2012 GT500 to feature 500 horsepower, twin-turbo "Coyote" V8, or not?
by Sam Abuelsamid on Oct 1st 2009 at 12:59PM 
2010 Ford Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery
While the two variants of the Ford Shelby GT500 that we've lived with since 2007 are undoubtedly fast in a straight line, they have a major flaw. They are simply too heavy. For a variety of reasons, when Ford created the GT500, they opted to use a cast iron block rather than the aluminum dry sump block that was in the GT supercar. Between that and all of the performance model's extra equipment, the GT500 is over 400 pounds heavier than the Mustang GT with most of that hanging over the front axle.
Ford has acknowledged that the Mustang will be getting updated powertrains in the coming model years and we expect at least two new engines for 2011 including the 400 horsepower, 5.0-liter Coyote V8. PickupTrucks.com is reporting that for 2012, the Coyote should spawn a twin turbo variant with over 500 hp for the GT500. With an aluminum block, this engine figures to be markedly lighter than the current engine, which ought to give the car much better handling.
Another source with knowledge of the upcoming Mustang lineup referred us to a report in AutoGuide.com and tells us "this information is very, very, accurate... ". That report says that there will be instead be an aluminum block supercharged 5.4-liter V8 in the 2011 GT500. Apparently we'll find out in due course.
[Sources: PickupTrucks.com, AutoGuide.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
derek 1:18PM (10/01/2009)
Hmm....why didnt FORD put the 6-speed in the 2010? :S
But....as the years come and go, so will the new variants of the Ford Mustang.
I'm excited to see a new, lighter Shelby GT500.
I also saw a 2007 GT500 at a college yesterday. Damn kids. lol
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Lar7789789 2:14PM (10/01/2009)
Yea I hear you there, nothing like seeing some 18 year old kid driving around a Shelby, while I am 32 years old trying to make do with my V6. that sucks
The 5.0 sounds like a great engine, but I wouldn't mind seeing Ford going through with the BOSS 5.8 liter / 6.2 liter engines they were talking about last year.
Venom 3:32PM (10/01/2009)
You do know other people are on campus other than kids, such as professors, administrators, support staff, visitors etc?
Not to mention the owner could be an older student that has gone back to school.
I assume you are just screwing around with that comment anyway.
Tyler 6:12PM (10/01/2009)
Wouldn't it have turbo lag though? And 40 less horses? And it's more difficult to maintain turbochargers than a supercharger. It gets kind of confusing with a 500hp turbocharged GT500, then the standard GT500, then the GT500 KR, and then the even more powerful GT500 KR. Ford's main goal should be to make the vehicle lighter and handle a little better, although it seems to handle pretty good now but not anything superb. turbochargers are meant for smaller displacement engines with lower torque such as V6's. Superchargers are meant for higher displacement engines with lots of torque, V8's except for heavy-duty trucks that are heavily tuned for turbochargers used for power and not speed. So overall I don't think it's a good idea, sure it works with the Ecoboost V6 but almost all V8's you see for racing and speed purposes, they will have superchargers.
Carlos 7:24PM (10/01/2009)
"but almost all V8's you see for racing and speed purposes, they will have superchargers"
Orly? Care to show me which engines you're talking about?
If a company is going to make a car turbocharged don't you think that their going to factor in maintenance? Just because a car is turbocharged does not mean it is more difficult to maintain then a supercharged one, there are too many variables in why cars break in order to make such a claim.
I also gather that you've never heard of sequential turbochargers? Small one for low rpm operation and a larger for higher rpm.
Tyler 11:41PM (10/01/2009)
These are the engines I'm talking about: Drag-strip cars, Chevrolet's Hennessey Camaro, Corvette ZR1, SVT Cobra, Ford GT, the GT500 and GT500 KR, 427R Roush Mustang, Saleen Mustangs, and the 2006 SCC Ultimate Aero TT.
ForgedInternals 1:11PM (10/01/2009)
Not if its a V8, It seems highly unlikely Ford would deviate away from superchargers especially if the Coyote is just an extended 4.6 with direct injection. If its a V6 then it's highly likely considering the whole Eco-Boost thing and Shelby has worked with turbo's in the past.
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mkM3 1:34PM (10/01/2009)
I don't think that a turbocharged V8 is unlikely at all. On the contrary, I think it would make much more sense than developing a new supercharged V8, especially if the Coyote gets direct injection. It would allow them to borrow from the EcoBoost technology already developed for the corporate V6 and soon to be used on many other engines in their lineup as well.
Also, what's this about "If its a V8...if its a V6."? I don't get it. Surely you cannot honestly believe that the next GT500 will be an EcoBoost V6, right?
ForgedInternals 1:49PM (10/01/2009)
Why not? Because it will lack that V8 sound? It has "Eco" in it's green washing name? The 3.5 in the SHO already has more power than the 3v and that's with a tune to run on regular or premium and small turbo's to reduce spool up time.
mkM3 2:33PM (10/01/2009)
"Why not? Because it will lack that V8 sound?"
No. Because it makes no sense and because the marketers will never pull it off in a million years. A V6 Shelby GT500? Now how do you sell that? If you think that can sell, go start a poll in any Mustang/GT500 forum and see how many enthusiasts will go for a $50,000 V6 powered GT500.
An EcoBoost V6 in some other Mustang? Sure. Price it around the GT and call it the SVO or something. Great. That would probably have a decent market.
Also, if you want to just see how "Eco"-friendly a 500hp V6 in a 3800lb car is, check out the Nissan GTR. 18MPG combined. You can't just swap in bigger turbos and crank up the boost for 500hp and expect to maintain great fuel efficiency. So you end up with a high strung V6 that is no better than the V8. You've probably saved some weight - great. But you've also alienated 90% of the target demographic
TKOsoccer03 8:09PM (10/01/2009)
Well .. this could be accurate information. I wouldn't dobt it.
Ford said nearly 18 months ago they would be introducing 4, 6, and 8, cyl ecoboost engines. They said last winter when they 3.5L EB was officially introduced that the 4 and 8 cyl. versions would come in 2010.
Let look at the logic. The 5.4L will be obselite in the F150 and SD trucks come next summer. Why would they continue to build a version of it just for the Mustang? Too expensive. The 5.0L will already be in the Mustang. It would make more sense to use that motor as a base for the GT500. It makes sense that the 5.0L will be the EB 8 cyl motor that is projected to produce well over 500 hp. It will be much much lighter than the 5.4L and will also have far more potential.
Although ford has made improvements on the 5.4L in the past, it's time to lay the motor to rest. Ford has better tech. with their new future engines.
ForgedInternals 4:09PM (10/01/2009)
People would still buy it so long as it has the Shelby moniker attached, look at how many people buy Shelby GTs or How much GT-500H's go for at auctions, Both cars are no better then Mustang GT's and yet people pay more for the Shelby prestige.
TSLegendary 1:12PM (10/01/2009)
Would be nice to have a TT V8 Stang but then again that rarely happen's.
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mkM3 1:13PM (10/01/2009)
Even if the 2011 gets the aluminum block 5.4L, that doesn't preclude a force-fed version of the Coyote landing in the engine bay at a later date. It would be unlikely to happen after just one year, sure, but perhaps for MY2013 or MY2014.
I would think that Ford will want to move on from the modular motor as soon as possible, but going to an aluminum 5.4L wet-sump block (which I think already exists and is available through FRPP, no?) is a good stop-gap until they can prepare the Coyote for GT500 duty.
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naggs 1:30PM (10/01/2009)
i have heard the aluminum SC 5.4 is a go for at least 2 years
ecoboost v8 down the road a bit
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jmc8387 1:34PM (10/01/2009)
I hope the new Shelby motor produces more than the 540 hp it currently makes. My wife and I want a new Mustang V8 Convertible, but I refuse to buy a 2010. I want at minimum the new 5.0 in a GT or aluminum block in the GT500 before I go out and make the big purchase. I cant wait! One of these two models will be our next car purchase this coming year.
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Gloria 1:47PM (10/01/2009)
Job 1 for 2011 Mustang is 3/15/10
Expect the GT500 to lose 175-200lbs over the current version. Most of that will be over the nose.
jmc8387 1:34PM (10/01/2009)
Oh and one more thing...give customers the option of the Track Pack on Convertible models please!
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Thunderbuck 2:11PM (10/01/2009)
There's one very good reason why the Track Pack isn't offered on the droptop: the firmer ride is harder on the convertible's more flexible structure.
I had the pleasure of renting a 2010 convertible a couple of months ago, and I'll vouch for that flexibility; even on a car with less than 3,000 km, the cowl shake was noticible.
Dondonel 1:36PM (10/01/2009)
The difference in weight between aluminium and cast iron V8 block is about 50lb. It is not the engine block materials that are resposible for the 400lb difference between GT and GT500, but the strengthen/enlarged components of the GT500, needed to handle the increase in power.
What's worse is that the turbo DOHC V8 with aluminium block, that everybody seems to be pushing for, is not going to be lighter or consume less than the supercharged SOHC V8 with iron block (and I'm talking here about the new supercharger found on 2010 GT500, not the old one). But is certain that the turbo DOHC V8 is going to be way more expensive for no benefit - that should make everybody happy.
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