RideLust

If you own a 2011 or newer 5.0 liter Mustang (or F-150), be advised that Ford is on the warpath in regards to modifications and vehicle warranty. Their latest TSB warns that modifications may exceed component design limits, resulting in component failure (and the associated loss of warranty coverage). The TSB tells dealers to be on the lookout for aftermarket modifications, ranging from reflashed ECUs through intakes, headers and exhausts. A flowchart in the TSB talks dealers through the repair process, with one ending option being “Initiate warranty cancellation process”. Read More…

Can you believe that in 2014 the Ford Mustang is going to be 50 years old? The Mustang was the original pony car. It was the car that set the automotive world on its ear and captivated the essence of being a free spirit back in the mid-1960s. The Mustang is to Ford what vanilla is to chocolate and to celebrate that Ford is going to once again redesign the Mustang. This time however, as opposed to being an American only beauty, Ford intends to give their old horse right hand drive and send it across the pond. According to AutoExpress.co.uk, the 2014 Mustang will be known as a “world car” and will be offered with the same V6′s and V8′s around the world. Initially the UK, Australia and Japan will be the first to receive right hand versions of the car. It’s also said that the car will finally have an independent rear suspension, something that hasn’t been seen on a Mustang since the 1999 Cobra.
Read More…

Think “Pulp Fiction Meets Bugs Bunny, As Directed By Robert Rodriguez” and you get a feel for what the video below is like. Called “Carrot versus Ninja”, it was unearthed by our Ralf Becker at Chromjuwelen. One of the stars in the short film is a Mustang (a ’67 Fastback if I’m not mistaken) with a lumpy cam, which makes the film about cars. Sort of. If you ignore the whole flesh-eating ninja rabbit thing. See for yourself below. Read More…

Formula Drift drivers do things a little bit differently than the rest of us, or so this video would have you believe. Sure, it’s a shameless marketing plug for Monster energy drinks and the Carl’s Junior fast food chain, but it does get me thinking how much fun it would be to roast a set of rear tires at a drive through window. The video is almost believable (although neither Gittin nor his posse should quit their day jobs for an acting gig) until JR runs down the Carl’s Junior mascot. If that actually happened, JR would be trying to figure out how many RTR Mustangs he needs to sell to afford a good attorney. See for yourself in the video below. Read More…

The current V6 is good for 305 horsepower. Image: Ford Motor Company

I’ve had the jones for a new Mustang GT since the 2011 models were launched. The 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 is superb, but the car is just a bit above my current price range (so is a Radio Flyer wagon, but that’s another story). I’ve often wondered if I could be happy with a new V-6 Mustang, since it does crank out 305 horsepower in stock form. It’s lighter, and it’s closer to the 50 / 50 weight distribution that Mazda MX-5s have made me accustomed to. Sure, it’s electronically limited to 112 miles per hour, but there are plenty of aftermarket companies out there to solve that particular problem. Read More…

For those of you that have been waiting for a real track oriented review of the 2012 Ford Boss 302, well… here it is. This is Leo Parente of Fast Lane Daily, and he not only knows his way around an automobile, but can drive the wheels off them as well. Recently Leo and the rest of the FLD crew headed out to Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in sunny California to sample what is perhaps the most track focused Ford Mustang ever built. While track side, Leo was also able to speak with Mike Harrison, the V8 engineering program manager for the Boss 302 and Dave Pericak, chief engineer of the Ford Mustang. It’s apparent from the review that this is without a doubt, the best Ford Mustang ever built. It’s fast, exhibits great track manners and was built by men and women who have dumped their hearts and souls into this project. The only downside… production will most likely cease after two years so make sure to get your orders in now.
Read More…

Image: Ford Motor Company

Ford has announced a temporary production halt at their Flint Rock production facility, beginning today and running for approximately one week. The suspension has nothing to do with a shortage of parts from Japan (although that is impacting other Ford plants, such as their Louisville, KY truck plant), but rather excess supply of Mustangs. The automaker currently has a 116 inventory of Mustangs, which is roughly double the inventory Ford considers to be ideal. Chances are good that Ford will take steps to promote Mustang sales, so I’d expect to see cash rebates and low interest financing on Mustang V6 and GT models in the very near future. Read More…

Image: Edmunds / Inside Line

When you’re part of the Edmunds automobile empire, getting access to all of Ford’s latest Mustangs and a racetrack is as simple as making a few phone calls. Mike and I tried the same thing and got different results (even when I threatened to shoot the dog), so we’re going to have to rely on Inside Line to test the Mustang V6, Mustang GT, Mustang Boss 302 and Mustang Shelby GT500 back to back. I’ve driven the Mustang GT and the Shelby GT500, and actually prefer the cheaper GT over the Shelby. Sure, it’s slower in a straight line and around a racetrack, but the GT feels just a bit better balanced. The Shelby doesn’t like finesse, and instead wants to be thrown down, kicked and beaten to produce the fastest lap times. If that’s your thing, and you’ve got the money, the Shelby is the car to buy. Don’t expect too many surprises in the video below, but if you like Mustangs and track days, I think you’ll enjoy it. Read More…

From 1974 to 1985 the muscle car scene in the United States was dismal at best. Cars where shadows of their former selves and manufacturers were more interested in marketing then performance. The dark ages of emissions control were still intact but thankfully the engineers and mad scientists behind the curtains were finally figuring out ways to bring back some old school muscle. By this point the Ford Mustang had been around for 20 years, but it wasn’t until the mid-1980′s that Ford released the car the would bring muscle back into the mainstream. The Fox body Mustang had an amazing 14 year run and while overlooked for quite some time, collectors are finally giving these cars a serious look. During the mid-1980′s Ford had finally gotten the Mustang sorted out. Carburetors were replaced with fuel injection with the Mustangs interior treated to a new dash, door panels and seat coverings. Oh… and let us not forget that nifty little 5.0 badge on the side.
Read More…

Aside from the fact that both of these cars are coupes, I’m a little puzzled at what else they have in common. Sure, both put out tire-shredding amounts of horsepower and both will run the quarter mile in respectable times, but that’s about where the similarity ends. The Challenger 392 is a “factory custom” version of the newly updated Challenger, and it celebrates the legendary 392 cubic inch displacement of past Chrysler Hemi engines. The Shelby GT350 is a tuner version of the Mustang, built in limited quantities at “if you have to ask you can’t afford it” pricing. One works well on a racetrack, while the other is a bit portly for track day fun. There’s a reason why sumo wrestlers generally don’t compete in 1,000 meter Olympic track and field events, after all. Read More…