2008 Shelby GT500KR

[jerm]

http://usera.imagecave.com/jerm/gt500kr/2008ShelbyGT500KR_01.jpg



30 March 2008 - taken from leafletnews.com



Ford and Shelby Automobiles today announced the launch the 2008 Shelby GT500KR — the most powerful Mustang to date. Inspired by the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR, this "King of the Road" will offer an estimated 540 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit.

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.”




technical specs:

+ 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 producing an estimated 540-horsepower and 510 ft.-lbs. of torque
+ Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack featuring revised calibration and cold air intake system
+ 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
+ Ford Racing performance exhaust system
+ Unique performance suspension tuning: springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars
+ Shelby-designed ‘GT500KR’ 20-inch wheels (18-inch version for production)
+ Ford Racing short-throw shifter and front strut tower brace
+ Unique carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby ‘KR’ design
+ Front brake cooling ducts
+ ‘Shelby’ lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid
+ 40th Anniversary badges on the front quarter panels
+ Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats
+ Official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate
+ Only 1000 limited units of this vehicle will be built.

http://usera.imagecave.com/jerm/gt500kr/08a__gt500kr---14.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/jerm/gt500kr/08fordshelbygt500kr_12.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/jerm/gt500kr/2-2008-ford-mustang-shelby-cobra-gt500kr.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/jerm/gt500kr/2008ShelbyGT500KR_15.jpg



more pics can be found http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/12759/2008-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500kr-official-photos-info.html



i don't know about you, but this car just screams pure sex to me!

 

[si|verfish]

Love the Shelby Mustangs.

Just one thing bothers me about this car. Live Rear Axle. 540bhp through that sounds like trouble. Hopefully they did something about that.

 

[netmatrix]

Nah i think shouldn't be a problem since most mustangs nowdays are all above 300hp. The axle ratio looks like its tuned for speed and probabaly uses some exotic metal. I wonder what axle the 700hp D1 Falken Mustang was using?

Oh yeah probabaly waiting in the future years for another Gone in 60 seconds with the new car? hehehe.

 

[Vagabond]

one way or another, you gotta love these american muscle cars.

 

[si|verfish]

Nah i think shouldn't be a problem since most mustangs nowdays are all above 300hp. The axle ratio looks like its tuned for speed and probabaly uses some exotic metal. I wonder what axle the 700hp D1 Falken Mustang was using?

Oh yeah probabaly waiting in the future years for another Gone in 60 seconds with the new car? hehehe.

Oh, I don't mean the mechanical bits in the axle. I mean the axle and the rear suspension itself. A live rear axle is stone age in this day and age of independent suspension systems. It will stuggle to put its power down without some serious suspension and chassis mods, just like the Shelby GT500 which was all power and no finesse.

 

[jerm]

well, this car was built 'more for the track', apparently...i guess they wouldve probably have been built to put the power down to the wheels right. 540bhp is likely underrated also, if it follows the previous gt500kr 40 yrs ago.

besides, owning one out of a thousand, it'll be pretty exclusive and probably kept in the garage and hardly ever see sun or rain haha. american muscle cars ftw!

 

[si|verfish]

That's a sad fate for a car.

To quote James Glickenhaus (the bloke with the one of a kind Enzo derived/Pininfarina built P4/5), the car needs to be driven, otherwise it just doesn't exist.

 

[jerm]

oh yeah, the p4/5, i followed the forum with the buildup to their meet where he showed off his car. now THAT's one of a kind...

same car enthusiasts, different thoughts, eh

 

[drMpower]

the noise would be immense.

i just love the growling sound. like barking so loud.