Shelby GT350 Mustang revealed

Flat-plane crank and over 500hp for next-gen Shelby Mustang (Updated with new pics!)

They called yesterday 'Mustang Monday' in the states, as Ford revealed its latest and greatest Mustang ever. And it looks like a Mustang that the whole world will be interested in.

Unlike the drag-racing inspired previous model, the Shelby GT500, the new GT350 appears to be a far more rounded package. The original GT350 was a legendary circuit racing car, remember. Not a drag racer. Although with "over 500hp" from an all-new V8 engine, it's hardly slow. We could talk about the new magnetic dampers, the claimed zero-lift aerodynamics or the humongous brakes, but...

Ford hasn't hung around giving Mustang real teeth

That engine! Ford, for the first time in its long history, has built a flat-plane crank V8. It's a massive step-change that will reserve this Mustang a place in the history books. No matter how good or bad it is. By ditching the lumpy but smooth norm of an American cross-plane crank, Ford is showing it doesn't care as much about smoothness and noise, so much as performance and speed.

A flat-plane crank V8 is normally the domain of high-revving, pure racing engines. We're talking not just Ferraris, but F1 and DTM powerplants. While a cross-plane crank might be heavier, smoother and offer superior primary and secondary balance, that doesn't help on a race track. There it's the even firing order of the flat-plane crank that makes for better exhaust flow at higher revs.

That's not to say you can't make it emissions friendly, smooth and versatile though. Just look at the Ferrari California, for example. American sources are also reporting an indicated redline of 8,200rpm, and with the technology and commitment we can see in the spec sheet, would it be too much to ask for 100hp per litre from 5.2 litres? 520 would be a nice round number.

Stripes predictable, 8,000rpm+ perhaps not

And, hold on to your ten-gallon hats for a moment, this new Mustang looks like it will handle even better than the regular GT. Money has been thrown at the dampers. Ford is finally jumping on the magnetic damping bandwagon (imagine that, a cart with magnetic dampers!) by fitting, in your best Stateside voiceover accent please, 'MagnaRide'. Ford also says it's got a wider track, strut braces, and composite carbon fibre grille opening. Wait, we're not sure how that affect handling, but Ford says it does in the official press release we've hosted here if you really want to geek out.

Tyres are Michelin Pilot Super Sport though, and while no rubber sizes are mentioned, they're going to be going on 19x10.5s up front and huge 19x11s on the back.

Ford hasn't released prices or dates yet, but the chances of an official import to Europe must be slim to non-existent. While we will certainly, for the first time ever, be getting the new 2.3 turbo and 5.0 V8 models in Europe, there's little chance of this 5.2-litre behemoth making the trip.

Would Ford sell enough cars here to warrant investment in the additional homologation required for a new engine? We'd love to say yes, because 520hp. Because 180-degree firing order. Because V8 and manual six-speed 'box with Torsen diff and independent rear suspension!

But, sadly, probably not. But never say never, right?