An Electric Muscle Car?

Talk about a contradiction in terms.

Imagine hammering down on the pedal of your Ford Mustang and roaring from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds like you're Steve McQueen on steroids … all with a silent, environmentally-friendly electric engine emitting zero rude, unruly carbon emissions.

That's the idea behind the Tjaarda EVX Mustang and the HST Shelby Cobra EVX, both zero-emissions vehicles based on their gasoline-powered muscle car counterparts. It's important to note that both of these are custom cars (the Mustang runs at $80,000 and the Cobra will cost you $120,000), so don't get too excited. Still, an 8-hour charge to a lithium-ion battery pack that will cost you roughly three cents per mile seems like a decent price.

I have only one concern: Isn't a car that can accelerate from 0-60 in under four seconds without making a peep—I don't know—fairly freaking dangerous?

HST International All-Electric Mustang and Shelby Cobra (Motor Authority via Jalopnik)

Knight Rider Returning to TV

If you watched the recent made-for-TV remake of “Knight Rider” and came through it still awake and intrigued by the campy concept of a driverless car, you can rejoice. NBC has given the green light for a full-fledged series. Despite the wooden acting, Val Kilmer’s boring monotone, the ridiculous plot, and the holes in said plot you could drive a semi-truck through, the ratings for the movie were quite good.

The writers’ strike and subsequent dearth of original TV might have led to those ratings. And, yes, this story was first reported yesterday. It is not an April Fool’s joke.

Knight Rider given green light (TV.com)

Man Paints His Car Like Police Cruiser, Doesn't Get in Trouble

You'd think it would be illegal to paint your car like a police cruiser, right? I mean, authorities in Arkansas made it illegal to honk your horn in front of an establishment that serves sandwiches or ice-cold beverages after 9 p.m., and you're telling me no one in Nevada thought to say, "Gee, let's not let people make their own police cars?"

Apparently not, because Las Vegas resident Jessie Vigil spent last summer transforming his 2007 Ford Mustang into a cop-mobile. He took the black and white paint job and added an emergency bar to the roof and the word "Police" to the side.

To be fair, Vigil did not intend to mimic a police car, but rather was duplicating a car-character from the movie "Transformers" for his 7-year-old son, Thomas (on the side of the vehicle, instead of saying "To Protect and Serve" it says "To Punish and Enslave").

Vigil spoke with law enforcement before undertaking the redesign, and discovered that, yes, indeed, he was in the clear.

Vegas Man Paints Car Like Police Cruiser (Associated Press)

Ford Recalls 434,593 Mustangs

Ford has issued a recall for 434,593 Mustangs from the 2005-08 model years after tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed there could be increased risk of neck injury during airbag deployment. According to NHTSA's recall report, the risk of injury is greater for small females in the front passenger seat who are unbelted, sitting with their seat in the full-forward position.

To fix the problem, Ford dealerships will reprogram a restraint control module free of charge. Recalls are expected to begin Feb. 28. Consumers can call 866-436-7332 or email www.ownerconnection.com.

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Chicago Auto Show Muscle Cars

So I started off this year's Chicago Auto Show with one goal in mind for this feature: Photograph the 2008 Dodge Challenger. That goal? It was achieved with smashing success. Dodge even put three different-colored models on the floor for us to crawl around in. After fighting off crowds of onlookers and pushing my way to the front of the pack of gawkers, I decided it was time to give the domestic car companies their due by producing a Through Ian's Lens post that highlights my three favorite modern muscle cars. So without boring you with more jibber jabber about design lines and aesthetic mumbo jumbo, here are the 2008 Dodge Challenger, the 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 KR, and the Chevrolet Camaro "Bumble Bee" concept. A full set of photos is below.

Best Cash-Back Finds: 12.27.07

Many year-end incentives end on January 2 so we thought it would be a good time to sift through the deals and see what models are actually worth your hard-earned cash-back dollars. For a list of all incentives, click here.

