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2016 Shelby GT350/GT350R Media Drives & Reviews (CHECK FIRST POST)

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That's as thorough at motortrend will be for the time frame. They'll get just as many hits when they drop a first drive video. Then more hits when they put it in the vs z/28 comparison. Then more for varying comparisons after that.

Page/video view counts make money. They didn't want to shoot their wad too soon on this. The media frenzy will continue as long as possible..
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In every video of this car - the colors look fantastic. It just looks so good in motion.
 

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Squeezed by a Recaro seat in a 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang, the track official at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway waves me forward from the pit lane. There's 526 horsepower sitting under the hood and I've got a six-speed manual, so I'm expecting a massive lurch when I let out the clutch, and maybe even an embarrassing stall.

But no, despite the brutish appearance of this beast, the power comes on gentle, letting me obey the 10 mph speed limit in pit lane and ease it out. It's not until I've got the tachometer needle threatening the 8,25

Heading up the main straight at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, the Shelby GT350 let its 526 horses stampede.

Ford is celebrating 50 years of the Shelby GT350 with this latest model, following on last year's 50th anniversary of the Mustang. As with the original Shelby, the 2016 model is a performance upgrade of the Mustang model. The Ford Performance group, a division within Ford, built a new engine, redesigned the suspension, and tweaked performance for the current generation Mustang to come up with the new Shelby GT350.

During this press event, sponsored by Ford, the Ford Performance engineers spoke proudly of the new car and their individual roles in making it the best Shelby GT350 yet. This elite team within Ford works closely together, so that the drivetrain engineers can talk to the suspension engineers sitting at the next desks over.


The new Shelby GT350 gets a 5.2-liter V-8 aluminum block engine, and Ford touts its first use of a flat-plane crankshaft. One of the engineers explained how it works in some depth, but all I came away with was that it makes for better exhaust flow, so more power, with a side benefit of a particularly distinct exhaust note. Without the benefit of forced induction, this engine produces 526 horsepower at 7,500rpm and 429 pound-feet of torque at 4,750rpm.

Flooring it up the straights, I could hold third gear and let the tach run up close to redline, the exhaust note roaring sonorous applause, hitting 100 mph with ease before an upcoming turn would make me consider the brakes. The power band from this engine is so broad that I had room to try different shifting strategies during my laps, for example taking the Corkscrew in second or third.

Ford even came up with an innovative shift light, projected on the windshield, showing when you're getting close to redline.

The Shelby GT350 handled the turns better than I could have imagined. Fitted with the optional Track package, the car I was driving had an adaptive, magnetic ride suspension along with five drive modes for the traction and stability control. Set to Track, this system complemented the electric power steering system's precise response, letting me dive into each corner and power out at the apex.

I have good experience at Laguna Seca so I know how to handle the Corkscrew, but the double-apex turn 2 hairpin always throws me. I took it gentle for a couple of laps, but the Shelby GT350 quickly built up my confidence. On my third lap I made the first apex but hit the second a little hot. On the turn exit the car's rear wheels slipped past the point of grip but instead of getting all out of shape, a little steering correction and throttle brought it back in line. This is not a car that punishes you for making a mistake.

After laps in the Shelby GT350, Ford put me behind the wheel of the GT350R variant. This one gets the same engine and six-speed manual as the GT350, comes standard with the Track package equipment, and gains carbon fiber wheels, which weigh about half that of the 19-inch aluminum wheels they replace.

There was a palpable difference in handling with the GT350R. It felt lighter in the turns and exhibited even easier turn-in. Acceleration up the straights felt the same, but it was almost certainly faster because of the reduced weight.

For another driving exercise, I took the Shelby GT350 with the Track package out for a drive on public roads, and considering its performance on the track, I wasn't surprised to find it perfectly manageable, despite the combination of massive power and six-speed manual.

The drive modes afforded Normal, Sport, Weather, and Drag, but I only used the former two on the public roads. The ride quality was a little harder than firm, but I found it more comfortable than the previous-generation Shelby. The responsive steering and short-throw manual shifter made for added engagement when cruising suburban streets and the easily modulated throttle kept me from crawling up the back of slower traffic.




The Shelby GT350 was perfectly manageable and reasonably comfortable on public roads with traffic.
Wayne Cunningham/CNET Of course, I couldn't help but make aggressive starts from every traffic stop, rowing through the gears to let the quad exhausts sound off with the Shelby song.

At $48,695 delivered, the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is an excellent value for the amount of power you get, and the car's overall finesse. Ford has not said whether it will offer the Shelby in International markets.

