Alright.
Spring has sprung and most every track across the nation has
started hosting hot lap sessions, either professional in scope
or honed in on the weekend warrior in all of us. The
official 2010 racing season is in high gear and there are many
Ford Mustang racers out on the track this year. Steeda
Autosports has been helping supply many of these team cars
with their top-end performance products for over 21 years and
the results are proven–Steeda’s equipped teams have one
more races and set more records than the
competition…combined. Reaching SCCA American Sedan
Racing, NASA Camaro-Mustang Challenge Series, and the Ford
Racing Mustang Challenge, Steeda has been sponsoring and
tweaking Mustangs to the top podium positions season after
season.
Check
out more specifics on some of the individual racing teams’
trials and triumphs so far this season in the Press Release
following
Press
Release
The
2010 race season is in full swing, and there are literally
thousands of Mustangs on the racetrack and dragstrip every
week that have their trust in Steeda performance products. For
over 21 years – vehicles equipped with Steeda performance
parts or sponsored by us have won more races and set more
records than all other competitors combined. From SCCA
American Sedan Racing, to NASA Camaro-Mustang Challenge
Series, to even the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge, Steeda
prepared/equipped/sponsored Mustangs have more top podium
finishes than any other manufacturer in the business – proof
that the race track is the ultimate proving grounds for Steeda
products and your guarantee of maximum performance and product
satisfaction.
Following
is a brief summary of just a few of the many racers and
enthusiasts that have their trust in Steeda Autosports this
season and are having outstanding results:
Ford
Racing Mustang Challenge – Jason von Kluge
Jason
von Kluge, is the newest member of the Steeda Autosports
Racing livery. At the most recent Ford Racing Mustang
Challenge, Jason made it a perfect Hat Trick at the Virginia
International Raceway by winning his third consecutive race of
the 2010 Mustang Challenge Series is his Steeda Autosports
sponsored FR500S Mustang.
So far
this race season, Jason has won all three of this season’s
races and has a very comfortable lead in this action packed
all Mustang race series. Driving the No.19 JVK Motorsports
Mustang, Jason von Kluge led the final three laps of the
45-minute race resulting in yet another top podium finish. In
the previous two rounds of the Mustang Challenge, Jason
completely dominated the qualifying sessions and the races,
this time around the competition was even tougher, but Jason
was in the lead when it mattered the most – at the end when
the checkered flag was dropped and he record yet another win
for a Steeda sponsored Mustang!
Jason
von Klug is an enthusiastic 30 year old Ann Arbor Michigan
native that has turned his love of racing into a highly
successful endeavor. By combining his passion for motorsports,
his driving skills, as well as his undying pursuit of
perfection he has become a major front-runner in the highly
competitive Mustang Challenge Series. Steeda Autosports is
proud to be a sponsor of Jason von Klug and his JVK
Motorsports racing program and wish him continued luck in his
racing endeavors.
NASA
Camaro – Mustang Challenge Racing Series – James Ray
It is
safe to say that James Ray was seriously bitten by the
performance bug back in 2008 when he took his “daily
driver” – a 2007 Steeda Q400 to the race track and
competed in a series of weekend events throughout the year.
With the solid performance of his Steeda Mustang under his
belt and the natural talent he acquired for winning, James
captured the NASA Time Trial Championship in 2008.
Not
wanting to sit still, James began preparing a “purpose
built” race car to compete in the NASA Camaro-Mustang
Challenge Series. The series rules require that the cars
engine be basically stock, yet allows for required safety
equipment and other minor modifications. But James and his son
Taylor had a formula for success: Take a Ford Racing
body-in-white and sprinkle in various parts from a salvaged
2007 Mustang GT, then season them with a host of Steeda
suspension parts that are made in the USA. Put them all
together and the end result is nothing short of spectacular: A
highly competitive race-car capable of spanking the
competition back to the starting line every time it races!
After
a shake down weekend at Virginia International Raceway where
he checked the car out at speed and verified it’s readiness,
James made the trip last weekend to Carolina Motosports Park
to compete in his very first NASA Southeast event.
The
result: He qualified 1st in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s
events, and when the checkered flag dropped – James recorded
his first two victories finishing on top of the podium in his
very first NASA-SE race weekend! All of this was done on a
limited budget – proving that competitive racing is
available to everyone.
Congratulations
to James Ray and his son Taylor for once again showing how
competitive a Mustang built with Steeda components can be.
Look for James and his son Taylor at future NASA Southeast and
Mid-Atlantic events events at Carolina Motorsports Park,
Roebling Road, Charlotte Motor Speedway, VIR and Road Atlanta
and other venues this year.
NASA
Camaro – Mustang Challenge-2 Racing Series – Robin Burnett
Robin
Burnett , the NASA’s National American Iron Champion in 2008
is still campaigning his #21 Steeda Mustang in the American
Sedan Series this year, but he also has been diligently at
work with the Steeda Team in preparing an all new 2010 Steeda
Mustang for the highly competitive Camaro – Mustang
Challenge-2 Series.
This
racing series gives its members a place to race V-8 powered
Camaros, Firebirds, and Mustangs that are closely regulated
(e.g. evenly matched) in both power and handling in a national
race series. This Series has brought together some of the
best, close knit, competitive drivers found in the country and
since the race cars are so evenly matched, the racing is some
of the closest, most exciting, and challenging you will ever
see.
Robin’s all-new race vehicle will be fully equipped with all
of the latest Steeda performance gear the race regulations
allow. With the intent of “winning all the marbles”, Robin
and his race team are building one very serious contender.
Some of the Steeda performance parts included in this race
vehicle include:
*
Steeda Billet Swaybar Mount Kit
* Steeda G-Trac Brace Kit
* Steeda H.D. Race Engine Mounts
* Steeda Bumpsteer Kit
* Steeda Front Lower Control Arm Rear Bushing, Race Only
* Steeda Billet Lower Control Arm Hardcore Racing
* Steeda Double Bar Strut Tower Brace
* Steeda Tri-Ax ® Shifter
* Steeda Rear Ride Height Adjuster Kit 2005-2010 Mustang
* Steeda/Tokico D-Spec adjustable Front & Rear shock Kit
– ‘05-’10
* Steeda Brake Hose Kit
Robin’s
latest track warrior will have it’s formal debut at the
upcoming 2010 Camp Steeda at the famed Sebring International
Raceway on May 21st -23rd. Following that debut, Robin will be
campaigning both vehicles during the summer race season. Look
for him at Putnam Park, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Virginia
International & Miller Motorsport Park later this summer !
SCCA
American Sedan Racing Series – Tom Ellis
Tom Ellis competes in the highly competitive SCCA American
Sedan Racing Series. In the 2009 race season, in which he
competed in 9 races that resulted in 7 wins, he won the
Divisional Championship as well as the Nationwide Points Chase
in which he had more race points than any other driver in the
Nation. This solidified the facts leaving zero doubt that he
indeed is an exceptional driver and has an exceptional race
car – a Steeda Mustang.
The
Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) recognized his achievements
of last season and proudly presented Tom with the Kimberly Cup
Award at the SCCA Awards ceremony in Las Vegas for the most
improved driver of the 2009 Race Season. At the ceremony, Tom
expressed appreciation and gave thanks to the Teams at Steeda
Autosports and Dansan Motorsports for preparing an exceptional
race car.
So far
this season, Tom is continuing his blistering pace of winning.
To date in SCCA American Sedan competition, he finds himself
solidly in first place in the standings and shows absolutely
no signs of slowing down his aggressive competitive pace of
winning for Steeda Autosports. Everyone at Steeda Autosports
congratulates Tom for his outstanding 2009 season and wishes
him the best for 2010. Tom and his #51 Steeda Mustang will be
at the upcoming Camp Steeda at Sebring International Raceway
– so make sure you drop by and congratulate Tom on his
achievements and with a little bit of luck, he just might
offer to give you the ride of your life around the track !
We’ve got to keep the
rumor mill crankin’, right? We all saw and drooled over
the Ford Racing BOSS 302R
from late last year. We have witnessed the return of the
legendary 5.0 Mustang. Now, we have caught wind of some
continued buzz surrounding the return of a street-trimmed BOSS
Mustang. Mark Fields, Ford President of the Americas,
recently dropped a hint/clue/seed/tale that the BOSS moniker
could make its way back to production.
“We did the Bullitt,
we did a Mach 1, we did the C/S. I can’t tell you what
the next special edition Mustang will be, but I can give you a
hint.”
Shortly after his teaser
lines, a 1970 BOSS 302 Mustang thundered across the hosting
dealership stage and Fields remarked, “Is that a subtle enough
hint?”
OK,
you got us, Hurst. We thought for sure the aftermarket packages
tied to the 2010 Hurst Mustang Pace Car were as close as
we’d get to having the real deal. We stand corrected
now. It turns out that a lucky handful of Ford Mustang
fans will have a chance to grab up one of these Hurst
special editions, with a limited run of just 50 units being
produced for good use. What’s more is the 550 HP
supercharged 2010 Hurst/Austin Hatcher Foundation Mustang Pace
Car replicas’ distribution will pay homage to the original,
which is set to be auctioned off after its tour of duty
sometime next January.
