2011 Dodge vs Ford... different approaches

Morbid Intentions

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obviously ford is going into this all smiles

2011-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500_grille.jpg



while dodge has a more serious approach... it is not amused at fords shenanigans

500x_2011_dodge_challenger_refresh.jpg
 
im dissapointed with the 2011 gt 500, youd think from the new 2011 gt theyd go all out on the gt 500 but i guess not, i wanna see a mustang compete with the zr1
 
im dissapointed with the 2011 gt 500, youd think from the new 2011 gt theyd go all out on the gt 500 but i guess not, i wanna see a mustang compete with the zr1

just get a 2011 roushe...it far exceeds a Shelby on the track and costs about the same if not less.
 
just get a 2011 roushe...it far exceeds a Shelby on the track and costs about the same if not less.

you would be very surprised with the new GT500 actually... I'm willing to bet it will walk up to the 2011 roush stage 3 and go "how much does a polar bear weigh?"..... "enough to pin you down while I rape you"

the setup on it is a sh*t ton different than the old GT500... ford DID revise it for 2011... most people just do not know about the tweaks

it has run 9 WHOLE SECONDS faster than the 2010 GT500 around VIR with a final lap time of 2:58.5

observe when compared to other cars in the same bracket comparing the same track

Corvette ZR1 - 2:51.8
KTM X bow - 2:52.3
Murcielago LP67-4.5V 2:53.9
Ariel Atom 3 - 2:57.6
(these new lap times would make the new GT500 place here)
Corvette Grand Sport - 2:58.8
Audi R8 5.2 - 3:05.0
Lotus Exige S260 Sport - 3:05.0
M3 - 3:05.4
Cayman S - 3:05.8
911 Carrera S - 3:05.8
Jag XKR - 3:06.4
GT 500 - 3:07.4
Audi TTS - 3:08.4
Camaro SS - 3:09.5
Audi S4 - 3:10.8
Nissan Nismo 370Z - 3:12.0
Mustang GT - 3:13.3
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 - 3:14.8
Mazdaspeed 3 - 3:16.2
WRX - 3:16.6
Mini Cooper JC Works - 3:17.1
VW GTI - 3:19.3

as hard as it is to believe (I called BS when I was told)... they really HAVE made the GT500 a absolute beast and HAVE gone all out


for the curious minds these are some of the minor but detrimental changes that are being used that the old GT500 failed to have

#1 electric steering assist
#2 SVTPP front sway bar
#3 SVTPP front struts
#4 SVTPP rear shocks
#5 SVTPP rear springs (and boy are they some springs)
13.gif

^^^ I'm almost positive they used linear springs as well... which makes a huge difference

#6 GIGANTIC SVTPP LCA's in comparison to the older models (wheel hop is now all but gone apparently)
38600.gif

#7 a widened 9.5" tire width and all new very track ready G2 supercar tires
05600.gif


all of this together made for a completely new animal around a road course as simple as these things all sound and the thing is, Ford has the right idea... the car has PLENTY of horsepower and toque as is, now it's time to cut weight and tweak the setup, figure out it's weak points in suspension and chassis design and revise them...


also, the new chally is getting a 6.4L V8 which will probably produce closer to 500+BHP... but I hear it's also packing on more weight as well... so obviously dodge has yet to learn from it's dilemma in the pony car races
 
ooooo impressive the GT500 has become.....but isn't it called the GT550 now?
 
ooooo impressive the GT500 has become.....but isn't it called the GT550 now?

negative

you are thinking of the GT350 that is coming out..

that is equipped with a Tivot DOHC 5.0L.. and starts out life as such... then is shipped to Shelby for a $33,000 package ON TOP of the price of your 5.0L GT

this includes a complete facelift on the exterior, a supercharger, 6 speed manual/6 speed automatic, FRPP stuts, shocks, springs and anti roll bars all specified to 30% stiffer suspension than your base GT you started with, tweaked and tuned aftermarket caster and camber plates, 6 piston calipers up front, bolt on's and a fully tuned package

if I was to get a GT500 I'd probably opt for the GT350 option instead... partly because I enjoy the looks more than the GT500

2011-Shelby-GT350-Front-Side-View.jpeg


shelby_gt350_rear_fascia.jpg
 
indeed the 350 looks far better...but why choose the 350 name?

to bring back the 350 heritage

back in the day shelby did the exact same thing with their GT350's... took the base package GT fastback bought by customers and went to town in their own building to create a crazy car that would otherwise set it apart from it's base model GT roots ultimately making an entirely new car altogether

2011_Mustang_GT350_004.jpg


it makes sense going back in time and foreshadowing...

the GT500 was offered as a flat out purchase off a ford lot... just like today

the GT350 was offered as a aftermarket package by Shelby for your base model fastback that they put together at Shelby Industries only after you drove your GT off Ford the lot... just like today
 
Going from the old iron-block 5.4 to the "new" aluminum block helped quite a bit by cutting more than 100lbs (IIRC) of weight.

The original GT350 pre-dated the GT500, which wasn't introduced 'til '67, so they've sorta missed the boat there, but they hit on another piece of their history: the mills. The big difference between the original GT350 and GT500 was the mill: the GT350 ran Windsor small blocks; the GT500 ran FE big blocks. That still makes sense, with the GT350 running the new 5.0 and the GT500 running the 5.4 (even though that's not exactly a big block).

BTW, the new GT350 looks a lot like the '65 GT350R to me...
 
the GT350 was offered as a aftermarket package by Shelby for your base model fastback that they put together at Shelby Industries only after you drove your GT off Ford the lot... just like today
Not quite; the GT350s and GT500s were both shipped from Ford's plant to Shelby American until production was taken over by Ford (when they went to the Livonia plant instead).
 

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