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2005 Ford Mustang GT-R

2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
The Ford Mustang GT-R rekindled the legend's road racing glory and the magic of 5.0-liter Mustangs in a stunning racing concept that made its debut at the 2004 New York Auto Show. The Mustang GT-R signaled a potential future race car, while honoring four decades of performance glory just days before Mustang's 40th anniversary.

'The Mustang GT-R blends today's breathtaking design, Ford Racing's unmatched history and the most advanced racing technology into the ultimate Mustang,' said J Mays, Ford group vice president, design. 'Mustang's iconic image grew with every checkered flag so we think the Mustang GT-R is an appropriate tribute to the car's 40th anniversary, and a hint at what's to come.'

The bright Valencia Orange car – inspired by the famous Grabber Orange 1970 Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am race cars (the Yellow Mustangs) piloted by race legends, including Parnelli Jones – is a technological showcase that, when peeled back, reveals a number of existing or production-feasible racing parts.

'The Mustang GT-R shows that Ford is back in road racing in a serious way,' said Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North America marketing, sales and service.

The Mustang GT-R features Ford Racing's 440-horsepower 'Cammer' crate engine that already is affordably available to grassroots racers, and can be tuned to produce more than 500 horsepower under certain race series rules. Last year, a tuned 505-

horsepower version of the 'Cammer' notched world-class performance and endurance credentials by powering a Focus Daytona Prototype to victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona race.

The racecar is engineered to tackle the world's toughest road and street courses with a stiff structure – based on the all-new 2005 Mustang scheduled for sale this fall – a collection of the most sophisticated racing parts from many racing series and a Formula One-inspired steering wheel. However, the Mustang GT-R could be easily transformed into an affordable, competitive option for grassroots teams because it uses 85 percent of the 2005 Mustang's body components along with the same suspension setups and the already-attainable 'Cammer' powerplant.

'The GT-R is the Mustang racers would build if they weren't bound by various road racing rules,' said Dan Davis. 'We were fortunate to start with a rigid, well-balanced production Mustang that was proven on the track by some of the same people who, in previous jobs, helped Ford Racing win on Sundays.

'The Mustang GT-R could be adapted to conform to different series and budgets but, in this variation, serves as a dream machine. We took the 'Cammer' engine from the Ford Racing catalog and built a race car around it with the best parts we've researched and tested through our unmatched global racing program,' Davis §äid.

While conceptual in spirit, the Mustang GT-R is built by racers and is a capable performer with an eye on stepping up Mustang's road-racing presence. Several racing series – American LeMans, SCCA Trans-Am, GrandAm Cup and the FIA – could easily accommodate the Mustang GT-R. For example, the car could meet some series rules with basic modifications to the brakes, wheels, tires and body parts.

The Mustang GT-R also hints at a turnkey grassroots-racing package that could be retailed through Ford Racing's parts' catalog and distribution network.

Engine Dressing Doug Gaffka's – design director, Ford Performance Group – design inspiration for the Mustang GT-R was simple: Flex the 2005 Mustang shell to wrap the engine and retain 85 percent of the production car's solid structure.

'We decided that when a car as good as the 2005 Mustang comes along, we don't need to look much further for a pure race car,' he says, noting that the Mustang's shell would be dressing for the engine and roll cage.

The carbon fiber hood instantly communicates the car's performance – its large engine bulge and unfinished surface harken back to the famous yellow, black-hooded Mustangs.

The front end is a further evolution of the Mustang GT coupe and convertible concepts that stole the 2003 North American International Auto Show and foreshadowed the design of the 2005 Mustang. The Mustang GT-R features the classic pony in the grille, surrounded by modern materials like carbon fiber as well as advanced aerodynamic treatments like ground-hugging front and side splitters.

Accentuated by huge front fender flares that accommodate the racing suspension, the sides of the Mustang GT-R have 20-inch wheels, racing slicks and substantial air scoops. The equally large rear fenders house tires that are an inch wider. Considering how quickly 18- and 19-inch tires became standard racing ware in recent years, these tires are a realistic forecast of the next evolution in racing rubber. Dual stainless steel exhaust tips -- jutting out of the rear body panel just above the rocker panel on both sides in front of the tires – add an intimidating look to the rear of the car.

