Autoblog

Vaughn Gittin Jr. given free rein to drift around Flat Rock Assembly Plant

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Ford

Having just announced its official sponsorship of the Formula Drift series, Ford (via Ford Racing) released a video with Vaughn Gittin, Jr. and his new 2013 Mustang RTR drift car. The video, titled "2nd Shift Drift," shows him drifting around the property of Ford's Flat Rock Assembly plant where all Mustangs are currently built.

Although not quite as technical as a Ken Block Gymkhana, Gittin's video delivers plenty of entertainment between slalom drifting a pack of driving Mustangs and a little game we like to call kiss the Mustang (at the 2:21 mark). This all happens around the facility's track that is normally used to perform spot checks of Mustangs rolling off the assembly line.

We expect to see more videos like this from Ford next year as it promotes Formula Drift, but until then, check out how much fun Gittin had visiting the home of the Ford Mustang in the video below.

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. given free rein to drift around Flat Rock Assembly Plant

Vaughn Gittin Jr. given free rein to drift around Flat Rock Assembly Plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:28:00 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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2011 Ford Mustang RTR

Drew Phillips — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST

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

Drift On Sunday, Sell On Monday

At the 2009 SEMA Show, Vaughn Gittin Jr. wowed us with his RTR-C Ford Mustang. With a full carbon fiber body, supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower and a custom interior, it was easily one of the coolest modern pony cars we had ever seen. The only problem was that to buy one of your own, you'd need a six-figure sum burning a hole in your "fun money" account. That's a lot of cash for any car, let alone a Ford Mustang. The solution is the Mustang RTR, a much cheaper version of the RTR-C that's actually fairly affordable for the average sports car buyer.

The question you might be asking, though, is whether there is room in the automotive marketplace for yet another specialty Mustang. It seems a new variation comes across our desks at least once a week, and there are already endless aftermarket options for those wishing to build their own personalized pony car. Plus, many of those same Mustangs have well-established names like Shelby, Saleen and Roush emblazoned on their sides, all of whom are legends in the storied history of motorsports (and the Ford Mustang in particular).

Even so, Gittin is hoping to bring something new to the table. As a series champion and one of the most popular figures in Formula Drift, he believes that he can offer something different to a new generation of car enthusiasts. When Gitten first began competing with a Ford Mustang, he felt a disconnect between the car's aftermarket and the crowds of fans who were attending drifting events. "Since I fell in love with being behind the wheel of a Mustang in 2005, I noticed that most of the aftermarket was offering parts that were so traditional and, for the most part, not really my style - nor most of my generation's style" he told Autoblog. "I wanted to introduce something fresh and aggressive to the market that would engage a new generation of Mustang owner and appeal to traditional Mustang enthusiasts at the same time." That vision became a reality at SEMA in 2009 with the debut of his RTR-C and RTR Mustang.

Still, the question remains. Is there room for yet another Mustang tuner to enter the mix? We took a quick spin in an RTR Mustang to help find out.

Continue reading 2011 Ford Mustang RTR

2011 Ford Mustang RTR originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The making of Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Ford Mustang

Drew Phillips — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:57:00 EST

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

Earlier this year, we headed out to California's Willow Springs Raceway to see Vaughn Gittin Jr. play with his 1969 RTR-X Ford Mustang for the very first time. It took just a few minutes for Gittin and his pony car to get acquainted, then it was all sideways action and tire smoke for the next couple of hours.

We weren't the only ones watching Gittin that day, though. A film crew had their lenses pointed at the RTR-X as well, getting footage for a video about the making of the car. That video, produced by Team Need for Speed, has now been released, and it provides a glimpse into what it took to build the car, along with the people behind the project. There's also some great footage of Gittin doing his thing in the RTR-X at Willow Springs. To watch the video just follow the jump and hit play.

Continue reading The making of Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Ford Mustang

The making of Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Ford Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play

Drew Phillips — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford

Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Formula Drift champ Vaughn Gittin Jr. unveiled his 1969 RTR-X Mustang at SEMA last year, and since then we've been hoping to see the car in action. We're sure Vaughn's been itching to get behind the wheel, as well, and he finally got the chance yesterday when he took the RTR-X out to Willow Springs Raceway for its very first test session.

A 1969 Mustang isn't the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to drifting, but the RTR-X looked like a natural at getting sideways. Granted, this pony car has very little in common with your everyday 1969 Mustang. Under the hood is a tuned version of the Boss 302's 5.0-liter V8, and the suspension looks more like something out of Formula 1 than from a vintage muscle car. You can read more about all the features of the RTR-X after the jump, or check out our photos from the test day in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Mustang

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. RTR package available for 2011 Ford Mustang [w/video]

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2011 Ford Mustang GT RTR by Vaughn Gittin Jr. - Click above for high-res image gallery

Vaughn Gittin Jr. is intimately familiar with extracting every last bit of performance from the Ford Mustang, so it's no surprise the FoMoCo has tapped the Formula Drifting ace to create a limited edition 'Stang for the 2011 model year.

Based on the new 5.0-liter V8 Mustang GT, the RTR package boasts a comprehensive list of upgrades, including new springs and shocks that drop the Mustang 1.5 inches over specially designed 19-inch RTR wheels each wrapped in Falken FK452 high-performance rubber. A larger rear sway bar aids rotation and cross-drilled and slotted rotors should keep things cool when hauling the massive coupe to a halt. Under the hood, the only major modification is a K&N high-flow air filter, but combined with a Ford Racing ECU tune and a set of new mufflers, the breathing mods are good for an extra nine horsepower, netting a total of 421 ponies.

On the outside, the RTR benefits from a front splitter, aluminum spoiler and a graphics package, while the interior gets a smatter of badges on the doors, shifter and floormats. The whole package will set you back $7,895 and Ford plans to offer a V6 version later this year. Head over to MustangRTR.com for more details, and make the jump for a video and the complete press release.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Mustang GT RTR

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. RTR package available for 2011 Ford Mustang [w/video]

Vaughn Gittin Jr. RTR package available for 2011 Ford Mustang [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Vaughn Gittin's all-carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang

Drew Phillips — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford

Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s RTR-C Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Of all the Mustangs in the Ford booth, Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang was by far our favorite. To answer the question everyone is wondering - no, it's not a wrap. The carbon fiber body panels are the real deal. According to Vaughn, the lightweight material saves 400-500 pounds, although some of that weight is added back thanks to the supercharger, larger brakes and headers. In total, the car weighs in at just over 3,350 pounds.

Aside from the exterior, we were impressed with the level of detail that went into building the car. Inside, the Sparco seats are also constructed of carbon fiber, and the rear seats have been taken out and replaced with a tasteful leather-covered panel. Even small things like the RTR logos look like they were made with an attention to detail.

Want one of your own? Vaughn will be selling a limited run of just 10 RTR-C Mustangs, although the price tag is a hefty $135,000. Still, if you do decide to drop the cash, you're guaranteed to have one of the 10 coolest Mustangs in the world.

Gallery: Vaughn Gittin Jr. RTR-C Mustang

SEMA 2009: Vaughn Gittin's all-carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang RTR

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford

Mustang RTR - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's SEMA Show promises to be an aftermarket Camaro orgy that would make Caligula blush. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But, as you know, there are Chevy guys and there are Ford guys and never the two shall meet (unless they're making fun of Dodge guys). So, here's one for you Ford heads - Vaughn Gitten Jr.'s RTR Mustang. Here's what Vaughn has to say about his car:

"There is no question that Mustang's performance, quality and looks have evolved straight from the factory. However, the majority of the Mustang aftermarket has not fully followed the progression with regards to aesthetics. I saw the need to get something out there that was different from traditional Mustang styling. Something that could open up a new set of eyes to the already-incredible Ford Mustang, while keeping the current Mustang enthusiast smiling."

And now, the skinny. First of all, the RTR package will be available as a dealer-installed option. At first it will only be available for the V8-powered Mustang GT, but after a while you'll be able to get the RTR package on a V6 Mustang, too. Gittin's RTR is both a show and go package. There's a slight horsepower bump (9 hp) from a K&N air filter and a teeny bit of tuning, Ford racing shocks and cut springs, a fatter rear sway bar, cross drilled and slotted brake rotors and finally Falken FK452 performance tires on 19x9.5 inch wheels.

As far as the looks go, RMR 'Stangs get a front chin spoiler w/splitter, revised side sills, rear diffuser and aluminum rear spoiler, stripes, decals and an interior flourish or two. There's ten different paint schemes to choose from -- ours has to be the Grabber Blue with the darker blue accents. Also, RTR is promising OEM quality across the board. There's also going to be an all-carbon fiber edition called the RTR Carbon that we'll certainly be seeing at SEMA. Bad news? The full Gittin Jr. RTR will set you back $7,800. Full press release and a video of the RTR Mustang drifting around can be found after the jump.

Gallery: RTR Mustang

[Source: Mustang RTR]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang RTR

SEMA Preview: Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang RTR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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