After a trip to the Nurburgring with the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1, the automaker says its model will be faster then the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Al Oppenheiser, Camaro Chief Engineer says that “We’ve done simulations. We predict that the ZL1 will be quicker to 60mph than the [2013] GT500… We ran the Nürburgring and released a time. Ford took the GT500, too, and never released a time. I guess you can draw your own conclusions.”

While his assumption holds only a bit of weight, what really throws us about this statement is how the stats for the two models stack up. The Camaro is heavy, at 4,120 lbs, and makes 580hp and 556 lb-ft, while the lighter 3,850lb Shelby makes 650hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

Click here for more details the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

What sets the two apart in the Camaro’s favor is the all-independent suspension is brings, over Ford’s solid rear axle. Magnetic Ride shocks can help transfer power more effectively, as well. So is Oppenheiser just talking to create a stir again? It’s possible, but no one will know for sure until they hit the track together.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 comes from a LSA 6.2L supercharged V8 making 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque. The engine is matched to a Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission with a new shorter-throw shifter that improves gear changes. It also features a dual-mode exhaust system which provides a very throaty and powerful sound. Sales begin in early 2012. Prices will start at $54,995.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoBlog

Famous Ford Mustang tuner Carroll Shelby was just recently sued by a former receptionist on an account of sexual assault. According to the lawsuit, Angelica Smith claimed she be began working for Shelby back in 2005 as a receptionist but was “treated as a personal servant by being forced to go out on grocery runs, liquor runs, and pornography runs.”

Smith also claims that Shelby ran a “pervasively hostile environment” with one occasion where “Shelby himself battered [Smith] by groping her.” Then apparently, things took a turn for the worse in December in 2010, when Smith alleged that she was drugged and raped by another man in Shelby’s home.

Smith said she reported the incident to Shelby himself but was said to have not taken any corrective action.

Not that I take TMZ seriously… but still.

- By Chris Chin

Source: TMZ

You may soon be able to get off an airplane and rent a Shelby at a Hertz location at an airport. Shelby American is considering bringing back its ‘rent-a-racer’ program that offers high-performance Ford Mustang GTs for the enthusiast consumers.

The move is likely to be made near Shelby’s 50th anniversary and could launch as early as next spring The Shelby cars would be offered in two traditional configurations: black and gold and white and gold.

Shelby hasn’t really finalized the program and is currently gauging interest (we’re pretty sure there is an interest).

Hertz has been Shelby’s historic partner for the rent-a-racer program. In 1966, Shelby teamed up with Hertz to offer 1,000 units of the high-performance Mustangs. 40 years later, the program came back with the GT-H.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

2011 Shelby GT350

Shelby American, a subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., has released the final performance specs of the supercharged and normally aspirated for the 2011 Shelby GT350. The also announced a higher horsepower option for the 5.0L powered Mustang.

“With up to 624 horsepower on tap via an optional “R” tune, the 2011 Shelby GT350 is one of the most powerful limited production cars in the world,” Shelby said in a statement.

“Our goal was to build the ultimate small block muscle car,” said John Luft, president of Shelby American. “The results show that the Shelby GT350 takes American performance to an entirely new level. In recent tests, the standard supercharged car hit 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds and ran the quarter in 12 seconds flat at 121.4 mph, all while generating 1.05g of lateral acceleration and stopping from 60 mph in only 107 feet. We believe the ‘R’ tuned GT350 will be even faster.”

All versions of the Shelby GT350 are available with a Shelby performance suspension, brake, tire/wheel, and interior and exterior styling enhancements.

Click through for the press release and the high-res gallery.

2011 Shelby GT350:

Press Release:

SHELBY AMERICAN RELEASES FINAL SPECS AND NEW 600+ HP OPTION FOR 2011 GT350

• 2011 Shelby GT350 supercharge package has 525 HP; normally aspirated has 430 HP
• 624 horsepower optional
• All 2011 GT350s are built at the Las Vegas facility and documented in the official Shelby Registry

LAS VEGAS ““ October 7, 2010 ““ Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) has released the official performance specs of the supercharged and normally aspirated post title packages for the Shelby GT350, as well as a new higher horsepower option for the 5.0 liter powered car. With up to 624 horsepower on tap via an optional “R” tune, the 2011 Shelby GT350 is one of the most powerful limited production cars in the world.

