Tuner Mustangs

[ChrisV]

Tuners? Here's the Ford factory answer:

624 hp!

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Ford Racing has announced today the availability of a new, 2.3L twin-screw supercharger for the 2011 Mustang. When mated to the all-new 5.0L 4V TiVCT V8 engine, this 50-state-legal powertrain, can produce 624 hp SAE @ 6900 rpm and 536 lb-ft SAE @ 4700 rpm. This is the first Twin-screw unit available to consumers.

The new supercharger is Ford Racing's first power upgrade component for the new 5.0 engine. It was developed by Ford Racing engineers, in close collaboration with Ford Motor Company's powertrain engineers, Team Mustang, and key partners in Roush and Whipple. The supercharger is being seen for the first time Saturday at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Ford's Mustang Alley display.

"Superchargers are the ultimate in power upgrades for Mustang enthusiasts," says George Goddu, Ford Racing Performance Group Manager. "Calibration for a modern V8 engine, especially one with twin-independent variable cam timing, is incredibly complex. Production calibration for the 5.0 engine took 19 months. Having that knowledge base to work from is a huge advantage.

"In fact we had the whole engineering background of the engine right from initial concept," Goddu added. "With that knowledge base, and extensive collaboration across the team, we are able to offer a top-notch supercharger, induction kit and the optimum calibration. This results in great power, drivability and durability."

"After more than 100 hours of accelerated durability testing, the entire Ford Racing package performed flawlessly," reports Dev Saberwal, Ford Racing's lead calibration engineer. "Ford Racing performance parts are subjected to extensive testing to ensure optimum performance across a broad range of conditions."

This supercharger comes as a complete package, and it's available in three levels: a 525 hp kit with a 12/12 warranty; a 624 hp kit and a tuner kit for racing and extreme enthusiasts. Each of these impressive kits gives 2011 Mustang owners the opportunity to boost the performance of their cars to new levels.

Ford Racing Performance Parts offers a large selection of performance products from complete race cars to injectors. For Mustang enthusiasts Ford Racing's catalog of performance upgrades offers a range of enhancements for the 2011 Mustang as well as a wide range of power, chassis-system and appearance upgrades for 2010, 2005-2009 and earlier Mustangs.

The Ford Racing Supercharger 525hp Kit (M-6066-MGT525D) includes:

* 2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
* Intake manifold
* Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
* Drive belt
* 47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
* Ford Racing ProCal tool with performance calibration
* 12 month /12,000 mile warranty (when installed by a Ford or Lincoln dealer)
* Produces 525 SAE hp @ 6400 rpm and 470 SAE lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm, at approximately 7 psi of boost with 93 octane fuel
* MSRP $7,199.00 (black) and $7,799.00 (polished chrome)


The Ford Racing Supercharger 624hp Kit (M-6066-MGT624D) includes:

* 2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
* Intake manifold
* Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
* Drive belt
* 47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
* Ford Racing ProCal tool with performance calibration
* Produces 624 SAE hp @ 6900 rpm and 536 SAE lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm, at approximately 9 psi of boost with 93 octane fuel
* MSRP $7,499.00 (black) and $8,099.00 (polished chrome)


The Ford Racing Supercharger Tuner Kit (M-6066-MGT23TD) includes:

* 2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
* Intake manifold
* Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
* Drive belt
* 47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
* MSRP $6,499.00 (black) and $7,099.00 (polished chrome)

[Nethead]

ChrisV:  I like it that they have the third option--you get the hardware but it is independent of any package--tune it to suit yourself and to the levels of boost you are comfortable with!  624 SAE HP on 4,951 CCs at only 9 pounds of boost means the sky's the limit for those who cross to double-digit boost pressures.  That's over 2 HP per cubic inch on 93 octane, and that's a nice start for a post-title package.
Where will this engine be when it's had just five years in the hands of the continent's racers & tuners?