2008 Saturn Vue

• MSRP: $21,250
• Cash back: $2,000
• Percent off MSRP: 9.4%
• Expires: 1/2/08
• 5-Year Ownership Costs
• Cars.com Best New Car for Small Families

The redesigned Saturn Vue is a favorite at the Cars.com offices. It recently won our small SUV faceoff against the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 and has a relatively upscale interior. It also scored nearly perfect on IIHS crash tests — an airbag redesign will have future Vue’s in fact perfect. The one main fault with the Vue is the seemingly high MSRP on certain trim levels. With $2,000 off that — including the sporty Red Line trim — this is a great deal.

Ford Offers Glass Roof on Mustangs

Ford has been rolling out the iconic Mustang ever since the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and more than 40 years later the car remains one of the company’s proudest staples. Previously offered as both a hard top and convertible, Ford will roll out a new glass-roof version for the 2009 model year.

Citing the average driver’s increased daily commute and “desire for more natural light,” Ford will offer the glass roof as a $1,995 option on both the V-6 Mustang and Mustang GT, making them more expensive than the standard coupe versions but less expensive than the convertibles.

A slew of questions and concerns spring to mind at the prospect of putting a sheet of glass above your head while driving, but Ford seems to have addressed most of them. According to Ford, the glass is built to have the same structural integrity as the roof as the coupe, and the material is standard automotive safety glass, so it will shatter without sharp edges in the event of an accident.

The glass roof feature comes with a built-in manual roller blind that can be closed on particularly sunny days, but the glass is also “specially formulated” to act as a barrier to infrared rays and solar radiation that might otherwise deteriorate the car’s interior.

The 2009 Glass Roof Mustang will be available beginning this summer.

Up Close With the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

• One of the neat touches Ford has added to the Mustang Bullitt is a swirl metallic finish on the dashboard. It's surprisingly convincing and gives the interior a classy distinctiveness. As for the exterior, there's a Bullitt badge on the tailgate, but what I really dig is the black mesh grille that's devoid of any badges; it gives the car a seriousness that's fitting for this Mustang. — Mike Hanley, 1:15 p.m.

Related
More from the 2007 LA Auto Show
2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

2007 L.A. Auto Show: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

• Competes with: Dodge Charger R/T, Nissan 350Z
• Looks like: A Mustang you’d find at the rental desk
• Drivetrain: 315 hp 4.6-liter V-8, five-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: Early 2008

Ford just can’t get enough out of the venerable Mustang name, can they? We’ve seen all types of special editions since the new design came out a few years back and for 2008, the company is going straight for nostalgia with the new Mustang Bullitt.

Yes, this car is in honor of the famous movie starring Steve McQueen. The paint job is the same Dark Highland Metallic as the 1968 Mustang GT from the movie and engineers even used a DVD of the film to get the exhaust note just right.

Under the hood is the same V-8 found in the standard Mustang GT but with an open air intake — the first in a production car for Ford — and specially tuned exhaust. The suspension was tweaked and more aggressive shocks and struts were used.

Because of the modest bump in power and few alterations, it’s nice to see Ford keeping the price of this special edition reasonable at $31,075, including the destination charge. Because of that price, we expect the limited run of 7,700 for North America to sell out pretty darn quickly. Check out plenty of images below.

Ford Teases New Mustang Bullitt

If you didn’t think there were enough Mustang variants on the market — Shelby GT, Shelby GT500, Shelby GT500 KR, California Special — there’s one more coming to the party. Ford will debut the Bullitt Mustang at the L.A. Auto Show on Nov. 13. There’s no word on performance upgrades, but we expect a modest bump in power. We also dig the nice green color reminiscent of the classic from the movie and it looks like the grille might get some work too. The Bullitt will go on sale in early 2008.

