page_title: Ford Mustang (fifth generation)
section_title: Shelby GT500 (2007–2009)
hierarchical_section_title: Ford Mustang (fifth generation) / Initial release / Shelby GT500 (2007–2009)
caption_attribution_description: 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
context_page_description: The fifth-generation Ford Mustang is a pony car that was manufactured by Ford from 2004 to 2014, at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The fifth generation began with the 2005 model year, and received a facelift for the 2010 model year. Originally designed by Sid Ramnarace through late 2001 and finalized in mid-2002, the fifth-generation Mustang's design was previewed by two pre production concept cars that debuted at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. Development began on the S-197 program in 1999 under chief engineer Hau Thai-Tang, shortly after the 1998 launch of "New Edge" SN-95 facelift. From the second half of 1999, design work commenced under Ford design chief, J Mays, and concluded in July 2002 with the design freeze. There have been several variants of the fifth-generation Ford Mustang that include the Mustang GT/California Special, Shelby Mustang, Bullitt Mustang, and Boss 302 Mustang
context_section_description: For 2007, Ford's SVT launched Shelby GT500, a successor to the 2003/2004 Mustang SVT Cobra. The GT500 shared basic design characteristics with that of the Mustang V6 and GT. It retained the same basic live axle rear suspension setup of the Mustang V6 and GT, with some minor durability enhancements such as thicker sheet metal supports and extra welds, as well as redesigned strut towers to accommodate a wider engine. The supercharged and intercooled 5,408 cc (5.4 L; 330.0 cu in) DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V8 engine with an iron block and aluminum heads was rated at 500 bhp (507 PS; 373 kW) at 6000 rpm and 480 lb⋅ft (651 N⋅m) of torque at 4500 rpm. The Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual transmission used a 3.31:1 rear drive ratio. Wheels are 18×9.5 inch with P255/45ZR18 tires in the front and P285/40ZR18 tires in the rear. Brembo 14-inch disc brakes with aluminum four-piston calipers are on the front with 11.8-inch disc brakes with single-piston calipers in the rear.
  The GT500 failed to meet some automotive journalists' expectations. Car and Driver magazine, for example, though praising the GT500 for its ample horsepower and relatively smooth ride, criticized their test car for its heavy weight and, in particular, the nose-heavy weight distribution of 57.7% front and 42.3% rear (compared to the 52.5% front, 47.5% rear of a Mustang GT manual they tested). Nevertheless, in spite of their opinion of its drawbacks, Car and Driver drove a GT500 in their 2007 "Lightning Lap" road test at Virginia International Raceway and found that the car's on-track performance lap time of 3:05.9 fell just below that of the Porsche 911 Turbo (3:05.8) and faster than that of the Lotus Elise (3:09.3), Porsche Cayman S (3:09.5) and BMW M6 (3:10.0).
caption: Shelby GT500 (with export modifications)
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