smooth3d

I think it's time for a new thread. The first test from motortrend is out:

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 First Test - Motor Trend

"0-60 3.5-sec, 1/4 11.6 secs, @ 125.7 mph"

More test should be available on 5/21/12 from press when they went out to Road Atlanta this past week.

P.S. First dyno out 609rwhp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=zz9Uqg0xbm4

King Moose SS

Instant classic.

Slappy3243

Very impressive. If I only had $65,000 laying around...

96_Camaro_B4C

Very badass. Trap speed is even better than I expected.

I hope someone at GM is kicking him/herself for choosing a dusty, high elevation setting (Inde Motorsports Park, IIRC?) to launch the ZL1.

Car and Driver published 12.1 @ 119 mph which probably included some corrections for the altitude / temp but not for the less than ideal track conditions (which they mentioned when it came to the still-stellar braking and skidpad numbers). There's no way the ZL1 will catch the GT500 in a straight line, but I'd like to see it top 120 mph in the quarter mile, and maybe dip into the 3.8-3.9 second range for 0-60. Didn't the heavier, less powerful, skinnier-tired CTS-V automatic do a 3.9 at one point?

Mmmm, if I had spare $65k collecting dust, this would be a tough call... GT500 droptop with the 5 spoke wheels (not the ugly multispoke wheels most of the test cars have had) or a ZL1 droptop with the silver wheels?

Anyway, awesome numbers, Ford.

ImportedRoomate

609RWHP? That's over 700 at the crank!



How does a chassis dyno compare to the usual mustang/dynojet ones we see?

Tokuzumi

I look forward to reading the first ZL1/GT500 show down

CCoop8830

Chevy has the ability to compete, but likely will never answer this as the price is well into Vette range. What a monster of a car and engine. Yes, people will mod their own cars to make them "better" than the GT500. However, coming from the factory with that power is just awesome!!! I'd love to have a the chance to drive one a few times but I'd never buy something like this unless I had nothing better to waste money on. But if you have 65k to waste this is the best car for that money.

smooth3d

The GT500 will do this at the 54,995 base price. Some are getting the car under MSRP.

jdhommert

that test was done on a dynojet at least i think thats what it said

Slappy3243

The car in the article had some performance features added on which is where I got the $65,000 price. Doesn't the ZL1 pretty much come with everything right off the bat? If so, I could see the ZL1 being a better value to many people.

smooth3d

True the Zl1 does have everything standard performance wise. But for the base GT500 its has basically the 2012 performance suspension stock. The Track is just better coolers and the Performance suspension now is the Bilstein dual stage shocks and Torsion diff.

With all that said the base GT500 can still pull off the 1/4 et's we are seeing, the other bits are for a better track car.

Steve0

I think Ford has the right approach here making those things optional. Most of these cars will never see a race track or any conditions that would come close to tax them, so why pay for all the durability bells and whistles you'd never use? A ZL1 minus track ready equipment may have been able to sell for several grand less.

mdenz3

With that logic non of these cars would ever sell at all.

bossco

Only 7% of all GT500s sold see the track with the majority used for drag racing (this is per SVT) which doesn't require the performance pack or the track pack.

CCoop8830

True, but wouldn't you also want the track pack? Granted 10k for the improvements is a lot, but I think it would be worth it in the long run also. If you ever wanted to sell it having a loaded car is easier to get rid of and for the money you are usually looking to get.