Mustang [First Drives] 2010 Ford Shelby GT500

[Merc1]

Lonely at the Top: Ford Throws a Power-Party and Nobody Shows Up


It's every host's worst nightmare. You fuss and fret to make everything perfect, redecorating inside and out, upgrading to the best, most powerful entertainment systems, and then...nobody comes. You can't blame Ford for overpreparing. The ruffians that were expected to crash the Mustang's perennial sales party looked tough -- particularly the 500-plus-hp Camaro Z/28. Then the global economic buzz-kill hit Ford's competitors hard, kyboshing politically frivolous projects like gas-guzzling two-doors. Now Ford stands alone at the top of the pony/musclecar hill, but is this de-facto king of the hill worthy of his crown?

We Nancy-boy, string-back-glove sorts are quick to carp at cars carrying 58% of two tons on a strut-suspended nose with the rest on a live axle, but a spirited drive up California's Highway 1 in Ford's latest Shelby GT500 has us eating some preconceived carp. Despite its carryover architecture and heavy borrowing from last year's GT500 KR, this 2010 Shelby's steering feel, turn-in, and ride/handling balance are dramatically improved. The transformation is particularly impressive given the minimal tweaks made to the springs, dampers, and steering as 19-in. tires replaced 18s.



Full Story: Motor Trend - First Test: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500


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[Merc1]

More than just a musclecar, the new Shelby GT500 has found some new manners.


Sonoma, California — The acrid smell of tire smoke fills my nostrils. Minute shreds of asphalt mix with vaporized custom Goodyear rubber as Shelby's 2010 GT500 effortlessly overpowers their futile hold on each other. I've been told that 3rd gear burnouts are the best. I would have to agree.

The 540 horsepower from the hand-built 5.4-liter supercharged dohc 32-valve V-8 has been put to good use in this pony. It's a superb improvement over the previous car in that it does more than go fast in a straight line. Using much of what was learned in the GT500KR, King of the Road, development has resulted in a GT500 that can really turn a fast lap.

Engine and suspension modifications are very similar to what was done for the GT500KR. Helping to squeeze out that extra 40 horsepower is a new intake snorkel. It now draws air from the driver's side of the nose, which means the cobra emblem is now on the other side of the grille. Extra attention was given to steering feel and precision. The work has paid off. The breakaway character of the car at the limit is easily predicted from the driver's seat. The communicative steering benefits from stiffer couplings and well tuned front-suspension geometry. The result is a car that likes to linger at the limit, but can be gently pushed into a graceful powerslide.


Road and Track - Driving Impression: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500


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[Giannis]

Still rigid rear axle! For F*ck's Sake, we are in 2009! It just isn't right, not to have a proper suspension...

 

[Tarek]

Looks mean though..

 

[VroomVroom]

Watch Frying Tires in the 2010 Mustang - A Top Gear Car Video - Top Gear US

Hell yeah!!

 

[Merc1]

Sonoma, California — The acrid smell of tire smoke fills my nostrils. Minute particles of asphalt mix with vaporized custom Goodyear rubber as Shelby's 2010 GT500 effortlessly creates this impressive, pungent cloud. I've been told that 3rd gear burnouts are the best. I would have to agree.

The 540 bhp from the hand-built 5.4-liter supercharged dohc 32-valve V-8 is a 40-bhp improvement over the previous generation's 500, but it's more than that. Thanks largely to what was learned in development of the GT500KR (King of the Road), the GT500 is far more tractable and can really turn a fast lap.

Engine and suspension modifications are very similar to what was done for the GT500KR. Helping to squeeze out that extra 40 bhp is a new intake snorkel that draws air from the driver's side of the nose, which means the cobra emblem is now on the other side of the grille. Extra attention was given to steering feel and precision, and the work has paid off. The breakaway character of the car at the limit is easily predicted from the driver's seat. The communicative steering benefits from stiffer couplings and well-tuned front suspension geometry. The result is a car that likes to linger at the limit, but can be gently pushed into a graceful powerslide.



Full Article: Road and Track - First Drive: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500


Video: Road and Track - First Drive: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500


I love this car!


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[VroomVroom]

This is one mean car!!

 

[///K]

I'll take one in black with black rims!

 

[Merc1]

Quick, What Has 750 Horsepower and Goes Faster Than Stink?

Something is very, very wrong here.

On its third pull, the blue black 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake just lit up K&N's dyno to the tune of 635 horsepower and 581 lb-ft of torque. Quick mental math says somewhere between 730 and 760 horsepower at the crankshaft.

I quickly text Scott Black of Shelby's PR company for an explanation. He responds: "We are in the midst of changing our marketing materials to reflect 750...which we announced at the car launch last month." Hmmm. Must have missed that. I don't miss the unintentional irony of Black's sign off: "We tend to be a bit conservative."

Seven hundred and fifty horsepower is conservative? Yeah, like an 8 x 8 In'n'Out Double-Double "Animal Style" or Giselle Bundchen in spattered green body paint.

Head still spinning from the obscenity of 635 wheel horsepower (three shy of what a Corvette ZR-1 makes at the crank) we head to Fontana to test the Super Snake's traction and road test editor's Scott Mortara's launch skills.


Full story: Motor Trend - First Test: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake


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[Monster]

This is going on my top 10 dream garage. This thing is fantastically overpowered.