The gearing and redline combo are a near perfect match for that track layout. She sounds purty.
BELDING, Mich. — After thousands of miles of development on race tracks around the world, the 526-hp Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350 R took its first public hot laps Tuesday ripping around the twisty Grattan race track in west Michigan.
Developed to be the nimblest, most exhilarating Mustang ever, the GT 350 blasted down Grattan’s straightaway and dug into the track’s curves, clinging to the road with its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Ford engineers who helped develop the lightweight GT 350 R threw the coupe into curves, downshifting hard and flooring the brakes in the tightest turns. I’ll have a chance to drive the GT 350 this fall, but today was strictly a ride-along, as pros who know the car and Grattan’s hills and blind curves let the car stretch its legs.
The Magneride adaptive suspension kept the car remarkably stable and flat in the aggressive maneuvers as Shelby 350 Rs lapped the popular 2-mile road course in times around 90 seconds.
The 5.2L flat-crank V8 engine roared as it raced to its 8,250 rpm redline. Each engine is signed by the two people who built it at Ford’s Romeo engine plant in suburban Detroit.
With 429 pound-feet of torque available at 4,750 rpm, the Shelby GT 350 pushes you deep into its scalloped sport seats before precisely carving the track’s very technical turns.
The base $49,170Shelby GT 350 has the same engine, transmission, Brembo brakes Magneride shocks and other running gear as the 350 R. The limited run of 150 2015 model GT 350s and 37 GT 350 Rs sold out before the first one was built. They mark the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby GT 350. Ford plans to make around 4,000 GT 350s a year starting with the 2016 model. The GT 350 R, which shaves 110 pounds from the GT 350’s 3,760-pound curb weight, will cost $62,670. Both prices include $1,300 gas-guzzler tax.
All Shelby-authorized Ford dealers will be able to sell both cars.
This is an old form. Please check the latest one posted in the stickies, many guys on here have cars on order and know the order sheet front to back.Nope, GT350R has front carbon ceramics. Check the order guide:
No way!!! If so that is awesome. I need to find more money quick because I need this car.
I noticed the same thing... He practically used two gears for the majority of the track until he got to the straightaway, and then only three gears in all.
:ford:
:ford::ford::ford:From another site quoting Kerry Baldori, Chief Functional Engineering, Global Performance Vehicles at Ford:
"We brought our GT350R and our GT350 Track Pack here at Grattan to do fair, back to back same day and same driver comparisons. The GT350R with the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires is equal to the 100th of a second as fast as the Porsche 911 GT3 and it is over a second quicker than the Z/28.
The base GT350 with Track Pack, which uses the Pilot Super Sport tire, is equal again, to within a 100th of a second to the Porsche Carerra and the Corvette C7 with the Z51 package."
that is damn impressive even if knowing ford they will not release official track times.....
Will be interesting to see if this can ever be tested...
