15 Alloy Wheels

Last year, the Monterey Motorsports Reunion announced that the Shelby Cobra would be the featured marque for 2012 in honor of the company’s 50th anniversary. It’s shaping up to be quite the celebration. Earlier this month it was announced that no fewer than 45 competition Cobras will be racing on the track come August, with owners from across the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Canada in attendance. In fact, demand to participate was so high that several entrants actually had to be turned away.

Shelby Cobras won’t just be on the track, though. The event expects at least 200 Cobras, real and replica, to gather in the infield car corral. Shelby and Ford Motor Company will also bring a collection of historic Cobras to display in the paddock. In other words, if you’re a Shelby Cobra fan then start making plans to attend right away.

You can read the official announcement from the Monterey Motorsports Reunion below.

What happens if you race the McLaren, one of the fastest cars in the world, with another Daimler car, the smart? Well, no doubt, McLaren will win.

In a very ironic situation however, the smartfortwo seems to have won. But this is not a race. A police officer in the smallest and cheapest car in Daimler’s umbrella was seen writing a ticket for a parked Mercedes SLR McLaren Roadster in Beverly Hills. What happened when the owner of the stickered car saw the ticket is unknown. Well, there is nothing he can do right?

It’s just funny, at least once, the smartfortwo wins.

It takes a fast and agile car to keep pace with MotoGP racing bikes. Fortunately the BMW M division is up to the task, providing safety cars (or what we’d call pace cars on this side of the Atlantic) to the race organizers of the top-level motorcycle racing series.

The most recent vehicles to perform the duties have been the 1 Series M Coupe and the X6 M crossover, but now BMW is introducing a the new M6 coupe to the mix. It’ll debut in safety car guise as pictured above at the Nürburgring this weekend.

While it’s unclear whether any modifications have been made to the 552-horsepower twin-turbo V8, the M6 MotoGP safety car has been upgraded with new spoilers front and rear, special lighting equipment and BMW’s traditional blue, blue and red striping on a white body. And if we were betting men, we’d put our money on some upgrades to the brakes, suspension and tires, too.

After getting in the second place last December’s evaluation, the three star brand is now on the top spot for being the strongest auto brand in Germany.

Other than winning the major citation, Mercedes also got the highest position in three minor categories, the first one being “Environment”, which is won because of the engine variants that the car manufacturer is making. These engines emphasize fuel reduction and economy, that reduces the risk of environment’s degradation.

Another citation is “security” primarily because of the COLLISION PREVENTION system in new Merc models. “Market power” was also bagged due to the market leadership that the company achieved in the last six months.

“The fact that we have managed to conquer the top position in ADAC AutoMarxX back, shows that we are with Mercedes-Benz at an outstanding way. I am particularly pleased that we are in the environment, and ranking in the category of security topped. The placement of the most successful premium manufacturer in the category of market strength underscores how well arrive before all our new products to our customers. The strongest car brand in Germany to be is for us first, a great endorsement of our work and at the same motivation for the future, ” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Exec VP Mercedes-Benz Sales and Marketing.

Set in an apocalyptic theme, the video shows the super car Mercedes-Benz SLS in Berlin with all the angels and demons hullabaloo.

The car features its huge lip, which was altered and tuned by MEC Design. The earth-shattering sound of the V8 engine is really something, as the tuner emphasize it and used it as a ‘soundtrack’.

The clip is directed by Daniel Michaelis, and produced by Format67.net.

The video narrated by Claudia Black is beautiful, worthy to be called a film in itself. Although made by a tuning company, we can say that it has great value, so go ahead and watch. The almost 2 minutes you’ll spend doing so will not be a waste.

The annual “Car Wars” report by Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy predicts that, despite their seizing of U.S. market share over the last few tumultuous years, Korean brands Hyundai and Kia will give it all back and then some to companies like Ford, General Motors and Toyota by 2016.

Murphy bases his predictions not on tea leaves or crystal balls, but rather the rate at which automakers launch new products. Ford will replace 26 percent of its product line over the next four years, a number that represents 46 percent of its volume, while General Motors will replace 25 percent and Toyota 24 percent. On account of these new product launches, Murphy says Ford can expect to add 0.8 percentage points of market share, General Motors will recover 0.5 points and Toyota will add another 0.3 points.

