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MORE MUSTANG POWER
FORD SHELBY GT500KR ‘KING OF THE ROAD’ RETURNS IN 2008
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Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra
GT500KR, Ford and Shelby collaborate on a new ‘King of the Road’ Mustang
with the 2008 Shelby GT500KR.
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Shelby
GT500KR features an estimated 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a
Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw
shifter, and unique suspension tuning.
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Exterior
design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and
features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and special 40th
Anniversary badging and unique striping.
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Shelby
GT500KR arrives in spring 2008 in an exclusive run of only 1000 units.
DEARBORN,
Mich., March 30 - Ford and Shelby Automobiles are at it again, this time
in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra
GT500KR. To be unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, the
2008 Shelby GT500KR—the most powerful Mustang to date—will once again mark
Mustang as ‘King of the Road.’
“I’m proud to once again be a part of an historical moment, bringing back
the ‘King of the Road’ Mustang, and collaborating with Ford SVT and Ford
Racing” said Carroll Shelby. “I’m committed to continuously upping the
ante when it comes to performance, and it’s great to be doing it with
Ford.” “The return of the Shelby GT500KR further establishes Mustang as
the true king of the pony car segment,” said Robert Parker, manager of
Ford Car Brand. “With the unveiling of the new KR we are staying true to
the promise we made our loyal Mustang fans to continue Mustang’s prowess
by bringing new, exciting and more powerful Mustangs to market.”
Forty years ago, at the 1967 New York Auto Show, Ford introduced the most
powerful Shelby Mustang ever. Like every Mustang that bore the name
‘Shelby,’ the GT500KR carries with it its own unique story.
The 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR was a mid-year introduction, based on the
1968 Shelby GT500. Ford added ‘Cobra’ to the Shelby’s moniker to help
usher in the beginning of a new performance era at the company. The Cobra
name referred to the new 428 Cobra Jet V-8 that was planted under the KR’s
custom fiberglass hood. It was the engine that would once again vault the
Mustang to the head of the pack.
Ford conservatively rated the 428 CJ at 335-horsepower, but in reality it
made more than 400-horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque. The KR model
was also equipped with a modified suspension and was offered both in
fastback and convertible models. Ford dealers sold 1,570 GT500KR models in
1968, 1053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles.
While the name ‘King of the Road’ may have been the perfect fit for the
world’s most powerful Mustang, it also provided Shelby the chance to steal
the thunder from cross-town rival General Motors. As the legend goes,
Shelby learned that GM was planning to introduce a high-performance model
and call it ‘King of the Road.’
Since he had always wanted to use the name, and as one to never miss an
opportunity, Shelby set his organization in gear, registering the name and
designing new badging for the Cobra Jet-powered Mustang, christening it
the GT500KR, and bringing Ford’s ‘King of the Road’ to market before GM
ever got a chance to apply the name to their product.
Thoroughbred Pedigree
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:
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
Crowning
the New “King of the Road”
Doug Gaffka, Ford SVT chief designer, and his team worked closely with
Carroll Shelby and the Shelby team to make certain the new KR was crafted
in the spirit of the original Shelby muscle car.
“This was a great effort between Ford and Shelby Automobiles,” said Gaffka.
“The Shelby team and I were in constant contact melding Carroll’s classic
design cues with some modern concepts and ideas and finessing them into
the design of the new KR.”
Gary Davis, vice president of production and product development for
Shelby Automobiles, played a key role in defining the look of the custom
designed carbon composite hood for the GT500KR. His knowledge of the
original GT500KR helped sculpt a modern interpretation of the original’s
bulging hood scoop, a visual indication of the extra horsepower packed
beneath it. The hood is secured by a pair of stainless steel, twist-down
hood pins. The composite front valance houses a pair of chrome-trimmed,
functional brake ducts to cool the large 14-inch, vented Brembo front
brakes.
