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News – What Car?

2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR ups production

  

March 22, 2008 10:27 By Thami Masemola
Filed Under: General Specialty Marques Tuners Ford

Shelby GT500KR is such a hit that more examples are to find their way into enthusiasts’ garages in the next year or so. This after the demand began to outstrip supply to dangerous levels, such that Ford and partner on the project Shelby Automobiles decided to produce an additional 746 units for the 2009 model. US buyers will receive 571 units for their top dollar. Production of the car began the day Carroll Shelby celebrated 85 years of his own birth back on January 11, 2008.

GT500KR fits a 5.4-litre supercharged V8 on its bones to make a hefty 540 bhp, working with a short-throw shifter and racing suspension tuning. “This car is really special to me and demonstrates that when Shelby Automobiles gets together with Ford SVT and Ford Racing, we can deliver a Mustang that will compete with the best in the world,” is what Shelby himself was hear to say.

The cars arrive at Shelby Automotive in Las Vegas as standard Mustang GT500 cars where they undergo an extensive metamorphosis of chassis tuning, performance kit installation and exterior mods to come out the way they are. Such is the interest in GT500KR that at a recent charity auction a unique one – glass roof and all – went for a shivering USD550,000! Curiosity will only heighten when it debuts as K.I.T.T. in the next installment of Knight Rider.

While Lexus has been around for almost 19 years in the United States, the brand only hit the Japanese shores some three years ago. In a market dominated by German brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, Lexus has been struggling to sustain its projected sales figures. In fact, Lexus merely sold 34,800 cars last year.

The problem actually started right from the initial launch in 2005. Lexus had only three models to name of; the GS sports sedan, the SC convertible, and the entry-level IS sedan. The same three were previously sold in Japan under the Toyota nameplate, and were 20% cheaper. Furthermore, reports claim that Toyota’s earlier marketing campaign for Lexus somehow failed and unexpectedly raised the sales of the German brands instead. The stronghold obsession in the German brands rarely makes space for customers to switch to Lexus, and oddly enough, some even go to the extent of importing left-hand-driven German cars to feel its originality (Japan’s norm is right-hand driving).

In recent times, Toyota has spent much on commercializing the Lexus brand, which according to them is increasingly effective. The significance of the brand is growing among the locals, with Lexus outselling its German rivals in some of the important segments.

The fast and the luxurious
Kipp Report – Mar 18, 2008
In a few words, Georgia Lewis, editor at large for Middle East Car magazine, sums up the appeal of luxury cars. In the Middle East, and especially in the …

In the video, beside all details that pictures may have already shown you in the articles we have published, you can also see the car in nice European roads (if you recognize them, tell us which one is that, we’d love to get there someday) and how the electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC-Shift behaves when the driver touches the shifter pads behind the wheel. We may also know brakes are very efficient, since they were developed with Brembo people’s help, but this is not the pedal we want to see anyone pressing in a car like this one.

Not many people (proportionally to the amount of World Car Fans) will be able to get behind the wheel of such a nice piece of machinery, but we can have a good idea on how that must feel in this video. Be sure we will tell you how it is when we get the chance to test drive this car. Let’s hope it to be soon!

Just 2 years after its debut at the 2006 Geneva Autoshow as a one off built to order for one of Morgan’s discerning customers, the AeroMax coupe has entered series production at the Morgan factory.

Such was the interest surrounding this unique design that it was decided, with the kind permission of its owner, to make a limited production run of 100 cars, all of which were sold within just a few weeks of its announcement.

Following a two year intense period of production development, and a number of minor improvements to the overall design, the first customer AeroMax is shortly to be delivered.

No expense has been spared in ensuring that the production quality mirrors expectations. Innovations include a world first, the use of high tech super formed aluminium panels for the entire body. This process allows the most complex of shapes to be made in aluminium which are then fitted over a traditional ash frame. Beautifully detailed inside, the coachbuilt ash frame proves that construction of the Morgan AeroMax remains true to Morgan philosophy. Using this unique mix of technology and high quality materials, the AeroMax is assembled with care and dedication by the craftsman and women in Malvern. This method of construction offers a minimum of carbon emissions and maximum sustainability.

The body is bolted to a stiff yet lightweight Aero 8 chassis which from 2008 is fitted with the 367Bhp 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine. This gives AeroMax performance to match its looks. For the first time a Morgan can have an automatic gearbox. The latest ZF 6HP 26 gearbox gives the fastest change in the world and endows the automatic with better acceleration and fuel economy than the manual thanks to its lock up clutch, low power loss and instant change characteristics. It also delivers lower CO2 emissions, 267 g/km, a figure not normally associated with a 0-62 mph (100 kph) capability of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 170mph.

This will be the first Morgan to use Canbus software to control not only the engine functions but also some body technology such as lighting, wipers and instrumentation. Reassurance and security are provided by Electronic Brake Distribution, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, ABS and Siemens electronic airbags.

The twin electrically operated glass rear windows allow easy access for the optional stitched calf leather Connolly luggage.

The technically advanced engine and lightweight construction give the best of all worlds – performance, economy and low emissions, yet still with all of the safety systems one would expect in a modern performance car.

Morgan believes with AeroMax it leads the way in exclusive bespoke low volume car construction using quality raw materials and advanced technologies that are not available to Morgan’s competitors in the world of luxury car production. Owners of the Morgan AeroMax will be joining a very exclusive club with a unique opportunity to share their motoring dreams.

Morgan
England, United Kingdom
Status: not an ad
Type: car, sports car, coupe, ARTICLE, NEWS FACTORY