Ford have decided to put the most powerful production V8 engine in the world into the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500, whose photos and details have been released to the public prior to the 2011 Los Angeles Motor Show.
They have fitted this car with a 5.8-liter aluminum-block V8 that develops 650HP and 600 lb-ft of torque, with parts redesigned to maximize all performance parameters, that, they say, is capable of reaching speeds of 200mph (~320 km/h) plus. Among the newly improved component list one can find a new cross-drilled block and heads, tuned camshaft profiles, a new supercharging system and a new carbon fiber driveshaft.
There’s also a better cooling system that includes a big cooling fan, a more efficient charge air cooler, a higher-flow intercooler pump and a larger intercooler heat exchange system. The car had to reach better fuel economy, thus the transmission and clutch had to be redesigned; the engineers chose a low-torque combination among 34 other possibilities.
They have installed a 6-speed manual gearbox with a drive ratio of 3:31:1. The clutch is set as a dual-disc with increased torque and rpm. The manufacturers have also reworked the suspension, brakes and the aerodynamics of the car. As Ford states, the new Shelby GT500 can be purchased with an optional Bilstein Performance Package, with new dampers and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
All these can also be added to a track package, in case a future owner of the car feels the need to push the pedal to the maximum. The cars will be put in production at the AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The cost is still unknown, but something makes us think it’ll be very affordable.
[Ford]
