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This marks the final 2022 Heritage Edition paying tribute to the GT40 MK II race car that completed the famous 1-2-3 sweep at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

“Of all the Ford GT Heritage Edition liveries we’ve done, the Holman Moody Heritage Edition’s can’t-miss signature gold and red theme is an epic tribute to our 1966 Le Mans finish,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “Inspired by one of the most well-known Ford GT40 race cars, this latest Ford GT honors the Holman Moody race team’s knowhow and ability to out-innovate global competitors.”

The Holman Moody team played a critical role in the GT40’s race success. Following the 1965 Le Mans race, Ford’s newly formed Le Mans committee tasked Holman Moody (and Shelby American) to rework the GT40 MK II. Driven more than 265 laps over eight days in January 1966, chassis No. P/1016 became a laboratory on wheels as the teams worked to redesign brakes, suspension and tire setups to be more competitive, even trying an...

Few modern trucks have had a greater impact on the market than the SVT F-150 Raptor. When Jamal and the crew were working to build the original, success was anything but guaranteed. Many inside Ford and in the enthusiast community believed it would be a flop. Yet here we are with the 3rd Generation of Full-Size Raptor and it represents the benchmark by which all others are measured. Just think to yourself, how many manufacturers have knocked-off the design of the grille? How are resale values holding? I’d say it’s been a success, and the Gen 3 adds to that lineage.


For 2021, the F-150 Raptor gets some major underpinning modifications. The drivetrain is largely a carryover from the Gen 2 (a 3.5L EcoBoost HO making 450 hp @ 5,850 rpm and 510 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000), but the rear suspension is completely new...

Today Ford introduces the F-150 Rattler, a distinctive, rugged, entry-level addition to its 2023 F-150 lineup for adventure-seeking customers looking for a stylish truck with standard four-wheel drive for exceptional off-road capability.

“Our new F-150 Rattler offers aspiring adventurers an off-road option with expressive looks and capability in one package,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “This truck builds off the F-150 off-road legacy while allowing us to introduce new customers to the right blend of styling and value in the F-150 lineup.”

The F-150 Rattler package is built off the XL series, with FX4 content featuring skid plates to help ensure Built Ford Tough protection for a confident off-road experience, electronic rear-locking differential for enhanced traction, hill descent control for precision throttle and braking on steep descents, and specially tuned off-road shock absorbers for increased stability over tough terrain. In addition, F-150...

In all my years covering new Ford vehicles, I’ve never seen one polarize the SVTP community quite like the new Ford Maverick pickup. At the time it debuted it seemed the membership was evenly split among those who really dug the little truck and those who thought it was a complete waste of a perfectly good Blue Oval badge. I admit, I was initially less than enthused by the photos and specs released by Ford. However, after getting to spend a week driving one my mind has been changed.


The Ford crew dropped their compact (mid’ish-sized???) truck to me at Pro-Dyno in Fort Mill, SC. We had just finished dynoing our Bronco tester, so it seemed...

Western chic gives way to urban panache. When I think of Ford’s King Ranch trim level my mind instantly goes to a Charcoal Blue Metallic Crew-Cab PN-96 F-150. That truck introduced many to the King Ranch brand, and the unique and beautiful Castano saddle leather that covered the seats. The look, feel, and smell of that era of King Ranch interior was completely unique in the automotive world. Unfortunately; far too few buyers took to time to read the literature that accompanied their new purchase, where they would have learned the unique care procedures required to maintain those fantastic saddle leather seats. You’re going to need to invest in products like these (not necessarily SVTP recommendations) ...

Let me put this right out there from the start, I have been more interested in getting some time behind the wheel of the new Bronco than any new Ford of the past several years. I’m genetically predisposed to an attraction to truck-based off-road ready SUVs like Bronco, especially the two-door variety. I’ve had a number of them over the years and I’m more than ready to have another long-term one in my life. That being said, I came into this encounter with no particular expectations. These are my unbiased thoughts, and my conclusion is simply this: the Bronco is good with the potential to be great.

