Take a look at the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500: The first thing you’re bound to notice is the huge Big Mouth Billy Bass openings above and below the bumper; then, as your eyes move over the “Ticket Me Red” paint job with Le Mans-style stripes, you’ll stop at the beefy 19-inch wheels and extra-wide tires. If its muscular looks don’t stop you in your tracks, its basso profundo gurgling exhaust certainly will.
If it doesn’t, you’ll want to check your pulse.
With a sound that grabs you with the first turn of the key, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 roars to life with power that improves on the outgoing GT500. A “corporate” Shelby, rather than one built in Las Vegas at Shelby Automobiles, this Mustang is a collaboration between Carroll Shelby and the Special Vehicles Team at Ford. It’s built in the Mustang factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, not Las Vegas.
Ford took us to Sonoma, California’s Infineon Raceway to put the newest GT500 through its paces.
What is it?
Ford recreated the high-power retro-pony class with the first neo-GT500 for the 2007 model year; the 2010 is the response to Dodge and Chevrolet’s entrants. It promises more, more and more of everything a muscle car buyer wants: Power, noise, swagger and even handling.
What’s it up against?
As we eluded to before, the 2010 GT500’s natural adversaries include the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Chevrolet Camaro SS pony cars, but there is a whole herd of other cars that nearly match up in power, if not price. In that category, add the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, BMW M6, and as the dark horse, the Nissan GT-R. Sure, there’s a reason you’ll pay double the GT500’s asking price to enter that level, but the GT500 promises to run neck-and-neck with those champions.
Any breakthroughs?
How about driveability for one? New for 2010 is a revised 5.4-liter 32-valve supercharged V8 pumping out 100 horsepower-per-liter. We know it’s not exactly a breakthrough number, but its power is impressive. A new cold-air intake was cause enough for Ford to ask ol’ Carroll himself whether it was okay to move the Cobra badge from the driver’s to the passenger’s side of the grille. His response: “If it makes it go faster, then yes.”
A new 3.55:1 top gear adds up to 2 extra mpg on the highway, but the way we enjoyed the skinny pedal during our evaluation, we didn’t really notice.
Ford’s Microsoft Sync system brings the muscle car into the 21st century with its voice commands and Bluetooth functionality.
How does it look?
Like the current iteration of the Mustang GT, but on enough steroids to make A-Rod look like a girly-man, the GT500 is both familiar and new at the same time.
The first time you see the front end, you can’t help but be drawn to the gaping grille split by the front bumper. Ford claims it pays homage to the A/C Cobra 427 open sports roadsters that put Shelby on the map. To us, it is reminiscent of Big Mouth Billy Bass, the animatronics toy that flapped its large mouth bass lips to the tune of Don’t Worry, Be Happy back in 2001. We’re still happy.
The power bulge hood rises up to provide added clearance for the Roots-style supercharger. Other functional exterior details include functional air extractors to release trapped air from underhood, the aforementioned LeMans stripes which are taped instead of painted on (for easier replacement in case of damage). Finally of note is the new rear spoiler, which has been moved forward to actually decrease rear downforce, but reclaims some of it by way of a “Gurney flap” built in to the top of the wing.
Remember, all this is on top of the changes recently shown to the 2010 Mustang we drove earlier this year.
And inside?
A more refined version of the traditional Mustang cockpit, it features the familiar gauge setup but with SVT illumination in the tachometer face, and upshift warning lights on the speedometer side. Fuel, boost, water, and oil temperature gauges are located between the two larger gauges. From left to right, the face of the dashboard is covered with a technical dot grid on brushed aluminum. A new arrangement is in place on the centerstack, housing a 7.5-inch monitor for navigation and Sync controls. Climate controls follow down, just ahead of the short throw stick shift with cue ball shift knob.
Millions of virgin Alcantaras gave their lives to the Snake so they could wrap themselves around the steering wheel and shifter boot in the Shelby’s interior. Nicely bolstered leather upholstered seats offer much better support than previous versions and include a power lumbar support. Stitching down the center of the seating area matches the colors of the exterior LeMans stripe. It provides a visual contrast to the otherwise dark interior color scheme.
