Monday, April 30, 2012

Dodge Dart will hit 41 MPG with available Aero Package



The Environmental Protection Agency hasn't released its evaluation data for the 2013 Dodge Dart just yet, but Chrysler says the compact should be capable of returning some impressive fuel economy figures, particularly with an available Aero package. When equipped with the turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, the standard Dart is good for an estimated 27 mpg city and 39 mpg highway, thanks in part to active aero shutters nestled in the grille of every model. Should buyers require a few extra miles per gallon, an optional Aero package will see the highway figure jump to 41 mpg. So far, there's no word on city or combined fuel economy for the package, but there's time before the trim becomes available, as it won't be in dealerships until the third quarter of this year.

Chrysler isn't mentioning how much the Aero package will add to the bottom line or what other tweaks consumers will get for their coin. We do know that with 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, the Dart Aero should be considerably more engaging to drive than the Chevrolet Cruze Eco. While that model is good for 42 mpg highway when equipped with a six-speed manual, it does the deed with 22 fewer horsepower and 36 fewer pound-feet of torque.


Source: Autoblog Green

Toyota to debut new RAV4 EV at EVS 26

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., will debut the new RAV4 EV (earlier post) at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles on 7 May.
TMS unveiled a second-generation Toyota RAV4 EV demonstrator vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2010. Toyota built 35 of these Phase Zero vehicles—essentially converted RAV4s—for a demonstration and evaluation program through 2011. Tesla Motors is supplying the battery and other related components.

The vehicle going on sale this year is a fully re-engineered RAV4 EV (Phase One vehicle), which will be sold to the general public as well as to fleet users.

Toyota Still Looking To Move Prius Production To U.S.



I’m not sure how long ago it was when I first heard that Toyota was looking to move Prius production to the United States. Besides being their biggest market, Toyota was probably hoping to stifle some criticism regarding the green credentials of a car that is produced from parts shipped all over the world (sometimes more than once). That was back in 2008.  
Toyota talking about moving production of the Prius to North America once again, and they’ve set a target date of 2015.
Granted, once the Great Recession hit, a lot of companies, big and small alike, had to change their plans. In the wake of last year’s devastating Japanese tsunami, which crippled Toyota’s ability to build the Prius, Toyota is now looking to secure local suppliers of hybrid components in North America. Not only will that reduce costs (as the high Yen is driving Japanese production costs skyward) but it will also add to the Prii’s green cred.
Alas, sourcing hybrid parts in North America is easier said than done. Many components for hybrid drivetrains come from China, and require Chinese rare earth elements. That said, moving production of the Prius and its components to the U.S. would not only be a big boon for American manufacturing, but it make the Prius more resilient to industry-rattling events like the tsunami, which affected automakers the world over.
Toyota is aiming to open the new plant by 2015, right around when a new generation Prius should be hitting dealerships


 Source: Gas2.0

Ford Ecosport News

Smaller version of the Kuga is designed primarily to emerging merchants.

ford ecosport
It's a global car, the new Ford EcoSport, ie designed for different markets, especially those listed as emerging.

The EcoSport unveiled at the Beijing setting, even stylistic, a compact SUV, and is considered a smaller version of the Kuga, and at the same time a glimpse of a certain inspiration "off-road", as seen, for example , from the spare wheel again to the tailgate.

The EcoSport will be built in China, Thailand, India and even Brazil.
ford ecosport

2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang to compete in One Lap of America




Roush Performance will be entering their recently launched 2013 Stage 3 Mustang in the 2012 Tire Rack One Lap of America event scheduled for May 4th through 12th, 2012. As the One Lap website states, “The Tire Rack One Lap of America event is the toughest 8 days of racing featuring the fastest street-legal cars on America’s most challenging racetracks!” The Roush Performance engineering team has packed impressive horsepower, styling and handling performance into the redefined 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang. The supercharged 5.0L engine now produces a whopping 565HP and 505 ft/lbs of Torque. The all-new Roush Stage 3 graphics and body kit presents a menacing stance and appearance, and the Roush race-inspired suspension puts the power to the pavement while on the track or street.