You will almost certainly want to get the Track package, which adds the excellent magnetic adaptive suspension. And Ford will be offering its Sync 3 infotainment system, a huge advance over its previous system, giving the Shelby GT350 everyday practicality and convenience that neatly complements its onroad driving behavior.
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Cars.com has their review: https://www.cars.com/articles/2016-ford-mustang-shelby-gt350-first-drive-1420681115632/

2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350: First Drive
By Joe Bruzek on August 31, 2015



Redesigned for 2015, the Mustang's sophomore year welcomes its newest variant, the track-oriented 2016 Shelby GT350 and GT350R that are anything but a simple appearance package, featuring the right performance-minded hardware from top to bottom to live up to Ford's claim that it's the most track-capable Mustang it's ever built.

Ford went through the Mustang top to bottom transforming the car bit by bit into a ferocious corner-carving machine. The list of the most significant changes include an all-new 526-horsepower, 5.2-liter V-8; a significantly reworked suspension with Ford's first use of a magnetic style damper as an option; big stopping-power brakes; wide wheels and tires plus an all-new six-speed manual transmission suited to work with the unique characteristics of the 5.2-liter. The GT350R is the ultimate-handling Mustang with super sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tires, carbon-fiber wheels, a huge downforce-generating wing and roughly 120 pounds of convenience features removed.

High-Revving V-8
The GT350's V-8 is without a doubt a highlight of the car when stretched to its mind-boggling 8,250 rpm redline. At and approaching redline, the symphony of spent combustion that blasts out of the pipes should be illegal; all it does is make you want to hammer down on the long pedal over and over again, a desire I was happy to oblige during a recent test event on and around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

A valve-operated exhaust system has much-appreciated mild to wild modes, allowing you to deafen passengers while barreling through a tunnel and later sneak back into your neighborhood undetected. The GT350's exhaust in full-bore mode might be the loudest exhaust system I've heard on a factory car.

Let's revisit that 8,250 rpm redline. It's insane to wind out a bone stock, factory V-8 in a Mustang to those kinds of speeds and not expect the connecting rods to come blasting out of the engine block. The unique flat-plane crankshaft is responsible for the high engine speeds and quickness of revs; it gave Ford engineers the ability to open up the cylinder head, intake and camshaft to unleash more power, and it's the crankshaft configuration that gives the GT350 such a unique exhaust sound.

The practicality of an 8,250-rpm engine is best experienced on the track where the GT350 can stretch its legs between corners without having to upshift. But when you do have to upshift, the new transmission designed to match the high rpm characteristics of the 5.2-liter allows lightning quick shifting with a light but precise shifter and clutch pedal.

There's a lot of room in the span of 8,000 rpm for an engine to be down on power and torque, but the 5.2-liter's well-distributed torque above 3,500 rpm and peak of 429 pounds-feet at 4,750 rpm means the engine is punchy and can still pull out of its way at lower engine speeds up to the maximum power at 7,500 rpm. Some rev-happy engines aren't happy off the track, but the 5.2-liter is wholeheartedly entertaining on canyon roads and even straight-line bursts of acceleration. An added bonus is that the engine maintains decent power past redline, though below 3,500 rpm you really do have to be in the right gear; don't even try to pass in 6th; it just won't work.

You won't find levels of acceleration here or a thrill ride that pins you to the back of your seat like the 662-hp 2014 Shelby GT500 or a 707-hp 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. No, the GT350 is more focused on delivering balance and precision despite having 91 more horsepower than the 5.0-liter-powered Mustang GT.

Bulked-Up Brakes, Chassis
The stiffness of the chassis, responsiveness and feedback of the steering and overall composure are more reminiscent of a BMW M4 than what you would typically associate as traits of a Mustang; perhaps the best thing going for the Mustang in a comparison to the M4 is that the GT350's exhaust doesn't sound like a weed whacker. Ford went through the Mustang's chassis and replaced numerous bearings with more rigid pieces, redesigned the front steering knuckle to be stiffer and lighter, widened the front track as well as bumped up the thickness of the anti-roll bars. Add in the Brembo six-piston front brakes and four-piston rears, which replace the wimpy single-piston rears on the GT, and the GT350 has all the goods you'd expect from a track-specific model.


Magnetic Suspension
MagneRide is the hot, new suspension setup that makes the GT350 such a performer. The system uses iron-impregnated fluid and magnetic current to continually adjust damper performance for road conditions. Base GT350s use a fixed firmness style suspension, and MagneRide is optional as part of the Track and Tech packages. MagneRide is adjustable using what Ford calls integrated driver control featuring Normal, Sport, Weather, Track and Drag driving modes that tailor the MagneRide suspension's responsiveness and firmness, exhaust modes, engine responsiveness, steering firmness, electronic stability and traction settings for specific driving styles. The GT350R gets its own unique MagneRide tuning.

