What takes place while a legend from Texas reunites with a legend from Dearborn? The maximum effective Mustang ever.
After forty years, racing legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustang are returned collectively with the creation of the 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
The collaboration among Shelby and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) is yielding an immediately collector's Mustang that builds 500 horsepower in its five.4-liter supercharged V-eight.
A contemporary-day interpretation of the Shelby Mustang of the Sixties, the Ford Shelby GT500 makes use of superior engineering to reap the overall performance that made the authentic GT500 the king of the street.
True to the authentic GT500, it'll be to be had each as a coupe and as a convertible while it is going on sale withinside the summer time season of 2006.
"When Carroll became growing the authentic GT350 and GT500, he desired to construct the maximum effective, maximum succesful Mustangs of his day," says Hau Thai-Tang, director, Advanced Product Creation and Special Vehicle Team. "Our purpose became to construct the maximum effective, maximum succesful Mustang ever."
"It's one issue to position 450 horsepower in an special supercar," says Shelby. "It's any other to position that tons electricity in some thing as inexpensive as a Mustang. The truth that they now no longer simplest met their purpose however driven directly to 500 horsepower is a terrific achievement."
Shelby is aware of some thing approximately developing contemporary-day supercars. He served as a senior adviser at the group that evolved and constructed the 550-horsepower Ford GT.
Power Play
As predicted of whatever with Shelby's call on it, the coronary heart of the auto is what is beneathneath the hood. The Ford Shelby GT500's supercharged five.4-liter, 32-valve V-eight evolves from Ford's enjoy with tuning its modular, or MOD, engines. Output is a brawny 500 horsepower.
The engine is pressure-fed an air-and-gas combination thru a "Roots-kind" supercharger offering eight.five kilos in keeping with rectangular inch of boost. The GT500 makes use of a solid iron engine block. It borrows from the Ford GT application aluminum, 4-valve cylinder heads, piston jewelry and bearings, including a excessive stage of overall performance sturdiness to the drivetrain. "Powered via way of means of SVT" camshaft covers upload the completion to the engine.
Helping placed the electricity to the pavement is a 6-pace guide gearbox. For the overall performance motive force, its flippantly spaced gears imply much less "stirring" is wanted to locate the "candy spot." This offers a profitable enjoy for the duration of the engine's huge torque curve. The heavy-responsibility transmission has confirmed itself a inclined accomplice to Mustangs in each street and tune environments, which include current street-going Mustang Cobras and the brand new race-triumphing Mustang FR500C.
Power Requires Control
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 keeps a legacy of all-round overall performance that made the authentic a international-magnificence racer on tracks and street publications across the international.
The Ford Shelby GT500 begins offevolved with the strong Mustang underpinnings. The all-new Mustang became designed from the start with overall performance derivatives in mind, offering a very rigid, nicely-engineered start line for GT500 chassis engineers.
SVT engineers retuned and upgraded key chassis components. Improvements consisting of revised shocks, spring prices and upgraded stabilizer bars assist the Ford Shelby GT500 forestall and flip with the identical authority because it is going.
The Ford Shelby GT500 capabilities a MacPherson strut unbiased the front suspension with Reverse L decrease manage fingers, and a strong-axle, 3-hyperlink rear suspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod for particular manage of the rear axle.
This rear suspension layout has been verified at the tune via way of means of Ford Racing. The Ford Racing Mustang FR500C became motive-constructed from the bottom 2005 Mustang frame shape and suspension geometry to run withinside the Grand-Am Cup series, a category of street racing for manufacturing-primarily based totally motors.
Competing in opposition to the quality from Germany and Japan, a Mustang FR500C gained its first race withinside the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February 2005. It went directly to dominate the season and clinch the championship.
"SVT and Ford Racing may be running nearer than ever as we move ahead on destiny projects, specifically Mustangs," says Thai-Tang, a Ford Racing alumnus who served because the race engineer for the Newman-Haas Racing group in 1993.
To in shape this electricity and coping with cappotential, engineers equipped a number of the most important brakes withinside the enterprise to the Ford Shelby GT500. Four-piston Brembo calipers are suited to 14-inch Brembo vented rotors up the front, and 11.eight-inch vented discs withinside the rear preserve SVT's legacy of high-quality-braking Mustangs. Secure footing is supplied via way of means of 255/45ZR excessive-overall performance tires in the front and 285/40ZR excessive-overall performance tires in returned. Wheels are 18 inches via way of means of 9.five inches.
The Snake is Back
One look suggests this isn't always the standard Mustang Cobra. A sinister-searching the front-cease layout consists of extensive higher and decrease fascia openings with a purposeful air splitter. The higher consumption sports activities the well-known Cobra emblem floating off-middle in area of a focused galloping pony determined on different Mustangs. On both facet, slanting headlamp openings upload to the dramatic the front appearance.
The bulging hood has warmth extractors sticking out close to the main edge, combining to offer advanced airflow and aerodynamics. As air passes over the hood, warm air from the engine compartment is drawn out thru ducts connected to the hood extractors.
