By: IOL Motoring Staff
Detroit Motor Show - Ford has come to the North American International Auto show in full-on performance mode this year.
Following in the wheel-tracks of the all-new GT supercar are the most track-orientated version yet of the 2015 Mustang and a seriously nasty new F150 Raptor truck.
The Mustang is the Shelby GT350R, and it bears the same relationship to the base Mustang as the 1965 Shelby GT350 Competition did to the original Pony Car.
As always with American cars, we start with the engine, in this case a new 5.2-litre, twin-cam V8 with the first flat-plane crankshaft on a production engine from Ford. American V8s typically have their big-ends spaced at 90 degrees, whereas 180-degree or flat-plane cranks are more likely to be found on European exotica.
Ford says this is its most powerful naturally aspirated production engine yet, claiming 'more than 370kW' and 'more than 540Nm'.
When it says this car is hot, it's not kidding, in either sense of the word: the GT350R has no less than three oil-coolers, one each for the engine, the six-speed manual gearbox and the standard-issue, 3.73:1 limited-slip Torsen differential.
But power is nothing without control, so the GT350R gets uprated springs and anti-roll bars, a lower ride height, special track-tuned alignment settings, stiffer bushings, cross-axis ball joints in the front suspension and revised calibration for the adaptive dampers.
FASTER EVERYWHERE
To trim weight, the gearheads at Ford Performance took that to heart - they ditched the standard versions’ aircon, audio system, rear seats, boot floorboard and carpet, reversing cameras and puncture kit.
They tell us the reason they built a new exhaust system without resonator chambers was also to add lightness - the distinctively European, sharp-edged exhaust note was a bonus.
And finally, they fitted what they claim are the first carbon-fibre rims on a street-legal production car from a major manufacturer anywhere in the world, each of which is six kilograms lighter - and appreciably more rigid - than an equivalent alloy rim.
THE RESULT?
The GT350R is 60kg lighter than the next lightest 'standard' Mustang, the 350 Track Pack model.
But there are performance junkies unwilling to forgo their creature comforts; for them, Ford will be offering an optional Electronics Package, including dual-zone air conditioning, a 200mm touch screen with navigation, seven-speaker audio system, and indicator repeaters built into the door mirrors.
The limited-production Shelby GT350R will be available in North America later this year; we're waiting on a reply from Ford SA as to whether there will be a right-hand drive version.
FORD F-150 RAPTOR
Here we already know the answer - the standard Ford one-tonner in South Africa is, of course, the Ranger - but we do wish Ford would make an exception for this limited-edition model of the F-150, billed as Ford's fastest, toughest off-road truck.
It's based on a purpose-built steel ladder chassis, with a military-grade aluminium body that saves more than 225kg in weight - even though it's 150 wider across the track - and the wheel-arches - for extra stability on rough terrain.
It's motivated by a new second-generation 3.5 EcoBost turbo V6. Ford doesn't give any performance figures, other than to say it makes more than the 303kW of the previous model's 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8.
It drives all four wheels through a new 10-speed transmission and on-demand transfer case, with an easier-to-use, updated terrain management system.
There's also an optional Torsen front differential available that significantly increases front-wheel grip, allowing the Raptor to pull itself over obstacles and up steep slopes, even if one of the front tyres momentarily loses traction.
That traction is enforced by a set of standard-issue Fox Racing Shox with 75mm canisters in place of the usual 62mm, more travel than the previous Raptors' 285mm in front and 305mm at the back.