Shelby adds SCCA-ready version to the GT350 Mustang

Shelby American has added a normally aspirated version to the 2011 Shelby GT350 lineup. Shedding off the supercharger to abide by the SCCA regulations, the Mustang-based model still keeps intact the full brake, suspension and aerodynamics package.

For an additional $7,000, the model may still be purchased with a supercharger.

"When we brought back the GT350, people wanted to race it like they did with our Shelby GT," said Shelby American Founder Carroll Shelby. "Others asked for an automatic transmission. So we’re dropping the supercharger, retuning the engine and adding an automatic. This gives people more choices with the GT350."

The SCCA racer GT350 is powered by 5.0 liter V8 coupled to a 6 speed transmission producing 412hp. The street version of this model will come with the same engine tuned to deliver more than the factory 412hp, although exact numbers have not yet been calculated. The super-charged GT350 will produce over 500hp and will be mated to a six-speed manual. All cars will be painted in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes and will get a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia.

The base GT350 uses a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.  Six-piston caliper brakes with 14" rotors are included, as is an upgraded suspension with parts from Ford Racing.

Excluding the price of the Mustang GT, the GT350 package will cost $26,995, while the supercharged GT350 will be available for $33,995.





Press Release

SHELBY AMERICAN EXPANDS GT350 LINE WITH TRACK ORIENTED, AUTOMATIC VERSIONS OF MODERN PONY CAR

* Shelby Expands 2011 Shelby GT350 Line with Normally Aspirated Model

* Engine Retuned without Supercharger

* Demand for a Track Oriented Model and 6 speed Automatic Stimulates Option

LAS VEGAS - May 5, 2010 - Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) will expand the 2011 Shelby GT350 program to offer a normally aspirated version aimed at competition in Sports Car Club of America events and allow the street car to be ordered with an automatic transmission. The GT350 will be offered in both normally aspirated and supercharged versions as part of a post-title program through select dealers across the United States.

The normally aspirated version of the GT350 was driven by consumer demand. SCCA racing rules typically preclude a post-title added supercharger and the stresses of a forced induction are typically too much for an automatic transmission in a high performance car.

"When we brought back the GT350, people wanted to race it like they did with our Shelby GT," said Shelby American Founder Carroll Shelby. "Others asked for an automatic transmission. So we're dropping the supercharger, retuning the engine and adding an automatic. This gives people more choices with the GT350."

One of the goals for the Shelby GT350 is for it to be eligible for Sports Car Club of America racing, much like the 2007-2008 Shelby GT. Those piloting a Shelby GT dominated the top spots in both the women's and men's F stock class with Sam Strano capturing the national championship last year.

"The GT350 is a street car that is perfect for track day and solo racing activities," added John Luft Shelby president. "Beginning with the small block Ford Mustang GT, we worked with Ford Racing, Borla, Goodyear and Baer to create a car that should be competitive right out of the box."

The GT350 is an enthusiast's dream. It is powered by the 5.0 liter V8 coupled to a 6 speed transmission. The front calipers are Shelby 6-piston and 14" rotors with ERADISPEED rotors on the back and cooling ducts for all four corners. The suspension features new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates. The Goodyear 19" tires are a new, aggressive compound.

Each GT350 will be clad in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes. The car also receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia. Functional scoops are located on the side rockers and hood. GT350 badges on the outside and inside include a Shelby serial number.

"We plan to have development finished and begin building normally aspirated versions of the GT350 by late summer," said Shelby American vice president of production Gary Davis. "This ensures that the car will be fully sorted and ready for fun on the street or track."

The Shelby GT350 is a post title program based on the new Ford Mustang GT. A customer purchases a car from a local Ford dealer, which is turned into a GT350 by the Shelby American Team. A limited number will be built in the 2011 model year. A Ford Mustang GT can be dropped shipped by a Ford dealer to Shelby's Las Vegas facility for conversion or a customer can arrange to have a properly specified car transported to the factory.

