2011 Shelby GT500
Here's an invitation HOT ROD couldn't refuse: an opportunity to test the 2011 GT500 at one of America's classic road courses, Virginia International Raceway. The supercharged Shelby has always been a rocket ship, with the previous version sporting 540 hp. But with the big power came compromise, as the cast-iron 5.4L truck motor and Roots blower added several hundred pounds to the Mustang's chassis, most of it right over the nose. All that extra mass between the front wheels made the otherwise perky ponycar feel downright ponderous at the limit. Ford has addressed that issue straight-on with the latest GT500, using a linerless aluminum block to shave over 100 lbs. from the front end.
The new block employs a proprietary process Ford calls Plasma Transfer Wire Arc. Only 150 microns thick, the trick metal-spraying technology permits the same bore and bore spacing as the iron 5.4L casting. Meanwhile, a calibration tweak and other refinements boost output slightly to 550 hp and 510 lb ft, while also providing a noticeable improvement in drivability. Ford brought both iron-block '10 models and '11 aluminum cars to the track-day event so we could sample both flavors on VIR's 4.1-mile Grand West Course, where the difference was obvious. The new piece is more agile and pointy, less plow-y, especially in quick transitions. Ford says the '11 model is a good nine seconds a lap quicker here.
A good part of the improvement in lap times, we believe, can be attributed to the optional SVT Performance Package. For an extra $3495 over the just-under-$50,000 base price, checking that box on the order form will get you revised suspension settings, 19 and 20-inch forged wheels, and Goodyear F1 Supercar G:2 tires. While fairly stiff for boulevard loafing, the Performance Package is the setup for more aggressive driving. Greenish and/or cheap buyers will be gladdened to know that with fuel economy ratings of 15 city and 23 highway, Shelby's latest hot rod carries no gas guzzler tax.
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