Rides : Ford, Dow Chemical partner on carbon fiber composites, hope to shed up to 750 pounds

Ford is getting religion when it comes to light-weighting its vehicles. The company has entered into a new partnership with Dow Chemical to develop carbon fiber that can be manufactured at affordable prices for high-volume applications. That, of course, is the holy grail of weight reduction, which is why other manufacturers like General Motors are also partnering with suppliers to try and achieve the same ends.

Now before you get too excited about the carbon-fiber Mustang in the photos, understand that it was just a limited-production car shown at SEMA in 2009, and it carried a price tag of $135,000. That's the problem with carbon fiber parts – they are expensive because they are much more difficult to manufacture in volume than steel.

But if Ford and other carmakers are going to achieve the sorts of fuel economy improvements required by new regulations, they're going to have to either scale carbon fiber or dramatically shrink the size of most vehicles. Ford says it's targeting a 750-pound weight reduction per vehicle by the end of the decade.

 

Press Release

• Weight reductions of up to 750 pounds on future Ford vehicles are key to meeting fuel economy and electric vehicle range targets
• Ford and Dow engineers and researchers will combine efforts to develop low-cost carbon fiber and component-level manufacturing processes

DEARBORN, Mich., April 12, 2012 – Cutting the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 pounds by the end of the decade is a key component of Ford's strategy to improve fuel efficiency. In order to help achieve that goal, Ford Motor Company is partnering with Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, to research the use of advanced carbon fiber composites in high-volume vehicles.

"There are two ways to reduce energy use in vehicles: improving the conversion efficiency of fuels to motion and reducing the amount of work that powertrains need to do," said Paul Mascarenas, Ford chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Innovation. "Ford is tackling the conversion problem primarily through downsizing engines with EcoBoost® and electrification while mass reduction and improved aerodynamics are keys to reducing the workload."

Ford is investigating a range of new materials, enhanced design processes and new manufacturing techniques that would enable automotive structures to meet increasingly stringent safety and quality standards while cutting weight.

"Vehicle weight reduction for our customers through intelligent design with a materials focus has been a priority for Dow Automotive Systems," said Florian Schattenmann, director of Research and Development for Dow Automotive Systems. "This partnership with Ford on carbon fiber composites is a logical next step to progress already achieved through the use of lightweight, high-strength polymers and structural bonding technology."

Carbon fiber composites have been used in aerospace and racing cars for decades due to their unique combination of high strength and low mass. Until recently these materials have been far too costly for use in high-volume mainstream applications.

Dow Automotive Systems and Ford have signed a joint development agreement that will see researchers from the two companies collaborate on several fronts. The development teams will focus on establishing an economical source of automotive-grade carbon fiber and develop component manufacturing methods for high-volume automotive applications.

The partnership will seek to combine the best of Ford's capabilities and experience in design, engineering and high-volume vehicle production with Dow Automotive's strengths in R&D, materials science and high-volume polymer processing.

"Reducing weight will benefit the efficiency of every Ford vehicle," added Mascarenas. "However, it's particularly critical to improving the range of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles."

The joint development effort will also leverage work that The Dow Chemical Company has already begun through partnerships with Turkish carbon fiber manufacturer AKSA and the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

If the joint development effort is successful, carbon fiber components may begin appearing on new Ford vehicles in the latter part of this decade as product development teams work toward meeting new fuel efficiency standards of more than 50 mpg and extending the range of plug-in vehicles.

Rides : Which Ford Mustang is most popular with thieves?

We'd guess a thief's favorite Ford Mustang is whichever one he happens to be hooning around in – ahead of either illegally selling it, stripping it for parts or falsifying its VIN to pass it off as a legit car. But the 'Stang that's attracted the most attention from this scourge of society is none other than the 2000 Mustang.

While we're not sure what it is about the venerable Ford pony car in that model year that's caused it to rise to the top of the inaugural National Insurance Crime Bureau "Hot Wheels Classics" report on Mustangs, we are finding the study to be compelling reading. Who knew that 411,155 Mustangs have been stolen since 1981? The report is similar to NICB's annual report on the most stolen cars, but focused on just Mustang thefts, with data dating all the way back to 1964. Apparently NICB got the idea to do a Mustang-centric report after being asked for data from MustangEvolution last year.

Even more interesting than the report, however, is that NICB has also posted a six-minute documentary about how it helped reunite a Shelby GT350 with its rightful owner some 25 years after the car had been stolen. While not exactly part of the report, the video is a pretty cool showpiece for the nonprofit group that investigates car theft and insurance fraud.

