A product of the collaboration between Ford’s Special Vehicle Team and Texan and synonym with fast, collectible special editions, Carroll Shelby, the GT500 convertible marks the most powerful Mustang convertible ever. The power - all 500 horses - comes courtesy of a supercharged and intercooled 5.4 liter V8. While that power peak comes at 6,000 rpm, just 250 revs short of the redline, the 480 lb-ft of torque is available at 4,500 rpm. The engine requires premium fuel. The only transmission available with this monster motor is a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual. While a more powerful King of the Road edition of the coupe bowed in 2008, there is no convertible King.
For 2008, there are new front driver- and passenger-seat side air bags to provide side-impact head protection as well as rollover protection. Vapor Metallic exterior paint also replaces Tungsten Grey on the options list.
The Roots-type supercharger chugs the atmosphere to the tune of 8.5 psi and gets it served cold thanks to an air-to-water intercooler.
Other goodies on the GT500 drop-top include 18- x 9.5-inch wheels wrapped in rubber sized at 255/45-18 up front and 285/40-18 out back,
hiding 14-inch vented discs squeezed by four-piston aluminum calipers with Brembo proudly displayed on them in the front and 11.8-inch, 2-piston units for the rear wheels.
Due to the top mechanism and the necessary bracing throughout the convertibles structure, curb weight increases compared to the coupe by 120 lbs, to 4,040 lbs. Also, trunk space is down 2.6 cubic feet, down to 9.7, and there is slightly less hip room (1.3 inches) and shoulder room (8.3 inches) in the rear seats, though head room with the top up grows by 1.3 inches.
Options on the GT500 include the aforementioned 7-color ambient interior lighting and HID headlamps and Shaker 1000 Audio System (in-dash 6-disc CD, MP3 and 10 speakers), Sirius Satellite Radio, touch screen DVD-based navigation and a Premium Interior Trim Package.
MECHANICAL
5.4L 32-valve DOHC supercharged & intercooled V8 engine
6-speed Tremec manual transmission
Limited-slip differential
Traction control
Rear wheel drive
SVT-tuned MacPherson strut front suspe
nsion w/unique dampers & coil springs
SVT-tuned live-axle rear suspension w/unique dampers & coil springs
P255/45ZR18 performance front tires & P285/40ZR18 performance rear tires
18" x 9.5" GT500 unique bright machined wheels w/SVT center caps
Wheel locking kits
Tire inflation kit
Pwr steering
Pwr vented 4-wheel disc brakes w/Bre
mbo front rotors & calipers
4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Stainless steel tuned X-pipe design dual exhaust
Unique aluminum hood w/functional air vents
Black cloth convertible top
Unique color-keyed front/rear fascia
Unique rear spoiler
GT500 side stripes
Unique upper & lower grilles
Complex reflector halogen headlamps
Front fog lamps
Dual pwr exterior mirrors
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
INTERIOR
Unique leather sport bucket seats w/cobra logo-inc: 6-way pwr adjust driver seat w/pwr lumbar, increased lateral support
Center console-inc: armrest, storage bin
Front color-keyed floor mats w/driver retention hook
Leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel w/red stitching, unique thumb pads
Brushed aluminum accented (6) gauge instrument cluster-inc: boost gauge, message center, SVT graphics
My Color customizable 125-color interior lighting system
Tire pressure monitoring system
Pwr windows
Pwr door locks
Remote keyless entry
Cruise control
Shaker 500 audio system-inc: AM/FM stereo w/6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3 player, (6) speakers
Active anti-theft system-inc: perimeter/intrusion alarms
SIRIUS satellite radio w/6 month subscription
Air conditioning
Rear window defroster
Aluminum accented air register vents
(2) cupholders
(2) pwr points
Front door map pockets
Soft vinyl door trim inserts
Scuff plate w/bright "SVT" insert
Header-mounted dome lamp
Illuminated entry
Unique shift knob w/leather shift boot & parking brake handle
City 14/hwy 20 (5.4L supercharged engine/6-speed manual trans) (2008)
4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Second generation front air bag system for driver & front passenger
Seat mounted side-impact airbags for driver & front passenger
3-point active safety belts in all seating positions
Front seat Belt Minder
LATCH (lower anchors & tethers for children) system on rear outboard seats