Fixing the GT500: The 'King of the Road' Returns

[YSSMAN]

(Yes, I know there is a thread... But that one didn't go over too well...)

Ford and Shelby Automobiles today announced the launch the 2008 Shelby GT500KR — the most powerful Mustang to date. Inspired by the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR, this "King of the Road" will offer an estimated 540 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, upgraded from the standard GT500’s 3.31:1. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the KR. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter is 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts.

Ford SVT, Ford Racing and Team Shelby worked together to develop the KR’s suspension tuning. Based on initial work by Ford Racing and the team at Shelby, often at Shelby’s own facility on the grounds of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford SVT chassis engineers will apply fine tuning techniques to prepare it for the streets.

“The production Shelby GT500 was maximized to deliver the perfect balance between ride and handling,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer, Ford SVT. “In that same ride versus handling continuum, the KR will lean heavier towards all-out handling while still making it drivable on the street.”

40 years later

The original 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR was also a mid-year introduction, based on the 1968 Shelby GT500. Ford added ‘Cobra’ to the Shelby’s moniker to help "usher in the beginning of a new performance era" at the company. The Cobra name referred to the new 428 Cobra Jet V-8 that was planted under the KR’s custom fiberglass hood.

Ford conservatively rated the 428 CJ at 335-horsepower, but in reality it made more than 400-horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque. The KR model was also equipped with a modified suspension and was offered both in fastback and convertible models. Ford dealers sold 1,570 GT500KR models in 1968, 1053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles.

Wow. Just wow. I know I have been incredibly hard on the GT500 since its debut, but altogether, this car makes up for every mistake that Ford/SVT/Shelby had made with the previous model. The extra power, the lovely body-kit, the re-tuned suspension, better axle ratios, etc all make for an incredible car that it generally should have been two years ago...

...I almost would take it over a Corvette (almost), but this certainly takes the cake as one of the better American cars in the market these days. Damn. I can't wait to see this thing on the streets...

And, it does make me wonder what GM and Chrysler will do in response with the Challenger and Camaro. A 500+ BHP Challenger T/A and a 500+ BHP Camaro ZL-1 seem to be in order...

 

[skip0110]

My god, thats a beaut.

It's just because it shamelessly plagiarizes the lines of the original, but damn, it works well.

 

[a6m5]

The new hood looks mean. 👍 I can't wait to see the performance numbers.

 

[Tornado]

Let hope this one isn't slower than every single one of its competitors, and its predecessor. Because I really like how much it looks.

 

[YSSMAN]

Let hope this one isn't slower than every single one of its competitors, and its predecessor. Because I really like how much it looks.

Well, the 3:73 rear axle should change the acceleration performance specs substantially. I have no idea why Ford would have gone with the 3:31 on the 'stock' model, as it is geared far too high to be worth a damn...

...Hell, the decidedly 'old-school' GM F-Body had a 3.73 rear-end for most of its final performance versions, and that had 'only' 320-325 BHP, and used the same T-56 derived transmission...

 

[harrytuttle]

I read "fixing the GT500" and thought they actually fixed it -- with an independent rear suspension. Oh, well. Maybe next time, Ford, when you're feeling serious.

It looks nice, though. Not quite as cool as the 2005 Mustang GT-R concept, but a close second. Too bad all it's competitors will still wipe the floor with it.

 

[throttlehappy]

I read "fixing the GT500" and thought they actually fixed it -- with an independent rear suspension. Oh, well. Maybe next time, Ford, when you're feeling serious.

It looks nice, though. Not quite as cool as the 2005 Mustang GT-R concept, but a close second. Too bad all it's competitors will still wipe the floor with it.

sure looks the goods, bit over the top but good

 

[Bram Turismo]

Wow. Just wow.

Same here, this thing makes you standing for minutes!

 

[Alex.]

I dont like it






































you can put your guns away now, I WAS joking.

 

[YSSMAN]

It looks nice, though. Not quite as cool as the 2005 Mustang GT-R concept, but a close second. Too bad all it's competitors will still wipe the floor with it.

