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ROUSH announced the Stage3 Blackjack Mustang back in 2006, and in 2007 said it would make 100 of them. New Yorker Drew Conner bought Blackjack number two, spending almost $59,000 for his slice of limited edition Mustang pie. Only the glossy black 'Stang wasn't so limited after all: according to a lawsuit Connor filed in New York, Ford and ROUSH made another 100 Blackjacks in 2008.

Both Ford and ROUSH are named in the suit, and Connor has been joined by "at least 100" other Blackjack buyers. The plaintiffs' complaint is, of course, that the Blackjack's "value from scarcity and as collectors' items were and are dramatically less than the buyers had been led to believe their value would be."

But to make everything all better, the plaintiffs are asking for class action status, a jury trial, and... ahem... more than $12 million. That sounds like a lot, but say there were just 100 plaintiffs, that would be $120,000 per person, and would get them their money back plus a 100-percent premium for being misled... which might sound more reasonable. Or not. For the moment, both Ford and ROUSH have no comment on the litigation. Thanks for the tip, iOrange!

UPDATE: One point of clarification that's been bothering us is why Ford has been included in this lawsuit. All it did was build the Mustangs then sold them to ROUSH, which developed, manufactured and distributed the run of limited-edition Blackjack Mustangs.

[Source: Reuters]

We got our first peak at ROUSH's new TVS2300 supercharger system under the hood of the P-51A Mustang last year at SEMA, and we knew it was only a matter of time before they put it on sale as a separate kit. Available in several versions, the upgraded ROUSHcharger can be purchased as a complete kit with all the accessories or as a replacement kit for those with an existing ROUSHcharger system. Depending on its calibration, the upgraded supercharger can produce up to 700 horsepower from the Mustang's 4.6-liter V8. A warrantied version version with a ROUSH-assembled shortblock will be available shortly. Full details can be found in the press release from ROUSH after the jump.

[Source: Roush]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Roush 437R Trak Pak Mustang.

We've driven our fair share of Mustangs, but it's a rare occasion that we get to drive one at the track. That's part of the reason why we made the seven hour trek from Southern California to Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA, to get behind the wheel of Roush's new 427R Trak Pak Mustang. What's so special about the Trak Pak? For starters, it's got a supercharged V8 packing 435 horsepower and an abundance of race-ready items like an adjustable suspension, carbon fiber wing, and 14-inch brakes that all make it ideal for the weekend warrior who wants his vehicle to handle the daily grind and track-day floggings. With only 100 being built, this may be one of the few opportunities to see one in the sheetmetal, let alone to drive it on the track. While inclement weather the night before threatened to ruin the trip, we were blessed with a rain-free day, allowing us to explore the limits of the Trak Pak'd 427R. Follow the jump to read our impressions.

All photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above to view high-res gallery of the ROUSH trainer

We wind up behind horse's asses every day on the interstate, but ROUSH has developed a vehicle with a rear-mounted cabin for the express purpose of towing a crew of three around while staring at the business end of an actual Equus caballus. ROUSH Technologies is more than just mechanical Mustangs, and the company has proved it by developing an equine training vehicle for Kurt Systems, a Turkish racehorse and camel training equipment company. The vehicle has an open front stall where the animal can run, and a rear mounted cabin that allows a driver, a veterinarian and a trainer to keep a keen eye on vital signs. The suspension is partially F-150 based, while power is provided by Volvo's 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine hooked up to an automatic transmission and driving through some reduction hardware. The vehicle will start serial production soon; in an odd sort of irony, ROUSH is even further tied to fast horses now. Press release after the jump.


[Source: ROUSH]

Click above for more pics of the ROUSH RTC Mustang

This morning we were patiently awaiting our daily news regarding a new version of the Mustang, and ROUSH came through by sending us a sneak peak of its new RTC Mustang that will be officially unveiled this weekend at the National Mustang Show in Dublin, OH. There's no press release available, but from what we can gather it's a coupe version of the aesthetically-pleasing ROUSH Speedster. Standard equipment includes a special red and black two-tone paint scheme, a 4-piece body kit, upgraded suspension, 20-inch wheels, and more. A supercharger, 14-inch brakes, and a short-throw shifter can also be installed as options. A complete list of features for the RTC package can be found after the jump.

[Source: Roush via The Mustang Source]

The Brooklands-based tuning firm, Avro Motor Cars, has partnered up with Roush Technologies to offer up a run of ten limited-edition Ford GTs that not only get a fresh coat of orange metallic paint and a some matte-black details, but an extra helping of power. The 720 Mirage spells out its claim to fame in its name, with 720 horses coaxed from the modified V8. Utilizing a larger Whipple supercharger, an Accufab throttle body, inlet sleeve and X-pipe exhaust, the 720 unleashes its namesake at 6,950 rpm, with peak torque output of 627 lb.-ft. coming on at 4,800 rpm. The suspension has been modified with KW Variant 3 adjustable coilovers that drop the limited edition whip by 25mm, while AP six-piston calipers clamp onto drilled and slotted rotors courtesy of Stillen. There's no word on pricing, but we'd guess that if you tacked on a few more zeros to the GT's 220 mph top speed, you'd be pretty close to the sticker.

