Roush announces new performance product line for the Ford F-150
Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Ford
We normally associate with Roush Performance with the Ford Mustang, as we've tested several examples over the year from the race-ready 427R Trak Pak to the current 540 horsepower RS3. The Michigan tuner is now looking to expand, though, and has recently introduced a new line of performance products aimed at another segment of the Ford product line, the F-150.
The F-150's new powertrains are the main focus of Roush's product blitz, with supercharger systems available for both the 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s. Roush has also developed cold air inductions kits for the entire powertrain lineup with the exception of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Additionally, Roush is offering a stainless steel cat-back exhaust for most of the F-150 lineup that produces a more aggressive tone than the stock system.
You can read more about the new F-150 products from Roush in the press release after the jump, and you can get a closer glimpse at the supercharger and the exhaust system in the gallery above.
Continue reading Roush announces new performance product line for the Ford F-150
Roush announces new performance product line for the Ford F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford
For the last several years Ford has partnered with Barrett-Jackson to auction off some very special vehicles for charity. Past cars have included the first production examples of the Shelby GT500KR and Shelby GT as well as special one-offs like last year's Grabber Blue Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, all of which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
For 2012 Ford is once again auction off a Mustang for charity, but this year's car is a little different. Up for grabs will be a 2013 Shelby GT500 development car used by SVT to hone the production 'Stang. This prototype was run extensively at Sebring and the high speed oval at Ford's Arizona proving grounds and was even driven by Carroll Shelby himself during the development process. The car has some unique features including a full roll cage and Recaro racing seats, but it will likely remain a museum piece as it can't be registered for road use.
You can read more about this unique 2013 Shelby GT500 going up for auction in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading 2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity
2013 Shelby GT500 development car to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSPEED TV giving away customized Shelby GT500 as part of Hagerty Fantasy Bid at Barrett-Jackson
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford
For the past several years, SPEED has invited classic car fans to participate in the Barrett-Jackson auction with the Hagerty Fantasy Bid contest. Viewers compete to correctly guess the sale prices for select vehicles, and those who accumulate the most points come away with prizes.
SPEED will be holding the contest once again for 2012, and today announced that it will be sweetening the deal for participants - a customized 2011 Shelby GT500 with 750 horsepower. The car has been upgraded with a Ford Racing supercharger system, adjustable suspension system, Wilwood brakes and a few unique visual enhancements.
Lest you think your lack of knowledge of the classic car market leaves you no chance at winning this special Shelby GT500, don't fret. Simply making a fantasy bid during the auction automatically enters you to win the car, regardless of its accuracy. Of course, if your guesses are spot-on then you have a chance to win a variety of prizes, including a 60-inch Samsung television, gift cards, fuel cards and an iPad 2.
The Hagerty Fantasy Bid starts on January 19th, and you can register over at www.speedfantasybid.com starting on January 13th. Hit the jump for more details about the contest and the Shelby GT500 giveaway.
SPEED TV giving away customized Shelby GT500 as part of Hagerty Fantasy Bid at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsGalpin widebody Mustang ready for its charity auction at Barrett-Jackson
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford
The annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ is less than a month away, and car aficionados from around the country are already gearing up for the six-day collector car sell-a-thon. One of the vehicles up for grabs will be this custom widebody Mustang that we first told you about in August. At the time, this ponycar was a mere rendering, but since then Galpin has completed the Mustang and readied it for the auction in January.
Like several of the cars that cross the block, the proceeds from the sale of the widebody Mustang will be donated to charity, specifically the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, thanks to the generosity of SPX, the company that financed the construction of the car. We're guessing there won't be any trouble finding eager bidders to donate their hard-earned cash, as this Mustang comes with a 700-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 between the front fenders, a red suede interior, custom PPG paint, a 1000-watt stereo and more.
You can read more about the Galpin widebody Mustang and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the press release after the jump, and be sure to look out for our live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson auction next month.
