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Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty

Ken Block Gymkhana 3

Ken Block Gymkhana 3 trick edits – Click above to watch video

As if Ken Block’s Gymkhana series weren’t popular enough, the DC Shoes owner/hotshoe has released eight (8) new edits of Gymkhana 3, each focusing on a different aspect of Block’s behind-the-wheel trickery.

The videos, all of which can be viewed after the jump, highlight the more impressive of Block’s tricks, like a rainy-day rolling 360 and a nearly impossible wall tap that leaves just a slight rubber smudge on the white concrete. There’s also an in-depth look at Block’s execution of the famed 51-degree bank wall ride.

Of the eight vids, two are dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at Gymkhana 3 and the making of a limited-edition Gymkhana 3 drip poster, signed in paint pen by Block himself. According to Block, the videos are meant to celebrate the success of Gymkhana 1, 2 and 3 and give fans something else to sink their teeth into. Check out all 8 videos after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3

Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

Ken Block's WRC Fiesta and the Monster Girls

Ken Block, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the Monster Girls – Click above to watch the video after the break

Gentlemen, start your engines. The Monster World Rally Team has announced its full schedule for the 2011 season, and there’s plenty of impending action to drool over.

Speaking of drooling, there’s a video of the the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC that Ken Block will be using to contest the World Rally Championship along with Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States. Oh yeah, and there’s more than just automotive eye candy in the video you’ll find after the break, if you know what we mean… nudge nudge, wink wink.

Says Block, “We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I’m a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it’s going to be an amazing year!” Lucky indeed.

For those interested in more, this is said to be the first video in a three-part series. Part two is scheduled to be released on February 9th, so stay tuned for that. Click past the break to watch this first video and to see the full slate of appearances for 2011.

Gallery: 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC

2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC Monster Energy Girls

[Source: Monster World Rally Team]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2011: First and last 2010 Pontiac Solstice on the block *UPDATE: W/Video

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Auctions, GM, Pontiac

First and last 2010 Pontiac Solstice

First and last 2010 Pontiac Solstice at Barrett-Jackson 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery

A great cry of weeping and teeth-gnashing could be heard around the globe after General Motors decided to put an end to the Pontiac brand a few years back. Of course, that also means the last several machines to roll down the line could potentially become collectors items.

Does that include the 2010 Pontiac Solstice Coupe or Convertible? That’s tough to say, but something of a precedent could indeed be set tonight at Barrett-Jackson as the very first and very last 2010 Solstices are going up on the auction block, sold as a pair.

First up is #1 of 12 Solstice GXP Coupes built in 2010, in Kinetic blue with an interior in black leather with matching blue accents. It’s also the only Heritage Coupe built with a manual transmission. Up next is the very last 2010 Solstice built (of 20 total), a Kinetic Blue Convertible.

Check out both the Coupe and Convertible models’ official auction pages on Barrett-Jackson, and watch Speed’s live online coverage here.

*Update: Check out a video of the auction after the break.

Gallery: The first and last Pontiac Solstice cars produced at Barrett-Jackson 2011

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: First and last 2010 Pontiac Solstice on the block *UPDATE: W/Video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: First and last 2010 Pontiac Solstice on the block *UPDATE: W/Video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford

Ford MyKey 2011

Ford’s upgraded MyKey for 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Modern technology means that parental controls are now spreading to cars as factory equipment, and the automaker leading the charge is Ford. Using the latest version of the company’s MyKey system, parents can now block their children from listening to certain radio stations – say, for instance, Howard Stern or Playboy Radio on satellite. In fact, there are a dozen stations listed as explicit by Sirius, and all of them can be blocked using MyKey starting in 2011.

Also seeing an upgrade for 2011 is MyKey’s speed-limiting technology. Previously, the top speed of a properly equipped Ford vehicle could be capped at 80 miles per hour (with chimes sounding at 45, 55 and 65). Now, users can preset a desired speed limit at any of four different settings – 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. While an obvious safety feature, the technology can also dramatically improve fuel efficiency.

