Shelby GT500 convertible available in 2006

Ford Motor will roll out the convertible version of its top of the line GT500 in mid-2006. The 450 hp supercharged Shelby soft-top will be the most powerful factory-built Mustang convertible in history.

Ford's SVT group, joined by Carroll Shelby, made sure the high performance convertible was stiff enough to handle the power, avoiding the flexible flyer handling problems that often plague convertible versions of high performance coupes. The new car is said to have twice the torsional stiffness of the previous generation.

The convertible is only 125 pounds heavier than the coupe, and that means that the chassis dynamics are nearly as good as the hardtop's.