September17
Ford and Shelby Automobiles will soon launch the 2008 Shelby GT500KR — the most powerful Mustang to date. Inspired by the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR, this “King of the Road” was originally slated to have 540 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, but today Ford announced that the GT500KR will have 550 horsepower. No reason was given for the power increase.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, upgraded from the standard GT500’s 3.31:1. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the KR. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter is 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts.
Ford SVT, Ford Racing and Team Shelby worked together to develop the KR’s suspension tuning. Based on initial work by Ford Racing and the team at Shelby, often at Shelby’s own facility on the grounds of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford SVT chassis engineers will apply fine tuning techniques to prepare it for the streets.
“The production Shelby GT500 was maximized to deliver the perfect balance between ride and handling,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer, Ford SVT. “In that same ride versus handling continuum, the KR will lean heavier towards all-out handling while still making it drivable on the street.”
40 years later
The original 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR was also a mid-year introduction, based on the 1968 Shelby GT500. Ford added ‘Cobra’ to the Shelby’s moniker to help “usher in the beginning of a new performance era” at the company. The Cobra name referred to the new 428 Cobra Jet V-8 that was planted under the KR’s custom fiberglass hood.
Ford conservatively rated the 428 CJ at 335-horsepower, but in reality it made more than 400-horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque. The KR model was also equipped with a modified suspension and was offered both in fastback and convertible models. Ford dealers sold 1,570 GT500KR models in 1968, 1053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles.
Still no IRS, but I’m willing to bet this one would be a hoot to rip around a road course. Most I suspect will lead pampered lives in garages, rubbed with diapers and never see rain.
What’s not to love? If Ford tanks then this will be worth a pretty penny, provided Ford does not tank before they release it.
If anyone has anything bad to say about this car they are flat out stupid. This thing is frickin awsome.
–mujician…these suck ass. A claim of 540 hp, but im willing to guess it only has about 430 at the wheels. These things are absolute trash, and heavy as hell.
i dont like the rims
This all well and good but Don’t you think that developing an IRS for theses various “super-’Stangs” would make them a lot better? More horsepower isn’t going to help if the car can’t keep it’s wheels planted.
Needs an aluminum block and IRS.
Oh Yes. I want this. Brilliant engine with loads of power, great, aggressive looks. I hope the power will be controllable. The Roush Mustang will remain king of musclecars if all 540 horses cannot be controlled.
d00d - the aluminum block wouldn’t cut it in a GT500. There’s a reason it wasn’t used in the first place; the weight savings won’t make up for the engine tearing itself apart.
the wheels kill the car
What’s wrong with the wheels? I like them.
Kaptain75329 -
the engine in the shelby GT500 is essentially an iron version of the aluminum block engine in the Ford GT. so no, it wouldnt “tear itself apart” because its already proven to be used in the Ford GT
cant wait to see how long the wait is for this rustang and how much dealers will mark it up….what a waste of money for a mustang
Now THAT is a Mustang!
It was swapped back to an Iron block for mostly cost reasons. This car looks very much the part of a classic muscle car, and as far as power goes the “regular” GT500’s are making around 475-485 at the wheels stock and thats dyno proven at a tuner shop up here.
yeah, what the hell are wrong with the wheels? why not just say you dont like the ’stang? unless they slapped some 25 inch spinners on ‘em, i’d agree.
test
test1
test2
What’s this car cost?
I could live without the front fender mounted pole antenna. I don’t mind the wheels.
Madcapp, they are saying in the $50K range.
F451,
$50K + $30K markup
Andre Neves, I don’t doubt it.
It just keeps gettin’ better.
To whomever said that it will only make 430 rwhp…
think again!
A stock GT500, lays down between 440 and 460 rwhp.
I’m assuming this KR will prolly push closer to 500 at the tires.
As for it being heavy, uh, go weigh a Charger SRT-8…
IT makes the shelby look like nothing.
As for the iron block, yes it’s for cost savings.
Same reason there is no IRS. IRS would add thousands to the price tag.
And IRS would only make the car a few hundred pounds heavier…
Of course I will be on there being no backseat, etc in these.
