A closer look at the Shelby GT350 suspension, chassis and braking systems

• Advanced suspension tuning on Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R includes Mustang-first MagneRide dampers
• Two-piece brake rotors for Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R are the most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production Mustang – with Michelin tires and high-performance wheels engineered to match
• Stiffened chassis – including an injection-molded carbon fiber composite grille opening reinforcement – provides a rigid base to build the most track-capable Mustang ever

 

Shelby GT350’s rear springs are specially developed for maximum effectiveness at the track. To eke out every last bit of performance, engineers found having springs spin in different directions on each side of the car provided more rear-end stability. A counter-spun spring necessitated a new lower control arm design. “When you are engineering the most track-ready Mustang of all time, you can’t take any shortcuts,” says Eric Zinkosky, suspension and vehicle dynamics technical specialist. “This isn’t an off-the-shelf solution for us – we engineered every component to perform as well as possible, both on and off the track.”

Shelby GT350 is the first Ford vehicle to offer a MagneRide suspension, which allows for a wide range of adjustments in a matter of milliseconds. The system enables optimal performance for track use while not sacrificing comfort for the road. “The MagneRide computer system takes into account so many variables – from the obvious ones such as steering angle, pitch and yaw, to some measurements that are a bit more obscure,” says Brent Clark, vehicle dynamics supervisor. “Even ambient temperature measurements are fed into the computer to ensure optimal performance.”

Weight balance is essential for high-performance cornering and braking – both on and off the track. When weight can be removed from the nose, the benefit is drastic. Ford Performance engineers created a forged carbon fiber grille opening reinforcement for Shelby GT350 that is roughly 24 percent lighter than an equivalent stamped-steel component. The reduction of weight in the nose of the car allows for enhanced balance and more predictable handing.

To go fast, you first need to go slow. The brakes on Shelby GT350 are the most powerful brakes ever put on a production Mustang. After testing numerous brake setups, Ford Performance engineers discovered iron rotors provide improved performance and durability compared to carbon ceramic. Following several 24-hour endurance sessions, 394-milimeter front rotors and 380-milimeter rear rotors were chosen to provide stopping power for Shelby GT350. The two-piece rotors are assembled with an offset floating-pin system that allows for improved cooling and ventilation. Combined with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, these brakes experience virtually no fade in torture testing.

Ford Performance engineers approached the Shelby GT350 project with lofty goals for handling, supplying Michelin with desired longitudinal grip, lateral grip and tire wear parameters. Michelin tire engineers then formulated a unique compound of Pilot Super Sport tires for Shelby GT350 and Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for Shelby GT350R that are designed to withstand extended track use – even in the hands of Ford’s best test drivers.

Ford Feeds Kids

When you're hungry, nothing else matters. That's why Ford Motor Company and Your Local Ford Store are teaming together to Fight Child Hunger right here in our community!

We're partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs, the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, the Food Bank of Alaska, the Montana Food Bank Network, The Oregon Food Bank Network, Northwest Harvest, Second Harvest, Kenai Food Bank and Idaho Foodbank to make sure these critically needed funds Go Further in the fight to end Child Hunger.

The Making of the 2015 Ford Mustang | The Launch

In the final installment of our special series, the new Mustang is revealed to its global audience. #FordMustang

Connecting Kids with the Great Outdoors | Built Ford Tough Good Works: Episode 6

Meet David Janda, founder of the Family Outdoor Adventure Club, which is committed to bringing kids and their families to Michigan's great outdoors.

In this week’s episode we head to Milford, Michigan, home of the Family Outdoor Adventure Club. Founded by David Janda as a way to promote family health and wellness, the club today thrives on finding outdoor family activities every season of the year.

