A lot has been said about the new 2011 Ford Mustang, which receives a bevy of significant upgrades for the 2011 model year. Chief among these are two all-new engine options: a 3.7 liter V6 good for 305hp for the base Mustang and a 412hp 5.0 liter V8 in the Mustang GT. Both of these new powerplants are impressive, but the new V8 in the Mustang GT is attracting the most attention.

A 2011 Mustang GT with that new 5.0 liter V8 just arrived at a local Ford dealer, so I stopped by early this morning to grab a few photos. Are you looking forward to the new 2011 Mustangs, or are you more fond of the Chevy Camaro or Dodge Challenger? Sound off in the comments section.

Well, not really, but the automaker is making a strong patriotic statement in support of the American team playing against the English team in an upcoming World Cup soccer (football to the rest of the world) match. The company has put together a TV ad showing General George Washington riding to battle in a Dodge Challenger against some English redcoats. It’s a humorous segment,  but I think Dodge could have gone a step farther.

Instead of a trio of black Dodge Challengers, what if the ad was a joint effort by all of the American automakers in support of the US world cup team, perhaps featuring a Corvette ZR1, a Ford Shelby GT500, and a Dodge Challenger SRT-8? The ad would have had much more patriotic impact, and the addition of the ZR1 and the Shelby could have helped fend off a Redcoat counterattack using the the likes of the Jaguar XKR, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, and the McLaren MP4-12C.

My wife left for Grand Junction on Friday afternoon, taking a route southwards and westwards from Northern Colorado that would see her spending more than a few hours on interstate 70. She sent the following pictures, along with a few comments about the car (paraphrased a bit here):

It’s a fun car. Not sure if I’d want one as a daily driver, but it’s great when the weather is nice. It also held cruise going over Vail pass, so it has enough power.

The pictures here were taken at Vail Pass (above) and near Avon, CO (below).

Granted, the 4.0 liter V6 in this 2010 Ford Mustang isn’t exactly state of the art — generating only 210 hp and 240 ft-lbs. of torque, compared to 305 hp and 280 ft-lbs. of torque that the all-new 3.7 liter V6 offered in the 2011 Mustang can produce — but it has enough power for passing and navigating twisty mountain roads.

Related Content:

• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day One
• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day Two

The road trip has been an integral part of automotive culture for decades. Who among hasn’t thrown a suitcase into the back seat of their favorite vehicle and hit the open road?

That’s exactly what my wife is doing this weekend, deciding to leave me, the kids, the dog, and her boring minivan behind as she hops behind the wheel of a rented 2010 Ford Mustang V6 convertible (above) to drive out and see her parents (and congratulate her newly-graduated niece) this weekend.

I’m still trying to figure out how she managed to convince me to stay home with the kids, dog, and to do list while she’s soaking up sunlight and listening to the radio, but I digress — she always has managed to stay a step or two ahead of me.

She’ll be sending some thoughts about the vehicle (and some photos) back my way while she cruises, and I’ll post them as I get them.

Related Content:

• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day One
• 2010 Mustang V6 Convertible Road Trip: Day Two

I’ve always thought that the Ford GT (and its forbear, the Ferrari-busting, LeMans-winning GT40) was the ultimate combination of track-punishing power and gorgeous sports car aesthetics. Let not forget that the GT also sounded amazing, thanks to a 5.4L supercharged V8 that churned our 550 horsepower.

Alas, Ford only made about 4000 Ford GTs, but the car does live on as a favorite vehicle for many racing teams. One such team is Matech Competition, a Swiss racing team that is running a heavily modified Ford GT (draped in Darth Vader’s favor color) in the FIA GT1 Championship Race on April 17th, 2010 at the Yas Marina circuit in the United Arab Emirates.

You can read more about this car over at Autoblog, visit the official Matech Competition website, or watch a large version of this sweet-sounding video of the car in action over at YouTube. Don’t know how the Blue Oval does it, but supercharged Ford V8s always sound like music to the ears.
ultimate

What the heck is a Photosynth, you ask? Photosynth is a Microsoft-developed web service that lets you assemble digital pictures into an engaging 3D experience. Here’s what Microsoft says about it (from the Photosynth website):

“In simple terms, Photosynth allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same scene or object and automagically stitch them all together into one big interactive 3D viewing experience that you can share with anyone on the web.”

Regardless, it’s a novel way to combine a bunch of single car photos together into something a bit more interesting.
 
