The pony car wars are about one-upsmanship if nothing else. The Ford Mustang held court for years while Chevrolet and Dodge had their horses on hiatus, but times have changed. The new Camaro has been whaling on the Mustang ever since its return, beating the Ford in sales for nine months straight and offering a range engines that are at once more powerful and efficient than the Blue Oval’s aging mills. Advantage: Camaro.
The Mustang, however, received a nicely executed redesign for its 2010 model year and, as is Ford’s way, the automaker waited another model year to introduce its new range of engines. You already know all about the return of the storied 5.0 moniker on this year’s new Mustang GT. You also know that the V6 model is replacing its Civil War era 4.0-liter engine with a more powerful and efficient 3.7-liter. Powerful as in 305 horsepower, but how efficient? We didn’t know before but we do now. The 2011 Ford Mustang V6 will achieve 19 miles per gallon in the city and, more noteworthy, 31 mpg on the highway.

The V6 model’s rating of 30 mpg highway (when paired with the six-speed auto mind you, the manual version achieves 30 mpg) is noteworthy because, well, it’s 2 mpg more than the slightly less powerful 304-hp Camaro V6. Also, it’s a record for being the first 300+ hp vehicle to be officially rated at 30 mpg or more. Wow, think about that. It’s never been done before. Sure, the new Mustang V6 is only marginally more powerful and efficient than its Camaro counterpart, but clawing above that 30 mpg mark will no doubt get Ford’s thoroughbred some extra ink in the press.

Joining the reveals announced for Geneva is Ford, with 2012 Focus wagon. With this debut , Ford has reached the halfway point in the roll-out of its new C-segment platform. When Ford first announced the new C-Max and Grand C-Max at the Frankfurt Motor Show last fall, it said the C platform would eventually spawn at least 10 different variants. The two MPVs were joined by the four- and five-door Focus at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The new station wagon is number five and we expect it to be joined by a three-door hatch and coupe-convertible in the coming months. Ford also revealed that a small SUV will join the C-segment lineup soon.
Design-wise the new Focus wagon differs little from the sedan and five-door hatch. It is identical back to the B-pillars with only the extended roof-line and cargo area setting it apart. Ford has integrated the cargo rails into the roof in order to maintain the sleek looks of the latest iteration of its Kinetic design.

Inside the wagon gets the same up-scale interior shown in the sedan and hatch including the first European availability of the new MyFord Touch system as part of the latest generation of Sync technology. The U.S. will initially get only one 2.0-liter engine, Europeans will get a range of updated gas and diesel engines to choose from. Production of the Focus starts simultaneously late this year in Europe and the U.S.

No guzzler Mustang, no luxury Bentley, no gittery Lamborghini. It’s Ford SuperDuty! A hell of a monster grunting from under that bulky body!

The 2011 Ford Super Duty comes with two engine choices: the 6.2-liter gasoline-powered V8 found in the upgraded SVT Raptor, which puts out 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, or an all-new, Ford-designed 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V8 producing 390 hp and a pavement pummeling 735 lb-ft of twist (at 1,600 rpm).

The latter engine in the F450 is able to tow some 24,400 pounds and has a maximum payload of 4,920 pounds. The F350, which is the closest competitor to the Chevrolet, GMC or Ram equivalent, comes to the fight with 21,600 pounds of towing capacity and 6,520 pounds of payload. Each engine is mated to a 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission.

For full details, hit the link and read the press release.

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• 2011 F-Series Super Duty boasts all-new powertrains, led by the Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel engine, which delivers best-in-class torque of 735 ft.-lb. (at 1,600 rpm) and best-in-class 390 horsepower (at 2,800 rpm) – 85 ft.-lb. and 40 horsepower more than the outgoing product. The new diesel does this with best-in-class fuel economy and biodiesel compatibility up to B20
• All-new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine also best-in-class with 385 horsepower and 405 ft.-lb. of torque – 85 more horsepower and 40 ft.-lb. more torque than the current 5.4-liter V-8 gas engine – combined with class-leading fuel economy and E85 compatibility
• Each new engine is mated to the all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed automatic transmission, which has been optimized for the increased torque of the new diesel engine and the higher speeds of the new gas engine. The new transmission features SelectShift Automatic™ capability, with segment-exclusive Live Drive Power Take Off (PTO) available for diesels
• The all-new powertrains are the backbone of the new 2011 F-Series Super Duty, which has class-leading towing capability of 24,400 pounds and best-in-class payload capability of 6,520 pounds; the new Super Duty averages an 18 percent improvement for pickup models and up to 25 percent improvement for chassis cabs over outgoing model

