In 1992, the McLaren F1 became the first car in the world to use a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer monocoque chassis. While magnesium and aluminum were also used, the mystique around carbon fiber has never waned as we remain bewitched by its almost magical properties. Sure, carbon fiber components can be bought and added to a wide range of “lesser” vehicles, but only Ford can claim to be putting the world’s first mass-production carbon fiber wheels onto a factory vehicle.

That vehicle is none other than the upcoming Shelby GT350R, which Ford claims is its most track-capable Mustang ever, and using technology borrowed from NASA and the Space Shuttle program, the Blue Oval has built lighter and stronger wheels than it ever thought possible. While carbon fiber wheels have existed on ultra high-end vehicles for a while now, the production numbers of these vehicles rarely tallies more than a few hundred.

So with Ford saying this will be the first application of carbon fiber wheels to a mass-produced vehicle, it seems the automaker is (rightly) anticipating high demand for the new Shelby. Engineers found that the lighter carbon fiber wheels improved suspension response time significantly, while also upping ride quality and steering response, as the carbon fiber wheels only weigh about 18 pounds each, compared to 33 pounds for the equivalent aluminum wheel. But for Ford to commit to this path, these new-fangled carbon fiber wheels had to meet extremely high testing requirements.

One of the most brutal tests involves hitting a curb at speed with fresh carbon fiber wheels, putting both tire and wheel at risk of damage. Using a mixture of different resins, Ford was able to create a much stiffer carbon fiber than many might expect, and the lightweight wheels allowed the suspension to react so quickly that the test driver wasn’t sure he’d done the test right…so he hit the curb, at speed, a second time just to be sure. The carbon fiber wheels also have to endure temperatures in excess of 900 degrees Celsius, just a taste of the insane specifications Ford put these wheels through to ensure GT350R owners are getting the best performance possible. Each wheel even has its own RFID chip so Ford can enter individual wheels into its quality assurance program.

The day where we see carbon fiber wheels on even the cheapest new cars is probably closer than we realize, as carbon fiber is trickling down across the entire auto industry. Ford might be touting mass production carbon fiber wheels now, but one day it’ll be bragging about the first-ever carbon fiber Mustang, mark these words.