Showing posts with label mustang. Show all posts

Monday, May 13, 2013

Mustang V6

$22,200 Starting

Prices for Jan, 2013

V6 Performance Package

The V6 Performance Package includes the following: • Choice of automatic and manual transmissions • Strut-tower brace • Larger front sway bar and SVT rear sway bar • Unique front springs • Unique front and rear calipers with performance friction pads • 19-inch painted machined aluminum wheels • 255/40R19 summer-only tires • Unique stability control calibration • Gloss black side mirrors • 3.31 limited-slip rear axle

Not available on Convertible or with white stripes.

Selectable Electronic Power Assist Steering(EPAS)

Selectable electronic power assisted steering(EPAS) The selectable electronic power assist steering (EPAS) automatically adjusts to deliver precise responses at high speeds and reduces steering effort at slower speeds when needed. By removing the belt-driven hydraulics, it helps deliver improved fuel efficiency. EPAS allows you to choose from three settings.
Standard: This is the default factory setting.
Sport: There is slightly greater steering effort required with more road force felt through the steering wheel.
Comfort: There is slightly less steering effort required with less road force felt through the steering wheel.

LED Sequential Rear Tail Lamps

Mustang features signature LED lighting in the taillamp surround. The turn signals illuminate in sequence, and the brake lights and signature lighting use LED technology.

HID Headlamps

Intense power. That’s what these headlamps are all about. HID headlamps feature a gas bulb that lasts longer and produces a whiter, brighter, stronger light than conventional headlamps. Standard on all Mustang models.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Saleen S281 Supercharged Mustang

saleen S281 Series

Manufacturer	Saleen, Incorporated
Production	1996 - 2009
Assembly	Troy, Michigan
Successor	Ford Mustang
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	4.6 L V8, 335 hp (250 kW) to 550 hp (410 kW)
Transmission(s)	4 or 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	107.1 in (2720 mm)
Length	189 in (4801 mm)
Width	74 in (1880 mm)
Height	56 in (1422 mm)
Curb weight	3,550 lb (1,610 kg)
Related	Ford Mustang Mercury Cougar

The Saleen S281 is a variant of the Ford Mustang that was produced by the American

Part of what makes Fords new Mustang GT a winner is its price. At $25,570 and with 300 horsepower under the hood, its hard to find anything comparable. Certainly, Saleens new supercharged S281 version of the Mustang—at $48,624 in its cheapest form—is not directly comparable.

Or is it? The major performance differences between the two are demonstrated most significantly at higher speed. The time the supercharged S281 took to reach 100 mph was 2.4 seconds quicker than our last Mustang GT ["21st-Century Muscle Cars," C/D, January 2005]. By 130 mph, the difference was 7.1 seconds and growing. Thats called driving away.

But the differences are less profound in the quarter-mile sprint, where the Saleen reaches the lights just 0.6 second ahead of the GT (although its already traveling 7 mph faster). A lot counts on getting a decent launch at the drag strip, and well admit our testing facilities have been badly ravaged by winter storms, making grip hard to come by.

Weve heard of Saleen development drivers turning 12.7 seconds at 114 mph compared with our 13.2 seconds at 110 mph, and well ponder that possibility until we get another example to test at a grippier venue. But the fact is that the claimed 100-hp advantage the Saleen enjoys is at least partly offset by the usual Mustang state of affairs. You know, a front-heavy weight distribution that makes launches hard to hook up. The Mustang also has a solid rear axle and a gearshift linkage that is not exactly precise. (This is a hindrance that has surfaced on production Mustangs, where the jointed linkage to the forward-mounted transmission has proved sloppier than on early press prototypes.) Add an electronic throttle that hangs onto revs long after youve lifted, and gearshifts are not made easy.

Thats not to say the supercharged S281 is not a fast and enjoyable car to drive. It is. Nearly every aspect of its character has been honed for better performance. Some of it is ingenious work. The Saleen-designed Series VI screw-type supercharger, for example, integrates itself, the intercooler, and the induction plenum into a single compact unit.

That has allowed Saleens engineers to design a plastic hood without a giant power bulge in it. The hood incorporates a redesigned grille and front fascia that evoke aspects of the Saleen S7 with its aggressive air dam and shark-gill inlets. Despite being a double-skinned (and presumably quite stiff) molding, the vented hood quivers and jumps as you drive along, its spasms suggesting you might not have closed it properly.

Saleen-specific plastic designs pretty much run the perimeter of the S281, with rocker skirts at the sides and a jutting rear fascia below a prominent spoiler. It all gives the S281 a distinct appearance—one not lost on the motoring public, if the reaction from jaded California motorists is anything to go by.

Once you hit the mountains, the cars extroverted appearance is thoroughly backed up by the Saleen Racecraft suspension, which has tuned spring and bar rates along with urethane bushings and nitrogen-pressurized shocks, as well as by the optional 20-inch Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires on 10-inch-wide Saleen-designed chrome alloys, which provide reassuring turn-in and midcorner grip.

The S281s ride is firm, with some fairly sudden, although small, vertical disturbances, and it takes quite a smooth stretch of pavement to get it all settled down. That Ford solid axle makes its presence felt, too, with the occasional hop at corner entry, but its Panhard rod and various links keep any seriously wayward tendencies in check.

