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While acceleration times like 0-60 and quarter-mile times are useful and well-established, the ultimate performance metric for a high-performance vehicle is how fast it can lap the Nürburgring in Germany. Benna Ford is pleased to announce that the Ford Mustang GTD has entered an extremely exclusive club by lapping the “ring” in under seven minutes. Only six production models worldwide can claim to be in the “Under seven” club; the Mustang GTD is the only one from America. The specifics are this: On December 10, 2024, the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD, driven by Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, completed the 12.9-mile 73-turn lap in 6 minutes, 57.685 seconds. This marks an achievement of a goal stated by Ford CEO Jim Farley at the Mustang GTD’s debut in August 2023. “The team behind Mustang GTD took what we’ve learned from decades on the track and engineered a Mustang that can compete with the world’s best supercars,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “We’re proud to be the first American automaker with a car that can lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, but we aren’t satisfied. We know there’s much more time to find with Mustang GTD. We’ll be back.” Ford has produced several blisteringly fast Mustangs in the past couple of decades, and some Shelby Mustangs even have greater horsepower than the GTD. However, even they aren’t as race-track-bred as the Mustang GTD. It began with the Ford Mustang GT3 race car, developed by Ford Performance and Multimatic Motor Sports, to compete in IMSA endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of LeMans, 12 Hours at Sebring, and 24 Hours of Daytona. The goal was to create a high-performance production car inspired by and derived from the Mustang GT3. This is a more challenging task than it sounds. Not only do production cars need to meet all manner of Department of Transportation and NHTSA safety standards, but the engine can’t be expected to be rebuilt after every long day of driving, as in a race car. At the heart of the Mustang GTD (taking its name from the GT Daytona IMSA class) is a Ford Performance-engineered 5.2-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbo or supercharged) V8 tuned to achieve 815 horsepower.  The engine features a dry sump oil system to prevent oil starvation on fast curves and is the first dry sump fitted to a production Mustang.  The V8 is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle driving and is located between the rear wheels to help produce a 40/40 weight distribution. The chassis features a semi-active suspension with short-long arm geometry up front to handle High-G cornering, while carbon-ceramic brakes slow things down when necessary. Much of the body is made of carbon fiber panels, including the large rear wing, which forms road-gripping downforce at speed. As mandated by the Nürburgring, the production car was fitted with a competition seat with a five-point harness and a roll cage. Ford plans a limited run of about 1,000 Mustang GTDs. With a starting MSRP of about $325,000, it is more than a mere step up from a Mustang GT, so you will unlikely find one in Benna Ford’s inventory. That said, it is a testament to Ford’s engineering prowess and is an example of lessons learned on the track finding their way into production cars.

The Baja 1000 is considered one of the toughest races in the world and is unrivaled as the toughest race on this side of the globe. Consequently, Benna Ford is proud to announce that at the event’s end, both the Ford Bronco DR and Ford Ranger Raptor emerged with class wins. It is difficult to overstate how rugged and punishing the Baja 1000 course can be. This year’s course featured thick silt beds, jagged rocks, hard rain and snow, and Baja’s legendary darkness, which tests the driver’s reflexes as obstacles quickly appear in a vehicle’s light beams. “The Baja 1000 is brutal,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “It pushes every part of a truck to its limits and demands everything from the drivers and teams. This isn’t just about crossing the finish line—it’s about proving that our vehicles can take on and conquer challenges as tough as Baja.” Bronco DR Wins Heavy Metal Class The Bronco DR (Desert Racer) took the win in the Heavy Metal Limited class. It is purpose-built as a desert racer, aimed directly at the Baja competition and similar events. The Baja victory marks its third victory out of three competitions for this year. Driver Brad Lovell and navigator Roger Lovell began the first third of the event, followed by Jason Hutter and Paul Blangsted, who helped secure the DR’s August victory at Vegas to Reno. Jason Scherer and Jason Berger took the checkered flag upon completion of the final leg of the 864-mile race. “This