Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Announces B-Spec Class for 2012 Season, Releases List of Competitors

The recent rash of B-Spec race cars automakers such as Honda, Mazda, Ford, and Kia have shown off at various auto shows and events this past year finally have a racing series in which to compete. The Pirelli World Challenge series has announced that its upcoming season will have a Touring Car class for the pint-size racers, and it released a preliminary list of seven models set to compete, as well the three World Challenge events in which they’ll take part. A few of the cars, like the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, and Fiat 500, we already knew about. In the case of the Honda Fit and Mazda 2, we actually raced them. The two cars we didn’t know would be participating, and whose manufacturers have yet to officially announce any B-Spec affiliation, are the Chevrolet Sonic and the Nissan Versa.

The cars will run in the exact same state of tune in the World Challenge as they do in SCCA Club Racing, save for tires. Modifications for racing are limited to shocks, springs, and required safety equipment such as roll cages, harnesses, and the like. None of the cars will be factory-backed, in keeping with the grassroots-style racing that the SCCA, Pirelli World Challenge, and the manufacturers want to push in the B-Spec class. The three Touring Car B-Spec events are slated for Miller Motorsports Park, Detroit’s Belle Isle, and Mosport International Raceway. Miller will be the first event, running in April. The B-spec class will run two 30-minute races plus one 40-minute race each weekend, for a total of nine events. Racing these things at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill was a blast, and we’re already envisioning our long-term Mazda 2 with a full cage and squatting over race rubber. Just kidding, Mazda…

Tags: B-Spec, Chevrolet Sonic, Chevy, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Nissan Versa, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car, racing, SCCA |

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Jaguar Releases Sport and Speed Performance Packages for Supercharged XJs

Jaguar’s 470-hp XJ Supercharged and 510-hp, range-topping XJ Supersport are both impressively quick for their size, but both are electronically limited to an indicated 155 mph. Jaguar decided that that was just silly, and so it has released two slightly different performance packages for the pair that increase maximum velocity to a heady 174 mph and add a few functional and cosmetic touches.

XJ / XJL Supersport Speed Pack

The XJ and XJL Supersport’s “Speed Pack” is a pretty simple bit of kit. It bundles the relaxed speed governor along with a new front splitter and rear spoiler that improve the XJ’s stability at high velocities. There are also gloss black front grille and intakes, an exclusive Jet Black interior with contrasting red stitching, and red brake calipers that peek out from behind 20-inch wheels (two styles are available). Topping it all off, Jaguar stuffed the fender vents with gloss black mesh and slapped “Supersport” badges on them. The cost for the Speed Pack’s goodies: a cool $4900.

XJ / XJL Supercharged Sport and Speed Pack

The XJ and XJL Supercharged’s “Sport and Speed Pack” consists of all the Supersport’s Speed fare plus a few additional interior upgrades. The Supercharged’s interior gets a suede headliner in either black or ivory, heated and cooled 18-way power-adjustable sport seats, black or ivory leather with contrasting stitching, bright metal pedals, and either piano black or optional carbon-fiber trim. The gloss black exterior trim is the same, although the fender vents wear “Supercharged” badges instead of “Supersport” and only a single 20-inch wheel design is available.

Because the Supercharged model already costs some $22,500 less than the Supersport, ordering one with the Sport and Speed bundle will still cost less than its ritzier sibling. However, because the Sport and Speed Pack is more comprehensive than that car’s Speed kit, it costs $7800.  That difference seems steep for what amounts to a pair of fancy seats and some leather, but it’s a whole lot more cost-effective than stepping up to a Speed Pack-equipped Supersport. The fancy seats that come with the package aren’t otherwise available on the XJ Supercharged, and while it may not be as quick off of the line as a Supersport, it will look just as good rocketing to that 174-mph top speed.

Tags: Jaguar, Jaguar XJ, Jaguar XJ Supercharged, Jaguar XJ Supersport |

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Ford Releases Pricing for 2012 Focus Electric: $39,995 Before Tax Credit

Ford announced that its upcoming 2012 Focus Electric will be priced at $39,995 before the current $7500 federal EV tax credit and any additional regional incentives that may apply. That may seem like a lot of money for a Focus—even at the post-credit price—but at least pretty much every creature comfort available on gas-powered Focuses comes standard. That includes a Sony audio system, SYNC infotainment with MyFord Touch and navigation, rear parking sensors, a rear camera, push-button start, and a slick, five-door body that, thankfully, looks nothing like the Nissan Leaf. (Unfortunately for eco-egotists, however, it looks like a lot of other Focuses.) Ford also has launched a Focus Electric configurator, though with only one option—leather seats for $995—there aren’t a lot of decisions to make.

The first markets to gain access to the 2012 Focus Electric are in California and New York/New Jersey, where the car faces the aforementioned Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and the extended-range Chevrolet Volt. By the time the Focus Electric reaches the other 15 markets in which Ford plans to sell it, there may be others in the EV mix as well. In the meantime, to see how the Focus Electric’s 70-mile estimated range, 23-kWh battery pack, and 123-hp motor stack up against the competition, check out the comparison chart below.

Tags: Ford, Ford Focus, Ford Focus Electric |

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