Instagrammer’s custom build shows the dark side of the EcoBoost Mustang.
When it comes to the modern Mustang, the GT gets a lot of attention. Outside of the Shelby GT350, it offers the most power in the lineup. You can sharpen its reflexes and improve its track times with its two available Performance Packages. And let’s not forget about its awesome sound (not that it’s even possible).
An Instagram user named Wilder B. Cabrera (@realwilder94) knows how alluring the earlier version of the EcoBoost S550 is. He should by now because he owns one. To make it even more to his liking, he’s been steadily modifying it. Some of those mods have taken the form of colorful wraps, such as this vibrant number:
The Mustang EcoBoost may not have the GT’s cylinder count or signature sound, but it’s got its own appeal. The 2018 model balances 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque with fuel economy ratings as high as 21 city, 32 highway, and 25 combined mpg when equipped with the available 10-speed automatic. The EcoBoost has proven so popular that it replaced the naturally aspirated V6 as the base-level engine for the Mustang.
Cabrera has also been adding cosmetic hardware to his car. The most recent pictures of it show that it’s decked out with an aggressive front splitter, cowl induction hood, five-spoke wheels with spike lug nuts, a lowered suspension, rear louvres, and a substantial rear spoiler. His car looks so good on the outside that it’s hard to care what’s under its hood.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
