FIESTA ST GLOBAL RALLYCROSS RACER REVEALED AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

Ford announces Fiesta ST Race Car at 2013 Chicago Auto Show

• Ford Racing to introduce new OlsbergsMSE-built Fiesta ST Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) race car based off the new Ford Fiesta ST production car, which goes on sale this summer
• The OlsbergsMSE Fiesta ST GRC cars will be driven by Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan
• Ford Racing and OlsbergsMSE sign a multiyear manufacturer partnership to build on their back-to-back Global Rallycross Championships and multiple X Games medals
• Ford driver and 2012 X Games silver medalist Ken Block will also compete in the 2013 Global Rallycross Championship and will introduce his new Fiesta ST GRC car later this year
• The OlsbergsMSE Fiesta ST GRC race car will be on display Thursday and Friday at the Chicago Auto Show
• Ford announced as sole automotive sponsor for the 2013 summer X Games with RallyCross events at all four global events

DEARBORN, Mich. - In many ways, the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST is a race car built for the street; Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) fans will soon get an up-close view of the same car built exclusively for competition at the Chicago Auto Show.

With Ford’s global launch of Fiesta ST under way, Ford Racing will introduce the ST performance badge in the 2013 season of the Global Rallycross Championship and Global X Games events.

The move is part of an expanded Global Rallycross program for Ford as it capitalizes on the growing popularity of the series and its increased visibility through X Games and some larger-than-life personalities, including Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan and Ken Block.

The first Fiesta ST GRC cars will debut this season with Block, Deegan and two-time Global Rallycross champion Foust. Foust and Deegan will give performance car enthusiasts and media the first look at the OlsbergsMSE Fiesta ST GRC race car this week at the Chicago Auto Show.

“Global Rallycross has been a great series for us to demonstrate what Ford’s small performance cars can do,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “With great drivers and teams, and now a formal manufacturer partnership with OlsbergsMSE, Ford Racing’s commitment to Global Rallycross is quickly growing. We’re excited about the debut of the Fiesta ST GRC car this year, and it will be fantastic to see Ford’s global performance car compete in four countries around the world this season.”

To support development of the RallyCross Fiesta ST program, Ford Racing has formalized its manufacturer partnership with OlsbergsMSE, whose credentials include two consecutive GRC driver championships with Foust, and podium finishes at all six rounds in 2012. The team has helped Ford earn GRC manufacturer’s championships in 2011 and 2012.

OlsbergsMSE will field the Fiesta STs for Foust and Deegan.

“OlsbergsMSE has a good history developing extreme/RallyCross cars, and with the longer-term manufacturer relationship with Ford and its technical support, together we will develop even stronger RallyCross cars,” said Andreas Eriksson, OlsbergsMSE team principal. “The partnership is exactly what OlsbergsMSE needs to continue to be a winning team in the coming years.

“There are great teams and manufacturers coming to the series and the sport,” Eriksson continued. “We will have better and tougher competition, and I look forward to the challenge of staying persistent in the development of our cars.

“Outside of our technical development, we will also be very focused on providing our drivers with the information and input they need to be the best,” Eriksson added. “This is the way our entire OlsbergsMSE program moves forward, together with Ford. To be the best in this extreme sport, hard work and dedication is required from drivers and team.”

Joining Foust and Deegan to round out Ford’s GRC program is Block and the Hoonigan Racing Division. Block’s strong 2012 Global Rallycross season was highlighted by a silver medal at X Games 18 behind World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, and he posted top two qualifying positions in each of the series’ last four rounds.

“I’m stoked to be able to say I’m going to be continuing to race Fords in Global Rallycross for the next few years, especially with the four X Games events this summer,” said Block. “For the upcoming 2013 season, my team is taking everything we learned during my rookie season last year and applying it to an all-new RallyCross car. It’s going to be a fun season.”

The Global Rallycross Championship will have a true global presence in 2013. In addition to five expected North American events, there will be four X Games in 2013 with RallyCross competition. Ford is sole automotive sponsor for all four 2013 summer global X Games, which will include the traditional event in Los Angeles and new venues in Brazil, Spain and Germany.

“Global Rallycross and X Games allow us to connect with the next generation of Ford customers and a very important group of performance enthusiasts,” said Allison. “They already know Ford for great products like Mustang and Raptor, but are becoming a real force helping drive the growing B- and C-car performance segments.”

