2011 Ford Shelby GT500: Not Just a $25K Premium-Priced Mustang GT

What’s New:

After extensively reworking the exterior in 2010, the big changes are under the hood for 2011 with the Shelby GT500. The Shelby GT500 is now equipped with an all-new, lighter eight-cylinder 5.4-liter all-aluminum engine, which kicks out 550 ponies, 10 more than last year’s model. Yes, this street-rod is capable of pushing out 550 ponies!

Ironically, with the extra horses, Ford’s engineers have also managed to squeeze out an extra mile of fuel-economy in both city and highway driving. Thus, the increased mpg helps Ford to circumvent the $1,000 gas-guzzling tax which was tacked onto the 2010 model.

Moreover, the Shelby GT500 gets a new 2.75-inch roaring exhaust, with a more aggressive sound than the 2010 model, standard HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, integrated spotter mirrors and fold-down rear headrests for safety and visibility reasons.

Furthermore, for the 2011 model year, the Shelby GT500 can be accessorized with Ford’s Special Vehicle Team Performance Package, electric power assist for the steering and a fixed-glass roof.

Must-Have Goodies:

There are very few options available on this street hot rod. As we noted earlier, a new SVT Performance Package is available for enthusiasts who want even more performance out of their Shelby GT500. The car comes complete with all-new 19-inch (front) 20-inch (rear) Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G: 2 rubber tires that SVT engineers worked directly with the tire maker. The optional package also offers unique styling, lighter wheels, a 3.73 rear axle ratio and stiffer springs.

Also for the 2011 model year the coupe is available with a $2,000 fixed glass roof, is as opposed to a power (or manually adjusting) sunroof. We’re assuming Ford engineers opted not to offer a pop-up roof due to the structural rigidity of the vehicle. Conversely, the super powerful GT500 is available as a convertible, too. Go figure! We would be extremely scared to be in a convertible, using all 550 horses.

And like with most Ford vehicles, an Electronics Package is available with a Voice Activated Navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link, which provides real-time traffic updates and current local gas prices, a DVD/CD/MP3 player, HD radio and a10-gigabyte Music Jukebox.

Furthermore, for those needing more watts over the standard lackluster audio system, a 1000-watt Shaker Audio System is available for about $1,300. This upgraded system includes an AM/FM Stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD player, MP3 player and 10 speakers. Conversely, by ordering the upgraded system, one will have to forego both the SVT Performance Package and Electronic Package.

What Rocked:

Yes, this is more than a $25,000 premium-priced, guzzied-up Mustang GT. Only behind the wheel can one experience all that 550 horses can offer in the Shelby GT500. Once our left hand connected with the steering wheel, our right hand worked through shifting the race-car inspired golf ball-like, white knob and our feet were in sync alternating between the clutch and gas pedal, we understand the immediate thrill of driving Ford’s fastest production-built Shelby GT500. Like we learned from one of billionaire’s Ted Turner personal pilots, who happen to own a 2011 Shelby GT500, this machine is one of the closes things to flying an airplane.

All of the power underneath the vented aluminum power dome hood rocked! One would think that 540 horses in the 2010 model was enough to get anyone’s juices flowing. Obviously, this wasn’t enough mojo for Ford’s engineers that's why they chose to tweak the engine, adding 10 more horses.

While we love the extra power in the six-speed manual transmission we reviewed, with it quick starts from stop lights, this can be one scary vehicle to keep tamed on the open roads. The Shelby GT500 zips from to 0 to 60 in just under 4.2 seconds.

Yes, this mean looking machine with its big tires, race-car stripes and muscular appearance just begs to be driven to the limit. We attempted, but it was just too much power for us. Yes, even for car fanatics like us, this was too much power for the typical driver outside of an uncontrolled environment. All of this power should be reserved for the race tracks and to be truly honest we wanted to be around so that we could right this review. We managed to avoid getting a ticket during the week this vehicle was in our possession.

Also an unexpected, but welcome feature was the dual-zone temperature control system, providing separate controls for the front occupants. This was an unexpected surprise we wouldn’t necessarily expect in a muscle vehicle.

What We Disliked:

Why can’t we get a power roof on this vehicle or a pop-up manual roof, but we can order the vehicle with a drop-top? And why can’t Ford offer the 1,000-watt Shaker Audio System with both the SVT Performance Package and Electronic Package? The current system affects the street creed of the vehicle. This vehicle should have an electrifying booming sound coming from both the exhaust pipes and the speakers.

Any Juice:

The revised pony delivers 10 more horses than the previous Shelby. The current model now cranks out a whopping 550 horses.

The Verdict:

At first glance, the Shelby GT500 looks like a guzzied-up Mustang. However, upon a closer examination, one will easily note the blacked-out wired grille embedded with the chrome Scorpion, larger wheels, the vented power-dome aluminum hood and the special Shelby GT500 lettering. All of this plus the extra 120 horses underneath the hood sets this super fast sports car apart from the Mustang GT.

This American sports car has a commanding presence, making little boys and old men alike stand at attention and turn their heads, when they hear the engine roaring from all of the horses flowing from the tailpipes of this street hot rod -- as it screech away from a stop. What a car! This is definitely a big boy’s play toy.

With the extra horses for the 2011 model year also comes a $2,700 boost in the price for the 2011 model-year. Pricing for a base hard top Shelby GT500 starts out the gate at $49,495 (add an extra $5,000 for the convertible). A well-equipped street rod, with all of the options pushes the sticker to a respectable $57,500, which is far less than comparable sports cars -- offering similar horsepower.

Competition: Chevy Corvette Z06 and Nissan GT-R