[Nethead]

From www.autoblog.com comes this announcement of a RoushCharger for the 2011 & up TiVCT 5.0L.  This is clearly a kit for the truly puffer savvy as it comes without a warranty and without a tune .  You better know WTF you're doing before adding 7 pounds of boost to an engine with all the sophistication of the new 5.0L.

For those of us who don't think we can install the RoushCharger, connect up the Predator or the Diablo to the ECU, and then wing it, Roush will offer this kit with a warranty and a tune in the Fall (not that far away now that we're nearly into September).  

I can't see this early offering as attractive to anyone but skilled tuners wanting to dragrace their 5.0L in the Modified classes next week-end--but I will concede that there are tons of Mustang dragracers and a big percentage of those men and women run boost of one form or another in the Modified classes.  

That being said, this would make a terrific high school Shop 201 project if you got the vehicle and the balls to risk it, and it would be terrific for an Auto Tech class at the local junior college/tech school.  The Nethead here would be tempted to enroll in such a course/set of courses just to feel the functioning of TiVCT in my hands--I know the theory and methods already, but I'd like to put one together and tune it with the Diablo just to be able to boast "I can do that."

Enough already, here's the article:

Roush supercharger system now available for the 2011 Mustang 5.0
by Drew Phillips (RSS feed) on Aug 26th 2010 at 6:57PM

Mustang owners have always had a healthy appetite for the aftermarket, and it looks like the new 5.0 will provide plenty of opportunities for warranty-busting horsepower upgrades. Ford Racing just unveiled its supercharger system good for up to 624 horsepower, and now Roush has introduced its own ROUSHcharger system for the 5.0-liter V8.

The Roush system utilizes the TVS2300 supercharger first seen on the P-51A Mustang (replacing the old Eaton M90-based blower) and requires professional installation and calibration. A 90mm pulley good for seven psi, with 47 lb/hr fuel injectors, high-flow fuel rails and a twin 60mm throttle body included in the kit. Roush says that the system can produce up to 550 horsepower and 470 pound-feet torque with the stock fuel pump, and even more with additional upgrades. Pricing is set at $5,999, and Roush offers a 90-day parts warranty. A full system complete with a Roush calibration and a full warranty will be coming later this fall...

Here's the press release:

LIVONIA, Mich. (August 26, 2010) ? Since the day Ford announced the new 5.0L engine for the 2011 Mustang, people have been asking, "What is ROUSH? going to do with that engine? When will the ROUSHcharger? be available?"

The answer to those questions is finally available. ROUSH has engineered a 5.0L ROUSHcharger Tuner Kit that can boost the horsepower on the 2011 Mustang upwards of 550 horsepower on stock pump gasoline with more than 470 lb.-ft. of torque. This 5.0L ROUSHcharger Tuner Kit (part number 421140) has a suggested retail price of $5,999.00 and is available for shipment now.

Many people got their first look at the 5.0L ROUSHcharger in the ROUSH display at Mustang Alley during the Woodward Dream Cruise. The display car got many double takes as people walked by, looked, and then realized that car was, in fact, a 2011 Mustang with a ROUSHcharger installed.

Based on the popular TVS2300 ROUSHcharger, the 5.0L ROUSHcharger Tuner Kit comes with a 90mm pulley and generates an estimated seven pounds of boost. Included in the kit are 47 lb. fuel injectors, high-flow fuel rails, a high-flow ROUSH air lid, and a twin 60mm throttle body. The heavy-duty ROUSH tensioner is included for the first FEAD belt.

This Tuner Kit includes a 90-day parts warranty, but does not come with a calibration or maintain the Ford factory engine warranty. Professional tuning and installation is recommended.

"While the new Ford five-liter engine offers amazing performance right from the factory,  the new ROUSHcharger will kick it up a level," said Jack Roush, motorsports legend and chairman of ROUSH Enterprises. "Our engineering team has worked hard to deliver a product that will satisfy the demands of the ROUSH customer on an extremely tight deadline, and they have come up with another great solution for a powertrain upgrade."