“Our Super Duty customers do some of America’s toughest jobs,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “Every day they’re out there working with little fanfare and all they ask is the right tool for the job. The new 2011 Super Duty offers them a truck with best-in-class towing and payload, all-new powertrains and even more capability than ever to help them do their jobs.”

Ford’s F-Series has been the best-selling line of trucks in the U.S. for 33 straight years. With class-leading torque, horsepower, fuel economy and towing and payload capability, the new Super Duty further underscores Ford’s Built Ford Tough legacy.

“The 2011 Super Duty offers the widest array of solutions for the widest array of heavy-duty work truck customers,” said Chris Brewer, chief engineer. “The Super Duty lineup offers a variety of bodystyles and powertrains, from diesel and gasoline engines, each with a new six-speed transmission, to pickup trucks and chassis cabs, each with the towing and payload capabilities that define Super Duty.”

New diesel and gasoline engines deliver improved torque, horsepower, fuel economy
For 2011, Super Duty features both all-new diesel and gasoline engines that are mated to a new transmission. The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel was designed, engineered and built by a Ford team dedicated solely to delivering this class-leading diesel to the next-generation Super Duty to enable continued best-in-class towing and payload.

The result: The new Power Stroke pumps out a best-in-class 735 ft.-lb. of torque at 1,600 rpm and 390 horsepower at 2,800 rpm, enabling the 2011 Super Duty’s class-leading towing capability of 24,400 pounds. The 2011 Super Duty also has class-leading payload capability at 6,520 pounds.

Benefits of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine:

• First use of a compacted graphite iron (CGI) engine block in a Super Duty-class vehicle in North America; CGI is stronger than cast iron, and Ford successfully has used the material in engine blocks in products around the world. The block structure was optimized for reduced weight and maximum strength to meet the demands of higher torque and more horsepower, and enable class-leading fuel economy.
• Unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture, an automotive-industry first for a modern production diesel, reduces overall exhaust system volume, which leads to better throttle response; a reduced exhaust system surface area minimizes heat transfer to the engine compartment and improves NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).
• The turbocharger features an industry-first dual-sided compressor wheel that works in a single housing. The unit is uniquely center-mounted on a pedestal low in the back of the valley for improved NVH. The design allows the single unit to deliver the advantages of a twin-turbocharger system in a smaller, more efficient package, combining the benefits of a small turbocharger (faster response) and a large turbocharger (ability to compress and force more air into the engine for more power) in one unit.
• The high-pressure fuel system injects fuel at more than 29,000 psi. The system delivers up to five injection events per cylinder per cycle using eight-hole piezo injectors to spray fuel into the piston bowl. The direct-injection system is calibrated and phased for optimum power, fuel efficiency and NVH.
• Aluminum cylinder heads for reduced weight; the mid-deck construction with dual water jackets provides increased strength and optimal cooling; six-head bolts, instead of four as found on other engines, help improve sealing and maintain cylinder integrity even with the higher firing pressures.
• Compatible up to B20 fuel, allowing greener fueling options of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.
• “Developing the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine was an awesome endeavor,” said Adam Gryglak, lead 6.7-liter diesel engineering manager. “The extensive engineering and testing made us confident this engine ensures the new Super Duty’s leadership in capability, reliability and productivity.”

New gasoline engine delivers class-leading power and fuel economy as well
Ford tapped into a bit of its proud racing heritage to create the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine, which uses big-bore architecture to produce best-in-class torque, horsepower and fuel economy. The new gasoline engine delivers 405 ft.-lb. of torque (at 4,500 rpm) and 385 horsepower (at 5,500 rpm) on regular gasoline. The new V-8 also is E85 compatible.

