2019 Shelby GT350 Won’t Live In Anyone’s Shadow
GT500 be damned, the GT350 is still a world-beater, and CNET’s Roadshow covers all the juicy details.
With all of the completely understandable hype surrounding the Shelby GT500, it’s only natural that the GT350 has been a bit overshadowed of late. After all, it’s been around for nearly five years, and Ford has sold an impressive amount of them. But that doesn’t make it any less potent. It still cranks out 526 naturally-aspirated horsepower from its 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8. It also has some cool new upgrades for 2019. Oh, and it can still slay just about anything that crosses its path on a road or track.
This recent review from Roadshow couldn’t make that any more clear. According to editor Jon Wong, Ford has made the GT350 “… an even better track star for 2019.” Outside, wheels, grille closeouts, and the rear spoiler are new – these aero upgrades are based on the successful mods Ford made to their competition Mustangs. Any performance upgrade based on track-proven success is always welcome in our book.
The Best Gets Better
Inside, aluminum dash trim and suede door inserts class up the interior a bit, but it’s still all very familiar. The Sync infotainment system remains, as does the 8′ touchscreen, nine-speaker setup, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto capability.
“If you’re bumming about the lack of tech features,” Wong says, “then the GT350 probably isn’t the Mustang for you. But if you’re looking for a driver’s car, then it probably is.” Performance improvements for 2019 include sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, reworked springs, a thicker anti-roll bar, re-calibrated adaptive damper tunings. Combined, they make this razor-sharp car feel even sharper.
At 3,800 pounds, it isn’t light. But you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Wong is impressed by the balanced chassis, the linear power delivery, and how forgiving the GT350 is at the limit. But there are drawbacks; The 19″ tires can tram-line on bad roads, the back seats should have a height requirement, and the 14-mpg city/21 highway is as good as it gets here. Still, the negatives can’t come close to outweighing the positives. “Personally,” he says, “those are tradeoffs I’m willing to live with to have such a capable and involving performance car.”And on top of it all, the normal driving mode even makes it a liveable daily driver.
So five years on, the GT350 is still a world-beater. And at $60k, the upgrades (including the new Performance Blue on this test car) make it a bargain. Still, the impending arrival of its big brother does complicate things. “If it’s the best-handling Mustang you’re looking for,” Wong says, “the GT350 is the one you want. At least for now…”
Photos: Screenshots
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