Keep
reading to get the full scoop in the official press release.
Press
Release
HURST
ANNOUNCES BUILD OF 50 LIMITED PRODUCTION REPLICAS OF ITS 2010
MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE PACE CAR
Hurst
/Austin Hatcher Mustang Makes Debut as Official Pace Car for
Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series
Irvine,
Calif. (May 5, 2010) – Hurst Performance, a company with a
long standing racing history, announced today that it will
build 50 limited production replicas of its 550 HP
supercharged 2010 Hurst/Austin Hatcher Foundation Mustang Pace
Car.
The
stunning Hurst/Austin Hatcher Foundation Mustang Pace Car
replicas are distinctive, with painted gold racing stripes and
gold official “Pace Car” logos on a traditional black
paint scheme. The exterior delivers a solid Hurst identity
with subtle detailing features including real metal badges and
a Hurst AIR-SPEED rear deck spoiler. Other special Hurst
details include a Hurst leather interior with contrast
top-stitching, embroidered logos, and Hurst-logoed floor mats.
The
engine pounds out 550-horsepower, nearly 200-horsepower more
than the FR500S race Mustangs and 542 lb.-ft of torque,
courtesy of the Ford Racing polished supercharger, Ford Racing
FR500S stainless-steel cat-back exhaust and K&N filter.
Helping keep all four wheels on the ground is a special race
bred suspension by Ford Racing. Going fast does no good if one
can’t stop—an upgraded braking system featuring 14″
rotors and 4-piston calipers, also from Ford Racing, helps
bring this special car to a standstill.
The
cars come equipped with 20″ BFGoodrich g-Force™ T/A®KDW
tires for maximum performance and attitude, 20″ HRE/Hurst
polished, forged aluminum wheels and a Hurst Competition/Plus
shifter with a gold handle, centerpiece of the interior for
both manual and automatic cars.
Each
limited edition production car comes with a commemorative
edition etched metal dash badge, autographed signatures from
the Hurst Team in the trunk and a Certificate of Authenticity
confirming its collectability and provenance. Every Hurst
buyer is invited to take delivery at the Hurst Performance
Center in Irvine, Calif. to meet the Hurst team and tour the
facility.
“At
Hurst, we try to build vehicles that are fun to collect and
even more fun to drive. In this case, we are quite privileged
to have the opportunity to build a car that will also embrace
our long-standing history in the world of racing,” said Nate
Shelton, President and Chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles.
The
original Hurst/Austin Hatcher Foundation Mustang made its
debut as the official pace car at the season opening Ford
Racing Mustang Challenge race on April 25 at Virginia
International Raceway. After its run with the Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge, this unique and highly-collectible Pace Car
will make special appearances at the Hot Rod Power Tour, at
numerous Larry H. Miller dealerships across the country and
even at SEMA, before being auctioned for charity in January
2011.
Proceeds
of the auction will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for
Pediatric Cancer, to fund the Foundation’s landmark group of
educational, emotional and social skills development programs
that are essential to helping cancer stricken children and
their families succeed within their community.
The
Hurst/Austin Hatcher Mustang Pace Car replicas are available
immediately for purchase. Please visit
www.hurst-performance.com or call (949) 261-5500 to order your
car or make inquiries
It has
begun. The 2011 Ford Mustang aftermarket
looks like it’s going to be just as hot as, if not hotter,
than that of the first generation (2005 – 2009 model years)
S197 Mustang. Ford,
Roush,
and automotive lifestyle magazine DUB
have teamed up to spice up their very own 2011 Mustang
variant, bringing about some increased attention to the
car’s base point. The car isn’t based up on the new
5.0 Mustang GT; it’s based upon the rev-sexy 3.7-liter V6
Mustang coupe.
2011
Mustang DUB Edition will serve as a kickoff to the many
exciting projects Ford has coming down the pike. Its
many upgrades include tires, springs, body paneling, and lots
more. Couple this DUB edition along with the Nelly DUB
edition 5.0 we saw just months ago, and you’ve got a great
recipe for the DUB Magazine tour, set to traverse the entire
country through November.
Keep
reading to get all the specifics on the DUB Edition Mustang as
well as a few other predicated thoughts from Ford in the press
release after the jump.
DUB
EDITION 2011 FORD MUSTANG BRINGS UNIQUE STYLE TO NEW
GENERATION OF BUYERS
DEARBORN,
Mich., May 3, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is teaming up with
automotive lifestyle magazine DUB to roll out a specially
customized version of the new 2011 Mustang, introducing the
iconic sports car to a new generation of enthusiasts.
The
DUB Edition Mustang is based on Ford’s outstanding new
3.7-liter V-6 Mustang and will be available this fall. A
collaboration between Ford, DUB and Roush Industries, the DUB
Edition Mustang will be offered as a coupe, convertible or
with the best-of-both-worlds Glass Roof option. Both six-speed
manual and automatic transmissions are available.
“The
Ford Mustang is the most customized vehicle in the world, and
this collaboration pushes the boundaries even further,” said
Fritz Wilke, Mustang brand manager. “We’re proud of our
relationship with DUB and Roush and how they worked together
to bring a new look to Mustang, helping the 2011 DUB Edition
Mustang V-6 appeal to a whole new audience.”
Available
only with Ford’s new high-tech, 305-horsepower DOHC
3.7-liter V-6, the DUB Edition Mustang will offer:
20-inch TIS wheels
with Pirelli performance tires
Roush front fascia
and splitter
Roush quarter
window louvers and windshield banner
Roush lowering
springs
Coupe, convertible
or Glass Roof body style
Six-speed manual
or automatic transmission
3.31 rear axle
ratio for spirited acceleration
DUB logo
embroidered in front headrest and DUB stripe package
Black interior
Choice of four
exterior colors: Black, Grabber Blue, Race Red or Ingot
Silver
“Working
with Ford and Roush is an honor and has been a dream come true
for DUB,” said Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder of DUB
magazine. “The Mustang is such an iconic muscle car and has
always been a customizer’s favorite. The DUB Edition Mustang
stays true to its roots, but I think we’ve successfully
brought a ton of hustle to the muscle.”
About
the 2011 Mustang V-6
For 2011, Mustang is available with a lightweight, all-new
high-performance powerplant. Displacing 3.7 liters, the
double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 24-valve V-6 uses Ford’s Twin
Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) to produce
remarkable power output – 305 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of
torque – while still achieving up to 31 mpg highway.
Drivers
can get the most out of the new V-6 engine using either an
all-new six-speed manual or automatic transmission. With
either choice comes the flexibility and fuel economy benefit
of six forward ratios.
The
2011 Mustang has also received enhancements to its chassis to
maintain the outstanding balance and driving behavior Mustang
owners expect. Combined with state-of-the-art safety and
technology features, the 2011 Mustang sets a new standard in
the sports coupe class.
2011
Mustang V-6 showcased in television ads and grassroots events
Television commercials for the sporty new 2011 Ford Mustang
V-6 – the first-ever car to deliver an unrivaled combination
of 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway – have already started
airing and included an appearance by the new 2011 DUB Edition
Mustang, a special edition collaboration between Ford, DUB and
Roush Industries.
“The
television ads are designed to reach new Mustang buyers, from
those who want to achieve better fuel economy and lower
running costs to enthusiasts who are interested in everything
the V-6 has to offer,” said Patricia Piedrahita, Ford car
communications manager, noting that the ads emphasize miles
per gallon in a way that only Mustang can.
“The
ads highlight 31 mpg by showing how it comes to life in
Mustang,” she said. “In a Mustang, the M in mpg stands for
so much more than miles per gallon. For the 2011 Mustang V-6,
it stands for emotions unique to Mustang like aMped and
transforMed.”
In
addition to the 30-second television ad, an extended 60-second
cinema version will launch in selected theaters nationwide
starting April 30 during key movie releases, such as Iron Man
2, Sex and the City 2 and Twilight Saga.
The
new Mustang also will be involved in a variety of grassroots
events, including Komen Race for the Cure®. Through November,
Warriors in Pink® is conducting an on-site promotion that
will enable one lucky person to win a 2011 Mustang V-6.
“We
are proud to have Mustang be a part of Ford’s effort to
raise awareness about breast cancer,” said Ling. “It is a
great way to demonstrate support for this very worthy
cause.”
The
5.0 is back: All legend. No compromise
The 5.0 V-8 is back, and it’s better than ever with an
all-new engine that uses twin independent variable camshaft
timing to deliver an amazing 412 horsepower and 26 mpg. The
advertising campaign for the new 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 will
showcase that prowess in three print ads featuring the
tagline: All Legend. No Compromise.