“I can’t think of a better, more comprehensive vehicle endurance test than the Tire Rack One Lap event,” says Roush Performance #61 driver Jack Roush, Jr. “Pushing the vehicle through the One Lap skid pads, drag races, road courses and the thousands of road driving miles in between the tracks can add up to tremendous forces being put on the car and driver. I thoroughly enjoyed competing in the 2011 Tire Rack One Lap event, along with my co-driver Bill Johnson. It’s a grueling racing event, for sure.”

“The 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang competing in this year’s Tire Race One Lap event is the exact vehicle that can be optioned out and ordered through a Roush Authorized Ford Dealer,” says Tim Wheeler, VP Sales and Marketing for Roush Performance. “No additional power-adders, calibrations or racing modifications are part of this One Lap package. We think the 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang – right from the Dealer — can compete extremely well under these tough track conditions, and then provide a comfortable ride to the next track event 300 miles away.”

Roush Performance is pleased to announce that Evan Smith (Editor, Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords) and his co-driver Jeff Lacina (Owner, Track Guys DETROIT MUSCLE | REDEFINED Performance Driving Events) will be piloting the 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang during this year’s event.

“Evan and Jeff are both accomplished drivers that know their way around a Mustang, and how to push a performance vehicle to its limits out on the track,” says Jack Roush, Jr. “I’ve been to the track with Evan before and know that he is an excellent racer in his own right. We’re excited to have them experience our 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang’s power, handling and comfort while representing Roush Performance over the course of this marathon event.”

American Muscle tests out their new 2013 Mustang GT at the drag strip



The 2013 Mustang has only started to arrive at dealerships, but already both customers and performance shops are already having fun with their new pony cars. The only thing we haven’t seen yet is someone take a 2013 Mustang to the drag strip. Until now.

American Muscle, who recently took delivery of their Gotta Have It Green 2013 Mustang project car, headed out to Cecil County Dragway in Maryland to see what the car could do, and the results are certainly impressive. With just 200 miles on the odometer and a tank full of 87 octane fuel, the 2013 Mustang’s 420 horsepower 5.0L V8 propelled it to a 12.74 second run at 111 mph. As a comparison American Muscle ran a 2013 Mustang V6 Convertible in the next lane that ran a respectable 14.92 @ 95 mph.

You can watch both 2013 Mustangs run at the drag strip in the video below.


Marti Reports announces expanded Tagbook for 1965-1973 Mustang



Marti Auto Works, who offers a wide and varied selection of production fact books, specifications manuals and sales literature for the Ford Mustang, has announced that they will be offering a new tag book for the 1965-1973 Mustang and Cougar.
“Our new book features details never before published about various tags used on the 1965-1973 Mustangs and Cougars,” stated Kevin Marti, Marti Auto Works President.
Kevin and his team have spent over 20 years researching this subject, unlocking the keys to all the mysterious tags on these cars. The book is a complete guide to decoding the engine, transmission, carburetor, steering box, VIN owner card, radiator and more. The Mustang and Cougar Tagbook is a valuable source for authentication or restoration.
As a Ford licensee to the Ford Motor Company’s entire database, Marti Auto Works is able to offer exclusive books like Mustang by the Numbers 1967-1973. This publication is packed with over 12,000 statistics about how many Mustangs were built each year with various paint/trim, engine/transmission and option schemes with user friendly charts that offer the answers to a host of questions. Very high quality, color 1965-1970 Mustang sales brochures are also available.
In addition to the Marti Reports, Marti Auto Works has provided the finest quality restoration products that meet or exceed original design specifications at auto supply store prices including belts and hoses, spark plug wires and battery cables for over 29 years.