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang Raises the Bar for Handling

• Advanced suspension tuning on Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R includes Mustang-first MagneRide dampers
• Two-piece brake rotors for Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R are the most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production Mustang – with Michelin tires and high-performance wheels engineered to match
• Stiffened chassis – including an injection-molded carbon fiber composite grille opening reinforcement – provides a rigid base to build the most track-capable Mustang ever

The all-new Ford Shelby GT350 builds on Carroll Shelby’s original idea – transform Mustang from a great everyday car into a dominant road racer, elevating it to a new level.

Shelby GT350 raises the bar significantly over the already very capable 2015 Mustang GT performance pack, combining the best technologies and most thoroughly engineered components to create the most athletic Mustang ever built.

“When we started working on this car, we wanted to build the best possible Mustang for the places we most love to drive – challenging back roads with a variety of corners and elevation changes, and at the track on weekends,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Every change we made to this car was driven by the functional requirements of a powerful, responsive powerplant – nimble, precise handling and massive stopping power.”

Suspension tuned for maximum performance on road and track

Handling is the performance playground of Shelby GT350, and the car’s suspension is heavily revised to maximize cornering performance.

Shelby Mustang features all-new aluminum front knuckle, hub and bearing assemblies that are stiffer and lighter than the standard parts. Rigid bushings are fitted to the control arms and subframes for improved steering feedback. Heavy-duty bearings are added for increased lateral stiffness. Front and rear antiroll bars are increased in diameter for improved body control. In an example of obsession to detail, one side of the rear suspension features a new counter-wound rear spring and matching rear control arm so the left and right sides are mirror images – perfecting wheel motion.

MagneRide suspension makes first appearance for Mustang

The star of the Shelby GT350 suspension is the first-ever Ford application of continuously variable MagneRide dampers. The dampers are filled with a hydraulic fluid impregnated with iron particles. When an electric current is passed through the fluid, near-instantaneous adjustment of the suspension performance can be made. With wheel position sensors monitoring motion thousands of times per second combined with other vehicle data, changes can be made to each corner every 7 milliseconds for optimum handling performance.

Tireless calibration and tuning has resulted in an integrated driver control software which monitors wheel position, steering angle, damper temperature, signal quality, vehicle position and much more. This advanced software rides on top of the car’s drive modes and provides a degree of suspension performance never before seen in a production Mustang. This system is not just designed to make the car handle better, but to instill greater confidence in even the best driver.

Most powerful brakes ever fitted to a Production Mustang

Reducing unsprung mass is key to improving responsiveness, but a balance must be struck between taking mass out of a suspension and delivering truly capable braking performance. Shelby GT350 features the most track-credible brake system ever offered on a production Mustang, consisting of two-piece cross-drilled iron rotors with aluminum hats – the largest rotors Ford has ever put on a production Mustang. Massive 394-millimeter front rotors and 380-millimeter rear rotors are a floating-type and are pin-driven to the aluminum hats to greatly reduce heat transfer to the bearings. These rotors are clamped by six-piston fixed Brembo calipers with integrated caliper bridges at the front and four-piston units at the rear. Dedicated ducting assists in cooling the brakes front and rear for maximum performance.

“These cars can be driven by any driver on any track in the world – with virtually no fade,” remarks Brent Clark, vehicle dynamics supervisor.

Wheels and tires fit for the track

Shelby GT350 makes use of extra-stiff 19.0-inch cast aluminum-alloy wheels – 10.5 inches wide in front, 11.0 inches in the rear – clad in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with GT350-specific sidewall construction, tread face and compound. The custom tires are designed to deliver maximum grip on the road or for weekend track days.

Shelby GT350R raises the standard even further. It wears carbon fiber wheels, making Ford the first major automaker to introduce this innovative wheel technology. The hand-laid wheels are 19.0 inches in diameter – 11.0 inches wide at the front and 11.5 inches at the rear, each fitted with custom formulated Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Combined, these wheels eliminate approximately 50 pounds of unsprung weight compared to the aluminum-alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on Shelby GT350.

