NASCAR AND FORD MUSTANG FINALLY MARRY

One of America’s favourite muscle cars has broken a 45 year-old self-exile by announcing that it will enter the 2010 NASCAR season. The Ford Mustang has never been part of the US’s national racing pastime, until now. Series where it has raced successfully include NHRA, Grand-Am, IMSA, SCCA, NMRA and NMCA.

“We're excited,” stated Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports, “about Mustang coming to NASCAR. It's the most successful product nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America.”

The new car will be publicly unveiled this autumn in the US. All legal racing requirements have been fulfilled and parts will start production quite soon.

“We're excited about the new car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and particularly the new body styles such as the Ford Mustang,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “It's going to be one good-looking race car.”

Ford vehicles currently in NASCAR are the 2010 Fusion which is in the Sprint Cup and the 2009 Ford F-Series (Camping World Truck Series).

NEXT FORD MUSTANG FOR MZANSI?

2013 Shelby GT500

Good news for pony fans in Europe as Ford announces that it’s taking the next-generation legendary Mustang muscle car across the pond into Europe. Europe includes the United Kingdom, which means official right-hand-drive Mustangs for the very first time. By extension what this means is that Mzansi could be in line for its first Ford-backed batch of RHD Mustangs for the first time too!

2010 FORD MUSTANG ALBUM

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Mzansi may not be getting the new Ford Mustang, but that doesn’t stop us from looking at pictures of one of Detroit’s foremost automotive icons. The 2010 Ford Mustang is powered by two engine variants, a V6 and a V8. Enjoy!

SPECIAL EDITION LEE IACOCCA FORD MUSTANG OUT

In the 1960s through to the 1980s Lee Iacocca was as iconic to the motor industry as men like Chris Bangle, Carlos Ghosn and Wendelin Wiedeking. When he worked at Ford in 1964 he worked on a number of successful cars, most famous of which is the Mustang. So today, despite the fact that Henry Ford II fired him from the company and pushed him to Chrysler where he virtually saved what was a sinking automaker, he has been honoured with a special edition steed, the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang.

Changes made from other versions include an upgraded suspension system, firmer springs for better handling, 20-inch forged aluminium wheels, sunken headlights, a lower stance and a slanted front grille.

Power is sorted by a 4.6-litre V8 pushing out 239kW (324hp). A supercharged version is also available and that one does 298kW (405hp). Mated to both cars is a 5-speed manual gearbox (gosh, do they still make 5-speed sports cars in 2009?!).

Only 45 of these sweet things will go on sale.

ONE-OFF 2013 SHELBY GT500 COBRA REVEALED

Friends of Carroll Shelby, including Ford Motor Company, Shelby American, Ford Racing and many others have built a unique 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra as a tribute to the late Carroll Shelby.

FORD MUSTANG TO LOSE V6, V8 FOR 4-CYLINDER?

The greenies are like water; they infiltrate absolutely everything. This time it’s the turn of one of Detroit’s greatest icon, the Ford Mustang. According to Motor Authority, the people’s pony is about to ditch its soul. Yep, Mustang is set to get a 4-cylinder engine pretty soon! Gone will be the V8s and V6s honest Americans adore so much. Or will they?

CAMARO UPSETS MUSTANG ON SALES CHARTS

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The 2010 Ford Mustang sold 1688 fewer units than its current chief rival the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. GM’s muscle star ticked off 9320 examples vs the legendary pony’s 7632.

This makes sense though because the Camaro is the newest car of the two despite the fact that Ford has completely refreshed the Mustang. Another advantage the Camaro will carry is its worldwide availability; even South Africa is getting right-hand-drive versions by 2011. In contrast the stallion is still largely exclusive, keeping most of its concentration in the United States.

Trailing with 1369 units is the Dodge Challenger, underlining the fact that Chrysler LLC is still not out of the doldrums, although the company did manage to sell 68 297 vehicles in total. Overall US passenger car sales are 28% down on 2008, but only 7% off May 2009 figures.