Images : 2013 Ford FIESTA ST as Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) Race Car



[Source : FORD]

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FORD BEGINS PRODUCTION OF NEW FIESTA ST

2013 Ford Fiesta ST @ Ford Plant Cologne, Germany

• Fastest-ever production Fiesta sprints 0-62mph in under seven seconds
• Priced from £16,995 for sale from March/April
• Ford equips new Fiesta ST with 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine offering 182PS and peak torque of 290Nm
• Stylish new Fiesta ST features unique honeycomb mesh grille, dramatic rear diffuser and, for the first time, Recaro seats as standard
• Most fuel-efficient Fiesta ST delivers 48mpg and 138g/km CO₂

BRENTWOOD, Essex : February 8, 2013 – Ford has started production at its assembly plant in Cologne, Germany, of the new Ford Fiesta ST – the first production Fiesta to record a 0-62mph acceleration time of under seven seconds.

Developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford Motor Company’s Global Performance Vehicle group, the new Fiesta ST for Europe is powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to achieve 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and offer 182PS and peak torque of 290Nm, with a fuel consumption of only 48mpg and 138g/km CO₂ emissions*. Top speed is 136.7mph.

Ford has further refined the Fiesta ST’s renowned global small car chassis with new steering, suspension, braking components, configuration and tuning. An enhanced version of Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control system, and a three-mode Electronic Stability Control system contribute to a rewarding and secure driving experience.
“The new Fiesta ST is a very modern performance car built on more than 30 years of fast Fiestas and a global development process,” said Juergen Gagstatter, chief programme engineer, Performance Cars, Ford of Europe. “This vehicle is a significant step forward, both in terms of our proud heritage of blending a powerful engine with a dynamic chassis, and also in achieving reduced fuel consumption and emissions.”

The new high-performance Fiesta ST follows iconic Fiesta models including the XR2, XR2i, RS1800, RS Turbo and first generation ST; and is equipped with Ford’s turbocharged Twin-independent Variable Camshaft Timing EcoBoost engine to achieve faster acceleration and a higher top speed than the 2002 Ford Focus ST170. The second-generation Fiesta ST has also been confirmed for launch in North America and Asia Pacific.

The new model in Europe features a unique new honeycomb mesh trapezoidal grille exterior and dramatic rear diffuser element. The high contrast interior is also equipped with Recaro seats as standard for the first time.

The new Fiesta ST is also equipped with MyKey, a Ford-exclusive technology that allows parents to encourage safer driving and limit their teenager’s exposure to risk at the wheel; and SYNC – Ford’s voice-activated in-car connectivity system – with Emergency Assistance, that directly connects vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident.

Images : Ford Fiesta ST Production


[Source : FORD via NEWSPRESS]

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THE STRATEGIC COOPERATION BETWEEN DAIMLER AND THE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE FORMS AGREEMENT WITH FORD

The strategic cooperation between Daimler and The Renault-Nissan Alliance forms agreement With Ford

• Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have signed a unique three-way agreement for the joint development of common fuel cell system to speed up availability of zero-emission technology and significantly reduce investment costs
  Collaboration expected to lead the launch of world’s first affordable, mass market fuel cell electric vehicles as early as 2017
• Unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards
• Sends clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage the further development of hydrogen infrastructure worldwide

STUTTGART, Germany : January 28, 2013 - Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have signed a unique three-way agreement to accelerate the  commercialisation of fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology.


The goal of the collaboration is to jointly develop a common fuel cell electric vehicle system while reducing investment costs associated with the engineering of the technology. Each company will invest equally towards the project. The strategy to maximise design commonality, leverage volume and derive efficiencies through economies of scale will help to launch the world’s first affordable, mass-market FCEVs as early as 2017.

Together, Daimler, Ford and Nissan have more than 60 years of cumulative experience developing FCEVs. Their FCEVs have logged more than 10 million km in test drives around the world in customers’ hands and as part of demonstration projects in diverse conditions. The partners plan to develop a common fuel cell stack and fuel cell system that can be used by each company in the launch of highly differentiated, separately branded FCEVs, which produce no CO₂ emissions while driving.

