BOSS IS BACK

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Forty years after it’s namesake became a road racing legend, the BOSS 302R is back on track for 2010 with the new 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

Jamie Allison, director Ford North American Motorsports; Fritz Wilke, Ford Mustang Brand Manager; Mike Harrison, Ford Motor Company Engine Programs manager; and the man who made the original BOSS 302 famous, Parnelli Jones participated in a press conference before the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series season-opener to celebrate the debut of the new BOSS 302R.

JAMIE ALLISON – DIRECTOR, FORD NORTH AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THE NEW VEHICLE?
“Absolutely. What an exciting moment here with Parnelli. Almost 40 years, actually 40 years and counting when Parnelli established and set the legend of the original BOSS 302. We couldn’t be more thrilled. Brand new car, this year at Ford Motor Company, it’s the 2011 Mustang with a new 5.0-liter engine. That in itself is a great history, but to actually track it down and actually build a race car around that historic 5.0-liter and be surrounded by the legend, and our dear friend Parnelli, to re-introduce the BOSS 302R to its true form, which is back on the track where it belongs.”

PARNELLI JONES
YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE THE NEW BOSS AND THE OLD BOSS TOGETHER TODAY. HOW DID THE TWO COMPARE?
“To compare the two cars, obviously they can make a lot more power today and they’ve certainly done that. The new car is phenomenal, it handles great. I got a chance to drive a little bit out at Laguna Seca, drive the new car that they’re racing today, and I can certainly see that they’ve come a long way. Obviously, they have a little better power, a little better brakes, probably a little better drivers, probably, anyway. It’s really thrilling to be a part of Mustang because I certainly feel a great part of it, spent my whole life, I always say 40 years, I’ve got 4 of them myself. They’re really enjoyable cars and I can’t say anything greater than that.”

COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE ADVENT OF TECHNOLOGY FROM WHAT YOU’VE RACED TO WHAT WE’RE SEEING IN THE RACE CARS TODAY? HOW MUCH DOES IT BLOW YOUR MIND AT HOW FAR WE’VE COME?
“Well, actually that’s one thing that’s quite different. In our day, we didn’t have any electronics, and we had metals, for example, that weren’t as good as they are today. Valve springs, for example, was a big problem that we had back in 1970, and today they’ve come a long ways. The amazing part of it is you can, in today’s Mustang, you can take it out and go hot lap it for quite a few laps and things like that without hurting it. In our day, in ’70, you couldn’t do that quite with a streetcar and went out and take a few laps, you would probably burn it down. They’ve come, with technology, a long ways. As we can see, you can make so much more power today in the same amount of cubic inches as we did then. It just goes on and on. The brakes are better. The tires are better. Technology has just come a long way, so it’s not the same, but take whatever you race, whatever you have at that particular moment, and try to maximize the most out of it.”

YOU HAVE RACED A LOT OF CHAMPIONS. WHAT DID THEY HAVE THAT MADE THEM CHAMPIONS? CAN YOU COMPARE THE CHAMPIONS OF TODAY TO THOSE FROM YESTERDAY?
“It’s a good question. I don’t think one driver from one place to another is any different. What really makes a race driver stand out is his will to win, his desire. I think there are a lot of drivers out there that have a lot of talent, maybe they’re lacking a little bit in their desire. The ones that standout have the most desire. You see that in the famous names that you see in racing.”

IN TODAY’S RACE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE RACE CARS OF TODAY, CAN YOUR APPROACH TO RACING BE APPLIED WITH SUCCESS?
“You’re talking about desire, that’s what you’re getting at. When I first started racing we were running old jalopies, and we had as many as 200 cars show up to qualify and they only took 16 for the main event. You gave it 110-120 percent constantly. There was no letting down at any moment, you pushed, shoved, took everything to the max. That probably hurt my career a lot because when I went into other types of racing, I tended to do the same things, well they corrected me right away, the officials did. I think it just spells out the desire. I want to win, and I did at all costs so-to-speak.”

MIKE HARRISON – FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINE PROGRAMS MANAGER
UNDER THE HOOD, HOW DO THE TWO CARS COMPARE?
“Certainly both have enough motor to be competitive in their times. I know the original BOSS 302 had lots of power out on the track. The street car was a little de-tuned from that, but you had plenty of power at the top in Parnelli. With the 5.0-liter that we have here today for the BOSS 302R, we’re essentially pretty much stock for what we’ve announced for the 2011 5.0- liter. It’s very slightly modified from the 2011 engine, but we get to take advantage of that fact. Really we’ve got a lot of torque to pull out of the corners and also it’s going to make racing a lot more affordable because this is a primarily production based engine that we’ve pulled off our machine and assembly lines, so it’s very economical for us to do this. It’s going to make racing a lot more affordable.”

FRITZ WILKE – FORD MUSTANG BRAND MANAGER

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE GT AND THE BOSS 302R TO COMPARE ON TRACK?
“We’re so excited to have our Mustangs back on track and we’re so excited to debut this 5.0-liter that a lot of people have been waiting for with the BOSS 302R. We’ve got legendary paint schemes, Parnelli, we’ve borrowed your paint scheme, thank you for letting us do that. We are so excited and we think all of the Mustangs are going to do great this year. We’re really looking forward to it as a brand to really embrace the heritage of racing that we have engineered for 45 years.”

PAST MEETS BOSS 302 FUTURE AT RACING DEBUT

Image by kptyson via Flickr

Forty years ago, racing legend Parnelli Jones piloted a Mustang BOSS 302 to a championship title. Starting today, five Ford Racing BOSS 302R teams look to channel the spirit of Jones’ success and go for another championship while Jones himself looks on.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Trans-Am Championship in a Mustang BOSS 302 prepared by Bud Moore Engineering, Ford Racing recently introduced the new BOSS 302R, a factory-built race ready Mustang for track days and road racing in a number of SCCA and NASA classes.

Built with a special Grand Am Homologation Package, the BOSS 302R will compete in the Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series (formerly known as Koni Challenge), starting with today’s season-opening race in Daytona. Multimatic Motorsports, Jim Click Racing, JBS Motorsports and Racer’s Edge Motorsports will campaign for their first victory this weekend, and Parnelli Jones will be on hand at the track, visiting with the teams and drivers.

“The original BOSS 302 was a championship-winning icon,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North Motorsports. “The new Mustang BOSS 302R will be ready to carry on that tradition. The Mustang was born to race from the start, and this new Mustang is born to win.”

The BOSS 302R features the Ford Racing Boss 302 crate engine, based on the new 5.0-liter 4-valve V-8 found in the 2011 Mustang GT. With the Grand Am Homologation Package, this turnkey race car also includes a 6-speed manual transmission with a roll cage, race seats, a safety harness, race dampers and springs, upgraded brakes and tires. The total ready-to-race package will cost $129,000 (MSRP).

The BOSS 302R follows in the very successful footsteps of its most recent road racing predecessor—the Mustang FR500C from Ford Racing. In 2005, when the Mustang FR500C debuted at Daytona, the first car was delivered on Wednesday of that week and won the Koni Challenge race on Friday.

In five years of competition since then, the FR500C has won three drivers’ championships, including back-to-back (2008—2009) Triple Crown championships of driver, team and manufacturers titles in Koni competition. The FR500C has also seen success in European FIA GT3 and FIA GT4 competition, and also by the recent E-85 fueled land speed record set by Hajek Motorsports at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

“We expect the BOSS 302R to continue the successful tradition of winning, factory-built race cars from Ford Racing,” said Allison.

“The FR500C and FR500S road racing Mustangs, and the CobraJet drag racer have proven to be competitive right out of the box for our customers, helping teams win races and championships. We have high hopes for the BOSS 302R to provide that same sort of competitive product for our customers with the tradition you can only get from Ford Racing.”

Ford Racing engineer Andy Slankard has been instrumental in the development and testing of the new BOSS 302R. Slankard attended the recent Daytona test sessions and is confident with the performance of the purpose-built race car.

“We have won three championships in five years, so we know how to make a Mustang fast,” said Slankard. “So far, everything is looking really solid. I don’t anticipate any major changes. We are pretty sorted with the content that will be in the car. We are just working on things to make sure they are durable and reliable.”

