Looks like Ford Racing is going to be introducing a new intake manifold for their 4.6 Liter modular V8 engine. While the stock manifold works well with general engine modifications, trying to get that engine to rev over the 6500 rpm redline can be a challenge, if not downright dangerous. This new manifold design is supposed to increase that 6500 rev limit all the way up to 7500 RPM!

While the new manifold itself doesn’t add much, if any, horsepower, it does allow other mods that you may have done to your pony like new camshafts, valves, and performance exhaust systems to shine under higher engine revs.

Ford says that they will be building the tooling up for this new manifold in the coming months and running prototypes closer towards the end of summer. Expect sales to start later in the Fall, about October. Ford Racing manifolds generally range from $250 to $600, so expect this to be in that range.

-brett garrett “DaddyB”

Reed Speed / Artisan 700HP Ford Mustang

Just another “Tuner” car? Not with this kind of Horsepower! Randall Reed Ford Dealerships have announced that in partnership with Artisan Performance (creators of the 700HP Camaro and one bad 600HP Lexus I-SF) you will be able to order your own twin-turbo, 700 horsepower 2010 Ford Mustang later this summer. Sporting new forged rods, Total Seal rings and new pistons that combine to drop the 4.6 Liter engine’s compression ratio enough to accept the 12 psi of dual-intercooled boost huffed through a set of Artisan Rear Mounted twin turbochargers. The there’s the high-flow exhaust system with a high perforamnce catalytic converters, custom intercooler and wastegate, and of course an ECU (exhaust control unit) upgrade to handle the fuel mapping and boost control necessary for turbocharged cars.

Randall Reed Ford dealerships are predominately in the Texas/Southwest region, but their vehicles can be ordered through associated dealership across the nation.

Adding all that horsepower wouldn’t be sensible without beefing up the stopping power as well, so Randall Reed added SSBC’s 14-inch brake rotors with six-piston calipers all around, enveloped with 20″ wheels. Said wild, wide wheels are masked by the BASF painted body kit that adds 1.5 inches at the front and 3″ to the rear! This is one beautiful, muscular car with performance that equals the looks!

Each vehicle will come with a numbered plaque and “owner’s Package”. The price hasn’t been released yet… but mouths are watering all over the world.

Interested in a new desktop wallpaper of this beast? right-click on the size you want below!

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I’m sure this car will be at SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) auto show in Las Vegas this November, so be sure to follow out live broadcasts and photo updates from the show, November 2009.

Saab 9-3 convertible

In the most recent automobile manufacturer merger that screams to be filed in the “It’s so crazy, it just might work” drawer, Swedish exotic car manufacturer Koenigsegg (CON-eegs-egg) has won the bid to purchase Swedish passenger car manufacturer Saab from bankrupt American car manufacturer General Motors. (more…)

Proceed to benefit Children’s Charities
Grand Marshall, Hot Rod designer Chip Foose, designs T-shirt for event.

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) is inviting car buffs and collectors to join in raising money for two children’s charities by registering their vehicle(s) in the inaugural SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, August 1, 2009.

“From hot rods to racing-tuned torque monsters, and everything in between, our goal is to bring together some amazing vehicles and create a spectacular event,” said Mike Spagnola, chairman of the SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show. “We’re encouraging all enthusiasts to register their vehicles. There will also be food, live music and plenty of activities for the kids, so it will be a great family affair. We’d really like this enthusiast car show to become the showcase event of the summer and grow each year so we can raise more money for two deserving children’s charities.”

Chip Foose, award-winning automotive designer and fabricator, and host of TLC’s “Overhaulin’” is Grand Marshall of the show. All vehicle registrants will receive a free T-shirt designed and autographed by Foose. Trophies will be awarded for Best Engine, Best Interior, Best in Show and People’s Choice. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will have an opportunity to attend the trade-only SEMA Show in November, with free hotel accommodations in Las Vegas. (more…)

Posted 15 Jun, 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Manufacturers , Mustang events 

Proud to bring you this video of Steeda Mustangs tearing up the track at Sebring. video was officially released by Steeda.  The exteriors have been largely unchanged just for this video. Word is that the Steeda Skunkworks team has been hard at work making design changes to not just the interior and engine bays, but the exterior as well.
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If only that meant working on that 2010 Mustang rear end. I just know that it’s just a matter of time until 3d carbon or Cervini comes out with one that at the least, is far less hideous.

One can only hope.

GM announced today a buyer for their Saturn Brand of Automobiles. Seems that Penske is going to purchase the manufacturing for this line of automobiles which started back in the 80’s as an alternative to Japanese imports, and had strong word of mouth back then for it’s all plastic bodies and no haggling, one flat price dealerships. It seems that GM had been letting Saturn sort of diminish by the wayside for the past several years, and Penske is ready to step up to infuse some life into Saturn.

The first announcement from Penske’s headquarters is that the complete line of cars will be available in “Penske Yellow” (see below).

No word yet on if the Saturn brand will be available for local and long distance, and one-way rentals (hand trucks and  blankets an extra charge, of course).

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.

(more…)