Ford Mustang Racing

Ford Mustang Original Video Stories - Father's Day

2008-11-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

To All My Readers,
This is my personal pick. I hope it wins. It made me cry, it was amazing, and SO true... once you try a Mustang.. that dream lasts forever. I love you, Dad. May you rest in peace, and I think about you every day.

2009 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Deluxe - ROUSH 427R & RTC Stage 3

2008-07-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

(Via Autoblog.com - Roush 427R and Autoblog.com - Roush RTC)

Needless to say, ROUSH Performance Products didn't need to ask twice when it offered to put its recently-introduced 427R in the Autoblog Garage for a week. We immediately caught the next ride to Livonia, MI to grab the keys, and did our best impression of respectable journalists. The facade of responsibility lasted all of two stop lights, after which we were laughing like maniacs who had just robbed a gun store. And just why were we so happy to get our hands on this machine? The answer is quite simple - the man who's name appears in more than twenty locations on the 427R has a bit of a reputation for making cars go fast. After some time on the street, at the track, and on the dyno, we can say that the reputation is well deserved.
Editor's Note: As far as we know, Autoblog was the first outlet in the world to get its hands on a ROUSH 427R for review, and there's only one person on the team we would allow to handle this much horsepower: Eric Bryant. He didn't disappoint, having produced the most thorough In the Autoblog Garage review ever that includes not only the normal areas of review, but also dyno runs to verify ROUSH's power claims and a trip to the dragstrip where this pony was thoroughly flogged. PLUS there's a video of the whole review after the jump.

Ford's Mustang is wildly popular, but as is the case with any vehicle that sells over a quarter-million copies each year, there will be compromises that prevent the "one percenters" from being truly satisfied. That's where ROUSH Performance Products steps in, with its Stage upgrades, and now the 427R - intended to slot between the Stage 2 and Stage 3 in both price and performance.

The 427R is based upon a Mustang GT Coupe Deluxe, which includes leather seats (with a 6-way power adjuster and lumber support on the driver's side), cruise control, keyless entry, A/C, power locks, power windows with auto-up/-down, and power mirrors. The Shaker 500 sound system is also included. With this as a starting point, the vehicle then undergoes extensive modification.

Drivetrain

The heart of the 427R's modifications is the ROUSHcharger forced-induction system that is installed on the 3-valve SOHC 4.6L V8. Utilizing an Eaton positive-displacement supercharger and a water-to-air intercooler integrated into the intake manifold, the system applies approximately 6 PSI of boost to produce 427 HP and 391 lb-ft - a useful increase of 127 HP and 71 lb-ft over the stock numbers. The system includes a vacuum-actuated bypass valve that routes air around the compressor at part throttle to increase efficiency. A heat exchanger for the intercooler is nestled behind the front fascia and uses a dedicated coolant loop (plumbed along the passenger's side of the engine) with an electric circulation pump. The engine's new fuel and spark demands are satisfied via a recalibrated OEM powertrain control module. Premium fuel is required, of course. The stock exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters dump spent gases into the ROUSH stainless-steel cat-back system.

Bumping up the output by nearly 43% changes the Mustang's personality dramatically, with the blower providing loads of thrust at any RPM and in any gear. The tractability and linearity of the powerplant is remarkable, giving the operator absolute control over the amount of power that reaches the rear wheels. This is good, as applying too much throttle with the traction control disabled will simply light up the rear tires in First, and some caution should be exercised in Second as well.

Great sounds are generated along as soon as the starter is engaged, with the PCM bringing up the revs to about 2000 RPM during start-up to produce a healthy bark before settling down to the normal idle speed. Putting the pedal to the floor fills the cabin with a thundering exhaust note, complimented by the supercharger's lovely mechanical whine. On decel, a symphony of crackles and growls is sung by the 3" tips that peek out from under the rear fascia. It's a wonderful soundtrack that totally fits the personality of the car, but forget any notion of sneaking around - heads will turn as the 427R passes by. If we have a complaint, it's that a rather obnoxious drone is emitted at part throttle around 1800 RPM. Downshift a gear and the exhaust note becomes much more pleasant; it's a solution that we're quite comfortable recommending.

Suspension

The performance modifications continue to the underpinnings, where ROUSH replaces the factory springs, sway bars, front struts, rear shocks, bushings, and jounce bumpers with new components to lower the Mustang while providing improved roll resistance. It appears that additional camber and caster is also dialed into the front suspension.

All of these blue powdercoated parts combine with the stiff S197 structure to add up to what is easily the best ride-vs.-handling compromise we've ever experienced in a pony car. The increased roll rate and lowered center-of-gravity provide crisp handling with neutral breakaway characteristics, and yet the suspension remains compliant enough to handle the worst of Michigan's pothole-strewn roads. Never does the rear axle give any indication of tramp or hop, and in fact behaves better than some RWD vehicles with independent rear suspension. Quite simply, every musclecar should handle this well. If we were to change anything, we'd perhaps try to dial in a bit more steering feedback, as it retains the stock Mustang's slightly overboosted feel.

Wheels and Tires

Five-spoke chromed cast-aluminum 18x9" wheels are wrapped in Cooper Zeon 2XS directional tires in 275/40-18. We had no previous experience with this tire, but came away impressed by its respectable dry and wet traction (the latter of which we had a disproportionate amount of time experiencing due to the wet weather this fall). Additionally, the low noise and decent ride quality were appreciated when we weren't driving at 10/10ths. Almost as importantly, the wheel/tire package did a great job of complimenting the lowered ride height by filling up the fenderwells.

Body

While the supercharger and underpinnings are responsible for providing the "go", ROUSH's exterior appearance modifications supply plenty of "show". A color-matched four-piece body kit is installed, consisting of a redesigned front fascia and air dam, nonfunctional hood scoop, and "whale tail" rear spoiler. The 427R package also includes louvered covers for the quarter windows. A racing stripe covers the center of the hood and scoop, while "hockey-stick" graphics run down the front fenders and doors and a large ROUSH banner adorned the top of the windshield. Several other badges leave no question about the 427R's origin. Combined with the lowered ride height, the effect is that of a race car that has escaped from pit row to terrorize the streets.

The cosmetic changes turn the Mustang into a total attention magnet. We've never experienced such a reaction from any vehicle we've ever driven; people respond to the 427R with the joy that one would expect from a childhood automotive fantasy come to life. We also found that the Roush name carries with it a substantial amount of "street cred". If you like getting the thumbs-up sign from random strangers and talking about cars every time you pull into a parking spot, this is your car. Those looking to fly under the radar would be well-advised to seek alternative transportation.

The body add-ons also fit the Mustang extremely well, with the exception of the side window louvers. Held on by only three screws, they were able to move around a bit. While this didn't create any noise, we think that it might scuff the paint after a while, and would have preferred to see a bit of double-sided tape to help keep them from rubbing on the finish. Otherwise, the quality of the exterior parts was excellent and we never scraped the air dam, proving that ROUSH designed these components for real-world use.

Interior

To spice up the normally dark and dour Mustang interior, new seat covers with electric-blue perforated leather inserts are installed onto the stock frames and cushions. Down below, billet aluminum pedal covers are installed, including a dead pedal, and a set of ROUSH embroidered floor mats cover the carpet. A custom gauge black-on-white gage cluster is installed into the dashboard as well. To top things off, a billet aluminum shift knob is mounted atop the stock shifter.

The blue seats certainly match up well with the exterior, but admittedly they're slightly jarring at first sight when contrasted with the rest of the interior. We initially thought that we wouldn't like the pedal covers, thinking that they'd be too slippery when wet. Fortunately, their sharp edges provided plenty of grip, heal-and-toe downshifts were possible, and we found the dead pedal to be perfectly placed. The shape of the shift knob also drew some early scrutiny, but it turned out to be well-matched to the placement of the shifter and center console. The new gage cluster proved easy to read and the green night time backlighting was well-matched with other controls, but the MyColor feature of the OEM cluster is lost in the process. Also, the redline on the tach is marked at 6000 RPM, where the power peak hasn't yet arrived and the rev limiter doesn't kick in for another 500 RPM.

Warranty

Those who are concerned about the effect of these modifications upon the factory warranty need not worry - all of the Ford factory equipment is still covered. ROUSH components carry their own 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.

Performance

When dealing with this much power, putting down the hammer on public roads fails to provide any meaningful indication of performance (not to mention the danger presented to the general public and our driver licenses). To provide some objective measurements, we first hit a chassis dyno to see if ROUSH's claims could be verified, and then took several passes down the dragstrip.

We brought the 427R over to Baker Engineering in Nunica, MI and strapped it to the facility's Dynojet 248 inertial chassis dyno. Our first run resulted in some disappointing numbers, but an hour of diagnosis by ROUSH technicians revealed a simple problem - the blower's bypass valve actuator was misadjusted, causing the valve to remain partially open at wide-open throttle. The effect of this was to bleed off nearly half of the blower's boost, with a corresponding effect on power production. Spinning up the rollers once again, we obtained a rather healthy 356 HP and 330 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels (corrected for atmospheric conditions to the SAE J1349 standard, of course). Assume a drivetrain loss figure of somewhere around 15-20% (trying to pin down an exact number is impossible), and these results back up ROUSH's crankshaft ratings. The engine was still pulling hard when the rev limiter was encountered at 6500 RPM, and the torque curve remained healthy over the entire range of the pull.

We then drove the 427R over to Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, MI to lay down some passes. Hampered by difficulties with wheelspin, our quickest attempt resulted in an elapsed time of 13.474 seconds at 106.79 MPH (a faster trap speed of 107.28 was recorded on a 13.551 pass). Applying NHRA correction factors for weather - we calculated a density altitude of 1600 ft - to our quickest run yields 13.234@108.77 MPH (we give you both the raw and corrected numbers, as opinions vary as to which is the more useful figure). While the trap speeds are appropriate for the 427R's power-to-weight ratio, the elapsed times were several tenths slower than what we'd like to see. A glance at the timeslip shows the problem; with a 60-foot time of 2.040, we spent way too much time trying to ease the car out of the hole without boiling the tires or bogging the engine (launching at 2500 RPM was the way to avoid excessive wheelspin, even with the tires at 25 PSI). We also struggled a bit with the stock shifter, and think that ROUSH's optional billet shifter would be money well spent for aspiring drag racers. Finally, the overaggressive rev limiter seems to shut down the engine for an eternity (in reality, it kills the motor for about a second), which applies a stiff penalty to late shifts. Bolt on a set of drag radials, get in some more practice with the shifter, and we think that this thing will easily break into the twelves.

The Final Verdict

Judged solely upon its merits, we think that that ROUSH 427R is indeed a fine piece of performance machinery - and an attractive piece of eye candy, as well. However, it's a fact of life that ROUSH expects some payment in return for all of this equipment, and the base 427R package adds $15,000 to the Mustang GT's MSRP of $26,980. The gage cluster, custom leather seating, and side window louvers add another $2,340, and Uncle Sam grabs another grand for the federal gas-guzzler tax. Add in the delivery cost, and it'll take $46,110 to put one in your driveway.

This places the 427R in the same price range as Ford's own Shelby GT500, as well as the base version of Chevrolet's Corvette. To be honest, it's unlikely that the Vette will be cross-shopped against either Mustang (it's a Ford vs. Chevy thing, folks), so the real competition here is indeed the Blue Oval's factory hot rod. In the Shelby's favor is an additional 75 HP, as well as larger brakes. Thanks to its smaller aluminum block engine, though, the 427R is lighter by a couple hundred pounds (and with much better distribution of that mass), and we think that it's far less likely to be mistaken for a garden-variety Mustang. And let's not forget the "market adjustment" currently applied to the GT500 (although that is likely a temporary situation). We'll hold off on forming too strong of an opinion until we get to spend some serious time with the Shelby, but our tendency right now might be to select the GT500 for serious straight-line duty, and go with the 427R for just about anything else. It's not cheap, but it's a well-engineered muscle car that's equally at home on the street or the racetrack, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with it in the Autoblog Garage.

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Specifications & Mods:

Roush Mustang RTC Package - $13,375.00

- ROUSH 4 Piece Aero body Kit (Front Fascia, Front Chin Spoiler, Hood Scoop, and Rear Wing)
- Lower Valance Fog Lamps
- High Flow Nine Bar Grille
- Two-Tone Paint
- ROUSH Door Sill Plates
- ROUSH 20-Inch Forged Chrome Wheels with High Performance Tires
- ROUSH Fender and Decklid Badges
- ROUSH Front Windshield Banner
- ROUSH Embroidered Floor Mats
- Locking Lug Nuts
- ROUSH Billet Aluminum Shifter Handle w/ Grips (Manual Transmission Only)
- ROUSH Four-Piece Performance Pedals
- ROUSH White Face Electro Luminescent Gauge Cluster
- ROUSH Sport Leather Seating with Suede Inserts
- ROUSH Lowering Springs and Jounce Bumpers
- RTCSerialized Engine Bay Plaque

Options

Chrome ROUSHcharger (430 hp / 400 lb-ft) $6,250.00
Vent Pod w/ Boost Gauge (ROUSHcharger Option Only) $435.00
Interior Dash Trim Kit (Carbon Fiber Design) $350.00
Quarter Window Louvers (Coupe ONLY) $315.00
Short Throw Shifter (can be used with stock shift knob or Roush billet knobs) $340.00
Short Shifter w/ Chrome Shifter Arm and White Ball Knob $445.00
Short Shifter w/ Chrome Shifter Arm and Black Ball Knob $445.00
Trunk Mounted Tool Kit $355.00
ROUSH Exhaust - Dealer Installed (Post Title) $575.00
Sport Brake Kit (slotted rotors and painted calipers) $1,450.00
Strut Tower Brace $220.00

2009 Mustang 45th Anniversary Badge Revealed

2008-05-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

[Via Jalopnik & MustangEvolution]

The 2009 year will mark 45 years of uninterrupted production of the Ford Mustang and what other way to celebrate than a fancy new badge. The 2009 badge will appear only on the base model Ford Mustangs and be about 4 inches in height and width.