The collaboration sends a clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage further development of hydrogen refuelling stations and other infrastructure necessary to allow the vehicles to be mass-marketed.

Powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen, FCEVs emit only water while driving. FCEVs are considered complementary to today’s battery electric vehicles and will help expand the range of zero-emission transportation options available to consumers.

“Fuel cell electric vehicles are the obvious next step to complement today's battery electric vehicles as our industry embraces more sustainable transportation,” said Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., supervising Research and Development. “We look forward to a future where we can answer many customer needs by adding FCEVs on top of battery EVs within the zero-emission lineup.

“We are convinced that fuel cell vehicles will play a central role for zero-emission mobility in the future. Thanks to the high commitment of all three partners we can put fuel cell e-mobility on a broader basis. This means with this cooperation we will make this technology available for many customers around the globe,” said Prof. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

“Working together will significantly help speed this technology to market at a more affordable cost to our customers,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. “We will all benefit from this relationship as the resulting solution will be better than any one company working alone.”

Engineering work on both the fuel cell stack and the fuel cell system will be done jointly by the three companies at several locations around the world. The partners are also studying the joint development of other FCEV components to generate even further synergies.

The unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards, an important prerequisite for achieving higher economies of scale.

How a fuel cell electric vehicle works

Like today’s battery-electric vehicles, FCEVs are more efficient than conventional cars and diversify energy sources beyond petroleum.

The electricity for an FCEV is produced on board the vehicle in the fuel cell stack where it is generated following an electro-chemical reaction between hydrogen - stored in a purpose-designed, high-pressure tank in the car - and oxygen from the air. The only by-products are water vapour and heat.

[Source : DAIMLER]

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Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew 4-door : Pickup Truck Review 2011 and Pictures

Ford is very popular when it comes to pickup trucks, in fact its 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 was awarded as Truck of the Year by the equally popular Four Wheeler Magazine. Apparently, this is already the 10th award received by Ford for this model ever since it made its debut last year.

A new standard 6.2-liter V8 engine pumping out 411 horsepower, new technologies and a newly available SuperCrew option that gives Raptor customers more choices in cab size all ensure the 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor will remain the off-road performance truck champion in the new model year. The previously optional 6.2-liter V8 engine, which produces 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, will now be the standard engine for the 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market.

The Ford powertrain team performed extensive testing to ensure the engine would live up to the Built Ford Tough promise. Hundreds of additional tests beyond the normal verification of truck engines, as well as vehicle testing on a 62-mile durability loop in the desert that simulates the Baja 1000, validated the performance of the engine for reliability and longevity in the harshest conditions.

New standard technology features for 2011 include:

1. Perimeter alarm
2. Integrated spotter mirror
3. Express up/down driver and passenger front windows
4. 110 V power inverter in the center console
5. Head restraint for second-row middle seat
6. Telescoping steering wheel

source : various sources

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All-New Ford Kuga offers class-leading tech, fuel efficiency and safety: tech spec released

2013 Ford Kuga

• Ford’s all-new Kuga mid-size SUV delivers class-leading technology, fuel efficiency, safety, drive and comfort
• All-new Kuga offers segment-first hands-free tailgate, debuts Ford’s global intelligent all-wheel-drive system and Curve Control, and introduces enhanced Torque Vectoring Control, helping to deliver best-in-class handling
• All-new Kuga powertrains offer significant fuel efficiency improvements; reduce petrol fuel consumption by 25 per cent and diesel fuel consumption by 10 per cent; EcoBoost petrol engines now available
• Euro NCAP five-star safety-rated all-new Kuga offers Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance and Active City Stop
• All-new Kuga provides more luggage compartment space, rear seats that fold flat in one movement and a quieter cabin environment 

BENTWOOD, Essex : December 19, 2012 – The all-new Ford Kuga is set to disapprove the myth that an SUV can’t be ‘green’, high-tech and capable all at the same time.

The Kuga is the centrepiece of Ford’s strategy to expand in the fast-growing European SUV market and offers a comprehensive array of features and technologies, including:

• Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system, including exclusive Curve Control
• Segment first hands-free tailgate that operates with a gentle kicking motion
• Class-leading fuel efficiency, including optional EcoBoost petrol engine
• Ford SYNC with Emergency Assist.

