Automotive

2018 Ford Mustang: More Tech, More Performance, More Everything

Yay, the new(ish) 2018 Ford Mustang is here! It’s not all new, more like a timely refresh and updates here and there that will improve on things. Ah, but what the Lords of Dearborn giveth, they also taketh away.

Okay, let’s get the sort-of-bad-news out of the way. That rather nice 3.7-liter V6 that used to sit within the Mustang’s engine bay? That’s gone. A shame really, since it got really good mileage and could put out 300 horsepower. A lot of gearheads, I among them, thought that engine option was pretty much a performance/dollar leader.

Sad to see it go.

The entry level Mustang will now come with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, a four-cylinder engine that uses Ford’s “transient overboost technology,” exclusively tuned for Mustang. Ford says the 2.3-liter EcoBoost gives a torque increase under wide-open throttle acceleration, so that sounds good.

Interior Treatments & Driver Adjustments

Let’s start with the inside, where we find Ford’s first 12-inch all-digital LCD screen. I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, but a “12-inch LCD screen” falls into the Big Honkin’ Screen category. The all-new instrument cluster is customizable and can be personalized with three separate views: normal, sport, and track. There’s also a new MyMode shtick in the Mustang, with a memory function, for saving favorite drive settings, like suspension and steering preferences.

Also on the “you can tweak it” end of things is the engine note. Drivers can adjust how the car sounds to serve up “an audible experience like never before,” says FoMoCo. There is an optional active valve exhaust system for the Mustang GT that offers “a fully variable soundtrack to match the entire acceleration range.”

I don’t think it’s a very good idea if you have a lead foot. No, I don’t think it will hurt anybody. Unless you have a lead foot.

The 2018 Ford Mustang has a new, hand-stitched wrap with contrast stitching on the center console. Door handles, rings, and bezels are finished in aluminum. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Safety & Security

Ford says the new Mustang benefits from a vast array of driver-assist technologies. I will leave the truthfulness of the word “benefits” up to you. Personally, I think a lot of this “driver assistance” stuff is unnecessary and does for people what they should be doing anyway (like keeping it between the lines, dummy!). But hey, people seem to want it, manufacturers want to sell it, and, truth be told, I bet their legal departments are insisting on it.

The 2018 Mustang has bells and whistles like Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, distance alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Driver Alert System. It all breaks down into this: Pay attention. Pay attention! PAY ATTENTION! PAY ATTENTION YOU BIG DUMMY!

The new Mustang also continues Ford’s use of the pretty impressive SYNC Connect and FordPass system. This is the first time it’s on a Mustang. The FordPass app allows owners to start, lock, unlock, and locate their car on their smartphone. Handy. But all this is just icing on the cake.

2018 Ford Mustang. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Engine Technology

What 100% (give or take) of Mustang buyers care about is performance. Yes, handling is important to them. And so is braking. But ultimately, it’s what’s under that long hood that really piques their interest. Residing ‘neath the hood is Ford’s evergreen 5.0-liter V8.

But, Ford hastens to point out the mill has been “thoroughly reworked” for more power and higher revs than any Mustang GT before.

All that extra power showed up with the first use of Ford’s new dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection, low-pressure port fuel injection system on a V8. Without getting too bogged down, what this gets you on the strip, at the track, and on the street is stout low-end torque, high-rpm power, and improved fuel efficiency.

Transmission Performance

All this grunt is delivered to the tarmac via a manual transmission (both for the EcoBoost and the 5.0) that has been upgraded for optimum torque. The V8 transmission has been entirely reworked and now includes a twin-disc clutch and dual-mass flywheel to increase torque capability and deliver more efficient clutch modulation.

So gone are the days of that “klank-crunch-rrrRRRRrrrr” of Mustangs of yore.

If you’re more of an automatic cruising around kind of gearhead, then you’ll be happy to hear that Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission is offered with both the EcoBoost and 5.0 engines. The 10-speed has a wide-ratio span and optimized gear spacing, improving responsiveness and performance.

