Automotive

Fisker-Galpin's bespoke 725 hp Mustang Rocket

Fisker-Galpin's bespoke 725 hp Mustang Rocket
The Rocket made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show
The Rocket made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show
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The Fisker-Galpin Rocket is powered by a V* enigne making 725 hp
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The Fisker-Galpin Rocket is powered by a V* enigne making 725 hp
The Rocket's design draws on the original Shelby Mustang GT500 for inspiration
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The Rocket's design draws on the original Shelby Mustang GT500 for inspiration
All of the Rocket's scoops and aero elements are there to keep the V8 cool, or provide extra downforce
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All of the Rocket's scoops and aero elements are there to keep the V8 cool, or provide extra downforce
An aluminum bar runs straight across then Rocket's bonnet
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An aluminum bar runs straight across then Rocket's bonnet
Powerful rear haunches give the Rocket presence on the road
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Powerful rear haunches give the Rocket presence on the road
The Rocket's body was designed by Henrik Fisker
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The Rocket's body was designed by Henrik Fisker
The bodykit is made of carbon fiber
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The bodykit is made of carbon fiber
Rockets sit on 21-inch wheels
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Rockets sit on 21-inch wheels
The Rocket features a big rear diffuser for high-speed downforce
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The Rocket features a big rear diffuser for high-speed downforce
Massive Brembo brakes are hiding behind the Rocket's wheels
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Massive Brembo brakes are hiding behind the Rocket's wheels
The Mustang's proportions suit Fisker's modifications well
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The Mustang's proportions suit Fisker's modifications well
The whole package sits on an adjustable suspension system
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The whole package sits on an adjustable suspension system
The Rocket needs plenty of cooling power
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The Rocket needs plenty of cooling power
Inside, the Mustang's interior design is fundamentally the same
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Inside, the Mustang's interior design is fundamentally the same
Fisker-Galpin is planning to produce the Rocket in small numbers
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Fisker-Galpin is planning to produce the Rocket in small numbers
The Rocket is a collaboration between Henrik Fisker and tuners Galpin Auto Sports
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The Rocket is a collaboration between Henrik Fisker and tuners Galpin Auto Sports
Leather trim is everywhere inside
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Leather trim is everywhere inside
Red is the overriding theme inside
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Red is the overriding theme inside
The Mustang's Recaro seats have also come in for a makeover
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The Mustang's Recaro seats have also come in for a makeover
A special door-sill kickplate is another giveaway that this isn't your average Mustang
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A special door-sill kickplate is another giveaway that this isn't your average Mustang
Ford's Mustang design has not been totally changed - details like the lights are largely unchanged
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Ford's Mustang design has not been totally changed - details like the lights are largely unchanged
The Rocket made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show
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The Rocket made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show
View gallery - 22 images

The new Ford Mustang hasn't been out for long, but tuners are already beginning to explore what is possible when given the Mustang’s coupe body and more sophisticated suspension setup. Galpin Auto Sports and Henrik Fisker have approached the challenge of improving the Mustang by adding (much) more power and a bespoke carbon fiber body, for the Fisker-Galpin Rocket.

Fisker is best known for his work on the Fisker Karma, an ambitious attempt at creating a properly sustainable hybrid sportscar that was crippled by financial difficulties. But Fisker is also a car designer with an impressive set of credentials, including being the pen behind BMW's Z8, and also serving a stint at Aston Martin.

In their quest to create the “Ultimate American Muscle Car”, Henrik Fisker and Galpin have taken cues from some of the best-loved "specialty" Mustangs in history and worked them into the Rocket’s carbon fiber bodywork – especially the design of the 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500. The car’s hexagonal grille with its polished aluminum bar and large Mustang icon separate the car from Ford’s standard offering, as do the aggressively flared wheel arches and neatly integrated bootlid spoiler.

The Rocket features a big rear diffuser for high-speed downforce
The Rocket features a big rear diffuser for high-speed downforce

That huge front grille isn’t just for show, because hiding behind it is the Rocket’s V8 heart. Producing 725 hp (541 kW), the supercharged V8 needs plenty of air to keep it cool, hence the car’s massive front intake and splitter, which helps draw hot air out from underneath the car and more efficiently cool the motor. As well as helping to facilitate cooling, the front splitter works with the car’s rear diffuser and polished-carbon side skirts to provide high-speed downforce.

There is more to the Rocket than a massive engine and aggressive bodykit. Its 21-inch ADV.1 wheels are wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires, and hide 15-inch Brembo Gran Turismo brakes behind them. The whole package also sits on a fully adjustable independent suspension system, that will allow drivers to set their Rocket up specifically for how they plan to use it.

The Rocket debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and Galpin claims the car will go into production before the end of 2014, with the first customer deliveries taking place in early 2015.

Source: Galpin Auto Sports

View gallery - 22 images
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