Stiffer chassis

The new platform is the strongest in the history of the Mustang brand, with torsional stiffness increased 28 percent over the previous model. That stiff structure ensures the suspension geometry remains consistent even under the loading caused by hard driving. Shelby GT350 takes that philosophy further – with added bracing to increase overall stiffness. A new lightweight aluminum tower brace connects the shock towers and firewall, and improves front end stiffness. When a lower hood was called for to improve aerodynamic performance, Ford Performance re-engineered the grille opening reinforcement with a carbon fiber composite structure that is 24 percent lighter than the base Mustang while maintaining the stiffness of steel. It is finished so well a beauty cover is not needed – eliminating another 1.9 pounds.

2016 F-150 with Class-Exclusive Compressed Natural Gas, Propane Capability Grows Ford’s Alternative Fuel Leadership

• Responding to customer requests, 2016 Ford F-150 with the 5.0-liter V8 engine will offer a gaseous-fuel prep option, making it the only light-duty pickup capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane
  
  
• Ford has sold more than 57,000 vehicles prepped to run on clean, low-cost compressed natural gas and propane – seven times more than all other major U.S. automakers combined – since 2009
  

• Ford has the broadest portfolio of natural gas and propane offerings, including 2016 F-150 and Super Duty trucks, and Transit and Transit Connect vans and wagons
  

• Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifiers offer a wide variety of CNG options to help customers find the best, most cost-effective solution to their diverse operating needs
  

Ford, America’s truck leader, will offer the 2016 F-150 with an available gaseous-fuel prep package that enables 5.0-liter V8-powered models to run on clean, low-cost compressed natural gas or propane, making Ford the only manufacturer of a CNG/propane-capable half-ton pickup.

The 2016 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – with 5.0-liter V8 engine will be available to order this summer with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes upgraded intake and exhaust valves and valve seats to ensure the engine performs to Built Ford Tough standards customers expect.

“We surveyed customers likely to use natural gas or propane, and 72 percent told us they want to have these alternative-fuel capabilities available on F-150 with the 5.0-liter V8 engine,” said Jon Coleman, Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager. “We expect the gaseous-fuel prep package will be even more popular than it was on the 2014 F-150 with the 3.7-liter V6 engine, given the capability of the 2016 F-150 5.0-liter V8.”

2016 F-150 trucks running on CNG or propane will be able to tow the same amount as if they were running on gasoline. Payload capability is the same as well – minus the weight of the installed CNG or propane system. Thanks to the use of advanced light-weighting materials, the 2016 F-150 with an installed CNG or propane system can haul hundreds of pounds more than a similarly equipped 2014 F-150.

Converting to CNG/propane

CNG/propane engine prep from the factory costs $315 before the customer chooses a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Upfits run approximately $7,500 to $9,500 depending on fuel tank capacity.

CNG conversions can provide stability against fluctuating fuel prices as well as lower vehicle operating costs for fleet administrators. CNG sells for an average of $2.11 per gallon of gasoline equivalent, as of April 30, 2015, and is as low as $1 in some parts of the country, representing a significant savings compared with unleaded regular fuel, and an even greater savings compared with diesel. The national average for unleaded regular fuel is $2.58 per gallon, while diesel sells for an average $2.81 per gallon, as of April 30.

Growing Demand for Ford CNG/propane-prepped vehicles

Ford has sold more than 57,000 CNG/propane-prepped vehicles – seven times more than all other major U.S. automakers combined – since 2009. Sales have grown each of the last five years, reflecting Ford’s commitment to sustainability and offering customers true power of choice in alternative fuels.

Ford sold a record 16,821 commercial vehicles with CNG/propane gaseous engine-prep packages in 2014, and 2015 is shaping up to be an even stronger year.

“The growth in interest for CNG/propane-prepped vehicles shows a shift in fleet customers’ mindsets,” says Dick Cupka, Ford ‎commercial vehicle sustainability leader. “They are becoming more forward-thinking about alternative fuels, taking into account their total cost of ownership and looking for ways to reduce their vehicle emissions.”

