The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 will be in dealers this Spring, packing more horsepower than ever before, along with an increase in highway fuel mileage. the horsepower is being increased to 540 horsepower, and the torque is being increased to 510 ft.-lb.

There are new gearbox enhancements, plus a standard 3.55:1 rear axle ratio. This will actually improve your acceleration and give the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 improved gas mileage: about 2 miles per gallon better on the highway as compared to the 2009 Ford Shelby. What’s most unique, though, is the improved interior.

According to Ford, “Ford’s Special Vehicle Team used the gains made on the Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustang as the performance starting point. The design team, with a nod to the original Shelby Cobra from the 1960s, takes those cues even further with nuanced improvements in both the coupe and convertible, each boasting a more-refined interior.

Power comes from a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine that produces 540 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 510 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The 2010 Shelby GT500 delivers improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears.

Gears 1-4 remain the same, but fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50, meaning lower engine RPMs in those gears and improved fuel efficiency. The new final drive ratio, moving from 3.31 to 3.55, enables the improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.”

The 2010 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac(R), Ford’s stability control system. There are actually several different options for performance. The default “on” mode is for everyday driving, and a Sport mode gives you what you want when putting the 2010 Shelby GT500 through its paces on the track. When turned off, though, the anti-lock brake system and other active safety systems remain in place.

On the inside, all seats are leather seats, there’s aluminum on the instrument panel, and Alcantara(R) suede inserts on the seats. The steering wheel has been changed on the 2010 Shelby GT500. And you can have racing stripes on the seats that match the exterior stripes.

The aluminum finish panels have a unique three-dimensional dimpled texture pattern inspired by racing clutch plates, braided hoses and cross-drilled racing brake rotors. In addition, the GT500 logo has been discretely engraved into the aluminum in front of the passenger as a nod to classic Shelby Mustangs.

The four-cylinder Ford Fusion S is now certified at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg in the city, topping the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. And what’s even more surprising is that the entry-level 2010 Ford Fusion S is powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec mated to a fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission. I didn’t expect it have a six speed automatic.

The Ford Fusion I-4 now joins the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid, which has been at the top of the mpg tables for some period of time now.

Ford has announced that the new four-cylinder Ford Fusion S has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 34 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city — beating both the gasoline-powered Camry and Honda Accord models. The news follows certification of the Ford Fusion Hybrid at 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 Ford Fusion fuel economy certification was conducted at Ford’s testing laboratories in Allen Park, Michigan. The Ford Fusion S and the base-level Mercury Milan, both powered by a new 2.5-liter Duratec 4-cylinder engine mated to a fuel efficient six-speed automatic transmission, will carry an EPA label of 34 mpg for highway driving and 23 mpg in the city when they go on sale this spring.

Ford has recently announced pricing for the new 2010 Fusion. The fuel-economy leading Fusion S with the six-speed automatic transmission features a base price of $20,870, plus destination and delivery charges.

Fusion also offers more engine choice than Camry and Accord, with two V-6 engine options — the 240-horsepower 3.0-liter flex-fuel V-6 and the 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine. The 3.0-liter V-6 models start at $23,760.

The base price of the all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is $27,270.

According to Ford Motor Company, sales of their newly redesigned crossover SUVs spiked 96 percent in September, 2007. The year to date sales are up fifty two percent. Sales of the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX have posted the highest sales numbers to date.

Overall, the sales totaled 189,863 vehicles, which is down 21 percent compared to a year ago. the daily rental sales were down sixty two percent and sales to individual retail customers were down fifteen percent.

The Lincoln brand has registered its 12th month in a row of higher retail sales. Sales of Lincoln vehicles were up 33 percent in September and 15 percent for the year total.

Land Rover dealers are reporting record sales that are up twenty one percent, for a total of 4190 vehicles, mostly due to the great response to the Land Rover LR2 model.

In September, Ford Edge sales were 11,632 vehicles and Lincoln MKX sales were 3,805 vehicles. Both new crossover SUVs had their highest retail sales month to date. The Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX were introduced in December 2006–and already are among the best sellers in the mid-size and premium CUV categories.

Sales for the redesigned 2008 model Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers were higher in September. Escape sales were 11,132, up 10 percent, and Mariner sales were 2,699, up 4 percent.

The Lincoln brand posted its 12th month in a row of higher retail sales. In September, total Lincoln sales were up 33 percent (retail up 40 percent). Year-to-date, total Lincoln sales were up 15 percent (retail up 17 percent). Lincoln’s rebound reflects the new Lincoln MKX crossover, the new Lincoln MKZ sedan (up 25 percent in September) and the redesigned Navigator (up 38 percent in September).

