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2013 Ford Mustang RTR

Michael Harley — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Quick Spins

There are more varieties of the Ford Mustang than coffee concoctions at Starbucks, yet enthusiasts always seem eager to embrace one more. Vaughn Gittin Jr., the driving champion most famous for his sideways antics in Formula Drift, developed the Mustang RTR as a dealer-installed appearance package and performance upgrade to the popular Ford coupe.

I spent some quality time in the Race Red two-door pictured above, a 2013 Mustang RTR Spec 2. Bundled as a complete RTR package, the $11,995 option (add it to the cost of the donor - in this case a $34,300 Mustang GT Premium) adds a Ford Racing engine tune, Ford Racing adjustable shocks, 1.0 inch or 1.5 inch lowering springs, RTR four-way adjustable front and rear sway bars, RTR strut brace, RTR adjustable Panhard rod, RTR rear chassis brace and a RTR axle back exhaust system.

The performance upgrades to the 5.0-liter V8 are limited to a Ford Racing Tune, K&N air filter and RTR exhaust. Combined, they add about 16 horsepower for an estimated output of 436 horses and 397 pound-feet of torque (with a 60 foot-pound boost on the low side of the tach!). The upgraded exhaust - complete with RTR-badged black tips - proved surprisingly enjoyable, adding a nice, deep note without droning on the highway. In stock form, the Mustang GT is plenty quick (4.5 seconds to 60 mph) so the minor engine upgrades are best considered icing on the cake.
High-performance Falken Azenis FK-453 rubber is wrapped around very attractive RTR 19- by 9.5-inch wheels (painted matte charcoal or silver with black lug nuts). The summer rubber sticks very well, but I found brake feel, and possibly stopping distances, suffered with the RTR cross-drilled and slotted rotors (keep in mind that the stock pads have less friction surface with this configuration). In my estimation, the factory Brembo brake upgrade is a much more effective performance upgrade.
Many aftermarket setups fail in terms of suspension tuning, but not on this RTR. The four-way adjustable suspension allows the driver to dial-in their own preference. It is stiff, but still comfortable enough to tackle LA's broken pavement (we found the 2011 Mustang RTR considerably harsher).
Inside the cabin, I found far too many RTR badges and logos - on the shift knob (a nice ball), the floor mats, speedometer, tachometer, 12v plug and on a numbered serial plate signed by Vaughn Gittin Jr. stuck on the passenger-side of the dash. Add those to another half-dozen RTR badges on the outside, and it was RTR overload.
The exterior cosmetic package is aggressive and clean - very nicely done. All-inclusive, it includes a front chin and rear spoiler, rear diffuser, rocker splitters, license plate surround with ducts, fender badges, rear deck appliqué and vinyl hood/side stripes. Unfortunately, I found the front splitter annoyingly low. Thankfully, despite being easy to scrape (even when driven with care), the unpainted polymer was flexible enough to take a little bit of abuse without cracking.
The rear windows on this particular vehicle, configured for the press fleet, were covered with an extremely dark film. Nearly opaque, it severely reduced outward visibility (so much for seeing any law enforcement in the rearview mirror) and made the cabin feel claustrophobic, even on a sunny day.

2013 Ford Mustang RTR originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford signs on as official sponsor of Formula Drift for 2013 [w/video]

George Kennedy — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Racing

Whether you follow the sport of drifting or not, you have to admit that it has taken off. Seeing this popularity, Ford has just announced its sponsorship of Formula Drift as an official partner through the 2013 season.

Ford has already had involvement with the steadily growing sport, through its support of Team Falken Tire and drivers like two-time D1 Grand Prix champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. Ford says the move is part of an effort to reach an alternative buyer, aged 18 to 34, and interested in cars like the Fiesta, Focus, Mustang or F-150 SVT Raptor.

According to Formula Drift co-founder and vice president Ryan Sage, "Ever since Ford came into the series competitively in 2005, we have seen the power of what a factory-backed effort can do... Now we are even more excited to have them on as an official partner for the final event of the year and into 2013."

The final event to which Sage is referring is the "Title Fight," the finale of the 2013 season, recently held in Irwindale, CA. It is the home of the first sanctioned drifting event in 2003. Ford joined the sport in 2005, and had its first win at Irwindale with Gittin at the wheel in 2008. With factory works teams like Hyundai backing out, the increased commitment from Ford comes at at an important time for the sport. Click below for the press release, which also provides a link to watch the season finale live.

Continue reading Ford signs on as official sponsor of Formula Drift for 2013 [w/video]

Ford signs on as official sponsor of Formula Drift for 2013 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. reveals 2013 Mustang RTR [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford

Last year Formula Drift star Vaughn Gittin Jr. let us go for a quick drive in his 2011 Mustang RTR, and while we were impressed with the styling and price, the harsh suspension tuning and lack of performance options left us wanting. Gittin must have taken our review to heart, as he unveiled the 2013 Mustang RTR today with a new adjustable suspension setup and up to 624 horsepower with an optional supercharger system.

Of course, those aren't the only upgrades to the Mustang RTR for 2013. The dealer-installed package also includes a new styling package that includes an updated front fascia, side splitters, aluminum rear spoiler and rear diffuser. Thankfully, those beautiful 19-inch wheels are still in place.

Gittin is also allowing customers to choose from two packages, with a Spec 1 version including just the basics ($6,250), while a Spec 2 car comes fully loaded ($11,995) with the option of a 525- or 624-horsepower Ford Racing supercharger system.

Scroll down to read all the details in the press release and check out the official 2013 Mustang RTR video.

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. reveals 2013 Mustang RTR [w/video]

Vaughn Gittin Jr. reveals 2013 Mustang RTR [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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