If we were to ding the Shelby, it would be for the excessive use of hard plastics around the cabin, just like the Mustang. From the tops of the door panels, to the large expanse of dashboard and the center console, there are many examples of hard plastics inside that although possibly cost effective, take away from the overall quality and value of the vehicle. Oh, that and the lack of a dead pedal to rest your foot when off the clutch.
But does it go?
Like the proverbial bat out of Hell, the 2010 Shelby GT500 is a rocket that strikes with the speed and ferocity of its Cobra namesake. Donning our Pyrotect helmets (required with any on-track activities at Infineon), we were ready to see what this snake could do. With its supercharged and intercooled 540-horsepower V8 pumping out 510 lb-ft. of torque, the GT500 is able to rip mid-12-second runs down the dragstrip at Infineon time after time with speeds in the range of 113-115 mph – on street tires, no less.
The Tremec 6060 six-speed gearbox is a good one – essentially the same unit in the V8-equipped Camaro SS. It just seems more precise in the latter, rather than the former. The addition of a Hurst short-throw shifter should help matters in the GT500. The new dual-disc clutch is a vast improvement over the outgoing model, which gave a nice, uneven workout for the left thigh.
In much the same way that engineers helped to make the Shelby’s drivetrain more refined, they also went the distance to provide a car that sounded good without the exhaust note becoming intrusive.
Electronic assists help to make the GT500 a docile daily driver as well as a contender on track days. Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability and traction control defaults to an “on” mode that keeps things tame, but a “Sport” mode stiffens things up and allows a little more hooliganism. Push the button twice and the system turns off entirely, allowing tail-out maneuvers easier than a bad Vin Diesel sequel. As hard as we put it through its paces, the Shelby managed to keep things on a fairly even keel in a manner that instilled confidence and almost begged us for more input. On the road course, the car showed quick acceleration up the straights with great road holding through the “esses” (S-turns). The four-pot Brembos up front did their job nicely while the two-pot factory-sourced binders at rear decently scrubbed speed before the sweeping, but blind right-hander. Letting the car settle allowed us to power through the fun left-hander up ahead. The GT500’s ride was a blast thanks to the MacPherson struts with their reverse L lower control arm, and 34mm stabilizer bar in front, as well as the three-link solid axle with coil springs and panhard rod and twin tube gas-charged shocks in the back.
The Shelby GT500 continues to utilize the live axle of its predecessors rather than moving in the direction of the new Camaro with its new independent rear suspension. Keep in mind that this is a highly evolved live axle that can go right and left. Despite Ford’s assertion that its customers like the straight-line durability and flexibility of the solid axle, we are sure there are some development cost decisions that keep an independent rear away from the GT500.
With a curb weight of 3,924 pounds, the 5.4-liter engine received an EPA rating of 14-mpg city, and 22-mpg highway – not bad.
Why you would buy it:
The run-of-the-mill Mustang just doesn’t cut it for you, and subsequent cars modified by Steeda and Roush aren’t your thing. It’s Shelby or nothing – and you can’t argue with that factory warranty.
Why you wouldn’t:
You are holding out for a supercharged Camaro Z28 that GM keeps denying it is building.
Leftlane’s bottom line:
With a base price of $46,325 the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 stands out as one of the least-expensive and most enjoyable ways to raise your insurance rates and use lots of tires. Unlike its predecessor, hours upon hours of seat time didn’t beat us up, meaning this GT500 finally makes a decent daily driver. Credit the smoother clutch, the more refined ride – or maybe just the raw power. We like it.
2010 Ford Shelby GT500 base price, $46,325. As tested, $48,175 (plus $1,000 Gas Guzzler Tax).
Destination, $850.
Options have not been priced out yet by the manufacturer.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
04/06, 12:28 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Good luck Ford, but your quality and reliability needs to be closer to GM. No Fords in the past have ever been as reliable or a well built, there is no reason to expect this one will fail as well. Is it quick? Yes. But I bet the first time you floor it, the transmision shatters. The new Camaro is king, there will be millions lined up to get their hands on one while Ford will need to put huge money on the hood to move any Mustangs.
