Nearly 50 years of Mustang Legend

Ford is launching ‘Mustang Countdown,’ an online video series to throw the spotlight on the legendary sports car and the culture that has formed around it all across the globe, and to continue the celebration leading up to the 50^th birthday of the car on April 17, 2014.

Kicking off the series – Where It All Started: The Mustang 1 Concept – turns the clock back to the 1962 debut of the first concept car to wear the pony badge. From there, other episodes lift the lid on Ford’s exhaustive Mustang archives, Mustang toys, custom Mustangs and more all featuring unique and often rare footage, exclusive new interviews and expert insight.

“RC Movie Magic: Filming a Chase”, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of filmmaker Zach King’s recent project “The Cliché RC Action Chase.” That short film went viral earlier this year, garnering nearly 3 million views on YouTube. Just like the extensive filmography featuring Ford Mustang over the past 49 years, King’s video puts the Mustang in a prominent role. A pair of radio controlled Ford Mustangs star in an action-packed sequence that features drifting around corners, tight racing and helicopter gunships, all without any computer-generated imagery.

“Fans around the world share a passion for Mustang that embodies the freedom of the open road and the spirit of performance driving,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “The ‘Mustang Countdown’ series is another way in which Ford is honoring that heritage with numerous celebrations over the next year,”

Upcoming episodes will tackle video games, Mustang’s competition heritage custom restomods and more.

More than 9.2 million Ford Mustangs have been sold since the car’s 1964 debut. Mustang has made more than 3,000 appearances on film and TV – including “Bullitt” (1968), “Gone in 60 Seconds” (1974 and 2000), “I Am Legend” (2007) and Drive (2011). In 2014, a modified Mustang will be the hero car in “Need for Speed,” based on the long-running video game series from Electronic Arts.

Click here for the complete ‘Mustang Countdown’ series playlist on the Ford Mustang YouTube channel.

50 years of Mustang
The Ford Mustang is about to become the newest member of a very exclusive club – vehicles in continuous production for 50 years. In its first 49 years of production, Mustang has gained a worldwide base of avid fans, including more than 5 million on Facebook, the most of any vehicle nameplate. Mustang’s unique combination of style, performance and affordability established an entirely new class of sporty cars, and it has led the segment ever since.

Over the past 49 years, of the more than 9.2 million Mustangs produced and sold, most of them have originated close to Ford’s home base in Dearborn, Mich. From the racetrack to the silver screen to the airwaves to the toy box, Mustang has become an enduring part of pop culture.

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Henry Ford was a visionary ahead of his time

Today marks the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Henry Ford, whose innovative ideas revolutionised transportation and brought mobility to the masses. Henry Ford’s enduring impact is being recognised through events and declarations across the United States and around the world.

Celebrations at Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn headquarters today are being complemented by a special proclamation by the state of Michigan declaring this “Henry Ford Day.” In Washington, D.C., hundreds downtown and on Capitol Hill will mark the day enjoying commemorative cupcakes delivered by a food truck – part of a mobile movement Henry Ford would support.

While today’s events mark the day of Henry Ford’s birth, they are just part of a yearlong celebration of the man and his achievements.

Appropriately, given Henry Ford’s global impact, the anniversary of his birth is being commemorated in countries around the world throughout 2013. Some of the events include:

• Dealers in 21 Asia Pacific markets have launched Ford Heritage month, transforming showrooms into exhibitions on Ford’s rich history
• Ford of Germany marked the occasion with a series of five road rallies that celebrated Ford’s numerous automotive breakthroughs over the last 110 years
• More than 4,000 people attended community events held by Ford in Romania
• In Great Britain, celebrations were capped by the reveal of a restored statue of Henry Ford at the company’s UK Tech Centre

In coming months, celebrations will continue with additional events across the United States, Europe and South America.

Contributions to a better world

Henry Ford’s introduction of the automobile into the mass market transformed agricultural economies in the United States and around the world into prosperous industrial and urban markets. Many historians credit him with creating a middle class in America. His high minimum wage – revolutionary at the time – set a precedent for fair distribution of company wealth that influenced later management practices. For a timeline on Henry Ford, click here.

Henry Ford initially struggled to get Ford Motor Company on solid financial footing, but broke through with the Model T. The iconic vehicle debuted in October 1908, opening a new era in America. More than 15 million Model T’s were built and sold as Ford Motor Company put the nation on wheels.

The innovative spirit of Henry Ford took root in many other forms after the success of the Model T, including:

• Moving assembly line: In 1913 Henry Ford introduced the first moving assembly line for cars. Within 18 months, the amount of time needed to build a Model T was reduced from 12 ½ man-hours to 1 ½ man-hours, ushering in the modern auto industry
• $5 work day: To reduce high turnover rates among workers, Henry Ford more than doubled their pay in 1914, from $2.34 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day
• Vertical integration: To improve quality, Henry Ford sought to own, operate and coordinate all the resources needed to produce complete automobiles. This principle, known as vertical integration, was put into practice in 1927 with the Model A

“What my great-grandfather established, especially his legacy of innovation, continues to inspire our commitment to a strong business, great products and a better world,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “We are putting unexpected levels of technology within reach of millions of people, accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value, and driving growth by creating jobs and bringing the freedom of mobility to the world.”

