Ford Shelby GT500

• Competes with: Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac GTO
• Looks like: Something you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley
• Drivetrain: 475-horsepower (estimated), supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with six-speed manual; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2006
• MSRP: Low $40,000s (estimated base price)

Following the debut of the retro-themed Mustang for the 2005 model year, Ford's Special Vehicle Team and Carroll Shelby have come together to produce a high-performance version of the sports car for 2007. The Ford Shelby GT500, shown previously in concept form, is immediately recognizable as a Mustang but looks decidedly more ruthless. It will be offered in both coupe and convertible versions, and the first copies are scheduled to reach dealerships this summer. Exterior Differences between the regular Mustang and the Shelby GT500 are subtle for the most part. The traditional pony logo on the grille is replaced with an offset Cobra design on the Shelby GT500, and the headlight enclosures angle in more sharply than those on the regular edition. The hood is fitted with two openings designed to vent heat from the engine bay. Coupes have racing stripes, but convertibles do not. The independent front suspension uses a MacPherson strut design while a solid axle is fitted in back. Ford press material goes out of the way to defend the use of a solid rear axle in the Shelby GT500 by recounting the successes of the Ford Racing Mustang FR500C, which uses the same design. Still, some enthusiasts are likely to bemoan the lack of an independent rear suspension, especially in a car scheduled to start at more than $40,000. Wheels measure 18 inches in diameter. Interior Changes to the interior are understated as well. The large round speedometer and tachometer have swapped positions in the instrument panel, which Ford says gives drivers a better view of the tach when changing gears. Leather seating surfaces are standard and come in two color schemes: Charcoal Black or Charcoal Black and Crimson Red, the latter featuring red seat and door inserts. Serpent logos rear their heads on the steering wheel and seatbacks. Under the Hood The Shelby GT500's 5.4-liter V-8 engine breathes through a roots-type supercharger that provides 8.5 pounds of boost and produces an estimated 475 horsepower and 475 pounds-feet of torque. The engine block is made of cast iron, but the cylinder heads, which are shared with the Ford GT, are aluminum. The engine drives a heavy-duty six-speed-manual transmission. Safety All-disc antilock brakes feature 14-inch front discs and 11.8-inch rear discs. All-speed traction control is standard. source : car