Following true GT500KR heritage. It will prolly weight maby 100lbs less.
Course with that many ponies, who gives a crap…
I can’t really think of a single bad thing to say about this car, and I am a chevy man. Seriously, 540 horsepower in this car will make it a rocket. I have no problem with the solid real axle, I have driven the standard mustang GT and found it to handle very well. Adding a IRS would create a signifigant boost in cost, and Im sure that Ford wants to keep this beast priced below cars like the Z06.
How do you figure an estimated 40 more at the crank equals ~50 more to the wheels March30? As far as weight, these things are indeed far too heavy, and it just ends up negating the ‘impressive’ power figures. Who cares if you have 500 horsepower when you can’t outrun a 400 horsepower base C6? And with regards to IRS, if it would add so much weight, how come the ‘04 Cobra weighed over 250 pounds -less- than this new one, with IRS? There’s no reason for these things to weigh as much as they do, period.
That’s a hot car.
GoD DAMN! hmm…This? or the dumb nismo one post down….I choose THIS!
“GoD DAMN! hmm…This? or the dumb nismo one post down….I choose THIS”
Because they’re just oh so comparable…
^LoL
This or the 2008 Buick Lucerne 6 posts down….duh, this of course!
Finally, the top-level Mustang is powerful enough to not be COMPLETELY embarassed by the Z06, and will still be somewhat cheaper. All in all though, I’d rather mod an LS2 GTO for a lot cheaper. It may be a sexy looking car, but weight and aerodynamics will always be its enemy against far better flagship cars like the Corvette.
lol, 40 extra horses at the crank is hardly going to stop the Z06 from embarrassing this thing in every way shape and form, aside from having two little back seats. And you can damn well bet the mark up on this KR is going to put it at least on the same price level as the Z.
Fromes,
I don’t know about costing less than a Z06 by dodging the issue of IRS. With an projected increase of cost of about $5K-$10K per unit (considering economy of scale), The improved performance in handling would be well worth the cost for a “Super-stang” like this. Add to that the Dealer mark-up, and the question suddenly becomes, does extra cost really matter?
Of course others have already said that this car would likely never see open road or a racetrack ending up in closed collections which you’ll never hear about except in Car collector magazines and websites.
But I have always griped that Mercury needs a new Cougar and a re-styled, IRS included Cougar based on the Mustang. Since MERCURY is supposed the be upscale from FORD the added cost of and handling potential of an IRS Cougar would be well worth it. A “Wow” car that will make sells for MERCURY and make an argument for a smaller, less expensive, RWD, sports coupe. The Messenger and MC4 concepts looked like a worth while candidates.
Of course, I’d love the see a new RS500/XR4Ti and RS200 (basically the European Escort with AWD and ‘roid rage) be built as well. Make for MERCURY and get that division worthwhile identity of it’s own apart from FORD and LINCOLN. Oh well, just a dream… maybe…
Nickthaskater,
The previous platform the Mustang was built on since 1979, which is only about as big as a Honda Civic (circa 2000 on), weighed about 3900lbs. A tad over built… This new platform does weigh about 3700 lbs, depending on the model. This is due to improved structure and materials use. IRS would actually reduce weight because you wouldn’t have that huge solid live axle.
But I think the biggest problem FORD has, as far as cost, is that the DEW98 platform was not specifically made for IRS but SLA, though IRS could be added as a module, it would cost more and FORD also claims that it wouldn’t add much to the car’s structural integrity, and the fans of the Mustang wouldn’t stand for it, claiming they/we WANT SLA and not IRS. BS I think to try to justify not really doing what we wanted from this car.
But then If FORD had worked on the problem as hard and long as they do on their trucks, I think the Mustang would be a more real competitor against a CORVETTE or VIPER and would have a little less to worry about from upcoming muscle coupes like the DODGE Challenger and Chevy Camaro.
Still I like this car, If they can fix that tranny to send more power to the ground instead of losing it in the gears.
uh nickthaskater: The 04 cobra didn’t have an IRS, has far as I know I don’t think any mustang, at least one from the factory as ever had an IRS, keep in mind the 04 cobra was built on a platform that had existed since the late 70s
I think the wheels are perfect on this car. I just wish they would do something different with the taillights on the GT500s.