The 2005 Mustang layout group drew idea from traditional 1968 Mustangs, the fashions that converted the mild-mannered pony automobile right into a muscle automobile with attitude. Envisioning a excessive-overall performance version, the group examined GT500 layout cues at the Mustang GT coupe idea that became unveiled on the 2003 North American International Auto Show.
In 2004, designers similarly evolved the GT500 appearance at the Mustang GT-R, a race-bred idea with the twin motive of foreshadowing SVT's Mustang layout course and Ford Racing's plans to go back Mustang to street racing. The Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra idea coupe capped the layout conceptualization effort.
The manufacturing Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe now comes into complete mild, punctuated via way of means of the traditional Le Mans-fashion white stripes that race alongside the pinnacle from nostril to tail. The stripes take into account the Shelby Mustangs that marked any other crucial Sixties Mustang transition while Ford placed it at the tune to turning into a racing legend. The GT500 nomenclature is distinguished withinside the decrease bodyside racing stripe, any other cue from the traditional Shelby Mustangs.
In a hint additionally borrowed from the GT500's past, no Le Mans stripes may be visible at the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible. However, the convertible will recreation a material pinnacle just like the ones determined on pricier convertibles.
"There have been no Le Mans stripes on Shelby's authentic GT500 Convertible, so we determined to pay homage via way of means of now no longer presenting them at the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500," says Gaffka. "We additionally went with a material pinnacle fabric as any other degree of substance and authenticity. The material used is the identical used at the 2002-03 SVT Mustang Cobra, the Thunderbird, Jaguar and Ford's different excessive-cease convertibles."
The specific rear fascia capabilities decrease strakes stimulated via way of means of the Ford GT's incorporated rear airflow diffuser, and a rear spoiler harking back to a traditional GT500. To mark the collaboration of Mustang overall performance icons, the GT500 capabilities Shelby and SVT badging.
The fenders every function an up to date layout of the Cobra. The the front grille capabilities an off-middle snake in area of the same old walking horse. "GT500" is emblazoned withinside the facet rocker stripes, and the call SHELBY is prominently written throughout the rear deck. The SVT emblem may be visible at the wheel middle caps, a signature SVT location, in addition to at the doorsill plates. To pinnacle it off, the medallion among the hind lights reads "Shelby GT500" focused at the Cobra photo.
Cockpit Upgrades
Inside, too, upgraded stages of aptitude and feature abound. The places of the speedometer and the tachometer are swapped to offer overall performance-orientated drivers with a higher view of shift factors at the same time as converting gears. Front seats have acquired extra lateral aid to assist hold the motive force optimally located in the course of cornering. The indoors is obtainable in a desire of shades, Charcoal Black or Charcoal Black and Crimson Red. The charcoal/pink presenting capabilities Crimson Red seating surfaces and door panel inserts. Seating surfaces are leather-based with each indoors remedies. Snake emblems embossed withinside the seat backs end the bundle.
The Shelby GT500 script and Cobra photo are repeated at the steerage wheel cap. Behind the wheel, the gauges put on mild faces in step with SVT subculture. The chromed add-ons withinside the cabin had been changed with a satin aluminum end, which include the aluminum shift lever knob this is well located for quick, tremendous shifts.
SVT and Shelby: The Legends Grow
With the appearance and legend one might assume from Shelby and the form of electricity and overall performance fanatics have come to assume from SVT, the GT500 factors to a logo-new generation in Ford's overall performance destiny.
Shelby first placed his call on a Mustang returned in 1964 while he became requested to inject a few excessive overall performance into the logo-new pony automobile. The end result became the GT-350R, a light-weight, coping with-centered race automobile that earned Mustang its first overall performance credentials. Subsequent Shelby Mustangs blanketed a road model of the race automobile, the GT-350, and what became referred to as the "rent-a-racer" Mustang, the GT-350H, a joint venture with the Hertz condo automobile corporation.
The closing Shelby Mustang of the generation became the GT-500KR, or "King of the Road." Powered via way of means of a huge block 428-cubic-inch "Cobra Jet" V-eight, the GT-500 became one of the maximum effective, and memorable, muscle motors of that period. Shelby Mustang manufacturing ceased in 1970 with a complete extent of 14,559 devices.
The Ford Special Vehicle Team delivered excessive overall performance returned to Mustang in 1993. After 12 years, with almost 80,000 excessive-overall performance Mustangs at the streets and overall SVT car manufacturing nearing 145,000, SVT is primed for boom with the GT500 serving as the muse for different overall performance Mustang projects.
By bringing collectively Shelby and Ford SVT, the company's dedication to overall performance turns into as effective as at any time in its records - which include the famed "Total Performance" days of the Sixties. From the Ford GT supercar, the GT500, to a rejuvenated Ford Racing Performance Parts application, overall performance and racing can power innovation and upload luster to Ford's proud logo historical past.
