Watch the new Gymkhana 9 Teaser

Watch the new Gymkhana 9 Teaser
Ford Expands Door Latch Recall to 1.5M More Vehicles
Nitto Ridge Grappler Tire Review
Lexus UX Concept Revealed from the Rear
Gallery: Millionth Miata Celebration Tour Stop 8 in Columbus
Jaguar Launches I-Type 1 Formula E Race Car

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Ken Block plans on teasing Gymkhana 9 all the way up to its release next week.

Starring the Ford Focus RS RX rallycross car, Gymkhana 9 will launch September 13 and marks the first time the Ford Focus RS RX has been driven "in anger outside of a racetrack," Block said on Instagram.

The next entry in the Gymkhana series of videos comes over six months since Gymkhana 8 was released, which saw Block turning Dubai into the ultimate playground for his Ford Fiesta ST. We can't wait to see what Gymkhana 9 will have in store and you can get a glimpse in the teaser video below.

Gymkhana NINE: raw action, danger, and the first time the Ford Focus RSRX has ever been driven in anger outside of a racetrack. AWESOME. Launching next Tuesday, September 13th! #GymkhanaNINE

A video posted by Ken Block (@kblock43) on Sep 8, 2016 at 6:27am PDT

Discuss this story on our Ford Focus Forum

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Ford Expands Door Latch Recall to 1.5M More Vehicles

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Ford has announced a large 1.5-million vehicle expansion to a recall over faulty door latches.

The door latches in question can potentially break due to excess heat or solar loading according to Ford. The affected vehicles include the 2013-15 Ford C-Max; 2013-2015 Ford Escape; 2012-2015 Ford Focus; 2015 Ford Mustang; 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect and the 2015 Lincoln MKC.

Initially, the recall only affected cars in states where the ambient temperatures and solar loading were higher, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stepped in and requested that Ford recall the cars in all 50 states.

Ford says that one accident and three injuries have been caused as a result of this issue.

This expansion brings the total count of affected vehicles in the U.S. to over two million. When all of North America is included, the issue affects about 2.38 million vehicles.

Dealers will install new door latches free of charge to fix the issue.

Discuss this story at our Ford Forum

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Nitto Ridge Grappler Tire Review

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The automotive industry has never been shy about making bold claims and grand proclamations. Every industry does this in marketing and sales pitches, but the automotive world especially filled with products hailed to be "the toughest," "the most capable," or "the best yet."

Whether looking to offer the best grip, longest tread life or toughest construction, off-road tires fall into these same marketing clichés. Like the trucks and SUVs claiming to be "the best," tire manufacturers look to tell potential buyers: Invest in these tires because they are awesome!

The Ridge Grappler features a high-void tread pattern for off-road grip, but Nitto also looked to create a tire that is quiet and smooth on the highway as well.

The Ridge Grappler, Nitto's newest off-road truck and SUV tire, makes its own bold proclamation by offering a tire that promises to walk the line between an all-terrain and a mud-terrain to provide the best of both worlds: great traction on trails with an aggressive, wide-void tire; and smooth and quiet on-road performance.

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The Ridge Grappler promises great things with its "best of both worlds" pitch, giving off-roaders who spend lots of time on the highway but still off-road on the weekend exactly what they want. But does the tire actually deliver on its promise? We spent the past few months looking to answer that question.

The aggressive sidewall design provides added bite for additional traction.

Hybrid Off-Road Design

With Nitto looking to walk the line between all-terrain and mud-terrain with the Ridge Grappler, the tire may be best described as a hybrid that blends elements of each tire type. Traditionally, an all-terrain tire is a Jack-of-All-Trades that offers the ability to perform in a wide variety of different terrains. On the other hand, a mud-terrain is a tire more purpose-built for aggressive off-road traction in areas it is crucial to success, such as mud, rocks and sand.

The aggressive sidewall design provides added bite for additional traction.

The Ridge Grappler uses a high-void tread pattern to provide that aggressive grip off-roaders demand, but Nitto also engineered it with a variable pitch design that features alternating shoulder grooves to create a zig-zag pattern to reduce noise. Nitto also uses alternating tapered edges in the tread pattern for added bite and grip on the trail. Between the tread voids Nitto employs stone ejectors to help rid the tire of unwanted rock hitchhikers picked up on the trail. For added stiffness, Nitto reinforces the tread blocks at the foundation to reduce unwanted tread flex, because rigidity is especially important since the Ridge Grappler is offered in an optional F-load rating that is intended for the hefty demands of heavy-duty trucks.

