Also present at the get-together were a Ford Fiesta ST and Genesis G70.

BHPian vj123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Rust Belt States Meetup #10 - Tail of the Dragon #2

Same destination, same weekend and a year later, we had a great meet & drive covering the best roads in the country one more time. With great cars and a wonderful bunch of people, I would say that this trip was even better than our last year's ToD meet.

For the first time, the majority of the vehicles during our meet were from American OEMs and we also didn’t have any German vehicles (at least by brand) in the mix. Most of us drove from different parts of the country (Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Detroit, New Jersey) and a few flew all the way from the West Coast (Seattle) for this meet. A few regulars were not able to make it to this meet and we also had some nonmembers joining us for the first time.

Initial talks about this trip began during our Spring meet in AnnArbor and it gained traction again in May. Towards the end of May, we were able to zero in on the accommodation based on the confirmed participants and our Airbnb had some amazing views of the Smoky Mountains along Foothills Parkway. Thanks to Rohit again for finalizing the detailed itinerary of the drive. We increased our drive time on both days and it had around 6.5 hours of driving (according to google).

Based on our previous experience, we included new roads for the drive and they were amazing. This itinerary was perfect and we would just carry it over for future meets in the area as well. We had a chance to try out other vehicles in the group as most of them were unique in their own way. We took plenty of videos this time but they do not capture the enthralling experience of the drive, especially with a group of enthusiasts on the best roads of the country with literally no traffic.

jeevadeepan with Genesis G70 3.3t

vj123 with Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

rohittunga with Ford Fiesta ST

thecarguy with Toyota Supra 3.0

Bharath (non member) with Toyota Supra 3.0

Nitin (non member) with Ford Mustang GT

Vishnu (non member) with Dodge Charger Scat Pack

Day 1: AirBnB - Tail of the Dragon - Wayah Road - Moonshiners 28 - Fontana Dam - Tail of the Dragon - AirBnB

We were at Tail of the Dragon first thing in the morning and there was hardly any traffic. Everyone had some fun with the 318 curves along the 11-mile stretch. After clicking some pictures with the Dragon statue, we headed over to the fuel station. I had a chance to drive the Charger and was able to enjoy the V8. After the fuel stop, I drove the G70 which was very capable and also luxurious. I was looking forward to Wayah Road based on our drive from last year and thoroughly enjoyed it with some hair-raising moments on a blinder.

Post break, I was the passenger until lunch stop. Moonshiners 28 had some rave reviews across forums and I was really looking forward as this was our first time covering this section. Even though it rained for a small stretch, we really enjoyed this part of the drive and had an interesting encounter with a biker. We stopped at Fontana Dam for some videos and had a fun drive to the dinner place with the Mustang behind me. Post dinner, we had a sprinted drive to the AirBnB through ToD.

Tail of the Dragon - Killboy Store

Wayah Road

Bridal Veil Falls

Somewhere along US 64

Fontana Dam

Tail of the Dragon

Continue reading vj123's car meet experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

The 5,000 rpm redline for the remote rev feature is pre-programmed to ensure the engine is kept safe.

Ford unveiled the seventh-generation iteration of the Mustang in September last year. The 2024 Ford Mustang comes with a host of new tech features compared to the old model - one of which is called the "Remote Rev". This new feature allows owners to rev up the engine of their Mustang through the car's key fob.

According to reports, the new Remote Rev feature will be available on models using the 5.0-litre V8 engine with an automatic transmission, as well as the 2.3-litre Ecoboost powered variants, which come fitted with Ford's Active Exhaust. Also, Ford has clarified that the feature can be used only after the engine has reached its optimal temperature, post a cold start.

Owers of the 2024 Mustang will need to press the unlock and lock buttons on the key fob sequentially within three seconds to activate Remote Rev. The engine will first rev to 2,000 rpm to indicate the feature is active. Owners then have to repeat the unlock & lock sequence for the second time, which will rev the engine three times up to 5,000 rpm.

The 5,000 rpm redline for the remote rev feature is pre-programmed to ensure the engine is kept safe. Post the three engine revs, the feature will go into standby mode, and customers can reactivate it by going through the same unlock & lock button press sequence on the key fob.

Source: Motor1

The year 2024 will also marks 60 years of the Mustang nameplate.

According to data gathered by S&P Global Mobility, the Ford Mustang has topped the list as the world's best-selling sports car over the last decade.

The Ford Mustang is sold across the globe, but the majority of its sales come from its home market, the USA. As per Ford themselves, 78% of all Mustangs sold globally were bought in America.