"SVT will continue to be the chief in overall performance car engineering," says Thai-Tang. "It will preserve to construct new, progressive merchandise the usage of superior tactics with the intention to now no longer simplest offer high-quality amusement to the devoted riding fanatic, however that still will offer high-quality gain to different Ford merchandise and Ford Motor Company itself."
Exterior
The 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a useful overall performance automobile and putting to appearance at.
The layout group did now no longer simply take historical past cues and paste them onto the present day Mustang. Working with the engineering group, they devoted themselves to a layout that could beautify the auto's overall performance.
For instance, the fog lamps have been eliminated from the higher grille establishing in which they're placed at the Mustang GT. Smaller devices have been relocated at the outdoor of the decrease the front fascia in which they feature nicely.
"We determined that the authentic Shelby Mustang's layout occurred in reaction to maximizing the auto's overall performance," says Doug Gaffka, leader clothier for Mustang, SVT and Vehicle Personalization. "The identical is actual of the SVT layout language that has developed over time."
A similarly instance of ways shape follows feature is the layout of the warmth extractors at the hood of the Shelby GT500. Here, they could higher cast off warmth from the engine compartment - an crucial attention for a automobile producing 500 horsepower.
"It is perfect, says Carroll Shelby of the auto's usual layout. "I would not alternate a issue. It is the whole lot I predicted a contemporary-day Shelby Mustang to be."
Other purposeful aero additions to the Shelby GT500 may be determined on the the front and rear. The rear spoiler provides massive downforce. Similarly, the the front air splitter successfully combats lift.
The 18 x 9.five-inch wheels worn via way of means of the Shelby GT500 additionally endure a resemblance to the ones of the Ford GT.
Upscale Convertible, Regalia Stripes
The Shelby GT500 convertible stocks cues with different excessive-cease Ford Motor Company merchandise. Rather than the usage of vinyl for its pinnacle, because the mainstream Mustang does, the GT500 convertible makes use of the identical form of material as that at the Ford Thunderbird and the Jaguar XK. The pinnacle is to be had simplest in black to in shape the auto's predominantly black indoors.
"There is clearly an upscale experience to the pinnacle," says Keith Rogman, SVT layout manager. "It suits withinside the identical class because the stripes: They do not make the auto move faster, they do not make it cut up the wind higher, however they upload a sure intangible authenticity to the auto which you cannot quantify."
Indeed, stripes do not make the auto move faster, however they play a huge function withinside the automobile's identity. In coupe shape, the auto wears the total regalia of stripes Carroll Shelby bestowed upon the authentic GT500 coupe: a Le Mans stripe that runs over the hood, roof and rear deck and facet stripes bearing the legend "GT500" nomenclature.
As did the authentic GT500 convertible, the contemporary-day model contains the facet stripes however foregoes the Le Mans stripe. The Le Mans stripe, the facet stripes or each can be deleted from the Coupe. The facet stripes also are a delete choice at the Convertible.
The stripes are available in various 4 shades (Performance White, Vista Blue, Tungsten and Satin Silver) that, with one exception, may be matched with at the least 3 of the seven to be had outdoors shades. The exception is Vista Blue, which may be paired simplest with a Performance White outdoors.
Exterior shades encompass Torch Red Clearcoat (which may be paired with Performance White or Satin Silver stripes), Alloy Clearcoat Metallic (Satin Silver or Tungsten), Vista Blue Clearcoat (Performance White or Tungsten), Performance White Clearcoat (to be had with Vista Blue or Tungsten stripes), Tungsten Grey Clearcoat (Satin Silver), Grabber Orange (Performance White or Tungsten) and Ebony Clearcoat (Performance White or Tungsten stripes).
"Except for the Grabber Orange and Tungsten mixture, those combos echo what we did with the authentic automobile," says Shelby.
Peter Horbury, govt director, Design, North America, had the possibility to analyze firsthand simply how tons that colour mixture does capture the eye. "I sneaked out at the Woodward Dream Cruise in a yellow prototype of the GT500," he said. "Everybody knew what it became. People have been stepping out in the street to take pictures."
Carroll Shelby, it seems, isn't always the simplest one that feels expectancies had been met.
Interior
The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 boasts an upgraded model of the mainstream Mustang's indoors, designed to cater to the devoted riding fanatic.
Most obvious is using mild-confronted gauges, a subculture on SVT's motors and vans and one which could enhance clarity beneathneath a number of lighting fixtures conditions. The gauges additionally boast SVT graphics.
An astute observer will be aware that the speedometer and tachometer do now no longer occupy the identical positions they do withinside the relaxation of the Mustang line. In the Shelby GT500, the speedometer is at the left at the same time as the tachometer is at the proper.
"This is some thing the SVT engineering workforce insisted on - especially due to the fact the GT500 is to be had simplest with a guide transmission," says Keith Rogman, SVT layout manager. "Making the transfer lets in the motive force the quality view of the tach at the same time as converting gears."
