The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang ever to roll off Ford's assembly line. Racing legend Carroll Shelby and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) jointly designed this vehicle to make it special. Forty years following the Cobra's introduction, it remains among the most brutish cars ever produced. Just like the old days, the Shelby GT500 is available in a coupe and a convertible. The engine was upped to a 5.4-liter, V-8 block with overhead cams and four valves per cylinder with a supercharger and an intercooler, giving the GT500 500 horsepower. Its transmission is a six-speed manual and, believe it or not, it gets over 20 miles per gallon on the highway.
The suspension, which is the same setup that brought Ford the 2005 Grand-Am Cup, coupled with stiffer stabilizer bars and coil-over MacPherson struts with reverse ensures smooth, stable handling. Eye appeal and functionality are balanced well. The rear spoiler is designed to provide substantial downforce at high speeds and the heat extractors on the hood, albeit great visually, are there to maximize displacement of the heat generated by the monstrous engine.
The fabric top of the GT500 convertible is made from the same material as used on the Jaguar XK. The top is available in black only, matching both the black-and-crimson and the black-and-crimson interior packages. The tachometer is on the right instead of the left to offer the driver a better view of the levels while shifting gears. All gauges are light-faced to ensure easy visibility, and the front seats are bolstered compared to other Mustangs to improve lateral support.
A cobra is displayed on the airbag cover of the steering wheel and embossed onto the front seats. A GT500 Performance Interior Trim Package is optional. It features a leather-wrapped and stitched instrument panel brow and a center console. Upgraded door armrests and aluminum pedal covers also are included.