The most popular vehicles for CNG/propane prep packages are F-Series Super Duty trucks, while prep kits for the 2014 F-150 exceeded expectations by more than 40 percent. Ford sold more than 2,000 units in less than a year – and announced today it expects to sell even more gaseous fuel prep packages on the 2016 F-150 with 5.0-liter V8 engine.

The new 2015 Ford Transit has sold an impressive 836 CNG/propane-prepped vans and wagons since it became available in the United States in June 2014. Transit is America’s best-selling commercial van, based on total U.S. reported sales in the first quarter of 2015, contributing to Ford’s best first-quarter overall commercial van sales performance since 1995.

Ford Transit Connect is the only compact van sold in the United States with a CNG/propane-prepped engine option. Sales of CNG/propane-prepped 2015 Transit Connect vans and wagons have hit 838, already surpassing the 762 vehicles sold in the 2014 model year.

Ford offers broadest portfolio of CNG/propane-capable vehicles

Ford sells an available CNG/propane prep option for eight of its commercial vehicle lines, ranging from Transit Connect to F-750, making it the broadest CNG/propane-capable portfolio of any North American auto manufacturer. This selection has grown since 2010, when Ford offered CNG/propane prep on E-Series vans and wagons only.

With the addition of the 2016 F-150, Ford Motor Company will offer eight Ford commercial vehicles available from the factory with a gaseous-fuel prep option – more than any other North American auto manufacturer. These include:

• 2016 F-150 with 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8
  
• F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup with 6.2-liter V8
  
• F-350 to F-550 Super Duty chassis cab with 6.2-liter V8 or 6.8-liter V10
  
• F-650 and F-750 chassis cab with 6.8-liter V10
  
• F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis with 6.8-liter V10
  
• Transit Connect van and wagon with 2.5-liter I-4
  
• Transit van, wagon, cutaway and chassis cab with 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V6
  
• E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis with 5.4-liter V8 or 6.8-liter V10
  

Available CNG/propane engine prep from the factory costs approximately $315 before the customer chooses a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Upfits cost approximately $7,500 to $13,000 depending on fuel tank capacity.

Ford estimates as many as 70 percent of its vehicles purchased with CNG/propane packages are upfit before customers take delivery and another 20 percent are upfit within a year of purchase.

Ford F-150 Qualified Vehicle Modifiers

Ford has established a rigorous qualification program for alternative-fuel vehicle modifiers. Four of these modifiers are committed to offering CNG or propane bi-fuel and dedicated kits for the 2016 F-150 – providing true power of choice to Ford commercial customers who have unique vehicle requirements in different vocations:

• Altech-Eco, based in Asheville, North Carolina – CNG
  
• IMPCO Automotive, based in Sterling Heights, Michigan – CNG and propane
  
• Westport, based in Dallas – CNG
  
• Venchurs Vehicle Systems, based in Adrian, Michigan – CNG
  

Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifiers offer a wide variety of CNG and propane options to help customers find the best, most cost-effective solution to their diverse operating needs. Ford maintains the engine and powertrain limited warranty (five years or 60,000 miles) for the vehicle. The modifier is responsible for the system component warranty and can provide additional details.

Ford maintains the engine and powertrain limited warranty (five years or 60,000 miles) for the vehicle. The modifier is responsible for the system component warranty and can provide additional details.

Ford Commercial Vehicle Qualified Vehicle Modifiers

A total of six Qualified Vehicle Modifiers are able to convert the full range of Ford CNG/propane-prepped engines to run on natural gas or propane at 36 locations across the United States:

• Altech-Eco, based in Asheville, North Carolina
  
• IMPCO Automotive, based in Sterling Heights, Michigan
  
• Landi Renzo USA, based in Torrance, California
  
• ROUSH CleanTech, based in Livonia, Michigan
  
• Venchurs Vehicle Systems, based in Adrian, Michigan
  
• Westport, based in Dallas
  

Compressed natural gas and propane

Compressed natural gas is mainly composed of methane. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of approximately 3,600 psi. Approximately 85 percent of the CNG used in the United States is produced domestically.

