The new, 200mph Ford Shelby GT500 ‘takes muscle car performance to new heights’ and is the ‘ultimate’ version of the car, according to Blue Oval chiefs. The 2013 model of the Ford Shelby GT500 was unveiled on the eve of the Los Angeles motor show and, Ford claims, the headline figures of 650bhp and 600lb ft from the 5.8-litre supercharged unit make it the most powerful production V8 engine on the planet.
See pictures of the 200mph Ford Shelby GT500
The power output of the 1750kg machine is a boost of more than 100bhp over the current, 5.4-litre engined version, which you can read more about here.
Ford says every part of the powertrain has been optimised for producing the additional horsepower, including a larger, more efficient supercharger that is a unique design for the Shelby GT500’s engine.
The clutch, transmission and axle have all been upgraded and the Ford Shelby GT500 also gets a new carbonfibre driveshaft, cross-drilled block and heads and updated camshaft profiles. The gearing of the six-speed manual transmission has been revised to manage to torque and power delivery.
Other tweaks include a new downforce-generating front grille, a redesigned splitter that is designed to make the car feel more planted at speeds of 160mph-plus and a new quad exhaust system. The cooling system has been uprated and features a larger, revised cooling fan and more efficient air cooler.
Stopping power comes from six-piston Brembo calipers, revised pads and larger front and rear rotors to reduce brake fade. The Shelby GT500 runs on 19-inch front and 2-inch rear wheels coupled with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G tyres.
Read Autocar's Hilton Holloway's thoughts on the new Ford Shelby GT500
An optional, track-oriented Performance Package offers Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers and a Torsen limited-slip differential. On top of that, a Track Package is also available for even more extreme performance.
The price of the new Ford Shelby GT500 hasn’t been set, although the current version is available on import to the UK for between £40-50,000.
Ford’s Los Angeles motor show muscle car line-up also includes a refreshed, 2013 model year version of the Mustang Boss 302, which comes with new retro paint options and design details.
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