Available through the Ford Racing warehouse, a total of 50 BOSS 302R Mustangs will be built by Ford Racing. Delivery is anticipated in third quarter of 2010. For those who miss out on the initial lot of 50, Ford Racing Performance Parts will sell all the parts necessary to convert a Mustang to a BOSS 302R including the BOSS 302 engine.

FORD MUSTANG TRIO FINISH CTSCC IN TOP-10

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Bret Seafuse navigated his No. 37 Mustang BOSS 302R to the highest finish among the Ford teams in the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway.

BRET SEAFUSE – NO. 37 MUSTANG BOSS302R, JBS MOTORSPORTS-(FINISHED FOURTH, QUALIFIED 13TH)
“We went down the board because I made a bit of a blunder on the second restart and I jumped the start so I had to come in for a stop-and-go. We went from seventh or eighth to last behind all the ST cars and everybody, so we battled our way back and we won it on pit strategy.”

WHAT WAS YOUR STRATEGY?
“I drove that new Boss 302R as hard as I could and passed as many as people as I could, got it as far back up as I could. We weren’t in bad shape when we put James [Gue] in the car; we were coming back and decided upon a fuel strategy we thought might work and it darn near paid off.

WHAT ABOUT THE PENALTY?
“I’m not really sure, I’ve not done that before. Something must’ve looked different to us than it did to others but I don’t plan to do it again because it makes for a lot of extra work to overcome.”

JAMES GUE – NO. 37 MUSTANG BOSS 302R, JBS MOTORSPORTS– (FINISHED FOURTH, QUALIFIED 13TH)
“We sort of put ourselves in a bad situation right off the bat.”

HOW ABOUT THE MUSTANG BOSS 302R?
“This is a brand new car for us and have only had it for less than two weeks now. I just jumped in it [Thursday] for the first time so we’ve got a lot to learn though we learned a lot in the last couple of days.

A FEW TEAMS HAD A FEW ISSUES TODAY. DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THAT?
“So far, I’ve got no complaints straight out of the box after having had the car for only a handful of days, especially after having come from the back as we did. We were not necessarily the quickest car but we certainly know how to race.”

RAY MASON – NO. 60 MUSTANG GT, REHAGEN RACING– (FINISHED SEVENTH, QUALIFIED SEVENTH)
NOT TOO BAD OF A DAY FOR YOU?
“Well Ryan [Winchester], my young rookie buddy here gave me a very good car. We put scrap tires on it. Our tread didn’t work quite as well as we thought it would, had to fuel early. That’s just the luck of the game, but the car was good. We had a great run and the old man and the kid did a very good so we’re pleased.”

YOU HAD SOME TIRE ISSUES TOWARDS THE END.
“The tires started going off in the last eight to 10 laps, so I was getting a little bit of an oversteer, but it was very manageable.”

ANDREW CADDELL – NO. 59 MUSTANG GT, REHAGEN RACING – (FINISHED NINTH, QUALIFIED THIRD)
“We qualified well yesterday and had a good starting spot for the race today. The header got a crack in it right at the beginning of the race, so we were down a lot of horsepower. The Mustang was really good handling wise in the infield. If we would have had more horsepower, I think we would have had a pretty good shot at a top-five easily, but the BMWs were just way too strong. I’m happy with our result. Ken Wilden drove the Mustang like the champion he is. I think we finished pretty strong with that broken header. I’m excited about it, not excited as we should have been or could have been but ninth is better than what I did last year, so I can’t complain.”

YOU AND WILDEN ARE BOTH MUSTANG CHAMPIONS. HOW WAS IT TO RACE WITH HIM?
“I learned a lot from Ken Wilden this weekend. We looked at his data all weekend and I think it helped me improve my lap time from last year. He helped me a lot, I just we wish we could have made the finish a little bit better and got them a little higher in the championship standings.”

KEN WILDEN – NO. 59 MUSTANG GT REHAGEN RACING, – (FINISHED NINTH, QUALIFIED THIRD)
NOT A BAD FINISH FOR YOU AND ANDREW TODAY.
“It wasn’t the best day for us. It wasn’t what we had planned on happening going in. We just couldn’t get the car fast enough today. We have some time before Homestead to really work out the kinks and figure out a new strategy. Last year our worst finish was eighth, which isn’t horrible, but we need to do better in order to defend our title.”

HOW WAS YOUR CO-DRIVER ANDREW?
“Andrew is a talented driver. He really put forth his best effort today, but unfortunately we just couldn’t get the car up where we wanted it.”

GUNNER JEANNETTE – NO. 16 MUSTANG BOSS 302R, MULTIMATIC MOTORPSORTS – (FINISHED 49TH, QUALIFIED 12TH)
WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
“We had a couple of issues to start. First, we had something with the engine where it went down in power, some electrical issues, then it kind of fixed itself and it was going good. We had a really strong run coming back and I was coming up through traffic, but the engine was just cutting out so it was just really tough and then all of a sudden it just cut out completely. Then I cycled the ignition and it was fine and then I was going in the bus stop and I hit the brakes and the car wouldn’t stop and then it just stopped. Coming around in Turn 1 I hit the pedal again and just went all the way to the floor.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT RACES LIKE THIS?
“It was a trying race but we use these as test sessions, so I’m sure that we’ll go to Homestead with all of the issues fixed. I’m very confident with that. There’s no way in testing to simulate what do you do during a race weekend like this. The last program when we introduced the Mustang FR500C we had pretty much a whole year of development to get the car right. This time we only had three months, so we’re just a little bit behind schedule, but I know without a doubt in my heart that this car is going to win a race season.”

FRANK MONTECALVO – NO. 16 MUSTANG BOSS 302R, MULTIMATIC MOTORSPORTS – (FINISHED 49TH, QUALIFIED SECOND)
“We had a really good race and started off well. We didn’t perform like we did in qualifying yesterday because we changed the car set-up but we made it up in the race. We had a couple problems in the race that we had in practice, so we started working on the car and didn’t find those problems this morning. We weren’t sure if it was a fuel pick up or ignition problem. Unfortunately, it hurt us. Hopefully, we’ll fix this and do better next race.”

TALK ABOUT RUNNING THE MUSTANG BOSS 302R.
“I had a lot more seat time in the BOSS than I did in the other Mustang. The BOSS has more development and will be very competitive this season.”

SCOTT MAXWELL – NO. 15 MUSTANG BOSS 302R, MULTIMATIC MOTORSPORTS– (FINISHED 56TH, QUALIFIED SECOND)
YOU WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE MID-WAY THROUGH THE RACE. WHAT HAPPENED?
“Typical with a new car there were numerous problems, but the main one that put us out is we keep either breaking a power steering belt or a pump, I’m not really sure but that’s what caused us to pit stop. We were also struggling with some engine issues and brake issues, more engine issues than anything, a bit of brakes towards the end, but that’s what you expect with a brand new car out of the box. We will get it right for the next race.”

MIKE MCGOVERN – NO. 53 MUSTANG, JIM CLICK RACING – (FINISHED 63RD, QUALIFIED 17TH)
“We had a good qualifying effort by Mr. Click, he did a great job. We had a great start. We made it up to ninth and things went really well. We pitted, I think a bit too early, but the pit stop went really well. When we got back out on the track, we made it up to 15th and then we had an issue with the right rear tire. All the lug nuts came off and got a big vibration. We came into the pits and the wheel fell off. We were lucky there. We had minimal damage, the Mustang is in good shape and it is a learning process for Click Racing. We’re going to continue to progress and keep working at it.”

YOU MUSTANG LOOKS PRETTY CLEAN WITH MINOR MARKS, THERE ARE OTHER CARS THAT HAVE A LOT OF DAMAGE. HOW WAS IT OUT THERE?
“I think at certain points in time when I was on track, there was a lot going on. Any time you have so many cars in little spots and speed differences then you’re going to have issues. But it’s just one of those things—that’s racing.”

JACK ROUSH JR. – NO. 61 MUSTANG, ROUSH PERFORMANCE – (FINISHED 66TH, QUALIFIED FOURTH)
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR GOING BEHIND THE WALL?
“We had a little bit of contact with a car out there and I think it interfered with the cooling ducts, causing the oil and water temperatures to shoot up.”

