Perhaps the Most Thorough Shelby GT350R Review Video Yet
The Shelby GT350 R was easily one of the most anticipated cars of 2016, but does it lives up to all the hype, or is it just another pretty face in a long line of Mustang clones?
Savage Geese takes a look:
Augmented Aerodynamics
One of the best things the 350R has going for it is its aerodynamics. The car was, quite literally, designed in a wind chamber to maximize the body’s aerodynamics. This allows the body to nearly perfectly utilize the oil and trans cooling systems, while still creating a sleek body line that cuts through the air.
Brilliant Brakes
The performance Brembo brakes are one of the things that really allow this car to go as fast as it does, mostly because you don’t want to start tearing down the road if you’re not able to stop! The dual material rotors are unique, allowing the rotor to slide on bronze-coated pins as it heats and cools, as well as reducing the amount of heat that’s transferred from the rotor to the wheel bearings.
Sick Suspension
When you upgrade a car’s engine and brakes, it only makes sense to upgrade the suspension as well, and Ford has done that in spades. The dual ball joints on the front end, paired with the upgraded wheel bearings and carbon fiber wheels, add a new level of steering control to this fantastic model. When paired with the stock sticky tires, it grips the road like nothing else.
If you’re planning on driving this on a regular basis rather than on the track, you might want to swap out those carbon fiber rims for something a little more heavy-duty. They can handle a bit of a beating, but they can’t be repaired if they crack, and one wheel will probably cost you about $4,000.
The GT 350R also has a new type of suspension — MagneRide. This magnetic style suspension uses hydraulic fluid with iron particles suspended in it, which can change viscosity to adapt to different driving conditions. According to Ford, those changes can be made every 10 milliseconds and occur independently on each wheel. It’s too new for us to make any actual judgments on how this affects the ride, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Handy HUD
One of the best things the R offers is its adaptability. Driving modes, steering modes, and other options allow you to fully customize your driving experience.
The HUD on the dash also includes a ton of information that is vital if you’re taking your car to the track, but not as important if you’re just using it for everyday driving. Oil, transmission, differential, and engine temperature can all be found on the dash, as well as oil pressure and your other standard bits of information like speed, RPMs, fuel, etc.
However, one thing the R is really lacking is tech — specifically, there’s no radio, console, or air conditioning in the stock package. Ford is offering a tech package you can use to add these things in later, but right now there’s no word on the cost.
If you do opt for the tech package, though, you’re in for a treat. Ford has officially dumped Microsoft in favor of its Ford Sync set up, which offers an innovative, user friendly, multi-touch experience that will make it much easier to use all of the things your R has to offer.
Final Thoughts
The general consensus for the GT350 R is that it looks better from the outside than it does on the inside. Still, it’s a sports car with some serious innovations under the hood and is affordable for more than just the 1%, so it’s one of the best sports cars on the market today.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Via [Savage Geese]