year put an exclamation mark on how brutal Baja is,” said Brad Lovell, who has piloted the DR at all races. “It’s said it’s the toughest race in North America, and I do believe that’s true. Having been involved with Bronco DR testing for quite a while, I always wanted the opportunity to race it here in the 1000—it’s what we designed it for, it’s where we made it spirited, lively and fun. To understand Bronco’s legacy in Baja and be part of it is overwhelming. Bronco is utilitarian, a jack of all trades, but it has a special spirit and place in Baja.” Lovel is undoubtedly referring to the Bronco known as “Big Oly,” driven by Rod Gall and Larry Minor. In 1969, it was the first 4x4 vehicle to win the Baja 1000 outright, a feat usually achieved by motorcycles. Ranger Raptor Wins Stock Mid-size Class Possibly even more impressive is the showroom-stock mid-size class win by the Ranger Raptor. The vehicle is far closer to stock than the vehicles in the Heavy Metal class. It meets SCORE’s Stock Mid-sized regulations, which allow only very limited performance and durability enhancements. Driver Loren Healy and navigator Eric Davis started the competition before turning it over to John Williams III and Nate Williams, who drove for the middle section. Bailey Campbell and Bryan Crofts took it across the finish line. Racing as Research “Baja threw everything it had at us this year,” said Loren Healy. “We fought some trials and tribulations last night, but this amazing Ford Performance team put everything—their whole hearts and souls—into this, in the dark, in the cold, in the rain. I’m really proud of everyone here.” The Ranger was equipped with a MoTeC data acquisition system to collect critical performance data during the race. “One of our top priorities is always to gather as much data as possible, and we see so much varied conditions here that helps that,” said Brian Novak, North American Off-Road Program Manager. “We’ve taken insights from this program to enhance our durability testing process. When we take this truck back to Dearborn, we’ll analyze every piece and part in detail to see what we can do to make our consumer trucks better.” Racing improves the breed. You can see for yourself by test-driving the Bronco, Ranger, and Ford’s other 4x4 stars at Benna Ford.

The Ford Bronco and Ranger Raptors have an enviable reputation as some of the most capable off-road vehicles on the planet that you can still drive home. Ford’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 powers both models and while the horsepower and torque of either model aren’t exactly lacking, who doesn’t crave more power in vehicles like this? Consequently, Benna Ford is pleased to pass on the news that both models can significantly boost power through a new software calibration from Ford Performance Parts. Available on the 2024 Ranger Raptor and the 2022 – 2024 Bronco Raptor, the power increases are significant, particularly for low-end torque: · Ranger Raptor: Torque increases from 430 to 536 lb.-ft. Horsepower increases from 405 to 455   · Bronco Raptor: Torque increases from 440 to 536 lb.-ft. Horsepower climbs from 418 to 455 The changes significantly improve throttle response, and part of the upgrade includes optimized shift logic to accompany the new power figures. The MSRP for the upgrade is $825, which is a pretty affordable means of that degree of power boost. It can be purchased using Ford Pass Rewards points and installed right here at Benna Ford. Also worth noting is that the calibrations meet Ford durability standards and thus are covered by the vehicle’s three-year, 36,000-mile Ford Performance parts warranty. However, you can get the upgrade for less. The catch is you have to enjoy the heck out of your Ranger or Bronco Raptor at the Raptor Rally, an exclusive one-day event for Raptor owners only near the Ford Performance Racing School in Fairfield, Utah, on Sept. 21, 2024. At the Raptor Rally, you will be able to fly over trails, crawl over rocks, catch air on small hills, test your skill on a Baja-style course, improve your skill with tips from off-road professionals like Vaughn Gitting Jr., Loren Healy, and Chris Voorde. The event is exclusively for Raptor owners and will also include expert workshops, hot lap opportunities, Ford news, exclusive giveaways, meals, and more. All for $500. For Ford Bronco and Ranger Raptor owners, there is an additional incentive: All who attend the rally will receive a 20% off coupon good for the power upgrade as well as other eligible accessories at performanceparts.ford.com. Terms and conditions apply. If you can attend the rally, that would be great! But we understand that not everyone can just take their Raptor 1400 miles to Utah without significant planning. If you are interested in the power upgrade anyway, contact the Benna Ford Service department and discuss it with them.

