Ford is getting ready to put the media behind the wheel of the new 2011 Shelby GT-500 next week at Virginia International Raceway to put the car through its paces. In getting ready for the big event, SVT engineers tested the waters this week to see how the new aluminum block GT-500 does.
In their testing, the car with a good deal less weight on the front wheels and equipped with the new SVT Performance Package performed on the test loop an astounding 9 seconds faster than the 2010 Shelby GT-500. Not only is the weight difference contributing to the faster time, but the new suspension, tire and wheel package seals the deal.
The front and rear shocks in the Performance Package are tuned differently, adding control to work better with the chassis and tire. The front springs are 20.5 percent stiffer than the base, and the rear springs are 9.5 percent stiffer, continuing an SVT performance tuning direction of adding more stiffness in the front and keeping the rear softer to aid acceleration traction. Roll stiffness also helps control cornering while on the track.
Nineteen-inch forged-aluminum wheels in the front, which are 4.7 pounds lighter than the base Shelby GT500’s, complement the all-new wider 265/40R-19 front tires. New 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels at the rear are 2.8 pounds lighter than the standard 19-inch wheel, and the new 3.73 rear axle ratio takes advantage of the new larger rear wheels and tires.
A lowered ride height of 11 millimeters in front and 8 millimeters at the rear improves handling and gives the car an even sportier attitude. High-temperature dry shaft center bearing bushing and shifter bushings – which are also on the base Shelby – ensure that no matter how hot the conditions get, the car will still perform at its best.
Check Out Ford’s Video…..
The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine offering a weight savings of 102 pounds off of the outgoing cast-iron block. The weight reduction helps improve fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.
Advanced engine manufacturing techniques and refined tuning help produce 550 horsepower –10 hp more than the 2010 model – and 510 ft.-lb. of torque. And, through engine improvements and aerodynamic refinements, the 2011 GT500 will be the first GT500 to achieve fuel economy numbers that will allow it to avoid gas guzzler tax.
We’ll be taking our own test drive in the new 2011 GT-500 real soon. So stay tuned for a full review.
