Recently in 2010 Category

Starting in May 2009, Chip Foose, Magnaflow Performance Exhaust, and PowerBlockTV teamed up to created a one-of-a-kind 2010 Ford Mustang to be awarded by means of a random drawing.  The Foose Mustang featured a paint design by Chip Foose, and Mr. Foose was in the Magnaflow display this year at the SEMA Show to help show off the sweepstakes Mustang. 

The performance modifications begin with a Magnaflow Performance exhaust system and an Edelbrock supercharger system to increase the power to the wheels and a Baer big brake kit and Eibach suspension kit help the Foose Magnaflow Mustang handle as well as it accelerates.  A set of Foose wheels and high performance Pirelli tires add style and performance, and this custom 2010 Mustang stands out in a crowd even without an outlandish paint scheme or body kit.

It's pretty clear that Ford Motor Company is very proud of the 2010 refresh of the Ford Mustang - even though the Mustang has not yet received the "big motor news".  Since launching the 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show last year, Ford has been showing off their proud new baby like any good doting parent and the 2009 SEMA Show was virtually an alter to the fabled pony car.

 

This is nothing new, as the gigantic Ford display at SEMA is never without a nice spread of modified Mustangs, and models like the new Cobra Jet and the RTR-C Mustang fit the SEMA mold nicely.  However, this year featured the first for Ford as they debuted the first ever Ford Mustang stock car for NASCAR along with a pair of beautiful Shelby Mustangs being raffled off to help with veterans charities.  Also, Ford offered up a handful of production 2010 Mustangs showing off the latest and greatest 'aftermarket' additions available from Ford Racing.

 

When Steve Saleen parted from Saleen Motorsports, it was unknown what would come of the near legendary line of high performance Saleen Mustangs.  Mr. Saleen departed to start the new SMS Supercars, and the original company has retained the Saleen name (after a couple lawsuits) and has now become Saleen Performance Vehicles.

A few months ago, the new Saleen Performance Vehicles released their first take on the refreshed 2010 Mustang, minus Steve Saleen's influence, in the form of the Mustang 435S.  The changes to the exterior of the Saleen 435S were minimal, but along with suspension upgrades, the new Saleen received engine improvements to the tune of 435 horsepower.  This monster Mustang is an excellent first chapter to the Steve-less Saleen Performance, but we all knew that more was to come.

Ford hasn't been particularly forthcoming with the public about what engine options will be present for the 2011 Mustang.  Rumors based on comments from a variety of Ford management members, including Bill Ford Jr., would lead us to believe that at some point in the near future the Mustang will be powered by a 3.7L V6 and a new 5.0L V8.  The base model will likely offer the Duratec 3.7L V6, similar to what is used in the Mazda CX-9 and the Mustang GT will feature be the long awaited return of the 5.0 V8, code named the Coyote.  Should these turn out to be the only engine options, we are looking at somewhere in the area of 273hp in the base model and around 400 in the GT - both quite a step up from the current engine options.  But what happened to the EcoBoost rumors?  Around the internet people are saying that the EcoBoost may not be finding its way into the Mustang now, but with the way Ford has touted this new engine, why is it not finding a home in their storied pony car?

Many people standing at a street corner may not know what an SVO Mustang is, but within the Mustang community the turbocharged 4-cylinder Mustangs of the 1980s are well recognized for their performance.  The EcoBoost engine could very well make a modern SVO or Turbo GT, and the 365 horsepower would nestle it nicely between the base and the GT.  Of course, it's easy to say "the base model Mustang should have 365hp instead of 210", but with the likely Coyote V8 pushing the GT up to and hopefully over the 400 horsepower mark, there is room to fit a 365 horsepower option in, without stepping on the GTs toes too much.  Not to mention, the 365 horsepower EcoBoost drivetrain found in the 2010 Taurus SHO features all wheel drive, and still gets an EPA estimated 17/25 mpg - where as the 210 hp 2010 Mustang V6 gets 18/26.

Other than the roof panel, everything on the 2010 Ford Mustang is new when this year. Not just new, all of it is improved in some way compared to the 2004-2009 version of America's favorite sporty car.