Shelby GT500 sports activities a brushed aluminum end on tool trim, jewelry and door handles. This facilitates lessen glare and offer a chunk of sparkle.
Adds Doug Gaffka, leader clothier for Mustang, SVT and Vehicle Personalization: "This may be very tons in step with the SVT hallmark of substance. It offers the purchaser an immediate gain and now no longer simply a chunk of decoration."
Sit Down and Drive
Substance and feature are also the purpose the the front seats withinside the Shelby GT500 are distinctive from different Mustangs. Bolstering has been brought to offer extended lateral aid. This facilitates hold the motive force optimally placed.
Seating surfaces are leather-based, and the traditional determine of a cobra is embossed at the the front seat backs. The steerage wheel rim is wrapped in leather-based and has specific thumb pads. The shift boot is likewise product of leather-based and the parking brake cope with is leather-based clad.
Two indoors colour remedies are to be had, Charcoal Black and Charcoal Black with Crimson Red seat inserts and door trim panels. A GT500 Performance Interior Trim Package is elective. It capabilities a leather-based-wrapped and stitched tool panel forehead and middle console, upgraded door armrests and aluminum pedal covers.
Performance Sound System
SIRIUS Satellite Radio can be ordered with both the same old Shaker 500 Audio System or the elective Shaker a thousand machine. The Shaker a thousand Audio System amps as much as a complete 1,000 watts from the same old machine's 500. It consists of subwoofers as a part of its 10-speaker array, and an audio enter jack is trendy. Both the Shaker a thousand and the eight-speaker Shaker 500 structures encompass AM/FM Stereo with a six-disc in-sprint CD changer with MP3 capability.
Convenience
Comfort and comfort touches abound. Manual air conditioning, electricity home windows and electricity locks are trendy. The middle console consists of now no longer simply an armrest, however garage as nicely. The indoors additionally capabilities twin electricity factors in addition to cupholders.
And the Ford Special Vehicle Team has placed its stamp on matters because it welcomes fanatics into the auto thru shiny door sill trim plates bearing SVT script.
Chassis
A primary purpose set for the Shelby GT500 became to elevate the coping with to a brand new stage. An smooth street to achievement might had been to really permit Ford Special Vehicle Team chassis engineers tweak the seriously acclaimed Mustang GT and feature motorsports legend Carroll Shelby placed his stamp on it. Easy. Right?
"It all relies upon on what you are happy with," says Tom Chapman, SVT Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor. "If you simply need to make the Mustang stay a chunk greater luckily with a 60-percentage boom in engine output, it is pretty easy to do. If you need it to same the coping with of the Mustang GT in spite of a bigger displacement engine, that takes a chunk greater paintings.
"But in case you need to maintain it as much as an entire new set of requirements and be worth of the Shelby GT500 call, then you definitely higher be organized to roll up your sleeves."
The GT500 keeps the Mustang's suspension setup. In the the front, there are coil-over MacPherson struts with reverse "L" decrease manage fingers product of light-weight I-segment steel. In the rear, there is a 3-hyperlink stay axle with coil springs, Panhard rod, outboard shocks and stabilizer bar.
Weight Distribution
Because of its large engine, the Shelby GT500 coupe has greater weight over the the front wheels than does the same old Mustang GT coupe. On the GT500, fifty seven percentage of the burden is withinside the the front and forty three percentage is withinside the returned. In comparison, at the Mustang GT fifty six percentage of the burden is withinside the the front and forty four percentage is withinside the returned. Weight distribution of GT500 convertible suits the Mustang GT coupe because of the electricity-pinnacle mechanism at the back of the passenger compartment.
Bar Talk
While a heavier nostril typically disposes a automobile to understeer or "push," the Special Vehicle Team's engineers have been capable of preserve impartial coping with with the Shelby GT500 thru using stiffer stabilizer bars. In addition, the rear bar of the GT500 is greater than that of the Mustang GT.
The GT500 makes use of a 34-millimeter tubular the front stabilizer bar. Coupe variations of the GT500 recreation a 24-millimeter rear bar, at the same time as convertibles include a 20-millimeter bar.
"Stiffer stabilizer bars offer decreased roll and supply a greater competitive coping with stability," says SVT Vehicle Dynamics Engineer Dean Martin. "We've additionally given the GT500 better spring prices at each ends to deal with the extra mass of the auto and additionally to lessen roll."
Stopping Power
The Shelby GT500 sports activities Brembo the front brakes with 4-piston calipers and vented 14-inch discs. In the returned, GT500 contains over the Mustang GT's 11.eight-inch vented single-piston caliper rear-disc setup with specific pad fabric.
"We pick a friction fabric with the intention to offer accurate tune-day overall performance for the purchaser and nevertheless supply exceptional parking-brake overall performance and quiet operation," says Chapman.
Tires Manage Balance of Power
The GT500 sits on 4 18-inch x 9.five-inch wheels, sporting 255/45ZR18 tires at the the front and large 285/40ZR18 tires at the rear.