“Hard-core
Mustang fans have been waiting for the new 5.0 engine, so we
will be advertising in a variety of enthusiast magazines, such
as MOTOR TREND, CAR and DRIVER and Popular Mechanics,” said
Piedrahita. “And we will continue to have a strong presence
at many enthusiast events, including NASCAR, NHRA, Formula
Drift, Barrett-Jackson and various club events.”
In
addition to print media, the new 5.0 will be featured
prominently in digital advertising on enthusiast sites. The
5.0-liter engine also will continue to be highlighted in the
Mustang Boss 302R running in the Grand-Am Continental Tire
Sports Car Challenge race series.
Custom
2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 and V-6 go on the road with the DUB tour
Two hot custom Mustangs will go on the road with the DUB
Magazine tour, which travels to various cities across the
country through November.
The
2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 that DUB Magazine tricked out for Grammy
Award-winning artist Nelly will be on display at the show. The
vehicle features a glossy black exterior paint job, flat black
racing stripes, and 22-inch Pirelli tires in the front and
24-inch tires at the rear. Also part of the tour will be the
2011 DUB Edition Ford Mustang V-6, which Ford will begin
producing in August 2010.
“The
Mustang is such an iconic muscle car and has always been a
customizer’s favorite,” said Myles Kovacs, co-founder and
president of DUB Magazine. “The DUB Edition Mustang stays
true to its roots, but I think we’ve successfully brought a
ton of hustle to the muscle.”
Hopefully
you didn’t miss it live on your own home theater, but just
in case, we’re here to bring the latest 20110 Ford Mustang
commercial right back at ya to be played time and time
again. This slick TV spot has got something for
everyone: the power hungry, the legendary 5.0 fan, the tech
savvy, and most importantly–the Ford
fan in all of us. Take a good, close look at this video
clip, as it’s a great product exhibiting one of the best
(if not the best) Ford Mustangs to
date. We could have done without the music and had
more of the 5.0’s 7,000 rpm roar, quite frankly.
Until we get some good seat time, however, this will have to
do. Check out the video after the jump…
After letting their
latest Mustang Pace Car hit the track just days ago, HurstPerformance
has decided to let loose a few goodies to flow into the
aftermarket. A nationwide distributor program will help
Hurst Performance spread their latest “Hurst-Equipped”
Kits which will apply to the Ford
Mustang,
Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger. Since the actual
Hurst Pace Cars are not slated for mass production, this is
about as close to a Hurst special edition pony car as we can
get.
These Hurst-Equipped
packages are poised to enhance the personal & curb appeal
of the Mustang (et al) by offering the Hurst touch via several
means: a Hurst Shifter, Hurst Wheels (20×9 fronts & 20×10
rears), a Matte Black “AIR SPEED” rear wing,
Hurst-Equipped badging, Hurst floor
mats,
and a Hurst windbreaker & cap via certificate redemption.
For the serious Hurst fans there is even more. The Hurst
Series 1 Kits allow a full-scale customization opportunity
with Hurst/MagnaflowStainless
Steel
Exhaust, Hurst/ Eibach Pro Kit, Hurst
Numbered Dash Plaque, Hurst Fender Decals, and BFG-KDW Tires.
So what do you think,
Mustang fans? Is there room in the aftermarket
for yet another player?
Images by Drew
Phillips Photography & Hurst Performance
Press Release
Mustang, Camaro and
Challenger owners get opportunity to upgrade vehicles with
Hurst-equipped packages
Pre-Existing Vehicle
Owners Can Now Add Muscle With Complete Hurst Kits For the
Performance-Minded Driver
Irvine, Calif. (April
27, 2010) – In conjunction with signing dealers
nationwide with the Hurst Dealer Authorized program and
creating a coast-to-coast network, Hurst Performance has
launched its “Hurst-Equipped” Kits, allowing pre-existing
Mustang, Camaro and Challenger owners to upgrade their
vehicles with a complete line of high-performance
and collectible Hurst components.
Hurst-Equipped
packages allow enthusiasts to add to the collectability and
style of their vehicles and upgrade their muscle cars with the
Hurst touch. These packages include a Hurst Shifter, Hurst
Wheels (2) 20”x9” fronts and (2) 20”x10”rears, a Matte
Black finished ‘AIR SPEED” rear wing, HURST-EQUIPPED
badges, Hurst Floor Mats and a certificate for a Hurst
Windbreaker and Cap.
Hurst Equipped Package
For those enthusiasts
who are interested in upgrading to higher performance, Hurst
Series 1 Kits allow vehicle owners to upgrade from the inside
out. Series 1 Kits include all of the above components in
addition to a Hurst/Magnaflow Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hurst/
Eibach Pro Kit, Hurst Numbered Dash Plaque, Hurst Fender
Decals and BFG-KDW Tires.
Hurst Series 1 Kit
“At Hurst we are
true enthusiasts and we understand that muscle car owners love
to upgrade their cars and tune them to their personalized
tastes,” said Hurst President and Chairman, Nate Shelton.
“We’re excited to now offer a full line of Hurst product
upgrades to these enthusiasts, in addition to our popular
Hurst shifters.”
Hurst-Equipped Kits
can be purchased from Hurst Performance Vehicles directly, or
can be installed through Hurst-approved installation centers
nationwide. To get a full list of Hurst Authorized Dealers and
installation centers, or to purchase your kit directly, visit
www.hurst-performance.com or call Hurst headquarters at (949)
261-5500.
About Hurst
Performance
Founded in 1958, Hurst
Performance is one of the most recognized and revered names in
the automotive
performance arena. The Hurst brand has long been synonymous
with speed, performance and quality, with an impressive
track-record of pioneering high performance products and
vehicles for all forms of motorsports and hot-rodding. Hurst
was one of the first specialty companies to partner with the
OEMs and bring enthusiasts limited edition performance
vehicles like the legendary Hurst/Olds. Hurst is currently
signing Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet dealerships to participate
in its “Dealer Authorized” program. For more information
please visit www.hurst-performance.com.
Hurst and Ford
Racing
recently teamed up to exhibit their collection of Pace Cars,
starting with the 2010
Hurst Ford Mustang Pace Car (pictured above at Miller
Motorsports Park) and now, April 25th has held host to the
unveiling of the black & gold 2010 Hurst Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge Pace Car at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
The Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge will be just the first of this Mustang’s
PR duties. After the conclusion of the race, the
collectible Pace Car will take part in the Hot Rod Power Tour
at various Larry H. Miller dealerships across the country and
will end up at SEMA this year. After the SEMA show, this
Hurst Mustang will then be auctioned off for charitable causes
sometime in January 2011.
While we won’t see
some limited production span of this special Ford
Mustang
come to fruition for purchase, we do know that we’ll see
many of the hints and cues from the car’s inspired past
trickle into the mainstream. The smooth, polished
20-inch racing wheels, the special Hurst shifter, and the
fire-breathing 550-horsepower supercharged V8 engine are just
a few touches we are sure to see when the mod(ification) bug
bites the hardcore Hurst Mustang Pace Car fans.
Check out more in the
official release that follows.
Press Release
2010 Hurst Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge Pace Car to DEBUT at Virginia international
raceway on April 25
Highly Collectible Pace Car to Benefit the Austin Hatcher
Foundation for Pediatric Cancer
Irvine, Calif. (April
20, 2010) – Hurst Performance Vehicles, a company
responsible for some of the most iconic pace cars in racing
history, will once again debut a special-edition Mustang built
to serve as the official pace car for the 2010 Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge Series.
The 2010 Hurst Mustang
pace car will debut during the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge
race at Virginia International Raceway on April 25, 2010.
After its run with the
Ford Racing Mustang Challenge, this unique and
highly-collectible Pace Car will make special appearances at
the Hot Rod Power Tour, at numerous Larry H. Miller
dealerships across the country and even at SEMA, before being
auctioned for charity in January 2011. Proceeds of the auction
will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric
Cancer, formed to support research towards the diagnosis,
treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer, and
to provide support and hope to children and families
undergoing treatment, as well as those who have lost children
due to cancer. Through Hatch’s house of hope, the Austin
Hatcher Foundation provides a landmark group of educational,
emotional and social skills development programs essential to
help cancer stricken children and their families succeed
within their community.
Additionally, the 2010
Hurst pace car’s paint scheme and likeness will be used to
create promotional items sold by the Ford Racing Mustang
Challenge Series at various race events and online, including
a run of limited edition replica skins for their Miller Cup
Pinewood Car
kits.
As one of several ongoing initiatives to support the Austin
Hatcher Foundation, Mustang Challenge has integrated a
fund-raising Miller Cup Pinewood Derby car race into the
season-ending championship banquet at Miller Motorsports Park.
Larry H. Miller
Dealership Group has confirmed that it will partner with Hurst
Performance to donate the vehicle for this project. Other
partners of the project include Whelen Engineering, Ford
Racing, BFGoodrich Tires. Motorsports artist and Roger Warrick
will create original art for promotional items.