Holy cow, OMG, WTF — it's a real, live badge for the 2009 Ford Mustang! OK, we'll stop with the exclamations now. But why wouldn't we be excited — it's the 45th anniversary of the Mustang and, and, and — OK, we can't really figure out why we should be excited. Especially given we'll see an entirely new Ford Mustang less than one year later for the 2010 model year. Whatever, we salute Ford for 45 years of pony cars. At least they kept going with the muscular muscle cars even when no other 'merican automaker would. That took some guts — and we'll give 'em credit for that. However we'll still poke 'em for that big truck axle in the rear end. Speaking of credit, we're also going to give some credit to Mustang Evolution for pokin' fun at Ford with a snarky little comment on the new 'stangs looking a little thick around the waist. Way to be, guys!

Carroll Shelby Celebrates 85th Birthday & 1966 Le Mans Victory with Commemorative GT40

2008-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

[Via AutoBlog]
By Drew Phillips

We got our first look at Shelby's 85th Commemorative GT40 back in January at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. It's as close as you can get to the real thing without spending millions on an original GT40 with the chassis and body nearly perfectly replicating the original. Shelby Distribution has now issued an updated press release as well as the official photos. The GT40, built by Superformance but officially badged a Shelby, celebrates both Carroll's 85th birthday as well as the dominating 1-2-3 Le Mans win in 1966. It's available in all three colors of the original race cars - Arcadian Blue, Black, and Red - as well as unique Shelby badging on the door handles, headlights, side graphics, and floor mats. No engine specs are available since each comes as a rolling chassis, but the engine bay is built to accommodate any Shelby-badged V8 crate engine. Anything but a 427ci V8 would be just plain crazy, though. Follow the jump for the press release and check out nearly fifty high resolution photos in the gallery below.

PRESS RELEASE:

In celebration of Carroll Shelby's 85TH birthday Shelby Distribution USA under license from Shelby Licensing and in partnership with Shelby Automobiles Inc. will reproduce the three dominating Shelby American GT40® race cars that accomplished one of the greatest feats in American automotive racing history into a street legal vehicle that can be driven or simply collected. These rolling chassis will receive a Shelby Automobiles Inc. MSO and will be recorded in the Shelby Registry along with the Safir GT40 Spares LLC assigned licensed mark, identification number and registry that reflects these cars as newly manufactured variants of the original GT40®.

Chassis/Body

The GT40®'s chassis is a near-exact replication of the original race car's monocoque unibody structure down to the pressed steel roof. The only departure is the use of electro-galvanized sheet steel in the construction. The chassis, at over 12,000 pounds per degree, is stiffer than any other chassis on the market, and is made of over 244 laser cut and bent or pressed parts.

Engine/Transmission

The Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® is built to accommodate only a Shelby branded engine. The top of the line engine includes the Shelby 427FE V8.

Original Style Suspension

The Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® features an original style fully independent suspension system utilizing an unequal length A-arm design. The coilover system utilizes H&R springs and Bilstein shocks that are fully adjustable as well as the front and rear anti-roll bars. Ride height can be changed from 4.125 to 4.75 inches.

Wheels/Tires/Brakes

Incredible braking performance is achieved through vented Wilwood super light brakes. Both front and rear brakes feature 12.75" discs and 4-piston calipers. Original style 15-inch Halibrand wheels are wrapped with high performance BFGoodrich g-Force Drag Radial tires, 225/50/15 front, 275/60/15 rear.

Interior

The interior features original style seats with rivets and 4-point racing harness seat belts. A racing style dash features Smith gauges, and the pedal box, instruments, quick-release 14-inch steering wheel, and dash accurately replicate the original.

Unique 85th Commemorative Edition GT40® Features

The MKII Shelby GT40®'s will be based on the following cars. Only 85 of each color will be issued.

Car #1, Chassis P/1015: Arcadian Blue, White Stripes/Dark Blue borders, and Dayglo Red Fender Flashes
Car #2, Chassis P/1046: Black with solid Silver Stripes and White Roundels
Car #3, Chassis P/1047 Red with solid White Stripes and Roundels

Features Include:

- Record sale into the Shelby Registry
- Shelby MSO and dash plaque
- Carroll Shelby engraved door handles
- Carroll Shelby etched left and right front headlight covers
- Roundels with 85 number decals
- Leather seating
- Hood wind diffusers
- CS GT40® numbered plaque
- CS GT40® side sill graphics
- Carroll Shelby signature floor and sill mats
- 85th Commemorative hood badge
- 85th Special Edition decal
- Available in right and left hand drive

Available Race Version

While the standard Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® is as close to a race car as one can get to driving on the street, a race version is also available. This package comes with a roll bar, fuel cell and A/C delete.

Vehicle specifications

Wheelbase: 95"
Length: 163"
Height: 40.5"
Width: 70"
Track (f/r): 57"/56"
Ground Clearance: 4.125" – 4.75"
Curb Weight: 2400 lbs
Weight Distribution: f/r: 40/60%

About Shelby Distribution

Based in Irvine, CA, Shelby Distribution is the official distributor for Shelby continuation cars. Their product lineup includes the CSX4000 Cobra, CSX9000, and the 85th Commemorative GT40. For more information on Shelby continuation cars or to find a dealership, visit www.shelbydistributionusa.com or call 888-SHELBY-USA. The GT40® trademark is owned by Safir GT40 Spares LLC.

Ford Mustang GT500KR Priced at $79,995

2008-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

[Via AutoBlog & Jalopnik]
By Damon Lavrinc

Ford will be producing 1,000 GT500KR Mustangs this year, with another 700 in 2009, so FoMoCo is pricing the ultimate 'Stang accordingly. For $79,995 (including destination and gas-guzzler tax), you get everything included in the "standard" GT500, plus Ford Racing's Power Upgrade Package, which includes a new exhaust and a recalibrated ECU to push out 540 hp and 510 lb.-ft. of torque from the supercharged 5.4-liter V8. The only options on the ordering form are a Shaker 1000 stereo, Sirius satellite radio and a navigation system. Ford hasn't disclosed fuel economy numbers yet, but we doubt anyone willing to drop $80k on a blown V8 is troubled by topping off their own KR with $4.00-a-gallon premium. Get your orders in now; sales begin later this month.

Don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR if you haven't already, as well as the galleries below that contain a number of high-res images begging to be your next desktop wallpaper.

PRESS RELEASE

FORD SHELBY GT500KR: WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE FROM THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION MUSTANG EVER

The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR is the new "King of the Road" – the most powerful production Mustang ever produced, thanks to a 540-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

* The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR is the new "King of the Road" – the most powerful production Mustang ever produced, thanks to a 540-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

* New GT500KR blends performance engineering expertise of Ford SVT, trackside learnings from Ford Racing Technology and ingenuity of Shelby Automobiles to deliver world-class handling and performance. The Ford Shelby GT500KR arrives at select Ford dealerships in late May.

Long live the King! The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR, "King of the Road" assumes the throne, taking its rightful place as the ultimate American muscle car.

The GT500KR builds on the already impressive stats of the Shelby GT500, with 40 more horsepower, an additional 30 foot-pounds of torque and an array of chassis, aero and weight-reduction measures to offer world-class performance. Engineered by Ford SVT with final assembly by Shelby Automobiles, it blends track learnings from the Ford Racing Mustang FR500C and the ingenuity of Carroll Shelby to deliver the ultimate in Mustang performance.

"Every new Shelby Mustang renews my energy and passion for performance," said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. "I'm just as excited about the 2008 KR as I was when I developed the first one. The team has done a great job with this car. It is this is truly the best Shelby Mustang we've ever built...so far."

The Shelby GT500KR is the latest in a royal lineage that spans more than 40 years, beginning with the 1965 Shelby GT350 and including the original 1968 Shelby GT500KR that provided the inspiration. Carroll Shelby has played an active role in the development of every one.

"When the names Mustang and Shelby come together, the results are never anything less than amazing," said Robert Parker, Ford Car Marketing manager. "Mustang has earned an endearing place in America's hearts, topping the sports car segment for 22 straight years. The GT500KR is sure to get those hearts pumping even faster."

Delivering the Ultimate in Mustang Performance

Just like its 1968 namesake, the 2008 Shelby GT500KR builds on the strong foundation of the Shelby GT500. Ford and Shelby designers collaborated to channel the classic KR design cues and finesse them into the iconic lines of the new Mustang. Most noticeable are the modern interpretation of the distinctive, sculpted KR hood and classic Le Mans-style striping.

The development team spent countless hours designing a car that pays homage to the 1968 "King of the Road," but this thoroughbred is more than just a pretty face. The GT500KR is inspired by Ford Racing's experience on the race track and finessed with the trademark SVT engineering and Shelby Automobiles' proven delivery of balanced performance production for the street. Its chassis incorporates unique suspension components developed especially for the KR.

The suspension's stiffness has been enhanced with wheel rates 17 percent higher in the front and 7 percent higher in the rear. Every other element of the chassis system – such as sway bars and shock absorbers – has been tuned especially to improve King of the Road's handling.

The new suspension was tuned to work with the Goodyear high-performance, P255/45Z18 front and P285/40ZR18 rear tires, developed specifically for the KR, with a compound that is exclusive to North America. The stickier tires help the short 3.73:1 rear gear (compared to the GT500's 3.31:1 rear gear) send maximum horsepower to the road and are an important component in the overall handling balance.

"The KR is much more than just a great straight-line performer. It's the complete package − handling, power and performance," said Jamal Hameedi, chief program engineer at Ford SVT. "The team put the GT500KR through rigorous testing and have witnessed slalom runs with sustained lateral acceleration of 1.0g on the skidpad. Those are world-class numbers."

The GT500KR doesn't just go better, it stops better. The new tires work with a recalibrated anti-lock braking system (ABS) that results in improved stopping distances 6 feet shorter from 60 to 0 than the stock GT500. The ABS system has been tuned to be unobtrusive during spirited driving. Similar honing was undertaken with the vehicle's traction-control system to optimize acceleration

The GT500KR's impeccable balance of handling and performance is the result of a holistic approach to the development, looking at the total vehicle with chassis and powertrain engineers working together to optimize all vehicle attributes.

For example, a new front splitter and revised rear spoiler aid in aerodynamic improvements, adding downforce over the front axle and moving the center of aero pressure forward in the vehicle to improve high-speed balance and stable, predictable braking character. The ride height has been lowered to the optimum setting for on-the-limit handling, lowering the front by 20 mm and the rear by 15 mm.

"The KR is more responsive and has more body control," said Gary Davis, vice president of production for Shelby Automobiles. "It delivers even more racing feel than a stock GT500. Yet it's still extremely comfortable and doesn't beat you up like some performance cars. We've been able to increase handling substantially without giving up a lot in ride comfort."

GT500KR 5.4-liter V-8 Receives the Royal Treatment

The 2008 "King of the Road" packs a walloping dose of Ford performance under a sculpted carbon fiber hood. The Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is enhanced with a series of Ford Racing-inspired upgrades that boosts horsepower to an estimated 540 and torque to 510 lb.-ft.

The added power is delivered courtesy of a revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit.

The unique carbon fiber hood, secured by a pair of stainless steel, twist-down hood pins, serves to relieve high-speed underhood pressure, move air from the front intake and engine compartment to the rear extractors and channel supplemental fresh air into the new cold air intake that feeds KR's massive V-8.

The Shelby GT500KR cold air intake seal was designed with the new hood to prevent hot engine compartment air from reaching the air intake. This channels ambient air to feed the supercharged intake for optimal combustion efficiency for horsepower and torque.

Calibration modifications include advancing the ignition timing as well as re-mapping the electronic throttle settings to provide quicker throttle response for better off-line and mid-range acceleration. Increased throttle response is met with a sharper roar from the Ford Racing-inspired exhaust system.

"Throttle response has been dramatically improved," said Hameedi. "The KR launches with authority and provides power on demand – throughout the entire power band."

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter throws are 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, quicker shifts.

Inspired by Ford Racing Mustang FR500C motorsport experience, the Shelby GT500KR has been fitted with an elevated axle vent reservoir to prevent axle fluid expulsion during sustained periods of performance driving or track-day use.

A Legend in the Making

Each Shelby GT500KR begins life as a GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Inc., in Flat Rock, Mich. From there, the cars are shipped to Shelby Automobile's facility in Las Vegas.

"We are so proud of the Ford and Shelby teams coming together and working tirelessly for the last year to bring you the Ford Shelby GT500KRs with the specially engineered chassis, powertrain and exhaust components along with the unique carbon-fiber hood and the new short-throw shifter," said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. "Every GT500KR will be hand customized and delivered to each customer in an enclosed transporter, just like the Ford GT."

Each 2008 GT500KR model is identified by a special 40th Anniversary badge on the fenders and grille, distinctive body colored mirror caps and Shelby lettering stretching across the front of the hood and along the rear portion of the deck lid. A special Shelby Automobiles, Inc., Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) tag is affixed inside each vehicle's engine compartment.

