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Video: Burnouts are Fun, but Not With Cops Around
We all love high-performance cars and nearly everyone that loves high-performance cars loves seeing these cars do burnouts. Regardless of the love, there is a time and place for everything. I remember my first ever burn out well, it was in a 1986 Camaro IROC-Z, which I had just finished painting and doing body work on. On my way home from school, some buddies talked me into power-blocking it at a stop light. Well, after about 30 seconds of intense tire smoke, there was a gigantic clunk and the wheels stopped. Yeah, I destroyed the rear end. $250 later and about two nights of installing the new rear end, I learned never to power-block a car again. I am sure the guy in the above video has learned an important lesson too. When you are at a car meet and there are cops there, you can oftentimes get away with more than you can on a public street. However, if there is a crowd of people around your Mustang and you decide to power-block it, you are just one slip of your foot away from mowing down a bunch of people. When the cops see that, regardless of it being private or public property, they will immediately place you under arrest for endangering the lives of others. That’s exactly what happened to the dude in this video. After some enticing by his “friends” he decides to light ‘em up on his Mustang and the cops literally pull him from the car and take him directly to jail, he did not pass “Go” and did not collect $200, just right to jail. So what did we learn today, guys? Don’t power-block a car in a crowded area with cops around, that’s bad, mmmkay? 2013 Ford Mustang by Roush
 
Roush has just announced their upgrade packages for the new 2013 Mustang. The new model will add an even more aggressive look compared to their previous packages, and as usual, will be offered in three different stages. The most powerful version, Stage 3, will deliver up to 565 HP. All three stages have received the newly designed 6th generation Roush Aerobody package that includes a remodeled Roush upper grille, high-flow lower grille, corner fascia aero-pockets with driving lamps, and a front chin splitter. It continues with a new hood scoop, rocker panel and rear fascia side splitters, a three-piece rear decklid spoiler, new ROUSH rear aero-valance featuring race-inspired diffusers, and integrated dual chambered, chrome exhaust tips. The Mustang will ride on a new set of 18" aluminum, five spoke, chromed wheels. The Stage 3 version gets a bit extra in the form of an RS3 graphics package available in multiple color. The interior features a custom gauge cluster, Roush embroidered floor mats, a Roush center console button, and a Stage 3 dash medallion. Under the hood of the new Stage 3 Mustang is a newly updated Roush supercharged 5.0L-4v powertrain delivering a massive 565 HP and 505 lb-ft of torque. No details have been revealed on the car’s performance just yet, but we will get back to you as soon as we have them! 2013 Taurus SHO: Engineers Riding With NASCAR Driver Carl Edwards
Just because they designed it doesn’t necessarily mean they can handle it. This is what engineers found out during Ford’s “Rocket Science” series of short videos, which Ford began releasing on April 2nd. Ford tortured nine of its top engineers by strapping them into a 2013 Taurus SHO with NASCAR driver Carl Edwards for what they thought would be a typical test drive. Unfortunately for these engineers, it was anything but typical, as Edwards decided to push this high-performance sedan about as far as it would go. You can definitely see the fear in some of the engineers’ eyes, as they attempt to talk about the features of this new Taurus while drifting sideways and eclipsing 100 mph. Some of them manage to remain calm, but others you can just see wondering if they’re going to make it back to the office. By far the best two videos so far are the first and the third ones, as both of those engineers get legitimately scared. The other two are well worth watching too, as those two engineers just keep on talking like they were on a leisurely Sunday drive with grandma, for the majority of the ride. We have to admit, the Taurus has definitely come a long way since its debut and is now a legitimate performance machine. Now, if only we could get our hands on one and a little track time, we think we could scare the engineers a little more than Carl did. So far we only have four of the nine episodes to show, but we will continue adding more episodes as Ford posts them. Certainly Ford is planning to save the best ones for last. Hit the jump to view the rest of the videos. Full story
2012 Ford Mustang by Ford Racing
It’s an equation that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody. If there ever was anybody that had proverbial aftermarket dibs on a car like the Mustang, it’s gotta be Ford’s very own racing division. So now that the Blue Oval has introduced the 2013 Mustang, Ford Racing is taking a crack at highlighting the things they could to the mighty Mustang if they got their hands on one. For this particular example, Ford Racing opted to dress up the Mustang in the now popular "Gotta Have It Green" paint finish. Together with the unique color scheme, Ford Racing also fitted the Mustang with a new Laguna Seca adjustable front spoiler, as well as a new set of 19" Mustang Track Pack Black wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZero tires with a Brembo 4-piston caliper, 14" front brake kit, and a Laguna Seca brake duct kit. Under the hood of the Mustang, Ford Racing took the muscle car’s standard 5.0-liter Ti-VCT engine and added their very own FRPP 2.3-liter supercharger system. In addition, they also installed a new Mustang GT side exhaust system, a new sport muffler kit, a Getrag MT82 six-speed manual transmission with a Boss 302 Trans Cooler Scoop, and a Copperhead PCM system, all of which have given the Mustang a more ferocious bite than ever before. Exact performance numbers have yet to be announced, but considering the extensive tuning job done on the muscle car, we expect those numbers to be eye-popping, to say the very least. Merkur Making a Comeback
