Ford Motor Company to Bring 2013 Model Year Performance Cars to 2012 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Las Vegas

• The 2012 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction, Sept. 20-22, will be the first public showing of Ford’s complete line of 2013 model year performance vehicles
   
• It is the first time the public will have the chance to drive the 2013 Focus ST, Ford Shelby GT500 and Boss 302

• The Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra Carroll Shelby tribute car will be on display for the first time since it was unveiled at Monterey Collector Car Week in August

Ford Motor Company today announced the company’s complete line of 2013 model year performance vehicles will be on display and available for ride-and-drives during the Fifth Annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Collector Car Auction, scheduled Sept. 20-22, 2012, at the luxurious Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. This will be the first time the public can get behind the wheel of Ford newest performance vehicles, including 2013 models of the Focus ST, Shelby GT500 and Boss 302. In addition, Ford fans will have an opportunity to test-drive the 2012Mustang, Focus and Fiesta on a closed circuit during the three-day auction.

“The cars we’re bringing to the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas will be a real adrenaline rush for performance enthusiasts,” said Steve Ling, Ford North America Car Marketing manager. “What’s more exciting is this is the first time we’ve had all of these cars together for the public to experience. This exhibit is going to give Ford fans a front-row seat to some amazing handling, design and technology.”

The Ford Focus ST features a 252-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost^® engine, while the Boss 302 gets serious with a 444-horsepower (on premium fuel), Hi-Po 302 4V Ti-VCT V8 powerhouse. The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra will also be on display for the first time since it was unveiled for the 2012 Monterey Collector Car Week.

“We’ve only built one 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra as a tribute to Carroll Shelby,” said Ling. “So it’s going to be exciting for Ford and Shelby fans at Barrett-Jackson to be among the first to say they saw this tribute vehicle in person at Barrett-Jackson.”

Ford teamed up with Shelby American to design and engineer the tribute Shelby GT500 Cobra. It features an incredible 850-horsepower Ford Racing supercharged V8 with a Shelby American wide-body kit and is finished in Cobra historical Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes.

“Carroll Shelby transformed the automotive industry and certainly influenced the design and performance of the Mustang models we see on the road today,” said Ling. “We’re grateful for his passion for the Mustang brand, and to have worked directly with him over the last 50 years. This Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra tribute car is one I’m confident he’d be proud to have his name on.”

As part of the Las Vegas weekend, Ford will participate in the annual Barrett-Jackson Road Rally on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. ET. More than 100 classic and collector cars including the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 and 2013 Boss 302 will cruise down the legendary Las Vegas Strip as a kickoff to the three-day celebration of the collector car hobby.

The Shelby, Focus ST, Boss 302, as well as all other new Ford vehicles, are available through local Las Vegas dealers. Those interested in a test drive or seeing a new or quality preowned Ford vehicle can click on this link to find their local dealership.