Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #266 LIVE
Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials
We record Episode #266 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #266
- Barrett-Jackson 2012
- Camaro chief says ZL1 will beat Shelby GT500
- GM beats Volkswagen, or does it? And does it matter?
- Chevrolet C7 Corvette spotted
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #266 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCamaro chief claims ZL1 will outperform Shelby GT500
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford
It would seem on paper that the 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 should easily slay the heavier and less powerful 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1. The former weighs 3,850 pounds and brings 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque to the table, the latter carries 4,120 pounds and 580 hp/556 lb-ft.
Not so fast, says Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser (above). Speaking with Autoblog at an Arizona drive event for the Camaro ZL1, Oppenheiser told us, "We've done simulations. We predict that the ZL1 will be quicker to 60 than the [2013] GT500... We ran the Nürburgring and released a time. Ford took the GT500, too, and never released a time. I guess you can draw your own conclusions.""We've done simulations. We predict that the ZL1 will be quicker to 60 than the [2013] GT500."
When asked point-blank if he thought the ZL1 would be quicker around the 'Ring, Oppenheiser replied, "No question."
Them sounds like fighting words, especially in the face of data that suggests the opposite is true. Remember, this is the same guy who told Mustang fans "you're welcome" for encouraging Ford to throw everything it can at the Camaro.
But we're not counting Oppenheiser among the crazy just yet. All that power generated by the GT500's supercharged 5.8-liter V8 will be for naught if it can't reach the ground without turning into tire vapor, and let's not forget that the Blue Oval's bomber is still dragging around a solid rear axle, compared to the all-independent suspension sporting third-generation Magnetic Ride shocks on the ZL1. And who's doing the driving can always be the great equalizer when talking 'Ring times.
We're still inclined to put our chips on the blue square, but nothing's certain until these two titans of Detroit meet head-to-head.
Camaro chief claims ZL1 will outperform Shelby GT500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:00 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 | CommentsGotta Have It Green 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 snapped getting comfy in Detroit [w/poll]
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style
You've heard us gush about the Ford Mustang Boss 302 before, calling this 444-horsepower coupe "The pony car's best ambassador." Sadly, we have yet to drive the updated 2013 model, which includes, among other things, a reworked front fascia, improved front-end cooling, a more assertive front splitter and new paint and graphics options.
Among those new color choices is Gotta Have It Green, which reminds us somewhat of Porsche Emerald Green popularized on 911 models in the 1970s, albeit a bit flatter. Photographed here being jockeyed into place at Ford's Detroit Auto Show stand this morning, this is actually the second look we're giving you at Gotta Have It, though these photos are markedly clearer (and more numerous) than the ones we showed you back in November. We like the new reflective 'hockey stick' side graphic that replaces the boomerang U-shaped treatment of the 2012 model, but if we're being honest, we're on the fence about the pastel-like paint finish.
If you don't (like) Gotta Have It, there's also a new Impact Blue paint choice, along with School Bus Yellow and last year's Black, Ingot Silver, Race Red and Performance White. Unfortunately, we didn't spy either of the other new colors on Ford's Cobo Hall show stand while we were there for a preview this morning, but they could still make the scene before press days get underway next week.
Speaking of high-performance Mustang models, Autoblog has learned that rumors of the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible debuting in Motown are 100-percent false (as if to reinforce that fact, we spotted a 2012 model on a display stand). The most-powerful 'Stang droptop will debut this auto show season, though Ford wouldn't officially say at which show (we're thinking Chicago Auto Show).
So, now that you have a better look at Gotta Have It Green, does it live up to its name? Take our second-chance poll below and let us know what you think in Comments.
Gotta Have It Green 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 snapped getting comfy in Detroit [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal?
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Ford
Detroit in January isn't exactly the proper place to go topless in a 650-horsepower tire smoker, but that doesn't mean rumors of the 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible's impending debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show aren't accurate. And these spy shots prove that the car is very much ready for its big unveiling.
We're expecting the soft-top Shelby to pack the same 5.8-liter supercharged engine as its hard-topped sibling, which means the asphalt will be punished with those aforementioned 650 ponies along with 600 pound-feet of torque. For the coupe, that power equals a top speed of over 200 miles per hour.
So, here's the big question: Will the 2013 GT500 Convertible be the least expensive way to a wind-in-your-hair blast at supercar speeds? While we all ponder that question, let's all take a gander at the spy photos in the gallery above. And let's pray to the god of sunshine that the GT500 Convertible does indeed drop its top in the snowy climes of Detroit in January.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible to debut in Detroit
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Ford
At the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford officially put all other muscle cars - and even some supercars - on notice. The 2013 Shelby GT500 made its public debut, and while it doesn't look much different than the models that came before it, the huge change for 2013 lies under the hood: an all-new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 capable of sending 650 horsepower to the coupe's rear wheels.
Since the modern GT500's debut in 2007, Ford has always offered a convertible variant, and that isn't expected to change with this new 2013 model, especially since the rival Camaro ZL1 will be offered in both hardtop and droptop forms. According to TopSpeed.com, the GT500 Convertible will debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks, packing the same 650-hp powertrain and - at least, we hope - some added chassis tweaks for structural rigidity. We can't even imagine trying to handle 650 supercharged horses through a willy-nilly rear end.