Make sure you are sitting down for this one… We all now know that Datsun is making a comeback in coming years, but Ford now plans to resurrect an old timer too. Ford just announced that the once maligned Merkur nameplate will return for the 2013 model year. For those of you that are too young or just don’t remember it, there were two Merkur models built from 1985 through 1989: the XR4TI and Scorpio. The former was the maker’s coupe and the latter was the sedan. The XR4TI was actually a relatively fast car, bearing a 175-horsepower, 2.3-liter turbocharged engine. Unfortunately, Merkur failed due to terrible build quality which caused them to be on the side of the road more often than they were on the road – I know, I owned an ’86 XR4TI. Ford has already procured a facility in Germany to manufacture these cars and they will not be rebadged versions of European Fords. The XR4TI will hit the market around Christmas time bearing the ECOboost 2.0-liter engine, which will pump out a massive 286 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, after some minor upgrades that Ford is staying quiet on. It will be mated to a six-speed transmission and Ford is exploring the possibility of all-wheel drive, but nothing is in the works for it yet. The Scorpio will follow a few months later, as it hits showrooms in early-2013, bearing a slightly less impressive 3.5-liter V-6 – the same engine that the base 2013 Taurus will have – that cranks out 288 horsepower. Both vehicles are still in development, but Ford plans to unveil them at the New York Auto Show on April 5th. Ford also made it quite clear that its intentions with these vehicles are to compete with fellow German automakers BMW and Mercedes, so expect these models to bear very advanced features. Quite a lofty goal for a once failed car company. Hit the Jump for the Press Release. UPDATE 04/02/2012: In case you hadn’t realized it yet, April Fool’s!! This information is 100% false and was created for our amusement on this wonderful day! Full story2013 Ford Explorer Sport
The film on the teaser reel has barely cooled down and Ford is already debuting the high performance version for their Explorer SUV. The new Explorer Sport will make its world debut next week at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will arrive in dealerships later this year. The Explorer Sport will feature a muscular, sculpted form with subtle cues to differentiate it from the other models in the lineup. Under the hood, Ford has placed a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that delivers a total of 350 HP. Combined with four-wheel drive and a Terrain Management System, the new Explorer Sport delivers the highest projected fuel economy among gasoline-engine-powered, high- performance SUVs: 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. "Adding an EcoBoost drivetrain to Explorer Sport delivers even more fuel efficiency and performance to the lineup," said Bill Gubing, Explorer chief engineer. "This is our highest- performance, most capable Ford Explorer ever." Hit the jump to read more about the new Ford Explorer Sport. Full story In the Army Now: Ford Set to Power New Military Vehicles
BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and Meritor Defense have been working on a military project dubbed the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program in an attempt to manufacture a lightweight vehicle that the U.S. armed forces can use anywhere in the world. This project had yet to be officially proposed, as its equipment was still in the developmental phase, but as of today, testing is over and the proposal is to be submitted. You may be wondering “what does this have to do with production cars?” The driving force of this new military device, which is ultimately the replacement for the Humvee, is shared with one of the best-selling pickups of all time, the Ford F-Series SuperDuty. Yup, this large-caliber-gun-toting machine will come fitted with Ford’s now famous 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine. The exact specifics of the engine have not been released, so we are not certain if this will be the same 6.7-liter you would see under the hood of a 2012 F-250 SuperDuty. Unfortunately, that will likely never be known, but we do know that the Power Stroke engine is up to the task, pumping out an impressive 400 horsepower at 2,800 rpm and 800 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. This will likely end up similar to the Allison military transmissions vs. civilian models deal. The Power Stroke’s basic technology will remain the same, but the engine will be highly modified for combat usage. If the military accepts this design as one of the three it will select, this could mean that the Power Stroke could see much advancement in upcoming years, as the military tinkers with the engine and Ford mimics the modifications. This also means that we are in for a slew of “Ford’s so good, we power military vehicles” styles of commercials, oh boy. On a semi-ironic aside to this announcement, Ford was once a part of the JLTV program, but dropped out earlier. We guess there are no hard feelings between Ford and BAE. Hit the jump for the official press release. Full story 2013 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