“Hurst has a history
of creating unique, high-quality, emotionally-charged muscle
cars and the 2010 Hurst Ford Racing Mustang Challenge pace car
is no different,” said Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst
Performance Vehicles. “We are so proud to have yet another
opportunity to set the pace for others to follow and give
something back to a deserving organization.”
The stunning Hurst
Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Pace Car comes equipped with
20″ BFGoodrich
g-Force™ T/A®KDW tires for maximum performance and
attitude, 20″ Hurst polished, forged aluminum wheels and
a Hurst Competition/Plus shifter with a black T-handle.
The engine pounds out
550-horsepower, or nearly 200-horsepower more than the FR500S
race Mustangs, and 542 lb.-ft of torque, courtesy of the Ford
Racing polished supercharger, Ford Racing FR500S
stainless-steel cat-back exhaust and K&N filter. With its
race bred Ford Racing suspension, this car is sure to keep
people straining just to see it zoom by. And to stop all this
power, the car is equipped with an upgraded braking system
featuring 14″ rotors and 4-piston calipers, also from
Ford Racing.
“The Austin Hatcher
Foundation is proud to be partnering with Hurst Performance,
the Larry H. Miller Dealership Group, Whelen Engineering,
BFGoodrich Tires, Ford Racing and the Ford Racing Mustang
Challenge Series to sponsor the 2010 Hurst Ford Racing Mustang
Challenge Pace Car,” said Jim Osborn MD, Chairman of the
Austin Hatcher Foundation. “The Foundation’s focus is on
empowering families faced with pediatric cancer to thrive, and
we hope to bring excitement to these families through
Hurst’s history of unique muscle cars.”
Other signature Hurst
details include a traditional Hurst black on gold paint
scheme, a Hurst leather interior with contrast top-stitching
and embroidered logos, Hurst-logoed floor mats and a Hurst
AIR-SPEED rear deck spoiler.
***********
About Hurst
Performance
Founded in 1958, Hurst
Performance is one of the most recognized and revered names in
the automotive
performance arena. The Hurst brand has long been synonymous
with speed, performance and quality, with an impressive
track-record of pioneering high performance products and
vehicles for all forms of motorsports and hot-rodding. Hurst
was one of the first specialty companies to partner with the
OEMs and bring enthusiasts limited edition performance
vehicles like the legendary Hurst/Olds 442. For more
information please visit www.hurst-performance.com.
About Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge
The Ford Racing
Mustang Challenge is a new professional racing series
co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park.
Utilizing the new Ford Mustang FR500S and sanctioned by the
Grand-Am Road Racing, Mustang Challenge is a support series to
major professional road racing events across North America.
Mustang Challenge is an affordable, challenging platform for
racers who want to compete in a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive
car on a level playing field that showcases driver ability in
high-profile events. A competitive point structure and
generous purses make the Mustang Challenge The Place to Race!
About BFGoodrich Tires
Using motorsports as a
proving ground for more than 35 years, BFGoodrich® Tires is
involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports
car,
drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally, and extreme rock
crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise
with vast motorsports experience, delivering a
high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit
BFGoodrich Tires online at www.BFGoodrichTires.com. In 2009,
BFGoodrich Tires developed a gathering place for auto
enthusiasts to celebrate the thrill of GO through an online
community. Nation of GO is an online community where people
with a passion for driving can celebrate and share what they
love to do best at www.NationofGo.com.
About The Larry H.
Miller Dealership Group
What Larry H. Miller
Founded in May of 1979 with one Toyota
dealership has now grown into the nations tenth largest
automotive dealership group. Located throughout seven western
states from; Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Utah, Colorado,
Arizona and New Mexico. Comprised of 38 locations representing
19 brands, from Toyota to Mercedes-Benz. Visit The Larry H.
Miller group at www.LHM.com or www.drivenbyyou.com
About Whelen
Engineering
Whelen Engineering
Inc. was founded in 1952 by George W. Whelen III with the
development of a rotating aircraft “anti-collision beacon”
product that quickly found use with police, fire and public
safety departments across the country and around the world.
Whelen is now the world’s largest designer and manufacturer
of emergency visual and audible warning products. Whelen is
the only United States manufacturer of emergency warning
equipment that continues to design and manufacture all of its
products entirely in the United States. Whelen is the
entitlement sponsor of three NASCAR grass-roots racing series
and is the major corporate sponsor of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled
Project, Inc., the designer and supplier of bobsleds to the
USA Bobsled Team, including the “Night Train” four-man
bobsled that won the Olympic Gold Medal at the Vancouver
Olympics. Located in Chester, CT, Whelen Engineering is owned
by George W. “Sonny” Whelen IV, son of the company’s
founder. The company’s website is www.whelen.com.
The Austin Hatcher
Foundation for Pediatric Cancer was formed in 2006 after Amy
Jo and Jim Osborn lost their infant son Hatch to a rare form
of pediatric cancer. The foundation’s mission is to support
research towards the diagnosis, treatment and development of a
cure for pediatric cancer, and to provide support and hope to
children and families undergoing treatment, as well as those
who have lost children due to cancer. The foundation has
developed a landmark group of programs and services essential
to help cancer stricken children and their families succeed
within their community. All services provided by the
Foundation are free of charge, funded solely by the generous
donations of its supporters.
Hatch’s house of
hope is a unique Austin Hatcher Foundation concept designed to
empower children and families affected by pediatric cancer to
thrive. The landmark cancer care center equips children and
their family members with the educational, emotional and
social skills necessary to succeed. Specifically, these
services include Problem Solving Skills Training,
neurocognitive testing, educational programming to help
effected children overcome their cognitive and learning
deficits, emotional counseling for the cancer affected child,
their siblings and parents, and marital and financial
counseling to ensure a safe environment to maximize the family
growth as a whole. All services at Hatch’s are free to its
guests, funded entirely by donations. Erlanger Medical Mall in
Chattanooga, TN, is the site of the first Hatch’s house of
hope, which opened September 18, 2009. This Hatch’s is the
model for other Hatch’s in the planning stages nationwide.
For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org or
www.hatcherfoundation.org
First things first.
Steve’s fledgling company has taken a while to get their SMS
line from rendering to reality. If we were telling you
about this in July of this year, it would have made it a full
year since we first set eyes upon the SMS
460 Mustang, the crown jewel of Steve Saleen’s startup
company SMS Supercars. Well, now that we got the worry
that we’d never see the car come to light out of the way, we
are certainly glad it has. Steve and his group
have geared up this latest installation, dubbed the SMS 302
Mustang for the upcoming 2011 Mustang displacement, and will
offer it in two appealing formats.
The first will be a
naturally aspirated 4v model and the “bigger brother” will
be the SMS 302SC; you guessed it–a supercharged version.
Each SMS 302 Mustang produces 440hp and 535hp, respectively.
Both SMS 302 Mustang
variants will have a plethora of enhancements including and
not limited to:
new SMS body kit
hood with
functional heat-extracting grilles
20″ wheels
numerous
suspension upgrades
upgraded braking
interior
touch-ups, including Alcantara seating
200mph gauge
cluster
short throw
performance shifter
All of this ends up
well for Saleen’s latest, the SMS 302 Mustang. Pricing
is set a bit on the high side, as we’d expect. The 302
4v model starts at $54,990 and big brother weighs in with a
window sticker value of $64,990 for starters.
Check out more details
on the SMS 302 in the Press Release following.
Press Release
Corona, California.
(April 16, 2010) On the day before the 46th anniversary of the
debut of the Ford
Mustang,
which was launched on April 17, 1964, Steve Saleen,
the man whose name has become synonymous with high performance
Mustangs, launched his most eagerly awaited SMS Signature
Series cars, the 2011 SMS 302 Mustang.
SMS Supercars
President and CEO Steve Saleen says: “Many automotive
enthusiasts have embraced our SMS 570 Challenger, but I know
our core fans have been waiting for the first Mustang to come
from the new company, SMS Supercars. I am thrilled to be able
to end the suspense today. With the new 5.0L 2011 Mustang
arriving at dealerships
shortly, it was appropriate for us to act swiftly and present
our SMS 302 Mustang based on this early model year change. We
know the 302 name will excite any Mustang fan as well”.
After the successful
launch of the 2010 SMS 570 Challenger in the Spring of 2009,
the 2011 SMS 302 Mustang represents the second in the trio of
SMS American Supercars, which will be followed by the
introduction of the 2011 SMS 620 Camaro later this year. At
first, two SMS 302 versions will be offered, the SMS 302 4V
with a normally aspirated 5.0L engine, followed by the SMS 302
SC, using the patented SMS 296 Supercharger.
Continues Steve:
“Our line of SMS Mustangs will be the only Mustangs
authorized to bear my name, to use the benefit of my heritage
and to incorporate performance innovations derived from my
over thirty years of racing and manufacturing experience. With
the extensive design, development, manufacturing,
certification and warranty
coverage
that we put into each vehicle, the government agencies all
recognize SMS as the manufacturer of record for these cars”.
