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Classic Mustang Analyzer News
Volume 5, Issue No. 9, September 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) - FORD MIDNIGHT ESCAPE XLT


Totally Free Cars


SOURCE: Ford Press Release

Ford's Midnight Escape is a little edgy, a little mysterious and, wearing all black, stands out from the rest. The newest addition to the best-selling small SUV lineup is sure to turn heads.

The Midnight Escape features gloss black paint on fascias, body cladding and wheel-lip moldings. A unique black trim treatment and ebony Nudo leather-trimmed seats complement the all-black exterior and promise a luxurious experience for driver and passengers.

“Just like the customer who’s buying one, the Midnight Escape is refined,” said Vivian Palmer, Escape marketing manager. “Ford Escape is already an affordable and fun option for a new generation of SUV customers, and the Midnight Escape is a slick addition to Ford’s unparalleled lineup of SUVs.”


Midnight Escape package, available as a 4x2 or 4x4 with purchase of the Escape XLT, features:


The Ford Escape small SUV was introduced in 2001. Designed to appeal to buyers who may not have owned or considered an SUV before, Escape offers comfort, convenience and versatility alongside the Ford trademark toughness to help ensure customers get the SUV that fits their lifestyle. Escape was a logical expansion by Ford, which pioneered the modern SUV with the Ford Explorer in 1991.

The limited-edition Midnight Escape package is available with purchase of the XLT series body code, which includes Duratec V-6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, privacy glass, fog lamps and power moonroof.

Ford expects to build no more than 5,000 Midnight Escapes. Base manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $24,995 for the 4x2 and $26,445 for the 4x4, including destination and delivery charges.

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2- MERCURY MARAUDER


SOURCE: Ford Press Release

Mercury has brought back the Marauder, an iconic vehicle from the brand's past, in the form of a four-door, five-passenger performance sedan powered by a V-8 engine expected to produce more than 300 horsepower. The Marauder was expected to reach Lincoln Mercury showrooms in the early summer of 2002 as a 2003 model.

"Mercury Marauder doesn't take a lot of explaining. It's fast, it's black and it looks cool," says Ben Gibert, director of Mercury vehicles. Based on a concept vehicle at the 1998 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the production Mercury Marauder has impressive performance credentials:



"The Mercury Marauder will be part of the household fleet, so power is not the customer's only concern. It must have functionality to accommodate everyday needs," Marauder Brand Manager Tony Picarello said. "Marauder is a rebel with a cause. It is power and substance."
"The new Marauder will make Mercury a stronger brand, but its impact will go beyond the buzz or a single sale," says Jennifer Moneagle, Mercury group brand manager. "Mercury customers by definition are individuals who do not follow the crowd, and the Marauder's performance and bold styling will really let it stand apart from everyday vehicles.
"Most Marauder customers will be well-educated and relatively affluent. Many will be married with children at home, and most will probably own two or more vehicles," she adds.

Marauder History

The first Mercury Marauder was introduced at the dawn of the muscle car era as a1963 ½ model, and was designed to capitalize on the success of the Bill Stroppe-prepared Mercurys on stock car tracks around the country. The "slantback" two-door hardtop was built on a 120-inch wheelbase and measured almost 18-feet in length.
Mercurys in Marauder trim were offered with engines ranging from a comparatively mild 390-cubic inch OHV V-8 with two-barrel carburetor to a considerably more robust 406-cubic inch V-8 that produced 405 horsepower (gross). The now legendary Parnelli Jones piloted a 406-powered Marauder to victory at the Pike's Peak Hill Climb on July 4, 1963 and set a new stock car record in the process.
One of the most desirable of the early Mercury Marauders was the 1964 model equipped with the 427-cubic inch "Super Marauder" V-8. This engine, which pumped out a whopping 425-horsepower (gross), boasted all of the requisite 1960s-era technology for performance engines, including twin four-barrel carburetors, high-compression 11.5:1 pistons and cross-bolted main bearing caps.
After 1965, the Marauder name was not used again, until Mercury introduced a new full-size platform in 1969. The Mercury Marauder introduced that year was described by a Mercury executive as "the car for individuals who want strong road performance with the full measure of luxury that comes with full-size automobiles."
Full-size was an apt description of the 1969 Mercury Marauder and top-of-the-line Marauder X-100, which rode on 121-inch wheelbases and measured slightly more than 219 inches in length (about four inches longer than the 1964 models). Both models featured a tunnel-back design with the trailing edges of the rear roof pillars flowing down and extending to the rear. A special two-tone paint option featured the entire tunnel-back area of the car with a matte finish in a color to compliment the main body color.
The heart of the X-100, the higher performance and more-ornately trimmed version, was an all-new 429 cubic-inch V-8 engine rated at 360 horsepower (gross). Road testers clocked the X-100 at 0-to-60 mph in eight seconds and reported a top speed of 125 mph. The five-passenger Marauder featured a 390 cubic-inch V-8 engine and a fresh new design. With these two models, Marauder became an official Mercury nameplate.
Mercury, based in Irvine, Calif., markets the full line of Mercury