Michigan Chevrolet Dealership Selling 25 Volts Per Month

We’ve often seen suggestions for how GM could better advertise the Chevrolet Volt. True more could be done, but the actual transaction takes place at the dealership, and regardless of political, economic or corporate marketing factors, one Michigan dealership is consistently delivering 25 Volts per month. In a feature by Forbes yesterday, Serra Chevrolet in Southfield was shown to be capitalizing on the fact it’s on GM’s home turf, and going well beyond, it has honed a sales formula to move inventory proving the Volt need not be merely a showpiece “halo” car. There are nearly 2,600 Volt-selling Chevy dealers in the country, and could you imagine what potential is there if each sold only three Volts month after month? That’s 7,800 units, a little more than the number GM sold last year. But as Forbes observes, that may be a stretch, as the average auto dealer in 2010 sold just 653 vehicles, and last month was the Volt’s best at 2,289 sold. Nonetheless, Serra, which opened only around a year ago, is cranking out the Volts. “We’re getting in 25 a month” from the GM factory in nearby Detroit, “and we’re selling 25 a month,” said Serra’s General Manager, Greg Brown, to Forbes contributor, Dale Buss. “We only have five left on the lot; we should always probably have 15 to 20 here at the dealership. So we just put in an order for another 25.” Boiled down to the basics, Serra has a top-down dedication to the Volt, its own Excel spreadsheet to demonstrate how the car makes sense, plenty of Volts on hand, and all its sales people are proficient at explaining the car. Following are the main points Brown relayed to Forbes that together outline the dealership’s Volt sales formula: • Cross-selling the car • Creating sales-force expertise • Coming up with new sales hooks • Playing the parent card • Keeping Volts in stock • Committing from the top • Using The Windmill Effect • Offering generous lease rates Number one on the list is “cross-selling,” and here is a reversal of the all-too-often told story whereby Chevrolet salespeople steer would-be Volt buyers away from GM’s purportedly expensive halo to easier sales like the Cruze and Malibu. Brown told Forbes the dealership has rapidly become a magnet for Volt shoppers, but about half the customers who purchase a Volt there do not start out with one in mind. “Since we really got to know the vehicle, we’ve been able to switch people from the Cruze, Equinox [crossover] and Malibu [midsize sedan] to Volt,” Brown said. This, he said, is accomplished by not having only one or two Volt-trained salespeople, but every single salesperson is fully comfortable discussing the Volt’s pros and cons. Brown said the dealership uses a consultative sales process to qualify whether the Volt fully makes sense – and often it does – but Brown says Serra’s salespeople are capable of leading a person to see that for themselves. Of course, neither Ralph Nader nor an editor from Consumer Reports is in charge there, so the dealership does rely on old fashioned salesmanship to help with the psychological factors in the decision. That’s where being creative with new sales hooks and playing the parent card come in. A sales hook need not be mind games and manipulation though, rather one example was showing how much gasoline per month the Volt could save compared to a conventional car. “A payment on a Volt might be $150 more a month,” Brown explained. “But we can show them that they’d be saving $150 or $200 a month in gas with a Volt, so it might make sense for them.” The “parent card” was mentioned as a potential aid to closing the deal based on the simple fact that teenagers need not ask the parents for gas money. “And if they are hitting you up for gas money if they’re driving a Volt, then you know that they’re driving the car further than they should be,” Brown joked. Of course, if you are a parent, you can decide whether you are willing to turn your young driver loose with a new Volt … Other factors adding up to Serra’s ability to deliver 25 Volts per month include keeping plenty of cars in stock, and “committing from the top.” Regarding this second point, it simply means sales managers are all about the Volt, and encourage sales people to be also. As for the last two points in Serra’s formula, the “windmill effect” and “offering generous lease rates” the second one probably needs no explaining, but the windmill effect is an environmentalist pitch. Just as GM has been doing from the corporate level – issuing press releases showing how environmentally consciousness it is with solar installations, efficient light bulbs, recycling, etc. – Serra has a little bit of green cred to boast of as well. In this case it has two large windmills reportedly quite visible to passers by that provide 15 percent of its electricity, and it offers a Volt charging station on the premises. “Those aspects of the store, and the mindset of the Volt, go hand-in-hand,” Brown said. “It helps.” All told, the synergy adds up to a whole lot of Volt sales, Brown said. Now just imagine if other Chevy dealerships yet finding it tough to sell Volts – or preferring not to – took these steps too

