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2015 Roush Stage 3 Mustang has 670 hp

My last speeding ticket was nearly two years ago while behind the wheel of a 2014 Roush Stage 3 Mustang. Considering the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 produced 575 horsepower – the lowest of the Stage 3's tunes – an encounter with the friendly folks at the Michigan State Police seemed inevitable. With the 2015 Stage 3 producing 95 more horsepower, if and when I drive the new supercharged 'Stang, another meeting with Michigan's finest seems likely. The combination of the Ford 5.0-liter V8 and a 2.3-liter TVS supercharger turns out 670 horsepower, which should have owners of the weightier Dodge Challenger Hellcat at least a bit nervous. All that power is complemented by 545 pound-feet of torque and what is almost certainly an ear-shattering exhaust note from the quad-tip pipes. On top of the RS3's trademark sound and speed, Roush has fitted the sixth-generation Mustang's body with a new "R7" aero kit that actually looks toned down from last year's car. 20-inch "Quicksilver" wheels are standard, although Roush is offering a pair of optional designs. Either way, Cooper RS3 tires are the rubber of choice. Prices for the Roush Stage 3 Mustang start at $21,995, not including the $32,300 starting price of a Mustang GT donor car. Scroll down for the official press release. Related Video: ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang Produces 670 HP May 7, 2015 – PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN – ROUSH Performance is excited to announce final horsepower ratings for the all-new 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang. The RS3 is cranking out a heart-racing 670 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque to deliver the ultimate driving experience. All 670 horsepower are created as a direct result of the powerful combination of Ford's 5.0L V8 engine with ROUSH Performance's dynamic new 2015 2.3L TVS supercharger. The new ROUSH Mustang's generous power ratings impeccably compliment the RS3's list of standard and optional features, including the ROUSH Quad-Tip exhaust (with optional ROUSH Active Exhaust System), standard single-adjustable coilover suspension system (or optional competition-tuned 3-way adjustable system), and the fierce new "R7" aerobody. The 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang is not just a car – it's an experience. The RS3 truly bridges the gap between road car and race car, putting drivers behind the wheel of the ultimate uninhibited muscle car.

Why 2015 is going to be a huge year for trucks

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn took center stage to introduce the 2016 Titan last week at the Detroit Auto Show. He spoke of the truck's new features, impressive Cummins V8 diesel engine and the extensive amount of time and money required to build a modern, competitive pickup truck. "We have done all of this because we see opportunity – an opportunity in the unmet needs of today's American truck customers," Ghosn said. He was speaking about the Titan, but his thoughts echo the industry's mindset: When it comes to trucks, find an opportunity and attack. Even with CAFE regulations looming and fickle consumer preferences, investing in trucks is a no-brainer for automakers. Some consumers will always need a truck for their job or lifestyle. And some people will always want one, whether they need it or not. With that in mind, here are four reasons why the pickup-truck sector is more important than ever and poised for growth in 2015. View 24 Photos The Nissan Titan Is Back Okay, it never left, but the Titan hadn't been redesigned since its launch in 2003, and Nissan sold more NV200s than Titans in 2014. It's an understatement to say the truck was languishing. That all changes with the 2016 model. The Titan will come in two variants, a traditional fullsize competitor and the Titan XD. The XD will lead the market launch, and it arrives late this year. It's pitched as a "whitespace" offering, Nissan sales and marketing vice president Fred Diaz said. The idea is to offer something in the general size and price range of a fullsize truck, but also have some of the capability of a heavy-duty truck. The XD uses a fully boxed ladder frame, the chassis design from Nissan's commercial division, and the wheelbase is about 20 inches longer than other Titan models. The XD, which Nissan is calling the flagship of the line, will be the only model with the 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8. It produces 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, while being able to tow 12,000 pounds. V6 and V8 gasoline models will also be offered on the Titan XD and the standard, non-XD model. When production ramps up, the Titan will be sold with several cabs, beds and trims. New features include trailer sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller, more storage options in the cabin and even laminated front and rear side glass to reduce outside noise. All of this has given Nissan fresh confidence in an area where it admittedly has been lacking. "We can compete," Diaz told Autoblog.

Ford F-450 claims best-in-class towing, company abandons practice of removing items to boost payload number

The ongoing heavy-duty truck battle between Ford and Ram is showing no signs of slowing down. The Blue Oval is trying to remove at least one point of contention between the two brands by testing its 2015 F-450 Super Duty using the Society of Automotive Engineers J2807 towing standard, which Ram also uses. In the new evaluation, the F-450 is rated at a max towing capacity of 31,200 pounds. That's an identical amount as under Ford's own, previous test.
"We leave no doubt with customers that the F-450 pickup truck has best-in-class towing of 31,200 pounds - whether tested using our own internal towing standards or SAE J2807," said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development, in the company's release.
At the same time, Ford is also changing how it calculates the F-450's payload. Instead of using its minimum curb weight as before, the brand is now using the truck's base curb weight. The revision lowers the pickup's rating to 5,300 pounds, compared to 5,450 pounds previously. The company said in its announcement that the reason for this is "aligning its payload rating practices with other manufacturers to make it easier for customers to compare vehicles." General Motors made a similar switch for its pickups in August.