ROTM's Mustang News Stickies
09-10-2008, 07:01 PM
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ROTM's Mustang News Stickies
Fans of the 1980s series Knight Rider were excited to hear about the 2008 return of the series, and while some weren’t happy about the familiar Pontiac Firebird being replaced by a new Ford Mustang GT500, the show proved to be popular among gearheads. This popularity was high enough for more episodes to be made, and at the 2008 “Comin Con”, the new Kitt Attack Mode show car was displayed to the public.
Amidst a cloud of smoke, the super-modified GT500 was exposed in its new battle armor. The new KITT is still clearly a Mustang, but unlike the “daily driven” KITT, its hard to tell that it is a GT500, shy from the circular badge on the trunk lid. The front end is much lower and much more aggressive with a huge three-opening hood scoop, and across the back end, the only indication that KITT is a Mustang is the aforementioned GT500 badge. Several sets of side scoops adorn the rear section of the car and giant, solid brushed aluminum wheels giving the car a bulletproof look. Lamborghini style flip-up doors and a huge rear spoiler finish the new Attack Mode KITT, and with this alter ego, the new Knight Rider series looks to heat up even more starting in September 2008.
Amidst a cloud of smoke, the super-modified GT500 was exposed in its new battle armor. The new KITT is still clearly a Mustang, but unlike the “daily driven” KITT, its hard to tell that it is a GT500, shy from the circular badge on the trunk lid. The front end is much lower and much more aggressive with a huge three-opening hood scoop, and across the back end, the only indication that KITT is a Mustang is the aforementioned GT500 badge. Several sets of side scoops adorn the rear section of the car and giant, solid brushed aluminum wheels giving the car a bulletproof look. Lamborghini style flip-up doors and a huge rear spoiler finish the new Attack Mode KITT, and with this alter ego, the new Knight Rider series looks to heat up even more starting in September 2008.
09-10-2008, 07:03 PM
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The Death Race Movie Cars
In 1975, Death Race 2000 debuted with David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone racing cross-country, mindlessly running over pedestrians to earn points along the way. The movie was full of VWs re-bodied to look like various vehicles (such as the somewhat familiar green Corvette), and the movie was considered by many to be cheesy and gratuitous. This is an opinion that Director Paul W.S Anderson plans to avoid with the 2008 release of his new Death Race. Loosely based on the theme of the original, the modern version will have the same lawlessness and brutal violence from the original, but with a much darker feel to the movie as a whole.
The new Death Race takes place in the future, within a corrupt prison system that forces their inmates to complete in a bloody, murderous race within the prison complex, televised for the world to see. While there is more plot to this new Death Race, the focus of the movie, and of the director, was the vehicles used for the movie with a year of planning going into the vehicle design alone. 10 vehicles were heavily modified and equipped with an arsenal of weapons for the intense race to the death.
The lead vehicle for Death Race is a Mustang GT (driven by the lead character Frankenstein) equipped with heavy body armor, which happens to make it look a great deal like a new GT500, especially since it wears GT500 factory wheels. Louvered windows all around and a pair of Gatling gun mounted on the passenger side of the hood. Per a request from Ford Motor Company, the black and red Mustang is sporting the FR500X logo along the sides of the car.
The second vehicle, driven by another lead character, Machine Gun Joe, was a 2005 Dodge Ram. The front end of this truck received an armored setup that resembles the front of a freight train, topped by a pair of machine guns.
The other 7 race vehicles were covered with thick armor and packed with heavy machine guns, and all of them are predominantly painted black, with the exceptions of some green doors or stripes here or there. Those other vehicles consisted of a Chrysler 300C, a Porsche 911, a BMW 7 Series, a 1966 Buick Riviera, a 1971 “boat tail” Buick Riviera, a Jaguar XJ-S based on vintage 1970s Group 44 racers, and a 1976 Pontiac Firebird. During filming, the technical crew was plagued with issues, from the older cars overheating and the need to install crate motors to keep them running. Also, every vehicle had to be reinforced for safety and to carry the 1200 pounds of equipment added to each vehicle.
The last of the ten movie vehicles is the mighty Dreadnaught. This vehicle which is like a combination of a Sherman tank and a semi, is employed by the prison authorities to put an end to any ambitious racers. Packed with heavy artillery, machine guns, flame throwers, and other assorted weapons, the Dreadnaught makes for a great looming villain.
