So do you think they will build this ? It looks to be a real possibility at this point. Watch out GM !

Look at the Miata in the background too ! ! ! !



Ford Hoping To Spank Competition By Paddling The Pony


With the maelstrom of buzz surrounding the next Ford Mustang having reached a fever pitch after the concept introductions in Detroit this past January, the rumor-mill has been churning out a number of possible scenarios for the next Blue Oval ponycar. Among the most salacious scuttlebutt has been that Ford may be studying the viability of bringing a paddle shifter to higher-end models. Up until now, development of such a system has proven to be purely speculation, but in a world-exclusive, BlueOvalNews brings you photographic evidence that shows the program is very real and quite far along in development, thank-you-very-much.

Fitted to a largely innocuous looking current-iteration silver GT (save for the Cobra R hood), this undisguised test mule was snapped by BlueOvalNews while on a shakedown run in Dearborn. The interior shots shown here show two large "batwing"-style sequential shift paddles on either side of the steering column, not dissimilar in look or operation to the Formula One-derived systems currently found on production Ferraris. This system is most likely an adaptation of the six-speed unit developed for the Aston Martin Vanquish, and promises to be a top notch unit, if the latter's setup is any indication.

 

The paddles likewise appear to operate in Vanquish-esque fashion, with the right-side actuator reserved for upshifting, and the left-side companion for downshifts. Logic dictates that if the system retains its British accent, pulling on both levers simultaneously places the car in neutral.

 

The center console on this mule houses four rudimentary buttons: "Reverse", "Winter", "Auto", and "Sport", respectively.

The function of the first is obvious enough, though the small metal lever favored by Ferrari would seem to be a more intuitive alternative to a look-alike button. The second switch presumably starts the car in second gear when called upon in icy conditions to quell excess wheelspin, "Auto" likely invokes a traditional fully automatic mode when the driver doesn't want to fuss with the sequential shifter, and "Sport" puts the transmission on notice to adopt a more performance-oriented shift algorithm for when owners really want to "turn up the wick" and lay waste to a pursuing Bowtie. "No word on what that prominent red and yellow button by the parking brake is, but presume it to be a makeshift starter button, (the Vanquish features an infinitely sexier dashboard-resident button that functions similarly)."


Despite the inclusion of the gameshow-set refugee plunger on the console, it is reasonable to surmise that the e-shifter is rather far along in its gestation, judging by the fact that this vehicle was running about freely in traffic with no ill-effects - and by the conspicuous absence of the near ubiquitous dash-mounted external computer used on most prototypes to monitor systems performance issues.

Although the paddle shifter is likely to be reserved for the high-end Cobra (said to be pushing more than 350hp for Corvette hunting duties), these photos should be seen as a greatly encouraging development for all Mustang faithful, as bringing this type of high-end component to the Mustang's lower pricepoint illustrates that Ford is dead-serious about ditching the antiquated image of its pony car as a technical throwback for good. Not that Dearborn is looking for a wholesale image change for the ponycar (don't expect to see 9000rpm variable-valve-timing mills and actively-suspended awd setups barring a precipitous temperature drop in Hell), but the existence of the F1-style system can be seen as part of Ford's effort to bring meaningful modern technology to the masses by betting big on their favorite horse.

 

They said this paddle shifted tranny can shift much faster than any human can do it. We shall see.

 

No B.S. here it has been in the rumor mill and spotted on several test cars.