2007 GT500 Mustang

Introduction
In 1964, the world saw the Ford Motor Company release a car that would change the automotive industry forever, and that same car would come to be a dominant force on the street and strip alike. That car, of course, was the Ford Mustang. Since the release of that first Mustang, Ford Motor Company has been working to constantly improve and perfect the Mustang. Only a few years after that first Mustang was released to the American public, the Cobra was introduced, and then a special series of Mustangs, including the GT350 and the GT500, with the help of Carroll Shelby. Over time, the Shelby name faded from Mustang glory, as did the look of that famed Shelby series. Over the years, the Mustang has taken on many different looks, and drivetrain setups; from the massive V8's of the muscle car era to the 4 cylinder economy engines of the 1980s, from crude carburetion to precision computer controlled electronic fuel injection, the Mustang has changed more than any car ever built in the American automobile industry. But as they say, what goes around, comes around, and with the steady evolution of the Mustang, the 2005 Mustang has brought it back very nearly to its original form. The retro style 2005 Mustang took the world much like the original did, and much like the original, Ford was looking for a premium model Mustang. With the SVT Cobra having been the dominant force in the Mustang line over the last few generations, Ford looked for a change; an even bigger, badder Mustang, and what better way to do that then to reincarnate the baddest, most sought after Mustang of them all; the Shelby Cobra GT500. Much like the original GT500, it is simply a Mustang, with some added trim features, and minor body curving here and there to give it a style set aside from the other Mustangs, while still not losing that Mustang look. Oh, and it has over 450 horsepower.

Powertrain
When Ford released the 2005 Mustang, they saw to it that it had more power than in its comparative class, both with the base model V6 Mustang and the V8 Mustang GT. Much like with those models the GT500 does just that. The new GT500 features a very similar engine setup to the Ford GT Supercar, with a 5.4 Liter engine, with a cast iron block, aluminum cylinder heads, aluminum intake manifold, a forged steel crankshaft, forged aluminum pistons, and forced steel connection rods. It is a dual over head camshaft setup featuring low friction bearings, with four valves per cylinder, but all of these items are just periphery items in building the massive 450+ horsepower. The bulk of this horsepower comes from the top mounted aluminum Whipple screw style supercharger, delivering 8.5 pounds per square inch. The cylinder heads are specially designed (originally for the Ford GT) to funnel air most efficiently and allow for the most possible flow being forced through from the supercharger, and the intake manifold is also special built to be extra low-profile to allow more room for the supercharger, and the twin bore throttle body, controlled by the electronic fuel management system, which is similar to that found on newer Ford trucks. Much like the old Shelby cars which had valve covers that read Cobra Powered By Ford, the new GT500 bears a sort of knock-off slogan with modern day adaptation, reading Powered By SVT. To assist in the massive amounts of heat generated by over 450 vicious ponies jammed under the hood, the new GT500 includes a water to air intercooling unit, an enlarged cooling radiator, specially designed exhaust manifolds which help to move the exhaust heat away as fast as possible, and a dual exhaust setup which features dual performance high flow mufflers.

All the power in the world does not do the driver any good if it cannot be put to the road, and to make sure the power gets safely to the road, the SVT group has gone with the T-56 six speed manual transmission, which was the same used in the last few generations of supercharged Cobra, and which first debuted in the 2000 Cobra-R. These models have all been high-horsepower and high-torque engines, which put the T-56 through a world of beatings, and the T-56 gearbox has held up wonderfully, so rather than working on a new gear box setup, the designers of the GT500 simply stuck with proven quality.

Handling
So the pavement pounding abilities of the new GT500 sound appealing for the drag racing enthusiast, but that is not where the GT500's perfection ends. The SVT group spent just as much time focusing on the cars ability to use the 450+ horsepower to get around turns, as well as down the drag strip, without compromising a smooth comfortable ride quality. To develop the suspension setup for the GT500, Ford again used a pre-existing setup. The FR500C Ford Racing Mustang had been using the particular setup in the Grand-Am Cup series, and in their first race, came home with the checkered flag. SVT engineers used a suspension setup based on the FR500C combined with the basic design from the new Mustang, then added their own tuning to the suspension, plus some added items such as a special shock and strut tower brace, and a beefed up additional K frame, which adds to the GT500s already rock rigid frame.