This new Death Race is set to premier in August of 2008, and with very positive early screenings, this new version of the cult classic could give us one great car movie and action movie in one.
The new Death Race takes place in the future, within a corrupt prison system that forces their inmates to complete in a bloody, murderous race within the prison complex, televised for the world to see. While there is more plot to this new Death Race, the focus of the movie, and of the director, was the vehicles used for the movie with a year of planning going into the vehicle design alone. 10 vehicles were heavily modified and equipped with an arsenal of weapons for the intense race to the death.
The lead vehicle for Death Race is a Mustang GT (driven by the lead character Frankenstein) equipped with heavy body armor, which happens to make it look a great deal like a new GT500, especially since it wears GT500 factory wheels. Louvered windows all around and a pair of Gatling gun mounted on the passenger side of the hood. Per a request from Ford Motor Company, the black and red Mustang is sporting the FR500X logo along the sides of the car.
The second vehicle, driven by another lead character, Machine Gun Joe, was a 2005 Dodge Ram. The front end of this truck received an armored setup that resembles the front of a freight train, topped by a pair of machine guns.
The other 7 race vehicles were covered with thick armor and packed with heavy machine guns, and all of them are predominantly painted black, with the exceptions of some green doors or stripes here or there. Those other vehicles consisted of a Chrysler 300C, a Porsche 911, a BMW 7 Series, a 1966 Buick Riviera, a 1971 “boat tail” Buick Riviera, a Jaguar XJ-S based on vintage 1970s Group 44 racers, and a 1976 Pontiac Firebird. During filming, the technical crew was plagued with issues, from the older cars overheating and the need to install crate motors to keep them running. Also, every vehicle had to be reinforced for safety and to carry the 1200 pounds of equipment added to each vehicle.
The last of the ten movie vehicles is the mighty Dreadnaught. This vehicle which is like a combination of a Sherman tank and a semi, is employed by the prison authorities to put an end to any ambitious racers. Packed with heavy artillery, machine guns, flame throwers, and other assorted weapons, the Dreadnaught makes for a great looming villain.
This new Death Race is set to premier in August of 2008, and with very positive early screenings, this new version of the cult classic could give us one great car movie and action movie in one.
09-11-2008, 10:35 AM
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Ford Opens New Site for the 2010 Mustang
Much to the displeasure of some, the Detroit built Ford Mustang will see its 2010 refresh debuting in Los Angeles rather than the Motor City.
However, to build excitement over the 2010 Mustang, Ford Motor Company has opened www.the2010mustang.com . Beginning on August 27, 2008, Mustang enthusiasts are encouraged to share stories about the vehicle around which many have centered their automotive passion and some have even centered their lives.
Shy of the Los Angeles debut plans, little else has been stated by Ford about the new Mustang refresh, but a member of MustangForums.com was able to get a picture from a factory tour, with a hood sitting on end with “2010 Mustang Hood Outer” handwritten across the middle. Could the company really have been so sloppy as to just leave this intimidating looking hood laying around by accident, or is this a subtle hint as to what we will see in the refresh for 2010?
The hood in question has what looks to be a large raised center section, often referred to as a “cowl induction hood”, which was made popular on several GM models in the 1960s and 1970s, but that style has wandered to most major auto manufacturers since then. This hood design seems to be a bit too aggressive for a production model such as the V6 Premium or even the Mustang GT, but this is the type of hood we could definitely see on something like the new GT500, or perhaps some other vintage trimline from Ford. There were a great many rumors about the return of the Boss Mustang, but with so many vintage trimlines to pick from, we will have to wait until the LA Auto Show to see what Ford has in store for the 2010 Mustang.
However, to build excitement over the 2010 Mustang, Ford Motor Company has opened www.the2010mustang.com . Beginning on August 27, 2008, Mustang enthusiasts are encouraged to share stories about the vehicle around which many have centered their automotive passion and some have even centered their lives.
Shy of the Los Angeles debut plans, little else has been stated by Ford about the new Mustang refresh, but a member of MustangForums.com was able to get a picture from a factory tour, with a hood sitting on end with “2010 Mustang Hood Outer” handwritten across the middle. Could the company really have been so sloppy as to just leave this intimidating looking hood laying around by accident, or is this a subtle hint as to what we will see in the refresh for 2010?
