R-Spec 2020 Mustang

[rjk74]

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/for...ine_newsletter

[au2000]

this would be fun to drive

[Sioso]

More here:
https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...ustang-121008/


Ford Australia reveals 500kW Mustang
Home-grown official Ford Australia supercharged GT Mustang on-sale early in 2020 for $100K

We told you it was coming and now it’s here! That’s right, Ford Australia has finally unleashed its locally-developed 500kW supercharged V8 Mustang R-Spec.

Just 500 individually numbered and badged Ford Mustang R-Specs will be offered through Ford Australia’s nationwide dealer network from early 2020 at a recommended price of $99,980 (plus on-road costs).

While that’s big bucks for a Mustang, it undercuts the awesome HSV-converted Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by $60,000 and will outpower the supercharged 477kW small block Chev V8 as well.
Comparison test time!

Available only as a fastback with a six-speed manual gearbox, the Ford Mustang R-Spec taps into Ford Performance’s comprehensive catalogue of go-fast bits, including a Roush stage three 2.65-litre roots-type positive displacement supercharger with 12PSI of boost.

In the USA, this blower ups the Mustang 5.0-litre V8’s outputs to 710hp and 610 lb-ft of torque. Down Under that translates to 522kW and 827Nm. In standard atmo form, the Mustang makes 339kW/556Nm.

What does that mean in a straight line? Ford is making no claims, but launch control-assisted sub-4sec 0-100km/h dashes must surely be achievable.

In addition to powertrain components, the Ford Mustang R-Spec also includes a unique exhaust, suspension upgrades and bespoke design flourishes.

As well as big bucks and big performance, the Ford Mustang R-Spec will come with a full five-year/unlimited km warranty. The warranty is supported by Ford Australia and the vehicle’s co-developer and second-stage manufacturer, Herrod Performance (owned by local Ford tuning legend, Rob Herrod).

Standard servicing will cost $299 for the first 24 months or 40,000km, but due to the added complexity of the first supercharged Mustang to be sold by Aussie Ford dealers, the Ford Mustang R-Spec will be serviced every six months rather than the 12 months required by the standard GT Fastback.

None of the performance and dress-up parts of the Mustang R-Spec will be offered by Ford Australia to existing Mustang owners. That said some remain available via the Ford Performance catalogue.

The Ford Mustang R-Spec is hugely significant because it is a local project rather than an import from Ford Performance in the USA.

Its development has been driven by strong demand for supercharged Mustangs since the iconic muscle car was launched in factory right-hand-drive form Australia in 2016.

The local solution was also required because a right-hand drive business case for current generation GT350 and GT500 Shelby Mustangs developed by Ford Performance in the USA was ruled out.

Ford’s Australian based engineering and design teams and Herrod Performance, the largest Ford Performance parts distributor outside North America, co-operatively developed the Mustang R-Spec.

As the second-stage manufacturer of the R-Spec, Herrod Performance does all the modification work. Ford Australia has confirmed the Mustang R-Spec does however have full Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification [Updated]. Earlier attempts by Ford Australia to sell a supercharged Mustang had been tripped up by ADR issues in the past.

The Mustang’s supercharger kit includes an aluminium high-efficiency intercooler and full-face radiator, fed by a larger front air intake specific to R-Spec.

A unique Herrod Performance exhaust is promised to provide a unique soundtrack for the R-Spec and can still be adjusted through Mustang’s Active Exhaust function.

Firmer Ford Performance springs lower the Mustang R-SPEC by 20mm compared to the regular Mustang GT and are teamed with MagneRide suspension as standard.

The MagneRide system has a unique software calibration for the Vehicle Dynamics Module (VDM), which adjusts the damping rate 100 times a second, and is intelligent enough know that the Mustang R-SPEC sits lower.

The handling package also includes Ford Performance adjustable stabiliser bars that measure 37mm (+5mm) front and 25.2mm (+3mm) rear, for greater control and agility.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard provide three different compounds across the treadface for greater dry grip and reduced rolling resistance. The black 19-inch Ford Performance alloy wheels are 9.5-inchers at the front, and 10-inchers at the rear. This is an increase of 0.5mm for both.

The Mustang R-Spec development work and program has included considerable testing and validation at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground, with exterior design work carried out at the Broadmeadows-based design studio.

Ranger Raptor designer Dave Dewitt led the exterior enhancement program.

Key Mustang R-Spec features include a unique rear wing, 19-inch Ford Performance alloy wheels, unique lower front valence with larger air intake and black surrounds for the LED daytime running lights and side stripes that hark back to the FPV GT R-Spec.

Interior presentation and spec is as per the 2020 Mustang GT. Equipment includes SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility as standard, including voice-activated sat-nav and climate control functions.

In addition, the 8.0-inch full-colour touchscreen also hosts compatible smartphone apps such as Spotify, which plays via a B&O Play nine-speaker audio system, which includes a sub-woofer.