Power
The SMS 302 4V
utilizes the all-new normally aspirated twin overhead cam 5.0L
V8
engine
with over 440 hp and 400 ft-lb of torque. This is accomplished
with an all-new 4-valve head design, a high flow exhaust
system, an optimized pulley drive system, premium fuel
calibration and performance filtration.
The SMS 302SC will
pump out over 535 hp and 450 ft-lb of torque, thanks to the
use of the SMS patent pending 296 Supercharger System with
Asymmetric Multi-Lobe Screws, SMS Six-PackTM Intercooler
System and SMS patent pending Duo-Path Induction. Transmission
options for both are a 6-speed Automatic or a 6-Speed TR3650
Manual.
Performance
The 2011 SMS 302 4V
will accelerate from 0-60 in under 4.5 seconds and pass the
quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at a speed of 116 mph. The SMS
302SC numbers are even more impressive with a 4.3 second 0-60
and a quarter mile in 12.1 seconds at 119 mph.
Suspension
Both SMS 302 models
come standard with the new and unique SMS S4 High Performance
Suspension, comprising of S4 Specific Rate Front and Rear
Springs, S4 Front Struts, S4 Rear Shocks, S4 Front and Rear
Sway Bars with High Durometer Pivot Bushings and the all-new
SMS unique S4 Watts Link rear suspension.
Both models utilize
Pirelli PZero High Performance 275/35ZR 20 tires on 20″
x 9″ 5-spoke alloy wheels at the front and 275/40ZR 20
tires on 20″ x 10″ 5-spoke alloy wheels at the
rear. The brakes with ABS Cross Drilled Rotors, Powder Coated
Calipers and High Performance Racing pads deliver impressive
stopping power to match the jaw-dropping acceleration.
Design
The SMS 302 has a
striking design that separates it from any other vehicle in
the market. Chief Creative Officer of SMS, Phil Frank notes,
“The SMS 302 is a dramatic, timeless and iconic visual
statement that confidently leads the pack, continuing the
evolution of the image of the SMS brand.” The sculpted front
fascia utilizes a high volume lower radiator intake with brake
ducts and an integrated front splitter with ducting for
supercharged models. The striking new hood differentiates the
car with its chrome trimmed heat extraction grilles. Available
for either model as an option is the patented SMS Red
ButterflyTM Center Ram Air Induction which debuted in 2008 on
the SMS 25th Anniversary Mustang Concept. Notes Steve, “When
those butterflies crack open under throttle, people stop and
stare.”
The bold side skirts
echo the new Mustang’s upper spear shape in the fenders
while flowing seamlessly into the deep sculpting of the vented
rear fascia. The high downforce rear diffuser includes a rear
Formula One-style rain light in reference to Steve’s racing
pedigree. The most dramatic element of the SMS 302 is the
transformation of the rear of the car through the integration
of the rear fascia, rear fender caps and the trunk lid
spoiler; which creates a longer silhouette and its exotic car
good looks and makes the SMS 302 unmistakably a Steve Saleen
product.
Interior
The interior with
all-new Alcantara and leather SMS performance seats with the
patented Signature Series chevron stripes, two-tone leather
chevron door inserts, a leather-wrapped billet aluminum shift
knob and leather wrapped steering
wheel
set the SMS 302 apart from lesser offerings. Instrumentation
features a 200 mph gauge cluster and a supercharger gauge pod
with boost and charge air temperature gauges for the SMS 302
SC. Standard features include a color keyed center console, a
powerful Shaker 500 Stereo with SYNC® and a 276 Watt
amplifier, aluminum SMS door sill plates and embroidered model
designated floor mats to give the interior its finishing
touch.
Tailor Made Options
SMS offers it’s
discerning customers a wide range of SMS Tailor Made options,
including a dozen unique show car
paint
colors such as Burnout Black, Tire Smoke White, Sour Grape
Green, Plum Insane, Pineapple Express Yellow and Maliblue to
name a few. Customers can further personalize their car’s
interior in matching colors for the seat Signature Series
chevrons and stitching if so desired.
Authenticity
Through the years,
Steve’s cars have become collector’s items and many have
held or even gained value due to their exclusivity and
authenticity. After passing the extensive quality control and
dynamic driving test, each SMS 302 is personally signed by
Steve and then receives its matching serialized SMS VIN on the
engine bay plaque, dash plaque and front bumper for
authentication.
SMS 351X
While the SMS 302SC
can win a fight with almost anything on the road, another
legendary moniker is making its way back onto the road. Later
this year, SMS Supercars will add the SMS 351X model. Says
Steve: “with even more horsepower than the SMS 302SC, this
supercharged beast will be the pinnacle performer of any
production Mustang. More information on the SMS 351X will be
released in the next few months”.
2010 SMS 460 and 460X
SMS is in the process
of completing the production run of 25 Limited Edition SMS 460
and 460X Mustangs based on the 2010 model year. These unique
collector’s items are powered by a supercharged 4.6L V8
engine. All of them are sold.
About Steve Saleen’s
SMS Supercars – Speed, Science and Style
SMS Supercars, a
company founded by renowned race driver and automotive
icon Steve Saleen, is a manufacturer of high-end lifestyle
performance vehicles, technical performance parts, lifestyle
accessories and apparel. SMS Supercars designs, engineers,
tests, certifies, manufactures and assembles all of its own
products and vehicles. SMS Supercars vehicles include the SMS
570 and 570X Challenger and the SMS 302 4V, 302SC and 351X
Mustang models. The SMS 620 and 620X Camaro models will
complete the trio of SMS American Supercars in 2010.
Mere
weeks after the wrapping was removed from the 2011
Ford Mustang GT, media
moguls everywhere got some good seat time in, putting the
latest Ford pony car through the paces. The gents at
Motor Trend were some of the first to officially chronicle a
sanctioned test between three of the major competitors in the
pony car wars. The 2011 models tested were the 5.0-liter
Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro SS, and the Dodge
Challenger SRT-8. They were stacked head to head and
rigorously tested on the track as well as the open road.
In the video after the jump, Motor Trend quickly notes that
the new 5.0 Mustang is by far the closest thing to a true
modern day muscle car; something powerful, agile, and
surprisingly comfortable to drive.
It
really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 2011 Ford
Mustang is serious about two things: power & efficiency.
The folks at Inside Line decided they
would just put Ford’s claims at the 2011 Mustang GT
producing 412hp & 390 tq to the test. The dyno video
shows a new 5.0 GT strapped in for several pulls on the
Dynojet to see just what the true power ratings are after
driveline saturation soaks up the promises that would be.
The result? Ford’s underrated the pony car yet
again.
After
seven dyno pulls, the testing staff reported the car
consistently produced 395hp at 6600 RPM and 365 pound-feet of
torque at 4350 RPM. If you take these figures and
realize the parasitic effects of the drivetrain (some 11 to 13
percent loss), the latest Ford Mustang GT with the 5-oh is
pumping out somewhere between 438 and 446 horses at the
crankshaft. We’re no math majors by any means, but we
do know that 438 or 446 > 412 (the advertised rating by
Ford).
This
isn’t the first time Ford’s underrated the Mustang’s
power output for “good” measure and we suspect it won’t
be the last. What we have here is a serious motion to
kick sand in the face of bow tie fans everywhere; and we’re
glad it’s back.
ROUSH
Performance is ready to rock n roll and ring in spring.
Thank goodness; we thought winter would never die. Here
comes a hot “Back in Black” & “Red Hot Chili
Pepper” adorned special edition Ford Mustang, named aptly
the Barrett-Jackson Edition ROUSH Mustang. This concept
car has been brought to life for debut for the April
1st-3rd auction at Barrett-Jackson – Palm Beach and is based
upon the 2010 Mustang platform with additional units to round
out the production count from the 2011 Mustang pinnings.
If you aren’t able to check out the auction in person, then
stay tuned to the SPEED channel to keep up to date with how
far this no-reserve ROUSH Mustang auction goes.
“The
2010 Barrett-Jackson Edition ROUSH Mustang ties two leading
automotive brands together in an amazing package combining
performance and unique styling,” said Jack Roush. “People
who drive a regular production ROUSH Mustang are used to
getting plenty of second looks. But with the custom
Barrett-Jackson paint in such gorgeous colors, these owners
will experience envy on an entirely new level.”
In
addition to the 2010 Barrett-Jackson Edition ROUSH
on the block, a run up to 25 units will complete the 2010 side
of the production while another 25 units will be based upon
the 2011 chassis.
“The
only thing faster than this muscular ROUSH Mustang
concept set to go across the auction block will be the
bidding,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of
Barrett-Jackson. “With the ROUSHcharger, forged internal
components and a resonator exhaust, this is one good looking
Mustang that really moves.”
So
what does the winning bidder get in the 2010 Barrett-Jackson
Edition ROUSH Mustang? How about a R2300 ROUSHcharger
unit atop the 4.6-liter V8, generating 540hp / 510 tq for
starters? Couple this forced induction up with forged
internals (pistons & crank) and you have got one solid
race-ready Mustang. Add to that a set of 20-inch styled
chrome wheels wrapped with trendsetting Cooper
RS3 tires, upgraded front struts, rear shocks, front &
rear springs, front & rear stabilizer bars, and jounce
bumpers to tear up the track as well as terrorize the
roadways.