This Week in Ask.cars.com

One of our favorite groups of cars is the semi-luxury sport compact class, and with the new C30 on the market, we answered a question about what’s the better value between the new Volvo hatchback and its competition. We also dipped into a good portion of vehicle segments this week while responding to your questions – including the compact, minivan, SUV, hybrid, crossover and sports car classes. If you have your own question, head over to Ask.cars.com and submit one.

• What's a better value: the Mini Cooper S, Audi A3 or Volvo C30?
• Are any minivans coming out with hybrid engines?
• What is a “crossover” vehicle?
• How long is the engine break-in period on my new car?
• How long do hybrid batteries last?
• What is the difference between a Mustang GT and a Mustang Cobra?
• What SUV can tow 4,000 pounds and get good mileage?

One Mustang, One Color: 2008 Shelby GT Convertible Revealed

The specialty numbers coming from Carroll Shelby and Ford don’t seem to stop. The latest go-fast Mustang from the pair is the 2008 Shelby GT convertible that was officially announced this morning. It features the same guts as the current Shelby GT (not the GT500), producing 319 hp. The convertible also sports a solid roll bar and comes in one color: the Vista Blue scheme shown here with silver stripes.

The other news is that the Shelby GT coupes will also be available in only this color combination. The current black and white schemes were limited to the 2007 models. There were less than 6,000 2007 models built, and the 2008s will be even more limited, with a planned production of approximately 2,300. They are slated to go on sale in the fall. Prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date, but expect coupe prices to remain similar to last year’s $36,970 figure.   

Related
Ford Puts a Price Tag on 2007 Shelby GT (KickingTires)
More on the Ford Shelby GT (KickingTires)
Ford Announces Mustang Shelby GT (KickingTires)

Less Variety for Future Mustangs

Believe it or not, there are 16,000 color, option and package combinations available on the base V-6 Mustang. We were astonished to hear the news, as was new Ford CEO Alan Mulally. That many variations on a single model makes it hard for dealers to order the right mix of cars to sell to folks. A new edict from Ford calls for a tightening up of available options and packages into more-focused, all-inclusive types. The company promises buyers will still have everything available to them, just not on such a customizable level.

The upcoming 2008 Mustang will have only 200 available combinations. Most other manufacturers already have similar bundled option packages. This will save Ford some headaches and money, but will customers care?

Ford to Trim Vehicle Options (Detroit News)

Shelby Super Snake: Next Mustang Tops 600 Horsepower

Yes, you read that right. Ford is coming out with yet another specialized Mustang from Carroll Shelby, this one called the Super Snake. It will be street legal and sport a 600 hp engine that can be optioned out to up to 725 hp. Yes, 725 hp.

The 600 hp, 590 pounds-feet of torque version of the Super Snake package — it’s an option on the GT500 — version will be covered by warranty. The 725 hp version? Not so much. The Super Snakes will start terrorizing streets near you in late 2007, early 2008.

Let’s take stock of the current lineup of super special Mustangs that will all be on the market at the same time:

• Shelby GT with 319 hp
• Shelby Cobra GT500 with 500 hp
• Shelby GT500KR with 540 hp
• Shelby GT500 Super Snake with 600 to 725 hp

No pricing details have been announced on either the Super Snake or the GT500KR, which was introduced at the New York auto show earlier this month.

Related
New York Auto Show: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR (KickingTires)
Ford Puts a Price Tag on 2007 Shelby GT (KickingTires)
Weekend Getaway in the Ford Shelby GT500 (KickingTires)

New York Auto Show: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR

This is the first of three special edition Fords debuting at the New York Auto Show. Like the recent Shelby Mustangs, the Shelby GT500KR is a throwback to the musclecar ‘60s. KR stands for King of the Road and this new version of the classic certainly has the power to back up that claim. The vanilla GT500 had exactly 500 horsepower; the GT500KR will have 540 hp and 14 inch Brembo brakes to pull in the reigns.