These numbers represent an increase of 40 ft.-lb. of torque and 85 horsepower over the outgoing 5.4-liter V-8. The V-8’s large bore (102 millimeters) allows for larger intake and exhaust valves for improved engine breathing, and the short stroke (95 millimeters) allows higher engine speed for increased horsepower.

Benefits of the new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine include:

• SOHC valvetrain with roller-rocker shafts: The single overhead camshaft (SOHC) per cylinder head design results in a stiff valvetrain that allows optimized camshaft lift profiles and results in great low-speed torque. The roller-rocker shafts allow valve angles to be splayed, resulting in optimized intake and exhaust port layout for better breathing.
• Dual-equal variable cam timing: Intake and exhaust valve opening and closing events are phased at the same time to optimize fuel economy and performance throughout the engine speed range and throttle positions.
• Two spark plugs per cylinder: Due to the large bore size, two spark plugs per cylinder are used to more efficiently burn the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber, enabling better fuel economy and increased engine torque. The twin plugs also help the engine maintain a smooth, stable idle.
• Dual knock sensors: A knock sensor on each bank of cylinders of the V-8 engine allows the spark timing of each cylinder to be individually optimized real-time, throughout the engine speed range. The engine learns the optimum timing via an adaptive algorithm.
• Better engine crankcase “breathing” and efficiency: Significant development work and computer-aided engineering optimized the cylinder block for more efficient airflow in the crankcase as the pistons move up and down in the bores, resulting in improved torque at higher engine speeds. Piston-cooling jets squirt oil on the underside of the pistons to keep the piston crowns cool under extreme operating conditions. The cooling jets also allow for a higher compression ratio for better engine efficiency and faster engine oil warm-up on cold starts, also improving fuel economy.
• New TorqShift transmission harnesses and manages the power; Live Drive PTO available
• The all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission was designed to manage the high low-end torque produced by the new diesel engine. The same basic transmission also is mated to the new gasoline engine, giving customers of either engine the ability to efficiently get the increased torque and horsepower to the ground. Engineered for greater efficiency and fuel economy, improvements include refined architecture to provide relatively low clutch speeds, which results in lower drag losses, and optimized fluid levels and drainback to reduce churning of fluid while also providing superior lubrication.

The new TorqShift transmission also enables the first application of Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) in a Super Duty-class vehicle. On 2011 Super Duty diesels with the PTO prep option, the PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft. This allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment such as snowplows, aerial lifts, tow truck lifts, cement mixers or dump trucks. The power is available any time the engine is running.

Pioneered on agricultural applications, the Live Drive feature is particularly useful when mobile PTO function is required during start-stop operations, such as salt spreading or snow plowing. “A fully functional Live Drive mobile PTO will allow Super Duty customers to take full advantage of the equipment on their trucks,” said Al Bruck, 6R140 transmission engineering manager.

Best-in-class towing and payload; new towing options
Putting all that power to work is what defines Super Duty. The 2011 Super Duty builds on its best-in-class towing and payload capability and also offers more towing options from inside the bed. New is the first-ever factory-installed and warranted fifth wheel and gooseneck substructure directly attached to the frame.

“Our system is factory-installed and comes with a limited warranty from Ford. The electrical connection is mounted in the side of the bed wall, providing a clean installation,” said Peter Frantzeskakis, vehicle engineering manager.

Particularly noteworthy are productivity enhancements to the F-450 pickup to benefit the heaviest-duty trailer tow customers. Unneeded weight was shed, helping to improve fuel economy and top speed. Even with these changes, the F-450 Super Duty pickup maintains its class-leading gross combined weight rating of 33,000 pounds.

Addition of Trailer Sway Control leads safety enhancements
Ford’s lauded Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system joins the Super Duty lineup, giving those customers segment-first capability. TSC is integrated with AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, which now is standard on all single rear wheel (SRW) configurations.

The AdvanceTrac control module uses additional software to monitor the truck’s motion when a trailer is attached. TSC can determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reducing engine torque – to help reduce the trailer sway.

For further peace of mind, the available integrated trailer brake controller, factory-installed and covered by a Ford limited warranty, offers smoother and safer operation due to its ability to interface with multiple vehicle systems.

