New Shelby Mustang "R" race only model

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Shelby has released official details on it's newest car, a race-only R-Model commemorating Jerry Titus' 1965 SCCA Championship with the original Shelby GT-350R. One would imagine that the car would be based on the 2010 Mustang, but instead it will be a 07-08.

Each car gets a nice level of performance upgrades, including a Ford Racing supercharger good for 550 horsepower, a six-speed Tremec TR6060 transmission, 3.73:1 gears, Grand-Am spec roll cage, side-exit exhaust system, differential and transmission coolers, racing brakes with cooling ducts, unique grill, carbon fiber rear wing, and an "R Model" dash plaque.

Production will be extremely limited, with Shelby promising to only build up to 37 examples, the same number produced as the original R-Model, at total cost of $134,995. The cars won't be legal for street use, but they do qualify for NASA American Iron's Extreme class.

No pictures have been released of the car yet, but we'll have them for you as soon as they are released.

PRESS RELEASE:

Four decades after Shelby and Ford collaborated on a race version of the legendary Mustang, the companies are offering a limited edition track day version of the Ford Shelby GT. Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: CSBI) will commemorate the 1965 SCCA championship of Jerry Titus and final production of the current generation Mustang by offering up to 37 total 550 horsepower Shelby GT "R Model." The 2009 Shelby GT "R Model" will be available for US$134,995.

"In 1965, my team built 37 small block 'R Model' race-only versions of the Shelby GT350 Mustang that kicked tails on circuits worldwide," said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. "Working with Ford Racing, we're going to build a new track day 'R Model' version of the Ford Shelby GT. It'll be lots of fun to drive and ready to rip up the pavement right out of the box."

The track day car will be featured as a "Jerry Titus Drivers Edition" to honor his 1965 "B Production" championship, which was the first for a Shelby Mustang. Jerry was one of the special drivers who piloted Shelby Mustangs to total domination on the track. Not only did he win the first championship, he broke the story of the "R Model" to the world in Sports Car Graphic and was instrumental in its development. The 2009 Jerry Titus Edition "R Model" lives up to his performance legacy.

The "R Model" version of the Mustang will be a purpose-built track car based on the same 4.6-liter V8 that powers every Ford Shelby GT; the vehicles cannot be registered for the street. Additional power will come from the Ford Racing/Whipple Twin Screw intercooled supercharger installed by Shelby and mated to a T6060 GT500-based six speed transmission before the Shelby team inserts them into the race-ready chassis. Each will be painted white with silver stripes and documented in the Shelby Registry. The racer qualifies for the NASA "American Iron Extreme" class and an excellent all-around track car that is uniquely Shelby.

"From the competition brakes to the straight pipes, this fantastic car is worthy of the 'R Model' designation," stated Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles. "Working closely with Ford Racing, we engineered a car with the balanced handling, serious power and spectacular brakes that serious enthusiasts want. And just like the car driven by Jerry Titus in 1965, this Ford Shelby GT 'R Model' showcases our expertise in an affordable, turnkey package."

The "R Model" is based on the 2007-08 model Ford Shelby GT. The streetcar is a well-balanced, fun to drive machine that leveraged Shelby's experience making Mustangs go faster.

"The Shelby name has stood for performance since Carroll began building cars for the track in 1962," added Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "Track Day enthusiasts have been asking for a contemporary Shelby and Ford Track Car for some time, so we at Ford Racing are pleased to team up with Shelby Automobiles to build a handful of very special cars. We look forward to watching them roar past Camaros and Challengers when they show up at the track."

