‘Electrification’ is the probably the most heavily-used word in the auto industry today. Increasingly stringent emission regulations as well as commitments to become carbon-neutral to address climate change have forced carmakers to accelerate development and production of electric vehicles. Ford is even creating a specific business unit just for electric vehicles. The aim is to fully electrify their product lines by the end of the decade and for some, sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines will cease.
In tandem with this trend, there is also a growing industry where old models are being ‘electrified’. Classic models are having ‘heart transplants’ with their original engines being replaced by electric powertrains. It’s a slowly growing industry which will help preserve classic models of special value and allow them to be driven even in the new era of electrification.
We’ve already written about companies like Everrati and Lunaz carrying out such conversions and another British company called Charge Cars is also getting into the business. The company has an experienced engineering team with members who have contributed to various projects for McLaren Automotive, Jaguar Land Rover and F1 racing teams.
The original Ford Mustang in 1967.
The company has announced its latest ‘restomod’ project to build EVs which is a 499-unit production run of the iconic 1960s Ford Mustang. While some other companies require an existing body and chassis to convert, Charge Cars takes an officially licensed body with the design of the legendary Mustang. The bodyshell (in the fastback style of 1967) is made of composite material but has the necessary engineering to ensure that it is safe and can meet safety requirements for road use.
It’s something like what ACE (a subsidiary of EON) used to do with the TD2000, a model which had the looks of a 1950s MG sportscar but a modern powertrain and chassis. The powertrain was not electric and was a 2-litre petrol engine sourced from Toyota similar to that found in the early RAV4.
So Charge Car basically builds a new Mustang with the 1960s design and fits an electric powertrain into it. It gets two electric motors which presumably are installed at the front and rear as all-wheel drive is mentioned, something which the Mustang has never had. The total system output is 500 kW (equivalent to 680 ps) and up to 1,500 Nm, so it should easily get from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) within the claimed 3.9 seconds. The battery pack, which can be fast-charged, has a capacity of 64 kWh which is said to be good for up to 320 kms.
Charge Car will personalize the 2-person interior to customers’ requirements and there are various options and accessories to choose from. While the original Mustang had classic meters, the Mustang EV has digital instruments and a tablet-like centre panel which looks like the same idea as in the latest Mustang Mach-E e-SUV.
Each unit, which would be handbuilt, will cost upwards of £350,000 (about RM1.94 million) ex-factory. Orders are now being taken and the first customers will get their cars by the end of this year or early in 2023.
Transmisi automatik sememangnya menjadi pilihan pengguna kini kerana dilihat lebih praktikal dan efisien berbanding transmisi manual.
Namun, masih ada pengeluar yang cuba untuk meyakinkan pengguna dengan inovasi tersendiri terhadap transmisi manual dengan tiga pedal itu.
Pengenalan transmisi manual tanpa penggunaan pedal klac adalah inovasi yang digunapakai oleh jenama seperti Hyundai dan Kia.
Ford juga dilaporkan turut mendaftarkan paten transmisi yang sama berdasarkan informasi yang dipetik daripada laman Muscle Car and Trucks.
Memetik laporan di laman tersebut, paten transmisi manual ini telah didaftarkan pada Disember 2018 di pejabat United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), sebelum dokumen tersebut telah diterbitkan secara rasmi pada bulan November lalu.
Sistem transmisi manual terbaharu Ford ini hadir dengan modul kawalan yang direka untuk mengaktifkan operasi klac secara automatik dan membolehkan pemandu menukar gear pada tombol gear sahaja.
Sistem ini bertindak untuk melepaskan cengkaman klac setelah ‘sensor’ pada tombol gear mengesan kehadiran tangan pemandu yang sedang menukar gear dan selepas pertukaran gear selesai, klac tersebut akan disambungkan semula.
Melalui sistem klac elektrik ini, kereta secara asasnya tidak lagi memerlukan bantuan pedal klac.
Akan tetapi, Ford menegaskan kereta masih lagi memerlukan pedal tersebut dan ianya sekadar disambungkan kepada modul kawalan sahaja berbanding sistem terdahulu.