Normal braking is proportional to driver brake pressure for smooth brake stops at all speeds. If the vehicle’s Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is engaged, the special trailer brake kicks in to minimize the potential for trailer wheel lockup. In Super Duty trucks with Trailer Brake Control towing trailers with electric brakes, the Ford system can, during a sway event, also apply brakes to the trailer to help stabilize it.

Other enhanced towing, off-road control features and safety improvements include:

• Hill Start Assist, which applies brakes to prevent rollback
• Hill Descent Control™, which uses the accelerator and brake to set, and then hold, the speed
• Electronic Locking Differential, which provides maximum traction by forcing the rear wheels to turn at the same speed
• Standard tire pressure monitoring system on all SRW models
• Optional side air bags and air curtains
• A new available 4.2-inch LCD screen includes information on specific features such as Trailer Brake Control and Tow Haul
• Improved ride, handling and steering for a more comfortable experience
• In addition to increased towing and payload capability and improved fuel mileage enabled by the new powertrains, customers of the next Super Duty also will benefit from improved ride, handling and steering. For 2011, the engineering team optimized the frame and suspension of the current Super Duty, particularly the leaf springs and spring rate, as well as adjusting the internal valving in all the shock absorbers to enable greater towing and payload capability with further ride refinement.

The result is greater customer comfort, confidence and control in all situations.

“A big part of the comfort in Super Duty trucks comes through controllability,” said Dan Gompper, vehicle dynamics supervisor. “No matter if the truck is loaded or unloaded, full trailer or empty trailer, customers can be fully confident.”

Bold exterior; new flow-through console highlights interior
The new hood of the 2011 Super Duty, with its prominent inverted power dome, complements the new diesel and gasoline engines lurking beneath. “Super Duty” is stamped on the upper grille, with a larger Ford oval proudly gracing the front.

Inside, customers will benefit from a new reconfigurable flow-through console that improves the functionality of the truck. Storage space is increased about 60 percent, and at least 70 different configurations are possible. A 12-volt powerpoint is available at the rear of the console and another is located inside the main bin, which is lockable. A 110-volt power inverter is standard with all console configurations.

Improved productivity through Ford Work Solutions
For many customers, the Super Duty cab also serves as a mobile office. Industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions™ is part of available technology to help customers stay connected with their business from the job site and track tools.

A new available 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen allows customers to take full advantage of the 2011 Super Duty’s capabilities; an off-road message center has been added as well. The five-way button on the steering wheel allows customers to navigate through various menu options – several relating to fuel economy and towing convenience – never before available on a Super Duty truck.

Continuing the legacy of quality
With all-new powertrains enabling greater towing and payload capability, safety enhancements such as Trailer Sway Control added, and greater functionality with available Ford Work Solutions, the new 2011 Ford Super Duty is poised to continue its legacy as America’s premier work truck.

The accolades the current Super Duty has received, based on 2009 model year GQRS (Global Quality Research System) data, include:

Best-in-Class TGW (Things Gone Wrong) for All Pickup Truck Segments
Best-in-Class Customer Satisfaction among Heavy Duty Pickups
“With all-new powertrains and increased capability, the 2011 Super Duty improves on its proud heritage as the ultimate work truck,” said Brewer.

Ford has announced new engine choices for Geneva show. First, the Kuga’s 2.0 liter Duratorq TDCi engine has been updated to a new model that produces 163 PS instead of the 136 PS version that it previously had. This brings down the car’s 0 to 100km/h acceleration time from 10.7 seconds down to 9.6 seconds.

Next, the Mondeo gets a new 2.0 liter Ford EcoBoost SCTi 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes a very nice 203 PS. It comes standard with the 6-speed Powershift twin clutch transmission. Ford doesn’t really say if this engine replaces anything in the Mondeo engine line-up but looking at power output, it slots neatly between the 2.3 liter Duratec HE with 161 PS and the Volvo-sourced 2.5 liter 5-cylinder Duratec with 220 PS. The 2.0 liter Duratorq engine in the Mondeo also gets the new 163 PS model, which means the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi is now available in three power outputs – 115 PS, 140 PS and the new 163 PS. The range topping diesel Mondeo is the 2.2 liter Duratorq making 175 PS.