The classic Mustang rear quarter windows are blocked out to accommodate the fuel delivery 'dry-break' system on the driver's side. The doors are fully functional as required by many of the possible racing classes.

The prominent GT-R logo is placed above the front fender and is flanked by the honorary 'Mustang' and '40th Anniversary' words. This logo is repeated on the rear.

Probably the most striking design element, the prominent composite rear spoiler meets several road racing sanctioning body rules.

The rear fascia, like the front, is a further expression of the GT concept design, with a wider taillamp execution. Endurance racers will instantly recognize the differential cooler mounted with an aluminum grille screen between the taillamps.

Inside, the instrument panel preserves the dramatic styling of the 2005 Mustang in a carbon fiber application for racing. In anticipation of another trend, designers chose a Formula One-style steering wheel with most vehicle controls and gauges integrated, including the tachometer, gear selections, telemetry and warning signals. Only the oil pressure and water temperature gauges are located on the instrument panel.

'Most racers cobble together interiors,' said Gaffka. 'The Formula One-style steering wheel significantly reduces dash gauges to help preserve Mustang's powerful instrument panel, which is the next evolution of our interior design leadership.'

The passenger side houses seat mount tracks for a second seat, if needed, for would-be thrill seekers seeking first-hand Mustang GT-R's performance experience. The chrome-moly roll cage is attached to all significant points in the body structure, adding significant rigidity to an already stiff body.

The Mustang GT-R's body retains 85 percent of the production car's body components that were stiffened by 30 percent as part of the Mustang's first full makeover ever. The only modifications include rear-mounted battery pods and a fuel cell relocated to the rear trunk.

Built at Saleen Special Vehicles in Troy, Mich., the car was developed by the same members of the Ford GT 'Dream Team' who are building sub-assemblies and painting body panels for Ford's first supercar.

The 'Five Liter' Is Back

2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
The foundation for the Mustang GT-R's race-prepared 440-horsepower engine is the new 5.0-liter 'Cammer' crate engine from Ford Racing Performance Parts. The engine is rooted in the MOD 4.6-liter four-valve V-8 engine family. However, the motor's flanged cylinder liners help provide 94mm (instead of 90.2mm) cylinder bores, creating a full 5.0 liters of piston displacement.
And while the motor employs the SVT Mustang Cobra's forged crankshaft with six-bolt mains and Manley 'H-Beam' connecting rods for superior strength, the high-strength Ford Racing block features design reinforcements and a revised material for added strength and high-output durability. The block is specially reinforced in the crankcase web areas for high torque loads.

Other key differences include forged pistons, an 11.0:1 compression ratio, ported heads, higher-lift cams and beehive-shaped valve springs. The crate engine also features higher-flow fuel injectors and a magnesium, variable-geometry intake manifold.

The 5.0-liter 'Cammer' engine comes with a custom oil pan and features custom-fabricated Tri-Y headers and crossover.

Helping put the power to the ground is the Ford Racing-supplied TTC T-56 six-speed transmission linked to the engine through a heavy-duty clutch and flywheel assembly. Power exits the transmission through a custom metal matrix composite aluminum driveshaft into a race-specification differential with a 4.56:1 final drive ratio.

The 'Cammer' was introduced at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show in 2002. The engine in the GT-R is identical to the crate engine, with the exception of camshaft timing, which was modified to produce more high-end horsepower for track use.

Proven Race Chassis

2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
The Mustang GT-R benefits from the 2005 Mustang's race-inspired chassis, developed and tuned by engineers with Ford Racing engineering experience or a passion for weekend track time. The Mustang's race-bred suspensions, near 50-50 weight distribution and ultra-stiff body structure, are just the beginning of Mustang GT-R's credentials.