Ford has a long history racing the Baja 1000. The legacy dates all the way back to 1968, when the first Ford Bronco entered and won with Hall of Fame off-roader and pioneer Larry Minor and Jack Bayer. Larry Minor with Rod Hall would win again in a Bronco in 1969. Rod Hall owns the Guinness World Record for the most class wins in Baja history with 25. Rod would win his final race in 2017 at the age of 79. Then, another legendary racing driver, Parnelli Jones, of both off-road and road course racing fame, won in ‘71 and ‘72 with Bill Stroppe in a Ford Bronco. Robby Gordon would later win with a prepped Ford F-150 in 1989. Overall Victories The manufacturer has 23 overall victories at the famed off-roading event, and was absolutely dominant in various classes in the 1990s with their Rough Riders program. Legend In The Making In 2008, Ford took an F-150 and took third place in class 8 racing at the Baja 1000, and it was later revealed during its official launch that it was basically a stock Ford F-150 Raptor that went racing without people knowing. Ever since that ‘08 race, the company has taken great pride in bringing their engines, chassis, brakes, and suspension developments for their trucks and SUVs to the Baja 1000 for the ultimate torture testing. Success Year After Year This year, 2023, was no different. The Ford Bronco Raptor and F-150 Raptor R both won their stock classes at this year’s event. The Bronco Raptor won the same event that the Ranger Raptor won last year, the stock mid-size class. “Ford is a family company with not only a goal to win, but to also further develop our street Raptors for customers around the world to enjoy,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “The Baja 1000 not only served as a testament to all the hard work from people on the ground and those in Dearborn, Mich., but this event also emphasizes our continued global commitment to the sport and making better products for our customers.” Drivers & Final Times Driving the brand new Bronco Raptor was Brad Lovell, a 2022 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, and he would take the checkered flag after a grueling 1,200 miles in just 40:37:47.820. The F-150 Raptor R was driven by Loren Healy, an off-road racing champion in both the Baja 1000 and multiple other off-road racing series. He would cross the line in only 41:44:45.634. Engines The Bronco Raptor is powered by a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. The F-150 Raptor R has a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 that puts out 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Both vehicles use a 10-speed automatic transmission. “Winning the Baja 1000 in the Raptor R will go down as one of my favorite victories in my racing career,” Loren Healy, Raptor R navigator, said. “The amount of work that went into the race efforts for both the truck and the Bronco Raptor are absolutely mind blowing. Somewhere around 100 people came together as a family and made magic, getting both these stock production vehicles to win their classes in the second longest Baja 1000 ever. It truly is an honor to be a small part of this epic, history-making team.” Leaving Satisfied Both drivers expressed overwhelming satisfaction and joy with not only the final result of the race, but also with the whole Ford Performance team. Both vehicles were basically stock, save for obvious safety changes. The engine, transmission, and driveline were all the same stock parts you would get in a Raptor product sold at Benna Ford or any other Ford dealer. At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.

Ford is allowing owners of the all-new, seventh-generation Mustang to take their vehicle to the race track and learn from some of the most experienced professional driving instructors in the country, as well as access to a new online portal that will connect 2024 Mustang owners from all over the country, along with some lifestyle events. “The Ford Mustang is all about two things: its community of passionate fans and racing. We’re combining those qualities and giving owners the opportunity to learn some of the same skills our racing drivers will take to Daytona and Le Mans next year,” said Matt Simpson, general manager for Enthusiast Vehicles. “And they’ll do so alongside their fellow enthusiasts.” Customers who purchase a brand new Ford Mustang Dark Horse will get the chance of a lifetime at the Mustang Dark Horse Track Attack at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Owners can drive the skid pad, autocross, and Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (road course plus oval track). The event kicks off the evening prior to driving at a private reception at the CMS Champion’s Club that overlooks the track. The following morning, drivers will head to the track and get briefed in the classroom with on-track instruction to follow. Instructors will first teach owners how to utilize the no-lift-shift system in the first-ever Dark Horse before heading out onto the skid pad and the autocross portions of the track. Once you have learned how to properly take control of your car, you will be led around the Roval in a lead-follow that consists of three 20-minute sessions, with a hot lap as the passenger in an instructor’s car. Dark Horse buyers can sign up for this program starting in January 2024. For the first time, Ford Mustang EcoBoost and GT buyers will be able to take part in their own Track Attack program at Charlotte Motor Speedway, doing much the same thing that Dark Horse customers will get to do. This allows all Mustang owners to be more enthusiastic about the incredible performance of the latest generation car. The new digital portal will be a Mustang enthusiast’s paradise, letting owners gather online friends within the Mustang community. Cross-country events held in 10 U.S. markets will allow enthusiasts to meet up for automotive, lifestyle, and motorsports events. “Ford Mustang fans make this car what it is – a global icon for performance and excitement. And now, we’re giving owners a chance to connect regardless of distance and share their passion,” Mustang Brand Manager Joe Bellino said. At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.