Sunday, April 29, 2012

2011 Audi A1 Quattro


This Audi A1 Quattro Clubcport is actually a one-off vehicle which Audi will be introducing this week in the Wörthersee Tour 2011 Audi A1 Quattro. Driven by a highly-modified two.five liter, five-cylinder TFSI unit (direct-injection and turbocharged), the Audi A1 Quattro boasts a total output of 503 PS (370 kW / 496 bhp) and 660 Nm (486.79 lb-ft) of torque.
Wheels are 19-inch alloys wrapped in 255/30/R19 low-profile tires along with the coilover suspension arrives with adjustable compression and rebound damping. The A1 Clubsport Quattro is dressed inside of a Glacier White matte paint complete contrasted while using the high-gloss black roof made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). Inside of is often a leather finish for the middle console as well as seats but there's no rear bench. Alternatively, there is a body-stiffening crossbar and storage space for racing helmets.

And weighing just 1,390 kilograms (3,064 lb), the numbers are great for that which you can think about to become an incredibly nimble A1. 0 to a hundred km/h (62.14 mph) arrives in at 3.7 seconds. The 0 to 200 km/h (124.27 mph) sprint normally takes 10.9 seconds. Top rated speed is electronically restricted to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Transmission is actually a six-speed manual gearbox driving the Audi Quattro everlasting all-wheel drive - both equally methods borrowed from your TT RS but with modifications. The electrical power band is wide, with an 80 to 120 km/h (49.71 to 74.56 mph) burst in fourth gear taking just two.four seconds. On the outdoors is a full aerodynamic and wide-body kit which broadens the auto by sixty millimeters (two.36 inches). The exhaust pipe comes from the left facet on the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro, as on the Audi A4 DTM vehicle, just forward in the rear wheel.

Audi A2 Concept


Audi A2 Concept the new product will retain this building, but is going to be priced increased. Audi is set to justify the premium - and set the car or truck aside from the far more standard Audi A1 and Audi A3 - with outstanding technical innovation. As our illustrations present, the A2 is additionally very likely to get extremely flexible, with an MPV-style physique. An insider informed us: “It will only be an electrical auto. Most battery designs are compromised as they are developed on rehashed architecture, however the A2 will probably be built through the ground up being a pure electrical device.

“The idea is so popular [at Audi] that it could even spawn a family of Audi A2 electric versions and grow to be nearly a standalone brand.” The company recently bought quite a few offshore wind turbines to offset the vitality used in developing a pilot fleet of Audi A3s powered by all-natural fuel, and is most likely to pursue a similar technique to help keep the Audi A2 production system carbon neutral.

The model will even stay reasonably light because of on the aluminium construction below the skin. “The spaceframe is, was and often is going to be the car’s core,” our resource insisted. Audi launched the authentic lightweight A2 to good fanfare in 1999, only for it to prove a sales flop, despite the fact that there was a distinctive one.2-litre edition which claimed 90mpg in fuel usage through the use of pioneering features such as stop-start technological innovation. Right now, the far more typical 1.4-litre four-cylinder variations from the Audi A2 are still extremely sought after from the second-hand current market. The brand new model is scheduled to reach dealers by 2015, and spearhead Audi’s electrical car generate.

Opel Ampera "Car of The Year 2012"

He has clearly prevailed on Volkswagen up! and Ford Focus.

It is the Opel Ampera, the winner of "Car of the Year 2012", the most important and prestigious international recognition accorded to production cars. The car with so-called extended-range electric power of Opel - has already received more than 7 thousand orders in Europe - has prevailed with an advantage over Volkswagen up! and Ford Focus.
opel ampera
The seven finalists were Edition 2012 Volkswagen up!, Toyota Yaris, the Citroen DS5, the Ford Focus, the Range Rover Evoque, Fiat Panda and Opel Ampera / Chevy Volt. 59 judges participated in the vote, that international journalists specialized in the automotive world, coming from 23 European countries.

