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Shelby GT350R offers first mass-produced carbon fiber wheels

In the world of race engineering, reducing total weight is good, but reducing unsprung weight is flippin' fantastic. That's the reason Ford is pushing the envelope in terms of technology for the Shelby GT350R's wheels. Joining the likes of Koenigsegg in the offering, Ford has teamed with Australian outfit Carbon Revolution to produce the CF rollers en masse for the first time. Destined for the hubs of the new Shelby GT350R, the new hoops weigh just 18 pounds each, versus the 33-lbs weight of a similar aluminum wheel. On top of slashing up to 60 pounds in unsprung weight, there's such a reduction in rotational inertia – 40 percent, versus aluminum wheels – that Ford actually has to recalibrate the magnetic ride control system and springs. Thanks to, we're guessing, scenes of crashed Formula One cars disintegrating and spewing shards of carbon fiber all over the track, Ford seems quite keen to do away with the idea that CF is strong, but brittle. The company conducted extensive shock testing, ramming a wheel into a curb at speed. According to the Blue Oval, the lightweight wheel allowed the suspension to respond so quickly that the impact was "greatly diminished," causing the tester to run the experiment again, thinking there'd been a mistake. After recording brake rotor temperatures of 900 degrees Celsius (over 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit, or well past the point that aluminum or magnesium would melt) during testing, Ford and Carbon Revolution actually redesigned the wheels to "a thermal standard more suitable for motorsports," by adding an "incredibly thin, nearly diamond-hard coating that reliably shields the resin from heat." The same process was used to protect engine turbine blades on the Space Shuttle. While the work by Ford and Carbon Revolution should make GT350R customers excited, the work being done here could have serious implications for performance cars in the future. That's the real takeaway here, and is something that should leave fans of all performance vehicles excited.

2016 Ford Mustang GT bringing back hood turn signals

The 2016 Ford Mustang is being teased again, this time with a short video. And what you're looking at here is a nod back to Mustangs of the 1960s. Ford is bringing back a hood with turn signals in the vents. In 1967, Ford offered an optional hood on the Mustang with two heat extraction vents that faced the windscreen. Inside those vents were amber turn signals, so, you know, drivers could see their own blinkers blinking. A novelty feature, sure, but a nice historical cue that Ford is bringing back for its updated 2016 'Stang. We also know that Ford will offer a California Special pack on the 2016 Mustang GT. Beyond that, we don't expect too many more changes, seeing as how the Mustang was just completely redesigned for 2015. Stay tuned for the full details on Monday, May 11. Related Video:

2015 Roush Mustang lineup officially revealed

Just last week, Saleen revealed initial details of its tuning program for the new Ford Mustang. And now Roush is following suit.
Available in three stages - based on the V6 (RS), EcoBoost (RS1) and V8 (RS2) models - the 2015 Roush Mustangs all feature the venerable Ford tuner's latest R7 aero kit complete with remodeled fascia, five-blade grille, gaping air dam with integrated driving lamps and splitter. Around back there's a one-piece deck spoiler and "race-inspired lower aero-valance."