2009 Ford Shelby GT "R Model" track day car highlights:


4.6-liter supercharged V-8 producing an estimated 550-horsepower
6-speed manual transmission with GT500 clutch, Ford Racing short- throw shifter and 3.73:1 gears
Grand-Am spec roll cage
Upgraded cooling system including differential and transmission coolers
Shelby performance side exhaust system
Lightweight production chassis with tuned suspension tuning including new springs
Shelby-designed 18-inch wheels with racing tires
Racing brakes with front brake cooling ducts
Unique grill featuring classic Shelby 'R Model' design
'Shelby' lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid, Shelby badges on the quarter panels
Carbon fiber rear racing wing with billet stanchions and carbon fiber splitter
White with silver stripes livery and racing mirrors
Carroll Shelby autograph on each car and official Shelby "R Model" dash plate
A limited number will be built; orders will be accepted starting today by calling Shelby Autos at (702) 942-7325

Chevrolet Corvette GT-1 Championship Edition

And the Corvette special editions keep on rolling. The latest edition to the family is this GT-1 Championship Edition, created to celebrate the Corvette's last hurrah in the current GT-1 class this year.

The GT-1 package will come in yellow with black stripes, or black with yellow stripes, and be available on the coupe, convertible, and Z06. The yellow windshield banner from the C6.R will be in place, and the car will also feature "Jake," the racing team's mascot (the yellow skull with the Corvette pennants). The C6.R driver's names will be placed on the roof of the car, and the championships they've won will be written on the lower door.

Elsewhere, you get a body-colored spoiler out back, Q9V forged chrome wheels (the 5-spoke style that came out on the 2008 Corvette), black headlamps insets on the yellow car, body-colored door handles, and a carbon-fiber-patterned engine cover. To raise the sound and the fury a notch, the coupe and convertible come with the Z51 Performance Package and NPP Performance Exhaust.

Inside, there will be a black interior with contrasting yellow stitching and some engraved plaques. You'll also get a Certificate of Authenticity. No word yet on how many will be produced, but the car is due to arrive in the spring and a pricing announcement will be made next month.

Hennessey Corvette ZR700

It's been a good month so far for Corvette upgrades. And Hennessey is continuing the trend, revealing this tire shredding ZR700 'vette.

Not satisfied with the mere 638 horsepower that your stock ZR1 provides? Henessey Performance has a solution in the form of a tuning package includes a smaller supercharger pulley that increases boost from 11 to 14 psi, an upgraded intercooler, K&N intake, stainless steel headers, high-flow catalytic converters, and a reprogrammed engine management system that pushes output past the 700-horsepower mark.

If that still doesn't meet your needs, Hennessey can keep the upgrades coming with high-flow cylinder heads and a more aggressive camshaft that puts the ZR1 at 755 hp. Hennessey's website says that 1000 hp is attainable, and we're guessing it involves a pair of turbochargers.

Watch the video to see the ZR700 effortlessly rip down the 1/4 mile in 11.03 seconds.

The Ultimate London Taxi has a big block Chevy

One of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of London is the venerable taxi. It has been an icon for the city and a lot of old school taxis still motor around town taking passengers to their destinations.

The London taxi in this YouTube video is anything but your typical underpowered English roundabout. Computer specialist Steve Birchall spent nearly £60,000 (around $85k USD) ripping out the car's original diesel powerplant and shoehorning in a whomping big V8. There's very little going on outside to give away the car's secret, unless you look toward the rear. Back there, the fully tubbed monster meats kind of give away the game.

Under the hood you will find a big block 502 cubic inch V8 that puts out around 500 horsepower. Apparently is also runs to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. Check out the videos for more info on this ultimate sleeper.

Dodge Viper ACR on the dyno

The true test for a car is on the dyno. No matter what the manufacturer says, there's some solace in seeing what kind of horsepower and torque it puts down. Not surprisingly, most muscle cars tend to put out more power than advertised.

The Dodge Viper ASC and the Corvette ZR1 are actually quite similar, according to Drag Times, with the Viper posting an impressive 546 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque compared to the supercharged ZR1's 549.9 horsepower and 500 lb-ft.

Considering that both vehicles use a six-speed stick and power the rear wheels, drivetrain losses should be similar, so these figures are relatively comparable. For what it's worth, Dodge officially (under) rates the ACR at 600 horsepower, and an estimated 15% loss through the drivetrain would put this beast at an actual 642 horses.

