2016 Ford Shelby GT 350: Pricing, Specs, Release Date

Racing legend and celebrated Ford tuner Caroll Shelby passed away in 2012, not living quite long enough to see the sixth-generation Ford Mustang. Befitting of Shelby’s legacy, next year Ford will offer the first factory-produced Shelby GT350 model since the 1960s, a track-ready special with its performance upgraded in every conceivable area.

The original GT350, introduced in 1965, was Ford’s proof in concept that the Mustang could be useful for much more than stoplight drag races. The 2016 GT350 comes as the Mustang shifts to a new fully independent rear suspension, and now that the rear wheels are no longer hard-linked together, Ford’s engineers have the perfect chassis for a racer ready to compete with the likes of the BMW M4 and Chevrolet Corvette. Yes, really.

Powertrain and Chassis

The GT350’s shiny new 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 has little in common with the 5.0 used in the Mustang GT. In fact, it instead favors a configuration used with great success by none other than Ferrari, a flat-plane crankshaft design where the crank pins are laid at 180-degree intervals rather than the normal 90 degrees, allowing a firing order that bounces back and forth between the two cylinder banks. The result is ultra-smooth power delivery and an 8,000-plus-rpm redline.
Moreover, official numbers have been released: 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. The numbers team up to make the 5.2-liter V8 the most powerful naturally aspirated engine Ford has ever produced.

This will come paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, sending power to the rear wheels through a standard Torsen limited-slip differential, with engine oil, differential, and transmission coolers on the option sheet for those who will see heavy track use. Brembo brakes sized 15.5 inches in the front with six-piston calipers and 15 inches out back with four-piston calipers will provide plenty of fade-free stopping power.

What’s more, Ford has fitted the GT350 with a new MagneRide continuously controlled magnetorheological damping system that can vary shock absorber stiffness at each wheel every 10 milliseconds. The Corvette-style suspension features five driver-selectable modes that also alter traction and stability control response, throttle input, ABS programming and exhaust geometry.

Exterior and Interior

From the fenders forward, the GT350 shares no body panels with the standard Mustang, instead receiving an aluminum front clip with a scrape-the-curb-deep front airdam. The front track has been widened, and exclusive 19x10-inch front and 19x11-inch rear lightweight wheels come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with a tread pattern and sidewall exclusive to the GT350. The requisite Shelby racing stripes complete the package.

On the inside, Ford has purposefully left things as spartan as possible, even removing much of the chrome brightwork that might bring glare at the track. Deeply bolstered Recaro buckets and a flat-bottomed steering wheel are exclusive touches, and if you do want a bit more in the way of creature comforts, an optional Tech Package adds Sync infotainment, power seats with leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control and a premium Shaker audio system.

Pricing and Release Date

The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 will be available for purchase directly from Ford dealers around September 2015. Pricing will start at an MSRP of $49,995 including a $1,300 gas guzzler tax and $900 destination charge.

Following in calendar-year 2016, Ford will also release a new factory Shelby GT500, which once again will be more about extreme raw power than fancy track tech. Pick your poison; every new Mustang is more rewarding than ever.

  

Pictured: 2016 Ford Shelby GT 350 (Source: Ford)