Yes, simply because the Ford Mustang’s distinctive look would affect just about each muscle automotive produced in its wake, it appears the long-lasting car was not an authentic ground-up creation. In reality, in its infancy, the Ford Mustang was fairly actually constructed on the Ford Falcon’s platform.
That reality, after all, helps clarify the similarities within the layouts of the 2 automobiles, and it ought to go with out saying that recycling the Falcon’s platform for the Mustang was a sensible money-saving transfer that even allowed Ford to make the most of a wide selection of the components and parts that have been additionally utilized in producing the Falcon. Shared components and platform apart, if you happen to’ve ever been behind the wheel of a Sixties-era Mustang, the similarities to the Falcon primarily cease there, with the ‘stang providing a 289 cubic inch V8, enhanced dealing with packages, and an unlimited vary of choices that made it uniquely personalizable, save its distinctive physique kinds, which have been customizable primarily in a purchaser’s selection of paint shade.
Nonetheless, sharing parts with the Ford Falcon helped preserve the value of a brand new Mustang surprisingly low for a sports activities automotive, with base fashions promoting for about $2,300. But these mixed parts helped rework the Ford Mustang from a cleverly realized manufacturing automotive right into a full-fledged legend within the annals of American automotive historical past. That reality is made all of the extra fascinating with the information that Mustang attained these heights on the again of the common-or-garden Ford Falcon.
It’s fashionable to joke about Mustangs crashing, however this particular person adopted the golden rule by taking it to the monitor as a substitute of racing on the road, so do not be too arduous on them. Mishaps can happen with any automotive, and by racing on the monitor. The solely casualty here’s a sixth-generation Mustang. The driver was okay, and no person else was concerned. We can respect that.
This unlucky outing occurred at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We do not know precisely when, nevertheless it seems to be a test-and-tune evening with easy heads-up racing. The Mustang and its competitors – a C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in accordance with the Wheels YouTube channel – roll to the beginning line with zero folks seen within the far bleachers. An absence of spectators is widespread throughout such occasions, or it could have been a personal monitor rental.
Neither automotive does a burnout, which can or will not be a contributing issue within the crash. Doing a smoky burnout with road tires can truly make traction worse, and there are different variables like monitor temperature and floor prep that each one issue into starting-line grip. We do not know what sort of tires this Mustang had on the again, however the wheels look completely different and people hides look fairly darned huge. That suggests one thing track-oriented, and that would undoubtedly result in traction points with out a burnout to warmth them up.
And there are traction points. Both automobiles present fairly a little bit of wheelspin off the road, however the Corvette pulls out to a fast lead. It’s arduous to inform if the Mustang driver ever has grip, however there is not any lacking the again finish stepping out to the left only a few seconds into the race. A fast correction is made, however the automotive spins within the different path and hits the wall arduous. After a number of moments we see the motive force exit the automotive.
We additionally see an Instagram tag for Mayos5.0 on the Mustang’s facet window. The account options a number of photographs that seem to indicate the automotive in query; we messaged the account with our condolences and to see if there’s extra info on precisely what went flawed. We will leap in with a response if we hear again, however for now, we’re blissful everybody walked away with out harm.
It’s no surprise that jokes about Mustangs crashing are common. However, this particular video doesn’t lend itself to those jokes as there were no crowds or car shows nearby. Plus, the driver followed the safety advice of taking it to the track. So at least the Mustang’s short life came to an end in the relatively secure environment of a drag strip.
Though I use the term “relative” because the retaining fence didn’t offer much resistance. It’s unclear how the out-of-control situation started, but it’s clear how it ended. The blue 2024 Mustang GT crashed into the wall and then launched over it. As a result, this Ford Mustang is completely wrecked, as shown in the original TikTok video posted by Alt.Is350.