Spy shots of Ford's new "Coyote" V8

When Ford introduced the 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show in November, there was some disappointment expressed over the engine lineup. The V6 was unchanged and the 4.6L was only mildly tweaked. Ford officials strongly hinted that this was just the beginning and that the Mustang would follow the pattern of the 2008-9 Escape. In 2008the Escape got new bodywork and the following year the engines got a complete revamp.

Similarly, the Mustangs are expected to get heart transplants next year. It's still unclear what base engine will replace the old 4.0L V6 although a 2.0L EcoBoost four has been rumored. The 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is also expected to be an important part of the lineup. But the most die-hard Mustang fans only seem to care about V8s. A new 32-valve 5.0L is expected to replace the 4.6L and 5.4L V8s in the Mustang and the F-150. Unlike the 5.4L in the trucks, the new "Coyote" V8 uses a significantly lighter aluminum block, and based on the spy pics that have just turned up, it will also use an aluminum intake manifold in place of the plastic unit used on the current V8s. The Coyote should give the Mustang GT 400 hp to play with, putting it on par with the Camaro SS but at a lighter weight. Bring it on!

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Revenge Designs GTM-R: another American supercar

Indiana based Revenge Designs has typically focused on developing body kits for the Honda Ridgeline, Pontiac Solstice, and Pontiac GTO. But at the Detroit Auto Show, it revealed it's first complete vehicle: the Revenge GTM-R.

If the car looks familiar, that's because you've seen something similar badged as the Factory Five Racing (FFR) GTM. Since Factory Five offers the car in kit form only, Revenge seems to have spotted a niche and exploited it by offering a fully built turnkey example and has teamed with FFR to develop bespoke components for their version of the fully-built supercar.

Where the Factory Five kit allows a range of GM engine options, Revenge has focused on just the LS7 V8 from the Z06 Corvette. Not a bad mill to settle on, but it comes at a hefty price. While the kit will cost you around $20,000 (although there's a $2K off special right now), Revenge is asking $145,000 for their GTM-R.

Granted, there are a lot of other parts you need to supply for the FFR kit (engine, trans, suspension, etc.), and you have to have the skill, patience and tools to build it yourself, but a $125,000 markup might seem steep to some. Still, the car looks well-built and at 2,550 lbs., it's bound to be a rocketship. Even at $145,000, this could be one of the performance bargains of 2009.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Competition Sport Edition

General Motors is spicing up the Corvette lineup in lue of the new ZR1 with a Competition Sport package for 2009.

There's a bit of substance here, as the kit adds the Z51 Performance Package, performance exhaust system, differential cooler and a set of racing pedals to the standard 1LT package, resulting in a power peak of 436 horsepower.

Those planning on actually visiting the track can opt for the race-ready Z06 package and its 505-horsepower 7.0L V8. Visual mods for both versions include Competition Gray stripes, wheels and headlamps along with a splattering of "Jake" and CSR logos inside and out.

A set of racing numbers will also be delivered to the buyer based on the particular car's build sequence.

PRESS RELEASE

GM Announces 2009 Corvette Competition Sport Package

The Competition Sport Package, available on the 2009 Corvette Coupe 1LT and Z06 models, is the perfect Corvette for the enthusiast who attends driving schools and track events. The package includes Competition Gray exterior stripes, wheels, and headlamps; Corvette Racing 'Jake' and CSR logos on b-pillar, headrest, and center armrest; ebony interior with titanium embroidery; Corvette racing pedals; a special engine cover; and racing style numbers based on build sequence (to be installed by customer).

A gathering of 2010 Ford Mustang wheels

One of the features Ford had out on display in Detroit was Mustang Alley, featuring a display of hoods used over the years as well as a full lineup of wheels available for it's new pony.

Ford Racing has offered a variety of wheels before, but this appears to be a concerted effort to filter some more aftermarket bucks back to the manufacturer. From the looks of the pictures they appear to be on the right track.

