News from Detroit Auto Show (from Edmunds)

[Historybuff]

If you go to Edmunds Inside Line you see the pictures and here's the story they ran:

Published Jan 11, 2009

"2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

What's special about it?
Like the new Ford Mustang GT and V6 models introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2010 Shelby GT500 to be introduced at the Detroit auto show in January is far from an all-new car.

Like its more pedestrian brethren, the GT500 gets a revised look, a vastly improved interior and a bump in horsepower for the 2010 model year. The car goes on sale in early spring 2009.

Unlike the meager 15-hp injection given to the GT, the GT500 gets 40 horses more for a grand total of 540. And no, Ford will not change this car's name to GT540. The 2010 model uses the same, basic supercharged 5.4-liter V8, but it's tuned more like the limited-edition GT500 KR. A new cold-air intake draws air from the upper front grille through its own snorkel, and this piece helps generate the increased power. It's so important that the Cobra emblem on the grille has been moved to the passenger side so as not to block the intake. Along with the 540 hp at 6,200 rpm, the reworked motor now makes 510 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm (a 30 lb-ft increase).

The GT500's increased accelerative thrust will be aided by a new 3.55:1 rear end, in place of last year's 3.31. Even so, Ford says that the 2010 model will get a 10 percent improvement in highway fuel economy thanks to taller 5th and 6th gear ratios in its six-speed manual transmission. Figure it should return about 22 mpg highway.

In truth, the last thing the GT500 really needs is more power; what it needs is a retuned suspension. The 2009 GT500 is just too soft and floppy for track duty, with a noted tendency toward understeer. Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer, has been aware of this fact. So Hameedi says the 2010 GT500 incorporates lessons learned from the KR development for suspension tuning as well. For example, the 2010 GT500's front springs are 13 percent stiffer and the rears are 7 percent stiffer. The new model also carries the next generation of Goodyear's Eagle F1 Supercar tires, upsized to 19-inchers for the coupe. The convertible version (which arrives at the same time as the coupe and should account for about 30 percent of sales) sticks with 18-inch wheels and tires. Hameedi claims the GT500 should be significantly quicker through the slalom and less prone to understeer. The new car will also come standard with the three-mode traction and stability control system (on, off and sport), just like the new Mustang GT.

Ford also tells us that the new GT500 will have better aerodynamic balance. A pan under the engine reduces front-end lift and a new rear spoiler reduces lift in the back. The GT500 won't be any lighter than the outgoing model due in part to the addition of more acoustic insulation. However, the 2010 GT500 will get a heavy dose of stripes. As Chief Designer Doug Gaffka says, "The car is all about performance, but a lot about design." In all, Ford will offer five different stripe packages, including striped leather seats and a striped cue-ball shift knob. And when we say cue ball we mean it — the shift knob is supplied by a maker of billiard balls.

What's Edmunds' take?
In the name of science, we are willing to test the ability of the updated chassis to handle the increased power. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit "

[Bill Wells]

also, the NAIAS auto show worldwide automotive writers voted the Ford Fusion hybrid and Ford Transit Connect truck CAR and TRUCK of the YEAR . the good news keeps on rolling at Ford .

I am going to the Press Review party tonite and will get a first hand look at what is being presented before it is open to the public.

Wally- we are having a mini High School reunion dinner this month, should I hold a seat for ya ? Bill

[slider701]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

If you go to Edmunds Inside Line you see the pictures and here's the story they ran:

Published Jan 11, 2009

"2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

What's special about it?
Like the new Ford Mustang GT and V6 models introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2010 Shelby GT500 to be introduced at the Detroit auto show in January is far from an all-new car.

Like its more pedestrian brethren, the GT500 gets a revised look, a vastly improved interior and a bump in horsepower for the 2010 model year. The car goes on sale in early spring 2009.

Unlike the meager 15-hp injection given to the GT, the GT500 gets 40 horses more for a grand total of 540. And no, Ford will not change this car's name to GT540. The 2010 model uses the same, basic supercharged 5.4-liter V8, but it's tuned more like the limited-edition GT500 KR. A new cold-air intake draws air from the upper front grille through its own snorkel, and this piece helps generate the increased power. It's so important that the Cobra emblem on the grille has been moved to the passenger side so as not to block the intake. Along with the 540 hp at 6,200 rpm, the reworked motor now makes 510 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm (a 30 lb-ft increase).

The GT500's increased accelerative thrust will be aided by a new 3.55:1 rear end, in place of last year's 3.31. Even so, Ford says that the 2010 model will get a 10 percent improvement in highway fuel economy thanks to taller 5th and 6th gear ratios in its six-speed manual transmission. Figure it should return about 22 mpg highway.

In truth, the last thing the GT500 really needs is more power; what it needs is a retuned suspension. The 2009 GT500 is just too soft and floppy for track duty, with a noted tendency toward understeer. Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer, has been aware of this fact. So Hameedi says the 2010 GT500 incorporates lessons learned from the KR development for suspension tuning as well. For example, the 2010 GT500's front springs are 13 percent stiffer and the rears are 7 percent stiffer. The new model also carries the next generation of Goodyear's Eagle F1 Supercar tires, upsized to 19-inchers for the coupe. The convertible version (which arrives at the same time as the coupe and should account for about 30 percent of sales) sticks with 18-inch wheels and tires. Hameedi claims the GT500 should be significantly quicker through the slalom and less prone to understeer. The new car will also come standard with the three-mode traction and stability control system (on, off and sport), just like the new Mustang GT.

Ford also tells us that the new GT500 will have better aerodynamic balance. A pan under the engine reduces front-end lift and a new rear spoiler reduces lift in the back. The GT500 won't be any lighter than the outgoing model due in part to the addition of more acoustic insulation. However, the 2010 GT500 will get a heavy dose of stripes. As Chief Designer Doug Gaffka says, "The car is all about performance, but a lot about design." In all, Ford will offer five different stripe packages, including striped leather seats and a striped cue-ball shift knob. And when we say cue ball we mean it — the shift knob is supplied by a maker of billiard balls.

What's Edmunds' take?
In the name of science, we are willing to test the ability of the updated chassis to handle the increased power. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit "

This is a year old article. 2010 GT500 has been on the street for a while now. At first I thought it was an article about the 2011 GT500. Am I missing something???

[computerworks]

Nope, you're not missing anything..

Published Jan 11, 2009

[Historybuff]

When I printed this same press release on another site, there was a short note by a fella named R. Shelby that at the Barrett Jackson kick off party there will be news about Shelby Mustangs so maybe that's the 2011 model. Hey, I only know what I read in the papers...but I think the guy knows sumpthin' I don't.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

When I printed this same press release on another site, there was a short note by a fella named R. Shelby that at the Barrett Jackson kick off party there will be news about Shelby Mustangs so maybe that's the 2011 model. Hey, I only know what I read in the papers...but I think the guy knows sumpthin' I don't.

The news of the B-J kick-off and the respective announcement is pretty much out there now.

...and it's not a GT500.