Selain itu, dokumen paten tersebut turut menyenaraikan pilihan lain seperti sistem kadar operasi klac yang ditentukan melalui kadar tekanan pegangan tangan pada tombol gear.
Ford mahu menjadikan pemanduan kenderaan transmisi manual lebih menyeronokkan melalui pengenalan sistem ini.
Menurut Ford, sistem transmisi manual baharu ini boleh digunakan untuk kenderaan RWD seperti Ford Mustang, atau kenderaan AWD seperti Ford Bronco.
Buat masa ini, tidak ada sebarang pendedahan daripada Ford tentang bilakah sistem transmisi manual baharu ini akan muncul di pasaran.
The Ford Mustang has been sold all over the world although in earlier years, its availability only in lefthand drive limited it to specific markets where cars drove on the right side of the road. Although there were people who converted to righthand drive, it was only with the current sixth generation launched in 2015 that an official factory-built RHD version became available.
As a result, it could be officially sold in Malaysia and Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) wasted no time in ordering a batch soon after the model was launched. With its head-turning looks, it’s no surprise that the Mustang population in this country has grown and recently, 137 owners got together to set a new record in the Malaysia Book of Records.
137 owners from Mustang Club Malaysia
Organised by Mustang Club Malaysia, it was the largest gathering of Ford Mustangs in Malaysia. The get-together was held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur where the certificate of recognition was presented to the Club’s President, Alfred C.K. Joseph, by the Malaysia Book of Records’ Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Wong.
“We are delighted to have earned a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records for having the title of biggest gathering of Ford Mustang vehicles in the country. Our aim is to show unity and harmony by bringing all walks of life together in our multiracial community through our passion and love for cars,” said Mr. Joseph.
Mustang Club Malaysia was formed in 2018 and has 245 members currently. The club was created for the purpose of sharing information on the latest Mustang as well as to promote safe and responsible driving habits. It also provides a platform for Mustang enthusiasts to embrace and build comradeship through a common interest.
“Kudos to Mustang Club Malaysia for spearheading this event and setting a new record in the country. It is a tremendous feat to organise and mobilise 137 Mustang vehicles and club members. We are incredibly proud of their efforts,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.
“We continue to be committed in maintaining close relations with the network of various Ford owners’ clubs and supporting their activities to foster deeper mutual understanding and camaraderie,” he added.
Two versions for Malaysian market SDAC has been selling the Mustang with a choice of two powertrains – 5-litre 460 ps V8 and 2.3-litre 310 ps EcoBoost. Both engines are mated to a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.
Now in its 56th year of production, the Mustang has been the best-selling sportscar in the world for five consecutive years. The range now includes an electrically-powered model – the Mustang Mach E – which made its global debut last year.
When sportscars are mentioned, those of Italian or German brands often come to mind. But when it comes to the most widely sold sportscar in the world, it’s from America – the Ford Mustang. Now in its 56th year of production, the Mustang has again captured the best-selling sportscar title for the fifth consecutive year and it’s also been America’s best-selling sportscar for the last 50 years.
According to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit, 102,290 units of the Mustang were sold worldwide last year. During this period, the model’s sales in Germany increased 33% while in Poland, sales rose by nearly 50% and, in France, they nearly doubled.
With this generation having righthand drive variants, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has been able to offer the Mustang in Malaysia.
Greatest-ever Mustang performance line-up
In addition to continually adding personalization and technology options, Ford keeps up the Mustang momentum with this generation having greatest-ever performance line-up. Since making its debut in 2015, the Mustang range has expanded to 12 versions globally and more significantly, righthand drive variants are also available.
The Mustang variants include EcoBoost and GT models each with two Performance Pack options, Mustang BULLITT, Mustang Shelby GT350 and Handling Pack, Shelby GT350R, plus Shelby GT500 with Handling Pack and Carbonfibre Track Pack options.
Fastback and convertible bodystyles are available and depending on the market, the powertrains customers can choose from are a 2.3-litre EcoBoost 4-cylinder (291 ps) and 5-litre V8 (449 ps).
