1. Front hood line raised one inch: allows larger grille opening
2. Hood scoops vent under hood air buildup; look will change slightly on production model
3. Snake badge resembles 1960s ver, but is redesigned in cast of brushed aluminum
4. Side scoops deemed unnecessary, as they would’ve been nonfunctional
5. Glass quarter windows- no changes, as this look was pioneered on 1966 Shelby
6. Rear spoiler reduces lift and adds attitude
7. Front splitter keeps nose pinned at speed
8. 18-inch wheels pick up Ford GT flavor; optional 19s likely; rotors and calipers larger, too
9. GT 500 stripes almost identical to 1965-1968 look
10. Rocker panel rendered in satin black; makes car looks longer,thinner in profile
11. Rear fascia is lower than stock GT’s; incorporates functional under-tray diffuser
With the absence of the 2005 and 2006 SVT Mustang, the phase out of the SVT Focus and the abrupt halting of the next-gen Lightning truck development, I was left wondering what the Ford SVT (Special Vehicle Team) has up their sleeves with the recent GT500 about to be spotted on a road near you.
SVT’s current lineup of exactly zero models is expected to grow by several new models within a few years’ time. The Shelby Mustang (GT500) is first up, to be followed by an SVT Ford Fusion which will tout a turbocharged engine, six-speed tranny, and share the Mazda 6 Speed all-wheel drive system.
The Shelby-Spec GT500 engine is an evolution of the SVT Cobra engine, but will bear at least 450 some horses, an iron block, aluminum head, four valves, Roots-blown 4.6L, with 1 critical difference: It has finally received a displacement increase to 5.4 liters. Boo YAH!
Hau Tai-Tang, the 2005 Mustang’s chief program engineer, was handed the reins at SVT last fall and had some interesting things to say.
(more…)
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