Each new GT500KR also will be entered into the official Shelby Registry.

The all-leather interior features Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and an official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate mounted at the top of the center stack.

Other standard equipment includes HID headlamps, an interior ambient lighting package, wrapped and stitched instrument panel, center console and armrests, as well as an electrochromic rearview mirror. Optional equipment includes a Shaker 1000 audio system, DVD navigation system and SIRIUS satellite radio.

The GT500KR or "King of the Road" Mustang is the fourth limited-edition Mustang that Shelby Automobiles and Ford have brought to market since resuming their collaboration in 2001. The public will get its first taste of the GT500KR in late May, when selected dealers will offer the latest Shelby Mustang in a limited edition of 1,000 units for 2008. The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the Mustang GT500KR is $79,995, including destination and delivery charges.

First 2009 GT500KRs From Shelby Autos

2008-04-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

[Via AutoBlog]
By Jeremy Korzeniewski

We got a chance to visit Shelby Automotive out in Las Vegas a week or so ago to witness the first 2009 GT500KR going through final assembly. Although the KR was originally intended to be an '08-only model release, demand for the new King of the Road was high enough that Ford and Shelby decided to keep on rollin' for another year and plans to offer an additional 746 units for 2009. As a refresher, these beasts are powered by a 540-horsepower version of the GT500's supercharged V8. If you love special edition versions of the Mustang like this one but aren't ready yet to buy, fear not... we have a feeling that there will be many more to choose from in the coming years.

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2008-04-17T21:05:00.001-07:00

Movie Reviews

Ford Increases Production of 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR

2008-03-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

[Via WorldCarFans]

Shelby GT500KR is such a hit that more examples are to find their way into enthusiasts’ garages in the next year or so. This after the demand began to outstrip supply to dangerous levels, such that Ford and partner on the project Shelby Automobiles decided to produce an additional 746 units for the 2009 model. US buyers will receive 571 units for their top dollar. Production of the car began the day Carroll Shelby celebrated 85 years of his own birth back on January 11, 2008.

GT500KR fits a 5.4-litre supercharged V8 on its bones to make a hefty 540 bhp, working with a short-throw shifter and racing suspension tuning. “This car is really special to me and demonstrates that when Shelby Automobiles gets together with Ford SVT and Ford Racing, we can deliver a Mustang that will compete with the best in the world,” is what Shelby himself was heard to say.

The cars arrive at Shelby Automotive in Las Vegas as standard Mustang GT500 cars where they undergo an extensive metamorphosis of chassis tuning, performance kit installation and exterior mods to come out the way they are. Such is the interest in GT500KR that at a recent charity auction a unique one – glass roof and all – went for a shivering USD550,000! Curiosity will only heighten when it debuts as K.I.T.T. in the next installment of Knight Rider.

NYIAS: Ford Debuts 2009 Edition "Warriors in Pink" Mustang

2008-03-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

[Via AutoBlog]

New York has been a relatively quiet show for Ford, with the Transit Connect Taxi Concept being its highest-profile (literally, even) unveiling at the show. It's not the only one, however. Ford quietly unveiled the 2009 "Warriors in Pink" Mustang. Like its predecessors, the WIP 'Stang will be produced in a limited run (1,000 cars) with $500 from each sale going to the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, a charitable organization dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. The '09 Warriors In Pink cars are Mustang V6 Premium models adorned with a new grille, pink hood and side stripes, pink-ribbon badging, and pink accent stitching inside. The display car is a silver coupe with the optional glass roof. The car is also available as a ragtop, and black or white paint is also on offer. On the coupe Carroll Shelby once referred to as a "secretary's car", the Warriors In Pink package seems to fit right in.

[Source: Ford]

For morepictures of the NYIAS coverage, see AutoBlog's full gallery HERE.

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PRESS RELEASE:
FORD LAUNCHES 'WARRIORS IN PINK' MUSTANG FOR '09, DOUBLES CONTRIBUTIONS TO RACE FOR THE CURE

* Ford unveils new 'Warriors in Pink' edition Mustang at the New York International Auto Show to raise money for breast cancer education and research.
* The company is doubling its contribution to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – to $500 for each Warriors in Pink Mustang sold.
* Ford and its dealers together have dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind contributions for breast cancer education and research.

NEW YORK, March 19, 2008 – Ford Motor Company, which has dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind contributions for breast cancer education and research for 14 years, announces today that it is doubling its contribution to Susan G. Komen for the Cure each time it sells a 'Warriors in Pink' package for the 2009 Ford Mustang.

"Thanks to the tremendous response from our dealers and customers to the 2008 'Warriors in Pink' Mustang, we knew we needed to continue offering the package, and we're happy to be able to increase our support for the Cure at the same time," said Connie Fontaine, Ford Experiential Marketing manager.

Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 units, the Mustang with Warriors in Pink package was designed exclusively in support of Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. New upgrades for the 2009 package are featured on the Ford display at the New York International Auto Show.

Available on the Mustang V-6 Premium Coupe and Convertible models, the Warriors in Pink package includes a unique grille and will add a pink ribbon and pony fender badge, pink Mustang rocker tape striping, charcoal leather seats with pink stitching, aluminum-spoke steering wheel with pink stitching and charcoal floormats with pink ribbon and contrast stitching.

Coupes also can be ordered with the all-new glass roof option. Three body colors will be available: Black, Brilliant Silver and Performance White.

Ford Warriors in Pink
Launched in 2006, the Ford Warriors in Pink campaign recognizes the strength and courage it takes to deal with the everyday challenges of fighting breast cancer.

Ford's goal in 2008 is to donate more than $1 million for the Cure through these sales of the special Mustangs, Warriors in Pink apparel and other fundraising efforts.

The Warriors in Pink apparel collection for men and women feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to the fight against breast cancer. All apparel is available on www.fordcares.com, and 100 percent of net proceeds are donated to Komen for the Cure.

The limited-edition 2009 Mustang with Warriors in Pink will be available through Ford dealers this summer.

Mustang is one of the greatest automotive sales success stories of all time. Nearly one out of every two sports cars sold in America is a Mustang, and the Mustang is also America's best-selling convertible.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which helped launch the global breast cancer awareness and education movement.

Today, Race for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Race for the Cure, the foundation has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill that promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 245,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's breast cancer awareness initiatives, visit www.fordcares.com.

[Source: Ford]

NYIAS: Saleen Debuts Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang

2008-03-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

[Via WorldCarFans & Jalopnik]

Dan Gurney said that he only had one request before agreeing to endorse a special-edition Saleen Mustang designed in his honor: it had to be "faster than Parnelli's." Saleen was happy to comply, and the Dan Gurney Signature Edition was born. Like the Parnelli Jones Signature limited edition, the Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang features graphics inspired by classic Trans Am race series cars, an extremely limited production run and of course some serious performance parts.

The Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang is set apart by a special body kit, duckbill rear spoiler and a "stinger"style hood scoop. Inside, a signature plate is personally signed by Gurney, and the two-tone seats have blue or red Alcantara inserts that are color-matched to the exterior. Saleen will build 100 Dan Gurney Signature Editions in each available color: Torch Red, Performance White and Vista Blue. Like the Parnelli Jones edition, the racing stripes and number stickers will be available so owners can create a road-going race replica if they desire. It's a tasteful package that will appeal to fans of vintage racers without looking too garish.

To ensure that Gurney's performance wishes were fulfilled, Saleen installed a supercharged 465-horsepower 281 cubic-inch V8 under the hood and connected it to a short-throw shifter. A 3.73 limited-slip Max Grip rear end helps to get the power to the road. Handling is improved with a Racecraft suspension, a second-generation Watts-Link rear end and Pirelli Corsa tires. The suspension setup was approved by Gurney himself.

It's a cool package; all we can hope is that someone will arrange a track-day shootout of each Saleen special edition, with its namesake at the wheel.

[Source: Saleen]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Official Press Release

Saleen Partner's with an American Icon to Create an American Legend New York, NY (March 20, 2008) - Saleen Automotive, America's premiere automotive enthusiast brand for over a quarter of a century, announced today at the New York Auto Show that it has entered into a partnership with American automotive legend Dan Gurney for creation of a special Gurney Signature Edition Mustang. "It is amazing that just two years ago Saleen was standing on stage here at the Javitz Center with Parnelli Jones and today we are with his long time rival and friend, and truthfully one of America's racing heroes, Mr. Dan Gurney," said Saleen President and CEO Paul Wilbur. All 300 of the Gurney Signature Edition vehicles will feature Saleen's 465 HP supercharged 281 cubic inch engine, short throw shifter, and 3.73 Max Grip rear axle. In addition, the vehicles will have custom two-tone seats that feature either blue or red Alcantara inserts designed to keep your rear end planted firmly behind the wheel. The legendary Gurney Eagle© logo is featured on the steering wheel and several other places around the car. The exterior reflects the look of Dan's 1969 Trans Am series Mustang, masterfully recreated in a fashion that honors history but looks aggressively towards the future. The heritage styled Gurney Edition body kit, 'duck bill' rear spoiler and 'stinger' style hood all come together in harmony with the carefully placed graphics and die cut Gurney Eagle insignia. "I am pleased that they could make a car that is so beautiful but still so true to my old race car. At the end of the day, all I really want is a car that is faster than Parnelli's" said racing great, Dan Gurney. Saleen executives were not prepared to make that statement, but what they did say is: "this is likely the best all around 281 supercharged car that Saleen has ever built," commented Saleen General Manager, Marques McCammon. "Dan Gurney has always been about business on the track. His cars were light, fast and handled like they were on rails," said Saleen Vice Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Chris Theodore. "I'll admit we added a little weight when we added the blower to this car, but you will be shocked at how this car cuts through a corner." The Gurney Signature Edition gets its dynamic ability from the specially tuned Racecraft suspension, Generation-II Watts-Link Rear End, and super sticky Pirelli Corsa tires. This is a suspension combination that has never before been featured on a Saleen vehicle, and one that received the personal stamp from Dan Gurney himself. "It is like a dream come true to spend time on the tarmac with the Gurney's. Together, we will create a package that I am sure that market will love," said Chassis and Dynamics Lead Derk Hartland. The Gurney Signature Edition Mustang is slated to begin production this April and should start appearing in dealers later that month. With production being limited to only 300 cars, the Gurney Edition is sure to be a must have amongst collectors. In honor of Mr. Gurney's 'All American Racer persona the cars will be offered in only three colors: Torch Red, Performance White, and the feature color Vista Blue. One hundred of each color will be made with contrasting color graphics and interiors, and a set of "#2" roundels to truly relive the Gurney experience. "The most important piece of the car to me is Dan Gurney's signature on the center of the dash," commented Wilbur. " I view it as the stamp of approval by one of America's greatest drivers"

[Source: Saleen]

NYIAS: Saleen S5S Raptor Concept on Web a Day Before Debut

2008-03-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

[Via WorldCarFans]

A day before the S5S Raptor by Saleen is undressed at the New York Auto Show and we have official pictures as well as what latent talents the Raptor may have. S5S turns out to be worth some 650 bhp from the 5.0-litre supercharged engine. The 630 lb-ft of torque goes straight to the rear wheels, aided by a 6-speed manual transmission, to guarantee a time of 3.2 seconds from zero to 60 mph. A sequential gearbox will be delivered along after 2010 when the car goes to market, and as is the norm nowadays, it should prove even quicker than the manual. Said rear wheels measure 315/35ZR20s, while the front sports 275/35ZR20s.

The Saleen S5S Raptor carries a price tag of around USD185,000 considered by some as a bargain considering the types of figures we’ve just thrown about. You do pay for speeds in excess of 200 mph.

On top of it all the S5S will run on E85, proving that clean doesn’t have to be performance-dumb. Live pictures from the show will be going up on this site soon after the car’s unveiling.

[Source: Motortrend via Autoblog via Edmunds InsideLine]

Ford Mustang: "Warriors In Pink" Video

2008-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

[Via WorldCarFans]

See the video HERE or just watch below.

Saleen Offers Heritage Body Kit For 2005-2008 Mustangs

2008-03-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

[Via MustangEvolution]

Saleen has announced that the Heritage styling, which can be found on Heritage Mustangs such as the 2008 Saleen H302 SC, has been made available to 2005-2008 Mustang owners as a complete kit or as individual pieces. The complete kit comes with front and rear fascias, side skirts, spoiler, rear louvers and quarter window panels at a price of $2,499.99. For the complete list of parts and prices check out the *.pdf here.

2008 Saleen H302 SC Mustang with Heritage Body Kit

"Oooh... Nice Car!"

"Just look at them louvres there!"

Transformers Ford Mustang Police Cop Car Replica Not Police Approved

2008-03-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

[Via Jalopnik]

A man by the name of Jesse Vigil has decked out a 2007 Mustang to look like Barricade the Saleen Mustang from Transformers and not surprisingly, the local cops don't approve. Much to the delight of Transformers fans everywhere, including Vigil's son and the inspiration for the mod, the cops can't do a damn thing as long as Vigil isn't impersonating the police.

Despite not being a Saleen, the car is a fairly solid replica. It include the slogan "To punish and enslave and more. It does also include a non-functional siren bar. The police shouldn't bust Vigil's chops too much. He did the replica for his son after returning from Iraq. It should be illegal to bust the chops of somebody with those credentials.

[Via KansasCity.com and The Associated Press]

Vegas Man Paints Car Like Police Cruiser
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 13, 2008
Filed at 1:42 a.m. EST

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) -- Jessie Vigil's black-and-white car sports a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top and the word ''police'' painted on the doors. Vigil, however, isn't a cop. Law enforcement agencies say what he's done with his car isn't illegal as long as he doesn't act like a police officer.

