Steeda Autosports recently hosted 2006 Media Day for the enthusiast press at Moroso Motorsports Park in Jupiter, Florida. At the event, Steeda introduced the 2006 Steeda Q 525, the top of the line Steeda Q. Equipped with the new Magna Charger 5th Generation MP112 hybrid roots style supercharger, the Q 525 puts out over 500 horsepower with a very impressive 530 ft.lbs torque. Steeda engineers, working closely with Magnuson Products created a unique intercooled system for 525.
As he has in the past, SCT Vice President, Chris Johnson, working with the Steeda engineers, applied his considerable talents to create a specific tune for the Q 525. The results speak for themselves. Steeda President Dario Orlando selected Evan Smith, Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Technical Editor and NHRA Super Stock competitor to handle the driving duties. Equipped with B F Goodrich drag radials with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar high performance tires up front, Smith turned a fantastic time of 11.73 @ 117 mph. The Q 525 is a street car, driven from the Steeda Autosports Campus 60 miles to the Moroso facility. After the drag racing exhibit the press corps had the opportunity to experience first hand the total performance the Q 525 on the 2.2 mile Moroso road course. The new model, features the new 2006 competition front facia with functional brake ducts, will be built in limited numbers, is the top of the line Steeda Q for the customer who demands the ultimate in performance and drivability.
The Q 525 was not the only Steeda star of the day. The 2001 Steeda Q 400 was the original test Mustang for the Ford Motor Company/SEMA technology initiative in which the Mustang received the very first factory supported calibration for an aftermarket drivetrain configuration. Now equipped with the latest Steeda suspension parts including the extremely successful 5- Link 2 rear suspension, the Q 400 is set up for carving corners on the street as well fast laps on a road course. Equipped with Nitto Extreme R2 high performance tire the Mustang turned incredible 11.93 @ 120 with the talented Evan Smith at the controls. During the afternoon journalists had the opportunity to drive the Q 400 on the road course, causing many to marvel a the Mustangs overall performance, even with the air conditioning turned on.
During the road course portion of the day, members of the press were able to drive two 2005 Champions. The 2005 Mustang driven by Robin Burnett to the 2005 NASA American Iron Championship and Tom Ellis' 2005 SCCA Southeast Division American Sedan Champion Mustang were seen out on the track all afternoon. The Burnett Mustang freshened over the winter by Steeda, including the installation of a new Tremec TKO-600 road racing transmission and is ready to defend the American Iron Championship. At the conclusion of the day's activities, the car was shipped along with the Q 525 to Village Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the dealership's "Get into Gear" Promotion. Village Ford, a leading Ford performance dealership, is now offering Steeda Q Mustangs and the complete line of Steeda performance parts.
Tom Ellis is again leading the Southeast Division and wanted to dial his Mustang in after Steeda made some updates.
During the skid pad testing the 2006 Steeda Torch Red Q, turned an impressive .97g equipped with the latest Steeda G-Trac performance suspension. With the Steeda cold air kit and SCT tune, the Q produces 350 horsepower in addition to the car's superb handling and ride quality.
Also impressive, balanced performance was the 2005 Steeda Focus ZX3. Equipped with the Steeda suspension and running on Dunlop FM 901 performance radials, the "Crimson Ride" ZX3 turned a fantastic .97g on the Moroso skid pad. After leaving the skid pad the red ZX3 spent the better part of the afternoon turning laps on the road course. Everyone who drove the SEMA Show car was impressed with its nimble handling and well balanced performance.
The Steeda research and development Number 22 racing Focus turned in the best skid pad numbers with 1.04g. Used to develop new Steeda Focus performance parts, the Yellow ZX3 was popular with the members of the media and turned many laps on the Moroso road course.
When the day's activities concluded all agreed the latest performance offerings from Steeda Autosports were in keeping with the company's tradition of designing, engineering and manufacturing quality performance cars. Vehicles that are precision engineered to provide improved ride quality with the finest track and street performance.