The King is back. The iconic GT500 has resurged with more power, edgier looks, and a slow of improvements from front to back which proves that maybe, just maybe, some car engineers actually read reviews. Just as the GT improved a lot of little things that add up in a big way, the GT500 kicked things up a notch and now stands alone in its own muscle car segment, somewhere between the ZR-1 and SRT-8 Challenger. Power now stands at a remarkable 540 ponies, and torque has been upped 30 ft-lbs to 510, breaking its own benchmark as the most powerful production Mustang ever thanks to improved tuning and air intake flow.
But this isn’t just a faster GT500. SVT engineers have reworked just about every aspect of the car, starting with the suspension. While many people are still clamoring for a live rear axle, Ford claims the new dampers, springs, and anti-roll bars have much improved what Jalopnik calls a “kidney pounding” ride. A re-geared twin disc 6-speed manual transmission provides better ratios for improved performance and fuel economy, and the 3:55 gears in the rear end are a perfect compromise. Ford is trying to scale back scariness in lieu of comfort and perhaps even a dash of practicality.
There are plenty of subtle changes and tweaks on the exterior as well, starting with headlights that are set back deeper than the GT’s for a more aggressive, serial killer look. The Cobra badge moves from right to left to allow the cold air intake better air flow, and the rear spoiler gets a functional Gurney flap and a new rear diffuser. The coupe and convertible both get new wheels, 19” on the former and 18” on the droptop. The interior also gets tweaked, starting with sound deadening to help drown out the 5.4 liter supercharged engine drone. Leather seats with stitched racing stripes match the color of your car and a beefy shifter knob sits atop the short throw. They added all this and increased the weight of the GT500 by only 20lbs, still making it a lightweight among today’s muscle cars.
Head over to
Jalopnik for more details and Ford’s press release on the GT500.
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