[Source: Avro Motor Cars via WCF]

Click above to watch the Saleen S281 and Roush 427R do battle

While Saleen and Roush have always been competitors for the dollars of Mustang lovers everywhere, the two companies have somehow managed to co-exist for decades. But which makes a better Mustang? Former FIA F300 driver Derek Hill of Web Rides TV had the opportunity to pit the Saleen S281 against the Roush 427R to see which legendary pony car tuner would come out on top.

At first, the battle of the two supercharged Mustangs doesn't look like a fair fight. The S281 has 465 hp and 425 lb-ft, some 30 more horsepower and 25 more lb-ft than the 427R. The S281 also weighs 300 lbs. less than the more visceral 427R. As New York Giants fans can attest, however, just because one team looks better on paper, when the game is being played, anything can happen. Hit the jump to view a video of the 427R against the S281 in 0-100-0, slalom, and on-track tests. The video is incredible, and the two vehicles aren't nearly as evenly matched as you might think.

[Source: Web Rides TV]

"We understand in order to continue our sales trend, we need to look beyond Ford." That's the crux of the conversation that took place between InsideLine and John G. Clark, the communications and motorsports manager for Roush Performance Products.

With a record 2007 under its belt, Roush is looking to expand its operations to include foreign brands, develop alternative-energy products and continue to provide the parts and services that have been the mainstay for the U.S.-based aftermarket supplier.

While Clark remained mum on what import brands it would begin to offer parts for, the firm is looking to launch an unnamed third brand that "has nothing to do with Roush." This will initially begin with powertrain parts for both cars and trucks, likely with a focus on performance, but Roush is also launching a propane-powered Ford F150 for fleet use and is developing a small fleet of electric vehicles, along with new products for diesel trucks, which are supposedly in high demand.

As for those shots of the Dodge Challenger outside the Roush plant, Clark said that, "we have no plans to do [the] Camaro, Challenger or Silverado, despite what's on the internet." Pity, considering that the two new pony cars have as much aftermarket potential as the Mustang on which Roush has solidified its street cred.

[Source: InsideLine]

We're not drawing any conclusions, but it looks pretty definite that Roush is branching out beyond tuning Fords exclusively. We just saw their ace work on Chevrolet's Silverado, and now a pair of Challengers have been spotted in the Roush parking lot. It could mean nothing, but let's dream for a minute. How does a Hemi with a ROUSHCharger cramming atmosphere past the intake valves sound? Yeah, we like the sound of that, too. Whether it's nothing, research, or evidence of a future offering from Roush, it's also nice to see a couple of different colors on the Challenger sheetmetal. We'll take the sinister dark one, thanks.

UPDATE: While it's exciting to dream, it turns out that the Roush facility in the picture is Roush Industries, not Roush performance. Roush Industries does contract work for automakers (a good move, as the performance tuner business is fickle, at best), so these Challengers parked outside aren't a surprising development. Thanks to the commenters who set us straight.

[Source: Carscoop]

click above for more high-res images of the ROUSH Silverado

It was a big enough shock last May when ROUSH announced that it would begin making performance parts for a select few General Motors' vehicles. Long associated with Fords, in particular the Mustang and F-150, ROUSH initially began offering just its Power Programmers and cold air intakes for GM products.

Then a rendering surfaced that showed a fully tuned Silverado with a ROUSH body kit and wheel package. Though the company admitted it was researching such a truck, it didn't admit much else. Now it doesn't have to, as we have pictorial proof that ROUSH may soon branch out beyond vehicles branded with a blue oval to offering full performance packages, including the ROUSHcharger supercharger, for 1997-and-up Chevy Silverados.

The spy shots you see here show a ROUSH-modified Silverado that's virtually identical to the rendering that leaked out. Beyond the bright color, we can see a new front bumper and lower apron with a deep chin spoiler, large-diameter dual exhausts out back, larger wheels wrapped in low-profile rubber and a new hood with a power dome. That dome no doubt hides a supercharged V8, probably the 6.0L Vortec MAX V8 that normally produces 367 hp and 375-lb/ft of torque, but should hit 500 hp and 500-lb/ft with the addition of a ROUSHcharger. ROUSH and Chevy? We know, it sounds weird to us too, but based on these spy shots, it looks like a good time.

[Photos: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.]