Land Rover’s September sales were 4,190, up 21 percent, reflecting the addition of the all-new LR2 crossover. Land Rover sales were up 8 percent year-to-date.

The sales data included below and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                  September Month      %      September CYTD      %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                  2007       2006   Change    2007     2006    Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------
Sales By Brand
  Ford           155,037   204,070   -24.0 1,620,925 1,911,193   -15.2
  Mercury         11,403    13,117   -13.1   129,743   146,418   -11.4
  Lincoln          9,764     7,362    32.6   102,449    89,494    14.5
  Jaguar           1,061     1,158    -8.4    12,017    16,508   -27.2
  Volvo            8,408     9,672   -13.1    80,884    89,669    -9.8
  Land Rover       4,190     3,469    20.8    36,074    33,527     7.6
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
    Total Ford
     Motor
     Company     189,863   238,848   -20.5 1,982,092 2,286,809   -13.3

Memo: Cars
 and Trucks
  Cars            56,267    92,111   -38.9   648,441   879,241   -26.2
  Trucks         133,596   146,737    -9.0 1,333,651 1,407,568    -5.3
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
    Total Ford
     Motor
     Company     189,863   238,848   -20.5 1,982,092 2,286,809   -13.3

                 FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                    September Month    %      September CYTD      %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                    2007     2006   Change    2007     2006    Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------

Crown Victoria     3,520     4,150   -15.2    46,188    50,792    -9.1
Taurus (New)       3,562         0      NA    17,912         0      NA
Five Hundred         668     6,054   -89.0    34,602    68,082   -49.2
Fusion            11,966    10,917     9.6   112,519   111,086     1.3
Focus              9,885    14,160   -30.2   133,043   140,830    -5.5
Mustang           10,266    14,341   -28.4   109,803   133,269   -17.6
Taurus (Old)           0    22,811  -100.0         0   147,996  -100.0
Thunderbird            0         0      NA         0       469  -100.0
GT                     0       133  -100.0       231     1,498   -84.6
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Ford Cars 39,867    72,566   -45.1   454,298   654,022   -30.5

Escape            11,132    10,095    10.3   127,737   123,063     3.8
Edge              11,632         0      NA    89,676         0      NA
Taurus X           2,517         0      NA     7,097         0      NA
Freestyle            548     3,801   -85.6    23,314    49,275   -52.7
Explorer          10,690    15,701   -31.9   108,535   143,270   -24.2
Expedition         5,827     6,374    -8.6    71,213    60,206    18.3
Excursion              0         0      NA         0       965  -100.0
Freestar               0     2,576  -100.0     2,390    44,829   -94.7
Econoline/Club
 Wagon            11,897    13,562   -12.3   130,763   133,391    -2.0
Ranger             4,019     7,057   -43.0    57,434    72,179   -20.4
F-Series          56,065    70,822   -20.8   537,211   616,785   -12.9
Low Cab Forward      143       332   -56.9     2,257     2,805   -19.5
Heavy Trucks         700     1,184   -40.9     9,000    10,403   -13.5
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Ford
   Trucks        115,170   131,504   -12.4 1,166,627 1,257,171    -7.2
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Ford
   Brand         155,037   204,070   -24.0 1,620,925 1,911,193   -15.2

           LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                   September Month    %      September CYTD       %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                    2007     2006   Change    2007     2006     Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------

Grand Marquis      2,737     2,776    -1.4    38,280    46,159   -17.1
Sable (New)        1,551         0      NA     6,222         0      NA
Montego              300     1,907   -84.3    10,443    18,151   -42.5
Milan              2,557     3,226   -20.7    27,641    28,334    -2.4
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Mercury
   Cars            7,145     7,909    -9.7    82,586    92,644   -10.9

Town Car             611     2,220   -72.5    25,580    29,209   -12.4
LS                     0       446  -100.0         0     8,368  -100.0
MKZ                2,589     2,065    25.4    25,537    24,003     6.4
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Lincoln
   Cars            3,200     4,731   -32.4    51,117    61,580   -17.0
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Mercury
   and Lincoln
   Cars           10,345    12,640   -18.2   133,703   154,224   -13.3

Mariner            2,699     2,602     3.7    27,850    26,454     5.3
Mountaineer        1,559     2,136   -27.0    18,607    23,539   -21.0
Monterey               0       470  -100.0       700     3,781   -81.5
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Mercury
   Trucks          4,258     5,208   -18.2    47,157    53,774   -12.3

