This Mustang Shelby Shooting Brake is Coming as a One-Off; Have Salt Grains Close at Hand…
Working on the internet has taught us not to believe anything we find even mildly unbelievable, without being presented with some kind of satisfactory proof that can attest it. That’s why when we look at the amateurish render you see posted here, we are not won over by feelings of certainty as to its translation into reality as a one-off model.
Yes, that’s right, this Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 shooting brake model is apparently going to become a real car made by Strand Craft, a company whose site is full of renderings, plans and dead links. We were skeptical, so we asked for official confirmation, and we got it in email form.
Company president, Kurt Strand, told Carscoops that it is “a 2014 GT 500 Super Snake Shooting Brake… wide body kit, station wagon style,” and it is indeed being made “in collaboration with a show car builder in LA,” without providing any names.
We’re looking forward to receiving some photos of it when completed, because the idea is frankly not bad at all. Let’s just hope the metal interpretation is more successful than the…MS Paint…renderings...
By Andrei Nedelea
Ford's SEMA Fleet of Custom F-Series, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mustang Concepts
Ford has detailed more of its 57 custom concepts that will be on display at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Besides the 10 Transit Connect tunes we’ve presented earlier this week, Ford will also bring six different interpretations of its F-Series trucks. There will also be concepts based on the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mustang. You’re invited to scroll down and check them out one by one.
Ford F-350 from Cars by Kris
The heavy duty truck gets an extensive list of modifications, including Carli Suspension upgrades to the chassis to handle 22-inch, eight-lug wheels from American Force Wheels, custom upholstery with hexagon stitched seats, painted interior accents and custom floor mats, as well as technical modifications like the Banks Power Ram-Air Intake, Straight-Shot Water-Methanol Injection System and iQ Man-Machine Interface.
Ford F-350 by EcoTrek
This is an environmentally-friendly truck with a 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine – no, we're not joking; it’s what Ford says. It features two additional fuel tanks that have a range of 1,800 (2,897 km) miles each, a rooftop shelter, refrigerator, stoves and flexible solar panels that allow it to be used in some of the most rugged locations. The truck can run on diesel, biodiesel or algae-based biodiesel.
Ford F-250 by Hulst Customs
This mean-looking F-250 features powertrain upgrades via Banks Power, 22-inch wheels from American Rebel MFG and a two-tone leather interior that matches the custom-painted black panels and chrome accents.
Ford F-150 by JR Consulting
Equipped for adventures at hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, this F-150 features an 11,000-pound (4,989-kg) winch from Superwinch, a CargoGlide storage cargo management system, 20-inch Dick Cepek all-terrain wheels and tires and more.
Ford F-150 by Skyjacker Suspensions
Aimed at people who are into the backwoods lifestyle, this F-150 features a 6-inch lift kit from Skyjacker Suspensions, locked storage area from TruckVault, bumpers from Fab Fours Inc. and BMF wheels with BFGoodrich Tires.
Ford F-150 by Fatal Clothing
A full-size pickup posing as a street racer, the F-150 by Fatal Clothing features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine matched with twin-screw supercharger from Whipple Industries and performance exhaust system from CGS Motorsports for a total output of 650 hp. Huge 24-inch DUB wheels somehow fit beneath the wheelarches, while the Katzkin Leather interior has Fatal Clothing logo embroidered in the seats.
Ford Fusion Concepts
Two interpretations of the Ford sedan will be on display at SEMA, a 400-hp racer concept by Full-Race Motorsports that gets turbocharger and exhaust upgrades, and a blingy tune from DSO Eyewear.
Ford Focus Concepts
The main theme for the Focus is motorsport: there’s one with a Lotus livery, one with a Gulf racing livery and a rally-inspired Focus ST for law enforcement. The fourth Focus concept is one that celebrates Southern California’s car culture.
Ford Fiesta Concepts
There are five Fiesta interpretations: a 3Dcarbon tune that mixes elements from European road touring cars and American muscle cars, a rally race-ready Fiesta ST from Ice Nine Group, a Fiesta ST that will be featured in the upcoming Forza Motorsport 5 video game, a model dedicated to the U.S. military by COBB Tuning/Tanner Foust Racing and a Fiesta ST with a custom BASF paint job by Bojix Design.