Dodge Challenger R/T with Mopar accessories

The Dodge Challenger R/T is an exciting car, offering good performance, great styling, and a reasonable price. And to no one's surprise, mother Mopar is offering up a host of enhancements for the R/T.

At Detroit, Dodge had this accessorized R/T on display with the latest parts from the Mopar catalog. The car you see here comes with Nostalgia wheels ($561 each), Go-Wing spoiler ($307), carbon fiber engine cover ($313), cold air intake ($359), cat-back exhaust system ($1,155), performance shifter ($680), coilover suspension kit ($1,704), Katzkin leather seats ($1,240), T/A hood, and more.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2009: Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Mustang

What better car to buy at an auction that thousands of people have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to recreate? Yes folks, this is the real deal. A 1967 Ford Mustang 2+2 fastback, a car affectionately known as Eleanor.

According to the studio, a total of eleven Eleanors were created for the flick, and only three of those machines made it through filming unscathed. The car you see here is one of those machines, used for close-ups with Nicholas Cage. In this case, the car's sundry list of components isn't all that important, but for those that care, there's a 351 cubic-inch Ford V8 underhood, mated to an automatic transmission. The gavel fell, fees were tallied and the car's new owner was exactly $216,700 poorer after Saturday night's bidding was finished.

Video: Cobra Venom V8 Concept

The original Shelby Cobra is arguably the most famous and sought after car of it's era. It showed the world what light weight combined with a large American V8 could do, and won it's fair share of races in it's time.

There has been an endless number of kits and reproductions around for many years now, and now this Cobra Venom V8 concept has surfaced. Designed by Jamie Martin, this snake sports a theoretical 524 hp supercharged Ford V8. Check out the computer animated repop in the video.

News concerning Ford's future engines, including the 5.0!

PickupTrucks.com is reporting that by the end of 2010, Ford will alter the three engine options that currently make up the engine choices in the F-150. What is coming in time for the 2011 model year will be a new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 5.0-liter V8 code-named "Coyote."

Subbing the V6 EcoBoost for the V8 is about providing the same power with more efficiency. Said to be the premium engine for light-duty trucks, the direct-injection gas engine will offer something like 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque while carrying an EPA rating of "at least 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway." Those power numbers handily beat what you'll get from any of the current engines on offer, even though it's down two cylinders.

The "Coyote" 5.0-liter, modular, four-valve V8 will have "huge heads," and will return the same numbers as the V6: 400 hp and 400 lb-ft. This engine will become the standard F-150 lump, returning the same gas mileage as the current 5.4-liter but with much more power. This same engine will also reportedly find its way into the Mustang. That will leave the 6.2-liter V8 (the Boss) slated for the Raptor later this year as last engine choice (unless there's a 4-cylinder EcoBoost added in 2013), and it will go into special edition F-150s and the Super Duty trucks.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2010 Ford Taurus SHO spotted without camo!

Thanks to the guys at BringBackTheSHO.com, we now have even more photographic evidence that the SHO will live again. These spy shots show a pair of serious looking Taurus sedans taken along the I-75 corridor in Florida.

They differ from the models shown at the Detroit Auto Show wearing new wheels (at least 19 or 20 inches in diameter), a decklid spoiler, different tail-lights and a new rear bumper that extends lower over a pair of dual tail-pipes. There's also a conspicuous looking badge on the rear end that's covered with camo tape. What could it be?

It is expected that lying underhood is Ford's EcoBoost V6, producing 355 horsepower and 350 lbft of torque. That's what the engine produces in the 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKS, 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKT and 2010 Ford EcoBoost Flex.

Whether or not Ford increases the engine's power for SHO duty (it does stand for Super High Output, after all) remains to be seen, but expect all-wheel drive and a flappy paddle, six-speed gearbox to be standard equipment.

The car is expected to make it's debut at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show, so stay tuned for more.

Another Mustang special edition to be reveiled this show season?

Rumors surrounding the Shelby GT500's appearance at the Detroit Auto Show turned out to be true. And before this auto show season is over, we may see another variant of the legendary pony car.