"Larger rears assist get the engine's giant electricity to the floor higher while accelerating off the line," says Martin. "They additionally enhance coping with stability while you are powering farfar from the apex of a activate the race tune the usage of as tons torque and horsepower because the GT500 has."
Putting a Fine Edge at the Steering
The 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 provides a brace that connects the rear decrease arm bushings facet to facet. This became brought to enhance sturdiness and steerage experience.
A specific steerage pump is used and the steerage equipment makes use of a completely unique torsion bar. Again, those paintings to enhance steerage experience and precision.
"We desired to ensure the modifications we made met fanatic purchaser demands," Chapman says. "So we took our engineering motors now no longer simplest to the check tune, however to actual-international power routes and race tracks to make doubly positive that the GT500 might stay as much as the expectancies."
SVT examined the 2007 Shelby GT500 at Grattan and GingerMan in Michigan, Nelson Ledges in Ohio and Las Vegas International Speedway. How lengthy did they run?
"Long sufficient that we have been happy," says Chapman. "And lengthy sufficient to convey a grin to Carroll Shelby's face."
Powertrain
Just because the huge-block GT500 from 1968 became a step up from the GT350, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500's 500 horsepower, five.4-liter V-eight is a step up from the 4.6-liter V-eight utilized in yesterday's SVT Mustang Cobra.
Not coincidentally, the 2007 Shelby GT500 sports activities the biggest displacement engine mounted in a extent model of the Mustang seeing that 1973.
The 1995 SVT Mustang Cobra R used a five.eight-liter three hundred horsepower overhead valve V-eight, and 250 devices have been produced. The 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R used a 385 horsepower five.4-liter twin overhead cam V-eight, and a constrained run of three hundred motors became produced.
While the huge block, overhead cams and 4 valves in keeping with cylinder make contributions drastically to the 500-horsepower output of the 2007 Shelby GT500's five.4-liter V-eight, a Roots-kind supercharger and intercooler are the icing at the cake. In truth, the configuration is just like the Ford GT supercar, presenting the proper mixture of traditional Ford huge-block electricity and contemporary-day generation. Using the Ford GT as a blueprint, SVT has given the GT500 greater overall horsepower than any manufacturing unit Mustang withinside the automobile's celebrated records.
"The Shelby GT500 can provide at the essence of high-quality names in Ford overall performance - a combination of SVT's contemporary-day-day enjoy with supercharging and the Shelby GT500's historical past of huge-block electricity," says Jay O'Connell, SVT leader car engineer.
Supercharged 500-Horsepower
With the stout solid iron, five.4-liter Triton V-eight engine as a start line, the Shelby GT500 provides a Roots-kind eight.five-kilos-in keeping with-rectangular-inch Eaton supercharger and water-to-air intercooler.
"A screw-kind supercharger that we use withinside the Ford GT offers you a touch greater pinnacle cease, and the Roots kind is a touch fatter withinside the midrange," says O'Connell. Given that the GT500 may be used as a each day motive force a long way greater than the Ford GT is, it is the best desire."
Adding forced-induction electricity is greater than only a bolt-on proposition. The engine's internals want upgrading for the sake of electricity and sturdiness. To that cease, the Shelby GT500's powerplant blessings from specific connecting rods and cast pistons to deal with the more pressure at the decrease cease of the block.
"The whole induction machine is specific," says O'Connell. "That consists of the consumption, intercooler, gas supply - the whole lot."
The all-new consumption manifold facilitates to channel the supercharged gas-air combination into the cylinders. The low-profile manifold layout additionally successfully applications the whole induction machine beneathneath the GT500's unique air-extractor hood. Fuel comes from a twin-bore digital throttle frame borrowed from Ford's 6.eight-liter V-10 truck engine application.
To control warmth produced via way of means of 500 horses, engineers devised a hard and fast of GT500 precise capabilities, which include an air-extractor hood, a excessive-capability aluminum radiator, an intercooler established beneathneath the blower, a loop-fashion electricity-steerage cooler and an oil-to-water stacked-dish engine oil cooler.
4-Valve Heads from Ford GT
While supercharging is a key detail withinside the Shelby GT500's cappotential to generate a lot horsepower, any other primary contributing thing is the layout of cast-aluminum, 4-valve cylinder heads sourced from the Ford GT supercar.
Machining modifications are integrated into the outdoor ends of the heads and to the left rear cam cap to healthy the engine into the Mustang chassis.
Developed especially for supercharged applications, those excessive-overall performance heads use excessive-go with the drift ports and specifically calibrated twin-overhead camshafts to supply surest engine "breathing" together with exceptionally accurate gas performance and emissions.
The cams and valvetrain are precise to the Shelby GT500. The cam power machine is specific and designed to healthy into the Mustang engine compartment, that's narrower than the Ford GT's. The oil pan and windage tray are the wet-sump setup from the Mustang GT. The Ford GT makes use of a dry-sump arrangement.