The price for the normally aspirated GT350 upfit package is $26,995.00 plus any options, not including the base Ford Mustang GT. The supercharged version of the GT350 post title package by Shelby American has a MSRP of $33,995 and does not include the price of the base car.

Customers interested in either a supercharged or normally aspirated GT350 should call (702) 942-7325 or log onto gt350.shelbyamerican.com.

About Shelby American, Inc. and Carroll Shelby Licensing
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American Inc., (www.shelbyamerican.com) manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. Shelby American is a division of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK). Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., also a wholly owned division, is the exclusive holder of Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle design rights. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. Information is at www.carrollshelbyinternational.com.

Indigen Armor Unveils Extreme Off-Road Defense Vehicle

INDIAN LAND, SC - (May 4, 2010) - After nearly 7 years of relative obscurely manufacturing purpose-built armored vehicles for U.S. Special Operations groups, Defense Venture Group, through its subsidiary, Indigen Armor, has designed, engineered and manufactured a Non-Standard Tactical Truck (NSTT) for commercial release. Check out the video of company executives that sat in the vehicle while it was shot at with an AK-47 assault rifle. If it is good enough for our troops to ride in then it is good enough for the guys who made it to prove that it works.

The NSTT is an armored, 4-door, 4-wheel drive, turbo diesel pick-up truck. This truck is purpose-built, literally built from the ground up. The NSTT was designed to afford soldiers greater mobility in urban, desert, woodland, jungle, mountainous, and arctic terrain. The chassis, suspension, power train and armored occupant safety cell were engineered specifically to carry large payloads across rough landscape in denied areas.

The NSTT offers scalable armor packages to meet multiple threat levels. Its 6.0 turbo diesel engine runs on JP8 and other military diesel fuels. Internally transportable in an MH-47 helicopter, the NSTT can accommodate a variety of low-profile or overt tactical body styles. This allows the end user to change the vehicle's profile.

An ideal, lightweight alternative to heavy legacy vehicles, the NSTT comfortably accommodates four operators with their combat gear, communications equipment, and C4ISR technology. It is perfect for special operations, defense, paramilitary and security organizations that require a reliable and robust off-road capability in high threat environments.

GM to launch Chevrolet in Korea

Daewoo may be General Motors’ only established brand in the Korean auto market, but it will soon add another: Chevrolet. GM revealed today at the Busan motor show that it will begin selling bowtie-badged vehicles in South Korea in 2011.

The Alpheon is being positioned in the Korea market as a luxury model at the top of the Daewoo range. It is fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. GM Daewoo said the car will go on sale in the second half of the year.

GM Daewoo says the "Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio." Much like its Korean couterpart, Hyundai, have made inroads into the luxury sedan segment with the Genesis model.






Press Release

GM Daewoo's All-New Luxury Sedan Debuts at 2010 Busan International Motor Show

Alpheon is GM Daewoo's entry into the upper-midsize segment

Busan, Korea - GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) unveiled its much-anticipated luxury sedan, the Alpheon, at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show today.

"With the introduction of the all-new Alpheon luxury sedan, we have added another attractive model to our product portfolio and our first entry in the fast-growing upper-midsize segment in Korea," said GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone. "I am confident that the Alpheon will surpass the demands of the most sophisticated luxury sedan buyers in Korea."

Another highlight of the GM Daewoo stand is a seven-seat compact multi-purpose vehicle, the Orlando show car, which is making its first appearance at an international motor show in Asia.

In addition, GM Daewoo has on display the Lacetti Premiere and GentraX race cars, and a Matiz mini-car artistically wrapped in pink.

With "Advancing Style" as its theme for this year's Busan International Motor Show, GM Daewoo has 18 vehicles on display that showcase its automotive industry design expertise.

Alpheon - Stylish Luxury Sedan

The Alpheon is based on the same GM global architecture as the Buick LaCrosse, one of the three finalists for 2010 North American Car of the Year.

