Ford Mustang Coupe Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang with its supercharged 5.4 liter V8, 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The only transmission available with this monster motor is a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual.
While the pony-turned-muscle car was just introduced for 2007, there is little new with this model itself, but there is a special edition GT500KR to mark the 40th anniversary of the original Mustang KR, with even more power and performance. The KR stands for King of the Road, and in this case, it means 540 hp thanks to a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that consists of a cold-air intake, and revised ignition timing and throttle calibration, all under a unique carbon fiber hood (the 'standard' GT500 gets an aluminum hood). The suspension is also tuned harder by Ford Racing. There will only be 1,000 KRs, all coupes, so get in line now. But back to the more pedestrian GT500.
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 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.
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. In addition, owners can order some appearance goodies to make their GT500 visually closer to that ultra-exclusive KR.