Powered via way of means of SVT
To fanatics, the actual splendor of any overall performance automobile rests with its engine. That concept honestly wasn't misplaced on Carroll Shelby due to the fact Mustangs that bore his call have historically delivered his specific experience of favor and character at once into the engine compartment. One Shelby signature function - unique finned-valve covers embossed with "COBRA Powered By Ford" - quickly have become the envy of many Ford V-eight owners.
The GT500 is geared up with unique "Powered via way of means of SVT" finned-cam covers to trace on the splendor of all the ones horses lurking withinside the engine beneathneath. Mated to the Ford GT 4-valve cylinder heads are specific exhaust manifolds that assist to higher scavenge spent gases out of the cylinders and into the custom-tuned mufflers and twin-exhaust machine.
And the competitive exhaust be aware, that's unobtrusive in regular riding situations, became actually custom tuned.
"More than forty distinctive muffler tunings have been examined, measured and evaluated to provide you with the proper sound," says William Woebkenberg, an engineer with SVT.
A unique tool referred to as a "tuned exhaust crossover" became integrated to create the unique sound. Unlike the H-pipe layout utilized by the Mustang GT, the Shelby GT500 makes use of an X-form stamping to create the preferred sound and boom electricity output thru dynamic scavenging.
6-Speed Gearbox
The gearbox utilized by the 2007 Shelby GT500 is also a rarity. Few transmissions exist withinside the market nowadays which could cope with the torque hundreds generated via way of means of the supercharged GT500, so engineers are opting to stay with the confirmed heavy-responsibility overall performance of the TR6060 6-pace guide gearbox.
The GT500 employs an upgraded model of the T-fifty six, which first regarded withinside the 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R, powered via way of means of a evidently aspirated five.4-liter V-eight with 385 horsepower, and later withinside the supercharged 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra whose DOHC 4.6-liter produced 390 horses. For the Shelby GT500, the six-pace guide may be geared to make the maximum of the supercharged five.4-liter's huge electricity band.
Then and Now
Performance motors have developed dramatically seeing that their heyday withinside the Sixties. In phrases of protection, performance and refinement, cutting-edge road machines definitely outperform their elder muscle automobile colleagues in almost all categories. Yet the tale is seldom instructed approximately the first-rate profits made in decreasing emissions at the same time as growing usual electricity output.
The truth is, the GT500 is without problems two times as effective because the freshest V-eight bundle presented while Mustang became first added - but nevertheless produces from one hundred to three hundred instances fewer emissions. Additionally, cutting-edge contemporary-day "MOD" V-eight powertrain enjoys a almost 60-percentage boom in common gas financial system in comparison to corresponding Ford merchandise produced 30 years ago.
Back withinside the so-referred to as Muscle Car generation, riding a road beast with greater than four hundred horsepower became a dicey proposition. When twin carburetors, revolutionary linkage and twin-factor ignitions have been a part of the equation, overall performance got here with a price - drivability. Running too lean or too rich - or with the timing or spark out of adjustment -- ought to imply it might misfire or "carbon up", once in a while with thick black smoke coming from the tailpipe. Worse but became gas financial system, with maximum of the huge, excessive-powered V-8s on the time netting everywhere from six to ten miles in keeping with gallon in standard riding.
Ford's "MOD" V-eight own circle of relatives of engines makes greater electricity than any Ford automobiles of the past, but tops 20 mpg at the dual carriageway and meet the government's LEV-II tailpipe emissions requirements.
Multi-valve Engine Technology
Modern, race-derived generation offers an exciting electricity comparison: The GT500 with a five.4-liter, DOHC, supercharged V-eight produces higher than one hundred horsepower greater with almost one hundred fewer cubic inches. Compare that with the 1967 Shelby GT500's 355-horsepower, 428-cubic-inch-displacement, huge-block V-eight.
The GT500 makes use of cylinder heads with 4 valves in keeping with cylinder and double overhead cams for maximum engine "breathing." Using a couple of valves in keeping with cylinder offers the engine with a greater green airflow, producing better top horsepower. As a further gain, multi-valve engines higher make use of the air-and-gas combination withinside the cylinders with much less waste and unburned gas vapor. Also, multi-valve engines are higher appropriate to assist scavenge exhaust gases out of the cylinder after combustion is entire for greater electricity with purifier tailpipe emissions.
In addition, supercharging produces the height horsepower of a miles large-displacement, evidently aspirated engine. Yet, at decrease throttle applications, the smaller displacement enabled via way of means of supercharging consumes much less gas, ensuing in extended gas financial system and decrease emissions.
As a end result, the 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is designed now no longer simplest to be the maximum effective Mustang from the manufacturing unit - however additionally one of the cleanest.
Safety
With a frame shape offering notably greater torsional stress than the preceding era Mustang tough pinnacle, the chassis of the 2007 GT500 coupe is higher capable of reply to motive force inputs to assist manage the car in emergency maneuvers.