Spirit of innovation guides Ford today

Henry Ford’s spirit of innovation continues to guide Ford Motor Company today, reflected in a lineup of vehicles as diverse as the F-150 pickup, Mustang sports car and Fusion Hybrid sedan. It lives on in technologies such as Ford SYNC, the company’s in-vehicle infotainment system, and fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines. And it echoes through employees serving customers across six continents.

Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, at 83. More than 50 years after his death, in 1999, Forbes magazine named him “Businessman of the Century,” and in 2012 a History Channel documentary highlighted him as one of “The Men Who Built America.”

“My great-grandfather’s vision was to improve people’s lives by making cars affordable for the average family,” said Bill Ford. “His vision to build cars that are reasonably priced, reliable and efficient still resonates and defines our vision today.”

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Suzuki iV-4 compact SUV concept will be unveiled in Frankfurt

The world premiere of the iV-4 – a concept model heralding a compact SUV from Suzuki – will take place at the 65th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, which will be held from 10 to 22 September 2013.

Suzuki's introduction of the compact SUV concept iV-4 is an indication of the direction which will be taken with the future model to be added to the company’s renowned SUV line-up.

Developed with a theme – “Grab your field” – the concept model embodies the basic ruggedness of an SUV. The iV-4 is Suzuki’s new concept for a personal compact SUV.

While inheriting certain design features of the Suzuki SUVs, such as the clam-shell shaped bonnet and the front grille divided into five, its overall styling conveys a sense of modernity and innovativeness.

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Sarah Bovy will be the first woman to race the Vantage GT3

Sarah Bovy will be the first woman to race the Vantage GT3 when she takes part in the Spa 24 Hours this weekend.

Bovy will be diving one of two Vantage GT3s entered by Aston Martin Brussels and run by the Belgian Pino Sperlinga’s team GPR in a field of more than 70 cars.  It will be the third time she has competed in the 24 hour race and this time she will drive alongside Michael Schmetz, Pierre Grivegnée and Bert Redant in the number 89 car in the PROAM class. 

Aston Martin Racing is entering the Bilstein-supported Vantage GT3 in the PRO category with drivers Bertrand Baguette, Darren Turner and Jamie Campbell-Walter.

"Of course, I'm proud to wear Aston Martin colours and to achieve something that no other woman has done before,” said Bovey. “I think I can learn a lot from the most experienced drivers in the team and at the same time I know I will find my place and will have the opportunity to prove myself behind the wheel. 

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First ever diesel win at Indianapolis

Over the past four decades, Mazda has scored hundreds of race wins at tracksaround the world.  But until today, Mazda did not have a win at what is perhaps the most famous racetrack in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  That box has now been checked.  In the Grand-Am Brickyard Grand Prix, the #70 Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel scored the GX class win. 

 

The win was the fifth in a row for the all-new Mazda6, and moves it ahead of Porsche after eight of 12 races in the GX manufacturers championship race.  As has been the case all year long, it was a three car battle between Mazda and Porsche, with both brands leading at times.  Eventual winner Sylvain Tremblay took the lead with 47 laps remaining in the three hour race, and was never headed.

 

The Indy race also was the third and final round of the Grand-Am North America Endurance Championship, the first two rounds having been the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Sahlen’s Six Hour at Watkins Glen.  The SpeedSource Mazda won the team championship for the GX class.

 

This was only the second year that sports cars have been a featured race at the track most noted for the famed Indianapolis 500.  The track has had wide variety of powertrain configurations and technologies compete, but never before had a diesel engine won at Indy.  The most recent diesel to compete was the Cummins Engine Special, which won the pole for the Indy 500 in 1952. 

  

The SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine in the all-new Mazda6 is a true production-based engine.  The engine is 51 percent stock by parts count, and 63 percent stock by weight.  Mazda chose this path as it is the most honest way to demonstrate the quality, durability, and reliability of Mazda cars.

 

–We made  history today, both for Mazda and for SKYACTIV Clean Diesel Technology.  While this is our fifth win of the season, and fifth in a row, it is by far the biggest win to date.  To win at Indy is every racer’s dream, and that dream came true for Mazda  here today, said John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations.

 

–We were just trying to stay out of the way of the DP cars, and ended up on the marbles and almost kissed the concrete, but ended up kissing the bricks.  It was not an easy day, but the team remained focused and we came through for the win.  To score the first ever win for a diesel at Indy, in our first year with the program, speaks volumes for Mazda and our team, told owner/driver Sylvain Tremblay.

