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2015 Saleen Mustang rendered
Source: MustangsDaily.com

We’ve seen plenty of renderings of the 2015 Ford Mustang over the past few months, ranging from some that look almost exactly like the Ford Evos Concept to some that aren’t too different from the styling of the current Mustang. However, one of the things those renderings have in common is that they are all guesses of what the standard production 2015 Mustang will look like. Up until now one has taken a crack at what a modified version of the Mustang could look like. That’s changed with this rendering from Matt Bernal of Bernal Auto Style, who has created an artistic representation of what he thinks the 2015 Saleen Mustang could look like.

“I went for more of a grown up super car that also attracts a younger audience like Saleen has always done,” Bernal told us. “The Saleen brand has always tried to seperate themselves from other ‘tuner Mustangs’ and have always been their own breed. They create an almost organic shape that uses the Mustang existing lines to create a different vehicle that’s not just a Mustang with a body kit.”

Bernal’s artistic representation of the 2015 Saleen Mustang is based heavily on the styling of the Evos Concept, but the typical Saleen design cues are readily apparent from the aggressive front fascia and side skirts to the black grille to the vented hood. A set of 10-spoke wheels tucked in below the fenders finishes off the look.

So what do you think? Would Bernal’s rendering be a worth successor for Saleen?

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/05/01/2015-saleen-mustang-rendered/

That's awesome!

I think Google maps is one of the best things ever

Depends how you spin it...

If Hugh Heffner did a commercial saying you'll get some tang with a Mustang, they'd probably outsell everyone

Photo Gallery: A closer look at Vaughn Gittin Jr’s new Formula Drift Mustang RTR
Source: MustangsDaily.com

Earlier this week we highlighted Justin Pawlak’s Falken Tire Ford Mustang built for Formula Drift, and now it’s time to feature the other pony car in contention for the series’ title. After finishing a close second in the championship last year, Vaughn Gittin Jr. is back for 2013 with a newly formed team, a new sponsor and an all-new car. Venturing away from the Falken Tire team that he’s been so successful with the past few years, Gittin has formed the RTR Drift Team and partnered with Nitto Tire with high hopes for once again becoming the Formula Drift champion. Being in charge of his own team comes with a new array of challenges, but Gittin, who we talked to shortly after he qualified 6th for Saturday’s competition, says that he enjoys the new responsibilities and everything that comes with it.



Gittin isn’t completely starting fresh, though, as the same company that built his previous Mustangs, ASD Motorsports in Charlotte, NC, was responsible for the construction of his new car. The Mustang you see here isn’t just a new version of last year’s version, either, as Gittin says it was built from the ground up. Many improvements were implemented, and even lighter materials were used. “Just when I thought they couldn’t make the Mustang any better, they went and built this car,” he told us. The engine is the same as last year, however – a 6.7L naturally aspirated V8 specially constructed by Roush Yates.



Gittin hopes to kick off the Formula Drift season in winning fashion this weekend in Long Beach, although he seems to have an up-and-down relationship with the course. After winning the event in 2010, he failed to qualify in 2011 and was knocked out in the Round of 32 in 2012. We’ll let you know how he fares after the competition, but until then you can check out his new Monster Energy /Nitto Tire Ford Mustang in the gallery below.



















http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/12/photo-gallery-a-closer-look-at-vaughn-gittin-jrs-new-formula-drift-mustang-rtr/

Formula Drift Preview: Justin Pawlak and his Falken Tire Ford Mustang
Source: MustangsDaily.com

The Formula Drift season opener is this weekend on the street of Long Beach, CA, and each of the competitors has been busy throughout the off season preparing their cars to contend for the title. As usual, two different Mustang drivers are expected to be in contention for the title: Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak. While Gittin left Falken Tire this past season to form his own team and partner with Nitto, Pawlak is staying put in the Blue and Turquoise colors and looking to build on his success with the team the past two seasons. A second place finish in the 2011 season followed by a 4th place finish in 2012 has cemented Pawlak has one of the best and most consistent drivers in the series.



While there are still a few days before the official start of the season, Formula Drift held its media day yesterday and we headed down to Long Beach to talk with Pawlak and check out his Mustang. The Kalamazoo, MI native and current SoCal resident seems confident heading into the new season, although he doesn’t necessarily show it at first glance. His laid back personality and shy demeanor aren’t typical for a Formula Drift driver, but Pawlak manages to flip a switch once he gets behind the wheel. During the first practice session of the day many of the drivers were fairly tentative while drifting around the course, but Pawlak came out with guns blazing, smoke billowing from the rear tires while going full-lock around a corner.



