When the RS3 Focus by Roush Performance was officially revealed, we couldn’t help but be a little disappointed in the tuning firm’s choice of vehicle. A Ford Focus, seriously? However, just in time to redeem themselves in our book, Roush Performance turned to their first love for a bit of tuning action: a Ford Mustang. The special Stage 3 Premier Edition Mustang was developed in cooperation with Roush Fenway Racing team driver David Ragan and displayed in SEMA for all to see.
The Stage 3 Premier Mustang emblazoned the show floor with three different colors for the base vehicle, graphics, and graphic accents. The result is an impressive palette of unique color combination possibilities and the only standout feature from a standard Stage 3 Mustang kit. That’s right, the only additional features for this special Stage 3 are the colors. Under the hood, we still found a 5.0L 4-valve DOHC TiVCT engine equipped with a R2300 Roush supercharger to increase the total output to an impressive 540 HP. The Mustang also received a race-inspired Roush suspension and a Roush Performance tuned exhaust system from the original package.
"This is a show-quality, premier paint application process. All paint is hand-applied at our Roush Performance facilities in Livonia, Mich., along with technical support from the Sherwin-Williams team," said Roush. "It’s a tri-coat application that introduces subtle hues of reflective flaking into the paint so the colors really dance and bounce as the Premier Edition adjusts to the changing sunlight angles. It’s a very intense paint process, but we’ve got a winning formula to make these Mustangs look great!"
Check out full color choices after the jump.
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Roush Performance’s Stage 3 (RS3) Upgrade on the Ford Mustang already touts some serious upgrades, including the addition of the 50-state legal TVS 2.3-liter ROUSHcharger system that beefs up the Mustang’s output to 540 horsepower and 465 lb/ft of torque. Now, in an attempt to add more sizzle to an already spicy aftermarket program, Roush Performance has come out with a limited edition set of their RS3 Mustangs called the "Hyper-Series."
The Hyper-Series doesn’t touch on any more performance modifications because the RS3 program already has that covered. What it does offer is a set of four limited edition aesthetic packages, each coming with their own four-color options.
Among the choices being offered in the Hyper-Series palette include "Mat it Mango," "Gas It Green," "Punch It Purple," and "Launch It Lemon." All of the vehicles will only come in 25-piece models serialized as Roush-certified builds for each of the Hyper-Series colors. To give an example, model no.1 for the Mat It Mango series will be designated as "Vehicle #1 of 25 - Mat It Mango."
The primary color of the Hyper-Series is black, which is then complimented by graphic accent stripes of the respective color schemes. This particular color is then applied to the exterior graphics, badges, and rear faux gas cap, as well as on the suede door panels, leather seating, and the shift boot stitching. Two shifter balls are also included, as well as a suede-wrapped steering wheel, and a unique accessories package that includes ROUSH apparel and display items to commemorate their serialized Hyper-Series vehicle.
"The 2012 RS3 Mustang has been a big hit with our customers and enthusiasts because of the 288 graphics and paint color combinations that can be selected," says Gary Jurick, VP and General Manager of ROUSH Performance.
"The Hyper-Series introduces four spectacular and unique graphics and interior colors that provide a customized appearance to the RS3."
The Ford Mustang and tuning company Roush Performance have long been synonymous with each other because of the latter’s undying devotion to giving some good aftermarket lovin’ to the iconic Ford muscle car.
Over the years, we’ve seen a number of Roush-tuned Ford Mustangs, including the P-51B, the Barrett-Jackson Edition, and the 5XR. All these works are mighty impressive, especially for the lofty standards the Mustang is held to in the tuning world.
With all the Mustang experience under its belt, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find out that Roush Performance has just revealed their new project, the 2012 RS3 Mustang.
The 2012 Stage 3 Mustang, aka RS3, is powered by a 5.0L 4-valve DOHC TiVCT engine equipped with a R2300 ROUSH supercharger that increases the total output to a total of 540HP. Next to it the package also includes a pretty impressive list of paint and graphics and changes made to both interior and the exterior.
UPDATE 04/15/2011: This review has been updated with the official details and new images on the Mustang RS3. Hit the jump for the full details.
UPDATE 08/24/11: Roush Performance has been granted approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to sell the ROUSHcharged 2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustangs in all 50 states here in the US. That’s right, folks. You can get a piece of this monster Mustang in the US! And if that’s not enough good news for you, Roush Performance has released a video of the car performing some serious burnout action. Check it out, peeps!
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Roush is back to bring us yet another special Mustang to add to its lineup. Coming straight from its unveiling of the 5XR, Roush is now bringing us the final muscle car for the 2011 model year called the Sport Mustang. Based on the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0, this Sport model adds a dramatic Aero Body Kit and signature graphics.
Roush’s exterior package includes a new billet grille that provides some additional cooling to the engine, a new front fascia and front splitter, rear fascia, side splitters, and a three-piece rear wing which add appearance and aggressiveness to the car.
Roush wanted to keep the engine for the Mustang the same so the 5.0L V8 Coyote engine still delivers the standard 412hp and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. What they did add was a slew of options including sport graphics ($530), lowering springs ($580), four-piece performance pedals ($200), sport leather seating ($1,725), and convertible light bar ($910). According to the tuner, future options will be available and include a new sport exhaust system and a new sport brake kit.
Press release after the jump.
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When anyone thinks of turning their Mustang into a perfect combination of street car and race car, they probably hit up the Roush website for any new technologies the company may have brought out. After all, Roush Performance is, without a doubt, a leader in Mustang conversions and their supercharger system, the ROUSHcharger, is the epitome of performance. Anyone would be crazy not to want a piece of that.
Back in August, Roush announced a new supercharger kit for the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 that took the engine’s power from 412 HP to a monstrous 550 HP. Seeing an opportunity before him, Jim D’Amore III at JDM Engineering took that supercharger and ran with it in the NMRA Drag Racing competition this season in a 2011 ROUSH Mustang, eventually snatching up the win in the Super Stang championship. Thanks to the tremendous power generated from the ROUSHcharger kit, the car has already been in the 9.9-second range at 138 mph.
D’Amore reported that this was on 17 pounds of boost, but wanted to keep the car slower than 10.0-seconds for the race season (the legal limit for the roll cage). Since then, they have installed a larger balancer pulley creating 20 psi of boost and have picked up another 40 HP and are now running with an excess of 700 HP under the hood. The team’s prediction is that the car should soon be running in the 9.65-second range at 140 mph.