 

 

2013 Grand-Am GX Point Standings after eight of 12 races:

 

Manufacturers:

1              Porsche                                                     267

2              Mazda                                                       265

Teams:

1      BGB Motorsports (Porsche #38)                    260     

2      SpeedSource (Mazda #00)                            252

3      SpeedSource (Mazda #70)                            250     

Drivers

1              Jim Norman (#38)                                    265     

2              Joel Miller (#00)                                        252

3              Tom Long/Sylvain Tremblay (#70)           250                 

                       

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Shelby Announces It Will End Limited Run of its Shelby GT350

Shelby American has announced that 2013 will be the last year of availability for its limited-run series of Shelby GT350 muscle cars. Shelby American will take new orders for the Shelby GT350 through December 31, 2013. Production of all other Shelby performance cars will continue.

“The Shelby GT350 is one of the world’s most celebrated, iconic muscle cars,” said John Luft, president of Shelby American. “When we unveiled this latest version of the Shelby GT350, we promised it would be built for a limited time to preserve its collectability and value. So we’ve been preparing for this day since 2010. In true Carroll Shelby fashion, we’re planning our next ultimate performance Shelby model.”

Shelby American’s approach has always been to first make history and then repeat it. In the 1960’s, Shelby American built the GT350 in small numbers for the 1965, 1966 and 1967 model years, making those cars among the most desirable, collectible vehicles on the planet.

The first (2011) model year 45^th Anniversary Shelby GT350’s were all coupes clad in Competition white with Guardsmen blue stripes, just as Shelby American did with the initial car in 1965. In 2012, three more colors (red, blue and anniversary black/gold celebrating 50 years of Shelby American), as well as a convertible option were offered, similar to the options offered by Shelby American in 1966. For the 2013 model year, Shelby American again followed tradition with expanded color options, equipment choices and styling changes, while the performance improvements remained intact.

“The Shelby GT350’s rich history is well-documented,” said Shelby American Vice President of ProductionGary Davis. “People value that heritage and tell us that they want this car to equal that exclusivity. We’re staying true to our commitment to deliver a small block car with high performance, unique styling and collectability in a way that honors our heritage.”

The concept behind the current GT350 was to build a car that is light, nimble and powerful. Beginning with the “small block” 5.0 liter Ford Mustang GT as its base, every aspect of the car is enhanced or replaced to create the ultimate, balanced performance pony car that is true to the spirit of the 1960’s era Shelby GT350.

“We’ve taken another page out of the ‘Carroll Shelby playbook’,” said Luft. “In the ever evolving automotive market, we continue to adapt to meet customer needs. While we’ll look back on the current GT350 with great love and devotion, as Carroll always said, ‘our favorite car is the next one we build’.”

Orders are now being taken for all 2012 - 2014 model year Shelby American GT350’s through the end of 2013; As of January 1, 2014, this chapter of Shelby American history will close. Production will continue on all existing models, including the Shelby GTS, GT500 Super Snake and Shelby 1000, Shelby Raptor muscle truck and hot hatch Shelby Focus ST.

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U.S. pricing for Nissan 370Z models announced

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) announced U.S. pricing for 370Z Coupe, 370Z NISMO and 370Z Roadster, which are on sale now at Nissan dealers nationwide. The starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (M.S.R.P.) for the 370Z Coupe has been reduced $3,130 USD and $2,550 USD for the 370Z Coupe Touring grade.

The M.S.R.P. reductions on 370Z Coupe increase its competitiveness in the growing sports car marketplace. This spring, Nissan repositioned the price on seven core models with an aim to broaden the reach of customer consideration during online shopping and research. Prices for the revised 2014 370Z NISMO and 2014 370Z Roadster remain at 2013 model year levels.

The Nissan 370Z Coupe continues to offer extraordinary performance, design and an unmatched heritage as one of the most iconic sports cars in automotive history. There are no significant product enhancements for 2014. The 2014 370Z NISMO has been revised to follow the new NISMO design theme with distinctive new exterior and interior accents. Enhancements include new dark gray coloring for the front and rear fascias, lower side sills, side mirrors and NISMO rear spoiler, with each element (except side sills) featuring NISMO-style red pinstripe accents. Interior enhancements include the addition of a new steering wheel with Alcantara® appointments and red accents and a red NISMO tachometer. The 370Z NISMO continues to offer 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, sport-tuned suspension and brakes and 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels.

Like the 370 Coupe, the 2014 370Z Roadster offers unique design, performance and value – with the added exhilarating sensory experience of an advanced fully automatic convertible top. Complete details on all 2014 Z® models are available at nissannews.com.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2014 Nissan 370Z Coupe include:

370Z Coupe 6MT	$29,990 USD
370Z Coupe 7AT	$31,290 USD
370Z Coupe Touring 6MT	$35,270 USD
370Z Coupe Touring 7AT	$36,570 USD
370Z Coupe NISMO	$43,020 USD

^{Destination and Handling $790.}

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2014 Nissan 370Z Roadster include: 

370Z Roadster 7AT	$41,470 USD
370Z Roadster Touring 6MT	$44,170 USD
370Z Roadster Touring 7AT	$45,470 USD

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