2020 Shelby GT500 discussion with R&D Ford driver Billy Johnson!

[LethalPerformance]

Thanks for the share guys and glad you enjoyed the interview!

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[edmd007]

I figure maybe I should just loose about 50 lbs , that may help! Seriously though, does it really matter to most people? There will be a handful that will benefit as they will race the car, most people just think the car is cool as hell and will just love driving it, myself included.

 

[mmm635]

Thanks...that was a great interview!




Every manufacturer deals with each platform to the best of its abilities. The S550 was designed to be a world platform with many applications - similar in nature to what Porsche does with the 911 variants. Yes, the S550 chassis is not the most optimal track car in its production form due to weight, but Ford could certainly make it much lighter similar to what Porsche does with the GT3. However, everything has a cost. Instead of a huge weight reduction program with CF, Ford attacked it in other ways to make the car competitive, especially when it competes with cars much more expensive. It will use more pads, gas, and tires than my GT3, but it costs half the price! They get the job done in different ways.

I am sure Ford can make a cheaper version of the Ford GT and compete in the higher end market with Porsche, Mclaren, Audi, etc., but that will hinder the development/resources needed to make the GT500 in the future. The GT500 is super car performance at a bargain price at around $80k, and people are still complaining.

 

[Eritas]

Sweet video.

I still laugh when people complain about how much the GT500 weighs, or how a 2018 Mustang GT weighs 3,800lbs. Corvettes are not lightweights:

C7 ZR1 - 3,680lbs

C7 Z06/Z07 - 3,524lbs

2LZ M7 Z07 Coupe - 3,546lbs:

C7 Z06 - A8 with just a tick over half a tank is 3,510lbs with no driver:


2016 C7 Z06/Z07, manual transmission, 3/4 tank fuel - 3,506lbs.

There's no way a supercharged 3,800lb S550 chassis is going to weigh as little as a 3,680lbs ZR1. A supercharger is at least 100-150lbs added on to a 3,650lb radio-less GT350R, add a radio, heavier brakes, heavier wheels, heavier wing, bigger coolers, heavier tranny, and I doubt it will be under 4,000lbs. Even more for the base car. Even if the car had carbon fiber wheels, hood, fenders, doors and trunk, it would not be anywhere near as light as a C7 ZR1. I don't know how you could think otherwise.

 

[Dusten]

Sweet video.

I still laugh when people complain about how much the GT500 weighs, or how a 2018 Mustang GT weighs 3,800lbs. Corvettes are not lightweights:

C7 ZR1 - 3,680lbs

C7 Z06/Z07 - 3,524lbs

2LZ M7 Z07 Coupe - 3,546lbs:

C7 Z06 - A8 with just a tick over half a tank is 3,510lbs with no driver:


2016 C7 Z06/Z07, manual transmission, 3/4 tank fuel - 3,506lbs.

That 2016 c7 is going to be 600lbs lighter. That's a massive amount

 

[Eritas]

That 2016 c7 is going to be 600lbs lighter. That's a massive amount

wut?

 

[Dusten]

wut?

You're saying the vettes aren't light. That c7 you listed atb3500 will be 600lbs lighter than the gt500 when it's finally put on a scale

 

[Eritas]

You're saying the vettes aren't light. That c7 you listed atb3500 will be 600lbs lighter than the gt500 when it's finally put on a scale

They arent. And Mustangs are even heavier than Vettes.

 

[Hack]

Sweet video.

I still laugh when people complain about how much the GT500 weighs, or how a 2018 Mustang GT weighs 3,800lbs. Corvettes are not lightweights:

C7 ZR1 - 3,680lbs

C7 Z06/Z07 - 3,524lbs

2LZ M7 Z07 Coupe - 3,546lbs:

The C7 'vette is way too porky. That was a big part of why I didn't buy one this time around. A 3,100 lb car is a much better way to go in my opinion.

 

[nastang87xx]

if you think the base is going to weigh that, you'll be sad.

Agreed. The GT350 currently weighs 3810 or something like that after 2017.

 

[Strokerswild]

Huh. I didn't realize the C7s were that hefty.....

 

[Eritas]

The C7 'vette is way too porky. That was a big part of why I didn't buy one this time around. A 3,100 lb car is a much better way to go in my opinion.

Like what?

All cars are gaining weight because we can't take responsibility for our actions and incompetence. So cars need to save us from our own stupidity with a lower and lower bar each year. Screw improving driver education and training, we need more & more heavy airbags, and heavier cars with higher crash standards.

 

[Dusten]

not to mention most of america wants options. Sure, a fox body weighed 2900lbs. But it didnt have heated/ac seats, irs, 460hp, nav, adaptive cruise and all the other options a new car has.

 

[Eritas]

not to mention most of america wants options. Sure, a fox body weighed 2900lbs. But it didnt have heated/ac seats, irs, 460hp, nav, adaptive cruise and all the other options a new car has.

Or a stiff chassis, or brakes, or a backup camera, or a 6spd transmission, or airbags, or wide wheels and tires, or ABS.

 

[Dusten]

hell ya, the MT82 is almost double the weight of a t5

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