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2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video]
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, First Drives
The Biggest Hammer Of Them All Is Sharper Than Ever
We would love to be able to look you square in the eye and say, “All you need to know about the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 can be summed up in one figure: 662.” After all, that’s the obscene amount of horsepower ripping at the rear tires courtesy of the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 under the hood. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. For the first time in its life, the GT500 has found itself lined up against a legitimate competitor in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The muscle car/supercar crossbreed from General Motors is stitched to conquer not only the quarter mile, but the nation’s road courses as well.
In order to answer that threat, the engineers at Ford have laid a hand on nearly every mechanical and electrical system on board the GT500. While that means the blown V8 churns out a diabolical 112 more horsepower than the previous model, it also means the top-tier Mustang now comes with tricks like user-selectable Bilstein dampers, adjustable electronic power steering, larger brakes and an array of optional cooling systems. In fact, if this car came wrapped in a slightly different shade of sheetmetal, we’d be talking about an all-new model instead of a refresh.
Continue reading 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video]
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Hybrid, Truck, Etc., Technology, Ford, Electric
The crew at Translogic took the time to stop by and see the the team at ALTe Powertrain Technologies recently. Founded by a group of former Tesla Motors executives, the company focuses on building plug-in hybrid conversions for fleet vehicles. From creations like a Ford F-150 with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two 60-kilowatt electric motors to full-size delivery trucks, buses and vans, the company is focused on reducing fuel consumption on some of the largest and hardest-working machinery out there. ALTe says the F-150 conversion supplies up to 465 pound-feet of torque, which is more than the old 4.6-liter V8.
Most of the truck conversions come with 22-kWh lithium-ion battery packs, which yield 25-40 miles of all-electric range. From there, the four-cylinder kicks in to keep the batteries charged and the motors spinning.
ALTe says the company has focused on Ford conversions first, since the F-Series is the largest-selling pickup in the country. While E-Series and Panther-based creations are also on the docket, ALTe is also focusing on partnering with OEMs in China. Scroll down to check out the video for yourself.
Continue reading Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets
Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
This SEMA show car goes 182.4 mph
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Ford
By and large, the machines created for the SEMA show in Las Vegas are built for lounging around under convention center lights and not much else. All those go-fast parts we see bolted on do little more than collect lustful stares from from the crowd. But Creations n’ Chrome set out to discover just what their bolt on additions to its Ford Mustang were good for. Under the outrageous 3dCarbon bodykit sits a Vortech supercharged 5.0-liter V8 good for around 580 horsepower at 8 psi of boost on stock internals. KW served up a set of Variant 3 coilovers, and Hotchkis took care of front and rear sway bars.
The crew rolled the blown Mustang out the to the Mojave Mile for a top speed run. The machine racked up a final velocity of 182.4 mph, though the final seconds of the run looked anything but stable (we hear there was a 20 mph crosswind). Still, we’re impressed at the machine’s performance. For perspective, the Boss 302 is only good for 155 mph. Check out the video for yourself below.
Continue reading This SEMA show car goes 182.4 mph
This SEMA show car goes 182.4 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile
Posted by: | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Ford
Mark Heidaker’s Hennessey Ford GT is back to work snagging records. Sean Kennedy once again took to the wheel of the machine at the Houston Half Mile Shootout, and just as before, the duo didn’t disappoint. Kennedy was able to pilot the wicked GT to an astonishing 212.9 miles per hour in a mere half mile, successfully snagging the world record in the process. Not too shabby.
As you may recall, this same team walked away with the standing mile world record back in March. At that time, Kennedy shot the GT to 257.7 mph in the allotted distance. We have to wonder what these guys have up their sleeves for the next stunt. Click Scroll down to check out the understandably quick half mile video for yourself.
Continue reading Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile
Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.