Ford Mustang Concepts
Finally, there are three Mustang tunes, starting with Vortech Superchargers’ 605hp Project Yellow Jacket Ford Mustang. There’s also the spectacular Hollywood Hot Rods Mustang GT Convertible with 750 horsepower and a handsome concept from Nitto.
By Dan Mihalascu
Ford Stages Fratricidal Race Between 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet and Fiesta ST Rallycross
Ford builds a variety of racing cars, but it’s hard to find two models that are more far apart from each other than the Mustang Cobra Jet and the Fiesta ST global rallycross car (GRC).
While the former is designed to run the quarter-mile as quickly as possible on the drag strip, the other is a nimble little car made for crazy rallycross stages that combine dirt roads with asphalt and various obstacles.
There are more differences: the Cobra Jet is a rear-wheel drive monster powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine fitted with a Ford Racing-built Whipple 2.9L Supercharger, while the Fiesta ST GRC is an all-wheel drive supermini with a 550hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to an OMSE gearbox with custom ratios.
The two cars were driven at the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway by drag racing legend Roy Hill and rallycross driver/Top Gear USA presenter Tanner Foust. We won’t disclose the outcome of the race, but we'll tell you that the race wasn't as one-sided as one would have expected.
By Dan Mihalascu
Street Legal Ford Falcon XR8 Ute Dragster for Sale in the States
If you have been eyeing Ford Australia's Falcon Ute, here's your chance to get one right here in the States – and not any version, mind you, but the "only Prostreet Ford BA XR8 drag race in the world" according to the RKMCCA auction house selling the car this Friday at the Charlotte Convention Center.
The car's flyer also states that it is capable of "running consistent 8-second quarter mile passes on the drag strip, but even more impressive it can be titled/registered as a kit car depending on your state’s rules and driven on the street", as it comes with everything that is required for street cars, including turn signals, and brake lights.
If you take a glance under the huge hood scoop, you'll be greeted by a massive….8.9-liter (540ci) big block V8 with numerous upgrades such as roller rockers, a custom grind solid roller camshaft, steel race crankshaft, H-beam connecting rods, forged pistons and ATI balancer, hooked up to a Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission with a 3,500rpm stall converter.
There's no mention on output, but all data points to several hundred horses – let's put it this way; you won't feel any lack of power with a car running the quarter mile in 8 seconds…
We're also told that the Ute was "recently fully rebuilt and everything brand new from every wire to every part was replaced per the owner’s request", with the auction house saying it anticipates a sale price of between $90,000.00 to $120,000 (€66,200 to €88,300 at today's rates).
2014 Ford Fiesta Gains 3-Cylinder 1.0-Liter EcoBoost in the U.S., Delivers 37 MPG Combined
The 2014 Ford Fiesta is now available in the U.S. with the 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which makes the Fiesta the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, gasoline-powered car on the market with a certified 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km) rating on the highway.
The frugal powerplant achieves fuel efficiency ratings of 32 mpg city (7.35 l/100 km), 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km) highway and 37 mpg (6.35 l/100 km) combined. All ratings are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and correspond to both the 4-door sedan and five-door hatchback 2014 Ford Fiesta with a five-speed manual gearbox.
The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is officially SAE-certified at 123 horsepower and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque, but it features an overboost function that allows it to make more than 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) for up to 15 seconds.
Fuel economy is also boosted by the Fiesta SE Manual EcoBoost Package that includes a rear spoiler, side air deflectors, underbody shields, lower grille blockers and low-rolling-resistance tires.
The 2014 Fiesta also gets a new MyFord Touch system with 6.5-inch touch screen featuring enhanced voice control and Ford MyKey, which allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. MyKey mutes audio until safety belts are fastened and makes sure driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated.
Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family now includes the 1.0-liter three-cylinder; 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines; and the 3.5-liter V6. Ford estimates that around 80 percent of its global nameplates will be available with EcoBoost engines by the end of this year.
By Dan Mihalascu
Ford Falcon Ute Turns Into a Hot Rod, Owner Calmly Puts Out Fire and Drives it Back to Work!
Talk about turning around a hot situation into a very cool affair. Mark Schocroft, a young automotive electrician from the Australian city of Adelaide, was in for a nasty surprise on Friday morning when he saw his Ford Falcon ute engulfed in flames.
