Autoblog

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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Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. race Focus ST and GTI through abandoned neighborhood

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Ford

Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin, Jr. are two of the masters of artistically abusing automobiles, so you know a video with both men in it is going to be a good one. In the fourth installment of the Focus ST Sessions series from Ford, Gittin and Block are given the keys to a 2013 Focus ST and a Volkswagen GTI, and then let loose in an abandoned neighborhood.

While the stunts in this video are nowhere near what either man is capable of performing in their respective racecars, it is essentially a two-minute-long Ford commercial showing the Focus ST's advantages over VW's standard bearer for the hot hatch class. The two cars tear through the deserted streets, allowing the Focus ST to show its strong off-the-line acceleration and slaloming ability through some construction barrels.

It's a pretty predictable video but still amusing to watch, so be sure to check it out below.

Continue reading Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. race Focus ST and GTI through abandoned neighborhood

Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. race Focus ST and GTI through abandoned neighborhood originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:59:00 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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Formula Drift crowns its 2012 champion

Drew Phillips — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Coming into the last event of the Formula Drift season no less than seven drivers had a chance at winning the championship. Vaughn Gittin Jr., the 2010 champion, was the odds-on favorite, entering the final with a size points lead gained from back-to-back wins earlier in the season, but other drivers like veteran Rhys Millen, last years champion Daijiro Yoshihara, rookie Daigo Saito and Gittin's fellow Mustang driver Justin Pawlak were all in the hunt.

It was a packed house at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California to watch the finale - for the first time in the event's history all tickets were sold out before the competition even began.

The drivers put on quite a show for the capacity crowd, and Vaughn Gittin Jr. made things interesting by getting knocked out early in the competition. That left the door open for Rhys Millen and Daigo Saito to take the overall points lead. While Millen managed to make the semi finals, it was Saito who took full advantage, beating out every driver he faced in heads-up competition in his 1,200 horsepower Lexus SC430. The first place finish not only gave him the most coveted win in the Formula Drift schedule, but the overall championship as well in his first season. This perhaps makes him the most highly rated drifter in the world, having already won the Formula Drift Asia championship as well as a D1 championship.

You can read the official press release below or check out our photos from the event in the gallery above.

Continue reading Formula Drift crowns its 2012 champion

Formula Drift crowns its 2012 champion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car

Zach Bowman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

We've finally come to accept the fact that we'll never be Vaughn Gittin Jr. There can be only one one pure-bred drift hooligan of his caliber on this planet and truth be told, our sideways skills are paltry at best. That doesn't mean we can't pretend, though. Gittin Jr. has teamed up with a smattering of companies to give away five very limited-edition RC cars made up in the image of his sinister Ford Mustang GT drift machine. Only 5,000 of the HPI RC Ford Mustang cars will be produced in total, and Gittin Jr. is giving five of them away to Facebook fans.

To get the word out, Gittin Jr., K&N, Monster Energy and Falken Tire crafted a video demonstrating just what happens when the drifter can't get his hands on the scale Mustang. An epic chase ensues, with the RC car taking a little "How it's Made" tour of the K&N factory. The clip also features a few outtakes worth watching, as well. We won't spoil it for you, but we will say more than one RC car gave its life in the making of the film. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself. If you want to enter the sweepstakes, head over to the K&N Facebook page for more information.

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car

Vaughn Gittin Jr. almost out-drifted by RC car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Etc., Videos, Ford, Celebrities

Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

By now, news that the Ford F150 SVT Raptor can get you over the river and through the woods to grandma's house is older than the dirt splattered down the pickup's side. Still, that doesn't mean that we're above taking a second to watch Vaughn Gittin Jr. put the FoMoCo beast through its paces. As you may recall, Gittin Jr. is the talented hellion who took the 2010 Formula Drift title, so the man knows a thing or two about stretching a vehicle to its limits and beyond.

Gittin Jr. teamed up with the crew from Wrecked Magazine to bash through the sand outside of Las Vegas when someone threw open the gates to the local CORR track. That's when things got really interesting. The drift guru set to vaulting the pickup to ever loftier heights. At one point, re-entry causes the Raptor's frame to flex enough to cause the tail gate to pop open on contact with terra firma - impressive given what this bruiser was engineered to withstand. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

Gallery: Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor

[Sources: YouTube, Wrecked Magazine]

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video]

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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