The 2015 Mustang GT is one of the best performance cars made. How do you improve on that? When Rick Elam at Baer Brakes bought his S550 in 2015, he knew it would be a popular car to modify and that it would be used for marketing purposes at the 2015 SEMA show. 

Shortly after buying the car he upgraded several components with some potent aftermarket parts and of course, added the best Baer Brakes S550 system the company had to date. 

The car makes use of Baer Extreme+ 6R and 15-inch rotors. According to Elam, the R-Spec 6R caliper is a race version of the popular 6S caliper offered by Baer. It has been made from US sourced 2618 Forged aluminum and made in-house in Phoenix, Arizona where Baer Brakes is located. 

What makes the 6R different from the 6S caliper is the additional machining for added weight savings, and it’s machined top for quick access to pads ensuring quick trackside pad changes. The 6R also comes standard in a nickel finish. 

The car retains its stock 5.0 Coyote engine but has been given some more power with the addition of a Vortech V-3 Si centrifugal supercharger with air-to-air charge air cooler. According to Elam, the “i” stands for improved and with its patented oil control system and centrifugal compressor stage. It features a 78-percent adiabatic efficiency [SAE J1723 standard], which means its durable and since less heat is generated, drive power is reduced and more net power is produced.

Other highlights include an AIRAID MXP Air Intake System and a MagnaFlow Street Series Performance Exhaust system which has a straight-through flow design that delivers a smooth, deep sound. 

Elam reports his S550 puts out 510 horsepower to the wheel, which our online calculator estimates to be an output of around 600 horsepower at the flywheel.

The stock manual transmission and independent front and rear suspension are used though Elam has upgraded the suspension with RideTech coilovers. The mono-tube construction of the coilovers is complimented by high tensile premium steel CNC cold wound which allows it to have more consistent performance when compared to the stock suspension and the coilovers are resistant to bowing and have increased travel. 

Finally, the car sits atop a set of Forgline RB1 Monoblock 19-inch wheels wrapped in Falken’s ultra-high-performance summer tire: the AZENIS FK453. 

The Forgeline RB1 is a fully-forged one-piece monoblock wheel with a concave 10-spoke design featuring a subtle directional twist on each spoke. Meanwhile, the FK453 tire features noise-absorption technology, which helps provide a quiet and comfortable ride, and it is composed of nylon-reinforced layers allowing for enhanced high-speed stability.

According to Elam, the car took a few months to complete and also received work performed by Xtreme Motorsports, a full-service vehicle repair, and performance facility located in Tempe, Arizona. 

Elam frequently drives the Mustang; he says his favorite aspect of the build is that it combines modern comfort and features with handling and speed. 

“I have toyed with the idea of selling it, but it is hard to let go,” Elam said. He added that if he keeps it, he may give it an updated look with new wheels and brake color, “maybe a new tune for some more power.”