Ford will only produce 1,000 of the new Shelby GT500KR coupes, so go put your order in now if you need to upgrade your GT500. Of course, you'll have a long wait. The GT500KR won't hit the streets until spring 2008. No prices have been announced, but we’d have to assume the GT500KR will be more than the GT500’s $40,930 price tag. 

More photos below.

Blurry Mustang Billboards

Those dispensers of all things advertising-related at AdRants bring us the latest in billboard innovation. Ford has created blurred billboards made out of a transparent resin that makes any object behind them appear blurred. This is supposed to give the effect of driving by really fast, like you presumably would in a Mustang. However, the folks at AdRants think the Mustang logo is too small to get much attention by drivers. What do you think? Ingenious or a waste of time?

[Mustang Blurs Billboards, Point is Equally Blurry, AdRants]

Related:
Mini Billboards to Get Interactive

Ford Puts a Price Tag on 2007 Shelby GT

We like Carroll Shelby and loved driving the new GT500; it’s an amazing machine with 500 hp for under $45,000. Then we heard a more mild-mannered Shelby GT was coming for 2007 and got even more excited, expecting it to be priced much closer to a regular Mustang GT – which starts at $27,995 for a leather-equipped coupe. There are only 25 additional horses under this new pony’s hood compared with that standard GT's 300 hp and of course lots of cosmetic and suspension upgrades, but we’re a bit surprised at the MSRP of $36,970. Compared to the GT500 coupe’s $42,975, it’s not a lot more to move up to GT500 and its additional 175 hp. However, it is a substantial bump from the well-equipped GT Premium package.

Ford says the numbers of the Shelby GT will be very limited — there will be fewer of them than the Shelby GT500 — so shoppers are actually buying more of the collectible rather than what’s underneath the skin, but they're not far off the going rate for gussied up Mustangs.

Aftermarket companies like Saleen have been building hot-rodded Mustangs for years and sell them through select Ford dealers. They don’t come cheap either, with a 345 hp version starting at more than $42,000. The Shelby GT isn't looking like so bad of a deal now, is it?

The Shelby GT will start arriving at dealers at the end of January.

Related:
Ford Announces Mustang Shelby GT
More on the Ford Shelby GT

Ford Adds $1,000 Cash Back to Popular Models

The race is on to end 2006 on a positive note for Detroit automakers, including Ford. The struggling company announced it would add $1,000 in year-end bonus cash to 12 more Ford models, including the popular Mustang and Explorer. The bonus cash is on top of existing rebates.

For a full list of current incentives, go here.

[Ford Ramps Up Deals Again, The Detroit News]

2006 L.A. Auto Show: Mustang Giugiaro Concept

Ford has gone Italian for some inspiration. The future of the Mustang may look something like this concept designed by Fabrizio Giugiaro of Italdesign. This may be just a concept — a flight of car-designer fancy — but many think it portends the next Mustang, arriving sometime near the end of the decade. We think it looks a lot like the Chevy Camaro concept shown at Detroit last year. The designer does deserve credit, however, for making it a fully functional 500-hp Mustang that can be driven on any street.

What do you think? Check out the slew of pictures below and check back on our full L.A. Auto Show coverage tomorrow for a full report and photos of the car in the flesh.

The Boss is Back: Boss 302 Mustang debuts at SEMA

It’s just an engine, but a famously named engine. The Boss 302 is not the name of a new Mustang model – although it probably will be – it’s the name of Ford’s new V-8 crate engine for hot-rodders. The 5.0-liter powerplant was originally developed under the name “Hurricane” and was set to take on Chrysler’s resurrected Hemi line of engines . The name and entire project were scrapped -- the name because of the devastation of Katrina last year and the project itself because of cost cuts. Now, Ford has revived the concept and fans should expect the Boss 302 to find its way into the next generation of F-150 trucks and the redesigned Mustang when it debuts in 2009.

For now, gearheads will have to wait until early next year when just the engine will be made available through Ford Racing dealers. Then they can customize their own Boss 302 Mustang like the concept shown here.

[Source: Ford via Autoblog]