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Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a
Tremec TR6060
six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, upgraded
from the standard GT500’s 3.31:1. Gear selection is courtesy of an
all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the KR.
Topped with a white ball, the new shifter is 25 percent shorter than
the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts.
Ford SVT, Ford Racing and
Team Shelby worked together to develop the KR’s suspension tuning. Based on initial work by Ford Racing and the
team at Shelby, often at Shelby’s own facility on the grounds of Las
Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford SVT chassis engineers will apply fine
tuning techniques to prepare it for the streets.
“The production Shelby GT500 was maximized to deliver the perfect
balance between ride and handling,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief
nameplate engineer, Ford SVT. “In that same ride versus handling
continuum, the KR will lean heavier towards all-out handling while
still making it drivable on the street.”
Just like its 1968 namesake, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR builds on
the strong foundation of the Shelby GT500. Packing 40 more horses
under its custom-designed carbon composite hood, the GT500KR is the
most powerful production Ford Mustang ever produced.
The
modern Shelby Mustang line-up started with the 2007 Shelby GT500 coupe
and convertible. With the recent launch of the 2007 Shelby GT, the
2008 Shelby GT500KR becomes the third production high-performance
Mustang brought to market through the relationship of Shelby
Automobiles and Ford. Ford and Shelby Automobiles also partnered up
with Hertz to produce a special limited run of 500 Shelby GT-H
“rent-a-racer” Mustangs available only for rent.
The
2007 Shelby GT500 has been one of the most successful vehicle programs
in the 14-year history of Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and that
success has opened the door for more performance collaborations with
Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing. Working together, these three
performance powerhouses are driving Mustang momentum on the street and
on the racetrack. Dealers cannot keep the cars on their lots,
customers are clamoring for more, and racers are bringing home
championships.
Shelby Mustangs have already achieved some impressive highlights
showcasing an enthusiast demand that is unmatched in the business.
The first
2007 Shelby GT500 available to the public sold for $600,000
dollars at the 2006 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in
Scottsdale, AZ benefiting the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation.
2007 Shelby GT VIN#1 also went for $600,000 at
charity auction, this time at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car
Auction (and the winning bidder also took the opportunity to purchase
VIN#2 at MSRP).
Shelby GT-H coupes auctioned off to Ford dealers after completion of
Hertz rental duty consistently average $50,000, with high auction bids
of $90,000.
The Shelby GT500KR will be produced in an exclusive run of 1000 units
and will begin arriving in Ford dealers in the spring of 2008.
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