The normally aspirated GT350 is available in standard Ford Mustang GT trim for SCCA racing or 430 in the optional tune. The standard supercharged version is rated at 525 horsepower while the “R” tune option delivers 624 horsepower. All versions include Shelby performance suspension, brake, tire/wheel, and interior and exterior styling enhancements that make the GT350 as fast on the curves as it is in the straightaways.

In addition to the optional “R” tune for the supercharger, Shelby American will offer a solid blue painted hood stripes as well as finished rear bumper stripes. A Watts link rear suspension, upgraded stereo, track-oriented brakes and other options are also available on the Shelby.

Standard GT350 package components include:
“¢ Shelby/Ford Racing/Whipple black finish supercharger (supercharged version only)
“¢ Shelby/Ford Racing suspension
“¢ Shelby Caster camber plate kit
“¢ Shelby/Baer 6 piston front brake kit with exclusive nickel anodized finish
“¢ Shelby/Baer ERADISPEED rear rotor and brake pad upgrade
“¢ Front and rear brake duct and cooling kit
“¢ Shelby/Borla unique center exit exhaust
“¢ Shelby/Cragar 19″ alloy wheels shod with Goodyear performance tires
“¢ Front fascia including traditional “running pony” badge
“¢ Rear fascia including exclusive GT350 45th anniversary badge
“¢ Unique tail light trim
“¢ Rear deck lid filler panel
“¢ Side Rockers with functional integrated brake cooling ducts
“¢ Exclusive GT350 Guardsman Blue vinyl over-the-top and side stripes
“¢ “Powered by Ford” fender mounted badges
“¢ Serialized engine plate
“¢ Shelby Engine cap set
“¢ Serialized Dash plate with Shelby GT350 sequential serial number
“¢ A-Pillar mounted gauge package
“¢ Embroidered Carroll Shelby Signature front seat headrests
“¢ Exclusive GT350 45th anniversary embroidered front floor mats
“¢ Shelby GT350 45th Anniversary windbreaker jacket
“¢ Carroll Shelby signed passenger airbag cover (subject to availability)

Optional equipment:
“¢ Polished supercharger
“¢ Shelby/Baer 6 piston rear brake upgrade
“¢ Watts link rear suspension
“¢ Goodyear street race tire package
“¢ Painted over the top and side stripe kit
“¢ Shelby/Kicker premium sound system
“¢ Leather seating surfaces with contrasting stitching and red/white/blue insert on front seats
“¢ Tone on tone embroidered GT350 on seat backs
“¢ Console cover and shift boot

- By: Omar Rana

2011 Roush Shelby SR-71 Mustang

Ford”s tradition of supporting young aviators through the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association logged another significant milestone Thursday, as the one-off Mustang created by both Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby netted $375,000 at an auction at the EAA AirVenture program. This auction came on the heels of Roush”s airplane crash at the site, from which the legendary tuner still has not recovered.

Click here for our original post on the 2011 Roush Shelby SR-71 Mustang.

Refresher: The Mustang SR-71″s power comes with a 5.0 L V8 supplemented by a 2.3 L supercharger and a special Roush intake, with a special paint job, glass roof, and custom 21 inch wheels. The only one of its kind, this Mustang had the signatures of both Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby on the seats- the only time this has ever, and likely will ever, occur.

- By: Zain Haq

2011 Roush Shelby SR-71 Mustang

Many a Mustang afficianado has wondered what would happen if the two iconic men of the art-Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby- were to work together on one Mustang, taking the best of all their experience and talent. Well, wayward thoughts have now been realized, in the name of fundraising for the Experimental Aircraft Association. The Mustang, named the SR-71 (both as a combination of Shelby and Roush and as an homage to the SR-71 Blackbird), will be auctioned on July 29th at the EAA”s flagship airshow.

The Mustang SR-71″s power comes with a 5.0 L V8 supplemented by a 2.3L supercharger and a special Roush intake, with the handling covered by the Mustang handling pack. Ford has also added a roll cage and special intake, to make the driving experience the finest one can find from a Mustang.

And with a striking matte grey paint as well as custom graphics and rims, the machine will turn heads with its visage as well as its speed. The interior will feature Recaro racing seats with embedded signatures of both Shelby and Roush, as well as modified instrumentation and navigational displays, as well as only two seats to give the impression of a true racing car. All in all, this car looks to be the best a Mustang can be; with Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby coming together, all Mustang lovers have something to be very, very excited about.