He started decorating his 2007 Ford Mustang last summer to look like the police cruiser in the ''Transformers'' movie because his 7-year-old son, Thomas, was fond of the film.

''My intent was to re-create the movie car,'' said Vigil, a 35-year-old disabled veteran from the war in Iraq. ''When I came back from Iraq, I tried to spoil him. I wasn't the best dad before.''

He said he called the district attorney's office beforehand and spoke to Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Ulibarri, who tried to discourage his decorating scheme but couldn't find anything in the law that would stop Vigil as long as he didn't impersonate an officer.

Ulibarri said a state law prevents people from mimicking state police cars, which are painted black and white. But he also said the state police sell their old cars to private citizens without changing the colors.

''Are we violating our own law by not repainting them?'' he asked.

He called the state law vague, and noted that normal state police cars aren't Mustangs.

''I don't think this guy has any intent to mimic a state police officer,'' Ulibarri said. ''I'm not hearing that he is causing a problem and arresting people.''

A close look shows Vigil's car isn't a police cruiser. Instead of the familiar slogan ''To protect and serve,'' it carries a motto: ''To punish and enslave'' on the side. Instead of telling people to dial 911 for emergencies, the Mustang advises them to ''dial 411 for theater information.''

He originally marked his car, ''Transformers police'' but later changed it to just ''police.'' He also added what appears to be a bar of emergency lights, but said they're not actual lights.

Vigil acknowledged people have mixed feelings about his car.

State police Capt. Craig Martin said the agency is ''concerned for the safety of people who think he is an officer and think they may get help from him.

''People around town know who he is, but not those people on the interstate.''

------

Source Information from: Las Vegas Optic

TopGear: Ford Mustang vs. Horse

2008-03-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

[Via YouTube]

First Ford Mustang FR500S Race Cars Delivered

2008-03-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

[Via WorldCarFans]
By Michael Gauthier

Last year we brought you news from the SEMA show that Ford was preparing to launch a new budget Mustang racer. Now the company has announced they delivered the first 19 Mustang FR500S’ last weekend at the inaugural Ford Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup racing series.

New owners were given the chance to meet with series officials, receive technical information from Ford Racing engineers and attend the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School. Priced at $75,000 the FR500S race cars sits below other Mustang race cars like the FR500C ($125,000) and the FR500GT ($250,000).

Power is provided by a tweaked version of the standard 4.6L V8 found in the Mustang GT, producing about 325 hp. Changes to the car include a new cold air intake, a modified exhaust system, performance tuning by Roush, a stripped down interior to remove excess weight, the addition of a rear wing and a roll cage. Co-developed by Ford Racing Technology and Miller Motorsports Park, a total of 77 Mustang FR500S’ were built by AutoAlliance International in Michigan.

The cars will compete in the Ford Mustang Challenge which will be held at various race tracks across the United States. Sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, the series will only be open to racers with the new FR500S.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Release

The inaugural Ford Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup racing series held its first official event this past weekend with 19 entrants taking delivery of their new Mustang FR500S race cars in a special program at Miller Motorsports Park.

Participants also had the opportunity to attend the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School, meet series officials, receive technical information from Ford Racing engineers and shake down their new race cars for the first time during the open track sessions on both Saturday and Sunday.

“The Mustang was a dominant showroom-based race car during the glory days of American road racing in the mid-1960’s and ‘70’s and this car certainly continues that proud tradition,” said Jamie Allison, manager of the Ford Performance Group. “Our intent was to develop a fun-to-drive reliable race car that delivers on what people have come to expect from a Mustang – V8 power and rear-wheel drive performance at an affordable price, and I think we’ve accomplished that with the FR500S.

“In the short time since the creation of the Mustang Challenge was announced at SEMA, the interest in the both the FR500S and the series has exceeded our expectations,” Allison continued. “We have a terrific mix of participants that bring experience from various forms of racing, including the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series, which should produce exciting, fender-to-fender racing.”

The FR500S was co-developed by Ford Racing Technology and Miller Motorsports Park and is the newest addition to the Mustang FR500 racing family. A total of 77 cars were manufactured at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, MI, with additional race-prep fabrication at Watson Engineering (Taylor, MI) and final race prep at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT, the FR500S is the first race car built by Ford Motor Company at a production facility intended for sale to the public.

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is a new professional racing series co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park and appeals to racers looking to compete in an affordable, challenging V8-powered rear-wheel-drive car. Utilizing only the new Ford Mustang FR500S and sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, the series will stage eight races in support of major professional road racing events across North America:

May 2-4
Road Atlanta
HSR

June 13-15
Mosport International Raceway
NASCAR (Canada)

June 20-22
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Grand Am

July 18-20
Barber Motorsports Park
Grand Am

August 15-16
Lime Rock Park
NASCAR (East)

August 29-21
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Grand Am

September 19-21
Miller Motorsports Park (doubleheader)
Grand Am

For more information about the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup or details on how to purchase a Mustang FR500S, please visit www.MustangChallenge.com.
Source: Ford

KITT On Conan O'Brien TV Show

2008-03-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

[Via YouTube & KnightRiderOnline]

Conan has his desk retrofitted with KITT via a voice modulator, and comedy ensues...

Survey Study: Teenagers Say They'd Most Like To Drive A Ford Mustang

2008-03-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

[Source: KickingTires] & [Via: AutoBlog]

When you’re young, fun takes priority over function. Once age sets in, function gets the nod.

That's the finding of a nationwide survey by TRU, a Northbrook, Ill.-based subsidiary of Research International USA, which specializes in the buying behavior and trends of two of the nation's most sought-after age groups by those with products to sell: teens and 20-somethings.

In its latest survey, TRU asked youth what new vehicle they most want to buy — with one stipulation: To keep the kids from simply inking “Lamborghini” on the dotted line and returning to their iPods, their desired car had to be one they could buy if they’d socked away enough money on their own or if their parents opened the checkbook.

Teens picked the sporty Ford Mustang first, while the 20-somethings went with the practical Honda Civic.

"Mustang pops up as No. 1 among teens because it's a lot of fun and the parents usually pay the insurance and hand the kids their gasoline credit card," said TRU spokesman Rob Callender. “Civic pops up among the older 20-somethings because they pay for their own insurance and gas, so function takes priority.”

Among teens, the most desired cars in order of preference were the Mustang, Civic (to customize), Honda Accord, Volkswagen Beetle, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Chevy Impala, Ford Focus, Ford F-150 pickup, Jeep Wrangler, Chevy Silverado pickup, VW Jetta and Nissan Maxima.

Among 20-somethings, the Beetle, Wrangler and Focus were missing.

"Beetle is only popular among teen girls, not teen guys or any 20-something, regardless of gender," Callender said.

Also noticeable in their absence were any full-size SUVs, such as the Cadillac Escalade, which only two years ago was the most sought-after SUV by youth who wanted to make a statement.

"Escalade lost its cachet when gas prices rose," Callender said, noting that only one SUV was listed be either age group, and that was the compact Wrangler.

Though teens aspire to own a Mustang, that doesn't mean one will end up in their driveway.

"Teens may aspire to the Mustang, but the parents often buy the Civic,” Callender said. “With 20-somethings, the budget holds the veto power over what they buy, but with teens, parents hold the veto power."

Ford Recalling 470,000 Mustangs (2005-2008) to Tweak Airbag Software

2008-02-29T12:39:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog & Jalopnik & Mustang Evolution]

Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it is recalling 470,000 Ford Mustangs from the 2005-2008 model years to recalibrate how forcefully the air bag deploys on the front passenger side of the car. Internal testing showed the air bag could injure a small, unbelted passenger, said Ford spokesman Wesley Sherwood. The recall was posted on the website of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sherwood said the fix would address “a very rare scenario,” and there were no reports of injuries or accidents tied to the recall.

Nearly 435,000 of the recalled vehicles are in the United States, with most of the remaining vehicles in Mexico and Canada. The Dearborn-based automaker will notify customers by mail in early March. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the air bag recalibrated to deploy at a lower force. For additional details, owners can call Ford at (866) 436-7332 or visit the company’s Owner Services Website at http://www.ford.com/owner-services.

Barrett-Jackson: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR KITTs Already On The Block

2008-02-29T09:55:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog and CarPlusMovies]

In less than a month, the legendary Barrett-Jackson auction event will be held in Palm Beach, Florida. From March 27 to March 30, hundreds of car aficionados and investors will gather in the coastal city to see and maybe buy some of the rarest and most beautiful cars in the world. The Barret-Jackson auctions are also famous because of the star cars they offer, such as Bo’s General Lee (see our article) or the Monkeemobile.

This time though, a much more recent star will be up for sale: the Shelby Mustang GT500KR from the new Knight Rider. Or to be precise, two of them, since the lot is comprised off the normal KITT and the Attack Mode KITT. The buyer will make a good action too, since 100% off the proceeds will be donated to Salute to Education (a scholarship program funded by Ford).

While this is all good and charitable, does it have a hidden meaning? Are they selling the cars because the show won’t come back as a regular series? Is it because the show is coming back but not the cars? Is it a publicity stunt?

Well, they made more one of each version of KITT, and the show did very well with 12.7 million viewers. According to the New York Times (via The Knight Rider Online), one of NBC Entertainment co-chairman, Ben Silverman, declared that ” its ratings success makes it a likely addition to NBC’s schedule when it is announced in April”. So either the cars will be replaced (or modified. Can it get the Turbo-Boost, please?), or Ford and NBC are killing two three birds with one stone, promoting the Mustang, promoting the show, and offering scholarships at the same time.

Anyway, we hope they raise a lot of money for the cause, and that the lucky bidder will take his new rides on the road. The kids will love it.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

New York Auto Show 2008: Saleen S5S Raptor Concept Debut

2008-02-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

[Via WorldCarFans]

Saleen S5S Raptor
What does a supercharger bolted on to a 5.0-litre V8, running on E85 sound like? For the purposes of this piece of information, it sounds like the Saleen S5S Raptor, a concept car from the house of Saleen that's destined to show its fangs at the New York Auto Show.

Raptor is only a sketch for now, but later this drawing will come to a top velocity just north of 200 mph/ 322km/h on a flat tarmac. Bodywork is courtesy of composite panels, while the chassis runs on aluminium. Both these are in the name of weight-saving, that all-important criterion when it comes to supplying as much speed as possible between tire and tarmac.

We think a bit more intelligence will make its way to the surface before the show, which is still a good month-odd away. Before then, I’m afraid this is all we’ve got.

Star Car Battle: 1968 Ford Bullitt Mustang 390 GT Or 1970 Le Mans Porsche 911 S?

2008-02-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]

Last week we had the inaugural match of Star Car Shootout, in which the James Bond's Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me went head-to-head against the Lamborghini Countach from Speed Zone in a battle to decide which big screen star was cooler. We've counted the votes, and with most of the precincts now reporting, Jalopnik projects that the Lotus has won.

This week, we've got another big-shot superstar facing off against a relative underdog. Appropriately for our whole "Which is cooler?" hook, both cars co-starred with the "King of Cool" himself, Steve McQueen. Now, while McQueen certainly surrounded himself with some impressive rides over the years, for this shootout we had to pick just two of them. The others will have to wait their turn. So for this match, we're pitting the Ford Mustang 390 GT from Bullitt against the Porsche 911 S from Le Mans. Yes, you're now probably already visualizing those scenes in your head, but just in case you aren't, we've got the clips after the jump.

Start talking about Steve McQueen's cars, and the first one that'll come to mind for most people is the Dark Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang from Bullitt. Thing is, McQueen never actually owned the car. Of course, that doesn't disqualify the 'stang for this contest, but it does raise an interesting question. Did McQueen even particularly like the Mustang? His personal garage was filled mostly with European sports cars, not American muscle. Watching the chase scene, you'll notice that neither the Charger nor the Mustang take turns all that well. It's even been said that the shot of the 'stang overcooking one of the corners wasn't planned at all. Though I suppose if I'm going to start critiquing the film too closely, I would also have to start counting green VW Beetles, and I really don't want to do that. Besides, this isn't some class for a film student; we're here for the car. And it must be said the dark Mustang fastback with a 390ci V8 looks and sounds fantastic. It's an automotive icon. But there's a problem with that. Being famous to a degree is cool, but being a tool for a marketing department is not. In recent years, Ford has made not just one "special edition" Bullitt Mustang, but two. Which means that you really don't have to be "in the know" to know about the car. It's like having your favorite rock band from the '60s all of a sudden become hugely popular again. You like the music still, but the all the teenage fans, the Broadway musicals, and the appearances on daytime television just sort of ruin the cool factor.

Unlike the Mustang, McQueen actually owned the '70 Porsche 911 S from Le Mans. He wanted a car to drive around in Europe while he was shooting the film, so he bought the Porsche, and when shooting was finished, he had it sent back to America. Now sure, there's no on-screen hoonage starring the 911, but you can only imagine that McQueen drove the snot out of the thing when he was off-camera. But that's not the point--this car was was cool not because it drove around jumping over hills and chasing baddies. The 911 is cool because it is understated and relaxed; it's what the tormented race car driver drove when, as McQueen's character famously put it in the film, he was "just waiting" between races. It has what the Mustang lacks: inconspicuousness. You really need to be obsessed with cars to appreciate the Porsche. For example, the current owner of the 911 was a Porsche collector who bought the car a few years ago without even knowing that it was in the Le Mans film; he just liked the car. Watch it cruise through France and you can't help but like it too.