The special edition Mustang BULLITT featuring an enhanced 460 ps 5.0-litre V8 engine is offered in fastback body style with a choice of Shadow Black or classic Dark Highland Green exterior colours, and unique exterior and interior details.
“We’re proud of our growing Mustang stable and performance variants,” said Jim Farley, Chief Operating Officer, Ford Motor Company. “From Sweden to Shanghai, more and more driving enthusiast are enjoying the feeling of freedom and the American open road in these new Mustangs. We are honoured to serve our owners, enthusiasts and fans for 56 years and counting,” he said.
Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more about the Mustang and availability in Malaysia.
It used to be when the talk was of electric vehicles, the perception was that such vehicles would be slow and boring to drive. Apart from some exotic prototypes, most were small and with battery technology being what it was, they couldn’t go very fast or very far. But that’s been changing quickly as carmakers realize that their survival requires ‘electrification’ of their vehicles to meet tighter emission and fuel consumption regulations.
In order to persuade motorists to switch over, they need to develop electric vehicles (EVs) which can offer comparable performance and space as today’s cars with internal combustion engines. Hybrids have been a good transition but ultimately, the aim is to go fully electric when costs can be lowered enough.
Meanwhile, for those who worry that high performance as we know it today will be gone, Ford and Webasto have revealed the Mustang Lithium, an ultra-high-performance battery electric Mustang fastback prototype. With more than 1,356 Nm of torque and more than 900 bhp instantaneously available, this Mustang ups musclecar performance to a new level.
The Mustang Lithium is not only a one-off prototype to showcase electrification on the world’s best-selling sportscar but also a testbed for battery and thermal management technologies Webasto and Ford are creating for the growing e-mobility automotive segment.
“Ford has made no secret of the fact that we are electrifying our most popular nameplates,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s Chief Product Development and Purchasing Officer. “This one-off Mustang prototype is a great opportunity for us, together with Webasto, to showcase to our customers what a new electrified powertrain can do for performance in a car they already know and love.”
The low and sleek Mustang Lithium is not merely a production Mustang with the powertrain substituted by electric motors. It has custom carbonfibre body components, Brembo 6-piston front brakes from the Shelby GT350R, Sankuer Composite Technologies side splitters and rear diffuser, plus a Webasto bonnet with see-through polycarbonate windows. It is also fitted with Ford Performance’s Track Handling Pack and strut tower brace.
A Phi-Power dual-core electric motor and dual power inverters – all powered by an 800-volt Webasto battery system with EVDrive Technology – can discharge a mega-watt of electrical energy. At 800 volts, that’s twice the voltage of most electric cars on the road today. This allows the system to be lighter, more powerful and generate less heat, and more electric force than most battery-electric systems on the road today.
The 5-litre V8 that is under the bonnet of Mustangs which the public can buy. Certainly looks more interesting that the ‘box’ which houses the 900+ bhp electric powerplant (top)!
In a unique twist, the Mustang Lithium features a manual transmission and uses a dragstrip-proven Calimer-version of the Getrag MT82 6-speed transmission with billet internals to handle the huge amount of torque delivered along the driveline. To enable the driver to use all that torque optimally, there is a unique set of drive modes that apply a controlled amount of torque for different driving scenarios: Valet, Sport, Track and Beast.
Ford Performance half-shafts and a Super 8.8 Torsen differential help supply power to the road via lightweight Forgeline wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.
“Very similar to Ford’s push for vehicle electrification, this is an innovative way to further the technologies we’re developing to enable vehicle electrification while creating a vision of how cool the future of electric performance will be,” said Mark Denny, Webasto Customized Solutions North America President and CEO.
Webasto, which has a 100-year history, is among the top 100 suppliers to the automotive worldwide. While its core business areas are sunroofs and panorama roofs, convertible roofs and parking heaters, they have also diversified into electric heating systems, charging solutions and battery systems we are also addressing the growth market of electromobility.
The latest Mustang is available in Malaysia from Sime Darby Auto ConneXion with full warranty and aftersales support. This is the first generation of the model which has a factory-built righthand drive variant.