The GT500, like the other new Mustangs, uses a solid rear axle. This setup is made practical for street use, while still having excellent cornering ability at the track, by a three-link setup. The upper front end of the rear end differential case has a torque control arm, along with Panhard rods running parallel to the axle shafts, attached to the differential at one end, and the body at the other end. This is a similar setup to the 2005 Mustang GT, but the SVT people have done extensive work to the setup to make sure that it will stand up to the added horsepower and torque put out by the beastly GT500 engine, by enhancing bearings in the Panhard rods, and introducing stiffer, constant rate coil springs combined with softer tuned, outboard mounted shock absorbers; and when combined with the increased size of the GT500s rear stabilizer bar, the SVT group has done its work in making sure that the wheels stay tight to the ground, whether the driver is ripping out a quarter mile run or drifting through the turns of a road course.

One more feature of the GT500s excellent road handling ability is the revamped and redesigned braking system. With the addition of extra horsepower comes the need for added braking capabilities. To aide in the braking needs, the four-wheel disc braking system features the largest rotors and calipers ever mounted on a regular factory production Mustang. The GT500 features 14 inch cross drilled rotors up front, with four-piston aluminum calipers, and the rear features 13 inch cross drilled rotors with two-piston calipers, with the rotors coming from the braking specialists at Brembo. Like all models of the 2005 Mustang, the GT500 offers 4-channel electric Anti-lock Braking System from TRW. Also available on all of the 2005 Mustangs is an electric traction control system, operational at all speeds, which can be disengaged in the event the driver wants to show off the Mustang's power while sitting still, such as laying down some rubber strips while doing a burnout. This traction control, coupled with the ABS system helps the driver negotiate sudden changes in driving conditions or high speed emergency maneuvers. These complex braking systems are tucked away careful behind custom GT500 aluminum split-five-spoke wheels measuring a massive 19- x 9.5-inches, with P255/45ZR19 performance tires.

Interior
The interior of the new mustang, like the rest of the car, has a hint of vintage style mixed with modern technology. The dashboard is adorned with brushed aluminum trim rings around the 4 blower vents and around the tachometer and the speedometer, which run in a horizontal line across the dash. The GT500, like other retro styled Mustangs, comes with a vintage looking three spoke steering, but these spokes meet at a center horn button displaying the Cobra logo, flanked by the Shelby and GT 500 nomenclature. The dashboard, along with the steering wheel, seat trim, door panels, shifter, and parking brake handle are all wrapped in black leather. The seat centers, along with other various trim items inside the GT500 are a fine contrast to the black leather, having been adorned in SVT Red. As opposed to the other new Mustangs, the tachometer and speedometer are switched on the dash, to give the driver a more clear view of the engine RPMs, and the volt meter has been removing to make way for a boost gauge. The GT500 also includes Ford's MyColor dash lighting feature, which allows the driver to chose the color that he or she wants their dash to appear. To avoid the GT500 appearing, or feeling like a pure race car, the interior offers every modern amenity, from power-everything, to a state of the art sound system, everything that is offered in the 2005 Mustang GT is also offered in the new GT500. Some of those features are: one-touch power up/down windows, electronic speed control, tilt steering, interval windshield wipers, center console with full armrest/storage bin, battery saver feature, drivers footrest, rear window defroster, day/night mirror, driver and passenger outside mirrors, cup holders, front door map pockets, dual 12-volt power sockets, front floor mats with keeper hooks, power locks and windows, front bucket seats with 6-way power adjustable driver seat and 2-way adjustable head restraint and power lumbar, rear bucket style bench seats, and electronic climate control, including air conditioning. The final added point of interior comfort is thanks, in part to the lengthening of six inches of the GT500. It allows for 38.8 inches of headroom in the front, with 36.3 inches in the rear; 55.4 inches of shoulder room in the front and 45 inches in the rear; 53.6 inches of hip room in the front with 45.2 inches in the rear; and 42.7 inches of leg room in the front and 30.3 inches in the rear. The Mustang comfortably seats four adults, offering 97.9 cubic feet of passenger space and 9.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