MKX                3,805         0      NA    26,950         0      NA
Navigator          1,964     1,428    37.5    17,729    16,481     7.6
Aviator                0         0      NA         0     1,711  -100.0
Mark LT              795     1,203   -33.9     6,653     9,722   -31.6
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Lincoln
   Trucks          6,564     2,631   149.5    51,332    27,914    83.9
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Mercury
   and Lincoln
   Trucks         10,822     7,839    38.1    98,489    81,688    20.6
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Mercury
   and Lincoln
   Vehicles       21,167    20,479     3.4   232,192   235,912    -1.6

Total Lincoln
 Brand             9,764     7,362    32.6   102,449    89,494    14.5
Total Mercury
 Brand            11,403    13,117   -13.1   129,743   146,418   -11.4

                  JAGUAR BRAND SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                   September Month   %        September CYTD     %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                    2007      2006  Change     2007     2006    Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------

XJ                   407        33  1133.3     3,308     3,781   -12.5
S-TYPE               239       402   -40.5     2,812     5,021   -44.0
X-TYPE               197       412   -52.2     2,403     4,352   -44.8
XK                   218       311   -29.9     3,494     3,354     4.2
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Jaguar     1,061     1,158    -8.4    12,017    16,508   -27.2

                  VOLVO BRAND SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                    September Month     %       September CYTD     %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                    2007      2006    Change    2007     2006    Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------

C30                  811         0      NA      862         0      NA
S40                1,132     2,417   -53.2    14,645    18,627   -21.4
V50                  224       405   -44.7     2,185     3,165   -31.0
S60                  826     1,898   -56.5    14,355    20,386   -29.6
V70                  372       512   -27.3     2,884     4,613   -37.5
XC70                 954     1,380   -30.9     8,990    10,448   -14.0
C70                  321       385   -16.6     3,534     2,552    38.5
S80                1,308       130   906.2     9,958     5,144    93.6
XC90               2,460     2,545    -3.3    23,471    24,734    -5.1
                 -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Volvo      8,408     9,672   -13.1    80,884    89,669    -9.8

                LAND ROVER BRAND SEPTEMBER 2007 U.S. SALES

                   September Month     %       September CYTD     %
                 -----------------         -------------------
                    2007      2006    Change    2007     2006    Change
                 -------   -------  ------ --------- --------- -------

Range Rover        1,067       909    17.4     8,889     8,421     5.6
Range Rover Sport  1,470     1,381     6.4    12,214    12,640    -3.4
LR3                  737     1,175   -37.3     8,658    12,425   -30.3
LR2                  916         0      NA     6,312         0      NA
Discovery              0         0      NA         0         1      NA
Freelander             0         4  -100.0         1        40   -97.5
                   -------   -------         --------- ---------
  Total Land Rover 4,190     3,469    20.8    36,074    33,527     7.6

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) , a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

This, the first of 100 Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Dearborn Deuce roadsters will go up for auction at the 36th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event from Jan. 13-21, 2007. Proceeds from the sale of lot #1302 will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Edsel B. Ford II, great grandson of legendary automotive pioneer Henry Ford, will help auction the first of 100 Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Dearborn Deuce® roadsters at No Reserve during the 36th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event from Jan. 13-21, 2007. Proceeds from the sale of the stunning custom roadster, lot #1302, will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Hailed as “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Events™,” the auction will feature more than 1,200 of the world’s finest collector automobiles, attract over 225,000 visitors and be featured on SPEED with 40 hours of live coverage.

“We’re thrilled to offer a treasure from the garage of the most legendary family in American automotive history,” said Craig Jackson, CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. “Not only did the Ford family put America on wheels, they’ve also supported numerous charities along the way. For instance, Edsel Ford’s work with JDRF has helped researchers make significant strides in the fight against juvenile diabetes.”

With the first ever mass produced V8 engine and groundbreaking styling, the 1932 Ford Deuce was truly a milestone vehicle, echoing the engineering genius of Henry Ford and the design prowess of his son Edsel. Dearborn Deuce was built by the professionals at Hot Rods & Horsepower and directed by The Ford Motor Company to honor the 75th anniversary of the legendary Ford Deuce.

“There are an estimated 194 million people worldwide, including an estimated 130,000 Ford families dealing with Juvenile Diabetes everyday,” said Edsel B. Ford II, Member of Ford Motor Company’s Board of Directors. “It is an honor to partner with Barrett-Jackson and Hot Rods & Horsepower to raise funds for JDRF’s continued research.”

