Plymouth Road Runner Concept - what could have been?

Plymouth is dead, but that didn't stop Michael Leonhard, an independent artist hailing from Austria, from dreaming about what could have been. The result is these nice renderings of a potential cousin for the Dodge Challenger.

The Road Runner concept takes it's cues from the 1971-1972 models with a little modernization thrown in. We'll let the pictures and Michael's own description tell the tale.

Plymouth Road Runner Concept

I think it's difficult and a tight task to bring back a trademark that has vanished into thin air. Especially nowadays where competition is tougher than ever in the automotive industry. And so it may be for Plymouth - a brand that dissappeard and left memories for having built great classics and muscle cars.

The most noted Plymouth car ever may be the Road Runner. For a possible and effective relaunch of the Plymouth brand a reissue of the Road Runner could fit the bill. Overall it means the transfer of remaining memories and spirits of a car brand from yesterday into the future. Directly tieing up on a point when Plymouth achieved success (like back in the late 60s, beginnning of 70s). And that's why I decided to choose the Road Road Runner name for a re-launch of Plymouth. A bird and brand rising again like phoenix from the ashes.

The concept takes most of it's cues from the Road Runners of the years '71 and '72. In combination with modernized and futuristic shapes, but keeping the character of the original car. The front looks dramatic and mean thanks to a headlight section made of tinted glass. Headlights only become visible when they are turned on. The same goes for the Roadrunner Logo in the center that is now illuminated. The big grille opening provides plenty of air for the radiator. The hemi-powered monster gets rid of hot air the other way round through the typical hood scoops. The side view is characterized by a dramatically dynamic shape with a low roof line, high belt line, square-molded wheel-arches and big magnesium five spoke wheels (22 inch rear, 20 inch front) combined with red line tires. The powerful looks continue on the rear with a big diffusor for improved road grip and a dual exhaust system. The taillights are styled to match the headlights and become visible when turned on. To a big part the roof is made of glass except the A-pillars made of aluminium. The C-pillar becomes a dominating design element on the roof section and carries the typical
interrupted Roadrunner grafics. The color of choice for the body is Curious Yellow and Triple Black. The noise when honking the horn? "Beep-Beep" of course!

Reed Speed Ford Mustang packing twin turbo and 700hp coming to a dealer near you

Mustang tuners are a dime a dozen, no doubt. But it's not every tuner that offers a 700hp, twin turbo Mustang that you can buy from a dealership. Randall Reed Ford is primed to do just that, offering it's own signature edition 2010 Ford Mustang at it's own stores and select dealers across the country.

The Reed Speed SSE has been developed with the help of Artisan Performance and is obviously packing a retuned engine, complete with forged rods, new pistons and Total Seal rings. The new internals drop the compression ratio to accept the 12 psi of dual-intercooled boost run through a set of Artisan Rear Mounted twin turbochargers. According to Reed, the combination is good for 700 hp, and will only be backed by a manual gearbox.

The whoa to stop the go comes with 14 inch rotors with six piston calipers by SSBC. A custom body kit widens the 'stang by 1.5 inches in the front and 3 inches in the rear, all the better to conceal the 20 inch wheels, which are 11 inches wide in the front and 13 inches in the rear. If you are drooling at the thought of having one already, there is no word on pricing or availability yet. But the car is expected to go on sale this summer.

Ford Mustang to finally get new 3.7 liter DOHC V6, new intake, FR3 handling package and Track Pack

Really, the only disappointing thing that came out of the new Mustang's introduction at the LA Auto Show last November was the fact that all of the last generation's powerplants carried over. And this meant that the lame, outdated 4.0L V6 would still be under the hood of a car that had a much revised interior and new sheetmetal.

Ford had promised that new powerplants were forthcoming, and we saw the first evidence of this in their new 5.0 V8. Now we have word that the excellent 3.7L V6 currently found in the Edge and Lincoln MKX will make it's way under the pony car's hood in 2011.

No specs have been released yet, but in it's MKX form the V6 makes 273hp. With a little tinkering, the 3.7 could be in the race for entry level pony car supremacy with the new Camaro, which puts out an even 300hp.

In other Mustang powerplant news, it appears that Ford will be offering a newly developed intake manifold for it's venerable 4.6L V8. The current intake works great until you hit 6,500 rpm, and then it falls flat on it's face. The new intake will allow you to run up to 7,500 rpm and will certainly open the engine up for some better mods.

In out last little tidbit of Mustang news, the Track Pack handling option will finally be made available for the 2010 Mustang this summer. The option will includes an upgraded suspension as well as unique 19 inch Pirelli tires.

Ford Racing will also be offering the FR3 handling pack, which includes an inch lower ride height, stiffer springs, stiffer sway bars and retuned dampers for $1,335.
Unlike most aftermarket parts, the FR3 will come with a full warranty and will also be available for V6 Mustangs as well as GT's.

