The big news at Ford’s press conference was centered on racing Mustangs in the new all-Mustang spec series, Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. The series will feature Ford’s all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S factory-built race car.

Built on the production line at AutoAlliance in Flat Rock, Michigan, the FR500S is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 production engine that has been sealed and tested on a dyno at Roush Industries in Livonia, Michigan.

The FR500S will sell for $75,000 straight from the Ford Racing parts catalog and is designed to give racers a reliable and dependable race car along with a competitive race series which features identical cars. The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup will be an 8-race series that will support other series such as the Grand-Am Rolex Series.

“Few manufacturers can say that they build race cars right on the production line, and we’re proud to be one of them,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. “The FR500S provides customers and racers a chance to get into a high-performing vehicle that is durable, reliable and competitive—straight from the factory.”

The FR500S joins the two other current Mustang race cars, the FR500C that competes in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge and the FR500GT competing in the FIA GT3 European Championship and being homologated for the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex GT Series, beginning with the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

In other performance news at SEMA, Ford Racing introduced the Ford Boss 500, the first modern nitro drag racing engine designed by Ford and John Ford Racing for the 2008 season.

Ford Racing also showcased an all-new line of “Aluminator” crate engines based on the 4.6-liter engine block used in the Mustang GT. The “Aluminator” crate engines are designed for high strength and quality with an affordable price because of high-volume construction.

Ford Customization

In addition to the racing news, Ford debuted two new customized versions of the Ford Flex, the Flex2 designed by Funkmaster Flex and a Chip Foose-designed 2009 Ford Flex. Flex2 offers Funkmaster Flex’s vision of urban luxury and the exterior design features with his signature two-tone paint by House of Kolor Kandy in Brandywine with a faux-brushed aluminum roof and custom 3D carbon fender vents, grille and rear spoiler. Custom 22-inch NC Forged wheels and Cooper Zeon XST tires, 1-inch lowered suspension and Borla dual rolled exhaust tips complete the look.

Inside, Flex2 features black leather Katzkin custom seat covers with alligator print inserts, stainless-steel color stitching, two Invision headrest-mounted DVDsystems, and JL Audio 12-inch subwoofer.

Chip Foose went a different direction and designed a Ford Flex with his idea of contemporary suburban luxury riding on 22-inch Foose Design wheels and custom Eibach strings to lower the suspension. The exterior features two-tone blue and cream pearl paint which carries over to the interior with three-tone blue, gray and tan premium leather surfaces by Katzkin leather.

”When Ford called, I was quite excited to be one of the first to get my hands on the Flex,” said Foose. “I didn’t want the individual pieces I added to be the most eye-catching parts. I wanted it to look as if it came from Ford’s design studio.”

More Personalization

Ford announced at SEMA the new consumer customizing program, “Custom Accessories” available to consumers both at dealerships and online. Dealers will offer interactive accessory and customization displays and a complete online accessory showroom allows customers to customize their vehicle, order parts and beginning in January 2008, schedule an installation appointment.

Three special-edition vehicles from Ford’s Vehicle Personalization group were featured at SEMA, combining parts and accessories from Ford Racing, Ford Genuine Accessories and Ford Licensed Accessories — the 2008 Ford F-150 FX-2 Sport, 2008 Ford Focus Hot Wheels Project and Mustang Wild Pony Project.

The 2008 Ford F-150 FX-2 Sport features two styles of 22-inch wheels shown on each side of the truck; pure white paint with stripes on the hood, tonneau cover and tailgate; Ford Racing supercharger, radiator, chrome valve covers, custom exhaust and lowering kit; red illuminated sill plates; headrest DVD; and BlauPlunkt audio and HD radio.

The 2008 Focus Hot Wheels Project features a custom body kit with bold Hot Wheels graphics, Ford Racing handling kit, 17-inch performance wheels, yellow brake calipers, white leather seats, interior lighting kit, illuminated door sills and headrest DVDs.

The Mustang Wild Pony Project is finished in Black Sparkle Paint with 20-inch chrome wheels, bold graphics, supercharger, cold-air induction, Sparkle Black valve covers and a two-tone black and white leather interior.