BILLY JOHNSON – NO. 61 ROUSH PERFORMANCE MUSTANG – (FINISHED 66TH, QUALIFIED FOURTH)
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to finish but, Jack [Roush Jr.] showed a lot of speed. He was able to move up to second place and he did an awesome job. We wanted to have a better result, but we ran into some problems. I’m not sure what happened to the motor. The team is showing that the car is capable of doing well and we look forward to going to the next race to have that results show for it.”

WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO THE NEXT RACE AND THE ENTIRE SEASON?
“I think the biggest concern right now is fixing whatever happened to prevent us from finishing this race. Then with the continued speed that we showed, the result will come from that.”

DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ANSWER ABOUT THE MOTOR?
“I’m not sure. The team will take the Mustang back and work with Roush Yates guys to find out what happened.”

2011 MUSTANG GT NAMED DAYTONA 500 PACE CAR

For the first time in 40 years, a Ford Motor Company car will be pacing the field for the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500 when the 2011 Mustang GT, powered by the all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine, officially starts the race on Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway.

“Having the opportunity to pace America’s biggest auto race with a Ford icon like the 2011 Mustang GT is truly an honor,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “And to have the new 5.0-liter engine powering the car will be a great way to demonstrate its power and class-leading fuel economy.”

This latest version of Ford’s legendary muscle car will be a Race Red glass roof coupe with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine capable of producing 412 horsepower, while delivering a class-leading 25 mpg on the highway.

The one-of-a-kind model will feature a special Daytona 500 paint scheme, Ford Racing suspension, strut tower brace and mufflers, unique painted wheels, and special interior treatment, including specially branded lit sill plates.

The 2011 Mustang GT Daytona 500 Pace Car model is one of only 50 special editions that will be built and sold to the public.

“Everybody loves Mustang,” Allison continued. “That was evident last year from the fan reaction when we announced it was going to be our new model in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting later this year. This is just another way to showcase a true American icon in its most natural environment.”

The last time a Ford served as pace car for the Daytona 500 was 1970 when a Ford Torino GT convertible led the field to the green flag.

And while Mustang may be a rookie when it comes to pacing the Daytona 500, its 45-year history is firmly entrenched in racing and winning championships. Mustang captured championships last year in the Grand-Am KONI and SCCA Speed World Challenge, in addition to leading Robert Hight to his first NHRA Funny Car championship.

Another element that makes this year’s pace car even more unique is that it will be auctioned off for charity before the actual race. Saturday, the Mustang GT Daytona 500 Pace Car will be offered at the annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Car Auction, which is taking place in Scottsdale, Ariz. Seven-time Daytona 500 champion Richard Petty, the newest member of the Ford Racing family, will be on site to help hand over the car to the winning bidder.

All proceeds more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price from the pace car auction will go to help cure childhood diabetes through a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

ABOUT THE 2011 MUSTANG GT
The new Mustang GT continues Ford’s powertrain offensive with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8, which uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower and projected unsurpassed highway mileage of 25 mpg.

The 2011, Mustang GT adds specially tuned Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), 11.5-inch front and 11.8-inch rear vented disc brakes, and an enhanced suspension featuring an improved rear lower control arm and stiffened rear stabilizer bushings.

For enthusiasts, a Brembo brake package, with larger rotors and calipers from the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, unique 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires, is offered; new fender badges herald return of the 5.0-liter engine.

BOSS 302R

Forty years after its namesake became a road racing legend, the BOSS is back on track for 2010 with a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Trans-Am championship in a Mustang BOSS 302 prepared by Bud Moore Engineering, Ford Racing is introducing the BOSS 302R, a factory-built race car ready for track days and road racing in a number of Grand-Am, SCCA and NASA classes.

“To keep pace with consumer demand, the Ford team has built modern versions of the most iconic performance Mustangs over the years,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “From Shelbys to Bullitt, Mach and Cobra Jet, it is now time for BOSS to join the list of America’s most coveted Mustangs. The original BOSS 302 was a championship-winning legend and the new Mustang BOSS 302R will carry on the tradition. The Mustang was born to race from the start, and this new Mustang is bred to win.”

The Mustang BOSS 302R is a serialized off-road-only vehicle ready to race. Each base model will come with a 5.0-liter four-valve engine and a six-speed manual transmission with a roll cage, race seats, safety harness, data acquisition and race dampers/springs, and a Brembo brake and tire package, starting at an MSRP of $79,000.

And, with a special Grand-Am Homologation Package (M-FR500-BOSS R1), it will also be ready to compete in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series (formerly known as Koni Challenge), starting with the season-opening race in Daytona on Jan. 29, 2010. As of today, five BOSS 302R race cars will be delivered to customers ready to race in Daytona. MSRP of the BOSS 302R1 is $129,000.

The Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge-ready Mustang BOSS 302R will feature a sealed high-output race engine with an upgraded cooling system, a close-ratio six-speed transmission with integral shifter, a seam-welded body, race suspension/Koni dampers and ABS brake tuning, race performance exhaust and a high-speed balance one-piece driveshaft.

The BOSS 302R follows in the very successful footsteps of its most recent road racing predecessor—the Mustang FR500C from Ford Racing. In 2005, when the Mustang FR500C debuted at Daytona, the first car was delivered on Wednesday of that week and won the Koni Challenge race on Friday.

In five years of competition since then, the Mustang FR500C has won three Triple Crown championships of driver, team and manufacturer’s titles in Koni competition including back-to-back (2008 and 2009). The FR500C has also seen success in Federation Internationale de L’Automobile GT4 competition winning the 2007 and 2008 driver’s championships.

“We expect the BOSS 302R to continue the successful tradition of winning with factory-built production-based race cars from Ford Racing,” said Allison. “The FR500C and FR500S road racing Mustangs, and the Mustang FR500CJ [Cobra Jet] for drag racing have proven to be great cars for our customers, helping teams win races and championships. We believe that the BOSS 302R will provide that same sort of competitive product for our customers with the tradition you can only get from Ford Racing.”

Each Ford Racing factory-built production-based turnkey race car has won its competition debut.

“Racing has long served as a technical proving grounds for production engines,” said Allison. “What’s good enough for the streets is now good enough for the race track. The 5.0-liter block and architecture in the Mustang BOSS 302R is the same as the 2011 Mustang GT.”

“We have a great team on the BOSS 302R project,” said Andy Slankard, Ford Racing engineering supervisor and the lead engineer on the BOSS 302R project. “Between our partners at AutoAlliance International, where the Mustang is built, Team Mustang, Multimatic and the entire Ford Racing team, we have once again proven to be a leader in turnkey production-based race cars.”

Available through Ford dealers, a total of 50 BOSS 302R Mustangs will be built by Ford Racing. Delivery is anticipated in the third quarter of 2010.

2011 FORD MUSTANG V-6

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The 2011 Ford Mustang puts 305 high-performance horses in the hands of V-6 coupe buyers with a new all-aluminum dual-overhead cam (DOHC) engine that delivers a projected 30 mpg on the highway with a six-speed automatic transmission and fun for drivers on nearly every road.

For 2011, Mustang’s new 3.7-liter Duratec 24-valve V-6 uses advanced engineering to deliver its power and economy: Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds. Aluminum construction means light weight. It’s an engine designed to crank out torque down low, rev to 7,000 rpm and deliver the mechanical music sports coupe lovers crave everywhere in between.

“Mustang is completely transformed with this new engine,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Everything people love about the car is still there and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, the feel, the fuel efficiency, even the sound of the best sports coupes in the world.”

New 3.7-liter V-6 engine
With Ti-VCT operating its four valves per cylinder, the new Mustang V-6 powerplant sends significantly more horsepower and torque (305 hp and 280 ft.-lb.) to the rear wheels than its predecessor – despite its smaller displacement. The behind-the-wheel feel is unlike any Mustang ever produced.

“This new V-6 engine really speaks to what Mustang is all about,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president of global powertrain engineering. “It produces power everywhere in the rev range and loves to be pushed hard. The Duratec 3.7-liter builds on our promise to use advanced technology to deliver both power and fuel economy.”

The high output is due largely to Ti-VCT which allows variable control of valve operation across the rev range. The variable cams operate on a Direct Acting Mechanical Bucket (DAMB) valvetrain using polished buckets and roller finger followers to reduce friction. The end result is as much as a 3 percent improvement in fuel economy and a 10 percent improvement in power output versus traditional engines without these advanced features.