The verdict of the jury of international journalists have thus chosen as early as last year, an ecological model that is powered by electricity. To win the title of "Car of the Year" in 2011 was in fact the electric Nissan Leaf.

2012 Car of the Year Standings

1. Opel Ampera / Chevy Volt : 330 votes
2. Volkswagen up! :  281 votes
3. Ford Focus : 256 votes
4. Range Rover Evoque : 186 votes
5. Fiat Panda 156 : votes
6. Citroen DS5 : 144 votes
7. Toyota Yaris : 122 votes

Acura S.H.I.E.L.D. MDX (2012)


CAR GARAGE | Acura S.H.I.E.L.D. MDX (2012) | Acura is developing an impressive second chapter as the official vehicle of the cutting-edge SHIELD organization, enabling us to reinforce Acura's brand philosophy of innovation and advancement, and leverage the excitement for the new ILX, RDX and NSX supercar concept product news Announced Acura and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, Announced the details for the Marvel's The Avengers movie.


Earlier this year, "said Susie Rossick, Acura Brand Manager. Acura kicked off its campaign with Marvel at the 2012 New York Auto Show, where a militarized SHIELD-Edition MDX was on display with a SHIELD Agent Product Specialist.

Hydrogen Powered By Hyundai Coming in 2013




Out of all of the auto makers Hyundai is getting the jump on the coming hydrogen fuel cell powered car game. The hydrogen-powered Hyundai Tucson ix will launch in 2013.

Hyundai, a Korean auto maker, is not the only car company to be adding hydrogen powered vehicles to its consumer retail fleet. Toyota, Honda, and GM are all planning their hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) to launch in 2015. However, Hyundai will be the first to test the market, with 1,000 units actually going on sale next year. The price tag of the hydrogen Tucson ix will be $88,550. Undoubtedly a steep price, and with the leaps and bounds in electronic vehicle (EV) technology causing lower prices for EVs, hydrogen may have missed the market. Also, if you don’t live near one of the handful of pilot hydrogen filling stations, you are SOL my friend.

Yet for all the naysayers of hydrogen — the fuel cells are expensive and hydrogen fill up stations are not very common–  the fact remains that large amounts of major car manufactures are pursuing the technology. Hyundai has not given details about where the first 1,000 hydrogen FCEVs will ship, but it is most likely that the majority will be sent to Europe.

Unlike in the U.S., hydrogen is a major emerging player in Europe, with FCEVs going beyond cars to include buses and other heavy vehicles. There are a few pilot programs in the U.S., mostly in California and New York, but hydrogen has a much more devout following in Europe.

Hyundai has definitely come a long way from the scrappy car maker they were just a decade ago. But can they become a major player in the hydrogen fuel economy? That remains to be seen. If any of the Hyundai FCEVs do come to America, they are likely to release in limited numbers in the Los Angeles area where many HFCV prototype,s including the Honda FCX Clarity, have been tested.



Source: Gas2.0

China getting ready for 5m plug-in vehicles by 2020

Imagine all of the cars and light-duty trucks in Washington and Oregon combined. Then imagine them all being either battery-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. That's what Chinese leaders have in mind by the end of the decade.

The China State Council is pushing for a combination of automotive industry production and public acceptance to allow for as many as five million plug-in vehicles to be on the roads in China by 2020, Green Car Congress reports.

The Chinese government is also looking to boost average new-car fuel economy to about 47 miles per gallon in 2020 from about 34 miles per gallon in 2015, when the State Council is targeting for about a half-million vehicles to be electric drive.

China will enact a combination of research and development funding and subsidies that will be used to boost sales of plug-ins. The government will also speed up the development of an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and will tilt tax policies to be more plug-in friendly.

