Click above for a high-res gallery of the Roush 437R Trak Pak Mustang.
We've driven our fair share of Mustangs, but it's a rare occasion that we get to drive one at the track. That's part of the reason why we made the seven hour trek from Southern California to Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA, to get behind the wheel of Roush's new 427R Trak Pak Mustang. What's so special about the Trak Pak? For starters, it's got a supercharged V8 packing 435 horsepower and an abundance of race-ready items like an adjustable suspension, carbon fiber wing, and 14-inch brakes that all make it ideal for the weekend warrior who wants his vehicle to handle the daily grind and track-day floggings. With only 100 being built, this may be one of the few opportunities to see one in the sheetmetal, let alone to drive it on the track. While inclement weather the night before threatened to ruin the trip, we were blessed with a rain-free day, allowing us to explore the limits of the Trak Pak'd 427R. Follow the jump to read our impressions.
With the increasing value of gas and the multiple accounts of motorists having their fuel stolen, it's no surprise that people are finding ways to protect themselves from suffering the same fate. Stant, who sells locking caps through stores like NAPA and PepBoys, is benefiting from the high gas prices and says that their sales have tripled so far this year. They can be purchased for around $20, which is significantly less than a full tank of gas. While a locking gas cap won't protect you against someone drilling into your gas tank, it will probably discourage the average thief from stealing the liquid gold from your car.
Saleen has launched a barrage of new products since company founder Steve Saleen left the company last summer including the S302 Extreme, H302SC, Dan Gurney Signature Series Mustang, Sterling Edition Mustang, and the S5S Raptor Concept. While these new Saleen vehicles are pushing the level of performance upwards, it seems that the price has ballooned, as well. We'd love to have a Sterling Edition Mustang in the garage, but realistically, how many people can afford a $90,000 Mustang? While Saleen may have increased desirability with its new models, the obtainability went down as a result.
Saleen may have the answer. In a recent letter to its dealers, Saleen announced that it would be introducing "a new brand of performance products...at a more competitive price point." Like Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, and Honda Acura, Saleen will be able to have both a value and a high-end brand. Using the RaceCraft name, which has previously been the name of suspension components, the first vehicle in the lineup will be the 420S Mustang featuring a supercharged V8 with 420 horsepower, an array of suspension upgrades, 18-inch wheels and tires, aluminum instrument panel, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 420S graphics and more. All for $38,995. Considering a fully loaded Mustang GT can easily exceed $30,000, the 420S actually seems like a pretty good deal. Also in the works is a RaceCraft Ford Focus with a target price of $20,000. Hopefully they'll keep the nitrous out of the car this time and won't get fined by the California Air Resources Board.
A list of features for the RaceCraft 420S Mustang can be found after the jump.
Is it wrong to mess with perfection? We don't know if we would dare to change even a single nut or bolt on the F430 Scuderia if we happened to have one in the garage, but Novitec Rosso seems to have no problem with it. Granted, they have plenty of experience laying their hands on the F430; in addition to their standard version, they've also built RACE, TuNero, and Evoluzione variations. For the Scuderia they've added their twin-supercharger package good for 717 horsepower and a top speed of just over 215 mph. Considering the standard F430 Scuderia can lap Ferrari's Fiorano test track faster than the Enzo, we'd imagine this car would be insanely quick.
The main concern with cross country rallies is usually reckless driving at triple digit speeds. However, with the ever-increasing concerns over the environmental impact of cars, it was only a matter of time before someone raised concerns over 200 or so supercars traveling 3,000 miles with single digit fuel mileage. ABC News did, and calculated that the 200 cars in the rally generate nearly 650,000 pounds of CO2. To get an idea of how much that is, the Union of Concerned Scientists states the average American generates approximately 40,000 pounds of CO2 in an entire year. Rally founder Tim Porter askes, "Why can't car enthusiasts have a little fun?" Answer him in the comments below.
