What is it?
2011 Ford Shelby GT500
What's special about it?
With a little more power, a less weighty engine and new performance upgrades for 2011, the folks at Ford's SVT performance unit continue to turn the once portly, push-pig Shelby GT500 into an ever-more-legitimate all-around performance car.
Like its V6 and GT brethren, the GT500, which the company is to unveil at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, gets substantial upgrades for 2011, only a year after a major overhaul for 2010. You can think of it as a preemptive strike against the Camaro Z28 that has long been rumored to be waiting in the wings at Chevy.
Not surprisingly, the 2011 upgrades for the GT500 begin with the supercharged 5.4-liter V8, which Ford describes as an evolution of the engine from the now-departed Ford GT. Yep, that means the GT500 now has an aluminum-block engine instead of the stout iron block it has used up to now. This little switch chops off 102 pounds from the burden carried by the front axle of the notoriously nose-heavy GT500.
Meanwhile, the cylinder bores of the aluminum block are not conventional iron sleeves but instead have been coated using a plasma-transferred wire arc process, saving further weight. It's the first time Ford has used this process in volume production. A composite coating some 150 microns thick is deposited on the cylinder bores, reducing friction and saving 8.5 pounds compared to conventional iron liners.
That the engine now makes 10 horsepower more than last year's supercharged V8 — now totaling 550 hp — ain't so bad either. The horsepower boost is thanks largely to a retuned exhaust, which Ford says also provides for a more aggressive sound than the old pipes. The new motor makes the same 510 pound-feet of torque as last year's version.
The engine also adds a larger two-row intercooler for the supercharger, offering 40 percent more cooling capacity to help the engine make more consistent power at high ambient temperatures. (This had been a weakness of the 2010 engine.) Oh, the GT500 no longer is subject to a gas-guzzler tax in 2011 thanks to a 1-mpg improvement in both city and highway cycles, now up to 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway.
The other big news on the performance front is the availability of a new Performance package for 2011. It includes new forged-aluminum 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inchers in the rear. These handsome wheels (pictured here) carry the next-generation of Goodyear's Eagle F1 SuperCar tires, now called "SuperCar G: 2." These tires are "as close as you can get to a racecar tire," according to SVT technical specialist Eric Zinkosky. The 265/40R19 front tires are wider than those of last year's 255s, while the 285/35R20 rears offer the same tread width but are larger in diameter by an inch. The Performance package also includes uniquely tuned dampers and front springs that are 20.5 percent stiffer than those of the base car. The rear springs are only 9.5 percent stiffer, so they're relatively soft to improve traction under acceleration. The ride height has been lowered 11mm in front and 8mm in the rear. The Performance package also brings a new 3.73:1 rear-axle ratio.
Besides the wheel and tire package, you'll recognize the Performance package cars by a unique Gurney flap on the rear spoiler, narrower "over-the-top" stripes on the body and the lack of stripes on the shift knob. And if you look close enough, you might see that the new shocks are painted red. Ford says that the new Performance package should result in 7 percent shorter braking distances compared to the 2010 car and a 3.0-second quicker lap time around its 2.3-mile test track.
The standard car — if a Shelby GT500 can ever be considered a "standard" car — gets some improvements for 2011 that make it a bit easier to live with. There's more acoustic insulation applied to the instrument panel, plus additional sound-absorption material behind the interior trim panels and rear wheel arch liners, all in an effort to reduce road noise. Like the V6 and GT Mustang convertibles, the GT500 convertible's structure has been improved. Stiffer crossmembers, added gussets, a front Z-brace (which connects primary and secondary crossmembers) and stiffer A-pillars have improved lateral stiffness by 12 percent, according to Ford. For 2011, the convertible also now wears standard 19-inch wheels.
Like the lesser Mustangs, the 2011 Shelby GT500 will have electric power steering in place of the 2010 model's conventional hydraulic boosted system. We have yet to drive a Mustang with electric power steering, but we're hopeful that it doesn't mess up what was pretty damn good steering.
There will be more optional niceties on the 2011 model as well. The optional glass roof is now offered on the GT500 coupe. All GT500s come with standard HID headlamps. And, should you be foolish enough to allow someone else to drive your GT500, the 2011 model comes standard with Ford's programmable MyKey system to limit the car's top speed.
Inside Line says: The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 was already a winner in our books, and the changes for 2011 appear to make it only more righteous. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
Add A Comment »
mmman2 says:
07:04 PM, 03/15/2010
I don't like the new stripes, I like the 2010 one better, i think if they made these stripes into one, it would look better. But that's no big deal, this car is faster and handles better than the 2010 one. I love mustangs!
wjtinatl says:
06:50 AM, 02/17/2010
Nice to see a car (any car) getting lighter. Just about everything weighs close to or over 4000lbs. these days, with all the safety, convenience and entertainment equipment thrown in. Frankly, I don't see the Mustang and the 'Vette really competing against each other anywhere but in sanctioned competition events. On the showroom floor, Mustang is up against Camaro & Challenger, perhaps the 135i/328i but not likely. Most buyers are up against a price point, and a 'Vette is 10k more, no matter how you slice it (additional dealer mark-up's excluded). To me, a back seat is a defining difference between these classes of cars, you either want (need) one or you don't. If you need one, the Mustang supplies tons of performance in a distintly American style, similar to Camaro and Challenger. As far as the IRS goes, while I think it might add a wee bit of handling composure (and apparently a lot of media cred), I don't think a stock Mustang is even aimed at that audience. It may also limit the GT500's dragstrip abilities, as IRS is more prone to wheel hop under hard launches than a log axle, and the log is more durable. The lumpy mountain road home is better served by a 328i, Audi TT or even a GTI. However, some of us, including me, want a ton or torque, a more relaxed daily drive and a back seat, which Mustang, as well as Camaro and Challenger, serve admirably. Unless an addl. 20k should come my way for an M3 coupe, I see the GT500 as fitting my needs pretty well.