 

Press Release

Ford Mustang Thefts
A Look at Thefts of an American Automotive Icon

DES PLAINES, Ill., Jan. 31, 2012 - For over 25 years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has published Hot Wheels, an annual report of America's 10 most stolen vehicles. While popular expectations have been that newer, more expensive vehicles would top the list, the data has repeatedly shown quite the opposite, with older, less flashy models topping the list.

As a take-off from our traditional Hot Wheels report, beginning with this release, the NICB will periodically issue a special report-Hot Wheels Classics-focusing on a specific class of vehicle or make and model. For the debut report, NICB selected the iconic Ford Mustang.

Since it was first introduced to the public at the 1964 New York World's Fair, nearly eight and a half million Mustangs have been sold, making it one of the most popular and enduring vehicles to ever grace a dealer's showroom.

Unfortunately, over the years many Mustang owners have had to deal with the theft of their pony cars. Aside from the hassle of losing their transportation and all that entails, a Mustang loss can be overwhelming given that many owners form an emotional bond with their machines. You would probably have to own one to understand that.

NICB reviewed Mustang theft data from 1964-2011 and identified 611,093 theft records. Although data for all years is available, confidence in pre-1981 records is low due to the inconsistency in reporting protocols and vehicle identification number (VIN) systems in use prior to 1981.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required VIN standardization beginning with the 1981 model year, that year is the oldest reliable data used in this report. Data prior to 1981 is provided for information only.

Overall, from 1981 through 2011, a total of 411,155 Mustangs were reported stolen. The most thefts occurred in 1981 (20,708) and the fewest in 2011 (4,347).

Thefts vs. Sales

During the 30-year period from 1981-2011, a total of 4,110,110 Mustangs were sold in the United States. However, over the Mustang's entire lifespan through the end of 2011, a total of 8,450,741 units have been sold in the United States. The single year with the most U.S. sales was 1966 with 549,436. Conversely, 2009 logged the fewest Mustang sales reaching only 66,623 units.*

The following graph shows the top 10 most stolen Mustang model years for the period 2001-2011. Overall, a total of 91,152 Mustangs were stolen during this time frame; the top 10 listed below accounts for 45,421 thefts or 50 percent of all thefts during that period.

2001–2011 National Mustang Thefts
Model Year Most Stolen Number of Thefts
2000 7,085
1995 6,790
1998 5,394
2001 5,103
2002 4,226
2003 3,966
1994 3,949
2004 3,234
1996 3,045
1989 2,629
Total 45,421

At NICB, we have been in the business of identifying and recovering stolen vehicles since 1912. Our expertise has been sought by law enforcement agencies all over the nation to assist with major auto theft investigations. Frequently, NICB recovers stolen vehicles that have long since been forgotten-except by their owners.

NICB Reunites Stolen Shelby GT-350 with its Owner

In 1982, a Mustang owned by a young Marine stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, was stolen. This was no ordinary Mustang; it was a 1965 Shelby GT-350. The Marine soon deployed and never saw that car again-until 2007 when an NICB agent contacted him with news that his Mustang was located in Maryland.

In the intervening years since it was stolen, the Mustang's true identity-its VIN-had been painstakingly altered and matched with a fraudulent title. It was then sold to an unsuspecting buyer who eventually put a new $12,000 Shelby engine in it.

See an NICB video on this Mustang investigation and images of the vehicle here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XRE3yw-PdM.

The duped owner was contacted in 2007 by the Maryland State Police and an NICB special agent asking to inspect his Shelby. As you can imagine, he was absolutely dazed when they informed him that his prized possession was, in fact, stolen property.

That young Marine from 1982-now a professional airline pilot-was overjoyed when he was notified that his dream car had been recovered and was in excellent condition. And, in a classy gesture of goodwill-he was not legally required to do so-the pilot gave the former owner a check for $12,000 for the engine.

Whether or not you own a Shelby Mustang, take steps to protect your vehicle from theft. Although vehicle thefts have been declining in recent years, if it happens to you it can be financially devastating and just an all-around hassle. NICB urges motorists to follow its "layered approach" to auto theft prevention. By employing these simple, low-cost suggestions people can make their vehicles less attractive to thieves.

NICB's four layers of protection are:

Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It's simple enough, but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.

Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.

Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can't be started, it can't be stolen. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.

Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting our Web site at www.nicb.org.