“European customers have really taken the current Ford Kuga to their hearts,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Product Development. “The new Kuga retains that charisma and adds remarkable new technologies, features and capability.”

Ford plans to leverage its global leadership in SUVs to deliver a comprehensive line-up of smarter vehicles to Europe. New Kuga will be followed by the modern and innovative EcoSport, Ford’s entry into the small SUV segment, and the Edge – a larger, more premium crossover that is a success in North America and other markets.

Ford has said it expects to sell more than 1,000,000 SUVs in Europe in the next six years, around 10 per cent of Ford’s total volume by 2016. Since launching the first generation Kuga in 2008, Ford has sold more than 45,000 in the UK.

Production of the new Kuga started this month at Ford’s assembly plant in Valencia, Spain. Just six months after going on sale, the new Kuga’s North American counterpart the Ford Escape, has achieved its best ever sales year.

Class-leading driving ability

The smart AWD system continually assesses road conditions, adjusting the torque split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.

The primary goal of the AWD system at low speeds is traction; at speeds above 18mph the system is tuned to improve driving feel, handling and response. A unique cluster display shows drivers the torque demand of each wheel at any moment.

Ford Curve Control acts as a safeguard for drivers who have entered a bend with too much speed. The system mitigates against severe understeer by braking and engine torque reduction.

“Curve Control can support drivers if they find themselves in a situation where they are travelling too fast for the road conditions or layout,” said Michael Nentwig, assistant medium car chief programme engineer, Ford of Europe. “The obvious example is on a curved slip road coming off a motorway. If the driver hasn’t reduced speed sufficiently this system can step in and safely slow the vehicle down by around 10mph per second.”

Dynamics and cornering control are improved by the introduction of the enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system developed with the Focus RS.

Innovation inside and out

The stylish all-new Kuga offers more space for luggage than the current car and a luggage compartment that can be accessed more easily. Ford’s hands-free tailgate can be opened or closed simply by a kicking motion beneath the rear bumper; and it also offers 46-litres more space than the current model, while the rear seats fold flat in one movement.

Road and wind noise has been significantly reduced compared with current Kuga to help deliver one of the quietest cabins in the segment. Improvements were delivered using elliptical acoustic mirrors to measure elements that can influence the noise and vibration inside the car.

From the initial design, all-new Kuga was engineered to be as visually appealing up close as it is from a distance, with spaces between panels no wider than 0.5mm. The craftsmanship inside emphasises feel and touch through use of a soft instrument panel and soft door upper roll. Particular attention was paid to deleting exposed fasteners on moving parts like the tailgate, sun visors and glove box. All-new Kuga also features an opening panorama roof.

“We’ve evolved the vehicle to incorporate more space and a faster silhouette, a more precise execution and a higher quality feel,” said Martin Smith, executive design director, Ford of Europe.

Class-leading fuel economy

The all-new Kuga will deliver class-leading fuel economy through significantly improved fuel efficiency from a powertrain line-up that, for the first time, includes EcoBoost engine technology. Petrol engine fuel consumption has been reduced by 25 per cent and diesel engine fuel consumption by 10 per cent.

The 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine 150PS front-wheel drive (FWD) achieves from 42.8mpg and 154g/km CO_2.*  A  2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engine is also available with 140PS in FWD and AWD versions offering from 53.3mpg and 139g/km CO₂; and a 163PS version that achieves from 47.9mpg and 154g/km CO₂.

Ford’s low-emission ECOnetic Technology available across the line-up features Eco Mode, Gear Shift Indicator and Active Grille Shutter that reduces drag and cuts fuel consumption.

Engineered for outstanding safety

The all-new Ford Kuga was awarded a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP after achieving an overall protection score of 88 per cent, the highest-ever for a mid-sized SUV.

Euro NCAP also awarded an Advanced reward for Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance. Upon detecting airbag deployment or activation of the emergency fuel shut-off within the car, Emergency Assistance uses the on-board GPS locator and Bluetooth-paired device to set up an emergency call and provide GPS co-ordinates, in the local language where the car is being driven.

Further driver assistance technologies offered with new Kuga include Active Park Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Active City Stop, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam, Driver Alert and Traffic Sign Recognition.

Ford engineers used ultra-high strength steels in the body structure and a specially designed reinforcement around the panoramic roof to ensure rigidity and strength. Roll Stability Control and Trailer Sway Control are also offered.