China was already expected to account for a substantial chunk of the more than 600,000 plug-in vehicles expected to be sold in Asia Pacific by 2017, as forecast by green-technology research firm Pike Research last year. The auto industry is certainly getting ready. This month, General Motors debuted a demonstration fleet of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles in China. GM and the China Automotive Technology Research Center (CATARC) will operate and study the fleet for about a year. At the Beijing Motor Show this week, a number of plug-in vehicles were on display, like the CH Auto Lithia and the Venucia E-Concept.


Source: Autoblog Green

Renault Talisman (2013)


CAR GARAGE | Renault Talisman (2013) | Renault Talisman is the new flagship sedan for the Chinese market, embodies the "casual luxury" that Chinese customers have come to appreciate: value for money and luxury for daily life.


Talisman, produced in Korea at Renault Samsung Motors, will be exported to China starting in mid-June 2012 with a base price of RMB 318 800 (38 652 euros).

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Model X will have excellent towing capability. Despite photo, Model S will not offer option

A reader with sharp eyes and quicker reflexes sent us a pic of a Tesla Model S they had spotted on the streets of San Francisco sporting a trailer hitch receiver and a pair of portals of some type around back, which had us scratching our heads.

Tesla Model X with falcon doors slightly liftedThe Roadster, of course, doesn't come with a towing option (though the company's CTO JB Straubel does have a hitch on his) and the Model S wasn't slated to offer the option as far as we knew. So, we contacted the California automaker to ask what's up.

In a brief response, a spokesperson said "Tesla's engineering vehicles are constantly undergoing internal testing in a wide variety of circumstances to fine tune and validate performance, safety and durability" and confirmed that there will be no factory towing option. Of course, the Nissan Leaf didn't offer that function either but the aftermarket has stepped in with a solution.

So, if you want an all-electric that will pull your boat over to the bay, what are your options? A Leaf might not have the wherewithal for that sort of heavy-duty application, but there is something coming that will. The Tesla Model X (inset). According to the same spokesperson, "Model X will have towing capability exceeding most SUVs in its class. With all-wheel drive, incredible torque and sophisticated traction control, it will be an excellent towing machine."



Source: Autoblog Green

Rimac Concept One - Video

Rimac Concept One video:

Rimac Concept_One shows up in Monaco with $980k sticker price

It takes a lot to stand apart at an exposition as jam-packed with glitzy treasure as the Frankfurt Motor Show and impress the hordes of automotive journalists there assembled, but we were suitably impressed when we laid eyes upon the Rimac Concept_One at the Messe this past September. The Croatian upstart put together a supercar of (figurative, if not literal) Bugatti proportions, but instead of building it around a fossil-guzzling conventional powerplant, Rimac designed its hypercar with the equivalent of 1,088 horsepower worth of electric motors.

With a 92-kWh battery powering the electric motors at each wheel, the Rimac is said to be capable of rocketing to 62 from a standstill in just 2.8 seconds while traveling as far as 372 miles on a single charge. The team of former Pininfarina designers penned an attractive shape to go with it, the Bulgarian leathercrafters extraordinaires at Vilner were brought in to work on the interior, HRE developed a unique set of monoblock alloys and Vredestein debuted its new Ultrac Vorti tires designed by Giugiaro all for the Concept_One.

Impressive specs, all, but what's most impressive is that the Concept_One is no mere concept – you can actually buy it, assuming you've got the scratch. Upon showcasing the electric supercar at the Top Marques show in Monaco, Rimac announced a limited run of 88 examples will be built, each fetching $980,000 – a price as princely as the regent who was on hand to check it out in Monte Carlo. Which only goes to prove that you can, indeed, have your cake and eat it too, but it'll cost you dearly.