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3- GT-40

SOURCE: Ford Press Release

NEW FORD GT40 CONCEPT JOINS 'LIVING LEGENDS' CAR LINEUP

The GT40 - the legendary car brought to life by Henry Ford II to change performance car history - finds new life in a modern road car that re-ignites Ford's hallmarks of passion, performance and speed.


The new high-performance concept is inspired by the vehicle that roared into the hearts of car enthusiasts everywhere during the 1960s. The new GT40 joins Ford's "Living Legends" lineup of production and concept cars, including the Ford Thunderbird and Mustang, and the Forty-Nine concept. "GT40 is the ultimate Living Legend," explains J Mays, Ford vice president of Design. "It's a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, but with the addition of a heritage no one can match. Essential elements of the original - including the stunning low profile and mid-mounted American V-8 - continue in this latest interpretation of the classic." While the new concept and the original both share the mystique of the GT40 name, they share not a single dimension. The concept is more than a foot and a half longer and stands nearly four inches taller. Its new lines draw upon and refine the best features of GT40 history and express the car's identity through modern proportion and surface development.

Design

The GT40 concept casts the familiar, sleek silhouette of its namesake, yet every dimension, every curve and every line on the car is a unique reinterpretation of the original. The GT40 features a long front overhang reminiscent of 1960s-era racecars. But its sweeping cowl, subtle accent lines and fiber-optic headlamps strike a distinctly contemporary pose.
The front fenders curve over 18-inch wheels and Goodyear white-lettered tires. In the tradition of championship racers, the doors cut into the roof. Prominent on the leading edge of the rear quarter panel are functional cooling scoops that channel fresh air to the engine. The rear wheel wells, filled with 19-inch Goodyear tires, define the rear of the car, while the accent line from the front cowl rejoins and finishes the car's profile at the integrated "ducktail" spoiler.
The interior design incorporates the novel "ventilated seats" and instrument layout of the original car, with straightforward analog gauges and large tachometer. Modern versions of the original car's toggle switches operate key systems.
"Like its namesake, the GT40 concept is not over-wrought with advanced technologies," Mays says. "While it represents the best of Ford design, engineering and expertise, it is a no-frills machine. You won't find voice-activated telematics here - not even power windows - just pure, refined performance."
Looking in through the backlight, one finds the essence of the sports car in the MOD 5.4-liter V-8 engine and its complex array of polished stainless-steel header pipes, braided stainless steel fuel lines with anodized aluminum fittings and supercharger with intercooler.
"The GT40 concept should do three things: go fast, handle exceptionally and look great," says Chris Theodore, Ford's vice president of North America Product Development. "To be true to its Ford heritage, we had to create a supercar that would be uniquely a Ford. Anyone can do technology showpieces, high-displacement engines and modernistic designs, but there's much more to a GT40. There's heritage and heart. We think this car remains true to the spirit of its predecessors."

