The cloth dropped from the 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show today, delivering a topless blast of fast that we’ve been eagerly awaiting.

Just like a bottle of Bacardi 151 rum, this car is wickedly strong and gets its job done fast. With that in mind, here’s the lowdown on Ford‘s most potent convertible to date.

“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.”

As for year-over-year comparison, Ford says the 2013 model is 3.5 seconds faster around the track than the 2011 or 2012 models.

That said, there isn’t much mechanically different from the coupe, aside from the obvious convertible top, the latest angry muscle car in the 49-year lineage is anything but a disappointment. Expect the same 19-inch alloys in the front and 20′s in the rear, sitting around Brembo brakes.

It delivers on exactly what you want, obnoxious power and ostentatious appeal that’s sure to turn heads anywhere you go. Under the hood, the same 5.8-liter gut-wrencher of a V8 makes 650-horsepower and a neck-snapping 600 lb-ft. of torque.

As per the coupe version of the latest snake-worthy mustang, the same all-new 2013 drivetrain is still in place including cool features like a carbon-fiber drive shaft and an upgraded transmission axle and clutch.

It’s no surprise that the top-of-the line Mustang, meant to keep the Chevrolet Camaro ZR1 on edge, gets some additional weight thanks to Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers available on the performance package and  a newly tuned chassis.

GALLERY: Shelby GT500 Mustang convertible

Watch AutoGuide’s first look video of the Shelby GT500 Convertible below:

Continue Reading…

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB),  a non-profit organization created by the insurance industry to address insurance-related crime, publishes an annual report called Hot Wheels to identify America’s 10 most stolen vehicles. This year, the NICB introduced a special issue called Hot Wheels Classics, which focuses on a specific model with historical significance.

For its first Classics report, NCIB had chosen to go with the iconic Ford Mustang Pony Car. Although Memphis Raines could never steal the “Eleanor” Shelby Mustang GT500 without engaging in a wild car chase, NCIB’s records reported that thieves have successfully stolen a total of 611,093 Mustangs from 1964 to 2011. While data for each year is available, years prior to 1981 may not be accurate as effective vehicle identification numbers (VIN) protocols were not formalized until 1981, according to NCIB.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standardized VIN in 1981, the NCIB indicated that a total of 411,155 Mustangs have been reported stolen through 2011. The most thefts occurred in 1981 when 20,708 Mustangs were stolen. In 2011, the number of thefts have fallen to 4,347.

From 2001-2011, the past decade indicated that the model year which suffered the most thefts is the year 2000 Mustang at a total of 7,085, followed by the 1995 model year at 6790 thefts, and then the 1998 Mustang at 5394 thefts. All in all, the top 10 most stolen model years concentrated on Mustangs produced from 1989 to 2004. What’s more, the top 10 most stolen model years alone account for nearly 50 percent of all Mustang thefts that have occurred in the past decade.

To help Mustang owners to protect their prized pony cars, NCIB suggests owners to start with a little common sense by locking the car before leaving it on the street. Theft deterrent technologies such as warning devices and immobilizing devices can further improve upon the vehicle’s security. Finally, if a Mustang manages to get stolen anyway, a tracking device will dramatically increase its chances of recovery.

[Source: NICB]

GALLERY: Ford Mustang GT

With so many videos on the Internet, we try to reserve the word epic for for the ones that are truly unforgettable. Well, that’s this video: Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle 2.

Nick “Apex” Brocha and his Empire teammate, Ernie Vigil, jump on top of their Triumph Speed Triples built by Roaring Toyz and start to go sideways. Ever since Icon made their original video, the team has been searching for the ultimate playground for the sequel and the result of the search landed them in the rolling hills of High Plains County.

Minimal traffic, perfect asphalt and endless twisties allowed the video to be produced in relative peace while riders continued to repave the roads with smoking tires. But of course, sooner or later they attracted the attention of the local authorities and here comes Officer Dan Brockett in his 550-hp Ford Mustang Cobra.

A clever use of cameras and toys in order to grab some crazy angles makes this video one of the best ones on YouTube. Don’t believe us? Check it out below.

Continue Reading…

At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Ford‘s head of product development Derrick Kuzak addressed some of the rumors circulating about their famed Mustang sports car. Though many of Kuzak’s answers are vague and don’t give a real conclusion, some reading in between the lines gives us a hint of things to come.

In terms of independent rear suspension being a possibility for the next-generation Mustang, Kuzak stated that it was a tad early to even speak about it but that recognizing Ford’s commitment to product excellence, “it will probably give you a sense of direction we [Ford] have.” But things got interesting when asked about a four-cylinder Mustang, Kuzak answered with:

Let me put this in context. When we talked about downsizing to six-cylinders in F-series trucks several years ago, people looked at us like we were crazy. You can take the same view about Mustang.”

While Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally said, “This is one of the coolest things about EcoBoost. You get all that torque at the low rpm so you not only get all the bandwidth, but you get a machine that’s even more fun to drive. We didn’t know how everybody was going to accept that, but wow have they ever accepted that.”

