P H O T O G R A P H Y by N A M E H E R E

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Lingenfelter Camaro SS

Roush Mustang Stage 3

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V E H I C L E

P O W E R T R A I N

C H A S S I S

C/D T E S T R E S u LT S

stiffer springs and anti-roll bars would help the car calm down on back roads. That said, this is a delightful machine in every other way, and if you love the new Camaro and want one with enough power to embarrass any legendary muscle-car species from the Sixties, you won’t go wrong with this LPE modification.

Roush Mustang stage 3One needs to have a strong extroverted streak to drive this Mus-tang because people will notice the spoilers, the stripes, and the ubiquitous Roush labeling. But this Stage 3 Stang doesn’t put curb appeal before performance.

With 15 psi of boost generated by its supercharger, the highly modified 4.6-liter V-8 develops 540 horsepower, only 30 fewer than the Lingenfelter. As a result, it’s only a hair slower than the 143-pound-heavier Camaro in the usual sprints. Zero to 60 takes 4.2 seconds, and the quarter-mile is history in 12.4 seconds at 119 mph. Above 130 mph, however, the Roush falls behind the Lingen-felter, hitting 150 nearly four seconds later.

Still, in everyday driving, this Stage 3 Mustang is a burner, able to light up its rear tires at will and accompanying the forward thrust with a beautifully syncopated rumble from its exhaust sys-tem. That exhaust note is ever present; while it’s momentarily thrilling, hearing it all the way to the West Coast would be trying. Still, this Roush Mustang delivers as stirring a V-8 exhaust tone as we’ve ever heard, and it gives the car great character.

Another distinctive feature is the old-fashioned short-throw shifter. It reduces fore-and-aft motions, but side-to-side motions are also narrow and notchy. You won’t be moving the lever diago-nally between gears—the shifter dictates distinct motions along two axes. Combined with a clutch that tends to finish its engage-ment a bit suddenly, this powertrain demands concentration.

The Roush chassis, on the other hand, is very well calibrated. Even though it lacks the independent rear suspension of the Camaro, the ride is smooth and settled, even on the bumpy back roads that confound the Lingenfelter car. The steering is precise and linear, and the brakes are plenty strong for hard street driv-ing. In serious cornering, the seats also do their part, offering suede-like upholstery in the center and firm side bolsters that are tight enough to constrict drivers weighing north of 170 pounds.

We haven’t seen many aftermarket body kits that truly improve the looks of a car, but the Roush’s is an exception. The panels are beautifully made and perfectly fitted, the wheels are gorgeous, and the big white racing stripes enhance the car’s screaming-blue paint.

With its excellent performance, flamboyant style, and fantas-tic exhaust sound, the Roush Stage 3 delivers an experience that is even more special—and faster—than a production Shelby GT500’s. With only a limited number produced each year, the Roush is well worth the 13-grand premium over the Shelby for those who crave domestic speed in a unique wrapper.

$67,093$69,664

190.4 inches 75.5 inches 53.2 inches 112.3 inches 63.7 inches 63.7 inches F: 52 cubic feet r: 26 cubic feet 11 cubic feet 3992 pounds 54.3/45.7 19.0 gallons 93 octane n/a n/a 13 mpg supercharged pushrod 16-valve V-8 376 cu in (6162cc) 570 @ 6400536 @ 39006700 rpm7.0 6-speed manual rear 1 3.01/7.4 2 2.07/10.8 3 1.43/15.6 4 1.00/22.3 5 0.84/26.6 6 0.57/39.2 3.70

F: struts, coil springs, anti-roll barr: multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar F: 15.0-inch vented disc r: 15.0-inch vented disc yes yes nitto nt05 F: 275/40Zr-20 106W r: 315/35Zr-20 110W

1.7 sec 3.9 sec 8.4 sec 19.5 sec 12.2 sec @ 1204.4 sec 8.9 sec 7.9 sec

157 feet

0.93 g 51 dBa 86 dBa 76 dBa

$60,945$61,255

188.1 inches 73.9 inches 54.5 inches 107.1 inches 62.3 inches 62.9 inches F: 52 cubic feet r: 31 cubic feet 13 cubic feet 3849 pounds 57.5/42.5 16.0 gallons 91 octane 15 mpg23 mpg11 mpg

supercharged SoHC 24-valve V-8 281 cu in (4601cc) 540 @ 6000510 @ 50006500 rpm 7.1 5-speed manual rear 1 3.38/6.6 2 2.00/11.2 3 1.32/16.9 4 1.00/22.3 5 0.68/32.8 3.55

F: struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar r: rigid axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar F: 14.0-inch vented disc r: 11.8-inch vented disc yes yes Cooper Zeon rS3, 275/40Zr-18 99W

1.8 sec 4.2 sec 8.9 sec 23.3 sec 12.4 sec @ 1194.6 sec 7.7 sec 6.3 sec 162 feet

0.93 g 58 dba 88 dba 78 dba

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, 260-724-2552, www.lingenfelter.com

Roush Performance, 800-597-6874, www.roushperformance.com

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