In case you are in doubt about the performance, contrasted to the previous six-speed, the new 10-speed transmission has quicker shift times and significantly lessened friction losses. The electronic control system is entirely new and includes unique tuning for the different drive modes. In case you want to feel like Nico Rosberg, there are steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

According to Ford, the 2018 Mustang is the most advanced Mustang ever. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Ride & Handling

For those of you that care about more than just going fast (i.e. the smarter apes out there), the suspension has also been considered. There are new shock absorbers for better ride control, for example. A new cross-axis joint in the rear suspension increases lateral stiffness, while advanced stabilizer bars create sharper handling.

MagneRide dampers are a new option in the Mustang Performance Package too.

Design Dynamics

Nothing real new or radical here, just finessing of strokes, nudging of lines a little, a nip here, a tuck there.

The hood and grille have been lowered to produce a leaner look and to refine aerodynamics. The upper and lower front grilles have changed slightly, and the hood vents have a new position. The headlights are all-LED, a first, and fog lamps are available. The rear end also gets in on the party with revised LED tail lamps, a new bumper, fascia, and available performance spoiler. A dual tip exhaust is standard with the EcoBoost plant and the V8 mill Mustang GT gets a standard quad-tip exhaust.

Wheel choices? You get a dozen available alloy wheel designs. And you even get a fresh exterior color choice: Orange Fury.

The 2018 Ford Mustang goes on sale in North America this fall, so get in line, if you haven’t already.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

2018 Ford Mustang Gallery

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company

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Infiniti’s Smart Mobility Lab Accepting Applications

The changing face of cars, from the likes of Uber and Lyft, to the possible onslaught of driverless cars from everyone from Tesla to Google and back, has traditional automakers trying to get ahead of the game. It seems like dealing with this is taking up 90% of the carmakers bandwidth these days.

Let’s call it Smart Mobility, for the sake of this discussion.

Infiniti is one such carmaker seeking to stay ahead of the game, and to do so, they are opening a tech center in, of all places, Singapore.

Singapore, is, to put it mildly, an odd place. Once little more than an outpost for British colonialism, it morphed over time into a strange hybrid crossroads-of-the-world and nascent tech giant. A modern city-state with rather, a-hem, arcane ideas about peace and justice. A place where there’s enough high tech everything to look like Spock’s suburb but where chewing gum will get you dragged before the firing squad.

Or, as cyberpunk author William Gibson put it: “Disneyland with the death penalty.”

Challenges & Obstacles

In a lot of tech oriented ways, if you want to break new ground and move things forward, it’s a pretty good environment to do that in. From an automotive perspective, Singapore is a nightmare. And I don’t just mean from a price, taxes, and cost of ownership perspective (although that is daunting enough). Singapore has streets and traffic of an outright disastrous nature. Take Manhattan, combine it with Cairo, and compress it down to the density of a neutron star, and you’re halfway to as crazy as driving a car in Singapore.

Designing any sort of personal mobility, from a pair of sneakers on up to a functioning automobile, to work in that sort of environment seems like madness. Like testing a Formula 1 car in a high school library. Sure, you might get it to run, but what happens when you get it out onto a real race track?

Setting The Scene

Into this crazed scene jumps Infiniti and their tech partner Nest. Nest is a venture capital company not to be confused with the people that make those learning thermostats. They have offices all over the world, seeking to turn large piles of cash into humongous piles of cash. Infiniti needs no introduction to your average gearhead. They’re the up-market brand of Nissan, that also dabbles in higher tech stuff in general from time to time.

So, the thumbnail version goes like this: “Get a tech investing and incubating firm (Nest) together with an automotive and tech firm (Infiniti) and get them to make a better personal transportation system. Sort of.”

The longer answer works like this. Put Infiniti and Nest together, let them put out a cattle call to people who think they have built a better mousetrap, sift through those ideas, then fund, build, and run with those ideas and beat your competitors in the market place. It’s called the “INFINITI LAB, Smart Mobility” and was set up, in the carmakers words, “to give founders the opportunity to achieve validation of their business over the course of eight weeks.”