Ford Performance have proven time and time again that they can take any vehicle and make it the absolute best of the road, track, and off-road. And, once again, the Ford Bronco took a clean 1-2-3 finish at the recent King of the Hammers off-road competition in the Ultra4 4600 Stock Class. Oh, by the way, they did the exact same thing at the same race in the same class last year. So, two years in a row, Bronco absolutely dominated. You may be asking at this point, what is the King of the Hammers? To put it simply, it’s an off-road race that’s held every year that puts vehicles through both high-speed desert racing and intense rock crawling. This year was the 18th running of the event, and it obviously didn’t disappoint. Don’t Let Me Down HOSS Ford Performance runs the Bronco in the 4600 class, which means it’s a stock, road-legal vehicle. Each Bronco entered into the race starts life the same way as any other 2-door model being made in Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. They use the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 that makes 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque and the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension, or HOSS as Ford calls it. When asked why they bring the Bronco to the King of the Hammers race, Ford Performance Motorsports’ global director, Mark Rushbrook, said, "Racing and off-road competition like King of the Hammers lead to better products, like Bronco and Bronco Raptor. The stock class Every Man Bronco 4600s continue to showcase the development of new technologies, and these learnings can help us improve the vehicles our customers drive every day.” Special Edition Bronco For You Fox, the company behind the famous Fox Shocks and Fox Racing Shocks that Ford use for the Bronco and F-150, have developed and are selling the new Ford Bronco King of the Hammers Edition. The exclusive, Bronco-only features include: Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks, BDS 4” PE coilovers, 37/12.50R18 BF Goodrich KM3 tires, 18” Ojos wheels, carbon fiber fender flares, fully equipped ARB air compressor system, King of the Hammers badging, KoH seats, KoH graphics package, Nacho TM5 combo white lights, White Rock lights, among other things, plus a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Talk to us today about ordering a King of the Hammers edition Bronco, or any of the other Bronco and Bronco Sport models available.

Ford has been a global powerhouse in racing since 1901. Henry Ford, attempting to repair his reputation after a failed attempt at running his first car company, beat an established and accomplished car maker and racing driver, Alexander Winton, in a sweepstakes race in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Ever since then, Ford has understood the phrase, “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday,” to be true for them. Most people know Ford’s racing success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Ford GT40, re-popularized by the blockbuster film by James Mangold starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, “Ford v. Ferrari”. However, did you know that Ford were an engine supplier in Formula One from 1967 until 2004? Even more, they are the third-winningest engine manufacturer behind Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. But something even more wild … to date, they have the most successful engine track record of all time. Racing History Personified In 1967 when Ford debuted their engine called the “Double Four Valve”, or DFV for short, which was a combined partnership between Ford and Cosworth, another famous engine builder. It won the first race it had entered. The Dutch Grand Prix in June of 1967 was won by Jim Clark in a Lotus Ford. From 1967 until 1985, the DFV Ford engine would undergo a few tweaks, but it powered a staggering 155 race wins out of 262 races it entered during that time. Let’s do the math on that quickly: if it entered 262 races, winning 155 of them, that’s an average winning percentage of 59%. In 18 years, it won FIFTY-NINE PERCENT of the time. To give you some perspective, Tom Brady played in the NFL for 22 seasons and has a career-winning percentage of 75%. Hopefully, that gives you a good understanding of how dominant Ford was at that time. Sadly, they’d only go on to win 19 more races between 1986 and 2004. They then sold what was the Jaguar Racing team they powered to Red Bull Racing in 2005. To date, Ford is tied with Mercedes-Benz for powering 13 Formula 1 driver championships. Only Ferrari has more at 15. The first driver to win a championship with a Ford motor was the fantastically mustachioed Graham Hill in 1968 with a Lotus Ford. The last was Michael Schumacher’s first championship in 1994 in a Benetton Ford. Keep in mind Ford had just entered F1 as an engine builder in 1967. To The Future, And Beyond! Starting in 2026, Ford will be coming back to the glory that is F1 to power the Red Bull Racing team, with two-time (so far) world champion driver Max Verstappen, who is contracted to be with the team through 2028. Red Bull Racing has won the Formula One Constructors’ Championship a total of five times, sweeping four years in a row from 2010 to 2013 and then once again in 2019. Red Bull’s drivers have won a total of 6 driver’s championships. Sebastian Vettel won four in a row driving for them from 2010-2013, and now their current hotshoe, Max, has won the last two in a row for 2021 and 2022, with a high likelihood of winning his third championship this year in 2023. In 2021 Red Bull created a new engine manufacturer called Red Bull Powertrains, RBPT, to take over for Honda after they decided to leave Formula 1 as an engine supplier after 2022. From 2026 onwards, it will become Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Benna Ford Benna Ford is excited to bring you updates on our favorite sport, racing! If you have any questions regarding our new or used inventory, contact us today and let one of our expert staff help you. Should your Ford need maintenance or service, use our easy scheduling tool to get your vehicle taken care of the right way!