Shelby Heaven: Superformance Complete Replicars Open New Showroom

2008-02-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog]

Ford Shelby GT40
We are big fans of Superformance Complete Replicars, makers of the Cobra, Daytona Coupe, and GT40 replicas that have the blessing (and licensing agreement) of Carroll Shelby. When we heard they were opening up a new showroom in Irvine, CA, we had to go check it out ourselves. Superformance Complete Replicars have actually been in the same building for the past few years, so the location is nothing new. However, they recently decided to knock down a few walls so that they could store their beautiful and wickedly fast eye candy in something more presentable to the public. On to the photos - check out the huge gallery of photos below and pick out your dream car.

Gallery: Superformance Showroom

Saleen S281 and Roush 427R Do Battle!

2008-02-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

{Via AutoBlog}

While Saleen and Roush have always been competitors for the dollars of Mustang lovers everywhere, the two companies have somehow managed to co-exist for decades. But which makes a better Mustang? Former FIA F300 driver Derek Hill of Web Rides TV had the opportunity to pit the Saleen S281 against the Roush 427R to see which legendary pony car tuner would come out on top.

At first, the battle of the two supercharged Mustangs doesn't look like a fair fight. The S281 has 465 hp and 425 lb-ft, some 30 more horsepower and 25 more lb-ft than the 427R. The S281 also weighs 300 lbs. less than the more visceral 427R. As New York Giants fans can attest, however, just because one team looks better on paper, when the game is being played, anything can happen. Hit the jump to view a video of the 427R against the S281 in 0-100-0, slalom, and on-track tests. The video is incredible, and the two vehicles aren't nearly as evenly matched as you might think.

[Source: Web Rides TV]

NBC Knight Rider Opening Intro

2008-02-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

New Knight Rider Opening, redone by NBC. See below. I like it. Vroom vroom!
[Via YouTube]

Original Airdate: February 17th, 2008

NBC Knight Rider Movie: AMAZING.

2008-02-17T18:57:00.001-08:00

NBC Knight Rider Official Website

Verdict: AMAZING. 5 out of 5 Stars. Sweet. End of story.

New One-Minute NBC Knight Rider Commercial Posted!

2008-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

This one really got my heart pumping, wow. This is going to be amazing, guns, fast cars, and tons of action. About time, the old 1980's series was dry and boring anyways. Only reason people watched it was for the car, honestly. You know its true. Peace out!

UPDATE (2/12/2008; 19:00: NEW ONE-MINUTE PREVIEW ON YouTube!

2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Caught!

2008-02-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog and Jalopnik]

We've shown you plenty of 2010 Ford Mustang spy shots in recent months, but after seeing the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in person this week at the Chicago Auto Show, our eagerness for the pony car wars to begin anew has reached a fever pitch. These new spy shots of the refreshed Mustang GT that is scheduled to debut as a 2010 model focus exclusively on the car's rear end where we get our best view yet of its new taillights. It appears that brake lights are inspired by three vertical brake lights that were on the original Mustangs. Brenda Priddy's spy photog also happened to catch this particular convertible just as a train was passing by bearing "GT" on the side of a car. It must make spy photography so much easier when random objects in your environment happen to caption the subject of your shot.

[Photo: Brian Willliams for Brenda Priddy & Co.]

New Knight Rider TV Spot on NBC

2008-02-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]
Well, our good friends at Knight Rider Online have the scoop yet again on a new commercial for the new Mustang-ed up Knight Rider mini-series. The show'll be airing on the February 17th. The commercial? From what we understand, that aired last night on Conan O'Brien. The one new bit of info we're able to glean from the 30-seconds of 'stang-love is we get to see KITT's voice modulator for the first time. Oh yay. Want to see the other commercials? They're here, here and here and oh yes, here. We're going to get back to covering the Chicago Auto Show now.
[Via Knight Rider Online]

[Photos From NBC.com]

How (Camaros and) Mustangs Should Sound: VROOM VROOM!

2008-02-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]

Since today's PCH has us in a Mustang/Camaro frame of mind, it's time to see a few that actually, you know, run. Turn up your speakers, because you're going to want to share this with everyone in the office. No, really. Crank 'em up all the way! What we have here is 24 Hours of LeMons Flat Rock winner ViergangFuchs, aka Jack Baruth at the wheel of a '95 Mustang Cobra in a Camaro-Mustang Challenge race last year. Power levels and suspension mods are fairly limited (those much faster cars blowing past in the video are in a different class), so what you're seeing here is the view from a not-absurdly-far-from-stock machine.

Videos Available on Jalopnik's Blog, HERE.

2010 Mustang Drawing

2008-01-26T17:15:00.000-08:00

[Via Mustang.com]
Written by Ford Racing

Could this be the 2010 Mustang? One of our readers thinks that this is probably what the next major uplift of the our favorite pony car will look like. What do you think? Leave a comment or question in the comments section, please.

2008 Ford Mustang "Dream" Commercial

2008-01-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog]
By: Chris Shunk

With all the hype surrounding the upcoming production versions of the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro, it's easy to forget that the Mustang is still king of the hill when it comes to pony car sales. We've had the very competent current model since Fall 2004, while any competition continues to be stuck in future-tense. Even without any direct competition, Ford has stayed on top of its RWD V8 American icon, and the 2+2 pony car is still the stuff of dreams. The marketing geeks at Ford picked up on the phenomenon, and the result is a :30 spot with some lucky Joe performing power slides and donuts in a red Mustang GT while the fuzz give him the thumbs-up. Ford added a hot brunette driving a Mustang convertible for good measure, and you've got the ideal REM of many-a-man.

NBC Knight Rider: Premieres Sunday, February 17th @ 9/8 Central

2008-01-23T16:07:00.000-08:00

[Via NBC]

Here at Ford Mustang, we're just counting down the days until the premiere... can't wait to see the GT500KR in action. VROOOM VROOOM!!!!

CNN: "Addicted to the Rush of the Race"

2008-01-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik & CNN]

Jalopnik today had a report / coverage of this CNN article, "CNN All Up In Grill of Street Racing" which I highly recommend for pleasure reading. What a laugh. The original story, via CNN is below. A good read, nonetheless.

CNN: Addicted to the rush of the race"
By: Brad Lendon

* Story Highlights
* Illegal racing at "ridiculous" levels in U.S., one law enforcement official says
* No national database to track street racing arrests
* Street racers say they're drawn by adrenalin rush
* Police struggle to find appropriate deterrents

Fast and the Furious: London Pursuit - News!

2008-01-22T20:20:00.001-08:00

[Via MustangEvolution]
By: Brent Wilson

It usually takes days, weeks, and sometimes months to create a show vehicle, but the San Diego-based Stangpede Mustang club has set out to prove otherwise. In front of a live audience at the 2008 San Diego International Auto Show, the Stangpede team transformed a stock 2008 Ford Mustang GT into full-blown show car in exactly six hours.
Stangpede Built :Fast & Furious 4″ Mustang. Click images for more high resolution pictures.

This wasn’t the first time that Stangpede has built a Mustang show car - they have previously built vehicles at auto shows in Orange County and Las Vegas as well as last year in San Diego. However, this build was somewhat different because the newly-modified Mustang will be featured in the upcoming Fast and Furious 4 movie. “We love having a live audience watch us build Mustangs, but this car is extra special because millions of people will see it,” said Ernie Sigala, Club President of Stangpede. The completed Mustang will appear in the movie with the Stangpede banner and will also appear at shows across the country.

The build-up was done using the very best aftermarket products available for the Mustang. The Stangpede team added an LNR body kit from Blow-By Racing, TruFiber GTS hood, Saleen 550-hp supercharger system, suspension and brakes, MAC full exhaust system, Classic Design Concepts Glassback roof, and a vertical door kit from Vertical Doors, Inc. Several sponsors took the extra step and even helped out with the build. Chris Jones, owner of Blow-By Racing helped install the supercharger, and Mac Jones Jr. of MAC Performance took on the installation of the exhaust system. DiabloSport co-owner George Najarian was on hand to tune the car using a Predator tuner, and Brad Diez from Speedzone Paint and Bodyworks was present to make sure the Mustang’s Candy Apple Red paint remained spotless. NOS Energy Drinks provided plenty of beverages to keep the team energized during the build. “We had tremendous support from our sponsors and couldn’t have done it without them,” said Sigala.

You can check out what the car is made out of by reading up on their impressive list of sponsors:

* Legacy Entertainment: Owners of 2008 Mustang GT
* Blow-By Racing: LNR body kit
* TruFiber: GTS ram-air hood
* Saleen: 550-hp supercharger kit, 20-inch wheels, Racecraft suspension with watts-link, shocks, springs, and sway bars, 15-inch brakes, Speedlab carbon fiber racing seats
* MAC Performance: Complete exhaust system include shorty headers, h-pipe, and side exhaust kit, chrome radiator cover, chrome fuse box cover
* Classic Design Concepts: Glassback roof, deck lid trim panel, dynamite sequential taillights, hood pin appearance kit, hood struts, detail corral
* SS Inserts: Under-hood stainless hardware kit, 8-inch fixed black antenna, billet chrome fuel door, polished stainless interior trim pieces, stainless steel license plate and frame
* Vertical Doors, Inc: Vertical door kit
* Kustom Shop: Candy Apple “Legacy” Red paint
* Hardcore Mustangs: Pre-show preparation of Mustang
* DiabloSport: Predator custom tuning
* Killer Glass: Borosilicate glass radiator hose
* >Modern Image: Vinyl decals
* Aces Land and Sea: Fuel and oil catalyst
* Speedzone Paint and Bodyworks: Painting and buffing
* Mechanix Wear: Work gloves for build
* Lucas Oil

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also Recommended: See Jalopnik for their coverage!
And! Mustang Evolution has a full gallery HERE.

New Knight Rider Clip On E! News Daily

2008-01-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm pretty psyched for the new TV series / movie, whatever NBC is doing. I can't wait to see the GT500KR in action, cruising for a bruising. Here's the latest find off YouTube about the new remake of the series. Too bad its just so little footage of the car itself. Arrgh.

Barrett-Jackson: Shelby Cobra 427 Sold For $625,000

2008-01-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]
By: Ray Wert

A Shelby Cobra 427 frame-up, concours quality restoration with a sideoiler 427 engine. 11,000 original miles. Never raced. Has the Sunburst wheels with original Blue Dot tires and a spare set of wheels and tires -- and it just sold for $625,000 at the Barrett-Jackson to some guy on the interwebs.

Barrett-Jackson: First 2008 Shelby GT500KR Goes For $550,000

2008-01-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]
By: Ray Wert

The one-off glass-roofed 2008 Shelby GT500KR that's the first off the we showed you this past week, just went for a final sale price of $550,000 after bidding started at a mere $100,000. This despite a custom Fender Stratocaster with a pretty matte black case and all the money going to Edsel Ford's juvenile diabetes charity. We're a wee bit underwhelmed -- despite Dr. McDreamy driving it up to the auction block. OK, we're kidding -- nowe we're wondering what this bodes for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 #01 that'll be hitting the auction block shortly as the Muscle Car Wars continue to heat up. Maybe if they'd offered it up with Will Arnett it might've made a bigger difference. Nah, probably not. Full BJ from BJ after the jump. Oh, and you want to know who bought it? That's right -- Ron Pratte. That man loves Carroll Shelby.

For the first time in the nearly 40 years, Ford Motor Company and Shelby Automobiles are partnering to build the Shelby GT500 KR in 2008. This new model of the popular Ford Mustang represents a new chapter in the history of the Ford Mustang and the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. When unveiled at the New York Autoshow in 2007, the car became an instant classic. On January 19th, the first GT500 KR offered for sale to the public will roll across the auction block. This 540hp limited edition Mustang will be one of approximately 1,000 built and the first and only car offered with a new "segment exclusive" feature that will be unveiled during the auction. All proceeds from the sale of this car will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Over the last three years Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised over $1.8 million dollars for charity through the auction of Ford Motor Company Products. This new model will give the winning bidder an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while making automotive history.

Carroll Shelby's Personal 1969 GT500 Coming to Barrett-Jackson Auction Block

2008-01-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog]
By Chris Shunk

Carroll Shelby's 1969 Shelby GT500

Carroll Shelby's personal GT500 coming to Barrett Jackson

When the GT500 KR was unveiled at New York this past spring, we pressed Ford's SVT team as to why the SVT badging was absent from their creation. Their answer was so simple and obvious that it bears repeating. A 500 HP SVT Mustang doesn't sell for $30,000 over invoice, but if you add Carroll Shelby's name to it, a killer car becomes an instant sensation. Much of the street cred Shelby currently has was earned during the 1960s, when Carroll took the Mustang from a "secretary's car" to a hot-rod pony car.

Mr. Shelby is apparently too caught up living in the present to give much thought to what he did 40 years ago, as he plans on putting his 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible up for auction in January at Barrett Jackson. The vintage hotrod, which has nearly 70,000 miles on the odometer, is sure to fetch quite a premium over an already valuable '69 owned by some lucky schlep. The great-looking collectible is powered by a 428 Cobra Jet engine and has recently undergone a restoration. If you want to get in on the bidding action, make sure to get a lean on your mortgage, or just show up rich. It's gonna fetch a bundle.