Continue reading Galpin widebody Mustang ready for its charity auction at Barrett-Jackson
Galpin widebody Mustang ready for its charity auction at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Racing continues the Mustang Cobra Jet program for 2013 with new engine options
Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Racing
Ford kicked off its turn-key drag racing program with the debut of the Mustang Cobra Jet in 2008, and since then both Dodge and Chevrolet have joined the party with the Mopar Challenger Drag Pak and the recently-introduced COPO Camaro Concept. With the competition from its American counterparts Ford hasn't been able to rest on their laurels, updating the Cobra Jet in both 2010 and for 2012. Now, Ford has revealed yet another revised Cobra Jet for 2013, with the car being unveiled at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Florida.
The biggest change for the 2013 Cobra Jet is the availability of two 5.0-liter V8 options that come in either naturally aspirated or supercharged variants, allowing competitors to compete in the NHRA Stock Eliminator category. Further updates to the 2013 Cobra Jet include a lighter body, electric power steering, a new roll cage and new suspension geometry that allows for quicker launches.
As in previous years, just 50 Cobra Jets will be produced for 2013 at the AAI assembly plant alongside road-going Mustangs, with customers being chosen on a first come first served basis. With the new 5.0-liter engine options the base price has dropped to $86,000, and the optional supercharger puts that number closer to the six figure mark. You can read Ford's official press release after the jump, and live photos of the 2013 Cobra Jet at the PRI show can be found in the gallery above.
Ford Racing continues the Mustang Cobra Jet program for 2013 with new engine options originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 Shelby GTS
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews
Bringing The Shelby Name To The Masses
The Shelby name doesn't come cheap. Vintage Shelby Mustangs and Cobras can command six or sometimes even seven figure sums. The current Shelby offerings are much cheaper - the GT350 is priced around $70,000 while the Ford-built GT500 is a little less expensive with a base price just short of $50,000 - although we still wouldn't consider them attainable to the average guy with a mortgage and 2.5 kids.
Shelby sees that as a problem. The majority of its customers are the people who craved a GT500 or Cobra back when they were kids in the 1960s. Those customers are getting older, and like many other automakers, Shelby has decided to reach out to younger buyers. At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Shelby announced the GTS, a new model designed to be attainable to the masses. The GTS would be available in both V6 and V8 form and, with a package price of $9,995, could be had for less than $33,000 in base form. "It's a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times," said Shelby American president John Luft at the time.
We have to wonder, though. Are younger buyers interested in buying a Shelby Mustang? Will people actually buy a Shelby with a V6? We aimed to find out for ourselves and picked up a V6 model in Race Red with White Le Mans stripes at Shelby's facility in Gardena, CA for a week-long test.
Continue reading 2012 Shelby GTS
2012 Shelby GTS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Mustang re-skinned with classic body panels
Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style, Racing
If you like the classic lines of the 1960s Mustang but prefer the amenities of a modern car, then you'll definitely want to check out this unique pony car. Built by 23-year-old Johnny "Sparks", this 2011 Ford Mustang GT has been fitted with body panels from the 1968 and 1969 model years for a very unique look. Of course, the body panels weren't an exact fit so most of the panels had to be lengthened, widened or stretched to fit over the chassis. Some parts, like the front portion of the hood, had to be completely built from scratch. The result looks better than you might think, with the lines of the car flowing together quite well.
In addition to the new body panels, the car has also been fitted with a variety of modifications including a full exhaust system, cold-air intake and 20-inch wheels and tires. Finally, the car has been finished off in a matte red paint with black graphics.
You can get a closer look at the re-skinned Mustang in the gallery above.
2011 Mustang re-skinned with classic body panels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsIcon Bronco
Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, SUV, Ford, Specialty, Design/Style, Off-Road, Quick Spins
Resurrecting Ford's Iconic 4x4 With Style
"The watch industry is a very interesting parallel in that none of us need watches anymore," Jonathon Ward, founder of Icon 4x4, offers as a metaphor for his latest project. "The secret to them succeeding and prospering and furthering their design efforts in the modern market is in the execution - making the execution distinct and purposeful and bespoke. We are trying to take that unnecessary ethic from other industries and evolve it into niche transportation."
