Autoblog

The Brooklands-based tuning firm, Avro Motor Cars, has partnered up with Roush Technologies to offer up a run of ten limited-edition Ford GTs that not only get a fresh coat of orange metallic paint and a some matte-black details, but an extra helping of power. The 720 Mirage spells out its claim to fame in its name, with 720 horses coaxed from the modified V8. Utilizing a larger Whipple supercharger, an Accufab throttle body, inlet sleeve and X-pipe exhaust, the 720 unleashes its namesake at 6,950 rpm, with peak torque output of 627 lb.-ft. coming on at 4,800 rpm. The suspension has been modified with KW Variant 3 adjustable coilovers that drop the limited edition whip by 25mm, while AP six-piston calipers clamp onto drilled and slotted rotors courtesy of Stillen. There's no word on pricing, but we'd guess that if you tacked on a few more zeros to the GT's 220 mph top speed, you'd be pretty close to the sticker.

[Source: Avro Motor Cars via WCF]

Click above to watch the Saleen S281 and Roush 427R do battle

While Saleen and Roush have always been competitors for the dollars of Mustang lovers everywhere, the two companies have somehow managed to co-exist for decades. But which makes a better Mustang? Former FIA F300 driver Derek Hill of Web Rides TV had the opportunity to pit the Saleen S281 against the Roush 427R to see which legendary pony car tuner would come out on top.

At first, the battle of the two supercharged Mustangs doesn't look like a fair fight. The S281 has 465 hp and 425 lb-ft, some 30 more horsepower and 25 more lb-ft than the 427R. The S281 also weighs 300 lbs. less than the more visceral 427R. As New York Giants fans can attest, however, just because one team looks better on paper, when the game is being played, anything can happen. Hit the jump to view a video of the 427R against the S281 in 0-100-0, slalom, and on-track tests. The video is incredible, and the two vehicles aren't nearly as evenly matched as you might think.

[Source: Web Rides TV]

"We understand in order to continue our sales trend, we need to look beyond Ford." That's the crux of the conversation that took place between InsideLine and John G. Clark, the communications and motorsports manager for Roush Performance Products.

With a record 2007 under its belt, Roush is looking to expand its operations to include foreign brands, develop alternative-energy products and continue to provide the parts and services that have been the mainstay for the U.S.-based aftermarket supplier.

While Clark remained mum on what import brands it would begin to offer parts for, the firm is looking to launch an unnamed third brand that "has nothing to do with Roush." This will initially begin with powertrain parts for both cars and trucks, likely with a focus on performance, but Roush is also launching a propane-powered Ford F150 for fleet use and is developing a small fleet of electric vehicles, along with new products for diesel trucks, which are supposedly in high demand.

As for those shots of the Dodge Challenger outside the Roush plant, Clark said that, "we have no plans to do [the] Camaro, Challenger or Silverado, despite what's on the internet." Pity, considering that the two new pony cars have as much aftermarket potential as the Mustang on which Roush has solidified its street cred.

[Source: InsideLine]

We're not drawing any conclusions, but it looks pretty definite that Roush is branching out beyond tuning Fords exclusively. We just saw their ace work on Chevrolet's Silverado, and now a pair of Challengers have been spotted in the Roush parking lot. It could mean nothing, but let's dream for a minute. How does a Hemi with a ROUSHCharger cramming atmosphere past the intake valves sound? Yeah, we like the sound of that, too. Whether it's nothing, research, or evidence of a future offering from Roush, it's also nice to see a couple of different colors on the Challenger sheetmetal. We'll take the sinister dark one, thanks.

UPDATE: While it's exciting to dream, it turns out that the Roush facility in the picture is Roush Industries, not Roush performance. Roush Industries does contract work for automakers (a good move, as the performance tuner business is fickle, at best), so these Challengers parked outside aren't a surprising development. Thanks to the commenters who set us straight.

[Source: Carscoop]

click above for more high-res images of the ROUSH Silverado

It was a big enough shock last May when ROUSH announced that it would begin making performance parts for a select few General Motors' vehicles. Long associated with Fords, in particular the Mustang and F-150, ROUSH initially began offering just its Power Programmers and cold air intakes for GM products.

Then a rendering surfaced that showed a fully tuned Silverado with a ROUSH body kit and wheel package. Though the company admitted it was researching such a truck, it didn't admit much else. Now it doesn't have to, as we have pictorial proof that ROUSH may soon branch out beyond vehicles branded with a blue oval to offering full performance packages, including the ROUSHcharger supercharger, for 1997-and-up Chevy Silverados.

The spy shots you see here show a ROUSH-modified Silverado that's virtually identical to the rendering that leaked out. Beyond the bright color, we can see a new front bumper and lower apron with a deep chin spoiler, large-diameter dual exhausts out back, larger wheels wrapped in low-profile rubber and a new hood with a power dome. That dome no doubt hides a supercharged V8, probably the 6.0L Vortec MAX V8 that normally produces 367 hp and 375-lb/ft of torque, but should hit 500 hp and 500-lb/ft with the addition of a ROUSHcharger. ROUSH and Chevy? We know, it sounds weird to us too, but based on these spy shots, it looks like a good time.

[Photos: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics of the Ford Fiesta Mountune.

While most enthusiasts look to the Focus RS as the definitive forbidden fruit from Ford, the Fiesta stands as another product in the compact arena that will do wonders for Ford in the U.S. when it arrives here, possibly as the Verve, in the near future. Ford is upping the ante abroad, however, with help from Roush, owners of the Mountune Racing brand over there, by offering staged performance packages for the Fiesta ST that boost output while carrying a warranty of up to three years or 36,000 miles.

The Stage 1 setup is comprised of a whole new breathing and expelling system that includes an air intake, tubular exhaust manifold, high-flow cat and cat-back exhaust, and retails for £1,435 (not including installation). All those mods bring output up to 165 PS (163 hp), but if you choose to go for the Stage 2 system, you'll get new camshafts, valve springs and over 180 hp, all for £1,838.

[Source: Ford]

click above image to view more high-res pics of the Roush P-51A Mustang

When Roush pulled the wraps off its new P-51A Mustang, we ventured a guess that it wouldn't take too long to sell out the 100 being produced for 2008. After all, it's the most powerful Mustang ever produced by Roush at 510 horsepower, and the car's personal connection with Jack Roush's love of both planes and automobiles is sure to make it an instant collector car. Well, it turns out we were right. In fact, Roush has received so much interest in the car that it has bumped the production to 151. It doesn't sound like much until you consider that's more than a fifty percent increase from the originally planned run of 100 cars.

While pricing hasn't even been announced yet, expect an MSRP of just over $65,000. That gets you Roush's latest supercharger, forged internal engine components, a custom lower and upper intake manifold, a custom fuel rail and high flow injectors, upgraded duel throttle body, and a high-capacity intercooler good for at least 510 horsepower. The P-51A also gets a Roush body kit, 14-inch brakes, upgraded interior, 18-inch wheels and tires, and a paint scheme inspired by the 357th Fighters Group that was legendary in WWII.

Follow the jump for the full details in the press release or check our gallery of the car from SEMA.

[Source: Roush]

Click image for photo gallery

Supercars and less-than-super drivers can be a dicey situation, as evidenced by the rash of Enzo Ferrari wrecks last year. The Ford GT in standard form definitely qualifies as a supercar, and the ultra-limited 10-car run of modified versions dubbed 600RE by Roush Europe ratchets up the exclusivity even further. Sporting a pulley upgrade and new Tubi exhaust among other things, the 600RE was rated at 612 HP post-modification. That appeared to be too much for the unlucky driver of this 3-day-old Roush 600RE, #3 of 10. That third day was its last, unfortunately, and following a £145,000 insurance payout, the car is being offered as a parts lot on eBay. Someone's going to be able to put together one of the meanest kit cars ever with these leftovers.

[Source: eBay]

Ponies and horses go together, don't they? The tinkerers at Roush decided that their current ROUSHcharger didn't provide enough horses for Ford's pony car, so they added another 30 to the corral. Now, for $5,599, the ROUSHcharger increases the HP of your Mustang GT from 300 to 445. That's a 48-percent increase and 30 more horsepower than before due to a smaller, faster-spinning pulley and altered PCM calibration. The result is the aforementioned 445 HP as well as 418 ft-lb of torque.

The add-on will soon be legal for use in all 50 states, and those who already have ROUSHchargers can upgrade by ordering the new pulley for $389. A polished version of the supercharger is also available for $5,899. Installation won't alter the balance of your Ford warranty, which is a bonus, and the supercharger comes with its own year-long coverage if the manufacturer warranty has ended.

[Source: ROUSH]

click above image to enlarge

The 427R Mustang is the most popular Mustang model that ROUSH has ever offered, which is saying something when it comes from a company whose core business is producing bigger, better and meaner Mustangs. Today ROUSH announced that it will continue honoring the storied engines of Ford's past by adding the limited edition 428R Mustang to its 2008 lineup. ROUSH has plans to produce only 200 copies of the 428R, which will arrive at dealerships next month. It's up to any current 427R owners out there to consider whether the following changes warrant an upgrade to something a bit more exclusive. For one, the Mustang's ROUSHcharged (supercharged) 4.6L V8 has been further massaged to produce 435 HP and 400 ft-lbs. of torque, up from 427 HP and 391 ft-lbs. in the 427R. It appears the 428R gets the same ROUSH suspension package, exhaust and brakes as the 427R, but in terms of exterior styling, the 428R features a single set of headlamps up front, as well as a "black bar high-flow grille" with no galloping Mustang. There's plenty of ROUSH badging inside the vehicle and out, and the interior gets branded floor mats and sill plates, as well as ROUSH sport leather seating, a ROUSH short throw shifter with a retro ball top, and white face gauges.

Also revealed with the 428R is news that ROUSH will also introduce a 429R model for the 2009 model year. No word yet on what it will hide underhood, but expect it to be even more powerful than the 428R introduced today. Of course, one might be inclined to note that the world hardly needs yet another variant of the Ford Mustang, but as long as people keep buying them, companies like ROUSH will keep producing them.

[Source: ROUSH]