Picture Of XR2 Cars

Past this, the possibilities of tuning kit are more pick 'n' mix than the sweet counter at Woolies. Here are a few ideas from Andrew Weston at Cylinder Head Developments.

Go for a gas-flowed head, with standard valves for about £235 (including VAT), add in a BFT3 or A2 cam kit (£170) and the roller should show over 100 bhp. To make it up to 120 bhp, spend £300 on a well ported head, fit a Kent 224 mild/fast road cam kit (£200) and lighten up the internals. Lightening and balancing the crank, conrods, pistons and front pulley should set you back about £100, with another £70 to get the flywheel just right.

Picture Of XR2 Cars

The XR2's engine is a rare beast in the crossflow family, with a shorter crank to bring the flywheel and clutch assembly closer to the block, a different water pump and, of course, no side mounts as it's a FWD. So if your original unit is missing or scrap, ensure any replacement is a genuine 1600 XR2 item.

As said, the XR2 Cars in standard form already had great handling and braking, so there's scope for engine improvements before any safety imperatives force precious cash to be spent elsewhere.

The starting point for engine work is to get the breathing better. First of all, replace the original air filter with a complete K&N unit, bolt on an Ashley four-branch manifold and performance exhaust and go to a rolling road to sort the carb jetting. This should gain between 8 and 15 bhp depending on the health of the original motor. Ditch the Ford electronic ignition system if the dizzy s looking old, spot-on sparking from the likes of Lumenition or Aldon will be needed for higher mods.

Picture Of XR2 Cars

That said, even the last Mk1s are rapidly approaching their 20th birthday and most examples could benefit from updating and a bit of the tuner's art.

Now is definitely the time to buy too. The years of the Mk1 XR2 Cars being scrapyard fodder are rapidly coming to an end - expect to pay £600 to £1000 for a good starting point for tuning, and up to £2500 for a minter - but there are still cheap-as-chips and rotten cars out there suitable as a good source of the model's sometimes-unique spares. Spend up to a couple of thousand quid on tuning a sound XR2 Cars and you'll end up with a motor far more useable, rare and classier than anything wearing a VW or Peugeot badge.

Picture Of XR2 Cars

For the first three and a half years of Fiesta production, the term hot hatch passed the blue oval's "super mini" by. While other manufacturers were trying desperately to catch up with the groundbreaking Golf GTi, Fiesta buyers could only potter around in an S version of the car, which proved that go faster stripes and deck chair-patterned upholstery on an otherwise granny mobile do not make a Sports model. Changes began in October 1980 with the Kent-engined 1300 Supersport, and the company finally hit the right spot with the introduction of the Dunton Special Vehicle Engineering group's 1600ccXR2 Cars, just over a year later.

The long wait was certainly worth it though, and the XR2 Mk1 Cars was, and still is, one of the best examples of the hot hatch genre's halcyon days. It had 84 bhp performance, and handling and braking far in excess of the base models in the range - so good in fact that an aftermarket turbo version tested by Autocar in 1982 needed no uprating in any way, apart from fitment of the blower.

Picture Of Ford Fiesta

In late 1999, the Ford Fiesta Mk5 was released and saw some minor changes from the previous model, including a front clip that was inspired by the Ford Focus, and a new bumper design and wheel look. A 1.6 liter Zetec engine was introduced which produced over 100 horsepower, and more suspension modifications were made, making the car one of the best handlers on the market. The aftermarket loved these engines, and upgrades were available that would push it to over 160 horsepower quite impressive for such a small vehicle. The Mk5 was produced until 2002, when the current look of the Ford Fiesta was unveiled.


The Mk6 Ford Fiesta was introduced in 2002, and so much change had undergone the line over the years, that it no longer had any ties to its former self. The ST model was released, capable of speeds of up to 130 MPH and was offered with 17 inch wheels, different bumpers and skirting to set it apart from the standard Fiesta. This model is available in Europe today, and will be released in North America as a 2011 model.

Picture Of Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta Mk3, first produced in 1989, is by far the most popular and longest-lasting Fiesta model to date, with production continuing until 1997 -- an eight-year reign. The highest sales years for the Ford Fiesta were the early 1990’s, with the introduction of fuel-injection engines to the line. Airbags became available to the Ford Fiesta in 1994 for the first time, as well as restructuring of the body and frame to make the vehicle safer in collisions.


The Mk4 was introduced in 1995 and sales skyrocketed in Britain for the next three years. Ford used heavy Italian car influences in the new design, which utilized the same Mk3 chassis, but incorporated a much better suspension package. Engines were available in 1.25 liter and 1.4 liter sizes and were known as the Zetec line. There was also a diesel motor which featured an overhead cam design. This model of the Ford Fiesta was offered by Mazda, and called the 121 or Soho, depending on location of release. The Mk4 was produced for four years, from 1995 to 1999.