In
addition to the power & suspension upgrades, ROUSH adds on
some additional body components to round out this special
addition. There’s a resonator to bolster the V8
exhaust note–guaranteed to turn heads and frighten small
children. Also, there’s a nice upgrade to the brakes
with 4-piston fronts latched onto 14″ rotors with
painted calipers all-around. A new upper and lower
billet grille cuts out the regular fog lamp placement and
smooths out the fascia will increasing cooling capacity for
the supercharged ROUSH Mustang.
Inside,
this ROUSH Mustang includes specially embroidered
Barrett-Jackson leather seating, a performance pedal set,
ROUSH illuminated sill plates, a short-throw shifter (with a
black or white ball), and a new serialized interior badge
reminding everyone around just how special this car really is.
So are
you sold? Grab your pocket book, mates. This baby
retails for just over $41K. We’re sure it will easily
fetch this & more come gavel time.
It
looks like the Ford crew is once
again set to put their chips on the table and walk the
talk very soon. We’ve seen
and heard full well the power, refinement, and efficiency
standards the 2011
Ford Mustang has brought about; on June 23rd, the
V6-equipped Mustang will be put through the paces at Bristol
Motor Speedway (Tennessee) and take part in a 1000-lap
challenge. Big deal, right? Well, it just might
be–the 2011 Mustang V6 will be placed on the track for the
lap count trial, but will only receive one tank of fuel.
So, on a half-mile track, this means the new fuel-sipping pony
car by Ford will have to achieve over 500 miles on a single
fueling.
Ford
has set up a contest (www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com)
to help promote the excitement behind the event and allow for
contestants to guess just how many laps they believe the
Mustang V6 will go before running dry. For the lucky
ducks that guess the lap count spot-on, Ford will then
randomly select one person who will take home their very own
2011 Ford Mustang V6. Not bad at all!“We all know how
much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today’s market
it’s also about fuel economy,” said Jamie Allison,
director, Ford North America Motorsports. “By going 1,000
laps or more on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, we
expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can be mean
and green.”
The
Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge is slated to kick off on the
morning of Wednesday, June 23r with Ford test drivers piloting
the Mustang coupe around the track, aiming to break the
1,000-lap mark; a feat that doubles the distance of NASCAR
drivers’ mileage during the race…sans any pit stops.
About
a month ago, the first annual Steeda Stampede of Valdosta
stormed the South Georgia Motosports Park with some serious
Ford Mustang racing and show. Each fall, an event dubbed
the Steeda Stampede is held in Florida, so this time around,
the Steeda folks decided to double the fun in 2010 and have a
spring event as well. Judging upon the huge success of
this initial event, it’s sure to be a repeat affair come
next year.
The
Steeda Mustang fans in attendance started with a tour of the
new Steeda Valdosta facility and then took upon a 30 mile
stampede up to the Motorsports Park for some serious heads-up
drag racing action! Prior to the cruise-in on Saturday,
however, several hardcore fans gathered at the local Valdosta
Buffalo Wild Wings for some good food, fun and loyalist
camaraderie. It’s a good thing everyone was pumped for
the event, because it nearly got
nipped because of a freak South Georgie snowfall–a first in
over 20 years. It scared away the meek; the mightiest
Mustang fans remained to continue on with the show.
On
Saturday, the southern sky was full of sun and quickly laid
waste to the insult that was snow, and the Steeda fans were
excited to get on with the action. After chowing down on
a catered breakfast by the local Chick-Fil-A, everyone got to
jet through the Valdosta facility in detail, checking out
Steeda’s Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Warehousing,
and Distribution operations. Add to the tour a fresh
display of Steeda Ford Mustangs (the new 2010
Steeda Q Series and the Steeda Q650R competition racer)
and you’ve got everyone geared up & ready to go tear up
the track! In addition to the Mustangs on display,
Steeda also showed off their new Steeda/Ford Racing 2011
Ford Fiesta; a hot little tuner indeed!
The
weather back at the track was cool, the sun was warm, and the
track was dry, so the resulting excitement by this time had
boiled to a head. First drag racing rounds were done via
the Christmas Tree, with secondary rounds leaving only the
staging lights visible. Taking it a step further later
on, several lovely ladies from the local Hooters became the
official starters of every single drag race. What’s
not to like? Hot Mustangs, hot ladies, and the smell of
burning rubber to waste away the day. Sounds good to us!
First things first.
It’s not a Ford Mustang, so why’s it on StangNet? Because
it’s still pretty cool and it’s a new Ford taking upon a
reputable nameplate. The next iteration of the Ford Police
Interceptor won’t be powered by the 3.7-liter V6 slated for
the 2011 Ford Mustang, but it will provide the boys in blue a
choice of two power plants to suit the needs of their patrol.
First off, there’s a super-efficient 3.5-liter V6 engine,
producing a minimum of 263 horsepower, can run on E85 fuel, and
is over 25% more efficient than the 4.6-liter SOHC V8 currently
in the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Option 2 is one more
to our liking; it’s the twin-turbocharged, direct-injected
3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V6 which boasts an impressive 365
horsepower & 350 ft-lb of torque across a wide engine speed
range.
Great. What’s this
mean to Mustang enthusiasts? Watch your rear view mirrors
closely…upcoming Ford cars adorned with blue & cherry
strobes will have a much easier time reeling you in for a
traffic stop.
Know what’s pretty
awesome to have in a Ford Mustang? 300 horses under the hood
to thrash the track or terrorize the street. Know
what’s even cooler than that? Having the ability to
get a record-breaking 30+ miles to the gallon while doing so.
That’s right, everyone, the 2011 Ford Mustang equipped with
the V6 is the first car ever
to achieve a HP rating over 300 with an efficiency of over
30mpg. Impressive indeed. That’s 300hp in a
V6–the same rating as the 1st-gen S197 Ford Mustang GT that
was equipped with a 3v 4.6-liter power plant. Talk about
a shot to the predecessor’s glory of the almighty V8!
OK, to be fair, the
V8 also received a power gain in the 2011 Mustang GT, so there
you go. But that’s not the point of this prose,
however.
The 2011 Ford Mustang
equipped with the 3.7-liter V6 pumps out 305hp at a highway
rating of 31 miles per gallon. There–we said it.
Now…how is it done?
This new 2011 Mustang
is powered by a high-revving, lightweight, all-aluminum
3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that utilizes
advanced engineering processes, resulting in its excellent
blend of power and economy. The Twin Independent
Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) system makes real-time
adjustments in the valvetrain within microseconds dependent on
driver feedback, solidifying contributions and efficiencies
brought to the table by the new power plant offering.
“The Mustang
engineering team aimed high and, through hard work, achieved
fuel economy numbers that elevate Mustang into a class by
itself,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president,
Global Product Development. “At no other time in
Mustang’s history – for that matter, in automotive history
– have we been able to talk about 305 horsepower and 31
miles per gallon. The Mustang truly is a no-compromises sports
car.” said Kuzak.
Another noteworthy
tidbit is that the 2011 Mustang coupe achieves this
performance of record even while equipped with an automatic
transmission. This is a dramatic shift in conventional
wisdom and a testament to the success of the Ford engineering
team behind the scenes. The transmission was designed
such that the gear ratio calibration and shift programming aim
to maximize economy while still providing some high-revving
entertainment.
“Advanced
powertrains like our Ti-VCT V-6 and six-speed automatic really
speak to the future of Mustang,” says Barb Samardzich, Ford
vice president of Global Powertrain Engineering. “We’ve
proven that, using technology, Ford can deliver both power and
fuel economy.”
In addition to the
powertrain improvements, Ford also applied some upgrades to
the Mustang’s body and chassis design to bolster performance
and efficiency. Such examples include:
+ New Electric Power
Assist Steering (EPAS) system eliminates the drag of an
engine-operated hydraulic power steering pump
+ Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions allow lower
cruising revs without sacrificing off-the-line performance
+ Aerodynamic changes include improvements like a new front
fascia, tire spats on the rear wheels, modified underbody
shields, a taller air dam and an added rear decklid seal
So what’s all this
mean? It means that the 2011 Ford Mustang base model
offers a lot more than what buyers
have traditionally been receiving for their money. It
means that the 2011 Mustang already has over 11,000 orders
placed–half of which are for the V6 model. More tech
is finding its way into new Fords, now more than ever, and
people are eating it up like candy.
Like what you’ve
seen & heard? Get in line. The 2011 Mustangs
are moving fast and they’re not even on the tracks &
streets yet.
Well, well, what do
splendid little classic Ford Mustang
redux do we have here? It’s a trio of Shelby Mustangs
from the glory days and we have to say, we’re quite pleased
with the Classic
Recreations team’s work here. They have taken the
resto-mod concept and virtually made it art. Each of
these 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500CR specimens has got
something unique to offer and hinge greatly upon what the
Mustang fan ultimately desires. Want looks and panache?