With the Taurus SHO looking like it's going to debut at the Chicago Auto Show, an appearance at the New York show looks like a realistic possibility. Couple that with the fact that several Mustang variants have made their debut in the big apple, like the last Shelby GT500, the Shelby GT-H, and the Shelby GT500KR.

So what will it be? A Mach 1, Bullit, a 5.0, EcoBoost?

Nissan GT-R SpecV: Video and details

Nissan maintains that the Nissan GT-R SpecV is aimed at the discerning enthusiast, the same kind of buyer that would pass up the Porsche 911 GT3 for the RS variant. For $170,000, that's a very select group of consumers, but we doubt Nissan will have much difficulty moving the 20 to 30 SpecVs it'll be producing each month when sales begin February 8th.

Peak output remains the same, at 478 horsepower, but a switch on the right of the steering wheel (shared with the cruise control) activates an electronic circuit to boost mid-range torque by 15 lb-ft (up to 449 lb-ft). A green light illuminates on the dash when the overboost function is enabled, giving drivers 80 seconds to perform any overtaking maneuvers, and then defaulting back to the standard setting.

The SpecV's carbon ceramic brakes were developed in conjunction with Brembo and are painted silver to differentiate the upgraded stoppers from the standard GT-R. Although the six-piston (front) caliper size remains the same, the discs have been upgraded to 390mm (15.35 inches) and fitted with SpecV specific brake pads. Nissan claims a weight savings of 11 pounds per corner and –2.0 Gs worth of stopping power, but the system comes at a cost: $45,000.

The 20-inch RAYS forged aluminum wheels – the same units offered on the NISMO Clubsports GT-R -- also contribute to the overall weight savings, which comes in 132 pounds lighter than the standard model at 3,704 pounds. As mentioned in our previous post, Nissan replaced several components with lightweight carbon fiber, including the seats, interior trim (even the seat-back adjuster), grille and brake ducts, along with the trick dry carbon fiber rear wing (coated in clear matte paint) that increases downforce. The Bilsteins have been retuned to be more responsive on the racetrack and the engine cover has been replaced with a SpecV-only piece. The standard GT-R hues are available, but if you want to stand out, the Ultimate Opal Black paint job will set you back an additional $6,100.

Nissan hasn't released 0-60, 0-100 or quarter mile times yet, but we expect some official figures in the coming weeks. And as for a Nurburgring time... just you wait.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2009: Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

While the first production 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 failed to cross the block due to Carroll Shelby getting sick, there were still plenty of nice rides to be had. For the wealthy few, Barrett-Jackson provides the chance to obtain that ride of your dreams. For the rest of us, it provides us the chance to dream about that ride of our, um, dreams.

Mustang fans were still treated to a good show when a 2009 FR500CJ Mustang roared on the stage, piloted by none other than king of the tree John Force. We didn't expect the FR500CJ to fetch as much money as the first production Camaro, but we were thoroughly surprised when it trounced its fellow pony car with a final bid of $375,000, or $412,500 after auction fees.

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet FR500CJ Prototype #1 Description:

The 2009 Mustang Cobra Jet - built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet pioneered by Tasca Ford, and offered to connect with today's Ford sportsman drag racers even stronger. The FR500CJ is the second purpose-built, turn-key race car engineered, developed, built, and sold through Ford dealers by Ford Racing, and like the FR500S road race car before it, only a limited number of FR500CJ drag cars were built. True to the 1968 Cobra Jet, a total of only 50 copies of the car were made, and all 50 were sold within 10 days. Built with the serious drag racer in mind, along with its striking Cobra Jet graphics, the Cobra Jet features the Supercharged 5.4 Cobra Jet engine, Cobra Jet cold air kit, Cobra Jet throttle body, air conditioning and rear seat delete, crankshaft damper, Cobra Jet bellhousing, 6-speed manual (or 3-speed automatic) transmission with SFI bellhousing, stainless steel long-tube racing headers, 9" rear axle assembly, one piece driveshaft drive shaft, single hoop drive shaft loop, Cobra Jet rear control arms and anti-roll bar, Ford Racing adjustable dampers, drag race spring kit, and unique Cobra Jet wheels. Inside are a 5" Cobra Jet IP-mounted pedestal tachometer, a full complement of Ford Racing performance gauges, a short-throw shifter, and Cobra Jet seat package. Completing the package are a safety cage and safety harnesses. Among rare cars, this specific car, serial number FR500CJ XX1, is even rarer. It is the first-ever 2008 Cobra Jet built from the ground up. One of only two prototypes assembled prior to the low-volume production run, XX1 was used extensively in testing and development. Among the accomplished professional drivers who drove this car are funny car drivers John and Ashley Force (both of whom signed its hood), Robert Hight, Mike Neff, and Bob Tasca III. Ford drag racing legends Bob and Bill Glidden also spent time in the car, as did editors from "Car Craft", "Race Pages", "5.0", and "Hot Rod".