Founders, in this case, means founders of tech start-ups in need of funding and exposure.

“This program could be transformational for early-stage companies who need commercial validation of their product,” said Lawrence Morgan, Nest CEO. “Start-ups need the opportunity to test their products and theories, and this program is highly focused on giving founders a clear path to POC so they can quickly gain traction and scale.”

Infiniti QX50 Concept. Photo: INFINITI Motor Company Ltd.

Making The Pitch

INFINITI LAB, Smart Mobility will be taking applications until February 12th of this year, with everything finishing up by June 2017. They are moving fast with this, and are trying to give start-ups in mobility and connectivity, with high potentials for success, intensive training and mentoring. By the time this is all through, the winners get to pitch a viable business-use case to senior decision makers and key innovation backers from across the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Or, in a nutshell, you get eight weeks to go from the idea stage to the ready for production stage, and hopefully, make heaps of money for Infiniti, Nest, and yourself.

“This program is a key part of Infiniti’s initiative to promote entrepreneurial spirit in the business community,” said Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti Motor Company.

Prime Real Estate

This also starts to show why Singapore is a pretty good choice for this venture.

It is, as navigators have known for centuries, centrally located. Especially if your looking for unique talent (think tech wizards from India, Japan, and China). It is also centrally located with respect to cheap manufacturing centers, like Taiwan, China et al. Also, Singapore has been on a tear to make everything in town connected to everything else in town, so you’d think there’s a lot of native talent to be had as well.

“Automobiles play an important role in future intelligent cities. Technologies of connectivity will enable vehicles to communicate with each other and with city infrastructures,” Krueger said. “This will significantly enhance the driving experience, and Infiniti is committed to leading the development in this area.”

Infiniti isn’t saying much else at this point, but they will announce what the outcome is in June.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos, Video, & Source: INFINITI Motor Company Ltd.

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Help the Dodge Viper ACR retake its title as the fastest production car around the Nürburgring

Die-hard motorsports and Dodge Viper lovers are seeking to send the last model off into the sunset with a record-setting bang.

What’s going on?

The Dodge Viper is one of America’s most iconic sports cars ever. Currently in its fifth generation, the latest version has been with us since 2013. But sadly, although the latest Viper is also the best one yet, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles decided to pull the plug. Meaning this will be the last Dodge Viper ever produced.

Now this is sad for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Dodge Viper is Chrysler’s only halo car–the car that interests people in the first place. That’s because the Viper is cool and an American performance icon, much like the Corvette is to Chevrolet.

Secondly, this is the best Dodge Viper ever made. So it’s disappointing to know that despite this, nobody’s buying them. And lastly, nobody likes the death of an icon.

So if you thought the saga of the Viper was to end with a slow drift into the sunset and a sad violin playing in the background, not all hope is lost. Thanks to die-hard Viper enthusiast and FM radio magnet Russ Oasis in Miami, FL, a collective group is seeking to send the last Viper off into the sunset with a big, winning bang.

What’s this big, winning bang attempt?

According to Oasis’ GoFundMe page, the goal is to have the last Dodge Viper ACR tackle the infamous Nürburgring with one task in mind: to retake the coveted as the fastest production car to lap the nearly 13-mile-long Nordschliefe.

In September 2011, the Dodge Viper ACR set this record, posting a time of 7:12:13 at the hands of renounced racer, Dominik “Ring King” Farnbacher. This record remained until several years later when Porsche took the title with the 918.

Now, the plan is to retake that title. And the only way to do this would be to meet the GoFundMe’s campaign goal of around $150,000 to $200,000.

The money raised will cover the cost to ship two Viper ACR Extremes donated by ViperExchange, the US’s proclaimed premiere dealership exclusively for the sale of Dodge Vipers. The funds also goes towards the pay for two drivers, plus any additional support required to complete the attempts.