Pawlak has reason to be self assured on the course. A Mustang driver has won the Long Beach event the last three years, Gittin in 2010 and Pawlak the last two years. He’s also more comfortable with the car than ever before, he tells us. While it’s essentially the same chassis, the Mustang has received several updates and revisions to the suspension system. The Falken team have finally seemed to figure out a good powertrain combination as well, sticking with a Roush Yates V8 producing well beyond 800 horsepower. You might also notice Pawlak’s Mustang has a new look, with a 3dCarbon body kit constructed of lightweight carbon fiber and redesigned HRE wheels wrapped with Falken Azenis RT-615K tires.



We’ll bring you a full report of how Pawlak fares at the Formula Drift opener in Long Beach this weekend, but until then check out his Falken Tire Mustang in detail in the gallery below.





















http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/10/formula-drift-justin-pawlak-falken-tire-ford-mustang/

Five reasons why Ford should have built a 2014 Mustang Boss 351
Source: Mustangsdaily.com

Things have been a little quiet around the Mustang camp lately, if you haven’t noticed. After a steady barrage of updates the past few years, from the design refresh in 2010 to the powertrain updates in 2011 and another styling change in 2013, Ford hasn’t uttered a peep about the Mustang for quite some time. It’s quite understandable, considering they’ve got their hands full prepping the launch of the all new Mustang for 2015, but that doesn’t mean many Mustang fans, including ourselves, wouldn’t love to see something new with the current lineup. That feeling was never stronger when Chevy introduced the Camaro Z/28 at the New York Auto Show earlier this month. It got us thinking. What if Ford built one last Mustang on the S197 platform? One last special edition. The Boss 351. Here’s five reasons why we think Ford should have built it.

5. Heritage.

The S197 platform is retro by nature, and Ford loves calling on the Mustang’s storied past. This was never more true with the Boss 302. Ford repeated history in more ways than one, building the Boss 302 for only two years and following the styling cues of both the 1969 and 1970 models. Just like decades ago, Ford built a racing version (two actually) and won a championship. And what did Ford do the following year back in 1971? They built a Boss 351. Yes, the car isn’t as famous, beautiful or as desirable as the Boss 302, but that doesn’t necessarily matter. If Ford wanted to truly follow the Mustangs history and continue the Boss name, they could have gone to the 351 and done a single year production run just like they did in 1971.

4. A ready-to-go powertrain.

Assuming Ford did want to build a Mustang Boss 351, then what engine would they use? The answer is relatively simple. The current Shelby GT500′s 5.8-liter V8 measures out at 354.6 cubic inches of displacement. To us, that’s close enough, and we’re sure Ford could get the V8 down to 351cid if they wanted to. Converted to a high-revving naturally aspirated setup, the engine could easily produce north of 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft torque.

3. The Camaro Z/28 needs a competitor.

Both the Mustang and Camaro have always competed, and the two have usually maintained fairly similar models. Historically the Boss 302 and Z/28 were fierce rivals, both on and off the track, but the same can’t be said today. Unfortunately the Z/28 is entering production just as the Boss 302 is ending, and the two are fairly different cars anyway. In reality the Boss 302 faces off with the Camaro 1LE and the Shelby GT500 goes toe-to-toe with the ZL1. That leaves nothing to face off with the Z/28. Enter the Boss 351. A naturally aspirated 5.8-liter V8 could produce similar horsepower and torque numbers to the Z/28′s LS7.

2. A Cobra R successor

This somewhat builds on the reasoning of the last point. If Ford decided to do a Camaro Z/28 competitor, it wouldn’t be the first time they built a large displacement, naturally aspirated Mustang specifically for the track. The Cobra R models of the 1990s and 2000 have become legendary. With the Cobra name currently not in use, a Boss 351 would be a perfect way to continue the brand under a different moniker. The focus would be on reducing weight weight and track performance. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since Ford built the Cobra R, so it would be great to see its return, even under a different name.

1. The S197 needs a good send-off.

With the Boss 302 ending production for 2013, that leaves the Mustang lineup without a special edition. Yes, we have the GT500, but it’s been in production long enough to be considered a standard model now, and the California Special isn’t anything more than a trim package. Being the last year of the platform, it’s sad to see the S197 go out with little fanfare. Sales are dwindling, and all eyes are on 2015. What the S197 needs is a good send-off in the form of a special car. A Boss 351 would serve as a final tribute to the current Mustang platform.