When we approach the driver’s side of the car on the rollback, the damage doesn’t look too severe. The lower fascia and the front wheel are damaged, but these parts are repairable and usually don’t require much effort. However, as we circle around the car, the passenger side rear is completely destroyed, and the impact even shattered the rear window. It’s unclear if there is any critical damage to the car’s structure, but in any case, this won’t be an easy or quick fix.
There is no insight into the condition of the driver from the TikTok clip or the commentary provided by StangMode in the YouTube video. However, it’s evident that the airbags deployed, but the interior appears unaffected by the crash. Additionally, the absence of emergency vehicles at the scene suggests that the driver likely escaped unharmed.
Many people in the comments of the featured videos wonder how someone could lose control of a car with “only” 480 horsepower at a drag strip. As someone with experience racing various vehicles, including Mustangs with more or less power than the new S650, I can confidently say that it doesn’t take an excessive amount of power to lose control. This is especially true if the tires are old, cold, or have debris in the tread. Even a 240-horsepower Mustang can present challenges when shifting gears on a prepared track. So, power alone cannot guarantee control.
StangMode raises some valid points in his commentary on the crash, and I can attest to them based on my own Mustang racing experience with a 1995 Mustang GT, which had less than half the power of the new model. It doesn’t require immense power to make street tires spin, especially if the tires are old, cold, or have debris in the tread. I was caught off guard when my 240-horsepower Mustang wiggled in second gear during a race. I hadn’t done a burnout before the run because, well, it was only 240 horsepower. Lesson learned.
Regardless of the cause of this crash, it’s good to know that the driver was at the track, enjoying the Mustang in its natural environment. And hopefully, everything will work out in the end.
The official Twitter account of the Ford Mustang, called X, posted a teaser photo of a pushrod suspension. The photo suggests that Ford will unveil a new track-focused variant of the Mustang on August 17th. The suspension component in the photo is labeled with the name Multimatic, accompanied by a caption saying, “This isn’t progression; it’s reinvention.”
Ford already has a lineup of high-performance Mustangs, including the Dark Horse, Dark Horse R track car, and the GT4 and GT3 race-ready models. While it’s possible that the Multimatic pushrod suspension could be introduced as an option, it is more likely that Ford is launching a new track-ready Mustang.
In March, Ford CEO Jim Farley tweeted a video of the Mustang GT3 being tested at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida. He later retweeted the video with the question, “Should we make a road version?” Motor1.com reached out to Ford for confirmation, and a spokesperson stated that they didn’t have any additional information beyond Farley’s tweet.
The Mustang GT3 is more than just a more powerful version of the Dark Horse. It features a 5.4-liter Coyote V8 engine built by racing specialist M-Sport, a rear-mounted transaxle, and a bespoke short-long arm suspension. The car has more aggressive bodywork with flared fenders and a large rear wing. Ford Performance plans to race the Mustang GT3 in the IMSA GTD Pro class in 2024, including events like the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Multimatic is a well-known name in motorsports and produces dynamic suspension spool-valve (DSSV) dampers for various high-performance cars, including Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz. Ford has previously collaborated with Multimatic on projects like the Ford GT, so the two companies have a history together.
Ford is determined to maintain the iconic V8 engine in the Ford Mustang, without any plans of replacing it with electric power anytime soon. The company is committed to offering the Mustang with an internal combustion engine and has no intention of phasing out the powertrain in the model.
According to Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsport, the V8 engine will be built “for as long as we can.” He stated that Ford has not set a retirement date for the eight-cylinder engine. Jim Owens, Mustang’s global brand manager, expressed a similar opinion, emphasizing that the company is continuing to invest in V8 engines for future models despite the increased focus on battery-electric vehicles.
Saleen Automotive, famous for its performance parts on Ford Mustangs, also created the Saleen XP8, one of the first performance SUVs.
The Saleen XP8 featured extensive exterior modifications, including a new body kit, carbon fiber hood, side skirts, rear spoiler, and 18-inch magnesium wheels.
It had some interior touches like a carbon fiber steering wheel, Saleen gauges, racing pedals, and optional Recaro seats.