Found on Road Dead (Just better looking)
General Motors. An American Revolution
04/06, 12:31 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
And this is why the Goverment had to step in to back up GM warranties. GM is near death. Change your name “Need more oil for Yugo”
04/06, 12:41 PM
posted by:
moparsalesman1
He should change his name to Need More Meds For Dillusions
04/06, 12:48 PM
posted by:
fuzz40
There is nothing revolutionary about waiting around for a government handout. Keep riding that bandwagon right over the cliff.
As for the GT 500 it would be nice to see some handling numbers. See how it really stacks up against the competition.
04/06, 12:50 PM
posted by:
kingston
It’s funny how “Need more oil for GM” is still on GM’s side even with everything that is happening to them. “cocojoe53″ you are 100% correct… Ford has not taken any money from the government despite their losses but now the government is having to back GM and Chrysler warranties. The Camaro is nice… thats it. The SS Camaro is barely faster than it’s SS Cobalt counter part. That’s like putting a Shelby Mustang against a 2002 SVT Focus. They just don’t compare. GM is going under!
04/06, 12:51 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
“Need more oil for Yugo”….f-ing hilarious
i got to drive a gt500 when we bought our ford some days ago….I liked it >:-)
04/06, 1:04 PM
posted by:
sundi
good car
04/06, 1:07 PM
posted by:
slimjim
yes the mustang and the focus dont compare but there still a better car in the long run then the camaro and a crowbalt.
04/06, 1:15 PM
posted by:
Thunder Chicken
NMOFGM: You bet the first time you floor it, the transmission shatters? You mean that Tremec 6-speed, the same one that’s in the Camaro SS? Is this an example of deluded thinking that somehow, even though the transmissions are manufactured by Tremec, that GM got the better ones? Or is it a roundabout way of admitting that the Ford is much more powerful than the GM, as evidenced by the fact that you’re convinced that the Camaro’s V8 won’t be able to break the tranny but that the Ford V8 will do it the first time its 510 lb-ft of torque are unleashed?
Not a big fan of Mustangs, myself, and I am hoping that GM (and Chrysler) can pull through this, but really, NMOFGM, your fanatical fanboy rantings are doing GM no favours.
04/06, 1:17 PM
posted by:
F50
Dodge needs to improve the 6.1 HEMI to match this one, 425 HP doesn’t cut it, although I like the Challenger more than this, this is decent.
04/06, 1:27 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
This has to receive serious consideration as the performance car value of the century thus far. So why exactly would you go to a tuning house unless you’re bound and determined to get into the 700+ horse range?
melias, did they let you keep one to drive back to Florida? Maybe LLN needs to start a long-term test fleet!
04/06, 1:50 PM
posted by:
nickkop
way cooler and more bawlsy than Garbage Motors’ products
04/06, 2:10 PM
posted by:
jmayhew
This car makes the Challenger SRT-8 and Camaro SS look like girlie cars.
04/06, 2:33 PM
posted by:
melias
Eh Johnny!
Don’t I wish they let us keep one!
And yes, we are still waiting on the first entry into the long term fleet. B-)
^Fuzz40
We weren’t running with any instrumentation at Infineon, so sorry we can’t provide numbers as to handling. But from a seat of the pants standpoint, it felt great!
Mark
04/06, 2:47 PM
posted by:
fuzz40
I am sure you will get a chance to get some handling numbers soon. I would like to see how the GT500 stacks up against the C6 vette. I am not really expecting the GT500 to come out on top but could be an interesting comparison…
04/06, 2:48 PM
posted by:
Apolus
I saw one of these on Fort Street in Southgate, MI yesterday while I was at the ATM. Luckily the driver had a heavy right foot so I got an earful when he pulled away from the stoplight. Having not heard a Camaro I cannot comment on it comparatively, but this car has one of the most amazing exhaust notes you will ever hear. It makes the Challenger sound absolutely weak. Period.
I was psyched to see and hear it.
