(continued from above)
"SVT keeps the Shelby GT500 on the cutting edge of technology and takes
muscle car performance to new heights," said Hermann Salenbauch, director of
Advanced Product Creation. "We encapsulated every aspect of performance in this
car - whether it's 0-60 mph, top speed, racetrack or quarter-mile times. Beyond
that, the daily driver also will find this car perfectly fits his or her needs."
Functional, Stylish Enhancements
Design enhancements for 2013 include all-new signature lighting with two LED
bars that command attention in the front and rear. The rocker panels running
along the car are now body-color, adding a more premium look. Additionally, the
rear end has a new high-gloss black panel between the taillamps and a diffuser
that surrounds a new quad-tip exhaust.
The 2013 Shelby GT500 offers two new sets of forged-aluminum wheels, including a
unique wheel for cars with the optional packages. The 19-inch front and 20-inch
rear wheels are coupled with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires on all
configurations.
Freshened with the dark finish and updated spoke designs, the wheels appear even
more sinister and aggressive but offer the benefit of being extremely
lightweight.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of SVT, badging will be used throughout the
interior and exterior of the car to celebrate the many years of performance
vehicles. The official launch of SVT came during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show with
the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. The 1993
SVT Mustang Cobra offered a 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, showing just how
far the products have come over 20 years.
Significant work has been done in aerodynamics to ensure the Shelby GT500 has
proper downforce for performance at all speeds. Using high-tech computational
fluid dynamics (CFD), engineers were able to determine exactly where the air was
going, to optimize cooling. The result is a car that tracks more securely and
feels more planted to the road at higher speeds.
A new front splitter and black-painted upper and lower grille inserts that
expose the radiator drive the functional style changes to the Shelby GT500. The
exposed radiator helps funnel air and cools the internals of the vehicle
systems. The larger splitter helps create downforce when the car hits top
speeds.
Engineers faced competing goals of top speed, racetrack performance, cooling and
fuel economy, and worked to find a balance that meets all needs. To reduce lift,
the team reworked the front upper and lower grilles and developed an integrated
air dam. In the rear, a high Gurney flap helps reduce lift.
By reducing drag and creating downforce, the loads and moments on the front
fascia increased. CFD pressure maps indicated how much load would be put on the
front body and helped confirm that plastic wasn't deforming, the fasteners could
handle it, the body structure could support it and the front end wasn't sagging.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500, rear view.
Ford Shelby GT500: Review (2/2)