The commemorative edition roadster contains a 4.6 liter, 348hp Fuel Injected V8 with an automatic transmission. Additional custom components include custom wheels by bonspeed (20 inch rear and 18 inch front), custom valve covers, electric side windows, custom leather interior, air conditioning, stereo and unique badging with embroidered 75th Anniversary logo on the seats and in the trunk. The vehicle debuted in the Ford Motor Company booth at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

“This Dearborn Deuce retains its classic heritage, while possessing some of the most modern and impressive engineering to ever be associated with a hot rod,” added Steve Davis, Barrett-Jackson president. “This car is the ideal tribute to the Ford Deuce and the road it paved for today’s automakers.”

In addition to this Dearborn Deuce vehicle donation, donations of $25,000 from the sale of nine other of the 100 total commemorative roadsters will be made. These proceeds will benefit the JDRF chapter that is closest to the buyer’s residence.

Barrett-Jackson continually reaffirms its leadership position in the collector car market by elevating consignment standards, challenging annual records and serving as the barometer for market trends. Last year, more than 300,000 attendees and millions of television viewers from around the world witnessed over 1,600 cars being auctioned off for approximately $135 million at the two 2006 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Events held in Scottsdale and Palm Beach, Fla.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Events™” in Scottsdale and Palm Beach, Fla. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

About Hot Rods and Horsepower
Hot Rods & Horsepower is dedicated to manufacturing and selling quality steel bodies, components, and completed street rods that are stamped in Detroit and assembled by skilled craftsmen. The company produces the Dearborn Deuce Roadster, the only officially Ford Motor Company licensed ’32 Ford replica available in the market today. For more information about the Dearborn Deuce Roadster or any of their charity programs, please contact Mr. Robert J. Smith.

More about the 1932 Ford
The Model B was a new Ford automobile produced in the 1932 model year. It was an updated version of the Model A and remained largely unchanged until the 1935 model year, when the updated Model 48 was introduced.

Strictly speaking the Model B was a four-cylinder car, but it was at this time that Ford began producing a very similar car with Ford’s new Flathead V8 engine. The V8 car was marketed as a Model 18, though it is commonly called the Ford V-8 today, and was virtually indistinguishable from the Model B. Until this time, Ford had always produced only one basic car at a time.

Today, the 1930s Model B is a highly collectible car that people will pay thousands of dollars to restore to exact original style. During the WWII period, when they were first getting old the Model Bs and V-8s were frequently altered into hot rods. This continued into the 1960s on a large scale. Since about 1970 1932 bodies and frames have been expensive. This has reduced the sheer number “rods” being created, from the seventies on. Those that are made, however, are quite evolved and always expensive. A typical auto-show hot rod is a $60,000 proposition or much more, in a few cases.

Deuce coupe
1932 Ford “Deuce Coupe” ’32 Ford roadster, recent setup. Deuce coupe is a slang term used to refer to the 1932 Ford coupe. In the 1940s, the ’32 Ford became an ideal hot rod. Hot rodders would strip weight off these readily available cars and soup-up the engine. They came in two body styles, the more common “5-window” (two door windows, two quarter panel windows, and the rear window), and the rare “3-window” Deluxe Coupe that featured front opening (Suicide Doors).The very snappy looking 3-window is an unusually well executed stylish example from the Ford Motor Company.

Ford Modern hot rods
Most newly built hot rods use fiberglasses or more expensive, newly minted, custom steel bodies. Occasionally an old hot rod body is recycled, with all new running gear. The classic model B, 1932 lines are usually closely followed with new bodies.

Ford In popular culture
In 1963, The Beach Boys band released an album titled “Little Deuce Coupe.” The band’s song with the same name only heightened the popularity of the car.

The song Blinded by the Light, originally written and performed by Bruce Springsteen and later Manfred Mann, also contains lyrics that allude to a 1932 Ford coupe.

In 1973, George Lucas filmed “American Graffiti.” The character John Milner (played by Paul Le Mat) drove a yellow deuce coupe. This film is credited for introducing the old style hot rod to a new generation.

The legendary duo, Bonnie and Clyde, was ambushed and killed in a Ford V-8. The car, which took approximately 130 rounds and shells of shotgun, pistol, and automatic rifile, is now on displayalong with the shirt Clyde died in at the Primm Valley Resort in Primm, Nevada.