It really seems that this year’s Geneva Auto Show will be packed with interesting, appealing car models. Not just intriguingly hot concept cars but actual models that will make their way to your local dealer.

2011 Ford Edge Sport

Apart from the wide range of models and segments that Ford provides to world’s market, there is a wide range of engines and this year, Ford Edge gets three new power option to its line.

Y’all know the 2006 first-generation Edge that came with the 3.5-liter V6. Ford won’t give it up, but it is being joined by Ford’s first production application of a new EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, as well as the larger 3.7-liter V6 for the popular Edge Sport. In the case of the 3.5-liter, it produces 285 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, while the Sport’s larger 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 delivers 305 ponies and 280 torques. Ford is not yet releasing power and economy numbers on the EcoBoost engine, but it promises “class-leading” fuel efficiency.

To this new line of power options, Ford adds the outgoing Sport model that was largely a trim-and-tape proposition, with a better shot at living up to its name – not only because it offers more power than other models in the range, but also because it has standard paddle-shifters, bespoke suspension settings and those cartoon-proportion 22-inch wheels and tires. Incidentally, in case you were wondering, Ford promises that the powertrain will happily hover at the redline when in manual ‘Selectshift’ mode without upshifting, a common performance bugbear. In addition to the altered oily bits, the Sport receives the usual complement of performance cues including a blacked-out grille, smoked head- and taillamp units, chrome oval exhausts, as well as a brace of body color parts (door cladding, rockers and fascias).

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You can find things to complain about when talking about Shelby GT500…if you are a real caviler, but there’s one thing about this muscle car that one cannot backbite: POWER! Its supercharged 5.4-liter V8, the 540 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque can impress even the most squeamish of us.
Before the contemporary GT500 was born, Ford had a blown aluminum block 5.4-liter V8 in the short lived GT supercar. However, when the engineers at Ford’s Special Vehicle Team developed the GT500, they opted to mount the GT’s cylinder heads on the cast iron block used in the big F-Series pickup trucks. After debuting a visual refresh for the Mustang a year ago, Ford has spent the last two months announcing fresh new powertrains for the base and GT models. That process has now come full circle with SVT rolling out a heart transplant for the Shelby GT500. The 2011 model finally has the aluminum powerplant we all wanted when it debuted, and the effect is absolutely en-lightening.

The SVT engineers actually had a reason for going with the iron block in the first place. Mustangs like the GT500 and its Cobra ancestors often end up being heavily modified for use at drag strips and race tracks, and the SVT crew wanted to make sure the standard block could stand up to the rigors of those significantly higher outputs. They chose not to use an aluminum block until they had a chance to develop one with the same strength as the iron version, and that time has now come.

Switching to an aluminum block was a bit more complicated than simply digging out the casting molds that were used for the GT. The engine in that 200+ mph supercar used a dry sump lubrication system and featured iron cylinder liners. The new GT500 engine is derived from the structural design of the older block but retains the wet sump system used in other Mustangs. The real magic is something that most owners will likely never actually see.

Last June we learned about an award that several Ford researchers had received for a cylinder bore coating system they developed called the Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) process. The Ford press release at the time framed the award in terms of fuel efficiency and gave no real hint about what was about to come. It now turns out that the first production Ford to use the PTWA process will be the 2011 GT500.

The heart of the PTWA process involves feeding a steel wire into a device that heats it up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit and then sprays it onto the aluminum cylinder bores. Ford is not actually the first company to use a process like this. Similar mechanisms have been used to coat the fan blades in jet engines for a number of years. One of the primary differences is that Ford is using PTWA with a conventional steel alloy rather than some super exotic aerospace material. Ford isn’t even the first automaker to use this specific coating process. That honor falls to Nissan, which actually licensed the technology from Ford for use on its V6 engine in the GT-R.

