly into the cabin to enhance the sporty experience.
Our first blush with the ST in the parking lot manoeuvres demonstrated that this Fiesta is ready to play hard with very substantial and satisfying low-end torque, and quick and predictable handling.
At $24,999, it's at the top of the Fiesta food chain, but represents good value in the hot hatch category, which includes such players as the Golf GTI, MINI Cooper and Fiat 500 Arbarth. With a fuel economy rating of 5.6L/100km highway and 7.8L in the city, the ST also looks to be good value over the course of its life.
 |
| Photo: Mike Goetz |
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