Orders for the 5.0L ROUSHcharger Tuner Kit are now being accepted by calling 1-800-59-ROUSH. Information can be found online at www.ROUSHperformance.com.

There will be a 5.0L ROUSHcharger Kit available this fall that will come complete with a ROUSH calibration and full warranty. Pricing and details to come.

[SVT666]

For $6000 you get a RoushCharger for 550 HP, or you can spend $7200 and get 645 HP with a Ford Racing supercharger.  That's tough cause $1200 buys a lot of suspension tuning.

[Nethead]

From www.edmunds.com:

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Full Test
This Mustang Could Make the Z28 Irrelevant
Lighter, Quicker, Louder, Better

By Josh Jacquot, Senior Editor | Published Aug 30, 2010

It was only last year on Inside Line when the Ford Shelby GT500 stomped out wins against the Dodge Challenger SRT8, Chevrolet Camaro SS and even a Hennessey-tuned Camaro cranking out 559 horsepower at the wheels.

And it did it all with a solid axle.

Since then, the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 has only become stronger. It now offers an SVT performance package with more serious rubber, lighter wheels and a shorter rear-end gear. Still, whether it's a stereotype or bias or whatever, the simple fact is that we've come to expect a certain kind of performance from pony cars.

And the GT500 just didn't deliver.

Rather, it over-delivered. With massive stick, serious brakes, huge thrust, killer sound and speed like we've never before experienced from this breed of car, it was, well, more than just a pony car. It's now a genuinely engaging driver's car ? solid axle and all.

Less Weight, More Power

Ford will use large, polysyllabic words like "nanoparticles" and "atomizing" to convince you that the GT500's new 5.4-liter aluminum block is better than last year's iron block. We'll use one simple word: weight. That's because our 2011 model weighed a full 101 pounds less than the last 2010 model we tested (3,800 pounds vs. 3,901 pounds).

The new, lighter engine also benefits from a larger, more efficient intercooler which, coupled with a new 2.8-inch exhaust, liberates 10 additional horses, bringing the total to 550. Torque remains unchanged at 510 pound-feet. It's all lashed to a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.

Remarkably, this GT500 also earns higher EPA fuel economy ratings (15 city/23 highway) than the 2010 model thanks to underbody aero changes and the addition of electrically assisted power steering. It's enough of an improvement that the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 now avoids a federal gas-guzzler tax.

Kicking Axle

And then, as if all this unexpected excellence weren't enough, the GT500 shot to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds (4.1 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip). It annihilated the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 116 mph. Both milestones were achieved 0.2 second quicker than the last 2010 GT500 we tested, proving undoubtedly that the additional power is, in fact, present.

The GT500's short shifter did hang up a bit between gears, adding a tenth or two to our times, but shifts were quick enough to lay down rubber. Still, this isn't the first GT500 we've tested with shifter problems, which makes us question the value of its short shifter.

But certain surface irregularities will conspire to throw the GT500 into directional protests.
But the straight-line numbers don't even scratch the surface of the GT500's depth of talent. Its 68.2-mph slalom speed is better than all its competition and 1.6 mph faster than last year's model. And its 0.97g skid pad performance exceeds even that of our oh-so-grippy long-term Dodge Viper, which was tested on the very same surface. Did you hear that? A Mustang just beat a Viper in a performance test.

The new SVT package is a big contributor to the GT500's improved performance. Largely, it's the switch to Goodyear's new Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires sized 265/40ZR19 front and 285/35ZR20 rear, which improve the car's track numbers. Stiffer springs and an incrementally lower ride height don't hurt, either. A 3.73:1 axle ratio is also included vs. the base car's 3.55 gears.

Stopping from 60 mph in only 104 feet puts the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 in Porsche territory despite a pedal that's softer than we would prefer.