Ford also announced that in 2022, the Mustang witnessed good sales growth across international markets. Sales of the popular sports car grew by 17% in Germany, 14.4% in Britain, 14.9% in Switzerland and 7.4% in the Middle East.

Ford recently unveiled the seventh generation of the Mustang. The latest iteration of the sports car comes with a choice of either a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine or a 5.0-litre V8 unit. The year 2024 will also marks 60 years of the Mustang nameplate. Ford plans to sell the new-gen Mustang across 100 countries around the world.

Source: CarScoops

AM radio's audience size is fast reducing in Europe while accounting for only a small minority in the USA.

According to reports, Ford will be discontinuing AM Radio on its 2024 Mustang. The seventh-generation iteration of the muscle car will be the second product from the brand to lose AM radio, having already discontinued the feature on the 2023 F-150 Lightning.

A spokesperson from Ford also confirmed the same, stating that "global automakers are modernising radio by offering streaming via mobile apps, FM or digital.

Reports state that AM radio's audience size is fast reducing in Europe while accounting for only a small minority in the USA. This, combined with the fact that automakers are looking to cut down vehicle costs, are some of the reasons why brands are removing the feature.

Having said that, both current & former US emergency officials have reportedly written a letter to the Secretary of Transportation advising action against the disappearance of AM Radio on new cars. AM Radio travels further and is significantly less expensive to operate than its equivalent FM station, meaning it can be reliably found even in remote areas.

Ed Markey, Massachusetts Senator, stated, "AM Radio is the most dependable, cost-free and accessible mechanism for officials to communicate with the public in times of an emergency". Officials believe that the disappearance of AM Radio on new cars will compromise their ability to reach citizens during such times.

Source: TheDrive

The brand wants loyal customers who own F-150s, Broncos and Mustangs to have a good experience.

In a recent interview, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, stated that although the company is committed to growing its EV business, it will not discontinue its ICE-powered vehicles.

Ford is one of a handful of automakers that haven't committed to going all-electric in the future. Farley reasons that the electric drivetrain isn't for everybody and that there are always those who are looking for the sound and fury of a V8. He explained that the company "will do what's required", which is to grow its EV business to 2 million vehicles in four years. Having said that, the brand also wants loyal customers who own F-150s, Broncos and Mustangs to have a good experience.

Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports, stated that one of the main reasons (apart from the new power unit regulations) why the brand was interested in Formula One is its shift to carbon-neutral synthetic fuel in 2026. The new fuel is said to emit only as much carbon as is used to produce it.

He added that electric vehicles are an important part of Ford's future, but they will also offer combustion-engine vehicles in different parts of the world for a long time.

Source: Fox News

This new platform will also underpin other Ford EV models in the future, including the second-gen Mach-E, a new Mach-E Coupe and the all-electric versions of the Escape & Explorer.

According to media reports, Ford is expected to start production of its all-electric Mustang in 2029.

Reports state that the current-generation Ford Mustang will be offered till the end of the decade, before being replaced by a completely redesigned & all-electric version. The early 2029 production timeline of the Mustang EV will give Ford's Flat Rock plant near Detroit, Michigan, USA, time for any factory re-tooling.

While details of the all-electric Ford Mustang are still scarce, reports do state that the upcoming model will be based on Ford's GE2.2 platform. This architecture will also underpin other Ford EV models in the future, including the second-gen Mach-E, a new Mach-E Coupe and the all-electric versions of the Escape & Explorer. With the GE2.2 being an EV-only platform, the eighth-generation Mustang is said to do away with the internal-combustion engine altogether.

The seventh-generation Ford Mustang was introduced in 2022. The iconic muscle car is powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder and a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8. Both engines are offered with a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission unit.

Source: CarBuzz

The 7th-gen Ford Mustang will go on sale in the USA during the summer of 2023, before other international markets.

Ford has taken the wraps off its 7th-generation Mustang at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show. The new Ford Mustang comes with a fresh design, both inside and out but retains the signature styling cues, which give it an unmistakably Mustang look.

In terms of design, the new Ford Mustang comes with a bolder and edgier look. It features slimmer LED headlamps with new tri-bar LED daytime running lights. The muscle car also features a new front grille, inspired by the 1964 model, refreshed front bumper design with air intakes, a large bonnet extractor, sharper-looking LED tail lights, a larger diffuser and new quad-exhaust pipes. The base variant of the new Mustang rides on standard 18-inch wheels with 19- and 20-inch alloys offered as optional.