First, let’s take a moment to appreciate the importance the mere existence of the Bronco means to the enthusiast community. In a time of tightening mileage regulations, EV mandates, and hyper political correctness; Ford gave us a decently powerful body-on-frame SUV with a legit manual transmission option. That has to be commended. Sure, we’d all like to see V8 option (is there a business...

The next-generation and next-level Ford Ranger Raptor has arrived. Built to dominate in the desert, master the mountains and rule everywhere in between, the second-generation Ranger Raptor raises the off-road performance bar as a pickup built for true enthusiasts.

Developed by Ford Performance, Ranger Raptor is the ultimate performance derivative of the next-gen Ranger. With smarter technology controlling tougher, next-generation hardware, Ranger Raptor blends raw power with mechanical and technical precision to create the most advanced Ranger ever.

“We’ve really focused on delivering a genuine performance truck with the next-gen Ranger Raptor,” said Dave Burn, Ford Performance Chief Program Engineer for Ranger Raptor. “It’s significantly faster, looks incredible, is packed with new features and is the strongest Built Ford Tough Ranger we’ve ever made.”

More Power to Play

The biggest news for performance fans is the introduction of a new twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6...

For off-roaders looking to go further off the grid, Ford today is debuting the new 2022 Ford Bronco® Everglades™ special edition – an SUV born to breathe when the air gets thick and designed to press on when the trail turns others around.

For decades, Bronco SUVs have traversed remote locations with G.O.A.T. – Goes Over Any Type of Terrain – mentality. Bronco Everglades, available as a four-door model, takes that spirit to the next level with confidence-building, factory-installed features such as a snorkel, integrated front bumper-mounted winch**, and all the off-road equipment in the Bronco Sasquatch™ Package.

“Bronco customers like to explore new places, but some want to go even further off the trail than others,” said Jolanta Coffey, Bronco chief engineer. “Everglades is specially equipped to enable these customers to tackle even more challenging terrains and trails – and with the front bumper-mounted winch, they can help others out of trouble while they’re at it.”

Bronco...

Ford Motor Company and the Pope Francis Center in Detroit will auction a unique Bronco® paying homage to the original 1966 Ford Bronco at the annual Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Thursday.

Proceeds from the sale of the 2021 Bronco Pope Francis Center First Edition custom build will support the Pope Francis Center and its fight against chronic homelessness. The center, which has been serving Detroit’s most vulnerable citizens for more than three decades, is committed to eradicating chronic homelessness in Detroit by 2030.

“It’s an honor to be able to help support a great charity like the Pope Francis Center,” said Steve Gilmore, chief designer, Ford Vehicle Personalization. “Father Timothy McCabe and the team at the center were really instrumental in this project, collaborating on theme ideas and colors. The key was finding those special touches that really speak to the heritage of the ’66 Bronco, and then combining them with some of the modern features on a...

Two icons that have tackled off-road terrain for years are coming together to take on even more: Bronco® and Raptor™. Built for desert running and boulder crawling, the all-new 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor gives off-roaders next-level performance.

Bronco Raptor, the newest member of the Bronco outdoor brand of Built Wild™ SUVs, debuts today as the most powerful street-legal Bronco ever, and the world’s first Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV. Ford Performance, the same team that produces the F-150 Raptor, designed and engineered Bronco Raptor as a calling to hardcore off-road enthusiasts.

Bronco Raptor is equipped with elite off-road technology and hardware. Ultra4 Racing is the epitome of grueling off-road competition, featuring demanding races such as the famed King of the Hammers in the Johnson Valley in California, where Bronco Raptor will be on display on Feb. 3. Ford and Bronco will continue as the official truck and SUV of the Ultra4 series...

The All-New 2022 Ford Maverick has been somewhat polarizing in the online performance community. Some see it’s small’ish size and payload capacity as a hindrance to performing truck-like duties. Other’s see the base hybrid powertrain and impressive MPG rating (42 city/33 hwy/37 combined) as major highpoints for any truck. I think everyone can agree that the impressively low base price ($19,995) is something to take notice of. However, if you’re on SVTP you’re probably interested in wringing our all the performance you can from the optional 2.0L EcoBoost power-plant.