Something New, Something Old

So it's somewhat remarkable, then, that this moderately revised ?ber-Mustang is as good as it is ? especially when one considers the utter lack of hydraulic assist in its steering system. Electric-assist power steering, after all, isn't anything new. But good electric-assist power steering is rare. Actual, useful feel in an all-electric system is something that's befuddled engineers and journalists alike for years.

But in the GT500 there is harmony. Because pointing the wheel of this machine requires real effort and yields genuine buildup as loads increase, providing a true sense of what's going on at the tire/road interface. It's a discovery that's as surprising as it is refreshing.

Some habits, however, die hard. And no amount of tuning will keep the ass of this otherwise well-tamed snake stuck to the ground when that ground is uneven. Certainly, Ford's SVT team has done an admirable job massaging the live-axle setup. We'll be the first to admit that it's the best tuned live-axle car we've ever driven ? if not the best ever sold.

But the right combination of surface irregularities will still occasionally conspire to throw the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 into otherwise uncharacteristic directional protests. It starts with a sideways hop of the rear end, and if that doesn't convince you to lift, the ensuing axle-bouncing racket followed by an imminent loss of control likely will.

Make It Softer, Captain

Inside, nothing visible is different. The Shelby's finer points include synthetic suede inserts on the seats and steering wheel, its cueball shifter and a general sense of quality and purpose that are a few rungs up the ladder from the standard Mustang.

The bolstered seats still only provide adequate lateral support and are rather soft ? perhaps in an effort to cancel the suspension's busy-ness. Whether the GT500's ride quality will cramp your style is probably a matter of how you intend to use the car.

There's no denying that the SVT Performance package impacts the ride quality ? Ford says it reduces lap times on a 2.3-mile track by 3.0 seconds per circuit. So if your daily agenda involves more burnouts than hot laps, then foregoing the performance package probably isn't a bad idea.

The Final Word

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the best pony car on the market is also the most expensive. Ford is asking $55,330 for this Grabber Blue 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, including the $850 destination fee. Fitted with the $3,495 Performance package and the $2,340 Electronics package, which includes voice-activated navigation and an internal 10-gigabyte hard drive, this is a pricey pony car.

But the real question isn't whether people will pay $55 large for a Mustang, because they will ? especially one that says "Shelby" across the trunk lid. The more intriguing issue is what will happen when Ford inevitably decides that independent rear suspension should be a permanent fixture on the Mustang?

We're guessing the ass-kicking will continue.

[Nethead]

From www.autoweek.com:

2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coupe, an AW Drivers Log

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: I?ve always put the Mustang at the top of the pony-car heap, above both the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger. Even though it has the most primal rear suspension, it?s the tightest-driving and most involving car out of the three. And now for 2011, the Mustang gets better still, with new engines across the board.

In this particular case, the Shelby GT500 gets a new aluminum 5.4-liter V8 that is 102 pounds lighter than the previous cast-iron engine while producing an additional 10 hp. Our tester also is equipped with a new-for-2011 performance package, including lighter wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G?s, higher rear axle ratio and stiffer springs. Even with all of the suspension changes, the GT500 isn?t overly rough or jarring on the road, delivering a compliant enough ride for daily use and a track monster for weekends in one package.

Steering response is nearly instant, with a weighty feel, and the car is just planted around bends. Brakes are grabby, which is good, because the new engine easily shoots the GT500 forward with alarming force. The exhaust note is unmistakably Mustang.

Combining the performance improvements with the interior and exterior updates that came in 2010, the latest GT500 is another step forward in the Mustang story. The only complaint I have is about the seats, which lack sufficient bolsters to hold you in place.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: Driving the GT500 was a spectacular way to spend a weekend. It?s truly a riot. A run to the corner store became a 15-mile cruise at sunset.

Everything about this car is top-shelf and truly performance-grade?except for the steering. It feels too light for my tastes and reminds me of nearly every other Mustang I?ve driven recently?not overly dynamic befitting the mightiest of Cobras.