Inside, the 7th-gen Mustang features an integrated dual-screen setup which includes a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other features in the cabin include a new flat-bottom steering wheel, wireless charging pad, a full suite of safety systems and plenty of other tech as well.

Ford continues to offer the new-gen Mustang with the same 2.3-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder engine and the 5.0-litre V8 unit. However, the latter is said to have been significantly upgraded with Ford yet to reveal the new power and torque figures. An updated 10-speed automatic transmission will be standard on the 2.3-litre engine but offered as an option on the 5.0-litre V8. Ford could offer a manual gearbox on the top-spec Mustang GT.

The 7th-gen Ford Mustang will go on sale in the USA during the summer of 2023, before other international markets. Prices will be announced closer to the date of launch in the USA.

The seventh-gen of the muscle car will carry over the powertrains from the current model.

According to a media report, Ford will reveal the seventh generation Mustang at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show, scheduled to be held between September 14 and 25.

The latest iteration of the American muscle car has been spied testing on multiple occasions. The new-generation Ford Mustang is said to feature a sharper design with a revised front grille flanked by updated LED headlamps and a newly-designed front bumper. Overall, it will have a much cleaner and simpler exterior design compared to the outgoing model.

On the inside, the seventh-gen Mustang is said to feature a large touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, a revamped dashboard layout and updated switchgear among other features.

Reports suggest that Ford will begin production of the new-gen Mustang during the first half of 2023. The seventh-gen of the muscle car will carry over the powertrains from the current model, albeit with a few upgrades. Earlier reports also suggested Ford could be working on a V8-hybrid powertrain option for the new-gen model, which is yet to be officially announced.

Source: Automotive news

Hertz claims that the Shelby Mustang GT500-H is the "most powerful rental car ever built by Shelby".

Car rental platform Hertz has announced a three-year partnership with Shelby American to rent out tuned Mustangs to customers across 11 cities in the USA. The partnership pays tribute to the "Rent-a-Racer" program from 1966, which offered customers a Ford Mustang GT350H.

As part of the new partnership, Hertz will be offering customers a chance to rent a Shelby Mustang GT500-H fastback. The Shelby-tuned muscle car packs a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 engine producing 900 BHP. It comes with forged aluminium monoblock wheels, performance-spec tyres, tinted windows, a Borla exhaust and a carbon fibre bonnet which cuts out 14 kg of weight compared to the standard model.

There will be a total of 25 Shelby Mustang GT500-H models available for rent. Of the 25, 19 will be offered in Shadow Black with Gold stripes, while the remaining 6 cars will be painted in Oxford White with Gold stripes - in honour of Shelby American's 60th anniversary. The 900 BHP rental will be offered in Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa Bay, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Apart from the 900 BHP Mustang GT500-H, Hertz will also offer a more toned-down version in the form of the Shelby GT-H. This model will be powered by a 5.0-litre V8 producing 451 BHP. The Shelby GT-H will be offered in various colour options. The Shelby Mustang GT-H will be available in Atlanta, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Fransico & Pheonix.

As per reports, Hertz will offer the Shelby Mustang GT500-H and GT-H on rent from June for US$399 / day and US$99 / day, respectively.

Hertz claims that the Shelby Mustang GT500-H is the "most powerful rental car ever built by Shelby".

Source: CarScoops

Ford is working on a V8 hybrid powertrain to be introduced on the new-gen Mustang sometime in 2025.

Ford is working on introducing the new-generation Mustang globally sometime in 2023. However, well ahead of its global unveil, images have leaked online revealing the front design of the upcoming sports car.

The leaked images showcase the 2024 Ford Mustang without any camouflage. It can be seen with sleek LED headlamps flanking a smaller, less angular grille at the centre. The front bumper also seems to have been redesigned. The image reveals a much simpler design with clean lines compared to the current and previous iterations. The simple design is expected to be carried forward to the rear, although there are no images of it yet.

Coming to the interiors, earlier spy pics had revealed a large screen integrating both the digital instrument cluster and the central touchscreen infotainment unit. Other details included a flat-bottom steering wheel and a familiar gear lever.

The 2024 Ford Mustang is expected to carry forward updated versions of the same powertrain, as on the current models. These include a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine and a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine. Reports also suggest that Ford is working on a V8 hybrid powertrain to be introduced on the new-gen Mustang sometime in 2025.

Source: Ford Authority, Mustang7G