All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Ford is shutting down production of the Focus ST

The beginning of 2025 showed that Ford in Europe is not even close to getting out of the crisis that has been going on for a long time. The rapid transition to all-electric cars and the discontinuation of some models were a gamble. Everything started collapsing like a house of cards, and the latest information says that even the Focus ST will no longer be on offer.

Maybe this is a surprise for some, but let’s remember that Ford has already announced that the production of the Focus will end in November. However, no one could have expected that this could be the end for the sports version as well. How smart this move is remains to be seen, and anyone interested can order the latest examples in European Ford dealerships.

The current Ford Focus ST is powered by a 2.3-L Ecoboost four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 280 hp and 420 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h.

Whether the American company will change its mind and introduce a successor in the near future is currently unknown.

Source: Ford

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Ford is shutting down production of the Focus ST
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Bentley Blower is back as Blower Jnr

Between 1927 and 1931, Bentley produced the 4½ Litre, which replaced the Bentley 3 Litre. Its racing variant, also known as the Bentley Blower, is now returning to the scene after more than nine decades as the Blower Jnr.

What is interesting about this car that will pay tribute to the icon of the automotive industry is that it will not be built by Bentley but by the British company Hedley Studios, formerly known as The Little Car Company. Although the company is engaged in the production of small classic cars, this will not be the first time it has built a racing classic, as it has so far produced small versions of the Bugatti Baby II and the Ferrari Testa Rossa J. Both of these cars were 75 percent the size of the original Type 35 and 250 Testa Rossa, but with the Blower Jnr, Hedley Studios will still stay closer to the original size (85 percent).

The design of the car accurately replicates the original with a steel frame, hand-crafted aluminum hood, springs and shock absorbers that correspond to the period when the Blower raced on the tracks. Other components are made of carbon fiber, while the interior is equipped with impregnated fabric similar to the original.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Bentley Blower is powered by a 4.5-liter supercharged engine, while the Blower Jnr will be all-electric and will have just over 20 hp. With a single battery charge, the car will travel up to 105 kilometers. The maximum speed in the UK and the European Union is limited to 72 km/h, and in the US to 40 km/h.

The car will be produced in just 349 units and each will cost around 90,000 pounds.

Source: Bentley

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Bentley Blower is back as Blower Jnr
News

Chinese cars lose value faster than competitors

When buying a car, buyers pay attention to quality and price, which have the greatest influence on the decision of which car to choose, and Chinese EVs have an advantage here. However, research has shown that they also lose value faster than other Asian brands.

Given the current economic situation, it makes sense that buyers prefer safer options when it comes to used cars. That’s why brands with proven reliability tend to be the first option, and Chinese cars do not have that status. They still play a smaller role in the used car market, but as their brands increase sales, the stock of used cars will also increase.

Platform for used cars (Oto) recently published a study showing that certain Chinese cars lose up to 33 percent of their value in just two years. This is a much higher rate of decline in value than South Korean brands, whose cars record a decrease in value of less than 20 percent, while Japanese cars have a decrease of up to 12 percent in the same period.

Also, it should be remembered that an affordable car does not necessarily have a higher depreciation rate, as evidenced by the cars of the Romanian brand Dacia. Their used cars still have a fairly high price, which is currently almost impossible for Chinese brands. It will take a long time for Chinese cars to earn the status of reliable, which is not so easy to achieve. Those who have been on the market for a long time know this, because European buyers are not naive, at least when it comes to car brands.

Source: VnExpress International