2011 GT500 specs *official*

[Mook]

The crafty, Mustang-obsessed folks over at MustangHeaven have uncovered the order guide for the 2011 Shelby GT500.

Were you hoping for a new aluminum engine block? Bingo, you got it. How about a glass roof coupe? Done. Some standard HID headlights? Check. MyKey? Check.

Other notable option is the SVT Performance Pack. It will include a 3.73 limited slip rear end, revised springs and shocks and unique side stripes.

Last week we brought you a partial list of the upgrades in store for the 2011 Shelby GT500 courtesy of an order guide leak. This morning, some crafty members at TeamShelby noticed a video of the upcoming GT500 on one of Ford's media sites. The pictures you see here are screen grabs from that video which has since been taken down.

On another front, the Detroit News reported this morning that in addition to the upgrades detailed in the order guide, the 2011 Shelby GT500 will generate 550 horsepower, a 10 horsepower bump over the previous model. The car will be officially unveiled at a press conference Monday morning and appear at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show later in the week.

[Mook]

more

The latest Ford Racing email newsletter contains some juicy stuff for Mustang fans. It confirms that the 2011 Shelby GT500 will be revealed this coming Monday, February 8, at 1:30 PM Eastern time via a live webcast, during which FoMoCo VP for global product development, Derrick Kuzak will also run down the SVT product strategy with Jost Capito, Ford's director of global performance vehicles. The newsletter includes a link to FordMediaLive.com, which is counting down the seconds to the webcast in real time. We recommend you click on the system test button, because doing so gives you a teaser reel of the 2011 Shelby GT500 (shown above), and if you've been following the leaked developments so far, it's pretty revealing. (Note: Ford has since pulled down the old test/teaser reel and replaced it with generic nature scenes.)

As you know, the Shelby GT500 order guide found its way onto the web last week. Among the new-for-2011 features mentioned (beyond the aluminum block for the blown 5.4-liter V8), are the glass roof option, which is installed on the car in the video, and the new SVT Performance Package, which is also equipped. Visual giveaways that differentiate the performance pack cars are readily evident: the hood stripes are skinnier than the ones on the standard GT500, and the body-side stripe is solid (it's bisected on the regular GT500).

Even more obvious are the different wheels, 19 x 9.5 inches in front, and 20 X 10 inches in back) that are exclusive to the SVT Performance Package. Finally, in the shot of the car's rear end, the spoiler with Gurney flap is plainly visible. Regular GT500s don't get the flap.(Never mind; I forgot that the 2010 Gt500 rear spoiler had the flap, too. - Nunez) As specified in the leaked order sheet, the performance pack cars also get upgraded to a 3:73 rear axle ratio over the base GT500's 3:55s.On top of all that, The Detroit News reports this morning that the tweaked, aluminum-block 5.4 gets another 10 horsepower over the iron-block version, raising total output to 550 HP.

There's more to tell, but unfortunately, we're sworn to secrecy until 1:30 sharp on Monday. What we will say is this: The Mustang V6 and GT aren't the only ponys in the stable that get better for 2011. As good - great, even - as the 2010 Shelby GT500 is, the 2011 improves on the formula. Stay tuned for some pretty hot stuff on Monday.

Order Guide
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2011...0-order-guide/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU_lN...layer_embedded

[EmersonHart13]

Yes please.

[Fish]

Nice. I wanna go to the autoshow, but it actually lands on a week I work.

[jason05gt]

I love this car. Too bad it's 50+K with the Performance Package.

The aluminum block and performance package should help drop lap times. I am still curious if the GT & GT500 will still get optional Recaro seats mid-year like some of the sources have mentioned. One rumor that looks to be busted is 15" Front Brembos.

[02BlueGT]

I like it, but the GT with the 5.0 will be faster for cheaper... and the New Gt with the 5.0 is the first ford i've ever considered going into debt over.

[SHOmuff]

The wheels and thin stripes look stupid. The rest is nice

[Fish]

I also am not a fan of the rims.

The 05-09 GT500 and KR stangs have sweet ass rims and stripe kits.

[ilikeMTB999]

I like the new cobra jet looks more.
Maybe if it wasn't red....and thin stripes are ugly I agree

[Riski]

Originally Posted by SHOearmuffs

The wheels and thin stripes look stupid. The rest is nice

x2!

[ez112]

Geez without the Alcoa's the GT500 looks weird.

[Mook]

official

The 2011 Shelby GT500 only gets minor exterior tweaks, but underneath the hood it chucks the heavy iron block truck engine for an all-aluminum 5.4-liter supercharged V8 for 120 lbs less weight and a smokin' 550HP.

102 lbs lighter. The new aluminum engine is 102 lbs lighter than the outgoing iron block engine. There are plenty of other spec upgrades on the new Shelby GT500 that we'll get to in a moment, but the one that's got our jaw slackened is the weight reduction provided by this new engine. It's almost like taking an entire passenger out of the cabin and yeah, it'll probably have an impact on steering feel, track performance and overall balance in the notoriously nose-heavy GT500.


But, just because we're quite pleased with the weight reduction doesn't mean the increase in power isn't noteworthy. The lighter 5.4-liter dual overhead cam supercharged V8 makes another 10 HP over the outgoing model, with 550 HP and 510 lb-ft of torque (same as current) with 80 percent delivered between 1,750 and 6,250 rpm. It's also made the change to electronic power steering to reduce accessory belt drag and completely does away with iron cylinder liners, using a patented Plasma Transferred Wire Arc liner system to apply a 150-micron composite coating for friction reduction. These efforts have come together to make not only improve horsepower but improve fuel economy, with Ford expecting the car to move off the gas guzzler tax roles, with projected economy of 23 MPG highway and 15 MPG city (remember, that's at 550 HP!)

The rest of the car has undergone some noteworthy tweaking as well. Since the front end has been significantly lightened, the tuning up front has been adjusted to provide appropriate grip and the front struts get a coat of red paint because, um, why not? The cars now get the option of the glass roof currently on the lower level cars, standard HID headlights, MyKey (which will come in really handy when tossing the keys to Junior), and fold down rear headrests to comply with new visibility standards.

Finally, the SVT Performance Package, designed for the track-day fiend who wants to eek out more performance from the Shelby GT500. The package includes Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G:2 tires designed specifically for the Shelby, lighter wheels, stiffer springs, a higher rear axle ratio and all are available on both convertible and hardtop. We're told the package reduces track time by an average of 3 seconds on a 2.3 mile track. So, basically, the Shelby GT500 is lighter, more powerful, gets better fuel economy and is faster around the track. Yes, we're happy about this upgrade.

Images
http://jalopnik.com/5466734/2011-for...500//gallery/1

[Turk]

Ford is doing things right. With the problems Toyota is facing, Ford is in great position for 2010 and beyond.

[Fish]

[jason05gt]

Good article on the 2011 GT500:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/08/2...e-loses-120-p/

Oh snap:

"Nissan actually licensed PTWA from Ford for use on its V6 engine in the GT-R."

[jason05gt]

Oh and 3 seconds faster at Laguna Seca...That puts it in some impressive territory:
http://www.motortrend.com/features/l...lap/index.html

[Primalzer]

I love this color...a little lighter but similar to the Laguna Seca blue that BMW had on the M3 on the last generation.

[Mook]

god damn that sounds good

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/08/v...ack/#continued

[smug_GXP]

I am really starting to like the 2011 stangs