Shelby GT500
The ultimate Mustang, the Shelby GT500 is obscenely fast
and likely to give you an adrenaline rush like no other
4 x © Ford Motor CompanyLet’s get the unsurprising facts out of the way first. The 2013
Shelby GT500 is equipped with the most powerful production
V8 engine in the world and also the most efficient one in
America, producing more than 485 kilowatts (650 brake
horsepower). These two achievements are made possible by an
all-aluminium block, 2.3-litre (0.6-gallon) supercharger,
upgraded cooling system, larger engine fan, redesigned air
cooler, higher-flow intercooler pump and a 36 per cent increase
in the capacit y of the intercooler’s heat exchanger. That’s
impressive – 325 kilometres (202 miles) per hour impressive –
but not something that is particularly shocking for arguably
one of the most iconic muscle cars ever.
What is surprising is the way the GT500 converts that
immense power into refined performance. After all, strapping
650 horses to a chassis raises my riad problems, none more so
than that of ensuring solid traction and handling. The GT500
deals w ith these issues through a launch control system – an
electronic configurator that enables drivers to set specific rpm
launch points – along with a Torsen limited-slip differential
and AdvanceTrac steering-assist. Combined, all this advanced
tech allows this modern Mustang to maximise the amount of
raw power put dow n, as well as control it while cornering.
Further, the Shelby GT500 complements its all-round
performance by the inclusion of a top-of-the-range braking
system. Accompany ing the 48-centimetre (19-inch) front and
51-centimetre (20-inch) rear forged-aluminium alloys is a new
Brembo-made system of rotors and callipers (w ith si x pistons at
the front), as well as a series of composite brake pads oriented
towards sharp acceleration and deceleration manoeuv res.
These, along w ith a four-profile traction control setup plus an
SVT-designed set of Bilstein shock absorbers, ensure excellent
handling on the road as well as on the track.Engine
The supercharged, intercooled
5.8l (1.5ga), 32-valve V8 petrol
engine outputs 485kW (650bhp),
which enables the GT500 to
accelerate from 0-97km/h
(0 - 60mph) in just 3.5 seconds.Electronics
A four-profile traction control
setup along with a Bilstein
electronically adjustable damper
system delivers excellent
handling on both road and track.Brakes
35.6cm (14in) Brembo vented rotors
with six-piston callipers in the front
and 30cm (11.8in) vented rotors with
a single-piston calliper at the rear
help the GT500 stop rapidly.The statistics...
Length: 4,780mm (188.2in)
Height: 1,400mm (55.1in)
Weight: 1,746kg (3,850lb)
Engine: 5.8l (1.5ga) V8
Transmission: Tre m e c
six-speed manual
0-100km/h (0-62mph): 3.5sec
Power: 485kW (650bhp)
Efficiency: 8.5km/l (24mpg)Shelby GT500
DID YOU KNOW? The Shelby GT500 is manufactured in Flat Rock, Michigan, USA