'The GT-R is the ultimate expression of the Mustang platform,' said Hau Thai-Tang, 2005 Mustang chief nameplate engineer. 'Mustang spans more of the market than almost any other car – from an under-$20,000 V-6 to a race-ready car in the $40,000 range. The Mustang GT-R shows how we can expand that unmatched reach with the all-new platform.'

Track time – at drag strips and on road courses – was a critical part of the 2005 Mustang's development, as chassis engineers pushed prototypes to the limit in search of the perfect power-and-handling blend.

'We spent countless hours refining this car on development drives and at the track,' says Mark Rushbrook, 2005 Mustang vehicle development manager. 'The car has been to the Nelson Ledges road course in Ohio several times for 24-hour runs and has spent months on Ford's straightaways and handling courses at our proving grounds in Arizona, Michigan and Florida.'

Soon after the 2005 Mustang's world reveal in January, race engineers quickly began building on its solid foundation. The Mustang GT-R concept's chassis was fully stripped down to the body shell to receive custom reinforcement and structural improvements for driver safety on the racetrack. A roll cage was added, along with a Sparco-brand racing seat with a five-point safety harness.

The production suspension geometry is retained, but key parts were replaced to reduce weight or provide additional strength for the rigors of racing. Suspension pieces, including the K-member, are made of lightweight chrome-moly tubing. The race-proven dampers are coil-over, fully adjustable units featuring remote reservoirs. A strut tower brace increases structural rigidity.

Rounding out the chassis package are huge, race-proven Brembo brakes. The front features 14.3-inch rotors with six-piston calipers; the rear has 13-inch rotors with four-piston calipers. Linking the whole package to the racetrack are 20-inch wheels and racing slicks provided by Pirelli. Tire sizes range from 275/35 in front to 305/30 in the rear.

The Mustang GT-R is engineered with modern aerodynamics principles, including a massive front airflow opening and carbon-fiber belly pans that reduce underbody air turbulence.

Concept to Reality

2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
Although the Mustang GT-R is a concept, the car was engineered to perform at racing speeds with parts currently available to weekend racers through the 2004 Ford Racing catalog.

The 5.0-liter EFI 'Cammer' crate engine, including the wiring harness kit, will sell for an MSRP of $14,995. The 'Cammer' engine takes the guesswork out of installation projects by offering a choice of several length 5.0-liter, 4-valve modular wiring harness kits created specifically to cover the most popular engine swap configurations.

What's more, harness kits – which include the powertrain control module (PCM) – provide all the necessary electrical connectors, including end terminals, a fuse box, a power distribution box, as well as switch connectors and fuel pump relays.

The roll cage, rear spoiler and some chassis components are all being considered for further development.

Solid Foundation

The Mustang GT-R enjoys the strong bloodlines of the 2005 Ford Mustang that was introduced in January as the first Mustang ever with its own dedicated platform. The new platform is six inches longer, 30 percent stiffer and features a sophisticated solid rear axle.
Working on a clean sheet of paper, Mustang's engineering team could have selected any type of setup at the rear, including an independent suspension. So why choose a solid rear axle? The answer lies in Mustang's position as America's muscle car.

'We talked to a lot of Mustang owners and racers when we were developing this program,' said Thai-Tang. 'They are a very passionate group, and a lot of them told us – very strongly – that the all-new Mustang must have a solid rear axle because of its combination of performance and modification flexibility.'

Source - Ford Motor Company
2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
NEW YORK, April 19, 2004 -- Detroit-area recording star Kid Rock recently stormed the stage in Ford&s Mustang GT-R race car, filling a Manhattan dealership with the raw, soul-stirring sounds of the concept car&s 440-horsepower engine and race-tuned exhaust.
The 2005 Mustang, another Detroit legend, will storm the scene this fall with one of the industry&s most potent factory-installed audio system. 2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
As is the case with its 300 horsepower engine, the Mustang finds itself in rare company with its available 1000-watt audio system. Only a handful of factory audio systems are capable of this kind of output.

2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
Legends of the &D&
Like the new audio system, the all-American V-8 in Mustang is specifically engineered to reach the ear of the driver in just the right doses at the right times, such as under hard acceleration. At cruising speed, that sound fades away to allow the audio system to fill the cabin.