04/06, 2:55 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I don’t know how anyone else feels, but myself I think the redesign did the most justice on this GT500 as it looks like the complete package now, with the interior finally catching up with the good looks of the exterior. Shame about the plastics though, maybe they’ll offer the leather package like last year to cover the dash and door panels to cover the cheap stuff though.
Agreed with Johnny though, especially since I haven’t seen anyone else long term a GT500 yet.
04/06, 3:19 PM
posted by:
Payton Byrd
Not to be a jerk, but doesn’t the Corvette cost about the same and have roughly the same acceleration numbers but much better track numbers?
If not, then WOW. If Ford has finally made a stock Mustang that can run with a Corvette around a track then that is BIG news.
04/06, 3:22 PM
posted by:
SHOspeed
This car amazes me more and more. They redesign for 2010 really put the GT500 into another catagory of car. The interior ir beautiful and the exterior is amazing and as bad ass as you could ever want! Beautiful job Ford! Now THAT is a muscle car my friends.
04/06, 4:44 PM
posted by:
BlazeAbraham09
Yo Mr. Elias!
The gentlemen at Car and Driver ran a test and they say the acceleration times for the Shelby are similar to the Camaro SS. Edmunds, however, says that the “Shelby GT smokes the Camaro SS.” Did you record any times?
04/06, 4:56 PM
posted by:
melias
BlazeAbraham09
I am no drag racer but saw a personal best on the Infineon strip of 12.53 @113 with street tires. The other events on the road course were not set up for timing or that sort of thing, so this is all I can give to you at this time.
04/06, 5:02 PM
posted by:
telememo
I like it. Wouldn’t buy it, but I like it.I would buy a Z instead. I guess this is what got GM and Ford in trouble, good cars, but not good enough!
04/06, 5:44 PM
posted by:
Fromes
numbers are pretty close to a C6 vette and that is really saying something….Im a chevy guy but I would seriously considering owning one of these…unless of course GM gets their act together and produces a Camaro Z/28
04/06, 7:08 PM
posted by:
andy
i’d say as far as specs and price goes, it definitely is more in competition with the C6 than the SS Camaro.. comparing the two is sort of like comparing the ZR1 to the GT500 just because vette and stang have models that cross paths at one point in their power/price bracket doesnt mean ****… so pretty much what im saying is, is that anyone who says the GT500 would smoke the SS is outright retarded… GM puts out the Z28 then there is something to compare
04/06, 7:17 PM
posted by:
save saab
Hey NMOFGM: I like the Camaro a lot, but I’d rather have this cause I’ve driven a Shelby GT500 and it is just brutal. Plus, the mustang GT500 is more powerful, and fun. Really, this is a true American Muscle car, as the Camaro is really a shorter Holden Commodore, (Pontiac G8). You were funny at first but now you’re extremely annoying.
04/06, 9:23 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
I’d take this over the Camaro any day.
04/06, 9:52 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
I know two guys that own the GT500’s One is on his 4th set of tires and the other one baby’s it. Neither car has had one single warrenty claim. As a matter of fact, the one that gets driven as hard as hell, he swears it is getting faster by the mile, and better gas mileage when he doesn’t get on it. He said on a recent 200 mile cruise with moderate jolts of acceleration, he got 17 MPG. Mileage like a truck with the same motor. And yes, the exhaust note is way cool on hard accel.
04/06, 10:13 PM
posted by:
melias
Seriously, I have driven both the older version of the GT500, and this one that will replace it in the next month or so. This car is so much more livable than the older one that it’s not even funny.
All that and you get the power of the KR too.
04/06, 10:45 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
540 horse and it’s livable. I really, really am praying the majority of the sheeple revel in their environmentally friendly City/Hybrid/Clean Diesel/EV commuter coffins so that the rest of may live to experience cars like this for years… make that decades to come. Go ahead and frown as I’m two blocks down the road in a haze of smoke before you’re through that first intersection. Life is just too short and as selfish as this may sound I honestly hope most of my fellow motorists never come to the same conclusion.