And should you choose to donate more than $250, your name will be acknowledged and printed on a commemorative poster.

The timeline for a new Dodge Viper’s last stunt at attempting a ‘Ring record is set for APril 2017.

If the goal is not met during the GoFundMe, all donations will be refunded.

Check out the campaign, HERE.

– By: Chris Chin

The post Help the Dodge Viper ACR retake its title as the fastest production car around the Nürburgring appeared first on egmCarTech.

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Automoblog Book Garage: Muscle Car Source Book

It’s interesting to watch the automotive landscape change, especially with the dawn of new technology. The biggest theme today is the driverless world; a place where are cars are autonomous and as a result, our roads will be safer and our time behind the wheel more productive.

These visions and the technology behind them are promising, but sometimes, there is no substitute for the rawness that is American muscle. While autonomous vehicles may rule in the name of safety, there is no replacement for cars that rule in the name of performance.

Authority Figure

This latest story on the Book Garage shelf begins in 1963, and spans until the mid 1970s. Muscle Car Source Book presents this incredible era in a manner representative of its name: as a source book. From Ford, Chevrolet, and Pontiac, to Buick, AMC, and Dodge, all of the performance data for each car is displayed on tables. The essential specs, from horsepower and torque, to curb weight, fuel tank capacity, and tire sizes are laid out.

Muscle Car Source Book also touches on the major performance options available for each car, including engine options, comfort features, gauge packages, and wheel-and-tire configurations.

This book is perfect if you grew up during this time, or if you had, or currently own, a muscle car. It’s really enjoyable to read through all the different specifications and the wealth of photos doesn’t hurt either. Muscle Car Source Book is exactly like the cars within its pages: what you see is what you get.

Author

Mike Mueller has worked as a freelance automotive photojournalist since 1991. A lifetime car enthusiast, Mueller has written and photographed more than 25 automotive and truck history books and contributed photography to dozens more. Among his long list of titles are Motorbooks’ Chevy Chevelle 50 Years, The Complete Book of Corvette, and The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle.

Muscle Car Source Book: All the Facts, Figures, Statistics, and Production Numbers is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.

Muscle Car Source Book Gallery

Interested in more from our Book Garage Series? Click here.

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Top 5 Cars And Attractions At NAIAS

There are auto shows and then there is the North American International Auto Show. Last year, there were 61 vehicle introductions at NAIAS, a majority of which were worldwide debuts. This year, AutoMobili-D for the Press and Industry Preview days highlighted the vehicles and technology of tomorrow, giving insight into how our future world may define mobility.

The future of transportation was a major topic this year. Ford’s City of Tomorrow, Faurecia’s Cockpit of the Future, and the Michigan Department of Transportation’s infrastructure plans were among the most intriguing ideas.

It’s a brave new world but this weekend, as the final run of NAIAS approaches, here are the top 5 things you simply must see. If you attend NAIAS and take a photo, be sure to tag us on Twitter.

#5 Nissan VMotion 2.0 Concept

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept was revealed during a press conference at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Photo: Nissan North America.

This one is particularly exciting because it shows what the future of Nissan may look like. The automaker’s forthcoming style, design, comfort, and technology offerings are all wrapped up in this gorgeous package.

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept also presents a new platform for their Intelligent Mobility initiative, essentially their vision to achieve a zero emissions world with no traffic fatalities.

“Vmotion 2.0 previews what the future designs from Nissan will be,” said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “And it is an insightful proposition of what the future sedan could be in the coming years.”

Definitely one of our favorites this year at NAIAS.

#4 Lego Batmobile

The LEGO Batmobile is 7 feet high, 17 feet long, 9 feet wide, and weights almost 1,700 pounds. Each tire is just over 100 pounds. Photo: Chevrolet.

I saw a meme one time that read “you should always be yourself, unless you can be Batman. Be Batman.”

Duly noted.