- By: Zain Haq

2011 Shelby GT350

Earlier this year, Shelby unveiled its 2011 GT350, a supercharged version of the new 5.0L V8 2011 Ford Mustang giving it a total of 500-hp but at the end of the day, some people don’t need all that power and don’t feel the need to pay for it.

Keeping that in mind, Shelby announced today that it will offer a normally aspirated version aimed at competition in Sports Car Club of America events and allow the street car to be ordered with an automatic transmission.

“When we brought back the GT350, people wanted to race it like they did with our Shelby GT,” said Shelby American Founder Carroll Shelby. “Others asked for an automatic transmission. So we’re dropping the supercharger, retuning the engine and adding an automatic. This gives people more choices with the GT350.”

Opting for the naturally aspirated version will save you around $7,000. The normally aspirated GT350 upfit package starts at $26,995.00 plus any option. The supercharged model starts at $33,995. Oh, and keep in mind, those prices don’t include the price of the Mustang itself.

2011 Shelby GT350:

Press Release:

Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) will expand the 2011 Shelby GT350 program to offer a normally aspirated version aimed at competition in Sports Car Club of America events and allow the street car to be ordered with an automatic transmission. The GT350 will be offered in both normally aspirated and supercharged versions as part of a post-title program through select dealers across the United States.

The normally aspirated version of the GT350 was driven by consumer demand. SCCA racing rules typically preclude a post-title added supercharger and the stresses of a forced induction are typically too much for an automatic transmission in a high performance car.

One of the goals for the Shelby GT350 is for it to be eligible for Sports Car Club of America racing, much like the 2007-2008 Shelby GT. Those piloting a Shelby GT dominated the top spots in both the women’s and men’s F stock class with Sam Strano capturing the national championship last year.

“The GT350 is a street car that is perfect for track day and solo racing activities,” added John Luft, president of Shelby. “Beginning with the small block Ford Mustang GT, we worked with Ford Racing, Borla, Goodyear and Baer to create a car that should be competitive right out of the box.”

The GT350 is an enthusiast’s dream. It is powered by the 5.0 liter V8 coupled to a 6 speed transmission. The front calipers are Shelby 6-piston and 14″ rotors with ERADISPEED rotors on the back and cooling ducts for all four corners. The suspension features new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates. The Goodyear 19″ tires are a new, aggressive compound.

Each GT350 will be clad in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes. The car also receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia. Functional scoops are located on the side rockers and hood. GT350 badges on the outside and inside include a Shelby serial number.

“We plan to have development finished and begin building normally aspirated versions of the GT350 by late summer,” said Shelby American vice president of production Gary Davis. “This ensures that the car will be fully sorted and ready for fun on the street or track.”

The Shelby GT350 is a post title program based on the new Ford Mustang GT. A customer purchases a car from a local Ford dealer, which is turned into a GT350 by the Shelby American Team. A limited number will be built in the 2011 model year. A Ford Mustang GT can be dropped shipped by a Ford dealer to Shelby’s Las Vegas facility for conversion or a customer can arrange to have a properly specified car transported to the factory.

The price for the normally aspirated GT350 upfit package is $26,995.00 plus any options, not including the base Ford Mustang GT. The supercharged version of the GT350 post title package by Shelby American has a MSRP of $33,995 and does not include the price of the base car.

Customers interested in either a supercharged or normally aspirated GT350 should call (702) 942-7325 or log onto gt350.shelbyamerican.com.

- By: Omar Rana

Shelby enthusiasts have waited nearly four decades for this moment (yes, it’s really that important if you know cars). Meet the new 2011 Shelby GT350, a supercharged version of the new 5.0L V8 2011 Ford Mustang.

“In 1964, Ford Motor Company asked Shelby American to turn their secretary’s car into a race winner to help them sell Mustangs,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American. “Our Shelby GT350 ruled its class at the track and was feared by GM and Chrysler owners on the street. Enthusiasts have anticipated the GT350′s return since it went out of production in 1970. Now my band of hot rodders has created a car worthy of the name.”