As of ‘99, the SVT Mustang had IRS.
Don’t listen to the BS Ford gives us for not including IRS on the new Mustang, it was just a lame cost cutting measure.
I would gladly pay more for one with IRS, and if it did add weight, it would help balance the nose heavy car.
With the Camaro and Challanger using a proper IRS setup, I hope that this gives Ford an incentive to do the same.
The GT500’s run just under 450 hp at the wheels, weigh in at almost 4000 pounds, and are made for just about going in a straight line. Ford also made a FR500GT, it had a price of $225,00, 534 hp, 3300 lbs, and could only achieve 0-60 in 3.9, and topped out at 172. Thats sub-par in my book for performance numbers at that price and power.
^ $225,000
The agressive looks and color combo are great, but I’ve never been impressed with a Mustang’s performance no matter how many horses they stick under the hood.
“uh nickthaskater: The 04 cobra didn’t have an IRS, has far as I know I don’t think any mustang, at least one from the factory as ever had an IRS, keep in mind the 04 cobra was built on a platform that had existed since the late 70s”
The ‘04 Cobra -did- have a multi-link IRS, check the SVT website if you don’t believe me. And Blakkarr, you don’t really make any sense. The ‘04 Cobra, complete with it’s IRS, weighed in at 3,665 pounds, compared to the GT500’s 3,920 pounds. That’s a difference of 255 pounds for those of you not wanting to do math.
Pretty awesome. How do you guys know there’s no IRS already? Too bad if there isn’t.
Mustangs with IRS.
“Pretty awesome. How do you guys know there’s no IRS already? Too bad if there isn’t.”
They would say it if there was…They simply say suspension tuning.
I like what they’re doing, but at the price I think it’ll sell for, gimme a Z06 so I can have some real fun.
^ ok, what happened to the rest of my message.
Anyway, like I was saying before I was so rudely cut off by LLN…
Im no mustang expert but one thing I do know is that they haven’t come with IRS in like…never. Hehe, kind of pathetic if you ask me. YOu would THINK that Ford would make a “Bold Move” and finally put it on the current model, but NO they are having too much success to be worrying about it.
PLEASE can somebody give a count of how many special editions of the new Mustang have been released?
Other than the oversaturation of specialty Mustangs, the car looks good..and this is coming from someone who has only owned F-Body cars.
bcart3r,
Where do you get your 450rwhp figure for the GT500?
badass!
the GT500 doesnt push out 500 either norby… its featured in the K&N ad’s as putting out something like 413hp on the dyno and that the K&N adds 53 horsepower.
Weighs 3500+ pounds, realistically costs $70k+ to buy and for all that money you STILL don’t get an IRS suspension that has already been developed for the DEW98 platform and used in the Lincoln LS for several years. The horsepower increase is great but I’m not convinced it will handle that much better.
What about the suspension? Horsepower is great, but if the car doesn’t handle well, then who cares?!
Hyperion, there’s no way in hell it’s going to weigh anywhere near 3500 pounds, with the standard GT500 tipping a hair over 3,900 pounds.
Actually the LS was a redressed Jaguar S-type. FORD messed up the marketing on this one, easily as good as or better than the current CTS, so they dropped it for the MKZ/Zephyr.
unfortunately IRS was never included with any SVT Mustang after the Fox platform was killed. The IRS was developed but FORD in their infantile wisdom chose not to use it EVER, citing cost which should have prompted a less expensive car to be made, MAVERICK anybody? and bogus structural claims (bogus as in what they said didn’t make much sense).
All current Mustangs , “super” or otherwise, use SLA. Sorry if that bursts any bubbles. I’m a FORD fan and even that hurts to admits.
Hopefully, FORD will take the hint and build the INTERCEPTOR and MKR, with a MERCURY MARAUDER (the only M word I ever liked for that division), to follow. Hopefully scale of economy will make FORD’s claim of cost for IRS, and upcoming competition change their mind… But I think by the time the Camaro and CHallenger actually land, FORD will hopefully announce a full replacement for the current car.