Chevrolet, along with students from Detroit’s Cody Rouge community, A World in Motion, and FIRST LEGO League, unveiled the LEGO Batmobile at NAIAS. The construction is impressive, containing over 340,000 Lego bricks of 17 different colors.

Over 86 feet of square tube aluminum was used to create the interior frame of this justice-enforcing machine. It took 222 hours to design and 1,833 hours to build, ultimately being inspired by The LEGO Batman Movie, in theaters on February 10th.

This one will definitely be a hit with the kids (okay, and the adults too).

#3 Ford Augmented Reality Demo

The all-new Ford GT and Ford EcoSport are part of Ford’s fully immersive NAIAS display. Ford’s first-ever live augmented reality presentations let people see the automaker’s vehicles in a unique way. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Ford is introducing NAIAS attendees to their latest vehicles and technology in a very clever way. It’s not quite virtual reality but it’s not exactly in this dimension? Maybe? Perhaps that is how you might describe it?

“Think of augmented reality as the blending of virtual reality with real life,” said Garett Carr, Ford Global Auto Shows Manager. “It’s like having x-ray vision, with the power to take people deeper into our product and technology stories – it feels a little like magic.”

Ford is showing consumers how their latest innovations function through that magic. The augmented reality display includes things like a new Ford GT dashing through a wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing, and a demonstration of the new 10-speed automatic transmission coming for the 2018 F-150.

At their display, Ford is also showcasing a driverless Fusion Hybrid and a Transit customized for fitness buffs.

#2 2018 Lexus LC

Under the banner of 2+2 performance, Lexus’ designers and engineers sought a high level of aerodynamic performance to enhance ride quality, all while suppressing wind noise. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.

The last two on this list are a toss-up as both are excellent cars. The 2018 Lexus LC struck a chord with us because of the 2+2 performance mantra behind it. 2+2 performance meant both the engineering and design departments at Lexus rallied together for a specific goal.

Their intense level of collaboration and teamwork delivered this stunning automobile.

The all-new LC 500 features a naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V8, paired with the first direct shift 10-speed automatic transmission in a luxury car. At 471 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft of torque, it’s no slouch. The LC 500h, conversely, is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 full hybrid powertrain, with a total output of 354 horsepower.

Optional equipment includes 20 and 21-inch forged wheels, Mark Levinson audio system, Limited Slip Differential, Blind Spot Monitor, Intuitive Park Assist, Heads-Up Display, and Cold Area Package, with a heated steering wheel and windshield de-icer.

Interestingly enough, Lexus debuted as a brand at NAIAS in 1989.

#1 2018 Kia Stinger

The 2018 Kia Stinger rides on a chassis comprised of 55 percent advanced high-strength steel. The result is impressive handling, along with a quiet cabin. Photo: Kia Motors America.

Yes, the car is amazing. No, I didn’t expect this from Kia. Yes, it’s amazing.

Kia literally took our breath away when it rolled out the red carpet for this performance beauty, the most powerful in the history of their luneup. The Stinger will arrive in the United States later this year with multiple engine and drivetrain options.

Kia’s idea was to take everything we could possibly love about an automobile and present it in one solid entity.

“A true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving, is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics, and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort, and grace,” said Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe.

Ride and handling is optimized through Kia’s use of high-strength steel in the chassis with a MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension. Handling characteristics may be tailored to suit the driver through the Dynamic Stability Damping Control system, a Kia first.

Although both engines are still in development, the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces an estimated 255 horsepower at approximately 6,200 rpm. The available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine is expected to hit around 365 horsepower (6,000 rpm) with 376 lb.-ft of torque (1,300 – 4,500 rpm).

Kia is targeting a 0 to 62 mph launch in about 5 seconds with a top speed of 167 for the latter engine.

“The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion,” Guillaume said.

NAIAS is held at the Cobo Center, 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. The public shows runs through January 22nd. More information, including ticket pricing and scooter rentals, can be found here. Enjoy your time and have fun!

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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