The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 convertible is more than a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that makes 475 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque combined with a revised suspension. It’s the Cobra on the grille and side panels, the racing stripe – on the coupe – and the attitude of a pony car that goes as if someone put espresso in its drinking water.

Consider it the anti-Prius.
This is the car for people who like the smell of rubber and the sound of a finely-tuned and growling V8 engine. This ain’t no commuter car, bubba, though if you drive it in traffic, be prepared for a fair number of stares, smiles and waves, along with a bad case of calf cramp, as the only transmission offered will be a six-speed manual. Deal with it, whatever, ‘cause you just don’t put an automatic in a car such as this one. Available this summer, along with the coupe, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 starts at a sticker price in the mid-$40,000 range.