[Source: Shelby via Jalopnik]

[Via Jalopnik]

Carroll Shelby's Personal GT-500 to Be Auctioned Off

With Shelby-mania still at a fever pitch, we can imagine it's getting harder and harder for the uber-wealthy car collector to show up fellow affluent auto aficionados. Thus, we present Carroll Shelby's own 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible. Mr. Shelby apparently drove it extensively, putting nearly 69,725 miles on the 428 Cobra Jet-powered beauty. The car was recently renovated and even comes with an AM-FM stereo radio! The car goes up at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson event next January with no reserve, so make sure to bring a checkbook and an extra kidney.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - October 26, 2007 - Carroll Shelby will sell his 1969 GT500 convertible, which he has owned since it was new, at No Reserve during the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event on Jan. 12-20, 2008, in Scottsdale, Ariz. It is the only Ford-based Shelby Mustang that he has owned continually since it rolled off the assembly line. The historic muscle car will be showcased during the SEMA show in Las Vegas from Tuesday, Oct. 30 - Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, in the Barrett-Jackson booth (#20765), located in the "Racing and Performance" area of Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"Barrett-Jackson attracts the most important collector cars because it is the greatest stage in the world to buy and sell these fantastic pieces of history," said Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Chairman/CEO Craig Jackson. "Last year, we sold the only 427 Shelby Cobra built specifically for Carroll in Scottsdale and now we have the only Shelby Mustang that he's owned for the past three decades. This is an opportunity to be the second owner of a premier car and purchase it from the man himself on the weekend we celebrate his 85th birthday. This special car will also be a highlight of our SEMA display, which will be more impressive than ever this year."

One of only 246 Ford Shelby GT500 convertibles built in 1969, Mr. Shelby's personal 428 c.i.d. Cobra Jet powered car has only 69,725 miles and came originally equipped with automatic transmission, GT equipment group, white interior and top, intermittent wipers, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering, factory A/C, AM-FM stereo radio, tachometer and trip odometer.

The red convertible was recently restored under the direction of Stephen Becker, a world-renowned collector and broker of vintage Shelby Cobras, GT350s and GT500s. Becker engaged well known and respected Shelby restorer Jim Cowles at Shelby Parts & Restoration in Green Bay, Wisc., to complete a Concours rotisserie freshening of the car.

"The only other Shelby that Carroll has owned longer than this GT500 is the first Cobra, CSX2000," noted Steve Davis, President of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "With its recent restoration by one of the premier shops in the country, this historical GT500 would be a monumental acquisition for any serious collector."

Another car slated for the Barrett-Jackson auction block in Scottsdale that will be featured at SEMA is the one-off 1963 Corvette "Rondine," which will be staged in the AutoWeek booth (#20715). The Pininfarina-bodied concept car was designed by Tom Tjaarda and unveiled at the 1963 Paris Auto Show. Barrett-Jackson will also sponsor the Overhaulin' Studio, where they will display three Scottsdale-bound cars in the silver lot.

"SEMA is a haven for gearheads and the industry's most influential players, making it the ideal venue to showcase our lineup for Scottsdale," added Davis. "Barrett-Jackson has taken enormous strides in the past few months to further establish our position as the world's leading producer of collector car auctions."

Ford Saleen SA-25 Sterling Edition Mustang (Pictures Update)

2008-01-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog]

As part of celebrating Saleens' 25th Anniversary, there is a new Sterling Edition; pretty, isn't it? There are more special editions Mustangs than you can shake a wrench at, but of all the variants we've seen so far, the Saleen SA-25 Sterling Edition is one of our favorites. Not only does it take all the attributes of the stock model and accentuates them, the SA-25's supercharged V8 comes packing 620 hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. The power matches the poise. Check out the pictures and AutoBlog's photos HERE.

Also Recommended: Saleen, Inc. [Official Saleen Website]

Saleen Celebrates 25th Anniversary With SA-25 Sterling Edition Mustang

2008-01-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

[Via AutoBlog]
By Drew Phillips

It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since Steve Saleen first founded Saleen Autosport. The company has made a profound impact on the Mustang world since then, producing some of the highest performing Mustangs on the market. The company has a tradition of producing limited-edition anniversary models, starting with the SA-5 Mustang in 1988, the SA-10 in 1993, SA-15 in 1998, and most recently the SA-20 in 2003. That time has rolled around again, and Saleen has announced the SA-25 Sterling Edition Mustang.

Based on the S302 Extreme, the Sterling Edition gets the same supercharged V8 pushing out 620 horsepower and 600 lb-ft torque. Visually separating it from the standard version are unique 5-spoke forged wheels, handpainted "Gun Sight" racing stripes and anniversary fender badges. In addition to the standard Saleen interior upgrades, the Sterling Edition gets a push-button electric start, Black Diamond alcantara seats with leather accents, a navigation system and a serialized center plaque. Buyers will also get luxury treatment, including a first class flight to Detroit, limo transportation to and from the airport, dinner with Saleen executives, a hosted tour of the Saleen plant, and a custom leather jacket among other things. Only 25 will be built at a price of $99,995. It's definitely not for the typical Mustang buyer, but we're sure there are several Saleen faithful out there who will want one in the garage.

[Source: Saleen]

Barrett-Jackson: Ford, Shelby to Auction One-Off Glass-Roof Shelby GT500KR on Saturday

2008-01-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]

Looks like Ford's puckering up to take on every inch of the big B-J auction this weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. Highlighting their car-love for the weekend will be their auction of a one-of-a-kind 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR with one of them new-fangled Mustang glass roods everyone's been talking about. We would like to thank Ford for claiming their rightful place in the lead of the "muscle car wars" -- but we would like to remind them, as we reminded Dodge a month or so ago, that the use of our trademark and patent-pending term is exclusively prohibited. So pay up. We'll take cash, or a GT500KR of our own. Don't make us call our lawyers and get all cease-and-desist on your non-independent rear suspensions. Also, Pontiac may have something to say about headlining the press release with driving being in any way exciting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ONE-OF-A-KIND 2008 FORD SHELBY GT500KR DRIVES EXCITEMENT AT BARRETT-JACKSON AUCTION ON SATURDAY

* Ford and Shelby Automobiles to auction one-off Shelby GT500KR featuring a full glass roof to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
* Ford Racing and Patrick Dempsey to auction off his No. 156 Ford Mustang FR500C, which the star raced in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge series

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 17, 2008 - A one-of-a-kind 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR will go on the block at this year's Barrett-Jackson auction: the only "King of the Road" model to feature a full glass roof. Continuing a Ford and Shelby tradition of charitable giving, proceeds from the auction will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

"Barrett-Jackson is an ideal venue to launch and sell Ford's premier models," said Robert Parker, Ford car marketing manager. "It's the ultimate platform for selling the world's most remarkable cars, and we've created a unique GT500KR just for the occasion."

Barrett-Jackson will feature an unprecedented stable of muscle cars, led by a vintage Mustang from each year in which performance legend Carroll Shelby and Ford Motor Company produced the street-ripping 1960s classics. The highlight of the crop will be Mr. Shelby's personal 1969 GT500 convertible, followed by a pristine 1967 GT500 originally gifted by Carroll to his son, Mike Shelby.

Muscle car enthusiasts are sure to tune in on SPEED TV this Saturday to watch Ford continue to lead the muscle car wars.

Shelby GT500KR with Glass Roof

The 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR on the block at Barrett-Jackson is a unique rendition of the most powerful factory-built Mustang ever. Shelby GT500KR production began in Las Vegas on Jan. 11, Carroll Shelby's 85th birthday. The one-of-one ebony black GT500KR up for auction will feature the same full glass roof that is being offered as an option on the 2009 V-6 Mustang and Mustang GT models only.

The glass roof provides a third roof option for customers and responds to their growing desire for more natural light. The glass is tinted, which reduces both infrared rays and vehicle cool down time by 50 percent. Production of large sunroofs has increased nearly 200 percent in North America since 2003, according to Just-autos.com.

While the Shelby GT500KR coupe features racing stripes over the roof, the unique glass roof on the auction model features stripes etched directly into the glass.

"Barrett-Jackson will be a rare opportunity for one lucky bidder to own a Shelby GT500KR with a glass roof, a car no one else can even buy," said Carroll Shelby. "It's been too long, but I'm very excited to have the 'King of the Road' back."

"Only Ford Motor Company and Shelby American have sold more genuine Ford-powered Shelby vehicles than the Barrett-Jackson auction over the past 35 years," said Craig Jackson, president and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. "I'm proud that Ford and Carroll Shelby chose to sell a one-of-a-kind 2008 Shelby GT500KR coupe at our auction, where only the finest, authentic Shelby vehicles are offered to the public."

Patrick Dempsey's Ford Mustang FR500C on the Block Saturday

In another exciting development, Ford Racing and Patrick Dempsey, the star of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," also will auction the actor's No. 156 2005 Ford Mustang FR500C.

Dempsey drove the car in the 2007 Grand-Am KONI Challenge series for Hyper Sport Racing, a team he co-owns. Since its debut in 2005, the Mustang FR500C has earned seven poles, 10 wins, 92 top ten finishes and 25 podium appearances. Featuring a Ford Racing 5.0-liter Cammer R50 engine, it continues to be the road racing car of choice.

Dempsey will be on stage as bidders vie for this unique race Mustang. The winning bidder also will also receive a helmet, gloves, shoes, hero card and DVD box set of the third season of "Grey's Anatomy" signed by Dempsey. In addition, the winner will enjoy a track day with Hyper Sport Racing and a day for two at the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

Ford Exhibit Celebrates Speed

Building on a valued partnership, Ford plans to remain a key automotive sponsor of The Barrett-Jackson Auction series as a third venue is added in Las Vegas this October. As part of this sponsorship, Ford will bring interactive elements to Barrett-Jackson, including a drifting track, racing simulators and a dyno-simulated drag racing display.

This year, Ford will add a life-size Mustang collector's display which showcases a 'Steed for Every Need,' along with a new "Built Ford Tough" tent that houses Ford's feature vehicles. Consumers also can look forward to a few surprises. "We have found that experiential elements allow us to create a lot of memories for our current and future customers," said Parker.

Ford, Barrett-Jackson and Shelby: $1.7 Million Raised for Charity

During the past three years, Ford and Carroll Shelby have raised more than $1.7 million dollars for charity. Last year, the first 2007 Shelby GT Mustang was auctioned off at a winning big of $600,000. In 2006, an early production 2007 Shelby GT500 also sold for $600,000.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 250,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About JDRF

JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with type 1 diabetes - a disease that strikes children, adolescents, and adults suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research worldwide. More than 85 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. For more information please visit www.jdrf.org

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For More Information, Please See The Official Barrett-Jackson Website.

Offbeat News: Black Mustang Club - Ford & Black Mustang Club Calendar Fair Usage

2008-01-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

"Black Mustang Club Tussles, Then Makes Nice With Ford Over Fair Use"
[Via Jalopnik 1/17/08 1:15 PM]

By: Ben Wojdyla

Sometimes mountains and molehills are made of both made of thin air. A couple of weeks ago the Ford Mustang enthusiasts site "Black Mustang Club" was contacted by their publisher, Cafepress, regarding the calender they were about to publish. The club owners had compiled a 12 month calender of pictures of their rides and intended to sell them to any takers. Cafepress notified the club of contact from Ford lawyers regarding possible trademark infringement. Normally this is where we'd raise a stink about missed marketing opportunities and botched brand management. In this instance though it seems that what happened was a case of the telephone game going awry.

Below is the initial entry from the BMC site, bmcforums.com bemoaning the apparent cease and desist from Ford.

BMC 2008 Calendar NOT Available Due to Ford Motor Company I got some more info from the folks at cafepress and according to them, a law firm representing Ford contacted them saying that our calendar pics (and our club's event logos - anything with one of our cars in it) infringes on Ford's trademarks which include the use of images of THEIR vehicles. Also, Ford claims that all the images, logos and designs OUR graphics team made for the BMC events using Danni are theirs as well. Funny, I thought Danni's title had my name on it ... and I thought you guys owned your cars ... and, well ... I'm not even going to get into how wrong and unfair I feel this whole thing is as I'd be typing for hours, but I wholeheartedly echo everything you guys have been saying all afternoon. I'm not letting this go un-addressed and I'll keep you guys posted as I get to work on this.
I'm sorry, but at this point we will not be producing the 2008 BMC Calendar, featuring our 2007 Members of the Month, solely due to Ford Motor Company's claim that THEY own all rights to the photos YOU take of YOUR car. I hope to resolve this soon, and be able to provide the calendar and other BMC merchandise that you guys want and deserve! This thread will remain open for you to comment however you wish, and I'll update it as needed.

Thanks for all your support of the BMC!!

However, this is not the end of the story. Our sister site Consumerist got a hold of the story and made a big stink about it (as those cranky nerds over there are wont to do). Eventually it made it to Whitney Drake from Ford Communications. We spoke with Whitney at the Firehouse the other day and she was still flummoxed over the whole thing, but glad that it had been resolved. She pointed us to her response on Consumerist:
My name is Whitney Drake and I work in Ford Communications. We've been watching this discussion with interest and I'd like to clarify what is essentially a misunderstanding.
Yesterday we spoke to both Cafe Press and the Black Mustang Club and explained the situation (about the Black Mustang Club's calendar) to everyone's satisfaction. Ford has no problem with Mustang or other car owners taking pictures of their vehicles for use in club materials like calendars. What we do have an issue with are individuals using Ford's logo and other trademarks for products they intend to sell. Understandably, we have to take the protection of our brands and licensing very seriously.

Ford did not send the Black Mustang Club a "cease and desist" letter telling them that they could not use images of their own cars in their calendar. The decision not to allow the calendars to be printed was made by Cafe Press, because we had gotten in touch with them in the past about trademark infringements on products they sold.