Standard Driver Assist Technology on the Mustang R-Spec includes Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, as well as Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and self-levelling headlights.

[Venomous1]

Freakin ACE!
Want!

Ford has finally answered the call for supercharged power in its iconic Mustang muscle car – by developing a special R-Spec limited edition right here in Australia.

Just 500 examples will be made, priced from $99,980 plus on-road costs. They are due in showrooms in early 2020.





While there are no official performance claims, the same Ford Performance supercharger kit offered in the USA is rated at an epic 522kW
of power and a staggering
830Nm of torque – up from the standard 5.0-litre V8's output of 339kW and 556Nm.



Mustang R-Spec CarAdvice Article

[Lunch]

No doubt it’ll be a great car but an absolute waste of power, 339 kw is borderline unusable let alone 522, would be awesome on a track but for anything else it’s pointless. Can barely stick your boot into it in a standard S550 as it is.

[4stanger]

Ford Australia's promotional video for the R-Spec Mustang on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/FordAustral...6455373378164/

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Lunch

No doubt it’ll be a great car but an absolute waste of power, 339 kw is borderline unusable let alone 522, would be awesome on a track but for anything else it’s pointless. Can barely stick your boot into it in a standard S550 as it is.

I bet you're fun at parties.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by Lunch

No doubt it’ll be a great car but an absolute waste of power, 339 kw is borderline unusable let alone 522, would be awesome on a track but for anything else it’s pointless. Can barely stick your boot into it in a standard S550 as it is.

Dont be silly. Its only when you go over 1000KW thats its to much.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Lunch

No doubt it’ll be a great car but an absolute waste of power, 339 kw is borderline unusable let alone 522, would be awesome on a track but for anything else it’s pointless. Can barely stick your boot into it in a standard S550 as it is.

The standard Mustang is SLOW!! Sure, it might go great from 0-100 or 0-whatever (especially in Auto), but in gear its terrible especially with our moonshot 3.55 final drive. Biggest issue I've had at the track is keeping it in its sweet spot out of corners. You're making extra shifts to keep it going.

The Supercharger will make this a pleasure to drive with torque available when you want it. I'm really looking forward to this product.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Lunch

No doubt it’ll be a great car but an absolute waste of power, 339 kw is borderline unusable let alone 522, would be awesome on a track but for anything else it’s pointless. Can barely stick your boot into it in a standard S550 as it is.

Good Rubber, wider wheels, Suspension 👍

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Good Rubber, wider wheels, Suspension 👍

Most importantly Ford signing off ADR approval on wider track/wheels for PP2.

Originally Posted by kypez

The standard Mustang is SLOW!! Sure, it might go great from 0-100 or 0-whatever (especially in Auto), but in gear its terrible especially with our moonshot 3.55 final drive. Biggest issue I've had at the track is keeping it in its sweet spot out of corners. You're making extra shifts to keep it going.

The Supercharger will make this a pleasure to drive with torque available when you want it. I'm really looking forward to this product.

One of the biggest issues in recent times is gearbox ratios versus rear axle ratio.
A few years back, Mustang regular GT had a wide ratio box and tall gears and
the optional Sports pack gave shorter rear gears and closer ratio box.

What it really needs is short rear axle and Corvette's 7-speed manual trans. to really pop.
S/C Coyote will be the duck's guts for a few years and big price advantage over Camaro ZL1.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Most importantly Ford signing off ADR approval on wider track/wheels for PP2.







One of the biggest issues in recent times is gearbox ratios versus rear axle ratio.

A few years back, Mustang regular GT had a wide ratio box and tall gears and

the optional Sports pack gave shorter rear gears and closer ratio box.



What it really needs is short rear axle and Corvette's 7-speed manual trans. to really pop.

S/C Coyote will be the duck's guts for a few years and big price advantage over Camaro ZL1.

Yes!

The ratios of the 15-17 Mustang are shorter (1:1 appearing in 5th vs the 18-19 which is 4th). The 18-19 gets a 3.73 in the states for this issue but we are lumped with the 3.55, probably something to help with getting past ADR or to save fuel.

[jpd80]

And just in time to compete with a Certain HSV Camaro.......

[Venomous1]

exhaust note sounds great!

[Bossxr8]

Took them 2 goes to get this done. Couldn't get it to pass drive by noise testing initially, and they pretty much gave up. Gave it one last go and got it to pass.

Never felt the shove back in the seat as much as this rocket. It's awesome.

Too bad they didn't do it as a 10 speed auto though. It would have been quicker and easier to launch. Not sure on the reasons why though. Possibly because it would have required a new gearbox calibration, and that would have been too expensive for such a limited run?

[Craig@AUDI]

We are getting 6 in various colors

• Grabber Lime*
• Twister Orange*
• Velocity Blue*
• Oxford White

3 standard seats and 3 with Recaro

$99980 plus onroads

Option metallic paint $650 plus gst, stamp duty and lct

Optional Recaro seats $2500 plus gst, stamp duty and lct

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Took them 2 goes to get this done. Couldn't get it to pass drive by noise testing initially, and they pretty much gave up. Gave it one last go and got it to pass.