OK, enough nit-picking. The short-throw six-speed is outstanding. The shifter knob offers a retro feel, and grabbing gears is seamless. It?s as if you think it and the synapses fire in your brain, and before you know it, the car is downshifting. Blinking and breathing are less automatic than using this manual.

The power is supreme, with 550 horses underhood. You can really maximize them from launch and while blasting past slower traffic on the expressways. I will say that this Mustang does a good job of managing the power, and in many ways, the GT500 is actually a refined beast. It?s a tight car, but only over the worst of metro Detroit?s bad roads was the ride jarring.

And I love the looks. The racing red with white stripes and Gurney flap out back were stunning. I can?t remember the last time I received so many stares in a car.

Bottom line: The pure power is intoxicating. The sound is raw and addicting. The looks are iconic. If you?ve ever fantasized about a Shelby GT500, this is even better than you think.

Base Price: $49,495

As-Tested Price: $55,330

Drivetrain: 5.4-liter supercharged V8; RWD, six-speed manual

Output: 550 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 510 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,820 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/14.1 mpg

Options: GT500 SVT Performance package, including 3.73 limited-slip rear axle, 19-inch painted forged-aluminum front wheels, 20-inch painted forged-aluminum rear wheels, high-performance front and rear springs, specialized rear shocks, rear spoiler, Gurney flap, custom gearshift knob, unique exterior stripes ($3,495); electronics package, including voice-activated navigation system with integrated Sirius travel link, HD radio, dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control ($2,340)

[Nethead]

From www.edmunds.com:

The 10 Most Fun Vehicles
Because You Aren't Going To Live Forever

By Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit | Published Sep 6, 2010

For this, Inside Line's first ever 10 Most Fun Vehicles, we've constructed the ultimate car-evaluation tool. Thanks to the wealth of technical data available in our databases and the brilliance of our on-staff software engineers and algorithm writers, our computers can now automatically generate lists of the most fun vehicles currently on the U.S. market, using criteria including, but not limited to: availability of brown paint, cupholder count, overall width (in millimeters, including side mirrors), the attractiveness of its VIN sequencing and the depth of carpet pile of optional floor mats.

All right, we've left the engineers, spreadsheets, pricing reports and everything else back at Comparison-Test Headquarters. All we really needed to complete this assignment were our asses, a bucket-load of endorphins and access to press-car fleets. Our criteria included whether the vehicle in question could convince us to take on a car payment we really couldn't afford and whether a drive in said vehicle leaves us in a stupor after the endorphin flood recedes.

We've limited the winners to vehicles currently available in the United States and...well; actually that was the only rule. Here they are in the order that they leapt to mind.
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Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
With the brawny and bold Raptor, Ford's SVT unit took the whole idea of a hot-rodded pickup and turned it on its ear...and then kicked sand on it...and then jumped over it, flying with its wheels dangling at full droop like a hornet's rear legs. There is simply nothing like the high-speed, desert-pummeling, ass-kicking, bitchin' damper-having, wife-embarrassing awesomeness of the Raptor. The addition of the 6.2-liter V8 to complement (and eventually replace) the gutless 5.4-liter V8 was the final awesome piece of the great pie of awesomeness. It just makes you want to whoop and holler.

Ford Shelby GT500
Yes, we're aware that the last entry on this list was the work of the SVT boys. In fact, with its two (wildly divergent) entries, the relatively small SVT group is responsible for 20 percent of our 10 Most Fun list. It didn't have to go this way. When the modern GT500 arrived on the scene it was, well, a push pig. It was pretty much the old one-dimensional muscle-car deal. That changed for 2010 with a substantial rework of the vehicle. That was enough to vault the GT500 onto our Editors' Most Wanted list. And for '11, the GT500 got a lighter, slightly more powerful aluminum-block motor and the SVT Performance package, which served to make the GT500 not just quicker but also better handling. This is truly a dual-mode vehicle now. It's capable of doing the knuckle-dragging muscle car thing: looking menacing, sounding wicked and vaporizing its newly designed Goodyear rear tires at will. But it's also a helluva track car. The upcoming Camaro Z28 has its work cut out for it.
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[Nethead]