Already, Ford’s MyKey allows parents to limit audio volume, encourage seatbelt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up and provide earlier low-fuel warnings. All of these could be considered important safety features, considering that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teens are more likely to speed (a contributing factor in 30 percent of fatal accidents) and are less likely to use their safety-belts.

Ford contracted the firm Penn, Schoen & Berland to conduct a survey regarding its new MyKey features, and the results aren’t terribly surprising: 85 percent of parents believe the speed limiting controls are important and 60 percent say the same regarding the radio content controls. Even 45 percent of teen drivers themselves say they approve of the technology… just as long as it means they get extended driving privileges from their parents. Of course, said teens can also simply circumvent the MyKey safety leash by listening to CDs or their MP3 players, but we digress.

Check out a video and full press release after the break to learn more about how the system works.

Gallery: Ford’s upgraded MyKey for 2011

Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video]

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Toys/Games

Traxxas Ken Block RC Car

Traxxas channels its inner 1/16-scale Ken Block – Click above to watch the video after the break

Master of the Gymkhanna (with a minor in marketing) Ken Block has teamed up with Traxxas to create a radio-controlled version of Block’s #43 Ford Fiesta. The 1/16-scale Fiesta is fitted with a brushless motor that turns all four wheels and sends the mini-Block car down your driveway at up to 30 miles per hour. If that’s not enough juice to play out your dreams of winning a Gymkhana event, you can opt for another setup that features a new pinion gear, second NiMH battery and series connector. The additional hardware raises the top speed to over 50 mph.

The car is currently selling for around $300. No word on whether that price includes replaceable fenders and other body panels… a necessity after the Ken Block RC car inevitably hits a tree. Check out a mini Gymkhanna-style video of the micro car in action after the break… and, answering the last possible remaining question, proof that it will indeed blend.

[Source: Traxxas via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video]

Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: DiRT 3 trailer debuts Block’s Gymkhana mode

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Toys/Games

Dirt3 Gymkhana trailer

DiRT 3 shows off its Gymkhana mode, and no, hooning is not a crime – Click above to watch video after the jump

The third installment in the DiRT video game series is beginning to tantalize us with more teasers. This time around, the Codemasters team put together a clip showing off the game’s Gymkhana mode. It’s essentially a virtual version of Ken Block ruining the tires on his Ford Fiesta in typically spectacular fashion.

The video shows the Fiesta running through a Gymkhana course called the DC Compound. It features donut sections, obstacles to slide around or under and even a jump to take the hoonage to the skies. The game is scheduled to come out sometime in 2011 and will be available for the Xbox, PS3 and PC systems.

For now, all we can do is watch and wait – so grab the e-brake and slide across the jump.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: DiRT 3 trailer debuts Block’s Gymkhana mode

Video: DiRT 3 trailer debuts Block’s Gymkhana mode originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos, Ford, Racing

Ken Block Ford Escort Mk2

Ken Block gets dirty with a Mk2 Ford Escort – Click above to watch video after the jump

The North American Ford Escort was launched in 1981 and primarily served as a drab compact of choice for folks who didn’t realize where the Escort name originated. The real Escort was introduced to Ford’s European customer base back in 1968. It was still a fairly drab looking compact… but it had a couple of powertrain options that made it far more exciting than any Escort we got Stateside.

The early Mark I Escorts were offered with a Lotus-sourced 1.6-liter twin cam engine that helped turn the car into a rally favorite. In 1975, the Mark II Escort was developed and a 1.8-liter Cosworth BDA unit was placed under the hood. Burnt-rubber aficionado Ken Block got his hands on an example from 1978 and filmed some serious hoonage through the forests of upstate New York.

