Mustang
Winding Road Video: 2012 Shelby GT350 Convertible 624HP – Quick Drive
We’re not bragging by adding that “624HP” part to the beastly GT350’s title—we just don’t want you to confuse this one with the Shelby that manages only 525 horsepower. We aim for precision.
Graphed: 5.0-Liter V-8 Power
There’s something magical about five liters of displacement divided among eight cylinders. Right now, Ford, Jaguar/Land Rover, Hyundai, and Lexus are using them in various vehicles, and we haven’t found one that’s let us down yet. Whether naturally aspirated or supercharged, they all sing a great song and provide a healthy kick in the pants.
Quick Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG
This car is a work of art. It’s really understated for a machine with a $150K-plus price tag, making it a perfect vehicle for the driver who has the money to spend on a car like this, but isn’t looking to necessarily flaunt their wealth. And you can’t go wrong with that engine, either. This car is fast and smooth. And, while it may look like just another Mercedes to the casual passerby, it’s unforgettable to any person who takes it for a ride.
Ford Launches Octane Academy With An All-Star Cast
Ford seems quite intent on making the most of social media, as it has launched yet another venture into the world of online marketing, with the Ford Octane Academy. The Academy combines a few lucky fans with Ford’s rally and drifting stars for a weekend of on- and off-road challenges.
Secondhand Gems: 400 Horsepower For $35,000
Once upon a time, the streets of Detroit were hosts to corporate gang warfare. The time of which we speak is of course the 1960s, when gas was cheap and big engines making bigger horsepower thumped beneath the hoods of machines with names like Chevelle, Road Runner, and Torino.
Driven: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible
Like a lot of the Winding Road staff, I have had mixed emotions about the Camaro. I like the idea of a more modern challenger (sorry, Dodge) to the Mustang’s semi-monopoly on the intersection of inexpensive and powerful. I like the basic design of the car, though I could tweak a few details to make it better. I’m not even that troubled by the Camaro’s limited visibility, knowing full well that we heap praise on Lamborghinis and Lotuses without screaming bloody murder about visibility.
List: Top 15 American Cars From Winding Road’s Involvement Index 2.0
In Winding Road Issue 72, we will be announcing the winners of the 2011 Involvement Index Awards, where we select the most deserving, engaging vehicles from a range of categories. In anticipation of honoring the winners in about a month’s time, we’d like to take a look at the most involving American cars from our Index.
Driven: Ford’s 5.0-Liter V-8
While the exhaust note of the Mustang was classic, deep, burly muscle car, it tended to sound a bit peaky in the higher part of the rev range. The F-150, though, sounded best north of 3500 rpm, with a harder-charging sound as we accelerated up the rev range. We know that Ford pipes exhaust noise into the cabin of the Mustang, increasing the acoustic experience of acceleration. But, after our drive of the F-150, we wouldn’t be surprised to find out if the same thing was going on.
Video: 2011 Mustang GT Convertible On Winding Road Test Route
Join us as we take a spin on one of our most beloved test roads in Ford’s 2011 Mustang GT convertible.
First Look: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition
We were so busy preparing our BBQ parties, nursing our first-of-the-season sun burns, watching racing, and lining up new convertibles to drive this last weekend, that we almost missed the fact the Chevrolet dropped the sheet on a new, special edition Camaro as well as details relevant to the 2012 Camaro line.
Secondhand Gems: Tuner Cars For $20K
Remember the first car you ever owned? Perhaps it was a hand-me-down from another family member, or maybe you stockpiled some cash from the summer job at the local fast food joint to buy a rusty fixer-upper? Regardless of how it came to your possession, it was your first car, and if you’re a fan of this magazine then odds are you probably did something to it that—at least in your mind— made it better. Perhaps you went for a set of wheels or a loud stereo, or if you had delusions of mechanical ability as young car owners often do, you probably hacked up the exhaust in the name of less backpressure. And then there’s the favorite pastime of fabricating a cold air induction system from dryer ducting and zip ties procured from the local hardware store. You did that? Yeah, us too.
How Not To Work On Your Car: Too Far From Your Tools
It never fails to amaze me how much time one can spend just moving around while working on a car, whether it’s from one side to the other or in and out of the garage. I hear that some people actually have room for a car inside the garage—I am not one of those.
Quick Drive: 2011 Mazdaspeed3
I’ll get it out of the way early; I prefer the original Mazdaspeed3 to this second-generation by a rather large margin. This car isn’t the same visceral indulgence that the original was. Everything has been numbed to a degree, including the first gen’s characteristic torque steer.
Driven: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
After a day driving the new Mustang Boss 302 on and around the Laguna Seca race track, we’re prepared to nominate this latest Mustang as the newest member of the affordable but great. Just for reference, the other members of this august group are the Mitsubishi Evo X and the Mazda RX-8.
Driven: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible SS
Ever since the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro hit dealer forecourts for the 2010 model year, we have wanted—truly tried—to love the thing. What car guy wouldn’t?
Quick Drive: 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
This is a 306-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive, Korean muscle car. I know, it’s crazy. But it’s also very good. The Genesis Coupe packs a 3.8-liter V-6 that, besides the aforementioned 306 ponies, produces 266 pound-feet of torque, which for those keeping track at home puts it squarely in the range of the V-6 derivatives of the Ford Mustang (305 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque) and Chevrolet Camaro (312 horsepower, 278 pound-feet of torque).
Friday Video: Counter-PIT Maneuver Hero
We’ll be honest; we were rooting for the fugitive by the end of this one. We don’t want to spoil the video for those of you who haven’t seen it, but the driver of this Mustang looks like he’s had some practice.
Ford Announces TracKey For 2012 Mustang Boss 302
Ford has announced an interesting addition to the upcoming Boss 302 Mustang, called the TracKey. It’s an extra ignition key that, when used instead of the normal key, changes the parameters of the powertrain to a track-ready configuration.
Winding Road Issue 62 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we get inside Cadillac’s newest beast, the 556-horsepower CTS-V Coupe, and see if it’s as exhilarating to drive as it is to behold.
Ford Racing Supercharger For 2011 Mustang GT
Ford Racing has announced a supercharger kit for the 2011 Mustang GT. The 2.3-liter twin-screw supercharger boosts the output of the 5.0-liter engine to a robust 624 horsepower and 536 pound-feet of torque.
Ask It: 2011 Roush Stage 2 Mustang GT Convertible
We have just taken delivery of a Ford Mustang GT equipped with a Roush Performance Stage 2 kit. Our droptop GT features the standard 5.0-liter V-8, but has been supplemented by a Roush Performance exhaust.
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