From the Motor Trend online

2011 GT350 prototype: 3816 lbs, 0-60 in 3.7, 12.0 @ 121.4 MPH, 1.05 G
Using the mid-power 525 HP engine--there's an option with 99 more HP

First Test: 2011 Ford Shelby GT350 Prototype
A Menacing Bark and Bites-So-Good
September 22, 2010 / By Jonny Lieberman / Photography by William Walker  |  

We drive many a Mustang. In fact, due to the seeming never-ending number of variants, we might test more Mustangs than anything else. Our intern is out mining salt (or equivalent) at the moment, so he can't check the truthiness of my assertion. But I'd bet money on it. Maybe only five bucks, but money just the same. The point is, we test a whole lot of them. And guess what? The Shelby GT350 is the pretty dang fast. You might even say historically fast.

We'll get to just how fast momentarily, but first, let's discuss what constitutes the new GT350. It's based on the 2011 Mustang GT, the one with the 5.0-liter 32-valve V8 that lost a race around Streets of Willow by less than one-tenth of one second to a BMW M3 (America's M3?, October 2010). That's one heck of a starting platform for Shelby, says us. Add to that a Whipple supercharger, Borla exhaust, adjustable Ford Racing dampers, adjustable camber plates, a serious set of Baer 6-piston brakes up front, not to mention Eradispeed rotors out back, and you've got yourself a very serious recipe for some Shelby style butt-kicking.

You've also got a whole bunch of ground effects, a humongous power bulge atop the hood, a ducktail wing, reworked taillight surrounds, covers over the rear side windows, and a couple of unique GT350 badges. Plus there's those giant skunk stripes. The GT350 looks a touch boy-racerish; that's undeniable. Still, it's one of the very last cars you'd want to see in your rearview mirror. Let's just call the bodywork a bit much, though intimidating. As for the interior, Shelby slapped some blue leather over the black leather and stitched Carroll's signature into the head rests. Oh, there's a signed chassis plate in front of the shifter, too. Please note: The car we tested is a pre-production vehicle. The production car has different, better-integrated panels plus a different badge or two.

You know what my absolute favorite part about the new Shelby GT350 is? The sound. Shelby has built the anti-Lexus. Whatever the opposite of quiet was, the GT350 is the new definition. Noise comes at you from all directions. Wind, tire, exhaust, supercharger, engine -- they all play their part, like musicians in a band. Er, more like Scandinavian black metal musicians in a hard-drinking jam band. The point is that all the sonic elements combine to make some sick, sweet, thunderous music.

Under heavy acceleration you'll swear you're seated in Mad Max's final V-8 Interceptor when the blower engages. It's an angry, severe, aggressive yowl-and-roar combo platter. Blame the Borla-sourced exhaust and Ford Racing Whipple supercharger. Deceleration (or simply lifting) sounds even better with the Whipple making Millennium Falcon exiting hyperspace noises, and the center-mount pipes mimicking a hand grenade testing range. This is also known as a back-rap. As in, "Bap! Rap, rap, rap, rap..." every time you lift. I flat-out love it.

There's a phrase you hear if you hang out in Texas -- "All hat, no horse" -- that's a wonderful way to describe posers. It would be a shame if the latest Shelby fit into that wonderful though deprecating piece of slang, especially considering the supremely excellent noises it makes. Well, friends, let me assure you: This particular pony car has plenty of hat, and even more horse. Remember those numbers I teased you with at the beginning? Let's inspect.