On a recent trip through Florence, SC we stopped by 5 Star Tuning for a visit and happened to catch them working on a new performance calibration for their 2022 Maverick R&D vehicle. Since time was short and the mini-truck was still strapped to the rollers, we didn’t have time to get it out on the street and give their work a proper test. However, they report that the preliminary numbers (this isn’t the final version...

Last September, Ford announced the return of the Ranger Splash Package, as well as the Splash Limited Editions, which are one-time-only colors that will drop every few months. New 2022 Ranger Splash Limited Edition Colors include Snow Edition, Forest Edition and Sand Edition. Pricing for the Splash Limited Edition packages will be $1,495 MSRP.

The first of the limited-run offerings is the Lariat Ranger Splash - Snow Edition. The Avalanche exterior paint color is enhanced by Magnetic accents and Avalanche grille nostrils. Unique ebony leather-trimmed seats feature Ash Gray accent stitching and carbon weave tuxedo stripes and bolsters, with additional black accents highlighting the interior. There will be a limited run of around 750 Splash- Snow Edition vehicles. Target availability in Spring 2022.

2022 Ranger Splash – Forest Edition
The second of the limited-run...

Your car’s battery is an often overlooked maintenance item. You typically don’t even consider replacing it until it starts giving you issues. There’s usually nothing wrong with that method of replacement requirement determination as long as you’re not getting excessive out-gassing, leakage around the posts, or you have HEUI fired Powerstroke diesel (weak batteries will kill a 6.0L FICM). I recently found myself in need of a new battery for my SVT Lightning.

First, a little back story. Over the past few months I’ve been dealing more with batteries of all types than I ever really wanted to. It’s insane the amount of batteries I’ve bought an installed various projects. Yachts, RVs, golf carts, SVTs, you name it; I’ve brought new meaning to the phrase “Slingin’ Lead”. As a side note, if anyone needs Trojan or Odyssey Batteries I’m now a dealer for them. That should give you an idea of how many I’ve bought. Just let me know what you need.

Back on topic, I recently suffered a battery...

There are few trucks that have made a bigger market impact over the past decade than the Ford SVT Raptor F-150. It was so hot from its drop in 2010 that basically ever other truck manufacturer has ripped it off in one way or another. Just look around, how many manufacturers now emboss brick-lettered versions of their company name in a truck grille? And Ford has wisely kept investing in their Premium-Level Cash-Cow Off-Roader over the years. That brings to the current 2021 F-150 Raptor from Ford Performance.

While out for a Friday evening cruise recently, I stopped in to harass the guys at 5 Star Tuning. That company is growing so quickly that they’re running out of places to put new employees, but they still find some space for a few new Fords ever couple months. This time around they had two new Ford trucks in for R&D work, a 2021 Ford Maverick (more on that in the future) and a 2021 F-150 Raptor.

If you guys have spent any time at all on SVTP over the years, you know that Pro-Dyno in Fort Mill, SC is one of the few shops I recommend for high-performance Ford work on a regular basis. We’ve been using Pro-Dyno for installs and tuning on projects for years, and for good reason. They do excellent work at a fair price. Not only that, but Dan and Paul know how to make a customer feel welcome and make them a part of the building experience. Customer service goes a long way in my book, and I’ve never left Pro-Dyno feeling disappointed.

It just so happened that a few weeks back I was near the SC/NC boarder, so I decided to drop by Pro-Dyno for a little visit. What I saw was exactly what I’ve come to expect from this shop. Dan was busy on the dyno with a Procharger equipped Shelby GT350 Mustang, and Paul was putting together a Whipple’s Coyote-Swapped SN-95 in the shop. That’s not even mentioning the other projects that the other techs were cranking away on. A custom stretched F-100...