2005 Ford Mustang GT-R
The foundation for great sound begins with Mustang&s new architecture and body structure that shields occupants from unwanted sounds. This all-new solid structure combines with Mustang&s new controlled area network electrical system to deliver unmatched audio performance and capability.

This networked electrical system allows the audio system to communicate with other parts of the car, such as a vehicle speed sensor. The vehicle speed sensor matches the speed of the vehicle with the audio level, allowing the audio system to increase volume as the speed of the car increases and then decrease at slower speeds. It also allows the radio to continue playing for several minutes after the ignition key has been switched off and the key removed. The audio system shuts off once a door is opened.

Jams for Every Budget
Three audio systems are available. The base one includes a single in-dash CD player with 80 watts and four speakers. Premium models come standard with the Shaker 500 audio system, which has two door-mounted subwoofers with unique enclosed chambers and additional tweeter speakers. The aptly named Shaker 500 has 500 watts of peak power available.


For the customer who just can&t get enough sound, Ford offers the Shaker 1000. The Shaker 1000 adds two trunk mounted subwoofers and an additional 500 watts of amplifier to exclimate the thump of the door mounted subwoofers.

Úsing computer aided design methods, Ford engineers were able to design a trunk mounted subwoofer enclosure that provides more bass but occupies significantly less trunk space. The unit is mounted in the right side of the trunk of the car, freeing the rest of the trunk for cargo.

Shaker 500 and Shaker 1000 systems augment the in-dash CD player of the base system with an in-dash 6-CD changer that has the capability to play discs burned with MP3 files. This means that 6-CDs full of MP3 files could provide more than 1200 songs or about 40 hours of continuous music.

The Shaker 500 and 1000 systems are available on both V-6 Premium and GT Premium models as an option.

2005 Ford Mustang GT-RMore Roars
Mustang&s bad-boy swagger continues with the 2005 model. This intimidating attitude was built with a unique blend of an exciting design, dominating performance and an all-American V-8 growl that grabs the attention of onlookers.

The classic throaty engine sound can be traced back to the original Mustangs 40 years ago. While Mustang engines evolved over four decades to reflect cultural and socioeconomic influences, the most successful models featured powerplants with punch.

Nowhere is this more evident than the 1968 movie Bullitt in which Steve McQueen&s Mustang GT390 growls through the streets of San Francisco to create what many critics hold to be the definitive movie car chase scene The featured engine sound holds the audience&s attention, along with a faded audio track, in a 13-minute scene void of dialogue.

In a modern engineering twist, 2001 Mustang Bullitt GT engineers tuned the car&s 305-horsepower engine and exhaust sounds to Steve McQueen&s legendary co-star. This engine sound was duplicated on the 2003 Mustang Mach 1, another limited-edition performance derivative with magical Mustang history.

Of course, today Mustang engineers create the engine sound on computers before a single motor is built.

Source - Ford Media

Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

The Mustang was introduced at the 1965 New York Worlds Fair, Mustang Mania instantly swept the country, and a new automotive market segment was created - the 22 or better known as the ponycar. Though its mechanical underpinnings descended from the Falcon, the Mustang was completely different. It was a compact, tight, clean package weighing in at a modest 2,550 pounds - a departure from the ever-enlarging....
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Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

The Ford Mustang first appeared in 1964 and was immediately popular for its style and its capabilities. The largest engine offering of the time was the 289 V-8 K-code small block engine which was sufficient but enthusiasts wanted and demanded more power. The base engine was a six-cylinder power plant. The body style configurations included coupe, convertible and fastback. In its first year of....
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Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

A pillar of American automotive lore, the Mustang is the vehicle the brought sporting dash and styling at a price that almost everyone could afford. Always extraordinarily attractive, the Mustang has been capturing the hearts of drivers for nearly 40 years. Introducing a whole new breed of automobile, the pony car, Ford wasnt content to stand on the sidelines while others jumped ahead. Rather than....
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