Now that long ago, the carparazzi captured a test mule of the Shelby GT500 accelerating from a standstill, shifting gears quicker than an automatic transmission but slower than a manual. In this respect, people started to talk about how the 700-plus Ford Mustang might be a DCT-only affair.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Jalopnik understands from “a source that is familiar with internal specifications sheet” that “a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission” is “the sole offering” for the Shelby GT500. For fans of the previous generation, this might come as blasphemy.
Bringing the point home, Jalopnik reports the ‘Stang “is unlikely to get the DCT out of the GT.” Pardon the Captain Obvious moment, but fitting a transaxle from a mid-engine supercar to a chassis with a front-engine layout is impossible. But wait, there’s more!
The cited publication expects the dual-clutch transmission to come in the form of “the Tremec TR-9007,” which General Motors might also end up using in the C8 Corvette. The TR-9007 has been developed for high-end applications with up to 900 Nm (664 pound-feet) of torque on tap.
Tremec claims the modular design is good for both rear- and all-wheel-drive vehicles (including transaxle platforms). Given these circumstances, it might not come as a surprise to us if the two-pedal setup becomes the norm in the Shelby GT500.
Ford refused to comment on the matter, though a spokesman with the Dearborn-based automaker announced that there’s “more to come as we get closer to the market introduction.” What can we make out of this choice of words?
For starters, durability favors the Hydra-Matic 10Lxx automatic transmission that Ford calls 10Rxx in the Mustang and F-150 pickup truck. Then there’s the fact that existing manual transmissions from Tremec can’t cope with the 5.2-liter Predator V8, let alone the TR-3160 in the Shelby GT350 and even the TR-6060 of the previous Shelby GT500.
Even though Ford is keeping its lips shut on the subject, the dual clutch seems extremely likely for this application. If the Blue Oval does go ahead with the DCT-only strategy, this could turn into a win-some-lose-some situation for the newcomer. Enthusiasts and owners of the former GT500 would end up alienated, but on the flip side, there’s plenty of people who wouldn’t say no to the blistering-quick shifts of a dual clutch.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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