Other automakers that won’t be so aggressive in turning over their lineups with new models include Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and the European brands, which Murphy surmises will all remain flat in terms of market share.

Hyundai and Kia, meanwhile, will be introducing fewer new models than the rest and therefore, Murphy predicts, will see a 0.5 decline in U.S. market share.

Of course, these are all just predictions and can be blown to bits with the next unforeseen economic crisis or natural disaster, just like the last three years were. And there are other factors that might affect market share for each automaker during the next three years, including the availability of raw materials, exchange rates, union contracts, recalls and a million another minor things that might grow to become big things, not the least of which is consumers deciding they actually like all those new products being launched.

On Thursday night’s Autoline After Hours, SRT boss Ralph Gilles sat down with show hosts John McElroy and Peter DeLorenzo, along with Autoblog and AOL Autos staffers to talk all things Viper. Among the interesting tidbits disclosed about the 640-horsepower supercar are plans for a new dealer certification process designed to encourage the sort of purchasing, service and ownership experience that buyers of six-digit cars have come to expect.

According to Gilles:

“It’s going to be a qualified dealer situation… The ones who do the dealer training in terms of the tech. I want a tech. I want a display car. I want all these things. There’s going to be a list. It’s not going to be impossible, it’s just that someone has to put in the extra effort and say ‘I’m an SRT dealer.’”

Off the air, Gilles told Autoblog that Chrysler officials have already approached a number of dealers with a strong record of Viper and SRT sales to discuss how the certification process will work, gaining valuable feedback in the process. A document outlining the new certification program will go out to Dodge dealers next month.

Chrysler has yet to announce official pricing and the Viper won’t go on sale until sometime in the fourth quarter of the year, but that hasn’t stopped a queue of customer deposits from piling up. According to Gilles, one particularly strong Viper dealer already has around 90 such deposits in-hand. Considering that Viper sales averaged about 1,600 units in past years, that’s a substantial figure.

In other news, Chrysler officials have been making a big point of talking about the 2013 Viper’s newfound refinements, from reduced NVH to nicer interior materials and improved drivability thanks to the institution of technologies like stability control and traction control. Gilles says that great care has been taken to ensure the model’s core personality still shines through, but given that much of the Viper’s mystique is centered on its raw, leg-burning, hairy-knuckled persona, we couldn’t help but wonder aloud if the new model’s refinements have left room for a stripped-out hardcore version for Viper purists and racers. With raised eyebrows, arms gesturing wildly and stifling a smile, Gilles wryly said: “I love how you think. Next subject!”

To watch the Autoline After Hours episode in its entirety, scroll down.

A group of 25 SLR. CLUB members, all with their precious SLR vehicles, took the road on May 16th to participate in the Mille Miglia in Rome, which covers a specified route starting from Brescia then Rome then back to the start to cover 1,000 miles (hence the name).

The Mille Miglia is a traditional Italian race from way back in 1927. It was held annually until 1957 and then resurfaced in 1977. This year’s race features a parade of classic cars, a field with a total of 382 competitors—including these 25 SLR owners—that will pass through Italy’s famed cities of Bologna, Florence, and Verona.

The SLR. CLUB contingent is comprised of the following cars: 3 Roadster 722 S, 5 SLR Coupes, 7 Roadsters, and 10 of the SLR Stirling Moss models. Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche sent off the SLR. CLUB, which is participating in the Mille Miglia for the 8th time in the club’s history.

Mercedes-Benz, in its capacity as the event sponsor, will also be participating. The Stuttgart works team has fielded a trio of classics that hearkens back to the heritage of the brand as well as to the automaker’s victories in this same event. There’s a Mercedes-Benz SS, a Mercedes-Benz SSK, and the W196S racing car that won the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season as well as the 1955 edition of the Mille Miglia in record time.

Check out images of the cars and of the event in the gallery.

The next race in the 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season is Brands Hatch, considered the home race for HWA Team’s Gary Paffett. Powered by his THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupe, Paffett is currently leading the Drivers’ championship and is looking for a good showing in the third race of the young DTM season.

“It’s great to be returning to Brands Hatch for my home race and to be showcasing DTM racing for the British fans,” said Paffett. “In the early stage of my career, I used to compete at Brands Hatch three or four times a year, so I have very fond memories of the circuit and the races there.”

Paffett also expressed excitement at the prospect of Jenson Button, driver for the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team, driving him around in the Mercedes-Benz race taxi.

