#ModifiedFords

Given that it’s October and the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association ( SEMA) expo is just days away, vehicle builders and parts manufacturers are gearing up to display their latest wares.

In total, eight modified Fiestas will be on display and Ford has given us a sneak peak at just what to expect.

Most exciting is a Ford Racing Performance Parts version of the cat that will make 350-hp thanks to a 2.3-liter version of Ford’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

“The goal of our 350-horsepower Fiesta is really twofold – first to reinforce Fiesta’s fun-to-drive nature with an extreme version that captures the attention of the influential enthusiast, and second, to introduce the Ford Racing/EcoBoost connection in a way that’s unexpected and outrageous,” said Mickey Matus, Ford Racing Performance group marketing manager. “In both cases, we’re targeting the discriminating performance enthusiast with our message. After all, they are the people others rely on for automotive expertise and recommendations.”

Some of the added parts are already available through Ford Racing, like a short throw shifter, exhaust and 17-inch wheels. Perhaps Ford is using the SEMA Show to test the waters and see if more high-powered options would be of interest to Fiesta owners.

The Ford Racing Fiesta will be on display in a vibrant blue and will be auctioned off to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF).

Another in-house project will be the Ford Vehicle Personalization Fiesta with a body kit, special wheels and a unique grille as well as a new interior package that will be offered to customers shortly.

As for the other six, they are currently under construction by the Universal Technical Institute, 3dCarbon, L&G Enterprises, H&R Springs, Steeda Autosports (should be a cool one) and FSWerks.

Check out our complete SEMA Preview here, which will be updated with live coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starting November 2nd.

Official release after the jump:

The new Ford Mustang GT has only been on the market for a few months and Roush hasn’t wasted any time in introducing what it calls the 5XR Mustang tuning package for $15,390.

We’ve been hearing through the rumor mill that Tjin Edition would be pulling off a trifecta of vehicles this year and so far we have seen the Fortune Motorsports / Tjin Edition Honda CR-Z and the Universal Technical Institute / Tjin Edition Ford Fiesta. Rounding off their SEMA projects is a brand new 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT with an impressive list of modifications to really showcase what the potential of the new Mustang. Teaming up with Real Auto Works in Long Beach, California, the Tjin Edition team has their work cut out for them the upcoming months.

Once again Tjin has only released a teaser of what the finished project will look like, but Neil Tjin was nice enough to disclose some info on it. Under the hood, the Mustang will get a Vortech supercharger. But the power adders don’t stop there with a MagnaFlow exhaust and a set of American Racing headers. And for when the going gets tough, Nitrous Express will only be a tap away.

DuPont’s Cromax paint line will cover the exterior of the car, which will sport a completely custom kit designed by Gurnade and Tjin Edition and produced by Extreme Dimensions.

Air Lift will develop a full digital air suspension kit, allowing Tjin to give the Mustang GT a proper stance no matter where it is or what it’s doing. Under each fender will be a 20-inch Forgestar CF5 wheels, sporting a mean concave design and wrapped with Falken tires.

Last but not least, the interior will be completely revamped with Status Racing seats, Auto Meter gauges and a STACK cluster. And don’t worry, Tjin Edition has the in car electronics handled too thanks to Scosche, Metra, Pioneer and Image Dynamics.

This year’s SEMA seems to be shaping up to be an exciting one, so stay tuned as AutoGuide.com will have tons of coverage from this year’s show which takes place in early November.

Looking to own a true, one-of-a-kind Ford Mustang collectible? Well, this one is gonna cost ya. RM Auctions is offering the 2004 Ford Mustang GT-R Concept, originally introduced at the 2004 New York International Auto Show as a tribute to 40 years of Mustang performance. A custom built Mustang with performance and race-inspiration in mind, RM Auctions is estimating that the GT-R concept will sell for $250,000 to $350,000.

Ford is making a major push in marketing their Fiesta to the trendy, hip youth market of tomorrow…or today’s automotive enthusiasts. From teaming up with Ken Block to custom commercials on American Idol, to the impressive Fiesta Movement social marketing phenomenon, Ford seems to have a lot of bases covered. Their emphasis has been on customization and personalizing the trendy Fiesta, offering versatility and custom graphics. But now Ford has taken another leap by announcing their Fiesta body kits and accessories.

Starting with the aesthetics, Ford will be releasing a four-piece body kit for the Fiesta which includes a front air dam, side skirts and rear valence. Custom graphics ranging from tattoo-style, bubbles, flames and even ninja blades. For the interior, illuminated door sills, LED cup holder lights, armrest and a shift knob that’s illuminated with a gear number can all be added.

Obviously these aren’t for everybody, but you can’t knock Ford for trying to appeal to somebody. The more boring accessories are pretty run-of-the-mill including floor mats and splash guards. One thing’s for sure though, the Fiesta should be quite successful and we’ll be seeing quite a lot of them in the near future.

View the official press release after the break.

GALLERY: Ford Fiesta Body Kits and Accessories

Read AutoGuide’s Ford Fiesta First Drive by Clicking Here

Ford has just announced a new package for the 2011 Mustang and unlike retro styled kits like the California Special, this one really gets our blood pumping. Designed by pro-drifter Vaugh GittinJr., the RTR package will be available for all 2011 models and includes a complete aero kit including a front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser and rear spoiler. Also a part of the package are M Falken FK-452 on 19-inch wheels as well as special RTR interior details and racing stripes.

