LAS VEGAS – June 26, 2009 – Continued demand for a “Super Snake” post title package has led Shelby Automobiles to unveil a new program to turn a limited number of 2010 Ford Shelby GT500s into Shelby super cars. The Super Snake package will include enhancements to the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500’s handling, styling and power; output ratings will range from 630 to over 725 horsepower. Exclusivity will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built at the Shelby Autos facility in Las Vegas or one of the Mod Shops, beginning in August 2009.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

Born on the drag strip and road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles dialed in an even more aggressive suspension and engine package for the 2010 car.

“Since we introduced the Super Snake package for the GT500 in 2007, this Shelby has become the pinnacle of current generation muscle cars,” added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “While the stock GT500 is a fine car, serious enthusiasts know that they can come to us to make their Shelby even better. For those who crave a harder edged Shelby, this is your car.”

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake post title package includes:
• Ford Racing handling pack including Dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars, and front strut tower brace is standard for the Super Snake
• Ford Racing Supercharger upgrade kit producing over 630 HP and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
• Borla exhaust system on the 630 HP Ford Racing Super Snake Package
• 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
• Either a Shelby/Ford Racing or Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit producing 725 HP with upgraded drive shaft, billet twin 75mm throttle body and exclusive badges
• Borla exhaust system on the 725 HP Super Snake Package
• An optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack is also available
• Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels
• Short-throw shifter
• Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors
• Front brake cooling ducts
• Unique fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design
• Shelby signature Super Snake stripes
• “Shelby” lettering across the rear decklid
• “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
• Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components

Customers interested in bringing their 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 to one of the Shelby Mod Shops for transformation should contact Roger Sorel with Shelby Automobiles at (702) 942-7325. The price of the 630 HP package is $29,495 and the 725 HP package is $33,495 including installation but not the car. Each vehicle will be listed in the official Shelby registry.

If you are making 500HP+ you will no doubt notice a traction issue in mustangs. If they aren’t spinning they are hopping like a banshee.  I have wasted money on different suspension parts and even gimmicks like the kenny brown brace (designed to reduce wheel hop) with little results. One set of Nitto 555Rs and problem solved. If you have never driven with an oversized sticky nitto on regular roads you will be stunned at how much grip they have.  Where once you were spinning you are now stuck like glue and propelled forward with blurry vision.  Simply fantastic, I have had a set of these on both the Cobra and the GT500, go 305 or wider!

I have had this same exhaust on the 2v 4.6 GT, 3v 4.6l GT, 4v 4.6 Cobra, and 4v 5.4L GT500 and they all sound wicked. I have tried other exhausts that cost more but nothing sounds better, period.  Gotta have the flows!!!

First addition centered shelby trunk letters- After seeing the supersnake, kr, and all the pre production models of shelby GT500s with the trunk emblems centered, I decided to follow suit.  I think ford just got cheap because it is much easier to deal with stripes if you don’t have emblems over them.  Slick install taking about 30 minutes being extremely careful to make them exact, the human eye is amazingly talented at detecting the slightest imperfection when it comes to letters.

Second addition was the Ford Racing (OEM part on shelby gt’s) brushed aluminum gas cap. I had one on my 04 cobra and really liked the look so I duped it. I know, it’s a fine line between pimping out a car and making it tacky, especially when it’s considered collectible.  I am doing my best not destroy an already perfect car by adding some small tasteful touches.

Third Addition – NITTO 555R Extreme Drag Radials. Since this car is not driven in the rain I decided to actually put down the power the car makes. One thing any GT500 owner or Car magazine tester will tell you, these cars have a major traction problem with the skinny stock 285 wide Goodyears. They just spin or wheel hop all over in first and into second resulting in crap 0-60 numbers. Anywhere from 4.3 to 4.7 says all the magazines, hell I put a set of 305 wide Nittos on and hit 3.9 from a standstill!  Beware that these tires have a major hydroplane issue in heavy rain at freeway speeds, take it from me leave the car home those days.

Fourth Addition – Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust.  The Ford Racing exhaust kit was very cool looking and sounded great but it was no match for the flows. Flows are louder, meaner, and just sound bad ass on a mustang. I will never stray again Flowmaster, sorry. I skipped them this time because they don’t officially have a model for the GT500, on the v6 and GT. The GT is essentially the exact same muffler so I bought them and they worked spectacular.

Below are some photos.

Since our last visit to the Shelby Las Vegas plant the whole place was rearranged with allot more professional look. Good job Shelby!  Here are some SLR photos instead of the lame iPhone pics from before.

In the quest for more power and still maintaining the factory warranty I have I decided to buy the Ford Racing Power Pack for the Shelby. The kit includes a Cold air intake kit and ford racings programmer with a custom tune to match the fuel to the new airflow.  Only took about two days for them to mail out the programmer with an SD card containing the new tune for my car.  Essentially this is exactly what they put on the GT500KR to boost the power.  The results are 40HP and 30ft lbs of torque to 540hp and 510ft/lbs.  Another item I love but they don’t mention is the added supercharger whine, the louder the better SWEEEET!

After seeing the HDNET broadcast of Mustangs Across America back in 2004 I went and researched the organization. I signed up and within an hour Sam Haymart, the founder,  emailed me with a forum login and mailed me off a cool MAA collectible kit full of goodies.  If you ar ever looking for a good excuse to go on a road trip this is it. Over 600 Mustangs on a road trip across America is my kind of fun.  Ford even hired a creative firm out of Michigan to bring a 2010 Mustang GT and a 2010 Shelby GT500 along for the ride and record consumer reaction to the new vehicles. Needless to say you are going to get praise from a bunch of mustang lovers. Anyway here are some photos taken in Holbrook AZ, Santa Rosa NM, and the Shelby Plant in Las Vegas where the trip departed.

Just a few Mustang photos / illustrations I came across in my internet travels. Various photographers / artists. Couple GT500s, supersnake, and roush black jack

Well Steve Saleen bailed on his Saleen Corporation to find other ways to remain relevant in the auto industry and it appears he’s off to a good start with the 25th anniversary edition SMS Saleen Mustang. 

SPECS:

SMS 720 HP Supercharged 5.0L Aluminum Block V8
SMS CNC Ported Saleen Supercharger
SMS CNC Aluminum Heads
SMS Red Butterfly™ Induction System
SMS Light Blade™ LED Tail Light System
SMS Billet Aluminum Watts Link System
SMS Cross Drilled 15″ 6-Piston Front Brakes
SMS Cross Drilled 12″ Rear Brakes
SMS Two Piece Billet Aluminum Hood Vents
SMS Carbon Fiber Side Splitters
SMS Carbon Fiber Diffuser Fences
SMS Red Butterfly™ Quarter Intakes
SMS Chromosome™ Silver Paint
SMS Leather Grip Billet Aluminum Shifter and Shifter Bezel
SMS Leather Dash
SMS Leather Two Tone Door Inserts
SMS Leather Two Tone Seats
6-Speed Transmission

Performance:
720 HP/612 WHP
667 TQ/565 WTQ

FORD doesn’t need any bailout money, they are making relevant cars that people want for 2009.  The F-150 won truck of the year and the 2009 Fusion Hybrid smoked the japanese competition in looks, mileage, and value for once. And now the Mustang, love it Way to go ford!!!

New features of note on the 2010 Shelby:

1. New 250mm vs 215mm clutch system to fix power distribution issues
2. KR Cold Air intake and tune from the KR
3. Suspension components from the KR
4. Better 3.55 final gear ratio for lowend grunt and taller 5&6th gears for better mileage
5. Cool shelby striped q ball shifter

Cool 1920px 2010 GT500 Wallpapers

 The unique “flush” hood on the 2010 Shelby GT500 defines the front redesign. The gaping front grilles appear ready to swallow up the road.

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 1, 2009 – The new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers the most power and refinement ever for a Ford SVT-tuned performance Mustang – and a few surprises, too.

“The 2010 Shelby GT500 demonstrates Ford’s continuing commitment to high-performance vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.  “In addition to the numerous performance and refinement improvements inside and out, the 2010 Shelby GT500 is an estimated 2 miles per gallon more fuel efficient on the highway.”

“We’re proud of the many enhancements that were developed jointly by the Ford and Shelby Automobiles team last year that we’ve now incorporated into the new 2010 Shelby GT500,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles.  “Building on what we learned to create the Shelby GT500KR, this new car offers a great combination of power, handling and braking.  It is truly a special car that is a great deal of fun to drive.”

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team used the gains made on the 40th anniversary edition Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustangs as the performance starting point and built from there. The design team, with a nod to the original Shelby Cobras from the 1960s, takes those design cues even further with nuanced improvements in both the coupe and convertible, each of which boasts a more-refined interior.