GM designers and engineers from Asia, Europe and North America targeted the luxury sedan as a global product that would meet the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets.

At first glance, the Alpheon's sculpting design flows in all directions, giving the vehicle a tightly wrapped appearance and a fast, coupe-like profile. Its dynamic and elegant body styling is highlighted by sharp side lines, short overhangs and fenders wrapped precisely around large wheel housings, giving it the presence of an upscale large sedan (2,837-mm wheelbase and 4,995mm body length).

With a unique emblem on its front "waterfall" grille, the Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio.

The innovative design philosophy continues in the Alpheon's interior. The flowing shape of its instrument panel design offers a distinct, confident and upscale impression. The refined look is an integrated center stack design that incorporates ice-blue light-emitting diode (LED) ambient lighting along with premium infotainment features. Adding to the use of soft-touch materials and low-gloss trim panels rather than traditional wood applications is indicative of exceptional and luxurious craftsmanship.

Powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Alpheon will ensure responsive performance when it is launched in the second half of this year in Korea.

Ford Fiesta S1600 Special Edition

Ford has announced a limited series sport variant of the Fiesta model - the Fiesta S1600 - for the U.K. market.

The Ford Fiesta S1600 is based on the Fiesta Zetec-S and comes with a range of extra equipment. The power of the Ford Fiesta S1600 comes from the 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine that develops 120PS which can be fitted with a Mountune engine upgrade package.

The Fiesta S1600 is based on the Zetec-S trim level and adds a range of sport equipment such as heated leather sports seats, motorsport-branded floor mats and scuff plates, and alloy pedals.

The exterior sports a body-styling kit including a new front bumper, large rear spoiler and diffuser, 17” white alloy wheels and a choice of white or blue body colour with motorsport stripes.

On the interior, the Fiesta will get heated, stitched leather sports seats with standard side-airbags, leather steering wheel, handbrake cover, and gearknob, plus Motorsport-branded floor mats and scuff plates.

The Fiesta S1600 will be limited to only 650 units and is now avaiable for order at Ford dealers in the U.K..
Prices start at £16,665 (€19,152).




Press Release

NEW FORD STAR WITH STRIPES - FASTER FIESTA CONTINUES PROUD HERITAGE

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 26 April, 2010 - The thoroughbred lineage of fast Fords has a new addition to the family, in the eye-catching new Fiesta S1600.

Based on the popular Fiesta Zetec-S - with a generous standard specification that includes alloy pedals and Quickclear windscreen - the sporty Fiesta S1600 interior adds heated, stitched leather sports seats with standard side-airbags, leather steering wheel, handbrake cover and gearknob, plus Motorsport-branded floor mats and scuff plates.

On the outside, the sporting pedigree is made clear, through a comprehensive

body-styling kit that includes a unique front bumper with flared lower valence panel, extended side skirts, large rear spoiler and rear diffuser, finished with 17-in, white alloy wheels (16-in on diesel models). The newcomer's special paint finish is available in Frozen White or Performance Blue, with contrasting motorsport stripes.

Performance comes from a choice of Fiesta's responsive 1.6-litre, 120PS Duratec

Ti-VCT petrol engine, or improved 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, now with 95PS. For performance enthusiasts, a further engine upgrade package will be offered via Ford's established performance tuning partner, Mountune.

Fiesta S1600 continues a 30-year sporting Fiesta bloodline that began with the Mk1 XR2 in 1981 and has included Supersport, XR2(i), Si, RS and ST models.

Gill Palmer, Ford of Britain's Fiesta Product Manager, said: "Since its introduction, Fiesta and sporting pedigree have never been far apart and the latest incarnation of that is S1600, bringing extra motorsport feel to the award-winning Fiesta style and driving quality."

Fast Ford fans are encouraged to act quickly, with only 650 of these special faster Fiestas being created. They are available now from Ford dealers, priced from £16,665 on-the-road.