I think it is great that the Black Mustang Club, and any other enthusiast club, would take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials.

I'm looking forward to purchasing a copy to hang in the garage next to my Mustang (even if mine isn't black).

Thanks for giving us the chance to have our say.

It's good to see that both sides have worked things out and it was just a misunderstanding to begin with. BMC is once again offering their calendars for sale (and they are definitely chock full of black Mustang-ness). You can check out the calendar on their site at bmcforums.com

UPDATE: 2008 BMC Calendars WILL Be Available
[Via BlackMustangClub]

BMC Calendars: Approved by Ford & For Sale!

*** THANK YOU FORD ***

Get rid of those CENSOR graphics ... the calendar issue (and rights to print images of our own vehicles) has been resolved. After hearing from a few members of the Ford marketing and communications team, I have Ford approval to proceed with printing our 2008 calendar as-is as well as use Danni (and our other vehicles) in BMC logos and all the club marketing materials we have been thus far.

The 2008 BMC Calendar featuring the Members of the Month from 2007 is now on sale! I will not be using Cafepress for printing our calendar or any other materials as (1) they have not yet released our calendar for printing as (2) they are not compliant with Ford, and I do not want to support them for that reason. If you wish to order the now-famous calendar, please ORDER HERE through our own online store, and the calendars will ship in approximately 10 days.

Also, just as you emailed Ford, posted on your local forums and spread the word about this issue when it first arose, PLEASE follow-up with a 'thank you' email to Ford, and PLEASE post a link to this new thread on ALL the forums who have been discussing this issue. I appreciate Ford, and want to be sure we get the positive word out now that this is resolved.

Special thank you to Whitney, who has joined our forums and sent the following message:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Whitney Drake and I work in Ford Communications.
We've been watching this discussion with interest and I'd like to
clarify what is essentially a misunderstanding.

Yesterday we spoke to both Cafe Press and the Black Mustang Club
and explained the situation (about the Black Mustang Club’s calendar) to everyone's satisfaction. Ford has no problem with Mustang or other car owners taking pictures of their vehicles for use in club materials like calendars. What we do have an issue with are individuals using Ford’s logo and other trademarks for products they intend to sell. Understandably, we have to take the protection of our brands and licensing very seriously.

Ford did not send the Black Mustang Club a “cease and desist” letter telling them that they could not use images of their own cars in their calendar. The decision not to allow the calendars to be printed was made by Cafe Press, because we had gotten in touch with them in the past about trademark infringements on products they sold.

The Black Mustang Club, and any other Ford enthusiast club, are free to take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials as long as they don't use Ford trademarks in products that will be sold.

I think it is great that the Black Mustang Club, and any other enthusiast club, would take pictures of their own vehicles for use in calendars or other materials.

I'm looking forward to purchasing a copy to hang in the garage next
to my Mustang (even if mine isn't black).

Thanks for giving us the chance to have our say.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please take a moment to send Whitney an e-gift here through the forums to thank her for working with us to get this resolved, and for wanting the calendar, too! She's been a great help and I'll continue to work with Whitney and the Ford team, so welcome her to the BMC family!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I'm enjoyed hearing from all of you who have written with words of encouragement and support. Thank you very much for greatly extending the BMC family this week!

Lisa | BMC Founder
blackmustangclub@gmail.com

P.S. You should seriously consider ordering a calendar HERE.

New NBC Knight Rider Commercial - Valet Parking Guy Gets Pwned

2008-01-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

[Via Knight Rider Online]

[Via AutoBlog]

Something tells me the commercials for the new Knight Rider are going to be better than the show they're pimping, but we can hold out hope, however slim it may be. This week's new TV spot features lead character Mercury Mike Tracer as he drops off KITT in front of a valet parking stand, rendering an eager parking attendant speechless. No GT500KR joyride for you, dude.

See also Jalopnik if you want a third opinion, HERE.

Down The Road: Spotted On The Streets!

2008-01-16T14:12:00.001-08:00

Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500

Ain't she a beauty... I drove past this car today at the local Ford dealership... I can't get it out of my head. It was just siting outside. I really just wanted to run up to it and hug it, maybe take a few pictures of my own.

What a ~~car~~ BEAST. I want it.

Steeda QS6 Mustang 2008

2008-01-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

[Via Steeda Autosports]

The Steeda QS6 Mustang is best described by deciphering its nomenclature in detail:

“Q” – Quick
“S” – Supercharged induction
“6” – V6 powered

A performance orientated V6 Mustang with nimble handling attributable to it’s near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and the famed Steeda Autosports performance suspension, this performance V6 powered Mustang really delivers performance for those that prefer a V6 powered car.

The secret to its outstanding success is it’s positive displacement Roots-type supercharger specially tuned for the 4.0l V6 engine. This supercharger provides much more power at lower speeds than what the competitor’s centrifugal superchargers can deliver, resulting in a lightweight pony that can really deliver the excitement when you want it. With a total of 355 horsepower and 365 ft. lbs. of torque available at your command, there is ample power available to blast out of the corners as others are waiting for their supercharges to build boost with engine speed.

The Steeda Q-Series of Mustangs underscores the commitment that Steeda Autosports has made to consistently deliver the best possible performance and value to the Ford performance enthusiast.

Steeda - Where Speed Matters!

Steeda Autosports Official Press Release

[Via Mustang Evolution]

The Steeda Q-Series of Mustangs underscores the commitment that Steeda Autosports has made to consistently deliver the best possible performance and value to the Ford performance enthusiast. Steeda Autosports has been in business nearly 20 years with no disruption, and with our major facility expansion currently underway, we are guaranteed to be your best source for exclusive limited edition serialized Ford performance vehicles and Ford performance parts and accessories for the foreseeable future.

Already have a V6 Mustang and want to add some excitement into your life? Then the same world-class performance parts that the Steeda Autosports Team has developed for the Steeda QS6 are available for you to purchase and add to your car as your time and budget permits. Start with our proprietary suspension upgrade package that will give you the best possible handling available today with out sacrificing ride quality, add a set of Steeda wheels and Nitto Performance tires that could reduce your unsprung weight and will definitely provide maximum grip, throw on a cold air induction system to let your engine breath, and then a performance Steeda cat-back exhaust to let those spent gasses out of your engine and make the “right sound” and you have a ride that provides more excitement than what is imaginable from a V6 powered Mustang.

Still wanting more power? Then bolt on a the Steeda approved supercharger system to really wake up your ride with 355 horsepower and 365 ft. lbs. of torque and have the best of both worlds: fuel economy when you want it, and all out performance when you need it! How does it do it? Simply – This supercharger system makes 70% of its boost at only 1800 RPM. The result is excellent low to mid range power and throttle response with a strong top end. Performance is outstanding - and throttle response is fantastic. The efficient by-pass system allows no-boost cruising, and the supercharger needs only 3 horsepower to drive it while the by-pass valve is open. Fuel economy is similar to stock. Plus these superchargers are very quiet and require no maintenance for 100,000 miles.

Bottom line: You can add our track tested parts and accessories to your car and see the difference over all of our competitors. You can build the car you want, according to your schedule and budget, and get the results you have come to expect from Steeda: World class performance and value engineered in the USA for the Ford performance enthusiast.

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Recommended: Also see TheMustangNews for more information as well.

New NBC Knight Rider Teaser Trailer

2008-01-15T18:58:00.000-08:00

[Via YouTube]

Already looks amazing. 550 HP. Standard. (Well, maybe if you can get your hands on the GT500KR model). Hah. Hopefully much more news in a week. Already some news at Detroit Auto Show 2008 below. Keep your eyes open for more later on.

Counting down till February...

Vroom vrooom...

The $3 Million 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake

2008-01-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

[Via Mustang Evolution]

With the upcoming release of the Shelby GT500 Super Snake many people will have an opportunity to put on of these limited edition Shelby’s inside their garage. It’s quite the opposite for the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake as the person who wins this ebay auction for the only 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake ever produced will have the ultimate limited edition Mustang. The 1967 Shelby Super Snake sports a 427ci V8 with 520 horsepower, a 170 mph top speed and unique triple stripes. The ebay auction is set to end in a week.

Ebay Link HERE
1967 Shelby
Shelby GT500 Super Snake The original "one of one"

Vehicle Description

This is the original SuperSnake built in 1967 by Shelby. Shelby built two Cobra SuperSnakes and one GT500 SuperSnake. This is the GT500 SuperSnake. One of the Cobra SuperSnake's recently sold for over 5mil. Well know car with well known history. There are no other ones so if you want the best for your collection you have no others to choose from. This GT500 Is probably the king of all Shelby Mustangs. A normal GT500 has a 428 rated at 355 hp. This car was built at Shelby with a aluminum headed 427 rated at 520 hp. The same engine used in the GT40's that won LeMans. There is a movie from 1967 with Carroll Shelby and his chief engineer Fred Goodell driving this car for a Goodyear tire test and they set a record that day by going 500 miles at a average speed of 142 mph. At one point he was supposedly clocked at 170 mph. The movie can be seen at www.supersnake.org as well as a TV interview about the car with chief engineer Goodell. Featured on page 615 of the Shelby American World Registry. The idea was to build 50 of these cars but at a price of 7500.00 it was just too expensive so only one was built. A 427 Cobra could be bought for less. Many unique features such as it's trademark three stripes. The web site listed has pics of many of the unique features. I believe this is the only Shelby Mustang in 1967 painted with stripes at Shelby. The new 2008 GT500 SuperSnake uses the stripes and name based on this car. Featured in many many books and magazines over the years. Featured on Dreamcar Garage, My Classic Car etc. The video of Carroll driving it in 1967 at www.supersnake.org is well worth watching. This is not someones dolled up fake, this is the real car with plenty of real documentaion.I have a vision of the car in a museum with a large version of the 1967 video playing on a wall behind it.The buyer of the car can also have the website if he or she wishes. My hope is the car goes to a museum or someone that will continue to share it with the public.

2009 Glass Roof Mustang

2008-01-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

[Via Mustang Evolution & AutoBlog]

Mustang Evolution: "2009 Glass Roof Mustang Video"

A Youtube video of the 2009 Glass Roof Mustang has surfaced showing off the new Mustang with some drive by passes and a look from the inside of the car through the glass roof. The Glass Roof Mustang package will go on sale Summer 2008 and be priced at $1,995. For high resolution pictures visit our 2009 Glass Back Mustang Gallery.

UPDATE:
AutoBlog: Detroit 2008 "Getting intimate with the Glass Roof Mustang"

Probably the last thing the world needs is another Mustang variant, but Ford's got to keep its retro pony mobile relevant. So after offering the coupe, releasing a convertible and then making eleventeen bazillion different versions to suit every conceivable taste, it's fitted the 'Stang with a glass roof that blends the lines of the coupe with a little bit of open air lighting.

Granted, the Glass Roof Mustang is not particularly innovative, but we like the effect both inside and out. There's a clean line of darkness that begins at the top of the windshield and sweeps up and over the roof into the hatch. Inside, it's essentially an over-sized moonroof, but when facing ahead, you can't tell that it terminates right behind your head. If the blaring sun threatens to burn your bald spot, a retractable cloth sunscreen is fitted right over the rear seat passengers that's closed with a quick tug.

For more photos, check out AutoBlog HERE.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRESS RELEASE:

FORD ADDS GLASS ROOF OPTION TO MUSTANG LINEUP, MEETING CUSTOMER DESIRE FOR MORE NATURAL LIGHT

* "Top" Choice: Mustang now offers customers three roof choices: traditional coupe, convertible and a new factory-installed fixed glass roof.
* Glass Roof Growth: Production of large sunroofs in North America has increased nearly 200 percent since 2003 and is expected to top more than 2.5 million units by 2013.
* Affordability: Available as a $1,995 option, the new glass roof allows Mustang customers to let the sun shine in for half the price of moving up from a coupe to a convertible.

DEARBORN, Mich., January 13, 2008 – Hot on the heels of the new Ford Bullitt Mustang and the new Shelby GT500KR, America's favorite muscle car drives into its 45th anniversary year sporting a new factory-installed glass roof.

The 2009 Ford Glass Roof Mustang provides a third roof option for customers and responds to their growing desire for more natural light. Production of large sunroofs has increased nearly 200 percent in North America since 2003, according to Just-auto. The growth is driven, in part, by consumers' daily commute time. The number of consumers with commutes lasting more than 60 minutes grew by almost 50 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The new glass roof will be available as an option on both the V-6 Mustang and Mustang GT beginning this summer.

At $1,995, the new roof provides customers a less expensive option than a convertible, without compromising the coupe's versatility, headroom or climate-controlled environment.

"Mustang is an icon in our product lineup, and we are committed to keeping Mustang news fresh every year," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president, Global Product Development. "As the automotive landscape becomes increasingly competitive, features such as a panoramic glass roof will help differentiate our products from the competition."

Nearly one out of every two sports cars sold in America is a Mustang, and it remains the best-selling convertible. The new glass roof addresses the fact that 62 percent of buyers in the sports car segment are interested in a sunroof or moonroof on their next vehicle, according to
J.D. Power and Associates research.

Mustang's Glass Roof is made of tinted privacy glass, which reduces both infrared rays and vehicle cool-down time by 50 percent. A manual roller blind is built in, allowing owners to further control exposure on sunny days.

The specially formulated glass also protects interior fabric material from solar radiation deterioration and discoloration by reducing solar light transmittance. To help improve acoustics and Mustang's interior quietness, the glass also features a layer of vinyl that reduces noise, vibration and harshness.

