3 ways the new Shelby GT350R Mustang makes driving a thrill
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by Ammar Khan
Social Media Manager / Ford Blog Editor
@ammar_ammar
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Have you ever had a chance to drive a car designed entirely for the racetrack? The thrill that rushes through your veins when pressing the pedal; the excitement of taking the first turn… Now imagine the joy of lawfully driving it on the streets. With the unveiling of the new Shelby GT350R Mustang at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it’s now a reality that will make every performance car lover smile.
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Combining exciting improvements with driving innovations, the new Shelby GT350R Mustang is so much more that just another muscle car; it’s the most race-ready road-legal Mustang ever; and, it’ll change the way you feel about driving. Forever. Here is why:
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The new Shelby GT350R MustangÂ
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1. It’s ready for unprecedented speed: The Shelby GT350R Mustang has been optimized to get you faster than ever with a combination of changes to aerodynamics and suspension tuning. From the hood vent for heat extraction and lift reduction, to an all-new high-efficiency carbon fibre rear wing and an aggressive diffuser, Ford engineers managed to increase the car’s downforce capability, forcing the car down onto the ground to get you maximum grip at high speed.
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2. It’s all about performance: Ford engineers delivered against aggressive targets for weight reduction on the Shelby GT350R Mustang. Anything that wasn’t going to help increase speed was removed to reduce weight. This includes the air conditioning, the stereo system and the rear seats. With these improvements, the new model is more than 130 pounds lighter than the Shelby GT350 Track Pack model. Moreover, Ford is the first major automaker to introduce lightweight carbon fibre wheels, shaving critical unsprung weight to make it easier for the suspension to plant the wheels on the asphalt and reduce rolling inertia.
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3. It’s more powerful than ever: The new 5.2-litre dual-overhead-cam V8 engine is the first-ever production V8 from Ford with a flat-plane crankshaft – an architecture typically found only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars. It is the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine ever, with more than 500 horsepower and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Also, an air-to-oil engine oil cooler typically found only on racecars maintains engine temperatures under the most severe conditions.
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The new Shelby GT350R MustangÂ
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While waiting for this spirited Mustang to be available (which should be by the end of this year or the beginning of 2016), take a look at the long-awaited Focus RS or at the stunning Ford GT and tell us which one is your favourite Ford performance car by leaving us a comment below, on Facebook, or tweeting us @FordCanada.
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- See more at: http://blog.ford.ca/2015/03/25/3-ways-the-new-shelby-gt350r-mustang-makes-driving-a-thrill/#sthash.fAeYycW1.dpuf