Exterior
The exterior of the GT500 is what may catch the eye of today's sports car buyer, and even with the vintage styling, there are some options and appearance differences between the GT500 and the 2005 GT model, without losing that classic styling. The headlight bezels are angled in, as are the areas around the outward mounted fog lights, which has been a trademark of sorts for several generations of SVT Cobras. The new grille style helps to give a larger grille area to allow for maximum air intake for cooling, with egg-crate style forward angled grille, and complex reflector halogen headlamps with integral parking/turn signals. This new grille and fascia setup allows the supercharger to suck in as much as possible, with very few restrictions in flow. Like the GT500s of the classic years, the new GT500 has the GT500 stripe along the lower rocker panel, and across the top of the car are the classic twin stripes that have been displayed on so many cars carrying the Shelby name. The GT500 also features a special hood with integrated air extractors to move hot air away from the engine as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The trunk lid comes with a subtle yet sporty molded spoiler, and just below it, the Shelby name, with the Cobra "Gas cap" style logo just under, all in polished silver. The bottom of the front fascia has a newly designed splitter, which at high speeds, helps to prevent air from forcing its way under the car thus preventing high speed lifting. The bottom of the rear fascia is also redesigned over the 2005 Mustang, with a rear air diffuser, designed to help calm the air that comes from under the GT500 at high speeds, thus preventing rear air turbulence. Much like the classic GT500, the rear tail lights have a tri-bar design with a modern day spin applied to them, having them thicker and taller than the original's tails. Poking through the small cutouts in the rear diffuser is are the gorgeous bright polished dual exhaust tips. The classic Cobra logo is displayed in an offset pattern on the grille, and is in the centered, top to bottom, just in front of the front edge of both doors. Another gorgeous feature of this new GT500, as previously mentioned, are the specialty 19x9.5 inch polished wheels, which bear the SVT logo just like the previous generations SVT Cobras have displayed.

Safety
To protect the driver in the event of an accident, all of the new Mustang models come equipped with side intrusion door beams to protect both the driver and passengers in the event of a side impact; 3-point lap and shoulder mount safety belts for all 4 passengers; 2nd generation driver and passenger side airbags, with the option of front side mounted airbags; and the LATCH system, (which stands for Lower Anchors and Tether for Children). LATCH works to keep the little ones safe in the event of an accident from any side or angle. As previously mentioned, 4-wheel power disc brakes and anti-lock brakes are optional. The frame and external shell-like design of the Mustang is so rigid that an impact equivalent of over fifteen thousand pounds will only bend the frame by one degree, with a frontal frame section designed to divert impact energy away from the passenger compartment. Along with the airbag system comes the seating sensors which automatically turn off passenger side airbags in the event of an accident if there is no passenger present. Four more of the other special features offered by the Mustang are: Beltminder, SecuriLock Passive Anti Theft System, Battery Saver, and Fail-Safe Cooling. Beltminder has been in all Ford vehicles since 1999, and it is a system which deploys a soft chime to remind the driver, and passenger that their seatbelt is not buckled. SecuriLock Passive Anti Theft System prevents the engine from starting thanks to an electronically programmed ignition, which communicates the a microchip and antenna embedded in the ignition key. The Battery Saver System recognizes when the ignition cylinder is in the Off position, and when a door or the trunk lid remains open, thus keeping the interior lights on for 10 minutes or more, the interior lights become deactivated. To assist in keeping insurance rates lower for the powerful Mustang, 6 new features have been added to the vehicles factory alarm system. The separate alarm sounder is a remote sound dispenser, which works in conjunction with the factory horn, thus making it harder to disable the alarm once set off. The anti-tow sensor helps to prevent against tow away theft by sensing a sudden change in the vehicle angle, when the angle changes, the alarm is set off. An ultrasonic interior motion sensor is included to set off the alarm incase someone should reach inside to tamper with, or steal the contents of your new Mustang. Perimeter anti theft protection causes the horn to go off in the event that the doors, hood, or trunk are opened while the alarm is armed. Global window operation allows the owner of the Mustang to open or close the windows from the keyless entry remote. A high capacity battery is installed in the new mustang to ensure that the needed power is there to run the security system or alarm in the event of a break in attempt.

Summary
The good news is, that after a short hiatus from production, the Ford SVT group is at it again, and this time, the vehicle that they have produced will certainly be a legend. If not for the classic style mixed with modern day aerodynamic breakthrough, the Shelby Cobra GT500 will certainly make a name for itself with its asphalt shredding 450+ horsepower, which is the highest stock horsepower of any Mustang, ever built in its forty-one year history. Whether a long time Mustang aficionado, someone who has just a simple love of performance cars, or someone who has just gotten into the performance world and want to make a here I am, now bring it on statement to every performance car around them, the Shelby Cobra GT500 will surely become the monster that the original was in its day, and has remained to be to collectors everywhere. The bad news? We have to wait another year, as the Shelby Cobra GT500 is currently slated as a 2007 product. But we are sure that the new GT500, will be every bit worth the wait.

Discuss the 2007 GT500 Mustang in our 2007 GT500 Mustang Forum or visit Ford's official Shelby GT500 Page here.