Side stripes are true to the original KR right down to the font used for
the ‘GT500KR’ lettering, while the classic LeMans-style striping that
races down the center of the car has been deleted between the leading
forward edge of the hood scoops and the front of the hood, accenting the
scoops and giving the KR its distinctive face. “That was Shelby’s idea,”
said Gaffka. “It’s a special touch that adds some down-the-road
differentiation. There will be no doubt that it’s a ‘King of the Road’
Mustang that’s filling up your rearview mirrors.”
The show car wears exclusive, Shelby-designed 20-inch, forged, polished
aluminum wheels with special custom center caps, mounted on Pirelli
rubber. Production models will arrive with an 18-inch version of the
design.
Each KR model is identified by special 40th Anniversary KR badges on the
fenders and grille, distinctive body colored mirror caps and Shelby
lettering stretching across the front of the hood and along the rear
portion of the deck lid. A special Shelby VIN tag is affixed to each
vehicle, mounted in the engine compartment.
The all-leather interior features Carroll Shelby signature embroidered
headrests and an official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate
mounted at the top of the center stack.
The KR’s 5.4-liter V-8 Gets the Royal Treatment
Just like its namesake, the 2008 ‘King of the Road’ packs a walloping dose
of Ford performance power under its massive composite hood scoops. The
Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is treated to a Ford Racing
Power Upgrade Pack that boosts horsepower to an estimated 540 and torque
to 510 ft.-lbs., thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a
cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit.
Calibration modifications include advancing the ignition timing as well as
re-mapping of the electronic throttle settings to provide quicker throttle
response for better off-line and mid-range acceleration. Increased
throttle response will be met with a sharper roar from the Ford
Racing-inspired exhaust system.
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.”
Chassis engineers worked closely with the engine department in a holistic
approach to the development of the KR, tuning the suspension to best
optimize the engine enhancements.
“We aren’t fixing our attention on one or two attributes, but working on
the vehicle as a whole,” stated Gary Patterson, vice president of
operations for Shelby Automobiles. “The throttle response, power delivery,
exhaust note, and handling should all gel together to deliver a total
driving experience.”
The GT500KR will feature unique spring rates, dampers, stabilizer bars,
and strut tower brace, all designed specifically for the KR, to deliver
the precision handling package.
Mustang Momentum Cannot be Stopped
Unwilling to wait for the impending pony car war to heat up, Ford is
extending Mustang’s leadership position by feeding the enthusiast demand
for more models, features, performance parts, and special editions. Ford
has committed to at least one new Mustang ‘feature’ vehicle per year. For
2007, it is the Shelby GT, and for 2008, there will be at least two
including the Shelby GT500KR and the previously announced Mustang Bullitt.
Ford’s ‘Steed for Every Need’ strategy currently offers four horsepower
options for Mustang, with pricing from $19,995 for a 240-hp V-6 Mustang
coupe to $46,500 for a 500-hp Shelby GT500 convertible.
Ford has also introduced several special packages on Mustang further
increasing its unique offerings, including the Pony Package and the
California Special. In addition, Ford Racing offers a complete catalog of
performance parts for Mustang fans, from custom wheels and exhausts to the
complete, turn-key Ford Racing Mustang FR500C race car.
As a result, Ford offers Mustang enthusiasts the ability to buy, modify
and drive the steed that perfectly fits their need.
2008 Ford
Shelby GT500KR – Specifications and Design Highlights
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5.4-liter
supercharged V-8 producing an estimated 540-horsepower and 510 ft.-lbs.
of torque
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Ford
Racing Power Upgrade Pack featuring revised calibration and cold air
intake system
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6-speed
manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
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Ford
Racing performance exhaust system
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Unique
performance suspension tuning: springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars
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Shelby-designed ‘GT500KR’ 20-inch wheels (18-inch version for
production)
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Ford
Racing short-throw shifter and front strut tower brace
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Unique
carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby ‘KR’ design
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Front
brake cooling ducts
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‘Shelby’
lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid
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40th
Anniversary badges on the front quarter panels
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Carroll
Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats
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Official
Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate
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