*All Mustang sales figures provided by Automotive News Data Center.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $319 billion in insurance premiums in 2010, or approximately 80 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 94 percent ($152 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

Rides : Shelby 50th Anniversary Edition Mustangs launched

The 50th anniversary of Shelby is being celebrated by launching three limited editions of the iconic Ford Mustang, named the 50th Anniversary Edition Shelby GTS, GT350 and Super Snake.

“From the 800 horsepower Shelby Super Snake to the agile GT350 and the nimble GTS, each 50th anniversary Shelby is built to run. A 50-year anniversary only comes around once in life. These limited edition Shelbys will mark that milestone for a select few who have a chance to own a piece of history” noted Luft.

According to the car manufacturer, only 50 white and 50 black units of each special edition of the Shelby 50th Anniversary Edition will be made, and each of them will be “dressed” in gold stripes. Shelby says that the three special editions of the Mustang will come with six piston front brakes, special wheels, custom interiors, commemorative 50th anniversary badging and a unique VIN number, which will be entered into the Shelby American registry. Future owners of the Shelby 50th Anniversary Mustang will receive a museum delivery ceremony at the Shelby plant in Las Vegas.
This is all we’ve got for now on the Shelby 50th Anniversary Edition Mustangs and there’s no official word on the price tag yet. The Shelby 50th Anniversary Edition Mustangs have been officially presented to the public at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

Car Porn : 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Epic Driveshaft Failure

Before we get started, we feel the need to repeat the standard issue warning about automotive stupidity: Do not try what's shown in the video after the jump, and if you do, make sure it's in the safe confines of a legitimate track facility.

One individual recently learned firsthand what happens when you remove the factory's 112-mph speed limiter on the Ford Mustang V6 and proceed to accelerate to 135 mph. The vehicle lost its driveshaft, which turned itself into a spinning hunk of metal that tore into the floorpan, bashed through its interior bits and generally caused mechanical mayhem.

The term for this type of failure is "catastrophic."

So, what happened? Well, we might first point out that the driver of this particular Mustang was clearly still accelerating after the drivetrain started making suspect noises – never a good idea. We have to imagine the vehicle was vibrating like an overloaded Magic Fingers bed before things went sideways.

As it turns out, 305-horsepower, 280-pound-feet of torque 3.7-liter V6 Mustang is built with a 2.73 rear gear ratio and a lightweight, one-piece driveshaft that's engineered to toe the line between fuel economy and performance. That driveshaft is part of the recipe that allow the coupe to produce yield 31 mpg highway – it simply isn't built to handle the type of speeds the owner in the video after the jump submitted it to.

In a statement to Autoblog, Ford said that the Mustang V6 is "the ultimate in fuel economy and performance," noting that owners looking for more speed should look toward the Mustang GT with its 412 horsepower V8, heavy-duty two-piece drive shaft and variety of rear axle ratio choices. The Mustang GT is limited to 145 mph.

As an aside, we would also like to point out the idiocy of trying to film oneself at triple digits by hand. While the YouTube description says that the impromptu test course is a "closed" road, it looks like it might be a public roadway. The videographer is lucky to be alive. 

 

Rides : Check Out The Ford Racing Mustang Boss 302SX

We can't get enough of the Boss Mustang 302, and it appears Ford Racing can't, either. Mustang Daily reports that Ford unleashed the newest member of the Boss family at the PRI show in Florida; the Boss 302SX. The Boss 302 concept is called the ultimate track car, and its stats tell the story.

The SX package delivers the updated looks of the 2013 model, and adds a bit more kick under the hood. The overhauled 5.0-liter V8 will reportedly crank out over 500 horsepower due to changes that include the same intake manifold as the 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet.

Mechanical upgrades also include an improved oil cooler, fuel system, adjustable coilover suspension and Ford Racing mufflers. Team Ford also made changes at all four corners with lightweight 18x9.5-inch wheels mated to racing slicks. And of course, Brembo brakes have been added all around and the interior features an FIA-spec six-point roll cage to protect whoever sits in the single Recaro seat behind the wheel.

Keep in mind that the Boss 302SX is just a concept for now, but all we can see is a serious track star that is begging for production.

Rides : 2013 Ford Mustang redefines "badge engineering" with logo projector

Most car marques can be easily recognized by their emblems. But some model lines have their own emblems, too. The Mustang stands out as a clear example, and now Ford is projecting that image even further. And we mean that quite literally.