Back to the upcoming race, Paffett recognized that Brands Hatch is “very demanding” and would pose a challenge to the competitors. “A single lap is very short, but we complete almost 100 of them, so it’s a tiring weekend. I aim to send the British fans home satisfied with a result that matches the first two races of the season.”

Surely, Paffett and the rest of HWA Team will do their best to extend their respective leads. We’ll keep you posted on the results of the action in Kent.

According to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, it gets an ample amount of online payment through their mobile channels. The secret lies in the early work done by MBFS to establish itself in the mobile arena, providing customers with mobile apps since 2009.

“We quickly recognized that mobile devices were a preferred channel for our customer base,” said MBFS Business to Consumer Marketing Manager Matt Wiethoff. “And we’ve tailored our account management offerings around these platforms.”

MBFS says that it received $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2012 alone, and that is more than twice the $6.5 million received over the same period in 2011. The company says that that figure accounts for over 10 percent of its total payments received through its online system.

Here’s another interesting tidbit: customer satisfaction index scores for these mobile payment methods are up around 6-7 points, which means MBFS is also constantly finding ways to improve its service even with the number of people who uses this channel increases steadily over time.

There’s a recent infographic showing people spend more time on apps than on the mobile web anyway, so MBFS is on the right track here. Kudos to them for providing stellar financial service that makes payments easier for Merc customers.

Farmer, car dealer, Le Mans winner, sports-car maker, businessman and tuner Carroll Shelby passsed away on May 11. To honor his contribution to the numerous segments of the auto industry he impacted, cable network Velocity will be airing a three-hour, three-part miniseries on Sunday, May 20.

Called “King of the Road: Carroll Shelby,” each hour-long episode will chronicle an era in Shelby’s life: his journey from a Texas farm to the top step at Le Mans and building the Cobra; his partnership with Ford and the Mustang GT350; and the road that car followed into becoming the Ford Shelby GT500.

Have a read of the press release below, and tune into Velocity at 8 p.m. EST on Sunday for a lesson in the hardest-charging gentleman racer ever.

Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is just 26 years old, but has been riding in the FIM series since 2001 when he joined the 125cc ranks. Five years later, the Australian was in the headlining formula series with Honda, the year after that, in 2007, he won the title astride a Ducati. Last year, Stoner won it again with Honda, and even battling an issue with his arm this year, he’s atop the standings and leading his rivals in practice sessions for this weekend’s French GP at Le Mans.

But Stoner used yesterday’s GP press conference to announce his retirement at the end of this year. The Australian says the sport had gone in a direction that doesn’t interest him and that he simply isn’t enjoying it enough to continue the sacrifices necessary to be competitive at the top level. Speculation is that he wants to spend time with his wife and daughter, and perhaps that he plans to drive in the Australian V8 Supercar series.

Fellow Aussie and MotoGP legen Mick Doohan said he doesn’t believe just yet that Stoner will actually ride off into farm life. Even so, the fact that the current World Champion is unhappy enough to publicly announce the end of his career is a shock to the MotoGP world. Have a look below for a video news report on Stoner’s announcement.

Tokyo, May 18, 2012 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb1. MMC will be aiming for victory in the Electric Class with the i-MiEV Evolution, a specially-prepared competition version based on the i all-electric vehicle2. MMC is also entering a regular production i in the event.

Enter the i-MiEV Evolution

The i-MiEV Evolution uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i and has been developed in cooperation with several partner companies including Meidensha Corporation and GS Yuasa Corporation. The i-MiEV Evolution has been developed to showcase MMC’s advanced EV control and EV component technologies. MMC will use the technical knowhow garnered through the i-MiEVEvolution’s development and usage for the development of future EV models with superior durability and reliability.

All-pro Team

Driving the i-MiEV Evolution in the Pikes Peak event and also serving as team manager will be Mr. Hiroshi Masuoka – the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the Dakar Rally. The Mitsubishi i will be piloted by Ms. Beccy Gordon, a winner in the Score International Off-Road Racing Series.

i-MiEV Evolution

Developed for the Pikes Peak event, the i-MiEV Evolution basically uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV fitted to a specially-designed racing-specific body which uses a tube-frame chassis and a carbon fibre cowl among other features designed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance. Comprising a single motor driving the front and two motors driving the rear wheels, the car’s four-wheel-drive system provides superior motive performance and handling.

