‘Need For Speed’ wide-body Mustang is one for the silver screen … and NASCAR, too

By Peter Braun November 18, 2013

need speed mustang one silver screen nascar neef for — Image used with permission by copyright holder

I remember when movies, video games, and real life were all separate things. But the upcoming Need for Speed movie is blurring those lines with its special wide-body Mustang. This pony with a bad attitude is the star of the upcoming movie and the latest NASCAR pace car.

It was one of Ford’s leading attractions at the Ford Championship Weekend at the Miami Speedway last weekend, getting somewhat more attention than its driver Ramon Rodriguez, who also happens to be starring in Need For Speed.

Mustand NFS 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The car itself features massive 22-inch wheels and lots of custom bodywork, designed both to make it look cool, and, in theory at least, reduce drag and create downforce. The air intakes have been enlarged to help funnel more air into the hungry supercharger.

Recommended Videos

Ford claims that the supercharged V8 is capable of putting out 900 horsepower, though it didn’t say how much it actually is putting out.

My guess is that Ford was a bit worried about putting an actor at the helm of a 900-hp dreadnaught on a track full of millions of dollars of stock cars.

Mustang NFS 3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Even if it wasn’t packing its full punch, this road-going monster brought Ford some good luck in its race weekend, as Ford’s Brad Keselowski won the race and took the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Manufacturers Championship.

With all this fun stuff, you may be thinking you want one. This pony car, though, is much closer to being a movie prop than a production car. Don’t worry; you will be able to drive it from the comfort of your couch. This wide-body ‘Stang will be one of the many drivable vehicles in the upcoming Need For Speed Rivals title.

So we can all look forward to crashing Ford’s Need For Speed ‘Stang as many times as we want, without even having to leave the house.

Topics

Ford

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…

Cars

The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving software to U.S. shores

wayve ai automated driving us driver assist2 1920x1152 1

It might seem that the autonomous driving trend is moving at full speed and on its own accord, especially if you live in California.Wayve, a UK startup that has received over $1 billion in funding, is now joining the crowded party by launching on-road testing of its AI learning system on the streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area.The announcement comes just weeks after Tesla unveiled its Robotaxi at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. It was also in San Francisco that an accident last year forced General Motors’ robotaxi service Cruise to stop its operations. And it’s mostly in California that Waymo, the only functioning robotaxi service in the U.S., first deployed its fleet of self-driving cars. As part of its move, Wayve opened a new office in Silicon Valley to support its U.S. expansion and AI development. Similarly to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, the company says it’s using AI to provide automakers with a full range of driver assistance and automation features.“We are now testing our AI software in real-world environments across two continents,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve co-founder and CEO.The company has already conducted tests on UK roads since 2018. It received a huge boost earlier this year when it raised over $1 billion in a move led by Softbank and joined by Microsoft and Nvidia. In August, Uber also said it would invest to help the development of Wayve’s technology.Just like Tesla’s FSD, Wayve’s software provides an advanced driver assistance system that still requires driver supervision.Before driverless vehicles can legally hit the road, they must first pass strict safety tests.So far, Waymo’s technology, which relies on pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar), is the only of its kind to have received the nod from U.S. regulators.

Cars

Pirelli’s new ‘Cyber Tyre’ could be the next traction control

Red Pagani Utopia Roadster in a spotlight on a white background

If you’ve heard whispers about the “Pirelli Cyber Tyre,” or spotted the news about the Italian manufacturer’s work with Bosch, Pagani, and McLaren, then you may be wondering: What makes the new tire so clever? Smart tires as a concept go back a few years, and Pirelli has a habit of squeezing in tech wherever possible. So, what's different this time?

Well, plenty of drivers know what happens when you hit a patch of ice, or test your luck through a particularly bad downpour. Your vehicle loses grip and unless you have the skills needed to get it back on track, you’re probably going to wind up pitched into a ditch or headed sideways into a tree. Things like stability control and traction control help a lot, but they can’t do much when you do start hydroplaning.

Cars

Scout Motors creates connections with its new electric Terra truck and Traveler SUV

Scout Terra and Traveler driving onto the compass-face stage.

Scout Motors invited roughly 300 people to the hills of Franklin, Tennessee, to reveal the Scout Traveler SUV and Terra truck electric concept vehicles. The automaker brought in journalists such as myself, active lifestyle bloggers, YouTubers, automotive industry analysts, and enthusiasts and fans of the original International Harvester Scout.

Scout Motors calls the new, rugged vehicle the Connection Machine. The reveal event aimed to establish a solid connection between the concept EVs and the attendees. The automaker also used the occasion to announce the immediate ability to reserve a Scout vehicle with a $100 fully refundable deposit.
The Scout legend