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Ford Focus, Fiesta racers (2011): global motorsport

The new One Ford mantra is spreading to the race track - as the Blue Oval sends its motorsport division global too.  Announced at the 2010 SEMA show, the Fiesta R2 rally car will now be available in North America for the first time. And the all-new Ford Focus touring car (pictured) will race globally - it's anticipated to be in the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. Ford plans to coordinate and support private race teams around the world and is promising to help teams adapt the car to worldwide touring car categories.

New fuel-economy labels will baffle buyers, survey says

A survey released this week suggests that revised fuel economy labels proposed by federal regulators will confuse many likely car buyers -- and will emphasize the wrong information. The branding strategy firm Siegel+Gale performed an independent online survey of 456 people over the age of 18 who intended to buy a car in the next three years. Founder Alan Siegel told Automotive News that the survey was not directly requested but has been sent to the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during the ongoing public comment period.

Alfa Romeo 4C arrives stateside in New York

Not long after the last transport departed New York Harbor with a cargo of unsold 164s, an Alfa Romeo executive was probably quoted as saying, "we will return next year!" We have been eagerly anticipating the return of Alfa Romeo for the last 19 years, long enough for the last Milano to rust whence it came, every year the brand just another year away! Well, this year -- yes, this year, finally, no really -- the Alfa Romeo 4C heralds the brand's reintroduction to America -- just as it did last year, remember -- as early as this summer. You'll have to forgive us for such skepticism -- we've been burned by our desire to invoke Italian driving passion and all that, but it's also hurting the Fiat dealers who scrape by on a lack of product.