The bruiser hits 60 mph in supercar-quick fashion, needing only 3.7 seconds. A bit of comparison is in order. The 412 horsepower 2011 Mustang GT takes 4.4 seconds to hit 60 mph, impressive but wholly outclassed by the Shelby. The SVT-designed (though Shelby-badged) 2011 GT500 with its burly, aluminum 5.4-liter V8 and 550 horsepower needs 4.2 seconds to get to 60 mph. So obviously, then, the GT350 just makes more power, right? Wrong! According to Shelby, the GT350 makes "just" 525 ponies. Weight, then? Well, the newly lightened GT500 weighs 3,840 pounds, whereas the GT350 weighs 3,816 -- that's only a 24-pound difference, about the same as four gallons of gasoline. The truth of the matter is that the GT350 just puts the power down better. A lot better. Need another example? The 750 hp Shelby Super Snake makes 750 hp but needs 4.1 seconds to hit 60 mph.

Same holds true for the quarter-mile. The Mustang 5.0 does it in 12.7 seconds at 111.6 miles per hour. Our best run in the more brutish Shelby GT500 is 12.5 seconds at 115 mph. The GT350? Are you sitting down? 12 seconds flat at 121.4 mph. Granted, the aforementioned Super Snake also speeds over 1,340 feet in 12 seconds flat, but its trap is only 120.1 mph. This means the 2011 Shelby GT350 is the fastest production Mustang we've ever tested. End of story. Er, end of Mustang story. The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon also needs 3.7 ticks of the stopwatch to hit 60 mph, though the 600 pounds lighter 'Vette pummels the quarter in 11.6 seconds at 123.6 mph. Still, this Shelby can play with the big boys.

That's still not the end of the story. The 2011 GT350 comes in three flavors: Hot (naturally aspirated), Extra-Spicy (the poisonous snake we tested) and Total Insanity, the latter shipping with an optional 624 hp supercharger. Moreover, this Shelby comes with simply fabulous Ford Racing shocks, making it one of if not the sweetest handling Mustang we've ever driven. The GT350's numbers back that claim up. Average lateral acceleration is 1.05 g and the newest Shelby ran around our patented 200-foot figure eight in 24.1 seconds with an average lat of 0.86 g. Here's a quick recap: The 2011 Shelby GT350 is the fastest, best handling and sweetest sounding 'Stang we've ever laid hands on. Any questions?

2011 Ford Shelby GT350  
Base price  $63,000 (MT est)  
Vehicle layout  Front engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe  
Engine  5.0L/550-hp/490-lb-ft supercharged DOHC 32-valve V-8  
Transmission  6-speed manual  
Curb weight (f/r dist)  3816 lb (55/45%)  
Wheelbase  107.1 in  
Length x width x height  189.6 x 73.9 x 55.8 in  
0-60 mph  3.7 sec  
Quarter mile  12.0 sec @ 121.4 mph  
Braking, 60-0 mph  107 ft  
Lateral acceleration  1.05 g (avg)  
MT figure eight  24.1 sec @ 0.86 g (avg)  
EPA city/hwy fuel econ  N/A  

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1009_2011_mustang_shelby_gt350_prototype_test/performance.html#ixzz10NYjaFMP

[SVT666]

Finally a Shelby developed car that actually lives up to and exceeds the hype.  That's brutally fast.  Too bad it looks the way it does.  I would take a stock GT and modify it with the Shelby parts and leave the bodywork alone.

[Nethead]

Finally a Shelby developed car that actually lives up to and exceeds the hype.  That's brutally fast.  Too bad it looks the way it does.  I would take a stock GT and modify it with the Shelby parts and leave the bodywork alone.

SVT666:  Totally agree.  12.0 flat is hauling ass anywhere/anytime!  3.7 to 60 is hot, too, as is 1.05 G!  And on the same set of tires, which makes these figures even more impressive.  This is one bad-ass Shelby, and as Motor Trend implies it is hotter than the GT500--but then that estimated sticker price is well above the GT500's as well .  

