Thursday 9th February 2012

Ford Unveils soft-top Shelby GT500 Mustang

650hp in a four-seat convertible? Ford reckons it isn't madness...

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Ford has unveiled the convertible version of its MY 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible at the Chicago motor show. In doing so it's propelled itself into a pretty unique niche, as a maker of a near-200mph, 650hp, 600lb ft four-seat convertible, a segment shared only with the faster Bentley Continental GTCs and, at a pinch, the new Jaguar XKR-S Convertible our Dan will be attempting to max out to 186mph on a Californian runway next week. Watch this space. And, no, he won't be wearing his ridiculous hat for this one.

For a sense of perspective, that's more power than the original McLaren F1 made and makes it, according to Ford, the most powerful production V8 in the world.

To achieve this, the GT500 convertible's engine (shared of course with its GT500 coupe cousin) gets and engine enlarged to 5.8 litres a new supercharger, new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles and a new carbon fibre driveshaft. Ford's SVT team also chucks in and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle, just for good measure.

All of which can be had, in the good old US and A, for an estimated $65,000. That translates to around £41K in the Queen's English and, although you would certainly pay a fair whack more should you choose to get one imported, we reckon that still represents one of the best horsepower-per-pound new car ratios ever found in the world of soft-top cars.

[Madmatt74]

Want Want Want!

[TheOrangePeril]

With engines like that kicking around the warehouse, time for a(nother) new GT-something?...

Mehopes!

[Mini1275]

650 BHP is madness.

[ali4390]

What better way to hear the glorious noise?!

[Motown Junk]

"Are we there yet?"

"Yes"

[Motorrad]

What a pointless car.

I wish I had one.

[y2blade]

Yes please

[anonymous-user]

Fantastic - A completely mad convertible mega-muscle car that I can throw the kids in the back of.

[MonteV]

A short top down 200mph stint later: "Honey, didn't we put the kids in the back...?"

Pointless as most you cannot really go fast in a convertible if it's going to be an enjoyable ride. Silly, but still, I like it. Curious to find out how it rides.

[ICSD]

Not been a massive fan of the current Mustang shape - a bit too contrived for my liking......but this is frickin' awesome!!

Gimme gimme gimme

[soad]

What a beast!

[Twin Turbo]

I believe the rag top will be limited to 155mph, rather than being able to reach the 202mph of the coupe. Pathetic

I'd have the tin top........actually, I'd have the tin top (only) Boss 302, but I'm still glad they're making the Shelby.

Happy 20th anniversary, SVT

[666 SVT]

I'll take the engine in a TVR Chimaera please !

[HFEVO2]

Having personally imported a few vehicles from the US in recent years, the price quoted in dollars would translate to around £54,000 here plus the cost of putting the car through the SVA test and first registration tax.

Trouble is, when I wanted to buy a GT350 when they first came out even the official Ford Dealers in Florida were charging a premium of $10,000 for the privilege of buying one !

If this is repeated, the price goes above £60,000 there are better ( built ) cars available for that sort of money. How about a second hand Audi R8s ? They now start well below £50,000

[IDrinkPetrol]

Proof reader off again?

[Motorrad]

HFEVO2 said:

Having personally imported a few vehicles from the US in recent years, the price quoted in dollars would translate to around £54,000 here plus the cost of putting the car through the SVA test and first registration tax.

Trouble is, when I wanted to buy a GT350 when they first came out even the official Ford Dealers in Florida were charging a premium of $10,000 for the privilege of buying one !

If this is repeated, the price goes above £60,000 there are better ( built ) cars available for that sort of money. How about a second hand Audi R8s ? They now start well below £50,000

You have a point, dealers in the US love to charge massive premiums on 'high demand' cars.

From the perspective of a US buyer a 5.0 convertible GT and a $5K bolt on supercharger is going to deliver most of the thrills on offer here with 500bhp for $46K or so......seems like value at under 30K sterling.

[LuS1fer]

I'd always have the coupe. 4 seat convertibles look like glorified skips...

[Flawless Victory]

For a sense of perspective, that's more power than the original McLaren F1 made and makes it, according to Ford, the most powerful production V8 in the world.

The most powerful production V8 in the world?
Not even close....

[gumsie]

HFEVO2 said:

Having personally imported a few vehicles from the US in recent years, the price quoted in dollars would translate to around £54,000 here plus the cost of putting the car through the SVA test and first registration tax.

Trouble is, when I wanted to buy a GT350 when they first came out even the official Ford Dealers in Florida were charging a premium of $10,000 for the privilege of buying one !

If this is repeated, the price goes above £60,000 there are better ( built ) cars available for that sort of money. How about a second hand Audi R8s ? They now start well below £50,000

Good point you make, rather still have the Mustang myself. There's something old school and nice about it.

[ukmike2000]

How sensible it seems, all depends on which way up it lands on the other side of the hedge.

Germans have flip up roll bars, Brits have roll cages - Americans have multi-coloured LED instrument lighting.

Its gotta be cool!