The frame shape is 31 percentage stiffer in torsion, that means that a twisting pressure of 15,500 foot-kilos can deform the frame via way of means of simplest one degree. Such dramatic leaps in frame stiffness make contributions to the GT500's riding overall performance, with parallel blessings in coincidence safety.
Engineering a frame with such excessive stiffness creates a passenger "protection cage" that facilitates defend the cabin from deformation and intrusion.
The the front shape is designed to soak up power in a managed way and deplete it earlier than it may attain the passenger compartment. The GT500 the front rails have an octagonal form to unfold forces flippantly on the firewall and regularly deform for extended safety in worrying offset frontal crashes.
Other protection capabilities encompass all-pace traction manage, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Ford's Personal Safety System®. When you upload withinside the trendy motive force and the front passenger facet-effect air baggage and facet intrusion door beams, the GT500 offers a complete protection bundle.
GT500 Confidence: Ford Personal Safety System®
Topping the listing of GT500's protection device is Ford's Personal Safety System®, one of the industry's maximum complete protection generation suites. The machine is designed to offer better safety in lots of kinds of frontal crashes via way of means of studying effect elements and figuring out right air bag reaction in milliseconds.
It makes use of twin-degree motive force and the front-passenger air baggage able to deploying at complete or partial electricity. In much less intense frontal crashes, air baggage inflate with much less pressure.
Ford's Personal Safety System® employs pretensioners to tighten the front seat belts withinside the first milliseconds of a crash. Energy control retractors steadily slacken the belt, if necessary, to lessen forces throughout the occupant's chest in the course of the effect.
Standard Front Passenger Classification Sensing
Standard the front passenger type sensing builds at the electricity of the Personal Safety System™ to tailor deployment of the the front-passenger air bag. If the passenger-seat sensor detects no weight or little or no weight, like a newspaper or a jacket, the passenger air bag is mechanically switched off.
If greater weight is at the seat, like a small child, the air bag stays deactivated and an tool panel mild signals the motive force with the message "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF." Of course, the most secure area for kids stays the rear seat, well restrained. If an grownup is seated well withinside the passenger seat, the air bag mechanically is switched on, geared up to inflate inside milliseconds, if needed.
Among the handfuls of trendy protection and safety capabilities the GT500 gives are:
- BeltMinder™ - The simplest manner to assist shop lives on roadways is one of the only protection technology at the market - the protection belt. Ford's BeltMinder™ machine offers occupants a mild chiming reminder to lock their protection belts. A Ford innovation added in 1999, BeltMinder™ already is proving to boom protection-belt use.
- SecuriLock™ Passive Anti-Theft System - Passive anti-robbery structures like SecuriLock™ assist defend in opposition to power-away robbery thru using an electronically coded ignition key. The machine is designed to assist save you the engine from being began out except a coded key programmed to the car is used. A miniature transponder with an incorporated circuit and antenna is imbedded withinside the ignition key. A wi-fi radio-frequency transmission transfers an digital code among the transponder withinside the key and the car. If the codes in shape, a sign passes thru the wiring machine to the digital engine manage, permitting the car to start.
- Battery Saver - Battery Saver facilitates save you unintentional battery drainage from Mustang's indoors lighting fixtures. The battery saver function mechanically turns off indoors lighting fixtures in a parked car after some mins, like while a door is left ajar. If indoors lighting fixtures are left on at the same time as the ignition is withinside the Off position, a relay is deactivated in 10 to forty mins reducing electricity to the indoors lighting fixtures.
- Fail-Safe Cooling - A fail-secure cooling machine shall we GT500 be pushed beneathneath constrained electricity for quick distances if engine coolant is misplaced, casting off the value and inconvenience of towing. If the coolant stage sensor reads beneathneath a important stage, the engine laptop module switches the engine to an emergency limp-domestic mode, wherein simplest 1/2 of the cylinders get gas. With simplest 1/2 of the cylinders firing, the engine operates at decrease electricity and generates tons much less warmth. The cylinders change among even- and odd-firing pistons on this mode. The engine can circulate the car at mild speeds (as much as approximately 50 mph).
Keeping the Shelby Where It Belongs
The GT500 additionally capabilities an lively anti-robbery bundle aimed toward preventing excessive overall performance-automobile coverage premiums. The bundle consists of:
- Separate Alarm Sounder - The GT500 employs a separate, remotely placed alarm sounder along side the site visitors horn, making it more difficult for thieves to disable the machine and make off with the auto or its contents.
- Anti-Tow Sensor - The car is guarded in opposition to tow-away thefts. An inclination-sensing module data the car's perspective while the anti-robbery machine is armed. If the sensor detects a alternate in car incline, it sends a sign to the alarm machine, which triggers a separate alarm, site visitors horn and flashes the auto's lighting fixtures.