Ti-VCT is complemented by special-tuned composite upper and lower intake manifolds for efficient air delivery and lighter weight. Ignition power is delivered by a high-energy coil-on-plug design, while piston-cooling jets and a lightweight die-cast aluminum cylinder block improve the durability and efficiency of the 3.7-liter V-6 design.

Performance was the mantra for every aspect of engine design. A cold air induction system and dual exhaust give the 3.7 its free-breathing style with a 7,000 rpm redline and near-instantaneous response to throttle inputs.

A die-cast aluminum deep-sump oil pan provides 10,000-mile oil change intervals, saving drivers money on maintenance and resulting in less waste in oil disposal.

Engineers also worked to ensure aggressive, high-performance sounds come from the new engine, from intake to exhaust. Not only does the retuned air intake system minimize losses, it also provides the driver with a satisfying intake rush on hard acceleration. The all-new dual exhaust system is mellow at idle but opens up with a howl at full-tilt, letting Mustang drivers know they’re behind the wheel of a world-class sports coupe.

“This car marks a new type of Mustang,” said David Pericak, Mustang chief nameplate engineer. “We’re using a high-performance quad-cam V-6 with all the bells and whistles in a car that’s become legendary for its handling and roadholding; it’s really going to get a lot of new sports coupe fans excited about Mustang, some for the first time ever.”

Powertrain improvements
Drivers can get the most out of the new V-6 engine’s output using either an all-new six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission. Both come with the flexibility and fuel economy benefits of six forward ratios regardless of whether buyers want to shift for themselves or not.

Drivers who prefer a manual gearbox will enjoy the short throws and direct feel of the shifter along with the relaxed cruising permitted by the extra top gear ratio. Customers choosing the automatic will be pleasantly surprised to find the advanced six-speed 6R60 transmission does not sacrifice fuel economy – or performance – for convenience, delivering an expected 30 mpg highway with crisp, quick shifts that maximize torque and horsepower.

The automatic transmission also features a grade-assist or “hill mode” to improve drivability on hilly terrain. This technical innovation uses vehicle input – acceleration, pedal position, vehicle speed and brake status – to automatically determine the correct gear ratio while on an incline or decline. Hill mode eliminates sixth gear, extends lower gear operation on uphill climbs, and provides additional grade or engine braking for coast downs.

The standard 2.73 rear axle provides an ideal blend of cruising fuel economy and acceleration, aided by the wide ratio spread permitted through the use of six forward speeds in the gearboxes. Performance enthusiasts can select an available 3.31 rear axle ratio for better off-the-line launch characteristics.

Fuel economy improvements
Extra horsepower and refined engine operation will be the most noticeable features to new 2011 Mustang 3.7-liter V-6 buyers while projected class-leading fuel economy, also a standard feature, offers an additional bonus. The numbers speak for themselves:

• 19 mpg city/30 highway with six-speed automatic transmission, up from 16 mpg city/24 highway on the 2010 model with automatic – a 25 percent improvement over 2010
• 18 mpg city/29 highway with six-speed manual transmission, up from 18 mpg city/26 highway on the 2010 model with manual

Refinements throughout Mustang’s body, powertrain and chassis design contribute to the improved fuel economy numbers. Examples include:

• The new Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system which eliminates the drag of an engine-operated hydraulic power steering pump
• Six-speed transmissions that allow lower cruising revs without sacrificing off-the-line performance
• Aerodynamic improvements such as a new front fascia, tire spats on the rear wheels, modified underbody shields, a taller air dam and an added rear decklid seal

Handling and driving dynamics
With so much additional horsepower standard, the 2011 Mustang received enhancements to its chassis to maintain the outstanding balance and driving behavior Mustang owners expect. Damper tuning and spring rates were revised to provide a smooth highway ride while a new rear lower control arm and stiffened stabilizer bar bushings improve stiffness and handling for better cornering response.

While Mustang’s aerodynamic improvements were designed mainly to improve fuel economy, engineers also adjusted the vehicle’s front/rear lift balance. The result is a car that tracks more securely and feels more “planted” to the road surface at higher speeds, helping to keep the tires in better contact with the pavement.

The addition of EPAS marks a new era in driving dynamics for Mustang owners. Steering effort at parking lot speeds is reduced, while high-speed and highway feel is improved for more precise steering and handling. Because the belt-driven power steering pump is eliminated, EPAS provides a quieter vehicle with fewer components drawing engine power.

EPAS also enables new technologies that adjust for minor driving annoyances. Pull-Drift Compensation adjusts the steering to correct for crosswinds and minor road crowning, while Active Nibble Control helps eliminate the “shimmy” felt at high speeds when a wheel is out of balance or a brake rotor is warped. Both conditions are alleviated by EPAS independent of driver input, helping ensure Mustang delivers a smooth, comfortable driving experience in all conditions.

Mustang buyers choosing the new V-6 will also get a standard limited-slip differential that provides better handling and more sure-footed grip in poor weather conditions by directing engine torque to the rear wheel with the most traction. When the time comes to slow things down, the 2011 Mustang is also equipped with larger four-wheel ABS disc brakes, with 11.5 inch front and 11.8 inch rear rotors.

Refinements complement advanced features
To reinforce the sporty nature of the 2011 Mustang, all V-6 models will come standard with new instrument cluster graphics, including a speedometer that reads up to 160 mph and a tachometer that reads to 8,000 rpm, reflecting the free-revving style of the new engine.

Additional lightweight soundproofing measures help filter unpleasant, high-frequency noises while tuned intake and dual exhaust add the sounds Mustang buyers relish.

Occupants also benefit from new door seals and a rear wheel arch liner that reduce road noise for a quieter, more enjoyable drive, all with minimal weight gain compared to the 2010 model.

Enthusiasts who want a premium performance-oriented Mustang V-6 can opt for the new Performance Package, which will be available August 2010. Designed for driving enthusiasts, the Mustang V-6 Performance Package comprises:

• A 3.31 rear axle ratio for quicker off-the-line acceleration
• Firmer Mustang GT suspension
• 19-inch wheels
• Summer performance tires for improved grip
• A strut tower brace for increased chassis rigidity
• Unique electronic stability control calibration with sport mode for performance driving

For 2011, Mustang also ups the ante on technology and convenience features, including a standard driver’s message center in the instrument cluster and integrated blind-spot mirrors in the side-view mirror housings.

Ford’s MyKey™ system, designed to encourage safer teen driving and safety belt use, also is newly available on Mustang. MyKey allows owners to program the vehicle key using the driver’s message center to incorporate features such as limited top vehicle speed and audio volume, a traction control system that cannot be deactivated, a persistent Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder and various speed alert chimes.

Top safety marks expected
Mustang’s technological advances are also incorporated in the structure of the vehicle to improve safety. The 2010 Mustang coupe earned the U.S. government’s top five-star crash-test rating, a designation the 2011 model is expected to achieve.

The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to the coupe and convertible’s driving performance and has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the coupe’s body structure is approximately 31 percent stiffer than the previous Mustang platform, the convertible’s is more than twice as stiff – creating a structure that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion in an impact.

Mustang also uses high-strength steel in its body structure and ultra-high-strength steel in the door intrusion beams for additional side-impact protection.

The front structure’s crush zones are computer-designed to absorb energy in a controlled manner and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. Ford engineers have run thousands of design iterations of the Mustang’s front rails to arrive at an octagonal shape that helps spread crash forces evenly to aid in protecting occupants.

State-of-the-art technology adds to the convenience and safety of the 2011 Mustang, from the availability of the latest version of Ford SYNC®, with applications such as Traffic, Directions and Information, 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report, to standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control, which complements the all-speed traction control and standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

Additional standard safety equipment includes the Personal Safety System™ which features dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, safety belt pretensioners and Belt-Minder.

The 2011 Mustang will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The new 3.7-liter V-6 will be built at Ford’s recently retooled Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1.

FORD MUSTANG ON TRACK FOR 2009 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

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The car that was "born to race" is doing just that in 2009… and winning races and championships nationwide.

The 2009 race season is proving to be a banner year for the Ford Mustang. In addition to celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, the iconic pony car has won two series championships already and is positioned to possibly win championship titles in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Funny Car Series, SCCA Speed World Challenge GT Series, and Formula Drift Professional Drifting Championship Series.