Performance wise, the 2011 Shelby GT350 is upgraded over a standard 2011 Mustang GT in almost every way. The most significant upgrade, however, is under the hood. The 5.0L V8 features a supercharger from Ford Racing helping the GT350 produce more than 500-hp (official specs have yet to be released). The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and center exit exhaust. Stopping power comes from a Baer brake system, which features 6 piston kit in the front and 14″ ERADISPEED rotors in the rear with cooling ducts for all four corners.

In term of pricing, a starting MSRP of $33,995 doesn’t sound all that bad – well, at least until you realize that it doesn’t include the price of a new 2011 Mustang GT.

Click through for the press release and the high-res image gallery.

2011 Shelby GT350:

Press Release:

SCOTTSDALE ““ Jan. 18, 2010 ““ Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), will fulfill the dreams of enthusiasts by returning the legendary Shelby GT350 to its lineup of American performance cars. The Shelby team unveiled a supercharged concept version of the Mustang-based 2011 Shelby GT350 to the surprise of thousands gathered at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Opening Night Gala to honor the 45th anniversary of the first GT350 and first Shelby big block Cobra.

The concept behind the GT350 was to build a car that is light, nimble and powerful. Beginning with the “small block” 5.0 liter Ford Mustang GT as its base, the Shelby American team worked with experts from Ford Racing, Goodyear, Borla, Cragar and Baer to create a car that is fast and has razor sharp handling. Every segment of the car is enhanced or replaced to create the ultimate balanced performance pony car that is true to the spirit of the 1965-1970 MY Shelby GT350.

“The 2011 GT350 balances heritage with modern necessity,” said Shelby American president Amy Boylan. “Former Hot Wheels and Ford designer Larry Wood joined Vince LaViolette, Walter Cardenas, Andrew Smidt and the rest of our Las Vegas team to help integrate 1965-1970 Shelby styling cues with modern aerodynamics. We worked with Ford Racing to supercharge the engine with a goal of 500 horsepower, as well as to sharpen the handling. Baer Brakes helped engineer the fantastic brakes and we shod the GT350 with 19″ modern Cragar wheels and super sticky Goodyear tires. This Shelby is truly a complete performance package”

“Since this was one of the most important cars in Shelby’s history, everyone stepped up to make sure it meets Carroll’s performance standards,” added Gary Davis, vice president of production for Shelby American. “After it was hand built in our new design studio, it began extensive testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by veteran test drivers Vince LaViolett and Gary Patterson. We’re all proud to be part of this milestone Shelby car.”

Each GT350 will be clad in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes and feature the new Ford V8 coupled to a 6 speed manual transmission and center exit exhaust. Blue Shelby GT350 valve covers and billet caps set off the supercharged engine. The Baer brake system features 6 piston kit in the front, as well as 14″ ERADISPEED rotors in the rear with cooling ducts for all four corners.

The suspension was upgraded with new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates. The car also receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia. Functional scoops are located on the side rockers and hood. GT350 badges on the outside and inside include a Shelby serial number. The A pillar carries a fuel pressure, oil pressure and boost gauge.

The Shelby GT350 is a post title program; a customer purchases a car from their local Ford Dealer, which is turned into a GT350 by the Shelby American Team. A limited number will be built in the 2011 model year. A Ford Mustang GT can be dropped shipped by a Ford dealer to Shelby’s Las Vegas facility for conversion or a customer can arrange to have a properly specified car transported to the factory. The Shelby GT350 up-fit completed by Shelby American has a MSRP of $33,995 and does not include the price of the base car.

Customers interested in a Shelby GT350 should contact Roger Sorel at (702) 942-7325 or log onto www.gt350.shelbyamerican.com.

- By: Kap Shah

The Mustang’s favorite tuning firm Shelby Automobiles has unveiled its new Super Snake package for the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500. The new Super Snake package, to be built in limited numbers, offers enhancements that gives the 2010 Shelby GT500 better handling, styling and higher output ranging from 630-hp to 725-hp.

The prices for the 630-hp package starts at $29,495 (not including the 2010 Shelby GT500) and $33,495 for the 725-hp package. Exclusivity of each unit will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built at the Shelby’s Las Vegas facility starting later this August.

Click through for the press release for full spec details and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake:

Press Release:

LAS VEGAS – June 26, 2009 – Continued demand for a “Super Snake” post title package has led Shelby Automobiles to unveil a new program to turn a limited number of 2010 Ford Shelby GT500s into Shelby super cars. The Super Snake package will include enhancements to the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500′s handling, styling and power; output ratings will range from 630 to over 725 horsepower. Exclusivity will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built at the Shelby Autos facility in Las Vegas or one of the Mod Shops, beginning in August 2009.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

Born on the drag strip and road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles dialed in an even more aggressive suspension and engine package for the 2010 car.

