Although I can't remember the source, I remember Ford stating that there will be MANY types of special editions of this car coming out after 05. This will factor in as well, since the names "boss" and "shelby" have themselves been thrown around many times.
With the GT at 300hp, and we already have seen the 400hp Cobra, a S/C'ed 5.4L doesn't sound so bad. They did do a marketing test a while back with its V10 Mustang a while back, probably to test interest in big displacement engines.

Personally, I can't see people spending too much for a top end Pony (a volume product) but there is a lot of marketing value to this nostalgia-ridden car.

 

I'm beggining to think ford is going to ride this pony into the ground. They realize the importance of it which is more than can be said for the general. But someone at ford said something along the lines of 7 variants, although two of those are probably Vert/Coupe.

The hp numbers are gonna have to get pretty large to be any real difference between the GT and the 4+ cars on top of it, but 500 n/a is pushing reason. I'm also concerned with everybody already buying shelby bodykits and stripes if all those SEs are going to look as thrown together as those and the aftermarket products...

What we need is a base V8 Camaro, V12 SS model... and VV16 Z28 too put them in thier place...

 

wasn't there a rumor of Ford going back to N/A? I wonldn't be supprised to see a tricked out Cammer 5.0L.

For affordablity and max power, I think they would be best off going with a twin screw 3v 4.6L putting out 450HP. That way it is in the price range of the current Cobra and leaves room to grow to 500HP over the rest of the S197s lifespan.

I'd rather buy a $35K 450HP Cobra than a $45K 500HP. Save that extra $10,000 for a new pully

 

The zo6 is going to be hard to beat, 512hp LS7 427 alittle over 2900lbs.

 

Again....where the heck are you people getting this random information?

 

FYI....I can't imagine any scenario in which a Modular V8 gets anywhere near 500 HP from the factory in N/A trim. Perhaps with a new V8, but not the current one.

 

if your gonna state a specific number, (512hp), you better name the source or be pre-established(to us) on the topic

 

If I'm not mistaken they've gotten 440 hp out of the 5.0 L "Cammer" crate engine in N/A mode, though I don't know if you consider that factory or not. I think 460 hp would be doable with a 5.4L N/A motor. Regardless, I'm really curious to see what happens with the Cobra and what motor it really gets.

 

the Cammer 5.0 is nowhere NEAR street legal, iirc

 

Where have you been buddy this is old news!

 

Hang up the phone with your boyfriend and go to gminsidenews.com, zo6vette.com or digitial corvettes.

 

And expensive like gold plated urinals.

 

Valid points, but apparently not insurmountable.
My concern is more with crash safety and cabin integrity than power-related.

Last month's MM&FF did an article on an '04 Cobra that sported a new centrifugal ProCharger unit in place of the stock Eaton twin screw unit. It was chipped and tuned as well. It threw-down 650 RWHP, and just over 500 RWTQ. It was playing with 10's - driver's joyride. No roll cage, no sub-frames, no nothing. It was holding up to all the abuse they could give it, with no detectable body twist or metal separations. That's not bad. The new DC2 unit is actually MUCH better than the last gen platform as far as structural integrity, stiffness, and force distribution, so it should hold up equally well if not better.

Will the car above still be together after 200 hard passes... I have my doubts. But if you are gonna do that much hard racing, you should have the cage or have your head examined IMO. Also, they bolted on slicks for their tests... I don't think street-legal tires will allow you to put that much Tq down without boiling - which leads to my next point...

Just how much power can the street car on street tires handle anyways? Especially when it comes to the common Dudley-Donut-Dude that can't half drive a normal car, much less something with 500hp!!!
To me, it's getting to the point of pure bragging rights and even a little Pnis-envy.
I definitely should enjoy Ford's current run on performance and power, but as an engineer I can't help but start thinking enough is enough. I want the car successful, safe, and affordable. If I decide to go 500hp, let me do it on my own accord with Ford parts or aftermarket peices. Why risk the lawsuits, liability, costs, insurance rates, and reputation of a great basic car on some kind of a special-edition "exotic"?
I'd grin a bigger grin if Ford said they were working on a 2800-lb stripper-version of the Mustang (ummm... un-Cobra ) that will incorporate the same 400hp Cobra motor from '04.

 

One other thing...
speaking of finding 500 or 550 from a modular with affordable costs...
The blown 5.4 in the GT(40) is a true exotic - using forged components, high-alloy parts, and unique machined components as well (like cams, headwork, etc.). But the 400 hp cobra engine is a very viable platform.

Ford has quite a slew of parts bins to raid now, including the modular BOSS engines developed in Australia. Simply jumping from the 4.6 block to the Navigator 5.4 block will make a substantial HP difference at the same level of boost and cam aggression.

500 N/A - not too likely IMO.
But don't snicker at a 500+ hp modular from Ford at a fair price (unlike the cammer crate engine right now).
It CAN be done. (May already be done! )

 

Independent Rear Suspension DOESN'T make a car lightweight.

Check out the weight of pretty much any 4 or more passenger car on the road comparing IRS with a live axle.

The only 4 passenger car you'll find with IRS at a decent weight is the BMW 3 series. But when you realize it's the size of a Cavalier, 3200 pounds doesn't sound all that great.