All-new Kuga is available to order now in the UK, priced from £20,895 on-the-road.  Full technical specification attached.

[Source : FORD UK]

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Mazda and Ford invest additional us$27 million in Autoalliance Thailand to boost pickup production capacity

•  New investment made to meet extraordinary global demand for all-new pickup trucks
• New production capacity comes online from next month
• AAT’s pickup line was upgraded in 2011 for production of the all-new Mazda BT-50 and all-new Ford Ranger

HIROSHIMA : April 26, 2012 - Mazda Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company today announced an additional investment of US$27 million (approximately THB 837 million) in their AutoAlliance (Thailand) (AAT) joint venture to upgrade production equipment and increase pickup truck production capacity by 20,000 units per year.

ATT produces the all-new Mazda BT-50 and all-new Ford Ranger pickup trucks for the Thai domestic market and export markets around the world. The new investment will include facility upgrades such as additional robotic equipment and tooling to help increase line speed and output. The new capacity will come into effect starting next month.

The additional 20,000 units bring the total annual capacity of AAT’s pickup truck line to 140,000 units (195,000 units when including CKD), bringing overall capacity of AAT to 240,000 units (295,000 units when including CKD) per year, including the passenger car line.

This latest investment increases Mazda and Ford’s total joint investment in the AAT facility to nearly US$2 billion (THB 62 billion) since operations began in 1995. In 2010, the two companies jointly-invested US$350 million (THB10.8 billion) in support of facility upgrades and supplier tooling to enable production of the all-new Ford Ranger and all-new Mazda BT-50trucks.

“This additional AAT investment is part of the strategic business partnership between Ford and Mazda,” said Yuji Nakamine, Senior Managing Executive Director of Mazda Motor Corporation. “Additionally, it allows us to continue to meet exceptionally strong demand for our all-new BT-50.”

“This new investment reinforces Ford Motor Company's long-term commitment to Thailand as a global production and export hub, and will allow us to meet the extraordinary demand for the all-new Ford Ranger,” said Peter Fleet, president, Ford ASEAN.

AutoAlliance (Thailand), one of the most modern automotive manufacturing facilities in Thailand, has helped to set the standard for automotive manufacturing in the ASEAN region through its ongoing commitment to world-class quality, standards and cost-competitiveness.

In addition to the Mazda BT-50 and Ford Ranger pickups, AAT produces the Ford Everest SUV, and passenger vehicles such as Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 (known in Japan as Demio) and Mazda3 (known in Japan as Axela) for sale in Thailand and for export to ASEAN and other markets.

[Source : FORD, MAZDA] 

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New Fiesta and Fiestavan Econetic now deliver more than 85mpg

2012 Ford Fiesta Econetic

• Latest Fiesta and FiestaVan CO₂ emissions lowered to 87g/km, equating to 85.6mpg*
• No vehicle excise duty payable on cars
• New Fiesta Edge, Zetec and Titanium ECOnetic models from £14,445
• FiestaVan ECOnetic from £12,215

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 26 March, 2012 – New high-tech developments have made Britain’s best-selling car and small van even cleaner with latest emissions dropping from 95 to 87g/km of CO₂ and combined fuel economy rising to 85.6mpg*.

he significantly improved efficiency, boosting the environmental performance of the Fiesta and FiestaVan featuring ECOnetic Technology by over 12 per cent, has been achieved through the introduction of:

• Auto-Start-Stop
• Upgrades to the 95PS 1.6TDCi engine including friction and combustion improvements and calibration optimisation
• Revised gear ratios
• Smart regenerative charging
• EcoMode
• Improved efficiency of the air conditioning, cooling fan and alternator

Original equipment fitted as standard to the Fiesta and FiestaVan ECOnetic, including rolling resistance tyres, an aero pack comprising undershield and wheel deflectors, variable flow oil pump and shift indicator light, is carried over on ECOnetic Technology models.

Sustainability is important not only for the car, but also for the facilities behind its manufacture. Ford’s Dagenham-built Duratorq TDCi engines are produced in a facility that derives all its electricity from renewable sources, with three dedicated wind turbines.

The Ford Fiesta with ECOnetic Technology has three trim levels to suit different customer requirements: Edge, Zetec or Titanium. Such advanced fuel economy avoids UK road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) contributions, yet the refinement and fun-to-drive personality of the original Fiesta is retained intact.