“Since we introduced the Super Snake package for the GT500 in 2007, this Shelby has become the pinnacle of current generation muscle cars,” added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “While the stock GT500 is a fine car, serious enthusiasts know that they can come to us to make their Shelby even better. For those who crave a harder edged Shelby, this is your car.”

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake post title package includes:
“¢ Ford Racing handling pack including Dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars, and front strut tower brace is standard for the Super Snake
“¢ Ford Racing Supercharger upgrade kit producing over 630 HP and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
“¢ Borla exhaust system on the 630 HP Ford Racing Super Snake Package
“¢ 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
“¢ Either a Shelby/Ford Racing or Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit producing 725 HP with upgraded drive shaft, billet twin 75mm throttle body and exclusive badges
“¢ JBA exhaust system on the 725 HP Super Snake Package
“¢ An optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack is also available
“¢ Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels
“¢ Short-throw shifter
“¢ Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors
“¢ Front brake cooling ducts
“¢ Unique fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design
“¢ Shelby signature Super Snake stripes
“¢ “Shelby” lettering across the rear decklid
“¢ “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
“¢ Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components

Customers interested in bringing their 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 to one of the Shelby Mod Shops for transformation should contact Roger Sorel with Shelby Automobiles at (702) 942-7325. The price of the 630 HP package is $29,495 and the 725 HP package is $33,495 including installation but not the car. Each vehicle will be listed in the official Shelby registry.

Complete Super Snake packages will only be available through Shelby Automobiles; some products comprising the package will be offered by Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing later this year.

- By: Omar Rana

In a celebration of the inaugural Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation will auction off a Ultimate Shelby 427 GT500 with a Super Snake Package on eBay Motors. The auction starts today and will end on Feb. 19, 2009.

The winner will receive a 2009 Shelby GT500 in torch red with a Super Snake package and No. 427 of the Limited Edition Shelby 427 packages. The car produces over 605-hp with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. The winner will also get a VIP weekend at the Shelby 427 race on March 1, 2009, including two private Shelby suite tickets.

Bidding started at $427 and is currently at $66,766 with a total of 6 bids. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. Bid if you’re interested – it’s for charity!

Make the leap for the press release and the high-res image.

2009 Shelby 427 GT500 Super Snake:

Press Release:

Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation to Auction 2009 Shelby 427 GT500 Super Snake on eBay

Package Includes VIP Weekend at Shelby 427 NASCAR Race in Las Vegas

The Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation will celebrate the inaugural Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race by auctioning the Ultimate Shelby 427 GT500 Package on eBay starting today. The auction, which will end Feb. 19, 2009, includes a new torch red 2009 Shelby GT500 upgraded with the Super Snake package and No. 427 of the Limited Edition Shelby 427 packages. The winning bidder will also receive a VIP weekend at the Shelby 427 race on March 1, 2009, including two private Shelby suite tickets to enjoy the action. Money raised from the auction will benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation, which helps children worldwide battle life-threatening illnesses while promoting the importance of organ and tissue donation.

“This is the ultimate Shelby package for the ultimate Shelby fan,” said Jenni Shreeves, director of the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. “Not only will the winning bidder get the keys to a brand new Shelby GT500 Super Snake, they’ll spend race weekend in Las Vegas with Mr. Shelby and his team. Most importantly, the money raised will help us continue our mission to give children around the world a second chance at life.”

The 2009 Shelby GT500 being offered on eBay is fitted with the legendary Super Snake package, which includes multiple suspension and engine upgrades as well as design enhancements. Under the hood is a Ford Racing Supercharger upgrade kit that produces over 605 horsepower and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque. Mr. Shelby’s personal autograph and race-related add-ons highlight the Limited Edition Shelby 427 package added to the muscle car.

Additional amenities of the Ultimate Shelby 427 GT500 Package include a meet and greet with Mr. Shelby, private Shelby factory tour and tour of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For more information on the auction, please visit www.ebay.com/shelby.