mike_honcho says:
01:56 PM, 02/10/2010
@gdmstrb: I have not driven the 2011 Shelby GT, as I'm sure none of us have but I have driven the 2010 and it felt like a bloated performance vehicle with a boatload of horsepower, which is why I called it antiquated. I do agree that it is remarkably composed for a live rear axle, but not for an IRS setup which comprises nearly 100% of it's competition.
@calspecial68: I agree with your reasoning to some extent, but without AWD and modern gizmos I should save the weight of all these complex parts. Think Lotus Elise. I see none of that in store for the 2011.
The performance market today:
2010 Corvette Base 3208lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention
2010 GT-R Base 3800lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (AWD!)
2010 Evolution X 3517lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (AWD and sedan!)
2010 STi 3351lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (AWD and sedan!)
2010 M3 3707lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (Luxury performance coupe!)
2010 S4 3700lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (Luxury AWD, and sedan!)
2010 911 Turbo 3495lbs Curb Weight IRS Suspention (Not fair I know, 100K+ price, but for comparison.)
Threw this one in for kicks:
1998 Mustang SVT 3381lbs Curb Weight Live Axle (WTF?)
And then what?
2010 Shelby GT500 3920lbs Curb Weight Live Axle (I'll guess 2011 is around 3850lbs.)
Of the cars on the list I've driven all but the 911, and owned 2 of them, so don't speculate on my level of knowledge. I do indeed have around $50-$65k to get my next performance car and the Shelby is not currently near the top of my list. I intentionally left the Z06 off the list to not make the Shelby look silly.
As far as comparing it to a Corvette, last time I checked the Mustang is a sports car (I think we can all agree on that), and I have yet to see a 600lb back seat.
I also hate to dignify the ricer comment with a response, but my Evolution IX made over 400lbs of torque at the wheels (all 4 of them) on 2 liters. On a MUSTANG dyno of all things.
Sorry for the novel guys, but my first post seems to have not illustrated my point. Just an observation too, everyone defending it vehemently seems to have usernames that scream ford fan. I'm just looking at the facts from a pragmatic performance standpoint.
says:
04:04 PM, 02/09/2010
tonkatoytruck,
are you comparing the 4 seat gt500 pony car to the 2 seat sports car corvette? Why not compare it to the Camaro, which is in it's class.....and which it trounces all over, even with it's "antique" rear axle. For that matter, even the base Mustang GT beat the Camaro SS which has 100 more hp and IRS according to none other than Car and Driver. They were impressed with the Stangs handling. So much for the IRS advantage.
This car isn't all about numbers anyways, it's about how you enjoy it compared to a 4 cyl turbo ricer with no torque. Which I laugh at whenever I see them.
I'll never forget doing doughnuts in the school parking lot in my bro's old 5.0. Blue smoke everywhere and then the cops showed up with their spotlights beaming through the acrid haze. "Oh hi officer, we were just sitting here talking"! Good times!
svt_man says:
03:46 PM, 02/09/2010
I'll bet that none of you stupid bench racers who are ripping on this car can afford it anyway. How about driving it before you bash it? *shakes head* This car is awesome!
cptmatt says:
02:02 PM, 02/09/2010
strangelove: Head over to http://www.shelbyautos.com/ and tell they aren't shareholders in just about every plastic manufacturer in existence.
69johnny says:
08:56 AM, 02/09/2010
I'd rather walk than be caught dead in any frickin' Nissan!
It ain't always about the numbers.
You simply either "get" Mustangs or you don't.
Sounds like the GT500 has definitely been improved.
But I still say those new taillights on all 2010 and up Mustangs have to go!
They're too exotic looking for the overall boldness of that body.
wikiwiki says:
07:50 AM, 02/09/2010
The Ford Mustang Cobra Shelby GT500 Bullett SVT? LAME!!
tonkatoytruck says:
07:23 AM, 02/09/2010
I agree with the others. This car is an antique and Ford will do nothing to improve its suspension until 2014!!!!! What good is all that power if FMC, Rousch, and Shelby can not get it to the ground. This is one of the slowest 500HP+ cars in the world and they want way too much money for this antique. A standard 430HP Corvette walks all over the Mustang for less money!!!
I laugh at these cars when I see them on the road. I can understand being a fan but when you get your butt kicked at every light with less powerful cars, you really have to ask yourself why you bought this overpriced piece of nostalgia.
strangelove says:
08:00 PM, 02/08/2010
cptmatt -- surely you must be confusing shelby and saleen. the GT500s have been fairly understated for the last few years.
i love to see the front-end of this car lightening up a bit. and the silver is a sharp color. this car is the win.