Tag Archives: Merkur

Motorsport

World’s First AWD Ford S550 Mustang GT Is A Truly Mind-Boggling Build

Tim Roman is a mechanical engineer by commerce and an all-wheel-drive fanatic by alternative. Years in the past, he modified a Merkur Xr4Ti to spin all 4 tires—and later put in a turbocharged Ford V8. He was quickly hooked, and now he is ending up a extra bold challenge: making an AWD 2017 Mustang. Naturally, he selected a Coyote V8-powered GT model.

This was no straightforward activity, and Roman has been at it for a very long time. We’re lastly seeing the ultimate outcomes. After documenting your entire course of on his modest YouTube channel, No Production Value Garage his Mustang is now on the bottom and sending energy to each nook. The components to make this occur got here from all around the automotive world, and the customized fabrication concerned does not intervene with the automobile’s day by day drivability or outward look in any respect. “The whole point of the car is to make it act like an OEM made it,” Roman says. “Completely daily-drivable, smooth, AC, not [crazy].” 

Roman purchased the Mustang within the fall of 2019 and spent the primary few years of possession poking across the automobile’s drivetrain and researching whether or not his concept was even achievable. There has clearly by no means been a manufacturing all-wheel-drive Mustang, so making one might not have even been potential. If the house wasn’t there for all the additional components—or extra room could not be made—then the entire challenge would’ve fallen flat on its face. That, fortunately, is just not what occurred. 

The AWD setup Roman got here up with is mechanically similar to one thing you’ll discover in different longitudinal-engined sedans. There’s a standard transmission with a switch case on the again of it that sends energy as much as a differential mounted subsequent to the oil pan. One axle travels by a tunnel within the pan whereas the opposite goes straight to the spindle. This is the way it’s achieved on autos like xDrive-equipped BMW 3 Series.


Motorsport

Merkur XR4Ti Restomod Gets an EcoBoost Engine Swap and a Modern Look

In an effort to introduce European vehicles as premium options in the United States, Ford launched the Merkur brand from 1985 to 1989. One of the standout models was the XR4Ti, a sports coupe based on the Sierra from Europe. This amazing restomod from JH Restorations reimagines how a modern version of the XR4Ti could look.

Jesse Henke, the owner of JH Restorations, has been familiar with this particular XR4Ti since high school. It originally belonged to a friend, and they used to work on cars together. After changing hands a few times, Henke eventually acquired the car and spent over three years building this stunning restomod, which recently made its debut at the SEMA Show.

The project started with the plan to replace the original turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with a Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder crate engine. However, the new powerplant was taller than the original, so the team had to add a large bulge in the hood to accommodate it. The exterior was also modified to match the more aggressive look.

JH Restorations meticulously scanned the entire car and created a custom body kit for the XR4Ti. The kit includes a front chin spoiler that protrudes below the nose and widened fenders that make the car 4.0 inches wider. At the rear, there’s a tall wing with a center-mounted support, reminiscent of the European-market Sierra RS Cosworth. The car is finished in Ford’s Area 51 blue color.

In terms of performance, the tuned EcoBoost four-cylinder engine produces around 475 to 500 horsepower, a significant improvement over the original engine’s 175 horsepower. The suspension comes from the SN95 Mustang from the 1990s, as there is much more aftermarket support available for that platform compared to the Merkur.

If you’re impressed by the exterior, you’ll be even more delighted with the interior. JH Restorations found a bolt of blue Recaro fabric from the 1980s and used it to upholster the center sections of the seats and door panels, adding a touch of retro charm. The Blaupunkt stereo appears period-correct but is actually a modern unit with Bluetooth connectivity and a USB plug. The custom gauge cluster, courtesy of Dakota Digital, fits into the original instrument panel’s spot, while the dashboard receives a light blue leather wrap to match the rest of the cabin.

One downside of this build is that JH Restorations finished the car just before SEMA, so they haven’t had the opportunity to take the Merkur on the road yet. We’re eagerly waiting for a video of the XR4Ti in action.