Shelby Releases 800-Horsepower Super Snake on the Unsuspecting Public

Shelby American, the company responsible for creating modern "Shelby" Mustangs (except for Ford's own GT500), has released details about its Super Snake package for the 2011 Mustang GT500. No surprise there, except that the "post title" package can be pushed up to 800 horsepower (no torque figures have been released for that one, yet). Interested? Get in line, because only 1,000 will be built for 2011.

The base 2011 Super Snake package gets people a 660-horsepower / 590 lb-ft supercharged V8, a Ford Racing suspension kit, Borla exhaust system, new Shelby-designed Alcoa rims, and more (check out the rest below, because the list is just your standard bolt-ons and my fingers grow weary).

Package options include a supercharger upgrade to Shelby / Ford Racing or Shelby / Kenne Bell supercharger - anything to tack "Shelby" onto a part - that puts out 750 horsepower and throws in a new driveshaft, throttle body, and badges for good measure; or, if you're really in the mood to spend some cash, you can opt for that 800-pony package. Shelby American says that its Super Snake packages will only be available from the company or one of its "mod shops".

Company president John Luft says, "Ford Motor Company did a marvelous job making the 2011 model year GT500 lighter and more powerful. Our team applied its experience building Super Snakes over the past several years to offer a package that dramatically increases the new car's capabilities. And with the visual changes we've made, it will be a definite stand out on the road or track."

To give you an idea of pricing, the 750-horse package will run $30,245 including installation. You know, don't worry about getting in that line I mentioned earlier; if the price adds that kind of cash to the $49,500 price of a base...BASE...GT500, just go get yourself a Viper. Hell, at least you'll be driving one hell of a cool snake-themed sports car. That, and your neighbor's kid won't have a V6 version of the same thing.

By Phil Alex

Via: Jalopnik , Source: Shelby

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The 2011 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
• 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
• Shelby/Ford Racing supercharger upgrade producing over 660 HP and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
• Either a Shelby/Ford Racing or Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit producing 750 HP with upgraded drive shaft, billet twin 75mm throttle body and exclusive badges
• Optional Shelby/Kenne Bell 800 horsepower tune on pump gas
• Borla exhaust system
• An optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack is also available
• Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels in durabright or anthracite
• Short-throw shifter
• Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors
• Front brake cooling ducts and behind the door side scoops
• Unique fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design and pins
• Shelby signature Super Snake stripes in either matte black or matte white
• "Shelby" lettering across the rear deck lid
• "Super Snake" vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
• Optional two tone leather interior
• Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components

VIDEO: 2011 Shelby GT500's 550HP V8 Sounds Delicious

Earlier today, Ford released details on the 2011 Shelby GT500 that will be arriving at the firm's U.S. dealerships by the end of Spring. Now, we've got two promotional films of the GT500 coupe and its convertible sibling showing off their goods that include a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with massive amounts of torque and a thuggish burble. So yes, we'd advise you to turn up the volume once you hit the jump to watch both videos.

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 with 550HP 5.4-liter Supercharged V8

After the presentation of the new Shelby GT350, it's time for Ford to unveil the Shelby GT500 that's also based on the 2011 model year Mustang and will be available as a coupe, convertible and for the first time, with the glass roof option.

Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) has packed a more powerful yet lighter and more fuel efficient supercharged V8 engine under the hood of the latest Shelby GT500.

The all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine cranks out 550 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of peak torque, or 10HP more and the same torque as the previous GT500.

More significantly, the new engine also is 102 pounds or 46.2 kg lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio and improved fuel economy.

Ford noted that the new engine, which has its roots in the iconic Ford GT, uses a unique spray coating process that replaces cast-iron liners resulting in weight savings of 8.5 pounds compared to a typical steel-sleeved aluminum block.

Thanks to the new 102-lbs-lighter V8 engine, the addition of Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) and detailed aerodynamic changes to the underside of the vehicle, the 2011 GT500 will be the first modern Shelby without the gas guzzler tax as it returns an EPA-projected 23 mpg highway and 15 mpg city, up from 22 mpg highway and 14 mpg city for the 2010 model.