Part of what gives the Ridge Grappler its aggressive look is the wrap-around sidewall design. Nitto always offers two different sidewall patterns on its Grappler tires, and on the Ridge Grappler there's a more traditional design with extended blocks that reach deeper into the sidewall, or there's a more modern, aggressive design that we tend to prefer because it looks a little edgier and helps gives the tire a bold look.

The wrap-around sidewall tread provides both traction and added sidewall protection on the trail.

But the sidewalls aren't just for show, as the additional rubber adds valuable trail protection for the most vulnerable part of your tire, especially in demanding, rocky terrain. The sidewall is engineered to provide traction as well, and as the tire transitions from tread to sidewall Nitto uses staggered shoulder lugs to function as small traction scoops. Whether aired down for the trail or at full highway PSI, both the shoulder lugs and the sidewall tread are designed to provide additional grip and bite for the trail.

For sizing, the Ridge Grappler will offered in direct replacement options and upgrades for modern SUVs, half-tons and heavy-duty trucks, with 30 sizes available for wheel sizes 17" up to 22". The downside is that vehicles with 15s and 16s don't have any options at present. In terms of load range, options include C, D, E and F, and the largest tire size option at present is a 37".

The Ridge Grappler is durable enough to tackle rocky trails with great confidence.

Walk the Walk?

The Ridge Grappler makes the lofty claim of giving off-roaders the best of both worlds, but does it actually deliver on that promise? In terms of its highway ride, we have to say it does. The Ridge Grappler shouldn't be confused with a pure on-road tire that will offer a nearly silent highway ride. Some road noise is to be expected with an aggressive off-road tire, but the Ridge Grappler sounds surprisingly civilized on the pavement. In wet and dry conditions, the Ridge Grappler offered a smooth and confident ride, and we never felt the tire was lacking in anyway on the pavement in terms of traction and performance.

We've spent time on a few different high-void mud-terrain tires as of late, and the Ridge Grappler is no doubt far quieter than a traditional mud. It's probably about on par, or maybe just slightly louder, than an aggressive all-terrain (we note "aggressive" all-terrain because there are some pretty road-friendly tires badged as all-terrains that we would consider more of a road tire). The Ridge Grappler is also notably quieter than Nitto's Exo Grappler, also a sort of hybrid tire but intended as more of an all-weather truck and SUV tire.

We were very impressed with the on-road performance of the Ridge Grappler.

In some ways, one could consider a smooth and quiet highway ride being the tougher goal to achieve for an off-road tire, but the Ridge Grappler is intended for off-highway performance and therefore it better have impressive grip on dirt, sand and rocks. Fortunately, the Ridge Grappler feels right at home when the pavement ends. We tested two sizes of the Ridge Grappler, including an E-load range 35 x 12.5 and a D-load range 37 x 12.5. During high-speed desert driving the tire is solid and confident. In softer terrain, like mud and sand, the Ridge Grappler's high-void tread digs in and provides great grip. On more hard-packed trails, the Ridge Grappler isn't lacking for traction either – we never noticed a section where the tires hunted for traction or was spinning to find grip. To get an honest assessment of an off-road tire, shifting into two-wheel drive can provide a truer test of a tire's grip, and even when we did so on steep, hard-packed trails, the Ridge Grappler provided the traction we needed to scale the section.

Of the two sidewall designs, we prefer the more modern one (left) compared to the more traditional pattern (right), though we appreciate Nitto providing more than one option.

Although we wouldn't necessarily view the Ridge Grappler as a full-blown rock-crawling tire, we were impressed with its performance in rocky, technical sections. Sure, an off-road tire needs wider voids to grip rocks, but in the Ridge Grappler's case it's clear the alternating groove pattern gives it bite in the rocks. The additional grip of the sidewall tread plays a key role in the rocks too. For one, the sidewall tread provides added peace of mind that a tear in the sidewall won't easily occur when the tire slides over a rock; and two, the tread actually offers additional traction whether the tire is aired down or fully aired up.