L x W x H (mm) 4341 x 1900 x 1339
Occupants 1
Drivetrain 4-wheel drive
Motors Number 3 (1 front, 2 rear)
Max. output (kW) 240 (80 kW x 3)
Drive battery Rated capacity (kWh) 35
Chassis Specially-designed tube frame
Cowl Carbon fibre
Tyres 245/40R18

Mitsubishi i

For the Pikes Peak event the production Mitsubishi i has been modified using a more aerodynamic front bumper and fitted with roll bars and other safety equipment.

The Mitsubishi i went on sale on the west coast of the United States (in the states of California, Washington and Oregon) and in Hawaii in November 2011 with plans to expand sales to the whole of the country by June 2012. The i also went on sale in Canada as the i-MiEV in December 2011, marking its full-scale launch targeting corporate and individual customers in the North American market.

L x W x H (mm) 3675 (+280) x 1585 (+110) x 1615 (+5)
Occupants 4
Drivetrain Rear wheel drive
Motors Number 1
Max. output (kW/rpm) 49 (+2) / 3,000 – 6,000
Drive battery Rated capacity (kWh) 16
Tyres F: 145/65/R15
R: 175/60 (+5)/R15

Driver Profiles

Hiroshi Masuoka (Product Strategy Office, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation)

Hiroshi Masuoka began his Dakar Rally campaign in 1987 and became the first Japanese driver to post consecutive overall victories in the event when he won in 2002 and 2003. Currently Masuoka works at Mitsubishi Motors where his many duties include vehicle development, the training of company test drivers and the running of test drive sessions and other events both in Japan and overseas. Masuoka had the following to say before the event: “Given the tough driving conditions that Pikes Peak is known for, I’m really keen to show people the world over those electric vehicles are capable of gutsy motive performance and excellent handling in addition to their superior environmental performance.”

Beccy Gordon

Beccy Gordon is an American off-road racer. She grew up in a family in which her father, brother and sister have all been successful racing drivers, as is her husband today. Gordon herself is an experienced driver having raced in a wide spectrum of motor sports and she is also a motorsport spokesperson. Gordon commented before the event: “I’m really happy to be able to drive the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak race and am looking forward to giving it my best in an electric car, the type of vehicle that is set to become a major player in motor sports in future.”

Partner Companies (20 in all, listed in alphabetical order)

Advics Co., Ltd.
Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
Dunlop Goodyear Tires Ltd.
Endless Advance Co., Ltd.
Enkei Corporation
GKN Driveline Japan Ltd.
GS Yuasa Corporation
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
HKS Co., Ltd.
Meidensha Corporation
Mikuni Corp.
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsubishi Motor Dealers Association
NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
NipponYusen Kabushiki Kaisha
NTN Corporation
Showa Corporation
Toray Industries, Inc.
Tsuchiya Co., Ltd.

Bentley is an automaker not without its own racing pedigree, but the bulk of that is anchored in the 1920s and at Le Mans, to which it returned in winning form in the earlier part of the new millennium with the Speed 8. The latest development could, however, see the Flying B marque enter into another class of motorsport competition altogether.

That opposite end of the endurance racing spectrum is the torturous Dakar rally. We first published rumors of Crewe’s consideration of the possibility back in November, but according to CAR Magazine, those rumors are apparently kicking into high gear.

That much is owed largely to the emergence of the above-pictured EXP 9 F program, Bentley’s concept SUV currently under development. Well, sorta. Bentley’s parent company Volkswagen recently withdrew from the Dakar rally after winning it three times in a row – ostensibly to focus on its new World Rally Championship effort, but spurring rumors all the same of it transferring the team to another brand.

Given that the EXP 9 F is based (or would be, anyway) on an architecture related to the Touareg – the race model of which is what the VW team used to dominate the event – the facilitation of Bentley’s take-over of the program could prove even more straight-forward than the manner in which Audi successfully supported Bentley’s Le Mans team.

To wit, the boys from Crewe are said to be in the process of buying back all the Race Touareg rigs – complete with their 2.5-liter twin-turbo diesels producing 300 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque – that Volkswagen sold to privateer teams upon its departure, suggesting rather poor planning and perhaps only a passing resemblance to the eventual production EXP 9 F (which, incidentally, isn’t expected to look like the concept above).

