2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – flat-plane V8 pony

The All-new Shelby GT350 Mustang

With the Ford Mustang now in all-new sixth-generation S550 guise, it was only a matter of time before the obligatory Shelby-badged high-performance versions began coming out of the woodwork. This is the first one – the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

The successor to the track-focused Boss 302, the new GT350 is the first car in the nameplate’s history to be developed and built in-house by Ford through its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) division – like its more powerful GT500 sibling – rather than the separate Shelby American.

The exterior of the car has been aerodynamically-optimised to improve performance. All the bodywork ahead of the windscreen is unique to the GT350, with a front end two inches lower than a standard Mustang, a deep downforce-inducing front splitter and a bonnet vent that reduces heat and under-bonnet lift.

The All-new Shelby GT350 Mustang

Reprofiled front fenders accommodate the wider front track, with vents to relieve wheel well turbulence. Moving to the rear, there’s an aggressive rear diffuser and a small lip spoiler designed to draw yet more downforce with minimal drag. The interior has been fortified with heavily-bolstered Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a revised instrument cluster and fewer chrome trim bits to reduce distracting glare.

The no-nonsense styling sets the scene for the new GT350’s ultra-focused mechanicals. Under the bonnet is Ford’s most powerful naturally-aspirated engine – a 5.2 litre V8 developing upwards of 500 hp and 400 lb ft (542 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a Torsen limited-slip differential.

The motor is unique among the company’s V8s in that it has a racing-style flat-plane crankshaft popularised by Ferrari, rather than the traditional cross-plane design. Such a configuration is less smooth than a cross-plane V8, but the crank is nearly perfectly balanced, negating the need for heavy counterweights. A flat-plane crankshaft is therefore lighter, allowing the engine to rev higher (reported to be over 8,000 rpm in the GT350).

The All-new Shelby GT350 Mustang

Flat-plane V8s generally have a flatter engine note akin to an inline-four, but – as apparent in the video below – not the GT350. We suspect Ford has designed the exhaust system to retain the signature burble associated with a traditional American muscle car V8.

The suspension is also unique among Mustangs – in addition to the S550’s new all-around independent suspension, the GT350 tacks on quicker-reacting MagneRide adaptive magnetorheological dampers for the first time on a Ford, controllable via a five-mode integrated driver control system. The spring rates and bushings have also been revised and the ride height lowered compared to the regular ‘Stang.

The All-new Shelby GT350 Mustang

Tasked to bring the car down from high speeds is a Brembo braking system – the most powerful ever fitted to a Ford – with six-pot callipers gripping 395 mm discs at the front, and four-pots clamping down on 380 mm rotors at the rear. Wheels are 19-inch alloys wrapped in bespoke Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber.

With such serious machinery at work, the new GT350 is starting to look less like a pumped-up pony car and more like a cut-price Prancing Horse. Bargain of the century? If not, take heart – the regular Ford Mustang will be coming to Malaysia at the end of next year in both 2.3 Ecoboost and 5.0 V8 forms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC6tKvEy6t0

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Àlahai (Member) on Nov 18, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    Weep not for roads untraveled
    Weep not for paths left alone
    ‘Cause beyond every bend
    Is a long blinding end
    It’s the worst kind of pain
    I’ve known

    Give up your heart left broken
    And let that mistake pass on
    ‘Cause the love that you lost
    Wasn’t worth what it cost
    And in time you’ll be glad it’s gone

    Woah-oo-oh-oh
    Woah-oo-ohh
    Woah-oo-oh-oh
    Woah-oo-ohh

    Weep not for roads untraveled
    Weep not for sights unseen
    May your love never end
    And if you need a friend
    There’s a seat here alongside me

    Woah-oo-oh-oh
    Woah-oo-ohh

    If you know what i mean ..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Nov 18, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    this is a man’s car

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • jackchaivoonchoon on Nov 18, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    I will consider swapping my BMW Z5 Quad Turbo 0-100 3 sec 10 Pot Brembo Brake to this American Muscle.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 8
  • Hemi 426 on Nov 18, 2014 at 8:46 pm

    Now we are talking,i was in the States for more than 27 years and i always had at least 2 muscle cars in my garage,most of them Fords and Mopars.

    Going back soon after a 2 year business deal here back home and i’m definately going to get one of these babies.

    You simply cannot beat the performance,presence and attitude of a proper muscle car.Great job Ford!!!

    I’m getting one back in States side!

    Cheers

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 0
    • Penipu Barang Naik on Nov 19, 2014 at 10:52 am

      How much selling in US?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • Hemi 426 on Nov 19, 2014 at 5:32 pm

        I’m not sure buddy,but i reckon it should not hover more than USD MSRP of 45K,then again i could be wrong.

        The highest spec Mustang you can buy now is the Mustang GT Premium Fastback with a starting MSRP of USD 36100 before options.

        Now since this this a Shelby,the premium over the highest spec Stang as explained should be around 30%(roughly).I still own my 66′ Shelby GT350R and my 67′ GT500 KR under the care of my youngest brother back in the States.If i’m not mistaken,this Shelby should be available in fall 2015.

        Cheers

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • the front esp the headlamp really looks like evo x

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Jilbaber (Member) on Nov 19, 2014 at 7:41 am

      Please don’t compare this American muscle pride to japs made, its humiliating..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
      • StiEnthusiast on Nov 19, 2014 at 10:49 am

        How comparing american muscle with japs performance car is type of humiliation?Japs performance car is on par with american muscle.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
        • Because american always think a big engine is better. But Japanese think if you can make smaller engine but behave like a big one, why you won’t do that right. Anyway, don’t take this comment too serious, I am only drive Proton :P

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • venven81 on Nov 19, 2014 at 7:56 am

    B.E.A.Utiful..
    it’s about time for us to have this babeh roaming our streets soon!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Jaybond on Nov 19, 2014 at 8:21 am

    It’s a bit of shock that the latest Ford’s V8 has switched to flatplane crank design.But I’m a bit curious, just how Ford could ever maintain that V8 rumble sound, because almost all of the flatplane V8 engines cars/racecars I’ve seen emit howling sound. Even the crossplane In Line 4 engine Yamaha R1 also emit rumble sound at low-to-mid rpm followed by deep-bassy kind of sound at high rpm.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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