One can hope. Don’t hold your breath.
3,900lbs? Dear god, it’s worse than I’d thought!
Blakkarr, you’ve just re-educated me on the history of Ford’s current platforms. Thank you.
I wasn’t aware they’d outright KILLED the Lincoln LS. Idiots. It was always a wonder to me why there was never a twin turbocharged V-6 5-speed version of that car. It would have been a sleeper q-ship for folks with some money.
Instead, Ford killed the LS.
I don’t really like the new Mustang or its weight problem. Having no IRS makes dismissal without so much as a glance even easier for me. It’s upsetting when you know all the things that model could be but isn’t.
500hp and middle-age suspension? Whats the point?
I’ve been finding weight specs ranging widely all over the place. With the V6 the Mustang weighs in about 3400 lbs while the V8 will bump wight up to about 3700 lbs. I guess the extra “go fast gear adds another 200 lbs…
Need aluminum.
Yes,
The Fox body SVT Mustangs had IRS circa 99 and up. And no, the 2005 up Mustangs don’t have IRS……nor was there ANY SVT Mustang 2005 up save for the GT500.
There was an IRS developed for the new Mustang but it was cut in cost issues. Just as there was an IRS built for the FIRST generation Mustang, that IRS design was tossed when guess who declared that the car was not faster around Riverside Raceway with the IRS than with the solid axle…….the mystery person? One Carroll Hall Shelby who informed Ford the IRS was “uneeded.”
Big deal…its just another hi-po mustang. Soon there will be the GT500KRS, the GT500KRX, the GT500KRXXXST Coupe Sport GT…..god. There are just too many to choose from. Its all a money making ploy. There is no passion behind it anymore.
The LS’s problem was tht it looked like a Mitsubishi and not like a car that could compete (on style and quality) in the price range it was trying to infiltrate.
As to the current Mustang, it is clearly a winner, but if I were Ford (and beleive me, I LIKE Ford) I’d spend a little more time on trying to make other cars … the bread and butter type … that will be winners, and not just drop a fat motor into a Stang for publicity purposes. The average potential Ford car buyer is going to go to Ford and say
… “Wow! A 540hp Stang! Now, what do you have that offers an overall
… better value than a Camry, Accord, Civic, Aura, Altima, or Sonata
… in terms of utility, mileage, purchase price, maintenance, appearance,
… and resale value? …. Ummmm, oh, I see. Let me think about it.”
And then they drive off. Month after month, year after year, that is what the numbers are showing. This Stang will not help Ford’s longetivity one bit, I’m sorry to say.
—————->Boxter2.7L: SUPER DUPER LOL!!…….u had me rollin’….
————–>Ricardo Head, what are you SMOKIN’ lol, talkin bout “The LS’s problem was tht it looked like a Mitsubishi” you outta your mind? the ‘04 LSV8 was one of the best lookin AND STYLED cars lincoln produced in like…..a jillion years! (looks 10X better than an MKZ)
————->but the rest of your comment is correct tho, about the ford customers……..that is true…
Ricardo Head, “This Stang will not help Ford’s longevity one bit, I’m sorry to say.” I believe you are correct. In many ways, we may be witnessing the last gasp from Ford. Face it, customer confidence is eroding with Ford. Paying a monthly payment on a depreciating vehicle that may or may not have a dealership to service and perform warranty is a serious question among the average buyer (not the person who buys the Cobra). With gas prices heading up again, there might be no turning around Ford any longer.
Comment by SRT-4Ken —–> you outta your mind? the ‘04 LSV8 was
……. one of the best lookin AND STYLED cars lincoln produced in
……. like…..a jillion years! (looks 10X better than an MKZ)
.
While that may be true, the LS still looked like a standard Mitsubishi and it did not look to even play in the same league as its competitors.
The LS was far from looking like a Mitsubishi, it fit right in along side the styling cues of the Navigator at the time. It was a very clean, and mature style, with just the right amount of aggression. Great style, great platform, horrible marketing, horrible factory support.
For once you’ve done something great, Ford. Keep it up!
I know what Ricardo Head means. It looked like a competitor to the last generation Mitsubishi Galant. Sure there were lots of differences, but to people who aren’t car enthusiasts…well the shape was almost identical and I know my friends get them mixed up. While I agree that it was nice, it didn’t have that same bold presence as a CTS or 300.
The KR is awesome. Its a monster for sure.
But how about improving the numbers on the regular GT??! You see sales dropping, why not improve the GT while maintaining the price. Thats what most successful companies do. Damn Ford is just gonna ride the pony to the ground at this pace.
540hp isn’t going to make this thing break into the sub-4 0-60 times. The standard GT500 averages around 4.5 seconds, and 40 horsepower on top of 500 isn’t going to shave half a second plus off.
beastly, too bad probably only 10% of these will ever see the track.
Uh the 1999 through 2004 Cobra’s had IRS!
Trust me. I OWNED an 03!
I blew my half-shafts to hell and back a few times.
That IRS even beefed up couldn’t handle a hard launch with drag radials.
As for Ford telling the dealer’s what to do. Its not going to happen.
Dealerships are privately owned. Ford has very little control of them.
And the reason the GT500 is such a pig is the new S197 platform was designed
around federal crash regulations. Chevy is saying the Camaro is gunna be less
that 3500 lbs, BS. Unless they use expensive materials! And if they do that then
the mullet nation won’t be able to afford it. I’m also willing to bet the camaro
will never get 500+ HP. Why?
Well then it would cannibalize Vette sales.
As for Ford’s longevity, go drive a Fusion. Drive a Camry.
If you have half a brain it becomes obvious very fast. Ford’s quality is actualy. gasp.
BETTER! Not to Mention Ford’s Hybrids aren’t WAYYY overpriced.
And last I checked F-150 was still number one in the fullsize truck segment!
And last I checked the Super-Duty was the number one choice of contractors.
So I think Ford is in the game for atleast alot longer than most think!
its not that bad, but u have to be a true mustang lover to buy that, w/ so many better cars out there for the price this one will be…………..
I just hope it wasn’t April’s Fool Day news.
MUSThave
MUSTang
looks very good apart from the aerial/antenna which just ruins the whole thing.
Comment by homeboy234, posted on March31 at 4:34 pm
wow, i agree with homeboy, love the car but think its time for a modern antenna
Akurei, I agree that the Fusion is a better overall value and higher quality (thus far) than the Camry and Accord, but clearly the average buyer does not. In part that is a matter of image, and in part a matter of experience. Like I said I like Ford and my F150 is absolutely top notch, but I still say Ford would be better served spending money and effort in building cars FAR better than its competition in their price range and not putting larger motor in a Stang.
.
To overcome the image problem, Ford needs to offer a significant value advantage to potential buyers such that they will buy and risk the “Ford image deficit” - and then over time they will realize they made the right decision (if the original value/quality proposition holds) and shop Ford again in the future. This is what Toyota/Honda/Nissan/Hyundai did. They brought in cars that offered a significant advantage in the quality/value/price department thus incenting customers to take the risk, and when the risk paid off they went back. Now Ford has to do the same thing to get them back into and returning to the showrooms.
wow this thing is gonna be sooo fast!!!!
aprils fool day!!
it does look pretty though, no joke
All the owners are going to be pissed when they smash on the brakes at 90mph and the little carbon fiber splitter rips off due to the nose dive.
Ford lost 12.7 billion and this is what they’re doing…
—-norby413, a GT500 on a dyno will show it has about 447 hp at the wheels.
“If anyone has anything bad to say about this car they are flat out stupid. This thing is frickin awsome.”
This car screams redneck w/ a little money.
The Giugiaro Mustang is what should be built.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2006/112_news061128_mustang_by_giugiaro/
That’s a sweet Stang.
“Ford lost 12.7 billion and this is what they’re doing…”
What do you think they should do, improve the Focus or maybe the Crown Victoria instead?