- Ultrasonic Interior Motion Sensor - To hit upon "smash-and-grab" break-ins, an ultrasonic indoors-movement sensor is designed to hit upon movement withinside the car cabin. If an intrusion is detected, the alarm sounder and site visitors horn are activated and the outdoors lighting fixtures flash to frighten might-be thieves.
- Perimeter Anti-Theft Protection - Perimeter anti-robbery sensors additionally hit upon the hole of the hood, doorways or trunk while the anti-robbery machine is armed. If the car is parked and the window rolled down, for instance, the alarm is sounded if a might-be-thief attempts to open the door to advantage get entry to to the auto.
- High-Capacity Battery - A 60-ampere-hour battery is able to sounding the alarm longer. This effective battery lends an additional degree of authority to the lively anti-robbery machine and facilitates save you battery run-down from use of GT500's effective audio machine at the same time as the engine is off.
Special Features
Carroll Shelby has usually been a fierce competitor, each at the tune and in enterprise. He does now no longer want to lose.
"About the simplest issue I like much less than dropping is dropping and now no longer gaining knowledge of from it," says the racing high-quality.
That philosophy sums up how Shelby, superchargers and Mustangs got here collectively withinside the first area.
The tale starts offevolved in 1965 while a supercharger producer attempted to hobby Shelby in setting its product on his then-new GT350 Mustang. At the time, Shelby's plate became complete with building, promoting and racing motors. He declined.
Then the producer's rep confirmed up at Shelby's save withinside the shadow of the Los Angeles airport with a supercharged GT350. Shelby agreed to a race at the great expanses of empty concrete that surrounded the airport. He jumped at the back of the wheel of a 289 Cobra roadster - a car tons lighter than the 289 GT350 - and soundly misplaced.
"Well, I figured if that rep became going to train me a lesson I may as nicely benefit from it," he says. "So for the 1966 version we made a supercharger a manufacturing unit choice at the GT350 in addition to an o.e.m accessory."
A supercharger remained withinside the Shelby catalog proper thru the cease of manufacturing of the authentic Shelby Mustangs. It became presented on GT350 fashions. In 1966 and 1967 those have been powered via way of means of the 289 cubic-inch V-eight. In 1968, displacement became boosted to 302 cubic inches. Beginning in 1969, the GT350 sported Ford's then-new 351 cubic-inch V-eight.
Using a Blower to Call Down the Thunder
However, those have been now no longer the first - nor, obviously, the last - manufacturing Ford passenger cars to be supercharged.
Thunderbird and supercharger have lengthy been synonymous. The courting started out in 1957 while a supercharged model of the "Y-block" 312 cubic-inch V-eight became presented as a greater effective opportunity to the 2 non-blown engine choices. Output of the same old Thunderbird 4-barrel 312 became rated at 245 gross horsepower. A twin 4-barrel model generated 270 gross horsepower. However, the supercharged engine crowned them each with a gross score of three hundred horsepower.
Thunderbirds and superchargers might now no longer meet once more till the 1989 version yr while the Thunderbird Super Coupe became added. This time round, the engine became a V-6 displacing 3.eight liters. From 1989 thru 1993, the Super Coupe carried a internet score of 210 horsepower and 315 lbs.-ft. of torque. This became upgraded to 230 horsepower and 330 lbs.-ft. for the 1994 and 1995 version years.
SVT Finds Special Uses for Superchargers
Superchargers have additionally performed an crucial function withinside the records of the Ford Special Vehicle Team.
SVT's first manufacturing car to apply a supercharger became the F-a hundred and fifty Lightning. An all-new F-Series platform gave SVT engineers a "clean-sheet" possibility for the 1999 version yr. SVT began out with the smallest, lightest F-a hundred and fifty chassis for maximum acceleration and coping with - the sporty quick wheelbase, Regular Cab FlareSide configuration. Engineers decreased the truck inches withinside the rear and 1/2 of an inch withinside the the front, brought huge brakes and a recreation-tuned suspension in addition to specific the front and rear styling remedies.
However, the huge information became a unique SVT-evolved supercharged five.4-liter Triton™ V-eight. Output became an arresting 440 lbs.-ft. and a strong 360 horsepower - forty greater horsepower than even SVT's flagship 1999 Mustang Cobra generated. Needless to say, the 1999 SVT F-a hundred and fifty Lightning set new requirements for big recreation vans. For 2001, SVT bumped up the Lightning's output to 380 horsepower and 450 lbs.-ft.
Meanwhile, engineers have been gaining knowledge of the instructions that sooner or later might repay withinside the shape of the 2007 Shelby GT 500.
Introduced as a 2003 version, the SVT Cobra took Mustang horsepower to as-but unseen heights with a brand new, Eaton supercharged DOHC 4.6-liter "Terminator" V-eight. Rated at 390 horsepower and 390 lbs.-ft. of torque, it became some of the maximum effective Mustangs ever to depart the manufacturing line as much as that time. It additionally featured a 6-pace guide transmission, redesigned the front and rear fascias and a brand new "warmth-extraction" hood.
A blueprint for the destiny have been drawn.