It would take quite a sum of money to put your name on the side of a race car, but AMP Energy drink is providing an opportunity for NASCAR fans to do just that with Dale Jr.'s #88 car. The first 65,000 people to sign up at AMP Energy's web site will have their name appear on the car for that AMP Energy 500 at Talledega Superspeedway. If you don't sign up in time, the next 35,000 names will appear on the pit will banner, and registered names to appear after that will appear on the race car cover or on AMP Energy signage posted throughout the race track. We'd guess the names will be pretty small, so don't expect to see your name on TV any time soon. The last day to register is July 1.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro
We are giving you the heads up now. Expect to see a fair share of Camaros when November rolls around and the automotive community turns its attention to Las Vegas for the annual SEMA Show. The 2010 Camaro was just named the Official Vehicle of the show, and we're guessing that General Motors will be using the opportunity to make it the most popular car in Vegas. The automaker is currently accepting proposals for project vehicles, and we're betting that everyone is scrambling to get their hands on a 2010 Camaro. With its LS-based V8 and retrotastic design, it won't take long for a plethora of aftermarket parts to become available. The real question left to answer is when will GM debut the production version of the Camaro? It clearly has to happen at or before the SEMA Show in November. Our bet is that the Camaro's debut will take place the week before the Woodward Dream Cruise in August.
Despite the Shelby GT500KR's claim of supremacy over the dominion that is the open road, there is yet another Mustang that is even more extreme. Shelby's Super Snake package for the GT500 offers up to 725 horsepower and even more aggressive options for the suspension and braking systems. Available as a post-sale conversion for the GT500, the transformation can be performed at the Shelby facility in Las Vegas or at one of the official mod shops around the country. There have been a handful of owners who have already converted their GT500s, and one is already for sale on eBay. Something seems wrong with the seller's math, however, because a "Buy It Now" price of $200,000 is far more than the cost of a GT500 plus the $31,995 needed for the 725 horsepower conversion. We could understand the markup if these were in high demand, but pretty much any GT500 owner can send his car to get converted. So unless you really can't wait, keep your mouse away from the bidding button and just enjoy the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Brad!
Click above for more pics of the ROUSH RTC Mustang
This morning we were patiently awaiting our daily news regarding a new version of the Mustang, and ROUSH came through by sending us a sneak peak of its new RTC Mustang that will be officially unveiled this weekend at the National Mustang Show in Dublin, OH. There's no press release available, but from what we can gather it's a coupe version of the aesthetically-pleasing ROUSH Speedster. Standard equipment includes a special red and black two-tone paint scheme, a 4-piece body kit, upgraded suspension, 20-inch wheels, and more. A supercharger, 14-inch brakes, and a short-throw shifter can also be installed as options. A complete list of features for the RTC package can be found after the jump.
Click above for high-res gallery of the Dan Gurney SS Mustang's arrival
It's been just a few months since Saleen announced its Dan Gurney Signature Series Mustang at the New York Auto Show in April, but the limited edition Mustang has already hit showroom floors. Apparently the car at the show was fairly production ready, although we heard that Gurney spent the last few months helping fine tune the suspension just the way he wanted it. According to Saleen, he still would be if they had let him. In addition to the specially tailored suspension settings, the Gurney Edition also features unique bodywork, graphics and interior as well as lightweight 19-inch wheels and Saleen's supercharged V8 pushing out 465 horsepower. We attended a kick-off party at Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, CA where Dan Gurney was on hand to show off the car and sign autographs. We were also able to take a closer look at the car so we could choose which of the three color schemes we like best, but we're still undecided. A high resolution gallery is below that should help you decide for yourself.
Gallery: Saleen Gurney Signature Edition Mustang at dealers
With the increasing value of gas and the multiple accounts of motorists having their fuel stolen, it's no surprise that people are finding ways to protect themselves from suffering the same fate. Stant, who sells locking caps through stores like NAPA and PepBoys, is benefiting from the high gas prices and says that their sales have tripled so far this year. They can be purchased for around $20, which is significantly less than a full tank of gas. While a locking gas cap won't protect you against 
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Track Test: 2008 Roush 427R Trak Pak Mustang
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