Autoblog

Ford Racing has added a new toy to the catalog, the Romeo 605 crate engine. As the name implies this one is built at Ford's Romeo MI engine plant alongside the the other 5.4L supercharged V8s used in the Mustang GT500. This fully dressed crate engine forms the basis of the Shelby Super Snake and the upcoming limited run Cobra Jet drag car. In its current form the engine puts out 605hp thanks to the installation of a new supercharger.

The supercharger is an Eaton 2.3L unit for four lobe rotors. The rotors have 160 degrees of twist. If those specs sound vaguely familiar, that because it matches the unit GM is installing on the LS9 engine for the ZR1 Corvette. This one is of course not street legal and is intended for off-road use. At 605hp and 550lb-ft, Ford claims this is the most powerful off the shelf modular motor yet. At a list price of $18,150 it may also be the most expensive running almost the same price as a base V6 Mustang. Thanks to Paul for the tip!

[Source: Ford Racing]

Click above for a high res gallery of the new FG01 racing car

Just as civilian Ford Falcon drivers have a new ride in which to roll, the racers who pilot the competition version of the sedan in Australia's V8 Supercar series now have an FG Falcon to call their own. The FG01 V8 Supercar will be officially unveiled at this weekend's race in Melbourne, where it'll entertain with some demo laps and then reside in the pits. According to Ford, the race car was designed to maximize driver safety while minimizing teams' operating, maintenance, and repair costs. Best of all, unlike the "stock" cars run in our various NASCAR series, Australia's V8 supercars actually bear more than a passing resemblance to their production counterparts -- four doors and all. There's no mistaking the fact that this car is derived from the Falcon XR8. Plus, it has a Giant Effing Wing that makes the apparatus hung off of some Pikes Peak hillclimb cars look like the ducktail on a '73 Carrera RS. Awesome. The FG01 will go into battle against its Holden counterparts next season.


[Source: Ford Racing Australia]

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Ford Racing Mustang FR500S

Nineteen Ford Racing FR500S Mustangs are now in the hands of their owners. In case you've forgotten, the Mustang FR500S is the $75,000, 325-horsepower racing car introduced at SEMA and offered directly to customers by Ford for use in the new single-make Ford Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup series. Starting this May at Road Atlanta, a series of eight Challenge races will take place in support of larger Grand-Am, HSR and NASCAR regional events, culminating with a September doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park, for which the series and trophy are named.

Last weekend, the FR500S owners made a pilgrimage to the racetrack in Salt Lake City, UT where they attended performance driving school, participated in seminars about the series, and, most importantly, took delivery of their racers. Kudos to the pair of drivers who strayed from the norm, opting for black and red cars instead of the white chosen by everyone else. Once all the talking ended, the group headed out to the track for open practice sessions in their cars. May's not that far off, and the next time this group of racers gets together, they'll be competing for championship points. If you want to see the cars in action, we've pasted the Mustang Challenge schedule after the jump.


[Source: Mustang Challenge]

If there's anything that the Shelby GT500 lacks, it's definitely not power. At an MSRP of just over $40k, it has more horsepower per dollar than just about any car out there. The boys over at Ford Racing and Roush, however, thought that it could use a little bit more. The two have developed a supercharger upgrade for the GT500 that pushes horsepower to just over 600 while keeping a 1 year/12,000 mile drivetrain warranty. This will most likely be the supercharger used for the GT500 KR as well as the base supercharger for the Shelby Super Snake. Pricing is set at $5,600 and the blower can be purchased through Roush or a Ford Racing distributor.

[Source: Roush]

While everyone waits patiently (or for some folks, impatiently) for Ford to release the new Bullitt Mustang, Blue Flame, a Japanese firm that imports and distributes Mustangs over yonder, has taken the initiative to offer its very own Bullitt package. And it looks really good. Available for both V6 and V8 Mustangs, the obvious cosmetic changes (optional blacked-out grille, side window louvers, side scoops, spoiler delete, Bullitt badging, Highland Green paint, etc.) are paired with additional features like Eibach springs, Saleen pedals, and an upgraded Pioneer stereo. Those looking for more can opt for performance and handling upgrades from Ford Racing and Saleen at added expense. Based on the pictures on Blue Flame's site, it's a very nice conversion.

If that's not enough, the company has a slick BOSS package on offer as well. Follow the jump for that one.

Thanks to Scott for the tip!

[Source: Blue Flame American Distributions Network]

UPDATE: Finally found a pic of the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, although we feel silly for waiting since Photoshop could've (and did) produce the same result. Note the identical pic of the Shelby GT500KR below. The only differences appear to be the center striping, all black side mirrors and a scoop in place of the previous C-pillar window.

click image to view a high-res version

We're starting to get the impression that the Mustang wants to challenge the F-150 as world's best-selling vehicle considering that special edition after special edition of this pony car continues to be introduced. The latest one is not the just announced Shelby GT500KR (shown above) that bowed at the New York Auto Show earlier this month. Rather, StangsUnleashed.com has published a press release that reveals Shelby Automobiles and FoMoCo will hook up yet again to produce a limited number of GT500 Super Snake coupes in late 2007.

The Shelby GT500 Super Snake coupe will come standard with a Ford Racing Supercharger on its 5.4L V8 that bumps the Mustang's already prodigious power numbers up to 600 horsepower. While that engine will come with a full factory-backed warranty, there will reportedly be other engine options that include a 725-horsepower motor that comes without the blessing of the factory (no warranty). Other mods include a Ford Racing Handling Pack that adds adjustable dampers, lower springs, bigger stabilizer bars and a front strut tower brace. The brakes are of course bigger and fit snuggly behind a set of Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels.

Check out more info and the press release after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Drew!

[Source: StangsUnleashed.com]

Click the image above to see more images of the Matech Ford GT

The Ford GT may already be out of production, but it's just getting started on the European race circuit. Last month we told you that three Ford GTs were being raced by Matech, and after its first test at Dijon, Ford's most premium super car looks to be ready to compete against the best Europe has to offer. The Matech Ford GT posted a time of 1'20.611, finishing .185 behind the overall fastest tester, the Ascari KZ1-R. Driver Christophe Bouchut tabbed the GT as "easy to drive" and called the car "well built".

MyVideo has footage of the Ford GT in action at Dijon, and it looks quite at home at the track, sounding like the super car that it is. We hear the flames coming out of the exhaust of the GT during the practice run are in fact not the product of a Power Stroke diesel, so there is no reason to be alarmed.

Check out the very well-produced video of the Ford GT at Dijon after the jump.

[Source: Fiagt3.com]

Episode 12 of the Ford Bold Moves web-based documentary is live online and it focuses on Ford's history in racing. One interesting fact it reveals is that Ford Racing celebrated its 100th anniversary 18th months prior to Ford Motor Company's big centennial blow out, because in 1901 Henry Ford beat Alexander Winton in a race held at a Grosse Pointe racetrack. Ford sold the car he used, the trophy he won and solicited some venture capitalists in the stands that day to start Ford Motor Company.

The main message of Episode 12 as it pertains to racing is that Ford doesn't plan on leaving the track anytime soon. Not only does racing offer opportunities for trickle down technology in the areas of performance and safety, but is there any better marketing for Ford than seeing a Blue Oval cross a checkered line?

[Source: Ford Bold Moves]