For 2011, the Shelby GT500 also benefits from noise, vibration and harshness improvements, enhanced structural rigidity, with lateral stiffness improved by 12 percent versus the 2010 model and a larger 2.75-inch exhaust that produces a throatier sound.

Furthermore, Ford's engineers added slotted brake dust shields to improve brake cooling and handling, while a new pedal box promises to improve clutch and pedal efforts.

For those that want even better handling, there's a new optional SVT Performance Package for both the Coupe and Convertible models that adds a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G tires, lighter 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch at the back, a higher rear axle ratio and stiffer springs.

Ford claims that the 2011 coupe with the SVT Performance Package is 3.0 seconds faster per lap than the 2010 Shelby GT500 on a 2.3-mile test track.

Finally, all 2011 GT500s benefit from several new convenience features such as HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, programmable vehicle key, Integrated spotter mirror and fold-down rear headrests.

The new Shelby GT500 is expected to go on sale in the States by the end of Spring.

New Shelby GT350: 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 V8 Supercharged to 500 Ponies

As expected, it didn't take long for Shelby to introduce its latest take on the new 2011 Ford Mustang GT that signals the return of a 5.0-liter V8 engine. The launch of the Shelby GT350 in concept form took place at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Opening Night Gala in Arizona and coincided with the 45th anniversary of the first 1965-1970 GT350 and first Shelby big block Cobra.

The Shelby GT350 will be a post title program meaning that a customer purchases a Mustang GT and then the car is shipped either by a Ford dealer or the buyer himself to Shelby's Las Vegas facility for conversion.

Once the car arrives at the factory, Shelby's team start working on the Mustang to turn it into a GT350. The package includes a Ford Racing supercharger that boosts the new 5.0 V8 to around 500 horsepower, a set of Baer Brakes and 19-inch Cragar alloys in Goodyear tires.

In addition, the GT's suspension is upgraded with new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates, as well as a sport exhaust system with center-exit tail pipes..

In terms of appearance, the car receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia plus functional scoops on the side rockers and hood, and the necessary badges.

Inside, Shelby ads a plaque on the lower center console while the A pillar carries a fuel pressure, oil pressure and boost gauge for a "Fast and Furious" look (...).

Aside from the cost of the base Mustang GT, those interested will have to write a cheque for $33,995 to Shelby pushing the total price to somewhere around $62,000 to $65,000 (assuming that the 2011 Mustang GT will maintain the current model's pricing).

R.I.P.: Knight Rider TV Series Officially Terminated

Not that anybody will miss it, but NBC officially announced that its new Knight Rider TV series featuring Justin Bruening in the role of Michael Knight and a specially modified Ford Shelby GT500KR as KITT, is out of gas after only one season and some 17 episodes. To be completely frank, the series was so bad that we only managed to watch / tolerate a couple of episodes of the new Knight Rider before calling it quits.

Via: LA Times

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Coupe & Convertible with 540HP- 47 High-Res Wallpapers

The famous Cobra badge has returned on the latest generation Ford Mustang that was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year. The new Shelby GT500 that will be available in both coupe and convertible versions will make its world debut at the Detroit show later this month with sales following in spring 2009. Upgrades over the standard Mustang include an aggressive bodykit, retuned sports suspension and of course, a more powerful 5.4-liter supercharged V8 that delivers 40HP more than before for a total output of 540HP and 510 foot-pounds of torque.

Ford also lamely supports that the new GT500 will "provide better highway fuel efficiency" - as if anyone who buys a 540HP supercharged muscle car cares about what he will pay at the gas pump...

Apart from the revised 5.4L V8, Ford engineers have also upgraded the twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission while 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.

In terms of driving dynamics, spring and dampers have been optimized for better roll control while the coupe sits on new 19-inch Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and forged aluminum wheels ( 18s on the convertible).

"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."