The only thing that isn't expected to carry over from the coupe is the GT500's 200-plus-mile-per-hour top speed. It may be possible to achieve this with the soft top in place, but we think the 200 Club will exclusively be reserved for the coupe and its sleeker shape.
Assuming the GT500 Convertible shows its face in Detroit, we'll have the full details in just two weeks.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible to debut in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsEditors’ Choice: Top Five 2011 LA Auto Show Debuts
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Crossover, Hatchback, Cadillac, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Luxury, Fiat
We're packing up our cameras and laptops and heading out of the Los Angeles Convention Center, but before we seal the lid on the 2011 LA Auto Show, it's time to reflect on our staff's favorite debuts of the past two days. Unlike previous shows, there was nothing here in LA that truly stood out as the clear Best In Show winner, but because of that, there were plenty of good arguments amongst the staff about the five best cars on display in Los Angeles.
We won't give away the winner just yet (you'll have to click past the break to see the results), but we'll say that the first and second place cars were nearly tied, with the Number One car only winning by one vote. But enough with this fluff - hit the jump to see Autoblog's picks for the five best debuts of the 2011 LA Auto Show.
Continue reading Editors' Choice: Top Five 2011 LA Auto Show Debuts
Editors' Choice: Top Five 2011 LA Auto Show Debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 looks angry, wants out
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford
We've got to admire the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The vehicle could very possibly be the least-aerodynamic sports car on the face off the planet that's capable of knocking off 200 mph. How does it do it? Lots and lots of power. Ford completely reworked the vehicle's drivetrain for 2013, starting with the engine. The larger 5.8-liter aluminum V8 now spits out a full 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque courtesy of a larger supercharger. Ford calls the 2013 Shelby GT500 the most powerful production V8... in the world. The muscle-bound Mustang looks plenty impatient lounging on the show floor of the 2011 LA Auto Show.
Buyers looking for even more performance may opt for the GT500 Performance Pack, which throws in electronically-adjustable Bilstein dampers and a Torsen limited slip rear differential. Still not enough to satiate the go-fast itch? Good thing the 2013 GT500 is also available with a Track Package that bolts on an external engine oil cooler, transmission cooler and rear-differential cooler.
Even better, the 2013 Shelby GT500 weighs 270 pounds less than its chief rival, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and manages to dodge the gas guzzler tax. We're in love.
Continue reading 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 looks angry, wants out
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 looks angry, wants out originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Mustang lineup unveiled at the Belasco Theater
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Ford
The Mustang has been an American icon for over 45 years, and now Ford is ready to unleash the most powerful lineup in this pony car's illustrious history. Since the Mustang is it's own kind of cool, Ford decided against unveiling it in front of the assembled crowds inside the Los Angeles convention center. Instead, the Blue Oval invited 800 of its closest friends to see the 2013 lineup at the Belasco Theater.
Marketing boss Jim Farley took the stage to unveil the refreshed Boss 302, the 420-horsepower GT and the fresh-faced V6 model. Farley looked to the one and only Caroll Shelby to help unleash the 650-horsepower Shelby GT500, which looks pretty darn awesome in Grabber Blue. Shelby appeared to be especially gleeful about the latest GT500, adding that this latest GT500 is "the one." Click on the above gallery to check out photos of the live reveal.
2013 Ford Mustang lineup unveiled at the Belasco Theater originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2013 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers 650 HP and 200 MPH straight from the factory
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford
Six hundred and fifty horsepower. Six hundred pound-feet of torque. Over 200 miles per hour. With specs like these, you don't need long-form introductions. This is the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500, and all we can say is, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has officially been put on notice.
The heart of the new Ford stunner is a 5.8-liter, aluminum-block V8, complete with a larger, more efficient supercharger. Nearly the entire powertrain has been upgraded for 2013, including a new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle. The cooling system has also been upgraded, and the new six-speed manual transmission now has a final drive ratio of 3.31-to-1 - optimized to handle the massive amounts of torque put down by the new engine.Further enhancements can be had in the GT500 Performance Pack, which incorporates SVT-designed Blistein electronic adjustable dampers with 'normal' and 'sport' modes and a Torsen limited-slip differential. What's more, the Track Package adds an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler. Like the current GT500, 19-inch wheels are standard up front (20-inch rollers are found out back) and a Brembo braking system keeps everything in check when its time to control all that force. The whole package weighs in at just 3,850 pounds - 270 less than the Camaro ZL1 - and Ford says it will not be subject to the dreaded Gas Guzzler Tax.
Visually, not too much has changed from the current GT500, save some minor aerodynamic tweaks like an ever-so-slightly revised front fascia with new air splitters, as well as a minimally tweaked rear end. Inside, it's the same levels of comfort and refinement that you'll find in the rest of the Mustang lineup, albeit with new Recaro front buckets.
We'll be sure to get up close and personal with the GT500 this week at the LA Auto Show, but for now, wipe the drool from your keyboards and hit the jump for Ford's official press release.
We'll be sure to get up close and personal with the GT500 this week at the LA Auto Show, but for now, wipe the drool from your keyboards and hit the jump for Ford's official press release.
Continue reading 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers 650 HP and 200 MPH straight from the factory
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers 650 HP and 200 MPH straight from the factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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