For the past few months you guys have been constantly reminded that the car modding hobby is under serious threat from the EPA. By now, if you don’t know the need for action and vigilance I’m not sure what rock you may have been hiding under. We here at SVTP have been trying to encourage everyone to pressure their representatives to supporting the SEMA Sponsored RPM Act. However, others in the aftermarket are not waiting around for some legislative protection that may never come. The team over at Diablo Sport (a division of Holley Performance) in Sanford, FL have been busy investing in the future.

Diablo was a pioneer in handheld tuning in the Ford market, and they intend to be a huge part of the Ford Performance aftermarket in the future. To that end, they have invested in a full vehicle emissions lab setup. In conjunction with an in-ground Superflow AWD Chassis Dyno they have purchased, installed, and calibrated a full array of advanced exhaust emissions testing equipment. This...

There are few names in the performance industry more synonymous with the idea of quality than MGW Shifter. Simply put, you can lay money on any MGW product having best in class material use and build quality. I’ve personally known George (the owner of MGW) for over a decade, and in that time I’ve gotten to spend time with every shifter he has produced. As time has marched forward George’s products have only gotten better, and his latest shifter is no exception.

A few days ago we got the call to come try out MGW’s newest shifter, the MGW Gen 2 Shifter for the Tremec TR-3160. This unit will be replacing the Gen 1 Shifter originally released for the Shelby GT350 Mustangs, and will now be MGW’s offering for both the 2021+ Mach 1 and the 2015-2020 GT350 Mustangs. If you have an S550 Mustang with a TR-3160 6-Speed manual transmission you might want to get your wallet ready.

Since the first 1967 model, the Mustang Shelby® GT500® has stood for the pinnacle of Mustang performance and has continued to build on the legacy of Shelby performance. With a reputation for transforming Ford Mustang into dominant road racing machines, Carroll Shelby, American racer and entrepreneur, took his legendary Mustang GT350 model further in 1967 to craft the first-generation Shelby GT500 with a modified 428-cubic-inch V8 inspired by his team’s 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans.

Carroll Shelby called the original Shelby GT500 “the first real car I’m really proud of.” The Shelby GT500 is just as iconic today – as the most powerful and most advanced Mustang ever – as it was during its first iteration 55 years ago.

Paying homage to the original 1967 Shelby GT500, the limited run of 2022 Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition fastbacks will be finished in a classic and exclusive, Brittany Blue exterior paint with two different Wimbledon White exterior stripe options:

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Do you feel that? Can you hear it? Fall is in the air. The days are getting shorter (isn’t pitch black darkness at 6:00pm fun?) and the evening air is getting much cooler. That can only mean one thing, BOOST WEATHER!!! It’s that time of the year when forced induction records are broken and new hero setups are made. That’s exactly what we’re expecting to happen during the 2021 Edition of the highly popular Mod Nationals race (Nov 11th-14th, 2021 in Adel, GA - South Georgia Motorsports Park).

Mod Nat is the brain child of Justin Young and Ozzy Moya, who back in 2016 set out to create a new Modular V8 based drag racing event to do one thing, take care of the racers. Justin and the crew take pride in putting on an event that features some of the best Modern Ford Powered racing action to be found anywhere, while also providing some of the highest winner payouts around. Those payouts are made possible in large part by the Mod Nats crew snagging...

Innovating the off-road landscape for the hardest-core enthusiasts, Bronco™ brand is taking its desert racing expertise to a new level with the all-new Ford Bronco DR – a first-of-its-kind limited-production Baja 1000 desert race SUV based on the Bronco four-door SUV.

Purpose-built and turnkey, Bronco DR – Desert Racer – is intended for off-road use only. It builds upon the already impressive capability of the production Bronco, bolstering that with a third-generation Ford Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine that aims to generate more than 400 hp, Multimatic Positional Selective DSSV™ Dampers and Multimatic safety cage, plus a host of other racing hardware upgrades.

“Bronco DR is our ultimate turnkey off-road racing SUV, engineered to put enthusiasts behind the wheel of a desert racing force,” said Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports global director. “This collaboration between Ford Performance and Multimatic continues the Bronco desert racing legacy that dates back to Rod Hall...