They need to redesign their entire car lineup and kill pretty much every single car they have. Build the Giugiaro Mustang too. Keep building the GT. Elevate the brand, bring in some class and style. Then improve the quality. Found On Road Dead. Fix Or Repair Daily….ring a bell? And then, kill Mercury brand asap. Drop Mercury like it’s hot. Who buys a Mercury?
why hasnt there been new news for days
Well they never post news on the weekend, but before that the news was reallllly slow. So hopefully today the pick up the pace again
Enzo, a lot of their problems can be solved if they brought the Euro Fords over, Mondeo.. EuroFocus…
Once again Shelby delivers an overweight, overpriced turd and gives it the King of the Road moniker. Let’s see, will it give a Z06 a run for its money? No? Then it’s not King of Anything. More like King of the Bloat.
It´s not the engine, it´s not the power, it´not the looks (which is awesome…) …it´s the chassis !!! Ford could put another 100hp into this beast and it still won´t be able to handle properly…
“I agree that the Fusion is a better overall value and higher quality (thus far) than the Camry and Accord, but clearly the average buyer does not.”
If you account the depreciation value, it’s not a better value afterall and what’s worse that handicap follows to the next generation as well.
Chrysler will be worth the Jeep Brand alone when sold.
Ford will be worth the Mustang Brand alone when sold.
Ford should just make like only 5 of them and then auction them off for millions!!!
Considering that one of the things that initially distinguished the Mustang in the marketplace was its laundry list of available options, I really don’t see why IRS can’t be an option on all mustangs.
Furthermore, as far as price gouging is concerned, it’s not really an issue with this car. There are only 1000, and IRS or not, people will be lining up to pay (significantly) more than sticker price for this car. I mean, let’s face it, it might not be the greatest car ever built, but it’s freaking awesome. And that’s worth a lot.
TOZO, Ford should just make like only 5 of them and then auction them off for millions!!! Uh…Dr. Evil…try billions, as times have changed, and Ford needs the money.
I don’t really care for the front of it and lose the stripes too!
pretty tall gearing they are offering…should have some nice grunt only a American V8 can offer
so fords doing the exact opposite now, rather than conservative power ratings theyre blowing them way over what theyre really putting out.
I love this car and the current Mustang in general
ABSOLUTE CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!
i dunno how i feel about this. i mean, 550 hp is serious power, and it’ll inevitably make this car fast, but its just not how i would go about making a fast car. this thing weights so much that to make it competitive they must stick huge engines and huge power in it, which is just such an inefficiant, round about way of making a car quick. why not develop a modern platform with a modern chasis and such, and make a lighter car that could be equally fast using a smaller V8, thereby reducing consumption, emissions, etc? the mustang is just such an old fashioned car, but i can’t really deny that this thing is badass and will be pretty cool. it’s too bad the quality is straight GARBAGE
Plus, who wants to pay this much for a Mustang?? i mean come on, its a Mustang.
the roush is cool.
I will take two… but could only afford half of one after the Ford stealerships add their standard “market adjustment”.
I like it.
Speaking of “market adjustment,” I was an F-250 with an asking price of $67K.
Yeah, right!
Lets see it wieghs 4000 ponderous pounds it has no IRS and is likley to cost as much as a Z06 with the mark up.. Jeeezzzz I don’t know an overweight live axel stupid ass 60’s straight line machine that isn’t even really going to be all that fast, well DEFINETLY NOT for the money anyway…. Great Ford what kind of an answer to your problems is this dud going to be ? Sure it’ll sell out but only cause its limited and Fords likely to go under so it’ll be worth BIG bucks later if ford folds…. It doesn’t stand on its own though…
This thing is going to rip sh*t up. You can have fluffy and flimsy European ill take knock your teeth out torque thank you =) No stripes, lose those wheels, throw a KB blowzilla on it and tear new a*sholes everywhere lol. Bypass the markup by ordering it you pay MSRP. Duh.
I wonder how it will stand up to a new 2008 Z51 with the increase of power to 436 horses and 428 ft.lbs.tq. Both cars have had adjustemt to shifting throws and quickness as well, more so on the vette. Any1 have any thoughts?
Personnaly i would say the vette for most tests that would be conducted in a comparison.
Not the same kind of car
EXCLUSIVE FORD MUSTANG SHEBLY COBRA GT500KR