Even though it clearly doesn’t state anything – and we never expected Ford to come outright and say a four-cylinder Mustang is in the works – it’s not hard to believe that a Mustang with an EcoBoost four-cylinder is already being developed.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

More than four decades ago, the Ford Mustang became America’s first “pony car” and has established itself as the segment leader ever since. However, in the last two years, Mustang’s closest rival, the Chevrolet Camaro, has incontestably dethroned the Mustang as the new sales leader.

When the Chevy Camaro beat the Ford Mustang by 81,299-to-73,716 units in 2010, analysts believed it was down to buyer excitement over a newly-released Camaro. Surprisingly, sales figures of 2011 revealed that not only did the Mustang not regain its spot at the top, but the sales gap actually widened. Last year, Americans bought 88,249 Camaros and only 70,438 Mustangs.

Little explains why the Camaro has pulled ahead in sales while the Mustang lagged behind. Even when comparing performance figures between the two machines, the difference is negligible as the Camaro only has fractionally more horsepower while it carries a couple of more pounds than the Mustang. Price wise, the MSRP of the Mustang V6 and GT are both less expensive than its Camaro counterpart.

Competition between the two rivals promises to intensify for 2012. On the Chevrolet corner, Camaro is preparing a high performance ZL1 producing an outrageous 580-hp, capable of reaching 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 184 mph.On the Ford corner, the new Mustang Shelby GT500 answers the ZL1 with a staggering 650-hp, promising to reach speeds beyond the 200 mph holy grail.

No doubt, the GT500 is a statement car in its purest sense. If Camaro manages a threepeat for 2012, could the Mustang’s failure come down to its long-criticized live rear axle?

GALLERY: 2012 Camaro ZL1

GALLERY: 2013 Ford GT500

Heading to this year’s Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, Arizona auction is a one-of-a-kind prototype NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford Mustang. A custom-built prototype that never saw any track time at all – it has zero miles – it’ll come with a custom-built Roush Racing engine that only has dyno time on it.

There’s no reserve on this race car that has a Tremec four-speed transmission mated to the custom Roush 351 V8 powerplant. The exterior is a nice dark blue, contrasted by white racing stripes and the entire package looks ready to rock on the track.

GALLERY: 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford Mustang

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

True Mustang lovers could never dream of the iconic muscle car without a GT badge and a burly V8 engine. Sure the V6 might have over 300 hp, but, well… it’s not the V8. So imagine what the legions of die-hard ‘Stang fans would say if Ford rolled out an electric Mustang?

Interestingly enough, reports – or rumors – are surfacing that Ford is doing just that. In fact, one source has confirmed that an electric Mustang prototype already exists.

As wild an idea as it seems, it’s really not that unbelievable. Many automakers are investing in all-electric vehicles, with some being variants of their current popular models. Audi‘s E-Tron and BMW‘s i-Series are great examples that electric vehicles could be stylish and sporty, while Tesla paved the way when it came to building an appealing electric sports car.

[Source: Car Driven]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed their preliminary evaluation of the Getrag MT-82 6-speed manual transmission used in 2011 and future Ford Mustangs.

“There is no indication of loss of motive power or unreasonable safety risk associated with the alleged defect in the subject vehicles,” the NHTSA said in a press release.

The evaluation came after 364 unique reports of problems with difficult cold shifts, binding gears, difficulty engaging in gears and excessive noise and vibration. The complaints, fielded by both Ford and the Office of Defects Investigations, prompted Ford to address the problems individually.

The difficulty shifting in cold weather, the report said, is the result of overly viscous transmission fluid. Ford has since advised technicians that a lower-viscosity fluid is available to fix the problem for cold-climate customers.

Perhaps more concerning are the grinding noises and trouble with engaging gears. The latter, Ford said, is because of the “rotating inertia of clutch components” and that it depends on how long the driver keeps the engine above 4000 rpms. New clutch pedal parts have also been distributed to fix the issue.

Finally, grinding and poor shift feel is from the gradual loosening of clutch plate fastenerers after aggressive shifting. To address this, Ford has implemented a new fastener in production and made the part available through a special service message.

Click here to go to a story we published in early October featuring a video made by a Mustang owner experiencing these problems.

[Source: press release]

Keeping vintage Ford Mustang enthusiasts happy, Ford have added a new full classic Mustang body shell to its Ford Restoration Parts catalog.

Along with the 1969 Mustang Fastback and the 1965 Mustang Convertible, the addition of the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible body shell should be extremely popular. Featuring pronounced character lines, the 1967 body style is identical to what was used in the era’s Shelby GT350s and GT500s. The 1967 body shell is also wider and offers a larger engine bay than the 1964 1/2 to 1966 model. According to Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager Dennis Mondrach, “These days, the chances are fairly slim of finding a restorable, rust-free ’67 Mustang that has never been wrecked. As the value of classic Mustangs has increased over the years, garages, barns, and scrapyards have been picked clean.”

Moreover, Ford built these classic shells using modern welding techniques and manufacturing practices. The new ’67 body shell will be stronger and will be capable of handling 428 cubic inch big block engines while retaining an identical appearance to the original. The ’67 Mustang Convertible body shell will be on sale for $15,995.

GALLERY: 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible Body Shell