Ford has announced a handful of tweaks to its reputedly brilliant GT350, the racy Mustang said to be benefitting from "the very latest in track and street technology".
New 19-inch aluminium wheels come equipped with GT350-specific Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres - 295/35 front and 305/35 rear - the tread pattern and compound both having been optimised for the car. Ford claims that the new rubber alone delivers "significantly improved acceleration and lateral acceleration, as well as braking." Meanwhile, recalibrated springs and dampers help the 2019 car to take full advantage of those gains.
Aerodynamic improvements come in the form of an "optimized grille closeout" to improve airflow up front, and an all-new rear spoiler with optional Gurney flap - because racecar - at the rear. The wing is said to have been designed and tuned with experience gained from the wind tunnel development of both the upcoming Shelby GT500 and Mustang race cars.
Both the engine and transmission are unchanged, but then they were hardly lacking before. The 5.2-litre flat-plane V8 remains the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine Ford has ever produced, with 526hp and 429lb ft at its shrieking 8,250rpm redline. The accompanying six-speed manual gearbox is one of the best in the business, too.
Velocity Blue and Ford Performance Blue paint colours are both now available outside, while the suede-lined interior features an eight-inch Sync 3 touch screen and dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control as now standard.
The 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 will be available to customers in the US starting in early 2019, with prices expected to start around the $50,000 mark and enrolment in a complimentary Track Attack driving program included in the cost of each vehicle. Now Ford just has to put the steering wheel on the right side and we're in business...
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