There will be plenty of bar-raising when the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 debuts, with the car offering both the world’s most powerful production V8 and the highest top speed ever seen on a muscle car straight from the factory. And now another breakthrough has been announced: The new Shelby GT500 will be the first to come with standard launch control, designed to help drivers of all skill sets handle the car’s 662 horses and 631 lb.-ft. of torque.
“We recognize not every driver has the same style, and [that] surface, tire and climate conditions vary,” said Eddie Khan, SVT Engineering supervisor. “Most of our competitors’ launch control systems have a fixed engine launch speed. We’ve given Shelby GT500 drivers the ability to adjust the engine speed to achieve best and most consistent performance, no matter where and when they drive.”
The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is on sale now and priced from $54,200 in its coupe configuration and $59,200 as a drop-top.