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Profile: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
The Most Powerful Production GT500 Beast Yet
Ford’s Shelby GT500 Mustang has always been a mover and a shaker; even more so in the coming year. The 2013 model year GT500 will produce an estimated 650 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. That makes it the most powerful production V8 engine in the world. Better yet, almost every vehicle system in the car has been optimized including power train, brakes, gearing and suspension. With an estimated top speed of more than 200 mph, the 2013 Shelby GT500 is sure to leave an impression on those lucky few who get to spend time behind the wheel.
Highlights
2013 Shelby GT500 Produces 650 Horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque
Top Speed of 200+ mph
Nearly every vehicle system has been optimized including powertrain, brakes, gearing and suspension
New down force- generating front grilles, aggressive splitter, new quad exhaust system and two new forged-aluminum wheels
Optional Performance Package with SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers and a Torsen limited-slip differential. The offering can be coupled with a track package for all-out racetrack performance
Tweaked for Performance
The 2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang gets its power thanks to an aluminum 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine. Ford says a larger, more-efficient supercharger flowing more air through the engine is key to helping produce the massive 650 horsepower. The new TVS series 2300 creates 2.3 liters of displacement and is a unique design to the 5.8-liter engine.
That said, the GT500 is sure to ignite excitement out on the track. With a top speed of more than 200 mph, it’s fast. “SVT keeps the Shelby GT500 on the cutting edge of technology and takes muscle car performance to new heights,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. “We encapsulated every aspect of performance in this car – whether it’s 0-60, top speed, racetrack or quarter-mile times. Beyond that, the daily driver also will find this car perfectly fits his or her needs.”
Other elements of the GT500 have also been modified for the 2013 model year. For instance, the entire cooling system has been significantly updated on the new 5.8-liter engine. It now includes a larger cooling fan, fan shroud with high-speed pressure-relief doors, a more efficient charge air cooler, a higher-flow intercooler pump and an intercooler heat exchanger with volume increased 36 percent.
Engineers also worked to revise the GT500’s torque management in a way that makes the car more driver-friendly. Ford says engineers considered more than 35 gearing combinations, finally deciding on one that balanced torque being transmitted all the way through the wheels and grip to the ground. The final drive ratio is now 3.31:1 for optimized overall vehicle gearing. Every gear, with the exception of fourth, was optimized for competing performance metrics. The clutch has increased torque and rpm capacity and uses a dual-disc design.
Traction Management Improvements
Torsen limited-slip differential: When customers order the optional Performance Package, they will get a Torsen limited-slip differential that helps the rear suspension deliver maximum torque and traction better and longer under track conditions
Launch control: A new launch control system lets drivers set the desired launch rpm depending on tire temperature, street surface or other conditions. Unique to SVT’s launch control is that it is integrated with both the engine control and traction control
Brembo braking system: A new Brembo brake system offers drivers enhanced stopping power to help keep their car under control, both on the road and the track. New six-piston calipers in front along with larger front and rear rotors help improve brake fade. New brake pads that are more aggressive also help the car achieve high deceleration and further robustness for more driver confidence
“It might just seem like we’re putting a bigger engine into the car. But it’s been a balanced approach through and through,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief engineer. “We’ve completely redone the car to be even more sophisticated in terms of handling and control than the prior model.”
Of note, the 2013 GT500 Mustang will continue to be exempt from a gas-guzzler tax.
Exterior Refinements For the Sake of Performance
The new GT500 is designed to offer an improved driving experience thanks to its tuned AdvanceTrac settings and steering assist levels within selectable steering.
Photo Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Visually, the 2013 GT500 will appear slightly modified when compared to previous models. Engineers were able to determine how to harness the air that was moving around and through the car to improve the cooling system, maximize downforce and minimize drag. As such, its front fascia and splitters were modified to handle the extreme loads at 200 mph, resulting in a car that Ford says tracks more securely and feels more planted to the road at higher speeds. The company says it offers 33 percent more effective aero loading at 160 mph compared to the 2011 model.
The car also features two new sets of forged-aluminum wheels including a unique wheel for cars with the optional packages. The 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels come equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires on all vehicle configurations.
Suspension Improvements and Optional Packages
The new GT500 is designed to offer an improved driving experience thanks to its tuned AdvanceTrac settings and steering assist levels within selectable steering. Ford says the previously available unique traction control system and electronic stability control settings help drivers achieve maximum performance on both the street and the track. The systems can be completely disabled in controlled track situations where maximum driver skill is utilized, or fully engaged for maximum safety during normal driving or in less-than-ideal traction conditions. An Intermediate sport mode lets you harness the performance of the GT500 without sacrificing all the car’s built in safety systems. This means more aggressive driving can be delivered by the driver before the traction control and electronic stability control intervene.
“We took a completely different approach with this car so drivers can choose their settings instead of a computer making the selection,” Hameedi said. “Nearly every system the driver interacts with can be tailored to his or her situation including the Bilstein electronic adjustable suspension, launch control, AdvanceTrac and steering assist levels.”
Driver’s looking for even more performance can opt for the optional SVT Performance Package. Slightly revised for the 2013 model year, this package comes with SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers accessible from the dash with a push of a button. Normal mode gives customers a more comfortable ride over road irregularities. Sport mode is all about performance, delivering improved response time on the track and less body roll while cornering and pitch under braking. The Torsen limited-slip differential also comes with the Performance Package.
“The adjustable shocks let us develop our car on the track without any compromise,” said Kerry Baldori, Ford SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer. “Before, we had to tune the car with street implications in mind. Now we can go as extreme as we want on the track setting and still offer the customer a comfortable ride on the road.”
The 2013 GT500 also comes with an optional Track Package for what Ford calls “All-Out Performance.” The option comes with an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler for further durability. The coolers play an essential role in preventing crucial components from overheating under high-speed conditions.
The 2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang will become available in the Spring of 2012. Pricing has yet to be released. The car will be produced at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.
Source: Ford Motor Company
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