The clip, which can be viewed after the jump, is focused on glorious noises and sideways dirt action. Though Block drives a modern Fiesta and Focus in his various motorsports activities, we’ve gotta say we find his work in the Mark II Escort far more interesting.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2

Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner Foust shreds at Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Specialty

Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid – Click above for image gallery

When the smoke cleared this weekend at the inaugural Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid event at Toyota’s Irwindale Speedway, Tanner Foust had claimed the top spot. The head-to-head event, which had drivers like Foust, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Andrew Comrie-Picard and host Ken Block cording brand-new tires in a matter of minutes, pitted powertrains (AWD or RWD) in the same brackets to keep things interesting. After several rounds of eliminations, it came down to just Foust and Block for the final – both drivers in similar 550 horsepower AWD Ford Fiestas. In the best-of-three sprints, Block ran nearly flawlessly, but Foust demonstrated inhuman levels of car control (720-degree spins just inches from a barrel) to take the first two races and the resulting overall win.

On a related side note: Earlier in the evening, Michael Essa, driving GSR Autosport’s 350R (a BMW V10-powered 3 Series), topped Vaughn Gittin to take the win at the Discount Tire burn-out contest. While other drivers spent their three minutes doing spins around the course, Essa simply cranked his steering wheel to the left and bounced off the rev-limiter (in third gear) until he disappeared into a thick gray cloud – liquidating his Nitto tires in 90 seconds of carnage.

Hit the jump to watch the complete battle between Block and Foust.

Gallery: Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid

Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid

[Photos: Mike McKay]

Continue reading Tanner Foust shreds at Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid

Tanner Foust shreds at Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

Big Block Polaris Quad

Big-block Polaris quad – Click above to watch the video after the break

With a little blood, sweat and some good ol’ American ingenuity, almost anything is possible. Whether or not “possible” equals “advisable,” well… we’ll leave that up to you to decide. In any case, at least one enterprising individual has apparently managed to stuff a big-block Chevrolet engine displacing 454 cubic inches inside the tight confines of a Polaris ATV.

There doesn’t seem to be any rear suspension on this quad, so those massive balloon tires will have to suffice. While a smooth ride might be problematic, power won’t be. After all, not only is there a 7.4-liter V8 underneath, there are also dual carburetors and long-tube headers. For ultimate ease of use, there’s a Turbo 350 automatic transmission slid in between the engine and solid-axle rear end.

Yes, there’s a video of this beastie in action, and no, the driver is predictably not wearing a helmet. He is, however, enjoying the protection afforded by his apparently ill-fitting cap… that is, until it blows off his now unprotected head. No worries, he’ll swing right back around and put it back on to save his noggin. Safety first! Watch it all go down in the video after the break.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can

Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block hypes Gymkhana GRID Invitational

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Ken Block presents Gymkhana GRID Invitational

Ken Block presents the Gymkhana GRID Invitational – Click above to watch video after the jump

If you haven’t seen parts one, two or three of Ken Block’s Gymkhana clips, then this must be your first time on the internet. First off, thanks for checking out Autoblog.com and second, you should probably click links one, two and three from the previous sentence… sorry, a “link” is one of the underlined words. Okay. Block is looking to expand Gymkhana from the solo event that we have now seen and turn it into a head-to-head automotive showdown, complete with tire-smoking, limiter-popping action.

The Gymkhana GRID, which will take place December 3 and 4 at the Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California, is a one-on-one showdown where two drivers attack mirrored examples of a course designed by Ken Block. A host of hot shoes will be on hand to try and knock Block off the top of the podium, including Tanner Foust, Vaughn Gitten Jr. and Andrew Comrie-Picard. Notably absent is one Travis Pastrana, which the video uses as a chance to call him out for making the move to NASCAR.

The Gymkhana GRID nonetheless sounds like it will be a rather fun event to watch – especially because of the level of talent taking to the track. Grab the e-brake and slide across the jump to check out a trailer for the event (*WARNING: language may be not safe for work).

[Source: Ken Block via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block hypes Gymkhana GRID Invitational

Video: Ken Block hypes Gymkhana GRID Invitational originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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