Source: Autoblog Green

Neste Oil sells first batch of NExBTL renewable diesel to the US market

Neste Oil recently supplied its first batch of NExBTL renewable diesel to the US market. The fuel, which qualifies as an advanced biofuel in the US, was produced at the company’s Porvoo refinery in Finland from waste fats. Neste Oil has sold 305,000 tons of NExBTL renewable diesel to several dozens of customers in more than ten countries during the first quarter of 2012.
We are very pleased to see that legislation on renewable fuels and our ability to meet the import regulations for these types of fuels are progressing in various markets. Our entry into the US renewable fuel market is an important milestone for us, as the US represents a major market for premium-quality biofuels. We are also proud of our contribution to the US Renewable Fuel Standard. The RFS regulation enables and encourages the reduction of greenhouse gases and diversification of the US fuel supply. NExBTL renewable diesel is an ideal low-carbon fuel for the US market as it is completely fungible with the existing extensive infrastructure—and is accepted within the existing refinery and pipeline distribution system.
In addition to the US, we have also expanded our customer base in Europe as well, opening up new opportunities for NExBTL sales as we go forward.
—Matti Lehmus, Neste Oil’s Executive Vice President, Oil Products and Renewables

Ford Mustang by Roush Performance (2013)


CAR GARAGE | Ford Mustang by Roush Performance (2013) | With power numbers like these, the 2013 Roush Performance Stage 3 marks's highest horsepower street legal Mustang to date. Force feeding water to the 5.0L engine is Roush's R2300 supercharger's  featuring Eaton TVS (Twin vortices Series) Patented technology. The Stage 3 Mustang is the pinnacle of the Roush "Stage" Mustangs. It is the perfect infusion of styling, handling and power. Roush powertrain engineers calibrated the new Stage 3 to the perfect combination of power, drivability and durability.


The Stage 2 and Stage 3 packages Provide greatly improved handling over stock Mustangs, allowing our cars to pull over 1g of lateral acceleration on the skid pad. Part of this handling package is the 18-inch by 10-inch cast aluminum, five-spoke, chrome Roush wheels - wrapped in the Roush / Cooper (co-developed) RS3 ultra-high performance tire.


Dubbed the "R6", the new aero package-body incorporates a remodeled upper Roush grille, lower high-flow grille, aero-corner pockets fascia with driving lamps and front chin splitter. It also includes a new Roush hood scoop, rocker panels and rear fascia side splitters, a three-piece rear deck lid spoiler, new rear aero-Roush Valance featuring race-inspired diffusers, and is finished off with newly designed, integrated dual-chambered, chrome exhaust tips."The 2013 Roush Stage 3 Mustang is by far one of the best performing Mustangs to come out of our shop" states Gary Jurick, General Manager for Roush Performance.


Inside the Stage 3 you get a custom gauge cluster, Roush embroidered floor mats, center console a Roush Stage 3 buttons and a dash Medallion. All Stage Roush Mustangs receive badging throughout and a serialized engine bay plaque. To further customize your Mustang Roush Stage there are Several exterior, interior and chassis options available Including rear quarter window louvers and the all new Stage 3 Interior Package consisting of Stage 3 embroidered leather seating with suede inserts, suede door panels and a suede shift boot all with highlight stitching. Some chassis options include three 20-inch wheels choices, four different brake packages, laser cut Roush hood struts and Roush engine red or black coil covers.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup (2013)


CAR GARAGE | Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup (2013) | Featuring a completely redesigned sleek silhouette and fresh new face, the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup car was designed to be the face of a new era of stock car racing. The 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup car, unveiled as part of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, was worked on by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car. "We wanted Fusion to be the car That helped return 'stock car' to NASCAR." Stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing.


This marks the third time Ford launched production simultaneously and NASCAR versions of a new model. Ford Design Center staff, led by Garen Nicoghosian, and Ford aerodynamics Bernie Marcus, spent the past year doing the early design development, freeing up the Ford race teams to concentrate on weekly NASCAR competition. "This is a seminal moment in the sport where we had a chance to get it right once again and the make sure the race cars are race versions of street cars.


The 2013 Fusion is a stunning car and the 2013 NASCAR Fusion is even more stunning and I can not wait to see it perform on the track and connect with race fans." Ford designers, led by Nicoghosian, addressed three issues play to mirror the 2013 Sprint Cup Fusion Fusion to the 2013 production found on showroom floors.