“Working together on the KR, the Ford and Shelby teams developed new systems to continually improve the iconic Mustang,” stated Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles.  “Those lessons learned are incorporated into the 2010 Shelby GT500.  This approach will help maintain Mustang’s leadership position at the front of the pack and make the ownership experience even more enjoyable.” 

“The muscle car segment is becoming even more competitive,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT.  “We need to uphold the Mustang badge with honor, the Shelby badge with honor and most importantly the Ford badge with honor.  The 2010 GT500 is the car that will do all of that.”

 The 2010 Shelby GT500 builds off the performance gains pioneered on the special edition Shelby GT500KR. Horsepower and torque have been increased, while the ride is more responsive.

More horsepower, more refinement, more functionality
The combination of added horsepower, refinement and functionality makes the 2010 Shelby GT500 a unique high-performance car.  The 2010 Shelby GT500 delivers more horsepower and more torque than the outgoing model, thanks in part to advancements pioneered on the GT500KR.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine expected to produce 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque.  The redline is 6,250 rpm.  The car’s aluminum power dome hood not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a hood extractor.

The Shelby’s open-element air induction system features a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system to reduce air restriction.  This approach allows more air to be pumped through the engine, producing more power and increasing the engine’s efficiency.

A cold-air intake feeds the coolest air possible directly into the air box, helping further increase horsepower.  The intake necessitated moving the Cobra snake badge to the other side of the grille to enable maximum airflow.

The twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission has been significantly upgraded, improving drivability and NVH.  The discs on the 2010 Shelby GT500 are larger – 250 mm in diameter compared with 215 mm in diameter on the outgoing model – and made of copper and fiberglass to make them more robust.

A unique component of the twin-disc system is the control of the intermediate disc.  Rather than floating, it instead has six straps that control the engagement of the clutch, improving drivability.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 offers customers improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears.  Gears 1-4 remain the same, but fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50, meaning that the 2010 Shelby GT500 will turn lower engine RPMs in those gears and deliver improved fuel efficiency.  The new final drive ratio, from 3.31 to 3.55, enables the improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.

The Shelby’s distinct sounds will be apparent as always, though with new refinements, thanks to the work of the Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) team.  A patented resonator placed between the air filter and engine throttle body helps keep unwanted noise in check.

“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.

“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.”

Driving dynamics also are improved, thanks to SVT’s signature chassis tuning as well as new 19-inch Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and forged aluminum wheels on the 2010 Shelby GT500 coupe and 18s on the convertible.

Spring and dampers have been optimized for better roll control, giving customers more confidence when braking, accelerating or turning.  The new chassis tuning takes its philosophy from the KR program, with a greater emphasis placed on primary body control. 

The team also stiffened the steering shaft. 

“All our changes were about making the car to respond as fast and as predictable as possible,” Hameedi said.  “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.”

The Goodyear F1 Supercar 19-inch tires have been upgraded, too.  SVT members developed a “recipe” for the attributes and characteristics they wanted in the tire, which Goodyear’s team of engineers, designers and manufacturers brought to life.  The result is better grip, better handling and better NVH properties, leading to a better customer experience.

The wheels themselves complement the high-performance nature of the 2010 Shelby GT500.  The 19-inch wheels are forged aluminum wheels milled on both sides.  The extra machining process creates “blade” spokes with very thin, yet strong, cross-sections.  The spokes have a specific curve from the rim to the hub, not only for strength, but also to accentuate the offset and width of the tires. 

The 2010 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance.  The default “on” mode accommodates every-day driving, and a Sport mode delivers for those wanting to put the Shelby GT500 through its paces on the track.  The system also can be turned completely off, although the anti-lock brake system and other active safety systems remain in place.  Standard safety equipment includes: dual stage front air bags, side-impact air bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System.

Numerous aerodynamic upgrades, including a redesigned splitter, were made to the front end of the 2010 Shelby GT500. 

“We worked hard to get as much downforce with as little drag as possible,” Baldori said.  “We worked to seal off the air that comes in the front so it can’t go underneath the car.  We spent a lot time sealing components such as the radiator and intercoolor to get rid of all the leak paths.

“The result of this evolution of aerodynamics is we’ve increased downforce, reduced drag and improved the overall efficiency of the 2010 Shelby GT500.”

