Leno's Electric Focus

One of the exciting segments coming out of the new Jay Leno Show has been named “Leno’s Green Car Challenge” and will feature a celebrity racing against the clock in an electric Ford Focus, as we reported here. We know that Drew Barrymore will get the first chance behind the wheel and we know that she will be driving the Focus around a make shift track outside of Leno’s studio. What we didn’t know was the specs and the looks of this Electric Focus.

That all changed yesterday as Ford released the information on the car to star on Leno’s show. It’s a Euro Focus ST five door-hatch back converted into a one of a kind electric Focus. Ford knew that this car would go through the ringer so they fitted it with Racaro racing seats, bigger brakes, a full roll cage, and five point-harness. The electric motor will produce 141 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque with a 7,500 rpm redline and a curb weight of 2,421 lbs.

Needless to say they should be able to have plenty of fun in this car, can’t wait to see the airing of the first go around.

Hit the link to watch the Video!

2010 Mazda 3

In 2003 when the Mazda 3 was launched replacing the boring looking but fun to drive Protege, I was excited. Mazda had just introduced the RX8 and only a year before had come out with the Mazda 6. Mazda was really on the move back to being the sporty “zoom-zoom” company it should be. The Mazda 3 was such a big hit, in my mind, because it really showed that Mazda was getting back into the sporty grove with a good looking, small, sporty car. Anyone who is into compact sports cars, then and now, knows that the European spec Ford Focus basically rules. So when we heard that this new offering from Mazda was to be built on the platform of the second generation European Focus we knew we had to get our hands on one.

The first generation 3 did not disappoint. Mazda made sure to give it a good range of engines with plenty of pep, also releasing a Mazdaspeed variant for an even more sporty experience. The interior was nice and not too cheap for its price range, the looks where spot on for the market and the power and handling was excellent. So the successor of this understated machine would have to be even better, and that’s always hard to top in these markets.

So does the 2010 Mazda 3 live up to its “Zoom-Zoom” heritage? I would say yes for sure. The exterior, although it has been made fun of for being too “smiley face” looking in the design, actually looks good in a fun sporty way. That’s the overall theme of this car, small and fun, so why not give it a fun looking exterior. The rear is more aggressive and sportier than before with beautiful molded lines and sharp tail lights. The interior has a clean fill with lots of black and splashes of chrome and red thrown in. The cluster has improved and the center console has a more grown up feel to it. A Grand Touring package adds navigation and loads of extra buttons on the steering wheel and all over the car. By no means is this an uncomfortable place to be on a long trip. Speaking of long trips the driving and handling of the car is again just that much better than the old. Where this car shines is with its new bigger and better engines.

You have the base sporting a 2.0 liter with 148 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque. The one to have is the 2.5 liter “s” with a six speed manual gear box pushing 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque.

All in all I think Mazda has been on the move up since its introduction of the Mazda 6 in 2002. They are still an understated company that has the potential to grow. The new Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 are making this clear. If you want a fun to drive cheaper car with lots to smile about and not much to be down about, I suggest looking at your Mazda dealership.

2010 Mazda 3

The Jay Leno Show

A little bit about Jay Leno’s new show, called The Jay Leno Show, has been revealed. According to Jay they are going to have a segment challenging the gests racing against each other in “green cars”. Jay says, “You can see who is faster, Shaquille O’Neal or Cameron Diaz” can’t wait for that one.

Most are comparing this to Top Gears “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” but we really don’t have any information on what the segment might actually look like or consist of. We do know they have already started construction of a make-shift track next to his studio. All we can do is hope that the “green car” is a sporty car and the ratings of the show are well enough to keep it going.

[ad]

Jay Leno on BBC's Top Gear

As I wrote before, Jay Leno and Jeremy Clarkson are my two favorite car guys out there. Now we have footage on YouTube of Jay Leno’s interview and lap on TopGear.

Check it out!