2012 Ford Fiesta van

Ford Fiesta's value story continues with five engines in the Fiesta car line-up emitting less than 130g/km of CO₂ making them exempt from vehicle excise duty in their first year. This includes the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engines, the 1.25-litre 60PS and 82PS petrol engines and the latest 1.6-litre TDCi 95PS ECOnetic Technology engine.

* All fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions figures in g/km are from officially approved tests in accordance with EC Directive 93/116/EC.  Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.

[Source : FORD via NEWS PRESS]

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New Ford Shelby GT500 convertible

 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 convertible

CHICAGO, February 9, 2012 – The official launch of SVT came during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. Now Ford returns to Chicago to celebrate its past and look to the future with the 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible.

In honor of SVT’s anniversary, a commemorative lighted sill plate will be used in the 2013 Shelby GT500 to celebrate the many years of performance vehicles. The 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra offered a 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, which demonstrates just how far the products have come in 20 years. The 2013 Shelby GT500 with its 650-horsepower V8 marks the latest offering from one of the oldest and most successful automotive performance groups in the world.

“The Shelby GT500 convertible is every bit the performer that the coupe is,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer. “All of the significant changes we made in the program were instrumental in delivering a convertible that could really shine on the track but can still be driven on a daily basis.”

The 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is faster around a track than the outgoing model. The new convertible shaved nearly 3.5 seconds off its lap time at Sebring International Raceway compared to the 2011 and 2012 models.

Keys to the improved lap times are the power boost from the new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 650 horsepower, as well as the SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers available on the Performance Package and the all-new chassis tuning.

Accessed on the dash with a simple push of a button, normal mode gives customers a more comfortable ride over road irregularities. Sport mode is all about performance, delivering improved response time on the track and less body roll while cornering with reduced pitch under braking. The upgraded dampers allowed SVT engineers to tune the convertible more aggressively for the track, while still being able to maintain desirable on-road manners.

A new Brembo brake system also is a key enabler in boosting the performance of the convertible. The new brakes offer drivers enhanced stopping power to help keep their car under control, while new six-piston calipers in front along with larger front and rear rotors further improve braking performance. More aggressive brake pads also help the car achieve high deceleration and further robustness for more driver confidence.

20 years of high-performance innovation

Each of the more than 210,000 SVT vehicles produced since 1993 has been designed and developed with the four SVT attributes in mind: Performance, Substance, Exclusivity and Value. These hallmarks still guide the brand’s vehicle development today.

“In the past 20 years, SVT has engineered world-class mid-engine supercars, front-wheel-drive performance cars, rear-wheel-drive muscle cars and high-performance on-road and off-road pickup trucks,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief engineer. “There is no other performance house in the world that can match that diverse résumé.”

Since 1993 more than seven different SVT vehicles have been produced, including several versions of the Cobra and Shelby GT500, the F-150 Lightning performance pickup and F-150 SVT Raptor, the SVT Contour sports sedan, plus both three- and five-door versions of the SVT Focus. Special SVT Mustang Cobra R models were made in 1993, 1995 and 2000.

SVT has joined with Team RS in Europe to form the Performance Vehicles Group to devise a strategy for all future global performance Ford cars. The resulting Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car, giving drivers around the world the opportunity to share the exhilarating performance, excellent handling, addictive sound and sporty design Ford’s ST badge represents. The Ford Fiesta ST Concept also signals the next step in Ford’s global performance vehicle strategy and hints at how a future Fiesta ST model might look when it joins the Focus ST in the global small car portfolio.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500

The ultimate Ford Mustang – Shelby GT500 – raises the bar high on performance by delivering 650 horsepower and a track-tested top speed of more than 200 mph. The 5.8-liter supercharged V8 aluminum-block engine produces 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful production V8 in the world.

Nearly every part of the powertrain has been optimized for producing the additional horsepower, including a new supercharger, new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a new carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle.

And nearly every gear on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 has been revised to manage the torque and use more of the power in a way that makes it more driver-friendly.

The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will be built at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

Video :  2013 Ford Shelby GT500

Images :  2013 Ford Shelby GT500 / GT500 convertible

 

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

[Source : FORD]

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