RE: More horses for Pony car
Monday 2nd April 2007
New KR has 540hpThis is Ford’s latest Mustang, the 540hp Ford Shelby GT500 KR, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original Shelby GT500KR. As the name suggests, it’s a tuned version of the GT500 and is due to go on sale in early 2008.
20" concept rims
More horses for Pony car
Ford unveils Shelby Mustang GT500 KR
New KR has 540hp
The 5.4 litre supercharged V8 has had a Ford Racing power upgrade pack fitted consisting of a tuned induction kit, exhaust and ECU. As well as the power upgrade (from 500hp), torque now stands at 510lb-ft.
The KR also has a new axle ratio of 3.73:1 and a short-shift gear linkage. The suspension settings are unique to the KR, but despite these pictures giving the impression that the lofty ride height of the regular GT500 has been cut down, this concept KR is riding on bespoke 20-inch rims, and not the 18-inch items that will feature on the production car.
20" concept rims
The bonnet is now carbon fibre -- complete with bonnet pins -- and there’s a new lower front air dam with ‘functioning’ brake ducts. We’re guessing it’s going to need them...
Discussion
Am I the only one who thinks that wheel sizes have gone insane? (Yes, I realize that this is a pre-production concept and the final version's wheel will "only" measure 18 inches). Unless you've got massive brakes, the only thing your 20" wheels are doing is adding to your unsprung weight and screwing up your handling.
scotty_917 said:
...but it still has a live axle! 
....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards? 
....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards? Having a live axle doesn't mean a car can't handle any more than having the engine stuck in its arse does. Yes some cars with live axles have dodgy handling in the same way some 911s do, whereas others have excellent handling - including the Roush version of the Mustang. A lot of it comes down to how things are engineered and set up.
Biggest problem with live axles is their unsprung weight means you can't match the ride quality of a good independent system.
But as for handling, a good live axle set-up can be far better than a bad independent one - Triumph and Mercedes gullwing swing axles being two examples.
grahambell said:
scotty_917 said:
...but it still has a live axle! ....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards?
....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards? Having a live axle doesn't mean a car can't handle any more than having the engine stuck in its arse does. Yes some cars with live axles have dodgy handling in the same way some 911s do, whereas others have excellent handling - including the Roush version of the Mustang. A lot of it comes down to how things are engineered and set up.
Biggest problem with live axles is their unsprung weight means you can't match the ride quality of a good independent system.
But as for handling, a good live axle set-up can be far better than a bad independent one - Triumph and Mercedes gullwing swing axles being two examples.
Not to mention the racing success that the Mustang is currently enjoying in several US series against IRS suspended competition!
Scotty - have you actually driven a Mustang to evaluate it first hand?
Hammond gave this a bad reveiw because of the power and the live rear axle. They really do need to come in to the 21st century. A good live rear axle is one thing but a good independant is another. The Rousch although less powerful has the best setup and i think was 2 seconds quicker around the track.
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
qube_TA said:
In fairness you buy a Mustang to blast about fish tailing the rear or nailing it off at the lights & drifting, this car will be ideal.
If you want a track car go buy an Exige but you don't need precision handling to drive on the road so it's pointless to get hung up on it.
M@
If you want a track car go buy an Exige but you don't need precision handling to drive on the road so it's pointless to get hung up on it.
M@
<cough> www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7WXz5Xltps
The gap is closer than you may think and to be honest, you can further improve on the Roush with some relatively inexpensive aftermarket modifications.
scotty_917 said:
...but it still has a live axle! ....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards?
....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards? The 1999 SVT Cobra had IRS, but it wasn't all that great and wasn't exactly a huge success. Supposedly they will be using something based around the reasonably good Ford Falcon RWD IRS platform for the 2009 Mustang.
Mattygooner said:
Hammond gave this a bad reveiw because of the power and the live rear axle. They really do need to come in to the 21st century. A good live rear axle is one thing but a good independant is another. The Rousch although less powerful has the best setup and i think was 2 seconds quicker around the track.
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
lol - well personally speaking I don't confuse a TV presenter's 'review' in the sake of entertainment with an objective appraisal of a cars abilities. Incidently, 'The Stig' gave the Roush a rave review off camera and even asked the importer for a business card. I'd take that over Hamsters comments any day.
Now don't get me wrong, the stock Mustang setup is fine for a lazy GT - if a bit wobbly, but with the addition of some decent aftermarket modifications you really can transform the car - performance and handling.
The Shelby editions (like the KR) trade on the name and line Ford's coffers nicely for those with more money than sense. But it's too heavy and focusses on a drag setup not an all round package.
But get a stock GT and apply the best of the aftermarket modifications and you can have a real beast on your hands that will shame offerings costing 3 times the price.
stig said:
grahambell said:
scotty_917 said:
...but it still has a live axle! ....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards?
....when will Ford bring it up to 20th Century (let alone 21st C) handling standards? Having a live axle doesn't mean a car can't handle any more than having the engine stuck in its arse does. Yes some cars with live axles have dodgy handling in the same way some 911s do, whereas others have excellent handling - including the Roush version of the Mustang. A lot of it comes down to how things are engineered and set up.
Biggest problem with live axles is their unsprung weight means you can't match the ride quality of a good independent system.
But as for handling, a good live axle set-up can be far better than a bad independent one - Triumph and Mercedes gullwing swing axles being two examples.
Not to mention the racing success that the Mustang is currently enjoying in several US series against IRS suspended competition!
Scotty - have you actually driven a Mustang to evaluate it first hand?
Point taken guys!
I did actually drive a standard spec '06 model from NY to Philadelphia last Thanksgiving...inspiring it was not!! 
rimmer said:
the roush mustang doesnt have a live axle.
Er, yes it does. www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=12670
stig said:
Mattygooner said:
Hammond gave this a bad reveiw because of the power and the live rear axle. They really do need to come in to the 21st century. A good live rear axle is one thing but a good independant is another. The Rousch although less powerful has the best setup and i think was 2 seconds quicker around the track.
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
Still it does look like it wants to kill you and steal your kids...
lol - well personally speaking I don't confuse a TV presenter's 'review' in the sake of entertainment with an objective appraisal of a cars abilities. Incidently, 'The Stig' gave the Roush a rave review off camera and even asked the importer for a business card. I'd take that over Hamsters comments any day.
Now don't get me wrong, the stock Mustang setup is fine for a lazy GT - if a bit wobbly, but with the addition of some decent aftermarket modifications you really can transform the car - performance and handling.
The Shelby editions (like the KR) trade on the name and line Ford's coffers nicely for those with more money than sense. But it's too heavy and focusses on a drag setup not an all round package.
But get a stock GT and apply the best of the aftermarket modifications and you can have a real beast on your hands that will shame offerings costing 3 times the price.
I think you'll find the power was about right but TG being TG forgot all about RWHP and flywheel HP.
I may be wrong but I always understood live axles were more popular with drag racers and that is of course what most US petrolheads will be doing.
BUG4LIFE said:
Isn't it to keep costs down [in the States where the GT500 is like £25k innit, not the £50k import companies are asking here]? There is enough tuning companies that can sort that live axle - buy the car, do it yourself!
I don't think it's really a cost thing. Look at the euro makes in the USA, eg Porsche, BMW, etc. They generally sell for about 50-60% of the UK price. So a 911 is about £35k in the USA, off the top of my head.
Gassing Station | Mustangs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff