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Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

Chris Paukert — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 - click above for high-res image gallery

We've just gotten off the horn with Ford's SVT performance division, and we've learned that the Blue Oval's hot-rod arm is going to limit production of the 2011 Shelby GT500 to 5,500 units for this model year. According to Ford spokesman Henry Platts, the move is not the result of slow sales, but rather a desire to maintain exclusivity. In fact, sales of Ford's king of the Mustang range have "exceeded expectations," with in excess of 3,300 orders already placed.

The 550-horsepower GT500 has not only been performing surprisingly well in a down economy, it's been going out the door loaded-to-the sills with options. According to Platts, there have been three times as many GT500 coupes ordered with the $1995 glass roof option as compared to the regular Mustang. In the "News That Makes Us Happy" category comes word that a full 68 percent have been spec'd out with the $3,495 performance package (includes 19- and 20-inch painted forged alloys, 3.73 limited-slip, tuned suspension, Gurney flap rear spoiler, etc.), and additionally, 70 percent of all GT500s have been ordered with the $2,340 electronics package (navi, dual-zone HVAC and Sirius/HD radio). With the GT500 starting at an out-the-door price of $49,495 before options, we're guessing that the GT500 is more than carrying its weight for Dearborn's bottom line.

While Ford is limiting total output of the GT500 to 5,500 units for 2011, Platts says the automaker has no plans to dictate how that shakes out in the coupe/convertible bodystyle mix. That said, if you've been fence-sitting on whether to pick up a GT500 of your very own this year, might we suggest that you make up your mind... quickly.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 with SVT Performance Package

[Source: Ford]

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Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 order guide revealed?

Alex Nunez — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2010 Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love enthusiast forums, in part because they're loaded with dealer employees who always manage to get their hands on fun stuff like vehicle ordering guides before the automakers are ready to spill the beans on upcoming changes themselves. The latest? It's the guide for the 2011 Shelby GT500, posted by one of the members at ModularFords.com. The document (presuming the info is 100-percent accurate) confirms that the new GT500 trades in its iron block for an aluminum one. We don't yet know how much weight the move will shave yet, but the change should only help make what's pretty much a great car even better.

Other stuff of interest? HID lamps will be standard, the glass roof option will become available on coupes, the convertible gets equipped with the same 19-inch wheels as the hardtop (the 2010 'vert rolled on 18-inchers), and there's an optional goody-laden SVT Performance Package. It adds a 3:73 rear axle ratio (3:55 is standard), package-specific shocks and springs, what sounds like a different stripe package, upgraded wheels and tires (19-inchers in front and 20-inchers in back), and a rear spoiler with Gurney flap. (If you want the SVT Performance pack, you need to skip the Shaker 1000 stereo).

Ford doesn't appear to be making a big to-do about the revisions. A spokesperson tells us we won't see the 2011 GT500 at either the Chicago or New York auto shows. Ourselves, we're content to wait patiently for the car's arrival so we can jump behind the wheel for a few days of fun and fact-finding. We've gallerized the Order Guide PDF below, and you can see the original over at ModularFords.com.

Gallery: 2011 Shelby GT500 Order Guide

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 2

[Source: ModularFords.com]

2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 order guide revealed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford V8 boss says no twin-turbo 5.0L for Shelby GT500

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Ford

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

In recent months, rumors have been rampant that the next generation of Ford's Shelby GT500 Mustang would dump the existing 5.4-liter supercharged V8 in favor of a twin-turbo version of the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that debuts this spring. Unfortunately, in spite of earlier reports confirming the development, it appears that such an engine will not be installed in the GT500 any time soon. Autoblog had the chance to talk with Mike Harrison, Ford's chief engineer for the 5.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8 engines this morning, and he made it clear that the mooted engine is not part of the program for the Blue Oval bomber.

Harrison explained that such a configuration would be almost impossible for Ford to engineer because the 5.0-liter already consumes virtually the entire engine compartment. There is evidently no room to mount the turbos on the outside of the block where the exhaust currently resides. One possibility would be to put the turbos in the valley of the block similar to the new 6.7-liter diesel or BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, but this creates a bunch of new problems as well. The heat generated by having the turbos up top would probably cause the paint on the hood to bubble and peel unless Ford could add some exotic and undoubtedly expensive heat shielding, which is unlikely to happen.

The other issue is that this configuration would really only work if the intake and exhaust flow were reversed, putting the exhaust in the valley. Without this change, the paths from the exhaust ports to the turbos would be too long, resulting in excess turbo lag and unacceptable performance. However, this would require a level of engineering investment for new heads that Ford is unlikely to make in such a low-volume program. Thus, we'll have to be satisfied with the aluminum block 5.4 that is arriving later this year.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 1

Ford V8 boss says no twin-turbo 5.0L for Shelby GT500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hold Your Horses: 2011 Mustang details leak out on internet forum?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2010 Ford Mustang GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Some potential future Mustang news comes by way of an internet forum user who calls himself TheInsider. With a handle like that, he must know what he's talking about, right? We kid. But some of the rumors he spills gives with what we've been hearing too. In any case, this source tells the masses at The Mustang Source that the 2011 Mustang's 3.7-liter V6 will be rated at 315 horsepower, neatly outperforming the direct-injected 3.6-liter unit installed in the Chevrolet Camaro by a handful of ponies. But wait, there's more!

Moving up the power ladder a step, the 2011 GT will see a bump up to an even 400 horsepower, which we're expecting to come from the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, and those horses will be corralled though a new six-speed manual gearbox. Unfortunately, because the base V6 will sport so much additional power, the mooted EcoBoost model may never come to fruition.

As we've previously heard, rumor has it that the '11 Stang with the new Coyote V8 and Track Pack with Pirelli P Zero Corsa R tires was able to lap GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan at the same rate as a current BMW M3 - fine company indeed. The final two insights of note are that next year's GT500 will be blessed with an aluminum block and that a Boss edition is slated for 2012. Not surprisingly, six pages have accrued on the thread since yesterday morning. Click here to check out the banter in its entirety.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Mustang GT

[Source: The Mustang Source]

Hold Your Horses: 2011 Mustang details leak out on internet forum? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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