The glass roof Mustang is built like a coupe and has been developed to maintain the structural integrity of Mustang. The glass itself is safety glass, meaning that it shatters without sharp or jagged edges, like other automotive glass.

Glass Roof Mustangs will be assembled at the AutoAlliance International Inc. in Flat Rock, Mich. The unique glass is installed at Ford's adjacent vehicle personalization facility.

Like its coupe and convertible counterparts, the Glass Roof Mustang has endured a battery of tests measuring quality and craftsmanship.

During the development phase, production-level prototypes ran through a rigorous prove-out, including various water, air leakage, durability, squeak and rattle and vehicle dynamics tests. Top quality drives the development team – as evidenced by Mustang's first-in-its segment ranking in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates IQS, VDS and APEAL studies.

"Quality is a continuous process. The whole team is passionate about it, which results in our paying attention to the smallest details," says Paul Randle, chief nameplate engineer. "Our owners have high expectations, and we always want to meet them – with strong features like this new roof option, quality and performance."

In addition to the new Glass Roof Mustang that goes on sale this summer, two other derivatives join the Mustang V-6 and GT in Ford showrooms early in 2008 as well as a special Mustang TV "star":

The Mustang Bullitt returns to the streets four decades after hitting the Big Screen and features the latest in Ford Racing Technology. Inspired by the original movie car, this modern classic is designed to deliver a perfect balance of power and performance for enthusiasts, delivering 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. With limited production planned, Bullitt carries on the Mustang tradition of affordable performance and is arriving in dealerships with a $31,075 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

The Shelby GT500KR arrives in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra GT500KR, known as "The King of the Road." Building on the strong foundation of the Shelby GT500, the KR features a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Upgrade Pack and a SVT-tuned suspension. It is estimated to deliver
540 horsepower. The Shelby GT500KR carries forward the spirit of the original car – with 1,000 units planned for production.

When it enters the market this year, the 2008 Shelby GT500KR will play a starring role. Cast as the new KITT, in the remake of the TV show Knight Rider, the popular American television series, which ran from 1982 to 1986 and starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a kind of modern-day "knight" and his partner, an advanced Pontiac Trans Am with artificial intelligence. In the TV premier, the Shelby GT500KR will make its appearance as KITT in three modes – HERO, ATTACK and camouflage versions. The HERO is the standard 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR and the ATTACK is a further modified high-speed version.

Building on Mustang's rich and successful racing heritage, Ford Racing will offer customers a new way to affordably race with the all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S. The car will be at the heart of the all-new Mustang spec series, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, and will make its debut on the tracks of North America in 2008. Built on the production line at AutoAlliance International Inc., the FR500S features a 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 production engine that is produced by Ford and sealed and dyno'd at Roush Industries. The FR500S will retail for $75,000 straight from the Ford Racing parts catalog.

The 2009 model year marks Mustang's 45th year. Mustang was first introduced in 1964 at the World's Fair in New York with a price tag of $2,300. Ford sold more than 417,000 Mustangs in its first year.

Today, as the car approaches its 45th anniversary, nearly 9 million units have been sold.

Internationally, there are more than 250 Mustang enthusiasts clubs – more than any other vehicle – in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.

Aside from its legion of loyal fans, Mustang also stands out for safety. The Mustang convertible is the first sports car and first convertible to earn the highest possible safety ratings in all New Car Assessment Ratings test modes performed by the U.S. government. The coupe earned five stars in frontal crash evaluations for both driver and front-seat passenger and in side impact for driver and rollover testing. It earned four stars for side impact for rear-seat passengers.

Detroit Auto Show 2008 & Shelby GT500KR Knight Rider Round-up

2008-01-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Seeing as news has been somewhat slow, I have compiled information on NBC's attempt to make a new Knight Rider movie. Below is a collection of all the news so far on the use of the Ford Mustang GT500KR, as far as the use for KITT.

AutoBlog: KITT
Jalopnik: KITT

Jalopnik: Detroit Auto Show: KITT Heading to Detroit to Play on Ford Stage
We're hearing among the "plethora" of official reveals from Ford at the Detroit Auto Show this weekend will be an additional piece of product pr0n to feast our eyes on -- for the second time (we know you remember the first time our Gawker LA videographer Molly caught KITT. That's right, our sources tell us the GT500KR-like Mustang GT playing the role of KITT in the new Knight Rider movie/TV show/Mini-Series/whatevs will be on display for the media come Sunday morning. Now if only they'd fly Will Arnett out so we could hear it say "Mark Fields, jump in!" Yes, that'd be epic. Of course you too can follow along live at our Detroit Auto Show tag page, or if you're technically inclined, hit up the RSS feed for your fave feed reader -- or just keep madly hitting refresh on our main page -- whatever works best for you. Because that's what we're all about here -- you. And cars. And sometimes, the Hoff.

Autoblog: Ford Bought Mustang the Role of KITT

Wouldn't you like to believe that the producers of the new Knight Rider series saw something in the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that evoked the essence of what it is to be KITT? Yeah, that's not what happened. According to AdAge, Ford snagging the role of KITT had more to do with timing and a certain boat load of money that was exchanged hands. As we've explained before, Pontiac doesn't even have a car that would be suitable for the part of KITT, while the Camaro just wouldn't have been ready in time. Same goes for the Dodge Challenger. That leaves the Ford Mustang, which found a new way to enjoy its time without a competitor in sight by taking some acting lessons and landing the spot. Curiously, Jalopnik reports that the article, which isn't accessible without a subscription (natch) mentions that the Chrysler Crossfire was being considered. Not that it should have ever gotten the job, but Chrysler cancelled the Crossfire anyway. We're sure the Corvette was being considered, if for no other reason than it would have made as much sense in the role as the GT500KR, but we guess GM didn't think it was money well spent. Time will tell whether or not Ford's investment was a smart one.

For More Photos, See AutoBlog with Official Photos HERE.

NBC Officially Announces New Knight Rider

'KNIGHT RIDER' REVS UP TO RETURN TO NBC FOR SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MOVIE EVENT ON FEBRUARY 17 AS NEW KITT CAR IS REVEALED

"Knight Rider" Cast Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison Participate at the Unveiling Event Showcasing the Customized KITT Ford Mustang to Be Featured in Movie

Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") to Serve as Executive Producers; David Hasselhoff, the Star of the Original "Knight Rider" Series, Appears as a Special Guest Star in His Original Role as Michael Knight

NBC Also Forms Partnership with Ford Motor Company That Provides for Unique Content Opportunity

BURBANK - December 12, 2007 - As "Knight Rider" -- NBC's iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC's Burbank Studios today.

The movie stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case," "All My Children"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS," "The Young and the Restless"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars," "Grindhouse") and Bruce Davison ("Breach," "Close to Home"). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC's "America's Got Talent") -- who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series -- returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC's "30 Rock," "Blades of Glory") will provide the voice of KITT.

Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") serve as executive producers. NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie.

The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero -- a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack -- a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts -- and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill ("Dexter," "The Tudors"), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

Ford GT500KR Goes Into Production, Happy Birthday Carroll Shelby

2008-01-12T06:01:00.001-08:00

[Via Jalopnik]

What better way to celebrate the 85th birthday of Carroll Shelby, the man responsible for some of the best American muscle (and the Omni GLH), than with the production of the mean GT500KR? A King of the Road for a King of American Muscle. Works for me. 540 horsepower and 510 ft-lbs of torque for the first 79 years and a six-speed Tremec manual tranny for the last six. Only 1,000 of these sexy beasts will be available, so expect to pay a king's ransom for the privilege.

PRESS RELEASE

FORD SHELBY GT500KR ROARS INTO PRODUCTION ON AUTOMOTIVE LEGEND'S 85TH BIRTHDAY

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 11, 2008 - Automotive legend Carroll Shelby shares his 85th birthday with a new performance standout - the 540-horsepower 2008 GT5000KR, which begins production today.

The GT500KR or "King of the Road" Mustang is the fourth limited-edition Mustang that Shelby Automobiles and Ford have brought to market since resuming their collaboration in 2001. It builds on the performance and success of the 500-horsepower Shelby GT500 - the most powerful production Mustang ever.

The new GT500KR will be available at select Ford dealerships this spring. Production is limited at 1,000 units.

"It is simply magic when Shelby and Ford team up and deliver products like the GT500KR," said Mark Fields, Ford's president, The Americas. "Collaborations like this have helped Mustang remain at the top of the sports car segment for 22 straight years - and running - and help inspire people who truly want and value performance."

Carroll Shelby, who was actively involved in the GT500KR's development, said: "My energy and passion for performance products has always been strongest when I am working with Ford. I'm always looking to up the ante when it comes to performance, and bringing back the 'King of the Road' Mustang is just what we need."

Delivering the "King of the Road"

Each Shelby GT500KR begins life as a GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Inc., in Flat Rock, Mich. From there, the cars are shipped to Shelby Automobile's facility in Las Vegas, where a Ford Racing performance pack, exhaust system and short-throw shifter are installed. The GT500KR also is fitted with body, chassis and interior components. Every GT500KR will be hand customized and delivered to each customer in an enclosed transporter, just like the legendary Ford GT.

To fine-tune the GT500KR's chassis - stiffened 50 percent to deliver increased body control - SVT engineers and Shelby put the GT500KR through a rigorous testing program developed specially for SVT products, including a 12-hour racetrack durability test. The result is a car with increased performance capability that is still comfortable to drive on the street.

The GT500KR's aerodynamics were fine-tuned to add 50 pounds of downforce over the front axle and move the center of aero pressure forward in the vehicle to improve high-speed balance and downforce under high-speed braking. A new front splitter design works with the hood and revised rear spoiler to deliver these benefits. The bottom line: the GT500KR sets new performance standards for Mustang handling and straight-line performance on the racetrack, slalom course and skidpad.

"Because the Shelby GT500 strikes a great balance between ride and handling, we knew that the GT500KR had to be even better," said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer at Ford SVT. "We used a holistic approach, having chassis engineers work closely with the engine specialists to develop a tuning suspension that optimizes the engine enhancements."

Added Gary Davis, vice president production for Shelby Automobiles: "We aren't fixing our attention on one or two attributes, but working on the vehicle as a whole. The throttle response, power delivery, exhaust note and handling all work together to deliver a great total driving experience."

To deliver that balance, the ride height has been lowered to the optimum setting for limit handling, which equates to a 20 mm ride height reduction in the front and 15 mm in the rear.

The Shelby GT500KR team sculpted a modern interpretation of the original's bulging hood scoop, a visual indication of the extra horsepower packed beneath it. The hood is secured by a pair of stainless steel, twist-down hood pins.

To save weight, the hood borrows design elements from the ducted aluminum/carbon fiber clamshell on the Ford GT. Developed through intensive use of analytical tools including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), the design optimizes the structural properties of carbon fiber delivering panels at a wafer-thin 0.8 mm. The hood saves 15 pounds versus its aluminum counterpart in the GT500.

Unlike most traditional designs, the hood has three components: the outer panel, an integrated airflow duct which spans the entire hood and the inner panel. The duct serves three purposes: to channel supplemental fresh air into the new cold air intake, to relieve high-speed underhood pressure and to move air from the front intake and engine compartment to the rear extractors.

The Shelby GT500KR will ride on all-new Goodyear tires, which make their North American debut exclusively on this new Mustang. The Supercar F1 tire, made of a new performance compound, resulted from a special collaboration between SVT and Goodyear.

Each GT500KR model is identified by a special 40th Anniversary badge on the fenders and grille, distinctive body colored mirror caps and Shelby lettering stretching across the front of the hood and along the rear portion of the deck lid. a special Shelby VIN tag is affixed to each vehicle, mounted in the engine compartment.

The all-leather interior features Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and an official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate mounted at the top of the center stack.

Other standard equipment includes HID headlamps, an interior ambient lighting package, wrapped and stitched instrument panel, center console and armrests, as well as an electrochromic rearview mirror. Optional equipment includes a Shaker 1000 audio system and DVD navigation system.
The GT500KR's 5.4-liter V-8 Gets the Royal Treatment

Just like its namesake, the 1968 GT500KR, the 2008 "King of the Road" packs a walloping dose of Ford performance. The Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is enhanced with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that boosts horsepower to an estimated 540-hp and torque to 510 ft.-lbs. The added power comes thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit. The Shelby GT500KR cold air intake seal was designed in unison with the new carbon fiber hood to prevent hot engine compartment air from reaching the air intake.

Calibration modifications include advancing the ignition timing as well as re-mapping the electronic throttle settings to provide quicker throttle response for better off-line and mid-range acceleration. Increased throttle response will be met with a sharper roar from the Ford Racing-inspired exhaust system.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, compared with the GT500's 3.31:1.

To perform optimally on track and during performance driving, the Shelby GT500KR has been fitted with an elevated axle vent reservoir to prevent axle fluid expulsion. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the GT500KR. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter throws are 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts. [Source: Ford]

Buy First Mustang Ever Sold For $42,064.26/month

2008-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

[Via Mustang Evolution]

ClassicMuscleCars.com has a listing for a 1964 1/2 Mustang which, the listing claims, is the first Ford Mustang ever sold. The car was actually delivered to the owner a day before the Ford Mustang was officially unveiled at dealerships. The car can be yours for $1,000,000 down and $42,064.26 monthly or you can just pay the full price of $5,500,000. Documentation is included to prove that while your pockets will be slightly lighter, your getting the real deal.