For those who don't know, the name Roush is synonymous with many things in the automotive realm, most notably Ford and the business of dramatically upping engine power.
With its headquarters in Michigan and with considerable influence stretching into Europe, Roush is a vast enterprise that encompasses a racing division, an engineering firm and an aftermarket development company.
Roush is also a big name on the NASCAR circuit with five cars in the Sprint Cup Series, six in the Nationwide Series and three trucks in the Craftman Truck Series.
Fans of the brand can also buy their own modified, signature Roush Ford Mustang, Focus or F-150, a full-sized pick-up truck now in its 50th year of production.
The most successful aspect of the Roush aftermarket auto parts business is certainly the sales of the ROUSHcharger. Jack Roush, king of the Roush empire, puts his personal stamp on these superchargers, promising big power gains and years of trouble-free use.
Its popularity is partly due to it being the only supercharger covered by the 3-year and 36 000-mile drivetrain warranty granted by auto giants Ford. These charger systems come in sets with all the necessary components so people can buy and install them at home.
The main components are the roots-style charger, an intake manifold, an air-to-water cooling system, high-flow fuel injectors and an induction system. It also comes with full instructions, including hints and tips on how to increase longevity.
Roush encourages that people installing this supercharger unit ship their PCMs to Roush Performance to have it recalibrated. Overnight courier is included in the price. Buyers should note than spark plugs are not included in these kits, but that new ones will be included once the PCM has been reprogrammed.
In October last year, the automotive industry was buzzing with the news of another big development at the house of Roush, excellent news for Mustang drivers already enjoying the benefits of the ROUSHcharger.
According to the engineers at Roush, the ROUSHcharger's contribution to power gains are now pumped up by an additional 30HP via a smaller pulley and recalibrated PCM.
The Mustang GT would then be putting out a monster total of 445HP, a 145 more horsepower than the standard engine's 300HP.
If you've already installed the ROUSHcharger and would like to enjoy even higher gains, you can order the smaller pulley from Roush Performance for less than $400.