04/06, 10:59 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
Johnny,
I love ‘horses’ and especially ’snakes’ as reviewed above. But what’s wrong with Diesel? After tuning 3-liter twin turbo found in 335d, X5 and European 535d liberates 344bhp at 4200rpm and a faintly ludicrous 506lb ft at 2000rpm. And it’s from almost half of displacement of a GT500! But nothing can beat V8 for aural pleasure
04/06, 11:48 PM
posted by:
fordman
Same old boring looking piece of crap!
04/07, 12:04 AM
posted by:
teahead
Very very nice, but I can’t help wonder a new Camaro SS with 430hp for $35k. Bolt on a supercharger for $7k, and for $43k, you can have a bad arse, IRS-fitted Camaro that should be able to do mid-12s like this car.
Still, very agressive looking and the best ’stang ever! Kudos to Ford!
Challenger? They better stick in a 540hp 392ci 6.4 Hemi in that Challenger ASAP!
04/07, 8:46 AM
posted by:
muttonchops
Cheap plastic all across the dash? Are you serious? It’s all soft and cushy except for the radio area and the REAL ALUMINUM INSERTS. Sure the door panels could use an upgrade but you make it sound as bad as the old version. The dash plastics are first rate. They probably shouldn’t have let you drive it while high.
04/07, 2:33 PM
posted by:
F50
Like Me and Teahead said they need to put in that 6.4 Hemi in, and shed off some weight while they are at it.
04/07, 3:28 PM
posted by:
MurcieMe
Can someone Please answer me this: Can you order this car WITHOUT the stupid racing stripes?
Please tell me this is a deletable option . . .
04/07, 5:03 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
stripes are optional. Order yours with “no charge stripe delete”.
04/07, 8:49 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Chuck Norris shlt his pants when he saw this.
04/07, 8:58 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Hahaha that was good.
04/07, 10:30 PM
posted by:
desertdriver
Shouldn’t the speedometer be marked to 200mph instead of 160mph?
04/08, 10:44 AM
posted by:
darkcoffee
We can talk Corvette vs GT-R vs 911, or GT500 vs SRT8, but comparing corvette to GT500 is simply asinine. I own a Corvette, and I’m ordering a GT500 soon. They’re both great cars, but they aren’t designed to compete with each other.
04/09, 2:27 AM
posted by:
blksn8k
Rumor has it the 2011 GT500 will have an aluminum block 5.4L. I am seriously considering this car but I can wait another year. It will only get better.
As for NMOFGM, dude you need to wake up. Attitudes like yours are exactly why GM is in the position they find themselves in now. Deny reality all you want but it won’t change a thing. The days of GM (or Ford for that matter) being able to live in the past are over. GM as you wish it could stay will not work anymore. Get over it. More oil indeed.
04/21, 12:20 PM
posted by:
archiebunker99
all the talk just turbo charge the 6.2 ford raptor and lets meet up on any road street.really the truth is ford,s not broke so u can still get warranty.I really want a camaro but trust the government for warranty not today.well the bottom line the new sms challenger for 85000 with 750hp will be the fastest and i hate dodge but whatever turns your gears i,ll see u all in the mud raptor baby
04/26, 10:40 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Eventually I want to see an All Wheel Drive Electric Power Mustang that does 0-60 in .9 seconds and the Standing Quarter mile in 3.0 seconds
05/10, 9:31 PM
posted by:
fourspeed
i hope the new camaro is lot better built the last generation of rust buckets and and keep the parts stores in business, they built there best in the 60 and early 70 to 72 and thats it
05/12, 5:05 PM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I just wanna Know if Ford is gonna put a Warp drive in this thing so I can blast off to the planet Katnipton!
06/23, 8:04 PM
posted by:
reedfast
My town has quite a few sports cars, and i have personally seen 3 or 4 2010 camaros, let me tell you, these things are loud! One of them was lowered with black rims and a turbo kit, that thing made like 600hp
and it was super loud.
08/04, 4:32 PM
posted by:
bedak
LOL @ bancruptcy2009, have you ment that AWD of a stang could reach 3 sec 0-60 and 9 sec in 1/4 mile? Cause that would be honestly reasonable for a 2010 GT500 SS!