Ford Mustang Shelby 1000 (2012)


CAR GARAGE | Ford Mustang Shelby 1000 (2012) | Carroll Shelby and his team created the Shelby 1000 by starting with a 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 and kicking its handling, horsepower and braking performance to the edge. The 1000 Shelby will be Offered in both a street and a 1000 Shelby S / C "off-road" track version. The street legal, gas pump version dyno's out at approximately 950 HP, while the track-oriented S / C edition is rated at over 1.100 HP.


"Carroll Shelby is a visionary who has pushed the boundaries of performance of his entire life," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. We will have that very car, Cobra # 1 (CSX2000) along with Shelby 1000 Shelby on display in our booth in New York American. "


To build the car That envisioned Carroll Shelby, Shelby American takes Ford's 5.4 liter V8 down to the block to add new rods, crank and pistons. A completed 1000 Shelby is expected to be approximately $ 200,000.

Ford Mustang GT Convertible (2013)


CAR GARAGE | Ford Mustang GT Convertible (2013) | The new Mustang wheel offers a revamped lineup, ranging from the standard 17-inch wheels all the way up to 19-inch wheels optional on the Performance Package. With updated designs, the wheels also offer new finishes and touches for a more powerful appearance. We are delivering aspects a more emotional design and distinctive presence That Celebrates the total performance of the Mustang," said Darrell Behmer, Mustang chief designer. Also new for Mustang design are standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps. Signature lighting plays into the technology upgrades for 2013 as well, with two individual light-emitting diode (LED) bars accentuating the front LED headlamps and three ropes forming the iconic three-bar rear lights.


The standard 18-inch painted aluminum wheels on both the GT and GT Premium is an evolution of the five-spoke design. The 2013 Mustang with 5.0-liter engine will now deliver 420 horsepower. The new Mustang can be specified with a six-speed Select Shift Automatic transmission. This advanced control strategy offers the driver a choice Between fully automatic operation and manual control. This capability makes the Mustang sporty yet smooth experience. With Select Shift, manual control is truly manually controlled.


A new option, the GT Track Package, debuts for 2013 for customers who want to push even further Their Mustang at the track. Available only on manual GT Mustangs with a 3.73 axle, the track enthusiasts Package Gives an engine cooler, upgraded radiator, performance friction brake pads and the same Torsen differential that's on Mustang Boss 302. The package includes everything in the current Brembo  Brake Package, with 14-inch vented front discs, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires.


Other optional package offering updates for 2013 include the Brembo Brake Package on both manual and automatic transmissions on the Mustang GT. The Performance Package is now available on automatic Mustangs for the first time. Hill start assist makes its debut on manually equipped Mustangs. With the brake pedal pressed, if sensors detect the car is on a slope, the system is automatically activated. Brake pressure is held in the braking system and the car stationary on the slope Remains for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal. The 2013 Mustang also offers customers two new audio systems for even better sound quality for incredible clarity and crispness. The upgraded Shaker Pro offers nine speakers and delivers 550 watts of power.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake 50th Anniversary Edition (2012)


CAR GARAGE | Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake 50th Anniversary Edition (2012) | The Shelby American name is synonymous worldwide with high performance. "Few thought That Shelby American would make it in the car business for 50 years," said Carroll Shelby. Our golden anniversary is a remarkable milestone worthy of this limited edition line of Shelby vehicles," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. " Only 50 white and 50 black 50th Anniversary Edition cars are available; each will Boast gold stripes to signify the golden anniversary.


In Addition, each comes with Shelby Commemorative 50th anniversary banging, custom interiors, special wheels, 6 piston front brakes, car cover and a unique VIN number That will be Entered into the official registry.  Based on the Ford Shelby GT500, the car is enhanced at the Shelby American facility with more powerful brakes, better handling and updated styling cues to match the higher horsepower motor.


The 50 white and 50 black anniversary edition cars will carry gold stripes, a first and a one-year only option for the Shelby. The anniversary package begins at $ 59.995, not including the base car. "From the 800 horsepower Super Snake Shelby GT350 to the agile and nimble GTS, each 50th anniversary Shelby is built to run," noted Luft.