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Ford Mustang returning to Australia in 2016

Australia's Herald Sun newspaper has reported that the next-generation Ford Mustang is heading Down Under in 2016, just as Ford is hanging the "Closed for Good" sign on its Australian manufacturing operations and sending the Falcon to its grave. Ford hasn't offered any official word on the matter, but the paper says that Ford's global VP of sales and marketing, Jim Farley, is flying to Australia to make the announcement himself.
While Ford converted Mustangs in the early 2000s from left-hand to right-hand drive for the Australian market and then sold them at high prices, it's been almost five decades since Ford imported a dedicated right-hand-drive Mustang to Oz. The arrival of the global model specifically made for places like Australia and the UK means Ford will also be able to offer them at better prices than the converted models; the Herald Sun says the price is expected to be "close to $50,000."
And that's for one of the "V8 performance models," which are the only ones Australia will get; Ford apparently won't send the turbocharged four cylinder or the V6. The Aussies could find out in a month from now whether this rumor is true. We will all find out what this Mustang fuss is about when the car debuts at next year's New York Auto Show.

Help make Lego Icon Bronco a reality [UPDATE]

The Lego Ideas process is a pretty neat concept. The website allows anyone to propose a future kit, and if the project gathers 10,000 supporters within a certain amount of time, then the company investigates building it. The creator even gets a cut of the sales. We saw the operation at work last year with a very cool looking Corvette kit that hasn't hit the next stage quite yet. Now, another creator going by the username Legohero1966 has a fantastic looking replica of the Icon 4X4 Bronco hoping for support. The maker nails the boxy, brawny look of the Icon take on the classic Ford Bronco, and the Lego kit even gets the color pretty close. The miniature SUV also features a visible suspension, a removable top and, according to the description, a reel for the winch is hidden in the bumper. Underneath the body, this model even does a pretty good job of replicating the powertrain. As is expected by these kits, the hood, doors and hatch all open; on this one the spare tire carrier even moves out of the way, too. As of this writing, the Icon Bronco kit only has a little over 400 supporters, and that's a long way from the goal. If you like what you see, give the proposal a closer look on Lego Ideas. UPDATE: The original creator of the Icon Bronco kit, Paul Kim, has advised Autoblog that this Lego Ideas proposal was created without his consent, and he has reported the problem there. You can view more pictures of the Bronco and more of Kim's work, here. Featured Gallery Lego Icon 4X4 Bronco Proposal Design/Style Toys/Games Ford SUV Off-Road Vehicles Performance Classics Lego Ford Bronco icon icon 4x4 icon bronco lego ideas

2013 Shelby GT350

Shelby is a name as synonymous with the Ford Mustang as marshmallows are with campfires. But unlike the short-lived sugary confection that is prepared on a stick, the late Carroll Shelby's name on the placard means added performance and exclusivity. Launched in 1965, the automaker's celebrated early cars were in production for a limited run - today, a mint concours-quality 1965 Shelby GT350 can sell for upwards of $350,000.
To coincide with the 45th anniversary of the original Shelby GT350, Shelby American reintroduced the GT350 in 2011. Like the original, it was only offered in white with blue stripes. Customers were offered a choice between naturally aspirated (440 horsepower) and two levels of supercharging (525 horsepower with a warranty or 624 horsepower without). The manufacturer calls the GT350 a "post-title" package, a term that means it starts out life as a stock Mustang and is modified outside Ford's factory (this is in contrast to the Shelby GT500, which is a standard Ford production car).
As the GT350 enters its third year, Shelby has made several changes. Mechanically, Wilwood brakes replace Baer units and Recaro seats and a tinted glass roof are on the options list. Cosmetically, the vehicle is now offered in most of the Blue Oval's factory colors, new multispoke wheels are available in Satin Black or Bright Silver Metallic finish, and customers can choose between Satin Black, Silver or Gloss White stripes (or Azure Blue Metallic on Performance White or Ingot Silver). Aesthetically, the look of the car has also changed somewhat - keen eyes will note that it actually appears more 'stock' than it did last year.