GRAND-AM KONI CHALLENGE
For the second consecutive year, the Ford Mustang FR500C swept the triple crown of the Grand Am KONI Challenge, winning team, driver and manufacturers' championships. Ken Wilden claimed the driver and Wilden and his teammate Dean Martin captured the team title for Rehagen Racing with a sixth place finish at the season-ending Bosch Engineering Octoberfest at Virginia International Raceway. The championship was the first for Wilden and the Rehagen Racing team.

"We took over the points lead by the second race," said Ken Wilden. "Our performance has been solid and consistent. The Mustang has been a phenomenal car. It feels good to win the championship. It's been 13 years since my last championship, and it's been a while since I've been in a car that I could say I could win one in."

Bret Seafuse and James Gue drove their JBS Motorsports Ford Mustang GT to victory at VIR and in doing so jumped Ford to the top of the manufacturers' standings, edging BMW by four points (348-344) to help Ford capture back-to-back manufacturers' titles. Ford Mustangs dominated the 2009 KONI Challenge, winning five races and finishing on the podium in eight of the eleven races.

NHRA
With three races remaining in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, six of the 10 drivers eligible for the Countdown to 1 playoff run pilot Mustangs. Carrying the Blue Oval and the pony car into championship run are 14-time champion John Force, Ashley Force Hood, Robert Hight, Mike Neff, Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson. The Ford Mustang drivers have hoisted the coveted Wally Trophy in six out of the last seven races. Heading into Richmond this weekend, Force Hood sits atop the points standings while Hight is a close second, Tasca remains in sixth while Force, Wilkerson and Neff occupy the seventh through ninth positions, respectively.

Hight said it best after clinching the final spot in NHRA's Countdown to 1, "I'm excited that six of the top 10 are Ford Mustangs and, you know what, one of us ought to win this championship."

SCCA SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP GT SERIES
SCCA Speed World Championship GT Series Mustang driver Brandon Davis is leading the point standings with only one race to left in his season. Davis needs to finish sixth or better in the last race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend to win the Speed World Challenge GT Championship. In his last outing at Road Atlanta, Davis raced in the new 2010 Mustang and hopes to capture the title in the latest model.

"We are optimistic going into the final round, but the fact is, it's not over yet," said Davis. "We're very aware of that, and we'll be celebrating afterwards hopefully, but for right now, we're still focused on the task at hand."

FORD RACING MUSTANG CHALLENGE FOR THE MILLER CUP
One Mustang driver, Andrew Caddell, has already claimed his 2009 championship when he took the checkered flag at Miller Motorsports Park two weeks ago. Caddell is now the two-time Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series champion. Caddell successful defended his inaugural Mustang Challenge title despite fierce competition from Ted Anthony Jr.

"We won the first race of the year, and then we struggled after that. After the Barber Motorsports Park and the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang, we took the car to the dyno and found that we were 12 horsepower down. We changed the motor, and once we did that, the rest of the season went great," said Caddell. "We won in New Jersey, we finished second at Laguna and then we finished the season off with another win. It was just a great year."

FORMULA DRIFT PROFESSIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP
One of the most recognizable cars in the Formula Drifting Professional Drifting Championship Series is the Falken Mustang driven by Vaughn Gittin Jr. Gittin sits third in series standings with one race left in the season. The last round in the series takes place October 16th-17th at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.

OTHER MUSTANGS
Brent Hajek and his Hajek Motorsports stable of '08 Cobra Jet Mustangs have made a significant impact at the dragstrips in 2009, including winning the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in the car's debut. Hajek Motorsports also took an E-85 Mustang to Talladega earlier this year where Bill Elliott set a closed course speed record for an E-85 powered car. Next up on the on the horizon for Hajek Motorsports, a land speed record attempt in an E-85 powered 2010 Mustang at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats.

TASCA MEANS BUSINESS WITH POV. NO. 1

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On a hot, humid Friday afternoon, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang team topped the charts in the opening qualifying sessions.

In his second provisional qualifying effort of the year, his first coming at Gainesville, Tasca and the team dominated the race track.

After watching several Funny Cars before him smoke the tires, Tasca knew he had a challenge in front of him. He mastered the new pavement by posting 4.363 second run at 274.16 miles per hour.

“We were the only team out of 19 that went wire-to-wire in the first round,” said Tasca. “It was a great run. We’ll do even better tomorrow because the conditions will improve. We can’t be any better than we are right now.”

After some fine-tuning by crew chief Chris Cunningham, Tasca wowed the Brainerd crowd for the second time today with a 4.214 second pass at 282.01 miles per hour.

“What a difference a year makes,” said Tasca. “To be in this position and to have a hot rod that is doing exactly what we want. When our Mustang is responding and is consistent, it makes me a better race car driver and it puts the team in a position to win. To have two back-to-back runs like that, my hat is off to the guys, Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner for making a remarkable call today.”

With only a few races remaining before the Countdown to One begins, Tasca gains more confidence every time he climbs into the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang.

“We’re hitting our stride at the right time,” he said. “We’ve got a long way to go with this championship, but if we can perform well in Brainerd, we will solidify our position in the championship hunt.”

TASCA’S HEARTBREAK IN FINALS

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Northern Ohio has a reputation for having one of the country’s best amusement parks. Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane racing team experienced a roller coaster weekend full of twists and turns at Summit Motorsports Park.

The weekend opened as Tasca drove the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby to the top of the timing sheets with a 4.343 second run at 266.48 miles per hour. After a quick turnaround, Tasca was back for the second round posting a 4.263 second run at 272.89 miles per hour, which seeded him eighth.

After two additional sessions on Saturday, Tasca kept his best time from Friday afternoon. He would start in the eighth position for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

“I felt I did as much learning this weekend about driving the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby, maybe of any race that I’ve been in so far,” said Tasca. “I learned everything from how the hot rod was moving around, spinning the tires, keeping it under control and not over-correcting. You’ve got to try and get everything that you can out of the race car but at the same time, try not to make a mistake by over steering and causing it to smoke the tires.”

Once the rain cleared on Sunday, Tasca faced some tough competition en route to his second appearance in the final round this season. In the first round, Tasca defeated Matt Hagan. During the second round, he defeated No. 1 qualifier Mike Neff. Tasca would face Ashley Force Hood in the semi-final round and would defeat the new points leader for the first time in six meetings.

“I drove the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang a lot today because we had problems almost every round,” said Tasca. “In the first round, we had an issue with the supercharger. In the second round against Neff, we had an issue with a wiring harness that actually damaged the ignition. We had to find and repair the ignition between rounds. In the semifinals against Ashley, we had reverser cable fail and I knew it when it happened. I kept my composure because the Shelby Mustang needed to be staged and remain straight. Wilkerson came over and gave me the okay, and then [crew chief Chris] Cunningham took the throttle stop off so when he says it’s okay, it’s okay. I hit the gas, hit .079 on the tree and beat Ashley Force Hood for the first time.”

For the second time this season, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team reached the finals. He was defeated Atlanta winner Jack Beckman.

“We want to win, that’s why we come. Unfortunately for us, Jack guessed the tree. You can’t cut a .001 light,” said Tasca. “I heard him and it actually messed me up because I didn’t see the light go on. I had a decent light but I was still confused. I hit the gas; I looked for the win light and didn’t see it on. Then we drove right into tire smoke. People might watch it on TV and ask, ‘Why did you drive the race car when Jack was almost at the finish line?’ I took it as an opportunity to learn how to pedal the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang. That was probably one of the best pedal jobs I’ve ever done in a race car. I did it knowing that Jack had won the race, but knowing that I had an opportunity to learn a little bit and tune my driving skills. I did what I wanted to do. Jack made a great run, it was his race to win.”

With a weekend off for the July 4th holiday, Tasca eyes the points and next three races on the schedule.

“We’re closing in on the leaders. The drivers in fourth, fifth and sixth are within two rounds of each other. Those are good numbers to have in our pocket as we head into west coast swing. We have a very different attitude and confidence level this year and I am looking forward to the west coast swing.”

MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE READY FOR SUMMER

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SUMMARY:

• Panoramic glass used on the 2010 Ford Glass Roof Mustang filters almost all of the sun's harmful rays and reduces cool-down time and wind noise while offering a convertible-like driving experience
• Scientific studies show increased exposure to sunshine or bright light – like that provided in the convertible and Glass Roof Mustang – is therapeutic because it regulates the body's mood-regulating hormone and circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness; also triggers a natural remedy for "the blues"
• Panoramic sunroofs have doubled in popularity during the past five years; tilt/slide type sunroofs will remain dominant, followed by panoramic and spoiler types through 2011
• The 2010 Mustang – including Glass Roof and convertible versions – builds on the safety success of the 2008 Mustang – the first sports car and first convertible to earn five-star ratings in U.S. government frontal crash, side impact and rollover tests

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CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:

The 2010 Ford Glass Roof Mustang and Mustang GT convertible, which are arriving in dealerships now, offer consumers sun-soaked driving and top-rated safety heritage. Fans of open-air motoring have made the Mustang convertible a perennial bestseller. Those who love the sun but want to cut back on sunscreen use can choose the pony car with the panoramic glass roof, which filters nearly all of the sun's harmful rays.

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DETAILS:

The 2010 Mustang builds on the safety success of the 2008 Mustang, which became the first sports car and the first convertible to earn five-stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash, side impact and rollover tests.

The Mustang's considerable body stiffness contributes to its driving performance and has an added benefit in accident protection. While the coupe's body structure is 31 percent stiffer in torsional rigidity than its predecessor, the convertible's is more than twice as stiff – creating a "safety cage" that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact.

The front structure is designed to absorb and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. The Mustang's front rails have an octagonal shape designed to spread forces evenly at the firewall and progressively deform for increased protection in offset frontal crashes.

Protective sun-drenched driving
The 2010 Ford Glass Roof Mustang offers consumers convertible-like driving without the need for sunscreen, because its factory-installed panoramic glass roof filters 90 percent of the sun's heat-generating infrared (IR) rays and 96 percent of burn-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays.

The UV-filtering capability of the new Mustang's fixed glass roof is comparable to sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of approximately 50, which exceeds the dermatologist-recommended sunscreen strength of at least SPF-15.

The glass roof's ability to filter IR rays reduces heat load in the cabin so that occupants remain comfortable while enjoying the sun. The reflective glass also reduces energy used by the vehicle's air conditioner system while protecting the interior fabric from fading and deteriorating.

Good for the soul
Sun-soaked cruising is the convertible and Glass Roof Mustang's top appeal factor. Scientific studies show that increased exposure to sunshine or bright light is therapeutic because it regulates the body's synthesis of melatonin, a mood-regulating hormone that modulates the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sunshine also triggers the body's conversion to active vitamin D, considered to be an effective natural remedy for "the blues."

Health experts caution that cool breezes in convertibles can misleadingly mask the sun's harmful rays as occupants may not feel as hot as when they're stationary under the sun. Therefore, dermatologists recommend the use of sun-block lotion or moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher prior for top-down drives.

Roof glass popularity rising
According to J.D. Power feature content research, 62 percent of buyers in the sports car segment wanted a sunroof/moon roof on their next vehicle. Since its introduction in 2008, the Glass Roof Mustang – which is available as a $1,995 option on both the V-6 model and the GT – has accounted for 10 percent of all Mustang sales. The convertible accounts for 25 percent of Mustang sales, and sell most strongly in California, Florida, Texas and Georgia.

Mustang is just one Ford model that features ample sunlight and generous views. The 2010 Lincoln MKS and 2009 Ford Flex, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX also offer sun-splashed driving enjoyment with an optional panoramic roof glass that is privacy tinted for the occupants' comfort and protection.

According to CSM Worldwide, over the last five years panoramic sunroofs have doubled in the popularity in North America. The installation of tilt/slide type sunroofs will remain dominant, followed by panoramic and spoiler types throughout 2011.

THOMSON MAKING MUSTANG DEBUT AT MOSPORT

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The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Media car, which has seen a wide range of drivers jump in to experience the competitive nature of the Mustang Challenge through the 2009 season, will add a new name to its roof this weekend as Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge entrant and racer Karl Thomson will race this weekend as the series heads north to Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Thomson, who has five wins as a driver in Koni competition to his credit, has been racing professionally since 2004, primarily in Grand-Am's Koni Challenge. Thomson has a Koni podium streak that stretches back to 2005. As lead driver and team owner of Compass360 Racing, the Canadian has raced a variety of cars including Acuras, BMW's, Mazda's, Porsches and the Hondas the team currently fields.

The Mustang Challenge race appearance marks a return to the cockpit for Thomson, who has stepped away from driving for the moment to focus on his role as team owner. He’s done so to excellent effect, as his C360R Koni squad made history at New Jersey Motorsports Park as the team scored a remarkable 1-2-3 finish, the first in Koni history.

Thomson calls Toronto home and has been racing at Mosport since he first scored Rookie honors in the 2003 Canadian Touring Car Championship, and is relishing the chance to strap back into the car and go racing this weekend.

“Anytime you get the opportunity to race at Mosport, it is something you look forward to as a driver, so to get the chance to drive a Ford Mustang there this weekend is one that I’m really excited about,” said Thomson.

“Even though I have a lot of experience driving at Mosport, I know that I will be racing against guys who have a lot of experience in these cars so I have pretty realistic expectations for the weekend. Although I will admit that from what I have seen of the races, the guys fighting for a spot in the top ten seem to be having just as much fun as the guys trying to race to the podium, so I am really looking forward to this.”

The Media Car, which is prepared by Capaldi Racing and races with the No. 00, has also been driven by Jack Roush Jr., James Hunt, Andy Lally, and Fox radio personality Rob D’Amico so far in the 2009 season.

The Mosport weekend, part of the traditional Fathers Day weekend event at the Ontario facility, will get underway with practice on Friday before setting the grid in qualifying on Saturday. Round 7 of the 2009 Mustang Challenge season is slated to take the green flag at 11 a.m. Sunday.

F-150, MUSTANG RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP 10 ROAD TRIP CARS OF '09 BY KELLEY BLUE BOOK’S KBB.COM

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If you’re planning a road trip this Memorial Day weekend, the 2009 Ford F-150 and 2010 Ford Mustang convertible are two of the best vehicles to take along for the ride. This is according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, who recognized both vehicles today with a spot on their list of Top 10 Road Trip Cars of 2009.

For vacationers planning to tow a trailer – or anything else that requires a hitch – the Ford F-150 delivers, says Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.

“With a max tow rating exceeding 11,000 pounds and an integrated tow system, this truck meets the needs of even the most hard-core towing fanatics,” he said. “Couple its rugged capabilities with a handsome exterior, refined interior and an available Super Crew Cab offering limo-like legroom, and you’re ready for the long haul.”

And for fun in the sun on spring break, Nerad says nothing beats the Ford Mustang.

“You already know that the Ford Mustang is an automotive icon that says ‘fun.’ Now add to that a convertible top and four college students on spring break, and it spells a rousing good time,” he said. “You can get attention by cruising the beach with music booming from the Ford SYNC®-equipped Shaker audio system, and if that isn’t enough, the sexy styling will definitely have the beach babes swooning.”

MUSTANG CELEBRATES 45 YEARS AS KING OF THE AMERICAN ROAD

• April 17, 2009 marks the 45th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang
• Thousands of Mustang enthusiasts from all over the world are gathering in Birmingham, Ala. to join Ford and the Mustang Club of American for a four-day celebration, including several original owners of the 1964½ Mustang
• In conjunction with the 45th anniversary celebration, the new “The ’10 Unleashed” campaign will give enthusiasts the chance to unleash their Mustang side behind the wheel of the new 2010 Mustang

DEARBORN, Mich., April 16, 2009 – It was 45 years ago this week that marked the birth of the undisputed king of the American road: the Ford Mustang. And thousands of Mustang fans from all over the world are gathering in Birmingham, Ala. to mark the occasion.

“The Ford Mustang is one of the world’s most beloved automotive and cultural icons,” said Jim Farley, Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “Since April 17, 1964, it has been a symbol of American freedom and fun.”

Ford and the Mustang Club of America are commemorating the birth of America’s favorite pony car with a four-day celebration at the Barber Motorsports Park. The event is expected to draw more than 2,500 Mustang enthusiasts and their beloved steeds, as well as hundreds of thousands of spectators. Included among those enthusiasts are nine of the muscle car’s most enduring fans: original owners of the 1964½ Mustang.