There's not a huge range of road comfort separation between suspension driving modes, however. The base mode is called Normal and not Comfort for good reason. The GT350 exhibits noticeable noise and taut composure on the road even in the softest mode, so it's clear this ride is tuned for sport and not comfort. But I think that works. Like the M4, the GT350's slightly disruptive ride is a constant reminder that you're driving something special even if it means an uncomfortable jolt every once in a while.

On the Track
I'm no pro driver, but I found the GT350 surprisingly easy to drive on the track. When things did start to get a little hairy — more likely from me getting off line than a characteristic of the car — the GT350 provided plenty of notice through a slight chatter in the front tires indicating I should back off the accelerator and get the nose back in line. And at no point did I think the rear end was going to whip out unprovoked. Every handling characteristic of the GT is heightened, sharper and quicker in the GT350, which makes for a supremely confident handling machine.

It's good, but then there's GT350R "good." The R model carries significantly more cornering speed with higher levels of grip from the wider wheels and tires plus the stickier tire compound and giant downforce-generating wing. Between corners at Laguna Seca where the GT350 could ride out 3rd gear to the braking zone, the GT350R got off the corners with such speed that I could grab 4th gear in the same straight. The GT350R with its carbon-fiber wheels, lower stance and huge wing looks devilishly intimidating, especially in all black.

Track mode is a good go-to that never let the stability system stick its nose in my business on the track, which is appreciated compared with some overactive sport modes. Being a driver of intermediate skill, I prefer to keep the car in a mode with a safety net while learning a new track, which I was doing driving the GT350 at Laguna Seca. Track mode's stability and traction settings allow the car to slide a little, but left a safety net in place to avoid spinning out.

Worth It?
The Mustang GT350 and GT350R have the defined purpose of being corner-hugging thoroughbreds (what would a Mustang article be without an equestrian reference?), and there's an undisputable difference between the GT350 and base Mustang GT that, for some, may make it an easy decision to fork out $50,000-plus for the GT350.

The GT350 starts at $48,695 (all prices include destination), but that's not the car you want. You want the $6,500 Track Package that boosts the car to $55,195, which still doesn't include the $1,300 gas guzzler tax the GT350 is saddled with because the GT350 is only rated at 16 mpg combined, 14/21 mpg city/highway. Nor does that price include the dealer markup that surely will be tacked onto this hotly desirable, limited-production car. A Ford Performance spokesman said GT350 production will be determined by demand, and Ford expects similar production numbers to the GT500 of recent years. The GT350R, however, will be much rarer like the former Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca edition.

GT350s are available with the aforementioned Track Package that includes all the bits and pieces you need to complete a track day worry free. On the technology side, the Technology Package ($7,500) includes some of the Track Package's features, but not everything. Tech cars have navigation, Sync 3, the large multimedia screen, power leather heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control and more. You don't get the Recaro seats or oil coolers with the Technology Package, while in Track Package cars you're stuck with the small media display and no Sync 3; it's a bummer, really, that you can't get Sync 3 and navigation on the GT350 unless you step up to the GT350R with the Electronics Package, and that's a $66,495 car.

Is it worth it? If you take this car to track days then the answer is a solid yes, as you're getting one of the most unique and purpose-built Mustangs Ford has rolled off the assembly line in a long time. Even if you only drive the GT350 on the street, the beastly sound that emanates from the tailpipes during 8,250 rpm blasts will make you forget about the high price tag, if only momentarily.












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Black looks so good, ugh. It sucks that it's so hard to take care of, shows every little flaw, and gets worse as time goes on.
 

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Steve16 said:
"A Ford Performance spokesman said GT350 production will be determined by demand"

:popcorn:
Click to expand...

That is an interesting quote. I read it as Ford is going to produce as many as they can sell...Which makes sense in my mind...why wouldn't you? Make the -R the halo car (although I would argue they didn't do enough to it to make it the halo car) and sell as many GT350's as the market will bear to recoup development costs...

In speaking with the GM at my dealer he said the ADM shenanigans won't last very long. They aren't planning to have ADM's except MAYBE on the R.
 
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CNET's review is out.... http://www.cnet.com/products/2016-f...utm_campaign=Feed:+cnet/NnTv+(CNET+River+RSS)

-----

Ford Shelby GT350 exhibits sports car handling and plenty of muscle on the track
August 31, 2015 11:17 AM PDT



Squeezed by a Recaro seat in a 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang, the track official at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway waves me forward from the pit lane. There's 526 horsepower sitting under the hood and I've got a six-speed manual, so I'm expecting a massive lurch when I let out the clutch, and maybe even an embarrassing stall.