Directing the air so it’s used most efficiently was a painstaking process that ultimately will be rewarding to customers.  The design of the front fascia and the car’s “flush” hood helps focus air flow.  The top grille focuses air into the radiator, with a rubber flap inside the engine compartment helping to seal the system.  The lower grille helps cool the intercooler.  SVT engineers also went as far to block off specific diamonds in the front of the 2010 Shelby GT500’s distinctive grille to help maintain the correct cooling and aerodynamic balance.

A meaner, reskinned snake ready to take to the streets
The 2010 Shelby GT500 is the most-robust design and most-distinctive model of the new 2010 Mustang lineup.  “The design we chose was a ‘flush’ hood where the fascia defines the entire front of the vehicle,” Hameedi said.  “That’s very hard to execute from an engineering standpoint, but it really sets the Shelby off as very, very different from the base Mustang.”

“This epitomizes the ultimate Mustang,” added George Saridakis, Exterior Design manager of the Mustang and Shelby GT500.  “It’s all about power and expressing power.” 

Saridakis said his team took a cue from the Shelby AC Cobra 427 with respect to the front grilles, which are gaping and appear ready to swallow the road. 

Another obvious difference for the Shelby is the addition of racing stripes, which also will now be available on the convertible.  “Racing stripes made their mark on 1960s-era Ford performance vehicles,” Hameedi notes. “That’s something we feel is a key part of the Shelby performance DNA – maybe more so than some of our competition.”

Rounding out the Shelby’s exterior modifications are the unique signature coiled Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders, a more aggressive front splitter and lower-drag rear spoiler, which added to improved aerodynamic features, round out the exterior modifications.  “We wanted the spoiler raked back aggressively to minimize drag, but we also have an integrated Gurney Flap that provides the downforce,” Saridakis said.

What’s inside counts with the 2010 Shelby GT500
The base 2010 Mustang received a powerful new interior design.  For the GT500, the interior design team members challenged themselves to raise the bar even higher to create the ultimate Shelby Mustang interior.

Using genuine materials such as real leather in all seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel gave the appearance a precisely crafted, jewel-like yet functional feel.  “You’ll definitely know you’re in a Shelby,” said Douglas Gaffka, Chief Designer, Shelby GT500.

The genuine aluminum finish panels have a unique-to-GT500 three-dimensional dimpled texture pattern inspired by racing clutch plates, braided hoses and cross-drilled racing brake rotors.  The pattern has been painstakingly tuned to compensate for the compound curvature of the instrument panels.  In addition, the “GT500” logo has been discretely engraved into the aluminum in front of the passenger as a nod to classic Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s.

This unique aluminum finish panel is fully encapsulated by an exquisite soft seamless TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) instrument panel with a shape that resonates with Mustang’s powerful heritage.  The center stack flows into the console and features a sub-flush shifter trim ring, flush cup holder door and lockable console stowage featuring the word “SHELBY” engraved in its Satin Liquid Chrome release button.

All 2010 Mustangs and Shelbys feature bright 360-degree rings surrounding the gauge cluster, uninterrupted by the steering column.  These rings will come in chrome for the Mustang and a Satin Liquid Chrome finish for the GT500.  This finish is featured throughout the interior.  An intricate cobra is etched into the center of the aluminum steering wheel badge.  The Shelby Cobra appears at startup on the navigation screen, and the familiar red “SVT” logo utilizes new ambient lighting to illuminate the door scuffplate.

“When customers drive this car, they’re not only going to be impressed by the performance and the Shelby heritage, but they’re going to see all these carefully designed details and know they’ve bought a well-crafted car,” Saridakis said.

Even the classic white shift knob – an icon of Shelby Mustang DNA from years past – received special attention. First, it had to be the traditional white.  It also had to be specific to the Shelby.  The answer was to combine the racing-stripes theme with the traditional “H” pattern found on shifters to create a one-of-a-kind knob.  Like the exterior, the racing stripes wrap from end to end, encircling the knob.

Wide suite of standard features on the 2010 Shelby GT500
The 2010 Shelby GT500 includes several Ford innovations and industry-exclusive standard features, including:

Available options:

This combination of outstanding performance coupled with a fresh, exciting, well-crafted interior intensely focused on improving the entire experience will make the 2010 Shelby GT500 even more sought after, and a fitting addition to a long and proud history.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms in spring.  The cars will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.