The hood in question has what looks to be a large raised center section, often referred to as a “cowl induction hood”, which was made popular on several GM models in the 1960s and 1970s, but that style has wandered to most major auto manufacturers since then. This hood design seems to be a bit too aggressive for a production model such as the V6 Premium or even the Mustang GT, but this is the type of hood we could definitely see on something like the new GT500, or perhaps some other vintage trimline from Ford. There were a great many rumors about the return of the Boss Mustang, but with so many vintage trimlines to pick from, we will have to wait until the LA Auto Show to see what Ford has in store for the 2010 Mustang.
10-06-2008, 10:12 AM
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NHRA Approves Roush Mustangs
Throughout the long history of the NHRA, the largest drag-racing sanctioning body in the country has only permitted cars with factory produced drivetrains to compete in its “stock” classes, but the September announcement issued by Roush may change the face of the Stock and SuperStock classes. That announcement explained that the Roush Stage 3 and P-51A Mustangs are now permitted in those formerly production-only classes. Roush, most well known for their work in NASCAR, is lead by the familiar figure Jack Roush, who began his motorsports career in the drag racing arena.
The news is not so much in the name entering the NHRA, but more the fact that the Roush drivetrains, which make 430 and 510 horsepower in the two models, offer substantially more than a production stock Mustang, so this could really open up the Stock and SuperStock classes to the Mustang, even though the vehicles have been modified by an aftermarket tuning company. In light of this announcement, Haas, Carrothers, and Wagner Racing is already one race team planning to run a Stage 3 Roush Mustang, and their success in the Division 3 class makes them a great team to put the Roush Mustang into the limelight.
While there were no details of the agreement, it would make sense that the NHRA would consider other aftermarket companies with proven track records, and with the release of the new SMS (run by Steve Saleen) Challenger, perhaps this could be a new era for both the NHRA and for the factory-involved aftermarket companies around the US. If nothing else, the Roush Mustangs should certainly carry a heavy hand in the class for the time being.
The news is not so much in the name entering the NHRA, but more the fact that the Roush drivetrains, which make 430 and 510 horsepower in the two models, offer substantially more than a production stock Mustang, so this could really open up the Stock and SuperStock classes to the Mustang, even though the vehicles have been modified by an aftermarket tuning company. In light of this announcement, Haas, Carrothers, and Wagner Racing is already one race team planning to run a Stage 3 Roush Mustang, and their success in the Division 3 class makes them a great team to put the Roush Mustang into the limelight.
While there were no details of the agreement, it would make sense that the NHRA would consider other aftermarket companies with proven track records, and with the release of the new SMS (run by Steve Saleen) Challenger, perhaps this could be a new era for both the NHRA and for the factory-involved aftermarket companies around the US. If nothing else, the Roush Mustangs should certainly carry a heavy hand in the class for the time being.
10-06-2008, 10:41 AM
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Saleen launches new ‘Dark Horse’.
While the name ‘dark horse’ has likely been used on thousands of garage projects, Saleen Inc has released information about their new Saleen Dark Horse Mustang. This newest installation in the long and successful history of their modified Mustangs, starts with the 620 horsepower, 5.0 litre powerplant previously found in the S302 Extreme model. That engine is fed by the SuperShaker system which is mated with a Saleen twin-screw supercharger, adding some vintage styling to this new beast.
The Dark Horse is intended to be an overall performer, so along with high horsepower, there are also improvements behind the wheels, with a full track-tuned Saleen suspension setup making the Dark Horse one of the most capable Saleen models ever built. Along with that fine tuned suspension comes a set of 15” rotors clamped down on by 6 caliper pistons, allowing the Dark Horse to stop almost as fast as it accelerates.
The outside of the car emphasizes the Dark Horse name with black paint, contrasting black stripes running up the sides and across the hood, black quarter window covers, black window louvers, and a set of black chrome finished Saleen wheels. The 2009 Saleen Dark Horse features an aggressive and functional body treatment, and the egg crate grille and rear blackout panel finish off the look of the car.
The new Dark Horse Mustang is one of the most powerful, most capable, and most sinister looking Mustangs offered by either Ford or Saleen, but the bad news is in the production. The first units are expected to roll off the Saleen line in “late fall 2008”, but with only 25 units slated for production, but with that exclusivity comes a price…to the tune of around $90,000 USD. However, even with the recent departure of company originated Steve Saleen, the folks at Saleen Inc have done
The Dark Horse is intended to be an overall performer, so along with high horsepower, there are also improvements behind the wheels, with a full track-tuned Saleen suspension setup making the Dark Horse one of the most capable Saleen models ever built. Along with that fine tuned suspension comes a set of 15” rotors clamped down on by 6 caliper pistons, allowing the Dark Horse to stop almost as fast as it accelerates.