Related Reading

• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile
• About.com: New York Auto Show – 2009 Ford Flex Photo
• About.com: 2009 Ford Flex Pricing Revealed

I’ve written about the “minivan stigma” before, which I’ve always felt was a bit undeserved. From a practical point of view the minivan is arguably the most efficient family-mover in existence, thanks to it’s voluminous cargo space, the ease and convenience of sliding doors, and relatively car-like handling and performance. That said, some people simply despise the thought of owning a minivan, so car manufacturers have taken notice. One of the reactions to this fear and loathing of minivans was the introduction of the 2009 Ford Flex, a new entry into the 6+ passenger crossover segment that attempts to combine some style with most of the traditional features that minivans offer. Did Ford manage to pull off the combination? Our answers and a full-length review after the jump.

Flex Those Features
The Flex I tested was the Limited edition, which was loaded with an impressive number of standard features. A 3.5L V6 engine—generating 263 hp @ 6,250rpm and 249 lb.-ft @ 4,500rpm—is the standard powerplant, mated to a six-speed automatic overdrive transmission. This particular model came equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), undoubtedly a popular option in my neck of the woods here in Northern Colorado.

The interior is nicely appointed, with leather trimmed and heated seats, woodgrain trim accents, and 2nd and 3rd row seats that fold flat for additional cargo space. Dual zone climate control helps keep multiple passengers in their comfort zones. I found the seats to be firm and supportive, with the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat making it easy to find the perfect seating position.

I can’t say the same for the steering wheel, which—in a “What were they thinking?” design fumble—doesn’t telescope, which could make finding a good driving position for drivers on the shorter and taller ends of the size spectrum a difficult proposition. (Note: Ford has apparently responded to this frequent complaint by adding a telescoping steering wheel to the 2010 Ford Flex.) Seating space in all three rows was ample, although storage space behind the 3rd row seats was a bit modest.

Our test vehicle came with a few extra amenities, including a Class III trailer tow package ($570), a panoramic vista roof ($1495), a 2nd row floor console ($100), a rear console refrigeration ($760), a navigation system ($2375), and a white two-tone roof ($395). Ford’s excellent Ford Sync system was also included, which I’ll cover in more detail in a paragraph or two.

The Flex is also loaded with safety features, including traction and stability control (AdvanceTrac w/RSC), driver, front passenger and side-curtain airbags, the LATCH child safety system and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2009 Flex also fared well is crash testing conducted by the NHTSA and IIHS, earning 5 out of 5 stars across all tests in the former and  “good” ratings in testing by the latter.

During our week-long test period with the Flex, we carted groceries, kids, pets, and relatives through a mix of different weather types, from clear days to rain and sleet.The highlight of our test our period was a day-long drive up to Estes Park, CO and the nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.  Despite some super-sized dimensions—the Flex weighs in at a substantial 4700 lbs weight and sports a 117.9″ wheelbase and overall length of 202.3″—the 3.5L V6 managed to move the Flex up and down curvy mountain roads without any trouble. The Flex is clearly no sports car, but the performance is equivalent to comparably-equipped minivans.

The Awesome Ford Sync
I’ve raved about Ford’s slick Sync system before, both in a review of a previous Ford vehicle here at Drivelineblog and also over at Windows IT Pro. In essence, Sync teams a sophisticated voice-recognition system with your car stereo, phones, iPods, and other mobile devices. Setting up a cell phone to work with Sync only takes a few minutes, and the voice recognition is exceptional: I was able to change radio stations, place phone calls, and select CD tracks all by using some voice commands. Sync isn’t perfect—the voice recognition doesn’t work so well when you have a vehicle full of shouting kids—but in most other instances it works like a charm.

Note: I tested the 2009 Ford Flex Limited model; the 2010 Ford Flex includes a number of upgrades and changes, including: a telescoping steering wheel; a new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 (EcoBoost) engine option with 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque; improved suspension for better handling; and a number of other minor upgrades and improvements.

Bottom Line: The Ford Flex limited is an impressive, 7-passenger people mover that features a slick exterior and lots of family-friendly interior features. It does lack the sliding doors and voluminous cargo space that the best minivans offer, but for families looking to avoid a minivan the Flex is a great—albeit pricey—alternative.

Related Reading

• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile
• About.com: New York Auto Show – 2009 Ford Flex Photo
• About.com: 2009 Ford Flex Pricing Revealed
• Windows IT Pro: Ford Sync Makes Mobile Phones More Mobile

Vehicle Specifications
Vehicle: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
Manufacturer website: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Base Price: $36,555
Price as tested/options: $43,820; Class III trailer tow package ($570), 2nd row 40/40 seats-autofold ($870), panoramic vista roof ($1495), 2nd row floor console ($100), rear console refrigeration ($760), navigation system ($2375), white two-tone roof ($395)
Engine: 3.5 liter Duratec V6 (263 hp @ 6,250rpm, 249 lb.-ft @ 4,500rpm)
Drivetrain: Front engine, AWD
Fuel Type / Fuel Economy (EPA): Unleaded 87; 16 / 22

Back in August I posted about a new feature at DrivelineBlog.com called Driveline Blog Builds (DLBB). The goal of this new feature series is to highlight one project vehicle a month going forward. I was hoping to launch DLBB in August, so this is a little behind schedule. Someone once said “better late than never,” an aphorism that I’m happy to apply in this case.

