2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Better In Every Way

In place of previous years’ cast-iron V-8 was an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter that pushed output to 550 supercharged horsepower. Also new for 2011 was the “SVT Performance Package,” which offered stiffer springs and damper rates, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio and suspension upgrades for sharper handling. 

When you start to buy a Shelby, realize that you get everything a GT Premium Mustang has and then more. And when I say more, I mean lots more.

The biggest more, is the engine it is a 5.4 liter Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) V8 engine that produces a whopping 550 hp at 6000 rpm and 510 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. This is NOT a normally aspirated engine. Rather it is an intercooled, supercharged engine with 9 pounds of boost. Mileage is not the best with this beast of an engine, but with the standard 6 speed transmission, it is rated at 15 miles per gallon city and 23 mpg highway. The standard gearing in the differential is 3.55:1 in a limited slip axle.

If you opt for the Performance Package, you will receive a 3.73:1 limited slip differential. Also included n the package is19 x 9.5 painted forged wheels with P265/40R19 front tires and on the rear are 20 x 9.5 painted forged aluminum wheels and P285.35R20 wheels. To go along with the power and traction options you get specially tuned rear springs and shocks. Visually the performance package adds a unique shifter know, classy striping, a gurney flap, a special spoiler and a underbody aerodynamic shield.

An option that is available for both the basic Shelby and the Performance Package Shelby is a Shaker 1000 Audio system.

Aside from these two options, there is an Electronics Package that upgrades to a dual heat/cooling zone temperature controls, a navigation system, an upgraded sound system and a lot of fun.

Aside from the fantastic power and impressive features, from time-to-time, I will vet a complaint about the Shelby. It looks too much like a Mustang, and it has a rear seat! Ditch the rear seat and put in a wet bar, hot tub or just about anything! Perhaps just leave it empty and carpeted or add a second fuel tank so one can drive farther as long s the bladder does not complain! Change the front fenders and hood/ front grille opening modify the Shelby’s appearance. If I were to pay twice as much for a Shelby as I would for a Mustang I would want people to know I didn’t just over pay for a Mustang, I got a Shelby! Enough said.

It is still an awesome car.

Specs & Performance

Engine

Type: 90-degree, DOHC 32-Valve supercharged aluminum V-8
Displacement: 5.4L / 330 CID
Horsepower: 550 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 510 lbs.-ft. @ 4250 rpm
Bore x Stroke: 3.55 in. x 4.17 in.
Compression: 8.4:1

Suspension

Front: Modified (reverse-L) MacPherson strut, 34mm stabilizer bar, coil springs
Rear: 3-link solid axle with coil springs, panhard rod, 24mm solid stabilizer bar

Brakes

Front: 14.0 in. vented Brembo disc, four-piston aluminum caliper
Rear: 11.8 in. vented disc, single-piston caliper
ABS: Four channel, four-sensor ABS system with EBD, linked to all-speed traction control

Wheels/Tires

Wheels: 19 x 9.5 in. forged aluminum wheels with SVT center caps
Tires: Coupe – P265/40ZR-19 Front; P285/35ZR-19 Rear

Performance

0-60 mph: 4.1 seconds (Motor Trend)
60-0 mph braking: 103 feet (Motor Trend)
1/4-mile @ MPH: 12.35 seconds @ 115.8 mph (Motor Trend

Production

Total Produced: 5,100
Total Coupe Produced: 4,150
– Black: 1,470
– Race Red: 869
– Kona Blue: 587
– Performance White: 425
– Sterling Grey: 410
– Ingot Silver: 218
– Grabber Blue: 171
Total Convertible Produced: 950
– Black: 333
– Race Red: 201
– Kona Blue: 131
– Performance White: 102
– Sterling Grey: 82
– Brilliant Silver: 61
– Grabber Blue: 40

VIN

Pictures

Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 8, 2010 – Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever.

“The SVT team continues to push the performance standards of the Shelby to even higher levels and better refinement,” said Jost Capito, director of global performance vehicles and motorsports business development. “All the changes we made reflect a desire for even better handling and outstanding driving dynamics – from weight savings to improved balance.”

All-New Aluminum Engine

The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase versus the 2010 model. The engine also is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.

“Cutting weight to improve performance is a tradition among hot rodders,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “It might not be as sexy as adding more horsepower or bigger brakes, but shaving pounds off of a car is the single smartest move you can make.”

The new engine uses state-of-the-art Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) liner coating, a process that applies a 150-micron composite coating that contains nanoparticles on the internal surfaces of engine cylinder bores, replacing cast-iron liners typically used in aluminum engine blocks. The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation honored the inventors of the Ford-patented PTWA technology with the 2009 National Inventor of the Year Award.

This is the first Ford application of the technology, and it offers improved overall performance and durability, along with functional benefits of reduced friction between piston rings and cylinder bores, improved heat transfer due to increased surface contact area and a weight savings of 8.5 pounds compared to a typical steel-sleeved aluminum block. A mechanical roughening process provides higher material adhesion for the spray coating.

The PTWA process uses air and electricity to create a plasma jet of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which melts a steel wire that is fed into a rotating spray gun. Using atomized air, the melted steel wire is blown into a specially machined surface of the aluminum-block engine cylinder bore. In the process of melting and applying the metal to the surface, the steel wire oxidizes, creating a composite coating consisting of both iron and iron oxide.

“Ford’s Global Research and Advanced Engineering looks to all industries for advanced technologies – and this comes from aerospace. It’s the same technology you would find on aircraft engines,” said Glenn Jorgensen, SVT powertrain team leader. “We’ve invented a coating as a replacement for cast iron that delivers improvements in power and performance and fuel economy.”

The new engine also has its roots in the iconic Ford GT. The new 5.4-liter engine is an evolution of the GT engine, with improved block structure through the use of a unique bulkhead chilled process and six-bolt billet main bearing caps. This new advanced engine will exceed Ford GT performance with its traditional supercharger technology.

“The Ford GT has solidified itself as one of the world’s most coveted supercars. To make improvements to the engine from this supercar and make it available in a Mustang is impressive,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT global performance vehicle chief functional engineer. “The aluminum-block engine is robust and strong enough to produce the performance numbers and durability our customers demand.”

Increased Power And Fuel Economy

The 2011 Shelby GT500 combines power and fuel economy into one impressive package. This 2011 Shelby GT500 will be the first modern Shelby without the gas guzzler tax, thanks to the EPA-projected 23 mpg highway and 15 mpg city it will deliver. This is up from 22 mpg highway and 14 mpg city for the 2010 model.

The 5.4-liter V-8 achieves 80 percent of its torque between 1,750 and 6,250 rpm, giving the car a higher level of performance feel. A larger two-row intercooler for the supercharger system has 40 percent more cooling capacity, helping to make power more consistent in higher ambient conditions.

Fuel economy gains come from the new 102-pound-lighter aluminum-block engine, EPAS and detailed aerodynamic changes to the underside of the vehicle.

Dramatic Performance Upgrades

New for 2011 is an SVT Performance Package for enthusiasts who want even more performance out of their Shelby GT500 for racetrack-ready driving dynamics. Complete with all-new Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires that SVT engineers worked directly with Goodyear to develop, the car is ready to race. The tires offer superb dry traction and precise handling, complete with a race-inspired high-performance tread compound.

The optional package also offers unique styling, lighter wheels, a higher rear axle ratio and stiffer springs, and it is available on both the convertible and coupe. Data show the 2011 coupe with the SVT Performance Package is 3.0 seconds faster per lap than the 2010 Shelby GT500 on a 2.3-mile test track.

Carried over from 2010, the 2011 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac®, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance. Calibration of the system for the 2011 Shelby has been uniquely tailored to each vehicle configuration (base or optional) to optimize the performance.

SVT has worked very hard to make EPAS better than the outgoing hydraulic steering system. The addition of EPAS makes for a dramatic contribution to Shelby GT500 driving dynamics, with improved torque build-up and road feel that delivers quicker and more precise steering, increased effort on the racetrack or winding roads, and reduced effort in low-speed parking maneuvers.

Slotted brake dust shields were added to improve brake cooling and handling, and a new pedal box improves clutch and pedal efforts even more. A lowered ride height of 11 millimeters in front and 8 millimeters at the rear provides a sportier attitude and improved handling.

More Engine Sound, Less Road Noise

For 2011, Shelby GT500 also benefits from NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) improvements. Overall road noise is reduced by 20 percent versus the 2010 Shelby. Actions undertaken to achieve this improvement include additional sound-deadening material on either side of the instrument panel, additional sound absorption behind interior trim panels, and a rear wheel arch liner to reduce noise on gravel or wet surfaces – all resulting in the driver hearing more exhaust and engine sound and less road and air noise.

The Shelby GT500 convertible model features enhanced structural rigidity, with lateral stiffness improved by 12 percent versus the 2010 model. The V-brace has been stiffened by adding gussets. The secondary crossmember also has been stiffened, while a front Z-brace has been added, connecting primary and secondary crossmembers. A-pillar stiffening foam has been added to increase rigidity.

The structural improvements to the convertible gave SVT the opportunity to be more sport-oriented in the chassis tuning, without trading comfort. Along with the chassis and structural improvements, the 2011 model also will get standard 19-inch aluminum wheels.

“One of the biggest changes for this Shelby is that the convertible acts and feels like a coupe,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer. “Before, they had a very different character, and the convertible is taking a big step in the sportiness and handling precision area, without degrading the ride.”

GT500 gets a new exhaust for 2011, roaring with an even more aggressive sound than the 2010 model. The 2.75-inch exhaust with all-new tuning helped to deliver the additional 10 horsepower.