Set your eyes upon the “Intro” trim. Feel the need
for more? They have got what you need. Keep
reading to see what else Classic Recreations is offering with
respect to the GT500CR Shelby Mustang series.
Classic Recreations
continues the excitement onward and offers a “Performance”
package to up the ante; and it’s only outdone by their crown
jewel, the “Venom” package. Take a closer look at
what these cars offer in the package descriptions below and if
you like what you see here, make sure to head over to their
site and get the nitty gritty details straight from the
source.
“Intro” model
1967 Mustang Fastback
Shelby G.T.500CR
Intro Model Specs
Color availability:
Grey/Black ,Red/White, Blue/White, Black/Grey, Yellow/White
Drivetrain:
427 C.I Crate Engine (545 H.P.)
Mass Flo Fuel Injection
Tremec Manual Transmission
9″ Fab 9 rear w/ 3:70 Gear ratio and Posi Traction
installed
Concept one pulley system
150HP NOS Nitrous system (disarmed)
Steering:
TCP Rack and Pinion conversion (Power)
Flaming River Tilt column (polished)
Interior:
Carroll Shelby signature seats
Simpson 5 point camlock seatbelts
Carroll Shelby Signature gauges
160mph Speedometer
Woodgrain Aluminum steering wheel
Old air products A/C system
Deluxe 1967 door panels
Deluxe 1967 dash and trim
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Console
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Floormats
Stereo system:
Pioneer CD player w/ removable face
Classic Recreations LLC. custom trap door
Polk Audio coaxial speakers
Wheels and tires:
Shelby 427 Wheels 17X8 front
Shelby 427 Wheels 17×8 Rear
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/40/17 Front
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/40/17 Rear
Exterior:
Authentic Carroll Shelby Exterior Fiberglass Enhancements
Sequential Shelby taillights
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Emblems
Carroll Shelby Lemans racing gas cap
Fuel:
Electric Fuel pump
Stealth 18 gal Fuel cell
Brakes:
Front: Shelby/Baer 13″X1.1″ track system
Rear: Shelby/Baer 12″X.81″ touring system
Slotted, Crossdrilled and zinc washed
Adjustable rear proportioning valve
Cooling:
Becool Aluminum Crossflow Radiator
2-13″ electric cooling fans
Chassis:
Tubular Sub frame connectors
Shock tower bracing
Cosmetic Rollbar
Suspension:
Performance tuned front suspension
Performance tuned rear suspension
Sway bars front and rear
“Performance”
model
1967 Mustang Fastback
Shelby G.T.500CR
Performance Model Specs
Color availability:
Grey/Black ,Red/White, Blue/White, Black/Grey, Yellow/White
Drivetrain:
427 C.I Crate Engine (545 H.P.)
Mass Flo Fuel Injection
Tremec Manual Transmission
9″ Fab 9 rear w/ 3:70 Gear ratio and Posi Traction
installed
Concept one pulley system
150HP NOS Nitrous system (disarmed)
Steering:
TCP Rack and Pinion conversion (Power)
Flaming River Tilt column (polished)
Interior:
Carroll Shelby Scat Rally series 1000 seats
Simpson 5 point camlock seatbelts
Carroll Shelby Signature gauges
160mph Speedometer
Woodgrain Aluminum steering wheel
Old air products A/C system
Deluxe 1967 door panels
Deluxe 1967 dash and trim
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Console
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Floormats
Stereo system:
Pioneer CD player w/ removable face
Classic Recreations LLC. custom trap door
Polk Audio coaxial speakers
Wheels and tires:
Shelby 427 Wheels 17X8 front
Shelby 427 Wheels 17×9.5 Rear
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/45/17 Front
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 275/40/17 Rear
Exterior:
Authentic Carroll Shelby Exterior Fiberglass Enhancements
Sequential Shelby taillights
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Emblems
Carroll Shelby Lemans racing gas cap
Fuel:
Electric Fuel pump
Stealth 18 gal Fuel cell
Brakes:
Front: Shelby/Baer 13″X1.1″ track system
Rear: Shelby/Baer 12″X.81″ touring system
Slotted, Crossdrilled and zinc washed
Adjustable rear proportioning valve
Cooling:
Becool Aluminum Crossflow Radiator
2-13″ electric cooling fans
Chassis:
Tubular Sub frame connectors
Shock tower bracing
Cosmetic Rollbar
Suspension:
Total Control Front Coilover
Total Control Rear Coilover system
Total Control Sway bars front and rear
“Venom” model
1967 Mustang Fastback
Shelby G.T.500CR
Venom Model Specs
Color availability:
Grey/Black ,Red/White, Blue/White, Black/Grey, Yellow/White
Drivetrain:
427 C.I Crate Engine (780 H.P.)
Mass Flo Fuel Injection
Tremec Manual Transmission
9″ Fab 9 rear w/ 3:70 Gear ratio and Posi Traction
installed
Concept one pulley system
150HP NOS Nitrous system (disarmed)
F1-R Procharger Intercooled w/17PSI of boost
Steering:
TCP Rack and Pinion conversion (Power)
Flaming River Tilt column (polished)
Interior:
Carroll Shelby Scat Rally series 1000 seats
Simpson 5 point camlock seatbelts
Carroll Shelby Signature gauges
200mph Speedometer
Woodgrain Aluminum steering wheel
Old air products A/C system
Deluxe 1967 door panels
Deluxe 1967 dash and trim
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Console
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Floormats
Stereo system:
Pioneer CD player w/ removable face
Classic Recreations LLC. custom trap door
Polk Audio coaxial speakers
Wheels and tires:
Shelby 427 Wheels 17X8 front
Shelby 427 Wheels 17×11 Rear
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 245/45/17 Front
High performance z rated tires (Goodyear) 315/35/17 Rear
Exterior:
Authentic Carroll Shelby Exterior Fiberglass Enhancements
Sequential Shelby taillights
Carroll Shelby G.T.500CR Emblems
Carroll Shelby Lemans racing gas cap
Fuel:
Electric Fuel pump
Stealth 18 gal Fuel cell
Brakes:
Front: Shelby/Baer 13″X1.1″ track system
Rear: Shelby/Baer 12″X.81″ touring system
Slotted, Crossdrilled and zinc washed
Adjustable rear proportioning valve
Today, the Ford cast
& crew officially unveiled the 2011
Shelby GT500 in all its detailed glory. This time
around, however, the latest GT500 has a few more niceties
included and some even sweeter options to choose from.
For 2011,
the GT500 gets the aluminum block, supercharged 5.4-liter V8
power plant and starts just under $49,500, delivered. So
aside from this standard hoofbeat, the 2011 GT500 also gets
the chance for a SVT Performance Package to be applied to
raise the performance bar even higher. We’ve teased
about what this package includes…so what’s it got to ante
up? How much bang for the buck has Ford packed into this
latest Mustang offering? Keep reading to find out.
So, just where do we
start with the 2011 Shelby GT500’s new SVT package?
How about from the ground up! It’s a good base,
because Ford’s spent some decent time and invested in the
research to find tires that are racetrack-proven in the
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G tires. These tires come
ready to provide supreme grip & handling on the road and
track and are compiled using a race-inspired,
ultra-high-performance compound.
Just how well do the
new shoes (et al) help the SVT-equipped GT500 perform?
Try up to 3.0 seconds faster (each lap) than the 2010 Shelby
GT500, while pulling a 1.0 lateral G, and a 7% shortened
stopping time. That’s impressive.
“More and more
enthusiasts are putting their cars on the track to have some
fun,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American.
“It’s a great way to enjoy the performance of your car in
a safe environment. No one likes to run at the back of the
field, so a track-oriented package is a smart option for the
serious Shelby GT500 owner.”
Next up, we have a
new set of rims all around, with 19″ forged-aluminum
wheels in the front which are 4.7 pounds lighter compared to
the the base Shelby GT500’s and do well to serve ahead of
the now wider 265/40R-19 front tires. Out back, the two
all-new 20″ forged-aluminum wheels 2.8 pounds lighter
versus the standard wheels, and underneath, the new more
aggressive 3.73 rear axle helps leverage the power to the
ground.
What we’re left
with in the 2011 GT500 is a care with “near” racing tires,
a tuned suspension, stiffer springs, a lowered & sportier
ride height, and a whole new attitude on having a blast at the
track on race day.
“This car is
track-ready. We really took the Shelby GT500 to the next level
and went through every detail,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT
global performance vehicle chief functional engineer. “It
offers great cornering and racetrack performance and proven
durability, and that’s something we want our customers to
appreciate.”
Topping off the
masterpiece of Shelby goodness is the unique rear spoiler
Gurney Flap, developed for supplemental downforce, further
enhancing balance in the corners at speed. Dan Gurney
introduced the design almost 40 years ago, and the design has
proven a timeless addition to many cars on the track today.