Ford believes they have an important advantage over Nissan. Anyone that has ever used a teflon-coated pan is familiar with the problem of the non-stick coating peeling off over time. In the past BMW has also had issues with the nickasil coatings prematurely separating on some of its aluminum blocks. Getting any dissimilar materials to adhere to each other is always a problem, so the initial surface has to be specially prepared in order for the coating to have something to hang on to. Nissan licensed Ford’s coating technology but used its own surface preparation process. Ford’s surface preparation works so well that even after engines have gone through a full durability cycle the bores still look like new.

Using the PTWA process allows the block to have a thinner surface coating – only 150 microns deep – that is just as tough as one with cast or pressed-in iron or steel liners. However, using less material results in lower weight. Thus, the GT500 block is 8.5 pounds lighter than the sleeved GT version. Overall, the complete engine is 102 pounds lighter than the 2010 cast iron engine. The steel coating has also helped Ford reduce the internal friction of the engine, aiding both efficiency and power production.

Some drag racers complained of power drop off on humid summer days, which was attributed to reduced heat transfer efficiency. SVT addressed this with a larger intercooler that helps the engine deliver more consistent power over its entire operating range as well as under different environmental conditions. The new aluminum block engine should be able to survive “at least” as much maximum power in modified form as the iron block equivalent. Also aiding breathing is a larger exhaust system with 2.75 inch header pipes like those on the new 5.0-liter in the Mustang GT. Out of the box, the new powerplant delivers 10 more horsepower bringing the tally up to 550 hp with the same peak torque of 510 pound-feet. Eighty percent of that torque is available everywhere between 1,750 rpm and 6,250 rpm.

Ford are at the top of the power heap, the fastest accelerating vehicle, so this really isn’t about going any faster in a straight line. This is about improving the weight distribution and handling of the vehicle. The new engine contributed to a 120 pound overall weight reduction with most of that coming off the front axle. Most of the rest of the weight loss came from new lighter weight wheels that are part of the SVT Performance Package. The front wheels that come with the Performance Package remain 19 inches in diameter but are 4.7 pounds lighter. The rears grow to 20 inches but are still 2.8 pounds lighter. Cutting unsprung mass is never a bad thing when it comes to both ride quality and handling. Along with the extra rear grip provided by the larger Performance Package wheels and tires, SVT has added a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio.

Like other 2011 Mustangs, the GT500 gets a new electric power assist steering (EPAS) system described as “extremely precise.” At parking lot speeds, the steering effort is described as Lincoln-like but it rapidly builds up as you drive more aggressively and it supposedly has excellent on-center feel, something that is often tough to achieve with EPAS. We’ll have to wait a few more months to find out just how precise that is since we won’t get to drive the car until Spring.

Getting any high-powered car to accelerate, stop or turn is highly dependent on the adhesion between the tire and the road surface, especially when it’s wet. SVT has adopted the latest generation Goodyear F1 supercar tires for the 2011 GT500, which are a major step beyond the previous version in both wet and dry grip. With the reduced mass on the front axle, SVT has also modified the spring and damper rates on both base and Performance Package models. The latter version gets 20.5-percent stiffer front springs and 9.5-percent tighter rears that also bring the front end 11 millimeters closer to the road and the rear 8 mm lower.

One of the main criticisms of the Mustang convertible ever since the S197 debuted for 2005 (actually ever since pretty much forever) is a lack of structural integrity. Because of that flexibility, the 2010 model GT500 convertible was actually considered more of a cruiser model and was thus tuned more for ride comfort than handling. Thus the old convertible was only available with 18-inch wheels. For 2011, SVT took the lead on developing an upgraded body structure for the convertibles that should help keep the corners of the car from moving relative to each other. The effort was successful enough that the changes are being implemented across the board on all 2011 Mustang convertibles. The 2011 GT500 convertible also gets bumped up to the 19-inch wheels and offers handling that is supposedly much closer to the coupe without degrading the ride comfort.

For those who want the sun to shine but still want the extra stiffness of the coupe, the GT500 is now available with the glass roof that has been available on regular Mustangs for the past two years. The Performance Package also gets some modest visual differentiators including narrower racing stripes down the center of the body along with the new wheel design. Inside the car, the shift knob on the Performance Package model lacks the stripes found on the base model.

