The sight of a Ford Mustang at any car meet is sometimes a cause for concern. A simple Google search will retrieve videos of the muscle (or pony) car taking off in a cloud of smoke, only to find itself wrapped around a telephone pole moments later. But Ford Philippines probably thinks that Filipino buyers are much more sensible than that, which is why it has finally brought in the raucous Shelby GT500 version of the famous nameplate.
Of course, it can’t be a Carroll Shelby special without a weapons-grade engine residing under the hood. In the case of the GT500, it’s a 5.2-liter V8. Make the supercharger whine like an angry cat and there is 760hp and 847Nm to play with. But being a Mustang means the car has a so-called “Line Lock” feature, which holds the front brakes so the rear wheels can freely do a burnout. Ford even felt the need to say that Line Lock should only be used on the track (and for good reason).
However, those wishing to row their own gears will be disappointed as the sole transmission on offer is a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. But that shouldn’t reduce the GT500’s fun factor as it gets plenty of goodies to at least make it less terrifying to whip around corners. It comes with Magneride adaptive dampers, a Brembo brake kit, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Allowing the GT500 to rocket out of turns with vigor is a limited-slip differential with a 3.73 final drive.
Replacing the Mustang’s galloping-horse logo is the signature Shelby snake emblem. Other aesthetic changes to the GT500 include 20-inch gloss-black wheels, aggressive-looking bodykit, and a not-so-subtle rear wing. The 12-inch digital instrument cluster has Track Apps, which provide information relevant to track days like longitudinal and lateral forces, and acceleration and lap times.
The Mustang Shelby GT500 is available in 11 colors: Antimatter Blue, Carbonized Gray, Grabber Yellow, Oxford White, Shadow Black, Velocity Blue, Race Red, Twister Orange, Iconic Silver, Rapid Red, and Performance Blue. The vehicle retails for P7,760,000, and there is a P15,000 premium for the Twister Orange paint job.
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