In other words, Ward knows that his custom creations are superfluous, but like timepieces, people appreciate them for more than just their practical use. We count ourselves in that group, as we've previously sampled the Icon CJ3B and found it to be more than the sum of its parts.
The company's latest project is the Icon Bronco. After completing the development of the FJ series and the aforementioned CJ3B, Ward has turned his unique perspective to Ford's legendary off-roader from the 1960s and 70s. Icon will officially debut this Bronco at SEMA in Las Vegas later this week, but when Ward called us up earlier this month and asked if we wanted a sneak preview, we jumped at the chance. With the Bronco needing to maintain its like-new condition for the show, however, we would be limited to a short jaunt around the city streets of his facility in Van Nuys, CA. That would have to do, though, as we were eager to see what sort of unique details and materials Ward's team has implemented into the Bronco's design.
Icon Bronco originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Ford Mustang RTR
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Celebrities, Quick Spins
Drift On Sunday, Sell On Monday
At the 2009 SEMA Show, Vaughn Gittin Jr. wowed us with his RTR-C Ford Mustang. With a full carbon fiber body, supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower and a custom interior, it was easily one of the coolest modern pony cars we had ever seen. The only problem was that to buy one of your own, you'd need a six-figure sum burning a hole in your "fun money" account. That's a lot of cash for any car, let alone a Ford Mustang. The solution is the Mustang RTR, a much cheaper version of the RTR-C that's actually fairly affordable for the average sports car buyer.
The question you might be asking, though, is whether there is room in the automotive marketplace for yet another specialty Mustang. It seems a new variation comes across our desks at least once a week, and there are already endless aftermarket options for those wishing to build their own personalized pony car. Plus, many of those same Mustangs have well-established names like Shelby, Saleen and Roush emblazoned on their sides, all of whom are legends in the storied history of motorsports (and the Ford Mustang in particular).
Even so, Gittin is hoping to bring something new to the table. As a series champion and one of the most popular figures in Formula Drift, he believes that he can offer something different to a new generation of car enthusiasts. When Gitten first began competing with a Ford Mustang, he felt a disconnect between the car's aftermarket and the crowds of fans who were attending drifting events. "Since I fell in love with being behind the wheel of a Mustang in 2005, I noticed that most of the aftermarket was offering parts that were so traditional and, for the most part, not really my style - nor most of my generation's style" he told Autoblog. "I wanted to introduce something fresh and aggressive to the market that would engage a new generation of Mustang owner and appeal to traditional Mustang enthusiasts at the same time." That vision became a reality at SEMA in 2009 with the debut of his RTR-C and RTR Mustang.
Still, the question remains. Is there room for yet another Mustang tuner to enter the mix? We took a quick spin in an RTR Mustang to help find out.
Continue reading 2011 Ford Mustang RTR
2011 Ford Mustang RTR originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord to celebrate 110 years of racing heritage at SEMA
Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Classics, Ford
On this day in 1901, Henry Ford took his home-built race car named "Sweepstakes" and entered a 10-mile race at the Detroit Driving Club against the favored Alexander Winton. Ford ended up winning the race and the victory garnered attention from investors that would help launch the Ford Motor Company just a couple of years later. Since that first race, Ford has achieved a multitude of successes in a variety of motorsports including wins at the Daytona 500, Indy 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Baja 1000 and more.
As part of their celebration of 110 years of racing, Ford will be bringing together some of their more historic race cars to display at the upcoming SEMA show in Las Vegas next month. The lineup is truly impressive, including the Le Mans-winning 1967 GT40 MkIV, Parnelli Jones' 1970 Mustang Boss 302, Jim Clark's Lotus that won the 1965 Indy 500, various John Force Funny Cars and the winning race car from this year's Daytona 500 just to name a few.
Next month, we'll bring you live coverage of the historic display of Ford Racing cars as well as the rest of the 2011 SEMA extravaganza. Until then, follow the jump to read more about Ford's 110-year racing history.
Continue reading Ford to celebrate 110 years of racing heritage at SEMA
Ford to celebrate 110 years of racing heritage at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments