By Andrew Ganz
Thursday, Apr 21st, 2011 @ 2:35 pm

Finally following up on its highly successful 2007 Shelby GT, Shelby American announced today plans to produce a new post-title package for the 2011 and 2012 Ford Mustang.

Called the Shelby GTS, the new cars are based on either V6 or V8 engines – although Shelby American acknowledges that many buyers will opt for the less expensive V6 package.

“The V6 Mustang is a particularly good platform for the Shelby GTS,” said Shelby American vice president of operations Gary Patterson in a statement released to the media. “It’s even lighter and more nimble than the GT. And the V6 Shelby GTS makes about as much horsepower as the V8 in the Ford Shelby GT but with better fuel economy at a lower price tag.”

After finishing the reborn Shelby GT350 project, Shelby American’s skunkworks team started working on the GTS. The group says it was energized by Ford’s new 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter Coyote V8. Working with Ford Racing, Borla and Baer, Shelby American reworked the Mustang’s suspension, upgraded the brakes and tuned the engines for more power.

The package, which starts at $9,995, includes a Ford Racing handling pack with new springs, revised stabilizer bars and a front strut tower brace, a cold air intake, a Borla exhaust, Baer/Shelby brakes and a number of cosmetic upgrades like a new grille, revised fascias, Le Mans stripes, Powered by Ford badging and 18 or 20 inch alloy wheels.

In addition, GTSs can be upgraded with a Shelby-developed supercharger, six-piston Baer/Shelby-exclusive brakes, adjustable control arms, a Watts link for the rear suspension and a two-tone leather interior.

Shelby hasn’t released performance specifications for the supercharger, although the automaker noted that a V6-powered GTS will be more powerful than the outgoing V8-powered Shelby GT.

All GTSs will also be included in Shelby’s registry with their own CSM serial numbers.

Since the GTS is a post-title project, it won’t be eligible for the same SCCA class that the Shelby GT dominated once it was released. However, Shelby American tells Leftlane that the company is working with the SCCA to find a suitable place for the GTS.

  

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