SMS 570 Dodge Challenger revealed!

Steve Saleen is determined to show everyone that his new company is different from the old one. He did so by renting out a rave club in Orange County. When the cover of the mystery vehicle was removed, it revealed the new SMS 570 Challenger.

The first SMS 570 Challenger, in fact. And it's headed to Barrett Jackson for auction after it's unveiling. The 570 is a mean looking machine, with revised body panels and red butterfly induction hood flaps.

The shade of purple that adorns those revised fenders is a shade of purple that is similar to Plum Crazy, but Saleen dubs it "Plum Insane."

The SMS Signature Series 570 Challenger does most of it's damage from under the hood, however. The already potent 5.7L Hemi sports a supercharger, raising horsepower to 500 in base trim and going all the way up to 700 horsepower.

There are also a host of suspension, brake, and interior changes to make the package a complete turnkey supercar. Production is set to begin at the end of January, with prices expected to be in the $60,000 to $70,000 range. 2010 SMS Mustangs and Camaros should follow later this year, according to Steve.

PRESS RELEASE

Steve Saleen and his company SMS are well on the way to production with the first vehicle in
the line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles. The SMS 570 Challenger will
be the first vehicle with a host of aesthetic and functional innovations including the patented
SMS Red Butterfly Induction™ hood and a full compliment of SMS ultra-high performance
components including: drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior.

"When you combine Steve Saleen and Dodge Challenger you get the pairing of two
powerhouse automotive icons." - Edmunds/Inside Line


Steve Saleen presents the SMS 570 Challenger

The fully certified and street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger will be
based off the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS designed and
engineered SMS 296 Supercharger atop the 5.7L Hemi, with power ratings from 500 to over
700 horsepower respectively.


Steve Saleen presents the SMS 296 Supercharger

"Who wants a Steve Saleen Supercharged Challenger? We Do!" - Dodgepedia.org

The MSRP's for the 2009 SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are targeted to
start at $60,000 to $70,000 respectively with production commencing in 2008. Both models
will carry a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Mopar community to finally take part in the ultra-high
performance niche production vehicle market! So act now to reserve yours.

"We're big fans of Steve Saleen. He's created some pretty incredible Mustangs over
the last 25 years, and any guy that successfully builds his own supercar gets major
props in our book." – Autoblog


Steve Saleen presents the SMS 570 Challenger

Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the
Signature Series product line, complete with unique badges and graphics. Production
numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, so the opportunity to be one of the
few owners is limited to a first come first served basis. So act now, by placing your pre-
production orders though any Dodge dealer in the US. Or call us directly for more details.


SMS

We are a niche manufacturer of lifestyle ultra-high performance vehicles, technical
performance parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel. We design, engineer, test, certify,
manufacture and assemble all our own products and vehicles.

"I am drawing upon 25 years of rich experience in the automotive industry to address
the rapidly expanding global market of automotive lifestyle vehicles, technical
performance parts, accessories and apparel" explains Steve Saleen, Chairman and
CEO of SMS.

For more information please contact our sales department at: (714) 400-2121 x:216

www.smssupercars.com