A broad spread of usable torque enables the driver to reel in miles of wrinkled mountain road in one gear, slowing, turning, and driving out strongly without recourse to the billet aluminum shift knob. And if the strong engine braking isnt enough, the optional 14.0-inch slotted and vented front discs and their four-piston monoblock calipers make short work of unwanted velocity. Although our dusty test venue produced longish stops from 70 mph (179 feet, nine feet longer than in that last GT we tested), they were consistent and fade-free, with a clear pedal feel.

The supercharged S281s interior is festooned with Saleen upgrades, including a dual-gauge pod mounted high and center with boost pressure and intercooler temperature, Saleen-monogrammed instruments (with a particularly accurate 200-mph speedometer), specific vents and bezels, steering-wheel badge, and pedals, as well as the aforementioned billet shifter featuring tightened throws.

Occupants sit on furniture that has been through a Saleen makeover, with improved bolstering and unique leather design. Naturally, the seats bear Saleen logos. We wouldnt want to forget who modified this car, would we? Not that you could. That big, fruity V-8 rumble is a constant reminder of the 400 horsepower tugging at the leash, as is the dentists-drill whistle of the blower at anything over 2000 rpm.

Yet all of that goes by the board when you have your foot planted. The car blasts forward between 3000 and 6000 rpm in almost brutal explosions of power in the lower gears and in long, sustained surges of acceleration in third and fourth. This is what you pay for here, and at $51,934, you pay dearly. But for some drivers, its likely worth every penny.

Saleen S281 Supercharged Mustang - Specs

Have 400 horses, will travel.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE AS TESTED: $51,934 (base price*: $51,934)

ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled SOHC 24-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 281 cu in, 4601cc
Power (SAE net): 400 bhp @ 5800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 420 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 107.1 in Length: 189.1 in Width: 74.0 in Height: 56.0 in
Curb weight: 3680 lb

PERFORMANCE RATINGS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.6 sec
Zero to 100 mph: .10.6 sec
Zero to 130 mph: .18.5 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 5.1 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 13.2 sec @ 110 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 150 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 179 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 17 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 15 mpg

*Base price includes all performance-enhancing options.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Test

This time we had the opportunity to evaluate one of the last productions of the alliance between the Special Vehicle Team Ford (SVT) and Shelby: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

The 2012 saw the death of Carroll Shelby, who was one of the icons of motorsport and the American automobile industry. Carroll not only known as a great driver in the late 50s, but also distinguished by innovative design and creation of various sports cars.

60 years of experience manifest in the 2013 Shelby GT500 engine. This is a new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 capable of developing up to 662 horsepower and 631 lb.-ft. of torque.
For this year increased its displacement (+0.4 liters) and included some elements of the Ford GT. The result was the increased power (+100 HP) and the fuel consumption reduction (-1.0 MPG).

The tremendous power is channeled through a sports manual transmission coupled to a six-speed shaft carbon fiber. The latter distributes the power to the rear wheels exclusively through a specially developed differential for this vehicle.

Interior

The suspension system was designed and manufactured by the brand known Bilstein sports suspension. One can choose from firm damping (Sport) or soft (Normal) via a button located on the left side of the instrument panel. In this same area there is another button you can choose to configure the system-power-assisted steering, among the same options.

Furthermore, vented disc brakes have been provided by Brembo, which ensure the necessary power to stop this vehicle in 102 feet from 60 miles per hour.
Inside we find a optional Recaro sport seats ($ 1,595) lined in leather with excellent lateral support and a large cobra embroidered on the back, on whose flanks incorporated holes to install seatbelts sports.

Officially, this vehicle is able to accommodate up to four occupants, two fronts have enough space to ensure comfort, but subsequent occupants are not as lucky.
The instrument panel has two round gauges, simple, clear and large. The interesting thing was the small digital panel (LCD 4.2 ") between them, where we can configure the information displayed via the steering wheel mounted controls.

If you choose to add the SVT Track Package ($ 2,995) not only manages the central black lines on the outside, but also the software and hardware needed to monitor the performance of the vehicle during its journey through high performance testing.

Outside the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is clearly distinguishable from the "ordinary Mustangs" through special front grille, which is adorned with a cobra on one side, the headlights have a classic design with projection technology Mustang HID The wheels are forged aluminum 19 "front and 20" rear, the front fenders are also adorned with the emblem of the cobra.

Behind functional find a large spoiler, a diffuser, two dual tailpipes made of stainless steel and other emblem that highlights the joint effort between Shelby and SVT teams.
The driving experience on the Shelby GT500 is typical of a "muscle-car", ie loud, powerful and very proud. Despite the 662 HPs management is docile, but this can change quickly will the driver.

The priority is safety, so installed systems to prevent accidents such as ESC and ABS. Also find air bags front and side for front occupants and an automatic SOS alert in case of accident.
The price of the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 starts at $ 54.200. Our test unit reached $ 63.475 including destination charge ($ 795).

In conclusion, the Ford Shelby GT500 is a great toy for adults like to take the opportunity to take your car to the circuit while using it in their daily routine. Despite being an extremely powerful car, their levels are reasonable fuel consumption (15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway) provided you keep control of your right foot.
No doubt that this is a horse that would be in my stable.