Well, lets say that it won't get beat-up as bad, but it should be able to hold off the presumed Camaro SS with 403 BHP and the Challenger SRT-8 with 426 BHP... But once they drop in the 500+ BHP variants, the game could get interesting.

...I'm eager to see round two with the KR against the Z51. Hopefully it will perform a bit better overall. I like it, and with the newfound performance, maybe I (in my own little world) could finally compare it to the M3 and the RS4...

 

[MistaX]

I read "fixing the GT500" and thought they actually fixed it -- with an independent rear suspension. Oh, well. Maybe next time, Ford, when you're feeling serious.

It's a true muscle car, built to go fast in a straight line. Live axle is far superior than IRS on a drag strip.

But the problem with that is the car actually.. needs to be fast, first.

 

[Tornado]

But the problem with that is the car actually.. needs to be fast, first.

I'm tempted to agree. The original GT500 was a useless car at handling. It was always the GT350 (are you listening Ford? I want a new '99 SVT Cobra) that could handle.
Problem was, the current GT500 is poor at both.

 

[Onikaze]

Can you plagiarize yourself?

Either way, the IRS goes under a GT-350R variant, this is a brute through and through. Looks just right to me.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

It's a true muscle car, built to go fast in a straight line. Live axle is far superior than IRS on a drag strip.

But the problem with that is the car actually.. needs to be fast, first.

There is no excuse to not go independent rear suspension. Sure it's good to go in a straight line, but with cars these days, people do care about handling. And the bit about drag racing is damn excuse. Not everyone who buys the GT500 will use it for drag racing. But, live axle is cheaper, so they will go with it if they can justify themselves.

Seriously, it isn't that friggin' hard to get both straight line speed and good cornering ability.

It looks damn good, though.

 

[MistaX]

There is no excuse to not go independent rear suspension. Sure it's good to go in a straight line, but with cars these days, people do care about handling. And the bit about drag racing is damn excuse. Not everyone who buys the GT500 will use it for drag racing. But, live axle is cheaper, so they will go with it if they can justify themselves.

Seriously, it isn't that friggin' hard to get both straight line speed and good cornering ability.

It looks damn good, though.

You're entirely ignoring the market for the car. Old men who want to relive their youth driving cars that COULD ONLY GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

'Cudas, Chargers, Mustangs, GTO's, etc.

These are guys who ran from stoplight to stoplight in the 60's and 70's. They never raced around turns.


The car is built perfectly for that market, and it's incredibly stupid statement to say that there is no excuse.

If people care about cornering why do they SELL these things? Why have I seen at least one every day?

It's simple, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

 

[skip0110]

I love how the Ford is getting criticized because it isn't as good as cars that don't even exist yet (Camaro/Challenger).

All Mustangs rule because the competition was canceled.

 

[-Fred-]

These are guys who ran from stoplight to stoplight in the 60's and 70's. They never raced around turns.

John, John, John... Trans-Am series, man.

Camaros, Mustangs, Barracudas and Challengers, AMX's...




Back to topic:

I find the thing "meh" at best... it looks like Ford stuck more crap on top of the crap they stuck on the GT. You can tell it's going to be an heavy car just by looking at it... it's got that heavy shape. Z06 anyday over this thing, even if it's pricier and less powerful.

 

[Tornado]

John, John, John... Trans-Am series, man.

All those cars had light as possible 302's or so. The GT500 had a 427 (or 8, or 9). Nearly apples and oranges. If they wanted a car that they worried about handling with, they would have bought the GTO.

 

[-Fred-]

Agreed, but I was pointing out to my man that these pony cars actually could turn when you wanted them to...

 

[Tornado]

Agreed, but I was pointing out to my man that these pony cars actually could turn when you wanted them to...

Okay. I misunderstood your point.

 

[MistaX]

Agreed, but I was pointing out to my man that these pony cars actually could turn when you wanted them to...

No one on the street did that though, and last I checked this GT500 isn't taking part in any racing series, and nor did the previous one.

Street/Strip only, and that's what they're selling it for.

 

[YSSMAN]

No one on the street did that though, and last I checked this GT500 isn't taking part in any racing series, and nor did the previous one.

Street/Strip only, and that's what they're selling it for.

Uh, last time I checked, Ford was taking the GT500 racing...

I believe that series starts this year, and they are hoping to expand it in the future to run the presumed Camaro and Challenger models as well...

...But yes, most people who are buying these cars don't have any intention of racing. I believe C/D summed it up pretty well when they called the GT500 a distinctively American GT car. It should be able to handle fairly well (better than the first one from last year), it should certainly move a bit faster, and at least IMO, looks better as well...

 

[MistaX]

What series is that, and from the way you speak of it, it sounds like a one make race, which is never a showcase of a cars ability to perform.

 

[skip0110]

Yeah and is has 5.0 cammer (hurricane or whatever) in it and not this big hulking blown 5.4.

 

[Dave A]

I thought the official reason from Ford over why they didn't change the suspension on the GT500 was because it would mean pushing the cars price up quite a bit for the consumer. Not because it would benefit the car in a drag race. Either way, Ford seriousely screwed up the GT500's image as it's been hammered by the automotive press both sides of the pond and unofficial tuners have created far superior models.

 

[McLaren]

I thought the official reason from Ford over why they didn't change the suspension on the GT500 was because it would mean pushing the cars price up quite a bit for the consumer. Not because it would benefit the car in a drag race. Either way, Ford seriousely screwed up the GT500's image as it's been hammered by the automotive press both sides of the pond and unofficial tuners have created far superior models.

Don't forget, the GT500's image was ruined when cars with under 200 less horsepower were able to match it.

A few drag times I've spotted show a GT500 at low 12's. Then I saw a Cayman S (295Bhp) running a QTR only 1 second behind, and being faster on 2 out of 3 circuits.
The GT500 was a failure in my eyes of performance cars. It can't stand up to anything its horsepower range, and cars that are severly underpowered dominate it.

As for the KR, I am NOT impressed. It doesn't like a d*mn bit different from the 20 other Mustang models except having a slightly more aggressive body. Does Ford not have this knowledge that the more you make, the worse the value gets?

Seriously, the more Shelby models they make, the crappier these resale values are going to get. Mustang, Mustang GT, Shelby GT, Shelby GT500, Shelby GT500KR, California Edition, Parnelli Jones, and that's not including the convertibles. There's just way too many. I though Lamborghini over did the Gallardo with models, but Ford just over hauls the Mustang name.

IMHO, one day, the image of a Mustang is going to die because there's going to be 20 different models, with half of them being piss-ass Shelby models. Anyone want to bet on seeing this in 2 years?
"2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake! We'll be packing 700 horses into this die-hard Mustang as we continue to fall behind everyone else! Whoo!"

Put it this way guys. If I want a "brand new" GT500, I'll go to Unique or Super and get a GT500E. At least that car can perform with 500 horses.

 

[a6m5]

I love how the Ford is getting criticized because it isn't as good as cars that don't even exist yet (Camaro/Challenger).

All Mustangs rule because the competition was canceled.

I agree 100%, especially the "rule" part. I'd give you rep points, but I guess I gotta spread more first.

 

[JCE]

You're entirely ignoring the market for the car. Old men who want to relive their youth driving cars that COULD ONLY GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

'Cudas, Chargers, Mustangs, GTO's, etc.

These are guys who ran from stoplight to stoplight in the 60's and 70's. They never raced around turns.


The car is built perfectly for that market, and it's incredibly stupid statement to say that there is no excuse.

If people care about cornering why do they SELL these things? Why have I seen at least one every day?

It's simple, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

+1 & +rep

Thank you sir for hitting the nail on the head here.

You can tell it's going to be an heavy car just by looking at it... it's got that heavy shape. Z06 anyday over this thing, even if it's pricier and less powerful.

1 problem with the quoted post, the ZO6 is and was built as a track car--the GT500 wasn't. The GT500 is infinitely more comfortable to drive than the ZO6 in the daily commute. Apples and Oranges.

Ontopic: This thing is beautiful. I don't care if it has more power, just give me a IRS please!

 

[MistaX]

+1 & +rep

Thank you sir for hitting the nail on the head here.

Well, I'm going to have to give you a huge thanks, because you've given me the Quality Post badge for that one

 

[rollazn]

What a beauty!