This could be interesting: Oscar-winners Martin Scorsese and Richard Attenborogh are teaming up to make a film called Silver Ghost, based, in part, on the lives of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The screenplay was written by Jeffrey Caine (Goldeneye) and playwright Sharman Macdonald, who also happens to be actress Kiera Knightley’s mom.

According to Top Gear, the biopic will be set at the dawn of the 20th Century, during the seminal days of the auto industry. But the report says the real hero of the story will be one Lord John Douglas-Scott Montagu, the Second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu and a member of British Parliament who used his position in British society to champion motoring.

While we’re not quite sure what all that Barons and Lords stuff is about, reading that in 1899 Montagu drove the first car to enter the yard of the House of Commons made us think he must have been a decent enough chap. According to the report, he even launched a monthly car magazine. And like any good period-film protagonist, he was romantically linked to another key figure in the story, Eleanor Thornton, the woman who inspired the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy mascot that became a defining feature of the marque.

The film is still a long way from the screen, although Scorcese’s involvement can’t hurt its chances of getting made. Neither would casting Knightley as Thornton, if you ask us.

Drifting’s been off the front pages for a while, the latest reports having more to do with turmoil than tire shredding. As with most things, though, just because it’s not headlining doesn’t mean it’s disappeared. NOS energy drink sent one of our favorite filmic chroniclers, Will Roegge, across the country to survey the drifting world. The result is a mini-documentary called Keep Drifting Fun.

And we do mean the word “documentary” – it’s 30 minutes long. Although there’s plenty of smoke and wall-kissing, its length gives us an opportunity to hear from drifters and organizers to find out what’s behind the sport, as well as their own motivations, where drifters come from and why they drift. It looks at venues beyond the track, like tree-lined back roads in Houston and alleys in late-night El Paso, and we dig that it starts off with the protagonists themselves admitting, “Drifitng is so stupid,” “It’s pointless,” and “When you boil it all down it’s pretty silly.”

The movie, on the other hand, isn’t. Scroll down to check it out.

The Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel has signed on to be one of the sponsors for the Summer Fashion Extravaganza event organized by the Fashion Destination Group together with Working Wardrobes.

The event, which will be held on June 9, will feature a lot of festivities as well as personalities from the fashion industry. For its part, Mercedes-Benz will be showcasing some of its luxury car models—most likely straight from the Laguna Niguel dealership. After all, fashion is a luxurious endeavor, and Mercedes-Benz has been very active in this industry as evidenced by Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Among the highlights of the event are the FDG designer showcase and the luxury fashion runway show hosted by E! host Catt Sadler. For the showcase, Trina Turk will be putting her works on display, a collection that is said to be inspired by everything LA as well as California.

Fashion Destination Group is an industry promotion group, while Working Wardrobes is an independent nonprofit organization that serves and helps people from a diverse set of backgrounds and life situations.

German tuner Prior Design created a new aerodynamic kit for the Mercedes-Benz CL W216. Called the Mercedes-Benz CL Black Edition V2, the car is an upgrade of the first version.

Since the tuner adores upgrading exterior, you should not be surprised that they made lots of alteration on that part of the car. First, they used the Dura-Flex FRP or Fiber Reinforced Plastic, which made the car more flexible and stable. Other updates they made to the car are BlackEditionV2 bumpers, front lip spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts and fins. They put rear widening, front bonnet and mesh grille inserts too.

Unfortunately, no engine information has been released yet. But here it is, feast your eyes on Prior Design’s Mercedes Benz CL Black Edition V2 first, and as soon as we receive news about what’s under the hood, we’ll let you know.

The influx of automobiles in China has contributed greatly to growing concerns about traffic and pollution in the country, deemed as the biggest market in the world. Enter Daimler and BYD, its local partner in China, who are hoping that their new all-electric luxury vehicle concept—called the Denza—will spark electric car sales in the nation to help alleviate environmental concerns.

Electric cars haven’t really sold all too well in China, but the two companies are betting on their luxury electric car to dazzle prospective buyers and give them enough oomph to consider getting the Denza. After all, it’s got a ton of features on top of the green tech: it’s got a bunch of gadgets called T-Pads that provide various functions such as video, web access, and GPS navigation.

How is the Denza important for China? The government has set its sights on 500,000 electric cars on its highways by the year 2015, and needless to say it is bound to fall short of that goal based on current projections. How much more for the 2020 target of 5 million battery-powered units?