More and more car manufacturers are jumping on the EV bandwagon and it comes to as no surprise when one of the OGs of the game decided that they want in and they want to bring the good stuff. With that being said, they’ve released a short teaser of what will be the Ford Mustang-inspired electric SUV! In the famous words of Church Lady (played by Dana Carvey aka “Garth” from Wayne’s World), “Well, isn’t that special?” (more…)
“If you can find a better car, buy it!” the man on the TV screen urged American viewers one night in 1984. It wasn’t just any ordinary car salesman but the CEO and Chairman of Chrysler Corporation – Lee Iacocca. By then, he was already a celebrity in the auto industry he had joined 38 years earlier and would spend another 9 years before finally retiring.
The young generation may not be familiar with Iacocca, who passed away yesterday at the age of 94. But anyone who has had an interest in the auto industry will know that he was one of the legends from a time when the Big Three ruled and served as President of Ford Motor Company and then CEO and Chairman of Chrysler.
Though having a degree in mechanical engineering, an ambitious Iacocca had decided that sales was where the action was and where he would be noticed. He accepted a job at a Ford regional office instead of the R&D division at headquarters and there, he proved himself to be a talented salesman. But it was to be just a stepping stone because he told friends that his aim was to become a vice-president in the company by the time he was 35.
’56 for 56’ sales campaign
In 1956, he came up with a ’56 for 56’ sales campaign which offered customers any new 1956 Ford model for $56 a month over three years. It was a very successful campaign that was replicated in other parts of the country. The numbers caught the attention of top management and he was transferred to headquarters and moved up briskly. In 1961, when Ford’s President then, Robert McNamara, accepted President John F. Kennedy’s request to be Defence Secretary, Iacocca slotted into the position of Vice-President and General Manager of the Ford Division. He was 36 by then, just missing his target by a year.
Had he been older, he might have taken over McNamara’s position right away but his future was bright because McNamara had been impressed by his achievements and mentored him. 10 years later, at the end of 1970, he finally became President of Ford Motor Company.
Launch of the Mustang
One of Iacocca’s biggest product successes at Ford was the Mustang and some regard him as its ‘father’. The early 1960s was a time when Americans were very upbeat as the economy boomed and the young generation was energised by a young president (who was unfortunately assassinated). Iacocca saw this generation of new car-buyers as wanting something fresh and different. He envisioned a totally new type of product that was sporty and yet, from the company’s point of view, cost-effective enough to make a good profit. Furthermore, there was a level of customisation with options that was far greater than before (said to be Iacocca’s idea) and contributed further to the profit margin.
Flamboyant and outspoken, Iacocca inevitably became associated closely with the Mustang that had the whole of America talking when it was launched in April 1964. Magazines like TIME and Newsweek put the car on their cover – with Iacocca next to it rather than Henry Ford II who was the Chairman.
Iacocca introducing the Mustang at the World’s Fair in 1964.
Fired by Henry Ford II personally
By the second half of the 1970s, Henry Ford II found he had a heart disease and realised he had to think of who would run the company after him. He had become disillusioned with Iacocca, by then President of Ford, who was flamboyant and got a lot of publicity. In fact, it was rumoured that Henry even commissioned a secret investigation into the life of Iacocca to see if there was anything scandalous or corrupt but nothing was ever found.
Nevertheless, one day in July 1978, Iacocca was summoned to Henry’s office and told he was fired. When he asked why, he was told, “Well, sometimes you just don’t like somebody”. Later on, he would say to reporters, “There comes a time when I have to do things my way. I can’t tell you anything more. It’s personal. It’s just one of those things.” But Iacocca was allowed to remain with the company another 3 months till his 54th birthday so he would be entitled to full retirement benefits.
Iacocca (middle) with Henry Ford II (right) in happier times.
Perhaps recalling that his father was in tears the day Henry fired Iacocca, Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford today and nephew of Henry Ford II, has kinder words about the man: “Lee Iacocca was truly bigger than life and he left an indelible mark on Ford, the auto industry and our country. Lee played a central role in the creation of Mustang. On a personal note, I will always appreciate how encouraging he was to me at the beginning of my career. He was one of a kind and will be dearly missed.”