“People come up to the car and they don’t believe that I’m the original owner,” said Phil Florio, of Summerfield, Fla., about his Wimbledon White 1964½ Mustang Coupe. “I knew from day one that it was going to be a very special vehicle. A lot of car manufacturers have come out with their own particular type of pony car, but there’s only one ‘first.’”

Laki Malamatenios drove his Poppy Red 1964½ Mustang coupe all the way to Alabama from his home in Grass Valley, Calif. to take part in the 45th anniversary festivities.

“My ‘Poppy’ is something special,” he said. “This car is a chronicle of my life with my family – some happy memories, some sad, but always interesting. Whenever I drive it, my whole life flashes before my eyes.”

A host of exciting events are planned for the 45th anniversary celebration. For example, professional road racers – including four-time Mustang champion and SPEED TV personality Tommy Kendall – will be on site to provide hot laps for lucky attendees around the park in Mustang FR500S race cars. And world champion drifter Vaughn Gittin, Jr., will be on hand all weekend to give demonstrations and rides.

“Whether you’re a casual observer interested in seeing the latest model Mustang or a true fanatic who eats, sleeps and breathes Mustang, this is where you want to be to celebrate the 45th anniversary,” said Steven McCarley, president of the Mustang Club of America.

“The ’10 Unleashed” campaign
In addition to the events in Alabama, Ford is commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Mustang by introducing “The ‘10 Unleashed” campaign, which gives enthusiasts the chance to unleash their Mustang side behind the wheel of the new 2010 Mustang – whether it be drifting in Japan like world champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr. or customizing a new Mustang using Ford Racing Performance Parts.

Through Aug. 15, consumers can submit their own Mustang dream experience in 250 words or less via Ford’s “The ‘Unleashed” site at www.the2010Mustang.com. Written submissions will be judged based on creativity, uniqueness and execution of idea. Winning submissions will be selected every few weeks, and winners will be able to turn their Mustang experience into reality.

“During its 45 years, Mustang has touched people’s lives in so many different ways, and we’ve enjoyed hearing those stories leading up to the introduction of the new 2010 Mustang,” said Allison Revier, Ford Mustang brand manager. “Now, it’s time to look forward and create new stories to fill the next chapter in the history book of America’s favorite muscle car.”

FUEL-SIPPING FORD FUSION DRIVES SALES RESULTS

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April sales mark the sixth consecutive month of market share growth

April Highlights:

• Ford Fusion sales rose 24%
• Ford F-150 realized a 17% increase last month
• Ford E-Series sales rose 3%
• Lincoln MKZ sales were up 30%
• Lincoln MKX sales increased 7%
• F-Series is the best-selling nameplate in Canada

Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited saw market share increase for the sixth consecutive month in April led by sales of the Ford Fusion, the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in Canada, which increased 24.4 per cent over the same period last year.

"With our launch of the 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, sales have shown that we are building vehicles that consumers really value," said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. "Just this week, drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques drove the 2010 Fusion Hybrid more than 2,300 kilometres on a single tank of gas."

Also contributing to the growth in market share are sales of the Lincoln MKZ which saw an increase of 30 per cent compared to last April.

April also marked the 45th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang. The 2010 Mustang delivers even more power, new technologies; fast, fun, affordable driving and is in dealer showrooms now.

CLOSE-KNIT TEAM LISTENS TO, IMPLEMENTS CUSTOMER INPUT IN CREATING 2010 MUSTANG

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• Continuity, stability and the willingness to listen to and implement Mustang customer feedback help keep the pony car on top
• Key members who worked on the last major Mustang redesign in 2005 also contributed to the 2010 model
• The 2010 Mustang will be in dealer showrooms this spring with a starting price of $20,995

DEARBORN, Mich., April 16, 2009 – No doubt, people have a special connection to the Ford Mustang. Nine million sold since the iconic muscle car’s introduction in 1964, including the past 22 years as the best seller in its segment, are testament to Mustang’s success and the passion it engenders.

But what about the people who design, engineer and build Mustang? Is it just another job to them?

Hardly.

“Mustang is a special car, and it requires a special group of people to design, engineer and manufacture Mustang,” said David Pericak, Mustang chief nameplate engineer. “We’re fortunate to have a strong core group of talented people who understand what Mustang is and what it takes to produce this world-class car.”

Continuity and passion are two of the linchpins of the ongoing success of Mustang. For all involved, creating Mustang literally is a dream job. Key members of the team who worked on the last major upgrade, which was the 2005 model, also contributed to the 2010 edition.

“The experience of the team is a huge benefit to us,” said Keith Knudsen, supervisor, Mustang vehicle architecture. “Not only do we have better relationships that come from working together over the long term, we’ve all been part of the program long enough to hear the customer feedback as a group, understand concerns and agree where we wanted to make improvements.”

One customer-driven improvement for the new Mustang is moving the windshield washer nozzles off the hood and into spot recessed in the cowl. This seemingly minor change brings about several benefits, including better aerodynamics, less wind noise, a cleaner appearance, no washer fluid on the hood, and, perhaps most important, the smooth surface allows customers to easily customize the hood with racing stripes.

“Overall, it shows great attention to a small detail, and that’s indicative of many parts and systems on the 2010 Mustang,” said Tom Barnes, vehicle engineering manager. “Together, they all make a big difference.”

A host of other customer-generated improvements can be found on the 2010 Mustang, including:

• Increased horsepower on the V-8 models through a cold-air induction system
• Bigger wheels (19-inch option) and tires (245 mm)
• Moved antenna to rear, improving appearance, aerodynamics and wind noise
• Improved interior craftsmanship
• Reduced interior noise
• More usable interior stowage, including larger door pockets and seat back map pockets, along with covered cup holders
• Interior trunk release
• Electronic automatic temperature control
• Steering wheel audio controls
• Automatic headlamps
• Rear-vision camera
• Outside temperature indicator
• Sequential rear turn signals
• Flipping the tachometer and speedometer so the left hand on the steering wheel doesn’t block the tachometer
• Flush design of the console bin so the elbow doesn’t hit it while shifting
• Softened edges on the side of the center stack and instrument panel to make it a friendlier contact point for drivers with long legs
• Improved execution of the console’s rear edge for improved rear passenger knee and leg space

Here’s a closer look at some of the key customer-driven improvements on the 2010 Mustang and how they were executed:

More-refined interior: The foundation of the 2010 Mustang’s world-class interior is a new, one-piece soft instrument panel exquisitely crafted in seamless TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) skin, fully encompassing textured or genuine aluminum-finish panels. Extending the soft skin and foam around the center stack was critical not only for better appearance and craftsmanship, but also to provide a softer, more comfortable rest for the driver’s leg.

“Gaps between parts – the chrome-ringed air registers, for example, are accurate to within fractions of millimeters,” said Senior Designer Robert Gelardi. “This attention to detail is the bedrock of the new interior and what sets Mustang apart from the competition. Our goal was a product that goes beyond perceived quality to offer a premium experience. We were absolute perfectionists about the selection of materials and executing every detail. We never stopped at, ‘good enough.’ We only stopped at ‘right.’”

Attention to detail seen everywhere – even the trunk release
The interior design team worked diligently on every detail. Take, for example, the buttons for traction control and the interior trunk release, which was one of several customer-driven enhancements to the 2010 Mustang. The Mustang team wasn’t satisfied with simply adding this feature and moving on. Instead, the team made it special as both graphics on the buttons show an actual Mustang instead of a generic car symbol.

The shape of the IP finish panels mirrors the angle of the tail lamps and allows the navigation screen to be placed higher and closer to the driver. The Mustang pony now is a genuine aluminum badge in the center of the steering wheel featuring real aluminum spokes with audio controls in premium models. “Everything looks crafted, not molded,” Gelardi said. “People will feel special in this car.”

Steven McCarley, president of the Mustang Club of America, was fortunate enough to have driven the new Mustang before its reveal and came away impressed.

“They’ve definitely improved the seating and the material – it’s stronger, firmer and better overall,” said McCarley, noting one of the requests his group wanted for the 2010 model. “The front end is much more aggressive and the placement of the controls is more user-friendly.”

Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler System: This industry-exclusive feature has an integrated spring-loaded flapper door that allows customers to simply insert the fuel nozzle into the tank to fill up – no screw cap required. Easy Fuel automatically seals after the fuel nozzle is removed, emitting fewer evaporative emissions into the environment.

Improved handling: Many of the enhancements from the successful Mustang Bullitt and Ford Racing vehicles are carried through the full 2010 Mustang lineup, creating a nimbler, more-responsive Mustang. Standard on all models is a three-link rear suspension with a panhard bar. AdvanceTrac®, new for 2010, traction control and anti-lock brakes also are standard.

AdvanceTrac can be run on or off with the V-6. In the GT, AdvanceTrac, can be run in on, off or Sport mode, which allows drivers to push it more while still retaining control.

“We adjusted the springs, stabilizer bars and shocks to better balance the ride, steering and handling for all models, which results in a more engaging driving experience,” said Barnes. “The 2010 Mustang feels more controlled for steering and handling, yet retains a good ride balance.”

Tires are increased by an inch across the Mustang line, with 17-inch tires standard on the V-6 and 18-inch tires standard on the V-8. A 19-inch Pirelli Summer tire is late available as an option for those seeking higher performance. The proven chassis from the Bullitt series serves as the base for the GT. A tower-to-tower brace pioneered on the Bullitt lends additional torsional and lateral stiffness to the chassis to improve cornering for those selecting the 19-inch tire.

Aerodynamics were honed to ensure that both the aerodynamic drag and lift balance were improved for better overall efficiency. The drag coefficient, which measures the ability of the Mustang to slip through the air, has been reduced by 4 percent in the V-6 models and 7 percent in the GT models. The front aerodynamic lift also has been reduced by 37 percent for V-6 models and 23 percent for GT models, significantly improving steering feedback and driver confidence at higher speeds. Improved aerodynamics also contribute to fuel efficiency, with the V-6 getting an unsurpassed 26 mpg highway.

For some team members, the passion for Mustang began almost at birth – literally.

Gelardi’s ride home from the hospital after he was born came in his mother’s 1969 Champagne Gold Mustang coupe. From there a love of automobiles, especially Mustang, blossomed.

“It’s pretty amazing that the first time I ever rode in a car it was a Mustang and now I’m part of the team that helped create the 2010 Mustang,” said Gelardi, who worked on the 2005 model as well before leading interior, exterior and wheel designs for the 2010 edition. “Working on Mustang is an honor, which is exactly how everyone else on the team feels.”

ORIGINAL 1964½ MUSTANG OWNERS HEAD DOWN MEMORY LANE, ALABAMA FOR PONY CAR’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY

Image by matze_ott via Flickr

• Several original owners of the 1964½ Mustang will attend the Ford Mustang 45th anniversary celebration with their beloved pony cars April 17-21 in Birmingham, Ala.
• The 45th anniversary celebration is expected to draw more than 2,500 Mustang enthusiasts and their cars as well as hundreds of thousands of spectators

When Phil Florio bought his 1964½ Wimbledon White Ford Mustang, he says it was “love at first sight.” Forty-five years later, the love affair is still going strong.

“I’m going to be 71 in May, but when I get behind the wheel of that car and turn the key, I’m 25 years old again,” said Florio, of Summerfield, Fla. “It keeps me young.”

Florio is one of nine original owners of the 1964½ Mustang – America’s first pony car – who will display and share stories about their beloved steeds at the Ford Mustang 45th anniversary celebration, which will be held April 17-21 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

Florio says he cherished his muscle car from the start.

“I used to drive the car in New York in the middle of winter, and when I got home I’d get blue hands trying to wash the snow and salt off of it in the freezing cold weather,” said Florio. “I loved the car, and knew when I bought it that I was going to keep it for as long as I possibly could.”

For many original Mustang owners – like Florio and Laki Malamatenio, who owns a 1964½ Poppy Red Mustang 289 that he refers to affectionately as “Poppy” – the car is more than just a fast, fun and affordable means of transportation. It is an integral part of the fabric of their lives.

“‘Poppy’ took me to Las Vegas to get married. She took me to the hospital when both of my children were born, and she’s taken the whole family on vacation,” said Malamatenio, of Grass Valley, Calif. “My whole life flashes before my eyes when I get into that car.”

Malamatenio says his Mustang also has special meaning because he used it to buy his first home.

“We wanted to buy a house, but we didn’t have enough money for a down payment,” he said. “The car was paid off, so I took out a home loan using ‘Poppy’ as collateral.”

To Malamatenio, “Poppy” is part of the family.

“Sometimes when I’m working on her, my wife says ‘You spend more time with her than you do with me,’” he laughed.

Fred Glazier’s Rangoon Red Mustang coupe also brings back poignant memories, he says.

“I dated my wife in it. We took it on our honeymoon, and we brought both of our children home from the hospital in it,” said Glazier, of Souderton, Pa. “We are emotionally attached to this car, and I always tell me kids, ‘When I die, you better not sell it, or I’ll come back to haunt you.’”

Glazier says his 1964½ Mustang inspired him to leave a career as a pharmaceutical representative and start a new vocation restoring antique cars.

“I’ve specialized in the restoration of Mustangs since 1979,” he said. “A few years ago, I started working on my car, and today it looks like it did when I first bought it.”

Kathy Miller, of Boardman, Ohio, says she will never forget the day she received her 1964½ Prairie Bronze Mustang coupe as a high school graduation present from her mom and dad,

“I was so surprised that day, and I’ve had the car ever since,” she said. “It went to college at Ohio State with me, and it was the car that I drove for my first job selling real estate.”

Miller says she and her husband also drove the car on their wedding day.

“My son restored the Mustang five years ago, and there was still rice in the dashboard,” she chuckled. “There’s a lot of nostalgia surrounding that car.”

For Edgar “Alex” Alexander, his black 1964½ Mustang convertible was an impulse purchase he never once second-guessed.

“My first wife and I needed a car, and we had no conception of what we wanted,” he said. “There was a Mustang convertible on the lot, and my wife fell in love with it so we just ordered it.”

Alexander says the car garnered a lot of attention wherever the couple went.

“We would go to the store or to the movies, and when we came out there would be a half dozen people or more looking at the car,” he said. “It was really cool.”

He says the pride of ownership continued to grow over the years.

“At the beginning it was a car,” he said. “Now, it’s a treasure.”

THE GREAT MUSTANG DEBATE: 1964½ OR 1965?

Image by Wendigo_ via Flickr

Ever since the debut of the original Ford Mustang 45 years ago, there has been an ongoing debate about what to call the pony cars built between April and August of 1964. Are they “1964½” Mustangs or 1965 models?

Technically, all of the original Ford Mustangs are 1965 models because all carry a 1965 model year Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

But the majority of Mustang enthusiasts throughout the world are purists at heart, and they know very well that the vehicles produced from April to August of 1964 were different enough from those manufactured during the remainder of the model year to warrant giving them another name.

“An entire generation has grown up calling these vehicles ‘1964½.’ It is part of the lexicon of Mustang history,” said John Clor, author of The Mustang Dynasty. “Technically, all of the original Mustangs are 1965 models, but true enthusiasts know that production of the car ran for a year and a half and that the car changed after the first six months.”

The biggest change was in the electrical system. The so-called 1964½ Mustangs used generators while those made during the standard 12-month 1965 model year used alternators. Also, the V-8 option was different. The 1964½ models used the 260-cubic inch V-8 engine, while the 1965 models employed a 289-cubic inch V-8 engine.

“People like to say there is no such thing as a 1964½ Mustang, and in theory they are correct,” said Charles Turner, national head judge for the Mustang Club of America (MCA). “But there is a wide range of little differences between the cars built before and after August of 1964 that make them very unique. The MCA accepts the 1964½ as a model year because we view it as a different car.”

Those lucky enough to own a Mustang built between April and August of 1964 view their pony cars as a totally different breed of the steed.

“We take exception to someone calling them 1965 Mustangs because the ’64½ was a unique car when it was introduced, and it is a very special thing to own one,” said Fred Glazier, who bought his Rangoon Red Mustang coupe in May of 1964. “When you tell someone you have a 1964½ Mustang, people who understand Mustangs know what you’re talking about.”