Finally, just like the new 2011 V6 and GT Mustangs, the GT500 will go into production this Spring with an on-sale date before Summer.

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Yes, you read well! It’s not like in the case of the young Kazakh who built himself a Rolls Royce out an old Mertz. This guy here transformed a gorgeous Lamborghini into a ‘Stang. Not that this Mustang is not gorgeous, especially after all the work he’s done with it, but many don’t get the point. If he had built a Mustang out of a tiny Smart for 2, things would have been clear. Would they?!

It took him one Mustang shell, one Mustang parts car, one Lamborghini Gallardo parts car, and uncounted hours of labor to build the muscle car, including the transmission and the all-wheel-drive system. And I have to admit that he’s got skills!

I am a VERY big fan of Mustangs and honestly I would take one for the Lamborghini, so I kinda understand this guy, or maybe he just wanted to show off his talent. And if I were to be mean…usually you transform an old rusty car into a shiny home-made piece of jewelery. Touche, Lamborghini!

Nothing else to add to “Focus RS Club”. No adjective can properly describe this  hatch. It would take a whole 1000-something-word essay to cover all the good things about Ford’s goodie.

Moreover, Ford is on the verge of launching an even hotter version of RS, namely RS Clubsport, as well as an all new RS model based on the next generation Ford Focus that was unveiled in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show.

The only bad news is that the future RS Clubsport will be limited to only 500 units and should start showing up in dealer’s showrooms by the end of this year. The car will feature an even more powerful version of the turbocharged 2.5 Liter five cylinder cranking out a total of 350 HP and will be able to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in only 5 seconds and aside from the upgraded power plant, the RS Clubsport will also offer a stiffer, lower suspension and stickier tires for improved handling and a set of lightweight racing buckets to keep the occupants in place as well as an eye catching paintjob.

As great as a Clubsport model might sound, the big news is about the next generation RS. That is because the new car will feature a revolutionary hybrid power train system made up of a 2.0 Liter EcoBoost turbocharged direct injected engine combined with an electrically driven motor. The high performance hybrid drive train will increase the RS’s maximum output all the way up to 300 HP and bring the car’s 0 to 60 MPH sprint time down to five seconds flat while its top speed will be raised to 155 MPH.

It just gives me chills!

Hottest and freshest info about hot and fresh 2010 Shelby Mustang has been revealed by a rattle dealer employee. The order guide gives us plenty of data, like the iron block that will be traded in for an aluminum one. Also,  HID lamps will be standard, the glass roof option will become available on coupes, the convertible gets equipped with the same 19-inch wheels as the hardtop, and there’s an optional SVT Performance Package. It adds a 3:73 rear axle ratio (3:55 is standard), package-specific shocks and springs, what sounds like a different stripe package, upgraded wheels and tires (19-inchers in front and 20-inchers in back), and a rear spoiler with Gurney flap.

Nothing but good news about the legendary muscle car, but we’ll have to wait a little longer, as it won’t be present neither at Chicago nor New York auto shows. However, it’s gonna worth every second of waiting. Stay tuned for further info.

Seems the cash situation at Ford is so bad, that they have to sell Volvo to the Chinese…for $1.8b. I personally don’t know which is the worst part: having it sold for a sum almost 6 times smaller than the one for which it has been purchased in 1999 or the fact that the Swedish brand will go into the hands of  LCD-wireless-tech-addicted Chinese. Don’t get me wrong, these things are good on a car, but what will come of Volvo when the bikes riders will fill it with cheap plastics and cloth made on ships by low-cost hands. WHAT?

Geely – Chinese company that will buy Volvo - is also likely to start assembling Volvo vehicles in China – presumably for consumption in the automaker’s new Asian market. The Beijing-area plant would probably begin building Volvo’s XC60 crossover to compete with the popular Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Currently, Volvo cars are built under license in China by Chang’an Ford Mazda, a partnership that dates back several years to when Ford had a major share in Mazda. Chang’an Ford Mazda will keep building S40 and long-wheelbase versions of the S80 for at least another 4-6 years.

Sale is due for February 8 and there is enough time for Ford to really think it twice what Volvo provided for it: technology, looks, tradition… Maybe they find a last minute solution.