Moving to Chrysler
The super salesman could not bear to be away from the industry and became President & CEO of Chrysler in 1978, and then Chairman a year after that. The company he joined was losing millions and seemed on the verge of closing down. Iacocca managed to get some product and marketing guys from Ford to join him in the challenge to resuscitate Chrysler.
Although Chrysler could struggle to remain in business, it wasn’t going to be able to recover much without an injection of money for development. So in 1979, Iacocca asked the US government to help by giving a loan guarantee which would enable the company to get US$1.5 billion. He was required to carry out massive cost-cutting and close plants. And as a show of confidence in better times for the company, Iacocca had his salary cut to just $1 a year, the first time any CEO ever did such a thing. By 1983, Chrysler was able to repay all the loans it had taken and it did so 7 years earlier than it had to.
Creation of another winner – the minivan
At Chrysler, Iacocca also initiated many product programs that were successful and the Mustang-rivalling success was the minivan. This new type of product was also the brainchild of Hal Sperlich, one of the ex-Ford guys. He was a product planner whom many say was the one who should have been given greater credit for the Mustang than Iacocca.
The minivan, sold as the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager when it was introduced in late 1983, offered the spaciousness of a large window van but the driving ease of a passenger car. You would recognise it as a MPV, which is what it was. With extra seats for more passengers and all the conveniences of passenger cars, it was a hit with American families, especially the ‘soccer moms’.
The minivan sold under Chrysler’s Dodge and Plymouth brands was the second highly successful product that Iacocca was involved in although it was more associated with Chrysler.
The success of the minivan was more associated with Chrysler than Iacocca but by then, he was already more of a celebrity in his own right than a prominent CEO of a car company. He was still vocal about many things concerning the industry, particularly imports of Japanese cars. In one of his books, he revealed that he had considered running for US President in 1988 but was talked out of it.
Out of touch with the real world
Iacocca retired from Chrysler at the end of 1992, bringing to an end a 46-year career in the auto industry. For a long time, he had been at the upper levels of Ford and Chrysler that he had, in some ways, lost touch with the real world. One story that reflected this was when he drove into a petrol station some time after he had retired. Parking next to the pump, he asked the person whom he assumed was an attendant to ‘fill her up’. To his surprise, he was told, “Do it yourself!”. Iacocca had not realised that self-service was the norm because he always had company cars (usually changed every 6 months) and they would be washed and refuelled by someone else. Even if he did drive, it was usually at test tracks or specific events but never on a daily basis like his customers.
Anger at the DaimlerChrysler ‘merger’
6 years after Iacocca left Chrysler, it was ‘merged’ with Daimler-Benz. It was a development which angered him, especially as his handpicked successor, Bob Eaton, had rather readily agreed to the terms of the ‘merger of equals’ that became DaimlerChrysler but which saw Chrysler being less than equal. It would have been interesting if Iacocca had been the one to negotiate with Jurgen Schrempp, Chairman of Daimler-Benz. Or maybe it would never have happened.
The era that Iacocca thrived in was a very different one from today and though there are still a few ‘cowboys’ in the industry who go with ‘gut feeling’, their influence is limited by board members who want only to please shareholders. His place in the Automotive Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1994, is certainly well deserved.
It was less than two weeks ago when the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was announced with the world’s most powerful supercharged 5.2-litre V8 production engine with 760hp and 850Nm of torque. Today, Ford announced its price tag and power does come with price. (more…)
Ford has released their shortest press release yet when it comes to the announcement of their latest 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Their main message for this new beast? A street-legal monster powered by the world’s most powerful supercharged V8 production engine with a whopping 760hp and close to 850Nm of ‘Oh My God’ torque. (more…)
The legendary Ford Mustang celebrates its 55th year anniversary this week and what a way to turn the party up by claiming the title of the world’s best-selling sports coupe for the year 2018. This is their fourth year in a row of claiming this remarkable feat with a total of 113,066 cars sold worldwide last year. (more…)