The outside of the car emphasizes the Dark Horse name with black paint, contrasting black stripes running up the sides and across the hood, black quarter window covers, black window louvers, and a set of black chrome finished Saleen wheels. The 2009 Saleen Dark Horse features an aggressive and functional body treatment, and the egg crate grille and rear blackout panel finish off the look of the car.
The new Dark Horse Mustang is one of the most powerful, most capable, and most sinister looking Mustangs offered by either Ford or Saleen, but the bad news is in the production. The first units are expected to roll off the Saleen line in “late fall 2008”, but with only 25 units slated for production, but with that exclusivity comes a price…to the tune of around $90,000 USD. However, even with the recent departure of company originated Steve Saleen, the folks at Saleen Inc have done
10-16-2008, 12:47 PM
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MustangForums.com Exclusive...2010 Spy Shots!!!!
What do we have here?
Have a look at these MustangForums-exclusive shots of what is more than likely the 2010 Mustang GT, first covered up (note the black wheels in the second picture), then in its familiar camouflage. While there are no badges visible, the massive GT fog lights are clear, even though the hood cover and large bulge looks as though it might be wearing an upgraded hood, similar to that found on the current GT500.
These give you great detail of the new headlights, and if you look closely, it appears as though it is wearing a more aggressive lower front fascia, with flares on the sides of the fascia leading up over the front wheels. Also, the lower fascia opening appears to be larger and more pronounced. This fascia could be a part of a package, similar to that found on the GT/CS, or one of the high performance variants, which could be supported by the well covered hood, but none of the current GT500 models feature the downward facing lower grille opening, or the large fog lights mounted near the headlights, so are we looking at a new, more aggressive Mustang GT, or is this part of another trimline for the 2010 model year? We have already seen spy shots of what is assumed to be the new GT500, which still wears the grille mounted badging, visible in those pictures, with the fog lights still located in the lower fascia…so what is this redesigned Mustang? The 2010 Mustang GT, or perhaps a new trimline, or is this a GT mule with parts from other trimlines?
In this picture, ive lightly highlighted the lines of the hood and front fascia in red:
With a little over a month until the planned launch of the 2010 Ford Mustang, you can speculate exactly what trimline this is, but if this is the new GT, it looks as though we can expect a much more aggressive GT and hopefully some more muscle to back up the new, meaner look.
NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PERMISSION.
Have a look at these MustangForums-exclusive shots of what is more than likely the 2010 Mustang GT, first covered up (note the black wheels in the second picture), then in its familiar camouflage. While there are no badges visible, the massive GT fog lights are clear, even though the hood cover and large bulge looks as though it might be wearing an upgraded hood, similar to that found on the current GT500.
These give you great detail of the new headlights, and if you look closely, it appears as though it is wearing a more aggressive lower front fascia, with flares on the sides of the fascia leading up over the front wheels. Also, the lower fascia opening appears to be larger and more pronounced. This fascia could be a part of a package, similar to that found on the GT/CS, or one of the high performance variants, which could be supported by the well covered hood, but none of the current GT500 models feature the downward facing lower grille opening, or the large fog lights mounted near the headlights, so are we looking at a new, more aggressive Mustang GT, or is this part of another trimline for the 2010 model year? We have already seen spy shots of what is assumed to be the new GT500, which still wears the grille mounted badging, visible in those pictures, with the fog lights still located in the lower fascia…so what is this redesigned Mustang? The 2010 Mustang GT, or perhaps a new trimline, or is this a GT mule with parts from other trimlines?
In this picture, ive lightly highlighted the lines of the hood and front fascia in red:
With a little over a month until the planned launch of the 2010 Ford Mustang, you can speculate exactly what trimline this is, but if this is the new GT, it looks as though we can expect a much more aggressive GT and hopefully some more muscle to back up the new, meaner look.
NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PERMISSION.
10-16-2008, 12:51 PM
#7
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I like it! Nice job getting the pics
10-16-2008, 01:00 PM
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thank you.
10-16-2008, 01:04 PM
#9
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from what I can tell I like it...but I really want to know about the engine lineup.... Nice job getting pics.
10-16-2008, 02:09 PM
#10
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How about some under the hood pictures? 