For the new 2013 Mustang, Ford has fitted a tiny projector lamp into the side mirror that casts the shape of the galloping horse logo onto the ground beside the vehicle when the driver unlocks the doors. This illuminated "Easter egg" seems simple enough, but apparently it took Dearborn's engineers quite a while to get it just right, going through six or seven designs before managing to get it to work.

The result was apparently so captivating that it shut down Ford's Flat Rock assembly line when one of the auto workers hit the button and everyone came to look. We'll be interested to see it for ourselves when we get our hands on the new model. It might be purely aesthetic and almost entirely without function, but something tells us this could be one of those new gimmicks – like, say, illuminated sill plates or ambient cabin lighting – that we may see proliferating across the industry.

Rides : Pair of Kia Optima Turbos will compete in World Challenge against Mustangs and Camaros

The Kia Optima is headed to the World Challenge next year. Kia has announced that it will once again partner up with Kinetic Motorsports, this time to build a pair of Optima SX models to go fender to fender with the rest of the World Challenge field. The two turbocharged sedans will compete in the Grand Touring Sport Class against vehicles like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, if you can believe that.

If you're thinking those two are going to make short work of the Optima, you may want to think again. Kia has already managed to earn a driver and team championship in the two years that it's been racing the Forte in the States, and the company recently announced the Rio 5-Door would be competing, as well. These guys aren't just out there to parade their badge around the track.

The World Challenge series pits great drivers against each other in race-prepped versions of production vehicles on some of the country's best road courses. The series campaigns at Infineon, Road Atlanta and the street circuit at Long Beach. Look for the races to show up on the NBC Sports Network this year. Hit the jump for the full press release from Kia.

Show full PR text

KIA RACING ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR TWO TURBOCHARGED OPTIMAS TO COMPETE IN THE 2012 PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Championship-Winning Motorsports Program Expanding to New Series in Third-Year
• Kia and Kinetic Motorsports continue partnership to build and campaign two Optima SXs in World Challenge
• Additional motorsports activities for 2012 include B-Spec racing with the all-new 2012 Rio 5-door and Optima Hybrid serving as the official pace car at United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) events

LOS ANGELES, November 16, 2011 – It took the Kia Racing program just two seasons and 20 starts to capture Kia Motors America's (KMA) first-ever championships in the 2011 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and today at the Los Angeles Auto Show the company announced a major motorsports expansion for 2012 with two turbocharged Optimas set to enter the Pirelli World Challenge Championships. Continuing KMA's successful partnership with Kinetic Motorsports, the World Challenge Optima SXs will compete in the Grand Touring Sport (GTS) class alongside established nameplates such as Mustang and Camaro at world-class race tracks across North America, including Road Atlanta, the street circuit in Long Beach, Calif., and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

"As a brand with no previous racing experience in America, for Kia to win two motorsports championships in just its second year is an incredible accomplishment, and expanding our motorsports footprint with the turbocharged Optima entering World Challenge will continue to build passion and enthusiasm for the brand with an entirely new fan base at different race tracks across the country," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "With its aerodynamic styling and outstanding driving dynamics, the Optima SX should be well suited to the ultra-competitive environment of World Challenge racing."

Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, World Challenge features world-class drivers and race-prepped versions of production vehicles from many of the world's most popular manufacturers. The Kia Optimas will be the first Korean vehicles to compete in the series – which includes a suspenseful standing start rather than the more common rolling start – and is known for exciting door-to-door action throughout the 50-minute sprint races. For 2012, World Challenge races will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.

Rides : Check Out The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500

  Check Out The all New 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The vehicle could very possibly be the least-aerodynamic sports car on the face off the planet that's capable of knocking off 200 mph. How does it do it? Lots and lots of power. Ford completely reworked the vehicle's drivetrain for 2013, starting with the engine. The larger 5.8-liter aluminum V8 now spits out a full 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque courtesy of a larger supercharger. Ford calls the 2013 Shelby GT500 the most powerful production V8... in the world. The muscle-bound Mustang looks plenty impatient lounging on the show floor of the 2011 LA Auto Show.

Buyers looking for even more performance may opt for the GT500 Performance Pack, which throws in electronically-adjustable Bilstein dampers and a Torsen limited slip rear differential. Still not enough to satiate the go-fast itch? Good thing the 2013 GT500 is also available with a Track Package that bolts on an external engine oil cooler, transmission cooler and rear-differential cooler.

Even better, the 2013 Shelby GT500 weighs 270 pounds less than its chief rival, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and manages to dodge the gas guzzler tax.