Drag testing proved to be...
Drag testing proved to be somewhat futile on the '11's stock rubber, so a pair of sticky Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials (265/40R-18) were strapped on the Pony's hind parts.
Although we count on the chassis dyno for performance data, the dragstrip has long been thought of as the ultimate proving ground for late-model Mustangs.
After bolting-on parts and dyno testing ad nauseum, we also spent a day testing Evolution Performance's street-driven '11 Pony on the quarter-mile at Atco Raceway. As Internet-video fans know, Atco has been the official track for Evolution's '11 tests. Prior to our trip, the Grabber 'Stang was taken to the track and baseline runs were made with the car on stock tires, with factory 3.15 gearing (12.93/113.43), and in the same trim with a custom tune (12.61/114.78).
Nelson Whitlock is Evolution...
Nelson Whitlock is Evolution Performance's owner and resident test driver, and according to everyone who attended our test session at Atco, he's a big fan of engine revs and smoky burnouts. 'Ya think?
Since "what did it run" data is the thing most of you crave, here are the numbers with the car in its bolt-ons/custom-tune/drag-radial setup. This data comes directly from the timeslip of what officially is the "first in the 11s" run for a naturally aspirated '11 5.0 Mustang with an automatic tranny:
| R/T |
0.219 |
| 60-foot |
1.870 |
| 330 |
5.102 |
| 1/8-mile |
7.754 |
| MPH |
92.450 |
| 1,000 |
10.053 |
| 1/4-mile |
11.985 |
| MPH |
117.300 |
Our mission at the drag strip...
Our mission at the drag strip was to get the upgraded, street-driven, Grabber '11 into the 11s. Jon joined us at the test session, and only needed to make small changes to the shift calibration in the transmission for it to happen.
How does 11.98 at 117.30 sound...
How does 11.98 at 117.30 sound for a naturally aspirated, auto-shifted, fully loaded, driven-to-the-track '11 GT that's equipped with basic bolt-ons? Launching at only 1,800 rpm, Nelson pushed the Grabber Blue 'Stang to this landmark number in 93-degree South Jersey heat.
Of course, there was no way...
Of course, there was no way your tech editor was leaving New Jersey without taking the '11 for a spin. Having driven a bone-stock GT shortly after they were introduced to the media, I have to say that the seat-of-your-pants difference between a stocker and a GT with bolt-ons is night and day, even with the air conditioner at full crank. Prior to our test, Evolution gave the 'Stang a subtle rear-end lowering with Steeda springs. The change did not alter ride comfort one bit. As Big Steve warned me after he tested the new Mustang GT, I returned the car with a strong sense of wanting one.