Ford's latest sports car concept first debuted to the public last summer at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California. J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Global Design, admitted at the time that "the Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT architecture and our relationship with Carroll Shelby, and the Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future." A sleek and muscular fastback design, the Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept rolled onto the stage at the 2005 North American International Auto Show wearing a new suit of polished aluminum on the outside and a cabin constructed of leather, Alcantara and gunmetal finishes. A front-engined two-seater, the Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept is powered by a huge 6.4-liter V-10 engine that develops 605 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 501 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,550 rpm, plenty to motivate an estimated 3,900-pound curb weight. All that thrust goes to the rear BBS one-piece wheels through a rear-mounted, six-speed manual transmission equipped with a limited slip differential. According to Ford, performance is on par with others in this class, with zero-to-60 times under four seconds and a theoretical 200-mph top speed. Aluminum Brembo brake calipers clamp down on cross-drilled, vented four-wheel disc brakes. Goodyear racing slicks, sized 275/40ZR19 in front and 345/35ZR19 in back, keep the Shelby GR-1 glued to the ground in combination with the front and rear double wishbone suspension design from the Ford GT supercar. A Tire IQ system provides the driver with tire temperature and pressure data, as well as cornering g-forces. What are the chances that the Ford Shelby GR-1 will actually be available to consumers in 2007 or 2008? We'd say that this new Shelby, or something very close to it, will be offered to give Ford a true sports car to battle such performance machines as the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe. Just don't count on the polished aluminum exterior finish. By Christian J. Wardlaw
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