Building on Mustang's rich and successful racing heritage, Ford Racing is offering customers a new way to affordably race with the all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S. This car will be the heart of the all-new Mustang spec series, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, which will make its debut on tracks around North America in 2008.

The FR500S was built on the production line at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Mich. Interior work was completed at Watson Engineering in Taylor, Mich.; the 320 HP, 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 production engine was produced by Ford in Romeo, Mich., and sealed and dyno'd at Roush Industries in Livonia, Mich. It will retail for $75,000 straight from the Ford Racing parts catalog.



A PDF of the FR500S specs is available here.

The Ford BOSS 500 Nitro Drag Racing Engine



Racing enthusiasts know that the true heart of a race car is its engine ? and Director of Ford Racing Technology, Dan Davis, wants to make sure that the "heart" that powers NHRA Funny Car Mustangs of John Force Racing is pumping "blue" blood in the future.

Davis and John Medlen of John Force Racing challenged themselves to develop the new Ford BOSS 500, the first modern nitro engine for drag racing. The BOSS 500 was tested on-track for the first time on Oct. 18 and was unveiled for media.

Davis and Medlen looked at the current nitro engine, discussed where they felt it had weaknesses, and decided to design and build a new engine to address them. The BOSS 500 is the first nitro drag racing motor designed with analytical tools. It has a strengthened block for better durability and new cylinder heads developed by Ford and Force engineers. The basic design will favor areas such as the main caps register and the main webs in the block. Its engine block also is anodized blue after machining, helping ensure fans and competitors alike know when they're seeing a Ford nitro engine under the hood.

Most of the external surface areas on the new 500-cubic-inch engine have been redesigned; a new belly pan was designed for better sealing; and the valve covers purposely call back the old Ford BOSS motors. The engine also features Ford main bearings with actual parts numbers in the Ford performance catalog.

Davis said that the current plan is for new Force Mustang driver Mike Neff to use the Ford BOSS 500 engine full-time in 2008 as it goes through its development phase. The other Force Mustang drivers ? John Force, Ashley Force and Robert Hight ? will use the engine after it has been further developed. Ford and Force Racing also are investigating a team to be the first development operation in Top Fuel, with a measured, commercial rollout to more competitors after it has gone through a prove-out stage in that division.

The "Aluminator" Crate Engine



With the all-new "Aluminator" line of crate engines, Ford Racing further strengthens its reputation for building performance engines that are factory-quality, easy-to-install and priced right.

The foundation of these engines is the 4.6-liter engine block used in the Mustang GT with its new block featuring strength unmatched by any previous production 4.6-liter aluminum block.

The new "Aluminator" crate engine line features high strength and quality but also is affordable because of its high volume production.

Because components have been used in production vehicle applications, parts cost is minimized as well. Short-block prices start at $4,500 MSRP, making the "Aluminator" engines with all-new components comparable in price to aftermarket remanufacturing programs.