Chassis

As on the historic car, the composite body panels are unstressed. Instead of steel or honeycomb-composite tubs used in the 1960s, Ford's SVT Engineering group developed an all-new aluminum spaceframe as the foundation for the GT40 concept. It features four-wheel independent suspension with unequal-length control arms and longitudinally mounted spring-damper units to allow for its low profile.
Braking is handled by six-piston aluminum Alcon calipers with cross-drilled and vented rotors at all four corners. When the rear canopy is opened, the rear suspension components and engine become the car's focal point. Precision-milled aluminum suspension components and attached 19-inch Goodyear tires - combined with the overwhelming presence of the V-8 powertrain - create a striking appearance and communicate the GT40 concept's performance credentials.

Powertrain

The powerplant is an all-American V-8 from Ford's modular engine family. The MOD 5.4-liter V-8 in the GT40 concept features aluminum four-valve heads, forged crankshaft, H-beam forged rods and aluminum pistons fed by a supercharger, all combining to make more than 500 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque. These figures match or exceed those of the most powerful period GT40, a car that could handily top 200 mph on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. Because of the supercharger and high-revving, free-breathing valvetrain, the new car produces this astounding power from an efficient 5.4-liter V-8 engine. The power is put to the road through an RBT six-speed manual transmission.

What's Next for GT40?

The GT40 concept was created to foretell and test the future of exciting Ford cars to come. As with other Living Legends concepts - including the 1999 Thunderbird concept and Forty-Nine concept - the GT40 was engineered from the beginning for production feasibility. Ford's SVT Engineering - which also created performance versions of the Focus, Mustang Cobra and F-Series Lightning - developed the chassis and powertrain. SVT Engineering worked closely with Living Legends designers to ensure the concept would live up to its performance heritage.


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4- '03 MUSTANGS


SOURCE: Ford.com
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Wheelbase (in.) 101.3
Overall Length (in.) 183.2
Overall Height (in.) - Coupe 53.1
Overall Height (in.) - Convertible 53.1
Overall Width (in.) 73.1
Tread (Front/Rear) (in.) 60.2/60.6
Base Model Curb Weight (lbs.) - Coupe 3066
Base Model Curb Weight (lbs.) - Convertible 3208
Seating Capacity 4
Head Room (Front/Rear) (in.) - Coupe 38.1/35.5
Head Room (Front/Rear) (in.) - Convertible 38.0/35.8
Shoulder Room (in.) - Coupe 53.6/52.1
Shoulder Room (in.) - Convertible 53.6/41.4
Hip Room (Front/Rear) (in.) - Coupe 52.3/47.4
Hip Room (Front/Rear) (in.) - Convertible 52.3/41.0
Leg Room (Front max./Rear min.) (in.) 42.6/29.9
Luggage Capacity (cu. ft.) - Coupe 10.9
Luggage Capacity (cu. ft.) - Convertible 10.9
Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) - Coupe 83.0
Total Interior Volume (cu. ft.) - Coupe 93.9
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal.) 15.7
Towing Capacity, Gross Trailer Weight (lbs.) 1000 (Light Duty Class I)
Driveline Rear wheel drive
Engines 3.8L OHV V-6
4.6L SOHC V-8
Horsepower @ rpm 193 @ 5500 (V-6)
260 @ 5250 (V-8)
Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm) 225 @ 2800 (V-6)
302 @ 4000 (V-8)
Fuel System Sequential Multi-Port Electronic Fuel Injection
Fuel Economy (city/hwy mpg) 20/29; 19/27 4-speed automatic
Exhaust System Single, stainless steel with catalytic converter (V-6)
Dual, stainless steel with catalytic converters (GT)
Transmissions Standard 5-speed manual
Optional electronic 4-speed automatic with overdrive
Front Suspension Independent, modified MacPherson strut with separate spring on lower arm and stabilizer bar
Rear Suspension Four-bar link with coil springs on lower arm (upper, leading; lower, arm) (all); unique horizontal axle damper and stabilizer bar (GT)
Steering Power-assisted, rack-and-pinion
Brakes Standard power 4-wheel disc
Optional Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) (standard on GT)



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5- 1969 FORD MUSTANG MACH 1

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New Die-Cast Collectible
1/18 Scale American Muscle 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 by the Ertl Co.

  More Images & Information   Blue | Bronze | Cream

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