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We’re looking forward to September 19, as this is the date when Ford will preview the Mustang Shelby GT350. While the hottest naturally-aspirated incarnation of the new S550 Mustang has been getting all the attention lately, Blue Oval engineers used this as a cover to also take care of some even more serious business, namely the 2016 Mustang Shelby GT500.
A pair of GT500 prototypes were spied in Denver, Colorado yesterday, with the two being snapped while they were having high octane lunch. The guy who took the photos added the the ‘Stangs “sounded awesome”.
Compared to the Shelby GT350 prototypes, which are already almost uncovered, these one are still under heavy camo. Aside from the obivous huge hood bulge, the rear apron also appears to be more aggressive, while the black-stripe tailights, a trademark of the GT500, seem to be present under the camo.
Now that a leaked document has revealed the Shelby GT350 will be powered by a new 5.2-liter V8 instead of the Mustang GT’s five-oh Coyote mill. Now that the new powerplant has surfaced, the GT500 could use a supercharged version of the 5.2-liter block. By the way, Chrysler isn’t the only one coming up with cool designations for new engines (read: Hellcat), Ford’s 5.2-liter mill should be called Vodoo. What can we say, it must be naturally aspirated magic.
For one thing, the 662 hp 5.8-liter V8 Trinity in the current Shelby GT500 has reached its output limits, while the upcoming CAFE emissions regulations may also stand in the way of its future development.
Either way, we could expect the Shelby GT500 to make an upmarket muscle move. The expected 550 hp ouput of the Shelby GT350 is partially responsible for this, but most of the blame falls on the aforementioned Hellcat 6.2-liter Hemi V8. The latter’s 707-pony ouput may have upset Blue Oval engineers to a point that will see them bring even more muscle under the hood of the ‘Stang.
With the IRS (independent rear suspension) of the S550 Mustang, that power will be better kept in check. Then again, it needs to. For one thing, SRT brags they’ve paid close attention to the drivability of the Challenger Hellcat and we’re expecting Ford’s SVT engineers to do the same.
As for the SO of the new Shelby GT550’s V8, the big question here is whether Ford will offer an automatic alongside the Tremec six-speed manual of the current model.
Compared to the Shelby GT350 prototypes, which are already almost uncovered, these one are still under heavy camo. Aside from the obivous huge hood bulge, the rear apron also appears to be more aggressive, while the black-stripe tailights, a trademark of the GT500, seem to be present under the camo.
Now that a leaked document has revealed the Shelby GT350 will be powered by a new 5.2-liter V8 instead of the Mustang GT’s five-oh Coyote mill. Now that the new powerplant has surfaced, the GT500 could use a supercharged version of the 5.2-liter block. By the way, Chrysler isn’t the only one coming up with cool designations for new engines (read: Hellcat), Ford’s 5.2-liter mill should be called Vodoo. What can we say, it must be naturally aspirated magic.
For one thing, the 662 hp 5.8-liter V8 Trinity in the current Shelby GT500 has reached its output limits, while the upcoming CAFE emissions regulations may also stand in the way of its future development.
Either way, we could expect the Shelby GT500 to make an upmarket muscle move. The expected 550 hp ouput of the Shelby GT350 is partially responsible for this, but most of the blame falls on the aforementioned Hellcat 6.2-liter Hemi V8. The latter’s 707-pony ouput may have upset Blue Oval engineers to a point that will see them bring even more muscle under the hood of the ‘Stang.
With the IRS (independent rear suspension) of the S550 Mustang, that power will be better kept in check. Then again, it needs to. For one thing, SRT brags they’ve paid close attention to the drivability of the Challenger Hellcat and we’re expecting Ford’s SVT engineers to do the same.
As for the SO of the new Shelby GT550’s V8, the big question here is whether Ford will offer an automatic alongside the Tremec six-speed manual of the current model.
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