Our inaugural DLBB vehicle for October 2009 is a heavily modified 1988 BMW 528e which the owner–who asked that I don’t reveal his real name, so I’ll go with “Bob”–is planning to race in the 2010 Tire Rack One Lap of America. A friend told me about this project, and Bob was kind enough to let me swing by his garage earlier this year to take some pictures and ask some questions about the project.

Bob’s project started with a 1988 BMW 528e in close to new condition he found after a web search a few years ago. “This car sat in a garage in California from 1992 onwards, had a single owner, had full documentation, had only about 50,000 miles, and everything was in great shape.” Bob mentioned that that not having to do bodywork on the vehicle was a bonus for him, as he really wanted to focus more of his time on the powertrain and suspension.

Rather than go with the stock motor, Bob opted for a 3.3L S52 V6 cylinder motor from a 1998 BMW M3 that he balanced, rebuilt with a new valve job, equipped with a T04e-60 turbo, and bolstered with a host of other engine component upgrades. “My goal was to try and keep most of the components from the firewall forward as stock or easily replaceable as possible,” Bob explains. “If I’m running laps in this and something breaks, I want to make sure I can run to the local BMW dealership and have good odds of finding those parts in stock.”

Engine control will likely be handled by an AEM unit from Evosport.com, and the transmission is a e36 ZF 5 speed manual sourced from an M3. The tranny will be mated to a 400hp clutch and an aluminum flywheel. Bob conservatively estimates that the motor will put out 400-420 horsepower at the rear wheels by the time he’s finished, but final numbers may fluctuate between now and when his project finally hits the track.

Some of the more unusual elements of Bob’s project are motor/transmission mounts pulled from a Toyota Supra, and a rack and pion steering setup that proved to be more problematic than Bob anticipated. “I originally tried a rack and pinion unit from a e39 BMW 528i, but that was for a front steer car,” Bob said. “I found a rear steer rack online that only cost me about $300 that should work fine.”

Bob is still hoping to run the car in the 2010 Tire Rack One Lap of America, and plans to downplay all the significant enhancements he’s made to the vehicle. In a forum post on MyE28.com — a popular online hangout for BMW E-series buffs — Bob outlined his strategy:

I want this car to be a sleeper. No spoilers, stripes, wings, in fact I have a set of 16″ factory steel wheels which I will have widened to 8″ and will run BMW hub caps and beauty rings. I want to see the face of the Porsche GT3 or new M3 driver when the old euro taxi goes flying by.

I hope you’ll join me in wishing Bob the best of luck with One Lap of America exploits, and we’ll keep tabs on his progress. If you know of a vehicle worthy of being featured as a monthly Driveline Blog Build, drop me an email at jeff@drivelineblog.com.

While we should all be thankful that they don’t build cars like they used to from a safety perspective, you have to give N2A Motors credit for channeling old school with their striking 789 custom car. N2A starts with a factory Corvette C6, then radically reworks the exterior to create the vehicle you see here. The front end is inspired by a ’57 Chevy, the middle take cues from a ’58 Chevy, and the rear section (with those lethal tailfins) pays homage to the ’59 Chevy.You can see more photos of the 789 here.

It get’s even better: Given that the crew at N2A Motors doesn’t touch the mechanicals of the Corvette donor vehicle, the official GM powertrain warranty remains in effect. The coupe weighs in at $139,500, while the convertible (shown above) starts at $144,500.

(Photo: N2A Motors)

That’s why I’ve decided to launch a new feature called Driveline Blog Builds (DLBB) that will highlight one vehicle project a month. I’ll have more details to post about the series in a few days, when I’ll also unveil the first DLBB project vehicle.

Here’s a preview of our inaugural DLBB vehicle: It’s a custom BMW E28 5-series that sports an E28 sub frame, E39 rack and pinion steering, and an S52 Turbocharged engine from an E36 M3. The owner hopes to race the finished vehicle in the upcoming 2009 One Lap of America, and is pushing to get the vehicle finished in time for the event.

If you know of a vehicle worthy of being featured as a monthly Driveline Blog Build, drop me an email at jeff@drivelineblog.com.