Another benefit of this alternative fuel is cleaner emissions. Vehicles operating on CNG can reduce tailpipe CO₂ emissions by approximately 20 percent when compared with the same vehicle operating on gasoline.

Take on the Mother of All Driving Challenges

Snack time to playtime, the mother of all driving challenges is something to be reckoned with.

Every day, moms face challenges on the road keeping kids happy and calm. To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re shedding light on those difficult moments moms master with a smile, and putting non-parents to the test in what moms know to be the true Ultimate Driving Challenge.

Ford is Named ‘Most Innovative Volume Brand 2015’ at AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Awards, Focus is Class Winner

•  Ford wins “Most Innovative Volume Brand 2015” at the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS awards. Focus also wins award for its class, all-new Mondeo in top three in segment
• The Centre of Automotive Management announces the winners after considering 1,220 innovations from 53 auto brands across 18 global automotive companies
• Ford wins for safety and semi-autonomous driver assistance systems including Active Park Assist, and Active City Stop

FRANKFURT, Germany, April 29, 2015 – Ford Motor Company has been named the “Most Innovative Volume Brand 2015” for its safety and semi-autonomous driver technologies at the tenth annual AutomotiveINNOVATIONS awards.

The Centre of Automotive Management based in Germany named Ford the category winner after considering innovations from 18 global automotive groups representing 53 brands. The new Ford Focus also won in its class, and the all-new Ford Mondeo was in the top three for its segment.
Ford won the awards for safety and driver assistance systems including Active Park Assist that helps drivers to park alongside other cars, and in parallel parking spaces; and automatic braking technology Active City Stop that operates at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

“Innovation has always been the lifeblood of Ford and it’s more vital with the automotive industry entering a period of rapid technological advancement,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The technologies we are introducing today are enabling a safer, more efficient and more connected journey.”

The Centre of Automotive Management is an independent institute for automotive and mobility research and strategic consulting at the University of Applied Sciences, Bergisch Gladbach, in Germany. The AutomotiveINNOVATIONS awards recognises automotive engineering innovation. The judging panel, led by centre director Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel, in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, reported that driver assistance systems accounted for nearly 300 of the innovations submitted.

“AutomotiveINNOVATIONS identified the future trends in the automotive industry on the basis of more than 1,200 technical innovations,” Bratzel said. “The award for Ford as ‘Most Innovative Volume Manufacturer’ proves the innovative power of the brand. With Focus and Mondeo, many of the innovations have already found their way into production.”

Jurors also recognised Ford for the award-winning1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that last year became the first engine to be named International Engine of the Year three years in a row, and the company’s Electronic Stability Programme technology.

In a speech in Frankfurt on Wednesday, Bakaj outlined Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to help protect the freedom of mobility and change the way the world moves as it becomes increasing more crowded and urbanized. In January, the company launched an initial 25 mobility pilot projects to foster innovation in the areas of connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience and big data.

Launched last year, the new Focus is sold in more than 140 markets worldwide and also offers voice-activated SYNC 2 technology that enables drivers simply to say “I’m hungry” to bring up a list of local restaurants, which they can then get directions to. The all-new Mondeo offers technologies including Inflatable Rear Seatbelt that combines airbag and seatbelt attributes, and Ford’s new Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection that can detect people in the road ahead – or that could cross the vehicle’s path – and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings.

The Making of the 2015 Ford Mustang | Engineering

“Fast and fun.” Watch as the pony stretches its legs in part three of our special series. #FordMustang

MotorWeek | Road Test: 2016 Ford Edge

Let’s explore Ford’s latest cutting Edge crossover.