Apparently, the butane bottles in the pickup truck's bed exploded. Thankfully, bypassers notified Schocroft who ran outside the pizza place and extinguished the fire.
What makes this story cool is that Schocroft, far from shocked, checked out his Falcon ute and once he made sure that the basics work, he drove the car to his job!
Schocroft told 7News that he was concerned he would be late for work. "I didn't know what the bosses would say…," explained the young man.
2015 Ford Mustang: C&D Says This is "Almost Definitely" It…and Yes, They're Illustrations
Love or it loathe it, agree or disagree with it, the upcoming new generation of the Ford Mustang will be if not the, one of the most talked about models over the next few months, so even though it won't officially be unveiled until December, we'll be seeing and hearing a lot about it…
On Sunday, we learned about Car&Driver magazine's December 2013 issue the front page of which is titled "We leak the 2015 Ford Mustang" and "Exclusive! The images and info Ford doesn't want you to see", along what a photo of the pony car.
The publication also hosts an online article titled "Leaked! This is (Almost Definitely) the 2015 Ford Mustang: Exclusive 360º View and Full Details!" with…illustration credits. And no, the pictures seen online and on the front page are not "official" photos of the real car, but digital renders, which are said to be close to the real thing.
In the article, it is mentioned that the 'Stang will launch with the current model's 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 producing the same 305hp and 420hp outputs and linked to either 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Newer powertrains, including a 2.3-liter inline four turbo, possibly the 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbo, a twin-turbocharged V8 code-named “Voodoo,” and an unspecified V8 for the Boss 302 are said to be added down the line. Over the weekend we shared a survey made for Ford about the 2015 Mustang, in which the turbo four was mentioned.
Story References & Photo Credits: C&D [Thanks to Chris Doane for the tip!
Update: C&D requested the removal of the five additional renderings (for websites – "Leaked! This is (Almost Definitely) the 2015 Ford Mustang" images for readers). You can still check them out on the magazine's website.
2015 Ford Mustang Survey Includes Info on Engine Range, Prices [Updated]
Whenever carmakers, or for that matter, any kind of company that offers products for sale, develop a new model, they survey the public to make important decisions and even alterations in design, features, marketing, pricing and other important areas. The same applies with Ford and its upcoming 2015 Mustang.
One of those U.S. market surveys conducted for Ford by Morpace was shared online on the Mustang6G forums, courtesy of member PVC. While there's no way of being 100 percent sure that everything mentioned is final, we suspect that certain specs and details could be very close to what we'll get when the 6th generation Mustang goes on sale next year.
"I recently got a survey on car options. I was thinking it might be an indicator about the type of options available for the Mustang," said PVC in a posting. "We have a 2013 Mustang and wonder if we got the e-mail because of that. Anyway, here are screenshots I took. Do these items and prices look to be in-line with what the Mustang might have?"
On the powertrain front, the survey mentions three available engines, beginning with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 producing 300hp and 290 lb-ft (393Nm) that returns 19mpg city, 29mpg highway.
The second option is a (+$560) 2.4-liter inline-four GTDI (turbocharged with direct injection) rated at 310hp and 310lb-ft (420Nm), which has fuel economy numbers of 22mpg city and 32mpg highway.
The last choice is a (+$1,890) 4.9-liter V8 twisting out 430hp and 396lb-ft (536Nm), and returning 18mpg city and 28mpg highway.
For the record, the current 2014 Mustang Mk5 is offered with two regular powertrains (there's also the 662hp Shelby GT500), a 3.7-liter V6 producing 305hp and 280lb-ft (19mpg city / 29mpg highway for manual), and a 5.0-liter V8 with 420hp and 390 lb-ft (15mpg city and 26mpg highway for manual gearbox).
In other words, all three engines listed in the questionnaire for the 2015 Mustang are either new or improved / modified.
There's also a query in which the 2015 Mustang's base price is listed at $23,995, and another one where the survey asks which of the following transmissions would they pick if the cost was the same: 10-speed automatic, 6-speed automatic, 7-speed manual and 6-speed manual.
In our opinion, the most important data in the survey is the engine range, which does match what we've heard in the past. You can take a look at it for yourself in more detail and discover other interesting tidbits, in the gallery below.
Update: We were contacted by Morpace, which asked us to remove its screenshots from the survey
