2008 Shelby GT500KR - Click above for high-res image gallery

I have to admit, the Shelby GT500 was somewhat of a letdown. I have no complaints about the 500 horsepower or the muscular lines, but at nearly 4,000 pounds, it's got a serious weight problem. The iron block, 5.4-liter V8 and the addition of a supercharger puts much the weight in the worst possible place -- the front -- so the GT500 feels unmotivated around the corners compared to a regular Mustang GT. Other complaints include a suspension that doesn't seem up to snuff to handle the prodigious power, as well as a vague and rubbery shifter. Despite its shortcomings, the GT500 is one of the world's best performance bargains. Never before has such a powerful car been available for so little cash (although the Ford dealers did a pretty good job of ruining its value with markups). Still, one couldn't help but think that the GT500 could have been better.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR

Check out First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 2 by clicking here.

Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 1

First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Mustang passed yet another landmark less than a week after its 44th anniversary on April 17 when production reached nine million units. The milestone Mustang, a GT Convertible, went to a dealership in Iowa for delivery to its lucky customer. As Ford's longest running nameplate, the Mustang had one of the best starts of any production car with over 22,000 sold on the first day and more than one million sold in the first two years. It's had its ups and down over the past 40+ years, but it's safe to say that the Mustang has enjoyed an upswing in popularity since its retro-restyle a few years back.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading The 9 millionth Mustang rolls off the assembly line

The 9 millionth Mustang rolls off the assembly line originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: 2007 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

Ford recalling 470,000 Mustangs to tweak airbag software originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

click image above to view high resolution photos from the build

How long does it take to build a show car worthy of being in the upcoming Fast and Furious 4 movie? Well, if the fourth installment is anything like the first sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious, we'd say about ten minutes with a paint gun ought to do it. Hopefully the new FF film will be the best, however, since the original duo of Walker and Diesel are both back. A car for this movie, then, takes about six hours according to Stangpede, a San Diego-based Mustang club. Less than a dozen members from the club turned a stock Mustang into a full-blown show car in front of a live audience at the 2008 San Diego Auto Show. The transformation took just over six hours and included the addition of a Saleen 550-hp supercharger system, custom interior with racing seats, a glassback roof from Classic Design Concepts, and a retro body kit finished in Candy Apple Red paint. You can view details of the build in the photo gallery below.

Gallery: Mustang Movie Car Build

Club builds Mustang movie car in six hours before a live audience originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ford is giving potential Mustang buyers a third choice alongside its coupe and convertible in the form of a glass roof option that will be available on 2009 V6 and GT models. The $1,995 option consists of a special tinted glass that reduces infrared rays and heat, as well as a manual roller blind can completely block incoming sunlight.

This new option comes on the heels of a heavy decline in Mustang sales as the current model it enters its fourth year on the market. Nearly 30% fewer Mustangs were sold this November than last year, and overall sales for the year are down nearly 19%. This new option, and hopefully a Mach 1 or Boss model, just might give Mustang sales a kick in the pants in its last year before a refresh for 2010.

More details about the glass roof option are available in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Mustang Glass Roof

Continue reading Ford helps buyers see the light with glass roof option for Mustang

Ford helps buyers see the light with glass roof option for Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading New York Preview: Mystery Mustang is Shelby KR

New York Preview: Mystery Mustang is Shelby KR originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.