Hip-hopper Nelly takes reins of wild Mustang riding on Pirelli tires, TIS wheels
Whoa Nelly! A tricked-out edition of the 2011 Mustang GT equipped with Pirelli P Zero Nero tires is set to be featured as the cover art on the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s next CD release.
Nelly reports that he’s ready to roll on Twenty Inches Strong (TIS) modular wheels affixed with 245/30ZR22 Pirellis on the front and size 275/25ZR24 at the rear.
“I’m itching to get behind the wheel of my Mustang and really take it out on the streets,” says Nelly, who was recently ranked third on Billboard magazine’s “Artist of the Decade” list. “This vehicle being a part of my album artwork is just a reflection of the direction and feel that the album has,” he explains. The disc is entitled Let’s Get It.
Customized by a team assembled by Ford and DUB magazine, the project came to life after Nelly caught a glimpse of a 2011 Mustang GT while at Ford’s design studio a little more than a year ago as part of a promotional partnership tied to the launch of the 2009 Ford Flex.
“I’ve always loved the Mustang; the vehicle has power to the point where you can’t help but want to hit the pedal,” Nelly notes. “And the newest one? More power, hotter style.”
“Nelly is a true car guy, there’s no denying that,” says Crystal Worthem, Ford’s multicultural marketing communications manager. “When Nelly expressed interest in wanting to partner with Ford on the all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT, we knew it was a perfect fit,” she adds.
“The Mustang has such appeal within the urban market. Since it was launched, the vehicle has made appearances in several of the most popular urban films,” Worthem continues. “This was just a great opportunity for Ford, and we’re excited that the Mustang GT is going to be a part of one of the most anticipated albums of 2010.”
Working with customizing crews from the magazine and the automaker, “Nelly has collaborated with Ford’s design team and DUB’s customization team to make the Mustang his own while still keeping the vehicle true to its muscle car roots,” according to Worthem.
“The added power of the new 5.0 Mustang demanded we install tires that perform to higher standards – Pirelli does that and more,” says DUB President Myles Kovacs. “When we recommend products to our celebrity clients, we know they demand the best of the best – the highest levels of performance, cache and luxury – and because of that DUB recommends Pirelli to all our celebrity clientele.”
“It is no secret that the Mustang is a legendary performer; add to that DUB’s creativity and relevance across several markets and you have a recipe for a very successful car,” says Tom Gravalos, Pirelli’s vice president of motorsports, marketing and original equipment sales.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, but it is totally indicative of the power, style and uniqueness of DUB,” Gravalos observes.
The exterior of DUB Edition Mustang, due in dealer showrooms this spring, features a custom gloss black paint job with flat black racing stripes and a Street Scene wide body kit augmented by the TIS wheels and Pirelli tires. The vehicle also includes a billet grille, hood scoop, tinted taillights, Eibach springs, angel eyes headlights and a Borla exhaust.
Upon opening the doors, the interior boasts a complete suede and leather decor with a custom JL Audio system that includes two 12-inch subwoofers, amps and speakers.
The Mustang GT comes with a 5.0-liter four-valve Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) V-8 engine with 412 horsepower and 390 foot-pounds of torque while delivering a fuel economy level “projected to be better than the previous model and unsurpassed in the segment,” says Worthem.
An optional Brembo brake package upgrade is also available, and the car is equipped with a message center, integrated blind spot mirrors, a MyKey programmable fob system and rear headrests.
The speedometer increases to 160 mph and the tachometer redline advances from 6,500 to 7,000 rpm.
On the outside, three new colors schemes are being added for 2011: Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat, Race Red and Ingot Silver.
On the underside, Pirelli is an original equipment supplier for premium Mustang badges.
For more information, visit www.us.pireilli.com, www.tismodular.com and www.ford.com.
