Wow! Finally we have some nice pictures direct from Ford of the newly redesigned Ford Mustang for 2010 (available in early 2009). Given that the new Chevy Camaro is due out next year, the Dodge Charger already nipping at it’s hooves, and the overall downward trend in auto sales worldwide (thanks to the global economy), this new Mustang may be just what the Doctor ordered!

I may be imagining some Challenger influences (especially in the front fenders in the above picture), but this pony still pays homage to it’s muscle car heritage.

But with options like 19″ wheels, voice activated navigation, and even a back up camera, this Mustang is definitely 21st century muscle car!

Paul Randle, Mustang chief engineer said in a press release,

“The new Mustang marks new levels of both power and refinement. We’ve designed and engineered this to be the next classic Mustang that everyone talks about for years and years.”

The new Mustang will be offered in the following Model levels:

• V-6 Base: Coupe (P8A), Convertible (P8E)
• V-6 Premium: Coupe (P8A), Convertible (P8E)
• V-8 GT: Coupe (P8C), Convertible (P8F)
• V-8 GT Premium: Coupe (P8C),Convertible (P8F)

The V6 will be the 4.0 liter, and the 4.6 liter will go into the GT variations. You can be sure that more (and even more powerful) variations will become available. Speaking of power, Ford has tweaked the 4.6L powerplant with cold air induction, increasing it’s stock, off-the-showroom-floor horsepower to 315hp. V6 owners will still have to purchase their cold air induction kits from aftermarket manufacturers, like Brother’s Performance (forgive the self promotion!). Also a slightly larger diameter exhaust on both models should help airflow and overall performance, increasing from 3″ to 3.5″.

There will of course be traction and ride control enhancements in the new Mustangs as well. As with many modern day sports cars, traction control will be an “push on push off” so that the driver can decide how much power and handling they want within their control. Additionally, these traction control options will be available:

GT Track Package I (manual only)

• Performance front brake pads
• 3.73 axle ratio
• Recalibrated AdvanceTrac®

GT Track Package II (manual only, late availability)

• Performance front/rear brake pads
• GT500 Sta-Bars and rear lower control arms
• Retuned struts and shocks
• 19-inch Pirelli Summer tires
• 3.73 axle ratio with carbon plates in the differential
• Recalibrated AdvanceTrac®, traction control and anti-lock brakes

(more…)

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I found a really exciting prototype show car while traipsing around SEMA in Las Vegas today. Seems that Galpin Auto Sports of Van Nuys took a Ford Mustang GT convertible and went COMPLETELY NUTS on it. Sure, it started out as a 2008 Mustang GT, but it is completely unrecognizable now! Hand made composite body, voice command controled, even DUAL retractible steering wheels (left and right side drive, thanks to drive-by-wire technology)!!!

In the deep, 3 layer, candy purple paint, it looks like something the Joker might drive… if he could handle the 1000 horsepower twin supercharged power!

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Of course, it sits so low to ground here, at a height that it would be impractical on most any road or track, but thanks to air ride technologies’ suspension system, the computer constantly gauges the road for the optimum ride height and firmness of the ride itself. and still, it “cuts” quite a shape… and those headlights!

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Here’s a nice big picture for ya:

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DEARBORN, Mich, Nov. 4, 2008 – With the addition of the 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang, Ford Racing will have once again expanded its current stable of race-ready Mustang race cars.

This time, however, the Mustang is designed for drag racing.

The Mustang FR500CJ, known simply as the Cobra Jet, will be officially unveiled Nov. 4 at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It joins its road racing brethren: the Mustang FR500S, the Mustang FR500C and the Mustang FR500GT.

“The Cobra Jet is the newest offspring of the Ford Racing lineup of race cars,” said Jamie Allison, manager of the Ford Racing Performance Group. “We started with the FR500C in 2005 and then followed by the FR500S in 2007. (more…)

The crash test family is growing, in the virtual world that is. Today’s crash test dummies made of rubber and steel will soon be joined by next-generation Human Body Models (HBMs) designed with precise detail, but living only in the world of computer-generated virtual reality. The HBMs were created through the Global Human Body Models Consortium, LLC (GHBMC), established in 2006, by a group of nine automotive manufacturers and two automotive system suppliers.