PRESS RELEASE:

ENTHUSIASTS CAN ADD NEW FACTORY TRACK PACK FOR 2010 MUSTANG, INSTALL FORD RACING PARTS


Factory-installed Track Pack option features upgraded suspension parts, unique tuning and special 19-inch Pirelli summer tires for enthusiasts seeking even more performance
Track Pack is available this summer on 2010 Mustang GT coupes with manual transmissions
Car and Driver magazine selects 2010 Mustang fit with Track Pack as best muscle car in comparison test versus Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger
Parts from Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Pack available for enthusiasts seeking even more - backed by warranty and available for self or dealer installation

DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2009 - The 2010 Ford Mustang, now in dealer showrooms, builds on a proud, unbroken 45-year heritage of Fast, Fun and Affordable with an all-new exterior design, available cutting-edge technology and performance enhancements pioneered on Ford's extensive racing and special programs.

One hallmark of Mustang's enduring popularity is the opportunity to customize this American icon. Enthusiasts who have personalized and customized Mustangs range from legends, such as Carroll Shelby, to professional drivers to hobbyists who enjoy a weekend at the track.

For those customers interested in more-aggressive performance, an optional factory-installed Track Pack is available this summer for 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupes with manual transmission. Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Package also is available for those enthusiasts who want even more aggressive suspension tuning and can be installed in their garage or at a Ford dealer. Car and Driver magazine recently declared a 2010 Mustang equipped with a Track Pack the winner in a comparison test against the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, calling the body control of the Mustang with the Track Pack "astounding."

For decades, the Mustang has been the preeminent car in many forms of racing compiling victories and championships on road courses all over the world. In just the last few years Ford Racing's Mustang FR500C captured the European GT4 drivers championship (2007, 2008) and the Grand-AM KONI Challenge championship (2005, 2008).

"At Ford, we always apply what we learn at the track to the street," said Fritz Wilke, Mustang Performance/Enthusiast Manager. "The Track Pack and Ford Racing FR3 Handling Pack continue that heritage and give our performance customers great ways to have an even sportier experience in the 2010 Mustang GT coupe."

Packaged aimed at performance enthusiasts
Both the 2010 V-6 and GT models feature improved handling, but Team Mustang wanted to create a distinctive option package aimed at performance enthusiasts. Starting with the 2010 GT manual coupe, the engineering team was able to create a package that hits the sweet spot.

The first ingredient was to add a high-performance summer tire, and the 19-inch Pirelli P Zero P255/40ZR-19 proved to be an inspired choice for improved grip. Ford's engineering team then went to work on the underpinnings of the 2010 Mustang GT coupe, using Ford's proven technology from the Shelby GT500 program.

The front and rear stabilizer bars from the 2009 Shelby GT500 complement the Pirelli tires and help balance the Track Pack 2010 Mustang GT coupe front to rear. The struts and shocks were retuned for the increased capability of the new tire and stabilizer bar changes. The engineering team also spent significant time at the track to ensure the Track Pack was rewarding on the track and offered a balance of spirited driving and track prowess.

The roll gradient (how much the car rolls while steering) was reduced nearly 13 percent compared with the base 2010 Mustang GT. Damping was increased by 23 percent in the front and 8 percent in the rear in the low- to mid-speed compared to the 2010 Mustang GT.

"By reducing the roll gradient, the car stays flatter in turns," said Tom Barnes, Vehicle Engineering Manager, 2010 Mustang. "And when the car is flatter, the driver is more in command and more confident in what the car's doing.

"Great handling comes from great control. A driver's control of the vehicle is facilitated by information. This Track Pack communicates to the driver through the tires and suspension so well that is it easy to drive very quickly. It rewards smooth driving, while offering great capacity to cover driver error."

Looking at all areas for improvement
In addition to the hardware changes and extensive tuning, the Ford team also took a more holistic approach to improving the Track Pack Mustang.

"Handling is not just chassis," Barnes said. "Vehicle dynamics - how the Mustang responds under acceleration and braking - is important as well."

The solution from the powertrain part of the equation was to use a 3.73 limited-slip axle with carbon-fiber clutch plates.

"The 3.73 axle allows for a more-responsive Mustang, especially at mid-range speeds," Barnes said. "The carbon-fiber plates allow a very robust architecture in terms of temperature and repeated hard driving on the track."

Performance® Friction brake pads, which better resist brake fade, are used front and rear. Both the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and AdvanceTrac were retuned to complement the advanced capabilities of the new tires and brakes. AdvanceTrac is standard on the 2010 GT coupe and can be operated in any of three modes: On, Off or Sport.

"The Track Pack covers all the bases," Barnes said. "The new tires give the Mustang more grip, we have a more-responsive acceleration, better brake linings that are more consistent over time and the car is tied down better because of the changes to the bars and the shock tuning."

"Track Pack has the grip, the handling and it has the 'go.' And it absolutely can be used as a daily driver. Track Pack offers the best of both worlds - great performance on the track or if you're cruising down the road."

Ford Racing's FR3 Handling Pack features components proven out on the racetrack. Included in the pack are dampers, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace.

"The FR3 Handling Pack is derived from our extensive experience with the Ford Mustang FR500C competing in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge and FIA GT4," said Andy Slankard, Engineering Supervisor, Ford Racing.

Enhancements from the FR3 Handling Pack include:


Ride height lowered by more than 1 inch
Increased spring rate by about 75 pounds to improve turn in and mid-corner performance
Front and rear sway bars stiffened to eliminate roll
Re-tuned dampers, increasing the compression and rebound

The Track Pack retails for $1,495 while the FR3 Handling Pack retails for $1,335.