Autoblog

We heard rumblings from the underground that ROUSH was considering expanding its line of high-performance parts to vehicles not wearing the Blue Oval badge, and today the company that Jack built made it official. After 12 years of offering parts only for Fords, ROUSH Performance will begin offering parts for GM vehicles for the first time. The first two products include the ROUSH Power Programmers for GM trucks (shown right) and Cold Air Intake Kits. Soon exhaust systems, suspension components and other parts will be offered, as well. Even the ROUSHcharger supercharger system will be made available for the 2007-2008 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

Though the ROUSH name has been synonomous with Ford vehicles, particularly the Mustang and F-150, the move to expand its product lineup to other manufacturers only makes sense. ROUSH has been doing engineering work for General Motors and even DaimlerChrysler for some time, so we wouldn't be surprised to find out Chrysler Group vehicles will be invited into the fold soon, too. And do we even dare speculate about the possibility of ROUSH one day offering its own version of the Camaro?

Check out the official press release from ROUSH after the jump.

[Source: ROUSH]

It's not a secret that Jack Roush thinks you should be buying American cars. Likewise, he's not a fan of NASCAR's decision to allow Toyota to race in the Nextel Cup series this season. The motorsports legend and tuner of all things Ford has recently gone on record with some fiery wartime rhetoric saying, "I expect to hand Toyota their head over the short term." He went on to say, "Toyota will not find that the established teams and manufacturers will wither in their path, as has been the case where they have tried to engage elsewhere." Them sounds like fightin' words!

The general concern is that Toyota will shore up its three teams with a bankroll that can't be matched by other manufacturers and teams participating in the series. However, as has been pointed out in the past, Toyota is believed to have the biggest budget in F1, yet you don't hear its name on the podium very often with Renault and Ferrari. For Roush's part, he's gone to great lengths to secure additional funding for his NASCAR team, even from Ford which is obviously strapped for cash.

Roush makes a good point, however, that NASCAR's strict limitations on technology means that Toyota's money won't allow it to buy better cars or technology. The real investment in NASCAR is with people and having the bucks to hire the best. But Toyota also knows success in NASCAR is not all about winning, it's about how many billboards, commercials and sponsorships you can slap your logo on. There's little doubt in our minds that Toyota will be successful in that arena.

[Source: Associated Press via Winding Road]

Click for 4 additional high-res photos

At SEMA this year ROUSH introduced the Roadster, a head-turning droptop 'Stang that is now available through authorized retailers. If you want one of the two-tone beauties, you'd better get to it, because ROUSH is only building 100 of 'em, and Jack sure sounds like he's going to keep one for himself (see the attached press release). That still leaves 99 cars. The car's two-tone finish features black on top and Torch Red, Redfire, Vista Blue, Silver or Grabber Orange on the lower portion. A pinstripe separates the colors, and the result is very, very good-looking.

All cars also feature a Roush light bar, lowered suspension, and 20" wheels. Buyers can give their Roadsters performance to match their appearance by selecting the optional ROUSHcharger upgrade, which bestows the 4.6L V8 with 415-horsepower when mated to a 5-speed manual. Further augmentation in the form of custom interior bits, a short-throw shifter and more can be added to further personalize each car to the owner's tastes.

To the lucky few who'll park one of these sleds in their garage, know that we're painting ourselves a color that's not available for the cars themselves: Envy Green.

Check out the full press release after the jump, and feast your eyes on the Roadster in our gallery.

[Source: ROUSH]

Dang, we're already at episode 22 of the Ford Bold Moves web-based documentary that has been chronicling the ins and outs of FoMoCo as it tries to resurrect respect for itself among the motoring public. There's been some good episodes in the past 22, and we've also suffered through some infommercials for current and upcoming Ford products. Episode 22, however, takes us to the company's new Dearborn test facility where Ford Racing Team drivers get their first crack at the GT500. It's entertaining enough to watch Ford personnel tell the likes of Jack Roush, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth to "use common sense out there" on the track, but this episode is made by the excellent videography that ensues from suction-cupping cameras to a GT500 that's being absolutely punished by some of the best drivers in the world. Our heart goes out to Ford Marketing Manager Jim Owens who sat shotgun in the GT500 lap after lap while each pro driver tried his best to impress his buddies back in the paddock.

[Source: Ford Bold Moves]

In the mid-'60s, Jack Roush joined the "Fastbacks," a group of Ford enthusiasts who pooled their own resources to go racing. Even though Jack had a secure job as an engineer at Ford, he left the company in 1969 to work with the club and also develop speed products for other race teams. After the Fastbacks disbanded in 1970, Roush teamed with Wayne Gapp to become a dominating force on the drag strip. The rest is history as Roush now has successful NASCAR teams and a thriving aftermarket-product business. Drawing from his experience as a member of the Fastbacks, Roush has revived the famed Ford Drag Pack Mustang, but with his own special brand of performance. Starting as a Roush Stage 3 Mustang, the car gets drivetrain and suspension upgrades and low 4.10:1 rear gears. Even the battery is relocated to the trunk, ala Boss 429. After a year's testing, the prototype is consistently running under 12 seconds at the drag strip on Mickey Thompson slicks. That's right out of the dealership. Just drive it to the track, swap on the slicks and go racing. Weight-reduction steps and other modifications could probably get the car into the 10s, if the owner desired. Roush will sell 50 Drag Pack Mustangs through a Florida dealer. Talking with Autoblog, Roush urges dealers to purchase the car. "I would hope that some of the people who wind up with them are dealers and they will let their mechanics in the back shop work on them and race them. That's one of the things that worked for the dealers in the '60s," said Roush, signing autographs at the SEMA Show. The Drag Pack cars won't have decals as shown on the prototype but Roush said he's working on a special graphics package. Roush components that make up the Stage 3 and Drag Pack Mustangs are all available separately. "With a few tweaks I hope to have another version in 2008," added Roush.

More photos and the news release after the break.

Click to enlarge

We all know that Jack Roush's company builds hot Mustangs that look good and go fast. Enter the ROUSH 427R: the most powerful Roush Mustang to date. This new fire-breather is based on the already-impressive ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang, but improves on that car's power numbers as it tacks on an additional 12 horses for a total of 427, hence the name.

The requisite body kit is standard, as are chromed 18" wheels, a stripe package and exclusive badging. In addition, the 427R gets an all-new suspension tune. Buyers can work with Roush to fully personalize their rides by choosing from an assortment of Roush accessories ranging from items like a gauge package to full leather seating.

All we know is that we want one in the Autoblog Garage post-haste. Hey, if Bentley sent us a tester...

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: ROUSH]

The accompanying pictures are vidcaps from a Sky News piece about Al Melling's new supercar - the Melling Hellcat. As the video shows, Melling has a running prototype of the V10-powered car. (Watch the video here.)

The prototype looks rather racy, sporting Viper-style like pipes, and in an interview the designer confirms he's taking the new sportscar to Le Mans in 2007.

More interesting still is this story, which maintains that not only will Melling build four cars a month in his Rochdale, U.K. factory, but he has also inked a deal with Roush Industries to build 100 cars a month in the U.S.! While one has to wonder about the predicted production volume, the USA/UK badging on the prototype certainly suggests there's something to the story.

Stay tuned!

[Sources: Rochdale Observer via Pistonheads, Sky News]