Saleen Automotive is renowned for its performance parts on Ford Mustangs. However, they also created one of the first performance SUVs on the market called the Saleen XP8.
The GMC Typhoon may have been the first performance SUV, but the XP8 was a close second. Saleen, known for tuning Ford Mustangs, decided to modify the Ford Explorer and create the XP8, which remains one of the coolest old-school Ford Explorers you can buy today.
It Was Based On The Second Generation Ford Explorer
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Front three-quarter shot of a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT
The Saleen XP8 was based on the second-generation Ford Explorer produced from 1995-2001. It specifically used the four-door Explorer XLT, which offered an optional 5.0-liter V-8 engine with 210 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. This engine option was added in response to competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Land Rover Discovery, which offered V-8 engines.
Saleen made extensive changes to the Ford Explorer, including a new body kit and various mechanical upgrades. The XP8 was offered with two engine options, including a supercharged version. However, these enhancements came at a premium price.
The XP8 featured several exterior modifications to differentiate it from the regular Explorer. Saleen added a full-body kit, which included front and rear bumpers, carbon fiber hood, side skirts, body cladding, and rear spoiler. The car also had carbon fiber mirror caps, Saleen graphics, serialization plaques, and 18-inch magnesium wheels. The front fascia received a new lower bumper design, and the grille was painted to match the body color. The side steps were replaced with side skirts for a lower appearance, and new bottom body cladding was added for a more rugged look. The XP8’s 18-inch magnesium wheels were a rare feature at the time and came with Pirelli Scorpion Zero performance tires.
The interior of the XP8 mostly remained stock, as emphasis was placed on exterior modifications and mechanical upgrades. However, Saleen did make some changes to add a special touch to the interior. These changes included a carbon fiber steering wheel, Saleen gauges, racing pedals, and optional front Saleen branded leather Recaro seats. The center console featured a plaque indicating the model year and production number of each XP8.
Supercharged V-8 And Other Modifications
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Supercharged V-8 engine of the Saleen XP8
Ford offered the Explorer with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine, which was the primary choice for XP8 models. This engine produced slightly more power than the stock version, with 222 horsepower and 298 pound-feet of torque. The supercharged version, on the other hand, offered significantly more power and torque. The XP8 models could be rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, depending on the engine option, both coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Supercharged V-8 Engine Specifications
Engine
Supercharged V-8
Displacement
5.0 liters
Power
286 Horsepower
Torque
333 pound-feet
Transmission
Four-speed automatic
Drivetrain
All-wheel drive
The XP8 also received mechanical upgrades such as a Racecraft suspension that lowered the car by 2 inches. Other performance enhancements included Bilstein struts, stronger sway bars, Alcon brakes (optional), a performance air filter, and a Borla exhaust system.
The Saleen XP8 was introduced in 1998, during the second generation of the Ford Explorer. The plan was to produce 300 units, but they fell short of this target. Only around 125 XP8 examples were produced, and even fewer are still on the road today. This limited production makes them highly sought after.
During the 90s, the MSRP for the XP8 exceeded $52,000, which was a significant amount at that time. By comparison, the base Explorer XLT started at $24,740. However, if you wanted a special SUV like the XP8, you had to be willing to pay the higher price.
There was also a more limited version called the XP6, which was created accidentally when Ford sent Saleen a batch of V-6 Explorers. Saleen decided to upgrade them similar to the XP8 rather than returning them to Ford, resulting in the creation of the Saleen XP6. The main difference was the engine and transmission. The XP6 models are rare and hard to find, and there are no official numbers available for their production.
Despite the recent craze for SUVs and the rising values of old SUV models like Land Cruisers and Defenders, the prices for XP8 models have not skyrocketed yet. This may be because they were often overlooked until recently when they started changing hands. The Saleen XP8 was one of the first SUVs to pave the way for the popular performance SUV segment we see today.