I've been sayin' for awhile that I sorta suspect that the GT350 is the intended replacement for the GT500 when it is no longer sensible to keep producing the 5.4L modular.  As fewer and fewer Fords use the 5.4L every day, it may be no longer sensible quite soon...

So now Shelby's organization needs to wake up and smell the weight--3816 lbs. is lighter than a GT500, which is lighter than a Camaro SS, which is lighter than a Challenger, which is lighter than an offshore oil-drilling platform, yada yada yada...Bigger parts--calipers, rotors, bearings, swaybars, axles, clutches, radiators, blowers, intercoolers, wheels, tires, etc, requires some lightening up in other places to keep weight reasonable.  Losing some fluff--STYNC, MyColor, all audio & the antenna, Shelby doorplates, floormats, that stinkin' faux gas cap (I admit I could tolerate the Boss 302 Laguna Seca cap, but only on a genuine Laguna Seca )--won't save a lot, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do...Toss all the bodywork except for the splitter and a ducktail spoiler, ditch all aprons including the so-called air-extractor underneath the rear bumper, ditch all badging except for a Cobra in the grille, ditch the GT350 hood, and identify the car as a GT350 with just the side stripes.  Goin' bones will probably get the GT350 down to an even 3500 (that's with leaving the carpeting and seat upholstery intact, so we ain't talkin' real sacrifice here).  Air conditioning would have it's own delete code, as would the electric assisted steering for those who want bigger biceps and triceps as a side benefit. Interior upholstery/carpeting should have a delete code. These deletions plus opting for Recaros could get the GT350 under 3400 lbs.  Even just the 525 horsepower mid-level engine used in Motor Trend's test could go transonic at under 3400 lbs--the big-power 624 jobbie could break free of the Earth's gravitational field and go where no man has gone before...

[Nethead]

At the Ford booth at SEMA was a solid black 2008 Shelby Mustang called the "Code Red GT500" accompanying several more-publicized Mustangs.  Only this one differed from the others by having 1,112 RWHP and 962 lbs ft of RW torque on 22 pounds of boost from twin 61mm turbochargers  Whew!  It is the Shelby/Nelson Racing Engines prototype that I mentioned a thousand years ago somewhere waaaayyy upstream in this thread.  Evidently it is a post-title package--you buy a GT500 and then have Shelby's people create a Code Red GT500 out of it.  Read this article from www.autoblog.com, and then cruise on over to AutoBlog to see the beautiful pics of the sinister-in-its-subdued-malevolence black beast:

Shelby builds 1000+ rwhp twin-turbo GT500 prototype [w/video]
by Drew Phillips (RSS feed) on Nov 11th 2010 at 3:01 PM

There's so much going on at SEMA it's all-too easy to miss a few things. And while there are a ton of Mustangs, one would think that this Shelby prototype would have caught our attention ? particularly since we were aware of its existence. Back in September we reported that on some potential future Shelby models, one of which was a 1,000 rwhp twin-turbo GT500.

Nicknamed "Code Red," this particular GT500 was created in collaboration between Shelby American and Nelson Racing Engines ? the same firm responsible for the 1,800 horsepower Mosler MT900S. The heavily modified 5.4-liter V8 features twin 61mm Turbonetics turbochargers along with a dual fuel system that includes cells for both race and street gas as well as an electronic boost controller that can vary boost for each gear.

If Shelby offers a production of the "Code Red" GT500, expect plenty of other goodies to be included like Baer 14-inch brakes, Shelby/Eibach adjustable suspension system, 9-inch Currie rear end , 10-point roll cage, and plenty more? Price tag? Shelby estimates that the package (car not included) would cost around $100,000.

You can get a better look at the Code Red from the photos below courtesy of Nelson Racing Engines, and we've also included a video with Tom Nelson and Shelby's Gary Patterson testing the car out on the street after...you cruise over to www.autoblog.com.  Lots of specifics are given in the video, so watch it!