At most auto companies, the design is now atop the food chain as cars and trucks are being developed. The way a car looks inside and out is how manufacturers can set themselves apart in a wildly competitive market.

For back-seat stargazers and those seeking the benefits of a convertible without the wind-blown hair, the auto industry is offering a new look.

A growing number of new cars and crossover vehicles are offering broad panoramic glass roofs composed of one or two large panels, opening up the cabin to the heavens and giving motorists the feel of more head room and natural light as they cruise down the highway.

Ford Motor Co. offers the feature on a number of 2008 vehicles, including the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers, and upcoming releases such as the Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan.

General Motors Corp. makes the feature available on the Cadillac SRX, along with a power sunroof with companion skylight option on GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave.

Toyota Motor Corp. showed it recently on the yet-to-be-available 2009 Venza crossover-sedan, while consumers can also find it on vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and S-Class.

"It's a feeling of freedom," said Peter Pfeiffer, senior vice president of Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Design.

Sales breakdowns for vehicles with the glass roof options weren't available, but a leading supplier of the glass roofs, Webasto Inc., estimates that the number of panoramic glass sunroofs could more than double to about 700,000 vehicles by 2012.

Andreas Weller, Webasto's vice president of business development, estimated the option costs about $1,200 to $2,000, providing "almost the benefits of the convertible without the drawbacks."

Sunroofs have long been a popular option for those seeking the open air, but most vehicles have limited the glass to a small space above the front seat.

With the advent of shatter-resistant glass and reinforcements on the roof, the industry has been able to broaden the sunroofs on car-based crossover vehicles and sedans. The glass roofs typically offer tinted glass and sliding shades to give a darker feel in the vehicle.

"With cars becoming more highly styled and in some ways (having) smaller window-lines, cars are becoming a little claustrophobic in size. So these wide-open sunroofs give you an air of space," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center.

"It's a production feature that people really enjoy," said Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of design for the Americas. "There's a lot of people ordering this glass roof. It gives a very nice, different feeling inside the car. But imagine driving throughout the streets of New York? The best view is up."

Indeed, Ford has already used the feature as a marketing tool.

In one television ad, a woman in the back seat of an Edge is so entranced gazing at the overhead skyline that she doesn't realize her friends are waiting for her outside the car.

Auto safety officials say different reinforcements are used on the roof to make it comparable to a conventional roof and most manufacturers are using tempered glass or laminated glass to prevent it from shattering in an accident.

Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said he had not come across many complaints about the roofs but said consumers might be susceptible to having some sort of debris hit the roof and cause it to break.

He also warned that the wide area could become a portal in which a motorist could be ejected in a rollover accident.

"I would caution consumers to stay with the old sunroof until manufacturers work this out," Ditlow said.

 

By KEN THOMAS
Associated Press

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721995

440-hp Mustang GT-R Captures 40 Years of Racing Domination

 

DEARBORN -- The new Mustang GT-R combines Ford Racing's proven power with the all-new 2005 Mustang’s iconic design and world-class underpinnings. The result is the ultimate performance Mustang -- a concept race car that pays tribute to 40 years of Mustang performance and heritage.

 

“The Mustang GT-R blends today’s breathtaking design, Ford Racing’s unmatched history and the most advanced racing technology into the ultimate Mustang,” says J Mays, Ford group vice president, design. “Mustang’s legendary image grew with every checkered flag so we think the Mustang GT-R is an appropriate tribute to the car’s 40th anniversary, and a hint at what’s to come.”

We've collected a listing of Mustang forums to help you connect with the on-line community.

 

"Just as Autoblog announced the debut of the 2008 Bullitt Mustang, Ford was allowing a select number of journalists to drive the car in San Francisco, a fitting location for the car's debut. We were fortunate enough to receive an invite, and are fresh out of the driver's seat ready to report."

"The outside of the car is certainly understated, but the inside is as well, though in a different way. The details are what really help spark up the interior, like the new shifter, the GT500 seats that have been reupholstered just for the Bullitt, the leather-wrapped steering wheel with the Bullitt logo, the unique gauges, and the engined-turned metal dash that looks fantastic. Those seats are quite comfortable yet supportive and felt much better than the stock GT. We didn't complain at all after several hours in the car."

"While some might have been hoping for more performance, the 3:73 gears along with the extra 15 ponies make the Bullitt feel quite a bit faster than a stock GT. We're guessing that it will break the five second mark from 0-60 mph, and run the quarter mile in the very low 13s. The exhaust note is rather quiet from inside the cabin, but actually sounds aggressive from outside of the car. This is another factor that would make it ideal as a daily driver."

"First Drive: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt - Day 2"
"While ford definitely could have done more with the Bullitt, it makes sense that they didn't. They are going after the owner who doesn't want the frills. There is no spoiler. No quarter window louvers. There is no excess of badges letting everyone know that the car is special. The only available colors are Highland Green and Black – not exactly eye catching. Even the calipers, which were painted red on the 2001 version, have been painted grey to blend in with the wheels"

 

from autoblog.com

Our on-line offering of parts for the '05-07 Ford Mustang GT is growing fast.  Be sure to take advantage of our introductory offers. 

 

Also remember that we provide discounts to car clubs with no minimum order.  If you don't see it on our site yet it's because we just haven't put it on the site.

 

Specific inquiries are encouraged. 

If you've got requests for parts, please don't be shy.  We carry parts from all the major manufacturers including AEM, K&N, Borla, Magnaflow and more.

 

Upon request, we will expedite development of our on-line offering for your car.

 

We also offer car club discounts, and welcome the inquiries. 

 

In the meantime, enjoy our introductory specials and feel free to spread the word!