With fuel economy in the forefront of most drivers’ minds, Ford has announced that a new fuel sipper has gone into production. Strangely enough, Ford’s newest fuel miser is not a hybrid car; it is a diesel-powered Ford Fiesta. This diesel engine, which Ford of Europe dubbed the Duratorq TDCi engine, uses ECOnetic Technology – a series of modifications to reduce both emissions and fuel consumption. These modifications allow this Fiesta to reach new heights as the most fuel-efficient Ford car ever built, getting 3.3 liters per 100km, which equals out to 86.5 mpg. The driving force of the ECOnetic Fiesta is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. It cranks out an acceptable 95ps (94 horsepower) and 205 Nm of torque (151 pound-feet). The Fiesta ECOnetic is definitely not a speed demon, but that is more than enough power to tinker around on any American road. The 2013 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is set to debut later this year, as Ford of Europe continues to lower CO2 production from its vehicles and increase fuel economy. Ford also states that about half of its European models will have ECOnetic Technology by year-end and they are committed to increasing that to two-thirds in 2013. There is no anticipated release of ECOnetic technology in the U.S. to date, but we hope that it eventually makes its way across the pond. It’s safe to say that with the increasing price of gas, it is only a matter of time before Americans are clamoring for an 86.5 mpg Fiesta that does not have the future cost risks of a hybrid or electric car. Click below to read more about the Fiesta’s ECOnetic Technology and Ford’s official press release. Full story
2013 Ford Shelby Mustang 1000
In a world of continued one-upsmanship, Ford and Shelby are building a Mustang that will definitely stick something up the Chevrolet Camaro’s posterior. At the 2012 New York Auto Show next week, Shelby America will be introducing the most powerful Shelby ever built, appropriately called the Shelby 1000. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the "1000" designation on the Mustang signifies the kind of output the car will be generating: 950 ponies! By taking the muscle car’s 5.4 liter V8 engine, Shelby modified the powertrain by adding a slew of new components, including new connecting rods, a new crank, and new pistons. They also upgraded the cooling and exhaust, replaced the supercharger, and gas flowed the heads, resulting in an output of 950 horsepower for the street-legal version and, if you’re looking for something to exclusively assault the race tracks, a 1,100-horsepower model. In addition to the aforementioned performance modifications, the Shelby 1000 was also treated to upgraded 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in the rear. Moreover, the suspension was also modified to include new struts, sway bars, and bushings. Aesthetically, the Shelby 1000 was also given new aero components, including a front splitter, a new bonnet, and a new rear diffuser. All told, the Shelby 1000 is poised to become the fastest and most powerful Shelby ever built, one that will come with a premium price tag to justify its billing. The 950-horsepower street-legal version will retail for $149,995 while the track version will sell for 154,995. And in case you want a car that comes with all the bells and whistles, you’ll need to shell out around $200,000 for that bad boy. Be sure to score one as fast as you can because only a little number of models will be available, each numbered and documented by Shelby America themselves. Updated: Before you got to excited about the images of the new Shelby 1000, you have to know something: they are fake and they have been made by using Photoshop. Yes, we are talking about the images that show the car lifting off the ground. USA Today has made a deeper search and came up with the conclusion that this was impossible: the Mustang is too heavy, the tires in the photo are regular street one and do not appear to be under stress. When asked about this, Scott Black, spokesman for Shelby American confirmed it: "That is fake shot. That shot is not real. I am beyond embarrassed."
Video: Ford Teases a Performance Model 2013 Explorer
Ford has not been shy with new high-performance models in its 2013 lineup. First came the newly redesigned Fusion with an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, then the Focus ST with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. So what’s next for Ford? We think Ford may have tipped its hand with a recent video. In this video (above) you can see a teaser of what’s to come. From what it looks like, Ford will be announcing a high-performance model of the 2013 Ford Explorer on Wednesday, March 28th. It is all speculation as of yet, but with the ominous sounds of an engine reaching high rpm, what else could it be? We may be reading way too much into the video, but if you watch carefully at the 0:10 mark, you will see a speedometer on the left. Count the seconds it takes for this thing to reach 60 mph. By our estimation that Explorer hits 60 mph just shy of 5.5 seconds. Now, that could be just a sped up video of a standard Explorer, but if it’s authentic, that is one mean midsize SUV. That isn’t quite in the Grand Cherokee SRT8’s range, but it’s still impressive. Most rumors in the industry are saying that this model, which may be dubbed an SHO, will feature the same 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 connected to an all-wheel-drive system as the 2013 Taurus SHO. This would be a welcome addition to the existing 2013 Explorer lineup, which already includes a standard 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and an optional 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The video says “Coming 3-28-2012,” so we will simply wait and see what the specifics are. As we type this, it just rolled over to 12:00 a.m. on the 28th and still no details… Sheesh, Ford, take your time why don’t ya. In all honesty though, Ford has a live chat with its SUV Marketing Manager and Chief Engineer on its Facebook page setup for 2:30 p.m. EDT, so details are likely to be revealed at that time.
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