Why? The low-drag spoiler brings on the downforce and
ultimately ensures confidence in handling.
So there it is,
folks. A $3500 package, blessed by the SVT division at
Ford, optionally offered for the 2011 Shelby GT500, is set to
make waves with the serious Shelby race enthusiasts.
It’s crazy to be
thinking about 2011 with so much focus & intensity, but if
it’s anything the Ford Mustang legend tells, it’s to
always be ahead of the curve and the rest of the herd.
For the next go ’round, the 2011 Mustang is already ramping
up to set new records in the sales category. In its
first month of order processing, Ford has seen over 11,000
orders funneling in–that’s 3 times as many orders as the
2010 Mustang had at its launch. What’s even more
staggering is that the core Mustang value is what is
continuing to keep the brand strong: 50% of the 2011 Mustang
orders to date are for the V6 model! And rightly
so–what’s not to like about a high-revving sixer packing
over 300 horsepower? Putting it in perspective, the 2011
Mustang coupe packs about the same punch as the initial S197
Ford Mustang GT did. That’s impressive
With the solid
grounding in V6 orders, Ford can continue to express and
expand upon its specialized & niche offerings, such as the
Mustang
Club of America Special Edition, and will also repeat the
distribution of the California Special model. Following
suit behind the rest of the 2011 Mustang orders, these special
editions are also approximated to be 3 times the volume of the
2010 Mustang special editions of the same line.
So what’s the
conceived driver behind this surge in demand? Fuel
economy. It’s still a high concern in the automotive
marketplace…and isn’t likely to change any time soon.
Add to that the fact that performance doesn’t necessarily
have to be sacrificed in the 2011 V6 Mustang and the deal just
gets sweeter. Equipped with the 30 miles-per-gallon,
all-aluminum, Duratec 3.7-liter, DOHC, Twin Independent
Variable Came Timing (Ti-VCT) power plant, this little sixer
has miles of smiles to offer.
“Fuel economy ranks
among the top two reasons people choose vehicles,” said
Steve Ling, North America Car Marketing manager. “With the
2011 Mustang lineup, we’ve found a way to offer even better
fuel efficiency for V-6, GT and even Shelby GT500 performance
drivers – while improving performance. And consumers are
responding.”
People aren’t just
stopping at getting their hands on the 2011 Mustang with
increased fury; they’re also decking out their forthcoming
pony cars with more tech toys than ever. Navigation
system options account for 18% of current orders placed.
High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights are going to be on
26% of them. Rear-view cameras (on a Mustang?
Really?) will find their way onto about 10% of the 2011
Mustangs ordered thus far.
So what’s the rest
of the pie chart look like? The 2011 Mustang GT rounds
out the majority of the other half, contributing to about 41%
of current orders placed. The 2011 Shelby GT500
completes the pastry pie picture with 9% of total orders on
record. In summary, we have 1/2 of the orders on record
at Ford for a ~300hp V6 and the other half slated for cars
that have 412hp & and 550hp, respectively. Simply
amazing when you look at it like that. The lowest common
denominator offered in 2011 by Ford still pumps out over
300hp. Bravo, Ford. Brav-o.
“Mustang is ready
for a new generation of buyers,” Ling said. “With new
high-tech and fuel-efficient engines, class-leading
connectivity and infotainment options as well as signature
style and performance, Mustang is poised to continue its
legacy as America’s favorite sports car.”
What’s one of the
ultimate blessings you could receive on your Ford Mustang
modification achievement? One note of praise might be to
have professional drivers declare and speak of its
awesomeness. That’s just what happened when Jack Roush
turned his NASCAR Sprint Cup & Nationwide Series drivers
loose with the keys to a fleet of 2010 ROUSH 427R Mustangs.
The scene of the crime? Charlotte Motor Speedway.
About a week ago, Ford
let slip the pricing
on the 2011 Mustang GT as well as the 2011 V6 Mustang, and
this week, they’ve taken the shrink wrap off the 2011 Shelby
GT500 order guide & pricing docs. It looks like the
2011 Shelby GT500 hardtop will carry a base price of $49,495,
while the ragtop will wear a price of $54,495 on the window;
these prices include destination & delivery. The Shelby
GT500 order guide continues on to show us what we already
expected to see under hood, with the aluminum block 5.4-liter
V8 packing the pony car’s punch of 540hp.
It
was only a matter of time, really. We all knew Shelby &
company would be quick to strike and add to the aftermarket
collection when the news of the 2011 5.0 Mustang broke loose.
Now, the Shelby GT350 has risen from the tide, making a
surprising debut at the latest Barrett-Jackson Auction. The
announcement and unveiling marks a special note, as we look
back 45 years ago to the dawn of the first GT350 as well as
the first Shelby big-block Cobra.
That’s right,
folks. The pricing for the new 2011
Ford Mustang V6 and GT models has been released
leaked for all to see. It looks like we’ll take a bite
off the golden goose once again, but boy, would it be worth it
to have a 400+ horsepower 5.0 in the stable! The basic
2011 Mustang coupe is slated to have a suggested retail price
of $22,995 (destination and delivery inclusive) while the
upgrade to the GT trimmings will move the sticker to a
starting point of $30,495. Sounds like a hefty jump when
compared to the ‘89 GT 5.0 once-owned, which had a window
sticker displaying a “lofty” (at those times) $14,000.
Times have certainly changed…
In case you’ve been
living under a rock for the past oh say, 15 years, you’d
sure to realize the Ford Mustang aftermarket is something that
continues to sizzle on far beyond the dreams Carroll Shelby
and Lee Iacocca ever imagined back in the 1960s. The
staggering number of late-model Mustang spin-offs is something
that could be seen as awesome, inspiring, or even sometimes
comical. It’s quite daunting just how many flavors of
the Ford Mustang there are. What’s more, we’ve done
our best to draft up a list for you to digest, observe, and
most importantly–help continue to add to it where we’ve
left out!
Ready for this bitter
pill? You better be, because we’re going to take a
look at the comments to see if there are any we’ve missed
(to date) and then also recruit you to help build the SN95,
Fox, Mustang II, and Classic special edition lists.
We’ve got the page breaks ready, so let’s hear it!
In case you’ve been
under a rock since 1996, when the 5.0-liter V-8 dropped from
the Ford Mustang power plant offerings in favor of the
4.6-liter modular power plant, there’s a certain note of
news humming about. That’s right–the 5.0 Mustang is
back! Hey, better late than never, right? Well,
Ford’s made sure the entrance is sure to be a memorable one
with the recent update to the S197 platform’s looks, feel,
and refinement. Add to the 5.0 liters of sweet sounding
harmony over 400hp & 390tq, a new variable camshaft timing
system, and balanced & pressurized oil systems for a
smoother torque curve, and you’ve got yourself a Mustang of
the future, today.
Aside from the
obvious and flamboyant fender badges, multitude of new tech,
and course, the new 5.0 power plant underhood, one particular
aspect of the 2011 5.0 Mustang caught our discerning eye: the
engine bay is clean. If
you’ve ever swam in the nest of a stock Fox body engine bay
or tried to crawl into an SN-95 bay, you’ll know Ford was
aptly punishing you for trying to fix & repair or modify
their prized engineering creation. On the other hand,
the 2011 Mustang 5.0-liter engine bay is dramatically more
spartan than in years prior. Fewer wire looms with
electrical tape & braiding is just but one eye-pleasing
notion. The strut towers are virgin and exposed, just
waiting for additional lateral bracing. An intake,
loaded with dazzling runners, just panting and begging, “Rev
me!”.
Rev you shall.
The new 5.0 Mustang
is sure to please; we’ve seen it firsthand, and the exhaust
note is markedly different to the trained ear. Trust us.
The redline boils elegantly to a smooth 7,000 rpm, just
teasing the Euro fan boys in the crowd. Just about the
only way we think Ford might have been a step beyond the realm
of sleek & sexy and on to the boundary of sharp &
seductive, would have been to add forced induction to the
equation. Hey, we can dream, right? After all, we
never thought we’d see 5.0 badges out there on new Mustang
again, right?
Sources Say Coyote is a
Go
By now, it's no secret that millions of
fans hope to see the recently updated Ford
Mustang get a much-needed power
plant upgrade in the near future. Well,
Mustang
fans, we've got some interesting
buzz for you. Today, Ford
of Australia's Russell Christophers hinted that a new 5.0 liter
V8 codenamed "Coyote" is currently in R&D in the US
of A. That's right, the SEMA rumors seem to be heating up
closer to the boiling
point of truth,
folks. If this 5-oh comes to fruition, sources say the
numbers tach in at 400hp and 400 lb-ft of torque from the DOHC motor.
So now, it's not a question of "if" the Coyote will
come to pass; it's a question of "when". Many say
2011 or 2012. Conjecture is welcome, as no one can say for
certain, given the volatility the market (and aftermarket, for
the matter) is experiencing. Until we hear more, stay
tuned...
