2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 Preview

2007 ford shelby gt500 red

Anyone with a pulse is aware of how well the 2005 Ford Mustang has been received by critics and consumers alike. Of course, that makes sense - it's a car that offers contemporary styling with a definite retro flair and a choice of two desirable engines. That car is so hot, in fact, that its rumored that factory executives and Ford’s own designers are far behind a long list of customers waiting for 2005's gotta-have-it car. Apparently Ford isn't satisfied with this raging interest, though, so 2006 will add a higher performance version called the Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500, an asphalt-munching beast that traces its heritage back to a highly praised 1968 model of the same name. With Ford's talented SVT (Special Vehicle Team) unit and the legendary Carroll Shelby working together on this project, it was almost certainly a guaranteed success. The result of this collaboration will surely put goofy grins on the faces of Mustang and power lovers everywhere: 450 horsepower, 450 lb.-ft. of torque, Brembo calipers, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a price that should be in line with that of the previous Mustang Cobra model. And according to project designers, the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 "will be the most powerful production Mustang ever built." Ford officials are tight-lipped on how much it will cost to get into a 2006 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500, but they do say that pricing will be in the same range as the previous Cobra, which started in the mid $30s. However, since the new model is better in most every way, we expect pricing to start at least in the high $30s.

Powertrain

Mustang muscle comes in the form of a supercharged 5.4-liter, dual overhead cam, iron-block, 32-valve V8 with Ford GT aluminum cylinder heads, piston rings and bearings. Pistons are forged aluminum and the crankshaft is forged steel. Horsepower for the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 is rated at 450 and torque peaks at 450 lb.-ft. And since heat robs engine power, the GT500 is equipped with an upgraded cooling system and an aluminum hood with heat vents. A six-speed manual transmission, featuring a 3.31 final drive ratio, is responsible for putting the power to the pavement.

Suspension

The 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 promises to offer an admirable combination of power and balance, with gobs of power and a suspension system that can keep everything under control. An independent MacPherson strut suspension is used up front, aided by the same 34-mm stabilizer bar used on the Mustang GT. The rear features a three-link solid axle setup with coil springs (chosen over an independent rear suspension because of its performance in tire-smoking drag runs and overall durability), but the 24-mm stabilizer is two millimeters larger than that found on the Mustang GT. A Panhard rod, with SVT-tuned bushings, has been bolted to the rear axle to keep everything in place when 450 lb.-ft. of torque is unleashed; a control arm attached to the front of the differential also assures that all of that twist doesn’t wreak havoc. Finally, front and rear ride heights have been lowered to improve handling.

Brakes

Understanding that braking power is more important than horsepower and a beefy suspension, engineers went all out when it came to the GT500’s stopping capability. Behind those 19-inch alloy wheels (shod in 255/45R19 tires) are Brembo vented and cross-drilled discs. Front brakes measure 14 inches and feature four-piston aluminum calipers; rear brakes are 13 inches and feature two-piston calipers.

Interior Design

Unique to the GT500 is black leather located on the dash, shifter, and center console. The seats are wrapped in special SVT red and black leather, which is also located on the door panels. Those who have driven the Mustang GT will notice the GT500’s thicker steering wheel grips, and that the gauge locations have been swapped to make the tachometer more prominent. The battery gauge is gone, replaced by a boost gauge for the supercharger, and all gauges are trimmed in titanium.

Exterior Design

Outside, the Shelby Cobra GT500 is accented by dual racing stripes, GT500 lettering, Shelby badges, 19-inch alloys, and revised front and rear fascias. A rear diffuser has been added, and the integrated spoiler is smaller than that found on the regular Mustang GT. Affixed to the front air dam is an air splitter, and the aluminum hood has a noticeable center “dome” under which lies the supercharger.

Performance

One quick glimpse of the GT500, and you can almost hear the thunderous bark of the dual exhaust and smell the scent of burnt rubber in the air. And if you’ve got a chance to pour over this thoroughbred for more than a minute, be prepared to lose yourself in dreams of hair-raising turns, smoky burnouts, and triple-digit runs down your local highway. Just don’t forget that little Johnny Lawman is out there dreaming of catching you. The previous, non-supercharged Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R reportedly reached 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds and 100 mph in about 11 seconds – look for the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 and its 450 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque to improve on those numbers.

Wrap-up

The 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 is another example of what's working with domestic car companies. Designers of the new Shelby Cobra GT500 have constructed a standout product that is obviously desirable but lacking representation in the market place. And, unlike GM, which has an odd habit of creating and pushing high-powered versions of cars that don't sell, the new Shelby Cobra GT500 is based on a vehicle that consumers want so much that they're willing to wait for it and pay sticker price or more. Which goes to prove – American muscle lives!

Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company