Never felt the shove back in the seat as much as this rocket. It's awesome.

Too bad they didn't do it as a 10 speed auto though. It would have been quicker and easier to launch. Not sure on the reasons why though. Possibly because it would have required a new gearbox calibration, and that would have been too expensive for such a limited run?

Is this just a standard engine with a blower bolted on? The aftermarket just bolt on superchargers and run 500kw on stock bottom ends, but I would have thought that Ford would, at the very least, de-compress the engine from what it runs N/A.

[EFFalcon]

Manual only? so we won't be seeing any spectacular times

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

Manual only? so we won't be seeing any spectacular times

I usually harp on about no manual option, it seems like an odd omission unless the auto can handle the torque?

Its a great package, perfectly timed and to be honest executed. Nice!

Id still rather a voodoo!

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I usually harp on about no manual option, it seems like an odd omission unless the auto can handle the torque?

Its a great package, perfectly timed and to be honest executed. Nice!

Id still rather a voodoo!

I'd be very surprised if the 10-speed couldn't handle the torque. Chevy use it in the ZL1 Camaro which produced 480kw and similar torque numbers. It is an odd omission, I must say.

It's a great package which could have been a lot better if they'd offered the Performance Pack 2 and even the GT350 big brembo brakes as an option.

[PepeLePew]

Love the use to be honest of the R-Spec moniker....for the faithful screams 'Aussie input'. ;)

[Poetic Justice]

Weapon. I agree with some though, having driven a manual 5.0 Mustang it would be a serious handful driving that sort of power with a stick.
Still fun though, no doubt ;)

Sucks that they couldn't do ventures like this when they had Falcons though.

[Craig@AUDI]

2 SOLD NOW

[futura]

Originally Posted by Craig@PowerFord

2 SOLD NOW

Whats the driveway price for one of these RSpecs?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Is this just a standard engine with a blower bolted on? The aftermarket just bolt on superchargers and run 500kw on stock bottom ends, but I would have thought that Ford would, at the very least, de-compress the engine from what it runs N/A.

Yep standard engine. No need to strengthen it. It passes all Fords normal durability standards just like the FRPP supercharger package does. The Coyote is a tough motor. High compression isn't an issue with DI and VCT. Can bleed off cylinder pressure if required through cam timing. Don't know if it actually does that, but it can.

Originally Posted by Poetic Justice

Sucks that they couldn't do ventures like this when they had Falcons though.

Ah, like the supercharged FPV's? And the special edition ones like the R spec and GT-F?

Originally Posted by Polyal

I usually harp on about no manual option, it seems like an odd omission unless the auto can handle the torque?

Its a great package, perfectly timed and to be honest executed. Nice!

Id still rather a voodoo!

Auto handles well over 1000nm in the F series 6.7 powerstroke V8. Handling the torque isn't a problem. Used in the Camaro ZL1 as well, which is similar torque. I think it's more likely requiring a full gearbox re-calibration to suit the supercharged motor is more the issue, cost wise. IMO.

[Poetic Justice]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yep standard engine. No need to strengthen it. It passes all Fords normal durability standards just like the FRPP supercharger package does. The Coyote is a tough motor. High compression isn't an issue with DI and VCT. Can bleed off cylinder pressure if required through cam timing. Don't know if it actually does that, but it can.



Ah, like the supercharged FPV's? And the special edition ones like the R spec and GT-F?



Auto handles well over 1000nm in the F series 6.7 powerstroke V8. Handling the torque isn't a problem. Used in the Camaro ZL1 as well, which is similar torque. I think it's more likely requiring a full gearbox re-calibration to suit the supercharged motor is more the issue, cost wise. IMO.

Were those cars a collaboration that took the local product and turned it in to something else factory backed?

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Auto handles well over 1000nm in the F series 6.7 powerstroke V8.

standard 10R80 is only rated to 800Nm though isn't it? Superduty must have a stronger one

[Whistlr]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Auto handles well over 1000nm in the F series 6.7 powerstroke V8. Handling the torque isn't a problem. Used in the Camaro ZL1 as well, which is similar torque. I think it's more likely requiring a full gearbox re-calibration to suit the supercharged motor is more the issue, cost wise. IMO.

I was thinking the same but I think this is just the start... no reason why they can't offer auto in the future.



In the future they can also look at having a different bumper design to further distinguish it from the standard GT. I don't think customers would mind paying a little extra for that.



Either that or Ford US get the idea that there actually is a viable RHD market for their Shelbys.

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by futura

Whats the driveway price for one of these RSpecs?

Not 100% sure but 110-120 is ballpark

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Craig@PowerFord

Not 100% sure but 110-120 is ballpark

Awesome that Mustang comes out with supercharger factory spec from Ford.

But at close to double the price- makes you realise what a gift the FGX XR8 were.