But no, despite the brutish appearance of this beast, the power comes on gentle, letting me obey the 10 mph speed limit in pit lane and ease it out. It's not until I've got the tachometer needle threatening the 8,250rpm redline on the track's straights that I get a torque lurch from a gear change.

Ford is celebrating 50 years of the Shelby GT350 with this latest model, following on last year's 50th anniversary of the Mustang. As with the original Shelby, the 2016 model is a performance upgrade of the Mustang model. The Ford Performance group, a division within Ford, built a new engine, redesigned the suspension, and tweaked performance for the current generation Mustang to come up with the new Shelby GT350.

During this press event, sponsored by Ford, the Ford Performance engineers spoke proudly of the new car and their individual roles in making it the best Shelby GT350 yet. This elite team within Ford works closely together, so that the drivetrain engineers can talk to the suspension engineers sitting at the next desks over.

The new Shelby GT350 gets a 5.2-liter V-8 aluminum block engine, and Ford touts its first use of a flat-plane crankshaft. One of the engineers explained how it works in some depth, but all I came away with was that it makes for better exhaust flow, so more power, with a side benefit of a particularly distinct exhaust note. Without the benefit of forced induction, this engine produces 526 horsepower at 7,500rpm and 429 pound-feet of torque at 4,750rpm.

Flooring it up the straights, I could hold third gear and let the tach run up close to redline, the exhaust note roaring sonorous applause, hitting 100 mph with ease before an upcoming turn would make me consider the brakes. The power band from this engine is so broad that I had room to try different shifting strategies during my laps, for example taking the Corkscrew in second or third.

Ford even came up with an innovative shift light, projected on the windshield, showing when you're getting close to redline.

The Shelby GT350 handled the turns better than I could have imagined. Fitted with the optional Track package, the car I was driving had an adaptive, magnetic ride suspension along with five drive modes for the traction and stability control. Set to Track, this system complemented the electric power steering system's precise response, letting me dive into each corner and power out at the apex.

I have good experience at Laguna Seca so I know how to handle the Corkscrew, but the double-apex turn 2 hairpin always throws me. I took it gentle for a couple of laps, but the Shelby GT350 quickly built up my confidence. On my third lap I made the first apex but hit the second a little hot. On the turn exit the car's rear wheels slipped past the point of grip but instead of getting all out of shape, a little steering correction and throttle brought it back in line. This is not a car that punishes you for making a mistake.

After laps in the Shelby GT350, Ford put me behind the wheel of the GT350R variant. This one gets the same engine and six-speed manual as the GT350, comes standard with the Track package equipment, and gains carbon fiber wheels, which weigh about half that of the 19-inch aluminum wheels they replace.

There was a palpable difference in handling with the GT350R. It felt lighter in the turns and exhibited even easier turn-in. Acceleration up the straights felt the same, but it was almost certainly faster because of the reduced weight.

For another driving exercise, I took the Shelby GT350 with the Track package out for a drive on public roads, and considering its performance on the track, I wasn't surprised to find it perfectly manageable, despite the combination of massive power and six-speed manual.

The drive modes afforded Normal, Sport, Weather, and Drag, but I only used the former two on the public roads. The ride quality was a little harder than firm, but I found it more comfortable than the previous-generation Shelby. The responsive steering and short-throw manual shifter made for added engagement when cruising suburban streets and the easily modulated throttle kept me from crawling up the back of slower traffic.

Of course, I couldn't help but make aggressive starts from every traffic stop, rowing through the gears to let the quad exhausts sound off with the Shelby song.

At $48,695 delivered, the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is an excellent value for the amount of power you get, and the car's overall finesse. Ford has not said whether it will offer the Shelby in International markets.

You will almost certainly want to get the Track package, which adds the excellent magnetic adaptive suspension. And Ford will be offering its Sync 3 infotainment system, a huge advance over its previous system, giving the Shelby GT350 everyday practicality and convenience that neatly complements its onroad driving behavior.​

CNET's full gallery: http://www.cnet.com/pictures/ford-p...utm_campaign=Feed:+cnet/NnTv+(CNET+River+RSS)







 

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I guess I'm in the minority in not being a fan of the stripes. If I can snag one, it will be without them. Kinda like the stealth look
 
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rick8172 said:
I guess I'm in the minority in not being a fan of the stripes. If I can snag one, it will be without them. Kinda like the stealth look
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Y'know, you can always remove them if you don't like them. They're just vinyl.;)
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