Being that we're just saying goodbye to summer, snow isn't something we had the chance to test the Ridge Grapplers in, though we did spend time in muddy trail conditions on more than one occasion. Though not a true mud-terrain, the Ridge Grappler can hold its own in the mud. The tread cleans out relatively well in mud, and we didn't experience any mud caking into the tread – which is something all-terrains can be guilty of at times. We wouldn't necessarily rely on the Ridge Grapplers for hard-core mud bogging, but their performance on muddy trails is going to be above and beyond what most enthusiasts require.

Whether driving at fast speeds or slow, the off-road performance of the Ridge Grappler is outstanding overall.

The Balancing Act

Nitto set some pretty lofty goals for its Ridge Grappler, and in the end, we really can't find a weak spot in its on-road or off-road performance. It wasn't so long ago that Nitto unveiled two new tires, the all-terrain Terra Grappler G2 and the heavy-duty all-terrain Exo Grappler AWT. What surprised us at first is the Ridge Grappler is actually similar in concept to the Exo Grappler, with the key difference being the Exo's all-weather slant. But we now know why Nitto has been crafting the Ridge Grappler over the past four years: It's a great all-around tire that will satisfy the demands of the trail and also make the family happy your truck or SUV isn't bumping and howling down the road. In spite of the fact that it's more aggressive than the Exo, it's also quieter overall.

The reality for many is that the off-road rig on the weekend also doubles as a daily driver during the week. The Ridge Grappler doesn't require a huge tradeoff for truck and SUV owners, proving you don't need to compromise having a bumpy, loud ride around town for the sake of a tire with great off-road performance. Marketing pitches will always appeal to our every want and need, but in Nitto's case, we're happy the Ridge Grappler actually delivers on its promise.

This article originally appeared on Off-Road.com

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Lexus UX Concept Revealed from the Rear

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A photo of the Lexus UX Concept has hit the internet a few weeks before the vehicle will be officially unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

This new UX Concept is teasing a crossover that will be smaller than the NX and likely based on the new Toyota C-HR. Designed by Lexus' European design center, the concept shows off angular lines and large wheel arches.

Though no details were released, one feature that is clearly on display is the camera setup which replaces both of the side mirrors. These cameras will project what they capture onto a screen inside the car, effectively replacing the mirrors.

Lexus has already filed for trademarks on UX 250 and UX 250h, suggesting that the brand will be moving forward with production plans for the subcompact crossover.

Watch for the UX Concept to make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September.

Discuss this story at our Lexus Forum

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Gallery: Millionth Miata Celebration Tour Stop 8 in Columbus

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The Millionth Miata Celebration Tour continued yesterday, rolling into the parking lot of German Mazda in Columbus, Ohio. One of the tour's greatest turnouts of MX-5 enthusiasts came out to see the one millionth production Mazda MX-5 Miata, and to put their names on this stunning piece of automotive history. And like every stop, Mazda also brought out a mint condition 15th production Miata for everyone to see.

With all of the coveted car's generations on hand, Miata fans young—and young at heart—were proudly showing off their customized Mazda MX-5s and getting to know everyone else in the local Mazda MX-5 Miata community. It was an incredibly fun evening for everyone involved.

The Millionth Miata Celebration Tour continues today with a stop in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, and tomorrow in Atlanta, Georgia. For full details on this tour, check out our Millionth Miata Celebration Tour Hub and be sure to share your photos here and on Instagram using the #MX5Movement hashtag.

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Jaguar Launches I-Type 1 Formula E Race Car

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Jaguar has launched its first all-electric race car, called the I-Type 1, that will run in Formula E.

Starting in October, Jaguar Racing will team up with Panasonic to enter the new I-Type 1 in Formula E, piloted by Adam Carrol and Mitch Evans. The team has already successfully finished 21 days of testing, including the last Formula E public test which finished at Donington Park Circuit this week.

"Over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades. The championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions," said Nick Rogers, executive director of product engineering at Jaguar Land Rover.

Rumor has it that an all-electric Jaguar F-Pace SUV is coming soon, while moving into the future, much of the British brand's lineup will include electrification.

The car will make its racing debut on October 9, 2016 in Hong Kong.

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Car Reviews

Thursday, 8 September 2016