These next-generation HBMs are intended to help simulate human responses in automobile crashes. The HBMs will help researchers better predict the effect of trauma on the body than they have traditionally been able to do with crash test dummies. The new HBMs will even contain detailed representation of the bones and soft tissues of the human body, with special attention being directed to those parts that are frequently injured in vehicle crashes. Such advanced HBMs will support computer simulations such as virtual crash tests to help better understand human reactions and to improve automotive safety globally.

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Ford Motor Company is introducing an innovative new technology – called MyKey – designed to help parents encourage their teen-agers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety-belt usage.

Ford’s MyKey feature – which debuts next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Focus coupe and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume.  MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour. (more…)

This week’s 2010 Mustang teaser photo shows us the hood and fender lines along with a side mirror in the distance.

Ford’s description of the teaser photos: A sportier, more-aggressive front grille and fascia lead the 2010 Mustang down the road. Slimmer headlamps that integrate the turn indicators are incorporated in a larger grille that expresses power and performance. Large twin fog lamps on the GT model further emphasize Mustang’s muscle-car DNA, which takes on a stealthy persona for the GT with dark headlamp bezels and grille surrounds. Also on the GT, the pony badge is finished in dark chrome for the first time. The pony itself received a makeover and is a more chiseled and defined interpretation of the American icon, galloping proudly on the front grille.
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The first volume production example of the new Ford Ka rolled off the production line at a special ceremony today in Tychy, Poland, 12 years after the original Ka was launched to great acclaim.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak was guest of honour at the ceremony.

With sales due to begin across Europe from early next year, the new Ka will be fully revealed to the public at the Paris Motor Show next week. (more…)

Recent spy photos of a Grabber Blue 2010 Mustang tell us Ford will be bringing back this iconic color for another run.  The Grabber series of colors began in 1970 with just three, Grabber Blue, Grabber Orange and Grabber Green.  In 1971 Grabber Yellow and Grabber Lime were added to the mix, by 1972 Grabber Blue was the only one left and for some reason it’s run ended there and so did the Grabber series. With Grabber Orange already in the mix and Grabber Blue coming back what other Grabber colors do you think Ford has in mind, Lime or Green might be a good choice.  Like everybody else, we will have to wait and see.

So I wrote about the Ford Flex being one of the cars that is available to get all kinds of extra “next generation” goodies from Ford, and I included a picture I took at a Ford lot of a brand spankin’ new Ford Flex in Baby blue. Well today I stopped in at the local fast-breakfast-burrito joint and sitting there was what I would guess was a 1991 Ford Explorer. it just struck me, probably because of the white and blue two tone paint job, how much it resembled that Ford Flex. I snapped a pic with my cell phone and sent it to myself… hmmmm… side-by-side, they’re not that much different, are they?

I mean there are obvious differences, but give me a break, there’s almost 20 years of design difference between the two. And there’s a vast difference between my 12mm wide angle lens mounted on a Digital SLR camera and the lens built into my 4 year old cell phone… But you can see some similarities in the boxy front, can’t you?

I’m thinking Ford should have just gone the way of the Mustang and branded the new “Flex” as a retro-fied Explorer.

Just my 2 cents on hump day.

From DaddyB:
Next generation Sat Nav, voice recognition (”Research Alternative Specs”), and 10GB of music storage in your Ford. I found it interesting that they don’t include the Mustang in that list. read on:

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Ford Press Release:

Customers can take their pick from a baker’s dozen of 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles and experience the ultimate in in-car navigation.

Ford’s next-generation navigation system debuted on the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS this summer. The advanced navigation system will now being offered in 11 other 2009 models, including the all-new Ford F-150, Expedition, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Super Duty, and Econoline; the Mercury Mariner and Mountaineer; and the Lincoln MKX and Navigator.

“Ford’s goal is to lead the industry into a new era of in-vehicle connectivity,” said Jim Buczkowski, director of Ford’s Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering. “We’re accomplishing that by incorporating the best technology solutions from companies like Xanavi, Gracenote and SIRIUS®, connecting customers to the devices and information they need and bringing it to life through the latest in navigation technology.” (more…)