With the Denza concept, Daimler and BYD aim to introduce not just a new segment of the luxury electric car, but also a new lifestyle. By making the car exciting and appealing with the design and technology, people might just hop on the electric car bandwagon faster.

• 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is the first to be equipped from the factory with launch control

• SVT engineers have given Shelby GT500 drivers the ability to fine-tune the launch control settings, spinning wheels for consistent, maximum acceleration

DEARBORN, Mich., May 17, 2012 – Paraphrasing a classic quote – “With great power comes the need for great control” – the engineers at Ford’s Special Vehicles Team have stepped up to the plate to manage the massive output of the 2013 Shelby GT500.

Whether a driver is a track-day veteran or getting his first ultra-high-performance sports car, the new launch control system on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will help ensure he gets smooth, consistent and fast starts every time.

Uncontrolled wheel spin is generally undesirable, whether commuting to work or racing away from the Christmas tree on a Friday night at the drag strip. Both safety and performance suffer when the wheels can’t get enough grip on the road. However, properly regulated, some wheel slip can be your friend.

“Launch control is essentially a special mode of the traction control system that integrates the brake and engine management systems to keep the tires balanced on the peak of the mu-slip curve in order to achieve maximum thrust,” explains John Pfeiffer, senior engineer, SVT Vehicle Engineering. “With so much more power and torque on tap from the new 5.8-liter V8, launch control makes it easier for drivers to take advantage of the performance.”

With launch control enabled, the driver just has to press the accelerator pedal to the floor and then smoothly and quickly release the clutch pedal just as he normally would when executing a clean start. The difference is that the electronics will automatically hold the engine steady at the desired speed and manage the rear brakes to allow the optimum amount of wheel slip for maximum traction.

“We recognize not every driver has the same style, and surface, tire and climate conditions vary,” said Eddie Khan, SVT Engineering supervisor. “Most of our competitors’ launch control systems have a fixed engine launch speed. We’ve given Shelby GT500 drivers the ability to adjust the engine speed to achieve best and most consistent performance, no matter where and when they drive.”

Shelby GT500 drivers can enable launch control in two ways – either through Track Apps™ on the 4.2-inch LCD in the instrument cluster or simply by tapping a switch on the left side of the instrument panel. When using the Track Apps screen, drivers can also adjust the desired engine speed for the launch in 100 rpm increments from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm. When first getting accustomed to launch control or if the pavement is cooler, a lower speed may be more appropriate. Switching to racing tires or running in an autocross event on a warm Saturday morning may call for a launch speed closer to the upper end of the range.

Once the desired engine speed has been set, launch control can be toggled on or off by tapping the instrument panel switch – more convenient than the intricate multistep process required on many other vehicles. After the launch control has been enabled or disabled, it retains that mode even after the engine has been switched off and restarted, something drag racers frequently have to do as they slowly make their way through the lines to the next quarter-mile pass.

“We developed this system to enable 90 percent of drivers to be able to achieve very fast, smooth and consistent starts with the Shelby GT500 regardless of their skill level,” said Khan. “Experienced drag racers may be able to get away slightly quicker, but chances are they won’t be as consistent.”

Veteran drag racers will find the Shelby GT500 also gives them extra flexibility. Switching off the traction control while the launch control is on produces an rpm-only mode that engine calibration engineer Tom Siebyla has tuned to keep the engine speed rock-steady with the electronic throttle and ignition without scrubbing off any speed with the brakes. Autocrossers or track-day racers can also mix and match the normal, sport and off modes of the stability control with the launch control to achieve the degree of sliding or control that best suits the conditions or their personal driving style.

For those times when there isn’t enough grip to use launch control effectively, such as dust or moisture on the pavement, Ford electronic brake control development engineer Dan Dunn has built smarts into the launch control that enable it to automatically switch off and revert to traction control.

“It’s not as intrusive as some TC systems have been in the past,” added Khan. “We wanted to help the driver make consistent starts without getting in the way.”

Launch control won’t do the driving, but it is a tool to help drivers extract consistent high performance from the most powerful production Mustang ever.

“For drivers who want to have some fun at their local drag strip with a stock machine, the 2013 Shelby GT500 is the ultimate bracket racer,” said Khan. “We’ve given our drivers the ability to exert control over all the power and torque this Mustang can produce.”