Revealed ahead of the 2009 SEMA Show and then officially debuting at the aftermarket expo, it seems as though with all the hundreds of modified Camaros to cover, Saleen’s latest project flew under the radar. To remedy that, we thought we’d look back and give an update now that the new Saleen (Saleen Performance Vehicles) has released complete details on its 2010 S281 model.

Over the past year or so Steve Saleen’s new project, SMS Supercars has released high performance versions of the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. This week at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show, SMS announces the introduction of SMS Superparts, a division of the company that will sell the parts individually through a distribution network.

There was no doubt that the focus of Ford’s SEMA Show booth was the all-new 2010 Mustang, with a total of nine modified Stangs, plus the all-new Cobra Jet model. Ford originally scheduled eight cars, but it looks like Galpin Auto Sports snuck in a second entry. The cars were built by tuner shops, race shops and even in-house, with most of the cars featuring parts available to the public – rather than one-off custom items made just for the SEMA Show. After all, the Mustang continues to be the most popular car to modify in the world.

First up is the 3dCarbon Mustang, which recreates the “Boy Racer” Mustang that the shop first built back in 2005, based on the previous generation car. Bright red with white stripes, this car takes take the Stang’s classic lines and add some wild sport compact-themed aerodynamics. Still, in person it was somewhat underwhelming. What is more impressive, however, are the rest of the car’s modifications with a complete Steeda suspension setup, a Brembo brake upgrade and NC Forged three-piece 22-inch wheels.

The only convertible of the bunch is from Galpin Auto Sports and as much as we mocked the Ford Vehicle Personalization Mustang when we first heard of this lineup of cars for SEMA, the Galpin car is our new whipping boy. It’s not all bad, with a pretty aggressive widebody conversion although as much as we like the wheels (a set of massive Forgiato rollers), they just don’t seem right on a Stang. The real travesty, however, is out back where an overly ornate rear diffuser just makes us nauseous. Under the hood there are 550 ponies thanks to a Ford Racing super pack, and as silly as those wheels might look, the rear 345 tires will be needed with all that power.

For more on Ford’s 2009 SEMA Show Mustangs and galleries of each car, follow the jump:

The truck isn’t even for sale yet, but Ford shipped one of its new Super Duty pickups to tool maker DeWALT, to build a custom work vehicle for the 2009 SEMA Show.  The simply massive truck gets special items like a winch, special cargo compartments on the outside of the truck’s bed and even a small crane designed to move heavy cargo (like a generator) into and out of the bed.

Prior to its official SEMA Show debut, several photos of the Saleen S281 version of the 2010 Mustang have leaked onto the net. With all the controversy surrounding the Saleen brand as of late, it’s no surprise that this pony car won’t be displayed along with the stable of Stangs at Ford’s booth. Then again, with the Saleen name still carrying a lot of cache, the Mustang tuner doesn’t exactly need to piggy-back.

Mid-sized sedans aren’t exactly the type of vehicle that spring to mind when you think of the SEMA Show, but Ford will be presenting three versions of its impressive new family car in Las Vegas next week. Each of the three vehicles represents a different part of the Fusion’s spectrum, with a hybrid offering, a high volume four-cylinder model and a powerful V6 Sport model.

Along with a simply massive display of 2010 Mustangs for this year’s SEMA Show, Ford will showcase the tuning expertise of four shops (and one in-house project) that have chosen the F-150 as their vehicle of choice. And just as the Mustang is the most customized overall vehicle in the $31.8 billion aftermarket industry, the F-Series of pickups is the most popular pickup to modify.

“The F-150 is the ultimate all-around ‘do everything’ truck, and it is available in 10 different distinct versions, everything from an XL work truck to a Platinum luxury edition to the latest edition – the SVT Raptor – for the ultimate off-road experience,” said Mark Grueber, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “People can personalize the F-150 to meet any need and do just about anything with it.”

Ford’s SEMA Design Manager Melvin Betancourt agrees and says much of the F-150’s success with tuners is due to its broad appeal. “Some people use the F-150 as a work truck. For others, it’s a luxury truck,” he said. “And everyone is always looking to create something that’s new that no one else has ever seen.”

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

See the full list of custom F-150 trucks after the jump:

The 2010 Mustang is here and its only fitting that the most customized car in the world will be the focus of attention at the 2009 SEMA Show. Ford will have eight Mustangs, modified by tuning and race shops on display. Plus, there are certain to be  numerous others at the show. Tuners like 3dCarbon and Galpin Auto Sports will showcase their creative sides, using the 2010 Mustang, while dedicated performance shops like Steeda Autosports and Paul’s High Performance will cater more to the performance traditionalists, focusing on making power and putting it to the ground.

Ford is also using the show to promote its 2010 Mustang Customizer, where alread one million people have visited to create their own custom Stang. Make your’s here:

http://www.fordvehicles.com/the2010mustang/

For a full list of the 2009 SEMA Show Mustangs, see after the jump: