Auto Car | 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang | Building on a heritage that began back in 1967, Shelby Automobiles, Inc. and Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) have collaborated once again to create a 2010 GT500 Mustang that’s more powerful, more modern, and more muscle-car than ever before. This creation, based on the new 2010 Ford Mustang, takes everything we loved about the previous GT500 and builds onto its performance traits. Most importantly it's backed by Carroll Shelby's full seal of approval.
Performance and Power
You’ll once again find a 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine beneath the hood of the 2010 Shelby GT500. What makes it different this time around is its output. Power has been increased by 40 horses, offering up 540 hp and 510 lbs.-ft. of torque. That makes this GT500 one of the most powerful production Mustangs ever. The boost in power is achieved via the Shelby’s open-element air induction system. This system reduces air restriction by using a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system. The result is more airflow into the engine compartment which results in improved power throughout.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 also features a new cold air intake, adding to the car’s horsepower figures. Bottom line, the designers cut no corners when designing the car. They even moved the Cobra snake badge to the other side of the grille to allow for maximum air flow.
Refined Clutch System
In addition to its engine upgrades, the 2010 GT500 Mustang also features a redesigned clutch system. Gone is the 215 mm diameter disc clutch. The discs on the new 2010 Mustang are bigger, 250 mm in diameter, and are made of made of copper and fiberglass. Ford says this was done to “make them more robust.” Ford also touts the system’s intermediate disc. Ford says the new system has six straps that control the engagement of the clutch, improving drivability. “All our changes were about making the car to respond as fast and as predictable as possible,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT. “The 2010 Shelby GT500 conveys an athletic, confident feel. The shifter, clutch pedal, brake-pedal efforts and overall steering efforts are easier now. We wanted to make sure we had a nice, crisp short-throw shifter that was easy to go from gear to gear.”
As for its gearing set up, you’ll find the new GT500 has a new final drive ratio of 3.55 which is a change from the previous car’s 3.31 ratio. Overall, gears 1-4 are the same as before, although fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50. Why you ask? Well, this means the 2010 Shelby GT500 will turn lower engine RPMs in those gears with a goal of delivering improved fuel efficiency. As such, Ford expects the GT500 to get 2 more miles per gallon on the highway because of this modification. It’s predicted these changes will also result in quicker 0-60 times. The redline for the GT500 remains at 6,250 rpm.
The Supercharger and Exhaust
A favorite characteristic of the GT500 for many is the sound of its supercharger kicking in when you put your foot down hard, followed closely by the sound of the car’s exhaust. Well, the new car features a supercharger that is designed to be less intrusive than the previous model. Now I for one found the noise made by the previous model’s supercharger downright appealing, but to each his own. “You still hear the supercharger but not so that it’s intrusive,” said Kerry Baldori, chief functional engineer for SVT. “It’s the same with the exhaust. You want people to know you’re driving something special, but you don’t want an exhaust note that overpowers the whole interior. He added, “We spent a lot of time getting the right sound quality out of the exhaust so you get that nice, crisp Shelby sound outside and a pleasant sound inside the cabin. It’s a nice balance; one isn’t overpowering the other.”
Improved Suspension and Ride
Now onto the suspension and ride quality of the 2010 GT500. The new GT500 features optimized spring and dampers for better roll control when pushing the car to the max. In fact, Ford says the new chassis tuning takes its philosophy from the KR program, with a greater emphasis placed on primary body control. The car also features a stiffer steering shaft.
Another notable feature is the car’s new Goodyear F1 Supercar tires. Ford says the Goodyear team focused on making the tires offer better grip and better handling. The tires ride on 19-inch wheels made of forged aluminum and milled on both sides. The convertible GT500 rides on 18-inch wheels.
Of course, the hot topic item on the new GT500 is the car’s Ford’s stability control system called AdvanceTrac. A first for the Mustang, this stability control system helps keep the car steady in normal driving conditions. When set to sport mode, it’s designed for a day at the track. Thankfully you can turn the whole system off, at the flip of a switch, for those of you who’d like to serve up some serious smoking burnouts.
Specification
Make: Ford
Model: Shelby Mustang GT-500
Year: 2010
Country Of Origin: United States of America
Type: Muscle Car
Class: B
Engine: V-8, Supercharged ( Belt Driven Roots Centrifugal), 5,398 CC, Gasoline
Horsepower: 540 BHP @ 6,200 RPM
Tourque: 480 LB FT @ 4,500 RPM
Redline: 6,250 RPM
Brakes: Vented Steel Discs Front, Drums Rear, ABS all Round
Wheels: 19 Inch all round, Tourque thrust alloy hubcaps.
Handedness: Left
Dials: All Analouque
Readout: MPH
Transmission: 6 Speed H Pattern Manual
Driveline: F/R Front Engined, Rear Wheel Drive
0-60: 5.0 Seconds
Top Speed: 185 MPH
(mustangs.about.com)
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