• “¢  2010 Ford Shelby GT500: Ford kicks off the new year with a bang.
• “¢  Supercharged 5.4L V8 produces 540-hp and 510 lb-ft torque.
• “¢  Twin-disc clutch 6-speed manual has been upgraded.
• “¢  Will be in dealerships in spring 2009.

Happy New Year - what a way to kick off 2009. Ford has just dropped all the details on the brand spankin’ new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 and this time Ford’s Special Vehicle Team delivers more power, more torque and better performance in a more refined package.

Using the already aggressive design of the 2010 Ford Mustang, Ford has made numerous aerodynamic upgrades including a new front end that optimizes air flow along with a new lower-drag rear spoiler. Ford has also added racing stripes this year on both the coupe and convertible models. Of course, Shelby’s exterior modifications are rounded off with the signature Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders.

Follow the jump to read more and to view the high-resolution image gallery.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500:

The inside of the 2010 Shelby GT500 upgrades the new interior design of the 2010 Mustang with two-tone genuine leather seats, aluminum trims on the instrument panel and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel (which this year gets an aluminum GT500 logo engraved into the center). Other interior goodies include the bright 360-degree rings surrounding the gauge cluster (seen on the 2010 Mustang) finished in Satin Liquid Chrome, a Shelby Cobra in the startup on the navigation screen, a red “SVT” logo with new ambient lighting and the classic white shift knob.

Ford says that the SVT team “used the gains made on the 40th anniversary edition Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustangs as the performance starting point and built from there.” The Shelby GT500KR’s 540-hp supercharged 5.4L V8 was thrown in the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500. However, the aggressive new exterior design enhances performance through a new power doom hood that helps cool the engine through a hood extractor to remove heat from the engine and a “Gurney Flap” spoiler to tune rear downforce. Shelby’s open-element air induction system features a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system. Working along with a cold-air intake, that allows the 2010 Shelby GT500 to produce more power and increase the engine’s efficiency. Acceleration is improved with upgrades to the twin-disc clutch on the 6-speed manual transmission – which are now larger and are made of copper and fiberglass. Driving dynamics have been further enhanced with SVT’s chassis tuning, optimized spring and dampers and a stiffened steering shaft. The AdvanceTrac feature allows the driver with several performance options. The “on” mode helps with ever-day normal driving while “Sport” mode lets drivers loosen-up on the track.

Of course, when you buy a car like the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, sound matters. While you may want people to know that you’re driving something powerful, you don’t want that noise filtering into the interior. The Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) team used a patented resonator placed between the air filter and engine throttle body that helps keep noise out of the interior.

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 coupe rides on new 19-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear F1 Supercar tires while the convertible sits on 18s. The 2010 Shelby GT500 will hit dealers later this spring. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

Standard features on the 2010 Shelby GT500 include:

SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft.  The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities ““ plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees. 
911 Assist:  When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
Vehicle Health Report (VHR):  SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes.  That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer”s paired and operable mobile phone.
Ambient Lighting System with MyColor™ allows drivers to customize the interior lighting of the vehicle to suit their mood.  The enhanced MyColor system features seven base colors ““ ice blue, purple, blue, orange, red, white and green.  Customers also can create 125 custom colors by mixing the red-green-blue palette. 

Available options include:
Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™ is an industry-leading technology that will provide users with a unique, information-rich in-car experience.  The suite of data services includes up-to-the-minute real-time traffic data with accident and incident information for 78 markets, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations.  SIRIUS Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500:

Carroll Shelby and Restoration Hardware will join forces to auction off a 1968 Shelby EXP500 CSS from Mr. Shelby’s personal collection. The eBay auction will kick-off on Dec. 2nd with bidding starting at $100,000. Proceeds from the sale will go to Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation which helps children around the world battle life-threatening illnesses. The organization also promotes the importance of organ and tissue donation.

The 1968 Shelby EXP500 CSS pays homage to the experimental “Green Hornet.” Power comes from a Cobra Jet 428 V8 engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The car also features a Cobra Jet manifold exhaust system, Edelbrook Aluminum Heads, Shelby Intake manifold, Shelby Water Pump, Shelby Valve Covers and Legendary Autometer Customized Gauges.

The 1968 Shelby EXP500 CSS comes with the standard interior in Deluxe Black, original seatbelts and the original ’68 Cobra Steering Wheel. The custom Shelby is on display at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Click through for more photos.

1968 Shelby EXP500 CSS: