The Most Powerful Factory Mustang - Ever

By Motoring Channel Staff - 31/03/2005

Designed in the unmistakable image of the Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s, the Shelby Cobra GT500 melds SVT's modern engineering with the big-block performance that made the original GT500 the king of the road.

"The all-new 2005 Ford Mustang is one of the hottest cars in many years," said an unapologetic Phil Martens, Ford's boss of product creation.

"Its chassis was engineered from the beginning to be the basis of a high-performance, world-class sports car from SVT, and the Shelby Cobra GT500 is it."

Just as the original Shelby GT500 was the "step up" to big-block power from the GT350, the new Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 takes a big step up from Ford's stock 221kW (300hp) 4.6-litre V8, with 3-valves per cylinder.

The menacing Cobra gets Ford's 5.4-litre "MOD" V8. But it isn't just any old V8 - SVT has been hard at work and together with a cast-iron block and aluminium heads, it gets 4-valves per cylinder and is force fed by a screw-type supercharger that pumps through 8.5psi of boost.

The result? The GT500 is the most powerful factory Mustang ever. It delivers "more than 450 horsepower" which is also more than 331kW, and 450 foot pounds of torque equates to a whopping 610Nm.

As well as the aluminium cylinder heads, the piston rings and bearings are sourced from the Ford GT program and bring a high level of proven durability to the drivetrain, while upgraded cooling components promise longevity. "Powered by SVT" camshaft covers are the finishing touch to the engine.

"This version of the 5.4-litre V8 has a higher horsepower rating than any other factory Mustang in history," says Jay O'Connell, SVT chief vehicle engineer.

"It really delivers on the essence of two great names in Ford performance - a mix of SVT's modern-day experience with supercharging and the Shelby GT500's heritage of big-block power."

And can you imagine the noise that the GT500's advanced quad overhead camshaft engine will make? Along with the brassy warble of the V8, the whine of the supercharger spinning up will make for an exhilarating driver.

Helping to put the power of the GT500's supercharged V8 to the pavement is the T-56 manual gearbox with 6-speeds.

Ford says that the evenly spaced gears mean less stirring is needed to find the "sweet spot" in keeping the revs "on cam" for power to pass, while at the same time making the most of the engine's broad torque curve.

The great Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s were anything but one-trick ponies. They earned their stripes on twisty roads and race tracks across America and Europe. The Shelby Cobra GT500 show car, launched at the recent New York International Motor Show (2005) continues that legacy of all-around performance.

The GT500 starts with the solid 2005 Mustang underpinnings. The all-new Mustang's platform was designed from the beginning with performance derivatives in mind, providing an exceptionally rigid, well-engineered starting point for SVT chassis engineers.

Improvements such as revised shocks, spring rates and upgraded stabiliser bars help the GT500 stop and turn with the same authority as it accelerates.

The GT500 features a MacPherson strut independent front suspension with "Reverse L" lower control arms, and a solid-axle, three-link rear suspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod for precise control of the rear axle.

This rear suspension design has been validated on the track by Ford Racing. Competing against the best from Germany and Japan, a Mustang FR500C race car competed in - and won - its first ever race in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway in February 2005.

"SVT and Ford Racing will be working closer than ever as we go forward on future projects, especially Mustangs," says Thai-Tang, a Ford Racing alumnus who served as the race engineer for the Newman-Haas Racing team in 1993.

"The Mustang FR500C racing program is an exact demonstration of the capability we engineered into the mainstream Mustang to be capable of. Now, we have both a Daytona victory and the return of the Shelby Cobra GT500 to showcase Mustang performance possibilities."

To match this power and handling ability, SVT fitted some of the biggest brakes in the business to the GT500.

355mm (14-inch) cross-drilled Brembo discs up front and 330mm (13-inch) rotors in the rear continue SVT's legacy of great-braking Mustangs, and the car gets eye-catching 19-inch wheels, that also improve grip and traction.

Visually, the 2005 Shelby Cobra GT500 show car harks back to models from the late 60s, when the Shelby Cobra GTs were hard to beat in both style and power.

The new Cobra combines the dramatic design genes of the all-new Mustang - already a very tough looking car with retro design cues - with Carroll Shelby's legendary performance image to create an SVT Mustang that broadens the power brand's design approach and appeal.

"The restrained, performance-oriented SVT design theme has become instantly recognisable to enthusiasts without brash styling cues," said Doug Gaffka, the design director for Ford SVT vehicles.

The 2005 Mustang design team drew inspiration from classic 1968 Mustangs, the models that transformed the mild-mannered pony car into a muscle car with attitude. Envisioning an SVT model, the team tested GT500 design cues on the Mustang GT coupe concept that was unveiled at the 2003 North American International Auto Show.

In 2004, designers further developed the GT500 look on the Mustang GT-R, a race-bred concept with the dual purpose of foreshadowing SVT's Mustang design direction and Ford Racing's plans to return Mustang to road racing.

The GT500 now comes into full light, punctuated by the classic Le Mans-style white stripes that race along the top of the show car's "SVT Red" paint from nose to tail. The stripes recall the Shelby Mustangs that marked another important 1960's Mustang transition when Ford put it on the track to becoming a racing legend. The GT500 nomenclature is prominent in the lower bodyside racing stripe, another cue from the classic Shelby Mustangs.

"The new Mustang has classic design cues from some of the best-looking Mustangs of all-time, including the Shelbys," says Keith Rogman, Ford senior designer. "The design of the GT500 has been at the forefront of our minds since the outset of the entire Mustang program."

The reworked front fascia features a functional air splitter and the unique bonnet has heat-extraction ducts, to provide improved airflow for the blown 5.4-litre V8 engine. Revised headlamp insets offer a more aggressive look and result in symmetrical upper and lower grilles with large air openings, creating a visual connection to vintage Shelby Mustangs.

The unique rear fascia features strakes inspired by the Ford GT's integrated rear airflow diffuser, and a rear spoiler reminiscent of a classic GT500. To mark the collaboration of two Mustang performance icons, the GT500 features Shelby and SVT badging, sure to please tuners all over America.

Continuing the snake logo tradition of past-generation SVT Mustang Cobras, as well as late-model Shelby Mustangs, the fenders each feature an updated design of the Cobra. For the first time on any SVT Mustang, the front grille features an off-center snake in place of the standard running horse.

"GT500" is emblazoned inside the side rocker stripes, and the name "SHELBY" is prominently featured across the rear deck. The SVT logo can be seen on the wheel center caps, a signature SVT location, as well as on the door sill plates. To top if off, the "gas cap" medallion between the taillights reads "Shelby GT500" centred on the Cobra image.

The interior has been given a massage, and is now completely wrapped in ebony black leather, including the top of the dash, door panels and center arm rest. As is now mandatory on all sports car, the shift lever, shift boot and parking-brake handle are also covered in cowhide.

SVT Red leather seating surfaces and door panel inserts provide a marked contrast to the rest of the leather-trimmed cabin, surrounding the performance enthusiast with luxury and comfort. Snake logos embroidered into the seat backs finish the package.

"We've taken leather design trends to a new level by using it on almost every exposed surface in the GT500," says Rogman. "Leather has long been a performance fashion accessory for enthusiasts, from jackets to racing gloves, so it perfectly matches all the other driving oriented cues."

The Shelby GT500 script and Cobra image are repeated on the steering wheel cap. Behind the wheel are titanium-faced gauges swapped in location so that the tachometer is visually dominant for the driver. The chrome accessories inside the cabin have been replaced with a satin aluminium finish, including the aluminium shift lever knob that is nicely positioned for quick, positive shifts of the six-speed transmission.

Ford's Shelby Cobra GT500 is listed as a 2006 model, and will most likely be for sale towards the end of 2005. No price point was supplied.